Work Text:
CHAPTER FIVE – In Loving Memory
The green was painful and cold. The filth-filled mirky ocean suffocated him. The water was cold yet when it filled his lungs it burned. It was like electricity was running through his nervous system. Hordak tried to swim up to the top, frantically clawing his way upward in panic. But it was not meant to be. He could not reach it, the surface, the star, emanating a warm purple light. Even in the night sky, even though surrounded by all that darkness, in the void devoid of anything, the star persisted. It was warm and bright. It was seductive hope. No matter how many of the corpses he uncovered from the bottom of the sandy seabed, no matter how high he stacked them, no matter how high the mountain of bodies was, the star was impossibly far, yet unfathomably close. He couldn't escape. He was trapped. And alone. Eventually, over night and day, and over time and space, he gave in. He grew tired and weak. The mountain crumbled, and he and the bodies fell back to the ocean floor. The rock bottom felt familiar, like he lived this dream before. And for a while black was all he could perceive.
---
“He's- He's alive! Guys! Clone of a Witch! He's Alive!” It was V’s voice, he exclaimed with joy. The old clone even dive bombed the hospital bed to deliver a hug to the recovering clone.
Hordak granted, “Alright, alright. Thank you.”
The next voice Hordak heard was not his own, it was much sweeter and he smiled just from hearing it, “I thought we said no hugs!? That's not fair! My turn!”
It was Entrapta. Her mechanical hair wrapped around Hordak once V was done showing his soft side for the year. The hair was cool and smooth, a pleasant sensation. But nothing compared to Entrapta herself. The hair pulled him into her embrace, she was warm and soft, the greatest feeling in the world. They stayed like that for a while.
“I didn't know you were capable of hugging, V. You been holding out on us?” Drag asked cheerfully.
V’s expression immediately changed to grumpiness as he turned his head away, “Ughh, whatever, I'm just glad our moron leader is alive. The whole throwing ourselves at suicide missions was his idea. And he ain't getting out of this nightmare that easy... But yeah so... Welcome back... dumby.”
Hordak managed to rip himself away from Entrapta’s strong and warm embrace long enough to utter a response, “Thank you, V.”
Almost flustered, V stampered, scratching his neck and scoffing, “Yeah, yeah... whatev-... I just think you've got potential; you know- you- you're a smart kid, it’d be a shame to lose a soul like you- There I said it. Just don't die on us.” V’s arms fell to his side making a clapping noise. Then the arms went behind his back. It was clear he was uncomfortable; he had no idea what to do with his hands.
A natural smile formed on Hordak's face. He hoped it was apparent since Entrapta’s smooshing cheek was covering half of his face.
“My beliefs exactly.” Hordak heard a familiar voice in the back of his head. He quickly looked over Entrapta two see Lee. On a hospital bed, covered in bloody bandages and wires connecting him too several different machines. There he was nonchalantly reading a book, still and calm like nothing had happened, like there wasn't a knife wound running straight through his stomach.
“Lee, by Horde Prime- thank goodness you are alright!” Hordak exclaimed happily. The clone attempted to stand up and greet his brother, but Entrapta immediately held him in place.
“Ah, ah, ah! No moving. You're hurt, and the stitches would loosen. You need rest. You can talk to your friends while lying down.”
For a brief second he wanted to protest, but he knew better than to argue with his beloved. She was always right. He stayed down and as a reward for listening she planted a kiss on his forehead. It shocked Hordak that the act drew a chuckle out of him, he was almost embarrassed. But it felt too nice.
V was sticking his fingers in his own mouth and was making a gagging motion. Drag had a brow raised in confusion, the young clone defect had never heard his brother make that noise. While Moe seemed unfazed, his whole focus was on the sketchbook he was doodling in. Yeah, it was strange, the case of Hordak. Relationships, partnerships, were viewed as strange, no less inter species ones. Most clones were asexual and aromantic. What clones like Hordak had was frowned upon. Hordak himself was asexual, however, he had grown to desire romantic involvement, one in particular. He truly loved only one being in the whole ever-expanding universe. And he always considered himself the luckiest being in existence, and forever thankful that Entrapta felt the same way.
“Yeah, speaking of which, didn't you have a knife hole in you?” V asked a cheeky question directed at Lee.
“Not my first, not my last.”
“Like Swiss cheese over here, heh... Now that's funny.”
Hordak responded, “You jest V, yet do not pretend how worried you were when we were wounded.”
He fired back, “Hey, I'm two steps and three seconds away from stuffing that cape in your mouth. A- Also, you gonna keep wearing that dress, or are you going to put on some pants?... You look like Dracula’s dried up cousin who doesn’t get invited to the family gathering, HA, got ‘im.”
“Grampa, have you taken your pills? You’re talking nonsense again.” Drag asked genuinely worried.
“I DON’T NEED THEM!”
“What’s wrong with the dress?” Hordak asked.
“You look like a stripper!” V replied.
“What? In what way? Skirts are a symbol of power. They have been worn by great warriors of elder civilizations across the ages. Beloved?” Hordak looked for support in his partner.
“Weeeell...” Entrapta bit her bottom lip, tapping her datapad, she didn’t know how to break it to him, “Yeeeeah, maybe it’s, kinda, alittle... ‘provocative’.”
“What?! How!? What is wrong with the people of this world!?”
“Sorry, baby, I never told you ‘cause I knew how much to enjoyed that look, and you look so good in it, AH! But I had no idea how to break it to you.” Entrapta stated as she began to tap away on her datapad.
“You know in the space-cultTM we all wore pants. This was all you.” V stated as he leaned on Hordak’s bed.
“Alright. Silence.”
Then suddenly out of nowhere the group began hearing ‘thuds’ and ‘bams’ against thin metal above them in the vents. The vent grate flipped open and Imp fluttered out, his little batwings flapped quickly as the baby rocketed into Hordak’s chest, crashing with a ‘flop’ into a hug.
“OhHO- Hello little one.”
“Imp was so worried, he couldn’t nap, which is like... impossible for him.” The small batling had buried his face into his creator’s chest, and he would not let go of him. But after a while his small head lifted up, his small yellow eyes, shimmering with tears. Hordak took one of his fingers and booped the batling hybrid on the nose. His nose crinkled adorably, and he unleashed an adorable tiny kitten sneeze. Hordak gave him little chin scratches. Imp chirped happily at the familiar affection. Hordak was just happy that his own creation missed him, Imp rarely showed appreciation or worry as he was always too busy sleeping or with pranks or destroying the kitchen while attempting to get into the snack drawer. Moments like these, moments showing that they cared, were worth all the trouble.
