Chapter 5: He's Coming
"You heard the rumor?" Buzz Off asked, sitting down at the table where Stratos and Man E Faces were eating.
"What rumor do you speak of?" Stratos asked, trying to hide his interest.
"You notice Teela this morning?" Buzz Off whispered leaning across the table. "She was smiling. She hasn't smiled since Adam was killed."
"That is good news," Man E Faces nodded, "But what does that have to do with a rumor?"
"Roboto was patrolling the inner palace this morning," Buzz Off whispered even quieter, "and he saw He-Man leaving Teela's bedroom before sunrise."
"Oh dear …" Stratos said, with a blush covering his features, "So she and He-Man … oh dear me …"
"Yes," Buzz Off nodded, "he said He-Man looked really worse for wear, almost like he hadn't slept all night. Heehee, I always knew she was wild, but Ancients!"
"Good afternoon, guys," Teela said in a chipper tone. "Nice day, huh?"
"Oh, yeah," Buzz Off smirked. "You have a good night last night, Teela?"
"Oh, yeah," Teela nodded. "Best night of my life …" she sighed, causing Stratos to spit his drink all over the table.
"You ok, Stratos?" He-Man asked, walking up and sitting down at the table with a yawn.
"He-Man, how are you?" Teela asked with a smile, while the other three Masters just gawked at the two. Noting Teela's joyful mood, and the black bags under He-Man's eyes, it was obvious to them what had taken place last night.
"Oh A … He-Man," Teela said, "Thanks again for last night … I … I don't know exactly what to say …"
He-Man took her hand, "No, you don't have to say anything," he said softly, "I am sorry though, for the pain I caused you …"
"Ancients, He-Man!" Stratos cried, standing abruptly, glaring at the most powerful man in the universe, "Have you no decency at all?? How could you … take advantage of poor Teela, in her time of grieving?! I thought you were better then that!"
He-Man and Teela both looked at him in surprise and confusion, "Um, what are you talking about, Stratos?" He-Man asked.
"Oh don't patronize us!" Man E Faces growled, "You … I can NOT believe you! You make me sick!" he said as he and Stratos marched off.
Buzz Off stood to follow, then looked from Teela to He-Man. "That had to been nice, way to go, He-Man!" he then walked behind the other two masters leaving Teela and He-Man in confusion.
"What … just happened?" Teela asked blinking, trying to compute the previous events.
"Don't ask me," He-Man said rubbing his temples, "A night without sleep does a wonder for brain processes."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Adam," Teela winked, "You had the same amount of sleep as me."
"One, don't call me that in public, Adam's supposed to be dead, remember?" He-Man whispered, "And two, You slept all night, while Battle Cat and I were up, him running and me making sure we both didn't fall out of the saddle. It's a miracle I got you to your room before sunrise!"
"I wondered how I got in bed …" Teela mused. "Have you told Father I know your secret yet?"
"No," He-Man groaned laying his head on the table, "I just got out of bed ten minutes ago …"
"Good," Teela smiled evilly, "I have an idea on how to tell him."
--
Man-At-Arms was working on one of his experimental weapons as Teela and He-Man walked into his shop. Teela got on her toes and whispered in He-Man's ear, "Just trust me, ok?" He-Man nodded weakly, with a strange feeling of dread growing in his stomach.
"Daddy?" Teela spoke up walking into the room, with He-Man walking close behind.
"Hello, Teela," Man-At-Arms smiled, "It's been a while since you called me that, and I am pleased to see you smile again. I take it you have some good news."
"I guess you could say that," Teela said sheepishly.
"Is something the matter?" Man-At-Arms asked worriedly.
"Well … you see father, I don't miss Adam as much anymore," Teela said, not looking up. "You see … he … he left me something to remember him by." She rubbed her belly, making He-Man go into a coughing fit.
Man-At-Arms looked at her quizzically for a moment, then realization hit him. He turned to He-Man with a look that could shatter glass. "I am … going to … kill you …" he said walking toward the Guardian of Grayskull working his hand menacingly.
