C. Cowboy: Glad you guys like this so far! This chapter has the song 'The Dance' by Garth Brooks in it, R&R!
Chapter 2: The Dance
The greatest weakness of most humans is their hesitancy to tell others how much they love them while they're alive. - O.A. Battista
An hour later…
Queen Marlena stared at her husband's sad face in disbelief, "A-Adam…was killed…" she stated looking toward He-Man, "That's… impossible…"
"I'm sorry," the King said sadly wiping the tears from his eyes, "our son sacrificed himself for the city and everyone in it…"
"Oh." Marlena whispered dryly, looking deep into He-Man's sad eyes.
"Are you ok, Your Highness?" Duncan asked slightly surprised at her reaction.
"Yes, yes I'm ok…" She said not taking her eyes off He-Man, "I guess… it hasn't really hit me yet." She then turned her attention to Duncan, "How is Teela taking it? As close as they were, she must be hurting."
He-Man let out a faint sigh, "Not sure," he stated looking at Duncan, "She's gone into her room, and we've left her alone to give her some space." He-Man said sadly, 'Like I could actually face her after what I've done.'
"Your Highness," Duncan started grabbing the King's attention, "I know this may be inappropriate timing but me and He-Man were speaking, and he would like to remain here in one of the guest room of the palace. If that would be alright."
"Of Course." Randor said welcoming the distraction, "When will you be moving in?"
"Tomorrow," He-man informed, "after Adam's…f-funeral."
"Very Good," Randor said, "though I'm afraid these sad times will make the palace's inhabitance, including myself and the Queen, poor company."
He-Man gave a faint smile, "Anything's better then the gargoyles of Grayskull."
"Oh." Randor said looking up curiously, "I was unaware you lived there."
"Yeah." He-Man said turning his back to help hide his lie, " Not many know that."
He-Man and Duncan gave their condolences and left the throne room.
"So." Duncan started sadly, "You got what you wanted. He-Man's available twenty four seven."
"Yeah." He-Man sighed
"What you going to do for the night?" Duncan asked
"I guess I'll stay at Grayskull for the night." He-Man said not looking up, "I dread hearing what the Sorceress has to say about this."
"Good luck, son." Duncan said placing a hand on his shoulder, "I do not envy you."
"Gee thanks." He-Man said as the two went in different directions.
Meanwhile in Teela's bedroom…
The young yet proud warrior laid, curled in a ball, clinging her pillow to her chest, and crying her heart out. "Adam…w-why… why did you have to act…b-brave now?"
Looking back on the memory of"Why…" Teela sobbed, "Why d-did… y-you have to try… to be a hero…"
The dance we shared 'neath the stars alone' "Duncan! Welcome back to Eternos!" Randor said happily to his old friend.
"Great to be back, Randor," Duncan greeted just as happy, "Is that Prince Adam beside you? My, has he grown! I can't believe he's already five!"
"He's still four for around five more months." Randor said ruffling Adam's hair making him blush.
For a moment all the world was rightAdam then noticed a young girl not much older then him, with long red hair, hiding behind Duncan's leg.
"Hello! My name's Adam, what's yours?"
"Teela…" she responded shyly and gasped when Adam grabbed her hand.
"Come on! I'll show you around the palace!"'
How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye"You promised…" Teela whispered through her sobs,
And now I'm glad I didn't know
'Teela, now twelve years old, ran out of the dance hall, tears running down her face, and almost knocking Adam down.
"Teela? What's wrong?" Adam asked concerned.
The way it all would end
"Nothing!" Teela yelled keeping her back to the young prince.
The way it all would go
"Teela, you aren't the type of girl to just cry for no reason." Adam stated placing a hand on her trembling shoulders, "What's wrong?"
Our lives are better left to chance
"Sir William…" Teela sobbed, "He wouldn't dance with me. He said he'd only dance with Gwen."
Adam looked sadly at his friend, then looked back toward the hall, and noticed they could still hear music. He then spun her around, grabbed one of her hands in his, and placed his other on her hip.
"Adam?" Teela asked wide-eyed, "What on Eternia are you doing?"
I could have missed the pain
"What does it look like Teela?" Adam said with a smirk, "Giving you your dance. Didn't I promise I'd always be there for you?"'
