Chapter Ten: Diplomatic Incident
"Can we get you anything? Coffee? Water?"
Princess Lavinia nodded and said, "Ya, actually-"
"No, no," King Elric interrupted, "We're fine."
"Oh, umm, I think the Princess wanted something," Catra said.
"She's fine," the King said, adjusting the few papers in front of him, "Let's just begin." He set his hands on the table and looked expectantly at Catra.
She returned a measured, yet hard look and Adora knew she wouldn't let that kind of thing go. "With all due respect, Your Majesty," Catra began, "I asked the Princess." Her gaze softened as she turned her attention to Lavinia."Would you like anything?"
Princess Lavinia's eyes darted between her father and Catra and back again. In a voice so small that Adora had to lean in to hear her, she said, "Coffee, please."
After listening to Adora's translation, Catra looked at Mabel, who scurried off to get that coffee. Then she set her mismatched eyes back on the King. She put up with exactly zero nonsense, royalty or not. If he thought he could control people without opposition, Catra would set him straight. But hopefully he was just exhausted from the trip and managing his people, and this would be the only course correction Catra would have to dole out.
"Now let's begin," Catra said, "How about we start by telling us a little bit about yourselves and your people."
The prospect of talking about himself seemed to brighten the King's mood and he sat a little straighter before saying, "Might as well start with me. I've been the King of Eternia since I was twenty-five, when my mother was killed in battle. Princess Lavinia is my only child and heir to the throne. As for Eternia, we've had a unified planet for almost a century, all under one rule, thanks to my grandmother, Queen Fredricka. My family has been on one throne or another for centuries. And we'll stay there for centuries more." Lavinia's eyebrows rose but she remained silent. It wasn't hard to understand her skepticism. Maybe he'd been the King of a whole planet before, but now his rule extended to two thousand people on a distant world. "We're suffering from a...temporary setback but I'll sit on the throne again. That I'm sure of."
"I can certainly see that you have the will to reclaim the throne. But when you say temporary setback, can you please explain what you mean?" Catra said.
"The setback's name is Evangeline," he said, "Unbeknownst to me, she rallied the military around her and they performed a coup. We barely escaped the castle with our lives. She killed everyone else." The Princess nodded along while staring at the table. Spirits. What had she seen in that castle? Who did she lose?
The table remained silent as everyone grappled with his words. A coup wasn't unheard of on Etheria but such a violent one certainly was. She racked her brain but couldn't think of a single example where killing took place. Like all Etheria conflicts, the focus tended towards disabling and dispersing the enemy.
Breaking the silence, Catra asked, "May I ask why they performed a coup?"
"Power, of course. And she hates non-magic users."
"To put it mildly," the Princess added.
"She hates non-magic users?" Catra started, "Can you tell us more about this Evangeline? Who is she? And why the prejudice?"
King Elric's jaw tensed and his eyes darted from Catra's face to his drumming fingers. Princess Lavinia scratched the back of her neck, and leaned forward until she sorta hunched over the table. "It's...complicated to say the least. She used to serve at the pleasure of my father in the Imperial Army. She had her own team and was tasked with the most dangerous jobs. And why not? She's immensely powerful. Think of your best sorcerer. She's at least ten times more powerful. She's what my people call the Imperator. I think Etheria has someone similar? Or had someone similar? She-Ba? Her-Ra? Something like that?"
"Just to clarify, Evangeline is magical and she's the bridge between Eternia and its people?"
"She is magic and, yes, Eternia chose her but it's not that straight forward," Lavinia said.
"What do you mean?" Catra asked.
"Well, it chose someone else first. A baby in this tiny little fishing village, that I don't even remember the name of, was chosen first." Lavinia sat back in her chair and continued, "We have this way of identifying the Imperator on Eternia. All babies at six weeks have to come into a center for a wellness check, shots, you know that sort of thing. And while they're there, they're given one hundred toys to play with. All Imperators choose the same three toys and that's how we know.
"Anyways, this baby chose the right toys and news of her arrival spread all over Eternia. People were so happy, so hopeful. Everyone loves the Imperator, and it's always exciting when the next is announced. But one day she disappeared. Totally and completely disappeared. We still don't know what happened; it's one of the most infamous unsolved cases in all of Eternian history."
Adora dared not look up from her notes and kept writing without skipping a beat. Any indication that she was possibly connected would destroy the plan instantly. "So no one knows who or what took her?" Catra asked, voice even. Damn, she was good.
"No. Her parents put her down for the night and when they went to check on her, she was gone. No sign of forced entry. The parents were cleared. No one knows what happened," Lavinia explained, "And I don't want to sound like I'm giving Eternia sentience or turning it into a person when it's not, but it took her loss really hard. A new Imperator wasn't chosen for five years. And you have to understand that a new one is chosen almost instantly when the old one passes away. That's just the way of things."
"But not this time?" Catra said.
"Not this time. I think Eternia was waiting for her to come back but she never did. She was never found. It's a sad story, really. Sadder because of who Evangeline turned out to be. It makes you wonder what could've been if the other baby was still alive. I'd like to hope she wouldn't have been like Evangeline but who can say for sure."
"Wow, I'm really sorry. For everyone in that situation," Catra said, "Especially those parents and the baby. I...I can't even imagine losing a child. Ever. But under those circumstances?"
"I went to see her," King Elric said, "Once. She was this adorable little thing with blonde hair and these striking pale blue eyes. You could just feel the power coming off her." He shook his head and added, "I prayed everyday to the gods for her safe return...but the gods can be cruel."
Blonde? Blue eyes? Holy shit. He had to be talking about her...So these really were her people? The King she was supposed to serve. The planet she was originally connected to. A whole other life she was supposed to be living.
"Her parents are still with us, actually. They're getting up there but they can still hold a conversation. Or at least as much as any peasant can hold a conversation. But if you're interested in hearing more, I'm sure they'd be happy to speak with you."
"They're really kind people," Lavinia added. "And the baby's brother, Red, is in charge of our tech. He made the portal and got us through." She had a brother too? And it was Red?
"With a lot of help," the King said. The Princess glanced at him but said nothing.
