Chapter 54
Hands outstretched, King Randor struggled to gain a grip of the helm of his sword. His fingers lightly touching the metal, he tried to stretch his limb even more to grasp his weapon. Skeletor's booted foot pushing him down was cutting off his air supply. The High King of Eternia new that time was of the essence. Any second now, Skeletor would deal his death blow. Stealing a glance upwards he watched as the Lord of Destruction's blade came careening toward his head. Forgetting his sword and at the very last minute, Randor heaved his body sideways turning in towards Skeletor. His movements dislodged his brother's foot off his back. Attempting to roll away, he watched as Skeletor toppled over losing his balance falling toward him, but not before the sword sliced through the King's abdomen lodging itself in the soft tissue of his intestines.
"Arggggh", he yelled as pain shot through his system. Laying on the floor, he looked up into the unfeeling eyes of his brother who had quickly regained his footing. Feeling his blood seeping out of his body, Randor raised both arms to grasp Skeletor's blade to prevent him from pushing down on it and cutting his body in half. Randor knew that this was his end. If the sword cut through his spinal column, he knew he was a dead man. Weakened by the quick blood loss, the King of Eternia felt his insides being ripped apart, as his own brother slowly and menacingly pushed the sword through his body. Taking a deep breath he called out his wife's name. At least, he would die with her name on his lips. In the background, he could hear his best friend's frantic voice as he pleaded for Skeletor to spare his life. Closing his eyes, he prayed for a quick death and deliverance into his maker's hands.
What happened next occurred so quickly it was a blur for the King. Hearing a loud explosion, he suddenly felt additional weight upon the sword transpiercing his midsection. Opening his eyes, he saw that Skeletor was impaled on the other end of his own sword. Due to his position as he fell, Skeletor's blade entered his body further up on his body than where Randor was impaled. The sword's blade entered and exited the evil warlord's body right through his heart. His blood quickly seeped down the length of the sword. As the first drop of Skeletor's blood dripped onto Randor's chest, the King saw his brother take his last breath.
The threat to his life over, Randor turned his head to gaze at Duncan. He saw that his friend had come loose from his rocked prison. Apparently, it was Duncan's cannon blast that saved his life. Facing his dead brother's body once again, Randor took a deep breath before closing his eyes.
Duncan thanked the Ancients that he was able to maneuver his arm cannon across his chest to send of a blast. He had meant to blast himself out of the rock wall and then go help Randor. He didn't know that his blast would knock Skeletor into his own sword. Duncan stared unbelievably at Skeletor's dead body hanging precariously over Randor's impaled form.
Running to his King, Duncan checked him for signs of life. He dreadfully hoped that his actions did not just kill the High King of Eternia. Placing his fingers along the King's neck, Duncan felt the weak pumping of blood within his veins. Looking up, he took in the gruesome visage on Skeletor's dead skull. As he continued to look upon the dead Overlord of Destruction, Duncan was shocked when Skeletor's skull began to transform. Ever so slowly sinews, muscles, and then finally skin covered the faceless skull. Amazingly, Keldor's face replaced the cold hard bone of Skeletor's façade. Reaching up, Duncan's fingers found the exiled prince's jugular feeling for any signs of life. Finding none, Duncan stood up and pulled the lifeless body of the sword.
Worriedly, he returned his attention to his King. He debated if he should pull the sword out. Deciding against it, he used his communicator to contact the Palace infirmary requesting medical assistance. Giving their exact location, Duncan sat back on his hunches as he perused his King's unmoving body. Duncan knew that he had to do something to staunch the rivulets of blood seeping out off Randor's wound. As the Man-At-Arms wondered what to use, his gaze fell on Skeletor's discarded cape. Running to it, he quickly gathered the garment in his arms and returned to the King's side.
Using a pocket knife, Duncan quickly ripped the cloak into shreds before stacking them around the bleeding wound. Pressing down, he hoped his actions would prevent the King from bleeding to death. Unfortunately, Duncan soon saw black curdled blood begin to dribble out of Randor's parted lips. He knew that King had moments left to live.
