Adora's eyes were wide at Catra's words. "You..defected? When, and how, and why!?"

"A few weeks ago, stole a skiff, and because I knew I couldn't stay there after giving you the sword Shadow Weaver would have killed me if she found out...which she did" Catra replied.

"Oh.." Adora looked a little saddened. She had hoped Catra would have seen the Horde was evil and choose to fight beside her not just run away because of-. " Wait Shadow Weaver tried to kill you?!" Adora shouted her mind finally catching up to what Catra had said.

"...Duh, That's nothing new Adora she has always hated me, she was just looking for a reason to do so without having to explain a dead soldier to Hordak." Catra said casually. "I told you the day you left that if I didn't bring you back Shadow Weaver would have had my head, You had to have seen this coming Adora!"

Adora trembled and looked down in shame unable to look into the eyes of her former best friend. She had always thought Catra was exaggerating having never been on the receiving end of Shadow Weaver's discipline herself. But after the events of Mysticore and the raid on the Fright Zone Adora began to see the witch for what she truly was; a manipulative sociopath, and a monster who fed on the misery of others.

And she had left Catra alone with her…..

Adora felt sick just thinking about the fact. Her mind spiraling on anyway she could have tried harder or anything she could have said or done to convince Catra to come with her.

"Of course you didn't" Catra rolled her eyes looking down at the blonde."She literally stole me from my family just so she would have a magicat to be her punching bag Adora."

"She's the reason you went missing!?" Glimmer butted in both shock and rage directed at Shadow Weaver. Not only had that woman tortured her and tried to brainwash Adora, but now she is the reason Catra was taken and molded into a Horde soldier? Oh Glimmer was pissed!

Where Glimmer was livid Adora was horrified her hands clasped over her mouth. How long had she blindly followed the witches order? How long had she basked in the praise the monster had placed upon all the while making her once best friend's life a living hell and never once saw the signs? The fact that she didn't even know the answer shook Adora to her core.

Catra could see the horror etched in Adora's face and while it was somewhat cathartic to see her finally grasp the situation the terror Catra saw in her former friends eyes was something she felt all too familiar with and did not want Adora to suffer with.

The Halfmoon princess got up and walked towards Adora resting a hand on her shoulder. "She chose to be a witch, you were just a dumbass Adora.."

This caused Adora to begin snorting and laughing. "Heeeey rude!" She got up and looked at Catra with a smile and smirk. "You know I don't think I have EVER heard a princess say that word Princess Catra~."

Catra's face got super red from Adora calling her by the title. "Sh-shut up idiot!" She shoved Adora back with one of her hands and sat back down on the throne.

"Wait...Adora? Sis is she THAT Adora?!" Asked Kaita. "The one you wrote that song about?"

"You wrote a song about me?" Adora arched an eyebrow her smug smile in full effect.

"Don't flatter yourself. Catra huffed "I was just told to sing about what I was feeling. I didn't know I was being recorded!"

"Aww you care about me how embarrassing for you~!" Adora shot back with a grin only to then feel the sharp but familiar pain of magicat toe claws impale her shin. Adora winced in pain and looked down to see the gold furred culprit.

"That for hurting my sister you butt!" Kaita hissed.

"Kaita Clawdeen D'rilluth! We do not kick our guests in the shins!" Cyra growled at her youngest. "My apologies She-ra she sometimes doesn't think before acting."

"It's fine.." Adora laughed off the minor stinging sensation in her leg. "I am used to magicat scratches. I got them a lot considering Catra and I shared a bed since we were 6."

"I'm sorry what?" Cyra blinked. "You both shared a bed?"

"Yeah I slept curled up at the foot of her bed." Catra answered.

"It helped us both sleep easier and would prevent the other cadets from trying to prank us at night." Adora added.

"Adora...did it ever occur to you that maybe the alliance should have known that the most effective horde soldier we had ever faced was bunking with you for over a decade!?, Glimmer shouted. "No offence Catra"

"Why would I be offended by the compliment?" Questioned Catra.

"So as cute as this is.." Bow interrupted. " And it IS adorable and I love everything about it. We were sent here with a task, your majesties. I think we should get started on the training immediately."

