Adora saves the cat.
S5 EP5

Shorter than the rest, but this is mainly just a filler chap. The others will be longer.

~

"Alert. We are being pulled in by an outside force," Adora kept her composure as the ship lurched violently, tugged in by Prime's forces. She steadied her breathing, fighting away the nausea and panic desperately clawing at her skin. Her hands began shaking as she held them out. With a harsh sigh, she stuffed them in between her legs, hoping her thighs would hide the tremors. Bow, Glimmer and Entrapta hid somewhere on the outside of the ship, waiting for Adora's go code.

The ship thudded against the ground of Prime's ship. She took another intake of breath, pressing the button to open the door. It whooshed open loudly, thumping and echoing against something. Hopefully a clone... or Prime himself. Adora thought to herself as she stood. She flapped her hands in an effort to expel some of the excess energy. She walked forward, slowly, slow enough to annoy the clones. Oh shit... there's... that's a lot... Six clones waited at the bottom of the ramp, hands folded behind their backs, awaiting her arrival into the grasp. Adora sighed softly, praying that this mission would go safely... that she would get Catra... the sooner she saved the cat, the sooner she could get back to her little girl... Adora pushed the thoughts away, but one snuck in. She was four weeks old when you left. She's now eight. She's not gonna remember you when you come home in another month. She'll be three months old - she'll see George and Lance as her parents.

She raised her hands up in surrender as she approached the clones, forcing any and all non-mission-focused thoughts to the backs of her mind. She grunted as three grabbed her tightly, the other three walking up the ramp. A small sense of satisfaction did shoot through her veins at the sheer amount of clones Prime dedicated to her surrender. He obviously thought she was a big enough threat to need six bodies nearby. She might have been a month ago when she still had She-Ra... but now? Adora severely doubted she could successfully take on one clone.

"You won't find anything; I came alone," She stared into the eyes of a clone. "I hear Horde Prime's been looking for me. Figured it was time we met," She smirked, watching as his eyes processed something. The clone mimicked her smirk with wobbly lines. "Yes. You will be brought before Prime. And there you will receive your judgement," The two clones behind her abruptly forced her arms down in a tight lock. They shoved her forwards. Adora grunted as she tried to gain her footing quick enough, soon matching their paces.

The comm in her ear buzzed. "We're in. They didn't find us," Bow said. "Good. Be quick, and don't get caught," She whispered back.

...

"Okay, everyone, sound off. I'm heading to Horde Prime's holding cell to get Catra,"
"And Entrapta and I are going to hack into the ship's server and download any intel about Prime's weak points,"
"Look for a room with a lot of glowing tech in it. I remember them taking me past it when- when they took me to... That has to be the server,"
"To the server room!"

Adora glanced around the eery hallway, swallowing back her fear. "Okay, uh- everyone, just be careful," She whispered. The comms buzzed as everyone left them be, moving to their own tasks. She was marched to a tall green energy wall, guarded by only two clones. She bit back the tremors as they removed the energy field, humming as it went down. The room inside was a thick black, only penetrated by the occasional green light. Maybe green was Prime's favourite colour?

The clone who'd smirked at her earlier spoke with a lilt of disgust in his tone. "You will go alone," He snarled. "You've got this, Adora. Keep him talking," Bow reassured. Glimmer scoffed. "Knowing him, that is not going to be a problem,"

Adora breathed out as she slowly approached the room. The green energy field hummed shut behind, shutting out the three clones from earlier. She walked over a singular platform overlooking several feet, possibly hundreds, of emptiness. If she fell, even as She-Ra, there'd be serious damage. Now? She'd be dead before she even hit the ground. Adora stood before Prime's throne, steeling her nerves. "Prime," She said sternly. A clone that was fussing with something on Prime's neck stepped back. Adora couldn't help the sharp inhale of shock.

Prime sat on his throne, taking in a green fluid through tubes in his neck. One of his four eyes opened, sliding to her frozen form. "Welcome... Adora,"

~

"Forgive my unseemly state. It is a tedious task, but a necessary one to maintain this vessel," Adora clenched her fists tightly. How dare he speak to her like they were friends? Because of him, Adora was having to risk her life to save Catra, who'd risked her life to save Glimmer. Because of him, Adora had missed half of Violet's life!

