CHAPTER FIVE

"Doing the Impossible"

Two days before Count Marzo promised his attack, Adam stood at the gates of Eternos, leaning up against a Road Ripper.

"I'll be back by the time Marzo shows up," Adam promised to Teela, who was holding his hand.

She smiled at him. "Don't be late. We don't want to start the party without you."

Adam laughed a little and pulled his wife closer to him, feeling her warm body next to his. He kissed her forehead and smiled at her. "I love you, Teela."

"I love you too," she answered quickly.

Adam then turned to Addison, then, and patted the eight-year-old on the head. "You keep good care of your mother while I'm gone, won't you?"

Addison smiled, a vacant spot appearing where he lost one of his teeth. "Yes sir!" he yelped gleefully.

"Daddy? Where you goin'?" asked Amelia, hugging her father.

"Off to save the planet, sweetie."

"Okay, Daddy, I love you."

"I love you too," Adam replied before turning to the newborn Joshua. He kissed his son on the forehead. Finally, he kissed Teela full on the lips.

"Good journey," she whispered.

He hopped onto the Road Ripper and took off into the sunset.

***

Ram-Man-At-Arms sat in front of the computer monitors, trying to figure out just what to do about the impending forces from space. Despite what Duncan had told him, he was still feeling awfully low about knowing that he couldn't help the way Duncan used to. He could do nothing more than smash things, couldn't he?

"And they're just gonna smash us," he thought. "Just like he . . . wait a minute . . ."

Why would Marzo warn them that he was coming to attack other than to . . . gather all of the greatest warriors together and smash them at all once? Then . . . to stop Marzo from smashing them, Ram-Man-At-Arms needs to smash them first. But how could he do that?

He couldn't. Ram-Man-At-Arms knew that. But who out there could? Not Zodak. Stondar and Rokkon haven't been to Eternia in years, plus they pretty much betrayed everyone's trust. But there had to someone out there that was space capable . . .

"I GOT IT!" Ram-Man-At-Arms shouted, snapping his fingers. "Computer: activate the comm-links. I got me an idea!"

***

Dust and dirt shot into the air as the Road Ripper tore across the Fertile Plains. Adam's mind was racing, and so was his vehicle, luckily. He would reach the Vine Jungle by dawn.

He was tired of this, but he wasn't quite surprised that someone would try to take over his planet once more. Ever since the defeat of Skeletor, Adam felt ready for this. That was why he never disbanded the Defenders. That was why he created the alliance between the major peoples of Eternia.

That . . . and he was making up for his sudden lose of He-Man form. As He-Man, Adam was more than ready to jump into battle. But now, without that ability, Adam felt useless. And as strong as he was, Adam could never - ever be as strong as he once was as He-Man.

Part of him felt useless and lazy. Unused and strange. There was a lot of himself that he put into He-Man, but now . . . now he couldn't. His life had changed so much since he gave up the Sword of Power. More than he was willing to admit.

Just then, Adam could see a faint blue light emanating from the compass that the Sorcer - that Teelana had given him. He was close. Adam barely even noticed it, but it was dawn now and he had entered into the Vein Jungle an hour ago.

He paused and began to slow down the Road Ripper. It was struggling with all the vines that he was running into. Adam came to a stop and stepped off of it, holding the compass up in his hand. Before he set off into the heart of the jungle, however, he pressed a key that cloaked the vehicle from sight.

Then, he went on through the hot and humid jungle.

For hours on end, he walked. He had to avoid the random snake or bird. The number and amount of insects was also disconcerting. About noontime, he paused for a quick lunch. But as soon as he had out the packet, he saw a few skittering creatures running in and out with his apple.

He sighed, finished the rest of his sandwich, took a quick swig of water, then marched on. The warmth was getting to him and he was forced to drop his cape behind him to also mark his trail.

The compass continued to glow as he walked north. His feet were hot and sweaty from the march and his mouth was dry. But it seemed that no matter how much water he drank, Adam stop his lips from becoming parched.

The terrain wasn't helping much either. The trees were growing thicker, with the underbrush becoming wilder and wilder. Vines stretched all around, usually holding hundreds of insects or other such creatures. The ground was very much becoming unstable. Rocks and large hills were consistently making things hard on him.

