Banners were hung all over the kingdom of Dryl. Some of them had the Horde logo and others had the Decepticon symbol. And above them all, Catra and Starscream watched from above. Catra held up her communication pad and contacted her fellow Force Captain, Scorpia.

"Force Captain Scorpia, report!" Catra ordered.

"Great!" Scorpia said. "Everything's so good! It's just that… Well… I think I'm lost."

"What do you mean you're lost?" Catra asked.

"Well, I know Entrapta told us that her castle was like a maze, but I only took one turn around the corner, and I have no idea how to go back."

Catra groaned in annoyance before tapping on her Force Captain badge. "There. You can use the pad to track me down."

"Got it." Scorpia said. She hung up.

"I swear, that girl would lose her head if it wasn't attached." Starscream said. "Just glad Lockdown is on his way for the last pickup."

"Yeah. I've been meaning to ask about that guy." Catra said. "What's his deal?"

"Lockdown? He's the most successful bounty hunter in the universe. Some of the most important prisoners the Decepticons ever had were delivered to us by him for a reasonable fee. And for some reason, Megatron thinks we might need him in the future."

"And you don't?" Catra asked.

"Let's just say that Lockdown isn't the most trustworthy person. The only reason he's working for us right now is because we pay him right, but if someone offers a bigger price to betray us… Well, you get the idea."

"Whatever. Let's just enjoy this victory while we can."

"What do you mean Entrapta's alive?" Glimmer asked Bow and Fixit in the war room.

"I couldn't figure out how the Horde could make so much advanced technology in so little time," Bow said, "But now, I know."

"Those drones that attacked us were powered by First Ones technology. Only Entrapta has the ability to do that." Fixit said. "She must be held pri-pri-pri…" SMACK! "Prisoner by the Horde and being forced into building those weapons."

"And we're the ones responsible for it in the first place." Glimmer realized. "She got captured trying to rescue us. We've got to save her."

"How?" Bow asked. "She could be in the Fright Zone for all we know."

"I believe I can help." Fixit said. He clicked on the button on the side of the war room table. The digital map of Etheria was displayed and a Horde symbol was hovering over a castle in the mountains. "Recent intel said that the Horde just claimed Dryl, Entrapta's home kingdom, and began to move supplies from inside of it."

"They're taking Entrapta's lab equipment." Bow said. "We might just go in and intercept them. Maybe we'll find a way."

"Then let's go now." Glimmer said.

"Now?" Bow asked. "Shouldn't we wait for Adora and Hot Rod to come back?"

"Adora and Hot Rod are doing their own thing and I have no idea when they'll be back."

Adora and Hot Rod were sitting just beside of a large lake with fishing poles out. Their faces displayed both confusion and boredom.

"Where'd you get this idea?" Adora asked.

"Well, Seaspray said it'd be relaxing." Hot Rod said. "I'm sure I'll get used to it."

"Well, at the very least," Bow said, "We should tell our partners, Arcee and Bumblebee."

"Entrapta got captured trying to save us." Glimmer said. "This is our responsibility. We can't let anyone else get caught."

"Well, I'm in too." Fixit said. "I got captured to and I share as much responsibility as chew… few… hue…" SMACK! "You."

"I thought you were analyzing that gold metal Grimlock gave us." Bow said.

"I'm on the team that's analyzing that, but I don't do a lot of the work." Fixit said. "As soon as Ratchet determines what it is exactly, he'll send me the details. Should be any time now."

"All right then." Glimmer said. "Let's go get Entrapta back."

They ran out to the hallway, but they didn't notice Arcee standing behind them. She watched them run so quickly and became curious. "What are those kids up to this time?"

Within the hour, Glimmer, Bow, and Fixit made their way to Dryl, where Horde soldiers and Vehicons were scattered moving boxes and boxes of equipment.

"That's a lot of them." Bow whispered.

"Shh. Look." Glimmer said pointing at Starscream and Catra as they stopped walking right in front of them. The three of them quickly hid behind a tent watching and listening.

