A/N: Thanks again for your readership and reviews. It's now up to 55 chapters...should I perhaps write a sequel?

Chapter 55

"Teela!"

The uncharacteristically panicked tone in her father's voice made her whirl around.

"Daddy?"

His expression one of relief, rushing to her he threw his arms around her, she clinging gratefully to his embrace.

They pulled back, Duncan holding her shoulders at arm's length as the others approached. "Daughter. I'm so glad. You're…alive," he stated haltingly, his teary chestnut gaze studying her features.

Confused, she blinked. "Of course."

Mekenek coughed a laugh at the unintended bravado as the rest of The Masters drew near, Major Hall tagging along.

"Captain!"

Her father stepping back, she craned her neck. "Didimus—"

Bounding forward, he stumbled over pulling her into an awkward embrace, Teela frozen, stunned. As if realizing the impropriety, he suddenly released her and stepped back.

"You're okay!"

Her emerald gaze narrowed, she eyed him. "Uh…yeah," she drew out warily.

"What in all of Heaven's angels happened in there, Lassie?" Stratos asked worriedly.

Opening her mouth to reply she closed it.

How would she explain suddenly possessing sorcerous powers? When it first appeared at Greyskull, thankfully none of her comrades had caught it; all of them having been preoccupied fighting against Skeletor's henchmen, too busy to notice. And how would she explain her telepathic connection with the Crown Prince Of Eternia—?

A memory hit her. She clapped a hand to her cheek.

Oh no. The Palace. Gada saw me—

"The Sorceress informed me that Castle Greyskull leveled the structure after locking coordinates on my daughter's whereabouts," Duncan stated realizing Teela was at a loss for a viable explanation.

"Well that was some serious display of power," Sy-Klone remarked impressed, his hands going to his hips. "Even with my sonic F-5's I can't cause a structure as solid as this one to go down even half as fast."

Everyone present mumbled in acknowledgement, nodding their heads.

"Is Skeletor…dead?" Teela asked, wanting to steer the conversation away from the method of Snake Mountain's demise.

"We don't think so," Hall replied grim. "Commander Marcus' guys scanned the rubble. No bodies."

A heavy silence settled over the group.

"That's alright," Ram-Man stated. "We'll get 'em next time. Right fellas?"

More nodding and grunts of agreement.

Man-At-Arms placed a hand to his daughter's shoulder. "Let's get you to the infirmary and checked out, Captain." He turned to the others as they all began to disperse. "Major, tell the Commander we'll meet him back at the Sit Room at oh-nine hundred."

Turning, Hall began a half-nod, "Yes, Sir—" his eyes darted to the Redhead as suddenly lightheaded, Teela's eyes began to roll back, her knees buckling.

In two steps, Duncan and Hall reached out, catching her in time before she hit the ground.

"Medic!"


After ending his transmission, Adam had gotten to his feet from his lotus position.

*is she okay?

"Yes, Cringe."

His features suddenly leveling, the Prince silently finished packing, pulling the backpack onto his shoulders. The tiger eyed him.

*what are you thinking

Adam stopped and glanced down at the cat. "How in hell am I going to explain Cylvia?" he asked. "And for that matter, my almost blowing a whopper of a secret with Teela?" he asked irritatingly.

*which is?

He stared for a moment. "I'm not telling you."

*i won't speak a word

His friend smirked. "Sure, technically you won't," he mocked, "But you could share it with Spirit," he pointed out. "And since she can hear you, you could let it slip with Teela once we get home – oh hell no," he waved off shaking his head before heading for the tent's opening.

Annoyed, Cringer sprang to his feet and followed.

*oh come on Adam

"No. You obviously have never witnessed Teela's wrath," Adam threw over his shoulder.

*i'm her favorite

*she'd never take it out on me

He snorted. "Exactly. She'll take it out on me. And I don't feel like dying anytime soon," he replied as they both headed for the rendezvous point.

