Chapter13; Vengeance
Bing. Bing. Bing.
"Jazaminut!" Adora moaned at the door. The portal opened, admitting Catra. The dark, sultry beauty of the Force captain was dimmed by the sullen look she wore whenever she addressed Adora. Adora sat up quickly.
"Hmmm, are we playing dress up again Adorra?" Catra purred mockingly, eyeing the black body armor Adora was wearing, her eyes flashing jealously at just how good Adora looked in it. Adora made a disgusted sound as she reached for her face shield, the dark goggles which hid her eyes.
"If you ever enter my quarters uninvited again I won't hesitate to shoot you." After putting on her mask she turned her attention totally to Catra. The cat woman shifted in discomfort. She didn't like that she could not see what Adora was feeling or thinking. She looked away.
"Roww, you've already proven that. Hordack sent me. He said it is time." Adora stood swiftly, grabbing her stunners she strapped them on her thigh. Sheathing her sword at her back, she didn't bother to focus on the jealous cat woman as she exited her quarters.
"Let's go." She strode swiftly from the room, leaving Catra to follow. Catra curled her ruby lips in contempt, treading closely on the heels of her new commander.
Who did Adora think she was? Playing at being Horde again. All she really wanted to do was cause trouble. Normally Catra was all for doing just that. But the woman was too adept at causing her trouble. Now, just because she changed her clothes and called herself something different she thought herself a member of the horde and Catra was just supposed to sit back and tolerate it?! The cat woman burned with jealousy and anger. Hordack had always favored Adora over her and look where it got him. Adora betraying him, making him look the fool to the entire planet, leading her upstart rebellion against him- and still he took her back. Now she was intent on killing one of their own.
Adora walked swiftly. Moving through the cold Iron hallways of her childhood home, with their gleaming crimson lights she stoked the fire of the rage that sustained her. She thought about Seahawk forsaking her for another woman; all those years, wasted dreaming of a man who would betray her; then she remembered the people of Grenvale, speaking words of peace, the wizard living in the tree in the crimson waste selfishly hording his magic, dwelling in his own little world while her friends bled and died to free hers. She remembered the old man from Dwyllan and his puny pleas for peace and all the people who thought they were immune to the Horde and how they turned their backs on their own planet.
She dredged up all the anger and guilt she felt for underestimating Leech, she pictured in her mind the faces of each child he had killed and the faces of their parents, their mother's tears.
Finally she thought of Hordack; stealing her from her parents, denying her a proper childhood, robbing her of her adult life with her family; she couldn't go home, couldn't have children, couldn't be with a man she loved and it was all his fault! His, and the fault of the unjust hand fate had dealt her. The fate of the entire planet rested on her shoulders and there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it. But she could exact vengeance on Leech for the murder of those children.
The small secret core of her being which nobody touched unfurled. And all the rage kept checked inside Adora, the fury used to keep focus as She- ra was released into the mind and body of the Hordes-woman she had become. She was not Adora the rebel leader.
She was Commanding General Onyx. She wanted blood.
She bit her lip, jumping slightly as she unconsciously drew her own. She swallowed the coppery fluid, licking her lips. Her rage doubled. Her expression lacking animation; her muscles quivering in anticipation, every nerve ending in her body sprang to life. She emerged from the cold halls into the coliseum. Where Hordack awaited her.
It was loud. The din of a thousand voices was heard as the General closed the Gap between her and Hordack. Suddenly a large Hologram of Hordack appeared over the crowd and the voices fell to a fearful hush. Hordack's inelegant snort resounded across the stadium.
"Commanders, Generals, Force captains and Troopers. Today is a Great day for the Horde! Today I have defeated She-ra, the Princess of Power. Banished her from this world. She will no longer be a thorn in our backsides; and without her the rebellion will crumble." A great cheer arose from the spectators. Hordack seemed to glow at their adulation. He raised his iron fists into the air for silence and continued.
"It would not have been possible if not for the help of one of their own. May I present to you the one who betrayed her to me. You once knew her as Adora." The General stepped forward. There were stunned murmers flowing through the crowd a few boos and hisses but most gazed in shocked silence at her dark clad form. Suddenly It was her form hovering above the crowd. She darted a look at Hordack. He shrugged and gestured towards her. Steeling herself she looked over the throng.
