Chapter Two

"Evil Unleashed"

Beast-Man let out a thunderous cry to the others as He-Man and his fellow Heroic Warriors regrouped and pushed towards them. The rain was drizzling out, and the clouds were parting. Everything and everyone was soaked, but the battle still went on.

He-Man had just taken down Tri-Klops, when his head started buzzing. There was whisper from the back of his mind, which then became words. The Sorceress.

He-Man! she cried out telepathically. You are needed at Snake Mountain!

"What is it?"

There is too much to explain now, but this confrontation is only a diversion. The others must continue this battle. You are needed at Snake Mountain immediately!

He-Man spun to face Teela. "Teela! I was just contacted by the Sorceress! She needs me!"

"Go, then!" Teela replied. "We can handle this buffoons!"

He-Man turned tail and ran off, hoping to reach his - ah, there it w as. Stridor. He hopped onto it's back and was off in a dash. He made his way towards Eternos, where he would pick-up Cringer, change him into Battle Cat, the hop into a Talon Fighter, and send off to Snake Mountain.

Eternos was mostly asleep as Stridor charged through the roads towards the Palace, and the hanger. He-Man dashed into hanger, and found Cringer waiting for him. He-Man jumped off of Stridor and into the air. He shot his sword out and pointed it towards Cringer mid-air.

Energy flew off it and struck Cringer. When He-Man touched down, Battle Cat leapt over beside him. The two then jumped up again and landed inside a Talon Fighter. It lifted off the ground and blasted into the night sky.

He-Man, greeted the Sorceress then, please listen to my words, for you must know what you will face when you get to Snake Mountain.

"Alright, Sorceress."

Over a thousand years ago, a great war was waged on Eternia between the Snake Men and the rest of the free peoples. But after years of warfare, their reign was ending. Still, though, the leader of the Snake Men, a man named King Hiss, was far from defeated. From his fortress at Snake Mountain, he led his forces in one last, terrible battle.

And lost.

He and his Snake Men retreated back to Snake Mountain, but were pursued. The Elders attacked Snake Mountain and trapped King Hiss and his men into another dimension. The portal was then sealed, keeping the Snake Men locked away for all this time.

"Until today, I suppose," He-Man deduced.

That is correct, He-Man. Skeletor has found a way to release King Hiss. And with the portal's seal broken, it is only a matter of time before King Hiss is able to release more of his Snake Men. You must seal the portal and defeat Skeletor and King Hiss.

"Can't King Hiss be placed back into the portal?"

No. He can not. None can return, only be brought out. It was the only way the spell could work to the degree it did.

"I see."

You must hurry, He-Man. If Skeletor and King Hiss are able to release the Snake Men, all will surely be lost.

He-Man nodded and spotted Snake Mountain appear on the horizon. He increased speed and prepared for a landing. But just as he was about to set it did, a beam of energy struck the Talon Fighter. Battle Cat snarled.

"He-Man!" Battle Cat said. "Fright Fighter!"

The purple, almost insect-like, vehicle barreled towards them. He-Man looked back and saw someone drop from the vehicle. He landed on the wing and ripped open the cockpit. Battle Cat lurched for him, but the figure's arm suddenly ripped apart, becoming a long snake.

It wrapped around the cat and through him off the Talon Fighter, plummeting towards the ground. "BATTLE CAT! NO!" yelled He-Man, pulling out his sword. "You'll pay for this, whoever you are!"

"King Hiss."

King Hiss' body from the torso up was ripped apart, revealing scores of snakes sliding across one another. They stretched outward, then, jaws snapping tightly against He-Man's flesh, teeth imbedding themselves. They tightened around his appendages and throat. After a minute of doing this, He-Man was out cold.

***

Overwhelmed, Trap-Jaw, Two-Bad, Beast-Man, Stinkor, and Spikor were able to push their adversaries into a tight circle. Back-to-back, Teela, Ram-Man and Moss-Man prepared themselves for what could be their last battle.

"Your day is over, good guys," Tri-Klops spat.

"Ha ha ha! And to think, this battle was only a distraction!"

Ram-Man looked over at Teela, just as confused as she was. "Distraction?" she questioned. "For what?"

Trap-Jaw smiled. "Now that would be telling, missy."

"Wait a minute!" yelped Beast-Man. "Aren't there supposed to be four?"

"No, you idiot!" Two-Bad chided.

"He-Man left earlier!" Two-Bad said, again.

"Wait! He's right!" Stinkor replied. "There was another one! A cowboy!"

"Right here, pardes!" Rio Blast yelled from the top of a nearby rock. Lasers and missiles shot out from every port and call and slammed down at the Evil Warriors. Teela and the others took swift advantage of this. Spikor and Stinkor were already out of commission, with Tri-Klops just about there himself.

Plants swirled around Two-Bad, allowing Moss-Man to do his stuff with the two-headed villain moving too fast to repel this attack earlier. Ram-Man slammed into Trap-Jaw, who was thrown right into Tri-Klops.

