Chapter Four

"Boys versus Girls"

Stratos felt the air flowing through his wings, the sky stretching before him like an unlimited blue and white kingdom. Indeed, the lord of Avion planned to take the skies as his own after aiding Randor in conquering Castle Grayskull. All those that flew in the air would be under his command.

Even Buzz-Off, who flew next to him, wings humming loudly. The Insectiods would come under his rule - under the wing and foot of Avion.

Stratos smiled to himself and pressed forward, Castle Grayskull appearing on the horizon. "There!" Buzz-Off shouted. "We'll be the first to arrive, just as planned!"

"Yes."

Suddenly, two figures shot out from the Evergreen Forest. They were both female, both winged. It took a moment to completely recognize who they were, but it was Buzz-Off that recalled their names.

"Sweet Bee, Flutterina."

Sweet Bee was a bee-like humanoid, much like Buzz-Off and his fellow people. They were supposedly from outer space, but there was nothing to completely corroborate that. Flutterina possessed two large beautiful butterfly wings, and looked younger than Sweet Bee and the rest of the Great Rebellion.

"Warriors of Eternia, we are asking you to stand down in your attack against Castle Grayskull. We have met before, and spoke. We are not your enemies. Your minds are not your own," Sweet Bee told them.

Stratos turned to Buzz-Off. Buzz-Off smiled. "No," Buzz-Off said then. "And I'd like to know more about this alien colony of yours . . ."

"Stand down," Flutterina warned. "Or we'll be forced to stop you."

"Never," Stratos returned. He reached for his missile launcher controls. Just as he was about press them, though, a huge wave of butterflies soared out of the Evergreen Forest blew and swarmed around him. They weighed him down, under Flutterina's control, and the lord of Avion lost concentration. His wings stopped flapping and he began to fall. Flutterina followed him.

Buzz-Off, watched as she started after Stratos, then spun around just in time to see Sweet-Bee slam a foot into his gut. Buzz-Off staggered back, but pulled out his long-staffed axe. He swung it around and barely missed Sweet-Bee. She lunged up, pulling out a curved dagger. The axe flew around, but struck the dagger and was deflected off.

Sweet-Bee then pushed herself from the axe with the dagger and slammed her shoulder into Buzz-Off's chest. The two toppled down from the sky.

***

Roboto, Moss Man, and Extendar traveled by the banks of river towards Grayskull. It was an out-of-the-way route to the ancient fortress, but also the one least likely to expect an attack from. They had been traveling for a few minutes when Roboto stopped in his tracks.

"Halt. My sensors are detecting life-forms."

Moss Man and Extendar both stopped and looked back at the android. "What?" questioned Extendar.

Moss Man was about to say something as well, but didn't. The way the grass was moving and the silence from the trees . . . something was off here. He didn't quite know what, but there was something definitely not right about all of this.

"Where are you detecting these life-forms?" asked Extendar.

"Scanning . . . scanning . . ."

Just then, a wave of water shot out of the river and slammed right into Roboto. Roboto stumbled back as Mermista appeared in the river.

"Get her!"

"Oh, forget about her!" came a female voice from above. Extendar looked up to see Netossa drop from the trees. A huge net shot from hands and covered him immediately.

"Hang on!" yelped Moss Man, coming to their aid. Just as he was about, the grass suddenly grew as tall as trees in a matter of seconds - blocking him from the ensnared Extendar and the water-logged Roboto.

He turned around, demanding an answer. "Hiya!" came the response from the blond-haired female dressed in hippy clothing.

"Perfuma!" roared Moss Man. Vines shot from the trees at his word and went to take down the woman. She shook her head and raised her hand, the vines retreating at the action.

"Sorry bub," she said with a shrug. She then waved her hands around and flowers came from the ground, quickly encasing Moss Man in them. Their powerful scent caused the Heroic Warrior to waver.

***

"Something's gone wrong," Teela said as she and Fisto marched through the woods. She knew it in her gut that something had happened to the others. She wasn't sure who it was that was causing the trouble - Orko and the queen couldn't be causing that much of a problem.

"Teela look out!" yelled Fisto.

Teela looked over to see a set of arrows coming her way. She flipped out of their way, the arrows slamming to the ground and exploding in smoke. The smoke was supposed to knock her out, but Teela was far too smart for that. She leapt over the smoke and right towards the archer that did this.

"BOW!" she yelled, the man seen from behind a tree.

Bow spun around and prepared two more arrows for firing, but Teela was too fast. She pulled her sword - the Sword of the Ancients - and swung it forward. The sword nearly snapped the bow in half, but sent the arrows clattering to the ground.

