As I believe I said would happen after not being pulled in a million directions, updates will come faster. Mostly because instead of the endless lists of crap to do...Eternia has rallied its forces and the conditions of surrender were to stop ignoring them and leaving things hanging...darn characters are annoying when they intrude on me every 5 minutes.
Moving on, I of course do not own a single iota of one scrap of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe...only the Overlords of Mattel do
Reviews and suggestions remain welcome...especially if it is a way to get some blasted sleep uninterrupted by sword wielding barbarians...
997 AH Eternia
Whatever the Sorceress and her allies had imagined when preparing Anna to become the next Champion of Grayskull has now been shattered by a nightmare they were unprepared for. Skeletor has been brought low not by Anna directly, but by a timely summons of He-Man and the revelation that he was only a tool for a nightmare all had hoped had finally been sent beyond any hope of return...the Warlord Hordak.
Desperation drove Anna to wildly call on the Power of Grayskull with the Power Sword now given into her care to save her Mother from Hordak and Skeletor. Collapsing afterwards and being spelled to rest, the Champion slept through what the Sorceress thought would be a quiet moment after the confrontation with the spirit. Instead Grayskull feels the sudden loss of another ally.
The Mystic Warrior has been murdered, and worse was the revelation in her final moments of a vision that makes little sense to its recipient. A darkness pierced by light from the Power Sword held aloft by Skeletor laughing maniacally.
Feeling the loss keenly, the Sorceress dispatches Pyth and Brythia to retrieve the body with Stratos overseeing them. She and Frosta prepare to inform Anna on her wakening for the grim news while Skeletor is secured in the Ram Temple under the experienced Faceless One.
All the heroes have had their understanding of the world shattered and are still trying to reconcile the lightning speed of the changes that came to pass since the first confrontation between She-Ra and Skeletor at Adrenos.
Ram Temple
Orko stroked his beard absently as he floated in the quiet hall just outside the room the Faceless One had chosen to secure Skeletor. He was still unconscious from the mental assault and possibly a touch of whatever He-Man had done to him. Orko's eyes had misted over a bit as he had seen his old friend not just manifest as a ghost or avatar but flesh and blood with a brush of the real man. That he had once again saved a life without killing anyone had made the old magician hope that maybe the light of hope would be fanned to a huge flame.
Like the Sorceress and the Faceless One though, he had felt the sudden attack and death of the Mystic Warrior, and his Trollan heart had broken with the thought of what that would do to Anna. While Drak and Sy-Klone helped the Faceless One with any physical needs, the former Court Jester had applied his skills to investigating what would be much harder for the Eternians to look at.
After centuries of using his magic far more correctly than the first time he had come here, he often found it hard to avoid the impulse to reenact his old antics here. Only a few times had they been intentional, like in the battle for Adrenos he refused to kill. It was just too ingrained in him to fight any other way.
Now he bent his not inconsiderable talents to really looking closely at the magic of Eternia. His own magic was well outside this world and his outside view revealed a sad tale. There was an unbelievable amount of magical forces at war all over Eternia, but for most worlds that was always true, the very nature of life and death could be considered an endless war just between those forces after all.
What broke his heart more was to see the cancer that had not been there at the end of Adam's life. It was not very strong yet, but it was getting stronger and worse, he could not find the source. Wherever it was coming from had to be a natural part of the world's magical essence and that would make it nearly impossible to find the source without more information.
He saw it for what it was as well, the corruption of Hordak as he worked his machinations in the world of the living, he seemed to have been doing so subtly on the magical forces long before Skeletor rose to power. Orko recognized what had been done to Andrea as well, one of the tendrils of magic had traces of the Mystic Warrior's power intertwined with it.
He felt a wave of anger he quickly quelled, what was done could not be undone and it would only cloud what he sought.
Finally he found the cause for Hordak's return to the physical world. No matter how much the cancer had grown, there was a counter to it that seemed to have stopped it cold for some time now, a very familiar emerald energy woven into Eternia. Tears formed as he felt Adam pulse in every strand of that power.
He was confused however, unlike the attack on Andrea, there was no indication of where the manifestation had come from in that pool of energy. Try as he might, despite the evidence of his senses back at Grayskull, the magic he was looking at was not where Adam had come from.
The magician was pulled suddenly from his observations as he heard a voice he had not wanted to truly hear up close ever again.
