Oaths

„Okay, is it perfect now? What do you think?" she asked Melog, who grunted with satisfaction, although she doubted whether he cared what outfit she wore... Maybe not... It was hard to say what was hidden her companion's heart. Despite their bond, she actually knew very little about the shape-shifting alien. Even his form wasn't his true form after all, maybe he didn't even have one. It was weird, even Double Trouble had their true form. On a sudden impulse, she approached her unusual friend and touched his cheek.

„Today is our big day, my dear. You will become a member of our big, strange and patchworked family." she said tenderly with closed eyes, but Melog sent her a wave of anxiety. She looked at him confused.

„What is it about? You're not afraid of being left out, are you? Is it about this Lord Admiral's wolf... My father's Wolf" Her companion flinched when she mentioned the Lord Admiral, so she decided to focus on that topic. "I know, he's a very intimidating individual and that wolf of his looks like he wants to eat everyone who happens to be in the room with him, but you'll get used to it." she said, stroking him. Melog sent her a vision. Lady Cala Grayskull appeared first, smiling as always. The blue in her eyes was unnaturally intense... She herself looked ominous, as if she were radiating light, but it was a different light than the one radiating from Adora when she was She-Ra. It was cold, it gave no warmth, and it exposed the soul to make it easier to see through it so that it could be judged. She shivered because it brought back terrible memories that she didn't want to recall.

„She's not like him." she whispered to her companion to calm both him and herself. She didn't like this girl, she told Adora that from the very beginning. Her scent was unnatural, her smile that never left her face hid something dark inside, and her eyes were cold as ice... Adora trusted her a little more, apparently she saw a bit of herself in her, or maybe rather someone she wanted... No, one who she believe she should be. Even after Lady Cala had upset her during that training session, her fiancée couldn't stay mad at her for long. Yes, they need to keep an eye on Lady Grayskull…

But then Melog sent her another vision. She saw her father in a long, elegant coat standing in the middle of the battlefield. There were no enemy soldiers around, and there was an ominous, oppressive calm. The banners of the Fearless Armada fluttered over the battlefield, and those of the enemy lay shattered. Dusk was falling and the shadows began to lengthen, covering everything around them. It also brought back bad memories, years of suffering when she lived under Shadow Weaver's supervision. Her father stood against the blood-red setting sun. Darkness wrapped around him like a robe…. Shadows seemed to flow from him, consuming everything around him. In the end, all that remained was a d ark silhouette with the world burning behind it. Two eyes, one intensely blue and the other red like the sun behind him, glowed as if they were staring at her. She pushed Melog away angrily.

„He's not like that. He's not like Shadow Weaver…. He can't be like that!" she called to her companion, who was staring at her with fear and resentment. She sighed and hugged the shapeshifting alien.

„I'm sorry Melog, I shouldn't have done that. I just... I really wish he could be the father I deserve. I never thought about having parents... a family bigger than the one I would create with Adora . But now I finally have someone I can see myself in. Thanks to which I will understand who I am. That's why I don't want him to turn out to be someone other than he seems. I know he has a darkness in him, but I have it too . I can't reject him for that reason... I want him to be my father...„ she said, tears flowing down her cheek. She just realized that this was the case. She really wanted the Lord Admiral to become a part of her life. She wasn't sure when it happened. Was it when he asked her to join him during the war with Horde Prime's Heirs , or maybe earlier... During that dinner... Or maybe even breakfast, when she learned about her past? It didn't matter what happened, what mattered was what resulted from it. With the arrival of the Lord Admiral, not only did the universe they knew expand, but her personal universe also grew to unimaginable proportions. She was no longer an orphan with no past, a damn cardboard kitten. She had her inheritance, even if she had to fight for it. She was who she always wanted to be. Maybe deep down she always knew who she was? That's why she strived for greatness, for power, even at the cost of harming everyone who cared about her and self-destruction? This knowledge, this awareness overwhelmed her, but at the same time it gave her an energy she had never experienced before. She felt like the whole universe was open to her... But there was also the matter of her sister. The girl claimed that their father was a liar. That she couldn't trust him. Maybe it was true… But she didn't even want to consider it. Not without credible evidence. This must have been Shadow Weaver's plot. This woman wanted to destroy her life again. She took revenge on her for daring to defy her. She wanted to punish her for taking away her power... She once made her hate Adora ... and herself. Now she wanted to repeat the same thing with her father. He won't let her do that... But first she has to save her sister, before the Dark Sorceress hurts that girl as much as she did to her. It was a priority. It wasn't going to be easy... Maybe she needed help from someone tougher... Stronger and Cunning than any of the princesses, Glimmer or even She-Ra.

