A/N: I hope you and your families are safe and well. Please do take very good care of yourselves and others.
This is a long one. I felt this update contained important plot elements and its content needed to stay in one chapter. In this update I attempted to describe what it's like being *inside* a transformation ;). Please see my note at the end of this chapter concerning that.
Chapter 58
The three longtime friends sat in silence.
"So, my son and daughter escaped the Fright Zone with the help of your daughter's newfound sorcery?"
Man-At-Arms studied his features. "Yes and no, Sire."
The King and Queen exchanged confused glances.
"Adam's and Teela's powers have somehow converged to a point," Duncan began, attempting at clarification, "...to where although they retain their individual and unique abilities, once combined, the effect is exponential.
"They possess a portion of each other's natural gifts: my daughter's now enhanced physical strength and speed and ability to block telepathy while your son has waxed clairvoyant with the ability to direct sorcerous strikes. When the two join telepathically, the result is…," he trailed off fumbling a bit.
"What, Duncan?" Marlena asked, her brow furrowed.
His gaze met hers. "The result is Snake Mountain, Your Majesty."
The couple stared at him. "You're telling us our children were responsible for the Mountain's destruction, not the Sorceress?"
"Correct, Sire."
They gaped as Duncan shifted in his seat struggling to explain, he himself admittedly lacking full comprehension. "The resultant amalgamation; the supernatural sorcery of The Guardian mingled with the explosive strength of The Defender is a force beyond all reckoning, Your Majesties. Something not seen since the days of Greyskull and Veena."
The King's chambers descended into pensive silence.
Blinking and finally able to find the words, Randor replied, "And this all came about…how?"
Duncan pressed his lips together. "The kitchen romp, Sire."
Shocked, their mouths flew open.
"Well…the kitchen and subsequent encounters thereafter, Sire," he added, slightly uncomfortable.
"What you're saying is that after they made love, this is the outcome?" the Queen asked pointedly.
"Yes, My Queen."
Her hand went to her mouth as shocked, Randor glanced at her then back at Duncan.
"You mentioned that my son experienced trouble while emancipating my daughter," Randor asked, his arms folding across his chest. "Explain."
"He was brutally tortured—"
The King unfolded his arms as the Prince's parents gasped in horror. "What? How? Why?" they both demanded nearly taken by hysterics.
"From what I am told by my daughter, the Etherian Necromancer desired to have relations with the Prince in order to secure a power connection; similar to the one Teela and Adam share at this moment."
"Go on," the King urged with a frown, seething.
"The Prince's natural force of will necessitated the witch take drastic measures in order to break down his resolve with the intention of creating a more…malleable participant in this exchange of power, Sire."
"Dear God," Marlena whispered through her hand, tears collecting in her eyes.
Furious, Randor leaned forward. "What is his condition? And did she succeed in raping my boy?" he demanded, hot.
"No, Your Majesty," Duncan replied. "They escaped before the witch could do more harm. The Sorceress informs me that the Power Sword has healed his injuries. They were…extensive and near fatal."
The two sat together in stunned silence, each now holding the other's hand, processing what was just told to them. After a few moments, the King took a deep breath, his gaze trained on his friend.
"Where are Adam and Adora now?"
"It's last reported they made it safely out of the Fright Zone and were headed for Whispering Woods, My King."
"And Teela? What is her condition?"
"She's to be released in the morning, My Queen. She has no signs of neuroses and her vitals are good. It was determined that Anne's counter measures taken against Lord Skeletor's serums have succeeded. Her system is completely flushed of all foreign substances."
Squeezing each other's hand the couple breathed a collective sigh of relief. "The sooner this is all over with, the better," Randor huffed. "Then we can resolve the other unpleasant matter."
Duncan blinked in confusion. "Unpleasant matter, Sir?"
"Finding my son a new fiancée," he replied, his features wan.
Disappointed, Marlena pressed her lips together as Man-At-Arms lowered his chestnut gaze.
"Yes…yes of course," he replied, his features downcast.
-Midnight, The Rebellion Encampment -
"It's too much of a coincidence," Glimmer stated in her pajamas, her arms folded and pacing her quarters. "Adam and Cringer? He-Man and BattleCat?"
Reclining in bed, Hawk gave a yawn. "Does it really matter?"
She stopped, her violet gaze darting to him. "What do you mean?"
The former pirate shrugged. "As long as evil is vanquished, who gives a damn whether there's something shady going on surrounding their personas?"
She frowned. "But it's deceptive."
"What did Casta say," he offered, "He is honorable and truthful about his identity. He came to get his sister and help us trounce the Horde," he reasoned. "Let the man have his secrets," he said with a dismissive wave. "There must be a valid reason for them."
Glimmer chuckled a laugh. "You were the one who mistrusted him the most and now you're defending him?"
Hawk looked at her. "Yes, I gave him a hard time but look at all he's done," he replied. "I had to swallow my pride and finally face the evidence. He's earned my respect. His actions speak for themselves, Glimmer."
Pensive, the Princess pursed her lips.
