Disclaimer: I do not own He-Man and the Masters of the universe or the
characters from the programme; I'm just borrowing them for a bit of
creative fun. Any additional characters however belong to me.
Prologue
Marlena smiled to herself as she walked through the palace gardens, enjoying the peace and solitude while admiring the effort Orko had put into them. Next time she saw the little jester she had to thank him; he was doing an excellent job. Coming to the edge of the pool, at the centre of the main garden, she sighed contently as she sat at its rim, soaking in the sunshine and taking in the sweet fragrance of the flowers around her. She dipped her hand in the cool water, causing it to shimmer slightly and idly watched the bees busy at work. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt so relaxed since this business with Skeletor had arisen, forcing the palace to constantly be on high alert. But lately, over the passed few months nothing terrible had happened. Skeletor hadn't made any attacks on Greyskull, although this made Randor and especially Duncan suspicious and a little edgy over why, the peace treaty had gone through successfully between the Caligars and the Spalians, Teela and Adam seemed to be getting closer. Everything was going perfectly and she intended to enjoy it while it lasted.
*'Marlena!'* The silky melodic tone of the voice instantly pulled Marlena from her thoughts. She sat up straighter, pulling her hand from the cool water and was momentarily confused; there was no one around and the voice sounded so familiar but she couldn't put her finger on it. She sat alert for a few moments listening intently. But after hearing nothing she just decided she had imagined it.
*'You are not imagining things Marlena. Turn around.'*
Marlena jumped slightly, taken off guard, but turned around curiously. Confused at seeing nobody she screwed up her face, beginning to believe she was going mad. Perhaps the stress over the passed year was finally catching up on her. However playful laughter from beneath her made Marlena think twice as she looked down into the pool and was surprised to see a very familiar face of a pretty woman with elfin features, reflecting back at her on its surface.
'Why so shocked to see me Marlena? I suppose it has been many years, you were seven when I saw you last, wasn't you?' The woman smiled her customary warm smile. She appeared so young, about 17 but the wisdom in her eyes gave away the fact that she was far older, hundreds of years older, she just never aged.
'Y-yes.yes I was seven. It was in the woods with my sister, gosh it was so long ago.' There were tears of joy glistening in Marlena's eyes. 'Evanna! Ever since I came to Eternia, I never thought I'd see anyone from Earth again. But why have you contacted me now? How is everyone? How is Orico?'
Evanna smiled as she watched Marlena grow increasingly more excited by the minute, but her smiled wavered slightly as she mentioned her sister.
'Your sister is part of the reason I've contacted you Marlena. I haven't contacted you till now because you settled here nicely and it was decided that it was best to let you get on with your knew life. But things have changed.'
Marlena calmed herself at Evanna's saddened face and grim tone. She waited patiently albeit nervously, while the powerful Pagan sorceress collected her thoughts, obviously trying to think of a gentle way to put across what had to be bad news.
Evanna sighed, swiping away a strand of dark green hair from her face before continuing. She looked directly at Marlena, her magenta eyes locking with Marlena's worried ones.
'There is no easy way for me to tell you this Marlena. Orico is dead; she has been for the past 11 years.' Evanna waited for this to sink in before saying more. Marlena's expression was one of pure shock and anguish. Her older sibling was dead. She blinked choking back a sob while tears slid down her face.
'H-how? Why did she..'
'She was killed; Murdered by those scared and jealous of her powers.'
Marlena closed her eyes, her mind a mixture of sorrow and anger.
'I am sorry Marlena. She is sorely missed by many, but not all that I have to say is tragic; you have a niece and nephew here on earth, her children.'
Marlena's head snapped up, again shocked by what Evanna was saying. She had thought her sister was incapable of having children.
'Again this shocks you, I don't mean to burden you with all this information, especially after hearing of your sister's death but her children are really why I am contacting you.'
Marlena momentarily pushed her grief aside as best she could, struggling now with the concept that she had a niece and nephew. 'How old are they? What are their names?'
'Trissa has just turned 17 and Valan is 16. Since there mother died I have looked after them, it would have been inevitable that I would have contact with Trissa because she has inherited a lot of her mother's powers, which brings me straight to the real reason I am speaking to you. Trissa has reached the age where her powers have become most active. Situations on earth have made it difficult for me to watch over them both and very hard for Trissa to develop her powers without bringing unwanted attention to herself.'
Marlena was beginning to see where this conversation was leading. 'And you feel that they would both benefit by staying here with me in Eternia, where sorcery is well known?!'
Evanna smiled relief showing in her eyes. 'Yes! Eternia is a healthy environment for them to be in and it would do them both a world of good, especially Trissa; her power has a lot of potential to be good, but past events have caused there to be some darkness in her heart, I don't want he sliding down the wrong path. Also they will be with family. Are you willing to take them in, they are a bit of a handful?'
Marlena smiled at this, knowing how Adam could be a handful at times. 'Yes. I think it's a lovely idea and they will be very welcome to stay here. It's the least I can do for Orico.'
'Excellent! I am very relieved to hear you say that. As soon as I gather the right ingredients for the spell to create a portal, I will send them over to you.'
Marlena nodded, and then something dawned on her. 'What of their father?'
Evanna's expression turned grave. 'He...does not matter. He is unable to help. I will leave you now, I must get everything prepared. I will contact you again just before they are sent to you.'
Marlena was unable to question anything further because Evanna had disappeared. She stared at where she had been, her own reflection now filling the space. Small ripples shattered it's stillness as tiny tears rolled down her cheeks and splashed onto the water's surface. Marlena sniffed, wiping away her tears from her face and then another thing dawned on her. She hadn't consulted Randor over the decision to look after her sister's children. Oh well, he'll understand, he'll have to because she was doing it for Orico.
