Adora sighed as she stared at the stream in front of her. Adam had shared this spot with her a long time ago, and she found that connection to him to be comforting right now. She had spent the morning with Sea Hawk, leaning heavily on his support; she was incredibly thankful he had come to Eternia with them. She had also spent the morning avoiding her parents and Teela; she just couldn't face them, much less talk to them.

When Adora had taken her shift at Adam's side, guilt nearly choked her as she gazed at him, almost unable to look away. She had tried talking to him a few times, but couldn't get more than a few words out. The whole experience left her feeling drained. Afterwards, she had eventually wandered here, in the woods; not only was there a strong connection to Adam, but she felt at home here.

Adora sighed again and shifted her position, leaning her chin on her hands and putting her elbows on her knees. A fish flew out of the water and returned with a splash, drawing her attention to the way the stream dipped and gurgled at that spot. Her mind went drifted aimlessly as she watched the water play. It was a few moments before she could focus again. Sidetracking on mundane things was her mind's way of dealing with the guilt raging through her, she knew from past experience. It had happened often after she had first left the Horde. The responsibility she bore for the Etherian people's plight had haunted her for months.

Adora forced herself to focus on the issues at hand. The anger and confusion caused by the spell had not returned; she could only assume the spell was broken. But exactly how it had been broken was a mystery to her. Knowing that the last of the anger had gone when Adam had forgiven her, she assumed it had something to do with that. But how had Adam known what to do? She couldn't figure that out.

For the first time, Adora truly understood how Adam had felt after he'd killed Darren. Even knowing she had been under a spell when she attacked her brother, she felt unworthy of Grayskull's power. She wondered if she ought to give it up. Surely she should have been able to withstand such a spell, no matter how powerful it was.

Adora stood and took a step towards Grayskull's direction. For a long moment, she was still, seemingly unconscious of the bugs flying around her head. She took another step, then abruptly turned back towards the palace. It was almost time for her to take a shift with Adam again. Maybe afterwards, she would go to Grayskull.


The fog of shock that had protected Adora for the last two days was finally starting to wear off. Unlike the vague thoughts that had floated through her mind near the stream the day before, her thoughts now were sharp and certain as she stared once again at Adam, watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest. For what must have been the millionth time she glanced at the monitors to check his vitals, willing him to come out of Duncan's drug-induced sleep so she see how well he really was.

I can't believe I nearly killed my own brother, she thought. My parents must hate me. I almost killed their son. That's unforgivable, no matter what Adam said. I'm not worthy of Grayskull's power. I have to go to Grayskull. I have to give it up. She longed for Spirit. A ride was just what she needed right now…straight to the castle.

"You're still here."

Adora's head snapped around at Hawk's quiet voice as he entered the room. "Yes," she said softly, her troubled eyes returning to her brother's still form.

"He's going to be fine, Adora." Hawk came over to her and put an arm around her shoulders.

"I know," she answered. Her gaze went to the monitors again.

"Have you told your parents what happened yet?" he asked.

"No," she said, her eyes filling with tears. She didn't want him to notice, so she tilted her head forward to allow her blond hair to cover her face. "I saw Mother this morning in the hall, but before we got close enough to talk, I chickened out and went the other way. They'll never forgive me for this, Hawk. I just found my family, and now I'm going to lose them again, and it's my own fault."

Hawk frowned. He hadn't had much of a family growing up either, with his father missing and presumed dead, but he'd seen the love Adora's family had for her. He gently hooked a finger under her chin and applied pressure until she raised her face to him. His eyes filled with sympathy when he saw the unshed tears there.

"I don't think that's true," he argued firmly. "They might get angry, but they love you, Adora. You'll get through this as a family."

"I wish I could believe that," she answered, looking at Adam's still form again. Thoughts of her responsibilities returned to her. Adora sighed heavily and stepped away from his embrace. "There's something I have to do, Hawk."

"Let me go with you," he responded, grasping her hand before she could leave.

"I-I don't-" she stammered. Adora found she desperately wanted to say yes, even though she knew she shouldn't. She wanted him with her.

"Please, Adora," the pirate stressed, his hand tightening on her arm.

Adora finally nodded. "All right."


The image of the sword piercing her brother's chest replayed itself over and over in Adora's mind as she and Hawk walked towards Grayskull. She sighed and tried to re-direct her thoughts, but again she saw Adam falling to his knees, holding his chest with one hand and bracing himself with the other until Duncan reached him and laid him on the ground.

