A/N: Love your reviews. Keep them coming!
Chapter 34
-Security Council Chambers, Eternos Palace -
They sat in stunned silence, the weight of Orko's news hanging heavily in the air.
"We were right," Randor reflected, more to himself than to anyone in the room, "There was a selfish rift in the alliance, a sort of civil war. But now Prime, Shadow Weaver, Catra, and Malek have joined forces?"
Cuddled against the Queen, her arm around him, the Trollan nodded enthusiastically. "It sure looks like it, Your Majesty!"
"And my former Guardian?" Adora asked.
"On the outs!" he replied.
Leaning back, she folded her arms, deep in thought.
"Your Majesty, your communiques were regularly circulated over the past months," Marcus stated, "The citizens are well aware of the bunker locations and protocols upon threat of attack."
"But, a full evacuation in just three days?" Hall offered, defeated.
"It can be done," Duncan replied, steely eyed. "The rulers of the Three Realms have protocols in place and their communication towers are prepped. The Palace Tower merely sends the signal and they're activated."
"Status on the warehouses?"
"Each Realm has enough food, water, and medical supplies to endure an extended occupation, along with blankets, cots, and bathing facilities, Sir," Marcus replied.
"The Masters?"
"Their kingdoms are already on lock down, Your Majesty," Hall replied. "They're also ready to fight."
Randor nodded at the Major before shifting to his wife. "And your people are ready, darling?"
Marlena nodded, holding Orko a little tighter. "The Palace emergency drills went smoothly. The authorities at the academies, infirmaries, and orphanages are also on standby and ready to go at my order."
The King nodded, his eyes turning to the members of the security council. "I will say this only once: when the choice between protecting Eternians or Marlena and I presents itself, protect my people—"
The chamber immediately erupted in protests and gasps, Marlena and Adora silently nodding their approval.
He lifted his hand, the room slowly subsiding.
"Sire, you can't mean—"
"You heard the order, Farrell."
"What about the safety of the twins, Your Majesty, their security detail?"
Randor's anguished gaze met Marcus's. "You know who they are, Lucius. As much as I desire to lock them safely away until this blows over, I know they are incapable of denying their protective natures to cower in a corner somewhere. They know what to do to defend my people. And they can handle themselves."
Adora watching, his wife reached out a hand, he taking it. He gave a long, heavy sigh.
"They are my heart. They are everything to me. But it's time for me to let go…and entrust my beloved children to God."
Marlena clenched her jaw and nodded, her features wan.
-Greyskull -
The Sorceress, the Warlock, and the Defender sat in heavy silence in King D'Vann's war chambers, each of them pensive. Adam's eyes shifted to her.
"I'm sorry."
Almost numb from the constant assault of one emotional upheaval after another, the Redhead met his somber gaze with a slow nod.
"But what does this mean for me?"
Annoyed, his nephew snapped his head to him, Teela folding her arms.
"What did Greyskull tell you after you were healed?"
Keldor frowned.
"The restraints," she continued, "The Spirit of Greyskull removed your restraints and you subsequently went ballistic. What did he say?"
"I don't recall," he said flippantly.
"Of course you do," she pressed.
He stared hard at her, unwilling or unable to admit, Adam watching him.
Folding his arms and shifting in his seat, the warlock took a deep breath. "It said I am more than what I appear to be," he said with an eye roll. "How cliché."
Perturbed, his nephew pursed his lips.
"And what did the Omniscient One tell you?" she asked.
At that, his chocolate gaze went narrow.
"Speak up. We couldn't hear you," Adam said.
The irritated gaze darted to his nephew, then a resigned sigh.
"He said my bitterness opened the door to hate, rage, and eventually murder," he explained, grudgingly. "It made me more susceptible to Penumbra's mind control."
"Who or what dark force was controlling your thoughts?"
He looked at her.
"Death."
"Hence, Skeletor is born," the Blond eyed him.
Resentful, Keldor's ebony gaze darted back. He gave a half nod. "Perceiving rejection, I was filled with anger and resentment. The years went by, my brother loved and elevated while I suffered. The hate grew. I wanted him and everyone charmed with a perfect life to be as miserable as I," he admitted. "Agreeing to the sorcery, I accepted Death's call. Death swallows all. Death annihilates all. It is the ultimate Destroyer."
Silence as the confession was absorbed. The dark prince then focused on his nephew. "So what's your excuse?"
He quirked a brow. "Excuse?"
"Your transformation. There must be some self-serving reason you accepted the call to become the nauseatingly self-righteous goody-goody?"
Folding his arms, Adam knit his brow. "Self-righteous Goody-Goody?"
Keldor nodded.
"I'm anything but."
The older man seemed confused. "Apparently, our Royal Ancestor selected you as The He-Man because you were Mr. Perfect," he said, tossing a hand. "What other reason could there be?"
Adam frowned, Teela studying her former lover.
