Chapter Two
"Avatars"
Inspector Darkney rushed down the corridor as it exploded. "Horde Prime! We've lost engines!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.
"I am aware of that," hissed Prime, moving away from the wall of fire that erupted around them. "Secure this section of the ship."
Horde Troopers ran forward, and slammed large, thick door down at the end of the corridor. Seconds later, a read-out reported that the entire corridor had indeed blown away, into the cold, dead darkness of space.
"Weapons status?" demanded Horde Prime.
"All missiles launchers are firing. Lasers are off-line. The Dark Cloud has destroyed our shields," reported Darkney.
"What is your report, Darkney? I brought you along for a study of the Dark Cloud. You, of all my Inspectors, are the best at finding weaknesses. What is its weakness?"
Darkney shook his head. "Only that it would take an incredible amount of power to tear the Dark Cloud apart."
"How much power?" Horde Prime replied.
"Enough to destroy an entire galaxy. And anyone wielding that kind of power would most likely be killed doing destroying him."
Another explosion rocked the ship. For the first time in an eon, Horde Prime felt a chill up his ancient spine. The entered the bridge, where Horde Troopers and Engineers scrambled from computer to computer.
"Report!" yelled Horde Prime.
"The Dark Cloud has crippled the vessel, my lord," reported the Commander. "We're adrift."
"What is it doing now?" asked Darkney, leaning forward against a railing.
"It's moving away from us now, heading straight for Eternia. Sire, it's like we're nothing but a flea to this beast."
"We are," snapped Horde Prime. "Get the engines back on-line. As soon as you do, set course for Horde World. In the meantime, contact my son. If we don't make it out of the solar system alive, he'll be forced to take command of the Horde."
"Help us all," muttered Darkney.
Horde Prime scowled. "Indeed. The very power of the Horde has failed this day, Darkney. What can stop this thing is beyond my knowledge. We are lost."
"My lord," Darkney began, "the Horde has not been defeated. Hordak still lives, and the Doom Tower still stands."
"Barely," scoffed Horde Prime. "This is truly the end if you speak of my brother in terms of hope, Darkney.
"Sometimes we must find hope in the worst places, my lord."
To this, Horde Prime smiled. "Contact Hordak, then. Transmit all information you have gathered on the Dark Cloud to him. And my that buffoon find the power to save us all . . ."
***
Dawn.
The first cracking lights of the sun shined upon Eternos and served a reminder of the great threat heading towards Grayskull. This was the second day. By tomorrow night, the Dark Cloud will arrive and take the seat of Grayskull - and therefore grow stronger than it already has.
Just as the sun rose, there was a pounding at Prince Adam's door. He pulled himself out of bed and walked over, and opened it. Teela stood there.
"Adam! Come quickly!"
"What is it, Teela?"
"Granamyr's arrived!"
"What?!"
"Get dressed! We've got to hurry!"
Adam closed his door, and quickly pulled on his clothes. He joined Teela a minute later and rushed down the stairs and the pair made for the Throne Room. Granamyr stood near the entrance, and studied the statue forms of Randor and Marlena.
Duncan was talking to the Dragon king, as was Adora. "What's going on?" asked Adam.
Granamyr turned to the young prince. "The Nameless One is soon in coming, Prince Adam. A great alliance must be formed. One of which this world has never seen before."
Adam turned to Duncan and Adora. "What's he talking about?"
"He's alerted the other peoples of Eternia, Prince Adam. They're all heading to Castle Grayskull. To protect it."
"What?!"
"Eternia must stand together this day, Prince Adam," Granamyr stated. "All of its people must assemble. Including your parents."
Granamyr opened his mouth and a blue light flowed forth from it. It circled and ensnared the statue of Randor and Marlena. In a shining instant, the pair were restored to their natural form.
"YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ETERNIA!" shouted Randor.
"TEELA WILL BE PROTECTED!" yelled Marlena.
The pair then stopped in mid-motion, shocked to see their surroundings and the people around them.
"What has happened . . .?" wondered Randor.
"Adora will tell you everything, my King," Duncan assured him as their daughter led them to their thrones. "In the meantime, Adam, Teela, the four of us are late for a meeting with the Sorceress."
***
Mantenna rushed to Hordak's throne room, and immediately gave him the proper information. It had been downloaded from Horde Prime's mothership, which was now adrift at the edge of the solar system. Hordak studied it for a long while until finally reaching a decision.
He stood up and made for the teleportation chamber. It was time to act.
***
"The Sword of the Ancients."
Granamyr nodded to the Sorceress. "It is the last known weapon of the Ancients," he stated. "Forged in the great fires of the First Age, it has been lost for thousands of years to all races and all peoples. Except for my father . . ."
"Your father?" Duncan questioned. "He was given the location of the Sword of the Ancients?"
"Yes," Granamyr replied. "And I shall give it to you, because only two of Men can take the sword."
The Sorceress put up a hand to Granamyr. "Prince Adam, as heir to the throne of Eternos, you will be asked to find the Sword."