There were many faces she did not recognize. And there were many that she did. Shadow Weaver hovered at the front of the stands, flanking her on either side was Catra and Mantenna. Entrapta and Scorpia huddled next to her feline nemesis. Behind them she recognized Octavia, her many tentacled arms waving around her as she spoke to an officer. Modulok and Webstor and Dylamug were in the crowd as was Tongue Lashor and General Black and many others.
She raised one leather gloved hand above her head and caught her fist in it and held it there. She knew she looked impressive with her golden hair spilling over her shoulders, her breasts jutting forward, her skintight bodysuit revealing her lean, whipcord body. Not an ounce was wasted to fat. Adora trained hard to be strong, to be the best. They were gazing on the body of a warrior. She would show no weakness.
"Hear me all," her voice rang, frigid, granite, empty, "Adora is no more. I am Commanding General Onyx. If you follow me I will lead you to victory- any who raise a weapon against us will fall beneath our blades. Cross me and you will fall to color my banner of terror with your blood! Behold the fate of all who oppose my will!" She gestured to Hordack who nodded to the stands.
There was a disturbance as four troopers dragged Leech into the arena. Commanding General Onyx turned to face her quarry.
"Nooooo!" He wailed, slobbering furiously. "No! You can't do this! I'm one of you! I'm one of you!" They threw him to his knees before their dark master. He turned his beady-eyed gaze beseeching. Beseeching machines. Robots, showing no emotion, no remorse, no pity, not even malicious glee. Leech whined throatily and groveled over to Hordacks feet.
"I am a loyal member of the Horde, pl-please don't let her do this! Please mighty one!" Hordack gazed down at his minion, curling his lip in disgust. Drawing back a powerful booted foot he kicked the sniveling coward in the face. Leech cried out in pain and terror, yelping like a dog. He scurried backwards and curled up into a little ball.
"Get up you coward. I'm doing you a favor." Leech peered guardedly out from beneath one arm which protected his head. Hordack continued. "It is quite simple really. Adora wants you dead. If she kills you she will lead my armies. If you kill her you may have that position." Leeches eyes lit up and he slowly uncurled.
"No tricks?" He questioned guardedly. Hordack stepped back onto a metal platform and pushed a button causing the floor beneath his feet to disconnect from the arena on which he and Adora stood. Hordack rose above them and Leech turned to face his former force captain.
She smiled.
Terror shot through Leech at the sight of that smile. Vicious, triumphant. He was going to die. Adora drew her prodders flicking them on; they glowed evilly lighting her face with a wicked gleam. Panicking, he looked up at his lord. His voice rose an octave.
"No tricks!"
"Just one." Onyx replied. "Stay alive long enough to make this interesting." She laughed a low mocking laugh, causing him to straighten. Their forms were circling in the air above them a holographic mirror of the dance of death they were about to perform. Hordack threw a spear from his platform. Leech caught it easily and turned to Adora.
Turned to face Onyx.
The two circled, their exchange witnessed by all. Watching them it was hard to tell which was the more deadly predator. Leech was fueled by fear and greed. He knew if he lost he would die. He weighed twice as much as Adora and was powered by the genetic tampering Hordack did to so many of his warriors, explaining the muscle size. Adora was focused and calm, enveloped in the haze of a deadly rage. A formidable warrior, trained by their dark master himself. And she was on a holy crusade of justice. In her mind, they all knew, failure was unacceptable.
"I weary of your cowardice scum," Onyx mocked. She spread her arms wide, "here" she taunted, "I'm open." Her voice lowered to a wicked whisper, "do me."
Leech stabbed at her with the spear. She dodged lightly to the side. He swung viciously at her legs, snarling and slobbering. She jumped the spear as it swung beneath her. Serpent-like, she swiftly shot forward as he repositioned the spear. Her leg darted out, catching him in the gut. He stumbled back. She pressed her advantage, dragging the prodder down the side of his face. The skin of his cheek pussed and popped at the touch of the electric blaze; releasing a spine chilling yelp of agony, blood oozed down his face. Again she slammed the prodder this time in his chest. Where the green light touched skin blistered and popped. He wheezed desperately, bringing his arm around.
Wham! The spear banged into her side. She doubled over, the spear connected again as he struck her bent spine. She fell to her knees, gasping.
