A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! I was almost afraid to read the last set after Teela died, but since no one suggested stringing me up by my toes, I guess all is well:-) Thanks for sticking with the story!
Adora gasped, placing a hand to her heart. The papers she'd been holding as she and Sea Hawk reviewed their attack plans fell to the ground.
"What's wrong?" Hawk asked her, his eyebrows drawing together in concern.
"Something's terribly wrong with my brother," she said, her blue eyes panicked. "Wait here, Hawk. I have to find She-Ra."
He caught her arm as she turned to go. "Why?"
"She can contact the Sorceress for me," Adora answered. "I have to know if Adam's okay." She jerked her arm, but he didn't let go.
"Let me go with you," Sea Hawk offered.
"Not this time, Hawk," Adora replied anxiously. "Please, let me go." Her voice was frantic.
Hawk did as she asked, his eyes narrowed. She didn't say not to follow her.
"Duncan! Duncan!"
At the sound of the Sorceress' voice, Man-at-Arms groaned slightly and woke up. The panic in her voice soon drove him to full consciousness. There on the wall was an apparition of her face, creases of worry coming through even the ghostlike appearance.
"What's wrong?" he said hoarsely.
"Where is He-Man?"
Duncan struggled to remember. "I had just checked Adam's injury. You contacted him. He transformed. We were worried about the king and queen, and Teela. We ran to…to…the…throne room…" He shook his head. "I can't remember any more than that. What's wrong?"
"I sense a great anguish from him. I cannot contact him, though. A spell of some sort is keeping me from getting through. But his pain is so great I can still sense that." The worry in her voice increased as she spoke.
"Is he injured?" Duncan asked, heaving himself to his feet. The room spun a little. Duncan looked around in surprise at the guards lying on the floor around him, then focused on the Sorceress once more.
"I do not know, but I do not think so. The pain I sense is emotional, as if he has suffered a great loss."
"Teela, his parents…" Duncan gasped. My daughter…
"Yes. Come to Grayskull, Duncan."
Hordak stood a few feet in front of He-Man, delighting in the hero's suffering.
"We appear to have reached a stalemate, He-Man," the evil ruler said casually.
He-Man didn't even hear him. There was a roaring in his ears, a mixture of anger and despair so strong he couldn't even think straight. For the first time, he felt true hatred towards another living creature. The hero struggled to control the impulse to kill Hordak right here, right now.
Hordak frowned. He'd been talking for a full minute, gloating, but He-Man was so distraught that he hadn't even heard. Hordak nodded to a couple of troopers who reached down and hauled He-Man to his feet. Hordak was surprised to see that there were no tears on the hero's face.
He-Man came to his senses as he stood. His eyes were clear as he stared at Hordak, and the villain felt a small chill of fear at the cold, hard look in those blue eyes.
"You will regret this, Hordak," He-Man said. His voice was dangerously low and factual. "I promise."
"By the time I'm done with you, you will be a broken man," Hordak threatened in return. "Chain him across the room from the other Eternian fools, so he remembers why he needs to obey my commands."
Marlena held a hand to her mouth as she watched her son being pushed across the room. He and Adora had told their parents about Darren. She had believed Adam's goodness to be too strong to ever have that happen to him, but in looking at the suffering man before her, a thread of doubt entered her mind. Her own heart broke, and she too felt hatred stir in her.
Randor raised his chin in an effort to keep his own eyes dry. Teela had been like a daughter to him, and he had expected that she would be the mother of his grandchildren. The love Adam had for her was the same as he himself had for Marlena. He couldn't imagine the pain his son must be feeling now. And now Adam was placed across the room, heavy chains attached to his wrists and ankles, utterly alone.
He-Man sat on the floor, staring blankly at the chains. They were thick and heavy, but he could have broken them easily; they weren't magically charged or anything. Instead, Hordak had ordered him to stay there. The bucket-faced villain had already proven his willingness to kill. He-Man would not take a life, but he would obey just about any other command in order to keep his parents safe. Hordak evidently suspected that, and was going to test him on it.
A ragged sigh tore from his mouth, and his injured chest began throbbing. He-Man's hand went unconsciously to the angry scar that was still there. Grayskull's power hid it, but couldn't change the fact that it was still painful.
