In love and at war…

Adora felt confused. Getting married seemed like a simple affair. You have to say a few words in front of the moons and kiss. And then there was a big party until the morning…. The hardest thing happened before… before their first kiss, when the war was going on and they were trying to kill each other. The weddings of Scorpia and Perfuma, Mermista and Sea Hawk, and even Hordak and Entrapta went without any problems, the only major event was always looking for Glimmer in the morning, because when she was tipsy, she sometimes teleported to strange places. For example, to Madam Razz's cottage... Now even that didn't threaten them, because the queen was pregnant and couldn't drink. But this wedding became something complicated... In many ways.

First of all, it turned out that Catra had a father... That probably meant she had a father-in-law, right? Mermista had a Sea Hawk mother, called Mountain Falcon, and her two husbands, who, however, were not the captain's father... Scorpia had parents in"laws... and three brothers"in"law, huge bearded men, very protective of their "Little Sister"... Now she will have a sister"in"law too. If they can get her out of Shadow Weaver's clutches...

That was probably the worst. Many thought she had forgiven the dark Sorceress after she sacrificed herself for them, but that wasn't true, not entirely... She simply couldn't hate someone who was no longer there and would never meet. Why fuel your anger when you could find happiness in love? But if she survived, if she deceived everyone... She was the master of lies... Catra had seen through her lies long ago, but this woman had manipulated her all her life, and then she did it to Glimmer in her moment of weakness... Had she done the same to that girl? Catra's sister claimed that they couldn't trust their father... But wasn't that what Shadow Weaver wanted from them? Once again sow the seeds of discord and distrust between friends and relatives…

The Lord Admiral seemed to her to be a decent person. He exuded calm and self"confidence. He was always polite and composed. She liked him a little, he didn't treat her like a heroine who saved the universe. It was…refreshing. He actually seemed more interested in Catra. It was good, her beloved finally deserved attention. But... She wasn't jealous that Catra had found her family... She just expected that she would be able to find her family. Light Hope must have kidnapped her from somewhere. There must have been other First Ones out there somewhere, perhaps even mourning their lost child... Maybe even searching for him across the vast expanse of space. She guess they should go on a quest to learn about her past and where she came from, even if it might mean digging into her people's past again... But only after the wedding and after... after saving Queen Angela... If that was possible. She didn't even want to consider possibility of failure. This time she won't let her down.

She slammed the boom shield as hard as she could until it bent, then dodged and landed another punch at the bot behind her. It fell over and started smoking. She smiled, happy with her success. Her mood improved slightly. She ordered the Training Room to end the session and go get a drink of water, but then she saw Asindesa standing in the doorway in full gear.

„Oh, how long have you been here?" she asked, wondering how this woman could move so quietly in this armor.

„A few minutes, but you were so absorbed in the fight that you didn't notice anything... I have the impression that you tend to focus on what you're doing." said the Hell Knight in a gentle voice. She smiled bitterly

„Focus, don't let yourself get distracted... „ She looked at Asindesa. That's what she always said... Shadow Weaver... It still rings in my head. Even after all these years, I can't get rid of these words. " The knight nodded thoughtfully and grabbed one of the training sticks.

„Would you like to face me?" she asked, smiling friendly.

„Sure why not." she said, although in fact she wasn't sure whether she should fight with this woman. There was something strange about her. These Knights somehow reminded her of the Galactic Horde... Or the Dark Sorceress. They had an ominous aura around them, as if there was darkness in their hearts. It was disturbing, but then again, this Asindesa seemed quite nice. A bit too stiff in Catra's opinion, but she liked the woman's discipline and seriousness. She didn't say it out loud, but she kind of wanted to be like her... Minus the darkness and ominousness.

As soon as she assumed a fighting position, the knight attacked her. Her strikes were powerful, pushing her back every time she blocked her attack. All blows were performed systematically, they were not instantaneous, so they could gain power. The knight tried to put her on the defensive, accepting her counterattacks on her forearms. The training system could sense whether the blow was strong enough to penetrate the armor, but she failed to do so. However, the knight did not break through her defense either. Finally they pulled away from each other. Both of them were in great shape, but both of them were breathing heavily after the fight, although she noticed that the older warrior controlled her breathing faster.

„You fight well. I take it they taught you all this in the Horde?" She asked Asindesa, and she nodded and answered.