"Where in Blazes am I?!" Skeletor strained at the manacles holding him to the stone wall but they resisted his physical strength. He could feel his rage making his eyes blaze red but his magic seemed beyond him. The last thing he remembered was being assaulted by a mental storm and then nothing.
"Calm down you foolish buffoon and look at your memories right now!" the familiar voice snapped his gaze to her and he found a blood stained but bandaged Faceless One holding her staff firmly in her left hand and her lavender robes torn but still in fairly good shape. She was still alluring from what he could see but her words had instinctually gotten a response.
Words failed him and even his anger evaporated as he was assaulted by a nightmare he had thought himself far removed from. Worse it began not after his exile, but upon his awakening nearly 50 years ago.
Eternos Labs 951AH
Sparks flared as the sizzle he associated with electrical failure was the first sound he heard. His head throbbed but memory was blessedly gentle. He remembered his followers turning on him and finding him guilty of crimes they invented on the spot.
He remembered they had not complained when he brought victory over their foes and progress to their kingdoms with magic and technology. They had even forced him to take over, he had not asked, they had practically had to force the crown on his head and begged for his guidance. Amazing what 40 years of prosperity and riches can do to change ambitions.
The irony that he was innocent of the crimes had not escaped him, his previous life and betrayal of Randor and the Elders seemed to mock him.
The thought of Randor made him snap his eyes open and find a room that had seen better days, he knew storms that left less chaos in their wake. Raising his hand to his eyes, he was relieved to see the lively blue flesh but then froze as he saw it was far too young. The hand was supple, and clawed sharply like it had not been for decades.
He felt a flush to his face in relief, even so he found a reflective screen that was not smashed in the blackened and terrible smelling room. Even as he confirmed his face was flesh, his brain identified the sickly sweet smell of cooked flesh. He balked at the bodies everywhere and saw the bed he had been on was not an infirmary bed but some kind of analysis device he did not recognize at all.
Suddenly he saw the letters on the keypads and again felt shock. It was not the language of the people he had ruled for decades...but his own! He was with Eternians! But how?
"I see it actually worked," whirling to the other side of the room, he saw an older man with dark eyes stare in cold interest at him. He was in a neat cut of clothes, not dress robes but it seemed to reek of the same aura of politics he had associated with Randor and his cronies. Randor however at least had been honest if infuriating as politician, this man seemed more like his old self.
"Do you understand me?" the language was Eternian if a bit different than he was used to. Still old instincts told him to remain silent. He saw the door past this stranger as the only way out and he had a half formed plan to escape when the man pushed a black device in his hand. It beeped once and another man came in that was far easier to identify.
The Caligar where many things, but even he had known they were very good as soldiers and protectors. The calm yellow eyes betrayed nothing as it brought in an object he had never expected to see again, especially since he had known it was destroyed by his former master.
"Take it, we found it in a dig in the Sands of Fire and we will talk," the naked ambition and greed in the dark eyes were noticed, but he was too curious to wonder at the foolishness of this man. The Caligar on the other hand seemed to notice the change in him as he approached. With remembered ease he grasped his ram-staff and too late felt the trap inside it.
He screamed with agony and the world was ripped away in a far too familiar way as he felt the flesh begin to melt off of his skull.
Always the fool Keldor, you are Skeletor once again and you are MINE!
Ram Temple 997AH
Skeletor raged again. He remembered it all now, the foolish Senator and his allies blindly trusting him as he led them to the slaughter. His take over and all the battles and goals that were not his design, but Hordak's! He knew he had been used yet again by the uncaring warlord and he wanted nothing more than to find the spirit, reincarnate it and kill him very very slowly.
He slammed his fist on to the table in the room and it shattered instantly and he was surprised to feel the pain he did. Before he could clearly remember pain being a distant thing but now it was perfectly normal. It broke the bubble of rage as he saw his blood trickle from a few wounds the wood splinters had created.
He looked up to find the Faceless One still looking at him with her blank features, but that infernal Trollan was there as well! Both of these people still lived and resisted him when in reality he was innocent...again!
"If you expect me to be contrite and ask forgiveness I have three words for you all," he felt the rage boiling again and his eyes burn red. It felt good to yell. "Go to Blazes!"
Neither seemed surprised by his outburst and only then did he notice the others just out in the hall, the Master he vaguely recalled as the protector of Anwat Gar, but the Spelean looked like a useless warrior of this age. He pulled again at the manacle but then froze as he saw the harridan float his staff in front of him.
