Chapter Text
Chapter 1. Начало
The car had a cozy, calm atmosphere, as if they were in a cozy bubble away from the world. Marlena turned lovingly to her children in the backseat, her eyes alight with tenderness as she watched Adam and Adora , the five-year-old twins, happily bicker over what exactly they would get Glimmer for her birthday. Randor drove confidently, his hand firmly on the wheel, his gaze peacefully focused on the familiar road. The sun softly illuminated their faces, filtering through the dense foliage of the trees, creating a golden halo above each of their heads. Petals of light danced on their skin, giving a sense of magic.
"Daddy, did you have friends like that when you were little?" - Adora asked curiously , her voice like a melody as she leaned against the window, watching with interest as the road flashed past the glass and the trees flew by. Her face lit up with childish delight, full of hope for the magic that lay ahead.
Randor smiled, exchanging a warm look with Marlena that spoke more than words could. There was love in that look, and confidence that together they would overcome any obstacle.
"Yes, my dear, and our friends are very dear to us. Friendship is something that remains despite time and distance," - he said with sincere feeling, his voice reminiscent of the gentle whisper of the wind.
But before any of them could say another word, the car suddenly jerked, as if an invisible hand had grabbed it and thrown it into the abyss. It all happened so fast: a bright flash of light, a searing crack of metal, the smell of burning that crept into their noses and left a bitter aftertaste. Hearts sank in their chests as the car spun and everything went dark.
When Adora opened her eyes, her body was weak and her head seemed to be throbbing with an unknown pain, as if thunder was rolling inside her. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and feeling its rhythm, she tried to gather her thoughts together.
She looked around, trying to figure out where she was, but the darkness around her was impenetrable, like a thick fog with no way out. Fear filled her, and images came back to her mind: a bright flash, a roar, and... her parents, their faces full of worry. The memory was like a sharp point piercing her chest, causing a suffocating pain.
Suddenly a shadow appeared before her, a tall figure shrouded in darkness, with piercing eyes that sparkled in the darkness like stars in a cloudless sky. The silence around her was deafening, as if the whole world had frozen in anticipation.
The shadow took a step forward, and Adora felt a chill run down her spine. But there was no fear in its eyes, only a vague expectation. The figure approached her silently, and then, without a word, it reached out and gently placed its palm on her cheek. The touch was cold, but there was a surprising power in it that reminded her of something long forgotten.
Adora tensed, feeling anxiety rise up inside her like a storm. She had no idea who stood before her, but she felt... something unsettling. The touch echoed in her soul, like a warning. Memory, like fog, slipped away from her, leaving only blurred images - faces, voices, and the souls closest to her that seemed lost forever.
She looked around, trying to discern any details, but the darkness continued to envelop her. A sense of hopelessness grew within her, and she realized that this shadow was the only key to unraveling her fate.
At that moment, the world around her blurred, and Adora felt the darkness swallow her up. She tried to hold on to the edges of consciousness, but the gentle yet insistent darkness carried her away, and everything was plunged into darkness once more.
***
A year had passed since Adora woke up in an unfamiliar place, leaving behind dark memories. She had gotten used to the new rhythm of life, but sometimes the nights still brought strange dreams, whispering of lost time.
Adora woke up this morning to a strange sound in the kitchen. Her childish curiosity instantly got the better of her, and barefoot and disheveled, she slipped out of the room, heading for the dim light in the hallway. As she approached the kitchen, she froze in anticipation.
There stood Shadow Weaver, and next to her stood someone new: a little girl with fluffy cat ears and a tail, looking as scared and wary as a captured animal. Adora felt an instant pull toward the girl, as if she held a story that had never been told.
"This is Adora ," - Shadow Weaver announced, without a trace of a smile. - "Starting today, you're going to be living together. Catra , come say hello."
Catra looked up suspiciously, not moving from her spot. Her eyes were large and bright, and they gleamed stubbornly, but she felt Shadow Weaver's gaze on her and stepped forward.
“Hello,” - she said dryly, without extending her hand.
Adora smiled nervously, glancing at Shadow Weaver as if seeking approval, but was met with a cold stare. She decided to try being friendly, hoping that would please Shadow Weaver.
"Hi, Catra ! I... I can show you our room," - Adora offered , hoping her new roommate would approve.
But Catra just snorted and looked defiantly at Shadow Weaver.
