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Adora say catra please don't but catra still pull the switch and..... the portal machine make himself build and sword of protection flot in the air and all the light and shine came towards where catra stand ... and very thing goo black.....

Sometime later catra open her eye and suddenly she feel someone kick her and then she get up and see another then adora she sleeping and definitely kick in her sleep adora can't relaxed in her sleep but then suddenly catra say but is not she in hordak lap and pull the switch is she dreaming our something and way adora is here what Going on here but she can not shout because every one is sleeping....or then she see adora now open her eye and see catra is up soo she also pull her self in sitting positions and rab her eye and catra why are you up if you not sleep properly so how we can get pass tomorrow training simulation and catra listen everything what adora say confused and dumbfounded pass simulation training catra think in her mind but then see noties like 15 or 30 min ago she fighting with adora and write now adora ask her about training now really what is this happing is this a joke our maybe not did she did she.. really back in time our something this kind of staff entrapta now better think her name she remember she zipped entrapta with stunbutton  now she feel guilty about and what she thinking that time and she sign and then suddenly she feel someone put hand on her check and see it adora fully awake now and worried 😟  also see her face soo close like this she really miss this is her adora her this innocent  cute and all kind of good thing she now about it but right now adora worried for catra soo  catra say is nothing idiot just go back to sleep I guss I see just bad dream now adora put hand on catra both side of check hay it's OK I am right here hmm catra ok let sleep hmm catra really really miss this . If this is a really dream soo she wish she never wakeup this she really not admit it but she really want only adora nothing Al's soo both of them lay down the banker and adora put hand on catra wrists and sometime later back to sleep catra see adora face soo close this has been soo long time catra see adora like this in battle adora always trun herself she-ra.... and but right catra have to find time period is she in ok wait for morning and then catra also dooj off and sometime later she feel someone gently shake her and rab her eyes and she see adora is one how doing it and then adora said let go catra time for simulation training getup catra say ok ok I am up now ok let's goo.

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Every one is simulation room Lonnie kyle rogelio and adora and catra came also see this see this Lonnie say wow look at that catra our also here what a amazing 👏 surprised and catra only give her a look and say do you say something more catra say with little smile on her face and Lonnie stay shut her mouth and back away and adora put a hand on catra shoulder and then captain say ok every one is here and see catra captain say good you also here catra . Catra make her eye roll and way everybody say some thing in her mind and now her squad simle on them face ok
After that simulation about start everyone take there position and ready adora give catra a thumpup👍 ok soo catra think she is the when everything turn upside-down hmm first she watch every one in very high place and come in the last time this time she is here this is different and every thing is normal and catra now she can easily clear this stupid simulation after all She is a command of Horde second and command something like this is piece of cack to her but she can't not easily win so she play along with everyone let see what happens soo simulation start and all of them do they thing adora did her and those three thay there step and then she noties kyle about to heat by the blast but in end moment catra came and save him every one shock what adjustly happened and for fun fact catra also surprised why she do that but this is not time so she give every one interactions and every one follow and adora also and thay defeated the simulation robot and everyone celebrate and adora send the one block how is red and she fell into it and catra think just like first time ha.. this time adora fell her own catra do not did anything and catra can close and see adora in hole and give adora her hand say now come up there adora you look stupid down there and adora make face and grap catra hand and both of them laugh together and after that captain say everyone did a great job 👏 and he goo somewhere and kyle say thanks to catra for saving him and Lonnie and rogelio also happy and now Lonnie feel little guilty about earlier she say to catra because that time she mocking catra and sometime time later all of them goes apnai apnai rastai chalai gayae and adora and catra in now locker room adora now wearing her jacket and adora happy about earlier interactions with catra and squad member and catra now know how is coming shadow weaver and here she is say adora name and adora greet her and shadow weaver say you did great adora I am totally expecting you that and then adora put her one arm towards me and pull catra on her side and say this time is catra did great job I did some small and shadow weaver face on catra side and she say yes I did not expect is catra this perform and catra think last time she talk back to shadow weaver and she I the same how come to save adora with hand in hand with sparkles ✨️
And catra can really defeat her right now but she did not want to create Sean so she just sand there and for moment shadow weaver see catra she do not speak her or talk back but then she focus her mind in Adora direction and. Say Adora come with me and she and Adora goo and catra still stand were is stand and think 🤔 and catra now why shadow weaver take Adora because now that the day where Adora get permote hm.... soo catra goo her favorite place where she go often like last time and now and wait Adora she come here to find catra .

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here
Other side shadow weaver tell Adora to load Hordak want to permot Adora to force captain now she go to the filed now hearing this Adora happy she permot and ask shadow weaver is catra also goo with her shadow weaver say no she is nor going with you hearing this Adora ask why she is great as I am and also today she did a amazing job hearing this shadow weaver say no Adora catra only make you distract you have to focus on yourself not her tomorrow is your first missions to go thaymore is rebels military base make mission fullfin ok and then Adora say yes Shadow weaver and goo to where catra be she now where catra favourite place and say both of them favourite place .

