Authors Notes: Hi folks and your all in for a treat! After finishing the last chapter for Heroes of Power I just couldn't wait to start work on this one as I already had a plan of how it was going to play out. Now there are some minor changes story wise for this chapter and some elements that people have been waiting to see. Well without further delay lets begin.

Ben 10 (c) Cartoon Network

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (c) Dreamworks animation

:The Price of Power:

Night had fallen over Bright Moon, all was quiet and peaceful. However in the room Ben had settled into, the Omnitrix bearer was finding it hard to sleep. He swayed around his bed breathing heavily. Eventually his eyes shot open and briefly glowed pink. He shot up out of bed, taking several deep breaths.

Elsewhere in the hallway of the castle. Queen Angella was looking out of the balcony at the night sky. She would often walk the hallways, she looked quiet and peaceful. She suddenly felt a presence close by.

"Whos there?" She asked turning slightly. It was Ben who was there in his nightwear.

"Its only me sorry if I startled you your majesty." Ben apologised.

"Why Ben, I thought you were in bed?" Angella asked surprised.

"Ah I…I couldn't sleep just trying to get over this headache." Ben said rubbing his temples.

"Perhaps you shouldn't push yourself, it can have a mental effect on you." Angella suggested.

"Ah don't worry your majesty I've had worse nights without sleep. Unless you count a wake up call from a dead man who was once possessed by alien microchips." Ben said jokingly.

Angella couldn't help but smile and shake her head at Bens attempt at humour. "Ah your just like Glimmer, can't stay still for even a moments rest." She said. "You do remind me of her in someways, brave and ready to do what's right, but…she's still rather impulsive."

"Yeah thats true, but she is very heroic and has lead the Alliance well." Ben assured as he stood next to her. "As someone who's lead a team before I know one when I see it. She's got a lot of potential." Angella couldn't stop being impressed by his confidence in her daughters abilities. "Plus she had a good teacher in you."

"I know, but she will be queen someday, and I have to prepare her for that." Angella said. "If anything should happen to me I sometimes worry she will have to carry this burden on her own."

Adora's room:

While Angella and Ben talked in the hallway, Adora was fast asleep in her bed, though like Ben she groaned as she was trying to sleep. She felt uneasy, and it was for good reason. For standing above her bed was Shadow Weaver herself. She had escaped the Fright Zone through a teleport spell and was now here.

The Hallway:

"Hey don't be so worried about that." Ben told Angella. "I know she can be a bit hot headed and stubborn at times but she's got what it takes. She'll have all of us there to watch out for her." He explained to her. "My grandpa Max once said that kids have a way of rising to the occasion."

"Your grandfather sounds like a wise man Benjamin, I would very much like to meet him someday." Angella smiled.

"Yeah you and him would get along great." Ben smiled.

"But I suppose my only regret is not being on the field of battle with her, she's much like her father always fighting for what's right while I stay here in the background." Angella said a little saddened.

She did have a point Angella did stay in the castle and though she provided aid during the Battle of Bright Moon she didn't really get out in the field. Ben could understand a bit as the Queen she can best protect the kingdom, but still even a leader must lead by example. But his was not to question why on this alien world.

Ben placed an understanding hand on the Queens shoulder. "For what it's worth you're doing a better job than you think, and you did step up in the Battle of Bright Moon." Ben told her. "Plus I've heard that sometimes courage and fate can rarely call upon us at a moment of our choosing."

Angella couldn't help but smile at the confidence in the young mans voice. "How does one so young possess wisdom beyond your years?"

"Eh it comes and goes, but I've had great role models and…"Suddenly Bens eyes glowed pink much to Angella's surprise. Ben was frozen but he somehow could sense something was wrong and felt a presence from a certain room. One he felt before.

His eyes returned to normal and he took several deep breaths, he would've fallen if Angella hadn't caught him. "Ben? Benjamin what is wrong?" Ben then looked in horror towards the room Adora had settled into. Without warning he ran away from the queen and down the hallway.

"Benjamin!" Angella called but he couldn't hear her, she could see something was wrong, so she opened her wings and flew after him.

Adoras Room:

Shadow Weaver hung over Adora with glowing eyes, and behind her mask she couldn't help but look at her protege with joy again. She reached out her hand and was about to touch her. Suddenly a green flash emerged behind the door which flung open to reveal Shock Rock fired an energy blast at Shadow Weaver who moved out of the way to avoid it. She was blast had simply burned the tarp curtains around Adora's bed.

"Move another inch and the next one won't miss Shadow Freak!" Shock Rock exclaimed with deadly intent. Adora shouted herself awake and saw Shadow Weaver herself was in the room. She looked in horror grabbed her sword and leaped out of bed ready for a fight.

"Adora." Shadow Weaver groaned.

"Benjamin what…" At that moment Angella arrived on the scene and gasped in horror seeing Shadow Weaver in the room.

Shadow Weaver then suddenly unleashed a wave of shadow towards the two, Shock Rock quickly formed an energy shield around him and the queen but the wave pushed them back. Shadow Weaver nearly collapsed as she looked weak. She ran out of the room as quickly as she could. Shock Rock glared as he lowered the shield and then slapped on the Omnitrix symbol transforming him into another form.

It was a feline like creature with blue fur on parts of his arms hands and face. He had black mask like fins around his green eyes with black slits in the middle a triangle shaped nose. He wore a black suit with a green thunderbolt design down his chest and a triangle one on his back he had short sleeves and a green and white belt around his waist he wore green sneakers with his pawed toes exposed. The Omnitrix symbol lay on his chest. He was now his second speedster form Fasttrack.

Fasttrack looked to Adora. "Stay here!" He exclaimed before he zoomed off in a green blur. Angella got up and hurried to Adora.

"Adora are you alirght?" She asked in concern.

"Yes your majesty I'm fine." Adora told her, just then a guard appeared in the doorway having heard the commotion.

"Your majesty what's going on?" She asked.

Angella's face grew serious and then turned to the guard. "Shadow Weaver is here! Sound the alarm and lock down the castle DO NOT LET HER ESCAPE!" She ordered and the guard quickly obeyed her queen.

Moments later a loud bell alarm was sounded all over the castle alerting everyone who was asleep. Shadow Weaver hurried down the halls of the castle, she stopped for a moment to catch her breath. It looked like she could barely stand. She heard footsteps and quickly hid behind one of the pillars as two guards accompanied by the general ran in and looked around.

"Shadow Weaver is here somewhere find her!" The general and the guards nodded as they hurried through the castle to find her. Shadow Weaver coughed but quickly ran from her hiding place. All of a sudden something fast blasted past her and standing in front of her was Fasttrack.

"Okay Weaver we can do this the easy way or the hard way!" Fasttrack glared as he stood in a fighting stance ready for anything.

To his surprise however instead of an attack, Shadow Weaver briefly glowed with shadows and with a groan just collapsed to the ground. He was completely taken aback, and was still trying to wrap his head around it.

"Ben!" He looked and saw Adora, Angella and several guards arrive on the scene all with their weapons at the ready. They all looked and saw Shadow Weaver lying lifeless on the floor. They then looked to Fasttrack.

"Excellent work subduing her Benjamin." Angella congratulated him.

"Hey don't look at me your mag I barely touched her she just collapsed." Fasttrack explained.

Adora looked down at the now unconscious Shadow Weaver, she wasn't sure how she got here, let alone was standing at her bed side before Ben burst in. There were so many questions running through her mind.

Hours later:

The news of Shadow Weaver infiltrating the castle had spread like wildfire and everyone was up from their beds. The guards were on high alert and the proximity sensors Rook had installed around the perimeter were on alert as well in case Shadow Weaver didn't come alone. Angella was walking with one of her guards as well as Castaspella who had been summoned to Bright Moon hearing of this.

"Double the perimeter, and triple it at the Moonstone." Angella informed the guard. "No one sleeps until we figure out how Shadow Weaver got into the castle."

The guard then left the two alone. "Your majesty!" They looked and saw Rook heading towards them. He bowed before Angella addressed him.

"Rook what news from the recon patrols?" Angella asked.

"I have had people combing the outside perimeter of the kingdom and have nearly covered most of the outer ring. However there is no sign of any Hordesman in the forest." Rook reported. "It is likely Shadow Weaver came here alone."

"But why would Hordak send her here alone is she foolish or just obedient?" Angella wondered.

"Unclear." Rook shook his head not knowing the answer.

"What confuses me is how Shadow Weaver managed to get in at all, let alone without alerting anyone?" Casta asked as they walked with Rook.

"Forgive my saying this Castaspella, but if she was able to circumvent Mystacor's defences who is to say she would not have knowledge of Bright Moon as well." Rook said.

"A very valid point, the council know of the other kingdoms and their capabilities." Casta realised he was right.

"Well we will soon know." Angella said as they soon arrived at a large door where a guard was present. However Casta was confused.

"Why are we stopping here?" Casta asked.

"This where we're holding the prisoner." Angella gestured to the door.

"This is your prison?" Casta said surprised and in truth so was Rook.

"It does not look very secure your highness?" Rook questioned.

"Well, technically it's the spare room, but it is more than adequate as a holding cell." Angella explained. "We removed the cushions." Rook and Casta shared a raised eyebrow look at the queen. "Most of the cushions." Angella admitted.

"Ah yes even so, when we incarcerated Shadow Weaver I placed energy cuffs on her to prevent her from using her magic she will not be able to escape." Rook stated.

"Well thats good news." Casta smiled.

