Shadow Weaver manipulates,
Catra struggles to articulate,
Adora tries to regulate.

S5 EP11

~

"A fail-safe... There's a fail-safe for the Heart of Etheria. Mara did it. This could work. We can still save everyone! We can stop the Heart of Etheria for good. Do we know what it is? Or where it is?" Adora frantically glanced around the table, desperately trying to bring her mind out of the hole that Catra had put it in. "All we know is that it's supposed to be in some placed called Arxia. Other than that...we've got nothing," Bow pursed his lips in disappointment. Adora sighed softly, rubbing her temples. A headache was beginning to build, as one usually did. If it weren't for the aches of She-Ra causing her pain, then it'd be her consistent nights of little to no sleep. Not because of Violet, no. She only woke up once or twice to feed. The no sleep was Adora's mind. If it wasn't crippling nightmares, it'd be panic attacks under the quilt.

"We know where it is," A voice slithered in. Adora felt her face fall. "We have to go to Mystacor," Adora frowned slightly, leaning against the table. "So, wait, hold on. Have you two been there this whole time?" Bow questioned. Shadow Weaver waved her hand dismissively. "While you were traipsing around in space, some of us have worked to stopped the Heart of Etheria from falling into Prime's hands," Adora felt her annoyance rise. "We weren't traipsing around anywhere," She crossed her arms. "We saved Glimmer and Catra," She said.

Shadow Weaver waved her hands. "Nevertheless, you weren't here," She said. Adora stood up stiffly. "I was otherwise engaged. Not that I had She-Ra then anyway," She snapped. Shadow Weaver's eyes narrowed. "At least I didn't know I had She-Ra then," She said as an afterthought. Shadow Weaver hummed lowly. "Well... we discovered the same thing you did. Rumours of a Failsafe that would break the restraints the First Ones built and set the stolen magic free," Shadow Weaver turned back to Bow. Glimmer laughed loudly. "Are you kidding? After everything that happened last time, you're still after the Heart of Etheria? And you're helping her?" She spat at her aunt.

"We're trying to free the magic for all of Etheria so we can be strong enough to fight Prime. I'm doing this for your father and for you. Shadow Weaver was the lesser of two evils," Castaspella argued. "At least you admit she's evil," Catra muttered darkly. Shadow Weaver tilted her head. "You're one to talk, aren't you?" Adora sighed heavily, pinching her nose bridge.

"Enough," She spat. "Both of you," She glared at Shadow Weaver and Catra. The former simply folded her hands within her robes. The latter hissed loudly, turning away. "Tell us what you know about the Failsafe. What makes you think it's in Mystacor?" Adora diverted the subject, too emotionally drained for another argument. "As any good sorcerer knows, Mystacor was built on the ruins of an ancient First Ones citadel. And beneath Mystacor-"

"Ooh, ooh. Can I tell this part?" Casta interrupted with a joyful grin. Shadow Weaver audibly rolled her eyes. "Go ahead," She waved her hand. "Beneath Mystacor, there are many secret tunnels and rooms, forgotten and sealed off. No one uas been able to access them in centuries, but there are whispers of what they contain..." Casta paused for effect. "An artefact known as the Crystal of Arxia, hidden there by a group of traitorous First Ones," Shadow Weaver interrupted with a sigh.

Castaspella whined. "You said I could do it!" Shadow Weaver humphed. "You were taking too long,"

Adora sighed heavily again, pinching the bridge of her nose tightly. "Arxia. That must be the outpost that Mara's rebels were talking about! The Failsafe's underneath Mystacor!" Bow grinned. "Reaching it won't be easy," Shadow Weaver warned. "But I've spent my whole life studying the secrets of Mystacor. I could get us in," She boasted. Adora narrowed her eyes. "If you figured it out on your own, why come back here? Why did you need us at all?" She pressed. Shadow Weaver stepped forward. "Because Mystacor controlled by Micah, who, you may recall, is controlled by Horde Prime," Adora glanced down briefly. "You've allowed Prime to take too much ground. If he seizes the Heart, it's all over. There is no more time for half measures, Adora. You must act now," Shadow Weaver's cold hands gripped Adora's shoulders tightly.

