A/N: The story's winding down as I assemble all the puzzle pieces together. Thanks for your readership.
Warning: Strong Language - you must be at least 16 years old to read this update.
Chapter 33
Bent over and palming his knees, Adam took a moment to let his breathing slow to normal, Adora doing the same on the gymnasium floor, legs crossed.
Sheathing the Protection Sword, with her forearm she brushed the sweat from her brow.
"We're out of shape," she joked.
"We're too busy shooting through space and getting electrocuted to workout," he quipped through labored breaths.
Adora gave a breathless chuckle. "Add to that courting scary women and destroying Master Blasters."
Adam snorted a laugh and dropped to the floor. Sprawled on his back, settling, he stared at the ceiling.
A few pensive moments ticked by in silence.
"Are we ready?"
He met her gaze. "As ready as we can be, given the circumstances."
She scrunched her nose. "I suppose that is a no."
"Yep."
Suddenly the atmosphere went thick with an air of expectation, the twins frowning at each other in confusion when a hollow pop made them flinch and whirl to the sound from their seated positions.
The smoke cleared revealing a wild eyed and harried Trollan.
"Adam! I got something to tell ya!"
The Prince's eyes went wide. "Orko!"
Adam scrambled to his feet, Orko shooting towards him as the two crashed in an embrace, Adora misty-eyed, smiling at the reunion.
"What happened? Where did Evil-Lyn send you? Where've you been this whole time?" he rattled off, swiping at his eyes.
"I was banished to the seventh dimension!" he replied, breathless. "I was tumbling out of control in the middle of nowhere! I couldn't contact anyone," Orko stopped to take a breath, releasing him. "Thank the stars Uncle Montaurk, Teela, Crystal Castle, and that Mystacore lady helped get me back!"
Catching the clue in his ramblings, Adora's eyebrows flew up. She jumped to her feet and joined them. "So, you were conscious of what was going on the whole time?"
His yellow eyes shifting to her, he nodded. "Yeah! I was surprised Crystal Castle was still around. I thought that place had been gone for years! And that Mystacore lady…wow she's really pretty—"
"Focus, Orko," Adam stated, his brow knit. "You said you have something to tell me?"
The magician gasped. "Oh yeah!"
Adam and Adora folded their arms, their eyes locked with his. The little one took a deep breath, bobbling mid-air.
"The Horde's gonna attack Eternia and Etheria in three days!" he shouted, shrill.
Eyes going wide, the twins both unfolded their arms. "How do you know?" he asked.
Nearly hyperventilating, Orko swallowed hard. "It wasn't Evil-Lyn who expelled me, Adam. It was Malek!"
Adam's gaze narrowed. "Bastard."
"Evil-Lyn sent me to limbo, kinda like a dark magical holding cell. But shortly after arriving I was shot through another portal! Right when I was swept through, I secretly threw a magic tow-line to the source and stayed connected undetected. That's how I knew who did it! I could hear everything that was happening…I just had no way of transmitting it back to you guys!"
His brow knit, the Prince put a hand over his mouth. Sobering, he took it away. "Good work, Orko. I'm glad you're back." He looked at his sister. "Bring him to Dad. Tell them what's up. I'm going to Greyskull."
"For how long?" she asked, gently taking the little Trollan's hand in hers.
"If all goes well, I'll be back later," he stated, backing up and grabbing his hoodie pulling it on, a portal opening behind him. Whirling he hopped through, the portal slamming shut. Adora and Orko looked at each other.
"Are you up for a fight, Little One?"
"Oh, yeah, Adora!" releasing her, he started to shadow box. "Let's show these guys who they're messing with!"
She bit her lip to keep her composure at the little guy's frenzied yet comical movements, the hem of his red "O" robe flapping about.
"Impressive," she joked straight faced. "Come, let's go."
Grabbing her sweatshirt, the two hurried away to the security council chambers.