With her fingers holding back the fine silk curtains, Queen Castaspella watched from a distance through her bedchambers window as the young man and his pet bobcat emerged from the underground bunker heading out alone to catch up with the rest of the group.

With a sigh she dropped her arm, her gaze going to the marble floor as she turned and walked away.


I'm a monster. How could I ever look anyone in the eye after what I've done?

Despondent and shoulders slumped, Adora sat cross-legged on the cold dungeon floor in a lonely dank cell in the bowels of the Fright Zone.

For years I helped that vile swine break up families, incarcerate children, march slaves to a lifetime of miserable servitude, her mind lamented. I don't deserve a reunion with my family.

Adora…

Straightening, a shiver went up her spine.

"For the last time, who's there?" she demanded aloud, at her wit's end.

She heard footsteps.

"It's me, Child," Hordak's gravelly voice angrily barked from beyond the bars of her cell. She scrambled to her feet and whirled around.

He stopped, his crimson eye sockets glowing with anger peering through the iron. "What do you know of the one who calls himself He-Man?" he demanded harshly.

Adora knit her brow in confusion. "He who?"

Ignoring her question he continued with the interrogation. "Three days ago he stole my jets! All of them!" he explained, his voice rising in furious crescendo. "Weaver happened upon his name in the Heavenlies. He appeared on Etheria around the same time as your brother. Now I want to know: who is he?"

She angrily folded her arms. "Never heard of him."

Hordak's gaze narrowing suspiciously he eyed her, his hands clasping behind his back as he began to pace. "I've executed the men who allowed my jets to be stolen, hanged them all from their own trees, their bungling of protecting my assets the reason for their demise. I can do far worse to you if you don't—"

"Don't you mean, Horde Prime's assets?" she interrupted sharply.

He stopped, his head snapping to her. "Mine! My brother thinks he's Ruler of The Horde but I am boots on the ground!" he snapped arrogantly. "I am the Commander Supreme and without my genius, he'd be nothing!"

"Then where was your so called genius on Eternia six thousand years ago?" she taunted coolly, lifting a brow.

His sockets narrowed further. "Careful, Child, or I will forego my plan altogether and put you to death this instant," he hissed.

Silence as the two glared at one another.

Calming, he tried another approach. "Where is your brother?"

Adora held silent.

"I suppose he doesn't really care for you after all," he suggested with a snort. "I sent word out among the villagers of your capture weeks ago. Still no sign of him."

She pressed her lips together.

"She has alerted him somehow," Shadow Weaver hissed, materializing behind her Lord and Master. "She has warned him to stay away."

Hordak slowly turned to his former Charge. "Is that a fact?"

The Blonde felt a twinge of panic hit her gut. No, she had never reached out to her brother; she didn't know how without a communicator. She herself pondered why he had not come yet. Could it have been her emotions that he'd picked up on or—?

"So that is it," the witch latched on to the younger woman's worried thoughts. She levitated closer to the iron bars that separated them. "You two can reach one another telepathically."

Hiding the pang of fear which had now traveled upward from her stomach and lodged itself in her throat, Adora shook her head.

"Why, yes you can," the shrouded woman replied to the unspoken. "After My Lord's infiltration on Eternia...of course, why didn't I pick up on that?" Folding her arms she drew closer. "Something or someone is protecting you two…protecting your connection. Light Hope…?"

In the silence, the woman's arms fell to her sides in realization.

"Of course! Greyskull!"

"I don't know what that is," the former Force Captain stated calmly, her sapphire gaze volleying between the two demons she once considered family.

Weaver waved a dismissive bony hand. "It does not matter," her snake-like voice slithered up the Captain's spine causing an eerie chill, the witch taking up her position next to the Commander. Hordak's gaze bored into Adora's.

"I suppose it's time we hastened his arrival," he offered, his tone oddly optimistic, "Give him a little more incentive to pay us a visit."

