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Chapter Text

It seemed like they were fighting for ages. As Adora dodged another punch from Catra, she spotted a small white chip at the back her neck. Catra takes advantage of Adora's distracted state and knocks her down with a punch.

Before Adora could fight back, two clones appear and they securely grab her body, restricting any sort of violent movement. Adora looks back and finds Catra staring at her, an eerie, almost soft grin appears on her face.

"Catra.. please, you're better than this! I know you you can fight the chip!" Adora shouts. Catra's grin widens as her stark, emerald eyes stare directly into Adora's.

"Don't worry Adora, we will be together soon. Side by side, just like we've always wanted."

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Adora finally gives into exhaustion as she stops trying to fight the two clones' iron grip. She hopes that Glimmer and Bow were okay, since she hadn't heard from them at all. What of something happened to them? What if they were hurt? Captured? In trouble?

Adora snapped out of her thoughts as the clones lead her into a vast area. The walls and floors are a sharp white, as is everything else on this cursed ship. Adora looks up to see Horde Prime standing in front of a pool filled with green liquid. She really wanted to just push him in, but she knew better than to cause trouble while being surrounded by clones.

"So you've finally given up on trying to save your little cat I see?" Adora shudders as she hears Horde Prime speak, his deep voice shows no annoyance or anger whatsoever. In fact, he seemed amused.

"I will never, ever give up on Catra!" Adora's gaze darkens as she snapped at Prime, "and I will make sure that you don't ever get the chance to hurt anyone. Ever. Again." Horde Prime stares at her intently before letting out a sigh.

"You poor misguided soul... do not worry little sister, you will be with your Catra soon enough." That was when Catra had stepped into the room, she didn't even look at Adora as she took her place next to Horde Prime.

The two clones forced Adora down to her knees as Horde Prime knelt down and cupped her cheek with his sterile, cold hand. Adora shivered at the touch and squeezed her eyes shut. She could feel a small little prick in the back of her neck, but she was too distracted by Horde Prime's steel claws gripping her face.

Adora let out a sigh of relief as Horde prime let her go and stood up. The two clones had tied her wrists and feet before finally letting go. Adora had no idea what Prime was planning, but that was the least of her worries, all she could think about were the emotionless emerald eyes that had replaced Catra's soft heterochromatic ones.

"Catra... please.. stay." Adora pleaded as her eyes brimmed with tears. Catra looked down at her from her place next to Prime. She glanced at her master for confirmation, Prime nodded and Catra slowly went towards Adora.

"I'm so happy that you will get to experience eternal peace with me Adora." Catra gave her a genuine smile, but Adora knew that Catra wasn't really there. She'd never want this. Before Adora can continue her train of thought, a clone grabs Adora and gently dips her into the green liquid. She yells in protest, but her screams are drowned out by the time her head is submerged in the liquid.

Her whole body flares up in pain as memories from different times flood through her brain. She tries to grasp on to them, but she can feel them fading away... no, no, no, no, NO! If she wasn't submerged in liquid, then her whole face would be wet with tears. Adora can hear the faint sound of chanting as she feels thousands of green eyes stare at her through the pool.

Once Adora is brought back up to the surface, the pain leaves her as suddenly as it had came. Her eyes are closed, but she can feel Horde Primes presence as he bends down in front of her,

"Ah, there we go... you have finally been brought into my everlasting light." Horde Prime once again brings his hand up to cup Adora's cheek. She doesn't know why, but this time, she leans into the touch. She stares up at Horde Primes piercing emerald eyes. Unbeknownst to her, her eyes glow the same colour. Horde Prime smiles as he sees this and speaks,

"Let's get these ropes off of you, you won't be needing them anymore," Horde Prime drags his claw across the ropes and asks, "How do you feel little sister? Better?" Adora gave a small nod. Actually, she felt great. All the pain and sorrow from her heart was replaced with tranquility and peace. She had never felt this calm in her entire life.

Something far in the back of her mind screamed,

This isn't right.

Before Adora could dwell on the thought, it was eradicated from her mind.

"Rejoice brothers! For I have brought another misguided soul into the light!" Horde Prime's voice echoed across the room as all the clones began to cheer. Adora looked around the crowd until her eyes met with Catra's. She smiled as she stared into Catra's strikingly beautiful green eyes.

Catra came forward and crouched down next to Adora as she whispered,

"Soon, all of Etheria will be welcomed into Prime's light. I can't wait to have you fighting besides me."

"It'll be you and me Catra, just like we've always wanted."

Chapter Text

Adora smiled at Catra's words, feeling a sense of peace and contentment wash over her. She couldn't wait to be by Catra's side and fight for Horde Prime's cause. However, a small part of her still felt uneasy, as if something wasn't quite right. She pushed the thought aside and focused on the present moment.

As the celebration continued, Adora noticed a group of clones escorting Glimmer and Bow into the room. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw the bruises and cuts on their faces. She tried to call out to them, but her voice was hoarse and barely audible. Glimmer's eyes met hers briefly, filled with fear and desperation, before the clones forced her to her knees.

Horde Prime approached them, a menacing smile on his face. "Welcome, my dear children. It's an honor to have you here," he said, his tone mocking and cold.

Glimmer spat at his feet. "I'll never join you, you monster!"

Horde Prime chuckled. "You don't have a choice, my queen. You'll either join us willingly or be forced to do so." Glimmer was about to retort until she saw Adora.

"A-Adora?" Glimmer muttered, Bow was too stunned to speak. The fire in Glimmer's eyes died down at the sight of her chipped friend, but it soon reignited twice as bright. "What have you done to her?!"

