Madelene smiled as she watched Adora pace across the courtyard, she was very familiar with the look on Adora's face she was almost filled with a sense of pride, they shared the same face when it came to thinking about those they cared about and it was the easiest way for Madelene to know that this Catra was important to Adora.
"You're going to cave a path directly into the ground if you don't stop", Madelene said playfully, Adora looked at her and all Madelene could see was Brendor's raised eyebrow grin.
"When she's excited like this it is hard for her to relax", Glimmer said, hugging herself while she sat shivering on the steps.
Madelene smiled and nodded to herself, "What else should I know about Catra?".
"Well now they are inseparable and it's kind of cute", Bow sat down next to Glimmer with a large blanket
"Disgustingly cute", Glimmer said, her voice muffled as she almost pushed Bow over rushing to get underneath the blanket with him.
A strange shadow appeared above the courtyard, Madelene put her hand on her sword she was itching for Belthor to attack again, then Bow put his hand on her shoulder, "It's ok it's only Catra".
Madelene turned around surprised, "She knows magic?"
"She's a Magicat, if you sound it out properly it's even part of the name", Kittrina said cheekily as she leaned against the handrail pillar.
"When were you going to mention that?". Madelene replied with the same energy.
"And when exactly would you have liked me to mention it dear? Somewhere between fights perhaps? Or when your demon bird dropped out of the sky?".
The air above the courtyard shifted and changed as the center of the dark shadow illuminated and expanded. Madelene frowned, this magic looked eerily familiar.
"What exactly is this?". Madelene asked, talking as if she already knew the answer.
"The Queen of the Magicats can control dimensions...since that is the real question...Still think it's a coincidence?". Kittrina said.
Madelene rolled her eyes as she stood up, she often hated that Kittrina knew what she was thinking before she did.
Adora ran as close as she could to the portal she knew Catra had made a mistake as she stepped through and fell out of the sky. Adora jumped up and caught her.
"Are you ok?". Adora asked as she put her down, trying her best not to laugh as Catra's face went bright red.
Catra slapped Adora softly in the chest, "I'm fine! Next time be a little clearer with your description!"
Glimmer and Bow run over to hug Catra, she pushes them both away, "Don't do that right now".
Bow pouts, "But we missed you too".
Catra's ears twitch, "You think I'm going to forgive you for not telling me Adora was injured!"
"Yeah but…"
"OR that she has gotten into a fight!".
"Are we terrible friends?". Bow said softly, his pout had gotten bigger.
"YES!". Catra shouted, her tail stiffening.
She was about to continue her tirade until Adora distracted her by taking her hand, the way she held it she could tell that Adora was nervous about something and it didn't take long for her to find out as they approached the castle steps, she recognised Kittrina but the other woman that was talking to her she didn't recognise the only striking feature she noted was her long red ponytail, making Catra think of Netossa's passing comment once about Adora's hair envy.
The woman turned around and Catra could feel the warmth creeping back into her cheeks, she was amazed as to how much Adora looked like her. Adora cleared her throat and squeezed Catra's hand to snap her back to reality.
"You must be Catra", Madelene gave Catra a soft smile.
She looked at Madelene and accidentally made a soft purr as she smiled back, Kittrina ears twitched as she tried to hide her giggling.
"Seems the little one that gave me a hard time is now lost for words",
"Ignore her, Let's get you all inside, the nights here can be rather harsh". Madelene said as she turned around and made her way back into the castle.
As they all ascend the stairs a guard stops Madelene, "Ma'am where are we going to put all the new people?".
"Well it's too late to get them to the village, get Thad to help you settle them into the castle for the night, we can take them first thing in the morning". The guard nodded and continued down the stairs calling out to Thad.
The change in the weather was notable once they got into the castle and could feel the warmth from the bright burning torches that lined the walls, a guard on either side lighting each one.
Catra could feel Adora shaking as they entered the room, it couldn't have been the cold as both fireplaces were burning brightly at either end of the room, she looked towards a large table where several men sat.
One of the men stared directly at them, it unnerved Catra a little because she was certain he looked familiar, but that wasn't possible. He raised his hand and motioned them to come over as the other men got up from the table
"Good you've brought Adora, we should discuss-".
Madelene gave an annoyed sigh and pointed to herself and Kittrina, "WE can discuss what happened Brendor, Adora's friend just arrived so I'm sure we can include her tomorrow"
"I don't mind", Adora said quickly, she wanted to know as much as she could about what happened, especially if it involved knowing more about dragons.
Brendor smiles smugly, "see she doesn't mind".
Madelene frowned and quietly motioned her head to the feline standing next to Adora. Brendor looked over and saw that Adora was holding their hand.
Brendor pretended to think while stroking his beard, "Your mother is right, it is probably best to approach this with a fresh mind".
"Are you sure?". Adora replied, trying to hide her disappointment.
"Leave them to worry about it", Thad said as he entered the room shaking the snow from his messy blonde hair.
"Let's get you and…", Thad looked at Catra.
"Catra", she replied quickly.
Thad smiled, "... Catra some food, I know I'm hungry!"
Thad kissed Madelene on the cheek before taking Adora and the others out of the room.
Brendor smiles as Madelene and Kittrina sit down at the table, "Well she certainly is your daughter".
