Rulers of the United Kingdoms.
She woke up and wiped her tear-stained eyes. She saw Entrapta crouched beside her, doing some calculations on the datapad. It took her a moment to realize what that meant. She rushed to the helm.
"Calm down, i fitted the autopilot." said the lilac-haired woman without breaking away from her work. She stopped struggling with the rudder and looked at Entrapta anxiously.
"That's mean you did for us autopilot when we were at the seaside... The one with the waves."She felt the hairs on her spine stand on end. Melog puffed up and turned blue with fear "Didn't you think we might fall into the water and drown?"
Entrapta looked at her.
„Unlikely. Horde skimmers have surprisingly high buoyancy, you wouldn't believe how high."
"I don't believe…" she said quietly. Under her nose, but the inventor heard it anyway
„I can show you." she said and reached for the helm to stop the vehicle. She stopped her friend in horror.
„NO! Please!" she said, looking around. They flew along the coast, and the shore was terrifyingly far away. She had forgotten that sometimes you had to be careful with your words when talking to Entrapta. „I believe you, but please don't tamper with the vehicles you fly without asking the other passengers, okay?"
„All right, I'll try to remember." she said.
They were already approaching the realm of Spinnerella, actually the now unified kingdom of Spinnerella and Netossa. The former country of the Wind Lady was called Windcrest, and her Wifes was called the Armoria. The Armoria was sworn to the Scorpions and hostile to Windcrest. Sometimes they even fought each other. Everything changed when Hordak arrived. The usurper king has seized power in the Kingdom of Scorpions, Netosa's grandmother stayed on side of his niece. Soon after, both countries fell to the Horde and both princesses spent almost thirteen years in Brightmoon waging war and caring for refugees. In Hordak's time, the locals were subjects of the Horde and contributed to the war effort by the sweat of their brow. Many fled to the free kingdoms, but others stayed here. As a cadet, she had little contact with people outside the capital, but as the right-hand to the ruler of the Fright Zone, she often read reports from there. If she remembered correctly, she screwed the screw there and forced the inhabitants to pour out seventh sweat in the production of weapons and food and the acquisition of raw materials. The Armoria in particular was burdened, for much of the Windcrest was picturesque windy hills, though there were many powerful wind traps, and even now many remain in use.
She did not like to return to the areas once occupied by the Horde. Everyone here knew her, sometimes in person. And they remembered her from her darkest period. She didn't think then that she would ever have to face the consequences of her actions, what she did to her own subordinates. Her friends could forgive her, Mikach could forgive her, but she knew it wouldn't be so easy with those she made them work beyond their means. More than once she had worried if she was better than Hordak. He escaped his responsibility to the Beast Island, she took refuge in Brightmoon, protected by the most important people in the galaxy. Seeing the settlement in the distance, she flattened her ears.
„Entrapta, could you put that autopilot on so it avoids any settlements." She shyly asked her friend
Entrapta looked at her.
„The autopilot is connected to Susan." the inventor began, but was interrupted.
„Susan?" she asked confused.
„The main autonomous satellite of Etheria. The basis of our satellite system." – Entrapta answered
„We have a satellite system?" she asked confused. As Grand Marshal, she should probably know something about this.
„Yes, I even sent a message to Glimmer... Or maybe not? You know, I have a lot of work right now. Baby, communications network, early warning systems… It's a good thing Hordak's cooking, because I wouldn't have time for anything else.
She had to digest the vision of Hordak cooking for a moment before asking again.
"Then will Susan let us bypass the settlements?"
Entrapta nodded.
„Her autonomous Si has mapped the entire available part of the planet and can send data to the navigation system I have installed here, so she does not need a remote control. I just don't see any reason why we should avoid any settlements. I would buy some things here in the local workshop, which I would take to the island, and apparently they make such tiny cheese balls in spices ..." She raised her hand to interrupt her friend before she gained momentum
„Listen Entrapta. I'd like to stay here somewhere, maybe take a shower, use a real bathroom, but you know, this is former Horde territory, or maybe Horde occupied." she said, and seeing that the former Mrs. Drylu stared at her without understanding, she began to explain. "Look, the people here were once Hordak's subjects, but at the end of the war when you…" She regretted bringing up the subject. "I just don't want them to see me, not after what i did to them. In Brightmoon, I'm just one of the many Horde soldiers who finally made the right choice. Here I was someone whose wrath made everyone tremble, who forced them to isanely hard work. Alone… You know what she used to be like. she said, trying to hold back tears from her eyes. Entrapta looked at her understandingly.