The baby bat’s creation came about accidentally, and of desperation. Imp was an experiment Hordak was working on in his laboratory, back two years ago when he still had one to himself. But at least an upside of being kicked out of his fortress in the Queendom of Scorpion Hill, is that now he could share not only a lab, but a home as well - with Entrapta.
Imp was originally grown in a clone pod as Hordak’s new body. As his defects worsened and his quality of life decreased, he sought to follow his Big Brother’s footsteps, and began the process to create a new body and transfer his mind into it. A concept that disgusted him now, and left a shiver down his spine. It used to be considered a blessing to have Horde Prime’s mind supplant your own. A nightmare in reality. Now, Hordak could not even imagine doing such a thing - such a horrific crime to his little one. He was constantly revolted by memories of old, revolted by what he used to believe in.
He scratched Imp behind the ear, “My greatest creation.” A little bit of clone DNA here, a little Radorian RatBat DNA there, and a couple months of synthetic growth in a refuelling pod. And after almost three decades of loneliness and isolation, he was no longer alone. Back when Hordak desired nothing but to be reunited with his Big Brother and the rest of his brothers, it felt like a piece of home - of heaven - was there with him to keep him company, to keep him strong. The little prankster was a true blessing.
The little batling scrambled up to Hordak’s head and began to bonk his little head against his, that brought Hordak out of his thought process. It was a common form of affection for Imp, “Yes, yes, I love you too.” Imp did these small little gestures as Imp himself was mute. A side effect of Hordak's defective DNA.
He wondered how long it would be before Imp would grow up and grow to resent him, how long of this child’s love did he have left until he’d hate him for spreading his weakness to him.
“Alright, well... Well at least you're back home,” Entrapta said softly as she rubbed Hordaks long ears and smiled warmly, “Now, Drag, V, you can wheel your brothers to The Annihilation. Got a lot of preparing to do. And remember no moving, rest up.”
Entrapta lifted herself on her cable-like hair and escaped into the vent opening left by Imp and then she slithered away into the ventilation system.
“Preparations? Preparations for what?” Hordak asked no one as Entrapta was already long gone.
“I don’t know, for some people that are coming over. I overheard Entrapta talk about it, don’t know what it’s about though.” Drag stated.
People? Coming here? “People, fantastic.” Hordak stated sarcastically.
“Your partner knows that corridors exist for a reason, right?” V remarked.
“Vents are faster. And, V?”
“Yeah, kiddo?”
“Shut up.”
“Okay. You got it.”
---
It took them a couple of minutes to find their way to the castle’s hangar, a couple of minutes too long. The castle itself was a labyrinth, a maze of corridors and hallways, littered with booby traps and snares. When his brothers asked him why, Hordak simply replied ‘It is just her thing’. They made it through just fine as Hordak had a map of the castle with him. Entrapta had given it to him on the first day he moved in with her. The piece of paper saved his life multiple times, on a daily basis.
“You are right, vents are faster. Or at least they ought to be faster than this.”
They were greeted with the familiar homely view of the gigantic hangar, populated by random crates and canisters and containers.
The entire south wall of the ginormous hangar was a sliding door, at that moment it was open letting in the daylight, it was a beautiful day. At the centre of the space there stood their ship, The Annihilation. The drop ship was a common model of spacecraft in The Horde Armada, it was a troop transporter, tasked with carrying clone troops from motherships to the surface of different alien worlds. Primary catalyst for invasion. Entrapta and Hordak had scavenged the craft from one of the Horde ship graveyards, one of many graveyards littered across Etheria. The drop ship was deactivated after Horde Prime’s defeat and after gravity dragged it down - crashing it into the surface. Cleaning up those graveyards was a part of their ‘Community Service’ Programme. Fortunately, no one noticed if one of hundreds of thousands of ships disappeared, especially with a little help from Queen Glimmer.
The ship was decorated with paintings by Moe adding much needed colour to the hull. The sides of the hall showcased some of Moe’s finest art... thou what they depicted no one was quite sure.
‘It is the intricate illustration of the definition of life, and the balance of responsibilities shown through love and family. Set within an expanding tapestry of darkness and light, as one defines the other and they utilise each other as disguises. The indistinguishable grey of meta humanity toppling the two halves which created its whole. The cycles of trauma, pain, and deception, how those chains break the near impossible balance of love and responsibility. And how good and evil are not absolutes, as one may subvert the other through balance or imbalance. All about how the mural of quantum progression is faster constructed through hands of unity then through crumbled palms of division. And about how the amalgamation of heart and soul forged through gauntlets of fire can be shattered by selfishness and gluttony fuelled and driven by personal wants and desires...
But ultimately it's all about family.”
“It looks like a bunch of nonsense to me.” V replied, he was holding that one in throughout the whole speech.
The craft was surrounded by a fake green turf of plastic grass and a white picket fence, with a little gate at the front. And a small mailbox on the side. A gravel path leading from the gate too the steps of the drop ship across the turf was laid out also. All set up by Moe in his spare time, the team’s artist didn't ask for permission from his teammates before doing all that. And the others couldn't care enough to oppose it. Some thought it even looked nice. But they'd never admit it.
“Ah, the flowers look great, I knew it!” Moe muse to himself as he admired his own work.
After another agonising couple of minutes later of pushing, pulling, and yanking the beds across the gravel path. Hordak asked if they needed help, V and Drag protested. The effort soon resulted in them abandoning the beds, shoving them to the side and carrying their injured brothers up to the ship. Moe mused to himself that he should change the path from gravel to stone tiles later.
V placed Lee in the cockpit of the ship, he lowered the chair so that Lee could lay down on it and opened the cockpit to let more light in, converting it into a tanning bed, to increase his comfort.
Drag placed Hordak onto their couch... Couch? Sofa? What's the difference?... Eh, anyway, the couch was comfortable enough, but nothing luxurious. And with probably too many grease stains. Drag didn't want to interrupt Hordak’s rest so he sat at the edge of the couch on the arm. V was not so gentle or thoughtful. The elder clone leapt over the couch and before he crushed Hordak’s brittle legs, he asked, “You mind scootching over a bit?” Hordak folded his legs in, opening up space for V to sit down. “Thaaaank you.” He plopped down.
