Chapter Text
Crimson skies permanently paint clouds in the Fright Zone. It was the last thing Adora saw before going unconscious. Smog lingered in the air from manufacturing robots and other weapons. Steel and other metal corridors echoed footsteps as soldiers dragged their dazed prisoner. They held onto each side, with her wrists and ankles bound to prevent her escape. No sword or friends from the rebellion to help bail her out.
With blonde hair disheveled, Etheria's hero—swordless and weak—groaned from the stabbing pain in her skull. As they drew closer to their destination, Adora opened her eyes again. She blinked repeatedly, immediately regretting her actions. Soreness plagued her body. The soldiers carried on without regard to the bruises covering her neck, face, and exposed torso. At some point, her shirt had ripped in the last battle before being captured. She didn't know when or how.
An image of Catra flying from the mountain side flashed across her mind. Claws and fangs reached towards her as darkness blanketed her memory. Now, she was somehow back inside the Horde's main headquarters. Her body ached and her head was plagued by piercing pains.
"How did I…" She groaned. Her feet drooped incapable, barely moving when she tried. With her vision clearing, Adora analyzed the hallway they turned down. A few feet ahead, ShadowWeaver's doors stood open, ready and awaiting their company. Adora's heart sank as they drew closer. She tried to pull her arms from the Horde soldiers grasp but was met with defeat.
After they entered the room, green lights from the hall faded to red. To the left, leaned over her bird-bath shaped cauldron, ShadowWeaver swirled some kind of thick liquid with her hand.
"Leave us," the sorceress called out. They glanced to each other and then dropped Adora on the spot.
From around the black garnet, Catra snickered, "Awwwwww, look at you." Her tail swayed behind her as she walked towards the fallen hero. "All bound and back home. I can only—"
"Enough!" ShadowWeaver shouted. Darkness around her grew while she removed her hand from the magical mixture. She hovered over, inched closer, and inserted herself between Adora and Catra. She leaned down and stroked Adora's cheek with her wet hand. Goo stuck to her face; Adora flinched.
The Rebellion's hero jerked her head away in defiance. Catra stared at the two, holding her breath. She clenched her fists but refused to move.
ShadowWeaver stood again and returned to the magical brew. "Bring her here."
Catra glanced to the mixture then back to Adora. Growling, she marched over and grabbed her by the collar. She dragged the resistant prisoner against her will, following ShadowWeavers command. Both Catra and Adora gazed down into the gently spinning potion. Onyx black in color, ShadowWeaver placed both hands on the rim of the cauldron. Her gray fingers tapped against the edge.
"I would have normally erased your memory, Adora. Brought you back to us as if you were brand new," she said. Adora looked up, blue eyes searching ShadowWeavers mask. Catra's ears laid flat as her thoughts raced at the idea of her enemy forgetting everything, including her. "But that was vetoed by Lord Hordak. He wants to try… a different approach."
Adora's heart begged to jump out of her chest. Being back in the fright zone, with the person who tormented her, manipulated her, sent a rush of adrenaline through her body. She turned and tried to run but fell to the ground. She pulled and tugged her wrists, trying to loosen the rope. Biting down on the material, she attempted to pull the knot free.
"Hold her up, we need to submerge her face into the mixture," ShadowWeaver said.
"No!" Adora yelled. Catra stepped towards her, grabbed under her armpits, and yanked her body upwards. Struggling against her strength, Catra stumbled twice before forcing her against the bird-bath shaped cauldron.
"It'd be nice if you helped me out here!" Catra yelled, regripping Adora's shoulders.
ShadowWeaver glared at the Force Captain then reached towards the Rebellion's hero. Red energy encapsulated the outside of Adora's body, forcing her to cooperate. Catra glanced into the dark goo again, hesitating to push Adora in without knowing what it would do.
"What are you waiting for?" ShadowWeaver asked.
"You just want me to drown her? For how long? When do I pull her up?" Catra asked calmly, trying to hide any sense of worry.
"Only a minute or so. This potion is specifically designed to see into the mind of whoever is chosen. We're going to look into her heart and see what it is she desires the most. Then use that to our advantage."
Catra scoffed and rolled her eyes. "You don't know? Her precious stupid little friends are her weakness, dum dum. We should get Princess Sparkles to try and rescue her. When she fails Queen Angela—"
"Shut your ugly mouth and submerge her face! You are BENEATH my command and these orders were given directly from Lord Hordak. So shut your mouth, you ungrateful brat and DO WHAT I TELL YOU TO!" ShadowWeaver screamed.
Catra jumped, ears folded down in fear. She glanced to Adora who stared directly at her. Big blue eyes begged for mercy but Catra turned away. As she took her blonde ponytail into her hand, she shoved her face into the goo, holding her there.
A few seconds later, ShadowWeaver cast a spell and wiped some of the goo over her mask. A red symbol drawn with perfect symmetry, spun slowly in place.
Adora, frozen and unable to fight back, held her breathe. Catra, with the feeling of Adora's hair in her hands, gripped her ponytail tighter. She couldn't look at her old best friend being drowned. Especially with trying to fight off the intrusive thought of releasing her.
Within two minutes, ShadowWeaver finished the spell and the red energy circle vanished. Her hold over Adora also dissipated.
Adora threw herself backwards, forcing Catra to lose her grip. The Rebellion's hero hit the ground hard, goo covering her face, as she gasped for air.
"I thought you were above that nonsense, Adora… What a pity. I should've known," ShadowWeaver clicked her tongue.
Adora wiped the gunk off her face. "I don't even know what you're talking about!"
ShadowWeaver turned, with her arms now crossed, to Catra. She looked her up and down before groaning.
Catra shook her head and glanced between the two. "I don't get it. If you could explain what happened with your dumb little spell, we both might know what you're talking about." She mimicked ShadowWeaver by crossing her arms. Her tail flicked with annoyance.
"Fine then. You want to know so bad? Get naked and see for yourself," ShadowWeaver demanded.
Blinking twice, Catra looked around the room. Then, she glanced over her shoulder before turning to ShadowWeaver again.
"Uh, there's no one else here. And I know you aren't talking to me," Catra said.
ShadowWeaver let out a long sigh and shook her head. "You can't be that dense. If you don't do what I say, I'll report your insubordination to Lord Hordak and you can imagine the rest from there."
Catra turned red in the face, embarrassment flushing over her. "I am not getting naked. Are you crazy?! Both you and Adora are right here!"
"The point is that Adora is here. I'm just observing her reactions to confirm what I saw within the spell. I could care less about you in a nude state," ShadowWeaver explained. Catra looked to Adora who's face was now the color of her ripped jacket. "I'm not going to ask you again," ShadowWeaver hissed.
Catra gulped and took a step back. Fear infected her muscles, stopping her from listening to ShadowWeavers command. Naked? They were nineteen so it's not like they were kids anymore, but this situation didn't make sense to her. Unable to move, ShadowWeaver turned for the door, ready to report her.
Anxiety followed fear, poisoning Catra's body. "OK!" She hollered. "I'll do what you say!"