"Alright, well, thank you so much for all that info," Catra said with a smile. She did it all so easily, bringing an air of comfort and confidence. Adora forced herself to look away. If anyone caught her looking at Catra like that, well, she couldn't just be the unimportant translator anymore. "How about we take a quick break to use the restroom, refill our coffees, that sort of thing and then we can dive back in?" Both the King and the Princess nodded in agreement and everyone dispersed into smaller groups. She waited for Bow, Glimmer, and Catra to leave the room before following them.
They convened back in the council chamber and all three's faces reflected back the same uncomfortable surprise manifesting in herself. A nervous look passed between them before Bow said, "So, I guess you really are an Eternian."
"I guess so."
"And you're super fucking famous on Eternia too," Glimmer added.
"For being a kidnapped magical baby," Adora said.
"Hey, fame is fame."
"I'm sorry Light Hope stole you, Adora," Catra said, stepping closer and running a hand up and down her arm. "Everything we just heard in that room is beyond fucked up."
"It's okay, things turned out pretty perfectly." She meant every word. Sure, it was intoxicating to think about all the ways her life could've gone had she not been pulled through that portal. But at the end of the day, she had been taken and nothing could change that. Dwelling on the almosts wasn't going to help anyone. Especially when she was more than satisfied by where she'd ended up.
"That's a good attitude to have," Bow said.
"It helps that I really believe that." Catra's hand slid down her arm and she intertwined their fingers.
"So those people are your actual parents? That's incredible," Bow said, eyes dancing with delight, "How does that feel?"
"Good, I guess? Hopefully we can meet them soon. I think I'd really like that."
"I hope so too," Catra said, she pursed her lips and searched her face before adding,"You know, maybe we should just abandon the plan. You deserve to have a say in all this. It's not fair to keep you sidelined and silent when we're discussing your life."
"Thanks for thinking of me," Adora said while giving her hand three squeezes, "But we're getting a lot of information from them right now. Information I'm not sure they'd be willing to give if they found out the truth. So let's stick to the plan. At least for now."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," Adora said with a nod, "But let's focus on our game plan. What are you thinking?"
When they walked back into the conference room, she slipped past Bow, Glimmer, and Catra and took her seat to the side. She expected no one to notice her but when she looked up from her notes, the King was watching her with a half-smile. He licked his thin lips and leaned towards the Eternian General she'd forgotten the name of and whispered, "These Etherians certainly aren't lacking in fuckable women."
She opened her mouth to tell him off but Catra was quicker. "Are we ready to start again?" Her expression was open, warm. She must've not heard the King or realized Adora was about to speak.
And maybe he wasn't even referring to Adora. Still, that wasn't something he could say, directed at her or not. She made a mental note to have a polite word with him at the conclusion of the discussions.
Everyone turned to look at her and she realized she hadn't translated yet. So she did and everyone settled back around the table. Catra reopened her notebook and asked, "Can you tell us what the situation on Eternia is right now? After the coup, what does the planet look like?"
"Well, she named herself Queen, which is completely preposterous. She's just some farm peasant with magical abilities. Hardly fitting for a Queen," the King said, scoffing, "Now she and her goons are running things. Rounding up blanks and doing away with them."
"What do you mean by 'doing away with them?'"
"I don't know what happens exactly. All I know is that blanks are taken from their families and sent away to labour or reeducation camps. Whatever those are. I have yet to see anyone come back from one so I'm assuming the worst."
"Those that resist are killed in the streets," Princess Lavinia said, "Cut down, regardless if their friends or family are watching. I've seen them drag people from their houses during the day. It didn't used to be like that. Someone here or there would disappear in the night but they only got more brazen. Now that happens in broad daylight. And people support it. They cheer and they yell and ..." she shook her head.
"But why?"
"They think that we're inferior to magic born. They think we're weak, that our bloodlines are weak. None of our family has magic, that's why they killed most of us and took over the castle," he said, "We only got out with some advisors and subjects."
"I'm sorry that happened to you. That honestly sounds like a nightmare," Catra said, her sincerity shining through, "And to clarify, they were purposefully killing your people during the coup?"
The King and Princess exchanged a confused look before he said to Catra, "Of course. What were you expecting? That we held hands and went through a peaceful exchange of power ceremony?"
"Honestly, yes. That's kind of how it's done on Etheria."
"Must be nice," the King muttered. So, Eternia had wars where they tried to kill each other? If the aim was to resolve conflict, that seemed rather counterintuitive to reconciliation. In fact, wouldn't that just make things worse?
"After we got away," the Princess said, "We were basically racing Queen Evangeline here. We got word that she was trying to open a portal to Etheria. I don't know if she got the idea from us or not. But I cannot tell you how relieved we felt when you said that we're the only ones that came through."
"So you don't know why she was trying to come here?" Catra asked.
"No. Maybe she wanted to finish us off or maybe some other reason. I'm sorry, but I don't know."
After the morning discussions, everyone recessed for lunch. Most were probably going out, but Adora decided to see if she could find something in the castle's open kitchen. She rummaged around the fridge, looking for anything even slightly edible. Her rumbling stomach reminded her just how desperate she felt and she began her search again, this time with lower standards as to what constituted as 'edible.'
She heard footsteps behind her, but wasn't quite willing to give up her spot just yet. "Give me a quick little second. I'm trying to find some lunch." When she still couldn't find anything other than a package of moldy cheese and hundreds of millions of sauces, she gave up the search with a sigh. "Well, you're not gonna find much in there," she said while straightening out and turning around, "Maybe a trip to-." Her brain froze when she made eye contact with King Elric. Oh, no. She'd been talking to him so informally. "Your Majesty. I beg your pardon. I didn't know it was you behind me. Can I get you something? Or-?"
"You ever fucked a royal before, sweetheart?" He asked with a lick of his lips, "Fuck, with your body and face, I bet the whole castle has lined up for a ride. And now I want a turn. I can make you famous. Give you what you want." He stepped towards her until he'd pinned her against the fridge. One hand came up to cup her ass and her mind raced to catch up. What the fuck was going on? "So, what do you say-"
She grabbed his hand and twisted. Hard enough to bring him to his knees but not enough to break anything. With tears in his eyes, he growled, "You fucking cunt. I swear I'll have you killed. You're nobody. You're nothing. I'll–" She shoved him backwards, sending him sprawling across the floor. She stepped over him, out of the kitchen, and walked all the way back to Catra's office.
