A/N: Dun dun di dun dun duuuuuuuuuuuun! Yes people, it's true. You're not hallucinating, you're not imagining things, it's legit. Behold, not just a new chapter, but one posted ON THE SAME DAY as the previous one :D!
Yeah, who cares if there was like a freaking 13- hour difference, it's still the same day XP. I am more than happy to say I have a more concrete plan for this one, as shown with the numerous additions i had thrown in here and there. And I actually got a good 1/4th of the episode done, so we might actually get this limited to 4 parts ^^ Not that I'm against more parts, but if I'm going to finish his before season two, I need to limit these as much as possible XP
No, no worries, that won't affect how much I write, so relax on that part XP. Anyway, enjoy!
...
...
...
Sleep. One of the most important parts of the day for every living creature.
It offered rest and respite from the harshness of the world, allowing one to relax and recharge their energies for whatever tomorrow had to bring. Within the center of the Whispering Woods, that's where we found our hero of three lying about, all resting peacefully on the ground without worry nor care.
After the events of Dryl, in their mission of recruiting Princess Entrapta, things had gone relatively normal, back to the way they once were between Catra, Glimmer, and Bow. Catra no longer seemed to be harboring the same hatred for the princess she once did, after a concerning issue regarding Adora on the previous mission left her ignoring Glimmer for over a week. The girl was still snide and sarcastic, she seemed to have the same lack of manners she used to, but it was a least a little more peaceful and welcoming than straight out ignoring her like she had been.
Matter of fact, things might have gotten a midge better since then. She no longer seemed intent on telling Glimmer and Bow to leave her alone. She no longer used her comforting words like "bug off", "get lost", or their personal favorite, "get within five feet of me and I'll claw you". She seemed a lot more passive than she used to be, no matter how much she insisted she wasn't. At one point, she almost asked them to leave her alone.
Asking someone to leave her alone was beyond shocking to the two, Bow almost fainting in how polite it was in comparison to all the other times. There was still a lot of the same old Catra within her, of course. She still called Glimmer "Pinky" and Bow "Bowey", but it was still just as welcoming, if not more so, than the week she went on ignoring the two.
Overall, things seemed to be right back to normal, the way Glimmer and Bow liked it.
Catra on the other hand was dealing with two of her own problems. First off, as told by Entrapta after studying the sword for a few minutes, there really was a problem with it that prevented her from exposing it's full power. Something within the sword kept her from bringing out all its might, restricting her to possibly the bare minimum of what the sword was capable of. And while she would've been more than fine with that, the troubling part was that it had nothing to do with her ability to transform into She-Ra.
Unbeknownst to her, Entrapta had informed her friends of that minor detail. As it stood, the scientist wasn't entirely sure what the cause of it was. The only explanation she could come up with was the fact most First Ones' technology had a tendency of bonding with the person using it. In that sense, she came to the conclusion that whatever was keeping Catra from transforming wasn't with the sword, but with Catra herself.
Naturally, the two refused to tell her about this additional detail. All it would do is cause Catra to be upset and angry about everything again because of something outside of her control. Even if they did tell her about that it wouldn't do anything to help her with her transforming. Until they figured out the cause behind Catra's inability to transform, they found it safer to keep it between the two of them.
The other problem Catra was facing wasn't anywhere on the outside. It was the dream she was having on the inside. Evident by the pained expression on her sleeping face, the way she tossed and turned in her sleep, something was going on in her mind that brought discomfort to the young girl.
Where was she? Where was anyone? There was an endless, vast, darkness surrounding her on all sides. Almost being aware of the fact she was dreaming, the magicat took a walk through the darkness, hearing her footsteps echoing all around her. There wasn't any Glimmer, Bow, no one. The ground itself was pitch black, half the time making her wonder if she was about to step into a hole by accident.
"Hellooooo?" Catra called out, being met with the same echo several times. "Is anybody there?"
Was this what remained of her fallen kingdom after the hallucinatory dream she had last mission? During her time in Dryl, she came under the effects of a virus created by First Ones' technology, in part thanks to Entrapta fiddling with the device in order to study it. After destroying a robot and being infected through her sword, she found herself in a dreamland-like setting, where she was the princess and having the greatest day of her life.
That day slowly escalated into a horrifying nightmare as people began to disappear one by one, all while the kingdom itself started to get surrounded by massive red walls in every direction. After examining these walls, the nightmare took a deadly turn as they started to hound in on the girl, disintegrating the kingdom and everything it touched as it narrowed on Catra's own castle. If not for the encouragement of her allies as they shouted to her through the dream, she might've found herself crushed along with the rest of the kingdom that had abandoned her.
Now she was surrounded by darkness, one that possibly could've existed within the same space as her kingdom, and at the same time not. It had a distinct lack of wind, much less everything else, yet she could feel a strange coldness emanating from her surroundings. Could those walls destroy the wind to begin with? Was that even possible?
It as hard to say.