The twins reached the edge of the Woods and the strewn metal body parts of the hapless Horde patrol from a few days ago.
A bit winded they bent over, palming their knees, their breathing returning to normal. Adam glanced about for any replacement patrols.
Straightening and with a final deep breath, Adora gave a crooked grin.
"Are you responsible for this?" she gestured about.
Sheepish, Adam replied, "Yes."
"Do you destroy everything you come into contact with, Brother?" she teased.
He grinned. "Yes but only in the name of justice." He glanced around, his features leveling. Adora caught the shift in demeanor.
"What is it?" she asked, concerned.
"I'm looking for Spirit."
"Spirit," Adora blinked absently, her features suddenly lifting in recollection. "You mean…my Spirit?"
"Yes."
"The Rebels didn't put him down?"
"No," Adam replied, his knowing gaze lingering. "It was Bow."
She frowned. "Who?"
"Lieutenant Lancelot Bow," he clarified. "Do you remember him?"
More confused blinking.
"The guy who tried to pass off squirrel to you as a delicacy—"
"Oh of course, yes," she paused. "He interceded on Spirit's behalf?" she asked, her brow knit.
"Yes."
Confused, she furrowed her brow. "Why would he do that?"
Adam grew a crooked grin. "He'll have to explain that to you," he hinted before turning and heading into the thick brush.
"Wait for me!" his sister whisper shouted as she jogged to catch up, the two disappearing among the Redwoods.
xx
They navigated the solitary darkness illuminated by only the crisp late autumn starry sky serenaded by the hooting of owls until—
"Did you hear that?" Adora whispered stopping in her tracks.
"Don't tell me you're afraid of the dark?" Adam whispered back.
Offended she frowned, her brother barely catching it in the moonless night. "Of course not," she hissed. "I thought I heard braying in the distance."
Adam scanned the area. "Then he's nearby. Why did he wander so far from the—?" He was cut off by her sudden gasp.
His ghostly white form emerging from behind the trees, Spirit trotted happily toward them, his head bouncing in greeting.
"Spirit!" Adora exclaimed as, like an excited child she ran to meet him, the two bounding toward one another, Adora embracing his neck as the stallion pranced in giddiness at the reunion. Adam folded his arms.
"Shout his name a little louder, Sis. We would want to get caught properly," he said sarcastically.
His sister shot him an exasperated glance over her shoulder as she continued to nuzzle her equine friend. "I am so glad to see you," she said, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I've missed you, my friend."
Spirit snorted his acknowledgement as Adam approached. He stroked the majestic horse's back.
"Thanks for waiting for us."
The horse gave a sharp nod, his mane flapping with his movements.
"Where's my backpack, buddy?"
+over there
The stallion motioned left with his head.
+i took it with me for safe keeping as i foraged for more food
His eyebrows flew up. "You mean you ate a week's worth of feed in only three days?"
+i'm a full grown stallion
+what do you expect?
Adam snorted a laugh as Adora, confused, furrowed her brow.
"It looks too much like you're actually holding a conversation with him."
Her brother took a deep breath. "Yeah, we'll get to that."
xxx
The newly reunited twins sat cross-legged as Adam searched his backpack. Finding what he was looking for, he handed it to his sister.
With a small smile, she accepted the canister of food along with a plastic spoon. "Thank you."
Adam glanced a smile as he took one out for himself, Spirit behind them crunching on a small patch of dried grass.
Opening the aluminum tops they dug in eating in reflective silence, looking at the stars.
"So…you came for me. Even braving the threat of torture."
Her brother looked at her. "Of course."
Overwhelmed, she stared at him, he offering a reassuring wink.
After a few quiet moments she asked, "Please tell me about Mother and Father."
He gave a small smile. Putting the meal down he turned to her. "Kind, loving, thoughtful people," he began. "They're generous with their love and resources. They're patient, gentle, and have a healthy sense of humor." He bent forward to retrieve his canister then stopped. "Sometimes Dad can get on your nerves, though." Reaching it, he continued with dinner.
Riveted at the descriptions, Adora coughed a laugh. "What do they look like?"
Squinting in thought, Adam pursed his lips. "I'm a dead ringer for Dad as you are for Mom," he explained. "The main differences are eye and hair color. Dad has hazel eyes and brown hair, Mom hazel-blue and auburn."
She nodded taking another bite of food. "Go on," she coaxed, chewing.
Adam looked at her. "Mom…is from another planet."
Adora stopped chewing and swallowed. "You're kidding."
"No."
"Where?"
"She's from Earth."
Adora crinkled her nose in confusion. "Did you say Urtt?"
He snorted a laugh. "What is it about my accent that nobody understands E.A.R.T.H.?"
"Ohh, Earth! Where is it located? In this galaxy?"
"No, it's part of the Milky Way. Eternia is part of Andromeda."
"I don't think I knew that," she replied. "Horde education being thorough and unbiased it's shocking that I could be ignorant of a non-Horde controlled galaxy," she joked.