She was sitting at her desk, ears perked as she went over some paperwork. When Adora opened the door, she sat back and gave her a smile. "Hey Adora. I was just about to see if you wanted to grab lunch...What's wrong?"
She sat in one of the chairs in front of Catra's desk and rested her arms on the armrests. But that wasn't comfortable so she set her hands in her lap. "What would you qualify as a diplomatic incident?"
Catra didn't say anything for a moment. She cocked her head and searched Adora's face. Her features were smooth, curious. Adora waited for disappointment or anger but they never came. "Are you okay? Tell me what happened."
Yelling down the hallway started, the King's voice rising above the rest. Spirits, what a mess. But still, she couldn't feel any remorse for knocking him down. "The King happened," Adora began, "He cornered me in the kitchen and grabbed my ass. He said all this nasty crap. He wanted to know if I'd sleep with him. When he grabbed me, I pushed him down. And then he called me a cunt. So...ya."
She watched Catra process her words, her eyebrows slowly pulling down and her face scrunching up. Her eyes narrowed, sparking and then blazing. She dragged her unsheathed nails across the desk, causing deep scratches in the glass. "What an absolute fucker. I'll throw that dickhead in jail."
"Now that would be a diplomatic incident."
"It sure would be." Catra stood up at the same time her door swung open. Adora turned in her chair to find the King, Princess Lavinia, Bow, Glimmer, and some guards bursting through and crowding into the room.
"Your translator!" The King yelled, "She broke my hand and pushed me down. Arrest her!" He held out his hand to show everyone but she knew for sure she hadn't broken anything.
"You better shut your fucking mouth before I have your ass arrested," Catra growled. Judging by his face, he didn't need a translator to know that Catra wasn't taking his side.
"How dare you!"
And then everyone started yelling.
As translator, she was caught in the middle, forced to interpret everyone's yelling while simultaneously being the center of attention. She was never one to back away from conflict but this fight she could stand to sit out. Except that she couldn't. Not when they needed her to enable discussion. So she stood her ground, set her jaw, and got to work.
In between shouting from the King, Adora explained to Bow, Brick, and Glimmer what happened. Their shocked faces hardened into anger and it looked like Brick was about one second away from punching the King. And Catra was even closer to clawing him.
"Apologize to me," Adora said, somehow finding a pause in the mayhem, "If you have any decency, say that you're sorry for acting that way and you'll never do it again."
"I don't have to apologize to a peasant. To a nobody. You pushed a King. It's you who should be suffering the consequences" he said, crossing his arms. She hesitated in translating; he might actually get assaulted by Catra or Brick or both for that one.
"You're that baby, aren't you?" Princess Lavinia said. It was the first time she'd spoken in what felt like hours.
"What?"
"The original Imperator. The blonde hair, blue eyed baby that got stolen. She's you, isn't she?" When Adora remained quiet, she continued, "I was wondering how you knew Eternian despite our planets being separated for some time. And you look like the girl's parents. I can't believe I didn't realize until just now."
Okay, well, so much for their plan. Adora turned her attention back to the BFS plus Brick and translated, her words slow and smooth. She expected everyone to take some time to process but Catra almost immediately replied, "I say tell her. It's not like we're gonna stick to the plan at this point. In fact, I say we send all these assholes back through the portal and we call it a fucking day."
Logically, she knew Catra was just being protective and wanted to defend her but this attitude was so stressful. Only the King had caused any problems and it wasn't fair to take it out on the other Eternians. She needed Catra to see that.
She just wanted to help these people, why did it have to be so hard?
"You're the Imperator?" The King said before letting out a dry laugh, "I don't believe it. Not every blue-eyed bimbo in existence is her, Lavinia." He turned back to look at Adora. "Eternia doesn't just hand these things out, you know. It considers who would serve King and country the best. Who would serve me best. And let me tell you, it's not this random woman." 'Who would serve me best…' She turned over that phrase, repeated it in her head, gnawed on his tone. He'd said it like he owned her. Like this Imperator existed solely for him.
The color of the room shifted red, the edges of her vision blurring. She didn't hear his next words, they zipped around uselessly in the charging air. His mouth stopped moving and he took a step back, eyes wide. Magic pumped through her and blood roared in her ears. The lights started flickering as she pulled in more energy and she could feel her hair start to stand up.
"If you own the Imperator, then come and claim her," Adora said. She took a step forward and a familiar itch ran down her right arm, culminating in her hand tingling. The sword wanted to join in, drawn by the sudden increase in magic. She kept it away, the control she maintained enough to keep the weapon from materializing.
He said something, floundering and stuttering. It would be so easy to raise a hand and send him flying through layers upon layers of wall. But she was better than that. Maybe he deserved it. But she deserved a clean conscience and peace.
"What's the matter? Can't do it?" Adora said. He didn't respond, of course. These people never did when confronted with consequences. "Ya, that's what I thought." Maybe hurting him wasn't an option but telling him off wasn't. "Don't you ever speak to me like that again. You understand me? You may be a King but you don't own me. Or anyone else for that matter. And don't touch me again."
When he kept quiet, the urge to toss him through the castle built up again. She took another step forward and the pounding of heart sounded like a war drum–deep and propelling. Was she really going to do this?
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said any of that to you. Now, can I please go?" He held up his hands, a tremble running through them.
She didn't say anything. Didn't nod. She just stepped back and let him escape into the hallway and back to the conference room. Princess Lavinia's mouth parted and she froze for a second, eyes glued to Adora's. Then, like her father, she fled the room.
Adora expected to feel vindicated, powerful. Instead she wanted to throw up.
"Well, fuck me," Brick said, "You think they're pissin' themselves right now? I know I would."
Like a wave, her magic receded back into her, growing from an untamable force into a gentle tidal pool of power. With it, her body's energy resources fizzled out and it felt like she could sleep for a hundred years. The letdown after fights was often worse than the fight itself. But this was hardly a fight, it was more like an angry stare.
"What did he say to you?" Catra asked. Adora was still turned away from the four, looking at the corner she'd backed the King into. What was she about to do?
"Nothing good."
"Maybe we should call it a day, you guys," Bow said, "We can start up again tomorrow."
"I need to use the restroom." Before anyone could respond, she'd opened the door and headed off down the hallway. The distant sound of someone following her registered for a moment before the thought disappeared as she locked the bathroom door.
