Authors Notes: Hi all I'm back decided to make a change to the story updates as this was one story I just couldn't wait to update! We're finally near the portal arc! Sorry for the long absence I've been going through a bit of a writing block plus some family drama as well but I'm back and now without delay lets begin shall we!

Ben 10 (c) Cartoon Network

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


:Moment of Truth:

"Glimmer…." A voice sounded as Glimmer began to stir from her unconscious state. "Glimmer!" her eyes fluttered and she made out the blurry face of Rook. "Glimmer!"

She finally snapped awake, they were still in the Crimson Wastes somewhere far from the ship, as far as Huntara could carry them before she succumbed to the tranq dart. Luckily she and Bow were now awake as the tranquilliser was now out of their systems.

"Glimmer are you okay?" Rook asked the princess.

"Rook wha…" Glimmer muttered then suddenly she remembered. "Adora! Ben! Where are they!"

"Catra has taken them prisoner and they have the sword as well." Rook told her much to her horror.

"This means the Horde now has the key to opening a portal to bring an army through to Etheria!" Bow exclaimed.

"If they do not tear apart the fabric of reality first." Rook remembered Maras holographic warning.

"We…we have to go back and help them!" Glimmer exclaimed getting up to go back until Huntara stopped her.

"We can't go back they'll probably be moving out by now." Huntara said. "Plus we'd be out gunned and outnumbered."

"Then we need to get back to Bright Moon now!" Glimmer exclaimed with great haste.


Bright Moon:

Back at the Palace, Angella and the rest of the Alliance and war council were gathered. They were looking over the holo maps in the room as well as putting together strategies to combat the Horde. Well most of them were Mermista was just relaxing in her chair without a care in the world. Suddenly Glimmer, Bow, Rook and Huntara teleported into the room startling her so much she fell off her chair.

"Oh, you're already here. Perfect." Glimmer said seeing everyone including Swift Wind were present. Mermista got up seeing the group.

"Yeah. Where have you been?" Mermista asked.

"We traveled to the Crimson Waste to discover the origin point of the message Bow picked up on his tech tab. Fought some bandits who live in the lifeless desert to discover a First Ones space craft and a warning message left behind by Adora's predecessor Mara of a threat to Etheria." Rook explained.

Mermista and the others were quite perplexed by the young Plumbers explanation. "Oh…well how about leaving a note next time." Mermista said.

It was then she noticed the toughest of the Crimson Waste in the room who was completely intrigued by the holomap flowing her hand through it. "Is this some new She-Ra form?" Mermista asked.

"No. this is Huntara. She's the leader of the Crimson Waste." Glimmer explained. "Or was." Swift Wind pushed Huntara away from the holomap when she got too curious. "We don't have time to get into it. We need to get to the Fright Zone."

"The world doesn't stop just because you aren't here." Angella told her daughter looking over the holo map and holograms of She-Ra, Diamondhead and several rebellion members surrounded by Horde tanks. "We have been planning our attack on the Horde."

"That's a relief, because Catra kidnapped Adora. And Ben too." Bow then said causing gasps of horror and shock within the alliance.

"The Horde has Adora and Ben?" Angella questioned in horror.

"Which also means they can open a portal because they have her sword." Glimmer then explained in a serious tone.

"What? I don't understand." Angella asked confused.

"Your majesty we have learned intel that the Sword of Protection is the key to the planet and to opening portals." Rook explained. "If Hordak figures out how to use it he will have the capability to open a portal for his armada, but not before it tears reality asunder."

"What?!" Angella said in horror.

"Its true mom there's no time to waste we have to rescue Ben and Adora now!" Glimmer said with great haste.

"Glimmer, slow down." Angella tried to tell her daughter but she wasn't hearing any of her words.

"We need to go to the Fright Zone NOW!" Glimmer thumped her hands on the table.

"We?" Angella questioned which resulted in her spreading her wings as she stood from her chair. "You are not going anywhere until you explain." This took the princess completely by surprise as it did everyone else. "Glimmer, outside. Now!"


The Fright Zone:Hordaks sanctum:

In his sanctum Hordak was testing out his new exoskeleton that Entrapta had made for him. He lifted a large curved structure with his hands and could withstand the strain. Entrapta was monitoring his progress.

"This suit may be my best work yet." She said with excitement as Hordak carried the pole over to the other end of the room and placed it down. The lord of the Horde was impressed he had never known great strength, sadly though his joy was short lived when his right gauntlet sparked causing him great pain. He grasped his wrist in pain as Entrapta hurried over to him and put her hair tendril on his shoulder.

"No reason to get in a tizzy." Entrapta told him.

"I have never been in a tizzy." Hordak protested handing her his wrist and she began making adjustments to his armour.

"You can't expect everything to work perfectly overnight. Like our machine." Entrapta explained looking over to the portal machine with a rod in the middle it looked complete but still inoperable. "We still haven't figured out the missing piece that'll let us cut through the planetary interference. If we try now, the portal might not be stable long enough to get anyone through."

Hordak sighed at that. "We only need to open a portal for a short time." He explained looking at his failed clone vats. "Long enough to send a signal through to Horde Prime. Once he receives it, he should have not trouble opening a portal form his side."

Strangely Entrapta looked rather saddened at that. "And then you'll have to go with them." She said. "But there's still so much data we could collect. What's the rush? We'll just keep working on it until it's perfect." Entrapta said happily as she rose up on her hair tendrils until she was close to Hordaks face.

Suddenly their genius moment was then interrupted as the sanctum door opened and a shimmer of light emerged revealing Catra with the sword in hand while holding a bound and gagged Ben and Adora in her arms. Followed by Scorpia and the goons from the Crimson Waste. Entrapta and Hordak were surprised by this development as Catra flung her prisoners to the floor. Suddenly the runestone in the swords hilt glowed and suddenly began reacting to the tech in the room.

Catra being ignorant ignored it and tossed the sword to the floor close to Adora and Ben who were muffling and yelling behind their gags. "What? Heh. Didn't expect to see me again?" Catra smirked snuggly addressing Hordak and Entrapta, the latter of which noticed her new weapon.

"Oh, you have a whip now?" She said intrigued.

"Focus!" Catra said snatching it back from her hair tendril. "I got what you needed." Catra explained gesturing to the sword as Entrapta picked it up before the helpless Adora while Ben growled through his gag and tried to wriggle his arms free. "This sword is the key to the whole planet, and the key you need to open your portal."

Though her master didn't show it he was rather surprised how did she know? "What you didn't think I'd find out what your grand scheme was opening in a portal to let more of the Horde through to this planet? Guess Shadow Weaver wasn't smart enough to figure it out."

Despite this Entrapta studied the sword carefully. "I suppose it makes sense. She-Ra's sword is First Ones tech, maybe the most powerful I've ever seen. All this time, this was the key that we needed." She realised and looked to Hordak who seemed to give an agreeing stare. "I guess I should figure out how it works." She said a little hesitantly.

Catra snapped her fingers getting their attention."I brought you everything you need to open a portal and finish the Princesses and their Rebellion off for good. Not only that but I've captured their new weapon Ben 10 and Adora all in the same day! Without him the Rebellion has no chance. What are we waiting for?"

Hordak nodded to Entrapta and they set to work. Hordak looked back to Catra. "You have redeemed yourself Force Captain Catra." He simply said. Adora and Ben protested through their gags while Catra smirked with triumph finally the victory she sought was within her grasp. And nothing could stop her now.


Earth:Gwen Tennyson residence:

In her room Gwen was meditating with her mana aura surrounding her she was focussing on the life energies of the universe. Then suddenly.

"AHHHHHHH!" She heard it a cry for help, but she recognised the voice all too well indeed. Her eyes glowed pink and saw flashes before her eyes she saw her cousin and She-Ra falling into a portal with Rook, and so many others and an entire planet being destroyed by a cataclysmic force.

Gwen screamed as she collapsed to the ground. She took several breaths to calm down wondering what the heck that was. Was she granted vision or a premonition. "Ben…something is very wrong!"


Etheria: Bright Moon:

"We're wasting too much time. We need to act. The Horde has Adora,Ben and the Sword!" Glimmer was arguing with her mother in the hallway while Bow, Rook and the rest of the Alliance peaked in from behind the door slightly.

"And then what? How are you going to get in? You have no plan!" Angella protested. "We are not rushing in. I won't lose anyone else."


In the council room Huntara was listening with the rest of the alliance. "Not surprising she wouldn't agree to this plan, thats how people like her are." She said which did grab the attention of everyone.

"People like the Queen?" Bow questioned.

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

"Queen Angella has lead this Rebellion against the Horde for many years and she has not given us any reason to doubt her." Rook said.

"Rooks right, she fought in the previous alliance with King Micha?" Perfuma then added.