„Yes, I can avoid settlements. It's not a problem…" She thought for a moment. "You know, Hordak also speaks like that, only in different words. Because others don't see him the way I do. A great scientist, a brilliant engineer, a wonderful father... The best partner I could have had." she said thoughtfully. "And that's why he doesn't want to leave the island, and I want us to be together, so I'm with him. I… I understand that he has done a lot of bad things in the past and it will be difficult for others to forgive him. I would love for that to happen someday…" She became sad, but then she smiled and said. "I don't think anyone else hates you." The Fright Zone was a scary place. Its briought out the worst in others, everyone knows it. Me too." said the former Lady of Dryl. She sighed loudly and said.
"Perhaps you're right, but I don't feel like proving it right now. Especially now after what I found out. She rubbed her forehead and added. "And don't tell anyone about our discovery. I... I have to sort things out in my head. And I'd rather you didn't tell anyone about it. I want Adora to know about all this first."
Entrapta stared at her for a long moment, then asked cautiously.
„But Hordak... He is my assistant. O n needs to know about this."
For a moment she considered asking her friend to lie to the former lord of the Etherian Horde, but changed her mind. It might be too hard for Entrapta. She didn't want to cause any more trouble. Besides, what harm could come from Hordak finding out the truth about her origins? He wouldn't tell anyone anyway, no one would even listen to him. It might even be amusing to find out how little he knew about those he ruled. That Adora wasn't the only one with a secret. And he had no idea, as always. Of course, it would be much nicer if Shadow Weaver found out. She smiled grimly at the thought and replied.
„You can tell him. It won't change anything. Absolutely anything.
Well, they washed up in a bucket of water and pooped in the woods, which reminded her of some of the Best Friend Squad successful trips to some wild planets. It was dangerous then, but it was a wonderful time. Maybe after the wedding, he and Adora would go to some of the wildest areas of Etheria, maybe they would even convince Glimmer and Bow to participate? After all, the queen is entitled to vacation, right?
Windcrest, despite many years of occupation, has not suffered significant damage or contamination, especially in comparison to the Fright Zone. When the magic was unleashed, after the Heart was destroyed, the forests that had been cut grew back and the hills turned green again. It was a picturesque place, perfect for a romantic picnic. It's worth considering, maybe she'll go here with Adora? And they will eat those spicy cheese balls...
The princesses of the united kingdoms lived in a newly built mansion on the border of the two countries. Netossa's headquarters was razed to the ground during the siege during the early clashes with the Horde, and Windcrest had a wandering court that simply moved to Brightmoon… at least what was left of it after an ambush organized by the Usurper King himself. He must have been a „wonderful" individual, she was glad she hadn't met him, though Hordak still remembered him fondly.
Once, the inhabitants of both kingdoms were in conflict and often fought with each other. However, after three decades of living in both realms, both those who fled to Brightmoon and those living under occupation became friends. This is how common hardships and miseries work. Now, actually, the bigger conflict was between the former refugees and the occupied. Well, she didn't envy the princesses' hardships of power.
The court of both kingdoms, the manor towered over a silvery lake, surrounded by short trees with silver-blue leaves. It was quite pretty, though the mix of burgundy and white was conspicuous from a distance. A small Galactic Horde ship hung nearby, but repainted in the colors of the Star Islands, probably Ruby, judging by its intense red color. Spinnerella and Netossa apparently had visitors. She parked in front of the vast mansion and got out with Melog and Entrapta with Alice. The purple-haired woman looked around curiously, and she knocked. It was opened by a goat person, who immediately stiffened at the sight of her. She looked painfully at Entrapta. "That's what I was talking about."
„Is there Princess Spinnerella and Princess Netossa? she asked, trying to smile as friendly as possible.
"Of course, the ladies of the united kingdom are receiving a visitor, but of course they will make time for Grand Marshal Catra and Princess Entrapta." he said and led them inside. Inside, she saw a clone in livery vigilantly observing the surroundings. She saw ceramic images of moons on the walls, a rather strange custom common throughout Etheria to hang them in various parts of the house to ensure good luck.
