View source for 2590/More Than One Way To Skin A Cat

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025/06/05
|Location=Plot Room 2
|Synopsis=Yesterday, New Moon called Catra a stray. Today, Catra retaliates with an impromptu haircut and some property damage while New Moon and Mamoru are enjoying a treat. Surely, the Dark General will have a calm and measured reaction to this... right? Hahaha, of course not. Good thing Saturn, Amy, and... Adora? Are here to help! (Oh, hello She-Ra. It's So Good To See You.) CW: Serious Injury
|Cast of Characters=43,98,38,102,107,39
|Tinyplot=BMC: Wicked Ride
|Tinyplot2=Black Moon Clan
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:43|New Moon (43)}} has posed:'''<br>It's the day after Misery Melona's soul gem hatched into a grief seed, releasing a Witch that could absorb Dark Energy, much to New Moon's displeasure - obviously, she has Dark Energy to please and protect her little girl, but it could ''at least'' come in handy in a fight, since she's so much more powerful, now, filled to the brim and drowning in darkness, rising against her gorge, threatening to spill whenever she went too far. <br><br>It could ''at least'' come in useful. <br><br>"Honestly, Mamoru," she says tartly, munching on a cream puff (she'd offered Wicked Lady first pick from the box, of course), "Your brother needs to start hiring better help. That Witch wasn't any trouble for us, but this is what, the third or fourth member of his team he's lost? That can't be good for his health, which can't be good for ''your'' stress levels." <br><br>Of course that's the only reason she cares. Why else would New Moon herself care about ''Riventon''? <br><br>They're sitting in Wicked Lady's Barbie Pink convertible, which is very casually parked near a lovely little park, a playground that they'd taken Chibiusa once or twice, once she had the Disguise Pen in hand and felt a little more comfortable being a child out in the world with the Black Moon Clan hunting her. <br><br>Funny how things changed. She'd hated them so much - and oh, she still ''does'', she ''hates'' those who are gone - but now, they've stolen their very own clubhouse away! <br><br>Her voice is loud and poison sweet, the same way it was when she called Catra a stray and pointed out bluntly that she belonged to other people. Very recognizable voice. Casually sitting in a car, with her long pink braid fall out from the door, since the convertible's top is down.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:98|Adora Rainbowfist (98)}} has posed:'''<br>Better help is hard to find, which is why Adora is here! ... Okay not really, she's not really better help right now, she's mostly just a girl wearing a pink jacket right now. Honestly she kind of matched that barbie pink convertable right now in that outfit she'd taken to wearing most of the time, just like she had with the horde outfit. <br><br>...Look the girl is one of those sorts that gets one style she likes and just wears it until it's absolutely completely dead. <br>She, however, had very little reason to recognize that sickly sweet and poisonous voice at the moment, instead she just was enjoying a nice stroll down the sidewalk. <br><br>With some street food in hand, several of those skewers that have a bunch of meat on them that were sold because they're convenient and easy to eat and kind of a traditional food along with all of that. She was walking alongside her girl gang as she did -- all of them equally dolled up in cute outfits, though they looked moderately more rough and tumble than her, ironically. Some of them wearing masks with red Xs over their faces, others with bandaids covering nonexistent wounds to look tough. <br><br>...Most of them carrying buckets with soap and water in them from having just scrubbed some graffiti off of a wall in one hand, while chattering away about one thing or another and occasionally taking bites of their own post-vigilante-cleaning victory treats. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Wicked Mask (38)}} has posed:'''<br>"He hires people he likes and wants to protect as much as he wants to learn about their magic and whatever," Mamoru says with a sigh, the black moon on his forehead not ''currently'' smudged, but certainly drawn on a bit crooked with the eyeliner. He is not in henshin, he's wearing a black yukata with mauve roses outlined in the same wine red as his obi, his glasses, and velcro strap sandals. His fluffy black hair has its tips frosted bubblegum pink.<br><br>He's really obviously recognisable as Mamoru Chiba.<br><br>He's casually sitting with New Moon, and he's got a cream puff too, though right now he's licking his fingers because cream got on them, and he doesn't like it when she's being tart with him, so he says immediately, "Look, it's Adora-san."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:102|Catra (102)}} has posed:'''<br>Luckily, given what Catra is going to do next, she parked her prized motorcycle elsewhere. <br> <br> That's the only thing that's likely to be lucky today. <br> <br> The feline is walking along this particular stretch of roadway in her illusory disguise as Rachel Miller, the ever obnoxious American tourist, with her earbuds in and playing some really angry music with a lot of swearing in it at a cranked up volume, as she shoulders her way through groups of pedestrians and earns a lot of raised eyebrows and over-the-shoulder glares that she entirely ignores, and it's not even that she's getting any particular pleasure out of being this way, she's just angry and upset and uncertain about things and everything is awkward and she should be happy about some stuff but she isn't and she should be angry about other things and oh boy is she ever. <br> <br> She should probably call Adora but it's not like she wants to talk to her anyway (and she can't blame her) and she should probably call Hinoiri but she doesn't want to be a rage-muffin at this stage (even if it is a non-serious fling) and she should probably call Rashmi but she's got her own issues and she should probably call Mamoru and find out what the hell is going on but she's not ready for that, and apparently she's supposed to go see the school nurse for a checkup but the hell with ''that''. <br> <br> She almost doesn't notice the pink car with the person in it from yesterday. Almost. But even with the music blaring in her ears she picks up that tart voice, and her eyes instantly narrow. <br> <br> Music is killed, and earbuds stuffed in pocket. <br> <br> Henshin is entered. She can do that now. <br> <br> New Moon might or might not pick up on some stealthy footsteps walking up to the side of the convertible, but when a superheated Katana with a glowing blade wielded by a feline with glowing eyes and blue flames dancing over her form cuts through the door, severing the hinges and New Moon's pink braid in the process, that's hard to miss. <br> <br> Catra standsback to let the door fall to the pavement with a crash, which gives her space to point the sword at New Moon. <br> <br> "Oh look," she drawls with a voice like poisoned honey, "Your 'stray door' fell off."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy used to be the kind of girl who found one style she liked and wore it until it was absolutely completely dead.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Although, t-shirt and cargo pants, with or without jacket is, though never fashionable, ''timeless'', and sometimes she still wears it in dreams. More recently, color T-shirt and dark slacks or skirt ''or'' her favorite skirt has been most of the range, until the other day when she remembered she can just ''do whatever'' (although the standby is still a convenient staple)<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''Today'', she was out on errands or on her way to get food or something and saw ''Adora go past with a gang of girls''. They may not look like she ''expects'' girl delinquents to, but the X-mask-and-bandaid symbolism is clear (and noted should she ever, for some reason, have to look like a delinquent.) What kind of crowd has Adora fallen in with?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And so ''today'', Amy is in ''cognito''.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(''Cognito'' appears to consist of jean shorts, a pastel scoop-neck tee, and a large grey pageboy-ish hat with a black stripe on one side.)<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Okay she's not exactly disguised but at least the hat makes the top of her head less standout in a crowd.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's also got a couple of skewers in her hand from the same street stall, and she just saw a gang... ''remove'' graffiti? Are they a ''reverse'' gang? Amy's starting to think maybe she should approach and just ask, but ''then'' a loud and familiar and ''concerning'' voice cuts through the air and she looks in the direction of the convertible and hunches/crouches slightly, pulling the brim of her hat down just a little more, as she tails the girl gang.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Wait is that Catra<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Okay she's going to talk to... oh.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh no. Like, Amy does not object to Catra's actions ''at all'', but she knows trouble is about to start.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;One can only hope it will be silly marshmallow trouble and not...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;...She's not sure what New Moon and Wicked Lady trying to ''actually be a problem'' would be like. Amy hopes she isn't about to find out.