Chapter Three - "The Best Laid Plans . . ."

Ten days later, Princess Adora, heir to the throne of Eternos, made her way through the foggy streets of Fair Harbor, a small coastal town free of the Horde. The smell of saltwater filled her nose; such a distinct odor and one she very much loved. It was still early in the morning - the sun hadn't even risen over the ocean.

"Adora," came the voice of the man she came to see.

She turned around and faced SeaHawk. He was wearing a gray cloak, but she could still make out his rugged features despite the hood and the fog. She smiled at him a little and was surprised when he embraced her in a hug.

"Good to see you too," she said quietly.

"Same here, sweetheart," he replied warmly, gazing at her. Even in the light of the gas lamps, she was beautiful. Her golden blonde hair was back in a simple ponytail and her soft blue eyes shined through the fog. He smiled at her.

"Let's get some breakfast."

The pair walked along the stone cobbles and came to a small restaurant that overlooked the ocean. A large, old woman opened the door for them and the captain and the princess walked in and sat down across from each other.

"What would you like, dears?" asked the old woman.

"Pancakes, with butter, gorshun berries and syrup," replied SeaHawk.

The old woman jotted that down on a small pad of paper. "Okay. And what about you, sweetie?"

"Fish platter, please."

"All right, all right. I'll have your food right away."

The old woman tottered off, leaving SeaHawk and Adora alone save for a few fishers across the room and a man in the corner reading a number of papers.

"Fish? This early?"

"I love fish," Adora responded with a playful smile. "I don't have it very often and I try to whenever I can. Now it's my turn to ask a question, my Captain."

"Oh?"

"Why are we meeting here?"

"This place is anti-Horde," SeaHawk explained. "It's small enough to avoid their gaze and it's in a freed territory."

"Good choice, then."

SeaHawk nodded and glanced towards the kitchen. The old lady had just returned with two mugs of coffee. After setting them down, she returned to the kitchen.

"All right, Adora, let's have our talk before breakfast."

"Lets," Adora replied, sipping her Java. "How many ships?"

"Mmm. Twenty-seven. Fourteen from King Mercia and Salinius. Five from the Sea Elves. Six privateers I trust. And my own."

Adora nodded a little. "Make it thirty, Captain SeaHawk."

"Oh?"

Adora pulled out a long scroll with three large ships drawn on it. They were symbols of Brightmoon Kingdom next to them along with descriptions.

"What is this?" questioned SeaHawk.

"Ships. First of their kind. Built from fallen trees from the Whispering Woods, armed with the latest in Etheria and Eternian weaponry."

"Eternian!"

"My father donated some pulse cannons."

"Ah. The advantages of being royalty," SeaHawk teased.

"And being a Daddy's girl."

SeaHawk grinned. "So what are these ships?"

"The first vessels of the Brightmoon Navy. And I am authorized by Queen Angella and King Micah to offer you a position as a Admiral of our new fleet."

SeaHawk blinked and leaned back a little. "An Admiral! Are you serious?"

"Very much so, yes," she replied, sipping at her coffee once more.

"Things must be getting desperate if you're looking to recruit a guy like me for an Admiral-ship."

"Tell me about it."

"Well . . ." He paused in thought and looked out the large windows towards the ocean. The sun was beginning to shine its bountiful light across the stirring waves. He sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I'm in. Sign me up."

Adora smiled and touched his hand. "Glad to have you aboard . . . Admiral."

"Admiral SeaHawk?" he wondered, stroking his beard. "I like the sound of that . . ."

Angella took in a deep breath as she soared out from her kingdom and made for the southeast. Her feathers felt wonderful as the air brushed along them. She smiled and enjoyed her flight . . . while she could. Behind her was Bow, Netossa, Spinnerella, and Castaspella driving in a Swan Ship.

Their destination was not a savory one . . . Thorn Mountain, home of Hunga and the Harpies. These hideous residents had been hired by Hordak in the early days of the invasion to kidnap Angella. It took a while, but they accomplished this goal a year and a half before She-Ra's arrival.

But the fact of the matter was was that if Etheria was to survive the Horde, it must become a new world. One where enemies are able to put their rivalries aside for the sake of the greater good. Queen Angella, a firmly established optimist, hoped to start here. After Hordak, Hunga was her greatest nemesis.

"Be on your guard," Angella advised.

No sooner did she say that than several Harpies came flying towards them. The center of which was none other than Hunga herself, that horrible creature.

"They come to us with weapons!" yelped one of the Harpies.

"I come in peace and lightly armed!" Queen Angella responded. "Hunga, the two of us must talk. Alone."

Hunga sneered and pulled out her short sword. "No talk!"

Queen Angella straightened herself, her body taking on a defensive and intimidating stance. "Yes, talk. There is trouble with the Horde. I have come to request an alliance with you for their ultimate defeat."

