Consider: Perhaps, until Krytis, there was just a fun little Defect...
[CW: PG rating; subtle physical abuse, gaslighting, and PTSD; possible Horde Prime/Hordak-but it ends on Entrapdak hurt/comfort & coping techniques]
--
“Collapsed again, haven’t you?”
Three soft points of pressure tinged off the nerves in the defective gap between his forearm bones. One sharp metal point drew screeching sparks he could not wrench away from.
Horde Prime wavered back and forth, blurring into two and four and nine of himself. Glorious and resplendent with his brilliant green teeth and smile-spread lips.
The clone registered that he could not fully control his own eyes. Not because Big Brother was guiding his vessel in service, sadly. It was the defect being defective again. Defective with so much lack of conscious clarity, and with pain so deep that his eyeballs were wobbling back and forth within the sockets, struggling and unable to still themselves enough to focus.
“Ahh, my most delicate of brothers,” Big Brother crooned. “Come. Rest. Krytis will await the return of your strongest strength.”
Strength. Yes.
The clone’s defective body has forged conquest and tenacity into his strongest and fiercest of Devotional Skills as recompense.
There are no imperfections within the Glorious Horde Prime’s Brothers. The DNA of this one clone body is defective. Defects are by definition Imperfect. But there are no imperfections within Horde Prime’s Glorious Empire. Lord Prime keeps him so close. The defect pleases his Beloved Brother with the novelties of his form. Serves the spread of Prime’s Glorious Light and Peace more fiercely than his equal brothers. He is especially Favored, the voice that is also his own whispers.
The contradiction pangs in his head. But he is so tired with pain, and Krytis awaits.
--
“…ordak…-safe. ...Hordak? Hordak!”
“En...Entrapta...?”
“Hordak, you’re safe. I’m here, we’re in bed. You’re safe.”
Hands and hair are wrapped around his forearms. Wholly wrapped around. Not invading the gap in the middle. Vambraces made of her gentlest skin and hair, shielding and protecting.
“You’re safe. It’s okay. Your Imperfections are--?”
“…Beautiful. Loved,” he rasps.
”Mm-hmm!”
He shudders, but everything he feels is soft, and warm, and comforting. Safe. Loved...
“You gave me...?”
“The stars,” and he smiles, red-teethed and safe.
--
Why yes, I am writing a bit more with this idea than what I’ve shared here. I personally partake of the semi-AU-semi-headcanon idea that Prime, for a time, rather enjoyed Hordak’s defective traits as they manifested. Interesting, fun novelties to toy with. (How far the “enjoyment” went is...up for variation). I personally usually go for the take that Hordak’s defect was entirely an accidental mutation/glitch, but it can certainly still fit with preferences for Prime to have caused it.
Then a newer possible addition occurred to me: When Krytis didn’t go the way Prime wanted, why, he was Quite Done with the Embarrassing little defect anyway!
Oh the irony.
