Chapter Eleven
Reunions
With the future at stake due to Skeletor's rise in power and his discovery of Havoc energy, the Masters have been traveling all over Eternia hoping to make more alliances with the many kingdoms to strengthen the defense for Castle Grayskull, and the rest of the universe.
After a long day, He-Man and Teela were returning from Darksmoke, the kingdom of Granamyr the Wise, were after a struggle, they eventually forged an alliance with the great dragon. Granamyr was reluctant, stubborn and untrusting of men.
He sent He-Man and Teela to chop down Skytree, a living elemental creature in the Forgotten Forest, a remote location on Eternia inhabited by woodland creatures and plant life which differed drastically from the rest of the planet. Granamyr wanted the wood of Skytree for his fire pit, but He-Man refused to chop him down, as Sky Tree was a living, breathing being and the life-giver of the Forgotten Forest. A father to the creatures that lived there.
Granamyr was astounded by He-Man's mercy and compassion, shocked to see that a sword-wielding barbarian with the strength of a thousand men refused to kill. This urged the great dragon to forge an allegiance with the Masters of the Universe. With an ally like Granamyr on their side, Skeletor would have to think twice about attacking Grayskull.
"Never in my life have I seen such stubborness," Teela said, irritably folding her arms together. "This coming from the wisest being on Eternia. The dragons of Darksmoke must unsterstand that Skeletor poses a threat to everyone. Havoc energy can even counter the might of dragons!"
"I don't know, Teela," He-Man laughed. "Granamyr is no more stubborn than you!"
"Ha ha," Teela laughed playfully. "I may indeed be stubborn, but I wouldn't hesistate to make allegiances when the entire universe is in danger!"
"Remember, Teela," said He-Man. "Granamyr is almost as old as Eternia herself, and he has seen Eternians at their worst. When they were savage and cruel. His kind were betrayed by the other kingdoms many times over. Eternians weren't as friendly then as they are now."
Teela smiled.
"That's why they now have the mighty He-Man to give them hope,"she said. "Only one as pure-hearted as you could make Granamyr change his mind about aligning himself with us!"
Suddenly, He-Man gets a distress call from the Sorceress, who asked him to return to Grayskull at once.
He-Man increases the speed on the Wind Raider and it drafts through the night sky, almost as quick as the mighty Talon FIghter.
Once they got to Grayskull, He-Man changed back into Prince Adam and when they entered the Throne Room, they met up with the Sorceress, Man-at-Arms, Orko and The Goddess.
"Hallo, Goddess," said Adam, "I am glad to see you again."
"You honor us with your presence," said Teela.
They were both uneasy when The Sorceress showed a disheartened look on her face, as she hated to keep secrets from the Masters, especially Adam.
"Adam, your father is alive and we have found him in the town of Trelmar," said the Sorceress. "He was rescued by doctors with healing magic."
"Trelmar?" asked Teela. "That's the hometown of Mendor, the Royal Physician. He survived Skeletor's invasion of Eternos?"
"Yes, Teela," said the Green Goddess. "There were numerous survivors. Your father was close to death's door, but Mendor was able to save him."
"This can't be possible," said Adam, as he was battling many emotions. "Skeletor killed him. I watched him die in my arms!"
"Your father was a great man," said the Sorceress. "Thousands of people respected him. So some were willing to save him. Even sacrifice themselves for him."
"This is the best news I've heard in a long time," said Teela, who was extremely excited. "With King Randor back, it increases our chance at saving Eternia from Skeletor's forces."
Adam thanked the Sorceress and the Goddess for telling about about the wonderful news.
The Crimson Falls was a beautiful location on Eternia, known for its crimson waterfalls and tropical vegetation.
Adam thanked the Sorceress and the Goddess for telling about about the wonderful news.
Ram Man runs into the castle, as Teel and Adam could sense that there was trouble brewing again.
