CHAPTER SEVEN

"The Army at Eternos"

It was dusk now and the entire army sat at the ruins of Eternos. The villagers suddenly became nurses and aides to those that once defended them. Wounds were being mended - some of them were over three years old and very infected. For others, they were taken during the fighting. Surprisingly, though, to everyone - no one that was taken over three years ago was dead. They had all survived.

He-Man watched as wounds were dressed and bones were set. Things were going well, but they still had a large hurtle to climb.

The hero of Eternia and Primus walked over to the beds and tents. He strode through the mass of people helping people; his cape flowing around him as he did. He soon met up with Stratos.

"He-Man. A fine victory," Stratos said with a wide smile.

"Thank you. Have you contacted your people?"

"Yes. They are reluctant. They've been in hiding since Hordak arrived," Stratos replied.

"Show them images of the army we've built up. For the sake of Eternia, they must help us."

"I'll try again," Stratos said. He-Man turned to Buzz-Off.

"Buzz-Off," He-Man said. "How are you?"

"I'm alright. I'm sure my Insectiods would like to know that," the Buzz-Off answered. "Sorry about the buzzing earlier. It's been a while since I've had a decent meal."

"No problem. Listen, about your people . . ."

Meanwhile, in Man-At-Arms lab, another conversation was being held. This one was not about the future, but instead, of the past.

"So . . ." Duncan said as he laid on a cot in the center of the lab. A few nurses had cleaned his wounds and set two of his bones. "This is Addison?"

Teela grinned and walked her son over to Duncan.

"Momma, who's that?" asked Addison.

"That, Addison, is your Grandpa."

Addison's eyes got large. Duncan grinned and nodded.

"G-Grandpa? You're my Grandpa?"

"That's right, lil' buddy," replied Duncan. "Come here and give me a hug!"

Addison ran right over and gave him a big bear hug. Duncan smiled larger than he had in five years.

"Teela?" asked He-Man, striding in.

"Oh, He-Man."

"Can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Sure. Addison, honey, stay with Grandpa."

Teela walked out of the lab and into the open air with He-Man. The hero looked back at his old mentor.

"How is he doing?"

"Better. Much better. Castaspella and Glimmer worked up some spells that'll help his bones heal much faster. I think . . . I think he loves Addison already."

"That's good. Listen, I'm sorry I had to tell him, but . . ."

Teela put her hand on his arm. "You needed to tell him something to keep him moving. I know. I understand."

"Is he ready for battle, do you think?" asked He-Man.

"Not yet. I don't want him to do anything, but you know my father. He was talking about the Cosmic Key and something about a transmitter. I didn't understand. He rambled about that until I brought in Addison."

He-Man smiled. "It's nice to know some things never . . . change."

He looked down at Teela, whose face was now glowing the pale moonlight. He felt suddenly compelled to tell her everything now. Everything.

"You look like you want to say something," she said.

"I do, but . . . I can't right now. It's . . ." He paused and looked up at one of the few remaining towers of Eternos. "It's something we'll discuss later. I need to talk to She-Ra."

"You mean Adora," Teela said.

He-Man paused. "Right."

"He-Man, wait just one second."

"What is it?" he asked, turning back to her.

"When Gwildor teleported me to Castle Grayskull to pick-up Addison, I didn't see Adam."

He-Man paused. "Maybe he's here somewhere."

"I checked around. No one's seen him since we left."

"I'll put in a search for him."

"Sure you will," she said with a wink. She walked off smiling. He-Man scratched his head for just a minute before heading up to the barely standing tower.

When he reached the top, he found the one person that he had been dying to speak to all night.

"She-Ra."

The female warrior spun around. Her blond hair bounced around her face as she did.

"He-Man. I . . . I don't know what got into me . . ."

"I was wondering that myself. Everybody knows. It'll just be a matter of time before they find out my secret."

She-Ra sighed. "And I am sorry for that. But, it's just . . ."

"What is it?" asked He-Man.

"I spent all that time as Adora, you know? All I wanted to do was change into She-Ra and fight it out! So, when the moment came, I suddenly didn't care who knew what or who was watching. I just wanted to be strong again."

"It's not much fun," He-Man answered.

"What to you mean?"

"I spent five years of my life as He-Man. The entire time I was on Primus, I was only He-Man. I couldn't take form as Adam. It was terrible. All I did was fight battles. There were times when I could relax, of course. And I made great friends there. But . . . I was always ready to start fighting at any moment. I even had nightmares, She-Ra, of coming back to Eternia and not being able to change back to Adam."

