CHAPTER FIFTEEN

"Snakes Under Grayskull"

Adam fingered the Sword of Power in his hands. "I'm . . . I'm no longer sure of this . . ." he said, his voice meek.

Eldor nodded. "I understand," he answered. "But I'm afraid you have no choice. The tunnels were created as energy channels. Meaning, they led to Castle Grayskull. King Hiss knew of this and took his Snake Men Elite with him. They are underneath Castle Grayskull, attempting to gain access to its vast power. He's spent years in these caverns. Down each one. There are split off tunnels, you know? He's gotten lost, raged war against the beasts placed here, and has only one last obstacle to overcome."

"The gateway into Grayskull."

"He's been there for six months, searching for its key. There is an eagle there, not unlike Zoar. It keeps watch of the gate. But its strength is faltering."

Adam nodded. "But still . . . what you told me . . ."

"Has been happening for years. You will find, Adam, that whether or not you are a pawn does not always matter. The strength to wield and use that sword is within you. Never forget that."

"I suppose I should get used to doing this again," Adam muttered. "But, I'm very reluctant. Knowing what I know now . . . it scares me, I suppose. I feel like becoming He-Man is like submitting myself."

"The power of Grayskull was created far before the Zodak came here. It is the power you wield. The purpose is determined by what you do. Not by them. No matter what their intention."

"But you had said . . ."

"Adam, listen to me," Eldor returned, placing his hand on Adam's shoulder. "The balance was disrupted. You may have been a tool in all this, but your heart is what has guided you. Use He-Man - your tool - as whatever you heart tells you."

"I suppose it makes sense," Adam mused. "I still don't feel comfortable with this, but it seems I have no choice. BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL! I HAVE THE POWER!"

After a few hours of running through yet another tunnel, He-Man arrived at another shattered doorway. It was not unfamiliar. The same destructive pattern, the same reasons. He moved on. He never stopped running. Never stopped.

***

As evening fell upon Eternos, Adora walked into her bedroom. She fell onto her bed, exhausted. There was so much going on. Too much, really. She and Adam's plan to unite the peoples of Eternia was easier said than done.

Many of the other species (Elves, Trolls, Widgets, etc) had gone into hiding when Hordak conquered. No one knows where they went to. Adora sighed and closed her eyes.

Where could they be . . . where could they be . . . ?

Her eyes snapped open. She knew now where. Adora grasped hold of her sword. "FOR THE HONOR OF GRAYSKULL! I AM SHE-RA!"

A few minutes later, the pegacorn named Swift-Wind carried She-Ra from Eternos and off to the north. To Castle Grayskull.

"I wonder where she's headed to," questioned Ram Man, nursing a beer in the courtyard.

"Ah, who knows?" Moss Man replied, very content with his water.

***

Hours - perhaps even days - after He-Man began his journey, he realized something very different about this tunnel. It was going up instead of down. He found himself feeling relieved. Soon, he would be at Castle Grayskull. He would break the surface and be home and --

"Got him!"

Two long arms flew around He-Man's body. "NO!"

"Good job, Sssqueeze . . ." said a figure from before He-Man. He saw who it was. King Hiss.

"You. Let me go!" He-Man shouted, fighting against the arms that binded him. Alas, for every strain He-Man gave, it would be only tighten the arms even more.

"Kobra Khan, if you will . . ."

The Repton stepped forward and sprayed a substance on He-Man's face. Everything then began to grow dark.

"Alright, let's get him inside the chamber."

They gang of Snake Men - King Hiss, Kobra Khan, Snake Face, Tunglashor, Ratlor, and Sssqueeze - marched into a great chamber. It was nearly identical to the one beneath Snake Mountain. Even with the ledge and the long staircase.

"Oh, Guardian!" sang King Hiss. "Come on out, will you?"

A huge orange, blue, and white eagle came from above and screeched at gang. It then spotted He-Man in their clutches.

"Yes, that's right. We've got He-Man. We'll kill him if you don't let us up there. We're not bluffing."

Meanwhile, above in Castle Grayskull's throne room, the Soceress sensed the danger that He-Man was in.

"No," she muttered. She stepped down from her throne and walked into the tunnel that led down to the chamber.

Just as she had, She-Ra came to the drawbridge.

"Come on, you stupid bird. Let us through!" Hiss commanded.

"It's not moving," Tunglashor thought aloud.

The Guardian screeched and flapped its wings. In a flash, the Soceress appeared in front of them all. Behind her was the Guardian, who looked more than ready for a fight.

"Get her!" shouted King Hiss.

