"World of Darkness"
By General Stingrad and Thew40
Hordak stood from his balcony in Doom Tower, gazing over the broken and shattered remains of the Fright Zone. She-Ra and her accursed Great Rebellion had struck him hard, smashing much of his empire. His stranglehold on Etheria had all been lost. His military might was reduced to nothing. Any kingdoms that remained under his dominion were now experiencing massive revolts . . . which She-Ra, Brightmoon and the Great Rebellion would soon aid.
However . . .
Hordak had a plan. Oh, did Hordak have a plan. It was a fine plan, a plan which began six months ago. In the aftermath of the battle that devastated the Fright Zone, freed his prisoners, and destroyed his entire power base, Hordak discovered something that intrigued him.
A sword. A pure black sword with a crimson jewel right above the hilt. As soon as he lifted it from the broken ground, he realized what it was. It was one of a set of four. The four swords of Grayskull. Mere rumors during his time with the Elders, Hordak knew that She-Ra, He-Man, and Skeletor had all possessed one. He had learned that the fourth and final one was lost in the great abyss, but it must have somehow ended up on Etheria. Dimensional portals were tricky around Castle Grayskull and it probably found its way through one of them.
It was the Sword of Deception he now had and now increased his power a hundred fold. It taught him its tricks and gave him the clarity to form a plan of great genius. For the past six months, he concentrated and meditated on his plan; preparing his mind, body, and spirit on just how to execute it. The time had come now, to move.
It would be perfect. He-Man and Skeletor were gone - off in the Tri-Solar System. All of Hordak's ties to Horde Prime were now cut (and he had heard the defection of Horde Prime's most loyal of generals had sent shockwaves throughout the ranks, inspiring many others to do the same). And the Sword of Deception was ready.
"Shadow Weaver!" he bellowed. She was one of only a few that knew of his plan.
She crept into the remains of his throne room, yellow eyes gazing at him. "Yes, Lord Hordak?"
Hordak held the Sword of Deception up. "The time has come, Shadow Weaver! I am ready, the Sword of Deception is ready. I trust you are prepared."
She snickered behind that wrap. "I am. I have since you first informed me."
"Then you know we must venture into the Whispering Woods. We must capture the one called Peek-A-Blue."
"Yes, master. However . . . how will we go into the Whispering Woods? Evil can not journey beyond its borders."
"I am aware of that. But do not concern yourself about that, Shadow Weaver. As long as I have the Sword of Deception, we shall be protected - it will disguise us, cloak us from the Whispering Woods accursed magic. Now, assemble me a strike force. We must leave at once."
A few moments later Hordak stood outside the ruins of the Fright Zone, an evil grin played across his face revealing his demonic fangs. Shortly thereafter, Shadow Weaver appeared along with Mantenna, Modulock, Leech, Grizzlor, Catra, and Scorpia. That was one thing Hordak was grateful for - most of his elite soldier were still with him.
"We are ready, my lord," Shadow Weaver said as she looked to see of everyone was present. The group was anxious to get this plan started; they all wanted revenge on Etheria for their defeat. Especially on She-Ra - she above all would pay for this outrage.
Hordak raised the sword in the air and proclaimed "For the Destruction of Grayskull!"
Huge thunderclouds swirled in the air and black lightning streak across the sky. One bolt hit the Sword of Deception, transforming Hordak into an angelic looking being. His blue skin and black armor were transformed into a normal flesh tone and white robe with a golden sash; his porcine nose was now normal, his fangs were gone and in there place were a set of perfect teeth; his white face was normal colored; his red eyes transformed into a blue eyes; his ears changed to look normal; and the blue ridge that ran across the center of Hordak's head was replaced by a head of long blonde hair.
Shadow Weaver was stunned. "My Lord is that you?" she asked, amazed by this transformation - it was if Hordak was reborn.
"Of course it's me," Hordak said, his voice was now soothing and even sounded peaceful. "Now it's your turn," he informed his minions as he pointed the sword at them, not unlike how He-Man transforms Cringer into Battle Cat.
The same dark energies struck Hordak's colleagues, and Shadow Weaver and all her fellow team members were transformed into similar being like what Hordak now looked like.