She shook them off, glaring at the ground. "It's the only lead we have. We have to try. It would have to be a stealth mission. Catra, do you thought you and Melog can-" She turned, pausing. Catra had run away. She shut her eyes briefly, rubbing her eyebrow. The headache was stronger now. Shadow Weaver's hands were burning her body once again, digging in with force. "Oh, leave her to sulk. We can't let her slow us down,"

Adora shook her head. Catra and Melog's invisibility were the best bets they had at getting to Mystacor safely. "You guys get ready. I'll find her," She ran off.

...

"Catra. Are you coming with us to Mystacor?" Adora approached the volatile magicat. "Why would I do that? Seems liked you and Shadow Weaver have it handled," Catra snapped. Adora sighed heavily, sitting down on the ground. Catra sighed softly. "After everything she's done to us, you're really going to follow her?" She asked. Adora shook her head. "I don't like it either, but this is the only plan we have. The Failsafe could finally save Etheria," Catra rolled away. Adora shut her eyes tightly. "Shadow Weaver hurt us. I haven't forgotten that. But Prime hurts so many more people. I need to stop him, Catra," She said, desperation leaking into her voice. "I know, I know. You have to go save the world. Spare me the speech,"

Adora rubbed her head again. The headache was more prominent now. Perhaps it was an effect of being near Catra? She balanced her elbows on her knees, resting her head into her palms. "Catra, it's not just about that anymore. There's people, innocent people, who need help. Help I can give," She said. Catra remained silent. "Ok... if somebody could've helped us when we were in the Horde, would you have taken it?" Adora asked. Catra huffed. "No," She said. "Be serious. If somebody could've taken us out of the Horde and raised us without the abuse, you would've have taken it?"

Catra remained quiet, though it felt different this time. "I can't risk Violet growing up the same way we did, Catra. I'll do anything I can to stop it," Adora glanced over. Catra shifted. "Please, you were the poster child. Never did anything wrong," Catra snarked. Adora scoffed softly. "Of course you still believe that," She snarked back. Catra's ear pricked and her tail swished. "Why wouldn't I? It's the truth," Adora expected Catra's voice to be cutting, rude even. But it wasn't. It was... curious. "Because it's not the truth, Catra," She began. "Shadow Weaver... she put unrealistic expectations on me, even from before you arrived. I had to know the alphabet first, I had to tie my shoes first, I had to stitch up wounds first," She paused. Catra's ear's pricked towards her voice. "When I was sick, or hurt, I couldn't tell her... I had to literally train through appendicitis when I was ten," She admitted. "Do you know what punishment I had for that? For failing to turn up to training for a week after surgery?" Adora asked. Catra remained quiet. "I was beaten for every day I missed. Beaten horribly. They burst my stitches every day without fail, which I would then have to redo up at midnight while everybody else slept,"

Adora shuddered. The feeling of the tiny sewing needle threading through her bleeding skin lit only by the faint glow of the green lights in the barracks. Catra's tail curled around her ankle. "Or how she'd starve me if I failed to meet my goal? Catra, she may have been nice in public, but she was horrible and abusive in private," Adora sighed softly, shakily. "Just as I begin to relax and... and realise she can't hurt me anymore- she's standing over my bed at midnight, just like she used to when I was a kid," Adora wound her arms around herself. "I... I can't have Violet go through that... I won't,"

She inhaled deeply, measuring her emotions. When she opened her eyes, Catra was sitting and staring at her. "I... I didn't know she did that to you..." She said softly. Adora nodded. "She did lots to me that I didn't tell you about... stuff I'd rather not remember, to be honest," Adora agreed equally as softly.

They sat in a comfortable silence for a few moments, simply being. Not stopping fights, not fighting, not arguing, just... being. The first time they had just been in their entire lives.
It was nice.

"Please, come. We- I could really use your help," Adora reached for Catra's hand. The magicat glanced upwards. She hesitated for a moment. "Fine. But I'm only doing this to made sure Shadow Weaver doesn't try anything. Not because I like you," She scoffed playfully. Adora shoved her shoulder softly. "Shut up, yes you do,"

...

Adora hated Mystacor. Sure, she should love it - who wouldn't? It was the epitome of peace and tranquility. Yet, the last, and only time, she came here, she was being hunted by the very same woman who was guiding her to the safety of her home planet.

