Chapter 4: The Sword of Protection: Part 4
Hours had passed since Adora was rescued by The Horde. She was sitting on her bed, alone with her thoughts as she gazed into the night sky. She managed to get back into her normal clothes, so that was good at least. However, she was still far from alright, still thinking about the images she saw. She replayed the memory over and over in her head, trying to find some way of convincing herself it was a rebel trick. Every single replay came to the same conclusion, those rebels were telling her the truth.
"Oh Adora~" Catra's voice called out to her. Adora turned her head to see Catra standing in the doorway, leaning against the side. She was wearing a red-colored lingerie.
"Figured I'd give you my birthday present to you to make you feel better." she said in a seductive tone as she walked over to Adora. On any other day, Adora seeing her girlfriend like that would make her happy, but today her face just had a blank expression. She had too much on her mind right now to even realize what was going on.
"Uh...Adora?" Catra said sitting next to her on the bed, "Are you okay?"
"Huh? Oh yeah, yeah. I'm fine." Adora said.
"You sure? Cause I just walked in your room wearing this and you responded with...nothing." Catra said, "Are you sure you're fine? You know you can tell me anything."
"I'm sorry, I just...a lot happened today and I'm just trying to get everything together." Adora said. Catra sighed and placed her hand on the side of Adora's face, smiling at her.
"I understand, hon. We can do this another time." she said as she got up and started walking out, "But seriously if you need to talk to me, I'm always here for you."
"I know, Catra. Thanks, love you." Adora nodded.
"Love you too, Adora." Catra smiled before leaving the room. Adora sighed and changed into her white nightgown before lying down on her bed. She then saw a shadow appear in her room, Shadow Weaver arriving through it.
"Hello, Adora. I heard about what happened." Shadow Weaver said
"I'm sorry, mom. I just...I don't even know what to say."
"There's no need to be sorry, Adora." Shadow Weaver soothed her, putting her hand on Adora's shoulder, "It's my fault for keeping you so sheltered in The Fright Zone. You weren't prepared for the more... unpleasant things The Horde has to do in this war against the Rebellion. That is why I had Styrax watching you on your entire journey."
"I'm just struggling to figure out...why? Why did The Horde wipe out that village? Kill everyone in it?" Adora asked her mother
"They were aiding the Rebellion, Adora. Everyone in that village was a Rebel ally, they would even resort to using children for their cause. I know it is hard to understand at first, but in time you will see what The Horde does, it does for the greater good." Shadow Weaver said comforting her daughter. Adora still didn't know what to say, but she figured it would be better to just agree for now and think about it more in the morning.
"Thanks, mom."
"Get some rest, Dear. You've had quite a long day." Shadow Weaver said before teleporting away. Adora sighed and fell asleep on her bed.
Loud screams of agony echoed through the Frightzone's prison block. The source of those screams was Glimmer, who was being electrocuted by a man with electric gloves. She was suspended in mid-air by mechanical restraints on her wrists and ankles, the small device on her back she was shot with earlier keeping her from using her magic.
"You ready to talk now?" the man asked, his voice sounding digitized through his face mask. Glimmer's only response was spitting in his face.
"Still got some fight in you, huh? No problem there, more fun for me." the man said before the electricity of his gloves charged up and gave Glimmer another shock. Glimmer screamed in pain once again, the electricity flowing all throughout her body. The door to the room opened, and Kyle walked through.
"Jolt, go see the other prisoner. I got this one." Kyle said
"Sure thing, sir. And good luck, this one's stubborn." Jolt chuckled before leaving the room.
"So, Princess Glimmer of Brightmoon. Gotta admit, I wasn't expecting to capture you of all people on Adora's first mission." Kyle chuckled. He walked up to Glimmer and crouched low enough for their faces to be on the same level. "I take it you've heard of me?"
"Everyone in the Rebellion knows who you are." Glimmer hissed in disgust.
"Good. I do try to make an impression on my enemies." Kyle said, "I will say that I'm impressed. Most I've seen a prisoner last with Jolt before talking was 20 minutes, and you lasted well over an hour without a peep."
"I'm never telling you anything." Glimmer sneered, "Brightmoon and The Rebellion WILL free Etheria from your tyranny." she said defiantly. Kyle went ominously quiet in response.
