Chapter 20

Glimmer raced inside. Horde Prime had Catra by the jaw once more, seething with rage.

Glimmer stifled a gasp. "You even admitted that Etheria was pointless! We cant you just let us go!"

Horde Prime ushered Glimmer into another laboratory. Glimmer was going to protest, but Catra's paled face was too big a reminder of the peril they were in.

"Glimmer. We've never personally spoken, but I can tell you are a woman of your word. I am a man of my word. When I told you both you had a place in the Horde, I meant it."

He slammed Catra down and fussed through a large metal crate. Suddenly, every inch of the room was illuminated, including large vitrines, filled with...

People?

Glimmer tried to hide her disgust but nearly crumpled to Catra's side.

"The Horde is about inner as well as outer strength. These are the members who were not strong enough to please me."

Glimmer, besides her best judgment, spoke. "Fellow soldiers become your family. Who could you do this to your own family?"

"Speaking of family, I've noticed that experiment you stole from me looks awful like your Magicat companion."

Catra gasped. The infant, which they had named Hunter, had looked more cat-like by the day. The ears peeking through his curls. The fuzzy stripes along his arms and legs. The eyes. It all made sense now.

"Empress Kitrina was of no use to me, but her children, with slight tinkering, became decent warriors."

Catra gasped. "You bastard!"

Horde Prime nodded. "You can be strong too you know, let me help you."

Before anyone realized what was happening, Horde Prime sent a metal tube through Catra's back. Instead of piercing all the way through, it clicked twice, like it was locking into place. Catra went completely still.

Glimmer lunged for Horde Prime, magic blasting. Horde Prime dodged and jumped, but was not hurt.

"You do anything to her, and I was set this base ablaze!"

"I'm doing you a favor." Horde Prime sighed. "This poor creature runs on nothing but guilt. I am her only chance of success."

Guilt?

Glimmer realized what he was talking about.

"Catra! She cried. "I know you're trying to be better. She took a breath. "You were hurting when you set off the portal, I forgive you!"

Horde Prime pretends to yawn. "She knows. But the strongest power is within, as they say. If she doesn't pull herself out of it, she stays with me."

Catra bowed down, bending awkwardly in half.

Horde Prime left, laughing coldly. Glimmer held her face in her hands.

Five minutes passed. 

Ten minutes.

Nearly an hour

"I was just a kid," Catra mumbled.

"I tried my best."

"Catra?"

"Shadow Weaver was wrong. Hordak was wrong." She spoke louder now.

"I'm not hopeless. I can change.. "

She jolted up from her position, suddenly aware. "I can change my destiny." She pulled the pipe out with a cry, then wiped the sweat off her face. Glimmer tried to stay beside Catra as she sprinted out of the room.

Horde Prime stood before the two of them. He approached.

"Don't you dare!"

"I and my brother gave you chance after chance-"

"You created a living Hell! You robbed me of my childhood, my family- Catra paused, hand over her heart.- All along, I thought I was ruing Etheria. But it was you and your stupid war!"

Catra gently removed her headdress, handing it to Glimmer.

She leaped up, swiftly knockin Horde prime to the floor. The halls echoed as Catra clawed and struck him again. 

For the first time in her life, Catra wasn't running on pure adrenalin. She focused her anger, waiting until the alien leader gained his footing to strike him again, crushing through a row of metal equipment. The crumpled pieces began to beep and scream , but Catra kept swinging. The ship was in shambles, Horde prime leaning against the wall.

Glimmer pulled Hunter out of her pocket of space and left him giggling on her hip." Catra, let's go !"

Catra looked back, almost startled. She smiled slightly as she took back her headdress. She eased Hunter onto her waist as he tried to grab her hair. She knew this tiny kit was the last of their mother, that their physical likeness was the only gift they could receive from her. She held Hunter to her chest as she followed Glimmer out of the ship.

"Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be."