Chapter Text
"This is what you get for betraying me and the Horde."
"No!"
Catra couldn't recognize the voices for an odd reason. The names lingered on the tip of her tongue. She tried to recall who the voices belonged to. Nothing came to mind. Was she falling, or flying? It was impossible to tell within the bright white void. A rushing noise, like a gust of wind, echoed in her ears. It also reminded her of a rushing waterfall. Why couldn't she remember what was happening before?
Something terrible had taken place. And not a single image arose within Catra's mind. She could sense something fading from her. Something important to her. Memories, whether long-term or short-term? Fear overwhelmed her body as she tried, but failed to remember something, anything.
"Catra... CATRA!"
Catra jolted awake, panting as she took in her surroundings. Everything was unfamiliar. For some reason, she was in a different bedroom. Her mother was standing by the bed. Savanah stroked Catra's hair. A man stood next to Savanah. It was Rufus. He must be Savanah's husband. Catra didn't remember him being alive.
"Where am I?" Catra asked.
"In your bedroom, sweetie," Savanah said. "Did you have a nightmare?"
"Yeah. It was intense and I couldn't remember the details. I was arguing with someone, and..." Catra let out a sigh. "I don't know what it was about."
"It's alright. Breakfast is almost ready. Your dad and I are going to the dining hall."
Savanah and Rufus walked out of the room. Catra got out of bed and made her way to the vanity desk. The mirror had small, elegant details on the edges. Picture frames cluttered the left side of the vanity desk. On the right side, there was an essential oil diffuser. It was emitting a mist with a lavender scent. She peeked at her reflection in the mirror, then at the pictures. They seemed to be memories from a different timeline. There were images of her younger self playing in a courtyard. Some depicted her carrying a wooden toy sword. She didn't recall any of this-
A younger Catra raced through the courtyard, swinging her toy sword left and right. She imagined fighting the bad guys from her favorite stories. Pretended she was rescuing maidens from dragons. On a bench, Savanah and Rufus were watching, sometimes chuckling.
"She is the spitting image of you with that personality," Savanah told Rufus.
"And she had your face. Your heterochromia eyes, too," Rufus replied.
The scene faded from Catra's mind as a headache pierced her skull. For a moment, it felt as if two realities overlapped. She didn't remember having a happy childhood. Though, it seemed like a wonderful memory. Which she might not have had in another reality. She picked up the picture frames, fingers brushing over the images. Something wasn't right, and she intended to figure out why. As she set the frames on the desk, she scrutinized her surroundings. Everything seemed normal.
A bed, a dresser, an armoire, a sofa, and an adjacent bathroom. Curtained windows overlooking the courtyard. Nothing was out of place. Everything was too polished, perfect. Catra ambled into the hallway, footsteps echoing. The guards moved back and forth, not saying a word. Servants were as quiet, too. In a strange way, it seemed dreamlike.
Catra walked into the dining hall. Savanah and Rufus were smiling as much as ever. Everyone was happy, and no one showed signs of distress. A servant let out a cheerful hum, serving dishes of breakfast foods. The servant skipped off, leaving the room. Catra supposed she could enjoy this for now. She piled salmon, fruits, and a pastry onto her personal plate.
"You got your father's big appetite," Savanah said.
Catra swallowed a mouthful of food. "Yeah, yeah. Anything you want to talk about today?"
"The usual schedules. I'm going to be in the throne room, listening to my subjects. Your father's checking on the royal guards and our military. Your closest friend, Princess Glimmer of Bright Moon, is visiting. The girl you always refer to as 'Sparkles.' One would think something was going on between you girls."
At the mention of Glimmer, more flashes arose-
Glimmer's eyebrows lowered. "It's Glimmer. I'm the Princess of Bright Moon... Furball..."
The scene gave way to a different one, unrelated to whatever was happening at first. This time, Catra was hugging Glimmer, running fingers through her hair. A red aura washed over the pink-haired princess. Glimmer was sobbing.
"Breathe, Sparkles... It's going to be okay-"
The strange 'memories' receded into Catra's subconscious. They had to be from another reality, which would contradict the one she was in. What if she was dreaming? She massaged her temples, trying to make sense of what she was experiencing. Then, she pinched her forearm. Nothing happened. She examined her hands. Five fingers on both hands, no weirdness at all. Glancing up at her parents, she noticed them staring at her.
"I was, uh, making sure I'm not dreaming," Catra said.
"You're awake. Is everything alright? Something could be disturbing you?" Savanah said.
"Yes... I'm fine..."
Savanah sipped her drink. "As we often say, everything is perfect. Nothing to fret about."
