If anyone has the secret to making a story let its creator sleep...I am all ears. That aside, for the readers out there...good news...the story continues much sooner than I thought it would.
As always I do not own these characters...Mattel does...although I am starting to suspect the characters do own me...;)
He-Man Era Year Two: Etheria
The quiet search Adam envisioned has gone to dust. Left with the choice to stand aside or help, as always he chose to help. The Horde now knows of He-Man, and worse..those that remember recognize Grayskull in him. Hordak has set Shadow Weaver to set up a trap for the hero...for some nebulous goal yet to be revealed. Adora is not all that she has seemed to the rebels and Hordak...but Weaver has renewed the spells for the time she needs to complete Hordak's plan.
Meanwhile hope lives in the rebellion again. Adam, though recognized by Glimmer as royalty, has begun putting all his lessons to good use. The non-magical members were easy to begin with, the training Teela had put him thru the years was now being applied to the rebellion as a whole. Now Adam reviews what he has of magical members to begin formulating raids to help the rebellion become even more resilient.
Thank the Elders for Orko and the Sorceress. Having grown up around a magician most of his life and later seeing the huge power of the Sorceress...combined with his battles against Skeletor, Evil-Lyn, and Count Marzo...Adam had a fairly good idea of how to classify the more interesting members of the rebellion.
Outside his tent he could hear the trainers going thru the forms he had taught them...nothing complicated compared to what else he knew, but as a start it was doing wonders. It had been a surprise to learn that Glimmer was a moderately powerful magic user...although her ability was innate she had honed it alone as best she could. Madam Raz...was a good heart and intentions...but if she had at one time been more proficient it was hard to see. Even so Adam knew every bit could help, and Orko had often shown that even the most inept attempt could swing a battle to victory.
Frosta had been something of a surprise...she had natural instincts for defense and offense...and her ability to make ice like that was astounding...although she freely admitted it would not stop a concentrated barrage, she had stopped some more lethal attacks in the past to give people time to escape. Any with her abilities had been hunted quickly by the Horde...she had only made it because of Bow and Madam Raz when she was younger.
A lot of stories involved Bow getting people to the Whispering Wood. The man himself down played it, even a few times pretended to not know what Adam was talking about...but Kowl nodding at Adam's questions confirmed that the happy go lucky routine was just that. Adam did not reveal that to Bow...but noted it for future use. Bow himself was proving a treasure trove of knowledge.
Knowing that simple arrows were about as effective as a feather duster against the tech of the Horde, the archer had come up with various alternatives...some like the powder for quick escapes...others a bit more offensive...acid packs and contact explosives, although the latter was more show unless he got a lucky shot in.
Adam was also impressed at the amount of information the rebels had on the Horde. The size of the Fright Zone...main patrol routes...even a few reams of info on notable figures...which was a disturbing amount. Shadow Weaver while well known had not a very thick file on abilities...crimes were endless. The rest were more extensive...but the oddity was Force Captain Adora.
From the way Bow had reacted, and most of the camp, Adam had expected similar cruelty and disregard for life the rest of the files had shown...yet that was not the case. It was almost a grudging admission that she had never killed save in defense or battle...that she never abused people. She could be cold and calculated in taking a town, but it was the most minimal loss of life...again only fighters. She was responsible for most of the children going to the 'academies' and a large amount of the rebels in the slave mines...but again she got proof of rebellion before doing so.
She follows procedure and demands proof before sentence...if not for the fact of the Horde...Adam could not help but be confused. He judged himself a good person and acted accordingly...but this file could have been on him. True he had not killed anyone, but not for lack of opportunity. He just held himself to a higher standard as He-Man...and Duncan had been instrumental in making him question his actions quickly on the battlefield. It was almost as if Adora believed she was fighting for freedom not against it...
Don't be silly Adam...you were there you saw...the memory of her blue eyes in conflict came to him clearly...the way she had looked at and interacted with the little girl. For reasons he could not pin down, Adam believed Adora to be good. For whatever reason she was with the Horde, an effective and dangerous enemy...but the person inside was good. There was a piece missing and Adam could not find it in the reports. The accounts by the rebels were not enlightening either.
