So I was too young to really watch the original version of "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" when it came out in the 80s (mostly because I wasn't born when it originally aired) and didn't really know much about it beyond the fact it existed (and the iconic "by the power of Grayskull" thing). And I once caught a glimpse of the live-action film as a kid, though it didn't really stick with me much beyond how a musical keyboard can be used to open a portal to a different dimension. But the closest I really came doing much with original version of the show was playing with my cousin's action figures in our games.
But then the remake happened in about 2002 and I do remember that. I watched it afterschool for a while and I rather enjoyed it. The art style was impressive, the fight scenes were entertaining, the humor was fun, and the characters were enjoyable. And as always, I found myself latching onto the comic relief character. Some people might not like Orko or find him annoying, but I liked the little guy. And when I started learning more about his back story, I liked him even more.
The thing is that, in the remake, we never got to see much about his home world or any other Trollans. They apparently showed some in the 80s version, but the 2002 version was canceled before they got the chance. So I thought I'd give it a whirl. You know, do some world-building and stuff.
Will it be exactly like how it was portrayed in 80s cartoon? No (mostly because I never watched that version and thus I'm going off of Wikipedia and such for the older stuff). Will I take inspiration from things shown in the 80s version? Probably, but it'll still be different since this will be a 2002 version of Trolla and the other Trollans rather than the 80s versions.
Okay, standard disclaimer time. I don't own Trolla, Orko, other Trollans, or their magic. I also don't own the show. I don't own He-Man, the Masters, the Universe, or the 1980s and the year 2002. I just came up with the story idea, a few minor characters, and so on.
No Place Like Home
Sometimes he still dreamed of light green skies, coral and cerulean plants, crystals jutting out the ground like towers in the distance, rainbows that curved like a smile between the clouds, and trees that generally grew downwards rather than having branches striving to reach towards the sky. He dreamed of scaly creatures that flew through the air and feathery ones generally swimming in the rivers and distant seas. He dreamed of robes, hats, and properly-concealed faces.
He dreamed of magic that filled everyone and everything, magic that could easily be used by anyone. He dreamed of magic that obeyed and didn't fight back, resisting every attempt to use it. He dreamed of magic that worked the way he spent his life learning.
But when he woke up, he was still where he was before. He was still in his chambers in the Royal Palace in the city of Eternos on Eternia. He was on the same world he'd spent the last several years.
And yes, he'd made a lot of friends since arriving. And he knew that helping them was important. There weren't a lot of magic users on this world and even small actions could have vital consequences. He'd learned that lesson already. He accepted Eternia as his home.
But that didn't stop him from dreaming. It didn't stop him from remember how things used to be. And it didn't stop him from missing his old home and what little family he'd left behind years ago.
He gave the constructed structure one final exam, starting from the bottom before hovering right above it. Each piece of the circle fit together perfectly. The materials were carefully chosen for their ability to conduct the power they would be sending into it. The looped shape should serve as the perfect door. He did everything in his abilities to ensure that this would work. He'd invested every spare moment for the last few years into a single goal and this was the fruition of all that work.
"We're almost ready to try activating the gate," Sallis said, floating a little closer to him. "We won't be able to keep it open for long and we'll undoubtedly have to keep adjusting the spells in the design, but I'm sure you're eager to run the first proper test."
He nodded and said, "Thank you. Tell the others that I'm ready to proceed. I'm sure it'll be a success."
Her eyes and the twitch beneath her scarf let him know that she was giving him a reassuring smile. She was always one of his more considerate apprentices. He'd taught many youngsters over his lifetime, both the basics of controlling magic and more advanced lessons. Some of his students moved on to other things or other teachers, especially those who chose to specialize in other careers or lacked the skill to become a full sorcerer. But he taught them enough to be useful and they remembered him fondly enough to come when called. Even he wasn't strong enough to open the gate alone, so he asked some of his old apprentices for one last favor.
