Chapter Text
Two weeks had gone by since Catra's last encounter with Glimmer. The Rebellion scouts had tried to track down the queen time and time again. They came up with nothing. Was Horde Prime keeping Glimmer away on purpose? While she remained out of the way, tons of reports had come in. Rumors of a short, sparkling woman setting entire villages on fire with her magic. Whispers of the same woman apprehending innocent people.
Anyone who wasn't harmed had resorted to hiding from the watchful eyes of Horde Prime. The entire time Etheria was dealing with the mind-controlled Glimmer, Spinnerella, and Scorpia? Adora grew more irritable. Catra had attempted to start their conversations. The blonde would snap at her and anyone else who showed concern. One morning, Catra found a note on Adora's empty cot. As she read the words, she noticed the subtle transition of the handwriting. It had gone from smooth strokes to erratic scribbles.
In the note, Adora said she was going to visit Madame Razz and figure things out on her own. Catra had never met this 'Madame Razz' person. Her gaze flitted to where Adora's bag should've been. It was absent. The blonde had left without telling anyone. Dread arose within her heart. What if Adora got hurt or taken hostage?
If Catra ever got a hold of Adora, she was so going to give her a lecture. The girl she grew up with had no sense of self-preservation. Horde Prime could kidnap Adora and chip her. Catra should've paid closer attention to the warning signs. She made her way to the meeting table and showed the note to the Rebellion members.
"Adora ran off without telling us," Catra said.
"She what?" Bow replied.
Mermista shrugged. "Maybe she's letting off some steam."
Perfuma frowned. "I should've asked her to join me in my daily morning meditations."
Frosta crossed her arms and stuck out her tongue. Catra had to resist the temptation to yell at her for being disrespectful. She did deserve that for ruining Princess Prom. Perfuma gave Frosta the side-eye. Frosta glanced at Perfuma.
"What?" Frosta asked.
"If Adora trusts her, we should, too," Perfuma said. "Catra's been helping us."
"I still don't like her face."
"You don't have to like her. At least try to get along instead of antagonizing her."
Catra set her hands on the table, palms down, fingers splayed out. "Everyone, listen. We have to search for Adora. Anything could happen. She's always tried to protect others. It's time we return the favor. If Horde Prime finds her before we do, he could chip her. We can't lose anyone else to him. We must free the ones he had chipped. Let's show Horde Prime what we're made of. Anyone in?" She extended a hand to the center of the table.
One by one, the Rebels placed their palms in the center of the table. Those who were slow to warm up to Catra were the last ones to join in. Soon, everyone removed their hands from the table. After gathering their items and weapons, everyone stood by the exit. Micah and Castaspella, who were Glimmer's relatives, would stay behind. Entrapta was busy with a makeshift lab.
"It's weird not hearing Sea Hawk shout the word 'adventure.' The chip on his neck made him act the opposite of how he was," Mermista said.
"Do we go together as a group, or split up?" Perfuma asked.
Netossa looked up from her notes. "Spinny's in the Fright Zone with Scorpia. Perfuma and Frosta are coming with me. Mermista is going with Catra and Bow."
The two groups parted ways. Melog turned Catra, Bow, and Mermista invisible. They walked into the Whispering Woods. Catra detected a scent she had associated with Adora. A mix of sweat and the outdoors. She paced ahead of the group as they explored the forest. The trail twisted and turned. A hut came into view. Its door was half-open. Catra could hear someone holding a conversation. Whoever it was, she wasn't familiar with them. The other speaker was Adora.
Outside the hut, robots and clones approached, hidden from view. Floating droids hovered near the hut. Adora had no idea how much danger she had gotten herself in. Catra peeked over her shoulder at Bow and Mermista. Bow nocked an arrow. Mermista summoned water tendrils. The trio crept closer to their enemies. As the clones and robots moved toward the hut, Mermista flung the water tendrils. Bow unleashed arrows.
The clones fell unconscious. Robots and floating droids stopped working due to water tendrils soaking them. Catra watched the sky for any more foes. None came. The trio entered the hut. She closed the door behind them. Melog allowed Catra, Bow, and Mermista to be visible, surprising Adora and an old woman.
"Did you follow me?" Adora asked the group. "I was talking to Madame Razz about She-Ra."
"You left without saying anything," Catra said.
"I don't need you guys to protect me!"
Catra's ears flattened against her head. "Horde Prime's clones were right outside. They could've taken you!"
Adora shoved a bunch of pots and pans off the table, letting them clatter on the floor. "I could handle them! What were you doing, stalking me?"
"That's your problem. You assume you can take on everything without needing anyone."
