Chapter Text
Catra knew that Shadow Weaver wasn’t telling them everything. After so many years of abuse and manipulation it was hard to believe the woman wasn’t up to something. But Shadow Weaver knew this passage too well, for it to not be suspicious. Adora was too focused on caring for Glimmer to realize it. Just like she couldn’t realize Catra’s feelings for the blonde.
That wasn’t important though, Adora was finally happy with Glimmer. They could have a life together after the war, they just needed the failsafe.
They just needed the failsafe.
When they got to the failsafe Shadow Weaver finally revealed the truth of the failsafe. For it to work someone would have to take it to the heart and release all the magic stored up. The problem is the only being that even has a chance to survive is She-Ra. The same She-Ra that Adora is having trouble summoning.
“You we’re planning this all along!” Castaspella yelled.
“Why are you surprised by this?” Glimmer asked no one in particular.
“It’s not going to work!” Bow yelled
Before she could think Catra sprint into the failsafe while everyone else was telling Adora she doesn’t have to do this. It was like time slowed as she ran into the bright blue light. She could see everyone’s reaction,
Shadow Weaver looked furious behind her mask. Glimmer looked shocked and sad, it seemed their shared time on the velvet glove made sparkles care for her to an extent. Bow looked like he saw a ghost, his usual cheery expression gone. His brown eyes wide and his dark skin a bit pale. Why he had this reaction really confused her but didn’t dwell on it.
Adora’s reaction almost made her stop running. Adora had tears in her eyes and looked like she was going to run in after her. In fact she did try but Catra had always been faster than her.
The failsafe didn’t hurt. Well that was a massive understatement, it wasn’t the most painful thing she’d experienced. The chip electrocuting her and Shadow Weaver’s lighting hurt a little more than this.
To make matters worse for the rebellion, the sorcerers of Mystacor arrived in the secret chamber. While Catra was still unable to fight, the rest were all caught in Micah’s web of dark magic.
Soon they were all pinned underneath Micah’s magic and the rest of the chipped sorcerers were approaching Catra. All seemed lost when there was a bright flash of light and pure magical energy.
She-Ra
Just like when she appeared to save Catra from Horde Prime, She-Ra was summoned. The failsafe was finally transferred to Catra’s body and she immediately ran to help the rebellion.
The sorcerers were approaching She-Ra, but they were quickly defeated. She-Ra moved onto Micha, as he was the one keeping their friends(and Shadow Weaver) trapped. As Micha’s focus drained from the rebels and onto She-Ra his web began to cease to exist.
The rebels were freed one by one, each helping to weaken Micha more and more until they were able to escape, trapping Micha in the room that once held the failsafe that now resides in Catra.
As they made their way back to the cave that they resided in tensions were high, especially between Catra and Adora.
Glimmer on the other hand didn’t know how to feel. She had never been more conflicted in her years. On one hand she knew that She-Ra could no longer come out on Adora’s command. As much as Glimmer loved Adora she couldn’t just let her die. And on the other, Catra was the reason she could reunite with her love. And now it was certain that Catra would have to lay down her life to save not just Etheria, but the entire universe.
“Catra why!” Adora asked in a pleading tone. Tears on the edge of her eyes threatening to fall down her face. Her blue eyes looked pained. It hurt Catra to see that look on her face again, even though she knew it was necessary to keep Adora alive. In the end Adora would not die a martyr, she would live a long happy life with Glimmer by her side. “I did what I had to do Adora” her head cast down looking at the marking that lit up her chest.
“It should’ve been ME Catra! I’m She-Ra! This was supposed to be my destiny!”
Adora yelled at Catra. Adora was full on crying with anger gushing from her entire being.
Catra was beginning to grow more and more frustrated. She was about to yell back when she saw Glimmer coming up to Adora to hold her hand. Adora softened at Glimmer’s touch. Catra remembered why she was going to sacrifice herself. It wasn’t for Etheria, the universe, or even revenge on Prime. It was all for Adora and her happiness, even though Adora didn’t love her she would always love Adora.
Catra just smiled and went into the base.
For the rest of the night things were tense and everyone had mixed emotions about the situation. Even Entrapta who had trouble understanding social interactions didn’t have a definitive answer on what was the best path.
Catra approached the pigtailed girl as people were starting to fall asleep, resting up for the upcoming battle. She spoke of a plan to approach one of primes spires and take down the hive mind from within. Entrapta would infiltrate the spire under the cloak of Melog. Meanwhile Catra would go to the first ones temple and deliver the failsafe. Taking down Prime after that would be all too easy. All the princesses would return with the extra magic from the heart. Maybe the released magic would even stabilize She-Ra to the point Adora could summon her at will again. Either way prime would fall and there could be peace.
The war would finally be over.
After the plan and all the missteps were accounted for they set the plan in action.
“Entrapta I just want you to know I’m sorry.”
The older girl looked up at Catra for a moment trying to think of what to say. Entrapta had never planned for a social situation quite like this one.
“I know you’re not coming back. I know these are your last few hours. And for that I am sorry.” Those words stung Catra. The pure good intent behind them brought Catra to tears. They embraced one another one final time before heading off to do their respective tasks.
Catra ran through the whispering woods sure that the woods would take her where she needed to go. She ran and ran, she ran for her new found friends, for the old ones, for her squad mates, for Adora. Always for Adora.
She arrived at the temple, remembering the last time she went into one. She lost one of her lives that day. Stupid killer robot spider.
She spoke the words she had heard Adora say that day 3 years ago. “ Eternia” the door opened for her descending below.
The temple was quite beautiful when she actually looked at the art and designs on the walls. Most depicted She-Ra or a language she didn’t read. As she roamed the halls searching for the one to deliver the failsafe she looked down a small hallway. There stood Adora, her back turned to her.
“Adora” as she spoke the girl's name Adora turned to meet her eyes. “Hey Catra” she laughed. Adora began to walk to Catra, as she did the surroundings began to change as did Adora.
She saw teenage Aodra in a horde uniform, the background shifting to the locker rooms where they got ready for their training simulations that Adora always excelled in. As Adora kept approaching, Adora and the background changed. Next was the Adora that just got her force captain badge who appeared on the roof of the fright zone. Then the first She-Ra form took form in the whispering woods. And finally the latest She-Ra form when she saved her in the velvet glove, before returning to her current form. The Adora that Catra would always love til her dying breath.
Adora cupped her face in her callused but soft hands. Their foreheads touched as they stared lovingly at each other. Catra felt herself begin to purr when she dissipated revealing the whole thing was a hologram and that in front of her was nothing but a drop not even she could survive. Adora was still at camp asleep, oblivious to the events taking place.
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•
Adora woke up without warning. She had another nightmare and as always she reached down to her feet for Catra. But this time she should have been there. She fell asleep with Catra at her feet like she did all those years ago.
But she wasn’t there, neither was Melog. On further inspection around camp Entrapta wasn’t there either.
They had already gone to the failsafe.
“Glimmer wake up” Glimmer woke with a mumble. “ nuuoo” Adora smiled down at the queen for a moment. This was the girl she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.
They could do that after this war.
“Glimmer Catra and Entrapta are gone”
That got her awake. “Wait, they're gone?!” Glimmer said the panic setting in. “I think Catra went to the heart and Entrapta went to shut down the chips.” Adora said before, pointing to the area that used to have Entrapta’s gear. “See Entrapta’s stuff is gone, she must have taken it with her.”
Little did either of them know that Bow had also woken up. “We need to go get them, I’ll go help Entrapta and you two go to Catra.” He said. The two girls looked at him and smiled. “Yeah, let's do it.”
And with that, the group left to help their friends.