CHAPTER TWO

"Riot"

Count Marzo stood in front of the large pit and found himself a little surprised. Where Snake Mountain once towered, there was now nothing more than a gigantic gorge unleashing a huge fire. He rubbed his chin and sighed.

"I miss the snake," he noted to himself. "Oh well. Next?"

Suddenly, the environment changed completely. Now, he stood at the edge of a great chasm. Marzo had expected to see Castle Grayskull, but was shocked when he was face-to-face with a huge tower in its place. Beyond that, there seemed to be no more drawbridge nor even a discernable entrance to the green-bricked tower.

"So I suppose we should just be calling this one 'Grayskull Tower?' Next please?"

Once more, all that was around him changed. Count Marzo now stood at the entrance of Eternos. It was in its eighth day of celebration for the birth of Joshua.

"How nice. Alright, I've seen enough," Count Marzo ordered. The scenery disappeared and revealed a large, black room with green lights coming from the floor, ceiling, and walls.

"Holo-display ended," Chimera told his master.

"Good. Prepare for an attack soon, Chimera. I have some business to attend to."

***

Passing a large window, Doctor Ronan paused and wiped his glasses. He had been here for nearly two weeks, arriving by the request of Adam from Primus. Ronan was an expert in the field of psychology and had been asked to evaluate the 'evil warriors.'

He walked up to the large steel door at the so-called 'Holding Zone,' the prison for the Horde Elite, the Snake Men and whoever was left over from Skeletor's cadre of 'evil warriors.' It was not a fun task, but Doctor Ronan found himself fascinated by this. He pressed in his access code and walked in.

His patient that day was Tri-Klops. The triple-eyed enemy of Eternia and Etheria sat restrained in a chair as Ronan sat across from him.

"I kept hearing about a coup against Skeletor, Tri-Klops," Doctor Ronan brought up. "Maybe you can shed some light on this?"

Tri-Klops laughed. "When you have three eyes with three different purposes, you see things very differently. Skeletor trained us too well, Doc. We knew the forces of evil that drove us very well. And part of evil is deception and betrayal. I'll admit it. We were all planning to overthrow him at one time or another. Evil Lynn just beat us to it."

"Do you resent Evil Lynn's push for power over you all?"

"Of course, Doc, of course. But it doesn't matter. That was in the past and I don't like to look through that eye very often."

Doctor Ronan paused and looked up at Tri-Klops. "Why not?"

The villain looked uneasy for a second, but steeled himself quickly. "The past brings pain. That's something I don't need. Not right now."

"What eye do you look through, then?"

"The present, Doc. Now are we done? I'm tired of all this!"

"Of course, Tri-Klops. Of course."

Doctor Ronan saw the villain out, then looked over his notes. Tri-Klops was an interesting one indeed. So much pain, so much strength. He would be perfect . . .

***

Hours later, King Adam and Queen Teela slept soundly as Joshua was slumbering in the next room. It was late and both were more than ready for the celebrations to be over so they could move on with their lives. Sadly, though, it would not be so.

Adam awoke to a pounding on his door. He pulled himself awake from his dream and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Teela stirred slightly, but didn't wake. Adam was thankful - she needed her rest. As the pounding continued, Adam finally made it over to the door. He pulled it open and found Fisto standing there. That would explain why it was a pound on the door and not a simple knock.

"What is it?"

"Pardon my intrusion, but there's been a problem."

Adam could see the graveness on Fisto's face and therefore stepped completely into the hallway, closing the door slightly.

"What's wrong?"

"There's been a jailbreak on Etheria. A riot is going on in the Holding Zone. Queen Adora has asked for reinforcements."

Adam took a breath. This could be bad. "Wake anyone that you can."

"Already done, sire."

"Good. Then contact Gwildor. We need the gate open immediately. I'll be with you in a few minutes."

"Excellent sire."

Adam walked back into his bedroom. Teela was already sitting up, looking at him with curious eyes. She had always possessed the ability to go from tired to fully awake in a matter of seconds.

"What's going on, Adam?"

"A riot at the Holding Zone. Ram-Man-At-Arms is heading off with reinforcements."

"Are you going too?"

"I . . ." Adam suddenly paused. It had been some time since he had seen battle. But the problem was that he wasn't He-Man anymore. Nearly every battle he's fought in the past 12 years have been as He-Man. As Adam, though . . . this was different. "I don't know. Yes. I suppose I will."

He began to undress as Teela stood and wandered over to him. "Adam, you're not as strong as He-Man was."

"I know, Teela, but I am a warrior. Maybe not as strong as my former alterego, but most definitely as smart. I know what I'm doing."

"Good. And so do I," Teela told him, beginning to undress as well. Adam quickly outstretched his hand and placed it on her arm.

"No."

"Adam, you need me."

"You just gave birth two days ago. You're not up to this. Besides, you're needed her with the children."

Teela looked insulted. "What? Adam, I'm not some sort of mother hen. You can't expect me to - "

"Tonight I can. This isn't about sexism, Teela. It's about responsibilities. I need you to remain here and protect the children. You're a mother now, Teela."

"I was a mother too, when Hordak invaded."

"That was different. You had no choice. Now you do. Watch over our children. I'm worried for them."

"What do you mean 'worried?'"

"Adora was kidnapped only a few weeks after she was born, and that was during a battle. I just don't want the same thing to happen to our children. You're the greatest warrior I know, Teela, and I trust you with my most precious of all things. My children. This is not your battle, Teela, and even if it is - your role has changed."

