Chapter Text
Allura and Hunk stare at the warrior princess with pure shock, “Allura!?” “Yeah, I see him” Hunk sighs in relief. “Okay. I wanted to make sure it wasn't just me.” Lance looks at the sword in his hands and screams, “Wha-huh!?” He then transforms back into himself as Allura teleports forward and tugs on the sword. “Stay where you are!” “What the hell did you do to me?” “What do you mean, what did I do to you?” “I didn't know being a princess was contagious!”
Hunk pushes them away from each other. “Okay, okay, everyone, calm down! Wanna tell us how you did that?” Lance pants, “I didn't do anything. All I did was pick up the sword, and then, whoosh, I'm in a tiara!” Allura takes the sword in her hands. “I don't care how she did it. We just have to make sure she never does it again!”
The creature rises and stabs the ground with its front talons. Hunk takes the sword from Allura and runs to Lance. “Do it again!” “hunk!” “Do what you did before,” he says, pushing the sword into his hands “I don't know what I did before!” “No time. We have to go.” They run through a forest as the creature chases them. They reach the edge of a cliff and fall over the side, then land below in a heap. Symbols on the ground lead to a triangular structure. “What is this place?” “No idea, but in there's gotta be better than out here.” Hunk grunts as the beast looms above them.
“Everyone, grab on, I can get us in there!” “Allura, no! You've never teleported three people before.” “Do you have a better idea?” They shout at each other. “What's written on this door? It looks like some kind of password.” Lance says breathlessly. “You can read that?” Hunk raises an eyebrow. “You can't?” “What's it say?” Lance puts his hand on the writing, “Uh, Eternia." The door glows and opens. “Oh, come on!” They run inside as the door closes on the beast.
Allura lights an orb in the dark hallway. “So, Horde soldier, have you always been able to read First Ones' writing?” Hunk starts almost conversely. “Wanna tell us what exactly is going on here?” Allura continues suspiciously. “ I told you I don't know, I just read the word on the door.” Allura chuckles, “Right... You read a word in a language that no one's spoken for a thousand years, and the door just opened into a mysterious ancient ruin. Sure.”
“You think I did this on purpose? You think I wanted to be a princess? Princesses are monsters,” Lance growls out. “Monsters? You're the monster!” Allura looks like she wants to shout again. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Allura, he did save us.” Hunk tries to meditate again. “I don't care! We can't just trust him, hunk. Or have you forgotten everything the Horde's done to us? The people we've lost. We need to find another way out of here and get him back to Bright Moon as soon as possible. My father will know what to do with him.”
“Hey, so, thanks for saving us from that bug thing back there when you could've escaped instead.” Lance rolls his eyes. “Okay, well, I didn't save you. I just wanted to get the sword, okay?” Hunk nods “Are you sure it's not because you secretly like us?” Lance chuckles, “Wh--? I don't like you. You're my captors.” Hunk nods again, “Sure.”
“Thanks for saving us anyway. I'm hunk, by the way.” “Lance” “lance. Ah. Weird name for a Horde soldier.” Lance raises his eyebrow, “Is it?” Allura stares at the sword, whispering to herself. “What are we doing?” “Nothing! I mean, uhh.. Look at these carvings. I think this might be a First Ones' ruin." Lance tilts his head. “What's a First One?” Allura looks at him in surprise, “You've never heard of the First Ones?” “The First Ones are the original settlers of Etheria. They disappeared a thousand years ago, but they left behind a lot of old ruins and technology. Like this place.” Lance let out a surprised sound, “So, what happened to them?”
“So, what happened to them?” Hunk shrugs. “No one knows. They just disappeared. The Horde didn't tell you about them?” “Seems like there's a lot the Horde didn't tell me,” Lance mutters darkly. “ How do we get out of here?” Allura made a ‘ugh’ sound. Hunk sighs, “It'll take forever to find a way out at this rate. Hey! Wanna turn on some lights, lance?” “I don't know how to do that!!” hunk humened “Maybe there's a magic word. Ooh, what's the First Ones' word for "lights"?” lance just shrugged. “I don't know. I'm not magic.” “Obviously. Everyone, stand back.” “Uh, Allura? Maybe you should take it easy. We're a long way from Bright Moon. It'll be a while until you can recharge.” “hunk!!” “You have to recharge your powers?”
