Chapter Four – "The Choice"

The starship piloted by Hydron and Flipshot came in for a landing. Below sat Eternos, glorious to He-Man's eyes. Secured from the Snake-Men's grasp, the capital of Men and the kingdom of Eternos was slowly beginning to fill up with its citizens once again.

"Beautiful," Hydron noted, adjusting a few controls.

"Yeah. It's been around for centuries. The foundations go back at least 1,000 years, maybe even earlier," He-Man replied. "The kingdom of King Randor and Queen Marlena . . . said to be the highest seat on all Eternia."

"And you live there?" Hydron asked.

"Nope. But I serve King Randor. He is a just leader."

The starship from Primus landed evenly on the landing pad. A minute later, the bottom hatch opened and the trio walked out. Meeting them was Man-At-Arms and King Randor.

"He-Man, an excellent job once more," Randor thanked.

"Thank you, your highness," He-Man responded. "Man-At-Arms, King Randor, this is Hydron and Flipshot from the planet of Primus."

"Greetings. What brings you to Eternia?"

"He-Man, actually," Hydron answered. "We need his help."

"What do you mean?" asked Randor.

"Their world is involved in a war. They're gathering warriors from across the universe to help put an end to it. I am among those they sought to gather," He-Man explained. "I already turned them down, but told them that perhaps some of the Heroic Warriors would be willing to help."

"We can ask around," Man-At-Arms said. "No promises, though."

"Not a problem. You've at least offered. That matters enough for us," Hydron replied.

"Thank you for understanding," He-Man told them. "I know you've come a long way . . ."

"We have," Flipshot stated. "But that's life, I guess."

He-Man nodded and the five of them walked into the Palace. As they did, He-Man felt as though a weight was dropped on his shoulders. Was this the right decision? Was he doing the right thing? Would he be turning his back on the plight of Primus just to stay home?

Since the incident with Kathryn just a few short days earlier, He-Man felt as though his ability to make the right decision was way off. How could he correct? And how could he trust himself?

Skeletor secured the armor on his body – a blue bodysuit with a purple chest and back shield. Gone was his cloak and hood, now replaced by this armor and a dark gray helmet. While not the greatest for battle here on Eternia, in the cold reaches of space, it was very proficient. It also came with small compartments for which he could store his most valuable of weapons and other objects.

He gathered a few of his prized possessions – things that would be both of some use to him and that he didn't want the others to get a hold of.

The Jewel of Amara, thought destroyed by everyone but King Hiss. The disks of doom, the battle-axe, the Sword of Darkness, two scrolls containing ancient spells, the capsule filled with Grayskull's power, and the Havoc Staff all found their way onto Skeletor new armor. Everything else – books on magic, potions, a secondary armor – were placed in a small carrying case.

Skeletor reached for the carrying case in preparation to leave his chamber, when the room suddenly drew very dark. Skeletor could sense a presence in the room. He looked behind back and watched as Scare-Glow manifested.

"Why am I not surprised?" asked Skeletor. "Come to tell me that this isn't the path my destiny should take."

"Quite the opposite, Skeletor. Leave your doubts behind. This journey will be rich for you and you shall return to Eternia richer."

Skeletor nodded. "And just how can you be so sure about that?"

"The time has not yet come for that secret to be revealed."

"That is one secret that I hope to have resolved upon my return," Skeletor hissed. "I have grown weary of your appearances."

"I gave you access to power, I saved your life, I pointed you in the right direction and assured you of your darkness. I have done nothing but aid you."

"I understand that. But I am starting to wonder why."

"You shall know upon your return to Eternia."

"And just when will that be?"

"I do not know."

"Full of answers, but not all of them, eh?" Skeletor laughed. He turned his back to Scare-Glow. "Don't wait up."

The doors to the chamber opened and Skeletor picked up his carrying case. As he did, he could sense Scare-Glow vanishing. Skeletor walked along the corridors of Snake Mountain, tracing steps he had taken since he had arrived here over twenty years ago with Hordak. Such different times then, but it was kind of ironic to him.

