Welcome back, readers and friends of my fanfic journey! 😊
It's been a little while, and during the three weeks of hiatus, I hope you were able to enjoy the little entertainments I have posted in between, as well as Cal's a-ma-zing cover artwork!
(Hiatus Fun #1, Hiatus Fun #2, Hiatus Fun #3)
And thank you for your patience and your ongoing support!
I'm very excited about this episode, and if you're in for the drama, then you've come to the right place! 😃
Let me catch you up a bit:
My Season 6 tells the story of the journeys undertaken and plans made for all of the main characters from She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, including the development of relationships and coping with the aftermath from the war with Horde Prime.
Through the traumatic events of my Season 6, the princesses succeeded in saving Etheria, but at the unforeseen cost of losing their magic.
In my Season 7, missions undertaken to the Whispering Woods, Mystacor, and the Tree Moon revealed some answers, but Entrapta is the one with the plan!
In the previous Episode 74: Open Heart Part 1
Entrapta returned with Wink to the Chamber of the Heart. Their mission -- to restart the First Ones planetary systems so that the magic of the princesses could be restored.
Bow returned from his parents' home to Bright Moon, where Adora, Catra, and Glimmer filled him in about the return of Double Trouble to Bright Moon, as well as Entrapta's grand plan.
Scorpia and Perfuma united their destinies and those of their people forever in the realm of the Peace Zone.
Entrapta's plan was successful, and the magic of the princesses is back again, much to Glimmer's glee.
But, unbeknownst to anyone else, Entrapta is taking things further, and now that Matilda has helped to resolve the conflict within her, Entrapta appears to be going through with activating the Heart Of Etheria weapon!
(Links to all episode chapters of my fanfic may be found in our Fan Fiction Archive, along with lots of other wonderful stories!)
And this week, I am dedicating my chapter to a most wonderful, talented and generous friend, Cal ( @CallistoArt )! 😄
I hope she (and all of you) will enjoy the ongoing story of this restless night in Bright Moon!
Castle Bright Moon glows in the darkness, her windows lit cheerfully from within, her battlements illuminated a soft milky color by the light of the Moonstone, shining indomitably atop its pillar, like the jewel at the tip of a giant sorcerer’s staff.
Despite the appearance of serenity and calm, there is restlessness within.
Adora silently paces the length of her room, arms held tightly across her chest as she frowns toward the floor.
Catra, sitting cross-legged on the bed and following Adora with her eyes, is clearly more relaxed than her girlfriend. Yet, their shared energy reveals itself in Catra’s tail, which waves uneasily behind her.
Catra: Adora. What’s wrong?
Adora tosses a quick glance at Catra, her eyes troubled, then resumes her study of the floor as she paces.
Adora: I don’t know. I’m just . . . something doesn’t seem right.
Catra turns her head to watch Adora make her way to the farther wall of the bedroom.
Catra: You mean about the magic? [sympathetically] The First Ones stuff?
Adora frowns more deeply and shakes her head. She turns to walk the other direction.
Adora: [with nervous frustration] Not that, exactly. I’m just . . .
She stops her pacing a moment, hesitating in front of the archway leading toward the balcony. And the darkness beyond. Adora lays one hand on the frame of the archway as she stares into the night with an apprehensive expression.
Adora: I still don’t like Entrapta’s solution.
Behind her, Catra’s expression is troubled. She rises from the bed and stands, looking toward Adora with a frown.
Catra: [tentatively] Well . . . [doubtfully] Glimmer seems . . . happy . . .
Adora gazes into the night.
Adora: [noncommittal] Yeah. I know. But . . .
Adora shakes her head again, shifting her gaze downward.
Adora: [with bitterness] The princesses’ magic shouldn’t be dependent on a machine. That’s not how it’s supposed to work.
She lets her hand fall from the archway.
Adora: [regretful] Feels wrong. Like . . .
Catra’s voice cuts her off.
Catra: Adora.
Adora smirks weakly at her own thoughts.
Adora: You think I’m being stupid. Right?
She turns around to find Catra standing close behind her. One hand halted in the act of reaching out. Adora blinks at her, seeing just as much concern in her girlfriend’s eyes as her own.
Catra pulls her hand back, dropping it down to grasp her own wrist. She shakes her head slightly.
Catra: [evenly] No. Actually, I don’t.
Catra takes a small step back, looking away and making a fist with her free hand.
Catra: i’m . . . feeling something, too.
Adora steps toward her, raising a comforting hand.
Adora: You . . .
Catra steps further back, shrugging her shoulder away, and Adora frowns more deeply.
Adora: [with foreboding] What do you feel?
Catra winces slightly, looking at her forearm and rubbing it.
Catra: [gritting her teeth, irritated] It’s like a tingling . . . under my skin.
She looks away, as if looking her girlfriend directly in the eye might hurt.
Catra: [hesitantly] It’s a feeling that . . . makes me wanna run. Like . . . I need to get away.
A slight shiver passes through Catra’s body, and she tenses, balling her hands into fists with the effort to maintain control. Then she slowly looks up to meet Adora’s eyes, the pain evident in her own.
Catra: [hesitant, vulnerabie] I’m . . . sorta scared. [frowning deeper] And I don’t know why.
Adora looks at Catra worriedly.
She raises her hand in comfort, stepping forward.
Adora: [with feeling] Catra . . .
Suddenly, she freezes, her eyes widening, her breathing quickening. She puts a hand to her temple, frowning.
Adora: [with fear] Catra, I . . . !
Suddenly, wincing, Adora reaches out, as if to catch herself, then staggers a few steps sideways to sit down heavily on the bed, a look of shock on her face.
Adora: [groaning] Errnghhh!
Catra, her eyes wide with concern, rushes to Adora’s side, crouching down to look her in the eyes.
Catra: [quickly] Adora! What’s wrong?!
She lays one hand on Adora’s shoulder, but something like an electric spark leaps off of Adora’s body, causing Catra to withdraw her touch!
Catra: [surprised] Haa!
She glances at her hand, perplexed, then turns back to Adora, leaning in close, her hands not quite touching Adora’s shoulders.
Adora’s whole body trembles now, eyes shut tightly, holding her shoulders, as if in pain.
Catra: [rising panic] What’s happening?! Wh-what can I do?!!
Catra watches Adora helplessly, seeing her girlfriend absorbed in her pain, shaking and murmuring desperately to herself.
Adora: [in quiet agony] Nooo, nooo, nooo . . . !