„Mainly. I trained a bit with the Brightmoon guardians, and with Light Hope, but mainly in the Horde. They pushed us hard since we were children." she said, smiling sadly at her memories. She used to not realize what a terrible childhood they had, she was convinced that everyone lived like that. The Hell Knight nodded.

„So you were orphans taken in by the Horde... It was the same with me and the order." she said thoughtfully. "It hasn't been an easy life, but I've enjoyed it so far... But I had a choice, at least to some extent. Although I am the adoptive daughter of Lictor, the leader of the Order of Eclipse, I could have left, although it would not have been easy, but I do not regret it. The path that the Hell Knights follow is not easy, but someone has to do what we do... It is necessary. Someone has to carry this burden."

She nodded, because she understood all too well what Asindesa was talking about . She-Ra's power was also a burden, though it was hard for someone who didn't bear it to understand. If it weren't for Catra…

„But I guess there's someone in your life who helps you carry them, right?" she asked on impulse, but Asindesa's face showed pain

„There were many women in my life, but they were only one-off affairs... I fell in love once and I was sure it was mutual ... But it was all a lie. That woman couldn't love. Next round!" the Hellknight shouted and charged at her almost without warning. This time she attacked more violently, almost furiously. She wondered if it was the reminder of her heartbreak that had provoked Asindesa to fight so hard. When they broke apart this time, they were both soaked in sweat.

„It was uh ... „ she said, unable to find the right word.

„A little too much uh , I'm sorry I gave in to anger." said Asindesa. It took a moment for them to regain their breath, but again the knight did it first.

„I have to learn this someday." she said, wiping her forehead. The effort allowed her to clear some of her anxiety and worries. Asindesa also looked a bit more relaxed. She smiled slightly and spoke in her strong but surprisingly polite and gentle voice for such a formidable woman.

„These are relaxation techniques that we learn in our Order, although we have not developed them. It was created by the Iori monks, the goddess of self-perfection and enlightenment, thousands of years ago."

She grimaced when these gods were mentioned again. This one made her anxious.

„Ah, these gods... There's so much talk about them... Sometimes even some people behave as if I were one of them... It's a bit... embarrassing... „ she said very euphemistically. The Hellknight nodded and asked.

„Could you show me what you look like when... you become the other one, tall women?"

She looked at it uncertainly, but closed her eyes and straightened her hand, and then shouted.

„For the Honor of the Graysckull!" she shouted and flashed with multi-colored light. The knight of hell covered her eyes with her hands and looked at her in shock

„By Asmodeus' black cloak... „ Asindesa shouted You really look like Iomadae.

"Yeah, everyone except Etherians says something like that. I guess it's the height and the lights, but I'm still the same girl... I swear!" she said and laughed nervously, but Asindesa shook her head.

„No, you don't understand. You look like Iomadae."

„I heard that name." she said, and the Hell Knight shook her head.

„You really don't know anything here. You look just like her, the Inheritor. Iomadae is a defender of the oppressed, an honorable warrior fighting evil, whose light illuminates even the greatest darkness!" she shouted. Hearing these words, she moaned and said.

„Please don't say things like that... I'm still the same person I was before." she was aware that there was desperation in her voice. Asindesa's words reminded her too much of what she had heard in the stream of light. She shuddered and involuntarily transformed back into her normal form. Asindesa wanted to say something, but then Lady Cala Grayskull entered the Training Hall and said.

„Can I train with the successor of my great ancestor?"

Asindesa di Vir gave Lady Cala a warning look. She didn't like this woman's sudden appearance here. She undoubtedly had evil intentions towards... Probably everyone, and hand-to-hand combat training was the perfect opportunity to hurt someone in a way that could be considered an accident... The noblewoman responded with an equally cold smile.

„Of course, we can face each other... „ Adora said, smiling at the aristocrat. She was not wearing training clothes, although the dress she wore was suitable for fencing. Despite this, Adora offered the girl a mask, but she refused, claiming that nothing would happen to her, and the heroine of the Galaxy did not insist.

„I will stay here to observe and referee.„ he said, smiling friendly, although she touched her sword warningly, looking at the Aristocrat, who only smiled in response. There was something unnatural about this lenient self"control.

