Adam sighed internally as he watched Adora and Sea Hawk take their leave. He still wasn't sure what to make of Hawk; the pirate had a hard edge and seemed reluctant to trust others. On the other hand, he was clearly devoted to Adora. Adam turned his attention to the two women left in the room. Now he was back to feeling like a piece of meat between two cats.

"Are you comfortable, Prince Adam?" Castaspella asked softly.

"Yes, thank you Your Majesty," Adam returned pleasantly. He had to hand it to her. She hadn't tried once to kiss him again. Her signals that she was interested in him were incredibly subtle, and at times he even questioned if he was imagining things—it wouldn't be a stretch with the drugs Duncan had had him on.

"Can I get you anything?" the queen asked.

"No thank you," Adam said. He searched for something to say. "I understand you helped get me back to Eternia. I don't think I ever thanked you for that."

"It was the least I could do," Castaspella returned. Adam caught Teela's gaze and motioned towards the door with his eyes. Teela frowned but stood.

"I'll be back in a little while, Adam. I have to check in with the guard," Teela said, her voice a bit stiff. She left the room but stood outside the door, listening. Orko floated down the hall.

"What-" His voice was cut off as Teela grabbed him and put a hand over his mouth.

"Sh," she said. "I need to know what's going on in there."

Orko's eyes widened. "Teela, are you eavesdropping on Adam?" he whispered.

"Yes," she hissed back. She didn't have the grace to be ashamed. "Now be quiet."

With a silent flourish, Orko produced an oddly-shaped listening piece. Teela grinned her thanks and pressed it to the door. Orko crowded in so he could hear, too.

"You shouldn't neglect your duties to your kingdom because of me," Adam was saying to Castaspella. Teela's grin grew. That's right, Adam, send her on her way.

"My kingdom is in fine hands for the moment," Castaspella assured him. "I'm not leaving until I know you have completely recovered from this injury."

"That's very kind of you," Adam said, his eyes softening at her obvious concern. "But it's not necessary, Casta. I'm fine."

"Tell me, something Adam," she said, ignoring his statement. She perched on the side of his bed and leaned forward, studying him with clear blue eyes. Adam drew back ever so slightly, but not because he thought she was going to try to kiss him again. There was something different about the way she was looking at him. Assessing, somehow.

"Why can't magic heal this wound?" she asked him. Outside the door, Teela and Orko exchanged surprised glances.

"Adora's sword has magical properties," Adam answered nonchalantly.

"Hmm…" Castaspella responded, almost absently. "I've noticed her sword and yours look a lot like He-Man and She-Ra's. I wonder why." Her gaze intensified.

Adam's jaw dropped, and he answered quickly to cover it. "Just coincidence, I suppose."

Castaspella drew a circle on the bedspread with her finger as she asked the next question. "And where were He-Man and She-Ra when you and Adora were battling?"

"I'm sure they were around somewhere." Adam was tensing up. He may be attracted to Castaspella, but trusting her with the secret was not even an option in his mind.

Castaspella stared at Adam for a moment. There was a connection here, she could almost see it. It was like looking at two puzzle pieces and knowing they went together, but not how. Suddenly her mind grew foggy, and she lost her train of thought. When she re-focused, an image of He-Man and She-Ra with Teela and Sea Hawk came to mind. Of course, she thought, they were probably all together.

"And what about Teela and Sea Hawk?" she pressed. "Where do you think they were?"

"Ah," Adam said, wondering if the sword's magic had something to do with her switch in thinking. "You'd have to ask them that."

Castaspella shook her head, deciding to keep her suspicions to herself. "Of course." She straightened up. "So Adam, what does one do for fun on Eternia?"

Teela pulled away from the door, taking Orko with her. They went down the hallway quietly. "What's wrong, Teela?"

Tear-filled eyes turned to the little Trollan. "It took me almost seven years to see the truth, Orko. Castaspella's starting to figure it out already." She couldn't speak the rest of the thoughts that she tried not to have. What if he decides that's important, and he chooses her?

"Aw Teela, I don't think she's figuring it out," Orko said with a wave of his hand. "I think she just had a couple of questions."

