Chapter 4
"Careful Entrapta" Hordak said, holding onto her hand as she walked down a pile of rocks.
"Such a gentleman" Entrapta winked.
Hordak felt himself blushing a bit, he was just doing it out of courtesy of course, Entrapped was a delicate individual in his eyes, despite knowing how capable she was.
"We are quite deep," Roboto replied, "Fascinating, a whole civilization underground in caves like this"
Hordak nodded, "According to Horde logs it should be close".
The three of them headed into the dark cavern, Emily being a good flashlight to help remove the darkness from the caverns. Hordak had moved slowly as they entered the grand chasm, mostly keeping an eye on Entrapta who was sprinting away full speed; she was quite keen on seeing what was down here.
The Kingdom of Halfmoon.
Ever since Hordak had learned about the destruction of Catra's home kingdom, there had been a twinge of guilt festering in his mind. However something about the idea of Cat's from another world also floated in the back of his mind. Curiosity was getting the best of him so thus he decided exploration was needed. Entrapta was all for it of course, for the science of course. Roboto was also interested in joining them as part of his mission for Eternia, but he enjoyed spending time with them.
"I think we found it" Entrapta declared.
"How do you know?"
"Well there are a bunch of destroyed Horde tanks and bots around, and a lot of destroyed building"
Looking in Entrapta's direction, Hordak saw the ruins of a fallen Kingdom.
Halfmoon, or what was left of it, with buildings destroyed all around. The ruins of what might have been the main castle still standing but only just. All around Bots and Horde Tanks were everywhere, reminders of a foolish conquest.
"You okay Hordak" Entrapta asked, holding his hand.
Hordak nodded, "Yes, come, we should continue our investigations"
"What exactly are we looking for?"
"More evidence of Cat's and space"
"Oh space" Entrapta beamed.
"This does not surprise me, many species come from other worlds originally," Robot stated as he too looked around, "Such as our Queen Marlena, who comes from a First One colony"
"And Hordak!" Entrapta said brightly.
Hordak's ears drooped, "Yes, sadly where I come from, was not quite pleasant".
"Where we come from does not matter as much as what we choose to be" Roboto replied, "I am a robot, but that does not mean I need to be like other robots"
Entrapta nodded, "Wise words, but robots are still pretty awesome".
"Calculating" Robot beeped and booped until he dinged, "I can confirm this, yes, robots are indeed awesome".
Hordak nodded, "Ever since I discovered that Catra's cat species may have came from the stars, I have had something itching in the back of my mind, memories, but, not my own?"
"Hmm, maybe they are of the hive mind" Entrapta suggested.
"I hope they aren't, but I must not disparage the thought, hence our research".
The hunt for evidence was on, Hordak and Entrapta began to go through various areas of the ruins, seeing a lot of symbols and other pieces of evidence but nothing too much about space travel. Of course they took notes all the same, it would be good for any civilization studies the two of them may wish to partake in, in the future.
All this destruction though was just a reminder of the pain he had inflicted on Etheria. The foolishness of his hopes to rejoin the Horde Prime side. He never personally wanted people eliminated, every conquest was just that, take territory not destroy it. However as he learned more and more of what happened during the war he saw his forces enthusiasm for destruction.
Not that Hordak didn't have his own during Salinas when they saw the place being burned to the ground. Strategically it made sense, but the cost was high.
While he didn't particularly feel guilt because of Catra, their own relationship was always a complex one, he felt guilt in the general sense for the people and the pain he inflicted.
"This place is fascinating" Entrapta replied lifting up broken bricks, "So this is where Catra came from, by the looks of what little designs I could find, they seemed to be a warrior culture of a sorts"
Hordak snickered, "That would be logical, Catra herself wa always a fighter, in everything"
"Yeah that...HORDAK I found something"
Hordak rushed to the Entrapta side, seeing her point to something.
Following her direction, Hordak looked up at a large mural of some sorts. There were cats on their knees, bowing to someone or kneeling in fear, and then on the side other cats, looking very warrior-like, in armor of sorts, and in front of all of them, a monster.
A monstrous looking being, of blue skin and red eyes, and on his chest was a red circle with a double headed snake. They seemed to have bandages around them as they wore a helmet with snake-like horns and glowing red eyes.
Such a benign sent a single of might and terror.
