It was night, and that meant barely anyone could see Catra as she cried almost an endless amount of tears.

She ran through Salineas, lit up by the stars and the lights of the city, feeling her heart pounding and squeezing her chest tight. She felt like a hole had been ripped in her stomach and was completely draining her. It's not like she even had anywhere to go, but she didn't care. She couldn't see Adora again.

Everything was supposed to be fine now. No more Horde, no more Horde Prime, no more brainwashing and no more betrayal. Why did she still feel this way? The guilt clung to her back and dug its nails into her, and it wouldn't let go. The nightmares haunted her, and wouldn't stop.

Catra stopped for a few seconds, looking around to see barely anyone on the streets as she put a hand over her heart, choking out more tears. The sounds of sobs mixed with panicked hyperventilating were causing Catra so much stress, she felt like she was going to pass out. Her head felt like it had nothing in it, her ears were stinging and her chest felt like it was floating.

She took another step, and realized her legs felt completely numb. It didn't matter to her. All she needed to do was leave. Leave behind Salineas. Leave behind these people. Leave behind the nightmares. Leave behind the trauma.

Leave behind Adora.

Adora, for the first time in a while, finally let out the pent up emotion that's been building since Catra's first panic attack.

She had no idea how to help Catra's suffering, or if she was even doing anything to calm her. Now it had all exploded in her face. Adora thought of all the times she could've helped Catra. All the times they could've talked more. Adora felt completely and utterly useless.

She wanted to stand up. She wanted to give chase. But what good would that do? Catra wanted to be alone, and Adora never gave her that chance. She always felt like she was smothering Catra, and not giving her any room to breathe. It was suffering, having to decide whether to leave Catra alone with her possible demonic thoughts, or try and be there for her, but end up making things worse.

Adora didn't even feel like she deserved to cry. She wasn't the one suffering from the weight of guilt. She had no right to be as upset as Catra, but she felt like she always made it about herself. Adora almost wanted to beat herself up for being so stupid and not giving Catra what she needs.

But what did Catra even need? It was hard to even know, and Adora never even asked.

Adora swallowed, letting a few more tears flow, before slowly standing to her feet. The door was still open after Catra had ran through it. It was a cold night out, and Catra needed some place to stay anyway. Adora debated with herself. Giving chase to Catra was what she wanted to do. Catra couldn't spend a night alone in the cold darkness of Salineas. But at the same time, how would Catra react upon seeing Adora? What if she freaked out?

Adora sat on the bed, running both hands through her long hair and sighing. This would all be so much easier if she had just asked, but she was always afraid of pushing Catra over the edge. This relationship felt so fragile to her, and she didn't want to ruin everything. She'd spent so long away from Catra. She didn't want to lose it all over again.

Adora looked over to Catra's side of the bed, now empty and alone. She saw that Catra's bedside drawer was open, and Adora raised an eyebrow. She went over and opened the drawer to reveal…

A red Horde jacket. Adora's Horde jacket that she wore back when she was in a squad with Catra. This was the jacket Catra kept in her locker, even after Adora left.

"It… it smelled like you", is what Catra said when Adora found it. Even after the separation, with Adora joining the Princesses and Catra staying with the Horde, Catra had kept a little piece of her. A hope that she would one day be with the woman she loves so much.

Adora also saw something else in that drawer. The photo that was found in the Fright Zone. The one with her, Catra, Lonnie, Kyle and Rogelio. She picked the photo up, inspecting it.

That day of being assigned to their squad, and Adora could remember how happy she felt that she and Catra would never be separated. That they always had each other, and nothing really bad could happen.

There was one more piece of paper in that drawer. Something Adora didn't spot in the Fright Zone, but something Catra had kept with her nonetheless when they went there a few days ago.

Adora reached in and pulled it out to find an old drawing. It was crude, but she made it out to be her and Catra, both drawn as stick figures, surrounded by a love heart. Catra had drawn this, Adora almost instantly recognized it. She had never seen this before.

Even when they were kids, Catra knew her love for Adora. She had always wanted to be with Adora, and Adora really understood why Catra was so emotional about her leaving. And why she kept pieces of Adora around, even when they were mortal enemies.

