Disclaimer:
I do not own She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. I'm pretty sure that it's a Netflix Original, though I imagine Hasbro also has some claim. Point is, not me, please do not sue.
Summary:
When all is said and done, someone has to be held accountable for all that the Horde did to Etheria. So it's Trial Time for the one and only Hordak.
Brightmoon had suffered heavily in the attack from the Galactic Horde. All of Etheria had, of course, but the capitol of the Princess Alliance had been one its first and hardest hit targets. Still, after nearly three months since the defeat of Horde Prime, the citadel was on the mend. Both its walls and its peoples were being repaired and life was largely returning to normal.
Normal enough for a trial, at least.
A relatively new concept, since previously both of the major powers of Etheria, the Alliance and the Horde, would usually defer all of their troubles solely to the judgement of their leaders. But given the circumstances, a new method had been required, and was being implemented this day. A very archaic practice that apparently had fallen out of favor a few centuries back, but would suit this rather unique situation.
Queen Glimmer called for order in the council chambers, which had been radically redesigned for the occasion, the great central table put elsewhere and replaced by numerous benches and chairs more befitting the occasion.
The Queen herself sat at the highest podium at the far end of the room, elevated above all others with a clear view of the surroundings. Since this was to be a military trial, she would also serve as jury, her judgement alone would be the sole deciding factor regarding the accused. A burden she did not look forward to, to judge by the nervous crease marring her pretty features. Glimmer glanced down at Adora and Bow, standing before her podium, the later of whom gave a reassuring nod. They were doing the right thing, hard though it might be.
Once everyone else had filed into the room, Glimmer nodded back at Bow.
"Bring forth the accused."
Acting as their bailiff, Bow did as ordered, making his way out the side door to retrieve them. While he did, Adora breathed out nervously, studying the faces in the crowd. The elite of Etheria were all gathered here today, most of the Princesses, rebel leaders, soldiers, pirates, even some ex-Horde, herself amongst them. All waiting to see the outcome of a trial that could well determine the future of Etheria. Catra was in the front row, looking unusually solemn, wearing her most severe and formal of suits. Adora couldn't help but be amused the tie was actually tied, wondering who had helped her with that. Catra had never learned how to tie it herself. Someone must have helped her.
Down the front row, a lot of her closest friends and allies were also to be found. Perfuma, who looked nervous enough she might well have been on trial herself, nevermind she wasn't. Frosta, arms crossed and valiantly trying to stay awake, bored out of her mind. Past them, Scorpia, who was nervously fidgeting with her enormous claws. Behind them was Netossa and Spinerella, with Double Trouble and Huntara. Micah and one of the castle guards were in another pair of seats on the other side of the audience, talking in low, hushed tones. And further back still Adora caught sight of Grizzlor and Octavia, and Lonnie, Kyle and Rogerlio, with little Imp with them. None of them were in their former Horde uniforms, having all made at least some effort to switch out to more comfortable civilian garb. Swift Wind was even in attendance, standing in the back behind the pews and grumbling somewhat that he still hadn't been able to get a seat of his own.
None of them looked comfortable with what was about to transpire, and she didn't blame them in the slightest. There was a reason Adora was the defense counsel for this trial.
The doors finally swung open, and everyone glanced up as the Brightmoon guards held them open. Bow was escorting the prisoner.
A man in dark gray prison garb, which he none-the-less still wore with the same dignity as he had his old exoskeleton armor. A man with bat-like, pale features, jet-black hair and crimson, pupilless eyes. A man responsible for tragedies and turmoil unprecedented on Etheria since practically recorded history.
Hordak.
His wrists were shackled together, but he stepped forward with his head held high, daring anyone to meet his gaze. None did, though they all watched nervously as he was escorted by Bow to the frontmost desk, where Adora waited for him. He stepped up to his chair with the military bearing that had been drilled into him all of his life. Behind him, Entrapta tried to wave one of her purple hair tendrils in a friendly fashion, about to say something, but Adora gently shushed her. Now was not the time for a friendly gathering. This was a very serious matter indeed.
"Presenting the... er, the prisoner... Hordak," Bow stammered, glancing up at the much taller man beside him. He might well have been carved from stone.
Queen Glimmer nodded. "You may remove his restraints."
"Glimmer?" asked Bow, looking unsure.
Adora nudged his side. "It's 'your honor' here," she explained, having brushed up thoroughly on trial procedure.
"Oh, uh, right, sorry about that, your honor," Bow composed himself quickly. "But uhm, are you sure?"
She nodded, and Bow retrieved his key and removed Hordak's restraints from his wrists. The former Horde leader did not even move, his gaze forward, his shoulders squared, staring at nothing. There was some murmuring from the gathering, but everyone shushed as Glimmer lightly banged her gavel.
"Court is now in session," she called out in a clear voice. "This court recognizes the accused, Hordak... his defense council, Adora of Brightmoon... and prosecutor Mermista of Salineas."
