Chapter 31: Unexpected Alliances
After Brett and Entrapta had their… intimate time, Brett gathered his contingent of soldiers and requisitioned an armored personnel carrier to go pick up Brittni and company; (Although Brett had no clue who was with Brittni.) The APC; as it was referred to, was an armored, hovering craft that could fit around thirty to forty people in it. Atop the carrier was a machine laser that was used for crowd control and suppressive fire. Unfortunately, Brett was not able to have Catra on the mission as she was still on her way gathering the First One's tech that Entrapta spoke of. Catra was notified, however, and she messaged back, saying that she would make her way to Dryl once she had gathered the tech she set out to find. Scorpia also had other orders along with Lonnie, Kyle, and Rogelio, so he was unable to bring them along.
It was a mostly smooth ride over to Elberon. However, once the transport arrived within three hundred meters from Elberon, everyone aboard the transport gazed in horror at the black smoke and fire that was rising from the various parts of the city. Brett opened the hatch that led to the roof of the transport and popped his head out.
"Dear Lord…" Brett muttered as he gazed at the dark horizon, "Brittni wasn't kidding…" He then went back down into the carrier and addressed everyone, "okay, whoever these people are, they really messed this place up. According to my sister, they're not the Rebellion, but some other insurrectional group. Apparently, they're hostile to both the Rebellion and the Horde, so stay frosty." Brett said.
"Hey, let's just let them and the Rebels fight it out!" A soldier declared. A cheer went out amongst the soldiers. Brett could not help but let out a low chuckle.
"As much as I'd like that, I don't think it's going to be that simple…" Brett muttered. He then turned to the pilot and added, "Helmsman, can you get this puppy through the forest? I want to avoid any firefights until we get to Dryl." Brett inquired. The helmsman nodded and drove into the forest. The carrier then made its way towards the coordinates that Brittni had set. Sure enough, after wading through the forest, the APC found a path that led to an open space surrounded by a grove of trees. The helmsman started seeing a few figures in the middle of the grove. The white armor was a dead giveaway of Brittni, but the two other figures surprised the helmsman. He squinted his eyes and was shocked to see that one of them was Adora.
"Uh, sir? You're gonna want to see this." The helmsman motioned for Brett. Brett went into the cab and squinted his eyes. Although his eyes squinted for a moment to see the figure, they suddenly widened and curved into a glare once he figured out what company Brittni was with…
Once Brittni saw the APC, she gasped in delight. Adora and Bow, on the other hand, were not so enthusiastic. The APC stopped around ten meters away from the group. Brittni ran at it, waving her hand.
"Hey! It's me, Brittni!" The Observer Twin declared. The APC shined a light at Brittni, illuminating her and everything behind her. She shielded her eyes and grunted in confusion. Then the Horde soldier manning the machine gun laser audibly racked the magazine of the weapon and focused the barrel on Adora and Bow. Brittni stopped dead in her tracks and raised both her hands in protest.
"Whoa, whoa! What are you doing?!" Brittni demanded. Just then, a side door from the APC flew open, slamming the dirt ground and forming a ramp. A moment later, Brett marched out in his dark blue, tech armor. Brittni gasped as Brett turned towards her and folded his arms.
"Brett!" Brittni shouted.
"Brittni… it's great to see you. Now come here and board the APC. We'll take care of them." Brett ordered.
"Wait, hold on. Brett, you don't understand. We need them!" Brittni shouted. Bow and Adora switched glances between each other and Brittni. They both then slowly reached for their weapons.
"We need them? Sure, we need them- six feet underground." Brett sneered. Brittni growled.
"Would you put aside your hatred for one minute and just listen to me?!" Brittni snapped.
"Listen to you? Brittni, you've been telling tall tales about some magical being that can tell the future. You've been questioning the Horde motives. You-" Brett snapped back until being interrupted by Brittni.
"Stop it, Brett! Just- stop it!" Brittni yelled, pointing at him, "there is so much you need to be told. But it's going to fall on deaf ears unless you open your mind a little!" Brittni snapped. Brett shuddered while gritting his teeth.
"Brittni. We're taking those two into custody. Now either help us or get out of the way." Brett commanded. Brittni glared at him, squared up her body, and ignited her energy baton. Brett narrowed his eyes at her.