Her heart wouldn't stop pounding. She took a few deep breaths, like her therapist advised to do when she was spiraling. But that didn't help like it usually did. Her body weakened underneath her, shaking and nauseous. What was happening to her?
She gripped the sides of the sink and stared at her reflection. She looked pale and her temple glistened with sweat. Her stomach growled and every part of her focused on not throwing up. Who was this person looking back at her, occupying her body?
Adora closed her eyes and reminded herself that she wasn't in danger. No one was hurt. She needed to get a grip on things. What he'd said and done was disgusting, yes, but not really that bad in the grand scheme of things. So why did she feel like this?
She wanted to run and cry and throw up all at the same time. But her body didn't seem up to the task. It felt so drained. She just wanted to go home.
Nausea rose, no longer concentrating in her stomach. She ripped herself from the sink just in time to throw up in the toilet. Her body rolled upwards with the waves of nausea, pinching everything out of her until she was left dry heaving. What was going on? She hadn't thrown up because of a panic attack in years and years. Something was wrong but why? She'd endured worse than what King Elric had said and done.
Not now. She couldn't do this now. Analyzing and then overanalyzing could come later. But she couldn't stay in this bathroom. She checked her watch, staring as the socially acceptable amount of time she could spend in the bathroom ticked away. She needed to get back out there, smile in place. They needed her to translate and be present.
She took another deep breath and this time it helped. And then another and another until she felt like things weren't collapsing in on her. After swishing her mouth out with water, she appraised her face–still pale and sweaty. She summoned her healing magic and watched her skin grow flush again and the bags under eyes mostly disappeared. She quickly redid her ponytail, catching most of the escapees. She looked good. She looked put together and in control. Right now that mattered more than how she actually felt.
With that, she exited the bathroom and smiled at her loitering friends. They all jumped to their feet from various slouching positions on the wall and approached. They all tried to look casual; they all failed. "Everything okay?" Bow said, his voice an octave higher than usual.
"Look, he said some pretty vile stuff back there but now I'm okay. We can go back in."
"Listen, I think we need to put the brakes on this whole thing," Catra said. The usual edge in her voice was gone, replaced by something careful. "I don't think it's a good idea for you to be around them right now. So, let's pack it in and go back to our room. They can go a day without talks proceeding."
"Don't worry about me. I can do this."
"Adora," Glimmer said with a sigh. Great, here it came. "Of course we're worried about you. We're your friends. And I agree with Catra. Let's take a break for the rest of the day and then we can regroup."
Take a break. Sit around and do nothing but think. Was there anything worse? She needed a distraction right now or else she'd start contemplating whatever had just happened to her. "I can't do that. I really can't do that. Come on, let's pull it together and continue."
Everyone was looking at her. Not that they weren't before but now they were furrowing their brows and exchanging tiny glances with each other. She hated it. "What can't you do?" Brick asked.
"I can't sit around in our room, okay? That's not happening." She heard the annoyance in her voice and got even more annoyed. They didn't deserve her ire, it wasn't even directed at them.
Catra pulled up next to her and rubbed her back in a soothing up and down motion. The smallest sense of relief eased some tightness in her chest but she still felt the buzz of adrenaline keeping her hazy and flighty. "Let's get some lunch, you and me, and then we can get back to it."
Despite having just thrown up, she did feel hungry and not particularly repulsed by the idea of food. And maybe eating would signal to her body that there wasn't any danger. "...Okay, that sounds good. What were you thinking?"
"How about I make you something?" Catra suggested. With her hand still on Adora's back, she guided them to the kitchen, leaving Bow, Glimmer, and Brick behind.
When they walked into the kitchen, no one else was there. She looked at the fridge, where she'd been cornered. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. "What do you want? Cheese sandwich?" She watched Catra go to the fridge and pull some things out. After a bit, she turned around with a cocked eyebrow.
"What?"
"What would you like to eat?"
Right. She forgot to respond the first time. "Ya, cheese sounds good. Thank you."
"Always my pleasure," Catra said with a smile. She was in damage control mode, trying to cheer Adora up and restore the peace. She'd seen her wife do this so many times when one of their kids was upset. Was she acting like a child? Hopefully not.
Catra made sandwiches for them both in record time and set a plate in front of Adora. And what a beautiful sandwich it was. She practically inhaled the unsuspecting thing before sitting back in her chair. The shakiness that plagued her since the shove slipped away, and a more familiar solidness returned to her body.
"Well," Adora said as she set her hands on her thighs, "It looks like we weren't the only ones trying to negotiate so much ass." Catra looked up from her sandwich, totally and utterly scandalized. Had she ever seen Catra look scandalized? Nope. This situation sucked but causing this look almost made up for everything. Almost. "What? Oh, come on, that was funny."
"I guess," Catra said with a shrug that screamed concern, "I, ummm–are you okay? I've never seen you like that before."
"Like what?"
"You were seething, absolutely fucking furious. Whatever he said, it pissed you off. And you don't have to tell me what he said if you don't want. But are you okay?"
"No, not really," Adora admitted.
"Do you wanna talk about it?"
"No, not really."
Catra nodded like she was digesting Adora's answers. She got up from her chair and sat down right next to Adora. She tucked a few loose strands of hair behind Adora's ears and murmured, "You can tell me anything. You know that? Even if it makes me uncomfortable or you think I won't understand. I promise I'll always listen."
Adora put an arm around the back of her chair and looked into her beautiful eyes. "I know and that means a lot to me. Thank you."
"Anytime." Catra patted her knee and said, "So, here's what I'm thinking. Maybe we should let the Eternians go back to their camp today. And then we can work on the universal translator with Entrapta. That way you don't have to sit around and stew but you're also not around King Shit Head. Plus, we really do need to get Eternian into our translators so we also knock something off our To-Do list."
That actually sounded nice. She'd at least be doing something to occupy her mind. "Okay, let's do that."
For the rest of the afternoon, they worked with Entrapta to input Eternian into their translation program. They were still doing basic words and phrases when the time came to get Finn and Reyna. As Catra had more to do that afternoon, Adora volunteered to get them from school. Besides, she wanted to see them. When it came to getting cheered up there was nothing quite like hanging out with the kiddos.