The Princess of the Waves stood and nodded at the prosecutors desk, looking bored with the whole proceedings.
"Co-Counsel Sea Hawk ready to assist!" her co-counsel cowed, having to be dragged back into his seat by the annoyed Mermista. He'd even put on a tie and some glasses in an effort to make himself more professional. He looked like a complete dork, but Mermista had to give him points for trying.
From her own chair beside the podium, Castaspella paid close attention to everything that was said and done, holding a memory mirror in her hand. In the event someone wished to 'replay' a portion of the trial, they would have a magical vision available in the artifact for their later viewing.
Everything seemed to be in place, so Glimmer did her best to remember what was actually supposed to be the first step in a trial. Thankfully, Bow had included some crib notes on her podium (accompanied by cheerful artwork of him smiling) that told her...
"Please read the charges?" she asked.
Bailiff Bow stepped forward, clearing his throat as he consulted his pad. "Hordak is hereby accused of the following War Crimes, including but not limited to multiple invasions of peaceful nations... er... should I read them all?"
Glimmer paused at that. "Should we?"
"That shouldn't be necessary," Adora started to argue. But Mermista cut her off.
"That is totally necessary. But, alright, fine, don't need to go over them all. Maybe just the high points?"
The judge nodded, lightly banging her gavel. "Just the high points."
"... including the nations of Dryl, Salineas, and Brightmoon. There's also a lot of charges of kidnapping children, poisoning Etheria's natural resources, and endangering the very fabric of reality with the use of unstable tech," Bow concluded. Definitely just the high points, and a lot of it circumstantial, but at the moment, it did not paint a very pretty picture.
"Hordak of the Horde, how do you plead?"
For a moment, everyone held their breath, anxious to hear the former warlord's reply. He seemed about ready to reply, when he took a momentary, brief glance at Adora. She nodded reassuringly. This was the right path forward.
Firmly, Hordak gave his reply.
"Guilty."
There was murmuring follow the statement, both from for and against the statement. Hushed whispers fill the air, along with some angry and fearful grumbling. Glimmer silenced it all with a firm bang of her gavel.
"Let the record show, the prisoners reply was... guilty."
"So noted," Castaspella replied. She'd recorded everything.
"We'll begin with opening arguments," Glimmer explained. "Prosecutor Mermista... I believe you go first?"
"Ah, actually your honor, that's me," Adora spoke up. "Due to the unusual nature of this trial."
"Oh, right sorry, that's... that's right. Sorry Mermista."
"Whatever."
Adora smoothed her jacket and stepped forward, taking a moment to make eye contact with Glimmer, with Bow, with Hordak, even with Mermista and the others gathered for the trial. Taking into account any and all lessons she'd managed to take regarding public speaking. Then, sure all eyes were on her, and she had their full attention, she began her opening argument.
"Ladies, gentlemen, Etherians... I know the Horde has done terrible things. There is virtually no one in Etheria who has not been touched by the war we started. But I was part of that very same Horde. So were many others here at this very trial. We've all done awful things, not knowing what we were doing, but we've turned over a new leaf and you've all seen fit to forgive us for what we've done. When the war ended, Hordak agreed to take the blame for everything his brother and the Horde had done if it meant sparing everyone else who'd ever served under his command. So we could all live our lives in peace. No one is questioning his guilt or ours in this. But there has been enough retribution and violence. Let us try forgiveness instead. I implore your honor to consider a suitable, and merciful, sentence for Hordak when this trial is over."
It was a surprisingly eloquent speech, and it tugged at more than a few heartstrings. Some of the audience even looked ready to applaud as Adora retook her seat. With such a tough act to follow, Mermista nearly gave the whole thing a hard pass, but someone had to say something, so she reluctantly climbed to her feet.
The Princess of the Oceans blew out a breath. "Okay, look, I'm not gonna talk a long time but I've got something to say. No one's denying that a lot of good came from some of the Horde. Like Adora, and maybe Catra... sometimes Shadow Weaver, I guess... but the point is, lots of places still got wrecked, including my kingdom, and a lot of people lost their homes. I'm not okay with that. I'm not, like, asking that Hordak be executed or tortured or anything but... somebody's gotta pay. That's all I gotta say."
Opening arguments concluded, the trial had begun in earnest.
The Trial of Hordak.
Authors Notes:
I'm well aware normal trials don't quite proceed like this. Creative license for a better story.
I hope nobody thinks I'm bashing Mermista by making her prosecution. I needed someone to argue their side of the case and she was the most likely to fit the bill (especially after her remark in the finale). No slight against her intended. Plus, since she and Sea Hawk are a team it allows me to change the narrative a bit on occasion.
By contrast, Hordak is easily one of my favorite characters from the new show, and I have enjoyed the chance to explore his character in this story.