"All right everyone, move out!" he yelled in his voice and he and his group set out to enact their grand plan.
Meanwhile in the Whispering Woods, Peek-A-Blue was busy preparing the forest for a party. Queen Angella had decreed that all Etheria was to celebrate this day in honor of their victory over the Horde. Everyone was going to be there and everything had to be perfect.
"Now let's see, we have party hats, party favors, food, drink, and all we need is some entertainment," she listed to herself looking around for Bow's lyre. Just then, she felt something strange. "Who's there?" she asked and as she turned around, no one answered.
At the entrance to the Whispering Woods, Hordak looked into the forest. He was confident that his plan would work. It had to because now that he had the Sword of Deception in his possession.
"Watch and learn, Weaver" he shouted as he placed one foot into the borders of the forest.
Everyone was thinking that Hordak was going to be captured, but to his or her surprise, nothing happened. It was if Hordak was nonexistent.
"Now you," Hordak beckoned to Shadow Weaver in his now singsong voice.
The witch followed her master and once she was through the others followed suit. Hordak's plan was going accordingly so far and if everything what as smoothly as this first part, Etheria would be his in no time.
Deeper in the woods, Peek-A-Blue was still getting ready for the party. Everything was in place except for one thing: entertainment. Bow had dropped out of singing during the of due to a sore throat and she didn't know where she was going to find of a musician in such short notice
While she was trying to think of whom she could ask to sing at the party, that dread feeling she experienced a few moments ago returned. Worried that someone or something not good was about to enter the woods, she unfurled her tail feathers to see who it was that entered the forest.
Before she could begin searching, eight beings - some male, some female - entered the Whispering Woods. They all wore white robes with gold sashes. There seemed something otherworldly about these beings and something not right about them as if they were… but Peek-A-Blue cut that thought there because she knew that nothing evil could enter the Whispering Woods.
"Who are you?" she asked the leader of the group, a being with blue eyes and long blonde hair. She had never seen this group of beings before on Etheria and was curious as to who they are.
"We are the Divinities, emissaries of the First Ones," the leader informed the Rebel.
Peek-A-Blue was still nervous about these beings - there was something strange about them. She wondered why they had come to her instead of to Angella or She-Ra and why did they come here and not to Castle Brightmoon. Things didn't seem to add up.
"What did you come here?" she asked trying to uncover the truth to this visit.
"We have come to congratulate on your victory over the Horde," one of the Divinities said.
"Well, thank you," Peek-A-Blue replied, she was trying to get rid of the fear in her mind by setting the picnic table. It was there that she gazed into a spoon and saw the leader's true face. "HORDAK!" she screamed as pun around in fear
"GET HER YOU FOOLS!" he ordered as he pointed at Peek-A-Blue.
His minions tried to grab the Rebel, but they were too clumsy to grab her.
For a while this chaotic process would continue, she would use the picnic supplies to knock the Hordesmen unconscious while Hordak would be yelling at them to "Get her you idiots!"
Finally Hordak, who had enough of this fiasco, turned his arm into a net launcher and fired at Peek-A-Blue. Instantly, she was caught in Hordak's net.
"Let me out of here you creep!" she yelled trying break the net.
"Not a chance my dear," the Ruthless Leader told her as he approached the place where she lay.
He picked up the net, slung it on his back. "Come, our work here is done," he said as he and his minions left the Whispering Woods.
Back at the Fright Zone, Hordak paid a visit to Peek-A-Blue's cell.
"You better let me go! When She-Ra finds out what you've done, you're going to get it" she threatened waving her fist in the air.
Hordak just laughed. "When I'm done with my plan, She-Ra will be unable to do anything - as will the rest of this planet," he told her as he walked away to began the next phase of his plan.
"Has anyone seen Peek-A-Blue?" asked Glimmer as a few of the others gathered at the party area.
"No," replied Bow, voice a little raspy. "Why?"
"She was supposed to be here, fixing up the place for party," Perfuma said, joining Glimmer.