Seeing them, Spinnerella got up from the tea table and hugged her.
„Nice of you to visit us. We've been waiting for you." said the lady of the winds. The two children, the feline boy and the girl Seihe also hugged her. Both queens of the united kingdoms adopted them. They also had a baby of their own, and judging by Spinnerell's rounded belly, they were expecting another. They were making up for the years of war, as were most of Etheria's inhabitants. After a while, Spinny went to say hello to Entrapta, who was trying to say hello to the clone, but he was reserved.
„Ah, Shadow Weaver ward!" She heard a hard, hoarse voice. Repulsed, she tensed, but refrained from drawing her claws out. Melog, however, put his ears down and began wagging his tail nervously. She looked in the direction from which the voice came and saw a woman in a wheelchair, quite old-fashioned, but very intricately made. She had fiery red hair, slightly unkempt. She was quite attractive, but the left half of her body was gray as if dead. She smirked half of her mouth.
„Do you recognize her work? Apparently, you were quite close... Before you decided to take her place, of course."
"I don't like her already." She thought, but tried to answer as calmly as possible.
„I'll say the same thing I recently told her sister... Yes, she had a family... Shadow Weaver didn't raise anyone, she only conditioned and I doubt if she had anyone close to her in her lousy life. In fact, she had always cared only for herself." she sighed heavily. „Who do I have the pleasure of talking to?" she asked, although she guessed the answer.
„I am Halo, one of the Sisters Star, Grand Marshal Catra. I'm sorry that we haven't had the opportunity to meet in recent years, but I hope that we will be able to make up for it."
„Wonderful, she thought.
"Halo said she'd be at Glimmer and Bow's wedding…and your and Adora's, of course." Spinnrela said looking at her apologetically.
"Even better"
„This is very surprising news. I thought you and your sister seceded from the Kingdom of Etheria. she asked a bit suspiciously. She tried to be kind, but she had no patience with this woman despite her condition. Halo smiled, and it was a particularly nasty smile.
„Politics should not make us forget about courtesy and mutual respect." She looked at Entrapta coldly. "Of course, that doesn't mean we're backing down on our demands. We will get our justice eventually, it's just a matter of time."
There was an awkward silence. Spinnerella tried to be polite, but it was hard when one guest was threatening the others.
„I will not allow my guests to be insulted in my house. Hello. We're friends, but…" Lady Wind said coldly. But Entrapta said.
„That's okay" and tried to smooth things over as best she could. She ran over to the cart and looked at it.
„You know, without the slightest problem you could connect an electric drive here, with the right tools it would take me no more than a quarter of an hour ..." she began to speak quickly
„Go away! Halo growled, but Entrapta continued.
"And when I get home, I'll build an anti-gravity cart, like the Horde tanks, only much smaller, of course, and..." She didn't finish as Halo screamed.
„GET OUT!"
Entrapta jumped back sharply as if scalded. She too, even from this distance, felt the wave of pain that spread with the woman's voice. Melog turned red, emanating from her rage. She pulled out her claws, and the clone stood up and glared at her menacingly. Spinnerella motioned to the children to move away and assumed a fighting stance herself. Entrapta looked at Sister Star confused and scared. She happened to be in the heat of the fight, but this time someone hurt the purple-haired woman at the moment when she wanted to help someone sincerely and selflessly. "I treated her like that once, it should never happen again." Halo looked around confused and ashamed.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have reacted so… intensely. After… What Shadow Weaver did to me, my power has changed and I don't always fully control it." said the woman in the wheelchair and signaled her bodyguard to rest. She took a deep breath and also retracted her claws, and the melogue took on its usual color.
"That woman left her damn mark on all of us. Fortunately, she is no more, and we can all let our wounds heal." she said, hoping she sounded wise and conciliatory. Halo looked at her curiously.
„You really believe that... that she's gone…" Sister star leaned one hand on the side of the stroller and almost stood up.
„You naive child. You don't know what I know. A great darkness hides among the stars, and beings as old as time itself watch us, weaving their intrigues. Who is merely a shadow cannot truly die. I tell you, the dead will walk among the living." she said. She smiled with a mixture of indulgence and contempt, but felt a shiver run down her spine. Spinnerella looked at Halo sympathetically and said.
"Children, take Marshal Catra and Princess Entrapta to mamy Netossa?"
