Day 5 - Pile of Leaves

I just wanted to try this really bad. I've never drawn comics and this was 9 frames. But it was a lot of copying and reusing. So it was easy. Hopefully it makes sense (it's just a game of hide and seek)

It was hard thinking of something to make for these days art wise. So I put the two together for a story piece. I really felt like there needed to be some closure for these two. (Catra and Glimmer)

Cw: loss as part of the show.

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Day 3+4 - Evening and Purring

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Catra lies in the warmth of the sunlight filtering through the high window. Her purring the only sound in the large chamber. She scoots a little closer to the window as the setting sun slowly offers less and less comfort. With a little grumble, she wraps her tail tight around her as she tries to find that perfect position again before time runs out. But footsteps catch her ear and she turns with a start. Before she can leave she sees her in the grand arch leading back to the rest of the castle.

“W-What are you doing here?” Glimmer asks.

“Oh. Sorry. I was just… trying to get away. You know. Cat nap.” She gestures to the stark light amongst the shadows.

Glimmer’s face is cast in those shadows, but Catra has no trouble seeing just how dark her expression is. “Why here? Why… this room?”

Catra stands quickly and makes a straight line for the exit. “I-I’ll just go.” She offers sheepishly as she tries to skirt around the Queen.

Catra stops mid-step and her tail bushes. Glimmer’s hand gripped tightly around hers and tugging slightly. “No… Please. I-I’d like it if you stayed for a bit. If it doesn’t make you too uncomfortable.”

Catra spends a long time looking down at her hand, willing it to not shake. “I don’t know… I’m probably the last person you want-“

“No one ever comes here. Not even Bow or Adora. So please-“

Catra can feel her tremble, she doesn’t need to see the tears welling in her eyes to know what she should say. “Okay Sparkles. I’ll stay.”

Glimmer reluctantly lets go, “Thank you” she says with as much heart as she can muster. The queen walks further into the room and waves her hand. The lights all flick to life, one by one. Soon the room seemed like the sun was still high in the sky with how bright it is. Almost dazzling.

Catra stands awkwardly in the archway as she watches. Holding her arms for comfort she takes a deep breath and pushes herself forward.

Glimmer stands solemnly in the center of the room, bowing her head and lacing her hands together. She doesn’t make a sound, but it is clear there is much more being said. So Catra walks over and follows her example out of respect.

Catra’s ears prick at the sound of tears hitting the pristine marble floor. It sets her tail swaying and her ears folding flat. She looks up at the great statue in front of them.

“I still miss her… so much” Glimmer cries softly.

Every hair in her fur. Every muscle. Every joint. Everything locks up in painful tension. Catra’s eyes shrink as she locks her gaze on the statue, fear hammering in her mind as much as it does her heart.

Without raising her head to notice Catra’s reaction, Glimmer continues “Everyone acts like we can just go on with our lives. Like nothing changed. I have to be Queen and no one even mentions her. It’s like they don’t remember her. I come here all the time just to sit and maybe feel like some part of her is still watching, wanting to talk…” She wraps her arms tight around her shoulders and turns away to hide her sobs. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. It’s not fair to you and it’s not your responsibility.”

“Not my responsibility!?” Catra’s tone is louder than she wanted. But it’s still quieter than the guilt. “She’s gone because of me! Adora told me everything. That’s why I said I was the last person that should be her with you right now. I took your mother from you, so WHY WOULD YOU EVER WANT TO SPEAK TO ME AGAIN!?”

Glimmer’s reaction is surprisingly measured. “Because you’re the only person that sees her as a person. Not as a Queen.” She turns with a wet nose and a trembling frown. “Catra, no one sees me as a person anymore.” She gestures to the beautiful art of her mother “No one saw HER as a person!” her fist ball with her rising pain. “ALL we are to people is what we’re told we’re supposed to be. Mom, Dad, and now ME! We’re just this stupid title! Do you know how happy it makes me that you gave me a nickname? I know you did it to insult me. I know that... Back then it hurt, it got on my nerves. But now? Now it feels like I’m a person. You treat me like a person. The snippy jokes. The sarcasm. The playful rudeness. It makes me feel seen! OKAY?!”

Catra’s hackles slowly fall as her breathing steadies. The look on Glimmer’s face is so genuinely authentic. But also, so much pain that it looks familiar to her. “Okay… okay. I-“ she sighs and wrings her tail through her hands to straighten the fur. “I didn’t know that. I really expected you to hate me.”

“You saved my life. You helped save all of Etheria. If people can forgive me for what I’ve done in the name of the Rebellion. I can forgive you for not knowing what would happen-“

“But I did know!” Catra snaps. “I knew it would destroy everything. I wanted it to. I was so tired of constantly being in pain that I wanted it all to end… and I was taking everyone down with me. You Cannot forgive that.”

“Yeah, and because of my irrational fear and hunger for power not only did I do the one thing needed to activate the Heart of Etheria, I trusted Shadow Weaver and almost handed it over to her… We both made a lot of world ending mistakes. Horde Scum.”

Catra’s vision tilts and her ears flick in disbelief. “Wait. So Prime… That’s why you were in the Fright Zone?! That’s why we both got captured?! I thought you were there to end me.”

“Like I said, lots of mistakes.” Glimmer puts on her best attempt at a smile and offers her hand to shake. “Truce?”

Catra eyes the hand with suspicion. “Truce over what?”

“No more thinking we hate each other. No more hiding. Just, friends. Real friends. Friends that see each other for who they are. Not what they’ve done.”

Catra’s expression softens and her ears relax. She takes the and with a strong grip. “Yeah. I’d like that. Sparkles.”

Glimmer smiles brightly and opens her other arm “Is it too much to ask for a hug?”

“Ugggh. You’re going to push for this to be a thing now, aren’t you?”

“Maaaaybe~”

The cat slowly closes the gap. She lets go of Glimmer’s hand and wraps her arms around her shoulders. Glimmer being as short as she is wraps her arms around Catra’s ribs and squeezes.

“So, is this really that great a spot for a cat nap?”

Catra chuckles, “It’s a bit sad to say, but you’re right. No one comes here. It’s high up and you can see everything from the window. The comfy window seat helps… waay better than the rusty Horde towers.”

“Then, do you mind if we just sit for a while? The emotional exhaustion is real…”

“Sure.”

The two take a seat together, backs to the window and facing the statue. Catra remarks on the quality of the art. Glimmer complains about having to sit for portrait painters and the like. Eventually they devolve into general squabbling over life. Leaning shoulder to shoulder. Glimmer notices the subtly purring and smiles.

So, I'll keep them running here. Most will have Kallen as part of the story/art. So it's just easier to consolidate it here.

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SheRa-tober, day 2. Tattoo

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The great double doors sit silently guarding the peace the empty mess hall offers. It was well past the lunch time rush but Catra and Kallen are just now sitting down with their plates. Kallen looks haggard and worn from too much training. Catra’s disheveled fur makes her look far worse. Yet, they both wear content smiles as they try to relax.

Keyword being “try”.

A burst of pink and purple catches them both by surprise as Glimmer lands just inside the doors. She screams a frustrated groan and both the cat and the wolf cover their ears, yelping in shock.

Glimmer quickly cuts off her burst of anger and a regretful squeal escapes her before another poof of glittery magic.

The two are left looking at each other in complete disbelief of whatever just happened.

“Iiiis that normal?” Catra hisses.

“I hope not.” Kallen pets at her ears timidly. “You would think-“

Again, cut off by the princess returning is the same jarring fashion “I am SO sorry!” Glimmer takes a moment to blink as Kallen recoils. Catra however is on the offensive.

“What the heck Sparkles! Can you warn us even a little?!”

“Sorry, sorry. I thought it would be empty in here… At least, it usually is. I had no idea I would bother anyone.” The princess gives a short, formal, bow. “Please don’t tell my mom.”

Kallen presses her palm to her chest as though that would calm her hammering heart. She takes a deep breath. “As long as it doesn’t become a habit? Sure…”

Catra scoffs. “Sparkles, you cannot pay me to tell your mother anything. As lovely as she is, I do not do great with authority figures. I’d rather not ruin this one.”

Glimmer winces slightly, “Okay. Fair,” before dropping unceremoniously onto the bench seat next to Kallen. Without warning she plops her arms on the table and her forehead thumps loud as she buries her face.

Kallen stifles a laugh at the dramatics. “Soooo~ are you going to explain or is this charades? Should I just start guessing?”

She’s met with an unintelligible groan.

“Ah, I see. You tried to fire the royal interior decorator because the purples of the new curtains were not purpley enough.”

Glimmer snaps her head up and gawks “What!? No! I- Ugggh” she returns to her previous spot, nose to table. “It’s even more ridiculous than that.”

Catra picks at her food and throws a large crumb of the crispy bread at the mopey ball of cotton candy.

“Hey!” Glimmer, again, shoots up and glares at the offender.

“Sparkles, talk or I’m taking my food and going back to my room.”

“Fine… if you’re going to be mean about it-“

Kallen interjects “If she wanted to be mean about it, she would have just walked out. This is her trying to be nice and listen.”

Catra’s eyes narrow and her tail flicks with her annoyance. “Great, my interpretor is giving away my secrets.” To which Kallen smiles broadly. Catra lightly rakes the claws of her foot down Kallen’s shin in threat. The wolf’s ears drop and she tries to play it off casually. She gesture to Glimmer, “Continue.”

Glimmer’s eyes dart between the two for a moment before she does. “My mom and I had an argument over something really… dumb.”

“I doubt it’s dumb or you wouldn’t have felt like defending the idea.” Kallen adds with a genuine concern.

“Well, Yeah… Kind of?” Glimmer shrugs. “I just… Ugh her reasoning is so- so petty.”

“Queen of petty sitting right there.” Kallen points to Catra. Earning her another prick of claws on her shin. The cat outwardly smiling at the playful comment.

“She’s your mother.” Catra starts with a smug grin “I thought that was part of her job?” but her expression falters as she looks away, adding “Not that I would know.”

“It might as well be. She’s been keeping me under these strict rules forever. But I’m an adult. I can make these decisions for myself. It’s not like it’s the end of the world.”

“What did you do?” Catra leans in, “You’re the prim and proper princess. It’s not like you jumped into another battle unprepared.”

“Oh haha, very funny Catra. I’ll have you know that my record is still flawless.” Glimmer boasts.

“Ugh. Whatever. Just, what did you do already?”

“I didn’t do anything. I just want to get a tattoo.”

Catra breaks out in a cackle and a oh so graceful snort. “You!? You really want a tattoo? Okay, I’ll give it to you, maybe your not as goody-good as I thought.”

Glimmer’s unamused glare does nothing to stop the cat finding humor in the situation.

Kallen tries to course correct. “Why is she mad about that? Don’t you already have your little wing tattoos on your shoulders?”

Glimmer twists her right shoulder forward and looks at the spot in vain. “There’s aren’t tattoos. I was born with these. It’s sort of my mom’s genetics or whatever. I want real tattoos.”

“Oh what? Ponies and teddy bears?”

Kallen joins in on the glare this time.

‘-Okay. Fine. I’ll drop it. Sorry.” Catra scoots back, pulling away from the table a bit.

Glimmer poofs over next to her and gets up in her face playfully. “Alright then, what would the bad-girl Catra get as a tattoo?”