Catra finished her meal and strode into the hallway. What Savanah told her wasn't reassuring. Instead, it was unsettling. How could everything be perfect? No sadness, no difficult challenges, no stress, and nothing negative? A teleportation chime caught her attention. Standing at the end of the hallway was Glimmer. The sparkling princess wore a ruffled tunic which could double as a dress.
"Oh, hi," Catra said.
"Hi, furball!" Glimmer rushed over to Catra, grinning as she hugged Catra. "How are you doing?"
"I'm doing great, Sparkles." Catra released Glimmer. "Have you noticed anything strange?"
"No. Everything's great as usual. Are you okay?"
"Of course."
Glimmer winked as she took Catra's hands. "Was it about those crazy dreams you told me about at times? Seems like they'd show up whenever you read certain books."
Catra followed Glimmer outside. "To be fair, their descriptions are vivid."
As they strode through the streets of Felidae, Catra and Glimmer held hands. There was a festival going on, as the residents had decorated the buildings. Other magicats set up food stalls. A pair of children were playing tag, racing past the adults who were carrying baskets. Musicians performed on a small stage, playing their instruments. Dozens of people stopped to dance in the square around the fountain.
Glimmer pulled Catra across the square and they began dancing. At first, the musicians were playing fast-paced songs. As time passed, the music slowed. Glimmer rested her head on Catra's chest. For the rest of the day, they tried different foods from the stalls and shopped around. They left Felidae, explored the tunnels, and reached the Whispering Woods. It was peaceful as they ambled along the dirt path.
Catra and Glimmer sat on a log in a clearing, observing a glittering pond. She pulled Glimmer closer to her side. The short princess leaned against her. As Catra inhaled the fresh, crisp scent of post-rain air, a sudden white flash startled her. It was brief, lasting less than a second. The pond disappeared.
"Where did the pond go?" Catra asked.
"There was no pond here," Glimmer said.
"It was here a second ago. Something's going on."
"Guess I shouldn't have introduced you to my favorite books, huh?"
Catra led Glimmer to the trail, running. She had no idea if she was dreaming or not. Was there some strange magic in Etheria making things disappear? There was no one here to provide answers. Also, she didn't want anything happening to Glimmer. As they neared Bright Moon, another white flash blanketed the area in front of them. Their feet skidded to a halt.
"What are we doing, running through the woods?" Glimmer asked as she removed her hand from Catra's.
"Did you see the bright flashes?" Catra asked. "Also, either I'm forgetting something, or my memories are acting weird. Ever feel as if you're forgetting something important? I remember this blonde girl pulling the lever, activating a machine... and I was shouting-"
"What machine? What blonde girl? There are no blonde girls here. Other than Perfuma, who's in Plumeria. Let's go to Mystacor, you need to-"
The moment Glimmer grabbed Catra's wrist, a flash surrounded them. Catra blinked, and they found themselves in Mystacor. It was nighttime, and the moons hung high in the sky. Glimmer led her to the steam grotto. The floating kingdom was empty, which was eerie.
"Relax," Glimmer said.
"How did we get here so fast?" Catra asked.
"Teleportation. Duh!"
"I thought you didn't have the full power of the Moons-"
The sanctum erupted into chaos as Shadow Weaver levitated a metal pillar and flung it at Hordak. She was holding Glimmer's hand. Bow nocked an arrow, ready to shoot at either Hordak or Adora. Catra tried to take a full look at Glimmer as much as possible, despite the restraints. What was Shadow Weaver doing, holding Glimmer's hand?
Where were the other princesses? How did Shadow Weaver escape the spare room in Bright Moon Castle? Catra was considering a possible talk with Glimmer after this was over. The portal machine roared to life as Adora pulled the lever.
"NO!" Catra screamed.
Catra shook her head, resting her palms against her head. More of those scenes were overlapping this reality. Something told her there was indeed a portal. It was in the Fright Zone, wasn't it? Catra followed Glimmer into one of the steaming pools in the steam grotto. If she didn't act soon, something could end the world. The entire universe could crumble, too.
"Do you remember who Shadow Weaver is?" Catra asked. She was hoping Glimmer would at least have memories of the other reality.
For a moment, Glimmer's expression was unreadable. She averted her gaze, refusing to meet Catra's eyes. The princess didn't do something she regretted, did she? Catra had a vague memory of Glimmer shouting at Shadow Weaver in the spare room. Didn't the princess hate Shadow Weaver with a passion?
"I don't know what you're talking about," Glimmer said.
"You know what I'm talking about," Catra said. "Your eyes told me everything. Sparkles, you do remember, don't you?"
"I had no other option, I-" Glimmer rose her hand to her mouth. She lowered her hand. "Uh, nothing."