"Tell me, Princess, you ever heard of a place called the Crimson Wastes?" he asked, "I imagine not, it's a place most nobles like you pretend doesn't exist. I was born there, to a father I never knew and a mother enslaved by a gang of Crimson Waste raiders. I spent my whole life working in the mines, digging for Etherium so my masters could trade it for weapons and booze, while they fed us scraps."
Kyle then grabbed her by the hair and lifted her head up, the glowing yellow lights of his eyes staring directly into hers.
"My mother used to tell me about Brightmoon. She lived there before I was born. The village she came from was near the border between Brightmoon and the Crimson Wastes. When the village got raided and everyone enslaved, there was nobody to save them. My mother would tell me every night that Brightmoon would rescue us. Years and years went by and she never gave up hope. She was even waiting for Brightmoon when she was lying there sick, starved, and dying. I never even got to be there in her last moments, because my masters just had us continue working. You rebels claim that you care for the people of Etheria, but where were you when my mother lay dying, praying for you to come rescue her? Where were you when me and dozens of other children were working themselves to death? Where are you when the people actually need you?" Kyle asked Glimmer, "Since then, I waited and waited, day after day, for something to put my suffering to an end. For something to give me what I wanted: freedom, identity, and revenge." Kyle said letting go of Glimmer's head.
"You know what finally gave me those things? It was The Horde. They saw the Etherium in those mines and came down on the raiders. You should have seen it, Princess. Fire rained down on the scum of the wastes like a divine storm. It was beautiful. They offered any surviving slaves to join them, and it was then that I knew what my purpose was. To help The Horde bring order to Etheria, order that kingdoms like Brightmoon failed to deliver." Kyle said before pulling out a plasma knife and placing it under Glimmer's chin. "And I won't stop until that order is brought to all of Etheria and every trace of scum like you is wiped out." He said as he placed the blade on Glimmer's back and pressed a button on the handle, the blade growing and starting to burn Glimmer's skin.
Adora found herself in a black void. She looked around the area confused until she saw the magic sword embedded in the ground.
"Adora." Said the same mysterious voice she heard earlier, the same figure of light appeared before her.
"Who...who are you?" Adora asked.
"I have gone by many names. However, you may know me as Light Hope." the figure said to her
"Look, uh, Light Hope, is what they said about me true? Am I really this legendary warrior of light?"
"That is for you to decide, Adora. Are you truly the Princess of Power?" Light Hope asked.
"I...I don't know. The Horde was my entire life but now I'm supposed to leave my family and friends behind to fight against it? I know what I saw was wrong, that I should stand against it. But, if it means turning my back on all of them? I don't know if I can do it." Adora said.
"What you saw was only a small taste of The Horde's evil." Light Hope said before placing his hand on Adora's head. Her mind was filled with visions, the scenes unfurling before her.
"The Horde has twisted Etheria. Enslaving many of its people." Light Hope said as Adora saw rebels being dragged along, similar to what she saw in Dryl. One prisoner tried to fight back, but one soldier simply hit the prisoner with the back of their gun. Another soldier pulled out a laser pistol and placed it against the back of the prisoner's head, before pulling the trigger, killing them.
"Those who rebel are either killed or taken to The Fright Zone, where wraiths warp their minds to be loyal soldiers to The Horde." Light Hope explained as Adora saw a Horde wraith casting a spell, using their dark magic to warp a prisoner's mind. Adora immediately thought back to her first mission, the prisoners, their 'rehabilitation', this was all that it was. People who fought against The Horde being mind-controlled into fighting and dying for it.
"The Horde isn't helping Etheria. That was all a lie. My entire life has been a lie..." Adora said, tears running down her face. What was once doubt was now becoming clear in her mind.
"The path of your life is ultimately your decision. There is good in your heart, Adora. You know what you saw The Horde do to that village was against your nature. Only in your heart can you see what you should do." Light Hope said to her.
Adora woke up in her bed. She got up and rubbed her head. "Only...in my heart...can I see what I should do." She repeated to herself as she looked out the window.
Later, in The Fright Zone's science facility, two Horde scientists were studying the magic sword.
"Any luck?" one asked the other
"Nope, nothing's even reading on the computers." the other replied
The first one sighed, "Well, it's getting late, might as well call it a day and try again in the morning."
