She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is produced by Dreamworks Animation Television, and both She-Ra and He-Man are owned by Mattel. Blah. Blah. Blah. Enjoy.

Chapter 10: Light and Shadow

(The ruins of Chulatown: Twenty-two minutes later)

Four years ago, the Spider Guild illegally and covertly purchased a small portion of the Evergreen Forest and tore it down to make room for their new base; essentially declaring war on the forest itself.

Tonight the forest struck back and, with extreme prejudice, drove the Spiders out. Now all that remained of Chulatown were heaps of twisted metal and circuitry buried beneath the new foliage.

At the center of the newly formed grove, a small clearing was left open so our heroes and their steeds could have enough room to move around. Things had gotten pretty hectic during all the confusion, but finally everyone was back together; with some extras.

"Oh, Adora! I can't believe it's really you!" Swift Wind proclaimed loudly as he used his wings to embrace his beloved rider; joyful tears streaming from his eyes. "I thought I was never gonna see you again. You wouldn't believe what I've been through. First I woke up in this big empty cave, only it wasn't really empty, it was full of dragons! Then I met these three giants, who seemed nice at first, but then they all got drunk and started chasing after me with clubs yelling 'Piñata~ Piñata~' and I don't even know what that means!"

"Shh~ Shh~ It's okay." Adora said soothingly as she stroked her faithful steed's mane. "This whole thing has been like a long, crazy dream. But at least we're together now. And at least we're among friends."

"Yeah, I… I guess you're right. That Adam guy seems pretty cool." The talking horse admitted, looking a short distance away to where the young Prince and his Court Magician were having a similar moment with his own faithful steed. "But I'm not so sure about those two."

The young Heroine didn't need to look to know who her mount was talking about. On the other side of the clearing, the two nature elementals who had come to their aid against the Spiders, identified by Adam as Moss Man and Evilseed, were chatting amongst themselves. Adora wasn't quite sure why, but she was certain that she was the topic of their conversation. Possibly because one of them kept shooting her dirty looks.

"It's okay." She told her steed, half lying. "Adam doesn't seem too worried and he's the expert on this place. And anyway, we won't be here for much longer. Adam says he knows people who can sent us back to Etheria. We'll be home again in no time."

"Ha, an ironic choice of words." Said a familiarly phlegmy voice. Unsurprisingly, Evilseed was suddenly standing directly in front of them. "But I'm afraid you won't be going anywhere. We have waited too long for the She-Ra to return. And I will not allow you to leave until you've repaired the damage you've done."

Needless to say, Adora was startled by the plant-man's abrupt appearance, but more than that she was confused by his words. What damage? What did he mean he'd been waiting for She-Ra's return? How did he even know who She-Ra was? Unfortunately, before she could actually ask any of these questions, Moss Man intervened.

"I'm sorry, Miss." The green man-ape said congenially as he stepped forward and put a hand on his… er… companion's shoulder. "You'll have to forgive my brother. You see, we…"

"BROTHER?" Adam exclaimed in utter disbelief as he too joined the conversation. "You two are brothers?"

"I believe that's what I just said."

"But… But… you're always trying to destroy each other." The young Prince said confusedly. "I don't understand."

"I imagine the list of things you don't understand would fill a very long book." Evilseed replied condescendingly. "And besides, such an action would go against the natural order. I cannot destroy my brother any more than he can destroy me. My only goal is to make up for his weakness."

"Evilseed speaks the truth. At least in part." Moss Man chimed in again. "To destroy one of us would mean destroying the other. All I've ever tried to do is contain my brother. To keep him from hurting himself, or anyone else."

"Okay… I followed some of that." Adora said, still completely in the dark. "But what did he mean about 'repairing the damage I'd done'? I've only been on this planet a few days. I haven't done anything."

"Ha. Ignorance must be hereditary." Evilseed spoke up again. "Very well, I'll explain it to you. Long ago, my brother and I existed as one being, the mighty Arbutus; the living embodiment of Eternia itself and the enforcer of its natural law. But then, roughly a thousand years ago, a terrible catastrophe occurred. One that mutated wildlife, warped the landscape and caused climate change on a colossal scale."