"This is how it's going to go," She began ."We're gonna make a deal. You're gonna give me Catra, and then you're gonna let me leave again, free and clear. I have something you want. A weapon that," She put her hand on her chest for emphasis. "Only She-Ra can activate: The Heart of Etheria," She scanned Prime's neutral face. "And if you don't do what I say, then I'll use it... and destroy you and your empire for good," Hoping the pauses added to the seriousness of the situation, Adora stayed quiet after her speech.

A fluid tube squirted and dripped loudly as a clone removed it from Prime. Three of his eyes slide to her form. She shuddered softly in disgust. Then he began to laugh. Adora's eye twitched. She cleared her throat, "Is something funny?" She snapped. Prime muffled the remainder of his chuckles behind his hand, watching with simple mirth in his eyes. "You are not going to use the weapon, or you would have already done so. You would never risk the safety of your Catra,"

Adora fumed. "You don't know me. And you don't know what I'm capable of,"

Since becoming a parent, pregnancy not included, Adora had found herself more volatile. Not just from the consistent lack of sleep, but a primal urge, almost. To protect Violet from the world, and heal the world so it was safe for her little girl to navigate as she grew older. She'd been more ruthless in her defences, and even more so in her attacks. The clones she'd fought were decimated, and the bad guys she'd dealt with either ended up with several broken bones or dead, Catra not included.

Prime seethed at her comment. "Oh... but I do," The clones detached the remainder of the tubes from Horde Prime's neck.

Prime breathed deeply, extending his hands in a... pose, of sorts. Adora nearly snorted but figured angering the most powerful being in the universe when a simple tumble could kill her would be a bad idea. "I am old, far older than you can imagine. My brothers lend me their life force, and when one vessel fails me, I simply elect another," He patted the top of a clone's head like you would a dog. Adora furrowed her brows. "Thus, Prime has reigned eternal through the centuries. There is something so... familiar about you, Adora," He grabbed her chin, softer than she anticipated. Nevertheless, Adora snatched her head back with a gasp. "A face I have not seen in a thousand years. Not since I faced your ancestors, and crushed their once-mighty empire beneath my heel. You call them the First Ones. And you are one of them, are you not, Adora?"

Shit.

...

"I thought the First Ones were all gone, but clearly... some faction remains. That race of tyrants... abandoned you on a forgotten planet in a shadow dimension," Prime tried to slither into her thoughts. Adora scoffed. "Don't try that bullshit mind fuckery. I grew up with somebody who did that to me daily. It won't work. So don't waste your time," She snapped, crossing her arms. Prime ignored her. "They made you their weapon, their... She-Ra," He continued. Adora ground her teeth. "I don't fight for the First Ones. I fight for my home, for myself, and for my friends. Now for the last time: where is Catra?"

"Adora?"

Adora spun, ice settling into her body. "Catra? Where are you?" She cried. Prime chuckled. "Of course. Your Catra. She hoped you would come for her... poor thing," Adora's lip trembled. She left as soon as she could! It... it wasn't her fault!
was it?

"So all I had to do was wait. As she would've said... you are so very predictable," Prime's gaze moved beyond her shoulder. Adora spun in a fast circle. "Come here, child," Prime cooed. From the darkness rose three figures. Two clones and a-

no.

"What did you do to her?!" She screamed, launching forward. She grunted as two clones grabbed her arms, holding her in place. Still, she fought against the grip, spitting profanities at Prime. Catra breezed past, walking straight to Prime's throne, where she... kneeled!?

Oh hell no.

Prime extended a finger beneath Catra's chin. "I have made her anew. I saw her mind," He grabbed Catra's hand softly. The magicat rose slowly... respectfully. "So ensnared in grief and rage and pain... and I brought her to the light. Isn't that right... little sister?" He stroked the back of her neck. Adora tugged against the clones. "Catra, you have to fight it!!" She screamed. Her voice broke and burned.