"This is the prison?" Adora, Ben, Bow and Glimmer appeared behind Angella as she turned to them.

"Yes it's the prison!" Angella said annoyed but then softened looking at Adora. "Adora are you sure your alright?"

"Your majesty I'm fine, a little shaken but okay." Adora assured her. "I'm just glad Ben burst in when he did." She looked to Ben with a thankful smile which he was happy to return.

"Benjamin, just how exactly did you know Shadow Weaver was here?" Angella then asked.

"I honestly don't know?" Ben shrugged. "I mean I felt a headache and then I felt a..a surge I can't really say what."

Rook could recognise the symptoms. "Perhaps you sensed a ripple in the mana like Gwen?" He wondered.

"Yes he maybe right Benjamin." Casta said knowing his history. "We know your time spent on Etheria has awoken your magic potential, but someone at your level shouldn't be able to sense a ripple in the mana field. Unless this is a side effect of whoever tried to contact you via dream walking."

"Dream walking?" Glimmer asked. "I thought that was outlawed and an old sorcerers tale? Also when did you see my aunt about magic?" She then asked Ben.

"Well I was hoping to understand why I had powers like Gwen even though I'm not an Anodite like her." Ben explained. "So I asked Casta and during the alignment I…I thought I could feel Gwens presence like she was calling out to me."

"But how is that possible?" Rook wondered. "We are in a shadow dimension no transmission could break through."

"Dream walking is beyond the conventional laws of dimensional properties Rook." Casta explained. "But it is the only explanation."

"Regardless of how Ben sensed her, she came here for a reason." Angella then said getting back to the matter at hand.

"Your majesty I should be there to interrogate her." Adora then proposed.

"Thats out of the question Adora, I won't allow it." Angella denied given Adora's history with their prisoner.

"I know Shadow Weaver." Adora protested. "I know her tricks. I need to be there for the interrogation, I'm the only one who…"

"Shadow Weaver is dangerous." Angella denied with her hand up. "I will not let that woman near you. Near any of you. You are to stay away from this room."She then ordered.

Rook then stepped forward. "Your majesty at least allow me to be present for the interrogation."

"I won't allow that." Angella denied his request.

Rook then turned serious. "With all due respect Queen Angella, I am a deputised Magister of the Plumbers. And therefore authorised to be present for any form of interrogation on any world, under article nine subsection seven of the Intergalactic Plumber code."

"Yeah trust me your majesty you don't want to be on the wrong side of galactic law." Ben agreed. "Besides give Rook and hour and he'll have her singing like a blue bird."

Angella wasn't sure about this. She would never let Adora anywhere near Shadow Weaver much less her daughter or her friends. However she did admit Rook had a point, he was a soldier and followed a code of rules that he was trained for. So with a sigh she came to a decision.

"Very well." Angella said to the Revonnahgander Plumber before turning to everyone else. "But Rook only, the rest of you remain outside and do not come into this room."

Adora still wasn't happy about the decision. "But, Your Majesty…"

"That is final." Angella said sternly and Adora looked down hearted by this decision. Angella then opened the door as she and Casta entered the 'prison' Rook then followed, but not before he looked to Ben who gave him a knowing nod, to which he responded with a nod of his own as the door closed behind him. The guard then stepped in front of the door standing guard.

"I need to get in there." Adora growled in annoyance. "Shadow Weaver could have gone anywhere, but she came here. I need to know why. If the queen would just listen to me.." She paced the floor until Glimmer came over and tried to escort her away.

"Adora look you know I always have your back but, maybe Angella has a point." Ben said to her. "Shadow Weaver is a master manipulator you know that better than anyone."

"Bens right, maybe this is for the best." Glimmer told her in an understanding way. "Shadow Weaver raised you. She knows how to get in your head. We can't risk her manipulating you."

"That won't happen." Adora denied.

"I'm sure it won't but its better safe than sorry." Ben said to her.

Adora then suddenly changed her attitude with a sly looking smile. Then she yawned. "Fine. I guess we should all just head back to bed, get some sleep, heh, let the obviously unqualified Bright Moon Guards handle this." She said loudly with her arms crossed gesturing to said guard who was also yawning before looking indignantly at the group.

Ben, Glimmer and Bow however could see right through Adora's facade. Ben most of all. "Really, thats where your going with this. I pulled this same trick when I was ten?"

"You're gonna try and sneak in, aren't you?" Bow said with the same knowing tone.

Adora was simply shocked by their accusations. "What? No." She scoffed before she walked away slowly. Then seconds later she tried to run for the door.

"Glimmer grab her!" Ben exclaimed. Glimmer leaped on Adora and teleported her away.

"Why do I have the feeling this won't be the end of it?" Bow said knowingly looking at Ben.

"Considering how persistent Adora is, it won't be." Ben groaned pinching the bridge of his nose. The two then headed to Glimmers room to try and confine Adora.

Meanwhile inside the walls of the 'prison' Shadow Weaver had regained consciousness from a flurry of black smoke. She saw she was in the middle of a spell circle which cast a force shield. In the middle of a large room with a view of the kingdom.

"Where…? where am I?" She groaned, she looked to her hands and saw they were bound in what looked like handcuffs made of reached out only to receive a shock from the force shield that surrounded her. The groaned at the touch.

Queen Angella then appeared before her with Casta and Rook. "You're in the Bright Moon prison." She said to her.

Shadow Weaver looked around her environment and saw how, well welcoming it looked. Not exactly what you would call a prison cell. "This is a prison?" She asked confused.

"Why does everyone keep –? Of course, this is a prison." Angella groaned. Casta and Rook chose to say nothing.

"You must be Glimmer's mother." Shadow Weaver said. "I can tell the the way your voice grows shrill when you scream."

"How dare you!" Angella said feeling insulted and angry.

Shadow Weaver then looked to her bonds. "Energy cuffs." She looked up at Rook who spoke to her. "You will not be able to use your powers so I would not advise getting any ideas about using magic witch!"

"Ah…I remember you, you were very hard to interrogate for information." Shadow Weaver said rather wickedly.

"Indeed, and it is quite interesting to see how the tables have turned." Rook told her. "For it was not that long ago when you were standing here while I was in a prison."

"Your very bad at perspective anyone ever tell you that?" Shadow Weaver said to him. Rook simply said nothing as he kept his cool.

"Shadow Weaver." Castaspella then stepped forward and pointed to the prisoner. "You will answer for the crimes you committed during the time as my brother's teacher."

"Oh, yes. Sweet, talented Micah." Shadow Weaver said reminiscing.

"You will not speak his name." Angella said rather angrily that she would dare speak of her husband.

"I'm not the one who got him killed." Shadow Weaver pointed out.

Angella snarled in anger at that and wanted to attack her until Casta and Rook put their arms out to stop her. "You are in no position to wise crack sorceress, you are a prisoner of the Great Rebellion, and I doubt the Horde would show an errant of mercy towards you."

Shadow Weaver just chuckled at that. "You really think the Horde s…" Suddenly she started choking and black shadows gathered around her body as she did. She did not look well at all much to the surprise of everyone in the room.

"Tell us why you are here?" Angella demanded.

Shadow Weaver stopped coughing to answer the question."I have vital information to defeat the Horde." This made the queens eyes widened at the mention of that. "But I will only speak to Adora." She answered.

"Do you honestly believe we will do that?" Angella denied her. "After all you've put that girl through all the grief and pain you have caused her?"

"We do not give into the demands of the Horde sorceress, now you will answer our questions." Rook then stepped forward, but then secretly twisted the dial on his Plumbers badge.

The Fright Zone:

Meanwhile in the confines of the Fright Zone someone else in the Horde was being held in was lying on the ground unconscious from oxygen starvation. Suddenly as the siren in the prison blared Catra shocked awake taking in every breath of oxygen she could. She found herself in a prison cell, not just any prison cell but the one Shadow Weaver once occupied.

She looked at her wrists angrily and saw she was bound in cuffs and energy chains. It would seem after Hordak found out about Shadow Weavers escape Catra was now being punished for her deception.

"Catra!" She jumped in fright at the sound of her name.

Running on the floors of the prison was Scorpia who was rapidly looking for her friend and fellow Force Captain. "Catra!" She called again until she finally found her in the cell. "Catra ah I found you."

"Scorpia?" Catra gasped. "How did you get in here?"

"Oh, boy. It was quite the heist." Scorpia said rubbing her claw behind her head.

Flashback:

Scorpia was leaning against a wall in the prison control complex in the centre. One guard stood watch at the door. Scorpia simply hummed to herself casually, then looked to the prison guard who also looked at her. Seconds later he was flung off the platform screaming as he fell down into the deep levels of the prison.

Present Day:

"Very high-level, dangerous stuff." Scorpia simply said not going into details of how it really went down. She turned her attention to the prison cell controls. "Now come on, I'm busting you out. We don't have a lot of time before…"

"Before what?" Catra asked rather angrily.

"Uh... Hordak. He's called an assembly to witness you punishment. He wants it to be public to set an example to the troops." Catra looked down at the mention of that. "But I'm sure it's... It's probably nothing, but whatever it is, I won't let it happen. I'm gonna get you out of here."

Scorpia tried to use the control panel to deactivate the cell door, however due to her claws she couldn't operate them and even hit the wrong combination. "Gosh, these buttons are tiny. Just so small. Ah, hit the wrong one." She laughed Okay, just a second." The control panel buzzed indicating it was the wrong combination. "Oh, shoot, not that one."