The two shared a quiet laugh before settling down, their gazes lingering. Adam picked at his canister, Adora narrowing her gaze in recollection.
"Shadow Weaver said something in there…," she began.
Straightening, Adam shifted an expectant gaze toward her.
"She addressed you as…My Prince," she said. "Was that sarcasm?"
He took a deep breath and cleared his throat. "Our parents, Adora, are the King and Queen of The Three Realms."
As the meaning of those words hit her, her eyes slowly grew wide in disbelief. "Wh-what?"
"They are King and Queen," he repeated, his eyes on hers.
"So, you're…The Heir?"
He nodded. "And so are you."
Shocked, she dropped the half-eaten canister on the ground.
"WHAT?"
"I'm the Crown Prince of Eternia," he stated casually.
Stunned, she stared at him open mouthed.
"You are Princess Adora Ranae Anastasia Miro, Second Born Heir to the High Throne of Eternia, Sis."
Silent her eyes got wider, Adam growing an amused lopsided grin. She finally blinked conscious.
"Do you have nine names, too?" she asked sarcastically.
"Pretty much," he snorted a laugh.
"What's your full name?"
"Adam Evindor Stephen Miro."
Adora frowned in confusion. "By Horde World who are all those people?"
Her brother coughed a laugh. "They're our grandparents."
"The Miro too?"
"No, that's our surname," he replied. "The current ruling family is descended from The Royal House Of Miro. Our recorded ancestry originates from The Ancient House Of Greyskull."
More ogling. Adam lifted a brow.
"How many years does our ancestry go back?"
"Six thousand—"
"Hera, are you kidding me?" she broke in, her hand going to her forehead in disbelief.
"Not really no."
Her hand slipped down over her mouth as they both stared at each other for a few beats. Straightening, she took her hand away.
"That's too much to comprehend right now, Adam," she confessed. "Just tell me what our parents' names are."
He gave a small empathetic smile. "I know how you feel."
Adora knit her brow.
"Randor and Marlena," he replied.
She took a deep breath. "Randor. Marlena. Got it." She picked up her toppled canister and continued with dinner. Adam looked at her.
"Do you want a replacement?"
Her eyes flew up to his. "No. Why?"
He gestured, "Well…you dropped yours. I think there's a couple of blades of dried grass in it now," he remarked amused.
Adora frowned at it. Picking out the grass she patted her leg. "It's fine. A few traces of fiber won't hurt."
Highly amused, Adam pressed his lips together stifling a laugh. "The ascetic way of life, I see."
She glanced at him. "We waste nothing."
"Neither do we but we draw the line at grass," he joked straight faced.
Adora squinted at him.
"You're laughing at me."
"I wouldn't dare," he quipped.
Staring, they broke into full grins.
xxx
-An Hour Later -
After a bit more teasing about MREs they'd finished up their modest dinners, the temperature noticeably dropping. Adora shivered.
"Here," he said standing and pulling a thermal blanket from his pack.
She frowned at him. "But what about you?"
"I'm fine." He handed it to her as she, thanking him, wrapped it around her shoulders. He sat back down, his eyes on her.
"Try and get some rest, Sis," he suggested. "We've got work to do in the morning."
"Like what?" she asked, intrigued.
"You'll see."
Wary but harboring an excited curiosity, she eyed him. "Okay," she drew out as she lie on her side making herself comfortable on a patch of dried grass.
"Good night, Adam."
"Good night, Adora."
She watched as her big brother stood and, pulling another blanket from his pack he draped it over Spirit who had fallen asleep standing nearby. Returning, he lie down opposite her.
"Thank you," she whispered, cuddled in his warm blanket.
He smiled.
-Morning, Palace Infirmary, Eternia -
As they handed her the discharge papers, Sergeant Durizimen thanked them at the nurse's station and headed back to her best friend's chambers; the King, Queen, Man-At-Arms and Orko already having visited her earlier this morning.
She walked in on Teela lacing up her military jack boots. Gada watched from the doorway.
"So. Do you want to talk about what I saw a few days ago?"
Teela stopped, her gaze snapping up to her. "What are you referring to?" she asked innocently.
With a sigh, Gada rolled her eyes and walked in closing the door securely behind her. She sat down.
"This place has more secrets than the local brothel."
The Redhead's eyebrows flew up. "Brothel? Eternos has a brothel?"
Gada narrowed her gaze. "You can't be that naïve."
Teela frowned. "I thought His Majesty found out about it and shut it down years ago?"
"He did but they went underground—" she waved a dismissive hand, "Never mind that my friend. Enough with the distraction."
Teela gave a sneaky grin, Gada's eyes going wide in realization. Squinting, she shook a finger.
"You are good."
Resigned, the Captain sat up in her seat. "So you want to know about the sorcery."
"Yes."
She gave a deep sigh. "I'm not even clear on what's going on but Castle Greyskull has apparently bestowed upon me a share of its powers," she quietly explained as to not be overheard. "For what reason, I'm not sure outside of helping Adam getting his sister back. Maybe it's temporary and only for that purpose, I don't know."