Catra remained placid. "My place is with Horde Prime, Adora. I don't want to leave," Adora's blood turned to ice. "Tell her what I've done for you," He cooed. Catra left his side, sauntering in that typical Catra way to where Adora kneeled on the ground, too exhausted to try and stand. "Prime has given me peace. Something you could never do," She placed her hand against Adora's cheek. It was cold, like everything in this godforsaken room. "You broke my heart. But he has made it whole again. Don't you see? This is for the best. I'm happy here," Adora whimpered slightly as Catra's claws moved to the back of her neck. One swipe with the lethal weapons, and she'd be gone. "You could be happy, too,"

Adora grunted as she flicked her face away from Catra. "Let her go," She demanded. Prime put a hand on Catra's shoulder, heavily. She gasped loudly. Adora inhaled sharply as the lime green eyes gave way to Catra's usual heterochromatic eyes. Then they flicked back. She was still in there! Catra was still fighting!!

"Shall we make a deal, Adora?" Prime began. "I will give her to you, if... you want her... But first, you must do something for me. You... will give me She-Ra," Adora bit back the urge to scoff in his face, settling for a glare instead. "Never," She spat. Prime hummed. "Very well," He clicked his fingers. For a second, nothing happened.

But then her ears erupted in pain, a high buzzing reverberated in her mind, bouncing from ear to ear, destroying her brain in the process. She couldn't help but drop to one knee, forcibly yanking the earpiece out. The buzzing stopped, leaving an unpleasant whining in its wake. Prime stomped on the comm, smashing it beneath his foot.

"You miscalculated," He hissed. "I see all. I know all," He took a step back as Adora rubbed her ear softly. "You thought yourself worthy to challenge me... but you are nothing but a false hero, the last of the First Ones to fall at my hands. You have led your friends to destruction,"

Adora inhaled shakily. She settled her best glare on him, though it didn't have the desired effect. Prime chuckled. "Go on, fulfil your purpose. Bring out She-Ra, and strike me down," Prime must know she couldn't bring out She-Ra... Adora released her breath. It caught in her throat, mixing with a sob.

Prime sighed lightly. "But you two must have a lot of catching up to do. I will leave you to it. Let me know when you're ready to make a deal," He called as he retreated out of the room, his clone guards following behind. Adora turned back to Catra, her eyes widening.

Catra's claws elongated, glinting dangerously in the light.

...

Adora shouted in pain as Catra swung at her face. She dodged, attempting to restrain Catra/stop Catra from fighting her. Catra kicked her in the knee, sliding away. Catra's claws made a horrible shing as she spun, aiming for Adora's chest. She ducked at the last second, grabbing Catra's arm in her left hand, digging her elbow into Catra's neck to keep her still.

"Catra, listen to me. I know you're still in there," She said. "I'm not leaving without you," Catra strained against the hold. Catra chuckled quietly. "It's gonna be okay-"

CRACK

Adora could only watch in horror as Catra's arm cracked, twisting unnaturally in her hold. Had she seriously just broken her arm!? Adora didn't have much time to dwell on it. She shouted in pain as Catra's claws sliced through her upper leg. It began to bleed immediately, stinging horribly. Catra manoeuvred like liquid as she grabbed Adora tightly. Her claws pressed tightly against Adora's chest and throat. Adora couldn't help the whimper. This was it. This was how she died. At the claws of her childhood best friend. Poetic.

"Everything is already okay. We are with Prime now. There is no need for you to suffer," Her claw traced the side of Adora's jaw. Adora hissed in a breath. "Adora... come into the light with me,"

Adora took the moment of brief vulnerability. She kicked her leg out behind, connecting with the magicat's knee. Adora threw her hands over her shoulder, grabbing Catra by her white shirt. She yelled, throwing her over her shoulder. Adora tucked into a roll as Catra tumbled to Prime's throne, grunting. Catra simply laughed maniacally.

Adora stood up, slowly approaching her. "Snap out of it, Catra. I don't want to hurt you..." She begged. Catra inhaled sharply. "But you have already hurt me. Prime has set me free of that pain. The pain that you caused. He will set us all free... forever. A world of peace, without end,"

Adora's heart dropped even further into her feet. Did... did Catra really mean that? No, surely not! Prime was just messing with her mind!.. right?

