Happy weekend, everyone! 😄
It's time for the conclusion to this episode, and I hope it will be special to you.
Here is what has come before in Episode 68:
Part One : Adora departs on her mission, reluctantly leaving her girlfriend in the midst of peaceful slumber.
Part Two: After an unsuccessful attempt to restore her magic, Glimmer decides to get serious about being Queen.
Part Three: She-Ra is lost in the woods and takes a good look at herself.
Part Four: Razz prepares the tea as Adora finally arrives.
Part Five: Swift Wind and Catra convince Glimmer to sneak away on a new adventure.
Part Six: The time is not right for tea, despite Razz's best efforts.
Part Seven: Mara and Adora learn some deep secrets from Razz on the way to a mysterious destination.
Part Eight: Etheria bends time for the meeting of two legendary heroes, and Mara and Adora draw closer than ever before.
And now, I present an interesting (and unexpected) new wrinkle in the story.
It is only fitting that I should dedicate this week's chapter to one of my dearest friends on the wiki.
This is for you, Samantha ( @CHAOSISMYNAME ). 😊
Here we go.
Later, after a long and peaceful walk, Adora stands smilingly before the gates of Bright Moon Castle.
Home.
The castle rises warm and inviting into the rich, mid-afternoon tripartite light of brilliant sun, pale glowing moons, and the faithful white light of the Moon Stone.
Adora greets the gleaming fortress as a familiar friend, smiling as she mounts the stairs toward the lower quarters.
She pauses with her hand on the alabaster wall and directs her gaze upward toward a balcony reaching out from one of the upper levels.
Noting the absence of her rope, she nods approvingly and runs quickly up the steps.
Catra and Adora’s room stands empty, lit by the ample light of the mid-day sun.
Opening the doors wide, Adora steps in and hesitates.
Looking around, everything appears much as she left it: covers from the bed trailing gently on the floor, the bed itself with impressions from its earlier occupants.
But no Catra.
Adora makes her way to the balcony.
The pleasant sunshine lends a congenial atmosphere to the scene, with large potted plants and bowls of fruit set out on the small tables by the lounges.
Curiously, she picks up one of the fruits: luscious, but half-eaten. She takes a quick bite, smiles reflectively, replaces it in the bowl, and wanders back inside.
In the Council Chamber, General Juliet stands leaning intently over the strategy table, both arms stretched out full, her hands straddling a multi-page document spread out on the table. Flanking the general are two attendant guards, leaning in close to listen, in a soft-voiced conference with their commander.
Adora appears at the open doors and stops. She lifts her foot to stride into the room, then halts, her expression suddenly frowning and contemplative. She quickly turns on her heel and exits quietly.
Adora makes her way down the long, silent hallway, nodding to the occasional guards that stand at attention or patrol, receiving their deferential bows at every turn.
Finally, Adora stops before the entrance to the throne room. She gestures to the two guards standing there, who unquestioningly open the doors for her.
Adora steps into the room, and with a look of wonder, she notes its emptiness. She scans the golden opulence of the columns, the great archway to the open-air stairway leading up to the empty throne. And, all of it is somehow transformed by the utter solitude.
Adora frowns and shakes her head.
Behind her, the doors remain wide open, flanked by the vigilant guards.
General Juliet walks past the entrance, resplendent in her shining, close-fitting scaled armor and helmet. She halts, fixing her eyes on the back of Adora’s head, reading her posture.
Juliet makes a quick motion to the two guards as she enters the room, and they fall in two paces behind her, accompanying her into the room.
Hearing their approach, Adora turns, and Juliet stops with her guards at a respectful distance.
General Juliet: Lady Adora. [she makes a quick bow] May I assist you in any way?
Adora considers, looking downward, one arm folded inward across her body. She bites the knuckle of her other hand in brief concern Then, dropping her arm to her side, she regards General Juliet with a questioning look.
Adora: Yeah. You can, actually. [gesturing around the empty room] Can you tell me where Glimmer is?
General Juliet nods seriously.
General Juliet: The queen left Bright Moon this morning. On her way to Mystacor. She intends to return by nightfall.
Adora looks a little surprised.
Adora: And Bow?
General Juliet hesitates.
General Juliet: I . . . believe he has gone to visit his family.
Adora nods, then shakes her head.
Adora: And . . . what about Catra?
General Juliet: As far as I know, she accompanied the queen on her journey.
Adora frowns with consternation.
Adora: It just seems so weird. So . . . quiet around here.