"We must hurry, my friends," he said. "An unknown criminal is stalking the small village near the Crimson Falls. We deduce that he could be new recruit among Skeletor's forces!"
With a boost of hope discovering that his father wasn't as dead as he thought, he raises his sword aloft, and says the iconic magic words
"BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!" he cries, as lightning explodes all around him, as he transforms into the mighty form of He-Man once more.
"I HAVE THE POWER!" Eternia's champion exclaims, holding his sword cross his chest.
The Most Powerful Man in the Universe gathered his fellow Masters, preparing them to help find his father.
The Masters aboard their vehicles and head for the Crimson Falls. Man-E-Faces drives a newly built ground assault vehicle the Road Ripper.
This could be the happiest day of Prince Adam's life since he became He-Man for the very first time.
The Masters eventually reached the Crimson Falls. It was located on a tropical jungle, with misty canyons and rocky waterfalls, known for its crimson-colored waterfall and tall cypress trees which almost reaches the sky. The canyons stretched out as far as the eye could see, as if it had no end. Similar to the canyons of the Bottomless Abyss surrounding Castle Grayskull.
Once the Masters had landed, a middle-aged woman came rushing to them. She had a stifling cough and her eyes were bloodshot, as if she had been exposed to some venomous toxin or unknown disease.
Man-at-Arms and Teela helped her, providing her with medical equipment. It didn't take too long until she had recovered.
"A foul creature invaded our village," she told them. "He omitted some sort of poisonous vapor from his hands. He attacked our village of Krymsonia with a band of skunk-like soldiers. Beware...his vapors are deadly!"
"We must be on the lookout," said Man-at-Arms, eyeing each of his fellow Masters, alerting them to be on their guard.
"By the ancients, this stench is worse than death!" said Teela, coughing as she spoke. She started to feel faint and blacked out.
Man-at-Arms protects the female villager with a small gas mask, as she could not encounter this rancid stench again.
The Masters start to feel faint and weakened from the misty gas, and one by one they start to fall unconscious.
He-Man is the only one left standing, but he can feel himself losing his balance, and his eyes start to burn. He looks up on a rocky cliff with an sharp edge, seeing a creature with black and white-striped fur wearing orange and red armor, as well as a blue gas mask. The gas was emitting from the creature. Wearing a gas mask, as was obvious that even he was vulnerable to his own rancid odor.
"Call me Stinkor," he growled. "Evil Master of Odors, and loyal servant of Skeletor!"
"It was wrong of you to attack a peaceful village," said He-Man, blocking his face and eyes from the vapors. "You had no business here!"
"Stinkor cares for no one," said Skeletor's new Evil Warrior. "Stinkor only does what Lord Skeletor commands, Now, Stinkor will kill He-Man!"
He-Man and Stinkor engage in a duel. The new villain's nefarious ability makes him powerful, but he is a slow-witted cretin and is easily overcome by the hero's great strength.
Seemingly outwitted, Stinkor does not give up easily, and releases a thick cloud of green gas from his red gloved hands at He-Man. Before the gas struck him, a hooded figure appears out of nowhere and gets him out of the why.
The figure wears a green and orange gas mask, and wears a blue cloak with a hoodie. He then engages in a fight with Stinkor.
He-Man looks on as this stranger displays amazing combat abilities. The stranger wears a familiar looking ring, which is a sapphire jewel with a lion's head on it. The stranger unleashes a golden sword. A blade He-Man knows too well.
I know that blade, he tought to himself, ït is my father's blade!
Protected by his mask, the stranger overthrows Stinkor with ease, as the nefarious Master of Odors falls off a cliff in a massive forest of long palm trees. The stranger helps He-Man to gather his weakened allies and travel further into the jungle.
They reach a secluded part of the jungle, where they were away from Stinkor's toxic gas. The Masters start to awaken, but are suffering from headaches, sore eyes and runny noses.
"Thanks for saving us from that smelly rat, He-Man," said Teela, gently caressing her sore eyes.