Shaking himself from his contemplation he turned to the next pile of papers...the pile that was smallest. Allies...or potential at least. It was a short list, and always followed by reasons they would not come to the rebellion without good reason. Again there was an oddity...Castaspella. She had definitely been sending food and medicine thru third, and fourth, hands. Yet, despite this aid, she did not come to the rebellion for combat...she cared obviously...but would not risk her kingdom to an attack from the more powerful Horde.
We need to prove we can fight...and win...Adam did not like the thought, but he understood Castaspella's reluctance. It was one thing to sympathize with a plight...quite another to join it. Again Adam was seeing things from his father's perspective...and grinning ruefully at the irony that it took all this to make that happen. Wiping a hand thru his blonde hair, and checking his sword, Adam went to inspect the troops...while part of his mind began to plan.
"Five raids...successful raids witch...explain quickly or I will make sure Despondos seems like a fond memory for you..." the deathlike grip Hordak had on his throne left no doubt of the rage burning in him. His face was schooled to a calm facade...needing information more than fear...but his body refused to emulate his face. Shadow Weaver shivered in her red robes...and most of the warriors present joined her. That dimension would haunt them all their lives...and they had no doubts that Hordak could out do its terror.
"There is someone new in the rebellion my lord...and he is using this...He-Man with the rebels to undermine us..." it was a dangerous admission, but Shadow Weaver had confirmed that some strange youth had been seen directing one of the raids before things had gotten out of hand. Oddly the barbarian was never there at the start, but just when the Horde seemed on the verge of winning he would arrive to crush their drones and weapons to molten slag. Little difference it made...the once ever expanding boundary of the Fright Zone had stopped.
Supplies had been liberated, slaves freed, and worse...there cohorts and mercenaries were questioning the power of the Horde...all because of the two strangers who seemed to have turned everything around. Shadow Weaver had never feared the rebellion before because there was no one to really unify it or mold it effectively...now someone had. Fortunately...she had news to save her life.
"My lord...Adora has some good news for you..." The Warlord cocked his head at the words...disbelieving that anyone had good news today. He nodded, if nothing else he might remind himself the inheritor of Grayskull was only a temporary problem...and solution. Adora bowed low before Hordak and none of the disturbing emotions from the previous week were present he noticed.
"I have to admit this new leader of the rebels is well trained my lord...and has a streak of unpredictability...but he does have a pattern...and a goal...he is trying to show the rebels can win against us...to bring others to the aid of the rebels in the Whispering Wood...specifically Mystacore." Adora spoke as if this was not a disaster in the making. As if she approved...yet she looked at Hordak with a small smile on her face...a smile the warlord liked.
"I take it you see an opportunity Force Captain?" He was willing to play along if it led to an early capture of He-Man...or this new leader...either way Hordak would have a way to relieve himself of this thorn in his side. The red lighting of his throne room hid the flush of pride Adora felt, but she nodded.
"He has attempted to contact the queen of Mystacore...I have intercepted all three messages and kept an eye out for more...we have the ability to imitate her hand and set up a meeting area of our choice...for all the two main rebel leaders...and possibly this He-Man...anything more and he will be suspicious..." the full smile on Shadow Weaver seemed to infect the room. Hordak himself found his rage gone...the opportunity presented by this woman would defeat the rebels in one fell swoop.
"I make one modification Adora...I want He-Man there...say that the queen wants to meet the warrior that has turned the tide in the war against us...if we can get this new leader fine...but He-Man is non-negotiable." Hordak smiled as Weaver nodded to his unasked question...they were ready...at last...Eternia would be his and Etheria as well...it was a bold beginning to his empire.
"You are sure that is her hand writing Madam Raz..." Glimmer did not want to be told she was hoping too much, but if Castaspella was really ready to help the rebellion...then maybe her mother...no that thought must wait. Both Adam and Glimmer watched as Madam Raz spoke softly over the paper that had arrived last night...and nodded to herself.
"Dearies it has been magicked...but I would think that was to stop it from being read by any but you..."Adam noticed the yellowed eyes under the overly large hat seemed unsure...but he had a thought. Nodding thanks to Madam, Adam went in hunt of Bow...and Kowl. Adam could not say why, but he felt that if Kowl liked the paper Adam would trust it.