He unclipped a part of his chest armour and from within he extracted a remote. “So that's where it went.” Drag remarked slightly grossed out. The old defect pointed the remote at the black screen of their television and it lit up like a thunderstorm, as loud as one too. Hordak didn't watch much television, he was usually busy with the Salineas reconstruction efforts, or just brooding in general. But he knew what came on was V’s favourite show: Sapphire Lakes. Moe wheeled up next to the couch, half watching and half doodling on his sketchbook. Hordak attempted to pay attention to the trashy Glorgorian melodrama, but he found it was making him dumber by the second. It almost drove him to rip the TV off the wall and throw it out of the cargo bay which they converted into their living room. And to be honest Hordak had no recollection of how they acquired the TV, probably stolen by V like the couch. It was impressive that they managed to pick up off-world channels, that one was two solar systems away at least.
It seemed like Drag was roughly of the same opinion as Hordak, his face showed his displeasure. Brow up and squinting, his gasmask-like face plate had slid apart revealing his heart shaped nasal cavity, and his mouth, slightly agap, framing several gaps amongst the roster of his teeth. Nonetheless, Drag was never ashamed to smile wide, one of the kindest, and most hopeful members of their circus.
“So... what is this show about again?” He asked perplexed.
“What? Sapphire Lakes? Ah, it's only the greatest show to ever exist! ‘Drama to the Max!’ It's about a group of affluent fashion industry moguls who are friends, but they all hate each other. They all rent a lake house for the summertime and so the drama begins.” V cackled as he rubbed his palms together like a fly. Everyone agreed that he was too excited for this.
“That sounds... awful.” Drag interjected.
“Ah! What do you know kid? You still think the mark of a good show is good writing, talented performances, beautiful cinematography, and genuine care and love for your fellow man.”
“Well... isn't it?”
“Nope! It's a bunch of wealthy friends that have nothing in common with each other, yanking each other’s wigs off, backhanding each other, and then making up by ganging up on another unsuspecting woman. It's true art!”
“I take offence to that.” Moe peeped up from the side, proving that he was listening to the conversation the whole time.
“You know what we should watch?” Drag began.
“Oh, Prime no.” V already hated it.
Drag used super speed to snatch the remote out of his brother’s hand. Click. Click. And the screen quickly changed to: “Ragnar The Viking-Barbarian!”
“Kid, I don't care that you're my brother, I will slap you.”
“Oh, come on, Ragnar is awesome! It has everything; a super cool buff axe-wielding butt-kicking hero (me), magical superpowers, silly slapstick sidekicks (like you guys), and a positive kid-friendly moral message at the end! What's not to like?!”
V snatched the remote back while Drag was distracted, “Everything. That's hero talk, kid. We are villains, we’re evil. We sow anarchy, chaos, and death, hmmhumm sweet, sweet death... Being a hero, and ‘good’, it's for losers and suckers. Stick to the one-dimensional bad guy angle, it's way easier and simpler. Plus, your role is predetermined by a higher being from the get-go, no reason to struggle against it.”
“Grandpa, seriously, do you need your pills?”
“You Will Never Make Me Unsee!”
By that moment Hordak had already lifted himself up from the couch and began to hobble his way out of the drop ship. He was recovering so he thought perhaps Glimmer would give him another day off. And it had been a while since he had a full day just to rest, and he wished to spend it with Entrapta. He found himself childishly eager to find out what she was working on.
Perhaps she needed his assistance with that communications array she spoke of. Perhaps return to some older experiment they never finished. He heard the scientist say something about some preparations, she could need aid with those. If she was too weary of letting him work with his injuries, mayhaps he could simply entertain Imp while his beloved worked. The two had not played in a while now. His little creation was a master of hide and seek and Hordak had been slowly teaching the young bat how to play checkers. He was getting good at it too. He was simply looking forward to spending time with his loved ones.
Lee noticed Hordak was leaving, and so before he could, he called him over, “Hordak.” The use of the name stopped the defect in his tracks. Hordak turned back to the cockpit. “Going so soon? Without saying goodbye?” Suddenly Hordak felt slightly ashamed, he completely forgot to check on his brother, see how he was progressing. He was stabbed through the chest or Prime’s sake. How irresponsible of him. How uncaring. The clone quickly marched over to the lying defect.
“Yes, of course, I apologise Lee, you have been severely injured, and I did not even bother to check up on you. I am sorry. Are you alright?”
He took Hordak's hand into his own and placed his other hand over it, “I will live, I've been through worse.” The fact that that was true was troubling.
“How long were you awake for before I came to?”
“An hour or so.”
“A speedy recovery awaits you my friend, that is the power of Entrapta.” Hordak smiled a genuine smile. Every thought of her was bliss.
“Ah, yes... I see.” Lee and his brothers were not too sure about Entrapta. She was... eccentric. Very energetic, very loud, and very, very curious. Hordak had hoped that his brothers would slowly warm up to his love, and Entrapta did all she could to get on their good side, every act she carried out, she did so with good, pure intent. She had allowed them to take up residence in one of her storage halls and converted it into a hangar. She often aided in fixing and upgrading the dropship. She was the one who worked tirelessly on their armour, giving them their powers. Of course, Hordak helped as well, but it was her genius that made it real. And when Hordak had his hands full she helped with patching the team up after missions. She was familiar with Hordak’s biology so she made for a natural clone medic. She did so much for them. And all Hordak wanted to do ever since the day he met her was to repay the favour.
But she wasn't one of them. And that was what it all ultimately boiled down to. Hordak and his brothers, in particular, had gone through a lot, trust - the feeling of safety was hard to obtain. Now, broken off from Horde Prime’s control, both telepathic and propagandistic clones became a somewhat superstitious race. Untrusting, especially of other races claiming they wanted to ‘help’.
People are panicky, and volatile. Crowds and tribes made people feel safe and important. That is often a scary equation. Regs stuck with regs. Defects stuck with defects. Because you feel safer around someone that looks like you. And those who they fear, they grow to hate. Until you hate everyone who isn't you.
Trust was an opening for backstabbing, Lee knew that all too well. “Hordak, boy, I need you to do something for me.”
“What is it?” Boy?
“After I woke up, while you were still unconscious, I overheard from one of our brothers in the halls: Horde Prime’s gravestone has been vandalised.”
“Yes? So? I told you this was an inevitable outcome.”
“Fix it.”
“What!? Why? Lee please, it shall fall the same tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. And He deserves it.”
“Boy, go fix it.” There was less kindness in his voice that time, it sounded more like a command.
“Lee, brother, I am not venturing to The Roots simply to reconstruct the gravestone of our abuser.”
