Chapter One
"Looming Darkness"
He muttered it in the form of a curse to his enemies. "I'll be back!" he gasped, the water flowing around him. And then, something happened that changed within the soul of Skeletor. This water was somehow empowered with Light magic, and it burned him. And as this began to dawn on him, Skeletor started to struggle. A current was being formed - as if the very spirit of Grayskull was trying to expel him.
But he couldn't fight it, try as he might. In an instant, he was pulled along the current, towards a far wall. He was pulled down, then, into the water. The liquid filled his mouth, charging down his throat and into his lungs. Everything started to dark as he was thrust downward, swirling and falling faster into the water . . .
Darkness overtook his sight. And then . . . open air.
The water gushed out of a pipe located on the cliffs beneath Grayskull. As it flowed out, so was Skeletor expelled with it. He fell now, into the open air and into the never-ending chasms that surrounded Grayskull. In a way, it was a welcomed death. Much cleaner and much quicker than drowning.
"No . . ." Skeletor croaked as he plummeted. "I will not die this day . . ."
His sword - it was still in his hand? - was lifted up and used to his soaking wet cape to direct his fall towards the wall of the cliff. With all his strength, he lifted his sword up and slammed it into wall. He screeched in pain as the sudden stop pulled his arm out of his socket.
After what had just happened in Grayskull, Skeletor's magic had dwindled down to nothing. With his sword firmly planted into the cliff wall, Skeletor pulled himself up. He reached out towards the rock face his hand, hoping to grasp a small groove. He had it!
He shifted his weight and prepared to -
Skeletor's hand, though, still wet, slid from the groove. His left hand grasped the sword as his body dangled above the bottom-less pit. But it was too much weight. The sword snarled free of the rock face and Skeletor was plummeting downward once more.
The fall was fast and his speed was accelerating. No one knew what lay in the heart of Eternia - but Skeletor knew that this day he would surely find out. Light from above began to dim and darkness overcame from the bottom. Skeletor's end, he now knew, was drawing near . . .
***
Legend has called it many names. Two of them have stuck out more than others - 'The Nameless One' and, most popularly, 'The Dark Cloud.' Chained thousands of years ago to the outer rim of time/space, this ancient beast broke free from its bounds and dragged itself across the universe a century ago. It was drawn to the planet Earth.
It was at Earth, and the Dark Cloud gathered power. It tapped into the a well of souls in the center of a city - a well called the Ecto-Containment System. Charged, it moved to the caverns of Cobra-la and suckled power there. And then, it ravaged the land of Care-a-Lot and sought after the Great Wishing Star. The Dark Cloud then moved onto Syngery of Jem and stole its power.
Then, it moved away from the planet Earth and surged towards Thundra, where it absorbed the power of the Thundra and the Book Omens. After this, it attacked the world Cybertron and tapped into the Matrix.
Finally, a new power called out upon it. Eternia. A world it's been to once before, thousands of years ago. It was here that it would find the ultimate power.
Castle Grayskull.
***
"Something's coming," Duncan stated as he stared into his telescope. "It's big and dark and heading this way."
Teela took a stance next to him. "How long until it reaches Eternia?"
"Three days."
She scoffed. "Not a coincidence, I take it."
Duncan shook his head. "No. It definitely isn't. Teela, contact the Sorceress. She needs to know about this."
Just as Teela was about to exit, though, two figures emerged from the corridor. Prince Adam and Princess Adora.
"Adam! Adora!" shouted Duncan, shocked to find these two sans their super-powered personas. Teela smiled and rushed towards Adam.
Much to his surprise, Teela wrapped her arms around the prince. "Adam! I've . . . it's been a long time."
He hugged back. "Yeah. It has."
"I need to talk to you."
Adam nodded. "Okay. Um, but it's going to have to wait. Duncan, I just received a summons by the Sorceress. She wants to see the three of us at Castle Grayskull."