Reyna got out first and immediately wanted to go for a ride. Adora was a bit run down, her body signaling its flagging status with almost every step, but an afternoon ride would keep her mind off things so she agreed. After Marshmallow and Swift Wind got saddled, Adora led them through the castle's grounds and towards Warcester.
"What are the Eternians like?" Reyna asked. She didn't look over, instead keeping her eyes on the trail. Her ears pricked forward and her tail lazily flicked back and forth against the saddle. Reyna usually rode on the 'saddle pancake,' as she liked to call it, but Adora decided to throw on their more comfortable trail saddles today. Reyna once said it felt like a moving couch to use the heavier trail saddles and she wasn't wrong.
"Well, they're definitely people."
This seemed to catch Reyna's attention and she turned to look at her with a puzzled expression. "Were you expecting...not people?"
"I expected people, I guess. But that comes with all the complexities and the goods and the bads of people. I dunno how to explain exactly. It always amazes me when I see the First Ones as just people. I guess I have them on a pedestal or something."
"What does that mean? On a pedestal?"
"It means that I'm making them into something they're not. I'm making them into these amazing beings that can do no wrong and who are perfect. But that's not how people work and it's unfair for everyone."
Reyna nodded. "Everyone makes mistakes." She and Catra drilled this into her head when she started learning letters and got frustrated at every setback. And it seemed like the lesson was paying off.
"Adora." She whipped around to face where the gruff greeting came from and watched King Okeer take a few steps from the forest. He looked alright, no visible injuries seemed to plague him. "We need to talk."
"King Okeer," Adora said with a bow. She was about to tell Reyna to do the same but she'd already followed suit. "It's good to see you, my friend. I was worried. Can you give me like an hour to get Reyna safe and secured? Then we can talk."
"You can take your pup with us."
Definitely not. Not when the forest had tried to kill her in horrifically violent ways over the course of a few weeks. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but that's just not happening. I can't risk her like that."
"But I wanna go," Reyna said while folding her arms across her chest.
"Reyna…" Adora warned. Today was not the day to test her patience.
"No matter. We can talk here. We will be quick," he rumbled. A few other wolves emerged from the forest, including a mother wolf and her four pups. Before she could do or say anything, Reyna hopped down from Marshmallow and ran over to the pups. Finn used to hide behind her legs when they met someone new so Reyna's gregariousness was a bit of a learning curve.
She dismounted Swift Wind and watched Reyna march up to the wolf pups with her usual confidence. "Reyna, I don't know if these nice wolves want to talk right now."
"It's not a problem," the mother wolf said. She sat over her pups with a maternal air, caring and in charge. "It'll be good for them to speak with a person."'
"Hi, I'm Reyna and I'm six years old. What's your name?"
A pup started to answer before Okeer interrupted Adora's observation, "She will be okay." She wrenched her gaze from her daughter and found him watching her with kind, knowing eyes. "This is my mate, Willow. And these are my pups. They are the lifeblood of our pack. Something I know you understand." She nodded and looked back at Reyna, who was busy introducing herself to each pup. "We want the same things, you and I," he continued, "Peace and harmony on Etheria. You have done much for the planet and the woods, She-Ra. It is something we can never repay. And I know you have worked hard to restore balance this past moon."
"Your praise means a lot to me, Your Majesty, but it wasn't just me," she said, "It was thousands of Etherians working together to get the Eternians through the portal and settled in."
"Then I thank all your people. But your work is not done. I come with the forest's thanks but also a warning." Of course he had another warning. Everyone had a warning for her these days. She only barely stopped herself from sighing. "Others wish to come here as well. And they are not like your Eternians, your flesh and blood. They bring fire and death. They will come through a portal, they will say anything to get what they desire. Be alert, beware. I know your heart, She-Ra. I know you will help everyone you can. These people cannot be saved. Do not forget that."
"Everyone should have a chance at changing, at getting better. Who am I to deny anyone that right?"
He shifted from sitting to lying down so his eyes were level with hers. "I am merely the messenger. And I cannot see all the ends of what I have been tasked to share with you. But I ask: When have you ever seen Etheria or the woods like this?"
"Never, in all my years."
Okeer nodded and said, "Trust that Etheria knows more than you or I. That I have not been lied to and deceived. I speak the truth, Princess Adora. But I also know this. Etheria chose you for a reason. It trusts that you will make the right decisions and that you will do the right thing. You have to do this your way. Whatever shape that may take. I am not trying to deny you choice; I would never. But you are our champion and you deserve to have all the information we do. Whatever you choose to do with this is up to you. I believe you will make the right choice."
"I hope I do." She looked past his shoulder, at the shaded forest sprawling behind him. Then towards Reyna, who tumbled over one of the pups and laughed so hard the tips of her ears turned red. "Do you think I made the right one? When I let the Eternians through?"
"Do you think you made the correct decision?"
She remembered the emaciated children stumbling behind their frail parents; the emptiness of their eyes as they shuffled from tent to tent. "Ya, I do."
"Then so do I," he said. Adora turned back to look at him and saw nothing but sincerity.
"Thank you," she said with a nod. "You have no idea how much I needed to hear that. This other group–how can I even prevent them from coming through? I didn't really control the portal the Eternians came through."
"You underestimate yourself. You did control it and you could have shut it down. Your sword is still the key to the planet, She-Ra. And by extension, you are the key."
Adora nodded. "Okay, I understand. And I'll remember what you said when the time comes. But I had another question and it's about the Whispering Woods. You seem fine, calm even. And you don't have any injuries. Have things gotten better? Can we lift the road block?"
He shifted his paws around and glanced behind him. "Things are better but they are far from perfect. We have not lost a pack member in days. Thanks to you, I believe. But the woods are still sick. I can hear the wrong melody, even here. If you come in, be careful."
"Do you think armed escorts could take supplies through?"
"If your people are ready to kill, I would say yes. Most of us are scared, hidden away. Most will not bother you. But those that do will be unwell. Not to the extent that the boar or our pack mates were but they will come to kill. Your people must be ready for that." They didn't even manufacture lethal weapons, training focused on disarming and disabling not killing. How would they even go about conditioning soldiers to shoot to kill? They needed the supply routes through the woods to be reopened but how could she authorize the killing of Etheria's wildlife? She shook her head, hoping to store these thoughts for another day. She could figure it out tomorrow.
