Chapter 10; Aftermath of Betrayal
Angella headed the emergency meeting of the rebel forces whispering woods. Castaspella and Madame Razz stood behind her to lend support as needed. Pandemonium reigned.
"Adora wouldn't betray us!" Someone shouted.
"It's one of Shadow Weaver's evil spells!"
"I didn't want to believe it either and I was there!" Spiritina cried.
"Quiet!!" Angella commanded. Gradually the noise died down as all looked to Brightmoons queen for answers. "I know you are all frightened- but remember, for now at least, we are safe. Please remain calm" She turned and motioned to a woman with Kelly green hair and a fan of peacock feathers spread behind her; the woman was pale and weak and had to lean heavily on Broome and Madame Razz for support. "Peekablue, tell us what you saw." Peekablue's voice soft at first gained strength and volume as she continued.
"We went to Dwyllan- I had received a vision, I knew that the darkness spawned there had yet to dissipate, I knew there was more to come. Spiritina and I were there when they arrived. Horde troopers gathering slaves. Not unusual- but their leader was. She was the night her being swallowed and absorbed the light around her making it dark as she, and dark as the beast she rode… a Horde Steed!"
There were gasps of horror and children began crying in fear. A Horde Steed was a tale mothers used to frighten children into eating their vegetables. A rumor, a figment, a fantasy, not something real.
"People, please, let Peeka finish her tale." Castaspella ordered. Gradually silence returned, though even Queen Angella appeared horrified. Mother's left the throng taking their weeping children with them.
The peacock Seeress continued her story, her voice thin and shaky. "This woman singled out the slaves to be taken. She subdued them. Brutally. I knew the minute I saw
her, but like Spiritina I didn't want to believe it either. When her mask fell away there was no denying the truth. Adora belongs to the Horde."
Peekablue's pained expression mirrored the dismay of the others, murmer's began to sweep through the crowd once more when Bow stood.
A muscle ticked in his jaw as he clenched and unclenched his teeth, the barely restrained energy in his stance made all around him step away and gaze at him in askance.
"I won't believe Adora has betrayed us! What you saw was a double, or a spell, a trick or an illusion- but what it wasn't was Adora." He raised his arm and swept it over the crowd. "Adora created all this, she saved all of you and united us under freedom's flag, being free means more to her than anything!! And she would never sell us out. Never!"
"Bow," Angella said, "be still." She then turned her attention to the crowd. "People of Etheria hear me. It is true, Adora has returned to the bosom of the Horde. She is to be the new leader of their forces." Weeping was heard throughout the clearing and muted wails of denial sounded their way across the hearts of all as they struggled to accept what had happened. "As you know, the infamous Horde warrior Leech recently murdered six children. He has gone into hiding. Adora blames herself for the deaths of these children."
"It's not her fault!"
"She didn't kill them!"
"We need her!"
"She has struck a deal with Hordack. Adora will fight and kill Leech to avenge the deaths of these children. In exchange for this privilege Hordack has demanded she take control of his forces and Betray the rebellion."
"No!"
"She can't do that!"
"She's our leader!"
Bow shook his head in denial; horror, shock, confusion, all danced over his countenance. "Adora wouldn't do that… would she?" His eyes pleaded with Angella to deny it. She looked away. Glimmer lay a comforting hand on his shoulder her own face betraying shock, uncertainty and anger. Angella raised her hand for silence, again.
"We must deal with what we are going to do. Adora knows our strengths, she knows our weaknesses and worse she knows the woods and the rebels who inhabit them. We must leave the whispering woods."
"No! The woods protect us from evil, we are safe here, if we leave the Horde will capture us."
"Not true!" Angella countered. "We are not beaten, merely delayed, we will form resistance cells and blanket Ehteria with our message. For too long have we held onto the woods as a safety net leaving the southeastern part of Etheria to fall further and further into the hands of the Horde while we keep only our small portion of the planet free. Adora has only given us the incentive to step up the rebellion not abandon it."
