She-Ra and the Doom Crystal
By Jessica Knight
1
The dark night fell upon Etheria like a dragon descending across the land. The moonlight silhouetted the imposing, insectoid shadow of the Fright Zone; centre of operations for the dreaded Horde. In the past years, the base had become a sprawling technological nightmare: a labyrinthine cauldron of evil combining the hub of the Horde operations, its industry and barracks; as well as acres of despicable prisons and slave mines.
In the annals of the Horde headquarters, Hordak sat vexed at his throne, poking aimlessly at a shabbily constructed map of the planet that sat before him. The current peace that swathed the Kingdoms troubled him; he knew it was time to reinforce the Horde's slackening grip on the people.
Fingers pressed against his temples he searched for a solution. He needed a new master plan to shake up the complacent Horde, they were the rulers after all. Alas, the combined forces of She-Ra and the alleged 'Great Rebellion' had had him and his cronies at bay for too long: far too long for his impatient liking. Something had to give.
The Horde recruitment drive he'd initiated was going well – drawing in promising types to elevate his army beyond the petty grey stock troopers - but it would take time to get up to speed. Likewise, the factories and foundries of the Fright Zone were working overtime to upgrade the troops from a base level; Entrapta overseeing a radical overhaul of the weapons and armour – but on a timescale. Time and patience were not ideas that appealed greatly to Hordak. Yet, at least he had his small band of trusted lieutenants.
Scratch that, he didn't trust any of his lieutenants.
Hordak let out a hefty sigh and sank back into throne, hewn of bone and stone. The evil Lord of the Horde barely noticed as the shrouded form of Shadow Weaver – the Horde's resident Mistress of Dark Magic - floated into his throne room.
"Master." Shadow Weaver's shrill voice greeted him as she bowed her unseen, red hooded head and hovered before Hordak's throne.
"What is it, crone?" Hordak scratched his huge cranium and barked dismissively.
"I have news, important…"
"Now what have I told you, hmm? I'm to be left alone this evening, Shadow Witch." He still faced the ramshackle three-dimensional map of Etheria on the table ahead of him – constructed largely of bone -and not his spectral minion.
"With respect, my Lord: I think this discovery is somewhat… worthy of your attention."
Hordak gave a heavy sigh.
"Very well." He absconded, prompting Shadow Weaver to clear her throat.
"Our subterranean slave mines have expanded so much down the way to Etheria's core, we've touched upon a deposit deep within the planet's crust. It's been unseen – unknown – for centuries."
"I'd get on with it." Hordak grumbled.
"Damzelite." Shadow Weaver hissed with brevity and pleasure. Hordak paused, letting the name seep into his brain, before shrugging in resentment.
"This means nothing to me."
"It is the rare material that is the antithesis to Coridite – and practically the only thing that can overthrow its power. Easily overthrow its power."
Hordak leaned forward, resting his chin on his fists. He began to understand the gravity of the matter now. Shadow Weaver's thrill was tangible. 'Coridite' was the magical element that composed the omnipotent 'Power Swords' of both He-Man and She-Ra. With those two figureheads nullified, the ease of the Horde's absolute domination would be incalculable.
"Damzelite." He mused, staying calm. "The Doom Crystal?" The odious dictator gave a slight sneer, the concept finally dawning on him. "No. It's mere mythology. I wasted years searching for that."
"Not so." Shadow Weaver bobbed up and down, visibly excited with her news. "We already have samples. While we've failed in the past to retrieve this elusive, so called 'Doom Crystal', we now have access to a veritable Doom Mine."
Shadow Weaver opened her cloak and revealed a lumpy shard of bottle-green, shining material, almost fist-sized. A Doom Crystal.
She gazed at it for a moment before passing it slowly into Hordak's clutches.
"Then it is so…"
"I would not come to you if I was unsure, Master."
"Tested and clarified?" Hordak gripped the glowing, green gemstone firmly in his grasp. Truly, he could feel an essence of evil power stemming to its core.
"Tenfold." Shadow Weaver gave an unseen smirk.
"I can feel its power." Hordak spoke to himself, ruminations in his mind. He turned back to his ghost-like lieutenant. "Stop all the current foundry action at once. I need all the worker drones I can get on the project of fashioning something with which to harness this great power. It is now our ultimate priority"
"Already done, my liege." Shadow Weaver simpered, drawing an impressed look from the Horde Leader.
