Hello, my dears! 😊
This weeks chapter will be nice, with characters coming together again who have been apart. But some of them have some explaining to do! 🤨
But before we get into that, it's time for a recap of the current episode!
Previously in Episode 71:
Part One: Darla, Entrapta, and Wink battle a ginormous tree in space, desperate to bring back information for the sake of every princess of Etheria!
Part Two: Scorpia and Perfuma work together for the recovery of the Peace Zone!
Part Three: Glimmer discovers a secret within the untamed magic in Mystacor!
I would like to dedicate my chapter this week to a wonderful new friend and kind reader of my fanfic, May ( @.+*Twilght Wings*+. ) 😁
May, I think you will enjoy this one! I hope so!
We are returning now to the place where (in the words of Double Trouble in my fan fiction) drama truly lives! 😆
Welcome back to Bright Moon, my friends!!
Bright Moon Castle glows softly in the early evening as the last haze of sunlight colors the far distant edge of the sky a deep auburn rose.
Over this peaceful scene, the glorious Swift Wind glides gently downward toward the great entrance facing the Moon Stone.
He announces his arrival in song.
Swift Wind: [dramatically] Swiiiift Wiiiiind! It’s a wooonderful Swiiiiift Wiiind!
Silhouetted in the Moon Stone’s soft white light, he bears Glimmer and Catra into the brightly-lit interior of the Throne Room and lands with stately grace.
As Glimmer and Catra dismount, three of the castle guards rush into the room, staves at the ready. Seeing Glimmer, they assume an attitude of attention, then execute bows in unison. Glimmer nods in approval.
Catra looks around, ears twitching in alertness.
Swift Wind: [loudly, to the guards] Hey! Where’s Adora?
Catra: [pointedly] Is she here?
The central guard bows to Catra.
Guard: [formally] Yes, my lady.
Glimmer steps forward, hands on hips.
Glimmer: Then, take us to her, please.
All three of the guards bow to Glimmer.
Guard: At once, your majesty.
They follow the guards out into the broad hallway. The guard in command pauses with a nod to the other two, who immediately take positions on either side of the Throne Room entrance. Then she turns, and leads Glimmer and her friends down the main corridor.
Partway down the hallway, recognizable voices are heard, which become clearer as they near the entrance to the Council Chamber.
Voice of Adora: [insistent] -- at any time! It’s too much of a risk! These precautions will assure --
Voice of General Juliet: [firmly] With respect, Adora, that is for the Queen to decide.
At that moment, Glimmer enters the room, along with Catra and Swift Wind.
They find Adora and General Juliet standing facing each other with severe expressions, their hands pressing the surface of the table, upon which are a couple of parchment documents. Their heads turn in unison, Juliet’s eyebrows raised and Adora’s eyes startled and wide. General Juliet straightens her posture.
Glimmer: [brightly] Hi, there!
Adora: [surprised] Glimmer!
General Juliet: [respectfully] Your majesty.
Glimmer: [formally] General.
Catra: [with happy relief] Adora.
Adora: [excitedly] Catra!
Swift Wind: [proudly] Swift Wind! Did someone say my name?
Adora walks over to them laying one arm over Catra’s shoulders, one hand on Swift Wind’s neck, and catching Glimmer in the middle.
Adora: It’s so good to see you guys!
Catra puts her arms around Adora’s waist, while Glimmer wraps one arm around Adora’s back and one around Catra’s. Swift Wind tilts his head down to nuzzle Adora’s face, while briefly stretching his wing to encircle Glimmer and Catra.
Glimmer: [sing-songy] Weee’re baack!
Adora: [turning her head to nuzzle Swift Wind’s face] Swiftie!
Swift Wind makes a pleased whinnying sound.
Catra: [to Adora, softly] I missed you.
Adora: [quietly to Catra] Missed you, too.
They all step back from the embrace, and Adora looks at them with a pleased but curious smile.
Adora: Why did you all leave?
Glimmer raises an eyebrow.
Glimmer: Tell ya in a minute. But first . . . [pointedly innocent] what was it I was supposed to decide?
Adora takes a step back, looking slightly awkward and putting a hand to the back of her neck.
Adora: Oh, ahhh . . .
She glances at Catra, who narrows her eyes.
Adora: [quickly] It’s nothing, really! It can wait.
Catra smiles a little at Adora’s discomfort.
Catra: [suspiciously] Uhhh, huh.
Glimmer steps forward, following Adora as she backs away.
Glimmer: Ohhh. Are you sure?
Adora: Yeah!
She looks downward, noticing the brace on Glimmer’s leg.
Adora: [evasively] Oh, wow! Your leg! How are you doing with it? Is it still hurting?
Adora looks at her innocently, smiling. Glimmer grins back.
Glimmer: [with relief] Oh, it feels soooo much better! And Bow did an amazing job with the brace! I hardly feel it now.
Adora: [enthusiastically] Oh, good! That’s good. ‘Cause . . . [softly, genuinely, looking Glimmer in the eye] . . . I was worried about you.
Glimmer looks at her gratefully, with affection.
Glimmer: Thank you, Adora. That means a lot.