But I'd of had to miss the dance
Teela couldn't handle the pain and set up in a futile attempt at stopping the flood of memories. She set down and looked over at her bed table and saw a photo setting next to her lamp, one of her and Adam two years ago, their first mission with the Defenders, which didn't go as it was planed.
Holding you I held everything
' "Oh would you stop acting like a baby!" Teela mock growled as she looked over Adam's sprung ankle. The pair was checking out rumors of a group of thieves in the hills south of Eternos and was trapped in a cave by a mudslide.
"Well it hurts!" He complained, but was cut off as Teela gently placed his arm over her shoulder and helped him stand.
For a moment wasn't I a king
"You are pathetic, Your Highness." Teela mocked trying to hide her blush.
"No I'm not!" Adam stated sticking his tongue out at his best friend.
But if I'd only known
The two then made their way through the cave repeating 'yes you are, no I'm not' over and over again like children.
They were still arguing and didn't even notice they made it out of the cave, "Teela." Adam stated,
"Are too… huh?" She said looking at him confused.
How the king would fall
"We're out." Adam said with a smile.
"WE'RE OUT!" Teela yelled wrapping her arms around him forgetting about his ankle. The two immediately tumbled to the ground, and landed in a provocative position, bring a blush to both their faces, but neither moving.'
Hey who's to say you know I might have chanced it all
A slight, sad 'mew' from her door brought Teela out of her flashback "Cringer?" Teela asked looking up, rubbing some tears from her eyes.
The large green tiger replied with another sad mew. "Come on." She ordered setting Indian style on her bed, and tapping her hand at her side.
Cringer silently made his way to her bed, and laid down on it, resting his head on her lap.
"Miss him too, huh?" she asked thankful for the distraction. The tiger responded with a sigh.
"I miss him too, boy." She sighed scratching his ear.
And now I'm glad I didn't know
'The sixteen year old Teela was practicing her swordsmanship techniques in the court yard, when she spotted Adam waking through the yard, dragging his feet, and Cringer walking worriedly behind him. "What's the problem, Adam?" Teela asked swing her sword.
The way it all would end
"Nothing." Adam snapped and tried and walked away, but Teela stepped in front of him, "Oh no, you don't."
The way it all would go
"I said nothing's wrong, Teela, now get out of my way!" Adam growled and tried to step around her, but she just sidestepped to stay in his path.
"I'll get out of your way when you tell me what's wrong." Teela stated firmly.
Our lives are better left to chance
"Father said I have to find a date for the annual ball by tonight, or else I have to go with Duke Laurence's daughter." Adam stated flinching at the last part.
I could have missed the pain
"Oh." Teela said bringing a finger to her cheek, "I have an idea."
"I'm open for suggestions, Teela." Adam said rubbing his forehead.
"I could be your date."
"What??" Adam asked in disbelief.
"I don't really care about balls anymore, but," She said ruffling his hair, "You're my best friend, and I'd be happy to bail you out. Again."
"THANK YOU, TEELA!" Adam yelled hugging her tight.
"No problem, Adam, what are best friends for." she said hugging him back enjoying the moment, before they realized what they were doing and broke apart.'
But I'd of had to miss the dance
Teela then laid back down on her bed with Cringer resting his head on her belly and sighing sadly.
"We'll get through this, Cring." Teela whispered hoarsely from her crying as she scratched Cringer's head, "He… he wouldn't want us to stay sad…" she whispered getting quieter and quieter as she finally feel into a dreamless sleep.
Meanwhile… Castle Grayskull…
"You…did…what?" Sorceress said softly, and almost sound like she was growling.
"I… I'm sorry, Sorceress." He-Man said bracing himself for the sermon he knew was coming, "BUT I feel I made the wiser decision here."
"No." Sorceress snapped, "No you made a foolish, completely UNWISE decision!"
He-Man back stepped, he had never seen her this angry, and some part of this reminded him a great deal of Teela.
"I… CAN NOT believe you have done this, He-Man!" Sorceress growled as she floated down to get into the hero's face.
"I… I can explain…" the most powerful man in the universe whimpered looking down at the Sorceress of Grayskull.
"Then… Explain." Sorceress snarled glaring into his blue eyes.
