Where Do We Go From Here?

Kitatanya

Chapter 36

A/N: Thank you for your support! You're awesome!

Read on, loves!

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Adora was trying her best not to fidget with her wrinkled and dirty clothes as she and Catra and Melog stepped outside. The fact the Catra was pressed against her tightly, walking with her head held high and looking almost loftily satisfied and just as wrinkled as she, was helping, but still. She couldn't help but to feel as if she were doing a disservice to the other princesses and Bow and Glimmer, not to mention She-Ra's spirit, looking like she'd spent the night curled up in the corner of a dusty little shop like she'd spent a large portion of yesterday afternoon doing, before the people depending on them.

The sight that greeted her pushed those thoughts immediately away because the building they were apparently using as their base of operations here was the last building standing between the city and the destruction of the battlefield. The bodies were gone now, but the sight of all of the crushed stone and crumbled buildings and the memory of them still made a part of her weep. Catra's fingers left hers and her mate's arm was immediately about her waist. Loving her more, Adora wound her arm about her shoulders and squeezed her tightly against her.

The both of them were trembling and she saw that same grim sadness in her mate's eyes, but over it was love and that burning hope she'd felt from her when they'd woken. She'd felt Catra see the end of the war through the smoke and flames and how that hope had led her into being able to see yet another truth in their bond. Catra's mind kept telling her that her mate believed she always saw the world around them with her heart, but Catra was almost always the one that saw the truth in theirs.

No, their fight wasn't anywhere close to over. They still didn't know much of anything at all. Blood was still plotting his havoc, still trying to reach whatever horrible goal he wanted and the people of Etheria suffered in his wake. Not just here in these places that they'd seen with their own eyes, but those they couldn't see who were suffering too. Their mission to follow Glimmer's heart over Etheria to help give the people the tools to fight back in the only way they could was still a ways away and in the weeks it would take for those charms to be completed, there was no telling how many innocent lives would be lost.

Swift Wind's mission to contact Huntara was seeming more and more like a hopeless fool's errand every time she thought of him. She wished, more than anything that their bond worked both ways and that she could contact him instead of being forced to wait until he contacted her. She knew there had to be a good reason he wasn't, but it hurt her so much not to know where he was in ways it hadn't really hurt to not know in the past.

And over it all, the longer they delayed more and more worlds fell to Catalyst's destruction. She knew it took her time from one world to the next, but the more lives she took, good and bad and innocent and evil, only fed the awful power of she and her Dark Swarm. She knew it, had felt it there in She-Ra's spirit as one with her mate, but Catra's hope burned stronger than it all.

Adora had her own hope now, her own certainty that they would win. The alternative of loss wasn't something she would ever be able to accept. So long as there was life and power in her heart, she was strong enough again now to keep right on fighting all on her own. But she wasn't alone, never alone ever again, and the fires that burned inside this woman she loved burned in blazes equal too and some even stronger than her own.

The darkness of the cosmos had no idea what it had done, by pushing her mate through those horrors of her past. Her own journey into the jaws of evil was nothing compared to how completely Catra had been consumed. And now every single pain she'd endured and all of those horrors, now served as never-ending fuel to those fires of everything good and loving and true inside of her. And seeing it, feeling it even without the bond they shared, seared that grim sadness away with the white-hot flames of their promise between them. There was nothing she would not do for her mate, no darkness she could not now endure, and no evil she would not face for the woman she loved with all she was; mind and body and soul.

Catra saw it in her eyes and those sparkling heterochromatic eyes darkened in seconds. Her faces was flushed, lips parted as she panted now for breath and Adora was struggling just as hard for her own. All of her wanted nothing but her mate in that instant, but she knew and Catra knew, they had to wait. But soon, very soon if she had anything to say about it, she was going to get lost in her mate and the cosmos could spin without them for a time. Because over all of those horrors and that tug always in her heart, Catra was what she wanted and she knew again with all of her that she was all Catra wanted too.

It was almost a relief when she heard the sound of someone calling them from somewhere outside this every quickening spiral of need and hunger spiraling between their eyes. "She-Ra!"

The voice calling was female and hearing her say She-Ra's name gave her the strength to reign herself in enough to tear her gaze from the universe of passion in her mate's glistening eyes before she lost the very last shred of her control. She heard Catra let out a tiny sigh that was a mix of relief and regret to match her own and she felt her mate's body shiver ever so slightly as she pulled just a tiny bit away. Adora had to swallow, hard, and fight not to close that tiny distance, because she knew they needed it. And she knew if she gave into the urge, the only place they'd be going was right back to their room.