All she knew was that she was alone again in this darkening abyss, without a single soul around her. "Can anyone hear me?" She shouted again. Scratching the back of her head, she finally came to a stop as she started to think. "Ok, so... probably dreaming right now, so... I gotta wake up at some time, right?"
Seemed like the best option, all things considered. If she could wake herself up from in here, great. If not, no biggie. She doubted she would be trapped in this place forever, and it's not like Glimmer and Bow wouldn't wake her up if she didn't by morning. All she had to do for now was think of a way to pass the ti-
"Catraaaa..." A single voice called out through the darkness. The very instant it reached her ears, her heart rate spiked up, the hairs on the end of her skin rising out of sheer terror.
"W-Who's there?" She prayed the voice didn't belong to who she thought it did. There was only one person in this world she knew of with a voice that twisted. One that seemed comforting and wholesome on the outside while being filled with terror and maliciousness on the inside.
"Oooh, have you forgotten already?" The voice asked almost amusingly.
"You're not here... This is a dream!" Catra yelled, looking all around herself to find the source of the dreadful voice.
"Do you really think you're safe anywhere you go, you little wretch?" The voice let out a cackle of laughter at that. "When will you ever learn? There is no place you can go where I can't find you."
"S-Shut up!" The forceful shouting was diminished at the sight of her drooped ears. There was no intimidation coming from this frightened girl. "Show yourself!"
"And now you think to give me orders?! Oh, Catra, Catra. I thought you learned your place a long time ago. Clearly I was wrong~"
"Shut up!" She shouted louder, lacking the ferocity she usually had behind it. "You're not here! You can't do anything to me!"
"Oh, can't I?" The voice grew deeper as it approached, Catra continuing to search in all directions in vain. "Haven't you realized, yet? No matter where you go, no matter who you claim to be, I am always right behind you."
"Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up!" Catra repeated squeezing her ears shut. She closed her eyes as she shook her head, drowning out all the noise that she could as she tried to ignore it. This was her dream, out in the middle of thee Whispering Woods, where no one can find her. She could say all she wanted and she could make all the threats she had, and Catra knew she wouldn't be able to touch her out here.
She was safe here. She had to be safe here. Even if this was a nightmare, it was still a dream, right? There was nothing she could do to reach her out here, no actual pain she could cause her.
Opening her eyes, she took a quick look around in every direction twice, including above and below her. Without and sign of the mysterious voice Catra sighed. It was a dream. All of it was a dream. As long as she kept telling herself that, everything would be all-
*Gnnk!*
"Agh!" Catra yelped as she shot out of bed, panting heavily. Right before she woke up, when she thought everything was all right, she felt it. A cold, scathing, hand belonging to the one person who loathed her most of all tightening around her neck.
She felt it.
FELT IT.
Darting her eyes back and forth she realized she was awake, sweating profusely as she huffed. She was back in the Whispering Woods where she fell asleep with the others. Bow was sleeping a few feet away from her on her left, and left of him Glimmer was sleeping a few feet away, curled up with the cape over herself like a blanket and a small bundle of bushes as a pillow.
That wasn't a dream. It couldn't be. Pain was something people could never feel in a dream no matter how much they thought they did. Here, before she woke up, she felt everything. She felt the squeeze on her neck when she grabbed her, she felt her airwaves constrict for an instant.
Looking at her own arms, her eyes widened as she realized her own hands were at her throat, pulling them away as quickly as she could. They weren't the ones choking her, she was positive on that. They were trying to pry the grip from her suffocating throat, the person who attacked her in the one place she thought she was safe.
She didn't want to think about her. She didn't want to remember that without Adora she wasn't safe around her. All the sweat, all the worries building up in her mind, all of it was living proof that she was here in some way, in some form. Gulping to herself, Catra stared up at the night sky, seeing the moon looming over them.
She uttered the one name she feared most of all.
"Shadow-Weaver..."
...
...
The intro starts with Shadow Weaver in the Black Garnet chamber spying and glaring at a image of Catra. Than the image dives into the water of her scrying spell.
~ We're on the edge of greatness ~
Where we have Catra at Bright Moon looking both determined and forlorn out into the distance.
~ turning darkness into light ~
A scene of kid Catra and kid Adora training together in the fright zone under Shadow Weaver. Before being replaced with a image of Adora glaring at a heart broken looking Catra who's on her knees across a battlefield.
~ We're right beside you ~
But than Glimmer and Bow teleport to Catra side raising her spirit back up, as shown with her surprise blinking when Gimmer offers her a hand, than she smirks accepting the help as she takes the lead ahead of them.
~ Ready to Fight! ~
Catra raises her sword, transforming into She-Ra in a glorious flash of light
~ (fight, fight, fight fight) ~
Then She-Ra rushes off into battle with Glimmer and Bow following right behind her.
~ We're gonna win in the end! ~
Mermista rises out of a tide, blasting Horde soldiers with water.
~ We must be strong, And we must be brave ~
Perfuma burst from the ground, capturing and tying up Horde soldiers with vines.