Beneath the impassive exterior, Adora shook inwardly.

Hordak lifted a hand.


Safely back at Whispering Woods, The Great Rebellion which had now grown exponentially settled camp with a recovering Queen Angella carried on stretcher and deposited into her own tent, her attentive daughter hovering over her.

Now early afternoon, the group prepared lunch.

xx

A knock at the wooden pole got his attention.

"Come."

Luna Hawk sheepishly ducked through the tent's opening, sea-green eyes locking with sapphire blue. Adam immediately tensed, Hawk straightening and clasping his hands behind him.

"Yes, Lieutenant?"

The former pirate clenched his jaw in preparation to eat crow.

"I…I just want to say that I've seen what you've done for our Cause," he began. "Your only mission was your sister but instead, you stayed and trained our people. With the help of your friend you rescued Shakra and assisted in getting Glimmer's mother back," he said quietly, his gaze faltering, "All while your sister's fate remains uncertain. You didn't have to do that," he admitted.

Adam silently studied him.

"I'm…sorry for coming at you and for the things I said about your sister," he managed. "And…I'm sorry for what happened to you when you were younger. That's all," he abruptly turned to go when the Prince's voice stopped him.

"You guys didn't have to agree to shelter me or help rescue my sister either, but you did. It was a mutual agreement. And for that, I'm grateful."

Hawk turned around, their eyes locking. "I'll give you that. But you still didn't have to do all you did for us, Your Grace," he conceded. "Just look around. We've got food. We've got weapons. We've got friggin' jets!" he stated, his pale green eyes wide with pride. "We're now six hundred strong and growing. And thanks to you we know how to fight. Thank you," he stated before nodding and whirling around scuttling out of the tent.

A little shocked, Adam silently inclined his head.


Anna, the triage physician took the younger woman's vitals.

"What happened?" she asked, her staff busily buzzing around her as Hall anxiously looked on.

"She was captured by Skeletor," Duncan replied, his worried gaze dropping to his unconscious daughter on the gurney. "She was held for a day then escaped."

Just then, the King and Queen burst through the doors, Sergeant Durizimen closely behind.

"Report!" Randor barked, the Queen holding his arm as they rushed forward.

"Sire, we know very little at this time but what we do know is that after Snake Mountain went down, the Captain was conscious and alert," his friend replied, his gaze going back to the gurney. "Hall and I were talking with her when she suddenly lost consciousness."

"The puncture wounds…"

At the Sorceress' prompting, Man-At-Arms' eyes went wide, his gaze darting over to her left bicep. "Anna, look at this."

The woman's eyes went directly to Teela's arm followed by her gloved fingers examining the wound, the punctures evident. "She was drugged," she stated with a frown. She turned to the nurses.

"Prepare point four milligrams of naloxone. Administer every two to three minutes up to two milligrams or until efficacy achieved," she ordered as two nurses rushed to the medication and syringe cabinets.

"Wait!" Gada shouted anxiously.

All heads snapped to the young woman.

"It's possible she could be…," she trailed off.

"Yes, Sergeant?" the physician asked, her eyebrow quirked.

"Pregnant."

Everyone's mouths fell open, Anna trying desperately to hide her shock as a gasp was heard, a steel tray hitting the floor causing all eyes to dart in that direction. Sheepish, the nurse knelt down to retrieve it.

With the sound of only the beeping EKG in the room, everyone stared dumbfounded at each other.

"Give me the bloodwork!" the physician barked.

"Here!"

The nurse handing it to her, she quickly scanned the electronic document.

"I see no evidence of pregnancy," Anna pronounced, slightly annoyed. She turned to Man-At-Arms. "But there is always a slight chance." Her eyes went to the King. "With your permission Your Majesty. Do I proceed?"

All the blood had already drained from Hall's face as Duncan and Randor stared at one another.

Duncan nodded, the King turning to her. "Proceed."