"It's not about being perfect, Uncle. It's about being willing to love, to grow, to learn to trust and to serve others," he explained. "Mr. Perfect?" he snorted incredulously. "I curse like a sailor and lose my temper with a natural tendency to beat the shit out of someone getting on my last got-damn nerve. Add to the list of accolades, a recovering alcoholic." He scoffed, "Really?"
Blinking, Keldor's eyes widened before dimming. "As am I. Omit the 'recovering' element," he stated.
The corner of the Sorceress' mouth curled slightly.
The two men held gazes, Keldor looking askance. "It appears…we have more in common than what makes us different."
"True," Adam soberly replied, "But duh: we're related."
Eyeing him, Keldor slowly nodded.
"So, will you help us with Prime?"
He took a long, inquisitive look at Teela, the chambers going quiet. "Yes."
Instantly, he sensed invisible shackles loosen and drop.
"What was that?"
The Sorceress' emerald gaze narrowed. "Greyskull is choosing to trust you."
Emerald and Sapphire glared at the older man.
"Don't make him regret it," Adam warned.
- MACS0647-JD -
Malek knocked on the door, it creeping slowly open, the quarters engulfed in shadows.
"What do you want?" Weaver barked, her glowing red gaze peering from deep within the chambers.
Swallowing hard, he cleared his throat. "I need you to share the Death spell with me."
Her eyes didn't move, floating within the darkness set against a shadowy figure.
"Why?"
"Because that trite Trollan has escaped and he's sharing your secrets with Castle Greyskull," he lied, perspiration breaking out over his top lip. "You're undoubtedly marked for extermination by The Sentry. He must be stopped."
The eyes levitated closer hovering just within the door frame.
"And how do you know this, Wizard First Class?"
"B-because my frequency is vibrating on a much higher level than before," he lied again, stuttering, "I sense he is a dangerous threat and must be eliminated."
Unable to read his thoughts, Weaver's eyes moved over his body. "You do realize what you are asking, Wizard First Class?" she hissed, her tone decidedly softer.
He gave a nervous nod.
"Why?"
He blinked. "Why what?"
"Why are you…helping me?" she asked, her suspicion echoing within his ear gate.
"Be-because if you're compromised, the whole operation is ruined," he stated. "We cannot afford to disappoint His Excellency. Y-you do want to live, don't you?"
Her crimson cat-like gaze lingered. "I sense you are doing this in part to hide from Prime the fact that you lost the idiotic blue clown."
Blinking, he fidgeted, fighting the urge to flee.
Cocking her cowl, a decision was made.
"Come," she reached out a pale bony hand placing it on his shoulder. "I shall share only one round of power transfer equipping you with just a fraction of the Death Stroke as this is all you will need to remove him," she hissed, her forked tongue snapping from the shadow of her cowl. "In exchange, you will impart a portion of your Eternian wizardry to me, Wizard. This does not come free."
Perspiring, nodding he staggered inside.
The steel door closed.
- 8PM, Throne Room, Greyskull -
The Sorceress and the Prince stood upon King Greyskull's Seal.
"Glimmer knows about the attack?"
"Yes," she replied. "I relayed it to Light Hope who tells me the message was received. They're ramping up their forces. Your father's regiments have really beefed up their numbers. They're ready." Her features fell before going distant.
Adam furrowed his brow. "What is it?"
"Hope says Glimmer needs to talk with you?" she looked a question.
Baffled, he blinked at her. "Okay," he drew out.
"She'll meet you at the Palace tomorrow morning," the Redhead stated. "It umm…it must be serious if she's coming to you in person," she stated awkwardly, glancing away.
He studied her. "Umm…I have no idea what it could be about."
"Okay."
"Okay," he replied.
The moment turning awkward, they stood silently facing each other.
"Okay," Adam suddenly exclaimed, backing up and throwing a thumb over his shoulder, "Umm…I gotta get back. We'll talk at the security meeting tomorrow."
Teela nodded, the portal ripping open behind him as his features suddenly fell.
Turning, he stepped through, the door slamming shut behind him.
Her gaze lingered where he stood a moment ago.
She vanished.
-Nightfall, Whispering Woods, Etheria -
As the camp retired for the evening, grumbling, Hordak struggled against his binders. Huffing, his crimson gaze fixed on the stoic armed Rebellion guard.
"Son, these cuffs are digging into my wrists," he complained, "Can't you do something about them?"
The young guard just stared at him.
"Look! I'm a prisoner of war," he barked. "I'm valuable to your pitiful little band of rebellious traitors. If I'm injured, my brother will show no mercy and destroy all of you!"
More staring. Hordak sighed.
"I am no threat to any of you. My cannon is damaged, and the disgusting fried rodent is hardly nutritional. I'm a weak old man. How can I escape? Just loosen them a little. Please?" he begged.
Empathetic, the guard's shoulders slumped in resignation. He approached and knelt down, placing his weapon by his boots.
