She remembered this well, very well. The feel of the sword in her hands, light, easy to move, and disturbingly well made. Her finger traced the blade, the cold steel distracted her from her reflection. Quite funny this was what that person traded her for, even more, that she was the only one that could save that person now.
Hanging by a thread never had a better meaning than this. That person was holding it so tightly, but that didn't stand a chance when the sword cut it. That person fell, however, managed to hang on a rock. Still, that person couldn't climb up from the abyss. Not without her, and she wouldn't give any.
Then, darkness began to eat the light just like she was used to. Just like what that person did, she tossed away the sword and gave one last look at that person before disappearing in the shadows, but actually-
This time, Catra was not surprised. Although a few days had passed since the last pleasant dream, those visions didn't bother her anymore. In a way, they made her smile. But no, that wasn't the reason for her upward lips this time.
"Force Captain Catra," a guard saluted Catra. After giving them a hand gesture to continue, the guard said, "Will it be the same order? Two grey kind ration bars?"
Fright Zone's cafeteria was never fully in the early morning. The cadets began training with their superior officers, most soldiers were patrolling the halls waiting for the swift change, and most Force Captains were still sleeping. Only a couple of early birds occupied the tables.
"No, I'm just grabbing a prisoner's meal this time," Catra answered the guard. Before they had the chance to ask her which meal set would it be, she said, "Give me the brown kind."
There was a time Catra asked herself why they had a prison. It didn't make sense to keep enemies around in a place they had a possibility of escaping. If someone loses on the battlefield, they are done and the fight continues. Such was the way of the Horde, so when she learned about prisoners, it only brought confusion to her mind.
It took her a while to notice how important it was to have enemies in their hands. Torture gave them valuable intel, intel helped against the upcoming battles and strategies. Furthermore, they could also be converted to their side, strengthening the Horde. However, if prisoners are deemed useless for them, they could be easily disposed of, permanently.
As a Force Captain, Catra finally understood what it meant to have prisoners. She saw it happen, multiple times even. For her, this was nothing new. Once she stopped her feet, she knew exactly what to do.
"Heeey," Catra mocked, her voice was cheerful but her eyes looked down coldly, "Breakfast is ready." Disabling the force field, she got into the cell and the tray of food she carried was dropped soon after. With a smirk on her face, she asked, "Missed me?"
Fright Zone's cells were designed to be bright inside, a way to always keep the prisoners in check in case they were plotting something. Normally there wouldn't be shades in a cell, even during the prisoner's sleep, but this cell was different. The darkness seemed to crawl from its depths, shadows appearing to be tentacles slithering on the floor in search of something. However, it only seemed like that if that person had any magic left.
Catra knew that prisoner had better days. Their shriveled black hair used to be smooth and appeared to be alive as they walked looked dead. The mask with a red gem on their face used to be a symbol of fear for every soldier in Fright Zone, but a crack Catra made on it running from top to bottom ruined that image. The red dress that hid the entire body was the only thing that looked normal, yet it was still dirty from their last fight.
They leaned back against the wall, lifeless as if they waited for time to pass by. It took some time for them to notice their new visitor. Once they had sat their eyes upon her - Catra knew it very well when she was under that gaze - a cold, chilling voice greeted her, "Well, well, look who decided to show up."
Their words still made Catra's spine froze, however, she knew how to put on a front, especially for them. " Aw, that almost makes me think you missed me," Catra squatted, meeting her eyes with that person who was leaned against a wall, seemingly out of strength to even stand up for themselves. "This must mean you have been pretty bored since I left, no, Shadow Weaver?"
That person did not answer back and choose to look at Catra in silence. To this day, Catra never could read Shadow Weaver. She always wore a mask that concealed her full face, but strangely everyone knew which expression she bore through it, especially when she was angry. However, that was it. What Shadow Weaver really was thinking was something only herself knew.
"No," Shadow Weaver finally said, "The silence was pleasant and much more preferable."
"Pff, whatever," Catra snorted, "After all, it is not me who is getting a trip to Beast Island."
Beast Island. No person in the Horde hasn't heard of that place, including - and especially - prisoners. A land where no living person returned, a hellish place that was home to unimaginable monsters you couldn't find in nightmares, and the ultimate punishment known in Fright Zone. Everyone shivered from the thought of it.
