Chapter XII: A New Beginning
PRINCESS ADORA'S DIARY
UNKNOWN DATE
I don't know how long I was unconscious, but it could not have been long since I was still in the Central Tower.
From what I could tell I was levitating and in an energy bubble, I was scared at first, was this trick of Hordak, had he captured me; or was I dead and looking at my body as my soul left it.
As my mind was racing, I heard a voice calling me, "Have no fear Adora, you are safe," I recognized the voice as belonging to Light Hope. I looked up at him and to my surprise instead of seeing the multicolored disembodied entity I have come to know him as; there stood a tall man with piercing green eyes and white hair.
"Light Hope?" I asked weakly as I squinted to look at the man who was standing before me. I felt a strange sensation of calm and peace emanating from this being identical to the feeling when I get when I am in Light Hope's presence.
"Yes, Adora, it is I," he said as he waved his hand and helped me to my feet. He looked at me gravely and told me, "You must go to Castle Grayskull at once you brother is grave danger" as he pointed to the doors of the Tower.
I was going to ask him what type of danger he was in, but before I could say anything he had vanished.
I ran out of the Tower as quickly as I could, I only hope that I was not too late to save my brother.
I was almost to the door when I felt Slushhead's tentacles wrap around my waist, I tried to break free but he was too strong even for someone like me who spent most of her life in Horde Training!
"Going somewhere Princess?" Slushhead asked sarcastically as I squirmed around trying to escape but his grip was too tight.
"no, but you are,"I said as I closed my eye and stayed still for a moment and gathered all my strength, then in one swift maneuver I broke free of Slushhead's grip, sending him flying through air and crashing into a wall. Once I was sure he would not come to until I was gone I raced to the castle as fast as I could.
During my trek I was halted by more of Brakk's mutants, I did not want to fight them as I wanted to get to Grayskull ASAP, but I knew had no choice.
"You're not going anywhere!" Lizzor said as he snuck up on me and captured me.
I could feel my ribs began to crack as he squeezed tighter till it felt like my eye's would pop out like Mantenna's.
I knew I had to fast so I once again using all my strength I kicked Lizzor in the gut forcing him to let me go.
I fell to the ground with a thud; I stopped for a minute catch my breath and snuck away before they noticed I was gone.
The journey was long and arduous especially since I was in pain from having my ribs broken but finally after hours of hiking I reached the castle, the drawbridge was opened already and I entered, I just hope that I am not too late.
The first room I checked was the Throne Room, everything seemed normal until I saw the Sorceress. She was imprisoned in an energy prison and was dying. I looked around hoping to find the controls to shut it off.
I searched for about twenty minutes with no sign of any controls and was about to give up when I accidentally hit my elbow on the left arm rest of the Sorceress' throne causing the controls to appear
"What luck," I said as I turned around to shut off the prison and ran to catch the Sorceress before she fell to the ground. "Sorceress are you okay," I asked her as helped her to sit up. She looked terrible she had aged greatly and death was not far behind for her.
"Adora…," she whispered to me, "Skeletor has stolen the powers of Grayskull, your brother is in danger you must help him," she told me.
"Where are they Sorceress?" I asked her, I could tell that she beyond the point of saving and there was nothing I could to keep her alive, except make her comfortable.
"They are in the…," was all she could get out before she succumbed to death.
My heart was broken, the Sorceress was a good friend, if it wasn't for her I would still be a prisoner of the Horde. She has been my mentor and advisor and she was gone. Even though killing is not my way, I vowed that Skeletor would pay for this one way or the other,
I left the throne room and began to search through the various chambers of the castle in hopes of finding He-Man and Skeletor.
I searched for what seemed an eternity with no sign of them, finally I reached the Vaults of Wisdom and there I saw Skeletor and He-Man fighting. I was about to jump in when I saw He-Man drain of Skeletor of Grayskull's power, it was then I saw Skeletor produce a dagger and plunge it into He-Man's heart.
"HE-MAN! NO!" I yelled as I picked up He-Man's sword and began to fight Skeletor.
My mind was clouded over with anger and sadness and I became determined to destroy him.
"You are no match for me!" Skeletor yelled as he drew sword and attacked me.
"That's what you think!" I retorted as I countered his attack, we continued to fight until I finally managed to knock his sword from his hand, "your evil is at end Skeletor," I told him aiming the sword at his heart.
Skeletor looked around and started backing up until he tripped and fell, "Adora, Stop, Please I beg of you have mercy on me, I surrender! I am unarmed I swear before Goddess of Grayskull I am unarmed, just please show mercy," he pleaded, as he showed me that he was indeed unarmed.
Normally, at the sound of someone pleading for mercy, I would lower my weapon and help that person, especially if that person invoked the name of a deity but there was something different, I was not moved with compassion that normally wells up inside me, instead hatred entered my spirit and I saw Skeletor's words as blasphemy.
Before I could take it in, I plunged the sword into Skeletor's chest, he screamed in pain as the sword pierced his skin and cut the wires in his life support system electrocuting him.