"Excellent."
"In fact, Entrapta already has blueprints, and possible prototypes, for some kind of firearm." Shadow Weaver swallowed hard at the information she was about to divulge. "It needs testing of course, but she believes a single blast from this, when complete, may be enough to kill She-Ra."
Hordak bristled with manic laughter. "Kill the meddling muscle-maiden? Never. That would only give her a martyr's exit." Hordak smiled and tossed the Doom Crystal from hand to hand. "No, she will indeed be broken by this: but only into submission and servitude to me. That will be her lasting example to the so-called 'Great Rebellion!"
"As you wish."
Hordak pondered for a moment, and coined another plan from the wicked depths of his brain. If he could break She-Ra, then why not He-Man simulteanously? It would certainly be feasible; especially if the reports of a extensive Damzelite Mine were to be believed.
"Hmm. I almost hate to do this. Open contact with Eternia, Shadow Weaver. I must consult with that cantankerous bag-of-bones, Skeletor." Hordak stroked his chin, weighing his decision.
"As you wish." Shadow Weaver repeated, slowly floating out of the throne chamber. "I shall prepare…" her voice echoed from the corridor.
Hordak rested back in his throne, a smile staying on his mouth. A new, terrible weapon and a plot to kidnap his nemesis: the solution to his problems had very much arrived. Already ahead of himself, he was formulating a way to overthrow Skeletor's command after the inevitable downfall of He-Man and his heroic warriors. To his mind, Skeletor's prime powers drew largely from Coridite as well: after all his 'Power Sword' comprised the other half of He-Man's. And who was to say if the mighty hero could be brought to his knees, then why not his sworn enemy?
Hordak grinned wildly. Etheria was one thing. Etheria and Eternia was quite another. With Shadow Weaver's help, his diabolical plan was already being set in motion.
Taking aim, he hurled the Doom Crystal at the map of Etheria, shattering its structures to dust to the sound of his uproarious laughter.
Adora awoke in her chambers, deep in the wings of Bright Moon Castle – blades of daylight breaking through the hastily shut curtains and onto her bed. It was a fitful night's sleep. Uneven dreams of Hordak had haunted her, and her gut instinct was to be on guard. She Ra hadn't been needed in the Kingdom for some time, but that only put her more on edge; her visions were seldom wrong.
Pulling her shiny blonde hair back from her face, Adora got out of bed. She'd had enough of bad dreams, and that wasn't what today was going to be about.
Today was a holiday and a day for celebration, as it was Queen Angella's birthday. The party devised for the beloved Monarch would be a lavish affair as ever, with Lords and Ladies from all over Etheria already in attendance at the Palace.
Adora went about her daily tasks in the Palace as usual, before heading back to her chambers to prepare for the party, two of her most trusted handmaidens in tow. She had to look spectacular, especially with all the regal and beautiful competition, and she had just the dress in mind.
The young girls brought her the gorgeous, shimmering red satin gown, and Adora stripped out of her casual attire, and straight into the dress.
The bodice fitted Adora snugly, showing off both her sensual curves and her ample cleavage to alluring effect. A white belt with a solid gold buckle was fastened around her slender waist, and she brushed her hands down the tight yet elegant knee-length skirt, and slipped her feet into a pair of matching, ruby-encrusted heels. A long, scarlet train led from the back of the tight skirt down onto the floor with captivating effect.
With the girls' help, Adora slipped her hands into a pair of brilliant white opera gloves that slinked all the way up to her biceps. Clasped at her wrists was a pair of priceless, thick golden cuffs to embellish the sparkling effect.
Adora turned sideways to pose in the mirror, before summoning the final touch of her outfit from the wardrobe. The handmaidens draped the long cape – of deep, matching scarlet – across her shoulders and buckled it in place with a shimmering gold clasp to match her belt buckle and wrist cuffs. Looking herself up and down, Adora truly looked the part of a Princess.
"Oh, your Highness" her first young brunette aide chirped, mouth agape "you look absolutely stunning."
"Thank you, Elyssia." Adora smiled kindly as she took her seat in front of the mirror, the two servants beginning to apply her make-up.
As they finished off, the Princess dismissed them, before having one final look in the mirror.
Pleased with her efforts, Adora left her chambers and headed out towards the main hall, where the party was already beginning.
