Chapter Text
Catra felt Adora leave the bed, she opened an eye and saw her exit the bunk quarters. It was completely unlike Adora to be sneaking out at night, what could she possibly be up to? Catra quickly got up and followed her to the door.
“Hey!” She called “Where are you going?”
Adora had only made it about halfway down the hall when she turned around. “Back to the woods. There’s something I need to figure out.”
“What? You’re not-” Adora slapped a hand over Catra’s mouth and pulled her behind a pillar. Catra was confused and couldn’t figure out why Adora was acting so strange. Then she noticed a patrol drone rolling by, after it turned the corner Adora let go of her mouth. Catra immediately started “What is wrong with you? You’ve been acting weird since we got back.” She grabbed Adora’s face and inspected her head “Are you sure you’re not brain damaged?”
Adora pushed Catra’s hands off her “Look Catra, I know I saw something out there. I just need to get another look. It feels important somehow.”
Catra saw the determined yet worried look all over Adora’s face, she could tell this was important to her. “Sounds good, let’s go!”
Adora’s immediate response was no, but maybe bringing Catra could be a good idea instead of going alone, what if she got lost in the woods? She couldn’t just leave Catra here, she needed her.
“C’mon Adora!” Catra whined. They both knew they couldn’t stay in the hall for much longer.
“Alright Fine.” Adora grabbed Catra’s hand and they rushed down the hallway together.
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Once they were outside walking silently in the dark Catra thought more about what Adora had told her about Shadow Weaver, the promotion she received and what it would mean to their relationship. She glanced over at Adora, who was walking just slightly in front of her she still had that determined look about her.
Things were going really well for them, Catra always thought they’d be side by side till the end. But Adora was saying that Catra and their friends couldn’t come with her to Thaymor and that just seemed so unfair. They had all trained hard, SHE had trained hard. Sure maybe she was late a few times, maybe she didn’t always fight fair, and maybe she didn’t usually think before talking… But Adora can’t leave her, she wouldn’t… right?
“So you don’t think there’s any way Shadow Weaver would let me go with you?”
“Catra…” Adora sighed, she didn’t want to have this conversation “I asked and she seemed pretty convinced that none of my friends could come with me. I don’t like it or agree with her, but what am I supposed to do? I’ve wanted th-”
“I’m not talking about anyone else, I’m talking about me. Why can’t I come with you?” Catra interrupted and had come to a stop. “Don’t you get a +1, you need a lutenient, a co-captain, a better half?” Catra put on a goofy smile and pointed her thumbs towards herself.
“Do you really think you’re my better half?” Adora gave Catra a flat look that made some of Catra’s hair stand on end, she hoped Adora didn’t notice. How could Catra be even half amazing as Adora? Before she could answer Adora turned and charged forward.
Catra couldn’t tell if she was joking, Adora was acting so weird and seemed distracted. “What are we looking for anyway? Are you gonna stop being weird when we find it?”
“The sword! Something weird happened when I touched it, I just need to know what I saw. You’d be weird too if you saw it.” Adora muttered
“Well, what did you see back there? And are you sure it’s not brain damage?” Catra smirked.
Adora giggled, “No! I told you I’m not drain bramaged!” they both laughed.
“But really Catra,” Adora stopped and turned to Catra, “I’ve wanted this my whole life.” She touched the badge on her jacket “Shadow Weaver seems very impressed with me. Give me some time and I’ll get you in too. This doesn’t have to be a goodbye, so don’t worry!” She put a hand on Catra’s shoulder.
Catra knew Adora was right, Shadow Weaver always liked her more.
Suddenly there was a bright glow coming from the woods to their side. Adora gasped, there it was the sword, she started running towards the light.
“Adora wait!” Catra chased after her.
Adora got to it first and reached for it again, suddenly the same bright light filled the woods, that last thing Adora heard was Catra calling her name.
