Author's Note: Just so you know, there are references to "Prophecy & Change - Book Three: Destruction." If you're a smidge confused by some of dialogue here, you may want to brush up a smidge.

Chapter Three - "Don't Just Walk Away"

Though she was not an uncommon visitor, Princess Adora was not a regular guest at Castle Grayskull. However, as the sun beamed down in the noon hour position, light pouring through the windows of the ancient fortress, the Sorceress greeted the young woman with a smile.

"Sorceress, good afternoon. Is it afternoon?" Adora said as she walked out of the gateway.

"Yes, your majesty. Just after, in fact."

"Oh good. Sorceress, I know you and I don't get the chance to talk very often, so I was hoping we could share some tea and have a bit of a chat."

The Sorceress was a little surprised by this. Other than Duncan, she had had no tea with anyone since the Horde War. Not even Adam. Despite this, she smiled and nodded.

"Of course. This way."

Adora followed the Sorceress down a long corridor into a small pantry. The Sorceress waved her hands at a teapot, a bucket of water, and a stove.

"It will be finished shortly," she told Adora. "In the meantime, let us find a sunny place to sit."

The pair journeyed up some stairs, down a corridor on the second level, and ended up at top floor of the southeastern tower. It was filled with large fluffy pillow chairs. Sheets of various colors hung from the ceiling. A small table sat in the center of the room.

As soon as they entered, the teapot and two mugs appeared on the table. They sat down and the Sorceress poured their tea. Steam rose swirling from the dark liquid.

"You seem to have something on your mind, child," the Sorceress deduced.

Adora nodded, sipping the tea. "I do. Good tea, by the way."

"I thank you, my dear. Now, tell me, what is it that troubles you?"

Adora took another sip, then swirled the tea around in the mug as she searched for a way to form the correct words. "The Horde has pretty much been defeated. It was a hard struggle, but now the pressure is off. And I think it's time, that is, there's someone I'd like to pursue."

"I certainly have no problem with that."

"I didn't think so, considering Adam and Kathryn. But you see, this man I'm interested in . . . he's fairly in love with me. I'd say the same. However, he's also interested in She-Ra a bit. I'd like to show him, to tell him, that we are one and the same."

The Sorceress nodded, weighing this over in her mind. "It's a difficult situation, for sure."

"Yeah. But I figured that since Kathryn found out about Adam . . ."

"That was an accident."

"You told my mother . . ."

"Because I had to, your majesty. For each person that discovers your dual identities is another person who could be placed in danger. Even Teela, who has grown up with Adam, does not know. Who is it you wish to tell?"

"SeaHawk. Captain, Admiral, what-have-you . . . we're meeting up a little later to see Mermista's crowning. We were going to go together, then take the ship back."

The Sorceress tapped her chin. "He is a strong man. He certainly aided you during your surrogate pregnancy."

"Yeah," Adora replied quietly.

"Have you spoken to Light-Hope?"

"He said to talk to you."

"And Spirit?"

"He said it doesn't matter as long as his mate and child are safe."

The Sorceress nodded. "Then it is up to you, my dear. I will leave that decision in the most capable hands - your own."

A few hours later, Adora joined Queen Angella, King Micah, Glimmer, Bow, SeaHawk and the rest of the Great Rebellion on a large balcony in what looked like a large stadium. It was a bit awkward because everything around them shimmered and rippled; they were seated in a mystical bubble. Another such bubble sat in the balcony next to them, where the leader of Etheria sat.

Thousands of Mer-Folk floated in the water in similar such balconies and they were all giving the group of 'surface dwellers' a expressions of offense or curiosity.

In the center of the staging area far below was a huge curtain that separated a large cluster of coral and the audience. All at once, the curtain was drawn back. Mermista floated out, draped in blue and green robes. On her head was a crown with three arches, the center one the tallest.

"Good day, my subjects," she announced, the words ripples in the bubble around the Great Rebellion and the leaders. "And my allies. I come to you today not as your princess, but as your Queen. My father has charged me with the task of leading you into the future. And I must say that now, with the help of our allies on the surface, that future is clearer than ever!"

A wave of blue light shimmered across the Mer-Folk in the stands. "Etheria's greatest enemy has been destroyed. Our waters are safe once more. The time has come, my people, to break the bonds of isolation and to reach out to our friends on the surface.

"But we must never forget who we are. We must continue to find joy in this new era of peace. We must also continue to find pleasure in the small moments in our lives. The elements that make every day a new one; that allows us to be happy with what we have.

"To the future! To the Sunken City! To Salineas!"

A burst of blue came forth from the audience. SeaHawk leaned over to Adora.

"That got quite the response, didn't it?"

"Their way of applause, I guess?"

SeaHawk smiled. "I guess."

"It's just you and me on the way back, right?"

"Yeah. And the horse. Why'd you bring him along again?"

"He wants to see his mate and son. But anyway, there's something I need to talk to you about."

"How are you doing, Spirit?"

The horse looked to Adora, nearly two hours later. "I don't like the water."