Hordak felt a shiver of fear come across him, he recognized this benign, but he didn't know why.
"Fascinating" Entrapta said looking at the image, "Some of them look like there kneeling before this creature, while others cowering in fear, and then those armored looking one who seem to be working for the creature"
"Yes". Hordak eyes narrowed trying to figure out where he has seen this before, or if he has "It seems so...familiar, but I don't know why"
Something about this creature was connected to him, and if not him, then perhaps a connection to the one person he never wanted to think about ever again.
Horde Prime.
-000-
Adora began packing things as they began to head to the trip to whatever bit of intergalactic First One Tech on the strange planet called Third Earth. However the more she thought about it the more unfair it felt. Why did her world live while Catra's place of origin burned, and the planet apparently the Magicat came from was also destroyed. As if the universe was against her or something. It angered her. It angered her to know the end. Her love didn't deserve this. Hadn't she suffered enough, hadn't she suffered under the hand of Horde Prime, of her own foolishness and error at the beginning of becoming She-Ra.
"Catra wouldn't want you to blame yourself" Her head said.
"Well I do sometimes head so shut up" another part of her brain spoke.
"No you shut up!"
"No you!"
"No you"
"Hey Adora…"
Adora jumped to see Catra leaning against the wall with a smirk before walking up to her to plant a kiss on her cheek.
"You arguing with yourself again, you have that look"
Adora blushed, "What ha ha, no of course not"
"Sure you weren't" Catra chuckled "You are so brain damaged" she kissed it all the same "I still love you though"
"I love you too"
Their little journey to the Fright Zone had shown just how vulnerable things still were but how much progress they made. Catra admitted jealousy, and that was okay, Adora didn't want to argue about it, but at least they didn't start another war over it. So compared to what happened before, that was progress. She was so proud of her girlfriend even for the little things.
"Alright, should be ready" Adora wiped her brow putting down a box of rations for the trip.
Catra smirked, "Great, can't wait to see more dangers of space"
Melog let out a few meows in agreement.
"We don't have to go-" Adora added
"No, we should" Catra said looking serious now, "I'm not gonna let yourself killed by a weird alien thing, plus it be good for you and your mom to get some bonding, and I guess I should know them too"
"Yeah, bonding" Adora tried to keep her enthusiasm but as Catra had mentioned she couldn't see Marlena as her real mother.
Shadow Weaver, evil, horrible cruel and abusive Shadow Weaver, was still, in so many ways, her real mother. The woman who raised her, the person who did seem to say nice things, until analyzed more closely. It was so messed up that she hated it. But still, maybe Catra was right, perhaps some bonding time would allow for more of an emotional connection. Like that time before the party, she had a connection. However, now, it seems to have gone away again.
"Hey guys!"
Both Adora and Catra turned around to see Scorpia walking up to them.
"Um, Scorpia? What are you doing here?"
"Uh hi, so, I know this seems a bit odd, and kinda outta the blue but I kinda wanna go on this fun space trip with you guys" Scorpia replied, seeming to turn a big shade of red when she spoke.
"Um…." Adora looked to Catra on this one
"Okay" Catra said quietly, "You can come"
"Entrapta and Hordak are joining us to help pilot Darla so…."
"Great!" Scorpia beamed, "old Horde gang back together, Super Pal Trio for the win, no offense against the best friend squad"
Adora shuddered, Scorpia was a kind person but she had her fair share of the Horde gang during the war. Although maybe it would be good for Catra to reconnect with some of her old comrades some more. She always talked about how she felt bad for the way she treated Scorpia. So this might be good too.
As Perfuma would say, a wide support network was good for a healthy mind, and Catra still needed to build a wide one, or should at least.
Glimmer and Bow had grown quite warm towards Catra over time, Glimmer in particular, which was always an irony.
Speaking of the Queen.
"Hey guys" Glimmer waved to them at the docking bay, "I just wanted to wish your luck on your trip"
"Thanks Sparkles," Catra smirked.
Adora smiled back, "Yeah, we'll miss seeing you here"
"I'm going too in case anyone is asking like Perfuma!" Scorpa replied, seeming extra nervous, "I mean I told her obviously hahaha, but yeah I want a space adventure again, so this sounds nice".
