This chapter took longer than expected, but that's only because I wanted to make it perfect. With that said, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is produced by Dreamworks Animation Television, and both She-Ra and He-Man are owned by Mattel. Yadda, Yadda, Enjoy.
Chapter 7: Old Soldiers
(The tiny village of Hamnet: later that same day)
From atop her iron throne, Catra, Supreme Leader of the Horde, looked down upon her vast empire and smiled.
Finally, after decades of hardship and bloodshed, the war was over. The Rebellion had been crushed. Queen Angela and her daughter had been slain and the princesses who hadn't surrendered willingly were now either toiling in the foundries of the Fright Zone or rotting away in their cells on Beast Island.
At long last, the Horde had brought peace and order to Etheria.
All that remained was to decide the fate of its greatest enemy.
She-Ra.
The rebels' champion lay at her feet; broken, bloodied, but very much alive. To her left was General Scorpia and to her right was Scientist Supreme Entrapta. If Catra gestured to the left then She-Ra would be savagely beaten to death right before her eyes, but if she gestured to the right then her brain would be reprogramed and she would go back to the way she was before finding that accursed sword.
But which did she want?
Vengeance or nostalgia?
Violence or friendship?
Hatred or love?
SPLASH!
Suddenly, the young feline was jolted back to consciousness by a spontaneous deluge of ice water; letting out a feral hiss as she jerked upright.
Ah yes, now she remembered. She was not Catra, Supreme Leader of the Horde, sitting upon an iron throne. She was Catra, penniless refugee on a strange world, sleeping on a park bench.
Reality is always such a disappointment.
Anyway, with her situation reaffirmed, the young Force Captain looked around to find out who had given her such a rude awakening. To her immediate right she saw two men in uniform; one of them was carrying a bucket full of water balloons. It didn't take a genius to figure this one out.
"Can I help you, officers?" Catra asked politely, despite how irritated she was.
"Benches are for sitting, not sleeping." Said the one with the bucket, in a whiney, effeminate voice. "Time for you to hit the bricks."
"Oh come on. I'm not hurting anybody. There's nobody else here." The young feline said as she attempted to reason with the two goons. "Besides, that lady cop said it was fine yesterday."
"I'm afraid the situation has changed." Said the other man, his voice more masculine and authoritative. "The mayor passed a new law this morning. All vagrants, vagabonds and unemployed undesirables are no longer allowed within city limits and are to be executed on sight."
"Unfortunately, the law doesn't go into effect until next week. So for now we're just giving out warnings." The whiney one chimed in smugly. "But just in case you were getting any funny ideas, we're permitted to shoot anybody who poses a potential threat. So keep your claws to yourself, Pussykins."
Catra wanted nothing more than to rip this smug bastard's throat out and leave his body for the neighborhood dogs. But one look at the blaster on his belt made her think twice. It looked somewhat similar to the standard issue ones given out to Horde Cadets, but based on what she'd seen since wandering into this town, these officers had much better aim. So instead of giving in to her baser instincts, the young feline just sighed and said,
"Fine."
And without another word, she just stood up and walked away.
But as she did, she could hear those two jerks gloating in the background.
"And thus, another malfeasant slinks away with her tail between her legs." Said the deep voiced one with more than a hint of pride. "Come on, I think I saw a whole family huddled up behind the butcher shop."
"Man, can you believe we get paid to do this?" asked the whiney one giddily.
"I know, what a time to be alive."
'Meatheads.' Catra thought bitterly as she made her way to the park's main gate. 'Can't believe I let them talk to me like that. Why didn't I just kill them?'
But in reality, she already knew the reason why. This world, this 'Eternia', had pounded the fight out of her.
The past week had been one humiliation after another. After the incident at the Amethyst Tower, Catra had found herself lost and delirious in a strange and unfamiliar forest. She'd wandered around in a hallucinogenic daze for hours, until she finally came to in farmer's pigpen; lying face down in the slop trough no less. Then, after nearly getting impaled by the angry farmer, she stumbled into the sleepy little town of Hamnet, where she was immediately mistaken for a vagrant and was shunned accordingly; partly due to her lack of money, but mostly due to her reeking of mud and pig excrement. Since then, she'd been cursed at, spat on, shot at, and kicked in the stomach at least a dozen times; sometimes by the citizens, but usually by the police.