She-Ra, who rounded out the group, felt a strange tingle in the back of her head. She lifted up the Sword of Protection and it felt . . . odd.
"Something's wrong," she muttered. "Something is very wrong."
Nearly an hour later, Peek-A-Blue awoke to the splash of some foul smelling water on her face. Had she fallen asleep? She couldn't remember feeling so tired.
"Get up, girly," Grizzlor growled.
"Wha . . .?"
The door to the cell opened and both Grizzlor and Leech entered. The hoisted her up and dragged her out of the cell. While many among the Great Rebellion would have fought back, Peek-A-Blue was no fighter. She shuffled along, weak and tired.
After a long walk, she was brought to the top chamber of Doom Tower. It was all glass and gave one of the greatest views on all Etheria. Both Hordak and Shadow Weaver stood and waited from them to arrive. When they did, Hordak pointed to a chair in the center of the room.
"Sit her there, you fools," Hordak cracked.
Peek-A-Blue was thrown onto the chair. Hordak ordered them out, then turned stepped forward and grabbed Peek-A-Blue by the chin. "Listen to me well. You're about to help me become a god. Open your feathers and gaze upon Etheria. Upon all of Etheria."
"No," she replied. Peek-A-Blue felt suddenly feverish and weak. It was then she realized she been drugged.
"You shall," Hordak replied calmly and motioned for Shadow Weaver. Shadow Weaver came over and raised her hands. Two streams of energy spread from her fingers and came upon Peek-A-Blue's face. Peek-A-Blue gasped as Shadow Weaver took hold of her powers.
Uncontrollably, the huge feathers spread and the eye sigils opened. Shadow Weaver stepped away and Hordak took her place. He held the Sword of Deception outward and pointed right at Peek-A-Blue. He began to mutter a spell. Hordak was bound to the Sword of Deception then and its power became his power.
He glanced at Shadow Weaver. She nodded. Hordak straightened his arm. A burst of power was unleashed from the tip of Sword of Deception. It struck Peek-A-Blue in the neck. She screamed silently. Her eyes on the feathers darkened and faded to black. Peek-A-Blue's eyes did the same. Darkness filled her being, her sight.
Shadow Weaver stepped up behind her threw her hand into the air. From Peek-A-Blue's eyes and feather-eyes, beams of pure darkness were released. They flew through the air, arching across Etheria and touched down on the other side . . .
The beams met in the heart of the Valley of the Lost. It was from there, they began to form into a strange oily blob. Immediately, the oil seemed to take on a life and did what it was supposed to do. It was a part of Hordak's life-force, channeled through the power of the Sword of Deception, and then aimed by Peek-A-Blue's vision, it began to consume the Valley of the Lost.
Within minutes, the Valley of the Lost was covered in the oil. Any that crossed its path were suspended inside it.
After an hour, the oil was huge, reaching four hundred miles in size. It moved on, like a sort of gel over the land.
It consumed the Meadow Lands in its third hour and expanded even beyond that. It crossed over lakes and into rivers, filling them with its oil. Skull Path fell west in the fifth hour. It went no further west - that would take it the Fright Zone it was not supposed to go there. It went north and east instead.
The entire Great Rebellion had assembled now in the throne room of Kingdom Brightmoon. News was spreading fast now that the oil was in its ninth hour.
"What's going on!?" shouted Angella as reports began streaming in.
"We're still not sure," said Bow. "But we've lost contact with our allies west of here. Something very bad is happening."
"It's Hordak," She-Ra told them. "It has to be."
Just then, an aide came running in. "Queen Frosta!" he shouted.
Frosta turned on her heel. "What is it?"
"We're getting a message from Castle Chill!"
"Display it."
The monitor on the left wall activated it. On it was one of Frosta's personal assistants. "A great darkness is spread across the land, my lady! We've tried to freeze it and we've tried to destroy it - but to no avail!"
"Let me see it!" demanded Frosta.
The visual on the monitor changed to an outside camera. There was huge wall of oil, standing high into the sky. It was moving freely over the icy landscape, absorbing both people and objects into its mass. There was no sign of death or destruction, but the oil was moving fast.
"I'll be there soon!" Frosta shouted.