"Stop it." Catra spat which got Scorpia's attention. "There's no point anymore." Catra said. "I never stood a chance. I did everything right. I thought I could prove myself, but it doesn't matter what I do, I don't. Get. to win. Not with Adora, not with Tennyson and not with Hordak." Catra curled up in anger and frustration that all her efforts were for nothing, like she was finally facing reality. "Shadow Weaver was right."She put her head in her arms, she'd given up.

"She's not right!" Scorpia slammed her claw on the door. "Don't give up yet. I can save you."

Catra then looked back at Scorpia. "You really care, don't you?"

"Of course, I care." Scorpia exclaimed. "You're Catra. You're our leader, You're…" Catra stood up looking surprised at her words. "You're my friend. You're everything to me." She said with care in her eyes and her voice.

Catra stepped forwards and surprisingly gave a smile towards Scorpia, who gave a warm smile to her in return. However that was broken when Catra started laughing out of nowhere.

She stopped and showed her normal sadistic look. "Caring about people is what got me into this mess." Catra said as she walked away. "You know for once just once I thought I finally had Shadow Weavers respect and recognition but once again it was just another of her cruel tricks!" She yelled at Scorpia. "What good is caring if all they do is abandon you, use you or cast you aside for something better! She exclaimed with an angered smile and tears starting to show in her eyes. "Get out of here, or they'll take you down with me." She said calmly and lost hope.

"What?" Scorpia breathed in disbelief, was Catra really giving up and accepting her fate.

"Are you stupid? I said, leave!" She yelled at her." Guards!" She then called and the sound of footsteps could be heard coming towards the cell. Scorpia took one hurt look at Catra who then bore an angered look back at her.

The footsteps were getting nearer so Scorpia left the cells as fast as she could with tears in her eyes. Leaving Catra completely alone, isolated and ready to accept her fate.

Bright Moon:Glimmers room:

Meanwhile back in Bright Moon, Ben, Glimmer and Bow were up high in Glimmers bed keeping an eye on Adora who sat opposite from them. Adora kept staring at them for a long time. Glimmer fell asleep on Bow's shoulder while he kept his eyes on Adora at all times. Ben tried to keep his eyes open but he eventually dropped to sleep.

However Bow and Adora stared at each other for hours on end, like a heated staring contest old western despite Adora's determination she began to fall sleepy and nearly nodded off, while Bow's stare kept locked on her, however he was beginning to feel tired as well. The two blinked their eyes briefly but kept trying to keep them open. Eventually Adora shut her eyes, and Bow shut his eyes too and dropped to sleep on Glimmers shoulder and snored.

Just then Adora popped one eye open and saw Bow had finally fallen asleep as had Ben. So with a sly smirk she slowly crept away just as Bow fell on the bed. She climbed down and exited the room. Ben then popped an eye open hearing the door close.

In the hallway Adora moved swiftly from one wall to another doorway to avoid detection from the guards that were wandering it. She quickly rolled towards a plant pot and knelt out of sight as a guard went past. She looked and saw the door. She moved out of her hiding place when. She stumbled. She looked back but couldn't see anything she could've tripped on. However seconds later it happened. Chamalien dropped his camouflage and revealed his tail was what tripped Adora up.

"Nice try Adora, but no one can slip past Ben 10." Chamalien smirked. Adora was about to get up when Glimmer teleported in next to her.

"Hello there." Glimmer grabbed her and teleported her away to her room.

"Hoo, I have a feeling this is gonna be a long night." Chamalien sighed.

He was right, moments later Adora was scaling the side of the wall with a rope. She was nearly at the top when she heard something coming down on a rope. She turned and saw SpiderMonkey hanging upside down on a web line in a Spider-Man like way.

"Hey Adora, oh oh." SpiderMonkey smirked. "How's it hanging?"

Adora was shocked then heard a certain glittery sound she looked to the window on her left and saw Glimmer giving her a frowning look, Adora just sighed in frustration.

However that still didn't stop her, this time she borrowed a spare guards uniform. Unfortunately however it didn't really fit well as she approached the guard at the door to the 'prison.' The guard saw her arrival.

"I'm, uh, here to relive you of your duty." She depended her voice to sound more believable. However she was too clumsy dropped her staff, but quickly she stood in a salute. Sadly however the guard just knocked her head off revealing its Adora who smiled innocently. Then Glimmer teleported in still frowning, grabbed her and teleported her away.

In Glimmers room Bow was still fast asleep, but the reappearance of Glimmer and Adora startled him awake with his bow and arrow at the ready. Ben then came up to the girls.

"Okay the first two times this was kinda fun but now it's just becoming too sad to watch." Ben said a bit bored.

"Look I get that you guys are worried about me but I am fine!" Adora said to them. "I need to see her."

"Ugh! and we're telling you Shadow Weaver will try to hurt you again!" Glimmer groaned in frustration.

"You don't know that." Adora exclaimed.

"Yes we do Adora." Ben told her. "Look I get that she was your mother figure and all that, but the fact she lied to you your whole life, used you as a tool, played sick mind tricks and even tried to wipe your memory. That just prove she's not the person you think she is! Sometimes a leopard can't change its spots!"

"Bens right she's with the Horde and she's evil especially when said villain tortured and cursed me! Once a villain always a villain!" Glimmer agreed.

"I'm from the Horde. I changed." Adora reminded them.

"Yes but your not like the rest of those cut throats." Ben tried to tell her. "Unlike those cronies you know the difference between right and wrong, but Shadow Weaver only looks out for herself and no-one else and if you want proof, just look at what she turned Catra into." Ben told her.

Bow then jumped in to try and lower the tension. "Uh what he means is you're good, and kind, and…"

"And She-Ra?" Adora said transforming the rope back to the sword and that seemed to guilt Bow and Glimmer a bit while Ben just sighed as he listened to his friends point of view. "I was just like the rest of them, and then I left. Not because I picked up this Sword, but because it was the right thing to do." She said looking at her reflection in the runestone in the sword hilt "I have to believe that the others can change too, even Shadow Weaver."

She then looked to Ben. "Ben you should understand that, I mean you see good in everyone when it's not there." She said to him. "I mean you trusted Scorpia to do the right thing, and didn't an enemy of yours turn into a friend how is this any different?"

Ben just sighed. "The fact that Shadow Weaver is no Kevin, her moral compass is well and truly backwards, she can't tell the difference between what's right and what's wrong."

"Look just – Just trust me, okay? I'm strong enough to face her now." Adora said as she sheathed the sword on her back. "I need to know if she's truly changed. If the woman who raised me still has some good deep down inside her. Deep, deep down inside her." Ben, Glimmer and Bow all looked at each other with the same expression. The Omnitrix bearer then walked up to Adora.

"Adora we do trust you, and I know you want to believe there may have been good in Shadow Weaver once. No ones gonna tell you if someone like her is capable of change." Adora was surprised by what Ben was saying and looked a little hurt at first. However he placed a hand on her shoulder. "But, I've always trusted your feelings, and if this is something you need to do out of closure or even a chance of changing her. Then we'll face it with you." Ben smiled as he turned to the others. "Right guys?"

"Absolutely!" Glimmer smiled warmly.

"Yeah we're with you all the way we won't let you face her alone." Bow said in agreement as he and Glimmer came up to her and Ben. "Now, what do you need us to do?"

Adora smiled with confidence at her friends. "Well first things first we need to find a way to sneak into that prison without the guard seeing us."

"Well I actually have an idea about that." Ben smirked which got everyones attention as he reached into his jacket pocket. "Sneaking in is great and all but why bother sneaking in." He pulled out a certain badge of his. "When we can listen in instead."

Bow, Glimmer and Adora all looked amazed at what Ben was suggesting. "Wait Ben you mean…" Adora realised.

"Yeah, actually it was all Rooks idea." Ben shrugged.

"Rook?" Bow said genuinely surprised. "But isn't he always a by the book kinda guy?"

"True but that doesn't mean he's not afraid to break a few rules every once and a while. He gets that from me." Ben said which Glimmer responded by shaking her head and smiling. "Anyway he and I figured Adora would want to face Shadow Weaver so we came up with the plan. He turns on his Plumbers badge so we can listen in on mine." Ben explained. "Why do you think he suggested to the queen he should be present since she couldn't refuse the Plumbers code card."

"Oh I get it since the Plumbers are a peace keeping group with authority she couldn't refuse one of their officers!" Adora realised.

"Bingo give the lady a prize." Ben said like a gameshow host as he turned on his Plumbers badge and the group listened in on what was going on.

Prison:

"Why is Hordak having his forces gather First Ones technology? What are his plans?" Rook asked the confined Shadow Weaver.

"A very direct approach, but not exactly very forceful." Shadow Weaver criticised. "You could at least sound more intimidating with a weapon in hand."

"I am trying not to resort to that, as the Plumbers do not torture prisoners." Rook said. "It is against the code of interstellar law."

"Hm you are a loyal one and so by the book, you would've made a fine Horde soldier." Shadow Weaver said.

"This is getting us nowhere." Castaspella said and started using her magic to draw out a spell mandala. "I would rather not have to resort to this spell but you have left us no for the last time, tell us what you know?" Casta demanded finishing her spell as it hummed to life.

"I know that when you cast a truth spell, you should make sure you've drawn it correctly." Shadow Weaver criticised tracing the lines on the spell seal. "Sloppy work. Are you sure you're Micah's sister?"

