She-Ra and The Princesses of Power, developed by Noelle Stevenson, is the property of DreamWorks and Mattel. I just like playing with their toys.
Skeletor stalked through the Royal Palace, scarlet glyphs snaking about his fingertips as broken shards of colored glass rearranged themselves into new formations. Stained windows that once depicted the past kings of Eternos now portrayed the Skeletor himself, tormenting fallen enemies or bestriding the cosmos like a dark god.
"Avion and Andreenos are still refusing to recognize the New Order," spoke Evil-Lyn, walking by Skeletor's side. "And I must say Lord Stratos' language was most unbecoming of a Head of... Are you even listening?"
"Grayskull," whispered Skeletor, almost to himself.
"Pardon?"
"Grayskull gnaws at my mind," answered Skeletor, tapping the side of his yellowed skull-mask. "Like an answer without a question."
"Grayskull is a myth, Skeletor," scoffed Evil-Lyn. "A folktale to frighten ignorant peasants."
"Duncan is many things but he's no ignorant peasant," hissed Skeletor. "If he sent the brats after Grayskull, then it must exist."
"Even if it does, what good would some haunted ruins in the middle of the woods do them?"
"What indeed?"
Evil-Lyn's lips twisted in a cruel smile. "Perhaps we should turn our attention to the upcoming... festivities?"
"By all means," cackled Skeletor wickedly. "Nothing like a mass execution to lift one's spirits."
[-]
Adora, Adam and Cringer crept furtively along a weathered walkway deep within Castle Grayskull. Adora brandished her energy sword like a torch, its glow more accentuating the darkness than illuminating it.
"Hello," called Adora. "Is anyone there?"
Nothing but cool silence answered.
"No, this isn't spooky at all," muttered Adam.
Cringer huddled behind the twins, whimpering fretfully as he backed into something. Behind him loomed a ghoulish stone face in the blue-pink light. The green tiger let out a screech of pure terror, leaping once again into Adam's arms.
"It's okay," reassured Adora, examining one of the eight pillar-like structures lining the walkway. "It's just a statue."
The stone figure was clad in strange crystal-like armor, a set of unmistakable glyphs inscribed on the statue's plinth.
"That's First Ones writing," whispered Adora.
"What's it say?" Adam asked.
"It says..." Adora's voice caught in her throat. "Serenia?"
Adora's eyes swept over the statues lining the ancient hall until they fell on carved features she needed no glyphs to recognize. "Mara?"
"What?" Adam asked, finally unloading a quaking Cringer.
"These statues, I think they're members of Mara's original rebellion," said Adora. "They're... Grayskull Squadron."
"Makes sense." Adam nodded. "Just one question... Who's Mara again?"
A golden light flickered in the corridor beyond, beckoning the twins ever deeper into the castle's bowels like an angler fish's lure. They exchanged an anxious glance before pressing onward, Cringer reluctantly slinking behind.
The trio came to a cavernous hall dominated by a cyclopean throne of the same green-grey stone as the rest of the castle, carved in the image of a glowering skull.
"Seriously, what is it with this planet and EAAGH!?" Adora yelped as a golden feathered falcon swooped past her head.
The falcon circled the throne, golden light enveloping it as it landed. A grim gaunt sorceress cloaked in a mantle of greying feathers rose from the light, face hidden under the shadow of a giant raptor's skull. Her thin talon-like fingers curled about a staff of shimmering crystal.
"Who are you?" intoned the Sorceress imperiously, glaring down on the trio like wayward field mice.
"Let me do the talking," whispered Adam, stepping forward. "Hey, Adam, Son of Randor, Prince of Eternos, absolute pleasure to-"
"I know who you are, boy," the Sorceress cut him off, pointing her staff at Adora. "I was talking to her."
"Oh um, I'm Adora, Daughter of Randor, Princess of Eternos, but you probably don't care about that either," flustered Adora under the Sorceress's withering gaze. "Here, this'll probably explain... For the Honor of Grayskull!"