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:39|Hotaru Tomoe (39)}} has posed:'''<br>Hotaru Tomoe was at said park, sitting on one of the swings, by her lonesome. She was wearing a dark purple outfit, something you might expect to see on a mourner. But was on a swingset, lightly going back and forth. It didn't seem that busy. She was... playing on her phone.<br><br>She... was kiiiiiind of bored. She--<br><br>AND THEN THERE WAS CATRA! She blinked as suddenly a DOOR to the ground. She glanced up, blinking a few times. Violence? In her park? Ohhhhh, neat. OH! HEY! CATRA! Eh. Was she going to... Ohhh. Wait, no. Catra... hadn't she stopped attacking people?! She thought she quit! Welp. She should... proooooobably go help, huh? She wondered who that was. She flicked her hand and stepped out from the swing set, her phone disappearing...<br><br>And a few moment's later, Sailor Saturn landed on the trunk, her heels clicking and making it jump slightly. "You shouldn't attack someone's car, Catra! Words solve so much more than violence! Besides, I heard you had quit Obsid--" And then... she stopped.<br><br>In mid-sentence!<br><br>As she just...<br><br>Stared.<br><br>At Mamoru. And you could just... see. All of the strength. The will. The determination. The justice speech... *slowly* melt away from poor Sailor Saturn.<br><br>"... Wut..."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|New Moon (43)}} has posed:'''<br>"He could learn from Wicked Lady," New Moon grumbles, but then, reliable as ever, is ''immediately'' distracted by the mention of another object of her attention. In this case, Adora, for the same reason Mamoru is so often distracted by New Moon: Girl Hot. <br><br>"It is Adora! And she's got a cute jacket on! And a cute ''girl gang'', oh do you think she's joined a little gang, that would be ''really'' hot..." <br><br>She's making heart eyes at Adora now - not the heart eyes she usually gives Mamoru, but the kind of heart eyes that say 'hey girl hey' in a flirty tone followed by a wink. <br><br>She's really thinking about shooting her shot, and by thinking about it, she means she's genuinely ''about to do it'', when the approach of someone utterly beneath her notice becomes very worth her notice - there's a sudden lightness to her head, as the weight of her thick braid is severed about halfway down her back, more than three feet of pink braided falling to the ground in a shower of sparks and a groan and crack of metal as the convertible door is cut away too. New Moon ''almost'' topples out, but she'd been leaning on the seat, not the door, and thus doesn't fall - instead. <br><br>Instead she looks, for a singular moment, at the angry, gloating cat sneering at her, and she ''smiles''. <br><br>"Oh, you poor stupid little ragamuffin," she breathes out, and her blue eyes go black - literally, black - with rage and Dark Energy. "Here I was, being such a good girl for my Mamoru, who wants ''so much'' for all of you to live through everything Our Lady has planned, and you go and poke the bear." <br><br>All of these words are probably enough for Catra to think - to assume - that this is going to be another snarky back and forth of insults and disdain and petty commentary, before a monster gets unleashed to try and ruin her day. <br><br>New Moon might have the strength of a Dark Genereal, but she doesn't have the priorities of one. She doesn't give a damn about the youma, about the energy, about the potential for rampant destruction. She cares about a bare handful of things. The most important is Wicked Lady. Another is herself. <br><br>Catra has damaged Wicked Lady's car. She has also damaged New Moon's appearance, which was so thoroughly crafted in her Lady's image. <br><br>And Usagi's always loved her hair. <br><br>When New Moon attacks, it's not with a magical blast, with a monster, or even with a bolt of dark energy. No, it's with the sudden, instant snapping out of her arm and a ''wave'' of darkness summoned there, as she in an instant calls a rod the length of her arm, crowned poisonously purple heart with black decor, tattered wings, and a lopsided crown. <br><br>No, it's not with magic, outside of her own, grotesque strength, as she ''backhands Catra'' with that rod's heart-and-crown topper, with enough force to send the cat girl flying into a nearby wall. <br><br>"You just had to come punching above your weight class, huh?!" New Moon floats into the air like she's gone Super Saiyan, dark energy a corona about her, her black eyes furious, her smile a maddened thing. "Can't stand to hear the ''truth about yourself'' so you decide to claw at me, kitty cat? Well now you get to bow to a real monster. And don't worry. If you won't do it by choice, you'll do it when I ''shatter your kneecaps''. A friend of mine once said ''knees are a privilege'', after all." <br><br>It should surprise absolutely no one, that with this done, with this said, when Sailor Saturn alights on the car and tries to give a justice speech, New Moon lashes out sweeping out with her rod to create a bolt of dark energy that will knock the young soldier off her feet and off the car. <br><br>It's not as forceful as the hit Catra took, though, clearly more about ''getting her off the car'' than anything. <br><br>"Stay off my Lady's FUCKING car, Saturn! Or I'll make sure you ''go to sleep'' before you can hurt your princess!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:98|Adora Rainbowfist (98)}} has posed:'''<br>Chattering away with the girl gang around her, Adora wasn't immediately aware that she had been spotted by someone, though there was a bit of a glance around when she thought she heard someone say her name, but she figured it must have just been one of her friends, so she continues chattering and eating that delicious meat on a stick. <br><br>That is until she heard a sound. One that caused immediate Concern, as she looks up and around. "Sorry, girls, I'll catch up with you later." She says to her gaggle of friends, stopping to break free from the group and waving at them, passing off her own bucket of water to one of the others as she quickly finishes her food. <br><br>That sound was /so/ familiar, it was almost like. <br>Oh. Yep. That's Catra's voice. Aaaaalso a door being cut. <br><br>What the heck, Catra? Those people were just chilling in their car! They couldn't have done anything /that/ bad, right? Maybe Catra was already falling back into her old, evil ways?! <br><br>As she began to approach, another person said exactly what she was kind of wanting to say as well, the smaller girl, Hotaru Tomoe, who seemed to just be... shocked and confused by the situation. <br><br>...It's possibly for the best that she hadn't really heard herself being talked about, as she'd probably have been frozen in confusion just like Hotaru at that point, really. ... And, well. <br><br>...Understandably, the girl in the car is upset with Catra. Seriously, who /does/ that to someone's hair? ... ... A part of her is tempted to just turn and walk away and let Catra reap those consequences, but also something about the situation told her that she should PROBABLY stay. <br><br>...A suspicion that suddenly is made /very/ justified as a dark staff is summoned to smash Catra with. <br><br>Adora didn't really have the time to respond to that first attack, and Catra ... might have deserved it. The one who /didn't/ deserve it, probably, was Sailor Saturn. <br><br>Who, as that dark blast is made, would very suddenly have an Adora dive-leaping towards to attempt to tackle out of the way of that dark bolt of energy, intent on rolling protectively to keep her safe! <br><br> ... Nevermind that if that dark bolt hit, Sailor Saturn would PROBABLY have been the more okay than either her or Catra, but, well. <br><br>...Heroic instincts. <br>Small girl. <br><br>"H-hey, I understand getting upset about the car but it's maybe not /that/ bad for someone to stand on it! ... I think!" Sailor Saturn didn't leave any damage to the car, right? Right???<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:102|Catra (102)}} has posed:'''<br>Somehow, Catra has ended up smashed into a concrete wall. How did she get here? Everything happened so fast -- and fast for her is really fast, cats are way faster than humans. (So much faster.) And yet, here she is laying on the ground, flying through space -- no wait, she's just seeing stars -- and trying to decide if the parts of her that hurt real bad just hurt real bad, or if she broke something. <br> <br> That is a problem for later however. <br> <br> "Kneel?" she gasps, giving her head a shake to make some of the stars go away. "Kneel, did you say? Kneel? ''KNEEL''?" She plants one hand on the sidewalk, propping herself up while she reaches for her sword, closing her fingers around it. <br> <br> "I don't kneel," says Catra, now standing on the roof of the building she just crashed into -- not that she's moved, this is one of her illusory doubles. <br> <br> "I don't kneel to ''anyone''," snarls a second double, standing on the trunk of the car where Hotaru had been a moment earlier. <br> <br> "ESPECIALLY NOT YOU!!" growl all three Catras in unison. The two doubles gather up intense balls of firey energy -- one blue and one yellow -- that they coalesce into twin blasts of heat, fired at New Moon, as the real Catra finishes picking herself up off the floor. <br> <br> "Call me someone's 'stray'?" She peels her lips back, showing her teeth -- just in time to see Adora. Oh, hey, here's Adora to side with literally anyone other than her again, great. And there's what's-her-name, laying on the ground after giving the start of a justice speech to ''her''. Everyone always assumes that Catra's the bad guy. Well, fine, she probably deserves it but does nothing she does ever count for anything? <br> <br> The twin fire blasts both... darken, just a little. The yellow becomes orange, and the blue becomes purple, as Catra forces herself to her feet and turns to parkour her way up the wall, leaping off at the last second, yelling "HRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!" as she spins in mid-air, sword trailing flames behind it as she slashes at New Moon with absolutely everything she's got.