Hunga hissed. "Lies! We have an alliance with the Horde. Why would we cut them off for you?"

"Because they are going to stab you in the back."

There must have been quite a bit of sincerity in Angella's voice, because Hunga looked shaken. She pointed to a barren butte top.

"We two talk. Explain yourself."

The two of them skidded through the air and then landed on the butte.

"The Horde is launching a six-month plan that will result in the conquest of the entire world. Thorn Mountain is a part of that plan. Hordak fears that once Kingdom Brightmoon falls, that you will be willing to form an alliance with someone and move against him. Do you understand that? Hordak fears you. And whatever Hordak fears, Hordak destroys. You know this."

Angella produced a small computer pad and handed it to Hunga. Hunga read it over rather quickly.

"This is . . . authentic. Has all the proper and up-dated Horde command codes. I was not even told about this big meeting."

"Will you join us? Will you put your differences aside and come together with me and all others against the vile, evil Horde?"

Hunga seemed to consider this long and hard. Finally, she nodded. "Yes, we will. If only to show that the Horde has something to fear."

"Good! I'm glad we could reach friendly terms about - "

"This changes nothing between us," sneered Hunga. "You just tell me where and when and I will have a legion waiting. And if this is a trap, I will personally slice off your head and parade it as a grand trophy."

Angella cleared her throat. "Well, glad we got that settled then."

"Hordak will pay for his betrayal, pretty one. Believe you that."

"Oh trust me, I do."

By the time Queen Angella and her party returned to the Palace of Brightmoon, Adora was there waiting for them. She had only returned a short while earlier from her meeting with SeaHawk. She was feeling good so far about the revolution, though she had a feeling that things were only to be good for a short while. She had no doubt that Hordak was growing ever more angry with the forces of light as they pressed against his army of darkness.

"It went well?" asked Adora, a stray wind whipping her blonde hair back.

"As well as could be expected," Angella responded. "Hunga is willing to provide assistance, though I am greatly unsure of just how much."

"The best we can manage, then," Adora summed. "Okay. Well, I've been in contact with Gwildor on Eternia. We have about an hour before the meeting with my parents."

Angella nodded. "Do you think they will be willing to commit help to our cause?"

"Very much so, yes. The Horde was a major enemy to Eternia. Hordak in particular. He-Man and at least some of the Heroic Warriors will surely come to the Etheria."

An hour later, on Eternia, the Cosmic Key sent out just the right harmonics to open the correct portal. Light shimmered and a portal was thrown wide, allowing Adora, Angella, Bow, Netossa, Spinnerella, Kowl, and Flutterina access to the larger planet. They emerged in the courtyard of the Royal Palace of Eternos.

"Mother! Father!" shouted Adora as King Randor and Queen Marlena came towards her, offering her large hugs.

"So good to see you again, my daughter!" Randor cried, kissing her.

"The same to you, father."

"Things going well on Etheria, Adora?" asked Marlena.

"Fair. That is something we will talk about over dinner, if that's okay."

"Certainly," Randor responded and turned to Queen Angella. He bowed a little. "Queen Angella, so good to have the Queen of Brightmoon grace our Palace once more."

She curtsied for him. "It is an honor to be here, your majesty."

Unknown to the pair, on the other side of the planet, the portal triggered one of the sensors at Snake Mountain. Trap-Jaw and Tri-Klops had worked long and hard to adjust the sensitivity of the array and it was paying off as the computer beeped for attention.

"What is it?" asked Skeletor, who wasn't the most familiar with the device. He stood from his throne of bones and crossed the room of the half-sphere.

Tri-Klops walked over, alongside Beast-Man and Evil-Lynn. He pressed a small button before him. "The sensors have triggered a portal," Tri-Klops explained and then went to a small computer array across the room. "I'm tracking the terminus now. Ah, yes. It was the Cosmic Key and it opened a portal to Etheria."

Skeletor nodded, soaking in the information. Before he could say anything, though, it was Evil-Lynn that spoke.

"It must be that brat Adora coming to see her moronic parents."

Skeletor was silent, thoughts churning. Finally, he spoke. "Perhaps . . ." he mused. "But something doesn't seem right."

"What do you mean, Skeletor?" asked Beast-Man.

"We've seen evidence of the Great Rebellion pushing stronger against the Horde," Skeletor replied. "Our spies and satellites have shown us that much. It is entirely possible that Daddy's Little Girl is here to ask for Randor's help."

"How are you so sure?"

Skeletor grunted and shrugged. "Randor foolishly feels guilty over not getting to raise Princess Adora. She could ask for the crown tomorrow and he would give it to her. He's guaranteeing help. Which means . . ."

