Chapter Text
The Fright Zone is far from being a welcoming place. It was considered to be the Horde’s symbol of dominance.
The compound comprised of sharp and imposing structures, exhibiting a strong green aura within it. The air coming from the place carried a thick acrid odor, it’s almost impossible to ignore, not to mention the ceaseless roar of heavy industrial machinery echoing throughout the grounds. The Fright Zone looked sinister, it emanated a sense of power and control no matter which way you look at it from. Grueling and suffocating, as many people living outside of the Fright Zone would say.
Yet for Catra, having Adora around made it easier to live with. To her, Adora’s mere existence was a lifeline, a source of comfort and warmth that made the Fright Zone more bearable. They both grew up within those daunting walls, they knew every nook and cranny like the back of their hands. Being familiar with the whole place, the smell of burning rubber emerging from the furnaces and the clanging noises of the industrial machinery had become their familiar backdrop, lulling them to sleep during the darkest nights. Given how small they were then, they could fit in almost everywhere— that’s why every time Shadow Weaver was out to get Catra, they’d always have the best hiding spots. Shadow Weaver would just give up after hours of searching. Despite the numerous instances of mistreatment that they both endured within the Fright Zone, they’ve always had each other’s backs, even at the expense of their own safety.
In a world where cruelty and violence were the norm, a promise was born; to always look out for each other, no matter what the cost. As much as Catra despised this place, Adora’s mere vessel stood as her sanctuary, her home. Her heart recognized Adora as not just a companion, but a beacon of hope amidst the darkness that surrounded them.
It made sense to Catra that Adora was staying with her forever after all they’ve been through, and that promise only solidified her belief. Little did Catra know that fate had other plans in store. Within the depths of the Whispering Woods, Adora stumbled upon a radiant sword, tangled in roots. As she reached for the hilt, she heard a strange voice reverberating within her mind, insinuating a profound and inescapable destiny that awaited her. Ever since that, something inside her changed. Eventually, Adora left the Fright Zone to heed the call of her newfound purpose. The revelations she had outside the Fright Zone ignited a spark within her, one that she could not ignore. As much as she cared for Catra and cherished the moments they had shared, she felt a duty to follow this new path that had unraveled itself before her. Obviously, Catra wasn’t very happy with the choice she made. It never once crossed her mind that Adora would leave but when she did, it felt painful— struck like lightning with no ground, shooting straight through her nerves.
“It doesn't matter what they do to us, you know? You look out for me, and I look out for you. Nothing really bad can happen as long as we have each other.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
After hearing that calm and reassuring voice, something warm bloomed in Catra’s chest that day. She couldn’t explain what she’s feeling towards Adora; she knew there was something inside her that’s only there for Adora but she doesn’t know what to call it. For Catra, it didn’t matter what other people did. As long as she had Adora by her side, nothing else mattered— that’s all she ever wanted.
Is that too much to ask for?
Why did you leave me, Adora?
I’m being selfish, aren’t I?
Catra snaps. No matter which direction she runs to, she can never run away from Adora.
She couldn’t help but look back at the times where they were happily chasing each other around the hallways with their bare feet, tapping the cold metal floors of the hallways. How they would have heartfelt conversations in their favorite rooftop as the smell of burning oil rises up to their level. Then, she remembered the promise they made together when they were kids. She was huddled up in a warm blanket and Adora sat beside her to provide comfort. Having her around made her feel warmer than ever, it felt safe. Finally, she remembered the day Adora left. The day she decided to turn her back against Catra and abandon her. Her worst nightmare occurring at that very moment. Catra couldn’t believe that Adora would trade an entire life’s worth of friendship over a stupid destiny. Reminiscing about their life together felt like searing flame and she’s jumping into it.
And yet, despite how much it burns, she kept cradling the fire to keep the sound of Adora’s voice alive.