-Whispering Woods, Etheria -
Inside the holding tent, sitting on the ground with his wrists tied behind his back Hordak grumbled his dissatisfaction.
"Treating The Horde's Second In Command this way...this is ridiculous! Who's in charge here? I must speak with him!"
Commander Glimmer unfolded her arms and knelt on one knee. "I'm it, Bat-Boy," she narrowed her gaze. "For the last time, when is your brother planning the raid?" she demanded.
"I said I don't know!" he growled, "I'm no longer involved! He's disowned me," he added bitterly, glancing away.
"I don't believe that—"
"WELL BELIEVE IT!" he shouted angrily. "When you fail, you're trashed. Thrown out. Discarded!"
Quirking a brow, she stood and glared down at him, fists on hips. "Well, that's not very thoughtful," she quipped.
His glowing red eyes glared back. "He's a machine!" he explained, "He has no feelings, no emotions, no conscience. He is only programmed for death, destruction, and total confiscation."
Glimmer lifted a brow. "But you are brothers," she noted, "What are you; are you a machine as well?"
He nearly rolled his eyes. "I'm a cyborg, created by Prime ten millennia ago from scrap organic parts assembled upon a robotic chassis."
Her eyes bore into his. "Why are you offering all of this information—"
"Because keeping silent no longer matters!" he shouted. "Weaver is gone, Catra is a bitch and no doubt working for him. He will attack with all of his robotic forces and destroy everyone and everything, me included! All that matters to him his total domination!"
Studying him, Glimmer tilted her head: no aura. Turning, she marched toward the tent flaps.
"Watch him," she tossed over her shoulder to the armed guard.
xx
The Rebellion Commander made her way to the command tent, the encampment buzzing with activity, readying for whatever may come, whenever it may come.
"Glimmer! I need to see you. Now."
Stopping and whipping her head to her mother's command, she turned and entered Queen Angella's tent, the older woman stepping back inside taking a seat at her desk.
"Yes, Mother?"
Troubled, Angella studied her. Folding her arms and crossing her legs, she leaned back. "It is my understanding you are courting the Prince of Eternia, is that correct?"
Feeling a jolt, biting her lip her daughter nodded. "Yes, Mother."
"And…this is serious? You have feelings for him?"
"I do."
The older woman gave a bemoaned sigh. "How disappointing."
Glimmer's eyebrows shot up. "Why? He's a good man. He's a leader; strong, responsible. I think we would make a good match."
"I concur. But you are my sole successor, Daughter," she replied sadly. "Would you render my kingdom bereft of an heir after I am gone?"
The Princess swallowed hard.
"Marrying him would mean leaving Etheria and Bright Moon. We don't have many citizens left, but the ones that are here…the ones who are loyal…they would be abandoned, Glimmer. They would feel betrayed. Can't you see what you are doing to me? To all of us?" distressed, her eyes began to well with tears.
Her heart lurched. "But why didn't you say anything before—"
"Because every soon-to-be monarch that will ascend to the throne must be left to make the decision for themselves," she stated curtly. "I remained silent in the hope that you would come to your senses." Her eyes roamed her daughter's rose-colored aura. "Alas, it seems His Grace has bewitched you quite thoroughly. You are smitten."
Blushing, Glimmer looked away. "But we haven't discussed where we will reside, Mother," she challenged. "We haven't even seriously discussed marriage. We're just seeing where this could potentially go—"
"And what does your heart desire, Daughter?"
Faced with coming to terms with her feelings and the reality of the havoc those emotions would cause, she hung her head.
Angella tilted her head, her gaze locked on her daughter's downcast features. "Do you sincerely believe The Crown Prince of Eternia, the Heir and future King of the entire planet would leave his post and follow you to the much more diminutive Etheria? To co-rule the even more insignificant Kingdom of Bright Moon?"
Her daughter frowned. "Insignificant? Hardly!"