It sucked major ass.

Shadow Weaver led the charge, thankfully keeping silent. It allowed Adora to fall into her thoughts... dangerous thoughts. Well... not so much dangerous in the way of the help of Etheria, dangerous for herself. She began thinking about what Glimmer said only the day before. About her weakness... and she was right. Before Adora had Violet, she would've sacrificed herself for the good of the world... now? She'd let the world burn if it meant keeping her daughter safe... in her eyes, that was a good thing. But the hard conditioned warrior on the inside said that was a bad thing, that she should still be willing to sacrifice herself for the good of the world...

Maybe her doing missions was a bad thing. She'd missed out on time with Violet, and became sloppy in her missions. She became quicker, more ruthless, just desperate to get home to her little girl - and it opened her up for challenges and issues she shouldn't have to face. She glanced back to Glimmer quickly, briefly. The Queen hesitated in meeting her gaze, but they locked for a second.

Only a second, but that was all it took.

Adora looked back to the front, tailing her former mentor. She was at odds with herself. She was split into four, essentially. Half for Catra and half for Glimmer. The half for Catra split into two. The magicat was right in that Adora should be angry with her. She should. Because of the portal stunt, Adora went into labour a month early. Violet came out with jaundice, Angella died, and everything fell apart between her and Glimmer... all as an aftershock from Catra's actions. Everything else, Adora could've accepted. They were in war; and people get hurt in war. But the other half? She missed Catra deeply... Catra was the only one, even now, who Adora would one hundred percent trust her life with - even after everything she'd done. They'd simply gone through way too much as kids, nobody could even come close to matching that. Try as they might, the alliance wouldn't understand the hunger pangs after the sixth day of no food, or the debilitating nightmares that sent you head first into a panic attack, or the need to be strong - to hold a front so enemies wouldn't dig their claws into the gaps and pull you apart, piece by piece... or having to fight for food, period. The worst moments? Having to stitch yourself up after a training accident, or reset a broken bone, simply because the punishment for admitting you failed was worse than the injury itself.

The half for Glimmer? Adora's inner child wanted to be her friend again. Despite Catra being her one true friend, Glimmer had helped her through countless nightmares and sicknesses thanks to her shoddy immune system. But the mother inside? Vehemently refused to make peace with Glimmer. If she'd just listened they wouldn't even be in this mess. The sword wouldn't be broken (not that it mattered anymore), Prime wouldn't be invading their home, Adora wouldn't be passing Violet off to strangers every thirty seconds, and she wouldn't be worrying about who would look after her daughter when she inevitably died against Prime...

but then again... Glimmer helped Adora in the first three days after she'd had Violet, in ways she'd never expected - ways that stopped her falling into the dark hole too deep to climb out again.

Shadow Weaver suddenly gasped. Adora froze before her arm, mind pulled out from her head, waiting for the next instruction. Micah stood at the end of the hallway. Adora gasped softly. His eyes were the horrible lime green as he scowled at them. He stared for so long, Adora worried he could see through Melog's invisibility. Micah huffed once, stared for thirty extra seconds, then strode off. Shadow Weaver waved them forward. Knowing they were on borrowed time, now more than ever, they ran down the hall, turning into another room, stopping by the doorframe.

"No sorcerers here. Looks liked we're-" Catra began. Shadow Weaver covered her mouth. "Keep your voice down!" She hissed. Catra jumped back, hissing warningly. "Don't touch me!" She yelled. Adora gasped as a sorcerer rounded the corner, spell already charged. Catra ran into the room, ducking behind a crystal. Adora charged forward, knowing magical blasts didn't affect She-Ra like they did her. She raised her hand. "For the Honour of Grayskull!"

The sword flicked, briefly sending fire into her veins. She gasped. No.... Adora glanced up, yelling as she moved to hide with Catra. She looked at her hand, watching as it shook violently - though with pain or adrenaline, she didn't know. Catra's frown dug into her soul, but Adora purposefully ignored it.

"We have to hurry!" Shadow Weaver took off running, dragging Castaspella behind. Adora grit her teeth, shoving all the thoughts to the back of her head.

Now wasn't the time.

...