“Can we not talk about this in front of the Horde soldier? Now, stand back.” Hunk and Lance stand beside each other as Allura squeezes her eyes shut and tosses a shiny ball of light into the air. “Whoa,” Allura groans, “Wow. Are you okay?” “I'm fine, hunk.” An image of a warrior princess holding a sword appears on the wall. “Oh, hey! That's you!” “What? That doesn't look anything like me.” “No, I mean, the other you. The scary one in the cape.” “That was me?” Lance said while studying the image. “You can read that inscription, right? What's it say?” Hunk said hopefully. “It says... "She-Ra."
The image lights up, and his eyes widen as the light radiates around the room. A hologram appears in front of them. All of the screams. “Greetings, administrator.” “What is this thing?” “What is your query?” the hologram, light hope said almost flatly. “I think it's some kind of ancient hologram.” “What is your query?” “Uh... Hi. What is this place? How do we get out of here?” Hunk tried hopefully. “What is your query?” Light hope just repeated. “Welp. She's broken.” “She's old. I'm surprised any of this stuff still works at all,” Allura huffed. “Administrator not detected. Lockdown initiated.”
A series of doors slam shut around them, and the rock structure begins to crumble. Allura turns to the hologram. “I didn't do it!” “No. No. No lockdown! No lockdown!”-The ceiling shatters.-“Lance, you gotta get it to stop!” “What makes you think I can?” “Query not recognized.” “There's gotta be a password or something!” Hunk shouts, panicked. ”Uh, stop it! Uh, Eternia! Eternia! Give me the sword!” “What? No!” Lance sighed like she was being unreasonable. “We need the scary man in the cape. I don't know how, but he's the key to this place, so maybe he can get us out.” “You're a Horde soldier. I'm not giving you the sword.” Lance tries again. “Eternia! Uh, cape! Uh... She-Ra!” Allura grabs both of them. “Hold on!” “Allura no!” Hunk yells as they teleport away.
“Allura!” Hunk shouts as Allura falls unconscious while they free-fall through the sky. Hunk shoots an arrow, and they land on a web. “Allura! Allura!” Allura groans as she wakes up, “Did it work?” Hunk chuckles, “Yeah, it worked. Barely. Are you alright?” “I'm fine. I think I used too much power getting us out of there.” “ I think I used too much power getting us out of there.” “hunk” “Like an hour ago.” “Hunk,” “Sorry. I'm just glad you're okay. No more teleporting for a while, okay. You could really hurt yourself.”
“I'm fine, okay? Let's just get back to Bright Moon so I can recharge already. Why are you still here?” Allura turns to Lance, “what” “hunk and I are hardly a crack security team. You could've escaped at any time. Why didn't you?”
“I just-- I wanna figure out what's happening to me, and if I go back to the Fright Zone, then I'll never know. I never knew where I came from or who my family was. Haggar said it didn't matter who I was before, that-- that I was nothing before Lotor took me in. There's always been a part of me that I don't know anything about an-- and all of this, it feels familiar somehow. I don't know how else to explain it.”
Allura looks at the badge on Lance's jacket and scowls, but hunk put his hand on her shoulders. “Allura’s dad knows more about First Ones' tech than anyone. He'll know what's going on with you and the sword for sure. So, if you want your questions answered, stick with us?” Hunk says, holding out his hand to Lance, who hesitantly takes it. “Let's go. There should be a village a few miles from here. They'll be able to give us a ride back to Bright Moon. We've wasted too much time already.” Allura said, already starting off.
Back in the Fright Zone, keith is with hagger. “For the last time, where is Lance?” “For the last time, I don't know. You think I keep him on a leash?” “I know you're lying. You two are close. He would never depart without telling you.” Hagger scoffs at the young boy in front of her. “Then I guess she let us both down, huh?” “Have it your way. I already know where he is. We've been tracking him.” keith tires to hold his deadpan expression back at this. “Uh, then why did you ask me?” “Because you are going to bring her back.” keith continuous to try not to roll his eyes. “I don't think so.” Hagger zaps Keith with electricity. “Your insolence will not protect him. You will do as I ask.” Keith huffs. “Oh, yeah? Or what?” “Or you will suffer the consequences in his place.” Hagger walks away.
