No, no, no. You're just trying to trick me. [ She laughs derisively, the noise tearing itself from her throat. It sounds like she's trying to convince herself more than Catra; to claw her way out of a hole filled with dread, not realizing she's only burying herself deeper. ] Did Shadow Weaver put you up to this? Even for her, that's low.
[ Catra's own voice rings in her ears — you know nothing's too low for me — but she knows that isn't true. Hopes it isn't true, even when she's already seen Catra sink lower than she ever thought possible. But she's right about one thing: Adora definitely won't hurt her. Not intentionally, at least. She only ever fought to defend herself against Catra, or to stop her from hurting others, but no more than that. Adora never wanted to see Catra cry out in pain, the way Catra wanted Adora to. More than once, she held back from what could so easily have been a finishing blow, or stayed focused on her task while Catra tore shreds into her skin.
And yet, the look on Catra's face is almost worse than whatever She-Ra could do to her with a weapon. It reminds her so much of Thaymor, and she can already feel things spiraling in the same direction, all while she's helpless to stop it from happening again. Is that what she needs to do? To let go, this time without Catra forcing her hand, but with her forcing Catra's? To prove that she's capable of it?
Because she isn't. Not here, alone, without even Bow and Glimmer to rely on, staring at the one person missing in her life. At Catra, reaching for her again, and Adora can't even bring herself to move away again, finally lowering her sword in defeat — while at the same time, a chill of realization runs down her spine. No part of the Horde looks kindly upon failure, and Shadow Weaver even less kindly than most. So when Catra lost the Battle of Bright Moon... what happened to her afterward? ]
Catra. [ Her voice is urgent, but filled with a deep sadness. ] What's the last thing you remember? You said you were covering for me, but for how long? How long have I been gone?
[ She hates herself for asking, for wondering if Catra could have suffered the same fate Adora herself narrowly avoided... and worse, if it might be a good thing. Is there a price too great for her happiness, even if she doesn't remember paying it? (Of course there is. Anything involving Catra and Shadow Weaver is too much, but if it's already happened, wouldn't it be kinder to fix her past mistakes, instead of repeating them? This time, she can look out for Catra, too, the way she always should have.) ]
>swannies votes for elle
[ Catra's own voice rings in her ears — you know nothing's too low for me — but she knows that isn't true. Hopes it isn't true, even when she's already seen Catra sink lower than she ever thought possible. But she's right about one thing: Adora definitely won't hurt her. Not intentionally, at least. She only ever fought to defend herself against Catra, or to stop her from hurting others, but no more than that. Adora never wanted to see Catra cry out in pain, the way Catra wanted Adora to. More than once, she held back from what could so easily have been a finishing blow, or stayed focused on her task while Catra tore shreds into her skin.
And yet, the look on Catra's face is almost worse than whatever She-Ra could do to her with a weapon. It reminds her so much of Thaymor, and she can already feel things spiraling in the same direction, all while she's helpless to stop it from happening again. Is that what she needs to do? To let go, this time without Catra forcing her hand, but with her forcing Catra's? To prove that she's capable of it?
Because she isn't. Not here, alone, without even Bow and Glimmer to rely on, staring at the one person missing in her life. At Catra, reaching for her again, and Adora can't even bring herself to move away again, finally lowering her sword in defeat — while at the same time, a chill of realization runs down her spine. No part of the Horde looks kindly upon failure, and Shadow Weaver even less kindly than most. So when Catra lost the Battle of Bright Moon... what happened to her afterward? ]
Catra. [ Her voice is urgent, but filled with a deep sadness. ] What's the last thing you remember? You said you were covering for me, but for how long? How long have I been gone?
[ She hates herself for asking, for wondering if Catra could have suffered the same fate Adora herself narrowly avoided... and worse, if it might be a good thing. Is there a price too great for her happiness, even if she doesn't remember paying it? (Of course there is. Anything involving Catra and Shadow Weaver is too much, but if it's already happened, wouldn't it be kinder to fix her past mistakes, instead of repeating them? This time, she can look out for Catra, too, the way she always should have.) ]