Act I; Turning Darkness to Light: Prologue; The Battle of Halfmoon

Adora, Catra, and the rest of the squad's journey into The Whispering Woods would finally lead to the beginning of the end, a finishing of a fight that started before any of them had ever been born.

But before even that, there were events that set it in motion. The Battle of Halfmoon.

Disclaimer: I do not own She-Ra and The Princess of Power 2018. I'm just having some fun, and practising writing.

Crescent City, Halfmoon, The Whispering Woods

Smoke rose high into the air, a black-gray cloud that blotted out the orange and purple tint of the sunset. The smell of blood was strong enough to put the taste of copper and iron into her mouth. The air was hot, it pressed against her fur like a weight. She blinked the ashes out of her eyes as she turned towards shadows in the smoke. The forms resolved into armoured chintin clad warriors with pincers and stingers. Directly behind the black eyed Scorpioni we're grey and black soldiers with the bright red of The Horde's wings on their chests. Her lips pulled into a curled mess that bared her sharpened fangs as they marched on her. Her fur stood on end, her tail bushed up and high in the air. Her ears were pinned to the back of her head. A single flex of her hands and claws as black as night glinted at the end of her fingers. Her blue and gold eyes examined the soldiers, who stopped short.

More of the smoke faded with a gust of wind, a group of gold and red armoured warriors at the feline woman's back. Each of them with their ears pinned back, teeth bared, and claws extended around their weapons. Closest to her was a man clad in a golden crown and bluish-purple robes he quickly began to write in the air, blue light following his fingers. The soldiers of The Horde shouted and charged. The woman in front of the feline people, with her gold, scarlet, obsidian mask and tiara, raised her hand into the air.

"For Halfmoon!" Bellowed past her lips and she ran, the whispered steps of padded feet beat against the thunder of heavy boots.

"For the Queen!" Answered her people. Her fingers sparked with golden orange light and fire caught in the palms of her hands. The Scorpioni's purple rimmed black eyes didn't even blink as they smashed their carapaces against a wall of claws and fangs. The Queen spun upwards into the air, and fire roared over the tops of The Horde soldiers. She came back down, she hurtled into the middle behind the line of Scorpioni. The ground cracked and exploded outward as fiery rock smashed into Horde soldiers and sent them careening. A hiss blasted from her mouth. With a few quick motions a golden glowing circle appeared in the air before her. Fire leapt from the sigil and washed over The Horde. Screams and agonised shouts filled her ears as she stood tall against the backdrop of smouldering grey armour. The fire reflected in her eyes as she launched forward, her claws cut through armour and her teeth bit deep into flesh. She could hear the hisses and rumbles as her fighters kept pace.

Golden, blue, and green flares of magic exploded across the battlefront. She caught a Horde soldier by their green visored helmet. Her claws carved divots as the metal warped under the heat of the fire that clung to her fur like a second skin. The fighter shouted and screamed, they grabbed at The Queen's arm and immediately a pained roar erupted from their throat. Shadows latched onto The Queen's arm and ripped her hand off the soldier. She gnashed her teeth as a red robed woman with grey pointed ears and a red and black metal mask, a crimson ruby on its forehead and white slits for eyes focused on her. The sorceress' hand was outstretched her knuckles white as the shadow gripped The Queen.

"Shadow Weaver." The Queen's fire flared over her body going blue as she pushed her magical energy into it. The shadows at the woman's base recoiled as she started to shine like a miniature sun. Shadow Weaver pulled her arm back and released her tendril from The Queen, she shielded her eyes. "What's wrong, Witch? Can't handle the light?"

The Queen heard the hum, it echoed in her bones and forced her fur to stand at attention. Her ears flicked to her left. The volume picked up and she pushed off her feet into a backflip. A second later a beam of green energy crackled through the air and smashed with the ground she'd been standing on. The grass and dirt were flung into the air, at the last second she caught the purple glow of Shadow Weaver's rune and all the debris turned sharp. Pain erupted across The Queen's body, a single point focused on her right eye and cheek. She curled as she hit the ground and something shifted in her ankle. A hiss blasted from between her clenched teeth as she quickly rose, claws at the ready to meet her two attackers.

"Dear Queen C'yra, perhaps you should get your eye looked at, it doesn't look too good. I could have a few medics diverted here if you were to… surrender?" Shadow Weaver's melodious deep voice grated in C'yra's ears. Beside the Sorceress was the white and grey skinned alien that had started all of this. His red pupil-less eyes narrowed on her as he hefted up a large grey rectangle with a hole on one end, like some kind crossbow, but it lacked the ability to generate force to fire. In fact it looked like a rectangular version of an Energy Spear. His lips pulled upwards into a sick smile.

