Dear friends, hello! 😊
It's time for a mid-week bonus chapter because the intensity of this part of the story requires it, and I didn't want you to have to wait too long!
Previously in Episode 76: The True Heart:
She-Ra calls for help from her fellow princesses (Part One) to save Entrapta.
They make a plan (Part Two) and seek Darla's help (Part Three). Double Trouble finally has the chance to prove themself (Part Four), and in a princess-recuing performance like nothing we've ever seen, they provide essential assistance. (Part Five 1 and 2)
The princesses gather in the Valley of the Heart, (Part Six) where Entrapta's life is slipping away (Part Seven).
There is a specific friend I wanted to dedicate my chapter to this week because they reminded me recently of how special it is to have faithful friends in this community.
So, Zee ( @Galazee323 ), even though I don't think you read my fan fiction really, I am dedicating this part to you. 😁
I hope you like it.
I hope you all like this, and thank you for reading.
The sunlight falling across Entrapta’s face imbues it with a soft, encouraging glow. Her eyes are closed, her body relaxed, seemingly in the deepest slumber, surrounded by her fellow princesses.
But Entrapta is more than asleep. She is drifting away in an internal night.
The darkness of her mind seems impenetrable and overwhelming.
She is sinking within it, losing herself and everything she is.
Soon, there will be nothing but the darkness. Forever.
Far, far away from the sunlit fields filled with the love of friendship, Entrapta is alone in her inner world.
She sits at the base of a pit, her knees hugged closely to her chest.
She is barely moving.
Only shivering slightly in the deep, bone-chilling, heart stopping, all-consuming cold.
Her eyes stare into oblivion, expressionless, devoid of any spark.
All around her the gray light is dimming, and she seems unaware, feeling nothing, utterly lost.
Her head begins to droop, her eyelids slowly closing.
But just then, something stirs in the emptiness.
A soft, whispering sound seeps gently through the ocean of silence, and Entrapta pauses, her eyes opening wider.
The sound rises with a gentle rushing whoosh . . . then slowly recedes again.
Its rhythm repeats in a soothing rise and fall, a slow pulsing, like the heartbeat of the world.
As Entrapta raises her head, she emits a tiny, surprised gasp.
With the most peaceful sound of rushing waves . . . a gentle wash of shallow water flows up to Entrapta’s feet, . . . pauses . . . and then flows softly away again, . . . to return with the rhythm of the sea.
Waves of blue-green light from the water shimmer over Entrapta’s face. She blinks in wonder. And as she gazes at the surface of the water, a scattering of tiny pink sparkles appears, dazzling before her eyes.
There is movement on the ground where the water recedes, and a tiny green shoot emerges, topped by an expanding bud. The bud opens into a small, pink flower.
Entrapta smiles at the bloom.
The air above her stirs, and she raises her head.
Glittering flakes of snow begin to fall. They are perfectly formed, like etchings of glass, bright and clean.
A soft, warm breeze blows them lightly, to land on Entrapta’s hair and shoulders. Her eyes brighten in fascinated delight.
A light touch on Entrapta’s shoulders replaces delight with surprise. Someone has draped a shawl around her body. She pulls the ends closer, observing the woven patterns in the glowing white threads.
More warmth fills Entrapta’s body, and color dispels the grayness from her face, as she breathes deeper in the fresh, snow-kissed air.
Finally, she turns at a warm crackling sound, and she notices a small gathering of deep-red electrical flames, waving comfortingly like a campfire beside the edges of the sparkling sea.
Entrapta reaches out her hands to feel the warmth of the flames. She closes her eyes and gratefully breathes in the air.
And then she hears a voice calling her name.
Voice: [inviting] Entrapta. You’re not alone.
She looks over to see a hand reaching down for her.
For a moment she frowns sorrowfully, looking away.
But then, with effort, she turns back with a look of hope.
Slowly, she rises to her feet, looking to the one offering her their hand.
She smiles, and she takes the hand.
The air around them begins to glow, and rays of golden-white light stream outward, brightening the scene to a rapid white-out, as the darkness withdraws and disappears completely.