"This is your staff Skeletor?" the question was moot, if she possessed half the skill she used to, she would know what that staff really was. A trap and he had fallen for it like a fool! He backed away from it as she floated it closer to him, the lavender energy equally had him back off. His reaction did not surprise her, but the other three seemed confused.
"What is wrong Bonehead? Afraid to blast us?" the wobbly voice had not improved with age from that infuriating floating midget. Even as he examined his memories and saw his exile was fare more humane than anything he had planned on Eternia, the rage would not let his calmer nature out. More he did not want it, he wanted to be Skeletor now, only Skeletor could bring the vengeance he wanted.
"That is a tool of Hordak now, smash it I do not care, but give me a chance fools and you will rue the day you let me live," the chuckling of the Faceless One made him pause as he raised his fist in anger at them. He saw she was amused for some reason.
"We are not the ones who let you live my old fool of a master," she continued to giggle as if some great joke only she could see was in front of her, the others did not seem to share her humor. Skeletor felt his muscles go taut as he tried to think of any myriad of ways he would make this witch pay for her betrayals of him.
"Fine, then She-Ra will pay, but only after Hordak..." the burst of laughter was unexpected, he had thought his threat would snap her into rage, instead he saw her laugh harder.
"You don't get it do you Skeletor? You are only remember the blows to your pride and are not the continued puppet of Hordak because he was driven back, do you think She-Ra could do that alone?" she was enjoying herself and he could imagine well her lavender orbs alight with mirth if she still possessed them. Suddenly he felt his blood run cold. It could not be, surely that last indignity had not happened...again!
"No, you lie witch!" suddenly the infuriating Court Jester broke into laughter. The confirmation made his blood boil, it was not possible but the evidence was everywhere for him to see. That infernal tiger had come to the battle, She-Ra had been reborn, and only one blasted fool would leave him alive rather than kill him after all he had done.
"Oh no Skeletor, you know who saved you, me, and all of us from the plans of Hordak once again...He-Man returned just in the nick of time," She swirled from the room leaving him with his damaged pride and rage as the dark wooden door was closed and then both physically and magically secured.
Everything within reach was now his to destroy.
"I do not understand what you find so amusing Faceless One, Orko?" Drak was a warrior, he preferred to leave his enemies dead behind him but he grasped well why Skeletor could not die yet for his crimes. He had been merely a tool for a greater threat and would have information they needed.
This needless taunting, and lack of results, did not make sense. Still he was not a user of magic, but he respected those that were and had learned enough fighting next to them that magic operated on different principles than the swords he carried at his hips.
Even so, this was Skeletor, of all beings he would think it only a matter of setting up the line of people to begin the torture and have a few level heads to keep him alive.
"You would not understand because you only know Skeletor as the Overlord of an empire, we know his pride of old," Master Orko saw that both he and Sy-Klone needed enlightening, or maybe the old Master simply never smiled, Drak could not tell yet.
"Indeed, while we DO find it amusing, it is because we both know we have hurt his pride by admitting the one being he despised more than any other has spared him yet again, only King Randor would have been worse in his eyes," the Faceless One had become calm again and Drak grasped suddenly the ingenuity of what they had done. The old legends were not legends, or at least a good portion of them, were true.
He-Man had been real and Skeletor his nemesis. Drak could appreciate the relationship suddenly between them given what he had seen of Grayskull and She-Ra. For someone like Skeletor that would be far worse than being defeated by He-Man. Defeat he could accept, being saved he could not. A chuckle suddenly bubbled out and he felt the tatters of his wings twitch with it.
Perhaps Grayskull was far better prepared for this war than he had thought.
Abode of the Mystic Warrior
The wind raiders landed gently in the all too quiet glass walled room. Pyth let his tail unfurl as the far too alluring Brythia whipped her legs over her ride onto the floor. He had enjoyed the few young fools that took her exposed style for invitation, but he was not blind. Not normally attracted to those outside his kind, only a truly dead male could not be drawn to the literally chilling sway to her movements.
If not for the situation he would have let his gaze linger a bit more, and he admitted that the grim smell and thoughts probably motivated the distraction more than any natural inclination. Far too easily they found her in the center of the room. Stratos stood over her solemnly as Pyth walked up carefully.