Adora's energy sword blazed with prismatic light, transforming her once more into the Princess of Power.
The Sorceress's jaw clenched. "You... are She-Ra?"
"I know this is probably a surprise but-" Without warning, an energy blast sent She-Ra flying across the throne room. She lurched upright just as the Sorceress charged.
The Sorceress raised her crystal staff, mystic energy arcing along its length. "DIE, TYRANT!"
"Please, you've got the wrong idea," She-Ra pleaded, barely dodging as the Sorceress' strike left a scorched crater in the throne room's wall. "I'm not working for-"
"SILENCE!" snarled the Sorceress, unleashing another blast. "I'll die before allowing your masters to claim the Secret of Grayskull!"
Adam peered at the ensuing battle from behind a colossal stone pillar, Cringer quaking at his side. "Alright, Cringe, Adora needs us and I'm all outta tricks."
Cringer whimpered fearfully.
"Okay then," sighed Adam. "The direct approach."
The Sorceress loomed over a prone She-Ra like a raptor circling her prey. She raised her staff, readying the final blow.
"FOR ETERNIA!" Adam bellowed, charging forward with a trembling Cringer hot on his heels.
"Pathetic," snorted the Sorceress, raising a talon-like hand.
Prince and tiger were instantly enveloped in a sphere of solidified magic. The Sorceress turned back on her prey, only for She-Ra to send her flying across the throne room with a swing of a glowing warhammer.
The Sorceress crawled across the grey-green stones, reaching for her staff as a glowing gold-white boot came down hard on the crystal weapon.
"Now," panted She-Ra. "Can we please just talk?"
[-]
"So then we got attacked by these flesh-eating bugs, but this falcon saved us! Except you know that 'cuz you were the falcon!" Adora rapid fired. "Thanks again for-"
"Enough!" The Sorceress raised a thin hand. "I'm convinced you are not an enemy."
"So then you'll help us?" Adam asked excitedly.
"Yes, I will." The Sorceress rose from her throne as the twins exchanged an excited high-five. "I'll allow you to restock from the castle's larder before you leave."
"Wait... what?" Adora sputtered. "No, Man-At-Arms sent us to get your help fighting Skeletor? He said-"
"My business with Man-At-Arms was concluded long ago," said the Sorceress. "I own him nothing."
"But what about Eternia?!" Adam pleaded.
"Eternia will endure," the Sorceress snapped, turning to leave.
"Please, he has our friends, our family!" Adora begged. "Glimmer and Bow and Catra!"
"Mom and Dad!" Adam added. "Duncan and Teela!"
The Sorceress froze in her tracks, her lips forming a single silent word.
Teela.
She turned on her heels, regarding the twins with calculating eyes. "I cannot leave the castle in human form, but I can give you the power to fight your enemy if... you are willing to pay the price."
"I'll do it," answered Adora. "Whatever it takes!"
"Not you," corrected the Sorceress, pointing a talon-like finger. "Him."
Adam glanced back over his shoulder. "Wait, seriously?"
[-]
The Sorceress led the trio back across the statue-lined walkway, holding aloft her glowing crystal staff like a beacon.
"These statues?" Adora ventured.
"The founders of Grayskull," answered the Sorceress. "After the fall of the Ancients' original homeworld, they led what refugees they could into the void of space. They eventually came upon a world of primal splendor and untamed magic, a world they named for the starship that had carried them..."
"Eternia," whispered Adora.
The Sorceress nodded. "They built this fortress to guard their last great Secret, setting one of their own to stand vigil over it for all time."
"You?" Adam asked in quiet awe, only to receive a quick whack across the head.
"Do I look that old, boy?" snapped the Sorceress. "My bloodline has guarded the Secret of Grayskull for almost a millennium."
"What is the Secret of Grayskull?" Adora asked.
