Castaspella arrives with a flourish; thanks to Glimmer teleporting her. She, too, can sense something is wrong with Adora. After many nights of no results, all the while Adora continues to get worse, Castaspella stumbles across an ancient legend about a secretive security monster that supposedly guarded the heart.

Per her demand, Catra waited until the clock said 7:00 before she raced to Sparkles' room. She initially knocked on the door in quick succession but after silence for longer than two minutes, she burst in. Sparkles screamed from her bed by the... ceiling? Catra shook her head, focusing on her current mission. "Get down here, Sparkles. I have to talk to you," She said, crossing her arms. Glimmer groaned loudly. "What the hell do you want, Catra? It's seven a.m.," She whined. Catra glanced around, grinning. She began to jump up the steps to her bed. "You should be thankful I didn't get you at one. when I originally wanted to," She grunted, landing on her bed. Glimmer yelped with a glare. "I know you Horde kids didn't have privacy, but that is a thing here." She sat up.

Catra rolled her eyes. "Whatever. You wouldn't have survived a day in the Horde." Glimmer rolled her eyes. "You've woken me up now. What do you want?" Catra felt her ears pin back. "It's Adora. She was hurt at the heart, and she's not getting better," Glimmer's demeanour shifted. "What do you mean?" She asked. Catra huffed. "I-I don't know what's wrong. There's a... scent... and it's not good,"

Glimmer frowned. "She smells?"

Catra hissed. "No, you idiot. She doesn't smell. The wound... it doesn't smell smell. But it's-it's odd," She tried to explain. "Look, cats and certain animals can sense when something's not right. Usually with a pregnant lady, or cancer in the body, or something," Glimmer nodded slightly. "So... Adora's got cancer?"

Catra yelled. "No! God, are you stupid? Is it an Etherian thing?" She grabbed her hair in frustration. Glimmer scoffed. "Seriously? You barge in here at seven in the morning, going on about how Adora smells, but she doesn't smell, then called me stupid." Catra sighed angrily. "Because you're not listening," She emphasized, leaning forward. "There is something wrong with her, and I can't see it!" She cried. Glimmer rubbed her eyes. "What makes you think I can?" Catra picked at her claws. "She said you're magic... and that maybe you can see it," Glimmer narrowed her eyes. "See what?" Catra shrugged stiffly. "I dunno. That's the problem. She's convinced there's some... green glitchy code shit coming out of it," She played with her hands. "But she's definitely sick. Shit, she was actually being sick at one this morning,"

Glimmer hummed. "Maybe it's something to do with She-Ra... like a First One's thing. Maybe that's why none of us can see it," She stretched widely. "Come on. Show me. I'll see if I have any spells to work,"

"I'm sorry, I've got nothing... she seems fine," Glimmer apologised, standing back. Catra scoffed, gesturing to the unconscious form of her best friend. "Well, she obviously isn't!" She hissed. Glimmer scoffed. "Well, I can see that!" Catra huffed. Glimmer stewed. Adora snored. Catra suddenly remembered what she'd said a few nights ago.

"Wait, can't Sparkles do anything? She's magic. If this is some She-Ra bullshit, maybe Sparkles can sort it,"
"No, Glimmer's not strong enough… but her aunt is,"

Catra grabbed Sparkles' arm. "Dora mentioned you have an aunt... whatever the hell that is," Glimmer's eyes widened slightly. "She thinks she might know what's going on," Catra continued. Glimmer nodded. "Yeah, I do. She's the head sorceress. She'll have more of a chance of finding out what's wrong than I do," She smiled. "Be back soon!" She disappeared in a cloud of pink sparkles. Catra wafted them away, grimacing. God, she'd been teleported once and HATED it... she shuddered. Never again. Adora grumbled in her sleep about being cold, so Catra, being the sentimental paper bag she was, hauled the blanket over Adora's form. She stopped mumbling. Catra sighed. Sparkles was gonna be a while... may as well catch up and some sleep.

.~.~.

The heart pulsed strongly in front. They were here. They'd made it! Catra smiled at Adora, stomping all worry away when she weakly smiled back "We did it. We're here," She whispered. Catra grinned back. "We did," She agreed softly. Adora extended her right hand, willing the sword to appear. It flickered before her eyes like a glitch before stopping.

She yelled, snapping her hand back, which now tingled in pain. "Adora? What's happening? Adora!" Catra held her tightly as shook her head. "I-I don't know! It's Prime's virus. It's keeping me from becoming She-Ra," Catra's eyes dropped to failsafe. "What? What does that mean? Will the failsafe not work without her?"

Adora shut her eyes briefly. "No. It will," She muttered. She took a shaky step forward, glancing back. "Get as far away from here as you can. I have to do this next part on my own," Catra glared. "Adora. What is going to happen to you?" Adora stayed still. "Without She-Ra, the magic will destroy me," She walked forwards. " I'm sorry Catra," She turned, her chin wobbling. "I'm so sorry. But there's no more time." She took a step back towards her best friend. "It has to end here. I can still save everybody," She placed her hands on Catra's face. Her hands were ice-cold.. "I'll be ok. I'm ready," She pulled away.

Catra shook her head. "No," Adora whimpered. "Catra," She begged.

"No. I'm not leaving, whatever happens, I'm staying right with you," Catra grabbed her shoulders. Adora smiled weakly. Catra smiled back. She turned, facing the heart. Adora suddenly keeled over, grabbing the inanimate failsafe, screaming in pain. "Adora!" Catra grabbed her from behind, stopping her fall. She stuttered for breath.

"No, no, no, no, no, Adora!" Catra lowered her to the ground, laying her in her lap. "Come on, Dora. You can do this! I know you can!" Catra stroked some hair out of her face, desperately trying to keep her voice even. "I'm sorry," She whispered. "No! Adora, stay awake! I-I love you!"

.~.~.

A week passed before Castaspella (which was a really stupid name, in Catra's opinion) made any progress. Adora continued to get worse, up most nights in agonising pain, or throwing up in the bathroom. On one particularly rocky day, Adora rocked a raging fever complete with the pain and vomiting, which nobody was able to sort out. She had no choice but to battle through it alone. Catra, the pathetic simp she was, stayed by her side the whole time, cleaning out her bucket, washing her hair, keeping her cool... whatever she wanted.

During a routine meet-up, and thankfully Adora had fallen asleep again, Catra played with her claws. "I think I may have found what is causing Adora's problems," Castaspella said, dropping a heavy book on the grand table. Catra hissed in surprise at the sudden loud noise. Glimmer snorted. "I'm not sure if it's one hundred per cent true, or even accurate, but it's all I've managed to find... so it's the best chance we've got," She continued. "It's a First One's Guardian. It spreads a slow-acting, agonising poison to the intruder. For non First One beings, such as us, we'd be affected the same way as a bad stomach flu. For First Ones, such as Adora, it will break down her She-Ra and destroy all the organs in its path,"

Catra's eyes widened. "Well- what can we do to stop it? To make her better?" Castaspella sighed softly. "There is an antidote, but I'm not sure if it will work. This book is thousands of years old..." Catra thumped the table. "I'll do anything," Castaspella nodded. "I'll have more research on this back in my personal library in Mystacor," She agreed.