#i think this was the moment that she started softening up to scorpia

[spop-romanticizes-abuse]

scorptra really did the cliche “being flustered after getting saved by love interest” trope and they still decided to go with c//a.

[baggebythesea]

Princess Glimmer and the Day of Many Choices: A Tall Slim Woman and a Tall Buff Woman (28/?)

"It can't be!" Glimmer gasped as she and the others stared at the tall figure in front of the Black Garnet.

"Step forth, rats," the tall slim woman by the runestone said with haughty voice and turned around. "I can hear you whisper. Step up and face your better or scurry away."

Glimmer took a tentative step forward eyes huge, tears threatening to emerge at any moment. She stared at the winged woman, dressed in a purple gown and seemingly shining from within.

"…mom?" Glimmer whispered, clearly not believing her eyes.

"No…" Catra whispered in horror. She took a step back, poised to run.

"Queen Angella?" Despara said, horror and remorse written all over her face.

"How is this possible?" Glimmer said, voice shaking.

"Oh, wow, hi!" Scorpia chuckled nervously. "Wow, this is really cool, um, I've heard so much about you - mostly propaganda I suppose, but still. I'm really happy to meet you. Um, but just to be clear, um, that's kinda my runestone you're playing with… not that you can't borrow it, of course, I just thought I would…"

"SILENCE, FOOL!" the tall queen snarled and hurled a ball of lighting towards Scorpia who - in a move that clearly surprised herself - caught it on her claw, where the electricity harmlessly played until it grounded itself.

"MOM! NO!" Glimmer cried. "Scorpia is with us now. She is one of the princess alliance… um, everyone is. The war is over. We won!"

"Silence, I said, you mewling brat," the tall queen snarled, her eyes boring into Glimmer as lasers. "Do not bother me with your games, child."

"…mom!" Glimmer protested, hurt to her core.

"You and your friends play at being princesses while the world is breaking," Angella said with disdain. "Little princesses playing at being queens." She contemplatively looked at the rune stone. "Little princesses playing with dangerous toys."

"Angella…. Queen Angella…" Despara said. "I'm so… I'm sorry… I let you down…"

Angella took a step forward, towering about the crying warlord. Her feature softened and she put a hand on Adora's face.

"Yes, you did," Angella softly said. "But of no fault of your own." She gave Glimmer an unkind glare. "You were given burdens greater than you can carry," Angella went on. "Responsibilities heavier than you should have been asked to shoulder."

As she talked, a red light streamed from her hand and started to engulf Despara.

"Don't you worry," Angella said. "I will take those burdens away. I will not stand aside and watch children with the keys to the cosmos anymore."

Despara cried in anguish as the red lighting tore into her. A moment later Adora - haircut no longer bitchin' - fell forward, hardly conscious, and landed on the floor.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" Catra shouted in fear and anger and rushed up to the sobbing Adora.

"Queen Angella!" Perfuma protested. "I must ask you to step away from my wife's runestone…"

"'Wife'," a mocking voice, deep and hoarse, said as a second figure stepped out from the shadows - a tall, buff woman. "That's rich. The princess of Archnidia rutting with a Plumerian whore."

"Oh, wow, there is no need for…" Scorpia begun, but her voice trailed off as she took in the appearance of the newcomer.

The newcomer held up a claw.

Red lighting played over it.

A simply bitchin' electric guitar chord was heard.

"…mom?" Scorpia whispered.

"Don't worry, daughter," the woman said. "I'll find you a more worthy partner once we have conquered Plumeria for you."

And from her claw shot a stream of red sparks, right at Perfuma.

Part 27 is here: https://www.tumblr.com/baggebythesea/723896819711623168/i-love-how-even-this-one-was-i-might-even-combine

[johannas-motivational-insults]

So I don’t mean this argumentatively, I’m just genuinely confused & would like to understand this. I also struggle with empathy & take things very literally, so that could be part of why I’m not understanding. But where is Catra shown to be empathetic or compassionate? I understand that her abuse informs a lot of her actions and that’s why she is impulsive, lies, and manipulates others in the earlier seasons- they’re survival tactics that she got from SW + growing up in the Horde.

But I didn’t notice her going out of her way for others unless it could also benefit her in some way. I’ve also seen people say that she died in the process of sending Glimmer to Adora, & therefore deserves redemption because she made the ultimate sacrifice, only to then be saved and effectively made to work on her behavior and become a better person. And that would be all well & good, except we don’t really see her working on her behavior, except in the scene where she’s telling Adora that she’s working on her anger, and in the scene where she asks her to stay. I’m also not sure that she actually died, though I have heard a lot of people saying that. And I get that it’s called a redemption arc for a reason, & that the implication is that she will continue to work on her behavior and be better, but I just don’t know that we saw enough of that in the show.

So the thing with Catra is that a lot of this is pretty subtle. And as I said in the other ask that I assume you’re referring to with this, she’s often driven by a mix of selfish and unselfish motives. You’re correct that a lot of the times she does things for other people could also be seen as selfish moves because there’s something in it for her too, but that’s not always true and even when it is it doesn’t mean that that empathy or care for other people isn’t there.

Some examples of times when she shows empathy/care for others while also helping herself:

Gives Adora the sword so she and Glimmer can escape in 1x09, which is a kindness to Adora but also allows Catra to keep her job and her power (even if it breaks her heart to give up on bringing Adora back)

Warns Entrapta to stay out of Hordak’s sanctum and chases Entrapta down when she defies her in 2x03, which seems to be a mix of not wanting to deal with an angry Hordak herself and protecting a rather oblivious Entrapta from getting into trouble

(Note that in both of these examples she does this in a rather brusque or mean way, hiding her concern, but the subtext is there if you watch closely)

However, there are also many instances where Catra helps other people despite there not only being nothing in it for her, but when it’s actually against her own interests. Here’s the ones I can think of off the top of my head (but I’m sure there’s more):

Lies about Adora’s whereabouts and then her identity as She-Ra early in season 1 to protect her from the Horde, even after she’s promoted to Force Captain, which is dangerous not only to her career but to her life and limb

Tries to comfort her abuser Shadow Weaver when she sees her in distress in 1x04 and 1x10, the former instance right after Shadow Weaver gears up to attack her and "drag the truth” from her mind (anyone less empathetic would run away or even gloat)

Brings Shadow Weaver her old badge in 2x06 as a final favor when SW is about to be shipped away for good, despite it possibly being something that could get her in trouble and there being nothing in it for her (and in fact if she’s as selfish and callous as some say she’d deny SW this closure out of spite)

Turns down Scorpia’s offer to break her out of prison in 3x01, which seems to be entirely for Scorpia’s benefit as Catra has nothing to lose at this point (people just don’t see the compassion in this because she drives Scorpia away in a mean way to ensure she actually leaves)

Doesn’t tell Hordak that Scorpia “broke the recordings” that were inside Emily in 4x06, lies and says there was nothing, which turns Hordak’s anger on her instead of Scorpia (this perhaps is also motivated by guilt over how she just yelled at Scorpia and said awful things to her -- like I said, Catra is complicated -- but alleviating her guilt doesn’t help her situation at all so that’s borderline)

If you want, there’s a whole tweet thread of instances of Catra showing care and empathy for others. Some of these are weaker than others and the list may not be complete, but they’re all there for your consideration.

In addition to the things she does for other people, a lot of this is in her body language. If you really watch Catra, you can see that being cruel does not come naturally to her and she feels conflicted about a lot of her choices (or is straight up haunted by them, like her nightmare about betraying Entrapta in 4x03). Likewise, you often see her expression soften when she sees someone in distress. There are so many examples, it’s something baked into her character and it’s evident throughout the show, even when she’s at her lowest. But I think people often miss these moments because she usually shoves that initial reaction down and reacts in a way that on paper just makes her look like a cruel villain. For instance, she has a particularly guilt-stricken moment in 4x12 when Kyle calls her out for treating her old squad badly before she reacts by shoving that guilt down and reasserting her power, as that’s the only thing protecting her.

You have to understand that Catra was taught both implicitly and explicitly that compassion and vulnerability are weaknesses. And throughout the show, oftentimes when she does open up or do something for someone else it results in her being hurt/betrayed. Shadow Weaver in 2x06 and Double Trouble in 4x13 teach her that trusting people and allowing them in is dangerous and only ends in pain and devastation (and with Shadow Weaver, it teaches her the same lesson about showing mercy). When she spirals into her homocidal/suicidal breakdown starting in 3x03 it’s because she finds out Shadow Weaver left her to join the rebellion, just like Adora, and that Bright Moon is now harboring her abuser (as she understands it). Thing is, that all happens just as she’s starting to open up to and actually befriend Scorpia, and even though Scorpia isn’t the one who hurt her it still reinforces that pattern that vulnerability and kindness comes before a horrible, life-shattering event. Because of all this, she hides the empathy and kindness intrinsic to her actual character under layers of power and cruelty to protect her broken heart from being hurt again and protect herself from getting removed from power, because that’s the only thing keeping her from becoming someone’s abuse victim again after so many years suffering under Shadow Weaver’s heel.

I totally hear you about wishing there was a bit more to Catra’s redemption arc, but much like the rest of her emotional arc a lot of it is implicit. I’m very glad they added that one moment where she talks about working on her anger as well as her mini arc with Perfuma in 5x10 that culminated in Perfuma’s speech about learning to be vulnerable so you can be happy. But there’s lots of smaller moments buried in the season too, where we see her conflicted and struggling with these impulses of protecting herself vs. opening up or showing kindness. I mean, her half of 5x06 was basically about that too, though that’s only the beginning of this journey. Having Melog around was great too because they not only mirror her emotions for the audience to see but also help her process said emotions. Basically, the redemption is a process for her and a lot of it is not super explicit but in the end I think we have all we need to understand who Catra really is and that she wants to do better and is going to continue to in the future.

Really, Catra’s redemption arc is not so much about making up for what she did (which I and many others wish there was more of but oh well) as it is about rediscovering her true self and honoring that, learning to be vulnerable and kind again. In the end, her willingness to open herself up to potential rejection and loss and her kindness and love motivating her to help Adora get to the Heart and complete her mission are what ended up saving the universe, and that was a very intentional choice by the creators. Catra’s journey is not about coming back to Adora, it’s about coming back to herself, and I think that’s beautiful.

[harrowharkboygf]

i want to see you, dressed all in white

a short catradora oneshot, set at the time of adora's future vision. requested by @nozomijoestar. read on ao3.

Catra could not believe she was wearing shoes for this. It was such a strange experience, hearing the click clack of heels coming from her feet as she walked, but alas! Such was the life of an ambassador of Brightmoon.

And, she thought privately, the life of the wife of She-Ra. Hopefully. If everything went well tonight. She subtly traced the outline of the ring in her pants pocket. The box itself would have been too big and clunky to fix in her pocket, so Glimmer had helped her out and given her a tiny leather pouch to hold it in.

“If she finds the pouch, just say it contains important ambassador information like…IDs!” Glimmer had suggested.

Catra had raised an eyebrow. “We need IDs for Princess Prom?”

“Well no, but…” It was Glimmer’s turn to raise her eyebrows. “You and Adora did miss half the planning meeting, so how would either of you know?”

Catra had smirked. “We were…busy.”

She gave her a decidedly unqueenly shove. “Of course you were, Horde Scum.” Then Glimmer pulled her into a hug. “I’m so happy for you both. Adora’s gonna say yes immediately.” Catra wasn’t worried about her saying no; she knew that Adora loved her more than anything, and they’d been talking about marriage for a while now. No, she was worried that somehow something would go wrong and it wouldn’t be perfect. Adora was as amazing as the moons and the stars—she deserved perfect.

“Catra? Catra!”