"You should extend your thanks to our new friend here," said He-Man, representing the masked stranger. "Or should I call him...my king!"
The stranger removes his mask, and it is revealed to be no one other than King Randor - Eternia's fallen king who has returned from the dead.
"By the Ancients!" gasped Stratos. "Can it really be you, King Randor!"
"Never has a king been so happy to see old friends again," said Randor, smiling benevolently upon the Masters.
"How great it is to have you back, sire," said Man-at-Arms, wiping a tear of joy from his brown eyes. "Eternia has missed her king gravely!"
All of the Masters, including He-Man, bow down before him. They then rushed to him, embracing him and shake his hand.
He then looks to He-Man, who smiles bashfully.
"So, you must be He-Man?" he asked, honored to meet Eternia's greatest hero. "The fabled hero of the people. I have heard about your legendary exploits on my travels. You have done our world a great service during my absence."
"Thank you, sire," He-Man said, "but He-Man is not who I truly am. To you, I am something more."
"I do not understand, champion,"" said a confused King Randor.
He-Man lifts his sword above his head.
"LET THE POWER RETURN!" he says, and transforms back into Adam, after a flash of lightning/
"A-A-Adam, my s-son," asked a bewiderment. "You are He-Man? Eternia's mightiest protector?"
"That I am, father," said Adam, relieved to finally tell his long-lost father the truth. "But, I would have not been able to become the hero I am today without my friends and comrades in arms - the legendary Masters of the Universe!"
"But a hero, nonetheless!" said Randor, and hugged his son. "How proud you have made me, son. You are truly the best of us!"
"How I have missed you father," said Adam, hearing words from Randor he had always wanted to hear from him since childhood.
Later on at Castle Grayskull, the Masters and King Randor enjoyed a glorious dinner, with a night filled with joyous celebration.
"I have always thought that this castle was nothing more than a bedtime story," said the King Randor. "It is far more astounding than I could ever dream."
During the night, Adam and his father talk about what has happened during his absence, standing on the castle's pinnacle.
"I should have had more faith in you before, Adam," said Randor. "I always wanted you to be a good king, but to become the protector of the universe is something far greater than anything I could ever dream."
"I may have become a hero," said Adam. "But, there has never been a better king...or a better father than you."
"Thank you, son," said Adam. "You discovered your destiny, brought rogether a new age of heroes, and restored hope back to our people."
"That hope will excalate once all of Eternia knows that their king lives," said Adam.
"Ah, yes," said Randor. "But there is still something else we need to do - we need to find your mother. I know in my heart that she is still alive, out there, somewhere."
The thought of his mother still being alive never wavered, and Adam decided they all needed some rest, and waited in the morning until they made further plans.
The following morning, Adam, King Randor, and the Masters were gathered all in the Throne Room, as the Sorceress and the Goddess combined their vast powers to find Queen Marlena.
After quite a struggle, they eventually found the Queen - in the inhospitable dimension called the Demon Zone. There they saw the queen, alive and well. However, her regal green dress was a mess and she had a look of sadness on her angelic face.
"We have to head for the Demon Zone immediately," said He-Man, leading the Masters to the Space Portals. "No matter what dangers that hellish realm holds, Eternia needs her queen!"
He changes back into He-Man again, as prepares his father and loyal friends for the terrible journey ahead.
"Lead the way, Fearless Leader," Ram Man quips, as the other Masters give him an odd look.
He reddens with embarassment, and then they head into the portal.
The Demon Zone was a dark, desolate place, full of jagged mountains, and the skies were of eternal night, filled with millions of stars and many moons. The Sorceress had warned the Masters about that part of existence - that it was a place seaming with monsters, demons and creatures from their worst possible nightmares.
He-Man told all of them to be on the lookout and to be vigilant, and they drew all of their respective weapons.
Suddenly, they heard loud shrieking noises, which sounded like a flock of carnivorous birds singing in unison.