“It is more than that.”
“I just arrived here, I have not had free time for my hybrid and my partner for a long while now. I wish to make that up to them.”
“So, they are more important than your own brothers? Is she more important than your brothers?” The question wasn't quickly answered by Hordak. He had never asked himself that question, but deep down he knew the answer. And it was ‘Yes’. And he didn't know if he was meant to feel ashamed of that. Hordak did not answer Lee, but the elder clone did not have to search the young clone’s mind to know the reply. And it greatly saddened him.
Lee closed his red eyes and fell into a moment of silence, he only spoke up again once he found his voice, “It's not about Him. It was never about Him. He tortured and discarded us. All those deprived acts, and He called it ‘love’. ‘Horde Prime loves you’ he always said. He never mattered. It's about us, now. This is our time.” He took hold of Hordak's wrist, and victoriously raised it up into the air. “We fought His wars. We built His monuments. And we were the ones who suffered for it.” Hordak’s face softened as he noticed a single tear run down his brother’s cheek, “Things have come into perspective today; I almost died. And I would have died without telling you how proud I am of you.” Hordak didn’t know what to say, his heart sored at the sound of those words. He had no idea, but he was thankful that his older brother had the strength to reveal that to him. Hordak only wished he could say it back, but he was too choked up to do so.
“We, our race, we are capable of amazing things. Our potential, it is infinite. And you, you embody that beauty, the beauty of potential.” The comment made the young clone grinned cheerfully. “We honour the clone who’s body and mind was ensnared by Horde Prime in His final moments. Surely, you can relate.” Hordak nodded. If it weren't for the forgiving grace of the She-Ra he would have been in that grave. Lee pleaded one more time. “It's always been about us, not Him. Honour our wronged brothers. Don't abandon us, Hordak.”
And with that, Hordak - the loyal soldier he was - nodded and set off, leaving his immobilised brother proud. He passed the couch on his way out of the dropship, which attracted the attention of his other brothers. “Hey Hordak! Wanna see the sketch Moe did of me!?” Drag grinned a full smile as he positioned the sketch beside his own face for comparison.
“Ughh, no, no, it's- it's bad. It's not finished.” Moe remarked awkwardly, slightly ashamed of his own work.
“No.” Hordak swiftly replied as he walked off. Dragged bowed his head down and his mood shifted quickly.
“What bit you in the cape?” V mockingly asked.
“Nothing. I am sorry. I must depart. I will return soon.”
Drag leapt over the couch, once his feet touched the ground he was immediately right next to Hordak. “Hey, hey, look, we don’t have to watch Ragnar. We can watch something you want. Or- Or we can play some board games.”
“Knife Monopoly.” V peeped up.
“Pictionary.” Moe proposed.
“Look, I- Is it the nightmares?” Nightmares? “I- I have ‘em too. It sometimes puts me in this funk afterward, but you sometimes just gotta shake that funk off, you know?”
Hordak didn’t have time to analyse all that, “I- Drag, I must go, I have an errand I must run for Leech, and then I have to check on Entrapta, but uhm, afterward we can- we can ‘hang out’, ‘for sure’.” Hordak remarked awkwardly.
“Oh, okay, uh... sure, see ya.” Drag replied with his head bowed down. Hordak made his way out of the dropship.
---
Hordak made his way out of the hanger and marched onward through the metallic purple corridors. On the way through the labyrinth of corridors and hallways he passed many of his brothers who were taking up residence and shelter within the walls of Castle Dryl. Entrapta was kind enough to open up her home to thousands of clones across Etheria. Some clones shared rooms, most slept in the corridors, covered in weighted blankets and gifted with cool soft pillows. Hundreds of thousands of clones remained outside, cold and without a roof over their heads. Though no matter how big her heart, she could not help everyone. Hordak did not pay much attention to them as he marched past them in haste.
The defect hoped he would not encounter his beloved on his way out, it would be incredibly awkward, and disheartening. He just got back home, again. And immediately, he was pulled away from her. Again. He also hoped it would not take too long to fix the stone, he could be back before Entrapta would notice he was missing. Yes! That’s it! Great plan. Afterall, she did mention making preparations for something, maybe she’d be distracted for a good while. He made turn after turn, briskly walking through the maze as he consulted the map.
It was extremely kind of Entrapta to allow him take residence in her home castle, and eventually her bedroom. The two had already announced their feelings for each other at that point, but Hordak still was shocked that Entrapta invited him to live with her, it seemed so forward. Of course, Hordak had nowhere else to go after being released from prison at BrightMoon, and Entrapta was already taking care of Imp, and of course he loved her - so he accepted the humble invitation.
They had first tried to ‘beat around the bush’ as the saying goes. They stayed in different rooms. But it didn't last. They found that they felt safer when together, slept better, Hordak learned how to sleep. The warmth generated by Entrapta was comforting, while Hordak's coolness was soothing to Entrapta, together they achieved perfect thermal equilibrium. It was almost like they were made for each other. It soon became a home for both of them. Hordak nowhere else ever felt so wanted, and so at home.
Hordak never asked Entrapta why her home was a labyrinth of shifting corridors and moving hallways, or at least it felt like they moved because Hordak could not for the life of him memorise the routes and paths of the complex. Then again, he did have a terrible memory. His brain was slowly falling apart due to accelerated degeneration due to the genetic illness.
Well, Hordak never really talked about the castle as he knew very little about it, or about Entrapta herself - her backstory. It confused him even further that Entrapta herself sometimes lost her way in the corridors. Of course, he had heard the rumours that the boobytraps of the castle were built by Entrapta to contain her ungodly experiments. Or mayhaps even Entrapta herself. But he didn't ask. The boobytraps were all disarmed or at least he hoped so, they posed no threat. Though there could have been a possibility that he and Entrapta missed some. But hopefully not.
Just then a loud CLAM attracted his attention as he turned another turn. Worried that someone could be injured or that some sort of assailant had made their way into the building. He rushed off into the direction of the worrisome noise.
Soon the picture made itself clear; one of the traps went off. And a clone was almost torn in half by cartoonishly large metallic jaws of a huge bear trap which emerged from the ceiling. Clearly, not all of the boobytraps had been deactivated - that was not good. The clone was on the ground, on his back, eyes wide, mouth agap. He was in shock as he had almost died, but luckily he was pulled out of the way to safety. However, he was not the main spectacle of the sight, it was Adora, The She-Ra. She was within the trap’s clutches; she easily opened the jaws and crumpled the metal like paper. She tore the jaws off the ceiling and tossed them off to the side. She dusted off her hands, a wide grin on her face, “Missed one.” She stated as she turned around to face Hordak.
