The Fright Zone
"Alright since none of you will answer me, Troupes search the building! I want that thief found!" Adora commanded, anxious to retrieve the lost princess's crown.
"Yes Captain Adora!" Responded all the soldiers to their captain.
From there everyone searched the pub, Perfuma used her plants to lift furniture and search in places she couldn't see. Frosta used her ice fists to try and threaten the other patrons into telling her where Hordak was. Bow, being Bow, tried to befriend the patrons and ask politely. Meanwhile Mermista would interrogate the thugs and ruffians all while giving her signature judgmental face to pressure them into telling the truth. Glimmer mostly relied on her own magic and teleportation to check every nook and cranny of the pub. All the while Adora used her sword to pull the truth out of the undesirables around her.
"Oh I nearly forgot, come in you two! I want you right where I can see you!" Adora commanded as she pulled on a chain attached to her belt.
Immediately none other than Catra and Scorpio were pulled through the door. For after having lost their little skirmish with the royal guard they lost and were captured. So all the while as they searched for Hordak the two fugitives were being dragged around in chains.
"I can't believe we actually lost to you!" Catra grumbled angrily.
"Uh Catra, you may not want to, you know, upset our captures." Scorpia said as she laughed uncomfortably, wanting to live to see tomorrow.
Adora just ignored her as she was then approached by a large lizard man who held out a Horde clone. Unable to actually speak the creature just roared as he held out the clone in front of him.
"As my captor said it is I! Hordak thief and leader of the horde! Bow down to me!" The clone said quite dramatically.
However Adora just cringed and face palmed herself.
"Huh no fake or wrong Hordaks please!" Adora said already annoyed by the ruffians around her.
As this went on Glimmer teleported next to her having checked all the upstairs.
"No sign of him upstairs Adora!" Glimmer said flabbergasted at the fact no one was there
"Clear in the cellar!" Perfuma added.
"Clear on the main floor!" Mermista called out.
"None of the men here will say a word." Bow chimed in.
"Ugh! Where in the world could he be!" Adora yelled as she stabbed her sword in a nearby column.
It was then a loud neigh could be heard from outside.
"For justice!" Swift Wind cried as he skidded into the pub in complete disarray.
For a moment he just stood there panting and disheveled as others stared at the strange talking horse, till Adora adjusted.
"Swift Wind!" Adora cried as she ran to her dear friend.
"Adora!" Swift Wind cried back as he then embraced his friend.
"Swift Wind what happened? Why did you fly off like that?!" Adora asked having been riddled with worry since Swift Wind just flew off.
"At first I was just chasing the thief down heroically and then next thing I knew I was plummeting into the river to my death. But nobly I survived and then I chased him down some more but haven't found a trace till I tracked his scent here. And I am determined to find him and bring him to justice!" Swift Wind explained in his usual melodramatic way as if he were a story book hero.
"I'm sure you will Swifty, but for now just rest and let the rest of us handle thi.." Adora started to say before being cut off by Swift Wind.
"Wait! I smell him!" Swift Wind said stoically as he frantically started to smell around the bar.
"Swift Wind, what are you doing?! We already checked and he's not here!" Adora tried to tell Swift Wind, concerned about her horse.
But despite Adora's pleas Swift Wind knew his nose never lied so he continued to sniff around. Step by step he followed the scent, dodging around anyone who stood in his way, till he was led behind the bar. Swift Wind looked around the bar but didn't see anything indicating Hordak was there, until he took one last smell of the area. Immediately the scent trail turned behind him and he noticed something rather odd about one of the taps. Out of curiosity he pulled it back and the trapped door dropped open revealing a secret passageway.
"Haha I knew I smelt that feind! Come friends let us pursue him!" Swift Wind cried bravely as he flew into the trap door.
"Swift Wind wait! Ugh that horse is going to be the death of me. Glimmer watch the prisoners!" Adora commanded knowing Swift Winds nose was better than any other tracking source.
"I'll keep them right where you let them!" Glimmer said with bold determination.
"I have no doubt you will, everyone else fallout, we're getting that crown thief!" Adora yelled as she charged with the rest of the group into the passageway.
"Be careful and good luck!" Glimmer called out to her friends, their safety always being her foremost thought.
"So only you'll be guarding us sparkles?" Catra asked rather insincerely.
"My name is Glimmer and yes I will be sure you stay put right here until my team comes back." Glimmer said as she tried to keep her cool with the rather grating prisoner.