Reaching over to loosen the prisoner's binders, everything abruptly went black.
xxx
-4AM, Dungeons, Greyskull -
Keldor was startled awake.
Sitting up, he stared into the darkness, squinting to understand the strange request.
"Why?" he asked.
The reply was even more odd than the request.
He knit his brow, his thoughts roiling.
With a deep sigh he glanced down, a lock of ebony hair falling over his shoulder.
It was his palm…
And it was glowing.
- Midnight, Whispering Woods Border, Etheria -
Armed and irritated, Catra and her men crept to the woods' line under cover of night, determined to fulfill Horde Prime's command of retrieving his disgraced brother.
She didn't know why he needed the loser, only that he demanded he be brought to him.
Worried, her thoughts flew about.
He knows the Whispering Woods are enchanted, throwing the enemy off by spontaneously switching longitude and latitude. It never accepts anyone with, 'misguided intentions', her mind mocked.
Could this be a test? I desperately need to pass. But is he counting on my failure? Could this be his excuse to kill me and elevate Shadow Weaver? Or could this just be my chance to–
"It's about time, you bitch! I've been waiting for two hours!" he whisper shouted.
Her eyes wide she blinked, her men shouting their relief.
"Hordak?" she gasped.
-Eternos Palace, 6AM The Next Morning -
"Adam? Adora?"
Making their way across the snowy courtyards to the gymnasium, the Crown Prince and Princess Royal stopped abruptly.
"Yes, Sorceress?"
"Princess Glimmer urgently needs to speak to you…both of you," her voice echoed in their minds.
The twins exchanged glances. "Isn't it two in the morning over there?" Adora asked.
"Yes…"
Their eyes met again, this time worried.
"Send her over," Adam said.
xx
The three royals sat on benches in the weights room.
"He's gone," Glimmer stated, her features distraught. "Right after the shift change, he made his move. He killed poor Sephus and took off. We have no idea where he is…we searched high and low."
Annoyed, Adora clenched her jaw. "How could he have escaped? How many guards were assigned to him? Failing that, the Woods should have led him in circles right back to Camp. I don't understand what went wrong, here."
"Where would he go?" her brother asked. "Prime doesn't want him. Catra's taken over his troops…," he trailed off, folding an arm and stroking his chin. "We're missing something."
"I offer my apologies," the Rebellion Commander stated solemnly. "It happened on my watch. I'm responsible."
Adam frowned. "No one's placing blame anywhere—" he glanced at his twin whose irritated expression seemed to disagree with him, his frown deepening.
"In my mother's kingdom, a commander who's lost an asset of this magnitude must tender her resignation—"
"You can't resign, we need you," he cut her off, "We—" he stopped when his eyes fell on a tear escaping down her cheek, her head lowered. He knit his brow. "There's something else," he guessed.
Glimmer's eyes lifting to meet his she nodded, Adora examining her former foil. She then met her brother's concerned gaze.
"Uhh…I think I hear Dad calling for me." With that, she stood and left.
Adam studied the woman he was courting, a woman he dared to see himself ending up with...the first and only woman he would even remotely consider after Teela, still the love of his life yet denied by fate.
"What is it? Is it your Mother? Is she alright?"
"She's fine," she sniffled before composing herself and swiping at a tear. Remembering who she was, she straightened, her determined violet gaze locked on curious sapphire. Adam felt something sink within him.
"What is it," he said, his tone tinged with dread.
Glimmer bit her lip, her gaze welling up slightly. "I must formally withdraw my candidacy for courtship, Your Grace."
His features blank, he stared at her.
"I'm sorry, but my mother the Queen reminded me of my duties as Heir to the Throne of Bright Moon Of Etheria. It was wrong of me to dream that I could…that you and I—" she cut herself off, swiping at another tear.
He watched as regaining her composure, she tried again.
"First and foremost, my responsibility is to my people, Adam. I was wrong to entertain the idea of marrying you. I was wrong to allow myself to be carried away by emotions. I am a soldier. I know better than that. It…it was wrong to play with your heart as I did. But if anything, please know; during our short time together, I found myself falling head over heels in love with you. And I doubt I will ever find a man who will measure up. That much is certain."
Silence.
Blindsided, the Prince glanced away processing her words.
After a few silent moments, blinking, he met her gaze and held it.
"Duty comes first. I understand that all too well."
Teary, Princess Glimmer nodded.
Unable to be this close yet cruelly denied him, she stood, he followed.
She took a step closer, he gazing down at her. Placing her palms on his chest she stood on tiptoes, closed her eyes, brought her tear-stained face to his and lightly kissed his lips. Pulling away, she backed up.
"Sorceress, please—" she let out a tiny sob as the portal ripped open behind her.
Whirling, she hurried through, her pink pony-tail bobbing as the portal shut behind her.
Hands on hips Adam stared blankly, his blue gaze shifting to the hardwood floor.
He picked up his duffel, slung it over his shoulder, and wordlessly proceeded to the gym.
Regardless, he had a job to do.