Adora stared at the drawing, and couldn't help but smile through the tears. She put her forehead against the drawing, sighing with a hint of joy. She had always loved Catra too. They were always together, and Adora loved being with her. Nothing could taint the time she had spent with Catra. No amount of gruelling training or abuse from Shadow Weaver would ever ruin the memories that she had of the woman she loved.

That's why she couldn't abandon Catra. Not now. They couldn't end on this note, not after all this time. Adora understood this struggle, but they needed to talk, more than ever. In the end, maybe things would be okay.

Adora put the drawing and photo away, and put on her old Horde jacket. It was a tad small for her now, but she wore it nonetheless.

Adora ran out the door, and went to find her love.

Catra could barely comprehend where she was now, but it definitely wasn't the city. She was up high somewhere, with Salineas still in sight with all the lights on. It was getting colder by the minute, but she didn't care anymore.

She knew Adora would never forgive her now. Not after she had pulled this again. What kind of person would want to be with someone who ran away, had nightmares and scarred themselves? Catra had a feeling Adora wouldn't chase after her. Not like she could blame her.

Catra was nothing. She had nobody, no love, no friends, no squad, no goals, nothing. She was a shell, and nothing was going to fill the empty gap left behind. She was a corpse still walking, and she didn't deserve to stand at all. Not after everything she had done.

But even a heartless monster like herself could cry, and she did. Because even a heartless monster could still love.

She wanted to turn around and see Adora standing there. She wanted to go back and be with her again. She wanted to live a normal life where they never fought, and she never brought destruction, and she never made all her friends abandon her. Catra wanted to wipe everything that had happened in the past and start over.

But it was never that simple. Nothing was simple for Catra, and she had already grown used to that. There was nothing that could prevent pain.

And being left alone with her thoughts was the worst pain of all. She had nothing but silence and memories out here. When she looked up, she saw the child from her dream. They stood there, with their arms behind their back, still staring at Catra.

Catra had lost so much sleep that her nightmares were invading her reality.

"You made Adora hate you. This is really your fault, if you think about it," the hallucinatory image of the child spoke. Catra walked past them wordlessly, but silently agreed with them.

"You're a bad friend," Scorpia's voice spoke almost instantly after the child's. Scorpia wasn't there, but her words were real.

"I know," Catra whispered. She kept walking in no particular direction.

"You are utterly worthless," Shadow Weaver sighed. Another ghost. "Look at you. I died for nothing, clearly. You still mope about and hurt everyone you love."

Catra didn't have the energy to fight back at Shadow Weaver, even if she was a hallucination. Shadow Weaver had died for someone who would ultimately end up as a nobody that no one will ever remember. Not even the one she loves most.

"Wasn't it fun, though? Hurting Adora?" Catra looked up to see herself, but with glowing green eyes and a chip inserted in the back of her neck. Her hallucinatory indoctrinated clone smiled at her, and Catra could barely stand to look at herself. "Don't you remember? Feeling her skin peel away when you clawed at it?"

"I found it more fun nearly bringing about the end of the world just to spite her," Catra's voice spoke yet again. This time, it was Catra from when reality was crumbling, half her body turned translucent. "We really scarred Adora there by nearly killing all of her friends. All because she told us not to open a portal. I mean, honestly, how sad can you get?"

All of these voices, even though none of them were real, they all burrowed into Catra's head like worms, feeding on the last inch of happiness she had and completely invading her mind with the darkness she had pushed onto everyone else. She felt her legs collapse as Catra fell to her knees.

"Sister…" Horde Prime's voice spoke. Catra looked up to see him, staring down at her. He wasn't real, of course, but he still made Catra back away almost instantly, her eyes widening. "There's no need to be afraid. We could've made great partners, you and I. The suffering you brought to this planet was almost enough for me to conquer it with ease. With you by my side, we would've had every corner of the universe in our hands. And you… could have been responsible for the downfall of She-Ra. You were close, too…"

Catra saw Horde Prime grin, and out of instinct, leapt forward and slashed at him with her claws. However, she simply phased through him.