She-Ra went quiet. "I had nightmares to," she said, rubbing her arms. "Nightmares that Hordak would come to the Crystal Castle and kill us all. All except me, that is. I would then take my sword and try to change into She-Ra, but I wouldn't be able to. I just couldn't for some reason."

"I suppose," He-Man began, "we've had too much of the opposite thing."

"I guess so."

"I'm going downstairs. I need to help people boost morale. We're taking on the Great Towers soon. To do so, we're going to have to be at the top of our game."

"Good idea."

"She-Ra . . ."

"Yes, He-Man?"

"Are you going to talk to the Great Rebellion? Bow and Glimmer and all of them?"

She paused. "No. Not right now, anyway."

"Alright. I suppose it's for the best. Telling them too much might just reveal my identity as well. I'll see you later. Good night, sis."

"He-Man, just one more thing."

"Yeah?"

"Times have changed. This isn't the same war we've been fighting. We never shared our true identities with anyone because we feared those close to us being hurt. But, well, it's too late. Those close to us have already been hurt. I don't think it really matters anymore . . ."

He-Man paused in thought. "Maybe. We'll see."

"Good night, He-Man."

"Good night, She-Ra."

***

The metal was heated to perfection, then pounded and pounded until it reached the state that Spikor wanted it. As head of weapons and commander of the armory, the spiked warrior forged many blades, along with hundreds of other weapons in the five years Skeletor has been absent.

For underneath the dark clouds of billowing smoke and thunder, sat Snake Mountain. It's busy, even for this hour.

"Spikor!" shouted Beast Man. "Evil Lynn wants to see you!"

"I'm busy!" Spikor replied harshly.

"That was not a choice, Spikor," said Evil Lynn from behind Beast Man.

Spikor sighed and dosed his latest sword in water. "Yes, mistress."

A few minutes later, Evil Lynn took Skeletor's throne and sat before a large table that held the leaders and warriors of Skeletor's former might.

"So," she began, "I have heard of news."

"What kind of news?" asked Tri-klops.

"He-Man has joined with She-Ra. They've destroyed the Fright Zone."

"Ha ha!" laughed Karg, the one-handed leader of the goblin army.

"Good. Save us the trouble," followed-up Webstor.

"There's more," she continued. "He and She-Ra are here on Eternia. Along with the entire Royal army and the Defenders of Grayskull and Eternia."

Trap-Jaw pounded the table with his fist. "Curses!"

"They are building an army at the ruins of Eternos."

"Bah!" Stinkor said. "We should strike now. Get it over with."

Evil Lynn shook her head. "I have a better idea, Stinkor. We will stay our hand. He-Man and She-Ra will dispose of Hordak for us, then take over the Great Towers. The re-building of Eternos will commence afterwards. Peace, my friends, will reign."

"And then we strike!" shouted Jitsu.

"When he least expects it. We'll bring war to Eternia when he wants peace. A crushing defeat, considering the army we've built ourselves."

"An excellent plan, milady," said Karg.

"Well-done," followed Tri-Klops.

"Me like!" "Me too!" said the two-headed, Two-Bad.

"Good. Now, dismissed!"

The entire group left the chamber. Evil Lynn waited until they were all gone, then reached out with her power and slammed all the doors of the room shut. She then walked over to a large crystal ball. With a few waves of her hand, an image formed.

It was Skeletor, thin and in tattered clothing, walking through a barren land. He was parched and wasting away.

"Don't worry, my master Skeletor, we'll rescue you soon enough. But this time, only when I deem it appropriate!"

***

He-Man stood in the throne chamber of Eternos with She-Ra. Dawn was cracking over the horizon and light was filling the dirty and broken room.

"We will fix this, my brother," She-Ra said.

"I hope so," He-Man replied.

"You can bet your swords on it!" exclaimed Man-At-Arms as he limped in.

"Duncan!" shouted He-Man as both he and his sister ran over to the warrior. "You should be resting."

"Yeah, well," Duncan said, "I needed to show you that I'll be alright for tomorrow."

"You're not fighting, Man-At-Arms," demanded He-Man.

"You are no where near in condition to - "

He raised his hand. "I'm not going to be doing much fighting. I've got a plan trust. Besides," he said, turning to the thrones, "I have other reasons to be up and about."

A silence in between them as soft, golden sunlight came through the windows and smashed wall and ceiling - glimmering on the two great thrones.

"We'll get them back, kiddos," he assured them. "But first, let's give them a place to come back to."