Defenseless

She opened her eyes to darkness, startled and groggy. She was in a bed, not in any pain at all surprisingly, and after a quick look around she noticed she was not alone. Adora was lying in an awkward position on the floor with her head resting on the edge of the mattress, her hand lying not too far from Catra's own. 

Did she fall asleep holding it? She wondered. How long has it been? Where were they? So many questions, and very few answers. She could remember very little before this. The last thing she really remembered was being brought before Prime for freeing Glimmer. 

Think. Think. Think. What happened? How did I get here? 

She remembered Adora's ship getting picked up on the scanners, and Prime told her she was going to get purified, and then what?

After careful consideration, she was just about to put a hand on Adora's shoulder to wake her but she heard voices outside. She laid back down quickly just as the door wooshed open. 

She couldn't see who it was without rolling over to look. It didn't take long for her to figure out though when she heard the archer's voice. 

"Hey Adora," He whispered. 

"Mmm no Catra stop being cute, I need five more minutes," Adora groaned sleepily.

Why was she mumbling about her being cute?! 

"Cute?! Adora, it's me Bow, you fell asleep on the floor again, come on," Catra cracked her eye open and she watched him practically pick up the princess. 

"No, let me stay Bow, what if she wakes up," Adora protested, flailing trying to get away from him. 

"She will be okay, you have to take care of you," Bow insisted, still trying to drag her away. 

"No!" Adora's eyes glowed electric blue with power in a way Catra had not seen before. "I'm staying!" If Catra were sleeping that yelling certainly would have woken her up, so they must have thought she was in worse shape than she thought. 

Bow let her go and she stumbled back to Catra's bedside. "Fine, I'll be right back," 

Adora didn't respond to him, she just gently picked up one of Catra's hands and held it in her own, lightly stroking it and tracing over it in undefined patterns. "I've got you Catra, I won't leave you again,"

Catra willed herself to stay still. It was an odd sensation, almost ticklish. Thankfully the door wooshed open once again and Adora let her go immediately. Bow was dragging a mattress with him which he flopped down right beside hers. "Here, now you can sleep here, but I don't want to find you on the floor again," Bow said in a harsh whisper. "I don't know why you're worried anyway, she tried to kill you, all of us really, she kind of deserves this," he muttered with his back to Adora. A mistake though clearly, cause in an instant Adora's eyes were blue again she was on her feet. She couldn’t see her, but her shadow was much much larger than it should have been. 

"Get out!" Adora hissed just before the door wooshed open and closed, the archer running out as fast as he could. 

Adora was breathing hard and…sniffling? Was she crying? A moment later, Catra could feel Adora's weight hit the mattress next to her. The blonde had to be very close and keeping still was almost impossible. Especially when Adora began tracing over almost the whole length of one of her arms. She didn't know where they stood after everything, and she didn't remember how she got off that ship. How should she feel about this? It wasn't like it felt bad, in fact, it felt amazing having Adora this close, but it was also confusing.  Why was the blonde doing this? The archer did have a point, she should hate her guts right now, not be worrying at her bedside. Maybe this wasn't real. Maybe this wasn't Adora. 

The girl must've gotten tired as her tracing got slower and slower. This was much more ticklish than before and Catra couldn't help but squirm.  She played it off as if she was just waking up though, blinking slowly "A-Adora? Where am I?" 

"Oh my God, Catra! You're awake!" Adora was instantly 100% more alert. She practically jumped on top of Catra, pinning her down to the bed with a fierce hug. "Thank goodness!"

Catra could barely breathe under her weight. "uhm Adora, what…are you doing?" 

Adora immediately jumped off her. "No-nothing, I'm sorry, I just-yeah, forget I did that," She moved further away. The space between them was tangible.

"Relax, Adora," Catra muttered, as she sat up and pulled her legs into her chest. "Why are you so happy though?" Part of her wished the lights were on so she could see Adora's face, but she was also grateful that it was dark so she could keep her expressions to herself. 

"I uh-well, you know, I was worried about you," Adora's voice was quiet and soft. "I was afraid that…uh nevermind, clearly you're fine," 

Catra squinted at her in the dark, she still looked worried. "Don't be, I'm fine, we're enemies remember, you don't need to worry and you don't need to take care of me," She hissed spitefully even though she didn't mean it. She was touched actually that Adora was being this way. It was sweet, something she had rarely experienced.

Though it was dark, Adora's silhouetted shoulders visibly slumped and she could hear the sigh on her breath. "Aren't we?!" Catra prompted, a challenging bite to her words, but there was no other way to say it. She didn't know how she was supposed to feel.

"I never wanted to be," Her voice was barely audible, hardly even a whisper, just a breath in the dark space between them that hung heavy in the air. 

"Why are you even in my cell?" Catra questioned, trying to take the bitterness out of her tone. 

"Cell?" Adora almost chuckled at that. "You really remember nothing. You aren't our prisoner, Catra, this is actually my room," Adora reached out to put a gentle hand on her shoulder. She flinched at first, but relaxed quickly. "We saved you, I just wanted to make sure you were okay," 

"I am, I already said I was fine," Catra stated.

