Author's Note: I only reference Evelyn CMB's stories with permission. I don't own Skeletor and Evil-Lyn or any other aspect of MOTU. I do own all original characters and original storylines. I make no money from this so please don't sue me. I wouldn't be able to buy the new Orko figure.
Oh and a big thanks to all of you who take the time to review. It really encourages me!
Chapter 9—Insights
Skeletor leaned into the backrests he and Micah had rigged from two packs and several bedrolls. 'The boy was right. These 'backrests' are very comfortable,' thought Skeletor with amusment. 'This is the only way to fish.' Skeletor stretched out his legs with a relieved groan. 'I can see why Prince He-Man was always caught doing this on Tri-Clop's Doomseeker vids.
Micah wiggled his line in the circular formation that he swore was the perfect way to catch the brightly-colored Bransel fish. With a whoop of celebration, Micah felt a tug on his branch turned fishing pole. I got one!" Micah struggled with the line. "I think it's a big one!" he crowed excitedly, pulling the thrashing yellow and blue Bransel closer to the shore.
"Maneuver it over this way," Skeletor directed, submerging the metal stew pot Lyn and Micah constructed last night while the wizard slept.
Micah pulled the line toward the direction of the improvised 'net' Skeletor held under the gentle current.
"Got it," said the blue wizard, bringing the wriggling fish—water, line, and all—out of the river.
Skeletor unhooked the line quickly and passed it back to Micah who eagerly began to put more bait on the hook. "That one's as long as your arm, boy." Skeletor commented, shaking his head. This was the third type of fish for which the child had known the perfect technique to use. "How many fish do you know how to catch?" asked Skeletor, as Micah started moving his line in the zigzag motion the child had already proven was perfect to catch Glesel fish. Skeletor watched the lad's line drag ripples in a jagged path through the sparking, silver-blue river. 'Yes,' Skeletor decided as he relaxed further into his backrest, 'I definitely need to take this hobby back up.'
"Oh I probably know how to catch twenty, maybe twenty-five kinds of fish. My father and I used to go fishing all the time. He said it was doing his little bit to support the arts when he couldn't find work. I loved going fishing with Father," Micah said a bit sadly.
"Well," said Skeletor, searching for something to cheer Micah, "I'm sure he'd be very proud of you. You're quite the fisherman."
"You really think so?" asked Micah, looking up at Skeletor.
Skeletor stopped for a moment. He'd only meant to say something simple to smooth over the child's feelings. He looked at Micah for a moment. He had no doubt that any father would be proud of such a hard-working, obedient, and responsible young man. "Of course, he would," said the mage. "Any father would be. I'm not your father, but I'm very proud of all the hard work you've done and how you've gone out of your way to help everyone. And that's not even mentioning how brave you were to care of your sister for over a month after the Horde took you from your parents. Very few young men could do what you did. Even if you are an annoying little pest."
Micah smiled gratefully up at his mentor. He recast the line, focusing once again on creating the jagged trail in the water that would attract the Glesel.
"Did you ever go fishing with your father?"
Skeletor stiffened. He didn't want to lie, but his father was the last thing he wanted to think about, especially after his dream last night. Finally, unable to think of a way to avoid the question, Skeletor decided that he would answer quickly—then change the subject.
"Yes. Micah, what's your favorite kind of fish?"
"I like the Penalch. Father and I would bring them home and smoke them overnight with Lenes fruit and peppers," Micah explained happily.
'Good,' the wizard thought, relieved, 'He's talking about cooking the fish.'
"How did you and your father cook your favorite fish?"
'Arrgh!' thought Skeletor, grinding his teeth. 'Will you lay off the father topic, you boorish brat?'
"It was the Eternian Felfish. We roasted them every year at a campsite just like this one." Then hoping another topic change would end this conversation, Skeletor said, "You did a really good job helping Lyn set up the tent."
"Thanks," said Micah with a pleased grin. "Lyn did most of the work though. I just added my power to hers, and Lyn let me choose the shape. It was just like the one Father, Mother and I would go camping in before Neara was born. What did the tents you and your family used look like?"
"Tents, oh stupid one," snapped Skeletor, his eye sockets glowing red.
Micah's eyes grew wide. He quickly looked away. "I'm sorry," whispered Micah downcast. "I didn't mean to bother you."
Skeletor looked over at the child he'd yet again managed to hurt and felt truly wretched.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you," said Skeletor.
"I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to be annoying," said Micah softly.
Skeletor's stomach clenched. 'Drat it all! I've made him feel as though he did something wrong. All because,' he realized with a start, 'I won't think about my father. I'm not going to hurt this boy again, and if talking about my father causes me to lose control like this I'm going to face it,' he promised himself.
"You weren't being annoying. I just don't like talking about my father. It brings back…" Skeletor paused, looking for the right words, "bad memories."
"Really?" asked Micah, confused. "Did you two…" the boy began but stopped short. "Sorry, I didn't mean to keep talking about it."