Once again the triage chambers burst into a flurry of energy as they worked to stabilize the Captain.

Marlena, eyes wide and a bit annoyed slowly turned to the Sergeant, their eyes locking.

Awkward, Gada gave an apologetic smile and a shrug.


-Late Afternoon, Etheria -

The overall mood within the camp jovial over their recent victories, Adam and his bobcat didn't seem to join in, Bow had observed.

He watched as the man's melancholy gaze drifted to the ground, the green bobcat watching him. They both turned and disappeared into their tent.

Worried, Lancelot pursed his lips.

xxx

"Come."

Bow entered to find the Blond standing with his arms folded in the middle of the tent.

"What's wrong?"

Adam lifted a brow. "Wrong?"

"Yes."

"What makes you think—"

"What happened to your girlfriend? She's not…?" he trailed off, unable to form the words.

The Prince held his gaze. "No."

"Then what is it?"

Adam's lost gaze wandered before settling on a nearby chair, Cringer watching him intently. "She was okay earlier. Now she's…"

Bow's eyebrows flew up, waiting for him to complete his thought.

With a deep breath he centered himself, his gaze sharp returning back to the former Horde cadet.

"I think she's unconscious and I can't rouse her."

Concerned Bow blinked, his eyes going to the flooring. "Oh." A thought occurred, his eyes going back to him. "Is she still being held captive?"

"No."

"Then, is she back with her father?"

Adam searched, his brow knitting. "Yes."

"Well that's good, right?"

He blinked. "She's with my father, too. And my mother," Adam added confused.

"What's happening?"

"I'm not sure," the Prince replied.

"She could just be sleeping?" Bow suggested.

Adam's gaze returned. "Then why would my parents be there?"

"True," came the dejected reply.

Suddenly, the Eternian nearly lost his balance, Bow rushing forward and Cringer jumping to his feet as Adam found a chair and dropped heavily into it. His eyes wide and fixed, he stared blankly ahead, his features suddenly darkening.

"What?" Bow asked.

*Adam?

"My sister's in serious trouble," he replied quietly, grimly.

The cat yelped in fear as Bow gasped. "Well we gotta go then!"

Adam's slow and somber gaze looked up at him. "We?"

The younger man frowned. "No. No way you're going in there alone pal. I know the place. I used to be a cadet—"

The Prince abruptly stood and strode over to his backpack.

"No! You can't go alone. Commander Glimmer promised to help you, Adam!"

Holding his backpack, the taller man stopped and approached, his features oddly calm.

"She has already helped me, Bow." He put a hand on the other man's shoulder. "All of you have. I must do the rest alone."

He brushed past the auburn haired Lieutenant, Cringer on his heels as he stopped at the tent's entrance and turned back. "Tell no one. And…thank you."

At that, he left.

Bow nervously chewed his lip.

xx

*you can't go without me

"I'm sorry Cringe, but I must."

The two made it to the makeshift stable and a twitchy Spirit who neighed and trotted his anxiety.

+this is not good

"I know."

*wait, how do you know what's happening?

+not sure

"Cut the chatter, you two," Adam broke in, threading his arms through the pack's straps and pulling it over his shoulders. He knelt down and placed a hand on his friend's head.

"Cringe. I've got to walk the rest of this out alone. I want to thank you for your friendship over the years. I couldn't have made it through my childhood without you—"

The tiger looked pained.

*don't talk like that

*you'll be back with your sister

"In case I don't…in case we don't, this had to be said," Adam insisted, biting his lip.

His gaze tortured, leaning over he kissed the top of the tiger's head. "I love you, my friend."

*Adam!

At that, Adam opened the stall as Spirit trotted out. The Prince grabbed the majestic white stallion's mane and hopping, threw a leg over his back mounting him.

Cringer watched horrified, his golden gaze going to the horse's brown ones.

*you'd better take care of him or else

+i will

His eyes shimmering with unshed tears, Adam nodded at his dear friend as the two galloped off at top speed disappearing into the woods leaving Cringer alone.