Marlena and Randor noticed him rubbing it, and the haggard look on his face. Knowing that the injury Adam had sustained normally took Eternians much more than a month to recover from, Randor couldn't help but wonder how much of He-Man's lined face was due to grief, and how much was due to pain. He and Marlena exchanged worried glances.
I lost her! I can't believe I lost her! Sea Hawk knew Adora had given him the slip on purpose. It irked him that she was good enough to do so. She was hiding something, and going to great lengths to keep it a secret. He intended to interrogate her when she returned, but one look at her face stopped the words in his throat.
"Adora, what is it?" he asked, rushing to her side and taking her arm. She was shaking slightly, and her eyes were distant.
"They think my whole family has disappeared, along with Teela," Adora whispered as he guided her to a seat. "Even the Sorceress doesn't know what happened." She turned tear-filled eyes to Sea Hawk. "My brother's still weak, Hawk. Anything could happen to him. And my parents…" Her words turned into a sob. It was one thing to know Hordak had captured someone; at least then she could do something about it. But not knowing where they were, and knowing that Adam was experiencing some sort of anguish, left her feeling lost.
Hawk held her tightly. "It'll be all right, Adora," he soothed her. "I'm sure Duncan and He-Man will find them."
Adora shook her head, but couldn't say anything more. "I feel so helpless, Hawk. If the Sorceress can't find them, how can anyone else?"
"Do you want to go to Eternia to look into it?" he asked. It was the only thing he could think to offer. To his surprise, Adora shook her head again.
"No," she said. She took a deep breath and pulled herself together with an almost visible effort. "The Sorceress says she thinks I need to remain here, so for now, that's what I'll do."
"Nothing," muttered Duncan as he returned to the palace. He had spoken with Adora and the Sorceress while at Grayskull. Both of them sensed Adam's pain, but neither knew what was going on or where the royal family might be.
Duncan sighed. To make it known that the royal family was missing would cause chaos, and possibly a jostling for the throne. He had to keep it quiet for now. But he needed help. He put out a call for Cringer, Mekanek, Stratos, Ram Man, Buzz Off, Orko, Moss Man, and Fisto. The Sorceress and Serena were working on finding another person as well.
"I-I can't find Orko anywhere," Cringer said to Man-at-Arms when he arrived for the meeting. Duncan frowned, wondering if Orko was missing as well. It seemed very likely.
"We'll have to begin without him," the old warrior said. "I have some bad news. The royal family is missing." There was a predictable muttering. "We suspect foul play, but those of us who were apparently here don't remember a thing. Nor does the Sorceress know what happened."
Duncan went on to say he would spread word that the family, accompanied by Teela, had gone on an unexpected trip—which was technically true.
"I need all of you to help me figure out what happened, and organize a rescue if needed," Duncan told them.
"Who's gonna run the kingdom while we're doing this?" asked Ram-Man.
"For now, I will," Duncan replied. "But I've already summoned someone else to step into that role if it becomes necessary. I expect him here within the next day."
"Where's He-Man?" Fisto asked logically.
Duncan swallowed hard. "He might be missing as well," he answered grimly. "I haven't been able to reach him, and the last thing I remember is him running into the throne room."
There was a general distressed murmuring at that.
"Someone took the royal family, Teela, and He-Man?" Fisto asked rhetorically. "Without leaving a trail? Someone's got to know something." Stratos nodded his agreement.
The group discussed a plan, with Moss Man promising to ask his plants for information. Duncan knew the plants and animals were probably their best chances of learning anything right now. He frowned again as he looked around. It was dark outside already. The family had been gone only since just after lunch. Yet it seemed like an eternity.
Marlena and Randor slept fitfully that night, but they were both sure their son didn't sleep at all. They could see him across the room, sitting with his back to the wall, his eyes constantly on them. Marlena didn't know if he was actually seeing them, or simply looking in their direction, lost in thought.
For the first half of the night Adam was so numb he couldn't think at all. Light Hope's words repeated over and over in his mind.
"You must be very careful, He-Man, to protect her."
"Only the champions of Grayskull may be able to protect her."
I failed, he thought, clenching his jaw against the guilt and pain. I failed you, Teela…
Eventually, images of Teela began running through his mind, as if by their own accord. It started from when they were children and she teased him about his cowardly tiger, and when they would run to their special room to escape the day's lessons. Her childhood promise to marry him…
"Teela! Teela!""Adam, what's wrong?"
