Chapter Five

"Clues in the Dark'

The sun was bright, the sky was blue and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

But instead of being outside, enjoying the sunshine, Adam was inside, pretending not to pay attention to Man-At-Arms and Clamp Champ as they went over records and references regarding the books that Hiss stole. He was quite used to this, of course. Seeming little interest allowed him to distance himself from He-Man.

But Adam, and Man-At-Arms for that matter, both knew the truth. Adam, though dreary-eyed and appearing bored, was listening carefully.

"Most of these books were history texts," Clamp Champ pointed out. "But there are indications that they hold ancient incantations. Mostly dead incantations, that is."

"What do you mean 'dead incantations?'" asked Man-At-Arms.

"Incomplete spells. Too old to work these days," Clamp Champ answered. "Why would King Hiss want these is beyond me."

"What about this mythology book?" wondered Man-At-Arms.

"I don't know. I can't find any information about it."

Adam wondered inwardly. Why would King Hiss want to know about the past? Was he trying to catch up on what he missed? No. That was foolish. No . . . King Hiss was up to something, that much was well-known. Just what that was, isn't.

Hiss was different than Skeletor. Skeletor wouldn't be playing cloak and daggers games like this. Skeletor would have attacked the Palace at an opportunity like last night. Hiss was researching for some sort of project, no doubtly evil. As long as he had the resources of Snake Mountain, he was a threat.

Adam realized something, though. Why hadn't the Sorceress contacted him yet? Surely a large threat like this would have called for her attention in this matter.

"There must be a connection," Clamp Champ stated, eyes moving across the computer screen.

"Maybe it's something we're just not realizing. Let's see if we can find any more information about those books."

While the pair left the library, Adam stood up and made for the other way. Something wasn't quite reading right with him and he wanted to know why . . .

"Come on, Cringer," he beckoned the sleeping tiger. "Let's go to Castle Grayskull."

***

King Hiss laid out the tablets he stole from Icer. He jotted down their words into a book he was keeping. Hiss then slid the tablets away and opened up the scrolls he took from Batros. He wrote down lines and symbols from those books into his own, then did the same to the texts from Eternos. Hiss moved onto to the books that were kept here in Snake Mountain.

And then he closed his book and smiled.

"It is done," he stated clearly.

"What is done?" questioned Skeletor. "The great power you've been researching all week. You've found it?"

"Yes. But I will need your help in releasing it."

Skeletor squinted at Hiss. "How so?"

"This great power is located in a set of ancient ruins in the Sands of Time."

"The Sands of Time?! What great power do you wish to . . . no . . . you don't mean . . .?"

"Yes. Yes, I do."

Skeletor threw back his head and cackled. "Of course! Of course! How could I have not realized?! You were there! You knew about it's whereabouts, it's great secrets, it's wonderous power!"

"So, does that mean you'll join me?"

"Yes, of course."

***

Adam arrived at Castle Grayskull just an overcast of gray clouds were beginning to loom above. Sighing, Adam lifted the Sword of Power to signal the drawbridge open. Imagine his shock when nothing happened.

"Something not right in there," Adam observed.

"Maybe we should head back to the Palace, Adam, and get Man-At-Arms to help us," Cringer whined.

"Now, now, old friend. That's not the way this is going to happen. Come on!"

Adam lifted his sword once more - only to find that the drawbridge had opened on its own! Even more shocking was the sight inside. The Sorceress stood in the mouth of Grayskull, face pale, eyes bloodshot, and body limp.

"Adam . . . help me . . ."

The Prince and his tiger bolted across the drawbridge right as the Sorceress passed out. Adam caught her in his arms and carried her inside.

"Sorceress? What's wrong?"

"Dark forces are converging, Prince Adam," she whispered. "Take me to my chambers."

He nodded and made for a spiral staircase that led to one of Grayskull's two main towers. Lowering her down on her silk bed, the Sorceress looked weary and tired, like she had just finished a great battle. "What dark forces, Sorceress?" questioned Adam.