And this side catra feel Adora come here any time and here she is Adora say catra hey look shadow weaver give me this now I am force captain and tomorrow is my first missing catra already now that but she play along with but ya she is happy for Adora but (really but adora put all of this for what A toy sword and some sparkly people catra think her mind )
And say yayy Adora now we can finally she the world outside in Fright Zone and Adora say but shadow weaver say you not coming catra make face catra already now that and say what is her problem with me and then Adora say hey don't be sad look what I have Adora pull skfit key in her pocket wave it for catra direction sooo
Come on if want to see what is outside the Fright Zone let's goo this time Adora did not say catra disrespect shadow weaver that goods then catra say ok Force captain Adora and Adora say hayyy... you make fun of me and both of them smiling 😊 😊
Each other and goo where all skfit prack
And go towards where the skitf let them goo and Adora noties catra not take skitf wheels that strange 🤔 Adora say hey catra do you not want to operate skitf and catra say do you want to me operate this 😉 Adora say noo not like that mostly you kind of do thing like that and this is our frist time we operate hm...and then wishpring wood come in view and Adora say I think we should not going there
This is whispering woods they are dangerous and then catra say no we definitely goo there now really catra want to see that what happens next and both of them goo into farther into woods and suddenly they creche into to the big tree 🌳 and get stack and Adora said now what we go back Fright Zone our skift stack in this tree and catra say how about we first go down in the ground Adora 😉 and Adora say ok

Both of them now is waking in woods nothing now were to go catra take one jump on the tree and try to thing where should towards go and some time later she see Adora is not there where she stand and look for her Adoraaaa Adoraa

And there other side adora wonder where is catra goo and she also go to the woods in more further and then she did not notice and one branch of tree come her way and she knockout and she see someone a purple robot lady she guss and she say something about her destiny and she stars 🌟 A ship how crash and a sword in grap by tree roots somewhere and a baby cry and Plante and then she feel someone say her name Adora Adora .

Other side catra goo find adora and then she see Adora lying on ground unconscious and she sheck her and say her name Adora Adora

Adora open her eyes and see catra is top of her and worried 😟 and then she see her surrounding and then catra say are you ok what happened to you and adora say I come check on you but one tree branch in my way I do not see it and it hurts a little she let one hand on her head and but Something strange happens when I am unconscious I see some lady a sword and ship and all of this is confusing ☹️ catra know what is adora talking about soo she just let her both hand on Adora shoulder and see in her eyes and it's fine idiot if you want to confirm what you see we can search it the Sword thing you talking about hmm😊 and hearing this Adora ask innocently you beveled what I say and catra yes idiot I beveled what you say now come on getup let check out the sword hmm and both Catra and adora go to find the sword if that really here catra think her mind know this time she with Adora and good new is both of them do not go back in Fright Zone this time and spend time here in wood and if she correct adora meet those two rebels here hmm let check out hmm what happens next ..
After two ,three hours later thay sit one of tree ground and both of them now hungry also they are come here here with food and water 💧 .

And here the other side Glimmer is her room and she grounded of what she pull up the earlier and Queen anglella then put in grounded but she cannot still in one place so she and bow go to the whispering woods where bow find a very great signal
And both of them is on the way to find something..

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---

Adora and Catra still hadn't found anything. Adora sighed and said, "I think this is just a weird dream. I don’t think there’s any sword. I’m sorry, Catra, I think I’m just..."

Catra interrupted, "Hey, idiot, it’s fine. Where do you want to go?"

Adora, dumbfounded, replied, "Didn’t we go back to the Fright Zone?"

Catra shrugged, "And how would we? Our skiff is still stuck in that tree. We don’t even know where we are. I think we should camp here."

Suddenly, Adora noticed a light coming from the other side and started moving towards it. Catra followed her. They eventually came across the sword from Adora's dream, entwined in tree roots. Catra, watching, thought, *So Adora found the sword after all.*

Adora, ready to take the sword, heard it call her name. But before she could grab it, they both heard a noise coming from the other side. Two kids, about their age, appeared and shouted, "Horde soldiers!" The shorter one yelled, "Bow, I got this one! You get the other one!"

Glimmer disappeared and reappeared behind Adora, not letting her go. Meanwhile, Bow shot a net arrow at Catra, but Catra, being very fast, dodged it and grabbed Bow, throwing him to the ground and kicking him in the leg. He lay on the ground as Catra shouted at Glimmer, "Hey, Sparkle! If you don’t stop, this won’t end well for him." She pointed at Bow, making Glimmer rush to his side.

Adora grabbed the sword, but immediately passed out.

Seeing this, Catra became very, very angry and shouted at Glimmer and Bow, "What did you do to her?" She shook Adora, "Adora, wake up! Wake up! This is not the time to pass out!"

Glimmer, trying to explain, said, "We didn’t do anything to her!" Ignoring Glimmer, Catra focused all her attention on Adora. After a few minutes, Adora opened her eyes, and Catra, with a mix of relief and frustration, said, "Seriously, Adora, how many times are you going to pass out? This is already twice today."

Seeing this, Glimmer quickly grabbed the sword. Adora and Catra noticed and rushed towards her. Adora demanded, "That’s my sword, give it back!"

Glimmer responded, "No! This sword belongs to Bright Moon because the Whispering Woods fall under our territory, so it’s not yours." She then turned to Bow, "Tie their hands."

Catra sneered, "Who do you think you are, Sparkle? If we wanted to, you two wouldn’t stand a chance against us. This sword belongs to Adora, not you or your stupid Bright Moon."

Glimmer, defiant, said, "Not a chance. I’m the one asking questions here. You Horde spies!"

Catra smirked, "Horde spies? Really? Is that what you think of us, Sparkle?"

Glimmer, irritated, corrected her, "My name is not Sparkle! I am the Princess of Bright Moon, and you two are under arrest. You’re coming with us!"