Casta growled in frustration as she walked through her spell seal to enter the force field until Angella stopped her. "She's trying to get under our skin." Angella told her getting in her face.

"She is right Castaspella do not give in to her mind tricks." Rook agreed.

"You could spare yourself the trouble if you would just let me talk to Adora." Shadow Weaver then said getting a little bored and annoyed.

"No, you've put that girl through enough." Angella swiped her hand not letting this witch get her way. "Now tell us the truth. Why did the Horde send you here? What are you planning?"

However Shadow Weaver just laughed. "You think Hordak sent me? Honestly your as ignorant as he is." She gestured to Rook who looked with a raised eyebrow.

Glimmers Room:

The group continued to listen into what was being said. "Wow did she criticise everyone in the Horde." Bow asked.

"Shh." Ben said to him as they listened.

"I escaped from Hordak and paid the price for it." Shadow Weavers voice came from the badge. That line got Adora's attention.

Prison:

Shadow Weaver coughed again and even more of that dark shadow substance appeared on her. Rook could see that something is defiantly wrong.

"What if this is some kind of facade?" Casta wondered to Angella.

"I don't believe she is." Angella said rather grimly. "You're... You're dying, aren't you?"

Rook and Casta were surprised by this and the Mystacor sorceress couldn't help but feel some sorrow for the rouge sorceress. Rook pulled out his Proto-Scanner and took a bio scan of Shadow Weaver. A green light flashed over her and then showed Rook the results.

"She is, according to this scan her vital signs are deteriorating rapidly." Rook explained to them.

"How long until?…" Casta asked.

"I cannot sugar coat it, at this rate…I would say she only has a few minutes at best." Rook diagnosed. They saw the dark shadows fall off the dying sorceress seeing her condition was getting worse.

"Angella, Rook, can I speak with you both for a moment?" Castaspella asked the two of them and they left the room and closed the door in the hallway to talk. "This isn't working. We've tried everything, and her condition is growing worse. Perhaps we should let Adora.."

"That is not going to happen." Angella denied. "I won't put her at risk she's too close to her."

"Your majesty." Rook then spoke. "I believe Castaspella is right, I do disagree with the idea of letting Adora near her but given her weakened state she would not be at any risk, she is not even strong enough to lift a finger."

"Even so Rook, we know she can manipulate anyone even the most noble of hearts." Angella said to him. "I believe we should consult the rest of the Princess Alliance before we go any further with this."

"Or we could just discuss it now." Angella looked behind Rook and saw her daughter, Ben, Adora and Bow standing there.

Angella was most taken aback. "What are you all doing here?!" She said loudly. "Glimmer I thought I told you all to stay away."

"She's She-Ra mom what did you expect me to do." Glimmer said.

"Yeah sorry your majesty but." Ben showed her his Plumbers badge which was glowing as was the one on Rooks armour belt as he deactivated it. "We were kinda listening in the whole time."

"We will talk about your eavesdropping another time." Angella said a little disappointed. "I won't let that witch hurt you again Adora."

"No disrespect Angella but, I say it's Adora's call to make." Ben disagreed.

"Your majesty please, I'm not afraid of her anymore I can do this." Adora told her.

"Adora its more than being ready, I don't want your past history to conflict your judgement, and I won't leave you alone in there." Angella told her.

"She won't be." Ben stepped forward. "I'll be right there with her, plus after what I did the last time I saw Shadow Weaver I doubt she'd try anything. Plus she needs this its about closure."

"I'll be with her too mom, I trust Adora, please let us try." Glimmer agreed.

Angella was conflicted about this, on the one hand if she let Adora do this it could leave her venerable to the sorceress's influence and deception. However, if they didn't then Shadow Weaver would die and they would never know of Hordaks plans.

With a deep sigh she looked at the group. "I don't agree with this." Angella said. "But I doubt I could stop you even if I tried."

"So… is that a yes?" Bow asked.

"We'll be right outside in case anything happens." Angella told them. Adora looked to Ben and Glimmer who held her hands tightly. They prepared to enter the room.

"Still think this is a good idea?" Glimmer whispered to them.

"No but what could be worse." Ben sighed as they entered the room.

Earth: Undertown:

Deep beneath Bellwood lay Undertown, an entire underground city populated by aliens. The market was on and all seemed peaceful and quiet. Some Plumbers were patrolling the market streets keeping an eye out for trouble.

However someone in a cloak slipped past them and into a dark alleyway. "Your late." The cloaked figure turned to see someone in the alley waiting for him. He stepped in the light to reveal it was Psyphon crime boss of Undertown and former lackey to a certain psychotic warlord.

"Don't push it Psyphon!" The hooded figure removed his hood to reveal he was a rather large looking tetramand in what looked like Plumbers clothing in a yellow-greenish coloured shirt, black pants and a belt. It was Gorvan a traitor to the Plumbers and once worked to get components for the High Breed.

"Do you know what I had to go through to get this! I'm still a wanted traitor you know!" Gorvan exclaimed. "Besides after you nearly killed me after all I went through to get you the Annihilarrgh."

"You should have thought of that before you tried to betray me!" But enough talk Gorvan! Did you get what I asked? Less you try my patience further." Psyphon told him.

Gorvan then pulled out a steel container from his cloak and haded it to Psyphon. Who then opened the box and saw a certain device contained within. "Ah the Null Void warp projector."

"As agreed now my fee." Gorvan glared.

"Ah yes of course." Pysphon said with an evil smirk. "But I suppose first I should see if it really works!" He then pointed the projector at Gorvan and fired it! He ducked out of the way but the portal to the Null Void was already open and the gravity suction was pulling Gorvan into it. He grabbed the ground with his four hands and held on for dear life.

"NOOO WE HAD A DEAL!" Gorvan yelled.

"Yes and while you have been useful Gorvan, I'm not one for keeping around loose ends that Tennysons allies can exploit!" Psyphon then fired a laser from his right gauntlet and it struck Gorvan causing him to lose his grip and he fell into the portal which sealed shut behind him.

Psyphon then looked at his acquired prize with a smirk. "I will set you free, I just hope he's in a forgiving mood." He walked into the dark shadows of the alleyway.

Etheria: Bright Moon:

In the confines of her cell, Shadow Weaver keeps coughing in the dark shadow that is draining her life force. Foot steps echo around the force field walls.

"Whos there?" Shadow Weaver said weakly.

Stepping out of the shadows, was Ben. "Hey Weaver, you should get cough syrup for that." He said smirking and with crossed arms.

"Oh..it's you." Shadow Weaver said drearily. "Honestly Benjamin do you honestly think you can do better?" She questioned. "All this can be avoided if…" Before she could finish that sentence Ben stepped to the side and behind him was the person she wanted to talk to.

"Adora." She said surprised just then Glimmer popped up on her right.

"Listen up, lady." Glimmer said with glaring eyes. "After all your kidnapping and mind-wiping, I am just looking for a reason to serve up a little payback." Her fist glowed with magic. "That is if Ben here doesn't hand you more of what he gave you the last time we saw you." She said as Ben crossed his arms to look tough. "So, if you do anything to hurt Adora…"

"Glimmer. I've got this." Adora assured her with a hand on her shoulder before walking up to the wall of the cell. While Glimmer gave a I'm watching you look to Shadow Weaver.

"Look at you, my Adora." Shadow Weaver said almost caring.

"You snuck into Bright Moon." Adora said right to the point. "Why? That's the only reason we're speaking."

"To see you." Shadow Weaver answered reaching her hand out. "You are the only one I can trust. I've missed you, my child."

That last line made Ben clench his fist he wasn't liking the way this witch was talking to her. Plus he'd seen hers and Catra's memories. "Wrong answer!" Ben activated the Omnitrix ready to change into one of his aliens. "Try again." He glared.

Adora looked to Ben, and shook her head telling him not to transform the look in her eyes told him to trust her. He didn't like it but the dial in the Omnitrix retracted and he stood to the side with Glimmer and nodded.

"Those days past a long time ago, I'm not your child and don't even try preaching. Try again." Adora said looking away before facing her again with a glare in her eyes.

"Clever." Shadow Weaver clenched her hand. "You always were. From the moment I laid eyes on you, I know you were different. You were…"

"Special?" Adora said with a titular scoff as she walked around the confined sorceress. "No. What you always told me was that I didn't matter. I was special only as long as I obeyed you but I've learned that who I was before the Horde always matters and that my past doesn't define who I am and certainly not you."

Shadow Weaver looked to the obvious culprit who told her that, namely Ben who looked rather smug looking with Glimmer who gave him a fist bump. "Hmm you have grown a lot since last I saw you and…" Suddenly she started coughing up the black shadow again this time more viciously.

The way she was coughing made Adora show a small bit of concern for her. Ben stood up and saw this as well. "You…you really are sick." Adora said in disbelief. "What happened to you?"

"It took all of my magical power to come to you." Shadow Weaver explained as she grew weaker. "I am dying, Adora."

"How do I know your not lying." Adora said quite horrified.

"Adora, I don't think she is." Glimmer said seeing how bad her condition really was and from what they overheard on the Plumbers Badge. "She's ill really ill."

Ben could see the extent of the damage as well so he knelt down in front of Shadow Weaver as she looked and saw Ben holding the Omnitrix in front of her.

"Omnitrix, scan nearest sentient life form." Ben said and then a green light emanated from the Omnitrix and scanned the weakened sorceress, who was taken by surprise by what was happening. In seconds the light receded.

"Scan complete," A voice sounded from the Omnitrix. "Genetic deterioration detected, shall we attempt to repair?"

