Chapter 25
As Battle-Cat's swift gallop carried them closer to Snake Mountain, He-Man contemplated his discussion with Duncan. He didn't blame his mentor for the anger he had displayed toward him. He-Man knew he would have to quickly make amends with him so that they can continue working together in protecting Eternia. He was angry with himself that his desire for the fiery Captain was causing everyone so many problems. He chastised himself for his lack of control.
As a feline, Battle-Cat was always able to tell how Adam was feeling due to the hormones he was emitting. Right now, Battle-Cat smelled fear coming off of his friend. Stopping outside Snake Mountain's perimeter, the big cat thought it best that He-Man take a moment to compose himself so that he wouldn't give anything away to Skeletor.
"Why are you stopping Cat?", He-Man asked.
Roaring loudly to express his concern, Battle-Cat stated "You need to control yourself." "I am smelling your fear." "If Panthor is present, he'll smell it too."
"Thanks Cat." "You are right, I need to compose myself", He-Man stated as he dismounted walking away from his companion.
Walking up to him, Battle-Cat engaged in a behavior more typical of Cringer, by bumping his large head against He-Man's legs. Looking down, He-Man stared into the feline's concerned yellow eyes.
"What's the plan?", the feline asked.
"We punch ourselves an entrance and we confront them", He-Man stated impassionedly.
"Telling them what?", Battle-Cat queried.
"Good question, Cat." "If we confront them directly, we'll be tipping them about our concern", He-Man replied.
"I have an idea", the big cat said. "You stay and I'll go in there alone, to sneak around and see what I can find out." "However, I should do this as Cringer, I'll be quieter."
"You want to do this as Cringer?", He-Man asked surprised at his companion's idea.
"Yes He-Man." "Let me do this for Teela, it's the best option", the tiger stated.
"If you're sure?", He-Man asked.
Nodding Battle-Cat waited for He-Man to transform him into Cringer. Pointing his sword toward the large tiger, He-Man uttered the necessary words for the transformation. Instantly, Battle-Cat's armor disappeared, his size decreasing threefold.
"Cringe, I really appreciate this", He-Man stated.
"Yeah, I hhhope Ttttteela does too", the cat responded with the stuttering that disappeared when he was graced with the Power of Grayskull. "I sssshould be gggoing before I lllose my cccconfidence." Turning around Cringer squared his shoulders and lifted his head trying to act like Battle-Cat as he walked closer and closer to a hidden entrance into Snake Mountain.
He-Man watched his companion walking confidently toward Snake Mountain and wondered what prompted the huge cat to undertake this mission in his natural form. He knew that Cringer had a special affinity for Teela as she always sneaked him his favorite snacks; however, He-Man never believed that Cringer would go to such lengths for her.
Inside Snake Mountain, Cringer walked stealthily toward Skeletor's Throne Room. So far he went unnoticed and hoped his good luck would continue to stick. Reaching the Throne Room, Cringer crouched low to the ground as he hid behind a corner. With his supreme hearing he didn't need to get close to Skeletor to hear his conversation with Trap-Jaw.
Cringer listened as Trap-Jaw asked Skeletor where Evil-Lynn was, as there was a package delivered for her. He heard Skeletor state that had send Evil-Lynn to Etheria. Worried at the revelation, Cringer knew it was time he joined He-Man. Just as he was about to retreat, Panthor rose from his prone position by Skeletor's feet raising his nose into the air and catching a whiff of Cringer's scent.
Seeing this Cringer quickly turned around hoping he was fast enough in his natural form to outrun Skeletor's pet. Looking behind him he saw that Panthor had given chase. Running as fast as his legs could carry him, Cringer ran for his life toward the secret entrance. As he ran, he hoped that by some miraculous intervention he would be able to change into Battle-Cat. Cringer saw an opened doorway and decided to lock himself inside the room. Adam had taught him how to use his paws to turn doorknobs so that he can easily come and go as he pleased within the Palace. Cringer knew that Panthor was unable to do so. Quickly entering the room, he turned around closing the door in Panthor's face in the nick of time. Cringer knew he had found a temporary solution as Panthor was bound to go get Skeletor. Walking away from the door, Cringer thought about what he could do to survive this predicament, as in this form he lacked the physical strength and courage to defeat Panthor. Hoping it would work, he attempted to contact the Sorceress telepathically. His attempts unsuccessful, Cringer wished that Orko would be present to entertain him with a magic trick before his sure death.