Catra just laughed, "Ha! Good luck with that."

As the argument between Catra and Glimmer continued, Adora and Bow exchanged exasperated looks. But suddenly, all four of them heard a loud glowing sound coming from behind the tree. Catra sensed it immediately—this was not good. A large creature emerged, and they all started running.

The creature began attacking everyone. Catra, though tempted to fight it, knew she had to be careful with Adora there. Glimmer and Bow did their best to dodge the attacks, but were unsuccessful. The creature sent Glimmer flying into a nearby tree, and Bow was running low on arrows, which weren't effective against the creature anyway.

Just then, Adora grabbed the sword and shouted loudly, "For the honor of Grayskull!" In a flash, she transformed into She-Ra.

---

Chapter Text

Adora stood a few paces away, eyes wide as she took in the towering creature before her. She could feel its presence, heavy and menacing, its breath creating small gusts that ruffled the nearby trees. Glimmer and Bow stood on either side of her, their faces mirroring the tension in the air.
..
..

From a safe distance, Catra watched closely, her arms crossed, eyes narrowing as she muttered to herself, "So, this is how it starts... Adora becoming She-Ra." Her heart pounded, though she'd never admit it aloud. This was different. The moment felt heavier than usual battles.

....

Suddenly, as if moved by some unseen force, Adora stepped forward, her grip tightening around the hilt of her sword. "Adora, what are you doing?" Glimmer called, her voice laced with worry. Bow placed a hand on her shoulder, equally unsure of what was about to unfold.

..

Without responding, Adora approached the creature. Its massive form shifted slightly, but it didn’t attack. Instead, its glowing eyes met hers, full of a quiet, almost ancient understanding. Slowly, cautiously, Adora reached out. Her hand hovered above the creature’s massive head for just a moment before she gently touched its fur.
..

In that instant, the creature’s body relaxed, and to everyone’s astonishment, it let out a deep, contented breath. The creature’s eyelids fluttered, and then, before they knew it, it collapsed onto the ground in a deep, peaceful sleep. ..
..

Glimmer and Bow’s jaws dropped in unison. “What... just happened?” Bow muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

“How did you do that?” Glimmer asked, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stepped closer to Adora.

..

Adora, just as shocked, backed away from the slumbering beast, her sword still clutched tightly in her hand. “Me? I— I don’t know!” She looked down at her hands, her fingers trembling slightly. “I just touched it! I didn’t do anything special!”

"You didn’t do anything special?” Glimmer raised an eyebrow, skepticism heavy in her voice. “Adora, you just made a giant creature fall asleep with a touch! That’s not exactly nothing.”

Before Adora could respond, Glimmer suddenly teleported, reappearing right next to her and snatching the sword from Adora’s hand. "Maybe it’s something to do with the sword. We need to figure this out—"
.

But before Glimmer could inspect the weapon, a sharp tug on her cape pulled her backward. She gasped as a clawed hand grabbed her wrist, pulling her into a harsh but steady grip.

It was Catra.

“Not so fast, Sparkles,” Catra hissed, her voice low and threatening. Her eyes gleamed with a dangerous edge as she pressed one of her claws against Glimmer’s neck, just enough to make her skin prickle. “You don’t want to be oversmart, do you? That thing,” she jerked her head toward the sleeping creature, “might look calm now, but it sure looked hungry before it passed out. Do you want to be its next meal when it wakes up?”

Glimmer froze, her body going rigid as she met Catra’s cold stare. Her bravado vanished in an instant, and she quickly loosened her grip on the sword. Catra swiftly snatched it away, her movements fluid and sharp.

With a smirk, Catra tossed the sword back to Adora, who fumbled slightly before catching it. "Thanks," Adora muttered, though her mind was still racing, trying to process everything that had just happened.

Catra, unfazed, pushed Glimmer aside, sending her stumbling a few steps back. “Now’s not the time to freak out, Adora,” she snapped, her voice cutting through the air like a whip. “We need to get out of here before that thing wakes up.” She pointed at the creature, which stirred slightly in its sleep.

Adora, still rattled by the encounter, looked back at Catra, her eyes searching for some sense of familiarity in her former friend. “Catra, I...”

“Save it,” Catra cut her off, her tail flicking behind her impatiently. “You’re not going to figure this out right now. We need to move. Unless you want that thing waking up and deciding we look like a nice snack.”

Bow, still in shock, finally found his voice. “Yeah, let’s— let’s get out of here.”

Glimmer, rubbing her wrist where Catra had grabbed her, shot Catra a glare but nodded in agreement. “Fine. But we’re not done talking about this, Adora.”

Adora gave a quick, hesitant nod, still feeling the weight of the sword in her hand and the strange power that had just flowed through her. “Right. Let’s go.”

As they hurried away, Catra kept her distance but glanced back at Adora. There was something different in her eyes—something new. It wasn’t just anger anymore. There was curiosity, too. And maybe, just maybe, a flicker of something she hadn’t felt in a long time: concern.

But for now, she shook it off. There would be time for that later.

The group continued to walk in silence, tension hanging in the air like a heavy cloud. The once vibrant trees of the Whispering Woods had grown quiet, their leaves barely rustling as the four of them made their way deeper into the forest. Adora and Catra walked side by side at the front, while Glimmer and Bow trailed just a step behind, keeping a cautious distance.

It wasn’t long before they stumbled upon something that gave them all pause: a cluster of old, destroyed houses. The buildings were weathered and crumbling, clearly abandoned for years, perhaps decades.

