Chapter Six: The Heart of the Matter
The cruiser descended through Etheria's atmosphere, having chosen a place far from the Princess Alliance's purview to touch down. As it did so, Catra felt some satisfaction at the fact that the planet still didn't have any kind of early-warning systems to alert the princesses to invaders like her. She would surely have been more prepared had she still been running the place–a minor victory over Adora, but a victory nonetheless.
The team soon passed through the clouds, getting a view of the planet below them. Green fields and patches of forest spread all the way to both horizons. "You know, I never would have imagined I'd be seeing Etheria from all the way up here," said the scorpion man. His features were hidden behind a Horde helmet, but one didn't need to see his face to tell that he was the biggest one present. "I'm still kind of in shock that there's a whole universe out beyond its skies."
The sorceress agreed. She, too, wore a helmet, but seemed to have light purple skin. "I'd heard stories of the stars back in Mystacor. All the way back since Etheria was sealed in Despondos. And even then, those stories pale in comparison to the real thing." She looked back up at the skies they were passing through.
"Can we focus, please?" snapped Catra, initiating landing procedures. "This isn't a sightseeing trip! I'm already taking enough of a risk coming here in the first place, so I have to ask that you take this seriously!" With her subordinates silenced, she went back to the controls.
Their ship touched down next to some old farmland, presumably abandoned. But some precautions would need to be taken just in case. One at a time, the squad filed out of the cruiser, some taking it better than others. "Etheria–pah!" spat the mer-man. He, like most members of his race, was an amphibious being with green scaly skin, and large fins on the sides of his head. "I, for one, could not get away from this place fast enough!"
"Aw, it's not so bad, Sqalish!" said Bluebird Azurite, flying up above their landing sight. She took a deep breath. "Ah! Just smell that air! That's the smell of a planet just waiting to be conquered!"
The scorpion man removed a rather large gun from the ship's cargo hold, lugging it along with him. "I don't know about you all, but that's a smell I can get used to," he said.
Catra thumped on the side of the ship to get everyone's attention. "Listen up! We're not here for sightseeing, or for a trip down memory lane, or to conquer the planet–yet. The only reason we're here is for this: the Heart of Etheria." A holographic display provided by Entrapta showed a spherical object, seemingly no larger than someone's head, made of cobalt-colored metal wrapped around a red core. "If Entrapta turns out to be right, and it does exist, it should give us the edge we need in our war against the snake men–and everywhere else.
Carnelian raised her hand. "And, uh, if it turns out to be not real?"
"Well then, we'll just have to go with plan B: bring back a different First Ones artifact," Catra said, smirking. "And I know a certain sword that would be perfect. But for now, the Heart of Etheria is our primary objective. First order of business: covering our tracks. Crita, if you will?"
The sorceress, Crita, prepared to cast a spell. "Bear with me, this might take a bit." With rings hovering near her hands, she concentrated, and the ship began to disappear. Gradually it faded, until it was entirely invisible. Aside from an odd flicker as the light passed through it that was only visible from close up, it was nearly undetectable. "There. Save for running headlong into it, nobody should find it."
"Good. Bluebird, recon."
"Aye-aye, boss!" Bluebird took off further up into the sky, scanning the perimeter for threats, or for treats.
"Karikon, Carnelian, secure the area."
Carnelian reached for the gemstone on her lower back, producing a bladed boomerang. "Will do!" She and the scorpion man, lugging his enormous blaster, set off to act on anything Bluebird happened to uncover.
Sqalish eyed Catra with his beady black eyes. "I hesitate to ask, but do I have a purpose, Empress?" he asked reluctantly.
"You sure do," Catra replied. She tossed him the holograph, a tentacle emerging from his back to catch it. "Chart the quickest way to the nearest site marked on this map. If we're lucky, the Heart will be there. If not, we'll just move on to the next."
He glared at the device. "I assure you, we are most certainly not lucky. Not with me on the team." He reluctantly pulled up the map and began looking for the optimal route.
While Catra watched over her minions, Crita, her task fulfilled, approached. "Eh…Empress Catra, if I may? Not that I'm suggesting you don't have a plan, but from how we just landed in a field in the middle of nowhere, meandering to where this artifact might be, it seems like you don't have a plan."
Her comment earned her a glare from Catra. "Not every attack against everyone we fight has to be some kind of extra-complex series of events set up weeks in advance! As long as we don't draw too much attention to ourselves, we'll be able to find the Heart without any trouble. Providing none of you find some creative way to screw this all up!"
"So…you don't have a plan, then," Crita deduced.
"The plan is for you to not question your commander!" she snapped. Catra felt around a bit for the ship, climbing atop it once she found it. "Everyone, rally up! We're moving out!"
Sqalish looked up from the map, evidently not finished just yet. "Are you sure that's wise, Empress? We don't yet know what we might encounter."
"We know enough." Bluebird, Carnelian, and Karikon returned to the group as Catra made her way in the direction of the first marked location. "Just stay close, and hope that this isn't a waste of time."