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:39|Hotaru Tomoe (39)}} has posed:'''<br>Sailor Saturn had, sadly, only a moment to realize something ELSE was definitely wrong. As Catra got... well. As Catra got hurt. Bad. "Wait, wha--"<br><br>Only for her to suddenly get blasted with dark energy. She had only a moment to look up in confusion before the blast hits her and then she's sent spinning backwards off the car, landing on the opposite side... Sadly, for Adora, she was only a few feet away and too far to get properly 'Get down, Lil president!' On the upside, she was in a henshin, so she could take it.<br><br>Instead... It resulted in Saturn laying on her back behind the car, like a confused turtle, her legs and arms tucket in, glaive crossed over her chest, staring at the sky, very, very, very confused.<br><br>Why in the world was Mamoru dressed like a Member of the Black Moon Circus after happy hour. Why was Catra... attacking them. Who was that girl. Why did she threaten to put her to sleep. Wait. Put her to sleep. Was Mamoru in trouble? She had to save him. Right? And Catra. And... Adora... probably. Slowly... she sat up... And then she stood up... Bracing herself on the glaive... Very... very slowly. Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow. "Listen, I get it. Catra can get under anyone's skin, I hear she's super good at it. But, you know what?" Saturn asked.<br><br>And then the glaive spun through the air and there was the sound of shattering glass as one of the tail lights were shattered. "I don't *have* a bed time anymore."<br><br>... That sounded *so* much better in her head. "Okay, Catra, I'm not sure why you're starting or continuing this fight but this really does *not* seem like a fight you should keep going after so do you mind *running* now please kay THANKS?!" she yelled.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh. Oh shit she didn't just get the car but the braid. That might be too far, if New Moon doesn't have magic that fixes that.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But New Moon talks like she intends to escalate this further, and other people can't ''regenerate kneecaps'', and she also attacked Sailor Saturn -- ''sweet little Hotaru'' -- just for arriving and not even making a justice speech yet! And Amy's heart sinks. This is it, they have to fight the new Dark General with everything, or stand by and ''let'' her put someone in the hospital.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And if Amy would ''let'' her do that, and comply in advance to someone just because they're powerful... then she's not fit to claim any of her ideals, let alone to be a magical girl.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The flames of her henshin leave her standing in firing position, and the boom echoes across the park and off distant buildings just like when she shot at Seriss after they stopped Mistress 9.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Two hundred heavy metal hypersonic darts in a very narrow cone aimed center of mass, when Catra's not in the way of the shot, of course.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She opens her mouth to say something and then realizes that is a foolish waste of time.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She fires again. And again. Until New Moon isn't readily getting up, or the shot is blocked, or she's otherwise prevented.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;New Moon said gloves off. Hesitation is an opening none of them can afford.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Wicked Mask (38)}} has posed:'''<br>There's no time to do ''anything'' -- Mamoru's facing the wrong way to see Catra coming, too, so he flinches back hard at the sudden noise, light, and heat, scrambling back in the car and licking his fingers one more time, creampuff vanished. His eyes are wide.<br><br>Then he smells the burning hair and his face twists into horror and also-- kind of--<br><br>--even when he sees it's Catra, and even IF he had known what New Moon said to Catra, that is a DISPROPORTIONATE RESPONSE and also holy shit that's <br><br>'''''Usagi's hair'''''<br><br>and Mamoru's instantly just resigned to healing her later, and you know what, also pissed in his own right. He loves Usagi's hair too.<br><br>He gets out of the car on the other side, then just stands there watching New Moon lift into the air with her corona of dark energy, her pink hair coming out of its thick braid, and his heart's in his throat. But I mean girl hot, but this is really bad. But girl hot, except the amount of dark energy pouring off New Moon right now is absurd, and she has got to be so sick, ''so'' sick, and he doesn't know if-- oh this is a lot of mahoujin coming. But Mamoru doesn't see a single purifier.<br><br>He flinches again when New Moon knocks Saturn off the car, and Mamoru jams his earplugs in, chin set, frowning. "Saturn!" he calls, "Try not to get too hurt, I'm going to need your help with the number of injuries there are gonna be, here."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|New Moon (43)}} has posed:'''<br>Not even Adora diving for Hotaru in her cute biker jacket like a hot lifeguard on her day off is enough to cool New Moon's temper. Not when her hair is spilling out of its braid because the rest of her braid is ''gone'', not when Wicked Lady is absolutely going to need a new car, not when her ''wedding is in three weeks and her hair is ''gone'' - <br><br>"No, you stupid cat, I said ''bow''." <br><br>She knew she wouldn't stay down. She ''wanted'' her to get up. She ''wanted'' her to push, because she's so angry, because of her ''hair'', because of the ''car'', because of her ''hair and the car and she'll have to tell Wicked Lady about this, all because of a hard truth stupid radioactive Catra can't tolerate'' - <br><br>Shots ring out, fired at her from a weapon she couldn't name but has seen Amy use before, and the corona of dark energy around her is enough to explode those shots before they reach her. They don't hurt, or if they do, the damage is so minimal she doesn't react to the pain, and the dark energy is ''powerful'', like facing Rubeus, like facing the Spectre Sisters - ''almost'' like facing Riventon, when he had his two power-enhancing objects at hand, but Riventon hadn't wanted to break their bones into pieces as recompense for their disrespect. <br><br>"I already promised I'd break your knees to make you bow, if you didn't do it by choice," she reminds Catra, and the fireballs wash over her, and she spins her rod about, not absorbing the two blows, but spinning them away, the metal heating enough to burn her skin but she doesn't twitch about it, just rushes a pulse of darkness that makes her stomach turn and her pain dull for the moment. The attacks darkened before they struck, and the dark energy is absorbed into New Moon, invited in, because she's going to ''thrash this little cat''. <br><br>As soon as the attack dies down, she's turning to find Catra, and - there she is. <br><br>Coming right at New Moon, with everything she has. <br><br>''It's not enough''. <br><br>New Moon grabs the sword with her bare hand, wreathed in dark energy, and she grab's ''Catra'' with the other, fingers wrapping around her throat, and she tears the sword from Catra's grip, throwing it at Amy with terrible speed. And she squeezes Catra's throat. Not enough to kill. Not enough to crush her windpipe. But enough to slowly cut off her air supply. <br><br>"I called you Adora's stray, and Hinoiri's, and honestly, ''Rashmi's'' too, because all you want is to ''belong'' to someone, it's so ''obvious'', you're so ''desperate''. It's the first thing anyone really sees about you, how desperate you are for someone, anyone, to ''want you'', to ''take your side'', but you won't ''do anything about it''! You just call yourself a monster and sulk instead of taking any of the hands held out to you! You lash out like a spoiled child and cut off people's hair to return insults because you'd rather be the worst version of yourself than ''TRY'' to be ''BETTER'' and get ''REJECTED''."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|New Moon (43)}} has posed:'''<br>And the rod is there, again, in her free hand, it had been gone and now it's back, magic as it is, and she twists her hand and crashes it down on Catra - and oh yes, she does go right for the knees. The bones break. And then she throws Catra back at the wall, and croons, "''Bow'', or I hit the other one. I can keep this up all day." <br><br>She can't. She can, but she can't, because she can already feel the dark energy boiling in her, she's sweating, she's angry, she's incandescent with fury, she's ''giggling''. "Let me tell you all a little secret," New Moon laughs, her irises black as her pupils, impossible to tell the two apart. "This Dark Energy stuff? It's ''tearing me apart''. It makes me want to ''scream''. It makes me want to ''kill''. Every hour, every minute, every ''second'', it makes me want to ''use it so it can all be gone'', but it can't be gone, not as long as my Lady needs me, so I keep a lid on it. I keep a ''lid on it'', and I send out the cutest little stone chicken youma, candy turtles, we have ''fun'' here! And then ''you'' come along, with your thin skin, because you can be as mean as you please, but you can't take it, Catra." <br><br>She turns her head, very slowly, to Sailor Saturn, and she stares at her - <br><br>"If you don't have a bed time, you'll have one after this, because what use is a Soldier who doesn't try her very best to make her princess happy? Running around and protecting yappy little cats who cut off hair instead of ''trying to make your Lady happy''." <br><br>Her upper lip pulls back in a snarl. <br><br>"I didn't think you were trying to be ''less'' useful in this life."