Nature had reclaimed most of the structures, with vines snaking up cracked walls and roots pushing through broken foundations. Scattered amongst the ruins were remnants of old bots, their once gleaming metal now rusted and broken.

Adora frowned, glancing around. “What happened here?” she asked aloud, her voice soft but heavy with curiosity.

Glimmer, without a word, walked over to one of the houses and picked up an old, dusty photo frame lying on the ground. She stared at it for a moment, her face hardening with emotion. Then, slowly, she turned back to Adora, her expression angry.

“Horde,” she said through gritted teeth. “The Horde did this.”

Adora blinked, confused. “What?”

Glimmer’s grip on the photo frame tightened, her knuckles white. “This was a village. It was full of people. Families. The Horde came and destroyed everything.

They wiped this place off the map. You—” her voice cracked with anger, “you and Catra are part of the Horde. You’re the bad guys. I’m sure you two were part of the attack that did this!”

The accusation hit like a slap, and Adora stepped back, stunned. Her heart raced, confusion swirling in her mind. She’d always believed the Horde was helping people, that they were bringing peace and order to Etheria. The idea that they could be responsible for something like this… it didn’t make sense.

Before Adora could respond, Catra exploded, stepping between Adora and Glimmer, her fur bristling with rage. “Oh, yeah?” Catra snapped, her eyes narrowing dangerously at Glimmer. “You think we did this? Really, Sparkle? Does this place look like it was attacked recently? No.

This happened years ago. So what, are Adora and I immortal now? Is that what you’re saying?”

Glimmer’s mouth opened, but no words came out. She was taken aback by Catra’s fury.

“If you don’t know what you’re talking about, then maybe,” Catra’s voice dropped into a dangerous growl, “you should just shut the f*** up. Adora and I had nothing to do with this.”

Adora, still trying to process the accusation, felt a deep pit of uncertainty settle in her stomach. “The Horde... they saved me when I was a baby,” she murmured, her eyes darting between Glimmer, Bow, and the ruins. “I don’t understand. The Horde’s not evil… right?”

Bow, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke. “Adora… everyone says the Horde is evil. We’ve all heard the stories. They take over villages, destroy everything, and enslave anyone who resists. They call it ‘bringing peace,’ but it’s just—”

“Lies!” Adora cut him off, her voice rising in desperation. “That’s not the Horde I know! That’s not what I was told. Hordak saved me… Catra, too. We’re not… we’re not the bad guys…”

Catra’s ears twitched, her eyes flicking between Adora and the others. It hit her all at once—this was the first time Adora had encountered people who saw the Horde for what it truly was. Glimmer and Bow were accusing them of atrocities they didn’t even know the Horde was capable of, and Adora was caught in the middle of it, torn between her loyalty and the awful truth.

Catra gritted her teeth, her mind racing. She knew this was all wrong, knew the truth about the Horde in a way Adora didn’t yet understand. She had a second chance now, and she wasn’t about to let Glimmer or Bow poison Adora’s mind against her. **They** didn’t know anything about her or Adora, and they had no right to judge.

“This is what they call being ‘good guys?’” Catra thought bitterly. “Accusing us of something without even knowing the whole story? What a joke.”

Meanwhile, the argument between the three was getting louder, the words sharper. Adora’s face was full of doubt, her brows furrowed as she tried to make sense of it all. Glimmer was fuming, while Bow looked torn, unsure if he should keep arguing or back off.

Catra saw Adora’s distress and acted on instinct. She stepped in, grabbing Adora’s hand firmly, pulling her slightly back from the confrontation. “Adora,” she said quietly, her voice softer now but still fierce. “Don’t listen to them. They don’t know anything about us. You know that. Don’t let them get to you.”

Adora looked at her, her eyes full of confusion and hurt. “But… what if they’re right, Catra? What if—”

“They’re not,” Catra interrupted, her grip tightening on Adora’s hand. “We’re in the Whispering Woods right now. Not the Horde. This isn’t about proving anything to them. They don’t get to decide who we are, and you don’t owe them an explanation.”

Catra shot a glare back at Glimmer and Bow, her eyes cold. “We don’t need to explain ourselves to them.”

Glimmer, still holding the photo frame, looked furious, her face flushed with anger. “Are you seriously saying that after everything? After what the Horde did to my people?”

Bow, sensing the tension, stepped forward, trying to mediate. “Look, maybe we all just need to calm down for a second. We’re all on edge, and—”

Catra ignored him, turning her attention back to Adora, her expression softening. “Come on, let’s just keep moving.”

Adora nodded slowly, a small sense of relief washing over her. She wasn’t sure what to believe, but having Catra beside her made everything feel a little less chaotic. She was glad Catra was there, grounding her when everything else felt like it was spiraling out of control.

Glimmer, still seething, shot Catra a glare, but Bow’s hand on her arm made her hesitate. “Let’s just… move forward,” Bow said softly, apologetic.

Catra gave a small, sarcastic smirk, ignoring the tension behind them as she and Adora walked ahead. But after a while, they found themselves in deeper, unfamiliar territory.

“Hey, Arrow Boy,” Catra called back, her tone casual but sharp. “Do you even know how to get out of the Whispering Woods?”

Bow, fumbling with his trackerpad, looked frustrated. “I’m trying, But the device isn’t working right now. Something’s messing with the signal.”

Glimmer crossed her arms, looking even more irritated. “Great. We find the sword, we find two Horde spies, and now we’re lost. Fantastic.”