"Oh well," yet, Shadow Weaver was unmoved, "Guess this is the fate for a poor, old lady such as myself."
Catra grid her teeth. The only reason why Shadow Weaver was still in a cell was that she had information about Etheria and the Rebellion. Without that, she was useless, and the Horde doesn't need useless. She knew that, Catra knew that. But Shadow Weaver still didn't budge.
"But this amuses me," that tone, the one that seemed to know exactly what was inside someone's mind, caught Catra's attention again, almost making her back straight hearing that voice. "One would think someone like yourself wouldn't get prisoners. I thought you had noticed that once you stopped bringing me meals." Shadow Weaver's eyes squinted, "Or was it, perhaps, another reason for your absence…"
Catra could feel Shadow Weaver's gaze fixed on her, on her body. It makes her stiff. That was the same look that searched for weakness to abuse, be it emotional or physical. Catra was better after some days of rest, but her body still had some bandages and scratches. She thought they would be hidden by her clothes, however, Shadow Weaver knew how to find those spots, no matter how small they were.
"Or it was because I'm assigned to get intel from you, but a more important mission came up," Catra put up a front, but she had doubts if that would work on Shadow Weaver. Still, it was the best chance she had. "Luckily, you will see me more often now," she put on her best smirk, hoping it would work.
There was a moment of silence with both staring at each other. A pressure game to see which one would concede first. Catra was confident in her skills, but her opponent was Shadow Weaver herself. One wrong move, one little twitch, would give an upper hand to that woman.
To Catra's fortune, Shadow Weaver made the first move. "Suit yourself," she shrugged her shoulders and relaxed her face. A sigh of relief came from Catra's nose. She stood up and turned her back to the prisoner.
"If you wanna go to Beast Island to die, it is your choice," Catra walked slowly, her voice not giving any hints of hesitation. "But if I were you, I would say anything to save me from that."
Her job was still to take any intel she could get from the prisoner. Catra couldn't care less about what Shadow Weaver's destiny was she wanted the woman to suffer for everything she had done in her childhood, but seeing the one who raised you end up like that brought a bad taste in her mouth. Shadow Weaver was not an idiot, she could stay in Fright Zone without a problem if she revealed bits of information. All Catra had to do was come back until this prisoner cracked and everything would be fine.
"I will keep that in mind," she heard Shadow Weaver, "But in the meantime, congratulations. It must have not been easy to capture Adora."
Catra froze. …What? That was the only thing she could think of. Her mind wandered. She brought Adora in secret, nobody in the Horde should know besides Entrapta and Scorpia, let alone a prisoner. Those two wouldn't say anything, so Shadow Weaver knowing shouldn't be remotely possible. Then why?!
Catra faced the woman again. It was a brief moment of weakness. Getting caught off guard did that to everyone. After those few seconds passed, she realized her mistake.
"So it was true," Shadow Weaver said amused. Her expression should be as proud as her tone. If it was a bluff, it worked perfectly.
Catra felt her rage building up. She got played, hard. Any lies and deceives she could tell would be easily broken by the shocked face she bore. Still, one thing didn't make sense.
"How…?" Catra asked in a low voice.
Shadow Waver giggled, not caring that Catra could tackle her at any second. "Relax, child," she said, "your emotions are too obvious that even a blind person could see them." Those words came out so naturally as if she knew about her all along.
"Don't give me that!" Catra approached and grabbed Shadow Weaver's collar, pressing her against the wall. Shadow Weaver just had felt the strength behind Catra's grip to know she wasn't joking, but her voice still remained as calm as before.
"Please, I watched you your whole life, Catra," Shadow Weaver stared right into the burning eyes of Catra. "You really think I wouldn't have notice something like that?"
"What are you talking about?!" Catra asked, her confusion growing as her grip around Shadow Weaver got tighter. Yet, the woman only squinted her eyes.
"Hmmm … Perhaps you are still missing the point," Shadow Weaver said in her usual tone, "But anyone that knows can see the changes."
Shadow Weaver laughed. It was never a good sign when she laughed. It made Catra release her hold on her and step back in fear. She tried to think about what to do in this situation but the laughs pushed away any thought that came into her mind. Soon, they stopped, but even then there was no moment for her to breathe.