"In contrast, Daughter," her mother explained, "Even before The Horde's destructive devices, the size of my kingdom does not amount even to an eighth of the Eternian Empire. Have you seen King Randor's troops?" she gestured toward the tent flap.
Glimmer glanced over her shoulder, even the spare regiments sent to help The Rebellion colossal in their numbers, impressive in stature methodically cleaning their weapons and running exercises.
"What about Casta?"
"What about her?" her mother quietly replied, holding her gaze.
"She was willing to leave Mystacore behind and become his bride and she is the queen! So why am I being held to a higher standard?"
"Upon her return from Eternia, Queen Castaspella told me of her intention not to pursue a serious relationship with the Prince. She informed me, with some regret I might add, that she was simply looking for one night of pleasure with him. Even with all her laissez-faire, she remains cognizant of her duties as queen, Daughter."
Irritated, folding her arms Glimmer looked away, her mother studying her aura.
"Your aura is dropping to darkened amber, Daughter. You are confused."
"And disappointed. And angry," she replied, hot.
Nodding, Angella rose from her chair and stepped to her, her snowy white wings trembling with emotion. "I've allowed you to play out this fantasy of becoming his princess bride, My Child, but you are faced with a sober choice."
Her daughter's violet gaze remained lowered, distraught, pensive.
"You have a decision; a painful decision the Sorceress of Castle Greyskull and the Crown Prince Of Eternia have had to make and forthwith, finally come to terms..."
Glimmer lifted her eyes in questioning expectancy.
"Love? Or duty."
At that, her mother exited the tent leaving Glimmer with her conscience.
Disheartened, stepping to the tent flaps the Rebellion Commander stopped and scanned the encampment, her gaze landing on Lieutenant Hawk dutifully stacking the trenches along with Lieutenant Bow.
Her gaze shifted to the ground. Duty…or Love…?, her mind echoed bitterly.
-Greyskull, Eternia -
The portal ripping open, Adam stepped through to a waiting Sorceress as it closed behind him. They locked gazes.
"Sorceress," he inclined his head.
"Prince Adam," she replied, each soberly eyeing the other. "So it happens in three days?" she stated more like a question.
"Yes."
"You're here to see your Uncle?" another statement.
His eyes on hers, he slowly nodded.
"Come with me," she stated before turning on her boot heel and briskly walking to the dungeons, the Prince following.
They reached the lower levels and happened upon a deflated Keldor sitting cross-legged on the stony flooring, eyes closed, shoulders slumped.
"Prince Keldor," she stated rousing him from his myriad thoughts.
Startled, he opened his eyes and focused on them. "Coming down once again to gawk at the animal in the cage again, Sorceress?" he chided.
Adam lifted a brow.
"I don't gawk," she replied curtly, "I monitor. I observe," she corrected. "You know as well as we do that you can't be trusted," she said, folding her arms.
His ebony gaze tightened. "True. Then why keep me, a warlock, locked away in the bowels of the most powerful sentry in the galaxy? Isn't that risky? Why not send me to another dimension? Banish me?"
"Because Greyskull requests your assistance," Adam replied flatly.
Keldor's mouth dropped open. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
The older man frowned. "Why?" he demanded, his tone suspicious, more like an order, "For what purpose?"
"Does it fuckin' matter?" his nephew shot back.
The two glared at one another.
"What assurances do I have that the Castle won't blow me into a million pieces after whatever I help with is completed?"
"You don't."
His uncle's eyes went wide. "Then why should I agree to it?"
"Because at least you'll finally be serving a purpose in life," the Sorceress interjected. "Don't you remember the little tantrum you threw with the King the other day about being the useless 'Spare'?" she made air quotes.
Adam shot the Redhead a confused glance, Keldor clasping his hands together, his elbows on his inner knees, his index fingers against his lips in deep thought.
Growing increasingly irritated at the protracted silence and the lapse of time, Adam folded his arms. "As if you're in any position to negotiate the terms surrounding your assistance, Uncle."