She had been contemplating her situation for the past few days. She wouldn't be the first knight of Hell to be deceived by the servants of the Dark Between the Stars, nor even the first to fall in love with one of them... But she was the Lady of Blades, holding one of the highest positions in the Order. More was expected of her than of other Knights. She had already made up her mind that as soon as this expedition was over, she would relinquish her title and submit to the judgment of the order, although there could only be one outcome, but she had long ago come to terms with death. But for a moment, she hoped there was a future for her. She was so stupid... In fact, she hoped that when she died, her broken heart wouldn't hurt so much anymore... But first she had to know the whole truth.

During her last days, she was occupied with three things. Training, gather information on Shadow Weaver as discreetly as possible and observe Lady Cala. Well, training had always been a part of her everyday life, and finding out something about the past of the woman she loved was easy because the people of Etheria were very trusting. What she discovered confirmed everything she had learned from Miss Daisy, although the truth was much worse than she could tell from her words. She had thousands of lives on her conscience and served the Horde for over two decades, she was the most hated person on the planet. However, she found no evidence that she was a cultist. Actually, the locals knew very little about not only cults, but religions and gods in general, which was quite surprising.

Lady Cala was a much bigger problem. She wasn't a spy or an investigator, and the fact that she was one of the few foreigners present in the castle didn't make things easier. She had only seen the Aristocrat a few times, and apart from that state dinner with the Queen, she hadn't had the chance to talk to her further, but now was the chance to at least get a better look at her. She could only hope that he wouldn't do anything to Adora. This woman is something of a demigoddess or even more. She had never met anyone like her in her life. No wonder Miss Daisy... Shadow Weaver saw something unusual in her. She couldn't sacrifice it for the sake of her search for truth

Lady Cala and Adora faced each other. The noblewoman had chosen a fighting stick slightly shorter than the one wielded by the Etherian girl and held it like a dueling weapon, in one hand with the other held above her head. Adora looked at her in surprise.

"You fight like a Sea Hawk," she said, and the aristocrat nodded and said

„This is a popular technique among those who specialize in the noble art of dueling. Encore!" she exclaimed and charged at the surprised warrior. However, she quickly entered the fight and recaptured Lady Cala's "Blade" and launched a counterattack. What she had previously told Adora about her skills was not tinged with politeness, honor dictated absolute honesty in such matters. The Etherian girl truly was one of the best, if not the best swordswoman she had ever fought. But the aristocrat was her equal. Lady Cala's fighting style was more formalized, perfect for anyone who specialized in dueling, while Adora was taught a battle style. At first, this gave the Aristocrat the advantage, but the Etheri warrior quickly adapted and slowly began to push her to the other side of the training hall. Then Lady Cala changed her tactics and tried to trip the warrior from Etheria, apparently the nobility of the art of dueling ended when you started losing. However, Adora managed to block it, dirty tricks were also taught in the Horde. For a moment, a grimace of rage appeared on the aristocrat's beautiful face, but then it disappeared, and now she began to attack with greater aggression, trying to land a blow at all costs. It was at this moment that she noticed something strange. Lady Cala closely resembled She-Ra , not Adora but the being whose form she assumed . It was disturbing, but then something much stranger happened. The Etherian Warrior launched a powerful attack and Lady Cala's legs bent at angles impossible for humans. She then growled furiously and pushed Adora with all her strength in the chest. The heroine of the galaxy groaned loudly, but her legs did not buckle under her.

„I guess I won... „ The noble girl exclaimed happily, but she was interrupted.

„ Look to the side!" she said, smiling and approached the training girls, and Lady Cala inhaled sharply. Adora's stick was touching the Aristocrat's side

„ If it were a real weapon, your stomach would be ripped open, or maybe even cut in half. We are dealing with mutual murder. This is common in training or sports fights when no real weapons are used. But Adora landed her strike a little earlier, and if it had been a real fight, the pain would have prevented you from throwing the thrust with full force, and at most you might have hurt the Hero of the Galaxy." she explained to them and Adora smiled at Lady Cala.

„You'll do better next time. With the exception of Catra, I've never trained with anyone as good as you." she said and extended her hand to Lady Cali, who, wearing her constant mask of a polite smile, smiled back.

„Yes, I would do better next time.„ said the Aristocrat. "They trained you quite well in this Horde. Isn't it the work of Hordak's right-hand man , what was her name... Shadow Weaver?" she asked with a slightly wider smile, and the joy on Adora's face dimmed slightly.

