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As the Princess Alliance recovered from the end of the war, there was still a lot of lingering trauma for many of them. For Catra, she probably had the most of it, but talking with the other Princesses had helped her greatly. In particular, she'd found an understanding with Mermista, Scorpia and Spinnerella, who much like herself, had been chipped by Horde Prime and forced to be nothing more than puppets controlled by Prime's will.
Spinnerella had been the first Princess to be chipped and she felt deeply guilty over being forced to hurt those she loved, especially her own wife Netossa. Even though she'd been freed before the war's end, she still hated herself for letting her powers be used for evil. Mermista had been secretly chipped by Spinnerella and was taken over before she realised it was too late. She had then chipped Scorpia and the three of them had been among Prime's most powerful followers, along with King Micah.
But they were all free now and yet, there was always a lingering doubt in each of their minds about if they were really still the same after such a horrible experience. Their bodies had been puppeted by another, their very being had been violated, even their voices had been used to sow terror among the innocent people of Etheria. Spinnerella in particular resented the things she had said to Netossa while under Prime's control.
One day, as the Princesses were casually hanging out in Glimmer's room, Catra was the one leading the conversation, Perfuma having been interested in what Adora and Catra's life in the Horde was like.
"So the day after that fight I had with Adora, Adora decided to make things up to me," Catra continued her story. "She grabbed every ration bar she could and smushed them all together into what was essentially a ration bar cake. It was one of the nicest things she ever did for me... she even use the grey kind too! My favourite!"
"Oh those were my favourites too!" Scorpia added. "I actually went back to the Fright Zone during the invasion to see if any of them were left and sadly, someone must have raided the stores because they were all gone."
"Now THAT is a crying shame!" Catra remarked.
Glimmer chuckled. "Oh come on, Catra. With all the better food you're eating now, I thought you'd have gone off the taste of Horde rations."
"That, sparkles, is a taste that you'll never forget!"
"I agree," Mermista suddenly added. "Those ration bars were just... the best. They should never have made the brown kind if you ask me."
Catra paused and looked at the mermaid in confusion. "Uh, flippers... you didn't grow up in the Horde. You've never had a ration bar."
"Of course I have!" Mermista insisted. "Adora always used to save me the grey ones she didn't want whenever we ate lunch in the mess hall! I remember that!"
"No, I did that for Catra!" Adora butted in before she and Mermista both blinked.
"Wait, why DO I remember that?" Mermista wondered, very confused.
"Mermista, how can you remember something that happened to Catra?" Adora wondered. "That's not possible."
"I... I don't know!" Mermista started to panic, holding her head. "I just... remember it that's all! Wait, Adora, do you remember the spot on top of the south tower where we used to go? We could see the whole Fright Zone from there... no that can't be right... why do I remember this... why do I..."
"Breathe, dearest, breathe," Sea Hawk comforted his girlfriend. "We will get to the bottom of this."
"Wait a moment," Spinnerella then mentioned. "I also remember that spot I went with Adora... and I also remember that move she used to trip me up while we were training. She always used to trip me up from behind my left leg to get me off balance... and I fell for it every time." She hugged herself. "How do I remember that too? I didn't grow up in the horde either."
"Spinny," Netossa comforted her. "It's okay, we'll figure this out."
"Okay this is starting to get REALLY creepy!" Glimmer chimed in. "Clearly, somehow Mermista and Spinnerella have Catra's memories."
"No, not just Catra's..." Spinnerella stated, wincing as she held her head. "Mermista... Do you remember the first time Sea Hawk set one of your ships on fire? He was trying to ask you out for the first time and..."
"And I threatened to have him flogged for torching a perfectly good ship!" Mermista finished the sentence. "Wait, Spinnerella, remember your wedding. Netossa wore that long white cape, the one that fastened with the broach of her family crest on her neck."
"My gosh... yes! Yes, I remember!" Spinnerella replied.
Scorpia then raised her pincer. "Um, not to interrupt but I uh... I think I kinda remember all that stuff too. Catra training with Adora. Sea Hawk setting a ship on fire. Marrying Netossa. Heck, I remember when I met Angella... no wait, it was Micah who did that! I wasn't even born then!"