"Has she though?" Huntara questioned. "Think about it have you ever once seen her so called royal highness get into an actual fight on the battle field?"

This did make the Princesses, archer and Plumber all look at each other in question. Sure Angella had helped in their efforts in the Battle of Bright Moon, but other than that they hadn't seen her in an actual fight.

"Uh huh I didn't think so, people like your Queen they talk a good game but when it comes to battle they don't want to get their hands dirty." Huntara spoke.

"King Micha wasn't afraid to fight!" Spinerella protested.

"Yeah and neither were we! We joined the Alliance to save our home." Perfuma agreed.

"Because you did the one thing your parents didn't you actually wanted to fight once you saw the Horde, but people like your Queen who haven't seen battle is called only one thing." Huntara spoke. "A coward."

This horrified the group to hear this outsider who just arrived in their ranks insult the Queen of Bright Moon like that. "Hey listen sister!" Netossa was about to teach the bandit a lesson until Rook separated them.

"Enough all of you, this fighting among ourselves will not help this current crisis!" Rook said.

"Guys shush!" Bow said as they returned to listening to the conversation between Glimmer and her mom.


"Before I started "rushing in" the Rebellion hadn't made a move in years. If it were up to you we would still be hiding in our kingdom! You need me!" Glimmer argued.

"I need you to be a leader, and that means not running off whenever you feel like it!" Angella argued back given her daughters own rash actions. "A leader must listen to the words of her comrades not go gallivanting off on suicide missions!"

"I listen to my teammates!" Glimmer argued. "And there are some missions that can't wait for your royal approval!" She then scoffed. "And why are we even talking about this?You'll always be around, telling me what I can't do. And if I hadn't rushed off we wouldn't have She-Ra or even Ben two people who have done for the Rebellion that we can ever repay! And right now they need us now more than ever and I would've thought you would want to stop them!"

"You are still young Glimmer, and you need to learn that not all problems are solved with conflict! Victory can be achieved in more subtle ways!" Angella argued back loudly. "You never listen. I try and try to reach you, to trust you."

Glimmer just laughed at the very mention of that. "You wanna talk about trust?" She pushed her mothers hand away. "How come you never told me that Shadow Weaver was Dad's old teacher?!"

Angella was hesitant at telling her daughter this story as she looked back at her husbands wall memorial. "I... It was a long time ago."

"Why did you never tell me Shadow Weaver was Light Spinner!" Glimmer argued. "Does Aunt Casta know?!"

"Yes she does." Angella revealed much to Glimmer shock and hurt look. "We didn't tell you because we wanted to protect you from your fathers dark history at Mystacor. Your father and I both promised you would never know of this when you were born and I've tried to honour that."

Glimmer still felt betrayed by this but despite the tension in the room she suddenly had an idea. "Shadow Weaver." She breathed which got her mothers attention. "You know what? We should be talking to her. She knows the Horde."

"She can't be trusted!" Angella disagreed immediately the last thing she wanted was to let that thing anywhere near her daughter let alone allow her to go free.

"We have to do something too much is at stake!" Glimmer then argued back. "And you know what you should try being on the front lines sometime then you would see what kind of threat we really face!" She yelled in her face. "While you are here me and the others are out there fighting for the freedom of our world but you can't trust me to make my own decisions for the Rebellion! My leadership has gotten us closer to winning this war than we ever did before. If it was up to you we would still be in hiding! But I am through hiding from Hordak this is our planet not his! You would see that if you weren't totally paralysed by fear and hide here instead of being out there with us its like you don't even care about the suffering the Horde brings to our people!"

The queen looked hurt by what her daughter had just said and Glimmer immediately regretted her words. Angella's mood had changed to a very serious look standing from the shadows and dressing her daughter.

"I am you queen, and I say we cannot afford to lose anyone else. Either come up with a reasonable plan, Commander Glimmer, or stay out of the way." She said loudly in that last part and walked past Glimmer who let out a breath she was holding her breath the entire time her mother spoke.

The other Princesses could sense the mood and just walked away whistling like they heard nothing. Bow was just pondering of which way to go while Rook just pulled him to the side just as the queen pushed open the door and walked away. The two looked to see Glimmer standing alone before her dads mural. She didn't turn to face her friends as she was lost in thought. She was thinking back to a time before they found the library.


Flashback: Sometime before Reunion:

Glimmer was marching down the hallway grumbling and groaning to herself. She'd just come out of a meeting with her mother about a recent siege at Oberon, and here reckless actions.

"I'm guessing that didn't go so well huh?" Glimmer looked and saw Ben sitting in one of the archways having heard all her grumbling.

"You could say that." Glimmer said as she came over.

"Care to share your thoughts?" Ben asked. "I do happen to be an expert in overbearing parents."

"Its just ugh! No matter what I do for the Rebellion its like my mom is holding me back, even when I do good she disapproves of me rushing in!" Glimmer vented her frustrations to the Omnitrix bearer. "Well if I didn't rush in we wouldn't be winning this war now, its like she doesn't trust me!"

"Uh Glims no offence but it sounds like your rambling." Ben simply chuckled which did receive an annoyed glare from the princess. "Okay okay not the look." Ben chuckled. "All I'm saying is your mom just wants you to be the best leader you can be, if you thought she was bad you should've seen Grandpa Max when he was teaching me to use my powers."

"Really?" Glimmer asked.

"Yeah and you can believe when I was a kid, I did my fair share of not listening and just acting on things and it did lead to a few mistakes." Ben voiced remembering his past mistakes when he was ten years old. "Some worst than others."

"But he was always patient with me and he gave me advice and keeps me from, well becoming the worst version of myself I guess." Ben shrugged.

"You know I kinda wish he was my grandpa, at least he wouldn't give me the queen lecture." Glimmer grumbled.

"Oh believe me he gave me plenty of lectures but it was only because he wanted me to grow in myself." Ben said.

"But thats just it my mom doesn't trust me to make my own decisions she never lets me do anything even before I met Adora or you! Its like she doesn't listen to me at all!" Glimmer complained. Ben then stood up and looked at the princess.

"Well sure your mom can be a bit overbearing at times but thats only because she wants you to be a good leader." Ben said. "Because if anything happened to her she knows you would have to lead on without her."

"But Ben my moms immortal nothings gonna happen to her why even mention that?" Glimmer questioned not even wanting to think about that.

"I know that but sometimes you gotta be prepared for the worst and make sure everything is in hand for if it does happen." Ben said. "But Glimmer your also your own person, and its up to you to be the kind of leader you want to be and no-one tells you how to do that."

Glimmer listened carefully and intently to her friends words. "Your mom sees that too, in her own way, but if you want her to take you seriously. You gotta start making your own mark."


Present day:

Those words echoed in her mind, and when she turned to Bow and Rook they saw that look in her eye. They had a feeling what she was thinking.

"So…I'm guessing that didn't go so well." Bow voiced but Glimmer just clenched her fists and shaking.

"Glimmer?" Rook asked.

"She maybe my Queen, but she doesn't command my own decisions. It's time I made my own mark!" Glimmer voiced and knew what she had to do.


The Fright Zone:

In Hordaks sanctum, Entrapta had connected some wires to the blade of the Sword of Protection and began testing with it.

"With the sword connected to the portal machine, we should finally be able to bypass the planetary interference." Entrapta voiced not even seeing the shaking machines and sparking computer screens in the sanctum. "I just have no idea how it works. Heh." Entrapta chuckled.

Hordaks pondering was interrupted by muffled screaming and he looks to Ben and Adora who were restrained to a pole by their energy cuffs and still gagged.

"Must they be here?" Hordak questioned his lab partner.

"Good question. I'm not sure if we just need the sword or of we need She-Ra, too." Entrapta wondered scratching her head with the sword. "Adora, you wouldn't happen to know, would you?" She used her hair tendril to lower Adora's gag so she could talk freely.

"No. Even if I did, I wouldn't tell the Horde." Adora defied before Entrapta put the gag back on.

"That's okay. I like figuring stuff out, and on that matter." Entrapta then turned her attention to Ben and pulled out a small device and a green light scanned him from head to toe she then looked at the scan and studied the results.

Adora then spat out her gag and tried to appeal to her former comrade. "Please, Entrapta, you don't wanna do this."

"Silence! Entrapta, begin." Hordak yelled silencing Adora. Adora struggled in her restraints but looked at Hordak with hatred in her eyes.

"You." She seethed. "You took me away from my family when I was a baby. You lied to me my whole life, about the Princesses, about Etheria, about who I am."

"I could not have lied to you about who you are." Hordak said not even facing her. "Because I have never known nor cared about someone as inconsequential as you."

Ben then proceeded to spit out his gag as well hearing that. "And that pal was your first mistake!" He said. "I guess Shadow Weaver wasn't the blind one but you!"

