Archive of Our Own ^beta

"Shadow Weaver?" Adora murmurs, as that red mask looms into view.

"My Adora," she responds, examining her closely. "The Princess managed to incapacitate you." Shadow Weaver begins removing the restraints. "However, due to your efforts, we now have her as a prisoner."

"No, Adora, she's lying!" Glimmer calls out, only for a cry to be ripped from her as another red current runs through 

"Where is this Princess from?" Adora regards Glimmer with hateful eyes.

"Queen Angella of Brightmoon is on her way to surrender herself to us in exchange for her daughter," Shadow Weaver answers, offering her hand to help Adora off of the lifted table. 

"You don't...remember me?" Glimmer inquires in horrified disbelief. 

Adora walks over to the Princess in measured strides. "Remember you?" She bends down to meet her gaze. "I never forget a target."

"No," Glimmer's eyes fill with tears. "Adora, you're She-Ra!" She strains against that electricity-fueled barrier and the Black Garnet's magic. "A part of the Rebellion!"

"An enemy of the Rebellion," Adora corrects, rising to her feet and saluting her commanding officer. "Shadow Weaver, am I dismissed?"

"Lord Hordak has ensured the other cadets have been informed of your reinstatement as Force Captain," she advises,, steepling her hands. "Once Catra is done packing her things, report to the Force Captain barracks"

A few moments later, the door opens to reveal the cat eared cadet in question. 

"There, I'm packed," Catra says, arms crossed over her chest.

Adora steps forward, brushing past her without so much as a word.

Catra's eyes widen, glancing from Shadow Weaver, to the hallway, where she sees her companion stagger against the wall. "I'll get her things." She excuses herself, easily catching up with the 'world's slowest person'.

"Catra," Adora groans, leaning against the cool metal for support. I don't need help from the likes of her.

"Hey," Catra  mutters, draping an arm over her shoulders. "What's going on?"

"You forget yourself, Cadet Catra." Adora hisses, knocking away her arm.

She must be joking. "C'mon, Adora," Catra forces out a laugh. "You've never bothered with titles."

"That was before I was promoted. Though I'm not surprised a magicat can't understand the importance and significance of rank." Adora states matter of factly, eyes narrowed.

Catra quirks a brow at the mention of her species, supressing the growl rising in her throat. "Are you serious?!" Seeing no change in Adora's hostile attitude or expression, Catra grabs her hand. "Let's go." She half drags her companion to their old barracks, ignoring her protests. Thankfully it's empty this time of day. The two stare one another down in silence. Adora is the first to break it. 

"I was supposed to be in the Force Captain barracks, not here!" Adora yells, rounding on her cat eared teammate. 

"Right, just like the people pleaser you are," Catra responds snarkily.

"At least I do what I'm expected to do," she counters, clearly annoyed at the disruption. Unlike you.

"News flash, Princess, "Catra hisses, closing the distance between them. "I did as I was told. That's how Glimmer got captured."

"Do NOT call me that!" Seething with rage, she shoves Catra into the metal frame holding their bunk beds.

Catra releases that growl of agitation, charging at her with enough force to knock her into the adjacent wall. "Keep your voice down," she whispers in warning, placing both arms on either side of Adora's head. "What is the last thing you remember?"

"That you don't get to order me around," she snarls, glaring back defiantly. 

"It's a simple question," she retorts, tone quiet, dragging her claws against the metal to Adora's right. "What is the last memory in that hair poof protected brain of yours?

Adora closes her eyes in an attempt to focus her thoughts. "Being in the Black Garnet Chamber with the prisoner..."

"And what's your last memory of me?" Catra asks, voice wavering on the last word.

"I-" Adora pauses, wincing at a sudden throbbing ache in her temples."I can't!" The room blurs in and out of focus as her knees start to buckle.

"Yes, you can," she retorts through gritted teeth, grabbing hold of Adora's collar in one hand, sinking her claws deeper into the wall with the other. "Concentrate!" 

Adora squeezes her eyes shut, trying to piece together jumbled fragments of memory. A flash of their earlier training session appears in her mind. 

"Anyone seen Catra?" Adora whispers the question, looking from Lonnie to Kyle, then Rogelio, who all shrug and shake their heads. "Not again," she scoffs in annoyance. Later during the training, Adora sees Catra push the bot over the edge of a hole in the floor, before pointing down near where Adora's at. She barely catches herself with the staff to avoid falling deeper into the gap. "Catra," she says, looking up at her disapprovingly. "Did you really show up late and let us do all the hard parts? That is low, even for you."

