Chapter XII: Curiosity

Vlad

I phased down to the lab where the portal was kept. A figure emerges from it. "I don't know how you manage to get back here but I won't let you ruin my plan," I fire an ecto blast at the suit. He tries to block it but is too slow. That is odd for the boy even on the verge of defeat he can usually block a simple attack. The pilot tries to get in a defensive position. I could tell this wasn't the boy. "I must applaud you. It's a charming rouse and I admit I almost fell for it," The fighter fires a laser beam at me but I go intangible.

"What did you do with him?" a voice asks from the speaker on the suit. I raise an eyebrow at the statement. "Did you hear me Vlad?" That voice is familiar. The driver aims the weapon at me again and asks where is Danny.

"Dearest Jasmine," the driver backed up. "I do not know what you are talking about. Daniel died defending me," the face shield rises up revealing the girl. She says I am lying and Danny is here. How could she have sensed that. "Aren't you clever." I charge up an ecto blast sending her into the wall. "You know too much my dear and must be taken care of."

"You harm me Vlad and I swear every agency in ten mile radius will be on you. They...," I remove her from the armor. "Let go of me you sick perverted Fruit Loop!" Such language Jasmine and here I was going to help you. "Go ahead Plasmius kill me!" she struggles to get free. I am not going kill you what kind of person do you take me for.

I phase through the floor to the bottom level of my mansion. She looks around and asks what is this. "Technically it is sub basement EE789 but you can call it Lethe." I open up a cell door and throw her in it. She says that others will come for her. "I am afraid that no one will know you're here," I lock the door and phase back up the lab. "Ta darling."

Catra

"Hello Shadow Weaver," I called out sneaking into Horror Hall. I smiled as I quietly entered her personal quarters. She had shelves filled with books and scrolls. "I wonder what you have here," I gently removed a book on ancient maps.

I flip through the pages until I find one labeled, 'Major Relics.' It points out all where all the ancient artifacts are kept. I find a passage on the catacombs. According to legend that is where the next part of Hordak's toy can be found and I...

"Shadow Weaver?" Mantenna's voice says as I hide in the shadows. The fool looks around, "I thought I saw someone in here." He extends his eyes, "Catra? What are you doing in..." I dart out and cover his mouth. He looks at me confused. I tell him that Hordak had ordered me to find information on where the next item can be found. "Doesn't he know where it is?" he asks as I remove my hand. "You're not looking for the item are you?"

"I am but not for Hordak," I tell him I plan to collect the pieces myself and get rid of Hordak. He gasps. "Don't you get tired of being his punching bag?" If I can get the parts I can take control of the Horde and finally conquer is this planet. "What if I promise you a place of power?" He can command my armies.

He smiles and asks where the next part can be found. I point out the area on the map. "The catacombs but it is forbidden." I am not scared of some old myth. They only say that to protect the piece. He looks at the map and asks what he can do. "Meet me outside the Fright Zone in a hour," he says he will be there.

?

"Get back here Plasmius!" the new girl yelled at the top her lungs. "Vlad!" I tell her it won't do her no good these cells are sound proof. "Who said that," she looks around the area. I tell her I am three cells down from here. "Who are you?" she asks trying to see me.

"I don't have a name," she asks why didn't my parents give me a name. Thee only 'name' I've been given is Experiment DDP786 or 'mistake' and 'wretch' when I don't do as I am told. She introduces herself as Jazz, "names don't matter here." If Vlad placed you down here it's so no one would find her.

"Don't worry my friends will be here and set us free," I laugh no one knows we're down here. There is not even a floor plan for this place. "You shouldn't give up hope. We've dealt with Vlad before," That maybe true but no one escapes from here- not alive anyway. "How long have you been down here?" I tell as long as I can remember, "don't you have a family? They must be worried about you?" I don't have anyone. "The he took when you were..." her voice stops afraid to say the word.

"Please I don't want to talk about it," I tell her coldly as a tear rolls down my face.