Catra would find solace in the rooftop, despite it bringing a haunting feeling. There, she perched on the edge with her knees drawn up to her chest, her tail gently curled around her legs as she hunched over. It used to be a place where she and Adora would hang out, racing each other to the top. Catra's exceptional climbing skills always gave her the edge, making her the victor in their little rooftop races. Climbing up to the top with Adora after training had become a familiar and cherished ritual for her, but this time she had no one else but herself to be with. Just to pass the time, Catra enjoyed watching the people below go in and out the site and counting them as they went by. She’s so high up the ground, the soldiers almost looked like tiny ants scurrying around. The smell of burning oil rising up to her level carried a hint of nostalgia, and even the moon appeared to shine brighter than before. Of course, things change. People change. Things come and go and so do people, but Catra couldn’t quite come to terms with the idea of letting go. Amidst the tranquility, Catra grappled with the complexities of her emotions. Catra tells herself that it’s alright, knowing that it isn’t really. How long does she have to keep deceiving herself?
Seeing her with her new friends, her residing someplace else, wielding that stupid sword— embracing the weight of her supposed destiny, Adora was noticeably happier. She seemed to enjoy her form as She-Ra, helping other people out and playing the role of being a hero. It’s not that she’s complaining about Adora’s newfound happiness, but it was unacceptable. Way too much for Catra to handle. After all the years they’ve been together, Adora threw it all away just like that. They were supposed to be together, no matter what.
It should’ve been me.
How is it that you’re living just fine without me?
She thought to herself. If Adora’s living fine without her, why can’t she? Why is it so hard for her to do when her best friend did it with ease? Maybe because she kept holding onto a hope. A hope that maybe someday Adora would change her mind and finally come back. She’d keep replaying the memories they shared together, indulging in wishful thinking, hoping that somehow Adora would find her way back to her. The longer she spent the time thinking about it, the more her head hurt, and her heart ached. Her world once full of light, fell silent. She hated being vulnerable— being left alone in the dark like this. With each passing day, the seasons kept on changing. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Eventually, they turned into years. As the sun dipped below the horizon, Catra’s heart sank deeper with each passing moment; her hope for Adora’s return slowly dwindled. It was painful to even think about, and yet she missed her presence. A part of her misses the sound of Adora's laughter, the warmth of her smile, the way those captivating blue eyes looked at her, and the way her presence made everything seem a little bit brighter.
Her heart pulled in different directions, like a puppet on a string. To temper the blaze means finding a counterbalance. And yet, deep down in the quiet corners of her chest, her yearning burns stronger and hotter than it already does— weakness is already trickling beneath her flesh, making her unable to fight against her own flame. It made her want to drown in deep water, and hope that it would extinguish the burning sensation in her chest.
Ever since Adora’s departure from the Fright Zone, a lot of things happened. Catra has been promoted to a Force Captain; If Adora was there she probably would’ve hugged her tight and spun her around like a windmill, saying she’s so happy for her and that she’s really proud. But it’s been a while since Adora left the Fright Zone, obviously she’s going to have to celebrate this achievement on her own. Catra’s been counting the number of days since she left, angrily clawing out lines on the side of their bed before she slept. Not to mention that she has been an emotional trainwreck, too. To make matters worse, learning about Scorpia running away recently added to her turmoil. Seemingly unable to find any sort of resolution from what happened, Catra became restless. At some point she convinced herself that she didn’t need any sleep and would distract herself by working, just so to avoid herself from crumbling down, dreaming about Adora over and over again.
She had to be strong. She knew she had to remain resilient, she couldn’t let Adora’s egression show any impact on her, otherwise it’ll make her look inferior, weak. Catra was no stranger to challenges, she was raised to be a fierce fighter. Demonstrating any sort of vulnerability would be unacceptable, it was simply not an option in her world. So, she marched on despite the cold indifference of the universe. “Listen up, Catra. You’ve got to keep your cool and put your head up. Walk tall. If anyone passes by, they’ll notice every single bit of you— from head to toe. It’s all about intimidating people. You want people to see you as the best, right? Then don’t you dare fuck this up.”
