Chapter Three: Harvest moon
-Catra-
As they walk across the castle's grounds from the culinary wing, a satisfying breakfast –that was in all appearances actually a late lunch– happily tucked away, Catra looks around at the hustle and bustle that surrounds them.
All over the castle's courtyard, there are workers and staff putting together tents, arranging tables and booths, placing large decorative pumpkamelons with faces carved into them. Catra and Adora pass by one large table covered in pumpkamelons large and small, each with a different face, and she reaches out one claw to touch one of the bumpy vegetables. Some of the faces that have been carved are obviously meant to be scary, with wicked eyes and pointy teeth, while others are silly and welcoming, with round eyes and gentle smiles. She knows Adora has told her about this tradition before, something she said was part of the Harvest Festival that Bright Moon used to hold before the war, but to Catra it all still seems a bit frivolous.
People have spent hours putting things together for no other reason than… having fun? Catra remembers in the Fright Zone when having fun meant surviving another training session or scouting mission. Sure, they recognized victories and other milestones in a cadet's career, like promotions to Force Captain for one, but Catra is still having a hard time getting used to the idea that the war is over, along with all the changes to everyday life that have come along with that. People are able to just live their lives now, with no looming threat of another dangerous battle just ahead of them.
Catra doesn't think it's awful, not at all. She's all for actually enjoying herself, especially with Adora. She can't imagine the kinds of things that happen at the Harvest Festival, and she's very much excited to find out and share them with her love.
It's just a lot to take in in a short time.
Ahead of them, poring over a large scroll of paper spread out on a large impromptu table, are Glimmer and Perfuma. Both women are smiling and laughing as they critique different displays and set-ups. Glimmer is blinking around the yard to make small fixes to her grand plan as Perfuma weaves thick, dark vines into arches and other decorative formations. The pair are having the time of their life, and Catra smiles at their happiness almost in spite of herself.
Adora and Catra are almost at their table when Perfuma sees them approaching.
"Adora! Catra! Hi!" She waves her arms at them, as if they wouldn't recognize her from a dozen feet away.
"Perfuma, hi! You guys sure look busy." Adora smiles. Catra gives her a wave.
Perfuma rushes over to meet them, as Glimmer disappears in a flash and reappears a farther corner of the courtyard, adjusting one of the white tents that has been erected. Perfuma sweeps them both into a fierce hug. Adora laughs, and Catra blushes a bit. Getting used to being a part of the princess squad is another thing Catra struggles with. The shame of her past actions rises up to greet her most often when the other princesses are around, though they had all mostly forgiven her in the months that followed Horde Prime's defeat. Frosta can still be… well, a little frosty towards her.
Perfuma has surprised Catra by being one of her biggest advocates, alongside Adora and Scorpia. The flower princess talked a lot about Catra's "good heart" and "actually quite gentle if… assertive personality" and Catra had come to enjoy the time she spent in the tall girl's company.
Perfuma separates herself from the hug and smiles at Catra.
"I'm so glad to see you up and about, Catra! Glimmer had mentioned you weren't feeling well last night."
Catra feels the redness in her cheeks.
"Oh. No, I'm-I'm fine, really," she stammers. "I just haven't been sleeping well lately, that's all."
Perfuma nods, suddenly serious.
"Taking care of your body is just as important as taking care of your mind," the pink-clad girl says. "If you'd like, I can give you the ingredients for a wonderful tea that will help you sleep like a baby."
Catra smiles.
"Sure, Perfuma. That sounds great." She means it.
Perfuma flashes her another smile, then ushers them towards the table she had been standing at with Glimmer. The Queen pops back in as they arrive, a satisfied look on her face.
"I can't believe we finally get to have another Harvest Festival! It's been so long." Glimmer is practically bouncing.
Adora walks around to the side of the table Glimmer and Perfuma are on, and Catra leans against the corner nearest to her girlfriend. She watches the three girls look over the scroll and tries not to sound too interested.
"What's so great about this Harvest Festival, anyway?"