Suddenly, there was a loud crash outside of the door. With a loud creak the door opened revealing Orko's presence.
With a bright flash Orko attempted to transport Cringer out of Snake Mountain; however, he put them both right in the path of Panthor. With eyes wide the Court Magician and Royal Tiger ran for their lives from Snake Mountain, Panthor close at their tails, his hot breath nipping on the end of Cringer's tail. Reaching the hidden entrance, Cringer and Orko exited Snake Mountain making a mad dash toward He-Man.
Hearing their noisy escape from Snake Mountain, He-Man looked in their direction. He saw Cringer running at top speed followed by a floating Orko and a growling Panthor. He heard Orko and Cringer yelling to him, "Do it", repeatedly. He-Man understood that they were telling him to transform Cringer.
Reaching behind his back, He-Man retrieved his sword pointing it toward Cringer just as he made it behind a boulder. Yelling "I have the Power", He-Man held his sword steady as a lightning bolt enveloped Cringer.
Instantly being transformed, Battle-Cat emerged behind the boulder giving chase to Panthor reversing his path, back to Snake Mountain. Cornering him at the base of the fortress, Battle-Cat let out a massive roar indicating his dominance over the other cat causing Panthor to cower. Tucking his tail between his legs, Panthor entered Snake Mountain his chase after Cringer clearly forgotten.
Running back to He-Man, Battle-Cat informed him of the conversation he heard within Snake Mountain.
"So Evil-Lynn is in Etheria?", He-Man asked.
"Yes", Battle-Cat stated with a growl. "Let's go and inform the Sorceress and Duncan that at least for now, Teela is safe."
Both mother and son arrived at Grayskull at the same time. Addressing the Queen first, the Sorceress asked after her daughter's welfare. Marlena indicated that Teela was fine, informing her parents that Teela refused to come with her. She also let them know that she decided to send a troop of Royal Guards to Ileena's estate.
Taking a deep breath and nodding her thanks, the Sorceress turned to He-Man. "What did you find out at Snake Mountain?", she asked.
Speaking up, Battle-Cat answered "Evil-Lynn is not at Snake Mountain." "I overhead Skeletor state to Trap-Jaw that she was in Etheria."
"Etheria", the Queen and Duncan stated simultaneously. "What would she be doing there?", the Queen questioned.
Answering her He-Man stated, "I don't know." "I didn't enter Snake Mountain, Cringer did", he stated proudly.
Turning to the feline Duncan asked, "Did you overhear why she is on Etheria?"
"No, Skeletor didn't say anything about that", the big cat stated in his gruff voice.
"Battle-Cat, did you hear anything indicating that Evil-Lynn told Skeletor what she learned from the Oracle?", the Sorceress asked worriedly.
Shaking his head he looked from Teela's mother to her father hoping that the information he retrieved was sufficient enough in keeping Teela safe.
"Sorceress, send me to Etheria", He-Man asked.
"Adam, what are you going to do?", Duncan asked.
"I'll deal with Evil-Lynn there and try to find out what she is doing in Etheria." "I hope she hasn't joined forces with Shadow Weaver", he contemplated.
"If she has, Adora may need your help", the Queen stated concern for her own daughter clearly evident in her voice.
Making a decision the Sorceress spoke to He-Man, "I'll open a portal to Etheria for you." "Orko, Battle-Cat I ask you join He-Man." "Come back as soon as you find out anything." Bringing her right arm up, a luminescent ball jumped out of her palm quickly spreading opening up into the necessary portal to Etheria.
Before the designated group walked through the portal, the Queen stated "Adam be careful, my son." "I'll tell your father that the Sorceress send you and He-Man both to Etheria so don't worry about him."
"Thank you, Mother", He-Man stated before disappearing into the portal.
As soon as He-Man walked through the portal he instantly knew he was in Etheria as the planet's air was more fragrant than Eternia's. Looking around him, He-Man saw Battle-Cat and Orko up ahead. Orko was flying high in the air indicating his excitement, as he had never been on Etheria before. Approaching them He-man asked, "Orko how did you find Battle-Cat?"
With an excited voice Orko stated, "I magically heard Cringer calling for me", as he flew down to rest on Battle-Cat's harness.
"Thanks buddy, once again your spontaneous intervention has helped saved the day", He-Man acknowledged.
"You are welcome." "So this is Etheria?", Orko asked. "Which way to the Whispering Woods?"
Pointing to the correct direction, He-Man asked Battle-Cat "Should we change?"
"You know best", answered Battle-Cat.