Those were the set of rules she gave herself to follow, it became a routine to repeat those words to herself while she gazed at her reflection before exiting the room. She would grit her teeth and uphold that image, as she was expected to be. Pretending to be something else you’re not for the whole day felt like a chore, but she had no other choice. The last thing she wanted was to raise any suspicion from the people around her, especially from the ever-watchful eyes of Shadow Weaver. When nobody’s around, she’d let herself grieve. Looking for a way to gasp for air, Catra kept herself distracted by excessively working at the Horde; all of her energy was poured onto planning and executing their latest missions to take control of the remaining villages and kingdoms in Etheria. The recent successes of the Horde in conquering lands like Elberon, Thaymore, and Salineas filled Catra with a surge of pride. The alliance seemed feeble in comparison to the power they wielded, and they’re highly certain that they won’t be able to fight back properly now that the majority of their territories are all firmly held within the grasp of the Horde’s influence. The Horde has never been so ahead before, all thanks to Catra’s hard work. In those moments, Catra felt truly alive, as if she had found her purpose within the Horde. The thrill and excitement of victory kept pushing her forward, and she relished in the newfound strength and authority she carried.
The tide of the battle was turning, and the fate of Etheria hung in the balance.
She made sure everything was perfect and went according to Hordak’s plan— No, her plan. All she ever wanted was to get rid of that sword, to get rid of She-Ra. When that happens, it would be much easier to take over Bright Moon. Eventually, it’ll be the entirety of Etheria. Unfortunately for Catra, that’s not going to happen any time soon. Despite her satisfaction among the recent missions, Scorpia’s disappearance weighed heavily on her mind and her lack of sleep isn’t helping either. She kept herself secluded in the surveillance office, her eyes glued to the screens, tracking every pixel that flickered across the monitors. In her heart, a desperate hope lingered, yearning for any glimpse of Scorpia.
“Just a sign, anything,” she muttered to herself, searching for even the tiniest hint of Scorpia’s presence.
Even seeing a strand of her hair through the cameras could give her hope. But no, only the silhouettes of swaying branches and leaves were present. She isn’t certain how many times she came back at the same camera location, but she knows she’d lost count after the fifteenth. Frustration gnawed at her chest, Catra let out a sigh of disappointment. She ran her fingers through her hair in exasperation. “She’s already gone, isn’t she? Why am I wasting my time?” she questioned, her voice tinged with bitterness. Just as she was about to give up, a faint sound echoed in the distance—a laugh, a laugh that sounded all too familiar. Could it be Scorpia?
“Is it really you?”
That was enough to grab Catra’s attention. For a fleeting moment, Catra allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, she wasn't alone in this darkness after all.
“Scorpia? I knew you’d come—” Catra’s voice trailed off.
She anticipated Scorpia’s presence. But when she turned around, there was nothing. Just a vacant space that echoed with a ghost of a memory. That sense of relief she carried evaporated all of a sudden, leaving her feeling hollow— like someone ripped her insides off and replaced it with thin, freezing air. Her head began to throb, and her chest sank into a pit. A mixture of frustration and loneliness swelled within her, and she almost couldn’t hold back the tears that welled up in her eyes. She clenched her fists in frustration and tried to regain control of her emotions.
“Get it together!” Catra rubbed her tired eyes.
Catra gazed upon the window beside her and saw a couple of Horde soldiers laughing, she somehow felt… heavy. It’s almost impossible to ignore. As she continued to watch, the distant laughter was interrupted by the sound of the creaking gates, shaking the ground as it opened. Her attention shifted to the entrance, where Lonnie, Kyle and Rogelio trudged in. They’re sluggishly dragging their feet across the metal floor, visibly exhausted. It’s like their eyes would fall out of their sockets at any moment. Anger and frustration coursed through Catra’s veins as she made her way down the office. Those laughing soldiers irked her beyond measure, so she hissed in their direction. She then quickly made her way towards the trio.
“Okay, no. There’s no way we’re working a fourth—”
Before Lonnie could even finish talking, Catra firmly grabbed her wrists and dragged her into the office. As soon as the doors closed behind them, Catra shoved Lonnie— slamming her back against the control panel. The sudden aggression took Lonnie by surprise, leaving her momentarily speechless and confused about what’s going on.
“What are they saying?!” Catra angrily asked with a sharp voice. Lonnie looked at her in confusion.
“What? Who?” Lonnie stammered, her heart racing as she tried to make sense of the situation.
“Don’t pretend like you don’t know. Are they laughing at me?!” Catra’s voice shot through the air like a bullet, her emotions escalating rapidly.