The Sorceress shot her a silent glare.
"Oh, right," chuckled Adora sheepishly. "Secret."
The four of them turned down a dusty corridor, coming to a door of blank stone.
"Adam, Son of Randor," spoke the Sorceress "From this point on there is no turning back. Do you hereby swear to defend Castle Grayskull and all its secrets so long as you so live?"
"Wait!" Adora interjected, taking her brother by the shoulder. "Adam, you don't have to do this."
"It must be Adam," proclaimed the Sorceress. "You are already bound to
Etheria, and mixing magics is dangerous."
"Adora, It's cool. I guess everyone's gotta grow up sooner or later," said Adam, turning to the Sorceress. "I swear."
"Then there is but one final test." The Sorceress tapped her staff against a flagstone, the ancient door rising to reveal an inky black void beyond.
Adam peered into the abyss. "What's in there?"
"Only what is within you."
Cringer nuzzled Adam with concern as the young Prince exchanged one last look with his sister.
"Good luck," offered Adora as Adam stepped over the threshold, only for the stone door to slam down between them.
"Will he be okay?" Adora asked the Sorceress.
"That depends entirely on him."
[-]
"Hello? Is anyone there?" Adam stumbled aimlessly through the infinite darkness. "Am I supposed to be doing something?"
Somewhere in the darkness floated a tiny pinprick of light. For lack of a better idea, Adam touched it.
Blinding light enveloped Adam, leaving him inexplicably standing back in the courtyard of the Royal Palace. High above, the twin moons sailed lazily by an unmoving scarlet sun.
"What the-" Adam was cut off as a chillingly familiar scream air the air. "MOM!?"
The young prince raced in the direction of the cry, towards the throne room. He rammed through the golden doors only to confront a sight that shattered his soul. Queen Marlena lay still on the floor, in a pool of crimson. Above her stood Beast Man, lips peeled back in a fanged leer as he licked blood-stained claws.
"NOOOOO!" Adam screamed, charging forward. The entire room instantly burst into emerald flames. The inferno swirled about him, forming into a giant cackling skull.
Adam raised his arm against the shining blaze. "No heat?"
He steeled himself, leaping directly into the maw of the flaming skull. Screwing his eyes shut, Adam powered through a gauntlet of his worst fears made manifest.
Teela, Man-At-Arms and Orko's voices cried out in torment. Skeletor's warriors taunted Adam with the atrocities they'd inflicted on his loved ones. The young prince eventually tripped under the onslaught of unseen horrors, falling once more into darkness.
Adam craned his neck upwards, fearful of what he would find. Before him, an anvil of pure solidified energy floated in the void. Embedded deep within was a faintly glowing sword, blade composed of gleaming blue crystal attached to a heavy angular golden hilt. He reached out cautiously, fingertips just about to graze the grip.
"Why bother?" intoned an all too familiar voice.
Adam spun on his heels, confronted by the image of King Randor glaring down on him. "Dad?"
"You know you'll fail," sneered the false Randor. "Better not to even try, keep expectations low. After all, it's the only thing you've ever really been good at."
"You are not my father," snarled Adam through gritted teeth.
"Does it matter? You know I'm right, boy. If you raise that sword, you will only lead your people to ruin."
"If I don't, everyone's doomed anyway!"
"Perhaps..." the false Randor leaned closer, whispering in Adam's ear. "But at least it won't be your fault."
"Yes, it will." Adam clasped the sword with both hands, wrenching it from the anvil and raising it high with a single thrust. Images flooded his mind, other times and other worlds, as five simple words burned themselves into his heart.
"BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!"
[-]
Cringer paced back and forth, only for the castle's stones to suddenly tremble beneath his paws as he dived behind Adora.
"What was that?!" Adora asked.
