A/N: Wow thank you for the reception to chapter 1! I so appreciate any and all feedback so when I get positive feedback, I'm shocked everytime. :) Like I said in the past, I'm only as good as my last update so I never take your readership lightly. I hope you enjoy this next chap. If I have time, I may post chap 3 today for a dual update. Some of you have asked me about Battlecat's ability to speak. I promised an explanation in this update but it turned out way too big (LOL) so I had to divide it into two chaps. I promise it'll be explained in chap 3. All mistakes are mine.

Chapter 2

The cadets returned after their morning survival exercises in the mountains armed with tales of their encounter with the visitor from Greyskull. Everyone talked excitedly over the drama of losing Norbert and then Teela shortly thereafter. Many talked about the bravery she exhibited by charging back into the snowy tundra only to encounter Trap-Jaw the cyborg face to face.

Upon hearing the reports, the students who were left behind on campus excitedly crowded around Teela as they unloaded their transports in Hangar 3.

"Guys! Give Lady Teela some space," Asher protested, pushing students aside and once again coming to her rescue. Teela winced at his use of her former title while she finished unloading their supplies. As students reluctantly dispersed, she stopped and turned to him.

"Why do you do that?" she asked, hand on her hip.

Asher raised an eyebrow feigning offense. "I'm assisting the lovely young lady by being chivalrous and coming to her rescue," he proudly replied.

She rolled her eyes as they made their way out of the hangar and into the hallway. Walking, she glanced at him. "You know that's not my title anymore," she reminded somberly.

His back straightened as he put a hand to his heart. "You will always be a lady to me, Gorgeous," he replied with a bow and a sardonic smile. "Regardless of whether or not you're that spoiled Prince's property," he sneered as he resumed walking.

Teela stopped mid-step in the hallway and turned to him. "He is not spoiled!" she countered sharply, her brow furrowed. "He's anything but," she spat.

Asher raised his hands in resignation. "Whoa, whoa there, Tiger. I didn't mean to offend. I just call them as I see them, that's all," he explained.

She folded her arms and eyed him. "Oh I see, Ash. So you've actually met Prince Adam? In person?" she challenged.

"Ok, no," he winced. "But I've heard things. Like, he sits back and lets He-Man and the Masters do all the heavy lifting," he began.

She sent him an indignant look mixed with confusion. "Heavy lifting?" she repeated as they resumed walking down the hall.

"Yeah. Like whenever the gang from Snake Mountain stops by, he just runs and lets He-Man or the Masters do all the work."

When she glared at him, he corrected himself.

"Ok, so maybe…maybe once…a man saw him take on Clawful, but I suppose he had no choice. The mutant sort of had him cornered in the Palace courtyard," he snorted.

Her head snapped to him as her eyes narrowed. "He was not cornered! Clawful cornered two guards and Adam dropped him in fewer than five moves," she blurted out. "He saved two members of the Royal Guard, Sir," she defended with a contemptuous tone on the word, 'Sir'.

"Touch-y," he drew out, his eyes widened. "So the guy has some skills," he confessed grudgingly as he furrowed his brow.

They walked in silence. If he was going to have a chance with Teela, he wanted to discover whether she still had feelings for the royal brat. He finally cast a sidelong glance at her. "What I don't get is that you keep defending him even though you two broke up. What's that about?" he probed.

They arrived at the door to her quarters. Teela dropped her gaze to the floor then looked into his eyes. "It's…complicated."

He shook his head. "It doesn't have to be, Sweet Cheeks. Take me for example—"

"I'd rather not," she shot back, a mischievous grin forming across her lips as she fiddled with the room key.

Asher's jaw hung open in surprise. He smirked then replied, "That's another mystery, Red. Why won't you go out with me? I mean come on! I'm handsome, my parents are financially well off, I've got rank in the Eternian Military, I'm good in bed…," he listed. "What am I lacking?"

Teela looked at the ceiling, bit her lip, and pondered. "Oh I don't know. Humility perhaps?" she teased as she blew out a sigh of resignation and shook her head. "Give it up, Ash. You're not the one," she stated with finality. "See you at dinner," she replied as she patted his chest and gave him a quick peck to his cheek. She entered her room and turned around to face him. "And don't call me Red," she added sharply before quickly shutting the door.

He stood in the hallway baffled. "Rejected again," he muttered with a snort as he shook his head in disbelief and headed for his own quarters.

xxxxxxxxxx

He grunted as he covered the snowy ground in long strides, the only sound in the quiet mountainside the crunch of snow beneath his feet and his breathing; labored now as his crystallized breaths tumbled from his mouth. Making it to the edge of the cliff, Battlecat leapt over the deep cavern and landed with a thud onto the opposite side. Slowing to a trot, he approached the southern face of the mountain and entered the dark cold cave.

"Rrready!" his growl echoed off of the craggy walls.

Suddenly a shimmering beam of light appeared then quickly expanded to accommodate him. The portal stretched until it reached its desired size as Battlecat lunged through. It propelled him through space and time depositing him directly onto the stone floor of Greyskull's throne room.

"Go!" the Sorceress exclaimed from atop the throne's steps, her palm outstretched. The cat turned and galloped toward the entrance as the shields dropped and the drawbridge lowered. Battlecat jumped onto the rapidly lowering bridge and galloped across it leaping from the end just before it slammed down onto the opposite cliff. The bridge began its ascent and the shields quickly rose back into place as the sound of vicious fighting just ahead of him reached his ears.

xxxxxxxxxx

The fight was intense and brutal. He-Man, gripping the hilt with two hands, swung his sword over his head and sliced two aerial robots in two. He then somersaulted onto the ground and blocked Tri-Klop's downward axe swing over Mekanek. The Master was on his back momentarily dazed and defenseless after being slammed from behind by Whiplash's tail.