"Parasite!" She wheezed.
"Humanoid!" He slobbed, kicking her in the abdomen with such force she bit her tongue and flew about eight feet.
Blood dribbled a crimson stream down her chin by the corner of her mouth. She coughed, struggling to rise. He gave no time to recover; charging her, ready to stab her with the spear, maniacal glee shining in his eyes. She sat up on her knees. As he reached her, she twisted her trunk to the side and grabbing the shaft in her hands, she used his momentum as leverage. Allowing him to push the spear-head into the ground, as he clung to the weapon with single-minded intent, she threw him over her. He hit the ground on his back with a thud.
He rolled. She stood, stumbling over to grab the prodders she had dropped when he kicked her. Turning to face him he had risen as well. The spear-shaft had broken in half. He grabbed the two pieces and started for her.
"I will slice you open and feed on your entrails!" He threatened.
"I will wear yours as a belt and paint my face in your blood!" She countered.
He brought one of the spear halves down toward her head while aiming the other for her middle. She ducked, avoiding the blow to the head, he got her shoulder instead. Blocking the other blow with one of her prodders she rammed the other one into his side and held it there, pushing inward.
He screamed. An inhuman sound of pain.
She smiled, teeth flashing as she felt her green blade pierce his blue skin and his slick warm blood ooze over her gloves, warming the cool leather with his lifes essence.
"Enjoy your time in hell!" She snarled through gritted teeth, "and don't worry, you won't be alone for long!" She withdrew the prodder, shoving him back. He screamed again, stumbling. She raised her arms, preparing to bring them down on either side of his head when from somewhere, Adora didn't know, he got a sudden rush of strength.
Dropping the splintered shafts he grabbed her wrists in his hands and brought them down between them, squeezing painfully. She cried out as she felt him crushing bone. The prodders dropped uselessly to the floor. She had to do something quick! His foul, fetid breath warmed her neck and spittle dripped down her throat as he slurred in her ear.
"I'm going to suck the life out of you and feast on your energy!" He placed his mouth at her neck. Suddenly Adora felt an electric jolt of pain spasm to her very center. It began at her throat, quickly spiraling out to the rest of her body as the monster sank his teeth into her neck and began sucking. She thought she screamed. On and on the pain lasted. An eternity. He pulled away.
She was weakened, her whole body trembling in agony. He smiled at her. His pupils dilated in pleasure. Hers rolled back in panic and pain. A thousand thoughts flashed through her mind as she hovered on the cusp of life and death. She had failed. Failed her people; failed the children she had vowed to avenge! Guilt hounded at her keeping her conscious. Leech cried out his triumph to the cheering crowd. She did not see his blue form, instead she saw the couple, weeping, in the woods, their dead son at her feet
"Your powers couldn't save my boy!"
Howling, wildly, Adora raised her knee in a vicious arc, slamming into his groin. She felt soft flesh give, squish and pop against bone and hard Euridium crystal armored plates. His grip weakened.
"Aiden liked to make things grow…" A little girls voice, child-like, pure and innocent whispered sweetly in her ear.
An animalistic cry, born of guilt and rage exploded from her throat and she twisted her hands out of his grasp, slamming her head into his face. He fell backward.
"Poor thing….woke up to find her daughter dead in bed, window wide open…"
She kicked him in the face; once, twice! She did a squatting roundhouse kick that knocked his feet out from under him. He fell heavily. Slamming her heel into his chest, she delighted to the crunch of splintered bone.
"Your powers couldn't save my boy!"
Breathing heavily, chest heaving, blood drippingdown her neck from the bite wound he'd inflicted on her, it also coated her chin in a red, drippy glaze. She drew her sword from the sheath at her back. Her own voice echoing in her head. Mocking her. Taunting her. Haunting her.
"Leech did exactly as I expected. He never does anything on his own. He's a coward through and through and doesn't have an original thought in his head not put there by his commander. Spiritina could take him, on a bad day, without breaking a sweat- so long as he didn't sneak up on her."
Raising the sword above her head, her look was feral as he attempted to rise. He fell to his back. A gurgling squeal left his throat as he gazed at her from his servile position, raising an arm in a futile attempt at stopping fate.