"Oh, okay?" Glimmer blinked a bit confused but shook her head, "Oh and Adora, have a GREAT time with your mom okay, cherish it"
Adora blinked, she never thought about Angella in a long time. She could only give a faint smile and nodded, "I will '' however out of the corner of her eye she saw Catra grimace a bit. Another reminder of her many, many actions.
However she wouldn't dwell on it too much.
"So everyone" Marlena walked up to them now, "Ready for a space adventure"
"Sure, why not" Adora smiled trying to keep up a good mood, "Should be fun right?"
-000-
Space the final frontier.
Scorpia looks at it with awe, she still couldn't believe this was her second time going out into the universe. Far away from Etheria, and all the issues of being a princess, ruling a kingdom dealing with people who for some reason didn't like you for whatever strange reasons she wasn't sure because no one wanted to tell you. Here it was calm and quiet.
Part of her wished she could have gone with Adora and the gang when they went to rescue Glimmer from Horde Prime' ship, however going in a time of peace probably was for the best. It meant she didn't have to worry about getting attacked by anything and instead just enjoy the sights.
It was also just nice to get away from rebuilding the Fright Zone and the old Scorpia kingdom. Honestly she wondered why she was doing that in the first place. It wasn't like she was much of a leader to begin with. She was only made Force Captain probably because she was once a Princess and no other real reason. Catra was always the better leader, or well she could be, when she wasn't being mean, or tyrannical, or trying to one up Adora and prove to Shadow Weaver her worth. When all the bad was good deep down her Wild Cat was a good strategist and organizer.
Scorpia on the other hand, not so much.
Plus it seemed that people really didn't want the Scorpino Kingdom back for whatever reason, it was like there were afraid of it or something. Or in some cases angry by it, like they weren't telling her something from the past. In fact, sometimes she wondered just how Hordak ended up ruling over her grandad's own kingdom in the first place.
What was the real story?
"HI!"
Scorpia jumped and turned to see the tiny one called Orko popping up waving before looking out the window, "Look at all the stars"
"Yeah, I know"
"Scorpia right?"
Scorpia nodded, "Yeah, and your Orko"
"That's me, Trollon Magician at your service" He gave a polite bow, "So, your coming with us on the big journey to the First One's old homeworld"
"Yep, I love journeying and stuff, also it's nice to get away from things"
Orko nodded, "Yeah, I needed a break from the palace, was kinda making a few accidents for a couple of days, it was nice of the Queen to invite me"
"Accidents?"
"Oh a few magical mishaps here and there, just a few vases broken" Orko scratched his face a bit nervously as he talked, "I tend to be a bit uh, clumsy"
"You don't seem clumsy"
"You haven't seen me do a magic trick yet" Orko sighed.
Scorpia frowned, "Hey, I'm sure your magic is great"
"Oh your just saying that"
"Nah come on, show me"
Orko chuckled, "Well alright, how about I summon a bubble. Bubble bubble toil no trouble lets see a big round bubble" with a snap of his fingers he summoned a bubble but nothing showed up.
"Um, where is the bubble"
"Heeeeelp"
From down the hall Catra emerged floating inside a big bubble looking trapped inside, she was slashing and crashing but couldn't get out. "GET ME OUT OF HERE NOW!"
"Uh oh" Orko seemed to panic.
"Don't worry Wild Cat, I got yuh" Scorpia rushed to the tubble and used her pincer to popp it, thankfully it was powerful enough to cause a loud pop, Catra landing flat on the floor.
Catra took a deep breath, "What the heck happened!"
"Sorry, sorry, Orko was just showing me his magic, it was my fault"
Catra scowled but only for a second before quickly blinking and taking a deep breath, "It's okay, it-it was an accident" she stood up and dusted off a bit. Scorpia could tell this was her trying to be better.
"I uh-better go check on the Queen"
Scorpia waved, "Bye Orko, that was a fun bubble" he was gone now it was just her and Catra.
There was a moment of silence. It was still awkward for the two of them sometimes, especially without others. Oh Scorpia did forgive Catra yes, and she knew that every day she was working hard to be a better person. In the way she treated Adora, in the way she treated Bow and Glimmer. Although from Perfuma had said, the way Catra treated herself, that was something that was still getting used too. However, Scorpia knew that she needed to be careful herself. Not because she didn't want to be friends with Catra, she did. It was just, if she pushed too hard again, well…
"Hey" Scorpia waved.
