trapped | catra

24 | A New Mind

(On Horde Prime's ship)

"I thought she'd be back by now," Horde Prime mutters as he looks towards Catra's limp body lying on the examination table. "Where is she, little sister? Where is your Adora?" He leans closer to Catra's face. But she doesn't budge. She wouldn't. She's under his control. She wouldn't do anything he wouldn't want her to.

Her eyes were wide but neutral with a bright green colour. Horde Prime's signature colour. She probably hadn't even heard what he asked her.

With the snap of his fingers, Catra's eyes faded back to their original colour. She gasped and coughed for air. Horde Prime watched with a neutral expression. He had never taken control over a living being before. He hadn't even expected the process to work. But Catra had a sensitive mind filled with pain and loneliness, therefore she was easy to control.

The cat began to tug at the restraints that kept her on the table. She let out a growl once she realized she couldn't budge. She looked up at Horde Prime, a slightly fearful expression on her face.

"Ah, you're still with us," he murmured, flashing a toothy grin, if he had any teeth. Catra only scoffed and looked away. She wouldn't allow him to see her weaknesses. She had no idea her fear was clearly visible.

"What have you done to me?" She finally spat out, glaring at her captor. Her circumstances didn't really matter to her that much. She was just trying to buy time. She could only wonder if Y/N and Glimmer had gotten out safe. Were they with Adora and Bow? Were they alive? Catra hoped so.

"I have done nothing you did not wish for," Horde Prime replied. He looked over Catra's face briefly before turning towards one of his clones. "Wipe her mind again," he ordered. Catra's eyes widened in alarm at this. Wipe her mind? He had tried to do that before? When? Where?

"You won't!" Catra protested as she struggled against the restraints. Horde Prime reached out a clawed hand to rest on her shoulder. He gently but firmly pushed her down onto the table. The other clone was clicking away at a laptop. It was at that moment that Catra realized she was hooked up to some machines.

"You will be free? Is that not what you want? To be free of torment? To be free of Adora?" Horde Prime asked? But Catra was familiar with this game. She had seen it with Shadow Weaver and with Hordak. It was manipulation. They made up some sick fantasy and convinced you it was what you wanted. When it really wasn't. And Catra knew that. Her and Adora might not be as close as they used to be but Catra knew she cared for her. Loved her even.

"The only thing I want to be free of is you," Catra replied. Her eyes were wide and brimming with tears. This was pathetic. But it didn't matter right? No one would see her this way. No one would come back for her. And if they did, she might already be dead.

"The chip is ready, Lord Prime," the clone finally said.

"Good," he replied without looking towards him. He gently patted Catra's head as if she were a pet.

"I will see you when you have been wiped clean," He said. Then darkness slowly clouded Catra's vision. The last thing she heard was Horde Prime's cruel laugh.

(With Adora and the others)

"Y/N?! What are you doing?" Adora asked. The princess was being reckless. Was she trying to get herself crushed? Adora could do this. She was She-Ra, was she not? No, she wasn't. But she liked to believe that she still was.

"I'm helping you, idiot," Y/N replied as she slid under the tunnel entrance. She pushed her hands up against it, holding it upwards next to Adora.

The blonde could only admire her bravery. She was not as strong as her, maybe far weaker, and she was still risking herself. It was just as Catra had done. Catra. Oh, Catra. Adora was worried about her. She tried to act as if she wasn't but she was. And Y/N felt the same way. And if not, even more worried.

"I won't let you get crushed by this stupid rock," Y/N said, her gaze softening as she glanced towards Adora. "Or else you will deal with Catra's jokes for the rest of your life. 'That stupid blonde can't even hold a rock up'," Y/N mused.

Adora could only chuckle softly to herself. She could picture that and hear Catra's voice in her head. It's been so long since she has laughed with her. The rock slipped a bit under her grip and she tensed up. Now wasn't a time for jokes. If they were to see Catra again, they would have to survive this of course.

On the other side of the gap, Bow and Glimmer were about to reach the pink crystal. They only needed one. It would fuel their ship and the star siblings' ship for years. Entrapta had found out it was very powerful after all.

But just as they were about to reach the crystals, the ground caved in, making them plummet twenty feet under.

Word count -> 888

Um... hey.... hey... how yall doing? We're gonna ignore that I haven't posted for a year and take this short ass chapter. this will probably be my last shera fic since I don't watch the show anymore and I've pretty much left the fandom. But I'll be writing other fandom stuff so if you're into anime.... Anyways watch me disappear for another year... BYEE...

Love, Clouds <3