*love you too my friend


It was now dusk, the sun had just slipped under the horizon, the Fright Zone looming ahead when Adam motioned for the horse to slow to a trot before finally stopping at the edge of the Woods.

Swinging a leg behind him he jumped off and, stroking the equine's back, he ran a hand through his mane.

"Now like we agreed, stay here until you're signaled," he whispered as he caressed Spirit's muzzle.

The horse jerked his head up and softly snorted his acknowledgement.

Pulling off the pack, Adam knelt down taking out two bags of feed, opening them and placing them on the ground. He straightened.

"We'll return as soon as we can," he reassured. "In the meantime, here's almost a week's worth of food. If this runs out, you can graze," he gestured. "The Woods won't allow you to go hungry, understood?"

+yes

"If we're not back in a week, you know your way back to camp."

+please bring her back

Adam pressed his lips together. "I will."

With Spirit switching his hooves in agitation, Adam quietly made his way from under the cover of the thick brush to see five robot guards patrolling the boundary.

Finding a smooth stone, he picked it up and chucked it at an angle, the stone ricocheting off of three of the robots.

They quickly turned weapons drawn and in the confusion, began firing at one another blowing each other to bits. With a shake of his head Adam rolled his eyes.

"Stupid," he breathed to himself as he stepped through the pile of metal and burnt coils and made his way to the Fright Zone…and to his baby sister.


Teela woke up with a start, her eyes popping open.

Slowly, her gaze wandered the room taking in its surroundings…and the six pairs of anxious eyes sitting around her bed.

"Daughter, how are you feeling?"

She frowned. "Okay," she drew out suspiciously. "Why are you guys staring at me?"

She heard someone clear their throat.

"And, you have nothing to tell us?" the Queen asked, her chin lowered, her eyebrows arched.

More confused frowning. "No."

"My dear, Anna checked and rechecked your bloodwork before starting your treatment," Randor began. "She didn't see anything out of the norm but Gada seems to think there was a possibility you could have been…you could be with…," lost, he glanced at Duncan.

"With child," Gada finished.

Her eyes going round, indignant Teela sat up and palmed the bed scooting against the headboard, her cheeks warming. "What?" she shouted. "I'm not pregnant!" she explained, her emerald gaze searching everyone's nervous ones.

"I'm glad you're feeling better, Teela!" a shaky Orko added to break the silence.

Hall seemed to have recovered. "You'd passed out while at the Dark Hemisphere," he stated. "We brought you here and noticed you'd suffered wounds from some sort of injection."

"And before Anna could administer the medication, they were required to first check whether you were carrying our grandchild or not," Randor finished bluntly.

Marlena slapped her husband's arm with the back of her hand.

"What?" he asked.

Teela's blush turned a bright crimson, her eyes shifting to Didimus for a millisecond, his brown gaze averting.

"I…I'm on birth control so no; I'm not pregnant."

"So the reading was accurate," Duncan stated.

His daughter rolled her eyes. "Yes!" she drew out, mortified to have this discussion in front of...well...everyone.

For a quick moment, Teela thought she saw disappointment in the Queen's hazel-blue gaze. "Okay. That's all we wanted to be sure of," Marlena stated, her free palm going in the air in mock surrender, the other in a sling.

The Captain turned a burning gaze to her friend whose eyes roamed the room in feigned innocence.


It was quiet. Eerily quiet.

Even the usual whirr of the generators had ceased. It was as if all of the troops had been relocated elsewhere to make way for the gory finale.

Adam crept along the darkened corridors knowing the trap awaited him.

His mind recalling the specs Glimmer had provided a month and a half ago, he made it down the long sterile gray halls venturing lower into the belly of the beast as the closer he came to his sister, the more unstable his emotions.

Focus, he thought to himself.

9TH LEVEL

Glancing at the sign he knew he was closer to hell more than any other time in his life, even including his years with Ernest and Pearle.

