Chapter Text
Had he not just welcomed him, he would have thought a demon had come to visit.
“Oh, wow. Didn’t know you made them this small!”
This, however, was no demon. Lord Skeletor was a lich- an ancient, undead creature reanimated by magic. An ally to his Big Brother, if only for the moment. The skeletal form he possessed was tall and foreboding, his shoulders perpetually slumped forward and his arms hanging limply. He wore faded, royal garb, bandages covering rotting flesh underneath. Over it all, he wore a deep, violet cloak, the ends of it blackened and tattered.
While his Big Brother, under normal circumstances, would never turn to magic… The destruction of Eternia was not a normal circumstance. It wasn’t magic he requested of him, anyways; Lord Skeletor was a respected member of the Eternian Court. Truly, however, he was in allegiance with Horde Prime. His Big Brother had offered him the planet in exchange for Lord Skeletor’s betrayal. Quite gleefully, the lich had accepted the offer, and was now meeting regularly with Prime to discuss their plot.
This was the first time Lord Skeletor met Horde Prime’s Little Brother. He was quite entranced, as most were when he was brought out to be shown.
The grim’s shadow towered over him. Well behaved as he was, the Little Brother bowed his head and kept his arms folded neatly behind his back. The watchful eye of his Big Brother reminded him to keep his posture straight and his expression composed, though his hands trembled with terror.
Mustn’t embarrass Big Brother, he was told.
He would obey.
Lord Skeletor lowered himself to the Little Brother’s height, head tilting curiously as he tried to catch the creature’s gaze. He couldn’t get it; the small creature was obviously spooked by him.
“Would you like for it to accompany us? I have trained it well,” Prime offered, raising an eyebrow. “Unfortunately I’ll have to request you not feed it anything; it has failed me, so it is being punished.”
“Really? What did it do?” Lord Skeletor’s voice was more of a sharp squawk than anything else. Everytime he spoke, both Prime and his Little Brothers’ ears would twitch. Less unpleasant than nails on a chalkboard, but not by much.
He began circling him for a further look at the unique clone. The Little Brother lifted his head as he did so, his shoulders tensing as the orange, lantern-like lights in Lord Skeletor’s eye sockets finally caught his.
Prime took in the sight of Skeletor and his brother with complete apathy. “Oh… I wished to see it devour one of the guests I had brought from the Notamane Quadrant. It refused to do so, so it is being starved until it learns.”
The Little Brother couldn’t fight the way his stomach clenched in response.
Lord Skeletor let out a small cackle, the noise echoing in his empty chest cavity. “Refused? Never heard of that before. You got a little bit of bite, eh, little guy?” He asked, voice rising with what must have been an attempt to charm him.
He looked ready to cry.
Prime waved his hand irritably. “Enough about the mutant. I called you here to discuss our plans to conquer Eternia. You claim you can get close to the King…?”
“Oh, right!! Yeah!! Of course I can, we’re BEST friends! I’ll kill him and his bratty child before anyone even notices. The empire is yours- I just want to rule Eternia like I DESERVE.”
Lord Skeletor had not taken his eyes from Prime’s Little Brother. “Isn’t that right, ‘lil guy? Wouldn’t I make a much better King?” He cooed, pinching his cheek with his claw. “I can’t get over it- it’s so cute! You should sell some of these, I know plenty of people that would love one.”
“I’m sure. Fortunately, my Little Brother is one of a kind,” Horde Prime refuted. “It is a lowly mutant, seeking penance. I have my reasons for keeping it alive, which are none of your concern.”
Lord Skeletor rose to his full height once more. “What can it do? If you don’t mind me asking…”
“Whatever it’s told.” Horde Prime’s gazed snapped to him, narrowing with distaste. “Little Brother, why are you not bowing to your guest? Bow, immediately.”
He obeyed, before his Big Brother could even finish his sentence. The crack of his knees as he hit the floor was sharp, but the little creature bowed to Lord Skeletor with the forcefulness of utmost devotion.
Lord Skeletor tapped his chin at the sight, teeth rattling as he thought. “Listen… Could I borrow this kid for a while?” He asked after a moment. “It’s smart, right?”
Prime laughed lightly at that. “More intelligent that you, Lich. I place it under rigorous training to ensure that,” he proclaimed. “It surpasses my other creations in all tests of mental fortitude and intelligence. Even my most defective are, after all, still creations of mine.”
The Little Brother’s heart swelled. That was praise- he knew it when he heard it.
Bones and metal clinked as Skeletor clapped his hands once. “Good! I need a tiny thing I can shove into tight spaces. My damn ship is full of them, and my last grease monkey was eaten by an Alternian.”
“Is there a possibility it will perish, doing so?” Horde Prime’s eyes remained on his Little Brother. He had proven himself adept with machinery, but he was hardly exemplary. He was far more capable at software and programming.
“If it makes a mistake, yeah,” was the lich’s response.
“Then by all means. Take it. Feel free to treat it as I do.” Prime sealed his fate with a pleased grin. “Teach it to kill Eternians. I’m assuming you’re a talented warrior, yes…?”
