The She-Ra brainrot continues, anyway let's do some character assassination! I'm kidding, actually I love Glimmer she's one of my favorites and an amazing character all around. But I've been wondering, what would happen if she was evil, or part of the Horde from the get go? Now I know there's probably plenty of Evil!Glimmer fics out there, but I wanted to throw my ideas out there too (For free! Aren't I a generous bitch).
Anyway, let's begin. For me at least, there are two ways I could see it happening: the Lost Princess, and the Moon Landing (these aren't like popular names or anything I'm just using them as shorthand).
Option A. The Lost Princess
Ok so this one is actually pretty simple (and clean); the mage formerly known as Lightspinner, enraged by Micah's failure to aid her in the Spell of Obtainment, begins to seek an opportunity for vengeance. That opportunity comes with the birth of Micah's daughter, which leads to Shadow Weaver sneaking into the castle and kidnapping a babby Glimmer, Mother Gothel style (which come to think about it, you could do a lot of Rapunzel references with this AU. Maybe. Probably). A distraught Angela searches the entirety of the whispering woods for her daughter, to no avail. Instead however, she finds a tiny magicat kitten stashed away beneath a tree, clutching an apple shaped tag with a written plea to take care of the child, and a name: Catra.
So yeah, essentially a "what would happen if Glimmer and Catra grew up in each other's canonical circumstances?" AU, with Catra as princess of Brightmoon and Glimmer as Force Captain/High Magus? (and later, right hand of Hordak). I'd imagine events would play out roughly the same as in canon, with a lot of the same scenes but wildly different context. Also, Catradora from the get go, you love to see it.
So this one is wildly different from canon; instead of crash landing in Scorpia's kingdom, he instead lands in Brightmoon, and like in canon, quickly subjugates both it and its citizens (which leads to a far more "futuristic" Horde). Scorpia's kingdom becomes the center of the rebellion, which takes on a far more Mad Max-esque vibe. I genuinely have no idea how this would play out, only that it wouldn't even be remotely close to canon (I don't know if Angela is even alive in this AU). One issue that I can see is Catra; she and Glimmer are Narrative Foils, and it's pretty difficult to be narrative foils if you're on the same side (which I was originally going to have be the case). One possibility is to bring in Halfmoon, with Princess Catra and Princess Scorpia being co-leaders of the rebellion. Also, Catradora AND Scorfuma from the get go, you really do love to see it.
So, a few major differences between the AUs and Canon:
So obviously, no Glimbow. As much as I love them, it wouldn't really make sense, at least to me. Catradora worked because of their shared history together (and their promise), and Glimmer and Bow wouldn't have that history. I guess you could give a more flirtatious angle to their in-combat interactions, but it would be kinda awkward, and also pretty one-sided. On the plus side, Seabowmista? Maybe? I'm not saying that Bow has to end up with someone(s), but it's a possibility.
Shadow Weaver dies. SEND IN THE CRABS.
Ok let me explain. At the end of season one, Catra curb stomps Shadow Weaver, but leaves her alive because, well, gestures vaguely. I don't think Glimmer would have those same hang ups, I think she would just murk the old hag. Maybe by teleporting her into a solid object, maybe by giving her the Palpatine special, who knows. Either way, that witch is dead. At least that's my thoughts, idk maybe she survives somehow and infects Horde Primes hive mind who knows.
Speaking of the worlds greatest catgirl, Catra is strong. Ridiculously so. She's one of the best fighters in the entire series, and when she's actually put in charge of military operations she basically steamrolls the rebellion. I don't want to neuter her so if she's going to be on the good guy's side we're going to have to find an excuse for why she hasn't already won. A lack of resources could be a part of it, or maybe the Horde has some sort of secret weapon (which would probably be Glimmer, girl's probably a living wmd in this AU). Alternatively she is just curb stomping the Horde, and they put out a bunch of hits on her in response. She can't go two feet outside without being sniped, so she spends most of her time in a secure location, unable to really do much. At least until Adora comes along to be her bodyguard eyebrow wiggle.
Anyway that's about it, thoughts, questions, concerns? Oh yeah, someone should probably check up on Micah, poor dude would really be going through it.