Catra waved back, "Hey yourself, kinda shocked you came with us"
"Well it was a last minute call and-"
"Okay Scorpia what's wrong"
"Huh?"
Catra frowned but then smiled, "You don't come to space last minute Scorpia, not unless your trying to get away from something back home, if you don't wanna talk about it that's fine but, I- uh- I want you to know that you can come to me if you have problems. Cuz, cuz I wanna be a good friend to you, the friend you deserve, yuh no"
"Oh Wild Cat" Scorpia chuckled looking out into the window, "It's just, all this pressure about rebuilding the Scorpia Kingdom yuh know, and, I don't know people are almost scared of me or something"
Catra leaned against the wall, tail wagging a bit as she listened, "Scared of you? Why? Your like the least scary person I know, not that it's a bad thing".
"I don't know, no one tells me anything, not about my grandad or my parents nothing, all I know is that the Horde and my parents made some alliance I guess-"
"Probably just a lie, have you talked to Hordak about that, doubt he cares about hiding the truth, if he ever did. Funny to think how he was probably the most honest person in the Horde".
"Well no, I haven't bothered, also his memory isn't that great still, he said he remembered some stuff but not everything. Most of what was told to me came from Shadow Weaver...Although in hindsight that may give me a idea"
Catra huffed, "Shadow Weaver, figures" she took a deep breath, "I wish I could tell yuh I knew something being second in command for four years but I never read into anything because-" she paused not wanting to finish that sentence.
"Yeah, I know" Scorpia then smiled, "But hey, look at us, buddies who lost their kingdoms to the Horde".
Catra smirked, Scorpia ability to take a negative into a positive was something"Yeah, well that's war, we could join Mermista and start a club"
"How come you don't wanna go see Halfmoon, maybe try to rebuild it too"
Catra shrugged, "Not interested and no one seemed to care, and have my family and place with Adora. Your a Princess so you know, hereditary, yada yada, chosen one stuff".
"You know, is our power hereditary?" Scorpia stopped to think, "Like the Black Garnet didn't connect with me for a long time".
"I mean your grandad was the king right so yeah I guess" Catra shrugged.
"Seems a little unfair if you kinda think of it" Scorpia said looking nervous now, "Like should I be a leader because grandad was"
Catra shrugged, "I mean Adora wasn't a princess- oh wait…"
"Dang the system is a little weird if you think of it"
Catra grimace, "Yeah it is" She shook her head, "Well I'm not a princess, I was found in a box, and I became a Force Captain and saved She-Ra, I don't need any royal family for that"\
"Yeah! Heck maybe you should just make yourself the new Queen of Halfmoon or something"
"Heck to the no" Catra laughed now, Scorpia happy to make her laugh, "My power days are over, don't be Sparkles who keeps wanting me to be her chief advisor or something"
"Why your good at that stuff, except now you can use it for good instead of well...Evil"
Catra smirked, "Yeah, I know, i've been told"
"Hey, maybe I can be your right hand woman again"
Catra seemed taken a back, "After what happened last time, I don't want to put you through that"
"Well I was in some of our old horde rooms yesterday remembering, you know, you me, Entrapta plotting to take over the world that sorta thing"
"Yeah, and had I treated you with some actual respect and friendship we'd probably be running the planet" Catra sighed and looked down, "But no, i was just a horrible monster who treated you like crud"
Scorpia gently put a claw and Catra' shoulder and gently smiled, "But you aren't now"
"Thanks Scorpia" Catra smiled back, "But I still don't think i wanna take over the world"
"Well if you wanna help me manage a rebuilding Kingdom though feel free, I need a lot to learn in leadership"
"I'm sure you'll do fine"
Part of Catra didn't fully believe that Scorpia might have been a Force Captain but managing a kingdom may not have been entirely up to her speed. However she was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.
The two just chuckled again, and Scorpia felt better. It was amazing, how someone who can inflict such hurt can also right now be giving her much comfort. It was the duality of her friend Catra that always amazed her. It was nice though, like this is how it should have been in the horde.
"Your a good person Scorpia" Catra patted her shoulder, "Don't let anyone tell yuh otherwise"
That was one hundred percent honesty.
"Hey one more thing, do you ever miss your old mask"
Catra looked taken aback "What?"