She didn't have enough time to dwell on it, barely having enough time to duck underneath Catra's swinging arm. Adora grunted as she swung back. Catra, in her chipped and possessed state, didn't move quick enough, so Adora's right hook landed square on her jaw with a grunt. Adora reeled her fist back, staring in fright and shock. Catra jumped forward with a growl, swinging at Adora's head. The blonde flinched, swinging again. She cried out as her fist smacked against Catra's cheekbone, her knuckles stinging. Catra switched from failed punches, extending her claws with a leap. Adora ducked and twisted, barely avoiding the deadly weapons. Jumping up after ducking, Adora didn't move quickly enough. Catra's claws dug into her shoulders, going through her shirt and into her skin. Adora grabbed her skinny forearms, throwing herself backwards and over Adora's form.

Usually, when Adora pulled this defence, Catra would simply roll into a slide, running at her quickly again. Not this time. Catra stumbled to the edge, barely catching herself. Adora scrambled up, reaching for the cat. "Catra!" She cried. Catra glanced back with a soft downturn of her lips, a contemplative look she often held when in thought. She laughed incredulously, stepping backwards. Adora gasped, lunging to grab her. Her hands found purchase, wrapping tightly around the magicat. Catra's ties had been cut, for she was limp in Adora's grasp. Adora, exhausted from the fight, panted heavily against Catra's shoulder.

Her back lit up in a sharp burning pain. Adora groaned in pain. Blood from the open wounds began to drip down her spine and into her trousers. The wounds that Catra had ripped into her back over a year ago, reopened again. Tears slipped from her eyes.

Catra spoke, but her voice was interlaced with Primes. "Oh, Adora... How long will you drag this out? You will destroy the ones you love in the process," Adora ground her jaw against the pain of the scratches in her back. Catra brought her knee up, digging it just underneath Adora's ribs. She exhaled harshly, winded. The next thing she knew, Catra had grabbed her jacket and hauled her to the edge, dangling her hauntingly. Adora grasped at her hands, trying to find purchase.

Her back foot slipped, only further reminding her of the deadly fall.

Catra, again interlaced with Prime, "She was afraid, in the end. And she suffered. Perhaps I will make her my new vessel...though, she would not last me long. What do you think... Adora?" Fueled by rage, Adora screamed, shoving Catra with all her might. The magicat crashed into Prime's display, which crackled with electricity. Catra laughed hysterically. Then her green eyes gave way to blue and yellow, only for the briefest of seconds, but they were there.

She was there.

Adora gasped softly. "I am not giving up on you, Catra!" She cried out. Catra hummed lowly. "Then you're a fool. You cannot stop Horde Prime. He will reign triumphant over all the universe. It is...destiny-" The electricity crackled louder, electing a loud scream of agony from Catra. "No!" Adora held Catra tightly in her grasp, pulling her away from the monitors. The monitors hummed with too much electricity. Adora grunted as she ran, leaping out of the way of the broken glass. She landed oddly, Catra rolling out of her grasp. Adora groaned softly as she pushed herself up, pushing past the pain as she crawled to Catra.

Catra... whose eyes were blue and yellow again. Catra panted softly. "Adora... you should have stayed away. Why did you come back? We both know I don't matter..." Adora leaned in, cupping Catra's face. "You matter to me," She said. The small smile Catra gave was worth the pain radiating throughout her muscles. The eyes changed to lime green again as Catra slapped Adora's hand away, making her grunt slightly in pain. What? Catra's claws stung...

Catra walked toward the ledge, stumbling to several stops, crying out in pain as the chip sparked with electricity. Adora stood up on shaky legs, pushing her undone hair out of her face. "Come on, Catra! You've never listened to anyone in your life! Are you really going to start now?!" She extended her hand. Catra grunted, hugging herself tightly. "You're such an idiot..." She chuckled.

