Chapter Text
Sometimes you can’t go back, no matter how much you want to.
She-Ra walked through the Whispering Wood, doing her best to collect her thoughts. Entrapta was gone because of her. Glimmer was sick because of her. All because of her bloody plan. She punched a tree, wincing as splinters dug their way into her knuckles. This forest wasn’t helping either.
“You gave me these powers!” she shouted into the foliage. “You showed me where the sword was! Why aren’t you helping me now?”
The woods were silent. In frustration, She-Ra hurled her sword into the foliage, changing back to Adora. She sat down and brought her knees to her chest.
“I just want everything to be okay. Is that so much to ask?”
Again, more silence. Adora shook her head and sniffled furiously. In the Horde, showing signs of weakness was an opening for punishment. She wasn’t in the Horde any more, but old habits died hard.
Movement was the only warning she had before the sword shot out of the foliage and bounced off of a nearby rock.
“You should be careful with your weapons,” a familiar voice purred. “Don’t want them falling into the wrong hands.”
Instantly Adora was on her feet, one pass of her shirt sleeve over her face the only admission to tears she was willing to show. “Catra.”
“Hey Adora.” Catra walked into the clearing, crossing her arms over her chest. “You’re a long way from the other princesses.”
“What are you doing here?” Adora demanded, eyes scanning the perimeter for more Horde soldiers. All she saw was Catra.
Catra shrugged. “No longer allowed to take a walk without permission granted by the mighty She-Ra, I see.”
“This isn’t the Fright Zone.”
“Oh, so this is Rebellion territory. No room for dirty Horde.” Catra spat out the last two words, eyes narrowing, and was rewarded by Adora looking unsure of herself now.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what -did- you mean, Adora?”
Gods, she just wanted to punch another tree. The splinters in her hand ached as if to remind her why that might be a bad idea. It would hurt less than this conversation, than any conversation, with her former best friend.
“You don’t normally go for walks,” Adora finally responded.
Catra snorted. “And how do you know what I normally do these days? You’re too busy hanging out with your new pals. How is...what’s her name, Glimmer?”
Adora winced. Catra had a point and it was barbed and aimed directly where it would hurt most. It seemed like no matter where she went, Glimmer and Bow were not far behind and vice versa. Much like she and Catra had been in the Fright Zone.
She searched Catra’s face, looking for any sense of hurt. It felt like all she did was hurt people she cared about.
Catra took a step back, unsure of the look in Adora’s eyes. “What?”
“How are you doing?” Adora asked, regretting the question as soon as it came out. Catra’s eyes narrowed as she stalked towards Adora, claws scraping against a tree.
“How am I doing?” Catra parroted, baring her fangs. “I’m just FINE, Adora. Got promoted to Force Captain, showing up Shadow Weaver, making new friends. I don’t need you. Never did.”
“I didn’t say you did.” Adora took a hesitant step forward, pausing when Catra’s fur rose on end. “Catra-”
“Don’t you dare pity me,” Catra snapped. “That’s the last thing I want from you.”
“Then what do you want from me, Catra?”
That made the other woman pause, tail lashing behind her in uncertainty. Emboldened, Adora continued.
“We’re in the Whispering Woods. Both of us know you didn’t come here for a walk, and there’s a lot of territory to cover that doesn’t have me in it. You had the element of surprise on me, and didn’t take it. You had my sword, and didn’t take it. Why?”
Catra snarled. “I don’t have to answer your damn questions.”
“No, you don’t,” Adora replied. “So why are you still here talking to me? Catra, what do you want?” Another step forward towards her former best friend, and she could see the woman’s ears flatten against her head as she closed the distance between them.
Catra had always been faster than her, so it came as little surprise that she couldn’t quite dodge the other’s hands when Catra shoved her up against a tree, hissing angrily. Catra’s mouth against hers, though? That wasn’t expected in the slightest. Hands that had been coming up to move Catra away now pulled her closer as Adora kissed her back instinctively.
Why had this never happened earlier? Why was this happening now with them on opposite sides of a war that seemed like it was never going to end? And why did it feel so right with their lips pressed together as if they couldn’t get enough of each other?
Catra broke for air first, her mismatched eyes searching Adora’s for something that Adora couldn’t fathom. Acceptance? Permission? Adora didn’t know and didn’t care. She took a deep breath and pulled herself forward to kiss Catra again.
But Catra was no longer there. The other woman had taken a few steps back to compose herself, a wild look in those normally cold eyes.
“Catra,” Adora managed, reaching out for her.
Catra shook her head violently and sprang into the nearest tree to put more distance between the two of them. She looked strangely vulnerable crouching there, as if she’d overstepped a line and didn’t know how to react any more.
“Catra, wait!”
Catra bolted for the safety of the forest and likely the Fright Zone. Adora knew if Catra made it to the Fright Zone, she might never find the answers, and there was only one way to keep up with a panicked cat.
She grabbed her sword and held it high above her head, shouting the incantation. “For the honor of Greyskull!”
She-Ra set off into the forest after her friend, crashing through the underbrush as those impossibly blue eyes scanned for the brown fur and mismatched eyes.
Sometimes you can't go back, but you can do your best to make amends with those you left behind.