Archive of Our Own ^beta

When Adora had heard that former Horde members had built their own little community, she knew she had to see it for herself. From what she'd heard, with the war over, a lot of former Horde soldiers had now moved on from their previous lives and reformed, wanting to make a difference to Etheria.

The community they'd built was fairly big. It was a town on the other side of the Whispering Woods, not too far from Dryl and quite close to where the Fright Zone used to be. The buildings were quite old and rusted, built out of rubble from the Fright Zone, Horde Prime's spires or other places.

As Adora walked through the town, admiring everything, she was grateful these people had a second chance, to work for peace instead of war. People were going about their business, repairing the buildings and running businesses like stores and markets.

She even noticed one of the market stalls was run by a former Force Captain. She recognised him vaguely. Blue fur-covered skin and yellow eyes, rather muscular. Years ago, he'd been one of the drill instructors when Catra and Adora were still cadets. Now he was working as the town's blacksmith, working on something with a plasma welder.

She felt the warm wind from the nearby desert blow through the streets, a reminder to her of how hot and humid the Fright Zone was. Still, the sight of this town made her feel full of hope, that in the future, something truly beautiful could be built from this place.

"This place has really brought out the best in people," Adora remarked.

"Can we just go already?" her companion complained, scuttling closer to her. "I really shouldn't be here."

Catra had come along with Adora to check the place out, at her request. But Catra had been uneasy the whole time, since she'd been a jerk to pretty much everyone who was living in this town. Sure, they likely all knew about her turn to the side of good, who on Etheria didn't, but she was still ashamed.

As Adora kept looking around, Catra scuttled behind her in her hooded cloak, looking from side to side. Her gold and blue eyes darted in all directions, Her tail sticking up, a sign the felid was on constant alert. As they went down a nearby street, Catra grabbed Adora and pulled her into a nearby alleyway.

"Adora, this whole thing is stupid!" Catra argued. "You really thought it was a good idea to come here? To bring me here?"

"Come on, Catra, aren't you glad these people are following your example and doing good?" Adora wondered. "This town... they built half of it from the crap in the Fright Zone. Isn't that amazing? Turning a fortress of evil into a home, a community?"

"Need I remind you said fortress of evil already got trashed thanks to me and Hordak," Catra reminded her. "And some had already left before that, like Scorpia. To be honest... They should have just left that damn place to rust. Too many bad memories."

Adora put her hand on Catra's shoulder. She knew how Catra felt, but still thought it was a good thing to bring her here. Perfuma had even recommended Catra come here, to give her a sense that she wasn't alone in being a former member of the Horde wanting to do good.

"Catra, it's okay, we don't have to stay long," Adora told her, looking into her girlfriend's eyes. "But at the very least. give these people a chance, I'm sure there are people here who will be happy to see you again. I mean... not everyone in the Horde could have hated you, right?"

"Maybe... but I don't know if I'd be happy to see them again," Catra said. "You weren't the one literally cracking the whip at some of these people."

"That's not you anymore, remember?" Adora reminded her.

"Yeah, but it's what I'm pretty sure most of the folks here think of when they hear my name," Catra replied. "But... fine, I suppose I can give these people a chance."

Then she noticed someone familiar standing by a nearby building, talking to someone. A taller woman with blue scales and tentacles and an all too familiar eyepatch. She had to chuckle a little at the sight of her, being reminded of one of the more... fonder memories of her childhood.

"Well, I'll be damned," Catra remarked. "It's Octavia."

"Still think she's a dumb face?" Adora said, playfully nudging her arm.

"Heh, she looks even dumber with the eyepatch," Catra said, before laughing a little. "Honestly, I wasn't expecting to see her here."

"What do you think she's up to?" Adora wondered. "Think she... recognises us?"

"Don't know and probably not," Catra admitted. She sighed. She was just a kid when she scratched Octavia's eye out with her claw. She was mean to her, she wasn't going to deny that... but she couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. "Maybe I should ask Entrapta to make her some sort of cool bionic eye or something."

"You know, maybe she'd like that," Adora replied, smiling at Catra. She was clearly not the villain she'd been in years before. Here she was honestly planning to try and make amends for something she'd done years ago, even if it was a minor thing from when they were young.

Just the fact that Catra was thinking about it gave Adora hope for her girlfriend's continued mental wellbeing. She then held Catra's hand, the catgirl looking at her.

