Author's Note: This book is the continuation of the story that began in "Just Another Day - Book One: Caper" and "Just Another Day - Book Two: Fellowship." "Just Another Day" is the third volume in the "Destiny" series, which began with "The Crossroads of Destiny" and "Prophecy and Change." Though it is unnecessary to read both books, I recommend you do.
Previously: Less than a year after the Dark Cloud Incident, Skeletor's conquest and defeat, and the Horde/Snake-Men War, Eternia was once more struck by chaos. The being known as the Spirit of Evil managed to transform the Light Hemisphere into a second Dark Hemisphere. The minds and spirits of all those living on that half turned dark and evil. It took the combined strength of the non-Eternians such as Marlena and Orko, along with He-Man, She-Ra, the Great Rebellion, and others to summon the Ancients. The Ancients managed to restore Eternia and defeat the Spirit of Evil. However, in the aftermath, lives were changed, peace was in question, and Skeletor had become a prisoner of the Horde. The political side of things were fixed when Count Marzo attempted a conquest of Eternia and failed. The Heroic Warriors dealt with the personal side of the events as they confronted their problems. At the present, a winged warrior named Pelicor has become a member of the Heroic Warriors. And Prince Adam has found a lover in the young farm girl named Kathryn.
Chapter One: "Dinner and Dreams"
The sun gently came into the dining hall and danced across the warm food that spread across the large, wooden table. It was twilight; the Eternian star slowly falling past the horizon, allowing the stars and the moons to take its place. The great servers of this meal entered into the lounge just beyond the dining hall, where King Randor and Queen Marlena enjoyed pre-dinner appetizers with their children and the guest of the evening.
Princess Adora had been more than happy to return to Eternia for the evening. Since the end of her sabbatical in the Crystal Castle, she had longed to join her family for a little while. However, circumstances on Etheria delayed it a bit. Hordak kept her, and his Horde had helped.
But she was she could come. Being with her family had been relaxing and more than a relief after the surrogate pregnancy. She had the chance to meet her twin brother's new girl, a young woman by the name of Kathryn. From the way Adam went on about her, Kathryn was someone that Adora was beginning to like. She was in on "the secret," which was odd for Adora. As she entered into the dining hall with her brother, mother, Kathryn, and her father, Adora realized that it was only King Randor that wasn't "in on it."
"What's so funny, Adora?" asked Randor at that exact moment.
"Oh, nothing. Just something I remembered from a while ago. The food looks delicious."
"Chef Allan looks like he really out did himself this time," Adam agreed.
"The food here is so fancy," Kathryn told them. "So unlike back home." It was one of those 'farm girl' comments that reminded the royal family at just how charmingly ordinary she was.
Adam smiled and patted her hand. "Ah, but you make a mean Sheppard's Pie."
"I thank ya," Kathryn replied and smiled lovingly at Adam.
"Dig in," said the king and the all did.
As the bowls and plates finished their round the table journeys, Marlena looked to her daughter.
"We were hoping you could stay the night, Adora," Marlena said.
"Oh, I think you just talked me into it," Adora replied. It was always good to sleep in her own bed, to be the daughter that had been missing for so long and now had returned. In the late hours of the night, as she laid in Castle Brightmoon back on Etheria, she wondered what she would be doing when the war with the Horde ended. A fantasy that always made her smile.
"What's Etheria like, Princess Adora?" asked Kathryn, between bites of her mashed potatoes.
"Please, just Adora," Adora answered, grinning at her. "And Etheria is quite beautiful. Very different from Eternia, really. Full of magic and wonder. A place that thrives on hope. It's something worth fighting for, that's for sure."
"A fight that's going well?" Adam asked.
Adora shrugged. "A fight that's going. The Great Rebellion has held out well against the Horde. For how much longer, I can't be sure."
"No one knows the Horde like I do," Randor added and recalled the memories of the war.
"The war on Etheria is much different than the one on Eternia," Adora returned. "I . . . I studied them both. And compared them." She said this last part quietly and with much shame.
"During your time with the Horde?"
"Yes. One of the many sins I committed under Hordak's control."
"You couldn't help it," Adam reminded her.
"I like to tell myself that, but I doubt it at times."
Marlena cleared her throat. "Well, it doesn't matter now, dear. The past is the past. Today is today. Your fight against the Horde today makes up for all those mistakes you made. Mistakes you couldn't help but make."
Adora looked at each one of them – even Kathryn – and felt both love and respect pouring from them all. It was wonderful and refreshing and she felt up-lifted by their incredible trust.
The meal ended and after dessert, Man-At-Arms entered the dining hall.
"I apologize for the interruption," he said, "but King Randor, there's a trade dispute you need to advise in."