"I know, you're right, I will leave you to rest," She responded solemnly. 

"No, you can stay, but I don't want to talk," Catra said adamantly but she could practically see Adora smile in the darkness. 

"Okay, I can do that," She laid down next to her. Close enough to reach if she tried but far enough that they wouldn't accidentally touch. 

The silence weighed on her chest as they lay there together. It urged her to speak, but she said she wanted silence and she also didn't know what she could possibly say. This whole thing was weird and wrapping her head around it without knowing what had happened was impossible. Something about it felt natural though. They weren’t fighting, they weren't at each other's throats. They were peacefully lying together, being there for each other like they had promised each other all those years ago. Well, Adora was there for her, she herself was just kind of there. But still, it felt nice. 

She didn't know when, or for how long but she had to have fallen asleep at some point. A restless and nightmare-filled sleep. Tossing and turning, breathing heavily, the visions fled her mind the instant her eyes flew open with Adora's name tearing its way out of her throat. "Adora!" 

In an instant, Adora was up, alert, and transformed into She Ra, and on top of that Bow and Glimmer came running in, magic and arrows at the ready. 

"Catra! I've got you!  Stay behind me!" She Ra commanded protectively. 

"What's the matter?!" "Where's the danger?!" Bow and Glimmer shouted as they stormed in. 

Catra yelped and jumped off the bed, surprised by all the commotion. "Ah! What's happening?! Stay back!" She hissed. 

She-Ra looked around seeing nothing dangerous and quickly shifted back into herself raising her palms innocently. "I'm sorry for scaring you, I've been a little on edge lately," She looked away and rubbed her eyes tiredly. 

"A little?!" Glimmer scoffed. 

"Thank goodness you're awake now, Catra, Adora has been nonstop worried about you and…" Bow added. 

"And she hasn't exactly been quiet about it either," Glimmer eyed Adora knowingly. "Hopefully that stops now,"

Adora cleared her throat in annoyance. "She gets it guys," Catra was feeling a lot of things, but she could still manage the smug look for Adora who could barely meet her gaze. Both Bow and Glimmer chuckled. 

"So just to make sure, there's no danger and you're not trying to kill each other?" Bow asked through a yawn. 

Adora waved him off. "Yes guys, go back to bed, I told you earlier I wasn't going to fight with her anymore," 

Glimmer scoffed again. "She could still fight with you," Catra usually would have been upset by something like that, but she didn't have the energy, physically or mentally. Instead of engaging with the young queen she just looked back at Adora.

"Glimmer!" Adora snapped, obviously not in the mood for little jabs like that. "She saved you, and I said I got this, now go, please," Adora rubbed Catra's arm gently while keeping her eyes on the other two over her shoulder. 

"Okay, but if you need anything just holler, or shout your She-Ra catchphrase, 'cause you know, you're always so loud about it, we'll hear you," Bow stammered and dragged Glimmer out of the room. 

The instant the door closed Adora looked at her with concern. Catra couldn't help herself, she stepped closer to Adora and let her face fall against her neck and she held on tight. 

The blonde held her close, one arm pressing their bodies together while the other gently cradled the back of Catra's head. She had never been held like that before, by anyone, but she couldn't fight the desire to lean into it. They stayed like that for a few moments, admittedly she was rather enjoying it, she felt safe in Adora's arms. Her self-control was slipping and she couldn't quite stop herself from emitting a low purr as she nuzzled her face deeper into Adora's shoulder. "I've got you," Adora whispered, tracing her hand over Catra's back.

Adora pulled back just enough for Catra to see her big soft blue eyes, and Adora brought a hand up to caress her cheek. "Catra, you really scared me, what happened? How are you feeling?"

She didn't mind the question, it was thoughtful, but something about it made her defensive like she couldn't take care of herself. 

Catra pushed her away and scrambled a few feet away, though she regretted it instantly as she missed Adora's embrace. "Nothing, I'm fine, of course I'm fine, why wouldn't I be fine? I had everything under control, you didn't need to save me," 

Adora gazed at her sympathetically, but she allowed her to have that space between them. "Catra, I- " Adora looked like she had a million things to say, but she said none of them. Instead she fidgeted with her fingers and averted her eyes. "Right. Yes. I'm sure you did. You did sound like you really wanted to stay with Prime, I guess if that was your plan I should have let you," She paused. "Look, I know I hurt you, I broke your- uhm whatever…and Prime took that pain away from you, but," She brought her eyes back to meet Catra's.

Catra could see the tears welling in them and she could practically feel the emotion in Adora's voice. "But I couldn't leave you there, Catra, I couldn't, he said he was going to kill you, and not only that, but you made me promise to bring you home so that's what I'm going to do!"

Catra just crossed her arms with a huff. It was really a sweet gesture, but she couldn't help but feel angry about the whole thing even though she didn't know what happened. "I don't know what you're talking about," 

"You don't remember anything from Prime's ship?" Adora tilted her head in confusion. "Nothing…at all?" Her voice was laced with sorrow. 