Hordak extended his hand to his shocked brother, “Are you alright, brother?”
“Y- Yes, I’m alright- uhm, thanks to you, my lady, thank you.”
She-Ra smiled and waved, “No problem, man. All a part of the hero-thing. Any time.”
Hordak dusted his brother’s shoulders and set him off on his way, “I will make sure to investigate the castle for any other active traps. Apologies, brother.” Hordak assured his brother as he departed them.
Then he turned back to the incredibly bright and luminous visitor. It was as if she was radiating light at all times. “What are you doing here?” He asked.
“A couple of things. But currently, I was looking for you. I wanted to talk to you.” Her smile felt genuine. She wanted to speak with him? After his rude yelling? She still wished to speak with him?
“Why- why do you wish to speak with me? After how I behaved?”
“Well, you stormed off, left work, and you just didn't come back. I was... worried. Where did you go?”
“I- I am in a hurry. Perhaps later.” He began to turn around and leave, but he did not reach his first step as he was stopped by a large hand.
“Hordak. Stop.” She could kill him in seconds. One pull, one punch, one twist, one grip. Was it time? Was this the breaking point? Has she had enough? The hero has finally come to her senses, realised that the villain was a threat and had come to finish what she started. This was it, this was how he died.
“I vouched for you. I put in a good word for you. Not just because Entrapta’s my friend, and she asked me to, pleaded with me. I did it because I have faith in people. I have this belief. It's a core of who I am. No one is born evil. No one is pure evil. People can change. Remember? That conversation we had on that hill? People just want certain things, tell themselves that they need them. Everybody always wants something, and it's almost never world domination. I believe in breaking cycles, and second chances.” Her grip on his shoulder tightened.
“But. I don't like being taken advantage of. Where. Did. You. Go?”
His heart skipped a beat – he was genuinely terrified, “There is a clone killer. Clones are disappearing. My brothers and I chose to investigate.” Not a lie. Truth. Always the truthful.
Suddenly all anger drained from Adora, her expression softened, “Oh my God, Hordak, I didn't know. I-I'm sorry.” Her grip on his shoulder loosened, she released him. Hordak felt like that was the thing he should have said, not her. “How have I not heard about this? H- I-”
“It is alright. You have good reasons to be angry with me. Do not apologise, it is unfit for you, you have not done anything wrong.” He bowed his head, he should have apologised, not her. But the words had a difficulty trying to come out of his throat, he had never done this before, he was never taught those words. “Is there anything else I can help you with?” Idiot, why didn't you just say it. You're pathetic.
The She-Ra seemed slightly confused by the question, “What do you mean? I thought you knew. I'm here to help with the preparations.” This was now the second time he had heard something about ‘preparations’ today.
“Preparations for what?” Hordak asked confused.
“... For the Forever Day Gala. You know, anniversary of Horde Prime’s defeat. Entrapta agreed to host it here, at Dryl... I thought you knew.”
“This is the first I'm hearing of this. Why would she keep that from me?”
“Maybe for the same reason you're avoiding her.”
“What are you talking about?”
“So, what you're telling me is this isn't you sneaking off? You're not sneaking?”
“Well... yes. But I'll be back before she notices my absence!”
“She’s the smartest woman on the planet, she'll notice. You should talk to her first.”
“And worry her? No.”
“And tell her you're going after a serial killer! Yes.”
“No, I'm not going after the cult right now.”
“There's a cult!?”
“Never mind that right now. I am going to The Roots. One of my brothers’ graves has been vandalised.”
“...”
“I must fix it.”
“... So, I guess you are in a rush, huh.” Hordak studied the young hero’s face, she was contemplating her options, she was mid-thought. Her eyes darted from side to side as if trying to decipher things invisible to Hordak’s eyes. They finally found their way to Hordak, the eyes landed on him and stayed on him, “Fine. You can go. But you get back to me... Do you need any help?”
“No. I shall be alright. Thank you.”
He turned around and began to go, before he could disappear, he felt a powerful hand on his shoulder yet again, “Hordak, tell her.”
“We shall talk later.”
“Yes, we will. And remember, I'm on your side here. I believe in second chances. But if you're lying to me. If you cross me. You will pay for it. Got it?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Never forget, I grew up in your Horde. I know what you're capable of. The evil you've wrought. I grew up in a cold metal fortress with cold running water in a room the size of a closet, fed garbage in a dead, desolate wasteland under polluted skies - I didn't see the sun and flowers until I was nineteen. If you're lying to me, if you’re abusing my trust. I will kill you. Understand?”
“Understood.” The universe’s kindest, most compassionate being, and yet she could still put the fear of God into him.
---
Hordak took the hero’s advice, he sought out his beloved, and his search led him to the Family Hall. Only hours ago the room had been a sort of private museum. A sizeable room of portraits depicting the generations of the Drylian family. Hordak did not often venture into the hall, it was one of the rare places where Entrapta didn't allow him to enter, she herself did not venture into the room much either. But when Hordak did find himself within the chamber for one reason or another, the setting felt... eerie. He did not enjoy seeing all of Entrapta’s ancestors looking down upon him.
Apparently, the hall was now being retrofitted as the party hall for the upcoming Forever Day Gala. The celebration and the 1st anniversary of Horde Prime’s defeat. People talked about it for months on end. Hordak was not one for celebrations or parties... or joy in general. But he did not mind toasting to the death of a hivemind slaver. He just wished he had been told about it taking place in his own home beforehand. He thought Glimmer maybe would’ve wanted it to take place at BrightMoon.
The Family Hall had a collection of podiums placed across the room, a spotlight above each one. Each podium held up an artefact or heirloom from each generation of the family. A glorified time capsule. Entrapta had yet to add anything to the gallery. She had not yet decided what it would be, but she had all her life to figure it out, and she did not like to think about it, so Hordak never pursued the topic - he hated seeing her distressed. Perhaps it was because she harboured some negative feelings towards the space, perhaps that was why she chose that room to be the site of the celebration and had all the podiums and portraits moved out of the hall into some storage unit.
Hordak paced up and down in front of the door leading to the hall. He did not want to trouble her while she worked. Hordak wished to be there for her, but he wanted to fulfil his brother's wishes too. His red eyes became fixated on the door, and his skeleton almost jumped out of his skin when he saw the handle turn. He was embarrassed to admit that a yelp escaped him as the door swung open to reveal Entrapta on the other side with a look of confusion on her face.