They looked up at the sharp-edged mountains around them, and saw hundreds of tiny creatures with glowing yellow eyes, longing hanging ears, rows of sharp teeth and a ghost-white skin pigmentation.
The creatures screamed viciously, and charged the Masters in a fury, pouring down the mountains. From a distance, they looked like tiny insects gushing out of holes from underground.
They attacked the Masters in a swarm. They were strong for their diminutive size. The heroes fought valiantly and were able to repel them with their powers and weapons.
With his insurmountable strength, He-Man himself was able to defeat them. Unfortunately, their increasing numbers and massive regrouping started becoming too much for the heroes.
He-Man called upon the Power of Grayskull with his sword, emitting a large flash of lightning in the air. Like most creatures of darkness, they were afraid of the immense light, and fled back into the holes they crawled from.
"You impress me, son," said Randor, smiling with pride. "Taking care of impossible obstacles with non-lethal ways.
"Sometimes you just go gentle with them," said He-Man, putting his sword back into the holster on the back of his armor.
Man-at-Arms tells them about the Demon Zone, how innocent Eternians were exiled by tyrants for not obeying their wishes. One of the tyrants being the likes of Skeletor.
"This place gives me the chills," said Man-at-Arms, relieved to be free of the small creatures that attacked them. "I have heard that innocent Eternians are exiled to his vile realm. Not a good vacation spot, I'd say."
The Masters reached a large canyon with an overhanging precipice that stretched as fat as the eye could see on both ends. The canyon was vast and flat, and in the far distance was a tall, abandoned building, with a glowing light inside.
He-Man and his father led the Masters down the cliff, as they slowly climbed down, and made their way walking towards the building.
Far away was a hideous mountain fortress surrounded by eerie greenish-black clouds and thunder banged all around them.
Inside the fortress were hordes of hideous demonic monsters. They came in all shapes, sizes and colors, but all equally as ugly. Some of them had horns. Some had wings. Some even spat acid. They were fighting for food, and some even tried to kill one another.
Suddenly, the doors swung open, and a pale-skinned man with long white hair, growing from the back of his head, with yellow eyes, entered the fortress. He was tall and well-built, and had the appearance of a tall elf, but a lot more hideous with a haunting presence. The man had this look in his eyes as if his very soul had been ripped from him. A heart as black as death.
Tha man wore black armor and carried a large axe. He was obviously of a high military rank. As he walked through the long, dark passage, the demons scurried away, and respectively led him pass.
The man came into a dark, ominous room, with two small red jewels being the only two things that showed some light. But, they weren't jewels - they were the eyes of a creature far more powerful. Possibly the most powerful being in the Demon Zone.
The armored, pale-skinned man knelt down before the large creature, as if bowing to a king.
"Speak, General Carcarus," said the creature in the darkness, his diabolical voice booming.
"Great Lord Anghast," growls Carcarus. "Strangers have invaded your realm. Not ordinary weakling denizens, but powerful warriors skilled in the art of war and possessing unnatural powers!"
"Is that so?" asked Anghast, seemingly aroused by what he was hearing. "Then, let us show these newcomers how we welcome strangers into my domain!"
Lord Anghast comes out of the blackness of his throne room, revealing his unsightly, demonic form to his hordes of demons. He is a gigantic, imposing monster in red robes, and has a skull for face, with a beard, and eyes glowing like to small balls of fire. Even Lord Anghast could give Skeletor, the Evil Lord of Destruction, the chills by setting eyes on his unsightly facial features.
"Prepare for battle, my darling demons!" said Anghast.
All of his demons shrieked and roared, as they grew hungry for battle.
After a long, hasty walk, the Masters eventually reached the building. Inside were hanging torches of fire, where a throng of ordinary people were lying in rest, drained and hungry. A few of the stronger looking ones were aiding most of them, giving them food and water.
He-Man and Man-at-Arms entered the building, noticing that the citizens were indeed ordianry Eternians.
