Chapter Text
Her face warped with rage as she attacked Adora, claws flying at furious speed, delivering blows and counters, while Adora defended herself with the strength and control of her sword.
The Horde had been the Brightmoon Knights sworn enemy for as long as Adora could remember - they fought for the ownership of the towns of Etheria since they first landed on this planet hundreds of years ago. Adora led the Knights that defended Brightmoon, and the other girl led the knights from the Horde - a force captain, which she noted from the logo badge proud on her chest.
Adora thrust her sword in anger, rushing at the girl with a determination she had never felt before. Her rage forced the girl to duck as she attempted to hurl another punch. They evaded each other until they approached the wall of a cliff at the edge of the forest. Close to defeat, but she jumped onto a protruding section above where Adora stood below.
She taunted at Adora's sigh of frustration, "What, tired already?"
Adora pouted, impassive to her sarcasm, and leaped up to her level, stabbed again and missed. The Horde soldier took another step back to miss the blow and realised she had backed herself onto the edge of the platform. Dust and pieces of gravel toppled off under her weight. She backflipped down onto the grass and Adora almost admired how effortless she made it look as she followed like her shadow.
"There's no way you'll win this!"
But the girl smirked, like she knew something Adora didn't. They tiptoed around each other in a furtive manner, and as Adora shifted to make a move, she watched the Horde soldier rush toward her in slow motion as she slashed and pinned her down, holding the blade of her dagger to Adora's throat. Adora's sword clattered to the ground, useless, at the force of the girl's hand on her wrist.
"Not so big and tough now, are we, princess?" She teased, smirking with satisfaction.
Adora scoffed and averted her eyes. She didn't have time for this, but she couldn't simply walk away - the girl had a sword at her throat and Adora's weapon taunted her, out of reach. Fights never usually went down like this - it frustrated her to know that some Horde soldier thought it would be funny to push all of her buttons.
She continued and cooed at the blush on Adora's face, "Aww, you're not even going to struggle? You could at least look me in the eyes."
The blade grazed the skin of her neck. Adora looked up into the other girl's eyes and saw fire, determined and incessant. She screwed her eyes shut and braced for imminent impact, but unexpectedly, the girl froze.
The vigour she gained from her fire of rage dissipated in the wind, and left behind something more conflicted. Instead, she swung the sword at her thigh and cut. Adora's legs collapsed under her weight, but the Horde soldier caught her before she fell and sustained more injuries.
As if to put more fuel in the fire she said, "The name's Catra. And you are?"
Adora looked up to see Catra's face, blurry from her welling eyes and the throbbing pain that blossomed over her body. "Adora."
"You put up a good fight, but it seems you lost this time, Adora,"
Her eyes fluttered closed, and the world faded to black.
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There was a grand and empty silence after a battle. In the aftermath there were only two things; those that lived, and those that didn't.
They'd certainly lost, but she didn't think it would feel much different if they'd won either. Winning didn't feel like winning when it cost so much. Pulses radiated up through the dirt - the pulses of people that never should have gone. Pulses that could have just as easily been hers .
Adora tried to move from her position on the floor, but it became more difficult than she anticipated - her limbs were weakened by the deep, burning ache from the affected area as well as the loss of blood. The woods bent around her, fading as they converged at the horizon. She huffed, closed her eyes and hoped that someone would find her before she became the ground she lay on.
Twigs crunched in the distance.
"Adora?" Glimmer called out into the forest, and soon after, "There's a body over there in the trees - oh no, is that Adora?"
Two sets of footsteps bounded towards her, one Glimmer's - the other she assumed came from Bow. They crouched down on either side of her body on the grass.
Bow and Glimmer were both Adora's friends and knights for Brightmoon. They’d been inseparable since they first met at training when they were 13, and had come to be very protective of Adora, especially considering her stubborn and altogether reckless nature.
"What happened? Who did this to you?" Glimmer cursed.
Adora opened her mouth to speak but her throat closed up, hoarse.
"Hey, give her a second," Bow whispered. Adora smiled. "We're just glad you're safe. Here, can you sit up?"
Adora nodded. Bow supported her back as she eased into a seated position against his shoulder, and grimaced at the stiffness in her bones. She wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to find warmth, but her whole body still felt like ice.
"Bow, she's shivering, did you bring the thermal blanket?"
Bow looked at Glimmer like she suggested he'd kicked a kitten, "Did I bring it? Of course I did! I even brought a flask of hot tea and snacks." He shuffled to take the rucksack off his back, careful not to let Adora fall while he did so.
Adora sipped the tea, thankful for the warmth that soothed her sore and aching muscles.
"Thanks guys. Honestly, I was kind of worried that no-one would come for me."
"You're our friend, of course we'd come for you." Glimmer reassured her. She inspected Adora's body for any open wounds while she drank.