Catra couldn't deny the rising suspicion within her. She tried not to think too much of it as she forced herself to relax in the warm water. Glimmer was acting weird, which meant she might remember important things, too.
Several days passed in this strange world. Things would disappear, so would people. Catra hadn't seen Glimmer since their time in Mystacor. She hurried through the Whispering Woods like she did before. The forest seemed to grow darker as she took each step toward the Fright Zone. More white flashes, and the greenery vanished. Sprinting through a valley of flowers that ran between the forest and the Fright Zone, she paused. What was she expecting to find in the Horde base?
"Catra..."
Catra whirled around. No one was present. Where was the voice coming from, and who was talking? The same voice repeated her name. Groaning, she dashed closer to the Fright Zone. The nightmarish land came into view, with its hideous buildings. For what seemed to be the hundredth time? A white flash. She winded up in the middle of the sanctum in the Fright Zone.
Something was wrong. The portal machine, which should be here, was absent. Heavy footsteps entered the sanctum. Catra hid behind a desk as Hordak's voice boomed through the air. Items clattered on the floor. His pet, Imp, hovered in front of her, squealing. She raced into the hallway. Behind her, the sanctum door vanished.
"Catra?" Adora called out.
Catra whirled around. "You know what's going on, don't you?"
"What are you doing in Horde territory? Where's my sword?" Adora pulled out a stun baton and lunged at Catra.
Catra sidestepped. "Whoa, Adora! I'm not here to fight."
"Then what is it?"
"People are disappearing, and so are random objects and places."
"You sound crazy." Adora aimed the stun baton at Catra's abdomen, and missed again. "Stop moving!"
Catra caught Adora's arm and twisted it behind the blonde's back. She snatched the stun baton from Adora's grasp. The blonde broke free and swung fists at her. Catra jammed the stun baton against Adora's side, rendering her unconscious. The ground shook, startling Catra into action as she scooped Adora up into her arms. She carried the blonde to the vehicle bay, where the skiffs were waiting. Upon settling Adora on a skiff, Catra drove the vehicle out of the Fright Zone. Behind them, the base and its army vanished.
The skiff glided into the Whispering Woods. Adora awakened and began fighting Catra over the skiff's controls. Both girls struggled to gain the upper hand, sometimes resorting to throwing fists. Reminiscent of the alternate reality, the skiff crashed into a tree. Catra and Adora fell off on opposite sides of a clearing.
Adora lunged for the stun baton she had dropped. So did Catra. Again, they grappled as they swore at each other. Somehow, the emotions from the alternate reality spilled over into their fighting. Adora shoved Catra to the ground, nails digging into palms and knuckles blanching. Catra forced herself up.
"What's your problem?" Adora spat.
"My problem? You attacked me!" Catra replied. "Whatever it was, it swallowed the Fright Zone! I got you out of there!"
"I don't need saving!"
"Says the girl who's under Shadow Weaver's spell. Despite Shadow Weaver losing her connection to the Black Garnet..."
Adora hugged herself, eyebrows knitting together. "I'm not under any spell. I have free will."
Catra closed the distance between herself and Adora. "How can you be sure about it? Shadow Weaver admitted to her spells working even after she lost her connection to the Black Garnet."
"And dragging me into the woods will somehow convince me?" Adora's face darkened with anger as she backhanded Catra. "What's your deal? You wanna go there?"
"You're pissing me off, and I care about you. Every time I try to get through to you, you'd get mad!" Catra grabbed Adora's wrists. "What will it take for you to listen to anything I say? It's not like I can take you with me to the Rebellion. I never wanted to leave you behind. We were as close as sisters, and then we chose our sides in the war..."
"Why did you let Shadow Weaver have her way with me, then? Tell me, have you forgotten the promise so much, you-" Adora trailed off, her entire body becoming still. Tears glistened in her eyes. "Why don't you care?"
Catra pulled Adora into a hug, stroking her back. "I do care. You don't have to stay in the Horde. We could find a way to break Shadow Weaver's spell on you. Right now, we have to-"
Without warning, Adora shoved Catra toward the crumbling ground. Catra's foot slipped, and she came close to falling into the void. She lifted herself up and swung herself over to stable ground. Or, what was left of the ground. Adora charged at Catra, and the magicat sidestepped.
"You always jinx everything!" Adora shouted, her tone brimming with anguish. "Shit always go down the drain whenever you're around!" She leaned against a tree, catching herself before she could fall into the void.
"You were fighting for the Horde. Nothing to do with some sort of bad luck," Catra said. She reached for Adora's arm.
Adora swatted Catra's hand away. "Don't touch me! You make everything worse!"