Hordak

"Finally, what do you have to show me," Horde Prime said excitedly. I tell him that Modulok has a new weapon that can destroy our enemies once and for all. "Excellent, I expect the Rebellion to be no more when I return from Tropica," I assured him that when he gets back Etheria will be his. "Wonderful," Prime said signing off.

"I might even return to Eternia," I smiled thinking of ridding myself of that miserable rat Skeletor. Imp came flying into the room excitedly. "What is the meaning of this?" he says he has something important to show me. "It better be," I clench my fist as he presses a button on the arm of my throne.

An image of Catra sneaking around Horror Hall plays before me. She mentions finding the next part herself and trying to dethrone me. "She and bug brain are planning to...," I slam my hand on the arm creating sparks. "I say we declaw her." No we'll let her play her game. I order him to follow them from afar and do whatever he can to stop them. "Yes boss," he takes off.

A group of Horde Troopers walks into the room, "I want you to go into the kingdoms and round up any Rebels." We'll herd them into the Whispering Woods and then destroy them once and for all. It will be the ultimate example to any who dare to oppose me.

The leader steps up and salutes me, "Yes Lord Hordak! Come on let's go." I watch as the troops leave. There is something about one of them seems off. He looks around the room before leaving. I merely shake if off as just being upset with the treason of the Manx.

Sam

"Hello?" I swing the massive doors open and enter the temple. I took out a flashlight from my pocket to light the way. "No wonder the Observants are so cheerful." The main hall of was decorated with mosaics of various historical events. One depicted the fall of the Roman Empire; another showed the fall of the Soviet Union. The inscription at the bottom read Nemo fata fugient no one escapes fate.

"Who is there?" a voice calls out as I duck behind a corner. An Observant enters the room. He is dressed in armor and carrying a sword. "Who dare desecrate our mother's home?" he scans the room, "your signature it's different it's not that of a ghost." He continues to search for awhile but finding nothing leaves.

"That was close," I said coming out of hiding. I come to a series a ornate doors. Carved on them are various kings and emperors in various states of decay. "I'll have to see who their decorator is," I find a door not like the others. It was made of gold and showed two Observants kneeling. "Jackpot," I open the door just enough to walk in. "Hello anyone home?" on the floor was a pedestal. I step on it causing the room to flooded by green light.

"Who dares invoke the goddess of fate?" a voice called out an image of a six armed ghost appeared in front of me. Her eyes were covered by a blindfold. "You are not a child of mine," she said sternly, "you are still an inhabitant of earth. No mortal has set foot in here in eons," her features soften. "I am Ananke, what is it you desire?"

"My name is Sam," I told the ghost as bravely as I could. "I want answers. My friend Danny is a gone. I want to know is he alive?" the ghost pointed to a stone tablet in her middle left hand. A word written in Greek magically appeared on it- ἀγνώριστος. "What is that?" the ghost says it's unknown. "Unknown? What is unknown? That Danny is alive or dead?" Another word, παλιγγενεσία, appeared on the tablet. "What is that now?"

Before the ghost could answer an Observant rushed into the room. "You! You're the ghost child's friend. How dare you desecrate the sanctuary." Some of the armed Observants swarm into the room and tackle me to the ground. "Take her to main chamber and prepare for trial," he tells them as they shackle me and lead me out of the room.

Princess Adora

"I see light up ahead," I said as I finally reached the exit. I arrive on the surface of the pyramid and slide down to the ground. I look down at the ground and noticed my shadow moved. "How long was I in there?" I slowly get to my feet and give a whistle.

Spirit comes out of hiding and nuzzles me. I tell I am find and just need to rest for a second. He nuzzles my hand trying to get my attention. I ask him what's wrong. He looks off to the east. "There is nothing but the...Fright Zone." I promised Bow I would go with him to resew Glimmer. "He must be worried," I slowly get to my feet and hold up my sword, "For the Honor of Grayskull!"

The power of the ancients fills my body giving me strength. The wisdom of the First Ones and the magic of the Crystal Castle enters my mind and soul transforming me into She-Ra. The same energies fill Spirit turning him into Swift Wind. "Let's go Swifty our friends need us."