She snapped back to the present. Adora was waving her hand in front of her face, grinning. Even at age twenty-seven, she still hadn’t lost the adorable, dorky look on her face.

“Sorry, zoned out for a sec,” she said, taking Adora’s hand and jumping gracefully down from the skiff. She took a minute to admire how beautiful her girlfriend looked tonight—she looked like a queen in her own right, the tiara sparkling off her golden hair and the white dress making it all too easy for Catra to imagine her walking down a wedding aisle. Her stomach fluttered.

“Are you nervous for your second Princess Prom?” asked Adora; her tone was joking but her eyes softened in a way that made Catra feel instantly safe.

“Not with you by my side,” said Catra, pushing down her nerves and leaning forward to press their foreheads together. “Are you nervous?”

“Not with you by my side,” Adora mimicked, smiling against her lips.

If anyone was definitely nervous, it was Bow and Glimmer. This was the first formal event where they would be introduced as a married couple, and they had spent the whole skiff ride fiddling nervously with their clothes and asking to go over the schedule so often that Catra had asked Bow if he’d switched bodies with Adora.

“You two look amazing,” Adora told them for the seventh time this hour.

“Are you sure the capes don’t look stupid?” asked Glimmer. “I don’t wanna look childish.”

“What if I trip and fall on it?” Bow worried, toying with the edge of his cape.

“If you do, I will laugh and then kick all the asses of anyone else who laughed,” Catra assured him.

“And I’ll help!” said Adora gleefully, holding up her hand to be high-fived. Catra obliged her.

Glimmer and Bow both took a deep breath in sync. “Thanks, guys,” she said, a real smile spreading across her face.

Bow stuck out his hand. “Best Friend Squad!”

Everyone put their hands in the middle. “Best Friend Squad!” they cheered.

——

The former-Fright-Zone-now-renamed-the-Light-Zone looked absolutely stunning. Scorpia had really outdone herself. Unlike at Frosta’s prom, which had been decorated with gleaming ice sculptures, the ballroom was decorated with smooth, sleek black crystals reminiscent of the Black Garnet, giving the whole room a very sophisticated aura.

“Presenting Queen Glimmer and King Bow of Brightmoon!”

Bow and Glimmer did not, to their credit, trip over their capes or do anything else notably embarrassing. In fact, they were the textbook example of dignified, waving proudly to the crowd as they walked up to the dais, and then bowing low to Scorpia, who immediately jumped down from her throne to greet them.

And then it was their turn.

“Presenting Adora, Princess of Power, and Catra of Brightmoon!”

Catra offered her girlfriend her arm. It was partially an affectionate gesture and partially an effort to make sure she herself didn’t trip—she still wasn’t used to these shoes.

“Your Highness,” Catra said to Scorpia as she bowed.

“Oh, none of that ‘Highness’ crap!” Scorpia chortled, practically bouncing off her throne to envelop the two of them in a tight hug.

“All this stuff is so formal,” she whispered. “I’m so out of my depth.”

“You’re doing amazing,” Adora promised her.

The next hour or so was filled with so many boring conversations and introductions. It seemed like every diplomat and ambassador in Etheria wanted to talk to her and Adora. It was really cute when little kids came up asking for She-Ra autographs, but if Catra had to hear about the rising fish prices in Salineas one more time, she was going to be homicidal.

Despite coming as each other’s dates, Catra and Adora had to split up in order to divide and conquer all of their social obligations, a strategy that Bow and Glimmer had also adopted. That didn’t stop Catra from throwing as many longing looks at Adora from across the ballroom as physically possible.

She tried to seek shelter with Double Trouble, who would definitely not force her to ruminate on the state of “today’s youth”—a conversation that withered old advisers seemed to love—but their need to be the center of attention kept also drawing attention to Catra. This made it particularly hard to accomplish her goal of “only talking to people she wanted to talk to”. Glimmer, surrounded by a group of Mystacor sorcerers, gave her an arm squeeze in solidarity as she passed by.

Eventually she managed to escape yet another drab discussion of the pros and cons of a trade alliance between the Crimson Waste and the Kingdom of Snows under the premise of greeting Frosta. She was able to enjoy the beginning of a nice banter/advice session concerning Frosta’s love life before the princess was preoccupied with an adviser asking her opinion on intra-kingdom matters.

“I’m surprised you haven’t taken those off yet,” Adora said behind her, making her jump. She gestured down at the cursed shoes.

“I wish,” Catra grimaced, taking the cup of punch her girlfriend offered. “I was afraid someone would throw a fit.”

Adora wrapped an arm around her shoulders, which Catra leaned into gratefully. “Is it that advisor over there?” she whispered in her ear, subtly turning Catra’s head so she can see who she meant. “The one with an angry look on his face? Are you afraid of him?”

She snickered. “What, did you have to hear his monologue about decorum too?”

“He even made a comment about ‘last time’,” Adora told her, laughing under her breath. “A very pointed remark about breaking tradition.”

“Ooh, insulting She-Ra, is he? I’ll kick his ass.”

“My hero.”

Catra turned to face her fully, placing one hand on Adora’s hip. “You know it,” she murmured, leaning forward to press their lips together.

“Adora!”

Catra pulled back, groaning under her breath, as they both turned to see Perfuma waving at them. The flower princess held up her own cup and gestured at a group of stern-looking Plumerians. Adora pecked her cheek before hurrying off again.

At this point, Catra was beginning to get worried that she wouldn’t ever get the chance to be alone with Adora. She once again traced the outline of the ring pouch in her pocket, biting her lip.

Then, to her immense relief, music started playing. She grinned. It was time for the real party to start.

Adora easily found her on the dance floor. Catra leaned eagerly into her warm touch, let herself be rooted in her relaxed blue eyes. “Will you be my dance partner?” asked Adora teasingly.

Catra pretended to think it over. “Hmm, I don’t know. Are you any good at it?”

Adora winked. “Nope.”

Catra blew her a kiss, and then the dance started, everyone moving in sync. Adora kept her eyes fixed on her girlfriend, her steps steady and confident despite her previously stated lack of talent. “I love you,” she murmured.

“I love you too,” she murmured back. “Always have, always will.”

The movements of the dance pulled them closer, the tempo slowing down. Adora used this opportunity to cup her face and kiss her firmly—finally—before the pace of the music picked back up again and everyone switched partners.

The carefully-choreographed switch in the dance pushed her and Glimmer together, a move that made the both of them grin easily. Things really had changed since the last Princess Prom, Catra thought to herself.

“Do you have a specific plan?” asked Glimmer, nodding almost imperceptibly at her pocket.

Catra nodded. “I just need a way to get a moment alone with Adora.”

Glimmer winked at her. “I can do that.”

Then she was passed off to Mermista, who she hadn’t seen yet that evening. “Heard you knocked up,” said Catra in lieu of a greeting.

Mermista twirled her, a lazy smirk sliding across her face. “Yeah, just a little baby barnacle growing, nothing to see here.”

“Congrats,” Catra told her genuinely. Mermista would never be her best friend—that was reserved for Adora, and Glimmer and Bow—but she had the deepest respect for her, and they got along wonderfully.

A slight blush drifted over her cheeks. The queen had never been good at accepting compliments—one of the many things they had in common. “Bow told me,” she said, “so like, congrats to you too.”

Catra rolled her eyes, but there was no malice behind it. “What, does the entire Princess Alliance know?”

“Probably,” drawled Mermista, and then Catra spun her one last time before they parted ways.

“Catra!” Scorpia greeted her with just as much enthusiasm as before. “I heard the news! How can I help?”

As they began the waltz, Catra mulled it over. “Actually,” she said, her eyes lighting up, “I do have a request.”

——

“Greetings, Princess Prom guests!” Perfuma said in a trill, speaking into the microphone. “I hope you all enjoyed your first dance of the night! Now we will have a live performance by our beloved host, Princess Scorpia!”

The crowd cheered wildly. Scorpia stepped onto the stage, looking radiant and sure of herself under the spotlights. She tapped the microphone once to test it, before she began to hum the opening notes of a ballad.

Scorpia’s song wafted through the ballroom, filling the air. Perfuma sat behind her, strumming a huge string instrument made of wood and occasionally providing backup vocals.

Catra and Adora swayed together on the dance floor, saying nothing, just enjoying each other’s presence. Catra spun her around slowly as Scorpia crooned, occasionally pressing a light kiss to her skin as she drew her closer. Adora, in turn, just watched her, a soft look on her face.

After Scorpia finished her first song of the night, everyone cheered, clapping their hands and whistling in approval. The princess flushed a deep crimson, exchanging a delighted look with Perfuma over her shoulder. A shout of “Encore! Encore!” started up.

Catra took Adora’s hand. “Let’s sneak out for a bit,” she whispered. “Everyone’s entranced by Scorpia’s singing, so we won’t be missed.”

The gleam in Adora’s eyes was ever so familiar, a look that she hadn’t lost even as she grew older. “Lead the way,” she whispered back.

They snuck out through one of the many hallways branching out from the ballroom. The hallways were well lit and decorated similarly to the ballroom; it looked so different from the hallways they’d once scampered through as kids.

But they raced just the same, hand in hand, giggling as they chased each other. Catra mussed up Adora’s hair, cackling as her girlfriend playfully pulled her into a headlock. Their outfits were thoroughly disheveled by the time they reached the ladder, but Catra didn’t care.

“Do you recognize where we are?” she asked.

Adora touched the rail of the ladder. “Of course,” she said, returning Catra’s grin. “I’d recognize this place in my sleep, no matter how many times the walls are repainted.”

Catra kicked off her shoes, sighing with relief when the pads of her feet touched ground again. “Follow me, then.” She hoisted herself up onto the first rung of the ladder, and began to climb.

“Not fair!” shouted Adora below her. “I’m wearing a dress and you’re not!” But she heard her feet touch the ladder rungs anyway.

Catra offered Adora her hand on the top rung, which she took gratefully. The two of them stood together on the platform, in the exact spot where they’d spent so many hours as children. Catra inhaled, breathing in Adora’s sweet, familiar scent.

Adora stared out over the former Fright Zone, still wrapped around Catra. “The Light Zone is a good name,” she said finally.

Catra purred softly as she ran a hand through her hair. “It’s so much nicer now,” she marveled. “Scorpia did so well.”

Adora turned to look at her. “So did we,” she said, cupping her cheek. “We’ve rebuilt so much since the war ended seven years ago.”

Catra picked up on the double meaning of her words. “We have,” she said, pressing their foreheads together and smiling against her lips. Her heart pounded in her throat. This was the perfect moment.

Catra pulled back, just far enough to give her space to kneel. Quickly, she rehearsed her speech in her mind, She reached into her pocket and pulled the ring free from the leather pouch.

She began, “Hey, Adora—”

“Will you marry me?” blurted out Adora.

Catra’s jaw dropped. For a minute, she said nothing.

“I mean, you—you can say no,” Adora said hurriedly, clearly taking her silence as a bad sign. “I didn’t plan out an elaborate proposal or anything, I don’t even have a ring, but—”

“I have a ring!” said Catra, still shocked.

It was Adora’s turn to gape at her. “You—What?”

A grin split Catra ear to ear. “Yes, you idiot!” she exclaimed. “I was going to propose to you tonight—right now, actually! Glimmer and I have been planning this for months!”

Adora almost fell over laughing, clutching her stomach. “Wow,” she said, breathless, “we make quite a pair.”

“We do,” said Catra, throwing her arms around her neck and kissing her passionately.

“I love you,” Adora told her, her words slightly muffled against her lips.

Catra got down on one knee and held out the ring in her palm for real. “Adora,” she said, ignoring the happy tears that pricked the corner of her eyes, “will you marry me?”

Adora knelt down so they were level. “Yes,” she breathed out. “A million times, yes.”

