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Disclaimer: Own nothing of She-Ra or any of the Princesses of Power

Twice Bitten part 10

Entrapta hung her head low as she, Glimmer and one of the castle guards opened the doors to the meeting room and walked in.

Entrapta's ears picked up several gasps as she made her way to the edge of the table.

"Your majesty," The guard announced. "Princess Entrapta has requested to see you."

The queen's face remained stoic as she lifted an eyebrow. "And you brought her up here without my permission to do so?"

Glimmer stepped forward. "Mom-your majesty, I've talked to Entrapta and she's seen the error of her ways. She's vouched to help us find the Heart of Etheria."

"How do we know she's telling the truth?" Frosta asked.

"She could just lead us into a trap where Shadow Weaver and Adora could get to us!" Netossa argued.

"Or she could just like stab us in the back and run off to be with her Horde family," Mermista scowled.

"She's betrayed us once before," Spinerella added. "How can we sure that it won't happen again?"

"ENOUGH!"

Perfuma's sudden outburst caused everyone to nearly fall out of their seats. Glimmer practically jumped back when she saw the flower princess's angered expression. It actually scared her a little.

"BrightMoon is supposed to be a kingdom of free speech and goodwill towards everyone. Even Horde prisoners are treated with compassion and an ounce of respect. Shouldn't we allow Entrapta a moment to explain herself instead of just jumping to conclusions? Or have second chances gone the way of the First One's too?"

Angella waited until Perfuma was finished before she gave a heavy sigh. "Entrapta…would you care to tell us why you wished to meet with us?"

Entrapta let out a heavy sigh. "I've done…many terrible things within the Horde's walls. For so long I thought that the pursuit of science was worth any sacrifices that came from it. But after talking things over with Glimmer…I've realized just how insane their true intentions were. Looking back I've realized that you guys wouldn't have let me behind if you knew I was truly alive. I should've found some way to either escape or let you guys know that I was alive all along." Entrapta sniffed. "But as Glimmer pointed out…I can't do anything to change the past…no matter how much I want to…but I can focus my efforts on the issues of the present, namely trying to locate the Heart of Etheria. I don't expect you to forgive me, trust me or even allow me to rejoin the Princess Alliance once this whole affair is over with. But…please allow me just this once chance to fix the mess I helped to create."

Entrapta hadn't noticed she was crying until she saw a tear splash onto the floor below.

"Mom," Glimmer argued. "Entrapta's the only one who can locate the Heart of Etheria faster than anyone. Without her we'd just be on a wild goose chase trying to find it. And if by some miracle we do find it, it'll be too late and Adora will be lost forever."

"But she was like working willingly with the Horde…" Mermista started to say before Glimmer cut her off.

"So was Adora! She was being brainwashed by the Horde's teachings until she saw what they were really like. She saw the error of her ways just like Entrapta right now! We could've locked up Adora even after she proved herself worthy to the cause! But we didn't! We saw past her image to see the person she truly was!"

"Your majesty," Entrapta finally looked up to meet the queen's gaze. "My parents died in the battle against the Horde. They fought with the other princesses to help build a better world for their children. Please allow me a chance to make sure their deaths were not in vain."

Angella breathed in and out as her eyes showed mercy. "Commander Glimmer, you will keep Entrapta under constant supervision?"

For the first time, in what felt like an eternity, Glimmer smiled. "Yes, I and everyone else will ensure that Entrapta stays safe."

"Or loyal," Mermista added which earned her a glare from Perfuma.

"Princess Entrapta, you claim to know the location of the Heart of Etheria?" Angella asked.

"I…have an educated guess on where the Heart is most likely located," Entrapta replied.

Angella sighed. "Please demonstrate using the map on the table." With a wave of her hand, Angella caused the meeting room table to turn from a wooden structure into a holographic landscape representation of Etheria.

"Fascinating," Entrapta breathed. "You can observe every known part of Etheria. Imagine what kind of progress we could make if I made just a few minor adjustments…"

"Entrapta focus," Angella said.

Entrapta cleared her throat before she moved her hand across the table. "First One's data crystals have been found all over Etheria. But from my calculations, the majority of them seem to be found in Dryl or at least in close proximity to the kingdom. The mine in particular has uncovered the majority of my data crystal collection. I thought nothing of it at the time but my castle servants began hearing strange rumors that the mine was haunted by spectral anomalies."

"You mean ghosts?" Castapella asked.

"Well to put it one way yes!" Entrapta replied. "Anyway, workers in the mines used to say they heard strange voices coming from deep within the soil. Others claimed they saw a strange ray of light peeking through the cracks of certain tunnels that ran deeper into the ground than others. I can't say I believe in ghosts, considering I haven't gathered enough scientific proof to prove their existence, but it does seem highly improbable that so many reports of spectral anomalies would come out of one location instead of various locations across Etheria."

"But what does this have to do with the Heart of Etheria?" Glimmer asked, sounding impatient.

"Based on ancient texts of the First One's," Castapella began. "The Heart of Etheria was rumored to have an almost blinding light to it and would make strange noises at certain times, usually whenever there was a disturbance to the land."

