Escaping Corruption (Seasons 1-3)

S3 - A promise to the doom

THE room was silvered with moonlight.

Catra glanced over her shoulder toward the bed, where Adora slept.

Some part of her wanted to stay, to get up later with her betrothed and have a filling breakfast and spend the rest of the day with her friends, family and doing her job.

But this was more important.

There wasn't any chance that it was just a coincidence now. Unexplained earthquakes in the land of the dead, Namir's locket burning from the inside, Danu vanishing. A possible apocalypse.

Her heart raced as she stepped into the hallway, swaying uncontrollably and holding onto the wall for support.

The more she thought about it, the more daunting it became.

She crept through the palace until she found herself by the gates. Where two figures stood cloaked and ready to depart.

Aeris pulled down her hood the moment Catra appeared. And the Empress took note of the innocent naivety blazing in her golden eyes.

Catra shook it off.

Aeris may appear to be young and innocent, but she was smart. She knew the dangers that awaited them beyond Halfmoon.

At that moment, Glimmer took both magicats hands, and the three disappeared and manifested at Halfmoons harbor. Where an incredibly advanced ship was stored.

Catra hears Aeris rattling off a list of all the technology and scientific work that must've gone into its creation to Glimmer, who doesn't particularly seem to understand, but nods along anyway

Catra leaps up onto the deck, hearing her companions following up.

'Right. I've sent Melog and Morrigan to meet us at Elisia. We're going to prepare and set this ship on path, and then we're all going to bed. Okay?'

They both blab out a "Yes captain!" And rush to find the control room.

Catra stays on the deck, leaning on the guardrail as the ship beings to slowly inch away from the peer.

She imagines Lyric, Angella ad her parents panic when they eventually realise that they are gone. She decides that Castaspella might too panic, her neice and goddaughter running off in the middle of the night to find a grumpy old witch who resides at the edge of the Empire.

Catra chuckles slightly at that thought, watching Halfmoon fade into th4 distance until its nothing but a dark silhouette in the horizon.

'Catra?'

'Yeah rissy?' The Empress turns to Aeris, who's now standing in her nightgown on the centre of the deck.

'Can I....stay with you tonight? I've never been away from home without mama and dad before. Ever.' She looks away, her face flushing in embrassment.

Catra's eyes soften and she pulls the teen into a loose hug.

'Of course you can, what kind of sister would I be otherwise?' She says, her tone gentle.

'Thanks...' Aeris mumbles into her shirt.

At some point, she falls asleep there, and Catra carries her to the captains quarters, where they both resign for the night.

~~~~~~~~~~~

It wasn't the golden glow of the early sun that woke Amato, but a horrible  gut feeling concerning his daughters.

He woke C'yra, and she admits to sharing the feeling.

He rushes to Aeris' room immediately, while C'yra goes to Catra's.

His heart near stops when he enters.

Aeris' bed is still perfectly made. Untouched, even. Her closet is wide open, as if it had been rifled through in a hurry.

And she of course, was nowhere in sight.

He hears C'yra footsteps echoing in the corridors as she comes pummelling toward him.

'Amato!! Catra...Catras gone! Adora doesn't know where she went!' She near yells, her voice lilting with fear.

'Aeris is gone. C'yra. Catra can take care of herself no doubt, but Aeris....Aeris is just a child.' He swallows, trembling.

There is a moment of silence.

Amato and C'yra stare, horrified, around Aeris' room.

They grab each others hands, and the mere weight of their fear washed over them like a tsunami.

Amato felt as if he were floating atleast six inches above his body. He can feel his heartbeat, distant, like music playing in the square while he's in his office. His vision flickers around the edges. He feels like his emotions and thoughts are wrapped in gauze.

He hasn't felt this much terror since the War of Nocturnia.

C'yra hugs him, but he can hardly hear her voice attempting to soothe him through the strange pounding in his ears.

The two sit unmoving on the floor of their youngest daughters room for an uncalculated time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Catra awakens to the nauseating smell of seafoam plaguing her nose.

She groans, and faceplants the thin excuse for a pillow she has. Her hair a tangled mess still.

'Catra!'

She raises her head reluctantly, to see Glimmer standing by the doorway with am exasperated expression.

'Come on. Unless you want Aeris to kill us both.'

'Honestly I'd rather death then the sea....' Catra grumbles as she rolls off of the bed and begins rooting through her rucksack for something to wear.

Glimmer laughs and disappears down the little hallway once more.

Catra rolled her eyes fondly and tugged on her tunic.

Once ready, she made her way to the small area they have decided to make their kitchen.

Aeris is occupied berating Glimmer in Spanish, waving a spatula at her threateningly.

Catra ambles on past them and clambers up the ladder to the deck.

There is a light breeze, and the smell of the sea is thankfully faint.

She leaps up onto the guardrail, sweeping her gaze across the barren ocean.

The Morrigan curled around her neck like a scarf, his forked tongue flicking out as he took in the strange new scents and tastes.

'Hello, my sweet.' Catra murmurs, rubbing her finger over his head.

The snake hissed happily and butted his head against her hand.

Catra smiled, her gaze returning to the amber hued horizon.

She must protect everyone.

Morrigan. Aeris. Lyric. Maverick. Adora. Glimmer. Her parents. Melog. And every other person who breathes in the world.

She must protect them all.