Forcing herself to see the world around them, she looked in the direction the woman had called from. And there, from the direction of the crumbled wall, were two mages walking over the crumbled battlefield, heading their way. As she and Catra started towards them, she realized one was the grizzled, almost completely silver-haired man she'd heard Glimmer fondly speak to the day before, Yon, but she'd never seen the raven-haired woman before. She couldn't really be surprised for not recognizing her. She and Catra hadn't had much time to get to know all of their forces and even the ones she knew by sight -the ones not lost in yesterday's gruesome battle- she did not know the names of. But something about this woman, made her instantly think she might be a nice person to get to know and it was odd, but it felt right all the same.

She was beautiful, smiling, walking tall with confidence, and looked to be close in age to Spinnerella and Netossa. Though as they drew closer, the sparkle in her violet eyes and the easy candor to her smile betrayed a somehow happy spirit that made her question the assumption almost immediately. She was stunned when Melog surged forward when they were almost right upon them, purring thunderously, and she got a sudden sense that Melog had been holding themselves back. She felt Catra stiffen and almost stop short at the sight and then both of them stopped when the woman immediately knelt to greet them with an even bigger smile, full of affection and happy pleasure. They didn't touch, but she could instantly see they shared some sort of bond that made them both very, very happy. It pleased her and she knew it pleased Catra, but it was so very surprising, all she could do was stare.

"Hello, my friend!" The woman said warmly, her voice high and clear. "I see you're looking well." Melog chuffed happily and lifted their chin in a rather lofty manner that pulled a tinkling laugh from the woman and her sparkling eyes seemed to sparkle all the more. "Yes. Very well indeed." She murmured, happily amused.

"Jasa." Yon chuckled, his voice low and rich, though he was looking at Melog in a fond way as well. "We're being rude to our Princesses." As he said the words, Jasa was instantly contrite, and he stepped forward, his sky-blue eyes sparkling with a mix of respect and amusement. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, vessels of She-Ra. My name is Yon and I and my young pupil, Jasa, are happily at your service." He bowed in a regal manner as he said the words.

Like Jasa, she found herself almost instantly fond of him too and wasn't sure why. "It's very nice to meet you, Yon, Jasa." She nodded to him and to her as she rose from the ground behind him and bowed as well. "I'm Adora."

She glanced down to her mate in question, who narrowed her eyes ever so slightly and she felt her Catra's tail undulating behind them, brushing against her legs. Her mate had sensed her immediate fondness for them and respected it, but she wasn't quite sure of them herself just yet and knew she'd rather let her do the talking for now. Adora smiled harder, full of love for her before looking back up.

"And this is Catra. My mate." She heard Catra barely stifling a pleased purr at the introduction and saw Yon and Jasa smiling in easy acceptance of the term.

They were from Mystacor, she knew, and so knew as easily as Castaspella had- and Micah as well, she realized belatedly- the bond of mates and what it meant, like the other mages there that had not been informed of their soul-bond and its power had too; Overseer Beryl might not have been familiar of the term itself, but her actions and She-Ra had made the connotations loud and clear. It was freeing seeing their acceptance in the same way it had been freeing to see Huntara's and she thought that these two would be people she might be able to consider as friends in the future.

Then, she smiled down at Melog, who was all but bursting with even greater happiness now. "And I see you've already met Melog." She murmured, letting all of her love for Melog ring in the words.

At that, Jasa was immediately beaming again. "We have. Melog is wonderful!" She gushed, sending that dazzling smile to them.

Yon chuckled. "Yes. Their understanding and comprehension for magic and their passion for learning truly is a wonder." She sensed a burning curiosity from Catra than matched her own and Yon seemed to see the question they wanted to ask, because he continued only a moment later. "I'd come to the settlement Jasa was stationed at under you and the other princesses when I had a brief respite from my duties, to continue her training with some of our other mages, before she was reassigned. She's all but a master already, but her mind never stops looking for more knowledge." The glance he sent her then was full of a kind of fatherly pride and affection.

"And then, out of nowhere, Melog appeared before us. They were silent, simply watching for a time, and though we wondered at them, we left them be. Magic speaks to magic and having them there only seemed to make us all want to push harder. Then, another wonder, they were before us in a new form, drawing a rune only a few of us had ever seen. They humbly asked to join us in our pursuit of learning and we all readily agreed."