Glimmer smiles.
"It's how Bright Moon used to celebrate the end of the summer and the harvest season," the Queen says. "Back before the war, the castle would throw a huge party during the final full moon of the harvest month, and people from all the other kingdoms would come. There would be so many tents with food, and games, and prizes!"
Catra's ears perk up at the mention of food. It does sound like a good time.
"Then as it gets darker, everyone starts to light the pumpkamelons to give thanks for the bounties of the season," Glimmer continues. "We haven't had one in so long because of the war. When I was a little girl the castle held a few during some of the less… hectic years. They're so much fun!"
Perfuma is nodding her head as Glimmer describes the festival.
"I remember coming to some as a young girl too, Plumeria always enters the crop competitions. Not to brag, but we're very well known for our harvest crops."
"No way, the plant kingdom wins the plant contests? Who could have seen that coming?" Catra smirks, hopefully in a friendly way.
"I acknowledge your sarcasm, Catra, and I value your quick wit," Perfuma smiles warmly. "But it would be such a shame if I accidentally broke this pumpkamelon and some of the fruit accidentally landed on your tail. Ripe pumpkamelon is famous for staining things very bright orange for a few days."
Catra waits through a very uncomfortable few seconds before Perfuma, smiling lal the while, starts giggling. She's never quite sure when the flower princess is kidding. Catra thinks Perfuma's sense of humour isn't exactly well-tuned.
"Alright you two, that's enough." Adora teases, though the mood in the area has stayed easy and casual.
So this is what it's like to have real friends. Catra finds herself feeling emotional at the thought. She has friends who care about her, who are willing to tease her without being afraid Catra will explode at them. Of course, Scorpia had tried to be a real friend to her a long time ago, but Catra had only just recently opened up to the princess in the same way. She feels a brief twinge of guilt at the thought of Lonnie, Rogelio and Kyle and the ways they used to obviously try to include her in their circle as well. She had always taken their gestures of companionship as mockery or attempts to embarrass her. She wonders where they are now, and hopes they're doing well.
"Alright, alright." Catra concedes, holding up her hands in mock surrender. "It does sound like a good time, to be honest. We didn't really do celebrations in the Horde."
Perfuma casts her a deeply concerned look.
"What? It's not a big deal. We just didn't have time to goof off like you princesses did." Catra shrugs. "Adora knows what I mean."
"You just got used to it." Adora confirms.
Glimmer 'ports over to Catra and takes her hands. Her eyes are wide, fiery passion burning within.
"Catra, I am going to personally ensure you will have the GREATEST Harvest Festival ever."
"Hey, what about me?" Adora has an annoyed look on her face. "This is my first Harvest Festival too. Also, we've, like, known each other longer and stuff."
Glimmer shoots Adora a stern look.
"Adora, you've been in Bright Moon for years now," she says. "Sure, this is your first Harvest Festival, but you've done lots of other stuff with Bow and I, and the others. This is the first big anything that Catra's been able to take part in! We should make it special for her!"
Adora grumbles something about technicalities, but seems to accept that Glimmer is making a good point. Catra offers the Queen a warm smile.
"Thanks, Spark- I mean… thank you, Glimmer."
Glimmer smiles back at her, the matter settled.
"Good. Now, we have a few more things we have to get done before the festival starts this evening. We could really use both of your help to get ready."
The rest of the afternoon passes in a blur for Catra as she helps her friends finish setting up the courtyard for that night's festivities. There isn't a whole lot for her to do, but under direction from Glimmer, Catra finds she's enjoying just relaxing with these other women, even if they are hauling boxes and moving tables and hanging large billowy sheets from various corners. There are plenty of stories being shared and lots of laughter.
By the end of a few hours more work, the area is complete, and Catra finds herself just staring at the space they're standing in. She doesn't know what a Harvest Festival is supposed to look like, but she thinks they must have gotten pretty close. Perfuma has grown more vines across some of the tents. Glimmer has brought carved pumpkamelons to the tops of windows and the courtyard walls. Adora has mostly figured out how to tie the billowy sheets into decorative bows to hang from the corners of the tables set up for dining. Catra, in comparison, has just done what she was told, but it's still a satisfying moment as she looks at what working together has brought them all. She looks around at her friends and sees the same satisfied smiles she feels she is wearing.