"Yaaaaaaar!" Bringing the Sword of Protection down on his neck, it cut clean through, disconnecting the body from the head.
"Aiden liked to make things grow… Your powers couldn't save my boy… He's a coward through and through…" Adora smiled grimly through tears of guilt and pain and anger.
As his body flopped to the ground, the head rolled a few feet. Bending down she rubbed her gloved fingers in his warm, wet blood. It flowed, a scarlet pool released from the fleshly dam that had once held it back. She looked on the crimson stream with detachment. Then, ripping aside her mask and hurling it to the ground she smeared it across her face and stood. In two steps she was by the head which she picked up by one leathery blue ear, unmindful of the pain streaking through her wrist at the weight of it. The face was frozen forever in a look of pure terror. Turning to the crowd she raised her sword in one hand and Leeches bloody head in the other. As she did so, thunder rumbled a distant warning from the cherry sky.
Suddenly, a putrid green streak of lightning issued forth from the tip of her blade, its light illuminating the stadium, the watchers and her. A gale wind arose to blow violently through the coliseum. Her golden hair flew about her face and shoulders. Pain streaked through her arm and she cried out in shocked agony, but she could not lower her weopon as it spewed forth jade virulence.
She was beautiful and terrible as the never ending night. Her golden hair and ivory skin stained a ruby red with the blood of the slain eerily increased her magnificence. As quickly as it arose the wind died. She nearly dropped her sword, staggering from the pain in her hands. From the stands a massive cheer arose. She waited for the noise to die down, as she waited Adora strode purposefully towards a weapons rack, she grabbed a long, wicked looking trident. Brutally impaling the head of her fallen enemy, she held it aloft, a proud display of her battle prowess. Her chin elevated in a mutinous angle, her voice imperious, echoed over the crowd grim and unholy.
"See! And Remember! Oppose me and your head will be my next trophy. Etheria falls at my hand- by my will; we are warriors not butchers! No children may die! No innocent will be touched by a warrior of the Horde. Any that raise a hand against us will lose it, but no more children will die. Victory to the strong, to the brave, to the horde!" She cried. Again they cheered her. She stood, basking in their idolatry, expressionless, a pagan goddess of beauty and death. Proud and Bloody and Noble and deadly. None doubted her ability. None questioned her right to lead.
Catra waited for someone to challenge Adora. Someone to contest her automatic leadership of Horde forces. No one did. Entrapta had conveniently moved away from her. Catra fumed inwardly while gritting her teeth in a false smile. She had planted the seeds of dissension in Entraptas ear and fueled her with enough false courage to move a mountain, even obtained her promise to challenge Adora's supremacy and now it was for naught! Adora's show had put the fear of her wrath firmly in their minds. None would soon forget that sword. Vomiting emerald lightning to the sky and raising a whirlwind. Its power was intimidating. Nor would they forget the look of flaming rage Adora had right before she took Leech's head, neither the more chilling expression of ecstasy she wore moments after severing it.
Even Catra shuddered darkly in remembrance. She had always been a Horde warrior but she preferred to take prisoners and make slaves to making corpses. She had never personally killed anybody. She knew Shadow Weaver had, and Hordack had. She was unsure about Grizzlor and Mantenna although she couldn't really see Mantenna ever killing anyone.
Shadow Weaver drifted over to stand at Adora's side as Hordack did the same.
"I am proud of you, child." The dark enchantress hissed. She reached a scrawny fingered hand to touch Adora's hair. Adora jerked from her cold caress, bending to retrieve her mask. After donning it she whispered a few things in Weavers ear. The sorceress bowed her head in acquiescence. A black smog erupted from her fingers, embracing Leeches head then disappearing inside it as if absorbed into the skin. The stadium became silent once more as an image of Hordack appeared above them all. His voice thundering above them.
"This is a new day for the Horde and the beginning of the end of the rebellion! All of you are invited into the banquet hall to feast and meet with your new leader. But first," And here he smiled, "do any of you wish to challenge Adora's claim of command?" Nobody in that whole stadium responded. Many were wary of the former leader of the rebellions savagery. Some were in awe, others, stunned, still others gratified, and many more uneasy. Hordack chuckled, snorting repeatedly. "As I thought. Come, let us feast." The throng began milling into the spacious banquet hall of the Fright Zone.