Adora sobbed out a laugh. "Yeah...I know," Sha agreed. Catra laughed in agreement, hugging herself tighter. "I'm going to take you home," Adora promised. "...promise?" Catra asked softly, tears burning from her eyes. "I promise!" Adora begged, stepping further forward. "Adora-"

Before Catra could touch Adora, her bones cracked loudly as she groaned. Adora took a step forward. Catra straightened like a rod. Her eyes changed to the lime green.

Prime spoke through her voice. "Disappointing. Some creatures are destined only for destruction," Catra's chip sparked loudly. She screamed in agony, tipping backwards. Adora bolted for the edge, missing Catra's clothes by inches. "No!" She screamed. Catra's form fell limply into the abyss. Adora exhaled by the edge, thinking through her options.

Then she jumped.

~

When she came to, it was in a white blur of agony. Adora groaned as she opened her eyes, rubbing her head as it pulsed painfully. Her ankle throbbed from where it was tucked under her legs. No doubt it was sprained at a minimum, if not broken. She rose into a sitting position, wobbling on her uneven arms. Her vision cleared slowly, revealing the darkness of the room and a fallen form a few feet ahead. Adora gasped, immediately launching to her feet. Her legs quivered violently, pain shooting up to her hips. She collapsed onto the ground with a pain-filled grunt, her elbows pulsing painfully. Catra remained eerily still. Adora dragged her broken body over with her hands. They stung as the ground assaulted them. Exhaling shakily by Catra's form, Adora rose herself into a sitting stance, gently dragging Catra's limp body into her lap. "Catra?" She whispered.

Catra didn't answer.

Adora pulled her in tighter. "Catra? It's okay... I'm here," She whispered softly. Catra exhaled shakily... weakly. Despite her fighting against the urge, tears burned in her eyes. Adora's heart crumbled as she cradled her best friend tightly. Her breath came quickly, mixing with sobs. She brought Catra's head into her shoulder, crying into her hair. Footsteps surrounded her, but Adora didn't care. Her tears made Catra's hair stick to her face. She sobbed into Catra's head, holding her tightly.

"I am sorry for the needless waste, Adora. It did not have to be like this. Are you ready to cooperate?"

Fuck you.

Adora shakily combed through Catra's hair, a gesture she knew the cat appreciated as a kitten. Prime's voice unlocked something within her, something angry, something... broken. Adora took a deep inhale, ceasing her stroking. Adora exhaled shakily. A burst of something hot ran through her veins, filling her with an immeasurable amount of strength. She stood, pain no longer computing in her mind. Catra remained limp in her arms.

"For the honour... of... GRAYSKULL!"

A sword materialized in her hand. Adora's broken and torn clothes burned away under extreme heat, but not to the sleeveless shirt and skimpy shorts she once wore. No, Adora grew three feet, her hair waving behind in a non-existent breeze. Her legs shimmered with a bright white, mixing in with her boots. The cape was shorter, only just coming to her mid-thighs, starting at her waist. She inhaled deeply, allowing the magic to heal her wounds and exhaustion. Then she opened her eyes.

...

Magic soaked into Catra's broken body, relieving some of the injuries temporarily. She breathed easier in Adora's hold. Adora tossed Catra aggressively onto her shoulder, knowing the overflowing amount of magic would prevent any further injuries to her form. She glared venomously at the clones. She arched her sword, sending a wave of magical energy at four, knocking them into a wall on the opposite side of the room. She drove her elbow upwards sharply, cracking against another clone behind. She launched at another, kicking against his chest. He fell as Adora gracefully landed on her feet. She locked eyes with the one Prime spoke through, aiming her new sword at his face. She blasted him with a magical beam from the sword. The clone shot backwards, landing on his stomach.

Adora meandered over, staring down into his eyes with a sneer. Raising her foot, she hissed: "You miscalculated,"

...

Walking to the ship was a blur, to be honest. Adora was so overcharged with unreleased energy, energy she suspected had come from the Heart all those weeks ago. She could feel the exhaustion beginning to break through She-Ra's defences, despite her best efforts. This new form was beautiful and deadly... just as Adora liked. No more flimsy revealing shorts. The trousers and small cape combo was what Adora felt happy in.

