Chapter Three – "The Gathering"
And thusly, the months did pass. An expression on both Eternia and Earth claimed that time heals all wounds, and intent it does . . . though the scars it leaves always remain. For King Randor and Queen Marlena, there were good days and there were bad days. The birth of Johanna and Edward's child Edwina was a joyful occasion, as was the wedding that followed. But the sixth anniversary of Adam and Adora's birth brought nothing but tears and sadness.
Winter left Eternia, replaced by a particularly wet Spring. Summer was hot and the harvests were better as opposed to the following years. Through it all, Randor and Marlena dealt with their secret loss.
Also, Duncan awaited word from the Sorceress as to when she wanted to bring Teela to Castle Grayskull. None came, and Duncan had to deal with the surprising amount of mixed emotions associated with that.
Autumn came early and the Fall harvest was better than the Summers. But as the colored leaves began to drop from their branches, rumors began to circulate. Something was happening. There was talk of robberies and disappearances from all over, especially along the Borderlands.
Randor gave little thought to this, but he should have. This was all the work of his fallen brother, Keldor. Keldor was gathering a massive library of dark texts for Snake Mountain. He and his three minions were also seeking out mystical artifacts both dangerous and benign.
On the third day of September, Keldor left Snake Mountain, knowledge from the texts in his mind and a number of the artifacts in a sack slung on his back. He made for the Light Hemisphere.
King Galdor awoke, the sound of an explosion ringing in his ears. He was out of bed and rushed to his window, and looked out. A man in a purple cloak was rushing the main street, dodging weapons fire, sending guards flying back with beams of energy.
"What is this?" questioned Galdor.
"It seems we are under attack, father," a voice said quietly from behind him.
Galdor turned to his adopted son, Eathos. Eathos already had his sword out, ready to protect the man he had called father. Galdor was a warrior himself, but his Eathos was far superior. Galdor had found Eathos at the age of seven, his eyes burned out, and was immediately surprised to see that he was still alive. A mercy filled Galdor and he raised Eathos as his own and was even more surprised as the boy excelled in the use of his other senses. Applying those to his sword fighting, Eathos had become quite the expert.
"Confront him, Eathos."
"Yes, father."
Eathos departed, moving with an amazing amount of silence.
Keldor stood at the stairs leading up to Galdor's fortress. As soon as he placed his foot on the first one, however, he was kicked square in the chest. A man in his mid-twenties stood before him in green body armor. Keldor was shocked to see the man also had a blindfold on.
"I am Eathos, son of King Galdor."
"Keldor."
Keldor let loose an energy blast, hoping to wipe out Eathos. Eathos, though, flipped up and was able to slice into Keldor. Keldor dodged it, but just barely. Eathos moved with grace, and merely moved with the dodged attack, cutting Keldor's exposed abdomen. Keldor pulled out his Sword of Darkness and strafed off another jab.
"You're good, Eathos. For a blind man," Keldor goaded.
"I will find your tongue and slice it off," Eathos replied, his sword moving fast towards Keldor's shoulder. Keldor barely blocked it.
"Ever wonder just how good you would be if you could see?"
Eathos said nothing and jumped back to avoid a slice from Keldor. Keldor unleashed a beam of energy from his other hand, which Eathos rolled away from. Keldor realized just how Eathos was doing that (sight and smell told him where the beam was going and from where it came from), so Keldor took it to the next step. He shifted away from Eathos' next jab, and let loose a huge burst of power from his Sword of Darkness, which sent Eathos rolling to the ground, body smoldering a little.
"Well done," came the voice of Galdor. He was a muscular man with a white-haired Mohawk and beard. "Now prepare to die."
Keldor let loose an beam of crimson energy that struck a force field Galdor put up. But Keldor's power won out, and Galdor went spilling backwards. Keldor then ran up and put the Sword of Darkness right up to Galdor's neck.
"What is this all about?" questioned Galdor.
Keldor smiled. "A demonstration. I am gathering a Council of Evil and would like you to join."
"And what do I get in return?"
"Depends on what the destruction of the Elders and the overthrowing of Eternos gets you. Plus, I can give Eathos his sight."
"How?"
"Horde technology, left over from the war."
"And you're serious about this?"
"Oh yes."
"Then . . . you have a deal."
The Sword of Darkness was sheathed and Keldor offered his hand to Galdor. Galdor took it.
As a part of their agreement, Eathos followed Keldor up to the Crystal Sea. Keldor had been hearing rumors regarding the Mer-People, and more importantly, the Mer-Man. From what he heard, Mer-Man was usurped from his throne for trying to go to war with the Aquaticans. He and his supporters were holed up in the Crystal Sea, apparently exiled from their kingdom.
Perfect.
"I hear something," Eathos stated about an hour after they entered. "And smell something."
"Yes," Keldor replied. "Fish."
At that moment, Mer-People came rushing out, weapons out and ready. Eathos pulled out his sword.
"Leave it, Eathos," Keldor ordered. He then turned to the renegade Mer-People. They began to disarm them. "Take us to your leader."
They were marched deep down along trenches of crystal, the sound of water never leaving their ears. Weapons such as sophisticated popguns and spears lead them on. Surely, Keldor could have handled them, but that wasn't his mission here.
