HE-MAN: YEAR ONE

JANUARY

"He-Man and the Power Sword"

Part Four

Skeletor rode on Panthor, snow swirling around him. Behind him were his Evil Warriors, his dark minions. Along with their other captives was King Randor, the man who was once Skeletor's brother. The brother to the long thought dead Keldor.

Keldor was dead, in many ways, for Keldor – as dark and evil as he became – had his limits. But it was the breaking of those limits that transformed him into Skeletor. Into this overlord of evil. Into the man that would take all that he had lost and all that he sought after. Skeletor had wished for the power and secrets of Castle Grayskull.

As he rode forward and Castle Grayskull became clear in his vision, his Orc heart leapt in joy and excitement. There would be no one to stop him this time. No warriors from Eternos. No Duncan, no Randor, no Sorceress . . .

Skeletor would claim what he had wanted for so long.

And then, as he made his approach to Castle Grayskull, he stopped. The jawbridge clanked open, much Skeletor's surprise. Was this surrender? Was this resistance? What was going on here?

"Stop right there, Skeletor!" came a deep, thundering voice.

Skeletor and his Evil Warriors stop their ground, and watched as a massively muscled man atop an armored green and yellow-stripped tiger. He was intimidating to all that saw him, with his huge, half-naked body. He held a sword and a shield, as well.

"Just who in the hell are you?" snarled Skeletor.

"I am He-Man, champion of Grayskull and defender of Eternia!" As soon as he said that, Battle-Cat leapt out of the entrance of Castle Grayskull and down the ramp. "I'll give you one chance to free the hostages, give up your campaign, and return to - "

A blinding light suddenly overcame He-Man. His body went flying back, Battle-Cat tossed into the other directions. His head slammed against the rocky surface before the abyss. He began to lose consciousness.

"So much for heroes!" cackled Skeletor wildly. A cold, snowy breeze lifted up his cloak around him, revealing a likewise harness of Coridite. "Forward!"

Skeletor didn't walk another foot before two small explosions went off before him. "What is this?"

"More fools," Evil-Lynn snickered behind him. She raised her staff.

From out of the small fires and vast smoke came two figures – Teela and Mekaneck!

"And just what kind of resistance do you think the two of you can offer me?" Skeletor questioned, snowflakes twirling around them all.

Teela looked over at the hostages, all tied up. They were awake now, watching as Teela and Mekaneck were about to engage the enemy. The various Evil Warriors began to walk over, snickering and laughing amongst themselves. They lost sight of what was happening to the others . . .

Orko appeared with a quiet 'POP!' Even Man-At-Arms seemed happy to see him.

Teela moved her eyes to Skeletor and his Evil Warriors. "I don't know who you are or what you're doing here, but I - "

Skeletor threw up his arms. "I am Skeletor, soon to be master of all Eternia!"

"You're not taking another, then, Skeletor," Mekaneck said. "By order of Eternos, I am placing you under arrest!"

The entire group laughed.

"Would you like me to take care of them?" Evil-Lynn offered.

"No!" came a shout from behind. A laser beam suddenly sliced between the ranks of the Evil Warriors. The Spydor suddenly exploded, followed by the Roton.

"We'll take care you!" greeted Stratos.

The Evil Warriors were in motion immediately, as were their opponents. As the two groups collided, Skeletor tore towards Castle Grayskull. This was it. This was his destiny. He would embrace it. Randor or his flunkies or anyone would not stop him this time.

As it turned out, Skeletor was partially right. It wasn't Randor that stopped him.

He-Man jumped and slammed right into Skeletor. The two went rolling onto the ground, Panthor's throne left vacant. As the pair stood up, Panthor growled and prepared to leap onto He-Man. However, he was stopped suddenly by Battle-Cat.

Battle-Cat intercepted Panthor wrestled the purple panther a bit. Panthor sunk his belly low to the ground, bared its teeth, ears flat. It hissed. Battle-Cat did likewise. The two great cats then slammed into each others, snarling and growling.

Meanwhile, He-Man stood just feet from Skeletor, holding onto his sword and shield for dear life. His heart thundered, his eyes locked onto his enemy. He remembered all of his training, all of the tactics he thought lost in a sea of laziness and boredom. Somehow, he realized, the power of Grayskull brought them all to the surface.

"You blonde-haired moron," Skeletor insulted.