"Awww, you know nothing's too low for me." Catra responds, wearing an arrogant smirk. 

An earlier memory surfaces from when they were much younger. Adora's crouching down, looking at Catra. "You didn't have to do it. Why'd you do it?"

"The only thing consistent about you is how often you're late to training," she answers, finally opening her eyes. "You don't cooperate with your teammates and even hurt Lonnie." She sticks her chin up at Catra regarding her with a cutting glare. "I've been trapped being your keeper since we were kids!" Adora makes an effort to push her away to no avail. 

Catra stands there processing the unexpected, callous response. You felt this way the whole time? About us? Is that why leaving was SO easy for you? "Is that all you remember about me?" She asks, voice barely above a whisper. 

"What else would I need to remember about someone like you?" Adora scoffs, a cruel smirk spreading across her lips.

I wanted her back with me...but not like THIS. Acting like the soldier Shadow Weaver always wanted her to be. "It doesn't matter." Catra releases her grip on the wall and Adora, stepping away from this stranger in Adora's skin.

"I didn't dismiss you, Cadet." Adora spits the title, anger rising steadily at her subordinate's blatant show of disrespect.

"You don't have to. I'm going," she snaps, giving a poor imitation of a salute before pivoting on her heel. Catra turns back to get one last look at the face she knows, tainted by words Adora would never say, no matter how angry she was. I have to do something to fix whatever Shadow Weaver did to her...Once she's out of the barracks, Catra breaks into a run, partially to distance herself from Force Captain Adora, and also to clear her head. Adora likely won't remember their spot, so it's the one place she's safe from this twisted version of her former friend. Looking out on the Fright Zone, alone, it feels bigger than before. A growl rumbles in her chest as she recalls those words, hurled like knives directed at her heart. Catra didn't hate Shadow Weaver, only what she put her through. But now that she's messed with Adora's head to this extreme, Shadow Weaver's crossed a line even Catra's conscience can excuse. Regardless of it being the reason Adora's back in the Fright Zone. If she doesn't have her precious soldier, it's another loss for her and a win for me. 

Adora runs through the various hallways, but the cat-eared cadet is nowhere to be found. She paces in front of her teammates, pinching the bridge of her nose in aggravation. "For the last time, where is Catra?" 

Lonnie, Kyle and Rogelio stiffen at the hard edge held within the whispered inquiry. 

"F-force Captain, we haven't seen her since Shadow Weaver's summons, after you-" Kyle freezes, shrinking away from the coldness of those once friendly slate blue eyes.

"After I what?!" Adora whispers, taking a few steps toward him, her gaze trained on the meekest of the three. 

"Returned from your meeting with Shadow Weaver." Lonnie finishes for him, shielding Kyle from the worst of that glare. "It's good that you're back, but you don't need to be so...tough on us. We're your friends."

Folding her arms, Adora quirks a brow at her. I don't need friends, but soldiers...That I can work with. Lonnie is someone she respects. A cadet who strives to give her all during training and on the field. She'll make a fine Force Captain one day, if she can stop being so soft. "Lonnie," she responds, placing a hand on her teammate's shoulder, grip tightening when she feels her flinch. "You're growing too soft. Kyle needs to learn to handle himself." A broad grin spreads across her face. "We can fix that." Adora steps away from Lonnie, gaze sweeps over the three of them. "The real training begins tomorrow. Be ready."

"Yes, Force Captain Adora." Lonnie and Kyle respond while Rogelio roars in understanding.

Adora nods, arms resting behind her back as she closes her eyes. "Dismissed!" 

As Moonrise gets closer, Catra's time gets shorter. Sneaking around the Fright Zone was always simple, but Adora being Shadow Weaver's personal soldier creates a glaring obstacle she couldn't have foreseen. Careful to keep in the shadows, Catra darts between various buildings until a familiar voice stops her in her tracks.

Scorpia's patrolling the perimeter of the skiff station, singing to herself, when she spots Catra lurking in the shadows. "Wildcat!"

"Scorpia," she answers, lowering her voice to a whisper as she motions her closer. "I need you to pretend you never saw me here. If anyone asks, you don't know where I'm at, got it?"

"Of course! You can count on me," she responds, putting a pincer to her own chest. "I'm brave, loyal, give great hugs and am great at keeping secrets!"

"Yeah, I know you're the only one I can trust with this," Catra expresses, giving a halfhearted smile. "Can you do one more thing for me?"