Bing. Bing. Bing.
"Jazaminut!" Adora moaned at the door. The portal opened, admitting Catra. The dark, sultry beauty of the Force captain was dimmed by the sullen look she wore whenever she addressed Adora. Adora sat up quickly.
"Hmmm, are we playing dress up again Adorra?" Catra purred mockingly, eyeing the black body armor Adora was wearing, her eyes flashing jealously at just how good Adora looked in it. Adora made a disgusted sound as she reached for her face shield, the dark goggles which hid her eyes.
"If you ever enter my quarters uninvited again I won't hesitate to shoot you." After putting on her mask she turned her attention totally to Catra. The cat woman shifted in discomfort. She didn't like that she could not see what Adora was feeling or thinking. She looked away.
"Roww, you've already proven that. Hordack sent me. He said it is time." Adora stood swiftly, grabbing her stunners she strapped them on her thigh. Sheathing her sword at her back, she didn't bother to focus on the jealous cat woman as she exited her quarters.
"Let's go." She strode swiftly from the room, leaving Catra to follow. Catra curled her ruby lips in contempt, treading closely on the heels of her new commander.
Who did Adora think she was? Playing at being Horde again. All she really wanted to do was cause trouble. Normally Catra was all for doing just that. But the woman was too adept at causing her trouble. Now, just because she changed her clothes and called herself something different she thought herself a member of the horde and Catra was just supposed to sit back and tolerate it?! The cat woman burned with jealousy and anger. Hordack had always favored Adora over her and look where it got him. Adora betraying him, making him look the fool to the entire planet, leading her upstart rebellion against him- and still he took her back. Now she was intent on killing one of their own.
Adora walked swiftly. Moving through the cold Iron hallways of her childhood home, with their gleaming crimson lights she stoked the fire of the rage that sustained her. She thought about Seahawk forsaking her for another woman; all those years, wasted dreaming of a man who would betray her; then she remembered the people of Grenvale, speaking words of peace, the wizard living in the tree in the crimson waste selfishly hording his magic, dwelling in his own little world while her friends bled and died to free hers. She remembered the old man from Dwyllan and his puny pleas for peace and all the people who thought they were immune to the Horde and how they turned their backs on their own planet.
She dredged up all the anger and guilt she felt for underestimating Leech, she pictured in her mind the faces of each child he had killed and the faces of their parents, their mother's tears.
Finally she thought of Hordack; stealing her from her parents, denying her a proper childhood, robbing her of her adult life with her family; she couldn't go home, couldn't have children, couldn't be with a man she loved and it was all his fault! His, and the fault of the unjust hand fate had dealt her. The fate of the entire planet rested on her shoulders and there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it. But she could exact vengeance on Leech for the murder of those children.
The small secret core of her being which nobody touched unfurled. And all the rage kept checked inside Adora, the fury used to keep focus as She- ra was released into the mind and body of the Hordes-woman she had become. She was not Adora the rebel leader.
She was Commanding General Onyx. She wanted blood.
She bit her lip, jumping slightly as she unconsciously drew her own. She swallowed the coppery fluid, licking her lips. Her rage doubled. Her expression lacking animation; her muscles quivering in anticipation, every nerve ending in her body sprang to life. She emerged from the cold halls into the coliseum. Where Hordack awaited her.
It was loud. The din of a thousand voices was heard as the General closed the Gap between her and Hordack. Suddenly a large Hologram of Hordack appeared over the crowd and the voices fell to a fearful hush. Hordack's inelegant snort resounded across the stadium.
"Commanders, Generals, Force captains and Troopers. Today is a Great day for the Horde! Today I have defeated She-ra, the Princess of Power. Banished her from this world. She will no longer be a thorn in our backsides; and without her the rebellion will crumble." A great cheer arose from the spectators. Hordack seemed to glow at their adulation. He raised his iron fists into the air for silence and continued.
"It would not have been possible if not for the help of one of their own. May I present to you the one who betrayed her to me. You once knew her as Adora." The General stepped forward. There were stunned murmers flowing through the crowd a few boos and hisses but most gazed in shocked silence at her dark clad form. Suddenly It was her form hovering above the crowd. She darted a look at Hordack. He shrugged and gestured towards her. Steeling herself she looked over the throng.