The Sergeant's mouth fell open. "Has anyone explained it to you?"
"Of course not!" she said with an exasperated wave. "Which is incredibly irritating by the way." She stood, her friend following.
"Who else knows?"
"Daddy of course. The Sorceress, and…Adam," she listed, her lips pursed in annoyance.
Her friend's eyes widened. "Your boyfriend knows and is keeping it from you?" she asked incredulous. "That's scandalous."
"Yes," Teela folded her arms. "He alluded to it but clammed up when I pressed him so that tells me he knows." She blew out an exasperated breath. "When he returns I'm going to have to beat it out of him, I guess," she joked.
"Or sex it out of him perhaps," Gada offered soberly.
Surprised, Teela's head snapped to her, Gada shrugging in defense.
"Why not? Women do it all the time!"
Teela tapped an index finger to her lips in pensive rumination. "I don't think I could ever do that to him," she thought out loud. "Plus Adam's the type to detect that kind of stuff in a second."
"Just wait until you're married for a couple of decades. I've heard it's easier; no harm done and the husband secretly enjoys it," Gada winked.
Her friend shook her head. "Umm NO."
The ladies chuckled as they left the infirmary and headed for a late breakfast.
-Whispering Woods, Etheria -
Dawn broke, the morning sun peeking through the tall pines as birds chirped their daybreak song, the twins lying opposite one another sound asleep.
Awakening from slumber, Spirit shook his mane taking a small step backward, snapping a small twig.
Immediately, Brother and Sister awakened with a start shooting straight up in their makeshift pallets, their heads whipping to the sound, Adam with a hand over his shoulder resting on the hilt of his Weapon.
Realizing it wasn't a threat, the two exchanged knowing glances.
"Old habits die hard I suppose," Adam stated sheepishly, punctuating it with a yawn and a stretch.
Chuckling, Adora did the same. "They most certainly do."
"You hungry?" he asked.
She gave a smile and a nod.
Leaning over, he took the backpack and handed it to her. "Help yourself."
"Thanks," she pulled out a pouch of granola and handed one to him before taking one for herself.
Sitting quietly, they munched in silence as they took time to take in the hauntingly beautiful surroundings, to listen to the sounds of nature echoing around them.
Scanning the area, Adam leaned over and took two small bottled waters out, setting one beside her. She nodded her thanks.
Finishing up they placed the empty pouches in a linen refuse bag.
As they settled, she looked at him.
"So what's on the schedule for today?"
He reached behind his back.
"This."
She watched as he pulled out his sword and laid it between them.
"Power," he stated.
He then agilely pulled out its twin.
"Protection."
Her curious blue gaze going round, she stared at the majestic broad blade weapons, the fine steel gleaming in the sunlight, the synchronized vibrating pulse resonating within her as each gave off a mesmerizing ethereal glow.
The swords seemed identical with one small difference: one carried what appeared to be a jewel affixed above the hilt at its center.
"You have two, Adam?" she asked astonished.
Adora…
The wraithlike voice made her flinch, a hand going to her heart. Adam gave a knowing nod.
"It's been calling you, hasn't it?"
She frowned, baffled.
"What—who?"
He tilted his head. "Have you heard this voice before?"
Shocked that he knew, she replied, "Yes. A few times. But I don't know who or what it is," she confessed worriedly, her thoughts anxiously hoping it's not a Weaver trap.
He cradled the bejeweled sword with both hands palms up, presenting it to her.
"If you decide to accept your appointment, this will be your constant companion, Adora."
Confused at his words, she gazed down at it.
"This is the Sword Of Protection and it belongs to you, Sister," he explained quietly.
Her eyes flew up to his. "What? I've never owned a sword! I'm not sure I've ever even held one until last night—"
Adora…
She gasped, her eyes darting back down to it. "What does it want?"
Adam gave a small smile. "She wants you to take her."
Her eyes studying the intimidating weapon, she reached out a trembling left hand and grasped the hilt.
Flinching, she felt a warm comforting heat surge through her arm and shoot through her body at first touch, feeling the heaviness of it; weighty but easy to handle, Adam folding his arms across his chest as he watched her. Their eyes met.
"You're left-handed," he stated with a grin. "I noticed last night."
She nodded. "I am. And you're right-handed."
He gave a nod. "We're mirror opposites in some ways," he remarked.
"And alike in others," she finished.
He smiled a nod.
Adora's gaze went back to the sword which now happily pulsated in her grasp; the hilt in her left, the blade in her right. The longer she held it, the more she felt a connection…a sense of belonging.
She studied what appeared to be a diamond affixed at its center gleaming proudly. She turned to her brother.
"What the hell do I do with it? It looks too expensive for me to just carry around."
Adam couldn't stop smiling. I think maybe I love my sister.
"Do you recall Hordak's ramblings about The Twins of Two Worlds and the Keys to the Gift of Power?"
Her features darkened. "Yes. The obvious ravings of a lunatic," she spat.