Adora struggled in her restraints again and again but still couldn't get free Ben tried as well to no avail. They were truly stuck this time."You should care, because I'm the one who's gonna make sure you fail!" Adora yelled.

"Yeah she is, and should you really underestimate her power Hordak. You know considering how often me and She-Ra kick your cronies butts on a daily basis. Not that you'd know anything about that. You know most tyrants tend to come do the job themselves but you stay here cooped up in your lab."

"Guess Catra is right about one thing, you're just a coward who hides while letting others fight his battles for him!" Adora smirked. "No wonder you always lose!"

"I will not fail!" Hordak hissed as he approached the captive heroes. "You fools have no power to stop me. I am opening that portal. And I am going to use your own sword to wipe out the rest of you pathetic Rebellion once and for…"

"Yeah and the universe will soon be yours yada yada yada." Ben interrupted. "Seriously dude do you know how many times I've heard that same line for the last eight years?"

Hordak hissed and grabbed Ben by his shirt collar. "Then I assure you boy this will be the last time you ever hear it!"

"Heard that one too." Ben smirked before he turned serious. "But you know I gotta ask, how stupid are you?"

"What!?" Hordak said in a rage.

"I mean for someone so smart, in fact I'd call you a genius except Entrapta's in the room, you sure don't think things through." Ben said to him. "This worlds in a shadow dimension and if you open a portal you're not going to bring an army through your going to tear reality apart! I would've thought you'd want a planet to actually conquer?"

"He's right if you open the portal now it'll tear reality open and take all of us with it even the Horde!" Adora agreed.

Hordak just scoffed as he flung Ben to the floor. "False claims to save your own skins but then again I don't expect inferior beings to comprehend what I am about to do!" Suddenly his suit collar sparked and he collapsed to the ground in pain. Entrapta heard this and lifted her mask to see Hordak in pain and hurried over to him in concern.

Entrapta placed a comforting hair tendril on his shoulder only for him to swat it away in anger. "Get it to work!" He hissed and Entrapta went to get the sword. "As for you two I had planned to send you to Beast Island where you would no longer trouble me! However as you have been thorns in my side for so long I will allow you to watch as I make my greatest achievement and finalise my final victory!" He said as he turned his back on them and walked away leaving Entrapta looking a little saddened.

"Man and I thought Albedo was full of it." Ben said to himself.

All of a sudden they heard a humming sound and a glow coming from the sword. It broke free from the wires and spun round and round until it stopped and hovered on the machine much to Adora and Bens horror its like it knew what this machine was.

"Oh no." They breathed while Entrapta on the other hand was intrigued and fascinated as to what was happening.

"Come on!" Ben hissed and they tried to break free from their shackles but they wouldn't come loose. And Ben couldn't transform without access to the Omnitrix, it looked like all was hopeless and there was no heroics this time unless some hope came.


Bright Moon:

The room where Shadow Weaver was being held was under the heaviest guard by the Bright Moon guards. From afar Bow, Glimmer and Rook hid behind the opposite wall.

"This is a bad idea." Bow said.

"It's a great idea." Glimmer said but then saw the look in Bow and Rooks eyes. "Okay, it's terrible. But what choice do we have?"

"Glimmer I realise the situation at hand but we need to discuss and plan this further." Rook voiced.

"Rook no offence but when have any of our plans ever worked out we plan we get there all hell breaks loose." Glimmer reminded him. "And if Moms not going to act then we have to and now!"

"I wanna help as much as you do, but Shadow Weaver?" Bow questioned as he didn't like the idea of getting help from that witch who captured and tortured them.

"Adora and Ben need us now!" Glimmer reminded the duo. "And Shadow Weaver would know all about the Fright Zone's weak points. Let's at least talk to her."

"I don't like this!" Bow disagreed. "Rook tell her this is a bad idea."

"Normally I would…but given the crisis I believe Glimmer is right in this case." Rook said.

"She is!?" Bow questioned.

"I am?!" Glimmer said in even more surprise but brushed it off. "I mean of course I am."

"I do not like this situation, but I do see the tactical logic. Shadow Weaver was once Hordak's second in command and would have intimate knowledge of the Fright Zone. That is to say any help she would offer would be to fuel her own agenda." Rook explained.

"Exactly so what makes us think we can trust her or even get her to help us?!" Bow questioned again.

"Desperate times of crisis calls for an uneasy alliance Bow." Rook voiced given how many times he and his partner had to ally themselves with some of their villains to stop a crisis. "But I believe there is one thing that will prompt the sorceress to help us."

"And that is?" Bow asked.

"Adora." Rook answered simply which did put an air of surprise among the group.

"He's right, she might be a monster but she does care for Adora in her own twisted way." Glimmer agreed. "So if she's in trouble she might help us."

"Wait so thats it we just trust her?" Bow questioned.

"Trust her no, but we have little choice and time to come to a decision." Rook said.

"I know this seems like a deal with the devil, but at least it's a devil that we know." Glimmer agreed.

The archer was still uneasy about all this bartering with Shadow Weaver to stop Hordak's portal, even after everything she's done to them. That and her trust was in question. However as the vote of the company was against him they really did have no choice but to do this if they were to save their friends and indeed all reality. Before he could say anything though Glimmer grabbed Bow and Rooks wrists and teleported them away.

They reappeared in the prison/guest room and saw Shadow Weaver sitting on a plump couch reading a book."Princess. It's about time." She said almost knowingly.

"You knew we were coming?" Glimmer wondered suspiciously.

"Those two I had no idea about." Shadow Weaver closed her book and eyed the Plumber and Archer. "But you... You are smart, you want to stop the Horde, and you know I'm the only one who can help you do that. I must admit, I thought it would take you longer to speak with me." She relaxed on the couch.

"We really do not have much choice sorceress the situation is more dire than you realise." Rook voiced.

"Catra kidnapped Adora and Ben in the Crimson Waste. We need to get them back, before the Horde uses her and her sword to open a portal." Glimmer explained.

This caught the sorceress's attention immediately as her eyes widened in surprise. "His machine is complete? And they have Adora?"

"Yes, in the Waste we learned from the crashed First Ones ship that the sword is the universal key to the planet." Rook told her. "Which could also be the key to opening the portal Hordak needs to bring his army. However we are in a shadow dimension and if a portal is opened it will tear reality apart beyond repair."

"This…this sounds unbelievable. But I believe you, We must hurry. If Hordak has the opportunity to open a portal, he will do so immediately." Shadow Weaver voiced in actual concern.

"That is where you come in Shadow Weaver, you must provide us and the Alliance with detailed information on the Fright Zones weak points so we may rescue our comrades." Rook said.

"No there's no time The Alliance will never get there in time… but perhaps…" Shadow Weaver began to ponder in thought.

"What? What is it?" Glimmer demanded as she approached her cell.

"Let me out and I can help you teleport right into the heart of the Fright Zone." Shadow Weaver then proposed which put a look of shock on Rook and Bows faces while Glimmer just laughed at that suggestion.

"Me? I couldn't even get to the edge of the Fright Zone without running out of power." Glimmer said as she started to feel doubt in her abilities. "I'm nowhere near strong enough."

"But I can make you stronger." Shadow Weaver said to her. "I'm still the only sorceress who has ever been able to tap into a runestone. If you allow me to access your connection to the Moonstone, I can enhance your powers. You could teleport us all the way there."

Glimmer listened intently to what the sorceress was saying, and her words seemed to seep into her mind. Could she really amplify her powers enough to teleport right into the Fright Zone the heart of the Horde Empire itself? She felt so limited with her powers and a part of her wondered if she could do more.

"Uh us?" Bow asked with Rook giving a questionable look.

"I suppose you could come." Shadow Weaver shrugged. "We'll teleport directly into Hordak's sanctum, disable the portal machine, and find Adora."

"And?..." Rook gave a questioning look as she was forgetting someone.

"And Ben too." Shadow Weaver sighed.

"And what makes you believe we would release you? We requested intel not your involvement." Rook questioned still not trusting the sorceress. Glimmer paced a hand on his arm telling him to let her try.

"You can really make me that powerful?" Glimmer asked very curious.

"You think of yourself only as a Princess, but you're the child of a great sorcerer." Shadow Weaver eerily spoke as her words continued to seep into the princess's mind and she began to wonder it was true her father was a sorcerer and she was once his tutor. "You have a more powerful connection to magic than you've ever realized. Let me show you." She reached her hand out to her.

"You just wanna use Glimmer's power to escape." Bow then said not trusting this plan at all. Rook was deep in thought he knew Shadow Weaver was treacherous but at the same time she did have deep knowledge in magic that could rival Gwen or even Hex.

"I want to destroy Hordak. We must strike now. If what you say is true and the situation is this dire Hordak can't be allowed to open a portal. We'll never have another opportunity. You know that." Shadow Weaver told them as she stood up from her seat preaching her case.

