"Heeey Adora…"

Adora was frozen in shock. There on the throne sat her childhood best friend turned worst enemy. "C-Catra…" It took all of Adora's will to speak that one word. How was she here? Did she leave the Horde? Oh no what if this is a trap!? Adora could not dwell on these thoughts for long as her attention was diverted by a shrill scream.

"Aaaaaaaggggghhhhhh! What are YOU doing here Horde Scum!?" Glimmer shrieked pointing a shaking finger at Catra. To his credit Bow was only having an internal scream but still had his namesake drawn ready for a fight.

Before Catra could respond with any snarky comeback there was the sound of loud stomps as a door was slammed open revealing the tall, sweet and strong Fright Zone princess Scorpia. "Wildcat are you alright? I heard screaming!" Scorpia yelled in worry. The Best Friend Squad turned to the new arrival and this time all three screamed. "Oooh you're busy. I'll.. I'll just come back later."

Then to top off this series of chaotic events an overhead air duct broke open and Entrapta fell to the ground.

"Halfmoon log day 25.. 26? No definitely 25; air ducts over the throne room do not have the structural integrity for human weight; perhaps this is due to the lighter bone and muscular structure of magicats? In any case work will need to be done." The tech princess then took in her surroundings and looked over at the three envoys who all looked like they had seen a ghost. "Oh hey guys I haven't seen you since we raided the Fright Zone, How are you doing?"

This was met with the appropriate and not at all over the top reaction of the three Brightmoon envoys screaming at the top of their lungs and pointing at Entrapta.

"Mom, are all humans this screamy?" Kaita asked the queen, plugging her ear to all the loud noise.

"Not since I last visited outside the kingdom. Unless this is a new trend that has become popular in that time I would say these parties have a history together" Cyra responded, her own ears also plugged.

Catra pinched the bridge of her nose letting out an exasperated sigh. "Scorp, would you please escort 'Trapta back to her lab.. I'm kinda in the middle of something here."

The bug girl nodded."Yes ma'am princess wildcat! Hehe princess that is so weird considering you always hated-"

"Scorpia out! Now!" Catra shouted blush creeping to her cheeks and her tail slightly bristled.

"Oh uh yes ma'am!" Scorpia saluted, dragging Entrapta away by her hair. "Oh and it was nice seeing you guys again! Sorry about the kidnapping, and almost tossing the bow boy into that turbine it was just a job. Horde Force Captain duties you know." And with one last awkward claw wave the two left the room.

After a brief moment of silence Adora decided to be the one to cut the tension. "Catra… seriously what are you doing here?" the blond asked.

Catra smirked and slouched back onto the throne " I live here now. Found my mom and she turned out to be a queen so yeah..here I am."

"Bullshit." Glimmer glared daggers at Catra. "How dare you.. how fucking dare you!"

Catra looked to her as if to study the intensity of Glimmer's rage. "How dare I what Sparkles?

"How dare you impersonate Cyra!" Glimmer shouted, marching her way to the throne. "Not only did you play with her parents' and sister's emotions but you desecrated her memory by sitting on what would be her throne! I. knew you were low Catra but this….this is just wrong."

"Glimmer, do not speak to her like that!" Cyra growled.

"Relax mom I'll handle this" Catra stated not letting her eyes leave her accuser.

"Don't call her that!" Glimmer yelled in viceral fury. "You are not her daughter! You are NOT Cyra III!"

"Really Sparkles? Got any proof of that?" Catra smirked, not even phased by the outburst. "I mean heterochromia is not exactly common and it would be really really hard to find a magicat who had the same hair color and fur style to match the princess, explain how I am a perfect match."

"I don't need to explain it! Glimmer said through gritted teeth her hands shaking in rage at the mockery of her lost friend. " I-It does not matter if you have her eyes, or her fur, or her hair. You..you aren't-"

"I thought Adora was the moron of your little brigade 'Glim-Glim'." Catra interrupted.

Glimmer gasped, putting her hands over her mouth in stunned silence. All of her building rage disappeared in an instant only to be replaced by the icy chill of creeping dread. There was no possible way Catra would know that nickname, Cyra would only ever call her that when they were alone. She never told her parents about it. The only way for Catra to have knowledge of that name would be for her to be-.

"It really is you…" Glimmer said in shock.

"Give the girl a prize." Catra smirked.

Glimmer took a large gulp of air after putting the proverbial foot in her mouth. "M-my apologies Queen Cyra, King Leondus. I was out of line." The monarchs looked over her sternly " it is not us who you should be apologizing to." Leondus states.

Glimmer set her eyes back on the smug as hell Catra and was caught between gritted teeth and crying from the sheer amazement of her childhood friend being alive. "I am sorry princess Catra, I was out of line questioning tour legitimacy.."

Catra let out a long hmmmm as if to torture the Brightmoon heir as long as she could before Cyra glanced her a dirty look

"Very well Princess Glimmer in the name of peace civility I shall forgive your transgression." Catra said in a terrible cringy as heck royal accent. The tone comes off way to overbearing and condescending that It made even Bow shudder.

"Okay yeah you were not wrong if that's what she thinks a royal tone is she DOES need lessons." Bow states still reeling from the awful display. "That was almost as bad as Adora's lying voice.''

"Hey I sound more convincing than that!" Adora grumbles indignantly at the criticism of her acting having managed to suppress all of her questions about Catra being both a princess and apparently an old friend of Glimmer's.

"No you don't…" Bow Glimmer and even Catra respond in unison.

Adora's face grew red with embarrassment but shook it off to ask the really important question. "Catra..what happened? Why are you here and not in the Fright Zone?"

Catra studied Adora for a moment deciding how much to tell her ex-best friend. "Well Adora." The Magicat princess began. "The quick answer is after I let you and Sparkles escape with the sword...I defected."