"What do you know, turns out we can work together." She mumbles to herself, but isn't surprised when Adora wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her closer. Catra doesn't mind, and leans into the embrace.
"So now what?" She asks the group.
Glimmer's smile widens.
"Now we get to have some fun."
-Adora-
Adora has to admit she's impressed. If she thought the courtyard looked good earlier in the day when they had wrapped up the final decorations, it looked even better now that the sky had darkened and the lights of the courtyard had come up.
Glimmer had cast a spell with the help of her dad and aunt Casta that changed the courtyard's regular lights to more closely emulate firelight. The courtyard was thus bathed in a warm, orange glow. The cloth they had all spent so much time hanging had been placed in such a way that they caught the glow and helped to diffuse it over a much wider area. Whatever vines Perfuma had grown had sprouted small flowers all over that also gave off a similar light. Adora still isn't sure what kind of flowers they are, but when she passed one by earlier it smelled warm and slightly spicy. She enjoys the scent. She enjoys the chill in the air. She enjoys the sounds of laughter and easy conversations. Hell, she even enjoys the occasional scream of "ADVENTURE" she hears coming from Sea Hawk as he pulls Mermista from booth to booth, game to game, trying his hardest to win her some kind of prize and failing miserably at each stop. The atmosphere is so comfortable and easy-going, in a way that Adora hasn't ever really experienced. There is so much to do she hardly knows where to start.
She feels a pressure against her side, and turns to see Catra staring around the courtyard, apparently as taken with the space as she is. Her eyes are wide, and she's smiling. Her nose twitches from time to time as Adora watches. She thinks it has to be the smells coming from every direction. Everything must look, sound and smell so much more impressive with senses like Catra has. She reaches out to take Catra's hand and gives it a squeeze. Catra, trance broken, turns to face her, blushing.
"Sorry, I must look like an idiot."
Adora shakes her head.
"Not at all. You just look so happy. I like it."
Catra feels her blush deepen, and she fights the urge to walk away and hide herself from Adora's honesty. Instead she smiles and gives her girlfriend's hand a squeeze in return.
"I like it too." She admits. They gaze into each other's eyes for a few seconds before Catra turns to face the crowded courtyard.
"So, little miss 'I know everything about Bright Moon,'" Catra says sarcastically, but not unkindly, "where do we start?"
Adora is about to say she wants to head over and hit up some of the game booths first when her stomach rumbles. It is not a quiet rumble. She stares down at her abdomen, horrified and betrayed.
"Typical Adora," Catra laughs. "Ok then, at least we know where we're going first."
All of the food vendors are set up along the wall to the north of the courtyard, an easy walk from either of the main entrances. There's an incredible variety on offer. The kingdom has invited ten different chefs from across the kingdoms to take part, so there are delicacies from almost every corner of Etheria. Adora can see seafood from Salineas, all kinds of produce from Plumeria, and dishes with mushrooms she recognizes from her time in the Whispering Woods, among others. Each of the booths is giving off so many amazing smells that Adora can't keep her mouth from starting to water. She bounces along the booths, stopping to check each and take a deep breath while Catra ambles along behind her. Adora stops at one of the booths from Plumeria, decorated as the others are with pumpkamelons.
"Good Harvest Festival, friends!" The man tending the booth is portly and gives them a warm smile from behind a bushy moustache streaked with grey. "Can I interest you in a bowl of my special pumpkamelon soup? It's a recipe that's been passed down in my family for generations, sure to keep you warm on a chilly harvest night."
He produces a small bowl and ladle from out of nowhere, quickly pouring some of the creamy orange broth into it. He offers the bowl to Adora, who takes it eagerly.
"Thank you!" She blows across the top of the bowl before she brings it to her lips.