Then there was the flurry of activity that followed: getting Adam stabilized, Castaspella using a levitation spell to help transport him to the portal, and her flat-out refusal to leave his side. Adam had passed out by then; whether from the pain or the drugs Duncan had given him, Adora didn't know.

The horror on the Sorceress' face was etched into Adora's mind, as were her futile attempts to heal Adam through magic. It was then that Adora first admitted what she'd done, and the tears had fallen down her face unceasingly the rest of the day. She couldn't even answer her parents when they asked what had happened. The frightened looks on their faces when they saw their son's motionless body made another sight Adora would never forget.

Adora realized suddenly that they had arrived at Grayskull. She stared at the old stone castle, then turned to Sea Hawk.

"Wait here for me, please. I need to talk to the Sorceress."

Hawk nodded, his questioning gaze going between her and the castle. The old drawbridge squeaked down, and Adora walked in, pulling out the Sword of Protection as she did so. Her footsteps echoed through the halls until she reached the throne room.

"Hello, Adora," the Sorceress said, coming down the staircase to greet her. "What can I do for you?"

"I have proven myself unworthy to wield this sword," Adora said quietly, sadly. She held it out. "I have come to surrender it."

"Nonsense, Adora," the Sorceress replied, her voice full of sympathy. Although she didn't reach out to take the sword, she didn't look surprised at all. Adora wondered briefly if the woman had been spying on her. She glanced at Serena, who stood to her right, and found her lips pressed together, as if she wanted to argue with Adora.

"You were under a powerful spell," the Sorceress added.

"One I should have been able to resist," Adora countered. "What if I had been She-Ra when that spell took hold like that? I would have killed innocent people. And since I tried to start with my brother, even He-Man wouldn't have been able to stop me." She shook her head. "No, Sorceress, I am not to be trusted with this power any longer." She raised the sword again for the Sorceress to take it.

"You are wrong, Adora, but I understand why you feel this way. If you wish, I will hold the sword for you until you have worked through things. You may come back and claim it when you are ready." The understanding in the woman's eyes was almost too much for Adora to bear. Serena crossed her arms, as if she were unhappy with the Sorceress' words.

"Thank you, but I won't be coming back for it," Adora said brokenly as the Sorceress took the sword. She felt an immediate sense of loss, as if a part of her was missing.

"She-Ra will be needed sooner than you realize, Adora," the Sorceress countered. "And I'm afraid Adam will be of no help to you for a while."

"And that's my fault," Adora whispered. The guilt weighed in again, and her shoulders slumped ever so slightly.

"Adora, do you think that if you had truly wanted to kill Adam, you would not have succeeded?" Serena challenged from Adora's side.

Adora almost sneered at Serena in her disbelief. "You have no idea about the rage that spell induced. I've never wanted to kill someone more. The only reason Adam is alive is because of his own skill." Her voice choked, and she turned sharply and walked out of the castle.

The Sorceress restrained Serena. "She is not yet ready to listen, Serena. Give her time."

Sea Hawk raised an eyebrow at Adora as she came out of the castle, seeming more upset than when she had gone in.

"Adora, are you all right?" he asked, expecting her to shrug off whatever it was and pretend everything was okay. Why am I expecting her to do that? Hawk realized with a start that she typically did downplay any of her own problems. Why have I never noticed that before?

Adora offered him a tremulous smile. "I'm fine, Hawk. Let's go back to the palace."


Adam groaned as he woke up. Pain was the first thing he was conscious of. The cottony feel in his mouth was the second. A blurry sideways face popped in front of him.

"Mother?" he asked weakly. He tried to remember what had happened.

She smiled at him. "The whole thing with Skeletor was bad enough, Adam. Did you have to try to get yourself killed again so soon? Your father and I don't handle this stuff very well."

"Sorry," he said automatically. His head felt foggy. He remembered being in Etheria. "Where am I?"

"Home," came his father's voice. Adam spotted him standing just behind Marlena, his brown eyes full of concern. "Duncan felt more comfortable with his own medical equipment."

"What happened?"

"We were hoping you could tell us," Randor replied, his eyes searching his son's face. He could see the moment Adam remembered. Regret and worry flashed quickly across his face, then Adam closed his eyes briefly.

"Where's Adora?" This question came out in a light breath.

"I'm sure she's around," Randor said, his brow furrowed. He realized that they hadn't seen Adora much at all, actually. "We'll let her know you're awake."

Adam started to ask another question, but Marlena put a finger on his lips. "Rest, son. I'm going to have some food brought up." She left the room, her gown rustling.

