Lead the Way: A Star Wars/She-Ra Story
Chapter 29: Saving Etheria, Part 1
It was now morning.
Luke and Leia were eating their breakfast.
Sam and Hordak were speaking with Adora.
Adora asked, looking shocked, "what?! Vader visited them in their dreams!?"
Hordak nodded as Sam said, "yes. So we want everyone watching out for them, in case he were to find them. We need to protect them at all costs."
"Like hell I would ever let that monster near Luke and Leia", Adora said with a growl.
Hordak said, "things are getting more difficult. First the Horde, and now Vader. We have our work cut out for us."
"Hopefully we can stop the Horde first, and then the Empire", Sam said as he sighed.
Adora said, "with all of us together, we can do this. We just have to stop Sigma and free out friends. Then Etheria can join the fight against the Empire!"
"We will free the Galaxy and bring peace", Sam said with a determined look.
Hordak said, "I love the enthusiasm, Sam. Now, we all just need to come up with a plan."
Sam blushed.
"I do admit at first it was weird for me to see you two together…. But now you two are so cute together", Adora said with a smile on her face.
Sam blushed like a tomato and said, "let's just call everyone and think of a plan!"
Hordak hugged Sam close to him, causing him to blush even more.
...
Bow and Bac were speaking to each other, when they were grabbed by Entrapta's hair.
"Bow! Bac! We need to talk to you", Entrapta said as she quickly pulled them to the side.
Prime, Echo, and Tech were there by a computer.
Bow asked, "what is it?"
"When we were removing the chips on our friends, they were a little harder to remove than Catra's", Echo said as studied the chip.
"The chip's had almost entirely fused to their nervous system", Tech said as he held his datapad.
Bow said, "so, wait, you're saying that…."
Entrapta finished his sentence with, "if those chips don't get removed soon, they could be stuck in our friends forever!"
Echo added, "we need to disable them as fast as we can, before it's all too late."
Bac then said, "we would need some sort of device that could help disable the chips in Scorpia, King Micah, Mermista and anyone else who's been chipped."
"Yes. But I've got an idea. This is the network that connects all the chips to Sigma's hivemind. If we can just figure out how to crack his signal pattern, we could disrupt it, severing his connection to the chips and taking them all offline at once", Prime said as he showed on the screen, the network.
Entrapta yelled, "you're a genius! But, how are we gonna do that?"
Bow suggested, "we need teams. One to get to the network and shut it down, freeing everyone, and one to take down Sigma once and for all."
"We are also close to fixing the communication's line", Tech said as he was at a computer.
"Thanks to Twilight's help, once it's fixed, we will be able to contact the rest of the rebels and the Jedi", Echo said.
Twilight appeared and said, "it was my pleasure to help in ending all of this conflict."
"But it's going to take a while to get it fixed", Prime said.
Bow said, "well, if we can get the Horde clones back under your control, they could easily help us."
"And they could help us stop the empire once and for all", Tech said.
Prime said, "let's just worry about stopping Sigma and saving your friends first."
….
Later, Adora led a team. Bow, Glimmer, Castaspella, Melog, Catra, Shadow Weaver, Sam and Hordak. They were headed to Mystacor to go to the Failsafe, which would allow them to reach the Heart.
Luke and Leia wanted to come along, but Sam and Hordak refused for fear that something bad would happen to them.
….
Flashback.
"Please Uncle Sam, we can help", Luke said as he pleaded.
Hordak said, "no. You and your sister are staying here, where it's safe."
Leia begged, "but we can help! We're not useless!"
Sam sighed as he got down to his knees and out his hands on their shoulders.
He said, "I know. You two are far beyond useless. But this is going to be one of our most dangerous missions yet. And I would never forgive myself if you got hurt, or chipped, or worse."
"We will never forgive ourselves if something bad happens to you two", Hordak said softly.
Luke and Leia held conflicted looks.
Sam said, "the best thing you can do is to help protect the temple, and pray that we succeed."
"All of you protect Luke, Leia and the temple", Hordak said to the others.
Those who would be staying behind nodded in fierce loyalty to the kids.
After everything this gigantic group had been through, they would be ready to protect each other through thick and thin!
"You two take care of each other and don't leave the temple", Sam said softly to Luke and Leia.
Luke and Leia gave nods to their uncle, before giving Sam and Hordak hugs goodbye.
End flashback.
….
The group had been able to sneak into Mystacor with the help of Melog, who turned the group invisible.
Soon Shadow Weaver led the group to the Failsafe, they first went through a tunnel that had flames all around it.
Once they reached the end, they made it to a room where a giant crystal structure stood.
"Whoa", Bow said, looking amazed.