"Anything, Wildcat," she answers eagerly, beaming at her.

"Look out for A- Force Captain Adora when I'm gone, okay?" Running her hands through her long hair, Catra's tail swishes wildly behind her. 

When?  Scorpia is sure she's just misheard Catra. Not liking the anxious expression on her face, she hugs Catra tightly. "I promise I will, so try not to worry."

Instead of struggling, like her instincts demand, Catra sighs, allowing the hug to go on for a bit longer than necessary. This'll probably be the last time, so I guess it's alright. "Just take care of yourself, okay?"

"You too, Wildcat," she answers, taking the hint and ending the embrace.

Catra runs as fast as she can toward the skiff dock, finding two guards posted there. Rather than take them down in her usual way, she tries a different tactic. Squaring her shoulders, she walks between the two of them. Immediately two batons cross, barring the path. 

"Authorized personnel only, Cadet." the guards state in unison.

Catra taps her Force Captain badge impatiently. "That's Force Captain to you," she snarls, brow raising in defiance. "I'm here to grab two skiffs. One for Adora...and one for myself. It's a recon mission for the Horde." The guards exchange glances of uncertainty. Tilting her head in contemplation, she adds. "You know, I've heard Adora's been in quite a temperamental mood since her return." Catra shrugs, eyes flashing ominously. "Wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of it if she learned you disobeyed her orders, would you?"

"N-no." The guards respond, shaking slightly. "Of course not, Force Captain Catra." 

Catra smirks when those two batons lower, boarding the first skiff and programming coordinates that lead directly to the Black Garnet Chamber. She returns, boarding the second one, speeding past the first, to that chamber which haunts her nightmares. 

Glimmer sits in that red, glowing room, too exhausted to fight. Without Adora...we've lost everything. A tear rolls down her cheek. You were right, mom...I should have listened. It's her fault that her mother is walking into a trap. Glimmer lowers her head in defeat, until a voice calls out to her.

"Sparkles." Catra hisses quietly, crouching in front of the Princess. 

Through tear-filled eyes, Glimmer can just make out some darker red against the crimson flooding the chamber. "Adora?"

"As if," she growls back, reaching for the pulsing electricity. Grabbing the stupid sword had been the easy part...Freeing Glimmer was a different challenge. One Catra is less than eager to go through. "You may not like it, but I'm the best chance you have at escaping right now." She's never voluntarily subjected herself to that eerie erratic energy. Now she was actively seeking it out. It's the only way to get her out of this. The instant one finger brushes that red barrier, waves travel up Catra's hands like scorching static, burning the blood in her veins.. It's one sensation she's grown accustomed to after so many interactions with Shadow Weaver, but the agony it brings still manages to wrench a scream from her. "G-get out when you hear the signal. Another skiff is outside." Catra hurriedly gives Glimmer instructions, fighting through those currents setting her nerves aflame. "Find a way to get Adora back!" 

Escaping? It has to be some trick! "You can't seriously be saving me, right?!" Glimmer looks from Catra's face, scrunched up in anguish, down to the bindings no longer pulsing with electricity. Before she can get an answer, something hits into the wall across from them, engulfing everything in fire. Glimmer covers her head, pausing to look over at Catra, now unconscious beside her, with the Sword of Protection secured on her back. Catra's request echoes in Glimmer's mind. Adora hadn't told her much of what the Horde did, but none of what she did say was positive. Finding she's able to move, Glimmer stands, about to walk out, before turning around. I can't just leave her here...Wrapping an arm around the cat-eared Horde soldier's shoulder, she drags them both away from the Fright Zone, toward freedom.

Adora's search is interrupted by loud buzzing as the halls flash red. Her eyes narrow in suspicion. Catra? 

'Fire detected throughout multiple rooms. Lockdown initiated'

Adora runs through the hall, making a sharp left to where one of the security keypads are. Her fingers fly on the keys, inputting multiple override codes. All she knows is the other cadets need to be accounted for, as does the prisoner, and Catra. Burning metal singes her nostrils when she slams a fist into the final button. It crackles under the impact. Overcome by a sudden sense of déjà vu, Adora's world sways as another wave of pain flashes across her skull. 

During her search for Kyle, Lonnie passes another hall, stopping at a flash of red. Is that-? Sprinting toward the figure on the ground, one hand on their head, the other on that cold floor, she yells above the buzzing. "Adora! What are you doing here?!"