Adora didn’t know how to describe it but a being of light erupted in front of her it said her name “Hello Adora”
Adora could hardly take in her surroundings, large crystals with engravings surrounded them, stars or illusions of light were floating about and the figure in front of her surrounded by light “Who are you, what’s going on?”
“My name is Light Hope, I have been waiting a long time for you but I could not reach you until you forged your connection with the sword.”
“You sent the sword?”
“The sword is meant for you.”
Suddenly the sword appeared hovering in front of Adora, it was glowing in some sort of blue light, she reached for it but her hand phased through the handle.
“Etheria has need for you Adora. Will you answer its call? Will you fight for the honor of Grayskull?”
“What are you talking about” Adora was confused and stammered “What’s Grayskull? You’re not making any sense I don’t understand!” Adora shouted, she wasn’t able to process all of the information mixed with what she was seeing and that frustrated her.
“You will.”
“Wait!” Adora had so many questions.
Light Hope somehow swirled around into complete darkness, and then another burst of blinding light erupted. Adora covered her face from the blast.
Adora groaned, she felt herself laying down.
“Adora!” Catra exclaimed, “Adora we need to go!” she sounded worried.
Adora opened her eyes and looked around, Catra was standing in front of her blocking her view. She could hear someone else.
“Give us that sword right now Horde soldier!” the voice sounded young.
“Get out of here princess! If you know what’s good for you.” Catra cooed.
“Not without the sword!”
Adora now saw the other person who was speaking, it was a young princess who was sparkling with pink hair. She was alone?
Just then an arrow swiftly thumped into the ground next to Adora’s face, she noticed it started blinking.
“Catra move!” Adora jumped up and pushed Catra out of the way as the arrow exploded, leaving a small crater in the ground. Now the fight was on.
Catra quickly jumped onto the pink haired girl, her claws held above her ready to strike. But as Catra began to swing the younger girl teleported across the field. “What the?” Catra landed on her feet and looked at her opponent now on the other side of the field. “Adora she can teleport!”
Adora was busy looking through the tops of the trees, that arrow had to come from somewhere. Suddenly she spotted him, a young rebellion archer lurking in the branches. Once he saw that she found him he jumped down onto the field next to the princess. “I’ll take the cat, you take the blonde!” He shouted to her. They charged towards Catra and Adora.
Catra easily jumped over the charging archer, landing behind him she quickly kicked him in the back knocking him to the ground.
“Bow!” the princess cried out, her hands started glowing purple and she threw a ball of energy at Catra it hit her and sent her flying back a few feet. Before the princess could throw another Adora tackled her. They rolled along the ground each one trying to get on top of the other, the princess got the upper hand and pinned Adora. She looked up at the boy, Bow, he was dodging punches from Catra.
“Give us the sword!” the princess demanded, looking back down to Adora.
“Never!” Adora pushed the girl off her. She looked back at where she had left the sword, the princess noticed her then realized the sword was out in the open. “Bow, the sword!” she shouted.
“Kinda busy here Glimmer!” he replied ducking under one of Catra’s kicks.
“You two sure talk a lot in battle.” Catra smirked.
Adora started running for the sword. She remember what Light Hope had told her, the sword is meant for her, fight for the honor…
The princess, Glimmer, teleported to the sword. Adora saw her grab it by the hilt. “No!” she shouted, she flung herself towards Glimmer but just before she could reach the girl teleported again. “Catra she has the sword!” Adora shouted.
Glimmer reappeared about ten yards away, Adora started running for her. Suddenly Catra came flying out of no where and grabbed the sword from the princess. She jumped again and shouted “Adora!” as she threw the sword she was hit by another purple energy blast from Glimmer which sent her flying back, she crashed into a tree and fell into a heap on the ground.
Adora caught the sword by the hilt, “Catra no!” Adora felt anger rise in her, she had had enough of this. Suddenly Light Hope’s voice was back in her head. ‘Etheria needs you Adora, will you fight for the honor of Grayskull?’ Adora wasn’t sure what came over her but she wielded the sword high above her head and shouted “For the honor of Grayskull!”
