Hi. I'm finally back with the next chapter in my fanfic!
Thank you for being so patient, dear readers. 😊
I appreciate you, and I aim to make this a special chapter for you and a great episode overall that was, hopefully, worth the wait.
And, also, even though this is the start of the 12th episode in Season 6, and it is a two-part "finale," do not read too much into that. These are truly not the final episodes of the season, for it turns out that this will be a longer-than-usual season with more episodes to come.
Nevertheless, this two-parter will be filled with excitement, I do assure you!
The story so far:
Episode 53: On The Plain of Heroes: With the battle against Horde Prime finally over and won, the princesses begin their separate journeys for home.
Episode 54: Just Friends Ship: Catra returns with the Best Friends Squad to Bright Moon, where she is welcomed, but struggles in her attempt to fit in. Mermista and Sea Hawk face a deadly storm together.
Episode 55: Sleeping Arrangements: Catra encounters demons in the Whispering Woods, while Mermista and Sea Hawk help each other to survive. Glimmer has doubts about Micah's return, and Adora invites her girlfriend and her best friend on an adventure together.
Episode 56: Throne Room: Mermista comes home to a ruined Salineas, King Micah returns to Bright Moon, Adora and Catra race to inform Bright Moon about a danger that threatens the world, and Spinnerella and Netossa are the heroes of the hour.
Episode 57: Missing Peace: Entrapta embarks on a voyage with Wink. In a tense meeting, the council in Bright Moon forms a plan. Perfuma and Frosta accompany Scorpia back into the Fright Zone, where they are less than welcome.
Episode 58: Peace Zone: Beast Island is as dangerous as ever. Scorpia reclaims her kingdom. Adora, Catra, and Micah learn that Mystacor is missing!
Episode 59: Good Will Tour: Entrapta's old friend arrives in the nick of time on Beast Island. Mermista and Sea Hawk gather the people of Salineas. Perfuma and Frosta leave Scorpia in her new kingdom to spread word of the Peace Zone.
Episode 60: Cry For Etheria: Entrapta makes a momentous discovery, while Catra assists in the rebuilding of Mystacor. And the Best Friends Squad activates the distress beacon in the midst of mysterious disasters.
Episode 61: Stay Close: A sleepover brings all the princesses together in an emergency meeting, while Catra forms a bond with Castaspella.
Episode 62: Chance for the Future, Ghosts from the Past: With the help of Entrapta, the princesses form a plan to save Etheria, and Adora and Catra face terrors from their pasts.
Episode 63: Welcome . . . The princesses part on their mission to save Etheria, but even more trouble awaits. Entrapta reunites with Hordak, who leads her to the Chamber of the Heart along with Adora, Bow, Emily, and Wink.
This chapter is dedicated to two of my most faithful supporters: Cal ( @CallistoArt ) and Darcy ( @DBT15 ). I thought of both of you as I wrote this, and I hope that what I have written for you and all my readers pleases you.
This one is kinda different, but I have faith that you'll accompany me in a different sort of journey today.
Please enjoy the first chapter of:
Episode 64: Where There Is Light
Darkness.
From a murky distance, a strange clicking sound chatters forth.
A regular, rhythmic, complicated overlap of tick-tick-ticking.
Slowly, an image fades into view. Catra’s face, her eyes closed in apparent sleep.
Catra lies curled on her side on a grayish-green mattress, her head on her folded arms, and her tail wrapped close to her legs.
The click-clicking, tick-ticking continues.
Her ear twitches, and she slowly raises her head, turning to look in the direction of the sound. The scene is indistinct and blurry, but nearby, two tall, slender figures sit in chairs angled slightly toward one another.
Catra blinks her eyes, and the image resolves. The nearest figure wears a long flowing high-necked, long-sleeved gown of multi-layer scarlet and burnt-umber fabric. Her long dark hair cascades around a mask that hides her face completely.
The second wears a deep purple, full-length dress with a pale lavender cape, and her dark hair descends from a central part in two thick strands along either side of her face. Both of them are industriously knitting the ends of a single, long brown scarf that drapes between them.
Shadow Weaver and Castaspella!
Shadow Weaver: [emphatically] She is very lazy, you know. It’s in her nature.
Castaspella frowns at Shadow Weaver.
Castaspella: Don’t you think the sleep will do her good? [looking over to Catra] She’s awake now, anyway.
Castaspella smiles at Catra with sweet affection.
Shadow Weaver: [dismissive] It accomplishes nothing. She’s just as lazy now as ever. Unfocused. Obsessive. She can’t even keep track of Adora! Typical.
Catra bristles at her words and begins to stand up, but she can’t for some reason.