"The Great Separation." Adam said ominously.

"The what?" Adora asked confusedly.

"It was a disaster that happened a thousand years ago." The young Prince explained. "An enormous wave of negative energy struck Eternia, contaminating half the planet and splitting it into the Light and Dark Hemispheres."

"And when the world split, we split." Moss Man said sullenly.

"Trapping us in these debased forms with only a fraction of our former power." His 'brother' added bitterly.

"Whoa… that's… that's pretty heavy." Adora said as this new information sunk in. "What could cause something like that?"

"No one knows." Adam answered. "There was so much destruction and chaos that we lost a good chunk of our recorded history from before the catastrophe. It's something scientists and historians have been speculating about for centuries."

"Well, speculate no more." Evilseed said as he cast an evil eye on Adora. "Because the cause of that disaster is standing right here!"

Our young Heroine nearly did a doubletake as the skeletal plant-man pointed at her accusingly.

"What! What are you talking about? I wasn't even born a thousand…" Just then, realization hit her like a steamer trunk full of concrete. She-Ra. A thousand years ago. O-M-G. "Wait, are you talking about Mara?"

Upon hearing that name, Evilseed let out an angry hiss and spat on the ground.

"Do not speak that whore's name in my presence!" he shouted venomously. "It is because of her that our world was thrown into chaos! And our beloved sister was lost to the void of Despondos!"

"That's enough, Evilseed!" Moss Man said sternly. "You know darn well that Mara wasn't completely to blame for what happened. There were outside forces at work."

"BAH!" his brother replied, before folding his arms and pouting like a child.

"Okay, okay, can we back it up just a second here." Adam interjected. "Let's take this one thing at a time. Firstly, who the heck is Mara?"

"She was the previous She-Ra from a thousand years ago." Adora explained before angrily adding. "Did you listen to any of my story?"

"Learn how to tell one and maybe next time I will." The young Prince replied derisively. "Anyway, secondly, you two have a sister?"

"Yes, Lady Razzuma." Moss Man answered sadly. "The physical embodiment of Eternia's sister planet, Etheria. Back when my brother and I were still one, we would often communicate with her telepathically across the void of space. But when Mara took the planet to Despondos our connection was severed. We haven't spoken to her in over a millennium."

"Oh my… that's terrible." The young Heroine said, feeling pangs of guilt well up in her chest. "Wait… Razzuma? Do you mean Madame Razz? Short, purple lady with big hair and glasses?"

"Yup, that's our Razzy." The mossy man-ape replied with a sort of bittersweet smile. "How is she?"

"Oh she's fine. I think. I mean, she seems happy, but sometimes she has trouble telling the past from the present."

"I feared as much. Etheria's magic allows her to travel along her own timeline at will, but without us to help keep her focused it's easy for her mind to wander."

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Evilseed roared out of nowhere. "Enough talking!"

"Easy, Brother. Just calm down."

"No! I will not calm down! Our sister is in danger, Eternia is unbalanced, and I can't take living in this form for one more second! Make her fix us, Brother! Make her fix everything!"

"We've been over this. It's not that simple. You just need to wait a little longer."

"NO MORE WAITING!"

Without warning, Eviseed lunged at Adora; his eyes aglow with hatred. But fortunately, before he could lay a single thorn on her, Moss Man stepped in and unleashed a puff blue pollen from his hand that seemed to pacify his darker half.

"Fix us… Bring her back… Filthy whore…"

And just like that, he was out like a light. Before he could fall over, Moss Man caught him and cradled the skeletal creature in his arms like one would a child.

"Oh Brother… what am I going to do with you?" he said sadly as he lifted his darker side off the ground. "I hate to cut this visit short, but as you can see I have other business to attend to. I can keep my Brother calm and lucid for a time, but when he gets like this the only thing to do is keep him contained. I'm afraid I must be going."

"Wait!" Adam cried, as the ancient god started to walk away. "You can't give us a few bits of cryptic information and then walk away! That's just… sadistic!"

