There was a blinding flash of pink sparkles as Adora Glimmer teleported back into their seats around the strategy table. Mermista groaned, and shielded her eyes from the light, as Perfuma, who had been fast asleep for the past hour, confusedly sprang to her feet, holding a bouquet of flowers in her hand as if they were a weapon. Frosta, and Scorpia flailed awake, knocking their heads together in the process, while Bow, who had been slowly nodding off to sleep, screamed, and fell out of his chair, accidentally bringing netossa down with him. The only one who didn't seem fazed, was catra. She had been on edge during the entire course of the night, as Adora kept having to hurriedly leave the room. Glimmer had been teleporting her in and out of the meeting for the past few hours, so Adora could heave the contents of her stomach into the toilet. Adora hadn't been feeling her best that week, and it was getting worse by the minute. It was late at night, and the group was tired. The constant interruptions kept putting them off, and at this point nothing was getting done.
"Sorry guys" Adora said sounding just as exhausted as the rest of them. She collapsed into her chair, and reached over to grasp catra's hand. Catra looked into her girlfriend's eyes, and was filled with worry. Adora's pale face was flushed, and her eyes were surrounded by dark circles. Catra had never seen her like this before. Adora gave a weak smile, and squeezed her hand. Catra smiled back, and held firmly to Adora. She didn't know what was wrong with her girlfriend, but at this point it was definitely starting to worry her. Meanwhile, Glimmer lifted bow off of the ground, and into his chair, as she simultaneously shook frosta awake, as she'd already fallen back asleep. The groggy group all looked nervously at Adora, who was trying her hardest not to look as if she'd just thrown up for the 10th time that night.
"Alright" glimmer said, trying to distract the group, and bring their focus back to the meeting. "like I was saying before, the mission to free the ancient magic from the crystal castles has been- " suddenly Adora interrupted by Groaning, and covering her mouth. She grabbed glimmer's hand signaling to her that she needed to throw up again. Glimmer sighed, the 2 quickly teleported away, leaving the group alone once again.
"That's it. I'm not just going to sit here anymore" catra said angrily, as she pushed back her chair. Bow stood up too. he had been noticeably worried about Adora. "I'm with catra. Without Adora and glimmer this isn't going to get anywhere. Meeting adjourned" the rest of the princesses gratefully mumbled incoherent words, as they stumbled out of the room, nearly tripping over each other in exhaustion.
"I'm worried about Adora" bow said shakily. "I mean... I've had the flu before, but I've never seen something like this. Even my soup didn't work!! In fact, in seemed to have made things worse!" He said as his voice cracked
Catra was too scared to try and act indifferent. Her face fell, as she responded. "In the horde we're taught to hide when we're sick. Any sign of weakness is discouraged. I've never seen Adora like this. I-I'm worried"
Bow put a hand a comforting hand on her shoulder, right as Glimmer Adora teleported back into the room. "Alright this isn't getting anywhere, maybe it's time to end-" glimmer said in an annoyed, high pitched voice, before looking up and realizing everyone else was gone. "Oh good, I didn't think i could keep this up for another 3 hours" she said while yawning, rubbing her eyes.
Adora started to sway, and momentarily lost her balance. Catra grabbed her waist, and hoisted her up.
"Alright, I'm starting to think the teleporting is making things worse" Adora said defeated.
"What is wrong with me?! I never get sick" she exclaimed, as she groggily started punching a low-hanging light in the room. The horde habit of punching during stressful moments was still present as ever.
"Stop it Adora." glimmer said slightly annoyed.
"We've let you suffer in silence for the past couple of days, but we're taking you to the physician tomorrow whether you like it or not"
Adora started to argue back, but catra shut her up. "Adora for once in your life you're going to listen to us. I can't keep seeing you like this. I-I'm worried."
Adora looked up into her girlfriend's multicolored eyes. She hadn't seen catra this nervous in awhile. Something shifted inside of her, and she gave in.
"Ok. I-I guess it's worth a try." For the past couple of days she'd been trying to act as if it were nothing, because she didn't want to bother anyone. At this point though, the others may have a point. She placed her hand on catra's, which was still resting firmly around her waist, as she held her up. "I'll go tomorrow" she said defeated
Bow, glimmer seemed relieved.
"Now that that's settled, I'm going to sleep for the next 3 years" bow said through a yawn
"Count me in" glimmer agreed.
