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Ever since their young child Finn had been born, Adora and Catra had always been worried about how to broach the topic of their pasts when the time would come. Being their child, Finn was a naturally curious young cub, always interested in the world and how things worked.
But for Adora and Catra, they knew their past and how they’d eventually gotten together was a long and complicated story that Finn might not understand, even as they grew quite mature and understanding for their young age. After all, Adora and Catra themselves still hadn’t been able to fully put all of the pieces together about their lives.
There was also the fact that despite having saved Etheria and earned the trust of the Princess Alliance, Catra was still a controversial figure for many of the planet’s citizens. She had been the public face of the Horde for much of the war and some people still would never forgive her for the atrocities she’d committed.
Especially those among the growing anti-Horde movement that Adora and Catra had found themselves becoming more and more aware of over the years. Of course, these people were a small minority, but a lot had very loud voices and Catra did not want her child to get the wrong idea about her.
It had been a decisive factor when Adora and Catra had been considering allowing Finn to attend a public school rather than being tutored in Brightmoon. Adora and Catra didn’t want Finn to learn about the world in such an isolated environment. They wanted Finn to be able to see the world first hand, to grow up in a much better environment than they did.
However one day, though, things changed and Adora and Catra couldn’t hide their pasts from Finn any longer.
It was during dinner when Finn brought up what they’d been learning at school that day. They always had dinner as a family, with Bow and Glimmer in the royal dining hall. Everything seemed ordinary, Adora and Catra just happily watching Finn scoff down their dinner. The kid had definitely inherited Adora’s big appetite.
Glimmer then spoke up and asked Finn about their day, always eager to know what was going on in the life of her godchild.
“So Finn, did anything happen at school today?”
“Uh yeah,” the little cub replied. “Actually, we began some classes about Etherian history.”
“Oh! Well, if you ever need some help with your homework, kiddo, I could borrow some books from my dad's library for you,” Bow offered.
“Thanks, Uncle Bow, but… we weren’t really talking about really old stuff like that.”
Catra put down her fork, slightly concerned. “What do you mean?”
“Well, our teacher wanted us to start learning about the war, since it was kind of a big deal and all,” Finn replied. “She was talking about the Horde, how everything started.”
Adora sighed. She had secretly hoped that Finn’s teachers wouldn’t have been telling Finn that stuff so soon. Sure, they couldn’t exactly ignore it since there were some children at Finn's school who’d been born during the war, but still, Adora wished it hadn’t been so soon. It was only a decade or so since the end of the war.
“I see… did the teacher say anything in particular about the war?” Adora asked, trying not to press the subject too hard.
“Not really, just vaguely how the Horde were formed and how they spread out and conquered a few of the neighbouring kingdoms, but then Aunt Glimmer’s mom and dad formed the rebellion to fight back.”
“So just the basic stuff,” Catra stated.
“Yeah, the basics!” Finn chirped. “But it got me thinking… you guys were there, weren’t you? Did you fight in the rebellion?”
Adora and Catra looked at each other, then at Glimmer and Bow and finally back to each other before nodding. They had to tell Finn. They could have easily just told a lie, said they’d grown up in Brightmoon with Glimmer and Bow and fought in the rebellion together. But… they didn’t want to lie to their child.
The last thing Adora and Catra wanted was to be like Shadow Weaver, obscuring the truth from Finn and keeping secrets. That would have only made things worse and Adora and Catra knew they were better than that. There would be no hiding any more. Now they had to tell their child the truth.
“Glimmer, Bow, do you guys mind stepping out for a moment?” Adora requested. “We’d like some privacy.”
Glimmer nodded, knowing how grave the situation was. “Of course, Adora. I had a feeling this would have to happen eventually.”
“We’ll be just outside,” Bow said, as he and Glimmer took their leave.
Finn just looked around, rather confused. “Wait, what’s going on? I’m kinda confused, moms.”
“It’s alright, kid,” Catra said, putting her hand on Finn’s shoulder to reassure them. “Nothing bad is going to happen, I promise.”