Back then, an alien empire was helping him conquer Eternia and that had brought him to Snake Mountain. And now, it was a different alien empire that he was helping to conquer another world, and it was taking him away from Snake Mountain.

The Evil Warriors were collected in the throne room.

"Report," Skeletor demanded.

"The shuttle has been translated to Eternian for better understanding," Tri-Klops told him. "It seems to be capable of something the Primians call trans-hyperspace. In short, it creates a partial wormhole around the shuttle. It could theoretically outrun Horde warships."

"Excellent. Thank you, Tri-Klops."

"I . . . what? Did you just thank me?"

Skeletor ignored him. "I have two demands that our in addition to my orders from yesterday." As he spoke, Panthor walked over and stood by his master's side. "Beast-Man, you will feed and care for Panthor and Screech as I did. If he fails in this duty, I will reward anyone that kills him.

"Secondly, continue to build a power base here on Eternia. Strength our empire so that upon my return, I can pick where I left off." He paused and scratched Panthor's head. The great cat purred. "Those are my commands. Let my allegiance remain."

Skeletor turned and made for the door.

"Good journey, Skeletor," Evil-Lynn said suddenly.

Skeletor turned back to her and stared at her pale face for a few seconds. "To both of us," he replied after a long pause.

"Quite the advanced vessel you've got here," Man-At-Arms said, taking a look at the starship's bridge.

"Thank you," Flipshot said. "It's the most advanced in the fleet. We'll be needing it, that's for sure."

He-Man sighed and wondered just how much longer he would have to wait until he had to become Adam. From what he understood, Kathryn had returned from Dellos and She-Ra had left for Etheria shortly after the battle at the Great Towers. It wouldn't be too much longer and Adam would have to make an appearance.

Suddenly, the alarms went off. Hydron walked over to a computer and began to press a number of buttons.

"I set the sensors to detect the shuttle that Skeletor stole in case he launched it again. It looks like he did," Hydron stated. "He's taking it into orbit."

"Can we follow him?" asked He-Man.

"The main batteries aren't fully charged," Flipshot reported.

"Where's he going?" Man-At-Arms then said, watching as the dot that represented the shuttle blasted out from the atmosphere out from Eternia.
"I don't know, but I'm detecting full engine start-up," Hydron said, while pressing a few more keys. "I'm determining his course."

"I'm detecting the power of Grayskull from the shuttle," Flipshot sounded off.

"No . . ." He-Man muttered.

"He took the capsule with him," Man-At-Arms grunted.

"He's entering trans-hyperspace," Hydron then said. "Calculating . . ."

He-Man and Man-At-Arms both watched as the dot picked up speed, moving fast and fast across the screen and out from the Eternian/Etherian star system.

"He's gone," Flipshot stated.

"Where to?" asked He-Man, fearing the answer. He looked to Hydron. "Where?"

"The Tri-Solar System. Looks like Denebria, to be more specific."

Frustration exploded within He-Man. His fist slammed down against a nearby table, smashing it to bits. All three of them looked over as He-Man turned and walked out of the starship.

"Something tells me he just changed his mind," Flipshot assumed, shrugging.

By the time He-Man and Battle-Cat reached Castle Grayskull, the stars were out and three moons were sitting just above the horizon. The jawbridge opened, their arrival planned. Entering through the foyer and then into the throne room, the Sorceress smiled as the hero and his faithful companion arrived.

"You know?"

"Of Skeletor's journey to Denebria? Yes."

He-Man perked an eyebrow. "How did you . . .?"

"The emissaries arrival was imminent. I did not have the chance to tell you before Vipera struck."

"Ah yes, I see," He-Man responded. He hopped off Battle-Cat and looked toward the pillars in the center of the throne room. "I don't . . . I don't know what to do."

The Sorceress nodded and stood up. "The decision to take Kathryn to Dellos haunts you."

"Yes."

"Come with me, He-Man. We need to speak. Battle-Cat, you as well."