[thatsgay-writes]

Catradora x Reader Part 2

Summary: You, Catra, and Adora have known each other your whole life. You’ve gone through some hardships together and apart but in the end you’ll be together again. (That sounds very cryptic but its not, I swear)

Warnings: Light cursing? I think

Leaving Adora had hurt but she had 2 new people to look out for her and soon the whole Princess Rebellion. And you knew you couldn't leave Catra like that, she still needed a support system. Especially with her having to start dealing with Hordak. And you would have gladly stayed by her side... Until she went to far.

Flashback #2

You were with Entrapta and Scorpia when Entrapta was testing what the outcome of the portal would be. It all ended with the world exploding. Catra had come into the room soon after. "Catra we can't open that portal, Adora was right, the world would..." "What did you just say?" Catra said interrupting Entrapta. "Adora was right, the world would explode if we open the portal." Catra interrupted again, yelling, "Of course Adora was right! Adora is always right!" Catra pauses and takes a deep breath. "It doesn't, we are opening that portal no matter what." She turns to leave, but Entrapta grabs her arm with her hair. "Catra we can't, it would be catastrophic." Catra suddenly turns around and shocks Entrapta with a huge scowl on her face. She looks to 2 guards standing in the door way. "Take her to Beast Island." The guards move to pick Entrapta up. "Catra you can't..." "Catra don't..." me and Scorpia start saying at the same time. Catra whips around to us threatening us with the taser. "Do you both want to end up like Entrapta because I will gladly send you with her." We both stay silent and take a step back. "That's what I thought." She says as she walks out of the room. You take a second but soon start to follow after her, with the intent to stop her. "y/n don't who knows what she might do to you." Scorpia says grabbing onto your arm. "It doesn't matter, someone has to stop her or the planet is endanger." You said ripping your arm out of Scorpia's hand running off.

When you got to Hordaks lab you saw Adora tied up to a pole on her knees. You started to run to her when the Princess Rebellion and Shadow Weaver appeared in front of you. "Adora!" a girl with short hair yelled. She and the group were about to take a step forward before Catra made part of the ceiling fall right in front of them. Without wasting anytime you ran forward and jumped on a boys back (Bow) and used your momentum to jump over the fallen ceiling and hit Catra away from the switch. "y/n?" Adora asks with shock before remembering that she was trying to break out of her chains. "Catra I can't let you do this." you said as Catra stood up. She just glared at you before attacking. You just dodged her attacks, not really wanting to fight but at the same time hoping someone from the Rebellion is trying to get over the fallen ceiling. Catra soon realizes you are stalling and makes a decision she knows she will ultimately regret. 

Catra grabs a laser gun that was laying on the ground and fires it. At first your confused because it didn't even seem like she was aiming at you. Until you saw where she was aiming at, who she was aiming at, Adora. It felt like time slowed when you realized this, there was no way for Adora to dodge the laser, still being tied up, it would hit her right in the chest. "Adora!" you yelled sprinting towards her and jumping in front of her. The impact of the laser against your stomach sends you sliding across the floor and in front of Adora. You look up slightly to see Adora trying harder then ever to get out of the bindings she was in. "No no no y/n! Catra look at what you've done!" Adora yells as tears slowly stream down her face. Catra pauses a moment seeing the scene in front of her. Adora with her hands tied behind a pole, tears streaming down her while looking in between you and Catra. And you laying on the floor eyes barely open, breathing faintly in a pool of you own blood. For a second Catra thinks that maybe, maybe this was a mistake. That maybe she should have left with Adora all those weeks ago. And that maybe if she had, all of you could have been happy.

But then she hears the Princesses yelling for Adora trying to get over the fallen ceiling and get to her. And in that moment Catra realizes its too late for her to suddenly flip a switch and go good. Adora probably hates her and now y/n probably does too. And y/n was the last person she felt that truly understood her. So she does what she does best, she chose to be evil. And pulled the lever.

*time skip*

You had watched Catra pull the lever and it felt like only a second before you watched it break and saw Adora in her She-ra form step out. You watched as she glared in anger, for what seemed like the first time ever, at Catra before kneeling down next to you, her face softening. "y/n..." she says so lightly, you almost miss it. She transform back to normal and takes off her jacket and ties it around you stomach tightly to try and slow the bleeding. The Princess Rebellion by that point had made it over the fallen ceiling and were watching what was happening. Adora picked you up as gently as she could, you groaned in pained slightly before shoving your face into her neck. Letting out a breath of relief from being close to her again. Adora blushed slightly before she realized that her jacket was becoming a darker red. She turned to her friends with urgency. "We need to get back to Bright Moon, fast!"

Flashback End

PREVIOUS /// NEXT

[stanningscorpiahours]

i just want to start a flame in your heart

ao3

Catra stood slightly hunched with her arms wrapped around herself, her eyes downcast and her ears flattened.

“What do you want?! Why are you so intent on destroying everything?”

Adora is so angry. Her fists are clenched and her breathing is heavy and she's just so angry. And Catra feels empty.

“I-I don’t.”

“You don’t what, Catra?”

Adora is glaring and her arms are crossed and Catra is so, so tired. She’s just...exhausted.

“I don’t want to destroy everything. I never did. Do you think I really want the world to burn? Of course not. But you would know that, wouldn’t you? If you had stayed. You didn’t. You left.”

She barely notices as Adora bares her teeth in frustration, “You could have come. I asked you to come with me. I begged you.” 

Catra blinks and gapes a little at Adora’s cluelessness. Does she actually believe that? She must. It's Adora, she’s always been a bit optimistically ridiculous. Well, she supposes it's about time they hash this out. So, she straightens her back and lifts her chin. If they’re going to do this, then Adora can look her in the eye at least. If they’re doing this then Catra will at least pretend at being equals for once in their lives.

“I could have come with you? I could have come with you?! You find a magic sword in the woods that turns you into a tall glowy lady and the next day I’m supposed to leave behind everything I’ve ever known? The only home I’ve ever had? Because you suddenly realized what I could have told you when we were 5?”

Adora shifts and her glare softens slightly into a frown, “Wha-“

“What was I supposed to do? Walk right into Brightmoon beside you and tell them all ‘Yeah, I know I’m a horde soldier and I’m not a magic sometimes princess to make up for that but I’m with her.’ Is that what I was supposed to do, Adora? Ride the coattails of the mighty She-Ra as she destroys the evil horde? Stand in your shadow like I have every day of our lives as your new best friends pretended to tolerate me just to appease you?”

“I-“

Adora tries to speak, probably to defend herself based on the stiff set of her shoulders and furrow of her brow but Catra has been holding this all in for far too long. She can't stop now. If she stops she might never start again.

“No. No, you probably didn’t even think that far ahead did you? You spent half a day with a few random strangers chasing a glowing, metal stick and decided that you suddenly had moral standards. Get over yourself and face it, Adora. You left. You left the horde. You left our squad. And you left me. And I don’t have to forgive you for that because you think your reason was good enough. Sometimes I hate you for it.”

Adora drops her arms and hunches her shoulders. There are tears in her eyes, “Catra...I don’t…”

“No. You don’t. You don’t understand. You don’t know. You don't ever think. You’ve never had to. You’re Adora. Adora the favorite child. Adora the perfect soldier. Adora who has never done anything wrong. Adora who didn’t realize that the horde were the bad guys until someone ripped her eyes open and forced her to because you never bothered to on your own.”

Catra watches the fight drain from Adora’s body. Maybe Scorpia is right about all of that communication nonsense because Catra already feels immensely better.

“So, no. I never wanted the world to burn. Sometimes I wanted you to burn. But. What does it matter?” Catra shrugs one shoulder and looks away, “You’ve never needed me around. Not really. Maybe that’s why it was so easy for you to leave.”

“Easy? You think it was easy?” She’s shouting and the fury is back in the stiff set of her shoulders and furrowed brow, “You’re not the only one who had never had another home, Catra! The Horde was all I had ever known! I don’t even know where I came from. But what was I supposed to do? Was I supposed to stand back and watch as innocent civilians were attacked? Their homes destroyed? Their lives taken? You might be fine with that but I’m not.”

Catra doesn’t know what to say. How does she respond to that? Catra has been fighting desperately just to survive every day of her life and she never expected Adora to know what that feels like but she still expected her to realize. How is Catra supposed to keep herself alive if she’s trying to keep everyone else alive too? Catra’s place in the Horde has been in jeopardy since the day she showed up. She had always known the only reason they kept her around was that Adora insisted. Shadow Weaver never missed an opportunity to remind her how easily she would be gotten rid of as soon as Adora got bored of her. It didn’t matter how useful she made herself. She was unimportant. She was unwanted. She didn’t have the luxury of fighting for anyone else because the moment she let her guard down she was finished.

But Adora doesn’t notice or doesn’t care about the thoughts running through Catra’s mind because she just ploughs on, like always.

“I didn’t know. And you’re right, I should have. If I had ever listened to you. If I had ever actually looked at what was going on. I would have known. But I do now and I can't ignore it. This is what I’m meant to be doing. I have to do this because no one else can. I’ve hated fighting you and our squad and our friends. It hurts so much. But I don’t know what you want me to do, Catra.”

Adora doesn’t know what she wants? She doesn’t know? Fine. Fine, if she doesn’t know after all these years. If she's the only person in the world who hasn’t fucking noticed. Then Catra will just tell her.

“All I have ever wanted was for you to see me for once in our miserable lives!” Catra is nearly screaming, getting louder and louder with every word but she can’t find it within herself to care, “I don’t care about your stupid sword. I don’t care about the horde. I don’t care about the rebellion. All I have ever cared about is you, Adora!”

Adora is gaping and speechless and Catra suddenly decides that she might as well go all in. All her cards on the table. Maybe if she puts her heart out on her sleeve it will finally stop killing her from the inside out.

“I have loved you since the day we met and you never even took a moment to notice, Adora! This entire world could be destroyed and I would not care so long as you survived!” Catra draws in a shaky breath and the next thing she says is barely a whisper, “I would have gladly died for you if you had asked it of me and then you just...left. As if none of it mattered. As if I didn’t matter.”

“You. I. What?”

Adora is fumbling over her words and her face is slack with shock and Catra snorts.

“What? Don’t know what to say? I never expected you to feel the same way but I thought you must know. Everyone knows. It's the worst kept secret in the Horde. There’s a betting pool for fucks sake, Adora. But you never have been good at seeing things you don’t want to.”

This seems to surprise her into action because Adora steps forward and gets that determined look on her face that Catra has always found charming.

“Of course I feel the same way. How could I not? I never said anything because. Because I was scared. I was a coward, Catra. I was scared of rejection. I was scared of reciprocation. Even if I had told you and you had felt the same it wouldn’t have gone well. Not while Shadow Weaver had so much control over our lives. She would have hated it. Then she would have blamed you and punished you and taken you away from me. I couldn’t risk losing you and I know how that makes me sound because I did leave and maybe you’re right and it was too much to ask you to come with me but I didn’t know what else to do,” There are tears streaming down Adora’s face. Catra doesn’t think she has ever seen her look so devastated, “I’m so sorry I hurt you, Catra. That’s the last thing I ever wanted to do.”

Adora apologizing sends Catra reeling. She hadn’t expected it when this started, she just had to say everything. To get the words out so they would stop tearing her apart every time she slowed down enough to think. But maybe...maybe they can both have what they want? Maybe she can take a risk on this rebellion business. Who knows, it might be great. It might be happy.

“Okay. Okay, fine. If you can get the princess club on board, I’ll go. There’s nothing for me in the Horde anyways. Not if you aren’t there.”