“I can’t.” She holds up her arm and brushes against the grain, causing the hair to stand up. “Fur”

“Oh… Right. You’d never see it…” Glimmer pulls back and her shoulder slump. She starts lightly pacing, lost in thought of how to answer the question. “But you’re not wrong, I barely know what to do or where to get it… I have so many ideas but-”

“Then why don’t you plan ahead?”

Glimmer startles backwards and falls onto the bench seat of the next row of tables. She braces her hands as her eyes go wide.

“What?” Glimmer tilts her head to the side and watches with a mischievous grin. “Hearing you’re own voice catch you off guard or-“

“YOU CAN BE ME!?” the real princess blurts, causing the fake to cover her ears again.

Kallen, shifted as Glimmer, shakes her head like a pup. Trying to roll with the punches she replies “Yes, Glimmer, I can… Geez you would think people would take being a shapeshifter more seriously…”she jokes.

Glimmer disappears almost immediately.

Kallen sighs, not completely covering up her disappointment. “You know, I thought that would have gone better.”

Before Catra can reply, the princess is back with both hands full of different colored markers. Catra’s lips pull into a seriously smug smile “Oh, I don’t think you were prepared for just how well it’s going to go.” She teases. She picks up her plate of food, ready to be whisked away to where ever. “And this is why I don’t sign up for things around here.”

Kallen’s face pales as Glimmer bounces with glee. “Help…”

Glimmer grabs Kallen by the shoulder and poofs away. Catra’s ears flick and she rolls her eyes playfully. “With friends like these, who needs enemies?” she jokes to herself. Catra picks up Kallen’s plate just in time as Glimmer returns and takes her away too.

My best friend developed a hyperfixation on this story lol

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,”. Cameron groaned, walking beside Lenny and Violet up a hill that seemed endless. If he squinted, which neither he or any of the others had the energy to do, he could see the royal family’s palace. Not because the three of them were close enough, but just because the palace was that big.

“Do I look stupid? I definitely look stupid,” Lenny ran a hand through their hair anxiously.

Violet looked at them up and down. “You don’t look stupid. A living candy bar, maybe, but definitely not stupid.”

Cameron could agree with that. From Lenny’s wavy pink hair, to the shoulderless ruffled top with a slightly similar shade, to the pastel blue skirt, they did, in fact, look like a living candy bar. A really cool living candy bar.

Lenny raised an eyebrow. “I don’t trust your judgement.”

Violet shrugged. “Fair enough.”

Cameron looked up at the night sky. On his planet, the sky was different shades of pink in the day. Sometimes purple, but that would be considered a bad omen. In the night, the sky was pure crimson. With stars. He didn’t know how the stars came back. But they gave him some kind of unique hope. The stars were gone for thousands of years. Eventually, they came back. If the stars came back, however long they had taken, his father could come back too. That was the one thing he wanted.

“So we’re meeting Lucy and Leigh there?” Lenny asked.

“Probably,” Violet shrugged.

“Probably!? I thought you were organising it!” They threw their arms in the air.

“You were the one that went to their log cabin today!” Cameron wanted to mention that he came too, but that seemed unnecessary.

This led into a multitude of arguments about things that were, for the most part, completely unrelated as to why they were arguing in the first place. Cameron liked watching people argue. Or just, simply communicating. As they say, time flies when you’re doing something you find fun. This was proven to be very true, because by the time Lenny apologised to Violet and Violet grumbled “Whatever” then changed the subject of conversation, they were already staring at the royal family’s palace in awe. That seemed to be the thing about palaces, no matter how many times you’d been to one, the mere sight of them could still be breathtaking.

There were two guards at the doors, both holding spears, but one was holding a long list, the bottom of it sitting on the ground. Instead of armour, which seemed more logical if somebody dangerous were to try and break in (something that happened more often than people would like), they were wearing crimson tuxedos. However good they looked, Cameron had an anxiety crawling through him, that somehow, the lack of armour may backfire on not only them, but everyone else at this party tonight.

“Names?” The one holding the list droned.

Lenny nudged Violet. “You do it.” They mumbled.

“Why do I have to do it!?” Violet stage whispered.

“Ahem.” Cameron fake coughed, the sound of Violet and Lenny’s voices disappearing behind him, like rain evaporating.

“Sorry about that, gentlemen,” He pulled his business man's voice as best he could, and for somebody who wasn’t a business man he was doing a pretty good job.

He began listing out their full names to the guards. “Cameron Tilda, Violet Tilda, and Leonard Laurel.”

Violet snickered at the mention of Lenny’s real name while Lenny glared daggers into her.

The guard scanned his list, furrowing his brow. He looked slightly surprised as he said, “Access granted,”.

As the guard on the other side opened the door, it dawned on Cameron how long it had been since he’d attended one of these things. The place still looked the same, marble tiles, unreasonably long, wide stairs leading up to where the king and queen’s thrones would usually be, but instead replaced by an orchestra, playing classical music. Tables with assortments of champagnes lined along the sides, most people trying to steal them. Some people were talking and laughing, while others were swaying with the music, either by themselves or with each other. But it didn’t feel the same. Whenever he was invited there as a child, there was some kind of magic there. He’d feel like he was in an actual fairy tale. Now he felt empty, knowing that most of the people there were pretending to have fun. At that moment he promised himself he wouldn’t pretend to be anything tonight.

At that moment he also realised that Violet and Lenny were gone. He found himself heading to the place he’d always go if he had nothing to do here. The conservatory. He sat against the pillar in the corner of the small room, staring up at the crimson red sky through the glass wall.

“Cameron?! You’re here!!” Ivy walked into his hiding place. He didn’t mind. He never did mind.

“In the flesh!” He spread his arms wide. Despite everything, he was genuinely happy to see her.

“I’m so glad you guys could come! Well, most of you anyways…” Her voice trailed. She could only be talking about one person, and Cameron had a guess at who it was.

“Oh! I was just wondering about something,” A subject change was needed, and Cameron was actually wondering about multiple somethings, two of them being:

1. Why did Ivy organise this event in the first place?

2. Why did she invite him and his crew?

He figured that question number one was more polite to her, him, and all of his friends.

“What are we celebrating? I know it’s not your birthday, and it’s not like you’d throw a party for your sister’s either,”

“True” Ivy admitted. She started pacing in front of the glass wall, her crimson dress rustling along with her. Whenever Ivy started pacing, she was always about to say something big. Cameron braced himself.

“It’s for my parents. They’ve finally returned!” Ivy sounded so delighted to the point where there was absolutely no way that her happiness was genuine.

“...You hate your parents.” Cameron knew that she was hiding something from him. He also knew that it was any minute until Ivy announced whatever this news was. He braced himself again.

Ivy grinned. This is it, Cameron thought. “I know, but it’s good to hear that they’re alive and on this planet again.” She paused, waiting for the words to sink in.

“By the way, how’s that spaceship going?”

***

Cameron had to find the others, not only to tell them the news, but also because something must be going wrong with at least one of them by now. He marched from the conservatory into the ballroom, looking for the one person who wanted to get to Etheria as much as him. Leigh.

That was, until a malicious voice sneered in his head. “She’s going to be with Lucy.”

Another voice, the good voice, talked back. “So?”

“Leigh’s the only one that knows what happened. She wouldn’t hesitate to tell the others.”

They kept going. “They’ll hate you. They’ll all hate you.”

The good voice was starting to sound quieter and quieter. “How do you know?”

“If you were one of them, you’d be horrified!”

He desperately tried to recollect himself. Lucy’s off with Violet, not Leigh. He firmly told himself.

Lucy and Violet are dancing and being in love, and your stupid feelings aren’t going to ruin it like last time. He didn’t feel better, but the thought of Lucy along with everyone else dispising him was out of his mind. Now he could focus on finding Leigh.

Cameron scanned the ballroom. His eyes caught onto Lenny, who was on the other side of the room, talking to someone. It took Cameron an embarrassing amount of time to realise that the someone Lenny was talking to was none other than Leigh. The shoulder length ringlets her hair had formed into that morning were gone, replaced with a short pixie cut that ended before her ears. She was wearing a black and white slim waisted dress along with white lace up boots to match.

When Lenny saw Cameron they started waving madly for him to come over to the corner where them and Leigh were chatting. When Leigh noticed that Cameron was there, she did the same, except more fierce. He was almost intimidated.

“Cameron! We were waiting for you!” Lenny exclaimed as he came over.

“You’ll never guess what Leigh told me!”

“You’ll never guess what Ivy told me!”.

Lenny’s expression became more tense at the mention of Ivy, while Leigh, disappointed, shook her head and mouthed, “Don’t say that”.

Oh god I ruined it, Cameron wanted to facepalm. How do I make this fun again?

Lenny laughed nervously, “Well, Leigh told me that-”

“They built a games room! With a pool table!” She interrupted.

“So, can your news top that?” Lenny looked at him sceptically. “I mean Ivy’s not that exciting,”

Leigh giggled. “Are you sure about that?”

Lenny turned to her, offended. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Cameron cleared his throat. “Do you guys wanna hear it or not?”

They both turned to him, nodding vigorously. They were now giving Cameron their full attention, which was a relief.

He told them. He told them about the conversation he’d just had with Ivy. How they were actually gonna go to Etheria. Cameron wanted to go as soon as possible. He’d said that. The sooner he’d go the sooner he’d find his dad. He wanted that more than anything.

Leigh and Lenny’s reactions were very different. Lenny calmly smiled, offering to go tell Violet and Lucy, who were slow dancing in the middle of the ballroom. While Leigh practically exploded. She threw her arms in the air.

She laughed in joy. “Are you kidding!? Cameron, that’s amazing!”

Cameron wasn’t paying attention to Leigh. He was paying attention to Lucy. Smiling as Violet spun her around, her red and black dress spinning around her (what’s with everyone wearing red?), her laugh as she was pulled back to her girlf-

“Beautiful, isn’t she?” Leigh’s face softened.

Cameron nodded. “Please don’t tell anyone what happened,” His voice was quiet. Desperate.

Leigh’s eyes widened. “What…?

Oh thank god, she doesn’t remember! “Nevermind! Forget I said any-”

“Did you hurt her?” Her voice was lowered to the same volume as his, sounding like a threat.

“...No,” He sighed. “Remember a few weeks ago, when you took us all to that place because you had a gig there?”

Leigh nodded, interested. “Yes, go on,”

He sighed in shame, hiding his face in his hands. “And you know how Lucy was really drunk?”

Leigh looked confused. “This was a few weeks ago?”

Cameron raised an eyebrow. “Yes, why?”

She chuckled, shaking her head. “Lucy quit drinking two years ago, Cameron.”

He stepped back. Cameron had never been this shocked or confused since his twenty second birthday surprise six months ago. This was a much worse feeling by far. “She knew…”

She knew the whole time, He thought in disbelief. Lucy knew it was me. She was pretending, pretending to think that I was Violet, when she knew! She knew my reaction, she knew how ashamed I’d feel, how if anybody found out it would ruin her relationship, her life, her world!

Cameron felt a light punch on his arm. “Moving on from, whatever that was,”

That filled him with even more rage, Leigh was the only one who saw it happening. He could see it on her face. Leigh knew that it happened, Leigh knew that she was lying to his face, and Leigh knew how angry it made him.

Yet she continued, cheerfully. “When are we leaving?”

Cameron thought. He thought for longer than he needed to, because it only took him a minute to figure out.

“Tomorrow.”

[Disclaimer: shortening this to - All Adults. Mid 20s.]