Teela nodded, but inside she didn't agree at all.


Adora felt anxious to get back to Etheria, though she didn't know why. As she and Hawk went to find her parents, she told him, "We're just going to do quick introductions and get going, Hawk. I want to get back to Etheria right away."

"Why?" Sea Hawk asked in surprise.

"Just a feeling," Adora answered, unable to explain it further. There was a strong niggling in the back of her mind saying time was precious. "I don't think there's anything wrong; I just feel it's important we get back there."

Sea Hawk grabbed her arm and stopped her in mid-stride. "Adora, what's going on? I feel like you and Adam talk in code half the time, you both get these odd premonitions…I don't understand any of it."

Surprise and delight mixing on her face, Adora placed her hands on his arms. Maybe he's starting to figure it out! Aloud she said, "It must be that twin thing, Hawk."

He shook his head, his eyes never leaving hers. "No, it's more than that. There's something you're not telling me."

Adora reached up and laid her hand on his face. "I can't tell you about it right now, Hawk, but I promise I will one day. Okay?"

Sea Hawk's hunter green eyes seemed to look into her very soul. He could see it was something she actually did want to tell him, but for some reason, she was holding back. He didn't like it, but he nodded anyway.

Randor and Marlena were coming down the hall as they turned. "Ah, Adora, just who we were looking for," Randor said, his gaze taking in Sea Hawk.

"Father, I'm afraid we only have a few minutes. I feel we're needed on Etheria," Adora said, her face full of regret.

Marlena's face fell. "Oh, that's too bad. We were hoping to get to know..." her voice trailed off meaningfully.

Adora gestured with one hand as she introduced them. "This is Captain Sea Hawk. He's a very good friend of mine."

Marlena's eyebrow raised at that, evidently expecting a different description of the pirate, but she said only, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Sea Hawk."

Sea Hawk bowed. "The pleasure is all mine, Your Majesties."

As he rose from the bow, Randor shook the pirate's hand firmly and looked him in the eye. He instinctively liked what he saw, but like Adam, he also sensed a hard edge. "Sea Hawk, it's nice to meet you at last. Adora speaks of you often."

"I'm sorry we haven't been more hospitable," Marlena added, "but under the circumstances…"

"It's perfectly understandable, Your Majesty," Hawk assured her. "I'm only sorry we can't stay."

"I understand you run supplies for the rebellion," the king said.

"That's right," Hawk replied. He instinctively decided to be open about his past. "Adora opened my eyes to what was really important in life. Before I met her, I thought gold was more important than anything. Now I know there are things that matter much, much more." He turned to her, his gaze softening. Marlena smiled at the love she saw in his face. Randor, who found himself disconcerted at Sea Hawk's words, briefly wondered if the pirate had truly changed. After all, he must realize that a princess is bound to inherit a lot of wealth…

"Father," Adora ventured. "May I speak with you alone for a moment, please?"

Randor nodded, surprised, as Adora took his arm and led him into his own study. Adora paced the room once or twice as she gathered her thoughts, then stopped in front of her father.

"Two years ago when I asked for your help against the Horde you said you could not endanger your people," Adora said quietly, her normally sweet voice tempered by her responsibilities. "Is that still the way you feel?"

Randor turned away from her abruptly and stared out the window for several minutes. Adora remained silent, feeling it wasn't her place to push for an answer. Just as she was trying to figure out whether to take a seat or walk out, the king tuned back to her, his eyes full of sorrow.

"My dear, I have questioned that decision every day since the day you asked," he admitted. "On one hand, I have an obligation to protect my people, and as I told you, providing you with troops and weapons would be an act of war. On the other, now that I know Etheria's plight, my conscience bothers me every day. I can't stand the thought of the Horde being in control of any planet."

Adora said nothing; she could tell from his tone he wasn't done. Randor cleared his throat and looked away for a moment, then back at her. "I fear my motives for saying no may not have been completely honorable, either. I think deep down, I believed you would eventually tire of the fight and leave it to She-Ra and the rebels." He smiled sadly. "Of course, now I know you can't do that. You're in this to the end."