“Oh, the greatest! I’ll be a wonderful teacher!!” Lord Skeletor exclaimed.
The little clone jolted as a heavy, metallic hand dropped onto his head, patting it with a force that made him wince. Lord Skeletor, clearly, was attempting to smile, but he had no lips to do so. “Ya hear that, kiddo? Uncle Skeletor is going to teach you how to murder! Isn’t that fun?” He cooed.
The Little Brother blinked; the tears which had been building in the corners of his eyes spilled over. He squirmed free of his grasp aggressively, and scrambled to his elder Brother.
He couldn’t bear the thought of being near the lich, let alone the thought remaining by his side and loving him as he did his Elder Brother. He cowered at Prime’s feet, silently begging for mercy with his orb-like, green eyes, gripping his Brother’s robes tightly.
Prime only sighed, knocking him from his leg with a kick. “Go to him, Little Brother. He is your Master until I say so,” he declared, voice edged with a teasing tone.
The clone clambered to his feet, wiping his eyes as he bowed his head once more.
Skeletor let out a low huff, the sound hollow as air was forced through bone. “Huh. Can’t imagine why he doesn’t like me. I’m great with kids!”
Prime placed his hand on his Little Brother’s head, his claws digging into his temples.
“It will not run from you again. Isn’t that right, Little Brother?”
He nodded the moment his head was released.
Of course he would obey.
Why would he ever run?
***
“Hello, Adam.”
The whisper carried a teasing lilt as it brushed over the human’s ear. In response, Adam jolted in alarm, his strawberry-blonde hair standing on end as he whipped around. “Wha-!?“
He clicked his tongue irritably at the sight of Hordak’s smug grin. Knowing it was a familiar alien, however, the stiffness of his shoulders immediately lessened, and he shoved him playfully out of his way. “Proud of that?” He scoffed, lips curled into a sneer.
Hordak snickered, hands tucked behind his back in mock innocence. “Yes, actually. I was right. Fair ones scream the loudest,” he shot back. “This place is boring. Let’s find this rat and get out of here.”
The difference was stark now. Hordak looked nothing like when he first met Adam, in both attitude and dress. He wore a black bodysuit with baggy, dark grey trousers tucked into his boots. He still had the crimson hood he’d gotten from Soaring Comet, but it was down. His dark blue hair was messy, treated with an almost practiced level of apathy. It still naturally fell to one side, however, which gave him quite a bit of youth.
The posture the alien carried- his entire being, even- had changed with a blink. More time must have passed; more than Catra had experienced. A moment ago, she was following Hordak and Adam down to the lower deck. Suddenly, the lower deck was a series of dimly lit hallways of decrepit metal.
Adam choked out a laugh as Hordak fell into step next to him. There was something horribly familiar about the way they moved; like they’d known each other for far longer than a week. Hordak shifted from Adam’s left and right occasionally, preferring to orbit around him as Adam moved straight ahead. He even turned to walk backwards to address Adam more directly.
The movement seemed to amuse the human, but he didn’t comment on it. “So why didn’t you kill him when Prime told you to?” He asked instead.
“Honestly? I didn’t feel like it,” Hordak admitted with a shrug. “He’s a scavenger; hardly the most dangerous threat to the Horde. So what if he has some of our technology? He’d have to learn how to use it, first, and good luck with that. Prime never asked about it, so I thought it was fine.”
Adam cocked his eyebrow at that. “Did he really trust you that much?”
Hordak hummed as he thought the question over. “No… As an adult, I’ve been to the Mothership twice. I’ve rarely seen Prime, since he sent me to invade and conquer the galaxies. And I’ve rarely heard from him, as well. He makes a point not to speak to me unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
“Hah! Sounds like you got big enough to fight back, and he got scared of you,” Adam interjected.
“Hm… Maybe. Prime’s greatest flaw is that he despises knowledge that he deems ‘degenerate’,” Hordak explained. “If he was willing to understand more about sapience- more than just how to take it away- he would understand why you are willing to die fighting him. And… He would understand why leaving me alone with the ability to process the world around me was a horrible idea.”
He turned around, falling back to Adam’s side as they rounded a corner. “You were right; the more he oppressed, the more the urge to disobey grew in me,” he concluded.
Much like the human, Hordak now seemed to wear a permanent smile. Although far more subtle and hinted with a bit of smugness, it grew prominent, then. “And then, of course, I met you,” He added. “All I needed was a friend to tell me the truth.”
“Aw, Brother, you’re gonna make me cry.” Adam actually did seem quite touched. His gaze had flitted away from Hordak, the lightest pink coming to his cheeks.
Now, it was Hordak’s turn to laugh. “Please don’t. I can’t afford to be seen here with someone who cries.”
That “here” was a station on the edge of Horde territory. When Catra looked out the window, she could see a line of smooth, white ships sitting in a uniform line less than a planet’s distance away. The side of the station had the Horde symbol painted on its side, signifying it had experienced a successful siege and takeover.