Glimmer asked as she stared at the Crystal, "that is the Failsafe?"
Bow asked, confused, "it's bigger than I thought it'd be. How are we gonna get that to the Heart?"
"The Failsafe is a code. It's stored inside of the Crystal", Shadow Weaver explained.
"So how do we-", Sam asked before Shadow Weaver interrupted him.
"It needs a password"; Shadow Weaver said as she placed Adora's hand on the Crystal.
Sam and Hordak then went over to the Crystal and each placed one hand on it.
"I think you already know what it is", Shadow Weaver said to Adora.
Adora nodded as she approached the crystal. She too placed her hand on the crystal between Sam and Hordak, and took a deep breath before uttering the password.
"We're friends of Mara", Adora said as she then removed her hand.
A light radiates up the crystal and it cracks open. The crystal breaks into three sections and a triangular light connects them. The crystals are covered with symbols.
Hordak asked, "what does it say?"
Adora asked, confused, "someone needs to go inside and accept the Failsafe, What does that mean?"
"It means the Failsafe must be bonded to a willing soul and carried to the Heart of Etheria in their body in order to be deployed", Shadow Weaver explained.
Sam asked concerned, "and we're sure that's safe?"
"We can't turn back now. The Failsafe is within our grasp", Shadow Weaver said as she placed her hand on Adora's shoulder.
Adora looks up, then strides forward as a light crackles over the crystals. Catra runs toward her.
"Adora, don't go in there", Catra said as she held Adora's hand.
"Catra, this is not the time. Someone must take the Failsafe", Shadow Weaver said as she clenched her fist.
"So, you do it, then", Catra said as she glared at Shadow Weaver.
Catra walked towards her and pulled Adora by the wrist.
"I've been watching you the whole way in. You've been in here before, haven't you? You could've taken the Failsafe yourself and gotten all the power you've ever wanted", Catra said in an angry tone.
Catra asked as she glared at Shadow Weaver, "but you didn't. Why?"
"You're being paranoid. This is the only way to stop Sigma. Adora understands that well enough", Shadow Weaver said with a glare.
Catra asked a bit afraid, "why does it have to be Adora? What is going to happen to her? What aren't you telling us?"
Shadow Weaver narrows her eyes and takes a few steps backwards. The others stare at her.
"Answer the question", Castaspella said as she narrowed her eyes at Shadow Weaver.
"Whoever uses the Failsafe must absorb the full magic of the Heart when it is destroyed. That much raw magical power would burn any mere mortal apart. None of us are strong enough", Shadow Weaver explained.
"But She-Ra is", Adora said calmly as she stared at the crystals.
"Only She-Ra can hope to survive the process. No one else can do it", Shadow Weaver as she walked forward.
Adora asked, a bit worried, "and if I don't survive it?"
"Then the magic will be restored to Etheria through your sacrifice. You will give us the power to bring us victory. Sigma will be defeated. Your friends will be free", Shadow Weaver said as she stared at Adora.
Sam exclaimed, "there has to be another way! All of us have come so far together! I don't want to lose anyone else on this mission!"
Hordak looked at Sam and asked, "what other way could there be?"
"You were planning this all along", Castaspella shouted to Shadow Weaver.
Catra shouted, "why are you surprised by this?"
"It's not going to work", Glimmer shouted.
"There is no way we're risking Adora like that", Sam shouted.
Everyone was shouting indistinctly.
"Stop", Adora shouted.
Everyone stopped shouting.
"I'll do it", Adora said as she walked towards the crystals.
Catra asked as she ran towards Adora and grabbed her by the shoulders, "no. What? What's wrong with you? Shadow Weaver is sacrificing you. Why can't you see that?"
"Because even if she is, it's better than Sigma getting the Heart and destroying the universe! We're out of options. This is the only way", Adora said as she stared at Catra with a look of sympathy on her face.
Castaspella whirls around to protect herself from an attack.
"Well look who it is", Micah said as he walked into the room.
Glimmer practically froze as the others all readied their weapons.
Hordak muttered, "well this complicates things!"
Adora said, "the plan doesn't change. We need to activate the failsafe and stop Sigma."
As Micah tried to walk forward, Hordak began using the force to push him back, but he kept going!
Then more sorcerers entered the room.
"Oh great", Sam said as he activated his lightsabers and began to slash the spells launched at him in half.
Hordak followed Sam's lead and began slashing at the attacks while trying to hold Micah back.
During this, Adora's gaze drifted to the failsafe. Catra saw Adora looking, and didn't have a good feeling about it.
Adora then walked towards the Failsafe.
"Adora"; Catra shouted, but she was unable to get to her.
