Chapter Six: "Day of the Past"
Hordak, here, in the Central Tower. On pure instinct, She-Ra reached for her Sword of Protection. He-Man quickly put his hand on her shoulder and shook his head. He leaned forward and whispered into her ear: "This is the past. This is not the Hordak we know."
She-Ra paused, was about to speak, then slowly nodded.
"Hordak, we need to see the Council of Elders," He-Ro told Hordak.
"Ah, yes. Of course. They have been waiting for you." Hordak took a closer look at He-Man and She-Ra. "And just who are your friends? I saw them aiding you in the battle below."
"No one of consequence."
Hordak had a slightly aggressive expression, but dropped it into a bow. "I mean no offense, nor do I mean to pry into the business of the champion of Grayskull."
"Good. Remember your place, Hordak," He-Ro grunted and leading them onward.
As She-Ra passed Hordak, she heard him snort briefly in anger. He had hardly changed. The thought of meeting him back here, nearly 1,000 years before their meeting in the future, hadn't even occurred to her. She fought the urge to attack him, to expose him as a spy for the Horde. She-Ra surpressed that urge, however, for the sake of the timeline.
Hopefully, the Council of Elders would be able to wipe that meeting out from Hordak's memories. No need for him to know about her before she was even born.
She-Ra, He-Man, and He-Ro then climbed the winding staircase. To He-Man, who had spent the most time in the Great Towers in their own era, the whole place felt new. Unused. Fresh. The fact that here he was, interacting with history, was a little daunting . . . but oddly enjoyable.
Shortly, the three reached the highest chamber of the Central Tower, where the Council of Elders met. The chamber was circular with rows of bench-seats filling the entire room. The Council of Elders sat on the lowest row of bench-seats, all glowing.
He-Man was impressed and a little intimidated. These were the most powerful beings on Eternia and had been in direct contact with all of He-Man and She-Ra's ancestors from, well, He-Ro on down. Even the mad King Tamask took console with the Elders. Despite the fact that He-Man held conversations with the Ancients as well as many others, meeting with the Elders was something special.
"Ah, you must be He-Man and She-Ra," started Eldor.
"Yes, a pleasure to meet you," She-Ra returned.
"An honor, Eldor and the Council of Elders," He-Man followed up.
Eldor chuckled. "Such respect. We must make the history books as the creators of sliced bread and paper."
He-Man was quite sure how to take that joke, so he just smiled. She-Ra shot him a confused expression, but said nothing.
Ali, a bald female on Eldor's right, looked at He-Ro. "A fine job, He-Ro. You foresaw King Hiss's plan even before we did. You have learned much."
"Many thanks, Ali."
A small man named Gran looked to He-Man and She-Ra. "Your presence here has changed certain events, but nothing beyond what you came back to do."
"An assassin from the future, coming in the name of King Hiss to kill He-Ro," summed up the tall Shran. "How did Hiss live long enough?"
"I was wondering the same," He-Ro said.
"Wonder not," Eldor chided to all of them. "This is not the time and we have already learned too much. He-Man, She-Ra, do you know when the assassin will arrive?"
"No, we do not. Only that it is during a battle," She-Ra answered.
"Then it would be best to stay with He-Ro tomorrow. Surely the Snake-Men will launch their return attack then."
"I believe it as much as one can," He-Ro returned. "We'll find some quarters for you two."
"When this is over, Elders, you will most likely have to change some memories. Of Hordak in particular," She-Ra told them.
"Yes, yes. We agree," said Frondor, who was at the end of the line of Elders.
Eldor put his hand into the air. "Rest now. Tomorrow will be . . . very important."
As armored soldiers of Eternos and the Great Towers prepared for the next day's battle, Prince Adam stood atop Central Tower and kept a close eye on the Snake-Men encampment that sat not far from them. He was suddenly reminded of the Horde/Snake-Men War back in his time. Like then, he stood in this exact spot, wondering if he would be ready to face down the events of the next day.
He had to be ready. He had to stay with He-Ro. He had to keep an eye out for Kobra Kahn.
"Adam," came the voice of Gray from behind.
Adam turned and faced his ancestor. "Gray. I thought you'd be getting some sleep."
"I never sleep the night before a battle."
