Hey, hey, my faithful readers! 😄

Happy weekend!

It's time to descend to the surface of Etheria yet again.

Previously, in Part One, Darla carried Entrapta and Wink to the derelict wilderness of Horde Prime's old flagship, now become a fast-growing and aggressive jungle!

But while they face troubles above the atmosphere, there are troubles aplenty down below!

This week's chapter will be dedicated to Wolf ( @WolfNXtra ) because even though she hasn't been around here in a little bit, I think she might enjoy it!

(But I feel the need to shout-out to @CHAOSISMYNAME , too!)

Have a seat, and settle in for some drama! 😉

Hope you like!

BRIGHT MOON:

Castle Bright Moon glows in brilliant ivory and gold in the angled rays of the mid-day sun, surrounded by sparkling blue waters, majestic, violet-hued cliff faces, and thick clumps of blue-green foliage. Falls of shimmering mist cascade from the highest peak into the shallow moat far below, refracting the light into rainbow waves, drifting softly through the quiet and peaceful atmosphere.

This serenity without belies a tension held at the point of breaking within.

In a small chamber deep within the center of this glorious citadel, General Juliet and Adora stand side by side, their arms folded, their expressions revealing nearly identical emotional states: irritated and warily suspicious.

The object of their glares sits cross-legged in a high-backed lounge chair, flanked by two guards, and leaning comfortably to one side with arms outstretched and relaxed.

Double Trouble stares back at their captors with bright eyes, their expression wondering and slightly bemused. They blink innocently and smile winningly.

Double Trouble: I’m sorry. Have you been waiting for me to start? [after a beat] Some kind of self-service interrogation? Where I grill myself until I break?

Adora and Juliet continue to glare.

Double Trouble: [sighing] It’s just that . . . when Glimmer and I used to do this, hers was definitely a speaking role.

Adora and Juliet make no response. Double Trouble raises their fingernails and considers them casually.

Double Trouble: And believe me when I say that. It was a lot of speaking.

At that moment, the door creaks softly open. Adora and Juilet turn toward the sound as a Bright Moon guard enters and steps silently to whisper into General Juliet’s ear. Adora watches as Juliet’s eyes narrow, and her jaw tenses. She nods to Adora, who turns and strides toward Double Trouble with a deadly determination.

Double Trouble shrinks back as Adora draws her sword out of the air and swiftly levels it with the point hovering inches from Double Trouble’s throat.

Double Trouble: [with trepidation] Wh-what are you doing?! I’m-- You can see that I’m not armed!

Adora’s eyes flash with controlled fury, but all at once she glances back as General Juliet steps forward to lay a hand on her shoulder. She turns back to Double Trouble, takes a deep breath and sighs, then slowly lowers her sword until the tip touches the floor.

Adora leans in toward Double Trouble, meeting their eyes with deadly intensity.

Adora: [slowly] I am giving you a warning.

Double Trouble remains perfectly still, looking mildly stricken.

Adora: Glimmer is not just the Queen. She is also my friend. If you value your skin, you had better tell us where she is. Now.

Double Trouble swallows slowly as sweat beads on their brow. Slowly, they bring their hands together, and they begin to clap, shaking their head.

Double Trouble: That was . . . impressive.

Adora frowns, clenching her teeth. Double Trouble ceases the applause.

Double Trouble: [sincerely] I mean it. That was genuinely intimidating.

They smile and place an encouraging hand on Adora’s shoulder.

Double Trouble: [with obvious pleasure] The only reason I didn’t believe you is because I already know your character, honey. [patting sympathetically on Adora’s shoulder] So, really, you shouldn’t take it so hard.

In a remarkably swift motion, Adora swats Double Trouble’s hand away and wrenches them off of the lounge chair by the shoulders, whipping them around and slamming them against the wall with a cry of frustration and anger. Double Trouble looks at her stunned.

Adora: [with quiet rage] You don’t believe I’m serious? That’s a mistake!

Double Trouble just beams at her, relaxed.

Double Trouble: [delighted] So melodramatic! But I’m afraid you’re the one making the mistake.

They turn their head away in disdain, closing their eyes and touching their chest with a hand.

Double Trouble: [with pride] I’m a performer -- not a kidnapper!

All at once, General Juliet is by Adora’s side, leaning in to address their prisoner.

General Juliet: [with cool control] The queen went missing a couple of hours ago. Then you arrive, infiltrating Bright Moon by stealth and claiming to offer some kind of “deal.”

Double Trouble turns to Juliet, cautiously wary of this new, more serious threat.

General Juliet: [eyes narrowed] It’s time for you to say what you know. [pointedly] Where. Is Queen Glimmer.

Double Trouble looks from Juliet to Adora and back again.

Double Trouble: [surprised] But I already told you she’s in Mystacor.

Adora: [quickly] That’s your story!

Double Trouble: [distinctly, matter-of-fact] Actually . . . it’s her story! See for yourself.

Quickly, they reach for something inside their leotard top and hand it to Adora.

For a beat, Adora hesitates, a little uncertainly. Then she releases Double Trouble and grabs the piece of paper.

While Adora frowns at the writing on the note, Double Trouble visibly relaxes, grinning.

Adora raises an eyebrow and hands the note to General Juliet, who scans it for a few moments and then nods. She looks up to Adora.

General Juliet: [with conviction] This note is in the queen’s handwriting. [indicating Double Trouble with a nod] They’re telling the truth.

Double Trouble steps away from the wall and spreads their arms in a grand gesture.