Strangely, though, it was devoid of any clones. The station appeared to be in some sort of no-man’s land between the Empire and the Horde, as the Eternian Guard was just behind them. It was the perfect place for criminals to meet and interact, and they certainly saw the shadier individuals moving past them in quicker steps.
Judging by the condition of the station itself, it seemed like either side expected it to just fall apart at any moment. The siege that had taken place on it had removed the station of its former glory, and no one had bothered to repair. Hordak dare not place his hand on the railing. It was decrepit and cluttered, the scaffolding equally full of gaping holes. Junk was dumped wherever there was space, and they had to be careful not to step underneath any of it. The entire station had an eerie, yellow glow, as if even the light it emitted was sickly and dying.
Creatures of all shapes and sizes rushed by them, paying Hordak no mind despite his identity being plain to see. When someone did take notice of him, they stopped to let him pass, head bowed fearfully.
Hordak belonged there; he was the Horde General, after all. It would be a death wish to question him.
When they’d entered the station, it was Adam the guards took issue with. Hordak had to properly reassure them that he was his captive, and therefore his property. Even then, those that recognized Adam eyed him with murderous intent.
“Do you think it’s because I’m Eternian?” He asked flatly.
“I think it’s because you exude an aura of, ‘Please come and kick my ass, I am positively begging for it’,” was Hordak’s teasing response.
Catra cackled at that. Hordak used to tell jokes?
If only he was this sarcastic when he was on Etheria. It would, at the very least, have made her life far more entertaining. “Oh, man, I wonder how bad you would have dragged Shadow Weaver. I bet you did in your head constantly. Of all the people you surrounded yourself with, you always seemed to hate her the most.”
She could guess easily it was the magic. Inside these memories was crucial information about magic that he wouldn’t learn about again until he met the sorceress. Catra knew from experience Shadow Weaver wasn’t the most forgiving teacher. It had also been pretty obvious as she grew up that something had soured any sense of friendship they might have had; what that was, she was unaware. After interacting with Hordak for long enough, it became obvious who he cared little for, who he liked, and who he loathed.
This behavior, though, was new. Hordak seemed glued to Adam’s hip, and the other likewise.
Catra let out a small sigh. It was obvious, now, why Hordak lingered on Adam.
Adam had been his best friend.
Hordak wanted to see what happened to him, she realized. Catra had quickly assumed that Hordak would betray them. Yet, after watching them interact for just a moment, it became obvious that was the farthest thing from his desires.
That meant Adam and Teela might still be alive. Hordak had clearly realized that before her; he was combing through all the memories of them, searching for their possible locations.
“I don’t know how useful looking through all your memories will be… There’s no guarantee this stuff will be around in our time,” Catra reminded. It wasn’t impossible, though, and her chest swelled with hope. She’d love to meet Adam and Teela, for real.
The trio turned a sharp right at the end of the corridor, immediately coming upon a set of large, iron doors. There was a small numeric panel on the wall beside it. With digits entered quickly by talons, the doors slid open with a loud hiss.
They were greeted with smoke and an orchestra of grinding noise. Ships sat in rows of varying states of repair, their hulls marred with bulletholes and impact burns. Sparks rained down onto the walkway from above, fizzling out before ever touching the grated scaffolding.
This room was far more spacious, but, again, the clutter that filled it created a near-choking sense of claustrophobia.
These were the farthest from Eternian standards; even the air felt grungy.
At the sight of Adam, the armed few rose and approached. These patrons were far more confident in addressing his presence, drawing blasters and knives from their pockets.
“It’s the Prince-!!”
At the sudden approach of a creature, Hordak drew his own blade. It was a fluid, silent action, but it stopped them dead in their tracks. He let out a deep growl of his own, reminding them the consequences of picking fights with him.
In response, they scattered like roaches under a flashlight, disappearing into the clutter around them.
Adam’s shoulders tensed. “Guess I’m a little more hated than I thought,” He commented under his breath, smiling nervously. “Shocking, how reputations follow you.”
Hordak didn’t sheath his blade, yet, but he did relax his grip. With a huff, he placed a reassuring hand on Adam’s shoulder. “Why are they so cross with you?” He asked.
The hand didn’t help his unease; in fact, the question seemed to worsen Adam’s anxiety. “Well… Brother, I’m sure you’re aware, but the Empire is falling fast. That’s not an accident; it’s falling because of my absence,” He explained. “My father is dying, and there’s no heir. No one with enough authority can stop the in-fighting happening.”
He turned his head away, sucking air through his teeth. “And, not only that… They no longer have access to magic. Etheria has been missing for eons, and the last of Eternia’s magic resides in me. Magic that can only be channeled through the Sword of Power… which kills me, if I use it.”
Adam tugged at his collar nervously. “All these people were probably enjoying their cushy Empire jobs, before I came along and started breaking things…” He gulped.
Quickly, he took Hordak’s arm and pulled him towards the lift in the center of the room. They arrived just as it was departing for the second floor, both stepping onto it with hardly a stumble.