Catra: Hey! I never told her to leave!
Shadow Weaver casts a withering look in Catra’s direction.
Catra: [looking down] Oh. That time, I did.
Shadow Weaver: Forgetful, too.
Castaspella: [to Shadow Weaver, frowning] I don’t think you’re being fair! I know what she’s like. She just needs a little encouragement.
There is the sound of giggling nearby, and Catra turns to see Adora and Glimmer kneeling on the floor playing with dolls like children.
Catra: [puzzled] Adora?
She tries to stand again, but can’t. She looks down at her legs, and they are wrapped up in a huge tangling of the yarn that extends to Shadow Weaver’s and Castaspella’s needles. Catra tries to move her legs, but there seems to be no give to the yarn. Catra looks over to the girls again. Adora uses one doll to give another a ride on its back, and Glimmer laughs at this.
Catra: [frustrated] Adora, come over here and help me!
Adora: [without looking up] Oh, c’mon, Catra! It’s fun!
Shadow Weaver: You see? It’s not always about you, Catra. Let Adora play. Besides, this will make you stronger!
Catra pulls at the yarn some more, but it is like wire!
Catra: Errrrgh! Come on, Adora!
Castaspella stops her knitting for just a moment and leans down to Adora.
Castaspella: Here, my dear. Give her these.
Adora turns to look at the scissors and takes them.
Adora: Oh, okay.
Adora jumps up, takes the two or three steps to Catra, and presents her with the scissors, pointing them upward.
Adora: [happily] For the Honor of . . .
Catra: [snapping] Just give them to me!
Catra grabs the scissors from her, and Adora laughs. She goes to join Glimmer again.
Catra: [pleading] Wait!
When Adora doesn’t respond, Catra starts to work on the yarn with the scissors, still looking at Adora.
Catra: [bitterly] Why are you playing with dolls, anyway? Is that supposed to be princessy?
Adora: [good naturedly] It’s okay, Catra! I’m not playing with them. We’re gonna blow them up.
Glimmer: [shocked] Adora, no!
Glimmer grabs the biggest doll and holds it to her chest protectively.
Glimmer: [proudly] Mine!
The doll whose head she presses against her chest has a pleasantly athletic build and dark brown hair that sprouts up at the top and is cropped close around the sides of his head. He has a little bow and quiver of arrows strapped to his back.
Catra rolls her eyes. She looks down at her work with the scissors. They are blunt and not very effective, but some of the strands are splitting, and the tangles are looser.
She looks up again to see Glimmer holding Bow on her lap. Bow has his arm around Glimmer, and their other hands are clasped. They are grinning at each other. Adora notices this, too, and then turns to share a raised eyebrow look with Catra.
Adora: Heh-heh. Those two!
Catra shakes her head.
Catra: [muttering] I know. They’re just so . . .[with mild disgust] perfect together.
Glimmer and Bow turn to look at Catra with identical mock-outraged grins.
Glimmer and Bow: [together] No, we’re not!
They look at each other, smiling even bigger.
Bow and Glimmer: [together] Yes, we are!
Bow touches Glimmer’s chin with his hand as he looks down into her eyes.
Bow: [gently to her, smiling] We really are, though.
Glimmer: [in sheer delight] I know! [she giggles as she squeezes his hands in hers] That’s the joke!
They both chuckle together, quivering with care-free joy.
Bow touches Glimmer’s face with both hands and pulls her gently to him, kissing her forehead. Glimmer puts both arms around Bow’s chest and tilts her head up to kiss his cheek, then pulls him close to her and leans the side of her cheek against his chest, closing her eyes and breathing deeply against his skin.
Glimmer: [blissfully] Mmmmm.
Bow lightly touches the back of Glimmer’s head as he settles his face against her hair, and with his other arm around her shoulders he holds her close and sighs.
Bow: [with loving feeling] Mmmmm.
Catra shakes her head at this beautiful show of affection, while Adora does a good job of ignoring them.
All at once, there is an urgent whisper at Catra’s shoulder.
Voice: [quietly] Hey!
Catra turns away from the loving couple and sees that it is Adora crouching beside her. But it’s a different Adora. This one looks a little tired. Some of the hair has slipped out of her habitually perfect ponytail. Her jacket is missing, and there is an unearthly glow over her chest. She holds out her hand to Catra.
Adora: [seriously] I’ve figured it out. I know what we have to do. Come on!
Catra takes her hand and rises to her feet, still feeling the tangles of the yarn around her shins and ankles. Adora pulls on her arm to urge her along.
Catra: [looking at her ankles] But, I --
Adora: [forcefully] It doesn’t matter! Trust me. Let’s go!