The soup is luscious, delicately spiced and warm, and Adora finds the old man is right. She feels it settle into her stomach and a gentle warmth spreads through her body.
"Wow, this is great!" Adora says. The soup man smiles broadly at her. Adora feels Catra sidle up beside her. "Catra, you've got to try some."
Catra glances from the soup to Adora, a hesitant look on her face.
"I'm not really a soup person," she says. "No offense, sir."
The man shakes his head.
"No apologies necessary, miss! Nothing is for everyone. Can I interest you instead in one of my other creations?" He pops below the table and re-emerges with a mug in one hand and a strange kettle in the other. He continues talking to Catra as he begins to work.
"I've taken some special coffee beans that grow deep in Plumeria, and then combined it with steamed milk, some select spices and a bit of pumpkamelon puree. Haven't had a chance to come up with a name for it yet, but I think you might enjoy it."
He finishes off the concoction by shaking some container over it. Catra watches warily as some unidentifiable powder drifts slowly through the air to dust the top of the drink. The old man then takes a thin stick and drags it lightly across the dusted foam, leaving behind intricate swirling patterns. He passes the mug to Catra, who accepts it with an uncertain smile. She casts a glance to Adora, a quizzical look in her eyes.
"I'm sure it's delicious." Adora says by way of encouragement.
Catra doesn't look like she believes her, but she brings the mug to her face and sniffs. Adora figures that the smell must have passed whatever tests she's administering, because after a moment she lowers the mug to her lips and sips.
Immediately her eyes open wide, and Adora watches her pupils dilate until there's almost no colour left to be seen. Adora leans towards her.
"Uhh, Catra," she whispers. "Are you ok?"
Catra is rooted in place and she turns her head slowly to stare at Adora.
"This. Is. Incredible!" Catra takes a deep drink from her mug and spins back to face the vendor. "This is incredible! This is the best thing I've ever tasted! You're some kind of evil genius, except not evil! So whatever that would make you."
"I… thank you, miss," the man says slowly. "I think."
Catra spins again to face Adora. She takes another deep gulp of the hot drink and pushes the cup at Adora.
"You have to try this Adora, it's so good!"
"Catra?" Adora looks down at the cup, then back to her girlfriend. "Sweetheart, I'd love to, believe me. But I can't. You drank it all."
Catra pauses and looks down at the mug. She turns it over and waggles it in the air. A few drops of the drink fall from the upended mug. Catra looks crestfallen. Her eyes are still huge, but now Adora swears she can see tears starting to form.
"B-but!" Adora interjects before Catra can go too far down that emotional road. "I'm sure this nice man will make us another one?" Her statement turns into a question halfway through as she slides her gaze over to meet the eyes of the food vendor.
The man looks startled and looks from Adora to Catra and back.
"O-of course I can, not to worry!" His hands fly behind the table and return with another cup and a bag and he sets to work making another one of the spiced pumpkamelon drinks.
Before long Catra has a new steaming mug in her hands. Adora holds back a laugh at how excited she is to have another one of the drinks. Catra turns and offers the drink to Adora, who takes a sip. She has to admit, the beverage is delicious, hot and sweet and spiced. The perfect drink for the season. For some reason it makes Adora think of knit scarfs and warm fluffy sweaters. Oh yeah, she could see herself enjoying these too much.
"Ohhhh wow. That's good." Adora sighs.
"I know, right!?" Catra is almost vibrating.
The two women spend the next few minutes thanking the vendor and making him promise to come back to the castle again so they can have more of the drinks. After bidding him farewell, the pair leave the stall and begin heading across the courtyard towards the area where some of the festival games are set up.
Adora and Catra wander through the game stalls. There are tubs full of appomelos floating in water, and across from them a ring toss area has been set up. Adora watches as one young girl tosses a ring only to have it bounce off one of the jars. Everyone around her pauses as her eyes start to fill with tears, but the stall proprietor marches over and hands her another ring. Tonight's about everyone having a good time.
