Chapter Four – "Keldor's Last"
Keldor readied himself. The Sword of Darkness was sheathed on his belt, the Havoc Staff secure on the back of his harness. His long dark hair lay out on his cape, his goatee neatly trimmed. He ran his finger along the scar that ran down his face. He looked nothing like he did when he first conceived of attacking Castle Grayskull, the new muscles and blue skin adding to that.
How much he had changed . . .
"I meet my destiny today," he told himself.
Along with the Sword of Darkness and the Havoc Staff came eight small vile of Dragon's Acid. It would burn through armor, flesh, and bone. He was saving this for Randor and Stephan.
Keldor exited his quarters and found Lynn waiting for him.
"Power . . . conquest . . . darkness . . ." she muttered with a sexy smile. "All yours."
Lynn pulled him to her and kissed him, hands rubbing the flesh of his body that wasn't covered by the harness and cloak.
"We will have our greatest victory today, Lynn, I know it."
"Oh, it's Evil Lynn now. Sounds more intimidating."
He smiled ruefully. "Evil Lynn, then."
"If you're ready," grunted Kronis from down the corridor. He was also well armed, with a laser cannon, and a number of knives and short-swords.
"Of course," Keldor replied.
The trio joined the rest of the Council of Evil - Batros, Monteeg, Galdor, Tartaran, Bakull, Anghast, Mer-Man, Beast-Man, and Eathos – at the bottom of Snake Mountain, where the last of the Horde's airships waited for them.
Adam smacked Teela in the face. It was purely accidentally, but he did it. Instead of crying, though, Teela kicked Adam. Unlike Teela, Adam did cry.
Marlena looked over and spied her baby boy. She picked him up immediately and held him, kissing him on the cheek. At that precise moment, the little red heard started to pout and sob too. Marlena bent over and picked her up also. Marlena suddenly wondered if this is what it would have been like had Adora still been here. However, before the tears could once more return, the door came open and the thoughts were thrown out.
"Thanks for watching Teela, Marlena," Duncan said, walking into the room.
"Not a problem, Duncan. They started to get fussy, though."
"Awww, well that happens. Teela especially," Duncan replied, taking his only daughter into his arms. Her cries became subdued a little. "There we go."
Marlena small smile began to fade. "Do you . . . do you think she misses her mother?"
"Absolutely."
Marlena couldn't understand why she asked that, but whatever came over sparked those damn tears again. Adora was probably missing her mother as well . . .
Duncan sat Teela down and immediately hugged the queen. After a minute or two, he withdrew. She smiled at him, eyes red and puffy.
"And what's all this then?" asked a voice from the door.
Randor came walking in, a smile on his face.
"We're having a very sexual affair," joked Marlena, still sniffling.
"Well, then, I guess I'll just have to hand over the crown to you, Duncan. It seems my techniques just aren't enough to satisfy - "
"AH! AH! AH! MY EARS!" shouted Duncan, much to the bewilderment of his daughter.
"Oh, Randor, can't I have the both of you," laughed Marlena.
Randor tossed his arm around Duncan's shoulder. "We'll just have each other."
"He doesn't speak for both of us, your highness."
It was this sort of thing that got them that allowed the three to handle their problems. Joking, good company, dear friends . . .
DUNCAN! shouted the Sorceress.
"Whoa!" yelled Duncan, stumbling a bit from the telepathic call.
"What is it?" asked Randor.
"The Sorceress . . . something's wrong . . . oh no . . ."
Eldor's felt it like a tidal wave. His mind was blasted with an intense darkness. His eyes shot open and saw that it was rippling out to the others.
"Something's happening," stated Owen.
At that precise moment, the doors exploded. Keldor came marching in, Havoc Staff out. Behind him came the Council of Evil.
"Council of Elders, I'd like you to meet the Council of Evil!"
"Keldor! Haven't you done enough!" shouted Eldor.
"No, not nearly," he answered with a smirk.
"Then you shall receive no mercy," Eldor returned gravely.
"Nor shall you."
Keldor lifted his Havoc Staff and unleashed a huge burst of power. As did Anghast, Bakull, Monteeg, Galdor, and Evil-Lynn. The force of their combined energy struck against the Elders, who barely able to deflect it. What resulted was a concussion burst of pure magic. The Hall of Wisdom shook with the power in play here. The Council of Elders pulled their strength together and pushed against the continuous onslaught of the Council of Evil.