I don't really know what to do at this point. I have tons of story done but I feel terrible right now. It's been nearly two months since 10-6 and this was all story that was completed before I posted that one... It's not making me feel better posting these. I feel worse...

I know this is a small corner of the internet with a small amount of traffic. But it just seems like I'm cluttering up the timeline at this point. I didn't want to make some dramatic departure post either. I just might not be posting the story here going forward. OCs just don't fit the niche of the community's interest. I don't know how to ask for engagement. I don't know how to write what people want to read. I can't just take Kallen out of my story. So... idk

*CW: none for this chapter. Just heated arguments

Link to he fiction's page - Who Rescued Who (WRW)

Previous:

10-6

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A heavy knock at the door wakes both women from their nap. Kallen still a puppy and Catra curled up around her, both had stayed on the floor, sleeping comfortably.

“Your presence has been requested by Prin- Ow”

The other guard takes over with a much more gravely voice and severely unfriendly tone. “The prisoners are to be taken to the war room by order of the Princess. Immediately”

“Hey, give us a minute. Geez. We just woke up.” Catra snarls loud enough to get through the room and the door. She stands, brushing her fur down and pulling her hair back.

Catra starts on auto pilot. Going to grab her, albeit dirty, clothes and donning them over her gray Horde pjs. The high collar two tone red top. Ripped leggings and a belt.

She looks in the mirror for a moment. Pulling her hair back again, trying to control the wild mess. Without her face mask it was going to be falling in her eyes constantly. But… she stares longer… It felt less villainous and more… Her.

“I like it… Your hair pulled back without the mask is a good look for you.” Kallen says confidently.

Turning to Kallen she sees the shapeshifter back in her normal form and attire. Her sleeveless halter top showing off her arms. The fur mantle wrapping around her neck and following the line around her shoulders. Heavy, black, denim jeans wrap around her incredible legs. Catra’s face feels flush. How had she not noticed that before? She chuckles to herself.

“Shall we?” Kallen’s tone no longer offering much confidence.

“Sure. Let’s go see what the judge, jury, and executioners have decided.”

“Way to sound hopeless…” Kallen teases, but her ears and tail were down too.

“I’m actually starting to think your idea of just living out in the woods wasn’t half bad…”

—

The two open the door and are roughly pushed down the hallway. One guard in front and one behind, spears at the ready. They walk in silence for quite some time…

“This place is so pretentious.” Catra snarls.

“It’s… different. They certainly spend enough money on the decorations”

“Which is the definition of pretentious.”

“It’s a castle. It’s supposed to be fancy, right?” Kallen looks around the almost crystalline shine of the luxury… everything. Painfully clean floors. The smell of perfumes and disinfectant cleaners still burn her nose.

“Dryl wasn’t this bad.” Catra keeps pace with the guards, but her tail and her attention are turning back and forth constantly. “I’d wager this place is harder to navigate. It’s so much larger.”

“Entrapta had like, 4 staff members and an army of bots. This place is a living breathing town stuffed inside four walls. It makes sense.”

“It’s not that it doesn’t make sense. I just hate it- Hey! Watch it!” Catra jumps and snaps at the guard that grabs her.

“We’re here” the guard states callously, opening one of the giant double doors.

Catra huffs and straightens her fur. Growling, she walks past the two jailers and into the court room.

Kallen takes a deep breath and brings herself to her full height, looking down on the guard. Her expression baring her warning for her before walking into the room as well.

—

“Nice to see there’s no gallows. Or do you have a special room for executing prisoners.” Catra’s cold, sharp, edge is back in full force.

Kallen winces.

Adora starts the prosecution, “What the heck is that supposed to mean? We’re-“

Catra waves her off. “You’re deciding on whether we spend the rest of the war locked up or not...” Her ears pin back “Or sending me to Beast Island. Whatever. Not like I care...”

“Catra!” Adora shouts.

Glimmer struggles with her burst of anger, popping out of existence and then back. Getting in Catra’s face “You’re one of us now. So Deal With It!”

“What?” Catra stumbles back in surprise.

“We voted. Four to three. You stay. WE need your help.” Glimmer is fuming. “You can thank Scorpia and Entrapta for that. So stop acting like-like You and we can talk about this.”

Catra’s expression twists in a war of distrust and relief. She backs away, putting distance between herself and Glimmer. She pulls out a chair and flops down. “Fine. What do you want to talk about?” she says while crossing her arms.

“We need to work out a plan that keeps everyone safe. If you can’t tell already, Bright Moon doesn’t have any jail cells. We can’t just lock people up in bedrooms with giant floor to ceiling windows and open air balconies. Especially cats and shape shifters.”

“Yeah, the pompous over-priced aesthetic is getting on my nerves anyways… And you’ll need to replace the bed and pillows in our room. They met with an unfortunate end earlier…”

“You wrecked the bed? How-“ Glimmers eyes nearly jump out their sockets.

“No-no uh-uh. No. Stop. It’s not like that” Kallen tries to calm Glimmer down. “I just had a nightmare is all. Shadow Weaver was messing with my head and I kind of tore into the stuff. I’m really sorry Glimmer. I can… I don’t know, work off the debt?” Kallen begs.

Catra watches with immense concern. ‘She’s lying… to cover for me?’

Adora starts “Shadow Weaver was controlling you? Here in Bright Moon? I knew-“

Glimmer shouts over Adora, “Which brings me to my next problem! I don’t know what to do with you-“

“Sparkles! Can’t you say that in a less condescending way?!”Catra hisses.

“What! It’s True. I- RRGH. I’m trying here. This is all too complicated and it’s far too early in the morning.”

“It’s. Noon. The princesses voted yesterday.” Catra snarls and looks away. "The suspense has been fantastic..."

“Catra-“ Glimmer gets cut off as Adora walks up and slams something on the table.

“This is how we fix it.” Adora takes a step back and crosses her arms in a very confident stance. “I asked Entrapta to make it for us.”

Kallen’s ears twitch and her tail becomes dead still looking at the contraption. “You made… that?” Immediately the pressure in her head rises with the clenching of her teeth.

“It’s a device to keep track of you no matter what disguise you take and it will stop you from going wild. Entrapta told me all about how she had recordings of when Shadow Weaver’s spell took over. If your magic spikes too high, and you become a threat, it will emit a shock to stop you. If you want our trust, if you want to fight with us, you have to wear it.”

The collar weighs on the table like a black hole, drawing in Kallen’s vision as every fiber of her being recoils in horror. “How dare you…” Without looking away, “Tell me this is your idea of a joke.” Her snarl is hoarse and frigid. Muscles tensing, “Adora, tell me this is some sick joke before I-“

“For the Honor of Grayskull!”

“ADORA!” Catra roars.

She-Ra stands tall and looks down on Kallen. “It was my idea and you’ll wear it if you want approval to join our missions. It’s insurance that you won’t hurt Catra or anyone else in the rebellion.”

Kallen can feel the shadows pulling at her mind. Her vision starting to tunnel. ‘She wants you kept as her pet. She doesn’t trust you and she never will. I taught Adora better than that’

“Adora…” Kallen’s growl shakes her chest so hard the fur on her shirt moves with it. “You’re about to trigger the exact thing you want to prevent.”

Catra stands from her chair, but keeps one hand on it.

She-Ra squares off with the wolf. “Then this is exactly why we need to protect ourselves!”

“Protect yourself from this!” Catra shouts as she swings the chair at Adora in rage.

She-Ra puts up her arm to block but the force still sends her crashing to the floor.

“CATRA!” Glimmer and Bow yell in unison.

Catra moves to stand in front of Kallen to defend her. “All of You SHUT UP!”

Adora jumps back to her feet and brandishes her sword.

“Put that away you Idiot.” Catra starts, her hair falling in her face gives her a more threatening appearance. “I’m not letting you hurt her. I’ve made this mistake before… So do us all a favor and Back Off!” She grabs the collar from the table and throws it at Adora. “And get rid of that! Burn it! Do something, but I don’t ever want to see it again.”

“Catra?” Adora’s voice loses all of its confidence as she lets the She-Ra magic drop. She nurses her bruised arm and equally bruised ego. “I’m just trying to protect you.”

“I don’t need protecting. Let alone by you.”

Kallen hears a hiss of disappointment as the pressure recedes. Her eyes settling back into gold. She stares at the wild brown hair in front of her. The strength of Catra’s shoulders as she faces off against Adora. The strength it took to jeopardize her chance at safety to defend Kallen… She takes a deep breath. “Look… Adora, I-“

“We’re. Leaving.” Catra interrupts.

The room echoes, “WHAT?!”

Kallen reaches for her shoulder but stops in the last moment. “We… we just got here. We were… safe”

“Clearly not.” Catra says with a shake of her head. “We’re leaving. The two of us are going out on recon together.” She turns her cold gaze towards Glimmer “If you think Kallen is a problem then you keep her apart from the rest of your rebellion. She’s my cadet and I’ll take responsibility. I’m more familiar with her than any of you and we’ve seen her wipe the floor with Adora before… You almost saw it again today.”

Kallen’s smile is worried and forced. “Okay, fair. But maybe that comment’s going a little too far.”

“And making a shock collar wasn’t?!”

Glimmer steps forward. “Catra, please, We didn’t mean to…”

“We? You knew?”

“No! No I didn’t know what she was planning.” Glimmer pleads. “I swear!”

Catra turns to look at Bow and the man shakes his head and hands furiously. Catra turns her cold stare back at Adora.

“Catra, don’t go. I only just got you back. We haven’t really gotten to talk. I want to talk…” Adora begs.

“You’ve said plenty.” Catra turns to Glimmer, trying to force her expression to something less spiteful. She combs her hair back. “ The two of us are the fastest scouts you could ever hope to have. We’ll start prowling around Horde controlled territory and cut off supply lines. Cripple the distant camps. We’ll keep them so pressured they’ll have no option but to retreat. Arrow Boy can even give us a tracker pad and I can report everything back to you. If you want us to show that we can be trusted, let me show you just what we can do.” She looks over her shoulder with a smirk. “Together.”

Kallen’s mood flips 180, her tail starts wagging excitedly. That was a really good idea, it would get her away from Adora and it would further the war effort without putting anyone else at risk. It was a win win… And it meant that Catra and Kallen could spend time together. Away from the traumatizing Fright Zone and away from the best friend squad that was only serving to trigger Catra.

Glimmer and Adora exchange serious looks. Seemingly admitting the plan was a good idea but neither were looking happy about it.

“Fine. As of now, you two will be our forward recon unit. Scorpia will stay back with us to help Entrapta. They will stay as our guests until we can be sure you all can be trusted.” Glimmer states flatly.

“Fine by me. So how about you three beat it so we can plan our routes. Post those bundles of sunshine and rainbows in here if you want to keep us under watch.” Catra snarls, hooking a thumb toward the door and the guards on the other side.

“We’re not-“

“Adora!” Glimmer shouts, grabbing her by the hand. “We need to talk. AGAIN!”

She poofs away… Leaving Bow to run out on his own. He stops at the door and turns back. “Hey… Kallen? I’m really sorry for that… I know that’s not enough to fix anything… But, I really am sorry.”

Kallen smiles softly. “Thanks Bow. That really means a lot.”

Nothing important, just one of my OCs inspired by Catra

Really wanted to draw something cute/happy. Had the idea to draw the two of us together and wanted to make some expressive faces. So, here it is. Tell me what you think.