Further on in the game area, Adora and Catra turn a corner and almost run directly into a very large, very red friend.
"Ohmygosh, Catra, I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there." Scorpia towers over them, concerned.
The apology is unnecessary, Adora thinks, since they almost ran into her, but that's just Scorpia. Also, it's no surprise she didn't see them. She's standing at a ball toss game with Perfuma and Frosta, and it looks like all of their attention is on the last bottle standing at the far end of the booth. Catra walks around Adora to stand next to her giant friend.
"What's going on Scorpia?" Catra asks. "Are you winning?"
The tall princess looks nervous and flustered.
"Well, no. I mean yes. Well, I mean mostly no," Scorpia says. "We've had three shots to knock down the tower of bottles, and Perfuma and Frosta did so well already. They have such great aim, it's really something. I'm… how do I say it... I'm not so good at throwing things. Pincers, you know?"
Perfuma and Frosta are looking at Scorpia expectantly. Adora notices that Scorpia has a white ball in one of her pincers, but when she looks at the other two princesses, their hands are empty. Like Scorpia said, they've clearly already taken their shots. There are still a few bottles standing. If she remembers Glimmer's description correctly, they have to all be knocked down to win the grand prize. Above their heads a number of large felted animals are swinging gently in the breeze,
Catra eyes the bottle tower and looks over to Scorpia.
"I bet you can do it," Catra says matter-of-factly. "You always sell yourself short. Just… take your time and line up your shot."
Scorpia smiles at her and turns to look at the standing bottles.
"Gee, I hope you're right. I'd hate to let everyone down."
Perfuma rests a hand gently against Scorpia's other arm. She smiles.
"You won't let us down if you don't win," Perfuma says. "This is all about having fun. I am enjoying the time I get to spend with you and my friends."
"WIN US THE DOLL OR YOU'RE DEAD TO ME!"
Frosta, Adora thinks to herself, has no chill. As usual. The smaller princess is standing on a box to be at a similar height to the others, probably for when took her shot at the bottle tower. She's staring pointedly at the biggest of the toy animals, a winged horse with rounded proportions that Adora thinks looks suspiciously similar to Swift Wind.
Perfuma turns to face the ice princess.
"Frosta, remember, it's not whether you win or lose, it's how-"
"THROW THE BALL!" Frosta yells.
Scorpia still looks nervous, but she extends her arm and points her pincers in the direction of the bottles. She shifts her weight and the position of her arm, but then she closes her eyes. She squints one eye open for a split second. Adora watches as her pincer contracts ever so slightly.
The ball rockets forward and smashes through the lower of the remaining bottles. Shards of glass fly everywhere, but the ball itself hasn't stopped. It tears past the back of the booth and punches a hole through the backstop. The assembled women and the game master stare as the backstop begins to tilt backwards, and in another moment the entire tent collapses in on itself. The Swift Wind lookalike falls directly into Frosta's lap. Everyone else is covered in loose, billowy tent fabric.
"Oooh, I think that was my fault," Scorpia says. "I'm so sorry. I'm really not good at throwing things."
"THAT WAS AWESOME! DO IT AGAIN!"
Adora manages to extract herself from the tent and looks around for Catra. When she sees her she breathes a sigh of relief and steps towards her.
As she does, though, she sees that Catra has gone completely pale. She's staring in the direction of the former backstop. Adora stops and looks in the same direction.
There's nothing there. The tent has been set up a few feet away from the courtyard walls, leaving no room for much of anything. The game master has put some boxes that must have held the balls, bottles and prizes beside the tent, leaving the rear area completely bare. Adora looks back to Catra, who is still staring. She hasn't moved at all.
Adora crosses to her and puts a hand on her arm.
Catra jumps and turns to Adora.
"Catra? Are you ok?"
"Did… did you see that?" Catra is watching Adora, unblinking.
Adora looks back to the ruined tent, and the area Catra had been staring at.
"See what? Scorpia blowing up the tent?" Adora lets out a nervous chuckle. "Of course, we were right there."
