Escaping Corruption (Seasons 1-3)

11 - Princess Party

The best friend squad entered the ballroom together.

Their jaws dropped upon sight of the colossal sized space.

They turned to look at each other, shock enveloping their faces. When Glimmer smiled.

'I spy with my hunger, a buffet table, in the corner ' And with her little rhyme, Glimmer was off like a bullet to the table, Adora at her heels.

Bow glared at the two. But as he was going down the staircase leading to the main area, he glanced up, catching the eye of non other then Catra.

He smiled at her, and continued down the stairs. He didn't think much of the exchange.

Bow got his two friends, and together they approached the royals sitting on their thrones. But were once again shocked into silence upon the sight.

The queen was sticking her tongue out at the guard leaning against the throne, who held up their pointer finger in a....rude gesture. The guard had inky curls pulled back with a dainty silver circlet that had traditional symbols on it. Her eyes were a brilliant gold, and she was dressed in a tight navy halter dres, with gold bracers and a sword at her hip.

'Glimmer, Bow and Adora, right? Awh good. If I got you wrong I would've thrown myself off of the balcony' Queen C'yra drawls, taking a long gulp of her wine.

'C'yra please, we both know you're to self absorbed to get off your ass to do that' The guard snorted.

The queen turned to her, and the best friend squad expected her to at least get fired, and at worst, executed, what they did not expect was the queens reply.

'Says you of all people. I have kids who love me.'

'Mhmm. If I recall, Your eldest daughter calls me mommy'

'OkaY! end of your lil dispute. I would have died happily without that insight. Guys, greet the guests normally so my time to shine with my ukulele comes sooner' The king, Amato D'riluth, exclaimed.

'Ugh fine. I'm C'yra, this is Naeva. Enjoy your night ' The queen said monotonously, slumping in her throne.

'Shes just super high on Purrsian equalia right now. Its a drug thingy magicats take during their cycles to help them. But it makes them really loopy, rude and unthinking ' Naeva, the guard explained as she led them away.

She appeared very good at her job.

'Why were you so vulgar with the queen?' Adora blurted out before she could stop herself.

'Because C'yra hates being treated superior to everyone else. She stands for equality. Plus, I grew up in the palace alongside her own children. My father used to be the head of the Purrsian Guard, until he retired four years ago, and I took his place' Naeva explained.

Suddenly, a magicat dressed in an extravagant navy, gold accented dress flung herself onto Naeva.

'Eva!' She smiled, burying her face in the guards chest.

'Hey songbird' Naevas lips pressed to the well dressed magicats hair.

After an awkward moment of silence, the fancy magicat steps back and curtseys.

'I am Lyric D'riluth, eldest princess of Purrsia, and engaged to Naeva Locenai, Head of the Purrsian guard' She smiled.

Glimmer was taken aback. This family was crazy. Whatever, she decided, crazy can be good

The ceremony was about to begin.

The best friend squad stood beside Lyric and Naeva as they held each other, listening intently to amatos speech.

'-And the reason we are all hear to night, is to announce the safe return of our middle daughter, twin sister of prince Maverick D'riluth, ans the heir to the throne (as Maverick is under decading training in The Eastwood Isles, and Lyric has outright declined), I now present to you, Crown Princess Elizabeth Catra Applesauce Meow Meow D'riluth'

The crowd burst inro cheers as the princess appeared on the stage.

Adora faltered.

On that stage, dressed in dark blue hankerchief skirt, a bodice that faded from sapphire blue to navy with silver embroidery and matching trumpet sleeves, and a silver circlet adorning her head, and her hair hung in a silky braid tossed over her shoulder, was the girl of both her dreams and her nightmares.

It was Catra. It was utterly and truly Catra.

The party started up again as the crown princess joined the party.

But just as the clock struck midnight, disaster struck.

Shadowy tendrils grew from the sunburst paintings on the ceiling, spreading across the walls and sliding across the floor.

They grabbed the crown princess by the waist and slowlh enveloped her in the smoke.

The last thing the panicking guests heard was an ear piercing shriek of pain from the centre of the shadows surrounding the princess.

But they all knew it wasn't her who was in pain.