Chapter 53

The low hum of an engine's whir awoke Orko from his brief nap. He had found that sleeping right before using his magic ensured that his spells worked properly. Right now, he really needed his invisibility spell to hold for as long as possible; otherwise, he would be endangering everyone's lives. That was something he was not willing to do. His friends depended on him. With a new found confidence he reiterated the spell's words making the cloaking even stronger. Turning to look at his Queen, he took in her steely reserve as she navigated the space ship. Orko could only imagine what was going through her mind.

The usually jovial jester hoped that soon their lives would go back to normal. So much had happened since that fateful day when He-Man thought he killed a man. When Orko was taken prisoner by Skeletor following those events, the alien magician had no idea of the turmoil his friends were going to face. They had to stop Skeletor. Orko felt honored that his adopted family trusted him to play such a major role in saving Teela.

Arriving over Snake Mountain, the Rainbow Explorer hovered in place as Queen Marlena slowly depressed each individual button that released the latches attaching the bomb to her shuttle. With fingers crossed and holding Orko's hands she watched as the bomb descended toward Skeletor's abode, embedding itself on the top of the snake's head which gave the building in namesake. Returning to the pilot's seat, she drove the ship away from Skeletor's fortress landing it several miles away to await her husband's call. Once she returned to pick him and Duncan up, the King would detonate the bomb.


Inside Snake Mountain, King Randor and Duncan searched throughout the top floors for signs of Skeletor or Teela. Finding none, they descended the stairs toward the monolith's base. Coming to the basement, they stopped short at the sound of melodious music coming from one of the closed doors down a dark hallway.

Cautiously they walked closer to the door. Reaching out, Randor grasped hold of the handle and gave it a twist. To his surprise the handle turned easily indicating that the room was not locked. With a further turn of his wrist, the door sprang slightly forward. Instantly, the music grew louder. Shrugging his shoulders, he looked over at Duncan as he pushed the door open with the toe of his boot. Holding two fingers over his lips, he motioned for Duncan to approach. Pulling back at Duncan's insistence, he allowed his Man-At-Arms to enter the room first. Following closely on his heels, the King of Eternia entered the spacious dark chamber.

His eyes quickly adjusting to the lack of light, King Randor made out a single silhouette sitting in the middle of the room holding a cello between their legs. Randor stood shock still as he recognized the music permeating the air. Whoever was cloaked in darkness was expertly plucking the cello's strings as they played Bach's Cello Suite No 1 in G: Allermande. The King knew the song immediately, as long forgotten memories came flooding back. Instantly, he was transported to the last time he had dinner with his intact family, on the night before his older brother left to complete his Accotis. The cloaked musician was playing his brother's favorite music, the same music Randor had chosen to dedicate to Keldor as his body was buried.

Looking at the musician, Randor took in the built and height of the person holding the string instrument. They held the musical apparatus the same way Keldor did. Randor observed the cellist's movements, as his head bobbed left to right with passionate moves while he glided the bow over the instrument's strings. Rapidly blinking his eyes to clear his vision, Randor felt that he was seeing his older brother. 'It can't be…..I buried him', Randor thought his heart beating loudly in his chest. Yet whoever sat in that chair, played the notes the exact same way his brother had.

As the King of Eternia took another step forward, he felt Duncan's arm restraining him once again. He watched as Duncan reached beneath his chest plate and withdrew a string of light beads. Throwing them, the room was instantly alight as diabolical laughter replaced the cello's tune.

Grabbing his sword, King Randor knew he was facing the fiend that schemed to overthrow him. With his peripheral vision he noticed that Duncan took a protective stand to his right, as he too engaged his weapons.

"Come to fight me in person, Randor?", he heard coming from the cloaked villain. "I wonder where your lackey is?", the dark lord gloated. "Oh, yes…he's probably safe behind Grayskull's walls while you and your pal over here sought me out." "Did my little performance have you thinking about long gone years?", he teased.

"Where's my daughter?", Duncan asked through gritted teeth coming to stand in front of his King, answering Skeletor's question in lieu of Randor.

Without taking his eyes off the King, the Overlord of Evil snickered as he magically displayed a vision of Teela writhing in pain in a prison inside a cave in the Vine Jungle, before blasting Duncan with a powerful energy beam. The force of Skeletor's magic propelled Duncan backwards causing him to hit his head against the wall, his breath knocked out of him. Falling to the floor, Duncan clutched his chest as he drew air into his lungs. Forcing himself to stand, he pushed onto all fours as he continued to breathe deeply through the pain of several broken ribs.

"You cannot defeat me!", Skeletor yelled as he made a fist instantly weaving a spell causing the wall behind Duncan to jut forward as it wrapped itself around Duncan's lower body, up over his torso, and over his left arm leaving his right shoulder free. Valiantly, Duncan tried to pry his body away from the sheet of rock pulling his body into the wall behind him; however, his efforts were unrewarded as the rocks hardened creating an unbreakable encasement.

Throwing off his cloak, Skeletor faced the King of Eternia who had not moved an inch to help his friend. Cocking his head to the side, the evil warlord wondered at the lack of concern on the King's face.

"This is unexpected of you Randor, will you not attempt to help your best friend?", Skeletor asked.

"Duncan doesn't need my help, Skeletor", King Randor uttered as he withdrew his sword.

"Are you sure about that, Randy?", Skeletor asked using his own nickname for his once beloved younger brother.

Randor stared at the being who dredged up long forgotten memories. Anger flooded his veins that this monster was toying with his boyhood memories. "You have no right to use that name with me!", the King demanded.