"You gotta promise to marry me, Teela. Please!"
"What? I'm not gonna marry you!"
"Please, Teela! If I'm not married by the time I'm thirty, they're gonna make me marry one of those girls that are always coming here. I don't like any of them. You're the only girl I like!"
"Well, we can't get married now, Adam. We're too young."
"I know that! How about when we're both twenty-five?"
"Um…okay. That's a long ways away, and I can still be Captain of the Guard before I'm queen that way."
"Promise, Teela? You promise to marry me when we're both twenty-five?" He still remembered grabbing her hand between both of his and begging her with his eyes."I promise, Adam."
He-Man's heart twisted at the memory. It'll never happen now. His eyes burned, but he refused to cry. Not here.
His mind went on to her taunts about his clumsiness and laziness…
"If you'd take your training a little more seriously, you wouldn't need a bodyguard!"…to when she finally began seeing the truth just over six months ago.
"By Eternia. You are Adam."
"Yes, I am."
She had stared up at him with her piercing green eyes. Shock, anger and betrayal had played across her face.
"Teela." He had reached out for her.
"Don't. Don't touch me. Don't even talk to me."
He-Man had dropped his hand. "I'm sorry, Teela. I had no choice."
"I trusted you. Both of you."
She had walked away, and it had been like knife in his heart. But she had eventually accepted it and forgiven him. She was the only person to figure out his secret other than his parents. After she had gotten over the initial anger and shock, her touch had grown softer, her voice gentler…and then there was her declaration of love just a few days ago.
"Adam, I…I couldn't be Grayskull's guardian because…because I agreed to marry you when we were kids. That was the pledge my m-mother mentioned. I love you so much, that even though my mind was willing to make the sacrifice, my heart wasn't. That's why Grayskull rejected me."
"I don't understand. "Then what-"
"It scares me, Adam. I love you so much it scares me."
A shiver raced through him at the memory. As the night wore on, He-Man could feel the rage inside building. The memory of Darren surfaced. He-Man had always believed things happened for a reason, and here was proof. Of all the future times Darren could have been sent to, he had been sent to Adam's, and the prince couldn't help but think it was a warning.
He might feel the rage and the hatred, but he could not allow them to consume him. Teela wouldn't want that. Besides, it would cost him Grayskull's power, and his ability to help people would be limited to his role in the royal family. While that idea had always held some appeal, Adam couldn't lie to himself. He-Man made a difference in the world. He-Man was needed right now, to fight evil like the Horde.
Dawn found Adam making himself a promise. I will not make Darren's mistakes. I will not become evil.
For the first time, his gaze met his parents', and he nodded to them once. Marlena smiled gently to show her relief, while Randor returned the nod. The three of them stood as footsteps sounded in the room. Hordak was on his way in.
Duncan rubbed at his eyes wearily. They'd been looking for clues to the royal family's whereabouts—and Teela's and Orko's—for the last eighteen hours, but had found nothing. The best they could discover was that a magic portal had been opened directly into the throne room. Where it had come from or went to was anyone's guess.
Hearing footsteps, Man-at-Arms whirled around, then relaxed immediately. "Sire, it's a tremendous relief to see you."
Former King Miro smiled grimly at Man-at-Arms. "Hello, Duncan. What's this I hear about my family?"
Hordak strode into the throne room. "What a glorious day this is!" Shadow Weaver, Catra, Scorpia, and Mantenna fell into line as he settled on his throne.
"Now, let's see how well He-Man has learned his lessons, shall we?" Hordak said with his customary snort. His minions laughed with him until he held up a hand. "Come over here, slave."
Raising his arms, He-Man said nothing but quirked an eyebrow at the evil ruler.
"Oh, come now, we all know you can break them!" Hordak said impatiently.
He-Man shrugged and deliberately pulled loose in a way that left a gaping hole in the wall behind him.
"Oops, sorry," he said. He kept his tone civil. He didn't want to anger Hordak into doing something foolish, but he wasn't going to make it easy for Hordak to order him around, either. He reached down and broke the chains from his ankles as Hordak huffed.
"You idiot, be more careful next time!" Hordak snapped. "Now get over here!"
He-Man walked very slowly over to where Hordak was pointing, at the bottom of the steps leading to the throne.
"Now kneel before me," Hordak commanded, his smile returning.
