CHAPTER NINE

"Taking Charge"

"This is incredible."

Adam in the doorway of one of the gigantic vaults within the Great Towers. Reflecting in his eyes were the treasures that once resided within Eternos. Hordak must have raided them and moved them here.

"I told we found something, didn't I?" asked Fisto with a grin.

"Yes," Adam answered. "Yes indeed."

"So," wondered Rio Blast, "should we be movin' all this stuff on yonder to Eternos?"

"No. Not yet. We're not completely secured there," Adam said. "And we still have a lot more to do."

"Adam," said Clamp Champ, entering. "All of the vehicles that Hordak took are up and running."

"Great. Perfect. Listen, I'm heading over to Eternos. Duncan needs a hand with some of the plans for its rebuilding. Plus, I've got a meeting with the leaders of the Lizard People, the Avions, and the Insectiods."

"Right, good buddy," Clamp Champ grinned.

"I'll see you all later."

King Adam walked out of the vault and towards the garage that Hordak apparently stored all of the vehicles that were raided and stolen. He hopped into one of the Talon Fighters and took off into the morning sky.

"Hard to believe, huh?" asked Fisto.

"Reckon so," Rio Blast. "Didn't know that kid could be He-Man."

"I never would have guessed," Clamp Champ said. "But they both saved our butts a dozen times over. I think we should trust them."

"Me too."

"Reckon."

Soon enough, Adam arrived at Eternos. Construction was difficult, but the amount of work being done in just these two days was astounding. Adam grinned as he watched Moss Man communicate with the plants. Adam had decided to keep at least some of them where they were. Eternos looked incredible with them. Of course, in some places (like bedrooms), they were unwanted. Moss Man had those change their direction.

Adam was happy to see many different people from some of the newly liberated villages. He and Adora had been working on a proposal to actually move all of the villages to Eternos, or at least increase the population. The mayors would be meeting with him and his sister later this month to decide on this.

In the meantime, there was other business to attend to.

Adam entered into the throne room, where the most construction and clean-up had been taking place. Granted, it was far from perfect, but it was still getting some where.

He sat in his father's chair, next to Adora.

"Your guests have arrived," said Lubic.

"Well, show them in," Adam ordered. "These people are guests. More than that, they are like are brothers now."

The doors of the great hall opened and in walked Stratos with a group of representatives from Avion. Behind them was Buzz Off and some of the Insectiods. Finally, came Lizard Man, who had remained on Eternia to tend for his people. All three species had gone into hiding. Especially the Insectiods and the Avions, who were leaderless. Stratos had ordered his people into hiding so he could better serve Eternia with the rebellion.

"Greetings friends!" Adam exclaimed, standing from his chair.

"Welcome to Eternos," Adora followed.

"Thanks for having us," Lizard Man said.

"Gentlemen and ladies, the proposed treaty? How do you vote on it?"

Stratos nodded. "You have the full support of Avion behind you. We will aid in the reconstruction of Eternos is you will aid us in getting rid of scavengers that have seemed to take advantage of the Avion abandonment."

"Of course, old friend," Adam replied, taking his hand.

"And what of you, Buzz Off?" asked Adora.

"We will help as well. As both the leader of the Insectiods and a member of your Defenders, I give the support of my people if you will help in the protection of our caverns."

"Yes, you have our pledge."

"Then, let there be peace," said Buzz Off.

"What about you, Lizard Man?"

Lizard Man paused. "I . . . I am afraid I have little to offer you. My people took heavy losses during the war. We were forced to flee into the deepest and darkest of caverns to escape."

"I understand. Now tell me, what can we do for you?"

"Wh-what?"

"You heard me," Adam returned. "What can we do for you?"

"But I have nothing to offer you."

"Your friendship is all we need from you," said Adam.

"This makes no sense! Both Buzz Off and Stratos are giving you strength and support - "

"Because they are friends, Lizard Man," Adora said. "That is why we are giving them full protection. If you offer your friendship to us, then we will be available to help you whenever trouble is abound in your lands."

"You . . . you would do that?"

"Yes," Adam replied.

"Then, I will sign your treaty."

"Excellent."

"If the time comes, King Adam, that you are in need of great help. Know then that whatever strength the Lizard People have, it will be behind you!"

Adam laughed. "Friend, you have yourself a deal! Now, I'm sorry to cut this short, but Adora and I are due in Etheria in an hour. I will see tonight for dinner, correct?"

"Yes," Stratos replied.

"Indeed," Buzz Off followed.

"Of course," Lizard Man began, "my new ally."

Adam and Adora shook hands with the leaders and their friends and started off to another section of the slowly reconstructed palace.

"It's good to see our four peoples getting along," Adam said.

"Indeed. Though I do miss Mother and Father."

"Me too. I wonder what they're doing on Earth."

"Who knows," Adora replied. "Is this all of the negotiating that will take place?"

Adam shook his head. "No. There is still one more place I need to be. But that can wait until later tonight. Maybe even tomorrow."

"Oh?"

"Yes. I don't think I need to tell you why I was so interested in getting those treaties signed, do I?"

"I'm afraid so, brother."

"Well, then let's just say that there's still one more SNAKE in the grass . . ."

***

"I've been replacing a lot of his systems. They were getting rusty in that dank place," said Gwildor.
"I would think so," replied Man-At-Arms.

The two were sitting in Man-At-Arms' laboratory. Roboto was standing before them, almost completely fixed up. Man-At-Arms opened up a panel in Roboto's back and greased a few gears.

"It should help the generator," Gwildor said.

"How are you doing, kid?" Man-At-Arms asked Roboto.

