Melog whimpers as they cuddle into Adora's side. Adora sniffs as she hugs Melog tightly. It's currently 6am, and she like the other Princesses is expected in Bright Moon in about 30 minutes to start the connection to the runestones. But she can't find it in her to even move. Adora is currently cuddled up in Catra's room finding comfort in her scent. Glimmer shuffles into the room slowly wearing a big sweater of Bow's that he only wears during winter. She has a bunch of coffees with her. "I-I got coffee, I figured since B-" she gulps as tears brim her eyes. "He or Cat-" she takes an intense inhale of breath. "I got coffee." She whispers before breaking down. Adora immediately stands up and puts down the almost spilling coffee, bringing Glimmer in for a tight hug.

"I-I miss him Adora! I miss them. B-But Bow- I never, I never got to say I love you before he left." Glimmer sobs out tightening the hug. Adora squeezes Glimmer thinking back to the fact that Catra wanted to speak to her. "We'll get them back, no matter what." Adora whispers assertively.

Just then Mermista and Perfuma walk in with coffees. Perfuma's hair was a mess, she didn't have her signature flower in her hair. That's when Adora looks around noticing how everyone looks like crap, even her. None of them look rested. Adora's hair is in a messy ponytail no poof present, Mermista's hair isn't braided and just lose, a curly mess. Glimmer has no sparkles, her hair seeming the same as yesterday except slept in. "We figured since you know." Mermista starts. Adora and Glimmer give them small smiles as they pull them in for a group hug.

Glimmer's phone beeps indicting they need to get ready to leave. Glimmer sighs. "Let's do this."

Once the Princesses make to Brightmoon, they are greeted by Frosta, Netossa and Spinnerella. Queen Angella smiles as she enters the room. "Follow me ladies." All the Princesses trudge after Angella to the runestone room. Perfuma gasps as she notices Scorpia's runestone flickering instead of shining brightly. Adora squeezes Perfuma's shoulder reassuringly. They all circle the runestones standing infront of their respective runestones, looking up making eye contact with each other. Adora places her sword down at her located spot.

"Now as you ladies know, you can recharge in your castles for short periods of time, just by the energy of the ground. But to get a full recharge you need to get here to the runestone room. Where the The Moonstone, The Heart-Blossom, The Pearl, The Fractal Flake, The Black Garnet and the Sword of Protection all lie together. To be protected by any potential threats, as you know this is the most heavily guarded place in all of Etheria. But enough of general knowledge. To connect to your runestones simultaneously, you need to all hold hands. And say these words. I Angella swear to protect Etheria with all my life, as a chosen princess and future Queen. Moonstone. But obviously using your own name and your own runestones name. This way the runestone places you in record as an official holder and future Queen."

All the Princesses nod. Adora takes a deep breath, taking the sword off her back and placing it in its required place as Angella nods at her. "For the honour of Grayskull!" Everyone latches hands and Glimmer closes her eyes. "I Glimmer swear to protect Etheria with all my life, as a chosen princess, and future Queen. Moonstone." She opens her eyes. Her runestone shining brightly as her eyes glow, her body shining in the colour of her runestone. Perfuma squeezes Glimmer's hand. "I Perfuma swear to protect Etheria with all my life as a chosen princess and future Queen. Heart-blossom." Perfuma glowing now as well. Mermista gives a determined look as she stares down her runestone. "I Mermista swear to protect Etheria with all my life as a chosen princess and future Queen. Pearl." Mermista now glowing. Frosta looking mesmerized and excited. "I Forsta, swear to protect Etheria with all my life as a chosen princess and future Queen. Fractal Flake." Once Frosta is done, Adora takes a deep breath as she closes her eyes thinking of Catra and of the future of Etheria. They have to win. "I Adora, swear to protect Etheria with all my life as a chosen princess and the chosen she-ra. Sword of Protection."

Everyone glows brightly together. Looking at each other. Until a blast of power goes through them the group slightly floating of the ground. They start spinning, their heads tilted back before dropping down back at their chosen spots. Once they finally back on the ground the glowing stops and they let go of each others hands. Their runestones bright as the sun. Scorpia's however seeming to lose even more light. Everyone stomachs churn at the sight.

"Let's start training." Adora says not even giving anyone a chance to respond before she leaves the room in She-ra form.

The university became a full on training boot camp in just in that one day. A week already passing with intense training. Mainly the Princesses going extra hard in training. They rarely took breaks. And all collectively decided to not speak about their feelings. Glimmer and Perfuma finally understand why Catra and Adora love punching things to let out their emotions. Whereas Mermista just really wants the girls to feel normal so she doesn't bring it up, but she still trains just as hard. Because all her friends are prisoners. And Catra. Feelings or no feelings, she knows that Catra is someone she cared very deeply for. Adora also knows this, she appreciates Mermista's effort. Frosta even started coming to campus to train as well, despite only still being in highschool. But the more the merrier at this point.