At the sound of her name Adora looks up through blurred eyes, seeing Lonnie's concerned hazel eyes meet hers. "Cadet Lonnie, where are the others?" I can't afford to lose any soldiers. Some have potential, while others can still serve a purpose for the Horde. Adora's hand pushes against the cold floor and she forces herself to stand again.

Lonnie's brow furrows in agitation and worry. "Rogelio is fine. But Kyle..." Her eyes wander to the hall behind them. "I haven't been able to find him."

Adora represses a groan. Of course Kyle would go missing! Kyle's caused her more than enough trouble, but Catra always caused more than Adora could tolerate. "I'll find him. Go find a safe location to stay in until I disengage the alarms."

Despite how Adora's been recently, a knot forms in Lonnie's stomach at the thought of leaving Adora there. "Wait, maybe we can-"

Adora's brow quirks, chin tilting up. "We aren't doing anything. That is an order from your Force Captain." Although it's a cheap tactic, it proves effective enough to keep Lonnie safe, and that's all that matters. Lonnie's important to our future success. One of the best we have. 

Lonnie's hazel gaze hardens as she looks from Adora to the hall. She doesn't want to follow this order. Adora always looks out for us. Even if she's being stricter, maybe it's to help us now? Reluctantly, Lonnie puts a hand up to salute. "Yes, Force Captain Adora." Turning on her heel, she takes off into another hall, back to one of the secured rooms. 

Taking off into another series of passageways her eyes scan the darkness, made more difficult by an increasing build up of smoke. Could he have gone looking for Catra? A few coughs escape when she inhales a deep breath."Cadet Kyle, if you can hear me, answer!" No matter how many times she repeats this in the multitude of halls, no reply happens. A fit of coughs assaults her lungs, until she's choking on that metallic tang coating her tongue. Blinking past the stinging sensation and tears, Adora searches every place she can think of with no Kyle to be found. The only places I haven't checked is the skiff docks..and that chamber..Pressing onward in spite of her aching lungs, she makes it to the skiff dock, seeing two guards there. "Guards, have you seen Cadet Kyle?"

They shake their heads in unison. 

Adora glances back, watching that tar-like smoke darken as she breathes the clean air to clear that metallic, burnt taste from her mouth.  

The second guard speaks up. "We weren't expecting you here, Force Captain." 

Filling her lungs with clean air, her head snaps toward them. "Where else would I be?" 

"On a recon mission," the second guard responds.

Adora's brow furrows in confusion. "Who told you that?"

"Catra did," the first replies.

"What?" Adora's voice grows sharp, eyes narrowing to slits.

"She said it was on your orders. That you each needed one," the first guard clarifies.

Why two? The fire...A diversion? Catra wouldn't save Glimmer, would she? Adora brushes a loose strand behind her ear. "I gave no such order," she scoffs, advancing until she's right in front of the two guards. "Neither of you thought it strange that we would need two, when a skiff can easily fit more?!"

They both shake their heads, trembling at the sharpness of their Force Captain's inquiry. 

Adora stands nose to nose with the first guard. "What direction did she go?"

The guard makes a wide arc, index finger settling on where the Black Garnet Chamber is in the distance. 

"I'll deal with you," she says, voice barely above a whisper, pausing to turn toward the second guard. "And you, later." Adora moves faster than her racing thoughts, those smoke plumes growing in intensity the closer she gets to the chamber. This must be where the fire originated..Of course Catra's behind it. Pulling the collar of her shirt up before she enters the chamber, Adora steps in, feeling flames lick at her heels. Dropping to the floor, she crawls, searching for any sign of the Princess or Catra. One hand brushes against a black stand, causing her skin to bubble. With a grunt, Adora pushes herself to her feet, finding a switch tucked in the corner of the room. Reaching it is proved more arduous by the flames. Eventually her fingers touch the metal, burning her palm. Using that pain, she yanks down as water falls down, extinguishing the flames. The room is empty, save for herself and one damaged skiff.  She must have escaped with the Princess. Adora runs back to the skiff dock, startling the two guards. "Have you seen the other skiff?" 

The guards start to respond only for something to drown out their answer. 

A roar fills Adora's ears. Gaze going skyward, a skiff whooshes by with several people on board. Adora isn't sure which reason for the fury rising in her chest she detests more. The Princesses' and Catra's escape. Or the wave of relief that washes over as they fade from view. Once again, I'm left fixing her mistake! "Catra," she growls, eyes transfixed on the reddened sky long after they're gone.