The stinging shame that came from Shadow Weaver's latest insults hurt worse than the stinging pain that came from another long, brutal day training with the Horde. As much as Shadow Weaver's physical and verbal attacks hurt, though, Catra was used to feeling like a nothing. She was used to Shadow Weaver picking on her when she was at her lowest, reminding her once again what a powerless disappointment she was.

Through it all, though, Catra was determined to rise above it; not just the pain, but Shadow Weaver herself. If there was one thing Shadow Weaver didn't know, it was that there was still hope inside of Catra. Even Catra wasn't sure where it came from, but what she did know was that someday, she'd be conquering big, old cities and all Shadow Weaver would ever be was a mean old lady stuck in their Fright Zone.

"Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me," Catra vowed, hissing under her breath as Shadow Weaver continued to berate her. Someday, she would best Shadow Weaver in combat, at her own game. She would far outshine Shadow Weaver in the Horde and surpass her in rank, too. Someday, Catra would prove to the entire Horde that underestimating her was the dumbest thing they ever did.

"If only you could be more like Adora," Shadow Weaver sighed, shaking her head in false dismay. Even though she was genuinely disappointed in Catra for not being as powerful as the other cadet, she secretly relished in watching Catra's ears droop as she said as much. Even if Catra could remain defiant through everything else, a simple reminder that she was still only second best always did the trick.

Adora. Now THERE'S a sticky situation, Catra thought as Shadow Weaver finally stalked off to torment some other poor, helpless soul. Adora was Catra's best friend in the Horde, but constantly being compared to her and always coming out in second place wasn't easy. Ordinarily, Catra would've liked Adora a whole lot less due to Shadow Weaver constantly preferring her over Catra, but Adora was just too kind to hate.

"Someday, Adora, I'm taking you with me!" Catra decided later that night.

"Where?" Adora asked innocently, having no idea what Catra was talking about.

"I'm not sure yet," Catra admitted. "But I can feel it in my bones that someday, I'll be leading this Horde, and I want you by my side when I do!"

Catra had two reasons for this. Of course, the first was that Adora was her best friend. Why wouldn't she want Adora as her right hand when she finally took over the Horde? Secondly, and more secretly, maybe there was a tiny (ok, a slightly larger) side of her that wanted to impress Adora, too. After always being told that she was second best to Adora, Catra wanted nothing more than to prove to Adora that they were equals. What better way to do that than to eventually climb the ranks of the Horde, become the leader, and then have Adora rule as her second-in-command?

And even though Catra had no way of knowing, she was confident that her dream would someday become a reality. Someday, Adora and I will replace Hordak and Shadow Weaver as the new leaders of the Horde and all they're ever going to be is mean!

ooo

As confident as Catra was in her dream, though, it seemed as if life itself was determined to be just as cruel to her as Shadow Weaver was. There finally came a day when Adora left the Horde and nothing Catra said or did could bring her back. On the contrary, she tried to convince Catra to join her side. Of course, Catra was beyond furious, hurt, and betrayed.

You, with your switching sides and your wildfire lies and your humiliation!

"I can't believe you're turning your back on everything we've ever known, everything we've ever worked for!" Catra cried, certain that Adora had lost her mind. Maybe she was brainwashed by the enemy? Regardless, she was talking crazy!

But Adora only continued to talk, trying to tell Catra of all the "evils" the Horde was responsible for. Catra finally reached her wit's end.

You have pointed out my flaws again as if I don't already see them!

She was sick and tired of hearing Adora talk about how wrong and bad everything about their upbringing was, as if that didn't affect Catra as well. Not only did Catra have it far harder than Adora growing up, but was Adora seriously calling all of them evil, including her? Adora had some kind of nerve to say that when she was the one who jumped ship and happily abandoned them all for shiny, new friends as soon as they came to her. Were they not good enough for her?! Was Catra not…?

I walk with my head down, trying to block you out 'cause I'll never impress you…

Catra turned her back on Adora that day and never looked back. In her mind, though, this was only fair. An eye for an eye. If Adora would abandon her so quickly and easily, Catra would do the same. She didn't need Adora! She would achieve her dream on her own! After all, wasn't that what she always wanted, to prove her greatness outside of Adora and away from her shadow? Now, Catra had the perfect chance! If nothing she did was ever good enough for Adora, then she would just do whatever she wanted! If that was how Adora wanted to play…

But beneath all of that anger and pain, as Catra threw herself into training with renewed vigor, there was something else that she couldn't bring herself to admit, not even to herself…

All I ever did was in hopes of impressing you, Adora, why wasn't it enough? I want to think that, even now, once I achieve my dreams, it will finally be enough to bring you back, but…I don't think it will…I just wanna feel ok again…not that I ever even knew what that felt like to start with…

ooo

Life still seemed determined to crush Catra's hopes and dreams at every turn. This time, though, it was almost for the better…

"I bet you got pushed around, somebody made you cold," Adora said to Catra during their next confrontation, empathy and grief in her eyes.

