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Following the war, Catra found herself diving into all sorts of new hobbies for herself, the possibilities of her life finally having opened up for her in Etheria's new age of peace. It was a welcomed change of pace now that he had a chance to relax with her life and wasn't being forced to be a soldier in the Horde's war for Etheria. Gardening, Cooking and of course, art. Catra didn't just paint and draw, she had also found herself designing a few things here and there.
The first was a new mural for the great hall in Brightmoon after Queen Angella was rescued, a statue to honour those who had been lost in the war, depicting Glimmer surrounded by her parents, as well as Adora, Bow and Catra herself. Glimmer and Angella greatly approved of that one. Another monument was the design for a statue in Plumeria that Perfuma would create out of flowers and grass, depicting Scorpia and Perfuma for their engagement. Now Catra was particularly proud of herself there.
But one thing Catra liked designing most of all was new clothes. It turned out she had quite a taste in fashion, Glimmer even admitting that out of everyone in the Horde, Catra had the best uniform. There was a dark irony there for Catra, as she looked her best when mentally she was at her worst.
As for right now though, Catra's current assignment was probably putting her skills to the limit. Scorpia had recently restored her Kingdom to its former glory and taken her place as Queen and as such, she was holding a grand ball to celebrate it... and Adora had asked if Catra could design her a new dress to wear, since it had been a few years and she wasn't as fond of her old red prom dress as she once was. She wanted something that looked more... elegant and graceful, like the role of a Princess that Adora had gladly stepped into.
The challenge for Catra was of course, making something perfect for Adora. Anything else she could handle easily, but for Adora... she always wanted to go the extra mile for her. After all, Adora was the love of her life. But not long after getting to work, Catra found a few more pieces of work added to her pile, since after learning that Adora was getting a new dress for the ball, Glimmer and Bow decided to request some new outfits as well. And one thing led to another and now Catra was also designing something for herself to wear.
Designing outfits for herself wasn't something Catra did all that often, which warranted a second pair of eyes on the project, none other than biggest fashionista on the whole planet.
In her study, Catra was sitting at her desk, finishing the latest sketch of her outfit. As she put down her pencil, she turned to her assistant. It was a similar suit to the one she'd worn at Princess Prom, with some added golden trim. "So how does it look? Remember to be honest here."
Double Trouble rolled their eyes, sighing in their ever-dramatic manner. "Oh darling, as much as you look dashing in your suits and that one particularly looked amazing on you, it was also so five years ago. Things have changed! You don't wanna show up to your best friend's coronation ball in last season's clothes. That is a big faux pas!"
Catra grumbled. "I forgot how much of a critic you were," she remarked to her shapeshifting friend. "Then again, I'm equally as bad as you so I don't have much of a leg to stand on."
"Kitten, take my advice. You want to look the best you possibly could be for something like this. This is the social event of the season."
"I know, I know," Catra stated, scrolling through her notebook and showing Double Trouble another sketch. "Here, this is what I came up with for Sparkles and Arrow Boy."
Glimmer's outfit was to be an elegant pink and gold dress fit for a Queen, with her consort Bow in a dashing white and gold tuxedo, both of them wearing matching sparkling blue capes. Catra smiled, the outfits having come so easy to her when she'd sketched this out the other day. "I took inspiration from an old Etherian tradition, where couples would wear outfits with matching colours and sometimes each other's accessories. Plus you know, all the princessy sparkles and making sure Bow gets to show off his abs. I still don't know why he does that, but I know he'd feel naked if he wore something that didn't show that off."
"Oooooh I love!" Double Trouble declared. "Deftinetly approve of the capes. They always look so fabulous! I'm impressed at how well you captured your friend's tastes. I've never seen an outfit so well made with love and care."
"Well, I have been living with these idiots for five years now," Catra snarked. "I've picked up enough things.... I just wish it was easier deciding what I want to wear. I... never gave it that much thought. And yet somehow I was a fashion icon."
