Making their way towards the food, Catra took in the architecture as she walked with Adora, Bow, and Glimmer. She went to say something about the walls before Bow cut her off.
"So what do you like to eat? We have lots of options. Adora particularly likes the sugar cookies, Glimmer likes the cake, and I like the sweet bread." Bow asked with a gleaming smile. Catra couldn't help but think this guy was a little strange. He was acting like she hadn't just recently insulted them.
"Oh, she probably doesn't have a favorite food. Since we grew up in the fright zone all we had was ration bars, remember?" Adora spoke up.
"Oh yeah, you did mention that. Well you don't need to worry about it then," Bow said, never once losing his jovial attitude, "I know just the thing that you'll like."
"Oh yeah? And what, praytell, do you think that I will like?" Catra asked, her eyebrow raised.
"I think you'll love the cake. It's got chocolate syrup inside and it's topped with a milk frosting that just makes your mouth water." Bow's eyes sparkled as if he were recalling some sort of delicacy. To be fair, they were in a queen's castle. It probably was expensive. He went on and on about how good it was. Catra ignored him for a second.
'Milk frosting, huh? So he thinks I like milk because I'm a cat person?' Catra thought. Suddenly a thought popped into Catra's mind. Quickly wiping the sly smile on her face she started glaring.
"Really? You think I like milk because I'm a cat? Wow, that's really insensitive. Just for your information, I'm allergic to milk. Maybe you should think before you start talking. You could really hurt someone's feelings." Catra said with mock anger.
Immediately Bow lost his smile and started trying to apologize, "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean. . .I would never try to-"
"She's not allergic to milk, Bow," Adora said looking at Bow before turning to Catra, "Stop messing with him. He's just trying to get a feel for what you might like."
Although she spoke in a stern tone, Catra caught the glimpses of a smile at the corners of her mouth, as if she were trying not to smile. Catra smirked at her.
"Alright, alright, If that's what you want. I'll stop teasing Archer boy over here. By the way I still haven't caught your name and if I did I don't remember it. What is it?" Catra asked, cocking an eyebrow at Bow.
Letting out a sigh of relief at not offending her he immediately smiled. . .again, "My name is Bow, It's nice to meet you Catra. I mean, we've met a couple of times before this but you were kinda trying to kill us back then. So what I really mean is that it's nice to meet you in a safer setting. Since you were a part of the Horde before now. But Adora was too, so it's okay. Technically you aren't even a part of the Horde anymore since, you know, you can't remember anything, which is good. I mean it's not good. It's totally bad that you can't remember who you are. But we-" Bow was cut off by Glimmer, thankfully.
"What he means to say is that it's nice to meet you in a way that lets us get to know you while you aren't trying to kill us. That about cover it Bow?" Glimmer asked exasperatedly.
Bow chuckled nervously, "Yeah, thanks Glimmer. Oh looks like we made it to the hall. Let's sit and get something to eat." Bow said in an obvious attempt to change the subject.
"Sure." Catra said awkwardly, unsure of whatever that was all about.
As they took their seats Catra could smell the food being prepared well before the servants came out carrying platters, plates, and bowls. Catra's mouth started watering at the smells. As the plates were all set down, Adora reached out for a specific plate. Intrigued by why she was singling that one out, Catra immediately shot her hand out and grabbed the plate.
"Catra! Give me that back." Adora exclaimed.
"Why, what is it?" Catra asked smugly, looking over whatever was on the plate. It was some kind of slop with what looked to be eggs and meat in it. Whatever it was, it smelled really good and there seemed to be only enough for one person.
"It's nothing, you probably wouldn't even like it. Just give it back." Adora said in an uneasy tone. It was kind of funny.
"You must really love this meal to want it back so badly. How do I know I wouldn't like this? Maybe I want to try it. After all, I'm really exhausted from everything that's been happening to me. I need to get back as much strength as possible." Catra said mockingly, eyeing Adora.
"Ha ha, very funny Catra. We both know that's a lie. You aren't even tired. You always bounced back quicker than everyone else. Besides there's like thirty other things you can choose from. Pick one of those and give me that back." Adora pleaded.
"But there's only one of these. . .What are you gonna give me for it?" A sly tone entered her voice. Adora looked around the table frantically. She immediately grabbed the plate that hadn't been uncovered and put it in front of Catra before turning and whispering something to them. The servant nodded and without missing a beat went through the door and exited with a mug of some sort of steaming foamy drink.
"I'll give you the steamed fish with a mug of hot butter milk. I know you'll love it so please give me the steak mash back." Adora said with a sweet tone that slowly turned into a glare as the seconds ticked by with no response from Catra.
"Alright, alright. I'm just messing with you. Here you go." Catra said as she handed the plate back to Adora. Adora immediately perked up at that. As she went to try the fish, she was interrupted by a sound of laughter from Bow.
"What? What's so funny?" Catra asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It's nothing. It's just that even without your memories of Adora, you guys are still super comfortable around each other. In fact," Bow continued, taking a bite of his food, "it doesn't seem that you really changed all that much. So if you ask me, I think you'll get your memories back in no time."
Catra pondered that for a moment. She had noticed that she was much more comfortable around Adora compared to everyone else. She glanced at Adora, considering what she had just heard.
'Maybe Archer boy is right. Maybe this whole amnesia thing will work itself out on its own'
"Maybe," Catra said, eyeing Bow, "But I have a question for you. Is Bow your real name? Because you're an archer named bow. Did your parents just think 'one day our son will be an archer, let's name him bow?'"
