Happy Monday, wonderful friends! 😊
I hope my post today gives you a smile to start your week.
Previously in this episode, She-Ra summoned the rest of the princesses to save Entrapta (Part One), and together they formulated a plan (Part Two), which ran into a snag (Part Three). It turned out that Double Trouble is the only one who can help (Part Four).
Part Five began with Double Trouble taking on a new role in an effort to summon Darla.
I'm dedicating this second half of the chapter to Shadow (@Shadow and Light am I right? ), and I hope she likes what I'm doing here!
It's time so see if Double Trouble can complete the unique challenge that they started, and if you didn't read the first half to this chapter, please do so here!
Ready now? Here we go!
Mere minutes later, a massive shape descends, blocking the starlight over the main entrance to Castle Bright Moon like a heavy cloud, and shivering the air with a droning whir of engines.
A perfect version of Entrapta stands on the walkway through the shallow moat, grinning upward and rocking up and down on her toes, her fingertips tapping together excitedly as she watches the mighty spacecraft Darla descend with the grace of an eagle.
Standing a few paces behind her, Bow watches with Catra beside him, his expression smiling in relief, hers with a slight frown of anxiety.
Spinnerella and Netossa approach from the steps of the castle, holding hands and sharing a hopeful glance.
As Darla’s fins touch the surface of the moat, her wide ramp unfolds from her underbelly, reaching down to touch the walkway a few feet in front of Entrapta.
Catra is the first to move.
Catra: [impatiently] Let’s go.
As she steps toward the base of the ramp, she gives the faux Entrapta a wide berth, tossing her a distrustful look. But all of a sudden Entrapta launches into motion, her ponytails striking the ground to propel her up the ramp like stilts.
Entrapta/Trouble: [gleefully] Hahaha!!!
However, after only a few long strides, the hair-stilts become misaligned, twisting into each other and causing this more clumsy Entrapta to fall, crashing head-first onto the metal with a resonant clang!
She tumbles over and sits up on the ramp, pushing aside her own hair from her face with a bemused frown, unharmed but shaken.
Entrapta/Trouble: [wonderingly, to herself] How does she do it?!?
Catra walks quickly by her, casting an amused smirk her direction, and disappears into the ship.
Entrapta shakes her head wonderingly. Then she notices an offered hand beside her shoulder.
Bow: Hey.
Entrapta looks up to see Bow’s face with the hint of a friendly smile.
Bow: You okay?
Entrapta smiles self-consciously and takes Bow’s hand, letting him help her to her feet. She nods to him.
Bow: [encouragingly] Come on.
He nods and lets go of her hand.
She follows him into the ship, trailed by Spinnerella and Netossa.
Once inside, on the huge command deck, the group spreads out, Bow and Entrapta following Catra toward the forward control panel, while Netossa and Spinnerella separate to explore either side of the deck with their individual expressions of wonder.
Entrapta’s expression is all aglow as she draws alongside Darla’s holographic sphere floating near the control panels.
Entrapta/Trouble: Great job, Darla! I knew I could count on you! We’ve got an important mission to accomplish!
Spinnerella and Netossa look upward in different directions as the air reverberates with Darla’s smooth, comforting feminine voice.
Darla: I am ready, Entrapta. What is our next heading?
For a moment, Entrapta looks uncertain.
Entrapta/Trouble: Ahhhhhhh . . .
She glances at Bow, who nods seriously to her. She turns back toward Darla’s sphere.
Entrapta/Trouble: [with the tiniest hint of regret] It’s actually Bow’s mission. I want you to follow his lead on this one. I’m . . .
She looks back toward the hatchway, where General Juliet stands at the top of the ramp, arms folded.
Entrapta/Trouble: I’m staying in Bright Moon for now. I’ve got . . . [smiling] a science-y project I’m working on!
Darla: Very well. Bow. I await your instruction.
Entrapta turns back toward Bow, eyes wide and vulnerable.
Entrapta/Trouble: And . . . Bow, . . .
She turns her eyes downward, running both hands through a thick strand of her hair.
Entrapta/Trouble: [tentatively] Thank you for . . . for giving me a chance.
She looks up at Bow with a tiny, fragile smile.
Bow hesitates, but then smiles back kindly.
Bow: Well. That’s just what a friend would do.
Entrapta/Trouble: [looking downward again] Oh. Friendship. Right.
She meets Bow’s eyes with a questioning frown.
Entrapta/Trouble: I guess that’s what Bright Moon is all about, huh?
Bow nods.
Bow: Yeah.
Entrapta looks at him and smiles.
Entrapta/Trouble: [with sincerity] I’ll try to remember that. Good luck, Bow.
And she raises up a little on her ponytails until she is level with Bow and close enough to plant a small kiss on his cheek. She pulls back quickly as Bow startles, eyes widened in surprise.
Entrapta turns to Catra and smiles at her.
Entrapta/Trouble: Good luck, Catra.
As she begins to rise up, Catra hurriedly steps backwards, holding her hands up in a warding gesture.
Catra: [firmly] N-no, Dou--! I mean, . . . Entrapta! That’s okay! I’m good. But . . . [with a little smile] thanks for . . . you know.
Entrapta smiles and giggles nervously, and there is a strange momentary flash of yellow in her eyes, which disappears in an instant.
Entrapta/Trouble: Oh! Hahahaha! Sorry! I just got a little . . . ! Well . . .
She steps backward toward the hatchway beside General Juliet, who watches her suspiciously.
Entrapta grins at Bow and Catra with her characteristic enthusiasm.
Entrapta/Trouble: Good-bye! And truly! Good luck with the mission!!
She executes an odd little bow, her hair waving over her head. Then she turns quickly and scampers down the ramp out of sight.
General Juliet performs a more formal bow, then turns to follow.
Outside, under the night sky and three of Etheria’s glowing moons, Entrapta and General Juliet turn back to see the ramp retract and Darla begin to rise to the humming whine of her engines. The massive craft rotates in place high overhead, before momentarily glowing with energy and careening off over the cliffs.
General Juliet’s attention is drawn to a creeping black shadow that flows over Entrapta’s form, quickly obscuring her body from her boots to the tips of her ponytails. The shadow seems to contract in on itself, and the featureless body thins and stretches. Within a few seconds, the darkness recedes and evaporates, revealing Double Trouble’s lithe reptilian physique and an expression of mild concern.
They turn their gaze to General Juliet.
Double Trouble: Here’s some free advice, honey. Whatever role you’ve got . . . whether you’re the star . . .
They turn back to stare into Darla’s invisible wake.
Double Trouble: . . . or just the opener . . . always commit.
They frown and sigh.
Double Trouble: [quietly] I . . . I only hope it was enough.
There is a beat in which General Juliet’s expression toward them softens a little.
General Juliet: [reassuringly] Knowing the queen as I do, I believe I can say that when she hears of your performance, . . . she will be pleased.
Double Trouble smiles at this, and their eyes brighten as if they suddenly hear the world applauding.