"Like whenever the Horde was poisoning the forest with its machinery," Perfuma said.

"Or when the Black Garnett was hacked," Entrapta added.

"So this means that the magical heart thingy is deep within the mines of Dryl?" Perfuma asked.

Entrapta paused for a second, mentally adding up all the pieces. "It seems like the most likely."

"Then that's where we have to go!" SeaHawk added before he jumped up on the table causing the holograms to vanish. "Onward to adventure!"

"Wow calm down," Mermista said. "Do you know how big Dryl is. It would take us like a really long time to locate this thing."

"Mermista's right," Frosta added as SeaHawk sat back down in his chair. "We need something that could easily track down the Heart to its exact location."

Bow's eyes lit up. "Wait a minute! Entrapta, I still have your heat seeking device that allowed us to find Catra in the Fright Zone. Can you reconfigure it so that it can pick up the Heart?"

The burning flame of curiosity within Entrapta began to flare up as her eyes lit up. "Consider it done yesterday! That is…if I can request a lab to work in your majesty."

"Bow take Entrapta to the basement and report back to me as soon as she's finished," Angella said.

Bow nodded before he and Entrapta walked out of the meeting room.

"But even if we find the Heart that still doesn't help us figure out how to cure Adora of this disease!" Glimmer stated.

Castapella placed a hand under her chin. "Shadow Weaver's magic is much more powerful and darker than mine. Her magic would probably outdo whatever spells I or any other Master Sorcerer could create."

Everyone's face fell as silence penetrated the room.

"But there is one way to help Adora…but it's risky."

Glimmer nearly jumped out of her seat. "There is?! Tell us we have to do it. We have to do something…"

"Glimmer deep breaths," Angella replied.

Glimmer did as she was told as Castapella continued.

"With this particular spell, it seems that the Adora you and I know is not truly gone. She's trapped somewhere in the subconscious of this corrupted being. In order to bring her back…someone must perform the act of Soul Immersion."

"Soul Immersion?" Netossa asked.

"With a bit of magical powder and a certain chant, a person's subconscious can enter the infected being's subconscious in order to find that very person. Once they find them they will have to guide them back to reality."

"So any one of us can go in and find Adora?" Bow asked.

Castapella shook her head. "In order for this spell to be of maximum efficiency, it has to be someone that's known the person for the longest time. I know that you and Glimmer and everyone else here have grown close to Adora over the past few months, but there's no guarantee that it'll be enough to bring Adora back to her senses and take control of her body once again. We need someone who's grown up with Adora, possibly someone who knows her better than anyone else."

Bow glanced at Glimmer who in turn glanced back. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Glimmer groaned. "Unfortunately I am."

XXXXXXX

Despite all the strangeness that had happened to her today, Catra still thought that being removed from her prison cell, and coming face to face with the same woman she tried to shoot at with a canon, was utterly surreal.

As she glanced around the table, Catra saw several of the princesses, and the same pirate whose name she'd already forgotten, looking at her with a hint of malice. This hadn't surprised the young Magicat though as she had expected this kind of reception no matter how she ended up in BrightMoon. But beneath their malicious glares, Catra almost thought she saw a look of relief in their eyes, as if she were there last hope at the end of their ropes.

"Prisoner," Glimmer began.

"I have a name you know. Or do prisoners get that stripped away too?" Catra sneered.

Glimmer took a quick deep breath, trying so hard to not get into an argument right now.

"We may have found a way to bring Adora back but we need your help."

Glimmer had expected Catra to roll her eyes, make a nasty comeback or simply refuse outright. But instead the ex Horde soldier's eyes lit up and a ghost of a smile crossed her face.

"I'll do it." Catra replied. "Just tell me what to do."

To say she rendered everyone speechless would be a grave understatement. But after a full minute of silence, Castapella began explaining the process of Soul Immersion to Catra. Catra's face remained stoic throughout most of it, only raising an eyebrow or twitching one of her ears in response. But once Castapella finished, Catra simply rolled her eyes, much like she used to do back in the Horde's cadet classes.

"So? A little hocus pocus and Adora's free." Catra said.

"It's not that simple Catra," Castapella replied. "This spell will only work if you and Adora are face to face with one another."

Catra shrugged. "So? We have like half a dozen princesses and a brunch of princess magic mumbo jumbo bullshit. Just place a spell or subdue her long enough so I can do it. Why are we wasting time explaining everything when we can just get it done today?"

"Catra," Castapella sighed. "You have to understand the potential consequences of such a practice. It's so experimental that the Sorcerers guild doesn't even have it listed in their official spell books. Unless it's performed correctly and/or you are successful…you could potentially lose your life."

For a fraction of a second, fear clouded Catra's heterochromatic eyes but was swiftly replaced with determination and bravery, per her Horde teachings.

"So? All of you waste dying every time you're out there fighting the Horde? What makes you think I can't handle this? What's the worst that can happen?"

Castapella placed her head in her hands for a solid minute before she glanced up at Catra with the gravest of expressions.