Glimmer's eyes widened, then softened into something more concerned. "Adora! You have a cut on the side of your thigh and you didn't tell us!"
"Well, it's not actually bleeding anymore, I thought-"
She put her hand up to shush her, "No time for excuses. Bow, do you have the first aid kit?"
"I do…" He lengthened the 'do' as he rummaged around in his backpack. "Here!"
"It's fine really-" Adora attempted to brush them off. She didn't want them to fret over her.
Bow placed a reposeful hand on Adora's shoulder. "Hey, it's okay. You don't have to feel like a burden around us. We want to help you."
She sighed, giving in to their concern. "Okay."
Glimmer applied a disinfectant cream to the raw area. "The wound on your leg is pretty deep, which means unfortunately for you -"
"- I'm going to have to rest." Adora finished her sentence. Bow and Glimmer knew all too well that Adora hated taking time off, especially while her friends still fought.
Glimmer nodded, "Exactly. And we'll make sure you do," She reached into the first aid kit for bandages. "I know it's not actually bleeding anymore, but I don't want anything infecting it again on the way home."
Adora nodded and cleared her throat, "I know who did it, by the way. It was Catra, a Horde force captain."
"And she didn't take you out when she had the chance?" Bow questioned.
"Well, yeah," Adora furrowed her brows, "She could have killed me right then, but she cut my thigh instead."
"Could you lift your leg up a bit?" Glimmer murmured, and Adora complied, though wincing a little as she did.
"That's so odd... You're like the number one horde enemy!" She exclaimed, "Uh- no offence."
"It's not like she would have anything to gain from letting you go, if she took you out they'd be able to win over the rebellion in no time. Plus, the reason that you're the number one Horde enemy is because you're our best soldier!"
Adora hummed in agreement. "Trust me, if I knew I would tell you guys first. But as of right now, I'm just as in the dark as you are. Did everyone else make it out okay? Where are they now?"
"We had a few minor injuries, but nothing our doctors couldn't manage." Bow and Glimmer understood Adora's worries well enough now to know what she needed to hear. She would sacrifice herself in a heartbeat if it meant the people she loved would be saved. And if they sacrificed themselves for her, well - she never liked to think about that. "Netossa put up a shield for us so we could get everyone back to safety."
Adora exhaled a pent-up breath, "That's good. I'm glad they're safe."
"Yeah. And you'll have plenty of time to see them while you do your rest and recovery. Do you have your sword?"
The sword. "Oh no. I dropped it when Catra pinned me, just before I fell. She must have taken it."
Adora's sword had been the only thing left from her family when she arrived in Brightmoon as a baby. It had her family name engraved on the hilt - Greyskull - and a shining blue gemstone above it. She chewed on the tip of her thumbnail. What would she do without it?
"Don't worry. We'll figure out a way to get it back." Glimmer moved Adora's hands away from her face. "For now all we need to do is get you home - can you stand?"
She nodded, way ahead of herself. "Ah, ow," Pins and needles rose up her legs as normal blood flow returned. Bow and Glimmer rushed to support her by the arms. "I'm ok, I just - gotta get used to standing again."
"Do you need us to help you walk back? I'm not sure if we could carry you, but you can always lean on us for support if you need it."
"No, I'll be okay. Thank you, though."
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Adora hauled herself up the stone steps to the entrance of Brightmoon castle. She wished she'd taken the offer for Bow and Glimmer's support when she had the chance. She felt fine at the start, but over time her legs grew weaker and more exhausted. The steps were the final straw.
Though her legs were screaming, the scenery became a sufficient distraction. Carnations were trellised in their pots along the front wall, in sunset shades. Ivy and other various vines climbed towards the battlements as though they were trying to touch the sun.
Adora waved Bow and Glimmer off as they approached her room, "I can wash myself!"
"If you say so," Glimmer laughed, "We'll be close by just in case though."
"Yeah, bathroom falls can be pretty nasty."
Adora smiled, "Thanks guys - For looking out for me."
"Trust me, it's the least we could do."
Adora closed the door of her room behind her and removed her plate armour, hanging each piece carefully in her closet. Her white linen trousers were too stained to be worn again, so she threw them in the trash and made a mental note to ask for a new pair. Though Glimmer had patched her up well considering the circumstances, her wound still needed to be washed properly.
She sat in a bathtub of boiling water and finally let her muscles go slack.
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The Fright Zone never had a moment of silence. Underfoot, the ground was the pale brown of dead things, all dry earth and factory smoke. Machines whirred at all hours of the day, churning all types of armour and weapons.
Shadow Weaver's sanctum wasn't an exception.
Catra turned over the sword in her hands, and traced over the name engraved on the hilt and the shining blue gemstone below the blade.