"It was amazing!" Jasa gushed again, her face flushing with happiness as she looked back to Melog and, to Adora's astonishment, Melog actually looked more than a little abashed and pleased by the words and the attention; they were all but blushing too in their own unique way. "I love to learn, but having Melog around makes it even more fun!"

Again, Yon let out a soft laugh. "And they certainly had you pushing yourself to a fine form that night!" He praised and when he looked back to them he seemed to almost glow with pride and happiness. "I hadn't thought she could push herself much further than she already had been, but when I tell you, your majesties, I'd never seen such a sight as the two of them working their magic together." Then, he seemed to realize something and his pale cheeks flushed with a rosy grin. "Forgive me for speaking so freely. I forgot myself." He apologized in a humble murmur as he bowed his head as Jasa grimaced and echoed the action.

Catra let out a low laugh the moment she did and her mate was shaking her head as Adora replied. "Don't apologize. We'd actually prefer it if you spoke freely."

Jasa was instantly smiling her dazzling smile again, but Yon looked stunned by the prospect. "We couldn't possibly."

Catra's arm squeezed about her and Adora was gently surprised as her mate replied this time. "Honestly, it's what we'd like." There was laughter in her voice and Adora sensed from it that her mate had warmed to them herself now. Then, she saw that familiar mischievous twinkle in Catra's eyes that had her grinning before Catra continued. "I'm still not used to the whole 'princess' thing yet, so don't worry about offending us." She actually air quoted the word 'princess' with her free hand as she made the joke and Adora couldn't contain her laugh or the urge to squeeze her mate even more tightly for a moment.

Jasa shook her head and laid it on Yon's shoulder, cutting off whatever it was he was about to say. "Come on, Master Yon." She murmured fondly. "You can't refuse our majesties' request! Besides, Melog's with them. Somehow I doubt they'd be comfortable around people who weren't genuine." Again she flashed Melog an affectionate smile, before beaming at them.

Melog looked so very happy now, Adora wouldn't be surprised if they floated away at any moment. Then, she felt a fiery flicker from the bond that had her looking over at her mate in an instant. Okay. Forget magic. I want to know more about this! Her heterochromatic eyes were bright with the excitement in those whispered words and with them flowed a burst of memories of Melog's smug attitude the night they'd carried them to that mountaintop meadow to be in solitude with one another and their absences.

Catra was aching to ask more questions and she couldn't deny she was more than a little curious herself, but Melog was suddenly pressing against them and when she and Catra glanced down, there was a plea in Melog's eyes. She knew her mate understood that look as well as she did and knew Melog didn't want them to make a big deal out of it. She was flooded with guilt for ruining Melog's happy mood with their shared curiosity and Cara was reaching out to stroke them in apology. She knew neither of them could deny them the request in light of everything Melog had done for them, no matter how curious they were. Melog always respected their privacy and they deserved that same respect in turn. Melog's plea dissolved into a such an adoring expression it made her heart melt just a little and Catra was purring in response as she let out a low sigh and reached out to stroke Melog's cheek. They purred thunderously under their touches and then broke free of them to wind tightly around them for a long moment, embracing them in their own special way.

"See." Jasa spoke the word like she'd just won an argument and Adora glanced up to see she and Yon watching them fondly.

She got the sense they hadn't understood the nuances of the interaction they'd just had, but understood they'd had a silent conversation of sorts. Again, their easy understanding of this bond too, made her feel more secure in their presence. She could understand now why Spinnerella, Netossa, and Glimmer seemed to trust these two mages so very much.

"So." Her mate started after a moment. "I take it you're the ones Glimmer asked to transport us to Dryl?" She asked lightly.

The both of them nodded. "Indeed." Yon replied. "Queen Glimmer approached me this morning with the request and told me to select a few of my fellows I trusted for the task, so of course, I had to select my pupil to be among them." Again, he glanced at her with a fierce affection and pride. "She asked me to stand by until I spoke with you for confirmation and Jasa wished to join me. We have three more of our fellows stationed with the guards around the vehicles. We're ready to leave the moment you say the word."

Adora nodded in response to the gentle fervency of the words. "We have a few people to pick up before we can go, but I promise you won't have to wait much longer."

Yon smiled kindly at the words. "It's no trouble at all." She saw a twinkle of humor in his eyes, but he didn't speak further.