"What are you looking at?" She asked, teasingly.

Adora smiled fondly. "You, because I'm proud of you," she said, before kissing Catra on the lips. "Now, come on, let's go see what's down this street."

Nodding, Catra held Adora's hand as she led them out of the alley together. Continuing down the main street of the town, Catra couldn't help but feel like someone, somewhere was staring at her. Judging her, wanting to get payback for her treating them like dirt.

She didn't blame them. She'd been such a horrible person during her days as a villain. Abusive, toxic, violent. She was deeply ashamed and regretful of how she'd acted to pretty much everyone. Despite her thoughts about wanting to mend things with Octavia, Catra knew that there were going to be others who wouldn't forgive her

If they wanted to give her payback for that... well, she wasn't going to resist. Though... she didn't expect someone to take action against her right there and then. Suddenly, she heard footsteps rush towards her, boots hitting the dirt beneath their feet hard.

"You're got some nerve showing your face here, Catra!" A rough, slightly deep voice snarled, before a fist clocked Catra right in the face. The catgirl grunted as she was knocked into the dirt of a nearby alley, her cloak falling off.

"Catra!" Adora exclaimed, rushing to her girlfriend's side.

"I'm... I'm okay..." Catra groaned. "Jeez, that was a mean right hook."

Adora turned around, and she and Catra saw who had punched her. Standing in the entrance to the alley with her hands on her hips was a familiar young woman with tan skin. Though her hair was a lot different now. Gone in fact, though it took Adora to realise she wasn't bald, rather she'd only shaved her head. She was wearing a much different outfit now, a black jacket with red accents, but it was unmistakably her.

"Lonnie?!" Adora exclaimed. "Is that you?!"

Lonnie folded her arms, frowning at Adora. "I knew you'd show your face around here sooner or later, Adora. It's been a long time."

"I... I didn't expect to see you here," Adora admitted, looking up and down at her former friend. Lonnie looked a lot more battle hardened now. It was quite surprising to see that she'd shaved off her dreadlocks, but in a way, the shaved head gave her a lot more of a rougher look.

"Neither did I, figured you and those princesses had your own businesses to take care of," Lonnie said. "But... I'm not mad at you. You did save the planet after all. What I am pissed about... is why you had to bring her here?"

"Catra deserved to see what you guys have been doing out here. Perfuma figured it'd be good to see how others are reforming like her," Adora explained.

"I can speak for myself thank you," Catra piped up, before glaring at Lonnie. "For the record Lonnie, I didn't plan on staying long. Hell, I'll go right now if that's what you want."

"Oh, I don't want you to go," Lonnie told them. "But I've waited nearly a year to finally give you payback for treating me and the others like crap. Unlike Scorpia and Entrapta, I don't forgive as easy."

"Stubborn as ever," Catra groaned. "I can see why you and Adora got on so well back in the old days." She then shook her head. "Fine, you wanna settle this with fists instead? Because I don't mind things getting dirty if it means getting this shit off our chests."

"Hey, no fighting!" Adora urged. "We're not here to start fights, Catra!"

"You're not the one she punched in the face!"

"Even so, I don't want there to be any fighting, between anyone here," Adora argued. She looked over at Lonnie. "Catra's my responsibility, Lonnie. If you and her are going to start something, you're gonna have to go through me and I won't hold back."

Lonnie looked at Adora and sighed. "I... I should tell you to go fuck yourself but... I dunno, maybe it's Catra's new hairdo, but something in my gut tells me you have changed and maybe, just maybe, I can call you a friend again, Adora. But I still am a long way off from ever considering Catra a friend."

"I understand," Catra accepted. "But... I'm glad you still have that mean right hook."

Looking at Adora, Lonnie smiled. "Why don't you come over to my place? You could stay for dinner and we can catch up... plus, get Catra out of the open. I'm surprised no one's tried to shoot her yet."

"People hate her that bad here?"

"Lots of people do. I know like ten guys who would love to put a laser bolt right between her eyes," Lonnie explained. "I may still hate her, but not enough to want her dead."

"Well, that makes me feel better," Catra muttered. "Alright, lead the way."

Lonnie led Catra and Adora through the streets of the Horde town, taking them back to her home. She felt a bit conflicted about seeing them again. Part of her had wanted to forget about Adora and Catra, as she felt both of them had betrayed her, but seeing them again now... well, she couldn't bring herself to hate them as much.