"It'll work," she assured. "Considering how long you spent researching, designing, and working on this, I'm certain of it. We know how skilled you are. They wouldn't be offering you a position on the Crimson Council if you were just an ordinary sorcerer."
She floated down to where the others were moving to encircle the structure, informing the group they would move forward as planned. He was truly grateful for the help she and the other five were providing to his project. He'd called them from their various scattered lives and occupations, asking them to sacrifice untold amounts of time and energy in order to make the gate work. He was asking them to help activate something that was only theoretical and took almost three years for him to discover in ancient texts.
Sallis and Nador were the only ones who wore the red robes that declared their occupation as sorcerers, the gold trim on her sleeves for completing her apprenticeship barely in place a year. Vogon wore the green robes and the straw hat of one who dealt primarily with plants, his family growing the best octarines in the area. Kaloren used his magic for construction and spells to keep homes safe, his robes a practical brown shade and gold trim discolored in places from his work. Rolma specialized in healing magic, her robes a deep purple shade. Orlin used only the simplest magic in his life, his family wealthy enough that he did not have to do much more than oversee shipments of valuable materials from distant corners of the land. His colorful and elaborate robes did not declare his abilities with magic, but they did demonstrate his monetary station.
Each of them came from different places within the community. But each one was his apprentice for a time. And each one was powerful enough to help.
He needed their help with this last part, but he'd already completed the hardest part. There was the research to discover what he would need to do to find what he was searching for, further research revealing the ancient texts that discussed the theoretical possibility of this gate. Then he spent time designing and planning how to create such a portal. Enchanting, preparing, and positioning the stones in a location with the right levels of magic that was also far enough away from any homes to avoid accidents took even more time. He'd spent years working on each step of the project and now he just need the raw power to reach this final step.
He did worry sometimes that this was a fool's errand. He knew it had been years. It had been over eight years since that freak cosmic storm hit, throwing chaos throughout the community as it struck and tossed around so much before stealing away something precious. It had been years since that day. Anything could have happened since then and there was no way to predict where that freak cosmic storm connected. All he was able to determine was that it wasn't anywhere on this world. Was it somewhere safe? Was it somewhere hospitable? Or was it somewhere impossible to survive where the cold and lack of air would end things quickly? For all he knew, it could be too late to do any good. But hope sustained him for years and he would continue to hold to it until he had proof one way or another.
Each of them moved until they were at equal distances from each other as they encircled the structure and raised their wands in unison. They poured magic into the circle as they started the spell, the carefully-carved stones perfect for containing their power. The flecks of crystals embedded in the rock would hold and direct magic quite effectively, which was why crystals of different types were often involved in crafting magical tools. The dark-blue stones glowed dimly while the pieces of crystal glowed an intense shade of green as more magic poured in. The circle of standing stones already looked like an arch or a window, but soon it would be a door.
"Lost to us like ancient lore," they recited in unison, "bring him back through the door."
His former apprentices were providing power, but he was the one who was directing the spell. He knew how it should work. He'd crafted the twin spells that they were using. The first spell would locate the destination, locking onto the target somewhere in the universe. They couldn't simply search blindly after all. And when he felt a gentle pull that reached so far away, they moved on to the second spell that would activate the constructed portal.
"Let the distance start to unravel," they continued, "open the door for easy travel."
A swirling vortex began to form within the glowing stone circle. He could feel the magic fluctuate and strain, the portal unstable. That was to be expected for a first attempt of a new spell no one had truly attempted before. It would take refinement to perfect. But it was working. With the seven of them powering it together, the portal and his plan was working.
They were bringing his nephew home.
I know this first chapter turned out to be rather short, but this is a prologue. They're meant to be shorter. Other chapters should hopefully be longer. I have no idea of how many people will actually read this, but I hope at least someone out there will be interested in this story. There will some world-building and a villain who will eventually make their presence known. I have plans, even if updates might be slow. So if you're at all interested, feel free to leave a review. Writers thrive off of feedback.