The assistant appeared again. "No, my lady! You can not! The darkness will overtake the kingdom in mere minutes!"
"NO!"
The assistant began to speak again, but the message fizzled out. The last thing they saw was a close-up of the oil.
Silence filled the throne room for a whole minute. At last, Kowl spoke.
"What are we going to do?"
"There's nothing you can do," came the reply. Everyone looked to the door to see Lookee enter. His face was scuffed and his clothes were torn. "I barely made it here."
"Lookee?!" shouted She-Ra. She rushed to him. "Are you okay?"
"I ran as fast as I could. She-Ra, my village has been overtaken. But my people are watchers . . . and story spinners. It has consumed much of Etheria in under a day. Castle Chill is its latest victim, but it has already seized Skull Path, the Meadow Lands, and the Valley of the Lost."
"Is it heading south?"
"Yes," Lookee gasped.
"It'll reach the Whispering Woods, then," Madame Razz declared.
"Not only that," Castaspella told them. "But it will come across the Crimson Waste, and into Mystacore. I need to get back."
Queen Angella turned to She-Ra. "What is your recommendation?"
"Teams. Sweet Bee, Flutterina, and Perfuma - head to the northern most point of the Whispering Woods and report back to me. I have a theory about this."
"What theory is that?" asked Angella.
"This oil is pure evil, I can see that already. Hopefully, the Whispering Woods will keep it out," She-Ra explained. "If anything, it'll slow the oil down and we'll have more time."
"I think you might be right, She-Ra." Queen Angella nodded. "Glimmer, begin to evacuate the people of Brightmoon and Thaymor into the Whispering Woods."
"Frosta, Castaspella, Spinnerella, head to Mystacore and see if there's a way to stop this," She-Ra continued. "Bow, Netossa, remain here with the others. Madame Razz, try and find out where Peek-A-Blue is. We're going to need her help. Kowl, come with me to Skydancer Mountain to see Light-Hope. I'm going to need your help."
The oil approached the Whispering Woods like an ocean wave coming towards the beach. However, as it neared the very edge of the magical forest, the oil halted. It pushed and strained against the force of the Whispering Woods, but it could not move into it.
From all angles, it was stopped. Blocked.
However, the oil was still growing outward. Far west, it took hold of the Crimson Wastes and moved into the kingdom of Mystacore.
Just as Castaspella, Spinnerella, and Frosta arrived, the oil took hold of the castle and it vanished into its gooey body.
"NO!" roared Castaspella. She held both hands out and fired a beam of white light at the oil. The oil resonated the beam and it rippled at contact. For a moment, Castaspella saw Hordak . . . and Peek-A-Blue. They were joined by something powerful . . . something from Eternia . . . something evil and . . . deceptive . . .
The beam shattered and Castaspella crumbled to the ground. The wave of oil was approaching them now, oozing and ugly.
"Get her out of here! I'll try and hold it off!" shouted Frosta.
"Are you nuts?" cried Spinnerella.
"She saw something in the oil! I know it! Get her back to Brightmoon - now! I'm try and buy you some time!"
Spinnerella saw that look of stubborn determination on Frosta's face and didn't argue. Quickly, she loaded Castaspella into Swan Flyer and took off due east. As she did, Frosta formed a huge ice barrier between her and oil.
The barrier succeeded in buying Spinnerella and Castaspella a few extra seconds, but soon enough, the oil took the ice as well. And then . . . it took Frotsa.
SeaHawk lifted the fish out of the water and threw him on the deck. "A good catch," he told his first mate.
"Meh. It's okay."
SeaHawk smiled. "We'll need to head back soon. I have a date tomorrow with Adora."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. I'm going to finally ask her to marry me."
The first mate grumbled. "Wuss," he joked.
SeaHawk smiled and looked back into the water. Much to his amazement, huge schools of fish were swimming right under them. SeaHawk furrowed his brow in confusion.
"WHAT IS THAT?!" shouted the first mate.
SeaHawk turned just in time to see the oil that was now traveling in the Growling Sea over come him, the boat, and the first mate.