"Now, now Duncan …" He-Man said worriedly as he back stepped from the angry foster father.
Then Man-At-Arms heard his daughter chuckle and two plus two added up, "You know …"
"Yup," Teela said with a chester cat grin.
"You're not expecting?" Duncan asked hopefully.
"Nope," she said shaking her head, trying to keep from laughing.
"So he told you?" he asked again, taking a seat at his desk.
Teela smiled and leaned up against the desk, "Yes, father, I know."
"Well, how did this happen?" Duncan asked.
"Well … you see Father …" Teela stammered trying to find a polite way to tell her father it took her trying to kill herself to get it out of him.
"I just couldn't take seeing her hurt anymore," He-Man spoke up, smiling at Teela's thankful look, "so I told her. Everything."
"That's very honorable of you, Adam," Duncan said, "I'm pleased you finally let her in."
"I am too," He-Man said, and Teela couldn't help but finally notice the parallels in Adam and He-Man's voices and mentally scolded herself for not noticing it sooner.
Teela then walked up and slugged her father hard in the arm. "What was that for?" He asked rubbing the soreness out.
"For letting Adam pull that stupid stunt," Teela shot.
He-Man started to laugh, but then the room started to spin, and he had to grip the desk.
"He-Man, Adam, are you alright?" Teela asked, going to his side.
"Yeah … I'm fine," He-Man said weakly, "I just got a little light headed for a moment."
"Adam, you have a fever!" Teela said worriedly.
"Teela, don't call him that here," Man-At-Arms said as he helped him to sit down, "She's right. You do feel warm, but that doesn't make any since," He then turned to his daughter, "Teela, your room is closest so take him there to rest, I'll go and talk to the Sorceress."
"That will help with the rumors …" She said under her breath.
"What was that?" Duncan asked, readying a sky sled.
"Nothing, Father," Teela said, helping He-Man to his feet, "We better go while the area's clear."
--
"Easy," Teela said as He-Man all but fell on her bed. "Maybe you should change back," She suggested, looking at him worriedly.
"Sorceress … usually knows everything that's going on with me …" He-Man said weakly, "But I can't make contact … with her …"
"Save your strength, rest," She said forcing him to lie back down, "I think you should change back to Adam. I don't know how I know, but I have the strangest feeling that your powers are what's hurting you."
"What if someone walks in?" He-Man asked.
"I'll lock the door and windows," She replied, already locking the door, "No one can get in but Orko and he already knows about you." She finished locking the window and turned back to the weakened He-Man. "Ok, it's safe."
"Let the … Let the Power … RETURN!" He cried barely holding the sword up, then in a flash of light Adam was laying in He-Man's place. His arm and sword dropped to his side and he lay there motionless for several moments.
Teela then timidly walked over to the bedside, letting out a sigh of relief when she saw his chest rising and falling.
"Adam?" She asked sitting down beside him, "Adam, are you alright?"
"So … tired …" he said weakly.
"Then sleep," she said softly.
"But what if someone-" he started but she shushed him.
"Don't worry about a thing," she said quietly, "I'll watch over you, so sleep."
Adam let a smile cross his lips, "You know … I think this is the first conversation we've had together that didn't have a cut down of some kind in it that we've had in years."
"I think you're right," she said smiling with him, "I've missed you, Adam, and I didn't even know it. You know, Adam, Adam?" she asked, but let out a sigh when she realized he was asleep. "I'll never let anyone or anything take you from me again, I swear," she said as she stroked his cheek gently.
--
"Sorceress, Sorceress where are you?" Duncan asked walking into the depths of Castle Grayskull. He was beginning to get worried. For it was highly unlike the Sorceress to not meet him at the front gate.
"Oh Duncan," Sorceress said, with a surprised tone, "you startled me, what are you doing here?"
"Something's wrong isn't it?" Duncan asked, narrowing his eyes.
"No, Duncan," Sorceress said, her usual composure again in place, "There is nothing the matter."
"Then you know of He-Man's condition?" Duncan asked.
"He-Man's what?" Sorceress's eyes widened with worry.
