Previously . . .
Note: This is a sequeal to "Masters of the Universe: The Crossroads of Destiny" and "Masters of the Universe: Prophecy & Change - Book One: Abyss" and "Book Two: Sundered." For better understanding, it is best if you read it before continuing this. If you did not, here is a run down of what has happened. These characters are not my own; this story is written for entertainment purposes and no money is made from it.
"The Crossroads of Destiny"
Shortly after Adora took the Sword of Protection and became She-Ra for the first, Skeletor sought a new power in the hopes of defeating his enemies - which now included Hordak and She-Ra. He released the ancient despot named King Hiss and two of his Snake-Men, Rattlor and Tung Lashor. Together, two pair joined forces and raised the forgotten fortress of the Great Towers. But as they were about to take the Great Towers, He-Man, She-Ra and their forces intervened. To make matters worse, Hordak and the Horde showed up as well. A war broke out and one that He-Man and She-Ra eventually won - but at a terrible cost. Teela had been mortally wounded, and believed dead. She recovered, however, but not before having visions of her fate and destiny. By the time she had recovered, all Eternia was at war. Hordak and Hiss had renewed their ages-old rivalry, and Hiss was able to bring back his Snake Men Army. He took Snake Mountain for himself, displacing Skeletor from the fortress. While Eternos and Castle Brightmoon fell under the heel of the Snake Men, and the Fright Zone was under siege - Hordak summoned the skills he had learned while he was a member of the Council of Elders. The Snake Men Army was all banished once more, but the power Hordak had been forced to envoke allowed for Castle Grayskull's secrets to be up for grabs. Skeletor, using a stolen device called the Cosmic Key, broke into Grayskull and took the castle under his flag. Eternos fell as well to Skeletor. As He-Man, Man-At-Arms, Teela and a scientist named Gwildor sought to stop Skeletor, Orko was given the task of rallying help and retaking Eternos. The Avions, Insectoids and the Great Rebellion came together with Orko and the Palace and City were freed from Skeletor's grasp. Just as they succeeded, so did He-Man at removing Skeletor from Castle Grayskull. But the power of Grayskull had yet to find a suitable holder, and this drew the attention of the Dark Cloud. The Dark Cloud, an enemy of the Ancients, began its journey to Eternia - leading the many kingdoms to join together against it. Adam and Teela sought the Sword of the Ancients - a journey in which Teela confessed some misplaced feelings for Adam. They got the Sword of the Ancients and returned to Castle Grayskull. Together with Skeletor, Hordak, the Sorceress, Zodac, Kings Randor and Stephan, Queen Johanna, Man-At-Arms, Queen Angella, He-Man and She-Ra, Teela defeated the Dark Cloud by using the Sword of the Ancients. In the aftermath of the battle, Teela confessed to He-Man that it wasn't Adam that she loved, it him. He-Man only told her it could never be because she could be used against him too easily.
"Prophecy & Change"
(Book One: Abyss) Nearly a year after "Crossroads of Destiny," Prince Adam took control of the Great Tower for his father. After some startling and mysterious events began to occur all over Eternia, those at Eternos joined with Malik the wizard from Stone Mountain. It was then discovered that the wizard Locus had summoned the Spirit of Evil and that the Spirit of Evil sought to kill the Ancient known as Procrustus. Procrustus was the titan Ancient, who lived in the center of world and held the two halves - the Light Hemisphere and the Dark Hemisphere - together. It was the Spirit of Evil's plan to kill Procrustus, take his place at the center of Eternia and transform the Light Hemisphere into a second Dark one. He-Man, Man-At-Arms, Mekaneck, Snout Spout, and Ram-Man sought to stop him and went through the long-abandoned Mines of Alluray to reach them. As they neared the entrance, though, Skeletor and King Hiss' warriors stopped them. He-Man and Teela reached Procrustus and the Spirit of Evil. But the Spirit of Evil managed to steal the Sword of the Ancients and used it to kill Procrustus. The Heroic Warriors failed and the Light Hemisphere instantly became the second Dark Hemisphere.