Everyone on the field held their arms to cover their eyes. A bright golden light was emitting from where Adora had stood. Once the light cleared Adora was gone, in her place a much larger stronger looking woman in an outfit of gold and white.
“She Ra…” Glimmer whispered softly her gaze couldn’t be taken off the woman, she never thought she’d see the ancient warrior.
Suddenly She Ra rushed towards Bow and Glimmer, she let out a battle cry as she swung her sword at them. Glimmer grabbed Bow and teleported them to a few feet behind Adora.
“Adora?!” Catra yelled at the large woman. Where did Adora go? What happened to her?
“Catra stay back!” The gladiator yelled back in Adora’s voice.
“Adora is that you?!” Catra was as confused as she was fascinated.
She Ra turned around to face Bow and Glimmer, a smirk crossing her face.
“She Ra, we need your help! Etheria is relying on you to join the princess alliance!” Glimmer cried out.
Adora ignored the plea and again started charging towards the pair. “The only good princess is a dead princess!” she called as she raised her sword.
“Bow we need to get out of here.” Glimmer grabbed him by the arm and they started retreating into the woods.
“Let’s get ‘em!” Catra cried as she started to chase after them.
“No, Catra stay here.” She Ra put a hand on Catra’s shoulder.
Catra turned to look up at this She Ra person, she was huge, her muscles were much larger than Adora’s and her hair somehow glowed a golden blonde. Catra grabbed one of She Ra’s biceps “Adora?” she squeezed the solid muscle a few times. She Ra lifted Catra off the ground while she hung onto her bicep. She began giggling and Catra began giggling then another bright flash of light, they were on the ground and Adora was back.
“What was that!?” Catra yelled as she grabbed Adora’s face and inspected to make sure it was really her.
“I don’t know!” Adora got up off the ground, she had a slightly panicked look in her eye “Catra what happened to me?” Adora look at the sword with confusion.
“Hey…” Catra said softly slowly approaching her friend “It’s okay, you’re okay.” She put a hand on Adora’s shoulder. Catra couldn’t imagine the confusion Adora must be experiencing, but she knew she needed to help her through it.
“Catra, I turned into another person!”
“Yeah a really hot giant woman!” Catra smiled.
Adora smirked, Catra’s joke was helping.
“We can use this.” Catra grabbed the sword “We can use this to finally get away from Shadow Weaver and the Horde!”
“What?” Adora looked at Catra confused.
“Adora, this is it! With you as She Ra not even Hordak could stop us!” she grinned.
“Catra…” Adora said softly “Shadow Weaver just promoted me to captain, I’ve wanted this for so long I can’t just leave.”
Catra looked disappointed, of course Adora doesn’t want to leave the Horde she’s practically Shadow Weaver’s golden child.
A pause while they both thought.
“But I think you’re right!” Adora took the sword back from Catra “We CAN use this. I can show Shadow Weaver how I turn into She Ra, she will be impressed, then I can demand that I need you by my side. Catra I don’t have to leave you behind now, you can come with me!” Adora looked excited.
“Were you going to leave me behind before?” Catra had a hard time not focusing on that thought.
Adora left out a small huff.
There was a brief moment of silence between them.
Catra thought about how she and Adora had been through so much together growing up in the Fright Zone, how unfairly Shadow Weaver treated the two of them. She always had to insist that Catra wasn’t as good, and Adora’s competitive nature mixed with her determination to succeed didn’t hand Catra any favors either. She didn’t actually want to beat Adora, she just wanted to feel like someone was noticing her. But no one ever did, no one except Adora…
“C’mon, let’s head back.” Adora said and she started walking back towards the Fright Zone.
Catra stayed in place, Adora turned around “Catra I wasn’t going to leave you!” she insisted.
Catra crossed her arms and started walking “Let’s go.”