"That's right!" Glimmer shouted. "Adora may have abandoned the cause of freedom, but we won't!" The crowd cheered agreement before getting quiet enough to hear the Angel queen.
"Glimmer."
"Here, Mother."
"Take the village people from Drile with you to Spikeheart, ask the troll king for asylum, there you will run your own resistance cell and strike at the Horde. Your Primary objective is to become one hell of a pain in the ass to the Horde distracting them and their new commander from other areas. Do you understand daughter?"
"I think so." Angella frowned remembering her earlier concerns and hoping Adora's faith was not misplaced.
"No Glimmer. Do, don't just think, I am counting on you. Spikeheart and your cell must become the primary focus of Adora's first wave of aggression against us, it will allow the rest of us to fan out, set up new bases of operation at different points."
"I will do it mother, you can count on me."
"Good. Bow you must-"
"No." Bow angrily held up his hands waving Angella off, "I'm going to find She-ra, she'll know what to do." Angella heaved a frustrated sigh, before turning to the rest of the people.
"We are going to split ourselves into seven cells, go back to your camps and pack your gear and get ready to move. We leave in three days." Many of the people disbursed until only the leaders remained behind.
"I will summon the Sea Hawk through the moonstone, we are going to need him to take three of our cells south. We need to begin affecting change there as well as maintaining freedom here. With the Horde forces focusing on the woods, Spikeheart and Brightmoon I believe they will not notice the unrest fermenting in their own backyards until too late. I hope."
Castaspella nodded agreement.
"I will lead the cells myself, Mysticor will be in Good hands, I will leave Netossa in charge. She has been studying my sorcery books for a long while, I will clothe her in the illusion of myself so our enemies will be none the wiser."
Angella looked at her sharply, "Are you sure that's wise? Mysticor is a symbol of hope to the people, if it falls we may fall with it." Castaspella shook her head negatively.
"I have not sat idle for seven years in my kingdom while the rebellion has been fighting the Horde. There are layers of spells on my kingdom. As soon as I activate them all, no one with evil intent will be able to enter Mysticor." Angella's brow knit in confusion. Castaspella smiled patiently.
"Angella, Glimmer, Madame, Spinerella, here's a tale that has its beginnings long before the Horde ever came to this planet. One thousand years ago a great sorceress and seer, the Lady Ayella Adami lived here, in the whispering woods."
"Doesn't that name mean 'peace with teeth'?" Spinerella asked.
"Yes, in the old tongue. Lady Ayella foresaw a great darkness blanketing the land, snuffing out all bastions of light and hope. She knew when the darkness came children of the light would need a sanctuary until the champion rose up to beat back the plague of evil that would consume our land. Using her vast magiks she linked her consciousness to the woods, her life force to that of the forest. That day the whispering woods were born and since then no evil has been able to enter the forest."
"Casta as interesting as that is what has this got to do with Mystacor?"
"Patience friend." Castaspella smiled. "Before Lady Ayella disappeared from history's eye she brought many of her books of magic to Mystacor for safe keeping. I have been studying these texts for some time now and I believe I can cast a similar spell on Mystacor, linking my life force to that of the palace so no evil may enter there. There is a problem though."
"Oh dear I guessed there would be with such ancient magic." Madame stated, shifting uncomfortably when Castaspella turned her wise regard her way.
"The spell requires constant fine tuning, constant checking, I don't know how Ayella Adami managed to become independent of the forest?"
"How do you know she did?" Spinerella asked curiously.
"Well, she must have, the spell on the woods still works and she is surely dead by now- she was a grown woman at the time the spell was cast; I know this because the level of magic involved requires a sorceress of great knowledge and maturity to cast successfully."
"I still don't understand why you feel you have to go." Angella remarked.