The three of them walked up a nearby staircase and eventually into northeastern tower. They walked into a small, circular room, filled with pillows, a table, and a few very comfortable chairs. Nearby was a fireplace, though it contained no fire.

"Have a seat, both of you, while I go and fetched something for us to drink and to snack on."

The Sorceress left Battle-Cat and He-Man alone. He-Man absently scratched at Battle-Cat's neck in deep thought.

"You really don't know what to do?" asked Battle-Cat.

"That's right," He-Man responded.

"You do what you need to do, He-Man," advised the old tiger.

"Even if it means leaving those I love behind? Even if it means leaving you behind?"

Battle-Cat didn't answer. A minute later, the door opened and the Sorceress walked in carrying a silver tray. She set the tray on the table in front of He-Man and on it were a teakettle, two cups, a few small pastries, and some meat scraps for Battle-Cat.

"I made an irrational decision," He-Man admitted as Battle-Cat chewed on one of the meat scraps. "I should have stayed here and just waited to take Kathryn to Dellos. It nearly cost us Grayskull, Eternos, and the Great Towers."

"But it didn't," the Sorceress replied. "And yes, while it was irrational, it was also a decision made with your heart. Even the most logical decisions can be wrong, He-Man."

"I should've known better."

She shrugged. "Perhaps."

"What do you mean by that?"

She sipped on her tea. He-Man took a bite out of a pastry. "I mean, simply, that you were not the only one that made a decision based truly on their heart."

He-Man tilted his head. "I'm not following . . ."

She set down her cup. "While Vipera held Teela's body hostage, she sought to mate with King Hiss."

"What!"

"Yes. When I learned of this, Man-At-Arms and I left Castle Grayskull and attacked both Vipera and Hiss, hoping to delay or even completely stopping the mating. It was an irrational decision. I put the security of Castle Grayskull on the line to stop it."

He-Man couldn't believe what he had just heard. "So . . . that erases my mistake?"

"Did you save Kathryn? Is she alive?"

"Yes. Yes, she's fine. She dumped me, but she's fine."

"You saved a life."

"At the risk of so many others."

"Does that make it wrong?"

"Yes."

"Does it?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"I . . . I don't know." He looked down at his boots. "I don't know anymore."

"We can not see the outcome of our actions. Even those that can peer into the future or know what their destiny is do not also know what will truly happen," the Sorceress stated. "A life is a life. Yes, you did risk the world, but you also knew that She-Ra was here, that the Heroic Warriors were free, you weighed the options."

"I didn't."

"Yes, you did. Perhaps you were not aware of it, but you knew what you were doing. You knew the circumstances of your actions, despite not knowing the outcome." She finished her cup of tea, then reached forward and grabbed hold of He-Man's hand. "You were chosen to become He-Man for your spirit. You have a wonderful, honest, smart, and just spirit. But you are not perfect. You made a mistake. You must now learn from that mistake. The circumstances are no different here on Eternia than they were 72 hours ago. If you do leave for Primus, I will ask She-Ra to come and stay on Eternia. She and the Heroic Warriors should be enough to contend with King Hiss and the forces of Snake Mountain."

"You saying I should go, then?"

"That is your choice. Listen to your heart. You did so when you took Kathryn to Dellos and it saved her life. But listen to your brain, as well. Will She-Ra and the Heroic Warriors be able to counter the offense of the Snake-Men? Will staying here help them? And what about the people of Primus?"

He-Man stood up and rolled his shoulders back. He walked to the window and looked out upon the fields around Castle Grayskull. He was so tired. He was exhausted. And he had a decision to make. He looked to Battle-Cat, who was staring at him with affection and a touch of sadness.

"Do what you have to do, He-Man," Battle-Cat said.

He-Man nodded. "I'm going. I'm going to Primus. I need to stop Skeletor. The people need me more there than they do here."

The Sorceress stood up. "There is much we must do. You must make this journey alone. Not even Battle-Cat can come with you. Adjustments must also be made to the Sword of Power and you will be given a new armor."

"And I need to say my good byes."

"Yes."

He-Man sighed and looked back to the window. "Adora first."