CHAPTER XXI: THE MESSAGE

The three former Horde soldiers and the scorpion princess quickly followed the feline up the stairs that lead to Hordak's old throne. Step after step, the iron chair became nearer and nearer and when Catra found herself right in front of it… she didn't attempt to sit down… she remained silent… still.

"I wanted it." Catra thought. "This should have all been mine. Hordak was weak, he should have never had ruled over the Horde! I would have made the Horde the greatest force on all of Etheria! They would have all respected me! They would… they would have all feared me…"

They would have all feared me…

In front of what Catra had always thought she desired, she hesitated. She had wanted this, but now? That throne was simply who she was before.

Never again.

She quickly sat down, unlocking a small hatch on the throne's armrest. She had seen Hordak do that before, it was easy, the only problem was… was the device still working? Catra held her breath and pressed the small button hidden underneath the hatch. A few seconds passed and then…

A larger hatch opened on the ceiling above the small group and a screen descended towards them, stopping right in front of Catra. It flashed red, displaying only a few words…

Vocal recognition required.

Damn it.

"Catra?" Scorpia muttered, a hint of worry in her voice.

"Let me think…" Catra whispered.

There had to be a way to-

Suddenly, a small creature jumped on Scorpia's shoulder, making the princess release a small yelp.

"Is that…" Lonnie wondered, taking a step closer.

"Hordak's little monster, yeah." Catra groaned loudly .

She didn't have time to deal with the little imp. She needed to find a way to access Hordak's communication device! But to do that she would have needed his voice! But how could she do that?! Hordak had been imprisoned in Bright Moon and there was no time to go and get him…

"Think… come on, think!" Catra muttered under her breath before a loud screech caught her attention. "Would you make that thing shut up?!"

"Uhm… I kiiiinda don't want to upset the little devil who's currently standing on my shoulder, if that's okay with you." Scorpia answered nervously, a bead of sweat rolling down her forehead.

"I don't care! We have to find a way to-" The cat girl growled before stopping abruptly.

Who said they needed Hordak?

They only needed his voice…

A voice that could be imitated…

"Come closer Scorpia." Catra beckoned the scorpion princess.

"O-Okay, moving veeery slowly…"

"Hey, little guy, say something with Hordak's voice, come on!" Catra tried to communicate with the small imp.

The only answer Catra got was a sound that seemed to resemble a snort… the creature crossed its arms and looked away. Did that little imp just act as if… as if it was offended?! She had no time for that!

"Listen you-" Catra abruptly stood up, making the imp shriek in fear.

The creature made itself look smaller on the scorpion princess' shoulder, curling into a shivering ball. Catra stopped in her tracks and closed her eyes. It was true, she had no time for all of this, but she knew that if she kept acting like that she wouldn't have solved anything.

"Rethink your approach. Come on. Think of something stupid… something kind… something Scorpia would do… something Adora would do…" Catra thought before staring right at the creature.

"Listen, I know that you're Hordak's p… Hordak's friend and you're angry because of our fight… but right now all of the Horde is in danger. They could all die, okay? This could be the end for a lot of people who don't deserve it, and the only way to warn them all in time is this, and it won't work without Hordak's voice. So… please… can you speak? Then we'll go away, I'll bring you to Hordak if you want."

The small creature titled its head as if it was suddenly very interested.

"And, Entrapta will be there too, if that's even something you care ab-"

Catra didn't have time to finish her sentence. The small imp jumped off Scorpia's shoulder and flew above the small group, chanting the scientist princess' name loudly.

"Entrapta! Entrapta! Entrapta!"

The screen flashed green.

Voice confirmed, welcome back Lord Hordak.

The small imp flew down and perched on Scorpia's shoulder and finally… the screen lit up, displaying Catra's face. She was going to go live in a few seconds. She was going to speak to the entire Horde in a few seconds. She was going to tell all of them the truth of what happened in a few seconds. Catra felt herself starting to sweat, but as soon as that terrible feeling of dread caught hold of her, it immediately dissipated as Scorpia laid a pincer on her shoulder, giving her an encouraging smile. Rogelio, Kyle and believe or not, even Lonnie, did the same.

She could do this…

She was ready…

Communication beginning in three…

Two…

One…

The communication started. Thousands of soldiers, frightened and confused had gathered around the Fright Zone's still functioning communication screens… and waited. They waited for Catra to speak. They waited for someone to give them directions, to explain what was happening… maybe even to give them a few words of comfort.

Catra gulped and gave the small group beyond the screen one last look.

She could do this.

They were there for her.

"Soldiers of-" Catra stopped as soon as she began, those were not the ones she wanted to talk to. She took a deep breath and started again.

