Disclaimer: I don't own He-Man or any of its merchandising and/or etc.

Well, here we are. Busy week. Long chapter. For me anyway. Thanks everyone who's reviewed so far! When I read your reviews, I

wring my hands in wild gyrations and loops, and hiss in delight. I hiss because if I laugh uproariously, then my family would come and

see about the commotion, and I'm a little too embarassed to tell them that I'm writing a fan story for He-Man. Anyway, keep reading

and let me know what you think. I'm in the process of working out the last bit of the story right now on paper. I think much better on

paper. I mostly do embellishments and improvising bits I don't like when I type it out. Anyway, that is all.


CHAPTER 11 – Discoveries, Discoveries

Adam gazed sideways at a serene blue vista in the form of a painting on the wall. He was lying shirtless upon an examining table, suffering Dorgan's ministrations with ill grace. He'd barely managed to retain his breeches, upon his insistence that he'd suffered no injury in his lower extremities.

The healer began probing around Adam's ribs and abdomen, much to the intense dislike and discomfort of the prince in question. He gripped the table's sides in deadly earnest, taking care not to bite through his tongue. Dorgan shoved a bit of leather between his teeth before proceeding.

"I'm sorry, Prince Adam. It must be done, I'm afraid", he said simply. "Of course it wouldn't be painful if you would take a numbing agent . . ."

A tear snaked down Adam's cheek as he worried the leather and left light indentations on the table beneath his fingertips. Dorgan ceased, satisfied, and removed the bit of leather.

"I'm done. You can stop leaving fingerprints in my table now. Really, Prince Adam, I hadn't realized what a powerful grip you possess."

Adam sheepishly removed his digits from the table and took stock of his sore, manipulated frame. It hurt, alright. 'Should have used the sword' he thought sourly. 'Can't use it now.' He sat up slowly with Dorgan's assistance.

"You'll be pleased to know that you haven't sustained internal injury, although how you've managed to avoid it, I've no idea", Dorgan told him, "You've simply exhausted yourself, my boy. And that bruise of yours is one of the nastiest I've ever seen, and it will be quite painful for some time, as you've had proof this afternoon. I'd like to give you some pain relieving medicine and a tranquilizer, but I know you won't take it, so just make certain you rest up and take it easy. If you change your mind about modern medicine, come and see me." Adam smiled gratefully at the old healer.

"Thanks, Dorgan."

The old man tossed Adam his tunic as the door opened to admit the captain of the guard, in her usual, uniformed glory. Adam looked up at her and blushed, instinctively trying to cover his bare chest with his shirt, then smiling sheepishly at her.

"H-hi Teela", he said. Teela gave Dorgan a look. The healer was affronted.

"Well, I know when I'm not wanted", he said huffily, "I'll just go look at a patient who actually does what I say, for once." He testily exited the room.

Teela closed and locked the door behind the little healer. Adam's eyes widened, and he questioningly looked at her. The expression she awarded him caused him to gulp nervously.

"Teela, is something the matter?" he ventured cautiously. She crossed her arms and leveled her gaze directly upon the squirming prince.

"You've got some explaining to do, Adam", she said, "But first, I'll talk. Don't interrupt." Adam nodded. "I've had vague suspicions ever since that dragon incident", she announced and began to pace the length of the medical chamber, "When you helped that dragon out. That dragon that curiously seemed to equate you with He-Man."

Adam's face suddenly turned deathly pale. He thought he could tell where this was going, and he didn't like it. However, the best option seemed to be to wait it out and be sure he knew what she was accusing him of, so he twisted his tunic in his white-knuckled hands and listened.

"It wasn't what you'd call conclusive evidence, but I was suspicious, nonetheless, and I never quite forgot. Regardless, any suspicions I may have entertained at that point were dismissed by what I thought was my better sense at the time. Lately, though, I've had plenty of reasons to reconsider."

Adam gulped. Teela continued. "Like He-Man waking up in the wind-raider, looking at me like I was crazy when I asked him how he was, and then asking about Cringer. And perhaps like the fact that you now possess some rather brilliant bruising on the very same portions of your anatomy that were hit on He-Man's when he got pounded by Skeletor's magnified blast. Not to mention your unexplained extreme exhaustion last night, when you fainted on your bedroom floor. Adam, we were together nearly all day yesterday. The only times that I lost sight of you were that morning, when you were with Randolph, and during the battle and the hour or so after it, when He-Man was unconscious.

"Tell me, Adam, what can I possibly conclude from these facts? Other than that you've been keeping a secret from me for eight years, I mean." Teela stopped pacing and looked at Adam expectantly. The prince looked stricken.

"Teela, I . . ." Teela tapped her foot impatiently on the infirmary floor. Adam's honest blue eyes met hers, and she suddenly wasn't angry anymore

"Teela, I'm sorry. I wasn't allowed to tell anyone." Adam was bemused. "Most of the people who know have found out by accident, really. I think you and Mother are the only ones who've ever figured it out." Teela's eyebrows lifted in surprise.