What she really wanted to do was ask about Mara's message. About her approaching death. But Reyna was like five feet away. Another time. "Thank you, King Okeer. For coming and finding me and letting me know all this. You'll tell me if things change?"
"Of course. I will send a messenger," he said while rising to his feet, "Go with great courage Adora, Princess of Power. I am sure we will talk soon."
"I'm looking forward to it."
When they headed back to get Finn from school, both Finn and Sarah were waiting for them. She didn't comment on Sarah's return but they must've figured it out somehow. Last she knew, things were still weird between them because of the boar. Now they joked and laughed together. Had Finn told Catra about this? Why didn't they feel like they could tell her?
"So we were thinking that maybe you could give us a sword fighting lesson?" Finn said while twisting around on Percival's back.
"Oh, absolutely!" As soon as she said it, she knew she'd been too enthusiastic. That kind of reaction only drove Finn away. Cool and calm. That's what she needed to be. Cool and calm.
"Great," they said with a grin, "The play we're doing has tons of fight scenes and we need to make it look believable. So we were kinda hoping you'd help us with that."
"Say no more," she said with the wave of her hand, "Let's make a stop at the armoury and then I'll teach you all about it."
No more than half an hour later and they were ready for training. Everyone, including Reyna, dressed in training armour and possessed a wooden sword. "Alright, troops, line up," she said. Sarah, Finn, and Reyna formed a jagged semi-circle around her that was far from a straight line. Hmmm, close enough. "Never have I seen a finer collection of people. The brilliance, the cunning, you have it all." Reyna's helmet tilted forward, covering one of her eyes. Adora stepped up to her and readjusted it before tightening the chin strap. "It will be the honor of my life to teach the best and brightest of Etheria in the art of sword fighting. But you must also approach it with honor, humility-"
"-Can we please get to hitting each other?" Reyna interrupted. So much for an inspiring speech.
"Don't interrupt Mom," Finn said, giving Reyna powerful side eye that rivaled even Catra, "That's not nice. And Mom's like the best swordswoman on Etheria so we better listen to everything she says."
Reyna, to her credit, managed to look apologetic and said, "Sorry, Mommy. I just got excited, I guess."
Truth be told, she felt rather touched that Finn interceded on her account. And they called her the best swordswoman on Etheria. She felt like the coolest person alive. But she had to keep that underwraps or else Finn would pounce. "I accept your apology, my Little Lion. And we can definitely get to hitting each other but we have to go over safety and the fundamentals. All great swordspeople have a solid foundation in the basics before they get to the hard stuff. So, let's start there."
Luckily for everyone, these three were far from her first students. She'd trained quite a few people over the years, including Brick and now Sunny, so she had a pretty good idea on where to begin. And everyone responded well to her instruction, listening and correcting when needed. Surprisingly, Finn took to it the best out of everyone. She sorta expected Reyna to be the clear prodigy but Finn had the coordination that Reyna was only beginning to grasp. Sarah wasn't bad either, holding her own during the drills.
Over the course of the next few hours, her mood shifted and a certain lightness freed her from the day. Something about watching people learn a concept and get excited about it fueled her soul. If not for her She-Ra responsibilities, she'd seriously consider teaching full time. Maybe someday she could.
When the sun began to set, she heard the telltale clomp of feet, indicating that both Catra and Melog approached. Excellent. She could show her wife all the things the kids had been working on. "All right, recruits. We have the Director General coming in to observe our progress. And we want to impress her. She runs the Diplomatic Service, you know? We have to be on our best behaviour." All three straightened out as best they could in their clunky training armour and nodded.
"I see the War Department has collected their finest for a demonstration," Catra said as she walked up beside Adora. Melog sat on the other side of Adora and she gave them head scratches in greeting.
"Only for the Director General, ma'am. This is behind the scenes, exclusive action only for the highest ranking members of government."
"I am honored, Lord Commander. Let's see what your troops have to offer."
"Recruits, your fighting stances," Adora barked out. All three assumed wider stances and dropped some weight into their bent knees. Fantastic. They all looked like they were ready to fight. Really fight, not like these shows and movies where everyone had sloppy technique and flashy but wildly ineffective moves. Like that one garbage superhero movie that Finn absolutely loved but was littered with so many inaccuracies it hurt her head. "Finn, who's that superhero guy you like? Bug Lad or something?"
They tilted their helmet backwards and hit her with an incredulous look. "Do you mean The Hornet?"
"Yes, that one. He–." Reyna, Sarah, and Catra all started to laugh while Finn kept looking at her with the same unbelieving expression. "What did I say?"
"Bug Lad? Really? A superhero named Bug Lad?" Finn said, "What would he do? Control all bugs?"
"You laugh but I personally wouldn't want to fight a million coordinated bugs. So maybe I'm onto something here."
"You couldn't fight a million tiny, little bugs? Even as She-Ra?"
"It would depend on the bug type, I think. A million gigets? Yes. A million wolfgangs? Definitely not." Before Finn could say anything else, Adora added, "And this brings me to my next point: assessing the enemy. What do we do before we even start fighting?"
"Look for weaknesses!"
"And strengths!"
"Righty or lefty?!"
"What sword are they using?!"
"What stance are they in?!"
"Do they look like they know what they're doing?!"
All the kids kept calling out various things in a barrage of answers. They were right, of course, but the wild dissemination of information was far from coordinated. Catra shot her a covert, amused look and she couldn't stop herself from grinning. Training had never been so fun.
She had them do a few drills, mostly defensive ones, before moving to the grand finale: sparring. She declared she'd personally fight with the grand champion. After a few rounds, the winner turned out to be, unsurprisingly, Finn. "Alright, Finny, it's just me and you. Sword up and assume your fighting stance." They brought their sword up with one hand and did a ridiculous pose that had to have come from Bug Lad or The Hornet or whatever. "Okay, your real fighting stance. Not one endorsed by Bug Lad." Finn laughed and got into an Adora approved fighting stance before gripping their sword with both hands. "Personally, I pretty much always start out with an offensive mo-"
Finn leapt forward and slashed downwards, displaying both the agility and overconfidence of a young beginner. Adora easily batted their attack away and realigned the tip of her sword to face them. "Good initiative. Now point the tip of your sword back towards me. And keep your distance." Adora lunged forward, careful to dampen her usual speed, and hit them lightly in the chest. They grunted and thrashed around which caused Adora to back off. Hacking away at the air wasn't the most common defensive tactic but it did drive her back. She beamed and said, "You've got a good instinct for this. That's not something I can easily teach."