„You know, my dear, I think I've made a decision!" she said smiling, but Melog sent her a wave of concern.

„You know, you really look great, and I'm not just saying that because I'm your steed. I know perfectly well how to be beautiful!" Swiftwind said enthusiastically. She laughed, amused that her own horse was helping her with the final wedding preparations. Yesterday she decided that Swiftwind would lead her to the wedding. He was the closest thing she had to family, though considering she was actually the one who gave him his intelligence, she was sort of his parent or master... It was quite a strange thought. However, on Etheria it often happened that children or wards led their parents or masters into marriage, so everything was probably fine.

„I'll be getting married as Adora, so your mane and wings will dwarf me anyway." she said and laughed. She decided to say the words of the vow in her natural form, because Catra preferred to marry her and not She-Ra. After all, they had known each other long before she found the sword of protection.

„And who will Melog and I actually be? Will he become my brother, brother-in-law or maybe cousin?"Aricorn asked. He had long been jealous of the strength of the bond the shapeshifting alien had formed with her fiancée.

„I have no idea, but you both will definitely be our best friends!" she said and kissed him on the nose. Then tears appeared in Swiftwind's eyes.

„My little Adora is getting married... I'm so happy„ he said and burst into tears. She hugged him tightly with all her strength .

„Oh, don't worry, my love! We will always be together!" She said as she felt tears streaming down her face. In fact, they knew little about the previous She-Ras and the bond they had with their mounts. They didn't even know if Mara really had that dragon mount. At least dragons really existed. And Dragonkini . Suddenly she remembered something

„Swiftwind … You said you met another Dragonkin earlier, right? The one whose name was the same as Tarek's nephew?" she asked carefully, and her mount nodded enthusiastically.

„Yes! His name was Alatar! What do you mean?" he asked, and she thought for a moment about what she should answer. She remembered that Catra's sister's group of burglars included a silver-scaled Dragonkin.

„Was anyone accompanying this Dragonkin?" she asked carefully so that he wouldn't feel her anxiety.

„Yes. There was this deaf girl with talking gloves. She was quite nice. Apart from her, there were also: A red-haired girl who hugged me and called me horse, it was strange. The tattooed Saihe, who was interested in our history and the sword, and the girl in the cloak with a mask and goggles. First she said that I was widely known throughout the Galaxy, and then she asked if if I were eaten, would I count as white meat or red meat…. It was quite terrifying. They wanted a permit from me to sell some tea and I gave it to them. Adora, has something happened?" he looked at her strangely, she probably looked worried.

„Was there anyone else? Someone they were afraid of? Or maybe some strange shadows…„ she tried to hide her anxiety, but she was never good at controlling her emotions.

„They probably had a guardian, but they certainly weren't afraid of him. It was me who was afraid of them... And now I'm a little afraid for you, because you made such a face that... „ Swiftwind's voice was really scared now. She felt confused herself now . The girl in the cloak was Catra's sister. She was sure of that. Even her sense of humor was a bit like Catra's, only more... gruesome... But if Shadow Weaver was with them, where was she hiding? She always liked to control everything from behind... from the shadows... They probably couldn't tell anyone about her existence under pain of terrible punishment... There was just something that didn't feel right here. True to Swiftwind's words, they were rather naughty and self-confident, not something Shadow Weaver would tolerate in others. And why did this girl ask about the sword... Maybe she didn't tell them the truth about what happened here. Well, that would be exactly like her. She had always considered secrets and mysteries as much of a weapon as sorcery and tanks. But something still didn't feel right to her.

„It's very complicated, but I can't tell you anything yet, but I promise you will find out everything soon. For now, I have an important task for you..."