“What are you doing out here?”
“Hmm?”
“I've been hearing you stomping around outside here for like five minutes. I thought you'd come in by now. What's going on?”
“Well, I-... There are many things ‘going on’ at all times, always. So... what am I doing here behind this doors? Well, I will tell you riiiight now...”
“...”
“You didn't tell me you were hosting the Forever Day Gala.”
“It was meant to be a surprise! Plus, you would have protested if you knew, I know you hate people. But I don't! And I want you to get to know some of my other friends. And what better way to bring people together than a trap! Haha!”
Her diabolical laughter always brought a warm smile to his face. Her hands up in the air, her head pulled back with the force of laughter, he could practically see the lightning strike behind her dramatically. Entrapta continued, “And also, I really thought this would be really important for you. Because technically it is the 1st anniversary of your liberation, one full year of you being free - of your own free will and private mind. And technically, it marks a pretty big milestone for us: the one-year anniversary of us officially being together.”
Hordak’s eyes shot wide open, he had forgotten. He never actually thought he'd ever make it to any anniversary of any kind. One year, huh? That long already? It somehow felt like they had just met yesterday, while also feeling like it had been years. One year? Hordak could barely comprehend a life without her, nor did he wish to remember the time before her... One year...
“One year?... Is that long? Or is that... not long?”
“I don't know. It kinda feels like both. But either way it feels like something to be celebrated.” She gave him a small smile, her eyes glistened and sparkled with adoration as she looked upon her love.
“Y- You moved your family heirlooms.” Hordak changed the topic as he looked away while blushing.
“Heh, yeah, just to make space for the guests. But, I was thinking of adding a new podium piece to the room.”
“Oh?”
“Which reminds me! I got a gift for you! For the anniversary!”
She rushed off to Emily who was having some trouble with the decorations, the drone bot got herself tangled in tinsel and party lights.
“I- I did not know we were going to be celebrating an anniversary. I do not have a gift for you.” Using her tendrils, Entrapta managed to untangle Emily. The spherical bot wobbled from side to side happily. Entrapta stilled the cheerful sentry drone, held down a button on her back, which prompted the dome of the bot to flip up open like the trunk of a car.
“Well that's okay. I don't need anything. All I want is: you, with me.” From within Emily she pulled out a pair of gauntlets. And shut the bot closed afterward. I second later she was standing in front of Hordak yet again, “Tada! Brand new Thermo-Gauntlets! A little upgrade for you, because I got worried when you got beat up. These babies are just asking to be tested out on the field! Hehehe!”
He humbly accepted the gift. Although there was a slight ping of guilt inside of his heart. As he looked down onto the gauntlets, he thought about all that Entrapta had done for him, she had done so much to give him a home, purpose, and protection. She has done so much for him.
“Entrapta... thank you.” He looked into the glove there was something rattling around inside there. Hordak reached inside and retrieved a small kite-diamond shaped purple crystal. Engraved on it in an ancient language was the word ‘LUVD’. “Is this?...”
“Yep! It's the crystal! Last night I remembered you said you couldn't remember the first time we met, so I thought maybe you could use a little reminder.” She said with a bright blush.
Hordak just stared at the gifts in his hands. He felt his eyes water, he felt that tear run down, a tear of joy. He turned away attempting to hide the tear. “Entrapta... I- I... You give me so much. I- I don't know what to say- I don't deserve this- I do not deserve you.” Hordak bent down to his lover, and with a nod from her Hordak placed a soft kiss on her lips. Entrapta loved it. She gave into it. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and the back of his neck, one hand on his back, one venturing up to his blue fuzzy hair and ran her fingers through it. Hordak did not require oxygen so it was Entrapta who disengaged to grab a breath of fresh air. She cackled.
The crystal was a curious enigma. Not only could the crystal act as a power supply, a pretty inexhaustible one at that. But it could also act like a storage drive, an external memory bank. The crystal, in fact, once powered Hordak’s armour. It contains the sum total of all of Hordak’s and Entrapta’s memories together.
But he wasn't sure what the crystal was. Entrapta had been studying it for months, she theorised that it was a piece of ancient technology from a long-gone species which once populated the lands of Etheria. The crystal was a remanence of an older forgotten world. Even a brilliant scientist like Entrapta couldn't crack its secrets and she had no idea how it worked; she knew how to integrate it into her own tech but not how it itself worked. But the fact was that the small purple crystal had the ability to capture and duplicate memories of the person or persons in its vicinity. Truly fascinating. She found it in one of the mining excavation sites that Dryl was involved with.
All that bliss, he had almost forgotten... “So. Did you want to tell me something?” She asked with an innocent smile, looking up at him.
He froze up.
“I... I,” how could he tell her that he was ordered to leave. Maybe he could stay and in turn lie to Lee, his brother. Disappoint him.
She looked up at him, into his eyes, quizzically. “What? What's up?”
He could have said it thousand different ways, he could have said that the killer was still out there, he could have said that the resting place of his dead brothers was vandalised, but his panicked mouth came up with the worst way to convey the information possible, “... I have to go...”
He could see the life and joy being drained from her bright beautiful eyes.
“What?” That same question from seconds ago reiterated with new meaning, “Why? Y- You just got back! Hordak, come on. You're ignoring your family!”
“I... Entrapta. One of my brothers’ graves has been vandalised.”
Once again Entrapta grew dull, sapped of colour, her spark faded. Of course he had a reason. Of course he had a good reason. She didn't have it in her to argue with him, nor did she want to. She hated that the universe always had a way of separating them - of tearing them apart. She wished they could just have a moment of peace to themselves. But she knew he had to go.
She just waved him off, “Just go.” As she turned around and returned to her previous planning. It broke his heart to see her upset. For a moment he just stood there awkwardly in silence. But there wasn't anything more he could do here, and so he moved on. On his way through the maze, he removed his own gloves, and replace them with the new gifts Entrapta had handed to him just moments ago. They fit perfectly. They were perfect. Everything she created was miraculous. Then he looked at the crystal in his palm. It was such a small and simple thing, but it held so much significance. Hordak couldn't help but smile at the sight of it. He unlocked his chest pieces frontal panelling and installed the crystal into the armour, which in turn connected to him.
---
Memory weighed heavily on his mind. He told himself he’d make it up to her once he was back. Whatever it would take he’d do it. This would only take a couple of minutes and then- then they’d be back together and all would be right. He would! He would fix everything! But right now he had to focus, push it out of his mind for the time being, as it hurt him too much. He'd be back there soon, but right now he was here.
