A/N: I sort of got on a roll, so I'm updating with chapters 36 and 37 today. Sorry if this is too many updates. Hope you enjoy anyway. :)

Chapter 36

"I-is this going to happen every time you transform back, A-Adam?" Cringer asked fearfully.

Shaking his head as if to clear it, Adam slowly and painfully stood to his feet. "I don't think so, pal," he replied breathlessly. "The reaction this time wasn't as severe as before. Hopefully, my body will get accustomed to…," he snorted at the notion, "Morphing into someone else," he remarked sarcastically.

"B-but, you're not really someone else when you're He-Man, A-Adam. I noticed th-that you still have the same fighting skills; you're just stronger. I saw you throw Trap-Jaw as if he w-weighed nothing more than a f-feather," Cringer observed.

Adam cocked his head to the side as he rolled this over in his mind. "You're right, Cringe. And that could also blow my cover if someone recognizes my fighting style," he pondered. "I'll have to lay off the Karate as no one on this planet knows it. Dead giveaway for sure," he stopped for a moment. "But how do we explain why I appear older?"

"Prince Adam, I will explain your transformation here at Greyskull," a voice echoed in his mind. "Come to the castle as soon as you have checked on your father and have gotten rest. He is alright and will recover fully," the Sorceress reassured.

"I will. Thank you Miss Teela'na," his mind replied.

"Simply Teela'na is fine, young Prince," she replied with a smile in her voice.

He gave a small smile, "Teela'na."

"A-Adam? What happened just now?" Cringer probed.

"The Guardian of the castle was speaking to me," he replied. "Come on! We've got to get back and check on father." He narrowed his eyes in jest. "And you're too puny to ride now," he grinned.

"V-very funny," Cringer spat as they broke into a flat-out sprint the entire way back to the Palace infirmary.

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They arrived at the waiting room, out of breath and sweating over the mile long run. Orko, Duncan, Trevian, Marlena, and Teela were outside of the King's room as once again Anna and her staff tended to another royal emergency.

"Can't one of us stay out of here for two days at a time?" Adam pondered aloud.

All heads snapped in his direction, eyes wide. The Queen's eyes lingered on her son as Orko floated nervously in front of the King's door attempting to peek through. Duncan and Trevian returned to their urgent discussion regarding fortifying the security of the Palace in response to tonight's attack.

"Adam! Where have you been?" Teela stepped towards him wearing a bandage on her jaw which covered the blow by Trap-Jaw earlier. "And why did you just run away like that? You never do that," her eyes were wide and full of questions.

Adam gently caressed her injured jaw and opened his mouth to reply when his mother inadvertently cut him off.

"Son, you're sweating profusely," Marlena noted. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Mom," he replied. "I ran to get help," he replied then averted her gaze.

His mother's eyes narrowed suspiciously as Teela placed a hand on his cheek.

"Adam, what's going on? You gave me the weirdest look before you took off," she probed. "I know you so I knew you weren't afraid…so what's the real reason you left us?"

He grimaced as that last question twisted like a knife in his gut. "Like I said, I went for help, Tee," his reply came more sharply than intended. He stopped, took a small calming breath and started again. "I'm sorry. I went out the back way and saw that the guards were paralyzed," he explained. "I hid behind a wall then snuck out and ran into the forest to evade any more bandits and to find help," he held her gaze hoping she believed him. He despised misleading his love.

She blinked at him. "So you found He-Man in the Evergreen Forest? What was he doing there and why didn't you return after you found him?"

The Prince started to reply as Anna entered for an update. All eyes were quickly glued to the trauma physician.

"His Majesty is suffering from temporary dysautonomia. That magical beam he was hit with interfered with his autonomic nervous system," everyone sucked air as she continued. "Thankfully, his breathing was not affected but his blood pressure did rise significantly. We're administering medication to bring that down," she paused for a beat. "He's got some lacerations and a burn on his back from the beam's impact but having said that, due to his overall physical condition he should make a full recovery. But we must keep him under observation for the next few days to monitor his pressure and his heart function and to ensure those cuts and bruises do not become infected," she explained.

There was a sigh of relief as Marlena asked, "May I see him, Anna?"

"Absolutely," she replied and gestured toward Adam. "As with the Prince, I'd like only a few of you at a time please," she grinned slightly. Adam responded with a sheepish smile.

"Thank you," the Queen responded. "Adam, Teela…," she glanced their way as she held her hands out behind her. The two young people took her hands in theirs and followed her.

"When can we go next?" Orko asked nervously, his pitch higher than normal due to the stressful situation.

"You can enter immediately after the family returns, okay?" Anna smiled at the jester.

"Thank you, Miss," he replied as he floated toward Cringer.

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After everyone looked in on the King, the Queen insisted everyone return to their chambers and get some much needed rest as she would stay behind with her husband. After the others tried to protest, she explained that they would both be fine and there was no sense in everyone losing sleep.

The Prince ducked back into the room and kissed his sleeping father's forehead. After kissing his mother, Teela did the same as they made their way out of the infirmary holding each other's hands. Orko and Cringer walked ahead of them as Duncan and Trevian stayed behind briefing the guards on their nightly rotation of the King's wing.

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Teela studied Adam's profile as they walked the halls of the royal wing. "You never answered my question, my love."

He snapped his head towards her. "What question?"

"He-Man out there lurking in the forest for you to find, then your complete disappearance shortly after," she clarified, narrowing her eyes.

Orko and Cringer exchanged nervous glances.

He quirked an eyebrow. "I never said he was lurking, my love," he explained. "I was looking for anyone to help and he happened to be there. He was patrolling Evergreen's perimeter and evidently heard the explosion in the city so he was nearby. I told him about Skeletor and he and the cat outran Cringer and me," his stomach twisted into a knot over the lie that kept snowballing.

She studied him. "So, he came to the rescue before you could return," she said more as a statement than a question.

"Yes."

"Alright, well thank you for finding him. But I just don't get it," she pondered.

He glanced back at her. "Get what?"

"You are more than adequate help, Adam. More than capable of defending us all. Why did you feel your fighting skills were inferior to warrant eliciting someone else's help this time?"

He bit his lip as his mind raced for an answer. "I'm only hours out of the infirmary, Tee. I wasn't sure I'd be strong enough physically to stave off Skeletor's attack," he cringed inwardly. More lies.

She nodded hesitantly, temporarily satisfied with his answers. But she sensed deep within her that something was awry. "Understood," she finally replied as she squeezed his hand.

They arrived at her chambers. She reached for Adam as they clung to each other and kissed good night.

"Sleep well, my heart," he stated.

"You too, my love," she replied.

As she entered and shut the door, Adam, Orko, and Cringer proceeded to their own chambers.

"That was a close one, Adam!" Orko remarked.

"Shhh!" Adam placed a finger to his lips. "She has phenomenal hearing, Orko," he whispered, "Especially when it involves me," he added sarcastically.

"Th-that lie you told about being too weak to fight," Cringer began, "That's not going to work the next time we have to d-ditch," he stated matter-of-factly.

Adam's lips were set in a terse line. "You know what? Neither of you are helping," he replied sharply, totally annoyed.

"We're just sayin'," Orko huffed.