Catra rolled her eyes. “Well, let’s hope we don’t run into anything worse than a sleepy monster. Keep trying, ArrowBoy. Hopefully, you’re more useful with that thing than it looks.”

Adora couldn’t help but smile slightly at Catra’s attitude, grateful for her presence. Even in all the confusion and doubt, at least they had each other.

They kept walking deeper into the forest, still uncertain of what lay ahead, but somehow, Adora felt a little more steady with Catra by her side.

Chapter Text

As they walked deeper into the Whispering Woods, the trees grew denser, the air colder, and the shadows longer.

Eventually, they found themselves standing before an ancient door, covered in moss and etched with intricate carvings in a language none of them recognized.

The door seemed impossibly old, far older than anything they had encountered before. Glimmer ran her fingers along the engravings, frowning.

“What is this place?” Adora asked, staring at the strange symbols.

Bow, adjusting his trackerpad, looked up in awe. “This… this must be a First Ones' temple. Their language is ancient. No one really knows how to read it anymore.” His voice was tinged with excitement, but also hesitation. “It’s incredible.”

Catra, standing a little to the side, stared at the door with narrowed eyes. She knew exactly what this place was. Her ears twitched as her mind raced. **This is where Light Hope messed with us,** she thought, her fur bristling at the memories. **Those twisted visions, forcing us to relive our childhood like some kind of sick joke. Not again.

I won’t let this happen again.** She tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword, her gaze flicking toward Adora.

While Catra brooded in silence, Adora’s eyes fixed on the strange letters. “Wait…” she murmured, leaning closer. “I think I can read it.”

Bow and Glimmer both looked at her, startled.

“What do you mean you can read it?” Glimmer asked, incredulous.

“I don’t know, but it says… Eternia.” Adora blinked in confusion as the words spilled from her mouth, seemingly without effort.

Suddenly, with a loud creaking noise, the massive doors began to groan and slide open, sending dust and debris falling from the ancient hinges. Bow and Glimmer gasped, stepping back in shock.

Catra simply raised an eyebrow, watching calmly. **Of course, Adora knows the password.** She thought, feeling a strange mix of exasperation and admiration.

The door fully opened, revealing a dark hallway that extended deep into the temple. A strange, low rumble echoed from within, as if something had been disturbed by their presence. Without hesitation, they all moved forward, compelled by curiosity and a sense of urgency.

The moment they crossed the threshold, the massive door slammed shut behind them with a resounding boom, plunging them into near darkness.

“Great,” Glimmer muttered, her voice tight with frustration. “We’re trapped.”

Inside the temple, it was pitch black, but Catra’s eyes easily adjusted to the lack of light. She could see the outlines of her companions, and she noticed Adora reaching for her instinctively.

Their hands met, and Catra felt the warmth of Adora’s grip tighten around hers, pulling her close. Even in the dark, Adora sought her out for reassurance.

Glimmer, meanwhile, took a deep breath, her hands glowing faintly as she began to channel her magic. “Hold on. Let me light this place up,” she said with determination.

Catra watched silently, arms crossed, as Glimmer’s magic slowly illuminated the chamber. Glimmer’s light grew brighter, revealing more of the room, casting long shadows across the ancient walls.

Catra raised an eyebrow as she took in the sight of the princess concentrating hard on her spell. **Not bad for a sparkly princess,** she mused.

As the room filled with light, the first thing they saw was a massive mural covering the front wall. The image depicted various figures, each one unmistakably She-Ra, standing tall with her sword raised high.

The mural was old, worn with time, but the image of She-Ra radiated strength and power.

“Whoa,” Bow breathed, staring up at the painting in awe. “Is that… you, Adora? The scary lady from earlier?”

Adora, still holding Catra’s hand, shook her head. “No, that’s not me. At least, I don’t think it is.” She looked at the mural in confusion.

Bow squinted at another part of the wall. “No, not that one. You’re the other one. See?”

Adora frowned, stepping closer to the mural and reading the ancient text inscribed beneath the images. “It says… She-Ra.”

Bow’s eyes widened. “Wait, does that mean… you’re the legendary She-Ra? The warrior princess everyone’s always talking about?”

Adora’s face paled. “I… I don’t know,” she admitted, glancing at the others with uncertainty. “I didn’t know I could read this language. I don’t even know what this place is.”

Glimmer, always quick to question, furrowed her brow. “How do you know how to read it, then? You’re not supposed to know First Ones’ language, right?” Her voice was sharp, as if demanding answers from Adora that she herself didn’t even have.

Before Glimmer could launch into more questions, Catra stepped forward, her eyes hard as she glared at Glimmer. “Does it matter, Sparkle?” she snapped. “Whatever this place is, it’s old. We don’t know what’s in here, so maybe we should stop playing ‘Who’s the Better Princess’ and get out before something worse happens.”

Glimmer’s mouth snapped shut at Catra’s harsh tone, clearly irritated, but she nodded grudgingly. “Fine. Let’s just get moving.”

Everyone agreed, but just as they were about to proceed deeper into the temple, Glimmer’s eyes darted to Adora’s sword, which she had been holding tightly since entering.

In one swift motion, Glimmer lunged forward, snatching the sword from Adora’s grip before anyone could react.

“What are you doing?” Adora gasped, shocked.

Glimmer, her face set with determination, held the sword high and shouted, “For the honor of Grayskull!”