Bow smiled a bright smile, like he was excited to explain this, "Actually, you're not the first person to ask me that. It's a funny story that has to do with an experience my parents had before I was born. But besides that, it's just a funny coincidence."
"Hm, alright then." Catra said.
As everyone continued to eat, Catra took note that Adora was indeed right. She did enjoy this fish meal and the buttermilk drink. Over the next hour everyone made small talk about random things, although Catra remained silent for the most part. As she went to grab a biscuit, the main chamber's doors opened and Angella strode in.
"Mom, come get some food. I saved you a plate." Glimmer said teleporting over to Angella, giving her a hug and teleporting back to the table.
"You're not gonna do that all the time, are you? Because I don't need you appearing before me when I'm in the bathroom or something." Catra said flatly.
Glimmer's face scrunched up in annoyance as she opened her mouth to reply, before Angella cut her off.
"Glimmer knows better than to teleport to other people's private spaces." Angella spoke in a calm voice. Taking a seat at the table, she grabbed a plate of food before turning to Glimmer.
"Castaspella has invited you three to Mystacor. They are renewing the barrier that protects Mystacor. She would be delighted to have you join her for a bit of a break from everything you've been dealing with." Angella informed them.
At that, Glimmer and Bow looked at each other with smiles on their faces.
"We would love to go. It's been so long since we've been there. They always put these magic shows on that really wow you, y'know? Plus, it would be good for Adora to get to see Mystacor. What do you think, Adora? Are you up for it?" Bow asked.
Adora shook her head slightly, "That sounds really nice guys, but Catra said that she met this Mara woman and that she had a sword that looked just like mine. I think it's important to go see Razz before we do anything else. She obviously pertains to She-Ra."
Glimmer didn't miss a beat though, "We can visit her on the way. It'll be a quick stop. You talk with this Razz person, learn what you need to know, and then we head to Mystacor. It'll be smooth sailing."
Adora thought about it for a moment before nodding, "Alright, sure. We can go to Mystacor. But I mean it. We really need to speak with Razz."
"Excellent. When you are ready to leave, go to the throne room. She'll be waiting there." Angella said, standing and stepping away from the table.
"Alright then. Catra and I will go pack some supplies and we'll meet you guys there." Adora said as everyone stood up.
"Adora, Castaspella thinks Catra should remain here. She has informed me that coming into close proximity to high amounts of magic could have detrimental effects unless she is fully recovered." Angella said softly.
Adora looked quite frustrated at that. As she opened her mouth to speak, Catra beat her to it.
"That's fine."
"What? But Catra-" Adora started before being stopped.
"Look, if the woman who knows what is going on with me says I shouldn't go then I probably shouldn't go. I'd rather not pass out again in a puddle of blood and I'd imagine you don't want that either." Catra said matter-of-factly.
"But I just got you back." Adora said in a small voice.
"I'm not going anywhere and I'll still be here when you get back. Don't worry about me and go see this dumb ceremony thing. Besides, that sounds like a whole lot of boring stuff. We can go see Razz when you get back." Catra reassured her.
"Adora, you've been under a lot of stress lately. You deserve to take a break every now and then." Glimmer said, putting a hand on her shoulder, "Catra isn't going anywhere, so stop worrying. She'll be fine. My mom is here as well. Nothing will happen."
Adora nodded after a moment, "Alright, if you're sure Catra. But as soon as we get back-"
"We'll go see Razz. I know." Catra finished, "Now go get your stuff. I feel like you're the type of person who doesn't like to keep people waiting."
As Adora left the room with Glimmer, Bow turned around, "Sorry you can't come. I'll bring you a souvenir, I promise." and with that he left the room as well.
When the door finally closed Catra quickly turned towards Angella, "Alright, spill it. What's the deal with me not going to this Mystical place? You already said that the spy thing was off the table so, what?"
Angella regarded the feline girl in front of her for a moment before pouring herself a drink from the pitcher on the table, "In all honesty, I want to speak to you alone. I know you have no memories and that pretty much eliminates any possibilities of affiliation with the Horde. . .at the current moment."
As Angella took a sip out of her glass, she beckoned Catra to follow her. Letting out a breath, she stood and quickly strode after the queen.
"So then what do you want to talk about?" Catra asked as they walked through the halls.
"Adora cares a great deal for you. So much so, that she has fought every decision I have made regarding you. Up until this point, she has never once disobeyed a command. But with you, she has an issue no matter what I decide." Angella stated calmly, as she opened a door and ushered Catra inside, closing the door behind them.
"She is a sweet girl with a lot of drive and determination to do what's right. But the circumstances in which she was raised have made her a very guarded person regarding her feelings. But when it comes to you I can understand almost everything she is feeling. To her you may be the most important thing in her life. Now, I do not hold it against you that you can't currently grasp that as you couldn't even remember your own name until today.
"But you hold the potential to sway Adora in almost any path regardless of what she thinks of that path, whether she knows it or not. Now from what I have been able to gather from Adora regarding you, is that you are lazy, not very motivated, and that you shirk responsibility." Angella continued, both taking a seat at chairs that looked far too luxurious than they deserved to.
"But I have not seen that attitude. In fact I have seen the opposite. Glimmer has described you with a determination and drive that is almost frightening. Stopping at nothing to succeed no matter who got in your way. Glimmer as well as Bow have both described you as a very dangerous person. Adora has also described you as the one person who, in her own words, 'knows her best.'"
Catra looked at Angella, trying to figure out what she was getting at., "Thanks, I think? Why exactly are you telling me all of this?"