"By the First Ones...I have taught you better than this...how will you make your marks in the stories...and by extension my own legend if you do not know how to even shoot a target standing still?" the false exasperation of his friend made Adam smile. He knew perfectly well that most of the rebels that could shoot were improving immensely under Bow's teaching...even ones called Twiggets. Those last ones though were testing the resolve of Bow...they kept getting excited like little children when they hit their target.
Finding Kowl on the light pole by the archery yard, Adam beckoned the gentle creature to him. Explaining the paper in his hand...and feeling a little silly for it...Adam waited...this wild idea seeming sillier by the second...until Kowl scrunched up his eyes and practically howled at the sky. Bow was there in an instant...thinking something was hurting Kowl...only to find Adam and a piece of paper in his companion's paws.
"Sorry Bow...I had reason to suspect it...now it is confirmed...this is a trap..." the forlorn tone told Bow that whoever the Horde had impersonated had meant a lot to Adam. Seeing the paper himself his eyebrows shot up passed his dark bangs. The queen of Mystacore!
"So we avoid it...and try to reach the queen a different way my crafty friend..." but Bow stopped when Adam shook his head with determination. The sudden gleam in his eye the archer had come to recognize as the 'schemer' look. The five raids they had pulled off had come shortly after such looks.
"I think I have a better idea...but I will talk to Glimmer about it...and Frosta I think...and Bow if you are looking to be a legend...then you too when you are done..." the smile on Adam's face as the plan came together in his head hinged on agreement...knowing there was a trap was a step to evade it...but to turn it back on the Horde would be worth a thousand missives.
"It is dangerous Adam...they will have troops, batmeks, drones..and anything else they think they need to take He-Man...having seen him in battle that will be a lot..." Learning the letter had been a trap had hurt Glimmer, but seeing Adam trying to turn it around to help them gave her hope. Adam knew the danger...more than she, because he was holding part of it back. The crux of it Glimmer could never know...not until it was too late. He-Man would not be here forever and Adam had run out of training almost a week ago that the trainers had not already worked on adapting to the Horde techniques.
"That is the point Glimmer, a small force keeps them busy, He-Man at their head...while the rest of you hit the kingdom of Bright Moon...your kingdom Glimmer..." the shock on her face...and glow of hope in her eyes confirmed the source of gloom to Adam. Someone was there...someone she wanted badly but she had still waited, and never asked. With the resources and people freed...the rebellion would not need He-Man...besides, it was getting harder and harder to fight as He-Man. Something was wrong...but for the plan to work He-Man would be needed one more time.
"Are you insane lad...the three of us against who knows what from the Horde...ok with He-Man there too...but that is just...well..." the word would not seem to come to Bow. Kowl was purring for all he was worth while Frosta looked at Adam as if she had never seen him before. He had done well for the rebels...he had given them coordination and skills never dreamed of...but she now realized he had made sure others had this knowledge. Glimmer did not know about this part...she was organizing the attack on Bright Moon...something Adam had learned Glimmer wanted badly.
"You are leaving soon aren't you?" Frosta's pale skin was only enhanced by her ice white hair and pale blue shirt with a short skirt to allow both freedom of movement and foolish temptation. Many Horde learned too late she could lower her skin to sub zero temperatures. Frosta had been impressed by Adam and He-Man...but she noticed that the mighty warrior never came to the woods...and now Adam seemed to smile sadly at her in confirmation.
"I have something I have to do...and I really have given you all I have...you need to fight on your own, this is your world not mine..." Adam stopped suddenly at the look of surprise both warriors had...no one had questioned him much, but if the wood let you in, it was just accepted you could be here. Adam sighed...if he was going to ask for this much risk...it was time for some trust.
"I am Adam...Prince of Eternos...I have to help protect Castle Grayskull from the forces of Skeletor and other power mad forces...He-Man is the Defender of Eternia and the Protector of the secrets of Castle Grayskull...we were sent here to find someone...and I think I know who...but neither of us could stand aside in this fight...I hope you understand why I have to go..." Adam offered his hand to Bow and to Frosta. Both seemed shaken by the frank air around Adam...suddenly realizing this good man could have slipped away at any time but had instead given the knowledge of his home to them...they were touched.
