There was darkness… And there was pain. With every little twitch and even the smallest attempt of moving. Was painful.

Then suddenly there was a light. But that was painful too and Adam hissed as he squinted his eyes shut trying to get rid of his splitting headache. The squint though also hurt.

"Adam?" a soft and familiar voice called. It sounded sad though. And a little desperate.

Adam groaned. But then realized… The owner of that voice was his best friend. He owed it to her to respond.

"Adam. Please." Her voice begged as he broke. "Please… Wake up."

Then finally Adam spoke. "Teela?"

There was a sigh of pure relief and finally, Adam managed to open his eyes. Fighting against the brightness so he could glance up and see Teela sitting next to him. The wall behind her was white and decorated with royal crests.

Adam realized he was laying in a soft bed… His own bed. "I… I'm alive," he whispered. Honestly surprised.

"Barely," Teela replied then dried her eyes. "Oh thank god. Thank god."

"What…. What happened?" Adam asked. "How did I get here?"

Teela looked at him then she swallowed. "I carried you," she admitted.

Adams's eyes widened. "All the way back here?"

"What else was I supposed to do?" Teela asked. "You were dying!"

Adam halted then he swallowed. "I… I'm sorry," he whispered. Teela hissed. "You're mad at me," he observed.

"Of course I'm mad at you!" Teela exclaimed. "What if you had been obliterated into tiny pieces and I hadn't even known it was you! My best friend could have died right in front of me and I didn't even know it was him! And I think what hurts most is… We fought so many times together. And you didn't even trust me?" she asked. "You allowed me to think the worst of you while I desperately wanted to think the best! I…" she squinted her eyes. "We can talk about that later." she then finally said. "Right now you need to use whatever strength you have to heal."

Adam bit his lip as he looked at Teela. "Can you ever forgive me?" he asked.

Teela looked at Adam. "Adam. First, you need to heal. Then I need to chew you out for lying to me. And then… Of course, I'll forgive you." she said. "I don't know how many times you saved my life. And the lives of so many others." she sighed deeply. "So just... Heal so you are strong enough that I can beat you up again without killing you and then. We'll be good."

Adam smirked amused. "Understood," he said then his voice softened. "You saved me too." He reminded her. "This one is just the latest incident. And I'm sure you'll be saving me again."

Teela smiled weakly.

"Now… Please. What happened after I was knocked out?" Adam asked.

Teela swallowed. "Skeletor…" she whispered. "He… He was dead," she said. "The wound in his stomach and maybe the blast. It had finally killed him. And with Skeletor dead. All of the evil warriors dispersed… I didn't pay that much attention. I picked you up on my own back and I ran." she said. "I had to find a doctor as quickly as possible. But there were none… So I took one of the jets and I flew. Making sure you wouldn't fall off my back. I took you here to the palace. I know the best doctors are here… The moment the King saw me he send word for that doctor and I carried you to your room. That's three days ago now…. We were afraid you might never wake up."

"Teela I…" Adam whispered.

"We have been taking turns looking over you," Teela admitted. "Me… Cringer… My father… Orko and your mother."

"And my father?" Adam asked.

"He has been very busy. Things have…" Teela hesitated. "Magic has started to fail us. Act in odd ways. People who are very reliant on magic has demanded an explanation and the king had to dedicate his time to calm them."

Adam halted then he looked up. "This is only the beginning," he whispered.

"What do you mean Adam?" Teela asked.

"The source of all magic is gone." Adam breathed. "Ones the magic that is in the earth now is used up… That will be it. No more magic."

"Oh no. I was afraid of that." Teela held her forehead.

"Without magic, our world will die." Adam gasped. "I doomed us all."

"No!" Teela held up a hand. "You saved us! Everyone would have died if not for you."

"I didn't save anyone. I only postponed our demise!" Adam exclaimed as he sat up only to hiss in pain.

"ADAM!" Teela exclaimed and then pushed him back down. "You need to relax."

"No." Adam hissed. "I am the champion. It is my duty to protect this world. I have to find a way to fix this!"