"Yeah, you know that cool red headpiece you used to were, I honestly never knew where you got it from"
"You sound like Adora" Catra chuckled, "She brought it back for me during a trip to Prime's ship, she has it in a cupboard, I don't like to wear it thought, it reminds me of bad times"
"I get it" Scorpia nodded, giving one of her friendly smiles, "Still, I wonder where it came from?"
-000-
Orko sighed as he walked down the ships and began to look around to find a place to stick around and find a place to not get in the way.
First the banquet and now the bubble, once again poor Orko found himself again and again finding new ways to muck things up. However that seemed to be his life, after all he was just the royal jester. A fool. Sure he once thought that making people laugh was his passion and he did enjoy giving smiles to those who needed them. For sometimes that was all it took to help ease a hard day. Though these days it seemed he was messing up more and more.
Sure people were nice to him, always have been, Teela and Adam but even they could get frustrated by his antics. He wasn't a big hero, and didn't always save the day. Heck sometimes he messed up more then he actually helped in cases.
"Ooof!" He hit something or something and looked up, "Uh s-sorry"
"Oh, hello floating creature" Entrapta, the princess with the big hair said waving, "How are you?"
"I'm okay"
"Great!" Entrapta paused for a moment before frowning, "Although if my analysis is correct the tone of your voice does not indicate a good mood. Did I get that right? I've been practicing my social cues more"
Orko wanted to hide it but sighed, "Well, yuh see, I-I keep being a screw up lately, so I guess i'm feeling down"
"Oh because you failed at the magical thing at dinner, I get it" Entrapta nodded, "Well like I always say failure is what scientific endeavor possible, although in this case, magic is"
Orko seemed to perk up a little, "Huh, I guess your right, guess I gotta keep trying"
"Great!" Entrpata beamed, "Well, I better head to the main deck, we got a lot of flying to do in order to get to Third Earth, oh boy I can't wait to see the kind of tech they have there, me and Hordak might have a field day!"
-000-
Marlena walked into the main deck of Darla, she was still surprised how well this First One ship functioned. Back at the colony she grew up when she was a child she had studied such schematics but this ship was very old. The fact that it was standing was incredible. Plus it had two really good pilots in Entrapta and Hordak. As well as her own daughter.
Adora was sitting in the captain chair piloting the ship a bit. She could see her concentration. Trying to perfectly navigate, however she seemed to be having trouble.
"Need some help?" She asked.
Adora looked up seeming surprised, "Oh i uh-"
"Mind?"
"Oh um, s-sure, do you know how to-"
"I studied many First One ship designs back at the Colony" Marlena replied as she took the Captain's chair.
Adora nodded, "Have you, have you ever gone back to the colony?"
"No-"
"Wait really? Why?"
"I don't consider it my home anymore Adora, much like you don't Eternia"
Adora face grimace, "It's not like-"
"I know, I didn't meant to insult, sorry if that came out wrong" Marlena sighed but kept smiling, "What i mean is my heart is with Randor, Adam, at the people of Eternia, that is my home now, much like you, I appreciate that home isn't where you were born or connected by superficial means"
"Even though we were visiting the First One's old homeworld and where Magicats came from" Adora snickered.
"Knowing one's past doesn't equal a emotional connection Adora"
Adora again grimace, "Y-Yeah, i guess you're right"
Marlena nodded, she knew that there was still conflict about the whole mother-daughter relationship. She was okay with this of course. All those years missing, how could one expect her to instantly form a connection. She had grown closer by the end of the first visit but there would always be some distance. That was the point of this trip after all to make memories.
"Now, the key is to just keep your hands straight" Marlena held both hands straight on the pilots seat, "And just gently push forward"
"Gently got it" Adora replied nodding, "Maybe that's why I'm not so good at it, gentle is not my strong suite, years of training you know, don't apply to gentle"
"Oh don't worry Randor is the same, can't be gentle with a anything to save his life, thankfully your brother inherited a bit of my fenise"
"Really, Adam?"
"You'd be surprised, i'm sure he's offered his cooking while on Eternai"
"I don't think so"
Marlena seemed taken aback, "Strange, you'll have to try it, i like to think i've taught him well"
"You can cook too!" Adora seems taken aback, "Everytime I try i burn something, I even burned cereal once, Catra laughed, a lot that day"
"Oh that is nothing, your father once tried to roast marshmallows during a simple camping trip and kept catching himself on fire"
Adora laughed, "Really"
"Yes, I often wondered how he managed to stay king so long when he can be so clumsy sometimes"
The two of them let out a soft chuckle.