~(we must be brave) ~
Frosta rides an entire wave of frozen water, freezing Horde tanks in their tracks.
~ We're gonna find every bit of strength that we have ~
The scene shifts to Hordaks throne room where the evil shadowy figure sits upon his throne, his red glowing eyes being the only noticeable part of him, surrounded by notable members of the Horde, consisting of Adora and Catra's squadron, Shadow Weaver, Adora, Scropia, and even Entrapta.
~ and never let go ~
The scene shifts to an epic clash between Catra and Adora, the She-Ra gritting her teeth as she presses her sword against Adora's electrical baton, as the Force Captain herself grins with chaotic excitement as the red jewel from her headband shines.
~ (Oh ah Oh) ~
Adora and Catra push each other off as they back up into their friends- Entrapta and Scorpia for Adora, and for Catra Bow and Glimmer.
~ We must be STRONG! ~
The scene ends with a final shot of both sides looking across the field, a transparent image of Catra and Adora's faces filling the sky as the colors are split between them;
A majestic darkness shining into light upon Catra's side, and a horrid light seeping into darkness on Adora's half.
...
...
*splash*
"Ngh..." Catra splashed the water from the pond against her face for the third time within the last several hours. Kneeling in front of it for the fifth time by now, she took a deep breath. She needed to rub the sleepiness out of her eyes, the exhaustion of the days events leading up to this. Being a bit more awake than before, she looked at her reflection within the waters, waiting for it to calm as her reflection cleared up.
"Ok... You're fine... You're safe..." She spoke to her reflection quietly. "Shadow-Weaver's not here. She couldn't be." Raising her head she saw the tranquil scenery around her. All across the large pond was beautiful fauna and trees, the sound of birds chirping in the early morning to greet her. "This place is way too peaceful for her to be here... right?"
Staring back at her reflection, she flinched at the new face she was greeted with. It wasn't her own, it wasn't one part of her that greeted her. It was Shadow-Weaver's own sinister eyes glaring at the young girl, her blackened hair waving out of control. "Ahh!"
She wasted no time swiping at the evil figure that stared back at her, falling to her back from the shock of the image. Shaking her head clear she crawled up to the water, sighing when she saw her own reflection again. "Get it out of your head!" She told herself lightly pounding against her forehead. "She's not here, all right? Nobody else is here. It's just you and-"
*rustle-rustle*
Her ears perked right up at the sound of the strange rustling noise, making a dash to the nearby tree as she pressed her back against it. She breathed silently to herself as she grabbed her sword. If someone was out here, they must've been working for the Horde! How else would Shadow-Weaver find her last night? Yeah, that must be it!
She wasn't about to let them make a fool of herself either! Slowly pulling the sword out of her sheath, she waited until she heard the stranger beginning to pass by. Waiting until her heart rate finally settled down, she let out a massive shout as she grabbed the figure from behind, slamming them against the tree she was against as she raised her sword to their neck. "Hah-!"
"Ahh!" Bow yelped as he raised his hands surrendering. "Catra! It's me! It's me!" He panicked.
"Bow?" Glimmer could be heard speaking up as she came through the same bundle of bushes. Imagine her surprise when she saw Catra holding a sword up to his neck in a threatening manner. "Catra, what are you doing?!"
"Huh?" The girl in question did a double take between the two, shaking her head again as she backed away from the endangered Bow. "What are you guys doing here?"
"What do you think? We came here to find you!" Bow sighed rubbing his neck. Any longer and he swore she would've cut it. "I didn't realize you weren't a morning person."
"Oh... yeah..." Rubbing her eyes again, she suppressed a small yawn welling up within her as she sheathed her sword. "Sorry..."
"Catra... What were you doing out here?" Glimmer asked. There was a strange speck of sorrow and discord twinkling within her eyes, from what remained the question.
"N-Nothing!" She insisted walking back to the pond. The two watched as she took another handful of water and rubbed it thoroughly against her face. "I was checking the perimeter to make sure the place was clear. We were being foolish keeping ourselves unguarded in the middle of the night."
"And you decided to... do this by yourself?" Bow pointed out the detail in her explanation.
"Y-Yeah! I mean, someone had to, right?" She rubbed her face some more to get every trace of her sleepiness out.
"Exactly... how long were you keeping watch, Catra?" Glimmer and Bow could easily see the tired state of their friend's eyes. From the looks of it she was awake well passed an hour or two.
"I don't know. It doesn't matter." The girl's insistence did nothing to convince the two If anything it only made them worry more for her. "Someone had to keep watch and that's exactly what I did."
"Why were you so convinced you had to keep watch?" Bow asked looking around. "Did you hear something last night?"
"Um... Y-Yeah, of course I did!" To emphasize her point, her ears twitched back and forth. "I'm a light sleeper, remember? I can hear a pin drop from the other room when I'm asleep!"
"But if you were having so much trouble sleeping, why didn't you wake us up? We could've helped find a solution to your sleeping problem."