"Works for me." the other one agreed as the two walked out, closing and locking the door. Several minutes after they left, Adora, back in her normal clothes, snuck down the corridor over to the door. She typed a code into the electronic lock opening the door. One of the benefits of being the Princess of The Horde was that she had access to all areas of The Fright Zone. She entered the room and walked to the sword. She looked at it hesitantly. She loved her life in The Horde, and she loved her family and her friends...but she couldn't let what she saw just pass by. She dreamed of saving Etheria from the Rebellion, but it was clear to her now that she had to save it from The Horde. She took a deep breath and grabbed the sword before raising it up in the air and declaring the words "For the Honor of Grayskull!"
At the prison, Glimmer was alone in her cell, feeling the burn marks on her back.
"Glimmer? Are you there?" asked Bow's voice.
"…Bow? Where are you?" Glimmer asked, looking around.
"Judging from the direction your voice is coming from, I'm in the cell to your right. Are you alright?" Bow asked
Glimmer sighed "Yeah...I'm fine. My back hurts, my wrists hurt...everything hurts." Glimmer said
"I know the feeling. I didn't tell them anything, you?"
"No. Any plan on escaping?" Glimmer asked.
"I looked everywhere in my cell, no weak spots or anything."
"Great..." Glimmer said burying her face in her hands, "This is my fault, we should have just brought that girl to Brightmoon. But no, I decided we take her to Madame Razz."
"Hey, hey, this isn't your fault, Glimmer." Bow said, "You had no idea this could happen."
"Well now we're stuck here...I'm scared, Bow." Glimmer sighed.
"I am too. But we can't just give up. I promise, Glimmer, we'll find a way out of here." Bow said trying to comfort Glimmer.
Suddenly, they heard a loud crash, followed by an alarm. Several Horde guards ran past the cells and opened fire on something before a desk was thrown at them. Glimmer and Bow went to the doors of their cells to find out what was going on, before Glimmer's cell door was suddenly torn open. Glimmer looked in shock and awe as She-ra emerged standing in the doorframe.
"Come on, we're getting out of here." She-ra said before running to Bow's cell and tearing the door open as well. She then smashed the door to the room which held items confiscated from prisoners and tossed Bow his bow and his quiver.
"Adora…you saved us." Bow said
"You were right, The Horde is evil, and I'm done helping them." She-ra said before a door opened behind her, she turned around and saw Kyle standing in the doorframe, even with her height as She-ra, Kyle was still looking down at her.
"You've gotten a lot farther than you should have, whoever you are." Kyle said, "But then, you haven't met Force Captain Kyle either. Your ride's over, Rebel. Time to die."
"Go free the other prisoners, I'll hold him off." She-ra said readying herself, she had to admit that she felt nervous and awkward about fighting Kyle. She had regarded him as a friend for most of her life, and she knew very well what he was capable of. Bow and Glimmer ran to the other cells as Kyle looked at She-ra
"You try all you want, Rebel. You and your friends ain't leaving here alive." Kyle said before hitting She-ra with the back of his fist, slamming her into a wall. He punched at her, and she caught the fist with both of her hands. Even with the immense strength she now had, she was struggling to hold the fist back. She-ra was able to push him away far enough to dodge under his arm and grab her sword. She swung it at Kyle's neck, cutting some of the circuitry on his armor. Kyle grunted and grabbed Adora by the neck, throwing her down the prison block right past Glimmer and Bow. Bow fired an arrow at Kyle...only for it to bounce off his mask. She-ra punched a hole through the wall and tore a chunk off before throwing it at Kyle, but the giant was able to swat the debris away before he began to charge towards her.
"Bow, the magic blocker, quick!" Glimmer said. Bow looked at the device on her back and pulled out an arrow. He pressed a button on it and a small laser shot from the tip and quickly cut the device, making it fall off of Glimmer's back. Glimmer grabbed Bow and teleported them both out of Kyle's way as he charged towards She-ra, tackling her through the wall itself and sending them falling to the ground outside. Glimmer and Bow teleported back in and ran to the floor's control room. Bow flipped a switch, causing all the cells to open, the prisoners pouring out.
