A/N: I thought instead of uploading small and unrefined chapters I will be uploading lengthy but well defined chapters do let me know if it's too long and I'm using mobile app to upload so inconsistency in sentence length per line will be common. Hope you enjoy it RR.
Chapter 7
The parade and transcendence
Adam was fiddling with the Mech armour, with an awkward expression with all the soldiers giving him weird glances not because he was present among them but because of a mistake he had made, it seems the Snake Slayer Mech Armour had an powerful Exo-hydraulic skeleton locked in place and was difficult to move around until the power source kicked in, which apparently takes at least a few minutes the first time it is activated and not knowing this fact he had been walking around doing stretches like he had been wearing an simple holiday shirt in front of all the soldiers of the regiment earning him shocked gazes and hushed gossips. It seems Zodac had made me over work my strength exercises and curse you Man-at-Arms for not telling me a thing about the new suit's features. Trying to make himself as small and unnoticeable as possible he silently slipped behind the equipment boxes until atleast the parade started, not wanting to make anymore mistakes without knowing further about the armour. Great start Adam he thought.
Someone tapped him on the shoulders he turned around to find the redheaded dragon he had been fearing to meet with hands on her hips and a glare which could scare the dead if intended." By the Elders!" he screamed despite himself and then covered his mouth with his hands. "Relax Adam it's me, not some dragon." chided Teela. "Yeah, definitely not some dragon Tee." He said awkwardly and avoided her eyes remembering he had been avoiding her for the past month and prayed to the Elders that Duncan had been successful in calming her down as he said yesterday.
She looked him up and down and said in an annoyed tone. "Parade hadn't even started and you are already hiding do you plan on hiding here so you don't have to participate in the parade Adam, seriously I don't know how have you become Cringer's twin brother from his friend and master." Adam rolled his eyes at that. "It's not that Tee, I am getting awkward glances from the soldiers and was feeling uncomfortable." he said not knowing what else to say about his misadventures with the Mech suit this morning. Teela's expression turned into a scowl hearing that and she marched around the boxes where the soldiers were lining up for the parade then shouted in a stern voice. " Soldiers attention!" then continued to walk left to right, they all stiffened, having the title of one of the most accomplished female warrior and having the qualifications to fight beside the Masters she naturally outranked them. When they all had their attention on her, she continued. "I don't care what you have heard about him or seen him doing but he is your Prince and rightly so deserving of it, and I expect you to maintain your discipline and give the same respect you would give any other." she finished and they all exchanged glances at each other before confirming with an, "Yes Ma'am." In unison, then she dismissed them. Adam felt good hearing her say 'deserving' regardless it was just for them or she really felt that way but also felt really sorry for the soldiers, he felt they had been more misunderstood than he has been since he became He-Man and gave them a sincere apologetic look hoping they understood and proceed to follow Teela as she left.
When they were out of sight of the soldiers she turned around and glared at him for a good minute then said frustrated. " I thought you would at least stand up for yourself and be a bit authoritative in front of the soldiers, You are their Prince, Adam and not to mention the people of the council of Eternia are present what would they think of you if you go and hide because they were giving you weird glances seeing you among them in armour? And why wouldn't they, Adam. Respect is earned not given..." By now Adam was zoning out at how beautiful and exquisite her features looked while angry with a smirk, creased brows and those lips. He was brought out of his thoughts by Teela waving her hand vigorously Infront of his face. "Forget it, I sometimes don't remember I'm talking to a wall, We leave in 10 minutes Adam be there don't be late." then walked away angrily. Adam sighed, shaking his head then grinned foolishly watching her retreating back and went to find Duncan to learn about the Mech suit.
5 minutes before parade he met up with Man-at-Arms and explained what happened earlier with the Mech suit. "Forgive me lad, I didn't expect something like this would happen or else I would have sent you the manual." Adam just shook his head saying. " Even I didn't expect this would happen Duncan it's not your fault, by the way Teela didn't ask me about why she hasn't seen me for a month, is it because of your magic?", "So it worked, I told her you were helping with the manufacture of the Armours and blasters for a month and didn't leave the factory for the most part." Said Man-at-Arms. "Ah, thank the Elders." replied Adam.