There were many faces she did not recognize. And there were many that she did. Shadow Weaver hovered at the front of the stands, flanking her on either side was Catra and Mantenna. Entrapta and Scorpia huddled next to her feline nemesis. Behind them she recognized Octavia, her many tentacled arms waving around her as she spoke to an officer. Modulok and Webstor and Dylamug were in the crowd as was Tongue Lashor and General Black and many others.
She raised one leather gloved hand above her head and caught her fist in it and held it there. She knew she looked impressive with her golden hair spilling over her shoulders, her breasts jutting forward, her skintight bodysuit revealing her lean, whipcord body. Not an ounce was wasted to fat. Adora trained hard to be strong, to be the best. They were gazing on the body of a warrior. She would show no weakness.
"Hear me all," her voice rang, frigid, granite, empty, "Adora is no more. I am Commanding General Onyx. If you follow me I will lead you to victory- any who raise a weapon against us will fall beneath our blades. Cross me and you will fall to color my banner of terror with your blood! Behold the fate of all who oppose my will!" She gestured to Hordack who nodded to the stands.
There was a disturbance as four troopers dragged Leech into the arena. Commanding General Onyx turned to face her quarry.
"Nooooo!" He wailed, slobbering furiously. "No! You can't do this! I'm one of you! I'm one of you!" They threw him to his knees before their dark master. He turned his beady-eyed gaze beseeching. Beseeching machines. Robots, showing no emotion, no remorse, no pity, not even malicious glee. Leech whined throatily and groveled over to Hordacks feet.
"I am a loyal member of the Horde, pl-please don't let her do this! Please mighty one!" Hordack gazed down at his minion, curling his lip in disgust. Drawing back a powerful booted foot he kicked the sniveling coward in the face. Leech cried out in pain and terror, yelping like a dog. He scurried backwards and curled up into a little ball.
"Get up you coward. I'm doing you a favor." Leech peered guardedly out from beneath one arm which protected his head. Hordack continued. "It is quite simple really. Adora wants you dead. If she kills you she will lead my armies. If you kill her you may have that position." Leeches eyes lit up and he slowly uncurled.
"No tricks?" He questioned guardedly. Hordack stepped back onto a metal platform and pushed a button causing the floor beneath his feet to disconnect from the arena on which he and Adora stood. Hordack rose above them and Leech turned to face his former force captain.
She smiled.
Terror shot through Leech at the sight of that smile. Vicious, triumphant. He was going to die. Adora drew her prodders flicking them on; they glowed evilly lighting her face with a wicked gleam. Panicking, he looked up at his lord. His voice rose an octave.
"No tricks!"
"Just one." Onyx replied. "Stay alive long enough to make this interesting." She laughed a low mocking laugh, causing him to straighten. Their forms were circling in the air above them a holographic mirror of the dance of death they were about to perform. Hordack threw a spear from his platform. Leech caught it easily and turned to Adora.
Turned to face Onyx.
The two circled, their exchange witnessed by all. Watching them it was hard to tell which was the more deadly predator. Leech was fueled by fear and greed. He knew if he lost he would die. He weighed twice as much as Adora and was powered by the genetic tampering Hordack did to so many of his warriors, explaining the muscle size. Adora was focused and calm, enveloped in the haze of a deadly rage. A formidable warrior, trained by their dark master himself. And she was on a holy crusade of justice. In her mind, they all knew, failure was unacceptable.
"I weary of your cowardice scum," Onyx mocked. She spread her arms wide, "here" she taunted, "I'm open." Her voice lowered to a wicked whisper, "do me."
Leech stabbed at her with the spear. She dodged lightly to the side. He swung viciously at her legs, snarling and slobbering. She jumped the spear as it swung beneath her. Serpent-like, she swiftly shot forward as he repositioned the spear. Her leg darted out, catching him in the gut. He stumbled back. She pressed her advantage, dragging the prodder down the side of his face. The skin of his cheek pussed and popped at the touch of the electric blaze; releasing a spine chilling yelp of agony, blood oozed down his face. Again she slammed the prodder this time in his chest. Where the green light touched skin blistered and popped. He wheezed desperately, bringing his arm around.
Wham! The spear banged into her side. She doubled over, the spear connected again as he struck her bent spine. She fell to her knees, gasping.