The atmosphere felt hopeless, the air stale and dank as he followed the circular metal steps lower…lower.

Then it hit him: the hairs stood up on the back of his neck before his features settled into a scowl, his eyes filled with fury.

Unconscious yet thankfully clothed, his little sister lie sprawled on her back, her arms and legs tied to a large circular quartz altar as if offered up for sacrifice.

Or bait.

He quickly moved closer and bent over her, gently brushing her blonde hair away from her face to see she'd been beaten; bruises to her jaw, her neck, her legs. Wondering whether she'd been drugged, cursing under his breath he began to untie her limbs.

Stirring, her eyes blinked open before darting up to him.

"Adam?" she whispered, her voice slightly hoarse.

"Yes. What did they do to you, Adora?"

Her sapphire gaze widened. "Go, Brother! Get out of here! It's a trap—"

Just then, her pleadings were cut off by the sound of snorting laughter echoing in the lower chamber. It was all Adam could do to stop from seeking it out and putting it out of its misery.

"So, young man, we meet again," it taunted from the darkness.

Ignoring it, Adam continued to untie his sister getting her free from her bonds.

"What are you doing?" she chastised him, angry. "Get the hell out of here. Now! They need us both so if one of us could get free—"

Another disembodied barrel laugh assaulted their hearing as Adam gently grasped her arms helping her up from the table, her body sore.

Grunting in pain she managed to straighten and stood next to him, she watching as his steely gaze slowly scanned the darkened room.

"Now my quest is complete," the gravelly voice snorted in triumph. "I own the Children of Two Worlds! The prophecy of the Keys to the Gift Of Power in my grasp!" he stated giddy as Adam put a protective arm out to his twin sister. He began backing up, Adora following his lead.

Suddenly Commander Hordak and his right hand woman, Shadow Weaver materialized before them joyous in their success, the twins continuing to back away. Hordak folded his arms.

"And just where do you think you're going?" he snorted as his crimson eye sockets studied the younger man, raking his eyes over his body. "My my. You certainly have grown to a man of impressive stature," he stated, a lilt in his voice. "A far cry from that eleven year old boy I met." He cocked his head to the side. "I am going to enjoy having you and your sister as my slaves," he hissed, Weaver looking on eagerly.

"Fuck you," Adam stated with quiet frustration.

Shocked, his sister's head whipped to him, her eyes darting around looking for an escape.

Hordak's fanged mouth fell open. "What…what did you just say to me?"

She turned to him. "You didn't hear my brother?" Adora asked. "He said fuck you—"

"I know what he said!" the Horde Commander screamed incensed.

"Then why did you—"

"Enough!" he shouted, cutting his former Charge off.

Amused at the Horde leader's short temper, the twins exchanged glances further enraging him, his ego bruised.

"So you think this is funny?" he asked, raising his right arm as it morphed into a cannon. "Get a load of this for laughs!" he shouted.

"My Lord—!" Weaver tried, lunging toward him as the cannon squeezed off a fireball headed straight…for Adora.

With lightning speed, Adam jumped in front of her, Adora lunging to push him out of the way as he reached behind his back lifting the Power Sword only halfway out of its scabbard. Twisting in mid-air he deflected the ammo off the Sword's broadside sending it sailing back at a gaping Hordak. Weaver reached out a hand barely in time blowing the ammo into bits as it shattered spraying shards of fire everywhere, Horde's Commander flinching and recoiling.

As the fire smoldered in the silence, shaken, Weaver and Hordak gawked at the twins who simply stood side by side glaring at the two.

"Like I said. Fuck you," Adam said calmly.

His temper off the rails, Hordak roared, "Put these two in the hold! NOW!"

Immediately, Catra and her men spilled into the fiery chambers roughly seizing brother and sister, Adam grabbing Adora's hand as they were shoved into a dark 10x10 cell.