**********
Reviews would be lovely, I'm always interested to hear people's input.
Prologue
Marlena smiled to herself as she walked through the palace gardens, enjoying the peace and solitude while admiring the effort Orko had put into them. Next time she saw the little jester she had to thank him; he was doing an excellent job. Coming to the edge of the pool, at the centre of the main garden, she sighed contently as she sat at its rim, soaking in the sunshine and taking in the sweet fragrance of the flowers around her. She dipped her hand in the cool water, causing it to shimmer slightly and idly watched the bees busy at work. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt so relaxed since this business with Skeletor had arisen, forcing the palace to constantly be on high alert. But lately, over the passed few months nothing terrible had happened. Skeletor hadn't made any attacks on Greyskull, although this made Randor and especially Duncan suspicious and a little edgy over why, the peace treaty had gone through successfully between the Caligars and the Spalians, Teela and Adam seemed to be getting closer. Everything was going perfectly and she intended to enjoy it while it lasted.
*'Marlena!'* The silky melodic tone of the voice instantly pulled Marlena from her thoughts. She sat up straighter, pulling her hand from the cool water and was momentarily confused; there was no one around and the voice sounded so familiar but she couldn't put her finger on it. She sat alert for a few moments listening intently. But after hearing nothing she just decided she had imagined it.
*'You are not imagining things Marlena. Turn around.'*
Marlena jumped slightly, taken off guard, but turned around curiously. Confused at seeing nobody she screwed up her face, beginning to believe she was going mad. Perhaps the stress over the passed year was finally catching up on her. However playful laughter from beneath her made Marlena think twice as she looked down into the pool and was surprised to see a very familiar face of a pretty woman with elfin features, reflecting back at her on its surface.
'Why so shocked to see me Marlena? I suppose it has been many years, you were seven when I saw you last, wasn't you?' The woman smiled her customary warm smile. She appeared so young, about 17 but the wisdom in her eyes gave away the fact that she was far older, hundreds of years older, she just never aged.
'Y-yes.yes I was seven. It was in the woods with my sister, gosh it was so long ago.' There were tears of joy glistening in Marlena's eyes. 'Evanna! Ever since I came to Eternia, I never thought I'd see anyone from Earth again. But why have you contacted me now? How is everyone? How is Orico?'
Evanna smiled as she watched Marlena grow increasingly more excited by the minute, but her smiled wavered slightly as she mentioned her sister.
'Your sister is part of the reason I've contacted you Marlena. I haven't contacted you till now because you settled here nicely and it was decided that it was best to let you get on with your knew life. But things have changed.'
Marlena calmed herself at Evanna's saddened face and grim tone. She waited patiently albeit nervously, while the powerful Pagan sorceress collected her thoughts, obviously trying to think of a gentle way to put across what had to be bad news.
Evanna sighed, swiping away a strand of dark green hair from her face before continuing. She looked directly at Marlena, her magenta eyes locking with Marlena's worried ones.
'There is no easy way for me to tell you this Marlena. Orico is dead; she has been for the past 11 years.' Evanna waited for this to sink in before saying more. Marlena's expression was one of pure shock and anguish. Her older sibling was dead. She blinked choking back a sob while tears slid down her face.
'H-how? Why did she..'
'She was killed; Murdered by those scared and jealous of her powers.'
Marlena closed her eyes, her mind a mixture of sorrow and anger.
'I am sorry Marlena. She is sorely missed by many, but not all that I have to say is tragic; you have a niece and nephew here on earth, her children.'
Marlena's head snapped up, again shocked by what Evanna was saying. She had thought her sister was incapable of having children.
'Again this shocks you, I don't mean to burden you with all this information, especially after hearing of your sister's death but her children are really why I am contacting you.'
Marlena momentarily pushed her grief aside as best she could, struggling now with the concept that she had a niece and nephew. 'How old are they? What are their names?'
'Trissa has just turned 17 and Valan is 16. Since there mother died I have looked after them, it would have been inevitable that I would have contact with Trissa because she has inherited a lot of her mother's powers, which brings me straight to the real reason I am speaking to you. Trissa has reached the age where her powers have become most active. Situations on earth have made it difficult for me to watch over them both and very hard for Trissa to develop her powers without bringing unwanted attention to herself.'
Marlena was beginning to see where this conversation was leading. 'And you feel that they would both benefit by staying here with me in Eternia, where sorcery is well known?!'
Evanna smiled relief showing in her eyes. 'Yes! Eternia is a healthy environment for them to be in and it would do them both a world of good, especially Trissa; her power has a lot of potential to be good, but past events have caused there to be some darkness in her heart, I don't want he sliding down the wrong path. Also they will be with family. Are you willing to take them in, they are a bit of a handful?'
Marlena smiled at this, knowing how Adam could be a handful at times. 'Yes. I think it's a lovely idea and they will be very welcome to stay here. It's the least I can do for Orico.'
'Excellent! I am very relieved to hear you say that. As soon as I gather the right ingredients for the spell to create a portal, I will send them over to you.'
Marlena nodded, and then something dawned on her. 'What of their father?'
Evanna's expression turned grave. 'He...does not matter. He is unable to help. I will leave you now, I must get everything prepared. I will contact you again just before they are sent to you.'
Marlena was unable to question anything further because Evanna had disappeared. She stared at where she had been, her own reflection now filling the space. Small ripples shattered it's stillness as tiny tears rolled down her cheeks and splashed onto the water's surface. Marlena sniffed, wiping away her tears from her face and then another thing dawned on her. She hadn't consulted Randor over the decision to look after her sister's children. Oh well, he'll understand, he'll have to because she was doing it for Orico.
**********
Reviews would be lovely, I'm always interested to hear people's input.