"Again, I am so sorry about that." Scorpia's voice comes from under the tent as she struggles to find the edge and escape. Frosta is still cackling gleefully.
Catra shakes her head and looks at Adora. She thinks she sees something almost desperate in the blue and yellow eyes.
"I'm sorry. I didn't see anything." Adora admits. Catra steps away from her as if Adora has just insulted her. Adora steps in to close the distance, lowering her voice. "Catra, what are you talking about? Are you ok? What did you see?"
Catra looks panicked for a moment, then shakes her head and tries to smile at Adora.
"N-nothing, never mind," she says. "It must have been a trick of the light. I'm fine."
Adora is about to press the issue, but a large white lump rises from underneath the tent and speaks in Scorpia's voice.
"Not to be a burden on anyone, but I think I'm lost."
She shuffles a few feet away from Adora and Catra and bumps into a slightly smaller lump.
"Oh, hi there," the lump that sounds like Scorpia says. "Can I just say, one more time, how sorry I am for destroying your tent? It's a very nice tent."
The next few minutes are spent helping to extract Scorpia, Perfuma, Frosta and the game master from beneath the billowing fabric. The women then help the game master get his tent back up and running. The tower of bottles goes up a little bit smaller, as there aren't enough extra bottles left to replace all of the ones broken by Scorpia's meteor smash, but overall the game master doesn't seem to be too upset. He does seem very excited, however, when Perfuma tells him that she, Scorpia and Frosta are heading to a different tent. After telling Catra and Adora they would see the pair later, they depart, Perfuma with her arms around one of Scorpia's and Frosta on Scorpia's shoulders, screaming in victory while holding her stuffed animal aloft.
Watching her three friends, Adora can't help but cast a sideways glance at Catra. She hasn't said much since the tent collapsed, though the colour has returned to her face. Adora can't help but feel that she still isn't telling her the entire story. What does she think she saw? Coupled with the events of the previous night, there is definitely something going on, and all Adora wants to do is find out what it is so she can help Catra fix it.
But part of being with Catra, she knows, is accepting that Catra still plays things close to her chest. They might have most of the walls down between them, especially when they're alone, but Catra is still a private person. More than that, she still struggles showing anything the Horde would have considered weak. She was getting better, Adora knew, but if she thought whatever was going on with her was a big enough deal, she would be fighting with how to talk to Adora about it. All the blonde can do, then, is be supportive and hope that Catra opens up to her about it before she drives herself crazy.
She bumps her shoulder into Catra's.
"Hey, you sure you're ok?" Adora asks her. "You know you can talk to me, right?"
Catra smiles and takes Adora's hand.
"Yeah, I know," Catra says. "It's nothing, I swear I think it was just those little flowers Perfuma has sprouted all over the place. They make the light weird."
But as they walk away, Adora looks back to the wall behind the ball toss game. It happens to be the only spot in the courtyard where Perfuma didn't weave any of her glowing vines.
The pit of worry Adora feels in her stomach continues to grow.
-Catra-
Catra is trying her best to forget what she thinks she saw at the ball toss game. She's been having such a good afternoon and evening, after such a crappy night, that she doesn't want to let anything derail it. When was the last time she and Adora had just gotten to relax and enjoy themselves like this? There were no festivals in the Fright Zone, and Catra wanted to make the most of this one. A few years ago she would have scoffed and been angry at having been forced to waste her time, but now that she was actually experiencing the Harvest Festival, she didn't want the night to end.
So she decided she would simply refuse to acknowledge the dark, twisting shape she thought she had seen deep in the shadows in the corner of the courtyard when the tent collapsed. By the time Adora had come over to her, there had obviously been nothing there. Catra reasons that means nothing was there in the first place. That reasoning doesn't sit quite right in her mind, but she forces herself to accept it.
Now walking hand in hand with Adora around the remainder of the festival, she is delighted by the booths they are seeing. There are some with handmade decorations, others with scented candles and bath oils, and yet more with treats and snacks for a cool harvest evening. The gentle murmur of the crowd, combined with the chill of the air and the leftover heat from the pumpkamelon drink she had earlier are combining to leave her feeling something she hasn't felt in a long time.