The king and the remaining Masters except Stratos made their way to where Duncan and Adam were standing. Randor looked at Adam with a smile and kept a hand on his shoulders and said. "It gladdens me to see you in this Armour ready for the parade son, show the people that their Prince will be there for them." then he took the blaster offered to him by a Guard and handed it over to Adam and said. "Make me proud Adam." Adam accepted the blaster while trying to keep his emotions in check then replied in a steady voice. "I will Father." The king nodded and turned to Man-at-Arms and said. "As much as I want to join you, I still have kingly duties, Mekaneck and Ram-Man will stay here as a precaution for the palace, Man-E-faces and Buzz off will be with you along with Teela of course, speaking of her where is she, I haven't seen her since morning."
" Here, your Majesty." came Teela's voice as she walked towards them in a Mech suit of her own and bowed to the king. The king patted her shoulder too and said. "Looking like a fierce warrior Teela, I'm proud of you too." Teela smiled at that and said. "Thank you, your Majesty." The king nodded smiling and gestured towards Adam. "And please take care of your charge." Teela gave Adam a glare who just looked down and rubbed the back of his head then she turned to the King and said. " Of course your Majesty, wouldn't let him out of my sight this time." The king nodded then moved away and gave the order to move out and start the parade.
Musicians started playing drums at the front and the back, behind the musicians at the lead was Man-E-faces to keep eye on any threat behind whom was a small team of Royal soldiers with flags and banners then half of the Snake Slayer regiment marched forward in a uniform manner looking menacing, after them Man-at-Arms, Adam and Teela were on top of a Attack track modified to look like an armored platform, and behind them another half of the parade party and Buzz off with the same formation. They set out with grandeur some time after marching out of the palace compounds they were met with a crowd on both sides of them what could have been the whole of Eternos and even more from outside towns and villages.
Teela watched the crowd awed and looked at Adam surprisingly finding him scanning the horizon for threats with a serious look and dismissed the idea thinking he too had been awed by the crowd who had come to watched the parade and their Prince charming, she moved beside Adam and whispered to him. "Just smile and wave Adam smile and wave." He looked at Teela smiled and asked. "Hey isn't that the line from one of mother's stories from her homeworld about birds who live in ice, what were they called..." Teela grinned and replied. "Penguins." He grinned back at her, it had been sometime since they shared a moment like this, maybe this trip wasn't so bad after all. Most of the time was really boring until the time to demonstrate occurred where the regiment would assume different formations and shoot at the targets launched at the sky, which were sphere shaped made to dissolve into colours in the air as not to harm their audience with the debris from the target. Of course Teela and Adam participated where Adam missed half the targets loosing the bet to Teela about extending their training time to one hour extra without fail to Adam's dismay.
The ground shook all of a sudden with loud noises, Adam was thrown to the ground with his head pounding, he heard people screaming and running while Man-at-Arms shouting orders through coms to take positions and to protect and escort the crowd to safety, Teela was by his side in moments and pulled him to his feet, he shook his head to stop the disoriented feeling and looked around to find the Snake men attacking from all the sides. The Snake Slayer soldiers showed their effectiveness by immediately assuming optimal fighting positions and keeping the Snake men's advances at bay long enough for the Royal soldiers with them to direct most the citizens and people away from the points of attack. Adam looked at Man-at-Arms with a meaningful gaze but Man-at-Arms shook his head gesturing towards the soldiers fighting the snake men, Adam nodded at that. Maybe he is right, they can handle it. His thoughts were interrupted by Teela who said to him. "If you are gonna run, I'm coming with you." then she proceeded to shoot the Snake men with her blaster. Adam shook his head and to Teela's surprise aimed his blaster and started shooting and his shots were so precise and well timed that no Snake man got within five meters of them to the left where he was shooting she forced herself to focus and took the right side and they started moving forward making rotations with their backs to each other, Teela felt this was how things should be She and her best friend taking on the world while having each other's back, she was excited that he was fighting beside her and she felt the sensation oddly familiar and suddenly was reminded of her comradeship with He-Man and how they fought like this all the time. Where is he now she thought, they were managing well and the soldiers put their training to good use not to mention the new blasters were doing a number on the snake men but they just kept coming, with He-Man things would be much more easier and as much as she liked fighting with Adam she couldn't risk his life, she was to protect him. Her momentary distraction worrying about Adam suddenly caused an opening a snake man lunged at her, tackling her far away from Adam.
