"Things aren't supposed to be like this." Adam told himself. He was standing on a balcony attached to one of the guestrooms, hunched over. His elbows leaned against the rails and his face was buried in his hands. For the first time in his life, hope felt out of reach.
It was growing late and the queen had not yet returned to her bedroom. The king paced within the room. Marlena's last words to him before she fled had shocked him beyond belief. His jaw had dropped and the color drained from his face. Did Marlena even love him? If she did could she ever forgive him? He stopped in front of a mirror, taking a good look at himself. He looked like a tired old man. He gazed up at his crown, still sitting proudly atop his dark hair. With a cry of desperation he took it in his hands and flung it across the room. It hit one of the walls and fell to the ground, just below Marlena's bed. Falling to his knees he began to sob.
The queen was running, but she had no idea where she was going. Her green dress flowed behind her and the sound of her shoes hitting the polished palace floors echoed through the empty halls. She stopped when reached a window. Looking below she saw the royal museum. The lights were palely lit inside as they always were. Through the skylight she could see her old space ship. Sometimes she wondered why she ever stayed on Eternia. Why had she not gone back to earth? She knew the answer quite well. She had fallen in love with King Randor and Eternia, a world so different then her own. She bore two beautiful children. She would never change that, ever. But what had happened between her and Randor? Why was he tormenting their son? Why wouldn't he take the time to get to know Adam? She angrily pounded her fist on the windowsill. Damn him for being so stubborn.
Adam returned to his room late that night. Cringer was fast asleep by the bed. The prince looked like he was a mess. His usual neatly combed blond hair was in tangles. His eyes looked tired and lifeless. Adam didn't even put on his nightclothes. He unbuckled his belt tossing it on a chair followed by his pink tunic and boots. He climbed into his bed and spent the night tossing and turning. Sleep did not come easy and when it did it was filled with horrible nightmares. His parents arguing. His father walking in circles around him chanting that he was a worthless son. The worst nightmare of all was his mother telling him that she was going back to earth. He sat straight up panting as if he had just run a marathon. He trembled with fear and uncertainty. How had his whole life shattered in one day? He looked around the room It was still fairly dark although the sun would be rising in only an hour. Cringer was still sleeping curled up and snoring beside his bed. Adam's eyes fell upon his bookshelf. His power sword was concealed behind it. Not even He-man and all the power of Grayskull could save him now.
The breakfast table that morning was nearly empty. Teela entered the room and sat beside her father as she always did. "Where is everyone this morning? For Prince Adam to miss breakfast something must be wrong."
"I don't know Teela. The entire royal family was missing all afternoon yesterday. None of them showed for supper either. Orko, Cringer and I were the only ones here."
"I had training lessons that went over the normal time so I ate dinner much later. I hope that everyone is all right."
"So do I. This is very strange for them all to miss two meals."
"Do you think that they were kidnapped? Maybe Skeletor found some way to get into the palace."
"It's possible but I don't think so. Cringer was acting a little strange at dinner. He wouldn't look at anyone when they asked him where Adam was and he evaded our questions. When was the last time you saw the prince?"
"The last time I saw Adam was when the King asked me if I would find him and tell him to meet him. He was very upset with Adam. Adam told me that he missed an important meeting. He left quickly and I haven't seen him since."
"Well maybe he's just been busy." Duncan thought aloud. He wondered if Adam had gone off and become He-man to save a village and he hadn't bothered to tell anyone, but he had left Cringer behind.
"Busy doing what? Hiding, sleeping or fishing?" Teela asked.
"I don't know Teela. He could be doing anything. Perhaps King Randor sent him out on a royal mission or something."
"Without me? I am his bodyguard after all."
"Adam is 20 years old and a capable young man. He can look after himself."
"Not really. He slept right through that meeting yesterday and I know the King was very upset about it. Adam even had the gall to ask me why no one woke up him up. Besides protecting him I'm supposed to remind him when to do things?"
Duncan only shook his head. He knew Adam's secret and that He-man had been needed a lot more then usual these past few weeks. Duncan didn't want to defend the prince too much because Teela might become suspicious. So he shrugged. "I don't know Teela."
