Forever Fallen (Catra x OC She-Ra Fanfic)

36 - Forming a Bargain

**TW: Another flashback to Harley's PTSD**

Harley winced as her eyes adjusted to the harsh, artifical lights of Horde Prime's spire. Two cold hands were clamped around her biceps in a vice grip, towing her further into Prime's lair.

She'd recognised most of it but in saying that, the entire place was like a labyrinth that looked the exact same at every turn, but she could never forget the giant archway that curved around like the maws of a beast before the room.

Harley's mind was plagued with memories of Catra's flashing green eyes, her slicked back, tousled hair and her wrong grin as she dangled her above the void. Then, she was flooded with nightmares; Horde Prime's looming figure like an ominous storm above her, bearing threats and ultimatums.

The girl was lugged past the colossal doorway, the trio of footsteps echoing through the large, domed room that housed 'the platform' like a hammer to an anvil.

Ahead was a screen flicking with images and before that was a metallic throne. Harley gulped as she approached. A tall clone emerged from the darkness, hands folded behind his back and pale eyes focused on the girl.

A bead of sweat dripped down her forehead as the two clones behind her dug their fists into her shoulders and forced her to her knees. She grunted at the sudden movement as one of the clones growled at her, eyes narrowed and teeth gritted.

"You must kneel before the light of Lord Prime--" He snapped at her and she glared at him in response but he was swiftly cut off by a voice that sent chills down the length of Harley's spine.

"Brother," Horde Prime's voice echoed in the cavernous hall, dripping in menacing venom hidden behind a sickening guise of concern. "there is no need to be so rough with our poorly guest."

Harley snatched away her arm and groaned in pain as the clone took a few steps back from her.

"Yes, of course! You are right, Lord Prime. I apologise." He nodded solemnly, bowing his head but keeping his eyes trained on Horde Prime and never sparing a glance to the girl at his side.

"Good." Prime spoke again and Harley watched as his towering figure appeared from around the throne and heavy footsteps reverberated through the room. Prime stood a few yards from Harley, fingers steepled. "Little sister, you don't look so great. Such a pity you humans fall sick so quickly to disease and strain--"

"This is your fault, fucker" Harley grumbled under her breath, gaze drifting to the side.

"Come again? I didn't quite catch that, sister." Prime questioned her, getting down to one knee and plucking up her chin with his hand so she would meet his eyes.

Harley growled, trying to tug her head away but she was too weak so she opted for refusing to meet his piercing gaze.

"I see you've finally come to your senses." He beamed toothily, gleaming white teeth glinting in the white light. "And the Firestone?"

"What do you plan to do with it if I give it to you?" Harley asked him, narrowing her eyes to daggers as she finally snapped her gaze to his, feeling the heat of a thousand suns upon her.

"I will use it to bring you peace--"

"Don't lie to me, I've had enough of that!" She snapped at him, teeth gnashing as spit sprayed from her lips and Prime simply blinked.

"I will free Etheria, bring the cosmos to harmony and eliminate the one problem in my path." He stated and Harley narrowed her eyes further.

"She-Ra."

Prime nodded gravely, green eyes staring intently at Harley. "Now, the Firestone?"

"Why should I even give it to you? I don't trust you. You want to 'eliminate' my friend!" She demanded and Horde Prime was taken aback for a moment, but he didn't show it. Not to Harley.

"Don't you want total unity between the universe, sister? An end to conflict? An end to war? Your world has lots of that, and now I am offering it to this world, why should you deny them of the pleasure?" He persuaded her and she felt the thrum in her pocket.

The Firestone. A warning.

She chewed on her lip as if in thought but soon hardened her eyes and met his intense gaze with a calm, levelled glare. The girl dropped a hand to her side and reached into her pocket, fingers brushing the smooth facets of the Firestone before clamping around a cold, steel device.

"Your idea of a world living in peace is a world without happiness. I would never let you do that to innocent people." Harley hissed at him and he scoffed.

"How do you plan on getting out of this one then, hmm? Sister, there is nowhere to run; no Catra to save you. You either give me the stone and I help you, or I take it." He told her, his voice never quavering and his gaze never wavering.

"When the devil has you by your neck, Prime, you always bring a backup plan" She declared, snatching her hand from out of her pocket and drawing out a scrambler device, plates of metal affixed to its face and highly more complicated.

Horde Prime's eyes flicked to the device in her hand as she brushed her thumb over the bright red button on its side. A wicked arch curved across his lips as Harley's hand froze in paralysis over the toggle.

She screamed in pain, images of her past flitting through her mind's eye; images of her parents' blank, pale, cold faces staring back at her; images of the bright flash of headlights before she was descended into darkness; images of the lifeless hospital where she'd been given the news of her parents' passing; images of her shutting herself away; images of Catra.

Harley gasped, her throat seizing and tears drowning her eyes. Her shoulders heaved with her laboured breaths as the scrambler fell from her fingertips and she reached to clutch her burning side and aching heart.

A moment later, Prime appeared in her line of sight and she didn't have the strength to hide her tears and her emotions.

He looked down at her with a complacent grin on his lips and a disapproving tilt to his brow.

"Tut tut." He huffed, clicking his tongue, "Sister, what you don't understand is that you have no choice; no plan B. You and I are already connected, dear sister, ever since your outing in The Fright Zone to 'save' the Princesses. I know it must be hard, but trust in Horde Prime and I will make things right. Everyone deserves peace, even you, who continues to deny and reject me... Let me offer it to you."

Prime reached out his hands for her to take but when she violently convulsed with sobs, he took her hands in his anyway and hushed her.

"You don't deserve this pain, anymore."

His hands moved to take a hold of her shoulders but the second he did, he recoiled, almost as if a bolt of shock travelled through him and he levelled the trembling Harley with his gaze.

"Fascinating. I suppose there will be more use of you like this -- with your volatile emotions -- yet" Horde Prime considered, waving a hand to his clones as Harley's vision blurred with tears and she fell to the floor heavily.

She was a weeping wreck as the clone's arms wrapped around her and hefted her back to her feet, dragging the weak, blubbering girl through their emperor's spire.

**A/N: Sorry for the short chapter, I just haven't been feeling much like writing lately. I've been going through a lot of rough stuff and haven't been feeling very great. I guess there isn't much to say other than I think the next chapter (or couple of chapters) are gonna come out a while from now, I'm hoping they're not, but they might. I'd like to smush all these chapters into one because not much happens in these last ones and they're all pretty short but like I said in the last chapter, my OCD doesn't like it when things don't line up perfectly. Anyway, I'll see you in the next chapter and if anyone is going through anything and needs to talk (about anything, really, doesn't have to be serious), my DMs are always open. Stay safe**