"This castle would stump even the wisest Primes." Starscream said.

"Well, let's just try to avoid that." Catra said as she pulled out her communications tablet. "Kyle, report in."

"AAAAAAHHHH!"

The three intruders widened their eyes recognizing Entrapta's screams on the other side. What they didn't know was that she was having a hard time getting one of her inventions under her control with Kyle.

"Entrapta!" Glimmer gasped. "She really is alive."

"They're torturing her." Fixit guessed wrongfully. "We've got to save her."

"PLEASE, STOP!" Entrapta yelled. "WHAT DID I EVER DO TO YOU?!"

"I'm going in!" Glimmer said about to pounce… only to be grabbed from behind. Bow and Fixit gasped silently when the person who stopped Glimmer was Arcee.

"What do you kids think you're doing?" Arcee asked quietly so the Decepticons wouldn't hear them.

"Arcee." Bow greeted nervously. "Well…"

"Entrapta's alive and being held hostage by the Decepticons." Glimmer explained.

"I just heard. But you can't just rush in." Arcee advised. "One wrong move could make them kill her."

"They're torturing her." Glimmer argued. "I can't just let it happen."

"If you don't have patience, you're going to lose everything." Arcee said. "We'll just…"

She stopped herself when one more Cybertronian approached Catra and Starscream. Right before her eyes, the past flashed and her past returned to haunt her. She saw visions of her old partner, Mirage, being murdered by the same hook-handed bounty hunter she sees now.

"Lockdown." Arcee began to growl.

"Wait. That's Lockdown?" Glimmer asked. "Arcee…"

The princess didn't say another word. Before she knew it, Arcee dropped Glimmer and charged in with a roar.

The attack caught Lockdown by surprise along with Starscream and Catra, but he was a quick adapter. When Arcee launched herself above him with a high kick, he raised his hook to block it.

"Arcee!" Starscream gasped. "Here?"

"If she's here, then…" Catra said right before Glimmer decided to teleport in front of her.

"Where is Entrapta?" Glimmer asked aggressively. Catra quickly responded with scratch attacks which Glimmer dodged and teleported away from.

Starscream looked behind and saw Bow and Fixit behind the tent. He aimed his laser making the two scurry out in panic. Bow aimed his bow and shot several explosive arrows at the first lieutenant.

"For an Autobot, you seem to be pretty ruthless." Lockdown said while still blocking Arcee's assault. "Did I ever hurt you?"

"You don't remember me?" Arcee asked. "You killed my friend in front of me!"

"Do you have the slightest idea how little that narrows it down?" Lockdown asked.

It wasn't long before Scorpia joined in. Fixit went to stop her by jumping on her face, but that's when Waspinator followed his partner.

"Glimmer, we need to go now!" Fixit shouted.

Glimmer grunted before grabbing ahold of Fixit's body, Bow's arm, and Arcee's leg in that order. She didn't think before she teleported out… which is how she ended up in the castle hallway. She teleported again and again, and it always lead to a different part of the castle.

"I hate this place." Glimmer growled.

"Glimmer, why did you…" Arcee asked in a frustrated tone.

"Arcee, you told me not to rush into something, and yet, you jumped headfirst to a dangerous alien bounty hunter!" Glimmer answered.

Arcee sighed. "I'm sorry. I guess when I saw Lockdown, I just…"

"Wow." Said a familiar voice. Catra stood at the far end of the hallway with a cocky smile on her face. "I see the Autobots sent their finest."

The Force Captain immediately went to strike at Glimmer, but the princess dodged it with one small teleport after another.

"EVERYONE, GRAB ON!" Glimmer shouted. Bow and Fixit managed to grab her immediately. Arcee, however, was too slow. She was just about to grab onto Glimmer, but she already vanished in a puff of glitter.

"Oh, scrap." Arcee commented. She heard a bunch of Vehicons approaching and immediately fired holes in the walls until she returned outside of the castle and into the forest.