"Okay, this is getting seriously freaky now!" Bow exclaimed.
"You're telling me!" Adora remarked.
"Everyone please," Perfuma tried to bring everyone to attention. "I am sure there is some sort of rational explanation for everything going on here." She looked down at Entrapta, who was busy eating her tiny snacks on the floor nearby. "... Entrapta, do you have any suggestions?"
"Owh! Sowy!" Entrapta replied with her mouthful before swallowing. "I was too focused on my tiny foods! But, this is a very interesting discovery!" She grabbed her tracker pad and held it over Scorpia's head, doing a quick brain scan of her friend before doing the same to Mermista. "Such precise duplication of memory engrams has never been attempted before! So fascinating!"
"I don't find it fascinating!" Scorpia exclaimed. "I find it terrifying!"
"Wait, hang on a moment!" Catra interrupted. "I just realised something. You three have some of my memories and you each have the others memories... but I don't have any of yours."
Things finally clicked in Entrapta's mind. "Of course! It was the chips! When Catra was connected to the hive mind, her memories were duplicated and backed up into Horde Prime's collective consciousness. After we removed her chip, she obviously became disconnected from that hive mind, but her memories were still there. Thus, the same must apply to the three of you. Catra was removed before the three of you were chipped, so thats why you have her memories and she doesn't have yours!"
"But I don't remember kissing Adora at the heart," Mermista admitted. "No offense, Adora."
"None taken."
"Well," Entrapta explained. "You wouldn't remember that because Catra's backup stopped when her chip got removed."
"Okay but there's technically memories that don't belong to us in our heads," Scorpia pointed out, still terribly anxious. "I don't know.... I don't know what's real anymore! Am I even still Scorpia or just ome new person now that just happens to have Scorpia's memories? I'm so scared!"
Wrapping her arms around Scorpia and blooping a rose behind her ear, Perfuma nuzzled into her girlfriend's shoulder to comfort her. "Of course you are still you, Scorpia. You're still the same person we all love. Nothing is going to change that."
"Besdies, Scorpia," Catra pointed out. "You're clearly able to point out which memories aren't yours. That's proof the real you is still in there."
Scorpira breathed out and finally came to her senses. "You're right, you're right, I'm sorry. It's just.... this is all so weird."
"It's definitely going to take some getting used to," Spinnerella admitted.
"Well... it might not be all bad," Scorpia then said. "It's kinda... weirdly nice to have all of Wildcat's memories floating around in here. Like, seeing me from her point of view, knowing how Catra felt. That you really did care about me." She looked at Catra. "Even when you were at your worst and you drove me away, you were so hurt by that and you truly did care. Even if I was an overbearing, clingy pain in your furry behind, you still loved me no matter what."
"I always did, Scorpia," Catra told her, holding Scorpia's pincer. "That's never going to change."
"And I guess for me, since I probably know on a subconscious level how rough a time Catra had in the Horde," Mermista then added. "It's why I've not been as... mad at her as I probably should be, considering she and Hordak trashed my kingdom and all."
"Then there is something good for all of us out of this," Spinnerella agreed.
"But that still isn't gonna stop this being kinda freaky," Mermista then added.
"Well, I am more than willing to help you all work through these memories with some meditation sessions," Perfuma offered. "I'm sure they'll help deal with this um... confusion."
"Can attest to that, they've done wonders for me," Catra replied with a smile.
"I guess it couldn't hurt," Spinnerella admitted. "I have been wanting an excuse to visit Plumeria more."
"That's great!" Scorpia chirped. "We could make a club out of it!"
Mermista snorted. "Don't get too ahead of yourself, Scorpia."
Catra blushed in embarrassment. "So um, promise me you aren't gonna be discussing me and Adora's little secrets to each other, right? Because I think privacy is important here."
"Aw no worries Wildcat!" Scorpia reassured her. "I promise no one here will mention the fact you used to draw pictures of you and Adora kissing when you were like nine!" The arachnid then covered her mouth. "Oh darn it, I'm terrible at this!!"
Adora laughed, and then the whole room started laughing. Catra then hid her face in complete and utter shame. "Great job Scorpia... great job."