A/N: THANK YOU THANK YOU! Holy wow. Your interest and your reviews…I'm speechless and completely humbled. A HUGE thank you to all who have reviewed and have followed/favorited since the last update. Wow. Well, here's chapter 7. Wait a minute, so how am I supposed to follow chapter 6 now? LOL I'm very...VERY nervous and am hoping and praying to God you guys like this chapter too. Please and thank you for reviewing. You have no earthly idea how your honest feedback helps me.
Chapter 7
"Daughter, what's your twenty?" the staticky voice asked nervously.
Teela blinked and reached for her communicator. "I'm…I'm here, Father. At the Northern Wall."
Relieved, Man-At-Arms replied, "Commander Bouvier checked in asking for your location. When none of us could place you, we were worried."
She sighed. "I'm sorry, Father. I'm just a little…confused. I'm fine."
"Confused?" he echoed, then a pause. "Where's He-Man?"
Her heart sank at the mention of his name. Swallowing, she replied tightly, "Gone."
"Gone?"
Her eyes squeezed shut, she struggled to regain her composure. With determination, her eyes popped open and focused as she pressed the button on her communicator. "I'll give a full report at check-in, Sir. Will return to Hangar 5 at nineteen hundred."
There was a curious pause then, "Affirmative, Captain."
Snapping the device shut Teela glanced around, her eyes settling on the last of the Wind Raiders and Med Evacs far off in the distance transporting their troops back to base. Her gaze then swept to her Sky-Sled a hundred feet to her right.
Clamping her radio to her belt, she took a deep breath and started for it.
A silent and very conflicted He-Man stood within Greyskull's ancient walls at the bottom of the throne's steps, his gaze settling on a beautiful winged woman holding him in her emerald hawk-like stare.
Rising from her perch, she slowly descended the steps, her eyes boring into his. Reaching the bottom she stood toe to toe with him, her chin upturned to gaze directly into his eyes.
"I can't," he finally stated, his sapphire gaze filled with pain.
The Sorceress' eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I have seen your troubles and am truly sorry for the many burdens you carry," she replied, her voice soft and empathetic.
His gaze shifted to the stone floor.
The woman's emerald eyes suddenly flashed. "No," she said, her tone sharp. "You most certainly are not a disappointment," she replied reading his melancholy thoughts. "That is your father's voice and he could not be more wrong."
He-Man's eyes jerked up to meet hers.
"Your heart is pure. Many people neither possess nor understand your tender disposition, young Prince, and in doing so they question your judgement. It is simply your nature to truly care for others and as a result, you made civic-minded decisions to protect all regardless of how your actions reflected upon your alter ego," she explained with a nod to the sword on his back.
Listening intently, he held her gaze.
"You have also made very personal and difficult decisions to safeguard those you love despite the many harsh and unfair consequences that followed," she added, her mind reflecting on the names of the people he had helped; in particular the Princess, the Daughter of Abelya…her own daughter.
She pressed her lips together. "Unconditional love. Forbearance. Mercy. Those, young one, are traits everyone values yet so few work to engender within themselves," she stepped closer, her hands caressing his shoulders, "It requires strength, discipline, endurance, and humility."
He continued to stare, his gaze finally faltering as it dropped once again to the floor, the aforementioned ideals resonating deep within his psyche. "So indeed, I have failed Greyskull."
Her brow knitting in consternation the Sorceress countered, "No you have not, He-Man. You are human. And the human heart can bear so much," she eyed him. "Even as Adam, you endured continuing opposition by consistently choosing to do what was right whether publicly or privately," she looked at him. "And…even if you had never defeated Skeletor, after seven years of wielding the sword and bearing the responsibility of defending Eternia, you still would have been justified in walking away, young one."
Catching her clue, again his eyes jerked to meet hers. "Skeletor…defeated?"
She nodded. "The incendiary nature of your righteous indignation at the injustice of those who suffered and died under his tyranny rose within you. In response, Greyskull's might surged and broke forth channeling through you and galvanizing the Power Sword."
Incredulous, He-Man blinked.
"When you destroyed his havoc staff, you broke the source of his power," she continued, her eyes narrowing in retrospect. "Skeletor is a broken man. I doubt very much he will be able to regain his original strength if any at all."