Desperately, Duncan made a telepathic connection with the Sorceress. Watching as Randor began struggling for breath he informed Grayskull's Guardian that the King of Eternia was mortally wounded. The Sorceress opened a portal telling her husband to carry the King's body through it and into the Palace's infirmary. He asked that she send He-Man back to the Palace because his father would need him by his side.
Cradling the King's body protectively against his chest, Philip Duncan carried him through the portal. With the near death King in his arms, Duncan didn't spare a thought on his missing daughter, who he believed was somewhere in the Vine Jungle. His one thought was to save the King.
As he left the cold barren salon of Snake Mountain he did not see the small glowing red light blinking on and off on the floor, emitting a light beeping sound.
As soon as Duncan disappeared through the portal, Evil-Lynn allowed her magic to dissipate, her body once again taking on her three dimensional form. With tears in her eyes, she bend down to run her hands over Keldor's face closing his eyes forever.
She couldn't believe that her Master was dead. Sitting on the floor, she stared around her unsure what to do. Sarcastically, she snickered to herself thinking that this time she would be the one to really bury Keldor's body. With that thought came the realization that her hopes and dreams of being Queen would never come to fruition. Resigned to her fate, she accepted responsibility for all the pain and destruction she helped bring about Eternia.
At this point, all Evil-Lynn wanted to do was return home to Zalesia. Knowing she couldn't depart the magical fortress yet, Evil-Lynn stood up to gather the varying magical totems she knew Skeletor kept within this room. As she made her way around the room, Evil-Lynn became aware of a faint sound. Looking around her, her eyes landed on the blinking light emanating from a cylindrical object laying on the floor.
Walking to it, she bend down to retrieve it. Bringing the object to eye level, quick realization took over that she was holding a detonator. She saw that there was only a few minutes left upon the timer before the bomb would explode. Using her magic, she located the massive bomb embedded within the snake's head.
Apparently, the King must have been carrying the detonator and it fell off him when Skeletor's blast sent Randor to the floor. Throwing the detonator away from her, she covered her head with her arms as she ran down the fortress's stairs leading to the lower level dungeons. Before reaching the level Teela was on, she felt the first ricocheting shocks as the bomb detonated causing rocks to rain down all around her. Knowing that she wouldn't live through the explosion, she used her magic to teleport inside of Teela's cell.
Through the darkness she saw Teela crouched in a corner her hands under her legs pulling her limbs toward her chest. Unaware that Teela was in the throes of labor, she called for her as she extended her hand toward her. Seeing that Teela was unresponsive, the white-haired mage walked closer to her, as the captain's cries of pain grew louder.
Coming to stand over her, Evil-Lynn took in Teela's sweat soaked forehead and facial grimacing. Whatever was happening to Teela, it was apparent to Evil-Lynn it was causing excruciating pain. As another explosion rocked Snake Mountain, Evil-Lynn knew she had to get Teela out now before they both died. Without stopping to further ponder what was causing Teela's pain, the purple-garbed sorceress reached beneath Teela's body, easily lifting her off the floor.
With her mind, she brought forth her scepter. Holding Teela safely within her arms, she uttered a teleportation spell. Evil-Lynn knew where she had to go. She just wished that the person she was about to visit would welcome her and not kill her on the spot.
Sitting in the pilot's seat with her eyes closed, Marlena waited patiently to receive a progress report from Randor and Duncan. Two hours had passed since she released the MOB. Two harrowing hours that she waited for her husband's call to retrieve him out of the evil fortress. Darkness fell and yet no signal came through.
Opening her eyes she looked out of the windshield, to a scene beyond her imagination. Abruptly jumping forward, she clutched the steering wheel. Through her windshield she saw the destruction of Snake Mountain as the bomb detonated. She watched as pieces of the fortress were thrown into the air before they came raining back down. She took in the fires raging over the land as the lava that flowed around the base of the fortress was pummeled by the falling debris.