"Sticks and stones make break my . . . oh, sorry. Didn't mean for it be personal."

Skeletor unleashed a blast from Havoc Staff. This time, He-Man moved up his shield, which took the brought of the blast. The beam was cut off. Skeletor paused, then did so again. This time the blast was stronger. But once more, it had no effect on the shield.

"Nice try," He-Man replied.

Skeletor rushed forward, Havoc Staff out. It came down. He-Man swung his Sword of Power up and deflected the blow. He then crouched and threw his leg out, making to knock Skeletor down. Skeletor, however, jumped back. He-Man went after him, Sword of Power raised.

He swept the Sword of Power through and it slammed against the Havoc Staff.

"Such a fool," Skeletor muttered and slammed the Ram's Head of the Havoc Staff against the shield. The shield was splintered. "Hide behind that all you want!" Skeletor cackled.

He was about to slam it again when He-Man slid out and away from the Havoc Staff. His fist connected with Skeletor's skull-face. Skeletor went tumbling back.

Meanwhile, the Evil Warriors continued to battle their enemies.
Trap-Jaw fired laser bolts at Moss Man. Moss Man did his best to dodge them, but was among the slowest of the warriors there. One of the bolts struck his thigh. His leg gave and the plant guardian crumbled.

"Ah!" Moss Man grunted.

"Gotcha!" Trap-Jaw laughed. "Now to trim the hedges . . ."

Moss Man put his hand to the ground and reached his mind out to the plants he sensed below. A brief telepathic communication later and huge bushes ensnared Trap-Jaw, holding him in place.

"Gotcha," Moss Man replied.

Suddenly, he heard a loud buzzing sound. Huge portions of the bushes came down, a buzz-saw now on his robotic arm. His mouth was also at work, snapping and eating anything in his path. He was in the clear. Moss Man back up, Trap-Jaw snarling and grunted.

"It's over now, hero!" yelled Trap-Jaw.

Moss Man's eyes caught a glimpse of a small sapling nearby. He smiled. "For you."

His finger touched the sapling. In an instant, the sapling became a huge, mighty tree. As soon as it did, massive branches came swinging down and slammed Trap-Jaw onto the ground.

Nearby, Tri-Klops was having some trouble of his own. Mekaneck's body sat behind huge rock while his head swung around the air, dodging each one of Tri-Klops laser beams.

"Stand still, damn you!" shouted Tri-Klops.

"Like that's going to work," Mekaneck taunted. But as soon as he said, his neck was nicked by an energy beam. It sparked and fumed.

Tri-Klops targeted it again. But before he could attack once more, the ground around his exploded, tossing a huge dust cloud into the air.

"I can't see!" exclaimed Tri-Klops, shifting from eye-to-eye. Finally, he came to the right one, only to see Stratos' fist coming right at him.

Tri-Klops went stumbling back. No sooner did he do that then Mekaneck came running out, club in hand. He slammed it against Tri-Klops' gut. Tri-Klops was done.

"I've got say!" Buzz-Off commented not far away. "I'm losing a lot of respect for the Mer-People right about now!"

"If you only knew my reasons for siding with Skeletor," Mer-Man retorted, his trident slammed against Buzz-Off's axe.

"Yeah, I wouldn't mind hearing them . . . another time!"

Buzz-Off twisted his axe, causing Mer-Man's trident to fly out from his hand. Buzz-Off then flew forward, elbow hitting Mer-Man's chest. He then grabbed hold of Mer-Man's arm and flipped him over.

Closer to the ramp up to Castle Grayskull, He-Man and Skeletor continued their battle. He-Man's fists slammed in Skeletor, sending the villain back spilling.

"You are strong, He-Man. I'll give you that. However, what you have in strength, you lack in skill!"

Skeletor's dropped his Havoc Staff. He jumped into the air and attacked He-Man full on. He-Man knew of no way to stop Skeletor's attack. In an instant, Skeletor struck a pressure point on He-Man's wrist. The Sword of Power dropped. Skeletor then palm-hit He-Man's face, kicked him in the abs, then tore off the shield. Finally, Skeletor finished with a kick to the head. He-Man fell.

"And now . . ."

"Skeletor!" shouted King Randor, marching over, sword in hand. "If that is your name now, then so be it!"

"Ah, Randor . . . come to stop me in my moment of glory?" questioned Skeletor. "You shall do no such thing!"