"He-Man appeared to have a fever and was very weak. Teela took him to rest," Duncan said, a hint of irritability in his voice. "You at least know that your daughter now knows of Adam's secret."
"Yes, yes I am aware of that …" Sorceress said, looking away. "The power is too much for his younger, smaller body to take if he remains in that form for more then a few days at a time. He should rest whenever possible. If he tries to remain in his He-Man form for too long it could be fatal."
"And you didn't tell him of this little technicality?" Duncan said raising his voice in shock and anger.
"I must of … oh my …" She said scolding herself mentally, and turning her back on her friend.
"Sorceress, Teelina," Duncan said, his voice growing softer. "Something is wrong, something terrible or else you wouldn't be so distracted."
"I …" She said breaking off with a sob. Duncan was now officially worried.
"Teelina?" Duncan said walking toward her, but gasped when she dove into his chest sobbing.
"He's coming, Duncan," she sobbed, "He's coming to take her, and I don't know of any way to stop him!"
"Who is?" Duncan asked bringing his arms around her trembling shoulders.
"Teela's father," She said simply, almost spitting out the last word. "He's coming to take her, to kill her for his own means. I tried … I tried to hide her away, but he found you, found her, he's coming … I don't know what to do …"
"Oh, Ancients …" Duncan gasped growing pale. "Teelina, you must realize, Adam and I both, we'd die before we'd let anything happen to Teela. Especially Adam."
"That's exactly what I'm afraid of …" Sorceress whispered. "It took all my power and then some to banish him before … I don't know … he is so powerful and if he can get his hands on her … oh Duncan … nothing can stop him."
"We won't let that happen," Duncan said soothingly while holding her, "Kagato will not have her."
--
Meanwhile several hundred miles away, in a quiet mining village, a stranger stepped into the limits of the little town. He was wearing strange silver armor, and his long white mane fell down his shoulders. His golden eyes shined evilly.
"Excuse me, but I am wondering," the man asked a group of men standing around a bar, "could any of you tell me where I can find the one that they call … He-Ro or something like that?"
"He-Ro?" a man asked smirking cockily, "You must mean, He-MAN, yeah he usually sticks around the palace in Eternos. Keep traveling north and you'll be there in a week and a half, two weeks at the most."
"Thank you, gentlemen," he said giving an elegant bow.
"That clothin' of ya's must be worth a lot of money," one of the larger men spoke up.
"I am honored my clothing suits your fancy," the stranger said with a toothy smile.
"They look just my size," a man the stranger's size stepped forward, "What do you think brothas, don't you think I'd look better in um?"
"You wish for my clothing?" the Stranger asked. "Come and get them."
"Six on one, Stranger," the smallest of the group commented, spitting on the stranger's boot. "At least tell us your name so we can put it on your tombstone."
"I am known as Kagato," he said, "but it will not be my name carved in stone this day."
"Says you," they laughed, "let's get um!"
Kagato then flexed his muscles and with a loud voice he cried, "BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!!!" The armor glowed a bright white, and when the light let up he had grown three times his regular size. "I HAVE THE POWER!!!" he cried as he grabbed two of the men by the faces.
--
Oh, dear me," Kagato sighed, looking over his now bloody armor, "You fools dirtied my armor, I must clean it before I continue on." He then kicked one of their corpses. "Oh well, I waited this time to see my daughter, I can wait a short while longer."
He then turned his back on the piled bodies of the men who attacked him and innocent town people. Men, women, and children; every age imaginable, all were killed without mercy. And now the monster continued on toward Eternos.
"I'm coming, Teelina," Kagato smiled. "You won't keep her from me any longer."
To Be Continued …
C. Cowboy: first off, I AM SO VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERYVERYVERYVERYVERYVERY sorry this took so long to get out!!! (gets down on his knees) please forgive me, people. Need anymore groveling, email and I will grovel some more. Anyway, I hope you like the small plot twist and the next chapter. More on what's wrong with He-Man and on Teela's father next time. I promise it won't take as long next time!