Very Important Author's Notes (Please Read If You Wish To Know What Cringer's Been Up To!): Back for more!  I would like to take this time to thank all of those who reviewed the last chapter, and this chapter is also, like the last, dedicated to the reviewers!  I love you guys and gals!

For those of you who are wondering where Cringer is, here's your answer:

Just before Adam was taken hostage, he told Cringer to go and find the Masters, which he did, and joined up with them.  Unfortunately, Cringer could not be carried into Grayskull with them, so, that's why he's not here now!  Hope that helps everyone a little!

Anywho, I hope you all will enjoy chapter three!  Please remember to review!  Reviewing helps me a great deal if you have suggestions for my story, so please do so!  Thanks so much!



Rating: R - For language, violence, and mature subject matter (. . . and just to be safe!).

Pairings: [Adam / Teela], [Duncan / Teelena], [Randor / Marlena] (duh!) [I'm not sure if more relationships other than Adam and Teela's will be explored, but if you want the other ones or one that aren't listed, please, let me know!]

Disclaimers: (This can get old really fast, can't it, folks?!) He-Man and the Master of the Universe and any recognizable characters are not mine, but, man!  Don't I wish they were mine?!  [It's a rhetorical question, people!  Of course I do!!!]




Forever Changed

by RogueLeBeau

Chapter III: Where Is He-Man?
/or/
There's Something About Adam…





The Sorceress' Throne Room, Inside Castle Grayskull…

"We have to make our way down to the chamber where I know Skeletor is headed," Man-At-Arms informed the other Masters, "We have to move quickly yet quietly, Skeletor might have left some of his minions on guard duty, waiting for us or He-Man," he concluded.

"I wish we didn't have ta leave poor Cringer all alone out there," Ramman said as he looked down from inside Grayskull, "What if something bad happens to him?" 

"Oh, for fuck sake!" Buzz-Off cried out, "He's just going to run off and hide in the forest like Adam!  I swear those two were made for each…"

He didn't get a chance to finish as he was sent sprawling to the floor by a very pissed off Teela and her left hook.

"How many times do I have to beat you, so that you will to stop talking about Adam like… ahhhhhhhhhh!" Teela screamed out and doubled over in pain on Grayskull's floor, and her hands fly to her head as she tries to dull the stabbing sensation.

"Teela!  What's wrong?  Teela?  Teela?!"  Man-At-Arms shouts as he quickly races to his daughter's side.

"We're… too… late!" Teela forces out, as tears sting the corners of her eyes, "Skeletor is already… at the center of… of Gray-s-s-skull… and… and is almost in control… of Gray… Grayskull's powers!" the strain on her voice made it painfully clear to the others that were watching, that the pain was taking its toll quickly on the young girl before them, "He's not… not al-l-lone; most of his evil… warriors… and… and… oh, ancients… no!" the visual she had been receiving became all too clear.  There, with his arms stretched out wide to either side of his body and tied between two pillars, was none other than a beaten and broken… Prince Adam.




The Center of Castle Grayskull…  


"You know, Prince Adam, there always was something about you that I couldn't quite put my finger on," Skeletor told an injured Adam, "Why would you, the prince of all people, with your years of training as a skilled warrior, run off when a battle Would break out?" Skeletor punched him in the gut hard.


"D-d-didn't… wanna get… hurt…" Adam coughed out.

"No, I don't think that's it at all," Skeletor's grin grew more rapidly by the minute, "In fact, every time that you would run off, He-Man was always right there to take your place," Skeletor beamed, "How convenient, wasn't it?" Skeletor back-handed him across his face, and blood flew from Adam's mouth, "Where is He-Man now?  Hmmm?"

"I… I d-d-don't kn-know…" it was becoming increasingly more difficult for Adam to stay conscience, let alone speak.  This is not what I had in mind when I said I needed a plan… His vision was rapidly blurring and his body was screaming in pain from bloody lacerations and broken bones.

"Really?" Skeletor mock asked, his grin now a malicious smile as he said: "Well, I do."






The Sorceress' Throne Room, Inside Castle Grayskull…

"What is she talking about?" Ramman asked Buzz-Off.

"I don't know, but I wish someone would tell me!"

"Teela, who else is with Skeletor?" Man-At-Arms asked her, ignoring everyone else.

"A-A-Adam," she answered, as the tears that threatened to fall earlier, flowed freely down her pale cheeks, "If we don't do something s-s-soon, h-h-he w-w-won't make it out of here alive, father," she finished as she started to stand.

"Wooo, Teela.  Take it easy.  You need time to…"

He was quickly cut off by Teela's voice, "No!  Adam could be dead by the time we reach him!" she yelled out as she struggled to stand once more, "We have to move now!" she was now full erect, albeit swaying and leaning on Man-At-Arms, but standing none the less.

"Wait a minute!  What the fuck just happened?!" Buzz-Off now had their attention, "What the hell is she talking about, and why do you seem to believe her?  She's obviously delusional!"

Man-At-Arms sighed heavily before answering the loaded questions, "No, she is not experiencing delusion.  What she is seeing is truly happening."

"What do you mean?" Stratos asked, suddenly felt a sense of dread ebb its way into the pit of his stomach.  

"Teela is, and always has been, telepathic."

"How, father?  You're not…"

"No, I am not, but you mother is," he revealed to the shocked girl.

"Is?  But… I thought my mother died shortly after I was born," she looked at him before continuing, "You were the one who told me that she died!  Are you saying that you've been lying to me my whole life?!" she was becoming more furious by the moment.

"Yes," he stated simply.

"Why?!" she demanded, her anger making her sway more so than she already was.

"Fear."

"What of?"

"If Skeletor were to find out your parentage, we might not be talking to one another right now," his answer still cloudy.

"Who and where is my mother?!" she glared at him, "I have every right to know!"

 "Yes, Teela, you do have every right to know."

There, leaning heavily against a wall in the entranceway, was the Sorceress.




To be continued. . .



Please, review!

 I'd really like to hear what you think about this chapter and my story so far!

Bye for now!