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Adora's mind is heavy as she opens the door to her bedroom, but her heart lights up when she sees the view. Catra is curled up in a ball right in the center of their bed. It was one of the first things that got replaced when they returned to the castle. The new bed is still firmer than a typical princess mattress, but softer than Adora's old cot. Most importantly, it's big enough for Adora, Catra, and Melog to all have room to stretch out if they want.
(They don't. Most nights the three of them sleep practically on top of each other.)
Catra is dozing in a sunbeam, the soft evening light framing her like a holy figure from the art book Bow's dads gifted her. They know now, of course, that Adora's not actually an art major, but the thought was nice. Everyone seems to think Adora needs hobbies now that the war is over. Some people consider construction a hobby, but since she’s doing it to help rebuild after the invasion, that apparently doesn’t count.
She liked looking at some of the pieces in the book, but no painting or sculpture can compare with her current view. Catra shifts, stretching languidly.
“Were you just going to watch me sleep?” she says, her raspy voice a little extra rough from waking.
“Maybe,” Adora says with a smile, kicking off her boots and making her way over to the bed.
She climbs in and rearranges some of their numerous pillows (another new feature Catra—and Melog, she claims—insisted on) until she's able to sit comfortably at the head of the bed. Catra shifts over, nuzzling her face into Adora's lap, her eyes already slipping closed again as Adora starts to stroke through her mane. Watching her girlfriend drift off, Adora feels some of her own tension melting away.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Catra murmurs.
Adora freezes. Of course Catra can tell even in her semi-alert state that something is wrong. The reaction seems to convince Catra she needs to be more aware for this conversation and she blinks up at her, eyes full of love and concern.
Adora swallows. She doesn't want to worry her girlfriend, but they made a commitment to be honest with each other. She tries to figure out how to put what she's been feeling into words.
It turns out leading a planet out of war takes a lot more than the final battle. Before they could jet off into the stars, there was a lot of rebuilding to do, not to mention figuring out what to do with all of the clones and scattered Horde technology. (Adora worried Glimmer might play her queen card when she was outvoted on the telepads. While she ultimately refrained from abusing her power, Bow and Adora have been subjected to several impassioned rants about the decision.)
Reconstruction has been going well, however, and they have finally reached a point where they feel confident starting preparations for their big space road trip. Adora has been working with Entrapta on unlocking Darla's files on all of the planets the First One's once colonized or considered colonizing, gleaning any information she can about their natural sources of magic.
Today, she took a trip to the Etherian Historical Society to cross-reference her findings with their archives and the oral histories they have been gathering from interviewing willing clones. The hive mind was one of the most extensive databases of knowledge about planetary cultures—especially those that have been lost—for the last thousand years, though it's hardly a complete or impartial source. Despite Prime's insistence that he knew all, he really only cared about the cultural knowledge of the planets he invaded to the extent that it helped him wipe out its members, access the resources needed to build his empire, or gave gravitas to his sick trophies.
Still, it's an important project, both for the historical value and for helping the interviewees develop a deeper understanding of all the ways their former leader lied to them. Though the fact that several of Bow's siblings are leading it really hasn't helped the participating clones understand that not all people are brothers.
It was a productive outing, but something about it made the imminence of their trip feel real to her for the first time. She has been looking forward to it, but as the launch draws closer she also feels a growing sense of dread.
Here in the comfort and safety of the bedroom she shares with the love of her life, Adora is finally able to name the fear that has been eating away at her. “What if I can't do it?”
“Can't do what?” Catra says.
“Bring magic back to the universe,” Adora says. “I mean, we've been in contact with all these other planets and some of them haven't seen magic in centuries. And they're so excited that I'm coming, but...what if I can't help? What if I get there and I can't figure out how to bring their magic back?”
Catra blinks up at her in surprise. “I thought we'd just make out on each planet and see what happens.”
Adora feels herself flush. “Catra, be serious.”
“I'm very serious about making out with you on all of the planets we visit,” Catra says with a wicked grin. “But fine. If you get stumped on how to bring back a planet's magic, I'll take care of it for you.”
