Author's Note: This book takes place after the events of "The Crossroads of Destiny" and "Prophecy and Change." While, yes, you can read this book without reading those two, it may be worth your while to. There will be references to these fics. For those of you who need your memory jogged, the previously is right below.

Previously:

"The Crossroads of Destiny"
After the events in "The Secret of the Sword," Skeletor sought to release the ancient threat of the Snake-Men to use against Hordak and the new arrival, She-Ra. After releasing King Hiss, Rattlor and Tung Lashor, the Snake-Men joined with Skeletor to restore the Great Towers. During a battle to claim the Towers, however, the hero known as He-Man took control – but at a cost. Teela, Captain of the Royal Guard at Eternos, had fallen in battle. Luckily, she was revived and while in a coma, experienced powerful visions regarding her destiny. As she did, Hordak and King Hiss engaged in a massive war that spanned across both Eternia and Etheria. To halt King Hiss and his forces, Hordak was forced to invoke the power of the Elders to once more banish the Snake-Men. He succeeded, though King Hiss and his elite managed to remain free. However, due to Hordak's invocation, Castle Grayskull's sacred power was left for grabs. Skeletor, knowing this, unleashed a massive army upon Grayskull and Eternos and took both by using a device known as the Cosmic Key. As He-Man, Teela, Man-At-Arms, and a scientist named Gwildor sought to free Grayskull, She-Ra, Orko, and a number of others liberated Eternos. When Skeletor and his minions were at last defeated, the day was thought saved. But, it was not over, for the power of Grayskull was still seeking a new master. The entity called the Dark Cloud emerged to take it. While massive armies battled the Dark Cloud, Teela and Prince Adam went to find the Sword of the Ancients – the only weapon capable to destroying the Dark Cloud. During this quest, Teela confessed misplaced to Adam and told him that she loved him – even though it was really He-Man that she truly felt this for. Following the end of the Dark Cloud, Teela told both He-Man and Adam on separate occasions of her true feelings and how she didn't love Adam, but He-Man. He-Man, however, rebuked her.

"Prophecy & Change"

Ten months following "The Crossroads of Destiny" and four months after "The Christmas Special," the being known as the Spirit of Evil emerged and attacked the Ancient at the center of Eternia known as Procrustus. If Procrustus fell, the Spirit of Evil would be able to transform the Light Hemisphere in a second Dark Hemisphere, and would therefore have heavy influence on those living on that half of Eternia. A small band of Heroic Warriors went to stop the Spirit of Evil, but they were undone and the Spirit succeeded in its task. As the Light Hemisphere became a second Dark, its denizens began to undergo evil mental changes. Only the aliens were left unaffected – Queen Marlena, Orko, Lubic, Rokkon, and Stonedar. Rokkon and Stonedar fled to the stars to find the Cosmic Enforcer Zodac while Orko and Marlena made for Grayskull – Grayskull being the target of the now mad King Randor and He-Man. As Marlena and Orko aided the Sorceress in bringing She-Ra and the Great Rebellion to Eternia, the true identity of He-Man and She-Ra was revealed to the queen of Eternos. When the Heroic Warriors made for Grayskull to claim in the name of Eternos, the Great Rebellion countered them in a terrible battle that resulted in heavy injuries on both sides. He-Man and Battle-Cat – and later, Teela – were freed, however, from the Spirit of Evil's grasp. Soon after the Heroic Warriors defeat, a huge army united under Skeletor made for Eternos. With madness taking the leadership of Eternos, the former King Miro expelled his children and took command of the Palace himself, for he was unaffected by the Spirit of Evil. However, during the battle between Eternos and Skeletor's army, King Hiss betrayed Skeletor. Skeletor was given to Hordak as part of a trade for the means to destroy the city. Yet, this betrayal created schisms within the army and many of the evil kingdoms that were part of it turned on each other. Amidst this confusion, Granamyr and his armies of dragons and Trolls arrived, seeking to destroy them all. All while this was happening, He-Man, Teela, She-Ra, SeaHawk, Battle-Cat, and Swift-Wind split into groups to quest for the way to restore Eternia. As She-Ra served as a surrogate mother for Procrustus, He-Man gathered the twenty-seven Ancients with Teela seeking their weapons. The Ancients were gathered, and while Zodac and an army of Cosmic Enforcers defeated the armies at Eternos, a confrontation was at long last brewing at the heart of Eternia. The Ancients defeated the Spirit of Evil, and Eternia was swiftly restored. However, the planet is in chaos due to the many conflicts and wars that arose as a result.

