Chapter 9
Duncan sat on the throne, reflecting on the first day of his rule. He had had audiences with a few villagers, simple problems that were easily solved. On the whole, however, the day had been very uneventful. He hoped that this day would be just as easy.
Unfortunately, that was not to be the case...
As he waited for the first audience of the day to begin, the throne room doors flew open, bringing him to full alert. Through the entrance, he watched as He-Man stepped into the room, glowing with energy. Duncan was awed at the warrior's appearance, but tried to keep it hidden. As He-Man neared the throne, the two simply stared at each other for a moment.
"Back so soon? The way you spoke yesterday, you made it seem as if you'd be gone for a long time."
"Yes, well...things wrapped up sooner than expected."
"So Skeletor is dead, then? His warriors too?"
"Yes."
"And how does it feel to have exacted revenge?"
"Pretty good, now that you mention it."
"I see."
Duncan could no longer resist. "You seem somewhat different today. You're...glowing."
He-Man chuckled. "Yes, having all of Greyskull's power at my disposal does have that effect on me."
The older man did not need to ask his next question. "Your disposal? What in the world do you mean?"
He-Man smiled. "Skeletor attempted to claim Grayskull's power. I had to take it in order to keep it from him."
"And now that he's gone, I expect you'll be returning it?"
"No."
Duncan couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What do you mean, 'no'?"
"When I used the power to vanquish Skeletor, I felt exhilaration like none I'd ever experienced. I felt it pulse through my muscles, empowering me with a strength I never knew could exist. The power to keep control on Eternia...on any planet in the universe. And I liked it. No, I think I'll be keeping the power for myself, thank you. After all, it just might help Adam be a more effective king."
"You used it to...KILL Skeletor?!"
"Absolutely. It was the quickest way."
The anger Duncan had exhibited the previous day emerged again. "So you abused Greyskull's power to satisfy your vengeance? Your bloodlust? And you don't see anything wrong with that?"
"Of course not."
"Then you've become just like those who killed your parents."
As if by reflex, He-Man fired an energy bolt at Duncan, using it to pull him off the throne and toward his waiting grasp. His hand wrapped around his throat, squeezing it tighter than he'd ever imagined he could. As he spoke, his voice filled with venom.
"If I were you, I would NEVER say that again!!!"
He released Duncan from his grip, glowering at him with pure hatred in his eyes. For the first time in his life, He-Man was filling his ally with paralyzing fear.
"But...the Sorceress...she will stop you...make you see the error of your ways..."
"Sorry, old friend, but the dead can't do anything."
"You...you killed...?"
"No, Skeletor did. But I do have to accept responsibility for another, accidental death..."
He raised his arms, a blue light issuing forth from his hands, accompanied by a soft humming sound that reverberated off the throne room walls. Within seconds, Teela's lifeless body appeared out of thin air, lowering gently to the floor.
What fear Duncan had in his eyes a moment before was immediately replaced by the most fierce rage he had ever felt in his life. Too angry to speak, he simply dashed toward He-Man, a primal yell erupting from his mouth. He was mere inches from He-Man when another burst of energy dropped him to his knees.
"YOU...MURDERER!!!" he finally shouted at last. "ACCIDENT OR NOT, YOU STILL KILLED HER!!! LOOK AT WHERE YOUR ANGER AND DESIRE FOR VENGEANCE HAVE LED YOU!!! YOU'VE BECOME A RAVING LUNATIC, AND IF YOU THINK I'M RETURNING THE THRONE TO YOU, YOU'RE INSANE!!!!!!!"
"Big mistake, defying your king."
Duncan found himself being lifted off the ground, and the rage once again reverted back to fear. He-Man's next words sent ripples of terror through him.
"Like it or not, I am the rightful heir to the throne. By defying me like this, you've committed an act of unmistakeable treason. And I think you know the punishment for that."
"N...no..."
He-Man said but one word, in the most frightening tone of voice imaginable. "Death."
With one effortless motion, he flung Duncan across the room, stopping just short of sending him through the wall. The moment his momentum halted, another energy burst, this time a deep red, hurtled toward him. It struck him full in the chest, stopping as it struck his heart. Duncan's eyes rolled to the back of his head, as his corpse fell to the floor.
He-Man turned and ascended the steps to the throne, sitting upon it as he knew he was destined to. With a casual wave of his hand, Duncan's lifeless body vanished into thin air. He sighed contentedly, enjoying the feel of the throne's velvet upholstery, before becoming Prince Adam again a few moments later.
Outside the throne room, someone was watching through the window, determined to make him see the light, no matter what...
TO BE CONTINUED...