Of all the allies, this had been the most troublesome for his Queen to accept, the Mystic Warrior had nearly succeeded in wiping out the Snakemen, although it was still acknowledged that the demise of King Hsss was well deserved. Skeletor took the brunt of the rest, but now it seemed that old specter was only the tool of another force. One the Snakemen also had reason to fear.
He swished his tail as he awaited instructions quietly. He had been chosen because his Queen felt he was the most respectful of the outside world of the Vine Jungle, many forays over the decade of Skeletor's war on Eternia had made him many contacts in many places. None of them knew what he was at first, but eventually they had to learn, and the invitation from Grayskull had been their only chance to remain beyond reproach.
If the accepted enemy of Skeletor invited them to the gathering at Adrenos, there could be little doubts about their people to worry about. Fortunately Pyth had not had to prove with his life the truth of that, and now he was privy to a secret that awed him still. For now however he knew his duty to his Princess, no matter the promise for verbal silence, in his head she was the Princess.
Brythia began humming a tune that Pyth actually found pleasant and fitting, it was slow and reverberated not just on his ears but his soul. Words seemed insufficient indeed, but the tune suddenly felt right at this moment, even Stratos seemed to follow it. Pyth waited until both stopped, his kind could not hum and he doubted they would appreciate a hiss.
"My people have lived with the hatred of your role Warrior," both glanced at him hard but he did not care. "Even so, Zodac is remembered as the one that broke the reign of King Hsss, and King Adam is the one that gave us our chance at life." He knelt down on both of his knees before the corpse, he knew she could not hear him now, but these two knew the pride of his kind.
"You will be avenged Mystic Warrior, I swear this, but I will not let your loss make Anna lose her way, I will take the hatred from her and put it on my shoulders, this I swear on my life," he heard the gasp from Brythia and Stratos while stoic still did a sharp intake. Neither had considered the goal of this assault, but Pyth saw it clearly. He was not blind.
Anna had lost all of her family, the attack on her Mother had not only failed but revealed Hordak to his enemies. His goal was revealed by the Faceless One to all of them, her broadcast to Grayskull had hit them all equally. Now Hordak had attacked the other family the girl had, her last blood relative that had only survived because of her role as the Mystic Warrior.
He rose to his full height and looked Stratos in the eye as he saw the older warrior look with new eyes at him. Pyth had no illusions that the old Master and the Sorceress distrusted his kind still, the stories were full of their battles between them, but no blame remained with his people. King Adam had changed everything, he had not simply wished them well and left them alone.
That was why they honored him, he had granted them the Vine Jungle and then protected them by making the vast preserve, he had not needed to do that at all. They also knew no record save Grayskull existed that he had done this, no accidental discovery was possible and none of his family had known about them. He had given them the greatest chance to live when he had all the proof and justification to end them forever.
The Queen's family had been chosen by them and not him either, but the final reason their family was honored was the last act he did as King. He-Man had appeared to them and found a plague was upon all the Snakemen. It seemed Eternia was going to exterminate them where their enemies had not, and He-Man had come for the final blow it seemed. Instead he had brought a cure.
He asked nothing of them and gave no sign of rage at finding them. He nursed the worst of them back to health and taught them the source of the disease from one section of the jungle that had since been cured as well. The Snakemen had asked him why they had been spared back then and the words were taught to every child.
King Adam offered you the chance to redeem yourselves. You have not only kept your word but laid down laws he never asked for that will lead to peace. I stand for all of Eternia, and if Adam says you deserve the chance, I will see that you get it.
Pyth knew now that it had been Adam himself, but that secret he would take to his grave, even knowing it would only increase the devotion to Anna, he also thought he understood why he had done it as He-Man rather than King Adam. He-Man could go where he wished and few would comment on where he traveled or why, King Adam on the other hand would be an event and people would investigate why he was going to the middle of the Jungle.
Stratos unpacked the cloth wrap and all three carefully lifted the corpse into the wrap as all of them had the same thought.
How would Anna take this loss and how could they help her get passed it?
Snake Mountain
The mood had changed in the week since Skeletor had stopped appearing to his empire. The smoothly running war machine remained much the same, but the rest of public life had begun to change. The Evil Warriors were suddenly ruthlessly efficient and much more in authority than ever before.
Caltrops was rarely seen, but if he appeared at your door, do as he asked. Instead of the inept rumors many knew of, he was cold, calm, and if you defied him your family suddenly lost a few members or worse, they were found the next morning no longer whole.