„ Yes, although she was not good at fencing, but she was able to... motivate. She put so much pressure on us that all of us, cadets and instructors alike, did not dare to disappoint her, and only perfection could satisfy her." Adora looked into space, thinking about her sad childhood. Lady Cala put her hand on her shoulder, and then she said.

„ I feel sorry for you, but at the same time part of me envies you. Since I became... orphaned , I was missing someone who would be willing to instill discipline and rules in me. Someone who would encourage me to do my best… Perfection. Initially, I hoped that someone like that would be Miss Daisy, which was partly true, after all, she is a very smart woman and was knowledgeable in training young people. As she always told me, focus, don't let yourself get distracted. She instilled some good habits in me. but she herself was not a person worth imitating. She had a problem with alcohol abuse, but I already told you about that. She was also quick-tempered and easily angered, and her bouts of melancholy... Well, she was a very emotionally unstable person. In fact, she was quite pathetic, almost contemptible." she shook her head with pity. Throughout the entire speech, Adora stared at the beautiful aristocrat, growing paler and paler as she clenched her fist hidden behind her back. However, she did not show her emotions. Lady Cala was also unfazed. She told her whole story in the same unwavering, gentle voice, as if she did not realize the meaning of her words. She smiled at Lady Cala's and held out her hand.

„How about another training fight? Just you and me?„ she asked, and the Aristocrat turned her head, resting it on her shoulder.

„How about Fight to First Blood? " asked the noblewoman from Carurystal. She narrowed her eyes and nodded.

„Agree to your responsibility." she said, wondering why the Aristocrat agreed to this fight, since she certainly knew how much "love" she had for her. This could end tragically... For Lady Cala's or her. Didn't she want to take the opportunity to kill her by faking an accident during training. In a fight with such a great warrior, the chances were equal... However, she accepted the risk of death in this fight, if only she hoped to kill this woman... She had a certain advantage...

„Of course, you'll take off your armor, I assume?" Lady Cala asked, smiling good-naturedly…

She had just lost her advantage, but now she had no choice. She pressed a button and the armor fell off her. She wore only short pants and a blouse underneath. Adora offered her a protective suit, but they both refused.

„Do you know that this is quite brutal? And I say this as one I grew up in the Horde, where we were regularly electrocuted every time someone hit us... „ Adora said, looking at them uncertainly.

„We are not afraid to shed a little blood." she said, drawing her blade. The Hero of the Galaxy gasped loudly at the sight of him.

"This is the work of the First Ones..." she said with shock in her voice. She smiled at her and screamed.

„If you say so! Encore „ and charged at Lady Cala, whose expression was pure terror. The noblewoman took out her sword and covered herself with it, but then both women were enveloped in the darkness summoned by the Knight. Asindesa learned to fight in the dark, an ability she used to fight against cultists and other lesser servants of the Dark who could not see in the darkness. However, when her blade hit the place where Lady Cala had been standing a moment ago. Instinctively, she jumped aside, narrowly avoiding the noblewoman's thrust. She punched her in the face and felt her nasal septum crush under her fingers. She jumped out of the sphere of darkness, because apparently Lady Cala's gaze penetrated it She looked at the noblewoman and was surprised to see that the noblewoman's face was fully healed, only a few drops of blood were visible on her upper lip. She smiled at the Knight with a predatory smile and attacked her fiercely, but then Asindesa swung at the noblewoman, as beautiful as death herself. Lady Cala obviously wasn't risking her life at all when she agreed to this fight, but the Lady of Blades' sword made her fearful for some reason. Whatever the Carurystal noblewoman was, she was definitely not human, and she was determined to trick everyone into it, even if she had to cut the noblewoman in half!

With each subsequent blow, the aristocrat retreated more and more and was happy to see the desperation on her beautiful face. She smiled at her and Lady Cala swore viciously and suddenly her attacks became faster and more brutal, so it was Asindesa who had to retreat. She had the impression that something had happened to her opponent's body. Her arms and legs were a little longer and more muscular, and for a moment it seemed as if her pupil had spread all over her eye. However, the Hellknight did not give up. She fought demons and swarm monsters. She pinned the sword to the floor and reached for her wrist to pinch it so the noblewoman would release the weapon, but then Lady Cala grabbed her hand and effortlessly bent her arm. She looked at her with a cruel smile, but then a bright, almost blinding light flooded them and an authoritative voice rang out.