"Ancients, I hope Adora is at the Whispering Woods", He-Man stated. "Let's stay as we are, in case we need to leave quickly to find her."
With his comrades at his side, He-Man made his way deeper into the Whispering Woods. As soon as he cleared through the thick brush, the Eternians came upon the meager dwellings of the Great Rebellion. He-Man was immediately greeted by Bow and Princess Glimmer who were seated by a bonfire eating dinner. Accepting their invitation the Eternians were each given a plate of food.
"He-Man, what brings you to Etheria", Bow asked.
"I'm actually looking for Princess Adora with a message from her brother", He-Man answered. "Is she here?"
Princess Glimmer her eyes alight with awe responded, "No, we thought she was with Prince Adam in Eternia."
"She was, until recently." "I was informed by the Sorceress of Grayskull that the Princess has returned to Etheria", He-Man responded.
"We haven't seen her", the Princess of Brightmoon responded. "Perhaps she came back and went to see Sea Hawk right away?", she asked.
Remembering that his sister was supposed to spend the weekend with her boyfriend, He-Man relaxed slightly and enjoyed his dinner.
"Will the three of you await her arrival here?", Bow asked.
"If that will be alright", He-Man responded.
"Sure", Princess Glimmer stated with excitement. "Wait until I tell Frosta that you are here." "She'll be so excited." "She is about to return with Madame Razz".
Hearing this He-Man bowed his head to not show his trepidation over having to deal with the over-zealous, seductive, man-eating Ice Empress of Etheria. Groaning inwardly, he hoped she would take a long time to return. Looking at Battle-Cat he saw him snickering over their current predicament. Orko seemed oblivious to his change of mood, happily eating and chatting with the Twiggets.
Before he could excuse himself, He-Man heard a loud whistling sound careening through the trees indicating Madame Razz's haphazard return flight into the Whispering Woods. Following closely behind her, Frosta rode an ice sheet as if she was waterskiing. Coming off the ice sheet, Frosta immediately noticed He-Man sitting with Bow and Princess Glimmer. Her heart lurching in her throat, she brought a shaky hand to smooth her long blue tresses. Plastering a wide smile on her full-lips she let him know she had arrived.
"Nice to see you He-Man", Frosta stated with a sexy drawl. Practically sashaying she walked toward Grayskull's Champion. Dropping down to sit next to him, she draped her graceful hands around his shoulders while attempting to shift her body to sit in his lap. Holding his breath, He-Man clenched his stomach and arm muscles so that she would be incapable of maneuvering herself into his lap.
Realizing her futile efforts, the Ice Empress remained seated next to He-Man. "What brings you to Etheria?", she asked sexily.
Responding in a single word, He-Man said "Adora."
Becoming instantly jealous as Frosta was not aware of their secret sibling relationship, she pushed herself into a standing position.
"Adora is with her brother", Frosta stated.
"Actually Frosta, He-Man just informed us that Adora is back on Etheria", Glimmer stated.
"Oh, then that means that she's probably getting some from Sea Hawk, something I hope to be getting from you soon He-Man", Frosta answered unabashedly as she quirked her eyebrows.
Shocked at Frosta's open admission about his sister's amorous activities with Sea Hawk and the blatant invitation to share her bed, He-Man stared at her wide eyed. Noticing this, Frosta commented "Oh, I'm sorry He-Man."
Quickly covering his surprise He-Man responded, "No offense taken."
"So you're staying in our camp tonight?", Frosta asked him. "I have room in my tent for you", she stated as she sat back down next to him. Not waiting to hear his response Frosta laid her soft hand onto his muscled arm, caressing him seductively up its length.
Knowing how uncomfortable Frosta's sexual advances always made He-Man feel, Battle-Cat sauntered over to him, maneuvering his muscular body between them. Laying his massive head in He-Man's lap, Frosta had no choice but to move away from them, lest she upset the formidable feline and coax him into biting her.
Bow replied, "Actually Frosta, He-Man will be staying in my tent; however, I am more than happy to join you in yours", as he winked at He-Man.
"No thank you", Frosta answered passionately.
Their sleeping arrangements finalized, the group of friends continued sitting around the bonfire reminiscing of recent victories against the Horde. Not quite listening, He-Man wished he was back home helping the Sorceress and Duncan protect Teela, too wired to partake in the Etherian's excitement. Excusing himself, he asked Bow for directions to his tent so that he can get an early night's rest. Thanking their hosts for their hospitality, the Eternians retired to Bow's tent.