A/N: CONTENT WARNING for one vaguely described scene of violence and that's about it.

The daytime moon sits low in the horizon over the Whispering Woods, heralding the end of another day. The aching in Adora's legs informs her how long she's been walking just as much as the fading daylight, but they continue to move forward, driven by a promise. "If you need me, you will always know where to find me."

So far, that promise has proven to be false. Adora probably deserves that.

She could have brought Swift Wind. Not only would he have made the journey faster and saved her the energy of walking, he and Razz seem to have some kind of connection. Maybe he would have known where to find her. But Adora so did not feel like talking, especially to a revolutionary unicorn who never shuts up or allows her to brood.

Still, she's starting to question the wisdom of taking this journey alone. The woods don't shift anymore now that they're frozen, so she's not lost, but it's not like she has all the time in the world to spare looking for this place. Catra said the queen promised her some time to think about the offer, but she also said she wasn't going to take it, again and again. Eventually Angella's patience will run out and things will go from bad to worse.

They didn't talk much, after Adora's breakdown. Not after a few more weak pleas that Catra gently shut down, placing kisses in Adora's hair. Adora had lost all strength to argue and there wasn't much else to say, so she just let Catra hold her until her stubborn brain finally surrendered and she fell into a restless slumber.

"Hey. Adora, hey." Catra's voice filtered into Adora's consciousness, growing louder as she surfaced. "Wake up." Adora could feel Catra's hands on her arms, gently shaking her, but it was a moment longer before the dream state released her from her paralysis. When it did her eyes popped open with a gasp, flicking about to match her erratic breathing.

"Hey, it's okay," Catra assured her with a hand on her cheek. "Nothing to be scared of, it's just me." That was quite ironic, given how much effort Catra had put into intimidating her for the last couple months, but Adora was hardly in any state to sass her. Her heart was in her throat, the horrific scene still flickering behind her eyelids. A masked man. A rope. Bulging blue and yellow eyes. A scream dying in her own throat.

A tickling sensation shocked Adora back to the moment. She recoiled, but Catra's hand held her in place as her raspy tongue continued licking Adora's cheek. "Ew, stop," Adora protested as she fended her off halfheartedly, which only prompted more licks. Adora shuddered in a mix of arousal and disgust as Catra's tongue dragged under her jaw, and she couldn't help but jerk away as the tip flicked over a sensitive patch on her neck. "Stop, that tickles!"

A satisfied chuckle rumbled out of Catra and she relaxed back into Adora's side. Adora rolled her eyes and tried to hold back a smile, finally able to take a deep breath. A claw lightly tracing her jawline made her eyes flit to the side, finding Catra watching her closely. "Nightmares?"

"Mm," grunted Adora.

"What about?"

Weighing her options for a moment, Adora decided to answer honestly. "Your execution."

Catra's sigh was one of exhaustion more than irritation. "I don't wanna argue about this again."

"Neither do I. You asked," Adora pointed out. Catra conceded the point with a nod and an eye roll, flopping back onto the mattress. Even lying shoulder to shoulder on the cramped bed, Adora immediately missed the contact. Turning onto her side, she absentmindedly dragged her fingertips over Catra's belly before flattening her palm atop it. "You sleep?"

"Nah," Catra said casually, eyes on the ceiling. "Someone had to watch over you."

Adora was vaguely aware of her mouth slipping open, her thumb going still atop Catra's stomach. Mostly she was aware of the swelling feeling in her chest. It hurt, but in a good way. Adora's grip on Catra's shirt tightened as her eyes drank in this girl she'd never realized was so strong. Clearly, that was her own ignorance. She was only starting to understand how much Catra's been protecting her all along.

Despite Catra's obvious efforts not to look at Adora, when there was no answer her eyes flicked over to gauge her reaction. Adora gave her a genuine smile and, after a moment, she smiled back. Squeezing Catra's wrist softly with her free hand pinned between them, Adora told her, "I need to go."

"Let me guess, back to your glittery girlfriend?" It was meant to be a joke, but there was an obvious strain behind Catra's smirk.

Adora gave her a look. "Seriously?"

Averting her eyes, Catra twitched her lips guiltily. "Sorry."

"And no, if you must know. We're not exactly on speaking terms right now." Rolling the fabric of Catra's tunic between her thumb and forefinger, Adora frowned. "I need to go because I'm wasting time here."

Ears drooping, Catra's face fell for a split second before it hardened. "Right."