"We're here. Follow my lead," Shadow Weaver abruptly stopped by a wall. Castaspella huffed. "Would a "please" kill you?" She snarked. Adora rubbed her arms, unease settling deep into her bones. Catra shot her an odd look, rubbing her arms too. "You feel it too?" She whispered. Adora looked around, nodding softly. "It... it feels like same as Krytis," She whispered back. "Magic... but... strong magic, really strong," She squeezed herself tighter. The room suddenly lit up into a soft glow. The wall creaked loudly, dust falling, as it opened after god knows how many years. "Come on, hurry," Shadow Weaver hissed, roughly shoving Adora's shoulder in. The unease turned to apprehension as the wall slammed shut behind, covering them in darkness.

Glimmer grunted softly, illuminating the room in a soft pink glow. Adora let Shadow Weaver take charge with Castaspella on her tail, Glimmer close behind and Bow by her shoulder. Catra lingered a few paces back, glancing around frantically. Adora slowed her pace, matching the magicat. She reached out, touching her shoulder. "Hey, are you-?" Catra's tail bristled as her fur shot up in warning. "I'm fine," She hissed, grabbing her tail tightly. Adora kept her hand on her shoulder. "Catra, it'll be okay. Trust me," She tried to assure. Catra's face softened slightly, the angry dip in her brow loosening.

"There's no time to waste," Shadow Weaver glided over. The softness of Catra's face, one only Adora was ever privileged enough to see, hardened immediately. "News of our presence willed have reached the others by then after that... disturbance," The former teacher glowered as she towered over the girls, leering at the magicat. Catra scowled back, equally as nasty. Adora hesitated for a minute, wondering if Catra was going to throw hands.

She didn't. Thankful for the lack of fighting, Adora shouldered past her former commander. "Come on. We have to keep moving," She snapped sternly. Catra remained at the back of the line, with Shadow Weaver standing in between them once again. Maybe it was intentional, her position in the line. Maybe she was trying to show she still had the power to separate the two girls. Adora glanced at her hands again, concerned they were still violently shaking. She clenched them tightly.

"What is all of this?" Bow's curious voice asked. Castaspella glanced around. "We're on the right path," She said. "The Crystal of Arxia was rumoured to be the key to reached deep magic within Etheria. Many have tried, and failed, to find it. But those who hungered for more power have long sought other ways to obtain the deep magic... with disastrous results," She added, glaring over her shoulder at Shadow Weaver.

Shadow Weaver sighed loudly and pointedly. "The Spell of Obtainment was a mistake, one for which I've paid the price. I don't see why you keep brought it up," Adora nearly snorted. How could she sound so casual over something so horrible? "You roped my brother into your twisted dark magic when he was only a child. You could've killed him," Castaspella hissed. Shadow Weaver remained impassive. "It would've worked had he not broken the connection. Micah was an exceptional sorcerer, even then. It's a shame it doesn't run in the family,"

Adora could only watch, frozen. Even now, decades after she'd first manipulated Glimmer's dad, she was still trying to drive wedges in between people. Unbelievable.

...

They walked down some stairs, even deeper into the foundations of Mystacor... though, now Adora supposed, they were heading into Arxia territory? She shrugged to herself, stumbling over a step to tail Shadow Weaver. Too in her own head to notice, Adora failed to see the purple rune on the floor. "Wait!" Shadow Weaver gasped out. Adora's foot touched the rune too late. Her vision warped into fire as she gasped loudly.

"Adora!"

The next thing she knew, Catra was hauling her out, collapsing onto the ground. Adora's head banged against it, making her vision go fuzzy at the edge. Nevertheless, she reached out. "I'm okay. I'm okay!" She assured. Only then was she aware of how close she and Catra were. The magicat was straddling her hips, flush against her body. Adora smirked to hide her blush.

"Did you just jump into fire for me?" She asked. Catra's face fell into a sneer. "What? No!" Catra shoved Adora's face away, much like she did when they were young girls. Adora laughed, snorting, as she pushed back. "Shut up!" Catra hissed, sitting away, still pushing Adora's face away. "You did," Adora chuckled through her snorts. Catra swung off, and Adora immediately missed the warmth both on the outside and inside. Catra sat by her legs, but left her arms loosely draped over Adora's legs, softly kneading her calfs. Adora didn't have the heart to tell her to stop, despite it causing the legs to cramp. When she was distressed or upset, Catra often kneaded parts of Adora's body. Be it her stomach, which was a personal favourite, or her legs.