"They picked a bad day for this," grunted Stratos as he rode in the sky towards the Hall of Wisdom.
King Stephan smiled. "Not kidding. Lucky for us we were having that dinner."
"Quiet. This is serious," snapped Randor.
Both Randor and Stephan were riding along in Battle Hawks, flanked by King Edward of North Eternos, Captain Dekker, Man-At-Arms Rohad, and Commander Duncan. It would be another week before Duncan took over the position of Man-At-Arms, since ceremony dictated it was to be held off until September. Stratos and Buzz-Off also flew alongside them.
Laser beams started to fire up from the ground as soon as they neared the Hall of Wisdom. Someone was there, all right . . .
The Battle Hawks landed in a group of trees. Immediately, the group came rushing out, weapons out and ready. On the steps before the entrance to Hall of Wisdom stood a gang of warriors where once stood the now dead Gunslinger-Rangers. A feeling like blasphemy roared in King Randor's mind.
"We've been waiting for you," Kronis greeted, the same man who kidnapped Marlena years ago.
"Move fast and furiously," Randor told them all. "We need in the Hall of Wisdom immediately."
Batros rushed forward, his screech ringing loudly into the evening air. Stratos did his best to ignore it and charged Batros. His fists ran against Batros' Horde armor, which did little good. Batros, however, scratched up Stratos' chest. Stratos crumbled, hands on his bleeding flesh.
"Now you die at last," snarled Batros.
"Don't think so, pal!" yelled Buzz-Off, slamming a foot into Batros' lower back. Two strikes to the head put Batros down to the count.
"You all right?" asked Buzz-Off of Stratos.
"I'll be okay, just give me a few minutes."
Meanwhile, not far away, Stephan was sword fighting with Eathos. It was not easy, though, considering just how damn good Eathos was. Stephan, who had been trained for years in sword fighting, had never faced an opponent like this before. Eathos was better than good or great – he was the best.
Stephan's hand was suddenly sliced, the sword dropping. Stephan grabbed hold of his bleeding hand as Eathos made for his neck. Newly appointed King Edward came rushing over, his own sword raised. Eathos smiled, for his saw him coming. He spun and sent a small knife into Edward's leg
Edward fell . . . and Beast-Man loomed over him, roaring and growling in battle fury. However, before Beast-Man could gut him, a number of huge branches curled around his body and tossed Beast-Man away. Edward looked over and saw the same thing happening to Eathos – huge branches from far away trees were tossing him away.
"Thought you could use my help," said Moss Man, stepping towards the fight.
"Appreciate, Moss Man," said Stephan.
Kronis suddenly went flying right next to Stephan. Randor and Duncan turned to Moss Man.
"Can you get Stratos, Stephan, and Edward to safety?" asked Randor.
"Will do, your highness," Moss Man replied. The trees began to lift the trio up into their branches.
Randor and Duncan made for the door, weapons ready.
"Oh no ya don't," grunted Kronis. He pulled out a laser and blasted the branches that held Beast-Man and Eathos. Together, they followed Randor and Duncan.
As they passed Mer-Man and Dekker, Mer-Man knocked Dekker out and rushed in right behind his companions. Buzz-Off was about to intercept, but suddenly had Man-At-Arms thrown at him.
"Moss Man! Grab him! Is he okay?" asked Buzz-Off, flying down towards Tartaran.
"He's all right!"
"But you won't be," shouted Tartaran, pulling out a laser.
Fortunately, a missile from Stratos sent him right to the ground. "We're going in!" yelled Stratos, whose chest was bandaged up with leaves and sap.
"I'm coming too," Moss Man added, wrapping everyone up in bushes and roses.
"We'll radio for help," Stephan told them, helping out Dekker and Rohad.
"Good luck!"
Victory was near. The Elders were weakening. After everything that they had done during the Horde War, it was a drain and they were left vulnerable. Keldor's power pulsed from his Havoc Staff, alongside his companions. He was so close . . . so very close . . .
And then . . . there was an expression on Eldor's face he didn't like.
"STOP THIS, YOU SICK BASTARD!"
"RANDOR!" screamed Keldor.
Keldor was pulled completely away from the line-up. A shift of power occurred and suddenly, all of the Council of Evil members were tossed back. The Elders stepped forward, looking exhausted but still plenty powerful.