Well, except Catra, she still hated her.

"So... how'd you end up out here?" Adora asked, trying to break the awkward silence as they walked. "I mean, the last I heard of you, Scorpia said you, Kyle and Rogelio were fleeing the Fright Zone."

"Yeah, things went downhill a bit from there," Lonnie explained. "We spent some time in hiding in the Crimson Waste when Horde Prime's invasion started. Had a kinda bad run-in with some Horde Clones and that Huntara chick. Shit, she was crazy scary, even before she got chipped."

"So what made you want to settle down?" Catra wondered. "Not that being a fugitive on the run isn't a glamorous lifestyle mind you."

"I see your sense of humour hasn't changed," Lonnie remarked. "But nah, I guess I got tired of running. Me and the guys... we wanted to make something of ourselves and when we heard some of the other old force captains were setting up this place, we figured it was worth a shot."

Adora smiled. "I'm glad about that. It's nice to have a place to call home."

Lonnie chuckled. "Damn right and speaking of home... take a look at that."

Before the three of them was Lonnie's home, a large building that had been partly built out of the structure of one of the Horde's large troop transports, large pieces of scrap metal jutting out from every angle and yet... it looked quite quaint in a way, a weapon of war rebuilt into a home.

"Woah! You built that?" Adora wondered.

"The others helped," Lonnie replied. "Turned the cabin into my bedroom too."

"Not bad, Lonnie," Catra snarked. "But our place in Brightmoon is bigger."

"Showoff," Lonnie said, walking through the front gate. As they approached the large house, Catra looked up as a small, winged bat creature flew down, squeaking happily as it landed in Lonnie's arms. She giggled and held him, booping his little nose.

"Awww, missed me little guy?" she wondered, to which the little creature played back a voice clip of her saying, "yes".

"Wait isn't that Hordak's little clone thing?" Catra asked.

"Yeah, the guys and I found him in near the Fright Zone ruins not long after the invasion. Poor guy was starving and cold, so we've been taking care of him ever since."

"Sure you don't wanna send him back to Hordak?" Adora wondered. "He's in Dryl with Entrapta these days."

"I know, I ran into him not that long ago," Lonnie responded.

"You did?" Adora wondered. "How... was it?

"Not that bad. I mean, I guess you probably expected me to beat the snot out of the guy... but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. He really has changed a lot," Lonnie admitted. "Besides, I didn't have much of a grudge against Hordak anyway. He said he was glad Imp was staying with us. Figured we'd be a better family than he ever was."

"Says a lot when she's cool with the ex-tyrant, but I warrant a fist to the face," Catra grumbled.

Lonnie held Imp in her arms, walking towards the front door. As she headed inside, she took off her jacket and plopped Imp down on the nearby couch, before stretching her arms. Adora and Catra followed, looking inside at the rather quaint interior of Lonnie's home.

"Huh, it's a lot smaller on the inside," Catra admitted.

"Feels kinda cosy," Adora added.

Lonnie smiled, walking towards the kitchen, as Adora and Catra smelled something cooking. It... actually smelled rather nice. "Kyle, how's dinner coming?!" she called out. "We uhhh... we've got a few guests joining us tonight, so you might wanna grab some extra plates."

From the kitchen, Adora and Catra saw the familiar face of a young, blonde boy walk towards them, his eyes widening as he saw Catra.

"C-Catra?!" he exclaimed.

Lonnie walked over to him, kissing his cheek. "Hey, it's alright, sweetie. She's with Adora. She's a good guy now, remember? Plus, I gave her a warning that if she tries something, I'll snap her tail like a twig."

"Y-You sure?" he wondered nervously. "She's not gonna hurt me?"

"Look, Kyle, I may have thought you were a worthless duct rat," Catra said. "But... I won't hurt you. I don't do that anymore."

Adora blinked. "Wait... did you just kiss Kyle?"

Lonnie blushed. "Yeah... me and him are kinda..."

"We're a thing!" Kyle confirmed.

"And what about Rogelio? He once told me he had a thing for Kyle," Catra asked. "

"Wait he did?!" Adora exclaimed. "I thought that was just a rumour going around."

"Everything just flies over your head, doesn't it, Adora?" Catra remarked.

The two of them heard the sound of growling as Rogelio walked downstairs. He glared at Catra, but walked up to Adora, softling petting her on the head. He shot her a toothy grin before going over and hugging Lonnie and Kyle, Kyle kissing his cheek.