The trio arrives in the forest village, and the inhabitants dance and frolic. “Alright, the jacket comes off.” “What? Why?” “If the villagers see a Horde soldier, they'll freak out. We gotta fix all this.” Lance takes off his jacket, and Allura offers her cape as a sash. “I feel ridiculous.” “That’s ‘cause you need something to tie it all together.” Hunk puts a flower in his hair. “I don't like it.” Allura shugs. “Point is, you don't look like a Horde soldier. Just keep a low profile. We'll be in and out.” Lance sighs as they enter the village.
Lance looks around. “What is this?” “It's a festival. Like a big party. You don't have parties in the Fright Zone?” “Oh, right, parties. I mean, yeah, pfft, of course. I, uh-- I don't know what that is.” “Ah!” “Did you even hear me? I said, in and out!” “he has never been to a party before, Allura! This is serious.”
Hunk drags Lance to a food stand. He hands him a piece of food. Lance takes a bite, and his eyes light up. A villager tries to put a wreath on Allura’s head, and she swats him away. Later, musicians play as they sit at a table, and lance food in their mouths. Allura shoves a plate of food over, and Lance devours it. Soon after, they pass young children playing a piñata-like game. A youth hands a stick of wood, and he approaches the dangling toy, wearing a fierce expression. He whacks it and cracks it open. The kids run forward to collect the innards. The children cheer.
Later, a villager performs with his hands in front of a crowd of kids. Lance watches wide-eyed behind a tree. Allura stands beside him. “So, seriously? No parties ever? What do you guys do on your birthday? “Lance just makes a confused noise. “No birthdays?! How is your life this sad?” Lance gasps, “What is that?” and points to a horse in the meadow. “That would be a horse,” Hunk says as the horse neighs. “It's majestic.” “You wanna go meet it?” “What? No!” Lance starts whining.
He shyly pats the animal's snout, and his mouth drops open. “This is the best day of my life.” “Hunk.” “Come on, I know you like him, too, "Hunk says as Smoke billows from the village. “What's going on?” Lance questions. They run back, and Lance gapes as fires blaze from the village dwellings. “It's the Horde!” Allura shouts as they hiss in the hut. “Why are they here? The people of Thaymor aren't a threat.” Lance's head snaps to Hunk. “Wait. Did you say Thaymor? This can't be Thaymor.” “Did you know something about this?”
Lance turns to Allura, “No. I mean, yes. But there's a mistake. Thaymor's supposed to be a heavily fortified rebel fortress, not a civilian town!” “Do you really think that matters to them?” the princess shouts back. “I can get them to stop. This is all a big mistake. I just need to talk to them. Get as many people out as you can and don't let them see you.” Lance removes the sash. “I'm sorry.” “Lance!!,” hurrying off, sprinting past the villagers as they scatter in fright. He stops, stunned as a Horde tank barges through a hut nearby.
“Stop!,” Lance shouts as Keith exits. “Lance!” “Keith?” Keith runs towards Lance. “They let me drive a tank. Believe it?” “Keith, I don't understand. What are you doing here?“Keith rolls his eyes. Uh, duh, we came to find you. "Cover for me, Keith. No one will even know I'm gone." Seriously, did you just get immediately captured right after you snuck out--? What are you wearing? “Uh…” Lance rips the flower from his hair. “There's no time. We have to put a stop to this.” “What? Why?” “Because this is a civilian town. Look around! These aren't insurgents. They're innocent people.” Lance waves his hands around them. Keith snorts, “Yeah, sure. Innocent people who kidnapped a Horde officer. Now come on, let's get you back to the Fright Zone. Hagger is freaking out. -He laughs- It'd be funny if she weren't such a terrible person.”
“Keith, no. I can't go back. Not until the Horde leaves this town alone. You have to help me,” Lance says, grabbing Keith's hand, which lies limply in his. “What are you saying?” “ I’m saying, this is wrong. They've been lying to us, manipulating us. lotor, hagger, all of them.” Keith rolls his eyes again. “Duh! Did ya just figure that out? Manipulation is Hagger’s whole thing. She's been messing with our heads since we were kids.”
“How could you possibly be okay with that?” “Because it doesn't matter what they do. The two of us look out for each other. And soon we'll be calling the shots. Now, can we go home already?” Lance shakes his head. “I'm not going home, Keith. I can't. Not after everything I've seen. Come with me. You don't have to go back there. We can fix this.” Keith pulls his hand away from Lance's.