And worst of all, there was nothing she could do about it. Her rank and title as Force Captain meant nothing out here. The Horde, as far as she could tell, did not exist on this world, and the badge on her chest was as worthless as garbage.
But then why did she still insist on wearing it?
Nostalgia?
Not likely. She had very few pleasant memories of the Fright Zone that didn't involve her archnemesis.
Loyalty?
Yeah right. There's no way Hordak was going to send someone to come after her; even if he could get the Tower working again. So why should she be loyal to someone who wasn't loyal to her?
Pride?
Yes, that sounded more like her. She worked long and hard to earn her position. Granted, a good chunk of her success was owed to betrayal and dumb luck, but still, she'd earned her badge. And after all this time, she'd just feel naked without it.
No, for better or worse, the Horde was a huge part of her identity and she would not forsake it.
Even if they had already forsaken her.
XXX
(Elsewhere in this sleepy town)
It was late in the afternoon when a gentle touch awoke him from his sound sleep.
A noisy lorikeet had kept him up most of the night, so he wasn't particularly pleased to be roused from his afternoon nap. However, once he saw the friendly and familiar face of the perpetrator, he elected to hold his tongue.
"Oh, hello there, Maggie." He said pleasantly, before quickly remembering proper protocol. "I mean, good afternoon, Officer Burchill."
"It's alright, Pops. There's no need to stand on ceremony." Replied the officer, a stout, middle-aged woman with dirty blonde hair. "Especially not today."
Something in the way she said that made 'Pops' feel uneasy.
"Then I take it this isn't just a social call."
"I'm afraid not." Maggie replied, sounding both nervous and a little guilty. "The Mayor passed a new law this morning. He calls it the 'Beautification Act', but all it does is give his bullies the right to shoot homeless people."
"Is that even legal?"
"Technically no, but more technically yes." She answered cryptically. "Look, that might be King Randor's flag flying over townhall, but we both know who really runs this place."
"The Spiders." 'Pops' said spitefully.
"That'd be them. They love only money and they hate anyone who doesn't have it. As far as they're concerned, people like you are just wastes of space, so they're letting the Mayor get rid of you for 'em."
"I see… So is this an execution?"
"No, at least not yet." Maggie explained. "The law doesn't come into effect until next week, so for now we're only allowed to give out warnings, but that won't stop some of my coworkers from having their 'fun'. So before that happens, I just wanted to make sure you were on your way out."
"I see, how very considerate of you." 'Pops' replied sarcastically.
"Hey, don't give me that. You think I like living in this town? Working for those thugs and fat cats? I hate it! But I don't have any choice! Not unless I wanna end up like you!"
By all rights, he should have taken offense at that remark, but the look on her face told him she regretted it.
"Look, I'm sorry, I… I didn't come here to argue. I just… I wanted to give you something before you left." The officer admitted before discreetly handing him a small satchel. "Here."
"Is this…"
"That's right. G-O-L-D. Enough to get you some food and a ticket out of town. Just be careful who sees you with that, okay."
"Alright, and thank you."
"Thank me by getting out of town in one piece." Maggie replied bluntly, before softening up just a bit. "And take care of yourself. Okay, Pops?"
"Oh, don't you worry about me." He replied as he got up and made his way to the end of the alley. "Worry about everyone else."
XXX
(The local shuttle station: a little later on)
Tired, humiliated and still smelling of pig waste, Catra sat down on the bench outside the shuttle station and sulked.
How low she had sunk. To be chased out of this dinky little nowhere town. To be forced to flee without even putting up a fight. To slink away with her tail between her legs.
And why?
Because she was dirty.
Because she smelled bad.
Because she had no money.
Fie!
Fie on this town and everyone in it!
She didn't need them or anyone else.
She was doing just fine on her own.
Even if she didn't know where she was going.
"Is this seat taken?" asked a soft and snakelike voice, snapping her back to reality.
Seemingly out of nowhere, a mysterious figure appeared before her. He was tall, whoever he was, nearly twice her own height, and impossibly thin. Aside from that, Catra couldn't see much else; the stranger's entire body was draped in a loose, brown burlap like material with a hood obscuring his face. But underneath that hood, she could just barely make out a pair of yellow eyes.
"I said, is this seat taken?" he repeated, a little louder this time.