"What I'm saying, Catra, is that right now you have choices. As your memories gradually return, and they will return, as evidenced by the panic attack you experienced earlier this morning, you will no doubt remember your reasoning for fighting Adora. I have a fairly good guess as to why these events happened the way they did, but that is not what we are discussing. What we are discussing is that when that time comes, that you understand both sides of this war as Adora has."
Catra sat in silence for a moment, thinking about everything that she had just heard. Several questions popped in her mind but she only wanted to ask one.
"The way Adora speaks about me. . .it insinuates that it's my fault. That I left her. But that completely contradicts everything I have heard from you. So I suppose, what I want to know is; If I was so important to Adora, that I'm the most important person to her, then why did she leave? Don't say it was the Horde being bad or whatever bullshit answer that has to do with the war. Why did she leave me with the Horde if we loved each other that much?"
Angella leaned back into her chair, crossing one leg over the other. Several seconds passed as she stared at Catra, mulling her thoughts over, before finally answering.
"I don't know. Not for certain anyways. Whatever happened between you two lies solely with Adora. That memory is currently lost to you and until I can hear both sides of this story. . .well I won't be able to give you my thoughts on the matter. But please know this, Catra, They're are always two sides to these types of things. You chose to stay with the Horde and according to Adora, you knew the Horde had done terrible things. But even Adora doesn't know why you would choose that for yourself."
Catra thought about everything and decided she needed a break. Standing up with a sigh, she turned to look at Angella, "Well if that's the best answer I'm gonna get for now, then. . .I accept it. I'm not particularly thrilled about it, but I accept it."
Angella stood as well, "Catra you seem like a reasonable young woman and from everything that I have seen, you don't seem like a bad person. You're going through an incredibly stressful event and are handling it the best you can. So for the time being I would like for you to relax a little and I will show you around. Oh and one more thing? Please try and keep the cussing to a minimum. I don't particularly want to hear my daughter start saying 'fuck.'"
Catra chuckled, the sound of the Queen cussing being slightly amusing to her, "Sure, I'll do my best."
Angella smiled warmly, "Good, then come along. I would imagine that Adora would like to say goodbye before she heads out."
"-and that is why you don't perform truth spells in that manner." Castaspella finished with a giggle.
Glimmer looked exasperated with the conversation when suddenly the sound of footsteps and laughter filled the room. At the edge of the throne room, Angella and Catra walked in, both laughing about something. Confusion and annoyance lit up Glimmer's face.
"Since when are you two on such good terms?" Glimmer asked with a huff.
"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing." Angella cleared her throat, her laughter dying down, "Anyways, Catra will stay here for the time being and when she is in better health will be allowed to accompany you outside of Brightmoon."
Castaspella turned a kind smile on Catra, "Are you feeling better? I've been told eating helps with some of the more physical symptoms."
Catra nodded, "Yeah, thanks for asking. I actually do feel a lot better."
"Good, glad to hear it. Well if that's all then we should be going. We don't want to be late." castaspella said with a beaming grin.
As they turned to leave, Adora walked up to Catra, "I'm sure Razz will have some answers for us once we get back. Just take it easy, alright?"
"No problem. You don't need to worry. We can talk when you get back." Catra finished.
Adora nodded and turned towards Glimmer, "You ready?"
"Yep, let's go." Glimmer said as everyone locked hands. Catra was a little confused for a moment before they disappeared in a flash of sparkles.
Catra turned towards Angella in the now empty throne room, "Can I learn to do that or is that, like, an angel only thing?"
"It's actually an ability unique to Glimmer due to her connection to the moonstone." Angella stated.
"Huh, alright then." Catra hummed.
Deep in the Fright Zone, Shadow Weaver thought about the recent events that had transpired. She had made a mistake regarding the soul crystal. She should have known keeping it near the black garnet was a bad idea. Especially with garnet backlashing the way it had been.
She had been lucky. One of the soldiers had found a shard lodged in a piece of first one's tech. According to her and every other mage on Etheria, the vaults of Mystacor held all of the shards in existence. To think that a twelfth shard existed. . .well, it was an extremely good find. Unfortunately, she had been careless. She hadn't studied the crystals in a long time and had forgotten that these things could affect magical beings in their proximity if nobody was holding it.
She had almost been taken over by the shard's energy. The only reason she had not been affected immediately upon contact was because of the black garnet. If Catra had not pulled her out of the room, she would have lost everything about herself. With the magical power she possessed, it would most likely have driven her mad. It had been pure chance that Catra had arrived when she did. Pulling her out of the room the way she had.
Something about that piqued Shadow Weaver's interest though. The shards only affected people with the talent for magic. To her knowledge, Catra had no inclination towards magic. She had been a teacher at Mystacor for years before coming to the Fright Zone and she knew what to look for. Catra could never do magic. In fact the only one in the Fright Zone with the potential for it was Adora.
Beyond that, the shard's energy had immediately latched itself onto Catra. She hadn't so much as flinched as she carried Shadow Weaver out of the room. Something was going on that she had never experienced before. Catra had retained all sense of who she was for several minutes before being teleported away.
The shards also had never done that before either. It only raised more questions. It had taken her a few hours to recover but now she was ready. Shadow Weaver's instincts were fairly good regarding Catra and Adora, she had raised them after all and if her hunch was right then wherever Adora was, she was sure Catra was there too.
She had explained to Hordak that the shard was a piece of first one's technology and a very rare one at that. Not entirely untruthful, but it was enough for him to dismiss the large explosion from the black garnet's chamber.
Catra had saved her and everything she knew, unknowingly or not. She would find her. She was owed that much at least. Fortunately, Hordak wanted to know more about the crystals. He said they gave off a familiar energy signature. With no restrictions, she was given permission to find Force Captain Catra and retrieve her and the shard.