Swift-Wind landed at the Crystal Castle and She-Ra, Kowl, and the pegacorn took a moment to soak in the view. From this point - the highest on all Etheria - the oil had claimed much of the north and west. She-Ra had a feeling it would be unable to take Skydancer Mountain or the Crystal Castle - just like she had a feeling it would be unable to overcome the Whispering Woods.
The three of them entered into the main chamber. It was there that Light-Hope shimmered before them, a rainbow of light and power.
"Light-Hope, what is happening?"
"It is Hordak. He is using a sword of Grayskull to channel his evil and hate into Peek-A-Blue. Peek-A-Blue is expelling the evil and hate into physical form and it is spilling across Etheria. Once all of Etheria is claimed by the oil, Hordak will drain all trapped within - absorbing the life-forces of those in suspended animation into his own."
"So they're not dying."
"Not until Hordak claims them and he can not do that until all of Etheria has been encased in the oil."
She-Ra nodded. "You mentioned a sword of Grayskull? It is the Sword of Power? He-Man is supposed to be on Primus . . ."
"He is. This is indeed another sword of Grayskull. The Sword of Deception."
"Can you contact the Sorceress?"
"No. I am being blocked for some reason. Skydancer Mountain is safe from the oil for now. Right now, you must rescue Peek-A-Blue. It will slow down the oil."
"Will taking her from Hordak stop it?"
"No," came Light-Hope's slow reply.
"How can it be stopped?"
"Hordak must die."
She-Ra closed her eyes. She couldn't kill Hordak, could she? Not after raising her. Even though it was formed behind lies . . . and he took her . . .
"I'll deal with that later," she told herself, storing it away. "I'll need others to help me rescue Peek-A-Blue."
She-Ra arrived back Brightmoon a two hours later and met with the others there. "What's the report?" she asked.
"We lost Frosta," Queen Angella reported. "The evacuation is going well. What did Light-Hope have to say?"
"Hordak captured Peek-A-Blue and is channeling his power through her. This oil is a part of Hordak. Right now, it's putting everything and everybody it covers in a sort of suspended animation. When the oil has covered all of Etheria, then Hordak will absorb the life forces gathered within and join them with his own. He'll be more powerful than ever."
"How can we stop him?"
"Kill him."
Angella took a deep breath. "Can you do that?"
"I don't know."
Angella nodded. "If you can't, She-Ra, then I'll do it for you."
She-Ra frowned. "Right now, we need to concentrate on getting Peek-A-Blue back."
"Agreed. In the meantime, we've hacked into a Horde satellite. Here's the playback of the past twenty hours."
A holographic globe of Etheria appeared between them. She-Ra watched in horror as the oil began in the Valley of the Lost and spread outward. When it moved across the Growling Sea, she realized that SeaHawk was now in there. Trapped. The latest new showed that it had now taken all of the Growling Sea, the Singing River, and Talon Mountain.
"It'll be here within the next thirty minutes," Angella told She-Ra.
"We need to get out of here, then."
After twenty straight hours, the link faded between Peek-A-Blue, Hordak, Shadow Weaver, and the Sword of Deception. As soon as it did, the Sword of Deception clattered to the ground. Hordak fainted, his body twitching madly. Peek-A-Blue crumbled out of her chair, bleeding from the ears, eyes, nose, and mouth; her feathers were wilting and had taken on a sickly brown color. Shadow Weaver was shaking, nerves fried and body weak. She managed to call for medical assistance. They would live, of course, but they came close to dying.
But the risk was worth it, as Hordak would discover.
All of Etheria with the exception of the Fright Zone, the Whispering Woods, and Skydancer Mountain was covered in the oil.
Queen Angella turned to the remaining members of the Great Rebellion. Everyone except for Peek-A-Blue (who was now a prisoner of the Horde) and Frosta (who fell to the oil) looked at the queen with anticipation. The moonlight shined through the trees that protected them from the darkness of the oil.
"Brightmoon has fallen," she said, hoping to inspire hope, "but as long as we stand, so does Etheria."
The words seemed to fall on deaf ears.
