AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey gang. In case you didn't know it, I've been having some serious trouble with this fic lately. Writer's Block and etc. But luckily, I've been able to sort a lot of it out and move on with "Prophecy & Change." This is a shorter chapter, simply because it's one that gets things moving in the right direction again. Take care!

Chapter Three

"Dimmed Sun"

Day Three

It was three days after the quests began and five days remained until She-Ra reached the final stage of her surrogate pregnancy. Three until the Snake Mountain would reach Eternos, and almost certainly obliterate it. It was on this day, this third day, that the sun rose into thick gray clouds.

Light had become dim on Eternia's former Light Hemisphere, and the entire planet felt like a storm was about to break. The skies were all dark and gray, casting darkness across the Fertile Plains. Farmers shifted nervously from their slumber, and widespread talks of destruction and death excited all.

Battles were taking place, from the valleys of the Mystic Mountains where tribes of Trolls were feuding with nomadic Orcs; to the Evergreen Forest and the Vine Jungle, where the Bears and the Cats bloodied the ground over a piece of land; to the oceans, where the Free Peoples of the Golden Isles fired upon their new enemies, the Aquaticians.

All of Eternia was spiraling into chaos. And the blanket of gray clouds didn't help at all. Tension was building, from the lowest canyons . . . to the highest beaks.

Avion . . . in the Mystic Mountains . . . a place where another flashpoint in the on-going struggle was about to manifest.

"What is the word, Stratos?" questioned Hawk over to comm-link.

"King Randor is still demanding our assistance, my sister."

"Is that so?" cooed Hawk, and Stratos didn't care for the expression on her face.

"Yes. Hawk, what is going on?"

"Lord Stratos, it seem you have spent too much time with your precious King Randor. The council voted this morning. You have been removed from your title and are now exiled from our kingdom."

"WHAT?!" shouted Stratos. "HOW DARE YOU!?!"

"I am now the ruler of Avion, dear brother."

The comm-line was cut, and Hawk chuckled to herself. Avion was hers. Under her command, the mighty ariel empire would spread out across the skies, and conquer all those that could take to the sky. Beginning . . . with Insectia.

***

"No!" shouted Stratos, slamming his fist down onto the comm-panel. "I will not stand idly by and watch her destroy my kingdom!"

"Face it, Stratos, you've been exiled," Man-At-Arms commented from behind. "But don't worry, old friend, because once we take down Skeletor and his army, we'll be the most powerful force on all Eternia. All will bow to us, including your sister."

Stratos nodded, and then walked off. As he did, King Randor stepped over and grabbed Man-At-Arms by the arm.

"We need to talk, Duncan."

Man-At-Arms had been expecting this for sometime. With the armies of North and West Eternos due in in the evening, King Randor was getting more and more paranoid about his position. Man-At-Arms didn't blame him. There would be a moment of weakness, of vulnerability, in which Randor would be challenged.

And it would be Man-At-Arms that would take that moment and seize it for himself. Eternos would be his to protect - his to defend.

"I'll need extra security," Randor sat as the two of them stood on a balcony. "And someone to watch Stephan and Johanna in case they make a move against me."

"I will volunteer for that, your highness."

Randor put his hand on Duncan's shoulder. "You are a loyal friend, Duncan. Very loyal. You will protect the throne and me? Even through the chaos?"

"Yes, your highness."

"Good, good. None shall take it from me . . . none . . . not Stephan, not Johanna, and certainly not Keldor . . ."

Duncan eyes suddenly snapped over to a tree branch that was now shaking, like something had just been sitting upon and left quickly. He looked near and saw a bird soaring north from the Palace. An eagle. Zoar.

***

Angella watched as the eagle-form of the Sorceress returned. She glanced at her own wing, wishing it would heal and she could take to the winds as the Sorceress had. To be stuck on the ground was something she regretted greatly.