"You can't be serious," Brett said, unbelievably.
"If you mean to harm them, then yes," Brittni said, matter-of-factly.
"Don't make me do this, Brittni," Brett said, taking a few steps towards her and igniting his energy baton.
"You're doing this all your own," Brittni muttered.
Brett, in a blind fit of rage, rushed at Brittni with his baton ignited, and she did the same. The twins' energy batons clashed with each other. Brett pulled his baton back and swung towards the left side of Brittni's neck. She easily saw that coming and parried it with her left hand facing outward. She then counterattacked with the baton in her right hand aimed at Brett's oblique. Just as easily, he stopped her baton with his left hand. The two would continue going back and forth attempting to strike each other with their batons. Because of their intrinsic gifts of observation, both were easily able to keep predicting their next moves. It was as though it were a game of chess and each person was trying to be two steps ahead. Brett, not wanting to actually harm Brittni, went to sweep her legs. As she jumped, she raised her foot and managed to kick Brett in the chestplate, causing him to fly back. At the same time, Brett knew that Brittni was going to go for a kick. Between her armor plates, there was one part that was unarmored right under the thigh, and Brett managed to plunge his baton into her leg. Between the inertia from kicking him and the shock from the baton, Brittni also flew back.
So it was, both Twins fell onto their backs. Members of each faction went to their corresponding fighters. Bow and Adora to Brittni, and a few Horde soldiers to Brett. Brett jumped up quickly from the kick, while Brittni was helped up by Bow and Adora. Bow was about to aim his weapon, but Brittni, without looking, pushed it down.
"Get back…" Brittni ordered the two rebels. They obediently took several steps away. Knowing the voltage would leave her leg soon, Brittni squared up her body, awaiting Brett's attack. Brett, running at Brittni, went to strike her in the head, using both hands on his baton.
At this point, with both of their hands on their respective batons, the Twins' weapons clashed close to their faces and both were able to peer into each other's eyes. While Brett's eyes were filled with disappointment and anger, Brittni's were filled with supplication and grit. One thing the two had in common was that neither wanted to be fighting at that moment. Nevertheless, differing ideals would constrain the two ever-loving, ever-loyal twins to battle.
...That is until a mother intervened.
A bright ray of fluorescence began emitting from Brittni's necklace. Brett grunted loudly as he was blinded for a moment by the illumination. He shielded his eyes and tried to look past the light. The two broke away from their fighting, and Brett took a few steps back. He gasped at what he saw next. A magical hologram appeared which caused Brett to jump back several feet. Both parties, the Horde and Rebellion, gazed in shock and awe at what had just transpired. Out of the hologram appeared a resplendent, tall, blue woman…
Oracle.
Brett shuddered and gasped at what he was seeing. Oracle was standing off of her chair and looked at Brittni, then at Brett. Oracle folded her arms and narrowed her eyes in severe contrition. Oracle motioned for Brittni to join Brett so she could speak to the both of them, simultaneously. Brittni moved over to Brett and turned to Oracle. Brittni saw a look on Oracle's face that she thought she'd never see:
Disappointment.
"In all my years of seeing myriads of futures and pasts of various worlds, never have I seen something that would give me this amount of heartache and frustration…" Oracle said, placing her hand on her head and shaking it. She let out a sigh and continued, "I have watched both of you your entire lives. I have seen nothing but affection, loyalty, unity, and love. So understand that being forced to witness the two of you fight; not only verbally, but actually trying to physically harm one another, severely breaks my heart." Oracle said, somberly as a few tears strewed down her face.
"You're right… Sorry, Mom." Brittni said rubbing her shoulder in shame. Brett's eyes widened at Brittni then at Oracle.
"Mom?!" Brett exasperated. He then turned to Brittni, "you think this… person is our mother?!" Brittni glared at Brett.
"She is our mother, Brett!" Brittni snapped.
"How could you say that? How could this even be possible?!" Brett snapped back. Oracle's hologram moved between the two of them.
"Please, both of you. Stop fighting." Oracle pleaded. She then turned to Brittni and added, "Brittni, this is a sudden revelation to Brett. Let me handle this." Brittni shuddered for a moment, then slowly nodded her head and backed away. Oracle then turned to Brett and gave him a slight smile. Brett glared at her in return.