Adora steps on a circle symbol beneath the crystal and light beams down over her. Tendrils of glowing energy enter her body.
Micah then casts a black spell that seeps over the floor trapping everyone.
"I can't move", Sam shouted.
"Is this….", Glimmer asked.
"Dark magic. After all, I learned from the best", Micah said as he turned to look at Shadow Weaver.
He binds Castaspella and lifts her into the air.
"Glimmer", Bow shouted as he tried to reach her.
"Hordak", Sam shouted as he reached his hand out towards Hordak.
Hordak was desperately reaching for Sam as Micah drew ever closer to the group. Glimmer couldn't keep her eyes off of her mind controlled father.
Adora looks back as the others struggle in the dark energy. Adora grits her teeth and shuts her eyes closed.
"For the Honor of the Jedi Order", Adora shouted, a white light fills the room and the dark energy is blasted away.
She-Ra emerges from the light and swings the sword. She knocks down Micah and his sorceresses.
"I've got it. I've got the Failsafe. Let's get out of here", She-Ra said as she went over to Catra.
A symbol glows on She-Ra's chest and she extends her hand to Catra. Catra looks up, then runs away with Melog. Bow and Glimmer help Castaspella up.
"Come on, let's go", Hordak shouted.
The group runs through the door. As the door waves, She-Ra swings her sword and chunks of the walls and ceiling crumble, blocking off the chamber. She-Ra turns and runs after her friends.
She managed to watch up with them as they ran, with Sam yelling, "we got the damned failsafe! Now what's the next step?"
Glimmer yelled, "She-Ra uses the failsafe to stop the heart, and the others disable the network for the chips!"
The group soon made it back to the temple.
"What!? No Adora! It's too risky", Luke said as he and Leia were told of what Adora was planning to do to stop the heart.
Adora said, "it's the only way to make sure Sigma doesn't get the heart, and so we can save everyone. I'm sorry kids, but I have to do this!"
Leia begged, "please, no! You're the closest we've had to a mother! We can't lose you!"
Adora then placed her hands on Luke and Leia's shoulders and she smiled at them.
She said, "no matter what happens today, you'll never lose me. I'll always be by your side, or in your heart. As long as you hold out hope, things will work out. I…. I love you both so much."
Luke and Leia cried as they hugged Adora.
"It's okay…. It's okay", Adora said as she comforted the twins.
Luke and Leia both muttered, "we love you, mom."
Adora cried after hearing those words and hugged the twins even more.
Sam and Hordak smiled at the sight.
"Come on you two, time for bed", Adora said softly to the twins.
Adora soon got the kids tucked in, humming to them a lullaby that soon made them fall asleep like lights.
Adora then kissed them on their foreheads.
She whispered, "good night my little angels. Until I see your smiling faces again."
Adora then left the room quietly.
"Thank you Adora", Sam said to Adora as she went to sit next to Sam and Hordak.
Adora said, "I keep praying to whatever's out there that I'll be able to accomplish this. Then I'll be able to stop the heart. And survive it as well, so I can still be there for those two. As well as…."
Sam said, "Catra?"
Adora nodded and said, "I love her. But I'm afraid to tell her. If I can survive this whole thing…. I'll tell her. Everything I feel about her, I'll tell her."
Sam then placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Antauri once told me something like this Adora, if you feel something for Catra, then listen to that feeling and your heart", Sam said with a soft smile.
Hordak placed his hand on her other shoulder and said, "I'm sure she feels the same. Once this whole thing is over, and you finally tell her everything, things will only get better for the both of you."
"Thank you", Adora said as she smiled.
Sam said, "you're welcome. Now, our goals are within our grasp. Stop the heart."
Hordak added, "stop Sigma."
Adora finished, "save everyone."
"GUYS, OVER HERE NOW", Echo shouted.
"Hell, that scared me", Adora said as she placed her hand over her heart.
"Let's go see what's happened", Sam said as he and the others went to where the communications room is.
Hunter asked, "what is it, Echo?"
"We have good news", Tech said with a smile.
Obi Wan asked, "which is?"
"We have been able to contact the Rebels and the Jedi", Bac said with a smile on his face.
The other all cheered in joy, with Sam and Hordak sharing a happy kiss at this wonderful news!
"That's great news", Ahsoka said with a smile.
"You should thank Twilight, without them none of this would have been possible", Entrapta said.
Twilight appeared with a smile on their face.
Twilight said, "it's an honor to help in any way I can. For all of you, my friends. You make me feel like more than just a machine. You make me feel like I am a person."
Sam and Hordak then broke the kiss.
"We were able to contact one of your friends", Prime said.
Sam asked, "sho?"
"I'll put him on the line." Bac said.