"What is going on?" Shadow Weaver coughed.

"Believe it or not we're gonna try and help you." Ben said. Then something dawned on Adora.

"Hold on, Ben didn't you once say the Omnitrix could heal people? Can you try and help her?" Adora asked.

Ben sighed. "Maybe, but the thing is Shadow Weaver is a being of magic and the Omnitrix repairs genetic damages. I've got no idea how it might affect her. It could either help her or kill her."

"So what do we do?" Glimmer asked just as Shadow Weaver chocked more and more dark magic much to Adora's conflicted horror.

Ben took a moment to think, then his eyes laid on a certain sword slung on Adora's back. "Well this may sound like a cheesy line but." He began. "Maybe magic must heal magic."

Adora could see what Ben was talking about, she looked at Shadow Weaver coughing harder and harder, as dark cracks appeared on her arms she was growing weaker by the minute. She knew there was a way to try and help her but it was a long shot. She hesitated at reaching for the sword but seeing her mentor, and surrogate mother dying in front of her. She knew what she had to do, and without a second thought she held aloft her sword and said.

"FOR THE HONOUR OF GRAYSKULL!"

A bright blinding light from the sword blinded Ben, Glimmer and Shadow Weaver. One transformation later, Shadow Weaver saw Adora was transformed into She-Ra.

"I don't know why you're here, but I won't let you suffer like this." She-Ra pointed her sword at Shadow Weaver. "I'm going to heal you, Shadow Weaver, and then you will answer our questions. Do we have a deal?"

"Adora." Glimmer quickly pulled She-Ra and Ben to the side. "You don't know how to heal, and even if we do what's to stop her from breaking out?"

"I can figure it out." She-Ra told her showing her concern. "She'll die if I don't."

"Adora's right Glimmer." Ben then said to her. "Yes it maybe a long shot but if we let her die we're no better than the Horde, and while I would like to see Shadow Weaver get what she deserves she's still a victim. We don't let victims die we save them be it friend or foe."

"Truely noble of you." They all turned to look at Shadow Weaver. "As for your current powers, maybe I can help."

"How?" She-Ra questioned with interest.

"Yeah how can you know anything about She-Ra that the First Ones didn't know about?" Ben asked rather skeptical.

"I may not know of the First Ones, but I do know about magic." Shadow Weaver explained weakly. "I was once a teacher of magic in Mystacor."

"You mean when you were Light Spinner?" Glimmer noted.

"Indeed in fact I trained your father, Princess." Shadow Weaver coughed rather weak while Glimmer looked rather surprised with this new found knowledge of her father."I can help you control your magic, Adora but first... you must trust me."

Glimmer and Ben still looked skeptical about letting this lying witch help Adora with She-Ra's powers. She-Ra looked conflicted, on the one hand she knew Shadow Weaver would try something, but on the other hand if she could learn how to control her powers from an experienced sorceress it may have benefits in the future. The bottom line was they had little time to reach out to Light Hope, so with a determined look she made her decision.

"Fine, but in return, you trust me." She-Ra glared at her. "Trust that I'm not stupid. Trust that I'll see right through your mind games. Stop lying for once and trust me with the truth."

"Just to be sure." Ben then activated the Omnitrix dialled in an alien and then transformed into Chromastone. "In case you get any ideas when we do heal you." His hand ignited with energy. "So, do we have a deal?"

The weakened Shadow Weaver simply nodded in response, despite everyone being skeptical they had no choice but to put their faith in a devil.

The Fright Zone: Hordaks sanctum:

In his sanctum Hordak was welding something on his work bench. It was one of his armoured arms. He tried to reach for a screwdriver but growled in pain from his cybernetics. He leaned over in pain.

"Hordak, great. I've got a lot to cover with you today." Just then Entrapta popped out of a circular vent in the ceiling, and climbed down while Hordak covered his arm with his cloak. "I've integrated the First Ones tech from the Northern Reach to our portal machine, but we're still missing something." Entrapta explained showing him the tech tablets in her hands and hair hands and he looked rather frustrated by this development. "Luckily, I just picked up a signal." She scrolled on one of the tablets showing a certain message that someone else had also picked up. "It's some sort of First Ones message." This seemed to peek Hordaks interest.

"I don't know what these other words are, but this one's easy. It means "portal". It could be the missing something we're looking for." Entrapta explained but then looked around for a certain feline Force Captain but she was nowhere to be seen. "Where's Catra? We should send her out ASAP."

"Catra is no longer a concern of yours." Hordak hissed in anger. "She's being sent to Beast Island as punishment for her incompetence and lapse in judgement!"

Entrapta was rather shocked by this revelation, she knew Catra was a dedicated soldier, she even had the metrics to back that up. Quite literally as she showed her partner.

"I'm confused." She said as she used her hair to swing over to him. "As you can see the overall productivity of the Horde has increased by 400 percent since Catra has been you second-in-command. And look at this chart." Hordak just growled not being interested.

Entrapta quickly hurried in front of him explaining more. "The evidence shows that First Ones tech has gotten us closer than ever to creating a working portal." She insisted. "Catra has been incredibly successful at getting the new tech for us. And this latest signal is coming for here, the Crimson Waste." She kept following Hordak even getting in his face as she showed him a map of the area. "We don't have a moment to spare. We need Catra."

By this time Hordak had about enough he swatted the map away and snarled in frustration. "It is meaningless. I'm not going to squander troops on a lifeless Catra's accomplishment she showed a lack of judgement in allowing Shadow Weaver to escape! I expect loyalty and trust from all my troops its the mere principle yet she has shown me incompetence! This discussion is over."

He turned his back on Entrapta who sighed in disappointment and strolled away on her hair leaving her tablet on the then looked back at the tablet and at the signal itself. Just then he began to ponder, he had intended to send Catra to Beast Island in front of his troops to set an example for disloyalty. However in remembering this signal originated from the Crimson Waste, he smirked as he thought of a more amusing punishment.

Bright Moon:

Outside the prison Angella, Bow, Rook and Castaspella put their ears close to the door to try and listen in on what was going on. "Its too quiet should we be worried?" Bow asked.

"I don't like this I knew I shouldn't have agreed to this!" Angella scolded herself.

"Well in fairness Angella, Benjamin does have a way of persuading people just like Glimmer." Castaspella shrugged.

"Your majesty I am sure they are okay." Rook said. "But perhaps just to ease your worries." He pulled his Plumbers badge off his armour and activated it.

The Prison:

The Omnitrix on Chromastone briefly flashed green as he and the girls listened to Shadow Weaver and what she was saying. "You are a Princess, so, you have a Runestone." Shadow Weaver explained.

"Wait she does?" Chromastone said in surprise.

"Yes." Shadow Weaver explained. "It dwells there, within your sword." She pointed to the stone in the hilt of the sword.

Chromastone took a look and saw she was right. "Really, I always thought it was a decoration piece? Its a lot smaller than the other runestones we've seen."

"Runestones come in all shapes and sizes Benjamin, as I'm sure you've noticed in your time spent with the other princesses." Shadow Weaver explained before she turned back to She-Ra.

"With your Runestone Adora, you channel the elemental magic of Etheria." She-Ra looked at her sword and saw Shadow Weavers reflection within it. "Let it flow through the sword and into you."

She-Ra raised her sword and closed her eyes as her old mentor spoke. "You must learn to concentrate. Focus your power." She-Ra tries to focus and the sword does start to hum but then nothing happens.

She-Ra growls in frustration. "I've tried this before. I can't get it to work." She explained as she knelt down to Shadow Weavers level. "What do I do? Point the sword at you, or what?"

Shadow Weaver coughed again before she spoke. "Calm down. Your frustration will cause the energy you produce to become destructive if you're not careful." She explained. "There must be peace in your mind if you are to heal."

Chromastone began to see what Shadow Weaver meant, he knew from Gwen some of her spells required focus and peace of mind. He then remembered what happened at the Watch Tower.

"Hold on, when we went on a mission to a First Ones ruin, Adora was trying to establish a bond with her steed Swift Wind." Chromastone wondered. "But it didn't happen until she and him understood each other is it like that?"

"Your close Benjamin, from what you have told me their minds may've been clear when they overcame what was holding them back." Shadow Weaver explained. "Once it was gone their minds were free to establish this bond." She then looked to She-Ra. "If you wish to heal someone. Come closer and allow me to help you."

She-Ra was hesitant at being close to her old mentor. She looked to Chromastone who was also skeptical but he readied one of his energy blasts in case anything happened. So She-Ra stepped forwards and went right through the force barrier. Glimmer was anxious and wanted to stop this but Chromastone put his arm out stopping her.

She-Ra knelt down close to Shadow Weaver and looked at her. Shadow Weaver places her hands on She-Ra's as she held the sword out. "You are afraid, but refuse to admit it. Afraid of your power, of it spiraling out of control." Shadow Weaver could see the doubt and fear in her eyes and with good reason given what happened to her predecessor. "Do not be afraid of it. Embrace it. Let yourself feel it, then move past it." She coughed getting more weaker. "You are greater than your fear."

Though Chromastone wouldn't admit it the sorceress did have a point. He knew Adora was afraid of the power she had, afraid she would end up like Mara or worse become corrupted by it. Perhaps that's what held her back. He could understand being afraid of the power some of his aliens had. One alien in particular.