Bow shook the offered hand, but Frosta hugged Adam for all she was worth. Unlike Bow or some of the few younger men of the rebellion, Adam had never tried to get her alone by a fire...or to go 'stargazing' as some seemed to want to. He had accepted her ability and treated her as an equal...if that was royalty on this Eternia...Frosta wanted very much to see it.
"Well crafty Prince Adam...I am not going to bow to you...not that you ever asked...but this is still crazy..." Bow winked at Adam and gave Kowl a scratch..."But let's see if we can't buy Glimmer the time she needs to free Bright Moon." Adam smiled...knowing that again he was holding back part of the plan...the part that would save these two...and no doubt land him in the Fright Zone.
"Grizzlor...You have scouted the area" Adora found she was nervous...but that was only because this rebel leader had proven very sound in strategy...and had made a counter offer hard to refuse. He would come himself with two subordinates...make sure all was well and then get this He-Man...no doubt the barbarian would come running as the trap sprung on the rebels...but it was more than she had hoped to snare.
The shaggy head of her second on this mission nodded...Catra, Mantenna, and Leech were with her again as well, but they were out in the forest. All soldiers were far back but ready to charge in...their would be a short window of escape, but the batmeks and drones were well hidden to stop that if needed. Adora felt the sunshine as dappled shadows waved in the wind...the violet grass seemed to move on the sigh of the same wind.
Shadow Weaver had cleared up the confusion from her first battle with this rebel...now her loyalty clear, Adora would not waver again. As three figures emerged into the glen of choice Adora suddenly found her throat constricted. Two were known rebels...an archer of some repute, and one of the people of frost. Powerful fighters by all reports...this leader planned well for escape...and the leader himself caused her response.
His hair is the same color as mine...his eyes...why do I feel pulled toward him? Adora felt no attraction to this leader...but she felt connected...as if she was about to betray him. She felt like she had for the barbarian...but it was a hundred times stronger. Shaking herself, she motioned to Grizzlor and marched brazenly into the glen to face her enemies.
Not bad Force Captain...reveal yourself but keep forces hidden...Adam admired her tactic. He kept scanning the woods and noted at least half a dozen odd shadows...probably twice that he could not see. Bow and Frosta never looked at Adora...knowing their part...but not Adam's entirely. This was the gamble he had hoped for...to get straight to the person he wanted to see...and Adam noticed that the strain of Grayskull's magic seemed to have lessened again...for no reason he could see.
"You are not surprised rebel...you knew?" it was not surprising to Adora...she had anticipated the possibility but still found admiration for him coming himself into a trap. His nod to her and then looking beyond her to the trees told her he had noted some of the soldiers. He had two swords on him...one on his back seemed to belong there..the other...was glowing!
"You plan well Force Captain...but I am not here to simply turn myself over...I am Adam," and against all expectation Adam offered his hand to her. Adora automatically grabbed it...and found she did not want to let go...staring into his blue eyes...so gentle and open...Adora wanted to protect this man more and more.
"You should not have come here...you should have stayed away..." the hissed whisper stunned Adora and the two rebels with Adam...but not him. He nodded as if in confirmation of something and relaxed a bit...was he mad? Then he slowly withdrew the sword on his hip...a jewel glowing in the hilt...and he presented it to her hilt first!
"I believe this is for you...I also believe you have something mistaken about the Horde...but if you are willing to talk to me...or He-Man...we can hopefully clear that up...will you talk to me Adora?" it was the first time Adam had used her name...he had been hoping he was right and all his instincts said he was. Bow and Frosta were stunned...but he had expected it...the shadows were moving...time was running out...Adora grasped the hilt.
It was as if a part of her had been missing...and now she had found it...and she was afraid. She was afraid Adam was right...but the Horde had raised her...had protected her...and helped so many. The conflict on her eyes was obvious...but much stronger than before...Adam hoped to see victory this time...but then it cleared suddenly...as a rasp of a voice called attack.
Shadow Weaver had feared her spells were weakening...but whatever that blade was had nearly shattered them...it seemed wise she had come along despite Hordak's wishes. For now Adora would live...but only so long as it took to find out what that sword could do! The Hordesmen flowed out of the forest...but this rebel had chosen well...and the attack was expected.