"Really?" questioned Adam. "Isn't this something He-Man should be doing?"
"Why should he?" asked Teela to Adam. "You are the heir, aren't you?"
"Uh . . . yeah. Yeah, I guess."
"Teela, you will be accompanying him," the Sorceress stated. "As his bodyguard, it will be your responsibility to keep him safe."
"Right."
"You must move quickly. Rest on once for one hour, and then move on fast," Granamyr told them. He handed Adam a map. "You must journey in the air until you reach the northern boarders of the Mystic Mountains. Then leave you vessel and take the ground and walk until you have reached the Sword of the Ancients."
"We have a Talon Fighter ready for you," Duncan said. "It is loaded up with provisions. You must hurry back. We don't have a lot of time."
Adam nodded, but was a little unsure. Teela grabbed his arm. "You heard him, let's move it!"
As the two exited the door, Duncan turned to Granamyr. "Why was it Teela was supposed to go? I understand Adam. That makes sense. But my daughter?"
Granamyr turned to the Sorceress. The Sorceress stood up from the throne. "Because she is my daughter. The heir to Grayskull. It is she who is to wield the Sword of the Ancients."
Duncan's eyes grew. "So what you're saying . . ."
"Adam is Teela's bodyguard during this quest, not the other way around."
Duncan shook his head. "I've got a bad feeling about this."
***
Queen Elmora walked out of her castle and looked to the sky. As ruler of the last planet in the solar system - Phantos - it was her responsibility to know what threat was approaching her world. Sadly, she knows the threat.
The Dark Cloud.
It's legend goes back before her people have records, but has always remained part of their culture. As it crossed through the night sky towards Eternia - its wake leaves forth a scar upon her world.
The wind picks up, thunder rumbles, lightning cracks, and the rain begins to pour. A storm of unmatched potential reaches across the planet, surrounding it and strangling it within hours. Elmora took shelter within the walls of her castle.
The legends speak of those that fought the Dark Cloud in the days before Phantos and pushed it to the edge of existence. The Cosmic Enforcers.
As Queen Elmora took refuge within her home, she thought, prayed and hoped for the Cosmic Enforcers strength to come to Eternia and stop the Dark Cloud. Phantos wasn't the only world in the solar system that would be ravaged by the effects of the Dark Cloud's wake.
***
"Wake up Keldor!"
There was an image before Skeletor. A visage that looked much his father. Immediately, a primal urge forced Skeletor to throw out his hand and strangle the man. But as he did and his vision cleared, it was obvious who it truly was.
"Skeletor! Stop!"
"HORDAK!" yelled Skeletor.
"I'm here to help you, buffoon!"
Skeletor released his former master and looked around. They were standing in Doom Tower, on a balcony overlooking the Fright Zone. "What . . . what am I doing here?"
"You aided me in my war to defeat King Hiss," Hordak explained. "I'm paying you back by saving your miserable life."
Skeletor studied the man before him carefully. "Heh. The wisdom and clarity of the Elders still resides in you, I see. I foresaw that coming when you decided to channel their power."
"We must join forces, Skeletor," Hordak returned, attempting to ignore the comment.
"Heh. The last time we did that, we betrayed each other."
Hordak shook his head. "No, Skeletor, YOU betrayed ME. Twice."
"Heh heh. Why should I join forces with you anyway, Hordak? You defeated King Hiss. We don't need each other."
"Wrong," answered Hordak. "Your STUPID and FOOLISH ploy to steal the power of Grayskull has tempted the Dark Cloud."
Skeletor took a step back in shock. "What? No! You're lying!"
"Am I? Look into the sky, Skeletor! LOOK!"
Skeletor looked up and saw in the distance a dark speck. It was slowly tracing over the sky, visible from space as it roared towards Eternia. A small thunder rumble to the west, marking that Etheria was in its wake.
"Damnation," Skeletor cursed.
"My sources have confirmed a gather unlike no other on Eternia. Every known civilization on Eternia is heading to Castle Grayskull to protect it," Hordak reported.
"Impossible . . ." muttered the Master of Destruction, his gaze fixed on the black speck.
"No. It isn't. Granamyr himself called together the meeting. And no one dare oppose the king of the Dragons. Not even I."
Skeletor scoffed but lowered his head. "They will not be able to defeat the Dark Cloud."
"Not without our help, they won't," Hordak said.
Skeletor smiled. "Two forces of evil against the Dark Cloud."
"Yes," Hordak replied, nodding, though felt like that was a lie somehow.
"Let's make it three."
"What?"
"King Hiss. I'm sure he'll be interested in this little alliance."
"NO!"
Skeletor laughed. "We've all betrayed each other, Hordak! What does it matter?! Three other the universe's evilest people against the Nameless One! How can we not fail?"
Hordak reluctantly nodded. "Then let us take arms against our enemy, Skeletor. With King Hiss, I can think of no force that can stop us."
Skeletor laughed. "No force . . . except for the Dark Cloud!"