First time using overlays. First time drawing a background. I know it's technically timeline inaccurate. Kallen doesn't have her red hair in the Fright Zone but w/e.

These gremlins have been the only things on my mind since like last year, the reason you probably don't know about these facts is because there is no reason for this to be mentioned in Space Crew or because I've only hinted at it. I'll probably make more of these, and also start posting some of the art I do of them wearing random af pinterest outfits. So here they are I guess-

• Leigh and Ivy would be and/or are swifties. Ivy is absolutely shameless about it while Leigh has been keeping it a secret for years; "Why do you have every single Taylor Swift cd?" "T-THOSE ARE LUCY'S-"

• Just while we're on the topic of music, I made Cameron and Violet's personalities based off of Conan Gray and Olivia Rodrigo

• Lucy's design (blue hair, blue eyes, freckles, slightly alt fashion sense??) was made by my best friend/beta reader

• Lenny is on the spectrum and has a special interest in spaceships (Leigh is also autistic)

• Leigh doesn't have a real name, it's just Leigh. She gets so annoyed when people assume otherwise

• Leigh used to have a crush on Catra when they were in the horde. One of the reasons why she wants to go back to Etheria is because of Catra, because she was one of the only two friends that she had in the horde and wants to thank her

• Violet and Lucy are both pan, Leigh is bi and demiro, Ivy and Cameron are both straight, while Lenny is aro/ace

• Leigh is my favourite Space Crew character, she's so much fun to write

• There's gonna be a new character coming up in chapter six or seven (currently writing chapter five rn) who's pretty much just pure chaos

• Ivy's design is based on ever after high

• Leigh knows how to play guitar and writes songs

• I've made a bunch twinotes and I'd love to post screenshots of them. Problem being every single one of them involves spoilers so :p

• Beth, (Leigh's mother) was a mechanic.

• Lucy's from Salineas, Leigh's family is from Plumeria

• Lucy and Scorpia used to be really good friends

• Lucy would love Lana Del Rey, I think that the way Lana comes off in her songs is similar to Lucy's personality (in a sense that-)

• Lucy ran away from her childhood family. You're Gonna Go Far (We'll All Be Here Forever) by Noah Kahan sums up how her biological family sees her now

• A large percentage of Space Crew has been written while watching Gossip Girl

• Violet and Cameron steal each other's clothes so much to the point that they don't actually know which one's theirs anymore

• I don't know if you know what Ramshackle is but if you do, Leigh would get along with almost everyone in it apart from Ditch and Avrille

• I haven't come up with a name for their planet lol woops

• Ivy would say "womp womp" so much she'd annoy everyone

• Lenny would win in an argument against Nick Sturniolo

• Cameron would listen to Ren. Like non stop

• At one point in time, I was so close to making an animatic for Daisy and Leigh (the song was gonna be Cardigan)

• There was going to be another character that basically had the same role as Lenny, but had the personality of Ivy and Daisy mixed together. Really empathetic and confident, while also being self centered and manipulative. He was going to be essentially the villain of Space Crew, and was usually the main source of conflict and tension. This mystery character was originally going to be Leigh's boyfriend which was why he was in the group in the first place (this was before I came up with Daisy). Looking back, I feel like this would've made the story ten times better. The reason I took him out of the story and decided to split aspects of his personalities into different characters (which is why Lenny, Ivy and Daisy may feel one dimensional at times) is because of who made this character in the first place. I had come up with the idea of Space Crew at around Christmas last year. I had told one of my friends at the time about the idea, because he happened to be semi interested in She Ra, and we happened to be talking about fan fiction. He had actually made this villain esque character in his head, and said that he would be perfect for the story. I agreed and wrote him in, because I actually thought that it was a good idea, I still think that. However, just before I'd finished writing the first chapter, I found out that this friend had done some really bad stuff to other people I knew and was on friendly terms with. I confronted him about it. He didn't deny it and refused to apologise to the people he hurt, with the mindset of "They deserved it." which couldn't have been further from the truth. He's out of my life now, and I took the character out of the story because, naturally, he reminded me of him (sorry for the trauma dump there I'm okay now I promise)

Brain has hyperfixated on the new Book structure. I've already got 30,000 words in Book 4. Yet there is basically nothing in Book 2 or 3 yet other than prologues.

But it didn't stop there. I had to try to draw Book 4 Kallen in her full armor. Ready to take down those pesky Prime bot armies.

I always give Kallen such dramatic lighting. XD

She's so cute when she smiles /lh /hj

[Disclaimer: shortening this to - All Adults. Mid 20s.]

Another weekend, another bit of story. This one is a bit darker. Unfortunately.

*CW: Tr*uma, Ab*se, (Though not directly.) and coping

Link to he fiction's page - Who Rescued Who (WRW)

Previous:

Chapter 10-5

=====

“Report” The command brings the room to a fearful order.

Hordak stands among his machinery. The portal device taking up much of the room as the hum of electricity sets an uncomfortable atmosphere. Hordak’s unflinching stare adds to the worrying feeling.

“L-Lord Hordak?” that wasn’t meant to be a question.

“I do not have time to waste on your childish little “check ins” Force Captain. Either provide me something of substance or leave.”

Catra scrambles to recover her composure and any relevant information. “Lord Hordak, we have taken more territory than ever. We have the Princesses pushed back to their castles, we need to strike. If you would just let me-“ Catra’s tail bushes and a shiver dismantles any semblance of stability she felt.

“Let you do what? Squander our forces so that you and your little pet can escape?” Shadow Weaver’s voice comes from behind her.

Catra jumps away, twisting and landing on all fours. Her claws extend as she hisses.

Hordak smiles at Shadow Weaver’s approach. “Shadow Weaver. What is the meaning of this?” but his tone is not as sharp as it should be. Not as sharp as when he was just regarding Catra.

“Treason… Catra here tried to escape. Meaning to take Entrapta with her. Leaving you with no way to finish your project… She even believes she can join the rebellion to defeat you.” Shadow Weaver’s smug tone and smiling eyes are a crushing cruelty as she dolls out Catra’s death sentence.

Catra stiffens “I-I can explain. Sh-She planned it all without me knowing. I had nothing to do with it. I-“ she tries get the words out but the breath wasn’t there. Her eyes tremble as she claws at her throat.

“You have disappointed me for the last time Force Captain.” Hordak snarls, hand still on the lever to the generator. The room takes on a hazy red glow as the machine pumps more energy into it’s task.

Catra fights her lungs to expand. Any gulp of air. A whisper of a breath.

“Lord Hordak. I think it’s time we finally put an end to our problem. Don’t you agree?” raising her hand to control the shadows and wrap the desperate cat in them.

Hordak smiles with terrifying resolve. “A simple matter. But one long overdue.”

Catra’s vision is fading as she braces herself from collapsing on the floor. She screams at her body to run. All she manages is to fall to her side in a way to face her abusers.

A blur of white and gold walks into the space between Hordak and Shadow Weaver. “The Rebellion doesn’t need a traitor like her.” Adora’s voice cuts the deepest-

Catra wakes up screaming, sweating, and fighting. Her breathing and pulse both compete to be the fastest. The constriction of the bed sheet was the only thing keeping her from falling off the giant puffy cushion.

She extends her claws and tears through the sheet like tissue paper. Roaring and crying as her conscious mind takes over from the nightmare.

Kallen sits bolt upright from the floor. Her eyes wide even with concern. “Catra?”

The cat was making short work of every fabric within reach. Bedding. Pillows. Fancy curtains.

Kallen stands, desperately wanting to tackle the woman and hold her until the fight stops. “Catra, can you hear me?

No acknowledgment. Catra starts throwing the carcases of the pillows around the room. Crashing into flower pots and hanging lights. The sound of expensive glass threatening to break rings out with each outburst. But Catra doesn’t care.

Kallen tries again. “Hey. Come on, what did the lamp ever do to deserve that?” meaning to be a joke, but her voice is anything but jovial.

Catra slows her fight enough to sob into the desecrated mess of feathers and scrap cloth. She grips her hair as she folds down on herself.

Kallen stands stalwart at the edge of the bed, leaning close and softening her voice. “It’s going to be okay. Catra. I’m right here if you need me.” She reaches to place her hand close.

Catra startles and hisses loud. Retreating from the sound, baring her fangs and her claws. But the bed is only so big, she feels her foot slip out into nothingness. She panics. Fur stands on end and she gets that sinking feeling. She looks over her shoulder as she begins to fall.

In an instant, it stops. A force pulling and steadying her.

“Hey, no falling. I know you’ll land on your feet, but you’ve had a rough enough night already.”

Catra slowly turns back to Kallen in disbelief. The wolf girl is stretched across the bed and holding her by the forearm. Kallen pulls her back onto the bed and quickly lets go. Backing away, she sits on the bed on her knees. She looked worried out of her mind. But she was holding herself back.

Catra backs away carefully this time. Getting off the bed and slumping against the far wall. She draws her knees up to her chest and tail around her ankles. Angrily wiping at tears that won’t stop falling.

Kallen simply crawls to the edge of the bed and throws her legs over. She keeps her distance, like she used to. Looking at a balled up Catra, like she had seen so many times before. She waits reverently. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“No”

Catra grits her teeth. ‘Why do I still do that?’

“Can I do anything to help?” Kallen’s tone is so warm…

“Maybe…” Catra snarls.

Kallen’s form covers in gold for a split second and then, sitting right there next to the bed was the little wolf pup from so many years ago. The same worried eyes, gently titled to the side. “Would this help?” Kallen asks.

Catra bites at her lip, scrunches her nose, and clamps her eyes shut. But with a little nod, she lets go of her legs and splays them in a V. Her hands fall into her lap, opening up to the offer of comfort.

Kallen slowly pads over to sit with Catra. Before she can, the girl leans in and scoops her up into her lap. Curling up with her and burying her face into the pup’s fur. Kallen tries to guard her heart broken whimper. Tears welling in her own eyes. She nuzzles the cat with her wet nose and licks at her tear soaked cheek. “Catra, I’m here for you. You’re not alone. We’re going to be okay.” She offers reassurances. Her voice sounded so young and bright. Like she really was a young little wolf, or well, a young girl.

Catra’s only response is to hug tighter.

Kallen returns the affection and tries to be as comforting as possible. Her brain throws her a bone. A recent memory. “Was this why you came to my room looking for me?”

Catra nods.

Kallen whimpers.

[Disclaimer: shortening this to - All Adults. Mid 20s.]

-= Things are getting longer and longer word count wise. Chapter 10 is about 16,000 in total. So I'm having to separate it into more and more sections than before. This is all still part of "chapter 10 - Bright Moon, take one" so I don't feel like I can break it down any smaller. Each text doc is between 1,500 and 2,500 words. I figure I should just post them as they are.=-

*CW: none for this chapter

Link to he fiction's page - Who Rescued Who (WRW)

Previous:

Chapter 10-4

=====

“You want me to believe that we can trust the people that have been attacking us for years? Just like that?” Mermista’s in her usual flat yet combative tone.

The Princess Alliance was all assembled in the Bright Moon war room. Spread out around the table, all wearing concerned expressions.

Glimmer leans on the table, “I’m not asking you to trust them. We don’t really trust them. But… Ugh I can’t believe I’m saying this… I have to agree with Catra, they could be a big help. She knows the Horde’s every plan. We could actually turn things around and right now-” She throws a hand out as a snippy gesture to the holographic map. “We have less territory under our control than ever. We have to do something.”

