Chapter One – "After the Storm"

"This," Adam told himself, the sea breeze running through is somewhat long hair. "This is why they call them the Golden Isles."

He stood on the beach, the expanse of the ocean in front of him. The sun was a huge, golden disk in the lower sky and it was slowly sinking into the water, casting its light upon the rippling waves. It looked as if the entire ocean was a beautiful color of pure, shining, gold. In the five days he and Teela had been here, this was the first day he had been able to enjoy one of the 'legendary' sunsets of the Golden Isles.

Two weeks ago, the world had been saved for the brink of incredible war, and the Spirit of Evil had been destroyed. It felt so long ago, in some ways, but in others – there were scars of the worldwide wars everywhere that kept it fresh in Adam's mind. There had been constant peace meetings since, as well as reconstruction efforts. Some of the kingdoms realized first and foremost what had happened and began to help themselves and each other in this time of attempted healing. Other kingdoms, however, we just opposite.

The Golden Isles and Aquatica, for example. The blows that were dealt between the two had been both swift and bitter. Upon hearing that the two governments were far from getting along, King Randor sent his son, Prince Adam and Captain Teela to the Golden Isles to mediate a temporary peace. It took nearly five days to get them to agree to a somewhat permanent cease-fire, and to talk them into joining a peace summit at North Eternos – but the work was finally done. With this task complete, Adam and Teela were given a few days leave time for some decent R&R.

Well deserved too, considering everything that had been happening in the part month. Straight from the Spirit of Evil conflict and before this diplomatic mission, the pair had been working long and hard in the reconstruction and reorganization for the entire kingdom alongside the other Heroic Warriors. This time, though, both during the reconstruction and the diplomatic mission, had allowed Adam and Teela to rekindle their old friendship. A friendship that had changed from the one of the past few years.

Teela found herself no longer having to harp on Adam. Apparently, Adam had grown up while commanding the Great Towers, and their friendship had done the same. There was a strong, mutual respect for each other and as Teela watched in those meetings for the past few days, as well as taking care of those who lost their homes during the war, she discovered that perhaps Adam just wasn't meant to be a warrior. While he still had some decent fighting skills, it obvious that he was no fighter. And since their bond began to grow and evolve further and further, Teela was able to truly respect that.

Adam walked along the beach and towards a long set of winding stairs that lined a small cliff. At the top of these stairs was his guesthouse, with Teela's just down the road.

When he reached the top of the stairs, Teela was sitting on the patio of the guesthouse, slicing apples at a picnic table.

"Quite a view," she remarked, smiling.

"Beautiful," he replied, but not exactly meaning the sunset. Teela herself was looking quite beautiful herself. Her hair was draped across her shoulders, and she wore a sea green outfit that blossomed into a skirt. Not exactly something she would wear everyday, but it was obvious that now, with her relaxing like this, it was what she wanted.

Adam sat down across from her. "What are you making?"

"Apple dumplings," she returned, finishing with the apples.

"Sounds good. You know, I don't think I've ever eaten anything you've made before this trip."

"I'm pretty good, aren't I?"

"Oh yeah. In fact, I'm wishing Cringer was here to try some of it."

"Why did you leave him behind?"

"Too many distractions. I know he would have just slept all day, but still . . . there was no reason for him to come."

Teela placed all the apples in a small basket and stood up. "I'm going to check on dumplings, Adam. Are you all packed?"

"Packed and repacked," he answered, and followed her into the guesthouse.

While she continued on the food, Adam walked into his room and rechecked his bags. Most of all, he rechecked what he had kept secret from Teela

The Sword of Power.

Luckily, Teela had been too busy to notice the long, locked box he brought with him. He had been more than happy that the Golden Isles government had given them separate homes during their stay. As he hid it in between his two large carrying bags, and turned to face himself in the mirror.

