The Choice-part 3

*3*

In the Whispering Woods the rebels have been waiting a long time for She-Ra.

Bow scans the sky for any sign of Swiftwind and She-Ra. "I don't like this, She-Ra should have been back now."

Glimmer comes out of a tent. "Adora isn't here either. What if they have been captured?"

"Then we will just have to go rescue them." Bow states emphatically.

"How are we supposed to sneak inside the Frightzone without She-Ra or Adora? They both know their way around the place, no one else does." Glimmer states worriedly.

"We don't know that they have been captured, dearies. Maybe something just came up." Madame Razz gives Kowl a look as she speaks that conveys they need to come up with something to explain Adora's absence if She-Ra has been captured.

Kowl nods slightly in understanding before he speaks. "Adora has been planning for some time to go visit her family on Eternia."

Bow nods in agreement. "I remember her saying that. It isn't like her to leave without telling anyone."

Glimmer turns to Madame Razz. "Maybe you should try your locator spell to find them Madame Razz."

Kowl takes to the air hovering above everyone as he tries to find some way of keeping the secret-secret without letting on that there is a secret to begin with. "Why don't we give them both some more time before we jump to conclusions? They could have stopped at one of the villages on their way back."

"Alright...I say we go search for She-Ra and Adora if they're not back in a few hours." Bow agrees reluctantly.

Glimmer nods. "Agreed."

Bow and Glimmer walk off to help get the rescued rebels settled in camp-leaving Kowl and Madame Razz alone.

Kowl looks down at Madam Razz. "Do you think there is any cause to worry Madame?"

"I don't know Kowl. She-Ra has gotten out of Horde traps many times."

"Yes, but there have been times that the Horde devised traps she could not escape from-without help. Do you think we should find Light Hope and have him send for He-Man?"

"I think we should stick to Bow's plan for now."

*3*

Several hours later in the Frightzone. The doctor who examined She-Ra earlier enters the throne room. "I have the test results you requested."

Hordak nods. "Proceed."

"After reviewing the test results...frankly...I'm amazed that she is still alive."

Hordak stands approaching the doctor. "What do you mean?

"There is extensive damage, to areas of her brain-caused by trauma due to the fall. You said it yourself anyone else would have been killed."

"Is there anything you can do for her?"

"I'm afraid there isn't. The best we can hope for at this point is use She-Ra to force the other rebels to surrender while she is still alive. There is no way she will be able to fight against them."

Hordak paces around in disbelief. "She-Ra seemed to be okay, except for the dizziness."

"The only thing I can contribute it to is her powers, but I have no idea how much longer they will be able to sustain her. As they cease to sustain her She-Ra will probably begin suffer from seizures due to the severity of the injury. They will get worse until finally-"

"-That will be all."

The doctor bows before leaving the throne room.

Hordak returns to his throne and sits there thinking over what the doctor told him. He almost wishes he'd never discovered that She-Ra is really Adora-it would make what he knows he has to do so much easier. He gets up-picks up the Sword of Protection which he had kept with him and goes to talk to She-Ra. When he gets to her room he finds her standing in front of the mirror.

When She-Ra notices him she doesn't even bother to turn around. "I don't like this look."

"Why is that?"

"My hair is too long, I would never choose an outfit like this, even my voice sounds different."

"It's the magic of the sword that changes your appearance, so no one will know who you are."

"Something is bothering you...I don't know how I know, but I can feel it."

"I just spoke with the doctor that examined you earlier."

"What did he say?"

Hordak takes a deep breath to steady himself before he speaks. "The doctor thinks your powers as She-Ra are all that's keeping you alive right now." He rushes to She-Ra's side in time to catch her when he sees she is about to faint. He helps her make it to the bed so she could sit down. He places the sword on the bed beside her. "I'm sorry, Adora. Perhaps I shouldn't have told you."

"I'm okay...it's just a shock, that's all."

"Adora, there's something I feel I should tell you. Almost nineteen years ago the Horde had a base on a world, in another dimension, called Eternia. The people of the planet drove the Horde away, under the leadership of King Randor. Before I left the planet, to punish the king for defying the Horde, I crept into the Palace and took his infant daughter. That infant was you, Adora."

"Why are you telling me this now?"

"If you want to go back to your family, I will understand."

"The only family I know is here."

"Your twin brother is the one who brought the rebels your sword."

She-Ra points toward the sword. "This sword is what caused the problem isn't it?"

"I'm sure he never meant for you get hurt. Your family just wanted you back."

"Why didn't you take my brother too?"

"I tried, I didn't have time to take the both of you. I barely escaped with you. Maybe I shouldn't have taken you, then you wouldn't be hurt now."