"Where are my parents? Why am I here?" - Katra asked , her voice shaking.
Shadow Weaver froze for a moment, her face soon twisting in disgust before she spoke:
"Your parents abandoned you like a useless thing. And gave you to me for money."
Weaver's words hit Catra hard and she began to cry, her throat constricting with pain. Adora felt her heart clench in pity for her new friend.
"Stop whining," - Shadow Weaver said coldly, narrowing her eyes to show she would not tolerate any arguments. - "Or you'll find out what happens to those who don't listen to me. - " She paused, as if considering, and then added, - "Adora will help you get used to it."
For the first time , Adora felt a mixture of pride that she had been given the task, and anxiety that she knew what it was like to be punished by Shadow Weaver. But when she looked at Catra , all she saw was anger burning in her eyes—anger and resentment at the adult who had forced her to obey.
And without even fully understanding why, Adora suddenly felt like she wanted this girl—with the weird ears and fluffy tail—to feel safe, no matter what.
***
Adora had gotten used to being the first one to wake up, and it had become a routine for her over the past few months. She knew that Shadow Weaver approved of her efforts, and the six-year-old was willing to do anything to earn the praise. After she made her bed neatly, she checked to make sure Catra had remembered to put away her things. Her new friend, stubborn and defiant, always slept later, leaving everything for later. These morning rituals became a part of their lives, and the house gradually filled with habits and small joys, despite Weaver's strict rules.
Just as Adora picked up the broom to sweep the floors, a sleepy grumble came from the other side of the room:
"Are you up early again?" - Katra muttered , burying her nose in the pillow. — "Why? She won't leave us alone anyway..."
Adora tried to suppress a smile as she continued sweeping. She knew Shadow Weaver would be angry if he caught Catra lying down, but she also knew that no amount of coaxing or pleading would make her get up earlier if she didn't want to. Catra wasn't afraid of Shadow Weaver—or at least she pretended not to be.
" Catra , please... Get up, we have to get this done on time. If not, Shadow Weaver will get mad again," - she reminded in a whisper, remembering how Catra was locked in the basement for an hour.
Catra turned away, muttering something angrily about - "getting things done on time is boring. - "Adora sighed and got back to work.
However, fifteen minutes later, when Adora had almost finished sweeping the floor of the house, she heard a sound that made her heart happy - Catra was coming down the stairs and yawning.
“Okay, okay, I’m up!” - she said with a slight smile.
Adora looked at her with relief and joy .
"Okay, we still have some dusting to do before Shadow Weaver wakes up and comes out of her room!" - she exclaimed, gesturing enthusiastically towards the shelves.
Katra , although with a displeased expression on her face, got down to her business.
***
Now that Adora was 10 and Catra 9 and a half, their days were filled with strict classes and relentless training. Shadow Weaver was cold and unwavering, her voice a command devoid of emotion. The girls knew that training was necessary, even if no one explained why.
After school, Shadow Weaver gathered them in the yard. Dark memories, once touching but now painful, flashed in her eyes. She remembered her military husband, who always talked to her about the never-ending war, the lack of soldiers, but most importantly, his dreams of having children to follow in his footsteps. But despite all their efforts, he and Weaver were unable to have children, and this became a source of anger and frustration for him. One day, without a word to her, he left again on a contract, heading to the hottest spot , leaving her with an emptiness that was only filled by his death on the battlefield.
"Fall into line. Today we are practicing endurance," she ordered, and there was no room for doubt in her voice.
Adora immediately sat up straight, her gaze focused on Shadow Weaver, her hands clenched into fists. She hung on every word, eager to live up to expectations. Her desire to please was strong, and she knew she couldn't afford to make a mistake. But next to her , Catra stumbled slightly, standing lazily, casting a sideways glance at her friend.
" Catra , don't make her angry," Adora hissed under her breath, trying not to attract Weaver's attention. "We need to train or she'll punish us again."
Katra just chuckled, rolling a pebble with the toe of her boot, her stubborn nature making itself known again.
"It's for her, not us," she replied, although deep down she knew Adora's words were not without meaning. But she still straightened up, trying to pretend she was listening.
Shadow Weaver, watching them with an icy gaze, narrowed her eyes and, walking up to Catra , said with a cold threat:
- "You understand that you will die if you fail, right?"