"I... I don't know, OK!" The magicat was unaware as her ears drooped while she hugged her knees, staring into the water.
Did Catra still have trust issues when it came to the two of them? She thought they were making progress over the last few days yet it was cases like this that left her doubtful. On top of that, Glimmer felt that wasn't the whole story. There was something coming off the girl that rubbed her the wrong way. It wasn't some strange sadness, she didn't seem angry about something she or Bow did again, she just seemed a little... troubled...
Almost... frightened...
"Catra-"
"Hngh!" Catra nearly jumped as Glimmer brushed her shoulder, the princess nearly teleporting herself out of reflex. It reinforced her thoughts that something was wrong with her.
"Did... you get any sleep at all?"
"Yeah!... Maybe... Someone had to stand guard, all right?" Catra stated as she walked along the pond with the others following her.
"Okay, I know you're on edge because of what happened with Entrapta's infected robots, but it's all over now!" She smiled to her friend as she patted her shoulder. She still looked pretty glum as she stood against a tree holding herself. A part of her wondered if the events that took place in Dryl were a good thing or not given her recent personality change. "You've got to relax. In fact, what you need is a vacation. Which is why we're going to Mystacor "
"Huh! Mystacor? No way!" Catra couldn't tell if she should be happy or nervous given Bow's reaction to this. The boy looked like he saw a superhero for the first time with the way he was squeezing his head in disbelief.
"Who's Mystacor?" Catra asked, genuinely curious.
"Not who, where!"
"It's a secret floating kingdom that's home to all of Etheria's sorcerers." Glimmer explained. "It's got tranquil gardens, beautiful beaches, and healing springs. And, my Aunt Castaspella just happens to be head sorceress there."
"...And... what part of that is supposed to convince me to go?"
"Trust me, Catra, you'll love it!" Bow assured. "Plus, you won't have to worry about the evil things in the woods." He became more excited as he saw her ears rise a little higher at this. "Mystacor is protected by an invisibility spell, so evil can't find it!"
"It's the safest and most peaceful place in all of Etheria." Glimmer added.
"Really?" She contemplated his words as she gazed around the forest. There was a definite look of possibility on her face, one that told Glimmer and Bow she was actually considering it. Even if they didn't know what was troubling her at the moment they knew she was more than open to the idea of going somewhere peaceful for a change. "Well... I... Guess it wouldn't hurt to find somewhere to sleep where I don't have to pop my head up every ten minutes..."
"Haha! Then it's decided!" Bow cheered as he threw his arms around the two. "Mystacor, here we come!"
"Hey! Personal. Space."
Compared to usual, Glimmer smiled as Catra said this. Even her threats were becoming less aggressive than before! From straight out punching or scratching the next person who would throw themselves at her like this to threatening them directly with violence, she gave a very direct and straightforward warning that didn't contain the threat of violence. No matter how much she insisted to the alternative, Catra really was changing on them.
However small.
"Heh, sorry." He chuckled releasing her.
"Are you sure there's going to be a way for me to relax, though?" The skeptical magicat continued to question. "I know it might shock you, but I'm not exactly a fan of water."
"They've got other methods of relaxation there, you know." Glimmer counted off with her fingers. "There's spas, saunas, meditation chambers, a whole bunch of stuff."
"...And what do they have to relax there?"
Glimmer mentally rolled her eyes at this. "Maybe it'll be better just to show you."
As the three took off, Catra took one more glance behind her. She couldn't figure out what was bothering her so much. There was something in the air surrounding her, some sort of tingling in her skin, telling her to be afraid. She didn't see anything, and she hoped it stayed that way. If Mystacor was as peaceful as Glimmer said it was then there shouldn't be anything to worry about, regardless if Shadow-Weaver can reach the girl or not.
Besides, she wasn't one to say no to a vacation... mostly because no one ever offered her one in the first place. If these vacation things were as relaxing as they told her then they should be able to relieve her of her troubles too, right? An entire kingdom full of sorcerers and sorceresses ought to be well defended compared to anywhere else in Etheria. And if it gave her the chance to relax for a change compared to going somewhere where trouble was stirring, then she would gladly take it!
All the while, the three heroes were unaware of a figure made of pure shadow, poking it's head out from above the trees. It was silent, deadly, and hidden from the keen senses Catra was known for. She would never be able to catch these things spying on her unless the shadows wanted to be found themselves.
And it brought such wicked glee for a certain witch watching these events.
...
...
She felt a wave of energy as she recharged her powers from the Black Garnet. The stone gave little resistance as it filled the witch with it's dark energies, the gem atop of Shadow-Weaver's mask glowing radiantly with a red, pure, light. The stone knew better than to defy her, it's master by all right. She wouldn't accept anything less than complete obedience, no matter how much she had to bend the massive stone's will.
With the door opening to the room, Adora made her presence known as she walked in. This would be the sight she was usually greeted with, seeing Shadow-Weaver starting about her day by absorbing whatever energies she could from the strange stone. At times she wondered herself whether the stone could feel pain or not, often hearing Shadow-Weaver demanding a portion of the stone's power, as if it was alive.