"Parasite!" She wheezed.
"Humanoid!" He slobbed, kicking her in the abdomen with such force she bit her tongue and flew about eight feet.
Blood dribbled a crimson stream down her chin by the corner of her mouth. She coughed, struggling to rise. He gave no time to recover; charging her, ready to stab her with the spear, maniacal glee shining in his eyes. She sat up on her knees. As he reached her, she twisted her trunk to the side and grabbing the shaft in her hands, she used his momentum as leverage. Allowing him to push the spear-head into the ground, as he clung to the weapon with single-minded intent, she threw him over her. He hit the ground on his back with a thud.
He rolled. She stood, stumbling over to grab the prodders she had dropped when he kicked her. Turning to face him he had risen as well. The spear-shaft had broken in half. He grabbed the two pieces and started for her.
"I will slice you open and feed on your entrails!" He threatened.
"I will wear yours as a belt and paint my face in your blood!" She countered.
He brought one of the spear halves down toward her head while aiming the other for her middle. She ducked, avoiding the blow to the head, he got her shoulder instead. Blocking the other blow with one of her prodders she rammed the other one into his side and held it there, pushing inward.
He screamed. An inhuman sound of pain.
She smiled, teeth flashing as she felt her green blade pierce his blue skin and his slick warm blood ooze over her gloves, warming the cool leather with his lifes essence.
"Enjoy your time in hell!" She snarled through gritted teeth, "and don't worry, you won't be alone for long!" She withdrew the prodder, shoving him back. He screamed again, stumbling. She raised her arms, preparing to bring them down on either side of his head when from somewhere, Adora didn't know, he got a sudden rush of strength.
Dropping the splintered shafts he grabbed her wrists in his hands and brought them down between them, squeezing painfully. She cried out as she felt him crushing bone. The prodders dropped uselessly to the floor. She had to do something quick! His foul, fetid breath warmed her neck and spittle dripped down her throat as he slurred in her ear.
"I'm going to suck the life out of you and feast on your energy!" He placed his mouth at her neck. Suddenly Adora felt an electric jolt of pain spasm to her very center. It began at her throat, quickly spiraling out to the rest of her body as the monster sank his teeth into her neck and began sucking. She thought she screamed. On and on the pain lasted. An eternity. He pulled away.
She was weakened, her whole body trembling in agony. He smiled at her. His pupils dilated in pleasure. Hers rolled back in panic and pain. A thousand thoughts flashed through her mind as she hovered on the cusp of life and death. She had failed. Failed her people; failed the children she had vowed to avenge! Guilt hounded at her keeping her conscious. Leech cried out his triumph to the cheering crowd. She did not see his blue form, instead she saw the couple, weeping, in the woods, their dead son at her feet
"Your powers couldn't save my boy!"
Howling, wildly, Adora raised her knee in a vicious arc, slamming into his groin. She felt soft flesh give, squish and pop against bone and hard Euridium crystal armored plates. His grip weakened.
"Aiden liked to make things grow…" A little girls voice, child-like, pure and innocent whispered sweetly in her ear.
An animalistic cry, born of guilt and rage exploded from her throat and she twisted her hands out of his grasp, slamming her head into his face. He fell backward.
"Poor thing….woke up to find her daughter dead in bed, window wide open…"
She kicked him in the face; once, twice! She did a squatting roundhouse kick that knocked his feet out from under him. He fell heavily. Slamming her heel into his chest, she delighted to the crunch of splintered bone.
"Your powers couldn't save my boy!"
Breathing heavily, chest heaving, blood drippingdown her neck from the bite wound he'd inflicted on her, it also coated her chin in a red, drippy glaze. She drew her sword from the sheath at her back. Her own voice echoing in her head. Mocking her. Taunting her. Haunting her.
"Leech did exactly as I expected. He never does anything on his own. He's a coward through and through and doesn't have an original thought in his head not put there by his commander. Spiritina could take him, on a bad day, without breaking a sweat- so long as he didn't sneak up on her."
Raising the sword above her head, her look was feral as he attempted to rise. He fell to his back. A gurgling squeal left his throat as he gazed at her from his servile position, raising an arm in a futile attempt at stopping fate.