Bow reached for his dagger and sent it sailing for Teela. Teela blocked it with her sword, but Bow leapt back. He pulled out two of his arrows and in the blink of an eye sent them heading towards a branch right about Teela's head. The branch came tumbling down.

Fisto made for Teela, but a beam of light struck his iron hand. It suddenly felt heavy - heavier than anything Fisto had ever lifted. The fist went to the ground, slamming into it and shattering the grass and dirt. He looked up to see Castaspella walk out from behind one of the trees, the beam of light originating from one of her hands.

***

Sorrowful shot out of the forest, a little more ferocious than he felt. Clamp Champ jumped back, fright in his eyes. Sorrowful's confidence gained a few more points and he made for the detective with all the strength he had in him.

The dragon craned his neck back, and bared his teeth and then -

Clamp Champ's claw flared open and wide, and snapped around Sorrowful's neck. "Gotcha!" he shouted.

Sorrowful felt the claw tighten around his neck and struggled by lifting his head and swinging it side to side - Clamp Champ along with it. "I could use some help over here!" cried Clamp Champ, being swung around by Sorrowful.

"Kinda busy!" yelled back Sy-Klone.

A tornado was forming as both he and Spinnerella pushed winds at each other, neither one clearly winning of losing.

***

Rio Blast fired laser beams and missiles at Glimmer, but the purple-haired female sorceress was more than ready for them. She deflected each weapon launched at her, her force field causing the explosion and laser beams to cause her no harm. Unfortunately, this meant she couldn't go on the offensive. Yet.

Meanwhile, Snout Spout was about to scout forward when Sunder swung down and kicked Snout Spout right in the chest. Snout Spout staggered back and Sunder landed right before him.

"Easy, Snout Spout. It's me. Sunder. I helped you escape, remember?"

Snout Spout blinked, then nodded. "Oh yes. I remember. I remember you hunted me down!" His nose elongated and flew around Sunder's waist, squeezing it tight.

"No! NO!" wheezed Sunder. "I've changed . . ."

"Oh?" asked Snout Spout. "So have I." And he squeezed tighter.

***

Man-At-Arms heard the sounds of battle around him. The Evergreen Forest was alive with it. Someone - something? - had come to Castle Grayskull's aid. Just like the Sorceress, replacing him and his companions with someone else. She would pay for this.

Just then, a female with large white wings dropped down from the trees. "Man-At-Arms!" said the woman, who was quickly identified as Queen Angella. "You will stop this madness!"

"No. Ram-Man?"

Ram-Man, who had been his partner during this invasion, rushed forward. But just as he neared Queen Angella, a blue frost beam came out of nowhere and struck Ram-Man. Ram-Man was suddenly incased in a block of ice.

Frosta came around from the back of the ice block with a smile on her face. Man-At-Arms sprung into action fired a stun beam at Frosta, knocking her onto the ground unconscious. He then turned to Angella and fired - after setting it from 'stun' to 'kill.'

***

Mekaneck, Man-E-Faces, and Rotar made their way down the trail. This trio would be the last to arrive at Castle Grayskull, as planned upon by the king and Man-At-Arms. But as they neared a hill on the trail, three figures appeared. Kowl, Madame Razz, and Broom.

The battle came to life immediately. Kowl made from Mekaneck's head, but Mekaneck sent his neck out. Kowl chased the head as it soared through the trees and in between branches.

Man-E-Faces went to monster mood and roared forward. Madame Razz went searching through her potion bag for a spell to stop him. As she did, Rotar began to chase Broom. Broom darted away blindly and smacked Man-E-Faces right in the face, knocking them unconscious.

"Found it!" yelled Madame Razz, pulling out a vile. She turned around and tripped over the knocked-out forms. The vile went flying into the air and smashed right onto Rotar. The vile, full of sneezing powder, covered Rotar. He began to sneeze like crazy, which sent him spinning away.

***

He-Man cursed himself for thinking this would be so easy. Explosions, laser fire, wind bursts, and battle cries filled the air as he took the road towards Castle Grayskull. The Heroic Warriors - his once proud and mighty companions - were being distracted by these imbecilic women from Etheria. He-Man groaned, partially angry and partially because he knew what was coming.

As he neared Castle Grayskull and saw who it was who stood in his way, He-Man prepared himself for this.

"She-Ra, dear sister!" he yelled out as he came closer to her and Swift-Wind. Once he came within ten feet of her, he stopped.

"He-Man, my brother, stop this. Now. The Spirit of Evil drives you, not the good that is within. I do not wish to draw my sword and fight you."

He-Man smiled. "Now that's too bad - because I do!"

The Sword of Power in hand, He-Man jumped off of Battle-Cat. She-Ra leapt into the air, the Sword of Protection firmly in her grasp.

The two swords clanged together and the battle began . . .