Catra had been left behind- or so she thought. When she blinked, she was right by their side again. It was so sudden, the fur on her tail fluffed out in alarm. “Ugh, I hate that…” She grouched, joining their huddle with crossed arms.
Adam huffed. It was obviously coincidence, but Adam’s eyes had landed on the space she resided in. She could appreciate how handsome he was, even when she definitely didn’t like men. When his expression relaxed, it was almost enough to make her heart skip.
Almost.
“They’re scrounging up magic like it’s a commodity from other planets, but none of it compares to the Sword of Power,” Adam said. “It’s second only to the She-Ra blade in its capabilities. Even in the hands of a laymen, it can wipe out thousand-man armies. And in the hands of its rightful, Eternian heir… It’s a power that rules galaxies.”
As he spoke, their eyes followed his hand to his back. Hidden underneath Adam’s jacket was the Sword of Power itself, tucked innocently into a simple, leather sheath.
Adam’s fingertips brushed over the hilt in a fond gesture; still, the blade let out a small spark that snapped his hand away.
He hissed out a low curse, scowling at the weapon over his shoulder. “Of course, it’s not like I can use it much, either… It’s for emergencies, only.”
Hordak’s ears perked up, confusion filling his features. “They did possess the sword. Why did they have it locked away, instead of using it?”
Adam huffed out a laugh. “My fault. The sword is powerful as it is, yes- anyone can use it to devastating effects. But the source of its true power is Eternia’s magic, which is passed down through the royal family. That’s what they really want. My father made the grave mistake of passing the magic to me, and I can pass it on to someone else...”
“…Yet you won’t,” Hordak added.
Adam shook his head. “I won’t. It will die with me, Brother, if the gods will allow it,” he declared. The inflection of his voice was telling; he spoke with a pleasant tone, but he was gravely serious.
He sighed deeply- dejectedly, even. Briefly, when he closed his eyes, Hordak wondered what he saw behind his eyelids. Did he see the Eternian fields? The blue skies? Did he see the gleaming Castle Grayskull, a stronghold thought never to crumble?
“I spent my entire life training for the day I would wield the Sword of Power. I’m the only one who could save the Eternian Empire, now…” Adam said distantly. “But… I can’t go back.”
Hordak frowned, ears drooping again. “Because your father disapproved of Teela.”
Adam smiled once more at the statement, eyes opening. “Not exactly,” he said simply. “He didn’t approve of me choosing her over a Princess.”
“I fail to see how a Princess is any better than Teela.”
“I know, right?”
“I find it a little silly, actually, he would raise such a fuss over the mother of your child. Does it really matter that much?”
“Well… In this case, maybe.”
As the lift came to a stop and they stepped off, Hordak began looking for his target. “We’ll continue this conversation later… Our little rat is over there,” He declared.
Red eyes flitted to a particularly pristine ship located in the back of the garage- small, but with a noticeable trailer hooked to the back of it. He made a beeline for it, with Adam following quickly behind.
The mechanic they were looking for was a stout dwarf. He was hastily moving items to and from his ship’s lift, clearly in a rush to leave before anyone noticed he was there. His back, however, was to them, and his dedication to his loading and unloading left him deaf to their approach.
“Hey there!!” Adam chirped, charging ahead.
The mechanic’s head shot up, brows furrowing at the man approaching him. Recognition crossed his features, followed by confusion. “Aren’t you Prince Adam?” he asked, bewildered. “I keep hearing mutterings about you being… Around… With-“
His eyes moved from Adam to Hordak.
“HORDE GENERAL!!”
Obviously, he tried to bolt. It was an understandable thing to do.
Sighing under his breath, Hordak began to stalk him, moving closer without any real rush. The mechanic was cornered in the little space, and had little place to run. With Adam by the only true exit, Hordak easily cowed him against the side of his ship.
The man whimpered feebly, sweating profusely as Hordak stared him down. “G-G-General, I-I assure you, wh-whatever reason you’re here, I-I have obeyed Prime. S-So gracious is his-“
“You stole parts from a Horde Ship in the aftermath of a star fight. That is correct, yes?” Hordak cut in harshly. His voice carried its gravelly, dangerous tone. “Do not lie to me.”
Color drained from the dwarf’s face. That was all the answer Hordak needed, and he huffed. He grabbed him by his collar, lifting the man off his feet like he was nothing. “Go check his ship, Adam. It’s a small, white box with a glass panel on one side,” He ordered, not tearing his gaze from the mechanic.
The man looked shocked as he was placed onto a load of crates; right where Hordak could see him, but without a scratch nonetheless. “You…. Are you here to kill me for having Horde technology…?” he asked fearfully.
A ruby red grin stretched across Hordak’s lips.
“Nah,” He drawled, nose scrunching up with his smile. “I’m here to steal it.”
Catra followed Adam’s ascension into the ship. When she poked her head in, she only saw blurry silhouettes of a ship’s interior. Adam would vanish and reappear in accordance with Hordak’s line of sight, but the clattering of the human’s frantic search was always present.