"Your mother?" she asked curiously, her anger all forgotten. "Who else knows?" she asked him. Adam smiled, pleased that she didn't seem to be upset with him.

"Well", he said, thinking, " the sorceress, of course, and your father took me to Greyskull on my sixteenth birthday. Orko found out that same day by accident, Cringe is battlecat, and Adora knows, and Madame Razz, I think. I'm actually not sure about Mother, and now you know." He finished, smiling

"I can't tell you how relieved I am, either. A little concerned, but mostly relieved. I figured I'd have to tell you eventually if I wanted to marry you!"

Adam, suddenly realizing what he'd just said, blushed and began stuttering.

"I-I mean I-" Teela's eyes widened in amazement.

"You want to marry me?" she asked him incredulously. Adam regarded her with surprise.

"Of course I do, Teela, I've wanted to for a long time. I-", Adam blushed, "I asked Duncan for permission yesterday." His face was bright red, and he raised his eyes to look at her. Teela felt tears of happiness shine in her eyes as she gazed on his dear, red face.

"Oh, Adam", she whispered. The crown prince cautiously lowered himself onto his knees and took her hand.

"Teela", he said, looking up at her, "Will you marry me?"

"Of course I will, Adam!" she exclaimed, dropping abruptly to her own knees and kissing his embarrassed, joyful face with vigor.

The two were interrupted by pounding on the door.

"Adam!" they heard his father's concerned voice roaring outside the door, "Adam, are you in there?!" Teela and Adam regarded one another momentarily, before Teela helped him to stand as she hastily unlocked and opened the door. Adam sat down heavily on the table, it being much the only furniture in the room. His parents stormed in, and Adam, still too dazed by his recent engagement to think straight, forgot that he was shirtless, and that his injuries were highly visible to his very concerned and excitable parents. Oh boy.

"Adam!" Randor exclaimed, catching sight of his son, whom, he'd been told, had sustained some injury. Marlena followed close behind. Adam grinned at them.

"Hey Dad, Mom, how'd the conference go?" he asked lightheartedly.

"Oh, it went-" Randor gasped, horrified as he saw the extent of the damage. Marlena issued a startled cry as she came within view of her only son. Adam looked at them, confused for a moment. What were they staring at?

"Adam, what's happened to you?!" Randor cried, taking his son's shoulders.

"Huh?" said Adam. He looked down and groaned. "Forgot", he mumbled to himself. He re-mustered his cheerful smile and said, "Oh, don't worry about that, Father. Just got caught in a little tussle yesterday."

Teela fought the urge to roll her eyes. 'Real smooth, Adam', she thought, 'Looks like an injury from a tussle about as much as a dragon resembles a newt.'

Randor studied his son, perplexed.
"Must have been a 'tussle' of astonishing proportions to leave you looking like that, Adam." Adam flushed.

"Darling", Marlena laid a hand on her husband's shoulder, "Adam looks like he hasn't had a good meal since yesterday. Why don't you go arrange something?"

Randor grumbled irritably, but left to see to things. Marlena smiled at his retreating back fondly and turned to Teela.

"Teela dear", she began, but Adam interrupted her.

"Mom, I don't have any secrets from Teela", he told her, rightly divining that she wanted real information. Marlena held a hand up to her mouth in a silent 'oh' of surprise. She smiled warmly at Teela.

"Oh, I see", she said, closing the door. "Now what really happened?"

"I was just-" Adam started.

"His tussle just happened to be with Skeletor and a powerful magnifier unit." She said matter-of-factly.

"Teela!" Adam nearly shrieked. Marlena ignored him and looked thoughtful, but completely unsurprised.

"I see", she said. Adam regarded her wide-eyed.

"You mean you really have known all this time?!" Marlena looked amused.

"Well, of course I have Adam. I'm your mother. Did you really think that you could keep anything from me?" Adam looked a little sullen.

"Well, I've managed to keep a few things from my father", he muttered.

"Darling", Marlena said maternally, "fathers, even the best ones, are very lacking in intuition, and are even rather dense at times. I believe most men are. Your father in particular." She chuckled lightly. The door opened, admitting a still put-out Randor, who was now accompanied by Man-at-Arms and Randolph, the latter of which looked a little nervous. Adam looked up, his face lighting up at the sight of his friends.

"Hey guys!" he greeted them.

"I found these two- what did you say your name was, boy?" the king asked Randolph.

"Uh, Randolph, Sir."

Teela's eyes darted between the king and Randolph, full of sudden suspicion. Adam noticed this with a feeling of dread in his stomach. Teela would think that he'd been lying earlier, when he'd told her that Randolph was a relative. He sighed. His life sure was complicated.

"Would someone mind helping me put some clothes on?" he asked plaintively. "I feel like a plucked turkey." The king laughed merrily and moved to assist his son in good humor.