"Glimmer needs us!"
"I know. But you're not going to be at your best if you put yourself in grave danger!"
Adora raked her fingers through her ponytail. "What good am I if I couldn't activate my She-Ra powers? How can I be the hero everyone needs? Horde Prime is gaining more ground and taking more people! If I don't do anything, he'll take the rest of the princesses. He'll use them against us! It's going to be my fault!" Her voice cracked, and tears glistened in her eyes. "What if... what if I fail everyone? Everything I've tried to do would be for nothing..."
Catra's heart ached as she watched Adora's emotional breakdown. Within seconds, Adora was on her knees, sobbing into her palms. Catra closed the distance between herself and Adora, then crouched to her level. She drew her into a hug and rubbed small circles on her back.
"Sorry... I should be strong..." Adora sniffled.
"You don't have to be strong all the time. It's okay to lean on us sometimes," Catra said.
"Sounds like something Glimmer would've told me. I miss her so much."
Catra wasn't sure what to think of the subtle comparison to Glimmer. Was her time in the Rebellion making her soft? She had done tons of horrible things. Glimmer hadn't. It didn't make Glimmer perfect, but still...
"Mara, dearie," Madame Razz said to Adora. "It will come to you. Do you not remember what I have said about She-Ra? She-Ra is not a sword... it is in you. There's no need to force it. You will wind up more frustrated than before."
Adora broke away from the hug and stood. Catra rose, too. She was glad Adora was safe. It wasn't smart of her to leave the hideout without telling anyone. At least the blonde had left a note on her cot. Soon, Catra and the others returned to the hideout.
On the Velvet Glove, Glimmer kneeled before Horde Prime in his throne room. He commanded her to rise, and she obeyed. She had helped him capture rebellious individuals and bring non-clones into his light. Two princesses - Scorpia and Spinnerella - were already working for him. Mermista, Frosta, Perfuma, and Netossa continued to evade Horde Prime's forces. The Rebellion hadn't stopped keeping She-Ra out of reach.
If Glimmer could bring the rest of the princesses out of the dark, they would be together. Horde Prime would take the Heart of Etheria for himself. They would move on to the next planet. There was one issue slowing them down. The Rebellion's tendency to protect Adora, who possessed the power of She-Ra.
"No luck finding her?" Horde Prime said.
"Unfortunately so," Glimmer said.
Horde Prime's upper lip curled upward, showing a bit of teeth. His gaze was piercing. "The spineless Etherians rely on her to save them all. Yet, she has chosen to hide from me. She-Ra, or Adora, is weaker than I thought. I assume she fears me because of the fate of the First Ones. As you have stated, her best wasn't good enough. Is she even fit to be a hero, when she runs away from me?"
Something hot began coursing through Glimmer's veins. She took in deep breaths to quell the boiling sensation. It didn't work. For an odd reason, Horde Prime's statement about Adora didn't sit well with her. Before she could name this feeling, the chip on her neck emitted a soothing frequency. Horde Prime's icy palm rested on her cheek.
"The difference between you and She-Ra? The willingness to strike fear into the hearts of people who do not respect you. A desire to eradicate Catra for good," Horde Prime said.
An image of Catra in Bright Moon Castle's throne room surfaced in Glimmer's mind. The moment when she was choking the magicat. She walked to her suite. What if the affliction was growing stronger? Would she have to ask Horde Prime to erase her remaining humanity? She reclined on the bed and slumbered. A dream began playing out in her mind...
Glimmer had resorted to avoiding all reflective surfaces in the castle. They would show different versions of herself. It gave her the heebie-jeebies. Other strange events occurred. Disembodied hands springing from floors and walls. Some sported a single eye in their palms. At times, three to five feet of green water flooded the corridors. The guards would stare, eyes glowing green. On occasion, she would enter a room and see a floating dark mass with seven eyes.
The floating mass would follow Glimmer everywhere. She had asked the guards and her parents if they saw anything out of place. They told her they didn't see anything unusual. How was she the only one to see the shadow? The back of her neck throbbed with pain. It could be her stress, or something deeper. She made her way out of the castle. The people of Bright Moon walked back and forth, going about their day.
Glimmer blinked. Within a split-second, clones replaced the locals. Her surroundings transitioned into sleek, white halls. None of it was making sense. The corridors faded into the hallways of Bright Moon Castle. This time, no one was present. There was no light in the hallways. Green eyes watched in the darkness. Green liquid streamed into the hallway. Disembodied hands and tendrils floated around her as if gliding through water.
"I could make you into my vessel... Or I could let the chip fuse into your system forever..."
