Hardships

A New Age

*4 weeks later*

Catra went to physical therapy for 2 weeks since she was released only a couple days before the therapy started. Shes worked to rehabilitate the movement in her right arm with her prosthetic around the second week and then on the last week she passed the test from Doctor Ryker deeming her fit to get into business.

Today was the first speech that Catra had to release to the people outside the palace and to say that she was losing her shit, it was an understatement. "Hey calm down baby, you'll be okay", Adora says rubbing Catra's back comfortingly.

Catra smiled, turning around and wrapping her arms around Adora's waist being careful to not press to hard against Adora's belly. "I love you Adora, and I know that I've been slacking as a mother and a fiancé. I just want to let you know that Im going to be there for you and our little bean", Catra says her mismatched eyes looking into teary cerulean eyes. "A-Adora why are you crying? Did I say something wr-"

"No! You idiot, y-you're just so damn sweet a-and amazing. I-I love you so much you Catra", Adora says hugging Catra tightly, as happy tears rolled down her eyes. Catra sighed happily, laying her head on Adora's shoulder and whispering, "I love you more than you can know Adora".

Bow cleared his throat causing both women look at him with quirked brows. "Uhm, sorry to interrupt the sweet moment you two but you're on Catra", Bow says gently scratching the back of his neck sheepishly. Catra nodded, turning to Adora pressing a loving kiss on her lips before whispering, "Will you be there love?". Adora nodded and said, "You know I will babe". Catra smiled, nodding unwrapping her arms from Adora's waist before stepping forward wrapping an arm around Bow's shoulder and poking his cheek, "Come on Bow-Man imma need my best man by my side". Bow chuckled, nodding and wrapped his arm around Catra's shoulder saying, "You know it royal kitty!".

Adora chuckled, following behind them watching as the two conversed. She was so caught up on listening to them talk that she hadnt realized that Glimmer snuck up behind her. With a screech, Adora whirled around smacking the figure that had wrapped their arms around her waist. Glimmer hissed, rubbing her red cheek and saying, "Damn woman! Calm down!". Adora sighed, holding her chest and saying, "Glimmer! Jesus christ dont scare me like that!".

Glimmer laughed and hugged the frazzled woman exclaiming, "Calm down! Its not good for you baby, anyways lets get to the stage outside". Adora nodded, shaking her head with a small snort as the two walked far behind Catra and Bow.

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Catra stepped up to the podium, fixing the microphone before tapping it making sure it worked before saying, "Ladies and Gentlemen of Taron... I would like to say thank you all for assembling here today. It's greatly appreciated". Cheers erupted from the crowd below making Catra smile before she looked to her side and saw Adora,Bow, and Glimmer cheering her on.

With a smile, Catra turned back to face her people and said, " Theres something my mother told me... that I believe is something that fits into what this speech is about. She said, 'If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment. If you're not willing to risk, you cannot grow. If you cannot grow, you cannot be your best. If you cannot be your best, you cannot be happy. If you cannot be happy, what else is there? If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear? We can each define ambition and progress for ourselves. The goal is to work toward a world where expectations are not set by the stereotypes that hold us back, but by our personal passion, talents, and interests. If you always do what you've always done, you'll always be where you've always been. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default. Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better. The thing holding you back is your fear of failure. You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do. Face those demons and use them to make yourself stronger'...". Catra paused, her eyes scanning the audience that had silenced themselves to listen to the feline's words.

"My mother was absolutely right. We all have suffered under my brother's rule. We've lost people we loved. Shed tears. Laid many to rest. But in the end it only united us as a nation. We all have our differences but in all honesty we are each other's family even if we arent blood related. This life is what you make it. No matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up. Just because you fail once, doesn't mean you're gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don't, then who will ? So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about. Those who we have lost, live within us watching as we bring this new age together in peace and unity", Catra says finally, before turning towards the exit and walking past Adora, Bow, Glimmer, Iroh, Colossus, Crystela, and Rosé as cheers erupted and the people chanted, 'Long Live Lord Catra!'

To be continued.