Cocking his faceless skull to the other side, Skeletor bellowed "I am the only one who has the right to call you whatever I want." Finishing his statement, Skeletor started approaching King Randor.

Seeing his enemy's advance, Randor quickly depressed a hidden button on his cuff activating his shield. Bringing his arm up he held the shield protectively against his side, the metal covering him from head to pelvis, while he also raised his sword arm in a combative stance. Wanting to know why Skeletor felt entitled to use that particular nickname he asked, "Did Keldor learn his black magic from you?"

The King's response brought forth another maniacal fit of laughter from Skeletor. "You fool", he hissed when the laughter abated. "I didn't have to teach Keldor anything", Skeletor answered.

Struggling against his restraints, Duncan watched as Skeletor neared the King. He had to get loose, his daughter and King depended on him. Contorting his left shoulder toward his right, Duncan breathed through the pain emanating from his broken ribs as he tried to bring the shoulder housing his cannon closer to his head. If only he could cross the midline of his chest with his arm, Duncan would be able to blast the rocks off of him. Continuing to move his body slowly, so that he won't draw attention to himself, Duncan watched as Skeletor circled around Randor.

Coming to stand face to face with the King who had not lowered his weapons, Skeletor surprised Randor with his next words, "Come Randor, can't two brothers discuss who the rightful ruler of Eternia is without coming to blows?", as with a flick of his wrist he disarmed Randor sending the King's weapons flying across the room to land at Duncan's feet. Just as quickly, he threw both of his arms around Randor pulling him in for a hug. Unsure of Skeletor's next move, Randor held still his eyes going over to Duncan who had also stopped his struggles.

Within Skeletor's embrace, his head resting on the blue-skinned warlord's shoulder Randor demanded, "Let go of me, Skeletor!"

"Can't abide my nearness?", Skeletor asked. "You used to….", he teased.

Sucking in a breath, Randor attempted to lift his head from Skeletor's shoulder; however, he felt the evil sorcerer's hand grabbing him by the back of the head and pushing him back down. "I've missed this closeness, Randy", he heard Skeletor state mockingly.

"You are insane", Randor answered as he forcefully threw his head back and stepped away from Skeletor, to Duncan's relief. Diving toward Duncan, the King picked up his discarded weapons and quickly twirled to face Skeletor. Unwilling to engage in anymore foolishness with this madman, the King stated "We're here to retrieve Teela, skull-face", as he brought up his sword directly in line with Skeletor's jugular. Or where the King thought Skeletor's jugular should be.

"Ready to run through your own brother, are you?", Skeletor asked.

"You are not my brother and don't disregard my demand", the King spat. "Hand over Teela!"

"Ohhh, but I am." "Don't you recognize all the clues….?", Skeletor answered choosing only to address part of Randor's statement.

"My brother is dead", the King reminded Skeletor.

"I am very much alive, my dear Randor." "Transformed, but alive and I will finally sit on the Throne", Skeletor stated as he blasted Randor with fire from his glowing eye sockets.

Randor deflected the flame with his shield stepping back several steps protectively toward Duncan. 'Perhaps, I can use Skeletor's own magic to free Duncan', the King thought as he inched closer to his Man-At-Arms. Keeping his shield raised he asked, "What are you talking about?"

"I'm telling you that I am your brother…..I'm Keldor the true heir to the Throne of Eternia", Skeletor stated as he disrobed himself. Magically, he changed his appearance donning Randor's blue ceremonial royal gowns, his skeletal façade remaining intact.

Upon hearing those words, Randor and Duncan inhaled sharply. Without needing anymore explanations, their subconscious told them that Skeletor was telling the truth. Coming out of his reverie, Randor stated "Why?"

"Why?" "Shouldn't you be asking me, how?", Skeletor corrected.

Shaking his head King Randor spoke, "No." "Why did You, my own brother help Hordak kidnap my daughter?", he asked finally having a chance to get closure for the insurmountable years of pain his daughter's disappearance caused his family.

"That is simple", Skeletor stated as he examined his nails. "With her gone, I had one less obstacle to contend with." "It's interesting that Duncan protected the weaker of your twins", he continued.

"Adam is not weak!", Randor replied sticking up for his son.

"Your heir wouldn't be able to defend Eternia against the likes of me when I have Grayskull's powers", Skeletor replied.

"You will not gain access to Grayskull", Duncan stated finally joining the conversation.

"Who will stop me?", Skeletor asked as his body vanished only to reappear directly in front of Man-At-Arms. "Your beautiful pregnant daughter and the brat she is carrying, will get me inside…..she's on my team now", he informed them smugly.

"Teela will never allow you inside Grayskull!", Duncan yelled.

"Ohhh, no….". "That's where you are wrong, Phillip." "She will…", Skeletor continued as he flung his arms into the air calling forth his Havoc Staff. Gripping it tightly within his grasp, he pointed the ram's head toward Randor. Blasting him, Randor went flying backwards across the room. Skidding to a stop, the King of Eternia lay stunned on the carpeted floor. Raising his head, he watched as Skeletor made his slow victorious saunter, as he came to stand directly over him. Reaching behind him, Skeletor unsheathed a double-edged sword swinging it high over his head with one arm as he flung his Havoc Staff across the room with the other. "I like you on your knees, Randor….perhaps if you beg I'll spare your life", Skeletor roared as he placed a booted foot over Randor's back. Pushing down with all of his strength, Skeletor watched with unabashed glee as his brother's body lay sprawled flat on the floor.

Looking up at the tormented being he know knew was his older brother, King Randor stretched his hand out trying to grasp his sword. He will not die today, lying spread-eagle helpless at this evil demon's feet, representing a sacrilegious sacrifice toward a pagan deity.