Catra suddenly stirred in her arms, going even limper if that was possible. Adora squeezed her eyes shut, forcing out any thoughts at all. She cleared her mind, driving forward the magic burning from her heart, the magic keeping her upright and conscious... and Catra alive. Walking through the destruction Adora was pleased to see, she effortlessly stepped over a pile of rubble. Over the side stood Bow, Glimmer, Entrapta and the ship. They said something at her form, but nothing registered... nothing except Catra's rapidly failing body within her grasp. Adora wordlessly handed her to Bow and turned back to the clones. With a frown driven from concentration, Adora summoned her sword. She held it out by her side, face impassive. If she dwelled on her emotions, the magic would be destructive to the point of damaging her and the ship. Adora swung her sword right, left then in a circle. A trail of magic held strong as a barrier, bubbling and boiling, waiting to burst forth. She waited until the clones were close enough... and... released the magic with a yell. Adora held the sword across her body as more clones appeared.

She wasn't stupid, she knew when she was beaten. And whilst She-Ra was incredibly powerful, she wasn't experienced enough with this form to confidently take on forty-odd clones at once. She retreated up the ramp of the ship, breezing through doors and rooms. She could feel her energy slipping with this form, it took a considerable amount of concentration to keep it up. She walked to the console, eyes focused on Darla's orb, glitching a dark purple. "Shields at 30 per cent. Hull compromised. Interspace travel not recommended,"

Adora touched the console, lending some energy. Her vision wavered slightly, but she kept firm, loaning energy to repair her only way back home... to her little girl.

Darla's interface sounded joyful. "Administrator detected. Hello, She-Ra!" Adora smiled softly, barely a twitch of the lips. "Hey, Darla. Get us out of here," Darla buzzed. "Affirmative," The ship trembled as it rose, struggling under the weight of the rubble. "And Darla?" She said, glancing back with a glare powered by hatred. "Make it quick,"

Darla did exactly that; bursting a hole through Prime's ship, shooting into space at a speed she'd not seen before.

...

A soft groan broke through Adora's barriers of concentration. She gasped sharply, turning. Stumbling to where Bow and Glimmer softly held Catra's broken body, she fell to her knees in grief. She took Catra back, cradling her tightly. The exhaustion was stronger now, making it borderline impossible to hold onto the magic. She breathed in slowly, filling her lungs with oxygen. "Come on, Catra. You're not done... not yet," Adora pushed her forehead against Catra's softly. Her eyes stung with tears, listening to Catra's heartbeat struggling to keep beating. "We're going home," She mumbled wetly, sniffling softly.

Adora exhaled the breath she was holding, expelling some of her magic into Catra's body. The exhaustion settled into her bones, dragging her deep. Tears left her eyes at an alarming rate, falling onto Catra's cold face, trickling into her neck. Adora was aware of an almost painful burning at her fingertips, welding her and Catra's bodies together. She shuddered a breath in, shoulders slumping as the remainder of spare magic bled out of her body, soaked up by Catra's dying one.

Unable to hold the form any longer, Adora let She-Ra fall back into hibernation, shoulders drooping in relief. Sweat beaded at her temples, slithering coldly into her hair. Catra failed to move. Without She-Ra's enhanced hearing, Adora couldn't hear Catra's heartbeat. She couldn't hear if the magic worked... if it had revived her best friend.

Catra remained still and cold to the touch.

Adora felt her heart shatter into further pieces, scattering across her chest cavity, settling into her muscles. She cried into her short hair, uncaring of the looks she was being sent.

but then-

then-

an intake of breath.

short, weak and stuttering-

but an intake of breath.

"Hey, Adora..."

Adora sobbed louder into Catra's hair, pulling her in tighter. She could feel Catra hesitate in her arms, and for a second, Adora wondered if she'd gone too far... if she'd overstepped some kind of hidden boundary. But then-

Catra's arms wound around her middle, just as tightly. A deep purr emitted from her chest, rumbling against Adora's. The blonde simply continued crying into her best friend's body... her alive body.