"Neither do I."
Gray looked in the direction of the Snake-Men and sighed heavily. "Adam," he started, " have you ever killed anyone?"
Adam blinked in surprise. "No, I haven't. Have you?"
"Yes," he uttered. "Mindless soldiers. It's a horrible thing that you don't even think about it in battle . . . but afterward . . . I can't help but realize that I ended a life today. A life was spent at my doing." He then turned fully to Adam. "I hate it."
Adam nodded. "I . . . understand. But I also understand that this is a war and these people are here because King Hiss has ordered them to be here. They did not back out, they did not fight. They listened to him."
"So . . . they must be killed for their loyalty? Tell me, Prince Adam, where is the justice there?"
"There is justice in it, Gray. I struggle with it all of the time. My era has seen much of war, just as yours has. Death . . . death is a part of war."
"A sorry fact I've come to live with." Both went silent. After a moment of staring at the stars, Gray spoke again. "I would have you hear my plan for tomorrow."
"Go ahead."
Adora awoke far before dawn and quickly dressed. As she exited her quarters in Grayskull Tower, she found Adam and Gray sitting alone in the library at the end of the hallway. She gripped the Sword of Protection and joined them.
"The Snake-Men?" she asked.
"On the move. They'll be ready for an attack by sunrise."
Adora nodded. "I suppose we should get moving then."
"Indeed."
"BY THE MIGHT OF GRAYSKULL, MAGIC AND STRENGTH - TEMPERED BY HEART . . ."
"BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL . . ."
"BY THE HONOR OF GRAYSKULL . . ."
". . . I STAND FOR PEACE!"
". . . I HAVE THE POWER!"
". . . I AM SHE-RA!"
He-Man smiled and looked at both She-Ra and He-Ro. "I love doing that with you guys."
She-Ra laughed and He-Ro grinned. He then put out his hand, palm flat. "Keep me alive."
"We shall," She-Ra returned and placed her hand on his. "For all our sakes, we will."
He-Man placed his hand on top of both He-Ro's and She-Ra's. "It has been a great honor, He-Ro, to fight next to you."
"The honor . . . has been mine. No matter what fate befall me, it is gratifying to know that there will be two such incredible people that will carry on my legacy. Thank you."
Their hands pulled back.
"To battle, then?" asked She-Ra.
"To battle."
King Hiss drove his Snake-Men forward. Drums rumbled, horns blew, and the army snarled and grumbled. The army of Snake-Men warriors marched onward towards the wall of the Great Towers. Atop his Tyrantisaurus Rex, the mighty leader prepared himself for battle.
The two laser weapons that he was given - the technology he had mastered - began to charge up. At his side, flying on a pair of Turbodactyls was Snake-Face and Rattlor. The army that was supposed to help in the failed attack last night had reintegrated itself early in the morning.
As the sun rose, King Hiss fired the two laser weapons on his Tyrantisaurus Rex. On the Turbodactyls, Rattlor and Snake-Face fired a pair as well. Four beams of energy sizzled through the air and struck the huge doors. Metal seared and ripped as the beams roared in the morning haze. As the lasers cut out (they were, after all, getting quite hot) and the winds pushed to smoke awoke, the damage was clear.
The doors were a searing, heaping mess.
And then . . . with a sudden shock that surprised even King Hiss, the doors flew open. He-Ro emerged, riding on Battle-Beast. His two new friends were alongside him, the Light Warriors were quickly behind and the army within emptied and pushed to the Snake-Men.
This was an unexpected strategy, but King Hiss was not thrown off too much. He urged the Tyrantisaurus Rex forward, so he could take care of He-Ro himself.
"Megator!" roared Hiss to the giant that followed him now. "Clear a path to He-Ro!"
Megator was about to, when a sudden figure came smashing into him. Megator went down, rolling onto various sections of the Snake-Men. Slamming the giant down was none other than the secret weapon of the Light Warriors, the giant known as Tytus.
"Damn," Hiss muttered, but he continued on.
As He-Man and She-Ra kept a tight formation on both sides of He-Ro, there came a sudden roar. All three champions of Grayskull looked and watched in shock as King Hiss and Tyrantisaurus Rex came rumbling towards them. More than that - the laser cannons on both sides of Tyrantisaurus Rex were beginning to glow hotly.
