Chapter Text
In the tunnels of Mystacor, Adora had taken the fail-safe. Now the blonde was taking it to the Heart of Etheria. Entrapta was now carrying out a plan to disable every chip at once. The rest of the Rebellion armed themselves, ready for the final stand. Horde Prime's hologram loomed over the Etherian population. He said he would cleanse the planet and remake it in his image. Catra, Glimmer, and the Rebels faced a vast army on the battlefield. The magicat and the princess wore head-to-toe armor. Their friends and Rebel soldiers did, too.
"Catra, you look so dashing in your armor," Glimmer said, giving Catra a once-over.
Catra straightened her spine. "I was going for the knight in shining armor look. On a serious note, I couldn't leave anything exposed to the enemy."
"Besides, I hope Adora gets to the Heart before Prime does."
"And they better not catch Entrapta."
Glimmer led the Rebellion forward. Their side began fighting countless foes, whether bot or clone. Catra was a whirlwind with her whip, staff, and feline agility. Netossa, Spinnerella, and Frosta took down enemies in their own ways. Bow unleashed arrows from a safe distance. Glimmer conjured the raw magic of the Moonstone, gleaming and crackling with energy. She barraged clones and bots with spells and purple beams. At times, she slammed her fist into the ground to send off shockwaves.
Perfuma's vines sprung from various directions, toppling Horde tech. A towering wave stretched high into the sky. Glimmer teleported in front of her friends and summoned a dome-like barrier. Mermista unleashed the water at the Rebels. The dome deflected the wave, making it hurtle toward Mermista. Its impact knocked her back. Sea Hawk rushed to her and held her.
"Sea Hawk's got Mermista. Where's Scorpia?" Frosta said to the princesses.
"I don't know. Is anyone making sure the clones don't capture Entrapta?" Glimmer replied, glancing around.
Bow stepped forward. "I'll go check." He and Melog hurried off.
Catra and Glimmer proceeded to defeat more foes. They covered each other. Whenever a clone or bot attacked one of them, the other would retaliate. Together, the duo was one quick fighting machine. Claws would rip bots and drones. Magic blasts would render clones unconscious. The girls' respective weapons, even more so. Perfuma, Frosta, Netossa, and Spinnerella combined their efforts.
The minutes transitioned into an hour. Or two. None of the Rebels saw Adora. And where was Entrapta? Glimmer took more power from the Moonstone, then teleported Catra. They reappeared on Horde Prime's ship. Sinister laughter rang through the halls as they raced. The girls made short work of the patrolling clones. A menacing voice crackled over the speakers.
"So you have returned, guests. Your pathetic beacon of hope will be gone soon enough," Horde Prime said. "The First Ones' security system has weakened her."
"What did you do to her?" Glimmer shouted.
"I will take the Heart without She-Ra."
Catra led Glimmer through the corridors. "What an arrogant, sadistic bastard!"
They charged into Horde Prime's throne room. On the screen, there was a recording of Adora in a chamber. Glimmer could see the Heart of Etheria's magical energy. Everything had turned green. Horde Prime turned around, smirking. The screen behind him showed many Etherians breaking free from mind-control chips. He glowered at the recordings.
"Impossible. How did it happen?" Horde Prime snapped. He gestured at the clones. "Bring to me whoever did this! NOW!"
It didn't take long for the clones to drag Entrapta in. They forced her to kneel. Catra and Glimmer stood tall, glaring at Horde Prime. The galactic warlord narrowed his eyes.
"According to my defective clone's memories, you once worked with him. He was fond of you. But you will perish," Horde Prime said.
"You can't control any of us. You don't understand what makes us strong," Entrapta replied. "It's why you'll never win."
Glimmer pointed her staff at Horde Prime. The moon on its tip glowed with magic. "You thought we would be powerless. Assumed we would be hopeless and terrified. News flash - you are wrong. Even if you've chipped some of our friends, it won't break their spirits. Nothing you do will make us despair."
Horde Prime approached. "If it is a fight you want, I will bring you one." His hair tubes emerged from behind his neck. "You will beg for mercy."