Randor sighed and nodded. "Of course. I'll catch up to the rest of you later."
Once the king left, Marlena turned to the three others. "Let's say we sit out in the courtyard and have some coffee, hmm?"
In five minutes, they were all under the soft glow of an overhead light, sitting at a round table just outside the Palace. Bugs made their nighttime noises as the evening hours rolled into night just as summer would be rolling on into fall.
After the steward left them with four mugs of fine coffee, Kathryn looked up. She looked at Marlena, then at Adam, then at Adora. She then looked around to see if anyone else was there.
"I've got a question," she asked timidly.
"What is it?"
"Does it hurt when you guys transform?"
Adora about choked on her coffee. "What?"
Marlena smiled a little and nodded. "I'm a little curious myself. I've barely a chance to ask you two about it with everything's that been going on."
Adam took a deep breath. "Well, it doesn't hurt for me. Adora?"
"No. Actually . . . Adam, is it a certain kinda warmth you feel?"
"Yes, most definitely. But not even like heat. More like, I don't know, like a warmth comes from inside."
"Like it comes from your heart and the sword and joins somewhere in the middle," Adora continued. "And when the warmth joins, it flows all over your body. Like water."
"Yes. So, no, it doesn't hurt. Not one bit."
"Oh. Good," Kathryn replied.
Marlena took a sip of her coffee. "Is there every going to be day when you won't be He-Man and She-Ra?"
Adam and Adora looked at each uncertainly. "I'm . . . we're not quite sure about that."
"The Sorceress has never said anything about it," Adam said. "It'll five years this next month and I can barely even imagine not turning into He-Man."
"The same here," Adora added. "I would assume once Skeletor and Hordak are finished, we would be no longer needed."
"Unless something worse happens," Adam told them.
"Like Hiss," Marlena suggested.
"Yeah. Like King Hiss."
Adam nodded and sipped his coffee. For some reason, that name was strangely ominous. Like a looming threat . . . danger on the horizon . . .
Snake Mountain.
King Hiss waited in one of the lower most chambers as Rattlor, Kobra Kahn, and Sssqueeze joined him. "What is it?" asked Hiss impatiently. "Did you find it?"
"Indeed we did!" Sssqueeze shouted.
"Excellent! Kobra Kahn, get ready! This is the moment you've been waiting for!"
Kobra Kahn smiled, fangs glimmering in the faint light, and bowed. As the three of them left King Hiss, Evil Lynn entered.
"What are you up to, Hiss?"
King Hiss smiled. "Nothing for you to worry about."
Evil Lynn returned his smile. "I'm sure."
The Wind Raider landed gently next to the house and Adam grinned when he saw the faces of Kathryn's siblings Benjamin, Alice, and Olivia pushed up against the window. The pair soon walked out of sight of the trio and onto the porch of the house.
"I had a really good time," Kathryn told him.
"So did I. What did you think of my sister?"
"She's nice. I like her a lot," she answered. The two kissed and after they broke, Kathryn spoke once more. "When will I see you next? Tomorrow?"
"I'm sorry, sweetie, but I've got a day full of meetings at the Great Towers tomorrow. I would be heading back there if Adora wasn't spending the night. You know how it is."
"Uh, not really," she replied, smiling.
"Well, um . . ."
She laughed and touched his face. "You're cute, you know that?"
"I do."
They kissed again and then began to depart.
"I miss you already!" he yelped from just off the porch.
"Go home!" she replied, smiling at him.
"I love you!"
"I love you too!"
Dreaming:
He-Ro stood at the base of Snake Mountain, Staff of Power in his right hand. From a burst of energy came flowing forth, throwing Snake-Men left and right. The battle was hot and hard. It was the middle of summer and even now, at night, everything felt hot and humid. A Snake-Man leapt at him, axe above his head. The axe had no affect on He-Ro's shield and the Snake-Man was on the ground. He-Ro punched and knocked him out.
"Forward!" he shouted, Staff of Power pointing at the entrance of Snake Mountain. "FORWARD! TO VICTORY! TO VICTORY!"
The army of Men behind him rushed forward, weapons slashing into Snake-Men.
Everything then began to move fast. He-Ro charged into Snake Mountain with more Men. But there was something special about these Men - they were all dressed in black with white circle on the chests. They were the Rangers of the Elders.
Things sped up once more.
Snake Mountain was now teeming with Men, the battle turning bloody. The Elders were there, along with fifty apprentices - including Hordak himself. He-Ro led them down tunnel after tunnel, chasing after his mortal enemy King Hiss.
Time went back to normal.