"It's okay, Micah," Skeletor told him hurriedly. As if a dam had let loose, he found himself talking to the boy, wanting to assure him that he wasn't the problem. "This was the second time I've hurt your feelings directly because I don't like thinking about my past. I've let remembering it turn me into an unbearable grouch toward all of you. I'm not going to let my past control me that way anymore." His voice hardened with determination, but Micah wasn't scared. Skeletor's eyes weren't red this time.
"I don't understand. How can the past control anyone?"
Skeletor stopped for a moment, wishing he could put into words what now was only vaguely making sense to him for the first time in his life. "I'm not sure exactly. I just know I was hurt in the past and never let go of that hurt. I've spent most of my life trying to make those who harmed me pay for what they did."
He paused as the pieces finally began to come together for him. 'I haven't done anything without making sure it fit into my plan to pay back pain to all the people who caused me pain,' Skeletor thought. The understanding shook him to the core of his being. 'It didn't matter if they meant to or not. I just made sure no one else could ever hurt me that way again.'
His thoughts stopped for a moment as he sat there, stunned.
"My father said revenge can eat a person up," Micah said uncertainly, as if he knew his father was right, but he wasn't sure Skeletor would believe him.
"Your father was right," Skeletor admitted. For the first time, he realized exactly how much the past had controlled him. "I built my whole life around one moment of pain," he said in wonder. 'I turned the hurt of one betrayal into the basis for every choice I made from that moment on with or without realizing it. Blast! No wonder I've been so empty. I am a pathetic fool. I've spent my whole life a slave to my pain.' He groaned, dropping his fleshless face in his hands.
His mother's words came back to him. He had always known what to do with his pain. She warned him that pain was like an overlord with a lash. It had to be learned from and then let go like ashes or its flame would forever consume the one who would not release it. 'How many years are as worthless as ashes now?' The question pierced his very soul.
"I'm sorry." said Micah, not entirely sure what to say next.
"You didn't do anything."
"I know. I just wish I could help."
"I—," Skeletor started, but was interrupted by a flash of lightening and boom of thunder. "Looks, like that's the last fish for today," said Skeletor as he drained the water from the pot and handed a fish-filled container to his protégé. "Take this inside I'll get the packs and the bedrolls."
He quickly tied the two lines down and tucked the bedrolls under one arm, grabbing the packs with the other one.
"Drat!" he cursed as the rain began to crash down in torrents. He rushed into the tent entry Lyn held open for him.
"Hurry up, bone brain, or that rain is going to wash you away."
"If it does," shouted Skeletor, rushing in and dropping the packs in the middle of the tent. "I'll make sure you come with me." He pointed to the orange and red stains on her bodysuit. "Looks like you need a bath."
"Neara decided that I should wear her honeyberries instead of eating them," she said dryly. "And it's all your fault. She kept trying to push away from me to find you without worrying that her hands were covered in crushed fruit."
"Keltor!" squealed Neara, waking from her nap and rushing to Skeletor, her arms outstretched.
"Ah, it's the tiny terror. Awake at last I see, you lazy little lady," said Skeletor, sweeping the girl up in his arms. He hugged her tightly—without any reservation, he realized in wonder. He questioned briefly if his epiphany by the river had anything to do with it, but couldn't resist the chance to tease Lyn. He would think about it after he had a little fun.
"I see what I good job you did improving Lyn's outfit, Neara. Red and orange are definitely her colors." Neara giggled in Skeletor's arms as the rain began to fall even harder, pounding the tent's roof.
Lyn smirked, "But, Neara, you forgot to give Skeletor his 'boo boo' kiss."
Before Skeletor could react, Neara swooped in and gave Skeletor a kiss on his nonexistent cheek.
"Boo boo 'way day," she shouted.
Skeletor was surprised to find that her obnoxious little kiss was less loathsome now. Still, he was determined to keep this comic challenge between Lyn and himself alive. Suddenly, something from one of Prince He-Man's chats came back to him. He used to talk about an old Earth expression his mother, the queen, shared with him. Something about, turning the other cheek, so your enemy could hit you again. It seemed foolish then. But now that just might work. "Neara, I feel especially tired right now. I think I may need another magic kiss."
Neara grinned and kissed the opposite cheek area Skeletor turned to face her and repeated her chant.
Lyn's mouth dropped open. "What?" He—Skeletor—was giving and accepting affection and kisses from a toddler, willingly?
Skeletor felt great. Lyn was dumbstruck, and the kiss didn't bother him much at all this time.
Skeletor had a sudden flash of inspiration. If he still had lips, they would have been turned in a mischievous smirk. "Lyn, you know I don't think Neara's kiss is going to be enough," he said passing the child off to her brother and walking to face his partner, his hands on his hips. "And I appreciate your concern for my well-being more than you know." He stepped within a few inches of Lyn and said, with mock innocence in his voice. "Maybe you could give me a 'magic kiss' of you own, since you're so considerate of my needs."
Lyn stepped back. "Why you—" sputterd Lyn, turning an interesting shade of pink. "Dream on you bone-brained bufoon."
Skeletor threw back his head and laughed, only to be splattered by several large drops of water.