As they all went their separate ways, desperate for some well needed rest, none of them could have imagined what was actually happening with Adora.
"GOOD MORNING" glimmer said excitedly, as she suddenly teleported right onto Catra, Adora's bed. The 2, who were both fast asleep in eachothers arms, immediately sprang out of bed, knives in hand, and bodies in fighting positions.
"WHOA WHOA WHOA calm down, it's just me" glimmer yelled nervously.
"Sorry, didn't mean to teleport right on you, and...wait, Why do you both sleep with knives under your pillows?" She asked slightly confused.
"Old horde habit i guess" catra responded, as she swept her unkept hair from her face. Adora collapsed back into bed, and tried to shield her eyes from the morning light.
"Glimmer, what have we said about the bedroom?" Catra said annoyed.
"Right, sorry. I know I'm not supposed to barge in like that " she said embarrassed. "But i needed to get to you quick, the physician has a spot open for you this morning, but it's in 5 minutes. So get up! We've got to go!!"
Adora had almost forgotten about her promise to visit the physician. She was feeling better this morning, but not by much. She begrudgingly sat up, and got out of bed. She hurriedly slipped on her boots, and white turtleneck shirt. Although it was too warm for her signature red jacket, so she opted to leave that off. Catra meanwhile had quickly gotten dressed, and was walking back over to help her up. Glimmer waited impatiently, as they grabbed onto her shoulders to teleport away.
They arrived in a brightly lit white office. The place was empty, except for Bow, who was already there, awaiting their presence.
"Morning guys! Hope you don't mind, I thought I'd join you. Ya know, the best friend squad's always gotta stick together! Adora! How are you feeling, he said slightly rushed, worried" he noticed that she still looked ill, and had the deep circles around her eyes. She bent over slightly, holding onto her stomach. The teleporting wasn't doing her any favors.
"I'm fineeee" she said with a halfhearted chuckle. She was still trying to downplay her sickness, and act like it wasn't a big deal. Typical Adora.
It was at that moment, that the physician stepped out into the room. She was a tall, muscular woman, with intense eyes, and a no nonsense attitude. She'd always secretly scared the group.
The physician bowed to glimmer, and introduced herself as Doctor Hindreth. She had a deep, calming voice, with a slight accent that rolled off her long green tongue. Adora nervously waved, and introduced herself. The women didn't seem to notice, and instead waved the group back into an office.
They walked into a cold, white room. Small medical machines layered the walls, and slowly beeped as they entered.
"Lie there" Dr Hindreth said plainly, while pointing to a what look like a table topped with a white sheet. Adora squeezed catra's hand, and went over to the table. It was cold, and hurt her back.
Glimmer, Bow, and Catra stood awkwardly in the corner, watching the doctor pull supplies out of a small glowing bag.
Adora had never been to a physician before. She looked around nervously, and tried distracting herself by making popping nosies with her mouth. "Adora- stop it" glimmer said annoyed. She obviously wasn't fond of her nervous habits. Adora instead decided to change her focus. She started thinking about catra. Being reunited with her was the best thing she'd ever felt. The amount of love, and understanding the two held for each other was what was helping them get through to trauma of their lives. Adora hadn't realized how much she had kept bottled inside, until catra had come back to her. Often times they would spend the nights holding onto each other as they cried. Their lives had been difficult, but it was becoming beautiful. They had a long way to go, but hopefully they'd be able to face their past, and move on. She turned her head to smile at catra, who grinned back. Something about that smile made adora's heart race, and her cheeks blush. She then looked over at her friends. Bow gave her a thumbs up, while glimmer mouthed words of encouragement.
Adora took a deep breath, feeling slightly less nervous, as Dr Hindreth returned. In her hands were multiple shiny instruments. the physician starting small metal stickers all over Adora's chest, back, neck. She then placed a thin stick in her mouth, and a cord around her fingers. "This isn't too bad" Adora thought. Then Suddenly the physician moved her hands in a slow, but meticulous fashion, a rune appeared above adora's chest. It must have been some type of healing magic. Adora could see glimmer watching closely, eyes wide with fascination. The rune started to vibrate, as a the sound of her heartbeat started to gently sound throughout the room. Buh bum buh bum buh bum. The noise started to echo throughout adora's head, and she suddenly was overcome with the painful memory of carrying the heart of Etheria. She firmly shut her eyes, as the memory of the heated poison slowly moving throughout her body started to take over her mind. She could almost feel the heart of Etheria beating painfully against her chest. The sound getting louder, and louder, and she slowly started to slip away. The world started to go dark, and her breathing became labored.