"He's definitely a lunatic but about that he was correct," he replied.
Intrigued, her gaze bore into his, Spirit enjoying a morning graze behind them.
Adam shifted in his seat.
"This is going to sound fantastical," he warned. "I didn't believe it myself when I read about it as a boy."
"What?" she asked warily.
He narrowed his gaze. "Did Hordak or Shadow Weaver ever ask you about…Greyskull?"
Adora began to shake her head but stopped, recollection dawning. Her eyes shot to his.
"Yes! Several days ago." She thought for a moment. "Then last night you mentioned an Ancient House of Greyskull," she added confused.
Adam nodded. "Six thousand years ago our ancestor, King D'Vann Greyskull beat Horde Prime's ass and drove him off of Eternia…with only this," he gestured with his head to the Power Sword lying on the ground between them, a brilliant flicker of reflective light flashing down the magnificent blade.
Adora's mouth fell open, her eyes going back to him. "Your sword is that old?'
"Yes."
"And that's the only weapon he was furnished with…a sword?"
Another nod.
"I see. So that's how The Horde lost. But it doesn't make sense."
"Not on paper. Greyskull had troops of course," he explained, "But these two weapons are the Keys to the Gift of Power."
She frowned. "I don't understand. They're merely weapons of war."
Adam grasped the hilt of his sword. "Lift your sword and point it away from you."
She complied.
"Hold it tight, Sis."
Adora nodded, grasping the hilt with both hands.
Her twin gracefully crossed his steady blade with her trembling one, the heavy steel touching.
Galvanized, immediately the ground beneath them began to quake, birds suddenly fleeing from the branches above as the Weapons awakened; bolts of lightning flickering along the length of each blade, the surge of power vibrating in her hand and crawling up her arm as if powering up for—
Spooked, Spirit began to stir agitatedly as Adam quickly removed his blade, the ground tremors subsiding, the Weapon in her hands powering down as if lulling into standby mode.
"Hera," she whispered in awe. "What was that?"
He set his Sword back down between them.
"The creative power of The Omnipotent One infused within each blade," he explained, "Supreme energy which destroys, creates, and transforms."
His sister squinted in confusion.
"It's pretty much limitless power, difficult to harness," Adam admonished. "If you're not careful it can get away from you. It's capable of causing catastrophic damage on a galactic scale."
She swallowed hard. "Then, how does one ensure it doesn't go berserk and get out of control?"
"Its connection to the heart of the Wielder," he replied. "I suppose it—" he cut himself off, his features leveling in understanding.
"Adam?"
*"You make an affirmation after every Transformation do you not?"* the Sorceress' words rushed back to memory. *"That is your statement of belief, and it is a truthful account. Why do you think Greyskull trusts you with the Power Sword?"*
Worried, Adora leaned in. "Adam? What's wrong?"
Realization finally hitting him, he met her gaze. "Holy SHIT."
"What?" she frowned.
"The Keys…to the Gift…of Power…," he whispered to himself.
Silence.
"Explain before you creep me out, Brother," she insisted, her concerned gaze boring into his.
"Be transformed…by the renewing of your mind," he reflected quietly.
"Care to explain?" she asked.
Adam's gaze met hers. "The Sorceress is the Guardian of Castle Greyskull."
"Castle? Sorceress?"
He nodded. "Our ancestor's abode. To this day it stands in the East. The Sorceress is basically the antithesis of Shadow Weaver."
"I see."
"The Castle is a portal…more like a sentry post unlocking the universe's secrets…a dimensional gateway," he explained. "The Sorceress is the Guardian of that sentry. The Castle is where the Twin Swords were safely housed for thousands of years until its Wielders came forth...at the appointed time."
As she listened, Adora's pulse quickened.
Adam squinted in recollection, accessing his memory. "She asked me the same question on two separate occasions: 'Why do you think Greyskull trusts you with the Power Sword?' I couldn't answer it. Had no clue." He locked gazes with her. "I now know."
"Why?" she asked.
"Adora, think about what you and I have been through."
She stared at him.
"The physical, emotional, mental and for me, sexual abuse. The constant betrayal of trust and the abuse of power we endured…," he trailed off, his gaze shifting distant.
"Yes, Brother."
"The Key to unlocking the Gift of Power is…," he narrowed his gaze.
"What?"
"Shit." He turned to her. "It's forgiveness."
Adora blinked in confusion. "I don't understand."
"Forgiveness is release, healing…transformative," he explained in realization. "Once you make up your mind – holy fuckin' shit are you serious?" he said to himself, incredulous.
Just then, the Power Sword ramped up as if in agreement, synchronizing with his clarity.
Adora blinked at him.
I Have The Power…
"So apparently I've had power the entire time. Although I've had my less than stellar moments, He knew I wouldn't misuse it as a result of my abusive past. Being intimately acquainted with evil I'd never propogate it on anyone else."
He looked at her.
"Well damn," he grinned.
She stared at him. "That's an incredible epiphany," her gaze shifted down to her Weapon. "This is called…Protection?"