"It's an illusion!" Glimmer suddenly gasped out. Adora rose into a standing position, helping Catra up. "Some of the fired is illusory, and some is real. Everyone, be careful," Shadow Weaver warned. Castaspella led the way through the flames, followed by Shadow Weaver, Glimmer, Bow and Catra. Adora hung back for a moment. Her heart was racing way too fast, nearly beating out of her chest. She inhaled deeply, exhaling slowly.

and into the fire she went.

...

Adora continued to follow up the rear, too emotionally strung to even think about conversing with people. She found her eyes on her shaking hands again. Why wouldn't She-Ra come? Did... did Adora somehow fuck it up? But... she was there- in- in the Fright Zone. She hadn't even felt her since Scorpia decided to break her back, and not in the good way. She clenched her fists tightly, letting them fall to her side as she walked.

"I see you and Catra are close again," A voice said by her side. Slightly disturbed that she didn't notice her, Adora's eyes grew wide. "Do you really think that's wise?" Shadow Weaver stopped walking. Adora huffed as she spun. "It's none of your business," She spat. "But it is," Shadow Weaver loomed over her form. Adora couldn't help the gasp and involuntary flinch to protect herself. "If your emotions are blocking you from becoming She-Ra, it's all of Etheria's business," The witch said. "How long has it been since you were able to transform?" Despite herself, Adora felt the urge of needing a mother's love bursting out of her chest. She sighed, looking down. "It's been happening ever since the Fright Zone," She admitted. Tears brewed in her eyes, slipping out and down her cheeks. "What if...? What if I'm lost her?" She grabbed her shaking fists, now driven by panic. Her chin wobbled as she tried to combat the panic attack.

Shadow Weaver's steady hands wrapped around her own, stilling all shakes. "She-Ra is a being of pure magic. To unleash her full strength, you must be focused, clearheaded. But you are letting your emotions pulled you in too many directions," Shadow Weaver said. Adora looked away, partially knowing she was right. "Violet and Catra, they..." Shadow Weaver's hand touched Adora's face, pulling her in. "Distract you, confuse you..." She continued. "Haven't you hurt them enough?" Adora inhaled shakily, realising she was right. "If you care about them, focus on protecting them," The words finally registered in Adora's panic addled mind. How dare Shadow Weaver talk about her daughter?! "The world needs you as She-Ra right now, not Adora. And if She-Ra can't stop Prime, then we are all doomed,"

Adora slapped her hand away from her face. "You don't get to talk about my daughter, Shadow Weaver," She hissed. Shadow Weaver's eye slits narrowed slightly. "I will stop Prime. No matter what,"

...

"Whoa," Bow's words aptly described the room. "That is the Failsafe?" Glimmer asked, audibly frowning as the group approached. "It's... bigger than I thought it'd be. How are we gonna get that to the Heart?" He asked. Adora frowned as she walked closer. There was something about those crystals... something like... magical, almost. "The Failsafe is a code. It's stored inside of the Crystal," Shadow Weaver said. "So, what do we-?" Adora began. Shadow Weaver pushed her forward. "It needs a password," Shadow Weaver said. She put Adora's hand onto the crystal. "I think you already know what it is," She whispered in her ear.

Adora briefly glared over her shoulder, disturbed at how much of the crystal Shadow Weaver knew about. "We're friends of Mara," She said, turning back to the crystal. It lit up, cracking open. The room began to shake as the large crystal snapped into three, moving apart until they were equally spaced. At the top, a small triangle hummed.

"What does it say?" Glimmer asked. Adora ventured forward, stopping on the steps. "It says... "Someone needs to go inside and... accept the Failsafe"? What does that mean?" She asked, turning back to the group. "It means the Failsafe must be bonded to a willing soul and carried to the Heart of Etheria in their body in order to be deployed," Shadow Weaver clarified.

Bow hesitated audibly. "And we're sure that's... safe?" He asked. Ignoring the question, Shadow Weaver grabbed Adora's shoulders. "We can't turn back now. The Failsafe is within our grasp," She hissed into her ear. Adora glanced back quickly, then back up at the crystals. If it was made by Mara's group, then surely it wouldn't cause her harm? In theory, it was made for Mara - and her friends wouldn't hurt her... right?

