Chapter Text
The portal had been opened.
Everything was lost.
And there she was. Consumed and saved at the same time by her anger, her spite, her hatred and her pain. The last person Adora would have expected to see again. Not even Glimmer, with all her stubbornness, could compare to Catra's foolishness.
A Catra who now reflected her pain in her appearance. She was just a dark specter of who she used to be. Every word said with complete confidence, every phrase made to harm her in a forceful way. Because she knew her better than anyone.
"You broke the world… you broke me… if you hadn’t left, this would never happen. If you hadn't come back for that stupid sword, no one would have been able to open the portal... this is all your fault!”
"If you had stayed with me, none of this would be happening!".
Even though every word was true, even though every sentence was a direct hit to her worst fears and insecurities, Adora couldn't let Catra drag her into her game. Not today, there was no more time. The whole world was collapsing around them.
Catra watched and delighted in Adora's pain. Enjoying every real and figurative blow. Feeling a bitter and unhealthy pleasure every time she had the opportunity to unload a little of her own pain on the person who represented everything to her. The one who abandoned her as if she were worthless, as if all their years together didn't matter, just because she suddenly discovered that the world was not as she thought, just because some others also suffered.
The pang of uncertainty in Adora's chest had only grown since she started feeling like things weren't right. An unhealthy bubble of anxiety and alarm began to grow as things didn’t match her memories. At first she had let herself be carried away because she had everything she remembered ever wanting. Her friends were with her. Catra was with her. But the events did not enterely match. Now the bubble of alarm was true despair, after seeing Scorpia disappear, all of Bright Moon, Entrapta, who as always, had the answer they were looking for. Bow and Glimmer, the best friends anyone could have in the world, looking at her in peace and full of faith.
And now literally the entire world was collapsing around her to discover that the culprit of everything was -alive-, claiming, making the pain and hopelessness grow in her heart. Yes, she had left Catra behind that day she went for the sword, all the "what if…" were always present. But there was no more time. Adora had fought against her companions, she left them behind. But she had also suffered. She couldn't sleep, she would wake up whimpering, gasping, looking and her heart always broke a little more every time there was nothing at her feet on the bed. She was alone and cold. She desperately missed knowing what was expected of her, having the security of the path outlined and that uncertainty will not reign every day.
And now she couldn't take any more.
Catra had crossed all limits. She hadn't forced her to do anything after leaving. The scars on her back burned like stunt bars. As if she had it easy in the Horde. Shadow Weaver demanded much more of her than anyone else, and Adora managed to match Rogelio in strength, Catra in speed, and surpass everyone in combat. Her memory was exceptional and she could list the Horde's strategy and war texts perfectly. Only after much trial and error was her mind the fastest at solving problems under stress, under intense pain, and under the Horde's best judgment. Catra's insolence not only resulted in punishment for the cadet, but for herself for not knowing how to control her. And she firmly believed that it was her obligation and never blamed her friend.
But there was no longer any place for that. They were no longer cadets. They were soldiers. But they didn't follow orders. Adora had been raised to command and govern, to have judgment, and Catra was so intelligent on her own that she was now Second in Command of the entire Horde. It was time to accept the truth: Adora couldn't keep justifying Catra. It was time to make decisions, no matter how much it hurt, no matter how much she wished the circumstances were different.
Adora didn't break the world. But she could repair it and so... yet, she knew that in the end, saving the world was nothing more than saving Catra. In the end, it was always about her. So if the feline couldn't see it or wouldn't want to understand it, it doesn't matter, Adora would be in charge of giving her a new chance. The one she wished for both of them. She wouldn't let Catra fall, she knew how much she had suffered, now better than ever. So she will save everyone.
The last punch that finally put the Dark Catra to sleep almost split the skin on her knuckles. The world fragmented at her feet and one last time she tried to reach Catra's body.
There was nothing more to hide, she knew that Catra was hers as much as Adora was Catra's. She was sorry for not seeing it sooner and letting things get so complicated.
She couldn't reach it, and with the determination she didn't really feel, she threw herself into the void, finally seeing the sword creating the vortex where everything was converging and collapsing. Little by little she began to make her way among the rocks that gravitated to the sword like asteroids, jumping and hurting her hands a little more.
In the distance, Queen Angella was watching her, and even when she couldn't see the sword beyond, she knew that Adora was trying to reach it. Whether it was because only She-ra could stop this disaster or any other reason, Angella would help her get to the weapon. If only the wind and rocks didn't impede her way.
Adora ran and ran, jumped and climbed. She let her body content itself with the physical activity and allowed her heart to rejoice in the memories of her and Catra running together in the forge. There was nothing more to do now. Just a few more rocks and she would reach the sword.
"Adora! ADORA!"
Angella was so close, but Adora didn't hear her. Adora continued relentlessly. Getting closer and closer to the sword as she gets carried away by the vortex itself.
Just when the queen was within reach and Adora tilted to a new scream, she ran out of time. Adora smiled resignedly at her in farewell. Angella tried with all her might to reach her, but she couldn't. Adora took the sword and disappeared into She-ra. But a different She-ra, with the same but much longer ponytail. The details on her clothing also changed but the only thing Angella could see was that she now wore full pants and the cape was gone.
She-ra wielded the sword once more, threw it as hard as she could, and everything imploded.