Adam studied her. "Yes."
Adora's gaze traveled the length of the magnificent sword. "Funny I would come into receipt of something called Protection when my entire life, my set of values were the exact opposite."
Silence. Her eyes met his.
"I lived a life of dishonor, Adam," she stated shamefully.
His gaze narrowed. "Are you sure about that?"
She knit her brow. "Well obviously."
He said nothing.
"I grew up Horde. I put many people's lives in danger. I'm directly responsible for some of their deaths. How is that protection? How any of that atrocious behavior would be considered honorable escapes me," she stated, her eyes shimmering with emotion.
"So you're saying you chose that life for yourself?" he asked.
"Yes I most certainly d—" she stopped, her eyes going distant.
Suddenly, memories came rushing back with crystal clarity:
As a toddler…
Pictures shown to her depicting someone hurting another, versus someone helping another.
She consistently choosing Help.
Weaver as a result levitating into her chambers...
Her young body wracked with pain as punishment.
Her body's accelerated healing.
More pictures.
More mind reform.
More painful reinforcement.
Her mind struggling under the spells.
Hordak and Weaver standing over her.
Confusion.
Floggings for protecting others instead of inflicting harm.
More mind reform.
More painful reinforcement.
The physician's labs…
Tests performed on her body to pilfer its natural accelerated healing qualities.
Lies…
Deceit…
Indoctrination…
Adam watched as her mind raced, her eyes darting left and right as if reading an imaginary script.
Suddenly Adora gasped, her tortured teary gaze meeting his.
"No! No I did not of my own free will choose evil–!"
Immediately, the Protection Sword charged with such force, the heat of it nearly singed the palms of her hands, the vibrations throbbing violently nearly rendering her arm numb.
The Power Sword reacted in kind, Adam reaching for the hilt as the Twin Swords spontaneously calibrated with their Wielders.
The ethereal weapons dying down, they looked at each other.
"The two most unlikely people entrusted with this shit," Adam stated incredulous.
Coming into new understanding, the beginnings of a restored peace and forgiveness settling over her Adora smiled.
"Who would believe it?" she asked with a wink.
Adora expressing a wish to serve under Greyskull, the next several hours found Adam providing basic instruction on swordplay and fencing.
Using long tree branches, as they sparred Adam ended up gently swatting Adora on the arm, leg, and back multiple times as his sister acclimated to the basics.
On a short break, winded she palmed her knees. "You're enjoying this a bit too much."
Perfectly composed, Adam smirked. "This hurts me more than it hurts you."
"Bullshit."
"Correct.
Adora's gaze narrowed irritatingly.
"Again!" Adam commanded.
xx
-Two Days Later -
Intelligent, a fast learner, and equipped with prior combat training Adora quickly picked up the moves; Adam a few times even having to concentrate on protecting his openings.
They completed their last spar of the evening, breaking until morning.
xxx
-Three Days Later -
As Spirit grazed nonchalantly nearby, the twins went head to head full-on force using heavier branches whittled and shaped by her brother to match the size and weight of each actual sword.
The two dodged, parried, and blocked with poise, each round ending in stalemate, the proud grin on the Prince's face widening. At the end of the last round, they stopped.
"Tomorrow we use the real thing," he stated.
Adora bit her lip.
xxx
-The Next Morning -
Standing opposite one another, focused, they each rolled the hilt of their Weapon in their hands.
"Don't hold back, okay Sis?"
Her confidence now built up, she quirked a brow.
"Who said anything about holding back?"
Adam grinned.
Each lifting their blades to their faces in salute, they began.
Lowering their weapons the two circled one another.
Adora exploding in forward attack, Adam blocked before switching offensive, the two trading shots, each blocking the other. Before long the two were engaged in a heated battle; dodging, parrying, blocking and thrusting, the heavy clanging of the blades echoing in the clearing of their makeshift camp.
With a forward aerial somersault Adora crossed swords over Adam's head before landing behind him swinging a cross-strike, he without turning blocking on the blind diagonal over his shoulder. With lightning speed rotating right he swung straight-arm horizontal, Adora sinking into a split evading the Power blade as it sliced through the air while simultaneously thrusting the point of the Protection blade forward, Adam flinging himself into an aerial somersault above her, her blade completely missing him.
Rolling onto her shoulders she forward flipped onto her feet and rotated left, the Protection blade coming down on the vertical axis, Adam snapping his right shoulder back before ducking under her follow up double scissor move, the two furiously crossing swords.
After three hours, neither finding an opening Adora thrust forward, the point of her blade whistling through the air in powerful offensive headed straight for Adam's face, he lifting his blade broadside between his eyes, point down, blocking the Protection's tip cold.
Shocked at the unbelievable move, Adora dropped her arms to her side, her jaw dropping as she gaped at him, their gazes locked, their breathing labored.
"Did you just…use your blade…as a shield?" she asked between breaths, wide-eyed.
"Tell me you're not going to stop in the middle of a fight…and ask questions," Adam shot back, sheathing the Sword and palming his knees catching his breath.