Catra lunged at Horde Prime, staff at the ready. She dodged the hair tubes and outmaneuvered them. Glimmer teleported out of sight and reappeared by the throne. Slamming her palms together, she emitted a kinetic blast. It collided against Horde Prime's back, knocking him to the floor. He recovered, then charged at Glimmer. She shot more spells. He predicted each one, closing in. Catra's whip wrapped around his leg, restraining him. The magicat yanked at it, making him stumble.
"You think the two of you can save that fool and the rest of Etheria?" Horde Prime bellowed, storming toward Catra. "I have vanquished even the strongest warriors in the galaxy! I am a god! You are mere ants compared to me!"
"And yet there are tons of people who wouldn't bow down to tyranny!" Catra evaded the hair tubes and jumped onto a ledge. "Threatening people with mind-control chips would make them defy you more!"
"I should have ordered the troops to restrain you and the princess. Because now the two of you are giving me trouble!"
As Catra distracted Horde Prime, Glimmer unleashed a barrage of magic. Soon, Horde Prime became aware of their strategy and targeted Glimmer. His hair tubes tightened around her neck, and he chucked her at the wall. She landed on the floor, unconscious. Catra, growling, sprung at Horde Prime, clawing him. The magicat plunged the staff into his chest, drawing blood. Horde Prime gripped the weapon and pulled it out, groaning as he did.
"It will take more to defeat me," Horde Prime said. "I have sustained injuries worse than this."
Catra widened her stance. "You don't scare me. I've fought opponents bigger and stronger than me. Tung Lashor, Shadow Weaver, Hordak... Need I say more?"
Horde Prime grabbed Catra's throat and lifted her, making her legs dangle. "See if you can survive this, you mangy cat!" His grip forced the air out of her lungs. "I will crush you!"
A purple beam met Horde Prime's side, and he dropped Catra. Glimmer's hands lit up with magic. "Don't you dare, chalk-face!"
Adora stared at her reflection in some sort of waterfall. Her hair was longer, and she wore a golden circlet. It had a ruby in the center. A long, white gown hugged her torso and flared out past her hourglass waist. The golden neckline curved to the middle of her chest, allowing for a playful peek. Her attire was regal. A door creaked open, and footsteps came in. She turned around. There was a young man who resembled her.
"Sis, my apologies for being late. Are you going to the ball? Teela will be my plus-one," he said.
Adora was about to ask who the man was when a redheaded woman entered. The woman referred to the man as 'Adam.' Adora watched as they hugged each other. They walked out. Then, Catra and Glimmer came in, holding hands. Catra wore an elbow-length dress shirt with a blue cape. Dark slacks encased her legs. She seemed somewhat taller, about Adora's height. Glimmer wore a long, sparkling gown, and her hair was shorter. It was a pixie cut with an undercut.
"Adora, are you ready?" Glimmer asked.
"Yes. Do I have a plus-one?" Adora replied.
"Oh, don't you remember? You and Perfuma agreed to go together."
Speaking of whom, the plant princess entered the room. Perfuma extended a hand to Adora. "Let's go dance the night away."
Adora reached for Perfuma's hand. The latter glitched, as did Catra and Glimmer. A green glow flooded the room, eating away at the vision. Horde Prime snickered, looming over her.
"A beautiful wish. But it will never be. I will take away everything and everyone you hold dear," Horde Prime said.
Everything faded to green. In the silence, Adora was sobbing. Memories of her life as She-Ra replayed, from the beginning to end. The last one was of Catra and Glimmer, before she went to the First Ones building. Their words repeated.
"You cannot keep throwing your life away," Catra said.
"What is it you want the most?" Glimmer asked.
Adora had pondered the question. "To meet my family for the first time. To discover what my parents were like, if I had any siblings. And most of all, to see Etheria in a peaceful era."
Something stirred within Adora. She wasn't sure if the memory sparked it. Still, she wanted to live. It was possible to save Etheria and remain alive at the same time. She didn't have to die. A golden light enveloped her. She drifted back into consciousness, and...