New edicts had come down as well, the slaves were being herded to some large project and the army was receiving new training from Graal, his dark fur was the only thing familiar about him. Many had not even know the beast creature had a name until he emerged from Snake Mountain with troops at his command.
All in all the sudden changes were not unwelcome to the main forces, but an unspoken question began floating around and as the massive resources requested and the man power being sent out to all corners of Eternia had the merchants to the common man asking the same question and not any good answer came.
What was Skeletor planning now?
Castle Grayskull
Chlora felt small in the castle. She would never admit that out loud, but all the stories of Grayskull weighed on her within its walls. She heard a murmur from the girl laying in the bed she sat next to. The pale skin had gotten much healthier after 3 days in bed, but Anna seemed to be having bad dreams.
The Sorceress had firmly said to let her awake on her own and when those emerald orbs stared at you, you did not question her. What the Sorceress was doing with the others was currently not her concern, the young warrior instead looked at the hope for Eternia, a hope she believed in a lot more now than she had before.
Never mind that she was She-Ra, she had literally summoned the legendary He-Man from the grave as far as she could tell, no matter how short a time, such a command of power was difficult to ignore. Now she seemed like a slip of a girl that could not command a fly, let alone Grayskull.
Chlora felt a slight breeze that carried far less dust than others had and knew someone had returned via the main drawbridge. She doubted the others really understood why she was here, true her people wanted to fight Skeletor, but they were still debating what to do and she had grown sick of their fear of consequences. Evil would come for them sooner or later, debating the finer points of effects on the Evergreen Forest would not change that!
"No, run away..." Anna's weak voice brought the lithe warrior out of her chair and she saw her charge still passed out. Chlora put her hand on her forehead and closed her eyes in concentration. Most would assume she was just checking for a fever, but her skills were a bit more involved than that.
Despite being more in harmony with plants than people, Chlora had learned that she could delve people with the same senses she could use to tell what was wrong in a forest, she could apply in a broad sense to animals. People were a little more difficult, but asleep it was easier, they squirmed less.
Physically Anna was drained but rest would fix that, but there was a great deal of emotion flaring up. Frustrated there was little she could do save find the Sorceress, Chlora concentrated hard on the keeper of the castle. Surprisingly she was quick to arrive.
"What is wrong Chlora?" the concern in those eyes also held a layer of grief the woman did not expect. Her serenity was still there, but up close she could see that the Sorceress needed rest as well. Anna spared an explanation as she began to thrash under her woolen blankets and mumble words in distress.
Crossing the room in a few step the wings flared around the bed as a glow enveloped the girl and the bed. Chlora could only watch as she hoped the Sorceress could help the girl. The glow faded and Anna's features seemed more relaxed. Chlora also noted that the Sorceress was leaning heavily on her hawk staff.
"You need rest too Sorceress," Chlora had said it softly and refrained from trying to sound like her own mother with the advice. Surprisingly the powerful being graced her with a smile and a nod but she began to head out of the room to what Chlora had no doubt was not sleep.
"I must insist Sorceress," A huge shadow filled the door and Chlora knew the distorted tone for the odd Master Roboto. His artificial frame was massive but he spoke so calmly at all times. The two of them stared at each other, and Chlora realized he had an unspoken alternative if she did not agree. The machine was prepared to stay exactly where he was and there was little she seemed able to do about it.
"I have my duties that cannot be ignored Roboto, please move aside," despite how tired she must be and grief filling her, that voice would have mad Chlora run to obey, but the machine only tilted his head 90 degrees.
"Logic dictates you have limits and all my readings indicate you can only last a few more hours before collapsing, I will get Orko if I must Sorceress," despite the comical way that magician operated, Chlora well remembered the many warrior he had foiled with little effort to great effect. He also commanded a lot of respect from the older Masters.
"I will help them both Sorceress so stop being so stubborn and rest, there is nothing more you can do right now," Frosta suddenly revealed herself in the hall and Chlora could see the defeat in the Sorceress. That it took such legendary warriors as these to do it only maintained the awe she felt at them all. That they included her in their circle still left her a bit breathless.
The nod was all they waited for, but Chlora noted that Roboto went with her to wherever she was going. Frosta came into the room and looked with concern at the sleeping Anna.