"I… I…" He-Man stuttered looking into eyes that could melt steel. He-Man finally steadied himself and glared back, "OK, Sorceress, the reason I did this is I'm tired. You know, while Adam was being forced to set into a meeting with his father, He-Man was needed to aid the Defenders during an Ambush? I am so tired of Adam getting in the way of me helping people."
"He-Man." Sorceress said a little softer but still showing anger, "there are better ways then destroying your secret identity's life."
"No, Sorceress." He-Man said narrowing his eyes, "There isn't I have thought about this for along time, this is the only way."
"And you didn't not consult me first?" Sorceress asked narrowing her own eyes.
"No because you would have tried to stop me."
"If that is what you think…" Sorceress whispered turning her back on the hero, "I'm sorry, I know how you feel, making such a sacrifice…"
"No you don't Sorceress, all you've known is Grayskull, how could you know what it's like to turn your back on all those you care about and love." He-Man snapped angrily.
The Sorceress stopped dead in her tracks. "What…did you say?"
He-Man opened his mouth, only to shut it quickly when the Sorceress spun around her eyes blazing, "SILENCE!" she yelled as she raised him off the ground with magic.
He found himself flying toward her and stopping an inch away from her with her angry face glaring at him. "Adam, you have NO IDEA what the word SACRIFICE means." Sorceress whispered hatefully her wings flapping rapidly taking them slightly higher.
He-Man gulped loudly as the Sorceress stared at him like a hawk staring at an animal getting close to her nest. "Do you know what it's like to leave and watch your husband die? Do you know what it's like to give your only daughter…" She then stopped herself with her hand over her mouth and her angry expression changed to one of pure shock.
"What?" He-Man asked confused, but was only answered by Sorceress dropping him seven feet on his back.
"Go, Ad… He-Man." Sorceress said coldly. "I can only hope you truly realize what you are giving up."
He-Man quickly climbed to his feet and dashed out of the castle as the Sorceress slumped sadly in her throne, "Teela…" she sighed as a single tear slid down her face.
Later that night, back at Eternos Palace.
Duncan slowly walked into his shop to check on things one last time when he heard a noise.
"Who's there?" Duncan asked activating his massive arm cannon and charging a blast.
"It's just me! Don't shoot! Don't shoot!" He-Man pleaded waving his hands in the air.
"Ad…He-Man, you almost gave me a heart attack!" Duncan complained as he deactivated his armcannon.
Before Duncan could say anything else, two green and red blurs tackled He-Man to the ground.
"YOU'RE ALIVE!!! YOU'RE ALIVE!!" Orko exclaimed as Cringer licked his face.
"He-Man is anyway." He-Man said finally prying them off him.
"Mew?" Cringer questioned tilting his head to the side.
"Listen, guys," He-Man whispered, "I'm not going to be Adam anymore. I think it would be better for the kingdom if I stayed as He-Man." He explained, "That's why I staged Adam's death earlier today."
Orko started to retort when a voice came from outside the shop, "Father? Is that you in there?"
"Shit! Teela!" Man-At-Arms and He-Man cried looking at each other.
"Hide!" Duncan whispered, shoving He-Man toward the open storage compartment on the back of a Battle Hawk.
"Orko, Cringer, you didn't see me." He-Man ordered as he climbed into the compartment, and Duncan slammed the door on his hand, "AH!! THAT'S MY HAND!" He-Man cried rising up.
"Quiet, get in there!" Duncan whispered banging He-Man on the head with the door making him get down into the compartment.
"Father?" Teela asked walking into the shop just as the door was shut. She was wearing her long blue nightgown and her long flowing red hair was waving behind her. "Father, what are you doing?" She asked her red puffy green eyes narrowed questioningly.
"Teela! What are you doing up this late, sweetheart?" Duncan asked leaning against the Battle Hawk.
"I asked first." Teela stated knowing her father was up to something.
"I was… just making sure everything was turned off." Duncan said as Cringer and Orko nodded rapidly in unison, "Now, Teela, what are you still doing up?"
"I couldn't sleep." She whispered sadly, "You're going to call me silly, but… something inside me told me Adam was in here."
Cringer and Orko gulped and looked at each other, as Duncan walked up and hugged his daughter, "Go on back to bed, sweetheart. He… wouldn't have wanted you to be out practically asking to be ill."