Catra watches the shock and confusion and exaltation cross Adora’s face and when that smile Catra has always adored shows up, the one reserved for when Catra does something Adora thinks is wonderful, she thinks that maybe this will work out. It won’t be perfect but it may be worth the trouble.

[contagiousprincess]

i defy you, stars- Chapter 1

“From your first cigarette to your last dyin’ day”

Two households, both alike in dignity

(In fair Verona where we lay our scene)

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes

A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;

Whose misadventurous piteous overthrows

Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife.

The fearful passage of their death-marked love

And the continuance of their parents’ rage,

Which, but their children’s end, naught could remove,

Is now the two hours traffic of our stage;

The which, if you with patient ears attend,

What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend

-William Shakespeare

The Whispering Woods were once tangled growth, full of creatures and plants alike waiting for their chance to claw to the surface. The soil was fertile and the air was sweet, but the area was crowded. The so called “whispering” was the noise of the wind pushing and squeezing it’s way through the brush and tightly woven tree trunks. Or, according to legend, it was the noise of the wildlife twisting, changing, moving to confuse lost travelers. 

No one was quite sure how the first people managed to make their stake along the banks of the river that ran through the heart of the forest and emptied into the ocean. But they imagined that they had to follow the forest's rules, because otherwise they would have been eaten up and spit out like the bugs that crawled along the skin of the ground. However they did it, those people weren’t alone for long.

Soon enough, another group came to compete, on the other bank of the river. The two different clans of people could have cooperated, learned to help each other, and survived to tell the tale to others. But just like the wildlife and fragrant trees before them, the two seemed determined to push the other down to reach the top, drawing lines in the silence that separated them. 

Where before, the forest was one giant, breathing body, a new word was introduced to the area: border. They fought for control of the harbor and the trade route along the river, but they were so evenly matched that no one ever won, instead locked forever in an endless stalemate.

So, the two groups began a bitter rivalry. One that continued for many, many, many years. Long after a bridge was built, connecting the two sides of the river for trade (though neither group would dare suggest it was necessary). Long after The Whispering Woods no longer whispered since the trees were gone and the wind had grown hot and stale. Long after the bugs and skin of the earth was replaced with cobblestone streets and alleys. So much long after, that now when asked what they were fighting over, the groups could not even remember, only that if the Horde and the Alliance ran into each other on the streets, someone would walk away badly hurt or worse. 

And this was how on a particularly sweltering hot day, six people almost died.

“Did you just flip us off?” Though most of her thick hair was pulled into a band beside her face, Mermista brushed the remaining pieces of hair out of her eyes, as if to make sure she was seeing clearly, but her dark eyes and thick eyebrows were dangerous, daring anyone to mess with her.

“And what if I did?” Lonnie catcalled, the sound ringing through the street. She was shorter, but stood tall, her boots planted firmly on the street with her hands on her hips. The braids on her head framed her face and softened the defined lines, but there was nothing soft about the way her mouth curled as she taunted the other girl.

“I’d tell you that if you apologize for it, we won’t beat you into a stain on the street.” Mermista stood shoulder to shoulder with Sea Hawk, who might not have been the sharpest tool in the box, but could fight just as well as the next guy. His dorky mustache and dumb boot and bandana combo seemed harmless enough, but he had a tendency to burn down anything in his path. Literally.

Lonnie considered this, and turned to Rogelio, who was broad and as mean as nails, visually and physically intimidating. “Do you think we would get arrested if I flipped them off again?”

“Yes,” Rogelio said simply. A man of few words, so when he used them, it was prudent to listen.

She rolled her eyes. “Fine.” Lonnie looked Mermista up and down and called, “I didn’t flip you off, but I was flipping someone off! Now, why are you still here?”

“You picking a fight?” Rogelio said. 

“Me? Pick a fight? Never,” Mermista said, eyes flashing.

“Watch it,” Rogelio grunted. 

“Now why would I do that?”

“Because Shadow Weaver is behind you!” yelled Lonnie, suddenly. She pointed, fear flashing across her face. Mermista and Sea Hawk spun around wildly, craning their necks, but they were only met with the normal hustle and bustle of the harbor. 

Lonnie busted out into laughter, doubling over and eventually having to sit on the ground to catch her balance and breath. She held her stomach, tears running down her face as her laughs echoed through the street. 

Mermista and Sea Hawk turned around, faces red and now so furious, sparks practically flew off of them. Sea Hawk unsheathed his sword and started towards them, but his friend grabbed onto the collar of his shirt, but he still strained against her.

“Oh, we got ourselves a comedian, huh?” Mermista drew her sword and faced them. “Personally, my favorite joke is the one where we pummeled the two Horde scrum into dust and they got washed down the river. The punchline always gets me.” 

Lonnie finally started to rise from the ground, and pulled out a dagger. “I’d like to see you try.”

Rogelio turned toward her, drawing his sword, and quietly said “Don’t forget that parry maneuver we’ve been working on. It’s all in the footwork.”

“Not the time, Rogelio! We have bigger problems, like a princess and her big fat mouth!”

At that, Mermista released Sea Hawk, and the four lunged towards each other. As soon as the clang of metal swords started to echo through the city, a young male voice could be heard yelling for them to stop. 

After a minute passed with no avail, an arrow careened over the group's heads, making a horrible screeching noise and catching their attention for a moment. Taking advantage of the opening, Bow pushed his way into the center, driving them apart. A top notch archer, the dark-skinned teen was well respected in the Alliance. He wasn’t necessarily the strongest, but agility and cleverness kept him on his toes, as well as alive. 

“Everybody back up! Do you have any clue what you’re doing?!” he screeched, desperately holding his hands up in a feeble attempt to keep them from colliding again. He finally managed to wrest Mermista’s sword out of her hand and pushed her and Sea Hawk away from the Horde teens. 

“We stand on thin ice as it is,” he said to the two of them. “Whatever the Horde trash did to provoke you isn’t worth it.” Raising his voice, he called, “They aren’t worth any of your time.” He gestured to Lonnie and Rogelio with Mermista’s sword, glaring as he did.

Lonnie opened her mouth to defend herself, but she was interrupted by another member of the Horde. 

Scorpia was tall and extremely buff, making Rogelio look like a prepubescent boy. Her shock of white hair on top was cropped close to her head and her eyes, normally kind and warm, were furious and focused. Scorpia, drawn by the sounds of fighting, had started running over seconds ago but now was faced with the sight of Bow pointing a sword at her two friends. 

She stormed in front of the two and stared down Bow, who paled upon seeing her. 

“Threatening my friends, Bow?” She towered over the other boy, and he craned his neck to see her. “Hope you had fun, because I won’t let it happen again.”

“I was trying to get them to stop fighting, Scorpia!” Despite their difference in size, he set his jaw and didn’t back down.

“With your sword drawn?” She scoffed.  “A likely story! You Alliance brats are always so high up on your horse, yelling about peace, complaining about the fighting but then you come into our territory and attack us when we mind our own business, and I, for one, am sick of it.” 

Bow began to speak very slowly and deliberately, as if explaining something simple to a child. “I. am. not. attacking. anyone. But if I was, it wouldn’t be much of a fight,” he smirked. 

Scorpia, enraged, drew herself up to her full height, and faced him, head on. “Lets have at it then,” she said, voice deadly even. 

Bow hesitated, and then knocked an arrow and drew it. “Fine with me”

Scorpia charged at him, leaping towards his head with her bare hands. Bow quickly ducked and rolled underneath her, coming up behind Scorpia on one knee. Just as her feet hit the pavement, he released his arrow. The arrowhead fractured in midair and split, shooting out a web, the delicate filaments of wire and carefully placed weights searching for a target to ensnare. 

The web slammed into Scorpia’s shoulder, biting into her skin and pulling her down, but only managed to wrap itself around her arm, fortunately for her. Unfortunately for Bow, Scorpia grabbed hold of the web and began to swing it, transforming her trap into a weapon. 

She advanced on him, taking the weighted net with her. Bow tried to back up and pull another arrow, but she closed in on him, taking advantage of his lack of close range weapons. She swung the web at him, and he ducked the first time, narrowly avoided the second, but on the third she feinted towards his head, changed course and then used her net to sweep his feet out from underneath him. 

Bow fell flat on his back, his head hitting the ground with a sickening thud, and Scorpia towered above him. She raised the heavy weights above her and started to bring them down on him, but a shout stopped her cold in her tracks. 

A small crowd of citizens had gathered, circling the group, but they during the fight began to chant something that completely baffled the six enemies. 

“Down with the fight! Down with the Horde! Down with the Alliance!”

The racket grew and grew, gathering almost all of the citizens not affiliated with either the Horde or the Alliance. The cacophony reached its peak when a horn call sounded and the crowd cleared a walkway and silenced. They stared up in awe as the 3 most powerful people in Whispering Woods strolled in front of them: Hordak, Shadow Weaver, and Angella. 

Hordak was muscular but not overly so. He walked with an odd gait, and his greasy black hair and beady eyes that were almost red were disquieting. But he radiated power, and as he walked the citizens bowed. Hordak was the Prince of the Whispering Woods, and he would be obeyed. 

Shadow Weaver was the leader of the Horde, one of the feuding groups, and Angella was the leader of the Alliance, the other. The two were both tall, but the similarities ended there. Shadow Weaver was lanky, and had long dark hair. She was clothed in deep red, and wore a mask covering her face. Even though her eyes couldn’t be seen, anyone who felt her stare grew anxious. Angella, on the other hand, was willowy, with long, bright hair. Her face was kind, but sharp. This along with the circlet inlaid with a pearl that sat on her forehead, immediately gave the impression that this was someone who was to be listened to and obeyed without question. 

The Prince strode in front of the other two, but they stood as far apart as possible, shooting each other with dark looks that made the citizens uneasy. Hordak, commanding the attention of every person in the street, sauntered up to where Scorpia still stood over Bow. Without saying a word, he flicked his wrist and Shadow Weaver and Angella untangled the two and dragged them as well as the other four to opposite sides of the circle that the crowd had formed. 

“Citizens!” Hordak boomed. “I have heard countless complaints about the feud which has led to this incident.” He sneered as he said it, making the fact that the enemies had almost killed each other seem as insignificant as childhood tomfoolery, and in a way, it was. “This ancient grudge has interrupted trade, caused countless injuries, and endlessly fosters riots and unrest amongst my people. It is high time for it to break.”

Angella and Shadow Weaver began to stammer, no doubt trying to pin the blame on the other, but Hordak simply held up his hand and they fell quiet. 

“I recognize that I cannot control the… feelings of my citizens.” His lip curled. “However, something still must be done. The city cannot stand with its people constantly fighting in the streets. So, my decision is this: whichever of you causes any more disturbance in my city will pay for it with their life.”

The crowd broke out into anxious murmurings, and the feuding groups began to protest, but Hordak held firm.

“I have made my decision. Now all of you go before I regret not ending you all here and now.” He leveled a glare at both groups and the citizens, who hesitated but began to disperse. Hordak turned his gaze to the women who led both groups and called out to them. “Shadow Weaver, follow me. Angella, I will speak with you later.”

The Horde and Alliance members all hesitated for a moment. 

“Was I unclear? GO!” roared Hordak.

With one final glare at each other, the two groups broke apart. Shadow Weaver fell into step behind Hordak, Angella led her Alliance towards the other side of the river, and Scorpia took the Horde members in the direction of their manor.

None of them noticed what was left behind. As they all meandered away, muttering darkly about their respective foes, a clear mark of the fight remained. Though no one could say exactly who it belonged to, it didn’t really matter in the end. 