Everyone watched in silence. Nothing happened. The sword remained inert, no magical transformation, no burst of light.

Glimmer’s face flushed red with embarrassment. “What the—”

From across the room, Catra smirked, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “What are you trying to do, Sparkle? Thought you could be She-Ra?”

Glimmer’s cheeks turned even redder, her embarrassment turning into frustration. Before she could respond, Catra walked up to her casually, plucking the sword out of Glimmer’s hands with ease. “Nice try, but it looks like the sword doesn’t work for just anyone,” she teased, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Glimmer glared at Catra, furious and embarrassed, but had no comeback. She crossed her arms and turned away, trying to hide her frustration.

Adora stepped forward, gently taking the sword back from Catra. “Let’s just keep moving,” she said quietly, her voice a little more composed now.

She glanced at Catra, grateful for her intervention. Despite the tension, Adora was beginning to feel a little more at ease, knowing Catra was by her side.

Bow, sensing the rising tension, cleared his throat awkwardly. “Uh, yeah. We should definitely find a way out of here. My trackerpad’s still not working, and I’ve got no idea where we are in these woods.”

Catra shot him an unimpressed look. “So, what you’re saying is you don’t even know how to get out of here, Arrow Boy?”

Bow held up his hands defensively. “I’m trying! But the device is malfunctioning. Something in the woods is interfering with the signal.”

Glimmer, still fuming, muttered under her breath, “Great. We’re lost with two Horde spies, and they’re the ones giving orders now.”

Catra, with a smug grin, ignored Glimmer’s comment and turned to Adora. “Let’s keep moving. We’re wasting time.”

Despite the tension between them, they all agreed. The temple held too many mysteries, and none of them wanted to be around when whatever made that loud noise earlier decided to make another appearance.

They moved forward, deeper into the unknown, with no clear idea of what awaited them—but at least for now, they were together. And that, for Adora, made all the difference.

....

As Catra moved to continue deeper into the temple, a sudden flicker of light filled the room. Without warning, a hologram of a tall, ethereal woman appeared before them, her form shimmering in the dim glow of the chamber. Her voice echoed through the air, speaking in a language none of them could understand.

Glimmer, startled by the sudden appearance, let out a yelp and practically fell onto Catra, causing the feline to stumble. Catra groaned, trying to shake Glimmer off. “Ugh, get off me, Sparkle!” she hissed, wriggling out from under her.

Bow and Adora stood frozen, both staring at the hologram in confusion. The hologram lady continued speaking, her tone calm but firm, as though asking a question. But whatever she was saying, none of them could comprehend it.

Adora stepped forward, her brow furrowed. “What is she saying? Does anyone understand this?”

Catra, however, didn’t need to. She recognized the situation. **This is just like before, when Adora came here to learn about how to cure Glimmer’s glitching.** Her ears twitched, and her tail flicked impatiently. **I’m not letting this go that far again.**

Suddenly, a loud, grinding noise reverberated through the temple, and the walls began to tremble. The floor beneath them shook violently, and cracks began to form along the stone pillars. The temple was shutting down, collapsing in on itself.

Bow’s eyes widened in panic. “We need to get out of here—now!”

Glimmer, despite her earlier fall, stood up quickly, her face pale but determined. “I can teleport us out of here!”

Bow’s voice was urgent, but filled with concern. “Glimmer, you’ve already pushed yourself too far. Don’t—”

Before he could finish, Glimmer’s hands lit up with a burst of magic, and in an instant, all four of them were engulfed in a glowing light. The temple walls disappeared, and the next thing they knew, they were hurtling through the air, tumbling out into the open forest as Glimmer collapsed from exhaustion.

The moment they landed, Bow quickly acted, shooting an arrow into the trees above. The arrow released a net, which caught them all just before they hit the ground, saving them from what could’ve been a nasty fall.

When they finally touched down, Glimmer lay unconscious, her body limp from the strain of the teleportation. Bow knelt beside her, shaking her gently. “Glimmer! Glimmer, wake up!” His voice was filled with worry, and his eyes scanned her face for any signs of life.

Adora and Catra stood nearby, neither making a move to leave. They watched quietly as Bow tried to rouse Glimmer, tension thick in the air.

After a few tense minutes, Glimmer stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. She blinked groggily, her gaze focusing on Bow’s concerned face hovering above her. “Bow?” she croaked, her voice weak.

Relief flooded Bow’s features as he helped her sit up. “Thank goodness you’re okay,” he said softly.

Glimmer, still disoriented, glanced around and saw Adora and Catra standing there, watching. Her eyes narrowed slightly, confused and a little irritated. “Why… why are you still here?” she asked, her tone suspicious. “Why didn’t you two run away?”

Bow nodded, sharing Glimmer’s confusion. “Yeah, I mean, you had the perfect chance to leave. It’s not like we could’ve stopped you.”

Adora, still holding her sword, looked down at Glimmer, her expression calm but sincere. “We didn’t run because… we’re looking for answers,” she explained simply. “We want to understand what’s happening. What this place is. And what’s going on with me.”

Catra, who had been quietly observing the scene, crossed her arms and looked away, her face unreadable. **She’s right, though,** Catra thought. **We don’t need to prove anything to Sparkle and Arrow Boy, but we’re not running. Not now.**

Glimmer, still sitting on the ground, blinked up at them in surprise. She hadn’t expected such an honest answer. After a moment, she sighed and looked away. “Well, I didn’t think you’d actually stick around,” she muttered, sounding slightly embarrassed.