"What? Oh, uh… no. Help yourself."
"Much appreciated." He replied before taking a seat beside her. "Rough day, kiddo?"
"What gave it away? The way I look or the way I smell?"
"A bit of both. But I've smelled much worse." The stranger answered jokingly. "I don't remember seeing you around here before. Are you new in town?"
"Nothing gets past you, eh slim?"
"Now, now, there's no need for rudeness." The thin man replied. "I was only making conversation."
"sigh. Sorry. I've just kinda had a bad… week."
"Had a run-in with the local authorities, eh?"
"At least a dozen times since I got here, and now that they've had their fun with me, they're kicking me out. Just throwing me away like I was garbage. Story of my life, I guess."
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I'm in the same boat." The stranger said, apparently trying to forge some kind of connection. "It wasn't always this way, you know. When I first wandered into this town ten years ago it was a paradise. Nice friendly people. Lots of shady alleys to sleep in. There was even a truck that came around three times a week to delivery hot meals to the homeless."
"So what happened?"
"Oh, about two years ago they elected a new mayor with a certain disdain for the financially challenged. And the people, mindless sheep that they are, or at least the vast majority, decided to get into his good graces by adopting his anti-poor philosophy. Of course, things didn't really start to go bad until the Spiders showed up."
"The Spiders?"
"You know, the Spider Guild. Nothing but lowlife crooks, every one of them. They already control every industry on the Dark Hemisphere. Do they really need to spin their webs on our side too?"
"So this town is controlled by criminals? That explains a lot."
"Yes, but good luck proving it. So far, all they've done is set up a private security company and a casino, and both those things are perfectly legal according to King Randor. And since they've brought in so much new money to the town, the Mayor lets them do whatever they want; including tell him what to do."
Upon hearing this, Catra's blood began to boil. Such blatant corruption. Such an overwhelming lack of discipline and common decency. Let the Rebels say what they want about the Horde, but this kind of thing would never happen in a township under their control. No competent Force Captain would ever allow it.
"Oh~ I know that look." The stranger said with an odd timber of amusement in his voice.
"What look?"
"Oh, don't play coy with me, young one. I know what you were thinking."
"Oh yeah, then what was I thinking?"
"You were thinking how disgusted you were by all the wanton corruption, and how much better things would be if only a true leader would step in and rid us of these vermin."
"Lucky guess."
"You're a soldier aren't you, dearie?"
Catra's eyes widened in surprise.
"How did…"
"Oh, I just have a sixth sense about these things." The old man explained. "I was a soldier myself once. A long, long time ago. A captain in the greatest army this world has ever seen. I had riches, fame and power. I envied no man."
"Then how did you end up down here in the gutter?"
"I chose loyalty to my General over loyalty to my Emperor, and for that I was punished. Abandoned and left to rot in this squalor."
"Yeah, well, life's unfair all over." Catra replied with bitter sarcasm. "So, what are you gonna do now?"
"I've recently come into some money. Not much, but enough to purchase a ticket out of Hamnet." The old soldier explained. "I think I shall go to Eternos. I hear there are shelters there that feed and clothe the likes of us."
"Sounds nice." The young feline said halfheartedly. "I don't have any money, so I'll probably just stowaway on the next one that comes around. I don't really have a destination in mind."
"Well, why don't you come with me?" the stranger offered. "I have more than enough money to secure another ticket. And I wouldn't mind the company."
"sigh. Thanks, but… I'd prefer to be alone." The former Force Captain admitted sullenly as she removed the badge from her chest and held it up so she could look at it. "I'm not much of a team player anymore."
Catra didn't notice this at the time, but her cloaked companion's eyes went wide with astonishment as they fell upon the emblem in question.
"Is that…"
SPLASH!
In the flash of an instant, a familiar icy deluge propelled Catra back to reality.
With a hiss and a sputter, she shook off the excess water and started looking for the one responsible. Fortunately, she didn't have to look too far. For there, standing less than ten feet away was one of the policemen who had been harassing her earlier; the smaller effeminate one to be exact. Only now he was out of uniform, but still carrying around that damned bucket.
"I wasn't sleeping!" Catra snapped at the apparently off duty officer.
"I know, that was for the smell." The effeminate officer replied snidely. "And my shift may have ended, but I'm still armed, and I have the right to defend myself. So I'd watch my tone if I were you, vagrant."