A wall of ice flowed around the three...which distracted from the falling arrows. The blinding light and powder left all in confusion...only Grizzlor commanding a hold fire stopped the chaos from becoming lethal to his own men. Sending orders to the drones and batmeks hidden up to now...Shadow Weaver stared in awe as the shield shattered...and this He-Man was there alone!
"I have the Power!" He-Man finished the incantation as the shards of Frosta's dome collapsed around him. Bow had been as surprised as Frosta when he jumped out of her smaller shield she propelled on a track of ice. Too late to change her process, the two rebels sped away...and in all the chaos and hidden from view, Adam transformed. Seeing his friends still in danger he acted swiftly...suddenly realizing the strain was once again gone.
He-Man flew up into the air and knocked out the thrusters on two batmeks and kicked with feet and punched with his fists parallel to the ground...the concussive force knocked out the entire squadron of batmeks. Even seeing reports and running simulations the soldiers froze...the raw power of this warrior was unreal. And he landed like a cat on his feet and grinned at them as he raised his sword above him.
He-Man knew every moment he bought gave his friends more chance to escape...but he barely charged before Adora drew his eye. Still standing and glazed...holding the Sword of Protection...and off to her left in the trees a robed figure...Shadow Weaver! Long experience with Skeletor and Evil-Lyn kicked instinct into gear.
Leaping in one swoop, He-Man dropped between Adora and the witch...nothing changed...the spell was spirit not physical...thinking only to take the girl away, He-Man grabbed her arm...the jewel on her sword blazed. Physical pain lanced thru He-Man's body and Adora's. Something was killing them both...He-Man did the only thing he could.
"By...the...Power...of...GRAYSKULL!" holding his sword aloft in fingers he could barely feel...he felt the Power jolt thru him...and Adora...and Shadow Weaver. Realizing far too late the danger, Shadow Weaver was caught in the cascade of unimaginable power...this was beyond comprehension...that barbarian should be burned to a cinder...yet he stood strong...holding on to Adora.
It was not enough...Adora was fading somehow...He-Man could feel it. Focusing all his will into one thought..He-Man reached deep into the maelstrom of power...and found words he had never used come to his mouth.
"BY THE WISDOM OF GRAYSKULL!" the last thought He-Man had was of something breaking...some cord snapping...yet all his strength was gone. He felt as if he had heaved Mt Eternia itself and remade it. The sound of soldiers cautiously approaching the now weakened barbarian was the last thing the hero heard before darkness claimed him.
Kowl let tears fall as he watched He-Man chained by Grizzlor and herded by Leech and Mantenna. Two detachments carried both Shadow Weaver and the Force Captain...alive but unconscious. He flapped his wings and left the branch of the tree Adam had sent him to to 'signal' He-Man. Knowing the truth, the small creature had chosen to be witness to the noble sacrifice his friend made for Bow and Frosta.
Fireworks blared far to the south...it had not been in vain. Bright Moon was free. Forlorn moans left Kowl as he followed the scent of Bow and Frosta...not surprised to find them tracking the Horde troops...the shredded batmeks had, either by good fortune or intent, wiped out the drones as well. Landing on a branch above the two rebels, Kowl saw Bow glance at him...and the heartbreak of his long time friend cause Bow to lose hope.
"Oh no...Bow they have He-Man...I can't see what else...but so many...Adam and He-Man saved us by being bait...he knew Bow!" it was all so clear to Frosta...Adam had known that he and He-Man were the focus of the trap...anyone else, while still targets, would be allowed to escape to capture the primary ones. Sometime during the fight a pillar of purest white had shot skyward...the ensuing silence had caused the rebels to turn back.
Bow nodded in agreement...and his eyes blazed with both anger...and despair. Adam had purposely led them to believe he would fall back...only to make sure his friend's escaped in the chaos of his attack and He-Man's arrival. Pulling Frosta back...no need to follow the Horde...both rebels made quick work back to Whispering Wood...to tell the others what Adam had done for them one last time...and to tell Glimmer that the mission Adam had been after was somehow their most hated enemy's commander.