Clearing her throat, Adora stood at attention as she gave a salute. "Shadow-Weaver, I was told you wanted to see me?"
"Ah, Adora." Shadow-Weaver greeted calmly, draining the last of the stone's power she needed for the day. Turning around, she walked over to her favorite pupil, patting her head as she always did. "How have you recovered from your training injuries?"
"Fine, all things considered." Adora smiled back. To say she was fine would've been an exaggeration for anyone who knew what Adora went through a short while ago.
With the events that have been since Catra's defection, Adora found herself wrought with endless misery and stress, doing what she could to support her friends innocence against the rumors that disgraced her name. She didn't put up with anyone's insults towards Catra, she wouldn't allow them to speak their mind in her presence regarding her. She knew her friend was innocent, and she wouldn't allow anyone to spread false information or lies about her.
They would often say how Catra was never really one of them, how she's doing all of this for her own selfish reasons. There were times Adora wanted to question it herself, but she knew better than that. Catra was a friend of hers and still was. Somebody she knew had a good heart, despite dark mood she always brought with her. She saw that and she wanted everyone else to see that.
If they weren't going to accept that then fine. But no one was going to call her a traitor as long as she was around!
Because of these events, she found herself relying on a certain gift given to her by Shadow-Weaver, one that cleared her mind of most doubts and stress she came across through the last several weeks. While only having worn it twice, it felt wonderful to equip the headband given to her. It made her worries disappear as if they never existed, pushed back to feeling like it happened centuries ago, not recently. It gave her a sense of peace that no one else could, save for her dear friend and the motherly figure of her life.
Yet as good as it was, it came with one major drawback. Whenever she wore it, it amplified everything about her. Her speed, her strength, her mentality, and, the part that made it the most troubling, her emotions. They ran erratic every time she wore the thing, making any emotion she felt suddenly explode at first feels. A chuckle would make her roll on the ground in laughter, a doubt would make tears drain from her eyelids.
Anger would make her unleash her fury on anyone unfortunate enough to find themselves near her.
Thus, at Shadow-Weaver's suggestion, she subjected herself to a harsh and cruel training exercise, one where she mastered closing off her heart to her emotions whenever she wore the band. Naturally, the always bright and good hearted Adora had difficulty with this at first, unused to the emotionless cold state that her friends and allies were used to. It took nearly three hours for Adora to be blasted constantly by the training droids, ones specifically programmed to draw out Adora's emotions, before she finally mastered closing her heart off.
Now, whenever she wore the band, she felt nothing. She didn't feel any joy, any sorrow, any anger. All her emotions flowed to her head where they were locked away for safekeeping.
It didn't mean they stayed that way either. As long as she kept the headband off she could feel any of her natural emotions whenever she needed or wanted to. It was only as a last resort that Adora used the headband, which, as of late, has become more and more necessary.
"The nurse said my burns should heal completely within the next day or two." She continued. Being used to Shadow-Weaver's expressionless mask by now, she could tell the floating figure was smiling at her as she lifted her chin in her fingertips.
"I can not express how proud I am of you for your hard work, recently." She complimented.
"Heh, yeah, I know... you kind of mention it everyday." She chuckled. "So... what did you need me for?"
"Ah yes, about that," Shadow-Weaver began as she lead the girl to her fountain, "it would appear our... ally... is being lead straight to Mystacor, as we speak."
"Mystacor?"
"I trust you've read up on your studies, Adora?"
"Yeah, for what little there is." Adora rubbed her chin as she tried to recall. "A lot of people questioned if it even existed or not, but it's supposed to be an entire nesting ground for sorcerers and sorceresses, right?"
"Always so informative, aren't you?" She chuckled stroking her cheek. "As you can see before you, Mystacor does, indeed, exist, and they're headed there as we speak."
Peering into the water, she glared as she saw the particular princess that was the cause of all of Adora's suffering, the one who was known as Princess Glimmer, walking alongside Catra as if they were friends. "I'll begin preparations for an attack right away, Shadow-Weaver. I promise you I'll get her back this ti-"
"No." Shadow-Weaver stated, cutting her off. "That is not why I brought you here, Adora. I brought you here because I am about to attempt a ritual that will hopefully bring back your dear friend. What I require for you is to stand outside my door and make sure I'm not interrupted."
"You... don't want me to take care of this?" Adora felt a little discouraged as she asked.
"Not this time, I'm afraid. As strong as you are, Mystacor is filled to the brim with the greatest of magic users from all across Etheria. Even if you were fully rested from your injuries, you wouldn't stand a chance no matter how many people you brought. That doesn't even include the barrier that protects it."