"Ah yes, a very good idea," Leondus said, handing the three a detailed list of royal aspects that needed dramatic improvement. The list was long but issued in orders of severity with Fine Dining and Royal Linguistics at the top of the list.

"Fine dining huh.." Glimmer looked over the list. "Yeah I could see it considering how bad this one is at wolfing down her food." The princess pointed to Adora.

"I'll have some of the servants set up the dining hall for practice." Queen Cyra stated. "Catra could you please show our guests to their quarters while it is being set up? I'm sure you have things you wish to discuss."

"Yes my queen." Catra got up and turned to her mother with a bow causing Adora's jaw to drop. Turning back to the three Catra suppressed a smirk. " Your rooms are this way follow me."

Catra led the Brightmoon trio out of the throne room and through the palace to the guest chambers trying to ignore the quips oohs and aahs the three were constantly blurting out. Catra was still very much annoyed that her mother called on BRIGHTMOON of all places to assist In her training, and worse they sent ADORA with them who thanks to Kaita knew she wrote a damn SONG about her. The tutoring hadn't even started yet and Catra already wished it was over.

"And here is where you will be staying." Catra said all formal pretense having been dropped now that she was no longer on her throne. "Try not to get glitter everywhere okay?"

"Aaaaaand there's the Catra we know…" Glimmer crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "I'm honestly surprised you kept your composure that long."

"My mom and dad drilled that into me on my first week here." The Magicat crossed her arms back. "And the answer is no in case you are wondering."

"No?" Adora questioned. "No to what exactly.."

"To your stupid little princess club!" Catra answered. "No I won't join it."

"Like we would even want you!" Glimmer huffed.

"Well seeing as your opening line of greeting me was an invitation I'd say yeah ya do." Catra taunted smugly.

Glimmer let out a long frustrated groan."How are you and little Cy the same person!?"

"Eh about 12 years of Horde propaganda after getting my mind wiped." Catra snarked. "if the Horde tries to attack Halfmoon I'll kick their ass back to the Fright Zone, but I will not let myself be made to take orders from you Sparkles."

"But seriously Glimmer." The use of the Brightmoon princesses really name causing the three to pay full attention. "Do you really think the rest of your little alliance would be okay with having the girl who bombed the prom in their ranks?"

The Best Friend Squad all winced at varying degrees with Adora looking the worst of the bunch. Her best friend for all of her life was right here but the schism between them felt just as large as ever.

"Besides." Catra continued. "Your group doesn't have a good record with people who are different. Scorpia has told me how even before the Horde took over her kingdom none of the other princesses liked her family, and with Entrapta…you fucking abandoned her in the Fright Zone!"

"We did not mean to!" Bow shouted startling the three girls who all forgot he HAD a shouting voice.

"Didn't mean to what?" Asked Entrapta who had snuck up on them from behind.

The Best Friend Squad all yelped and tumbled onto one of the guest beds in surprise. Catra gave a small laugh having gotten used to Entrapta's spontaneous appearances.

At that moment Catra heard the familiar sound of footfalls charging down the hallway. Scorpia was running towards them at max speed and Catra knew the only outcome to this. She signed and braced herself for what was to come.

The Magicat was suddenly scooped up into the Scorpioni's arms in a protective hug. "Wildcat I heard screaming! Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"

"I'm fine Scorp," Catra rolled her eyes with a small smile. "Entrapta just starteled the guests is all."

Adora felt a strange angry but also not angry? feeling seeing Scorpia pick up Catra like that, and it intensified seeing Catra be okay with it. Catra always hated being picked up even she was barely ever allowed to do so. But the strange feeling had to wait. Right now she needed to focus on the fact Entrapta was here, alive,and they left her behind.

"Entrapta.." Bow began the distraction wallowing Adora to push down the unwelcome feeling. "We thought you were...how are you alive?"

"Why wouldn't she be alive?" Catra narrowed here eyes. * Did you send her off on a suicide mission or something.."

"What? No!" Gimmer gasped in disgust at possibility.

"She got caught in the purging chambers during the lockdown…" Adora answered sternly.