"You're not the champion anymore!" Teela exclaimed. "He-Man is gone! The sword has been shattered. You're just Adam now."

Adam looked at Teela. "You told me before. You've seen I am both strong and brave," he said. "And while I was He-Man. You said I had the heart of a champion and that was why I was worthy. What about those things have changed?"

"You don't have the strength of the gods anymore!" Teela stated.

"So what?" Adam asked. "I am still the chosen Champion! You never had the strength of He-Man and that never stopped you did it? You're still every bit as much of a master of the universe as He-Man was."

"Yes! But I wasn't dying until right this moment!" Teela exclaimed.

Adam halted as he looked up at Teela.

"I was so afraid of losing you." Teela hissed. "Don't you get that?"

"Teela… If nothing is done everyone and everything will die." Adam said. "We are the masters of the universe. Our duty is to defend this universe and all those who lives in it… Regardless of our own feelings and fears."

Teela halted.

"Teela." Adam tried again.

"It doesn't matter right now," Teela stated. "You can barely even walk anyway," she said as she stood up. "The first one to see you wake up were supposed to go fetch the doctor and the queen immediately. Stay Put Adam."

Adam was quiet as Teela walked to the door.

Then Teela halted as she stood in the door and finally turned her head to look at Adam. "Thank you for saving everybody." she finally whispered before leaving for good and Adam exhaled deeply as he fell down into his pillow. With no idea of what was going to come next.


In the throne room, Orko was waving his hands. Spark appearing from his fingers but little else as he frowned.

On the floor, Cringer was sitting looking up at his friend. "Is everything all right Orko?" he asked.

"It… Doesn't seem to be working." Orko hissed. "I try and I try. But it doesn't seem like anything wants to take form."

"Well… You have always been kind of bad at magic. Cringer commented.

Orka halted and then looked down at his green feline friend. "Auw." he commented.

"Sorry." Cringer hung his head. "I didn't mean it like that."

"Well… I guess you're not wrong." Orko said. "How-ever it's different. Usually when I try to make something happen. Something will happen. It's just not always the thing I intended to happen." he said. "Now… Nothing happens. It's entirely different."

Cringers ear fell down on his head as he looked up. "What does that mean?" he asked.

"It means." The King of Eternia. King Randor appeared in the big door with his queen at his side. "Magic is vanishing." he frowned deeply. "I have now traveled to our nearest small villages. And the story is the same at all of them. Even their smallest household spells are losing their effect. Magic is the lifeblood of our world! For now, the earth is still sustaining itself… But for how long."

Cringer whined. "What is that going to mean for us."

"At least for now. Any use of magic is banned. Orko!" King Randor informed. "What-ever magic this world has left must be protected and kept alive. No more magic."

"But.." The poor trollan tried.

"He's a being made of magic!" Cringer gasped. "How can a Trollan just stop using magic?"

Slowly Orko floated downwards until he landed on Cringers back. "Can I… use you as a stead for a while?" he asked.

Cringer halted then turned his head. "Well… I used to carry heavier people than you. All right."

Orko didn't reply but hung his head as Man-At-Arms and Teela entered the throne as well.

By the sight of the King and queen both fell to their knees.

"Your majesties." they both greeted before standing up again.

Randor narrowed his eyes. "I hear Adam has awakened."

"Yes your majesty. Just this morning." Teela informed. "He's weak. But he ought to recover."

"Count yourself lucky." Randor huffed. "Duncan! You are telling me for all of this time. You were aware of my sons secret?" he asked.

Duncan lowered his head. "Yes your majesty."

"Randor." Queen Marlena whispered as she held his arm.

"He was out there. Risking his life over and over. You knew. But never informed me?" Randor asked.

"He was protected," Duncan said. "By us! The people who the sorcerers granted the title the master of the universe."

"And you all knew?" Randor asked.

"Teela didn't!" Orko piped up. "She only found out when Adam almost died three days ago."

"So there is one among you. Who have been part of my court. That I can still trust!" Randor huffed. "I should banish you all from the palace!"

"It's not their fault!"

All halted and then turned to a young man. Barely keeping himself up using a crudge.