Perplexed, his eyes studied the floor as hers remained fixed upon him. She cocked her head to the side, her weighty emerald gaze suddenly laced with wide-eyed interest. "With that said, there are many in this world and beyond vying to take his place. Evil is still among us."
His gaze still averted, his shoulders suddenly slumped. "For the first time, I lost control today," he began. "I saw the fear in their eyes as my temper broke; the apprehension in Teela's expression…," He shook his head. "Over the last few years I found I'd developed a short fuse over the constant wrangling with my father, the Nobles…Teela…," he broke off again punctuating it with a small sigh.
"I'm…I'm tired."
Lifting a weary gaze to meet hers he added, "It was bad enough I lost it as Adam. But as He-Man," disappointed in himself, he bit his lip. "That's unacceptable."
Teela'Na watched as, taking a deep breath, He-Man reached behind his back and unsheathed his weapon, the piercing sound of metal against metal echoing against Greyskull's storied walls.
Bittersweet, his gaze lingered on the mighty Power Sword, its low and mesmerizing hum swelling and ebbing as he examined it turning it over in his grasp. He considered it.
This weapon had served him well. It had been dependable in protecting the defenseless and effective as the instrument of Justice. Reliable, not once did it shatter, break, or even crack under seven long years of insurmountable pressure.
Staring at it, he snorted and smirked in amusement.
Concerned at his fragile state of mind and tapping into his tempestuous emotions, the Sorceress' brow knit worriedly, her eyes studying him closely.
How ironic, he thought, his sapphire stare fixed on the formidable weapon. My sword stayed true, yet I'm now cracking under pressure. Some Defender of Eternia I turned out to be.
He shifted his stormy gaze back to the Castle's Guardian. Holding it horizontally, he pushed it toward her.
"Take it. Obviously I'm not worthy," he slowly shook his head. "I can't…I…," his voice cracking, he hesitated then finally ground out, "I'm beaten…not by Skeletor, but by my own failings."
Frowning, the Guardian of Greyskull tore her eyes from his conflicted countenance and shifted a sad gaze to Greyskull's Sword. Hesitatingly, she wrapped her long graceful fingers around the hilt and blade taking it from him and lifting her chin to search his eyes, their eyes meeting once again and locking in silent acquiescence.
He-Man took a step back knowing what would follow.
Immediately, a painful electric current shot up his spine as he gasped and fell to his knees, his hands grasping the stone flooring. Lurching forward, he grimaced and cried out in pain as his body struggled to right itself under the trauma of Greyskull's separation from his inter-special DNA.
The initial genetic transformation of seven years ago unraveling, the Sorceress watched helplessly with an empathetic and teary gaze as he suffered, unable to come to his aid during this painful reversal process.
With a final agonized and fractured cry He-Man collapsed, his ghostly image destabilizing and melting away leaving Prince Adam unconscious, sprawled on the cold stone floor face down and clad in black slacks, boots, and a purple silk shirt.
The castle went still as his eyes finally fluttered open to stare at a pair of snowy white boots.
Slowly climbing to hands and knees, he lifted his eyes as the Sorceress stood over him, the sword now gone, arms at her side, a sad fragile smile on her lips. His mind still groggy from the painful onslaught, he stared in confusion, his brow furrowed.
She cast a lingering gaze. "Thank you for your service, Prince Adam of Eternia. Greyskull, and this Kingdom, are forever indebted to you."
And with that, she disappeared.
Off balance and slowly standing to his feet, he straightened and regarded the empty throne, his blue gaze sweeping the castle one last time. Nodding his appreciation and his throat tight with emotion, he swallowed hard, turned, and headed toward the drawbridge.
He waited patiently as the bridge gently lowered stretching itself over the cavern below. It finally halted allowing him to cross safely over the abyss. Upon reaching the other side, he turned to gaze upon the decrepit, skeletal façade as the drawbridge lie dormant, the castle's gaping maw frozen in silent scream.
Confused at its hesitation, he watched for what seemed like forever until the bridge finally began to rise. Reaching its apex, it thundered closed in finality.
The Prince lowered his head, turned, and quietly walked away from Castle Greyskull.