"B-But I can do it this time!" Adora said pulling out her headband. "I've been training for this. I can be in and out of there in no time! Just let me get a strike team put together and-"
"NO!" Shadow-Weaver's shout of rage actually made Adora jump. The Force Captain couldn't recall the last time she ever heard Shadow-Weaver shout directly at her, and possibly for the first time because of what she herself did. Seeing the small glimpse of fright upon her face, Shadow-Weaver quickly changed personas as she gently placed her hands on Adora's shoulders. "You're one of the Horde's greatest soldiers, sweetheart, but we can't afford to lose you. I can't afford to lose you. Do you understand?"
Adora turned her head away at this, even after Shadow-Weaver's expression shifted to something softer and more motherly. She knew she treasured Adora dearly like a mother would, but she wished she trusted her enough for a mission like this.
Still, she was right about one thing. Adora didn't know if Mystacor was even real up until now, and clearly Shadow-Weaver had a better grasp on the situation than she did. Sighing in defeat, she returned Shadow-Weaver's gaze with a solemn expression, nodding apologetically. "I understand, Shadow-Weaver. My apologies."
"It's quite alright, my dear." Shadow-Weaver replied, turning back to the fountain. "I understand your concern for your friend. I promise you, I will bring her back from this. You have my word."
"Yes, Shadow-Weaver." With another salute, the Force Captain made her way to the door, exiting Shadow-Weaver's chamber.
Waiting for the captain to make her exit, Shadow-Weaver immediately fumed as she looked back to the image of Catra through the fountain. "Oh, Catra, Catra. You have no idea how much you're making her suffer. Or how much closer you're bringing her to me." With a simple laugh, she began to channel a massive force of energy into the palms of her hands, electricity dancing around her arms as they flowed towards the fountain itself.
From outside the walls, Adora could feel the ground shake as Shadow-Weaver began to work her magic. Curiosity building up, she was powerless to resist the temptation of poking her head inside the room, letting out a small gasp as she watched the scene unfolding in front of her.
"From the farthest regions of Etheria, I command you, be as one!" With a single roar, Adora watched as the numerous shadows began to draw towards the fountain in the room, reminding her of how it felt when those dark shades infested her body the first time. Within the fountain itself, a single diamond-shaped ruby formed, glowing from a dark twisted shadow mass of shadows that grew out of the pool. Adora watched in horror as the shadow gave shape and form, enmassing into a large, single, entity that let out a monstrous roar.
Letting out another small breath of shock gave away Adora's hiding spot as Shadow-Weaver turned around, seeming unamused but unbothered by the girl's presence. Turning to the monster in front of her, she pointed towards the image of Catra within the pool, the creature of shadows dissipating as it understood perfectly well what to do.
There wasn't a single lie within that statement. The creature knew of it's purpose upon creation, and would never question or resist the call of it's master. It would set out to find it's target, and fulfill it's master's wishes as directed. And it would solve all of their problems after all time time.
Hers, anyway...
...
...
The morning had proven nerve wracking for Catra during the entire trip, which didn't go unnoticed by Glimmer and Bow during the trek up here. Every couple of minutes, they would spot Catra looking over her shoulder worried about something, And every time they tried to question her on it she would just say it was nothing. They would've been more inclined to believe her if it wasn't for the fact she continued to do it even after they called her out on it the last dozen times.
Thankfully, the group had finally neared the end of their journey as they came across the cliff side, one overlooking a peaceful-looking pink cloud. That was the one thing that eased her senses a little. No matter how tense the day had made her since last night, they did travel across a rather peaceful forest. The day itself was bright and sunny for what few clouds loomed overhead.
"We're here!" Glimmer announced as the three stood atop the cliff.
"...Uhh Pinky? We're on a cliff." Catra pointed out. Was this supposed to be the whole amazing Mystacor they kept going on about? The freaking bathrooms at Bright Moon looked more relaxing than this! "And we're overlooking a thousand-foot drop."
"Yes, we are." She nodded happily. "But not for long!"
"Woo-hoo!" WIth a mighty cheer, and a near-heart attack from Catra, Glimmer and Bow happily jumped from the thousand foot cliff, cannonballing into the sea of clouds below.
"What the-!" Catra screeched. What the heck did they just do?! How was she supposed to tell the Queen about this?! Oh hey Queen, hope you're not unhappy or anything, I just wanted to tell you how your daughter and her strange friend suddenly decided to throw themselves over a cliff while I happened to be with them! No hard feelings, right? "Guys? You better not be dead!" She was already contemplating the numerous ways the Queen would execute her when she found out about this.
That's when she heard the telltale laughter of her two allies, watching them as they began to rise up with the stone platform that rose to the air. To her relief she wasn't going to lose her head anytime soon. The two were happily waving to her as they rose to the air, coming up to the cliff's level then some.
"Come on, Catra! Jump!" Bow yelled over, watching as his friend stared dumbfounded at the scene.
Taking a deep breath to relax, she slowly backed up a couple feet, clearing her head before she sprinted to the ledge. With a giant kick from her legs, she leaped over to the other side where the platform was, ready to grab onto the ledge as it passed her.