Adora stepped closer to him and laid a hand on his arm. "I didn't mean to distress you, Father."

"No, I'm glad you brought it up again, my dear," Randor countered. "I have struggled with it on my own too long. It is time to gather some advice from those I trust." He met her eyes again. "When Adam returns to Etheria, he will bring you my answer. Is that fair enough?"

Adora smiled. She suspected she knew her father's answer already, even if he didn't. "More than fair, Father. Thank you." She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. Randor closed his eyes for a second at the bittersweet feelings running through him. He had missed a lifetime of his daughter's kisses, thanks to Hordak. He tamped down the anger inside, determined not to let his emotions lead him in this decision. Instead, he smiled at his daughter and gave her his arm, then escorted her back to Sea Hawk and Marlena.


"Well, Captain Sea Hawk, would you care to take a walk in our gardens?" Marlena asked, sensing the pirate wasn't used to being still for long.

"I would be delighted," Hawk answered with a slight bow. He answered Marlena's questions about his family life and found himself telling the story of how Adora and he had met. She was excellent at getting information from a person, he realized. He didn't feel like he was undergoing an inquisition, yet that was exactly what it was. He waited for the question he knew would come, and Marlena didn't disappoint him.

"I know you love my daughter, Captain," Marlena said. He nodded in agreement. "I can see it in your face every time you look at her." Marlena sighed heavily as she turned to him. "I hope you understand this, Sea Hawk. We completely missed more than twenty-two years of Adora's life, and she's still not really back with us. We don't want to miss any more."

"That will be Adora's decision, Your Majesty," Hawk replied steadily, meeting her gaze. "I can sail anywhere."

Marlena cocked her head to the side. "And if Adora had to take the throne? Would you be ready to be a king?"

"But Adam-" Sea Hawk protested, his eyes growing wide.

"Actually, Adora was born first," Marlena interrupted, her voice steady. "But by Eternian law, rule does not automatically pass to the eldest, nor does it automatically go to the son. Randor is the one who will select his heir. He has until their thirtieth birthday to make his decision, and he may announce it on that day, or before if he sees fit."

Hawk swallowed hard. This was something that had never occurred to him. He was saved from answering as Randor and Adora approached them.

Adora hugged both of her parents tightly. "I'll miss you both. Perhaps next time I see you, Hordak will be defeated, and I'll be back for good."

Randor hugged her back and then watched her leave yet again for Etheria. He blinked hard. Cursed pollen, he thought to himself as he swiped at his eye. Marlena would have smiled if she'd caught him, but she was too busy wiping her own tears away, while at the same time she wondered about Adora's mysterious pirate.


Adora and Sea Hawk found the rebel camp in a flurry of activity when they returned. Kowl flew over immediately to the couple.

"Kowl, what's going on?" Adora asked.

"Ooo-hoo, we've gotten word that Horde Prime is most displeased with the damage He-Man and She-Ra did to Hordak's fleets, and with the number of kingdoms that have won their freedom back from the Horde," Kowl hooted, hopping from one foot to the other. Sea Hawk raised an eyebrow. He'd never seen the bird-like creature so excited.

"And what does Horde Prime plan to do about it?" Adora queried as Kowl paused.

"We hear he's coming here himself, and bringing additional armies and weapons and who-who knows what else!" Kowl exclaimed. Adora had a fleeting thought of how much they would need those additional men and weapons from Eternia, and desperately hoped her father would choose to help them.

"He plans to crush the rebellion and possibly replace Hordak," Bow added, joining their small group. "I don't think he believes we should be so difficult. It seems that the harder it is for Horde Prime to beat us, the more likely Hordak will get to keep his job—assuming they beat us at all, of course," he concluded with a cocky grin.

"How long until Horde Prime gets here?" Adora asked, worried.

"About three weeks," Bow replied. "Apparently he's almost done dealing with an uprising on another planet, and plans to re-stock his arsenal and his robot army, and head our way."

"How reliable is this information?" Sea Hawk asked, his brow creased.

"For once, we're pretty sure of it," Kowl said. "Our spy on the inside told us this, and General Sunder confirmed it with his contacts. There is enough overlapping information in each report to believe most of it."

