Chapter Text
Two weeks.
It took Hordak two weeks to get his head out of his backside.
Two weeks.
He spent four days in solitude, trying to get over Entrapta’s betrayal, creating schematics for his new Sanctum, as the old one had been obliterated when the portal stabilized and deactivated. The next ten were spent doing Horde day-to-day, even more ruthless and uncaring than usual. Catra loved it. Scorpia hated it. Hordak had terrified her before, and now she quaked whenever Catra dragged her along to daily meetings. Imp was also feistier than usual. He practically bit Catra one day when she got on Hordak’s nerves. This new and improved Hordak impressed and scared Catra. She loved it. In Catra’s eyes, Entrapta’s so-called betrayal had improved him.
Hordak spent his days fuming in his new sanctum, attempting to work on planned projects and improve his suit.
On the fourteenth day, Hordak had enough of Emily. Entrapta’s stupid robot was being even more loud and annoying than usual, and he had his fist raised to strike it.
“Her programming is glitchy, her left leg sticks, and she’s loud. Emily’s got quirks, but that’s why I like her.” Entrapta’s voice haunted his memories.
Why didn’t Entrapta take her robot with her when she left with the other princesses. Hordak snarled to himself.
Hordak blinked.
Why didn’t Entrapta take her robot with her when she left with the other princesses.
His clenched fist unfurled. Entrapta loved that robot. It was one of the only things she cared about. Why would she leave it behind. It didn’t make sense. Why would she leave Emily behind. And now that he thought about it, why didn’t she take any of her things with her, ones that she asked to have transferred from her castle to the Fright Zone.
He cleared a workbench instantly. Imp was confused, cocking his head at the sudden motivation in his master that had been lacking for days.
Maybe… Maybe Entrapta didn’t leave by choice. Maybe… maybe the princesses took her, without allowing her to take Emily or her things with her. Hordak pulled up a chair and then pulled up the security camera files on the computer systems. He found fourteen days ago and loaded them to the multiple monitors.
“- Until it’s perfect.” Hordak heard Entrapta’s voice say from one of the monitors. Perfect.
He sped forward the footage until he saw her leave his sanctum, after talking to Adora. He snarled. He found Entrapta again on the footage, in her own little lab at the fright zone, running tests on the portal, talking to Scorpia. If only he would’ve had Entrapta at his side, maybe reality wouldn’t have unstabilized.
He saw the warning signs in the tests and shook his head at his own stupidity. And then there it was. Catra. He slowed the footage.
“Why aren’t you in Hordak’s lab!” Catra demanded, after pushing Scorpia aside.
Entrapta raised a finger to reply. “Eh, ummmm-”
“There’s no time! We need to fire up the portal machine!” Catra shouted.
“We can’t!” Entrapta yelled back. “Opening a portal right now will be disastrous. It’s going to collapse and take all of us with it. Adora was right.”
“Adora is right?” Catra laughed. “Adora gets everything she wants.” The way she was moving toward Entrapta made Hordak uneasy. “But not this time.” Catra continued. “This time, I am going to win. I don’t care what it takes! We are opening that portal! NOW!”
“NO!” Entrapta shouted. “I won’t! I need to tell Hordak, he’ll understand-”
What played out next had Hordak standing so suddenly that his chair fell backwards. He yelled in anger at what he saw, as Catra electrocuted Entrapta. Imp screamed. Twice. He turned back to the footage. Entrapta crumpled to the ground. Hordak slammed his fist against the workbench in response.
“Get her outta here!”
“What do you want me to do with her?”
“I don’t care! Just get her out of here! … Put her on the transport to Beast Island.”
Beast Island. Hordak closed his eyes. The place Entrapta should have never have gone. Hordak took a moment to collect himself. Then he rewatched the footage whilst recording it to make sure it was secure. Entrapta’s scream as she was electrocuted brought chills up Hordak’s spine. He then spent the next day in preparation. He contacted trusted Horde officers and told them he would be leaving for an undisclosed amount of time. And then he contacted one of the pilots of the transports to Beast Island. He told the pilot that he would be going on an extraction mission. Alone. The pilot was to take him to Beast Island and then wait for him there. The pilot agreed. Hordak packed food, medical supplies, and anything Entrapta would need to recover and return to the Fright Zone. He prepared his armor as best he could for extended time in the field, as well as spare parts if he would need them. After an uncomfortable night’s rest, he left for Beast Island early.
But not before he dealt with Catra. He went to the force captain barracks in the dead of the night. He stood in the doorway, and after his eyes adjusted, could pick out Catra amongst the sleeping. Imp flew up from his shoulder and to the beams above. Hordak let the door shut behind him.
Imp opened his mouth and repeated the sound of the Horde alarm tone. Everyone was suddenly up and confused, shouting and scrambling around. The light got turned on just as Hordak’s hand wrapped around Catra’s neck. She was suddenly panicking, and realized that it was Hordak. He raised Catra into the air, and by now the other Force Captains were witnessing the scene, Scorpia was shaking. Hordak threw Catra to the ground and two of his personal guards came in and dragged her out behind him. The other Force Captains looked around in stunned silence.
Hordak spent the private transport to Beast Island in silence.
He never thought he’d walk on Beast Island again since he turned it into the Horde’s most feared prison. Adjusting the gear he brought, which he didn’t notice, thanks to Entrapta’s armor, He began to triangulate a search pattern across the Island. It might take time, but he would find her.