Catra shrugged. "No, not really, why? Surely if any of it was important I'd remember," She joked but Adora wasn't laughing, not even a smile. 

The princess sat down on the edge of the mattress and stared down at her hands that rested on her knees. "Oh. Uh maybe you don't need to know, after all like you said, you're fine and you are back to your regular self, so no big deal, none of it matters anymore," 

Catra was curious now, Adora was being weird, and she could tell there was more the princess wanted to talk about. She tentatively approached and moved to sit next to her but Adora abruptly jumped up. "You are okay now, so everything is fine, are you going to come outside with me or are you going to sit in here and hide?" 

"What time is it?" 

The blonde thought for a second. "uh…A little too early to be up and about I suppose,"  

Catra looked down before looking up at Adora. "So…," Vulnerability was not her strong suit. "You'll sit and hide in here with me?"

The princess sat down again and smiled softly at her. "Okay, for now," 

The brunette couldn't meet her eyes, but instead she moved to hold her hand, interlacing their fingers. "You really stayed here all night long?" 

Adora nodded. "You asked me to stay, so of course I did," She smiled. "But it's actually been four days," 

Catra's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. "How?! Four days?! What happened?! Tell me everyth- wait…you stayed with me the whole time?" 

Adora nodded again. "Bow and Glimmer sat with you for a few minutes here and there while I ate or showered or helped with navigation, even Entranpta sat with you for a little while, and they all offered to stay longer but I- I wanted to be here with you," She squeezed Catra's hand briefly. 

Now Catra looked into her eyes. "Why?" Her voice was quiet, almost a whisper, asking a thousand questions hiding behind the one she spoke. 

A small smile tugged at the corners of Adora's lips. "Because…well because you know Catra, we fought so hard, and I should have been better, I couldn't stop them from hurting you, and I-" tears welled in her eyes again, this time it made Catra's chest tighten, oh she did not like Adora upset like this. Adora casted her eyes down to their joined hands then back up at Catra, there were emotions there that Catra had never seen before. "I never wanted to be your enemy, I never wanted to fight with you, I never wanted to make you feel the things I made you feel, and the other day..." Adora's voice broke and a few more tears slipped down her cheeks. "I thought I lost you and that was too real to me. It wasn't a dream. It wasn't an illusion. I held you in my arms and I thought you were gone. I thought I lost you. Even after I used my powers to heal you, when you didn't wake up I- couldn't help but think the worst. I wasn't sure you would wake up, ever," Adora moved to wipe the errant tears that escaped her eyes, but Catra stopped her, catching her wrist with her free hand. Instead Catra cupped Adora's cheek and slowly brushed the tears away.

"So that's why your eyes turned that sparkly blue color last night?" 

Adora looked shocked and her face turned bright red. "oh you saw that?! I don’t- it just happened- I didn't want to leave - he tried to take me from you-"

"Getting a little sentimental, Adora?" Catra jabbed lightheartedly even though she was taking Adora's words very seriously. "Maybe you should tell me what happened so I can understand," She still had her hand on Adora's face, and the blonde nodded as she leaned into it. 

"We were on Prime's ship to get you within hours of picking up Glimmer when you rescued her," Adora started. "We split up to find you, and…" She walked through the whole thing. The plan they had, everything Prime said to her, everything she and Catra said, and everything in between. Catra just listened to her intently, not once looking away or letting go of her hand. 

"We were fighting and I'm not sure if some part of you was trying not to hurt me, but you never once used your claws on me, and I thank you for that whether it was your doing or not," Adora smiled. 

"That doesn't sound like me," Catra quipped but she smiled softly and tried to convey her emotions through her eyes.

"Oh please, you have had plenty of opportunities over the years to finish me off but you never have," Adora responded thoughtfully. 

"I could say the same about you," This time a little harsher. "I know you were holding back almost every time we fought," 

Adora sighed. "Of course I was! I love you, I never wanted to hurt you!" Adora immediately covered her mouth with her hands.

Catra's eyes widened. "What did you say?" 

Adora turned away and tried to recompose herself. "I never wanted to hurt you, you already know that," 

"Right," Catra responded quietly, acutely aware of the increased distance Adora put between them. "So what happened next?" 

"Where was I?"

"You said you loved me, we could start there? Or if we're pretending you didn't, you were saying how we fought on the weird platform bridge thing," She rolled her eyes, but she had to cut her some slack, neither of them had been raised to deal with emotions like that. 

Adora took Catra's hand back and worked to meet her eyes again. "Can we pretend for now? I just got you back, I don't want to mess this up," Adora pleaded and all Catra could do was nod, what was she gonna say? no? She didn't want to mess it up either, whatever it was, but at least for herself she knew there would be no forgetting what Adora said. "So uh next was the fight on the bridge, you said some things, and then you went on about how prime saved you…and” She continued until she caught up to the moment they brought her back onto their ship and left. “Does any of it sound familiar at all?"

