a note i should have made before...i think its in my profile but just make it clear. a number between two asterisk symbols means that time has passed in the story since the last scene a change of location may or may not have happened. a number between two dashes means same time different location.

The Choice-part 7

*7*

On the way to the Valley of the Lost, Hordak in his missile form looks down to see He-Man heading toward the Fright Zone. "He-Man is here."

Kowl looks down. "There is no time to stop. Keep going I will explain things to him." He dives down to meet up with He-Man and BattleCat.

BattleCat looks up when he spies Swiftwind's shadow on the ground. "He-Man look up."

He-Man looks up as Kowl approaches them. "Kowl...what's going on?"

"Follow me this way and I will explain."

BattleCat turns following in the direction Swiftwind is flying in.

He-Man looks up spotting Hordak flying beside Swiftwind. "What is Hordak doing here?"

Kowl glances up then looks over at He-Man. "She-Ra was injured during the last battle with the Horde. From what Hordak told us-after leaving the Fright Zone-when she woke up she didn't remember anything after the battle at Thaymor that you first helped the Rebellion in."

He-Man looks up startled when he realizes what that means.

"You mean Hordak knows the secret?"

Kowl looks down at BattleCat. "Yes. He figured out it was Adora he was talking to. Neither of you may believe it-Sea Hawk and Swiftwind don't seem to-but Hordak says Adora was always like a daughter to him. That is why he is trying to help save her now."

"Sea Hawk?"

"He has a magical locket that told him Adora was in danger and he was on his way to the Fright Zone where it was leading him." Kowl looks over at He-Man. "I ran into him on my way to see Hordak. Lighthope sent me to the Fright Zone to tell Hordak where to go to find help for She-Ra. I knew it was useless to warn Sea Hawk off-"

"-He cares a great deal for my sister as does she for him. I know exactly how it hurts to feel that way for someone and have to keep secrets from them."

"Lighthope said She-Ra was hurt very bad and we haven't long to reach the Oracle in the Valley of the Lost. Hordak might have been willing to help but I thought if there were trouble from anyone else in the Horde we may need Sea Hawk's help. He found out the secret when we got to the Fright Zone."

"Under the circumstances its okay that you didn't keep Sea Hawk from finding out the secret Kowl."

BattleCat's ear twitches as he hears rumbling behind them. "I think that trouble from the rest of the Horde is coming this way fast."

Catra picks up a bullhorn once the tanks are in sight of Hordak and the fleeing rebels. "Stop traitor you are under arrest along with all the other rebels you helped escape."

Hordak should have expected Catra to try something like this. No doubt she has already contacted Horde Prime about his treachery and has her sights set on his job. The only thing that could save him now would be to reveal She-Ra's secret identity and that of He-Man's as well he suddenly realizes and claim it was a ruse to capture them both. "Stand down Catra! What I am doing here is none of your concern."

"I don't take orders from traitors!" Catra presses a button to communicate with the Horde Troopers. "Open fire on the traitor and those rebels!"

He glances over at Swiftwind "Keep going I will stop th-"

He-Man shouts up to the others. "-Go! I will stop them!" He turns to Kowl. "Go with them Kowl. BattleCat and I can handle things here."

Kowl nods before dodging a laser blast. Weaving his way between blasts he rejoins the others in the air. "Faster we must hurry before they send out Troopers on Glondalas."

"They can't. I disabled those along with all the other flying machines before going out to wait for He-Man. I didn't have time to stop the tanks."

Sea Hawk look over at Hordak. "No wonder they think you are a traitor."

"I suppose I am. I have heard it said that everyone has a price for which they will turn to the evil side." Hordak looks over at the still unconscious She-Ra. "Perhaps I found the only one for which I will turn to the side of good."

He-Man looks up watching the retreating figures in the sky as BattleCat stops and turns toward the advancing Horde tanks. He draws his sword and reflects several of the laser beams back disabling many of the lead tanks.

BattleCat looks over at He-Man as he climbs out of the saddle. He looks over at Catra who stands atop her ruined tank. "You picked the wrong time to show up cat lady."

He-Man stands his ground until the other Horde tanks approach and line up.

Catra picks up the bullhorn again. "What are you idiots waiting for? Attack!"

BattleCat turns to He-Man who just stands there as the tanks begin to roll.

He-Man sheaths his sword and faces the tanks unarmed.

Glancing from the advancing tanks to He-Man, BattleCat arches an eyebrow but doesn't say anything.

He-Man waits until the tanks are too close to retreat then slams his fists hard into the ground opening up a wide chasm.

Before she can call the tanks back Catra watches them roll into the chasm. "You will pay for interfering He-Man!"

"Take my advice from one cat to...another cat-person-whatever you are. Stay away-you don't want to make him angry. Provoke him anymore and you are apt to get more than a few tanks wrecked." BattleCat turns to He-Man. "Come on lets catch up with the others."

He-Man turns from the destroyed tanks and climbs into the saddle. "What was with the warning Cat?"

"I thought given the situation it might keep her from coming after us with more fire power." BattleCat roars loud and menacingly before running off in the direction Swiftwind was headed.

READ MY PROFILE BEFORE YOU REVIEW PLEASE for a list of the things in reviews that trigger my bipolar manic episodes and please for both my sake and yours don't put any of them in a review. you don't want to be on the receiving end of a reply if something does trigger an episode and one of my cousins isn't around to stop me from replying.

poll in my profile-be sure record your answer.