Can A Clone Feel? (A She-Ra Fanfiction) (On Hiatus)

Compliance And Alliances

Mercy's POV

"I think its an upgrade." Nieta said, sounding unsure of her own observation but trying to keep the mood light.

We had been moved to a new room.  It wasn't a cell in the strange prison we had before.  Now it was a room somewhere in the tangle of buildings.  The room was dark, lit by a single light, the metal walls were tinted green with age or some other component in the metal.  There were three beds... Well, they were more like cots.  They looked a lot like raised garden plots, a thin mattress in the middle accompanied by a thin blanket made of a burlap like material, definitely not as itchy.

"You will be presented to Lord Hordak when you have been, properly conditioned." I turned back to Shadow Weaver, who was standing in the door – her eyes were only slits within her mask, staring down at us. "We have much to do."

"What do you mean conditioned? Like, trained?" I wondered aloud and Shadow Weaver nodded her head slowly.

"You will train with the cadets, and become Horde soldiers, worthy of the title of force captain." Her eyes widened in emphasis. "You do this, and your people will be safe."

I looked down at my cuffed hands, bending my head farther down to see over the rim of my muzzle. "If we say here – stay in the Fright Zone, our people will be safe?" I saw Shadow Weaver extend a hand towards mine, but I pulled away slightly.  I turned my chin up and stared Shadow Weaver in the eyes.  There I could see her intent, her real meaning through words, as eyes convey thing that could never be spoken aloud.

"They will remain hidden form our eyes." Shadow Weaver assured me; and her eyes were honest in that moment.  I turned to look at Senna and Nieta who were reading her eyes as well.  Senna made an almost imperceptible bow of her head, as if to agree with the terms without words.

We would stay here, train with them, do their work, fight with them, and our people would be safe.  It seemed a good exchange of service.  A longing swelled in my chest, longing for my home, for my people.  This would keep them safe; this would keep them secret.

"This keeps them safe." Nieta whispered, and I took her hand. "We will do this for our families." Nieta said to Shadow Weaver, and I heaved a small sigh.  This was the only way for now.  Maybe some day we would be strong enough to free ourselves and free our home from under Hordak's thumb, but for now.  We were here, together – We had to survive here, even if it meant we lost our freedom, lost our ability to choose.

"We will make fine Force Captains out of you, but you must first become soldiers, become sheep lead by a shepherd." I bowed my head as Shadow Weaver reached toward Senna, unclasping the cuffs from her hands.  I waited patiently as she came to me in turn and waved a hand over the cuffs, unclasping them and freeing my wrists.  I pressed my hands to my chest and rubbed my wrists – they were raw from the tight cuffs, but not too bad.

I could imagine Nisha,sitting back home, wondering where I was and if I would come back... Sorry Nisha, I don't think so.