Chapter 2
The funeral took place two days later. The entire kingdom came to mourn the royal couple as they were taken to their final resting place inside the family crypt. Tears flowed among the people as the eulogies were delivered. MAA spoke first, followed by Teela. Several of their allies spoke as well, including Ram Man, the human battering ram; Mekanek, the human periscope; Man-E-Faces, the famed actor; and Stratos, the winged warrior. In each speech, the emotions ran high. Teela was unable to hold in her tears, and broke down on the spot.
Finally, Adam's turn arrived. He slowly stepped up to the entrance to the crypt, and began to speak. With tears in his eyes, he said, "My parents lived life to the fullest. They were kind and just rulers, and were not afraid to fight if need be. Two lovers from different worlds, with the same sense of justice and equality. They worked to make Eternia a wonderful world for us...for me..."
The tears came fast and heavy, and Adam was unable to finish. MAA placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder and steered him away from the crypt door. The prince turned just in time to see the bodies of Randor and Marlena eased into their respective chambers.
As the crowd bagan to disperse, Adam began to hear the sound of a large engine, approaching from the north at great speed. Soon the source of the noise appeared, and Adam was horrified at what he saw.
The Collector, Skeletor's immense, skull-like transport ship, touched down a few yards from the crypt. The landing ramp dropped, and Skeletor, Evil- Lyn, and Trap-Jaw descended from the ship. Skeletor turned toward MAA and grinned.
"Oh, how insulted I am. First they snub me on their anniversary, and now I'm not wanted at their funeral. If I had any feelings, I would be very hurt."
He raised his havoc staff and aimed it at the crypt. "Rest in peace, fools!" he cackled as he fired a massive burst of energy at the crypt, reducing it-and everything inside-to burning rubble.
Adam's tears came faster now, but the motivation behind them was no longer sadness-it was anger: sheer, blind fury. He ran behind a nearby tree, raised his sword, and with the most intensity he had ever shown throughout his entire life, he shouted:
"BY THE POWER OF GREYSKULL!"
In moments, He-Man was standing were Adam had been. He lowered his sword and bellowed:
"I HAVE THE POWER!"
And with fearsome, uncontrollable rage such as he'd never known, he was running with super speed towards the Collector. He reached Trap-Jaw first, and with a yell of fury he brought the Power Sword down on his right shoulder joint, severing his mechanical arm from his body. As sparks and smoke filled the air, He-Man plunged the tip through Trap-Jaw's chest, forcing it out his back. He withdrew the sword quickly, and slashed it across Trap-Jaw's chest repeatedly, leaving several deep gashes.
Trap-Jaw collapsed, looking in horror at the angry warrior standing above him. "You...you're insane!" the dying warrior managed to blurt out. "I thought you didn't kill! What's wrong with you?!"
He-Man looked down at the cyborg, a look of complete loathing on his face. "Let's just say that recent events have changed my perspective on a few things."
He walked over to the severed mechanical limb, which had a high-powered laser rifle attached, and aimed it at the villain. He connected a few wires, powered up the weapon, and fired.
Zap! "That's for the king!" Zap! "That's for the queen!" Zap! "And that's for me!" And with the last laser bolt, Trap-Jaw was dead.
Skeletor, who had been battling MAA, turned to see the dead warrior and his triumphant opponent. The shocked look on his face lingered for but a moment. He turned to Evil-lyn and cried, "We've overstayed our welcome! Let the fools clean up the mess!"
Evil-lyn nodded. "Yes. We've had enough fun for one day, anyhow."
And in a flash, they were aboard the Collector once more, and were gone.
He-Man picked up the Power Sword, which he'd dropped when he grabbed Trap- Jaw's arm. Both it and he were covered in blood. He-Man turned as MAA and Teela dashed over to where he stood. Teela looked as if she was about to be sick, and MAA was simply dumbfounded.
"You...what...why...WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!!"
He-Man turned to his friends and calmly said, "Return with me to the palace. I have many things I must tell you..."
TO BE CONTINUED...