Snake Face unleashed the small vipers from his facial holes. Though his intent was to transform her into stone, she somehow was able to deflect it.

"Stand down," Soceress said sternly.

"No! And if you do not let us pass, then we will kill He-Man."

He-Man, in an unconscious state, began to mutter to himself. "Pawns . . . meaningless . . . nothing more than pawns . . ."

"Hey! He's waking up!" observed Rattlor.

"Uh . . . wha . . .?"

He-Man awoke slowly and realized what was going on. By instinct, he smacked the back of his head against Sssqueeze's face. The snake man fell backwards. He-Man regained himself. Rattlor made for him, but He-Man grabbed his elongated head and tossed him against the wall.

Snake Face bolted towards the hero, but He-Man grabbed Rattlor. Rattlor was suddenly turned into a stone statue. He-Man then smashed Snake Face against Kobra Khan and bashed them both into the wall numerous times.

Then, he threw them at Tung Lashor, who was shocked at He-Man's sudden ferocity.

He-Man then turned to King Hiss. Hiss held a knife to Soceress' throat.

"Don't move, He-Man, or I'll cut slit her throat."

He-Man paused and looked at him very closely. King Hiss held the knife a little closer to the Sorceress's throat.

Then, in a flash, He-Man was on top of King Hiss. He pulled King Hiss's arm away from her neck and ripped it off.

A withering snake frazzled about from socket.

"No more lies! No more deception!"

He-Man ripped off King Hiss's skin to reveal his true form. Nearly a dozen, vicious, living vipers. They made for He-Man's flesh but he struck first. He punched the central, lead one. King Hiss faltered a bit, moved forward again. He-Man punched in the head again. And then He-Man kicked him. And bashed him.

He-Man then slammed him onto the ground and laid into King Hiss. He punched him. And punched him. And punched him. And pounded him. And pounded him.

Pound.

Punch.

Pound.

Punch.

He-Man had entered into a bresker rage. His anger shot through him and boiled his blood. King Hiss could barely hear anything but the sound of fists against scales, but what he did make out was something that will forever stick out in his memory.

Pound.

"Pawns."

Punch.

"Lies."

Pound.

"Pawns."

Punch.

"Lies."

Punch.

Pound.

Punch.

Pound.

Punch.

Pound.

Pun -

"HE-MAN! STOP!"

He-Man stopped his fists in mind air as he felt She-Ra's hands touch his. He looked back to her and the Soceress. The Soceress looked shocked. She-Ra looked scared.

"I . . . he . . ."

He-Man looked at King Hiss. He was bruised and bloody. He-Man stood up and wiped the sweat from his brow.

"He-Man . . ." the Soceress began.

"NO."

She-Ra stepped forward. "He-Man, what's going on here?"

"Adora, I never knew the truth. Neither of us did."

"What do you mean? And why did you call me Adora? In this form, I'm - "

"You're my sister, aren't you? Forms don't matter anymore. They don't."

"Then what do you mean? What are you talking about?"

He-Man looked at her hard, then turned around and headed for the ledge. "We're nothing but toys, Adora. Nothing but toys."

There was a long silence between the Soceress and She-Ra as He-Man marched up the ledge.

"I . . . I could hear him from the throne room," she told to the Soceress. "Those punches, they were hard. Super-sonic, maybe."

"Indeed," the Soceress replied, tending to King Hiss. "He lives. He will be healed."

"I'll send for some back-up," She-Ra acknowledged. "They'll be taken the prison at the Great Towers."

The Soceress nodded. "Excellent."

"I . . . I came here because I figured out where the rest of the peoples of Eternia went to . . ."

"I sent them to another realm."

"I was hoping you . . . you could . . ."

"Another day, She-Ra. There is much I must dwell on this eve and much I must think on."

She-Ra looked at her straight on. "Right. Right."

***

Teela dressed into her pajamas and prepared to lay down for the night when there was knock at the door. She stopped at her bed and turned around to it. There was a second knock and she opened it.

"Adam?"

He looked at her, pathetically sad and very weary. "Teela . . . ?"

Adam put down his sword on a nearby chair and shed himself of his vest and boots. "Adam, what is it?"

She looked to him with more caring and concern that she had ever given him before.

"Teela . . . I had a bad dream."

Teela took the young King into her arms as a few tears drifted down his cheeks. She brought him to bed and held him against her chest. He closed his eyes and listened to her heartbeat.

"It's alright, Adam," she told him. "I've got you. I've got you."

And he fell asleep in the arms of the woman he loves.