Lonnie’s already exhausted from all the work she had been ordered to do; she wasn’t expecting she’d deal more of Catra’s bullshit for the day. So, she did her absolute best to keep her composure, despite being completely unsure of what triggered such a violent reaction from her.
“Mostly, people are just tired. I think if you let them sleep, everything will be fine.” Lonnie calmly explained, hoping to diffuse the tension.
Lonnie’s words seemed to strike a nerve.
“Everything isn’t fine! Scorpia would be here if everything was fine!” Catra’s voice echoed throughout the room, followed by silence. She’s visibly agitated.
Lonnie worriedly stared at her; concern etched across her features. Before she could even think of a response, Catra turned around and scowled at her.
Catra chuckled, “Just leave, like everybody else.” Her voice cracked and quivered.
Her emotions were on the verge of spilling over, and it was evident that she was holding back tears. But before Lonnie could make a move, Catra’s frustration boiled over and yelled at her to leave. Lonnie scrambled out of the office.
With frustration wearing her down, Catra’s hand reached for the tablet and immediately contacted Double Trouble. As she tapped the screen, there was nothing but silence. The device simply blinked back at her, carrying a hint of emptiness. Catra’s patience wore thin, and her voice rose with urgency, “Answer me!” she demanded, hoping she’d get a response from them. Her grip tightened, and in a moment of unbridled rage she inadvertently crushed the screen. The tablet’s dimming light revealed her own reflection, eyes ablaze with anger and frustration as a tear rolled down her cheek. Catra couldn’t contain herself anymore. She hurled the tablet with all her might, shattering the tablet into large pieces, scattering across the floor— the room fell quiet once more.
Suddenly, Catra’s sharp hearing caught the hum of the control panel activating behind her. She quickly turned on her heels, her eyes widening as she saw Hordak’s imposing figure within the screen standing before her— the projection of her ruthless leader contacting her from the control panel was an unwelcome sight for sure. That was the last thing she wanted to see, especially when she was already at her lowest point. The weight of the recent events, the battles fought, and the friendships tested weighed heavily on her heart. Yet, she knew she had to maintain her façade, hiding any hint of sadness swirling within her. Without hesitation, she took a moment to collect herself and answered the call. The sight of Hordak only served to deepen the weight of her emotions. As Hordak began to speak, his dominating presence seemed to loom over her.
“I’ve taken the last of the coastal towns. What is the status in the woods?” Hordak’s commanding voice echoed through the room, radiating with intimidation.
“Our raiding parties have crushed villages near our current outpost,” Catra replied, her tone steady and determined. “Tomorrow, we move farther inland. Everything is under control.”
Hordak’s crimson eyes seemed to gleam with satisfaction at her report. “Excellent. Etheria will be ours yet,” he declared, the certainty in his voice sent shivers down Catra’s spine.
Catra was a formidable force, sure. But even the strongest fighters had their breaking points. She knew she had to keep playing her part, no matter how hard it got. For in the Fright Zone, showing any sign of weakness could be a fatal mistake, especially now that she’s a Force Captain. The moment the screen flickered and faded away, she removed her helmet and took a deep breath. She stared at the floor, motionless, with her mouth scrunched up. Her heart began to hurt, as if it were in a vice grip, squeezed tight and about to get crushed into smaller pieces. Now Catra’s all alone. Again. It’s just her and this gaping hole expanding on her chest, almost certain that nothing will ever be enough to fill it up and make her whole again. Her trembling lips betrayed her struggle, her whole body shuddered. She clenched her fists and fell down on her knees like an anchor, curled down. Then, the tears came— they slid down from the crevices of her eyes, slithering their way down her cheeks. The sense of dread was overwhelming, crashing over her like relentless waves against a ship, threatening to pull her under. There’s no way she can keep her head above the water anymore.
Adora’s absence felt like being dragged down into a bottomless abyss, drowning to death.
She clutched her chest, almost as if she’s feeling for her heart. Unfortunately for Catra, her heart is not where it should be, never has been. Her heart has always been with Adora.
The Fright Zone is far from being a welcoming place, and Catra’s starting to feel like she’s not supposed to be here anymore.