Twin beams came firing outward, heading right at them. He-Ro pushed them both down as the laser beams exploded right in front of them.
"We have to take them down!" cried She-Ra.
Neither of them realized it, but all three them changed concerns. The assassination fled them in a flash as this new problem appeared. He-Man and She-Ra rushed to the Tyrantisaurus Rex.
"Sword to lasso!" commanded She-Ra.
The Sword of Protection became such and she threw it around the left laser cannon. With a quick yank, it snapped in two and fell to the ground. King Hiss snarled and leapt up from his chair and made right for her.
"Just who in the hell do you think you are?!" he cried.
Before he could even near her, however, He-Ro intercepted. King Hiss went rolling across the ground. Just as he started to recover, He-Ro lifted his Staff of Power and called upon a mighty wind. A gale force wind pushing King Hiss back, making him stumble.
"My great-great-great generational granddaughter, that's who!" shouted He-Ro as King Hiss was thrown into a huge group of Snake-Men.
"Well done," She-Ra congratulated.
"I need a hand over here!" He-Man suddenly cried. "She-Ra, calm this Tyrantisaurus Rex down so I get the other laser off!"
She-Ra rushed over and placed her hands on the Tyrantisaurus Rex, attempting to sooth his anger with her power to communicate with animals. As she did so, He-Man began to hack at the laser cannon.
He-Ro knocked out a few brave Snake-Men, but otherwise just stood there. Yet . . . he didn't notice . . . the figure materializing behind him. King Hiss did, however, and watched as this assassin appeared out of then air. He would never forget it.
Kobra Kahn immediately got his bearings and then opened up his neck flaps. A green mist began to appear, and he prepared to spray it at He-Ro when . . .
"NO!" shouted He-Man, seeing this happen too late. "SHE-RA! GO GO!"
It was too late. Kobra Kahn drew a mighty breath and then -
A horse with wings - Swift-Wind - smashed right into the Repton. Kobra Kahn went flying onto the ground. As he started to get up again, a paw came crashing against his head. Battle-Cat pushed Kobra Kahn down, then rolled on him. With both paws, he grasped hold of Kobra Kahn's head and flipped him.
Kobra Kahn kicked Battle-Cat in the neck and stood up - and then was punched in the face and in the gut by both He-Man and She-Ra.
"No more!"
"YOU!" snarled Kobra Kahn.
"Who else did you think, you moron!"
They pulled the would-be assassin behind the wall and were soon joined by Battle-Cat and Swift-Wind. With Kobra Kahn against the wall, it was over. His flaps were too bruised to open and his gun was smashed.
"That him?" asked He-Ro, coming around the corner with Battle-Beast. The sounds of the battle continued on.
"That is."
He-Ro stepped up to the beaten Kobra Kahn. "King Hiss lives in your era?" he questioned the Repton.
"Yessss . . ."
"Then give him a message. Tell him the legacy of He-Ro lives on and they shall be his downfall. Tell him that he will be defeated. Tell him that the champions of Grayskull shall always stop him."
"He-Ro," Eldor suddenly interrupted from behind, "the Snake-Men are being driven back, but they need you."
He-Ro nodded, then turned to his companions. "I suppose this is good journey, then."
"Yes," He-Man replied.
"Thank you, then. For everything."
"The same," She-Ra answered. "Farewell, and good journey."
"Farewell and good journey," He-Man added.
The three of them clanged their weapons together.
"Farewell and good journey," He-Ro said at last.
Eldor lifted his hands. "Let all by as it was! Return, invaders and strangers, to your homes . . . wherever that may be!" he casted, the spell be acted out by his hands.
Winds of sand picked up around She-Ra, He-Man, Battle-Cat, Swift-Wind, and Kobra Kahn. They twirled tightly and thickly for a mere second, and after a very brief flash of light, the winds and the sands calmed and they were gone.
He-Ro smiled proudly briefly, nodded to Eldor, and touched his fist to heart in honor. And then, he turned and went back to the fight, Battle-Beast at his side.
TO BE CONTINUED IN "JUST ANOTHER DAY - BOOK FOUR: FAMILY" COMING SOON!