She quickly decided to exit her spaceship wanting to be on the ground to look for her husband and friend. Exiting the ship, Marlena removed her helmet as she gazed around her. She couldn't see any sign of her loved ones. Taking a few steps forward, she felt Orko materialize next to her.
"Where are they?", he asked nervously.
"I don't know Orko", she stated as she started running toward the slowly disintegrating fortress. Before running more than a few feet, she came to an abrupt stop as the ground beneath her shook. Looking up, she saw the entire snake head topple to the ground effectively sealing off any of the stronghold's entrances.
With dread, she realized that Randor and Duncan didn't make it out. In the next breath, she watched as a void opened up beneath Snake Mountain as the entire structure came tumbling down. Covering her face, tears began to fall with the knowledge that she was unable to save them.
A steely reserve settling over her features, the Queen of Eternia returned to her ship. In her heart she knew that she couldn't yet mourn the loss of lives that today's destruction brought about. She had to return to the Palace as the only remaining half of the current Sovereign.
Marlena flew her space ship back toward the Palace. Landing, she opened the latch and quickly jumped out. For some unknown reason she ran towards the infirmary. Entering it, she came to a stop in front of one of the exam rooms. She saw Duncan standing over the comatose form of her husband.
Happiness that they both didn't perish settled in her heart. Pushing open the glass door, Queen Marlena walked into the room. Her gaze took in the healers and their assistants as they prepared the King for surgery. That meant that her husband lived, didn't it?
Looking down, she took in her loved one's deathly white face. Her gaze traveled down his chest coming to stop at the sword impaling him in the midsection. King Randor's armor was covered in all the blood he lost. Before, she could press a kiss upon his brow she heard the head healer ushering her and Duncan out of the room.
Receiving her husband's thoughts within her mind, the Sorceress of Grayskull turned to face her Champion. She watched as he took in her countenance, his smile quickly dissipating to match her forlorn expression.
"Adam, your father has been fatally wounded", she informed him quickly not wanting to spare precious time. "You must return to the Palace immediately."
"My father….", he whispered.
"Yes, Adam." "Go, now!", she demanded. "Eternia needs you."
"What about Teela?", he asked hesitant to leave the Sorceress alone.
"I don't know anything more regarding Teela." "Adam you are your father's heir, you must be by his side at this time", the Sorceress advised him. "I know you are worried about my daughter and Grayskull, but this time your royal duties take precedence." "You know well enough that if your father doesn't make it, you'll be crowned King immediately."
Her words shocking him to the core because of their severity, He-Man nodded to her. His heart was split in two. He wanted to be by his father's side who may be dying; however, he also needed to be here for Teela.
Seeing his hesitancy the Sorceress stated, "Family and your kingdom comes first Adam, Teela will understand", as she opened a portal for him.
Knowing that her words were true as Teela always put the kingdom first, He-Man returned to the Palace to a scene out of his worst nightmare.
Coming out of the portal, He-Man found himself in the infirmary. Stopping a healer he asked what room his father was in. Getting the directions, he sprinted toward the location he was given. He arrived there just as his mother and Duncan were ushered out of the waiting room.
Running to her, he embraced the Queen within his strong arms. Turning to Duncan he asked, "What happened?"
Shaken Duncan reported, "Skeletor and he fought." "I blasted Skeletor killing him, Adam."
The Prince felt no jubilation at Duncan's news. All he could do was stare at the healers as they moved his father's body onto a gurney before wheeling him into an operating room. Grabbing hold of his mother's hand, he leaned down to her to whisper, "He's strong mother." "He'll make it through."
"I know Adam, I know." "I just wish Adora was here too", the Queen uttered.
As if a fairy-godmother heard and answered her prayer, Marlena heard the running footsteps of the Princess of Eternia as she came barreling around the corner.
"Mother, Light Hope informed me father was injured", stated the winded Princess. "What happened?"
With all three royals clasping arms, they proceeded to sit in the waiting chairs to let Duncan relate what occurred. Duncan shared everything that took place within Snake Mountain. The twins were flabbergasted when he revealed to them that Skeletor was in fact their long presumed dead uncle. Marlena filled them in on what she had witnessed from her space ship. Duncan was speechless after he related that the bomb must have detonated by accident.