"Adora, don't go in there," Catra suddenly grabbed her arm, pulling her back. Adora stumbled on a step. "Catra, this is not the time. Someone must take the Failsafe," Melog growled menacingly by Shadow Weaver. "So, you do it, then," Catra goaded. She dragged Adora away from the crystal, stopping just barely before Shadow Weaver. "I've been watching you the whole way in. You've been in here before, haven't you? You could've taken the Failsafe yourself and gotten all the power you've ever wanted. But you didn't. Why?" Adora narrowed her eyes.

"You're being paranoid. This is the only way to stop Prime. Adora understood that well enough," Shadow Weaver hissed. "Why does it have to be Adora? What is going to happen to her? What aren't you telling us?" Catra's voice began to grow frantic. Shadow Weaver simply narrowed her eyes, stepping backwards. Adora glanced at the Failsafe.

"Answer the question," Castaspella's fists whined with a charged spell. Shadow Weaver was quiet for a moment. "Whoever uses the Failsafe must absorb the full magic of the Heart when it is destroyed. That much raw magical power would burn any mere mortal apart. None of us are strong enough," She said. The weight of the words settled onto Adora's soul. "But She-Ra is," She said heavily.

"Only She-Ra can hope to survive the process. No one else can do it," Shadow Weaver agreed. Adora looked at the crystal again. "And if I don't survive it?" Shadow Weaver's hands were on her face, guiding her around. "Then the magic would be restored to Etheria through your sacrifice. You will give us the power to bring us victory. Prime will be defeated. Your friends will be free... your daughter will be free,"

Adora's breath stuttered in her lungs. Violet... what-where would Violet go if Adora did die at the Heart? Oh god...

"You were planning this all along!" Castaspella yelled indignantly. "Why are you surprised by this?" Catra agreed. "It's not going to work!" Glimmer argued. "There is no way we're risking Adora like that!" Bow snapped.

They all began to argue amongst themselves. Adora's brain hurt; partially with the headache that'd been rumbling around all day, but mostly from the overload of information and over stimulation.

"Stop it!" She yelled. The group fell silent. Adora turned away from the crystal. "I'll do it," She said. "No. What? What is wrong with you?" She was roughly spun around, barely catching herself by latching onto Catra's arms. "Shadow Weaver is sacrificing you. Why can't you see that?" Catra pleaded. "Because even if she is, it's better than Prime getting the Heart and destroying the universe!" Adora yelled. Catra gasped shakily, but Adora grabbed her fists, holding them in place. "We're out of options. This is the only way," She said the last bit softly, aimed only for Catra's ears. The magicat whimpered softly, barely audible. "I can't lose you again," She whispered. Adora squeezed her fist.

CRASH

"Well, look who it is," Adora gasped loudly, pulling Catra's body behind her own. Micah walked from the opening, two other sorcerers by his side. Adora saw the black rope before she registered what she was doing. She shoved Catra to the side, grunting as the black rope wound around her body, tightly. "Adora!" Catra yelled. She charged at Micah, atop Melog, knocking him to the ground. His tug on the spell stopped, but Adora remained tightly bound. She struggled, tugging against the strands. "Come on! We've gotta get outta here!" Bow yelled. Adora gasped loudly as Glimmer hit the ground, unconscious. She might not like her all that much, but she was still her friend. "Glimmer!" And if Micah could take down Glimmer, he could take down Catra.

Adora broke free of the strands, holding her hand out. "For the Honour of Grayskull!" The sword flickered, but disappeared almost immediately. The pain rushed up into her brain, only making the headache worse. Adora glared at her shaking hands. "No!" She hissed. She glanced up again. "The Failsafe! We can't!" Shadow Weaver looked back. Adora snapped free of the final strand, looking at the crystal. If she failed to take the Failsafe, Prime would. And he'd destroy it: enslaving Etheria... and no doubt with Violet at the helm; being the only known daughter of any form of She-Ra.

Pushing up against the pain from the sword, Adora charged at the Failsafe with a grunt. "Adora, no! Please. It doesn't always have to be you!" Catra screamed. Adora glanced back, hoping Catra would see the apology in her eyes. She shut her eyes tightly, making the final dash. "Adora!"