"You mean like the war on Ophidia wasn't?" Karikon asked quietly, earning him a soft snicker from Carnelian and a cautionary nudge from Crita. Luckily for him, she was too focused to be listening closely.
The five troopers followed after their commander, dreading the outcome should this turn out to be a wild goose chase–or even if the Heart was real, what difficulties acquiring it would prove. "I have a feeling this will not be a pleasant mission," muttered Sqalish.
"Don't you get that feeling on every mission?" asked Carnelian.
And so, with the Horde remnant dealt with, the Princess Alliance returned to Brightmoon. Those willing to abandon Catra's ideals were given relative freedom, while those unwilling to give up their life of conquest were detained. All in all, this was a major victory for them…so why did Glimmer still feel so dissatisfied?
She sat on her throne, alone with her thoughts until Hordak appeared, someone she never thought she'd be glad to see. "Queen Glimmer," he said with a slight bow. Even after all this time, she could never tell if his respect for royalty was genuine or mocking. "All of the Horde separatists have been accounted for. Those who have chosen not to remain in the Crimson Wastes have been escorted to appropriate lodgings. I think we have seen the last of the New Horde for some time."
"You'll forgive me for not being optimistic," she mumbled. Glimmer stood up from her throne, strolling over to a window to gaze out at the Whispering Woods. "Hordak, you were part of a galactic superpower once. What do you think is the best way to defeat Catra?"
Hordak scowled at this question. "Catra and Horde Prime can hardly be compared! That traitorous former lieutenant of mine is nothing more than a rambunctious upstart on a galactic scale, while my brother was the most glorious conqueror the known universe had ever seen! Had the sheer scale of his dynasty not stretched his resources thin, Gemkind would never have been able to gain victory over him!"
"Uh-huh, uh-huh, I know," said Glimmer, dismissively waving him off. She'd heard this song and dance before. "But you have to admit, she's being a real pain for all those space people out there–mostly the Gems, but still. You said it yourself: the best way to topple an empire is to wear their resources thin…so how do we do that?"
He considered the question for a moment, his days of 'Lord' Hordak coming back to him. "This is an interesting query. Horde Prime was able to transfer his consciousness into other bodies, making himself effectively immortal. The only reason Homeworld was able to win at all was by destroying his other clones. But Catra does not have this luxury." He stood beside Glimmer, looking out the same window with a glint in his eyes. "In cases such as hers, the best way to dismantle an army is to cut off its head."
For the briefest of moments, a shadow of the same glint appeared in Glimmer's eyes. "So we go after Catra directly. But that seems too obvious…what's your angle?"
"Angle?" He grinned. "My dear queen, surely you don't think I would be planning on betraying you and retaking my old throne? Our alliance has become far too mutually beneficial for something like that!"
Glimmer glared up at him. He had to admit, although their size difference, among other things, made her far from imposing, she could have an impressive air of menace when she wanted to. "We may be allies now, but don't think that when this is all over, you can just go back to ruling the Horde," she growled. "I didn't forget everything you've done to Etheria. Catra may be the one who killed my mom, but your war got my dad killed."
"Ah, yes, King Micah," he mused. "Shadow Weaver spoke highly of him. I wish I knew what became of him…"
"I know enough," Glimmer hissed. "Now, are you going to tell me how we can get to Catra, or have you decided not to be useful anymore?"
Hordak strolled towards Glimmer's throne, for a moment considering sitting upon it. "Catra never does anything by half-measures. Her fleet will be prepared to destroy any enemy that attempts to get close to her. We can use this to our advantage. She will likely be expecting a grandiose display of aggression, not a small, precision-oriented strike. A single, small craft, one advanced enough to evade detection, and able to carry a battalion of your best warriors. Now where, dear princess, would we find a ship like that?"
Memories of his old hideout in the desert came back to her. "Mara's ship," she said.
"Precisely," he said with another smirk. "I'm sure if we pool our resources, we can get it into working order again."
"No need," she said, returning to her throne. "I'm sure Peridot would be more than capable of doing this on her own. Would you mind sending for her?"
He hid his dissatisfaction behind yet another sneering smile. "Nothing would bring me greater pleasure, your majesty." He left the room, leaving Glimmer alone with her thoughts. Her thoughts of vengeance, of justice, or retribution. She would not let Catra escape punishment again–she owed her mother that much.
Strangely, Steven wasn't with everyone else, relaxing after their latest mission. Connie eventually found him, out in the garden by the newly installed warp pad. He was still in his large He-Man form, seemingly waiting for someone to arrive.
"Hey, He-Man," she said, strolling over. "Y'know, I'm still not exactly used to all this."
"Connie? Oh, hi," he replied. He seemed distant somehow, as though something was on his mind. "Yeah, me either. You think it's weird for you that I have a big buff body now, imagine how I feel!" He chuckled briefly, but stopped just as quickly. "So, what's going on with you?"
"Me? What's going on with you?" she asked. "Everyone's celebrating our job well done, and you're out here all by your lonesome. I'd have thought you'd be in the middle of it! Is…something the matter?"
