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She has to do it
She just has to grow up and do it
The Rebellion captured Catra around 5 days ago
Glimmer was the one to finally take her out
But
There was a strange sadness in Catra
She didn't seem perturbed that they captured her
If anything, she acted kinda casual
But her fate was sealed
A verdict was struck
Catra had to be executed for her crimes
Adora had vehemently opposed the idea, saying that they were people of peace and that they didn't kill people
But everyone other than Bow had voted to execute
And so there Adora was
On the way to Catra's cell
About to do the unthinkable to her once best friend...
She'd turned her sword into a dagger and attached it to her belt
It was less of a hassle that way
Transforming it took concentration
And Adora didn't know if she had the strength to do that in front of Catra
She opened the door
''Hey'' Catra smirked
''H-Hey...'' Adora forced the words out
''Any verdict on my case?'' Catra stood up ''What's the punishment?''
Adora froze, she couldn't do it, she couldn't tell her ''...Case is ongoing, adjourned until tomorrow''
Catra seemed a little disappointed ''Oh...''
They stared at each other in silence for a second
Every second she had left with Catra felt like a moment lost to Adora
''I-I thought maybe I could take you on a walk...'' Adora rubbed her arm ''To the palace gardens...'' Catra deserved to see a nice place before she died
''Huh...sounds nice'' Catra smiled ''Better than being cooped up here''
Adora didn't know why that smile hurt so much
''O-Ok...let me just- unchain you and then we'll- We'll head off'' She stammered
Adora had alot of reasons to be mad at Catra
She'd been at war with her for two years
Up until a few days ago, she'd convinced herself she hated her
But no matter what
She couldn't bring herself to tell Catra she had to die
Not like this
''Wow...I'll say you picked a nice place'' Catra stepped between the flower patches ''These are...pretty''
''Y-yeah, they are...'' Adora cleared her throat ''I've read all about them, they're in this really cool book Perfuma gave me''
''What's that one?'' Catra pointed to a giant red one that looked like a mouth, it was almost the size of both of them
''That's a Helosia'' Adora remembered ''Watch out!'' She grabbed Catra's forearm and pulled her back as the flower snapped at her. She'd pulled Catra close to her almost protectively, something radiating off her sent a thrill through Adora. Something in her felt...warm, she cleared her throat again ''Th-They're extremely deadly, they lure you in with the shiny color and then snap you until you die'' She finished
''Couldn't have mentioned that before huh?'' Catra smirked as if she wasn't deterred ''What, are you trying to kill me or something?''
And just like that, the warmth vanished, and Adora remembered the grim reality of her task
She had to tell her sooner or later
''H-Hey Catra...'' She began
Catra looked back at her, aqua and amber eyes sparkling in the light, a soft curve on her lips as she smiled up at Adora. That look...it felt inexplicable ''Hm?''
''I-uh, wanted to show you these'' She pointed to some purple flowers on her left, sighing in relief when Catra turned around to look at them
''Hmm, they look nice, you sure they're not deadly?'' Catra peered at them
''They're uh, Touchmenots'' Adora explained ''They're really pretty and cool, but they close up when-''
Catra poked one and immediately, it withdrew itself and closed
''-Whenever you touch them...'' She elbowed Catra ''Reminds me of someone I know''
''Hey! Shut up!'' Catra playfully elbowed her back
Adora laughed out loud and Catra laughed with her as they poked fun at each other
And then the world went cold again as Adora felt the dagger at her belt, a stark reminder that she had to do it...she had to kill her, she couldn't get attached
Catra stopped laughing as she saw Adora's horrified face ''Hey, you okay?''
Adora nodded ''Y-Yeah, I'm fine''
Maybe she didn't have to tell Catra...
Maybe, maybe she could just sneak up on her and kill her
That way, she wouldn't have to break the news
And Catra's death would be painless
Catra would die quickly
Adora glanced down at the dagger, then back at Catra, who now had her back turned to her
She could make it quick and easy...
She could just do it without Catra knowing
''Heh, this feels pretty nice, do people always come here?'' Catra wondered as she looked between the plants
Adora shook her head to get out of her thoughts ''They're only open for the Spring festivals, when everything is in full bloom, but the festival's not happening this year so we've got it to ourselves''
''Wow'' Catra laughed ''So I'm getting a VIP tour huh?''
