CHAPTER TWELVE

"Against the Giant"

As the colorful leaves fell to the ground, the great city of Eternos continued its reconstruction. Surprisingly enough, the great effort that was put into it was quickly paying off. Man-At-Arms predicted that the entire city and the palace would be completely finished in two weeks.

Teela looked out the window of her room and watched as children laughed in the courtyard. It was such a joy. Addison was in the next room, playing with some toys.

She sighed and wondered how Adam was doing. They had heard nothing since they entered Snake Mountain, which was to be expected.

"You miss him, too?" asked Cringer, his communication spell reactivated.

"Yes, Cringer. A lot," she said sadly.

"I know," said the large cat as it walked next to her. "He's my best friend. I would do anything for him."

Teela smiled. "Even conquer your fears?"

"As Battle Cat, I can. I'm always afraid until he turns me into Battle Cat. But now . . . ever since the Fright Zone, nothing fears me like it used to."

"That's good to here, Cringer."

"One thing does fear me, Teela."

"And what's that?"

"The thought of Adam not coming home."

"So am I, my friend. So am I."

***

Adam cracked open the canister and in seconds, a small fire roared next to them. "This should keep us lit for the night," he said. They had been going down this tunnel all day. According to Roboto's digital clocks, it was getting late. With weariness within them all, the group decided to take a good night's sleep.

And so they slumbered restfully. Adam no longer felt the need to unsheathe his sword, though he kept a good handle on it all night.

Roboto woke the others early the next morning and they all began their journey anew in the darkness of the tunnel. Adam led them all. The tunnel itself seemed never-ending. It just went on and on and on. At some points, it would grow small enough for only a crawl. Others, it would be large enough for Mekaneck to have a good look. But usually, it was just about the right size. It also, though, couldn't seem to make up its mind whether to go up or down.

The group had ascended and descended so many times, they couldn't tell if they were close or far away from the surface. All that was known was that it was dark and forward was the only way they could go.

After five hours of travel, there was a definite change in the tunnel. "Look here," said Roboto. "Foot prints."

"Can you identify them, Roboto?"

The android scanned them. "It will take a few moments to cross-reference."

"Take your time."

"There's also some scarring on the rocks here, Adam," Ram Man pointed out. "All along this section of the tunnel."

"Here's something else," reported Snout Sprout from a little up ahead. "Wood. Or well, smashed wood. And metal."

"There was door here," Adam realized. "A thick one."

"These footprints belong to Snake Face, Adam," said Roboto. "But they are very old."

"They must have smashed the door apart. But why would it have given them so much trouble? Even for such a thick door, it wouldn't have been very hard to bash their way in," Adam wondered. "It must have been enchanted."

"If it is, it's not anymore," Snout Sprout realized. "I think we should get moving."

The gang stepped passed the remains of the door and continued down the tunnel.

***

Adora stepped into Man-At-Arm's lab and watched as the brillant scientist and fearsome warrior worked at a nearby computer station.

"Man-At-Arms?"

He turned around. "Call me Duncan, your highness."

She smiled. "And you can call me Adora."

"Alright. What can I do for you?"

"I was wondering how the search was progressing?"

He shook his head. "We're trying our hardest, both Gwildor and I. But the harmonics for Earth are very difficult to create. Plus, most of my lab equipment keeps failing. It's getting harder and harder to get any work done."

Duncan stood up, leaning on a cane.

"Is . . . there anything I can do?"

"No, not right now. Unless you can think of the energy variance for whatever part of the universe Earth is in."

"No, I'm sorry," she laughed.

He smiled. "Then I suppose I'm stuck trying to remember who to do this."

"Didn't you go to Earth before? Don't you remember the harmonics from that trip?"

"No. They won't work. You see, we believe that the universe is constantly expanding. We have proof of it, thanks to the bundle of technology that Flipshot gave us as reward for loaning out our only He-Man. Anyways - the universe is constantly expanding. As it is, everything is in constant motion. In the seven years its been since our visit to Earth, the planet had moved just enough to change the harmonics."

"Great."

"Yeah. But don't you worry your little head about that. We'll take care of this. You just work on ruling the world, okay?"

***

In the darkness of the tunnel, Adam, Roboto, Ram Man, and Snout Sprout worked their way farther and farther away from the remains of the door. They noticed that their air was less stale where they headed.

It was then, they came to a complete stop. They were now on a small ledge overlooking a large chamber held up by big towers. Even moreso, there were fires lit below. These towers - supports - looked man-made.

"Let's get down there," Adam told them.

"How?"

"Here!" Roboto pointed. There was a small set of stars just off to their left. The four climbed down the stairs and onto the large cavern floor. As soon as they reached it, they couldn't help by notice that the floor was covered in sand and not dirt.

"Strange," noted Adam.

"I dunno," gave Ram Man.

"Adam, take a look over here," said Snout Sprout. Adam walked over to the far wall, where there were nearly a dozens small tunnel entrances.

"I wonder what these are? And where they led?"

"King Adam!" shouted Roboto. "I sense movement!"

Adam and Snout Sprout ran over to Ram Man and Roboto. The android was focused completely on the dimmed light ahead.

"He's right!" Ram Man exclaimed. "The sand is movin'!"

Indeed. The sand on the floor in the middle of the cavern churned and began to pile up. Then, the sand fell off. In its place was large, angry giant. He had green screen, black armor and dark hair. The giant held a large, stone club.

He groaned loudly and lurched towards them, swinging his club around.

"Keep him off his toes! Give me a chance to change into - "

It was too late. The giant smashed the ground with his club. The very cavern shook with the impact. He then grabbed hold of Adam and threw him into one of the small tunnels. He slid down it quickly. It was narrow and was nearly straight down. Try as he may, he could not stop himself.

In fact, he couldn't even bother when he smacked his head against the side and was knocked unconscious. His body just continued to slide down the tunnel.