A singular smear of sticky, scarlet-red blood stained the cobblestone street, seeping into the cracks in the mortar, already beginning to dry in the sweltering hot sun. 

notes: hiya! im katie and the idea for this fic basically mugged me in the middle of the night and i had to do something about it. this is just a teaser i think theres like a part two of chapter one but it was bulky and i wanted to post something bc why not. im not quite sure what im doing with this fic but i dont care im having fun lmfao. ive never written any fic before so be nice or i will block you i dont give a shit! this will probably go up on ao3 as soon as i can get an invite so for now this will live on tumblr yee haw! anyways lmk what yall think but only if its nice kk byeeee xoxoxo

[onemilliongoldstars]

“Come on Adora, where are you taking me?” Catra stalks a few steps behind her. Her nimble limbs and long tail would easily allow the girl to catch her if she really wanted to, especially as the overgrown ground beneath their feet, covered in vines and moss, is uneven and occasionally unstable. Catra though, chooses to linger behind, dragging her feet and bemoaning the loss of their warm bed. 

Admittedly, dragging her love from the cocoon of blankets and cushions in their Bright Moon apartments had been something of a challenge this morning. Catra loves to sleep in, a trait she attributes to years of 6am wake up calls in the Horde, and what she loves even more is to drag Adora’s arm around her waist and curl up so small that she fits in the bracket of Adora’s body, breathing her in. Pulling her to her feet this morning, before the sun had even risen, had been a trial that involved cajoling and threats, sleepy hisses and even the flash of dulled claws. 

It hadn’t helped that the moment Catra had risen, grumbling darkly, Melog had slipped onto the bed where they had been and curled up in a ball with a smug swish of his tail.

“Adora. Adora.” Catra whines now, and Adora risks a glance back over her shoulder, though she knows what she will find. As expected, Catra is glaring at her, her dark jacket thrown over her shoulders, and her hair pulled up in a messy ponytail that appears as wild as Melog’s mane in the dawn light. She’s pouting, sulky, and it’s all Adora can do to not sweep her into her arms at the sight and kiss her pout away. Instead she reaches back and offers her hand. 

Catra takes it, of course. She always does now.

Still, she complains. “Seriously, the sun isn’t even up yet. There had better be a good reason for this.”

“There is,” Adora assures her, squeezing her hand. She sets big blue eyes on Catra, “Trust me?”

Catra’s mouth drops open, protesting soundlessly, and she grinds over her response for a moment before admitting defeat. “You know I can’t say no to that face. It isn’t fair.”

The grouch is too much for Adora, who darts forwards to capture a kiss from her lips. Catra gasps, but it takes her only moments to wind her hands around Adora’s neck, her claws scratching so very lightly down Adora’s neck until she pulls away again. Catra stares at her, eyes wide and lips pink, and her expression twists with annoyance when Adora grins and begins to pull her along again. 

“Do you know where we are?” She asks, over her shoulder, and Catra springs over a vine covered lump to walk by Adora’s side, their shoulders brushing and their hands still intertwined. Every so often her tail flicks playfully at Adora’s hair. Adora watches her from the corner of her eye, looking for any flicker of discomfort, but Catra seems calm and a little exasperated when she answers.

“Of course I do, we grew up in the Fright Zone. You think I wouldn’t recognise it now even though Etheria has covered it with green stuff?”

“Do you mind being back here?” It had been a risk, Catra doesn’t often return to the Fright Zone, not even when they go to hunt for remnants of old tech. Adora knows she used to find it too unnerving to return, the memories of the Horde and their childhood prickling over her skin, but it’s been years and Catra is able to smile at her now. 

“No,” She answers and their years together tell Adora that she’s being honest. “At first it was… hard to come back here. So many memories.” A shiver runs through her and Adora can’t help but lean closer, still the protector after all this time. “But now... “ She casts Adora a quick glance from her yellow and blue eyes, and a rueful smile sits at the corners of her lips. “I suppose I remember the good parts more than the bad.”

The words bring a slight flush to her cheeks and she brings their hands to her mouth to brush her lips against Catra’s knuckles, and then disentangles their hands. “Race you to our old spot.”

She shoots off through the undergrowth before Catra can protest and behind her she hears the girl let out a bark of laughter, before hurried feet set a pace behind her. The Fright Zone really is a different place. In the years since they defeated Horde Prime the lush foliage of Etheria has taken over the metal structures and rough hewn earth of the old Horde stronghold. Some of the space has been cleared to make room for new villages and towns, but it’s only the bravest of Etheria who dare to return to these old haunts, and even Scorpia has chosen to make her home in Perfuma’s peaceful kingdom of Plumeria rather than returning to her ancestral home.

Still, her hands and muscles remember the push and pull of these familiar climbs and she throws herself up the towers with the abandon of youth. Despite her head start Catra passes her by easily, swinging her way past, her tail curling to keep her balance. She smiles down at her, her eyes glowing with enjoyment, and Adora grins back. Despite her smile though, nerves are fluttering through her stomach now and she swallows, trying to remember the encouraging words of her friends when she’d told them what she intended to do. 

It’s been years since that fateful day in the heart of Etheria, with Catra’s arms cradled around her, but she’ll never forget the sight of her face appearing in her most desperate hour or the outstretched hand that she’s clung to ever since. Her friends understand, to an extent- they fought as well after all, they lost people just like she did- but it is only really Catra who knows how much being She-Ra nearly cost her. 

She hauls herself over the lip of the tall mechanical tower minutes after Catra and finds her stood near the edge of the platform, where the railings have long fallen away, looking out over their childhood home. Adora joins her, linking their fingers together, and Catra casts her a smile over her shoulder, but her eyes are soft with thought. 

“It looks so different.”

“It does,” Adora follows her gaze to the luscious green jungle that surrounds them. Trees are beginning to grow between the ruins, saplings reaching up for the sky, and every so often she catches sight of a magical creature flitting through the undergrowth. If she fixes her eyes on the horizon and ignores the skeletons of metal groaning beneath the weight of the greenery, she could almost forget what it used to be. “I like it like this.”

“So do I.” The sun is just beginning to rise and the watery sunlight is golden, picking up the threads of lighter brown that have become prevalent through Catra’s unruly mane since she began spending her time under the bright Etherian sun instead of the fluorescent bulbs of the Horde. The girl in question turns to set her with a quirked eyebrow, “As nice as the view is, do you wanna tell me why you dragged me out of bed before the sun?”

“Oh, yeah sure,” She smiles nervously, digging her fingers in her pocket and closing them around the small golden wings that she’s been carrying for far too long. “I don’t know if you know but… Etherians have a custom… joining people together.”

Catra’s ears twitch curiously, her tail swishing a little impatiently behind her, but it says a lot that she doesn’t interrupt. 

“I know it isn’t something that we used to do in the Horde and I totally get it if you think that it’s stupid or not-”

“Adora.” Catra’s hand on her shoulder draws her from her rambling and she blushes a little, giving her a grateful smile. “Just ask me.”

“It’s called marriage, and it means that you pledge to love each other always. No matter what.” She pulls the wings from her pocket and unfolds her fingers, offering them out. “Traditionally you give the person something of yours, to signify that you love one another.”

Catra’s eyes are wide now and her ears are perched just so, just as they always are when she’s surprised. “Kind of like a Force Captain’s Badge?”

The words pull a laugh from Adora, and she nods, smiling. “Yes, kind of like that, but much more romantic.”

“So you’re saying…” Catra is staring down at the golden wings in her outstretched hand. “That you love me… and you’ll always love me? That’s what this is?”

“Y-Yeah,” Tendrils of worry are beginning to wind their way up her stomach and clutch at her heart now, and she feels a hot flush of embarrassment work its way over her neck and cheeks the longer Catra stares, mute. “You think it’s stupid, never mind,” She rushes to shove the wings back in her pocket, but a familiar hand clasps around hers, stalling her and when she looks back Catra’s eyes are wet with tears. 

“You really want me? Forever?” 

Adora’s lips part with understanding, and she feels everything within her soften. Her arms wrap around Catra’s waist and she draws her closer, until their bodies are flush and she can rest her forehead against her love’s, draw a tender hand over her cheek and murmur. 

“Don’t you get it? I love you. I always have.”

Catra lets out a watery laugh and this time it is her who wraps her hand around Adora’s neck and draws her in to kiss her, lips soft and affectionate and filled with the salt of their combined tears. 

Needless to say, Catra wears those wings for the rest of her life, and snarls at anyone who tries to touch them.

[pennamesmith]

My Friend, My Skeletor

Adora and Hordak talk over coffee. Skeletor has a pleasant day. More ‘Skeletor’ stories.

*

Chattering excitedly about near-death experiences, the last of the clones strolled out of the hallway door at the end of another Ex-Horde Therapy Group session. Wrong Hordak watched them all go and waved cheerfully.

“I am so sorry about that,” Perfuma groaned, next to him. She was covered in twigs, moss, and mud, and leaned exhaustedly on Scorpia’s arm. “I didn’t realize the Whispering Woods would provide quite so... hostile an environment for a walking meditation. Or that so many of the brothers would wander away from the group. Repeatedly. No matter how many times I reminded them that they could have become emotionally dysregulated, or eaten.”

“Nonsense, noble Perfuma!” Wrong Hordak reassured her, sparkling happily. “We have learned much today about the value of understanding our responses to uncomfortable feelings, and also monsters.”

“And Adora got everyone back just fine!” Scorpia added, patting Perfuma’s head. “I mean, I think she did? I hope she did. I didn’t exactly count. I’m pretty sure we got them all. Wrong Hordak?”

While Wrong Hordak counted carefully on his fingers, Adora wrapped up leftovers from the snack table. She, too, was covered in forest detritus, and still felt some of the lightheadedness that came after turning back from She-Ra. It had been an eventful day, to say the least. Putting away the room alongside her were Catra, Hordak, Entrapta, and ‘Skeletor,’ a spindly former Horde bot Entrapta was currently refurbishing. So far the results had been mixed.

“Idiots! Foolish mortals! If I’m not there, nothing is done right!” Skeletor whined, as he stacked chairs. “Myaah!”

Adora snorted, and idly picked at some of the leftover food. Her eyes flitted to where Catra was chatting shyly with an exuberant Entrapta, and she felt her heart swell. Despite the disarray, her world was healing.

“Hey Adora!” Catra called, looking her way suddenly. “I’ve gotta, uh, talk to Entrapta about something real quick. Right outside. We’ll be back in a minute, okay?”

Adora flashed a thumbs up as she chewed her way through some stale bagels. While Catra ushered Entrapta into the hallway, Hordak glanced in Adora’s direction and caught her eye. He left Skeletor with a broom and dustpan and approached her at the table.

“Your bravery and strength were most impressive today,” Hordak commented, pouring himself a cup of something hot from a copper carafe. Despite his looming stature, he seemed smaller and humbler in Adora’s presence. “We are… indebted, once again, to your kindness and protection. Perhaps you should, as the people of this planet say, take it easy for a moment.” He gestured to a free chair and offered a second cup of the drink he’d gotten himself. Adora accepted both and plopped down with a relieved sigh.

“Thanks. Today was an adventure all right,” Adora agreed, slouching in her seat. She sniffed at the dark, steaming liquid in her cup. “What is this stuff, anyway?”

“It is of my own invention,” Hordak said, with a hint of pride. He sat in another chair next to her. “The distilled essence of roasted coffee plant seeds. It contains restorative properties. The taste is naturally bitter, but you may add sugar if you wish.”

“Uh-huh, uh-huh,” Adora nodded, emptying most of the provided container of sweetener into her cup. Her sword flashed, and then she was stirring the drink with a tiny golden spoon. “You weren’t half bad today either, you know. I liked what you said about learning from failures.”

“Mm.”

An awkward silence stretched between them for several seconds. Adora scratched her head and a few leaves fell to the floor.

“You know, I’m proud of you.”

It was Adora who said it. Hordak looked at her in surprise, but she kept going before he could say anything.