He was quick to assure her that he was fine. "No, no, I'm fine! It's just that…" After trying to find the words, he sighed. "Hey, you've had a sword for a lot longer than I have. Do you think you could give me some pointers?"
"For sword stuff?" She glanced at the Sword of Power. "I guess I could…but you don't seem like you need it. I've seen you with that thing, and it looks like you can handle it pretty well!"
"Thanks…but something still feels off about it. I can use it, but it doesn't feel natural." Steven looked over his shoulder anxiously at the warp pad, clearly expecting someone. "It might take some time getting used to."
Connie sat down on a bench nearby. "Well, there you go: you'll get used to it the more you use it. I wasn't an instant expert when Pearl first taught me. I can give you some tips, but experience is the best teacher–Pearl also told me that!"
"You're probably right, but…" Steven ran his hand over the blade of the Sword of Power. "How much time do we have? The New Horde is out there taking over planets and causing trouble for everyone, and here I am, gifted a magical sword that could really help in stopping them, and I don't even know how to use it right. If… Maybe if I still had my other powers, I'd be more helpful."
Now that the heart of the matter was laid bare, Connie looked at him with pity. "That's what this is about, isn't it?" She walked over, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "Steven, this is also something you can't force. Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl all had their powers come back naturally. We don't know how it happened, but it did, and sooner or later you'll be just like your old self again. Plus, a sweet new sword!"
It was small, but her little pep talk had Steven feeling a bit better. "Yeah, I guess so," he said. "My powers will come back when the time is right. And even without them, we're still jam buds, right?"
"Of course!" Connie exclaimed happily. "Jam buds for life! Plus, now that we both have swords, you, me, and Adora could all be…uh, blade buds!"
He laughed, and so did she. "Blade buds! I like it!" He took a few practice swings with his sword. "Look out, New Horde, because the blade buds are comin' to get–"
There was a flash of light behind them as the warp pad activated. No sooner had Steven turned around to greet the new arrival than they had thrown themselves at him: Jasper collided with him head-first, only stopped because her helmet crashed into his sword.
She followed up with a punch to the gut, only narrowly missing his gem. Steven tanked the blow, grabbing hold of Jasper's arm and tossing her aside. She recovered in midair by curling into a ball, rolling at him for another attack. She broke the roll into a slide, moving under a slash from his sword, before springing up and smashing him in the back with a double-fisted hit. He was thrown forward, staggering as she charged in again.
"Steven!" Even without her sword, Connie darted into action, leaping into the air. As though by instinct, Steven caught in and hurled her further–she landed on Jasper, grabbing hold of her hair. She pulled on the Quartz's mane, trying to disorient her to give Steven an opening. He ran in to attack…only for Jasper to grab Connie, and hold her in front of herself like a shield.
With a small gasp, Steven skidded to a halt. Whether voluntarily or involuntarily, he shifted back into his normal form, coming to a stop in front of the Gem. "This wasn't what we agreed on, Jasper!" he said angrily.
Jasper dropped a struggling Connie to the ground, scoffing. "The only thing I agreed on was to train you to be a warrior–and that means showing you everything you might have to face. Do you really think your enemies won't ambush you when your guard is down? Or use your own allies against you? If you really want to embrace the full potential of this He-Man thing, you need to be ready for anything."
"That doesn't mean you can just attack me and my friends out of nowhere! I…ugh. Nevermind." Steven picked his sword back up. "Come on. Let's find somewhere more secluded so you can show me the ropes."
"Steven…did you know she was coming?" Connie asked. She was more confused than angry, though he still looked away guiltily.
"Kind of," he said. "I figured we'd be here on Etheria for a while, so I asked if she could come here to continue our lessons. I didn't know she'd come out swinging, though!" He glared at her accusingly.
She looked like she was moments away from rolling her eyes. "If you wanted a teacher who'll go easy on you, you could have asked that Pearl. You came to me for a reason. If you don't like the way I do things, fine. But don't expect any help from me when you're inevitably outclassed by those renegades." She walked over to the courtyard's entrance, waiting for Steven to follow.
Before he could, Connie stopped him. "I know I mentioned this earlier, but are you sure this is the best idea?" she asked. "Her lessons might be helpful for now, but they aren't you. Steven, you're a loving, caring guardian of hope, not an aggressive berserker!"
"I was," he said somberly, "until I lost my powers. Until I get them back, this sword is all I have. And Jasper's probably the only one here who can teach me how to use my new powers. I don't like it either…but what other choice do I have?"
"Not to listen to her," Connie said softly.
He turned to leave with Jasper. "Wish me luck."
Connie could only watch as the two of them disappeared. "Your main problem is, you're still used to using a shield," she heard Jasper say as they faded into the distance. "A sword is a weapon: you attack, you don't defend. Understand?"
She went back inside before she could hear his answer. She tried to assure herself that this would all be fine. Steven was plenty smart, and he knew what Jasper was doing. Surely he wouldn't be molded into being like her that easily, right? But deep inside her, Connie couldn't shake the feeling that nothing good would come of this.