"Actually, all three of us are a thing," Lonnie explained. "We're family, the four of us... it made no sense for us to be apart. Plus, Imp's gotta have some good parental figures."

"Oh well... I'm happy for you!" Adora congratulated them. "Really, I am."

"Yeah ditto for me too," Catra replied. "You three always did get on well... though I don't think I'd have pegged you three as all dating each other."

"Well, I certainly didn't peg you two as being a thing either," Lonnie admitted. "Honestly, I thought it was more likely you two were gonna kill each other instead of dating. But stranger things have happened around here."

"So... um... I was just finishing up preparing dinner," Kyle said. "Rogelio, could you help out?"

The lizard growled and the two of them headed into the kitchen.

Lonnie smiled and looked at Adora and Catra. "They're actually really good cooks. Kyle is practically a gourmet chef."

"Kyle? Gourmet chef?" Catra queried. "I can't believe I heard those words in the same sentence."

To their surprise, Lonnie was right. Kyle's cooking would honestly put some of the chefs in Brightmoon to shame. As they sat at the dinner table, their bellies full of food, Rogelio cleaned up their plates, while Lonnie sat down on the couch in the front room, Imp sleeping on her lap.

"Wow... Kyle is full of surprises," Adora expressed, rubbing her tummy.

Lonnie laughed. "Oh, he's actually got plenty." She smirked. "I take it you liked it."

"Oh yeah," Catra replied. "Hey, Kyle, if Sparkles starts hiring for new royal chefs, I'll mention you."

"Oh um... Thanks!" Kyle responded, cuddling up to Lonnie. "But uhhh... I think I'll be fine where I am." He smiled at Lonnie who then gave him a kiss on the lips.

"You know... you guys would fit in well in Brightmoon," Adora admitted, looking over at Lonnie and Kyle who were now being joined by Rogelio. "I mean... our friends there would love you guys. I mean, I'm pretty sure Scorpia would love to catch up with you guys again."

"Yeah, she hooked up with the plant girl didn't she?" Lonnie wondered. "Petunia or something?"

"Perfuma," Catra corrected. "They're totally a thing... and a very serious thing, from the way Scorpia's always talking about her. Seriously, I swear the wedding announcement is gonna be any day now for those two."

"Yeah, Scorpia was already a princess," Lonnie stated. "She already had something in common with those girls. Me and the guys... well, that pretty, magic, sparkly shit isn't really for us, plus we've got a duty to the people in this town. That being said... maybe we'll stop by sometime."

"Did I mention that Lonnie is the town sheriff?" Kyle then spoke up. "She beat up this big guy who was harassing the guys running the market stalls the other day. Rogelio watched as she threw him into a wall!"

"Kyle, sweetie, don't big me up, that guy was just asking for trouble."

"Sherrif?" Adora inquired. "So you're keeping the peace here?"

"A bit like you do," Lonnie explained. "Though, I can handle myself fine without magic swords and whatnot." She flexed her muscles slightly.

"I'd believe it," Catra stated. "Still... I'm glad things worked out well for you."

"And... I'm glad you did see the light, Catra," Lonnie begrudgingly admitted. "But I still kinda hate you."

"Duly noted," Catra agreed. "I kinda still hate you too, hothead."

Adora then looked out into the courtyard, seeing that there was a makeshift training area set up, with dummies and targets made out of scrap metal. It gave her an idea, an idea that would probably be just the thing to break the ice between the five of them.

"Hey, is that your training area out there?" she asked.

"Yeah, me and Rogelio spar there sometimes," Lonnie replied.

"Feel like going up against Catra and me for old times sake?" Adora offered. "It would definitely help deal with the tension between you and her."

"Well, I always feel like I fight best on a full stomach," Lonnie offered. "But no using She-Ra or magic or any of that stuff. I like to fight fair and square."

"You sure about this?" Catra wondered.

"Yup!" Adora confirmed. "After all, it'll be just like old times."

The group went out into the backyard to spar, Adora and Catra managing to hold their own against Rogelio and Lonnie, When the night was over and their bonds had been mended, Adora and Catra felt glad that they had come here. While Catra knew Lonnie and the others were still cold to her, she hoped that one day, they could all be true friends again.

As for Adora... well, she was glad to have this chance to reconnect with her old friends, feeling that this was a sign of a fresh start for all of them.