Shadow Weaver stewed on her thoughts regarding Hordak. He couldn't see past his need for the portal. He was too busy looking at the little details that he failed to see the bigger picture. Adora was important and whatever Catra was experiencing at the current moment was as well, she was certain of it.
In front of her, she had the chance that no other mage in history had. She could find the shards' true purpose and unravel their mysteries. Turning towards the cauldron in her quarters, she began to utter a spell, "From the farthest regions of Etheria, I command you, be as one."
Black smoke began to pour out of the cauldron before two dark, smoky figures appeared. Immediately she sent them out with one objective; Find Catra and Adora.
As they left, she turned to the coms and summoned Force Captain Scorpia. As she waited for her, she began preparing the paperwork needed for what came next. After a few minutes the doors slid open. Scorpia looked like a nervous wreck, pacing and looking around shiftily.
Shadow Weaver took a calming breath. It was always a challenge dealing with Scorpia. She turned towards the Force Captain, but before she could start talking, Scorpia cut her off.
"Did you find Catra? Is she alright? Oh my goodness, is she dead? When she disappeared in the explosion, we were all so worried. I mean, what would we do without her?" Scorpia continued rambling for several moments before being silenced by a glare from Shadow Weaver.
"Listen, once my shadow spies have located Catra, you are to take Cadets Lonnie, Rogelio, and Kyle and retrieve her. Make sure she has a blue crystal with her. I believe the rebellion has brainwashed Catra. She most likely will not know who you are. So do not startle her. She will have lost most of her memories if not all of them. Do you understand?" Shadow Weaver said, the room becoming slightly darker around Scorpia in a threatening manner.
"Y-Yeah, totally. I completely understand. Get Catra's squad and go get her and the blue shard. Got it." Scorpia said nervously, a bead of sweat rolling down the side of her head.
"Good, when I summon you, you will depart immediately. Now that you understand your orders, take these papers and get out. They will have all of the information you need" Shadow weaver finished as the light returned back to the room.
At the dismissal, Scorpia turned and quickly left the room, leaving Shadow Weaver to her business.
Scorpia made her way towards the barracks, thinking to herself about everything she had just learned.
'Catra can't remember anything? And she's with the rebellion? This is horrible! Oh we have to get her back before they completely turn her against me. What if it's already happened? I need to tell Lonnie and them. As her friends, they deserve to know the truth.'
Determination to get her wildcat back filled her body, she resolutely nodded to herself. She wouldn't let Adora mess with Catra's head like this. How low could the rebellion get?
As she rounded the corner to the Barracks, she heard voices. Stepping into the room revealed the owners of the voices to be Lonnie, Kyle, and that lizard guy she couldn't always remember the name of.
"So, what do you think happened to Catra?" Kyle asked aloud.
"I'm not sure. I mean, did you see that explosion? What the hell was she thinking?" Lonnie exclaimed.
"She saved Shadow Weaver, though." Kyle defended.
"Yeah? And look what that got her. Vaporized by magic dust. We all knew Shadow Weaver didn't like her. I guess it was only a matter of time before she got rid of her." Lonnie finished crossing her arms.
"Don't say that," Kyle said, concern filling his voice, "Catra isn't dead. There's no way she is. She's always been strong and an explosion wouldn't do her in. She probably just teleported or something."
As Lonnie went to speak again, Scorpia entered the room, silencing all chatter. They all immediately stood at attention. Scorpia motioned for them to sit.
"None of that, now. You guys don't need to stand for me. But we've got a new mission." Scorpia said, a smile painted on her face.
"Does it have to do with Catra? She's been gone for almost five days and we haven't heard anything." Kyle said worried.
"Actually, it has everything to do with Catra," Scorpia beamed, "Shadow Weaver is on her trail. She thinks she's with Adora. Our mission is to go and retrieve her and this blue crystal. . .thing." Scorpia said, pulling out a picture from the orders.
"See, Lonnie, I told you she was alright." Kyle said, relief washing over his face. Lonnie seemed to relax at hearing that as well. She may not get along with Catra but she would never wish her dead. Before they could celebrate the good news, Scorpia spoke up, her smile slowly falling from her face.
"One more thing guys. Shadow Weaver told me that she thinks the rebellion brainwashed her. She might not remember us. Like, at all." Scorpia said, shifting uncomfortably.
"What? You think they would do that? Come on, Scorpia. You don't really think that they could make her switch sides, do you?" Lonnie scoffed, disbelief dripping from her words.
"I don't mean just us, Lonnie. She told me Catra probably won't remember much at all. She said she might have forgotten everything." Scorpia said solemnly.
At those words, the room went quiet. Nobody wanted to think about that. Catra was an acquired taste to be sure, but she had grown up with them. To think she wouldn't remember them was. . .unsettling, to say the least.
"Adora wouldn't do that," Kyle spoke up, his tone heavy with denial, "She's Catra's best friend. They were almost inseparable. She might have switched sides, but that doesn't mean she's any different when she was with us."
"If she did do that," Lonnie said in a quiet voice, "maybe that's why she did it. Catra was her best friend. The most important person to her. She didn't join her at Thaymor, so what if she decided to make her join."
"No, this doesn't add up. Adora's our friend, she would never-"
"She was our friend," Lonnie said sharply, cutting Kyle off, "and if she did this. If she really did do that. . .then we need to get Catra back. Help her get her memories back. She's still one of us." Lonnie said with a tone of finality.
Rogelio hissed in agreement at Lonnie's words, Kyle nodding along, both determined to get Catra back. Scorpia beamed at them, a smile gracing her features.