And leapt straight down a vast cliff.

She was able to react just in time to cling to the side and slow her descent, but she still felt the sharp rocks of this steep hill smash into her as she rolled down the cliff. Cuts and scrapes being made with each impact she made with the cliffside before she finally reached the bottom, every part of her body aching and her skin feeling freshly peeled in multiple spots.

She was lucky to have not smashed her head anywhere, but she looked at herself to see plenty of blood and cuts covering her body. She had landed in sand, next to a dark beach. She stood up and felt nothing broken, at least not that she could tell.

The hallucinations were gone, but the scars they had left would never go away. Catra was almost thankful for the beating that the cliff had endured on her.

She continued running, even as the cold wind picked up.

Adora sprinted as fast as her legs could take her through the city, wind gushing past her ears.

Catra would be way beyond the city by now, so the question was where she went after reaching the end of it. She looked out to the boat they arrived on, but there was no signs that Catra had been there. Her heart was racing as Adora looked everywhere around her.

She was most afraid of Catra doing something that would hurt herself. After all this time, she couldn't lose Catra like this. Not to a cold night.

The ocean was too vast to search, and it's not likely Catra would get too far in the ocean. Therefore, Adora suspected one of the nearby mountains or landmarks. She sprinted to the left, climbing up a steep hill to get a better vantage point.

A cold chill blew past her as she climbed higher, but that only encouraged Adora more. She felt the wind blow on her skin as she scrambled to the top, panting as she stood up. The city lights shined in the distance as Adora scanned the ocean, and the beach.

Adora breathed in. "CATRA!" She yelled as loud as she possibly could, hoping to maybe get a response or just… something. Anything. She wanted to Catra to be alive. She needed Catra to still be here. As long as they were together, nothing really bad could happen.

"CAAATRAAA!" Adora yelled even louder, her lungs burning and feeling a chill thanks to the temperature. She scanned the beaches even closer, until finally, she saw a dark figure in the distance, running along the beach. "Catra!"

Adora had to scramble down back the way she came, tripping a few times but shaking it off as she rolled along the ground. She stood and ran onto the beach, going in the direction of the figure and hoping it was Catra. It had to be.

Adora could barely process reality anymore. Nothing mattered more than Catra in this moment. Catra was the one that had drove her to defeating Horde Prime and saving Etheria. Adora wished every night that Catra could see herself like how Adora sees her. A girl who is determined, brave and bold. A girl who was able to come around and was able to survive almost impossible odds. A girl who had worked alongside Adora to save a whole galaxy.

In Adora's eyes, Catra was never a monster. She was just misguided by those she clung to. Catra always needed to cling to someone, because without that dependency, she couldn't live. Adora wanted to guide her to a path that was not just leading to their relationship, but to a life where Catra was able to live free as an individual beyond anything else.

Adora panted, her lungs drying up but she still kept sprinting and sprinting. Catra, Catra, Catra… nothing mattered more in this moment than the girl she loved. Adora pumped her legs, looked at the sand and kept going and going…

Until she stopped. She felt a presence ahead and came to a stop, almost tumbling forward as she saw a familiar pair of feet. Adora looked up.

As the bright, beaming moon broke the horizon to rise on a new day, Adora's eyes met Catra's on that beach.

Catra stared at the panting girl before her as orange light began to fill the world. They stared at each other almost wordlessly as Catra looked Adora up and down. Slowly, she reached out a hand and touched Adora's cheek, and when she felt actual skin, Catra gasped slightly, choking back tears. "You're real..."

Adora grabbed Catra's hand. "Catra…" Adora started. "I am… I'm so sorry… For not being a better partner to you. I… I should've talked to you more. I should've asked what you needed of me… what I could do for you… but I was so, so scared of losing you. I had no idea what to do when you had your nightmares and… I just… I need to do better. I know. I just…"

"Why are you apologizing?" Catra cut Adora off. "I'M sorry… I ran away again because I thought… I thought I could help you. That I was burdening you by being around all the time… That my panic attacks, my scars, my nightmares… Adora, I thought you were starting to hate me. And I thought if I left you now, it would… spare us the pain later."