“But we have something we need to tell you,” Adora stated. “Catra and I wanted to save this for when you were a little older but… well, if you’re doing this stuff in school, we want you to hear it from us first.”
“Okay?” Finn responded, still a little confused.
“Basically… your mama and I did fight in the war. You know I’m She-Ra right? Well, as She-Ra, I fought on the side of the rebellion. I was their greatest asset in bringing down the Horde.”
“And mama fought at your side?”
Adora sighed. “No… Actually, for most of the war, we were enemies.”
“But… But why?” Finn asked. “You love each other, how would you fight like that?”
“Because,” Catra then spoke. “Adora and I grew up in the Horde. It was the only home we’d ever known and our commander… Shadow Weaver, manipulated and abused us. And when Adora defected, I was so messed up in the head, that I hated her for leaving me.”
“I… I didn’t think… you don’t exactly look like you were in the Horde,” Finn admitted.
“I was a much different woman back then,” Catra remarked. “Angry, vengeful, lashing out at everyone… and very, very hurt. Also, my hair was a wild mess back then.”
“Does… Does that mean everyone hates you? Will people hate me for being your kid?”
“No, not everyone hates your mama,” Adora insisted. “Some do but… well, they won’t say it to our faces. And no one is going to hate you, not as long as I have anything to say about it.”
“But the last thing we wanted was someone painting a bad picture of me in your head, Finn,” Catra argued. “For all we know, your teacher could be one of those people who hate ex-Horde folks like me, thinking it was ridiculous how most of us weren’t punished after the war.”
“You… weren’t punished?”
“For me, especially, living with the guilt was already punishment enough,” Catra explained. “I did some pretty horrible things. I hurt people, even killed. I wasn't the saint I am today and even now I'm not perfect. I was Hordak’s second in command for most of the war. I threw the damn lever on the portal that sent your aunt’s mom into that void between worlds.”
Finn was shocked, their eyes widened. They couldn’t believe what they were hearing, that their mother could do such horrific things. As far as they’d known, Catra was the sweetest mother they could ever ask for, besides Adora of course. She’d loved them, cared for them, always done her best to make them feel safe.
Catra’s heart froze and she retreated a little. A horrible thought went into her head that her child now hated her, that she was always destined to be hated, even by her own family, that even after all this time, there was nothing she could do to change the fact she was the worst monster in Etherian history.
And then… Finn spoke.
“I don’t hate you, Mama,” Finn said, looking into their mother’s eyes. They then climbed over the table and leapt into Catra’s lap and clung to her tightly, nuzzling into her. “You’re the best mama ever. I don’t care if you used to be bad, you’re good now. I love you, Mama.”
Tearing up a little, Catra pulled Finn close and hugged them as tight as she could. Those words meant so much to her, more than little Finn could possibly realise. She stroked the cub’s hair and listened to their soft purring, sighing.
Adora then cleared her throat. “Hey, don’t I get a hug too?”
Catra then laughed a little, opening her eyes. “Then come and get it you big goofball.”
Permission given, Adora wrapped Catra and Finn in a bear hug. She didn’t care if she’d crush them and neither Finn nor Catra minded. They were a family, something born out of love, the strongest thing in the entire universe, a bond virtually unbreakable.
Purring into the family hug, Finn looked up at their mothers. “So… what was growing up in the Horde like?”
Adora sighed. “That’s… probably best something left for another day, Finn.”
“But don’t worry, we’ll tell you everything in time, the good and the bad,” Catra promised. “There are no secrets in this family.”
“And… if people say bad stuff about you at school?” Finn wondered. “Or if the textbooks say something wrong?”
“You tell us, okay?” Adora answered. “I don’t want people going around painting your mama as a villain. She’s not that person anymore.”
“I will!” Finn chirped, before curling up into the hug again. “I love you, moms.”
Adora and Catra looked at each other, then at Finn, both of them still having their arms wrapped tightly around their wonderful, adorable child. They squeezed them tightly, little Finn giggling as their mothers smothered them with love.
“And we love you too, Finn.”