“I know what it’s like to start a whole new life after only knowing the Horde. And what it’s like to not be trusted at first.” She paused, considering this. “I mean, I know it’s kind of different since I’m She-Ra and everyone was cool with me after like a day, and you’re the leader of the whole Etherian Horde and got brainwashed by Prime and some people still despise you even after you rebuilt Salineas and cleaned up Beast Island, and…”

She trailed off. Hordak’s expression was impassive.

“Uh, but I’m getting off track. My point is, it’s hard to keep doing the right thing after pain like that. And you are. Um, doing. The right thing, I mean.” Flustered, Adora took a generous gulp of her drink. Her eyebrows shot up and her pupils dilated by several centimeters. “Oh. Wow. Wow. This is… wow. You want to go for a run? I feel like I could go for a run all of a sudden.”

Hordak found his face softening. “I believe I understand what you are trying to say.”

Adora, caffeinated, was not listening. “I mean, look at this guy!” She gestured vaguely at Skeletor. “He’s ridiculous!”

“Behold my mystic cage of bones!” Skeletor cackled, as he emptied his dustpan into a trash bin.

“Most people would have thrown that thing out in the garbage,” Adora went on, rapidly tapping her feet.

“Entrapta did not,” Hordak countered, smiling.

“But you just… talk to it!” Adora threw her hands up, spilling some of her coffee. Skeletor saw the new mess and groaned in annoyance, fetching a mop. “You talk to it, and you’re patient with it, and you reason with it,” Adora said. “Even when it’s not being reasonable.”

“Meheheheheh! Now we’re playing in my dimension! See if you can stand up to my stun-ray!” Skeletor cried, mopping the floor.

“The mending process does not always make a great deal of sense,” Hordak conceded. “But we must be brave.”

“Speaking of,” Adora abruptly cut in. She took another huge swig of her drink. “You remember that thing I asked you about the other day? When Catra wasn’t here?”

Hordak quirked a brow. “I recall.”

“Good, because I’ve got blueprints.” Adora pulled a stack of scribbled-on paper napkins from her pocket. She held them up for Hordak. “Do you think you can do it?”

Hordak plucked a napkin from the stack and studied it. “Yes. This should be well within my scientific capabilities. I will contact you when construction is complete.” He hesitated. “Thank you for… trusting me, Adora. You are… an admirable role model.”

Adora smiled back.

“I’ve done it! I’ve triumphed at last!” Skeletor crowed as he finished cleaning.

Catra came back into the room at that moment, trailing an excitedly chattering Entrapta. When she saw Adora, Catra’s eyes bugged and she clamped a hand over the scientist’s mouth.

“That’s right, Entrapta!” Catra said, very loudly. “Science is very scientific! I couldn’t agree more!” She paused, casting her eyes back and forth. “And. Thank you for talking to me about, um… science. I respect your interest in this topic, because we are friends.”

Catra coughed.

“Aw, thanks,” Entrapta beamed, giving Catra a light pat on the head. “Hordak! I’ve got lots of new ideas for experiments after today! Listen to this!”

She and Hordak immediately fell into a world of their own, filled with trajectories and equilibriums. Adora smiled fondly at the pair and stood shakily to her feet, accepting a helping hand from Catra. She wasn’t sure if her heartbeat was racing because of the coffee, or because of the closeness of Catra’s face. But she felt fantastic.

*

Later, in their laboratory, Hordak eyed Entrapta over a paper napkin schematic. “It may amuse you to know the favor Adora asked of me today,” he began.

“Guess what Catra wants me to build?” Entrapta blurted out at the same time.

“She needs me to make her a ring,” they both finished together.

There was silence. The two mad scientists gaped at each other for a moment, and then the lab was filled with the ringing sound of their guffaws.

“Can we observe the reaction?” Entrapta squealed. “Please?”

“That would be rude, my dear.”

“Okay, okay,” she pouted. “But. Are we going to tell them?”

“Of course not! That would corrupt the data.”

Entrapta clapped happily. “Oh, this is going to be so much fun! Do you think we should make them matching, like ours?” She tapped at a purple First Ones crystal that hung on a pendant around her neck, the twin to Hordak’s own. “Ooh! Or what if we made ones that turn into robots?”

Hordak, who still felt laughter bubbling up from inside him, leaned in closer to his imperfect, beautiful partner. His imagination burned. They had much to scheme.

“Ahh,” said Skeletor. “I can’t remember when I’ve had a more pleasant day!”

[mage-cat]

First Steps Home - Landing

The Rebellion set out of rescue Glimmer. Now, they’ve returned with much more than they expected. What sort of welcome will Catra receive at bright Moon?

Chapter 3 of part 2 of the Mending Bridges series. First chapter of this fic here. Start from the beginning of the series here.

Story under the cut. ~1200 words. Link to AO3 through here.

The tension on the ship stayed thick and silent until the spires of Bright Moon began to distinguish themselves from the rest of the upcoming landscape.

Glimmer touched Bow’s shoulder. “He’s really down there?”

He reached up to hold her hand. “Yeah, he is.”

“Tell me about him?”

“He didn’t realize how much time was passing on the island. When we said we knew you, he thought you were still a little kid. I don’t think he really believed how many years it had been until he saw Mermista and Perfuma. We’ve been filling him in as best we can. Your Aunt Casta’s visited. She’s filled him in more and insisted he actually get one full night’s sleep. Pretty sure magic was involved in that.” Bow smiled. “He’s exactly what I would expect from someone who was your dad: strong, stubborn, and kind of goofy. I like him.”

When the ship landed, there were two people waiting. To make a point, Glimmer and Catra disembarked hand in hand. That grip was quickly dropped when Glimmer and King Micah locked eyes. Catra didn’t hear what they said to each other as Scorpia rushed up to her.

“Catra! You’re here! And you’re not tied up or anything!”

“Glimmer and I worked some things out, and Horde Prime’s job offer was terrible.”

“I’m sorry I--”

Catra placed a hand on Scorpia’s arm and said firmly, “No. I promised myself that I was going to apologize to you the first chance I got. You have nothing to be sorry for.” Her voice softened. “I was losing it, and you were not going to be able to pull me back from that edge by yourself. I needed a wake-up call, and--well--that note you left was an important first step.” A weak smile crossed her face. “You wanna hear something dumb? It took me way too long to realize that you weren’t faking being nice or caring about me.”

Scorpia smiled back. “Hey. I grew up in the Horde too. I get why you thought that. It’s sad, but it’s not dumb.” She swept her up into a hug, and possibly for the first time, Catra did nothing to fight it.

Glimmer placed her hand where Scorpia’s arm met Catra’s back, calling both our their attentions to her and prompting Scorpia to put Catra down.

“I’m bringing Entrapta and Hordak to Dryl before him being here causes a riot.”

“I’ll try not to cause one while you’re gone,” said Catra.

“I’ll help,” added Scorpia.

As Glimmer walked back to where her soon-to-be passengers had stayed hovering near the door of the ship, Micah approached them.

“So you’re Catra. Glimmer says you saved her life, which in my mind outweighs anything else you may have done, and Shadow Weaver doesn’t have a single good thing to say about you, which means we’ll probably get along great.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“I also hear that you have the makings of a pretty good sorceress. After you’ve gotten some rest, I’d love to see what you can do. Then, maybe I could show you what else you can do.” He looked over at his daughter as she teleported away. “I dreamed about teaching Glimmer sorcery for a long time, but I was expecting to teach a little girl, not a grown queen. Now, I think I would like having a second student around in case things get awkward between us.”

Catra smiled, feeling a tiny flicker of the hope she didn’t really trust yet. A movement of green at the edge of her vision caught her attention.

“There’s one spell Glimmer taught me that I can show you right now.” She gave him a moment to recognize the rune and nod his consent before calling out. “Double Trouble!”

In rapid succession the rune hit their chest, and they went sprawling on their back with Catra seated firmly on the center of mass that they shifted their shape around.

“I hardly think I deserve--” They choked on their words. “Actually I fully deserve this.” They sighed. “Of course as soon as you start slinging runes around, you learn a truth spell.” They both flicked their eyes to the side as Adora strode over. “Stand down, lovely. Catra won’t hurt me unless I give her a reason, and you would probably agree with her reasons once you’ve calmed down.” Adora was pulled away by Bow as Double Trouble’s attention refocused on Catra. “To what interrogation do I owe the pleasure of you straddling me?”

“You have proven that your loyalty belongs to the highest bidder. Horde Prime can bid very high. Would you sell us out to him, or do even you have your limits?”

“I have my limits.”

“And just what are those limits?”

They grimaced. The spell would ensure that anything they said would be the truth. It didn’t actually force them to talk. That’s what Catra’s claws pricking into their shoulders were for in this equation. Their mouth worked, searching for a phrasing they could live with. “I would never do anything to jeopardize the safety of Green Glen.”

“And just what makes Green Glen so special?”

“It’s home. The fortunes of Green Glen rise and fall on the skills of its spies. My mercenary work is intended to be a... journeyman’s phase of my career before I return to do my duty for the realm. Aiding someone who would destroy it would be a failure. A Horde led by you might have worked out an amicable agreement with the royal family if it came down to it. Horde Prime shows no signs of similar inclinations.”

“Is that why you sought me out? Ensuring the safety of Green Glen?”

“Part of it.”

“Tell me another part of it.”

“The stories around you intrigued me. Your masterful performance at the All Princess Ball. Your swift takeover of the Crimson Waste. The size of the rumored bounty that had been on you for years.”

Catra sat back and crossed her arms. “Okay, that last one is news. Tell me more about that.”

“Bounties on missing children aren’t unusual. Word spreads faster when there’s an incentive. It is unusual for people to remember an unclaimed bounty well over a decade later, but understandable when the reward is that high. It seems that to someone out there you--or at least someone with your very distinctive eyes--are worth a princess’s ransom. I wish I could tell you more, but I never got a hold of the exact details.” Double Trouble smirked. “Anything else you need to know the truth about? I could dish all kinds of juicy details about the romantic lives of the Bright Moon kitchen staff.”

Catra gestured to dismiss the spell and stood up. “Go.”

“One more truth,” Double Trouble said as they rose. “You don’t have to magic it out of me. It’s good to see you again, kitten. The world without your smile in it is a little bit duller. Such a natural agent of chaos as yourself shouldn’t be so grim. I hope your new path makes it come out a bit more often, and I look forward to watching you wreak righteous havoc if you’ll allow me to assist.”

Catra smirked, “No rest for the wicked. We need all the help we can get.”

Next story: Once a Force Captain >

[starlitpaint]

Okay so I know it’s Day 3 for @glimadora-week and I’ve already done a Flower Shop/ Tattoo Parlor AU thing bUT i uH got inspired

Anyways here’s a fleshed out AU for Flower Shop/ Tattoo Parlor told through noTES- who knows maybe I’ll make it a comic lmaO

————————————

-Adora has worked at the Horde tattoo shop since she was 16, as she was in their foster system care and they fudged her paperwork to make her look older. The Horde tattoo shop is super shitty and attracts bad people.

-No one wanted to hire her for the longest time bc “oh she’s from the Horde Foster Home, nothing but trouble those assholes”

-At 18, she manages to get hired by Brightmoon Tats, a MUCH more reputable parlor. Adora tells her (soon to be ex) gf, Catra, who freaks out because she’s leaving for “brIgHtMoOn?!?!”

-Adora tries to reassure her bc she’ll still be living in the Horde Foster Home (mostly bc of their horrible practices that make it really hard to move out, may be some legal blackmail involved since they faked her age)

-Catras not having this and after a little bit of Adora working at BM Tats decides to try something to bring her back, that being pretending to cheat on her with Scorpia. Scorpia hates the plan but wants to see her wild cat happy.