He-Man felt physically sick at the very idea, but his expression showed nothing. He knew that he had to keep Hordak from getting under his skin. He had to focus instead on figuring a way out of this.
He-Man went down to one knee and bowed his head, swallowing hard to keep the bile down where it belonged, and still moving as slowly as he possibly could. Marlena and Randor both felt themselves fighting tears of anger and despair at the sight of the most powerful man in the universe kneeling to this evil ruler.
"Excellent," Hordak gloated. "Mantenna, get him something unpleasant to eat. He-Man and I are going on a little trip this morning."
"Adora! Adora!" Glimmer and Spragg ran over with a villager Adora didn't recognize. Sea Hawk straightened beside her. Queen Angella, Castaspella, and Frosta were with them as well. They had been placed in charge of various parts of the planned attack, and were making some adjustments to the plans.
"What is it, Glimmer?" Adora asked, her voice and eyes worried. Everyone in the camp knew her family had disappeared.
"You have to hear what this villager came to tell us!" She gestured to the man behind her. "His name is Gabe. Gabe, this is Adora."
"My lady," he greeted her. "I fear I come with bad news. Our village was attacked this morning."
"By the Horde?" Adora questioned, eyebrow raised.
"By only two Hordesmen—Hordak himself, and…and He-Man," Gabe said, his tone indicated that he loathed the very words coming out of his mouth.
"What?" Adora exclaimed. "That's not possible!" At the same time a sliver of relief raced through her. At least now she knew where they were.
"I'm afraid it is, my lady. Hordak showed up and demanded we pledge allegiance to him," Gabe's voice saddened as he told the story. "He-Man was with him. He had a Horde insignia on his breastplate, but I've seen him before. And no one could do the things he was doing. It was him."
Adora was thankful to feel Sea Hawk's arm go around her, because her stomach was somersaulting rapidly. "What things was he doing?" she asked, fearing the answer.
"When my brother, Rye, refused to do as Hordak said, Hordak ordered He-Man to destroy the home. He-Man asked if everyone was out, and when Rye said yes, He-Man demolished the building with one punch."
"He must be under some sort of spell or something," Frosta said, horrified at the idea of her one-time crush behaving in such a manner.
Gabe shook his head. "I don't know. Rye asked him why he was doing it, and He-Man said he had joined the Horde. He didn't look blank like someone under a spell. But he didn't look like the He-Man I've seen before, either. He looked…hard." He paused then added, "He whispered something to Rye, but my brother couldn't hear him. His hearing's not too good, you know."
Oh my brother, what have they done to you? Adora wondered, her heart aching.
"Thank you for telling us all of this, Gabe," Queen Angella said. "Spragg, please get him some lunch while we discuss this turn of events."
Once the two had left the tent, Adora addressed everyone. "I'm going to find She-Ra. She'll be able find He-Man and talk to him, find out what's going on." And rescue him, she added mentally.
Angella nodded. "I think that would be wise."
"Isn't it obvious what's happened?" Hawk interrupted. Everyone's eyes went to him. "He-Man betrayed your family and joined the Horde, Adora. That's why your family is missing."
Adora's mouth dropped open, and for a moment no one spoke. The idea that He-Man had actually joined the Horde of his own free will had not occurred to anyone else. They all assumed He-Man was being forced into this somehow.
"You can't seriously believe that," Glimmer finally said, her voice full of disbelief. Her eyes were at their widest.
Bow's eyes narrowed. "I'll admit he has been competing with Adam for Teela's attention, but he's not evil, Hawk."
Sea Hawk shrugged. "I don't know him that well, but I sense he's not entirely honest with anyone. I-"
"He-Man has sacrificed more in the name of good than you'll ever know," Adora interrupted, her anger boiling over. Her blue eyes snapped at him as she stood and leaned on the table to address him. "This is exactly what Hordak wants. For the rebellion to lose heart and unity. He-Man is a good, honorable man, and I will not have any one of you smearing his name. Is that understood?" Adora met each gaze until she had affirmation from everyone.
"There is an explanation for this, and I will find out what it is," Adora assured them, her voice firm. In fact, she had a strong suspicion she already knew what it was. She whirled around and strode off, whistling for Spirit.
Sea Hawk hid it, but inside he was stricken. Adora loves He-Man, he thought. Sea urchins and barnacles, I thought he was after Teela, and he's stolen Adora from me, right out from under my nose.