Randor regarded Adam somberly. "What happened, son? Adora cried when she tried to talk about it, Teela looks angry and won't talk about it, and Duncan just shakes his head and says he can't believe it."

Had Adam been completely coherent, he probably would have avoided the question. But he was still in a fog of pain, hunger, weariness, and drugs. Already he was tiring.

"There was…a spell on Adora...uncontrollable rage," Adam muttered, his breathing growing even more shallow and his eyes seeming to close on their own. "Tried to talk…didn't work."

"Adora did this?" Randor repeated in shock. His little girl had done this to her own brother? He shook his head. He must have misunderstood his son's ramblings.

"Spell," Adam explained again as he drifted off. "Knew it…."

Marlena walked in with a tray a little while later. "Oh, he fell back to sleep before we could get some food in him?" she asked in disappointment.

"Yes," Randor said grimly. "And he said something about a spell, and Adora, and uncontrollable rage. I'm not sure if he was talking about himself or her."

"Well, Duncan said he might not make much sense when he woke up the first time." Marlena adjusted the blankets around Adam and brushed a stray lock of hair away from his face. "Don't pay attention to anything he says until he's completely awake."

The king and queen conversed quietly together for a while, waiting for Adam to awaken again. Randor had just started in on a pile of paperwork when a new voice broke his concentration.

"How's Adam?" Adora asked from the doorway. She had hoped her parents would be gone already. Usually she took over from Duncan; something must have come up. Adora stood still, as if uncertain of her welcome. Randor noted that she did, indeed, look guilty.

Marlena turned to her with a smile. "He woke up a little while ago, but only for a couple of minutes." She frowned lightly at her daughter. "Why are you standing there, Adora? Come in and sit with us. We've hardly seen you."

Adora did enter the room, but she didn't sit down. Instead she stood wordlessly by Adam's side for a long time, staring down at him. I have to tell them what happened. They have to know. She opened her mouth, but couldn't make a sound. She swallowed hard and cleared her throat. Marlena and Randor exchanged concerned glances.

"It's my fault," Adora finally said, her voice tight. Marlena gasped lightly; Randor's eyes narrowed. "There was a spell on me, making me angrier and more volatile by the minute. We tried the Sorceress, Light Hope, Castaspella…no one knew how to break it. I either couldn't think straight or I was angry..so angry. One minute Adam and I were talking, and he was getting through to me, the anger was starting to fade just a little. I thought for a second we were going to break the spell. Then suddenly, it was worse than ever, and all directed at him, for things he had no control over." She wiped at her eyes.

"We fought with our swords for a while, then he suddenly just…stopped. He threw down his sword and said he wouldn't fight me any more. I struck him. He was defenseless, and I ran him through." Her voice broke, and tears streamed down her face unchecked.

"Resent that," came Adam's quiet voice.

"What?" Adora froze, her heart breaking. She should have known he hadn't really forgiven her. How could he?

"I wasn't defenseless," he said, opening his eyes and staring into her blue ones that matched his. His voice was slightly stronger than it had been earlier, and a small lopsided smile played about his lips. Relief flooded Adora.

"But you're She-Ra!" Randor exclaimed. "Why couldn't you resist it?"

Adora hung her head, but Adam defended her.

"She'd been under its influence…for well over two weeks," he explained. It hurt to breathe too deeply; he spoke in short whispered bursts. "It was very powerful."

"Father's right," she argued, shaking her head so hard that her hair flew into her face. Randor's words only confirmed her own thoughts. It was why she had surrendered her power. "I should have fought harder. I shouldn't have let it win." A sob escaped her and she ran out of the room.

Adam glared at his father.

"You need to go after her and apologize," Marlena snapped.

"No," Adam said firmly, moving as if to sit up. He fell back immediately, unable to gather enough strength. He bit back a groan. "You need to…understand first."

Both Marlena and Randor rushed to help him. Marlena piled pillows behind Adam as Randor helped him lean forward.

"You need to take it easy," Randor admonished gently. "That's a serious wound you have, and Duncan's been giving you some pretty strong drugs to make sure you rested. You've been out for almost three days."

Adam leaned back and tried to catch his breath. "Duncan knows I…hate using drugs."

Marlena smiled at her son's almost peevish tone. "It's for the best, Adam. You need to get well."

"Now what is it you want us to understand?" Randor demanded gruffly, anxious to go after his daughter and worried about his son.