“As much as I respect and adore your dedication Glimmer… I have my doubts about Catra’s... Harmony.” Perfuma adds. “We can always try to keep fighting as things are now. Without Catra or the others the Horde is weaker, we might be able to win if we work together.”

“Ooo Ooo, Can I vote too?” Scorpia asks. Contentedly sitting with Entrapta and Emily. Her arms bound to her side but seemingly unbothered. “I would totally listen to Catra. Cuz, boy is she smart. I mean, just look how successful she was-“ pointing at the map with her tail. “She had everything in the palm of her hand.”

Entrapta joins in “I can support it with data as well. Since Catra started commanding the Horde troops, the efficiency and success rate of missions nearly doubled. She was also extremely successful in solo missions… Well, Kallen would often tag along. But that only served to increase the rate of success… Point is, Data never lies and Catra-“

“You both worked for the Horde. You can’t vote!” Glimmer shouts.

Entrapta looks worried “But we’re princesses too.”

Scorpia stands up with a look of valor “Yeah. I lost my kingdom to the Horde. And Entrapta lost Dryl… When we took Dryl… for the Horde… You know what, I’m going to sit back down…” and she does with a mopey slump.

Glimmer drops her head into her hands on the table. “Uuuugh. I hate this. What am I supposed to do.”

Frosta raises her hand energetically. “Don’t forget about me.”

Glimmer picks her head up, the look on her face was not encouraging. “What do you think Frosta?”

“I think they should be locked up forever for what they did at prom. They destroyed my castle and kidnapped royalty. We can make it into a trial and everything. I could even make a frozen dungeon just for them-“

Adora jumps to her feet and slams her hands on the table, scowling at Frosta “We can’t do that! We’re not throwing Catra in a frozen prison.”

“Then what do you suggest She-Ra?” Frosta sounds like she’s mocking her.

“I-“ Adora sits back in her chair. “I wish she would help us. But the way she’s been acting I don’t know…” with a grunt and clenched teeth she adds “We have to give it a try, if it means winning over the Horde… I say we give it a chance.”

“Ooooh right. That’s totally not so that you can try to keep your Best Friend out of jail” Mermista jabs.

The words put Adora on edge more so than Frosta’s prison idea. “What did you say?”

Mermista smirks.

“Enough!” Glimmer shouts. “This meeting is over. The vote is 4 to 3 in favor of using Catra to fight back against the Horde. Now Everyone just. Ugh. Give us a few minutes.”

Frosta protests “I thought the prisoners didn’t get a vote?!”

Entrapta counts on her pigtails “Am I prisoner?”

“Entrapta…” Glimmer starts. “It’s complicated.”

Entrapta types away on her data pad, taking notes. Scorpia waggles her tail in the air since she can’t raise her hand like Frosta had.

“But didn’t the nice guard lady say that we were less prisoner~y because we’re princesses? You know, when they took Kallen and Catra away to separate rooms…” Scorpia looks at Entrapta “It made me feel so alone. If we get princess treatment then can Entrapta and I share a room?” The pair inhale deeply together “We could have a Sleep Over!”

Entrapta squeals. “Just like in Dryl. Ahaha.”

Scorpia smiles and dances briefly “With tiny cupcakes.”

Glimmer had reached her breaking point about 3 exchanges ago. She poofs over to the Horde princesses and poofs them away. Quickly returning and doing the same in turn with Mermista, Perfuma, and Frosta. Sending each to different spare rooms across different wings of the castle. Before returning with Bow to talk with Adora in the war room.

“This is a Disaster!” she whines as she bangs her head on the table. “What am I supposed to do?”

Bow puts a reassuring hand on Glimmer’s shoulder “What was the decision?”

Adora answers quickly “Catra’s our ally. I don’t trust Kallen but Catra is at least going to help us and maybe we can finally get back to a point where she’s not fighting me constantly. Which, haha, wouldn’t that be a nice change of pace?” Adora sucks in a deep breath after her fast paced rambling.

Bow raises an eyebrow “Are you okay?”

Adora nods. “Yeah. I don’t know what’s been happening but she won’t talk to me like we’re friends so maybe this will help. If we’re on missions together we can… I don’t know… fix whatever broke?“

Bow shakes his head, “That’s not what I meant…”

Glimmer sits back in her chair, but slumps ungracefully. “Adora, I’m really glad you still see Catra as your friend… I really do. But just, be careful.”

“I know, I know. I still have scratch marks from out last fight. But, like you said, something is... Different. In a good way? But she keeps getting so mad and defensive we can’t make any progress at all.”

Bow and Glimmer exchange looks. Glimmer rolls her eyes “Ugh. I know but… I just… I don’t like it. It’s not right, trusting her like this.”

Bow doesn’t have to think about it long. “Well, fighting alongside her should be a great way to prove that we can trust her. Right?”

“Maybe? She’s not exactly that nice on the battlefield.” Glimmer shakes her head “I definitely can’t imagine her saving anyone but herself.”

Adora raises a hand to object… but swiftly retracts her rebuttal.

“See~” Glimmer gestures to Adora.

Adora chuckles. “Even Catra admitted to that too. When we were in the temple she said something like ‘you never had faith in me’ and I was like ‘do you blame me’… and then she cut the spider silk…” Adora holds her arm and looks back towards the door. “Do you guys think I’m being to harsh on her?”

“Adora, All of us are struggling with that right now. So, I get where you’re coming from. But… Right now you seem way worse off than we are. I’m pretty sure that’s part of why you’ve been so mad recently-”

“I’m not mad!” Adora stomps.

“Yeah, you are. Since Kallen showed up… Adora I’ve never seen you bounce back and forth this much.”

“I’m not bouncing anywhere.”

“Is there something you’re not telling us?” Glimmer adds a twist of friendly sarcasm at the end.

“No! Well. Yes. But. It’s complicated.”

Bow continues his bewildered stare “Seems like it… dooo you want to talk about it?”

“No. There’s nothing to talk about. Catra has a new best friend now. They talk all the time. So there’s nothing for me to talk about.”

Glimmer and Bow once again exchange worried looks. Glimmer tries again “Is Kallen bothering you that bad?”

“No. Kallen doesn’t bother me. Why would she bother me? She only spends every waking moment by Catra’s side like a-“ Adora puts her hand to her chin.

Glimmer leans forward in her chair. “Adoraaa? What are you thinking.”

“I think I have a plan.”

“Adora, your plans are usually run face first into the problem as She-Ra swinging a sword at it… Can we not do that in the castle?”

“Don’t worry. It should be simple. I just need to go talk to Entrapta.” Before she rushes to the door and doesn’t hesitate to leave.

Bow and Glimmer are left in the war room with a worrying weight in the air.

Bow starts “Did I miss something? I feel like I missed something…”

Glimmer deflates and sprawls on the table “I was there and I feel like I missed something.” She tries to look are her best friend with hope “Tell me you read that whole interaction the same way…”

“You mean that Adora is suddenly really upset at how things have changed and is trying to force things back the way they were? Or do you mean the part where she is really cynical about Catra and Kallen being friends to the point that I am slightly worried for Kallen’s safety.”

“Both…”

She is so freaking cute... Ugh. I can't put it into words.

-Cat

As the years passed, Adora and Catra became very close friends who stuck up for each other over the years.

Adora is a rule follower, she does things by the book and does her absolute best with everything she does. She is also very organized and precise with everything as well. A teachers pet, if you will.

Catra, on the other hand, is… let’s say, she’s the exact opposite of Adora.

Their personality clash, and yet, they turned out to be best friends.

One morning, Catra woke up extra early to get ahead of everyone. Today there was a training exercise, and this time, Catra would get there before Adora and surprise her.

Catra jumped between the tall poles in the simulation room, which when wearing the specialty goggles produces holographic trees for each simulation.

Catra then nestled on one of the poles and slept, waiting for Adora and the rest of their squad to come through.

Hours passed and the squad cane into the training room and began the simulation. Catra awoke to the sound of Adora’s footsteps, something about the particular way her boots clacked made her recognizable without Adora needing to be visible or even speak. At least to Catra anyway.

Catra followed the squad from the tops of the poles and watched them fighting the bots, when she saw the mother of all bots emerge from the ground.

Adora fought it as tiles underneath her began to disappear, dodging red tiles and the lasers the bot shot at her.

Soon, the bot was about to be defeated, clinging to the floor so it wouldn’t fall into the abyss below.

That’s when Catra swooped in, walking over to it and pushing it a little more so it could fall into the pit.

Catra then looked at Adora and smirked, pointing the red tile beneath her, just as it dropped her.

With a yelp, Adora began to fell but used her quick thinking, grabbed her staff and propped it between the gap, and holding onto the staff so she wouldn’t fall further.

Catra walked over and bent down to look at Adora’s face, which was hilarious to Catra.

[Catra]: “Hey Adora. How’s it hanging?”

[Adora]: “Catra… do you really have to swoop in last minute? That’s really low. Even for you.”

[Catra]: “Aw, you know nothing’s too low for me.”

Catra laughed and reached her hand down towards Adora.

[Catra]: “Now come on, you look like an idiot hanging there.”

Adora rolled her eyes playfully and took Catra’s hand, being pulled out of the pit.

They walked back together to the lockers.

[Adora]: “How did you even get here? I didn’t see you come in.”

[Catra]: “I’m not gonna tell ya anytime soon. It’s a secret.”

Adora chuckled and punched Catra in the arm playfully.

( @BrianSturgill )

( @CallistoArt )

( @Kali Bradshaw )

( @KallenLiulfren )

( @WhenYou'reTheOnly1WhoUnderstandsCatra )

( @SimplyDiamond-- )

( @ArchduchessKittycat )

The Fright Zone is a dreary place of metal and smoke. If it weren’t for the semi-clean water and the ration bars, none of the soldiers would survive in the wasteland.

One day, soldiers were unpacking crates of rations that were freshly delivered, Hordak’s second in command, Shadow Weaver supervised the process when she saw something poke out from one of the crates.

Shadow Weaver went to investigate and found a small infant with dirty blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and scraps of ration on it’s cheeks.

Shadow Weaver couldn’t help but chuckle. No matter how dark and corrupted her heart was, the infant’s cuteness was far too powerful.

She picked up the infant and cleaned the food of her giggling cheeks, getting a good look at her.

[Shadow Weaver]: “Look at you… so small and gentle… something about you tells me that you’ll do great things here…”

The infant looked up at Shadow Weaver and smiled.

As Shadow Weaver was going back to her room in The Black Garnet Chamber, she saw a Horde Soldier pass by, carrying another infant to their makeshift nursery.

This infant however, had feline like features, including wild brown hair, Heterochromia eyes: one blue, one yellow, feline ears and a tail poking out from their blanket bundle.

The infants locked eyes as the feline was taken away.

[Shadow Weaver]: “Another infant to be turned into an ordinary soldier. A common smoke cloud in the Fright Zone, just like all the rest. But you, sweet child, will be much more. You will be a shining ray of sunshine amongst these smoke clouds. You won’t be a common soldier. You’ll be much, much more.”

( @BrianSturgill )

( @CallistoArt )

( @Kali Bradshaw )

( @KallenLiulfren )

( @WhenYou'reTheOnly1WhoUnderstandsCatra )

( @SimplyDiamond-- )

( @ArchduchessKittycat )

(Yes, I’m gonna make the fanfic of swapped Catradora. Les go!!!)