Catra is content.
She feels Adora looking over at her again as they walk, and she shoots her a mock-dirty look.
"I swear, if you ask me if I'm ok one more time, I'm using your mattress as a scratching post." Catra grumbles.
Adora narrows her eyes.
"Don't. You. Dare."
Catra lets out a satisfied mrrowl and closely examines the claws on her free hand.
"Well, then, I guess that means you'll just have to accept that I'm fine," she says.
"Are you, though?" Adora asks again. "I mean, I know you keep saying you are. I just… I worry about you sometimes."
Catra feels the familiar edge of annoyance at being fussed over, but she tries her best to temper it with her love for Adora.
"I know," she says. "I love that about you. And it also drives me nuts sometimes. But I am telling you, I. Am. Fine. "
Adora sighs, but Catra can also see the blush that's crept across her face. She thinks it has to do with the word "love." She thinks that because she feels the same way whenever Adora says the same to her. It was still weird to both of them. But not a bad weird. It was a very good weird, in fact. She feels herself begin to purr.
"Ok, ok, I'll stop bugging you about it," Adora says. "I trust you."
Catra realizes they've made a complete round of the courtyard and stops walking, feeling Adora come to a stop beside her.
"I think that's everything there is to see here. What now?" Catra looks over at her girlfriend as she speaks.
Adora shrugs.
"I don't know," the blonde says. "I haven't been to a Harvest Festival before. I think Glimmer said they mark the end of the festival by lighting more pumpkamelons, so I guess we just have to wait until they do that and then we'll head inside with everyone."
Catra looks over at her.
"Wait, what?" Catra tilts her head. "What do you mean, 'inside with everyone?'"
Adora's face is suddenly red and she won't look Catra in the eyes.
It's Catra's turn to narrow her eyes.
"Adora…" she growls.
"Oh wow, look at those," the blonde says, pretending to be distracted. "So cute."
Adora is suddenly very interested in a booth a few feet away from them. It's covered in tiny pumpkamelons that have been carved to look like the larger ones dotting the courtyard. She's poring over the different shaped and carved fruits.
"Adora," Catra speaks evenly. "What aren't you telling me?"
Adora turns back around, an apologetic look on her face.
"Ok, so, don't be angry," Adora rushes her words, "but Glimmer said that when she was little, after the Harvest Festival all the princesses would head back up to one of the castle's common rooms and spend the night… tellingghoststories."
Catra stops.
"What was that."
It's not a question.
"They… they all go up…" Adora is mumbling. "To one of the rooms and… and they all tell… scary ghost stories."
Catra has always thought herself tough. She hadn't taken crap from anyone in the Horde, and even when she was belittled and abused by Shadow Weaver and Hordak, she had always prided herself on giving just as good as she got. There wasn't anything that Catra felt like she couldn't handle.
Except scary stories.
Catra doesn't do scary stories.
Catra can't do scary stories.
"Adora!"
"I know! I'm sorry." Adora says. "Glimmer mentioned it the other day, you know how she is."
Adora tries to imitate the queen.
"'Hey Adora, scary story night after the Harvest Festival, get ready to have your socks scared off!' And then she said that everyone was invited, and of course that meant you, and I couldn't tell her you were scared of ghost stories, like, what, 'Oh sure Glimmer, but my girlfriend can't come because she can't handle scary stories.' I couldn't do that to you! And then POOF, she was gone."
"But I can't handle scary stories!" Catra says. "You know I can't!"
"I know! But by the time I said that you'd be there it was already too late, and Glimmer was so excited to have everyone coming over I couldn't tell her you couldn't come." Adora is at Catra's side in an instant, holding her hands in a fierce grip. "I'm so sorry Catra, I didn't mean to make you do this. I just didn't know how to tell you about it."
Catra's ears flatten.