"I knew what would happen." Pausing frequently to catch his breath, Adam went on to explain his dream and his certainty that Adora could be cured by the combination of regret and forgiveness. "The spell seemed to feed on anger…. If Adora gave into that anger…and hurt someone who forgave her…without getting angry…I thought it would break the spell."

Realization dawned on Randor. "You could have avoided the sword completely. You let her stab you."

Adam nodded, wincing at the exasperation on his parents' faces. "I didn't exactly…have it planned out, but…I knew it was a possibility…. That's why I called for Duncan…. Believe me, when Adora showed up…I tried everything…I could think of…to avoid it." He made a face. "And I didn't…mean for it…to be so serious." An arm or a leg might have worked.

"Explain to me," Marlena said with deceptive calmness, "how you have managed to survive for seven years as He-Man, when as Adam, you've managed to nearly get yourself killed four times in the last six months?"

Adam opened his mouth, but didn't have a real answer. He shrugged, regretting the action immediately as pain seared his chest. "Just lucky, I guess," he quipped, trying to hide his pain. Randor noticed but said nothing. "This hasn't been…a typical six months."

"I had better go find our daughter and see if I can repair the damage wrought by my thoughtlessness," the king muttered.

"Father," Adam called, his voice nearly a whisper. Randor didn't hear him, but Marlena caught his arm. The king turned back to his son, shifting his weight impatiently from one foot to the other. "We were under Skeletor's spell…for a few hours. Adora has been fighting…this spell for weeks…and didn't even know it." Randor nodded his understanding.

Marlena caught the odd expression on Adam's face as Randor left the room. "What's that look for?"

"Father normally…watches what he says," Adam responded, relaxing against the pillows. "It's nice to know that…his habit of speaking…before he thinks extends to…someone other than me." His eyes lost focus for a second, and he squeezed them shut as the room spun slightly. "Ancients, I hate drugs…. No more, Mother."

Marlena shook her head and hid a smile as she started for the door. "Get some rest. Teela and Castaspella both want to see you, so I'd better let them know you're awake."

Adam paled slightly. "Castaspella's here?"

"Yes. She said something about you saving her life, and begged to be allowed to remain here." Marlena turned back and quirked an eyebrow at her son. "You seem to have left that part of the story out."

"Guess I did," Adam admitted, his eyes drifting closed.


Adora wandered after she left the infirmary, tears still streaming down her face. She didn't really know where to go. She wanted to be alone, but she also wanted Hawk, and she didn't know where he had gone. Footsteps rang down the hall, and Adora saw Teela walking towards her. Adora bit her lip, stepped to the side and lowered her head, unable to meet the captain's eyes. But Teela stopped right in front of her, and Adora could fairly feel her anger. Teela's words, however, surprised her.

"If you were going to try to kill someone, did it have to be her?" she hissed. "Couldn't you have gone straight for Adam instead?"

Adora finally looked at Teela, her mouth dropping open. It took her a moment to find her voice. "I nearly killed Adam, and you're upset because I attacked Castaspella first?"

Teela waved an arm wildly. "She won't leave! It's my place to be at his side, but she's taken residence in a guest room!" Teela kept her voice low, not wanting to risk Castaspella—or anyone else—hearing. "She clearly intends to stay until he's well!"

Adora simply stared at Teela, unable to think of a single thing to say. She had almost killed her own brother, her world was collapsing to the point where she had given up her power as She-Ra, and Teela was worried about Castaspella's presence on Eternia?

"Oh," said Teela, blushing as she realized to whom she was speaking. "I'm sorry Adora, I know she's a friend of yours."

"Is that all you're upset about?" Adora asked again in disbelief.

Teela's eyes grew wide. "You thought I was mad at you for hurting Adam, didn't you?" She shook her head. "I'm sorry Adora. I didn't mean to make you think that. I was at first, but after I talked to my father, I got over it. I just haven't seen you for two days to tell you."

Adora couldn't deny that. "How can you not be mad at me?" she whispered.

Teela touched Adora's arm sympathetically. "From what my father said, it sounds like Adam did it on purpose."

"Huh?"

"He controlled where you stabbed him," Teela said gently. Her heart ached for Adora. She knew how guilty she had felt as Adam's bodyguard; she couldn't imagine being the one who had actually hurt him. "Adam could have gotten out of the way. Instead, he stepped to the side just enough to prevent you from killing him."

"But why?" Adora whispered, her brow furrowing as she tilted her head in confusion.

"He thought that breaking the cycle of anger would break the spell," Randor said as he walked up to the two women. "That if you committed an act in anger, then regretted it, and the person you hurt did not return that anger, but in fact forgave you, it would break the spell."