King Hiss stood in a chamber, alone with He-Ro. King Hiss was in his snake form, all of them moving about, squirming and hissing. He lunged at He-Ro, but He-Ro was faster. His Staff of Power raised, he unleashed an unyielding burst of energy at King Hiss.
King Hiss was thrown back, landing squarely on his ass.
Chanting now, coming from outside the chamber. Eldor entered, leading the Elders and the Apprentices. They were doing far more than chanting - they were casting a spell. In Eldor's hands was an amulet than consisted of a green orb wrapped in metal. It was glowing wildly.
"NO!" roared King Hiss, but the power of the Elders kept him restrained.
All of a sudden, power burst from the amulet. Eldor pointed this power at the ground. It rose slightly, and a portal of light opened. Green energy began to pulse out from it, and moved beyond the confines of the chamber.
King Hiss stood now, freed from the restraints of the Elders. He spoke a quick spell and jumped at He-Ro. He-Ro clobbered him in the head with his Staff of Power, but Hiss continued to fight him. As they did combat, the Snake-Men all across Eternia became partially transparent - like ghosts.
They became ethereal and were pulled Snake Mountain like paper caught in the wind. But the pull went beyond just the exterior of the mountain. They were being drawn into that chamber - and into that portal. As they were all pulled in, Hiss continued to fight it out with He-Ro and the Elders and their Apprentices chanted away.
As the last of the all the Snake-Men were sucked into the portal - into the Void that existed beyond it - King Hiss faltered. He-Ro began to strike him hard in heart, forcing him back into the portal manually. With one final blow, King Hiss fell backwards.
However . . .
Just as he plunged in and right He-Ro let his guard down, King Hiss's necks extended and his mouths opened. The sharp and venomous teeth latched into He-Ro, punctuating his armor. He-Ro yelled in shock and pain as the poison entered into his body. His fist fell to King Hiss's main head and all of the mouths released. King Hiss fell and vanished into portal.
The portal closed up as soon as King Hiss entered. He-Ro fell crashing to the ground. He was dying and would soon be dead. But he died for the best cause . . .
And then . . . time became fold backwards. These events were shoved forward and those having this dream watched as the timeframe moved back two months.
Another battle, once more led by He-Ro. He was sitting on massive dinosaur-like creature. They're fighting a huge army of Snake-Men, being led by King Hiss. It's all in front of the Great Towers. He-Ro jumps off, ready to turn the fight - when something happens.
Something that just
isn't right.A green mist forms around He-Ro's head. A weapon fires and he dies.
Everything that came afterward - the battle at Snake Mountain and the banishment of the Snake-Men - didn't happen because He-Ro died here and now instead there and then.
And then everything . . . changes.
Adam awoke with a gasp, flying up from his pillow and into a sitting position. He's covered in sweat. "What was that?" he asked himself. "What happened?"
He fell back into bed, head crashing against pillow. His thoughts roll the dream around, trying to figure it out. Trying to find a secret laying inside of it. Trying to unravel whatever it's deeper meaning.
A full minute later, there's a knock at the door. Adam glances at the clock. Three Bells in the Morning. But he doesn't need to ask who it is. He already knows.
"Adora."
She entered into his room, sweating as well. Before she can say anything, Adam nodded.
"I know. I had the same dream."
"What did it mean? Was the He-Ro?"
"Yes. I'm sure of it. And that was the defeat of King Hiss. But . . ." he paused. "Everything moved backwards. To a battle at the Great Towers."
"An important battle," Adora added.
"Yeah. But something went wrong. He-Ro died, Adora, and he wasn't supposed to. Not there."
Adora sat down in one of Adam's chair. "Something's wrong, isn't there? Something is very wrong."
Adam nodded. "Yes."
On cue, the voice of the Sorceress entered their minds. Adam! Adora! You must get to the Sands of Time immediately!
Adam looked at Adora and noticed for the first time that she was carrying the Sword of Protection with her. Adam got into his vault and retrieved the Sword of Power. He woke Cringer up.
"I'm glad you woke me up," Cringer said. "I was having a bad dream."
Adam exchanged a worried glance at his sister, then lifted his sword. She did the same.
"BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL . . ."
"FOR THE HONOR OF GRAYSKULL . . ."
A flood of energy and power filled Adam's apartments and the pair transformed.
" . . . I HAVE THE POWER!"
". . . I AM SHE-RA!"
He-Man turned to Cringer, who he then blasted with the Sword of Power. Cringer was enveloped in a burst of power and became Battle-Cat.
The pair leapt on Battle-Cat's back. "To the stables, Cat, and quickly!" He-Man commanded.
Battle-Cat ran and leapt off the balcony. He landed right on his feet with no pause. He then rushed to the stables. She-Ra hopped off Battle-Cat and ran in. Spirit was waiting for her.