Mahogany eyes blazed bright into Angella's blue orbs, "I have spent my life training to be the queen of Mystacor, the most powerful sorceress on Etheria, I have always put the well being of others before my own. I have never truly lived life. I don't know what it is to be in the moment, I have never been in love. I want to have one chance to be just a woman instead of a servant to my people." Angella was taken aback. She knew royalty were the servants of the people but she had her daughter and at one time she had her own love. Looking at Castaspella and seeing her as she was- a beautiful woman who was achingly lonely made her heart catch in her throat. She lowered her eyes.
"I understand. Even if we survive Adora's betrayal we don't know if we will survive this war with the Horde. Just be careful. Be safe my friend."
"No one is safe while the Horde rules."
"Okay, heres my plan. Glimmer is going to take the villagers of Drile to Spikeheart. She is going to attempt to free the surrounding towns and villages. Casta, you, Spinerrella and the Star sisters are going to each take a contingent of rebels to these points in the south, the Star sisters group will take the Meadow lands, which are just south of the Valley of the lost; Spinnerella your cell will take the arid steppes of Shaddamite, the continent south of Beast Island and Castaspella you will lead a division here by the rolling savanna's of Untakki, north of the Valley of the lost. If you take back this area you take the source of seventy percent of the Horde's food and grain and herd animals."
"Angella," Spinnerella interjected, smiling nervously, "How are we to defeat the Horde when they out gun us every time?" Spinnerella was a beautiful woman. Tall she stood as high as She-ra, long, thick, lush pink curls fell in an orchid cascade down her back. She wore a carnation colored gown which had slits up the side to her hips, beneath it her legs were clothed in pink tights. She was a dancer with amazing abilities. She also had a talent for sarcasm, but a good and gentle heart. Angella leaned in closer, warming to the topic.
"Bow is going to lead a group and She-ra will lead another and they will focus their efforts on obtaining technology from the Horde for our use, they will also work to sabotage the Hordes Genetic labs and ore processing plants here a nd in the mines at Mondor." Madames eyes lit up.
"Oh I'd love to get behind the controls of a horde space cruiser!" Angella looked at Madame out of the corner of her eye. Spinnerella was not so subtle.
"God help us if that day ever comes- you can't even fly that broom of yours straight." Madames jaw dropped.
Broom balled up his little twig hands and stuck out his chin, "Hey, I resent that remark!" Spinnerella stuck out her tongue at him and crossed her eyes.
Castaspella rolled her eyes at their antics. "Angella that makes only five resistence cells what about the other two?"
Angella nodded. "I will lead one here at Brightmoon and Peekablue will lead her people to take back the lands south of Talon Mountain and reclaim the Ivory Citadel."
"Peekablue has returned to her people?" Casta asked.
"Yes, once her power manifested itself she became their leader. She doesn't like it, you know her, she is afraid of the Horde. Her people are not warriors. However, they are not nomads by choice. Before the Horde drove them from their cities and the citadel they were a culture steeped in the arts and philosophies, and wise in the ways of nature. It was once said they could even commune with the plants. Now that the goddess has returned to them through Peeka they will fight to enthrone her in that citadel."
"They really believe she is a goddess?" Broome asked.
"Yes, they do. The peacock people have not had a ruler in thirty five years, they have been wanderers for twenty of those years as theirs was the first race Hordack conquered when he arrived on Etheria. In exchange for first rights to stolen Horde technology Peekablue has agreed to send two of her people with each cell so that they may spy out the terrain for us and help maintain contact with each other. Her people will expect the technology soon. Do you all understand what to do?" Angella asked. She gazed at each of her friends for a long moment, hoping this wasn't the last time she'd see each of them. "May the Ancients protect you. Go choose your people. I will summon the Sea Hawk."
Then it was done. Bow had fled into the woods to seek out She-ra, but he would return and he and the Princess of power would choose their brothers and sisters to aid them in their fight for freedom. The Rebellion had leaders. The rebellion had a plan. The rebellion had champions and heroes to carry on the cause. The rebellion had hope, dim and fragile.
But the evil Horde had a new commanding General. The Horde had Adora. Angella shivered as she spread her wings, embracing the wind and flew toward Brightmoon.