"Yaaaaaaar!" Bringing the Sword of Protection down on his neck, it cut clean through, disconnecting the body from the head.
"Aiden liked to make things grow… Your powers couldn't save my boy… He's a coward through and through…" Adora smiled grimly through tears of guilt and pain and anger.
As his body flopped to the ground, the head rolled a few feet. Bending down she rubbed her gloved fingers in his warm, wet blood. It flowed, a scarlet pool released from the fleshly dam that had once held it back. She looked on the crimson stream with detachment. Then, ripping aside her mask and hurling it to the ground she smeared it across her face and stood. In two steps she was by the head which she picked up by one leathery blue ear, unmindful of the pain streaking through her wrist at the weight of it. The face was frozen forever in a look of pure terror. Turning to the crowd she raised her sword in one hand and Leeches bloody head in the other. As she did so, thunder rumbled a distant warning from the cherry sky.
Suddenly, a putrid green streak of lightning issued forth from the tip of her blade, its light illuminating the stadium, the watchers and her. A gale wind arose to blow violently through the coliseum. Her golden hair flew about her face and shoulders. Pain streaked through her arm and she cried out in shocked agony, but she could not lower her weopon as it spewed forth jade virulence.
She was beautiful and terrible as the never ending night. Her golden hair and ivory skin stained a ruby red with the blood of the slain eerily increased her magnificence. As quickly as it arose the wind died. She nearly dropped her sword, staggering from the pain in her hands. From the stands a massive cheer arose. She waited for the noise to die down, as she waited Adora strode purposefully towards a weapons rack, she grabbed a long, wicked looking trident. Brutally impaling the head of her fallen enemy, she held it aloft, a proud display of her battle prowess. Her chin elevated in a mutinous angle, her voice imperious, echoed over the crowd grim and unholy.
"See! And Remember! Oppose me and your head will be my next trophy. Etheria falls at my hand- by my will; we are warriors not butchers! No children may die! No innocent will be touched by a warrior of the Horde. Any that raise a hand against us will lose it, but no more children will die. Victory to the strong, to the brave, to the horde!" She cried. Again they cheered her. She stood, basking in their idolatry, expressionless, a pagan goddess of beauty and death. Proud and Bloody and Noble and deadly. None doubted her ability. None questioned her right to lead.
Catra waited for someone to challenge Adora. Someone to contest her automatic leadership of Horde forces. No one did. Entrapta had conveniently moved away from her. Catra fumed inwardly while gritting her teeth in a false smile. She had planted the seeds of dissension in Entraptas ear and fueled her with enough false courage to move a mountain, even obtained her promise to challenge Adora's supremacy and now it was for naught! Adora's show had put the fear of her wrath firmly in their minds. None would soon forget that sword. Vomiting emerald lightning to the sky and raising a whirlwind. Its power was intimidating. Nor would they forget the look of flaming rage Adora had right before she took Leech's head, neither the more chilling expression of ecstasy she wore moments after severing it.
Even Catra shuddered darkly in remembrance. She had always been a Horde warrior but she preferred to take prisoners and make slaves to making corpses. She had never personally killed anybody. She knew Shadow Weaver had, and Hordack had. She was unsure about Grizzlor and Mantenna although she couldn't really see Mantenna ever killing anyone.
Shadow Weaver drifted over to stand at Adora's side as Hordack did the same.
"I am proud of you, child." The dark enchantress hissed. She reached a scrawny fingered hand to touch Adora's hair. Adora jerked from her cold caress, bending to retrieve her mask. After donning it she whispered a few things in Weavers ear. The sorceress bowed her head in acquiescence. A black smog erupted from her fingers, embracing Leeches head then disappearing inside it as if absorbed into the skin. The stadium became silent once more as an image of Hordack appeared above them all. His voice thundering above them.
"This is a new day for the Horde and the beginning of the end of the rebellion! All of you are invited into the banquet hall to feast and meet with your new leader. But first," And here he smiled, "do any of you wish to challenge Adora's claim of command?" Nobody in that whole stadium responded. Many were wary of the former leader of the rebellions savagery. Some were in awe, others, stunned, still others gratified, and many more uneasy. Hordack chuckled, snorting repeatedly. "As I thought. Come, let us feast." The throng began milling into the spacious banquet hall of the Fright Zone.
