Song: It feels like we only go backwards by Tame Impala
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Kyle's POV

The feeling is sickening, and the sound of Rogelio clawing at his captors sends shivers down my spine. I grab an axe from behind me on the wall and hold it out towards Astra, my arms shaking under it's unexpected weight. She laughs at me and takes it out of my hands, leaving me shaking with balled fists.

"What did you do to him?"

I ask, fighting the urge to cry. I've always been seen as a wimp, but I don't want her to know that. I swallow the lump in my throat and wince when I'm grabbed by the wrists by two glass guards.

I try to slip away but their grip tightens and their glassy fingers dig into my flesh, cutting it raw at some points. Astra waves towards an empty space in the wall, and without having time to react I'm tied to it, my arms pinned above my head on an empty hook.

"Let me go! Let us go! Why do we have to be separated?"

I shout. Astra smiles and folds her arms.

"Your Rogelio... He's quite boring, isn't he?"

I shake my head and glare at her.

"What? No!"

Despite the fact that I could easily be overpowered by her, this comment makes me want to fight.

"I mean, whatever. He's just a friend of yours."

My stomach leaps and I feel my hands balling up into fists.

"We're not just friends!"

My cheeks burn up and I regret saying it when she laughs at me. Why would I say something like that? Why am I always so defensive?

"Really? Are you sure?"

I know she's just trying to get under my skin, I know she wants to see me mad, I know it shouldn't bother me, but it does.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure."

I grumble. Memories upon memories of me and Rogelio flash before my eyes. Talking, whispering, kissing, touching...

Astra's laugh snaps me out of it and I glare at her even more.

"Oh you foolish boy. I fear your attraction to him is merely... What's the word... animal."

I squirm uncomfortably.

"What would you know?"

She comes closer to me and lifts mt chin with a bony finger.

"I see two young men. One, a human. One, part human, but part lizard, too. I see that one of these two men can speak, and the other cannot. Tell me Kyle, how can you love each other emotionally if you can't communicate?"

I lunge at her but the restrains on my arms yank me back straight away. Calm down Kyle. Relax.

"You can't be. On a physical level, I understand. Your Rogelio looks... strong."

I close my eyes and try to shut her intrusive commentary out, but it's ultimately no use.

"So here's what I propose. You stay with me, and we get rid of him."

I open my eyes again.

"Set him free?"

She shakes her head.

"No. More like... disposing of him."

My eyes widen at her.

"No!"

Astra sighs and checks her nails.

"Kyle. When I first captured you, I could sense this energy radiating from you. Like... magic."

I shake my head and bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from screaming at her.

"Did you know you were related to Adora?"

Everything goes silent. My stomach drops to the floor and my knees start to buckle under my weight.

"Stop lying to me. All you've done since we got here is lie."

I spit. She laughs at me.

"I wouldn't lie about such a thing. I mean..."

She starts to pace, each click of her heels makes me even more annoyed.

"I did make up the whole 'you're bait' story. You're not bait. In fact, you are more important to me than I was led to believe. With you and Adora... I'll be unstoppable."

I shake my head.

"Stop trying to convince me I'm somebody I'm not. The Horde did that to me-"

She claps her hands with a creepy grin and I feel sick.

"The Horde? Oh, why they're old friends of mine! I have some of their technology lying around."

My hands start to shake in my restraints and I take deep breaths to calm myself. She's lying, right? She has to be lying.

"If only you would believe me. Your strength, Kyle, is something only seen in one other on this planet. She-Ra."

She waits for my response with a gross expression.

"I'm don't have even half the strength She-Ra does.".

Astra comes closer to me, and sneers in my face.

"Kyle, of you don't comply with my orders, I won't hesitate to hurt Rogelio. I won't hesitate to destroy your home."

Her tone is much more menacing now, like a switch had been pulled inside her brain to change her attitude. I glare at her and clench my fists.

"What orders?"

A crystal guard comes through the door with a large sword in it's hands, it's golden handle and silver blade glistening under the white light. It's almost identical to She-Ra's sword, but without the gem in it's handle.

Astra takes it into her own hands and waves it before me with a smile.

"Use this sword to transform. Only then will I leave your Rogelio alone. If you're who I think you are, you will do great things for me. If not... "

She unlocks my hands and I run at her in an instant, but she shoves the sword into my hands and takes a few steps away from me. The sword is heavy and I wobble with it in my grasp.

The door is only ten metres away, but there's a guard blocking it. Did I really think I could escape?

"What are you talking about? Who do you think I am?"

I ask, sweat dripping from my forehead and my palms. Astra holds up a small black device beside her face.

"Transform, or I'll send my guards to him."

My eyes widen and suddenly I'm willing to do whatever she's asking of me.

"Transform into what? What do you mean?"

My voice is raw and my pleading is desperate, only making her more amused.

"Did they not tell you?"

She says, her laugh echoing around the room. The hair on my arms stands up and I try not to drop the sword.

"Ever hear of He-Man?"

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Ooooofff that was a hard one to write cause of all the dialogue. But was it good? I don't rly get a lot of comments so idk if y'all even like this but oh well 💀

This was a twist I had planned for so long y'all.

-Rose 💗