Duncan sat on the throne, reflecting on the first day of his rule. He had had audiences with a few villagers, simple problems that were easily solved. On the whole, however, the day had been very uneventful. He hoped that this day would be just as easy.
Unfortunately, that was not to be the case...
As he waited for the first audience of the day to begin, the throne room doors flew open, bringing him to full alert. Through the entrance, he watched as He-Man stepped into the room, glowing with energy. Duncan was awed at the warrior's appearance, but tried to keep it hidden. As He-Man neared the throne, the two simply stared at each other for a moment.
"Back so soon? The way you spoke yesterday, you made it seem as if you'd be gone for a long time."
"Yes, well...things wrapped up sooner than expected."
"So Skeletor is dead, then? His warriors too?"
"Yes."
"And how does it feel to have exacted revenge?"
"Pretty good, now that you mention it."
"I see."
Duncan could no longer resist. "You seem somewhat different today. You're...glowing."
He-Man chuckled. "Yes, having all of Greyskull's power at my disposal does have that effect on me."
The older man did not need to ask his next question. "Your disposal? What in the world do you mean?"
He-Man smiled. "Skeletor attempted to claim Grayskull's power. I had to take it in order to keep it from him."
"And now that he's gone, I expect you'll be returning it?"
"No."
Duncan couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What do you mean, 'no'?"
"When I used the power to vanquish Skeletor, I felt exhilaration like none I'd ever experienced. I felt it pulse through my muscles, empowering me with a strength I never knew could exist. The power to keep control on Eternia...on any planet in the universe. And I liked it. No, I think I'll be keeping the power for myself, thank you. After all, it just might help Adam be a more effective king."
"You used it to...KILL Skeletor?!"
"Absolutely. It was the quickest way."
The anger Duncan had exhibited the previous day emerged again. "So you abused Greyskull's power to satisfy your vengeance? Your bloodlust? And you don't see anything wrong with that?"
"Of course not."
"Then you've become just like those who killed your parents."
As if by reflex, He-Man fired an energy bolt at Duncan, using it to pull him off the throne and toward his waiting grasp. His hand wrapped around his throat, squeezing it tighter than he'd ever imagined he could. As he spoke, his voice filled with venom.
"If I were you, I would NEVER say that again!!!"
He released Duncan from his grip, glowering at him with pure hatred in his eyes. For the first time in his life, He-Man was filling his ally with paralyzing fear.
"But...the Sorceress...she will stop you...make you see the error of your ways..."
"Sorry, old friend, but the dead can't do anything."
"You...you killed...?"
"No, Skeletor did. But I do have to accept responsibility for another, accidental death..."
He raised his arms, a blue light issuing forth from his hands, accompanied by a soft humming sound that reverberated off the throne room walls. Within seconds, Teela's lifeless body appeared out of thin air, lowering gently to the floor.
What fear Duncan had in his eyes a moment before was immediately replaced by the most fierce rage he had ever felt in his life. Too angry to speak, he simply dashed toward He-Man, a primal yell erupting from his mouth. He was mere inches from He-Man when another burst of energy dropped him to his knees.
"YOU...MURDERER!!!" he finally shouted at last. "ACCIDENT OR NOT, YOU STILL KILLED HER!!! LOOK AT WHERE YOUR ANGER AND DESIRE FOR VENGEANCE HAVE LED YOU!!! YOU'VE BECOME A RAVING LUNATIC, AND IF YOU THINK I'M RETURNING THE THRONE TO YOU, YOU'RE INSANE!!!!!!!"
"Big mistake, defying your king."
Duncan found himself being lifted off the ground, and the rage once again reverted back to fear. He-Man's next words sent ripples of terror through him.
"Like it or not, I am the rightful heir to the throne. By defying me like this, you've committed an act of unmistakeable treason. And I think you know the punishment for that."
"N...no..."
He-Man said but one word, in the most frightening tone of voice imaginable. "Death."
With one effortless motion, he flung Duncan across the room, stopping just short of sending him through the wall. The moment his momentum halted, another energy burst, this time a deep red, hurtled toward him. It struck him full in the chest, stopping as it struck his heart. Duncan's eyes rolled to the back of his head, as his corpse fell to the floor.
He-Man turned and ascended the steps to the throne, sitting upon it as he knew he was destined to. With a casual wave of his hand, Duncan's lifeless body vanished into thin air. He sighed contentedly, enjoying the feel of the throne's velvet upholstery, before becoming Prince Adam again a few moments later.
Outside the throne room, someone was watching through the window, determined to make him see the light, no matter what...
TO BE CONTINUED...