Chapter Seven

"Recovery"

Marlena's heart thundered in her chest. The Sorceress instructed that Adora be taken immediately to one of the upper rooms. Marlena didn't hesitate for a second and rushed up the stairs until she reached an empty room. She laid her dying daughter onto a stone bed and stepped back.

The Sorceress walked over to Adora with the Sword of Protection and a glass filled with a green concoction. She poured the green liquid onto the wound and the bleeding seemed to stop. Adora's eyes blinked for a moment, opening a crack. She began to mutter.

Sorceress took Adora's hand and wrapped her limp fingers around the hilt of the blade. She then leaned in close to Adora's face and began to whisper. Adora, barely coherent, began to move her lips.

In a low whisper that Marlena could barely hear, Adora said the words that would save her life. "For the . . . honor of . . . Grayskulllll . . . I am She-Ra . . ."

A burst of power and light shined from Adora's weak form. The power of Grayskull swept over the young woman and she suddenly became She-Ra. Yet as soon as the transformation was complete, the wound began to bleed once more, staining She-Ra's white and gold outfit.

Under Sorceress' instruction, Malena ripped open the stomach of She-Ra's top, revealing the ugly wound. The Sorceress waved her hand on it, supposedly casting a spell of some sort. A clamor outside had told them both that the Great Rebellion had returned.

"Orko," ordered Sorceress, "open the drawbridge and have Madame Razz and Princess Glimmer come up here immediately. The northeast tower contains a number of empty bedchambers. See to it that the Great Rebellion is made comfortable. Find what you can to help them."

"Sure thing," Orko replied and rushed down there.

Sorceress then turned to Marlena. "Your majesty, you must tend to Adam. There is bedchamber across the hallway. Have Orko or one of the Great Rebellion members help you take him up there. Adam must rest."

"But Adora. Sorceress, I just can't leave my daughter here to die."

"She will not die," the Sorceress replied sharply and with a confidence that Marlena had to accept as true. She nodded, and kissed Adora's forehead before leaving the room.

A moment later, Glimmer and Madame Razz appeared, shocked at the sight of She-Ra on the slab. Besides the stomach wound, She-Ra was bruised and cut in multiple paces. From the looks of it, it appeared she even had a broken nose.

"Madame Razz, assist me in the stomach wound. Princess Glimmer, attend to the other injuries."

***

The situation at Eternos was, in a word, a mess. Talon Fighters were arriving along with Dragon Walkers and Attack Tracks - all carrying injured Heroic Warriors from the Evergreen Forest. Duncan, who had arrived first, watched with great distress as so many were taken into the infirmary.

"What happened?" questioned King Randor, stomping over to Duncan.

"The Great Rebellion, sire. We were ambushed."

"She-Ra . . ." grunted Randor. "Damn them. You should have been prepared for this!"

"I didn't know there was any chance of them coming. Even so, I was sure the Heroic Warriors would be up to the task!" This was a lie, though, and Duncan knew it. But it didn't make sense. Why was he lying about this?

"Well, next time, you better be prepared," Randor returned. "Skeletor's forces are converging at Snake Mountain. We expect them to be released upon us within the eight days."

"That's not a lot time, your highness. Fisto, Moss Man, Stratos, Buzz-Off, Roboto, and Snout Spout are all in critical condition."

"Then they better be ready by the time. We have no choice."

***

Adam awoke suddenly, body covered in sweat, lungs heaving. He trembled. Memories flowed through his mind. His sword pushing into his sister's stomach . . . blood and . . .

"NO!" he yelled, wrestling the blankets, body trying to come awake. "NO!"

"Easy, easy," hushed a voice from his side. Two gentle and familiar hands suddenly fell upon his arm, pulling him back to reality.

"Mom?" Adam asked in shock. "Mom, is that you?"

"Yes, dear. Take it easy, please."

Adam began to cry. "I killed her, Mom, I killed her . . ." he sobbed. Marlena took him into her arms, realizing he was confessing this despite the fact he didn't even know that knew of his secret.

"No, no, sweetie," assured Marlena holding her son. "No. It's okay. She's alright. She's alive."

Adam pulled back, looking so pathetic. "She's alive?"

"Yes! She's alive!"

"Oh, thank the Ancients . . . I thought I'd . . ." Adam began. And then he caught himself, realizing what he was saying. "Mom! I mean, He-Man . . ."

Marlena nodded with a small smile. "I know, Adam. The Sorceress told me. Your secret is safe with me."

Adam smiled a bit more, then suddenly bit his lip and hugged his mother once again.

***

She-Ra awoke slowly, body stiff and cold. She blinked and immediately saw the relieved faces of Glimmer, Madame Razz, and the Sorceress.

"Wha . . . ? Where am I?" she spoke, voice achy and weak, but coming around with each letter.