A few moments later, they heard a triumphant cry. “Got it!” Adam called, poking his head out. With a playful wink, he held up a white box the size of his palm. He tossed it down to Hordak, who caught it easily. He dropped to the ground with a grunt, brushing off his hands with a hum.
Hordak nodded with satisfaction, tossing the box lazily into the air with one hand and catching it with the other. “With this, we’ll be undetectable. This cloaking device is worth a planet’s weight in gold for a reason,” he declared. With that in mind, he was far more delicate with it, and placed it into one of the many pockets of his trousers.
The mechanic let out a desperate whine from his place atop the boxes. He was very aware of its price, hence why he took it. However, the fact he was leaving with his life would certainly make up for the lost value of the item. Really, he should be thanking Hordak; now he had a chance to steal another.
That one Hordak would gladly let him keep.
Just as they were preparing to leave the man empty-handed, they were shook by a loud, unnatural shriek. Adam cried out in pain as he covered his ears; likewise, the dwarf shielded his own. Hordak, however, was left unaffected, though his ears did shoot up with alertness at the sound.
The lights went out- a dark red hue replaced the yellow as the emergency lights kicked in.
At first, Hordak feared the station was finally falling apart. However, a cold wash of knowing fear went over him as a deep, sinister voice cooed into the empty air.
“Greetings, my beloved Horde.”
The voice was coming from above them, broadcasted over the intercom system.
Hordak hissed under his breath, and Adam instinctively reached for his blaster. They shared one moment of eye contact, speaking without words as they nodded to one another. Together, they quickly rushed out of the corner and to the more common areas, searching for a screen.
“Right now, I am speaking to the entirety of my flock, across all of the space we have liberated from the sin of the Empire,” Horde Prime continued overhead as they ran. “It is a gift to you; however, this is an unfortunate necessity for me.”
They rounded a corner, coming upon a small cluster of people gathered around a television.
On the screen, in his absolute glory, was Horde Prime.
Catra hissed lowly. “I was wondering when you were coming back,” She grumbled, stepping out from behind Hordak. In the back of the crowd, they had some momentary anonymity. It wouldn’t last, however; they’d already been spotted all over the station. Even now, they could see some patrons begin to tilt their heads to and fro, searching for him. Leaving, now, would be a necessity. If they lingered, someone could call the Horde Ships to the station, and they would have little place to run.
Prime sat on his throne, poised to carefully imply nonchalance and confidence. However, he was rapping the tips of his claws against the metallic arm of his seat- a sign of impatience, and clear irritation. She imagined he was more than just irritated, though; he was, no doubt, withholding much of his true fury to save face.
Two of his eyes narrowed as he took a small pause. Fluorescent, green teeth peeked out as his lip curled, his contempt leaking into his features.
“Oh, Little Brother…” Horde Prime sighed, tutting softly. “I know you can hear me, you naughty creature.”
Hordak’s jaw clenched, his breath leaving him in a harsh puff of air.
Prime was speaking to Hordak, and Hordak alone.
“Little Brother, when your Brothers came to me and said you had abandoned me, do you know what I did?” Prime asked rhetorically, voice gentle as he leaned forward. “I killed them. I know of their spite towards you. Of course I do; it is one of the few emotions I allow them.”
Catra balked at that. How absolutely fucked, she thought. He had Hordak’s misery down to a science. He created a world that loathed Hordak, down to the finest detail. He had no one to turn to in the Horde for guidance; no one to see as worthy of trust. When Horde Prime programmed ire and hatred of him into his Brothers, and they rejected him… Of course, where else could a creature go?
Hordak hadn’t seemed to realize that before, but he did now.
Prime had continued. “I thought to myself, ‘my Little Brother is truly devoted to me, unlike the others. He follows me because of his love. His love for me overflows; surely, their memories lie. He would never betray me...’”
He leaned back again, placing a hand over his heart. “And, yet… I have begun to hear such… Concerning things…” All four of his eyes narrowed. “Or, really… I hear nothing. Little Brother, you are silent. I have received report after report of you acting of your own accord. Accounts of you running amok with humans- with Eternians.”
There was low murmurings at such a claim. A clone, going AWOL? Even though Hordak was a different clone, certainly he was still a clone; how could he possibly defect from the Horde?
Yet, there he was, right behind them. The ones that took note of him, finally, pointed him out to the others.
The Horde General- No Horde symbols to be seen, standing side-by-side with the Prince of Eternia.
Prime’s back straightened out as he regained his poise. “Little Brother, you are despicable for what you have done. Using your mutations to hide from me, like a little rat…” He cooed lowly. “I gave you life. I gave you purpose. And this is how you repay me? By spitting in my face?” His tone lost every bit of its false, loving kindness. Instead, he took on an air of hurt and offense.
Knowing what she knew, the tone only infuriated Catra.
“You will return to me,” he declared matter-of-factly. “The Universe is cruel, Little Brother. These creatures will never love you as I do; they will never trust you, after the things you have done to them. You are a vile mutant to me, but you are a monster to them. You will learn quickly that the only safety you have is within the Horde, and you will return. I will forgive you, little one, for your straying…. But do not force me hunt you down.”