Adora smiles at her. There is a brief awkward pause, while Swift Wind paws the ground a bit.
Swift Wind: [bored] Sooo . . .
Adora: [quickly] So!
Glimmer: [directly] So, how were things around here? Any trouble while I was gone?
Adora: [chuckling nervously]: Trouble. Heh-heh-heh.
Adora tosses a quick glance toward General Juliet, who has been standing nearby with arms folded. She steps forward.
General Juliet: Your majesty, we captured an intruder in the castle.
Glimmer: What?!
Adora: [guiltily] Oh, yeah. That happened.
Glimmer: [concerned] What intruder?
General Juliet: It was Double Trouble again. We’ve taken them into custody.
Catra: [softly, with intensity] What?
Glancing at Catra, Adora sees that her eyes are like smoldering daggers.
Adora: Yeah. But it’s okay!
Glimmer tilts her head forward and sighs, touching her wrinkled brow.
Glimmer: [groaning] Ugghh! Double Trouble is a headache I did not want to have to deal with.
Adora: [reassuringly] It’ll be fine! The situation with Double Trouble is tooootally under control.
Catra grits her teeth, her eyes narrowed, her hands fists.
General Juliet: [to Glimmer] I have arranged for there to be two guards with them at all times, always awake, always alert, with alternating shift changes. This person will not be a problem.
Catra addresses General Juliet.
Catra: You say they’re confined right now.
General Juliet: [turning toward Catra] Yes.
Catra: Good.
She turns on her heel and starts for the door.
Catra: [ominously] I’ll be back.
There is a quiet, but disturbing shinging sound.
Adora leaps forward, and Glimmer turns quickly to reach toward Catra.
Adora: Catra! No!
Glimmer: Catra!
Glimmer and Adora each grab one of Catra’s wrists, holding her back. Catra pulls against them for a moment.
Catra: [frustated] Erggh!
Glimmer: Catra, please! This is not how we roll! Just let me talk with them, okay!
All at once Catra stops pulling. Her head drops, and she takes a deep breath. Her claws sheathe again. Glimmer and Adora look at each other with concern, then release Catra’s wrists. Catra clenches her fists, sighs deeply, and then lets her hands relax. She turns to face them, looking first at Glimmer and then Adora. She nods, then looks back at Glimmer.
Catra: [conceding] Okay. Fine.
Glimmer turns back to General Juliet.
Glimmer: Do we know what they’re doing here? What they want?
General Juliet shrugs.
General Juliet: They say they want to make some kind of deal with you. They acted like they wanted a job and a place to stay.
Glimmer: [wrinkling her face] A job?
General Juliet: That’s what they said.
Catra steps up close to them, frowning, her ear twitching.
Glimmer: [to Juliet] Well, what I really wanna know is --
Catra puts her hand out and interrupts.
Catra: [sharply] Shhh!
Glimmer halts mid-sentence, looking curiously at Catra.
Catra: Listen. There’s something outside.
Everyone freezes for a moment, cocking their heads.
Within a second, a faint thumping, booming sound becomes audible. Rhythmic. Like giant footsteps.
Everyone looks at each other with worry and wonder.
The guards look tense. General Juliet’s hand hovers by her sword.
Catra: [earnestly] It’s coming closer.
Swift Wind steps up beside Glimmer.
Swift Wind: [confidently] I’ll go check it out!
Adora: [quickly] Wait.
All at once, Swift Wind leaps into the air, sweeping over their heads, causing them to duck as he flaps his wings around.
Adora: [annoyed] Swiftie! What did we say about flying inside the castle?!
Swift Wind executes a gentle spiral glide overhead as he speaks.
Swift Wind: [confidently] Wait at least half an hour after a big meal!
Adora: That’s not what we said!!
Swift Wind: [ignoring her] I’ll take a quick look and be right back!
Glimmer: Hold on a second!
Adora: Swiftie!
Swift Wind quickly flies out of the Council Chamber and out into the hallway. There are a couple of surprised cries, and then the brief sound of a scuffle, like the great winged horse is smacking into a few of the walls.
Adora: [to Glimmer] Don’t worry. I’ll get him.
And she sprints out of the chamber. Glimmer reaches a hand after Adora, as if she could somehow catch her.
Glimmer: [troubled] Adora!
Catra: [calmly] Well, the noise has stopped.
Out in the hallway, Adora looks both ways, then lays her eyes on a pair of guards, who look decidedly shaken. They point toward one of the far ends of the hallway.
Adora nods, and runs to the end of the hallway, where a large open window looks out onto the night and the grounds below. She reaches the window and leans against the casement with both hands, searching the sky intently.
Adora: Hm.
Without warning, a fast-moving dark figure leaps over the edge of the window, colliding with Adora and knocking her onto her back!
The figure kneeling over her is dressed in overalls and wears a bug-like mask with huge glowing ovals for eyes. It’s Entrapta! She lifts up the shield of her mask and stares down at Adora with a grin.
Entrapta: Oh, hello, Adora! I’m glad I bumped into you! Can you take me to Glimmer? I need to see her, right now!