Skeletor stared at the weapon in awe, then he looked up at me and said, "Adora, how could you do this, I pleaded for merc…," before he could finish the red glow of his eyes faded away, his skull fell to the ground and rolled beside my feet, Skeletor was dead.
I looked down at Skeletor's skull, the look of terror he experienced in the final moments of his wretched life were attested to by the fact that his jaw was opened, frozen in an eternal scream induced by the pain I inflicted on him.
I had no time to take it in, for as soon I and removed the sword from Skeletor's corpse, I realized that my brother still needed me.
I ran over to where He-Man lay dying, I gently cradled his head in my arms, and surveyed the extant of his injuries. Tears ran down my face as saw him suffering, I knew that Viper had plunged his sword into his heart and his soul was leaving him, I knew he was semi-conscious and knew that if any attempt to save him, required him to stay awake.
"He-Man can you hear me?" I asked him trying to keep him conscious, he was bleeding heavily and despite my best efforts I could not stop it, "come on don't do this to me, can you hear my voice?" I asked him frantically, I was not going to lose him.
A minute later he opened his, "sis is that you?" he asked as he strained his eyes to look at me,
"Yes He-Man, it's me" I told him as I treated his wounds, "We need to get out of here He-Man, it's the only way to save your life," I informed him as I tried to pick him up, but he was too heavy for me,
"Sis, it's too late for me, it's my time," he said as he tried to breathe,
"No it isn't, you're going to make it, I just need to get you out of here," I told him, "we just need to get you out of here and to an infirmary," I told him as I tried to pick him again but fell to my knees as they gave way under the weight.
"Adora! Listen to me, it is too late, I have accepted that," he said as he grabbed my wrists, I wanted to tell him otherwise, but he was right, and not to deny it, the argument was mute and I could not win it as he called me 'Adora' and not 'sis'
"But I can't just do nothing, He-Man, I won't just sit and here and watch you die," I told him staunchly, I just wanted something to do, even if just to ease his pain and make his last memory a pleaseant one.
"There is one thing you can do sis," he said barely audible as he had only an ounce of life left in him.
I leaned close to him, "Anything, just name it," I told him fighting the tears that start to race down my face and collected on the castle floor.
"You got it," I told him as gently sat him up, wrapped my arms around him the best I could and fulfilled his wish as I tried not cry in front of him, I held him tight as if that would save him, I didn't want to let go, lest death would take him from me.
A few minutes later, he looked into my eyes and told me, "Good bye, sis," then he closed his eyes and breathed his last breath.
"He-Man!" I cried as I gently broke the embrace and laid him on the ground, my brother and my friend was dead.
I paused for a moment and looked upon his sleeping form I miss him already, but as I sat there my mind became plagued with something else, Skeletor's death.
I have always said that I do not believe in killing other people, even ones as evil as Skeletor and Hordak, and just recently I took a life, even after he had pleaded for mercy and invoked the Goddess of Grayskull, why did I kill him, I feel like a hypocrite, not worthy to live.
I stared down at my brother's sword on ground, and thought I found an answer to all my problems, all I would is take the same weapon I used to end Skeletor's existence and plunge into my one heart, but before I could reach for the sword I snapped back to reality, I would not take the coward's way out, Eternia needed me and I will not abandon them.
Later that day, I buried He-Man and the Sorceress in the Catacombs of Grayskull, hopefully they will rest in peace and with the greatest threats to Eternia dead maybe peace will come to this world as well.
CAPTAIN BOW'S LOGBOOK
18th DAY IN THE TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR OF THE HORDE'S CONQUEST OF ETHERIA
Adora returned to the camp with some interesting news. Both Skeletor and Hordak are dead.
Using this news to my advantage, I ordered my troops to attack Brakk's forces in an attempt to capture them an end this battle and bring peace to the planet. The battle was quick and decisive, once Brakk's spies had informed him of Hordak and Skeletor are dead he tried to retreat but we surrounded and captured them.
I stepped to the front of the group, "Brakk of Denebria, you are under arrest for crimes against the sovereign kingdom of Eternia, the murder of Princess Glimmer of Etheria, and for allying yourself with parties hostile to the kingdoms of Eternia and Etheria," I said as shackled him and led them off to jail.
That night we placed Brakk on trial, the court decided since he was not truly loyal to the Horde that he would not be executed but instead he would be banished.
We placed Brakk and his mutants into space pods, most went without resistance except for Brakk, "YOU FOOLS YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS, I WILL MY REVENGE AND THE ROYAL FAMILY WILL PAY! ITS BLOODLINE WILL DRY UP AND ITS ONLY SURVIVING MEMBER WILL GO INTO EXILE! I WILL RETURN!" the warlord of Denebria shouted as he was placed into his space pod and sent him out into space.
The Great Battle of Eternia was over and peace had returned to the land.
PRINCESS ADORA'S DIARY
19th DAY IN THE TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR OF THE HORDE'S CONQUEST OF ETHERIA
Today we began the process of rebuilding the planet.