The screen grew dark, then. The lights of the satellite came back on, the sound of airflow kicking in dully.
Every pair and set of eyes were on Hordak and Adam. Catra could hear the distant creaks and groans of the ship, as all activity and voices were rendered silent. The tense air among them was palatable.
It almost seemed like the crowd was unsure of what to do. Clearly, some wanted to jump them; however, Hordak was still Hordak- how dangerous he was didn’t change with his allegiance. Attacking him no matter the numbers was incredibly unwise.
Hordak placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, gripping it threateningly. “Would anyone care to try and win Prime’s favor?” He asked aloud, tilting his head to one side. “It’s two against thirty, after all.”
Adam smirked at the way the crowd shrank from him. He tapped his arm, gesturing for the alien to follow. “We got what we wanted; no need to start a fight,” He reminded. “They’re not looking to die today, either. By the time they rat us out, we’ll be lightyears away.”
“True…”
“Not like we would.” Someone- faceless blurry- spoke. “Honestly? Fuck that guy. I’ll trust you to leave, at least.”
Such a statement surprised Hordak, but it wasn’t unwelcome, petulant as it was. He nodded once at the person, thankful for the sliver of trust.
He released his hold on his blade. Suddenly, a thought had popped into Hordak’s mind that made a mischievous glint alight in his eye. “Tell me… Are you aware that the Horde ships can be disabled?” He asked the crowd nonchalantly, stepping back when Adam began to lead him. “It’s rather simple, actually, with the right tools. I believe there is a gentleman in the back of this lot that might be able to help find it. Certainly, it’s a better use of your time… Wouldn’t you say?”
It was. And, for them, it was a proper repayment for their silence.
***
It would be another day of travel before they reached Fadella. As they crossed the quadrant, the trio spent their time lackadaisically.
It was alarming to see Teela. There truly was a large portion of time that had been cut- possibly several weeks, even. Teela was showing far more than she had before. It was now impossible to hide her pregnancy. She moved with far less speed, sitting rather than standing on most occasions.
Nonetheless, as Adam belted out a ballad to Hordak’s amusement, she sat behind them polishing a rifle. She handled the weapon with intimate knowledge, taking it apart with such precision and speed, it appeared artful. It was a rather stark sight- peculiar, even.
She noticed Hordak had been looking at her once she looked up. Silently, she tilted her head, curious what he was so pointedly looking at her for.
Hordak merely smiled at her. His head turned to Adam. The human was lost in his ballad, choking on laughter at the ridiculous words. Apparently, the song had been warped with time by his generation of Eternians, and it was now more of a joke to yell at the loudest octave possible.
Teela giggled softly at it, shaking her head. Yes, that is who she married. She didn’t regret it.
“Hey, come on, Brother! Sing with me!” Adam cried, pausing only for a moment before belting out another verse.
Hordak scoffed in response. “Never. I do not sing, Adam.”
Adam’s eyes glinted at the challenge now presented to him. “That’s a bold statement for someone that’s about to be our personal Lullaby Machine. The baby will love it!”
Ah, yes… The baby. Hordak grew apprehensive at the word. “I think it will be best if I don’t interact with the child, often… I am a terrifying creature. Surely, I’ll frighten it…” He sighed.
“Adam, Brother can’t leap into being just like us so quickly,” Teela reminded. “If he wants to be patient, let him.”
When Hordak returned his gaze to Teela, it was with thankfulness on his face.
In truth, he had no idea how to feel about the child. It had been a concept only a short while ago- now, however… He’d helped them put together a crib. They painted the small room beside Adam and Teela’s a soft, sunset orange, and decorated it with toys the couple had found.
It was a cabin in a spaceship, but it was a baby’s cabin, nonetheless.
Hordak had bathed in the blood of thousands- living even in the same area as an infant worried him. Horde Prime may have been correct, in a sense; his nature left him at a great disadvantage, now. No matter how nurturing Teela claimed his species was, he knew the truth.
Whatever sense of paternity he felt, it was thoroughly scrubbed from him by Prime. Hordak would poison the child with his evil, eventually.
Or… Even worse. The child could learn to be just like him.
***
Catra had little experience with stars.
She’d never seen them, until two years ago. Entrapta had told her literally (very literally) everything about them, but they still carried a sense of wonder. The vast number of them was overwhelmingly beautiful.
The ship ran its autopilot function, carrying them through the simulated, purple nighttime straight to Fadella. Hordak sat alone in the captain’s room, staring up at the stars through the main window. His upper half rested on the desk as he watched space drift by, his head resting on his arms.
Beside him, Catra sat on the desk, swapping between watching him and watching space.
He’d been sitting like that for a while, now, deep in his thoughts. Undoubtedly, he was still bothered by what Horde Prime claimed. Catra had almost suspected he’d brushed it off, with how little regard he seemed to give to the message; that had been purposeful, she realized.