Keldor's angry chocolate gaze snapped to his nephew.
"You're still leery that Greyskull will do you harm after it saved your life?" he continued. "You were stone cold dead. Stratos blew a hole through your chest the size of China and yet here you are, breathing, talking, and wasting time," he tossed a hand at him.
Confused, she looked at him. "China?"
Adam closed his eyes and gave a dismissive shake of his head.
Silence, Keldor waiting…
For what?
His hardened features suddenly softening, his eyes met the younger man's. "You're the one who asked that I be saved…," he surmised, his voice soft and halting.
The Prince nodded.
"After all I did to you and your sister? Why?"
"We don't fuckin' have time to go into this shit! Are you gonna fuckin' do it or not?" Adam shouted, furious.
The Guardian's emerald gaze went round, her eyes slowing settling on a very annoyed Adam.
The dark prince slowly got to his feet and stepped toward the bars, his features blank.
"Yes."
Although inwardly surprised at his response, the two calmly nodded. The Redhead waving a palm, the bars melted away.
"Follow me."
He nodded as he stepped out of the cell and followed her, Adam as security tagging behind, ready to take him down if he so much as sneezed.
Reaching the top of the Castle, the cold wintry air hit them, blowing about swirling icy snowflakes as they approached the center of the Castle's flattened dome. Standing between the turrets, the Sorceress stopped and turned, Adam beside her.
"You've agreed to assist the Guardian and the Defender in retrieving Sorceress Teela'Na T'Pau."
Keldor's eyebrows flew up. "That bitch?" he scoffed. "After all of our tousles, why would I want to bring her back—!"
Two steps and the Prince was nearly nose to nose with the surprised warlock. "Call her that one more time and your ass is mine," he said quietly with barely contained fury.
Flinching, Keldor frowned. "Why? What is she to you—" he cut himself off, understanding now, a sly grin on his lips. "So, with you being He-Man; with you running in and out of this Castle, you and this Teela'Na must have been lovers?"
Sighing, Adam flicked an eye roll. "Just keep your mouth shut and follow the fuckin' directions, please."
His uncle glared at him, the two stepping forward, Keldor hesitantly so making the Triangle.
Adam reached behind his right shoulder and unsheathed the Power Sword, Keldor flinching a recoil, the memory of his battles with He-Man and the immense pain the Mighty Weapon had inflicted rising to the surface.
The Sorceress' palms began to throb a golden hue, her eyes meeting the older man's gaze, Greyskull instructing him to lock in on her frequency.
He gave an apprehensive nod as his own palms glowed indigo, the two raising their palms upward, golden and purplish-blue beams of energy merging and penetrating deep into the rapidly darkening stormy skies.
Adam hoisted his Sword aloft and joined the beams with the tip of his Weapon, a crack of thunderous lightning galvanizing the sorcerous beams and kicking back with a surge of force, the Defender tightening his grip as all three beams pierced the now darkened sky.
The dome pulsed with blinding light before converting translucent beneath them, the rooftop churning, independently locking in on the dimension's coordinates and mimicking the heavenly bodies, the gaseous pink clouds of deep space rolling, the roar of the conjoined beams growing louder.
Then - an eruption, high above them followed by the distension of an immense power surge spiraling down the beams and bursting on impact blowing all three away from the center scattering them to the perimeter.
After a few moments, the skies quieted and and began waxing cerulean, the clouds dissipating as Adam stood, sheathed his Sword, and helped the Redhead to her feet, Keldor shaking his head as if to clear it.
Steadying Teela with a hand on her arm, Adam glanced about. "Where is she?"
Her features distressed, the Guardian put a hand to her head and scanned the area. "I still don't sense…," she looked about some more., her features registering confusion.
Keldor's gaze widened. "Teela'Na…is…your mother?"
Troubled emerald met puzzled sapphire.
"I…I think she's dead, Adam."