The Magicat's eyes widened at the new information...right before the shock hit Scorpia causing the older princess to drop her.

"The PURGING CHAMBERS!?". Catra ears were up and her tail was flicking wildly. " How the fuck did you survive Entrapta."

"Oh, well just before the flames came out I jumped inside Emily's storage compartment that combined with my hair being fireproof made it simple why?" Entrapta answered.

"Entrapta. l, we thought you perished…" Glimmer responded. "We were all devistated by the loss and the Alliance fell to shambles in grief.."

Entrapta put her mask down as she processed this new information. "You didn't abandon me.."

"We did though." Bow whimpered. " We didn't mean to but we did! Entrapta were so sorry!"

Entrapta lifted up her mask and hair walked over to Bow and gave him a pat on the head "I forgive you."

The Best Friend Squad started to hug Entrapta before the entire group including a reluctant Catra were all wrapped up in a Scorpia hug.

"Yay everyone is friends!" The princess cheered. Catra and Adora glanced at each other until the former looked away causing the latter to pout.

"Um excuse me.." a new voice interrupted the group.

Standing in the doorway of the guest room was a Magicat maid with light fur that grew darker around the ears, tail, and face.

"What's up Saiya?" Catra asked squirming out of the hug.

"Misae is just about finished setting up please come down to the dining hall for the training." The girl bowed and walked away to perform other duties.

"Let's just get this over with….." Catra sighed and began the walk to the dining hall with The B.F.S and S.P.T in tow.

Adora and Catra both sat down at the table in front of the various foods Adora finding out hard not to drool with the smells alone.

"Well.. let's see what we are working with you two." Glimmer got ready to judge them both on performance.

What followed could only be described as an affront to civilized eating. It wasn't something as simple as using the sales fork for the entries or using a stake knife for a butter knife. No as far as Glimmer was concerned she was dealing with 3 year olds eating with their hands. Well maybe not that bad Catra at least ATTEMPTED to memorize the silverware before giving up and using her claws to cut the foods which while a bit on the savage side the Brightmoon princess had to be impressed by the finesse of a magicat's claws. Adora on the other hand was having a melt down and just grabbed every last fork spoon or knife just to be certain she picked up the right one and when that failed did indeed just used her hands.

"That… was..an attempt?" Bow said with a nervous smile.

"It was disgusting…" Glimmer stated flatly.

"Glimmer!" Bow gasped.

"It was!" Glimmer countered. "I mean seriously" she pointed at Catra "you messed up once and gave up even trying to learn! And you!" She turned and pointed at Adora. " You picked up every piece of silverware at once! How Did you think that would work?!"

"I figured if I picked all of them one would be right?' Adora answered looking down bemoaning the failure.

"And I just don't see what the big deal is. What's the difference between this knife and that knife they both cut, don't they?" Catra questioned holding up a steak and butter knife.

"That smoothen knife is meant for cutting butter and other loose solids. The shape keeps the food from getting ripped apart and makes it easier to spread. The other one with it's jagged blade is meant to cut into thick meats…" Glimmer explained and rubbed her temples.

Catra thought about it for a second and snapped her fingers on realization. "Oh now I get it! We need to treat each utensils as a specialized combat unit!"

The statement caused everyone to give Catra a very confused look.

"What do you mean?" Adora asked, still not seeing whatever Catra managed to figure out.

"Try seeing all of the silverware as soldiers, each on specialized to take out a certain food. Like Sparkles said with the different knives one was ment for soft stuff the other for thick meats. The soup spoon has a long handle and deep indent to perfect transfer soup, and the sales fork is designed to stick and hold the leaves more effectively then a generic fork." Catra continued to go into detail on various different utensils and how they would interact with thier perfered food type.

Bow and Glimmer we left speachless at how easily she linked the silverware to soldiers whole Adora just soaked the analogy in. Once Catra had started to explain all the different forks spoons and knives in such a way something in her brain clicked and she understood. She wanted to smile at the fact that what the alliance couldn't teach her in months Catra could in only a few sentences.

"Wow that is super smart Catra I never would have thought about it like that!" Scorpia beamed.