"Does Hordak knows?" Shadow Weaver continued to torment Catra with a question.
"Wh-N-" Words got stuck in Catra's throat, worsening whatever she was feeling at the time.
"Oh my," Shadow Weaver said, "I wonder what he will think knowing that She-Ra is sleeping right under his nose."
Catra never wanted to deny something Shadow Weaver said so strongly, but it was the truth. Adora - She-Ra was the number one enemy within the Horde. Any normal soldier would think she would be executed the moment she arrived. There were plans to use She-Ra, yes, but in the end, they were just plans, needed to be approved by the Lord of the Horde. Yet, he was still in the dark about the whole situation.
Catra close her hand into a fist. If there was one person she didn't want to know about Adora being in Fright Zone, it would be Shadow Weaver. She always had a strange fascination with her, something Catra didn't know why, and to be frank, didn't care or wanted to know. But one thing is for certain: both of them together would never end well.
"See? Your emotions are talking again," Shadow Weaver said shaking her head, interrupting Catra's thoughts. "I guarantee you are thinking about me using Adora, again, and trying to figure out a way to stop it."
"And if I am?" Catra responded with a stern look. "You are going to stop me?"
"Please, child, relax, if anything I'm complimenting you," Shadow Weaver assured, but Catra's expression didn't change. "It is smart to think like that, I would do the same."
"We are not the same!" Catra denied.
"I know. You are worse," Shadow Weaver said, no doubts in her words. Catra didn't take them well.
"Say that again," Catra extended her claws, a warning, and reminder of what happened the last time they fought each other. However, she could feel there was no need to hold anything back this time.
Shadow Weaver's answer started with a sigh of disappointment, "Oh, Catra, always too clever for your own misfortune. If only you were better, maybe Adora wouldn't have left you behind."
A loud noise came right beside Shadow Weaver's head. She didn't need to turn in that direction since she saw what happened. Catra dug her claws straight into the metal wall. Her face looked down on Shadow Weaver, eyes filled with rage and anger one step away from snapping. It took all of Catra's reasons to make her miss the target.
"This all happened because of you and those stupid mind games!" Catra shouted. "Of course she would leave the moment she saw how things really were! You did this!"
"Yet, you knew of my actions but didn't tell her," Shadow Weaver calmly responded.
"You would have killed me if I opened my mouth!"
"If that is what lets you sleep at night, feel free to think like that," Shadow Weaver continued, "but the choice was always yours to make. Who knows? Maybe things would have turned out differently if you had actually done anything, other than running away in fear that is."
It was frustrating. It was annoying. Catra wanted to punch that mask and leave it broken, respond with anything that would make that woman never open her mouth again about her, about them. But, she couldn't. Deep down she knew Shadow Weaver was right. And this only made her angrier.
And then, the laugher came back once again. Catra stared at the source who was mocking her, "It turns out, you do think about that." Shadow Weaver's talked like she had won over Catra, something she couldn't rebuke, not now with how open she was.
"If you ever tell anyone about her…" Threats were the only resource Catra had, for more futile they were. Her hand dug deeper into the wall, making a loud noise as she ripped away a chunk of metal. At that should get a reaction out of her.
Instead, Shadow Weaver just blankly stared at Catra, unfazed by her actions and words. The face behind the mask showed no movements, it was stoic and solid as a rock. Catra almost dry swallowed seeing the hardest to read expression Shadow Weaver could do, a few inches away from her eyes. Still, Catra had to bluff.
And then, she felt a touch on her cheek.
"My child, why would I ever do that?" Shadow Weaver was caressing Catra's face with her hand. It took Catra by surprise, making her tumble away from the woman. Seeing that reaction, Shadow Weaver giggled. "This is exactly what I was referring to."
"W-What you mean?!" Catra was in distress. Shadow Weaver never touched her that soft before. It was new and… complicated.
"It doesn't matter," Shadow Weaver waved her hands, "in time, you may know the big picture. But rest assure," her eyes got sharper, staring right into Catra's soul and her body froze. "I also need Adora alive."
