"Oof!"
There was a loud crack! Followed by the squishy sound of flesh hitting stone. Hard. A moment of silence immediately followed.
The stone corridor long and narrow and adorned with various doors, was damp and chill. Clearly underground. It had the feeling of rare use as through the owner could hardly be bothered to traverse its length. The damp walls gave the feeling of stone long settled into place, emitting and maintaining a slightly frigid air about them. The air was heavy and still.
None of this occurred to the two people flung unceremoniously against the wall, opposite to a broken, burnt out and darkened door. The man would have been tall if he was standing, but even slumped over his height and strength were apparent. His short golden hair was in disarray and his arms were flung out wide as if he had been blown through the doorway by an incredible force.
Near his right hand, lying flat, was a sword. Larger than would be comfortable for a normal man, this sword was clearly just right for its bearer. It was grey metal, unadorned, and very old. It virtually hummed with an unimaginable power.
To the left of the man was a woman. She was lying on her side almost pressed against the wall. Her long, blond hair covered her face. Upright, she too would have been considered a tall woman, but she was lacking the overt muscle structure of her counterpart.
Just above her left arm, a sword was embedded in the stone wall. Several inches into the wall. The woman's hand was draped loosely over the hilt of the sword, as though, even unconsciously, she needed to hold onto it.
The man suddenly groaned and sat up abruptly. Clutching his head for a moment he blinked a few times before gathering his feet under him and pushing up. He was wearing brown, nearly knee height fur topped boots. Fur shorts and a metal chest brace completed the look. He did not appear to notice the damp and chill air, instead he was more concerned with focusing on his environment.
The sight of the door directly in front of him caused him to pause for the door was clearly damaged.
"She Ra," he breathed in horror and turned, looking around desperately.
Catching sight of the woman's still form, the man quickly stepped over to her and crouched. He was clearly expecting to see his twin as She-Ra, the counterpart to the man's He-Man transformation. But it was Adora lying on the floor. Wearing her customary red one piece suit and matching red knee length boots.
He-Man reached out, brushed her hair from her face and gently checked her neck for a pulse.
"Please be alive... please be alive..."
And there it was! Steady and present.
He-Man closed his eyes in relief. "Thank the Ancients," he whispered, slumping momentarily.
Adora chose that moment to groan quietly. She moved slightly, attempting to roll unto her back. He-Man caught her easily and helped her shift position. Unexpectedly gentle in his touch for someone who was clearly built for brute strength.
"Oooohhhh, what happened?" Adora groaned putting a weary hand to her forehead. She didn't open her eyes.
He-Man sat back on his haunches and thought about what they had just done.
"I think," he began, "Your plan succeeded."
"It did, indeed. Far better than you realize." A new voice echoed quietly does the hallway. Slightly breathy, very mystical, the Sorceress of Grayskull glided majestically toward the pair. She was an ageless woman, clearly not young but just as clearly not old; timeless. She was wearing a falcon's headdress and cape with wings and feathers. On most people, it would have looked ridiculous but on the Sorceress it looked right.
He-Man stood gracefully and turned to the Sorceress.
"How is it we've come to be here? The last thing I remember is setting up the final trap for Hordak which, I think he triggered."
"Yes, He-Man," the Sorceress replied. "I will tell you all I know but first let's help your sister."
He-Man looked down and saw Adora lying in the same position he had rolled her into. Her eyes were tightly closed and there was a small river of tears coming out from both eyes. Her breathing was in short, quiet bursts.
"Adora!" He-Man gasped. He had never seen his sister in such distress before.
The Sorceress knelt and with glowing hands laid them on the suffering woman. Very soon her breathing evened out and she opened her eyes revealing unusually deep blue eyes.
Adora moved to sit up and He-Man quickly reached out and pulled her sword from the wall. Extending his other hand he helped his sister to her feet. She promptly stumbled and it was only a quick move from He-Man that kept her upright.
Adora's eyes widened with horror. "I can't feel my left leg!"
"I'm sorry, child," the Sorceress said rising. "I can heal your physical injuries but that wound was caused by a magic I cannot break."