Suddenly she felt a hand grip hers, and she opened her eyes to see catra standing above her. Adora felt the fear leaving her body, and her muscles unclenching. It was just in her head. It always was. Catra could tell when she was having an episode, and was always there. Adora smiled weakly, squeezed her hand. She turned away, looked back up at the doctor, who was starting to remove the devices from her body.
"Adora, when was the last time you bled?" The doctor asked in her calming, yet blatant accent.
Adora could see bow blushing in the corner of the room, and averting his eyes. Despite spending most of his time around women, He wasn't good with these kinds of things. Adora wanted to laugh, but suddenly started thinking about the question.
"Uh, well- I dont actually know" Adora said scrunching up in face in concentration. Her Bleeding was never very regular, as the horde would often work them to exhaustion, or hold back food as punishment. Both were factors that led into irregular periods.
"It's been a couple of months" Adora finally admitted. Suddenly glimmer paled, and a look of shock washed over her face. She made eye contact with bow, who seemed to suddenly understand what she was saying, started to look equally worried.
Confused, Adora sat up, and turned to Doctor Hindreth. "Why does it matter? Is that bad?" She asked nervously.
She can hear catra's breathing increase next to her. "oh no" catra said quietly
Adora looks into her girlfriend's eyes, searching for answers. Catra looked to be deep in thought, as if she was trying to comprehend something. Bow and Glimmer moved closer, and held onto Adora's leg, as if they were trying to show support. This confused her even more, as she started to panic. Why were they all acting this way?
The Doctor pushed on Adora's shoulders, until she was lying flat. Dr Hindreth then placed a flat palm directly above Adora's abdomen, and quickly traced a shape into the air. Adora felt her stomach momentarily clench, and she held on tighter to catra, who now had her eyes fixed unmoving on the rune above Adora. Suddenly, with a flash of blinding light, it took a shape. It was a circular blue ball, with familiar runes around the edges. Adora didn't understand what she was seeing. It was at that moment that Glimmer and bow gasped, and grabbed onto eachother, while squeezing Adora's leg even tighter. The Doctor nodded as if everything finally made sense. What was going on? Was something wrong? A million thoughts were going through her head, when suddenly Adora spotted something nestled inside the sphere. It was a small dot. What was it? That's when catra seemed to finally understand. She slowly collapsed onto her knees, and squeezed Adora's hand. She could hear bow glimmer shrieking in what sounded like an excited tone. It was then, that Adora realized what that small dot was.
It was a baby. Adora was pregnant.
Adora was in shock. The room started to spin, and the sound of Doctor hindreth's voice sounded so far away. The only thing keeping Adora grounded to this reality was catra's hand, which was still holding firm as ever. Adora had never thought about having kids. They didn't see many of them in the horde. They were raised in separate bunkers, and they just kind of appeared. Abandoned by parents who couldn't take care of them, or simply didn't want children around. Adora had only recently learned about where babies came from, during a very awkward lesson by bow and glimmer.
But now there was a baby inside of her. A little life, with a heart beating strong inside its tiny chest. It needed her. It couldn't survive without her. She was it's only defense from the harsh world. She slowly started coming back to reality, as bow leaned into the hologram with tears forming in his eyes. "That's a baby?" He said quietly, in an astounded, and disbelieving tone. Glimmer joined in, answering his question "that's a baby" she said shocked. "Adora. Thats a baby. A real baby" she and bow started jumping up and down while holding each other's faces in disbelief.
The only person who wasn't talking was catra. Adora, who was still in shock herself looked into her girlfriend's eyes. She was afraid of what she would see, but her fear immediately left her when she saw the look on Catra's face. Her mouth was wide open, and her eyes were huge in disbelief. But there was a a slight smile, catra didn't look angry, or scared... she looked shocked of course, but mainly happy. Then a tear started to roll down her cheek. The doctor broke the tension but dissipating the rune. The baby flicked away, but Adora knew it was still there. She tenderly placed a hand over her stomach. Glimmer, Bow, Catra followed, until all of their hands were stacked on top her Adora's. None of them could believe what was happening. Adora was terrified. But she knew with her friends, and Catra by her side that it would all be ok.