So She-Ra closed her eyes and concentrated all was quiet. Then suddenly she began to glow in a golden aura that now surrounded her. Feeling the magic of the planet itself flowing into the runestone on her sword and then through her as the room glowed around her. Her hair flowed as her eyes shot opened.

Chromastone and Glimmer stepped back in amazement. "Wow." Glimmer breathed. The Crystalsapien couldn't believe his eyes, this was She-Ra's true potential being awakened.

The Sword of Protection then floated out of her hands and it surged with power as She-Ra held her arms out embracing the magic. Suddenly the doors burst open, and Angella rushed in. "What is going on!" Angella exclaimed.

"Sorry we tried to stop her from going in!" Bow said sadly.

"She heard everything on the badge Ben." Rook explained. "My apologies."

Angella tried to approach but. "Wait stay back!" Chromastone told everyone. They looked to She-Ra as she placed her hands on Shadow Weavers cheeks as the magic flowed from her into the sorceress. Shadow Weaver gasped as she felt her strength returning. Then after a brief flash of light blinded everyone the sword's light faded as She-Ra took it back but was weakened as she exited the force field and changed back to Adora and collapsed to her knees.

"Adora!" Glimmer exclaimed as she and Chromastone knelt down to her. They looked at Shadow Weaver as the light aura faded around her.

"Rook did it work?" Chromastone asked him. Rook pulled out his Proto-Scanner and performed a medical scan on Shadow Weaver. When he saw the results he was shocked.

"I…I cannot believe it." Rook said in disbelief. "According to this scan all her vital signs have been restored no sign of deterioration at all."

Everyone was startled and just then the Omnitrix timed out reverting Chromastone back to Ben who looked down at Adora and was amazed. She did it. Adora was also surprised. She stood up but Angella wasn't too happy.

"Ben, Glimmer you let her close to her!" Angella exclaimed.

"Your majesty we made a command decision to let Adora heal Shadow Weaver it was either that or let her die!" Ben argued.

"He's right mom we're not the Horde and if we did we wouldn't learn of Hordaks plan." Glimmer agreed.

"Speaking of which." Adora then remembered as she stood up and faced her healed teacher. "I held up my end. Now you hold up yours. Why are you here? What are Hordaks plans?"

Shadow Weaver just laughed as she felt alive again before facing her captors. "You want the truth? I have nowhere left to go." She answered. "Catra betrayed me. Hordak cast me aside. I want to take them down."

Adora was rather surprised by what she said, though she wasn't surprised on Catra's involvement. Though was her former mentor proposing what she thought she was proposing.

"You…wish to join the Rebellion?" Rook questioned.

"Did I not make that clearer?" Shadow Weaver asked. Ben however could only let out a scoff.

"Hah yeah and I go fishing with Agragor, you wouldn't betray the Horde?" Ben scoffed.

"Wouldn't I?" Shadow Weaver said. "What exactly have the Horde done for me lately? Besides spy on me, humiliate me, demote me?"

"Most of that you brought on yourself." Ben pointed out."

"Be that as it may, we share a common enemy, and helping you is the best way to do it." Shadow Weaver told them. "Now as for Hordak's plans. "Hordak has been working for years to build a machine capable of opening a portal through the fabric of space." Ben and Rooks eyes instantly widened at the mention of that. Shadow Weaver then got up from the floor. "He intends to bring the rest of the Horde's armies through this portal and use them to conquer Etheria, once and for all."

To say everyone was horrified by this sudden revelation at Hordaks plans was an understatement. They just couldn't believe it. "Armies?!" Rook exclaimed in surprise.

"There's more of the Horde?" Angella exclaimed in shock.

"Then Hordak and his goons were just the opening act?" Glimmer exclaimed.

"A force so large, you cannot even comprehend it." Shadow Weaver said. "You have struggled to hold off Hordak's paltry troops for years. You will stand no chance against the full might of the Horde." Glimmers eyes shrunk in horror while Angella shook her head in disbelief.

"Hang on if this is true why would Hordak be closer to finishing a gateway now?" Ben questioned, but then suddenly it dawns on him. "Unless."

"Yes." Shadow Weaver answered. "He has something he didn't have before." Everyone hung on every word the sorceress was saying and they didn't like it one bit. "A Princess who knows how to combine First Ones technology with the Horde's machines."

Bow suddenly realised the same thing Ben was thinking. "Entrapta. That's why she's been after all that First Ones tech."

"She is not simply upgrading the Hordes armoury she is using this technology to help create a Inter-dimensional portal." Rook realised. "A machine that would take Entrapta's calibre to create."

"But how does Hordak know about other worlds or even portals?" Adora questioned.

"I know not, Hordak kept secrets even from his second in commands." Shadow Weaver explained. "But he is a lot more clever than you realise he understands the complexity of other worlds, parallel dimensions and portals themselves how I know not that knowledge was kept even from Mystacor."

Angella looked to Casta who could only nod knowing what Shadow Weaver said was true. "How stupid do you think we are? She knows the Horde is losing, and she's trying to scare us." Glimmer scoffed in defiance.

Shadow Weaver could only chuckle. "You jest at this." She said. "That we on Etheria have no concept of a universe beyond our reach. And yet, the evidence stands before us."

She points to Ben and Rook as everyone looked to them. "You know we're not from here don't you." Ben realised.

"I suspected it from the moment you set foot on this planet." Shadow Weaver spoke. "The powers you possess, your technology were like nothing on Etheria, and all it took was probing your partners mind to confirm my suspicions."

"So that is what you did to me when Bow, Glimmer and I were your captives." Rook realised as he felt the side of his head. "You were inside my mind."

"Correct, I saw your memories, the planets you've been to, the creatures you've faced even your own experiences with inter dimensional beings and portals." Shadow Weaver said. "Yet I do not know how it is you came to be on Etheria."

"We don't know, some kind of wormhole sucked us in when we were sent by the Plumbers to investigate space time anomaly's" Ben said to her. "And I'm sure you saw the rest."

Shadow Weaver simply nodded in response. "Okay yeah Ben and Rook are from another world but that still doesn't mean Hordak can open portals."

"Who said I was just referring to them." Shadow Weaver pointed again, and everyone turned to see who she was pointing to, and. It was Adora.

"Me?" Adora pointed at herself in confusion.

"What's Adora got to do with this?" Ben questioned turning back to Shadow Weaver.

"Hordak succeeded once before. Years ago, he opened a portal." Shadow Weaver explained as the whole room went black. "It was only for a moment. And in that, a child came through." A memory of a certain baby appeared in her arms. "That child was you, Adora." She looked to her former student who was shocked and confused. "You were brought through a portal from another world."

"What?" Adora breathed in shock and confusion. Ben couldn't believe it either.

"Leave her alone!" Glimmer yelled at her. "You're lying, we all know it. You lie about everything." She stood in front of Adora.

Rook however had kept his eyes on Shadow Weaver's and he was in shock. "Glimmer. I do not know how to tell you this. But she is not lying."

"How do you know?! She's wearing a mask and you can't read her micro whatever?" Glimmer denied.

"I do not need to." Rook simply said. 'Her eyes cannot lie. Nor can a lie detector." He held up his Proto Scanner which also acted as a lie detector. He had it running since her confession and it indicated she was telling the truth.

"He speaks the truth, and I gain nothing from lying. Adora is different from us as much as Benjamin is. Do you think just anyone could bring a dying woman back to life?" She said to the listening group before looking to a still confused Adora. "Not quite the reunion you pictured, is it? Perhaps you would have preferred the comfort of lies."

"I think thats quite enough!" Castaspella stepped forwards standing between the cell and Adora.

"Don't listen to her, Adora." Bow told his friend, however she looked overwhelmed by this recent revelation. Ben tried to hold her hand but she juts gasped and ran out of the room.

"Where are you going? Adora?!" Glimmer called out to her but she just ran away. She was about to chase after her but Ben stopped her.

"Don't worry, I know where she's going." Ben said as he then took off after her activating the Omnitrix and transformed to Astrodactyl. His wings extended and with a blast of his jet pack he blasted off after her.

Rook then turned to Shadow Weaver glaring. "You know I often wonder, did you ever care about Adora at all?"

Shadow Weavers eyes squinted. "I raised her since she was a mere child and I prepared her for greatness. Do you really believe I have no heart?"

"Perhaps your heart has grown as brittle as that mask you choose to hide behind." Rook scowled. Shadow Weaver just looked down slightly but it didn't look like she had any sense of compassion behind that mask.

In the skies above the Whispering Woods, Adora now riding on Swift Wind flew towards a certain structure. Astrodactyl was close behind them but kept his distance, he knew where she was going and who she was going to see. He realised it was time they got some straight answers out of said person.

Swift Wind landed at the Beacon and wasting no time Adora raced to the monument. Seconds later Astrodactyl landed and transformed back to Ben.

"Ben what the heck is going on with Adora?" Swift Wind asked out of concern.

"Its a long story Swifty I'll tell you later." Ben said as he ran towards the monument.

Inside the Crystal Castle the door swooshed open and Adora entered the inner chamber. "Light Hope." She called out as her voice echoed in the room I know you're here."

Then as if on cue Light Hope appeared Though she was surprised in her arrival. "Greetings, Adora." Adora turned round to see Light Hope as she hovered in front of her. "I was not expecting you for training today. But this shows an uptick in you dedication."

Adora decided to cut to the chase. "You said you've been watching me since I was an infant. So, you must know what I really am. Where I came from."

Light Hopes hologram simply glitched but her face showed what looked like shock at hearing what Adora had said. However after what she learned Adora was tolerating her silence no longer.