-Adora doesn’t react how Catra expected and breaks things off, even after both Catra and Scorpia explain that they weren’t actually going behind her back.

-How does she break it off tho? Well I’ll tell you.

-It’s a really rainy day, and Glimmers working in the flower shop reluctantly. She closes as soon as the clock hits seven, but she soon hears a knock on the door.

-As annoyed as she is, she goes to check it out, stopping in her tracks when she realizes it’s that cute girl who works next door who she’s never talked to. And she’s crying.

-Glimmer lets her in and is like “yo wtf happened???” And Adora just asks what flowers are used for breakups cause she wants to soften the blow, despite what Catra did. (She still thinks she cheated at this point)

-Glimmer helps her out, and gives her her number in case she ever needs to talk.

-Adora takes it and thanks her before leaving

-The two start talking more, and eventually after a particularly bad day with Adora feeling like she made the wrong choice, Glimmer invites Adora over for a sleepover to get away from Catra, since they’re still living together at the home.

-The sleepovers become more frequent as the months go on, even on good days. They learn more about each other, and Adora opens up about how she would love to work in a lower stress environment but because of her background no one else would hire her

-Glimmer opens up about how she hates working at the flower shop because it screws with her allergies and she’d rather do something with art. The only reason she works there now is because her mom dragged her into it

-They’re close friends at this point, and both start to hatch a plan to switch jobs. Adora wants to be a florist, and Glimmer wants to do tattoo art

-They start teaching each other the others craft on their days off, and grow closer doing so.

-Glimmer vouches for Adora when she applies to Micah’s (which is what I’m calling the flower shop now don’t @ me), and after a lot of convincing, she gets Adora hired.

-Glimmer also gets her job at Brightmoon Tats on the same day, which Angella is begrudgingly proud of.

-When Adora stops in for a visit, Glimmer runs up to her and tells her the news. They celebrate with a huge hug, and because it’s such a big emotional moment for them, the kiss just,,,, kinda happens???

-They start dating and it’s super adorable

-Epilogue: Months later, Adora is seen moving out of the now closed down Horde Foster Home. It’s revealed that they got it closed down with Angellas help, as before Micah’s death she was a lawyer. (Why did she switch professions then? Because after Micah’s death she realized she needed to spend time with family more than anything, and she knew how to run a business to make sure she could still afford everything for Glimmer. A flower shop seemed like the perfect thing for her at the time.)

-Catra is helping move stuff out because Glimmer threatened her and told her she “fucking owed it to Adora” after what she put her though.

-Adora and Catra are somewhat friends again, but their relationship will never be the same.

-Might have Scorptra be canon if I do a side story on Catra working though stuff and redeeming herself

-Adora and Glimmer move in together in their own apartment, despite Angella’s protests that it’s TOO SOON!!!!

-Epilogue Two cause I can: After Adora and Glimmer get married, Angella makes Adora the heir to Micah’s Flowers (Thanks to @laulink for this ideA)

-They live a long happy life, eventually adopting like four kids (one of them is Frosta fight me) and at least three cats. ThE END.

—————————

WOOP I have no regrets lmao- hope y’all enjoyed thAT SJDNSJDKE- lemme know if you wanna see me do anything with this AU :0

[youngjusticeslut]

Point of Retreat

Fandom: She Ra and the Princesses of Power Links: FF.net // AO3 Characters:  Catra, Adora Ships: Catradora Summary: Legend has it that the Whispering Woods was where lovers would go for passionate trysts. Rating: T+ Disclaimer: I don’t own any of these characters.

Legend has it that the Whispering Woods was where lovers would go for passionate trysts.

The Brightmoon legends, at least. The Fright Zone legends regarded the Whispering Woods as a threat, highly dangerous, only to be entered when surrounded by a flank of armed soldiers. And even then, it didn’t guarantee survival.

Though Adora had been away from the Fright Zone for five years, she still had trouble picking apart the correct legends from the false ones. Despite visiting the Whispering Woods on a near-weekly basis, her fear lingered. Every gush of wind brought goosebumps to her skin. The crawling leaves quickly stiffened her stance. She rarely entered the woods alone as Adora. Only as She-Ra.

Still, the Whispering Woods was somewhere she could be alone. Adora loved spending time with her friends, with the Princess Alliance, and especially with all the different citizens of the places she’d sworn to protect. Over the years, she’d grown used to passion people had for She-Ra. On multiple occasions, she had stayed as She-Ra for days, doing her due diligence to repair what the Horde had destroyed. Nothing pleased her more than to give people peace.

Sometimes, though, she craved the silence of the Horde.

Adora wasn’t perfect, and she would never be. There were some days she just needed to be alone; not often, but some. On days where the world was crawling up her throat and she felt herself slipping, she disappeared into the Whispering Woods. There was no reason in the world for her to lie about it. None. Everyone would have more than understood if she needed to take a day off.

She lied anyway.

The days where it was harder to breathe, she made a point to let everyone know she would be training in the woods under Light Hope. No one questioned it; it was almost too easy to lie to them. Adora felt awful every time she did, but she continued doing it. It was hard shaking off her insecurities, and lying had always come easier to her; real lying, at least. Years of covering for Catra had taught her well.

In the woods, under the protection of She-Ra, she could take the time to connect with herself. Not once would she enter the First One’s sanctuary. No, instead she would wander, savoring the sound of her own thoughts and slashing a few rocks when she needed to get out her frustrations.

It was a formula, but it worked.

After a particularly stressful diplomatic outing in the Kingdom of Snows, a break was sorely needed. Glimmer had been going on and on the entire journey back, both gushing with pride over how accomplished and respected Frosta was within her kingdom, and raging with annoyance over how uptight her administration was. After disembarking from Swift Wind, Adora had a monster of a headache.

The very next morning, she gave her excuse and took the quickest route straight to the thick of the woods. On her last visit, she’d discovered a swimming hole but hadn’t had the time to try it. A swim was bound to clear her mind and set her straight again. Luckily, She-Ra had a better memory than Adora did, so she was able to relocate the small oasis without too much trouble. The hike took most of the day, and by the time she reached it, the sky had gone dark. Thanks to the bioluminescence of the various flora and fauna, she had hardly noticed.

When she reached the hole, she took a break on a large rock, letting out a sigh of relief. The grass here was lush, abundant and perfect for camping. She’d have an easy time sleeping, that was for sure.

No sooner had she let her mind wander did the hair on the back of her neck begin to prick. Someone was here. Without even having to think, she grasped her sword and shot to her feet, flaring out in the direction of the darkness in the trees.

“Show yourself!” Adora demanded, holding her sword out taught.

The figure that stepped out of the shadows wasn’t a stranger, or a rogue Horde soldier; she was worse.

“Hey, Adora.” Catra paused, narrowing her eyes. “No, that’s not right. You’re in your princess form.”

It was infuriating how those two words could render Adora frozen. Two simple, inconsequential words. Words that had absolutely no effect on her when any other person spoke them; so perhaps it wasn’t even the words at all, but rather the speaker.

“What are you doing here?” Adora snarled, her fist clenching tighter around the hilt of her sword.

She hadn’t seen Catra in well over two years. As it became more apparent that the Rebellion was at equal strength with the Horde, the Horde settled into the background. Battles were minor, as were casualties. Once in a while, they’d launch a surprise attack and take back one of their bases. More like a game of cat and mouse than anything. It was fitting, considering Catra was in command.

The feline took a step closer, and Adora instinctively took one back. Catra had changed since the last time she’d seen her. Her uniform was different, looking closer to Scorpia’s once had, but darker, and with tears down the legs. Seemed fitting. Her hair was short now, chopped roughly by her jaw. It suited her, and Adora hated herself for thinking it.

Catra lazily waved a tablet at her. “Detected a new First One’s artifact.”

Adora scoffed, narrowing her eyes to a glare. “You could have sent one of your lackeys. “

“Aw, how sweet,” Catra purred, taking another step forward. “You’ve been keeping tabs on me.”

“I keep tabs on every member of the Horde. You’ve been stagnant for too long, which only means trouble. What are you up to, Catra?” Adora tried to move backwards, but a tree kept her from going anywhere. If she wanted to, she could attack the girl in front of her in a matter of seconds. And yet, she remained still. It was almost comical how much confidence Catra possessed, considering how much shorter she was than She-Ra.

Catra smirked instead of answering. It spread slow and still on her face, sending a sharp pang straight to Adora’s chest. Instead of dwelling on the feeling, Adora growled and spun them around so that Catra was the one against the tree. The tablet crashed to the floor, but the feline remained unchanged. If anything, she only seemed amused.

“For someone so keen on keeping her distance, you sure are pressing awfully close,” she mused, the smirk only growing wider.

Adora held her arms tighter, refusing to allow her any chance at escape. There was no doubt in her mind that the woman in front of her was up to something “Stop the games. You disappear for two years, and now you suddenly show up?”

“Almost sounds like you miss me, Princess.”

“Don’t call me that.”

The smirk left Catra’s mouth and it took her a moment to respond. For a few, awkward and tension-filled seconds, it was just the two of them in a stare off, waiting for the other to buckle. Given that it was Catra’s turn to quip, she sighed, her face softening. “Then put down the sword.”

The scoff that left Adora’s throat was bitter, nearly guttural. “Right. I put down the sword, and you claw my eyes out. Fat chance.”

“I won’t claw your eyes out. Scout’s honor.”

Catra’s words could hold just as much water as a slotted spoon. Adora didn’t trust her, and she probably never had. Still, something about the way Catra was staring at her made the grip on her sword loosen. She’d never really been the brightest girl.

When the sword was on the ground, the familiar cold rush of She-Ra leaving  coursed through her body. Suddenly she was the same height as the woman before her, no longer towering and not nearly as confident. Catra didn’t flinch at the change, but her expression softened. “Hey, Adora.”

There was that tingle in her stomach again.

Adora busied herself with something clever to retort, something that would make Catra just as uncomfortable as she was. Before she had concocted two words, Catra lifted her hand, reaching up to run her nails through Adora’s ponytail. In a million years, this was never something that Adora had expected her to do.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice coming out breathier than she’d wanted it to be.

Catra shrugged, letting her hair slip through her claws and drawing her hand back. “It’s been a while.”

“Two years.”

“That long, huh?” Catra’s eyes grew dimmer, looking right at Adora for the first time. “Thought it’d been shorter.”

“What are you doing here Catra? Did you come here to find me, is that it?” Adora snarled, raising a brow. “Whatever you’re planning, it won’t work. I can promise you that.”

Catra rolled her eyes. “Are you going to keep me pinned against this tree for much longer? My back is starting to hurt.”

The right thing to do would have been to interrogate her thoroughly. Adora should have picked up her sword again, transformed it into rope, and dragged Catra back to Brightmoon, even if she fought her tooth and nail. Yet something held her back from doing so. Maybe it was the time lost between them and how unexpected her appearance was. Maybe it was their old bond, forever unbroken despite the battles, the war, and even the betrayal. Or maybe it was just the lingering sensation on her scalp from Catra’s claws in her hair.

Adora backed away.

“Get out of here, Catra. The woods aren’t safe at night.”

Instead of slinking off into the shadows, Catra remained put. She bent a leg and rested it on the tree, crossing her arms. “I’m here with you, aren’t I? No one’s going to hurt me in your presence.”

As much as she would have liked to rebuff it, she had a point. Adora rolled her eyes anyway, for good measure. “I don’t want you here. You only cause trouble.”

Catra chuckled, pushing herself off the tree and starting to close the distance between them. Her steps were slow, contemplated, and Adora felt her breath hitch as soon as they were inches apart. “Well, the second part of that statement was true. Care to run that first part by me again?”

