Love all you are doing for entrapdak, so adorable. An idea I have that I'm hoping you will write, Entrapta gets sick while working on the portal with Hordak, even passing out and him worrying and taking care of her but still trying to keep up his usual demeanor.
Listen. I have like three of these. On this one? We’re going to go dark. Sorry. You get the angsty one.
He thought she was acting a tad sluggish but it was not until she collapsed while working that Hordak realized Entrapta was truly unwell. Some Etherian illness, a flu perhaps or maybe even just exhaustion.
Hordak has seen this before in the soldiers born of this world’s genestock. Local maladies causing them to fall to inefficiency too easily. Normally he would have little time for such a display of weakness but Entrapta has put more time and effort into their projects than he had ever expected.
Hordak tells her to rest, that they will return to the work when her body is recovered. He orders tiny soups brought to her.
It seemed at first that Entrapta had overcome the illness. Yes she was still sluggish when she returned to the work, but she assured him it was just her body dealing with the final dredges of her sickness. Hordak knew little of Etherian biology at the time, but he trusted Entrapta’s judgement in these things. At least to an extent.
Hordak should not have trusted her judgement.
it is while doing a spot repair on Emily that her body locks up, trembles. He was speaking with her and her failure to answer caused him to turn and look to her. The terror in her eyes was palpable. Her expression burned itself into his mind.
If it had only happened once perhaps he would have forgotten that look.
It did not only happen once.
Entrapta’s energy remained low, and the episodes repeat. Steadily growing more frequent. Her body locks, and spasms with increasing regularity. Seizures. At first she tries to deny that there is a systemic problem, for once there is true fear in her.
The doctors of the Fright Zone are mostly useless. Her body is decaying, some unknown malady. That is what they learn. That is what they must conquer.
The portal is forgotten then and there.
When she loses the ability to walk Hordak has her moved permanently to his sanctum. The doctors remain by and large worthless to Hordak. So instead he works with Entrapta. Together they can conquer anything. They talk causes, they research Etherian illnesses, they attempt to use Horde medicines and drug cocktails. They work together just as they did on the portal.
And then she loses the ability to speak.
It is worrying. That is what Hordak says when this development comes to pass. Worrying.
He is as terrified as her expression was during her first seizure.
Hordak remains steadfast, strong, he tells Entrapta that this is a setback. This illness is strong, but it is not stronger than they are.
In private moments he rages. In private moments he curses the world. He promises to make her speak again.
When she ceases to respond to stimuli Hordak feels so alone. Though Imp and Emily are with him they are of little comfort. They try to help, but they are as children. They cannot understand, not truly. They cannot help, not really.
The sensors show that there is still brain activity. Her mind remains functional within her failing body. Even as her heartbeat grows slow and weak. Even as her body fails to digest liquid foods with any sort of efficiency and he must feed her intravenously. Even as her hair finally begins to fall out of its own accord.
There is a mind in there. There is a gleam of intelligence behind her glassy dead eyes.
During these times that Hordak begins to listen to Entrapta’s old scientific logs.
And it is while listening to her old voice that he hears those fateful words.
The TechnoOrganic Nature of First Ones Machinery.
Hordak has been a fool. This Illness is strong.
But just like it was within his own body, Machines are stronger.
There is no cure for what Entrapta has. It is aggressive, virulent, it worms its way into every part of the organic body.
So the organic body will be done away with.
What biology has failed to contain the technology of the Horde and of the First One’s will defeat. It is Entrapta’s own notes that teach Hordak what he needs to know, that point his own brilliant mind in the correct directions. It is his own experience keeping his body together that has taught him how to work against the failings of flesh.
From the outside in he rebuilds her. Piece by piece she is dismantled and made well again. A failing heart, a degenerated spine, weak and frail limbs, diseased eyes, even lost hair.
As the circular lenses marking where her optics are flash to life Hordak Smirks.
He will make her live again.