They looked around, and eventually saw Queen Marlena, who was also giving food and water. She was in the same state she was since they last saw her through the Sorceress' magic. Although she had survived, she had a very tough year.
"M-M-Mother," He-Man stammered quietly to himself. In his alternate form, Adam tried to control his emotions, as he was more focused on rescuing the queen and the people from the terrible realm.
Queen Marlena looked up and met eyes with the two Masters. She was elated to have visitors, and gasped when she saw Man-at-Arms.
"Duncan? Is that you, old friend?"
The Heroic Master of Weapons knelt down before her,
"How glad I am to see you alive, my queen," he said.
"Greetings, your Highness," said He-Man, who also bowed down before. "My name is He-Man. I am...a friend, and we have come to take you back to Eternia!"
Queen Marlena looks across the room, to see none other than her husband Randor and old friends - the Masters Teela, Orko, Stratos and Ram Man. The king looked up at her for the first time in months. Alive, as he had hoped and dreamed.
"Marlena, my love," he said, as he ran towards her.
"Randor, my beloved," Marlena said weepily.
They ran into each other's arms, engaging in a warm embrace and passioante kiss.
She then hugged Teela, as if she was a long-lost daughter, and was happy to see old friends such as Ram Man and Stratos again.
"It is so great to see you again, my queen," said Teela, holding Marlena's hands.
"It is wonderful to see you again," Queen Marlena said. "But, you are in terrible danger. Lord Anghast, the king of the Demon Zone, will most likely know you are already here. He has spies everywhere!"
"We will be ready for him." said Ram Man.
"Wait, where is Adam?" asked Marlena, looking aroudn the room frantically. "Where is my boy?"
"Adam is safe, your Majesty," said Teela. "You will see him very soon."
"Forgive me, Your Majesty," said He-Man, courteously. "If this Anghast is as terrible as you say, we must get back to Eternia at once!"
He-Man helps the Masters lead the people outside, preparing for the journey home, as Marlena stands by her husband's side.
"This He-Man," she said. "Who is he? He reminds me of...of...Adam. It's strange."
"He-Man is Eternia's mightiest protector," said King Randor. "Her champion, and leader of the Masters of the Universe. If there's anyone who can teach Anghast a thing or two, it is he?"
"Eternia has a champion?" asked Marlena. "Creator's grace, have I missed out on a lot."
"We must go now, my love," said King Randor, as he walked outside with her. "Don't worry about Adam. He's a tough boy. You will see him soon enough."
The Masters led the queen and the Eternians into a clearing, with He-Man and King Randor leading the journey.
It wasn't long until they saw Anghast and his army of demons approaching them in the far distance, with General Carcarus leading the hordes on a skeletal horse comprised of flame.
Anghast looked like a gigantic wraith flying above his legions, embedded with green smog.
"That green smog," Stratos remarked. "It looks like Havoc!"
"The evil powers of Demo-Man are extremely vast," said Man-at-Arms.
"Orko, you need to re-open a portal back to Eternia now," said He-Man, as he drew his sword. "Take the queen and the people with you."
"Right away, He-Man," said Orko, as he used his magic to open the portal.
\The other Masters drew their weapons and prepared for battle. Queen Marlena wanted to join the fight as well, drawing a pistol from her belt.
"You must go with them, Marlena," said King Randor. "You are our best defence of Eternia while we stay here and fight this Anghast fiend!"
The queen did was she was asked, and went with Orko and the people back to Eternia, so they could return to their homes and be reunited with their families. The queen wished her husband and her friends good luck for the battle ahead.
Teela remarked about the terrifying image of Anghast, saying he looks Skeletor look like a little puppy.
"Jeepers, that Anghast makes Skeletor look like a puppy!" Teela scowled, gasping as she saw the horrible demon king.
The demon hordes attack in a furious, clawing away at the valiant heroes.