She finishes the statement by reaching up to pat Adora's cheek condescendingly.
“Oh, really?” Adora says.
“Yes, really,” Catra says. “You're not the only magic expert in this room. I happen to be psychically bonded to another one, and they've been around since magic was a lot more plentiful in the universe. Are you doubting Melog's capability?”
Melog gives a questioning mew from where they've been lounging on one of the giant floor pillows. Adora immediately turns to them in horror. “Of course not!”
“Good. And it's not like it's up to just the three of us either,” Catra says, holding up a hand to count off on her fingers. “We'll also have Sparkles on board, whose skilled at both princess magic and sorcery. And Entrapta, whose an expert on connecting magic with tech. Not to mention the residents of the planets themselves, many of whom have retained relevant knowledge or at least stories passed down about their homeworld's power sources.”
It's true that they have already heard instances of magic returning on its own to planets liberated from Prime's control, even as others still report that they're struggling or that former natural wells have run dry.
“This isn't all on you,” Catra says. “Besides, both of us have already saved the universe—twice. Bringing magic back on top of that is just overachieving. We'll do our best, and the magic will come back or it won't.”
Adora turns the words over in her mind, trying to make herself internalize them. "I guess you're right."
Catra's eyes narrow, so her tone probably wasn't very convincing. "Adora, I'm serious. The entire universe's magic isn't your responsibility. If this trip is just going to stress you out and cause you to relapse into perpetual savior mode, maybe we should cancel."
"It's not!" Adora says quickly. She has really been looking forward to it. Or at least, she was… "Okay, maybe I've been falling into old patterns, a little. But this talk is helping."
Adora pauses, scratching under Catra's chin and receiving a reluctant purr as her girlfriend continues to give her an appraising look. She clears her throat. “You know, on our first trip into space to rescue Glimmer, being on Darla kind-of drove me crazy. It was just weeks of waiting, with nothing to do. I kept trying to train or find ways to be useful—”
“And almost destroyed the ship in the process, I remember Bow telling me,” Catra says, her voice buzzing a little with her purr.
Adora rolls her eyes. “Okay, I didn't almost destroy the ship. Anyway, after we rescued you, and you had finally stopped being such a brat—” Catra nips at her wrist as if to prove that she has, in fact, never stopped being a brat. “Things were kind-of...nice? Like, yeah, I was anxious about getting home, and trying to figure out how to control She-Ra. But she had come out when I really needed her and we'd already won this major victory against Prime. I had all the people who were most important to me in one place. There were no battles to fight or that I could even plan to fight because we weren't in range of Etheria to get updates on the Rebellion's status. I was actually getting enough sleep consistently, since we were sleeping together most nights…" Catra gives a lecherous grin at that, even though it was innocent at the time. It was easier for Adora to rest if it was for Catra's comfort and benefit. "In retrospect, I think it's probably the closest I had been to relaxed during the entire war.”
Catra gives her a soft look. “Me too.”
Adora smiles down at her. “Exactly! So, when we first started planning this road trip, I think that's what I wanted. To just...breathe, and be with my favorite people, this time without an intergalactic threat hanging over our heads."
Catra chirps and sits up suddenly, straddling Adora's lap and throwing her arms over her shoulders. "Do you know what my first thought was when you suggested the trip?"
Adora shakes her head.
Catra’s eyes dilate as she speaks, a purr rumbling under her voice again even though the pets stopped when they changed positions. Suddenly Adora is transported back to a memory of the Fright Zone, watching a younger Catra's excitement at the prospect of blowing something up. "I thought about all the plans and dreams we had growing up about conquering the world, and how this was going to be so much better. Because now we had a whole universe to see, and instead of fighting, we could just be together and be happy."
Adora's hands fly to Catra's waist, tugging her closer until their chests are touching and they can feel the steady beating of each other's hearts. "I love you so much."
"I love you, too," Catra whispers, barely getting the words out before Adora captures her lips in a greedy kiss.
After all, if they're going to be bringing magic back to the whole universe, they need the practice.