"Major systems are aligned. Many sub-systems must be re-routed," Roboto told him.

"We're working on that. Don't worry."

***

"No," She-Ra said, straight and blunt.

"I don't think there's much of a chose," He-Man told her.

"There is. It's suicide."

Light-Hope flashed. "It is not," it told her. "Focusing all of my power into the darkness will allow for it to break."

"There's no guarantee. It might not work. We should get the Soceress over here, He-Man."

"Should would say the same exact thing."

"Light-Hope, please don't do this. There's got to be another way."

Light-Hope flashed again. "She-Ra . . . Adora . . . the power that holds this planet's life-force has swayed. The black oil-like substance Hordak used on Etheria has hardened. There is no more power or magic behind it. If allow myself to enter into it, I will be able to work my way around the planet. When I do, my power will be able to smash the oil and set everyone free."

"It makes sense," He-Man cooed.

"I suppose . . ." She-Ra tried. "I just wish . . ."

"I am Hope-Light, She-Ra. I was made to fight darkness and despair."

"Alright. Just . . . do this."

Light-Hope flashed once more. "It will take much time to spread the world. But soon enough, Etheria will be freed."

"Right. Okay. Go."

"Yes."

Light-Hope suddenly grew brilliantly bright. Then, it became a beam of pure, golden energy that shot from the Crystal Castle and ran right into the solidified oil. As soon as it did, gold light, like little rivers, began to appear on the surface.

"It said it would take awhile."

"Yeah," She-Ra replied, her eyes staring out at it.

"Let's go home."

"I am home."

He-Man paused. "I mean . . ."

"I know. Back to Eternia."

***

Long after the great feast was completed, Adam took a few moments to wander down to a nearby river. He sat upon a log and looked up at the night sky, his mind lost in thought.

There was so much going on here. Hordak was defeated and imprisoned with the rest of his Horde Elite. They were under watch of the best and greatest of warriors - even now at such a late hour. The Sword of Deception had been recovered and sealed back in Castle Grayskull. The reconstruction of Eternos was growing stronger. All of the Eternian Soldiers and the Defenders had returned. The process of freeing Etheria had begun. And the full support of three peoples.

But even through all of this, there were still many questions.

Who was that that attacked He-Man in orbit? He checked and it wasn't anything like what Hordak was capable of creating.

Plus, there was still Snake Mountain to deal with.

And his parents.

"You look like you have a lot on your mind," said a sweet voice from behind.

Adam looked back to find Teela standing in the moonlight.

"Teela," he breathed. "I . . ."

"I know. We've all been busy. We need to talk."
"Yeah."

"Is now a good time?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Okay."

"Let's talk then." Adam paused. "I think, well, I need to tell you about He-Man."

"Yeah. I was kinda wondering about that."

"I guess I could tell you HOW this all happened."

"Don't bother. Oroko already told the whole story."

"Oh."

"Yeah. You told Oroko and not me?"

"He wasn't supposed to know. He just caught me in the act."

Teela smiled. "I figured."

"Teela, there was a reason I never told you. I was trying to protect. . ."

"I know. You were just trying to protect everyone by not telling them the truth."

"Because the truth could leak out. If Skeletor had found out, he would know my vulnerabilities. You and my parents. And my friends."

"He knew that already," Teela said out-front. "He knew we were your soft-spots."

"Maybe. But he didn't know HOW important you were to me."

"Just me or everybody?"

"Eh . . . uh . . . both."

"I see," she said with a tingling in her voice. "I've got a question."

"Shot."

"He-Man and Adam. Are they both different entities existing in the same body? Like, when you lift your sword and say whatever, is it another personality that comes out?"

"No," Adam answered. "The Sword of Power it . . . it kinda channels whatever is in your heart and soul and manifests it. Like Adora. She maybe pretty frail and weak on the outside, but her sword allows the goodness of her heart to come to manifest. She becomes what's inside. That's the same thing with me."

"So, it takes the wonderful and kind guy you are inside and makes you the living personification of that?"

"Exactly. Now that doesn't mean we react the same. Like when you and He-Man kissed, I mean . . . I didn't feel much."

"Oh. I didn't . . . I didn't know - "

"No, Teela, it's okay," Adam assured her. "Because when we kissed the other night. Just that peck, I felt something much more amazing than what I experienced when I was He-Man."

"Oh. I-I see."

"I'm sorry. I guess that . . ."

"No, Adam. No. It makes sense. I mean, that wasn't really the REAL you. It was like a mask, right?"

"Right."

She nodded. "Right. Then, I wonder . . ."

"Wonder what?"

"What this will feel like."

She pressed her lips against his. Adam responded and began to kiss her back. Teela broke and looked at him.

"Wonderful," Adam said.

He then took her in his arms and they kissed passionately underneath the stars and the moon. They broke again.

"Adam."

"Yeah?"

"I have a confession to make . . ."

"What's that?"

"For years, I've had this kinda, crush on you. And on He-Man. When the both of you left, I was vulnerable. I didn't understand why when the two of you left, it only felt like one of you were gone. It still hurt, but for some reason, I kept thinking of you two as the same person. After all this time, now . . . oh, Adam, I've missed you so much."

She hugged the young King.

"I . . . I've missed you, too, Teela," Adam said. "With all of my heart, I've missed you."

"Adam?" she asked from his shoulder. Tears were starting to appear. "I . . . I need to tell you that I . . . I . . . I love you with all my heart."

He squeezed her tight. "I love you too, Teela. For the longest time, I have."

She moved back from his embraced and wiped a tear away. Adam pulled her next to him and the pair kissed once more.