"Thanks," Finn said while reassembling themselves. They dropped back into a fighting position and shook themselves out. From a few feet back, she could see why Finn had a talent for this. The heavy blows they produced combined with quick maneuvering would make them quite the swordsperson if they wanted. And hopefully they wanted to. She was eager to repeat this delightful afternoon.
Finn approached again and Adora decided to give them the winning blow. A little repetitively, they moved forward and thrust their sword to her chest. She made a move like she intended to parry the hit but went slowly enough to miss the opportunity. Their sword collided with her chest and she swayed around and shifted from foot-to-foot as dramatically as possible. She brought a hand up to her forehead while simultaneously dropping her wooden sword. "Only…" Adora started as she careened towards Catra, "...a kiss from my one true love can save me now." She flopped down in Catra's arms and closed her eyes, trying to look as dead as possible.
"Stars, you're heavy," Catra said as she struggled to keep hold of her.
Adora cracked an eye open. "Just one little kiss and I'll be revived."
"Well, I suppose I can't say no to that." Catra leaned in and pressed a quick little kiss to her lips, much to the horror and dismay of the kids. Someone even booed. Probably Finny.
Adora got back to her feet and slung an arm around Catra's neck. Adora kissed her again and said, "That was just to make sure it worked." She winked before turning to look at the kids. "Thank the Spirits. True love has once again saved the day."
"Now there's a tired trope for you," Finn said while folding their arms across their chest.
Catra laughed and replied, "You might be surprised, kid."
"And that concludes our training for the day," Adora cut-in. She dropped her arm from Catra and approached the three kids. "After today, you shall be known as Fierce Finny." She put her hands on their shoulders and gave them a squeeze. "A fine fighter in the service of our planet." She smiled down at them before moving to Sarah. "And this here is Sarah the Slasher, much feared through the Kingdoms of Etheria." Adora patted her on the arm before standing in front of Reyna. "And last, but not least, is Rambunctious Reyna. Known for her warrior spirit." She placed a hand on Reyna's shoulder before surveying everyone. "I think this might be our best batch yet."
"I don't doubt that," Catra said, "Lucky for them, they have you as a teacher. Everyone say, "Thank you' to Mom for training with you today."
"Thank you," all three said at once.
"You're welcome. And we can do this everyday if you like. If you wanna get really good, you have to practice consistently."
"Can we practice tomorrow?" Finn asked, "We need to be ready before opening night."
"Absolutely. I already have some things planned. But before we go tonight, I have one more assignment." Adora clasped her hands together for a second before taking off towards the castle. "You have to beat me back to the castle!" She called over her shoulder.
All three shrieked as they ran to catch-up with her. They jostled each other around and inevitably blew past Adora when they were less than halfway there. While watching them mess around and be loud and crazy, it occurred to her that she would've never acted that way in front of Shadow Weaver. Sure, she and Catra and the other cadets had their silly moments even as teenagers, but no way they would've yelled or screamed like this. Were Finn and Sarah just immature? Had she and Catra let them be too childish for too long? Or was the reverse true? Had she and Catra been forced to grow up too soon? Maybe normal kids were just like this. As she recalled, Brick often acted too young for his age. Or maybe he acted perfectly normal? Honestly, it was probably that. Most kids didn't grow up with someone obsessed with controlling them and forcing them to do things they didn't want to do.
"Alright," she said between puffs as she approached the castle's entrance, "I think you guys beat me." They started high-fiving and knuckle bumping and whooping. Adora couldn't help but laugh at the sight. It seemed like they were having fun so what was the harm?
She felt Catra's tail against her back and, a moment later, she came into Adora's view. Judging by her light panting, she must've been running as well. The fact she got four people, including Catra, to race her felt so satisfying for some reason. "Time for dinner everyone. I made veggie ravioli so I hope you have an appetite. But first, we gotta put our equipment away." They sighed and awed but ultimately began the process of taking off their armour and moving towards the training rooms.
While the kiddos were in their own world and paying them no attention, Catra swept back some hair from the side of her face and leaned in close before whispering, "You entertained the kids and cooked dinner? All alone? After the shitty day you had? You're like super Mom."
Adora scratched the back of her neck and shrugged. "Better than Bug Lad, I suppose."
"Hey, don't knock him. I'd watch that movie."
"Me too. And you know what? It'd still be better than The Hornet." Catra laughed and she felt...good? This morning nothing could've salvaged the day and yet here she was, feeling okay.
Adora reached down and captured a forearm guard Reyna accidentally dropped. When she came back up, Catra said, "So you're feeling better I take it?"
"Much. Turns out I just needed a romp with the kiddos. And to get away for a bit." When Catra didn't answer, she turned and looked at her. She regarded Adora with searching eyes and it was hard to know what she was looking for. "Worried about me?" She teased but Catra didn't play along.
"Always am," Catra said. They both stopped at the door to the training armoury and watched the kids put away their stuff. They laughed and pushed each other around and took up way too much time.
"We never would've been like this."
"Like what?"
Adora nodded to Finn, Sarah, and Reyna. "Like that."
"Ya, I guess not. At least not around the adults. Especially not you with that stick up your ass and everything."
Caught by surprise, Adora let out a booming laugh and said, "When you're right, you're right. But, man, if I'd screamed and shouted like that…" She shook her head and let out a low whistle.
"The Horde's been on your mind lately." It was a statement, not a question. "Any particular reason why?"
She was right, the Horde had been occupying her thoughts recently. But why? Their kids sometimes caused her to rethink parts of their childhood, analyse where things went wrong. Now that she had a comparison point, it wasn't hard to identify the extent to which things were messed up. "I had no control over what happened today. Not over the King, not over myself. It's been a long time since I experienced that kind of thing. I make things happen, you know? Things don't just...happen to me. Not anymore, at least." She hesitated before adding, "Did Shadow Weaver ever–?"