“I don’t want you here,” Adora repeated, trying to convince herself. Even she couldn’t deny how warm her face was getting as Catra got closer. She was sure that the feline could hear the rapid thumping of her heart against her chest.

“Oh, Adora.” Catra lifted her hand again, cupping the blonde’s jaw. Her fingers were rough, calloused from years of training, but they held her jaw tenderly, almost as if it could break in her grasp. “You couldn’t believe that if you tried.”

Before Adora could say anything, Catra leaned forward and pressed her lips against hers.

When imagining their first kiss, Adora had pictured them being younger. She’d always wondered what her friend’s lips would taste like, and if the kiss would be as rough as Catra was. But no, this was gentle as could be.

Adora pulled away first, eyes wide and face pale. “You just…” she trailed off, unable to form any other words. Catra had just kissed her.

“Yeah.”

“We can’t… this isn’t right. No, we can’t do this.”

Catra shook her head and laughed, fluffing up her hair before picking up the tablet on the ground. “Hate to break it to you, but we just did.” She turned to look at Adora, still frozen to her spot. “See you around, Princess.”

[bigdumbscorpianwife]

A Scorpion and her Cat

((I'm not a fic writer but I gave it a quick go as I had an idea))

I remember the day she found me.The rain had soaked me through. My tan fur slick against my body and droplets ran down my whiskers. I had been left alone and I went out to look for her but got lost. All the rocks and trees looked the same, at one point I was certain I had gone in circles. I eventually managed to get out of the woods, the stark contrast to the land unsettled me but I figured if I was going to get found by her it'd be here. I didn't move from this spot.

I don't believe she abandoned me. Still to this day I have no idea why they had never returned or tried to find me.I don't think I did anything wrong. I hadn't shown anything but loyalty and love. Sure, I caused some trouble here and there but what cat doesn't? Nothing extreme, couple shredded plants, a decapitated mouse and a smashed vase. Anyway, I wasn't really sure what to do. My owner had always been there for me. She had looked after me since I was a kitten. She kept me out the worst of trouble and kept me safe. I was truly lost without her. So, I sat in the downpour and waited. The rain had just stopped when someone appeared.

She was tall, far taller and wider than my previous keeper. She looked like an intimidating brute who could crush a man in one hand…(well,I guess claw would be correct) But I soon discovered I was wrong. Her brows furrowed,calculating eyes looked over me. I tensed ready to fight or flee. Then her demeanor suddenly switched. She had this big beaming smile as she squealed, “Kitty!”. I flinched as she reached a big meaty claw towards me. The whole thing caught me off guard. I tried to warn her not to get close,I eyed her as she crouched down her hulking figure. Her voice then softened and she slowly reached out again. All I could do was hiss and scratch. I caught her with one of my claws but she didn't react. “Are you a stray? We should get you somewhere dry.” She cooed. I hissed again but she again ignored me. She lifted me up and cradled me to her chest. At first I tried to resist but her grip was firm. She was warm and dry,which was better than my current condition. I decided in order to survive this was my best option.I drifted off at some point listening to her hushing “I got ya, I got ya…”

I woke bundled in blankets in a small cardboard box. Took me a few moments to register my surroundings. It was a small windowless bedroom. Bedroom was pushing it, it had a simple metal bed frame and a mattress you would be generous to say it was an inch thick. There wasn't really much else of note except a couple doodles stuck to the walls and a couple hangers with some clothes. I fought my way out the blankets,that's right, fought. I had been tucked in well. When I was finally free,I realised two things, I was dry and I was starving.

The woman from before came into the room holding a metal meal tray. “Hey kitty! You're awake! Oh boy, I'm glad of that! Had me real worried there.” She sat herself down on the floor near me. She set the tray down too. “The rations here aren't the greatest but this grey stuff is pretty good.” She nudged it towards me. It was some grey jellied bar of….something. I didn't really care what it was and started inhaling the contents.

“Woah woah slow down there buddy! You'll be sick if you eat this quick...ha that rhymed.”

"Yeah right” I  thought to myself without looking up. I continued eating as fast as I could. The faster I had my fill the quicker I could get out of here. But...She was right. I should of listened.

Everyday she'd come try pick me up and kiss my head, everyday I resisted best I could. It didn't seem to phase her. She'd put me down and then go about her day, doing what she did beyond that door. When she returned she'd tell me all about her day. How she impressed Shadow Weaver,who ever that was, with some raid on something or other. She'd pet me gently as she spoke. Sometimes she'd draw something and pin it to the wall. It was quite often a self portrait (I only assumed so. How many Scorpia ladies have you seen?) She'd always draw a cat somewhere in it. I guess that was supposed to be me. The mane and markings reflected my own. We had a routine. Wake up, hug/resist hug, she'd go to work, I slept, she'd come back, hug/resist hug.

The first few weeks I hated it. I attacked her each time she tried to hold me but she was patient. I settled with her eventually and I'll now let her do this every so often. Sometimes I even let her pull me up onto her lap as she pets me. She deserves that much.

Today she came back excited.

"I met another kitty today! I mean what are the chances?” She grabbed a notebook and pencil from her desk and sat on the edge of her bed. She focused on drawing and after a few minutes looked up at me grinning. "Anyway, she was grumpy like you were but now we're friends. We're gonna be a super pal duo!” I blinked at her a couple times. She pushed her drawing in my face “Isn't she cool?”.

It crudely depicted her holding hand (or claws) with a much smaller slim girl with cat ears and a tail and an angry face. "Her name is Catra...she's kinda a cat.” She seemed to think on it a while "oooh it's in her name. Kinda like my name I guess.” She set the drawing down and picked me up to cradle me like on our first day together. "You know, I hope we can be best friends. Catra and I. She seems like she's been hurt lots and could do with someone to help her and look after her.” She looked down at me and sighed "I'm gonna make her smile.” She then went to kiss my forehead and I let her this time.

As the days went by she told me more of her time spent with Catra and soon someone else joined their group. More and more drawings ended up plastered to the wall. Everyday she'd come pick me up and kiss my head, everyday I let her.

[pennamesmith]

Welcome Back, Skeletor

Hordak wants to talk to Catra about something. She-Ra does battle with Skeletor. More ‘Skeletor’ stories.

*

Another day, another Ex-Horde Therapy Group meeting.

Today the clones were helping to arrange a large circle of comfortable chairs, under Wrong Hordak’s enthusiastic direction. Perfuma, whose meditation lesson the previous week had proven popular enough to warrant an encore, centered herself while Scorpia did her best to shuffle a deck of yoga cards by her side. More clones trickled in through the hallway door every few minutes.

Catra watched this from her vantage point in the back of the room, where she was helping to set up the snack table. Beside her, Entrapta’s latest pet project - a reprogrammed Horde drone she’d nicknamed ‘Skeletor’ - set out more food while making various nasal utterances.

“Meheheh. You’ve done your job well, Catra!” Skeletor declared, surveying her work. Suddenly he snapped to attention. “Gah! It’s that muscle-bound female, She-Ra!”

Catra followed his gaze to the other end of the narrow table, where Adora had claimed an entire tray of cheese cubes for herself and was now eating them by the handful. At Skeletor’s approach she made a small sound of panic and hurried away toward the circle of chairs, hunched protectively over her plate.

A giggle escaped from Catra and she turned away from the scene, only to be met by an enormous looming shadow looking down at her.

“Oh! Hordak!” Her tail puffed and she tried, unsuccessfully, to hide it under the tablecloth. “Didn’t see you there, buddy. You, uh, want some honeydew?” She held the plate up like a shield.

Hordak accepted a piece of the offered fruit and regarded her mildly. “Thank you. I hope Skeletor isn’t bothering you too much?”

Catra shrugged. “Nah. His laugh is weird and he keeps calling Melog ‘Clawdeen,’ but he’s harmless enough.”

“You should also avoid his doomberry pies,” Hordak advised, casting an eye toward the food. “I am… not displeased to see you here today, you know. I was uncertain if you would return after your first visit.”

“I could say the same about you.” Catra looked back towards the chairs, where Skeletor and Adora’s disagreement over the cheese plate was heating up. Entrapta had appeared between them and was holding the two warring parties apart with her hands, while her hair fidgeted with Skeletor’s circuitry and snuck bites of cheese. “I guess we both have our, uh, significant princesses to blame for that. Plus, it’s actually kind of nice to talk about stuff with people who get it.”

“Indeed,” Hordak agreed, looking in Entrapta’s direction. “Also, I… had another motive in seeking you out today. I wish to apologize to you. Catra.”

He said her name awkwardly - the first time he’d spoken it aloud since their imprisonment on Prime’s ship - and Catra felt her bearings bouncing away.

“Um. You want to apologize to me? Did you forget about, y’know, the whole Beast Island thing?”

“No,” Hordak growled, and for a moment his eyes grew sharper before softening again. “But nevertheless. I was a poor leader. And I caused you pain. And I am sorry for that.”

Catra raised her eyebrows, then realized that he was reading off a piece of folded paper. “Did somebody put you up to this?”

Hordak huffed. “Hardly. Princess Perfuma merely suggested that it might behoove me to admit my wrongs and make amends with those I have harmed.” He looked away and shuffled his feet. “Scorpia may have helped somewhat with the wording.”

“No offense, but if that’s the road you wanna go down, you’re going to have a lot of amending to do.”

Hordak nodded. “Yes, well. It seemed as good a place as any to start.” He pocketed his paper. “The Princess Alliance has seen fit to forgive us our past lives in the Horde, and it would be disrespectful if I did not attempt to live up to that.”

Catra chuckled. “Hordak, the Alliance forgave us because nobody was in the mood to start a war with Dryl, Plumeria, and She-Ra at the same time.” She caught his expression. “But you’re right. So, uh, thanks. I’m sorry too. For everything. For whatever that means.”

“More than you may know,” Hordak said, smiling softly. He glanced at something past her shoulder. “Excuse me. This may require my assistance.”

Hordak hurried off in the direction of Entrapta and Skeletor. The robot was now being held aloft in the scientist’s hair, limbs flailing wildly. He shook his fists.

“Dolts! Halfwits! Bunglers!” Skeletor cried.

“Now, come on Skeletor, play nice!” Entrapta cajoled.

“I am not nice!” Skeletor shot back. “Blast that She-Ra! Always meddling! Myaah!”

Hordak reached them and began to gently extricate the peeved robot from his partner’s plumes of hair. Catra watched, smiling in spite of herself, until something blonde popped up into her field of vision and she started back with a yelp.

“Hey Cathra!” Adora said, mouth full. “You want thome cheethe?” She held out the cheese plate. There were one and a half cubes remaining, along with some crumbs.

“I’m good, thanks,” Catra replied, regaining her calm, and her smile. She took the plate from Adora and replaced it with one of her hands. “So, I think Hordak just tried to be nice to me?”

“Oh, yeah, I totally put him up to it,” Adora said, flicking a cheese crumb off her shoulder. “I think he went to Perfuma and Scorpia for extra advice though. Did it go okay? He’s really trying, I swear.”

Something in Catra’s chest melted, and she laughed heartily. “C’mon, Adora. Let’s go join the circle before all the good seats are taken.”

*

Of course, all the good seats were taken. Catra and Adora wound up sitting next to Skeletor, who was frowning with his arms crossed beside Hordak.

“Behave,” Hordak hissed, while Entrapta hung off the side of her chair to make eyes at him.

“You miserable excuse for a villain,” Skeletor muttered. But he behaved.

“Welcome, everyone!” Wrong Hordak chimed from the center of the circle. “Who is ready to develop coping strategies for the processing of traumatic experiences?”

Catra and Hordak shared a sidelong glance. They were, perhaps, more ready than they realized.

“Myaah!” Skeletor said, again.