Just then a flash of green caught their eyes and Cringer entered the room. He was alone. He walked with slow, deliberate steps and kept his eyes to the ground.
"Good morning Cringer." Teela greeted. "Where is Adam this fine morning?"
"S-still in bed." The tiger stammered.
"Is he all right?" Duncan's concern was genuine. Something was definitely going on. Cringer made no response.
"Well is he or not?" Teela demanded.
"I...I don't know." Cringer whined.
"What do you mean you don't know? Where has Adam been Cringer? Why has he missed two meals in a row?" She demanded further.
"I mean I don't know. He won't talk to me."
"Well that's odd. "Duncan let out.
"Adam is odd, what do you expect?"
"I think that I've heard enough insults, Teela." His tone was harsh. "This is serious. Something is terribly wrong."
"Ahem, Good morning everyone." Came a deep voice. The group looked up to see the King.
"Your majesty. WE were getting worried." Duncan told him. The King looked like he hadn't received a second of sleep all night and the tip of his crown was bent backwards. "Sire are you all right you-"
"I'm just fine Duncan. What's for breakfast this morning? I'm starving." The King took his seat and Teela and her father looked at each other. Where was the Queen? Every morning for the past 20 years at least she had walked in with her husband to breakfast. Yet she and Adam were missing. Something very odd was going on.
Adam walked through the Evergreen forest at a quick pace. He had made an effort to brush his hair and change. The note that had been slipped under his door seemed urgent. He jogged to the pond, hoping that the person who had written the message was still there. He slowed to a stop and placed his hand on a tree trunk stepping slowly around it. Standing on the other side of the pond was a woman. "Hello?" The woman turned around and Adam's eyes widened when he realized whom it was. "Mother?"
"You sound surprised Adam."
Adam walked to her and regarded her. She was not in the green dress she normally wore and her crown was not atop her red hair. Instead she wore pants and a long sleeve shirt and her hair, which was normally pulled up, was combed down in a style not to different from his own. "It's just, I've never seen you in these clothes before and your hair is different and your crown is missing."
"It's back at the palace along with my dress and the woman who used to wear them."
"Mother?" The queen saw the fear in her son's eyes. She stepped forward, reaching up and putting a hand on his face to comfort him.
"I need some time away from the palace, Adam."
"You're leaving us?" Visions of his dream came rushing back to him.
"Only for a short while."
"Wh-where will you go?"
"I have a few friends who live in Noteran. They once lived at the palace but moved away years ago before you were born. I still write to them and they have invited me to visit many times. Now more then ever may be a good time for me to get away and clear my head."
"You will come back?"
"Of course I will."
"Could I go with you?" He pleaded.
"No my son. You are needed at the palace."
"But what about you? Aren't you needed at the palace as well. You're the Queen."
"I'm not needed. The King of Eternia knows how to rule his kingdom all by himself." The queen felt as if she were a pawn on her husband's chessboard although she would never admit this to Adam.
"And what about me mother?"
The queen regarded her son. His eyes were filled with sadness. "You are an adult Adam with responsibilities of your own. I'm sure He-man will help you out. If your father asks where I have gone, tell him I am safe with friends and that's all he needs to know." She stepped away from Adam.
"You're running away." Adam told her.
"No Adam. I'm finding myself again. I've sat in that throne for so long that I don't know who I am anymore. I need to get away from the palace to do this. Only when I've found myself will I be able to return and face what I have left behind. I can't and won't reason with your father in my present condition." She stepped up to him and hugged him tightly. "Know that I love you both and this is something I must do..alone. Goodbye Adam. I will see you soon."
"Don't you even want an Attack Trak or Wind Raider to bring you to Noteran?"
"No." She walked away from him and whistled and a Stridor galloped to her side. The look on Adam's face made her laugh. "Don't look so surprised my son.' She leapt up into the saddle. "Your mother was a space pilot and she's very capable of taking care of herself. She has a wild side that's been dormant for too long and if she doesn't tame it and fit it back into her life the consequences may be difficult to deal with. I'll see you soon Adam. Forward Stridor!" The horse reared and Adam watched his mother disappear in a cloud of dust. He found himself smiling for the first time since this whole thing had started. His mother had the courage to discover who she really was. Perhaps he should do the same.