Need … It was a common word for Shadow Weaver, but anyone who knew her had another meaning for it. It was the same as being compared to a pawn, a disposable piece that she could use to her own liking. Catra heard of many other soldiers and cadets whom Shadow Weaver needed, but Adora was… different, and Catra didn't know why. However, it didn't matter.
"You will never get your hands on her again," Catra said in a serious tone, glaring at Shadow Weaver in a way she never did before. For the first time in this conversation, the woman's expression changed as she raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, I see," Shadow Weaver let escape a sigh of amusement from her mouth, but Catra chose to ignore it.
"You better have good information about the Rebellion, and soon, for your own good," Catra said those words with a stare and turned her back to Shadow Weaver. With the prisoner not saying anything relevant, she had no business with the woman anytime soon and wanted to leave this cell as soon as possible.
"If I'm in the mood," Shadow Weaver said. Catra knew she would want to have the last word in this, but it didn't bother her. "In the meantime, I have something to ask."
Catra was inserting the numbers for the force field before leaving, not caring about what Shadow Weaver would say to her. Honestly, she hoped her cold shoulder would make the woman's interest quiet down and be silent. But, to her misfortune, it didn't work.
"When are you going to do something about that insufferable blabber?" Shadow Weaver asked feinting to be annoyed, but it got Catra's curiosity, stopping her hands from finishing the code.
"What are you talking about?" Catra responded.
"I'm just a poor, old lady, Force Captain," Shadow Weaver was playing with her, Catra knew, but couldn't stop listening, a bad feeling was slowly rising within her. "I just want a good night of sleep, but those youngsters are always so loud. Even now they are mocking me," Shadow Weaver's eyes sharpen, looking at Catra as if she wanted to make fun of her. "I'm surprised you can't hear it."
"Uh, looks like the prison got the best out of you," Catra let out a dry giggle. The noises she was hearing were the same old machines that were always present in their daily lives, nothing out of the ordinary. "If you wanted to chat more, you could start by-"
But suddenly, Catra heard it. It was soft, weak, faint, anyone would miss it as it would blend in with the wind, but there were no doubts. A voice. A shock ran into her body. It was not because Shadow Weaver was right, rather where the sound was coming from.
It was from below, down below. There were no doubts, her ears weren't lying to her. And there should be only one thing - only one person - so deep within the prison.
"You better do something, Force Captain," Catra's attention was stolen by Shadow Weaver's voice, looking at the woman once again. "Once it starts, they can go for hours ."
There were thousands of questions running inside Catra's mind, but there was no time to think about them. Activating the force field, she dashed away from Shadow Weaver's sight. Even without seeing Catra anymore, Shadow Weaver's lips turned into a smile as she said to no one.
"You are welcome."
"No… way…"
"I can't believe this… you were talking the truth!"
"I told you she was here!"
It was three guards talking among themselves. Two bore expressions of shock and surprise while the other was haughty. Although you couldn't see their faces through the helmets, their voices were sufficient to know how each was feeling seeing that.
In front of them, a cell. It was an ordinary one, besides the fact it seemed to be somewhat an older model. But, what took their attention was who was in it. No one else but Adora - She-Ra herself.
"Are you sure this is the real one?" A guard asked the haughty one.
"One hundred percent," he assured. "Checked her myself yesterday."
"But there were no reports about any prisoner of this… scale," the other guard remarked.
"Can't you guys think? The answer is obvious." The other two guards looked at each other, clueless to what the third one was implying. He groaned, "This is a surprise, you idiots!"
Both guards crossed eyes and asked almost at the same time, "For what?"
"I can't believe this…" The third rubbed his temple. "Hordak and the top brass want to make a big announcement!"
Getting into conspiracies was this guard's joy. There was something under everything they were being told, and they loved to create theories about it. Those two other guards knew about this fascination since their cadet days, but also knew that it was full of wishful thinking and make-believe.
"I don't know, the Horde doesn't do this kind of stunt."
"Agreed, everything about this is weird. Are you sure you are not being set-up, again?"
Both laughed remembering the last time that guard went on about something just to realize it was a prank by another soldier. While those two were having fun, that guard's face was red by anger.
"Oh, yeah? Watch this."