Upon hearing the events, He-Man asked "Where was Teela?"
"We didn't find her Adam." "After your father was injured, I brought him immediately here." "Skeletor had shown me a vision that she was in the Vine Jungle in a lot of pain", Duncan answered.
Standing up, the Prince stated that he would go search for her. Also standing to come face to face with him, Duncan stated "No Adam." "Your duty is to your father…."; however, before completing his sentence He-Man interrupted his mentor stating, "I have to find her, she is carrying my child."
Speaking up Adora shared her thoughts, "Duncan is right Adam." "You have to stay here, as do I."
Turning around to argue his point Adam was once again interrupted but this time by his mother, "Adam, we'll send Moss Man." "If Teela is in the Vine Jungle he is most fit for the job, you must stay", she pleaded as she took hold of his hand.
Looking at Duncan, He-Man asked "What about you, are you returning to Grayskull?"
Shaking his head the man-at-arms answered, "Not now." "If Moss Man has any news, then I'll return to Grayskull." In his haste to save the King's life, Duncan forgot about his own pain.
Resigned that his mentor knew best, He-Man transformed before sitting next to his mother. Worriedly, he clasped his face in his hands which rested on his knees. Mixed emotions ran through his system. He was worried about Teela. He was doubly worried about his father. Inwardly, he admitted that he was not ready to be King. Praying to his mother's God, Adam hoped that his father survived. Raising his head he saw Adora who was sitting across the room, studying him. Standing up he walked toward her. When he reached her, his twin also stood motioning for them take a walk.
Once outside, Adora turned and fell into his open embrace. "Oh Adam, what are we going to do?", she cried.
Swallowing his fears Adam answered, "What we always do." "We are resilient after all."
"I do hope Teela is alright", Adora stated.
"Me to, sis." "Me too", he answered lovingly.
"How in the world did dad and Duncan end up in Snake Mountain?", the princess asked as she was not aware of the circumstances that lead to her father's injuries.
Adam realized he was also unaware of those circumstances. To his sister he stated, "Let's go ask them."
Returning to the waiting room, they saw their mother and father's adviser deep in thought. Approaching them the twins waited to be acknowledged. When their mother looked up, they sat across from her and Duncan asking them to explain all that lead to their father's injury.
Wide-eyed they listened as Duncan related the mission to retrieve Teela and destroy Snake Mountain. Dumbfounded Adam asked, "So the three of you were going to kill Skeletor, something neither Adora nor I could do?"
"We had to do something to ensure he stopped hurting our family", Marlena stated defensively. "I'm sorry our actions lead to us coming back empty handed and your father gravely injured."
"You don't have to apologize for that, Mom", Adora stated.
Nodding her thanks the Queen of Eternia lowered her eyes. Although her children were not blaming her for their father's fate, she did feel responsible.
Realizing that she had to uplift everyone's mood Adora stated, "I have news from Etheria."
Turning to face her daughter, Marlena smiled at her to encourage her to continue. "Hordak is trapped in Despondos with Shadow Weaver", Adora stated sadly. "Etheria is free, my job there is complete." Then in a whisper she stated, "Hordak knows my secret."
No one who heard this announcement knew how to react. Adam was the first to reach out for his sister's hand. Taking hold of it, he covered it with both of his larger ones. "I'm so sorry Adora." "I know you must have mixed emotions about this", he stated. Continuing he informed her, "Everyone on Eternia knows my secret too."
"You're right, I don't know how to feel about it." "He was a father figure to me for so long, but I know that the man in there struggling to stay alive is my father, so I have consolation in that", she answered.
"We are here for you, my heart", her mother stated tenderly.
"I know", the princess answered with a smile.
With these news shared, the three royals and their closest family friend quieted down each becoming retrospective in their own minds with their personal problems. After a while, Duncan stood informing them of his own need to see a healer. Having his ribs wrapped in bandages, he returned to the lobby to await news of his King.