Teela sighed and looked away for a moment. Then, she turned back to her husband. "You're right. My responsibility is here. With our children. Just promise me one thing, Adam?"

"What's that?"

"Come back to me."

"Promise."

***

After everything that he had been through with Doctor Ronan, Tri-Klops felt awfully violent. So when Ninjor managed to escape, he had coerced his old friend from Snake Mountain to let him lose as well. From there - members from the Horde, Snake Men, and the rest of Skeletor's former minions were unleashed.

It was no surprise to anyone that Tri-Klops led the riot. Especially after the quite revealing interview with Ronan.

"Bow, we're being overwhelmed!" yelled out Sea Hawk. He was carrying Glimmer in his arms - she had just received any smack to her face from Whiplash. The two of them - not counting Glimmer - were running towards the nearby cafeteria.

"Tell me about it! I'm trying my best here!" Bow shouted back in reply.

He quickly drew another arrow as the onslaught of villains surged forth. He was a bit surprised. For years, King Hiss, Hordak, and Skeletor had hated each other and pit their agents against the other. But now . . . without their leaders . . . the agents were acting as one.

Bow, suddenly, had to put the thought of out his mind as the entire wall came crumbling down. Tri-Klops stood there, the dust and drywall crumbling down. Behind him were scores of evil warriors ready to kill Sea Hawk, Glimmer, and Bow on sight.

But before anything could happen, the entire room filled with blue light. A gate opened, and out charged King Adam - waving his family sword. Behind him were Ram-Man-At-Arms, Fisto and a number of other members of the Heroic Warriors.

As this army from Eternia shot forward, Adam spun and turned to Glimmer. She was finally coming around. "Are you okay?" he asked her.

"Yeah, I think so."

"Good. I have an idea. Oroko, come here!"

Meanwhile, the others were busy fighting the evil warriors. Ram-Man-At-Arms bashed Sssqueeze, sending him right into Trap Jaw - who was notably missing his robotic arm. Indeed, many of these warriors were missing either their weapons or their had their most vital powers suspended somehow.

"Ugh," muttered Extendar as he punched out Webstor, "we're getting too old for this."

"Tell me about it," Mekaneck replied, his head dodging odors from Stinkor.

"You guys are push-overs!" Ram-Man-At-Arms yelled. He went flying forward, then, right into Tri-Klops. Tri-Klops was smashed against the wall, knocked out.

"Are you ready?" asked Adam as Glimmer stood next to Oroko.

"As I'll ever be."

"Good. Okay, Oroko, reach out and find all of the villains. Show Glimmer where to teleport."

"I'm tryin' . . . I'm tryin' . . ." replied the Trollian. "Got 'em!"

"Good! Glimmer?"

"Oroko's magic is allowing my own to lock onto all of them. I can do this!"

At that moment, Glimmer reached with her teleportation powers and all of the villains disappeared. As soon as they did, they all then reappeared inside the cells!

"They're in!"

"Oroko!"

Oroko reached out then, with his own powers, and slammed each of the doors shut and locked. They did it!

A few minutes passed, allowing the heroes to check each of the cells. Adam was tired once more, and ready to head back to the palace and to his wonderful wife.

"Well?" he asked, a little impatient. King Sea Hawk looked up at his brother-in-law with an uncertain feeling.

"All present and accounted for, except . . ."

"Except for?"

"Except for Ninjor. He's nowhere to be found," King Sea Hawk said. "We're searching the entire base, but nothing so far. He must have escaped. I'm putting out a search party."

"Use any of my people if you have to, Sea Hawk."

"Sure thing. But why don't you get some rest. It's two o'clock on Eternia right now, but it's only seven here. We'll let you know as soon as we find anything."

Adam yawned, then nodded. "Thanks. I'll see you in a couple hours."

***

Ninjor was heading south, out of the Holding Zone and the area around it - which had started to grow vegetation quite quickly since Hordak was no longer polluting the area. He had made a stop at the armory and recovered his weaponry, but he wasn't quite sure why he was let lose. All he knew was that he pushed on his door and it opened up. Something was going on that wasn't being told about.

And Ninjor was not happy about that.

He paused as he came into some trees. Something wasn't right here.

"Hello Ninjor."

Doctor Ronan appeared before him, quite suddenly, holding a small device in his hand. Ninjor unsheathed his sword.

"Ronan . . ." he muttered. "You are the one that set me free?"

"Yes. But I've been doing that for years, Ninjor."

"Why?"

Ronan paused, playing with the device in his hand. "Tell me, Ninjor, what is your first memory?"

"What? What game are you playing here, Ronan?!"

"No games. Not anymore. Your first memory, Ninjor, it's of Snake Mountain. Suddenly appearing before it, like you just woke from a dream. Finding yourself allied with Skeletor to fight a warrior you know is your enemy. He-Man."

"Shut up!" Ninjor shouted, holding his sword tighter.

"Not remembering anything, not even your own training. But it is a part of you, just as is your primal instincts. All you know is that you are Ninjor. A warrior that must fight He-Man. But why? Why? Why is this so? And why, being so frustrated, can't you strike me down?"

Ninjor was fuming beneath his mask. His eyes, though, grew wide as the form of Doctor Ronan dissolved . . . and Count Marzo appeared in his place - the device still in hand. "Because I hold the secrets to your past!"

Marzo pressed a button on his device, and suddenly everything began to grow dark for the warrior named Ninjor.