HE-MAN: YEAR ONE

JANUARY

"He-Man and the Power Sword"

Part Two

Pillars of smoke rose from Eternos. Flames roared at the Palace. Screams and shouts echoed throughout the city as Hover Robots attacked. Royal Soldiers let loose laser beams through the cold air, striking at the enemies as they poured on.

In the courtyard of the Palace, the greatest of the attack was taking place. Warriors of evil under the command of their cloaked leader assaulted the king of Eternos, the king of Avion, and a Lord of Insectia – along with the soldier Teela, legendary Moss Man, court jester Orko, the Man-At-Arms, and the queen of Eternos.

"Teela!" shouted Man-At-Arms to his daughter. An explosion from the man in the violet cloak sent a rain of stones upon them. "Get Queen Marlena to safety!"

"I can fight!" Teela replied from beside him.

"THAT'S AN ORDER!"

Teela tensed, grabbed her snake-shaped staff and turned Queen Marlena. "Come on, your highness."

Queen Marlena looked reluctantly to her husband, King Randor. Randor stood next to Man-At-Arms, both holding their shields firmly as the Evil Warriors came rushing towards them and the others.

"Where's Adam?" asked Marlena, voice filled with worry.

"I don't . . . I don't know," Teela responded. A jab of concern went through her, coupled with the sudden realization that she may have failed as Adam's bodyguard.

"I got him to safety!" yelled Man-At-Arms, taking a couple of shots at the approaching group. "NOW GO!"

There was another explosion, this one far closer to them than desired. The courtyard was filled with smoke as a great flame erupted. Teela grabbed Marlena by the arm and pulled her towards the Palace entrance.

However, before they could get near it, a woman dressed in a blue and purple armor appeared, a black cape waving behind her. She lifted her staff, which resembled a claw holding a pearl.

"Going somewhere?" she asked with a dark smile. "I don't think so."

She lifted her staff and it glowed with power. Teela stepped in front of the Queen, but Marlena pushed Teela out of her way. The bolt from the staff struck Queen Marlena and she fell to the ground in a heap.

"YOUR HIGHNESS!" Teela gasped and went down to her side, fingers searching the alien's pulse. She found it.

"Of course I didn't kill her," the woman called Evil-Lynn cooed. "We want to keep her alive so she can see the downfall of her kingdom. But you on the other hand . . ."

But before Evil-Lynn could make another move against Teela, a cake slammed into her face! Evil-Lynn went staggering back, chocolate frosting and cake covering her eyes. Orko suddenly came hovering right over to Teela and the fallen Marlena.

"A cake!" yelped Teela.

"I meant it to be snake, but . . . er . . . you know me."

"Get the queen to safety, Orko."

"What about you?" asked Orko, casting a simple hovering spell on Queen Marlena's body, allowing her to safely and easily float into the Palace doors.

"I'm taking down this witch."

Teela rushed forward, staff raised. Evil-Lynn, just in time, blocked it with her own. Evil-Lynn then swiped downward, issuing forth an destructive wave. Teela leapt back, allowing the wave to destroy the ground she was just standing on and not her feet.

She fired a beam from her wrist laser and it struck Evil-Lynn's staff. The staff took no damage, but Evil-Lynn was staggered enough for Teela to deliver a kick to her stomach. Evil-Lynn crumbled and then disappeared through the flames that stood between the others and Palace doors. Teela then took it upon herself to take a defensive position at the doors.

The locator beeped loudly as Adam approached the clearing. His gloved fingers worked the controls and the Sky Sled careened for a landing. Cringer's paws hugged Adam's midsection.

"Just hang on a sec, Cringer," Adam assured his old friend.

The Sky Sled landed softly. Cringer jumped immediately off. Adam smiled and scratched his tiger's neck.

"Come on. Let's check out Castle Grayskull."

Cringer's ears hung and he sighed. "Do we have to? It's sounds scary!"

"I don't know, Cringer. But Man-At-Arms made it seem awfully important. Seems to me that we should do whatever he wanted us to."

Adam started off, Cringer lagging behind. They walked through the woods and towards where the trees of the forest parted. As soon as they reached the clearing, Adam's eyes widened. There, in the center of the clearing was none other than Castle Grayskull.

It had been legend for years. The stronghold of the Ancients. The resting place of the Elders. Myth made real. In the noon light, it stood solid and real before the pair, it's skull face both frightening . . . and encouraging. The towers looked empty, the jawbridge up, making it impossible to cross the abyss below and enter.

There was a sudden screech. From above, a huge fire-orange falcon went sailing towards Castle Grayskull. As soon as it neared the Castle, the jawbridge opened up and allowed the falcon entrance. It remained open.

"Something tells me that's our cue," Adam told Cringer.

"Cue to leave?"

Adam smiled. "You wish. Come on!"

The blonde-haired prince ran towards the land-ramp that would take him into Castle Grayskull, Cringer behind him – too afraid to be left alone, but just as scared to enter the mysterious Castle Grayskull. The cold, winter air stung at Adam as he ran, but he did so. He felt compelled to enter, so curious and fascinated by what may be inside.

He halted at the jawbridge. His blue eyes curved downward and he looked upon the abyss below. It was said to be bottomless . . .

Fear gripped him. The jawbridge suddenly looked quite ancient. What if it gave out? What if it wasn't strong enough?

But he suddenly felt a push to go forward. His curiosity got the best of him. Adam took one step and walked across the jawbridge. In no time, he stood in the open mouth of Castle Grayskull. He turned to Cringer.