"I'm not sure what kind of brainwashing you did to my sister, but you're not taking her away from me or the Horde." Brett sneered. Oracle let out a sigh.
"You know, suspicion has always been one of your strengths. It's one of the reasons you've been able to climb the ranks of the Horde military. Infiltration Saboteur? What a promotion." Oracle said, proudly. Brett shuddered and took a couple of steps back.
"Brett, please listen. At the moment, you don't need to accept whether or not that I am your mother. Right now, time is of the essence, and all of you need to get to Dryl. As we speak, Night Moon is preparing their attack. Tomorrow they will be coordinating with the Kingdom of Snows, and their two joined forces will lay their siege." Oracle explained.
"Why should we believe you?" Brett demanded. Brittni sighed.
"Brett… it's true. There is so much that I have to tell you about Oracle, the Rebellion, Night Moon… and an organization that threatens the entire world." Brittni pleaded. Brett folded his arms and looked away. Brittni then walked up to Brett and put her hands in his. The two locked eyes for a few moments.
What Brett did not want to admit is that he could feel the conviction that rang through the voices of both Brittni and Oracle. Because of his predetermined philosophies and beliefs, however, his emotions were superseding his logic. He did not want to believe that they were telling the truth. Oracle could perceive his thoughts and posed a question.
"Brett, I know that your dedication to the Horde is absolute. I know how much you hate magic, and how much you hate the Rebellion. But please, trust me when I say that there is a threat coming that will destroy all of Etheria if we don't all work together. If even a small chance of what I'm saying is true, would you take it?" Oracle challenged. Brett grumbled under his breath and pulled his hands away from Brittni.
Entrapta then exited the APC and used her hair as legs to march up to Oracle. She was so stunned by Oracle's majesty that it took her awhile to regain her composure and confront the situation.
"Wow! A hologram! How fascinating!" Entrapta bubbled. Oracle chuckled upon seeing Entrapta. Adora and Bow widened their eyes as far as they could go.
"Entrapta?! You're alive!" Bow shouted, starting to walk towards her. The soldier manning the machine gun laser aimed at Bow, causing Bow to cease his movement.
"Well, of course, I'm alive!" Entrapta said, joyfully.
"Entrapta… We thought… did the Horde capture you?!" Adora inquired.
"She stayed after you abandoned her!" Brett snapped. Adora and Bow glared at Brett while Brittni looked around confused. Oracle spoke up.
"Please, we need to stay focused... Entrapta. It's good to see you in… well, kind of person. I saw that you never actually destroyed that First One's data crystal." Oracle said, matter-of-factly. Entrapta's eyes widened.
"Wow! You know about that? Did you have a spy bot stalking me or something? Tell me everything!" Entrapta pleaded. Brett and Brittni switched glances at each other. Adora and Bow did as well.
"Man, she really does see everything…" Adora muttered to Bow. Oracle chuckled again.
"Entrapta, you have the most brilliant mind in all of Etheria. Your hunger for curiosity has never been satisfied. That's your greatest strength… but also your greatest weakness. You never give up, but sometimes, some things just need to be left alone. That being said, when you get to Dryl, you need to destroy the crystal. Will you do that?" Oracle inquired. Entrapta blinked a few times.
"But… the experiment…" Entrapta protested.
"Entrapta!" Adora yelled walking towards her. Brett brandished his energy baton to the chagrin of Adora. Adora stopped her pace but continued, "Entrapta, believe me when I say I'm incredibly happy to see you… but, Oracle's right. Don't you remember what that crystal did to me?" Adora challenged. Entrapta bit her bottom lip.
"But… but…" Entrapta stammered. She then let out a childish groan then nodded her head, "okay, okay. I'll destroy the crystal." Adora let out a reassured sigh.
"Thank you…" Adora said, gratefully, then continued, "okay, well, if what Oracle said is true, we need to get to Dryl soon." Adora said. Brett scoffed dramatically.