It is now only mere days since the conflict ended . . .

Prelude

"That was a good one, boss," Chimera laughed, his huge, purple body heaving as the sound thundered from his mouth.

"Eh," Count Marzo replied. "A good scheme, but nothing like I wanted." Marzo dipped his hand into the box full of gold coins. "I suppose I've grown somewhat bored in this business, Chimera."

"How's that, boss?"

"It's become the same-old, same-old. Sell drugs here, steal from there, assassinate this person, kidnap that one. It's gotten rather boring, Chimera. How long has it been since we've had a real big score, old friend?"

"Uh, not since that time we sold that crappy oil on Cybertron."

"The oil that was really dyed water? Yes, that was a good scam. A good scam, indeed. However, I'm looking for something new. A new opportunity to explore. Something fun."

Marzo fell silent, as did the whole cabin. Both Count Marzo and Chimera were flying through a low-populated region of the current galaxy they had taken business up in. Marzo, being the immortal and self-trained matchstick man of the pair, had just finished a long line of heists that stretched from Earth to Thundra. And while all these heists brought in some good cash, it felt a little . . . well, empty.

As if by fate, then, a nearby panel on the communications computer began to beep. Marzo swiveled over to and pressed a few keys. A printout came out, and Marzo ripped it right from the printer.

"Ah," he let out while reading over the paper.

"What is it, boss?"

"My contact on Eternia, old chum. Chaos reigns, apparently."

"How's that, boss?" asked Chimera.

"Something called the Spirit of Evil caused everyone on the Light Hemisphere to go bloody mad and a good dozen wars broke out. Skeletor's missing, all of the kingdoms are in shambles, and the Palace-City of Eternos has taken quite the beating. Hmm . . . I like the looks of this, Chimera."

The Count turned to another computer panel and began call up all of the available information of Eternia.

He had done business there before. He kidnapped a boy named Philip, the son of the Heroic Warrior called Mekaneck. Sold some drugs – the Black Flowers. Captured a cowboy named Rio Blast and turned him into the living arsenal, only to have him turn on Marzo. Did a trade with the recently returned King Hiss. Gave Skeletor the warrior known as Ninjor.

But all of these were simple dash-and-go schemes. The new one that forming in Count Marzo's mind . . . this was as scheme for the ages.

"Contact Captain Stick Fingers, Chimera, and tell him I've got an idea. While you're at, lay in a course for Eternia and that he should meet us on the way."

***

A few hours later, the huge old hulk that belonged to the Space Pirate known as Sticky Fingers docked with Count Marzo's vessel. Sticky Fingers himself sat in a small chair that shockingly held his gigantic bulk. Sticky Fingers was surrounded by his motley crew – Lava Man, Frog Man, Leo, and Hisser. As Count Marzo explained his incredible plan, they all listened intently.

"This all sounds good," Sticky Fingers told Marzo after the count was done with his explanation. "I do have unfinished on Eternia."

"All of those we're going to have to work with do. More importantly – they all hate He-Man and Eternos."

"Can you guarantee they'll work?"

"Not yet," replied Marzo honestly. "But I suppose we'll just see."

Sticky Fingers pointed straight at Marzo. "If they don't, I want out."

"Of course. Trust me, Captain, if they don't join us, then this plan falls apart."

***

So . . . three days later . . .

Count Marzo entered the Ocean Inn, which was located next to a long stretch of road in the Mystic Mountains. It was the perfect place because no one would recognize him or the man he was here to meet. Marzo subtlety scanned the bar room, and his eyes soon fell upon the man in the corner. His target.

The Count walked towards the man, who was wearing a gray duster and a wide-rimmed hat to keep his face hidden. The man spotted Marzo and nodded slightly. Count Marzo sat down in front of him in the booth.

"Good evening, Negator."

"Shhh!" hushed Negator. "Don't you even use my name, Marzo!" he snapped in a harsh, half-whisper. "The Heroic Warriors are after me. I don't need you shouting my name and having one of these people tip them off."

"Ah, I see. My apologies."

"What did you want?"

Count Marzo pulled out a file folder and laid it on the table in front of Negator. The Negator looked quickly around the room, then opened the folder and gazed at the papers inside. After he finished reading it, Negator looked up.

"You're asking for a lot," Negator returned, an uneasy look in his eyes.