Glimmer, Bow, and Fixit reappeared right above another part of the forest. Much to their surprise, Arcee wasn't with them. Instead, they get an unexpected someone gripping Glimmer's foot: Catra.

"WHAT DID YOU JUST DO?" Catra screamed.

"NO ONE TOLD YOU TO COME ALONG!" Glimmer shouted.

The whole group landed on a soft patch of grass, so they weren't terribly injured. Catra went to pounce on the Autobots, but Fixit surprised her with a electrifying taser that slipped out of her hand. She fell unconscious immediately after.

"Well, I didn't wake up this morning expecting this." Fixit said.

Over the next few minutes, the three tied Catra up and propped her on top of a rock just in time for her to wake up. That's when Arcee's voice could be heard in Glimmer's comm set.

"Glimmer! Are you all right?" Arcee asked.

"Arcee!" Glimmer answered. "Where are you?"

"I have no idea. I'm in a part of the forest. It's not exactly precise enough to understand where exactly I am. I just blasted my way out of Dryl. Look, Glimmer, I'm sorry about Lockdown."

"It's okay. If you didn't, I would have." Glimmer said. "I'm just desperate to get Entrapta back. Look, Catra accidentally hitched a ride with us, but we've got her tied. Maybe we can get her to tell us how to save Entrapta."

"All right. I'll meet you at Bright Moon. We'll deal with Catra there. But for the sake of Entrapta, don't let her out of your sight. You remember the story I told you about the Sea of Rust?"

"Got it. See you there." Glimmer said before signing off. She then approached Catra. "You're going to tell us everything you know about Entrapta."

"Who?" Catra asked with a smile. She knew who they wanted, but she also knew how to get under their skin. "Oh, you mean the princess you left behind to die. Don't worry. We're taking good care of her."

"You better not have hurt her!" Fixit threatened. "We're not going to stop until Entrapta is back with her rear ends!"

"What?" Catra asked.

Fixit paused for a moment before hitting himself. "I meant, 'dear friends'."

"She's not going to tell us anything." Glimmer said. "I'll just teleport us all back to Bright Moon."

"Hold on." Bow said pulling Glimmer and Fixit away. What he didn't know was that Catra's feline ears make her hear clear enough. "I don't think we can. We're quite far from Bright Moon, and you're running low on teleports. We're going to have to drag her back home."

"We're still keeping her tied up, right?" Fixit asked.

"Of course." Glimmer answered.

Catra grinned as a plan started forming in her head based on what she just heard.

Some time later, Glimmer, Fixit, and Bow escorted Catra on top of a ledge pathway around the mountain. It was there that Catra initiated the first part of her plan. She purposefully fell to her knees pretending to trip. Bow, ever the compassionate soul, checked on her.

"Are you okay?"

"Like you care."

"Actually, we do." Bow said. "The Rebellion treats its prisoners with compassion."

"Yeah. And how's that working out for you?" Catra asked. "After all, you did leave Entrapta behind."

"Hey!" Fixit shouted. "For your information, we thought she was dead! If we had known you were holding her prisoner forcing her to build those awful weapons, we'd have rescued her days ago."

Catra chuckled at the irony she knew but the others didn't. "Wow. I had no idea even alien robots could be this emotional."

"Oh, don't be like that." Bow said. "I'm sure even the Horde has friends. What about you and Adora?" Catra scoffed at the thought. "You two grew up together, right? What was she like as a kid?" Catra hissed. "Glimmer and I have known each other for years. She once teleported to the roof of Bright Moon to retrieve my arrows while I was practicing archery."

"Wow. Sounds like you two are so close." Catra said. "Guess that means you'd do anything for each other, huh?"

"Yeah." Bow said.

"Good to know."

Before anybody could react, Catra tackled both Bow and Fixit off the edge of the cliff. Glimmer groaned loudly before teleporting next to them. They talked while they were all falling.

"How's it going, princess?" Catra asked resting on top of Bow during the drop.