„I don't know, but I'd rather get married in armor." she said, looking suspiciously at her reflection in the mirror. "Especially since in a few months I won't be able to wear it anyway, because you know!" she turned to High Minister Shu , who stood nervously clutching her hat with flowers.

„This is supposed to be a celebration of peace, not a message that we are preparing for another war. And so the Lord Admiral and his entourage will wear military uniforms, we don't have to." said the otter woman, trying to sound as dignified as always, but the arrival of the Starfleet soldiers made her very nervous, and not only because she had more work to do. She didn't agree with her decision, which wasn't surprising at all. She wasn't sure if she agreed with herself. But it was too late to change my mind.

„Maybe you're right, but I still want to be more... fighty...„ she said, not sure if she used the right words. Everything that's happened lately has been so overwhelming.

Suddenly, a guard peeked in, saying that Storm Heart, the Guardian of the Storm from the Islands of Sorrow wanted to meet her. She sighed heavily and let him in. She just hoped it would be less annoying than Midnight Mask.

The woman who entered her chamber was much taller than Black Blade. She was dressed in beautiful armor made as if from the chitin of giant insects, and on her back she had a glaive. Her face was covered with a veil like all her compatriots, but the part that was visible indicated that she was related to Midnight Mask , and therefore...

„Are you the other Shadow Weaver sister, the one Catra met in the Kingdom of Snow? Were you the one who supported the chancellor when he wanted to overthrow Frosta?„ she said firmly, and the woman nodded and said.

„I only did what was in the interest of my country. As a responsible queen, you should understand this... The girl was very lucky anyway. In my country, she would be executed for weakness unworthy of a ruler." she said in a serious, but also slightly sad tone. She pursed her lips and drawled, barely stopping herself from bursting into Fury.

„Listen to me! We in Etheria do not follow such rules. Power does not belong to the one who is strongest, but to the one who cares for the weaker. Showing weakness is not something we should avoid, because our loved ones will support us .„ She looked at Storm Heart and she replied.

„If this is how you imagine exercising power, it is no wonder that you have a problem with rebellion, and your own subjects do not want be ruled by you...

Now she teleported in front of the woman and shouted at her

„Who are you to threaten me in my own palace!" she summoned the projectiles to her hand, but the Guardian of the Storm shook her head.

„I'm just warning you. I would be sorry if you were exiled. You are the heroes of Etheria , the ones who ended the tyranny of Horde Prime. His rule also cost us a lot. For my Mother and sister, you are only strangers whose lives are worth as much as raindrops, but I see in you Honor, which even the faithful sometimes lack." she said in the gentle but strong voice of someone who had commanded in both war and peace.

„Why did you come here! Tell me and don't spoil the most important day of my life!" she ordered , and Storm Heart knelt down on one knee in front of her and said.

„There may be many differences between us. In the old days, we sometimes fought wars, and still most of my compatriots consider you less worthy than shadow spiders, because they are born with an understanding of what is beauty in order... But I know that we must try to understand you and start accepting you, because our universe became much bigger. If we don't open our doors, the universe will break them down. Therefore, I would like to ask you to allow me and my sister to participate in the Victory Day celebrations and wedding ceremonies. –

She stared at the woman from the Sorrow Islands for a moment, wondering if she should agree to her request. If she was anything like Shadow Weaver, she was definitely up to something... But then again, she couldn't refuse the outstretched hand. So she sighed and said.

„All inhabitants of Etheria are invited, including you. But you better not betray our trust. Don't think we are naive and powerless... Horde Prime thought so too."

Storm Heart stood up and bowed to her once more and headed to leave, but she stopped her by asking a question.

„Your mother... What is she like?"

The Stormkeeper stopped and answered her slowly and thoughtfully.

„She is a strong, strict and demanding woman... Like every ruler."

She smiled at Storm Heart.

"I think I know something about it..." she said, but the Storm Guardian shook her head.

„NO. You do not know anything. You'd have to get to know her to understand, and I don't want that for you. „ and she left, leaving the queen in thought.