Catra nodded slowly. "Pieces, but most of it I don't remember at all," She looked down at her hands. "I'm glad I didn't hurt you," 

Adora laughed her goofy laugh. "Let's not get carried away now, you hurt me plenty. Not your fault, but still I have a few bruises here and there," She lifted her shirt a little to reveal a purplish splotch on her ribcage and Catra winced. "I barely feel it now, don't worry, it's not as bad as it could have been,"

"Why didn't you heal yourself?" Catra inquired, still internally cringing at how bad it looked on Adora's perfect skin. 

Adora just shrugged. "I tried but I couldn't, maybe I could try again, but I don't know, like I said not a big deal. Don't worry about it," 

Catra looked back down at her hands. The hands she used to hurt Adora and so many others. Anger simmered through her, though not at anyone else, only at herself. Still holding Adora's hand, the other she flicked to extend her claws only nothing happened. She tried again. "What the..," again, nothing. She looked up to Adora. 

"What's wrong?" The blonde asked curiously. 

"I don't know, what's wrong with me? Why won't they work? What did they do to me?!" Catra cried, yanking her hand away from Adora so she could try again. When it didn't work she inspected them both closely, flipping them over, clenching and unclenching her fists. 

"Hey hey hey," Adora knelt down in front of her and took both of Catra's hands in her own, trying to calm her down. "I don't know, I don't know what happened before I got there. But whatever happened, you're going to be okay, alright? I promise. We will figure it out," 

Catra was beside herself, she wanted Adora close but she also wanted to be alone.  "Figure it out?! What do you have to figure out?! Clearly, he took away any means I had to defend myself, he took away part of me! You don't have to do anything!" Without thinking she pushed Adora roughly away making her fall backwards onto the floor. "Leave me alone! Get out!" She screamed and pointed toward the door. 

"Ow," Adora yelped, having fallen awkwardly onto her wrist. She shook it out but it throbbed painfully. "Catra, I just want to help you. We don't know what happened, maybe I can help you remember," Adora offered quietly from her position on the floor, not daring to move. 

Catra turned away from her completely. "Just leave me alone," 

The blonde nodded slowly. "Okay, I'm here for you if you need anything at all, no matter what it is, if I can help you, I will," Adora added before she pushed herself off the floor. "See you later," 

The door closed behind her and Catra was left alone. Time passed and she switched between sobbing uncontrollably, kicking and throwing whatever she could get her hands on, and laying unmoving staring up at the plain ceiling contemplating. 

She didn't know how many hours had gone by but during her pacing about the room in a fit of rage, she heard Adora down the hallway. 

"What if she needs something, what if she's still hurt, or needs food and water, she might need something! I'm just going to go check on her again," Adora announced, and she heard the groans of the other two. The princess's footsteps were loud despite her clearly trying to creep back into Catra's room. 

"Adora! Leave her alone! She asked for space so just give it to her!" Glimmer shouted.

"Seriously Adora, relax, Glimmer is right, give her some space," Bow spoke up. “She’s probably traumatized. Leave her be,” 

"Fine but what if…" Adora started but was immediately interrupted. 

"No!" "No!" They both yelled. That made Catra smile just a little bit, but she wasn't sure who was right, did she want Adora or did she want space? She wanted both and neither at the same time. Confused, she flopped on the bed and sighed. She couldn’t hear them anymore, Adora must have given up and the relaization affected her more than she would have guessed. And she cried. She wanted her to come back, but she wasn’t going to stoop so low as to ask her to. 

After some time she startled herself awake unsure of how long it had been. "Adora?!" 

"Mmm, what's wrong Catra?" She jumped, not actually expecting to hear Adora's voice beside her in the darkness. Flipping over she saw Adora was laying beside her though keeping a large space between them. 

"You're here," She tried to sound annoyed but it came across more curious and almost happy sounding. Curse her for not being able to keep herself under control. 

"Yeah, I'm sorry, I know you said you wanted to be alone but you were just sleeping and I thought I could just sit with you for a while but then I fell asleep...I can go though," Adora stretched and yawned before she pushed herself off the mattress. "I'm sorry, I'm really not trying to overwhelm you or anything, I'm just gonna go," 

Her heart started racing as soon as she watched Adora start to leave. "Wwwait! Uhm wait. Please sit with me again, I don't want to be alone anymore," She hadn't even noticed how much she missed her in that short time she was gone.  Even when she had fought her, she never saw Adora move so fast. In an instant Adora was at her side, sitting close to her, but still leaving a marginal space between them. She noted the distance and she ached to just pull Adora closer, but she resisted. 

"I'm here," Adora whispered, gently placing a hand on her upper arm. "Did you remember anything else? Has the chip in your neck been bothering you at all? I'm asking for Entrapta, she's ecstatic about taking it off you, but not until you're in a better headspace,"

She hadn't even realized she still had the chip in her. Touching it, she felt the cool metal under her fingertips and she shivered. Catra pulled her legs into her chest and wrapped her arms around her knees. Looking into Adora's concerned eyes seemed impossible and she couldn't make herself do it so she just let herself be content to sit next to her. "It doesn't hurt but sometimes I-I don't know…I see things? Hear things? I'm not sure," 

Adora rubbed her arm gently. "Like what?"