Yes, things had been great for he and Teela during this trip. The old and once hopeless bonds of friends and respect had been reforged – and Adam was surprised that his old, teenage crush of Teela was kicking up again. In a way, he hoped it would fade off. Teela had been more than honest about her feelings for him. It was not Adam she was in love with, it was He-Man. And if that wasn't irony, Adam didn't know what was.

"Dumpling?"

Adam turned around and saw Teela standing at the door, staring at him.

"What's that?" asked Adam.

"The dumplings are ready."

"Oh. Thanks."

He followed her down the stairs and into the small dining room, where she had two bowls sitting out. Adam dug his fork into one and took a big bite.

"How is it?" asked Teela, a forkful waiting to enter her mouth.

Adam grinned. "Delicious."

***

The communicator beeped, but there was still no reply to its call.

It sat, half-caked in mud, on the floor of a very dense area of the Evergreen Forest. Above it stood mighty trees. The trees stood still, like monoliths. No matter what the winds, these trees moved not one inch. These ancient, clustered trees had a visitor. And the visitor, who had arrived nearly two weeks ago, was one for whom all plant life had respect for – Moss Man.

Moss Man entire body was engrossed with the local floral environment. From his torso down, his body was in the soil. He legs, feet and toes had spread out into roots, touching and communicating the elder trees around him. From his shoulders down, he was covered in various flowers and plants – both weed and otherwise.

And he remained like without food, and the only water he received had been in the form of rain. He spoke not one word with his mouth, for all he had to say was with his roots. What he had to say was all about forgiveness.

He had taken control of plants and trees during his battle with Perfuma, and as a result, many of these trees and plants had died. This broke two of his sacred rules. He was strictly not allowed to control plant-life. They would aid him, but he would not control them. The second was the fact that plants died – many plants – because of this control. Both of these things were below him.

For Moss Man, now was the time for redemption. His words of sorrow had spread within those first three days. Immediately, the plants forgave him – for plant-life is far more forgiving than some would think. But in many ways, that was not good enough for Moss Man. So, he took upon himself to communicate directly with these ancient trees around him.

And that meant not communicating with anyone else.

The communicator stopped beeping then, and the voice of Man-At-Arms was heard in the forest. "Moss Man – this is Man-At-Arms. I know you don't work for me, and you don't report to me. But I'm concerned for you. These are dangerous times. We need your help, Moss Man. Many of the rogue gallery have gone missing. If you know anything or see anything, please get in touch."

Man-At-Arms went on for a bit longer, but Moss Man ignored the sound of his friends voice. It did not matter. All that mattered was being forgiven.

***

There was one last person Count Marzo needed to contact. In the brisk cold of the Ice Mountains, Marzo immediately spotted the lair of Icer. The last thing Count Marzo wanted to do, however, was have to bust in and try and get Icer to come out.

Luckily, he didn't have to. Icer emerged not one moment after Count Marzo arrived.

"Count Marzo. Come to take advantage of the chaos this planet has been plunged into?"

"Yes."

"And what business do you have with me?"

"A group is assembling and you are the final member to join. There's a lot in it for you."

Icer grunted. "Make me an offer."

***

"Hai!"

Adora's leg shot out, slamming against the punching bag. The bag swung backwards with the impact, the chains that held it up shaking. When it swung back, Adora threw her fists out, smashing her clenched fingers against it. She then spun around, her foot slamming against the punching bag.

She grunted and stopped, her body covered in sweat. For a long moment, Adora watched the punching bag with an expression of frustration. Adora turned from it, then, and picked up a nearby towel. As she wiped her face, she walked through a large, arching door. Beyond it, was Light-Hope.

"How was the work-out, Princess?"

Adora grinned at the glowing entity before her. "Good, though I'm still working on the baby fat."

"How are you feeling?"

"Good."

"Good enough to return to Brightmoon?"

She paused and touched her flattening stomach. "Not yet."

"Adora, Etheria needs you."

"There's been no new Horde activity since before Spirit of Evil event."