"Excuse me? Hold on, nobody said that you and arrow boy over there are going anywhere; much less in our vehicle!" Brett sneered. Entrapta moved to Brett and put her hand on his shoulders. She said nothing but looked at him with supplication. Brett had only seen Entrapta get serious about her kingdom,, and he could tell at this moment, that she really wanted him to cooperate with everyone else. Brett let out a low groan and then sighed. He then turned his head to Entrapta and slowly nodded.
"Fine. Everybody climb in." Brett said, reluctantly. Oracle turned to him and smiled.
"Thank you, son," Oracle said, gratefully. The moment that the word 'son' rang in Brett's ears, he shuddered as though he had been stabbed in the heart. For some reason, once he heard that, he seemed to feel some kind of… connection with Oracle. Nevertheless, he shook his head and resisted the thoughts and feelings that were swirling through him. To emphasize his resistance, he added, "but we're going to hold on to your weapons while we're en route. That's not going to be a problem, is it?" Brett derided. Although Adora and Bow were very reluctant to give up their weapons, they looked at Oracle who merely nodded. Hearkening to the wisdom of Oracle, they agreed. Adora and Bow surrendered their weapons to a Horde soldier who stowed them in the rear hatch. They then boarded.
"Well, I must take my leave. There is a Horde soldier that is making her way to my home with valuable information as we speak. I must get her in my home quickly and then I can relay the information to the rest of you." Oracle explained. She then gave them a few more pieces of instruction then ended the transmission. The hologram then slowly faded and the necklace that Brittni was wearing, darkened. Entrapta then boarded the APC and Brittni followed, but not before Brett put his hand on her shoulder. Brittni looked back at Brett, glared at him, then jerked her shoulder away from him.
"Brittni, wait…" Brett beseeched.
"What, Brett? Do you want to scold me again? Tell me how everything I'm thinking is wrong and useless?" Brittni snapped.
"That's not… I didn't-" Brett started to say before being interrupted by Brittni again.
"Or maybe you want to stick me with your energy baton? Huh? You were ready to do whatever it takes to harm Adora and Bow. Believe me, Brett, I've been just as angry- if not more angry at Adora than you ever were. But guess what? I forgave her. We've settled things. We're all fighting a war that's been filled with moral ambiguities. None of us seem to know what's right and what's wrong, except Oracle." Brittni said as her breathing became more pronounced. Brett narrowed his eyes at Brittni but could see that arguing would get neither of them anywhere. He scratched the back of his head and let out a deep sigh.
"Okay, yeah. You're right, I'm sorry for attacking you. I… I just wasn't thinking straight. But you have to understand my perspective. We've been conditioned and trained our whole lives to hate the Rebellion and traitors… meaning Adora. That's not something that just changes overnight." Brett explained. Brittni went up to Brett and put her hands on his shoulders.
"Believe me, Brett, I get it. I really do understand. I'm just asking you to trust me. You don't have to trust Adora, Bow, or even Oracle right now. But please, trust me. Everything Oracle has told me has come true. The attack on Elberon, Glimmer's transformation, Night Moon becoming a threat. All of it. There's something big coming to attack Etheria, and Oracle is the key to stopping it." Brittni explained. Brett cocked his eyebrow as he did not understand what Brittni meant by Glimmer's transformation. Regardless, he could hear the sincerity in her voice. He let out another sigh, gritted his teeth and slowly nodded.
"Okay… Alright, let's get to Dryl and see if this… Oracle can really see the future." Brett said. Brittni smiled in response.
"Thank you, Brett," Brittni said gratefully as she wrapped Brett in a hug. He hugged back and patted the back of her head.
"Alright, squirt, let's do this!" Brett declared as he ran into the APC. Brittni walked into the APC but took a look back in the forest for a moment and let out a sigh.
"Here goes nothing…"
Several hours before Brett made it to Brittni, Void, Glimmer, and a small group of Night Moon soldiers were en route to the Kingdom of Snows…
In the haste of evacuation that the Horde went through, they left behind many technological marvels. One of them was a jet that could match the speed of sound. Void and Glimmer, along with a handful of Night Moon soldiers acquired the jet and used it to travel to the Kingdom of Snows. The majority of Night Moon remained in Elberon to scavenge the town for resources, while the rest went back to their main bunker to lock it down. On their way to the Kingdom of Snows, Void inquired to Glimmer about Frosta.