''Y-Yeah...you are'' Adora agreed, playing with the blade of the dagger at her belt ''D-during the festivals, people are allowed to pick the flowers in this part of the garden, since they naturally fall off during the summer''
Catra didn't seem to be listening as she looked around
This was the perfect time
She was distracted
Adora pulled out the dagger
This is it
She stealthily came up behind Catra as she looked at some pink flowers
She was just about to bring down the dagger when-
Catra plucked one and turned around
Adora froze, surprise on her face
She quickly hid the dagger behind her
''Heh, I hope this is a nice one'' She placed the flower in Adora's hair ''You look kinda cute with it''
Adora's hand grazed over the petals as her heart felt like it was shattering
''I- Th-These are Arderies'' She choked out ''They're the prettiest...but they wilt really fast, like only awhile after they're p-picked''
Catra looked down ''Oh...I didn't realize''
Adora panicked ''No, no, it's really pretty, I really like it, Th-Thank you Catra''
Catra looked up at her, a sincere smile on her face that sent another chill through Adora's body. She tried not to fall apart and cry as the girl turned around again, as she still felt the dagger on her belt, as she remembered her mission
''What's that place?'' Catra pointed up to a spot a little higher up on some nearby cliffs
There was a really pretty gazebo made of marble, with vines growing on the pillars, it looked like it used to have stairs to it, but there were none Adora could see
Adora shook her head again ''It's-It's this place called Crescent's grove...Lovers, usually the King and Queen, go up there to watch the sunset...It's supposed to look beautiful if you can climb up there''
Catra thought for a moment before she grinned at Adora ''Race you there!'' She sprinted to the base of the cliff
''Catra! Wait up!'' Adora ran after her
Adora chased Catra all the way up, bouncing and balancing on rocks as they raced
It felt amazing, the adrenaline in her body, the wind in her hair, the constant laughing as Catra started winning
She missed this
It was just like when they were kids
A simpler time
A beautiful time
They made it to the top and Catra leaned against a pillar as she cackled ''Ha! Still got it!''
Adora laughed too
A happy, genuine laugh
But then she remembered
She had to end this
She had to get rid of Catra no matter what
She had to destroy this girl she loved
Destroy their memories
Her laugh slowly morphed into a cry as tears fell from her eyes
That face of pure glee turned into sadness
And Adora kneeled down, trying to control it
''Adora?'' Catra had stopped laughing, she'd kneeled beside her ''What's wrong, Adora?''
''Everything! Everything's wrong! I can't- I can't-'' Adora sobbed
''Hey, hey, it's okay, don't cry'' Catra wiped her tears ''It's okay, Adora, Everything's gonna be okay''
Adora sniffled, her face red as she looked at Catra
''What's wrong'' Catra asked quietly
Adora shook her head ''I-I can't tell you...I'm sorry- I can't-''
Catra looked at her in understanding ''Whatever it is, it's okay'' She tried ''Come here'' She pulled Adora into a tight hug, letting the princess hold her close after so many years
''Come on, we made it all the way up here, we're gonna watch the sunset together, remember?'' She rubbed circles on Adora's back ''It's okay...''
Adora felt herself calm down as Catra pulled her close
The dagger glinted in her hand as she tightened her fist around it
She didn't say a word
She just wanted to enjoy Catra's embrace
Just a little longer...
''I know you can't see it, but the sunset's really pretty from here'' Catra's voice was muffled as she spoke into her shoulder ''It's beautiful...''
Adora tensed up as she realized it
Catra was distracted
She was watching the sunset over her shoulder
Her fist tightened around the dagger
She had to remember everything Catra's done
She had to follow orders
Catra purred against Adora's chest
She wouldn't expect it
Maybe it'd be so quick she wouldn't feel it
Adora slowly pulled the dagger out in one hand
Hugging Catra close with the other
''I'm sorry...'' she whispered
before she slowly pushed the dagger into Catra's back
Catra shrieked as the metal stabbed directly into her heart
Her claws gripped Adora tighter
She pulled back, breathing laboriously
She stared at her once best friend
A million questions going through her head
''A-Adora?!'' She sounded so surprised
So shocked
So hurt
Catra began gasping as blood started to leak from her mouth
She coughed, gross wet coughs where blood came up and stained Adora's jacket
She tried to look at her as her vision blurred
And Adora looked at her, still as stone
Beautiful blue eyes frozen in horror
The pink flower in her hair started to wilt away
Blood ran over Adora's hand, still firmly pressing the dagger into Catra's back
Catra sobs
This is it
Adora really did it
Adora's really here, killing her
She buried her face in Adora's shoulder and cried
She's dying
What does anything matter anymore?