The second her foot touched the crystal floor, pain erupted in her body. She could do nothing else but scream and writhe in agony. The pain burned throughout her veins and into her heart, making it pound dangerously within her chest. She grunted in agony, fighting back the urge to be sick or cry or do both.

did she begin to levitate?
Adora didn't know.

The pain was blinding, severing her nerves. It wasn't quite as bad as the Heart a little over two months ago, but certainly up there. Giving birth to Violet wasn't this painful, it didn't even come close. She screamed as more code filtered into her heart, building the failsafe for the Heart's destruction.

a sudden shout, a familiar shout, made her open her eyes, despite them burning in agony. She gasped loudly. Everyone, Catra, Bow, Glimmer, Castaspella - they were all trapped in the black tendrils.

She grit her teeth, forcing all non-essential thoughts to the back of her brain. Her pain could wait. Her friends needed her. "For the Honour of Grayskull!" She screamed. The familiar burn of She-Ra rushed throughout her body. She threw out a wave of energy, blinding all in the room. The Failsafe settled in her chest, She-Ra having numbed the worst of the residue pain. Adora's feet touched the ground. She stumbled slightly, but caught herself. She glanced at She-Ra's sword.

Adora looked up, levelling Micah with a neutral stare. She swung her sword once, sending a wave of pure magic, knocking him and his two sorceresses down and unconscious. She ran to Catra, holding her hand out. "I've got it. I've got the Failsafe. Let's get out of here," Catra stared at her hand for too long, tears welling in her eyes.

She got up and turned away. Adora held her hand to her chest, physically burned by the rejection. She felt the ever familiar burn of tears begin in her eyes. She absently touched the Failsafe rune on her chest, standing and waiting as the group left. She tailed behind Bow and Glimmer, levelling Prime, who Adora knew was watching through Micah's eyes, with the nastiest glare she could muster.

Stopping at the door, Adora swung her sword against the metal. The doorway began to rumble, chunks and debris crashing from the ceiling. And she ran.

~

Catra could only watch Adora sleep fitfully. The Failsafe smelt weird. ​​​​​​​It's much too strong for her mortal body. Melog purred in her mind. That is why she cannot rest peacefully. They finished. Catra rubbed her head, pulling the bottle away from Violet's mouth. Adora turned over in her sleep, whining lowly. She curiously looked at the baby, whose gurgling made Catra's heart do something funny. She pulled her up and began patting on her back, as she'd seen Adora do thousands of times.

Why was she feeding her former best friend's baby?

Well, because she could. That's why. Catra wrinkled her nose as she wiped away a bit of excess milk. And... Adora was in pain... and needed the sleep. Plus, Violet wasn't all that bad for a baby. She didn't cry too much, at least not with Catra, and she always fed without too much of an issue. Aside from the consistent right-hooks Catra had been too slow to notice.

That was definitely a trait from her mother. She held her up, thankful the baby could already partially hold her own head up. Catra looked into her eyes, bouncing her leg softly. "Your mother is a fucking idiot," She whispered. Violet, as if she understood who Catra was talking about, turned her head to stare at her sleeping mother. Catra sighed heavily, moving her in her grip to a more comfortable position. "Yeah. That's your mother, right there," She said. Violet's head turned back to her, eyes wide. Catra stared back. Violet's hands reached out for her ears, and Catra let her touch them. She didn't pull too hard, just soft tugging as she tried to work out what they were.

Adora whined in her sleep again, turning loudly. Catra bit her lip, holding Violet outwards. The baby stared with curious eyes. Catra sighed softly, bouncing her leg again. "I should probably put you to sleep, huh? So you don't keep your mom up all night," As if Violet was gonna answer back. Catra put the nipple (dummy - she reminded herself) into Violet's mouth, stiffly moving her to her head rested in the crook of her arm, like Adora had done the night before. She kept bouncing her leg, watching as the simple motion lulled the milk-filled baby to sleep.

She waited a few minutes extra until the dummy fell out.