"Queen C'yra of Halfmoon surrender your Queendom and I will see that your people are well taken care of. I am here to bring order, not chaos." C'yra's pupils shrank to slits, one eye still closed to keep the blood out. She glanced back at her city.

Buildings were little more than rubble, other were dangerously burned out hulks held up by just the barest hints of stone or ruined wood. Her streets had been torn up, their cobblestones haphazardly thrown through houses, storefronts, and stalls. She tried to ignore the bodies left about, or being dragged out by civilians in torn clothes. Her eyes turned past Hordak and Shadow Weaver to the shattered and ruined walls of Halfmoon. Horde soldiers clambered over and into her city. The front gates had been blown off their hinges and tanks rolled up the main street. So much destruction, it stoked the embers of her magic. The energy burned beneath her skin. Her anger roiled and a roar erupted from her throat. Fire burst across her body. Her fur and clothes wreathed in flames she turned her gaze back to the invaders.

"I am Queen C'yra D'riluth The Second, Ruler or The Queendom of Halfmoon, leader of The Magicat people. I wield the power of The Tigerseye Runestone. I will not bow to outside mystics or alien invaders. You'll only take this land over. My. Cold. Dead. Corpse." Hordak's shoulders fell.

"I had hoped it would not come to this. Shadow Weaver, find The Queen's Daughter. If I must secure the ruling line that way I am indifferent." Hordak raised his weapon again. C'yra's eye shot wide open. She pulled all the mystical energy she could gather and unleashed a firestorm at Shadow Weaver. The Sorceress simply dissolved into shadow before the fire even licked at robes. She turned her attention behind her. She could make it, but she'd be leaving her people leaderless. "Please go, protect your daughter at the expense of your subject's lives. Make my point for me. Your magic makes you believe you can have it all, but you are mistaken. It is a false hope, not even a Queen can be in two places at once."

"C'yra!" Her ear cocked towards the battle line behind her. It was Micah. The sole Human in the Magicat line spun on his heel. "I'll take of Shadow Weaver! Focus on Hordak! The Alliance is coming!"

C'yra turned her attention back onto the Horde Lord. The alien raised his weapon and a high-pitched whine cut its way into C'yra's ears. The Queen drew a quick sigil in the air between herself and Hordak. Light flared over the ruined street. Hordak's weapon fell as he shielded his eyes from the flash. C'yra pushed off her back foot and pounded each step into the cobblestones. She launched strike after strike. Her claws trailed flames as they cut divots into Hordak's power armour and rent his weapon in two.

"You attack my lands!" She kicked him in the side, the metal warped around her leg. Hordak grunted and skidded over the ground, his arms pinwheeled ever so slightly to regain his balance. "You land artillery upon my people!"

C'yra raked her claws down from his shoulder. The plate slipped free and Hordak grunted as poison green liquid burned off The Queen's claws. "You threaten my daughter!"

Hordak dropped low as C'yra pushed forward. Fangs glinted under the dancing flames over her as Hordak planted his foot on her gut and shoved her away. C'yra released a hiss and rushed back into the fight. Hordak kicked a spear from a fallen Magicat warrior into his hands. C'yra's howls pierced even the focus of The Horde soldiers as her claws cleaved through the weapon and abdomen plating. Hordak let loose a horrid scream. He hit the ground, an arm wrapped around his gut as he levelled a red gaze on The Queen.

"You'll be lucky if I leave anything left of you Hordak," C'yra began to slowly stalk forward her flames focused into a bright blue flame at the centre of her right hand. She raised her burning claws high, as a hum thrummed through her heart. The whine reached her mind a second too late.

C'yra spun through the air as pain bloomed through her shoulder. She crashed into the ground and something shifted around her ribs. Her heterochromatic eyes shot upwards as Hordak righted himself and pulled a sword up. She was surrounded by Horde soldiers, their weapons aimed at her. Her rage burned, here she was fighting Hordak while Micah was left to save her daughter.

"I demand your unconditional surrender Queen C'yra, or I will simply execute you now and raze what is left of your city and your Queendom to the ground." Hordak stepped in close. C'yra narrowed her slit pupils on him, a snarl curled her lips and fire sparked at the tips of her claws.

"I told you. Over. My. Dead. Corpse!" She leapt, her fangs found purchase in Hordak's upper arm. Her claws cut deep into his still injured side. Her legs curled around his waist and spun him towards the ground as fire built around the pair and exploded outwards. The fire burned across the grass in a flash and smashed headlong into The Horde Soldiers. Each of the grunts were thrown against the trees, ground, or a few unlucky ones into the air.

