A River Bank
For a moment Hordak and Entrapta just laid there breathing hard and deeply. The gulped the air in as much as possible, but that was not the only thing on Hordak's mind. As soon as they were both breathing normally and more conscious after almost drowning, Entrapta sprung up.
"My idea worked! We're still alive!" Entrapta cried out as she ran about out of joy.
"How did she...what did she…. we're alive." Hordak said exasperated as he laid flat on the ground.
"It's a good thing I brought a supply of first ones crystals, right Emily? We're still breathing because of them!" Entrapta said having regained her focus now helping Emily back onto her feet.
"A crystal! A crystal caused al… I can't move… oh no I can't move! My under armor agh, it's damaged!" Hordak said freaking out.
In the midst of her excitement Entrapta heard Hordak's yelling, so she ran to him to see his problem.
"Ugh! What..what are you doing?!" Hordak growled as Entrapta got close and started to undo Hordak's vest and shirt.
Unable to really move Hordak couldn't stop Entrapta as she easily undid his clothes. Eventually Entrapta opened Hordak's shirt to reveal steel colored under armor. It comprised of a low cut collar with a red gem in the center and sleeves that wrapped around his arms up to Hordak's wrists. However it didn't cover anything below his pecs revealing rippling abs below.
"Strength boosting under armor, I've read about this but never seen it." Entrapta said filled with wonderment.
"Get off me! Stop staring girl!" Hordak snarled filled with embarrassment and anger.
"Hmm I wonder why it's not working? Oh your power source was destroyed, and no wonder it's very temperamental. A cheap mineral you must have found her on Etheria, otherwise your design is impeccable. Ooo I know just how to fix it, a few simple repairs and this ought to get you good as new!" Entrapta said ignoring Hordak's snarling as she pulled out another pinkish purple crystal.
"No! No you keep that thing away from me! I don't want to end up in peices!" Hordak bellowed trying to get away.
"Hordak calm down! This first one crystal does more than just power bombs." Entrapta said calmly with a hopeful smile on her face.
Hordak almost immediately started to calm down, for some reason feeling after all he'd seen he could trust this girl.
The Whispering Woods
Shadow Weaver floated through the woods towards a large covered manhole in the middle of a dying tree. But as she got closer to it she saw it begin to shake and move. Hoping it was Entrapta and her accomplice she made her hands and eyes glow purplish black, prepared to curse her daughters accomplice into oblivion. However much to her dismay as the manhole cover exploded off with red lightning, a soaked feline and scorpion-like pair of women came out of it. Unsure if these strange women Shadow Weaver hid behind a large rock as not to be seen by them.
"Ughh I'm gonna kill Hordak when I next see him!" Catra yelled as she shook herself dry of all water.
"Well Catra he's escaped like several times from us now, so I think the universe... is trying to tell us... it's just not meant to be. Don't you think?" Scorpia asked, hopefully not wanting to continue on the rat race.
"No! I refuse to be duped by that muscled clone anymore, he's going to pay!" Catra bellowed claws out and shining.
Shadow Weaver smiled maliciously under her mask and saw the opportunity to get some help in retrieving her daughter.
"Catra as I've said before we should just drop it at this point. We could make so much more money off any jobs we could have done in the time we've spent tracing down the crown. I mean what do you expect, he's just gonna give the crown to us all willie nillie?" Scorpia asked exhausted by their tireless hunt.
"Ladies!"
Both Scorpia and Catra turned around in surprise to see Shadow Weaver standing behind them.
"Who are you and what are you doing here!? Are you with the royal guard?!" Catra asked, tensely feeling she couldn't really trust this woman already.
"No no no I'm not with them just a humble old woman passing by. Though I do have this to give you!" Shadow Weaver said innocently as she pulled out the crown the thieves were looking for.
Catra looked at the crown with large eyes and growled as if ready to attack.
"Now there's no need for that, just take it." Shadow Weaver said as she tossed the crown into Catra's claws.
Both women looked at the crown with great excitement and relief.
"Yes, so that means no more hunting down Hordak or robbing innocent people. Ah at last!" Scorpia said with much relief.
"I'm gonna buy myself a kingdom bigger than any created before! Hordak will be sorry he ever abandoned me!" Catra said as she caressed the crown in her hands.
"Well I guess I should be on my way, though I did have a proposition for you that would have vastly exceeded your wealth than that singular crown. But clearly I mustn't bother you with such things, enjoy your crown ladies." Shadow Weaver said as she pretended to walk away.
Immediately both women stopped in their steps and looked at Shadow Weaver. But their reactions were quite different, Catra having one of intrigue while Scorpia looked very concerned.