He-Man leads the ground assault, using his unmatched strength and skill with the Power Sword to make short work with the demons. King Randor, Man-at-Arms and Ram Man use their own skills and powers to perform amazing combat abilities.
Stratos takes to the skies, using his aerial powers to outmanuever all the terrifying monsters from the air, blasting them away with his wrist-mounted laser guns.
Teela uses her magical abilities, shared with that of the Green Goddess, to take out the demons. Glowing with effervescent green light, a lot of the creatures free in terror, afraid of the divine light emitting from her.
Anghast was shocked, as he has never seen such bravery and strength from ordinary-looking human warriors.
After taking down many of the Masters, He-Man prepared to face their vile king. Man-at-Arms faces off against the menacing General Carcarus, and after a heated battle, the pale-skinned military leader is outmatched by the Man-at-Arms' warrior skills.
As He-Man prepares to fight with Anghast, the demon king examines his heroic opponent,"
"Ah, there is magnificent strength in you, boy," he said. "A power so potent...which I have not seen in hundreds of years!"
"Your reign of tyranny ends here, Anghast!" said He-Man, holding tightly onto his Power Sword.
A green fog emits from Anghast's bony hands, taking the form of a ram-headed club, looking a lot like Skeletor's Havoc Staff.
The two engage in battle. He-Man fights marvelously against Anghast,
"You fight like an army!" he said. "A lot of power for such a little man!"
With the fight seemingly going in the hero's favor, Anghast unleashes his Havoc power, which overwhelms He-Man.
"You see, boy, the great and powerful Demo-Man was kind enough to share some of his power with yours truly!" says Anghast, laughing arrogantly.
He-Man starts to weaken dramatically, starting to turn in the weak old man.
"You are powerful, yes," said Anghast, "But you are no match for my power!"
"And you...are no match for mine..." He-Man replies with a faint face.
Using what strength he has left, He-Man raises the Sword of Power, and hoarsely calls upon the Power of Grayskull.
Enveloped by bright golden light, with lightning exploding all around him, He-Man is instantly healed from Anghast's attack, with his handsome and powerful self restored.
The demon king is completely overpowered by the unsurpassed heroic power of Grayskull.
"The power of Grayskull?" asked Anghast, as he had fallen to the ground. "That miserable warrior-king that banished me to this forsaken realm? You haven't won yet, hero!"
He then uses his Havoc magic to open a gigantic black vortex behind him.
"The Pool of Death!" he says with self-pride. "A magical creation of my own!"
He-Man feels himself being sucked into the vortex, and uses his strength to stop himself. As he struggles, lots of Anghast's demons were immediately sucked into the Pool of Death. The Masters also struggle to stop themselves from being sucked in.
"Once you sucked inside, I will conquer your precious Eternia!" Anghast laughed wickedly.
He flies towards the hero, preparing for the kill.
Clenching his fist, he throws a mighty punch into the demon's king face, creating a massive shockwave. The demon king is then sucked into his own vortex, shrieking desperatly, and disappears into the great black hole.
He-Man loses balance and feels himself being pulled into the Pool of Death, but is thankfully rescued by Stratos and Ram Man. They watch as the portal closes behind them, ending the threat.
"Thank you, my friends," He-Man said, sweating and panting.
WIth the demons and their terrible king gone, the Masters have triumphed once again.
King Randor approached his son and looks into his eyes.
"Well done, my dear boy," he said, which made the champion smile.
After a long day of fighting a nightmarish evil, the Masters prepare for the journey home, with Adam ready to see his mother again in his true form.
The threat of Anghast and his demon hordes no longer pose a danger to Eternia, or any other world.
Not long afterwards, the Masters returned back to Eternia, happy to see sunlight and scenic landscapes again. Queen Marlena had ended up at Castle Grayskull, where she met with the Sorceress and the Green Goddess. They helped the queen get the people that were exiled in the Demon Zone back to their homes and villages.
Eventually, all of the Masters, the king and queen, the Sorceress and the Goddess were gathered in the throne room of Grayskull. Marlena was still looking for her son.