"You still are kitten, you just need to unlock your creative muse," Double Trouble insisted. "Now, have you decided on anything for Adora yet? I know that's probably been your biggest priority."
Nervously, Catra nodded and flipped through the notepad again, handing what she'd sketched for Adora's new dress. It was a beautiful white and gold dress with a long flowing cape, Catra having taken some obvious inspiration from Adora's appearance as She-Ra. "I... don't know if its good or not. I tried to base it on something Adora told me she saw in a dream once but... it's probably bad and I screwed it up. I know there's probably some detail I forgot."
Double Trouble on the other hand, gasped in shock, taking Catra's sketch into their hands and their eyes widening as they gazed at the page. "Oh Kitten, I love it! It looks simply divine!
"It does?" Catra asked, genuinely baffled.
"Oh yes! The white and gold and the She-Ra influence is so inspired! And of course the cape. Oh she looks like a true princess." They shot Catra a smirk. "Kitten, as always, you are way too harsh on yourself. You really need to stop that. I certainly stopped being harsh on you after we made up."
Taking the sketch back, Catra knew Double Trouble was right. She always was harsh on herself, something she and Adora sadly had in common. Taking a second look at her design... everything finally clicked. Adora was going to look like the most beautiful princess she could ever be... and at that moment, inspiration finally struck her again. She quickly grabbed her pencil and began to sketch on a blank piece of paper, Double Trouble silently and eagerly waiting for Catra to be done.
A few minutes later, seemingly a new record for her, Catra held up her newest sketch with pride in her heart, showing it to Double Trouble. "Okay what do you think of this one? I think it might be my best yet!"
Double Trouble giggled with glee, seeing that Catra had drawn herself in a red and gold suit with black pants and a white and gold cape over her shoulder to match Adora's, the prince to match her princess. Double Trouble felt the pride swell in their heart. They were so glad the inspiration had finally struck Catra. "Darling, it's perfect! I'm so proud of you! Oh, Adora is going to turn bright red when she sees you rocking that look!”
"I'm going to do what when I see Catra rocking what?"
Catra's ears pricked up when she heard her girlfriend's voice. She turned, seeing Adora eagerly and curiously poking her head around the door to her study. The blonde walked in, grinning.
"Sorry, couldn't help but hear you talking!" She chirped, before noticing the papers on the desk. "Oh are these our outfits for the ball? Can I see my new dress?"
Her feline girlfriend blushed furiously, grabbing the papers and sketchbook and holding them to her chest. "No peeking! They're not ready yet!"
"Catra, please, I wanna see!" Adora insisted, leaning in and trying to look at the sketches, but Catra dodged her advances. "I want to see what you've drawn!"
"It's supposed to be a surprise, you dork!" Catra fumed. "You're just as bad when you try and sneak in and look at your Solstice presents!"
Double Trouble just giggled, always getting a rise out of seeing Adora and Catra like this.
Adora shot Catra those puppy eyes she always did to get whatever she wanted. Catra relented, knowing no one had cornered the market on emotional manipulation quite like Adora had. "Alright, I can't show you them just yet, but I can tell you they're done and I'll send them off to the dressmakers in the morning. They'll be fully ready by the day of the ball next week, I promise."
"Okay!" Adora acknowledged, before kissing Catra on the cheek. "I can't wait~!" And with that the blonde took her leave.
Plopping back down on her chair as soon as Adora was gone, Catra breathed a sigh of relief. She finally had some outfit designs for her and Adora to wear and if she was to be honest, they were probably her best work yet.
Double Trouble leaned in, grinning. "So kitten... have you figured out that other matter yet? Concerning this little ball you're going to next week?"
Catra nodded, blushing. "Yeah, I took care of that a few days ago... I bought the most beautiful diamond ring I could find. Adora deserves the very best though... and to be honest, that has been worrying me a heck of a lot more than designing these outfits. I've never exactly asked a girl to marry me before."
"Kitten, there's no need to worry. You know how good I am at reading people," Double Trouble reassured her. "And I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt... that Adora is definitely going to say yes."