"What proposition are you offering?" Catra asked, very intrigued.
"A proposition that includes revenge on Hordak." Shadow Weaver said very maliciously, knowing she had snared two pawns to help her.
Another Part if the Whispering Woods
The sun has set and at the moment Entrapta was working on Hordak's under armor. Meanwhile Hordak sat up against a large tree riot waiting in anticipation for what Entrapta would do to his armor. Eventually after a few minutes more of sparks flying and bolts turning Entrapta was finished.
"And done! Try it on!" Entrapta proclaimed as she placed the armor on him.
As she did so she noticed why he wore it, Hordak had very damaged arms with holes around his wrists and evident scarring everywhere. However as Entrapta slipped the armor in him, immediately he was able to move and showed no evidence of any damage whatsoever.
"So how does it feel, descriptive details please!" Entrapta requested as she got her recorder out.
"It's..significantly lighter and I feel...stronger. What did you do to it?" Hordak asked, very curious about what Entrapta fixed.
"Well I lightened the amount of bolts and plating, but still kept a very covered and protective shell. And as for the added strength you can thank the First Ones Crystal. It is a far superior energy source and allows better conduction of it creating maximum input and output!"
"Unbelievable...and how is it you came across such ancient technology? How do you know how to use it?" Hordak asked now full of questions for Entrapta.
"Well I don't exactly know, I just always have. My mother told me from the time I was an infant I've just understood how to use unknown elements. But people wanted to abuse that so… I…" Entrapta started to explain but suddenly got silent.
"Never left that tower." Hordak finished sympathetically knowing what it was like to feel you could never leave somewhere.
"Correct." Entrapta said almost sadly.
"And you're actually going to return after all this?" Hordak asked rather confused how such a curious girl could stay in one place for so long.
"Well yes..I mean no...but it's where my lab is and my mother and I…just don't know." Entrapta said confused on what was the right thing to do.
For a moment there was silence as Entrapta just looked down in sadness and confusion. But then unexpectedly Hordak spoke up.
"Well you are..master of your own fate. With your brilliant mind…. you can...find the solution to..any problem. And anyone who says...otherwise...are fools." Hordak said rather awkwardly as he attempted to be comforting, he's still working in it.
But despite the imperfections of his attempt it worked as Entrapta smiled and moved the end of her hair onto Hordak's thigh.
"Thanks, you know I don't believe you're as bad a person as people make you out to be." Entrapta said as she smiled at Hordak.
"No..you're wrong. I am exactly what others say I am." Hordak said now rather depressed as he looked down.
"How, since we've met you've been nothing but helpful to me. You may have some flaws and imperfections but that doesn't make you a bad person."
"Clearly you don't know me as well as you think then."
"What don't I know about you then?" Entrapta asked curious about what caused such sadness in her friend.
There was another moment of silence before Hordak took a deep breath.
"Before I was the thief I am today, I was the right hand man of the conqueror Horde Prime. Many years ago we tried to conquer Etheria and were close until we came to the kingdom we are going to now. The Horde was defeated due to the She-Ra, a powerful magical warrior, she turned many of our own forces against us and their combined power proved too much for us. Then in the final battle where the Horde faced our last defeat our leader Horde Prime left me to the wolves after his death. I was blamed for all his actions and was punished, almost to the point of death, they blasted me with lasers at both my arms. Thus the reason I made myself the strength boosting armor."
"Wait if they blame you for the actions of your leader and almost tried to kill you. How did you escape and what turned you to thievery?" Entrapta asked curiously.
"After my close meeting with death I managed to recover from my injuries and I tried to start a new life. At first I tried to invent machines and sell them but I was rejected and chased out by those who only saw my face. And after so long of rejection and being unable to make any money, I decided to turn to thievery. I went under the alias of Hordak as to give myself my own identity rather than names such as dog of Horde Prime or oppressor of millions."
"What was your name before?"
"I never had one. I was just another clone in the Horde army. Horde Prime never gave names to us." Hordak said with a sense of inferiority.
"Well to me you're more than that, you're you. And perhaps you've committed major crimes in the past and made astronomical amounts of mistakes but it's never too late to improve. And for the record I like being friends with you." Entrapta said kindly as she moved her hair from Hordak's thigh to his shoulder.
Immediately Hordak blushed and felt strong emotions start to come over him.
"I..Uh..I enjoy being acquainted with you as well. But allow me to get fuel for our fire, it is….dying out." Hordak said suspiciously as he walked off.
As Entrapta watched Hordak walk off she couldn't help but smile as she felt she made a new friend, maybe even something more.