"Hordak . . . King Hiss . . . Skeletor . . . they are seeking that which was hidden."

"What do you mean? What was hidden?"

She reached up and grasped hold of his collar. "The Sands of Time hold the answer, Adam. You must go there, immediately. Call for back-up. The threat is too grave."

"Are you going to be okay?" he asked, concern going out to his old friend and mentor.

"Yes, Adam. Go, Eternia needs you!" Sorceress answered, voice sharp. "Listen to my voice, Adam. Understand what it at stake."

She pressed her fingers against his forehead and telepathically told him everything he needed to know. It all made sense then, and Adam turned around.

Adam then walked out of his room, Cringer close behind him. He then lifted up his Power Sword and said . . .

"BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!" A flash of light and power roared around him as the transformations came over Adam and his steed. "I HAVE THE POWER!"

He-Man stood in Adam's place. He mounted Battle Cat then, and took off for the Sand of Time. But something told him he would be too late. It would be best to call for back up. And if this was nearly as bad as the Sorceress made it out to be, he would need A LOT of back up.

He pulled out his communicator. "Man-At-Arms, this is He-Man. Whatever Clamp Champ was close to figuring out, I think it's manifesting in the Sands of Time. Bring everyone you can. Ask Clamp Champ and Rio Blast if they can help us out, too."

"Sure thing, He-Man. We'll be there soon."

***

Skeletor and Hordak stood atop a sand dune, their combined forces behind them. Skeletor lifted up his Chaos Staff, and King Hiss placed his hands on it. Together, they thrusted their powers through this channel. It fired a beam of power unlike any seen on Eternia in a thousand years.

The beam shot out, across a plain on the northern edge of the Sand of Time. A whirlwind stirred up, spinning sand and dirt away from the blast point. Light cracked from the ground as the earth rumbled. Lighting snapped in the darkening air, thunder thoomed.

But still, King Hiss and Skeletor pressed on.

Far beneath them, ancient seals were broken; old binding spells snapped; chains creaking in reverse. The ground pushed up, heaving and thrusting towards the surface.

And then, in a blaze of power and light, King Hiss and Skeletor were tossed backwards from the point of their strike.

Three towers then appeared, and myths and legends suddenly reappeared on Eternia. The Great Towers of Eternia. The Grayskull Tower, where the power of good was channeled and held. The Viper Tower, where the power of evil was maintained. And the Central Tower, were the Elders once gathered.

For it was the Elders that once secured it and banished, so shall it be that King Hiss and Skeletor have restored it.

King Hiss immediately took command of the situation. "I shall take my forces to the Central Tower, while you take the Viper Tower. Quickly now, we don't have - "

"I don't think so," Skeletor declined, stepping up. "I will take the Central Tower, while YOU take the Viper Tower."

"What about Grayskull Tower?" asked Evil Lynn.

"If any of us entered the Grayskull Tower, its power of good would overcome us and we would be trapped within. No, it's best we leave it be," King Hiss replied.

Evil Lynn snarled, but they marched towards the Towers. King Hiss smiled, expecting such a predictable move from Skeletor. While Skeletor dealt with the Central Tower, Hiss would be able to free his warriors that had been trapped in the Viper Tower when it had sunk.

"STOP RIGHT THERE!" yelled He-Man from a nearby cliff. He charged down the side of the cliff, the Heroic Warriors in tow.

"Inside! Now!" yelled King Hiss, pushing Skeletor into the main gate.

"The rest of you, take them!" Skeletor ordered, entering the Central Tower.

***

Hordak was prepared for this. Great energies he had used years ago were now building to a break on Eternia, but Hordak was ready. He knew King Hiss would be after it again, after all these years. So it would be up to Hordak to keep the Towers safe. In his hands, of course.

But after the last encounter with She-Ra, the portal generator was malfunctioning. Hordak only hoped he could get to Eternia in time to defeat Hiss.