Adam turned around and shot at the snake man on top of Teela, she smiled at him nodding then retrieved her blaster and with the other her cobra staff and started fighting with the incoming enemies.
Adam too having been distracted in saving Teela was faced with multiple enemies now, he shot the two who got too close and clubed the third using his blaster which caused it to break on contact with the threat going down, Adam now drew his sword, having learned to conceal it he couldn't just do it without a reason, least everyone question him about his sword, the trick was for emergencies and special missions. After defeating the two he was met with four more, Teela at the time turned to see four against Adam and made her way to him to provide help.
Adam was ready to face off when he noticed it, behind his targets at the far away end of the street five snake men had cornered a Mother and her two children, she was trying to shield them with her own body tears streaming down her cheeks. He wouldn't be able to reach them in time as Adam. Without further thought he ran to the side ignoring his four attackers wading through soldiers and snake men alike finding any isolated spot as soon as possible.
Teela watched him go with frustration and anger bubbling inside her again, He had abondand them again, He ran away. She intended to go after him controlling her anger, she had to go after him atleast to keep him safe. She had promised the King she wouldn't let him out of her sight, But was confronted with yet another group of snake men her loosing sight of Adam. She hoped he would be safe and hide somewhere and turned her focus in front of her.
Adam found an deserted store between the chaos and went inside checking quickly no one was watching and raised his sword to the air. "BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL." and was greeted with the same white binding light and let out a cry in deep voice of He-Man after transforming."I HAVE THE POWER!"
As soon as he became He-Man, he just plunged himself through the walls and bricks in his path and ran to the place where he had seen the mother and the kids cornered, creating a way through brute force. When he reached the place, he was just in time to see one of the snake man holding both kids by the back of the shirt while another one just about to bite of the head of the struggling mother. He threw his sword at the snake man about to devour the mother which impaled him through his chest and jumped through the air landing in front of the other four snake men and held the one holding the children by his head who then let go of the children and they ran to their mother behind He-Man crying. After the children were safe behind him he lifted the snake man and hurled him far away who went crashing through a stone wall. Then he retrieved his sword and eyed other three who looked at each other then ran the other way. "Oh no, you don't run away without paying your bill." remarked He-Man then swiped his sword which sent a powerful gale of wind sending the three snake men flying into the air who crashed far away somewhere. He then sheathed his sword and checked the trio for any injuries, who didn't seem to stop crying or thanking him. He led them to a secluded place to hide until the mess was cleared and assessed the situation for anymore civilians in danger, finding none he turned his attention to his friends.
Man-at-Arms was still fighting while coordinating the soldiers through coms but was doing fine, Teela was breathing fire on the snake men for the dragon she was, for some reason he felt she was blowing off steam by using brutal force against the snake men who had started running away from her as they had just seconds before seeing him. He hoped it wasn't because of him running away in between the battle, if that was the case he'd rather surrender to snake men then present himself in front of her as Adam. Shaking his head while throwing snake men left and right, he saw the soldiers and the two masters had managed to push the snake men back and they were on the verge of retreating so his made his way to where the fight was still going on and helped the soldiers finish the fight. After the fight he wondered about not seeing Rattlor or other well ranked commanders of the Snake men, obviously someone had coordinated this well timed attack.