Glimmer was in conflict about all of this but Shadow Weaver did raise some valid points. If they didn't act now the Horde would win or even destroy reality itself. And with the Proto Truck out of commission flying there wasn't an Rook was still unconvinced.

"If we were to release you Shadow Weaver, what guarantee do we have that you will not betray us or use Glimmers power to escape." Rook then asked her.

"I know what you must think of me and my actions, but you have my word as a sorceress of Mystacor, surely that is enough." Shadow Weaver told her.

"That is not enough." Rook said which did make the sorceress's eyes widen in surprise. "You betrayed your order at Mystacor and you betrayed your former master, your actions only prove your loyalty has been questionable and any help you offer is to further your own agenda."

"Then what would you have my word on?" Shadow Weaver asked.

All was silent in the room but then Rook finally gave her an answer. "Adora's life." This shook Bow and Glimmer was he asking the sorceress to swear on their friends life to prove herself. "If you truly care for Adora as you claim, then you will swear it on her life." Rook then said in a serious tone and she could see in his eyes that he meant it.

"Very well. I swear on Adora's life that I will not betray, deceive you or use the princess's powers to my own ends." Shadow Weaver raised her hand in an oath. "Satisfied?"

Rook looked to his friends Bow was still unsure while Glimmer looked to him almost in a pleading way but looked serious silently telling him this is the only way. With a sigh the Plumber turned to the prisoner.

"Shadow Weaver, on the authority of the Great Rebellion and the Plumbers I herby grant you temporary amnesty so you may aid us in our mission. Once your task is complete you shall be returned to your cell. Do you understand?" He said.

"Perfectly." Shadow Weaver said. Then without another word Glimmer energies her fist with magic and slammed her palm on the prison walls. Suddenly the wall began to ripple and shatter until it was no more. Glimmer was surprised she did that. Glimmer was about to walk beyond the shattered spell circle but Rook stopped her and stepped right up to the sorceress herself. Glaring her in the eyes.

"Do. Not. Make. Us regret this alliance, and do not believe for an instant I will not keep a close eye on you." Rook warned her as she maintained a calm gaze.

"I honestly would've been disappointed if you didn't otherwise." Shadow Weaver simply said. "Shall we?" She then gestured to the window. Bow held his hand over his face groaning if they'd made the right decision, while Glimmer just offered her hand to the sorceress agreeing to the alliance. Their pact with the devil had all been signed.


The Fright Zone:

The horned goon girl was going through some of the lockers in the training room, and she found something. "Hey, would you look at this?" She said picking up a Horde hoodie.

"You can't take that!" Scorpia ran over trying to take the hoodie from her. But the Horned girl goon tossed it over to her four armed cohort. "Ha, ha. Let's make this thing official!" She cheered.

"It doesn't even fit." Scorpia protested when suddenly *RIP* the four armed lizard pushed her arms through the sleeves tearing them off and punched her lower arms through the lower section of the jacket and it looked like a punk jacket now. The four arm lizard struck a few tough poses. By this time Scorpia had had enough and tried pulling the jacket off the lizard goons back but after a couple of tugs.

"Not bad. You look good in a uniform." The Horn girl a crack of a whip shut the locker door loudly and it was Catra who had just entered with a very smug look on her face.

"Catra. Catra, there you are." Scorpia ran over to her as she was winding her whip. "Uhh, I have been looking everywhere for you."

"Yeah, well, I've kinda had my hands full." Catra replied. "Any minute now, Hordak's going to open a portal and I'll be the reason the Horde defeats the Princesses." She placed her hand on Scorpia's shoulder with a smile but it certainly didn't feel like one. "But hey, I couldn't have done any of it without you. Thanks."

Scorpia did bare a small smile, but she didn't seem happy. The horned goon girl was laughing withe enjoyment but Scorpia was getting annoyed and pushed her away with her claw hands. She looked back to Catra only to find she was gone. She should be happy for her friend getting back on top in the Horde, but she didn't feel it in her heart, it seemed she was conflicted especially with seeing how happy she truly was in the Waste like thats where she belonged. But she gave it up just to go back to a life where she wasn't recognised for her efforts. She kept thinking about what Ben said to her in the Northern Reach and began to see it was starting to ring true.


Hordaks Sanctum:

In the sanctum Entrapta sat on top of Emily and was gazing upon a lone lever, this was the lever that would activate the portal machine. She was greatly tempted to activate it and see what wonders she might discover.

"You're right. Just look away." She said to Emily but still couldn't take her eyes of the lever. "Ohh, I can't. What's taking Hordak so long?"

"You know Entrapta, for someone who calls herself a genius you're about to do something unbelievably stupid!"Ben said to her but she just stayed quiet.

"Entrapta please we never meant to leave you behind. We thought you were dead." Adora tried to speak to her but she just lowered her welding mask and looked away.

"But Catra said you abandoned me." Entrapta said to them.

"Catra would say anything that helps her get what she wants." Adora told her.

"Don't you get it yet Catra isn't your friend she's only ever seen you as a means to an end." Ben agreed. "She's been using your tech to hurt innocent people just for her own ambitions!"

"Catra is my friend. I think." Entrapta said looking at the data read outs on her console showing Adora, Ben, Glimmer, Catra and Scorpia. Catra's ratings were the highest. "Yes, the data says she is."

"Yeah well I hate to tell you this Entrapta but sometimes the data can be wrong." Ben said. "A real friend would never use their work that they've made to make life easier and use them to hurt people. Do you even see what she's doing with your robots?"

"Well yes." Entrapta looked at the footage of her robots attacking innocent villagers and even some of her fellow princesses like Frosta and Perfuma. "Yes I do."

"Look, I understand. Catra was my friend, too. But she makes bad decisions." Adora said. "Decisions guided by trying to prove something to Shadow Weaver and Hordak, and her ambitions had turned her into someone I don't even recognise anymore!"

"And she won't stop at nothing to get what she wants and everyones paying the price for her decisions!" Ben agreed. "What's to stop her from throwing you under the bus the first chance she gets."

"This is one of her bad decisions. The Horde's armies will come through, and then it's all over for Etheria. You can't open a portal." Adora said.

Entrapta was quiet as her hair seemed to reel in, then out of nowhere she thrusted her hair tendrils towards them like spears. Ben and Adora closed their eyes bracing themselves for the attack. However they felt nothing when they opened their eyes and looked up her hair was tied around the pole. She pulled herself and Emily along towards them with her back still turned. She then turned to a frowning Adora and Ben.

"Oh, but I can." She beamed lifting up her welding mask before lying down on Emily. "Did you miss the whole sword makes the portal machine work thing? I really don't have time to explain it." She then pulled herself back to her lab station.

"It's too dangerous." Adora tried to reason with her but it was all in vain.

"All exploration has an element of danger." Entrapta said as she showed a screen of distant galaxies and planets. "But think of what we could find. Whole worlds, galaxies, things we can't even imagine. And who knows maybe we could find the planet you and Rook come from Ben." She said looking to Ben. "I mean isn't that what you want."

"Yeah yeah it is." Ben said to her. "But thats just it wanting something so badly can turn you into something your not. And yeah it all sounds great even people from Earth have traveled to space to discover what's out there. But there are some things in this universe that weren't meant for mortal eyes to see or even tamper with."

"He's right, and if you open a portal here it won't end there, the Horde will use what you've made to spread their evil to other worlds. I know you want others to recognise your work Entrapta but all they will see you as is the one who built the machines that hurt people is that what you want?" Adora agreed.

"But to understand what's out there we have to voyage into dangerous territory in the pursuit of knowledge." Entrapta said.

The two of them could see that the tech princess wasn't listening, she seemed so focused on the pursuit of science rather than the consequences of what those discoveries could bring. Ben had to admit she was more stubborn than Azmuth when they first met. Wait thats it.

"Entrapta listen, you're a scientist and as a scientist you like to investigate things to understand them don't you?" Ben asked her, this immediately got her attention.

"Ye….s." She said rather curiously hearing Bens plea.

"Then rise above your over eager curiosity and analyse the situation." Ben suggested and Adora quickly caught onto what he was doing he was talking her language.

"Just hear us out, listen Etheria is stranded in a shadow dimension called Despondos its completely cut off from the rest of the universe." Adora explained to her.

"Me and Rook came here from Earth to investigate strange anomalies and they are what brought us to Etheria." Ben continued. "In fact check that scan you took of me and check for anything relating to the portal."

Peaking her curiosity Entrapta used her hair tendrils to pick up her scanner and inserted it in her computer and looked over the scan she took of Ben. "Hmmm, well I am detecting traces of Tachyon particles, and these kinds of things could only come from."

"Exposure to time and space portals right?"Ben then said.