Adora came forward, "He has done nothing wrong. He gave me everything you couldn't. Peace and a sense of belonging. Don't you want to be happy too, Glimmer?"

Glimmer's eyes widened in shock and disbelief at Adora's words. "Adora, what are you saying? This isn't you," she pleaded.

Adora chuckled darkly, "You're right, I'm the better version of Adora. And soon, you both will become better versions of yourselves."

She stepped back as Horde Prime placed the chip at the back of Glimmer and Bow's necks. Adora watched in contempt as Horde Prime threw Glimmer in the same green liquid she had been submerged in earlier. Glimmer's body convulsed in pain, and Adora could feel her memories flooding her mind. She felt a surge of anger and despair, but it was quickly replaced by a sense of calmness and acceptance.

Bow was next, he gave Adora one last look of desperation before he too was forced to join Horde Prime's army. She wondered if she had made the right choice, Adora felt a pang of guilt and sadness wash over her. She couldn't believe what she had just done, and the small part of her that had felt uneasy earlier now grew into a knot of anxiety and fear.

Catra noticed Adora's discomfort and approached her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Adora. You did the right thing. This is for the greater good," she said, her voice soothing but firm.

Adora looked at Catra, feeling conflicted. She had always trusted Catra, but something about this didn't feel right. "But what about their free will? What about their right to choose?" she whispered, her voice trembling. Adora herself couldn't believe that she was questioning her lord.

Catra sighed. "Adora, you know that free will is an illusion. We're all controlled by something, whether it's our emotions, our desires, or our beliefs. We're just helping Glimmer and Bow see the truth and make the right choice."

Adora nodded slowly, still feeling uneasy but unable to argue. She watched as Glimmer and Bow rose from the pool, their eyes glowing with the same sickly green light as Adora's. She couldn't help but feel a sense of loss for the friends she once knew. Her doubts were quickly erased by the euphoric feeling that washed over her.

Horde Prime approached them and smiled. "Welcome to the Horde, my dear children. I hope you will enjoy my gift of everlasting peace." his tone was smooth and convincing.

Glimmer and Bow nodded, their faces devoid of any emotion. "Yes, my lord. We are honored to serve," they said in unison.

As the celebration came to an end, Adora found herself standing next to Catra. They shared a brief, knowing glance, and Adora felt a rush of affection towards her former rival.

"We'll make a great team, Adora," Catra said, her voice laced with excitement.

Adora nodded, feeling a sense of belonging that she had never experienced before. She was no longer alone in this world, no longer searching for her place. She had found it, and it was with Horde Prime.

Together, they would conquer Etheria and bring about a new era of peace and prosperity. Adora smiled, feeling a sense of purpose that she had never felt before. She had finally found her true calling.

Now that Horde Prime had Adora, Catra, Glimmer and Bow chipped. It was time to execute his plan.

The four stood in a line, they were ready for Horde Prime's command. Adora's mind was clear and focused, her thoughts no longer plagued with doubts and insecurities. She looked to her left and right, at Catra and Glimmer, and felt a sense of camaraderie and loyalty towards them. They were her comrades now, her fellow soldiers in Horde Prime's army.

Horde Prime stood in front of them, a triumphant smile on his face. "My dear sisters and brothers," he said, addressing them. "You have finally been brought into my piercing light. You will obey my every command, and together we shall bring peace across the universe."

Adora felt a surge of power and confidence as Horde Prime spoke. She was part of something bigger now, part of a grand plan to bring peace and order to the world. She would do anything to achieve that goal, even if it meant sacrificing her own desires and wishes.... not that she had any.

Horde Prime gestured towards a holographic map of Etheria. "Our first target will be Bright Moon," he said. "It is the heart of the rebellion, and once we conquer it, the rest of Etheria will fall into our hands."

Adora and her companions nodded in agreement, they were ready for battle. They were no longer individuals, but part of a larger collective, a machine fueled by Horde Prime's will.

As they marched towards Bright Moon, Adora couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration and excitement. She had never felt so alive, so purposeful. She was no longer Adora, the lost orphan searching for her place in the world. She was a soldier, a warrior, a pawn in Horde Prime's grand scheme.

The battle for Bright Moon was fierce and intense. Adora fought alongside Catra, Glimmer and Bow, their bodies moving in perfect synchronization. She could feel the power of the chip coursing through her veins, giving her strength and agility beyond anything she had ever known.

The rebels fought valiantly, but with Glimmer having direct contact with her runestone, they didn't stand a chance.

As they emerged victorious, Adora felt a sense of triumph and satisfaction. They had succeeded in their mission, and the rest of Etheria would soon follow.

But even as she basked in the glory of her victory, a small voice in the back of her mind whispered one again,

This isn't right.

She tried to ignore it, to push it away, but it persisted, like a nagging doubt that refused to be silenced.

Adora looked around at the ruins of Bright Moon, at the bodies of the fallen, and felt a sense of sadness and regret. She had achieved her goal, but at what cost? How many lives had been lost in the pursuit of this so-called peace?

She looked at Catra, who was staring off into the distance, her expression unreadable. Adora wondered if she too was feeling the same doubts and regrets. But she couldn't bring herself to ask, couldn't risk shattering the fragile bond that had formed between them.

For now, Adora pushed her doubts aside, and focused on the task at hand. There was still much work to be done, still many battles to be fought. And she would fight them, side by side with her comrades, in the name of Horde Prime's everlasting light.