Adora gasped, inhaling as she became aware of her surroundings. She held out a shaky hand. The sword materialized, and she transformed into She-Ra. Within seconds, she unleashed the magic of the Heart. The green lines on her body vanished. She made her way outside and searched for Horde Prime's ship. The galactic warlord, now possessing Hordak, approached her.
"My army and I will rise from rubble, as we always have. Your rebellion may have destroyed my previous body, but here I stand. The princess and the cat cannot hold me down," Horde Prime said.
"No. You're wrong. You've lost, and we've won," Adora replied. She put her hands on the sides of Hordak's face. "Never return." Her hands gleamed as she exorcised Horde Prime from Hordak's body. Horde Prime's spirit disintegrated.
Hordak gasped as he looked into Adora's eyes. "I... I remember you... I took you in when you were a baby..."
Entrapta ran up to Hordak. "Do you remember me, too?" She embraced him. "I knew you would!"
Adora grinned, leaving the two to catch up. She expelled her healing magic upon Etheria, halting any damage done by Horde Prime. The blonde caught up to the Princess Alliance. Perfuma smiled, observing Adora as if admiring her.
"You saved Etheria," Perfuma said.
"We all played a part," Adora replied. "Where are Catra and Glimmer?"
"They went away to have some time to themselves." Perfuma hugged Adora. "We're gonna celebrate."
The others joined in. Adora reverted to her normal form. Scorpia and Mermista eventually came. They all broke away from the group hug, then walked to Bright Moon. Everything seemed brighter now that they saved the universe.
"This is so unreal..." Adora whispered. "We won in the end..."
Glimmer and Catra sat on the bed in their shared room. They held hands, maintaining eye contact. The couple had removed their armor and now they were wearing pajamas. Catra's tank top revealed a peek of her toned abdomen. There were injuries on certain areas of her body. Glimmer placed her hands on the sides of Catra's waist. Her fingers slipped beneath the fabric, their tips running along Catra's abdomen.
"You gonna take a look?" Catra asked.
"Yeah. I'm not making you uncomfortable, am I?" Glimmer replied. Her palms ran along the sides of Catra's torso.
"No. I don't mind."
Glimmer's hands went to Catra's back. The magicat winced. "Did something hurt?"
Catra sighed. "It's not a big deal."
"Was it from the battle?"
"Yes. It was from a mix of the fight on the battlefield and against Horde Prime."
"Turn around."
Catra did as told. She removed the tank top. At first, Glimmer started with gentle pressure, working her palms up Catra's back. The massage involved moving palms in various directions and kneading tense muscles. Then, she caressed Catra's shoulders and the back of her girlfriend's neck. By the end of it, the magicat relaxed. There was some purring. Glimmer's arms circled Catra's waist. The front of her body pressed against the magicat's back. She rested her chin on Catra's shoulder.
"You unleashed your full power, didn't you, princess?" Catra said. "It's like something in you snapped when you saw Horde Prime choking me."
"He had it coming," Glimmer replied, chuckling.
"For the next five minutes, you had given him a beatdown. He was so used to you fearing him, he didn't expect any of it."
"A lot of times, I needed to be brave. I would do anything to protect you and our friends. And the rest of Etheria. Today was one example. Horde Prime had put me through a lot of pain during my captivity. But he couldn't break my spirit, no matter how much he tried. You were there for me when I broke down from time to time."
"You had to be strong during the war. I'm sure it gets overwhelming." Catra exhaled. "For me, I had to deal with guilt over my actions in the Horde. I'm glad the war's over."
Glimmer rubbed Catra's upper arms. "You also did good things. Leaving the Horde, making amends, and fighting alongside us. You went from an angry Force Captain to a loyal Rebellion fighter. And we progressed from enemies to girlfriends."
"We came a long way, didn't we?"
"Yes."
For thirty minutes, they adjusted positions on the bed until they settled on one. Catra reclined on the bed. Glimmer rested her head on the magicat's chest. Beneath the covers, their legs tangled. Catra's arms snaked around Glimmer's waist, holding her close. The princess stroked the magicat's jawline. Catra wore a genuine smile.