"You can either stay there or come with me. It's up to you."

Cringer looked down, unsure of himself.

"To be honest, Cringer, I love you, but I understand."

The tiger looked at Adam, then ran across the jawbridge, eyes wide and aware the entire time. In just a handful of seconds, Cringer was standing next to Adam. Adam leaned down and wrapped his arm around Cringer's neck in a playful hug.

"Good job!"

"Yeah, yeah, just promise me I won't have to do that again!"

Adam laughed and the pair entered into a foyer. As soon as they did, the jawbridge clanged close behind them. Cringer moved close to Adam.

"It's all right, Cringer," Adam assured him. "It's going to be fine."

The foyer was lit by torches and was empty save for racks on either side of the rectangular room. Two huge wooden doors stood before them. Adam took in a deep breath, stepped forward, and opened them. What he saw then surprised him . . .

Snow began to pour down upon Eternos as the battle continued on. Tri-Klops went running after Moss Man, who had managed to throw him back with a vine.

"You won't be able to try that again!" Tri-Klops shouted, sword sheathed, eyes prepared for energy attack.

"Oh, you know I will! But better this time!"

Cobblestones suddenly went flying into the air as small trees surrounded Tri-Klops, encircling him. Trapping him. Moss Man's telepathic connection with the trees allowed him to have their branches reach out and grab hold of Tri-Klops, holding him tight.

"Gotcha now."

Three energy suddenly blast straight through the trees, forming a sort 'Y'. They then spun, sundering the trees in two. Tri-Klops then leapt out and his visor rotated, each eye firing a different energy beam at Moss Man until he finally went down.

"Now that you're taken care of . . ."

Tri-Klops turned to Man-At-Arms as he was dealing with Trap-Jaw. Man-At-Arms was busy firing at Trap-Jaw, who was looking quite overwhelmed. Tri-Klops fired a quick beam at Man-At-Arms' right leg, which allowed Trap-Jaw to fire one of his own laser beams from his arm cannon at Man-At-Arms. Duncan crumbled.

Trap-Jaw was over in a flash. Just as Man-At-Arms swung his laser cannon around, Trap-Jaw slid right in and took a big bite out of it. It sparked and crunched as his iron teeth destroyed it. He even swallowed a mouthful.

"That face full of acid destroyed my digestive system. Had it replaced. It's like a furnace now!"

"Nice," Man-At-Arms replied . . . and then swung him battle club right into Trap-Jaw's face before the villain had the chance to munch on that. Man-At-Arms then grabbed him by his cybernetic arm, flipped over his back and right into Tri-Klops.

Man-At-Arms just turned around when, suddenly, Beast-Man was before. He roared, saliva dripping from his fangs. His large hands grabbed hold of Man-At-Arm's arms, shook him and then slammed him onto the ground.

"HELP!" shouted Mer-Man all of a sudden.

Buzz-Off and Stratos, who were firing on him from the air, were chasing the tyrant of the seas. Tri-Klops once more alternated laser eyes, blasting Stratos two of the three times. Trap-Jaw fired a grappling hook around Buzz-Off and pulled him to the ground.

"That's that," Tri-Klops noted.

"I could have handled them," Mer-Man muttered.

"Shut your trap," Beast-Man snarled. "Skeletor is dealing with the one he came for . . ."

Indeed as, while the battle was taking place, the cloaked man was confronted by King Randor. Randor, Honor Sword in hand, stood before the man in the cloak. Randor's heart thundered in his chest, seeing the human's blue skin, the cloak.

"Who are you?" asked Randor.

"You know who I am," the cloaked man replied, voice high-pitched.

"Keldor?" whispered Randor.

"Keldor is dead, Randor."

"Then who are you!" the king demanded.

The violet-cloaked man pulled back his hood back just enough to reveal his face. Standing before him, in the cold winter air, was a skull. Eyes, nose, and mouth filled with black shadow. The entire thing was still alive.

"Keldor is dead, Randor. But Skeletor . . . Skeletor lives!"

In Skeletor's hand was the staff he had used against him during the Horde War and at the Hall of Wisdom.

"No . . ." gasped Randor. "Keldor . . . what has happened to you?"

"My name is SKELETOR!" he roared. "And I have come to take what I so richly deserve! First, you. And then . . . Castle Grayskull! And then, Eternos and all of Eternia!"

"No!" shouted Randor, Honor Sword raised.

Skeletor blocked the attack. "I have spent years waiting for this moment. This moment where my vengeance comes manifest!"

Randor swept in again, but Skeletor moved like a wrath. His body slid out of the way. Randor stumbled. Skeletor knee jerked against Randor's wrist. The Honor Sword fell to the ground. Skeletor then spun and slammed his Havoc Staff against Randor's chest.

Randor went flying back, his chest smoldering.

"So easy . . ."

Just as Skeletor was about to take Randor, someone else stepped in front of him. Teela, holding her staff, shield on her wrist.

"Stop right there!" she shouted.

"I will not take orders . . . from pests."

Teela suddenly fell to the ground with a gasp. A beam from Evil-Lynn knocked her out. Evil-Lynn then joined Skeletor's side.

"Want me to finish her off?"

Skeletor shook his head. "No. Let her live to watch what happens to the King she almost gave her life to protect."

"What about the others?" asked Beast-Man.

"Bring them with us. We have made our first strike, my Evil Warriors! Let us now move onto Castle Grayskull and claim our place among the annuls of history!"