"Yes yes thats exactly it." Entrapta realised.

"Thats because me and Rook have had encountered people who can control time and space even ones who can create entire universes." Ben explained his encounters with Paradox, Eon, Maltruant and even the Contimilia.

"And you both were exposed to time space energies that would've reacted with these anomalies and somehow produced a wormhole that pulled you through here!" Entrapta realised. "But how did you get past the interference around the planet?"

"I don't really know, but Adora came through a portal too, in fact she's a First One!" Ben then said.

"WHAT!" Entrapta shouted in excitement. "A real FIRST ONE!" She zoomed right up to Adora's face.

"Uh yes I guess I am." Adora said.

"Okay I am soooo overflowing with questions right now, but this explains why you can wield the sword it responds to a First One why didn't I see this!" Entrapta then said.

"Yeah well theres a lot of things we haven't seen." Adora said. "But back to the subject have you wondered what those anomalies might be or what danger they could have if you opened a portal?"

Entrapta listened to what she was saying and took these thoughts into consideration. "It wouldn't work because I wasn't the first She-Ra on Etheria the last one Mara made it so we could never open another portal. Trying could destroy everything." Adora said.

"Yeah and what Hordaks gonna do is tear reality apart until there's nothing left it's like trying to do brain surgery with a sledge hammer!" Ben added.

"Oh I actually did that once, to one of my robots." Entrapta said but then turned her attention back to her monitors to investigate their claims. "I have noticed some anomalies in my portal trials. They could potentially pose a problem." In clicking her monitors on the anomalies large red crosses appeared that indicated a problem. "Maybe I should run more tests. You won't try to escape if I just pop out for a quick sec, will you?"

"Uhh…no." Adora said in an honest way.

"Ye…ah I can't exactly reach the watch to transform right now so we're not going anywhere." Ben agreed.

Entrapta fell silent and the air was awkward but then. "Okay, great, really appreciate it. Come on, Emily." Entrapta said as she and Emily trotted away slowly leaving the two heroes to figure out what to do next.

"Wow." Ben breathed. "The first time I talk like a smart guy and neither Azmuth or Gwen are here to hear it."

"I gotta admit that was pretty impressive Ben." Adora breathed.

"Hey I can talk nerd's language too." Ben smiled. "Now we gotta find away to get out of here." He tried pulling at the shackles again but to no avail. "Gah, I bet even Houdini couldn't get out of this one."

"Well I don't know what a Houdini is but I do have an idea." Adora then said, she closed her eyes and instead of struggling she strangely relaxed herself and took a deep breaths in, and out again, she was doing this several times.

"Uh isn't this a bad time for breathing exercises?" Ben asked.

"Its a technique I learned from Rook when he taught me Revonnahkai its something he said could help in a tight spot if I keep breathing like this I might be able to slip out of my shackles and get us loose." Adora explained. "Then we can get my sword and destroy the portal machine."

"Kind of a long shot?" Ben asked. "Plus relaxing is a bit tricky with you remember?"

"You got any better ideas?" Adora asked him and honestly he didn't have any other ideas. Its times like this he wished he had Master Control on the Omnitrix so he could use voice command to transform. But given that wasn't an option he couldn't.

"Well don't let me stop Rooks apprentice my young Padawan." Ben joked which resulted in a weirded out look from Adora not understanding that reference.

"Ah never mind I'll tell you later." Ben said and so Adora continued her breathing exercises now this would seem like a long shot but as she kept breathing in and out her wrist slowly began to move.


Bright Moon:

On the Moonstone, a rescue plan was underway. Shadow Weaver had begun drawing a spell mandala under the runestone itself that would hopefully enhance Glimmers powers enough to teleport them into the Fright Zone. Glimmer, Bow and Rook were on look out in case any guards show up or even the Queen.

"You are sure this spell will enhance Glimmers powers to get us inside the Fright Zone right?" Bow asked Shadow Weaver.

"I did not become a great sorceress at Mystacor by doing guess work, it will suffice if I am allowed to concentrate!" Shadow Weaver said so Bow remained silent but was still against this whole idea.

However little did they know a small green root was growing up the Moonstone tower, and the sound did not go unnoticed by Rooks heightened senses. "Who goes there!"

Rook pointed his Proto Tool towards the sound as Shadow Weaver, Glimmer and Bow all gasped as Perfuma appeared followed by a splash of water revealing Mermista and flying down from some ice was Frosta. Then hovering down from above was Spinerella with Nettossa in her arms flying down in a small whirlwind.

"What do you think you're doing?" Mermista asked.

"Please, don't try to stop us. This is the only way to save Adora and Ben." Glimmer pleaded forming her staff in front of Shadow Weaver.

"We're not trying to stop you." Perfuma explained. "We wanna come with you."

"Absolutely not it is…" Rook tried but. "Too dangerous?" Mermista interrupted. "Look, we could do the whole "You can't come with us, it's too risky" thing."

"Or you could just accept that we're coming. Because we are." Frosta added.

"She's right we princesses gotta stick together and if I recall we are bound by a code." Spinnerella agreed. "No princess or Tennyson left behind."

"Yeah so like Ben says it's hero time baby!" Nettossa agreed.

Bow, Glimmer and Rook were very touched by the princesses words they were truly loyal to each other and willing to go into danger no matter the risk.

"Plus last time I checked Glimmer is our leader in the field, and we're with her." Mermista added.

Shadow Weaver however didn't like this at all, she gave out a loud sigh. "A larger group will be a disadvantage. I won't…"

"You will. We're calling the shots here." Mermista said pointing to the sorceress. "You're gonna have to make that thing bigger, weird scary lady." Realising there was no protest in this Shadow Weaver set to work on redoing her spell mandala to include the others.


Inside the palace Queen Angella was outside her daughters room. She had a heavy heart over what she said to her earlier and wanted to try and fix things.

"Glimmer." She called as she touched her door and it suddenly opened, she sensed something was wrong and pushed it open all the way to discover her room was empty. She looked angry that her daughter had disobeyed her again but then her anger was replaced by horror she realised where her daughter could be and ran down the hall quickly.


Back on the Moonstone Shadow Weaver was close to finishing her spell mandala as she was making final touches to the centre.

"Do you think she can be trusted?" Perfuma whispered to Rook.

"No but at the moment we have no other choice." Rook whispered to her.

"This is all kinds of crazy you know that?" Mermista whispered.

"Well as Ben would say sometimes crazy works." Rook said just as Shadow Weaver put the finishing touches on her mandala and stood in the centre of it.

"Quickly now." Shadow Weaver said to the group and they quickly stepped into the spell circle with a very determined Glimmer close behind them.


Back inside Angella had arrived at the prison, but to her horror she was too late. She looked to see the cell was empty and all that was left was magical dust residue, and the prisoner herself was nowhere to be seen. Angella realised Shadow Weaver had no power and couldn't have broken the seal on her own, not without help. In picking up the dust on the ground she saw it had a magic sparkle to it and gasped realising this could've only been the work of one person.

"Glimmer! What have you done!" Angella breathed in horror and with no time to lose flew right out of that room as fast as her wings could carry her. Praying she would get to the Moonstone in time.


Beneath the Moonstone, Shadow Weaver began to work her magic spreading her power to the spell mandala below her which began to glow into life surprising the Princesse's and rebels present. The sorceress proceeded to draw out a spell mandala before her and then put her hand through it offering it to Glimmer. Who at first seemed hesitant at accepting this, however she grew determined in realising this was the only way their worlds survival and the survival of reality itself depended on it.


Angella flew swiftly through the corridors but there was no way she would get there in time to stop her daughter.


Without hesitation Glimmer took Shadow Weavers hand and they began to surge with power and surrounded the two and the runestone itself. Glimmer groaned feeling such power flowing through her as everyone grouped together.

By the time Angella arrived she saw the Moonstone was surging with dark power but none the less flew towards it as fast as she could. "NO!" she cried but just as Glimmer turned to see her mother she disappeared away in a bright light as the dark power blasted itself from the Moonstone into parts beyond.

When Angella looked down on the base of the tower, her daughter and the rest of the alliance Shadow Weaver included had all but disappeared.


The Fright Zone:

The spell mandala appeared on the floor and in a surge of power the Princess Alliance and Shadow Weaver had reappeared now inside the Fright Zone itself. Everyone was prepared for anything, Rook armed his Proto-Tool while Bow had his arrows at the ready as the other princesses were ready with their respective powers.

"We did it." Glimmer breathed in amazement "I did it. Oh, that was amazing." She bounced in the air in amazement she had actually teleported the group to the Hordes stronghold itself.

However as they looked at their surroundings, they could see it didn't exactly scream bad guy lair. "Hmm, kind of figured Hordak's sanctum would be way scarier and not so empty." Bow observed at the small space and a few storage crates near them.