The guard went to the cell and punched the metal structure around the force field. It flickered for a moment before fading away completely. With nothing in their way, the guard headed inside. After making sure the other two were looking at them, the guard lifted Adora by her ponytail.
"Does this looks fake to you?!" Their voice was loud, annoyed that they were being questioned yet again. However, seeing the gasping from the other two made them happy.
"You gotta be kiddin' me!"
"Is this really real?!"
Both went in and looked at Adora's face. She was sleeping and there were no signs of waking up from their shouting, so after forcefully opening her eyes to confirm the blue color in them, there were no doubts. It was her.
"Oh my god…"
"This is… wow …"
Both were astonished. They didn't though much when their friend went to grab them during their rounds and dragged them off to the deepest part of the prison. It was just a way to kill time since there was nothing else to do. They never expected this.
"I know, I know," they sounded pleased looking at the two's reactions, and they knew those expressions would be better. "Now… how about some payback time?"
The other two guards froze and looked at the third one. They knew what that guard was saying, and they were on board with it, but a question rose within one of them.
"But… will this be alright? Like, wouldn't they be suspicious or something?"
"Dude, relax," the guard guarantee, "nobody is supposed to know she is here. The top brass wouldn't question if she was missing one teeth or two, or some broken bones."
Then, they laughed with malice in their voice. Soon, the others joined them. The two were timidity at first, but soon the third guard's enthusiasm won over them, laughing together while thinking the same thing. It would be perfect and no one would know.
"You know, I didn't see any memo about a torture session happening," and then, they stopped as a voice called them from their backs. Cold sweat started running down from their spines since they knew who those words belonged to. "I better know what the heck is happening here or, well…"
They slowly looked over the cell's entrance, noticing a figure blending in with the darkness, but the eyes of different colors shone in the shadows gave away the new visitor identity. Unconsciously, they swallowed.
"Sucks to be you," the figure said as she stepped into the dim light after playing with her claws, revealing herself. She had feline-like features such as ears, tail, and brown fur covering her whole body, wearing an orange leopard with ripped pants for free movement, and a voice so cold and sarcastic that it could cut you in a blink of an eye. It was enough for the guards to push away any doubts they had about the girl's identity.
They all immediately straightened their backs and saluted her, "F-Force C-Captain Catra!" The guard who lost their grip on Adora said in a struggle. "We were jus-"
"Out. Now," before the guard could explain, Catra told them as she headed outside.
The guards followed her order and left. Without her instructing them to do so, they formed a line with their backs to the cell. They all had some hope this would appease her wrath to some degree. They held their breaths as they watched Catra.
"So… where do we begin?" She went over them, taking her time to walk the line from one end to the other. "How about the fact you bozos don't have the clearance to be near here? Or that you were almost starting something without having orders to do so? Or…" Catra looked at the guards, narrowing her eyes in a threatening manner. "The fact you thought you could get away without me knowing."
"F-Force Captain… we…" The same guard tried to explain once again." We didn't know that-"
"And because you don't know, you could play dumb and do whatever you want?" Catra didn't give them a chance to continue.
"O-Of course not!"
"But you still almost did it, huh …" Catra faced the guard who was talking and looked straight into his eyes. They stiffed their body from the pressure behind her eyes. "Why did you even get down here in the first place?"
"We- I- My taser slipped from my hand and fell here…" The guard explained. "Then I found the prisoner and… well…"
"Then you told others?" Catra's question was answered with a simple nod from the guard. She looked to the two other guards on their side with a straight face. "Are those the only ones you told about?"
The guard tensed. Had it not been for their armor and helmet, you would see his sweat dripping from his whole body as it trembled. But when they saw Catra becoming more annoyed the more silent they were, the guard spoke.
"N-No… there were… a handful of others who… came here…" They admitted.
"Hmm," Catra's expression didn't change. Her pause made the guard it wouldn't end well for them. "And how long did you found out?"
"Thre- Four! Four days!" The guard quickly corrected themselves. The last thing they wanted was to be background checked and be on the bad side of a Force Captain, or worse.
Again, Catra paused. The guards could see she was thinking about something, probably what she would submit them to. If it was like the theory the third one said, they messed around with a project so big it could cost their heads, literally.