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:98|Adora Rainbowfist (98)}} has posed:'''<br>Oh gosh there was nobody to save and now she was just flying through empty air why doesn't jumping have breaks oh no oh gosh aaaaaa <br><br>Adora hits the wall, this time at least with less force than Catra and hitting hands-first so she could redirect some of the hit away from her head, instead hitting the wall on her back and slowly sliding down with a gasp of knocked-out-air of her own doing. Gack. Ow. <br><br>Just. Ow. If she was She-Ra she'd have maybe been able to do that. <br>Sigh. <br><br>And now Catra was attacking the lady who had been in the car more and also there's Rocket Girl Red also attacking her and... someone was breaking a tail light and... <br><br>... She stares at the hair on the ground nearby her. <br><br>She pushes herself back up to a sitting position, quietly picking up that braid. "..." <br>"Oh dear moonstone." <br><br>Catra didn't just piss off a person with dark energy. <br>She /cut her hair/. <br><br>"Crap crap crap crap." She lets go of the hair and quickly scrambles away, her gaze quickly flicking from one area to another, examining the area as she considers her options. Catra would probably be fine. The... the girl was magical and she'd probably be fine. She's useless without She-Ra. She'd just get in the way -- she'd just get hurt -- she'd just. <br><br>...When did she get so scared? <br>When did she stop having her confidence? <br>'WHY DO YOU STILL HAVE THAT SWORD?!' <br>'WE NEED THE REAL SHE-RA!' <br>'<span style="color:xterm70">He-e-ey, Adora. Let's be honest. All of this is your fault.</span>' <br><br>'Do I even WANT to be She-Ra anymore?' <br>She moves over behind another car nearby, curling up behind its trunk and holding her hands over her ears. <br>'By the power of snake mountain!'<br><br>What can Adora even do? <br>Adora's too weak to help. They'd need She-Ra to help. <br>And she's not She-Ra anymore. <br>Catra will be fine. Catra's strong. She has new powers! She's gotten so much better! <br>Everything's been fine! <br>...Without her. <br><br>And then New Moon starts to talk. Adora hears sounds she doesn't even want to hear through her hands, pressed firmly over her ears. Why is she even still here? What can she even do in staying? Maybe drag them away to safety once the lady is done with them??? <br><br>CRACK. <br><br>Adora starts to come out of that curled up ball state, staying crouched low to loook around the edge of the car. <br><br>...If she's not going to DO anything... she at least has a duty to know what she's letting happen.<br><br>...Right? <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:39|Hotaru Tomoe (39)}} has posed:'''<br>Sailor Saturn gave a small nod to Mamoru. "I'll be fine," she said. "Worry more about Catra and Adora. Those two need to get out of here." She couldn't escape while they were here.<br><br>And then... Oh gosh... Catra. Hotaru, not Saturn, watched with horror. She needed to... Her eyes narrowed... "I try very hard to make my princess happy, you old hag. But you're not her. If my princess was here she'd slap the jerk right out of you," she said.<br><br>Her hands tightened on the glaive. She couldn't even try and launch an attack, not like this. She could... possibly vaporize this woman... but...<br><br>She didn't have enough control, yet. She did NOT think she could do it without killing Catra in the process. It wasn't anything approaching a clear shot. <br><br>"My princess is kind, she's brave, she's a bit of a crybaby sometimes, sure... but she's sweet, compassionate. She's the kind of princess who offers a hand to those who are too scared to hold a hand out themselves. She's also the kind of princess who isn't afraid to hike her skirt up and jam a boot into the keister of any jerk who thinks they're just fine to go around bullying anyone who's smaller than them!" she snapped... before stepping forward... putting one boot... back on the trunk of the car. Not stepping on it... hoping, desperately, it'd lure the girl away from Catra. Just put. The cat. Down. PLEASE. She's already broken! STOP IT!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Wicked Mask (38)}} has posed:'''<br>"Your princess is currently being ''protected by'' New Moon and Wicked Lady," Mamoru's voice calls out to Saturn from the other end of the car Adora's hiding behind, because that's where the out-of-henshin prince ran. "Catra cut New Moon's hair, and New Moon knows I'm here, and you're here, and she knows we can fix it!"<br><br>Then he ducks back behind the car and sits on the curb, and finally notices where Adora's got to. "Yo, Adora-san," he says at normal conversational volume, "Aren't you She-Ra? Did you lose your henshin? Do you wanna borrow mine?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy keeps shooting, but after five shots -- her soul gem a fifth dark already -- she hesitates. It really doesn't seem like she's doing ''anything''.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There ''has'' to be a trick to that invulnerability, right? They can't ''really'' be this powerless against the girl from the future.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then Catra is attacking and Amy can ''see'' the angle and she shoves her weapon into the sword's path -- it's skewered, and drops to the ground -- as she shoves herself out of the way.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But she's still caught in the splash damage. The girl with such damaged self-worth wants to be wanted too, and until Mamoru showed the other day that she ''had'' that worth, she had oft imagined that the only way she'd ''have'' security in her future would be if she came across someone who wanted her that much -- but nothing she acted on, because it was an impossible fantasy and Hannah was a fluke.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But, splash damage isn't a direct hit. Much of the words don't fit. And she's much more concerned about Catra in the hospital and being powerless against a tyrant.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Puella Magi refills her soul gem as she leaps closer, before slipping what's left of Melona back into her belt pouch. "Maybe even my Witch won't beat you."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's New Moon's turn to see the determination, and fear, and burning hatred, and resolve, in the eyes of a hero looking at ''her'', the villain.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"But I'll die before I just ''let'' you hurt people because you want to. I'm a ''magical girl''." She balls her hands into fists. "...And... I... 'll ''die'' as one before I ''live'' as someone not true to herself."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And in her head she can see the death flags being set, and how she fears this story ends--<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''--the idealist, covered in her own blood, protests that this isn't how it should be, and the villain lectures her on power and the strong before killing her--''<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--and as much as she fears it, it feels more right than any other path. A world where that is the only future isn't one she wants to remain and suffer in, anyway.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But she's faced worse, seen people come back against worse, and it's not over until your hit points and your lives reach zero.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"''This'' is not ''protection.''" Amy intones in reply to Wicked Mask, and shakes her head. "Sailor Moon wouldn't want to be ''protected'' if it means letting someone who'd do ''this'' run wild."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then she shoots incendiaries and flashbangs at New Moon's face (the launcher the sword is in vanishes as new weapons appear in the Puella Magi's hands) without warning.