He-Man stepped forth, and called back to the Power, changing back into Adam again.
"Adam, my beautiful boy!" she said. "Wait, you and He-Man are the same man?"
"Yes, mother," said Adam. "After I lost you and father, Skeletor rose to power, and the Elders chose to me to defend Castle Grayskull and the universe's champion. It was always be destiny to become He-Man. A destiny I will keep on fulfilling for the rest of my life."
"No matter what form you take," said Marlena, as she caressed her son's boyishly handsome face, "You will always be ,my son!"
They huggged each other tightly. A mother and son, together again, at last.
The Royal Family had been reunited, after been thought to have lost each other forever. Marlena had bathed and changed her clothes, and Randor wears his regal Battle Armor again.
While the Masters prepare to strengthen the defences around Castle Grayskull, Adam spends time to talk to his parents.
"Once the battle with Skeletor is over," said Randor. "We hope to return to Eternos to rebuild, and reunite our people. To restore the glory our homeland once was."
"I would love that, father," said Adam, joyously.
"This is really happening?" said a tearful Queen Marlena. "Our family is one once more. I am the happiest woman on all Eternia!"
"Yes, and there is nothing that can separate us again," said Randor, embracing his family. "But, we must prepare for war. SKeletor has gathered legions of evil forces that could destroy everything we old dear."
"Then, the Masters of the Universe will stand beside you and defend Eternia to the death," said Adam. "This is our destiny."
While preparing for the great war ahead, Adam and is loved ones were about to face their darkest of days.
Far away, in the Western Hemisphere, the nefarious Stinkor was dragged into Skeletor's throne room by Trap Jaw and Beast Man. He was thrown before the feet of the Lord of Destruction, and begs him for mercy.
"You weakling rat!" Skeletor spattered in anger. "With your stink powers, you could have obliterated those wretched Masters of the Universe with ease!"
Spikor cowered, as if a small spider scurrying away from an unsuspecting predator.
"The Lord of Destruction DOES NOT take kindly to FAILURE!" Skeletor yelled, and blasted Stinkor with his Havoc Staff, leaving him injured on the ground.
The evil overlord stormed out of the throom room, with several of his minions following him outside. Skeletor stood in the mouth of the snake head above the mountain, and looked down below, stood thousands of soldiers and warriors - skeleton warriors, Skelcon soldiers, Hover Robots, Shadow Beasts, and winged monsters encircling the skies.
There were also fleets of Fright Fighters, Land Sharks, and Rotons.
"Tomorrow we take Grayskull and Eternia!" he said. "My greatest enemy He-Man and his accursed Masters of the Universe will fall before us, and I, Skeletor, will become the one ture Master of the Universe! Are you with me?!"
"All hail Skeletor! Future Master of the Universe!" cried a Skelcon soldier from below, near enough so Skeletor could see him from the mouth of the mountain.
"Hail Skeletor!" cried the thousands of evil creatures below, shaking their spears up in the air, and clanging their swords against their shields. They chanted Skeletor's name repeatedly, becoming a resounding echo. The entire earth beneath Snake Mountain shakes vehemently.
Spikor comes up from behind, inside the fortress, and approaches Skeletor with an item enclosed in a dirty wrapping.
"It is made, Great One," said Spikor, as he knelt down on one knee, lowered his head respectfully, and handed his master the wrapping.
The Lord of Destruction tears off the wrapping, and a purple sword is revealed, as the moonlight shimmers upon the blade. The sword is an exact dark replica of He-Man's own Power Sword, and it crackles with green Havoc energy.
Skeletor's eyes burn red with excitement.
"Grayskull will meet its new master," he said. "True power awaits. My fate is at hand!"
Eternia was about to meet its darkest day. Will the Masters triumph this time? Will the power of Grayskull fall? Will He-Man fulfill his destiny as the true savior of the universe?
Only time will tell.