"Ok," they were brought back to reality by Catra's voice. She looked decided. They flinched when she gazed at them with a blunt expression. Preparing for the worse, they heard, "As long you never bring this subject again and warn the others, you are free to go."
As soon as she finished, Catra turned her back at the guards and walked off. On the other hand, the guards were staring at her, eyes open wide behind their helmets. The anger and hostility they could feel in the air were gone like it never even existed.
"Hum … are we… not going to be punished?" The guard from before said in confusion. The other two shared the same expression but were paying close attention to the conversation.
Catra giggled, "Of course not," she said with a smile, "this is a secret, you found out by coincidence. Accidents happen, right?"
"Y-Yeah…" The guard replied without thinking.
"If anything, it's our fault, so relax," Catra looked at them, reassuring the guards.
At that moment, the guards' shoulders relaxed as they all sighed in relief while saying in whispers among themselves how lucky they were to get out of this without any incidents. It was a surprise, but a good one they wouldn't dare to complain. And then-
"To be honest, I think you guys deserve a reward," Catra's voice caught the guard's attention again.
They looked at each other, puzzled about what the Force Captain said. They haven't heard about the Horde giving something to someone who discovered a secret, but then again they never heard about someone discovering a secret. The guards turned their sights to Catra, who was counting with her fingers for something.
"You," Catra pointed at the guard who was talking to her before, "do you know what time it is?"
Being asked out of a sudden, the guard was surprised and took a moment to respond.
"No… I… left my com-pad at the bunker." They felt shame for admitting to a superior they forgot something important to every guard in the Horde.
"Eh, it doesn't matter," Catra shrugged. "It should be around this time anyway."
The guard was confused, looking at the other two for answers but they didn't know. " Huh … about time for what?" The guard decided to ask.
Then, Catra vanished from their sights.
"Wh-" The guard was about to share his bewilderment, but before they could even form a word, they felt a pain in their abdomen. Catra had pounced on the guard, kicking him in the guts. It was so strong they were sent flying back and felt with their face on the ground.
Once they realize what had happened, the guard was shocked. Catra's attack was sudden, the guard didn't have time to react. With a groan, they lifted themselves from the ground using their arms, only now realizing where they were - inside Adora's cell. Cold ran through their spine.
Wasting no time getting up, the guard dashed outside, however, they hit something that sent a shock to their body, releasing a cry as they fell to the ground. Looking up, the guard saw it and froze. The force field was on once again, but that was the least of their worries.
"Hey, where do you think you are going?" On the other side, Catra stared down at the guard with a grin so wide it crossed her face. "The reward is just starting."
"Huh?!" The guard was startled. They glanced to the other two, who were as confused about the situation as them. However, the guard didn't have time to think straight, not when they heard a yawn coming from their backs.
Turning their head around, the guard saw Adora sluggishly moving her body on top of the cot. It didn't take the guard long to figure out the prisoner would soon wake up, with them trapped with her.
"P-Please, let me out!" The guard stood up and begged with fear in their voice. And to that tone, a laugh responded.
"Aw, but where is the fun in that?" Catra said in amusement. "Besides, didn't you say that you wanted, what was it called?" She pondered, not hiding the fact she was playing with the guard "Oh yeah… payback time, right?"
Finishing her sentence, Catra smiled. Looking at her expression, the guard lost all hope they had. The girl in front of them showed no signs of letting them go. Despair filled the guard's heart only to be overthrown by panic once they listened to the noises coming from behind.
The guard saw Adora, now sitting on the cot, stretching her arms. After a yawn, she said, " Maaan, they really do make good beds here." Half-opening her eyes, Adora raised an eyebrow noticing the new visitor. " Oh? Do I know you? I don't think I do… Do I? Most of the guards seem the same to me if I am honest. By the way, do you know they lied to us?! It is crazy, isn't it?"
Adora's voice was sleepy and didn't make sense, but the guard was not paying attention to any of it. All they knew was the prisoner had awakened, with them inside her cell. Out of reflex, the guard reached out for their taser and activate it, making green sparks fly in the room. They released a scream and were about to hit Adora when their arm was restrained.