"Yeah!" agreed Adora. "I didn't really understand a lot of what's been said, but if this place has some connection to Etheria or the First Ones, as She-Ra, I need to know about it. Can't you tell us something? Anything? Please?"

At first, Moss Man said nothing; he just looked at the two of them with an unreadable expression. Finally, after another minute or two of silence, he sighed and said.

"I understand your confusion, but I cannot stay. My Brother must be contained before he wakes up. However, if you're truly this desperate for answers, then travel north to Castle Grayskull. The Sorceress and her new companion can explain things much better than I can."

Both Adam and Adora opened their mouths to ask some more questions, but by then the two ancients had vanished back into their sacred forest.

Leaving our two heroes even more confused than when they'd started.

(Castle Grayskull, many, many hours later)

After Moss Man's departure, Adam, Adora and the others had a long conversation regarding their next move. Some, Swift Wind in particular, wanted to rest for the night and come up with a plan in the morning. Others, Adora most notably, wanted, no, needed answers and insisted on heading to the castle immediately to speak with this so-called Sorceress. Ultimately, Adam was left with the deciding vote, and since he felt that he was too wound up to sleep anyway, he opted to make the long journey; if for no other reason than to get it over with.

It was some time around 5:30 in the morning when the group arrived at their destination. Sunrise was still an hour away, so the ancient ruin was bathed in an eerie blackness that made it look even creepier than it already was.

"You want us to go in there?" Swift Wind asked, sounding panic-stricken. "Are you nuts?"

"Easy, Swifty. Everything's gonna be alright." Adora said soothingly as she stroked her loyal mount's mane.

"Are you kidding? You want us to go into a big, spooky, probably haunted castle with a big creepy skull face on it, at night, after we just fought a whole swarm of spider people. And even if it isn't haunted, the whole thing's probably gonna collapse while we're inside and then we'll all fall into that bottomless pit. I mean seriously, who builds a castle over a bottomless pit?"

"It's not bottomless." Adam corrected him. "At worst, it's only a seventeen mile drop."

"You say that like it's better! You know it's not, right?"

"Look, I know it's scary, but if there's some kind of clue about Mara and the First Ones in there, I'm willing to risk it." Adora said boldly. "But if you really don't wanna come, you can just wait out here."

"Out here? In the dark? Alone? No way, Jose!" the noble steed said, flipflopping a bit. "Besides, it's a moot point anyway. The door is shut and we can't…"

CREEEEEEEEEK!

Went the drawbridge as came down and hit the earth beneath it with a deafening,

THWUMP!

"sigh… Me and my big mouth." Said Swift Wind despondently.

"Aww~ Don't be afraid, Swift Wind. It's not scary in there." Orko said in an attempt to ease his new friend's concerns. "There's all these big rooms full of big shiny crystals, and the Sorceress is really nice."

"HA! That's debatable." Adam said gruffly as the group started crossing the drawbridge. "Look, let's just get this over with, alright. I don't even like coming here during the day."

"What's the matter? You're not scared, are you, Adam?" Adora asked teasingly.

"No. I just hate talking to the Sorceress. She's a condescending, know-it-all who never passes on a chance to bop me in the head with her stupid staff. She's a real bit…"

WHAM!

Suddenly the drawbridge closed behind them. Before anyone realized what had happened, they were standing in the halls of Castle Grayskull.

Everything was pitch black.

But then, a series of wall mounted torches started lighting up; illuminating the entire room.

"Welcome, O Children of Grayskull~" an ethereal voice said from seemingly everywhere at once. "I have been expecting you~"

Moments later, a light appeared in the distance; this one much brighter than the others. A glorious golden radiance that seemed to be coming closer and closer. When the light was finally close enough, Adora could see that is was coming from what appeared to be a small, golden, presumably magical falcon. Upon seeing them, the bird in question let out a mighty screech before swooping down to land. But the instant its talons touched the ground, the creature was enveloped by an even brighter light, and when that light faded something new stood in its place.

It was a woman. The most beautiful woman Adora had ever seen. Skin as dark as the desert sands. Eyes like sparkling emeralds. Her curvaceous body was scantily clad in glistening gold and purest jade. In her right hand she held a golden staff which bore the image of a falcon and upon her back she had a pair of wings which vaguely reminded her of Queen Angela.