"Oh, you guys," Scorpia said, sounding like she was about to cry out of joy, "You're right Lonnie. We'll get Catra back and help her with her memories." Scorpia exclaimed, pulling all of them into a tight hug, nearly crushing them all half to death.
It had been about half a day since Adora had left for Mystacor and evening was quickly approaching. After she had given Catra a quick tour of Brightmoon's castle, Angella had left Catra to her own devices. She needed to return to her duties. But before she had left, she had said that the only stipulation to her freedom was that she couldn't leave the castle. While she could wander around as much as she wanted, she got the feeling that most of the people here did not like her. Maybe it was the glares and whispers whenever she entered a room, but she quickly understood that, besides Adora's friends, Angella, and Adora herself, she was not wanted there.
'Figures. I would probably feel the same way if my queen walked in and suddenly said, 'Attention, this is Catra. She was a former Force Captain of the Horde. She lost her memories, but she's good now. Please welcome her.' Catra thought out of boredom.
She let out a breath and started back to Adora's room. Angella had said that she had to stay in Adora's room. Something to do with 'security reasons' and all that. She couldn't understand why she couldn't have her own room, but whatever.
As she neared the door to her room, she noticed a note on the door.
Catra, please don't scratch the floors or tear the sheets and curtains. Also if you do happen to break something like, oh I don't know, the bathroom dresser or perhaps scattering bottles everywhere, please just call one of the servants. They will fix the damages and clean the mess. Beyond that, dinner will be served at 8:30. Do not skip it, it is vital you get your strength back.
-Queen Angella
'Yikes, busted' Catra thought at the mention of the bathroom.
As she folded the note and put it in her pocket, she went and sat on the bed. The shredded sheets and blankets, courtesy of her claws, had been replaced. As she laid there, her thoughts turned towards Mara. How had she met her? According to Adora, she hadn't left the castle since passing out. But it had all felt so real and she had helped her think through everything. Even though she couldn't explain what the shard was she-
Catra paused. The shard. . .
Sitting up she took out the shard and looked at it. It was completely smooth on one side and jagged on the other.
The edges were somewhat sharp. As she examined it, she noticed that it had started to emit a soft glow unlike when she had first looked at it. Originally the blue was quite dull. Now it hummed with an energy that seemed almost. . .alive.
Curious as to what was happening, she put it down for a moment. To her surprise the glow was gone and the hum had died. Picking it back up, she immediately took note of the returning hum and glow.
'Hmmm, Mara said you had never done this before, so what are you?' Catra thought to herself.
Putting her thoughts to the side for a moment, she focused on the hum, enthralled by it. As her focus grew sharper, the hum grew louder, and the glow brighter. It seemed to almost be pulling in a direction. She stood up from the bed and immediately concentrated on the pull. It was pulling her North.
Narrowing her eyes in curiosity, she turned the shard towards the south. The effect was immediate, as the shards hum died and the glow started to dull. Slowly turning towards the North, showed the hum and glow return.
'You want me to go north? What's in the north?' Catra thought. What was this thing and why did it only respond to her? What was so important that she-
Catra's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Quickly putting the crystal away, she walked towards the door and opened it. Angella stood there, with a raised eyebrow.
"Seeing as the note is no longer on the door anymore, I assume you have read it?" Angella spoke in an expectant tone.
"Uh, y-yeah I read it. I'll be there. You didn't need to come tell me." Catra said, a little offended that the queen felt she couldn't follow simple directions.
"Catra," Angella started, "dinner began ten minutes ago. Are you feeling alright?"
Catra looked at the clock on the wall. Had it been an hour already? She hadn't thought about it before now, but she was becoming increasingly aware of her exhaustion, more mental than physical. She turned back towards Angella and sighed.
"Yeah, I'm alright. I was just thinking about things and I guess I lost track of time," Catra ran a hand through her hair, taking a deep breath, "Give me a second to freshen up and I'll join you."
Angella's face looked somewhat conflicted as she nodded, "Alright, I'll be waiting here."
As Catra closed the door, Angella's thoughts were split. She felt a slight unease at how easy it was to relax around this girl. Even if Catra couldn't remember anything, she was still a Force Captain at one point. It wasn't like Adora. Adora had made a conscious choice to leave the Horde and help the rebellion. On the other hand, Catra had lost her memories and hadn't and probably never once considered joining the rebellion.
She had warmed up to this girl with frightening speed and it worried her. If Catra regained her memories at some point and decided to rejoin the Horde, she would have invaluable knowledge about her enemies. Yet it was hard not to be concerned about a girl close to her daughter's age, when she had watched her almost choke on her own blood. That was something she would rather not happen to Catra again.
It didn't escape Angella's notice that Catra was quite similar to Glimmer, though her daughter would probably never admit that. Their attitudes and headstrong natures mirrored one another. Her thoughts were interrupted by Catra opening the door.
"Alright, I'm ready. Let's go eat." Catra said flatly.
Angella took note of her wet face and hair. She was most likely exhausted and probably wanted to sleep. She couldn't blame her. Today had been hectic and she was in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people. She felt a little bad about dragging her down to eat but it was good for her to get her strength back.
As they entered the Dining Hall, Angella glanced at Catra. She wanted to speak with the girl and get a feel for her, but she quickly thought better of it, realizing Catra most likely didn't want to keep being reminded about her amnesia.
It was quite difficult to start a conversation with the girl compared to Adora. While Adora was outgoing and typically more friendly, Catra was guarded and more standoffish. Even with her memory loss, some of her personality had slipped through the cracks. Catra seemed like a very grounded person and Angella could surely find some common ground. As she tried to remember everything she had heard about Catra from her daughter, Bow, and Adora, she remembered that Catra had memories of a place called Earth. That would do.