The twins shared a terrified look. The Sorceress had all the power of Castle Grayskull at her command and couldn't break this spell? The Castle was the source of their incredible powers. The centre of the magical power on Eternia. The fact that the Sorceress could not help, with all the resources she commanded, was unthinkable.
"In time you may regain use of your leg as the magic fades but I just don't know. It's a very dark magic, a very old magic. I was able to ease the pain but more I cannot do."
He-Man's arm tightened around his sister offering comfort. In response she leaned on him a fraction more; feeling too exhausted as a result of the days and days of fighting began to take hold. Even with the magic behind their alternate selves, the twins could, and often did, become worn out from fighting.
She brightened suddenly, "My sword!"
"Of course!" He-Man responded. "Maybe that can help."
He-Man gave Adora her sword but as she went to raise it, to call on the Honour of Grayskull, she noticed that the jewel was dark, cracked and burnt. He-Man and Adora stared at the sword in horror.
"And so it ends," the Sorceress said softly. Almost to herself. And clearly without any surprise at all.
"What?" but Adora already knew, KNEW deep within her what the Sorceress was about to say. And she didn't want to hear it.
"Your task is done. The Horde and Hordak have been banished from Etheria. In fact, from the universe itself. They are no more. The people are free."
"And my debts are paid," Adora said softly, in wonder.
A tear trailed down her cheek but Adora didn't notice. She handed her sword to the Sorceress who took it reverently and with a slight bow.
The sword sat in the Sorceress's hands for a moment and then vanished with a flash of light.
He-Man hugged his sister tighter, feeling her sorrow as a powerful echo in his gut. As twins, they had the ability to sense each other to a degree. He-Man wasn't sure if the feeling came from him or his sister. Everything she had worked toward, for years on end, was achieved. They hadn't dared to plan for what came next.
"What now?" He asked, his voice wavering slightly.
"Go home. Rest. Enjoy your family," the Sorceress replied.
At the mention of family, Adora gasped again. "Swiftwind! The rebels! Lighthope! Seahawk!"
The Sorceress reached out a hand but stopped short of actually touching Adora.
"The doorway is damaged beyond repair. The path to Etheria has been closed forever."
"But my friends... Swifty!" Adora pushed herself upright, as though preparing for battle again.
The Sorceress sighed slightly, not wanting to add to the woman's pain but knowing she couldn't withhold all the information. "Swiftwind will go back to his family. He remains a pegacorn. Lighthope knew the possible price for your victory and he will share your fate with your friends. But Adora, all paths to Etheria are closed now and there is no way for you to go there, communicate with anyone, or for anyone there to come here. Your time as She-Ra, as Adora Force Captain, as Leader of the Great Rebellion, is over."
"Is there nothing-?" He-Man began but he was cut off.
"I'm so sorry, but the Fates have been cast and Princess Adora is home for good now. She-Ra is no longer needed to restore the balance. One hero for Etheria and one hero for Eternia was decreed. No more. No less."
Adora's knees were clearly giving out and she was openly weeping with a hand covering her mouth. He-Man, supporting her, was tearing up knowing his sister had just been ripped from everything she knew for the second time in her life. And she had had no chance to even say good-bye.
"Sorceress, can you send us home? To the palace?" He asked, well aware his sister would not want to be seen in public in her current state. "We'll come back to talk with you later."
"Of course, He-Man. To your chambers?"
He-Man nodded and with a flash they were out of Castle Grayskull and in Prince Adam's bed chambers. Adora was clearly in shock and He-Man swiftly gathered her up and placed her on the bed where she lay un-protesting and miserable.
Unsheathing his sword, He-Man transformed back into Prince Adam. His alter ego was a secret and it wouldn't help things if He-Man were seen to have free access to the Prince's bed chambers.
Covering Adora up with a nearby blanket, he quickly kissed her on the forehead.
"I'm going to go get Mother and Father."
She grabbed him with surprising strength into a fierce hug. It was short lived.
Adam paused and left abruptly. He was in over his head and knew he needed some help.