She felt better now. She was no longer sad and depressed all the time, only sometimes, mostly in the evenings. She had to admit that she liked living with Spinnerella and Netossa . The women were caring and helped her get out of her despair, at least partially. The princesses of the United Kingdoms did not care so much about ceremonial and court etiquette. In fact, they had almost no court at all. They placed the management of the state mainly on the shoulders of officials, and they themselves dealt mainly with running the court and making official appearances, sometimes only conferring with the High Minister for an hour or two. It was something completely different than what she was used to, but she liked it. Everyone here was more open and direct than in the Kingdom of Snow, and she didn't feel like she had to constantly try to meet someone else's expectations. But it wasn't her home...

She willingly helped with taking care of the baby and cleaning and cooking, although she did not know much about the latter, although her cream soup with seafood was very tasty to Netossa and Greypaw . She wanted to feel needed. That's why she was very happy when Glimmer upheld her decision to be the main bodyguard at the wedding...

However, when they got there, it turned out that there was much more work ahead of her than she expected. Glimmer had invited anyone who would like to come, and probably half of the planet's inhabitants… and many from nearby planets… In short, there were more people in Brightmoon than she had ever seen… And she liked it! Other news, however, was much more surprising.

Catra's Dad appeared on Etheria . It was amazing! He came from outside the Empire, from the distant corners of the Galaxy, specially for his Daughter's wedding. It was so great and awesome! No one ever thought something so unusual could happen, although no one actually thought Catra was from outside Etheria . It was very strange, but then it explained why she wasn't like Greypaw. Netossa didn't seem surprised though, at least not as surprised as the others, maybe she had heard something from Catra? Back when she was trapped underground with Nightgale...? She wasn't sure, maybe she should ask the ruler of Armoria , but she didn't want to think back to those moments. It hurt her too much to see her moment of triumph turn into defeat.

They went with Netossa and Shogi to Glimmer while Spinerella stayed with the children. Her wife was to join them once she had discussed everything with the Queen. However, on the way, they heard Adora's scream.

„Frosta! Great to see you! I have an important task for you!"

She turned in the direction the voice came from and saw her friend and Swiftwind ! She ran to her and hugged him tightly.

„I'm also so glad to see you!" she exclaimed happily and added. "What a task! Please tell me!" she said, almost forgetting about Nettos .

„Oh, it's something simple, but very important. I want you and Swiftwind to look for someone after the ceremony.

She was about to shout that she agreed when she remembered her companion, but the ruler of Armoria nodded, smiling warmly. So it's time for a secret mission for Glimmer. She will show everyone that she can be counted on.

The Lord Protector of Antares , Admiral of the Fearless Armada and Supreme Commander of the Research and Exploration Fleet, donned the finest attire in his possession for the occasion. It was decorated with gold threads made of material brought down from heaven, but the buttons were made of red steel mined in hell. The material was a mixture of lunar silk produced by some of the Desnite orders of Castroval and wool from hair of Doom Moth from the Apostate. The leather pieces were made from Linnorm and Dragon skins. Everything wash infused with nanites, which not only cleaned it, but also repaired it, making it almost impossible to destroy. It was also strong enough to protect against being shot even with heavy weapons. It was a Treasure passed down through the line of the Lord Protectors of Tarak from time immemorial. Now it will become a legacy and a symbol of the power of the Protector Lords of Taurus and other planets that... would be liberated from the hands of the heirs of Horde Prime, which he will pass on to his daughter, and she to her descendants, until the end of time.

Everything was going great. All resistance on Taurus was crushed, and most of the former Rebels either swore allegiance to him or laid down their weapons. The authorities of the Pact Worlds and Veskarium, after receiving reports presenting his achievements in the most positive light possible, expressed their appreciation and promised to continue supporting his activities.

However, what was more important was that he was winning his Daughter's heart . It required a lot of patience and great delicacy on his part, but he was almost certain that he was close to winning her over to their common cause. Through the method of small steps, small concessions and moral compromises, he will make her the perfect successor to the ancient family bearing the surname Antares in recent centuries . He knew that he owed much of his success to this dark sorceress. It was through fear of her machinations that he was able to gain her trust. It was enough to show a little understanding and support, and she stopped seeing him as a threat and saw him as a valuable ally in the fight against the woman she hated with all her heart. As soon as he meets Shadow Weaver, he will have to repay her somehow... Of course, then he will kill her. No one can shed the blood of House Antares with impunity.