". . . both Grayskull and Eternos will be pretty much defenseless," Evil-Lynn summed up.

Skeletor nodded, but wasn't quite sure if that was the right course of action anymore. How many years had it been since his return to outside world as Skeletor rather than Keldor? Five years? How many failures? It was time to change his plans . . .

"Keep an eye on the Cosmic Key. If anymore portals open up, inform me immediately. Also, keep track of movements on Etheria." Skeletor's eyes turned red briefly in a slight built-up of anger. "My old friend Hordak must just be in some serious trouble."

For Randor, there was not even a question. Not a single doubt. What was being asked could very easily be fulfilled. There would have to be a toughening of security here at Eternos and possibly Castle Grayskull. But to defeat Hordak? To free another world in the Horde's ancient empire? The answer was clear.

"We truly appreciate any sort of help you can give us," Angella told her Eternian allies.

"Of course. Hordak and the Horde is a very common enemy," Randor answered. "We've all felt the scars of his hatred and evil power. Together, we should be able to defeat him once and for all."

"One can hope, father," Adora stated thoughtfully.

"Indeed," Marlena followed-up, sipping on a glass of wine. "Tell us, Queen Angella, what is the next stage in your plans?"

"She-Ra and the others here - with the exception of Adora and myself - will be heading to Horde World to meet with Prince Zed and his resistance movement," Angella responded. "We are hoping to get their support in this."

At this moment, Rokkon and Stonedar looked up. The dinner had been a fairly open one, with all members of the Heroic Warriors invited, though only a few were there.

"Queen Angella," Rokkon asked, looking at Stonedar briefly, "would you mind if we attended this mission? With the King's permission?"

"Why is that?" Flutterina questioned.

"The Horde invaded our world as well. A few of our people are involved in resistance movement and we would like to help it out in any way possible."

"Sounds like a good idea," Adam stated. A brief number of knowing glances were exchanged between Adam, Adora, and Marlena. Adora was aware of just why her brother wanted someone else with her. Someone to watch over her.

"I agree," Randor said, half in the dark. "Rokkon and Stonedar, you both have my blessing."

"Thank you, your majesty."

"Yes, many thanks."

After dinner, the group dispersed. Adora made her to her royal bedroom to 'change,' but was caught by her twin brother before hand.

"Hold on just one second, Adora," Adam interrupted her.

"What is it?"

"You can't be actually thinking about going to Horde World with such a small group."

"Is that why you wanted Rokkon and Stonedar to come with me?"

"Yes. Plus, they volunteered." He stepped forward a little "Let me come with you, sister. Together, we can - "

Adora shook her head definitely. "No, Adam. No 'we.' No 'together.' I don't need you right now. You need to stay here and keep an eye out on Eternia. And Etheria, just in case."

Adam's expression was glum, but he reluctantly nodded. "All right, then. Good journey."

He walked off, allowing Adora to enter her room. As arranged, Man-At-Arms would occupy the King just long enough for Angella to leave (who was told that Adora was leaving later), though King Randor was to think that she was going with Angella.

Adora lifted her Sword of Protection into the air.

"FOR THE HONOR OF GRAYSKULL . . ." she bellowed and the Sword of Protection exploded in power and light. She transformed into She-Ra. ". . . I AM SHE-RA!"

About half an hour later, She-Ra, Flutterina, Bow, Netossa, Spinnerella, Kowl, Rokkon, Stonedar, and Flutterina were in the courtyard, waiting for Gwildor to complete his computations.

"Horde World is a unique planet. It's been the throne of the Horde Empire millennia. About five hundred years ago, however, it was viciously attacked. The atmosphere was practically stripped away and the world itself was left in ruin," explained She-Ra. "But Horde Prime still felt the planet was symbolic to the Empire. So he therefore hollowed out the interior and rebuild the world's civilization underneath the surface. There are huge shielded gaps in the surface that allow for natural sunlight, but Horde World is 80 artificially lighted."

"Do you know where we're meeting with Zed?" asked Netossa.

"Yes. The lower quarter of the southern district. There's a lot of fighting in the area."

"Got it!" shouted Gwildor.

She-Ra nodded to her companions. "Let's do this quickly."

The portal opened up to the sound of some disenchanting yet grandiose chimes from the Cosmic Key. The group entered . . .

. . . And upon their arrival, they were on top of a huge bridge, which was bustling with robotic ships and transports. Their view was magnificent - a massive, ugly, industrial city that went on into the horizon underneath a sky of rock and supports.

"Welcome to Horde World," came a terrible that caught them all off guard. The members of the Heroic Warriors and Great Rebellion spun around saw a large man made out rock. With him were 200 Horde Troopers.

The rock-man continued. "My name is Warlord Calyx. Did you really think that you could here without us detecting you and your silly little portal?"