(Book Two: Sundered) Quickly, the peoples of the Light Hemisphere surrendered themselves to the evil influence of the Spirit of Evil. The aliens of Eternia - Queen Marlena, Orko, Rokkon, Stonedar, and Lubic - were free of the influence and sought to reach Castle Grayskull, which Randor proposed to take. Stonedar and Rokkon left Eternia to seek out Zodac, and Lubic was captured to cover for Orko and Marlena's escape. The pair reached Grayskull and with the help of the weakened Sorceress, summoned the Great Rebellion. She-Ra's forces arrived quickly, and the real identity of She-Ra and He-Man was revealed to Marlena. As Skeletor formed an incredible army at Snake Mountain, the Heroic Warriors and the Great Rebellion battled it out. As did He-Man and She-Ra. He-Man won out, but was placed in an emotional state that Light-Hope and the Sorceress managed to manipulate and bring him back to the side of good. The Heroic Warriors were forced to retreat, and after Teela was freed from the influence as well, it was decide to seek out the Ancients. The Ancients, who created the two halves in the first place, had all gone missing some 2,000-3,000 years ago. He-Man went to the Valley of Power and found the Ancient of the Phoenix, the one called LifeDeath. She agreed to help He-Man and the others return the status quo. She-Ra was made pregnant with Procrustus in hopes of restoring him and went to the safety of the sea with SeaHawk. He-Man and Teela went their separate ways as well - He-Man to search for the rest of the Ancients and the Teela to find the weapons and tools of the Ancients.
Chapter One
"The Army of Darkness"
Tension grew in the Eternian air in those late spring eves and morns. War was brewing across the planet, battles breaking out and forces mounting. Some were ancient rivalries, like the break-down of peace between the Cave-Dwellers and the Tree-People. Others came as a result of newly-formed bickering, which manifested with the Aquaticians and the Sovereign Nation of the Golden Isles that stemmed from the former not being involved in the battle against the Dark Cloud.
Still other warring nations were Moriana taking arms against Ahberron. The peoples of Targa were making raids into the realm belonging to Arcadia. Word had it that the Avions were feeling restless, and the Insectoids were building both defenses and offenses. A territorial dispute between the Bears and Cats led to all-out war.
No one dared ask about Granamyr of Darksmoke, nor his legions Dragons and Trolls.
The three kingdoms of Eternos seemed to be the only kingdoms that were cooperating, although rumor was whispered within the royal courts that the three elder children of Miro were plotting against each other. Whatever the case was, they were all preparing for what lay on the other side of the world
For while all the kingdoms on the formerly-Light Hemisphere were divorcing from their previous peaceful relations, all of the Dark Hemisphere was uniting under Skeletor's leadership.
Skeletor's massive army contained aggressive peoples from all over the Dark Hemisphere, all of whom wanted a piece of their enemies to the west.
They were all meeting in Skeletor's throne room, making war plans for the battle against Eternos. Baron Grod of the Ogres; Subternias of the Belats; King Von of the Torks; Batros of the Bats; Lodar of the Kobloids; Haramesh of the Ilkorts; Braeber of the Rock People; Rolo of the Orcs; General Tartaran of the Goblins; and Mer-Man of the Mer-People.
Also present was Evilseed, Negator, Toy Maker, Monteeg, and Gamemaster. Not to mention Tri-Klops, Evil-Lyn, Beast-Man, Karg, Evil Lyn, Kobra Kahn - and hiding in the shadowed corner, King Hiss. Rounding out the group was Locus, who spoke for the Spirit of Evil.
"How much longer are we to wait here?" questioned Rolo.
"As long as it takes to be prepared," replied Gamemaster. "These sort of strategies take time, creature."
"Our patience is wearing thin, you must understand," Haramesh hissed.
"Trust Skeletor," Batros returned. "I do."
"As do I," Tartaran followed up. "But there is a time for plan - and a time to strike!"
"Three days more, and we will ride to Eternos," Skeletor told them, silencing all at this table. "We are still awaiting reply from the Reptons. When we head out, the Evil Warriors will be sent ahead of the army to soften up any resistance we shall meet."
"Will my forces be involved in this, Skeletor?" asked King Hiss.
"Of course, Hiss."
Hiss nodded, making a mental to himself, and looked down at the ground. "You are aware, Skeletor, that the tactics that the Heroic Warriors once followed have been abandoned now? We've heard those reports that they confronted the Great Rebellion with extreme force. Far more extreme that what we've seen before. And now that we've learned that He-Man has joined with the Great Rebellion, it may hurt us more than - "
"Quiet, Hiss!" snapped Skeletor. "We will be more than ready to confront the Heroic Warriors." The Master of Snake Mountain looked to Evil Lynn and Tri-Klops.
"That's right," stepped in Tri-Klops, a proud smile on his lips. Evil Lynn scoffed inwardly, but said nothing to either Skeletor or Tri-Klops.
"With the Heroic Warriors down and any others that cross our path - it will be a straight shot for Eternos," Skeletor continued. "The Palace has never confronted such an army. No one will come to their aid, either. Not with the wars being waged across the entire hemisphere."
"There is still He-Man and She-Ra to worry about," spoke Gamemaster.
Locus folded his fingers. "Do not worry about them. Surely, this army can destroy to minor champions. And if they can not . . . my master can."