Double Trouble: [with passion] Truth, [flashing eyes at Juliet] in one form or another, [winking and smiling at Adora] is at the heart of all art!

They are stopped in the act of turning away dramatically by Adora’s hand landing on their shoulder in a solid grip. Double Trouble turns back to see Adora’s steady, accusing stare.

Adora: [confidently] We’re not through here.

She gestures toward the chair, and Double Trouble regards her with a mildly sympathetic expression.

Double Trouble: [kindly] You seem a little tense. [nodding to the chair] Maybe you should . . .

Adora narrows her eyes at them.

Double Trouble shrugs.

Double Trouble: Suit yourself.

With a dance-like grace, they whirl over to the chair and take a seat, throwing their legs over the arm and settling into a luxurious lounging position.

Double Trouble: [with a smirk] Your cue, darling.

Adora takes a step forward, hands on hips.

Adora: I wouldn’t be so smug if I were you. You have a lot to answer for.

Double Trouble: [intrigued] Oh, do I?!

Adora points a finger at them.

Adora: [earnestly] By the authority vested in me by the ruler of Bright Moon, I accuse you, Double Trouble, of war crimes!

Double Trouble’s eyes widen, their face tenses, and then . . . they burst out in an explosive chuckle. Adora looks at them coldly.

Double Trouble’s head falls back as they giggle. They kick their legs in glee! For several moments this continues, and they struggle to catch their breath!

Finally, they lower their head to their hand and wipe away tears as their laughter gradually subsides.

Double Trouble: [grinning myrthfully] Oh, Adora! That’s . . . too much!! That’s precious!

General Juliet steps up beside Adora, speaking quietly.

General Juliet: Lady Adora. As it happens . . .

Double Trouble looks up at Adora with evident delight. They blink at Adora’s face.

Double Trouble: Oh, and you’re serious! [straightening up and smiling] Well!

They hold out their arms offering their wrists.

Double Trouble: [with enthusiasm] Take me to my cell! [blinking excitedly] Will I be rooming with your [emphatically, with a harder edge] girlfriend?

Adora’s face turns red.

Adora: [outraged] You--! You’re not allowed--! That’s--!

For a moment, Adora is flustered wordless.

General Juliet sighs.

General Juliet: [calmly] Queen Glimmer signed a mandate granting comprehensive amnesty to all combatants and noncombatant associates who participated throughout the duration of the war with the Horde.

Adora turns to Juliet and frowns with a look of deflated dismay.

Adora: [slowly] So . . . does that mean . . .?

General Juliet nods.

General Juliet: [flatly] No one may be accused of war crimes.

Double Trouble: [wide-eyed, innocently] Oh! So . . . Kitten and I are off the hook, then? What a relief that must be for her.

Adora turns on them with a glare.

Adora: [snarling] You are sooo lucky that Catra’s not here right now!

Double Trouble: [coolly] Timing is everything, honey. And I’ve had a lot of experience.

Adora regards their easy posture for a few moments, shaking her head with a look of mournful disdain.

Adora: Salineas. All those people who lost their lives. Because of you. How . . .?

Double Trouble sits forward, suddenly serious.

Double Trouble: How do I sleep at night? Is that what you’re wondering?

Adora is silent.

Double Trouble sits back with a confident stare that seems to bore right through Adora’s condemnation.

Double Trouble: [relishing] It was one of my greatest performances! A real tour de force, all humility aside.

Adora: [with disgust] The way you delight in the destruction you cause.

Double Trouble: [pointedly] I delight in the performance, and in the truth that is revealed through my art. [pause] Although . . . [smiling] . . . I must admit . . . the drama that precedes the big reveal is delicious in and of itself!

Adora scowls at them.

Double Trouble’s smile fades.

Double Trouble: But. [leaning forward] I am not the monster that you think I am. You want to know the truth? [slowly, with intensity] The Horde was relentless. Hell-bent on taking Salineas. One way, or another. At all costs. No matter what.

Adora folds her arms and frowns.

Double Trouble: By distracting you and the other princesses . . . by preventing the violent battle that would have taken place between you and the Horde . . . Salineas was taken with relative ease and with little resistance. [pause] So, actually, what I did, . . . saved lives.

Adora’s eyes widen, and her frown lessens.

Double Trouble looks downward, closing their eyes.

Double Trouble: [quietly] And though you may find it hard to believe, . . . knowing that was a big part of why I decided to take that job.

Adora falls slient, looking down at the floor, considering.

General Juliet takes a step forward, standing at Double Trouble’s side, opposite Adora. She glances from Adora down to Double Trouble.

General Juliet: [business-like] All right. I think we’ve heard enough of that. It’s time for some real answers. [hardening her stare at them] Why have you come to Bright Moon? Explain.

Double Trouble raises their head slowly, meeting the intensity of Juliet’s glare with a piercing glow in their eyes. They lean forward.

Double Trouble: [to Juliet, slowly, with confidence] Oh, I will. I’ll explain it all. And when I do, . . . I can promise you won’t refuse me.

Suddenly, they leap to their feet, and Adora startles out of her pensiveness. Double Trouble grasps her arms in a light-hearted, spontaneous motion. They whirl her around, and she ends up alighting on the seat that was just vacated by the “prisoner”!

Double Trouble clasps their hands together with great enthusiasm, inclining slightly forward toward their captive audience.

Double Trouble: Now. Are you sitting comfortably? [grinning widely] Then let’s begin!