The blank stone door rose, filling the chamber with blinding golden light. A towering warrior with skin like burnished bronze emerged from the radiance, his hair a mane of wild gold and muscles like coiled steel. He was clad in thick furs and a metal harness bound by an iron-grey skull-shaped buckler. In his hand, rested an ornate blade not unlike Adora's old Sword of Protection.
Adora stared in awe. "Who?"
"Behold the Defender of Grayskull, wielder of the Sword of Power!" the Sorceress proclaimed. "Behold... HE-MAN!"
The aura about the golden warrior flickered, reverting once more to the slender form of Prince Adam. "Whoa..."
"Adam!?" Adora threw her arms around her brother as Cringer happily nuzzled the prince. "Are you okay?"
"I think so," said Adam, rubbing his head. "A little dizzy maybe?"
"Aww, that's just all the height shifting." Adora slapped his shoulder. "You'll get used to it."
Adam held aloft the Sword of Power, now barely distinguishable from any common shortsword. "Huh?"
"The Sword of Power will disguise itself when not in use," explained the Sorceress. "To better safeguard your secret identity."
Adora cocked an eyebrow. "Secret identity?"
"Yes, the identities of the Power Swords' wielders have always been a closely guarded secret, to prevent their enemies using their loved ones against them," said the Sorceress, eyeing Adora suspiciously. " But as She-Ra... you already know that, don't you?"
"Riiight, I mean obviously," snorted Adora nervously.
"Adora, how many people know you're She-Ra?"
"A couple," squeaked Adora.
"Then perhaps it's best we save this next part for Adam's eyes only..." The Sorceress imperiously beckoned the prince down a dim stairway. "Come."
[-]
Adam followed the Sorceress down the winding narrow stairs and down again, down further than he had thought the castle even extended.
"Where are we going?" Adam asked, squinting in the gloom.
"To see that which you've sworn to protect."
They finally stopped in a small dank chamber uncomfortably reminiscent of a dungeon cell.
"I've sworn to protect an empty room?"
The Sorceress again struck her staff against the flagstones, causing the floor to lower beneath their feet. Adam shielded his eyes as the dim chamber filled with blinding all-consuming light from somewhere deep below.
"Behold, Prince Adam... the Secret of Grayskull."
[-]
Adora paced the castle's throne room, rocking agitatedly back and forth on her heels. "What could be taking them so long?"
Cringer mewled in bemusement.
"I know, I know. it's just-" Adora leaned against an ornate crystal mirror only for it to abruptly blaze to life.
She leaped back as images flashed across the polished surface, images of a young babe with light brown skin and a curl of flame red-hair sleeping contentedly within a falcon's nest. Images of a somber-faced child learning archery under the tutelage of a mustachioed guardsman. Images that flashed forward year by year, through every lost baby tooth and long past birthday, until the child's identity was unmistakable.
"Teela?" Adora whispered. "Why would the Sorceress have images of Teela?"
"That's a very good question," mused Entrapta. "Also, who's Teela?"
"GAGH!" Adora blurted, recoiling. "Entrapta!? What are you doing here?!"
"Oh well, I didn't know where else to look for you so I kept triangulating the source of that mysterious signal until it led me here! I think this whole castle's some kind of camouflaged First Ones outpo-" Entrapta slapped herself across the face with a wad of hair, shaking Adora by the shoulders. "No time for that! Our friends are in terrible danger!"
[-]
Adam blinked as his eyes adjusted to the blinding light, blurs of color resolving into solid shapes. He floated in a sea of stars, the stone platform he and the Sorceress stood upon transmuted into a slab of polished crystal. A dozen other crystal formations sailed through the star chamber, orbiting a single point.
"Whoa..."
At the very center of the star chamber floated the source of the light, a blue-white crystalline sphere neither fully matter nor energy. Its surface was inlaid with shimmering fractal patterns spiraling into microscopic infinity. Something barely audible drifted through the cool still air, almost like whispering.
"What is that?" Adam asked breathlessly.