"I know."

"Can I trust you?"

"Yes."

"Can I trust Sticky Fingers?"

"Maybe."

"Can you trust Stick Fingers?"

"In this, yes."

The Negator looked away, and thought for a long moment. "This won't be easy. I'll need to get working on some codes."

"Then you're in?"

Negator paused, then nodded slowly. "Yeah. I'm in."

"Excellent," Marzo said. "Now, tell me, do you know where I can find Evilseed these days?"

***

It was not but twelve hours later that Count Marzo was standing at the edge of the Vine Jungle. He waited and tapped his foot against a nearby rock as he waited for his meeting to come together. He didn't have to wait long, because after only a few seconds, the being known as Evilseed appeared.

"Count Marzo," hissed Evilseed with curiosity. "So good to finally work with you."

Marzo grinned. "So you got my message?"

"Yes. Very interesting plan, I must say. Rather dependant on others, wouldn't you say?"

"You want exactly what I want, Evilseed. This plan crumbles if but only one member shies away from it."

Evilseed place on his root-like finger to his bark-like chin and tapped it in thought. "Yes. And that's why I hope that no one else says no."

"Are you in, then?"

"Of course. This will be the perfect opportunity to exact the revenge I've been looking for."

***

When Marzo teleported back up onto his ship, Chimera was busy working at an array of computers. His thick fingers pounded against the keys, accessing equations and swiftly putting them into place. When the final sequence was set, Chimera pressed the correct keys to activate the device he was working so hard on.

"Progress, Chimera?" questioned Marzo.

"Much. The portal is set."

"Then let it work, then. Let the next member of our little gang emerge."

A metal frame came to live, energy coming alive and fuming forth. Screens all around it flickered with read-outs and stats. And then . . . a figure draped in black cloths came through and the portal vanished.

"Who summons Darkdream?"

Count Marzo grinned. "I do," he returned. "And now that I have helped you, I believe you must return the favor . . ."

***

It was now ten days after the withdraw from the battle at Eternos and the end of the Spirit of Evil, and General Tartaran still found himself enraged at the fact that his forces had lost. Although he had achieved quite the reputation in the Dark Hemisphere for standing against King Hiss (both good and bad reputations, at that), Tartaran had kicked himself everyday for not only getting involved in this mess, but also ending up on the losing side.

"Skeletor didn't give you enough credit, Tartaran," Count Marzo told him that afternoon.

"How do you mean?" asked the Goblin leader. Why Marzo wanted this meeting was beyond him, but he decided to humor the count.

Marzo smiled. "I have a proposition for you, General."

"How so?"

"Tell me, General, how would you like to solidify your power-base here on Eternia? Expand yourself into the Light Hemisphere? To claim that which you oh-so-failed at reaching ten days ago?"

"What's your point?" cut Tartaran.

Count Marzo told General Tartaran his plan. It was only a minute later that Tartaran agreed.

***

"I can't believe this," moaned the Game Master. "I can't."

Across the corridor, sitting in his prison cell, was the Toy Maker. "I know. The whole planet goes to the attic and we get stuck in here."

"It's not right, really," Game Master returned. The two had been imprisoned in one of the dungeons at West Eternos for the better part of eight months. And because of this, they had missed the chaos that stemmed from the Light Hemisphere's temporary transformation.

Suddenly, without any sort of warning or alarm, both the guards that stood by their cells fell to the ground in a deep sleep.

"What is this?" questioned Game Master.

Count Marzo entered, then and smiled at the pair. "Game Master, this is your 'Get Out of Jail for Free' card. And I'm willing to share it with you, Toy Maker, but only if the both you agree to a certain plan I've got worked up."

"What kind of plan?" asked Toy Maker.

Five minutes later, the cells were empty and the only people in that dungeon were the two sleeping guards.

***

As he finished off the remains of deer he had killed, Fang Man was shocked to see Count Marzo arrive in the western Evergreen Forest.

"My dear young Fang Man, I have a sales pitch I'd like you to listen to."

Fang Man stepped closer. "Oh?" he wondered. "And just what is this?"

Count Marzo chuckled. "Well, it goes something like this . . ."

***

After Fang Man agreed four minutes later, Count Marzo teleported back up to his ship with the villain in tow. Chimera stood waiting for him.

"This is brilliant, boss."

Count Marzo smiled widely. "Of course it is, Chimera. I came up with it."