Beast-Man leapt towards Teela, who preped herself for this attack. But she didn't Tri-Klops standing up, and firing a blast at her leg. Teela went down, and Beast-Man, in an animal fury, came forward and swept across her body with his terrible claws.

Pair surged through her body as blood and flesh was thrown to the ground. Teela crumbled onto the dessert floor, writhing in pain. Ram-Man smashed into Beast-Man, with Moss-Man and Rio-Blast dealing with Tri-Klops.

Tri-Klops ordered the retreat as Ram-Man lifted Teela into his arms. "She's still breathing!"

"We need to get her back to the Palace, but our Attack Track was destroyed in the battle," Moss-Man said.

"No time then," Ram-Man said. Rio-Blast pulled off his shirt and wrapped Teela's wounds in it. Ram Man then kicked his feet, warming up, then began running . . .

Faster and faster and faster, his enhanced legs and feet slamming across the ground, causing his speed to increase ever more. He held Teela closer to him, hoping that she didn't rip out of his arms at the speeds he was moving at.

With his mass, the momentum was astounding. He was having trouble just trying to stop and knew that he would have to hit something very hard soon. Ram-Man saw Eternos coming up and ran faster. He jumped up then, and actually flew over the walls.

His landing was going to be hard, so he held Teela closer and - WHAM! The sound could be heard all across Eternia. Ram-Man almost passed out when he feet smashed through the pavement. Cracks in the ground broke out all around him.

Man-At-Arms ran over, shocked as all get out. "Ram-Man! What's going on here?"

"Teela was hurt, had to get her here . . ."

Man-At-Arms took his daughter into his arms. "Thank you."

"No problem," Ram-Man replied. "Now, I could use a nap and drink."

***

He-Man struggled hard to open up his eyes. When he finally did, all he could see was darkness. No, wait. There was a light. It was green, and drifting from a strange pool inside the room. No, not a room. A cave. He-Man looked around, and his mind immediately flashed back to Battle Cat.

"No . . ."

"No what?" came a voice.

He-Man's head snapped up and he saw a figure standing in the mist of the green light. King Hiss. The leader of the Snake Men was studying He-Man up and down, as if surveying his prey. And he was holding the Sword of Power.

"You killed my friend."

"The tiger. Hmmm. Yes. Yes I did. But there are fates worse than death."

He-Man glared at King Hiss. "Like what?"

"Like this!" King Hiss yelled, pointing at the pool. "Do you know what it was like, He-Man? To be trapped in a dimension where there is time, but you do not age. Where you can not eat? Where you can not sleep? Where your strength is pulled from you each and every hour? Do you? I DO! I have endured it for over a thousand years! And so have my people"

It was then Skeletor and Evil Lynn entered the chamber. King Hiss looked at He-Man. "But no more," he added.

"The Sword of Power is strengthen with the will of the Elders. So was the portal," Skeletor described. "Therefore, we shall use it to release the Snake Men."

"And take control of Eternia!" King Hiss added.

"Together," Skeletor threw in.

King Hiss bowed his head. "Of course, Skeletor. And many thanks for releasing me. Now. The Sword of Power."

Skeletor took the sword and slammed it into the portal. The green light grew more intense. He-Man pushed against the chains that held him against the wall, but much to his avail, he was stuck. "NO! I WON'T LET YOU!"

"Too late," hissed Evil Lynn. She lifted up her wand and fired into the portal. Skeletor unleashed the power of staff. King Hiss raised his hands and magic flowed from them.

The portal throbbed and quaked and two figures suddenly appeared. One was purple, shorter, with a long tongue flowing from his mouth. The other was tall, with a long neck.

"Ah, Rattlor and Tung Lashor!" King Hiss addressed. "My two generals."

"Thank you for releasing us, master," Tung Lashor thanked, stooping to one knee.

"Indeed. It is good to have returned to Eternia," Rattlor reiterated.

King Hiss grinned. "And soon, my old friends, our armies will be joining us."

The Sword of Power still in place, He-Man grew nervous. His finest weapon - a symbol of good - was being used to unleash incredible evil. The trio of evil warriors came together once more, firing their powers into the pool. The Sword of Power began to shine with energy as it drained the seal of its power.

And then something unexpected happened. There was a sudden explosion from the tunnel entrance, which knocked the trio off their feet.

Mekaneck, Fisto, Buzz-Off, Roboto and Sy-Klone all stood at the entrance, with none other than Battle Cat leading them!

"I contacted the others once I landed!" Battle Cat cried out, carrying Roboto over to He-Man. The android used his laser to burn through the chains, releasing Eternia's hero.

"But how did you survive?"

Battle Cat winked. "Cats ALWAYS land on their feet."

He-Man smiled. "Take them while I grab the sword!"

He-Man rushed over to the Snake Pit and grasped the hilt of his sword. King Hiss was about to stop him when Sy-Klone hit the villain with a blast of wind. He was about to finish him off, when Tung Lashor tongue snapped around Sy-Klone leg and threw him to the ground.