"HOW ARE YOU SUCH A NIGHTMARE?!" Glimmer asked.

"Years of practice!"

"GLIMMER, TELEPORT US OUT NOW!" Fixit yelled.

Glimmer groaned before grabbing onto both Bow, Catra, and Fixit. She teleported all four of them, but they all landed into a river, which made Catra panic.

"Not a big fan of water, huh?" Glimmer asked.

The four of them grabbed onto the same log. Suddenly, they saw an incoming waterfall. Glimmer panicked and teleported them to the safe land beside the falls. She was completely exhausted while Catra shook the water from her mane.

"Looks like we made it out in one piece." Catra smirked. "Can't say the same for Entrapta, though."

Glimmer was about to strike at the cat girl when the tension was broken by a sudden sound. It was a slight notification sound coming from Fixit's arm. He chuckled and answered it revealing it to be a call.

"Medical Officer Ratchet," Fixit called into his arm, "I'm sorry, but this is a really bad time to… Wait what?" He turned to Glimmer and Bow. "Excuse me for a minute."

Fixit strolled a few yards away while continuing to talk to Ratchet. He paced around for the next few minutes displaying different surprised reactions. When it was done, he gestured for Bow and Glimmer to talk to him supposedly outside of Catra's range of hearing. However, like before, Catra's ears gave her a better understanding of their conversation.

"What is it?" Bow asked.

"Ratchet just told me he figured out what that yellow metal was, the one we found with Grimlock." Fixit said. "It's a piece of a G-G-G-G…" SMACK! "Golden Disk!"

"Golden Disk?" Bow asked.

"What's a Golden Disk?" Glimmer asked.

"A storage device for only the most valuable secrets in the Autobots." Fixit described. "It holds precious information that hundreds of Cybertronians have died over. And Grimlock gave us a piece of one."

"A piece?" Glimmer asked.

"According to Ratchet, the disk appears to be cut into four different pieces, and without them all, the data can't be unlocked. But according to him, the disk piece he did have showed that the other pieces are hidden at different parts of Etheria, each in a different cryopod with a Cybertronian protecting them."

"You mean there are three other pods out there with Autobots that have different disk pieces?" Bow asked.

"Yeah. And if Grimlock's story is any indication, this particular disk holds a secret that's passed down by Zeta Prime himself. All four pieces must be able to reveal it."

"But why Etheria?" Glimmer asked. "He couldn't possibly have known you guys would end up here."

"I don't know, but one thing's for certain," Fixit answered, "If Zeta Prime went through so much trouble to hide the secrets of the Golden Disk, then it must be vital. Maybe even a game-changer. As soon as we get back to the Ark, we'll start using the disk piece we have to track down the others."

Again, like before Catra smiled overhearing their conversation. Seeing her opportunity, she pressed onto her Force Captain badge.

"Oh, this is bad!" Scorpia panicked pacing around. "What have they done to Catra? What if something bad happened? Hey, Lockdown, was it? You gotta help us find Catra!"

"Sorry. Not in my job description." Lockdown said.

"But she's my wildcat!" Scorpia pleaded. "Don't make me beg!"

"You are begging." Lockdown said.

"Then, please, make me stop!" Scorpia yelled.

"Look, Lockdown, normally, I'd ignore this girl," Starscream said, "But in this instance, I have to agree. You're a bounty hunter, so I'll give you top billing to track her down and bring her back safely. I'll pay you extra if you don't breath a word of this to anyone, not even Megatron. He cannot know about this."

"Really?" Lockdown asked. "Well, this is a side of you I've never seen, Starscream. Why's it matter to Megatron what happens to her?"

"Do you want the pay or not?" Starscream asked.

Suddenly, Scorpia's communication pad beeped. She looked and saw a digital map with a red dot beeping in the middle of the forest.

"Catra!" Scorpia cheered. "She's using her badge to help us find her! Oh, that's my wildcat!"

