Happy weekend, everyone! 😊
It's time for the start of a brand new episode, which is always an exciting thing for me.
It seems like a long time since the end of the war and the return of the princesses to their kingdoms (Ep 53: On The Plain of Heroes and (Ep 54: Just Friends Ship)
Since then, many things have taken place:
Catra and Adora found it difficult to fit in at Bright Moon, while Mermista and Sea Hawk faced a storm together. (Ep 55: Sleeping Arrangements)
Glimmer welcomed her father home as Swift Wind, Catra and Adora nearly lost their lives in a colossal windstorm. (Episode 56: Throne Room)
Glimmer held an emergency meeting, while, Frosta and Perfuma accompanied Scorpia to the Fright Zone. (Ep 57: Missing Peace)
Entrapta and Wink traveled into danger on Beast Island, and Scorpia reclaimed her ancestral kingdom. Catra discovered the ruins of Mystacor. (Ep 58: Peace Zone)
Sea Hawk helped Mermista in her mission to bring her people back home, while Adora, Catra and Micah arrived to assist in the rebuilding of Mystacor, (Ep 59: Good Will Tour)
Catra helped to rebuild Mystacor while Entrapta discovered the deadly threat to all of Etheria. (Ep 60: Cry For Etheria)
All of the princesses gathered for an "emergency sleepover," and Catra stayed with Castaspella. (Ep 61: Stay Close)
The princesses formed a plan to save Etheria, but Adora and Catra were plagued by the past. (Ep 62: Chance for the Future, Ghosts from the Past)
The princesses returned once again to their kingdoms for the final trial to save their world. Entrapta entered the Chamber of the Heart. (Ep 63: Welcome . . .)
Adora and Catra faced challenges apart, and Scorpia gathered her old crew to help her reach her rune stone. (Ep 64: Where There Is Light)
Everyone worked together to save the planet, but Scorpia (with Lonnie, Kyle and Rogelio) faced extraordinary difficulties, and Entrapta and Bow were compelled to take a risky course with the failing First Ones Systems. (Ep 65: Shutdown Part 1)
Everyone worked together with all of their energies and their loyalty to each other to finally shut down the First Ones Systems to avert the final destruction. And even as victory was achieved, Glimmer fell from the Moonstone pillar. (Ep 66: Shutdown Part 2)
And now the princesses have been coping with the loss of their magic, each in her own way. (Ep 67: Light In The Mourning)
But Adora has a plan, and she is ready to strike out on her own for the sake of her friends.
As the sun begins to rise on new hopes, I am dedicating this week's chapter to Alex ( @DontYouGetitILuvYou ), and to everyone who appreciates Adora and Catra.
I salute you! And I hope you will enjoy this somewhat brief but sweet scene, as we begin . . .
EPISODE 68: The Beginnings of Magic
The early rays of sunrise filter though Adora’s window in Bright Moon, sweeping a rosy orange glow across the floor, over the covers of her bed.
Adora lies curled on her side, her eyes partly open, breathing deeply into her first waking breath of the day. She smiles as she takes in the sweet smell of Catra’s hair, inches from her face.
Catra’s back nestles close against Adora’s stomach, curled up just outside of the covers with her tail wrapped close around her legs, peaceful and gently snoring.
Adora stretches, her arm emerging from beneath the covers as she yawns. She blinks her eyes a few times rapidly, gradually widening them to focus on Catra’s sleeping form. Gently, she lays her hand on Catra’s side. Catra lies still, breathing slowly.
Adora: [softly, almost whispering] Catra?
Catra responds with a sudden deep breath and a sigh.
Adora: [soothingly] Catraaa.
Catra’s ear twitches slightly.
Adora: Can you hear me?
Catra: [vaguely] Mmm.
Adora leans her head in closer to Catra’s ear.
Adora: [whispering] I’m gonna go now.
Very lightly but for a lingering moment, Adora kisses the back of Catra’s head.
Catra: [indistinctly] Nnng?
Adora: I’m going to see Madame Razz. Remember?
Catra takes a sighing breath again. After a moment she responds, still asleep.
Catra: Hmmmm . . .
Adora lifts up her cover and rolls out the other side of the bed, standing up. She watches Catra as she pulls on a shirt over her pajama camisole and then steps into her pants, pulling them up over her shorts.
Adora: [quietly] It shouldn’t take too long. I’ll be back again before tonight, okay?
Catra: [sleepily] Mm-hmm.
Adora grabs her jacket and quickly shrugs into it, fastening it closed. She starts to put on her belt as she walks over toward the doorway to the balcony. At the doorway, she looks back, seeing Catra slumbering peacefully, curled alongside the empty place on her bed. Adora smiles, a mingled emotion of affection and sorrow shining from her eyes. She finishes fastening her belt.
Adora: [her smile brightening] I’m glad. That we had that peaceful night together. Thank you.
Catra flicks her tail a little, smiling in her sleep.
Adora hesitates a moment, watching her girlfriend glowing in the gradually brightening orange light.
Adora: [barely a whisper] I love you.
Then, she turns and quickly exits the room.
Several moments pass as Catra sleeps on, her light snoring stirring the air.
A sudden shiver passes through her.
All at once, Catra’s snoring turns into a sharp snort, her eyes snap open, and her whole body tenses awake.
Catra raises up on her hands and looks around.
Catra: [surprised] Adora?
She feels the covers beside her, then vaults to her feet and dashes quickly to the balcony.
Catra: [calling out] Adooo-ra!
Catra sprints to the edge of the balcony, both hands catching the rail to halt her momentum. Glancing downward, she notices and picks up the end of a rope, tied firmly to one of the squat columns at the balcony’s edge, and trailing down the cliffside to the base of the castle. Lifting her eyes, she scans the area below. Her gaze follows the road threading its way across the sparkling moat and away from Bright Moon. Further along, in the distance, she spies the figure of Adora, striding purposefully forward through the umber shadows at the base of the valley, making her way toward the edges of the Whispering Woods.
Catra sighs and relaxes into a half-smile, shaking her head.
Catra: [softly] I love you, too.
She slowly turns away to re-enter the bedroom.