"So," Angella spoke, taking her seat at the table, "I hear you have memories of a place called Earth. Care to share them?"
Catra took a seat across from Angella, thinking about that. She had previously thought she was dead before this. It had unnerved her, waking up in an unknown place with no memory of who she was. But now that feeling was gone and these people had assured her it was this crystal in her pocket that was the culprit for all of this.
She now knew that these memories she had of Earth and of America, these images in her brain. . .They belonged to someone else. She didn't know how to feel about it. They felt so real to her. The music and foods of different cultures to the cool starry nights over a pasture. But to be told they weren't hers, well that didn't sit quite well with her.
"The stars." Catra said solemnly.
"I'm sorry?" Angella asked, taken aback by the short reply.
"Etheria has several moons, but no stars. It was one of the first things I noticed when I woke up." Catra said, pausing as she turned and thanked the servants who had prepared a plate of food for her.
"Ah, I see," Angella said, silently thinking about something for a moment before speaking, "Catra, could you tell me what it was like for you when you woke up and perhaps where you woke up?"
Catra leaned back, pondering the question. Now that she thought about it, it was very terrifying waking up like she did. Looking back on it, it's a wonder she didn't die in those moments. Who wakes up bleeding and dazed and decides to climb a cliff.
"Why do you want to know?" Catra asked with narrowed eyes.
"Please? I just want to understand what you are going through. Perhaps talking about it will help." Angella said softly. It was clear to Angella that Catra was quite uncomfortable right now.
Catra thought about Mara and how much this mirrored their earlier interaction at the tavern, with Mara saying it might help to talk about it. She had been right about feeling better afterwards, but now she was unsure. If she was going to stay in this palace with this woman, she wasn't sure if she would be comfortable with that level of trust.
"Alright," Catra said after a moment, looking a bit unsure of herself, "But if I say I'm done, no pushing it. Just leave it be, okay?"
"I understand. Start whenever you're ready." Angella said, her food all but forgotten in front of her.
Taking a deep breath to center herself, Catra looked the queen in the eyes.
"I thought I was dead." Catra said matter-of-factly. At this Angella raised her eyebrows in shock. Waiting for her to continue, she leaned forward, listening intently.
"When I woke up I had no idea where I was. The memories I had weren't of Etheria but of Earth. The last thing I remembered were images of a place called Washington D.C. and had gone to sleep. To wake up in such a dark place was startling. The only logical conclusion I could come to. . .was that I had died.
"My head was pounding and I think I was bleeding. The first thing I had noticed was how sharp my senses were. I could hear farther and smell things. I hadn't realized how dark it was either. Not until I noticed my cat features did I put two and two together that I could see quite well in the dark. It wasn't pleasant." Catra continued.
For the next hour Catra explained her feelings and thoughts regarding her experiences in the forest and how she hadn't even considered that this place was her actual home. How could she? To her, she was someone from Earth and had been displaced and transported to a strange and magical land. As every minute ticked by Catra's body language was becoming more withdrawn.
Her posture had become more hunched and her hands had started to clench into fists. Her voice had become quieter now, more subdued and quiet. She was becoming agitated and it was quickly beginning to show.
"What's wrong with me? I mean, the first thing I do when I wake up is climb a cliff. I didn't even think about it, I just went for it. This whole time, everyone has told me that I'm a part of this terrible group and I'm one of the top commanders or something. Is that just a part of me?" Catra whispered, looking down at her hands. "Am I that desensitized to danger?"
Catra looked up and stared at Angella, her fists clenched, "I hadn't thought about it before, but I couldn't help but notice something. . .When the blonde woman in the forest attacked me-"
"Perfuma." Angella supplied.
"Yeah, Perfuma. When Perfuma attacked me, I instinctively knew where to dodge, like it was ingrained into me. I didn't even think about it, but I can't help but ask myself something." Catra said softly, her tone turning dark.
"If I hadn't been injured, or tired or-or stressed I couldn't think straight. . .Would I have killed that person?" Catra asked softly. The room seemed a lot colder after that.
Catra's hands trembled as she took a shaky breath, "She couldn't grab me with those vines for almost a whole minute and I was so. . .tired. So tired I passed out as soon as she grabbed me, so I have to ask," Catra looked Angella dead in the eyes, "Do you think I would have killed that girl?"
Angella noticed then that Catra's eyes were red and puffy, tears threatening to fall. The stress of the situation was becoming too much. Her claws had dug into the table and the fur on her tail had lost its smoothness. She must have taken too long to answer, because Catra had stood up and her anger and frustration was in full swing.
"I don't need eyes to know what everyone here thinks of me! It's been written on everyone's faces since I got here. 'Oh look, it's Adora's pet. Don't get too close, though. She was a Horde soldier.' Whispering about it, like I'm some kind of evil creature that will kill them and their children." Catra yelled, angry tears flowing down her face.
Angella had made a judgment error. She had assumed that, because Adora had grown up beside her that they were similar in their feelings. Without realizing it, she had pushed Catra into a corner and crowded her. Her stress was suffocating her. Angella realized a little too late, that all she wanted was some alone time.
"Well, guess what? I'm not Adora and I don't want to be and I don't want whatever the fuck this is. Everyone has been so concerned about me and saying how Adora's my best friend. If that were even a little true don't you think that she'd be here instead of taking a fucking vacation?"