Of course it would bother him- how could it not? He couldn’t imagine returning to Horde Prime’s side again. The cruelty his experienced only grew starker in his mind with distance. Horde Prime was wrong; yet, still, he had an inkling of deep, cosmic fear. Fear that he truly wasn’t safe unless he was with him, and that he could never escape his thousands of eyes.
The door to his left opened. Adam stepped into the room, his expression betraying his mild surprise at the sight of Hordak.
As they locked eyes, however, he smiled warmly and approached. “Having trouble sleeping, again?” He asked softly.
Hordak lifted his head to nod. “Can you blame me?”
A quiet laugh. “Nah. I was coming up to pilot the ship for a bit. You mind keeping me company?”
“Of course not.”
Instead of approaching the pilot’s seat, however, Adam moved closer to Hordak. He didn’t speak for a moment, though he clearly wanted to. He could tell the alien was bothered by something.
He waited until he could bear staying silent no longer. “What are you thinking about?” He questioned. “Prime’s warning?”
Hordak’s ears drooped. “Somewhat,” He admitted. “I worry about how correct he is …” He trailed off, head resting back on his arms. “I have been melted down and shaped to be what Horde Prime wishes of me. What Teela says about my species may be true, but such things are not a guarantee…”
He hid his face, but it was clear where his mind had taken him.
“Brother, you belong here. So what if the Universe doesn’t want you? I want you. Teela wants you. We want you,” Adam reminded. He kneeled and rested his own head on the desk, smiling warmly at Hordak. “You’re our friend. And when the baby is born, they’re going to love you just as much as we do.”
Hordak winced at that, shaking his head. “I doubt that… Any sense of nurturing spirit I have is going to be warped. I will only ruin the child forever. What if they learn to be just as awful as I am?” he lamented.
Adam paused, at that. He appeared to think for a moment, a hand running through his strawberry-blonde hair.
“…When…. We go through things as kids, we carry that pain with us,” he began. “We remember how it felt to be small and weak. We remember how cruel they were to us, and we make a promise to never do that to our children. And, yeah, we’ll screw that up, somehow… But not like they did. And when our kids have kids, they won’t make our mistakes. Every single time, the blow that we receive and give grows softer, and softer… Until there’s no blow at all.”
Adam reached out, his hand brushing over the apple of Hordak’s cheek. “You could be the one that never strikes again, if you wanted to be. You just have to want it.”
Catra flushed lightly; the touch was significant. She felt his warm fingertips over her own face, and felt a deep ache in her chest. Longing she hadn’t felt in a long time.
Which Hordak that was from- past or present- she had no idea.
Hordak smiled gently. He liked the idea of that. “I do want that. I haven’t met them yet, and yet… I believe that I love them.”
“See? You’ve got it. Come on- stop worrying and come sit with me at the pilot’s chair.”
The door opened again. Teela stepped out, dressed in a nightgown. Her hair was in a wild tussle around her head, undone and loose.
She yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. When she took notice of her husband and the alien, her face screwed up into a pout. “Oh, no fair. I woke up early to drive on purpose…” She grumbled. “We’re going to need to activate the thing, Brother, before we land. Don’t let me forget…”
Hordak rose from his seat. “I’ll make you tea. That should help you awaken, properly.”
“Thanks, Brother…” Teela shuffled to the pilot’s seat, easily stealing the job from Adam as she huffed. “Not like I could try sleeping… Our little warrior has been kicking nonstop.”
Adam chuckled warmly, now turning to lean against the desk. Across from him, in the main window, a serious of small orbs began to grow larger and larger. Planets, Catra realized. Or, rather, one planet with a series of moons.
Fadella.
“Brother, if you’re right about saving these clones… You’ll be legendary. I don’t care what Prime says. One day, when we return to the galaxy… People will see you with a better view.”
***
Catra finally learned the name of their ship- Adam had let it slip as Hordak and Teela went to fix the cloaking device into it.
Starship Eternia. It was the last of its kind, maintained for hundreds of years by the Royal family.
Until it was stolen by Adam, naturally.
It was fairly large, meant to hold a crew of a least twenty. Catra was certain she could navigate its halls easily, with how often she was taken through them. She’d even begun to recognize, specifically, which room was Hordak’s- there were telltale scratches over the doorknob, and signs that the hinges had been repaired.
The engine room, in contrast to the rest of the ship, was small and cramped. It required both Teela and Hordak to be hunched over. Catra, however, merely had to lower her head when she followed them. The room was full of pipes and mechanical components. Hissing, beeping, and clicking filled the rest of the space. Catra couldn’t even begin to identify the contents of the engine; every piece moved synchronously, though, which told her that the ship was working smoothly.
Teela moved comfortably through the gaps, aware of where to duck and turn. She instructed Hordak to move similarly, until they reached their destination- a gap between the pipes and components, cut into a perfect square.
Hordak had removed his cloak before they descended, revealing just how wiry his frame truly was. Easily, his upper half disappeared into the crevice. While he’d need Teela’s assistance getting out, he, too, was practiced with his movements. While Catra only saw pure darkness, she could see the dim glow of Hordak’s eyes when he turned his head enough. He had no issue with sight; the darkness, to him, was bathed in red the moment light left his unseen pupils.