“Are you kidding? You've known these people for, what, a couple of hours? And now you're just gonna throw everything away for them? Ugh. What happened to you?” “I don't know. But I have to do something. I'm sorry, Keith.” Keith zaps him with electricity”.
Allura and Hunk direct the villagers. “Ah! I think that's all of them. Allura, let's go!” Horde soldiers surround them and blast at them with their weapons. They hide in a cave. “What are we gonna do?” “There's nothing we can do, Hunk. You're almost out of arrows, and I'm almost out of magic.” “You can't say that. You're Allura. You throw yourself into every fight, no matter how hopeless.” “Ugh. Every decision I've made in the last day has almost gotten us killed. My dad's right, I'm not ready for this yet.”
“No. You are not giving up right now. I’m sorry your dad doesn't see how strong you are, but that's his loss. You can do this, Allura, and you don't have to do it alone.” “You're right. We need Lance.” “We do? Didn't he just sell us out to the Horde?” “I don't think he did. We need to find him. I think he can help us. Just trust me. Okay?” Hunk nods, and they jump on the horse from before.
Keith stands over Lance. “Oh, man. That was a lot stronger than I thought. Are you okay?” “Keith!” “I'm sorry! It was a reflex.” “Why are you doing this?” Lance weakly stands up. “Because you left me. And if I don't bring you back, Haggar’s gonna have my head. So, enough with your weird little identity crisis, and let's go home already. Or do I need to zap you again?” Keith holds the taser rod up to lance before shrieking.
Allura and Hunk arrive on horseback. “Allura?” Hunk traps Keith in a web. “Watch out,” Allura teleports Lance. “Lance!” Keith knocks Hunk off the horse.
Allura and Lacne reappear in a nearby clearing. Allura weakens in Lance’s arms. “Allura? What are you doing? Why did you save me?” “We need you. We need She-Ra. I should've given this back to you in the ruin. You could've saved us in there, and I knew that. But I was stupid. And a jerk. And I almost got us killed, and I'm sorry!” Lance shakes his head. “You're not any of those things. I'm the Horde soldier. How do you know you can trust me now?” “I don't. But I hope I can. I feel like maybe you're here to help us.” Allura holds out the sword. A Horde robot appears. Lance takes the sword as the robot races forward.
“For the honor of Grayskull!”
A light shines as Lance transforms into the warrior princess, She-Ra. His body is covered in a gold-and-white uniform; his dark hair turns silver and flows out behind him, and a crown forms on his head. She-Ra tosses the sword in the air and punches his open palm. The sword lands in his hand, and he holds it overhead. Soon after, he slices the robot in half. She-Ra glances back at Allura.
Hunk and Keith fight. Hunk flings Keith off and runs to the horse. Horde robots and tanks surround him. “It's been an honor serving beside you, Horsey,” Hunk says. Keith smiles as they close in. A bright light shines, and the Horde soldiers shield their eyes. She-Ra strides forward, and glowing light surrounds him. he stops and pierces the ground with her sword. The ground crumbles under their feet, and electricity crackles from the rocks. Hunk blinks his eyes as She-Ra stands before him. he pulls her sword from the ground. A tank aims its gun at his, and he leaps up and slices the weapon from the armed vehicle. The tank explodes. Keith observes this with a grim expression. Another soldier races forward, and She-Ra stops them with him sword. A robot attacks, and She-Ra grasps its legs and flings it away.
“Hunk! Are you okay?” “Is that Lance?” “It's She-Ra.” They hear the horde soldiers yell, “Retreat!” The Horde retreats. The light flickers as She-Ra morphs back into Lance. He collapses on his knees, the sword in his right hand. As the smoke clears, Keith faces Lance.
“Keith…”
Keith backs away, disappearing. Hunk leaps on the lance. “You did it!” “I did?” “You saved us. You saved everyone!” Lance laughs, but then panicked “I did it. I turned against the Horde. I turned against the Horde! Why did I do that? I can't go back now. Where am I supposed to go?” “Hey, hey. It's okay. You're with us now. C’mon, let's go home.” Lance smiles and takes Allura’s hand as they walk off with their arms around each other. Hunk grins. “Best-friends squad!” The horse follows them. “Wait, whose horse was this?”