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:102|Catra (102)}} has posed:'''<br>This was a mistake. <br> <br> As Catra is siezed mid-assault, that thought crosses her mind, like a calm little calico cat strutting through No Man's Land without a care in the world while everything is going to hell around it. <br> <br> Catra's sword is both extremely sharp and extremely hot, so New Moon grabbing it with her bare hands is a surprise, and the first real indication that she may have miscalculated. it's just, where did someone this powerful come from just... popping out of the woodwork all of a sudden? Aren't people supposed to know about these things? You'd think someone who knew would have told her, y'know, warned her 'hey, don't attack this person because they're really scary'. <br> <br> So basically the heroes talk a good game but they're actually worthless. Noted. <br> <br> These thoughts cross Catra's brain more in the background of what's going on because having someone much stronger than you squeezing your neck until your eyes bulge while telling her off rather takes precedence. Without her sword, she grabs New Moon's wrist with both hands, digging in with her claws -- claws, that with her strength can get through several inches of solid steel -- and kicks with both legs, hard, alternating between trying to thrash herself loose and rake New Moon with her toe claws, forgetting that she's wearing boots. <br> <br> "I'm not a stray!" she snarls, except it comes out sounding more like "rrrrk hRRkkk grrkk", the only protest she can manage. <br> <br> Her knee is shattered. Her eyes go wide, and lose the firey glow, as does the rest of her. <br> <br> She hits the wall. <br> <br> Sprawled out on the ground, there is only pain -- a great deal of it, so powerful it rings in her ears. <br> <br> But she can still feel the rune stone. Slowly, the flexing of her fingers and twitch of her tail becomes more controlled; she lifts herself on one arm up off the floor and holds out her hand, calling Powersend to come skittering across the ground back into her grasp. She turns it point down, and uses it to prop herself up, gritting her teeth and ignoring the tears that burst down her cheeks as she pulls herself up to her good knee, and then up to her feet. Well, foot, she rests all her weight on her one good leg, trusting her strength and balance to keep her upright, ears flat and lips pulled back in a snarl of agony as much as rage. <br> <br> "I," she gasps, "Don't. Kneel." She lifts the sword up over her head, adopting Jodan-no-Kamae stance. "I. Don't. Bow." <br> <br> Catra takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, wheezing as she centers herself. "And if. You have. A problem with. That, come down. Here." She gulps, and takes a deep breath. "Say it. To. My. ''Face''. And stop. Being. A little bitch."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|New Moon (43)}} has posed:'''<br>Before Catra was thrown, New Moon's arms were scored with scratches - not all the way to her bone, not all the way to the muscle, but there's blood, and there's anger, but then she's thrown, and New Moon is turning to glower at Sailor Saturn. <br><br>"I AM THREE YEARS OLDER THAN YOU," New Moon shouts at Sailor Saturn. "Ignoring all the rest of that pointless drivel about someone who is IRRELEVANT TO THIS CONVERSATION, your princess is ''Wicked Lady''! Your princess is Princess Usagi Small Lady Serenity, who is now ''Wicked Lady'', and you should be ''trying to help her''. But no! You're just messing up her car!" <br><br>New Moon is so far beyond worrying about what Usagi Tsukino would normally do. Usagi Tsukino has never had someone ''cut her hair''. <br><br>Her hair, which she grew herself, not even needing magic to grow it, but Mamoru's healing won't fix her hair, and the magic she does have that would fix it - being Princess Serenity - is not ''accessible'', because she is full of Dark Energy, because she is a mother who will do anything for her daughter including being filled to the brim with dark energy. <br><br>And the magical girls coming at her, or at least... two of them are. Saturn might be pressing her buttons, but she is not actually trying to attack her, regardless of her reasons. <br><br>Amy is. <br><br>Amy is cloaking herself in righteousness and attacking her, and New Moon leaves Catra crumbled on the ground for a moment to stalk towards Amy, taking every shot, most of which do very little, but some of which bruise, and every bit of hurt inflames her rage. <br><br>"You talk a big game, but where were you when she walked up to me, cut my hair, and damaged Wicked Lady's car? Oh, so SHE can do whatever she wants to ME but if I lash out at her, if I make her regret it, you'll be a big bad hero and stop me? It's so good to see that that's the hero ''you'' are Amanda Faust - the kind who runs to the side of whoever looks most pathetic, even when they're the aggressor, because ''you don't get all the answers''." <br><br>And then? Blazing with dark energy, wrathful, furious, livid and ready to kill? <br><br>She leans towards Amy, grabs her gun, crushes the muzzle, and turns her back. <br><br>"You watched her cut my hair and you didn't say a thing about it. That's the kind of person ''you'' are. But don't worry. Mamoru would be sad if I broke your bones or made you Witch, so I won't. Because that's the kind of person ''I'' am." <br><br>And then? Amy can shoot at her back as much as she wants, because she ''walks away from her'', stalking back towards Catra, on the ground, berating, protesting, defiant to the last, and New Moon winds her Twisted Heart Rod up like a baseball bat and swings for her lone good leg, shattering her kneecap in one swoop. <br><br>Before she can fall all the way, she's grabbed her by the hair and forced her to her knees. <br><br>"Look at that. Kneeling." And then, with her implacable strength, empowered by Dark Energy, she forces her down further, until her forehead touches the ground. <br><br>"Look at that. Bowing." <br><br>Both knees are broken - she can't get up on her feet even if she wanted to. She can still lash out with her arms, but New Moon is so willing to be clawed at. Catra's claws are strong, but New Moon is a dark general with the power to flex of one, and that means she is more durable than she properly should be. She did draw blood, at least. <br><br>And New Moon crouches down beside her, and her fingernails glow with dark energy, and she changes her grip, to the back of Catra's head, yanks up her hair, and cuts it, so it's as long as New Moon's now - just past her shoulders. <br><br>"And now we're even," she hums, and she's ''cheerful''. "Your overreaction met by mine."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:98|Adora Rainbowfist (98)}} has posed:'''<br>'You look out for me, and I look out for you, nothing can really go wrong so long as we stick together.'<br>'You promise?'<br>'I promise.'<br>'You made your choice. NOW LIVE WITH IT!' <br><br>... Words she'd said to Catra out of anger, but she internally directed at herself, seeing herself -- no, She-Ra, staring at her and saying such a thing in her mind's eye. <br><br>She didn't even realize that tears were falling down her cheeks. She didn't realize that her hand was gripping tightly onto the car she was crouched behind. She didn't realize that the slightest, glowing gold aura was beginning to surround that hand. <br><br> Yo, Adora. Aren't you She-Ra? <br><br>"..." She glances towards Wicked Mask. "...What? You can do that?" She blinks a few times. "I..." She should just say yes. She should just accept the offer and become magical again. <br><br>...Does she WANT to be magical? <br>...This isn't the time for questions like that. <br><br>"...I don't know." <br>Just say yes.<br>"...I'm scared."<br>JUST SAY YES. <br>"I've been in a war so long, even this short time, I feel like I've gotten used to peace." <br>JUST SAY YES ALREADY! <br>"...I don't even know if I want to be magical anymore."<br>You don't have time to hesitate, Adora!<br>"..."<br>Catra's<br>Catra's--<br><br>'I'll die before I just ''LET'' you hurt people because you want to. I'm a ''magical girl''.' <br>'I'll ''DIE'' as one before I ''live'' as someone not true to herself.' <br><br>... Amy's words feel like a dagger in her chest and twisted. <br><br>When did she become such a coward? <br>Why is she just hiding there, while Catra is flailing, fighting for her life? <br>Standing up -- even after that crack that meant her knee and leg was DEFINITELY broken. <br>Acting defiantly, even though she was clearly outmatched. <br>That's how Catra had always been. Even when fighting She-Ra. Even when fighting in The Horde's training, she never backed down, even when doing the hardest training. <br><br>She holds her hand out in front of her, a flicker of rainbow energy forming in it, as that sapphire glows. <br><br>And it goes out again. "Come... on..." <br><br>Flicker. The runestone she barely realized she was holding glowed brighter in her hand. <br>The sword flickered into half-existence again. <br><br>CRACK.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:98|Adora Rainbowfist (98)}} has posed:'''<br>"CATRA! NO!" <br><br>The sword flickers again. <br><br>Again. <br><br>DAMMIT, ADORA. SHE NEEDS YOU THIS ONE TIME AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!<br><br>Tears flow down her cheeks, there was anger on her face, concern on her face and then. <br><br>There was a sword in her hands. One which is immediately lifted up above her head. <br><br>"FOR THE HONOR OF GREYSKULL!" <br><br> Those words echo through the area, as droplets of rainbow water suddenly appear in the air around her, the world briefly seeming to disappear into a starlit sky as those droplets form into a rainbow of flashing energy, before she swings her sword down into the side, dispersing the droplets like a ropple of water. <br><br>Adora is left floating in the air, her body consumed in golden light -- save for her head -- as rainbow slippers appear on her feet, before flashing out into wings that form the base of her shoes. Each hand moves out to the side, forming bracers that flash into space. A rainbow heart radiates from the center of her chest -- slightly lopsided -- like her own, really-- before unleashing in a golden heart-shape shooting out from her, and very suddenly. What stands there is not Adora Rainbowfist. <br><br>It Is She-Ra, the Princess of Power. <br><br>And she is running towards New Moon and Catra-- with simple intent; <br><br>Get Catra Away From Her. <br><br> One of those large arms immediately moves to wrap around Catra, as that still-radiating golden energy suffuses between herself and Catra -- possibly forcing a mini-transformation of her own, but more importantly... <br><br> That raw moment. That moment of wanting to protect, to help, Catra... <br><br>Awakens She-Ra's healing power, if only for a moment. Mending bone. Soothing pain. <br><br>... She's still going to probably need to rest and further healing, later... but... well... <br><br>...It's better than broken legs. <br><br>The glow in those blue eyes is turned towards New Moon along with a slight frown towards her, one arm cradling Catra against herself -- somewhat forcefully -- while that sword is lifted, calmly, towards New Moon. <br><br>She does not speak. <br><br>She does not attack. <br><br>...But that point holds a silent promise. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:39|Hotaru Tomoe (39)}} has posed:'''<br>Sailor Saturn blinked and then hmphed. "Well, my princess isn't HERE right now, now is she? And she hasn't TOLD me to do anything and the LAST thing MY princess told me to do was keep people safe and protect people, so I'm going to keep doing that, you little... you... and you know what? You know what MY princess would say? I bet... I bet... I bet my princess would say you look like the hero of Kvatch!" she snapped, puffing up her cheeks and glowering at the woman. "It's truly an honor!" she snapped. No, no it was not. "And if Small Lady has a problem with this, I'll get her a new car, but cars are fixable, and--" And she was leaving Catra. Oh, good.<br><br>Saturn started towards Catra, intending to get there but... well.... New Moon was fast. She skidded to a stop, glowering at the woman in front of her, gritting her teeth.<br><br>And she couldn't do anything. She was powerless. She gripped the glaive, her hands shaking. She needed help. She didn't have enough control, and she'd hurt, possibly kill Catra if she tried.<br><br>And... then there was suddenly a very tall lady with a sword. Huh. New princess just dropped. Neat.<br><br>And if she could get New Moon away from Catra... maybe she could give her a surprise after all...<br><br>"Long time no see."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Wicked Mask (38)}} has posed:'''<br>"WHATEVER," Mamoru yells in frustration, popping up from behind the car and glaring at Amy, "if you want to waste Melona on a fight you can't win, for ''someone I can fix'' who REALLY bought herself her own damn aggro there, FINE that's your prerogative! I'll heal you anyway because you're my friend and I love you and it's the right thing to do, but WOW, AMY, I wasn't even TALKING to you, I was talking to ''Saturn''--"<br><br>And Usagi corrects him anyway, that Saturn's princess is Chibiusa, not that Saturn has two princesses. Mamoru's too tired. He's too anxious. He's too frustrated and angry and sad and sick to his stomach and heartsick, and both Riventon and Rashmi are right about how bad even just prolonged exposure to dark energy is for him. He's been swimming in it, spending so much time with them. It's not in him, it's not, but his jealousy and his temper are his two worst traits, and dark energy constantly wears at his ''temper.''<br><br>And then he stands up the rest of the way, teeth showing in a grimace as he sucks in air, and then he leans on the trunk of the car, leans over it a little, and almost shouts something else-- then doesn't. His lips are thinned into a line almost reminiscent of a silently angry Kunzite, and then he turns around and slides back down the side of the car and grips his hair. He's ''so frustrated'' this is '''''so frustrating''''' and he bites out to the air and maybe Adora-- Adora who can't decide, Adora who's scared, Adora who's having her mid-mahou crisis-- he bites out, "In sickness and in health." He breathes. He breathes. He swipes at his eyes.<br><br>And then Adora's on the move and Mamoru scrambles to his feet again and--<br><br>...<br><br>Mamoru definitely sees those legs go from 'that shit ain't right' to 'these are legs hi' and he exhales. "Well, that's helpful."<br><br>A beat; he moves around the car and starts just walking, unhenshined, across the battleground and closer to the Dark General. A lot closer, now that she's smirking and Adora has a sword out. A lot a lot closer, with people wanting to throw more shit at Usagi. He slides his arm around her waist. "New Moon, can we go home now? I have an idea for maybe fixing your hair, I want to run it by Wicked Lady and fix your arms. Saturn can take care of the other healing."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:102|Catra (102)}} has posed:'''<br>The only thing worse than having both of your knees shattered, is to have someone force you to move your legs afterwards. Catra has not experienced pain of this nature before. In her wildest dreams she didn't imagine it ot be possible. <br> <br> At first she's just crying. Openly. Bawling, even while trying to scream with no sound coming out of her mouth but a pitiful hiss. When New Moon slashes her hair, she offers no complaint, before she is finally dumped on the ground like a sack of hreadbare cat toys, and she lies their weeping, scratching ineffectively at the pavement with her claws. <br> <br> Somehow, amidst all the blinding agony and the crying and the broken bones, she finds the wherewithall to suck in a breath and half wheeze hald whisper, <br> <br> "This..." <br> <br> A breath <br> <br> "Doesn't... ''count''." <br> <br> Well it doesn't, now, does it? And Catra is on the verge of passing out, when she's in someone's arms, and the first thing to happen is that her claws come out reflexively because her first thought is it's New Moon picking her up again. But it can't be. This person is far too gently. And something about it is soothing. And the pain in her legs goes down, and her claws go from about to attack to clinging, and it's only then that she realizes the person picking her up, who's shoulder her head is tucked against, is She-Ra. <br> <br> Adora is saving her. <br> <br> Like she promised.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Why does she take Catra's side? "You're a bully." She shakes. She has to stand against this. (Although there is a flash of sympathy on her face at the mention of the hair.) Bullies always have more charisma, they talk better than her, their words persuasive if you don't find the lie, ''even Mamoru is telling her off for some reason'' but she can't process the words she has to ''find the lie'' and even if he asked her to stop or took back his promise she couldn't live with herself if she ''let someone get hurt like this''<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Your words show there was previous interaction, you've been antagonizing her. If I say 'I didn't see it' I'm as worthless as those teachers--" Amy starts, but<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;New Moon knows her ''name?!'' Surprise briefly flashes on her face, and then she remembers: Mamoru. Telepathy. Couldn't be helped, and they'd thought New Moon could be trusted.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mamoru would be sad, so I won't. "I don't want your kindness--" and then she looks ''alarmed'' as New Moon ''walks towards Catra'' and Amy ''does'' try to knock her away with an explosion and ''does'' fire a cannonball that stopped even Prinzessin Nichts for a moment and it does ''nothing'' and this, this might be ''worse'' than being hurt, she's ''powerless''<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--It does remind her, somehow, of being a goddamn ''toy'' getting smacked into a wall -- save Sailor Eclipse's concern for her form wasn't sickening like being spared here is -- and as hopeless as that had seemed for a moment, they found a way, there ''has to be a way'', New Moon is hurting Catra--<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy runs up behind the villain, and the words are on her lips -- 'Does hair ''burn''?' -- but it's too late, New Moon is done, and she doesn't know what to say to that, only to glare at her hatefully, and then she turns to look at Catra in concern--<br><br>FOR THE HONOR OF GREYSKULL!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She looks that way and stares in shock. SHE-RA IS BACK?!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's not supposed to be possible, but that's magical girls for you. Sometimes they make miracles happen.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Not Amanda; she contains only a curse, but then her miracle was spent to be magical at all, to even be a part of this)<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then She-Ra is there and holding Catra and Amy looks up at New Moon -- and two inches from heels somehow feel like she's looking up two ''feet'' -- And the red Puella Magi sidles around behind She-Ra, smiling at her and at Catra's declaration that it doesn't count, and softly almost-whispering 'welcome back, congratulations' but this isn't quite the time for celebrations just yet, stopping just to the side enough to glare at Moon.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;...Did Sailor Saturn just make an Oblivian reference? ....Amy's brain is too full of drama right now and can't hold any thoughts about that at the moment, it will have to be processed later.