"Don't worry, old friend," Adora replied, petting his mane. They were both on the aft section of the boat. "It won't be for very much longer."

Adora looked to SeaHawk, who was at the bow. He himself was staring out at the fleet as they moved in opposite direction. "Well, there they go."

"Yep," Adora replied.

"How's the horse?"

"I'm fine!" Spirit replied loudly.

"Talking horse. I'll never get over that. You know She-Ra has a talking Pegacorn? That makes sense."

Adora shrugged, but her tummy rumbled with nerves. "Yeah . . ."

SeaHawk walked over to the cockpit and adjusted the setting. A small monitor displayed the weather conditions for their course. Perfect.

"First Ones, what a day!"

"Yep."

"Can you believe this, Adora? The Horde defeated! Was a day you couldn't risk a trip like this without getting some attention from those domeheads!"

"It's quite amazing."

"Yeah, it's great." SeaHawk came down from cockpit and then sat down across from Adora on the bow. "So what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"

Adora shifted uncomfortably. Her face reddened. She looked to her feet for support. "It's kinda complicated . . ."

"Not a problem. Complicated I can understand."

"Maybe." She paused. "This is pretty complicated."

"Spill it, sweetie." He said so casually, so lightly. He said it with a smile and welcoming eyes. How could she not?

"I'm She-Ra."

He blinked. "Huh?"

"I'm She-Ra."

A look of confusion crossed his face. "Okay . . ."

"Told you its complicated."

"I don't really understand, Adora. You're She-Ra? How is that even possible?"

She took a deep breath. "You want to see how it's possible?"

"Um . . . all right."

Adora glanced at Spirit, then pulled out of the Sword of Protection. To SeaHawk, it looked like just another blade. But that was an illusion. Princess Adora lifted the Sword of Protection above her head and shouted.

"FOR THE HONOR OF GRAYSKULL . . ."

SeaHawk's eyes widened as the amazing transformation took place. The Sword of Protection was immediately apparent and it generated golden sparks in all direction. Then, dazzling multi-colored energy formed an arch over her. A blue, swirling stream ran around her body, followed by silver sparks of power. It was in this raining of silver sparks that Adora became She-Ra - which was celebrated by another, more powerful blast of golden energy.

She-Ra then brought the Sword of Protection down and shouted.

". . . I AM SHE-RA!"

But that wasn't the end of it. She turned and pointed the jewel of the blade at Spirit. A beam of white light struck him and he was transformed into Swift-Wind. Then that was that. It was over. Adora was She-Ra, Spirit was Swift-Wind, and SeaHawk was in shock.

"I . . . uh . . .what the hell?"

"Yeah. See, it's me. I'm Adora. Under all these muscles and whatnot, I'm Princess Adora."

"Well . . . I guess it is pretty complicated . . . but I just . . . how?"

"He-Man, or really, my brother Adam - "

"Adam's He-Man!"

"Yeah. Anyways, he brought me this sword. The Sword of Protection. He brought it to me when I was an agent of the Horde. It broke through the spells that Hordak had on me and set me on the right course. This course. It also gave me powers, channeled from Castle Grayskull through this blade. It allows me to transform into She-Ra."

"So . . . you've been She-Ra this whole time?"

"Yeah."

"And the same with Swift-Wind here?"

"That is correct," Swift-Wind answered.

"That explains that." SeaHawk went silent after that. His eyes were turned down. "Why are you telling me this?"

"The Horde has been defeated. I figured it was time you knew. You've been such a good friend. During the pregnancy, especially."

"The pregnancy . . ." he muttered. And then that's when it hit him. What he told her that afternoon on the waves. All those wonderful things about Adora . . . and then that night that passion almost overtook them. He told She-Ra that he loved her alter ego.

"Yeah. The pregnancy," she responded, thinking exactly what he was.

"And you didn't tell me?" he shouted, standing up as well now.

"I couldn't!"

"You COULDN'T? First Ones, She-Ra - Adora - I don't even know what to call you! I went on and on and you just sat there and listened and DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING!"

"It was sweet . . ." She-Ra started, but soon realized that SeaHawk wasn't acting out of surprise, but out of anger. Embarrassment. Betrayal.

"Then why didn't you 'I'm actually Adora! Surprise!'"

"I wasn't allowed! We were at WAR! Up until last week, we were at war! And that situation was just too dangerous!"

"There were plenty of other times when there was no danger!"

"Don't you think I wanted to tell you, SeaHawk? Don't you? Don't you think it killed me inside to keep lying to you!"

"And just why was that? And why are telling me now?"

"Because of what you said! Because you care about me! All of what you said to me really touched me!"

"What I said . . ." he grumbled and turned around. A few seconds later, he turned back around. "Well, that was a year ago. Maybe I just don't feel that way anymore!"

"Fine," she said. "Fine!" She-Ra turned and jumped onto Swift-Wind. "Then you go home alone!"

Swift-Wind shook his mighty wings and he was in the air. As they tore away from the ship, tears slipped down She-Ra's cheeks.

"I told you because I feel the same way, you jerk."