Meanwhile Fisto delivered a punch to Skeletor's chest, only to receive one from Skeletor to his face. Fisto reeled backwards, but Roboto launched a laser assault on Skeletor, causing the villain to be thrown off his feet.

Buzz-Off had Evil Lynn well in hand. The evil mistress was on the ground, knocked out. Buzz-Off then helped Sy-Klone deal with Tung Lashor - by sending him through a wall.

Rattlor launched his neck out, hissing at Mekaneck. Mekaneck smiled. "Please. You're talking to the expert here."

Mekaneck's neck grew incredibly long and his head slammed right into Rattlor's, causing the snake man to flail backwards.

All the while, He-Man struggled to pull the Sword of Power out of the snake pit. As he braced his body, King Hiss wrapped all of his snakes around the heroes body, trying to pry him off.

"No no, little hero. There's no stopping us now," hissed the snake leader.

"There is. And I shall be the one."

"Take a look down, will you?"

He-Man did. The bottom of the snake pit was like water and mist, and through it he saw hundreds - no, thousands of warriors. They were squirming, fighting, ready to march upon all of Eternia and take it over. Shock filled He-Man's body as looked further and further, seeing them writh, dying to leave this place where they were trapped.

"No . . ." He-Man whispered.

"That's the second time you've said that," King Hiss said, squeezing He-Man's body, attempting pulling him back. "You really do have denial issues."

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

Battle Cat leapt up and the grabbed King Hiss' neck and pulled him with all of his strength from He-Man. King Hiss went flying and slammed into the wall. The jolt snapped He-Man back, and still holding the hilt - yanked the Sword of Power.

Yet the snake pit still was unsealed and hands began to clamor out of it. So He-Man lifted his blade high into the air.

"I WILL STOP THIS!" he yelled. And then he charged the great blade forward and pushed it into the snake pit. "I HAVE THE POWER!"

A tremendous shock flew through the fortress as He-Man used his own power to replace that of which had been lost. Light and noise filled the chamber and the image of the snake men vanished. Where there was once mist, there was now dirt.

"It's over," He-Man breathed, pulling out his sword. He turned to the others, and the villains who all stood in shock. Those conscious, anyways. He-Man smiled. "Who wants some?"

Skeletor fired a bolt of energy at He-Man, but it deflected off the Sword of Power. The bolt of energy smashed against the wall, blowing it wide open. King Hiss fired another blast as well, but it was deflected in the same manner. The hole in the wall exploded further, exposing the new dawning sun.

"Let's get out of here!" He-Man ordered.

As the pulled out, Skeletor shook his fist at them, smiling as best he could. "That's it! Run! Run for your lives! I'll get you next time, you cowards - "

"Skeletor," King Hiss snapped, putting his hand on Skeletor's shoulder. "That's enough. We've lost this day."

Rattlor shook his head. "Not necessarily. At least we are free."

"He does have a point, my king. We pledge our lives to you," Tung Lashor added.

"Then it is done," King Hiss. "And we shall try from here on to sent free our allies still trapped in the lost dimension. As well as honor our alliance to you, Skeletor."

Skeletor nodded. "As is it."

And the two shook hands, making their pact complete.

***

Teela awoke softly, but was immediately reminded of her wounds. She moaned, feeling the pain spread through her body.

"Shhhhh. Take it easy," a friendly voice told her. Teela looked over and saw Adam sitting next to her. Watching over her. Smiling gently at her.

"Adam? What happened?"

"You were injured. Beast-Man got you."

"Yeah. I know that. Father told me. But, I mean, with He-Man. That battle was a distraction. Did you talk to him . . . did you hear anything that . . .?"

Adam nodded. "A new evil had arrived and joined forces with Skeletor. His name is King Hiss. It's complicated. I guess it just means that you and the others will just be a little more busy."

"Yeah."

"But not yet. At least, not for you that is. You still need time to recover. Those were some pretty deep wounds. Beast-Man almost gutted you."

Teela grinned at Adam. "But he didn't. And I'm fine. Just really, really tired."

"The painkillers knocked you out, Teela."

"Mmmmm," Teela responded. "I could fall asleep at any second."

Adam nodded and stood up. "Then I'll leave you alone."

"No," Teela protested. "Stay. At least for just a little bit."

Adam sat back down and gazed deeply into Teela's eyes. "Alright. If that's what you want, then I will stay here for a little longer."

"It is what I want," she yawned.

"You must be tired," Adam chuckled.

"Yeah, well, you try being nearly gutted and then we'll talk, huh?" Adam smiled at her and Teela felt her heart flutter. "You know, Adam, I'm sorry about teasing you."

"Oh? Which time?" he joked.

"A couple of weeks ago. With She-Ra. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it."

"I know. But . . . well, why did you tease me about it?"

"I . . ." she began, then paused. "I don't know. Don't worry about it."

"Okay."

"Thank you, Adam."

"For what?"

Teela reached out for his hand and took it. She gave it a squeeze and closed her eyes. "For a being such a good friend."

And she fell asleep, holding Adam's hand.