Shaking it off, Mekanek scrambled to his feet and recovered his staff, swinging it behind him clipping Whiplash at the ankles. The mutant cried out and fell hard to the ground.

Greyskull's Champion shot to his feet, swung his sword over his shoulder and behind his back to block another strike from behind, the sound of steel against steel screaming in protest. He then side kicked Tri-Klops square in the chest sending him screaming and tumbling backwards over the edge of the abyss.

Buzz-Off, hovering in the air, shot off the last few rounds of laser ammo at three oncoming robots sending them crashing and burning to the ground. He then charged Mer-Man who was sighting his weapon on Mekanek's back. The Andreenid tackled him from behind as the two traded blows.

Battlecat roared and swiped a sharp claw at an oncoming robot, slicing a chunk from its thorax and sending it plummeting over the abyss. Upon hearing his growl, He-Man glanced over his shoulder and sent his partner a relieved smile.

Tri-Klops managed to climb back over the edge of the abyss and shot a bolt of energy at Buzz-Off. He clipped his wing and sent the Master crashing to the ground. Mekanek absorbed another hit from Whiplash's sweeping tail bruising his ribcage. Mer-Man was locked in a losing duel with He-Man.

Battlecat destroyed four more robots and pounced on Tri-Klops knocking him to the ground unconscious. Buzz-Off, despite the burning pain of his wounded wing, scrambled to his feet and reengaged with Whiplash, ending the face off with a powerful roundhouse kick to his jaw. Mekanek, one-handed, flung his twirling staff at the two remaining robots knocking them out of commission. Despite receiving a bloody gash to his side compliments of a robot's deadly beam, He-Man threw a left-hook right-uppercut combination at Mer-Man topping it off with an elbow to his temple.

With the robots finally destroyed and the three villains subdued and on the ground, He-Man directed the other two Masters to bind their wrists and ankles while he contacted Man-At-Arms.

xxxxxxxxxx

"Status," Duncan's voice came across the com-link.

"Fifteen robots destroyed and three down," He-Man reported between ragged breaths, panting from the exertion of battle. "You?"

"We were able to apprehend Clawful, but Beastman and Evil-Lyn escaped from prison," he replied remorsefully.

The warrior clenched his jaw in frustration. "How?"

"I designed the cell to withstand direct magical strikes but didn't consider reverse spells."

He-Man quirked an eyebrow. "Explain."

He heard the older man blow out a sigh. "Evil-Lyn convinced the guards by transforming herself into an innocent Eternian maiden. She then sent magical signals to alter their brain waves. They succumbed to her mind control and opened the cell. Once they did, Beastman…killed them…and they escaped. By the time we sent reinforcements, they were long gone. The security video captured it all."

Appalled, He-Man finally released a sigh and rubbed his eyes, grunting at the pain the movement caused in his side.

"Lad? Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine Duncan."

"You're bleeding, He-Man!" Buzz-Off exclaimed. "You need a physician immediately!"

"He-Man?" Duncan's anxiety filled voice echoed from the com-link after hearing the Andreenid's frantic observation.

He glanced behind his shoulder. "It's alright, Buzz-Off. It'll heal. I just need to—"

Just then, Greyskull's shields came roaring down as the drawbridge lowered with an insistent thud. He-Man glanced at it then back at the Masters.

He returned to the com-link. "I've…um…got an appointment. Mekanek and Buzz-Off are both injured. Please see that they're taken care of, Duncan," he said as his shoulders slumped in pain, the adrenaline from the fight finally wearing off. He touched his side with his opposite hand and stated, "If you need me again, call me."

"Acknowledged," came the reply over the com-link. "Trevian and I will send troops to take Skeletor's men into custody. They'll arrive in 10-klicks. And…please do take care of yourself, He-Man. Everyone at the palace is concerned for your health…," Duncan trailed off to silently imply the Queen's concern for her son.

"Understood," he replied before shutting off the com-link.

He-Man turned and eyed the Masters. "Man-At-Arms is sending troops to handle this vermin," he gestured to the three injured villains on the ground, his usual deep baritone going hoarse. "He will also make sure you two obtain medical attention." He paused and covered his mouth as he coughed a bit. Buzz-Off and Mekanek exchanged worried glances.

He sent them an appreciative gaze. "Thank you, both of you, for assisting me in taking down these characters." He then glanced at the looming façade of the castle behind them. "I must go now."

Mekanek, holding his injured side spoke up. "But Sir, you need attention as much as we do. That wound looks ugly," he replied, the large open wound to his ribcage now bleeding profusely. He-Man winced and covered it with his left palm, blood slowly seeping through his fingers.

"Thanks for your concern. I'll get this looked at…in there," he nodded at Greyskull.

Before either of them could protest, he shouted, "Cat!"

Battlecat rushed to his side as He-Man grabbed the horn of his saddle and swung his leg over the side, grimacing and hissing at the sharp burning pain. The cat lunged forward and galloped over the drawbridge, both disappearing inside Greyskull's shadowy gaping maw. The bridge slammed shut behind them leaving Buzz-Off and Mekanek wearing confused expressions. They stared at each other in silence.

xxxxxxxxxx

RIP Leonard Nimoy 1931-2015. Truly an end of an era. You will be missed. Live Long And Prosper