"At last he's left!"
Entrapta jumped as she turned to see none other than Shadow Weaver standing behind her.
"Mother!" Entrapta cried out as she stood up and smoothed her dress out and Emily ran behind a tree.
"Hello Entrapta." Shadow Weaver greeted as if the situation was perfectly normal.
"How did you find me?" Entrapta asked rather surprised.
"Oh Entrapta we both know my powers are capable of many things. Now come you have much work to catch up on, you've wasted a whole day already…"
"Shadow Weaver wait I…"
"No ifs ands or buts Entrapta we're returning to the tower immediately!" Shadow Weaver said as she grabbed Entrapta's wrist.
"Mother wait, I've learned so much while I've been out here, things that could greatly impact your weaponry and other aspects of your army and kingdom. I'm also so close to finding that energy source which could help us even more! And I've...met someone as well." Entrapta said, trying to convince her mother to let her stay.
"Ah yes the dominating clone, who once almost destroyed Etheria, I'm so proud. Now enough nonsense, we're going home!" Shadow Weaver said as she pulled Entrapta's arm harder only for her to break free.
Shadow Weaver tried to use magic to grab her again but her shadows dissipated and withered away. She also felt the sting of Magic's strain on her body, reminding her if her limited time before she ran out. Which could mean her death with his connected and dependent she was to the Runestone at that point.
"Mother he's not like that he's kind and misunderstood, and I believe...he even likes me." Entrapta admitted as she tried to defend her new friend.
Shadow Weaver froze as she heard such words come from Entrapta's mouth. But as the words sunk in a brilliant manipulative plan cane to her head.
"Likes you Entrapta now really he's a calculating thief, who's just using you. I mean really Entrapta be realistic, a girl like you, of your stature, your..looks, and know it all nature. I mean how naive of you, men don't want that, they want women whom they can use. Whether for beauty, power, or even money, he'll leave you when he's done with you." Shadow Weaver said very passive aggressively as she circled Entrapta, picking and prodding at her with her magic shadow tentacles.
"No..he..won't. I have nothing for him to gain from. He'll keep his promise." Entrapta defended despite the feelings of doubt coming in.
"Really, nothing to gain from you, not even this?!" Shadow asked rhetorically as she pulled out the crown Entrapta had hidden.
"What! How did you.."
"It amazes me how you underestimate my magic power." Shadow Weaver cackled amuses.
"Even so this journey had become far superior to that precious motive." Entrapta said trying to keep her resolve.
"Oh, so you say, well then give him this!" Shadow Weaver said as she threw the crown and satchel at Entrapta.
"What..what do you mean?" Entrapta asked afraid of what her mother was saying.
"You know exactly what I mean, test him. Give him the crown and then you'll see his true colors come through. Now you could save yourself all the trouble and heartache and just leave with me, forget any of this happened." Shadow Weaver said as she put her faves on Entrapta's face.
However Entrapta despite her doubts decided to accept the challenge.
"No! I'll give it to him and you'll see exactly what he'll do. He is not the thief you believe him to be, he's imperfect, but that's what's most beautiful about him."
"Alright then, but don't come crying to me when he leaves you with nothing but feelings of loneliness and regret. Goodbye Entrapta, don't forget your loving mother." Shadow Weaver said as she magically disappeared into the shadows and out of sight.
For a moment Entrapta just stood there, taking in all that was just said. As she stood there Entrapta looked at the crown only to be filled with more doubt.
"Entrapta I have returned!" Hordak called out, suddenly scaring Entrapta.
She then froze for a moment, unsure of what to do. But she then quickly made a choice and returned to Hordak.
"Ah I see you've returned, now..are you alright Entrapta?" Hordak asked, noticing Entrapta looked a little shaken.
"Oh I'm perfectly fine, just a little exhausted and cold. But no need to worry, I have the fire to warm me now. Also I've been meaning to ask, but how did you create that strengthening armor?" Entrapta asked trying to avoid topics that would bring up the last five minutes.
"Well you see it started like so…" Hordak began to speak about happily as he sat down. But as he did so Hordak was aware that the crown and his satchel were underneath the root he sat on. For Entrapta afraid of what would happen had hidden the crown. Yet unbeknownst to both of them they were being watched by Shadow Weaver, Catra, and Scorpia hiding in a nearby bush.
"Why don't we attack them now?!" Catra asked impatiently, ready to sink her claws into Hordak.
"Patience Catra, all good things come to those...who wait." Shadow Weaver said as she waited for Entrapta's own distrust and fear to bring her running face into her arms and for good this time.