At least, that was the plan until something else caught her attention. Hearing the strange sound of the wind coming below her, her attention shifted back to the cliff as she was caught by surprise. There, squirming against the ground as it moved, her jaw dropped a little as she saw a familiar shadowy figure sliding into the clouds themselves. The distraction was so great she barely registered as her head collided to the side of the rising cliff.
"Ahhh!" She screamed as she stared to fall. Knowing her luck, something told her she wasn't going to be greeted with a peaceful landing of another floating platform like the first two were.
Racing over to the cliffside, the two gasped as they saw Catra plummeting back to the ground, with no possible way for the girl to get back to them or save herself from the severe fall she was about to suffer. Reacting quickly, Bow shot one of his many arrows at the girl, passing by Catra in time as a rope sprang from his bow, stretching all the way passed Catra. Without needing to be told otherwise, Catra frantically grabbed onto the long extension, washing over with relief as the two grabbed onto the rope and began pulling her up.
Pulling repeatedly on the rope for over a minute, the two watched as Catra's claws finally made it's way to the platform, Catra herself panting out of breath as she made it to the top of the platform after long last.
"Are you okay?" Glimmer asked worriedly, trying to check on her.
"I'm fine!" Catra hissed, slapping her hands away. She didn't give the girl a single notice as she stood up and walked passed her, trying to distance herself a little between the two, standing in the center of the magical debris.
"Catra, what happened back there?" Bow asked stepping forward.
"Nothing, ok? I just got a little... distracted. That's all."
"You? Distracted?" Yeah, and Bow was president of his own fan club... if he had one yet. "Catra, you have greater senses compared to most people I know, and I don't think I've ever seen you get distracted."
"W-Well it was just a slip up, all right?"
"Catra, it's fine. It's the stress, isn't it?" Glimmer guessed, trying to comfort her.
"Y-Yeah, just the stress." Catra looked back to the cliffside again to check the coast. It was clear from her viewpoint, not that it did anything to make her feel any calmer. All she saw was the cliffside fading into the distance and the clouds what surrounded it. "Just the stress..." All while she and the others were completely unaware of the shadow that attached itself to the rising earth from underneath them.
Taking in the view that approached them, Catra looked with surprise as they came up to a large transparent barrier, one that lit up as they easily slipped through it. That wasn't as interesting as the giant fortress they came across as the platform continued on it's route to the massive temple itself.
Layers upon layers of the temple were surrounded by mountainside and buildings all stretching into the mountain itself, several other floating platforms around the place with their own buildings too. Out of all of the places Catra had been to up to this point, this one definitely felt the most mystical, and a possible nightmare for anyone else who had a severe fear of heights. Thankfully she didn't fall into that category, not with her history of climbing around the Fright Zone.
WIth a small crash, the other two laughed with excitement as they jumped from the platform, Catra racing after them from behind.
"We road a flying mountain through clouds." Bow smiled with delight. "It never gets old."
"Uhh... yeah..." Catra mumbled, taking one more look at the mountain they flew on before joining them. "It was... interesting..."
"Just so you know, my Aunt Casta can be a lot." Glimmer commented. Catra didn't know what that was supposed to imply. Did she mean a lot like her? A lot of magicalness? Or a lot like Glimmer's mother? The very thought of it made her shiver briefly. "But don't worry, I know how to handle her."
"Is that my Glimmer?" A perky young woman called out as she approached, arms open and ready to embrace anyone.
"Hi, Aunt Casta." Glimmer waved over.
"It's been so long since you came to visit!" She squealed, hugging her dear niece in a tight hug. "And Bow," she greeted with another hug, "so nice to see you too." Noticing another member among them she smiled. "And who's this?"
"This," Glimmer began pulling Catra a little closer, "is my friend, Catra. She's also sometimes this mystical warrior named She-Ra who transforms by using a sword she found in the woods created by the First Ones." She continued, pushing her closer to her aunt. "So don't freak out when it happens."
"Uh... hi?"
"Catra." There was a small hint of wonder in the woman's eyes, one that disappeared as quickly as Catra picked it up. She wouldn't be surprised if she actually imagined it it was so fast. "How nice Glimmer has finally started making some new friends."
"Well, friends, is a bit of a strong word..." Catra mumbled looking away.
"We were all so pleased when she started bringing Bow around. I was pretty sure she made him up at first."
"Pffft." Catra rubbed under her nose as she held back the urge to snicker. Seeing the small blush on Glimmer's face confirmed exactly what her aunt said, making it all the more hilarious for Catra. "Yeah, sometimes I wonder if he's imaginary too!" She joked.
"Eh hem!" Glimmer interrupted clearing her throat.
"Oh! You've done something to your hair?"
"What? Yes. I cut it."
"I can see that. I also see you're not wearing the sweater I knitted for you." She commented, pulling on the outfit Glimmer was currently wearing. "Don't you like it?"
"Sure, I like it. It's great!"
Catra found this too good of an opportunity to pass up as a devious grin grew on her face. "Really? I thought you said that old rag was too itchy for you?"