"Oh wow, how threatening to be watched over by the soldier whose power is sparkling and shining." Catra taunted obnoxiously.
"Uh Catra, maybe we shouldn't be poking at our captor." Scorpia tried to say discreetly as possible.
But it was too late and Glimmer started to get ticked by Catra's demeaning commentary.
"Look here thief, my power isn't sparkles, I teleport and happen to be a powerful sorceress as well. So watch yourself, and I wouldn't be mouthing off if I were you. You see those handcuffs there?" Glimmer said trying to keep calm but her frustration started to spill out.
Catra looked down at the large and heavy handcuffs around her wrists.
"Yeah and what about them sparkles?" Catra asked patronizing her captor further.
"Those handcuffs cancel out any magical powers or abilities. So no amount of tricking or taunting is going to free you Catra!" Glimmer said with a confident smirk on her face as she then turned around.
"Oh really, but what about natural abilities?" Catra said with a devious smirk as she nudged Scorpia.
"What do you mean by natural abili.." Glimmer asked as she turned around only to see Scorpia's tail come flying at her.
Glimmer tried to teleport away but just as she was leaving Scorpia's tail stung her and also teleported with her. The two then appeared a few feet away Scorpia free of her hand cuffs and Glimmer paralyzed on the floor.
"Haha stupid soldier, so easily riled up like the rest of them. Now get me out of these handcuffs!" Catra demanded.
Immediately, after grabbing the keys at Glimmers side, Scorpia ran to Catra and started to undo her handcuffs.
"Are you sure this is all worth it for some crown. I mean we could probably easily steal other things and make just as much money." Scorpia timidly tried to reason with Catra.
"No! We could never make as much money than with that crown! We're going after Hordak and making him pay for betraying us, if it's the last thing we do. Now come on we have to catch up!" Catra commanded not abiding betrayal and being used well.
"Ok Catra, whatever you say." Scorpia tried to say in her usual cheerful manor but deep down knew this wouldn't end well.
So the two ran into the passageway unaware another person was watching them. This was none other than Shadow Weaver who cursed herself for trusting the soldiers to get the work she wanted done. However as she cursed herself, the clone that Adora called wrong Hordak was sneaking out to avoid the guards only to notice Shadow Weaver.
"Hello Madame may I ask as to why you're here in such an establishment?" Wrong Hordak asked concerned for the woman.
"Oh you dear thing, I'm here looking for my daughter. She's the one with the long purple hair and goggles." Shadow Weaver said returning to her defenseless woman facade.
"Oh you mean Entrapta, what a wonderful girl she is, never have I left this establishment feeling so good about myself. And all it took was a small young woman to look past my outside and see the good inside me." Wrong Hordak said with pure enamorment.
This distressed Shadow Weaver greatly as the narrative she tried to feed Entrapta was getting more and more cracked.
"Oh that's my daughter, a true talent of hers. But I really must get her home, so could you please tell me where that passageway leads to so I can fetch her? Shadow Weaver asked as innocently as possible.
However as she said those words it occurred to Wrong Hordak he never mentioned the passageway to Shadow Weaver. He also remembered how Entrapta had never left her tower because her mother never let her. So if this woman was who she said she was, why did she keep Entrapta locked up?
"What passageway mame?" Wrong Hordak asked politely as to not make the woman suspicious.
"Why the one inside your bar." Shadow Weaver said trying to keep up her facade though her patience was growing thin.
"Oh I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about Madame. But if you'll excuse me I really have to get somewhere. But I will keep an eye out for your daughter, so if you don't mind I.." Wrong Hordak started to say as he tried to run away, only to have Shadow Weaver grab his arm.
"Oh I think you know more than you're saying, now tell me where that tunnel leads!" Shadow Weaver said as her eyes started to glow and shadows crawled up Wrong Hordak's arm.
Immediately Wrong Hordak's eyes began to glow purple and his expression vacant.
"Yes Madame.." Wrong Hordak said obediently and zombie-like as he spilled the information he knew.
In the Secret Passageway
Having run so far, Entrapta and Hordak finally stopped in their tracks despite it being pitch black in the cavern.
"It's so dark down here, I wish I had my equipment, I could have invented a light in a millisecond!" Entrapta said disappointed.
"Well lucky for us I already did." Hordak said as he grabbed one of his wrist guns and charged it, creating a bright red glow for them to follow.