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|New Moon (43)}} has posed:'''<br>"Sailor Saturn, you have a point," this is the most begrudging of all sentiments, but she is a fair princess, she is the (Twisted) Soldier of Justice, and she will admit that well okay, Wicked Lady has not, actually, tried to give any instructions to the Sailor Senshi, so that's fair. "I will tell her to call you. We have Usagi's phone. But also? I was ''always'' going to let you and Mamochan fix her after I was done." <br><br>New Moon has made her point, as far as she's concerned. Catra might not have ''wanted'' to bow, but she did. She might not have ''wanted'' her hair cut, but New Moon sure as hell didn't want a haircut, and she got one, so you won't catch her crying a river for her. <br><br>And then? There is someone in the way - there is someone ''there'', tall, muscular, blond, with that long ponytail, and that little white cape that isn't all that long but is juuuust right... <br><br>"Girl hot," she murmurs, looking down the point of that sword to the young woman wielding it. Yes, Adora can hear her. Yes, ''Catra'' can hear her. And so can Mamoru, when he joins up with her, winding his arm around her waist, and she leans against him, hugs him, even, despite the sword pointed at her, and she whispers, "I love you, I'm sorry Mamochan, we can go home in just a second. I've got justice for my hair - she did something out of pocket to me, I did something out of pocket to her, and both of us have terrible haircuts now." <br><br>She looks at him tiredly, and then turns back to Amy - none of her attacks did anything. "Yeah, you really ''do'' have a bad habit of jumping to conclusions - I forgot about that. So, before I take Mamoru here home - yes, She-Ra, you're still very tall but my Lady, this is a better look for you than the other one, you look like ''you'', and it's ''really'' hot, sorry - yes, Amy, we did have a previous interaction." <br><br>And she rolls her eyes, the black fading some, the sweat dripping from her brow, and she wipes some away, and grimaces, "Yesterday Mamoru got dragged into a Labyrinth because his friendly coworker died and I saw Catra lingering around the labyrinth entrance like she wasn't sure what to do, so I called her Adora's stray cat, and then remember she's dating Hinoiri and said she must be Adora's stray. Because she was lingering. Like a stray cat. In response to that insult, today she walked up behind me and she cut my hair and broke my Lady's car." <br><br>A beat, and she grimaces and tilts her head back, because she's sick, and she's used a lot of dark energy, and - <br><br>"Ugh, ugh, anyway, as you ''ssaw'', in response to ''that'', I broke her knees and cut ''her'' hair. Because if she gets to escalate so do I. Because that's how it works, right? Someone insults you, so you cut their hair and break their shit, so they get to escale next, right? That's how it works? That's justice? So yeah, that's the whole story. That's everything that happened." <br><br>"If she'd come and insulted ''me'' and ''my'' relationships, that would be pretty even, huh? But she didn't. She got insulted so she cut my hair without a word and then taunted me about it and you thought that was okay but me lashing out wasn't, so here we are and -" and she wobbles, turns away from Mamoru - not releasing him, though, and bends at the waist and vomits - the contents of her stomach, but also black bile and there are sparkles of rainbow light, there is light pouring down her eyes and nose the corners of her mouth, and when she straightens up, when she straightens up, she wipes away that residue with her bloody hand and says, "This stuff really is making me sick." <br><br>And then she turns back to Mamoru and says, "Let's go home. We'll get soup. We can order it in. They have drones and stuff now." <br><br>And she teleports him away, after giving him a ''chance'' to say something to the rest, if he wants.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:98|Adora Rainbowfist (98)}} has posed:'''<br>Adora, if she hadn't been stuck in her own head, might have sympathised with you, really, Mamoru! ... But she was kind of stuck in her own head and focused on other things at the moment. <br><br>Like fulfilling her promise to protect and make sure that things turned out fine with her and Catra. <br><br>She does not really have much capability to respond to Sailor Saturn at the moment though, as she was still in the post-transformation extreme focus that she seemed to have at first, her eyes glowing, and a bright golden aura ringing her body as she held Catra close, even as those claws dig into her arms and cling to her. She didn't mind. Catra was safe. Catra was in her arm, and no longer on the ground crying. <br><br>Also apparently there was a smol rocket girl standing beside/half-behind her. ...Not that Amy is actually particularly on the smol side but everyone was next to She-Ra. She glances down towards Amy for a half-moment, though that glance seemed almost like a threat assessment in that half-moment that she looked at her. <br><br>She-Ra's entire focus was purely on keeping Catra safe right now. <br><br>...It was probably part of why she hadn't attacked. <br><br>'Girl hot' is what breaks her out of that brief autopilot, a blink, and her eyes are less glowy, along with the golden aura surrounding her fading away -- though she's still She-Ra, clearly. "What?" <br><br>...And then she's being complimented by the person who was just throwing her friend around like a ragdoll basically. "...What?" <br><br>And then she talks about the situation that lead to this and the Stray comment and then like the insults and stuff she pauses. She doesn't really say anything. <br><br>...And then they teleport away. <br><br>"...What???" <br><br>...Well, they uh. <br><br>...Won? <br>Survived?<br>... Something. <br><br>"...Hi, Amy. ...Hi ... uhm." She glances towards Sailor Saturn. "...I'm not sure we've met." <br><br>"...Let's get Catra to the infirmary." <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:39|Hotaru Tomoe (39)}} has posed:'''<br>Sailor Saturn blinked a few times, before kneeling down and then reaching out, placing a hand on Catra's leg. The glaive would disappear and, slowly, her magic would seep into Catra. She-ra had started the healing process and she could... well.... help keep it going, at least. Make sure it was good enough to move, as it were.<br><br>Gotta love that rush of 'first henshin power boost', too. That helped and whatnot. "One moment," Saturn said. "But then, yes. I've got some healing. Mamoru helped teach me a bunch. Then he helped by 'volunteering' to give me a bunch of hands on experience." Cause she's surrounded by idiots. "Because I'm surrounded by daredevils."<br><br>She shook her head, however, before sighing. "Catra... I'm saying this as one of the girl's who used to work with you... Hotaru, by the way, and I am saying this as a girl who is like... a lot younger than you... please don't be so reckless... and please don't *attack people* over words like that... Because if she hadn't put you down like that, I would have had to try because like it or not, *you* were the bad guy there until she escalated. And I am telling you this now because if you *could* walk off, you *would* walk off rather than listen, at all," Saturn said, fully expecting it to go in one ear and out the other.<br><br>"Oh, right. I guess we weren't ever formally introduced though, were we? Right..." She got to her feet. "You did a lot of it, but that should definitely hold at least. As for me... Protected by Saturn, the Planet of Silence, I am the Guardian of Ruin and Rebirth, Sailor Saturn!" She spun her glaive before driving the flat end into the ground, sparkling a little bit.<br><br>"And, in the future, Catra, please. I like you. But you're just as much a stray as I am... So, 'Girl-hot', can you carry her?" Yes, she was going to call She-ra 'Girl-hot' for the moment. IT was funny.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Wicked Mask (38)}} has posed:'''<br>"I know, bunnygirl," sighs Mamoru, bent down a little to listen. "I get it." And he does: his bare hand is against her arm, and there's a whole conversation going on there that nobody but the two of them knows the contents of. "That was above and beyond, but... your ''hair''..."<br><br>The guy has a ??? relationship with pain. After all: he ''can't'' heal hair.<br><br>And then she's explaining, and he's bracing himself because he can tell she's going to throw up right before she turns from him. Of all things, while she's throwing up and then her eyes are watering with silver light, Mamoru looks at Amy and sighs. "I'm not mad at you, I was really frustrated though," he tells her, then looks back down at Moon and produces a big white handkerchief from nowhere, so she has something to wipe her face on-- as they teleport away. "Delivery drones? Really?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>(Amy ''is'' on the smol side, at almost 150 whole centimeters short! So is New Moon but New Moon is wearing heels. It does make She-Ra seem even taller next to her in comparison, though.)<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Both of us have terrible haircuts now.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Again, there's a ''flicker'' of sympathy on Amy's face, but she ''is'' kind of doing the defiant glare thing right now.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;New Moon tells a story and it ''sounds'' like Catra's the unreasonable one but Amy's heard bullies do this a thousand times, spin and lie and weave distorted truth, to adults who had no sympathy for a boy, a boy who was left struggling for words and could never sound as convincing as honeyed half-truths.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For instance, Amy can ''immediately'' think of the possibility that calling Catra Adora's stray cat hurt her far more than New Moon is letting on, for reasons she's omitting now.