Pure Intentions? 5

A/N: Although I just posted a chapter to my other story, I couldn't resist updating this one also tonight, as I'm having so much fun writing it.

Adam groaned. He was in no mood to deal with his father. His 'break-up' with Teela last night left him feeling unbalanced. The look of despair she gave him as he exited her room had him wondering if he did the right thing. Adam had remained underneath that tree throughout the night, unable to return to his own rooms as they were adjacent to Teela's. Being near her would tempt him to return to her rooms, reveal everything to her, and then beg for her forgiveness. As someone who from childhood was being prepped to take over the Kingdom, he knew he couldn't beg. Stealing himself against the knowledge that his reveal would jeopardize his family's safety, he remained rooted in his spot.

As these thoughts ran through his mind, Adam decided to exit the pool and dry himself up before his father arrived. Walking to the pool's edge, he used his arm muscles to hoist himself up and out of the water. Grabbing his belongings he entered the locker room where he proceeded to shower and dress.

Adam was so quick, he was out of the pool room before his father saw him. He knew he would have to speak with his father soon about his announcement, but didn't want to engage in this conversation just yet. Walking to his office, Adam decided to draft a version of his conversation with his father before actually meeting with him.

Sitting on his leather office chair with a blank piece of paper in front of him, the Prince tried to put into writing his concerns about ascending to the Throne. Instead, he found himself thinking of Teela's actions in the pool.

She didn't seem heartbroken. Upon his realization of her presence, she appeared her usual confident self. Her actions had him wondering if she was experiencing the same pain he was. Lost in his thoughts, Prince Adam sat in his chair for almost an hour. Suddenly, hearing an alarm go off, he shook himself out of his reverie realizing that He-Man was needed.

Walking to his office door, he locked it before reaching behind his back to unsheathe his Power Sword. Slowly raising it over his head, Adam was hesitant in transforming. He didn't want to face Teela as Grayskull's Champion, just yet. He knew that she would already be on the scene of the attack. However, he knew he couldn't deal with this as 'Prince' either; therefore, he called upon the Power of Grayskull before jumping out of his office window. Adam wished for the best.

The courtyard where Teela had comforted Adam last night, was covered with the broken metal bodies of Skeletor's flying robots. He-Man arrived on the scene to witness a lone warrior ferociously wielding a long sword over their head, cutting the robots in half.

Blinking in the sunlight, Grayskull's Warrior watched in awe as the warrior displayed far superior sword skills than anyone he had ever met. His gaze focusing on the warrior's long loose red-hair, He-Man realized that he had never seen Teela display such wild skills with a sword. Usually when she trained or battled she exercised a calculated control over her movements to ensure that she did not make any mistakes. What He-Man was watching was a woman possessed, ready to take down all of Skeletor's robotic army unaided.

He could tell she was pissed. This was the Teela he knew. When her emotions got the better of her, she was an unstoppable force to be reckoned with. She must be so angry, she didn't bother pulling her hair back. Rather she fought passionately her fiery tresses whipping around her head as she turned in pirouettes stabbing the robots in all directions around her.

It seemed to He-Man, that he was not needed. He contemplated leaving her alone to finish the job; however, in one of her turns, Teela's gaze landed on him.

He froze at the look of contempt she directed his way. His attention caught by on incoming robot, he jabbed his left fist out, flesh meeting metal, the power of his punch splitting the robot in half vertically down the middle.

The two expert warriors continued to silently fight off Skeletor's robots demolishing all but two by the time helped arrived. Deciding to leave some fun for Duncan and She-Ra, Teela about faced and walked back into the Palace without uttering a word to Grayskull's Champion. Her behavior was not lost on the courtyard's three occupants, making them wonder about her manners.

"He-Man, did Teela do all this damage by herself?", Duncan asked as he let off a laser shot from his wristband.

Nodding, He-Man rested the point of his sword on the ground as he watched his twin perform a roundhouse kick on the remaining robot sending it over 100 feet in the air, before it came crashing violently back to the ground.

"What prompted this viciousness?", her father asked.

"The King's news from last night", He-Man uttered prior to disappearing from the courtyard himself, lest he reveal too much to his mentor. Duncan was not aware of their secret dalliance. He-Man wanted to keep it that way, thus his necessary rude exist.

Both Duncan and She-Ra stared after him with bafflement. He-Man had not even greeted his sister a 'Good Morning'.