Adora's eyes filled with tears again. "It did. But what a stupid thing for him to do!"

Teela snorted, crossing her arms. "I agree with you, Adora, but it's done, and he'll be fine."

Adora looked to her father, his question still ringing in her ears. "But it shouldn't have happened at all. I was She-Ra." She added the last in a whisper, lest anyone else hear. Teela's eyes narrowed at Adora's choice of words. Was?

"Adam pointed something out to me," Randor said slowly, pushing away the memory of his son's still, pale form being brought in nearly three days before. "When Skeletor captured the two of us, and placed that compulsion/truth spell on us, I was unable to resist, and it was on us for only a few hours. Even Adam could only resist up to a point. You, my dear, were fighting this for more than two weeks, without even knowing it. Even transforming to She-Ra didn't break it, because it was so subtle and so strong." He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I was wrong to say that, Adora. I'm sorry."

Wordlessly, Adora hugged her father, relieved when his arms went around her and returned the hug. Randor looked at Teela. "He was awake a few minutes ago, Captain. If you hurry you might be able to catch him before he falls asleep again."

Teela's face lit up, her concern over Adora's verb tense forgotten. "Thank you, Your Majesty!" She hurried down the hall.

Randor kissed the top of Adora's head. "I love you, my daughter."

Warmth flooded her, and tears threatened again, though for a different reason. "I love you too," she said, her voice unnaturally high. "I-I didn't think-"

Randor held her at arm's length and studied her for a moment. Adora met his gaze for a few seconds before the shame overwhelmed her again.

"Did you think we would be so angry we wouldn't forgive you?" Randor asked, unusually intuitive. "Is that why you had such a hard time telling us what happened?"

Marlena came down the hall and caught Randor's questions, along with Adora's reluctant nod.

"Oh, my dear, dear daughter," the queen whispered, hugging Adora hard. "We're your family. We may not always agree with your choices, but we will always love you."

Randor swallowed hard as the three of them embraced again. That monster Hordak. The king's anger grew as he reflected on just one more thing the villain had cost his daughter. She obviously still didn't quite understand the unconditional love of a family.


Adam had lost the fight against the drugs, and was drifting in and out of sleep as they wore off, when the soft click of the door brought him to full consciousness. The familiar scent of Castaspella's perfume reached him before he opened his eyes. For a second, he thought of taking the coward's way out and pretending to sleep, but he felt guilty just at the thought.

"Hello, Castaspella," he said, opening his eyes. His eyelids still felt heavy from the drugs. I'm going to smack Duncan. I'll be lucky if I can think straight.

"Prince Adam, how are you feeling?" she asked in her tremulous voice.

He offered a lopsided grin. "I've been worse," he answered.

There was a slight pause as she gazed at him with raised eyebrows, clearly not believing his statement. Adam didn't elaborate. Finally Castaspella bowed her head slightly. "I wanted to thank you for saving my life," she said, appreciation in her voice.

"You're welcome," Adam said simply.

"It was very brave of you," Casta added. "I'm in your debt." She came closer to the bed, and Adam shifted uncomfortably, wondering if he was reading her intentions correctly.

"Nonsense, Your Majesty," he objected, keeping his tone mild. A random image of Cringer stalking a butterfly drifted across Adam's mind; obviously the drugs still hadn't worn off. He forced himself to focus. "Anyone would have done the same."

She stared down at him thoughtfully. "Not everyone."

Adam flushed under her stare. Castaspella slowly bent down. "So why would you risk your life for me?"

"I would do the same for anyone in danger," Adam argued, his tone getting a little more desperate. The mix of attraction and panic had him fully awake now, though his mind still felt a bit fuzzy. Casta stared deep into his eyes, and he couldn't tear his gaze from hers. Blasted drugs.

"I see," she said huskily. Her face was inches from his. "It's customary in my country to show your appreciation in the proper manner, you know."

"It is?" he asked nervously. He swallowed hard.

"Yes, it is," she replied, her eyes never leaving his. "I hope you don't mind."

"Um, actually…Your Majesty," Adam said, trying in vain to infuse some formality into the situation, "I'd really rather you-"

His words were cut off as her mouth claimed his. Shocked not only at her action but at the sensations that flooded him, Adam froze for a few seconds. Then he somehow found the strength to put one hand on her shoulder to gently push her away, just as she broke off the kiss.

"Castaspella-" he began, then his eyes widened.

Teela stood in the doorway, her eyes stormy, and fury radiating from every pore.