"So if Horde Prime isn't getting here for three weeks, why the sense of urgency around the camp?" Adora questioned.

"Hordak plans to go all-out for the next three weeks, to try to crush the rebellion before Horde Prime gets here," said Queen Angella as she and Glimmer approached. "I'm glad you're back, Adora."

"Castaspella stayed on Eternia, but I'm sure she'll come back if we need her," Adora answered.

"And She-Ra? Was she with you as well?" Angella asked.

"She did turn up on Eternia, but I'm sure she's back now," Adora replied confidently, and almost everyone seemed to accept that. Hawk stared at Adora, unable to shake the sudden feeling that he was missing something.

"We heard what happened, Adora," Glimmer ventured softly. "Is Adam okay?"

"Yes, thank the First Ones," Adora said, her face carefully blank. "Knowing Adam, he'll be back here before he should be, acting like nothing ever happened." The others nodded in agreement. Bow smiled widely, thinking, Adam is a man after my own heart. Noble, true, and stubborn to the end.

"I'm glad to hear he is not angry with you, then," Angella said, one eyebrow raised in question.

Sea Hawk snorted. "Adam has no right to be angry. He let Adora stab him so it would break the spell." At their confused looks, he and Adora explained it further.

"Wow," Glimmer said when they were done. "That's some brother you have, Adora. I can't believe he was willing to take a sword to save you."

Adora smiled, a ghost of sadness lingering in her eyes. "He is pretty incredible," she acknowledged softly.


Two days after Adora left, Adam was about to jump out of his own skin. He reached up to scratch his face. The beard that had grown during the last six days made him feel ten years older, probably because his father wore one all the time.

"Six days in bed is enough," he muttered to himself halfway through the morning. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, moving carefully. "If I don't get out of here, I'm going to lose my mind. I might even start sympathizing with Skeletor and let him out to help against the Horde."

Adam stood gingerly, thankful he was alone for a while. He knew darn well Duncan had been drugging his food and drinks, but he thought the old soldier had been gradually backing off of the medication. He might even be off it completely, since every breath was accompanied by mild pain and his back was tight from lying around.

"And as soon as I'm off of them, I'm trying to get up," Adam said to himself a bit ruefully. "I'd better be careful; if I do any more damage Duncan's liable to keep me sedated for the next two weeks."

After showering, Adam dressed in the bathroom, conscious of Teela and Castaspella's constant comings and goings in the infirmary. Sure enough, when he emerged, Teela stood there waiting.

"You're supposed to be taking it easy," she admonished him, even as her eyes seemed to drink in the sight of him. "But you look much better."

Adam held up his hands in quick surrender. "I have no intention of overdoing it, Captain," he said, his tender voice sending shudders through her. "But I had to take a shower and shave. I was starting to feel like a shadow beast. Walk me out to the garden? I need a change of scenery, too."

Teela nodded and took the hand he held out. Before they left the room, she leaned in and kissed him, tracing his jawline with her other hand. Then she drew back, her head lowered as if she were shy. Adam shook his head slightly, confused. She'd been hard to read in the last few weeks. It was as if she were deliberately pulling back from him.

Without a word, Teela led him slowly out of the room. Adam said nothing at first, but he knew she would slip into bodyguard mode at any moment.

"Teela, what's wrong?" he asked, tugging her to a stop. She turned and gave a wavering smile.

"Nothing, Adam," she said, her voice soft. She couldn't find the words to tell him how grateful she felt at seeing him up and about, with the color back in his face. Her love for him overflowed within her, and the power of it actually scared her.

Adam tilted his head to the side. "Spill it, Captain," he teased, his voice incredibly gentle. Teela shook her head, and gave him a hug to hide her face for a minute.

"Let's get you outside," she said, straightening up and looking about for dangers to the crown prince. Her official face was back on.

Adam's jaw clenched. He truly was sick of her hiding behind her role. He had half a mind to relieve her of the duty, but she'd be devastated. This is not the time, he told himself. He shot her a dark look that she missed. But soon, Teela, we are going to have talk about this.