Jasa however laughed and the grin she shot at them then was almost impish. "If it's at the request of a pretty woman, Master Yon would wait a century." She laughed.

Immediately, Yon flushed brightly and sputtered a flabbergasted sound as he glared at his grinning pupil. Catra burst out laughing a fraction of a moment before she did and Melog was chuckling through their thunderous purr. Okay. I like her. The laughing words from her mate delighted her to no end. Jasa was a world different from any other mage they'd ever met and she liked her too. She greatly looked forward to getting to know her, and Yon too, a little better in the future if there was time.

"Well, we'll hurry anyway." She made a mighty effort to reign in her humor as she spoke the words. "Meet you near the vehicles?"

Yon was still more than a little embarrassed as he nodded. He immediately turned to depart, but Jasa lingered to flash Melog another affectionate smile and them a bobbing nod of happy respect and a dazzling smile of their own, before she followed. A part of Adora was still surprised still by the instant likability of the two, but the rest of her could only be happy knowing that good people like they seemed to be were fighting together with they and all of their friends to help keep their home safe in their own way. And also was the fact that their friends had singled them each out as important too. Spinnerella might trust a little more easily than Netossa, but neither of them would have trusted just any person to go contact Glimmer with so much confidential information and Glimmer had given Yon one of the few charms they had to spare and had spoken to him fondly in front of the entire Alliance Army and the Enlightened clones.

It wasn't until that moment that she realized Yon could have taken the charm to Entrapta and Hordak and explained it's use to them far better than she and Catra could. Realizing that let her know at once that Glimmer and Bow had simply wanted to give them an excuse to see them and spend time with them, because they hadn't known about the technician among Ramel's new brothers at the time. She looked down at her mate to see Catra gazing up at her with love and curiosity for the sudden swelling of happiness she was feeling right now.

We have the best friends. She murmured through the bond, letting all the happy giddiness she was feeling color the words and her realizations. Her mate was purring again in an instant and her heterochromatic eyes were sparkling now with the same giddiness she felt.

"How did we get so lucky?" Catra murmured aloud, leaning up to brush their lips together in a kiss.

Adora lost the ability to reply and could only surge into that gentle kiss with happy exuberance. She didn't know how they'd gotten so lucky and in this moment, she didn't care. All she felt was happy and loved and that was more than enough for now. They parted after only a moment, before that kiss could spark again the fires of passion always burning inside her. She saw the thought reflected in Catra's gorgeous eyes and she wondered at it, even as Catra was wondering at it too.

Melog let out a low chuckle and unwound themselves from around them. 'Come!' The word was a playful growl as they took a few almost bouncing steps towards the deeper parts of the city.'We have a mission to complete and the sooner we see it done, the sooner may we follow other pursuits.' Their voice was full of anticipation and a fierce happiness and their tail and head were held high, ears perked to display all that emotion openly in a way they didn't often do anymore.

It made her even more fiercely happy to see it and she felt Catra practically vibrating with the strength of her own. She knew and her mate knew that Melog would be gone again tonight and now they knew why. And the mixing of meaning with that knowledge left her all but dazed.

Melog would be with people they obviously enjoyed being around, doing something they loved for themselves. Even as that knowledge they were gleaning was helping them too, seeing and hearing about Melog doing something they were passionate about beyond she and her mate made her so very happy. Catra was gazing at them with a tender expression and she knew her mate was even happier about it than she was. Catra had been much sadder than she was about Melog's preferred life of silence and she knew her mate loved realizing that Melog had made friends of their own, even as they chose to remain by their side almost always.

On top of that, it all but assured that tonight was a night she and Catra would get to be alone together in utter privacy, because Melog would assure their safety before they left, just as they'd done each time they'd done so. Remembering those long, all-consuming moments of passion they'd been granted that night upon that lofty peak under the stars… again, she was all but swooning at the thought. Her mate's eyes were almost as distant as hers when she looked back to her with a slow and lazy smile, eyes half lidded and sparkling dazzlingly. She instantly wanted to kiss her again, but her mate purred a low laugh and drew away from her instead.

"Come on, dummy." Catra murmured the words with that husky, purring timbre that set all of her not caught up in that swooning daze on fire as she linked their fingers together.

