Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Horde of Horrors. Enjoy the 1500-word chapter. I don't own She-Ra, Mattel and a few others do.
(Horde Warship)
Brennus watched one of the rebel ships explode as he knocked another rebel over the deck. He turned to see his men blasting away at the rebels who slunk back. Brennus wished to pursue them, but knew enough not to overextend himself. Several of his soldiers fell, spears or swords cutting into their armors.
Brennus slashed one of the rebels, scarring the soldier before turning him to take a spear from another soldier. He stabbed through the soldier, killing them both. They collapsed as Brennus pulled his sword from the duo.
The sound of blaster fire was something that marked the death of 4 or 5 rebels as they fell to the ground, their armor burned down to nothing and their bodies smoking. Brennus planned to order burials for them after this.
"Protect the other princesses!" One of the soldiers yelled, making Brennus raise an eyebrow.
'So, they are here. I guess that answers my question.' Brennus thought while advancing on the remaining soldiers, he knew they were dangerous… But so, was he, and so would they perish if they got in his way?
"Do you wish for your entire city to burn just so you lose?" Brennus questioned as more cannon fire heralded coming destruction.
Brennus was silent, aware that this would soon come to an end. The soldiers fled back to their remaining boats, eager to save their city. Brennus contemplated finishing off their forces for good.
He relented, they had failed and Brennus didn't plan on destroying the city unless he had to. He looked at the deck strewn with both bodies of rebel soldiers and his own soldiers. He shook his head and turned to Lonnie.
"We will bury the dead after this." Brennus put in and shook his head. "Order the cannons to continue bombardment. Some of you help me remove the dead from the deck…. I will ensure they are buried properly when this mission is over with." Brennus ordered and sighed.
The rebels should know their beaten by now. Their deaths were a part of war, Vorutians did not normally bury their enemy. They respected them, but most enjoyed battle, thinking it a honorable endeavor.
"Catra, we're going to continue bombardment. What's your status?" Brennus asked, questioning how bad this siege would go. "We've taken losses and such." Brennus stated and looked at the fires and such consuming the deck of the ship.
This made him sigh as crews slowly continued to remove bodies and try and get systems under control. In any case? They would not be returning to the fight soon enough.
"Little busy!" Brennus heard as he hummed and turned to order more soldiers. "Someone target those towers and bring them down; I don't want any scouts being aware of where the ship is." Brennus ordered, crossing his arms as he turned to address the issue.
(With Catra)
Catra backflipped over She-Ra, kicking her enemy in the back as she turned and shook her head. She turned to see a Horde Robot explode, taking out 4 or 5 rebel soldiers with it.
"So, is this the part where your friends talk about how perfect love and harmony is?" Catra asked as another round of cannon fire crashed into one of the towers.
Stone and mortar covered the area as the structure collapsed into the ocean. Catra was thrown back by She-Ra but dug her claws into the ground. She glared at her former enemy with the same anger she had back at Brightmoon.
"You think you're so tough, Adora." Catra said, pointing a clawed finger at her former friend. "But all I see is some broken city you couldn't save. This isn't Brightmoon, I'm not stupid enough to come here without a plan." Catra said, crossing her arms.
She-Ra said nothing, Catra didn't expect the girl to care. She had been so eager to turn her back on everything that the Horde had given them. So eager to run off with new friends… ABANDONING her.
Now she would know what that was like.
"Where's your friend?" She-Ra hissed to which Catra hummed and tapped at her chin with a clawed finger.
"Busy, like you should be…" Catra said and nodded towards the city as another round of cannon fire sent a tower collapsing to the ground. "Like I said, I didn't come here without a plan… You going to fight, or you going to talk about being a hero?" Catra asked, lunging at She-Ra.
The hero leapt back and vanished into the smoke. Catra rolled her eyes at her former friend. She didn't enjoy this carnage, but she did savior the victory.
"Lonnie, keep the ship safe, I'm heading into the city." Brennus stated over the radio. "Catra, I can't bring the fleet closer. The princesses are ready for us and I'm not stupid enough to take them all on alone. What's your location?" Brennus put in as Catra continued fighting the guards around her.
She knew for a fact that the princesses were far more then a match for the Horde's army. As much as she hated to admit it? Catra was going to have to cut her losses and regroup. Her troops had caused enough damage.
"Bren, call off the invasion for now." Catra ordered and turned to her troops. "We're leaving, let the princesses have their stupid city!" Catra yelled as she turned and retreated.
The rest of her men took a look at each other before following behind her. She left the guards to chase the retreating Horde army.
"Brennus, where are you?" Catra asked only for the sound of more cannon fire to whistle overhead.
Catra turned in time to see a group of Salinas soldiers be sent flying, their bodies twisting in the air. Catra paused as the rebel army slowly retreated as more cannon fire shredded their ranks, forcing them back into the besieged city.
"Busy tending to the fleet, I'll meet you on the shore." Brennus responded before the line went dead.
Catra turned to see smoke and fire upon Salinas. They hadn't taken the city, but Catra guessed the city had taken more losses then her army. She didn't intend on a direct attack, however. Adora and her friends expected it.
Catra turned to see a skiff making its way across the water, churning the waves under it. Brennus sat behind the driver and leapt off before the vehicle reached the shore.
"Why did you decide to attack one of their forts directly?" Brennus asked as he approached. "That could have been a total rout if I didn't intervene… They knew about this attack. Any attempt to assault the city directly is suicidal, we're take dozens if not hundreds of losses." Brennus said and sighed.
Catra watched as the skiff returned to the Horde flotilla. Even though it remained floating? Catra could see smoke from battles aboard rising faintly into the sky.
"I almost had Adora… Then she ran." Catra stated, her fangs bared as she turned in place. "Like a coward." Catra hissed which got Brennus to raise an eyebrow.
"If Adora knows you so well? Then she knows your plans." Brennus pointed out, rubbing at his armored chin.
"Yeah, so? What do you suggest? We go back to the Fright Zone?" Catra questioned and got a shake of the head.
"No, but we should attempt to see if the city has weaknesses." Brennus stated, curious as to what to do.
If both that Ice Princess and Plant Princess remained standing? Then they'd not make headway. Brennus was aware the ice ruler could freeze their ships, meaning their artillery would be gone… And the plant princess was simply too powerful for regular soldiers.
"We should talk to Lord Hordak." Brennus stated, turning towards their camp. "And take care of the princesses first. The sooner their defeated? The easier this siege will go." Brennus added which was met by Catra gritting her teeth.
"Plan first, I don't want that pushover knowing what's happened yet." Catra added while Brennus hummed and simply shrugged before the duo walked towards camp.
Brennus had a plan, but it was not one he believed would work so easily.
He looked at his soldiers, saddened this battle had taken many lives when it comes down to it.
Their lives wouldn't end for nothing in his mind. But like any Vorutian? He turned his attention back to the battle… Back to where he could honor their sacrifices.
Author notes
Phew. Another chapter done! I want to point out Brennus isn't supposed to be super strong till later. He's just plenty skilled. I also want to point out Catra and Brennus have different views on combat. Next chapter will show more planning between Catra and Brennus and more of the siege of Salinas. Until then? Lighting Wolf out!
P.S: Next chapter is 1500 words or such.