Kittrina laughs as she lounges back in her seat. Madelene shakes her head and smiles, "Your turn will come once we find Adam".
Brendor sighs, "We need to move quickly in that regard as well, Madelene I know you don't want to rush Adora but…".
Madelene shook her head, "There's too much going on between trying to find Adam, getting to know Adora…what if Adam and Adora don't get along? AND Granamyr!. How are we even supposed to get up there! The passes from here to Mount Grayskull have been iced over for years", the weight of the situation was evident in Madelene's voice. Kittrina reaches over and takes her hand.
Brendor looked at Madelene, her face was one he had seen many times before Madelene was trying to carry the world on her shoulders, he reached over to take her other hand, "I know it's a lot but I think the three of us can work together to fix everything".
Kittrina looked at Brendor, "We have to Brendor".
"I know and I am truly sorry it's come to this, but Belthor…"
Madelene nods on the verge of tears, "I know, I know your brother hasn't given us a choice".
* * *Belthor tapped his fingers against the armrest of his oversized chair made of various bones, worn and matted animal hides. He picked up the skull-shaped goblet and stared aimlessly into its crystal red eyes, replaying his meeting of She-ra over in his mind.
He laughed to himself, it made sense now, there had been news of Horde Prime's defeat on Etheria, and the whispers that filtered through suggested it was the return of She-ra. Belthor had to admit his brother did a wonderful job of hiding her for so long, but how he was even able to get her to Etheria was beyond him. His predecessors had made it impossible to practice magic outside of Eternos.
His concentration was broken as he heard the echoes of a walking stick coming towards him, out of the shadows appeared a short elderly man with wild white hair and an equally wild beard.
"Zagraz, what do you want?", Belthor sighed as he leaned back in his chair.
Zagraz narrowed his red eyes at Belthor, "How about we start with what happened at Darksmoke".
"The loss of soldiers was-",
Zagraz slammed his cane on the stone floor, causing Belthor to winch as the loud echo vibrated in his ears, "I am talking about She-ra, you froze…why?".
Belthor looked at Zagraz in silence, he didn't have an answer, "I…don't…don't know".
Zagraz approached quickly and tapped his cane on Belthor's chest, "Show me".
Belthor complied unbuttoning his shirt revealing an aged metal harness covering his chest, in the center a bright red crystal blinks sporadically. Zagraz studies the crystal and notices several of the connected tendrils have curled up and away from Belthor's skin.
Zagraz takes the top of his cane and pushes against, Belthor's chest causing him to cry out in pain as the tendrils lengthen and dig into his flesh. This carried on for what felt like an eternity to Belthor before Zagraz finally stopped and he slumped forward in his chair.
"Now wasn't that fun?". Zagraz said with an evil smile on his face.
"Still the same dry humour, Comet Keeper!", Belthor sneered, trying to catch his breath.
Zagraz scoffed, "Comet Keeper?. You must be feeling better you haven't called me that for quite some time. Now get yourself together I have something interesting that you should see". He turns around and starts to leave.
Belthor took a deep breath and steadied himself before standing up, he couldn't be bothered rebuttoning his shirt besides the way the crystal now had a steady rhythmic beat gave the dreary room a more soothing light.
By the time Belthor had caught up to Zagraz, he was already standing outside of the armoury. The largest room in the Royal Palace with an extensive collection filled with the history of centuries of conquests. Belthor followed Zagraz to the center of the room where the most prized possession had stood for longer than Belthor or any of his predecessors had been alive. The famed Sword of Power, well the remains of it at least. The pieces floated close together in a shape that almost resembled a sword.
"You wanted to show me the sword?". Belthor said folding his arm.
"Well, you see we picked up a magic signature when you were in Darksmoke",
"Yes. I. Know. It came from She-ra", Belthor sighed as he was being annoyed with Zagraz's vagueness.
Zagraz shook his head, "This signature came from a Magicat".
Belthor narrowed his eyes, "I'm sorry say that again"
"A…Magicat…", Zagraz's tone made it seem like he was trying to insult either Belthor's intelligence or his hearing.
Belthor scanned Zagraz's face to find any glimpse that he was lying, but he could not. "How is that possible? History suggested that the Magicat's had perished when Mara disappeared with Etheria".
Zagraz frowns staring at the hilt of the sword, "And who was the one that suggested that?"
Belthor grabbed the side of his face as a sharp pain shot through his head.
C'yra…C'yra!
The name just repeated in Belthor's mind each time causing the pounding in his head to become more intense. "What…what are you saying?".
Zagraz leaned in and stared at the blue shiny runestone, he rubbed his finger and thumb together and touch it, causing the illusion of the runestone to shatter and the pieces of the sword fell to the ground.
"It would seem history lied to us". Zagraz shook his head.
Belthor stared at the pieces as he bent down, the vibrancy of the pieces that floated there for hundreds of years, lost, turned into just broken pieces of metal.
This meant only one thing, She-ra may not be the only obstacle he would have to be confronted by, there was a chance that someone whose name had only ever been told in tales of children for over a millenia could return.
"He-Man". He channeled his anger as he picked up a piece of the sword and squeezed it, the brittle metal crumbling in his hands.