Adora felt tears run down her cheeks as she shook her head. "I can never hate you for that, Catra. You went through so many awful things that you didn't deserve. I was always prepared to help you, no matter what, and I promise I would tell you if it was getting to me. Your trauma was never going to be a strain on our relationship. I just… wanted to do more."

Catra smiled, even through the tears. "You… help me so much, Adora, just by being there. I don't have to be alone because I have you. Just… your hugs, and your comfort are all I need. I just… wanted to know that it was okay. That I wasn't constantly annoying you. I'm such an awful person that… it felt natural for you to hate me. I thought you would eventually."

"You're not an awful person, Catra," Adora responded immediately. "You just… you were put in awful situations and you were stuck there. I never hated you. You were just misguided. I just wish I could've been there for you more… and I wish you could see yourself the way I see you." Adora grabbed both of Catra's hands as they stood on the beach, basked in warmth. "You say you hate yourself so much and it… I get it, Catra. I doubt myself so often, and I've always blamed everything on myself. But please…"

Adora stepped forward. "I want to help you love yourself, Catra."

Catra looked at Adora, completely speechless. "Didn't I say that back in the Fright Zone? I obviously can't fix everything but… I want to help you on this path through your life. No matter how hard it gets, no matter how long it takes. There's no time limit for learning how to accept who you are. That's a journey that only you can take… and you can decide if you want a little help along the way." Adora smiled. "I can only hope I can be that little push you need, Catra. So that one day you can see yourself the way I see you…"

Adora squeezed Catra's hand. "As the most wonderful person I've ever met… and the girl I want to love for the rest of my life."

Catra felt her bottom lip wobble slightly, letting out a choked sob. "You… it won't… burden you? I don't… make you annoyed?"

Adora shook her head. "This is what I want, Catra. To help you. And maybe… I'll be able to grow alongside you."

Catra stared at Adora for a few seconds, feeling on the verge of a complete joyful breakdown. All the fear she had about being abandoned by Adora were nearly completely swept away, and she felt the weight of a giant lift off her back. Stupid, dumb, superhero Adora. Catra could only respond with a few words.

"Can I kiss you?"

Adora let out a slight chuckle, before embracing the one she loved in a sweet kiss as daylight shined upon the two of them on that beach. Now, more than ever, Adora's lips felt so warm. Catra felt as if she was basked in the pureness of love itself as she kissed Adora. It felt almost identical to the one they first shared at the Heart of Etheria. A complete sense of satisfaction, and a desire to spend a lifetime with this woman. Catra put a hand on Adora's cheek, and felt like the world was a little brighter.

When she was with Adora, nothing really bad could happen.

Adora and Catra walked back to Bright Moon, having left Salineas after Mermista and Sea Hawk returned. They held hands as they walked through beautiful fields and stunning nature. The day was bright, and the sky was glowing.

As they walked, they encountered a familiar place. The Fright Zone, looking the same as when they left it a few days ago, covered in moss and nature. Both of them stopped to stare at it as their hands tightened together.

This was the place where fear, anxiety and dread was birthed within them. The abuse they endured, the suffering put upon them, and the way it turned them against each other. It wasn't something easily forgotten. You can't overcome trauma in a day.

Catra didn't expect to. She was still left with the memories of Shadow Weaver, Horde Prime and everything that had happened ever since Adora abandoned the Horde. It was worth a lifetime of trauma, and the scars would take time to heal.

But time never stopped. Every passing second, Catra was surrounded by the people who she loved and cared for. And despite her anxiety, they cared for her too. Scorpia, Entrapta, Melog. They all loved her too. Catra knew she had people to surround herself with, and a family she had chosen. Maybe it wasn't her blood relatives. But it was the people that made her happy. And really, that's what family is.

Catra smiled at the Fright Zone, and defeated its aura of evil and hatred. She walked away with Adora, leaving behind the place her fears developed, and walking towards new light. A new hope.

The world was beautiful, and Catra would always have hers.

The End