Jōnetsu | A Shera Fanfic (Catra x Reader)

After Hours

I find myself walking down a mysterious path. I've seen this place every day for the past 18 years but I've never actually been here. This place is so beautiful and authentic I think to myself as I reach out to touch a tree branch bustling with glowing pink leaves in front of me. Even during the night, there's a certain brightness to this place. It sort of feels like... home. My thoughts are suddenly interrupted by a rustling of trees above me. I take the jewel-encrusted diamond from my left pocket and hold it up to the sky; revealing a light bright enough to light up an entire colony. 

"Nothing," I say out loud to myself, "I'm just being paranoid". I turn out the light and start back down the path. I think to myself how familiar this all feels and I begin to think maybe I should just turn back, go home. "No, I've waited for this moment my entire life. There's no way that I can go back now," I think sternly to myself as I continue walking forward, slowly. I find myself standing in front of a large waterfall. I look around and small sparkling lights start to appear and float around me. This place is amazing; it's full of life and trees and animals that make my heart melt. "Wow," I say out loud as I start to sit down before the waterfall in front of me. 

"I'm here," I say to no one with a wide smile on my face. I take one more look around me and a deep breath in. As I release my breath, I slowly close my eyes letting the energy around me absorb me completely. Is this what peace feels like?

I open my eyes and nothing around me has changed. Everything is still and beautiful. I smile softly to myself and reach behind me to pull out an acoustic guitar. The guitar is white and coated in a mountain of glitter. In the bottom right corner signed in black is my grandmother's name. "Annie," I read out loud softly. This guitar was hers. I softly pluck a few chords and sigh to myself. For the first time in forever, I'm playing just for me. There's no crowd, no setlist, no judgment. I'm alone and finally hearing true silence for the first time. Ever since my parents died, I haven't been able to get away even if it's only for a moment. Ruling a kingdom is hard even if you're not alone... There are always papers to sign, hands to shake, missions to go on. Sometimes, I wish my parents never died. I wish that they never had me.

I take a deep breath in an attempt to quiet my thoughts and begin to strum a small melody on my guitar. I let the music fill me completely and I lose myself in the moment.

"Thought I almost died, in my dream again (Baby, almost died)

Fightin' for my life, I couldn't breathe again" I sing softly while steadily playing the same melody I began with

"My darkest hours

Girl, I felt so alone inside of this crowded room
Different girls on the floor, distracting my thoughts of you
I turned into the girl I used to be, to be
Put myself to sleep
Just so I can get closer to you inside my dreams
Didn't wanna wake up 'less you were beside me
I just wanted to call you and say, and say

Oh, baby
Where are you now when I need you most?
I'd give it all just to hold you close
Sorry that I broke your heart, ---" My song is interrupted by a low voice. "Nice voice," the mysterious voice says revealing a girl from behind a tree. I immediately place my guitar behind me and feel myself heating up. I know my eyes are turning red and so is my hair as the flames start to form in my hands. 

"Woah, Woah," the mystery girl cries, "I'm not here to hurt you," she says. "Who are you?" I ask forcibly. "Catra," she says softly looking to the ground. "Catra?" I question back, "Creative," I say sarcastically. I finally take a look at the person standing before me. She's tall, has long hair, mismatched eyes, and perky cat-like ears. She's wearing a red jacket and black pants and boots. I feel myself transforming back to my regular body and I take a step back from Catra. 

"Are you mocking me?" She questions with a growl at the same time deploying the claws in her left hand. "No," I say with a smirk unafraid of her, "I'm just saying, your name is Catra and you're obviously part cat so, creative" I finish flatly. "Whatever," she says retracting her claws, "What are you doing out here making all this noise anyway?" Catra asks sounding slightly annoyed. "I don't know," I mumble softly looking away from her. "I-- I just always see this place in my dreams. It's like I'm being called here but I don't know why" I say uneasily. I look up and find Catra's mismatched eyes completely focused on me. She makes her way closer to me and sits down beside me. "Where are you from?" She asks curiously. 

I follow her lead and sit down. "Jonetsu," I say proudly. "Never heard of her," Catra replies with a giggle. "Veeerry funny kitten," I say smiling, "Jonetsu isn't a person, it's a place; an entire kingdom right here on Etheria" I proclaim with a big smile on my face and lots of love in my voice.  "On Etheria?" Catra questions with a raised eyebrow. "Yes," I start, "Nobody really knows we exist," I say sadly.  At that moment, Catra reaches over to touch my hand lightly. I look over to her and our eyes meet. She blushes and pulls away quickly. "If you've been on Etheria this whole time then how come you've never been to the Whispering Woods or even Bright Moon?" she questions trying to hide the fact that she's blushing.

"The Whispering Woods?" I question curiously. "Unbelievable," Catra says while playfully rolling her eyes, "That's where we are right now hottie" she finishes with a smirk and wink. "Not very subtle are you? Kitten" I joke. "Hottie? That's the best you've got huh?" I say while struggling to contain my laughter. "I'm only just heating up," she says lowly, "And besides, you're the one that turned into a walking flame thrower and tried to roast me" Catra replies. "Sorry about that," I say meekly, "I've never been this far out of my kingdom on Etheria before" I finish, looking to the ground. "You have more than one?" She asks fully intrigued with stars in her eyes. "I'm originally from a planet called Earth" I confess looking her in her eyes this time.  "My family moved to Etheria when I was 6 and we've, well, I've been here ever since. Nobody really knows about my kingdom because it's on the furthest part of Etheria near Beast Island. The world has honestly forgotten us." I say sadly while tears begin to form in my eyes.