"Let me help you, Adam." He said. When Adam was dressed once more in his loose, long-sleeved invalid tunic, the king turned back to Randolph, thinking he ought to be polite. His friendly gaze turned to a questing one. He held his chin in his hand.

"You know, Randolph, you look awfully familiar." He said. Randolph began to sweat and smiled nervously, unconsciously resembling Adam even more. Duncan rolled his eyes in a gesture of exasperation.

"Randolph is a friend of mine, Father", Adam volunteered, hoping it would be enough. It was. The king's face cleared.

"Oh, I see."

Queen Marlena immediately marked the boy's resemblance to her only son, and observed him in evident confusion. That was a little too unlikely, wasn't it?

Randolph began to feel like the plucked turkey Adam had mentioned earlier.

"Mother, Father?" A new, less familiar voice echoed from the doorway. Marlena's attention was finally drawn elsewhere.

"Adora!" she exclaimed in delight, hastening to embrace her long lost daughter. The king enthusiastically joined his wife. Adam struggled off of the table, with a like objective in mind. Teela helped him, but it was only too apparent that she was displeased with him.

"Adora!" Adam greeted his sister, trying to get her attention.

"Adam!" was her answering cry as she flew across the room. She stopped before she reached him, frowning. "I heard you were injured, Adam", she admitted, "I don't want to hurt you."

Adam waved her concern away. "I'm fine Adora. People exaggerate." Teela grunted.

"There's a black mass that can technically be classified as a bruise encompassing his midsection and forearms, which is so painful that it makes him nauseated and unable to stand up or walk without assistance." Teela told Adora these things with somewhat spiteful relish. Oh yes, she hadn't forgotten that she was angry with him.

"What?" Adora cried, outraged. She lifted his shirt abruptly to see for herself, and gasped. "Adam!" she exclaimed in pity and consternation. Adam jerked his shirt back down with a small wince of pain, annoyed.

"It's not that bad. I don't know why everyone's making such a big deal about it." He muttered sullenly.

"Because we love you, Adam, and we care when you're in pain, even if you don't." Adora tossed her hair, annoyed with her brother as she rarely was. Her gaze landed on a young redheaded man. She strode forward to greet him and offered him her hand, glad to find something to get her mind off of her annoyance.

"I'm Adora. I don't think we've met before", she told him.

"Uh, Randolph. I'm Randolph." Randolph was sweating again. He'd never been able to pull anything over on his aunt. He hadn't been counting on her being here. She was looking at him suspiciously, just like she always did at home. He gulped.

"Randolph is a friend of mine, Adora", Adam's voice made a welcome intervention, and Adora's attention was now diverted by her fellow warrior woman and friend.

"Teela, I'm sorry, I was distracted. It's lovely to see you again!" Adora greeted, embracing Teela fondly. The two shared an affinity, being very similar both in occupation and determination.

"Dear", the queen spoke to her husband, "I hate to remind you, what with Adora here and Adam in this shape, but we really can't be late for that meeting in the stateroom." Randor started.

"Ancients! You're right, my Dear!" He turned to his children in apology. "Well, children, if you're feeling up to it, Adam, perhaps we could dine together tonight." Adam nodded his agreement and Adora turned pink for some reason.

"There's someone I'd like you all to meet, if I may bring him to dinner." Marlena raised her eyebrows.

"Then by all means, bring him, Dear", she told her. "Now we really must go. Goodbye children." The two left, and Duncan soon after made his excuses and left to see to his machinery. Randolph elected to stay. Teela, having duties as captain of the guard, said a very pretty goodbye to her friend, glared at Adam, and flounced out of the room. Adam sighed.

With Teela's exit, Adora turned back to Randolph and began to examine him.

"Who are you really?" she asked him in a voice that compelled a truthful answer like no other, as far as Randolph was concerned. As per usual, the poor boy folded under the pressure.

"I'm Adam's son from the future", he said, almost weeping, feeling as though he'd done something terrible, as he usually did when his aunt confronted him.

Adam viewed his son incredulously, his mind grasping for some reason for Randolph's apparent meltdown. Adora was regarding the boy sternly, appearing to have expected just such a confession from him, although in actuality, she was surprised.

"Just as I thought", she lied, crossing her arms over her chest. Adam regarded her quizzically, one eyebrow raised skeptically. Adora became sheepish.

"Well, actually I didn't. I don't know why I said that. It kind of felt like instinct."

The two, mainly Randolph, who seemed to feel compelled to pour out his innermost secrets to his aunt, informed her of the plot against Adam's life, and the three of them brainstormed about security measures with a little success before dinner.

"Well", Adora thought aloud, "We'll just have to make sure that He-Man and She-Ra are aware of the situation."


Well, there it is. Phew. I was kind of grasping for ways to end it there. Anyway, c'est finis pour maintenant. Hope it was enjoyed.

A tout a l'heure.

-Burp.