"Spirit, we have trouble," She-Ra told him.
"I had a feeling. My dreams felt haunted."
Spirit became Swift-Wind in much the same way Cringer became Battle-Cat. She-Ra then led her pegacorn out of the stables and took to the skies. Battle-Cat kept pace as the four of them traveled both by air and land towards the Sands of Time.
Within two hours, He-Man and She-Ra were led by a strange instinct to their location within the Sands of Time. A temple, tall and covered in markings that denoted time was their destination, rising above the hardpan. There appeared to be only one entrance and it had a set of stairs leading to it. As if waiting for them were Rattlor, Kobra Kahn, Snake-Face, and Sssqueeze, all standing right in front of the stairs.
"What's going on here?" demanded He-Man as She-Ra and Swift Wind landed next to him.
"I knew they'd be here!" Snake-Face shouted. He was about to poke his snake from his face, but He-Man managed to knock him flat on the hardpan desert floor.
She-Ra spun around and kicked Rattlor in the gut. When his neck elongated, she jabbed it. He choked and tumbled back. She-Ra then kicked him again.
Sssqueeze's arms reached out then and held tightly onto both He-Man and She-Ra. He cocked his head towards Kobra Kahn.
"GO NOW!" he roared. "I'LL HOLD THEM! GO!"
Kobra Kahn ran up the stairs, armed with only a laser pistol.
Swift-Wind and Battle-Cat leapt onto Squeeze, the one tearing at his legs, the other pounding him in the head. Sssqueeze fell and both He-Man and She-Ra were free.
"GO!" shouted He-Man to She-Ra, but she didn't need to be told. They both ran after Kobra Kahn, who, at that second, entered into the temple.
The entrance lit up briefly and was suddenly sealed by a huge stone slab.
"No!" yelled She-Ra.
"We'll bust through it," He-Man declared and just as they were about to step onto the stairs, the entire Temple of Time (as they would learn it's name) pulsed with energy. The whole thing became a sudden white light. It grew brilliant, causing He-Man, She-Ra, Battle-Cat, and Swift-Wind to close their eyes.
And then . . . when the light was gone, so was the Temple of Time. All four of them whirled around found that Rattlor, Sssqueeze, and Snake-Face were gone as well.
An eerie silence filled the air around them.
"What is going on?" asked She-Ra.
"I'm not sure," replied He-Man.
"Something doesn't feel right," Swift-Wind announced.
"I don't smell anything. All of the scents are gone," Battle-Cat noted.
All of a sudden, they were all struck with a strange feeling of déjà vu. Flashes of light appeared along the horizon like fireworks with no noise. And though they could not tell, all four them were glowing. A wind began to pick up and from all directions came a sweeping cloud sand and dust. It overcame them all. He-Man and She-Ra scrambled to Battle-Cat and Swift-Wind.
As the sandstorm twisted and spun around them, everything at once seemed slow and strange. Voices were carried on the winds, and it looked as though images were too. Still, they all glowed.
Then . . . as suddenly as it all began, the sandstorm was gone. The déjà vu was gone. All there was once more was He-Man, She-Ra, Swift-Wind, and Battle-Cat standing together on the hardpan of the Sands of Time.
"What . . . what was all that?" asked She-Ra.
"I'm not sure," He-Man replied. "I feel weaker. Do you?"
"Yes."
"We'll head to the Great Towers. Once we get there, we'll get into Grayskull Tower and we should be able to recharge. It's closer to Castle Grayskull, anyways," He-Man told her.
"Good idea. Swift-Wind? Battle-Cat? Are you two alright?"
"Just a strange feeling, that's all," Battle-Cat returned.
Swift-Wind nodded. "I feel the same way, though I am able to take you the Great Towers."
"Me too," Battle-Cat added in.
The four of them rode north in the breaking dawn. Swift-Wind and She-Ra remained at He-Man and Battle-Cat's side, though, because it would be easier for Swift-Wind. After an hour, they came upon a rise. As soon as they reached it, they all halted.
"WHAT?!" cried She-Ra.
"It can't be!" exclaimed He-Man.
The Great Towers appeared different now. While the three still stood, there were huge bunkers and walls that sat before it. Snake-Men, it appeared, were walking along those walls, guarding the Towers from invaders.
And standing two hundred feet in the air was a massive statue. Carved to perfect likeness, it was King Hiss in his snake-form. In the left snake hand was a globe of Eternia. In his right, outstretched above the fortress was the head of a man. Neither He-Man nor She-Ra needed to be told who it was.
The statue of King Hiss held the head of He-Ro in exact likeness.