Gracefully Broken

Chapter 7: Catra Dies...?

Catra was dragged before Horde Prime's throne. She was unceremoniously dumped at the tyrant's feet, her hands tied behind her back, and his foot under her chin - forcing her to look at him. She hissed. He looked into her eyes and growled angrily:

"What. Is. Wrong. With. You?" Catra smirked:

"Lots of things. How long have you got?" With that, Horde Prime leaned down and slapped her. As Catra recovered from the sting of the hit, she heard Shadow Weaver's screams of protest in the distance. She turned and saw her former mentor dragged towards her, also tied up. Shadow Weaver was yelling:

"Please, my lord! I've done all you asked! Have mercy!" She was then forced to her knees next to Catra. Catra could not help but laugh at her pathetic state. Her hair was disheveled and her clothes were ruffled from where the clones had grabbed her. Horde Prime laughed evilly:

"Really? You've done what I asked? I ordered you to manage Catra and you completely failed! Be thankful I'm not ending you here and now!" He then turned to the clones behind her and said:

"Take her away!" With that, Shadow Weaver was pulled to her feet. In a desperate effort to fight back, she grabbed onto Catra's arm with her tied hands, perhaps hoping that, despite everything, she might still defend her. Shadow Weaver was greatly mistaken, however. She had not counted on Catra having a week of therapy and hugs. There was no way she would be so easily manipulated. Not again. Instead, Catra leapt to her feet and kicked Shadow Weaver to the ground.

Once Shadow Weaver was down, Catra, despite having her hands tied too, managed to get her claws to reach Shadow Weaver's face, and successfully scratched it in defiance. Not only did this action remove Shadow Weaver's mask, but it provoked one of the most blood-curdling screams Catra had ever heard. Unsurprisingly, Horde Prime made no move to stop Catra, and simply smirked as Shadow Weaver tried and failed to hide her nightmarish face with her hair. Blood from the cut began dripping onto the floor, and even Catra had to gasp at the gravity of what she had done. Horde Prime interrupted her thoughts:

"Did you not hear me, brothers? Take her away!" With that, Shadow Weaver was led away, and Catra had a feeling she knew exactly where she was headed. While Catra was smiling at the prospect of Shadow Weaver finally getting electrocuted herself, Horde Prime suddenly growled:

"Alright, little sister - you've had your fun. Now tell me, where did you send the princesses?" Catra glared at him. She had deleted the destination from the logs before the clones had got her. She remembered the last few seconds before she had sent her friends to safety. She had told them to get to the Black Garnet. She had also told them to get a message to Adora. She knew how those two orders contradicted each other. Entrapta had told her how the Heart of Etheria would put Adora's life at risk, but Double Trouble had said the Rebellion was still planning to fire the weapon; which meant they were either lying or Adora really was back to normal and playing the hero again.

Catra sighed. She knew Double Trouble had not been lying. Not this time. And if the weapon was going to be fired anyway, what was the use in trying to stop it? All she could do was hope it finished Horde Prime off like it was supposed to, and that Horde Prime learned nothing of it. Of course, this meant he could not be allowed to turn her into a clone again. It meant she would have to anger him enough for him to kill her. She doubted even he had a way of bringing back the dead. Horde Prime then interrupted her thoughts again by yelling:

"Answer me, Catra!" Catra smiled:

"Wow, you used my actual name. Was that so hard?" Hordak then marched forward and, grabbing her hair with one hand, pulled her up to his height. It hurt so much, but Catra managed to stop herself from screaming. Hordak then growled: