Chapter Six: "Formations"
Adam fell into bed thinking about his parents and what they would be doing right now. His mother would probably be talking about Christmas stories from back home and his father would most likely be involved in a political debate with some ambassador. He missed that. He missed that so much.
They were stuck on Earth now and it was just another disappointment he had been forced to deal with since his return. There were a lot of those. Hordak's conquest . . . Etheria's fall . . . his parents missing . . . it had all come crashing down on him.
And then there was the manipulation factor.
But there was something within Adam that seemed to activate. Something that was missing from him when he was told the 'truth' by Zodak. He wasn't quite sure what it was nor how he had come to feel it. It was a sudden need, a yearning for solidity.
Adam stood up from his bed and walked out of his chambers, and headed down to the next floor. He suddenly found himself in front of Teela's door. He glanced at the time clock, knowing she would be asleep by now.
With everything going on, it had been difficult for him to talk to her regarding the whole Mara situation. He had barely even seen her today. Was she still mad? Probably. Maybe. But considering Horde Prime would be arriving in just over twenty-four hours, there wasn't time to be angry anymore.
He raised his fist and knocked on the door. A moment later, Teela opened it and looked at him with surprise.
"Adam!"
"We need to talk," he said to her stepping forward. "Can I come in?"
Teela nodded and let him. As he sat down on the couch, Teela pulled her bed-head hair back into a ponytail. "Good idea."
"I'm sorry. I've been so stupid. I should have talked to you sooner about Mara. This whole situation . . . she just didn't know. She thought I hadn't made a move yet. But that doesn't matter now. It doesn't."
Teela reached out and put her hand on Adam's. "I know. Trust me, what happened between Addison's father and me . . . I thought that maybe you were starting to . . . geez, you know what? I think you and I just made this one big stupid problem. Overcomplicated, under-thought, and just plain stupid."
Adam laughed and pulled her against him. "Yeah. Listen, Teela, Mara was special to me, but she could never replace you. She never did."
Teela snuggled up in his arms. "Neither did John."
"I love you, Teela. With all my heart."
She smiled and kissed his chest. "I know," came her reply. "I love you too."
For a moment, they cuddled in silence glad that this event was over with. Adam sighed and ran his hands over her. "Well, now I think I'm ready to take on Horde Prime."
Teela suddenly looked up at him with seriousness. "Are you?"
Adam frowned. "What do you mean?"
She pulled away from him and looked Adam straight in the eyes. "Are you ready for Horde Prime? We have an army, but are we going to have the one person we need?"
"He-Man," grunted Adam. "I . . ."
Teela touched his face gently. "I'm not going to ask you what happened in those caverns. I'm not. But I can tell you that as someone who loves you - I'm worried. I'm worried about and so are the others. We all know now that it's you inside He-Man. It's your heart guiding that warrior. But we don't know what that heart's feeling. It's like you've lost faith in what you've once held dear."
Adam didn't answer, but felt himself shudder at those words. Teela reached forward and hugged him hard. "I love you so much, Adam. I have for so long and you know it. We trust you. We depend on you. We have faith in you. But tell me - what do you have faith it?"
Teela pulled back and wondered what he was thinking. For a long moment, Adam seemed unfocused. But then, his eyes became clear and he took a deep breath. "Us. You. Me."
She smiled and kissed him. "But what else do you have faith in?"
"Life," Adam said. "That's what's been fueling me all these years, what's been making me raise that sword. The knowledge and the fact that life is special has always kept me going. Always maintained me."
"And something in the caverns ruined that. Something messed with your head so much that you lost your faith in life."
Adam nodded, as if finally coming to realize that. "Yeah . . . yeah. That's it. Exactly. But . . . what I learned . . . it scared me from . . . saving lives."
"Right," Teela replied, though she didn't quite understand what happened, it was obvious that this had happened.
"That's something I've been scared of, Teela, but it's something it's about time I overcome!" he said, his voice rising, eyes growing hard. Adam's heart thundered. "By the Ancients, I can't let what they did overcome! I can't and I WON'T!"
Adam stood up. Teela's eyes turned wide, trying to figure out what he was meaning. She stood up and held his fists in her hands, smiling. "That's great. Really, that's great. But, um, Addison is in bed."
"Sorry." Adam smiled and kissed her. "Thank you, Teela. I feel better. Much better than . . . well, along time. I love you."
"I love you too, you big stupid hero," Teela replied, kissing him.
The kiss turned deep. Passionate. Powerful, as if there was a force that was so much larger than both of them pushing the couple together. Adam felt great, full of energy and renewed in faith. As he and Teela began to grow more passionate in their kissing, he could feel her love for him giving him strength.
She pulled away from him suddenly and stood up. Adam was a little surprised by this, but Teela smiled.
"It's time," she half-whispered.
Adam, for a brief second, wasn't she what she was talking about. But then, as she outstretched her hand to him and beckoned him off the couch, he understood.
"Are you sure?" he asked after kissing her again.
"Yes. Yes, Adam, yes . . ."
He smiled and the two walked towards her bedroom door. They made love together for the first time. It was glorious and passionate and amazing . . .
In the aftermath, faces red and sweaty, hair messy, and both quite worn out and in the warm afterglow on their love-making, Adam and Teela fell asleep together . . .
The next morning, Adam awoke in Teela's bed. He felt good. He felt great. He also knew that in fifteen hours, Horde Prime would be showing up with a couple hundred ships intent on destroying his and a few hundred other planets.
"No sweat," he muttered to himself as he blinked into awareness. He put his hand next to him, trying to find Teela. He sat up, realizing she wasn't there. "Teela? Where are you?"
Adam stood up and walked out of the room, put on his pajamas, then pulling on his robe. Outside, in the living area of her quarters, Addison stood by the couch smiling.
"Hi Addison. Where's your Mom?"
Addison grinned some more and looked on the verge of snickering. Adam found himself doing the same. "I dunno," snickered Addison, swerving back and forth.
"Are you sure?" asked Adam. "What if I tickle you? Will that get the truth outta you?"
At that Addison's eyes grew wide. Adam lunged at him and picked up the four-year-old and proceeded to tickle his belly. Addison struggled in Adam's arms, laughing like a hyena from the tickling. Adam then threw him up into the air, and caught him.
"Now do you now?" asked Adam, smiling.
"S-She's - heheheh - she's in the frome room! Ha ha ha!"
"The Throne Room? She is?! Okay! Let's go!" Adam said then, putting the young kid on his shoulders and walked out of the quarters.
As he neared the Throne Room, Adam soon realized what this was all about. He had forgotten what this day was and meant, but it was very swiftly coming back to him. And as soon as he entered into the Throne Room - it all was true.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" shouted a large crowd. Adam bellowed out a laugh and put Addison down, allowing him to run over to Duncan.
The Galactic Guardians, the Heroic Warriors, the remaining Great Rebellion, Stephan, and Johanna had all gathered around a large cake, wiped up by Chef Allan. Adora walked over and gave Adam a big hug. "Happy birthday, bro."
"Thanks. Happy birthday, Adora."
The two turned to the cake, which was all lit up with twenty-nine candles. Adam looked to Adora and smiled as the two huffed and puffed under the last candle was out - which was difficult because they kept flickering back to life.
"Orko, are these your trick candles?" laughed Adam, attempting to blow out number 12.
"No! They're mine!" Montok shouted.
"Yeah, they won't blow up!" yelled out Yuckers.
Adora blew against another one of the candles. "Sy-Klone! Rotar! You guys better help out here!"
"And you too Snout Spout!" shouted Adam.
Laughter ensued and the twins were finally able to blow out the candles, leading to a lot of claps and whistles. As the cake was passed out, though, a much more serious tone was taken. Despite the celebration, there was still a lot of work to be done.
About an hour later, Adam, Hydron and Flipshot walked towards the Starship Eternia. "Most of the fleet is in position. Nearly two hundred ships are sitting up there, ready for a battle."
Adam nodded. "You'll be leading the assault?"
"You betcha," Flipshot replied, giving Adam the thumb's up.
"We've still got another ten hours until Horde Prime and his armada are in full sensor view, but by then, we should be good," Hydron then said. "We'll keep in constant contact with Eternos. Mara, as you know, will be commanding our ground troops."
"I know. She'll be working side-by-side with Teela. Should be interesting."
"I'll say," Flipshot said then.
"We'll let you know once we're in position. Godspeed."
The pair walked into the Starship Eternia, which thrusted up from the landing pad and soon blasted off into the late morning sky. As Adam watched it disappeared, Man-At-Arms approached from behind.
"Adam, you have second?"
"What is it?" asked Adam, turning around.
"It maybe nothing, but there's been unusual distortion outside our solar system. Like I said, it could just be our sensors screwing up, but I just thought I'd let you know."
Adam nodded. No way it could be Zodak, he was more up front about these sorts of visits. Unsure as to what to think, Adam shrugged and walked back into the Palace.
Teela surveyed the army surrounding Eternos and the mountain prison of Hordak and King Hiss. The armies of Men were standing along the walls of Eternos, while the Kobloids and Insectoids took the fields and the Bats and Avions kept the skies. The alien warriors were at the mountain, just about prepared for anything.