"Ack! Looks like your waterseal isn't holding, Lyn," he said, impatiently sweeping the water from his face.
Micah hid his grin behind his hand when he saw his mentor with rain running down his back and shoulders.
"It's holding just fine, said Lyn, chucking at Skeletor's attempt to dry his water-splattered hood. "But even an enhanced seal like this one can be soaked through, and from the sound of it, it's pouring outside." She sent a flash of power from her wand and the dripping stopped. I'll take the first shift of maintaining the rain shield," she added with a smirk. "Since you're so weak."
All four gathered around the fish Micah had just finished gutting. Skeletor picked up a knife and began to remove the bones and cut filets from the large pile of fish. He placed them in the pot he'd used as a net less than an hour earlier and had since purified. Lyn pulled out several herbs she and Micah had harvested during their trip and unwrapped them from the large dried leaves that Micah assured her were best to keep them fresh. She tore them into tiny pieces and sprinkled a good mix of several aromatic herbs over the fresh filets. She pulled two Sweet n' Sour fruits from her bag and sliced them open, letting their pulpy juices flow from the hard brown shell over the fish.
"And you're sure that this combination is good, Micah? I'm starving," asked Lyn. She turned the fish in the pot to coat all the filets in the juices and herbs. "I'd hate to waste this food."
"I promise. It's the way Mother and Father fixed it all the time. I loved it," he said, placing the fish remains into a small scrap of fabric.
"Ugh," Lyn said, grimacing. "Don't tell me you're keeping those disgusting things."
"Of course he is. Unless you want to take some torches and go back into that dangerous overgrown flower garden to get more bait for the next trip," said Skeletor, as though Lyn had lost her mind.
"That stuff can be used as bait?"
"The best kind," replied Skeletor, with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Since when have you ever known anything about fishing?" asked Lyn, an eyebrow raised.
"I used to do it all the time. I'm thinking about taking up the hobby again. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed it."
Lyn shook her head. Skeletor was taking up fishing? As a hobby? He'd encouraged Neara to kiss him, completely accepting the toddler's affection without so much as a single complaint or moan? He was teasing her? 'When did the world turn upside down, and what strange dimension am I trapped in?'
Skeletor showed Micah how to create heat stones and placed purified water from his waterskin in the pot to complete the fish stew Micah swore was the best food ever.
As the fish stew began to bubble and thicken, the rain grew louder. Neara, frightened by the storm, crawled up on Skeletor's lap.
"I think this is the hardest rain I've seen since we landed on Carina," observed Skeletor. "How is your shielding holding up?"
"Fine, but you can take over for a while if you like."
Skeletor focused for a moment and a flash of blue dispersed from the talisman on the top of his staff.
Lyn relaxed a bit as she lowered hers.
"How do you do a shield?" asked Micah.
"It's actually very easy," explained, Lyn. "At least setting the spell. The hard part is keeping it strong. The stronger the shield, the stronger the flow of power and concentration needed to maintain it."
"Can you show me?"
Lyn stirred the stew. It still had several minutes to go before it was ready.
"I guess we have time. Draw some power into yourself. It doesn't have to be much."
"I've got it," said Micah, his eyes closed.
"Good. Think of an upside down bowl."
"Kind of like the warning spell?" asked the boy, still not opening his eyes.
"Exactly. Now think of thickening the sides of the bowl within your center."
"I'm ready."
"Now picture the bowl above your head and expand it outward till it meets Skeletor's shield."
"Weird!" exclaimed Micah as he felt his shield line up under Skeletor's.
"The stew's done, so release it for now."
"Okay."
Lyn pulled several bowls from her pack and dipped the steaming stew into them with another. She handed one to Micah and then to Skeletor.
"Pass me a small bowl and spoon for Neara as well," he said, placing his supper beside him. "I'm fairly certain I'll have no peace to eat mine till I feed the little beggar," he said with a chuckle as he had to pull the child away from his dish.
Lyn passed the bowl to him.
Neara ate two full helpings before she was full. Skeletor found that if he was going to get any supper at all, he would have to take bites between feeding the hungry little girl. Somehow, both were full by the end of the meal.
"I have to admit it. This stew was definitely worth the trouble," said Lyn appreciatively
"I knew you'd like it," said Micah. "If there's one thing my father knew, it was how to cook fish stew."
Thunder boomed over head and lightning flashed so brightly that the entire tent was converted from softly-lit shadows from the heat stone's light to the brightness of day for a second.
Neara squealed in fear.
"Woah," breathed Micah.
Skeletor looked at the child, trembling in his arms. She'd had a long day, and still needed to recover. What she needed now was sleep. 'And that,' he thought, 'is something I can give her.'
He sent a sleep spell into the child's back and gently laid her in a cot. Covering her, he turned back to sit with the others.
Skeletor pushed one of the now-dry backpacks behind him and folded his bedroll to form a comfortable backrest. He stretched out his legs and relaxed. "This is refreshing,' he thought. 'A warm tent, a savory supper, and a comfortable place to rest.' Feeling content and relaxed, Skeletor fell into the first peaceful sleep he'd had since arriving in Carina.