Adora found herself being gently tugged her along after Melog, who seemed about to burst with all that they were feeling, where they waited. She knew she probably looked like an utter fool right now, trailing helplessly behind her mate, but she could not find it in her to care. Catra's fingers were tight around hers, holding her as closely as she dared right now, but Adora felt her tail occasionally curling along her thigh and every barely there brush was like a velvet blow to her heart.

Finally, as they drew up on that building with the red roof Glimmer had told them about, she managed to regain some semblance of sense. When she did, she could finally match Catra's step and this time, she proceeded her mate to the door and opened it for she and Melog like her mate usually always did for them. A flash went through Catra's eyes, a mixing of humor, love, and delight and Melog was again purring thunderously as they stepped past them into the red carpeted entranceway only a step before her mate.

A part of her vaguely saw the opulence of the building's interior as they walked along that hallway, but it wasn't until she heard a wonderfully familiar sound of surprise from a room beyond an archway to their left that she truly registered anything beyond Catra. "Saviors!" Ramel's cry was full of happy surprise and love.

He was already rushing for them around the grand furniture of the room, most of which were couches and chairs packed with his brothers, as she looked up to send him a loving smile. Catra was beaming as brightly as she was and her fingers slipped from hers as they all but surged for him too, so they could draw him into a tight hug. He was hugging them back just as tightly and Melog wound around the three of them, holding them close, and their purring seemed almost more thunderous than ever before.

Again, it was a wonder how strongly they all felt for Ramel and how very strongly he felt for them too. Barely a week had passed since he come into their lives in that gruesome yet awing chance of fate. She and Catra knew now that he'd loved them almost from the moment they'd restored him and he'd realized his life was truly saved. And they'd realized too that they'd loved him then in a way already, for all that Hordak was the only clone they'd ever thought to truly have in their heart. Yes, they'd loved Dak in a way, and that feeling for him had grown into something very much more real upon seeing him in that brand-new way with his brothers and with Ramel. But what they felt for Ramel was special in that totally new way that had let them see the world through new eyes and had sparked the new promise between them. And somehow, knowing about Glimmer and Bow's joyous news, only made her feel it even more strongly right now.

And now, they got to take him to meet Hordak and it was a thrilling thought to have. She couldn't wait and as they pulled apart from that hug, Catra was all but on fire herself too and she knew her mate shared at least a portion of these giddy thoughts. What they were doing today was for the good of their home and a mission towards ending the war, but she got the feeling it would be yet another special memory that would warm them on their mission throughout the stars and fill them with new wonders to enjoy and to cherish when darkness and doubt tried to rock them with its evil touch.

How could today possibly be filled with so much happiness already? It was like they rocketed straight from a pit of despair all the way to the top of a shining mountain of joy in the span of a few short hours after the gruesome and horrifying battle of yesterday. She dismissed the thoughts with a vengeance as soon as she had them. She was going to embrace this happy and cling to it as tightly as she could while she was able and think no further than that. There would be time for deeper thoughts later.

"How has your day been so far, Ramel?" She asked him softly, linking her fingers with Catra beside her once more.

Ramel was all but beside himself with happiness. "It has been very good." He turned back to his brothers, all of whom were smiling their way in some degree. "We have been discussing names. I have told them that a name does not have to have great meaning as does mine, but that I believe our names should be special to us and not just chosen on a whim and Brother Dak agreed with me before his duties began. They will be tokens of our new lives and as our already named brothers do, to swear on your name is to swear with all you are. They will not define us, but only refine us and help up to truly set for ourselves this new way forward." What he was saying and the way his brothers clung to his very meaningful, but gently spoken words, made her feel a little dazed all over again.

She shared a loving glance with Catra, before looking back to Ramel and then past him to his brothers. "That's wonderful. I'm sure that each of you will find the perfect name for yourselves."

Ramel looked back to her, beaming his unabashed smile and looking more than a little dazed himself, before gathering himself a little. "I am sure of it too. But I sense that this visit is not only to check on my new brothers and I." The statement was more a soft question and she heard Catra barely stifle an amused purr.

She was grinning now as she replied. "You're right. There is another reason, but it's a good one, we promise." She was unable to keep the excitement from her tone. Then, she looked among his brothers to single out that soft spoken technician. She prompted him gently and he stood at once to face her. "If it's alright with you, we'd like for you to come with us today." She said softly, trying to make it very clear it was a request and not an order. "We're taking the transports you told us about to some of our people to be studied and what you know could help them in their research."