The funeral took place two days later. The entire kingdom came to mourn the royal couple as they were taken to their final resting place inside the family crypt. Tears flowed among the people as the eulogies were delivered. MAA spoke first, followed by Teela. Several of their allies spoke as well, including Ram Man, the human battering ram; Mekanek, the human periscope; Man-E-Faces, the famed actor; and Stratos, the winged warrior. In each speech, the emotions ran high. Teela was unable to hold in her tears, and broke down on the spot.
Finally, Adam's turn arrived. He slowly stepped up to the entrance to the crypt, and began to speak. With tears in his eyes, he said, "My parents lived life to the fullest. They were kind and just rulers, and were not afraid to fight if need be. Two lovers from different worlds, with the same sense of justice and equality. They worked to make Eternia a wonderful world for us...for me..."
The tears came fast and heavy, and Adam was unable to finish. MAA placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder and steered him away from the crypt door. The prince turned just in time to see the bodies of Randor and Marlena eased into their respective chambers.
As the crowd bagan to disperse, Adam began to hear the sound of a large engine, approaching from the north at great speed. Soon the source of the noise appeared, and Adam was horrified at what he saw.
The Collector, Skeletor's immense, skull-like transport ship, touched down a few yards from the crypt. The landing ramp dropped, and Skeletor, Evil- Lyn, and Trap-Jaw descended from the ship. Skeletor turned toward MAA and grinned.
"Oh, how insulted I am. First they snub me on their anniversary, and now I'm not wanted at their funeral. If I had any feelings, I would be very hurt."
He raised his havoc staff and aimed it at the crypt. "Rest in peace, fools!" he cackled as he fired a massive burst of energy at the crypt, reducing it-and everything inside-to burning rubble.
Adam's tears came faster now, but the motivation behind them was no longer sadness-it was anger: sheer, blind fury. He ran behind a nearby tree, raised his sword, and with the most intensity he had ever shown throughout his entire life, he shouted:
"BY THE POWER OF GREYSKULL!"
In moments, He-Man was standing were Adam had been. He lowered his sword and bellowed:
"I HAVE THE POWER!"
And with fearsome, uncontrollable rage such as he'd never known, he was running with super speed towards the Collector. He reached Trap-Jaw first, and with a yell of fury he brought the Power Sword down on his right shoulder joint, severing his mechanical arm from his body. As sparks and smoke filled the air, He-Man plunged the tip through Trap-Jaw's chest, forcing it out his back. He withdrew the sword quickly, and slashed it across Trap-Jaw's chest repeatedly, leaving several deep gashes.
Trap-Jaw collapsed, looking in horror at the angry warrior standing above him. "You...you're insane!" the dying warrior managed to blurt out. "I thought you didn't kill! What's wrong with you?!"
He-Man looked down at the cyborg, a look of complete loathing on his face. "Let's just say that recent events have changed my perspective on a few things."
He walked over to the severed mechanical limb, which had a high-powered laser rifle attached, and aimed it at the villain. He connected a few wires, powered up the weapon, and fired.
Zap! "That's for the king!" Zap! "That's for the queen!" Zap! "And that's for me!" And with the last laser bolt, Trap-Jaw was dead.
Skeletor, who had been battling MAA, turned to see the dead warrior and his triumphant opponent. The shocked look on his face lingered for but a moment. He turned to Evil-lyn and cried, "We've overstayed our welcome! Let the fools clean up the mess!"
Evil-lyn nodded. "Yes. We've had enough fun for one day, anyhow."
And in a flash, they were aboard the Collector once more, and were gone.
He-Man picked up the Power Sword, which he'd dropped when he grabbed Trap- Jaw's arm. Both it and he were covered in blood. He-Man turned as MAA and Teela dashed over to where he stood. Teela looked as if she was about to be sick, and MAA was simply dumbfounded.
"You...what...why...WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!!"
He-Man turned to his friends and calmly said, "Return with me to the palace. I have many things I must tell you..."
TO BE CONTINUED...