She-Ra knew he must be upset over their father's announcement from last night. However, she didn't think that it would make her brother outright ignore her presence. Looking behind her at the retreating back of the red-haired Captain, she wondered if the two had a fight. The Princess of Power, was aware of the secret illicit affair between them, but she didn't tell them that she knew their secret. She wondered if the coldness she witnessed between the two was a result of her father's announcement, as she didn't hear her brother's response to Duncan.

Running a weary hand down her angelic face, She-Ra followed her brother deciding it was time for some sisterly intervention.

He-Man did not return to the 'Prince's' office. Rather, he went directly to Duncan's workshop. With his brain addled by thoughts of his future, he desperately needed a distraction. He hoped that Duncan had some errand for him, something that would take him far away from the Palace.

As he examined Duncan's most recent invention, a prototype for a machine that would enable interstellar travel, he heard the door swish open and close signifying someone's arrival. Turning around his gaze landed on the Princess of Power who stood with arms crossed over her chest.

"What's up birthday boy?", she greeted him. "Too busy to wish your sister a Happy Birthday?"

"Sorry Adora", he stated apologetically.

"Oh, oh." "This isn't the attitude of a man who just turned thirty and whose father just announced will be King in a year's time." "What's bothering you?", she asked.

"Exactly that." "All of that, actually", He-Man responded holding both arms out in front of him.

"Should we change Adam, I would hate for anyone to walk in on our conversation discussing the King's renunciation?", she asked.

Nodding, he pulled his sword from the scabbard always attached to his back. Brother and sister each held their respective swords into the air shouting "Let the Power Return" in order to initiate the departure of Grayskull's Power from their true bodies. Straight away, the Royal Heirs to the Throne of Eternia's High King reappeared.

Sheathing her sword, the Princess rearranged the morning dress she was wearing out for a girl's luncheon with her mother and fellow rebels from Etheria.

Smiling at his sister Adam stated, "Happy Birthday, sis." "You look beautiful."

"Thank you, big brother." "Unfortunately, you look like the AttackTrak ran you over." "What happened?", she asked.

Sheathing his own sword, Adam walked over to the inter-dimensional machine, lightly running his fingers across it before turning to look at his sister. "Wouldn't it be great if Duncan's invention actually worked?" "We wouldn't have to depend on Grayskull and the Crystal Castle to come and go as we please between our two worlds!", he stated.

"Yes, it would", she responded, "but Adam you are avoiding my question." "What's wrong?", she asked more forcibly.

"I wish….never mind, Adora." "I just have to face the music with dad." "I'll deal with it, like I always do", he responded.

"Adam, this is a good thing." "Mom and dad deserve to enjoy their lives a little", she informed him.

"I know", he responded dejectedly, "but how could he just announce it like that?" "It seemed like he didn't even care that I wasn't present to hear the announcement!" "Earlier he had told me he wants me to marry, I had no idea it would be a stipulation for me to sit on the Throne." "Even mother, didn't say anything to prepare me for this bombshell", he stated letting go of some of his frustration with someone he trusted.

Walking up to him, she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder "I knew you were upset." "I followed you out of the ballroom yesterday so we could talk." "I was surprised to find you speaking with Teela." "How'd that go?", she queried.

"Like it always does", he answered peevishly.

"She belittled you again?", his sister asked with concern.

"Actually, no." "She told me she believes that I'll make a great king", he answered with a smile. "She honestly shocked me."

"Well that's Teela for you, you never know what'll come out of her mouth", she stated nudging him in the ribs. "So why she ignore you, out there?"

"Adora…."

"Oh come on Adam, you know you don't have any secrets from me." "I know about the secret midnight rendezvous between the two of you." "Did you think you could keep that from me?", she asked. "We do have a telepathic connection, after all."

'Oh, shit', Adam thought. He had forgotten that his sister could tap into his inner thoughts with their shared Grayskull ability. Instantly, his thoughts wondered to the Sorceress. Adam had kept his dalliance with her daughter a secret from her. If Adora knew because of their telepathic connection, Adam knew then that the Sorceress must also be aware. He hoped she had not informed Duncan. He would not be able to explain himself out of this.

Deciding, he wouldn't lie about his affair now that someone was questioning him about it, because to do so or deny it would diminish the feelings he had for his bodyguard he answered her, "I had to end it, because of Father's announcement."

Forming a big "O" with her mouth Adora looked at him astounded. "So that explains her demolishing all those robots singlehandedly." "Wow, she is fierce." "I think even She-Ra would have needed some help to do the damage she did." "Run, Adam", she stated gravely.

Adora's words were like a slap to his face. Over the years, the two women had developed a deep and lasting friendship. He knew that his sister knew Teela very well. If she was advising him to run, Adam knew he would have to take her counsel seriously.