"I don't know, I can't tell if it's real or not," She squeezed her eyes shut. "I see…Etheria…princesses…more of these chips, within the rebellion!" She snapped her eyes open. "This is not good, Adora, the rebellion is compromised," 

"I will tell the others and get Entrapta, we need to get this out of you ASAP" Adora threw over her shoulder as she was about to walk out.

"Wait, I need to know what really happened before you saved me,” 

Adora titled her head. “Are you sure?”

“I'm still connected to Horde Prime. I should be able to access the memories he took from me! Or someone's that saw something," Catra stated and Adora nodded. "I think I need your help though, Prime is strong and it was hard enough to see what's happening in real time, I don't know how to go back," 

"For the honor of Greyskull!" Adora announced dramatically and came to sit next to her as SheRa

Catra rolled her eyes. "Was that necessary?" 

"Yes, because She Ra has the magic, not me," She explained and put her hands on either side of Catra's neck, so just the tips of her fingers were touching the edges of the chip. "Put your hands on my shoulders or wherever you feel comfortable. Close your eyes and take a deep breath with me," 

Catra did as she was instructed. She could hear Adora also take a deep breath at the same time. Something about this was incredibly relaxing. She cracked an eye open and saw that SheRa was practically glowing. She was gorgeous, though she did prefer Adora's looks generally. 

"Catra, I feel you looking at me. Focus. Focus on the last thing you remember, and let everything else go. You were on the platform with Horde Prime, what's happening?" Adora tried to guide her. 

"I see…" 

"I will never tell you anything about Adora!" Catra shouted, tears welling in her eyes as she glared up at him from her position on the floor. "You will never get your hands on her!" Her heart ached with each word, but she had to protect her, there was no other way. After everything she had done, this was the least she could do. It still broke her inside to know it meant she would never see her princess again. 

Prime snarled at her and backhanded her across the cheek. It stung and she whimpered but she could do nothing. There was never a time in her life where she was this far out of her depth, and she was trembling. Tooth and nail she fought to keep herself composed though. She would not die cowering for her life, it wasn't who she was. "Barely felt that, you should really work out more if that's the best you've got. Don't think it did anything but make me mad," 

"Still feeling powerful, little sister?" In a quick movement, Prime grabbed her by her throat, hoisting her up in the air so she was eye level with him. Taken by surprise and gasping for breath, she squirmed and clawed at his hand, trying to tear it away but it was no use. "I see the fear in your eyes, I see it all the way down into your soul. Fret not, I will rid you of that fear, I will rid you of that pain. You will be free in the light I grant you,"

Even digging her claws deep into his flesh did nothing and he smirked at her failed efforts. Blackness started to weave over the edges of her vision and she wanted to close her eyes. However, when she did that, she saw her princess's face, her sweet Adora. Maybe this was okay. Maybe she could let go and stop fighting now. 

A panel started rapidly beeping and a red light flashed somewhere on the screen taking everyone's attention. 

"Sir, we detected a ship headed in our direction, we can't determine weapons class, or speed, however, it appears to be too old," A nearby clone stated matter-of-factly. 

Prime's smirk deepened into a menacing smile and Catra was caught between curiousity and dread as her mind continued to fray from the pressure around her neck. 

"Tell me, who's ship is it?" Prime asked simply, keeping his eyes on Catra.  

"It is the rebel ship from before. After reconfiguring our scanners for that ancient technology we have managed to sense them, at least somewhat. They are heading toward us and will be here within the hour," A clone read off the display panel. 

"She Ra has brought herself to me, in exchange for you I suspect, you must be thrilled, little sister," 

No no no no, this couldn't be happening, Adora really came back for her?! "Kill me!" She coughed out. She needed to try to make sure there would be no reason for Adora to turn herself over. Catra wouldn't let Adora sacrifice herself for her, not that she was 100% sure that Adora would, but she couldn't take the chance, she couldn't let her princess do that. 

Xxxxxx

Connected to the chip and using the magic of SheRa, Adora was seeing and feeling everything that Catra felt in those moments. She could feel every thought that ran through Catra's mind as if it were playing out in her own. She whimpered involuntarily and she could feel Catra's grip tighten on her shoulders. 

Xxxx

"If I kill you, how am I going to have a discussion with your dearest Adora?" Prime tilted his head. 

"Ahhh!" Catra clawed at his face, scratching over his multitude of eyes causing him to drop her roughly. 

"You little!" He wailed in pain, doubling over and covering his eyes. 

She tried to scramble away but the nearby clones grabbed her and pulled her to her feet. "Insolent wretch. Take her away. I want her purified and I want those razors on her hands, removed!" He shouted. "See if you can get any information out of her, but if not, don't worry, as long as it is as painful as possible," 

Catra thrashed and fought but she couldn't get free from them. They dragged her away, down a hallway to part of the ship she hadn't yet been to. They strapped her to a chair and strapped her arms out in front of her so she couldn't pull away. 

"You will be purified and all of this pain will be taken away. But first, tell us the weaknesses of the She Ra and her friends," A clone spoke as he paced in front of her, twirling a plier-like device in his hands. 