While he was thinking this way, there was a knock on the door of the room that the queen had lent him. He told his guards to let the guy in. It was his daughter and this strange feline creature that made Resh stand up, but motioned for the Nightmare Hunter to lie down again and asked.

„Good evening my daughter. The ceremony is coming soon. This may be the most beautiful day of your life. Shouldn't you be preparing for it?" he said in a gentle, slightly amused voice. Catra smiled nervously and said

„I won't be more ready.„ her eyes were nervous, like someone who has just made a difficult decision and is afraid that she will change her mind. "I've decided. I'll go with you. I don't know when exactly I'll do it, I have some things to wrap up here, but I'll join you." she added.

"Perfect," he thought, but he recalled concern and anxiety.

"Have you talked to Adora about this? It would be bad if this issue divided you...„ He was honest. This relationship was more important in the long run than Catra's participation in their war, at least at this stage was not yet necessary. She-Ra was an extremely important ally, but more importantly, her genes would strengthen their bloodline. „This is not a decision you should make without careful consideration.„ he said, giving his voice a hint of guilt, but his daughter shook her head and said.

„I'll talk to her. I'm sure I can convince her. We're all fed up with this waiting. Glimmer will form an alliance today and will definitely agree to let us support you. That's why we do all this. To spread peace and magic to the galaxy... We have a fleet, just untrained, but if your officers would teach us how to fight... If we don't fight, the Horde Ultimate and the Heavenly Brothers will come to us sooner or later..."

"You just gave me a great idea to solve a problem," he thought and placed a gentle hand on his daughter's shoulder. They both didn't like it when someone invaded their personal space, but at this moment, a little closeness was necessary.

„You will make whatever decision you see fit. I will support you no matter what you decide." he said , trying to sound as fatherly as he could. The girl nodded and looked into his eyes.

„However, I have one request. Before I go with you... I have suspicions that my sister is on the planet... She's in the clutches of Shadow Weaver, who you knew as Miss Daisy... I don't know how she captured her, but I'm sure he's keeping her captive. I need your help to free her." her voice was filled with fear and desperation… He had to calm her down now… A little. He looked at her seriously and said.

„I figured this out some time ago. You don't have to ask me for anything in this matter. I will use all available resources to free her... No one is allowed to harm the members of House Antares . I swear your sister will be free and Shadow Weaver will get the punishment she deserves...

"I really should thank this woman for everything she did for me."

Lady Sorrowflame was glad she went to this library. Although she didn't come close to solving the mystery of this planet during these few days, the pleasure of conducting research in a traditional way was worth it. Apart from that, she came across some interesting clues that would surely lead her to the solution... She had to learn more about including Aaravos and its planet Xadia. Lance and George didn't know anything about it, though she didn't want to ask them directly so they wouldn't get suspicious. They were extremely kind and trusting, even by Etheria's standards . Unfortunately, she hadn't been able to find much about the Elven Warlock or the place he inhabited. However, she did not have time to search the entire library. For a moment she considered killing or transforming them, but she resisted the temptation. Good and truly dedicated librarians were too valuable to be foolishly wasted . Besides, they were the fathers of the royal consort, their disappearance would cause too much confusion. And then they offered to give her a ride to Brightmoon . How could she hurt such polite people?

In Brightmoon , she learned that the Lord Admiral had convinced the Queen to bring her fleet here, although the locals were very confused. Her commander clearly wasted no time. She intended to meet him only after the Wedding Ceremony . Antares could be surprisingly sentimental about certain things when tradition was involved. Well, she understood him well, she was attached to her herself. After all, she was old when most ancient traditions were just born. The wedding was to take place under the open sky, in the light of these strange moons emanating power, in the presence of thousands of witnesses. It was a huge event of state importance, she had not participated in anything like it for decades, the last time was at the Lord Admiral's Grandmother's. His father never married his mistress, and Antares was never in a serious relationship. His family did not wear crowns, they had no need for such things to emphasize their power, so no coronation ever took place. It was simply that Parliament voluntarily, although of course not unanimously, gave them the title of Lord Protector. The Antares have always maintained the appearance of law and order.