Even as she spoke the words, he was already nodding his head in agreement. "I would be honored to share my knowledge if it can help this planet that is now our home." His voice rang with conviction as he bowed, crossing his arm over his chest.

"Don't bow." Catra said firmly, but gently, as she took a half-step forward. Adora saw with no small amount of amusement how the technician jerked himself upright, looking more than a little sheepish and staring at the floor as if it were fascinating while his brothers looked to him with a mix of humor and sympathy. She gazed at her mate and was unable to check how very much she loved her or how proud of her she was as she continued speaking, vehement, but still gentle. "We meant what we said yesterday. Yes, we are Princesses sometimes, but we're normal Etherians right now. Just like all of you."

She nodded to them in sharp agreement of her mate's words and Melog let out a low growl, holding their head tall with pride as they pressed against Catra. After a moment, the technician gathered enough courage to look up at them. "My apologies, great Liberators."

Now, it was Adora's turn to step forward. "How about you just call us your friends from now on?" She said it to all of them, but then she looked to Ramel and narrowed her eyes.

He flushed immediately and the look in his eyes was embarrassed and a little helpless as he shrugged with a smile. Catra let out an amused scoff under her breath and she knew her mate saw as well as she did that Ramel didn't plan to call them anything other than his saviors for a time yet. Adora couldn't help but to concede to it for now, but she was going to keep trying all the same.

"Anyway." She said, gathering her thoughts. "We'd like for you to come with us too, Ramel, if you'd like." The technician was obviously willing to go without him, but she still wanted him to meet Hordak, even if the thought was a little bit selfish.

The astounded and fiercely happy look on Ramel's face then made her glad she'd given into the urge and she and Catra dropped their held hands at once. Catra was pressing against her with a deep purr even as she was pulling her mate tightly against her side. But a half a second later, Ramel composed himself and something painful flashed through his monochromatic eyes that had her heart sinking before he spoke. "I would like nothing more than to accompany you, my Saviors. But I feel that my brothers need me to be with them for a little longer."

As he spoke the words, a few murmurs of denial echoed about the room. She was gently surprised when one of them stood up and faced him with a fire in his eyes. "You have done much for us already, our Ambassador Ramel. We can keep to ourselves for a time." Almost every one of the clones was nodding or murmuring in agreement.

She felt a burst of pride and affection for all of them, but when she looked to Ramel, her heart gave a tiny lurch. He was looking at them all with pride and no small amount of affection too, but there was a regret in his eyes and she realized he truly didn't want to leave them alone. Catra squeezed her and she already knew what the look in her eyes was going to be, because she was having the same thought. Indeed, there was a bittersweet storm in those heterochromatic depths that spoke a universe to her soul.

This was Ramel's place now. As much as they wanted him to meet Hordak, he had to follow his heart too. There would be time in the future for them to meet. And seeing this banding together of brothers and how much Ramel truly cared for them already and how much they each already seemed to care for him? It was just as fulfilling in its own way as the thought of introducing him to Hordak.

It also meant, once again, they'd have to wait to speak to Lonnie, Rogelio, and Kyle and the both of them wished there were more time. But just because that technician was willing to go without Ramel, they couldn't possibly abandon him to this trip all alone. It didn't feel right. And Melog had seemed to so very look forward for a time of learning with Jasa and Yon and they had seemed to want nothing else too. It was a tearing of the heart that was as sweet as it was painful, to walk the line between their shared desires. But this was their life and they loved it and these thoughts that spiraled between them, even without that blinding cord to connect them through their everything, spoke it all and a universe and beyond.

She forced her eyes away from Catra's as her mate forced her gaze back up to Ramel. Soon, they'd get lost because it was the inevitable between them. Soon, but not now.

"It's alright." Catra murmured to him, smiling a loving smile that hid all their shared regret. "We can go somewhere together later." The way she said it was a promise and Adora squeezed her fingers a little tighter into her mate's shoulder, hiding that little pang with her love for him too.

Ramel searched their expressions, but something in his eyes told her he wasn't quite fooled even as he nodded his accent. "I look forward to it." As always when he promised something, the words rang with conviction, but there was a tiny little note that again spoke a world.

He knew they wanted him with them, but also wanted him to be where he was happy and he wanted to be with them too, but his duty and feelings for his brothers compelled him to stay. He was agreeing with what they spoke, but it was tearing a part of him too. Seeing that wise understanding from him had her reaching for him without thought. He stepped into their arms and held them tightly and for the first time, she realized it was he was offering them comfort and holding them safe instead of the other way around.