"Hey, I don't mean it like that," said Adora, hand moving to rest on her cheek. "I like being here with you. But if you're not going to help me, I need to find someone who will." Catra was still scowling and pointedly looking away, so Adora turned her face, demanding eye contact. When Catra grudgingly gave in, Adora leaned in close and smiled. "But thank you for the rest. I needed that."

Before she could think better of it or Catra could protest, Adora quickly pecked her on the lips. Catra's shocked expression was worth the butterflies suddenly fluttering around in Adora's gut, and she grinned reflexively. Standing and stretching, she straightened her clothes and found the remote to summon the guard. Looking over her shoulder as she pressed the button, she found Catra still staring mutely. Adora couldn't help throwing her a smug little smirk as the door opened. Some things never change.

*o*

The mood in the locker room was jubilant. The five of them shared high fives as they shed their gear, then proceeded to reenact key moments from their victory in the showers. It was one of the best simulations they'd ever run as a squad, a great coordinated group effort. Even Kyle had pitched in and managed not to die. But Catra was the hero of the hour, no question. She'd swooped down from the rafters and taken out several bots that had ambushed the others, absolutely trashing the machines with her claws.

Even Lonnie was openly impressed. On her way out she swatted Catra's ass and chirped, "Nice moves, Nine Lives."

Catra flashed her a toothy grin. "You weren't so bad yourself, dipshit." Lonnie laughed as she exited, the rare but sweet sound echoing into the room even once the door shut behind her.

One foot propped up on the bench, Adora smiled down at it as she tightened her shoelaces. It was nice to see Catra and Lonnie getting along for once, their rivalry put aside in the wake of such a victory. She liked them both and hated being in the middle of a constant conflict, tasked with keeping the peace as the de facto leader of the squad.

As she finished tying her shoes her eyes flicked over to Catra, who was grabbing clean clothes out of her locker, clad only in her bra and underwear. Something heavy settled deep in Adora's stomach, her mouth going dry. With no one around to observe the indiscretion, her eyes suddenly got very greedy. They raked over Catra's lean but defined muscles, visible even through her short coat, and settled on her rounded ass as she bent over and started to pull up her leggings. It must've been all muscle, given the tremendour power she carried in her legs. Adora could only imagine how firm it must be.

Adora had long envied Lonnie's confidence, and now she found herself jealous of the girl's hand, too. Could she so casually pull that off? No, casual and Adora do not mix. Feeling her face heat up, she averted her eyes and groaned internally. Why did she feel so pathetic? It wasn't because Catra had outdone her in the simulation. No, she was actually really proud of her. Truth was, she felt pathetic because she was a coward. She knew what she wanted to do, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

Adora had only found out what a kiss was recently, and ever since she'd wondered what it would be like to kiss Catra. She'd imagined kissing several of her fellow cadets, actually, but Catra was the one who kept cycling back in her thoughts over and over again. Even if she couldn't muster the courage to kiss her, all she wanted was to be close to her. As close as possible, as often as possible. She'd always been that way with Catra, but was only starting to understand why.

Taking a deep breath, Adora rounded the bench and laid a hand on Catra's shoulder. "Hey, you did great today." Catra turned to face her and Adora did her very best to focus on Catra's eyes, not the tuft of thicker fur trailing down from her belly button. Lucky for her, Catra's eyes were so magnetizing that it wasn't that difficult.

Catra brushed this off with a scoff. "Yeah, we all did great." The sudden perkiness of her ears gave away her true feelings, but Adora didn't tease her about it.

"No, but you especially," insisted Adora. "You were our hero."

Now Catra's cheeks started to fill with color and Adora smiled fondly, lifting her hand from Catra's shoulder to scratch behind her ear. Catra purred, pushing her head into Adora's hand, and Adora thought her heart might burst. Her giggle was half nerves, half blinding affection.

Slowly sliding her hand down to cup Catra's cheek, Adora took a moment to muster her resolve and stare at that beautiful face. Eyes fluttering shut, she finally leaned in to press her lips against Catra's. After a couple seconds she pulled back with a shy smile, searching Catra's face for a reaction. Catra looked stunned, but Adora couldn't tell if it was in a good or a bad way. Her nerves brought out another giggle and she ducked her head before flicking her eyes up yet again. Catra was still staring at her in shock.

"Um, well, I guess I'll see you at dinner?" she asked. Catra nodded mutely and Adora brushed a thumb over the soft fuzz on her cheekbone before reluctantly pulling away. "Okay," she smiled. "Don't be late."

Adora's smile at the memory fades into a frown, now that she knows what happened after. What that bold move on her part subjected Catra to. Shaking her head, she tries to push it from her mind. Like Catra said, there's nothing she can do about it now, no use beating herself up over it. The best thing she can do is find a way to settle that debt in the present. But beating herself up comes so naturally.