"She suddenly rushed out and we all knew this was the only thing that could pull her away, what happened?" Frosta never looked up, but like the Sorceress her quiet aura of command was impossible to ignore. Chlora never even thought to try and told what had happened. The woman seemed to grow paler, but in her case it was not concern but anger that caused it.
"She is carrying too much on her shoulders!" Chlora did not need that sentence explained, but she felt Frosta was being unfair. Grayskull was the last bastion of hope for Eternia, Avion and Adrenos may still stand, but they had nearly fell not too long ago. Frosta also glanced at Anna in concern and Chlora knew she feared the same burden was riding on the young girl's shoulders.
Chlora suddenly felt like an outsider in the room and simply asked to leave. Frosta nodded and she left them alone as she went in search of some water.
She was surprised to find Grath over seeing a map in the kitchens. The Caligar warrior was surprisingly irreverent in battle. Chlora had heard her more than once comment that the soldiers of Skeletor could do with some training on a firing range or maybe she could put a barn up for them to shoot at.
Outside of battle the warrior only seemed interested in checking weapons and drills, but at the castle she had been quiet and at least had been as shocked by Anna as the rest of them. Chlora quietly found a barrel of water that was surprisingly fresh and saw Grath was looking at the Sands of Fire but an area that was not Snake Mountain.
"What are you looking at Grath?" Chlora had not met any of the rebels before really, her own friends where still near the Evergreen Forest and no doubt wondering where she was now, hopefully not wondering if she was dead from the battle at Adrenos.
"An oddity but one I am reluctant to talk about at the moment, simply a strategic oversight our enemy might be making," the yellow eyes glanced up at her but not uninvitingly. Chlora was at a loss at what to talk about though. Maps were not of much interest to someone that can consult any plant anywhere for information and was happy enough where there was sun, insects, and life.
"The Sorceress has been made to retire for the day and Anna is still out," not sure why she was speaking now save to fill the silence she was surprised to see Grath smile. The Caligar rolled up the map and put it into a cylinder she then put on her back.
"That one I would never dream of crossing and the other is inspiring to watch," she led Chlora back out to the main throne room and both looked up at the golden pyramid as it glowed in the setting sun of the day.
"I wonder why they trust us so much?" the question escaped Chlora before she really thought to stop it and again was surprised to see Grath laugh with amusement this time.
"After what I saw today it makes perfect sense," she held up her clawed hand and ticked off points with her green scaled fingers, "We are at war and need a trusted group for this rebellion to work, the secret of She-Ra needs to be protected but Anna needs to go out there with us, there is no kingdom that is truly safe right now, and personally I think Anna chose us herself."
Chlora nearly choked on her water on the last point. She thought the rest sounded rather sound really. She saw Grath smile wide with her razor toothed grin.
"What do you mean she chose us? She had not met us until after that battle at Adrenos!" Chlora felt a flush to her face at losing control a bit but she was honestly curious.
"Think about that meeting and who gathered us. The Mystic Warrior has been out and about before and during this nightmare gathering intelligence, I have no doubt the Sorceress had her input as well, but Anna has the secret and knew the limitations of what she can do as She-Ra," the calm words painted a suddenly vivid picture.
She-Ra had practically bullied the politicians that had gathered to meet her. She had laid down the conditions of how things would work and brooked no argument. She had invited the Masters and then personally invited them to the Castle outside of earshot of that same group.
Chlora suddenly understood a large part of what was being asked of her beyond protecting the secret. The life of Anna would literally be in her hands when she was not She-Ra! She-Ra would only come when needed and not before, Anna was the one that would be joining the rebellion as the official representative of Grayskull!
"Ancients, you have an alarming ability to make life complicated Grath!" Chlora swallowed the rest of her water as the Caligar began to laugh openly. She apparently enjoyed the challenges to come and did not worry a whit at what they all now carried with them.
Ram Temple
The room had been destroyed as much as it could be. He had not changed, even with whatever life he had lead away from Eternia, Skeletor appeared to deal with his rage the same as always.
The Faceless One still felt the itch of her bandages after they had been removed, but that would pass. Her robes were a different set but still her favored colors of lavender, black, and white covered her all the way to the floor. Orko had returned to the Hive in Adrenos to do what he was supposed to be doing while Drak and Sy-Klone had gone back to Grayskull. She knew the Sorceress wanted them to stay but she needed to face him alone and without others stopping her from what she had to do.