Leon said through the comlink, "hello? Is anyone there?"
Ahsoka exclaimed, "Leon, honey?!"
Leon yelled, "Ahsoka! Oh, thank the force, you're safe!"
Ahsoka said, "more than safe. Guess who we found!"
Sam yelled, "hey! Wazzup my nerf herder!"
Ashla asked, "Leon? Your husband?"
"Yes", Ahsoka said with a smile.
Leon yelled, "where in the hell have you been Sam!?"
Sam said, "short version, we crashed on Planet Etheria and have been caught up in a war where I fell in love with one of the former rulers of our enemy."
On the other end Leon spit out the water he was drinking…. And by accident it hit Cad Bane in the face.
Bane wiped his face and said, "not cool."
Leon exclaimed, "if that's the short version, I gotta hear the LONG version!"
Sam said, "well…."
One long, very exciting explanation later.
Sam finished with, "and now we have to save the planet and our friends."
"Well first of all I'm happy for you Sam, make sure to invite me and Bane to the wedding", Leon said as he teased his friend.
Sam blushed as he hid his face in Hordak's chest.
Leon then said, "and second of all, I'm glad we heard your message. The rebel alliance will offer any form of help we can against this Sigma nutjob."
"We need all the help we can get!" Adora said into the comlink.
"Also, I'm happy for you my love, you found your sister", Leon said to Ahsoka.
Ahsoka said, "thanks honey. So, how's our son?"
Leon replied, "as good as any child can be."
Ashla said with a shocked tone, "you have a son, Ahsoka?!"
Ahsoka nodded her head.
"I have a nephew", Ashla squealed.
"Calm down my dear", Prime said to his wife.
Ashla said, "no promises!"
Leon asked, "so what's your plan now?"
Sam explained, "Adora shuts down the heart while the others disable the chips once and for all."
"Okay, we'll try to get there as soon as we can, give us the coordinates to Etheria and we'll be on our way", Leon said determined.
"Okay, I'm sending you the coordinates now", Prime said as he typed in the coordinates.
Leon said, "I've got them. We'll be there soon. Oh, and good luck. To all of you. May the force be with you."
"Be careful, we don't want the empire to find Etheria", Sam said to Leon.
Leon said, "we'll try to keep this information off of their hands, but you know how skilled the Empire can get with finding these things out."
"Just please be careful", Sam said as Hordak hugged Sam.
"We can't risk Vader finding Etheria and the twins", Hordak said concerned.
Leon said, "I promise we'll be careful. I've gotta go before the Empire traces this. Goodbye for now, and may the force be with you."
"Once they get here we will have more chances at defeating Sigma and his clones", Sam said.
"And also free our friends", Adora said.
Prime said, "agreed. For now, I suggest we all get some rest. For tomorrow, we will go back at it…."
….
Back in the galaxy.
Three Jedi Cruisers were now ready to enter hyperspace.
Leon along with Cad Bane was in one of the cruisers.
Leon left Ani with Hera and Kanan.
On Leon's cruiser was the 501st legion, and Kit Fisto.
"Ready to make the jump to hyperspace", Leon said as he stared out the viewport.
Bane chuckled and said, "like you have to ask."
Kit Fisto replied, "all of our forces are ready. We've added precautions to the armor the Clones wear, so those chips won't be able to be placed on them."
Leon said, "that thick padding around the neck was a great idea."
"Sir, preparing the jump to hyperspace", a clone said.
Leon said, "everyone hold onto your butts. We're going to a planet that hasn't been in the fight for the Republic in centuries!"
The three Jedi cruisers then went into Hyperspace.
Leon stared out the viewport as one thought was on his mind.
'I hope we can win this. All of us….'
….
Elsewhere
"Okay, we'll try to get there as soon as we can, give us the coordinates to Etheria and we'll be on our way!"
"My lord", an Imperial officer said.
Vader turned from the airport and walked over to the officer.
The officer said, "we have the coordinates for the planet, after all this time. Shall we pursue?"
Vader said, "... No. Not yet. Let them fight amongst themselves. And once they think they've had a few days of peace, we shall strike."
"Yes my lord!"
Vader then walked to the viewport.
An officer asked, "what is your plan when we get to the planet?"
Vader replied, "when they least suspect it, we attack, and retrieve Luke and Leia Skywalker. Alive and unharmed."
"Understood."
Vader turned to stare at the viewport as one thought was on his mind.
'Soooon. We shall rule the galaxy as a family…. And you my dear brother will die a painful death for stealing my children!'
….
Reviews:
SuperSentai199: true dat.
….
And thus we get part one of the epic finale to She-Ra. Don't worry, the story will continue after that.