She-Ra was briefing Duncan's Second In Command on the King and Queen's status when, out of her peripheral, she spotted father and daughter, their steps heavy, approaching from the far side of the hangar. Fixing a questioning gaze at their saddened demeanor and anticipating the report, she sheathed the Sword of Protection behind her, turned, and headed toward them.
Mid-step she stopped cold, her eyes going wide in confusion then quickly morphing into consternation as she placed a hand to her head. Lightheaded and off balance, she swayed slightly.
Man-At-Arms and Captain Teela glanced worriedly at each other before rushing to her aid. Catching her just before she collapsed, they assisted her to a nearby bench.
"Water!" Teela ordered as a guard quickly saluted and disappeared into the corridor.
Her eyelids heavy, the Warrior Princess blinked then shook her head as if to clear it. Her blue gaze focusing and refocusing, they suddenly sharpened and locked on Duncan. "Where is my brother?" she demanded.
Duncan, his cinnamon gaze dim with worry glanced at Teela. "Captain, kindly relay the report," he quietly asked.
Her mouth suddenly going dry, Teela licked her lips. "I don't know where he is, She-Ra."
The woman's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, you don't know where he is?" she said sharply. "He was with you at the power shed, was he not?"
"Yes."
She-Ra eyed her. "And?"
"And…after I spoke with him, he stepped through a portal and disappeared," Teela replied, her emerald gaze steady and locked with the sapphire one before her.
The Etherian Warrior quirked an eyebrow then turned to search Duncan's silent countenance, the lighting in the hangar flickering against her gold winglet headdress. She turned back to the redhead.
"Come, Captain. We must talk…," she looked at Duncan, "All of us."
xxx
That evening, the five of them deliberated in a conference room located in the west wing of the Palace, sentries dutifully guarding the doors. Teela had just briefed everyone on what happened at the Northern Wall leaving them silent, the room charged with apprehension. Marlena bit her lip.
"After you surmised my brother was engaged in an illicit affair with the Crown Prince, he stated he was finished?" She-Ra replied, a tad perturbed.
Defensively folding her arms and her insecurities rising, Teela threw a petulant glance at the blonde woman. "Well, what else was I supposed to think?"
The woman's blue gaze narrowed.
"Teela," her father drew out in warning.
"Describe his body language," the Queen asked, her brow furrowed.
All eyes shot to Marlena.
Blinking, she glanced around the room. "Nonverbal cues are just as important as the spoken word," she offered, a bit annoyed. When no one replied, she blew out a puff of breath. "I'm an astronaut for goodness sake. If your radio goes out while repairing the loading arm on a space station suspended miles above the Earth, someone please enlighten me on how one would communicate during a spacewalk," she rambled irritatingly.
More stares.
Teela blinked, her mind replaying their interaction. "He seemed…defeated, Your Majesty."
Silence.
"Did he mention if he'd return?" the King finally asked unsettled, his voice laced with concern.
She-Ra's face darkened.
"No, Sir."
Agitated, Randor leaned back and stroked his beard. "Curious. What could have possibly triggered his actions? The thought of him abandoning us to God knows where while Beastman, Mer-Man, and Evil-Lyn remain at large—"
"While your son's whereabouts these past five days remain a mystery leaving him vulnerable to kidnapping or assault by said mutants…," She-Ra reminded sharply, her eyes fixed on him and more than a little stung at the term "abandonment" used to characterize her twin brother.
Caught off guard, Randor blinked at the Etherian woman, the room quiet as the two attempted to read each other. Sighing, he glanced away.
"They're both gone."
Everyone snapped their heads to Teela.
Her eyes studying the polished cherry wood grain of the oval conference table she stared at nothing, hugging herself as she struggled to make sense of it all.
She-Ra's probing blue stare roamed the room then settled on her father. "Forgive me Your Majesty, but why have you not sent a search party after the Eternian Prince?"
Randor's eyes widened and shifted abruptly to her. "He's gone off before but no more than a day," his gaze went distant wandering past her shoulder. "As the days passed, I deduced this was his way of getting attention so I found myself calling his bluff." He glanced down. "I must admit…I expected him home by now," he stated with regret.
