I was only fifteen years old when I was forcefully taken from my family and joined the Hord as a soldier. I remember seeing my parents try and grab for me as the soldier was dragging me away, and I remember seeing them being shot right before my eyes. I remember screaming for them as I was dragged away and forced onto a vehicle with others. I screamed and cried as I banged on the door once it was slammed shut behind me. The others, I believe most of them were kids, but I don't remember for sure, cried as they huddled in the back, scared for their lives no doubt, tears fell down my face as I continued to scream and curse at those people, no monsters, for doing this to us. What did we do wrong? We were just people living in our little village, we never hurt anyone, we never did anything wrong. So what have we done to deserve people to be killed and taken from our homes like this?

I had to bite back a sob that bubbled in my throat as I slid down to the floor, and gave one more punch to the door.

What did we do wrong?

We were in that small space for a long time, or what felt like it to be, before the doors opened back up and more of those monsters stood in the opening, and a few climbed in, I was the first one pulled out since I was so close to the door, and was dragged by a monster to a room that held beds, and on the wall, there was what looked to be a black mirror, others were also forced into the room, with those monsters watching us, more than likely to make sure that we couldn't run, there was around 25 of us before many of the soldiers walked out and the door was shut, I could hear the sound of a click, they locked us in.

Then the black mirror that hung on the wall changed as the light emitted from it and a skeleton-like face with glowing red eyes appeared in the mirror. The thing called itself Hordak. It explained how we were lucky to have been chosen to join his cause to conquer Etheria, and how we were expected to do as we were told or else face harsh punishment, and how we would start training first thing in the morning.

Morning came, and like what that Hordak said, we were forced into uniforms of white and red and had to make our way to a training room, in there, there were plenty of weapons and technology we had never seen before, and we were expected to learn how to use them all.

Over six grueling months, many of the people that had been in my batch had died, either they were killed by soldiers for trying to escape, killed themselves, or allowed illness to claim them.

I wasn't so fortunate. I never tried to escape, because even if I were to escape, I had nowhere to return to, my family was dead, I would never have the guts to end my own life, and I never got sick.

I have been beaten before, several times, due to not being on some other soldiers' levels, even though they had been there so much longer than I, and they expect me to be a skilled killer like them, even though I was forced from my home and brought here against my will and forced to join a war I never wanted a part in, and in an army where I'm against their beliefs and their goal.

However I just sucked it up and kept going, listening to what they told me, so I wouldn't get hurt, I may hate what has happened to me and those in my batch, and I hate this army with all that muster, but perhaps, I could live long enough to see this war to an end, and maybe the right side would prevail.

A year and a half later.

I stared at my reflection. I felt like a shell of who I use to be, and I was 17.

My light brown hair what I kept back in a braid was a mess with uneven cuts and split ends, I should do something about that, and my brown eyes looked so dull and lifeless. Then again do I deserve to be alive after everything I have done after being forced to join the Hord? At least the freckles that dotted my cheeks and nose were still the same.

I let out a sigh as I left my shared room, only to be confronted by my squadron captain, I never bothered to remember his name, he told me that I had a new assignment, and to follow him. I stayed quiet but gave him a nod to show that I understood, I followed him down the many halls of the Fright Zone, but soon I noticed that we were in an unfamiliar area, or at least an area I had never ventured down. Soon we came up to a room and walked inside, and there stood a woman with long black hair wearing a red dress and a mask that hid her face, but her eyes had a glow to them.

"Is this her?" She asked, in a rather bored voice.

My captain gave a nod and then explained my assignment, why he didn't do that as we walked was beyond me, but then again he didn't think ahead like that.

I was assigned to be pretty much a nanny to a batch of infants and take care of them until they were ready to start training, and after they would relive me and the kids would be going to their official ward, the woman who's name was Shadow Weaver. She would come and visit to make sure she deemed I was doing my job right, but wouldn't take care of them, well, except one, who she explained was given to her by Hordak himself.

So forced to be a soldier against my will, and now I have to help raise the next generation of future killers for this army, lucky me.

I was led to my new quarters, it was just as plain as all the other rooms in this place, but the main difference was that 5 cribs lined the walls. So my room doubled as the nursery?

I then heard someone behind me and turned to see who it was, not that it would be anyone that I'd recognized, and it was a soldier holding two babies, and another soldier entered as well also holding two babies.

The first soldier held two sleeping girls, one with dark skin and darker hair, and the other looked like that of a cat, I would've thought more of it but the soldier behind him held two sleeping boys and one was a green lizard child, so I couldn't be shocked, and the other was a pale boy with light whips of blond hair.