​​​​​​​"Watch, watch," Adora smirked. Catra shrugged, but stared at the baby anyway. The nipple thing fell out, falling against her belly. Adora snorted. "That's how you know she's properly asleep," She said, already standing to move Violet to her cot. "Why?" Catra asked. "Because she sleeps with her mouth open... like you," Adora said softly, lowering the baby into the crib.

Catra lowered Violet into the crib, roughly putting a blanket over her body. What? It was cold. She glanced over as Adora whined in her sleep again, scratching at the Failsafe. If Adora was gonna destroy herself, Catra wasn't gonna be around to watch it.

She stuffed a few shirts, probably Adora's, into a rucksack along with some medical things. She whistled for Melog to follow as she silently stalked out of the camp. ​​​​​​​Why are we leaving? Melog asked. Your friend needs you. She is hurting and needs you. Melog mewled. Catra ignored them, continuing to stalk forwards. Catra. She needs you. She is in pain, and she will not survive the process without you. Melog tried.

Again, Catra ignored them.

"Catra?"
fuck.

Catra froze. "What are you doing?" Adora asked sleepily. Flight taking over her body, Catra bolted. Adora's feet audibly pounded the ground as she gave chase. "Catra, stop!" She yelled. Catra leaped onto a branch, hoping to scale the tree. Adora was fast and strong, but she wasn't flexible and lithe.

Wrong.

Adora's arms wrapped around her waist, tugging her to the ground. Catra elbowed her in the jaw, knocking the blonde off. Adora grunted, but grabbed her leg, dragging her back. Catra dug her claws into the ground, hoping to resist the blonde's brute force. Adora grabbed the backpack and tugged her over, pushing her to the ground. ​​​​​​​Damn. She was sly now as well... maybe Catra pegged her wrong all these years... maybe Adora was pulling her punches the whole time.

Adora held Catra's hands in her own, tightly. "You were just gonna leave?" She shrieked. Catra ignored the way her voice broke. "I'm doing you a favour," She spat bitterly. "I'm a distraction, right?" She shoved the backpack into Adora's grasp. "Now you can go save the world without having to worried about me confusing you,"

Adora's eyes welled with tears as her brow furrowed. The Failsafe lit up in her chest. Catra knew that particular type of furrow was driven from pain... and a fair amount of it. "No, that's not true. Don't listen to Shadow Weaver. This is not about her!" Adora begged. Angry, Catra shoved Adora away with all her might. The blonde tumbled back, grunting as she landed. She looked pitiful, clutching Catra's rucksack desperately.

"Why? Why are you like this? Why do you always have to sacrifice everything for everyone else? When do you get to choose?" Catra yelled. Adora shrivelled in on herself. The sting of tears happened before they fell. "What do you want, Adora?" Catra asked.
I want you. I need you, Adora.

Adora hesitated. "I... I have to do this, Catra. I'm the only one who can," Catra nodded numbly. "Then do it. That's what you want. That's what you'll always chose. I don't have to stay and watch it happen," She stood up and began walking away. Adora thudded as she fell to her knees. "Catra, please, stay. I need you," She whispered. Catra felt sick, hearing the words thick with tears.

She shook her head. "No, you don't. You never have,"

And she ran off with Melog, ignoring the final broken call from Adora's ailing form.

"Catra!!"

...

Adora walked back to the tents, numb beyond words could say. She clutched Catra's backpack tightly, the only reminder of the magicat. She cried into it softly, unable to move from emotional drainage. "Adora, you made the right choice. Don't let Catra convince you otherwise. She's never understood," Anger fuelled her veins, turning any sadness into rage. "Stop!" She snapped, pushing Shadow Weaver's hand off. "I will never forgive you. You ruin people. You ruin any chance they could ever be happy. Haven't you done enough?" She spat brokenly, barely holding onto the last of her reserve.

Shadow Weaver folded her hands within her robes. "I did what I had to do," She said. Adora scoffed, shoving her aside. "Keep telling yourself that. I'm going to take the Failsafe to the Heart, and I'm going to save Etheria," She said, stopping in her movements. "But I'm not doing it for you. I'll do everything I can to made sure you never get your hands on the magic," She hissed.

She stormed into the shelter, pushing by the cover. She dropped onto her flat bed, by Violet's cot - who was snoozing peacefully. She put the bag by her pillow, pulled her knees up to her chest, and sobbed violently.