"Yeah, no, decorating is not their strongest suit." Mermista agreed.

"This appears to be a storage area of some kind, what is this Sorceress?" Rook asked wondering if Shadow Weaver had done this on purpose.

"Calm yourself, we aimed for Hordak's sanctum, but obviously we missed." She explained. "We're not far. Stay behind me. And try to be quiet." She said as she headed for a nearby door, suddenly however the door on the opposite side opened taking the group completely by surprise.

The four armed lizard goon stood there with a container of snacks in her hand she was shocked to see enemy forces in front of her. "Oh podoo!" Frosta grumbled. The bandit dropped the container of nuts.

Rook quickly fired his Proto-Tool and it trapped the bandits head in an energy net blinding her temporarily. "We have to get out of here!" Rook realised.

"This way!" Shadow Weaver called opening the other door in the room.

"I'll hold her off!" Perfuma told the group and so they hurried after Shadow Weaver through the door but Rook stopped for a moment.

"Perfuma!" He called to the flower princess getting her attention. "Be careful." He smiled.

"I will now go!" Perfuma said to him and so he followed the others. The Four Armed lizard goon finally lost patience and tore the energy net clean off her face and turned her rage towards Perfuma leaping at her. The princess dodged out of the way and formed a vine whip to fight her opponent just as the door closed. Seconds later four large dent holes appeared, but then the sound of swinging and crashing metal could be heard.


The rest of the Alliance hurried down the hallways to get to the inner sanctum just ahead was another door. However said door opened revealing Lonnie and Rogelio rushing in and saw the enemy before them. The team stand ready with their respective weapons and powers with Frosta forming ice gauntlets on her hands. The two Hordesman were shocked and Lonnie instantly pulled a lever sounding the alarm before pulling out her taser stick and Rogelio roared with might.

Rook was about to use his weapon but Mermista stopped him and stepped forwards. "My turn." Using her powers she summoned the waters from the sewer grates in the hallway and made them into blobs. "I didn't almost drown in these sewers for nothing."

"I want in!" Frosta beamed and used her powers to turn the water blobs into ice shards which flung at Lonnie and Rogelio trapping them in ice with no means of escape.

"Hm that seemed a little too easy." Spinnerella realised and she was right, for suddenly the sound of loud banging footsteps could be heard and a shadows of Horde Troops were on their way much to Lonnie's smirking.

"We'll keep them busy. Go." Mermista told the rest of the group, they went through another open door on the right wall and it sealed shut behind them.


Rook, Bow, Spinerella, Glimmer, Nettossa and Shadow Weaver ran further and further down the hallways but the whole facility was on alert and now knew of their presence. Just when they turned a corner they were greeted with a platoon of Horde troopers and robots all training their weapons on the enemy forces.

"Oh come on seriously!" Bow exclaimed.

"Well considering we are inside an enemy base with so many Hordesmen bent on our destruction it is to be expected we encounter resistance."Rook noted.

"A very astute way to voice the obvious." Shadow Weaver said in a sarcastic tone.

The robots began firing their lasers from their one eye and the troopers charged forwards. Spinnerella took point and unleashed a massive tornado upon them blasting them clear off the ground, Nettossa followed by tossing her energy nets and restraining the troopers and robots the latter smashed to the ground and exploded.

"Yeah go Team Spintossa!" Bow cheered. However that joy was short-lived as the sounds of more approaching troops was closing in on them.

"We cannot waste time we have to go!" Shadow Weaver told them.

"Then go we'll deal with them!" Spinerella told the four of them.

"Alright regroup with us in the sanctum when you can!" Rook told them and so he, Glimmer, Bow and Shadow Weaver hurried from the hallway and into another open door which sealed shut behind them.

They hurried through more of the bases hallways with greater haste then before. "The sanctum should be just down this way!" Shadow Weaver told them as they turned a corner and saw a green light in the next hall. Just then however.

"Lonnie, why did you pull…?" Catra came round the corner but when she saw Rook, Glimmer and Bow she really wasn't expecting to see. "Shadow Weaver?" She gasped.

Bow drew one of his arrows and Rook readied his own weapon training it on the feline Force Captain. Just then Shadow Weaver took Glimmers hand and they began surging with power. This did cause Glimmer to groan in pain slightly but she shook it off to face down their enemy.

"I heard you were with the enemy, but are you actually holding hands with a Princess right now?" Catra scoffed in disgust.

"Do not try anything Catra you are outnumbered!" Rook advised.

"He's right surprisingly." Shadow Weaver agreed. "There's no sense in trying to fight us. You don't stand a chance. Join us, or stand aside."

"This is your last warning." Rook then said as he trained his weapon on her. "Stand down."

Catra however just smirked. "How about…." she reached for her whip. "YOU STAND DOWN!" she drew her whip and lashed out at them.

Bow quickly retaliated by firing an arrow from his namesake deflecting the whip and becoming trapped in the rope. Rook followed by firing several laser blasts from his Proto Tool. Catra charged forwards deflecting the arrows with her whip and slipped and leaped over all the laser blasts.

The archer fired goop arrow after goop arrow to try and trap Catra but each arrow missed its mark as she was too quick and slashed her whip and the arrow in the rope smashed into Bow trapping him in his own goopy creation.

"Bow!" Glimmer and Rook exclaimed. Catra's attention then turned to the Revonnahgander and lashed her whip at him but Rook quickly turned his Proto Tool into a staff catching the whip then with a great yank he hurled her into a wall.

Catra hissed in anger as Rook changed his staff into duel Proto Blades and swung them around in a samurai styled way. She cracked her whip again and slashed it at him but Rook blocked each strike with his swords spinning them around. She strikes again and her whip wraps round one of his Proto Blades but he swiftly used his free blade to slice the whip off his arm. Catra retracted her whip but Rook took an opportunity and leaped over her and reformed her Proto-Staff and hit her in the back of the head sending her tumbling to the ground.

She tries to get up only to be met by the humming of an energy blaster from Rooks weapon. "It is over Catra!" Rook told her.

Suddenly however Catra span from the floor kicked Rooks Proto Tool away but not before she performed a spinning kick and knocked him to the ground as well.

"Rook!" Glimmer exclaimed.

"Don't lose your focus." Shadow Weaver told her, just as Catra yelled in fury cracking her whip and charged at them both."Concentrate!"

So Glimmer did she concentrated her powers and before Catra could strike teleported her and Shadow Weaver away. Catra tries to attack again only for them to teleport away again and again and again. She begins to grow frustrated so she decides to try a different tactic. She held her whip and waited letting her keen feline senses do the rest as her prey teleported around the room, then at the first sound of sparkling she unleashed her whip and caught Glimmers wrist just as she reappeared causing her to yelp in pain. Taking the advantage Shadow Weaver grabbed the whip and surged her own magic through it shocking Catra in the process who cried out in pain and collapsed to the ground.

"Catra, there's no need for us to be enemies." Shadow Weaver said softly actually trying to reason with her as she approached her while Rook recovered and trained his weapon on Catra. "I can help you. I can offer you a way out."

"So, what? You're on the side of good now? You made me this way, and you get to be the good guy?" Catra growled still feeling the pain of her former mentors magic. Suddenly dark shadows gathered around her and lifted her up the ground causing her to cry and groan out in pain she was in her mentors dark grip.

"Do you know what happened to me after you escaped? Do you even care? You couldn't wait for to get away from here, from me. But you came back for Adora!" Catra yelled with tears in her eyes. "Again! It is always her and never me! No matter what I do no matter how hard I try I will never be good enough do you even care!"

"I came back to stop Hordak. I will make sure he's destroyed." Shadow Weaver told her as Rook helped free Bow from his goop arrow trap and turned their attention back to them. "And you were always enough my dear Catra but it is as I told you, power is not given or earned it must be taken and yet you hold out your hand but pull it back for others to reap the rewards! Because you've always lacked the motivation and logic to do what is nessecary! I on the other hand do and I will ensure Hordaks destruction, but I will be generous with you child. Don't make me destroy you too."

"HA!, I'm going to make sure we win." Catra said with venom in her voice. "We're going to open that portal, and then there will be nothing left of you or the Princesses! The end is near for all of you so if you beg me now I might show you mercy when the time comes and you will finally see I am worthy!"

"Then it's time I taught you one final lesson!" Shadow Weaver tightened her grip on Catra causing her to groan in pain, but her magic was having an affect on Glimmer. She groaned in pain as she was becoming weak. "If you dare to have dreams of power." Catra growled feeling the immense pain.

"You will be consumed by them!"

Bow and Rook saw the toll Shadow Weavers use of Glimmers power was taking on the princess she was on the ground getting weaker. "Stop it. You're taking too much!" Bow pleaded with the sorceress.