Hordak shoved her off. C'yra rolled back into a low stance as she wiped green blood from her lips, and spit onto the ground next to her.

"You taste disgusting." Hordak bared his own sharpened teeth and pointed his sword at her heart.

"You do not appreciate the order I seek to provide, as such I will eliminate each and every one of your people from the face of this world. Perhaps I'll keep your daughter alive, a single reminder of the once great Magicat people?" C'yra let her fire climb up her arms and rushed in again. Hordak smirked and followed suit.

Royal Estate, Crescent City

Micah unleashed a spell of binding goo onto one of the Horde soldiers who'd broken through the defensive line. The purple substance coated the poor soldier and stuck his legs to the ground. The Sorcerer twirled his staff and beat a second Horde soldier away. His eyes scanned the area.

Buildings burned, holes in their walls and windows shattered. The stone and wood from the broken places scattered over the uneven cobblestones. Civilians dragged bodies out of the wreckage and headed somewhere. Micah caught sight of a few guards and warriors of Halfmoon as they assisted the people. He glanced back over the scorched road, he could see outlines of large shapes as they rolled closer. His lips pulled into a tight line. The smell of ash and clouds of smoke obscured the battle, but he could hear the whine of Horde blasters and screams that were quickly cut off. He turned and nearly collided with a black armoured and gold detailed armoured Magicat.

"King Micah! Have you seen Queen C'yra? I've been trying to gather reserve warriors and push them to the front." He glanced back to the civilians as they hobbled away.

"Help your citizens first, get as many of them somewhere safe as you can. I'm going for Princess C'yra III." The guard nodded. He shot off up the steps, when others echoed not long behind him. A glance back showed the guard behind him. "What are you-"

"I'm a Royal Guard, it's my job to protect The Princess and The Queen, and by extension I must protect visiting Royals, King Micah." He groaned and charged forward. Just inside the door against the wall was a black furred Magicat in the same black and gold armour the Royal Guard behind him wore.

"Da'reth!" Micah sank to his knees and pressed two fingers to the Magicat's throat. The Magicat's eyes cracked open and his hand wrapped around Micah's wrist. A snarl built in his throat, but it died out as his slit pupils widened and his eyes focused.

"Micah?" Sputtered the injured Magicat, his crimson blood leaked from cuts all over his body, the most severe, a stab wound that went straight through his armour's gut plate. "M-Micah… Go for The P-Princess… S-stop… the… witch…"

Micah paused, his gaze on the blood that leaked out of the corner of Da'reth's mouth. A hand fell on his shoulder as Da'reth tried to push the King off. He turned to the young warrior beside him.

"I'll stay with him, go get Princess C'yra." She turned and pulled bandages from her bag. He waited just half a second later, as she started to draw a sigil in the air before he spun on the ball of his foot.

He cleared the first few flights of stairs fast, faster than he'd probably ever done before. Cy's room was on the left, and the door was currently coated in black shadow. His eyes went wide, before his brows furrowed and he quickly drew a spell in the air. Fire exploded outwards and crashed into the shadow. The living, nearly ink-like darkness recoiled and Micah pushed his way in.

The room was tossed. The bed overturned, paintings and toys were cut apart and thrown about. Ruined sheets and blankets scattered alongside clothes. Shadow Weaver, clad in her red robes, her hair possessed, as she glared at the closet. Her outstretched hand flicked at her wrist. The closet doors were ripped from the wall by tendrils of shadow. The tan furred, dark striped Magicat kitten with her brunette mane and heterochromatic eyes in plain view of both adults.

"Did you really think you could stop this Micah?" Shadow Weaver's white lenses turned to him. His mouth dropped open as she closed her fist and darkness caught little Cy. "This is how it was always going to end. There is no version of this story where The Rebellion is not crushed beneath Hordak's heel. Beneath my fist. You can still join me Micah. I have Hordak's ear, together we could overthrow him. He wouldn't hold a candle to two powerful magic users. Think of it Micah, you could have peace, no more destruction, and even better your daughter wouldn't have to grow up without her father."

"You have no right to threaten anything." Micah's brows furrowed and his muscles tightened in his shoulders. He levelled his staff with Shadow Weaver's chest. "I'm no scared child anymore Shadow Weaver, and you don't have my power. I'll be taking Cy and leaving now, unless you want to fight?"