Hordak took a deep breath, he heard that was meant to help calm you down, to centre you. He didn’t know if it was working. He did not like being back at The Roots so soon. No clone felt comfortable at a graveyard filled with the bodies of their brothers. Every clone had the same fear when at The Roots: Maybe next time I come back here I’ll be the one under the dirt, under an unnamed gravestone. Today, luckily, Hordak was above ground.
Hordak was once again under the singular tree, in front of Horde Prime’s vandalised grave, broken and crumbled. How someone knew it belonged to their Big Brother, he was not sure. It was inevitable. But how it happened, he had no idea. He huffed and puffed and got to work. He, as a clone – as a defect – hated every moment of it. Hated the fact that he was restoring the resting place of the man that hated him. Hordak told himself the reasoning his older brother used to justify this – Lee claimed they were honouring the clone brother who Horde Prime puppeteered in His final moments. That made Hordak feel slightly better about this.
The villain began to brush the chunks of stone off to the side, the faster he’d get this done the sooner he’d get home. The base of the gravestone was rooted deep in the dirt and soil. Hordak took hold of the bottom solid piece of the grave and pulled upwards, grunting and groaning as he did. He managed to rip the stone out thanks to the enhanced power of the armour. But the suit did not erase Hordak’s defection, he felt it, pains in his back along his skin, like knives growing out of his nerve tissue. His bones creaked and cracked. He had to stop for a moment now and again. Even simply leaning felt like his flesh was stretching and tearing.
Only after the act was acted upon did he realise that all this was stupid. He left Entrapta to tend to his abuser’s resting place. He should have stayed with her. Why did he listen to Lee? He should have ignored his injured brother’s plea, Hordak knew deep down he care more for Entrapta’s happiness than Lee’s... Perhaps- Perhaps he shouldn’t have thought that...
“Ughrr, I wager you are enjoying this, are you not?” Hordak spoke to the dirt in venomous rage, “It is always you who divides us. Seeded hate in us. Even from beyond the grave you ruin us. I am sure you are proud.” No response.
Hordak had brought a stone slab with him, contained in a tattered sack. He got the slab from Moe - he was working on some sculpturing, and he didn’t mind Hordak borrowing one of his materials, or at least Hordak thought so - he forgot to ask. He was in a hurry.
The defect pulled out the slab, “Do you remember that day? The day I became your Top-General? I remember. Ugh.” Huff. Huff. “Watch your head.” He roared as he lifted the slab over his own head and with the force of three man - thanks to the suit and momentum - he impaled the slab into the ground. He looked at his taloned hands, they were shaking. Fascinating wasn’t it, that secondary metallic skin made him stronger, gave him supernatural power, and yet it did not gift him with a steady hand. Such great power, in such unstable hands - a perfect recipe for a ciclical tale. He was shaky, jittery. He felt weak.
Huff. Huff. Sigh. “It was after the Conquering of Elimnis. It took our forces three solar cycles to stomp the planetary opposition. The populous consisted of fairy creatures. They drew their ethereal power from the charmed water streams and lakes, which pooled from magical rainstorms. Ugh!” He gripped the stone and drove it further down into the ground, “Just reminding you, because I am aware you never paid much attention to the races we walked over, and the worlds we destroyed. Though I’ll admit I didn’t remember it all either. I had to ask Moe, he was the culturist after all, it was his duty to study alien cultures. Good man that Moe.”
“Alright, let us test the output of this miracle.” The gloves heated up, Hordak could tell by the hissing sound which indicated that they were ‘veering’ up. He felt none of the heat, extremely sound insulation. The laws of physics knelt before her mastery. “Yes. Good man. A better man than I could ever be... But at least I can be better than you... I was called by you into your throne room. You had the same voice as me yet it felt so... different, so... commanding. Holy. You said- This is what you said: ‘General HTK218,666 for your loyalty, and your success in the battlefront leading my troops, I have ordained for you to take your place by my side as one of my Top-Generals.’...”
“I cannot... put into words how I felt. I had no idea how to describe the euphoric sensation I was feeling. It was heavenly. I cried. I laughed as I cried. I prayed to you that night, and I thanked you for my existence. I spoke in tongues, your voice guided me, you spoke through me. That is what I believed that night. That night I believed in You. My mistake.”
---
Hordak stood tall and proud in front of the mirror. He was nervous, over-joyed, yet he trembled over the thought of meeting with his Brother. Hordak was being promoted to the rank of Top-General. Of course, at this point in time Hordak is not yet Hordak. Rather, he was General HTK218,666. And he was proud of that, proud to belong to Horde Prime and no other. 218 adjusted his immaculate white robe, again and again. It had to be perfect.
“So? How does it feel, brother?” The question came from beneath him, from another shorter clone. The clone was hunched over, unable to straighten himself out, his spine malformed – the clone mutated past recognition – he barely resembled a standard clone. His legs bent, arms scrunched up. Yet the smile on his face was genuine. He grinned with his red teeth. The clone was a defect of course. His designation was EGR177,227. He was a simple clone, a kind person.
“It is... adequate. My thanks, EGR 177,227.” 218 continued fidgeting with his robes pulling and tugging and straightening the soft cloth. EGR placed his hand onto 218’s, that surprised the distracted general. Without any words, just a look, EGR managed to convince the uptight bat to let so. His arms fell down by his side. He just let his servant work his magic, so to speak.
“Big day for you, ah?”
“Yes, my Lord has finally seen me, thanks to our victory over Elimnis.”
“Yes, yes, I’ve heard- hold still please- I heard it was quite the war effort. I heard you defeated them by blockading their lakes and rivers. Letting their magic dry out.”
“Yes, they were powerful adversaries. Worthy opponents of our Lord’s wrath.”
EGR brushed off that last dust off of 218’s broad shoulders. The hunched back stepped back to take in the view. The General was wearing bright pristine white robes, dress, and hood – it almost hurt his red sensitive eyes. The robe was lined with gold evoking a regal look - royal and powerful. On his left shoulder he sported the Eye of Horde Prime. The Heavenly Lord’s insignia. All clones wore The Eye proudly. “Moving on to bigger, better things. Ah, I remember those glory days. It makes me sorrowful remembering that those days are over. I was once like you, young one... Now- Now I am damned. Ha. Yes... yes, good memories.”