She stared wide-eyed.
The two broke into laughter.
After a few moments they settled down, Adam giving her a proud appraising look.
"I've been training for ten years; you for one week. All I could get was a few strands of your hair," he joked.
"Well I couldn't even come that close to you," she pointed out frustratingly. "I couldn't touch you at all."
More laughter.
"I've met my match," Adam said.
Adora beamed. "So have I."
-The Next Evening -
Brother and Sister finished up dinner. After cleaning up, they reclined on their pallets.
Adam looked at her.
"There's something you need to know about me," he stated, ominous.
Adora knit her brow. "That you're really a vampire and I'm one too," she said more like a statement.
Confused, he frowned. "A what? No!"
Silence as they grinned at each other.
"But," he tilted his head amusedly, "Funny you should mention transforming creatures," he snorted a laugh sitting up.
Eyeing him quietly, Adora sat up from her pallet. "It's not something weird and disgusting, is it?"
He blinked. "No."
"Okay."
"Wait…"
She shifted an expectant gaze to him.
"It involves furry loin cloths so yes, that could fall under the weird category."
She gaped at him.
"Or even disgusting," he mumbled.
She pursed her lips. "And I was just beginning to like you, too."
More chuckling.
Clearing his throat, he waxed sober, Adora following.
"I've been deemed…a Defender."
She looked at him.
"Explain."
As if slipping into a trance, her brother's gaze went distant for a quick moment. Blinking out of it, he met her gaze.
Reaching behind his shoulder, he pulled out the Protection Sword and handed it to her.
"I don't understand."
"Here on your planet, you have enemies such as Horde Prime, Hordak, Shadow Weaver," he began.
"Yes," she replied, studying him.
"On Eternia, our enemies are Skeletor, Evil-Lyn, Beastman, and several others who terrorize the Kingdom, their number one goal: power and control."
"I see," she said pensively.
"There's always a countermove," he explained, "A countermeasure to address the current threat."
She nodded.
"You and I are the countermove," he stated, his eyes pinned on hers.
Adora blinked at him.
Adam stared at her. "Tell me: how are we expected to combat high-level sorcery?"
"With much difficulty…and with much failure," she replied soberly.
Adam looked at her. "We will need assistance, correct?"
"Correct."
"Well…here is that assistance."
Adora watched confused as her brother, glancing right and left, reached behind his back and unsheathed the Power Sword.
Holding it aloft he commanded:
"By The Power Of Greyskull!"
She startled at the bizarre and ethereal echo to his voice as instantly, as if the Heavens themselves came down the violent torrent descended then froze, suspended in time, the atmosphere compressed as if both suddenly plunged underwater, his blond locks slowly undulating; he slowly dropping his chin locking gazes with her.
Standing, every step toward him dragging through the atmospheric density she joined him, the surrounding Woods dimmed, the two of them caught up together in the supernatural whirlwind as starry multi-colored luminescence revolved slowly about them, encasing the twins in its protective intergalactic womb.
At the resounding transonic boom, she followed her brother's gaze as he lifted his eyes back to the blade, Adora taking in above their heads what appeared to be every heavenly body and supernova in the universe opening in grand brilliance when suddenly off balance, she clung to him, the sound deafening as the two catapulted like a shooting comet through distant galaxies; guided by his aloft Power Sword, fiery stardust emanating from its tip.
She suddenly sensed the ground beneath her feet when, surrounded by a blinding flash of lightning, the ear-splitting thunderclap brought her wide gaze to lock with her brother's fiery sapphire ones.
The hilt in his right and grasping the blade in his left, he protectively lowered the Sword over them, the blade behind her back, the twins facing one another.
Glaring, his gaze bore into hers.
The suspension of time halting his movements, he took a slow, deep breath.
"I…Have…The POWER!" he commanded savagely, in ghostly slow motion, the density of the atmosphere slowing his movements, his booming echo now laced with ethereal supernatural strength.
Adora stumbled backward and out of the whirlwind hitting the quaking and rumbling ground beneath them as her brother stepped forward, no longer looking like her brother.
The whirlwind dying behind him, he stared down at her.
The man appeared to be in his mid-twenties with shoulder length deep golden blond locks and tanned brown skin, wearing a leather crisscross harness and the same symbol over his chest that's engraved upon the hilt of the Power Sword.
With gold wrist cuffs and matching gold belt he wore a fur-lined loin cloth and brown fur-trimmed suede boots. Sheathing the Sword behind his back he gave a lopsided smile at the look on his sister's face.
Silence.
"What the hell was that?" she demanded stunned and wide-eyed.
"One thing's for sure: Greyskull doesn't do anything half way," he quipped, his baritone resonating in her ears.
She frowned. "When I was in there with you, the entire time you looked like yourself. Now you look—"
"Weird," he finished for her.
She nodded. "Barbarous."
"Two reasons: a disguise to safeguard my identity and millennia ago King Greyskull looked like this, so…," he trailed off with a shrug.
Her eyes studied him. "Your hair is super long."