In short, the young heroine found her quite breathtaking.

"Whoa…" she said dreamily as she stared at the enchanting goddess.

"Does my form please you, young warrior?" the older woman asked seductively.

Adora only nodded in reply.

"That is good." She smiled mischievously before continuing. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am called the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull. But you may call me the Great and Powerful Sorceress of Castle Grayskull. Guardian of her Treasure. Keeper of her Secrets. Teller of her Stories. And Mistress of…"

"Oh, quit showing off, you old bag." Adam said sharply, before turning to his fellow adventurer. "And you, quit drooling. You know she's old as dirt, right? She's old enough to be your grandmother. Heck, she's old enough to be your grandmother's great grandmother's great-great-great grandmoth-OW!"

With almost imperceptible speed, the golden goddess leapt to the Prince's side, whacked him over the head with her staff, and then jumped back to her original position.

"As usual, you exaggerate. I'm only 112. Which is quite young when you consider that my mother lived to be over 300." She said matter-of-factly. "But that is beside the point. Welcome to Castle Grayskull, young warriors. I am pleased to see… most of you."

Adam growled as he attempted to nurse the sore spot on his head, but he was promptly ignored.

"Hi, Sorceress!" Orka said excitedly as he floated up to greet her.

"Well, hello there, Orko." She replied, sounding genuinely pleased to see the little Trollan. "A pleasure to see you again, my friend. Especially today. You have done Eternia a great service by rescuing your young master and brining the She-Ra to the Castle."

"Aww shucks. It was nothing."

"H-H-How do you know about She-Ra?" Adora blurted out suddenly, having finally regained her composure. "What does Eternia have to do with Etheria? Is this where the First Ones came from? Why is-OOOF!"

The Sorceress placed a single finger on the young Heroine's lips; effectively silencing her barrage of inquiries.

"My, my, so many questions." She said in a tone that was only slightly condescending. "But I suppose you've earned the right. Very well, to answer your first question. I know about you and your tittle as She-Ra because my new friend told me all about it."

With a wave of her left hand, the goddess' shadow expanded into a perfect circle, and from out of that circle arose a scarlet colored specter wearing a familiarly featureless facemask.

"Hello, Adora." The female wraith said with just a hint of warmth in her voice. "You're looking well."

"Shadow Weaver!" the young Heroine exclaimed as a strange, irrational fury welled up inside her. Suddenly, and without any warning, she drew her sword and lunged towards her former guardian; her intent obvious to even the most indifferent observers. However, before she could even get close, the Sorceress waved her other hand and Adora became frozen in place.

"There will be none of that." She said sternly before bonking her on the head with her staff; releasing her from the spell and causing her to collapse on the floor in a heap. "Impetuousness must be hereditary."

"OW!" Adora cried as she got back to her feet; nursing the knot on her head. "That really hurt!"

"Well then don't do stupid things and I won't have to do it again." The Sorceress replied smugly.

"Adam's right, you're just a mean lady who… who… who's just being mean!" the young Heroine proclaimed; more than slightly embarrassed by her lack of eloquence. "And why is Shadow Weaver here? Don't you know who she is?"

"Yes, I know who she is. Do you know who you are?"

"I… uh-but… I… What?"

"I didn't think so. But then how could you know? You only recently discovered your destiny as the She-Ra. How could you even begin to grasp your true identity?"

"Eh… what?"

"Excuse me." Adam interjected, clearly annoyed about being left out of the conversation. "I hate to interrupt whatever the heck this is, but can you please explain why there's an evil witch in the Castle? I mean come on! You once yelled at me for bringing in a sandwich!"

"No, I yelled at your dripping mustard on my clear floors, but that is immaterial. As for your question, she is here because I invited her."

Apparently sensing another parade of what's, Shadow Weaver jumped in preemptively.

"Allow me to explain." She said in the least confrontational tone she could manage. "As you know, Adora, I was recently ousted as Hordak's Second-in-command and sentenced to a slow, painful death on Beast Island. I managed to escape, obviously, but the effort left me drained. So I used our… special connection to hide myself within your shadow so I could recuperate."