"AWAY WITH YOU, CREATURES OF DARKNESS!" they ordered as one. "BACK TO HENCE YOU CAME!"
"Damn it," cursed Anghast. He was suddenly teleported back into the Realm of Evil.
Bakull roared in protest, but was also sent away from Eternia.
"Who are you supposed to be?" questioned Evil-Lynn, staff trained at Duncan.
"You are under arrest, little girl," Duncan said with authority.
"Yeah right."
A beam from his staff shot towards him, but he avoided it and took a few shots with his laser cannon. She raised a force field to deflect them, but he kept pounding it.
"We're coming, Keldor!" shouted Beast-Man, running forward with Mer-Man, Kronis, and Eathos in tow.
But branches reached out and snagged Mer-Man, sending him to the ground. Moss Man, Stratos, and Buzz-Off moved on in, colliding right into Kronis, Eathos, and Beast-Man.
Galdor turned to Monteeg. "This is going sour," he stated.
"Agreed. Let's get out of here."
Before any of them could notice, the two of them rushed off towards the door.
As Randor and Keldor's forces fought each other, Randor and Keldor engaged in heavy sword fighting. Randor struck on and on against the Sword of Darkness with the Honor Sword. Keldor continued to deflect it and would often strike back. Neither one spilled blood; it was as though it was a strange dance.
Brother was fighting brother over something that started as nothing more than the dismissal of an idea. An idea that should not have been ignored. Bitterness festered and anger grew. Violence came next and the two were playing that out perfectly. The fallen prince against his brother the king.
"It's over now," Keldor stated darkly.
Keldor slid back and 'pushed' Randor with his power. Randor was thrown to the floor. Keldor retrieved his vials.
"I was saving these for both you and Stephan. But using them all for you would be just a sweet."
Using a telekinetic spell, the vials went sailing for Randor. But Randor was faster. He was always faster. His shield went up and his waved it in front of him, sending all of the vials flying haphazardly into the air.
A shriek like no other filled the Main Chamber. Randor looked over and gasped.
Kronis, the man who had kidnapped his wife, was screaming in a way that Randor had never heard before. The acid covered all of his right arm, both legs, right shoulder, parts of his left arm, bits of his head, and his entire jaw. All of these body parts were melting off in baths of green acids. Smoke rose from the affected areas.
Immediately, Evil Lynn tossed a force field around Kronis. Eathos rushed over.
"This is over, Keldor! We've lost!" shouted Eathos.
"Not yet . . . not yet it isn't . . ."
"He's dying!" screamed Evil-Lynn as she watched Kronis' jaw melt away.
Keldor snarled and turned to the Elders. "I will destroy you!"
Eldor looked weakly at them. "Leave now, Keldor. Your time has ended."
Randor stood up and picked up his Honor Sword. At that moment, Dekker, Stephan, Edward, and Rohad came in.
"It is not over!" demanded Keldor hysterically. "My time has just begun! You will fall to me! You will all fall to me! Yes! ETERNOS! CASTLE GRAYSKULL! ALL OF ETERNIA SHALL BE MINE!"
Randor could have sent his sword right into that Orc heart of Keldor's, but he couldn't. The mad rant was both terrible and disturbing. Randor found nothing but pity in his heart for Keldor.
The Havoc Staff and the Sword of Darkness were both raised then, and energy flowed from one to the other. It swirled between the two, rippling in the air. And then, a stream of blue energy came surging out, headed right for Eldor.
"I'm sorry," whispered Eldor.
All of the Elders held up their hands and the energy was suddenly surged around them, deflected, and sent right back. It struck both the Sword of Darkness and the Havoc Staff. There was an explosion from both objects. Keldor dropped them and huge streams of surging power struck Keldor right in the face.
His flesh started to burn and melt. His hair flared up in a fire that left nothing but the remains of burnt scalp. His face was melting away, all of those features he had gotten from his father and mother oozing away. His mouth hung open in a silent scream.
Randor stared with wide-eyes at his brother. At his side, Stephan grasped Randor's shoulder. Keldor's body jerked in sheer agony as the first hints of his skull became apparent. Beast-Man suddenly bounded over and pulled Keldor over his shoulder.
Beast-Man, Evil-Lynn, Kronis, Mer-Man, and Eathos all made for the back door, which Monteeg and Galdor had left open.
"Should we pursue?" asked Buzz-Off.
"No," Randor answered. "It's all over now."