''A-Adora...'' She whimpered
Adora didn't respond
''Adora...'' She tried again
But Adora didn't speak
And Catra felt her life slip away
Her eyes slowly closed
Her memories flashed before her
All of them with Adora
At least
She thought
At least I'm dying in her arms
At least she got what she wanted
If this is what she wanted
Catra's eyes glazed over
And she died in the arms of the girl she loved
The girl who she's known all her life
Her best friend
Who had just killed her with her own hands
It took Adora a second to realize Catra isn't breathing anymore
She did it
She did it
Catra is still in her arms
A wet patch on Adora's shoulder from her tears
Adora's still embracing her, Catra's grip has gone limp
She's gone
Catra's gone
gone
gone
gone
Adora falls to her knees, hitting the cold marble
Her shoulders slump
What's wrong, Adora?
Whatever it is, it's okay
Everything's gonna be okay, Adora
Adora can't hear her heartbeat
Adora can't hear her voice
Catra's dead in her arms
Adora pulls away
She stares at the dead body
The cold skin
The eyes she loved so much, that sparkled in her final moments, now lifeless
Catra doesn't look at her with that love and warmth anymore
With- With that beautiful smile
She looks somewhere far beyond Adora, with cold, dead eyes
What have I done?
What have I done?!
Adora screams
Blood is falling down her arm
Her dagger is still buried in her friend's back
Catra is gone
''We're gonna watch the sunset together, remember?''
But the sun was setting
And Catra was dead
Catra didn't get to properly see it
Adora wailed as she pulled her close into her arms
Her body jerking against Catra's with sobs
It hurt, it hurt so bad
She didn't expect it to hurt this bad
Catra was calling her name
She was betrayed
All she wanted to do was make Adora happy and she was betrayed
She remembers the pain and horror in Catra's eyes
She remembers the tears as Catra looked at her in utter betrayal
And now no one's there to comfort her as she screams and cries
As she finally lets herself fall apart
The body against her is cold, lifeless
And it's all her fault
''It's okay, Adora''
Catra had comforted her
She was innocent
She was just trying to calm her down
She didn't expect it
She didn't expect to be betrayed
Adora looks down at the dagger buried in Catra's back
I did this
It's just her sword in another form...
I killed her
Her runestone glints among the red of Catra's blood
She just wanted to make me smile
Adora grips the hilt again as she morphs the blade back into her sword
She pulls Catra close
I'm sorry, Catra
There's a sick squelching sound as the sword's massive blade cuts deeper through Catra, and all the way into Adora
The hilt is bigger now, and Adora grips it tightly as she presses it down, deeper into her gut, practically skewering them both
She falls to the side, Catra still in her arms
Blood begins to pool around them as Adora feels her mind numb
All she can think about is what she's done to the person she loved most
How could she?
Catra's smile flashes in her eyes
How could she?
She's placing a flower in Adora's hair
How could she?
Catra's lifeless face is now right in front of her, no longer buried in her shoulder
There's no life left in that dull yellow and blue
Adora lets the blade go, and reaches up with shaky, bloody hands, to close her eyes
I'm so sorry...
Adora's blacking out
they're both lying in their own blood
At least...At least I'm dying with her
At least I won't be alone anymore...
Adora closes her eyes
Her heart finally stops
And she dies with the girl she loves most
The flower in her hair fully wilted, right where Catra had placed it
The next morning, Bow and Glimmer check to see what happened
''This is the last place they were spotted'' Bow told her ''They were picking flowers in the gardens...''
''Adora better not have chickened out'' Glimmer huffed
''I still think the verdict was wrong, Glimmer'' Bow said quietly
''She's a murderer, she has no humanity left in her, She worked for the Horde! She opened the portal! She-She's the reason my mom's dead!'' Glimmer ranted ''Adora should hate her, and if Adora chickened out, I'll hunt her down and kill her myself!''
''Y'know killing Catra won't bring your mom back'' Bow mumbled ''You forced Adora to try to kill someone she loves, maybe you're the one with less humanity''
''I'm not the reason several people are dead'' Glimmer ranted ''Where is she?!''
Bow looked around ''Maybe...maybe Adora decided to leave and bury her here?''
''She's not burying scum here'' Glimmer added ''I don't think she even deserves a-''
''Wait!'' Bow looked at the gazebo at the cliffs ''Look up there!''
Glimmer looked up ''Is-is that- blood?''
She teleported herself and Bow up there, freezing in horror at what she found
''ADORA!'' They yelled in unison
Adora was laying in a pool of partially dried blood, her arms loosely wrapped around Catra's limp, dead body. The sword of protection was stabbing through them both, her skin was colorless, her body was lifeless, her eyes were closed...
''ADORA! ADORAAAAAAAAA'' Bow screamed as he saw her
Adora had finished the task, she'd killed Catra, and she'd killed herself as a result