The Havoc Staff flew back into Skeletor's hand. He then pushed it forward. An invisible force shoved King Randor back, sending him to the ground. Skeletor then turned and rushed towards Castle Grayskull. Right after He-Man's exit, the jawbridge had closed. That came to no surprise as Skeletor reached the edge of the abyss.

He pulled held aloft the Havoc Staff and then pulled out the Sword of Darkness, recovered from Castle Grayskull oh so many years ago. Just as he did, he realized something. He looked at He-Man's sword and understood now that He-Man's blade was indeed the Sword of Power!

"I could have claimed it once," Skeletor whispered to himself. "But I did not. Now, though, I shall have it!"

He pointed the Havoc Staff at the Sword of Power, to snatch it telekinetically. Nothing happened. It held some sort of power, a power that resisted Skeletor's. Unwilling to give up his position, he used the power of both the Havoc Staff and the Sword of Darkness to summon the Sword of Power over. It succeeded. The Sword of Power came flying over and hung in the air before Skeletor.

Immediately, he sensed a connection between the Sword of Darkness and the Sword of Power. It reminded him of two magnets of opposite poles - able to exist on their own and produce their own magnetic field, but attracted to each other.

With the Sword of Power floating above him, he could sense the connection between it and Castle Grayskull. It was far stronger than the connection between the Sword of Darkness and Castle Grayskull. The Sword of Darkness and the Sword of Power then hung in the air, floating side-by-side slightly above him. Skeletor then lifted his Havoc Staff and channeled a beam of power into them. The beam was then reflected onto Castle Grayskull.

As the power was focused on the jawbridge, Evil-Lynn smiled at Teela, who was doing a better job of dodging Evil-Lynn magic this time.

"Looks like victory will be ours," Evil-Lynn snarked. "And you thought you could stand in our way."

Just as Evil-Lynn was about to unleash another blast at Teela, though, Orko appeared, grabbed hold of her staff and blinked away.

"What on Eternia?" yelped Evil-Lynn.

"Actually," Teela replied, socking Evil-Lynn in the face, "he's from Trolla!"

"You betcha!" Orko quipped appearing next to Teela.

"You broke my nose!" Evil-Lynn cursed, her nose broken.

Suddenly, Beast-Man landed on her, unconscious. Man-At-Arms soon came running over. "Good job, Teela."

"You too, by the looks of it," she replied.

Man-At-Arms then heard a terrible noise. The jawbridge of Castle Grayskull came slamming open, allowing Skeletor entrance. He looked over and saw He-Man. He knew at once who it really was, though. Prince Adam.

"Help the others rounds up the Evil Warriors," Man-At-Arms commanded. As she did so, Man-At-Arms rushed over to He-Man.

"Wake up!" Man-At-Arms shouted.

He-Man suddenly lifted his head. "What happened out?"

"You were knocked out. Twice."

"Oh! Uh, yeah, don't worry about me, citizen!" He-Man said, standing up. "Where's my sword?"

Man-At-Arms leaned close and whispered. "Adam, Skeletor has the Sword of Power."

"How did you know it was me?" asked He-Man, still shaking the wooziness out from him.

"No time for that now. Just move it!"

He-Man nodded. "Right. Now, I just need a new weapon." As soon as he said that, then, a Battle Axe appeared in his hand. He smiled, grabbed his shield and rushed towards the ramp.

Skeletor entered Castle Grayskull and kicked in the foyer doors, allowing him entrance into the Throne Room. The Sorceress stood in the center of the room, looking stern and defensive. Skeletor skull face made what could pass a smile.

"So good to see you again, Sorceress," he greeted.

"Away with you, Skeletor!" the Sorceress shouted.

"Never!" Skeletor responded. "You are no threat to me!"

Skeletor unleashed the power of the Havoc Staff against her. The Sorceress raised up her arms and the blast was deflected off a force shield. Skeletor pressed forward, however, but the Sorceress was prepared to meet this as well.

Her arms up and her wings expanded, her body began to glow. Huge bolts of lightning exploded all around her, arching across the room. She then pushed forward, energy flowing with her arms as she did. A massive beam of power counteracted against Skeletor's. There was immediate feedback with Skeletor's Havoc Staff.