"What about the people?"

"My cover still stands. And I'm meeting with Madame Razz this afternoon. And if trouble comes up, I'll be ready."

"Adora . . ."

"Light-Hope. If there is trouble, I will go. But until then . . . I need to recover."

Light-Hope didn't reply and just remained as it did. Adora sighed heavily and walked out of the chamber, making for an upper tower where she had made her home. She looked out the window, and out past the clouds that surrounded Skydancer Mountain. A terrible ache and sadness filled her – one she had been trying to choke for two weeks now.

Post-partum depression.

Sleep rarely came, and despite the fact that Adora knew that the pregnancy was not a true pregnancy, it didn't help the terrible feelings of loneliness and sadness that seemed to always carry with her. She was restless, and despite her intense workouts, it was hard for Adora to work up the energy to do much of anything.

A large part of her just wanted to see Procrustus, the Ancient that she carried as she would her own child. Adora was certain it would make her feel better. But . . .

No. She didn't want to. She wasn't ready to. In fact, often times when this thought would pop up, she would try to drown it out. The thing that was in her womb for those days during that accelerated process was not going to the baby that Adora wanted to hold and care for it. It was going to be huge, rock-man with four arms keeping the world together.

And that fact alone only made her cry more.

***

Hours later, on board Sticky Fingerses vessel, the entire group gathered in a makeshift briefing room. Count Marzo, Chimera, Sticky Fingers, Lava Man, Frog Man, Leo, Hisser, Evilseed, Negator, Darkdream, General Tartaran, Game Master, Toy Maker, Fang Man and Icer all sat on boxes and crates, and drank cheap alcohol, mingling in the villain sort of way. Some of them had met before this assemblage, and some hadn't. But no matter, they all talked about two things – He-Man and Eternos.

Which, for Count Marzo, was perfect. It set the tone and mood for what was to come.

"Gentlemen," he began, "gentlemen, if I can have your attention. Now that we've all met and mingled, I thought it time to make you all completely aware of my plan. Some of you have heard all of this, and some of you haven't. Whatever the case maybe, you must all now be aware of it. So . . . without further ado . . .

"Our goal is the Grand Vault of Eternos. In the aftermath of the war that devastated the city, it should be relatively easy to get in. The guards, however, to stand a problem. And the vault is so large it will take hours to empty. In that amount of time, He-Man and his compatriots will most assuredly arrive. Luckily, I've taken steps to make sure that no Man or alien bothers us."

"How?" asked Icer.

Count Marzo reached into a nearby crate a retrieved a staff that had a large circle on the top. "The Shaping Staff, recently reforged. Negator has been able to build a device that will widen its strike capacity and transform according to a persons DNA. Tomorrow, at 11 AM Eternos Time, the Shaping Staff will unleash a wave of power that will transform everyone of the race of Man and every alien into an animal of some random kind."

"What about Avion? And Insectia?" questioned Toy Maker.

"After the war, they are in no shape to offer any sort of defense. Now, the Shaping Staff will only be able to handle the Light Hemisphere. The Dark Hemisphere will be taken care of by Darkdream, who will cast that entire half of Eternia into slumber. Game Master and Toy Maker will set up booby traps throughout Eternos in case someone decides to take us to war. While this is happening, Sticky Fingers and his crew will be raiding the vault and shipping it all up here. Fang Man will make sure none of the new animals in the city and Palace will bother us.

"As all this occurs, Icer will create large walls of ice to keep us safe just in case someone does decide to show. And, we'll have Tartaran here on his way to Eternos to establish his new power base.

"You'll all get your share once the operation is finished. We're all in this for different reasons. Some for revenge, some for wealth, and some for power. I myself am in this for the Gem of Life. But, for this plan to work, we must be united. We all have something to gain. And when this is over – this will assuredly be the greatest caper in Eternian history. Now . . . who's with me?"

And there wasn't a villain who turned him down.