Catra stared back stubbornly, but eventually she looked down, quiet and resigned to Shadow Weaver's stern gaze. Fury clenched her fists, and her lips were pressed together with tension, betraying her inner struggle. Adora felt the familiar fear again, knowing that Catra might get in trouble again for disobeying her friend. But deep down, she knew that despite Shadow Weaver's cruelty, they had to stay together to survive in this harsh world.
The training began, and the girls, full of conflicting emotions, tried to carry out all the commands, realizing that the only way to survive under the oppression of Shadow Weaver was to support each other, even if sometimes it seemed impossible.
***
Adora was already a twelve-year-old girl, and Catra had just turned eleven and a half, when the cool afternoon air filled the training grounds. The weather was growing colder, but Shadow Weaver still stood over them, her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes glaring sternly cold.
" Adora , more push-ups!" she snapped. "You have to be resilient, strong. Do you know what that means?"
Adora tensed, trying not to show how tired she was from the grueling workout. She nodded, concentrating on lifting her body off the ground with shaking arms. Next to her, Catra stopped doing squats, breathing heavily, pretending not to care, though even her face was flushed with fatigue.
"And what kind of behavior is this, Catra ?" Shadow Weaver stepped closer to her, as if expecting an answer.
Katra shrugged lazily, but her gaze was firm and slightly challenging.
“I’ve already done more than I needed to,” she grumbled.
Shadow Weaver paused, looking at her intently, but said nothing. Adora felt herself growing uneasy under that gaze.
The training session came to an end, and as soon as they left the area, Shadow Weaver gave a short instruction:
- "Go to your rooms and follow the rules. I have important business to attend to, so if you break any of the rules, you'll be in trouble."
Shadow Weaver quickly disappeared around the corner, leaving them alone , slamming the garage door behind them. Soon, Adora and Catra collapsed on the floor next to their beds.
Catra looked at Adora with irony :
- "Look, we have the whole day to ourselves now. Don't you want to have a little fun?" - her voice was quiet, but her eyes were sparkling with mischief.
Adora paused, faintly hearing the car drive away:
- " Catra , this is a bad idea. You know what she does when her rules are broken."
— "That's all you think about all the time!" snorted Katra , rolling her eyes. "Listen, she's gone. This is your chance to see what she's hiding in her creepy office. Are you coming or not?"
Adora hesitated, but finally nodded, knowing she had made her decision. Within minutes, they were sneaking into Shadow Weaver's office. Adora tensed inwardly as she watched Catra look through the shelves and cabinets.
"Wow... Look at that! There's a Weaver soldier in here," Catra whispered , pulling a framed photograph out of one of the drawers. But before they could get a good look at the find, there was a sharp creak from the door.
They both froze, feeling their hearts stop. Shadow Weaver was back, her cold gaze boring into them.
“How… do you dare?” Her voice sounded quieter than usual, but even more threatening.
"It's not what you think!" Adora cried out , but the words caught in her throat as Shadow Weaver stepped closer.
She grabbed both girls by the shoulders and led them outside to the training grounds. There, under the cold sky, they stood, feeling their hearts pounding in unison with Shadow Weaver's growing anger.
"Whose idea was it?" she asked, her voice like ice. "To break into my office?"
The girls were silent, only exchanging glances. Shadow Weaver knew it was Catra , but the girls' silence only fueled her anger.
- " Catra !" - Her voice became sharp, and without waiting for an answer, she slapped her hard across the face. - "You think this is a game? You always liked to disobey orders and do things your way."
Catra , shocked, couldn't hold back her tears, but held her head high, not wanting to show weakness. Adora felt her heart squeeze with fear and pity for her friend.
"You will not get away with this outrage," Shadow Weaver continued, her voice icy and merciless. "Now you will both be punished. First, repeat what you did in training, but with double the effort. And do not dare slow down until I tell you to."
Adora took a stance, already feeling her arms buckle from fatigue, but she knew she couldn't stop. Catra gritted her teeth and began doing squats. Every time they started to slow down, Shadow Weaver would remind them with an icy tone, not allowing them to stop for a minute. Soon they could barely do the exercises, but that was just the beginning.
- "You seem to think that you can break my rules? Very well. Then remember this forever."
— " Catra , it's your turn to do push-ups. Adora , it's your turn to do squats. Any let-up and we'll start over."