"Eh it was nothing just had to put it in combat terms." Catra shrugged.

And just like that the strange feeling was back in Adora's gut. Just something about the way that they were able to talk to eachother made her mad. She couldn't tell why but it just did and it made her furrow her brow at the display.

"You got a problem?" Catra's voice knocked her out of the trance.

Her former best friend was looking at her with narrowed eyes.

"Um no? Uh why would I?* Adora blushed and looked away emberassed she was caught glaring.

"Well I think thats enough with the fine dining." Glimmer began. "Let's move on to Aaaarrrgghhh!" Glimmer collapsed in pain her body glowing red and glitching.

"Glimmer!" Both Adora and Bow rush to her aid.

"What the heck was that!?" Catra backed up still not very used to all the crazy magic.

"It's been happening ever since we escaped the Fright Zone." Adora explained. "Whatever Shadow Weaver did cursed her."

"And you didn't think to bring this up before now!?" Questioned Catra. The magicat princess grumbled."Scorpia you mind carrying her to the infermery? I'll go explain the situation to the queen, Entrapta this might be runestone related do you think any of your research could help?"

"I have never seen anything like it but a disruption to a runestone connection could be the cause…." The Dryl princess theoriesed. "I'll need to run some tests to be sure"

Scorpia gave a salute with her pincer and hoisted up the injured half angel and carried her to the castle infermery.

An hour goes by and Halfmoon's best healers, sorcerers and Entrapta herself were all pouring over what data they had managed to collect.

"Okay we managed to isolate the problem" Entrapta stated to Glimmer and the rest of the squad whomwas staying by her bed after going over her notes a few more times. "Whatever happened in the Fright Zone interfered with your connection to the Moonstone."

"Can you fix it?" Glimmer said asking the all important question.

"Yes. With the information we have gathered realiging your magic to the Moonstone's frequency can be done." The tech princess answered.

A sigh of relief washed over the room.

"How long will it take for her to recover?" Bow question.

Entrapta looked over to him and shrugged. " I dunno. This has never been documented it's possible this is the first time this has ever been attempted! It could take days weeks or even months!" Entrapta was getting too excited about the prospect of new scientific descovery was haveing trouble reading the room.

"Months?!" The Best Friend Squad shouted simultaneously.

Glimmer started to look distressed. "We are in a war I can't be sidelined for months!"

"Wait..Remember that legend from Plumeria? She-Ra was able to heal people!"

"You can heal people?" Catra looked at Adora skepticaly.

"Well mean I haven't really tried so far but.. If She-Ra can heal I will figure out how." Adora reaffirmed herself.

What followed was a very unsafe display of Adora waving her sword around yelling at it to "Heeeaaaaalllll Glimmeeeeer" but to no avail only ending up with her kicked out of the room after putting the sword of protection through a wall. So she ended up sitting on the castle steps sulking.

Adora was miserable. She was supposed to be the hero everyone could rely on. If she couldn't even heal her friend when she needed her what good was she? Adora looked down at the sword and agian wondered if it made mistake in choosing her.

It was at that moment Adora remembered something. That temple she Bow and Glimmer ran into to escape that beast. I'd had a depiction of She-Ra in it.. if anywhere on Etheria had the answers to how her powers worked that would be the place. Without wasting any time Adora sprinted for the exit of the city she had a mission to do and nothing would stop her.

Unbeknownst to the raceing teen she was not unseen. Catra had been perched up on on of the castle walls and had seen her run off. Knowing how recklass Adora coould be Catra first went to her parents to explain the situation before running of after her.

Adora wandered the Whispering Woods for what seamed like nearly an hour before she stumbled upon the First One's Ruins.

"Eternia!" She spoke with conviction and watched as the entrance opened for her and let of a gigantic bean of energy into the sky. The young hero walked inside determined to find a way to help her friend.

Catra had caught up to Adora by following her scent and watched as the light poured into the sky and winced at the brightness. She saw the entrance begin to close behind her former best riend and lept her way inside as the door slammed shit behind her. Whatever Adora was planing it looked like they would be dealing with it together.