"ANSWER ME!" She yelled.

The hologram mentor was silent but then turned side on looking at Adora. "It is true. You are not of Etheria."

If Adora wasn't shocked before she was now. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Explain. Why are you asking about events in you own memory banks?" Light Hope asked as she hovered over to her.

"My what?" Adora questioned.

"Why are you asking for the clarification of events you witnessed?" Light Hope then explained clarifying things.

"I was a baby. Babies don't remember things." Adora told her trying to keep her cool.

"And grown ups aren't meant to keep secrets!" Adora turned to see Ben had just arrived in the room.

"Ben?" Adora said surprised.

"You are not permitted to be…" "Yeah yeah cut the usual no Tennysons allowed garbage." Ben then interrupted Light Hope. "You knew Adora wasn't from Etheria and didn't tell her! Now I find out you've been keeping secrets about portals. Up until now you haven't given her a straight answer, so cut the secrets and lies and tell her the truth!" He got right up in her face.

Light Hope was silent and did squint slightly at Ben. "Light Hope, please." Adora came up almost pleadingly. "where did I come from?"

She was silent until finally. "Very well." Light Hope swung out her arm and to Ben and Adora's surprise the whole room was shifting and changing showing what looked to be an outside landscape of grass and what caught their attention was a large spiral looking portal made of purple energy.

"What is this place?"Ben asked.

"It is a visual memory of a time long ago." She then gestured to the portal getting Adora's attention."This is the portal that you came through, Adora." The portal then seemed to seal shut, then suddenly they heard the sound of a baby crying.

Then to their shock Hordak appeared from behind and walked through them like a ghost. Adora shivered with shock. They saw Hordak walking through the grass and looking at the landscape.

"The Horde stole you, turned you into a soldier for their war." The memory disappeared and they were back in the Crystal Castle. "I could not stop them. So, I watched and waited for the day I could unite you with the Sword."

Adora drew said sword from her back and looked at it wondering about a few things. "The Sword. These powers." She suddenly realised something, and Ben was beginning to wonder as well.

"The First Ones came from beyond the stars." Light Hope explained. "They made the sword so that it would only respond to one of their own kind."

"Respond to…one of their own." Ben repeated and then it hit him and Adora. "But then that means…"

"I'm..I'm a First One?" Adora breathed even more shocked and confused than she was before.

"So thats why you can understand First Ones writing, or even why only you can use the sword." Ben began putting the pieces together. "Because you have First Ones blood."

Adora didn't know how to process this, it was overwhelming she was a First One, she was born on another planet that Hordak had stolen her from. Light Hope however looked confused. "You are upset. I do not understand." Light Hope asked.

"Are you kidding?!" Ben exclaimed. "You drop a huge bomb like this and don't expect her to be upset?!"

Adora then spoke up. "Did I have a family? Could I go back? A portal brought me here, could a portal take me... Home?" She asked hastily.

"Yeah thats another thing." Ben remembered. "You told me once that it's impossible to open a portal because we're in a shadow dimension. Well Hordak is using your peoples tech to create an inter dimensional gateway, so care to tell us about that?"

"As I told you, when Mara cut us off from the rest of the universe, our portal capabilities were destroyed. Attempting to open one now would have devastating consequences." Light Hope explained as she suddenly glitched red.

"What do you mean by that?" Ben asked.

"If Hordak is attempting to open a portal, should he succeed it could set off a reaction that could shatter the fabric of space and time beyond repair." Light Hope explained. "Perhaps destroy reality itself, you can only imagine."

"I don't need to imagine it. I've already seen it happen to my world once." Ben said to her. "I had to recreate my universe to save it."

Adora was quite surprised by what Ben had said but right now she was more focused on her own origins. "Mara." She breathed in realisation. "She must have come from the same place I did. Why did she do it?"

"It is irrelevant." Light Hope simply said much to their shock.

"Hey we decide what's irrelevant lady! What else aren't you telling us?!" Ben demanded seeing she was hiding something. "Adora couldn't learn healing because she was afraid of her powers that you said caused Mara to lose it yet she was able to heal someone tonight!"

Light Hope was silent for a minute before she spoke "I have told you before Ben Tennyson. This is your home now. As She-Ra, Adora…"

Adora had heard enough of this. "You aren't listening to me!" She exclaimed.

"You are behaving erratically. To bear the power of She-Ra is an honour." Light Hope said completely ignoring what Adora had said.

"Don't I get a say in what happens to me? Don't I get a choice?" Adora questioned almost having a meltdown.

"No." Light Hope answered much to the horrified shock of Adora while Ben looked like he was ready to tear this AI a new one. "This is your destiny. You do not choose. You were chosen." Adora looked at Light Hope in disbelief, and then looked at her in anger as she stormed off on the verge of tears.

"Adora. Adora. Where are you going?" Light Hope called out but she had left the room.

Light Hope looked at the closed door, and then turned to Ben who looked even more angry than he was before. "You know for a so called First One that was cold!" Ben said to her.

"Why are you upset? When none of this is of any concern to you?" Light Hope asked.

"When it involves Adora, I make it my concern!" Ben glared at her. "You kept a huge secret about her past from her something she's been wanting to know since living in the Fright Zone being told who she was doesn't matter!" Now your saying she doesn't have a choice in anything!"

"To bear the power of She-Ra is an honour, and a great responsibility." Light Hope told him. "There is no choice but to accept it."

"You always have a CHOICE!" Ben yelled almost ready to lose it, as he tried his best to keep his cool. "Whoever programmed you must've been as blind as you, because in the real world we make our own choices and no one decides the fate of someone else!"

"Your reasoning is illogical." Light Hope said.

"Well you wouldn't know anything about that would you. You know I thought Shadow Weaver was cruel but you're even worse. Makes me wonder if either of you ever care about Adora." Ben said to her.

"I watched over her since the Horde abducted her, and waited to unite her with the sword to restore balance." Light Hope said to him. "I try to guide her to be a better She-Ra she was destined to be. Sometimes sacrifices must be made for the greater good."

"Oh don't give me that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few crap!" Ben exclaimed. "And you should be careful about your sacrifices and secrets because I don't think you can afford to lose Adora like you lost Mara." Ben then stormed out of the chamber leaving Light Hope completely alone.

"It is happening again."

Outside the Beacon, the bearer of the Omnitrix had made it outside, and looked around for his missing friend. "Adora!" He called out. "Adora!"

Just then Swift Wing pressed his head against Bens. He looked at the steed and saw he was worried. Swift Wind pointed his wing to the forest telling Ben that Adora had gone in that direction.

Adora sat completely alone in the Whispering Woods sat on a large tree root. She was on the brink of sobbing with tears streaming down her face. A huge bombshell had been dropped on her she was a First One, and she was from another world. This whole thing was too much for her to take.

"Adora." Called a voice, and she looked to see Ben approaching her. "Hey you okay?" He asked.

"Okay?" She said then staring at him with her tear stained eyes. "Am I okay? I'm not from Etheria! I'm a First One from another world and I have been handed a burden that I have no choice in and that I can't decide my own destiny and you ask if I'm okay!" She yelled right in Bens face before she sat on the root and started sobbing.

Ben sat next to her and pulled her into a hug and let her cry her frustrations into his jacket. "Hey, hey its okay." He told her soothingly. After a while Adora calmed down and wiped away her tears before all was quiet.

"I…all my life in the Fright Zone I've wondered if I ever had a family or where I even came from." Adora said before she looked at her reflection in the sword. "This sword, was the thing I thought could help me find those answers." Ben listened intently. "Now…now I have them I… I still have questions, did I have a family, why did the First Ones abandon me. And…who am I?"

"Who you are is the best person I've ever known Adora." Ben said to her with a hand on her shoulder. "You never hesitate at doing the right thing even others tell you otherwise. Light Hope is wrong, because in my experience we make our own choices and we can decide our destinies I chose to use the Omnitrix to help people, no one decided that for me."

"I just…I just don't know who I am supposed to be anymore." Adora said still confused.

"You are who you've always been, honest, strong, compassionate and loyal to a fault." Ben told her. "Shadow Weaver nor Light Hope decide who your supposed to be, you said it yourself you didn't become She-Ra to fulfil some First Ones destiny you became She-Ra to protect people, you made that choice not them."

Adora was listening to what Ben was telling her, and she realised he was right, through all she's experienced she always followed her own path. She left the Horde, she stood up to Shadow Weaver and joined the Rebellion to help people. No one decided that.

"You…your right." Adora realised. "And you know what it is time I had a choice. There's far too many secrets here between Light Hope, The First Ones even why Mara was sent here to begin with." Adora stood up from the tree root. "If Light Hope can't give me those answers its time I went after them myself."

Ben smiled with pride as he stood up. "Now that sounds like the She-Ra I know."

Adora nodded and smiled. "You know. The fact that we're both from different worlds and ended up on this world. It kinda makes us kindred spirits." She realised.

"Yeah it does." Ben smiled as the two shared a hug.

Bright Moon:

Back at Bright Moon the atmosphere was very tense. Namely in Glimmers room. "We shouldn't have ever let her talk to Adora." Glimmer said pacing the floor while Rook leaned on the wall near the door and Bow sat on the poof in the room in thought. "I can't even imagine what she must be feeling."

"Nor can I, such a revelation can affect a person in ways we may not like." Rook said. "Who knows what is going through her mind right now."

"So what the heck do we do now?" Bow asked. Just as he asked the door opened. Ben had entered the room.