Adora seethed with anger upon hearing the words 'special connection', but a stern look from the Sorceress made her hold her tongue.

"Naturally, I was with you when the Tower activated, so I was sent here as well."

"That's where I came in." the Sorceress interjected. "When I sensed that you'd returned to Eternia, I tried to reach out to you psychically. But you were too delirious to retain the message."

"But I wasn't." Shadow Weaver jumped back in. "I heard it loud and clear. So, using what little strength I had left, I fled your shadow and followed the signal to Castle Grayskull."

"And we've been comparing notes ever since."

"Okay… but that still doesn't explain why you let her in." Adam asserted authoritatively. "You don't even let my Father in here."

"Shadow Weaver had information about Adora that I needed and I had information about Eternia that she needed. It's as simple as that." The goddess said casually. "Besides, she's no threat to me. I have nothing to fear from amateurs."

"Oh~ An amateur am I?" Shadow Weaver said, sounding uncharacteristically playful. "That's not what you said when we…"

"AHEM! Not in front of the children."

"Yes, please, not in front of us." The young Prince chimed in, sounding deeply, deeply disgusted. "And also, EEEEEEW!"

"It's not what you think."

"I don't care what it is, I don't wanna hear it!"

"This one's a bit of a whiner, isn't he." The shadowy wraith observed.

"You have no idea." The Sorceress replied teasingly.

"Um, hello! We were talking about me!" Adora jumped in, sounding understandably hostile. "Moss Man said that Mara did something terrible to this planet when she sent Etheria to Despondos. And when I was fighting the Spiders, one of them called She-Ra's power the 'Ancient Power of the Elders'. I don't know how, but She-Ra is connected to this place. So if you know something, you have to tell me."

An awkward pause followed her little rant, allowing her temper to cool before she added.

"Please."

"sigh. Very well." The golden goddess said wearily before turning to Shadow Weaver. "How shall we proceed, Love?"

"Just be direct." The shadowy wraith replied. "Adora has never been good with riddles or metaphors."

"So be it."

And with that said, the Sorceress waved her right hand once again; illuminating a wall that no one had noticed until then. But more importantly, she drew attention to what was hanging on the wall. A large, hand-painted oil painting in an ornate golden frame. It depicted a man and a woman in regal dress holding two tiny infants wrapped in swaddling clothes. Naturally, Adora had no idea what it meant, but Adam's face suddenly grew very pale.

"You have never seen this, my Prince. But you know what it is, do you not?" the Sorceress asked.

"Yes… yes, I do." He replied somberly, before turning to Adora; apparently sensing her confusion. "My Father commissioned this portrait on the day I was born. It was supposed to be a gift for me and my sister."

"Oh, you have a sister?"

"No… not anymore." He answered sadly. "She had… respiratory issues. She died shortly after we were born. And Father ordered this painting destroyed."

Just then, the young Heroine felt a strange pang in her chest.

Was this pity?

Grief?

Why would she grieve for someone she'd never met?

"What does any of this have to do with me?" Adora asked confusedly.

"Really, Adora. Haven't you figured it out yet?" Shadow Weaver said with a sort of dry amusement. "Often I have told you how you were found by the Horde in a field outside a ruined city. Did you never once wonder how you got there? Or who you were before then?"

"Well of course I have, but what does…"

Suddenly, a harsh wave of understanding washed over her like a tsunami.

"No…"

"Yes." The wraith replied.

"But… but I can't be…"

"You can, you are, and you know it." The Sorceress said sternly. "You've sensed it ever since you first arrived on this planet. An unexplained connection. A familiar feeling. That is because you were born on Eternia and now you have returned."

"No, no, that's not possible." Adam spoke up, sounding both confused and disturbed. "She can't be her. She can't be…"

"Your Sister." Shadow Weaver finished his sentence. "I'm afraid it's true. The Sorceress and I have been trading information and it all checks out. Adora is and always has been your flesh and blood. She is Princess Galatea!"

End Notes:

Thanks for reading.

Peace.