Tomorrow, they would attack the Fright Zone. They had Swan Flyers in the Whispering Woods, so it wouldn't be that hard. Hopefully, Hordak could be stopped and Peek-A-Blue freed.
But there was little hope here.
The next morning, as the sun broke through the Whispering Woods, Queen Angella hoped that this day would be one of great victory rather than defeat. The Great Rebellion - or what was left of it - stood in eager anticipation, fear was constantly in their minds - fear of the unknown - fear of death, but if they would drink that cup they would do it for Etheria.
"Could I have everyone's attention please?" Angella said, calling the meeting to ordered. "As you all know Hordak has infected Etheria with some sort of oil that has covered the land." She continued as she told her allies of the plan.
The attack on the Fright Zone would have three parts: one part (led by She-Ra) would attempt to break in through the back and access Horde equipment to try to communicate with Eternia, the more allies they could the better. The second part (led by Flutterina) would attempt to save Peek-A-Blue The third part (led by Angella) would attempt find out form Horde Documents what this substance is that Hordak has created.
"Come my friends, to battle!" she said as she pointed toward the direction of the Fright Zone with her golden Sword, the Sword of Uriel, in hand.
Instantly everyone got into there teams picked a swan flyer and took off for the Fright and for what is surely going to be one of the most critical battles the Great Rebellion has faced in it's history.
Back at the Fright Zone, Hordak was meditating on his plan. All was going accordingly, and soon it would be time to enact the final stages of his plan and claim Etheria as his.
While he was thinking, Shadow Weaver came in with some startling news. "My Lord, a small group of Rebels is approaching the Fright Zone, Should we stop them?" she asked her master. She was worried that Hordak would not be able to defend the Fright Zone so soon after being weakened so severely.
"No, Weaver, let them come. They can do nothing to stop me," he said, eyes closed and in deep meditation.
"But my Lord . . . " was all that Weaver could get out before she was dismissed by Hordak. She knew this might be a disaster, but then again all might work out well.
Outside the Fright Zone, the Rebel Teams were moving into position; She-Ra and Perfuma would try to establish contact with Eternia to see if the Heroic Warriors might be able to help out; Flutterina, Spinnerella, and Netossa would rescue Peek-A-Blue; and Angella, Bow and Glimmer, and Madame Razz would try to figure what was infecting Etheria.
Once they were in place and Angella gave the signal, they began their attack.
"How are we going to get in?" Perfuma asked She-Ra as they looked at one of the back doors leading into the Fright Zone.
"Don't worry. Before she left, Adora her old access code," She-Ra said confidently as she punched in her old code to the controls.
The lights on the doors glowed and even She-Ra was getting worried, it seemed as of they had changed the locks when last she was there. Soon a soothing mechanical voice announced "Welcome, Force Captain Adora" and opened the doors. So far so good.
"After you" She-Ra said politely as she let Perfuma go in first.
She-Ra looked around the room; no doubt they were in the back part of the Fright Zone.
The room they were in was some sort of a communications station that allowed members of the Horde to stay in touch. She-Ra began working the controls, hoping to establish contact with Eternia.
"Attention! This is She-Ra! King Randor can you hear me? This is She-Ra, please respond," she spoke into the microphone. There was no answer. Somehow, Hordak had cut off all communications to Eternia.
Her mind began to spiral out of control, she began to worry if somehow the same fate was befalling Eternia, how would they react to see their kingdom fall victim to the Horde.
She also thought about SeaHawk, how were they going to rescue him, let alone all of Etheria. Her heart was breaking, the very thought of losing her love was unthinkable, but before she had much to dwell on it, Perfuma had some troubling news.
"She-Ra, there are Horde Troops approaching our area," she said, pointing to a security monitor behind She-Ra.
"Then we must prepare to fight," she said, removing the Sword of Protection from its scabbard preparing to face down the enemy.
In another part of the Horde's base, Netossa, Spinnerella, and Flutterina were approaching their goal, the Horde Prison. They were lucky by most accounts; there were a few Horde Troops guarding the back way into the prisons and the guards they encountered were easily dealt with and gave them the one thing needed to save Peek-A-Blue the keys for the cells.