Angella headed the emergency meeting of the rebel forces whispering woods. Castaspella and Madame Razz stood behind her to lend support as needed. Pandemonium reigned.
"Adora wouldn't betray us!" Someone shouted.
"It's one of Shadow Weaver's evil spells!"
"I didn't want to believe it either and I was there!" Spiritina cried.
"Quiet!!" Angella commanded. Gradually the noise died down as all looked to Brightmoons queen for answers. "I know you are all frightened- but remember, for now at least, we are safe. Please remain calm" She turned and motioned to a woman with Kelly green hair and a fan of peacock feathers spread behind her; the woman was pale and weak and had to lean heavily on Broome and Madame Razz for support. "Peekablue, tell us what you saw." Peekablue's voice soft at first gained strength and volume as she continued.
"We went to Dwyllan- I had received a vision, I knew that the darkness spawned there had yet to dissipate, I knew there was more to come. Spiritina and I were there when they arrived. Horde troopers gathering slaves. Not unusual- but their leader was. She was the night her being swallowed and absorbed the light around her making it dark as she, and dark as the beast she rode… a Horde Steed!"
There were gasps of horror and children began crying in fear. A Horde Steed was a tale mothers used to frighten children into eating their vegetables. A rumor, a figment, a fantasy, not something real.
"People, please, let Peeka finish her tale." Castaspella ordered. Gradually silence returned, though even Queen Angella appeared horrified. Mother's left the throng taking their weeping children with them.
The peacock Seeress continued her story, her voice thin and shaky. "This woman singled out the slaves to be taken. She subdued them. Brutally. I knew the minute I saw
her, but like Spiritina I didn't want to believe it either. When her mask fell away there was no denying the truth. Adora belongs to the Horde."
Peekablue's pained expression mirrored the dismay of the others, murmer's began to sweep through the crowd once more when Bow stood.
A muscle ticked in his jaw as he clenched and unclenched his teeth, the barely restrained energy in his stance made all around him step away and gaze at him in askance.
"I won't believe Adora has betrayed us! What you saw was a double, or a spell, a trick or an illusion- but what it wasn't was Adora." He raised his arm and swept it over the crowd. "Adora created all this, she saved all of you and united us under freedom's flag, being free means more to her than anything!! And she would never sell us out. Never!"
"Bow," Angella said, "be still." She then turned her attention to the crowd. "People of Etheria hear me. It is true, Adora has returned to the bosom of the Horde. She is to be the new leader of their forces." Weeping was heard throughout the clearing and muted wails of denial sounded their way across the hearts of all as they struggled to accept what had happened. "As you know, the infamous Horde warrior Leech recently murdered six children. He has gone into hiding. Adora blames herself for the deaths of these children."
"It's not her fault!"
"She didn't kill them!"
"We need her!"
"She has struck a deal with Hordack. Adora will fight and kill Leech to avenge the deaths of these children. In exchange for this privilege Hordack has demanded she take control of his forces and Betray the rebellion."
"No!"
"She can't do that!"
"She's our leader!"
Bow shook his head in denial; horror, shock, confusion, all danced over his countenance. "Adora wouldn't do that… would she?" His eyes pleaded with Angella to deny it. She looked away. Glimmer lay a comforting hand on his shoulder her own face betraying shock, uncertainty and anger. Angella raised her hand for silence, again.
"We must deal with what we are going to do. Adora knows our strengths, she knows our weaknesses and worse she knows the woods and the rebels who inhabit them. We must leave the whispering woods."
"No! The woods protect us from evil, we are safe here, if we leave the Horde will capture us."
"Not true!" Angella countered. "We are not beaten, merely delayed, we will form resistance cells and blanket Ehteria with our message. For too long have we held onto the woods as a safety net leaving the southeastern part of Etheria to fall further and further into the hands of the Horde while we keep only our small portion of the planet free. Adora has only given us the incentive to step up the rebellion not abandon it."