Teela came up to He-Man and said. "He-Man good to see you here again in the time of need." and whispered barely audible looking around searching."Unlike someone who was here but chose to turn tails again." He did hear her say it under her breath but chose to act like not hearing anything and simply nodded at her with a smile. By now Duncan and the other Masters also reached him and greeted him and Duncan gave them the stats. "The attack was large and well planned but the Snake Slayer Regiment has been put to test and the results are more than we expected, minimum casualties among the soldiers and the civilians only suffered minor injuries only property damage can be counted as a downside but that's the least of the worries." concluded Man-at-Arms.
He-Man hearing this turned to the soldiers now helping civilians and tending to their wounds and their comrades and said loudly. "My fellow soldiers and warriors, today you have shown courage and valor like any other and helped save many lives without worrying about your own, you are commendable and I'm proud to have had the chance to fight beside you all." In response to that all the soldiers cheered loudly followed by applauding civilians.
"Father, Adam is still missing, He just took off between the fight, I think we should send a search party." said Teela worriedly.
He-Man after talking to the soldiers, hearing what Teela said turned to them and said. " As much as I would like to help clear up, I am needed somewhere else, my apologies." , " No need for that He-Man we know you have other responsibilities too." said Man-E-faces. "I'm sure Adam is somewhere here Teela don't worry." said Duncan to his daughter.
He-Man left and Adam came back after sometime to avoid suspicion. As soon as he appeared. Teela ran to him and gave him her piece of mind. "You just took off as soon as you faced some difficulty, what were you thinking Adam!" He opened his mouth to answer but was stopped by her. "Don't, just don't I don't want to listen to any of it." And stormed off. Duncan came and kept a hand on his shoulders as silent support.
Royal palace*
When they returned King Randor was waiting with an angry expression, and as soon as Adam came to view he gestured for him, Duncan and Teela to follow and left for his study silently. Adam looked to Duncan with an nervous expression, Duncan nodded with a apologetic look and again squeezed his shoulder, Teela saw the exchange and again felt confused for the soft corner her Father had for him, he wasn't someone to tolerate slackers or deserter as apparent from his interaction with her uncle Fisto, shaking her head she followed them, She herself being nervous at not doing her job properly of protecting him.
King Randor was sitting with a straight back and an stoic face, when they entered. He said. " Congratulations Man-at-Arms, I already know what happened." The king paused and looked at Adam then continued. " Snake Slayer Legion has proven itself. The subjects and the Council both are happy." Duncan just nodded. "Teela you showed bravery and fought well and it isn't your fault someone has cold feet in battle."
"Randor-" Duncan started but was cut off. "No, Man-at-Arms let me finish." said the King. "Now Adam I have given you many chances and hoped you would atleast show a semblance of being the Prince that the people would look upto but no maybe it isn't in your nature at all. You will abondand your friends and comrades in battle then how am I not to believe you won't abandon your people and Kingdom next?"
Teela stepped forward and defended surprising everyone. "Your Majesty, forgive my discretion but Adam did fight, He only took off after being surrounded and I couldn't reach him." The king shook his head. "It isn't that Captain, Running from battles is different from Running from battles Infront of the whole kingdom, leaving behind friends. For a PRINCE, now answer me boy!" Said the King raising his voice at Adam. Adam flinched and looked down and simply said. "I have nothing to say father." Barely above a whisper. "Very well than, you will spar 6 hours a day and will be served military rations for one of your daily meals so you understand the soldiers who stay behind and fight." Then the king stormed out the door.
Teela left not wanting to embarrass Adam further by staying. Duncan hugged Adam as soon as they were alone and said. "I'm so sorry kid...so sorry." Adam got free of Duncan's hug held his shoulder and said looking him in the eye. "Don't be Duncan, He is just worried about me and you know when I saw the mother and kids in danger at that moment I realized who I'm and why I do what I do, you were right. He-Man will always be needed and I don't regret anything and you shouldn't too." At that moment what Duncan saw in Adam's eyes was not sorrow but an iron will and sharpness which transcended even He-Man's.