"Let me go! I'm telling you nothing! She Ra has no weaknesses!" Catra cried. "You're gonna have to kill me," 

"We already know her weakness is you, tell us what else!" He slammed his hands on the table and leaned over her. The odd smell that could only be compared to formaldehyde wafted over her.

"You smell fresh," She coughed and turned her head away, only for an unimaginable pain to shoot through her from her fingertip and she screamed like she had never screamed before. The searing pain shot like fire through her.

To her horror she snapped her head back to see what he had done and there between the tip of the pliers was one of her nails. Blood pooled around her now shivering hand. She tried to pull away, tears falling from her eyes, whimpering. 

"You will look at me when I speak to you!" The clone shouted. "Tell us about She Ra!" 

Through the shudders that wracked her body, she sneered and hissed at him. "No!" She managed to say in the mostly calmly defiant voice she could manage at the current moment. 

"So be it," Without hesitating, the clone latched on to another of Catra's claws wrenching it out of her flesh viciously. 

She couldn't hold in a scream at that one either, though she did try, the blackness from before crept over her senses once again. Rapidly, there was another sharp stab of pain but duller this time, the blackness had almost completely taken over her. 

She fell hard against the table, but even that did not wake her again. 

The next time she opened her eyes things were...green? Why was everything green?! And   it was so loud?! Who were all these people?! 

She blinked. A clone stood before her, and she could hear his thoughts, or maybe she was hearing the clones that stood by the door, or maybe...no now she only heard one voice. Prime. "Welcome into the light little sister," 

"I am grateful for the light," she heard her own voice say, but it was distorted, emotionless, and completely against her will. She wanted to tell Prime to go to hell, but her mouth would not budge, it no longer obeyed her. It responded to the commands of another, and she was not strong enough to take control again. 

She looked around, she was standing amongst several clones. Looking down she tried to jump, but her body didn't respond. Her hands looked mostly fine, so did her feet, like it had all been a bad dream. She felt no pain, and there was nothing to show that anything had happened. 

Huh. 

Considering the rest of her body refused to respond to her, she assumed she couldn't extend her claws as well. 

Then a sound distracted her and she looked up again. A voice, familiar, she knew it well. Adora. No. 

"What happened to your face?" Adora taunted. "Looks like you let Catra get too close," She was amused but not laughing.

"Adora! Get out Adora! Run!" She wanted to yell at the top of her lungs, but her lips didn't move. 

"Do not test me, She Ra, I will dispense with you just as easily as I have dispensed with your past lives," Prime growled. "Surrender yourself now and your kitten may survive this day," 

"For the last time, where is Catra?!" Adora asked fiercely. 

"Adora!" It was her own voice again, but not of her own volition. 

"Catra?! Where are you?!" Adora yelled back. She sounded so worried, it would have brought tears to her eyes. 

"Of course, your Catra," the way he said it made her sick but also, she desperately wanted to be Adora's, to belong to her, to be loved by her. "She hoped you would come for her, poor thing, so all I had to do was wait. As she would have said 'You are so very predictable'. Come here child," 

That felt like her cue, cause at that moment her legs started moving and she walked forward with the clones beside her.

"What?! No I don't want to do this, please!" Catra begged to herself. Through the green eyes she watched Adora, in all of her beauty, stand before Prime, her eyes worried and looking for her. 

The smile on Prime's face was wicked.

Her hands moved and she slowly removed the hood from her head. "Hello Adora," the look on Adora's face only further embraced worry and concern. 'Adora, don't trust me! This isn't me!' she yelled but it was no use. 

"What did you do to her?!" Adora lunged forward trying to get to Catra but she was stopped by the clones almost immediately. 

Catra instead walked past her, kneeled and bowed her head before Prime on his throne. 'I bow to no one. I would never bow to you!' 

"I have made her anew. I saw her mind, so ensnared in rage and grief, and pain, and I brought her to the light. Isn't that right, little sister?" Prime offered his hand, and helped her off the floor. 

'No that's not right you asshole, but I guess I don't get a say in this,' Catra scoffed. 

"Catra, you have to fight this," Adora pleaded. 

'I know I am trying, seriously don't tell me what to do, I'm already doing it!'

"My place is with Horde Prime, Adora. I don't want to leave," The distressed and hurt look on Adora's face at that remark made her blood boil. She wanted to rip Prime's face off and run over to Adora and never let her go. 

"Tell her what I've done for you," Prime prompted. 

She smiled and raised her hands, wiggling her fingers a bit. "He put me on a path to healing, I will never hurt anyone again," 

"What the hell did you do to her?!"Adora screamed. 

She stepped toward Adora who still looked somewhere between horrified and concerned. "He has given me peace, something you could never have done. Don't you see it's for the best? You broke my heart, but he made me whole again," 

'nope, heart is still broken but you did come to save me, so it's doing better!' Catra thought to herself. 

"I'm happy here, you could be happy too," She held a hand against Adora's cheek. 

'I love you Adora, I would only be happy with you,' Tears streamed down Adora's cheeks, and they surely would be flowing down hers as well if she was capable of crying at this moment. 