Glimmer whirled around. No one was here. The black mass had returned. With a frightened gasp, she broke into a sprint. She attempted to conjure her magic. Nothing came up. Where were her friends? Did they know what was going on? Each time she ducked into a room, she would assume she had outran the nightmarish mass. She whimpered as she rushed into an adjacent hallway.
"Is anyone here?" Glimmer shouted.
Echoes drilled into Glimmer's ears, repeating her words. She rammed her fist against every door. None of them budged. There was no way out. The black mass was now a massive hand, large enough to grab an entire person. She backed up against the wall, her breathing shallow.
"Stay away," Glimmer whispered.
"There is no darkness my light cannot pierce, no distance my hand cannot reach..."
Glimmer awakened. If she had any emotion at all, she would be shaking and hyperventilating due to the nightmare. She sat up and got out of bed with sheer nonchalance. Horde Prime hadn't checked on her. Not that it mattered. He must be busy with his own stuff. With fluid, smooth movements, she strode into the hallway. As she passed a door on the way to the throne room, she could hear Horde Prime broadcasting a message to Etheria.
"So, far, three of your princesses have joined me. Glimmer, Scorpia, and Spinnerella. The rest of your pathetic Princess Alliance has continued to deny me. I will take the Heart of Etheria, with or without the princesses. Where is your She-Ra now? Is she afraid of me? If she is, it makes her weak and pathetic. Your defiance is infuriating at this point. Surrender her into my hands, and I will not destroy your home. Refuse, and I will rid Etheria of its rebels. I know all, I see all..."
Horde Prime summoned Glimmer. She stood next to him. The large screens on the walls depicted their holograms looming over Etherian kingdoms. His hand settled on her shoulder. Horde Prime wore a cold smirk.
"Behold, Queen Glimmer. Or should I say, Glimmer, Servant of Horde Prime. She was wise to submit to me, as she should. It will not end well for anyone who fights back. You desire peace? Choose my light over the darkness of your futile defiance."
The screens went dark. Horde Prime lowered his hand from Glimmer's shoulder to her forearm. His fingertips met the exposed flesh. He placed his other hand under her jaw, gripping her chin. Glimmer remained still. Inside, something was telling her to smack his hands away. But his hold over her mind was powerful, unyielding.
"You will lure She-Ra out of hiding. Do not hesitate to strike. Overpower the rebels around her if you have to," Horde Prime said.
"I will do my best, Lord Prime," Glimmer replied.
"Very well." Horde Prime patted Glimmer's head. "Make me proud."
Glimmer walked to a transport pad. In an instant, she appeared in Mystacor. Hundreds of clones came with her. She led an attack on the floating kingdom. In the end, they chipped the sorcerers. She traveled to the Whispering Woods, passing by Bright Moon on the way.
While Adora was trying hard to awaken her powers, Catra and the others were discussing plans. Micah and Castaspella suggested using magic to free Glimmer and the others. Entrapta was yapping about tech without taking any pauses between sentences. Mermista and Frosta joked about the endless babbling. Bow adjusted his arrows. He brought up an idea that involved restraining chipped individuals when removing chips. Perfuma was telling Entrapta to be quiet.
Netossa dropped her notes onto the table as she pored over the map. "Can't we all figure out a strategy and agree on it? Glimmer would want us to work together."
The mention of Glimmer got everyone's attention. Netossa seemed satisfied, and she spoke again. "Who wants to go first?"
Catra clasped her hands together on the table. "We could start by sneaking up to Glimmer, unseen. Either Micah or Castaspella could target the chip with a spell. Adora and I will be on the lookout for any clones that will attempt to intervene."
Bow pushed his arrows into his quiver. "How about our other friends who are under Horde Prime's control?"
"We'll think of something. I suspect that he has chipped Glimmer first. There's no telling what will be the result of being mind-controlled for two weeks or more."
Entrapta's prehensile pigtails pulled a tool from her metal box. "I'm going to create a device to hack into Horde Prime's technology. If I could research one of his chips, we will find a way to save tons of people. Perhaps I'll even get Hordak."
Catra glanced at Entrapta. "Wouldn't it be risky? Horde Prime's tech was superior to the Etherian Horde's tech."
"Horde Prime's invasion is one big 'life or death' situation, you know. Oh, I can't wait to hack into advanced technology! It's gonna be fascinating." Entrapta darted to her makeshift lab. "So exciting..."
After the meeting, Catra approached Adora. The blonde was training with a staff. Adora's movements were quick and precise. Catra picked up a staff and began sparring with her. Both women practiced together. It was what they often did during their childhood. The sparring session became more lighthearted. Even in the middle of war, they didn't let the conflict steal their playfulness.