It was Mara then who swaggered up to Teela. "Hi," she greeted.
Teela sighed. "Hi," she replied.
"I'm sorry about what happened," Mara apologized. "I wasn't thinking. I guess I was just being stupid."
Teela nodded and resigned herself to Mara's thinking. "I . . . I understand. Adam - and He-Man - have that affect."
Mara smiled at Teela. "You're very lucky, you know? He's a great guy. The best. And he's so in love with you. Even back on Primus, I knew it. He never let go of you. You were the one that got away. I was just the . . . the crush that he sorta liked. But he got you back. And I hope for the only the best for you two. Really."
Teela found herself liking Mara all of a sudden. "I . . . I don't know really what to say . . . other than, thank you. I appreciate hearing that."
"I know," Mara said then. "Listen, I need to get to the mountain. I'm in charge of the alien division. I'll catch up with you later."
"Yeah."
Mara walked off, heading towards the mountain about a mile away. Teela smiled widely, happy at the new development in her day.
The hours were slipping by in record time. Adam had just checked in with Orko. Orko, Dree-Ell, Montok, and Yuckers were guarding Addison at a secure location within the Palace. With the afternoon fading into evening, Adam knew it was time.
Cringer walked over to him, knowing it as well.
"It's been a long time," Cringer said.
Adam nodded and pulled out the Sword of Power. His eyes traced along its metal blade, studying it for long moments. "Yeah," he said simply. "Yeah, it has been."
"Adam? Are you okay?" asked Cringer.
Adam sighed and leaned up against a nearby pole. "Cringer, there's something I've got to tell you. You see, down in those caverns, I was told . . . a very disturbing truth."
"What kind of truth?"
Adam paused, swinging the sword around. "That for many years, the Cosmic Enforcers have been coming to Eternia and manipulating events for the purpose of escalating the war between good and evil. The biggest of which was giving some of our ancestors very advanced technology."
Cringer stared at Adam long and hard. Adam went on. "Everything that has occurred since then has been part of a grand manipulation by the Cosmic Enforcers. It makes it hard to overcome. I've realized I have to overcome it and I have faith in what I need to do - but when it comes down to it . . ."
Cringer put his paw onto Adam's arm. "Stop being afraid, Adam. Just do it."
Adam looked at Cringer for a moment, thinking about the simplicity in his old friend's voice. He took a deep breath . . . and lifted the Sword of Power.
"By the power of Grayskull . . ." he bellowed. The sword exploded in radiant and familiar power and light. Already, Adam could feel the transformation overcoming his young body. "I HAVE THE POWER!" he then declared, the transition from Adam into He-Man complete.
He-Man then held out the sword and blasted Cringer. In an instant, Cringer became Battle Cat. The energy then faded and He-Man leapt onto Battle Cat's back.
"You were right, old friend," He-Man said.
Battle Cat roared. "Right! Now, let's get ready to fight!"
While the snow fell upon the armies at Eternos, She-Ra walked into the uber-guarded prison that held Hordak and King Hiss. After the security checks and the long ride through the mountain, She-Ra arrived and faced Hordak.
"He's almost here?" questioned Hordak.
"Yes."
"You know what he's after?"
"You."
"Yes."
Hordak stared right at her. "How dare you come here as She-Ra? Haven't you twisted the knife in my heart enough?"
She-Ra squinted at her former leader. "Let's get something straight here, Hordak. YOU kidnapped ME! YOU deceived ME! My betrayal was a surprise to you? HA! Right! I believe that one!"
Hordak snarled. "I took care of you!"
"YOU KIDNAPPED ME!"
It was then that King Hiss began to laugh. "It's funny, because it seems you learned that from him, She-Ra."
She-Ra turned around. "What are you talking about?"
"He betrayed Horde Prime just like you betrayed him! Deception and betrayal seems like a trait of those that serve the Horde," Hiss explained.
Hordak said nothing to this, and only turned away from the pair. She-Ra didn't say anything and only just stood there, waiting for the battle to begin.
"By the Council . . ." shuddered Hydron, taking a look at his sensors. "It's bigger than I thought."
Flipshot positioned himself next to his old friend. "No kidding," Flipshot replied, activating forward weapons and shields. "Three hundred vessels in an class-three offensive position. They're protecting the Horde Flagship."
"How did he get all those other ships to follow him?"
Flipshot prepped the targeting array. "I don't know. Probably pulled his weight around and got some of his 'less rogue' rogues to follow him."
"Seems like," Hydron replied. He then opened a com-channel with the rest of the fleet. "All right, all ships, shift into defensive position Alpha-Zero-Three. Prepare to engage the enemy on the mark . . ."