So, it was originally going to be a one-shot, but I got a viewer's request (thank you so much for your idea!), so here's chapter two!

Thanks to everyone who read, reviewed and favourited! I appreciate it a lot ^^

Enjoy!

Adora froze up when hissing reached her ears. Oh no…

"Come on!" Glimmer whispered, pulling on her friend's arm to get her to move. Shaking her head to free herself of her trance, Adora gave in, walking along. With Bow in the lead, they snuck down a corridor. Adora knew where the hissing and growling was coming from – she had practically heard it all her life. In the training exercises, whenever Shadow Weaver had appeared, even in her dreams, Catra would make her cat-like noises.

The memories flowed past Adora in a constant stream until she suddenly noticed to have already reached the Queen's throne room.

"She escaped through the window," a guard informed, fiercely being growled at before being able to show his superior respect by using her title.

"I can show myself out, thank you." Catra spat, wiggling out of his grip. The guards dashed forward immediately, but Queen Angella peremptorily lifted her hand. The men halted in their tracks, forming a half circle around the prisoner. Catra raised a brow, relaxing her fighting stance. Her tail twitched as she turned her attention towards the Queen with – Adora knew – feign confidence.

"Commander… Catra," Queen Angella sharply said, sitting up straight in her throne.

"Force Captain, actually," Catra smirked with a purr in her voice. She tapped the pin over her heart repeatedly, letting her claws clink on the metal. The Queen looked confused for a moment, before growing irritated with the Horde member's attitude.

Adora's blood rushed through her ears, her heart pounding. She did not want to watch Catra being sentenced to… anything, actually. Then again, she did not want to hear about it later, either. She needed every detail, know if the new Force Captain earned her punishment by being too cocky or if she could – perhaps – be reasoned with.

"You have been brought here after the assault of an innocent village," the Queen continued, avoiding any titles. Catra raised a single brow, but something about her expression told Adora that she was not as sure as she pretended to be. Did she, by chance, not remember what had happened?

A rush of new feelings swarmed the blonde. If Catra had lost a part of her memory, then she would surely be reasonable and could be convinced! She could join them and leave the Horde forever! Even if she would at some point recover her memories, she would never want to go back after witnessing how different and just how much better her life would be in Bright Moon.

"… will be sentenced to-"

"Wait!" Adora burst from her hiding spot. The entire assembly jumped and for a second, Adora thought she had created an opening for her former best friend to escape, but the latter seemed to be as momentarily shocked as the others.

"Adora," Queen Angella's voice warned, as she leaned forward, narrowing her eyes. Adora could hear Bow and Glimmer whisper behind her, trying to get her to come back, most likely shrinking beneath the Queen's icy gaze, falling silent. Without knowing what to do or say, Adora stood there, all eyes burning into her. What had she thought she would be able to accomplish? Convince them of the prisoner's innocence by theorising on a memory loss which she was not sure of herself?

"I, ehm…" she stuttered, feeling obliged to walk further into the room. Luckily, her boots did not clack on the stone floor, but the unwavering attention on her did not help with coming up with a sensible judgement in the least.

"Adora, I do not remember asking you for your opinion; please, stand down." Angella said. Her voice was now calm, though the anger of being interrupted and challenged in her decisions was slicing through her tone. Adora felt her heart beat up into her throat, clogging it. Her face flushed a deep red.

"Please, Your Majesty, be lenient with her, she-"

"Adora!" The Queen made her wince, alongside her friends. She shot a glare towards the entrance, summoning the two in hiding into the room. Bow and Glimmer reluctantly entered, keeping their heads low as they came to stand behind Adora. "I've had enough. Commander, please see to it that she will not interfere my verdicts again."

"Yes, Your Majesty…" Glimmer obediently said in a small voice. She had retreated to the same formal language her mother was using, knowing it to be better for their image in front of the Horde member.

Adora stiffened up when Glimmer gently, yet urgently placed a hand on her shoulder. She did not want to get her friends into trouble, but she simply could not wait and watch how Catra was being sentenced to imprisonment or… worse.

Catra had not turned back to the scene after Adora's outburst, frustrating Adora. If only she could see her expression, know if she was doing the right thing, even if it cost her being grounded or excluded from the next mission. She had to know if she would be able to save her childhood best friend; make everything right!