The kids, already scared by the Halo outburst, followed them with great pleasure.
On the way, the children introduced themselves to them. The feline boy was called Greypaw and the girl Seihe Quickling. The boy spoke to her, clearly admiring her, while Quickling told Entrapta about their life at the manor. They both cuddled up to Melog, who seems to like it. They were cute, but watching Greypaw made her even more aware of how different he was from other Etheria felines. Much less hair, differently spaced ears, a more human face… things that no one else would pay attention to. At least on this planet. In other places, things like species mattered a lot more.
They found Netossa on a court located on a hill a little behind the house, where she practiced catching balls in the net. It was only here that she saw a few guardsmen, though she guessed that there must be a few more in the house. She felt a twinge of uneasiness, but quickly dismissed it. The war is finally over, and even Lonnie with her People's Rebellion won't make the people of Etheria live in fear… She wasn't sure if she believed it or was just trying to convince herself. Netossa embraced the children and greeted them.
„Hi Entrapta, Hi Catra, it's great that you're here. I've been packed for two days. she said, and Entrapta whistled. Alice ran out, preferring not to know where the bot was while they were talking.
„I'm already packed too. I can't wait to see your grandmother's armory. Apparently, she had such inventions there ... maybe even the doomsday weapon ... „ Entrapta squealed with delight, but at the sight of her friends' looks, she added. „Of course, everything will be used for peaceful purposes!"
Netossa sighed looking at them seriously.
„I have no idea, it's there. I've only been there once as a little girl. My grandmother then gave me my bracelet." She pointed to a device for throwing power nets. "Actually, I don't know where Now might be". she said with obvious embarrassment.
"What do you mean by Now might be?" she asked uncertainly.
„I don't know how to explain it… The Armory just appeared when we summoned it." Netossa explained.
"You mean some vehicle that came when called?" Entrapta asked curiously. „Maybe a spaceship? Can you imagine Catra? Another Spaceship of the First Ones! Darla will have a brother or sister!" The inventor's voice became more and more excited.
"The spaceship can be nice. Darla's not that bad, „she thought, relieved.
Netossa shook her head.
„No... It was just a crystal gate that appeared when summoned. Inside was a large armory, in which resided a being called The Armorer. She gave us or sometimes even created what she considered necessary for us. Now I think it must have been the AI."
„Oh, finally I will meet the real advanced AI of the First Ones! Can you imagine what we can learn from her from the next Light Hope. Entrapta radiated delight
She groaned. She'd never met Light Hope directly, but she had been rummaging through her head, bringing out her worst and most painful memories, nearly driving her insane. Compared to this bitch, Horde Prime was a butcher compared to a surgeon. Now she was dealing with another creation of the First Ones, perhaps just as dangerous and insane.
- I don't like it very much, I won't hide it. Open that door and let's get this over with." she said, dropping her ears low, and Melog clung to the ground, taking on the blue color of fear.
„There's only one problem. My grandmother gave the key to Frosta mother and the summoning device to the Star sisters to keep it out of the hands of the Horde."
Catra groaned.
"You've met Halo before, haven't you?" she winced. "That's why we invited her here, though I prefer not to talk to her. Me and Pulsar filtered a bit… Before I met Spinny! And then, after the battle, I visited sisters on their island, and Halo called me a coward and said that's because of my cowardice she was maimed." Netossa said. "That's why I prefer not to talk to her."
„I'm not surprised. She called me a Shadow Weaver ward today, though she's not the first. A few days ago, I met the shadow lady's sister."
Netossa widened her eyes.
„Did she have a family?" said the ruler of Armoria incredulously.
„Yes." She nodded and briefly told her about the meeting with Midnight Mask. Netossa uttered a very long and extremely colorful string of curses that stung her cat ears. The mystery of Glimmer vocabulary has been solved. Fortunately, the children did not hear anything, because together with Entrapta they were teaching Alice and Melog to fetch balls. Her companion, as soon as he noticed that she noticed his behavior, approached her embarrassed.
„Entrapta, we are going to the Kingdom of Snow."
The inventor jumped with delight.
Remember our trip to the North Reach?" she said and squealed. "Too bad Scorpia isn't with us."
„I remember ... I'm going to freeze my tail again." She sighed. "It's going to be a long journey."
Netossa smiled cheekily.
„Not that long, you'll take a Silverwing."