They searched for what seemed to be an eternity until halfway through the cells they found their friend.
She was still weakened by the spell Hordak used to cover Etheria in oil. She seemed to drift in and out of consciousness, her feathers were still brown but some color was returning to them.
"Peek-A-Blue, wake up we got to get you out of here," Spinnerella said she unlocked the door and help Peek-A-Blue on her feet.
"No, Hor…Hordak" was all she said as she tried to stand up but without success.
"Spinnerella, we better get out of here soon before Hordak sends some 'friends' to deal with us" Flutterina said trying to hurry the mission along.
"Will do," Spinnerella replied as she slung Peek-A-Blue on Her shoulder and three friends mad e there way out of the Prison
Netossa created a net around the threshold of the front entrance to the prisons to slow any troops that might be on their way, then they headed for the exit.
Before they could make it, Horde Troops had arrived, the net held them at first but they soon broke free.
"FLUTTERINA! GET…" was all Netossa could get out before she was shot by a Horde Troop.
"That rebel is getting away with our prisoner" one of the Mechanoids said pointing to the flying rebel.
"I'll deal with that," the leader said as he fired an energy cord and pulled Peek-A-Blue back to the ground.
"No!" Flutterina yelled as she made dive recovering her friend an taking out the Troopers. "Hang on, Peek-A-Blue, we going home!" she said as he made for the exit
High up in the Doom Tower, Angella, Bow, Glimmer, and Madame Razz were searching through Horde documents strewn across the room, hoping to find answer to this riddle.
"Bow, Glimmer, have you found anything?" she asked looking at her daughter and friends.
"Not yet your majesty, but don't worry, we'll find the key to the puzzle" Bow reassured her as she turned back to continue the search.
As she was looking around, she heard a voice. "Looking for something?" She turned around to see the gruesome image of Hordak staring at her.
"The keys to you end," she sneered as she straightened up to face the evil tyrant.
"The only end here is yours," Hordak retorted as he waved the Sword of Deception in the air.
"You will be no more!" Angella told the demon as she drew forth the Sword of Uriel.
The two fought for a long awhile, their swords clashing each hoping to destroy the other. Finally after about half an hour, Hordak managed to knock the sword out of her hand.
"Now to clip you wings," Hordak told Angella as he pointed the sword at her.
Lightning bolts showered form the Sword and streaked towards Angella.
She screamed in agony as the electricity ripped her wings from her body. Feathers flew across the room as blood sprayed in all directions. Once she was stripped her wings the lightning stopped and she dropped to the ground.
"MOTHER!" Glimmer screamed as she saw her wounded mother lay on the ground.
Angella was a mess, blood flowed from where her wings once were, she was sweating profusely, and was going into shock.
"Gli…Glimmer, you have to go find She…" was all she could get out before Hordak grabbed her by the throat.
"You have been one pest, I have wanted to deal with for a long time," Hordak gloated as he looked at his wounded foe.
He held her out over Doom Tower's balcony. "I shall take great pleasure when the time comes to take your life force," he whispered, enjoying having his enemy suffer.
Angella could say nothing; Hordak's voce grip was almost crushing her throat. She tried to break free but Hordak was too powerful for her.
"Good Night Sweet Queen," He whispered as he let go of Angella's throat sending spiraling down to the ground.
The oil quickly covered Angella's weakened body, Hordak knew now that Rebellion was doomed.
"YOU MONSTER!" Glimmer spat as she raced towards Hordak, she wanted to kill him for what he had don to her mother. She wanted him to suffer as Angella did she wanted revenge.
"Glimmer! NO!" Bow yelled as he grabbed Glimmer by the shoulder, "There'll be another time for this, right now we have to retreat." He said calming Glimmer down as they raced towards the exit.
"OH NO YOU DON'T" Hordak yelled aiming the sword at the Rebels.
"Oh deary, help me!" Madame Razz yelled as she could feel herself being pulled towards to Hordak.
"Hang on, Madame!" Bow yelled getting out his bow and arrow
"No, save yourselves it's the only the way to save Etheria, the planet needs…" she was cut off as Hordak covered her mouth.