Lance and George left her right afterward as they greeted their countless sons, including the Queen's future husband. Reflecting on the quality of social support on this planet, she took a seat in the section of the audience reserved for the Lord Admiral's subordinates. She sat down next to Mrs. Ka, who nodded her greetings.

„And how did it go for Antares?" she asked in a low voice.

„Surprisingly good, although we should get used to the fact that the boss knows perfectly well how to trick others. As for the information you are interested in, here is the second kitten, and therefore your dream artifact"

She looked at the Intelligence Officer and smiled.

„I'll find many more ancient treasures here, but this one was particularly valuable. Thank you for your message. " she said, smiling at her friend and lover.

Soon the ceremony began. She was secular, much to the chagrin of Lady Sorrowflame. The local people weren't very religious, which was quite interesting. She herself had been a devoted priestess of Dahak for countless centuries and could not fathom such ignorance. Faith was important to her, even after her God died, and she respected true believers, even if she fed on them. In a way, even Horde Prime's clones were better in this respect, because their faith was sincere, although directed towards a false god.

The queen's aunt spoke first, apparently her name was Castaspella, although she didn't believe it was her real name, no one would have such a stupid name, it was probably just a nickname. She talked about peace, the power of friendship and love, and all that nonsense. At some point she started to fall asleep listening to this senseless chatter, but eventually it all ended and the bride and groom stepped forward, led by their loved ones. The Queen was led by her father, who seemed to be a wizard, and by her future husband, Lance and George. The Lord Admiral led his daughter away and Adora was led by some kind of winged unicorn, quite a strange and ridiculous sight, but she was starting to get used to the fact that strangeness was the norm here. Then the Queen and her fiancé approached the Mistress of Ceremonies and began to sing, taking turns, a song about a long-standing friendship that, despite the pain of loss and misunderstandings, survived and finally blossomed into love that culminated here. Boredom again. She hadn't loved anyone for so many centuries that she was beginning to doubt that love was anything more than the drug reaction of a hormone-addled Brain. Unfortunately, the music was far too loud for her to sleep, so she looked around in boredom, wondering what the locals looked like as choir of ghouls. Finally the commotion ended and Castaspella asked solemnly.

„Do you, Glimmer Moonbright , and you, Bow of the Forest Library, make an oath to each other in the moonlight, you will support and love each other no matter what the future holds for you.

„We swear!„ They shouted at the same time and Glimmer jumped on her husband and kissed him, hanging on his neck .

„Well, you're married... You're not listening to me anyway... You could have at least waited until I finished... „ said the mistress of ceremonies, and Lady Sorrowflame seriously wondered whether the bride and groom were about to start their wedding night despite the presence of thousands of people. However, they immediately took a seat at the table, hugging each other. Then the Lord Admiral's daughter and her fiancée stepped forward , and Catra's strange creature stood at her feet. Both girls began to sing a song about their love. It told the story of growing up in the Barracks under the watchful eye of the Lord of Shadows, being separated by war and hatred, anger and sadness burning in their hearts, the coming of an invader, a desperate rescue, reunification, a final battle and a declaration of love. This song was a bit more interesting because it concerned matters that directly concerned her. Then Castaspella said the formula again.

„Are you, Adora Rainbowpunch Happysmile, and you, Catra... „ at this point, the girl interrupted her.

„Catra Antares ... I would like to marry under this surname. – she said, and then everyone looked at her in surprise, even Antares , whose usually impassive face showed a smile, the first one she had ever seen on his face. Adora looked at her for a moment, then nodded. Castaspella then returned to reciting the words of the oath.

Are you Adora Rainbow Punch and you Catro Antares, do you make an oath to each other in the moonlight, you will support and love each other no matter what the future holds for you?

„I swear... „ Adora said, looking tenderly at her beloved.

„I swear... „ said her boss's daughter, love reflected in her multi"colored eyes.

„So you two are married...

„ The mistress of Ceremonies didn't finish because both girls started kissing. Castaspella sighed in resignation, and cheers echoed throughout Brightmoon . But she paid no attention to it anymore, for she sensed the evil approaching… Evil born from the Darkness from between the stars …