====

"Onwards to adventure!" Seahawk shouts at the top of his lungs as he sets his father's boat on fire. He looks at his dad's confused face from beside him. "Sorry dad, but I got a girl to get back to!" Seahawk gushes as he makes his way to the train station he needs to get to Salineas where he stored his boat, so he can sail to his beloved. It's been far too long without her. He wonders how much has changed since he last saw her.

Meanwhile all the Princesses get ready to sleep once again in Catra and Adora's dorm. They all prefer to stay together now, for safety protocols and because even if none of them will admit it, but without each other they would be in a lot worse shape than what they currently are. Each of them have mental break downs a few times a week. Their minds running with what ifs. What if they made it in time? What if Glimmer and Adora stayed with Bow? What if Mermista made it in time to see Catra? What if Perfuma hadn't mediated with Mermista? What if Adora had just told Catra to tell her then in the war room? Would they have been together then for the Mermista talk? All the possibilities run through each of their heads. The guilt of being too late or for delaying what could've saved them weighing on them like a ton of bricks.

Adora has night terrors constantly reaching out for Catra. Wishing she could just hold her and everything will be okay. Glimmer refuses to take off Bow's hoodie and wash it, constantly wanting to tell Bow an inside joke only to realize he isn't beside her. Perfuma seeming ready to play Scorpia's favourite tunes, like they used to do, dancing in the early mornings together. Now she just plays it on repeat and sobs in a corner telling everyone she's okay. Or Mermista wanting to make a snide sarcastic comment that only Catra or DT would understand. Making her close her mouth and barely speak anymore. Not even a single ugh.

The worst part is the entire university, infact anyone who comes in contact with the Princesses can see they're not doing okay. Everyone reaching out to help but unsure of what to say or to do to help them feel better.

Adora, Glimmer, Mermista and Petfuma still refusing to speak to Glimmer's parents unless necessary, feeling absolutely appalled that they would suggest leaving the others behind. Leaving them to be tortured, because all they see is their friends being brutally tortured. They don't know what's being done to them, but it can't be good. Frosta seeming to have to take the lead in conversating with the adults when there isn't a planned meeting. They also inform her now when meetings will be held. And she has to tell the others.

=====

Seahawk makes it to Bright Moon happy and ready to sing a shanty or three to his beloved. He walks up to campus and to the front desk about to ask where Mermista is stationed only to be yelled at to get to training. In complete confusion he follows the front desk lady to the training grounds to see everyone outside training. When he lays eyes on Mermista he beams. "OHHHHHHHHHH-"

Mermista recognized that voice anywhere. "Uggh who let him back in here?!" She said as he swiveled around only to be brought into a tight hug by Seahawk. Mermista's cheeks tint pink. "I missed you too my beloved." Mermista quickly shoves Seahawk back and stares at him in shock. He is actually back? Her response earlier was pure reflex but he is actually standing right infront of her.

Seahawk looks around then at the other shocked faces of his trusted crew, he then looks confused. "Where is Bow, Catra, Sc-" Tension immediately rising in the group.

"You missed a lot." Frosta cut him off. He then looks at everyone again only to see broken expressions on their faces. They look exhausted. Seahawk didn't need an explanation immediately but he knew what Bow would want him to do. He clapped his hands. "This is unacceptable. You all need sleep."

Everyone started protesting at once, he rose his hand and gave them all a glare. "You know I am right. Now I don't know what went down. But you all damn well know Bow wouldn't be happy you're not getting any sleep. So come on let's get you guys well rested and ready for a proper day of training tomorrow!" Everyone looks at Seahawk in disbelief, no one moving. He groans. "Come on! We don't have all day! We have adventures to go on tomorrow! Don't make me sing a shanty."

The group looks around before collectively shuffling off towards the building Seahawk following them with Frosta in his step. "Thanks for that. They haven't slept since the others were taken." Frosta whispers.

Seahawk looks at her concerned. "Tell me everything that happened while I was gone."

Frosta rose an eyebrow. "Everything? Everything?" Seahawk nods. Frosta begins explaining everything in great detail at the end of the entire explanation Seahawk loudly shouts. "Catra and Mermista!?"

Frosta shushed him. "That's all you got!?" Seahawk scratches his head awkwardly and looks away.

"No of course not. That was just shocking. Thanks for filling me in. I will make sure they sleep. We will get them back." He says looking at the back of Mermista's head.

A/n I know it's pretty short but it's kinda a filler before all the tea starts boiling.