Skeletor nodded, in no way doubting what Locus said. King Hiss glared at Locus, realizing what kind of mistake he had made by allowing the Spirit of Evil to return.
The meeting dismissed, and King Hiss found himself walking along the inner corridors of Snake Mountain, his mind racing back to the days when he commanded the fortress. It was a different age, a different era . . . an time so long ago that barely any know can recall it.
When King Hiss first learned of the Spirit of Evil's return to Eternia, he was ready to aid in any way. But as time wore on, so did King Hiss' patience. And soon enough - his patience were gone. When this was over, all of the glory, all of the praise would surely go to Skeletor.
Not to King Hiss.
So, the ruler of the Snake Men needed a plan. "Kobra Kahn," he said as his descendant.
"Yesss, my Hissss?"
"I need your assissssstance."
***
King Pythos and his army walked across the landscape of the Darklands, drawing north towards Snake Mountain. He had taken his time in deciding to join Skeletor. He preferred the isolation that were the caverns of his people, but Pythos knew that eventually he would either have to go to war or war would go to him.
"HALT, REPTONS!" came a sudden shout from a nearby cliff. A figure dropped from the cliff and landed in front of the legion of warriors. Pythos took a moment to recognize him. His jaw dropped at the suddenly shock of finding out who this war.
"King Hiss!" he yelped.
"I am in need of you, King Pythos! Your people once swore an oath of loyalty to me and I am here to make sure that it is fulfilled now - 1,000 years later!"
King Pythos laughed. "And what loyalty do you see before you? Your people are gone, Hiss, and you have will have no oath with me!"
King Hiss smiled at King Pythos. "King Pythos, I am well aware of your many problems with Skeletor. I seek to destroy him. When I do, you can be sure that those that have an oath of loyalty with me will be honored greatly."
Pythos paused for a moment, thinking it over. "What about the rest of Skeletor's forces?"
"We'll deal with them when the time comes."
***
Hours later, back at Snake Mountain, Skeletor found himself taking leave of the meetings and the chaos within the mountain walls. A fire was building in his belly and his heart felt light and strong. He cackled, the evil that he had nearly lost as a result of those Earth children returning in full force to him.
He lifted his blade, knowing that he could kill without mercy. He lifted his chaos staff, knowing that his power was nearly unlimited.
"Eternos will be mine . . ." he muttered to himself. "I will take back what was taken from me. And then, on to Castle Grayskull."
A thudding noise came upon his door. Skeletor turned around and opened it. King Hiss stood in the corridor, a smile on his face.
"Skeletor," the leader of the Snake Men greeted. "King Pythos has arrived."
"Excellent!"
"I have a recommendation, Skeletor," King Hiss continued, stepping forward. "I say we leave tomorrow morning."
"Eh? Why?"
"Eternos has no doubt been keeping an eye on us. They'll be less prepared if we head out tomorrow morning." Skeletor looked doubtful. King Hiss stepped up, his voice growing more firery. "Just think of it, Skeletor. We are ready. We are prepared for this."
Skeletor paused in thought. And then nodded. "Indeed. Gather the others, Hiss."
"Skeletor, I am heading back to the Great Towers. We need to reinforce its defenses and to prepare for the arrival of your army."
"Yes! A good idea, Hiss!"
King Hiss laughed a bit. "Why, thank you Skeletor. Good to know that our alliance was kept with good reason."
"Yes."
***
After King Hiss' Dreadwing landed on at the Great Towers, his two top generals - Sssqueeze and Snake-Face - immediately greeted the leader of the Snake Men. "All is going to plan," he told them. "Set-up the communication. I must speak with Hordak."
"Hordak?" questioned Snake-Face. "But he's our greatest enemy!"
"Yes. And Skeletor's as well. Do not worry. Everything is under control."
***
As dawn came over the horizon, and the sun tried to pierce the dark clouds that hovered above Snake Mountain, the dragon called Shadow Wing roared. The armies below, their banners waving in the air and their fires liting the darkness, turned their attention to the mouth of Snake Mountain.
Skeletor stood with the leaders of the armies of Snake Mountain. He spoke, knowing exactly what it is they wanted to hear. "Minions of the Dark Hemisphere! Enemies of the light! We are gathered here to take what is rightfully ours! The Spirit of Evil has transformed the Light Hemisphere - so that we may take it! It is our right! IT IS OUR DESTINY! WE SHALL GO FORTH NOW AND CLAIM THE OLD LIGHT HEMISPHERE AS OUR OWN!"
The armies came alive; roaring and shouting; celebrating and crying out. Eternia . . . Eternia would be theirs.
In five mere days.