"Well…" Glimmer began, "I have to admit that she's… well, she's an almost twelve year old girl." Glimmer admitted as she leaned back in the chair in the passenger hold. Void, sitting across from Glimmer folded her arms and narrowed her eyes.
"This is the alliance you've appealed for? A group of polar bear lovers ran by a little brat?" Void challenged. Glimmer shook her head.
"Look, I wouldn't have suggested her if I didn't have faith in her abilities… When the Horde sabotaged Princess Prom with heat bombs, she was able to hold the Ice Palace together right after being stabbed with a chainsaw." Glimmer explained. Void rubbed her chin and grinned.
"Well, that's slightly reassuring." Void miffed.
"Yeah, and especially now that the Horde attacked her kingdom, I guarantee she's going to be out for blood. If we explain our intentions, I guarantee she'll join up." Glimmer said assuringly. Void nodded.
"I certainly hope so…"
A few hours later…
Just as it was in Princess Prom, the Jet made a landing on the landing pad near the Ice Palace. However, the Ice Palace looked as though it were under construction, still recovering from the Horde's attack. Although Frosta managed to keep the palace from crumbling, there was still a great deal of damage that it suffered.
Once the group landed and began exiting the jet, they received a less than warm welcome from a group of guards running up to the platform, pointing their spears at the group. Void reached for the sword on her back but Glimmer gently pushed her hand down. Glimmer then took a few steps towards the guards who took her advance as a threat.
"Halt! State your business, outsiders!" The guard in front commanded. Glimmer gave the courtesy bow as per the regulation of Princess Prom etiquette to reveal her familiarity of the kingdom. The guards switched glances between each other then to Glimmer. They then stood their spears up and the front guard continued, "I see… a princess. What brings you to the Kingdom of Snows; Princess…?"
"Glimmer." Glimmer said, "but, I'm not a princess… not anymore anyway." Glimmer said, looking away. The guards looked at each other confused. Glimmer then looked back at them and changed the subject, "never mind. I'm here to see Princess Frosta." The front guard scoffed.
"Is that so? And for what purpose?" The front guard demanded. Glimmer was letting the energy of the black garnet fuel her impatience, the sclera in her eyes turning black.
"Listen, you little rent-a-cop, you take me to Frosta right now, or-" Glimmer snapped before Void took a step forward, putting her hand on Glimmer's shoulder. Glimmer growled at this advance, but Void ignored her.
"Please forgive the impatience of my niece… if you could imagine, we're all under quite a bit of duress. We simply have an offer for Her Highness that would be mutually beneficial for our organization as well as the Kingdom of Snows." Void explained.
The guards began talking quietly amongst themselves until the front guard turned back to them.
"Very well, we will take you to Princess Frosta, but you must surrender any weapons you have." The front guard ordered. Void let out an annoyed sigh, but nonetheless, acquiesced. The Night Moons were then escorted to Princess Frosta's chambers.
As the group walked to the throne room, they passed by the main chamber that held Princess Prom. A surge of flashbacks began storming through Glimmer's mind.
"Glimmer, I'm allowed to hang out with other people!" A thought of Bow came into her mind.
"I got into a fight with Bow, and I don't know where Scorpia is!" Another thought came. As they were walking she started silently growling. Any talk that was happening around Glimmer began quieting down until it was completely inaudible to her. She then started having some kind of vision from the past. It was her and Brett fighting near the landing pad...
"Do it then…" Glimmer heard Brett say. She started growling louder. Unbeknownst to her, Void took notice and tried to ask if she was okay.
"You can't do it, can you?" Glimmer shuddered as she further heard Brett in her mind. Suddenly, despite the low temperature in the Ice Palace, Glimmer started sweating.
"You're weak." Once Glimmer heard that, she let out a howl of indignation and pain. Suddenly, she began snapping back to reality as Void shook her.
"Glimmer? Glimmer! What's going on?!" Void demanded. Glimmer shook her head until her mind came completely back to reality. Glimmer looked around nervously at everyone around her. The guards, Void, and the Night Moon soldiers were dumbfounded as to what they had seen. Glimmer simply took a deep breath and narrowed her eyes.