"C'mon, you can't do that," Catra said in disappointment. She was holding the guard with her hand passing through a small hatch in the force field. That was the intended way to give prisoners their food trays. The hatch had the right width and height to keep physical contact to a minimum in case a prisoner would attempt to escape, but that was no challenge for Catra.
She swiftly bent over the guard's arm, making them released the taser as they screamed in pain. Grabbing the weapon before it fell, Catra let out of the guard and closed the hatch. When the guard looked at her, they saw Catra playfully moving the taser.
"This is supposed to be your big chance, you idiot," Catra said smiling, mocking the guard. "Think about how good it will be when you say you beat She-Ra with your own hands!" She encouraged them, but they could feel there was no meaning behind her words.
The guard had no condition to imagine that. Their intent was never to fight or boast about it. It was far more simple and it didn't involve any way of being hurt themselves. However, that plan quickly faded away.
"Ah, I see how it is," Adora's voice made the guard fearfully look at her. She jumped out of her bed, making a loud bang when her boots reached the ground. "Let's go then, me and you! I will show you!" She took a fighting stance with both her fists up, swinging them to the guard, but the shackles on her wrists didn't allow her jabs to reach even half the way to the target. However, it did cause a reaction.
The guard's knees were trembling, not daring to move one inch closer to Adora as she continued to punch forward. Instead, the guard stepped back, but the force field's recoil pushed them to where they were. Still, they continued to get as far away as possible from the prisoner.
"I-I'm s-sor-sorry!" The guard said in desperation, asking forgiveness from the Force Captain that watched them. "I-I-I didn't mean to!"
"Don't give me that!" Adora shouted misunderstanding who the guard was talking to. "I'm not done yet!" Realizing the punches were useless, she spun her body and started kicking in the hope it would reach the guard, but it still wasn't nearly enough to cover the distance.
Yet, the guard became even more afraid of the prisoner. They released a yelp of fear as they pushed their body against the force field. The guard felt pain from the shocks that ran through their armor, but in their mind it was nothing. Nothing compared to what they knew Adora - what She-Ra could do to them if she placed one finger on them.
Suddenly, there was nothing that supported the guard anymore. They fell to the ground, but before even realizing what happened, they crawled back as far as possible, only stopping when the other two guards managed to get a hold of them.
"A shame tho," Catra said uninterested, standing over the cell's panel. She had deactivated the force field, realizing that guard took enough - for now. "But I guess that you expect from cowards."
Catra faced them, seeing the two guards helping the other stand up but they were still trembling from facing Adora. Actually, all three of them were shaking. Pitiful, Catra soft giggle, no wonder they are still home guards. She wanted to hurry this up and send them away, but not now. It was too soon.
"Now listen, and listen well, because I don't like when people are idiots that can't take a simple order," Catra slowly marched towards the guards. Amidst the dark, the only thing they could fully see was her blue-yellow eyes as Catra approached them. "I have been planning this for a looong time, choosing this spot because no one would waste their time coming here to check whatever the heck I was doing. Now I'm this close to completing it, I will not have some low ranks big-shots-wannabes to ruin it."
The guards froze. Catra's voice was calm as if it didn't have emotions, but that only made it eerier for them to hear it. The only reason their legs were moving backward was due to their survival instincts warning something would happen if the girl got too close to them. But because the ground was covered in metal junk and parts, the guards tripped and fell. Their only option now was to look up as the Force Captain was getting closer.
"But lucky you, today I am kinda happy, you know? So don't forget this," Catra stopped her tracks a few steps from the guards. Her figure was fully hidden within the darkness. "I'm letting you lot go now, but if I heard any word about we holding this prisoner, even the slightest rumor of even her hair color or anything along those lines, and you better believe me," green lighting appeared. Between its flickers, the guards could see Catra's face illuminated by the taser's sparkles. There was no expression as they saw themselves reflected in her eyes, staring at them with shrunk pupils. "You will see me on a bad day."
None of the guards dared to move an inch or even breath as Catra remained silent. They wanted to run away as far as possible, but every natural alarm they had warned them that one wrong step would mean their doom.
Good, Catra thought releasing a dry laugh. That would take care of anyone that took the guard's word about Adora being locked there.
"You are dismissed," Catra threw the taser in front of the guards, losing interest in them after her message was clear. She turned around and said, "Now get the heck out, unless you want a demonstration of what would happen to you if the word got out."
