Chapter Four: "Going On"
Castaspella, Glimmer, and Bow all arrived at the Castle of Morigor for another visit. Once more, Alec and Drak greeted them. It was Castaspella's first time here, though after spending all that time in the Crystal Castle, any place new was appreciated deeply.
The castle was dank and filled with loneliness and want. She could sense a deep and powerful curse laid upon the palace as soon she arrived. It was thick, ugly magic, the kind that Castaspella had dedicated her life to fight against.
Shortly, the trio was then met with King Morigor himself. Castaspella gasped. As soon as she saw him, she could sense the intense curse that hung around his body.
"You poor dear," she sighed. "Such powerful magic."
"Tell me about it," grunted Morigor.
She studied him close up, but not touching him. Then, much to everyone's surprise, she leaned forward and planted a big kiss on his cheeks.
"Casta!" shouted Glimmer.
Morigor pushed her off of him, but it was too late. Castaspella's body transformed. Her face became scaly and flat. Two huge deer-like horns sprouted from her forehead. A long tail appeared from underneath her skirt.
"Ah!" she yelped. "I understand it now!"
"You do?!" questioned Morigor. "What madness has befallen you, woman!? What source of inspiration could have you come across by doing that!?"
"Oh shush," Casta replied, smiling. She waved her hands at him, issuing forth a beam of golden energy. Morigor was awash quickly by it. It faded quickly and afterwards, Casta did it again. Her arms wrapped around him and she kissed.
Castaspella quickly reverted back to normal.
"I simply combined my magic with the curse," she explained. "Now all you have to do is touch or kiss or hug or whatever to everyone you cursed. Once you do that, you'll have burned out the curse and you'll be back to normal."
"Thank you!" Morigor shouted.
"And yes, you can touch people again with nothing happening."
Morigor hugged her hard. "Thank you so very much."
He then turned to Glimmer and touched one of her tentacles. Quite quickly, the tentacles rippled and began to glow. They then transformed right back into her arms. Glimmer gave a yelp of success and rubbed her arms, so very happy they were back to normal. She then threw herself onto Bow, kissing him and hugging him – the right way.
After Glimmer calmed down, Bow handed Morigor a scroll.
"You no longer need to worry about anyone from Snake Mountain doing this to you again. If you ever need any help, contact Eternos. King Adam sends his regards."
Adam stood upon a balcony at Eternos, looking out at the city that he called his own. The weight of the world rested on his shoulders. Outside, the first flakes of winter began to fall. The sky was a thick gray sheet of clouds.
Autumn was gone, winter was coming. In a few short weeks, around the time of his and Adora's birthday, there would be a meeting with the other powers of Eternia to discuss the details of the new treaty. He had that to look forward to.
He did everything he could to look at all the good things he had done since his return from Primus. Overthrowing Hordak, rebuilding Eternos, tightening relations with the other kingdoms, taking the Snake-Men into custody, and . . .
Adam sighed.
Finding out about a conspiracy to belong a millenniums-long war between good and evil.
"Well, old friend, what do we have to do today?"
Cringer, who was sitting nearby, rolled onto his back and stretched. "Napping?"
Adam laughed a little. "I wish."
Cringer rolled his eyes. "I liked it better when you were Prince."
"Life is all about change, Cring. But who knows? When my parents come back, they'll probably take up the throne again and I'll go back to being the Prince. Then you and I can go fishing and napping together. And, with Hiss and Hordak put away, you won't have to become Battle-Cat anymore."
"You know what, Adam? I don't think I mind it anymore."
This was a bit of a shock to Adam. He didn't tell his old friend this, but he wasn't feeling much like using the Sword of Power that much these days anyways. After everything he had learned, the fact that the taint of the Cosmic Enforcers was on this weapon he had used for so many years bothered him to no end.
"Adam," Adora addressed.
He turned to his twin sister. "Yes?"
"The prison has just been activated. Hordak and King Hiss are both stable, their powers drained."
"Excellent. I guess reverse-engineering that Magic Stealer from all those years ago was a good idea then."
"I guess so." Adora sighed. "You going to tell me what's going on?"
"Not today, Adora. Soon. I promise."
She nodded. "That's good enough for me."
Adam suddenly hurt what sounded like a small firework from below. He looked down and back in the courtyard, Teela, Orko, Addison, and Duncan were all running around in falling snow. Orko fired out the occasional fireworks, celebrating the arrival of winter.
Adam found himself smiling.
"Let's go join them, huh, brother?"
Adam turned to her, grinning. For all the things he had done right and all the problems still on going and the dark secrets revealed to him, Adam had to move on. Life had to go on.
"After you, dear sister."
She watched from the darkest corner of Viper Tower as Pythor fell. Just as she had watched Adam and Adora make peace with the rest of Eternia. Shadow Weaver sat in Viper Tower, with its doors sealed shut from all those that served the side of good. Her magics were gone, her power barely amounting to anything. She cursed Hordak for his foolishness, for his underestimation. Even if he were to break free from his captors, she would most certainly never stand by his side again.
Her Horde garments were burned away, nothing but ashes in a bowl. She fasted, seeking guidance and inspiration. The devices of Viper Tower did very little to aide her in her current state. The magics of Eternia seemed to resist adapting to her own, small amount of Etherian magic.
In despair, she sat against the Watching Well and gazed at parts of Eternia, thinking and hoping that there was a hope for her dark spirit. She watched what it would show, which was at times something important and at other times, things that mattered to no one.
She was just about thinking of breaking her fast when there was a sudden noise that caught her attention. A door slammed shut from somewhere with Viper Tower. Shadow Weaver stood up, putting her hands into a position that would bring her whatever magic she had left.
"Who is there?"
A cloaked figure appeared from a corridor entrance.
"Shadow Weaver," the figure addressed.
"You!" Shadow Weaver cried out.
"I am in need of you assistance."
"What makes you think I can help you?"
"We are in similar situations. Our power is low. Our resources are limited. Our plans have been derailed. However, I do believe we can help each other. I need something."
"Why don't you get it yourself?" the witch questioned.
"I'm not ready for to reveal myself yet."
"Neither am I."
"I can give you your power back."
This intrigued Shadow Weaver. "Oh?"
The man lifted his hands. He spoke intense magic words. Bolts of lightning came from the very walls of the Viper Tower chamber and struck the Shadow Weaver. As her body glowed, she could feel her magics restoring, her power levels going back up.
"It is only as much as I can spare," the cloaked man said.
"I . . . it is enough." Shadow Weaver moved towards the man. "Tell me, Skeletor, what is it you want me to do for you?"
Skeletor simply began to laugh.