"*gasp* you're an inventor too!" Entrapta squealed excitedly.
"Well yes actually, I have always had an affinity for inventing." Hordak answered rather surprised at the enthusiasm he got for his inventing talents.
"Why didn't you tell me, I've never gotten to meet another inventor before! What else does your blaster do?!" Entrapta asked excitedly as they walked down the passageway.
"Well it emits a sonic laser capable of cutting through just about anything. But it's not very functional due to its tendency to overcharge because of the power converter. I can't seem to get the right variation for the wiring yet." Hordak said actually enjoying himself, having never met anyone to talk inventing with as well.
"Oooo do you mind if I tweak it a bit!?" Entrapta asked excitedly.
"I suppose you could take a look at it, but don't be disappointed if you can't fix it. I invented it and can't seem to get it right, I'm an inferior inventor at best." Hordak said rather discouragingly.
"I'm sure you're not inferior, if anything you're better for not being able to fix it. You learn more." EEntrapta said as she lowered her goggles and started messing with Hordak's Wrist blaster, all while it was running, with the tools in her belt she had on hand.
"You really think so?" Hordak asked not used to being praised.
"Of course, like I said earlier, it's through failure that we grow and perfect ourselves. If everything was perfect why would we ever invent or create?" Entrapta said as she worked.
After hearing her encouraging comments once more Hordak let a light smile surface. Someone actually believed in him, him personally, was she truly serious? However as Entrapta finished up Hordak quickly hid his smile not wanting to give the impression he was moved by her words.
"And there you go, I also made a few minor adjustments as well. Now go on try it!" Entrapta squealed excitedly.
Hordak charged his wrist blaster but now it was charging faster and the energy was more clear.
"What?! How did you.."
"Through reconfiguring the inner wiring of your blaster and adjusting the positioning of the power source, I allowed the flow of energy to run more smoothly. Simultaneously I also gave it several more functions, including an energy shield, a specific flashlight function, and increased range and power to the blaster!" Entrapta explained with great joy, her eyes sparkling.
"Wow this is.. I.. I.. acknowledge the work and perfecting you have done to my blaster… thank you." Hordak said, his heart pounded, as an unfamiliar feeling fluttered through him.
"You're quite welcome Hordak, now come on we have a tunnel to walk through." Entrapta said as she continued to walk down the passageway.
Nervously Hordak followed her unsure as to what was going on inside his head at the moment. And was it just him or did Entrapta suddenly look more.. attractive to him? An awkward silence filled the cavern as all of the sudden Hordak struggled to find the words to say to Entrapta, so he just blurted out a question.
"So!... um..*cough* Entrapta this is your first time out of your tower. Is it not?" Hordak asked as composed and stoically as possible.
"Yes Hordak, it is, why do you ask? Have we not already discussed this?" Entrapta asked Hordak sensing something unusual about the tall blue and white man.
"Uh Uh yes, but I was wondering, seeing as you're able to make these advanced inventions and technology. Technology you could quite easily defend yourself with, and also being a capable young woman, why is it you've never left before?" Hordak asked rather awkwardly but genuinely curious.
Entraptas' faces suddenly displayed an equal amount of nervousness.
"Ha well...you see… it's like this..I.." Entrapta tried to answer before the sound of feet running behind them sounded through the cave.
Both turned around only to see light coming closer to them and the sound of soldiers towards them.
"Oh no, they've found us run!" Hordak bellowed as he put an arm behind Entrapta, who frantically gathered her hair in her arms and ran, to make sure she kept up. All the while Emily hysterically ran behind the , trying her best to keep up with her needle robot legs.
For what seemed like forever the two ran through the tunnel until they burst into the outside world. As their eyes adjusted they saw they were in what seemed to be the ruins of an old mine, now converted to a large dam/water mill. They also saw that they were standing on a small cliff with only a rickety ladder cascading down to the floor below. As the two caught their breath suddenly bursting through a border up mine what was Scorpia and Catra.
"Oh no!" Hordak said quietly.
But then only to make matters worse Swift Wind and all the soldiers ran right up behind them.
"Oh no!" Hordak said much louder.
"Uh Hordak why are all these people after you?" Entrapta asked nervously as she pulled out a wrench for self defense.
"Let's just say I'm not to good at making friends. Now what do we do? We're surrounded!" Hordak asked as he readied his blaster.
Entrapta looked around her frantically for a solution to their current predicament. But luckily and almost immediately Entrapta saw an alternative way out that sparked a plan in her head.