"It's not your fault...I'm not afraid to die. I'm just sorry I let the power of the sword control me all this time."

"I'll have the doctors do everything they can for you."

"Can I see Spirit now?"

"He is still under the rebel's spell."

"He will listen to me, I know it."

"Just promise me you'll be careful, the doctor said you could have seizures."

"I promise, I'll be careful."

Hordak leads She-Ra to where Swiftwind is being kept. Hordak sends the guards away. Seeing that Hordak stays nearby.

Swiftwind knows that something is wrong when he notices the bandage on She-Ra's forehead.

She-Ra approaches Swiftwind cautiously taking in his new apperance. She reaches her hand out to stroke Swiftwind's mane. "It's okay Spirit, don't be afraid."

"Spirit?"

She-Ra gasps and backs away from Swiftwind.

"It's okay Adora, he speaks as Swiftwind."

Swiftwind looks at Hordak. "Adora? What's going on here?"

"Let me talk to him alone for a few minutes Adora."

She-Ra waits outside the cell while Hordak talks to Swiftwind.

"She was injured in the fall. Adora has no memories of the last two years."

"So you intend to make her your Force Captain again?"

"I admit the thought crossed my mind-but now I intend nothing of the sort. I will not fight her any longer and according to the doctor that examined her-she is in no condition to fight for the rebels."

"Then what do you plan to do?"

"I think that question is better directed at you-Swiftwind. As far as she is concerned she is still Adora and you are still Spirit. All she knows is life with the Horde."

"I suppose you're just loving it that She-Ra can't remember who she is. She did lose her memory once before and was able to regain it."

"If the doctor is right she may not have much longer to live. The doctor thinks all that is keeping her alive is her powers."

"So you expect me to let you keep her here?"

"You know as well as I that the rebels do not have the technology to care for Adora."

"At least she would be among friends."

"She doesn't remember them as friends. Would you rather have Adora spend whatever time she may have left in familiar surroundings with people she knows, or alone in the company of people she sees as the enemy?"

"What about her family on Eternia?"

"I told Adora that I took her away from her family as an infant. You may not believe me, but I offered to let her go back. She didn't want to go. You're the one she has been asking to see since she woke up." Hordak leaves the cell and turns to She-Ra. "He understands what happened now, Adora."

She-Ra goes back into the cell.

Swiftwind notices that Hordak remains close to the cell.

"Why is Hordak watching you so closely?"

"He's worried about me."

"Pardon me if I find that hard to believe. He certainly didn't worry over the last two years."

"He didn't know that the power of the sword changed us Spirit."

"Where is the sword She-Ra?"

"Please don't call me that."

"But that's who you are now."

"I just want to be myself again, I don't want to be some rebel pawn in their war with the Horde."

"You were never anyone's pawn She...Adora. Use the sword to call out to a being called Lighthope, he may be able to help you remem-"

"-I'm not going to the rebels for help."

"They are your friends, Adora."

"Only because the sword gave me the ability to fight for them."

"Is that what Hordak told you? You shouldn't believe everything he tells you."

"Why is that?"

"Because he is evil."

"Did you think that before the power of the Sword changed us?"

Swiftwind stands there gapping at the young woman before him. It seems Hordak is right she doesn't remember anything about being She-Ra. "No."

"You don't have to let that power control you anymore, Spirit."

"The power of the sword never controlled either of us. You would realize that if you could remember everything that has happened over the last two years."

"I don't want to remember the last two years. I just want things to be the way I remember them now."

"You mean when you were a member of the Horde, when you had no friends?"

"At least I had you."

Swiftwind recalls what Hordak told him earlier. '... As far as she is concerned she is still Adora and you are still Spirit. All she knows is life with the Horde.' "Adora, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that.

"It's okay Spirit, I know it is the power of the sword controlling you. You just have to fight it."

Swiftwind realizes he won't be able to convince She-Ra that the Horde are evil the ones and that the sword wasn't used to control her without help, he can only hope that help arrives soon. For now he decides it may be best to go along with what She-Ra believes to be true, if only for her sake. "I'll do my best, Adora."

She-Ra hugs Swiftwind. "Thank you, Spirit." She staggers slightly from a wave of dizziness that suddenly overtakes her.

"Are you OK, Adora?"

"I'm just dizzy, that's all."

"Perhaps you should rest, we can talk more later." Swiftwind is torn as she walks away with Hordak. Should he try to get help or let her have some semblance of happiness for however long she has left?

i threw the send for He-Man part in just to placate my editor who doesn't like editing a story from what he considers souly a girl's series. this is not a x-over.

poll in my profile-be sure record your answer.