Outside, Kyle started punching She-ra into the ground before she grabbed her sword and stabbed it into Kyle's arm. Kyle slammed his foot down on her chest, before rising up and feeling the blood on his arm.
"Heh, I'm impressed, can't remember the last time anyone's made me bleed." Kyle said
As Bow and Glimmer worked on teleporting the prisoners out, Bow saw Kyle beating on She-ra. He aimed an arrow at a nearby building and fired, the arrow detonating and causing a chunk of the building to fall before Glimmer teleported him out.
She-ra saw the falling piece of the building and lifted up Kyle's foot. She pushed hard enough to make Kyle stumble a bit as she grabbed her sword and jumped out of the way right as the debris fell onto the giant. She-ra panted and made a run for the stables. She went to Spirit's stall, the horse panicking as he saw the 'stranger' approach.
"Spirit, Spirit! It's me, Adora." She-ra tried comforting the horse, the sound of her voice causing Spirit to calm down. "Alright, now let's get out of here." She said opening the stall and getting ready to mount the horse, before Catra pounced on her.
"HA! Gotcha, Rebel!" Catra said holding onto She-ra. She-ra grabbed Catra and managed to pry her off.
"Catra, please, don't fight me!" She-ra tried to reason with her.
"Why would I not fight you, rebel scumbag?" Catra said trying to claw at her before she saw She-ra glow and transform back into Adora.
"Because it's me!" Adora said.
"A...Adora?" Catra said as she stared wide-eyed at Adora.
"Catra, I'm leaving The Horde and joining the Rebellion. I've seen what The Horde actually is, and I can't follow them anymore." Adora told her.
"What? What are you talking about?"
"The Horde is evil, Catra. I've seen it myself. Please go with me and we can free Etheria from them." Adora said.
Catra shook her head in disbelief, "What did those Rebels do to you? Do you hear yourself right now?"
"Catra, please. I can't serve The Horde anymore but this doesn't have to be the end for us." Adora said, grabbing Catra's hands, "I love you. And I want you to see the truth too. So please, come with me."
Catra looked at Adora at a loss for words. She then shook her head and yanked her hands away from Adora's. "No, no this is wrong! There's something wrong with you, Adora. I'm not letting you leave."
Adora looked down, saddened. "I'm sorry, Catra..." she said before whistling. Spirit came running towards them. Adora jumped up and got on Spirit as Catra was knocked down by the horse. She began ridding towards the exit of The Fright Zone, tears in her eyes. Catra stared as she did, teas forming in her eyes as well. Adora rode Spirit past the inner defenses and out the front gates, she stayed as Adora so the guards wouldn't attack her on sight. She looked back at The Fright Zone as Spirit galloped further away. She closed her eyes and looked down. She stood by her decision to leave The Horde, but she still felt a great sadness from what she was leaving behind.
"Do you see her?" Glimmer asked Bow as Bow tried to see Adora.
"No, not yet."
"Dammit. I'm teleporting back there." Glimmer said before groaning in pain.
"No, Glimmer, it took a lot out of you to teleport us out here." Bow said before he saw Adora approaching them. "There she is!"
Adora stopped in front of the two rebels.
"Alright, let's go." She said with a determined look, though Glimmer could see the sadness in her eyes. Deciding not to press the issue for now, she nodded, and her and Bow got on the horse as well. The trio rode off on Spirit as alarms and the engines of patrol crafts buzzed behind them.
At The Fright Zone, Catra was storming down the halls past the panicking soldiers, when she saw Zed running towards her.
"Catra, I heard the alarm, what's going on?!" he asked her.
"Adora's gone." she said bluntly.
"W-what? What do you mean she's gone?" Zed asked in disbelief.
"She betrayed us, Zed. She left us to join the Rebellion. We meant that little to her." Catra gritted her teeth in anger before storming off. Zed simply stood there, his expression one of shock about what he just heard. Catra walked into Shadow Weaver's room.
"Adora left The Horde." Catra said
"I know." Shadow Weaver replied.
"What? You know?" Catra asked confused
"Of course I do. And Hordak does as well."
"Which is why I'm assigning you and Shadow Weaver on a specific assignment." Hordak said as he emerged from the shadows.
"The assignment is a simple one. Capture Adora and bring her back here."