Glimmer mirrored that grin. This was who she loved so much - the fearless cat hybrid who was once a Horde soldier. The young woman who stood up to Horde Prime, Shadow Weaver, and Hordak. A warrior who can be gentle. Sometimes Catra reminded Glimmer of herself. Both wanted to prove themselves to others. They wouldn't hestitate to fight for what was right.
The months passed since the end of the war. Since the death of Angella due to Shadow Weaver poisoning her, Glimmer was queen. At some point, Adora traveled to Eternia to meet her biological family. Her parents were royalty, and so was her twin brother Adam. Like Adora, Adam had a super-powered alter ego - He-Man. They had caught up on each other's lives, from their childhoods to their actions as heroes.
Glimmer's royal responsibilities gave her little time to grieve her mother's demise. Sometimes at night, she would cry, and Catra would comfort her. The months transitioned into a year. Their friends and the rest of the Rebellion helped rebuild Etheria. They restored homes, former captives, and villages that had been wiped off the map. Over time, the royal paperwork became less frequent.
One evening, Glimmer and Catra took a stroll in the Whispering Woods. The magicat wore a burgundy tunic with gray slacks. Leather bracers and a belt completed the outfit. Glimmer wore a knee-length lavender dress with purple leggings. She had gotten a haircut - the one Adora once mentioned in the blonde's vision.
Catra took Glimmer's hand and led her to a clearing. They sat on a log by the stream. Glimmer watched as Catra dug into her pockets. Soon, the magicat pulled out a black box and opened it. Inside was a ring with a teardrop-shaped gem. It glittered even in the dimming light.
"Queen Glimmer of Bright Moon, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I will protect you and cherish you for as long as I live," Catra said. "You are the main reason I left the Horde. You gave me a chance, even when I felt as though I didn't deserve it. There is no one I'd love more than I love you. Will you make me the happiest woman on Etheria and marry me?"
Tears stung Glimmer's eyes as she lifted a hand to her mouth. "Yes. Of course I'd marry you."
Catra slid the ring onto Glimmer's finger. She kissed the queen's knuckles. Both women embraced each other. They strode to Bright Moon Castle. Upon stepping inside, they announced the news to Adora and their friends.
"Oh, wow. Congratulations," Adora said. "When's the wedding?"
"One thing at a time," Glimmer replied, chuckling. "We haven't gotten into the planning yet."
"Can I at least be the person of honor?"
"Yes."
"Anyway, I'm glad the two of you are happy."
The others shared similar comments and sentiments. Perfuma, Mermista, and the others took a closer look at the ring. Glimmer couldn't wait to exchange vows with Catra under a wedding arch. She followed Catra to their bedroom and changed out of their clothes. They reclined together on the bed. As part of their night routine, they cuddled. The blanket warmed them as usual. Not as much as each other's body heat.
Both women leaned in, their mouths meeting in a long kiss. They undid each other's pajamas and trailed their hands over each other. The heat bloomed within Glimmer with each movement. Her heart thrummed with pleasure. Catra moaned. They spent the rest of the evening in a steamy makeout session. By midnight, they relaxed, melding together.
"You always smell nice," Catra whispered.
"So do you," Glimmer replied.
"Cheers to many more years of this."
"And to a peaceful Etheria. If we have kids, they'll grow up in a wonderful era. No wars, no losses, no fear."
"We'd do our best to protect and love our future children." Catra's face fell. "Do you think I'd be fit to be a mother someday?"
Glimmer raked her fingers through Catra's hair. "What made you ask?"
"The only model for parenting I've observed is the witch who raised me. And I used to be an awful person in the past. What if the kid does something I don't like, and I do something I regret?"
"Catra, your past doesn't determine your future. You can choose the opposite of how Shadow Weaver handled parenting. You can be loving and compassionate."
"There wouldn't be any parenting classes by chance, are there?"
Glimmer could tell the idea of parenthood scared Catra. She had her own concerns, too. Things such as not having time for family due to royal responsibilities. There could be an important developmental milestone and Glimmer wouldn't witness it. They could revisit the idea when the time came. For now, the couple could enjoy each other.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it," Glimmer said.
"Yeah," Catra replied.
That night, they fell asleep, content. They dreamed of their future and the peace that would continue for years.