The babies were placed in the cribs, and I noticed how each crib held a name tag, at least they get names. The little cat girl's name was Catra, the dark-skinned one was named Lonnie, the lizard child was Rogelio, and the blond boy was Kyle. Each of the kids was asleep for the time being so that'd give me some time to relax, but my gaze seemed to wonder over to the fifth crib, the name Adora spelled out on the name tag, that must be the child Shadow Weaver was talking about from earlier, but they're more than likely will be times I'd have to watch her, she is ranked higher up, so she'd have more responsibilities than others.

The soldiers walked out of the room, their job is done, leaving me alone with the kids. I shook my head and walked over to my new bed, I flopped down onto the surface, it was hard and uncomfortable, just like my old bed, and closed my eyes for a hopefully peaceful sleep, because if I know anything about raising kids, you lose a lot of it.

The sound of crying rang in my ears, waking me from my slumber. Here we go.

I stood up with a yawn and walked over to the cribs, I was lucky it was only of them, but I knew the others would join if I didn't get the other one to quiet down. It was from Kyle.

I sighed to myself as I picked him up and cradled him in my arms, trying to rock him quickly yet gently in hopes that he'd quit crying faster, so the others wouldn't join in. I walked back over to the bed and sat, still rocking Kyle in my arms, he looked so small and pale.

Tears streamed down his face as he continued to cry, I bit my lip, I didn't want to hear four crying kids at once, and I wasn't for sure if the room was soundproof, but I remembered something at that moment. There was a bittersweet rush of nostalgia flow through me as I remembered my mother, she would always sing me a song anytime I was upset growing up.

Looking down at Kyle I took a breath and quietly sang that old song.

"Hush now my child, dry those little tears.

Pain is temporary, but I am always here.

You'll never be alone, so don't you cry or fret.

I will help you grow, to be the best that you will be.

His sobs started to die down.

Because I am always here..."

There was a clenching feeling in my chest and I felt tears well in my eyes, it had been so long since I remembered my mother, I tried so hard to suppress my old life because it hurt, it hurt so much. I let out a shaky breath and looked down at Kyle, who looked at me with small brown eyes, only to smile.

It was quite infections as I couldn't help but smile back. I remember thinking that, perhaps being a caretaker wouldn't be so bad.

I let out a sigh as I exited the room, the kids were asleep and I could have a moment to think for myself. It had been some months since I was appointed as the caretaker for the four, and just like I expected, things were chaotic in trying to take care of four at once, and on the rare occasion five when Shadow Weaver dropped off Adora, with blonde hair and bright blue eyes, I remember the first time I held her, I had this weird feeling that she was the key to stopping the war.

What a silly thought.

I stood outside my door for some time, I didn't have many windows of opportunity to have some peace like this, only for Shadow Weaver walk...guild up to me.

I straightened up, "What can I do for you Shadow Weaver?"

She stared at me for a moment and then asked, "What do you think of your charges?"

That was rather confusing, after all, they were only some months old, they don't have fully developed personalities or skills as of yet. "Well, they are rather well behaved, for babies that is."

Her eyes seemed to narrow behind her mask, only to quickly, and harshly, grab my chin and force me to look at her, even though I was already doing so. My heart raced as my breath caught in my throat, what was she doing? "Let me give you a little word of advice, don't make the same mistake many caretakers before you have made. Don't get attached."

She then let me go, I was finally able to breathe again as I stumbled back into the wall. I looked at her, trying not to look fearful at he sudden and rough contact, but she already had her back turned and said, "Do I make myself clear, attachments will do nothing but hinder you and them."

I swallowed, and tried to look unaffected, "Yes Shadow Weaver."

"Good."

She then walked away, I felt a bubble of anger in my chest but took a deep breath. I'll make my own choices, and I won't let her get in the way. If I get attached to those kids, then I will, maybe I can give them more compassion and help them see early on, that there is a better life then the Hord.

The years went by, the kids would be turning five soon, and I had already turned 22. I sat in the chair in the corner reading one of the few books that weren't Hord related that was available around here, Kyle was curled up on one side looking at the pages, and Rogelio was curled up on the other with his eyes closed. Lonnie was sprawled across the floor with a paper and pencil, they didn't have coloring supplies around here for kids, I wasn't surprised by this, and Catra and Adora sat in the corner playing with one another.

I looked over at the two, after a year of taking care of them, Shadow Weaver took Catra, claiming that Adora needed to be around another child more in her care, so I was down to three, but I still took care of them when it was needed.

I couldn't help but smile, I grew to love these kids as if they were my own. I fed them, watched them grow, I was there for their first steps, and their first words, and yet they grew up on me so fast. They even called me big sis, which yeah I don't think I'd be completely comfortable being called mom.

"Sis!"

I looked up and saw Lonnie holding up a picture, it had six 'people' on it, but in crude handwriting under it was the word family written under. I knew I smiled, I smiled whenever they made something like that, during those moments they made me forget that we were in this horrible situation, where we were only tools for war, that we were not even viewed as people.