By this point Catra's posture had become highly aggressive. Her tail was swishing erratically and pupils were now slits. If Angella had seen the way Catra was looking at her without knowing the events that led up to this, she would assume the girl was going to attack her. But all she saw now was a young woman who was unsure of everything around her and was reacting in a way that was subconsciously familiar to her. Anger.
"Next time you want to talk to somebody because you're feeling lonely, leave me the fuck out of it!" Catra shouted as she stormed off.
As Catra left the dining hall, Angella sat back in her chair, rubbing her eyes. Where had it all gone so wrong. She had assumed that Catra might want some company, but she had been wrong. She saw now that Catra was most likely a solitary person without Adora. As she thought about the approach she had taken with her, she took a sip of her drink and looked over at one of the guards.
"Could you go get some of the servants and have them clean this up?" Angella asked, frustration present in her voice.
"At once, your majesty." The guard nodded as she turned and left the room.
Sighing, Angella stood from the table and started walking down a hallway, her appetite all but gone. Similar to her daughter, indeed. As much as it seemed that this evening had been a waste, Angella was quite sure she had a good grasp on Catra's feelings. She would have to wait until she had calmed down to approach her. She considered waiting for Adora to return as well. It hadn't escaped her notice that the very presence of the girl calmed Catra down. Sure she had yelled at Adora as well, but that had been more of her and Glimmer somewhat agitating her.
'Ugh, I need a drink. Something strong preferably.' Angella thought to herself. She didn't drink much after her husband's death. She had to raise a daughter by herself while, simultaneously, ruling a kingdom. Her days of lounging around with a drink in hand and running off with friends had long since passed her by. Although these days, as worrisome as it was, Glimmer was out a bit more, leaving her a bit of freetime.
She thought about everything that needed to be done and decided she would handle it in the morning. As she walked, she realized where she had ended up. Looking up she saw Micah's mural on the wall. She hadn't even noticed that she had chosen this hallway. By this point, it was almost subconscious to come here when she was stressed.
She didn't know how long she stood there, thinking about the things that oftentimes were almost overwhelming. The lights in the palace had dimmed, letting Angella know it had been a few hours for sure.
"Oh, Micah. What am I supposed to do? Glimmer is growing up and all she wants to do is fight the Horde. She's so much like you it's painful. And now. . ." Angella's words slowly died. She stood there in silence for a few more moments before sighing to herself.
"Goodnight Micah." Angella whispered, turning away from the mural and making her way to her bedchambers. As she went to turn in, a guard shouted for her.
"Queen Angella, come quickly. It's the girl, She's glowing with magic. We can't get close!" The guard yelled frantically.
Abandoning all thoughts of running, Angella quickly spread her wings and flew through the palace. She found the majority of her guards surrounding Adora's room.
Catra, upon entering the room, immediately crawled into the bed. She had lost her temper and stormed off. She knew what she said was unfair to Angella. She had been the closest thing to take her frustrations out on and she had. She was only trying to help her and she lashed out.
Letting out a deep breath, she wiped her tears away. Deciding she had had enough of today, she closed her eyes and laid there in silence, hoping for sleep to come quickly. Everything seemed to have gone downhill after she had left. . .Mara.
She took out the shard and looked at it. Whatever had caused her to appear in that village, the shard had something to do with it. The weird water wall, the shard, the path, the voice. . .It all added up to something she didn't have the answers to. But one thing was for certain. She was not left handed, but she had been when she was with Mara.
Narrowing her eyes at the shard, she envisioned Mara and the shard began to emit a slight glow. Sitting up, she put the shard down on the bed beside her. Earlier she couldn't make it glow without holding it, but now she was determined to understand this thing. Sleep was all but forgotten by this point.
As she sat on the bed, she crossed her legs and focused on the shard. Thoughts of Mara crossed her mind. As she thought about her the crystal glowed. So she could make it glow without touching it. Narrowing her eyes she envisioned every little detail on Mara's face. Her tan skin and brown hair, her sharp gray eyes and thin nose.
With every detail she pictured, the glow got stronger and brighter. But the hum did not appear. Perhaps that only happened when she held it. Closing her eyes she focused on the wall of water and her reflection. How it felt when she had crossed the barrier. She felt something inside of her. A rush of power and energy flowed through her body, coursing through her veins. Pure elation flew through her body as she focused. She laughed at the feeling and opened her eyes.
She found that she was glowing with magic. The colors illuminating her were of every hue. She couldn't focus on anything but her reflection now. Her thoughts were locked on to it and on Mara. The feelings she had when talking with Mara. If she wasn't feeling the pure joy of the magic around her and inside of her she might have realized this wasn't quite normal.
Catra under any circumstances would have found this experience horrifying. Her thoughts were completely overrun and she was completely paralyzed. She could do nothing about it but wait. But Catra wasn't thinking, she couldn't. The magic had completely overtaken her senses. The glow from her body had illuminated the room and hall with a brilliant light.
The door was flung off of its frame as Angella entered, her hands primed with magic. There she saw Catra hovering in the air, her body encompassed in magical energies. As she approached, the energy arced off of Catra, licking the walls and lashing out at everything and anyone in range.
Angella told the guards to stay back. If her theory was correct, this energy was what affected Catra in the first place, making her lose her memories. But she couldn't allow this to continue. She had to do something. Catra was emitting more magic than she thought she could handle.
Just then, she noticed the soul crystal. It was floating in front of Catra, glowing with a cold, icy blue color that Castaspella had warned her about. She remembered that a princess could not be affected due to their connections to their runestones. With determination fueling her steps, she pushed through the magic, each step becoming harder, as if her body was becoming heavier. As she neared Catra, the energy lashed out at Angella, all of the magic now focused on her.