Not saying one thing back, the guards dashed away and ran to the platform, communicating with the operator to lift them. Catra's eyes didn't leave them for a second, making sure they were leaving her alone in the dark.
Once she confirmed the guards couldn't see or heard her anymore, Catra let out a groan of frustration as she kicked away a piece of metal in the ground to appease her anger. How did this even happen?! She grit her teeth.
Catra was cautious, she always was. There shouldn't be any flaws about having Adora where she is. It was the most secluded part of the Fright Zone. Yet, people now knew about her. It didn't matter if she had scared away those three guards, what she thought was how many more knew and if they told others about it. Everyone could already know about Adora - about She-Ra being held captive.
But what caught Catra's attention was how she had let this pass right under her nose. She couldn't be there all time, there was no way. People would get suspicious about a Force Captain going and not returning from the depths of the prison, not to mention she was still on medical leave due to her injuries. The only moments Catra could visit Adora without having problems were at the beginning of the day and around bedtime. She never thought the time window between them would be a problem, however, it now was.
"You knew that, didn't you?" Catra whispered looking up. Shadow Weaver must have a hand in this, no way she warned Catra out of the kindness in her heart. Either Shadow Weaver was using her in a plan of sorts or she wanted Catra to see what she had caused. That woman was a liar for all Catra cared, she might as well have told the guard about Adora just to mess with her. In the end, it didn't matter. Catra hated being used, especially by Shadow Weaver.
. .. Let's leave that for another time, Catra thought as she breathed to calm herself. There was no point in speculating what was real or not right now. Something else bothered her mind. Catra made her way back to the cell.
Upon arriving, Catra saw Adora still spinning as she kicked the air. "Take this, and this, and that!" She said with her eyes shut. Didn't even realize she was alone. Catra couldn't help but laugh.
Adora's form was clumsy and had no strength behind her strikes, also they were slow making it easy to evade. Anyone who knew her could tell, or if they paid attention with a clear head could figure out how that was not scary at all. That was something the normal Adora would never do. And that is why it was funny to see.
"C'mon, you dork, there is no one else there," Catra said leaning on the walls with her arms crossed.
"Catra?" Adora said back, stopping her body. "Woah! Since when there were three of you?!" Her head was dizzy from twisting around too much.
Catra rolled her eyes in amusement, "If there were three of me, you wouldn't even stand a chance."
"Three Catras… Are awesome…" Adora said before she sat down on her cot. "Wait… there are four now…"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say," Catra said going to the front of Adora. "Hold still for a bit."
Before Adora could say something - or if she even could understand what was really happening around her with how lightheaded she was - Catra started to check her body. She lifted Adora's sleeves and pants, searching for any signs of injuries - new ones since she had some scratches and scars from previous battles.
"You should have seen me, Catra," Adora said ignoring or not feeling whatever was happening with her body. "I made those guards run away! Nobody messes around with She-Ra in town!"
"Sure you did, now stop struggling," Catra responded holding Adora still.
Finishing her inspection, Catra didn't find anything besides what she had already seen there. Good, she smiled softly. She stopped that guard before any harm was done and they didn't cause any damage beforehand. If Catra had found out they injured Adora…
"Aw !" Adora's voice stopped Catra's thoughts, "You purred again!"
"No, I didn't," Catra responded deadpan.
"I'm pretty sure you di-" Adora couldn't finish her phrase since Catra's tail flicked her forehead. " Ouch !" She rubbed her head.
"That is what you get by angering me," Catra said. After a small pause, she added, "Jerk."
If those guards saw this was angry Catra, they would test their luck. This was not the usual Catra, and she knew that. However, she paid no mind. It wasn't doing her any harm anyway, what was the problem of continuing it?
"By the way," Adora questioned with a tired look, "Is everything alright?"
Catra pondered. She was confident no more stress or worries were showing in her face, but of course, Adora would know better than just looking for the obvious answer. Catra wondered what signal she did for Adora to notice her mental state.
But-
"Yeah," Catra said with a smile, reassuring her former friend, "nothing I can't handle."
Like always, she wouldn't admit it. Not her feeling, nor her plan.