"My name isn't vagrant." The young feline said defiantly as she suddenly rose to her feet. "And if I were you, I'd be a spineless, sniveling worm who takes orders from criminals."
"Now that's just slander." The whiney cop replied as he started to reach for his blaster. "The Spiders are legitimate businessmen, and unlike you they pay taxes. They just follow a different philosophy than those bleeding-heart tree huggers in the capitol. But ask yourself, which is the more logical path? To waste hundreds of thousands of dollars of the taxpayers' money on people who don't even pay taxes, or to use that same money on something that brings more money to the community?"
"You are so full of sh…"
"Watch your mouth, bitch!" the off duty cop said as he pointed his blaster straight at her head. "I'm just following the laws of nature. The strong live and the weak die. It's just that us upright mammals have a different definition of strength."
"You're nothing but a little man drunk on what little power you have." Catra said boldly as she bared her claws and walked right up to the gun toting cretin. "But if you wanna see what real strength is, why don't you throw that popgun away and fight me like a man."
"Hmm… No thanks." he replied nonchalantly as he aimed for Catra's forehead. "I prefer to win."
In that moment, time seemed to stand still. The young feline had less than a fraction of a second to react and even she wasn't sure what she was going to do. Her mind and body were running on autopilot. Would she pounce? Would she duck? Or would she just stand there and let the plasma turn her brain into goo?
The policeman seemed to think the latter, for as he prepared to pull the trigger he smirked and said,
"Lights out, you filthy cuOOOOMMMMF!"
It all happened so fast, Catra barely had time to process it.
One minute the cop was smirking, and the next there was a hand smothering his face.
A shriveled, green, webbed hand.
After another second or two, the former Force Captain's senses finally caught up with her and she noticed who the hand belonged to.
It was the old man from the bench, and he was squeezing the policeman's face like foam stress ball.
"What a rude and badly dressed little man you are." The tall man said as he tightened his grip and lifted the whiney cop high into the air. "Clearly your parents did a dreadful job raising you. I'll bet you've never been disciplined once in your entire life."
"OOOOOOMFFF! UGH! OOOOOMMPHPPH!" the policeman screamed as he attempting in vain to pry the thin man's hand off his face.
"Well, let's see if we can fix that."
Suddenly, there was a horrible slurping sound; like someone was trying to suck the juice from an orange using a bicycle pump.
As the seconds ticked on, the sound grew louder and louder, and something strange started to occur. The policeman's struggles grew weaker and his body began to shrivel up like a raisin. While on the opposite end, the stranger's body started to grow and expand. Skin and bones became muscle and sinew. And his pale, wrinkled skin grew darker and more youthful.
Within moments, the cop's struggles ceased; his body seemingly drained of all fluids. So without another word, the now hulking stranger dropped the mummified husk and let it hit the ground with an almost inaudible thud.
Her eyes still wide with shock, Catra regained enough of her composure to examine her savior properly. With his newfound bulk, the stranger's body was much more visible beneath his cloak, and oh what a sight he was. Honestly, the young feline wasn't sure what to make of him. A giant fanged toad? Some kind of humanoid eel? Perhaps a little of both?
"Ah~ That's better." He said, his voice sounding much deeper than before. "I haven't had a meal like that in ages."
The stranger looked down at the young feline and gave her what amounted to a grotesque looking smile.
"Apologies, my dear, for stepping in on your battle." He said politely as he adjusted his collar to reveal a familiar looking pendant; a small silver shield imprinted with a pair of crimson bat wings. "But I couldn't, in good conscience, allow a fellow Force Captain to die in such an undignified manner."
Needless to say, Catra was completely floored by this sudden turn of events. But before she could even try to process it, a siren went off in the distance.
"Ah, that would be the authorities, I suspect." The stranger remarked. "And things being the way they are, I don't think they'll be willing to hear our side. I suggest we make a hasty retreat. Come along, dear."
"Wait!" Catra said, still very much in shock. "Who… Who are you?"
"For the past ten years, the people of this town have called me 'Pops'." He said, flashing her another of his decidedly unpleasant smiles. "But you, my pet, may call me Leech."
End Notes:
Thanks so much for reading and I'll see you in the next time.
Peace.