"Well, this should be the easiest pay yet." Lockdown said. "Fine, Starscream. I'll take the job."

Once again, Catra's been a nuisance on purpose. Glimmer had to tie her whole body with rope and drag her along. Catra shifted her body around acting worn out to further tire Glimmer.

"Man, being held captive is exhausting." Catra said. "It's almost as tiring as torturing Entrapta all day."

Both Glimmer and Fixit shared a growl.

"Bow, didn't I tell you to rope her mouth shut?" Glimmer asked.

"I tried. She bites."

Catra winked.

"GAAAAHHH!" Glimmer yelled out. "How did Adora take years of this? That settles it! She didn't run away from the Horde! She ran away from YOU!"

That set off Catra. Immediately, she dropped the troublemaker act and put on an angry look on her face. "And what? You think Adora won't let you down too?"

Suddenly, the trees broke down beside them when Scorpia, the cadets, Starscream, Waspinator, and Lockdown appeared. They pointed their weapons while Bow armed his arrows.

"Let her go now!" Scorpia shouted.

"Not until you let go of Entrapta!" Fixit shouted.

"Entrapta?" Starscream asked.

"You really think we're just going to let go of our most valuable prisoner?" Catra asked. She swirled her finger like a film projector so that Starscream could see. He managed to understand and nodded his head.

"What?" Waspinator asked. "But brainy girl not…"

"Shut up, bug brain. She's doing a thing." Starscream whispered harshly.

"If you come near us, I will drop her at this river here!" Glimmer threatened.

"Glimmer, don't stoop to her level!" Bow said.

"Scorpia, put Kyle on the line." Catra said. Scorpia complied opening her communication pad. Like before, Bow, Glimmer, and Fixit heard Entrapta's screaming mistaking her to be tortured.

"Hey! What's up? AAAAHHH!" Kyle screamed on the other end.

"Listen, Kyle," Catra said, "If you don't hear from us in the next thirty seconds… take Entrapta out."

"NO!" Fixit shouted.

"Let me go, and I'll call him off." Catra offered making Glimmer angrier.

"Glimmer, we got to let her go!" Bow said.

"After everything she did?" Glimmer asked.

"It's the only way to save Entrapta!" Fixit stated.

"But what if it's a trick? They wouldn't just kill someone so valuable!"

"We can't take that chance." Bow said. "Please! We're not them!"

After a few seconds, Glimmer reluctantly untied Catra and released her letting her go back to the Horde and Cons.

"Now, let Entrapta go!" Fixit commanded.

"You people really are a lot like Adora. So sweet. So naïve." Catra said. "And that's why you're never going to win." She took Scorpia's pad. "Kyle, if you took me seriously, ignore my last command."

"Kyle's not available at the moment." Entrapta's voice came from the pad. "He got knocked out by my invention before I managed to shut it down."

"Entrapta!" Fixit cheered.

"Say hello." Catra said with a grin as she flipped the pad. Entrapta's face appeared on the screen.

"Oh. Hi, Fixit. Hi, Bow. Hi, Glimmer." Entrapta greeted. "What's up?"

"Entrapta, stay where you are! We'll rescue you!" Glimmer said.

"Oh, okay. Rescue me from what?" Entrapta asked.

"Uh… the Decepticons?" Glimmer asked.

"Oh. Well, this is kind of a bad time, so could you come back later. I'm like super busy here."

"What?" Fixit asked confused.

"Entrapta… are you on the Horde and Decepticons' side?" Bow asked.

"I'm on the side of science!" Entrapta answered. "But I am stationed in the Fright Zone, and the Horde and Decepticons have been supplying me with limitless supplies for my lab… So, yes, I guess."

"Did I forget to mention that part?" Catra asked smugly. "Oops."

All three rebels were stunned silent at that revelation. They couldn't believe what they just heard. They just kept hearing Entrapta.

"But don't worry. I love it here. I've made much more breakthroughs than I've ever had. And there's so much more to come. Hacking the Black Garnet was just the first step."