Adora smiled softly, and for a moment, the tension between the group seemed to ease.

Catra, meanwhile, smirked slightly, her eyes flicking toward Glimmer. “You did good back there, Sparkle,” she said, her tone uncharacteristically sincere.

Glimmer looked up at her, surprised, but Catra had already turned her attention back to the woods, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. **Whatever happens next, we’re in this together.**

Chapter Text

As the group continued their walk through the Whispering Woods, the sounds of distant voices began to filter through the trees. Glimmer’s ears perked up, and she exchanged a glance with Bow. “We’re close to Thamor,” she whispered. They both recognized the village's sounds, but there was a problem. Adora and Catra were still wearing Horde uniforms, complete with the unmistakable Horde symbols.

“We can’t let them see you both like that,” Glimmer said sharply, eyeing the Horde insignias. “You’ll need to blend in. Adora, take off your jacket.” She quickly handed over her own cape for Adora to use as a disguise.

Adora hesitated for a moment before shrugging off her jacket and wrapping Glimmer’s cape around her shoulders. “Thanks,” she muttered. It wasn’t perfect, but it would hide the Horde symbol.

They all looked around, but Catra was nowhere to be found. Then, from above, Catra suddenly appeared, dropping down gracefully from a tree branch. She was wearing a hooded cloak that covered her from head to toe, completely obscuring her Horde uniform.

Both Adora and Glimmer blinked in surprise. “Where did you get that?” they asked at the same time.

Catra smirked. “I have my ways,” she replied cryptically.

...

Bow, trying to lighten the mood, plucked a flower from a nearby bush and placed it in Adora’s hair. “There! Now you look like you belong at a festival!” He grinned, then turned to Catra, attempting to do the same.

Catra shot him a deadly look, raising an eyebrow. “I’m wearing this to blend in. I don’t need flowers.” Bow awkwardly pulled back, laughing nervously.

...

The group continued walking, finally entering the village of Thamor. The streets were bustling with people, colorful banners hung overhead, and the air was filled with the sounds of music and laughter. Adora looked around in awe, taking in the sights. “What’s going on here?” she asked, wide-eyed.

Bow’s face lit up. “It’s the festival! Today’s a big celebration.”

“Festival?” Adora repeated, her head tilting in confusion. “What’s that?”

Catra, walking a little behind, thought to herself, **Festival? The only parties I know are from Crimson Waste.** She remembered the time she fought and defeated Tung Lashor, and they had a wild celebration afterward. But she’d never seen something like this—people celebrating together in a way that wasn’t tied to a victory in battle. **This is… different,** she mused, keeping her thoughts to herself.

..

Bow was oblivious to Catra’s inner thoughts as he excitedly explained to Adora. “A festival is like a huge party! Kind of like a birthday party, but for the whole village! Everyone’s celebrating together.”

..

..

Adora furrowed her brow. “Birthday party?”

Bow looked shocked. “Wait… Adora catra, you to never had a birthday party?”

Adora shook her head. “No. What’s a birthday party?”

Bow’s face fell, realizing how much of a sheltered life Adora had lived within the Horde. “That’s… really sad,” he said softly. He turned to Catra, who had been silent. “And you?

Catra’s mind flashed back to Crimson Waste again. **The closest thing I’ve had to a party was after I won a fight,** she thought. But she remained outwardly indifferent, simply giving Bow a shrug. “No” she replied coolly.

Glimmer, watching the interaction unfold, realized just how out of place both Adora and Catra seemed in this setting. **Adora’s reaction is obvious,** Glimmer thought. **But Catra… she’s harder to read. She hides behind that tough exterior.** Glimmer knew that, between the two, Catra was the more complicated one to handle.

They made their way to a nearby café, a small place where food and drinks were being served for the festival. The smells of freshly baked bread and grilled vegetables filled the air, and Adora’s stomach growled.

“Come on, let’s eat!” Bow urged, leading them to a table. Plates of food were set in front of them, and Adora wasted no time. She wolfed down her meal so fast that Catra, sitting across from her, couldn’t help but smirk.

“You really like that, huh?” Catra said, a rare hint of amusement in her voice. She took a few bites of her own food, then slid her plate toward Adora. “Here, idiot. You can have the rest.”

Adora, with her mouth full, looked at Catra with wide eyes. “Dinnnt you wann eet?” she mumbled through her food.

Catra rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the slight smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “I’m good. Eat up.”

Glimmer, sitting next to Bow, observed the scene carefully. She couldn’t help but notice how Catra and Adora’s interactions had changed.

Catra, who usually kept her emotions tightly guarded, was more open around Adora. **When Catra’s with Adora, she’s… different. Softer. Happier, even,** Glimmer thought. **Maybe… she’s not as tough as she pretends to be.**

Bow leaned over to Glimmer and whispered, “They don’t even know what a birthday party is. That’s so sad.”

Glimmer nodded, her gaze still fixed on the pair. “Yeah. But look at them… maybe we should just let them enjoy this.”

After their meal, Adora spotted a brightly colored piñata hanging nearby. She turned to Bow, excitement in her eyes. “What’s that?”

Bow grinned. “That, Adora, is a piñata. You hit it with a stick, and candy comes out!”

Adora’s face lit up. “Really? I wanna try!”

Catra watched as Adora, with all her strength, swung a stick at the piñata. She was clearly enjoying herself, smiling and laughing like she hadn’t in a long time.