Adam was exhausted, and just wished it was all over. That he would reach his destination and be done with it.

Suddenly, Adam found himself staring at the compass. It was blazing blue and his eyes hurt from his constant gaze. But try as he may, Adam could not pry his eyes off it. He continued to walk - or stumble - towards north.

Then, suddenly, Adam tripped over a rock and found himself facing dirt. He looked up then and saw a huge grouping of rocks. They were all in a circle, sticking nearly eight feet into the sky and coming out of the ground at different angles.

Adam pushed himself to his feet, compass still in hand. He walked through two of the rocks and found himself staring at quite an interesting sight. There was a small tree growing out of the ground. It was only a bit higher than the rocks, but he hadn't noticed it before.

This tree, though, was thin and it was growing on and around a small pillar. On the top of this pillar was a statue of a burning bird - wings out stretched and bounds with branches from the tree. Adam stepped forward, opening the hand that held his compass.

The compass, then, flashed a blue light. The bird - a phoenix - glowed red hot. Adam stood mesmerized by this. And then - a beam of light shot from the phoenix and it held him mid-air. That was when everything around King Adam began to fade into white . . .

***

Chimera grinned as he walked on board the bridge of his ship. He was so happy that Count Marzo allowed him to take command of the invasion armada. Chimera had been promised the Mystic Mountains when this was all through. He had always admired the Mystic Mountains. Big and strong - just like him.

"Sir," said a robot the left, "we're detecting some sort of time/space warp. I'm getting you a visual."

A strange, purple energy appeared. It was circling in space. Then, suddenly, it flashed and a ship appeared in front of them.

"We're receiving a message," reported the same robot.

"Okay. Let's see it."

The image of a man appeared - he was dressed in all green and wore a glass dome over his head. "My name is Hydron of Primus. Your invasion fleet is currently on course to a planet that has allied us in past times. You are ordered to stand down."

"Never! You are only one ship!"

"Fine. Have it your way," Hydron replied. "Flipshot, close comm-link."

The image disappeared, once again replaced by the swirling warp. The swirling warp, then, began to flash once more. This time, it deposited dozens and dozens of ships that shot forward, engaging the armada swiftly.

***

"Who is this one?"

"His blood is bastard blood. He is a king, but his blood is mixed with off-worlders. Zodak be cursed, this is what we have come to?"

"I sense great strength in this one. He is the one that possessed the Sword of Power. He is worthy."

"He is not worthy. The Elders were fools to ever trust the royal blood line Eternos."

"He is worthy. My word is bound to him now."

"Then let the phoenix chose who it may . . ."

Adam eyes opened slowly. He was expecting to see someone there - two someones, actually - but he was alone. Left in the same spot - in front of the statue and the tree. He stood up and reached for the statute.

As soon as his hands came upon it, both the tree and the statue burst into a wild flame. The fire twisted and turned, spinning and changing. Then - it vanished completely. Ash from the statue and the small remains of the tree were all that remained.

Adam leaned in close, trying to figure what was going on. But once more, there was another flame. This one swept across both the ashes and the tree trunk. The fire swirled, then, and became a small stone with the phoenix simple on it - looking the same way the statue and tree did when he first arrived.

The king of Eternia picked it up and suddenly realized what he could do with it. He had the key to defeating Count Marzo - forever!

With strength renewed more than he had ever had before, Adam rushed through the jungle, and towards the Road Ripper. As soon as he sat upon it, he shot towards Eternos.

***

Ram-Man-At-Arms grinned as Hydron reported back the latest news - the space armada had been crushed and the lead ship was forced to surrender. After closing up the comm-link, he entered the main throne room, where everyone has waiting for his report.

"They did it!" he shouted with a broad smile.

"Excellent," Buzz-Off sighed. Stratos, Tullamore, and the others nodded in agreement.

Lynn, who was leaning up against the wall, looked toward Queen Teela as she sat upon her throne. "It seems all we have to do is find Count Marzo and stop him before he can find the Gardener's Stone."

There was an explosion then and one of the walls crumbled beneath it. As the smoke and debris passed, Count Marzo appeared. Around his neck was a stone that portrayed a flower growing from dirt. In his hands were a sword and gun.