Once upon a time, there was a world where the hero of the story has been the same since the 1980’s. Adora, aka She-Ra, Princess of Power. She’s been the hero of Etheria for a good while.

But, there’s a world where Adora isn’t the hero.

Then who’s the hero?

The Hero? Catra. That’s right, the villain.

But in this reality, Catra was the hero. In this world, she is Cat-Ra, Princess of Power, while Adora leads soldiers to battle.

But is the story the same?

…Heck nah.

Come join in this new adventure in a new reality, where turns table and things get weird.

But don’t worry, you’ll still be in entertained.

Let the story be told.

Have fun.

( @BrianSturgill )

( @CallistoArt )

( @Kali Bradshaw )

( @KallenLiulfren )

( @WhenYou'reTheOnly1WhoUnderstandsCatra )

( @SimplyDiamond-- )

( Anyone else who wants to be pinged )

[Disclaimer: shortening this to - All Adults. Mid 20s.]

-= Okay. Last one for a while. Hopefully this completes the loose end from the previous chapter so that it makes one overall "arc" =-

Only question here is - Do you like or dislike it?

It's pretty much the way I want it to go. Adora is just starting on her path of many troubles with Kallen. It's also the start of really getting to see Kallen for what she is, just as troubled, hurt, and anxious as Catra.

=====

“Did Someone Say Swift Wind?” The pegasus bursts in with pride.

“Yes, actually. Swifty I need you to find Kallen. Can you search from the air around the Castle?”

“Who now?” he lowers is his head and looks sidelong at Adora.

“Kallen. You know- Wait. No. You don’t know.” She-Ra groans. “Just, look for a wolf or a wolf person. Real tall. Blond hair”

“Or a waiter. Or a Guard…” Catra adds with a smirk.

She-Ra slaps her hand to her forehead and grinds her teeth.

Swift Wind eyes them both with more confusion “I’m not following… Am I looking for a person or a wolf?”

“Both” Catra again adds in her intentionally unhelpful way.

She-Ra shouts “Catra! Stop it.” She turns back to Swift Wind “Just look for someone suspicious with wolf ears and a tail. Whether that’s a wolf-wolf-“

“Or a Person-Person” Catra mocks with an unbelievably sarcastic smile and big eyes.

“Wolf-Person” She-Ra corrects through gritted teeth.

“I have no idea what’s going on but You Got IT! Swift Wind is on the case.” He salutes with his wing tip and leaps back off the balcony.

She-ra tenses her shoulders even further. “Catra can you stop poking holes in everything and actually help me.”

“Oh, but I am helping. I keeping Kallen away from the shining warrior princess that’s out for her skin.”

“I- I never said- RRH Catra, just once, stop fighting with me. I’m trying to help.”

“Try harder. She’s obviously not here because the guards ran her off or something. She’ll be back.” Catra crosses her arms and looks out the over the balcony, her tail beings to twitch with worry. “She came back before” falls out as barely a whisper.

“Is this a bad time-“ comes from the doorway. Only to be met with a battle cry and a sword thrown to stab into the wall next to her. Kallen jumps back, “Can you go easy on the architecture?” eyes wide watching the sword sway in its new scabbard.

“KALLEN!”

“KALLEN!”

Both women scream in unison… with equal amounts of anger.

She-Ra pinches the bridge of her nose before shouting again “You Are A Prisoner!”

“As if I need reminding…” Kallen moves to sit on Catra’s bed. Catra moves to try and ask her own angry questions but Adora lets the magic drop and confronts the wolf immediately.

“What were you thinking!?” Adora starts to pace in front of the two. Kallen only holds her hands tight in her lap.

Catra snaps her anger back towards Adora and is now on the defensive. She tries to put a stop to the situation. “Adora! Can you give her two seconds-“

Kallen holds up a hand to slow Catra from boiling over. “I got lost. Can we leave it at that?” Kallen grumbles.

“No. I can’t leave it at that. You broke out and disappeared. I have to be able to account for where you were.” Adora snaps.

“She didn’t do anything wrong, Adora. Why can’t you trust her?” Catra hisses.

“How do you know that? You were just as shocked when she wasn’t here.” Adora gestures to the room. “I have had to cover for both of you all day today with the guards.” She sighs. “There is no telling how much of this got back to the Queen.” Adora steps closer to Kallen who shifts away on the bed. “Just help me by telling me something!”

“I’ve already told you the truth. I got lost. This castle is enormous and I have no sense of direction in here. It all smells like disinfectant.”

“Then why did no one see you? I asked around and no one saw you like this.” gesturing to the wolf ears and hair.

“Why would I walk around looking like the Horde Prisoner?”

“So then you were trying to hide.” Adora sneers.

“From this!” Catra throws her hands out towards Adora angrily. “Who wouldn’t want to hide their identity." Catra lets he hands down only to have them clench into shaking fists. "Adora, you’re going crazy with this! Did you forget everything that’s happened in the last few days? You were so happy in the medical tent to listen to the story and be all gun-ho that the Rebellion had a chance. Now look at you.”

“That discussion happened before Kallen broke out and impersonated different people.”

“I didn’t do it hurt anyone. I did it for my own safety.” Kallen looks away, dejected.

“That doesn’t matter!" Adora rages.

Catra recoils, a weak expression of disbelief on her face.

Kallen snarls and her ears fold flat. "Adora-"

Adora doesn't let up. "How can I trust you now that you’ve lied to me and everyone else here?! All you do is lie and expect things to go your way! Well, I’m not a part of your plans anymore... I know you’re up to something. Glimmer does to. So, either you tell me the truth or-“

“OR WHAT?!” Kallen’s frenzied bark quiets the room in an instant.

Adora straightens up and adjusts her jacket. “That’s all I needed. Thank you. Guards, see that no one leaves this room until after the Princesses have made their decision.”

“Adora!” Catra snaps.

“No. You say that I never listen, you get your wish. I’m not listening Catra. You have your friend now, you two can talk all you want.” Adora’s tone was uncharacteristically cold. “And you don’t have to worry about the rooms. I was an idiot to think separating you was a good idea…” She turns her back on Catra and walks out of the room. Collecting her sword without another word.

The large doors swing shut and the lock clicking into place punctuates the end of the disaster…

“WHO DOES SHE THINK SHE IS!” Catra rages. Throwing a vase at the door. It shatters with a satisfying crash.

The weak sobbing behind her pulls Catra out of her frenzy. Kallen is holding her face in her hands and sobbing quietly.

“H-hey… Kallen? What’ wrong?” Catra’s voice is unsteady.

“I ruined everything…” Kallen whispers.

Catra looks back at the door and the sparkling carpet filled with shattered glass. “You’re not the only one…” Catra remarks dully.

The cat walks to the bed and reaches to comfort the wolf… but she pulls back her hand and tries to casually keep walking, like it was her intention. As she paces by, “What really happened?” she asks with suspicion of her own.

“I’m telling the truth, I got lost. I came to find you and when I got to your room the guards were still posted out front. So I didn’t have a way in…”

“Then what?”

“I told you, I got lost. I couldn’t find a way in.”

Catra scrunches her nose, she didn’t like that answer. She keeps up her pacing and now her tail was starting in on the agitation. “What form did you take? How did no one catch you?”

“Why does that matter?” Kallen whines.

“I want to know. I’m not trying to push things to hurt you but… Adora thinks you’re lying and I can’t help but wonder if she’s right.”

“Oh, so now you’re against me too?”

“You put everything at risk-“

“So Did You!”

The two fall silent. Catra glues her eyes to the floor. It’s a while before Kallen asks “Why were you coming to see me?”

Catra scoffs and turns away to look out the balcony. “I just wanted to talk. This place irks me. I hate the luxury. I hate not having a schedule. I hate not having something to do. I hate being stuck in here. It’s all driving me nuts… so I was trying to find you so it wouldn’t be so bad…” Catra admits.

“Well, I’m here now… and we don’t have much other hope. Did you still want to talk?”

“You’re changing the subject on purpose aren’t you?”

Kallen snaps her teeth loudly before relaxing. “Catra… Have you ever re-lived something so painful that everything becomes real and you can’t tell the difference between the memory and the present?”

Catra is stunned, her ears drop and her tail threatens to bush. “Why?” she snaps in defense.

“Because that’s why I got lost. Is that enough to satisfy your curiosity without you dying?”

Catra is silent a long time. Remembering the First One’s ruins. All the awful feelings dredged up by those memories. Remembering all the awful conversations she had with Adora. Finally, “Yeah… maybe…” she whispers.

Kallen’s eyes go wide. She didn’t expect it to make sense, much less that Catra would understand her experience. Kallen’s expression softens. “Then would you also understand why I don’t want to talk about it?”

“Yeah” Catra offers softly.

Kallen smiles with relief but her shaking hands ruin that facade. “C-Can I ask you for something?” but before Catra can even answer, “You can always say No.”

Catra looks at Kallen’s hands, then back up to the wolf’s concerned, gold eyes. “Sure. What do you need?”

Kallen fights as her nose threatens to run and her eyes burn. Her smile crumbles to a quivering frown as she pushes to make the words come out. “Can I ask for comfort?”

Catra’s eye dilate as the pieces fit together, seeing Kallen in a different light. “Yes. Kallen-“ She steps up quick before pausing again, not reaching the entire distance. “You can lay down. I don’t mind giving you comfort, you’ve done it for me before. I can at least be fair about it.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I want to.” Catra pulls the hair tie out gently as if to not spook the wolf. It lets Kallen’s hair fall and frame her face. Catra frowns, it makes the poor wolf look even more sad. “Come on, just lay back.” As she loops the hair tie over her wrist.

Kallen climbs up the bed and lays down facing away from Catra, nesting her arms under the pillow to get comfortable. Catra looks at the open space on the bed for a moment before climbing up and laying down behind her. She keeps her distance but works on combing through the wolf’s hair and scratching around her ears. After mere moments, the bed jerks with Kallen’s sobs. Catra hesitates… This was the second time she had heard that sobbing. For all the strong and brave exterior, Kallen was sobbing…

Catra’s frown is drug down further by both of their heavy emotions. The feeling of it all pressing down on the mattress in that short space between them. Pulling her closer.

Catra lets it. She closes the distance in revered silence, threading her arm under Kallen’s neck and moving her tail over her leg. Catra returns to petting the wolf as she snuggles up to the warmth.

Kallen cries harder still. She pulls her knees up and moves one hand to hold her head. “I’m sorry”

“Don’t be.”

I might make a fanfic of this concept-

@BrianSturgill

@CallistoArt

@WhenYou'reTheOnly1WhoUnderstandsCatra

@SimplyDiamond--

@Kali Bradshaw

@KallenLiulfren

[Disclaimer: shortening this to - All Adults. Mid 20s.]

-= I know I said I was trying to slow down. But I want to get these two out together so that it makes sense and I really want to ask for feedback on a few pieces. =-

1 - Big thing he is that the flashback and reality overlap. I want to know if that is clear or just serves to make it impossible to understand.

2 - What does the outburst from the "Prince" imply? It's setting up for things in the future and I want to know if I'm leading the reading well or not.

3 - Is this too freaking sad? Cuz I tear up every time I re-read it.

4 - Does it read well that the previous (10-2) and this one are happening at the same time.