As the Sorceress pushed against Skeletor, the Havoc Staff began to shake violently in his blue hands. And then, there was large explosion of force and the Havoc Staff went flying across the room. Skeletor fell backwards.

"And good assault, Sorceress!" he shouted. "But not good enough!"

He pulled out both the Sword of Darkness and the Sword of Power. She gasped as he began to once more channel his power through them. The blades lit up wildly. Power, like dust in the wind, started to gather between the swords. The very power of Grayskull was welling up into them!

"No . . ." the Sorceress whispered.

Skeletor laughed loudly, then sent a massive strike of lighting from his fingers. It struck the Sorceress square in the chest and she collapsed. Skeletor then let go of the handles of the Swords of Power and Darkness and let them float before him, gathering the power he so long sought after.

"STOP RIGHT THERE, SKELETOR!" He-Man roared from the entrance of the Throne Room.

"You!" Skeletor shouted. His hand gestured to his Havoc Staff. It sped to his hands. "This is the end of you, champion of Grayskull!"

He ran towards He-Man, Havoc Staff fuming with power. He blasted once and He-Man deflected it. Skeletor went to slam He-Man with the Havoc Staff, but He-Man swung in with the Battle-Axe and cleaved in two!

He-Man then thudded his shield against Skeletor's skull, then kneed him in the stomach. He then ran towards the Sword of Power, which hung in the air next to its dark twin. Between them was an orb of glowing power. The very power of Grayskull.

He-Man grasped the handle of Sword of Power and pulled. Nothing happened. He pulled again. Nothing.

"What in . . . ?" he asked aloud.

Skeletor ran forward and grabbed the Sword of Darkness' handle. "The power of Grayskull shall be mine!" he roared. As soon as did, the entire Castle rumbled. Huge bolts of lighting came flying out of doors, from up the stairs, from the floor and the ceiling. Each one struck the Sword of Darkness and the orb next to it.

"NEVER!" yelled He-Man.

"You don't understand, do you?" Skeletor questioned. "Our swords are linked! And while yours carries the power of Grayskull, mine will make it my own!"

"The power of Grayskull is not meant for evil, Skeletor!" He-Man replied, remembering the edicts that the Sorceress told him before. How right they sounded . . . and how terrible it seemed if someone like Skeletor were to break each one.

"IT WILL BE MINE!" Skeletor shouted. The bolts were coming more and more. He-Man could feel his sword weakening, the warmth and energy it gave off fading away. How much longer would be until he was replaced by skinny and weak Prince Adam?

"NO!" He-Man then defied. "NO!" He then said and did the only thing he knew he could. As the others entered Castle Grayskull and the Sorceress awoke, He-Man shouted: "BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!"

The lightning suddenly changed directions, curving now to the Sword of Power. He-Man felt his control of it returning. The orb dimmed. He-Man then lifted the Sword of Power! Skeletor's Sword of Darkness came loose from its mid-air moorings and Skeletor fell, sword in hand.

"I HAVE THE POWER!" He-Man roared, the orb tearing itself apart, the power returning the Castle Grayskull.

He-Man then turned to Skeletor, Sword of Power pointed towards him. Skeletor was up on his feet instantly.

"Now what?" asked He-Man.

Skeletor looked to He-Man, then to He-Man's allies as they entered, then to the Sorceress.

"You haven't seen the last of me," Skeletor snarled. His hands shot out and the two halves of the Havoc Staff flew into it.

He then let loose a beam, separating the group at the door and he rushed out of Castle Grayskull. He-Man followed him.

Skeletor was too fast, it seemed. The Evil Warriors and Panthor were all piled onto the Land-Shark, which was driving away.

"Damn it," he cursed.

"We did good, He-Man," Battle-Cat said, coming over. "I had that Panthor licked!"

He-Man smiled.

"Who are you?" asked King Randor then, stepping over to He-Man.

"I . . ." he started, then glanced at the Sorceress. "I am He-Man. Champion of Grayskull, protector of Eternia, and defender of justice."

"You are an ally, then?"

He-Man's smile grew. He had never seen his father look at him like this. Pride and amazement. "Yes. Eternos is a kingdom of justice and peace. And whenever that peace is threatened, I shall be there!"

And he meant it. He truly did. He-Man – Adam – knew that this was his destiny, that he must protect Eternia from evil. It inspired and excited him, this new mission.

As the snow fell around, He-Man embraced his new destiny.