"People… people of the Horde… I'm sorry, but I'm going to say is not going to give you much comfort. I wish I had better words, to lift up your spirits but… the truth is that I can only tell you the truth. What happened to the Fright Zone… happened because of me."

She was going to tell them, she was finally going to tell the truth, and there was no turning back now.

"Months ago, princess Entrapta found out that activating a portal could have destroyed us all, but I didn't listen to her. I banished her on Beast Island before Hordak could learn about her discovery and lied to him about it. I told him Entrapta had betrayed him… had betrayed us… but the truth is that I'm the one who betrayed all of you. Hordak found out the truth and in his attempt to kill me… he caused the mayhem you now see around yourselves." Catra paused for a few moments.

There it was, the truth had finally been revealed. It was the time to give them a choice, a choice that only now the people of the Horde could truly make.

"I know you have no reason to trust me… but believe me… all that is coming towards us right now… those black ships… they carry nothing but more death and suffering. Horde Prime has found out about Etheria, he is the supreme leader of the Horde, and he won't stop until Etheria and all of the universe is under his control. But… do not think he'll be a kind leader. I saw him erase Hordak's mind because of his ambition… and I heard him planning to do the same with every man… woman or child that he'll find here. I know many of you won't believe me, but trust me… with Horde Prime there is no future… for any of us. It may seem hopeless, to fight someone like him, but it's either that or living the rest of our lives as his puppets. I choose to fight… if you do the same… then meet me at the Whispering Woods' borders." Catra took a deep breath.

She could have ended the transmission right then and there, but there was something else she wanted to tell to the people who were listening. She took a deep, almost shaky breath and spoke once more.

"I once chose the road that I believed would give me power, I chose the road the Horde had shown us… and trust me, it's the loneliest you'll ever walk. Don't make my same mistake."

Catra pressed the button on the throne's armrest, and the screen faded to black.

It was then that another powerful explosion shook the chamber.

"We must go!" Lonnie shouted.

The small group quickly descended the staircase that lead to Hordak's throne and rushed outside the chamber. They rushed through the maze of corridors, trying to reach the nearest exit. Hordak's weapon had done more damage than what they had first thought. Flames had began to spread everywhere… but… no one seemed to be around anymore. Could it be that… but Catra didn't have time to think about that.

The feline had barely the time to dodge backwards as a pile of rubble came crashing down from the ceiling. She fell to the ground, grunting in pain as her back his the metallic floor. She opened her eyes, shaking her head to clear the dizziness and stood up.

"Catra! Catra, are you alright?!" Scorpia called her.

Good… she was fine…

Scorpia was fine…

The only problem was that… the debris had separated Catra from the rest of the group.

"I'm fine!" The cat girl answered.

"Stand aside! I'll clear a passage!" Scorpia spoke frantically.

"No!" Catra screamed, effectively stopping the scorpion princess. "If you use your powers, everything could come crashing down on our heads! Just go! I'll find another exit!"

"B-but Catra-"

"You heard her! She'll find another exit, but we have to go!" Lonnie shouted.

Catra heard the small group run away. At least they would be safe. She turned around and started to rush through the nearly collapsed sector's corridors, her eyes darting everywhere to find even the slightest chance of escaping… and then… when Catra begin to think that the Fright Zone might have truly become her tomb… a few metallic panels shattered and fell from the ceiling, revealing a darkened sky.

It wouldn't have been hard to reach the hole, not for her… and Catra would have done it in an instant… if it only wasn't for a voice that caught her attention a moment before she could make her escape.

"L-let me go! Let me go!"

It was a child's voice.

"Just go! Save yourself! Go!" The voice inside Catra's head screamed.

Catra didn't listen. She ran away from what could have possibly been her last chance to escape and quickly searched for the source of the voice. Her eyes darted everywhere as the screams got louder and louder. Where was this child?! And why was she even risking her life for someone she didn't even know?!

A part of Catra didn't really understand the meaning of her actions, but still, she kept moving. She ran and ran until she found herself in front of the broken gates of a training room. She slipped inside, careful not to be noticed… and Catra finally saw her.

At the center of the training chamber stood a girl… probably nine or ten years old… with caramel brown skin and curly, black hair that reached her shoulders. The feline's eyes however, did not widen because of the girl, but because of the two figures standing near to her.

Prime clones…

They were already in the Fright Zone…

And here we are with a new chapter! I hope you've liked it, and that you're going to like what I planned to happen next. Let's just say that Catra will experience the toughest fight of her life yet. It'll be brutal… and followed by a heart breaking moment, you've been warned. Remember, the next chapter will be published on April 30. See you soon!