*CW: depiction of flashbacks/reliving hurtful memories, depiction of a panic attack, implied ab*se

Link to he fiction's page - Who Rescued Who (WRW)

Kallen also now has a Bio page - Kallen's Character Bio

Previous:

Chapter 10-2

-- denotes a minor scene change

===== denotes a large scene change

=====

A young girl is walking down the corridors of the castle. A overly joyful pep in her step to covers up her nervousness. She didn’t belong here. The walls. The tapestries. The friendly wait staff. They all belonged to someone else. But she had to put on a smile and look like she belonged. She wouldn’t be staying forever.

“Good evenin darlin. Can Ey get ya anything?”

The young girl turns to find the voice. Her long, curly, red hair bobs with the motion and she pulls it back out of her face. Cute hazel eyes shine over top a cloud of fair skin and adorable freckles. Only about fourteen or so, the young girl still had quite the round face and it only added more to the cuteness.

“Whooz there?” she asks in a delicate voice.

The hallway was empty. Shining, pristine walls stretch high above her. The cool tones and gold accents make her red hair and dark green dress look terribly out of place.

The girl feels a shiver come on and she wraps her hands over her arms. “Eye jus need ta find her and it’ll awl be fyne.” She turns to keep walking. Her pace a little faster than before.

As she tuns a corner she hears a familiar laugh that fills her with hope and joy. She skips playfully down the hall to the next corner before jumping out to see… no one. At least, no one she knew.

“Oh! Look at you. You got me.” the large woman exclaims, playing along. She had to look over the laundry pilled high in her basket to see the little troublemaker.

The girl relaxes from her playful stance. “O, sorry miss. Ey thought yoo was someone else.”

“It’s alright dear. No harm done. Now then, run along and don’t cause no trouble.” Her tone was soothing and warm as she leaned against the door to push inside.

The little girl scampers up behind the door as it swings closed and takes in the scent. “She seems nice. Ey like her.” Before bounding off again down the corridor. Putting her nose to the air to find her way. But it was getting harder. The air smelled musty and stale. Like it had been cooped up inside all winter. Which made sense, you never opened a window unless you had to, the cold would get in and you’d spend all day trying to warm the place back up.

The girl shook her head. It was mid summer. It couldn’t be that cold outside, right?

Another giggle tore her from her thoughts. “Wait!” she called as she hurried after it.

She slowed down as she reached the stairs. She couldn’t count how many times she had slipped and fallen on this blasted spiral staircase. It was these dumb socks and shoes. She had to wear them to keep up appearances but it was so unnatural. She just wanted to be in her bare feet again.

She makes her way to the bottom of the stairs and catches sight of her friend and her breathing comes crashing to a halt. “Foalan! Hurry uhp. Yer gonna get us caught.” The girl calls. The same young girl stood in the hallway in the same green dress. An exact copy, down to each and every freckle.

“Ey am not.” Comes another voice, slightly gruff and full of play. “An Maeve, it’s yer castle, yoo shouldn’t ‘ave to sneak out ta play with me.” Another girl runs down the stair case towards Maeve. She too was only about twelve or so years old. Wearing heavy duty clothes suited for labor with the dirt stains to prove it. With sandy blond hair and the fluffiest wolf ears and tail from letting her winter coat grow in. Her clawed bare feet clack and scrape against the stone floor.

The small red haired girl, Maeve, dodges the wolf girl’s playful tackle. “Ey’m a princess. Ey can’t been seen wit mah stable hand. Yoo kno that. Mah parents are dull sticks in tha mud, remember.”

The two girls run off down the corridor together.

Maeve looks down at her hands and back up at the hallway. Blinking wildly… Her heart races.

She snaps a quick look behind her, the staircase was beautifully crafted with gold railings and marble steps. Her eyes grow wide and she twists back to look where the girls had just stood together. There was no one. She runs to the intersected hallway and again, nothing but potted plants, fancy lights, and gorgeous vistas of the Bright Moon mountain range.

Suddenly, gone was the cold stone and fur rugs. Replaced with perfect sheen of polished floors and the smell of overly clean everything.

Maeve begins to panic. “Why? Ey’m not there no more. Its fine. Ev’ry thing is Fyne.” She tries to convince herself. “Awl that is ovah naow.”

She pulls at her dress and rubs her arms for some semblance of comfort. But with weary eyes and a sniffle, she follows the hallway where the girls had run.

It’s a long walk before she passes a few guards. She tries her best to smile brightly and wave childishly. The guards don’t pay her any mind. They seemed to be very adamant about sticking to their tasks. She hurries down the hall and ducks around the corner.

“Ok. That’s probably it. Now ‘ow do I get in?” Maeve thinks to herself.

She peeks back around the corner sheepishly. The guards looked so scary as the amber light of the torches flicker and wane over their shining armor. The claymores they kept were mostly for decoration, but they always gave such an imposing appearance.

As she watched, the large lady she ran into before approached with a tray of food. As soon as the guards opened the door the air changed. “They’ve escaped!” yelled the guards, and both rushed out and down the hallway where Maeve had just been. The staff member drops the tray and runs as well. But probably not for the same reason. Either way-

“Nows mah chance.” She squeals gleefully. She bolts towards the open and unguarded room. As she crosses the threshold she slams her feet on the cold stone floor to come to a dead stop. “No…”

The prince stood in their bed chambers. Candles were thrown hazardously on the ground. The bed sheets strewn across the floor.

Maeve’s heart jumps in her throat and a painful knot forms in her stomach.

“Where- where did she go? Where is my princess. WHERE IS MY WIFE!” The prince’s anger echoes and booms through her mind.

The voice sends every hair on Maeve’s body standing on end. Her vision tunnels, focusing on the Prince. Her breaths come quick and shallow. Her hands and feet prick with numbness. Every part of her body screams to run.

“MAEVE!” the boy howls, looking right through her.

She turns and slips on the stone. Kicking offer her shoes she scrambles on all fours and runs for her life. Runs to escape the prince. To escape the castle. To escape that past life.

Soon the emotionless stone beneath her feet in replaced with relenting, cold, dirt. But she doesn’t stop running. She finds her safe place and barrels inside.

The stable doors clatter loudly as they threaten to bend their hinges. Maeve turns on her heels and slams them back shut. Her breathing is racing faster as she piles hay bales, buckets, work tables, anything she can behind the doors to keep out the pain.

Maeve runs and dives into an empty stall gripping her hair and rocking in the corner.

The giggling returns. She looks across the aisle to see a majestic black and white horse and the girls at its gate.

“Come on Faolan. We can’t take Hamish. Ev’ry one will kno it was me if Ey did.”

“But Ey love em. Look’it his face. He wants ta go fer a ruhn.” The little wolf girl smiles ear to ear.

And just as quickly, the memory was washed away with the sound of crying.

“Maeve, ahre ya awlright?” The wolf girl crouches to get closer.

Maeve is sitting in the dirt, knees pulled to her chest, and crying like the world was coming to an end. “Ey’m s’pposed tah marry him today. Ey-Ey jus can’t Foalan, Ey can’t marry that boy. He-he…” Maeve’s hiccups and coughs cut her off.

“Shhh-shh. Ey kno. Ey’ve seen tha bruisin. Ey kno what that boy does to yoo. Ey won’t let him.” Foalan moves to hug Maeve tight. Gently stroking her back as the girl sobbed in her arms.

“What doo Ey doo?” Maeve whines.

Foalan regards the girl for some time, thinking. “Ya don’t marry him. Easy as that.” She tries to sound cheery.

“Its arranged. Ey ‘ave to or they’ll start a war…”

“Ey didn’t say he wasn’t gettin married. Jus not ta yoo, dingus.” Faolan cackles.

Maeve looks up with disgust and confusion “What’s tha s’ppossed ta mean? Ain’t no one else can marry him. Ey’m the princess.”

“Aye, but what if there was… another?”

“Faolan, ‘ave ya gone mad? Ey don’t have a sistah.”

“A’course ya do. Ey’m right ‘ere aren’t Ey?” the wolf girl beams with pride at her idea.

“Faolan. Ey luv yoo but tha Prince is gonna notice.”

“No he won’t” with one last twitch of her wolf ears and wag of her tail, the girl begins to shift. Gold traces march around her frame and in a quick shimmer, there stood another Maeve. Red curly hair. Fair skin. Freckles and all. “Ey can be yoo fer a bit. I kno enough spendin awl my time wit’cha.”

Maeve scrambles to back away. “Yo-YOO! Yer A Shape Shiftah?!”

“Aye. Awl this time Ey kept a secret. Ey’m sorry. But, Ey think this is the most important thing Ey can do with it.” She tilts her head and her eyes take on the most worried expression. “Maeve, Ey can’t watch him hert yoo. Ey won’t… not anymore… So, if yoo can do tha runnin. Ey’ll stay and do the royals right direteh pretendin to be yoo.” Foalan offers her friend her hand. “Yoo can trust me. Ey promise.”

Maeve ignores the hand and goes right for the wolf. She hugs the girl desperately. “Thank yoo” she whimpers.

“Its awlright. Once Ey think its safe, Ey’ll just give up on the little show. Now, Yoo take Hamish and get ta Brigid. Ey’ll handle everythin else. An Brigid can bring ol’ Hamish back home later. Understand?”

Maeve nods weakly.

Foalan, as Maeve, makes quick work of getting the horse out of his stall and ready. The real Maeve hops up on the saddle and pulls the hood of her cloak far over her face. With one last look at her best friend “Thank yoo, Foalan. Yoo’ll always be mah best friend.”

The girl grins wolfishly, looking out of place in her princess disguise. “Ey’ll never forget yoo Maeve. Take care. Now go.”

The memory fades as the horse is spurred out of the stable and off into the distance. Leaving the two impostors, one past and one present alone in the stable. Crying their eyes out and no one to comfort them.

——

A loud bash and a grunt come from the stable doors. Maeve recoils in fear.

Another loud bash and the stable doors are kicked wide open “Viva La RevoluuuUUH? Who are you?”

Maeve stands in the middle of the aisle holding a broom and looking incredibly confused. “Yoo can Tawlk?”

Swift Wind narrows his eyes “Yeah. I get that a lot. Seriously who are you? And what have you done with the place?” he twists his neck and looks all over the stables.

The windows were open. The floor was clean. The stalls had been washed. Everything smelled nice and the horses had been brushed till their coats shone in the sunlight.

Swift Wind takes a few tentative steps inside. “Did the Queen finally read my letters? Is she starting to listen to me? Does this mean I get a chair?” the pegasus prances in place happily.

Maeve tilts her head to the side and continues to stare rudely. “Yer a horse… bird… mix that can tawlk like a person. Ey think Ey need ta sit down… Today is jus not mah day…” Maeve goes to slump on an upturned bucket.

Swift Wind walks closer to the girl. “You say that I’m hard to believe… Have you heard yourself? I’ve never heard anyone talk like you do.”

“Itsa cerse. Ya get used to it eventually.” Maeve offers the most pained of smiles.

Swift Wind regards them with suspicion, sniffing their hair roughly. “You smell like apples. Are you holding out on me. ME. The great liberator of all horse kind?” his energy was palpable.

“Ey ain’t got no more. Yer friends already had their treats fer the day.”

Swift Wind bucks slightly. “Ok, who are you? Why are you being so nice? I have been all over Etheria and hardly anyone is this nice to my brothers and sisters.” The pegasus leans close and points their wing tip at Maeve “How much is the Queen paying you?”