"Ben." Glimmer saw he'd returned. "Is…"

Ben stepped aside and Adora entered the room to which everyone is relieved. "Ah Adora!" Glimmer and Bow rushed over to her to comfort her in a hug as Rook came over.

"Are you okay?" Bow asked in concern.

"I'm not sure yet." Adora said to her friends still confused.

"What did Light Hope show you?" Rook asked already guessing thats where they had gone.

Ben sighed but before he could say anything, Adora stopped him. She thought it best to tell them herself. "She confirmed everything that Shadow Weaver said was true. I'm not from Etheria, in fact…I'm…a First One."

"WHAT!" Glimmer and Bow exclaimed in shock, and Rook was greatly taken aback.

"Well this explains a great deal, and how you can read their language." Rook realised. "Did you learn anything else?"

"A whole lot." Ben said.

"But I think I know what I have to do." Adora then said to them before walking to the window. "My whole life, people have been hiding the truth from me. So, I'm gonna look for answers myself. Mara started all of this when she stranded Etheria. She's the only clue we have about portals, and... And me."

"She's right, and there's another thing. We know Hordaks planning to open a portal but if he does it could bring disaster to Etheria." Ben then said.

"That is true if there is one thing we have learned from our own experiences of dimensions, opening a portal in a shadow realm could have dire consequences." Rook realised. "At the same time if we can find answers about portals or even the anomalies that brought us here we may have the key to sending a signal to Plumber HQ to call the reinforcements we need to turn the tide of this war."

"Then as of right now we're going after our answers, and now we know where to find them. So I'm going to the Crimson Waste no matter the risk. I'm going to follow the message from Mara. I know it's incredibly dangerous, but this is my choice. You don't have to come with me." Adora said determined looking at her friends.

"Adora. Of course we're going with you." Glimmer smiled understandingly as she placed her hand on her shoulder.

"You think you could get us to stay behind if you tried?" Bow agreed.

"Indeed, we are all in this together. Whatever we find we will face it together." Rook agreed determined.

"We're all with you Adora." Ben agreed. "Besides, I promised you once we'd find answers about your past." Ben looked right into her eyes determined. "So it's time I made good on that promise." Adora gave a warm smile to her friends who were with her to the end of the line, and pulled them into a comforting hug.

Moments later The Best Friend Squad was buckled up in the Proto-Truck. Glimmer, Bow and Adora rode in the back while Ben was in the passengers seat and Rook in the drivers. The truck transformed into its space ship form. Then started to lift off. The group looked at each other determined and nodded in agreement.

Rook placed his hands on the throttle leaver in the truck. "Next stop, The Crimson Waste." He pushed it forwards and the Proto-Truck took to the sky and flew off into the unknown. The search for answers had begun.

The Fright Zone:

The roaring sound of thunder echoed throughout the complex as the lighting crackled in the sky. In Hordaks throne room an audience of the soldiers, and Force Captains was gathered.

Two Hordesman were escorting the shackled Catra into the room, her judgement had come. She stood before Hordak who resided on his throne. He stood up from his throne to address his troops.

"I want you all to watch and learn. There is nothing I do not know. Nothing I am not willing to do to punish those who betray my trust." He walked down the stairs as he spoke and stood before Catra who stood silent. "Your former Force Captain has proven to be compromised, ineffective, and worthless." He snarled as he adressed the rest of his troops standing to attention.

"To the rest of you, take a lesson from this. This is what happens to failures, and I do not tolerate failures those who do will receive a fate worse than death itself!" He said clenching his what happened next was unexpected. Catra's lip flinched until.

"You're the failure."

Every soldier and Force Captain in the room gasped at what she had just said and Hordak was taken by surprise most of all. Catra just cackled rather sadistically.

"You need me, just like you needed Shadow Weaver, because you have no idea how to run this place." Catra spoke out not even caring for the consequences her words may bring. "All you know how to do is hide in your lab. The one time you actually did step out into the field you were bested, you call me incompetent at least I actually made an effort. I got us closer to conquering Bright Moon than you ever did! I have been managing the Horde more than you ever did! Maybe that's why you can't defeat a group of teenagers, because your too much of a coward to actually do the job yourself!" Hordak clenched his fists at the very sound of that and his eyes glowed with fury.

"Oh, Catra." Scorpia gasped not liking this.

Hordak marched up to the shackled Catra and growled in fury at her insubordination. Catra didn't seem to care. However his mood changed to a devilish smirk. "An impressive speech, but hardly worth the breath." Hordak smirked. "There has been a change of plan."

Just then a certain strand of purple hair appeared behind Catra. "Hi, Catra. I saved your life." Entrapta appeared behind her and did spook her as the long haired princess pinched her cheeks with her hair. "You're welcome." She clapped and chuckled.

Catra however was all but confused. "I don't understand."

"Entrapta has interceded on your behalf." Hordak gestured to a waving Entrapta. "You should be thanking her. Instead of the many punishments I intended even considering sending you to Beast Island, you are being sent to retrieve First Ones tech for us" Hordak said. "… in the Crimson Waste."

Catra was frozen in shock at what her master had just said. "The Crimson Waste?! It's a total dead zone. Nothing survives out there."

Hordak chuckled sadistically. "Exactly." Catra gasped as she saw where Hordak was going with this. Suddenly her hand cuffs were removed and dropped to the floor.

"Consider this a mercy, should you succeed in your mission. I shall reconsider your worth to The Horde. Fail" Hordak turned his back on her and chuckled. "Heh heh, well they say The Crimson Waste is a land of no return after all."

The feline Force Captains pupils shrunk she was being sent on a suicide mission. One to a waste land that none have ever returned from, and unknown dangers that may await for any who dare set foot.

Earth:Undertown: Psyphons hideout:

Psyphon was now in his hideout alone with his newly acquired Null Void projector. He aimed it at the wall in front of him and fired it opening a portal before him. It surged but he stood a distance away so he wouldn't be sucked in. Then stepping out of the portal, was a large figure and Psyphon looked a little intimidated and afraid at who was now free. Standing before him now was Vilgax/Malgax he looked as intimidating as ever.

"My lord." Psyphon bowed before him.

"Ah Psyphon." Vilgax greeted as the portal behind him closed.

"My lord Vilgax I am but your humble servant." Psyphon said to him however his master grabbed him by the neck nearly choking him.

"You left me to be incarcerated by the Plumbers when I lost the powers of Daigon!" He growled.

"Ack only to rebuild your army and I have acted in your name to bend this UnderTown to my will!" Psyphon receiving only a chuckle from his master.

"How pitiful even imprisioned there is no will but mine!" Vilgax growled. "I should crush you right now and be rid of you, or adapt your technology to my own arsenal!" Suddenly Psyphon felt great pain as the Malware armour began to turn his armour to dust.

"M..Master no p..please!" He begged. "I…I know where Ben Tennyson is!"

The mention of that made Vilgax release his grip on his former servant. Psyphon choked trying to regain his breath. "Explain Psyphon, quickly!"

Psyphon regained his composure and stood before his master. "I have many contacts around Undertown and even more so inside the Plumbers science cells." He explained. "I have learned that prior to his disappearance Tennyson and his partner were sent to investigate unknown signals coming from deep space, and I have learned this sector is known as The Forgotten Zone."

Vilgax was frozen when Psyphon said that, if his mouth could be seen it would be in shock. Psyphon looked at his master confused. "Could it be. After all these centuries." He clenched his fists in fury.

"Vilgax?" Psyphon questioned.

"As you set me free Psyphon, I am feeling generous. If you seek redemption gather my forces and find my ship!" Vilgax commanded. "There is more than just the Omnitrix out there to claim and once I have Tennysons head on a pike I will then claim a much greater prize!"

"Greater prize?" Psyphon wondered.

"Do not question me Psyphon I have spent centuries turning worlds and countless galaxies to my will. The one sector of the Forgotten Zone that has resisted my power and scouring the cosmos for the one who robbed me of my glory. I shall wipe out those who defied me and the universe itself shall be mine!" Vilgax exclaimed.

Psyphon simply smirked sinisterly at that. "It shall be so. My master." He bowed before his newly released lord and master.

Authors Notes: DUN DUN DUN! Uh oh looks like things are heating up for our heroes, not only has Shadow Weaver arrived in Bright Moon to pledge herself to the Rebellion, but now it seems Adora is a First One and that theres more going on than meets the eye. In this chapter I always had an idea in mind that Ben would sense Shadow Weavers arrival through a ripple in the Mana, as a side effect to the Dream Walking in the last chapter, and how he would stop her from taking her.

Also Fasttrack is here! I decided to include him as he was another of my favourite aliens I was sad didn't appear in Omnivores. However its revealed that the artist of the series Derrick J Wyatt god rest his soul, did do a design for Fasttrack in that style, so I've used it as a way to honour him. Also having Rook present for Shadow Weavers interrogation as being a Magister of the Plumbers Angella couldn't deny his request what with Interstellar law and all that. I also had Ben and Light Hope talk alone as I felt it was time she got a Tennyson style scoulding for keeping secrets and lying to his friend about her origins. As they will later discover thats not the only thing she's keeping secret (hint hint)

However now the hunt for answers has begun and the heroes next destination is to the Crimson Waste a desolate land from which many have ventured but none have ever returned, who knows what secrets lie in that wasteland and perhaps if theres more there than meets the eye.

Until next time FOR THE HONOUR OF GRAYSKULL!