"What?!"
"S-She's kidding, Aunt Casta!" Glimmer fretted as Catra burst into a fit of laughter. Backing up to the irritating cat, she elbowed her enough in the gut to make her stop. "CATRA, has this crazy idea that she's so funny..."
"Ghhh..." Catra groaned, rubbing her gut.
"But you'd tell me if you didn't like it, right?" Her aunt asked worriedly.
"Yes. I'd tell you." The expression on Glimmer's face was too priceless for Catra. She had this nervousness in her eyes as she tried putting on her best, forceful, smile.
"I'm wearing the socks you sent me." Bow pointed out.
"Well, I've always been fond of this one." Aunt Casta smiled to the young man, glad someone seemed to appreciate her work. "So, what brings you all the way out here to visit your aunt? Is it once in a blue moon already?" She teased as she lead the way.
The unamused expression on Glimmer's face said it all. This is the kind of thing Glimmer warned Catra about before coming her, about how her Aunt can be a lot to take in all at once, and Catra couldn't have found it better. If she could hear any more hilarious facts about Glimmer while she was here then this entire trip totally would've been worth it. "We're on a diplomatic mission, Auntie. I'm rebuilding the Princess Alliance-"
"My goodness, then you must be starving." Her aunt interrupted again. "I'll have a feast prepared." She totally ignored the facepalm this earned from Glimmer as she walked off. "I'm sure your mother hasn't been feeding you."
As always, Catra had to be the witty one around here as she leaned over to Glimmer's ear, smirking as she whispered. "Really? Cause I've heard some guards say otherwise~"
"Zip iiiiiiit!"
...
...
The view around the temple couldn't have been anything less than what Catra expected from the proclaimed Magic Capital of the World. All around her, as far as the eye could see, she saw sorcerers and sorceresses one after the other. Young and old, wise and weird, the mages and spellcasters came in a variety of people, the interesting differences in them matched only by the variety of magics they displayed as they trained.
Some were forming fireballs within their very hands, juggling back and forth several at a time and then dissolving them into thin air. Then they would regrow the fireballs to repeat the process all over again. Others worked with the air itself, forming small waves of water from the elements in the air surrounding them. Waving their hands, the water would dance across their arms as they smiled, enjoying the peaceful touch of the water's texture as it slid across them. Then, with the flick of their wrist the water would evaporate into the air once more, or, in another case she saw, spread across the ground beneath them to make the flowers grow.
Suffice to say, this was the very definition of a mage capitol. And if this was what they were capable of doing just by playing around, there was no telling what they could do if they ever joined in on the war.
"You've come at the perfect time." Her aunt continued as she lead the way. "There's an eclipse this evening." Gesturing to the sky, the three saw three different moons, all crescent, from smallest in front to biggest in back, staring back at them. "I'm headed right now to inspect the Lunarium for the ceremony. And nothing would make me happier than to give my favorite niece and her friends a tour."
"Uh... Bow and I have had the tour before." Glimmer replied, trying to be polite. "And we don't wanna get in your way."
"it's all right, Glimmer." Bow spoke up. "Catra hasn't seen it yet. It'll be fun." For a moment, she gave him a glare of irritation, one usually reserved for Catra or coming from Catra, Bow shrugging in confusion as to why that bothered her.
"Oh. Well, I guess it's up to Catra, then. What do you say my dear?"
"...What?" Catra turned back to Casta, distracted from her previous observations. She wasn't really sure what she was talking about, only seeing Glimmer standing behind her mouthing a "no" to her while waving her hands. If she had any more interest in socializing with people, she would've been able to translate her strange gesture more accurately. "Uhh... Let's go?"
"Oh, I like her." Casta beamed as lead Catra directly, pushing her in the direction as Glimmer groaned.
This was going to be a long vacation...
...
...
...
A/N: Yeah, I know it's a bit of a weird spot to stop it but it's 8k alone, and I'm 5 minutes/ 1/4th into the episode so seems like a good stopping point XP.
You know one of the only annoying things I have to deal with with this and autism? When I use words repeatedly X/ when I write my chapters so close to each other i keep getting paranoid I either write one word too many times or end up not using another word enough. Hopefully that doesn't become too distracting, sorry if the writing quality is a bit lacking as of late.
You're also probably wondering why I write such big summaries explaining what happened last episode. Well, aside from people who are new to the fic and just reading the most recent chapter, it's a good way to summarize everything that happened last episode in it's entirety rather than having to read a near 40-50k words, ya know XP?
Plus blame my history of reading, i swear those freaking high school books authors wrote have some sort of drug-like addiction to writing as much as possible because they put SO MANY ANNOYINGLY UNNEEDED DETAILS into a thing T_T I swear to god i once read five pages about something describing a freaking spoon, so consider what I"m doing a blessing in comparison _
With that said, hope you enjoyed today's episode! Leave a like, fave, follow, and review if you enjoyed and hope to see you soon!