"Stand down!" he shouted immediately.

"He has the stone! Stop him!" yelped Lynn.

Marzo was about to fire his gun as her, but five shirukens shot through the air, slicing right through the weapon. Everyone looked up too see Ninjor flip down in front of Count Marzo, sword unsheathed.

"It's over now, Count."

"It's never over, Ninjor. Not for me, at least."

Two swords swung through the air, smashing against each other with a loud clang. Count Marzo recalled, suddenly, giving Ninjor that sword. It was after is raid on a planet he couldn't even remember. It had belonged to royalty. And now the bearer of that sword was using it against him.

Marzo felt a strange fear in the back his head. He couldn't be killed, but Ninjor had trained for so long to kill He-Man. Ninjor was skillfully more superior than He-Man and He-Man was just plain stronger than Count Marzo. And since He-Man was the one responsible for Ninjor's creation . . . could it be that this is how He-Man defeats Marzo? Through a system of reactions? What a cruel joke!

"Pay attention, old man," Ninjor told Marzo, his sword gaining a upper lift.

No, Marzo inwardly countered as he parried against a thrust. I'm better and stronger than this. Fate and destiny do not effect me. I am Marzo, Count of . . . he couldn't remember. But it was his title. The one he had when given the secrets of forever life.

Forever life. He could not die. Ninjor, though, could.

With a regained confidence, Count Marzo pushed strongly against Ninjor's blade. Then, he spun the sword forward and around, slashing Ninjor's hand. Ninjor's sword fell from his hand. Count Marzo swept in, then, cutting across both Ninjor's legs.

The masked warrior fell to the ground. Count Marzo held his sword just at Ninjor's neckline, about to strike, when . . .

Ninjor shot a shiruken at Marzo's shoulder, sending the Count staggering backwards. Ninjor then thrusted up, snatched up his sword up and slammed right into Marzo's chest. Straight through his black heart.

Count Marzo gasped, the cold steel penetrating his skin. He staggered and stumbled back, in agony beyond any compare . . . and then he started laughing.

"I . . . can't . . . die!" yelled Count Marzo. He grasped the sword and pulled it out from his chest, his heart ripping to shreds. His heart . . . that already started to heal and beat once more. For the pain, he yanked out a long-stemmed Black Rose and sniffed it.

"Good move, fool," Count Marzo said, then. He threw his sword straight at Ninjor. Ninjor shoved himself out of the way, the sword slamming right into a pillar.

Right next to Adam.

"Adam!" gasped Teela.

"It's over with, Marzo. I have the one that can end this."

Count Marzo wiped the blood from his chest. "You can't kill me, Adam. Ninjor has just tried that and it didn't work. You can send me away, but I'll just keep on coming back. I will spit on your grave, King Adam. You're not He-Man. You're a stupid, blond fool."

Adam lifted up the Phoenix Stone. "You're right. I'm not He-Man and you can't die. But this stone . . . it manipulates life and re-birth. Both of which do, indeed, affect you."

"What?"

There was sudden burst of flames from the stone. The flames focused, then, into a beam that slammed into Count Marzo's chest. He was thrown back against the wall until the flames finally - finally - subsided.

"What did you do to me?"

Adam walked over to him and ripped the Gardener's Stone off, tossing it over to Teela. "I changed your lifeline. You're going to regress right to the point of when your cells first decided. You're going gestate for 900 years, then you're aging will be slowed. It'll take 100 years for you to grow one month. Try and think about the time you've wasted while in the womb, huh? Then do something about it after you're born."

"Noooooooooooooooo!" yelled Marzo. But it was too late. Energy began to wrap around his body, then he disappeared . . . reappearing into the womb of woman's body. His first two cells had just divided . . .

Adam turned to the others. Mer-Man, Teela, Tullamore, Grimm, Felinus, Ram-Man-At-Arms, and the others.

"He was right," Adam told them. "I'm not He-Man anymore. But as long as I have people around me who care about me and care about each other, there's no need for him."

Adam reached over to Teela and held her tight. "Welcome back, hero," she said with a kiss.

"This is where I belong, Teela. This is my home."