“Ey’m not gettin paid a single coin. Ey’m doing this cuz I want to. That's somethin that seems ta make a lot of people mad…”

Swift Wind backs up and shakes his head with a snort, his horn suddenly shining brightly. He inhales sharply “Adora Needs Me! Sacred Bond TIME!” he sings as he dashes out of the stable.

Maeve’s eyes go wide. “Oh noo…”

[Disclaimer: shortening this to - All Adults. Mid 20s.]

-= I know I said I was trying to slow down. But I want to get these two out together so that it makes sense and I really want to ask for feedback on a few pieces. =-

1 - Does this read clearly enough to follow the series of events as quite a bit of shape shifting things happen.

2 - Is the escalation to suspicious/distrust believable.

3 - Do the characters feel "In character" for the way they react.

-= This is a big turning point for the plot so I want it to feel right as so much builds on it from here =-

*CW: none for this chapter

Link to he fiction's page - Who Rescued Who (WRW)

Kallen also now has a Bio page - Kallen's Character Bio

Previous:

Chapter 10

-- denotes a minor scene change

===== denotes a large scene change

=====

Adora and Glimmer are casually walking the halls of Bright Moon. Conversing quietly over the situation they now face and how difficult it’s going to be getting all the Princesses in one place on such short notice. But their concern is quickly drawn towards another matter…

Adora pinches her nose “I know Queen Angela asked us to call for a vote. But is it really that serious?”

“You heard mom. She doesn’t trust me on this at all and I can’t exactly trust Catra OR Kallen.”

“Wait, why can’t you trust Kallen? I thought this was all just because of what Catra did.” Adora turns to Glimmer with a distraught expression. “Kallen saved Catra. Kallen did so much to help us both and what she did crippled the Horde.”

“Yeah, and the way she did all that is by lying to everyone, including Catra, and manipulating everything from behind the scenes. Those are really scary traits to have. Then we have to remember the Shadow Weaver thing.”

“Sooo… you think Kallen might still be up to something?”

“Yes? I guess? She’s just… she worries me. She has magic without a runestone and she can change forms. What if she planned all this to get here and impersonate one of us?”

“Princess!” a voice calls out from down a branching hallway.

“Juliet?” Glimmer turns with a start.

The head of the guards runs up with their helmet under their arm. “Your majesty. I just got word, A prisoner has escaped. The blond one. Kallen. Their room is empty.”

Adora and Glimmer exchange mortified looks before Glimmer teleports them both to Kallen’s room.

The doors to the room are hanging open with two guards outside. Inside, the room was turned upside down from looking for clues.

“What happened?” Glimmer asks.

A guard at the door salutes, “P-Princess. Please understand that no one but the wait staff has come through this door. We cannot find any way that they could have escaped.”

The sound of a door rattling grabs Adora’s attention. “Someone’s still here.”

Glimmer and Adora immediately run into the adjacent room to find someone cowering in the closet.

Adora shouts “What happened! What are you doing in here? Where’s Kallen?”

“I-I-I don’t. I was just- Please don’t fire me!” The young man squeals pulling at their staff uniform.

“Just tell us what Kallen did. You’re okay.” Glimmer tries to calm them down.

“Ka-Kallen? She didn’t do anything. She just told me I should rest. I’ve been working double shifts to try and pay for-“ the staff member see’s Glimmer’s increasingly frustrated glare. “I’m sorry. She was so easy to talk to and she was so caring. I must have fallen asleep. When I woke up she was gone. I tried to hide in here but…”

Adora’s mouth hangs open as Glimmer rages “You Talked To A Prisoner And Took A Nap In Her Room?!”

“I Know. I’m dumb. But she was so warm and she was worried that I wasn’t doing well… and I’m not. I just-“

“I can’t believe this!” Glimmer roars. “You! RRRH. Just Get out of here. Now!”

“I’m not fired?”

“Not yet. I have too much to deal with right now. Just Go!”

The young man bows his head and runs out of the washroom scared for his life.

Adora looks at Glimmer. “What do we do. You-You were so right. She was pulling another trick on us this whole time.”

“And I brought her into the castle like this. My Mom is going to KILL me and we have NO way of finding her now. She could be long gone.”

“Wait” Adora whispers… Pacing for some time, Adora ponders the details. “They wouldn’t have just left the staff member alone with Kallen, right?”

“I don’t think so?” Glimmer offers a shrug.

Adora runs back to the guard at the door. “You said the wait staff left right?”

“Yes General. The wait staff walked in and dropped off a meal and then left about half an hour ago.”

Adora narrows her eyes. “Aren’t all meals overseen by guards directly, even while in the room?”

“Yes. Always. It’s standard protocol.”

Adora looks back to Glimmer with worry when she ask’s her next question “Was Kallen in the room at the time the meal was delivered and the staff member left?”

“Yes. Absolutely. I saw her with my own eyes.”

Adora and Glimmer both go pale. Adora asks one last question “Did you see the staff member leave again… just a moment ago?”

“No? The only one that has left was a member of the guard.”

Adora spins to look at Glimmer but the princess roars right away “WE JUST LET HER ESCAPE!”

A loud and harsh scratching sound cuts through the room gracelessly. The guards rush past Adora and Glimmer toward the window, spears at the ready.

“SPARKLES! Don’t Yell Like That. I nearly Fell!”

“CATRA!” Adora shouts.

Catra is clinging to the locked window, claws digging into the glass where she had scrambled for purchase.

Glimmer pops outside, grabs Catra, and pops back inside. Glimmer blurts “Why are you-“

A new guard rushes into the room “Another Prisoner has escaped.”

Adora’s face twists in frustration “We know.” She stomps over to Catra, grabbing her by her shirt and pushing her around to intimidate her. “What are you planning. What is Kallen trying to do?!”

Catra only grins before she cackles. “You both are pathetic. Not only did I escape my room. Kallen escaped hers?”

“Answer my questions.” Adora pushes Catra more, earning her a growl and a twisted arm.

“GET OFF” Catra throws Adora back.

Glimmer readies balls of light in her hands. “I knew it.”

“You knew Nothing! There is no Plan… I just came here to talk to Kallen.” Catra’s face darkens some and Glimmer lets the light fade with her anger. Catra continues “So if you would just leave me alone-“

“You’re not going anywhere.” Adora snaps.

“Adora, I don’t have the patience for your crap today.” Catra hisses. “I’m going to go find Kallen.”

“Yes. You are. And I’m going with you and then both of you are going to give me answers.”

“Why would I help you?” Catra crosses her arms and narrows her eyes, recovering some of her callous sass. “I know you don’t trust me. I could lead you on a wild chase all over the castle.”

Glimmer interrupts “Because if you want any of us to trust you right now, you have to find her and prove you’re not up to something.”

Catra stops, considering her position. “What does it matter… I’m doomed either way.”

Glimmer bites back on her anger and takes a number of deep breaths. “My mother has asked to cast a vote. All of the Princesses will gather here in a few days and we will vote on whether you can stay with the Rebellion as fighters, or prisoners…” Glimmer looks genuinely concerned. “Catra… If you help us, it might not be the later.” Glimmer turns to Adora. “We have to find Kallen before she does something that could make this worse.”

Catra staggers back a step. She eyes Glimmer with suspicion. “What are you playing at Sparkles?”

Glimmer seems to look away. “Nothing… Something just seems… different…”

Catra’s ears perk up and her eyes widen for a split second. She scoffs and looks away as well. “Nothing changed. I don’t know what you’re on about.”

Glimmer’s weak smile only confuses Adora further “Glimmer, Can we talk?”

The two head out into the hallway, far enough that Catra’s hearing might not be able to pick up on. Adora starts again “What are you doing? Is this some sort of good cop back cop thing or am I totally lost?

“Did you not see what just happened? Catra was coming to talk to Kallen and when Kallen wasn’t here Catra got, I don’t know, depressed.”

“Catra can be… you know… sort of moody. It’s kind of always been her thing.” Adora shrugs.

“Not like this... She’s always in control or angry. Look, I might be reading to far into it but Catra could have just as easily run away from Bright Moon all together. But she didn’t. She came to see Kallen… The one that saved her from the Horde… The one that she hugged in front of everyone… The one person she never left the side of in the medical tent… Adora, something has changed. I think… I think… I don’t know what to think. But… UGH. I’m going to go check on Scorpia and Entrapta. Make sure we don’t have any more jail breaks today…” Glimmer poofs away in a cloud of angry sparkles.

Leaving Adora with more questions than she had before.

—

Adora stomps back into the room. “Come on. We’re going to find Kallen.” She commands.

“I told you, I’m not helping you.”

“Then help Kallen.”

Catra’s tail flicks and her ears train on Adora…

Now that Glimmer mentioned it, Adora starts to watch the cat closer.

“Fine” Catra huffs as she makes her way out the door. She spends a moment sniffing the air, this way and that. “Ulf, this place smells so flowery all the time. But I think she went this way.” Catra takes a right out of the room and starts prowling down the corridors. Stopping at each intersection to pick the next leg of the journey.

Adora walks quietly behind the cat for some time. Mentally preparing to ask the question she didn’t want the answer too. But, she had to know. The longer she waited the tighter the knot in her stomach would pull.

“Hey, Catra?”

“What?” Catra’s tone is flat and obligated.

“Why did you come to see Kallen… but not me?”

“Ugh. Adora, not everything is about you. You’re not the main character in everyone’s life.”

“Hey! That’s not fair. I’m not trying to say anything like that. I just… I don’t know… After all these years I would have really liked the chance to get to talk to you.” Adora admits.

“Yeah, well, maybe if you hadn’t locked me up like a criminal I would have been able to have brunch with you and your prissy little friends.” Catra snarls.

“Catra, you are a criminal. To everyone. I really need you to see that.”

“Oh, I see it plenty. Like right now.”

“What do you want from me? I am fighting so hard for you and Kallen to not be treated this way. But I can only do so much. The Queen knows you. We can’t have you walking around the castle like you own the place.”

“Oh, so Now you want to fight for me. Great. Well, I don’t need you anymore.”

“Clearly not, I’ve been replaced.”

Catra stops cold. “Excuse me?” She whirls on Adora. “You were not replaced. YOU walked away from me.” Catra blinks as the words replay and the realization sets in. “You’re mad. You stuck up little princess, you’re mad that I have a friend. Is that it?”

“No! I’m angry that you don’t trust me and that you won’t even speak to me. But you trust the person that can change who they are and use it to manipulate everything around her.”

“Why would I try to talk to you? You never listen.”

“Catra I am trying to listen to you right now. I need to. I have to know what is going on. What is she up to. Why is she so important that you would break out of your room and risk BOTH of you getting in even more trouble. And why did she do the same?”

“I don’t know!” Catra roars. “But if I know her… she was trying to get out to see me.” Once again Catra blinks as the words replay… She slaps a hand to her forehead. “She’s probably in my room right now terribly confused and worried. Come on. And don’t say another word till we get there. I seriously cannot handle you right now.”

Adora snaps her mouth shut but she fumes vigorously. Hearing that both women would be that set on connecting with each other, going so far as to risk their chances at freedom… The ideas were not ones that she liked entertaining.

—

The terribly long and awkward trip ends with Catra stopping at her room and Adora settling in behind her. Catra opens the door and her heart falls though the floor. Her exasperated sigh is cut of by-

“For the Honor of Grayskull!”

I drew Kallen, from @KallenLiulfren's fanfic.

I'm loving their fanfic; highly recommend you check it out if you haven't already.