"That's right!" Glimmer shouted. "Adora may have abandoned the cause of freedom, but we won't!" The crowd cheered agreement before getting quiet enough to hear the Angel queen.
"Glimmer."
"Here, Mother."
"Take the village people from Drile with you to Spikeheart, ask the troll king for asylum, there you will run your own resistance cell and strike at the Horde. Your Primary objective is to become one hell of a pain in the ass to the Horde distracting them and their new commander from other areas. Do you understand daughter?"
"I think so." Angella frowned remembering her earlier concerns and hoping Adora's faith was not misplaced.
"No Glimmer. Do, don't just think, I am counting on you. Spikeheart and your cell must become the primary focus of Adora's first wave of aggression against us, it will allow the rest of us to fan out, set up new bases of operation at different points."
"I will do it mother, you can count on me."
"Good. Bow you must-"
"No." Bow angrily held up his hands waving Angella off, "I'm going to find She-ra, she'll know what to do." Angella heaved a frustrated sigh, before turning to the rest of the people.
"We are going to split ourselves into seven cells, go back to your camps and pack your gear and get ready to move. We leave in three days." Many of the people disbursed until only the leaders remained behind.
"I will summon the Sea Hawk through the moonstone, we are going to need him to take three of our cells south. We need to begin affecting change there as well as maintaining freedom here. With the Horde forces focusing on the woods, Spikeheart and Brightmoon I believe they will not notice the unrest fermenting in their own backyards until too late. I hope."
Castaspella nodded agreement.
"I will lead the cells myself, Mysticor will be in Good hands, I will leave Netossa in charge. She has been studying my sorcery books for a long while, I will clothe her in the illusion of myself so our enemies will be none the wiser."
Angella looked at her sharply, "Are you sure that's wise? Mysticor is a symbol of hope to the people, if it falls we may fall with it." Castaspella shook her head negatively.
"I have not sat idle for seven years in my kingdom while the rebellion has been fighting the Horde. There are layers of spells on my kingdom. As soon as I activate them all, no one with evil intent will be able to enter Mysticor." Angella's brow knit in confusion. Castaspella smiled patiently.
"Angella, Glimmer, Madame, Spinerella, here's a tale that has its beginnings long before the Horde ever came to this planet. One thousand years ago a great sorceress and seer, the Lady Ayella Adami lived here, in the whispering woods."
"Doesn't that name mean 'peace with teeth'?" Spinerella asked.
"Yes, in the old tongue. Lady Ayella foresaw a great darkness blanketing the land, snuffing out all bastions of light and hope. She knew when the darkness came children of the light would need a sanctuary until the champion rose up to beat back the plague of evil that would consume our land. Using her vast magiks she linked her consciousness to the woods, her life force to that of the forest. That day the whispering woods were born and since then no evil has been able to enter the forest."
"Casta as interesting as that is what has this got to do with Mystacor?"
"Patience friend." Castaspella smiled. "Before Lady Ayella disappeared from history's eye she brought many of her books of magic to Mystacor for safe keeping. I have been studying these texts for some time now and I believe I can cast a similar spell on Mystacor, linking my life force to that of the palace so no evil may enter there. There is a problem though."
"Oh dear I guessed there would be with such ancient magic." Madame stated, shifting uncomfortably when Castaspella turned her wise regard her way.
"The spell requires constant fine tuning, constant checking, I don't know how Ayella Adami managed to become independent of the forest?"
"How do you know she did?" Spinerella asked curiously.
"Well, she must have, the spell on the woods still works and she is surely dead by now- she was a grown woman at the time the spell was cast; I know this because the level of magic involved requires a sorceress of great knowledge and maturity to cast successfully."
"I still don't understand why you feel you have to go." Angella remarked.
