Chapter Six – "The Evergreen Forest"
The last village in Eternos was Ruckstown, which was located at the very edge of the Evergreen Forest. Adam had been here before when the townspeople thought they were in danger from a peaceful monster named the Tingler, who resided on the nearby Mount Fear.
"Remember when you stopped the avalanche here?" asked Teela.
"Of course."
"I can not believe I fell for your excuse when I asked where Adam and Cringer were. And then the way you exited! 'I've got to go now! Good bye!'"
Adam smiled. "Sorry, dear."
Teela shrugged. "I was just a dummy, I guess."
"And I was a lair," Adam grumbled.
Sighing, Teela squeezed his hand. "A different time, sweetheart."
They arrived. Greeting them was Squire Wilkins and the Tingler himself, both looking surprisingly healthy.
"Good afternoon, your majesty," Wilkins greeted. "There's a town full of people waiting for you."
Adam smiled. "Wouldn't want to keep them waiting."
The truth was, Ruckstown was the least hurt during the Horde occupation. Their crops remained pretty much the same. There had been no loss of life. And as Moss Man emerged from his Attack Track with Clamp Champ and Songster, he was immediately struck by a sense of something being off.
"What is it?" asked Clamp Champ.
"Something's not quite right." Moss Man looked around. "If you'll excuse me, I think there's something the matter with the plants here."
Moss Man was gone in a flash, running north towards the Evergreen Forest.
"Where'd he go off to?" asked Teela, catching up with Clamp Champ.
"I'm not sure. He said there was something wrong with the plants here. Which is odd, because I know that Ruckstown was virtually untouched by the Horde. You and I both saw the report. Connection?"
"Probably not, but you never know . . ."
The group joined up with a gathering in the Towns Square.
"I am pleased to see that you all held together and managed to find prosperity in the face of oppression!" Adam shouted out to all of them. "I ask that you now help me reach out to your fellow citizens as we face this time of rebuilding and - "
All of a sudden, the ground began to quake. The townspeople all scrambled, rushing away from the epicenter of the rumble. Adam pulled out the Sword of Power and pointed it upwards.
"BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!" he shouted. Power burst out and transformed him into He-Man. "I HAVE THE POWER!"
He then pointed the Sword of Power at Cringer. A bolt of energy struck Cringer, changing him into Battle-Cat.
He-Man stepped forward . . . just as the ground exploded! Through the dirt and mud that came spilling forth, a strange looking man slammed onto the ground. He stood up almost instantly and He-Man took in the sight of him. He appeared to be younger – no more than twenty – and his skin was the look and texture of wood. His hair was mass of leaves. Similar, though smaller style leaves went from his hips, down his legs, and to the tops of his feet. The leaves also hung from his wrists, though those were longer.
"There's been a mistake," the man said.
Moss Man then emerged from the ground, looking harsh. "Riiight."
"Moss Man, what is this all about?!" shouted He-Man, rushing over with Battle-Cat.
"He was spying on us!"
"No! I was waiting for the right time to talk to you!"
"Oh, like I'm supposed to believe that!" Moss Man roared.
"Who are you?" asked He-Man.
"My name is the Woodsman," he said, then turned to Moss Man. "I'm sorry to say, sir, that I'm your replacement."
"Impossible!" Moss Man shouted.
"Ask the trees!"
Moss Man looked to a nearby tree and placed his hand upon it. His mind touched the trees and he learned all he needed to learn.
"It's . . . it's true," he uttered. After a few seconds, he turned to He-Man. "I need to see Skytree. It's . . . it's important."
He-Man nodded. "Of course."
"I'll meet you in the Evergreen Forest." He then turned to the Woodsman. "Coming?"
The Evergreen Forest was in full colors. Under a canopy of reds, oranges, yellows, and golds, Moss Man and the Woodsman rushed deep into the heart of the Forest. They moved like the wind, the trees, the plants, and the very grass of the Evergreen Forest helping them on their journey.
"Tell me how it happened," Moss Man asked early on.
"You had been gone for about six months. The Horde was all over the place. I had been born and raised in Ruckstown, though I moved away after my father died a few years back. My girlfriend just dumped me and I headed back to Ruckstown to help defend them against the Horde. Unfortunately, there was another problem."