"...Bad memories. Let's go." Glimmer muttered as she pushed past the guards and continued on. Despite that bizarre behavior, the group continued until they made it into Frosta's chamber. As the guards marched inside, they knelt before Frosta and introduced the Night Moons. Void and Glimmer looked around at Frosta's chambers. It could easily have been mistaken for a child's playroom. There were toys, posters of pre-teenage idols, and other various mementos designated for pre-teenage children. Void peered closer to Glimmer.
"You're sure about this?" Void inquired as she looked around, "this room looks like it was built for a ten year old." Void muttered.
"I. Am. ELEVEN AND THREE QUARTERS!" An irritated, young voice bellowed from the end of the room. On her throne, sat Princess Frosta, seemingly recovered from her incident with Brett's chainsaw. Void peered at Glimmer through her mask and scoffed.
"Huh. You're asking for an alliance with this child? Glimmer, I really don't think-" Void began saying before a barrage of ice shot up from the ground and wrapped around Void like a snake. Void then fell to the ground, bound by the ice. Glimmer looked off to see an irate Frosta standing up from her throne, brandishing her hand at Void. Glimmer could not help but chuckle as Void struggled against her bonds.
"Well, Frosta, I'm happy to see that you're back to normal." Glimmer said, casually.
"Just who do you think you are-" Frosta began demanding until she took a closer look. Glimmer took a few more steps and Frosta could make out Glimmer's image.
"...Glimmer?" Frosta inquired, eyeing her up and down. Glimmer folded her arms and smirked.
"Miss me, Frosta?" Glimmer teased. Frosta eyed Glimmer suspiciously.
"I'm… I'm happy to see you. But… But what happened to you? You don't seem as… sparkly." Frosta said awkwardly. Glimmer scoffed.
"I was due for a new look." Glimmer said, chuckling. "But, listen, we need your help." Frosta narrowed her eyes at Glimmer then took her seat back on the throne.
"I already told you, I'm not interested in joining the Rebellion." Frosta retorted. Glimmer grinned and started walking towards Frosta. In the meantime, the Night Moon soldiers were digging Void out of the ice.
"I'm happy to hear that." Glimmer said, frankly. Frosta cocked her eyebrow in confusion. Glimmer then clarified, "because I'm not asking you to join the Rebellion. I'm no longer part of that weak faction. I've joined a new outfit called, 'Night Moon.' We are doing what the Rebellion cannot; that is, destroy the Horde" Glimmer explained. Frosta shuddered upon hearing the word 'Horde.'
"Because that went so well last time…? I nearly died when the Horde attacked, Glimmer." Frosta admitted as a few tears streamed out of her eyes. Glimmer arrived at the throne and wiped the tears from Frosta's eyes.
"That was a cheap surprise attack. If we were to take the fight to them, the scenario would end so much better. Imagine. If we destroy the Horde, you'd never have to worry about it ruining Princess Prom." Glimmer explained. Frosta looked up, suddenly interested in what Glimmer had to say.
"You could get your revenge, and celebrate with another Princess Prom!" Glimmer mused. The more Frosta thought of revenge, the more interested she became.
"I would like to get back at that Horde soldier that… that…" Frosta started shuddering. She then let out a sigh, "that split my stomach open with a chainsaw…" More tears began pouring out of her eyes. Glimmer suddenly wrapped Frosta in a hug. This act of benevolence warmed Frosta greatly; especially since her room was literally frozen over. She even began to blush. Nevertheless, Frosta remained steadfast in her protest.
"But, I just… I can't do this, I-" Frosta began before being interrupted by a rather abrupt and unanticipated move by Glimmer. Glimmer pulled Frosta towards herself and pressed her lips against Frosta. For a brief moment or two, Frosta was more shocked than anything. After those few moments, she embraced it. Glimmer knew it was strange to perform such an act, seeing as how she was several years older than Frosta, but knew that it would relax her and hopefully goad her into joining.
When Frosta pulled away, her cheeks turned a bright red, despite the cold in her kingdom. She let out a few giggles while Glimmer simply grinned at her. Void and the rest of Night Moon merely gazed at the two frenetically. Nevertheless, they were pleased with Frosta's answer to the proposition. Frosta merely chuckled and declared:
"For you, Glimmer, anything…"
And with that, the upcoming battle for Dryl would soon commence…