"That was you?" Bow asked.

"But… Entrapta." Fixit said. "We're partners, remember? Didn't I tell you there were things too dangerous for you to learn? It's not worth the Horde and the Decepticons."

"I did consider everything you told me, Fixit." Entrapta said. "But after running all the numbers and a few simulations on my position right now, I came to one conclusion that I'm sorry for… You're wrong."

Fixit lost his breath for a minute while Catra cut off the call. "So much for the power of friendship, huh?"

Starscream chuckled. "Well, that was truly entertaining."

"I've always wondered what a soap opera looked like." Lockdown said.

"Well, now, I think it's time to kill them." Catra said. "Don't worry about the princess. She's got no magic now and her partner is probably at Bright Moon by now."

Glimmer may be angry, but she knew not to give in for now. Instead, she made one statement. "You're wrong. You see, during the whole trip… I never lost touch with Arcee. I've been detailing the whole trek to her. She did a similar trick with Mirage during a mission at a place called the Sea of Rust."

"What's that mean?" Scorpia asked.

"IT MEANS THIS!" Arcee shouted as she burst out of the forest. She set off her blasters and fired at the enemy. "Glimmer, get us out!"

"What?" Catra asked.

"Another little trick, Catra." Glimmer said. "I've been smart enough to save my teleports!" And just like that Glimmer disappeared with her friends leaving the Decepticons on their own.

"Well, that was a close one, huh?" Scorpia asked. "I mean, we didn't really win anything, but we didn't lose anything either. Am I right?"

"Shut up." Catra said. "Starscream, let's head back to the Fright Zone and talk to Megatron."

"What? Why?" Starscream asked.

"Because I have some information that I think he'd be interested in." Catra said.

As soon as Arcee drove everyone back to Bright Moon, Bow and Glimmer laid on top of Glimmer's bed while Fixit stood by the window wearing a deep frown.

"So… we found out Entrapta's alive," Bow said, "And she's building weapons for the Decepticons… to kill us."

"Can we just…" Fixit sighed sadly. "Can we talk about something else."

"We're back!" Adora said as she came into the room with Hot Rod behind her. "And I just caught a big fish for tonight! Just don't tell Mermista."

"You know, I'm a giant robot soldier from outer space," Hot Rod said, "So how is it possible that Adora caught a bigger fish than I did? Anyway, what's up?"

"…A lot, actually." Glimmer said. "But for now, let's call a war meeting. We've got a lot to discuss."

The Princess Alliance and the Autobots gathered in the war room with the Golden Disk piece resting in the middle of the table.

"So Zeta Prime somehow knew we'd make it to Etheria," Ratchet said, "And he left four Golden Disk pieces containing his final message for us to find."

"The first piece was in the hands of someone who can change into a giant T-Rex." Prowl said. "What kind of Cybertronians will be waiting for us with the others?"

"One thing's for certain," Optimus Prime said, "We must find all four pieces; not just because of any strategic value, but also to hear Zeta Prime's final words."

In the Fright Zone, Catra had just given her report on the Golden Disk to Megatron. Starscream and Lockdown stood behind her.

"So Zeta Prime sent four pieces of a Golden Disk here on this planet." Megatron said.

"If we could find them all, it could change the tide of the war." Catra said. "But we must find them before the Autobots do."

"I'll be more than happy to lead the search," Lockdown said, "That is, if the pay is good."

Megatron turned to gaze at the view of the Fright Zone outside. He stared off into the horizon actually eager to see where this goes. "And the race is on."

Author's Note: Another chapter down. Sorry I didn't do the tower-fixing subplot like in the canon story, but I felt it was unnecessary since I'm using Hot Rod instead of Swift Wind.

Anyway, now, they know about the Golden Disk and that there are four pieces scattered around Etheria, including the one Grimlock gave them. Only three more left. Where will they find them, who's guarding them, and what is the secret that Zeta Prime imprinted on it? Find out soon.

Any and all comments are welcome.