Catra tried to do 9 push-ups, but her arms were shaking and her breathing was ragged. Adora gritted her teeth, trying to squat as much as she could, but soon fatigue overtook them both and they fell, exhausted.
Shadow Weaver watched them with a small smile, and the expression sent a chill through Adora's body .
— "You are weak and unworthy. If you break the rule again, the punishment will be a thousand times harsher. Return to your rooms now and do not dare leave until I give you permission. Food will not be available to you until the morning, and remember: this is only a small part of what awaits violators."
As they were going up to their rooms, the bell rang and Shadow Weaver answered with icy calm. She said she would be late because she had forgotten a document and there had been an incident on the way back. "But I'll be there soon," she added, her voice indifferent and confident. Adora and Catra exchanged worried glances, knowing that they had only gotten caught because Weaver had forgotten a document.
Entering the room, they immediately lay down on their beds, sheltering from the cold and feeling pain throughout their bodies.
"You think that soldier in the picture is the reason Weaver is pushing us to train harder?" Catra asked sharply , breathing heavily.
“I don’t know, but maybe someday we can ask her herself,” Adora answered , trying to hide the weariness in her voice.
"There's a war going on in the world, and it wants to send us to fight," Katra said thoughtfully , leaning against the wall. Recently, in history class, they were discussing the war, which has been going on for eight years now and still hasn't ended.
"But that's good," Adora replied thoughtfully . "We can help bring about peace, and then there will be no more needless bloodshed."
Catra frowned, remembering how in the textbooks they had seen how the enemy was taking over more and more territory, how people were returning home less and less. But this year, something amazing had happened at one of the hot spots: Team Captain Mara had managed to get the enemy to flee the battlefield. Her leadership and the capture of this hot spot had been noted in the news, her name mentioned with admiration, as a symbol of new hope.
Adora looked at her friend, feeling a spark ignite in her chest.
- Someday, Katra , we can do something like this too.
Catra just shook her head, but there was something in her eyes that Adora couldn't place—a mixture of subtle doubt.
***
At 15 and 14 years old, Catra and Adora already had a reputation for being the best students in school, everywhere they participated, they were the best, and sometimes some people found it annoying. Since Adora and Catra had some different classes, they were currently in different rooms. The bell rang to end the class, and Catra , leaving the classroom, habitually headed to the lockers. Before she could notice a shadow, someone pushed her sharply in the back. Losing her balance, she fell to her knees on the cold hallway floor, and immediately heard a sarcastic laugh. Catra turned around to see Lonnie , whose face was spread into a sarcastic grin.
- "Look who's lying here! I'm sick of this arrogance of yours!" - Lonnie said contemptuously .
Catra jumped up, her eyes blazing with anger. She took a step toward Lonnie , ready to fight back, but at that moment Octavia, Lonnie's older sister, who was graduating this year, joined them . Tall and confident, she easily grabbed Catra's arm , holding it tightly.
" Lonnie , show her how to deal with someone who is being provocative," Octavia said with cold indifference, not letting go of Catra from her iron grip.
Catra tried to break free, but Octavia held her too tightly. Lonnie took the opportunity and punched Catra in the stomach, causing her to double over in pain. But suddenly, Adora came running at Octavia from behind , knocking her off her feet. Octavia staggered and fell, letting go of Catra .
Adora , without thinking, fell on Octavia, pinning her to the floor. Consumed by rage, she began to punch her in the face, ignoring the screams and shocked looks. One of the blows landed precisely on Octavia's left eye, causing her to flash with pain.
The crowd of schoolchildren gathered around froze, not expecting to see such ferocity from the usually reserved Adora . Lonnie stood motionless, confused, looking at her friend. However, the confusion did not last long: she rushed towards Adora to pull her away, but immediately felt Catra push her back.
"Bitch, you'll pay for this!" Katra hissed , clenching her fists and ready to fight.
Lonnie prepared to lunge at her, but a loud, commanding voice echoed down the hallway.
— "EVERYONE STOP!"
School Principal Hordak , tall and intimidating, stepped out from the crowd. His icy gaze slid over Adora , Catra , and Lonnie , who stood at attention, with Octavia lying bleeding on the floor . His presence brought order to the crowd, which immediately scattered, hurrying to get out of the principal's sight.
“You three, to my office. Immediately,” he said coldly, without raising his voice, but his words seemed to echo in every corner of the corridor.