"Is the destruction of the universe what you wanted?"
"None of it matters. I don't care anymore, because all you do is fuck things up!" Adora let out an unhinged laugh as she threw a fist at Catra's jaw. "I'd rather see everything end than live a life where I can't trust people!"
Catra caught Adora's fist. "So you'd have everyone, even yourself, die?"
"If that's what it takes, bitch!" Adora swung her foot at Catra's ankles, tripping her. "I'm sick of your face. Sick of Entrapta. And most of all... I NEVER ASKED SHADOW WEAVER TO RAISE ME!" She stomped on Catra's tail.
Letting out a pained yelp, Catra rolled away and shot up to her height. "Stop it, Adora! I know you're hurting, but... the curse on you could be getting worse! It could be twisting your emotions and making you angrier. You could end up like Shadow Weaver!"
"You know what my biggest wish is? That you never existed, and that I'd succeed for once!" Adora rammed into Catra, pushing her toward the growing void.
A burst of light exploded from the ground, separating the girls. Now Adora was the one hanging on, and Catra remained on solid ground. Catra descended to her knees and attempted to grab Adora's hand. The blonde let go, falling into the abyss.
"ADORA!" Catra bellowed, heaving as tears streamed down her face.
Without a second thought, Catra sprinted through the Whispering Woods, sobbing. She wasn't a friend. Not a hero. Someone who couldn't even stop Hordak from opening the portal. Where was Glimmer? What happened to Bow and the other Rebellion members? The vibrations worsened as the abyss swallowed more of this reality. Her foot met a twig, and she stumbled forward. She broke her fall with both palms.
Catra looked up, starting to realize she wasn't alone. A magicat made itself known to her. She recognized the face and hair. Savanah, her mother. How did the queen not fall into the void? Did Savanah use a protection charm or something?
"Mom... I couldn't save anyone. My former friend has lost herself to Shadow Weaver's corruption spell. I don't know where everyone else is," Catra said, her voice wavering.
Savanah lowered herself to eye level, stroking Catra's hair. "Sweetie, look at me. I do remember the real world now. You know why your dad was somehow alive? It was part of my wish. I had thought about him every day, and wished he was still alive. And I did wish that you grew up with a happy childhood instead of suffering in the Horde."
Catra sniffled. "Mom, I had almost the same wish. If I grew up in Felidae, I wouldn't have had any trauma. Now... what do we do? What if it's too late?"
"You have never been the type to give up, so why begin now? I have a feeling there is a way out. Do you remember how it started?"
"Adora used her own sword as the key to Hordak's portal machine. It was after she found me in the Crimson Waste. She won't be receptive to anything I say, assuming she survived the void."
"And where did you last see your best friend, Glimmer?"
Catra stroked her chin. "In Mystacor. There were signs she might have remembered the world we came from. Her eyes told me everything. I asked about Shadow Weaver, and she looked away. Maybe she used Shadow Weaver to teleport to the Fright Zone. She didn't give me all the details."
Savanah tilted her head. "Now, why would your friend trust the wicked woman?"
"She mentioned having no other option. Which meant she may have freed Shadow Weaver. Oh, shit. I don't want Sparkles to trust her or fall for her manipulation."
"If you find Glimmer again, you will have to warn her against believing Shadow Weaver's lies." Savanah's body was becoming translucent as she spoke. "You have to move. Now. Figure out a way to stop this."
"Mom, wait! I-"
The magicat queen was gone. Catra was running again, crying. If Glimmer was still in this crumbling reality somewhere, Bright Moon would be the place to go. The princess would know what to do, right? Was Bow also aware of what was going on?
Grunting, Adora forced herself up. As if by luck, she had survived the fall. The abyss. As she glanced down at herself, she gasped. Part of her body had gone pitch-black, as did her outfit. It was a result of the abyss almost swallowing her whole. Where was Catra? Did the magicat run off? If so, Catra was a coward. No point trying to listen to anyone who was a deserter. A traitor.
Someone who had betrayed Adora to join the princesses. She wandered over a land that was crumbling all around her. Catra had to be here somewhere. If the magicat was, she was nowhere in sight. Adora outran the approaching wall of death, searching for her enemy. The girl who was her close friend.
"Ugh... she's so fast..."
Adora paused by a river and caught her reflection in the water. Half of her face was pitch-black, too. Her eyes were glowing as red as Despara's. There was a burning hatred in her expression. Something darker. She kicked a rock across the water, watching it bounce over to the other side. There might not be a sword for her to wield. There was something she could use. Her fists and her fighting prowess, from years of Horde training.
"When I find you, Catra... you will pay..."