Adora pulls her, and they start running down an eerie dim corridor. At first, Catra stumbles along, and the yarn drags at her, but after a little bit, her left foot pulls completely free! She continues to run with Adora against a tugging resistance as the yarn untangles and stretches, still gripping around her other leg.
As they run, a light appears in the distance, like daylight at the end of a long tunnel.
Adora: [encouraging] We’re almost there! Come on! They can’t get us there.
Catra: [fearfully] What can’t?! Who?!
Catra looks behind her, but there are only shadows and the line of yarn stretching backwards. In the dark, it’s possible that she sees movement. Things.
All at once, the tension increases and the yarn pulls back hard!
Catra falls forward onto the floor with a jolt! Adora stops and looks down at her.
Adora: [worried] Catra. Come on.
Catra struggles and pulls, but the yarn won’t allow her to go any farther. She scrabbles with the loop on her ankle, but the knots are so small and so tight that she can’t possibly loosen them. She grips the yarn and yanks with all her might, but there is no way to snap it. Finally, she stops and turns to Adora in defeat.
Catra: [helplessly] Adora.
Adora crouches down and looks into her eyes. She reaches out and strokes the hair over Catra’s ear. She is frowning painfully.
Adora: [softly] I’m sorry, Catra. I have to go.
Catra grips Adora’s arm with both hands.
Catra: No! Adora, you can’t! Please! Stay with me.
Adora shakes her head
Adora: I have to go.
Catra: Why?!
Adora’s forehead wrinkles in regret.
Adora: You know. [pause] I have to save the world.
Catra’s face has a devastated expression. Adora puts her hand on Catra’s hands.
Adora: [nodding sincerely] I’ll come back for you. I promise.
Catra: [with tearful anger] You won’t! You always say you will. But you don’t. You leave!
Adora shakes her head, and the tears gather in her eyes.
Adora: No. I’ll come back. I’ll . . . I’ll prove it to you.
She reaches her hand toward the glowing place on her chest.
Catra’s eyes widen.
Catra: No. Don’t.
Adora’s eyes meet Catra’s, and she nods reassuringly.
Adora: It’s okay.
Making a fist against her chest, Adora squeezes her eyes shut and twists her hand with a groan.
Adora: [wincing and gritting her teeth] Ahhhuuuh!
Catra: [shocked] Stop!
There is a sharp snap, causing Adora to double over. Then she lifts her head and slowly holds out her hand to Catra. Her face is flushed and tears are running down. In her trembling palm, there is a glowing fragment, like a rough jewel.
Adora: [quietly] Take it.
Catra reaches out both hands and touches the jewel. It falls into her hands as Adora lets go, and she gently cradles it, even as it starts to blur through her tears.
Adora withdraws her hand and touches her chest, which glows slightly dimmer now.
Adora: [struggling with emotion] It’s . . . part of my heart. Now, . . . you’ll always have some light. And . . . now you’ll know that I’ll always come back.
Catra stares at the jewel, and her voice is husky with feeling.
Catra: [moaning] No . . . [she looks up at Adora] I’m not worth it!
Adora smiles, and there’s a sparkle in her eyes. Tenderly, she puts her hands on Catra’s shoulders.
Adora: [with love in her voice] You’ve always been worth it . . . to me.
Catra looks at the jewel again, wondering at its reflective glow. As Adora stands up, it shows her face, smiling down at Catra. Somehow, Adora looks strong again. Her lips move in the reflection.
Adora: Goodbye, Catra. Stay safe.
Catra raises her head, but Adora is gone. She rises to her feet, starting to run after Adora, holding the light of the crystal in front of her.
Catra: Adora!
Catra blinks and opens her eyes wide, waking up quickly and sitting up straight.
Catra: [calling out] Adora! Adora!
The woods around her are calm and quiet, but for a wisp of wind that trickles past her face. She sits under the shadows of tall trees, where she fell asleep in the mid-afternoon. She reaches out and touches her pack beside her, then reaches to her other side and strokes the air. But there is nothing under her hand.
Frowning, she reaches down to her hip and lifts up the lunar crystal hanging there. She releases the cord, and holds the crystal out in front of herself. It is dark.
Looking up, she sees one of Etheria’s moons through a break in the trees overhead. As she raises the crystal upward, it suddenly catches the moonlight and glows brilliantly! For a moment she stares at it, then lowers it again and clutches it to her heart. Closing her eyes tightly, a single tear trickles down one cheek.
Catra: [murmuring quietly] Thank you.
Opening her eyes, Catra rises to her feet, straightens her body, and picks up her pack to go.