"I had hoped you would make the right choice. I've outstripped you Micah, you may be a powerful Sorcerer, but not even you could match the power of The Black Garnet." Shadow Weaver spun her free hand to him as red lightning crackled between her fingers before it bolted outward and smashed into Micah. His bellows boomed through the room. His hands seized, his throat constricted, and his breath came short. His knees gave out as the lightning ceased and he lost his grip on his staff. Her touch was light, almost caring, but there was something possessive about as she tugged his face up to her mask. "It's too bad Glimmer will grow up without a father. Perhaps when I conquer Brightmoon I'll take her as well?"

He drew the sigil quickly, and clenched his fist. A blue glow encompassed the floor beneath Shadow Weaver. The air rushed upwards and The Sorceress was launched upwards into the ceiling. The tendrils wrapped around Cy dropped and the Magicat Kitten landed on all fours.

"You'll have to do more than that to break me, Shadow Weaver." Micah planted his feet and raised his hands. His dark eyes caught Cy. "Run! Find your mother!"

The little kitten loped out of the room behind him. Lightning arced from the top of the building and coursed through his skin. Pain bubbled in his chest and another scream ripped itself from his throat. His spell shattered and Shadow Weaver gracefully floated to the ground. She added a second hand's worth of lightning. Micah screamed louder. His pained shouts drew the Royal Guard from earlier.

The Guard rushed to the stairs right as Princess C'yra III loped past her with tear streaked eyes. She spun to go after the young kitten and another bellow entered her ears. She hissed but leapt up to the second floor and barged into the room.

King Micah was partially suspended in the air with crimson lightning over his whole form as the scarlet clad Witch with her raven locks held him there. She drew her sword in one hand and began to draw a sigil with her other. Then pain erupted across arms and she was launched into the wall. Before a yowl could escape her lips, darkness wrapped around her face and kept her head back. The Witch pushed forward, her white lenses narrowed on the guard pinned to the wall by her tendrils. She'd abandoned her lightning attack on King Micah, but The Sorcerer looked ready to pass out.

The Witch stalked close at a slow, steady pace. Each of her steps was measured. Her fingers flexed as if she had claws. Her hair whipped and lashed like a tail… The Guard's eyes went wide. It was a predatory stance. A careful hand removed her helmet and settled a cool grey skinned hand against her blonde fur.

"Tell me your name?"

"Finna."

"You're magic will make a delicious snack Finna. Your service to The Horde shall not be forgotten." The Witch's other hand latched onto the other side of Finna's face and her fur stood on end as static built across her. Her muscles tensed, hard, each group at random as her body was attacked at once by hundreds of thousands of volts of electricity. Her magic pulsed and then began to edge towards her claws and eyes. She barely caught sight of Micah as he finally passed out, and then her magic was torn straight into The Witch's lightning.

Fullmoon Plaza, Crescent City

C'yra skidded over the ground, her toe claws flexed and carved into the cobblestones as she collided with the obelisk at the centre of the plaza. Her left hand was limp as heat bloomed through her shoulder, it lanced outwards everytime she moved her arm. Her right was pulled tight over her injured ribs. Her ankle throbbed, she'd rolled it during her last dodge. She couldn't see out of her right eye, there was too much blood for her to open it, if she was lucky. In fact, there was a good deal of her blood on the ground, matched only by the poison partially glowing green of Hordak's. Her knee twisted slightly as her left leg threatened to give out. The fire that had once coated her entire body barely licked at the tips of her claws. There was a weariness that was like a weight at the centre of her chest. She couldn't perform another spell if she wanted to, not without a good eight hours of rest and a big meal. Her tight lips quirked upwards at the corners as her golden eye landed on Hordak.

The Horde Lord didn't look any better than her. His chest heaved in time with pained grunts that escaped his mouth. Green blood leaked from the corners of his mouth and coated the damaged power armour. His arm was still tightly gripped around his side, while he dragged the tip of his sword on the ground in his other hand. He was bent over at the waist and there were melted claw marks that rent the Horde symbol on his chest to pieces. One of his red eyes was nearly swollen shut and his ears were down. His weight favoured his left leg. Hordak leaned heavily on the partially destroyed building next to him.

"Surrender." C'yra looked up at Hordak. His words rebounded inside her ears, surely he wasn't serious. She cocked her left eyebrow at him.

"Surrender? You want me to surrender?" She pushed off the obelisk and stood as tall as she could manage with her injured ribs and leg. A hiss escaped her lips and she bit down hard. She fought the urge to spit the taste of iron out of her mouth. "I think I've made myself clear on my will to surrender. My allies are on their way, I just have to force you to retreat."