"Certainly not dead, dear," Madame Razz laughed.

She-Ra smiled and slowly but surely sat up. Her stomach was sore, but the wound had obviously been healed. As she rubbed it, she looked up at her friends. "That's good to hear. My . . ." She stopped suddenly, remembering that Glimmer was in the room. "He-Man? Is he okay?"

"The combined power of myself and Light-Hope restored him to normal," the Sorceress replied with satisfaction. "The power of Grayskull is back to full capacity."

She-Ra went to her feet, her knees wobbly. "And what about me?"

Glimmer put her hands to help steady her ally. "You're stable, She-Ra, and the Sorceress tells us that the power of Grayskull will bring you to a full recovery in a few days."

"Perhaps hours," Madame Razz followed up. "I've never seen such power!"

The Sorceress placed her hands on Razz's shoulders. "Perhaps the only power that can save Eternia."

"I would hope so," Glimmer returned.

"Glimmer, Madame Razz - it would be best to tend to the other," the Sorceress pointed out. "I believe Castaspella is exhausted at this point and some of your people are still in critical condition."

"Of course," Glimmer said. She and Madame Razz exited the room and headed towards the northeast tower. The Sorceress let out a sigh and leaned against the bed.

"Thank you, Sorceress."

"My child, it was close. But it was needed."

"I know. Where's Adam?"

"Your mother has just awoken him. He has transformed into He-Man. We should meet in the situation room."

One of the few chambers containing technology, He-Man, Marlena and Orko watched as She-Ra and the Sorceress joined them. They all stood around a large rectangular table with a hologram of Eternia on it.

"The computers have detected military build-ups," Marlena pointed out. Sorceress had showed the basics of the computer controls before She-Ra and the Great Rebellion arrived.

"Where?" asked He-Man, looking longly at his sister.

The hologram dissolved and transformed, showing now a portion of the former-Light Hemisphere where the Evergreen Forest became the Vine Jungle. "The Bears and the Cats are converging on this point. Minor skirmishes have broken out, but no battles. Yet. Also . . ." The hologram transformed again, showing now the shores of the Golden Isles. "The Aquaticians have engaged the boats of the Golden Isles, threatening an invasion."

He-Man sighed and shook his head. "This isn't good."

"Armies and rogue enemies of Eternos and Grayskull are assembling at Snake Mountain, forming a military might that hasn't been seen since the Dark Cloud incident last year," Marlena continued.

He-Man grunted and shook his head. "How did this happened?" questioned He-Man. "How the simple transformation of the Light Hemisphere into the Dark Hemisphere have caused everyone to become evil?"

The Sorceress looked to warrior of Grayskull and soaked in the question. "At some point during the First Age, the Ancients came together and used their incredible powers to divide the forces of good and evil by creating the Dark Hemisphere and the Light Hemisphere. The polarities of both sides, though, threatened to pull Eternia in two. So, Procrustus journeyed to the center of Eternia and held the two halves together. With Procrustus dead, the Spirit of Evil has taken his place - holding both parts of the Eternia together as one."

"How did the Spirit of Evil transform the Light Hemisphere into the Dark Hemisphere?" asked Marlena.

"The Spirit of Evil possess power that the Ancients do not. The core of Eternia is full of power that has existed since the beginnings of this planet. Before the First Age and before the time of Preternia. The Spirit of Evil has joined this power with its own and has found a way to influence all Eternians with darkness. Even Grayskull was affected, which is a different power than any other on Eternia."

She-Ra looked to her mother and was suddenly reminded of her father's abuse. "How can we change it back?" she asked.

"I think that's pretty easy, sis," He-Man answered. "We need to find the Ancients. They did this before, surely they can do it again."

"How can we find the Ancients?" asked Orko. "I heard they all left Eternia."

"Not all of them," the Sorceress replied. "First, He-Man must find the LifeDeath. The Ancient of the Phoenix. Only she can bring back Procrustus."

"And how do I find LifeDeath?"

"You will need the Sword of the Ancients," replied the Sorceress.

"Teela still has it," Marlena brought up.

"Let me attend to Teela," the Sorceress returned. "The rest of you attend to the defense of Castle Grayskull. Skeletor will be attacking is less than eight days. Prepare yourselves."

With that, the Sorceress left the room. He-Man sighed a hefty breath and leaned against the table. Orko and Marlena left then, leaving She-Ra and He-Man alone. He-Man turned to his sister with deep sadness and regret.

"I almost lost you," he said, taking her hand.

"It was part of the plan," She-Ra answered. "Just about, anyways."

"I'm sorry," He-Man began, but She-Ra could see tears budding in his eyes as his voice gave out. She took her twin brother into her arms as he cried hard on her shoulder.