Surprised, he grabbed a lock. "It's normally not this length. I guess it's longer because my own hair grew a bit."
His sister's mouth hung open. Finally shutting it, she blinked.
"A disguise. So what's your pseudonym?"
"He-Man."
Where had she heard that name before—
Her eyes jumped in recollection. "In the dungeons Hordak interrogated me about you! Asked if I knew who you were. Said Weaver got your name from the Heavenlies."
Amused, He-Man's eyebrows flew up.
"So now they know."
Adora frowned. "This is going to happen to me?"
"Yes."
More silent staring.
"And it's painful the first time," he added.
She grimaced when–
"Adora."
Gasping, her gaze darted to the Protection Sword lying beside her.
He-Man watched as she picked it up, her eyes fixing on the diamond as an image materialized within.
She focused as the face of a woman surfaced, her emerald gaze piercing like a hawk.
"Welcome, Princess Adora," the woman greeted her, her voice soft and melodious. "Do you know who I am?"
She knit her brow. "The Sorceress I presume?"
The woman nodded.
Adora studied her appearance; the stunningly beautiful woman with kind bejeweled eyes wearing a falcon headdress stared back at her, her head suddenly tilting in amusement.
"I consider myself most fortunate to finally behold the face of The Protector."
Adora blinked in shock.
"For such a time as this, Young Princess, Greyskull has appointed The Defender and The Protector to answer the intergalactic call to aid. You have been deemed the Protector of Eternia," she stated. "Should you accept your appointment, Your Sword will combat evil and in time, your Empathy will bring comfort and healing to many; not just upon Eternia, but upon other worlds as well."
Confused, she glanced up at her cloaked brother who silently stared back. Her gaze went back to the jewel.
"How?"
"Follow your heart and you will know how," she instructed.
Silence.
"There is Honor in compassion…" the woman trailed off.
At that the image dissipated, the blade giving off a final glow before ebbing.
Adora glanced up at her brother, he offering a hand as she stood.
In the silence, they looked at each other.
"I suppose it's my turn," she stated with dread.
He nodded. "Brace yourself," he warned. "You've got some DNA sequencing ahead of you."
His sister pressed her lips together in a thin line.
"Come with me?"
He shook his head. "I'm sitting this one out, Sis."
Annoyed, her gaze narrowed.
Spirit brayed nervously as in preparation, He-Man took a few steps back.
"Knock yourself out."
"I just may knock you out, Brother."
"Try it," he shot back grinning.
After a quiet reflective moment, she was suddenly at a loss.
"You shouted something. What is it that I need to say?"
He shrugged. "I didn't know either. It just came to me."
The twins waxing serious, after a few minutes a stillness settled over the camp.
Centering herself, closing her eyes the former Force Captain took a deep breath.
"Greyskull. I…accept."
Suddenly the ground beneath her shook as, engulfed in a haze of stardust she cried out in pain, the Sword tumbling from her grasp and hitting the ground.
She fell hard on all fours, her brother folding his arms, his empathetic features pained watching over her.
The DNA resequencing taking place within her inter-special form she fell forward, her body convulsing as the pain seared through every cell of her being, connecting and reconnecting neurons; Greyskull pouring its power amassed over the last six millennia into her awaiting body.
Rendered unconscious, the whirlwind lifted her to her feet, starry rainbow luminescence surrounding her.
Her eyes suddenly popping open, straightening, she reached out her left hand, the Protection Sword immediately flying into her grasp.
The words hit her spirit as she hoisted the Sword in the air and in full command, shouted:
"For The Honor, Of Greyskull!"
Her ethereal battle cry echoing in the Heavenlies, immediately the torrent surged, gathering about her.
Gazing straight ahead, lightning cracked at the tip of her Sword accompanied by an enormous boom which ripped through the encampment, Spirit nervously braying as starbursts emanated from the Sword's tip and cascaded upon her, transforming her layer by layer from Force Captain Adora to an unknown woman in her mid-twenties.
He-Man's sapphire gaze narrowed.
Wearing a gold winglet headdress with a dazzling Ruby at its center and a choker around her graceful neck, the woman was now clad in a strapless ivory skirt overlaid in gold-plated winged body armor engraved with the Crimson Cross of Greyskull at its center. Cinched at the waist, the short skirt ended mid-thigh, her thigh-high gold-plated armored boots offering added protection. Fitted with gold wrist cuffs and a gold bangle around her left bicep she lowered her Weapon, her fiery sapphire gaze fixed on the Diamond at its center.
Caressing the blade, her low booming voice called out in completion:
"I Am…SHE-RA!"
The whirlwind behind her finally dissipating, Spirit brayed switching his hooves in excited agitation as she slowly and deliberately sheathed her Weapon behind her.
She-Ra stared at He-Man.
"Not bad," he remarked.
A/N: As an added layer, look up the soundtrack to the movie "1917" by composer Thomas Newman (my favorite) and listen to the track, "The Night Window". To me, that piece accompanies He-Man's transformation in this update perfectly.