"And that problem was?"
"The Horde was tearing down parts of the Evergreen Forest to use for power plants. The Heroic Warriors were all but gone and time was of the essence. Skytree sensed my desperation to help, so he sent the Treeperchuan after me. I was summoned to take your place." Woodsman sighed. "You were gone. There was no one else that could help. I was transformed into the Woodsman and have been keeping the Evergreen Forest safe from the Horde ever since."
"You never went looking for the Heroic Warriors?"
"Skytree ordered me to stay in the Evergreen Forest and the Vine Jungle. I wanted to help, but I was needed more here, I guess. I did my best to help Ruckstown, though."
Moss Man grunted. "You did what you had to."
They entered the most ancient part of the Evergreen Forest by moonrise. Bright Moon, Dark Moon, and Org were all at ¾ in the star-spread sky. It was not long until they came to Skytree, who stood high into the air, branches wide. Tullamore the Treeperchuan was dozing in one of the lower branches. In the moonlight, Skytree seemed to be glowing silver.
"Great Skytree," both Moss Man and Woodsman said at the same time, bowing before the one who bestowed upon them their power.
"Ah, so you two have met. Moss Man, I can understand why you are upset . . ." Skytree said in that loud, echoing voice.
"Have I been replaced?" Moss Man insisted.
"Such disrespect!" Skytree replied.
"My apologies, Great Skytree."
The Woodsman said nothing.
"Did the Woodsman explain himself to you?"
Moss Man nodded. "He did, yes."
"Then you understand that he was needed. The Evergreen Forest, most ancient of all forests, was under grave threat. The Woodsman was vital to our survival."
Moss Man paused in deep thought. "Then . . . what is to become of me?"
The branches and trunk of Skytree rustled. "You have been Moss Man for a seven hundred long years. Your services have been faithful and plenty. But the time has come for you to be released from your task. Indeed, this invasion only brought about what was already inevitable."
"My powers . . ."
"All shall remain, but I believe you shall now begin to take root with the mortals." Skytree unleashed a mighty sigh. When he did, there was a brief whirlwind of warm-colored leaves. "It is the way of things, Moss Man. So too will I someday be render from my vast roots. And so will the Woodsman depart from his position. But do not worry, for I can sense your grief! Your life will not end for quite some time! Indeed, you must train the Woodsman in such a manner that you were not. He must become your apprentice."
Moss Man looked the Woodsman over. "I'm not sure . . ."
"It would be an honor, sir," the Woodsman said.
"Skytree? You are certain?"
"Of course. The time has come, Moss Man. Life moves on. Summer becomes Fall. Fall becomes Winter. Winter becomes Spring. Spring becomes Summer. All is renewed. That is the way of things."
Moss Man paused. He hated even the idea of retirement . . . but he knew that he would have to face this one day or another. And really, he had no choice.
"I accept."
A sheet of dark clouds hung in the skies above. Thunder rumbled all around. There was a flash of lightning. Thick and dark fog covered the land, and it grew even thicker in the Valley of Shadows. Rising out of the mountain-rimmed valley was Snake Mountain. Blood Falls poured from its back cliff; the massive snake choked the mountain.
"I guess some things never change," Sy-Klone said, keeping the fog away from him and Mekaneck.
"Ya got that right. Though I really wish Evil-Lynn and King Hiss had helped us out."
Sy-Klone nodded. "I can understand that. Would have been good for us, too, I think. Do you know how boring it was just sitting in that cell for all those years?"
"Probably pretty boring. But it's good to have you - "
Sy-Klone was suddenly in motion. Both hands suddenly outstretched, a gust of wind came out from him. Part of the fog twirled and swirled away, unveiling . . . rocks.
"What was that?" asked Mekaneck.
"I thought . . . nothing, I guess. I thought I heard someone."
Mekaneck shrugged. "Probably your imagination."
"Probably. Come on, let's go."
As the pair boarded the Talon Fighter, the fog-less area that had stood in slowly began to fill up. The Talon Fighter blasted into the air. As it did, Ninjor emerged from his hiding place. He watched patiently as the Talon Fighter lifted up in the dark, stormy clouds and vanished.