"ADAM!" Queen Marlena shouted and was just about to rush towards the young man but halted as he looked at them with harsh determined eyes. That was unlike anything they had seen before on this young man.

Teela how-ever wasn't taken back. "What are you doing out here?!" she asked. "You should be in bed!"

"No." Adam stated. "Time is of the essence like my father just said. Our world is dying and time is limited. I must go to find a way to stop it."

"You will do no such thing," Randor stated. "We almost lost you! I will not loose you now!"

Adam smirked. "I have snook out of this palace for years without any of you noticing. You think you can stop me now?" he asked.

There was stunned silence as they all looked at him.

"I am the Champion," Adam said calmly. "My duty is to all of Eternia. And it needs me now. More than it ever have before. I must go to find answers."

"But… He-Man is gone right? The sword shattered." Orko gasped.

"So?" Adam said. "I'm still the champion. I always were."

Teela hissed as she squinted her eyes. "I never realized how stubborn you were before now." then she looked up. "Fine. But at least let us come with you. We've always been a team. That shouldn't change either!"

Adam looked at Teela. "You're the Captain of the guards now. You accepted the duty to protect this palace when you accepted that title. Like I accepted the duty to protect Eternia when I accepted the title of Champion. Teela… Without magic the palace will be defenseless. I need you here to protect my mother and father."

"You…" Teela gasped with tears in her eyes.

"Orko can't use magic. Without it it's just to dangerous for him." Adam said. "I'll take Cringer though. He'll keep me safe."

"Me?!" Cringer asked. "Just the two of us? That-That sounds scary." he stammered but then looked up at Adam who looked at him with warm eye. "But... Of-Of course! I'll keep you safe!" he stated trying to hide how badly he was shaking. "Even if I can't just transform into a big brave battle-Cat." he swallowed then closed his eyes. "I want to be with Adam." he finally said.

Adam smiled lightly then padded Cringer on the head. "Thank you my friend," he said softly.

Duncan was quiet. Then he stepped forward Adam how-ever looked at him. "You already know where you are most needed Duncan," he commented. "You taught em well. And I will remember everything you taught me. And then. I'll come back when I know what I need."

Duncan sighed deeply. "There is no stopping him now." he sadly. "Prince Adam will leave. Whether we like it or not."

Queen Marlena gasped then slowly… Slowly she stepped forward until she reached forward and touched Adams face. "Just promise me that you'll make it home safe," she asked. "I… I already lost one child. I cannot loose another. You understand?"

"Yes mother." Adam nodded seriously then turned to his father who looked at him with stern eyes. "I'm sorry father… For making you think the worst of me."

Randor looked down. "You are much like myself in your age… Too much like myself." he exhaled deeply. Sadness clearly overwhelming him.

Adam smiled lightly then turned to Teela and he hesistated. "Erhm… Teela." he hesitated.

Teela was standing still.

"Can I borrow your sword?" Adam asked.

Teela blinked but then she smirked as she stepped forward loosing the sword from her belt and finally handed it over. The moment Adam grabbed it Teela caught his eyes. "You better give that back!" she stated firmly.

Adam smirked as his hand wrapped itself tight around Teelas sword. "I promise," he stated and then. Finally Teela let go of her sword. Allowing Adam to tie it to his own belt.


It was with a very heavy heart that Teela saw Adam vanish in the horizon. Only Cringer at his side. And the two slowly walked towards the sunset.

Duncan laid a heavy hand on Teelas shoulder. "He's stronger than you know."

"Well… I'm starting to realize that." Teela said as she dried a tear away. "And he hasn't broken a promise to me yet. Not really." she smiled lightly as she looked down. "When it really mattered… He's been there." then she cleared her throat as she schooled her face and then stood straight before she turned around to face the guards of the palace.

"We have much to do!" Teela exclaimed. "Magic is no longer a option and our citizens are vulnerable! It is our duty to protect them! Our Prince, King and Queen rely on us! So we shall proof ourselves worthy! And keep this land safe until the Prince return!"

And there was a roar in agreement as Teela smiled grimly. She had work to do! There were a lot of people depending on her now.