"Hey, Adora," Catra said. "Next time you're upset, you can talk to me or any of us."
"I'll keep it in mind," Adora said.
Their staffs collided over and over. The tempo varied in speed. As they sparred, they held a conversation about their perspectives on opposite sides. Sometimes, it was emotional. Other times, they would highlight their mutual hatred for Shadow Weaver. Adora chuckled when Catra joked about Shadow Weaver's furious last words.
"And she views herself as our mother figure?" Adora asked, snickering. "She isn't even nurturing like Angella is."
Silence fell between the sparring warriors. Catra's ears lowered. "Now Angella's gone because I almost destroyed the world with the portal. I won't blame Glimmer if she doesn't forgive me. Though, is there a way to bring Angella back?"
"I don't know if we could bring Angella back. After the war, we could try. The most important thing we could do was try to stop Horde Prime and save everyone." Adora dropped her staff to the floor. "If I could get my powers to work..."
Catra released her staff, too. "Remember what Madame Razz said about forcing it?"
"Yeah, no need to force it. Got it. She-Ra is me, or inside me... whatever it means."
"When you first got your She-Ra powers, what would spark a transformation?"
"Those powers sparked to life whenever someone was in danger. I also transform when an enemy is hurting my friends."
Adora walked over to Entrapta's makeshift lab, then chatted with her and Bow. Catra strode to a crate and jumped to the top. She sat on the crate and observed the others in the hideout. Snatches of several discussions drifted into her ears. Netossa, Mermista, and Perfuma were talking about going on another mission. Micah and Castaspella mentioned Shadow Weaver. Catra's ears perked up as she listened.
"Should we look for Shadow Weaver at some point? Last time she disappeared, she joined forces with a dangerous enemy," Micah said.
"I suppose we could. If she forms an alliance with Horde Prime, it wouldn't be good," Castaspella said.
Catra leapt from the crate to the floor, then made her way to the exit. She nudged a wall of greenery to the side, peering into the Whispering Woods. There was a flicker of movement in the distance. Was it a clone or a droid? A chipped person? Melog appeared by her side, and she hopped onto its back. Cloaked by Melog's invisibility power, she rode into the forest to investigate. One brief look should be enough. They came to a halt in the bushes by a clearing.
Upon closer inspection, Catra's entire body froze. It was Glimmer. Did Horde Prime make the queen lurk in the woods? Glimmer was wandering back and forth. Leaves and twigs crunched beneath her boots. Catra couldn't get over how empty Glimmer seemed. The nonchalant facial expression and unnaturally smooth movements reminded her of the clones. Glimmer's eyes scanned the area, still glowing an eerie green.
Catra could return to the hideout and tell everyone what she saw. She fixated her gaze on the chip on Glimmer's neck. A part of her wanted to throw caution to the wind, lunge at Glimmer, and remove the chip. The logical part warned against such recklessness. She could come later with backup. Besides, if she took on Glimmer without any help, she would end up injured or killed.
In the end, Catra made up her mind. She rode Melog to the hideout, then dismounted the alien feline. No one had followed her, which was good. The last thing the Rebellion needed was a bunch of clones raiding their hidden base. She saw Adora standing next to Bow and approached them.
"Melog and I were out patrolling. We saw Glimmer," Catra said.
"Is she in the Whispering Woods?" Adora asked.
"Of course. She seems to be waiting for something. Horde Prime must have told her to lurk in the woods. Otherwise, she wouldn't be there."
"This could be our chance to save Glimmer. I hope our strategy works."
Glimmer had waited for what felt like forever in the clearing. She leaned against a tree, closing her eyes for a moment. Despite her boredom, she had to obey Horde Prime's order. Lure She-Ra out. She kicked a rock across the clearing. Why wasn't She-Ra showing up? Would it be an uneventful, slow evening? How would she draw She-Ra out? Ambush a rebel or two? There was no one here.
"Patience, little queen," Horde Prime said through their connection. "I have looked through your memories of She-Ra, or 'Adora,' as you often called her. She has never hesitated to rush into danger, has she?"
"So, do I wait here until she comes?" Glimmer asked.
"Is it not what I have told you to do? I swear, it is easy for you mere mortals to forget."
A subtle noise garnered Glimmer's attention. Was it footsteps? Voices? Her gaze lingered in the direction of the sound. She stepped closer, scrutinizing the area for the source of the noise. There was nothing here. Was she imagining any of it? For all she knew, it could be animals. The bushes rustled.