Catra couldn’t help but feel a bit of warmth in her chest, seeing Adora so carefree. **At least she’s having fun,** Catra thought. **We’ve both been through enough.**

As Adora finally broke the piñata, candy rained down, and the villagers cheered. For a brief moment, everything felt normal. No Horde, no rebellion—just a simple celebration with friends.

And for once, even Catra allowed herself to relax.

...
As the village of Thamor bustled with festival celebrations, Catra couldn’t fully relax. She couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling in the back of her mind—the Horde could attack at any moment. Her instincts had been honed by years of war, and she knew this small village was vulnerable.

As she observed the cheerful crowd, especially the children laughing and playing, she felt a pang of discomfort. **They don’t know what’s coming,** she thought, scanning the horizon for any signs of danger.

Glimmer and Bow were still enjoying the festivities, but Catra leaned in close to Glimmer and whispered, “Earlier, you mentioned this place was called Thamor, right?”

Adora, overhearing the name, stiffened. She quickly turned to face the group, her expression serious. “Thamor…?” she echoed, as if trying to recall something important.

Glimmer raised an eyebrow, noticing Adora’s sudden shift in tone. “Yes, this is Thamor. Why are you asking?”

Before Adora could respond, Catra, sensing the rising tension, subtly elbowed her to push her forward. “Adora, tell them what you told me earlier. About your mission here.”

Adora, still confused by the situation, nodded slowly. “Yeah... my first mission as a Horde soldier was to take Thamor. Shadow Weaver told me it was a Rebel military base, but this… this isn’t a military base. It’s just a village.”

Glimmer stepped forward, now fully invested. “Wait, what? The Horde attacked Thamor ? When?”

Adora admitted, her confusion evident. "The place was supposed to be a threat."

Glimmer’s eyes widened in shock. “We have to warn everyone! If they’re coming, the villagers need to find shelter.” She turned to Bow. “Come on, we need to inform them right now!”

Catra smirked at Glimmer. “For once, you’re saying something useful, Sparkles. You and Arrow Boy warn the villagers. Adora and I will deal with the Horde soldiers.”

Adora looked worried. “But they’re not here yet, Catra. Maybe we can—”

“No,” Catra interrupted firmly. “They’ll come, and when they do, you need to be She-Ra. We can’t let them know who you really are. Got it?”

Adora nodded, grateful to have Catra by her side. She couldn’t help but smile, knowing Catra was there to help her protect the village. As the atmosphere grew more tense, Catra pulled her hood over her head, ready to keep herself hidden.

Just as expected, the sounds of approaching tanks rumbled in the distance, and the Horde soldiers began their assault on the village. Catra turned to Adora, her voice low and urgent. “She-Ra, don’t destroy the tanks if you can avoid it. We might need them later.”

Adora nodded once more and, without hesitation, transformed into She-Ra. Her glowing sword illuminated the battlefield as she sprinted into the fray, deflecting blasts and pushing back the Horde soldiers. Catra, hidden in her hood, moved with stealth and precision, taking down soldiers from the shadows. Despite the chaos, she was still sharp, her skills as Hordak’s former second-in-command proving invaluable. **This was routine for me,** Catra thought, as she swiftly neutralized enemy forces.

Glimmer and Bow had already succeeded in evacuating the villagers to safety, and now they joined the fight. Though not as experienced as Adora and Catra, they held their own, providing support and keeping the Horde soldiers at bay.

Suddenly, from one of the tanks, a figure stepped out—Lonnie. She was now wearing the insignia of a Force Captain, her posture exuding confidence. She didn’t recognize Adora as She-Ra, but she certainly noticed the power radiating from the new princess as she tore through the Horde’s forces.

Catra caught sight of Lonnie and couldn’t resist a small, amused smile. **So they made Lonnie a Force Captain, huh?**

After a fierce battle, the Horde soldiers were forced to retreat. She-Ra had smashed through their ranks, and Catra had single-handedly taken down several tanks without causing too much destruction. When the last of the Horde forces had fled, Adora reverted to her normal form, running up to Catra and embracing her tightly.

“Catra, we did it!” Adora said, though her voice was tinged with anxiety. “But… we can’t go back to the Fright Zone now. They’ll know we fought against them. What do we do? Where do we go?”

Adora’s panic began to set in, but Catra, as always, kept her cool. “Adora, stop panicking. Do you really want to go back to that place?” Catra’s voice was calm but firm.

Before Adora could respond, Glimmer and Bow approached, looking both relieved and grateful. Glimmer stepped forward, her expression serious yet soft. “You two saved us all. You don’t have to worry about going back to the Horde. You can come with us—to Bright Moon. I’ll talk to my mom for you.”

Glimmer hesitated, guilt flooding her expression. “And… I’m really sorry. I was a jerk earlier. I should’ve understood your situation better. I didn’t mean to blame you for something that wasn’t your fault.”

Adora smiled kindly, shaking her head. “No, it’s okay, Glimmer. We *were* Horde soldiers. You had every reason to be suspicious. But things are different now, right, Catra?”

Catra, who was still getting used to hearing Glimmer apologize, raised an eyebrow. She hadn’t expected the princess to admit she was wrong, but it was somewhat satisfying to hear. With a smirk, she replied, “It’s fine, Sparkles. Just don’t make a habit of it.”

Bow, ever the optimist, threw his arms around the group in a big, dramatic hug. “Best Friend Squad!” he declared.

Catra grimaced in mild irritation but didn’t shove him away. For now, at least, it was fine.