"The Orb of All Wisdom," answered the Sorceress with hushed awe. "Encoded within is the total knowledge of the Ancients' fallen empire, their history and culture, their science and sorcery, the very secrets of the universe."
"The Secret of Grayskull?"
The Sorceress nodded. "As Defender of Grayskull, it is your sworn duty to protect the Orb and its secrets from all who would seek it... until the day you die."
"But why keep it hidden?" Adam asked. "Imagine all the good it could do?"
"Or evil," spoke the Sorceress. "Our ancestors once sought to use the knowledge within to remake the cosmos in their image, instead they nearly destroyed it."
[-]
Adam staggered back into the throne room, mind still reeling from the sights he had seen, sights the Sorceress had sworn him never to speak of to another living being... not even Adora.
"Adam!" Adora cried, grabbing her brother. "We have to get back to Eternos now!"
"What... what's wrong?"
"It's Skeletor," answered Adora in cold terror. "He's going to execute our parents!"
[-]
Randor looked up as the cell's forcefield lowered. A squad of Skele-bots stood at attention, blasters trained on Bow and the still recuperating Man-At-Arms.
"Lord Skeletor requests an audience with the false King," droned the bots in a cold monotone.
"Over my dead..." Man-At-Arms groaned, trying to raise himself.
"Duncan, it's all right. I'll go willingly," assured Randor, standing tall as he turned to Bow. "Look after him for me."
The young Etherian nodded as the king was led away, forcefield snapping back behind him. The Skele-bots marched Randor past the cell holding Glimmer and Marlena. The King and Queen of Eternos exchanged a long lingering gaze, each fearing it would be the last.
[-]
Adora, Adam, Entrapta and Cringer stood on Darla's bridge, circled about a holo-map of Eternos City.
"First thing we need to do is get back to the city before moonset," said Adora urgently.
"Can't we just take this ship?" Adam asked, gesturing about.
"Uh-uh," interjected Entrapta. "During our last orbit, Darla's sensors picked up a ring of surface-to-air canons surrounding the city. Approach by sky and KA-POW! WHOOSH!"
"What we need is a way to go in low and fast," mused Adora, stroking her chin. "There is something we can try, worked on my horse at least."
All eyes suddenly turned on Cringer as the tiger squirmed awkwardly.
[-]
The Evergreen Forest trembled with the roar of a mammoth-sized emerald feline, clad in rust-red armor. Save for his coloring, the titan 'Battle Cat' was as unlike the scrawny Cringer as a hawk was unlike a canary.
The giant cat raced ever southward through the winding pathways, He-Man, She-Ra and Entrapta clinging to his back. High above the forest canopy, the twin moons began their inexorable descent towards the horizon.
[-]
The Skele-bots threw Randor unceremoniously at the foot of his own throne. Had they been living beings, he would have assumed they were displaying deliberate contempt.
"Ah, Randor, so glad you could make it," cooed Skeletor from atop the stolen throne. "Leave us."
The Skele-bots bowed low before withdrawing, leaving king and warlock alone.
"What do you want with me, butcher?" Randor demanded, wrenching himself upright. "What quarrel do you have with my kingdom, my family?"
Skeletor made no reply for a long silent moment, before breaking into a fit of shrill cackling. "You really have no idea what this is all about, do you?"
"What are you babbling about!?"
"Oh Randy, I always knew you were dim but even I never dreamed you were this stupid!" Skeletor sneered, stepping down from his throne.
Randor's eyes narrowed. "Who are you... really?"
"Oh, why not? After all, it would be so... unsatisfying for you to die without knowing why." Skeletor kneeled, eye to eye with the king, before unhooking the clasp of his skull-mask
Randor's eyes went wide in uncomprehending horror as the macabre mask fell away to reveal the face beneath, a face Randor had known all his life. "No..."
Beneath his purple hood, Keldor's blue lips twisted into a demoniacal grin. "Surprise!"
To Be Concluded...