"Let her go!" Adora demanded harshly. 

Prime pulled Catra to him. "Shall we make a deal, Adora? I will give her to you if you want her. But first, you must do something for me," He paused menacingly. 

Catra needed to hear what he wanted from her and she needed Adora to turn him down. Adora glared at Prime. 

"You will give me She Ra," He stated calmly but Adora's response was immediate. 

"Never!" 

'That's my girl! Don't you dare give him anything Adora!'

"Very well," He snapped his fingers and Adora collapsed to the ground, hands holding her head, her face screwed up in pain. 

'Adora!' Catra wanted to go to her, but she still couldn't move. 

"You miscalculated!" Prime stepped forward hand still on Catra’s neck. "I see all. I know all. You thought yourself worthy to challenge me, but you are nothing but a false hero," He spat. 

'That's not true Adora, you're my hero, you’re so many people's hero,' 

"... The last of the first ones to fall at my hands. You have led your friends to destruction," Prime's grip on her neck tightened and something changed. For a split second the green hue faded and she was looking right into Adora's eyes, she was herself again. Only before she could act on it, she was forced back into the backseat while Prime took the wheel again. 

Adora noticed though. Adora noticed the glimpse of Catra's true self. 'I know you saw me Adora, please don't give up on me, not now,' 

"Go on, fulfill your purpose, bring out She Ra and strike me down. Ah, but you two have a lot of catching up to do, I will leave you to it, let me know when you are ready to make a deal," He walked off, just like that. 

'No no no I don't want to fight you anymore, Adora, never again, I don't want to do this,' Catra tried with all of her might to break through to the surface of herself again but it was no use. She would be forced to watch herself fight Adora, again. 

"I'm not going to hurt you anymore Catra," Adora spoke confidently, trying to reassure her. 

Catra lunged at her and Adora dodged. Catra managed to land some kicks and punches to Adora's face and abdomen. 'Stop hurting her!' Catra yelped but Prime still silenced her. In an attempt to block her moves, Adora grabbed Catra roughly and threw her over her shoulder sending her sliding into the stairs. Her neck impacted the steps and for a moment the green was gone again. 

"Adora?" 

"I'm trying not to hurt you, but you need to keep fighting," 

She nodded but the green took over her senses again and she kicked Adora roughly off her, sending her stumbling almost to the edge of the platform. 'Adora!'

Catra caught her, but only so Prime could taunt her some more. "In the end she suffered. She hoped you'd come back for her. But her form is weak, she couldn't handle the torture for even a moment. She is nothing. Oh how she cried for you Adora to come save her," 

Adora froze at that. "What?" Her voice was so quiet. "Catra, I'm going to take care of you, I'm going to take you home," 

Her throat was hoarse and her voice didn't sound like her own. Quiet and pleading, but she was overwhelmingly afraid so there was no other way for her to sound. But along with that, she was truly happy to see Adora with her own eyes again. "Promise?" She knew she had no right to request that from her, not after everything, but she couldn't help herself, in that moment she just wanted to be rescued and protected by Adora. 

Adora's answer was immediate and firm, her eyes were honest and reassuring, and her hand outstretched as a lifeline being gifted only for her. "I promise," 

Electricity scorched through her veins but she was herself, she could see Adora coming to get her, but then...she fell. Adora was still getting closer to her though, she didn't...no she jumped after her!

She blinked her eyes open just enough to see Adora sitting beside her, craddleing her ever so gently. Overcome by emotion she nuzzled in and passed out, but not before catching a glimpse of Adora's eyes glow furiously blue as she transformed into She Ra. She resigned herself to the blackness. 

Her eyes did not open again until she was on the ship, still craddled in Adora's protective embrace. 

"I've got you and I'm not letting you go," Adora stated quietly, so no one but herself or Catra could hear. Catra assumed Adora wouldn't have said it if she knew she was awake again but she was grateful she did. 

"Adora?" She said weakly. "You came back for me," 

"Yes Catra, I couldn't leave you there," Adora said softly as she carried her off to the bedroom. 

Catra recalled hearing sparkles and arrow boy saying Adora should put Catra in her own room in case she needed space or something, but Adora refused. 

Instead, she set Catra in her own room, on her bed. Catra could tell because it all smelled of Adora. 

Adora was so gentle, so careful when she set her down, but the moment the contact between them was completely gone Catra whimpered. 

"Catra," Adora's voice was so soft and caring. "Catra, come back to me," Adora was cupping her cheeks now, brushing away tears that fell from Catra's eyes. "I've got you, everything is okay, we are going to take that chip out of you and you will never have to go back to that place," Adora shifted back into herself, the glow of She-Ra dissipating as she pried her eyes open again.

Catra curled up in Adora's arms and let herself be held for a moment. "I'm so sorry Catra, none of this should have ever happened," Adora said with conviction, even though she was as much a mess as Catra herself was. "But you are not weak. Claws or no claws, you are not weak," The princess took Catra's hands carefully and pulled Catra toward her. Without another word she brought each finger to her lips, kissing each, ever so briefly. 