"I… guess your right…" Teela sighed, "but he what would he be doing in here. If he were anywhere he'd be asleep under his favorite tree. I'll check there, real quick then I'll go to bed, ok, Father?"
Duncan forced a smiled and nodded. Teela reached up and kissed his cheek and turned and left. Duncan watched her go sadly. "She's strong, Duncan, she'll be ok." He-Man said placing a hand on his mentor's shoulder.
"I don't know, son." Duncan said not looking at him. "This is eating her up inside." Duncan then shook it off and looked at the hero, "Come on, I'll get you a cot in the back to sleep on so no one will spot you if they come in before you wake up in the morning."
The next day, Adam's funeral brought more of a turn out then He-Man had originally thought. He listened to the Defenders give their own obituary of the young prince, He-Man felt lower and lower at every good thing that they said about him. And when it was over, the only ones who didn't say anything was Buzz Off who took merely said 'if you haven't anything good to say about someone, to not say anything at all, and he didn't wish to offend the king.' And the one that hurt the most was Teela who didn't say anything because she didn't even show up.
He-Man walked out of the cathedral and seen Teela laying under the same tree he found her the day before.
"Teela?" He-Man asked slightly irritated that she didn't think enough of him to even come to his funeral.
"What?" came Teela's cold yet muffled response.
"Why didn't you come to Adam's funeral?" He-Man asked narrowing his eyes, "Did you really think that little of him?"
Teela simply got to her feet and started to walk away, "So? Who wants to go to an unlucky, loser coward's funeral anyway?" she said her voice trembling slightly, but He-Man was too angry and hurt to pick it up.
"How can you be so cold?" He-Man growled, "He thought the world of you!"
"Don't talk about him like you knew him, He-Man." Teela growled not turning toward him, but showing her anger by clinching her fists.
"I knew him far better then you possibly even dreamed, Teela." He-Man snapped taking a step toward her.
"I doubt that, He-Man." Teela humphed, "I've known him since I was a child."
"Well considering you are still acting like one, you obviously didn't know him well." He-Man smirked.
Teela flinched, "What?"
"You heard me!" He-Man snapped trying to keep from yelling, but still loud enough to gather a crowd, "Do you have any idea how much those 'coward' comments hurt him???"
"No…" Teela said near whispered.
"You know he ran from battles? Do you have any idea where?" He-Man snapped growing closer to her.
"No…" she whispered quieter.
"And I always came, right?" He-Man asked loudly, drawing a bigger crowd now being made of Defenders, "any idea how I found out about the danger??"
"…No…" she whispered barely hearable.
"Do you think I am a mind reader?" He-Man yelled, "Do you think I stay high above everyone and just waiting to ride Battle-Cat from my home in the clouds to come and save you and everyone else?"
"…"
"You know someone has to tell me when something happened!" He-Man near screamed at the now trembling girl, "I showed up shortly after Adam disappeared, THINK ABOUT IT, TEELA!!!!"
Teela didn't say a word but dashed away from him pushing through the crowd, sobbing loudly.
"Teela! Wait" He-Man called out, "I'm sorry I didn't…" he yelled running after her out of the city gates.
He followed her into the forest where she tripped over possibly the same tree root she fell face first years ago. She started to get up but just feel down again sobbing and trembling violently.
"Teela…" He-Man sighed finally catching up to her.
"Why didn't he tell me?" she sobbed laying face down.
"Teela…" He-Man said soothingly, speaking dangerously a lot like Adam.
"Why?" Teela cried, "I… I would have…k-kept your secrets…I wouldn't…I wouldn't…" she sobbed completely broken down.
He-Man bent down beside her and pulled the teenaged warrior to him in an embrace, "I'm sorry, Teela, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean all that…"
"Why…why didn't he trust me?" She sobbed clinging to him.
"I…" He-Man gulped, "I wonder that myself…"
He-Man then gently picked her up, and cradled her in his arms and started back toward the city. "Don't worry Teela." He-Man said softly sounding more like Adam, "I'm never going to let anything hurt you, ever."
Teela's tear filled eyes blinked a few times looking up at He-Man, but quickly shook it off as coincident, and slowly drifted off to sleep in his arms.
To Be Continued…