A familiar humming filters through the trees, breaking Adora's reverie. Grinning in relief, she rushes toward the noise. Reaching the edge of a clearing, she spies Madame Razz sweeping the forest floor around her hut, just like the first time she found her. The witch's head perks up and she looks around. "Who's there?" she calls.

"Hi, Madame Razz," Adora greets her, stepping out of the foliage. "Do you remember me? My name's Adora, I carry the sword of-"

"She-Ra," interjects Razz. "Oh yes, I recall. What brings you here, dearie?"

"Uh, well…" Adora scratches the back of her head. "I'm having kind of a hard time making a decision, and I wanted a neutral third party I can trust to talk to about it."

Razz titters as she scuttles closer to Adora. "You want advice from little old me?"

"Yes, yes please," says Adora. "I really would."

Nudging Adora's side, Razz teases her, "And here I thought you were past the stage of running away into the woods to get advice from old ladies you don't know."

"I do know you," Adora counters immediately, flashing what she hopes is a charming smile. The old witch might be too blind to tell the difference, anyway.

Razz seems to think on this for a second before releasing a loud laugh. "That you do. Come along, then." Grabbing Adora's hand, she tugs with a surprising strength that nearly sends Adora flying. Adora yelps and regains her balance, allowing the much shorter woman to tow her into the hut.

Sitting Adora down, Razz rummages around for some cups and a pitcher of… something. Handing Adora a drink, she sits beside her with one of her own. "Now, what seems to be troubling you, dearie?"

Taking a deep breath, Adora begins, "I don't know if you know this, but I grew up in the Horde. I only left recently, after I found the sword and learned about all the terrible things they were doing. Well, my best friend, she's high up in the Horde and she got captured in Bright Moon last night when she was there talking to me. I'm afraid of what they might do to her, but if I let her go she's probably going to attack Bright Moon again as soon as she gets the chance."

"So you're torn between loyalties," surmises Razz.

"Yes, but it's more complicated than that. Catra - that's my friend - I owe her a lot. I've broken promises to her, and she's suffered in my place. And she's only who and where she is now because of circumstances she couldn't control. She's not a bad person, but she's had a bad life." Adora chews on her lip, fingers incessantly tapping her knee. "I have a chance to make something go right for her for once, make things a little more fair. Maybe if I do, she'll change her ways, but that's probably just wishful thinking. Chances are I'll have to fight her again and I'll be an idiot who let her take advantage of me. But… everything has just been so unfair, for so long. And she wasn't even in Bright Moon to attack us, I don't think she deserves to be locked up right now."

Razz peers up at Adora and takes a pointed glug from her cup. "You said she led the attack against Bright Moon."

"Okay, maybe she does," admits Adora. "But she was captured when she was there to see me. Of course I'm the reason she's in trouble, again." Pausing to think, Adora sips her drink. Her face contorts at the sour flavor but she forces herself to swallow. "I feel like I have a duty to fix this, but I also have a duty to the queen."

"She-Ra doesn't work for the queen," Razz remarks neutrally, "she works for Etheria."

Adora squints. "But I swore fealty to her and her cause."

"Because you have the same enemy, for now. It doesn't mean you're fighting the same fight," Razz says sagely. "The job of She-Ra is to restore balance to Etheria. And you, you have a good heart. Of course you are torn between righting past wrongs and preventing future wrongs. I would expect nothing less."

Sighing heavily, Adora buries her face in her hands. "Razz, I don't know what to do."

"Still scared, I see," observes Razz.

"What? N-" Adora cuts herself off at Razz's knowing expression. Her eyes and shoulders fall. "Yes. No matter what I do, someone's probably gonna get hurt. I don't even know what I want, let alone what's right."

"And you think I can tell you what's right?" Razz laughs and pinches Adora's cheek. "Dearie, you have a better sense of right and wrong than almost anyone I've met. But you're afraid to trust yourself."

"What if I'm wrong? What if I make the wrong choice and people die because of me?" Scowling over her shoulder at the hilt of her weapon, Adora laments, "I can't handle being She-Ra! Why did this stupid sword have to choose me?"

Now Razz pats her cheek gently, huge eyes staring at her intently from behind her glasses. Holding Adora's gaze steadily, she assures her, "You are exactly the kind of person who should have this power. People who grab at power for their own ends, they can't be trusted. All you want is to do the right thing, and the sword lets you do that." Razz smiles. "Trust yourself, Adora. I do."