"Enough!" Rook exclaimed to Shadow Weaver but she wasn't listening she was busy hurting her former student who was still reeling in pain.

"Shadow Weaver!" He grabbed her wrist. "Enough!" He demanded. Unaware that the Horned goon girl was hiding behind the wall nearby.

"Of course." She released her grip on Glimmer who finally got her breath back as Bow comforted her and the sorceress released her grip on Catra who dropped her taser rod in the process. She looked up at Shadow Weaver who glared down at her.

"Consider that a warning, next time it will be your last." Shadow Weaver said in a venomous tone. Catra wasn't taking this again she grabbed her taser stick to attack until the Horned Goon Girl stopped her by grabbing her from behind.

"No. You can't fight them, they're too strong." She urged to her so much to her irk she had no choice but to retreat through the next door. Bow helped Glimmer to her feet.

"Glimmer are you alright?" Rook asked in concern.

"Yeah yeah I'm fine just need a minute to catch my breath." Glimmer panted.

"We do not have time to waste we must get to Hordaks Inner Sanctum now!" Shadow Weaver urged them much to their annoyed and angered looks. So they pressed on ahead.


Meanwhile:

In Entrapta's workshop said inventor was hard at work running some tests. Using her hair tendrils to pick out certain items from the storage crates. Scorpia was sitting on one of these crates but she looked a little down.

"Ah, boy, I really appreciate you letting me assist you." Scorpia said handing the hair tendril the piece of metal it dropped. "I miss hanging out. Yeah, you've been so busy with Hordak lately and Catra…" She felt very sad with recent events. "I mean, she's got her new friends."

Entraptas attention however was focused on her simulations of Etheria and what was said to her earlier. A diagram of an explosion appeared on a section of the map. This confused her as she scratched her head. In further computing several more explosion icons appeared until finally *BANG!* A skull and crossbones appeared which told her only one thing.

"Oh, this is not good." Entrapta groaned.

"Oh, you want me to go, too?" Scorpia sighed sadly as she prepared to leave. "I understand. I'm probably in your way. I'll just…"

"No, no that." Entrapta corrected as she extended her air to pull Scorpia back. "I've been running diagnostics on the portal. Watch."

They replay the simulation again showing the Scorpi Force Captain what would happen and the sound of an explosion made her eyes widen in surprise and a bit of fright.

"You are right. That is not good." Scorpia said to her. "Is that gonna happen? I mean, to the actual planet?"

"This is just an illustration. What will actually happen will be much worse." Entrapta explained as she kept her eyes on the screen. "If my numbers are right, and they are, if we open a portal, the anomalies will be catastrophic. It'll unhinge time and space, creating a warped reality that will collapse in on itself, erasing us from existence." She tried to put on a brave face in the name of science but deep down she was very terrified of this new information. "I never thought I'd say this, but we can't go through with it."

Just then the sound of the door opening drew their attention and Scorpia gasped with joy to see. "Catra!"

However as she approached her the feline Force Captain just pushed Scorpia aside and angrily approached Entrapta grabbing her by the arms. "Why aren't you in Hordak's lab?!"

"Uh…mmmm.." Entrapta tried to come up with a response which Catra had no time for.

"There's no time. The Princesses and Tennysons partner is here! We need to fire up the portal machine!" Catra exclaimed.

"We can't." Entrapta used her hair to pull herself away from her. "Opening a portal now will be disastrous. It's going to collapse and take us all with it like opening an uncontrollable black hole in reality! Adora was right so was Ben." Entrapta explained. However Catra's ignorance of this would never allow it.

"Adora is right." Catra laughed rather sadistically. "Adora gets everything she wants." She brushed away her hair and took several deep breaths but her anger was at its zenith. "But not this time. This time, I am going to win. I don't care what it takes! Or what we have to lose! We are opening that portal now."

"No! I won't!" Entrapta yelled. "If we do it will condemn us all! I need to tell Hordak. He'll understand." But before she could *ZAP!* Catra shocked her with her taser stick and she collapsed to the ground.

The feline held her taser stick in shock breathing heavily. Scorpia couldn't believe what she had seen Catra had hurt one of her friends. "GET HER OUT OF HERE!" Catra yelled to the horned goon girl who was spooked by what had just happened.

"W-what do you want me to do with her?" She asked a little afraid.

"I don't care. Just get rid of her!" Catra ordered almost panicked. She knew if Hordak learned about this she'd be dead. Just then she had an idea. "Put her on the transport to Beast Island."

"B-Beast Island?!" Scorpia said in horror. "You can't."

Catra swept round and trained her taser stick on Scorpia with a enraged look across her face. "You want to be next?!" This put a look of terror on Scorpia's face that her friend is threatening her. "All Hordak needs to know is Entrapta betrayed us! I have come too far for this to be taken from me now and I will silence anyone who gets in my way! GOT IT!"

The scorpi Force Captain just looked away to paralysed in fear to even speak a word. Catra lowered her weapon and tossed it to the ground as the Horned goon Girl carried Entrapta out of the workshop. Scorpia collapsed to her knees breathing a reliving sight she'd been holding her breath this whole time.

She was trembling in shock by what she'd just witnessed and couldn't wipe it from her mind. "all she does is try to prove she's more than Shadow Weaver thought she was, but its taking her to a dark place." Bens words once again echoed in her mind and after what she saw she was starting to believe it.


Elsewhere:

Shadow Weaver, Bow, Rook and Glimmer continue to hurry through the many corridors of the Fright Zone and were closing in on Hordaks inner sanctum. However in the rafters above Imp, Hordaks pet ran along them and glided down at the rebels with his fangs snarling.

"Rook up top!" Bow exclaimed, and Rook swiftly aimed his Proto Tool at Imp and fired it and an energy rope entrapped the flying pest as it fell to the ground.

"How far are we from the Sanctum we are short on time!" Rook asked Shadow Weaver.

"Just at the end of this hall!" Shadow Weaver replied only to find their way barred by so many of the Horde bots. Glimmer instantly took sorceress's hand.

"Glimmer, no!" Bow protested.

"It is too big a risk!" Rook agreed.

"There's no choice! Do it!" Glimmer exclaimed and so Shadow Weaver drew power from her magic and prepared a powerful blast to level the robots.


Hordaks Sanctum:

The sword of Protection and the portal machine began surging with power its power was reaching its culmination point. Hordak had arrived in time to see it all.

"Ohh, she did it." Hordak breathed in amazement. Adora was still taking deep breaths again and again and her shackles were beginning to slip, but time was fast running out.

"The Princesses are here!" Catra yelled as she entered the sanctum. "There's no time to waste, we need to open the portal!"

"Where's Entrapta? I need her." Hordak asked not even looking at Catra.

Catra looked in thought but then knew what to say as she gave a laugh. ""Who do you think let the Princesses in?"

This news made Hordak gasped in shock. His shock soon turned to anger as he slammed his fist onto the control console actually cracking it. Both Ben and Adora were surprised did Entrapta prove they were right and betray the Horde?

"But she... she wouldn't." Hordak stuttered he refused to believe that his lab partner his…friend actually betrayed him.

Catra just gave a sadistic laugh while Hordak shouted in a rage."Did you really think she was on our side? She's been a mole the entire time, I heard her confess it out loud how else did the Princesses learn about our bases?" she explained/lied.

"Oh, you can't trust anyone, especially a Princess." Catra said glaring at Adora who just looked at her in shame. "They'll just use you to get what they want."

"Oh you're one to talk!" Ben then spoke up. "Its not the princesses who manipulate people its you! You'd do or say anything to get what you want!" Catra didn't turn to him while Adora kept breathing in and out to free herself. "You use people to your own ends and when nothing goes the way you want you blame everyone around you, Adora, Scorpia even Entrapta! But you want to know the honest truth Catra! the one who's really at fault here? Its you! You blame everyone for your choices!"

Catra began breathing heavy in pumped up rage and clenched her fists hearing his words. "You're the one who's doing all this to prove something to someone who never gave a damn about you to begin with! Adora was your friend but you threw that all away and for what!"

Catra snarled as her eyes glared in anger. "You know what Shadow Weaver was right about one thing. You are pathetic!"

That tore it Catra lunged at him in pure rage and *SLASH!* Ben screamed in pain as Adora looked horrified by what had happened. Catra had slashed her friend right across the face. Catra had the look of a rabid animal in pure rage and two of her fingers just dripped in blood. Ben turned towards her, and now had a small cut over his right eye which was bleeding down his face.

Without another word Catra just looked away looking rather smug with what she'd done and breathed calmly. "Now open the portal and let's end this and conquer this world once and for all!" Catra exclaimed.

Hordak realised she was right so he turned to the portal activation switch. "Then let our fates fall where they may!" but before he could pull filled the room and it came from one place. Ben who was just laughing aloud in spite of his wound.