218 felt his mood sour. His expression morphed from nervous cheer to concern. He approached his defect servant and placed his two hands on his shoulders, he attempted to reassure the clone who had just began to form tears at the corners on his blood red eyes. “That talk is non-sense, my helper. You are at my side, once I am elevated to my new status you will follow me. Horde Prime will see your use, he will forgive your sins, forgive your defection.”
The defect chuckled, “Oh you’re a sweet young lad. So naïve, it is endearing, truly. You have so much hope. Never change my boy. But I am afraid this will be the last time I fit you and aid you in any sort of preparation. I will not be going with you. I cannot be elevated for I am tainted, thus unworthy.
With you now called to stand by Horde Prime’s side, to be in his presence, you will be gifted with a wide gathering of servants, who are not defects. And without you I will have no purpose, no meaning... And I will be done away with.” That last sentence sounded so matter-of-factly. It did not sit well with 218.
“I don’t understand, it is not- defection is not your-” He was cut off by the doors sliding open. A fellow clone had entered the ceremonial chamber, expressionless face, a monotone voice with no personality behind it.
“Horde Prime has summoned you, General. We must depart now. The Ceremony has began.”
“Wait a moment. I first-”
“No, boy! You cannot make our Big Brother wait, it is unbecoming. You must go!” He pushed the reg outward, “Promise me this, HTK: Never stop loving our Master. Be faithful. Be loyal. And never give up, just keep going, be the best tool our Lord has ever wielded. Become the greatest clone to ever have the pleasure to exist. Serve our Lord. Love our Lord. Go. Be great.”
218 was pulled off by the intrusive clone, they marched through the sterile corridors, clean and polished, every surface was like a mirror. He marched with purpose, the walk felt like an eternity while also feeling like a second. The clone on the right was HHG118,772, a well-known commander, a great warrior. He was the one who led 218 to the throne room. On his right followed EGR close behind, he could barely keep up with others - his right leg did not work like it used to.
Eventually, they made their way to the looming doors of the throne room. It was an out of body experience. He could only stare at the doors, hypnotised. He was not sure what he felt in his stomach, but it did not feel good. He wasn’t sure he could do it. Then a hand pated his back, 218 looked back to see EGR smiling. 218 smiled back.
The doors slowly opened. Light emanated out of the room. It should’ve been blinding, but it wasn’t. He did not turn away – in fact he was drawn to it. 218 stepped in, the moth flew closer into the flame. The light enraptured him, absorbed him into the grander whole. The doors closed behind him. EGR did not follow, he remained outside. He remained there, stiff and still. He just silently listened to sounds from beyond the barrier. The sound was muffled and warpped – EGR heard the sound of chanting – most-likely in their ancient Hordeian language. Followed by singing. Then the CLAM CLAM CLAM of staffs hitting against the floor.
For the next sound he leaned forward toward the door, he placed hands onto the door’s surface and placed his pointy ear against the door. Then he heard it. Or at least he thought it was it. The voice of their Lord – The voice of Horde Prime. The defect could tell it apart from other voices. His voice sounded different, unique. They were his identical clones, yet He was... different. His voice was deeper, farther-reaching, booming and echoing. His voice was holy and glorious. He could not hear what his Big Brother was saying. And he never would.
A hand landed on EGR’s shoulder. The ill clone turned around to face HHG117,772. “It is your time.” He claimed as he spoke to the sick clone.
EGR was crying, tears streaming down his face, a shaking smile stretched out across his face. He faced execution with satisfaction and pride. “Yes... yes.” HHG led the defect to his death, and 218 would never see the servant again.
---
Now, Hordak, knelt down on the grave, still and unmoving. He let his muscles rest, they ached and his delicate bones screamed at him. Hordak chuckled to himself, which was rare, not many people had heard his laugh. He only laughed around Entrapta. The laugh was deep and low. His voice was always very attractive.
“That was the day I was promoted to Top-General, to serving by your side, the day EGR177,227 died for being a defect. For a genetic illness he had no control over. Heh, ha. Ironic. Isn’t it? That I followed suit mere rotations later. Days later I woke to the sight of a hole in my arm.” No response.
“Yes, I predicted you would say that.”
Did- Did you see that? S- Something happened. Something changed! You didn’t see it!? The distance, the horizon, it- it shifted- The world... glitched. Hordak’s eyes changed to green just for the briefest of seconds. And then back to red. Was it another dream? Or... was it real?
Hordak extended his gloved pointing finger and placed it onto the surface of the gravestone. The superheated glove hissed as it made contact with the cold stone. Hordak dragged his finger along, burning trenches which moments later came together to form ‘Unnamed’.
Hordak’s ear perked up, the sound of crunching grass, behind him. Which meant only one thing: Footsteps. The bat assumed the worst. He spun around, his fists clenched which was the gestural command for the mechanism to ignite. Hordak wielded two fireballs for fists as his weapons, ready to defend himself.
He wasn’t exactly reassured by the sight that greeted him. It was Glimmer’s Captain of the Guard, Reve- something, he couldn’t remember, didn’t care to. They both remained silent. Hordak didn’t know what to say to her, she probably didn’t want to hear anything from him.
The Captain broke the silence by ruffling through a sack at her waist and pulled out a small pink glowing orb. The orb in question had crater patterns on it, making it look like a moon. She threw the globe up into the air, it arched and fell onto the ground, it forced itself into the ground, so only half of the globe was visible. The ball flashed and out of the top the image of Glimmer appeared. A magic hologram. Hordak didn’t know what they called it. It was transmitting the video and sound of Glimmer in real time. She looked unamused.
“Hordak,” The Queen addressed him, “I was looking for you. You weren’t at Dryl working on the preparations. Adora told me you’d be here. Entrapta looked... disappointed.”
Hordak remained quiet, yet he was seething. She just twisted the knife for fun, poured some salt on the wound for amusement.
“Anyway, time’s up. You owe me a hostage.”
“I... Please, I just want to- I just want to be with my wife.”
Glimmer’s hologram stepped up to the kneeling Hordak. Even when she knelt, she was still hovering above him. She was above him. And her word was final, “You are going back. You are my servant; you serve the Queen. You are ours. You. Owe. Me. A. Hostage.”
And that was it, no argument, only hours later The Defects were preparing for departure. The Annihilation was fuelled and fully repaired. The crew was already onboard, ready to set off, Hordak was the last one in. He stood in front of Entrapta, a sorrowful expression on his face. They felt horrible. Neither spoke. They just embraced each other. They broke the hug, leaving things between them unresolved.
End of Chapter Five