"You do?" Adora can't believe it, even when Razz nods in agreement. "But you knew Mara. You know how things can turn out when a She-Ra makes bad decisions."

"Mara was afraid of her power," says Razz. Tucking a stray lock of hair behind Adora's ear, she advises her, "Don't you make the same mistake, now."

***o***

Castle Bright Moon is bathed in twilight when Adora sneaks back onto the grounds. Maybe she doesn't need to sneak, she has every right to be here (at least for now), but somehow she fears that anyone who sees her will be able to read her mind.

The walk back wasn't nearly as long, now that she knew where she was going, but it was long enough to begin forming a plan. Planning is coming much easier now that she's had a few hours sleep (thanks to Catra) and a boost of confidence (thanks to Razz). If there's anything Adora's good at, it's forming a battle plan.

Sitting at her desk, Adora takes a deep breath to settle herself. Is she really going to do this? More to the point, can she live with herself if she doesn't? She lied to Razz, earlier. She was lying to herself too, but here in her room it's impossible to keep up the charade. She's still not entirely sure what's right, but she definitely knows what she wants. It's time to be decisive, to stop being paralyzed by self-doubt. To stop being a coward.

All that in mind, Adora sets to work. She begins drawing diagrams and flowcharts, gnawing on her pencil as she analyzes every potential variable she can think of, looking for any flaw in her burgeoning plan. There are several, and she ends up scowling at the paper and penciling in possible fixes more than once. It takes her over an hour to work through all the details, the sky fading to black outside her window.

Finally confident she's accounted for any and all possibilities, Adora gets ready to carry out the plan. She starts by pulling three fresh sheets of paper from her desk. If she's going to betray Bright Moon like this, she at least owes her friends and allies a decent explanation and a proper goodbye.

The last letter is the hardest to write, despite its addressee being the one she is least close to. Penning these words gives her a sick feeling in her gut. It's like letting down Shadow Weaver, only worse.

Your Majesty,

I am sorry to disappoint you, I know I promised not to. You've been nothing but kind and accommodating to me since I left the Horde, and I can't thank you enough for giving me a new home. Betraying your kingdom and your trust is the last thing I ever wanted to do, but I made a promise long ago to stand by Catra and protect her, and I can't betray her or my conscience any longer.

I apologize for doing this after you put your faith in Glimmer when she vouched for me. Please don't blame her for this. She's a good ruler, all she's ever done is try to protect her kingdom. Please know that I intend to do the same - I have released Catra, but I will do my best to shield Bright Moon from the Horde from afar, even if that means fighting her again. I am still an ally in your fight, even if I can no longer be part of the Princess Alliance.

Yours in good faith,

S̶h̶e̶-̶R̶a̶

Adora

Adora frowns as she considers where to leave the letters. If Glimmer pops in for a late night follow-up argument she doesn't want them to be discovered prematurely. After a moment of deliberation, she tucks them under her pillow and stuffs the incriminating plans under her mattress.

Her limbs feel like they weigh a thousand pounds as she moves about the room, gathering supplies. A few changes of clothes, some snacks, extra hair ties, her dagger she sleeps with. She packs Catra's shirt too, frowning briefly at the glinting Force Captain badge but leaving it be. She's about to zip up the backpack when her eyes settle on the line of war table battle figures perched on one of her shelves.

Tears blurring her vision, Adora fingers the tiny figurines so carefully crafted by Bow. For a moment she can't help second guessing herself, wondering if it's really worth it. She's seriously risking losing two friends, and she sure can't count on gaining Catra. Even if their last interaction was pleasant, the last 24 hours have taught her it's impossible to predict how an encounter with Catra will unfold.

Squeezing her stinging eyes shut, Adora steels herself and resolves to follow through. This is the sacrifice she's making. She left Catra alone. If she has to be alone now to try to fix what she broke, then so be it. Grazing her fingers over the figurines one more time, Adora forces a smile and bids them goodbye. She plucks the mini She-Ra from the shelf and adds it to her bag, a memento of her time with the Best Friend Squad. She leaves Adora with Bow and Glimmer. That's how she wants them to remember her, anyway.

Sheathing her sword, Adora slides her arms through the straps of her backpack. Eyes sweeping around the room one last time, she tries to burn every last detail into her memory. Then she turns and leaves, decisively shutting the door behind her.

A/N: Y'all wanted fluff? Have your goddamn fluff ffs. *throws chapter* j/k I love fluff, it just needs to be earned and properly placed.

Tune in next time to find out Adora's plan and if it succeeds. A large chunk of chapter 12 is already written, so it shouldn't be too long.