The survivors, who included Bow, Ram-Man, a few dozen Etherian Honor and Eternian Royal Guards, and myself went from town to town, helping the citizens rebuild. We gave them money from the royal treasury, helped them repair the towns and bury their dead.
While we were in the village of Palezia, I saw something that sent pain through my heart, laying on the ground was my beloved Seahawk dead.
I ran over to the body, from what I could tell that he had died of a blaster wound to the head.
"Oh Hawk!" I cried out as I held the corpse in my arms, tears flowed down my face, as I was crying an elder of the village came over to me, he said that Hawk died while trying to protect a family of Palezians. I was proud of him that he gave his life for the defense of the planet, but I was still sad that he died.
Oh Kalion, why do you fill me with such misery, why did you let this tragedy to happen. Now I know what Adam felt like when Teela killed herself, but I know that I must carry on and unlike Adam I will not give into my anger.
"Farewell my love," I whispered to him as I leaned over and kissed his forehead. I buried him in the village and marked his grave with a flower.
Later on when we got back to Eternos, we held a meeting to decide what would we do about the government.
"I suggest that Etheria and Eternia become one kingdom under one monarch, it will allow Eternia to rebuild faster with Etherian money and would save Etheria the hassle of finding a new royal family," Bow explained to the group.
Everyone agreed and we started to write the Charter of the United Kingdom of Etherternia, we got the name by combining the names of the two worlds. We then appointed a monarch to reign over the kingdom, I was chosen for that job.
"ALL HAIL QUEEN ADORA!" everyone shouted in support, it was settled we were no longer Eternians and Etherians but Etherternians and we were going to rebuild our shattered worlds.
PRINCESS ADORA'S DIARY
12th DAY IN THE FIFTH YEAR SINCE THE ESTABLISHEMNT OF ETHERTERNIA
Five years have passed since we returned home and finally defeated Hordak and Skeletor, we have rebuilt the most of the towns and villages and the kingdom is prosperous yet I fell as if there is something missing.
This battle has cost me everything, my family, my lover, and my friends.
Even though I was appointed queen of Etherternia, I am not happy.
Everyday when I wake up I find myself in a sea of melancholy, I look around this sea and see no sight of the shores of happiness and hope. Everyday I look out onto the sea of sadness I wish I could feel Seahawk's arms around me and feel our lips touch as we kissed, only that will save me and bring me to shores of happiness.
As queen, I watch over the people of Etherternia, they are happy to finally be rid of Hordak and Skeletor, but the death of my family has forbade me to share in their happiness and forced me to be locked up in my tower of sadness and sorrow.
Night doesn't free me either, whenever I slip into Hypnos's arms, I experience nightmares. I see my brother's death being played over and over again; I see myself being put on trial for murdering Skeletor; I see my parents being killed even though I was not here when they died.
I have thought many times of taking my life and let death ease away my pain like I did after I killed Skeletor. I look in the mirror and think about doing the dark deed. I have thought of taking a razor blade and slit my throat and wrists or drinking some Isotopic Disulphide like Teela did, but my cowardice gets the best of me and I stop myself.
Today I have decided to do something about my situation; today during my daily speech I will announce my abdication from the throne.
All day long I thought about what I was going to say, it was racking my mind trying to how to say this right way, finally I decided how I was going to do this.
About 3:00 Etherian Standard Time, Bow knocked on my door, "Adora! The people are waiting," he said.
"Okay Bow, I'll be there in a moment," I said as I put on my royal robe and crown and walked out the door and towards the Grand Balcony.
When I arrived at the balcony, I waved to the people who hailing me and told them to settle down, then I began my speech.
"People of Etherternia, for five years I have governed you as queen, but I can no longer rule over you. My past will not let me be as long I live here, therefore I am leaving Etherternia as of today, Bow will be your king now and I have confidence in him," I said as removed my robe and crown and placed on Bow, then I walked back inside the palace.
"Adora! Wait!" Bow yelled as ran after me, he was obviously confused about what just happened.
"What is it Bow?" I asked him as I turned around to face him.
"Adora, are you serious?" he asked me worriedly as he stepped in front of me to stop me from leaving.
"I am Bow, I cannot live here anymore, there are too many bad memories here. So I am leaving. Farewell Bow," I told him as I hugged him and walked in front of him and went to hanger.
It's ironic in a way, when I was She-Ra all I wanted to do was to come here to live with my family and not have to ever leave; now I can no longer bear to live on this world and must leave if I am ever to have peace.
As I was walking to the hangar, I thought of I really wanted to do this, if I leave I would never be able to visit my family's graves, I would never see any of my friends again but if stayed I would be haunted by death of my brother and of how I 'murdered' Skeletor.
These thoughts plagued me until I reached the hangar, when I arrived I went to one of the Royal Star Cruisers. As I stood at the foot of the ship, I began to have second thoughts, did I really want do this, if I do this there is no turning back, but if I don't my crimes will haunt me forever.
"I have to do this," I said resolutely as I entered the ship and went into the cockpit. I sat down in the pilot's seat; fasten the safety harness; started the engines; and left for the stars never to return!