"If the person is unable to make the other come back to reality…their subconscious would be forever trapped in the others mind forever. Their body meanwhile remains in a vegetative state and would almost be mistaken for being dead if not for the continued warmth that radiates throughout it. If a person reaches this state…they can't come back. No spell, or mumbo jumbo bullshit as you put it, can even come close to reversing the effects. You could potentially…in a sense…die…Catra."

Catra raised her cuffed hands and slammed them on the table, causing several to jump in their seats.

"I don't care about the damn risks! This is my fault that all this is happening so I may as well be the one to do it! If it works, great, you get your precious princess of power back! If it doesn't you rid the world of one less Horde soldier and you can take pleasure in knowing that I got my just desserts! But I am not going to just rot in a cell and think about what I could've done to stop this! You wanted someone who knows Adora inside and out! Well you got her! Now let's stop running our mouths and go find Adora!"

Catra allowed herself to catch her breath as the other princess and SeaHawk stared up at her with wide eyes. Angella herself looked taken aback by the young girl's outburst. Her eyes widened for the briefest of seconds before she returned to her neutral state.

"Very well," Angella said. "We will let Entrapta alter Bow's device to locate the Heart and then rest up for the night. We'll head out at dawn."

Catra's snapped her head towards Angella with a look of utter disbelief on her face.

"You're joking…we actually have a chance to locate this heart thingy, save all of Etheria and Adora and you want to take a fucking nap?! Do you realize the longer we sit here the better a chance Shadow Weaver has in destroying all of us? All of Etheria? No of course you wouldn't know that, you princesses just care about what happens in your own little world. You never give a damn about what happens in the world or to regular people. You just act all high and mighty while I just get told how worthless I am from a young age and am always living in the shadow of someone I thought I could count on and…"

A gentle touch on her shoulder made Catra pause her rant. Normally she'd claw whoever decided to lay a hand on her, but she was so mentally exhausted that the thought never entered her mind. Glancing up, Catra saw Angella with a stern expression, yet with a hint of sympathy in her eyes. Catra had been so wrapped up in her rant that she hadn't noticed the monarch had walked over to her.

"Catra…I may not know all the details of what's happened to you today but I know the telltale signs of burnout when I see them. You're not thinking clearly and need rest."

Catra slapped Angella's hand with fury in her eyes. "Don't tell me what I need! I can take care of myself just fine and don't feel the least bit tired…" A loud yawn suddenly erupted from Catra's mouth as she began to fall forward. Angella thankfully caught her before the floor provided her with a rude awakening. Catra blinked rapidly before she looked up at Angella with a dazed look in her eyes.

"I am not questioning your abilities Catra," Angella said. "I'm noticing how fatigued you are right now. What good is it to face Adora and the rest of the Horde in your current state? We'd have a much better chance if you rested…we all would." Angella glanced at the others who nodded in agreement.

Angella brought Catra back onto her feet.

"I…can't…stop," Catra wearily muttered. "Adora…needs…me."

"She does but I'm sure she'd also want you in one piece, which your chances of doing so would dramatically decrease if you went into battle in your current state. Please rest, for Adora, for everyone's sake."

Catra sighed as she dropped her shoulders. "First thing…in…morning."

"Of course," Angella faintly smiled before she motioned for two palace guards to carry Catra back to her holding cell. With one to her the left and one to her right, the guards hooked their arms under Catra's and began to carry her away.

"I want everyone to rest up and prepare for tomorrow. Regardless of whether Entrapta is right or not about the Heart of Etheria's location…we're gonna need all the strength and willpower in all of Etheria to save Adora. Let's do this for Adora!"

"FOR ADORA!" Everyone cheered in unison before they existed out of the meeting room.

As per usual, Angella was the last to leave the room. She also instructed the guards to warn her of any developments immediately.

As the guards closed the doors, an eerie silence filled the once lively room. At first glance, everything seemed normal, until a part of the meeting room table's shadow broke off revealing a black, shadowy creature with a single red eye. The creature looked around briefly before it slinked under the doors and flew out of the closest adjacent window.

The creature flew to the ground before it began to slither further away from the castle like a snake looking for its next prey. But eventually it did find its intended target, a tall blue skinned woman with black hair and an emotionless mask.

"What did you find out my little one?"

The shadow swirled around Shadow Weaver's hands for a moment before it flowed into her hair.

"Aw I see now."

"See what mother?" Adora called from behind her.

"The princesses are still trying to steal you away from me," Shadow Weaver replied.

Adora growled. "They still don't get that I don't need saving! We should strike now and see they never bother us again!"

"There's no need for violence quite yet Adora," Shadow Weaver replied. "Thanks to your former friends they may have just located the Heart of Etheria for us."

Adora's smiled widely as her red pupils expanded. "So we can follow them straight to the Heart and pick them off as soon as we reach them."

Shadow Weaver chuckled darkly. "Oh I have a much better idea dear daughter, one that will ensure that those princesses will never bother us again."

A twisted chorus of laughter grew louder and louder in the forest as the afternoon moons began to set.

So yeah not too much going on I know but next few chapters will definitely amp up the game!

Looking forward to getting to those soon!

Until then: Peace!