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Heck, with Dark Energy she might have even convinced ''herself'' of a distorted version of events.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And there are probably a zillion other possibilities Amanda wouldn't think of on her own in a million years, because she ''knows'' she's no good at this stuff.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So she keeps glaring.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Although she's a bit surprised to see New Moon ''throwing up'' darkness? ''What?''<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mamoru gets a somewhat helpless look. She meant everything she said and doesn't see how she could reduce frustration given that.<br><br><br><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'They have drones and stuff now'? Why would Chibiusa's friend from the future say that and say that that way? Eh, people are weird, there are bigger and more important things to be concerned about right now.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh right, you can heal." She says with relief, to Saturn.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then people seem a little derailed by 'girl hot' at the moment. "Aren't ''all'' the girls at school cute or hot or pretty? I mean, Catra's the one She-Ra came to save..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(wait... Cat-Ra? Is there a significance to the name there?)<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;...And well okay She-Ra ''was'' standing protectively in front of her, if only because Amy moved behind her, but she didn't, like, ''step aside'' un-protectively, so that's a little ''something,'' perhaps.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:102|Catra (102)}} has posed:'''<br>For once, possibly for the first time ever since they were children, Catra allows Adora to have her arms around her without protest. And sure, someone could probably write it off as coming from the fact that even after getting some healing there is extremely significant pain still present in her legs and she definitely cannot walk, but She-Ra at least will be able to feel: She's clinging. <br> <br> She doesn't ''want'' to be put down. <br> <br> And then Hotaru touches her leg, and she instinctively flinches away, but she takes the lecture with her eyes closed and tears still running down her cheeks. <br> <br> "I didn't... do it bcause of words," she whispers, still struggling to get her breathing back under control from crying. "She treated me... like... reminded me of Shadow Weaver." Shadow Weaver, who abused her daily, sometimes hourly, when she was a halpless, blameless child. Who made her who she is. "I'm... tired of being treated... like garbage," she continues, ears flattening against her head as she makes this admission. <br> <br> She sucks in her breath, and lets it out slowly. How does she make them understand? She can't. They won't understand. All they see is a villain being a villain again and nobody will ever care. <br> <br> "I know all you see is a monster," she whispers. "But all I ever wanted was to feel safe."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:98|Adora Rainbowfist (98)}} has posed:'''<br>"Oh, good, more healing should help, I uh. I can technically heal. Theoretically." Seriously even with instruction from Shadow Weaver, who is actually a good teacher even if she's a jerk, she really struggled with healing using the Sword of Power. Possibly for the same reasons she struggled with turning into She-Ra. And Sailor Saturn introduces herself! <br><br>...Okay that's a really cool introduction, too. "...It's nice to meet you, Sailor Saturn." Pause. She's called Girl-Hot by Sailor Saturn too. She blinks a bit. That's. What. If either of them is hot, it's Catra. Catra has the literal fire powers!!! <br><br>...<br><br>Okay she's not quite /that/ thick. <br><br>Mostly. <br><br>Ahem. "I am She-Ra, guardian of Etheria's Balance, and the Princess of Power." She introduces herself, trying to do a similarly cool over-the-top introduction in response! It was technically true as well. <br><br>Amy comments are listened to. She-ra tilts her head thoughtfully at that. "...Sure? I don't know, I haven't, uh, thought about things like that, I guess." <br><br>Catra's the one She-Ra came to save. "I did. She's my childhood friend who I promised that, if we stuck together, and took care of each other... everything would work out, somehow." She says, looking down towards Catra. The sword had been integrated with one of her bracers, now that Catra was more obviously clinging to her. <br><br>Her other arm wrapping around Catra, shifting to a somewhat more supporting hold -- not treating her like a baby, but to help ensure that weight wasn't on those knees. It was ginger. It was gentle, in spite of how strong She-Ra is. <br><br>And Catra says that all they see is a monster. "You're not." <br><br>"You never were a monster. You were my friend. You were also my enemy. You pushed me to the point where I thought you couldn't get better. And then also proved me wrong on that." She says, her tone is calm, there was very little hesitation, and a strength to her voice as she says. <br><br>"You were never a monster." <br><br>And she starts to walk in the direction of Radiant Heart Academy. She didn't care that she was 8 feet tall. She didn't care that people were stopping and staring at the giant woman carrying a smaller person in her arms. <br><br>...She was going to do like she said before. <br><br>And take Catra to the infirmary, because frankly. <br><br>That probably really freaking sucked. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:39|Hotaru Tomoe (39)}} has posed:'''<br>"If all we saw was a monster, would we have put ourselves at risk to try and save you?" Saturn asked. "All we see is our *friend* who makes poor choices. Dark energy is dangerous, don't attack people hopped up on it, or break their stuff like that, it just results in things like that. It just gets you hurt. It's not fair, or nice. And I know it hurts, having to be the bigger person there. I understand how it can... hurt... the things she said... But seriously. Don't go in *swinging* like that. It doesn't mean you're a monster. It means you've got anger management problems. If *any* of us had done that *any* of us would have had to put them down because they were a threat. When I was doing that and almost killed people I can't tell you how happy I am that people stepped in to stop me..."<br><br>"... But you don't work for Obsidian anymore. You're not a part of dark energy central anymore. You don't get to *attack* people. Now? You have to try better... If you can't control it? I'd really suggest you talk to Riventon and tell him to take that sword back because you aren't *safe* with that sword. For you or anyone else."<br><br>"... And for the record? I'm a *lot* more dangerous than you. So nyeh. I'm a walking apocalypse and was a literal body snatcher alien thingie until like, a few months ago so neener neener." Super mature, she was.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy smiles as She-Ra relates a tale of childhood friends. Sometimes, things ''are'' just like in manga. How sweet!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Catra speaks, and Amy listens. "So at ''best'', she didn't ''know.'' But she didn't ''ask'', and didn't ''care.'' .....But I guess you couldn't really ''tell'' her, either. Cutting her hair was a bit much, but no excuse for ''this.''" She waves a hand at Catra's legs.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tired of being treated like garbage. "Mmh." Amy nods with an agreeing grunt, as that makes perfect sense. Even if this Shadow-Weaver was back in Etheria... feelings don't just go away, with a new life.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A monster? Amy opens her mouth but She-Ra speaks first, of course. Amy listens, first. And then she walks along after them. "I never saw you as a monster. I didn't know ''why'' you had to throw a zombie at us, but..." She shakes her head. "I guess I didn't interact with you that much. But I knew you were Adora's friend, and Bow was concerned about you two, and then you saved Chibiusa from that ''monster'' just because she was there and in danger, and that sounds very un-monstrous to me."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Saturn chastises her for attacking people. Amy shakes her head. "You didn't believe there was anyone you could go to, who'd try to understand. Now... you know, I hope?" She smiles. "I don't think you have to give up the sword, if you know there are other options when you're hurt."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then Saturn reminds everyone that she's one of the Turn Gundams.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy looks at her, then back at Catra, and She-Ra, and then looks ahead as they walk. "You ''saw'' what kinda thing is inside of me." She looks at the gem on her wrist, a sliver of darkness in it now. "Some would say I'm a monster because I wished to be cute. Deceiving and charming to get what I want." She shakes her head. "As if I were any good at either of those things. And no one at ''Radiant Heart'' would think that, and a lot of people know better."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I think... even monsters shouldn't get treated like garbage."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...And if ''we're'' monsters... then maybe being human isn't so great, anyway." She grins, hoping to be reassuring!<br> <br>
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