"Take this and watch Emily!" Entrapta said as she put her wrench in Hordak's hands, shot her hair, and made it grab onto slightly transporting water.
Entrapta then swung onto another ledge with another mine tunnel to escape with. However before she could get Hordak, the poor man was fighting for his life. With the help of Emily, his blaster, and Entrapta's wrench he fended off the soldiers. As the battle raged on Hordak and Emily avoided menacing plants, blasts of ice, water attacks, and specialty arrows. However with Hordak's new shield they fended off the attacks and used the blaster as well, as the one in Emily, to take out Perfuma, Mermista, Frosta, and Bow. For a moment Hordak looked shocked unable to believe he held so much power and the usefulness of his robotic comrade.
"Well Emily it appears our combined power is rather unstoppable." Hordak actually praised Emily.
Emily metalicaly squealed and then nuzzled Hordak, but the moment was short lived as suddenly a large sword hit Hordak's shield. The two turned to see She-ra trying to push through his shield, all while Swift Wind went for a skydive into then.
"You may have beaten my team Hordak, but you won't win so easily against me!" Adora said filled with determination as she furiously attacked Hordak.
"We'll see about that She-ra." Hordak said coolly he used Entrapta's wrench and his new wrist shield to fight her.
For a good while the two were locked in combat, as well as Emily with Swift Wind, determined to defend Hordak.
"Out of the way machine, I will assist my friend and capture that villain! Ow, that hurt!" Swift Wind proclaimed doing all he could to get around Emily only to be blasted by one of her lasers.
Emily looked menacingly at the horse determined to win this battle at all costs. Meanwhile Hordak was using his shield to protect himself from the magic attacks of Adora, doing all he could to deflect the rainbow colored light.
"You're going to prison Hordak whether you like it or not, for your crimes against the kingdom and high thievery!" Adora demanded to imprison Hordak.
"Not in your wildest dreams She-ra!"
For a little longer the two fought on, till Adora managed to knock Hordak's blaster off his wrist. She then knocked him to the ground with a powerful blast of magic from her sword. Concerned, Emily ran to Hordak's defense willing to take on the giant woman in front of her.
"You're officially under arrest Hordak, prepare your be behind bars for a long period of time." Adora said as she put her sword to Hordak's throat.
However as this went on Entrapta was watching and knew she needed to intervene. So she made her hair shoot forward and grab Hordak's arms.
"Hordak hold on!" Entrapta yelled to her partner.
Hordak then smugly looked at Adora and grabbed Emily.
"You haven't gotten me yet Captain." Hordak said as he saluted and was pulled over the cliff they were on.
Entrapta gripped her hair trying to to her best to control the way Hordak and Emily were swinging. However despite her best her best efforts to control them, there were only so many directions to swing.
"Oh no, Hordak, look out!" Entrapta cried out as her friends headed straight towards a wall of pure rock.
Hordak saw this and before impact he put his arms around Emily and positioned his body so his back would hit first. And with a great thud it did, leaving Hordak in large amounts of pain.
"You're lucky I took the blow of that machine! Or else you'd be smashed to smithereens right now." Hordak said in pain, all while still holding Emily.
Carefully Entrapta lowered the two down only to then have red lightning suddenly shoot at them. Hordak turned his head and saw Catra and Scorpia running towards him.
"Alright Hordak it's payback time!" Catra yelled as she brought out her claws and launched herself at Hordak.
Immediately the two started to fight in hand to hand combat, Catra seemingly aiming for his upper chest. Meanwhile Scorpia was trying to fight off Emily but it was laser against Electricity so it was a difficult match. All the while Entrapta watched from above, her hands on her head from her nerves going wild. However her attention was turned as she heard pounding, only to turn and see it was Swift Wind kicking a post that kept the dam up.
After a few good kicks he managed to knock down the post causing a great stream of water to shoot out. Not noticing any of this Hordak still continued to fight Catra in a match of fighting skill. The two went at it for a while before with a scratch of her claws Catra managed to still Hordak and then knock him and pin him to the ground.
"Ha not so tough without your little blaster! Aren't you Hordak?" Catra taunted as she looked deviously at Hordak.
"Huh, so you thought that's all the inventions and gadgets I have do you? You underestimate me Catra, take this!" Hordak said as suddenly the cuff on his right arm, which Catra has a hold on, suddenly buzzed with electricity and shocked her off of him.