"Not today, I will not retreat. I will break this land and conquer it or I die here." C'yra's eyes narrowed on Hordak.

"How many soldiers have you lost? How much armour? What about morale? You think you can claim this as a victory? You're barely standing!" A shudder passed through Hordak's chest before a cough-like laugh exploded from between his lips. He lurched and coughed harder and his arm around his side tightened as a fresh bout of blood coated his ruined armour. His single red eye caught her.

"Soldiers? Armour? Morale? You think I am concerned with such trivial things? I will bring order to Etheria, this planet will see The Light, or I will die trying. That is all I have left." He righted himself and raised his sword to level it with her chest. "You speak of victory? My capital remains un-destroyed, yours however burns as we stand idle."

C'yra grimaced as her gaze washed over the ruined stores, homes, and stalls. She flexed her fingers and took a step closer to Hordak. His lips were in the middle of a toothy smile.

"I am victorious as long as you and your people are dead or scattered to the winds. Without you The Whispering Woods will not be able to serve as a border to prevent my troops crossing into other kingdoms. I have destroyed every trading post and settlement or city between The Fright Zone and here. The Magicats will be nothing but a myth once I'm finished with you C'yra!" The Magicat Queen lurched forward. Her claws swung in and were met by his sword. Their faces pressed close as she hissed in his face.

"As long I breathe you will never control The Whispering Woods." She pushed all her weight into him. C'yra shoved to push his weight onto his left leg. Hordak twisted and sent her past him. He slashed across her back, C'yra left melted claw marks on the underside of his uninjured bicep.

Both warriors howled and screamed as they fell to their knees. C'yra felt like her entire back was on fire. Gravity tugged on her bones, and threatened to pull her down. Her muscles burned and ached, none ready to push further. Still she mustered as much energy as she could and got a knee under her. Her head came up and found Hordak standing, but he tottered from side to side. He fell to his side and used his sword like a crutch. Her legs roared at her as she stood. She couldn't feel the heat at the ends of her claws, her fire was out… but she still had fight in her yet.

"Prepare to die Hordak, I'll make sure you join me in the afterlife." She stepped forward as a whine pierced the air behind her. Her ears twisted back as another fire erupted just above her waist on her back. C'yra hit the ground, she turned back to see a Horde soldier collapse just after her. Hordak coughed and stumbled towards her. C'yra could feel the water that pooled in her eyes as The Horde Lord brought his sword up.

"Enjoy the afterlife alone, Queen C'yra!" A beam of blue energy smashed into Hordak and tossed him and his sword in different directions. Feet pattered over the stones and a black and gold armoured Magicat slid in beside C'yra.

"My Queen!" The Magicat dropped their spear and tugged C'yra upwards into their arms. That was the last thing C'yra remembered before the darkness overtook her.

Outskirts of Crescent City, The Whispering Woods

Little C'yra yelped as something snatched at her ankle from within the bush. Her claws flashed and she dug them into the ground. Her leg went taunt and her claws tore lines into the grass.

"There you are little one, did you think you could escape me?" Echoed the deep melodious voice.

A/N:

Here's my Prologue. The start of a slightly different AU where Catra is a Princess. I hope you all enjoy this, I know this is my first She-Ra fic so we'll see how this goes.

Alright, I'm only gonna do this one last time; from here on out I'll have it be known that I will do everything in my power to update my longer fics in a specified order, that order will be posted in an AN at the end of the latest chapter of whatever I just posted. Second, my update schedule will shift to once a month. I will not confirm that it will be the same story being updated every month. I'm trying to have at least one or two chapters in reserve.

I will promise that any fanfic over at least six months without a new chapter will get one as soon as I have one ready, but you might have to wait a bit for the next one as I want to have some in reserve.

The reason for all of this, as I've said before, is that I want to deliver to you what I believe to be the most quality writing I am capable of producing at the given time. Sadly that means whenever a muse for a specific muse deserts me… well I'm kinda screwed until it comes back.

You are more than welcome to message me and remind me about stories that you want, that will help me to adjust my list accordingly.

Sorry if this got long and rambly. The point is that I keep trying to hold to an unsustainable update pattern and I need to have something held in reserve for most of my stories or I feel too pressured to get something out. I hope you enjoyed this, I hope to see you all soon on whatever story comes next. Have a wonderful time, stay safe out there. Thanks for reading!

-Six Out!

Update List:

- Strong as the Steel We Carry: Act I: Turning Darkness to Light (You are Here)

- Time Itsself

- Imperial Academy

- Power & Tech

- HTTYM (I really want to post something for this... but I am so stuck its not funny at all)