„Stop it now!" Adora shouted in She-Ra form and both women immediately obeyed her order.

„Are you guys crazy?" she asked in a sharp voice, clutching her magnificent sword in her hand. – Do you want to kill each other?

Asindesa saw out of the corner of her eye that Lady Cala was trembling as she stood in She-Ra's luminous aura. It was very interesting... The knight knelt before the demigoddess and said.

„Sorry, battle fever has set in... This is common among those who have spent their entire lives fighting." she said, and Adora nodded understandingly, although a bit uncertainly.

„For me, training took precedence. I sincerely apologize to everyone if I caused you any fear, but it all only looked so dangerous, there was no real threat to us." Lady Cala added, smiling friendly, but at the same time she was constantly looking at the blade. Adora looked unconvinced, but there was little she could do since both culprits were taking the blame. The lady of the blades felt like bursting out laughing because the whole situation looked like something at school, but in fact there was absolutely nothing funny about the whole incident.

„You can leave, but you are not allowed to train in the castle. I'll talk to Glimmer and Catra about it. I should take away your weapons, but I would probably cause a diplomatic conflict... How I hate diplomacy!„ the Etherian warrior returned to her natural form and wiped her forehead. Lady Cala bowed obligingly and left without even looking at Asindesa. The Hellknight also headed for the exit, but Adora stopped her.

„Where did you get this sword?" She asked, looking at her carefully. Asindesa hesitated. She wasn't sure if she should tell the truth to this woman. But she didn't want to lie to her.

„I received it from a dying warrior... „ seeing the silent question in the eyes of the heroine of the Galaxy, she added. „He wasn't someone like you... He wasn't a biological being, although he referred to himself as he/him. I don't know much else."

Adora nodded seriously.

„You don't know how dangerous the artifacts of the First Ones are... Better get rid of him."

The Lady of Blades looked at her sword.

„It's an extremely sharp weapon, but that's all. It has no extraordinary powers, it is only as dangerous as the arm that wields it." She swung the blade several times. "And mine is really strong."

Adora continued to look at her seriously until she finally spoke.

„This sword is called "End of Eternity„ Blade of Vengeance. For whatever purpose it was created, it is not good.

Asindesa di Vir, Lady of the Blades of the Order of Eclipse, knew in her heart that Adora was right, but on the other hand... If it inspired fear in Lady Cala... then it was worth the risk.

„Sometimes you have to use all necessary means to defeat a greater evil. We Hell Knights know something about this... „ and she left the training room without waiting for the Hero of the Galaxy's reaction.

Bina decided that she really liked Brjghtmoon. It was a peaceful place, full of contented citizens, but it was not one of those good cities where anyone who stood out was treated with great suspicion. The local inhabitants knew what the war was, even though they won theirs. Perhaps if her children lived here, the wounds in their souls would heal, but it wasn't that easy... After all, she still had to find them and rescue them from the clutches of a woman as evil as Hell itself.

She learned that the Deadly Sword of Burning Fury had landed here a few days ago, but had flown away at night in an unknown direction. She could only curse her misfortune, but she had no clue. She stayed at an inn owned by the brother of "friend" of Huntara . She slept in the warehouse. In the morning, as she was wondering where she should go, she heard the Queen's official radio announcement.

„Dear citizens of Brightmoon and all of Etheria. It's me, Glimmer Moonbright . I have extremely important news for you, whether you consider me your Queen or not. A few days ago, a very important guest arrived. His name is Lord Admiral Felix Antares, and he commands the Research and Exploration Fleet sent here by the greatest powers of the Galaxy to investigate Prime's Empire . He also announced that he was the father of Grand Marshal Catra, which surprised us all. The Lord Admiral announced that he had no hostile intentions towards us and asked to be allowed to attend his daughter's wedding with several of his officers, to which, after much consideration, I agreed."

Bina showed no outward emotion. But inside she felt cold. She had never been very religious, but she always hoped that the gods looked after mortals and made sure they were happy. At this point, however, she came to the conclusion that the gods simply had a sick sense of humor, since they allowed three people in the entire Infinite Galaxy to be on one planet who should never meet... "Four, let's not forget about this cursed by the devils and demons Hag"