She-Ra's eyebrows shot up as Teela snapped her head to the King. "But…he's the Crown Prince, Sire. Whether this is a game or not, he's too important to be left out there…alone…even if it is just to prove a lesson," she trailed off.
At the gentle reproof, everyone present held their tongues as He-Man's twin, surprised by the Captain's sudden and apparent objectivity turned sharply to the redhead.
Randor stared blankly.
Marlena furrowed her brow. Having been briefed by Duncan two days ago on the Sorceress' response regarding Adam's disappearance, her mind felt at least some relief knowing he was safe and simply sought solace. But now, her mind fretted at the notion of He-Man also disappearing.
"Has your brother attempted contact, She-Ra?" Duncan asked worriedly.
She-Ra's gaze shifted to her brother's mentor. "No, Man-At-Arms. And that is very unlike him. We have a psychosomatic connection allowing us to share one another's thoughts and feelings at any given time," she released a frustrated sigh. "At this moment, I sense nothing."
Distraught, Marlena studied her daughter. "Describe what happened earlier…your moment in the hangar."
The Warrior Princess met her secret mother's concerned gaze. "There was a momentary disruption of power…as if Greyskull simply shut down."
Someone gasped as the room once again fell silent.
"The Crystal Castle maintains a vigil," she continued sadly, "Light Hope advises my brother is currently not on Etheria."
Randor turned to his longtime friend. "Have you been able to connect with the Sorceress?"
"No, Sire," Man-At-Arms replied. "And even if we travel there, it will do no good. Greyskull communicates to me only when necessary and cannot be forced."
The King's eyes flashed. "Well it's certainly necessary now, don't you think Duncan? The Masters are powerful yes but can only do so much. Eternia needs him. And…and my son needs…," he trailed off, his voice cracking, failing under the weight of emotion and regret.
The Queen reached for her husband's hand and squeezed it, his clouded hazel gaze abruptly meeting hers. "Have I brought this upon all of us, Marlena?" he asked, his tone desperate.
The room froze as Marlena swallowed hard. "No one, not even you should lay all that has transpired at your feet, my husband. As a family, each of us shares the responsibility of communicating effectively." She leaned in wrapping her right hand around his neck, their foreheads touching. "Forgive me for blowing up and blaming you, Randy."
Their eyes squeezed shut in pain, Randor rasped, "No my dear. I take the brunt of it for judging my son so harshly, as you had so deftly pointed out," he pulled back to look into her eyes. "But, why can't he work through his fears?" he tried. "Must he run away? Must he always run away?"
She-Ra pursed her lips. "Perhaps he is not running away so much as running to?" she offered carefully.
All eyes wide and searching shifted to the blonde Etherian Warrior with Duncan's brow crinkling in admonished censure. She-Ra sent him a dismissive glance.
"Explain," Randor insisted, his interest piqued.
The warrior shifted her sapphire gaze to the Captain. "Did the Prince not tell you once that he summons my brother in times of trouble?"
Recollection dawning, Teela's emerald eyes widened. "Yes."
She-Ra then looked at the King. "And although you have contingencies in place, without the line of ascendancy continuing in its long time-honored tradition, your kingdom would inadvertently suffer would it not?"
His eyes wide, Randor nodded slowly.
"Perhaps in his own way, he was in fact protecting the Kingdom?" she suggested. She suddenly waved a hand. "Well…there it is."
The room waxed pensive as she suddenly stood, her height and presence filling the room. "I must go."
Shaken over the uncertainty of her brother's state of mind, not to mention dare she say, his desertion, she masked her concerns with a strong confident façade. "For reasons known only to him, my brother needs time alone," she declared her steely blue gaze sweeping the quiet room. "I'll return to Etheria and await his call. In the meantime, summon me if I am needed here on Eternia."
Coming to himself, Randor blinked and stood respectfully followed by Duncan. "She-Ra, thank you for your help in protecting the Palace today," he stated, "And thank you for offering your assistance. It's my hope your brother returns soon…along with my son," he added sadly, his voice slightly hoarse.
In her present form She-Ra, long considered a subject of Etheria and not of Eternia, declined to curtsey but instead offered a respectful nod.