She jerked as Shadow Weaver began to speak, commanding her full attention. "Catra. Our win at Brightmoon today has given us a great advantage, and I commend you for that, but your sparing of the blonde knight seems… Uncharacteristic of you." He raised his eyebrows for an explanation.
Catra's eyes widened at the mention of Adora but she pushed any thoughts away that would break her facade. "She got away before I could do any real damage, but trust me, if I could, I'd wipe that stupid princess grin off her face in an instant."
"I trust that you're telling the truth. But let it be known that if I find out that you have been lying to me to save your own life, your grin will be the one that is wiped."
"I understand." Threats like these were something Catra had grown used to. None of them had been acted upon - yet.
"Besides, I got that dumb sword you were asking for. I gotta admit, it looks expensive." She cursed herself for speaking so carelessly.
"I did not ask for the sword to make cash, Force Captain," Shadow Weaver spat, "I wanted the sword so we could get Adora."
"Seriously? I've seen enough of her face to last me a lifetime."
"I want her here so we can dispose of her ourselves. That knight has foiled too many of our plans to let her get off easy."
Catra raised her eyebrows, intrigued. "I'm listening,"
"We have a cell ready for her already. Expect an ambush at any moment, and no matter what, do not let her get away."
"Yes, Shadow Weaver."
"We are also expecting a new recruit to help the development of new bots. Her name is Entrapta if I remember it correctly. You and Scorpia are to show her around the Fright Zone and the bot room, where she will be working."
"Is she here now?"
"Yes. She should be at the barracks now. You are dismissed."
Catra turned to exit the room, and rolled her eyes once her back was turned. Scorpia stood outside the door waiting for her.
"Hey Catra! Did Shadow Weaver like the sword?" What else did she want you in her sanctum for?"
"I guess she liked it. She has some crazy plans to lure Adora here so she can dispose of her or something."
"Wow, is there anything I can do to help? Should I prepare her prison food?"
"No. That won't be necessary. We just have to prepare for any kind of ambush in the next few days." The last thing Catra wanted was to see those stupid knights again, but orders were orders, and she had to follow them if she wanted to get anywhere in this place.
"Did he tell you about anything else?"
"Nothing important. We're supposed to be having a new weapon girl or something. Her name's Entrapta."
"New recruits! Oh my, it's been so long since I've seen someone new around here, what's she like? What's her favourite type of tea? How-"
"Scorpia." Catra interrupted, "If you want to know so badly, why don't you ask her yourself?"
Catra looked up and saw the supposed Entrapta wandering over to them, her pigtails trailing along the floor behind her.
"Ooh, nice arms!" She exclaimed at Scorpia's pincers, feeling the texture of them in her hands, "Are they mechanical?"
"No, actually they're natural." Scorpia scratched the back of her head. "Kind of runs in the family, being half scorpion and all."
"Fascinating! And your ears-"
"Dont. Don't touch my ears." Catra waved her prying hands away.
She backed away. "Oh, okay. I guess I better introduce myself - I'm Entrapta, the other Horde base transferred me here to help with weapons."
"I thought you were supposed to be waiting for us in the barracks?"
"Yes! I was there earlier but I thought I would look around and see what this place is like."
"Okay." Catra nodded. "Anyway, we have plenty of weapons, and they work just fine, why do we need anything new?"
Entrapta's face lit up. "Yes, they work, but everything can always be improved! My developments will help in the battle against Brightmoon, I can guarantee it!"
" And beating the surrounding towns?" Catra questioned.
"Of course!" Her enthusiasm seemed to make anything believable.
Catra bit her lip. "Hmm, well, I suppose you will be of use to us at least for now. The weapon room is in the hallway on the left. I expect to see regular updates for the development, okay?"
Entrapta sped off in that direction immediately.
"...Entrapta?"
"I-I think she's gone to work," Scorpia looked to the left in the direction of the weapon room, but she was nowhere to be seen. They looked at each other for a moment, confused, before continuing down the hall to the barracks where the other cadets were training.
"You know, for someone who supposedly hates knights Shadow Weaver sure does talk about them a lot," Catra scoffed, "They're so… dumb."
"I know! Especially that blonde one. I don't know what it is about her, but I just don't like her face!"
"What, Adora?" Catra laughed, "I know, and she's so easy to fluster, it's hilarious. You should've seen the look on her face when I threatened to kill her."
"I wish I could've been there. I was too busy with Glimmer - why is her armour so obnoxiously bright?"
"You fought the sparkly princess? I thought she was supposed to sit in her castle and give orders or something. I'm surprised the Queen would even let her fight."
"She probably snuck out of the castle when one of the guards weren't looking. Besides, she put up quite a good fight, I'll give her that."
"Scorpia, she's from Brightmoon , you're not supposed to compliment her!"
Scorpia attempted to backtrack. "Oh right, sorry - Her fighting was awful!"
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