Catra gasped at the sensation. It sent shockwaves through her, and it was one of the sweetest gestures Adora had ever given her. There were no words she could say so she just hugged her tightly. 

"Catra, Prime is a monster, and I will destroy him for what he did to you," Her voice was distant, cold, something she didn't recognize as belonging to Adora, but it was definitely still her. 

"Pfft. You were going to destroy him anyway, you know, to protect the universe or whatever," Catra rolled her multicolored eyes and turned away. 

Catra felt Adora’s soft hand under her chin and the princess tried to direct her gaze back. Her princess was smiling. A small smile, but it warmed her heart when she gazed on it none the less. "Yes, but now I want to make him suffer, the way he made you suffer, Catnip….-oh uh sorry, even after all this time it's easy to fall into old habits, forgive me," Adora withdrew her hands immediately. Catra's jaw dropped. She hadn't heard that nickname in what felt like forever, but hearing it now she never knew how much she missed it. 

Catra came to her senses and caught Adora’s hands before she managed to get too far away. "You said you would stay, it's okay, I don't mind, to be honest, I've...I don't know… kind of maybe..missed it," Catra mumbled.

“Well, then maybe it’s time for it to make a comeback,” Adora shrugged with another small smile, but her eyes were still dark like her thoughts were far away. “May I get Entrapta now?” 

Catra felt the comforting squeeze of Adora’s hand in hers but she wasn’t really sure about having Entrapta near her. “Do you have to? Can we not sit for a while longer? I-I mean…whats the rush right? It’s not bothering anybody but me,” 

Adora nodded but her expression told her she wasn’t telling her something. 

“What is it?” 

“Nothing. Nothing. There is no rush. We are fine. We can wait until you’re ready, sure. Of couse.” Adora’s nervousness was not lost on her. 

“Adora,” She warned, staring intently at the princess who had since scrunched up her face. 

“Ugh. Fine. They are tracking us. Through the chip,” Adora finally sighed. “But do not let that pressure you. We are fine. They have not caught us yet. You still have time to come to terms with…” 

“To hell with that. Adora what is wrong with you! Get it out of me this instant!”

Adora put her palms up innocently. "I didn't want to add extra stress to you while you're already vulnerable- emotionally vulnerable, not physically," She corrected seeing the look of hurt and anger flash in Catra's eyes. 

"Well go get her already dummy!" Catra snapped. 

"Yup, I'm going," Adora sprang up and ran out of the room.

A moment later she came back with Entrapta. "Hello Catra! It's good to see you!" The purple haired girl waved ecstaticly. 

Catra waved back uncomfortably. "Uh hey," she turned to Adora who was leaning in the door frame smiling. "You're sure she's not going to kill me?" 

Adora shrugged playfully. "I don't know, but if you're asking if she has any ill will toward you, the answer is no, Catra, right Entrapta?" 

She was already getting her tools all laid out on the bed next to Catra. "Hmm me? Kill Catra? Why, cause she told me you all left me behind then convinced me to work for the Horde and then lied to Hordak and had me secretly shipped down to beast island?" 

Catra looked incredibly uncomfortable and Adora's expression turned slightly more serious. "Yeah something like that,"

Adora pushed herself off the wall and strode over to stand next to the scientist. "Entrapta, if you promise to not kill Catra, I have an extra special tech project, an experiment if you will, that you can work on for me, sound like a deal?" Adora suggested much to Catra's confusion. 

Entrapta accepted with an exuberant squeel and a nod of her head. "Oh yes please! Can I use first ones tech?! Please say yes!" 

Adora cast a glance and winked down at Catra with a sly smile. "I think it would be best if you did. As much first ones tech as you can get your hands on," Catra cocked her head to the side, curious what the blonde was up to. 

Entrapta's eyes practically rolled back into her head. She leaned down next to Catra's ear. "Don't ruin this for me Catra, you better live through this, I need a new experiment," 

"Psh I'm not going to do anything, I'm just sitting here while you do all the work," Catra smirked. 

"Okay, should I leave you to it or..," Adora started but Catra cut her off. 

"No!" She cleared her throat. “I mean, stay, please,”

"That's what I thought," Adora sat right in front of Catra and held her hands. Catra only squeezed her hands slightly and only for a second. 

"Done!" Entrapta announced and both of them looked at each other confused. 

"Already?" Adora asked. 

"That was fast, I didn't feel anything," Catra felt the back of her neck and sure enough it was gone. 

"Yup, super easy. Don't forget about that project Adora, I will be waiting," Entrapta said as rolled up her tools and left. 

"Oh Entrapta!”Adora called after her in a singsongy voice. “I'll tell you right now," 

"I'll be back in a second," She told Catra and ran out the door. 

A minute later she heard another excited squeal from Entrapta and a minute later Adora came back with a smug smile on her face. 

"So you gonna tell me what the super secret project is or do you not trust me yet?" Catra asked curiously. 

Adora shook her head, still smiling. "Nope. Not cause I don't trust you, but because it's a surprise for you.” She walked over and kissed Catra on the top of her head. 

"I don't like surprises," Catra grumbled.