Finally, the group reached to an area where huge crystal bridges criss-crossed a lake. At center of these bridges was a huge structure that looked almost like an iceberg. It was there they were taken.
"Oh no!" groaned Mer-Man, stepping out from a carved entrance into structure. "Not you!"
"Yes me."
Streams of energy flew out from Keldor's body, striking Mer-Man's minions. Both he and Eathos were in action, taking back their weapons and disarming the guards. Keldor then rushed towards Mer-Man and pushed him with an invisible force. Mer-Man slammed against the wall of the structure.
"We had a deal," Keldor stated. "Your people life and you serve me."
"I'm no longer in command of the Mer-People."
"But you are in charge of these people, aren't you? Eathos!"
Eathos chopped off the head of one of the renegades.
"We can kill them all . . . or you can help me."
"Help you?" questioned Mer-Man.
"Help each other, really. Mer-Man, if you join me, together we shall not only overthrow Eternos and the Elders, but also restore your place as master of your kingdom!"
Mer-Man made a sound like bubbles being blown at the surface of water. He then blinked, gulped, and nodded. "I will join you."
"Good. Now, I need your help."
He dropped into Mer-Man's hand a red pearl.
Mer-Man gasped. "The Crimson Pearl!"
"Use it to summon Bakull. We will be needing his power for my Council of Evil! Bring him to Snake Mountain in four days and from there, we shall claim Eternia as our own!"
"Yes! Yes! Of course!" exclaimed Mer-Man. "Let them go! Let them go, you fools!"
Keldor had one more stop to make – the Temple of Evil, the gateway to the Realm of Evil. Located in the Wastelands of the Dark Hemisphere. It was here yet another member of the Council of Evil would be gathered.
Citing an incantation thought lost for 800 years, a portal opened to the vile Realm of Evil. Out came a man in long, blue robes with gray skin and three eyes.
"You have summoned Anghast, master of the Realm of Evil! Who are you, fool?"
"I am Keldor, enemy of good! I have summoned you to aid me in my battle against the Council of Elders!"
"The Elders, hmmm?" Anghast pondered. "Perhaps perhaps . . .yes, I believe I shall join you."
And so . . . at Snake Mountain . . . Keldor arrived with Anghast and Eathos. The sky above was pitch black. The only sound in the Valley of Storms was the roar of Blood Falls. Even the active volcanoes were quiet this night.
"Galdor is on his way," reported Lynn as the three entered. "Mer-Man and Bakull will be here in an hour."
"And our final guests?" asked Keldor.
"In the Throne Room," Lynn responded. "This is Anghast, I presume."
"Such darkness and evil in you, Lynn," stated Anghast. "Such a powerful place for a gathering Keldor."
Keldor smiled. "Evil thrives here, Anghast."
"Evil Lynn, huh? I like the sound of that," whispered Lynn. She turned to Eathos. "You must be Eathos. We've been expecting you. Kronis will be working on you. Come with me." She led Eathos off into another chamber.
Anghast followed Keldor into the Throne Room, where stood Batros and Monteeg, two members of the Council of Evil that had agreed to join over the summer. With them was a Goblin named Tartaran, who had strong hopes of becoming General to the Goblin Army. Beast-Man and Lynn had convinced him to join over just yesterday.
Screams began to sound in the corridors of Snake Mountain as Kronis worked on Eathos.
"I appreciate you allowing me to join, Keldor," Monteeg told Keldor, now only two feet tall and freakish looking. "After what Hordak did to me . . ."
"You taught me how to fight. How could I not have asked you to join?"
"We are here!" shouted Mer-Man, entering with Bakull.
Bakull was huge, orange, with fins on his cheek and gills on his neck.
"Ah yes, Bakull," smiled Anghast. "Your reputation proceeds you."
Bakull roared in response.
"Mer-Man?" questioned Tartaran. "I heard you were dead . . ."
"Just exiled," Mer-Man responded, eyes full of anger.
About an hour later, Galdor entered the chamber, armed to the teeth. "Quite a gathering, Keldor. I hope your Council of Evil works out."
"Oh, we shall," Keldor stated, smiling broadly.
At that moment, Eathos and Kronis came walking in. Eathos had on a visor with three small circles on it. His face was scrunched up in what looked like pain.
"Are you all right?" questioned Galdor.
"His brain is still adjusting to not only having his sight back, but seeing out of three eyes," Kronis grumbled.
"You did this to him!" shouted Galdor.
"Horde Troopers have three optical sensors. I just worked with what I had."
"No wonder I fired you," Galdor snarled.
"Silence, father," Eathos snapped. "I can see now. It is what I've always wanted. I shall adapt."
Beast-Man and Lynn entered now and sat down at the large table with the rest of the Council of Evil. Keldor grinned, but had a sudden feeling of doubt. Was he getting in over his head? Was this any even bigger mistake that what he had done at Eternos?
They all looked to him. Not so much Batros, Monteeg, Galdor, Tartaran, Bakull, or Anghast. But Mer-Man, Beast-Man, Lynn, Kronis and Eathos . . . they regarded him as their leader. He dominated them, commanded them and they would listen to his instructions.
Keldor sat down and looked upon them all.
"This meeting of the Council of Evil . . . has begun."