Mahogany eyes blazed bright into Angella's blue orbs, "I have spent my life training to be the queen of Mystacor, the most powerful sorceress on Etheria, I have always put the well being of others before my own. I have never truly lived life. I don't know what it is to be in the moment, I have never been in love. I want to have one chance to be just a woman instead of a servant to my people." Angella was taken aback. She knew royalty were the servants of the people but she had her daughter and at one time she had her own love. Looking at Castaspella and seeing her as she was- a beautiful woman who was achingly lonely made her heart catch in her throat. She lowered her eyes.
"I understand. Even if we survive Adora's betrayal we don't know if we will survive this war with the Horde. Just be careful. Be safe my friend."
"No one is safe while the Horde rules."
"Okay, heres my plan. Glimmer is going to take the villagers of Drile to Spikeheart. She is going to attempt to free the surrounding towns and villages. Casta, you, Spinerrella and the Star sisters are going to each take a contingent of rebels to these points in the south, the Star sisters group will take the Meadow lands, which are just south of the Valley of the lost; Spinnerella your cell will take the arid steppes of Shaddamite, the continent south of Beast Island and Castaspella you will lead a division here by the rolling savanna's of Untakki, north of the Valley of the lost. If you take back this area you take the source of seventy percent of the Horde's food and grain and herd animals."
"Angella," Spinnerella interjected, smiling nervously, "How are we to defeat the Horde when they out gun us every time?" Spinnerella was a beautiful woman. Tall she stood as high as She-ra, long, thick, lush pink curls fell in an orchid cascade down her back. She wore a carnation colored gown which had slits up the side to her hips, beneath it her legs were clothed in pink tights. She was a dancer with amazing abilities. She also had a talent for sarcasm, but a good and gentle heart. Angella leaned in closer, warming to the topic.
"Bow is going to lead a group and She-ra will lead another and they will focus their efforts on obtaining technology from the Horde for our use, they will also work to sabotage the Hordes Genetic labs and ore processing plants here a nd in the mines at Mondor." Madames eyes lit up.
"Oh I'd love to get behind the controls of a horde space cruiser!" Angella looked at Madame out of the corner of her eye. Spinnerella was not so subtle.
"God help us if that day ever comes- you can't even fly that broom of yours straight." Madames jaw dropped.
Broom balled up his little twig hands and stuck out his chin, "Hey, I resent that remark!" Spinnerella stuck out her tongue at him and crossed her eyes.
Castaspella rolled her eyes at their antics. "Angella that makes only five resistence cells what about the other two?"
Angella nodded. "I will lead one here at Brightmoon and Peekablue will lead her people to take back the lands south of Talon Mountain and reclaim the Ivory Citadel."
"Peekablue has returned to her people?" Casta asked.
"Yes, once her power manifested itself she became their leader. She doesn't like it, you know her, she is afraid of the Horde. Her people are not warriors. However, they are not nomads by choice. Before the Horde drove them from their cities and the citadel they were a culture steeped in the arts and philosophies, and wise in the ways of nature. It was once said they could even commune with the plants. Now that the goddess has returned to them through Peeka they will fight to enthrone her in that citadel."
"They really believe she is a goddess?" Broome asked.
"Yes, they do. The peacock people have not had a ruler in thirty five years, they have been wanderers for twenty of those years as theirs was the first race Hordack conquered when he arrived on Etheria. In exchange for first rights to stolen Horde technology Peekablue has agreed to send two of her people with each cell so that they may spy out the terrain for us and help maintain contact with each other. Her people will expect the technology soon. Do you all understand what to do?" Angella asked. She gazed at each of her friends for a long moment, hoping this wasn't the last time she'd see each of them. "May the Ancients protect you. Go choose your people. I will summon the Sea Hawk."
Then it was done. Bow had fled into the woods to seek out She-ra, but he would return and he and the Princess of power would choose their brothers and sisters to aid them in their fight for freedom. The Rebellion had leaders. The rebellion had a plan. The rebellion had champions and heroes to carry on the cause. The rebellion had hope, dim and fragile.
But the evil Horde had a new commanding General. The Horde had Adora. Angella shivered as she spread her wings, embracing the wind and flew toward Brightmoon.