"You always were a pest, my dear" Hordak told the old sorceress as he picked her up and threw her into the oil.
Bow and Glimmer watch in horror, they could not move for a moment they were so paralyzed with fear, but then when Hordak turned to look at them they ran for their lives.
With their mission in shambles, the remnants of the team- Flutterina, She-Ra, Bow, Peek-A-Blue, and Glimmer met outside the Fright Zone. Everyone was weak and wounded.
"What happened?" Bow asked his comrades
"Netossa and Spinnerella were thrown into that oil. Horde Troops tried to recapture Peek-A-Blue, I managed to rescue her." Flutterina said tending her broken wings.
"We tried to contact Eternia but Hordak cut off all communication. We were discovered by Horde Troops, who captured Perfuma and I'm assuming, put her in the oil as well." She said bowing her head.
"We were cornered by Hordak, he nearly killed Angella by ripping her wings off her and threw her into oil. We barely escaped ourselves, Madam was not so lucky. Hordak captured her and threw into the oil. We were almost captured before we reached the exit of the Fright Zone, but we managed to fight our way through," Bow answered with the salty taste of blood in his mouth.
Glimmer was crying over the 'loss' of her mother. It had hit her hard and the dark urge of revenge did not make it any better. She was an emotional wreak. "Bow! I could saved her, I could fought in her place" she scolded herself. She clinging to Bow, who was comforting her.
"It's okay, we'll save your mother and Etheria," he told her petting her violet hair. Bow wanted vengeance on Hordak as well, but he knew that this was not the time for such action.
"Now what do we do?" Flutterina asked her friend.
She-Ra looked around and saw one of the swan flyers. "Come my friends, hurry," she said as they went running towards the vehicle.
While they were running, She-Ra twisted her ankle and almost went face first near the halted oil.
"Bow! Help me!" she yelled as she saw the oily substance move towards her, her heart was beating faster and she closed her eyes as it came closer, but Bow managed to save in the nick of time. He carried her and Peek-A-Blue to the flyer and put her in the back.
Then the rest of Rebels got in the flyer.
"Where are we headed?" Bow asked She-Ra, after all it was her plan that they were following and even though she was injured she was still the leader.
"To the Whispering Woods, we'll be safe there…I hope," she said as they took off.
They could see that the oil now covered most of the planet, and they had to act quickly or else Etheria was lost.
When they got to the Woods, they tended to their wounds. Everyone was beat up bad, but they were grateful that they were among the survivors.
"The oil has covered most of the planet. And with Hordak still alive our chances of stopping this nightmare are next to nil," she said looking out toward the planet that was slowly became encased in oil. She wanted to remain hopeful, but with things they way they are that was easier said than done.
"Now what are going to do?" Bow asked She-Ra as he joined her, he could see the despair in her eyes. This battle had been hard on them, but especially on She-Ra, Etheria's champion could no longer protect the planet.
"I don't know…I just don't know" she said looking up into the sky, all was lost and Etheria would soon be Hordak's
Hordak stood atop of Doom Tower, gazing outward upon the landscape of oil that now covered over 95 of all Etheria. Success, he reckoned, was within his grasp. Netossa, Madame Razz, Spinnerella, and Perfuma were thrown into the oil not long after She-Ra and her party left the Fright Zone.
"Oh, revenge is sweet," he whispered, a breeze sweeping over the Fright Zone. Already, his power had grown. His fingers traced the blade of the Sword of Deception. "Revenge is very sweet."
It would be a while until he could absorb the power of Etheria and it's residents. His body was not quite ready for it. After the Whispering Woods would fall, there was still the matter of the Fright Zone itself - it would have to come down first. But not until the second half of his plan was complete.
As the stars came out, Hordak looked upon and turned his gaze . . . towards Eternia. All his past failures would be rectified.
General Stingrad has also written Exiles; The History of Eternia according to the Prophet Eldor; The Son of Darkness; If You Shed a Tear; Untot; She-Ra: Princess of Power- The Dark Lord of Etheria; Masters of the Universe: A Christmas Carol; Etheria Doomed; and The Origin of the Snake-Men with 2-Bad