Teela smiled and stepped back. "Sure thing."
Duncan walked from his telescope to the prince and princess. "Right. Well, we better get moving."
***
A portal opened before Hordak and material carriers immediately rolled out. Horde Troopers rushed towards the carriers and began to unload them, preparing for the rebuilding. Though Leech and Catra were pretty much in charge of this operation, Hordak stood nearby and observed.
The might of the Fright Zone was very swiftly being resurrected. The setbacks it had faced from the Snake Men would soon be behind it. And when the Fright Zone and Doom Tower were restored, the Great Rebellion would fall next. And then - all of Etheria.
That is . . . if they survived the coming of the Nameless One. The Dark Cloud was currently on course to Eternia, but Etheria would very easily serve as a secondary target. Luckily, Horde Prime and his ship was sitting in orbit, armed to the teeth. Hordak hated to do it - but he was forced to pin all of his hopes onto Horde Prime.
Something stirred within him then as Hordak felt the continued power of the Council of Elders strengthened. Part of him knew for a fact that the Council of Elders would be able to defeat the Dark Cloud. But how . . . and could Hordak use their power to do so?
"No," he muttered, reaching out for the wall. "I mustn't access their power. I mustn't . . ."
Hordak staggered away, forcing his dark power against the power of the Elders within. The internal struggle was daunting, but Hordak knew it had to be done for his own sanity's sake.
***
Viper Tower, the tower of evil of the Great Towers of Eternia. Hidden within, King Hiss and his remaining Snake Men. Using the power of the tower, King Hiss had been able to restore their natural size and state.
"Defeated by the Court Jester . . ." Hiss grumbled. "How the mighty have fallen."
"At least Skeletor's been defeated," Tung Lashor pointed out.
"Bah! That's nothing," Hiss snapped. "In fact, we may just be needing Skeletor's help once more. Kobra Khan!"
The Repton looked over to his new master, fearing the order he was about to be given. "Yes, King Hiss?"
"Get to Snake Mountain and make contact with Evil Lynn! Our alliance must be renewed . . . if only temporarily."
"Yes master . . ." slithered Kobra Khan, making for the secret exit.
King Hiss leaned back in his throne. "Well, if anything, these next few days should prove interesting."
***
Adora, Adam and Duncan all entered now-heavily fortified Castle Grayskull and reached the throne room, where the Sorceress stood in deep in thought. "Sorceress?" asked Adam.
"Adam, Adora, Man-At-Arms. I am glad you have come."
Man-At-Arms nodded. "Of course. You should know, we've detected a - "
She raised her hand to stop him. "I know. A dark and sinister presence is coming to Eternia. Or perhaps I should say . . . back to Eternia."
"What do you mean?" questioned Adora.
The Sorceress raised her hands, casting forth an image of the Dark Cloud. It looked just like it was called - black, thick, ugly clouds. Lightning roared from it, thunder rolled as its voice and tornadoes made itself apparently physically.
"In the age of the Ancient, the Dark Cloud came to Eternia to seek out the great powers of that age. An incredible war waged as a result of it and the powerful Ancients sent the Dark Cloud - or the Nameless One, as it was known as in that age - hurtling away from Eternia.
"Once far from the planet, Zodak and the Cosmic Enforcers trapped the Dark Cloud at the curving outer rim of time/space. But you should know, that it was able to break free. Since then, it amassed its own power and seeks to return to Eternia. The empty seat of Grayskull has been like a beacon to the Dark Cloud. And with the Ancients gone from Eternia, it feels as though there is nothing to stop it."
"Is there anything to stop it?" asked Adam.
"Horde Prime is in the solar system, and is prepared to engage the Dark Cloud. He will fail. Our best chance is to stop of the Dark Cloud from entering Castle Grayskull and taking the throne on the moonrise when the Great Eye opens."
Man-At-Arms gulped. "And if we fail?"
The Sorceress looked straight at him. "We can not."