Author's Notes:

So, confession…

I wrote this the same day I wrote the first chapter.

It's just- this AU actually has so much potential! And it's a pretty fluffy AU too, including elements of the real story but without all of that war and betrayal and death and betrayal…

PS, I changed the summary a little so it fits more with the theme of the story because, apparently, jocks and gang members aren't the same thing... My life has been a lie. Why are you Americans and your weird language so needlessly complicated?

PPS, I've already completed the entire story. There are 15 chapters in total... just... just letting you all know. I'll probably post this weekly, and maybe 2 chapters in a week, depending on the length of the chapter, I guess.

Anyway, enjoy~

Histories and Chemistries

II

"And you said yes?!"

Adora winced at Glimmer's unnecessarily-loud volume, glancing around the library and muttering a sheepish "sorry" at the students who were glaring at them. Honestly… How could a girl as short as her have such a ridiculously loud voice?

"I didn't say anything!" she defended, crossing her arms and huffing as she turned to look at anyone other than the princess in front of her.

A princess.

Because that was what she was called. It was what they were all called; the organization filled with gifted, studious children formed to help other students in-need involving studying.

An organization that was known for its hatred with The Horde; a nickname they gave themselves, an informal gang known for causing all kinds of trouble and.

A gang she used to be in, back before she realized it was even a gang that students and even teachers feared.

A gang Catra was still in.

Adora winced…

It might not be a good idea to tell Glimmer, of all people, that the member of The 'nefarious' Horde asked for her tutors.

And that she sort of maybe probably agreed…

Even if she didn't say anything.

"Yeah, but you might as well be!" Glimmer threw her arms up, wearing an incredulous expression.

Glimmer was the one who worked hard to reform this organization after it was disbanded many years ago - like, back when Glimmer's mom was a student - due to The Horde's attempts to break it off.

No one knew why The Horde disliked The Princesses so much. Some say it was jealousy, others say they just wanted an organization to pick on…

But Glimmer managed to rope in a bunch of students to become princesses as well. And once Adora realized how much good she could do if she were apart of this organization, realizing just how awful The Horde truly was, she willingly stepped out and cut ties with it in order to join The Princesses.

It was hard to gain everyone's approval at first - with her being a former horde member - but, eventually, everyone came around and accepted her as part of the group.

Even so, in the midst of this silly war, feud, whatever… She couldn't understand why Glimmer disliked Catra so much.

"What is your problem?"

Glimmer pouted and adjusted her purple jacket. It was a little odd how, despite it no longer being winter, the girl still wore winter-styled clothing. She wore fingerless-gloves, neat-looking boots, and, true to her name, dyed her hair in a light shade of purple which glimmered… and no one knew how or why.

She was, overall, nice. Sure, she was a little high-strung and snobby at times, but she meant well. Even if she could be a little overdramatic at times...

"My problem is that she is part of The Horde, which is our mortal enemies, in case you've forgotten."

Okay, maybe more than just 'a little'.

"Oh, c'mon!" She rolled her eyes. "This isn't a war."

Glimmer gave her a look.

Adora winced.

"Okay, yeah, so The Horde is that bad," she admitted, her voice rising in pitch. "But Catra's different!"

Glimmer was unconvinced, crossing her arms and leaning into her seat, raising her chin. "Oh, really?"

"Yes!" she almost hissed. "She doesn't just bully people for the sake of bullying." Not like the other horde members. And not just that; underneath all those layers of personality, there was a kind, genuine girl.

… It was a shame that there were just so many annoying layers hiding that girl.

"You're right. She only bullies people who she doesn't like. How convenient. A gem among stones." Adora gave her a glare. While it was true that Catra wasn't exactly a polite kid… the blonde didn't think all of that was necessary. Glimmer softened, leaning forward so she could catch her hands, cupping them together. "Look, I know you two have history together…" she broke into a half-hearted grin. "Both literally and metaphorically…"

Adora gave her a weak smile. "We have chemistry too." And maybe not just literally.

"It's not that I don't like her…" Even though she did. "It's that… she's a bad influence on you," Glimmer said bluntly. Adora wanted to deny it but found that she couldn't. "And if you don't want to, just say no or ask me to say no for you."

Adora blinked, looking down to their intertwined hands, frowning lightly. She muttered toward herself, not knowing whether or not the girl in front of her could hear her;

"That's the thing, though… I don't want to say no…"

A beat passed.

Then another.

Then…

"Hey, Glimmer!" a squeaky, endearingly-familiar voice shouted, causing the students to groan. "So, I need your help with learning, like, three whole chapters for an exam I got coming up."

Bow came into view, wearing that toothy grin of his and a plain, sleeveless white shirt with a big love on it.

He then noticed the blonde and gave a clumsy, enthusiastic wave. "Hey, She-Ra!"

She-Ra. It was the name everyone gave her. She didn't know the full gist of it, but there was apparently, a 'prophecy' the princesses made up from long ago about the perfect student who excelled at every subject and would be the one to stop The Horde and bring back balance to the mythical land known as high school.

Apparently, she was deemed worthy to be known as She-Ra.

… Yeah, Adora still didn't get it, but hey, she was kind of good at every subject. Plus, She-Ra was a cool name, so she wasn't complaining.

Glimmer's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "And when is this test?"

Bow blinked, his enthusiasm dimming. "Oh… At, like, ten."

"Bow!" The short girl slammed her hands on the desk, ignoring the angry shushes everyone was giving her. "It's nine-fifteen!" She forced herself to act calm, taking a deep breath before asking, "O-okay, so, what have you learned?" He blinked as though she was speaking a foreign language. "Ugh! Why do I even ask?!"

Adora chuckled as she watched the scene unfold, with Glimmer both teaching and yelling at her friend who was grinning like an idiot.

The Princesses might not be the perfect place for her, but was any place, really? So long as she had friends she could count on and be able to do good in this school… she was content with it all.

She just-...

If only Catra was here beside her, then everything would be perfect.

To be Continued

Author's Notes:

So yeah, no Catradora on this chapter, but we get more context and world-building and I get to show you more of this AU.

The feud with The Horde and The Princesses are still a thing, much in the show, but instead of it being a literal war, I made it as a sort of "Jocks VS Nerds" thing.

This AU is not that complicated, really.

So, umm, yeah. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. The next will have Catra and Adora and some chemistry and history lessons~… As if I actually know any of those things. Heh.