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“Adora, are you okay?” It was Bow. His voice was quiet and soft. He didn’t whisper, but he spoke gently. His movements were slow, the sound of his boots on the tiled floor nonexistent; he looked as if he were approaching a timid, wounded animal rather than one of his closest friends and the woman who had been destined to save Etheria.
“I… I brought a medic to see you,” he added after a moment, inching his way further into her room.
There was a woman a few paces behind him, still lingering in the doorway. She appeared to be human like Bow. She had a stethoscope around her neck, a bag slung around her right shoulder. Her black hair was wrapped into a tight bun behind her head. Her brown eyes were wide and filled with worry, they looked even bigger behind the thick, red framed glasses she wore.
Bow stopped before Adora. His brow furrowed deeply, stress lines all over his forehead. He was frowning, Adora realized as she looked up at him. He never frowned.
Wait.
That was a lie, wasn’t it? He had frowned a lot recently, ever since Queen Angella’s—
If it wasn’t for She-Ra, MY MOTHER WOULD STILL BE HERE!
Another thing that was her fault. It was at the top of the list. Or should it move lower now? Now that Glimmer was—
”Adora!” Bow called.
She was in the field again. She was gripping the hilt of the Sword of Protection. It felt different. Lighter. Unbalanced. Despite her tiredness, despite how heavy her body felt in that moment, she was standing. She was still standing.
Adora turned to face him—
The scene shifted. Suddenly her and Bow were embracing. He was crying.
”They took her. They took Glimmer.” Had he been sobbing in that moment?
They took Glimmer.
The words echoed in her head. They took Glimmer. Bow sobbed, his voice desperate and lost.
They took Glimmer.
Another loss to add to her collection.
Adora glanced down at her boots and blinked. She was sitting on a cot in a makeshift tent, out— Out in the middle of nowhere, or somewhere. Adora wasn’t sure where they were to be honest.
She closed her eyes. She didn’t want to be here. She shouldn’t be here. If she never came to Etheria, then maybe everyone would be better off, maybe—
Light Hope’s face flashed before her.
…Adora?
…Thank you…
She was in the Crystal Castle, hunched over the Sword of Protection. She had thrusted the sword into the ground, pressing on it, trying to– It shattered.
Light Hope faded.
The one and probably only connection to her origins was gone.
Adora exhaled, choking back a sob. She wasn’t close to Light Hope. A part of her hated the hologram. Hated how much pressure Light Hope had put on her. How Light Hope had almost gotten her to destroy Etheria…
I won’t be controlled.
She had growled those words. She had fought to destroy the Sword of Protection and stop the activation of the Heart.
I won’t be controlled.
That was a lie, wasn’t it? She had been controlled. She had always<\i> been controlled. Shadow Weaver. Light Hope. Had Queen Angella tried to control her? Adora thought back. Everything was hazy and unclear. She wasn’t sure. To the Queen of Etheria, she was useful. She was She-Ra after all.
Queen of Bright Moon… Glimmer’s face appeared in her mind next.
Glimmer… She had failed Glimmer. Glimmer; smiling and kind. Her eyes, bright and filled with hope for a free Etheria. The light in her eyes dimmed. The smile faded. Dark circles appeared under her eyes.
If it wasn’t for She-Ra, my mother would still be here!
It was true. It was all her fault.
All of this is your fault.
Catra’s voice; distorted. Haunting. Echoing into the recesses of Adora's mind.
You’re the worst She-Ra…
Catra appeared before her. Catra. If she had been stronger or had defended Catra more from Shadow Weaver when they were growing up, would Catra have joined her back in Thaymor?
Catra stalked forward, half of her face consumed by a darkness. No… It wasn’t just her face was it? It had been her whole body.
“No…” Adora gasped.
Catra. Catra glared at her. Her eyes were filled with betrayal and hurt. Why hadn't she done more? Why hadn't she reached out. Maybe if she had tried harder, Catra would've left the Horde. She stepped back, the smoke of Thaymor reaching out and swallowing her Adora’s breathing picked up.
Queen Angella. The Queen smiled as she leapt up into the air. She had smiled as portal consumed her. Adora’s heart pounded.
Glimmer. Glimmer had treated her like a friend. She had called Adora her sister on several occasions. How had Adora repaid her kindness? By taking her mother away. By failing her. Glimmer’s eyes were filled with hatred and accusation. Adora was gasping.
Light Hope. She knew she was breathing. She had to, right? Why did her lungs feel empty? Why did she feel like she was dying?
***
“Adora?" He called her again. She wasn't responding. She was struggling to breath. "Adora!”
Bow grasped her shoulder. He squeezed, trying to let her know she wasn’t alone. He was here. Maybe that would help?
He stared at her, helpless. Tears formed in his eyes. He felt his own breathing pick up for a second and– No! Adora needed her. He had to help her! He blinked his tears away and crouched so that he and Adora were eye level. Her gaze was blank. She wasn’t here. Physically she was but mentally…
“Adora, please, breathe with me, alright?” He begged. He pleaded. He had just lost Glimmer. Bright Moon had fallen. He couldn't lose her too.
Adora didn’t respond. Her breathing grew more and more hasty, more desperate. Her gaze was unfocused.
He felt a hand on his back. He glanced over his shoulder to see the medic standing behind him. He let go of Adora’s shoulder, stood up, and stepped back allowing the medic in to help. He watched as she helped Adora, feeling helpless as he couldn’t do anything.
He couldn’t save Glimmer. He couldn’t help Adora. He was useless. He wondered if they would ever be okay again. Etheria could be lost for all he knew. They had lost.