Chapter Five - "Battle Plans"
"I suppose I'm having some trouble understanding."
Light-Hope shimmered and pulsated before her, and there was a long pause before he answered. She-Ra waited patiently. There was a lot on her mind. Her friends during this venture had returned to their homes and Queen Angella was not only curious about this mission, but also needed to speak to She-Ra about something that She-Ra had sensed was urgent.
"You are aware of the prophecy, are you not? The one that says that one day the Crystal Castle will be revealed to all of Etheria."
"Yes. What of it?"
"The prophecy is true, but does not cover it all. When the Crystal Castle will be revealed will also be when the Dark Palace is revealed. When my home is unveiled to the world, Dark-Hope will awaken from his slumber. And then our war shall begin once more."
"Except here on Etheria instead of Eternia."
"Exactly. She-Ra, do you understand the very concept of prophecy?"
"Yes, of course. It means predicting future events."
"Not quite. Prophecy is more like an instruction book. A list of things and notes to happen at a later date."
"Is there anyway this war can be prevented?"
"No. Dark-Hope will see to it that that part of the prophecy comes to manifest. But do not concern yourself with that at the moment, She-Ra. There is a far greater threat to come. Many other things must be dealt with first before the time of my war with Dark-Hope occurs."
"Like what?"
"Hordak."
His power stronger than ever, Hordak stood on the balcony of Doom Tower and looked down upon the vast wasteland of the Fright Zone and snorted. By his side, a small holographic replica of Etheria spun slowly, labels here and there. It was the plan, of course, for world domination in nearly six months. Breaking into the Whispering Woods had been halted a little bit, but there was still enough time. And Hordak had confidence in Shadow Weaver.
"This will succeed," he grunted. "This must succeed."
At that moment, Manteena came to his side.
"Lord Hordak . . ."
"What is it?"
"Transmission from Horde Prime."
Hordak nodded and left Manteena. A few moments later, he was in the communications chamber. Before him was a massive dark entity and a robotic claw that represented his brother from Horde World itself.
"Hordak!"
"Horde Prime, your Excellency."
"I have reviewed the plan, Hordak, and I approve of it. Just make sure you do it right. You must conquer that world and we must take control of the Eternian wormhole." Horde Prime slammed his fist down to accentuate the point. "There is trouble on Horde World."
"Oh?"
"My son. Prince Zed. He has started a resistance movement against me. Not only has it splintered off a few of my closest allies, but he has also created the beginning of a massive schism within the Horde Empire. If you fail me, then it is a guaranteed revolt. I can not have that, Hordak. What our father has built shall not succumb to rebellion and revolution. Do you understand?"
"Perfectly, master."
"You are my most trusted general, Hordak. You know this."
"I'm your brother."
"That doesn't matter. What matters is that you have failed me before in the past. Your invasion of Eternia - both of them - failed miserably. You shall not embarrass me. You shall not fail me again. Let this be my decree, Hordak, and understand it very well. If you do not succeed in conquering Etheria, I shall kill you. Your death will be a symbol to those under my command. Failure shall no longer be tolerated. Your death will inspire their success. And with that success will come more worlds. The more worlds in my clutches, the strong the empire shall be and the faster my son's attempt at revolution will falter. I have a lot to gain from your death, dear brother, so I would not have a second thought about it. Do this right . . . or die."
She-Ra arrived at Castle Brightmoon via a teleportation portal. She had no idea when Swift-Wind would return from Unicorn Island, but secretly hoped it would be soon. Not that she wasn't more than happy for her companion, but she needed him. A feeling of dread had been filling her even after they were able to banished Dark-Hope.
Something was on the horizon. Something powerful.
"She-Ra, I am glad you returned," Angella greeted, diving down from the sky. "I have received Glimmer's report. I am happy that your mission went successfully."
"Me too."
What was included in the report was unmistakably what She-Ra had told Glimmer. Despite knowing that Dark-Hope was a powerful threat, She-Ra had gone to some lengths at making sure none of them knew about Light-Hope or the Crystal Castle. That knowledge, as far as She-Ra was concerned, was still to remain secret.
"A situation has developed in your absence."
She-Ra's heart skipped a beat. "What?"
Angella handed her a computer pad. "Hordak's latest offensive. It's from a trusted source and Loni check the Horde authenticity code."
She-Ra gazed at the computer pad as she took in the brief summary. "This is . . . a world-wide offensive? The conquest of Etheria in six months? Hordak has to be joking!"
"Take some time to read it. And then get back to me."
Angella walked off. She-Ra, in the mid-afternoon sunlight, hunkered down below a tall tree and began to scroll through the plans. Each and every region was covered quite thoroughly; Horde areas were talked about, allied kingdoms, disputed places, areas recently freed, and even those that had never had a Horde soldier set foot on it. The plans for each region were strategized with every possible outcome imaginable - including a retreat and leaving it open for a return.
As evening came over the land of Brightmoon, She-Ra set down the pad and started to roll it over in her mind. Could this be done? Could this really happen? It was so detailed and yet so open . . . there was no reason it wouldn't fail.
"There is a flaw," she muttered, realizing it immediately. "There is one variable that Hordak wasn't counting on. One that is so blindly obvious that it . . ." She stopped herself and stood up.
She quick strode into the palace and then rushed into the throne room. Angella noticed this and stood up.
"Clear the room," she ordered.
She-Ra waited patiently as people filed out, which was followed by the closing and locking of the doors.
"You read it?" asked Angella, walking over to one of the tables and pouring herself a glass of water.
"Yes."
"And?"
"Hordak must have brought together his greatest powers from all over the world. In a different time and place, Loni, Sunder, and I would have been there planning this out with them."
"What does that matter?"
"It matters because this was obviously the concoction of everyone Hordak trusted and had such high regard for. It's an arrogant plan and a powerful one as well. It's also very much a perfect plan. I have found very little problems with it. However, there is one flaw that he shall not be anticipating."
"You've seen that too?"
"Yes. Funny how it's so glaringly obvious to us and not to Hordak or his conspirators."
"Maybe he is and he's just not sure of that we won't be able to get it together."
She-Ra smiled a little. "Certainly another possibility. If so, then we must take advantage of that blinding arrogance."
"Agreed."
"Then you think we should . . ."
"Yes."
She-Ra nodded. "I will gather forth the Great Rebellion, then, and send them to every corner of Etheria. Every freed land, every disputed territory, every ally - we'll gather them up and bring them here. And then - "
"And then we'll do what Hordak did. Sit them down at a table and come up with our own plan. Our own offensive. We will unite the free peoples of Etheria."
She-Ra picked it up. "And launch a planet-wide revolution. It will be difficult, but I don't see any choice."
Angella picked up her sword - the Sword of Uriel. "Let us make a blood oath, She-Ra."
She-Ra nodded and unsheathed the Sword of Protection. "All right."
Queen Angella ran the blade of her sword across the palm of her left hand. Blood soaked her hand. "Let us swear that Etheria will be rid of the Horde . . . once and for all."
She-Ra swiped the blade across her left palm just like Angella. "And if we fail, then we shall die fighting the enemy."
"I swear it."
"As do I."
Together, they crossed blades and the blood that was let upon both swords mingled. The blood oath was sworn . . . and the battle for all of Etheria began.
TO BE CONTINUED IN "LIBERTY AND VALOR - BOOK TWO: RESISTANCE"
