Song: "Heart Part 1" from The Music of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

Only a few hours after I got my freedom, I'm trying to become a slave again. Micah, I want to hold you, but I'm a danger to you now. What a world where not only do I fail to save my people, I become a curse upon the only person I still love.

❂❂❂

Every step bred a resounding echo as Shadow Weaver approached the throne, her hair billowing with the power she'd obtained from the moondust. The room was enormous, like the Seraphite churches in Delvala that her father used to take her to when she was small. Her hands, her whole body, shook. I am tough. I am intimidating. Every trait that people feared will be the reason I'm hired today.

This is insanity. I'm speaking to a man who's organized a terrorist movement against Etheria.

She pushed down the urge to run. I have nothing left to lose.

Shadow Weaver bowed. The man on the throne towered over her six-foot height; thick metal cables bulged over his muscular arms, and his fingertips were crowned with spikes. His glowing red eyes scrutinized her. Her, a mere shadow in his presence.

He spoke with thin, black lips, his voice quieter than she expected. "An Etherian traitor. I had thought you were a princess," he growled in disgust. "What use are you to me?"

I don't have control. I have to gain it. A smile stretched her face from behind her mask. "Lord Hordak, how is the Black Garnet useful to you right now?"

"That did not answer my question." The black markings around his eyes thickened. His ghastly white skin contorted as he curled his lip at her.

Shadow Weaver tossed her head. "Very well. Leave me and the secrets of the magic you could unlock. Of course, I could be a valuable soldier in your army..." She let a laugh out. "But if you're so intent on keeping the jewel for aesthetic reasons - well, I won't stop you."

Hordak tilted his head. "What secrets do you speak of, fool?"

"I am no fool. You could throw away the opportunity to make twice the progress on Etheria than you have been..." She lowered her voice. "But I know you won't."

He rolled his eyes. "No one is able to access the Black Garnet anymore. All the royalty of Tropicilas are dead save the defective child, Princess Scorpia."

"That is where you are wrong, my lord. Not only a princess can access a runestone."

"And you can?"

"I have studied runestone magic," Shadow Weaver said. Yes, you're telling half-lies. But you'll back them up soon. "The magic normally only responds to a princess, but I could harness it to respond to myself as well."

"And what benefit would that offer me?" Hordak asked, looking bored.

"What benefit?" she snarled, hoping the raised voice would grasp his attention. "I was cast out of my home. My kingdom. I sympathize with the Horde's revolution. I will help you conquer and take Etheria, and I will plunder even the secret kingdom I was a part of. I would be the best soldier you have ever had, if I carried the power in that stone."

Hordak studied her with calm interest. He descended his throne and paced around her, Imp smiling deviously from his shoulder. A bead of sweat stung the scars on Shadow Weaver's spine. Her heart pounded, and she forced her breathing to stay level. Steady. Don't show your fear.

At last, Hordak spoke. "I have seen your behavior and skill," he said. Shadow Weaver's stomach froze in her body. Does he know about Illuras? "Is the report that you were able to subdue two trained soldiers in the courtyard with your magic correct?"

She forced herself to withhold a sigh of relief. "Yes. With a runestone, I can do this and much more. I can also take care of filing. Planning the army, organizing it so we make concentrated efforts on taking Etheria. The Horde is powerful, true - but your attacks would be much more effective and devastating if you had my help commanding it."

He stood at least a foot over her, his face shrouded in shadow. Did I overstep my bounds? Perhaps mentioning I make a better commander was unwise.

Remember, you have nothing left to lose.

He turned his back on her. "I was in need of a second-in-command. Tomorrow you will unlock my runestone, and then we will discuss your training."

She touched her fingertips together. "Excellent."

He growled. "Do not try my mercy. Your servant will show you to where you will stay, and tomorrow you will begin."

✧✧✧

Shadow Weaver walked out of the sanctum to find Carmen lounging near the door, flicking her tail slightly. Her eyes brightened. "What's the word, my lady?"

Shadow Weaver bit down any semblance of excitement, though it was thumping in her chest like a wild animal. "I'm in training to be his second-in-command." 

Carmen's mouth dropped open. "Second-in-command? I mean, after Hordak offed the last person, I'd thought, but - "

"Who was the last person?"

"King Sketála. Sent to the Forgotten Isles. Never heard from him none again. The man was seventy, so no loss, but...it hits different. He was my king."

Peace, Shadow Weaver. That only means you'll need to drown yourself in work to succeed. You've always been good at such things. "What was his crime?"

"Dunno. He's a coward who surrendered to Lord Hordak, and as his last order as king told all Tropicil parents to send their children here." She shoved her hands into the pockets of her armor. "Need some medicine? You're shakin' like crazy. I could grab Jibbers and we could head to the infirmary."

She must mean Jibril. Just existing drained Shadow Weaver of power. She would have to unlock the Garnet tomorrow, one way or another, or she would die soon. She clutched her rib, which was beginning to ache again, but said nothing. Shadow Weaver could not let her secret - that she was a parasite - slip. Not even to the person who swore herself to serving her for life.

She stayed silent as they reached her door. Silent from what? Grief? Fear? Uncertainty?

Carmen punched in a sequence of numbers. "The code will be given you tomorrow. For now, you'd best get some sleep. This room's best the Horde's got - sleep well, my lady."

A room full of Tropicil regalia awaited Shadow Weaver. She nodded simply, sat on the bed, and waited for Carmen to leave.

✧✧✧

Shadow Weaver lay on the bed, sleep eluding her. Minutes turned to hours, and the last bit of her power slipped away. She was so sick that she could barely see straight.

She repeated a mantra to herself in order to maintain some grasp on reality. My name is Shadow Weaver. I joined the Horde so I wouldn't die from a spell I put on myself. I don't have a family. My last loved one is on the other side of the world.

Micah would have known what to do. He had changed her irreversibly, and the part of her that loved him was immune to the Spell. That was her last sliver of hope. Of light. 

❂❂❂

Did you know...

● Despite my portrayal in my fics, Hordak is actually just as complex as Shadow Weaver in the show. He's a really well-written character. I simplified him down to "dark and mysterious overlord" for the first two books because that's how Shadow Weaver sees him, and their arcs never coincide in the show.

● Carmen is a OC of mine as well.

Tell me what you think...

● Do you think Shadow Weaver will be able to keep Hordak's approval?