He raised the yellowed skull that was all his head was. It was difficult to say what he was feeling without a face, only rage had any warning but his sockets were black as ever right now. His injuries had healed without infection, she had purposely left him to wallow and consider his position. She also agreed with his assessment of his staff. It was the original but it had been laced with energies to ensnare its target.
She still did not know the how of the resurrection, but she knew the method of control. The pain of becoming Skeletor would have made defense impossible and Hordak would gleefully lace every control and memory spell he could. That meant every action had been the dictation of a subtle puppet master, tweaked and modified as needed, but the majority of it was Skeletor himself.
She knew this, and Orko no doubt knew as well, but he had remained silent. He had quietly left this choice up to her and she knew it. The Sorceress would not know unless she came here or Orko told her, and Anna would never forgive this man. She understood that, but there was something to be understood and the only being that can answer the question should now remember enough to help her work it out.
"Have you come to gloat some more ungrateful harridan?" he was still defiant but without his staff he lacked the power to escape. His tone revealed much to her though, his rage was cold ashes and his had no ambition at the moment.
"Actually I want to know something, if you answer truthfully I may have a way for you to have your revenge," she saw his head suddenly spark with red but his body spoke of energy renewed. He was actually quite good about being truthful, but manipulation was his favorite technique, truth with a twist as it were. She was telling him to avoid a tactic she knew well or pay the price.
"If it means I can defy that blasted monster again I will happily answer questions Evil-Lyn," the use of her old name was deliberate, a reminder that they had worked together. She was tempted to leave him to rot but time was probably not on their side.
"I am the Faceless One Skeletor, remember that or feel free to sit here until I feel like stopping by again," the threat was empty but she saw he believed her. His arrogance was gone and he seemed to swallow his pride...barely.
"Fine witch, what is the blasted question?" he sat up on his bed and waited for her question. His well defined body no longer full of confidence or hope but he still waited. She suddenly was reluctant but she had to know.
"How much do you remember before your exile?" it was the only safe place to start but she felt his confusion immediately. He stroked his chin as if trying to decipher the deeper question she was trying to answer.
"Ah, I see, you want to know if I remember WHO sent me into exile?" he suddenly seemed confident again. He stood up to his full height and put his fists on his waist. He no longer seemed a prisoner. "I well remember those pale ghosts of Elders sending me away, I remember who my enemy was and was used to send me away," he seemed to take perverse pleasure in his revelation, "Prince Adam, the man who was He-Man the whole time!" He was screaming by the end of it but she was actually relieved. It spared the risk she had planned to take.
Her reaction was not what she expected and he showed it by deflating. She wished she still had a face so she could see her knowing smirk but that was her old ego. She was well passed that now and had a daughter to help if only she could understand.
"Knowing what you obviously remember Skeletor I need you to try to figure out something that I know should never happen," he was piqued now. For all his ambition, the man had always had a thirst for curiosity of the magical and technical. "Why would Adam show a vision to the Mystic warrior of you holding the Sword of He-Man and channeling its power through you?"
Even without a face, she saw him fall onto the bed in shock. Orko had not been aware of the vision sent to her, she had made sure it was real and true, the emerald energy laced in it was the only reason she believed it. That and the last desperate thought Andrea sent with it that had touched the heart that Hordak could never fake. A message she intended to deliver at the first opportunity.
Cackling laughter snapped her back to the present. It was not the insane laughter of evil, but of a man seeing a great joke and he was the butt of it. He was slapping his legs as the laughter seemed to take on a manic edge and he was suddenly leaning on the wall as he sat on the bed, his blue skin seemed to flush with blood.
"Oh my dear, dear former Warrior," he looked up at her and she had the distinct impression that if he had a face he would be smiling ear to ear, "if what I suspect is correct I am your only hope of EVER defeating Hordak!"
The Faceless One did not like that thought at all, not least because she recognized that tone. He had used the same tone when he revealed his plan to destroy the Mystic Wall, and his planned trap of Teela to ensnare He-Man in the manacles to drain him and leave him vulnerable. Those few plans that had been devastatingly effective had been associated with a surety that only she had picked up on at the time.
He did know something and whatever it was he not only found it highly amusing, but he also saw all his goals being achieved by that knowledge.
Elders forgive me. She raised her staff set Skeletor free of the wall and bound him energies. It was a greater risk but he could not help her bound in here. She sent to Grayskull to send for Anna and anyone they could spare, she had no doubt they would need them.