General Juliet opens her mouth to speak, and a figure steps into the doorway, momentarily out of focus as Adora eyes the general. An eerily unexpected voice calls out from the doorway.
Voice: [alert and commanding] What’s going on here?!!
Adora and General Juliet turn and find themselves facing an imposing figure in Bright Moon military finery of lavender and gray, wearing the helmet of command and an expression of determined intimidation. It is General Juliet!
As the intruder enters, the first General Juliet makes a tight circular gesture to the guards beside her, and they assume flanking positions, their staves held in ready position, forming a barrier between the second General Juliet and Adora.
General Juliet 1: [with a hard tone] Who are you?! [urgently over her shoulder] Lady Adora! Stay behind us!
The second General Juliet steps fully into the room, making the same tight circular gesture to the guards beside her. All three assume a tense ready stance, blocking the exit, ready to attack or defend at command.
Adora’s expression is wide-eyed with distress as she sees all of this unfold.
General Juliet 2: [without taking her eyes off the first Juliet] Adora! Stay well back! We’ll handle this.
The blood begins pounding in Adora’s ears. A trickle of sweat begins tracing a line down her face.
She looks toward the General Juliet and guards by the entrance in a partial crouched wide stance. Her eyes move to the General Juliet who is protecting her with the human screen, and who speaks tensely to Adora and her guards at that moment.
General Juliet 1: [warningly] This is a shapeshifter. They can be very dangerous.
Both General Juliets suddenly draw their swords, almost simultaneously, with expert precision and the identical sounds of dual bright metallic shings!
The general and her guards by the doorway begin advancing further into the room, with slow, measured steps.
General Juliet 2: [with deadly threat to her opponent] I am warning you! Stand. Down. Now!
As the intruders approach, Adora’s protector raises her sword a little higher, and her guards lean forward with their staves in striking position.
General Juliet 1: [with equal determination] Surrender your weapons! We are fully prepared to defend the princess with our lives!
The advancing General Juliet raises her hand to halt her guards. For a moment all is still. Her expression is set with steely will.
General Juliet 2: [quietly, with cold resolve] Final warning. Stand down this instant. Or else, . . . [with meaning] this is going to be a very . . . bad . . . scene.
The guards on both sides glance nervously from one to the other of the General Juliets, their weapons held tensely at the ready, their bodies coiled springs.
Slowly, the General Juliet in front of Adora straightens up to her full height, her eyes wide and blinking as if hypnotized by the light.
General Juliet 1: Well. [she pauses, then continues in a slightly offended tone] No one has ever accused me of that before!
She drops her sword to the ground with a clatter.
General Juliet 1: But I guess this is as good a moment as any to lower the curtain.
Like a thin, flowing ooze, a deep blackness spreads over General Juliet’s entire body, clothing, armor and helmet.
The guards beside her draw back in alarm.
General Juliet’s entire shape alters, thinning and stretching to form a different figure entirely. Within barely two seconds, the process is completed, and the vaguely sparkling blackness recedes to uncover a very tall and slender, lizard-like person with long blond, slicked-back hair and glowing yellow-green reptilian eyes. They are wearing a green leotard, long dark gloves, and short boots with needle-spiked heels.
And they are looking decidedly pleased with themselves.
The creature makes a low, courteous bow, narrating their maneuver as they do so.
Double Trouble: [pleasantly] Aaaand, scene!
As Double Trouble straightens up, the two guards beside them immediately step in and restrain their arms. Double Trouble observes them with delight.
Double Trouble: [pleased] Oh, myyy! Such an enthusiastic response! I’m overwhelmed! You are too kind!
Adora glances over to General Juliet, who bears just the touch of a smug smile, and her guards, who now appear somewhat more at ease.
She walks around the guards to face Double Trouble straight on, her teeth gritted and her eyes narrowed.
Double Trouble lays eyes on her, and they beam brightly.
Double Trouble: [a touch flirtatiously] Well, hello again, Adora.
All at once they frown sympathetically at her.
Double Trouble: [with concern and surprise] Why, honey, are you actually shaking? [smiling a little] Well, clearly you were impressed by my performance! [closing their eyes, savoring] I’m truly touched.
After a moment, their eyes snap back open, and they exclaim with dramatic anticipation.
Double Trouble: So!
Double Trouble’s gaze quickly darts from one person to the next, surveying their audience, until it rests finally on Adora once again. They give her a winning grin.
Double Trouble: [innocently] May I take it, I passed the audition?
(End of Episode 68)