"Laughing in the face of your own defeat how droll." Hordak simply said.

"Oh no I'm not laughing about that, see that whole speech earlier." Ben smirked. "That was just my job distracting you." The two villains looked confused but then with one last breath.

"YAAAHH!" Adora finally pulled her hands free from her shackles, much to Hordak and Catra's surprise.

"No!" Catra yelled as Adora dived for the shock stick close to her and fired it at one of the portal components causing the surging energy to spiral out of control striking Hordak. Catra yelled tackling Adora to the ground while another energy strike struck Bens shackles causing them to short out and free him.

He fell to the ground but then heard sparking on his wrist, it was then he saw the clamp on the Omnitrix short out and retract freeing it. "Heh two birds one stone!" Ben realised and quickly activated the Omnitrix and dialled in a random alien and slammed down the dial.

Catra had Adora pinned down under foot and claw. "I don't know how you pulled that off and I don't care you are not taking this from me NOT. THIS. TIME!" Catra raised her claws ready to strike at Adora but suddenly a blast of energy sent her flying off of her, she landed on her feet to see the cause.

It was Chromastone but something was different a small part of his head had been chipped. "Now is that any way to treat a lady!" he said but suddenly a large blast of energy hit him in the back and it continued blasting at him. Adora looked and saw Hordak firing an energy cannon from his right arm. However this didn't stop Chromastone he got back up and when the blast stopped it was revealed he'd absorbed all of the energy the leader of the Horde had just thrown at him.

"What comes around goes around!" Chromastone said as he channeled all his new energy. "See how you like it techno freak!" He unleashed all his power on Hordak blasting him clean into the wall, but he wasn't going to let these two interfere with his plans again.

He grabbed a nearby pillar and with his strength ripped it from the ground and tossed it at Chromastone who flew into the air to avoid it and fired another blast which he deflected with his gauntlet before firing another blast at his target.


Adora and Catra were engaged in a heated match with the felines fury and desperation guiding her actions. She slashed at Adora only for her to leap over her and kick her in the back. She swung round only for Adora to block her attack by crossing her arms then doing a roundhouse kick knocking her back. Catra was breathing heavily she could barely keep up with Adora usually she can out pace her but now she could barely keep up. Adora smirked her training in Revonnahkai was paying off. However this wasn't going to stop the feline force captain she lunged at Adora again but when Adora swung a kick Catra slashed an uppercut under her chin before she kicked her back.


A distance away Shadow Weaver, Bow, Rook and Glimmer had finally arrived at the throne room, they saw the lights and explosions coming from the lab area. Bow realised this could only be one thing.

"Over there!" Bow exclaimed.

"Lets move!" Rook yelled.

Hordak and Catra looked petrified hearing the voices of the rebellion. "Bow! Rook we're in here!" Adora called.

Catra tackled Adora and proceeded to shock her with a shock stick stunning her as she fell to the ground. "Forget about them. Pull the switch!" Catra yelled to Hordak. Only to be struck in the head by a blast of dark magic and sent flying across the floor she looked and saw Shadow Weaver and Glimmer holding hands and combining their powers.

"Keep them away from the switch!" Chromastone exclaimed to his friends completely ignoring the fact Shadow Weaver was with them.

Bow fired an arrow from his namesake while Rook fired a rocket blast from his Proto Tool turned Rocket launcher. Hordak caught the arrow and snapped it in half but couldn't stop the rocket that hit him dead in the chest blasting him back. Hordak growled as he stood back up the rocket barely fazed him, his angered gaze turned towards Shadow Weaver.

"So the failed Sorceress returns I never would have conceived you ran to the Rebellion!" He growled.

"I gave you everything Hordak and now I will take it back! Where the previous alliance and council of Mystacor failed to stop you I will succeed!" Shadow Weaver exclaimed as she and Glimmer blasted Hordak with another blast only for him to dodge it and fling another piece of rubble at them.

However the two combined their powers and grabbed the rubble mid air and tossed it into the wall, the smoke blinded Hordak. Chromastone charged and rammed him into a wall pinning him to it.

Adora was recovering from the blast as Bow and Glimmer helped her to her feet. Suddenly the whole room began to twist and fall apart as the energy still surged from the portal machine.

"What's happening!" Glimmer exclaimed. Bow look and saw the power surging from the machine.

"Its the sword its reacting to the tech in this room!" Bow exclaimed.

"He is right the portal was built from First Ones tech, but the reaction is tearing the room apart!" Rook agreed.

"Then we must act now!" Shadow Weaver exclaimed before looking to Adora. "Get the sword quickly!" Despite the situation Adora did what she said and ran towards the machine.

Suddenly the structure above began to collapse. Chromastone quickly pulled away from Hordak as he got buried beneath all the rubble. More fell and complete cut off Glimmer and the others.

"Ben! Adora!" Rook cried.

"We're all good partner!" Chromastone called back.

Adora was nearly at the portal machine as she reached out for the sword she was just within reach when suddenly. *PIERCE!* Adora froze in shock and coughed up. Blood, she felt a pain in her side she looked down and saw a sharp piece of metal had pierced her lower body and the person who did it was chuckling behind her.

"Hey Adora." Catra smirked with a sadistic smile as she tossed her away and fell on the ground. Chromastone had emerged from the smoke and caught sight of his friend and the blood on the ground.

"ADORA NO!" He yelled and zoomed over to her seeing the piece of metal in her abdomen. She groaned as she pulled the metal from her wound crying out in pain as she did.

Catra saw her chance and walked up to the lever and reached out to it. "Catra!" Adora and Chromastone cried she looked and saw the crystalsapien had his energised hand trained on her.

"You pull that and I'll blast you!" Chromastone exclaimed.

"Catra, please, don't!" Adora pleaded, but this didn't seem to phase Catra at all as she turned to their desperate eyes all she could do was cackle and smirk.

"HAHAHAHAH! Do you think I'll really stop just because you tell me to! Oh no those days are over!" Catra said. "You set the ballbearing rolling Adora! This is the result! All of this is your fault!"

"You can't you'll destroy the whole planet including the Horde is that the victory you want!" Adora pleaded. "Pull that lever and you'll destroy yourself!" She continued.

"Please stop!" But this still didn't faze the feline villain at all.

"If you do this." Chromastone said glaring straight at her. "It'll be on your conscience for the rest of your life!"

Catra still maintained her sadistic smirk. " This. Time…" she tightly gripped the lever. "I WIN!"

"NO!" Adora and Chromastone yelled as Catra threw the switch without hesitation the Crystalsapien blasted Catra into the wall but it was too machine surged into life in conjunction with the sword much to the horror of everyone in the room. The components hovered together and the portal was forming.

Suddenly a green flash of light appeared and the light blinded everyone and when they looked. Clockwork was standing in front of the portal machine he was using his powers of Chronokinesis to fire a time beam from his clock chest and his hands. He was trying to stop the portal giving it every ounce of strength he had.

"What is he doing!" Shadow Weaver exclaimed.

"He is trying to use Clockwork to try and seal the portal, he has the powers over time and space!" Rook exclaimed. Though he did wonder why didn't Ben use a certain alien the one that controlled all of reality itself.

Clockwork is put under tremendous strain to try and seal the portal. "Come on come on!" He growled his cogs grind and he felt the strain of his power. Suddenly his metal skin began to crack.

Adora gasped in horror seeing this. "Ben stop you'll kill yourself!" She yelled.

The Chronosapien kept trying to hold the portal back but his time bubble began to crack barely able to keep it back. Clockwork slowly looked back to his friends and more specifically Adora they looked at each other with heart broken eyes. Was this really the end? The time bubble shattered as Clockwork leaped from the blast and reached out to Adora who likewise reached out to him.

Their hands nearly touched as the blinding light from the portal had consumed all that was around it. All it seems was lost.

To be Continued


Authors Notes:DUNDUNDUN! Now thats a cliff hanger, as I said before Season 3 had to be one of the most intense seasons of them all and I felt the intensity writing this. As you probably noticed I made a few changes to have Adora put up something of a fight to stop the portal from being activated thanks to her training with Rook. Plus having Rook show his own leadership from his past experiences when helping Glimmer and Bow with Shadow Weaver. I also felt there could've been more said in the argument between Glimmer and Angella because it didn't really do much for me in the canon episode so I made a change to that. Even if she'll regret those words in later chapters hint hint!

And now we're into the portal reality which will be a three part chapter the first beginning with Ben and Rooks perfect reality so take a guess at what will inspire that. Also as this is a part of the story I've been most looking forward to I'm making an exception and will focus on this section of the story before I update other stories because I doubt I could stand the intensity of not working on it! So keep your ears open the next chapter will come soon. Until next time.

FOR THE HONOUR OF GRAYSKULL!