"I don't know," Catra says flatly. "How about, 'Hey Catra, I sold you out to Queen Sparkles and now everyone is going to know you're a big scaredy cat.'"
"Don't you mean 'a big scaredy Catr-'" Adora tries to joke.
"I MEAN WHAT I SAID." Catra can feel the fur on her tail standing on end.
Adora is still holding her hands tightly.
"Pleeease Catra, I know I messed up. But I didn't want to just tell her that you don't like scary stories. You would never have forgiven me for that."
Catra has to concede Adora had a point.
"And it will be so much fun to have everyone all together!" Adora says. "We never get to see everyone at once anymore."
"But it won't be everyone together," Catra counters. "You said it yourself earlier. You said Arrow Boy and the World's Worst Pirate were leaving after the festival tonight to check up on another of Prime's spires that was acting weird. So if they won't be there, what does it matter if one more person isn't there too?"
"It matters because everyone is excited for you to be there, Catra." adora says. "I know Glimmer and Perfuma and Scorpia want you there. I want you to be there, too."
Catra can feel her defenses start to crumble, but she hates the thought of anyone finding out how easily she gets scared at scary stories. The times the Horde cadets would swap stories in the barracks, Catra would always pretend to find them boring before they even started and turn over to go to 'sleep.' In reality, she'd do her best to stuff her ears with whatever she could find without making it obvious and then try to not listen to the stories being told. And when that inevitably failed, she would eventually find herself crawling over to Adora after everyone had finally gone to bed. She'd spend the rest of the night shivering next to her friend. At one point, Octavia had found out that Catra was afraid of ghost stories and had proceeded to lord it over her constantly.
Catra snaps out of her memories to Adora staring into her eyes.
"Catra, I promise, no one will make fun of you," Adora says, and Catra thinks the earnest quality in her voice is downright adorable. "This isn't the Horde. I really think it will be fun. But, if you don't want to go, we won't. I'll let Glimmer know we just weren't up to it tonight." She steps back and rubs at her stomach, adding a visual aid to her proposed excuse. "Too much soup."
Catra stands there for a moment, letting her thoughts battle it out. It was true, the princesses weren't the kind to give anyone a hard time over something that made them uncomfortable. They might tease her, but like the barbs she had traded with Perfuma earlier in the day, it was done playfully, almost lovingly. She was counted among them as a friend now, mostly, and they wouldn't do anything to purposely make her feel bad.
But still, Catra thinks about just how much she hated ghost stories when she was younger. One of the older senior cadets had always told the story of the Shadow Princess, and that was the one that Catra hated the most.
Of course, there was one other crucial difference about the past and the present. These days she didn't have to wait for everyone else to be asleep before she could snuggle up to Adora. Hell, maybe just having her there would be enough to make the night not so bad. If worst came to worst, having Adora hold her hand would probably take the edge off the really scary stories. Or at least, Catra hopes that's how it might work.
She decides she's willing to give it a shot.
"Alright, fine." Catra says. "I'll go to your stupid scary story sleepover. But only so you don't have to deal with the rest of the spirit squad by yourself."
Adora's face lights up.
"Yes! Oh, it's gonna be so much fun, Catra, just wait!"
Catra is pulled into a hug, and she hugs her girlfriend back.
It's been years since the last time Catra has listened to scary stories. Maybe things won't be so bad now, she thinks. Maybe she's grown up and gotten a little more brave. Maybe having Adora next to her will make them actually fun to listen to.
After all, Catra thinks, what's the worst that can happen?
A/N: Hi there, welcome back.
I fell off on updating the story here for a bit, life being what it is. I've been posting a bit more regularly on AO3, you'll find me there with the same pen name if you want to keep up with the story (or read ahead of what I've got here).
I plan on keeping both profiles active at this point, but that could change in the future. We'll see. I don't have any criteria in mind, but I figure I'll know when it's time to go all in on one or the other.
In any case, I'll be updating the story here on a weekly basis until I get caught up to where I'm at, so keep an eye out for more in the future, and if you've gotten this far, thanks for reading.
Until next time...