A wild Reyna appeared out of nowhere and ran smack into Adora's legs. She caught herself on the wall before she could tumble head over heels but it was a close thing. "Reyns, you gotta be more careful," Catra said as she helped Adora collect herself, "Please watch where you're going next time."
"Sorry I hit you like a bowling bowl, Mommy. And I'll try to be more careful." Adora smiled at the analogy; she did kinda feel like a bowling pin. "But Finn was chasing me with a sword." She pointed at the culprit, who stood a few feet away with a sheepish grin and a wooden sword poorly concealed behind their back.
Catra arched an eyebrow and hit them with her famous Mom look. Adora even felt the need to apologize after seeing that look. "Finn," Catra started.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry," they said, "I couldn't resist. But I'm just toughening her up. She…" Their voice drifted away and her mind lingered on before reeling in the phrase: Toughening her up. She'd heard that before. It seemed like everyone was always trying to toughen her up in some way or another. The Horde needs you to be our toughest soldier yet. The Rebellion needs you to tough this out.
She was going to yell. The urge built and she could feel the need banging on her chest, wanting to be let out. Nope. She wouldn't do that to Finn, especially when the only crime they committed was being a kid. "I'm gonna check on dinner!" She said a little too loudly before turning around and speed walking away.
"What's wrong with Mom?" Finn said while she bolted down the hallway. That was the question of the day.
She found Brick, Glimmer, Misty, Reed, and Bow down by the kitchen and asked them to dinner. Did she only make enough for five people? Yes. But they could have the kitchen staff whip them something up, and the ravioli could be lunch or dinner tomorrow. She just needed lots of people around, as distractions for both herself and everyone else. Lots of people would act as a buffer, no one would be focused on her as much.
When Catra finally emerged with the trio in tow, everyone else was already seated and waiting on the cooks to bring out the first course. The kids, still jostling each other and far louder than their inside voices were supposed to be, paid her no attention. Finny did give her a weird look but got quickly pulled back into a much heated conversation about The Hornet. Catra, on the other hand, kept glancing at her and she knew her wife was concerned.
No one mentioned the abrupt change in dinner plans that now included almost the entire royal family but she could feel the curious looks. From Brick. From Catra. From Bow. She felt like some animal being monitored for a change in behaviour. And it was awful. They cared, they really did. But she wanted to just sit there and be talked at. The looks interrupted her ability to interrupt herself.
When everyone was busy listening to Reyna's detailed explanation of their sword training, she whispered to Brick, "Can I borrow a cigarette?"
"I thought you quit."
"Me too." His eyebrows drew downwards but he shook a cigarette out without comment. "Wanna join me?"
"Sure," he said with a shrug before standing from his chair. They both walked out to the balcony and lit up in the oppressively dark night. The only reprieve from the heavy blackness was the castle's twinkling lights. Her cigarette joined the collection of burning embers and it felt like she added something to the world. "I'm no therapist but I get the feeling something's on your mind."
"I guess," she said before taking a drag, "I just wish I knew what it was."
A pink figure popped into existence about a foot away, causing Adora to startle backwards and Brick to jump into her arms with a little scream. She hadn't planned on cradling a six foot four man today but she wasn't about to shirk her duties as aunt and commanding officer. He chopped the air with one hand while she kept lifting him. They really were ready for anything.
"Adora," Mara said, eyes sad and resigned. Usually they spoke Etherian but now she spoke the First Ones' language. Her glow illuminated the entire balcony and her appearance felt twice as bright. She let Brick down and approached her mentor.
"Mara, Spirits, what are you doing here?" She'd never once seen Mara this far from the Crystal Castle. She didn't even know the other She-Ra did house calls. Despite how surprising her appearance was, Adora still welcomed her steadying presence.
"Adora, I'm disappointed in you." Well...she probably should've expected that. Still, why couldn't anyone leave her alone for like five minutes? "I specifically asked you to speak with your friends and family about the situation. And then you ignored me."
"You barely gave me anything to talk about! The 'choice' you gave me wasn't even a choice and you know it." She'd never fought with Mara. Ever. But she wasn't about to stand here and take it without defending herself.
"Not only did you not listen to me but now you're lying to everyone. What have you done?"
"This is ridiculous," Adora said with a wave of her hand. She turned around and started walking back inside.
"Now the path is set and no one can do anything about it." In a much softer, warmer tone, she added, "You may be a great protector, Adora, but some things are beyond even you."
Shit. There it was. Another situation she couldn't control. She should go back inside and ignore Mara. Tell her that they could talk another day but today wasn't working for her. Instead, her feet stopped and her restraint bubbled into something slippery and unmanageable. She whipped around and stalked towards Mara. "You know what? I've been told my whole life that I have no control over anything, not what happens to me and certainly not what happens to anyone else. But I've proved everyone wrong. And I'll do it again!" She hadn't intended on yelling but here they were.
"I hope so, Adora, for everyone's sake." And then she was gone.
"WAIT!" Adora yelled after Mara. She held the railing and searched the castle grounds down below for her flickering body but she couldn't see any movement. Not even the flap of a flag or the walk of a guard. Just stillness. She waited but Mara didn't show up again. Maybe Madame Razz would make an appearance? Something told her that wouldn't be the case tonight.
Adora turned back around, only to be immediately greeted by all her friends and family staring at her. Which, all things considered, was probably fair. Slowly she made her way back to the table and sat back down at the head. Still, no one said anything. She took a gulp of wine and replayed Mara's words. You may be a great protector, Adora, but some things are beyond even you.
"You–you just got into an argument with a ghost," Catra said.
"Ya and, even worse, I lost." She ran a hand through her hair and tried to calm the inferno that'd been building all day. She knew she had a temper and, by virtue of knowing, tried to circumvent the paths that led to the world tinting red. Sometimes managing this was easier said than done.
"What are you lying about?" Finn said, eyebrows pulled down and mouth in a hardline. Oh, no. Had they heard that entire conversation? Throwing the wine back up would not be ideal, but her stomach twisted dangerously.
"And what did she mean when she asked what you've done?" Reyna asked. Amazing. Awesome. What a great time to find out that both kids understood the First Ones' language. In any other circumstance, she'd pick up and hug and kiss her kids. Now she just felt her fire burning so intensely that it hollowed her out.
"So you both heard that?" She already knew the answer. Their nodding heads confirmed her worst fears.