Angella fell to a knee, the pressure becoming immense. It felt suffocating. Her body felt like it was on fire. Every nerve was screaming out in pain as she inched closer. Her vision was blurry, the colors so bright it was almost blinding.
"Stop." An eerie voice whispered in her ear
Angella's blood went cold as an icy chill ran through her body. The voice hadn't been Catra's, nor had it been one of her guards. Angella looked straight ahead, turning her focus on the energy, rather than Catra and the stone. She couldn't be sure but it was almost like a face had appeared.
"Stay back." It spoke in a louder voice, becoming much clearer, as Angella got closer.
This must have been the woman Castaspella had warned her about. Anger replaced the feeling of dread she felt as she pressed forward. How dare this woman take advantage of this girl. Taking away people's memories for her own agenda. It was horrible and sick.
"I need her help." The woman said in a pleading tone.
Angella was only a few feet from the crystal now. As she went to take another step, the feeling of pressure faded, all pain in her body gone. Angella almost stumbled from her own strength because of the rapid deterioration of the strain. Angella stopped and looked at the energy again. She could now see the full silhouette of this woman, but couldn't make out any details of her. Although several pieces were missing, almost like she had been torn apart.
"Please, you don't understand. Give me a chance to explain." The woman said, now almost completely visible to Angella, or rather as visible as a silhouette could be.
She realized she could breathe again as the pressure was gone. She also realized that the violent energies had ceased and everything seemed quite calm. Looking around the room, she took notice of the magic field around her. The room and the people around her were frozen. Unmoving, like they were statues. The objects that were flying around the room were also frozen.
"What did you do to them?" Angella asked, her tone cold and full of suspicion. Her wings outstretched in a threatening manner.
"Nothing, time is frozen outside of this field." She said in a matter-of-factly manner.
Turning back towards Catra, she noticed she was unconscious. And snoring. Breathing a small sigh of relief, she looked back at the woman. She couldn't see much of her but one thing did stand out. She had a blue gem on her chest.
'Seeing the woman is bad enough, hearing her speak is even worse.' There was no doubt about it, this was the woman Castaspella had warned her about. She was to contact her if she had ever heard Catra speak about her. Castaspella had said this woman could only appear in dreams, yet here she was in front of her, talking to her while she was wide awake.
"I don't have much time so ask your questions quickly." She spoke, a sense of urgency in her voice.
"Who are you and what have you done to Catra?" Angella asked with her eyes narrowed. Her tone was filled with hostility.
"I. . .It's hard to explain." The woman said in a small voice.
"Try," Angella's icy tone leaving no room for argument, "or I will grab this crystal, your explanations be damned."
"I can't answer who I am, that knowledge is in the other pieces. I'm missing pieces of myself as you can see. And Catra's fine, she's just unconscious. This happens when you fuse the shards back together." The woman quickly explained.
Angella took notice of the fading magic, the room becoming slightly darker as the glow dulled. Looking at the shard did indeed show it was bigger and there was no sign of a previous split.
"That is quite convenient for you, isn't it. I want answers that you can only give if Catra touches more shards. Everything I have heard to this point indicates if Catra even touches another shard, that it will lead to insanity and permanent loss of her memories. And you want her to grab more?" Angella said. If this woman was supposed to be manipulative and corrupting, she wasn't going about it the right way.
"No, it won't. Not with Catra. I need her, she's the only one that can help me. With every shard she puts together, her memories should return. Everyone else who has touched the shards should know not to channel magic through them. They have a specific warning ingrained into them by my people that everyone hears before using them." The woman said urgently. The magic was fading faster now.
"Who are your people exactly? Why Catra?" Angella asked with a sense of urgency. The light almost gone and the woman's form starting to dissipate.
"We are the Eternians. Catra has a connection with She-Ra due to her friendship with Mara." The woman said, her voice becoming almost hollow and wispy.
"Catra spoke of a Mara earlier. She talked about her as if they just met." Angella said, confused.
"That's not possible. She should have an innate connection with her that draws her to Mara, regardless of her memory loss. Catra's close friendship with the current holder of She-Ra is what allows her to use the shards safely. She has to know Mara." The woman's voice was becoming much harder to hear now, almost like it was becoming far away.
"Catra is friends with the holder of She-Ra. They grew up together. But that person is not this Mara girl you're talking about. The current She-Ra's name is Adora." Angella said, her thoughts all over the place.
"Adora? That's not possi-" The woman's voice was cut off, the magic gone, everything starting to move again. Angella quickly reached out, catching Catra before she could hit the ground. She looked at the shard as it hit the ground.
'I'm quickly becoming annoyed with this.' Angella thought with a scowl. The guards all breathed a sigh of release. The situation seemed handled as they were dismissed by Angella.
As Angella laid Catra down in bed, she walked over and picked the shard up off the ground. Examining it for a moment before pocketing it, she walked back into the hallway.
"If she starts glowing again, come get me immediately. No exceptions." Angella commanded the guards.
"Yes, your majesty." The guards responded in sync.
Angella nodded at that and turned in for the night. As she closed the door to her chambers, she took the shard out and rolled it around in her palm. It was cool to the touch and had a slight hum to it. She held it up to the moonlight examining it. As she held it up it began to glow, the hum becoming slightly louder. Immediately Angella understood the purpose of the hum.
Angella aimed it in the direction of Mystacor. The effect was instant as it lit up in her hand, the hum vibrating the air around it. The coolness of the stone now had a strange heat to it, almost like the moonstone.
"So it leads you to the other shards does it? I will keep that in mind." Angella said to herself as she put the crystal piece away.