Turning, she headed for the door. Placing a hand on the door knob, she turned back to the others. "I know my brother. He will return," she reassured before stepping out into the corridor and disappearing down the hall.
Barefoot and shirtless, he walked along the shore, his gaze fixed upon the calm undulating surf of the beautiful Maridean Ocean. Glancing down, he gave a small smile enjoying the feeling of silken powdery golden sand slipping between his toes.
Adam's gaze wandered back to the limitless cerulean vastness, its seeming innocuous waves belying a hidden power never to be underestimated. He stopped and turned to it, attempting to understand its puzzling dichotomy.
The ocean, a place of fun and serenity for many young and old was in fact one of the four powerful known Elements on this planet containing dangerous undercurrents, high evening tides, seasonal tempests, and not to mention deadly sea creatures. The ocean always emerged triumphant when pitted against man and one was wise to respect its power.
Power.
By The Power Of Greyskull…
He shifted his now troubled sapphire gaze to the sand, his hands on the hips of his tattered, mid-length khaki cargos. Kneeling, he sat down on the shore's edge clasping his hands together, his elbows on his knees, his feet buried in the hot sand as the bright morning sun shone down on him warming his bronzed skin.
It had now been almost a month since he deserted Greyskull and Eternia.
Deserted. As much as he hated that word, that's exactly what he had done. He'd left everyone he was commissioned to protect and safeguard. He was entrusted with the lives of everyone on the planet and what did he do? When it got too tough, he walked out on them.
His mind wandered to his sister Adora. With a deep sigh, he reflected on how he treated her…abandoning her to protect not only Etheria but most likely Eternia on her own.
Yes, she would come to Eternia's aid without a second thought, most definitely. He knew his twin sister well; possessing a strong sense of duty and unwavering obligation, they were so much alike.
Were alike, his mind muttered.
She-Ra would never give up the Sword of Protection and just give up and walk out on everyone.
He shrugged. Then again, she never had to endure the sordid reputation that was unfairly saddled upon him.
He frowned.
Shaking his head he muttered, "Nope. That's a lame excuse, Adam."
His eyebrows shot up. "I'm now talking to myself," he reflected. "I've officially gone insane."
Huffing, Adam plopped on his back into the sand, his arms going wide, his feet shoulder length apart as he stared blankly into the deep azure sky. "I'm a crazy, weak-minded fool who couldn't handle the pressure," he added quietly.
As he lie there listening to the surf's gentle crashing waves, his thoughts eventually drifted to the love of his life and the connection she attempted to make between him and his alter ego. He crinkled his nose.
"Correction: I'm not the only one insane," he deliberated. "Lovers?"
He recalled their last conversation blinking at the sky.
"He-Man and I are lovers."
He fell silent.
Teela's mind couldn't fathom the possibility that he could actually be He-Man. The thought never crossed her mind. The likelihood that he could have been this…this hero was the furthest thing away from reality that labeling He-Man as his lover was the next logical assumption.
Adam pondered silently for several moments.
He had lost her. Over the seven years he faithfully served Greyskull, he definitively and irrevocably lost her.
He knit his brow.
Hell, he never had her.
He rose to a sitting position again and watched the water move, ebbing and flowing against the shore. His gaze scanned the island settling on tall lazy palm trees whose verdant leaves blew gently in the tropical breeze.
This was his favorite hideaway. No one except Delphinia knew of its existence.
Not even his twin sister.
He regretted never telling her about this secret escape as he loved Adora with all of his heart; especially now that she also served Greyskull as its champion.
Greyskull of Eternia and Crystal Castle of Etheria. She literally was the only one on this planet and the subsequent realm who understood and could relate to what he was going through.
Adam pursed his lips. Perhaps he would bring her here someday…
His gaze narrowed. That is, if she was speaking to him. He did after all completely abandon her.
He frowned, his heart breaking. "How could I do such a thing? She most likely will never speak to me again…"
His roiling thoughts shifted to his mother then quickly shut down, his psyche unable to bear thoughts about his mother and how he had deserted her as well. His eyes welled up with tears.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
Broken, Adam slowly picked himself up from the sand, brushed himself off, and took the long way back to his solitary bungalow.