It was sudden and very, very new, but she was relaxing into him as Catra did. Melog's winding embrace was more gentle than it usually was, like they too were letting themselves experience the comfort Ramel suddenly wanted to offer. It was like his new responsibility and the actual realization of a part of the dream he'd only just accepted as a great truth inside himself, had changed him all at once.

She knew the thought was foolish, Ramel had always been this person he was. Just because he had seemed reborn when they'd restored him, he was no more a child than she and her mate were or any of their friends or his brothers. They did not even know how long he had actually been alive since his creation. But, at the same time, it made a part of her feel heavy, realizing all at once that he was strong enough and sure enough to walk a new path without them. It had been inevitable since the moment they'd met him, but just like last night, when he pulled away, there was a goodbye in his eyes and it pained her to see it. She understood it more now for what it was then she had.

Catra was holding her, arm wrapped tightly around her waist as she guided her a tiny step further back from him. She knew her mate was hurting as much as she was, but there was a fierce pride in her eyes that surprised her to see. Then Catra looked to her fully and she saw the pride for what it was even as she reach for their bond to fully share it; a mother's pride. She was proud of him for following his heart. She was proud of him for wanting to follow his passions. And even more than that, she was proud of his growth, his love for them, and his understanding that had moved them and changed them as much as that one act of compassion on their part had changed him so very deeply.

Just like they didn't knew how long he'd lived before them, they could only guess at who he was before he met them. He never spoke of it except in light of how he'd changed after hearing Dak message to them all before Blood. She knew in part it was because he'd been a part of the hive mind before. He'd been a shell amid thousands of other shells before, blindly following and worshiping their creator like all the rest, but like other clones, the experiences they'd had as a part of that hive mind were all a part of him. They realized now that each of these clones had in them a collective knowledge of a kind of life among the stars that they could only begin to understand through the brief, yet all-consuming horror that had been her mate's experience of a part of it. But now, they were free to have their own minds. Now, they could do things for themselves for the first time.

Just like Catra had been freed of her past, now they all were too in a sense and seeing it now in this new way… She was glad, beyond glad he was here. She was glad all of them were here.

She was more thankful in this moment than she had almost ever been before as she reached for that shining cord, tumbling through their everything to be again one with her mate. This was good and right and every bit the true meaning of standing on the side of everything true and whole in the universe, like She-Ra had let the both of them feel so very completely time and time again. Ramel would walk his path, just like they would walk theirs. Just like their friends, princesses and ex-soldier alike, would all follow theirs.

The lines of destiny and fate unfolding all around them, were just as tangled and wonderous as the tangle of bonds within themselves. One word, one action, one moment of passion and devotion to anything, -righteous, evil, kind, or furious- could move mountains, could shape worlds, and send a surging tide of events into motion who's consequences no one could ever hope to fully see. Like the fracted ripples in themselves when they reached something inside themselves that the other did not see or agree with kept going for a time even after they'd repaired the source, so did the fracted ripples of destiny go much further too.

And again, there came a thought that one of them had had while they were apart, at how could just a few short hours, a few short moments, a fraction in time, keep shifting the world around them in such amazing and terrifying and wondrously incomprehensible ways? How could a single moment, or word, or thought ever do these amazing things inside themselves? Yes, they knew it was because of the bond, but it never, ever seemed to stop! There was always more. It made them feel both infinitely tiny and yet so very wondered at the exact same time.

But then, as Melog would around them, holding them steady, they realized they'd let themselves get far too lost all over again. They had to part. There was work to be done.

Neither of them define all that they were feeling right now as they pulled slowly along that blazing, blinding cord full of power and love and promise. It was the everything between them that was infinitely familiar, but right now it felt almost as powerful as the everything when they called this power. They didn't, they didn't call it, but they felt it all the same and as they did, pulling back to that place of true conversation, the white-hot and blinding and blazing flames of their promise seared within their hearts and souls, to match this cord of everything between their minds. It was completion again and wonder to fill them as they parted.

But just before they let go entirely, from one came a thought that had them both holding tightly just a tiny, fraction more. It was love. A love that was pure and undiluted, like a promise all over again to tide them over until they could once again be lost.

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And there we go! I hope you all enjoyed and I hope to see you along as we press on towards the future!

Until next time, loves! Stay safe and read on! Ja!