Zoar landed right in front of Angella at the top of the northeastern tower. She transformed immediately into the Sorceress.

"What is it?" Queen Angella asked, noticing the worried expression on the Sorceress' face.

"King Randor is expecting a power struggle at Eternos," the Sorceress explained. "And I would not be surprised if one arose, your highness. The Spirit of Evil's influence is strong. It grows stronger with each passing day. If Randor's siblings do not make a move to take the throne of Eternos, then Man-At-Arms will. Indeed, I believe he will anyway."

Angella nodded, and crossed her arms. "Then what should be done about it?"

The Sorceress paused in thought, contemplating the situation. "Where was King Miro last you heard from him?"

"The Whispering Woods. Why?"

"We must find him. Immediately. He is the only hope for Eternos. If there is any hope to be had."

***

Teela stood upon the sand dune and stared at the sight before. Shattered and decaying buildings, dating back to the First Age laid out in the desert of the Sands of Times. Wisps of golden sand flew and swirled in the wind in between the ruins.

This was the City of the Ancients, supposedly the former capital of all Eternia. It housed the Ancients, and was their seat of power on the planet. Teela had seen it before, last year when she, her father, He-Man and a team of archeologists did an expedition here.

Until it was interrupted by the guardians of the ruins - the robotic Zactons. The guardians Teela sought this day, to enlist into the service of Eternia. She only hoped they would respond to the commands LifeDeath told her to give.

Teela walked down the sand dune, dust kicked up in her footfalls. She came to the ruins and stepped towards the first outcropping of broken buildings. It was then she heard the noises.

Buzzing and beeping, whirring and clicking - mechanical sounds. Shadows appeared before her in the noon sky. Teela pulled out her staff, just in case. They emerged, the Zactons, from hidden lockers and chambers - ready to defend these ruins that their masters left here.

The Zactons came into full view, and Teela stood her ground against their force. They moved on wheels, and scanned her with their almost-human faces. Their claws snapped. It was then Teela spoke.

"Zactons, I am Teela, daughter of Duncan of Eternos!" she announced. "I am a herald to the Ancients, and hereby order you to stand-down!"

The Zactons paused and scanned her once more.

"You must listen to me. I was the wielder of the Sword of the Ancients. Follow me so that you may guard your masters. Follow me!"

Once more, the Zactons scanned Teela. And then, the one that stood before them all, wheeled forward. "We will follow you, Teela, herald of the Ancients."

***

Skeletor stood atop Central Tower, the huge camp down below. The afternoon sun was passing quickly towards the evening. King Hiss and Locus were both at his side. "Such a great prize," Skeletor told Hiss. "The Great Towers was the first victory."

"And certainly not our last," King Hiss added.

"I grow concerned," Locus stated then. "Our enemies, those untouched by the Spirit of Evil, have been too quiet. My contacts inform me that both He-Man and Teela have been sighted at various points all across Eternia."

Skeletor cackled. "With an army this size, why worry about those two dolts!?"

"Armies mean nothing against those that enough will to dominate, Skeletor, or have you not realized that by now?" questioned King Hiss. "The Dark Cloud, for example. The greatest armies on all Eternia were no match for its strength."

"Bah! We will succeed where all others have failed!" Skeletor shrugged. "He-Man and Teela are not threat, nor are the forces of the Great Rebellion. Not even Hordak can stop us now!"

King Hiss withheld a smile. "Of course." The Snake Men leader turned on his heel then, and walked back into the Central Tower.

There wasn't much to it since the forces of evil had seized it. All computers and databases left behind by the forces of Eternos were removed during their evacuation, meaning there was nothing good left over for the Snake Men or any of their allies to use. Which didn't really surprise King Hiss.

As he crossed the First Hall of the Central Tower, he exchanged glances with King Pythos. Pythos, leader of the Reptons, nodded to Hiss. King Hiss then went to Viper Tower to prepare himself for the battle that would come soon.