At the same time Emily managed to knock out Scorpia with a stunning laser. With a sigh of relief Entrapta relaxed as she saw the two whom she cared for, leaving the battle victorious. However in this distraction Entrapta didn't notice Adora staring at her.
"Swift Wind get that girl, she might be someone we can use as leverage!"
"On it Adora, she's good as mine." Swift Wind said as he backed up and then rocketed off at Entrapta.
Entrapta then noticed this and froze unsure if what to do at the rainbow horse came rushing at her.
"Entrapta jump I'll catch you!" Hordak yelled up at her arms extended.
Entrapta immediately saw this and made one of her pigtails shoot forward on a beam. She then jumped just as Swift Wind tried to catch her long purple hair in his mouth, but evaded it and swung down towards Hordak. As she did this the dam behind them burst open and started to floor the mine. So as Entrapta came down Hordak caught her in his arms and carried her as he ran alongside Emily.
As the wall of water progressed debris and boulders were tossed about and started crashing down. One particularly giant pillar started to come down and threatened to crush the three running for safety. However as it almost hit the ground the three ran into an open mine shaft but the pillar sealed it close, trapping them inside as water slowly filled in.
All three moved away as far back as possible only to run into a wall of rubble. Frantically they tried to move the rocks but Entrapta wasn't very strong, Emily needed to recharge her laser, and Hordak suddenly was seizing as electricity ran along his upset chest, neck, and arms.
"Oh no my support armor!" Hordak said riddled with pain.
But as the water rose higher they all managed to move as high up as they could, resting on the rubble wall. Luckily Emily was water proof so she didn't short out or die from the exposure. However while she was lucky, Hordak was not now not really able to move and laying weakly on the rubble. Despite this Entrapta wasn't ready to give up so she dove down into the dark water.
"Entrapta no!" Hordak tried to call out but it was too late.
However she quickly came back up, out of breath and choking on water. Using all his strength Hordak pulled her back in and pushed her hair out of her face, despite her struggling.
"Entrapta no! It's no use it's pitch black down there, it's no use." Hordak said calmly as possible to bring the girl back to reality.
Entrapta eventually calmed down as she came to terms with their unavoidable situation. She then started to break down and cry regretting her thoughtless actions, feeling as if she ruined everything.
"Shadow Weaver was right. I can't do this, I never should have left. I'm sorry I pulled you into this Hordak, I never should have let my mind leave beyond the lab." Entrapta said crying into her already wet hands.
Hordak looked at the poor girl, and he didn't like seeing her upset. The entire time they'd known each other she was positive and happy, but now was left in complete despair. So figuring he'd help Entrapta feel a little better, he decided to reveal something to her.
"I have no real name." Hordak said quickly.
"What?" Entrapta asked through her tears, rather confused.
"My real name isn't Hordak, I made that up a long time ago. The fact is I have no real name, but at least you'll die with one. You'll die and people will know you age miss you. You lived your life to the best of your ability and at least ended it with doing something you dreamed of. I just wanted you to know that." Hordak explained trying to be hopeful.
Entrapta chuckled realizing Hordak was right and that despite her abrupt ending, she'd end in an adventure. So she decided to reveal a little fact about herself that nobody knew about her.
"I know how to manipulate alien tech and magic to make it more powerful, with just my mind." Entrapta admitted to her new friend.
"What?" Hordak asked not sure what that had to do with anything.
"I..can.. manipulate alien tech and magic to make it more powerful, with just my mind!" Entrapta said excitedly as she then dug through her belt, having an idea.
After a moment of searching she pulled out a diamond shaped pink crystal with mysterious writing on it. She then started attaching random wires and parts Entrapta had in her belt. Soon she had a rather strange glowing device which she then let float on top of the rising water as it started to beep.
"Drive down and hold your breath, we're going to live!" Entrapta yelled as she grabbed Hordak's arm and started pulling him and Emily down with her.
"What.." Hordak yelled back only to be interrupted as he was dragged beneath the water.
Entrapta then held tightly onto Hordak and both watched from down under as the glowing device flew brighter and bright til at last a burst of light exploded. In an instant the explosion caused the blocked off cave to burst open and the water inside to rush out into a flowing river. A great tilde wave was created as debris and boulders flooded out and crashed onto the banks of the river. Eventually as the water flowed Entrapta, Emily, and Hordak were washed up on shore, still breathing and alive.