Hello, friends.
Here is the third bonus chapter for you this week! 😊
(Along with this and this one.)
We are nearing the end of the episode.
Entrapta is helpless and desperate as her world falls apart, and time is running out for all of the princesses.
The Heart of Etheria is on the verge of firing, the consequence of which will be catastrophic beyond imagination.
I am dedicating this chapter, with much affection, to two friends here who love Entrapta: Connie ( @BeanieAndTheDucks ) and Strawbb ( @RedSons1Fan ).
Because Entrapta definitely needs some love.
Brace yourself, though.
This may be rough.
(And I will post the final part of this episode Friday late night.)
Within the Chamber of the Heart, the floating displays of light glow brightly in rainbow colors, and the central image above the control panels pulses with power.
Entrapta stands over the console, eyes closed and concentrating, bound as a prisoner of her own hair, half of which coils around her body, pinning her hands to her chest.
The other half of her serpentine lavender locks waves over the surface of the bright white console in intricate and purposeful patterns. And the energy levels rise within the Heart of Etheria. The weapon is nearly ready.
Entrapta’s eyes flick open, and she looks ahead with a determined gaze.
Entrapta: [calmly] Got it!
At that moment something buzzes and chimes on the surface of the control console.
Entrapta glances down at the tracker pad hopefully.
It chimes again, the vibrations shifting it ever so slightly.
Entrapta strains to reach it, . . .
Entrapta: [frustrated] Mmmmm!!
. . . but she is completely powerless to move, unable to break the grip of her own hair.
An icon on the tracker pad monitor lights up. It is a comic-style face with a friendly expression and a fist holding an arrow.
Entrapta: [excitedly] Bow!
The tracker pad speaks.
Bow: [from the pad] Entrapta! Can you hear me?!
Entrapta: [elated] Yes, Bow!! I hear you! I was just --
Bow: [from the pad] I don’t know if you can hear this, but if you can, I want you to know that you are not alone!
Entrapta’s expression falls.
Entrapta: [sadly] I hear you. But . . . you can’t hear me.
Bow: [from the pad] Help is on the way! So just, hang tight, okay?
Entrapta looks down, away from the pad.
Entrapta: [practically] It’s probably better this way.
The tracker pad sits a few feet away, it’s screen dark.
Bow: [from the pad] I’m using Darla’s frequency. Like you said. So, even if you somehow can’t answer, hopefully you can at least hear my voice. Catra is on her way. Glimmer and Adora may already be there. Whatever is happening with you, we’ll deal with it together. Like we’ve always done.
Entrapta shakes her head wearily.
Entrapta: it’s no use, Bow.
Bow: [from the tracker pad] I’m gonna try to contact the other princesses, too. So, you’ll have all the support you need. Okay? So, just hold on!
Brief static erupts from the tracker pad, and then there is silence.
Entrapta looks upward, where the symbol for the Heart of Etheria, the most devastating weapon ever conceived, dominates the room with its brilliance. The rainbow lights around it swirl and dim, as if they are being sucked into that one glowing symbol, an irresistible force poised to consume everything.
Entrapta: [with forboding] The Heart of Etheria weapon will reach activation capacity within a couple of minutes . . . maybe even sooner! Once that happens, the weapon will fire, and nothing will be able stop it!
Entrapta shifts her focus to the tracker pad.
Entrapta: [desperately] I’m sorry, Bow! But there is so little time, and . . . no one can help me!
She turns her head to look sadly at the still form of Wink across the room. He leans against the wall, breathing deeply, unconscious.
Entrapta: [murmuring] I wouldn’t let them, anyway.
She closes her eyes, frowning. Then takes a deep breath.
All at once, she opens her eyes, and she is smiling again, though the tears in her eyes are innumerable. She looks toward the tracker pad.
Entrapta: [suddenly slightly brighter, through her tears] Don’t worry, though! [smiling sadly] I’ve thought it through. And I can do this.
With one small, free lock of hair, she raises her recorder to her lips and speaks into it.
Entrapta: [in a calm, even tone] Log entry, continuation. [she takes a breath] The Heart of Etheria is now fully repaired. The energy levels are now sufficient to power the weapon, and very soon it will fire. [she pauses, then continues gravely] And I won’t be able to stop it.
Entrapta looks down at her chest, seeing the purple glow within her body. As she does, twin tears wend their ways down her cheeks.
Entrapta: But there is still one thing I can do.
Her fingers twitch within her bonds. She looks up at the inactive tracker pad.
Entrapta: [resolutely] Right now, my Runestone is the only one that is completely active. As long as it’s functioning, I am incapable of stopping myself from fulfilling my programming.
Entrapta flexes her fingers, turning them to lay against her chest.
Entrapta: [her voice shaking a bit] So . . . all I have to do is deactivate the Runestone . . . and . . . stop. [nodding to herself, in a steadier tone] That should work.
She takes a slow breath. And sighs.
Entrapta: So, . . . here goes. I am doing that . . . now.
She pauses, then speaks again, with finality.
Entrapta: Log complete.
With a sharp twist of her fingers against her body, there is a brilliant flash of purple brightness from the gem, exploding with a burst as the Runestone shatters into countless splinters of light!
Entrapta cries out loudly as her head snaps backwards, her eyes widened in shock.
For a moment, a stream of light floods through every branching of the filaments and circuits embedded beneath her skin. From her heart to the tips of her extremities.
Her face goes blank. Her hair falls limp around her.
All the light in her body fades.
The console displays disappear, and the entire chamber goes dim.
As Entrapta collapses to the floor.