I patted her head and she smiled, I was glad she even included Catra and Adora, even though they didn't get to be around each other that much.

There was then a knock at the door. I was able to stand without disrupting the boys too bad and answered it, it was my old commander, and I still didn't know his name.

"Tasha you're being relived."

"Excuse me?"

"You're no longer a caretaker, you'll be heading back to your old quarters tonight, and the children will be placed in their own, they start training tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? They're not even five yet, and they're being expected to start training?!"

He glared at me, but I don't back down.

"What did you think was going to happen? That's why they're here, that's their job."

"A job they never asked for!"

He let out a sigh, "Look, you got attached, you just need to let it go, they'll be fine, as training takes years to complete, so you don't have anything to worry about. Besides, you don't want Shadow Weaver to know that you got attached to the brats."

I bit my lip and dug my tails into the skin of my palm, but released, had to appear unaffected. "Fine, but can I say my goodbyes, since I'll more than likely never see them again?"

He rolled his eyes at me, "Fine, but make it quick."

I closed the door and turned to see the kids looking up at me, this was going to be hard.

Lonnie asked me what was wrong, she was so straightforward like that, and I answered the best I could in a way that they'd understand. "Well kids, it seems like you kids will be moving rooms."

"Really?"

"Yeah," it hurt to smile, "And there'll be other kids around your ages as well, so you kids can make more friends."

"And you'll be coming too?"

That was a punch in the gut, "No, I have another job to do, so I may not see you, kids, for a while."

I then felt something attach to my leg, it was Kyle, "No, don't go."

It broke my heart, I still didn't think Kyle would make it long as a soldier. I ran a hand through his hair, "Don't worry, I'll try to see you as much as possible, I don't want to leave you either though."

"You promise to visit?"

"Of course."

They then hugged me, Adora and Catra were more detached but at least they tried, it worried me how Shadow Weaver must be treating them.

They then gave me their pictures in hopes that I would remember them and think of them whenever I saw it. I helped them pack their things and we were forced to depart, they didn't let me go with the kids to see their new room.

I sighed and walked back to my old quarters, thoughts of the kids swirled in my head for hours and into the night, and it was then that I came up with a plan to escape, and take the kids with me. It was so stupid to use that plan, it wasn't thought out and it was a mess, but I was so desperate to keep them safe that I threw caution into the wind and went for it.

Once I knew the people in the shared room was asleep I packed my bag with my few belongings and started to make my way around the Fright Zone, I was guessing the room they were held in was in the same area as where I and the others were when we were first forced here.

However, my trip was short-lived as when I turned down a hallway there stood the woman in this building I'd grown to hate over the years, Shadow Weaver.

"What are you doing here, shouldn't you be in bed, I heard you had patrol in the morning."

"Couldn't sleep."

"Then why are you carrying a packed bag?"

She was on to me, but I could also feel an overwhelming sense of fear, much like our many previous encounters. I heard her sigh, "I warned you not to get attach."

She then raised her hand, flight response kicking in I ran the other way, I had to get out, she knew, and she was going to alert the entire base, they'd kill me, then who'd watch the kids.

There was a weight in my chest, I had to leave them behind, there was no way I could go back now, Shadow Weaver would surround the area with so many guards. Swallowing I continued to run to the hanger, I was able to avoid a few soldiers who tried to grab me, I could hear my heartbeat roaring in my ears, and got on one of the boards. Looking back, I could see some people coming my way, so getting it on, I was able to get the doors open, and I flew off, getting ahead by miles before they could get their rides, but I couldn't celebrate early. I was a traitor, and they hunt them down and make sure that they never utter a word of what goes on behind those walls, and what their plans are.

I looked back and saw the distancing Fright Zone, I promised myself that I would come back for them, that I'd get them out and we could be a real family without the Hoard breathing down our necks, that we could be happy.

Soon enough I made it into the whispering woods, I had never been in them before, but I heard many things about them, and with so many unexpected twists and turns, that I didn't expect a tree, I was barely able to avoid it but crashed in the process, I landed harshly on the ground, I'd be feeling that in the morning, and looked at the damaged board, maybe I could fix it.

However before I could attempt to do anything with it I head voice, they caught up quickly. Quickly I buried myself in a bush, hopefully they wouldn't see me. I head them stop and talk, but my rapid heartbeat pounded in my ears, but they said something on how I'd end up dead in the woods, and that there'd be no point to bring it back since it'd be scrapped anyway. They turned back and left, I let out a sigh, and I could feel my body start to crash, I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore after that adrenaline rush, I can figure everything out in the morning and make a plan then.

I was then introduced to a world of unconsciousness.