He turned to the guard Grizzlor , who was standing nearby and watching the scene with curiosity:
- " Grizzlor , take Octavia to the school nurse."
With heavy hearts and knowing that there would be consequences, Adora , Catra , and Lonnie silently followed Hordak , knowing that the consequences would be severe.
A thick, tense silence fell over Principal Hordak's office . Catra , Adora , and Lonnie sat on a bench against the far wall, each lost in their own thoughts, trying to avoid each other's eyes. Adora looked down at her hands, bloodied from the fight, and thought back to the moment when rage had washed over her when she saw Octavia restrain Catra .
The door to the office opened silently and Shadow Weaver walked in. Her gaze, cold and penetrating, slid over the figures of Catra and Adora , as if piercing them through. She walked silently to Hordak's desk , gracefully taking the seat next to him. A moment later, Lonnie and Octavia's mother, Melanie, walked into the office. There was an undercurrent of anger in her movements; when she saw Weaver, she clenched her jaw slightly, giving her a look of intense dislike. Weaver responded with a slight amusement in her gaze and sat down with an air of complete superiority.
Hordak rose slowly from the table, turning to face his students. His cold, commanding voice cut through the silence like a hammer blow. “What happened here?”
Catra immediately jumped up, not giving Lonnie a chance to speak first. She spoke clearly and firmly, trying to get her point across: " Lonnie attacked me first, and Octavia held me back, not letting me defend myself. Adora only stepped in to help, we are not to blame for anything!"
Lonnie snorted and raised her voice indignantly, "Not guilty? Those two are out of their minds! Adora almost tore Octavia's eye out because of Catra !" Her voice shook with indignation, and it seemed like she was about to burst into tears of anger.
Adora continued to sit silently, concentrating on her blood-stained fists. Realizing that the argument was descending into chaos, Hordak raised his hand, motioning for Lonnie to be quiet, and returned to his desk.
" Grizzlor !" he called to the guard who had been standing patiently at the door.
Grizzlor stepped forward, waiting for instructions. Hordak , barely looking at him, said briefly, "Take them out into the hallway and make sure they don't start another fight."
Under the watchful eye of Grizzlor Catra , Adora , and Lonnie walked out into the hallway, leaving their parents in the office. The door closed softly behind them, and Hordak took his seat again, sighing wearily. He paused for a moment, looking at the monitor in front of him, then pressed a few keys and turned the screen so that Weaver and Melanie could see the security footage of the entire incident.
Through the tense footage, Weaver watched as Lonnie pushed Catra and Octavia held her back, creating a path for her sister to strike. Adora flashed across the screen , charging at Octavia, her face twisted in uncontrollable rage. The next few seconds showed Adora landing blow after blow, showing no mercy.
Melanie paled, barely containing her anger, but was about to protest, but Hordak interrupted her, his gaze expressing open contempt: - "A little more and I would have expelled Octavia. She is three years older than these children than she thought when she supported her sister's plan. You are lucky that I am keeping her in school for the rest of the year."
Melanie's face twisted into a mask of anger, but without saying a word, she silently rose and, with a furious glare in Weaver's direction, walked out. In the hallway, she grabbed Lonnie's hand and quickly led her to the nurse's office, slamming the door loudly.
When silence filled the office again, Hordak leaned back in his chair wearily. Alone with Weaver, he sighed heavily, and after a minute of quiet silence, he broke it, saying calmly, "It seems my debt to you is closed. By the way, you are training them well, Weaver. The army will receive strong reinforcements as soon as they grow up. They need such fighters now more than ever."
Weaver just nodded, a small, smug smile crossing her face.
Ending the call, Weaver stood up and headed for the exit. In the hallway, she paused for a moment, casting a cool, calm glance at Catra and Adora before heading to her car. Catra and Adora exchanged a quick glance, then hurried after them, sensing that they would be in for some serious punishment at home.
They were both silent as they walked, anxiously trying to guess what Weaver would do with them. But as they entered the house, she suddenly stopped, turned to Adora , and said quietly, "Well done, Adora ."
Her lips curved slightly into a subtle, almost sinister smile, and without saying another word, she disappeared into her room, leaving the girls in a state of absolute shock and confusion.
Catra and Adora watched her go, completely confused and still not believing that the punishment had not followed.