"Your Majesty, if I may just-"

"No, I have heard enough of you for today,"

"But if I can prove that there's another way! I can help,"

"Adora…?" Glimmer hissed from behind her. Her hand became more forceful, trying to save her friend and herself further embarrassment.

"We don't have to be the way the Horde acts, we can find another way to treat prisoners – help them!" Adora took a few steps forward, out of her friend's grasp. In an appeasing manner, she tried to near the throne, passing the unsettled cluster of guards. "Task me with rehabilitating her; I know that we can win a very powerful ally against the Horde, If we do this right-"

"Oh, Adora," Adora winced upon hearing Catra's voice next to her, "Sweet Adora," she carelessly went past the guards, stopping only centimetres away from Adora. Her patronising exhale tickled the blonde's skin. "You don't need to drag the Rebellion's name even further through the mire." She narrowed her mesmerising eyes with a smirk, tilting her chin up the slightest bit.

Adora's ribcage was nearly bursting with the fierce beating of her heart. She did not know why exactly, but staring into Catra's eyes at this short distance, everyone of her new allegiance, her new life watching… She felt a shiver shake her through, gulping when the minimal movement made her nose brush Catra's.

Adora gasped when being punched in the stomach. Her eyes shot open as she hunched over. Voices flooded the room, echoing from all sides, shortly fading with the force of the blow blurring her senses.

"Adora!" Glimmer and Bow exclaimed at the same time, coming to support her on both sides. Straightening, the blonde's eyes raked through the commotion, unbale to spot her target anywhere. The Queen was shouting orders, the guards storming out of the throne room.

She had escaped. Again.

Adora ignored the angry voice of Angella, as well as the calls from her friends. She ran outside, her breath coming short, burning in her lungs. She saw the guards, filtering into every direction, completely clueless. She really had escaped.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Adora shook her head. This was not right! She had ruined everything! And yet, the potential of her plan would not leave her. Her feelings overwhelmed her, not allowing her to recognise her actions as a mistake. She wanted to set this right so desperately, she did not even notice herself being controlled by her longing feelings of being friends with her now nemesis.

Running around aimlessly, Adora forced her brain to come up with solutions. Could she still convince Catra if finding her, even if the latter had made up her mind? Even if she had not lost her memories, would there be a possibility to get her to change sides? Genuinely?

Adora yelped when being jumped on. She stumbled backwards with the weight on her chest, her balance failing her at the edge of the bridge. Staring into of panic widening, two-coloured eyes, she fell backwards. Catra gave a shriek, clawing into the blonde's clothes.

They fell down the side of a building, rolling into the fortunately close undergrowth. With grunts and groans of pain, they crashed into a tree, dropping from its crown into the bushes. Catra growled, giving a sharp hiss of pain.

Opening her eyes again, Adora stared into the Horde Captain's face. She winced when being slapped away, only now noticing to have held on to her former best friend.

"Catra-" She held out her hand to stop the girl from escaping, actually succeeding.

"Just, leave me alone, will ya!" Catra growled, freeing herself of leaves and branches, wincing far too often to be uninjured. The blast from hours ago must have still been taking its toll on her, or she would have long been gone.

"Look, Catra, I just want to help-"

"I don't need your help!" Catra spat, wildly staring at Adora when having her arm taken. It visibly hurt her as she supressed a groan, her expression tensing up in focusing not to show weakness.

"Catra,"

"I said I don't need your help, and I don't want it," Catra tore her arm free. She darted forward before Adora could sit up, landing on her, like she used to when capturing her out of fun. Or checking if she was alright. Adora felt a sting of remorse in her chest. "You can't even take care of yourself, Adora, so before you go around again, prancing and showing off just how good you have it," Catra leaned in, her nose this time not only brushing the blonde's, but full on squishing it, "figure out which side you're on," she hissed in a threateningly quiet voice, nearly faltering, it seemed.

Adora opened her mouth to reply, immediately closing it again when accidentally touching Catra's lips with her upper one. Completely taken aback and as shocked as Adora, Catra jumped back, her face burning with blush. She stared at the blonde, her legs quivering as her mind raced, indecisive for a heartbeat.

With a frustrated, confused growl, she jumped away, running off and into the Whispering Woods. Panting, Adora merely sunk together, her mind blank, her heart torn between racing and standing still.

This was a battle she could not win.