"Gee. Thanks for finally noticing," Catra deadpanned, rolling her own at Adora's ignorance, blindness, and stupidity.

"But the cycle ends right now," Adora shook her head, she wouldn't be swayed by Catra anymore. "Cause you can't lead me down that road."

Adora still wanted dearly for Catra to join her and flee the Hoard as well, but she was beginning to accept the fact that it might never happen. The thought broke her heart, but she couldn't let Catra's bad decisions cause any more harm to their world.

"Now you see, I'm living in a big old city, and all you're ever gonna be is mean," she said, gesturing to her new home far away from the Horde. "You'll see, I am strong enough that you can't hurt me!" She drew her sword in preparation for battle. It wasn't just a show of physical strength, though. Adora was also making it clear that she wouldn't let Catra emotionally toy with her anymore.

In time, though, Catra surprised them all, coming to Adora's side of her own accord. After long enough, she finally understood what Adora was talking about when she called the Horde evil. That was enough for Catra's eyes to finally open and she abandoned the Horde as well, saving Adora when she might've once tried to kill or recapture her. Now that Adora knew Catra had switched sides, she refused to leave her old friend behind ever again. She came rushing back to Catra's aid just like old times, just the way they did when they were kids.

The road to recovery was still a long, difficult one, even after they won their latest battle, but as Adora was pleased to say…

"If nothing else, at least I got a girlfriend out of it!" She gave Catra a flirty wink.

"You idiot," Catra replied affectionately, pulling her in for another kiss. After so long apart, they were finally together again. This time, it looked like they were in it for the long haul, something both of them were happy for.

ooo

Years down the road, Catra could scarcely believe the person she used to be. Everything, even her biggest fears, seemed so small now that she was finally by Adora's side again. Shadow Weaver and the others were already shrinking away in her memory.

And I can see you now, you're lost to the stars. Never again to play your games! And no more big bad opinions 'cause nobody's listening!

Shadow Weaver was dead, Hordak was reformed, the last bits of Horde Prime finally expelled and destroyed from within him. It was only going to get better from there on out, for all of them. Soon, all of the worst sides of everyone would be nothing but shadowy memories, as they always should've been. Even now, Catra couldn't help but smirk and shake her head. Even if, at the time, it made sense why she would fear and loathe Shadow Weaver, the memory of her was just so pitiful now.

You were washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things for all the time I knew you, how jealous you were of all those who had more power than you. You were mad and grumbling on about how I was nothing, but all YOU were was mean. You and the old Hordak and Horde Prime, all of you who were never satisfied with what you had. You were nothing but pathetic liars, alone in life and mean.

Catra was well aware of how similar to them she used to be. In fact, now she was certain that part of the reason Shadow Weaver hated her so much was because Shadow Weaver saw too much of herself in Catra, always the second-rate soldier with no natural power of her own. But the difference was that Catra properly learned from her mistakes. Maybe Shadow Weaver was somewhat redeemed after sacrificing herself for Adora and Catra, and maybe Hordak also had some revelations, but it was nothing on the things Catra had learned.

Now she was finally living in that big old city, just like in her dreams. She was finally big enough that no one could hit her anymore, not that it was necessary. She was finally among good people, a family that didn't hurt and abuse her at every turn. She finally understood what it meant to truly love and be loved by others. I remember thinking that someday, I'd be with people who wouldn't hit me, and now I've finally found them.

She smiled at Bow, Glimmer, and Adora. She would probably never admit to them, at least out loud, how much they all meant to her, but she still knew it in her heart. That was good enough. And the one other thing she knew with confidence was that even though she'd made some bad decisions in the past, she was still nothing like the people who used to abuse her.

This was because she, albeit slowly and painfully, overcame her past and traumas. She made amends with the people she hurt, and strove to be a better person even after all she'd been through. Those people of the past, though? They never learned, never changed. All they were ever going to be was mean. Catra smirked again, only one question left after making peace with herself, and to some extent, them. Why you gotta be so mean?

AN: Written for my best buddy, Snorlax891! Hope you enjoy, and for a third time: What can I say except, YOU'RE WELCOME?!

Also, forgive any inaccuracies :P This was all based off wiki skimming, LOL!