This was it.
This was the bonding she was hoping for.
"So, how did you and dad meet?"
Marlena gave a faint smile, "I sometimes can't remember much, but I do remember the day I crashed landed on Eternia, I was injured badly too, I was alive though. Thankfully, as if like destiny or fate your father along with Duncan, Man at Arms as you know him, arrived to pull me out of the wreckage of my ship. As i stayed in the castle, i saw his kindness and love and well, the rest is history"
"Just like that huh"
"Yeah"
Adora smiled, "Wish i figured out who i was in love with that quickly, then maybe I wouldn't have had to go through all the grief"
"Well, from what I heard, you were raised in a situation were you couldn't possibly have known"
"I guess" Adora still looked down on the ground, "Guess it wasn't all bad, I'm here now right? That's what Catra would say"
"She's smart then"
Adora smirked, "Yeah...she deserves a lot more then she has"
Marlena felt like she could press this further but decided to hold it back, "Well, visiting the old First One home world will be interesting, most of the First One's who still exist don't these days, we've spread ourselves so far and wide, we're more a legend then a people"
"Etheria is kinda like that too" Entrapta piped in now, "Our planet is hodge podge of all sorts of species and people, sure some are concentrated in certain kingdoms like the Scorpino people used to be, but for the most part, spread all over, quite diverse, and now the Horde Clones are gonna be the next major guest on Etheria"
"Hopefully my brothers can adapt" Hordak sighed sounding unsure, "But the one that goes by...Wrong Hordak...is aiding"
"Oh yes, he is a good representative for your brothers" Entrapta nodded
Marlena nodded, "That's good, I've heard much of Prime and his clones, but yet I'm happy that now they are free from his tyranny. Funny, two enemies known for war might finally have a chance of peace at last"
"Who were the First One's leaders?" Adora asked.
"There were many, many clerics, military leaders and others" Marlena replied remembering her history books, "Some of them living in great temples we called pyramids, performing ancient spells trying to study and harness magic"
"From what little I know of The First One's they were quite a fierce Empire, clearly enough to rival Prime"
"Prime said he crushed them in the end"
Marlena smirked, "Well clearly not if we're alive, perhaps he used the chaos Mara rebellion called to finish what was left, but perhaps it was for the best, the First One's according from our colony history as never great to begin with"
"Yeah, I know a thing or two"
-000-
Catra descended the halls a bit to see Roboto and Hordak talking to one another, about what she had no idea, nor did she care. It was probably boring nerd stuff anyway.
"Catra"
Dang it, Catra signed seeing Hordak approach, "Yes Hordak, what do you want"
"I just wanted to see if we were ...okay" Hordak said.
Catra was taking a back, giving him a bit of a smirk, "Shouldn't I be asking you that most of the time!"
"We have had many differences in the past, but I wanted to insure that you did have any lingering, ill feelings towards me for what happened to the Kingdom of Halfmoon during the war, I remember Shadow Weaver persuading me to launch the operation which I approved of, as you know I-"
"You don't have to justify yourself Hordak, it was a war" Catra said, holding a hand to stop him, "It's no different than we attack Salineas, Elberon or any other village that we tried to conquer, being mad at you doesn't solve anything. If anything it just makes me a hypocrite"
"Ah, i see" Hordak nodded taking a deep breath, "You are quite self aware of things Catra"
Catra groaned, "Oh I know I do bad things, I know i've done bad things, way before even Horde Prime showed up, just took enough time for me to finally swallow my pride and tried to fix them"
"Self awareness of the problem is the first step towards recovery" Robot replied matter of factly, he was just standing there the whole time, "That is what Man at Arms has taught me in my databanks"
"Heh, I guess," Catra smirked.
"You and Hordak are two quite fascinating studies," Robot replied looking at both of them, "Both have committed many heinous acts from what your own personal records have said, and yet you have both learned to try and do better, I must say that is rarity among organic lifeforms from what I have seen"
"Indeed it is" Hordk agreed.
"Let's just say we're lucky we have two idiots who think we are worth it" Catra chuckled.