“You seem fairly comfortable in a ship’s innards,” Teela commented, sitting beside him with a huff. “Did Skeletor actually use you for maintenance?”
Hordak snorted out a laugh. “Fortunately, yes,” he explained as he installed the device. “He’s a different kind of monster than Prime. Far more concerned with the aesthetic of evil rather than anything substantively cruel. He was more interested in doting on me, which was its own type of pure hell. He…”
The alien fell silent, his words bleeding into a little grumble. Teela cocked her head to the side.
“Hm? What was that?”
“…He thought I was cute.”
Teela erupted into a fit of laughter at the admittance, covering her mouth as her shoulders shook. She stopped when she heard him growl, the sound echoing in the nook he was partially inside.
“No, no, I’m not laughing at you. It’s just… Yep, that’s Skeletor. He’s a powerful magic user- Arguably, the most powerful in the universe,” Teela mused. “But he’s got the brain of a child.”
Hordak emerged from the hole, a scuff of black now on his cheek. “Quite a kind way of referring to a complete lack of any meaningful intelligence,” he replied, brushing his hands free of space dust.
Skeletor was owed very little respect, in Hordak’s opinion. The lich had lied to Horde Prime about nearly every aspect of who he was, aside from what he literally couldn’t lie about. He was no council member, and he was the mortal enemy of King Randor. While the fall of Eternia was successful, it was horribly messy. It left the Empire to still thrive, which defeated the entire purpose of its destruction.
Prime was incredibly bitter about losing his flawless victory over the Eternian Rebellion. Had Skeletor been able to die, he would have killed him. The lich, however, appeared to have found the last bit of neutral ground left. Hordak was certain he was mucking up whatever was on it, as well.
“Quite a roundabout way of calling him stupid- which he isn’t. We need to take him seriously,” Teela argued, eyes narrowing. “That childish disposition leads to dangerous consequences. He has a vicious grudge on Adam, for all those losses. Before, Adam could handle him with the Sword of Power, but he can’t transform now without damaging his body. We need to be careful.”
At that revelation, Hordak frowned. Adam hadn’t told him that. Now the safety of his companions was pushed to the forefront of his thoughts. “We don’t have to do this, if Skeletor poses that much of a threat to you,” he offered.
She shook her head, a smile coming to her face. “You’ve risked your life for us plenty of times- it’s our turn,” she stated. “Is the cloak on?”
“Ah… Yes. It should be on.” Hordak looked away briefly, still caught off guard by the open displays of affection. They were welcome, though, in the same way water was welcome after years in a desert.
Teela’s smile grew. “Good! Then let’s get back to Adam. I’m sure he’d love to hear all about how cute you were, as a youngling.”
Hordak balked, a look of panic overtaking him. He subtly chased Teela as she hurried out of the engine room, almost knocking himself out on a low-hanging pipe.
“N-No, he actually doesn’t need to hear anything about my days as a youngling. Certainly not what I looked like-!!”
BOOM!!
Catra suddenly lost her footing as the ship was rocked violently, alarms blaring mere seconds later.
“Teela, Brother- are you guys okay!?” Came Adam’s voice overhead, tinny as it resonated from a p.a. system. “We’re taking fire!!”
“What!?” Hordak cried out in alarm. “How!? The cloak was activated, we should be invisible-!”
The next blast sent Teela into Hordak’s arms, yelling out as she stumbled off the stairs. Far more sure of his footing, he helped Teela out of the engine room quickly. He took the steps two at a time as he clutched the Eternian woman in his arms, careful of her stomach.
“Shit, that’s not Skeletor’s guys. Who the f-“
Hordak let out a small gasp as the sound of Adam’s voice cut off sharply. He began to feel a low, sinking sensation, a more metaphorical sinking feeling building in his chest.
Teela met his gaze with a look of pure terror.
“We’re dropping,” She said aloud.
She was right, unfortunately; the ship had been hit precisely in both its main thrusters. How they missed the engine entirely was a miracle.
Suddenly, Teela threw herself from Hordak’s arms, running as fast as she could to the main room. “Adam-!!!” She called, disappearing around the corner before Hordak could react.
Hordak blinked, cursing under his breath as he took a single, running step.
“Teela, wait-!”
Immediately, he was ripped from his feet by another blast, his body slamming to the ground.
The ship’s hallway degenerated into a whirring blur of color. The grey metal of the ship, the dirty, yellow sky of Fadella, and the mountains they’d been hiding between melted together as Hordak lost consciousness and sense of direction.
Catra had stumbled to the ground right as Hordak fell, clutching her head as it was plagued by vitiligo. Like all the other times before, a tinny vibrato erupted deep within her ears. This time, though, it felt deeper, as if the sound reverberated through her entire skull.
She could only remind herself that Hordak would live through this- he had to.
Though how he could ever survive a ship crashing, she would need to see to believe.