Hordak frowned, "I would not call Entrapta a idiot"
"Okay, one idiot and one nerd" Catra replied smirking, "But seriously, what they see in us i'll never know"
"That I think we can both agree on"
"Perhaps their love for you comes from something you can't see in yourself" Robot replied matter of factly.
Catra and Hordak both looked at one another for a moment before back at Robot. If there was something Adora saw in her that she couldn't see then either Adora was a fool or a genius, maybe a bit of both.
"Still I have a question" Catra turned to Hordak now, "Shadow Weaver in her journal said you were afraid of a cat Kingdom existing. Why?"
Hordak looked unsure for a bit, "As you know my memories still come and go, although my fear of a cat kingdom does sound familiar, however for once I do have any recollection of why"
"Really? Heh, maybe you just knew cats would kick yours and Prime's butt"
Hordak let out of soft chuckle, "You are quite fierce warriors I will give you that, if your kinda are half the fighters you are"
Catra was about to reply before a small alarm went off.
Entrapta's voice began to echo from the ship saying, "We are approaching the planet Third Earth, HORDAK COME ON DOWN AND SEE IT'S COOL!"
"Looks like I am being summoned" Hordak smiled, "I have a feeling Catra you will be needed as well"
Catra smirked, "Yeah, you know Adora can't be away from me for a few minutes"
"I thought it was the other way around according to my logs" Robot replied.
Catra frowned but ignored him.
They arrived at the main deck.
Adora and the others were all there waiting for her as they began to approach the planet. It was funny to think that they had planned this big restored magic space trip only for her to be constantly paranoid about every planet they would visit. Granted Eternia had its share of problems with Skeletor on the run. So she felt vindicated in her feelings for once in her life. Hopefully this time things would not repeat themselves. Still she would be a vigilante as always.
Her Adora must be protected, as much as she liked her friends, she didn't trust them completely in making sure for her Adora's well being. Not even Marlena, who she knew probably meant well, but could never understand.
Plus she didn't like the First One's very much. Obviously her first exposure was the Crystal Castle, and that no good Light Hope. As far Catra was concerned Light Hope was the prime reason for why Adora was cursed with She-Ra.
Yes, while Catra kept this a lot to herself, to her She-Ra was still a curse, not because she hated She-Ra like she did during the war, no She-Ra and Adora were still the same. But because so long as Adora was She-Ra, Adora would still be hounded and have the shadow of expectation and heroism hanging over her. Something Catra wanted gone so Adora could one day rest.
Though that day may be for a long time, so until then, Catra regulated herself to be Adora's shadow, ironic given her feelings in the past. But this time the shadow would be different, not something to be stepped on, but a shadow that will strike where Adora and her heroism could not.
Adora could be pure, Catra was willing to not be.
"Alright everyone we can see the Third Earth"
Catra then remembered something, something from a while ago, "Hey wait a minute, Hordak!"
"What Catra?" Hordak grumbled.
"Didn't only Wrongie say that Third Earth was a no go for Prime...why!"
Hordak blinked surprised by this question, "I-I would not know, Prime had many secrets, perhaps because it was once the First One's capital world"
"I guess-" Catra raised an eyebrow.
Adora held her shoulder, "It'll be okay Catra"
"Yeah, one Eternia adventure later"
Entrapta rushed to the driver seat now as they began to make a landing, "Thankfully the atmosphere is identical eo Etheria's so will be able to breath perfectly"
Catra watched from the window as they entered the planet's atmosphere.
The place itself seemed relatively normal, it didn't seem like it was a political waist like Krytis or anything like that. Jungles like Eternia, rivers like Etheria, it seemed to be a multi biome planet as well. However where they would begin was hard to say.
"Hmm, I'm picking up a big energy reading here" Entrapta said looking at the computer, "Along a lot of smaller ones, oh looks like a heat singure. It's moving really fast. In fact i think it's heading right toward-"
"MISSEL!" Catra shouted.
Without even a moment of hesitation something had struck them, Darla began to sound the alarm as the ship began to crash land. Darla was spinning around causing them all to get sick. Catra rushed to Adora and held onto her for dear life, making sure she was okay.
"Are you holding onto me for dear life?" Adora smirked.
"Adora! Now is not the time!"
"Hang on people!" Entrapta yelled, she had taken over the captain chair now.
The ship was clearly falling.
Falling.
Falling
Then finally...Crash.
It all went dark.