Chapter Three: "Captive"
He-Man arrived with King Hiss tied up in chains. He simply tossed him onto the ground, then looked to Man-At-Arms, She-Ra, and Teela. They looked He-Man up and down and these three that were closets to him (other than Cringer) knew immediately something else was going on.
"King Hiss. We should put him in that prison we were talking about, Duncan," He-Man said, trying to maintain his cover.
"I suppose we should." Duncan knew better than to push He-Man's buttons. Not yet, anyway.
"What else is happening?" asked He-Man. "I saw Pythor head back to its cell."
"Yes, he's taken care of," She-Ra said, also holding off, but more than willing to find out what was going on later.
"The Snake-Men soldiers are in retreat, heading back to the Dark Hemisphere. We have, however, the Snake-Men cadre," Teela reported, deciding to go with the same option She-Ra was.
"Good job. Get them back to Eternos." He-Man then turned to Castle Grayskull. "I need to speak with the Sorceress. I'll be back in a few hours."
He-Man stalked off. Teela turned to She-Ra.
"What do you think that was all about?" she asked.
"I have no idea," She-Ra answered. "Why would he be mad at the Sorceress?"
Sunlight poured through the windows of Castle Grayskull. Dust danced in the sunbeams and long shadows were cast across the stone walls and floors. The Sorceress of Grayskull sat upon her throne, waiting for He-Man and the confrontation that was sure to come.
The jawbridge clanked open. She took in a deep breath, hoping and praying that his anger would be subsided by now.
He walked in, muscles tense, his brow furrowed. It was not the first time she had seen him this angry, this infuriated. But just never at her.
"So," he said, arriving at the center of the throne room.
"He-Man . . ."
"I need to know. I need you to confirm a suspicion for me. Did you know about this secret? About the Cosmic Enforcers?"
"Yes. I was . . . I am sworn to secrecy about it."
He-Man sighed heavily. "I told you earlier that I was tired of secrets. After all this? I'm even more than sick of them. Let me tell you something. It's time you came clean with me. About all of it. King Grayskull, Keldor, Adora, the Cosmic Enforcers, Rokkon, Stonedar, the Horde . . . tell me everything."
"I can not."
"Why?"
"I am sworn to secrecy! I told you this! I warned you about staying on the proper path, about not losing sight of Hiss."
"Well, maybe after everything else you didn't tell me, I was a little tired of being kept in the dark. I'm not happy about what I learned, but at least I'm not living a lie! At least I know about the big picture! Zanthos, Zodak . . . all that business at Point Dread ten years ago makes sense to me now!"
"What would you have me do, He-Man? I can not change the past, nor can you. Not with even more dire consequences, at least. I will apologize on my behalf, for what happened. For not telling you, but I can not change what responsibilities I was charged with. Just as you can not change what you were charged."
"And what would happen if you did tell me? What consequences would there be?"
The Sorceress paused. That was another secret. She would be expelled from the mantle of the Sorceress and the next in line would take her place – Teela. Once more, she bit her tongue. In his current state, she wasn't sure if she could trust He-Man . . . and that thought hurt her more than anything. The man that saved her life and all those of Eternia, Etheria, and Primus had lost her trust. Just as she had lost his.
"Let me guess," he answered for himself. "You can't tell me."
"There are forces greater than both you and I at work - "
"I'm tired of hearing things like that. Why can't you just come out and tell me what is happening? Why can't you tell me about these greater forces and higher powers?"
"That is enough, Adam!" shouted the Sorceress. "Why can't you accept that there are things that can not be trifled with?"
"Because I'm not a kid anymore! I had to turn my back on my friends and family! I was spied on by those I called friends! I was lied to about my sister and my uncle! And the one person I thought I could trust never told me a damn thing about any of it!"
The Sorceress turned her back to him. "I do not believe we have anything more to say to each other."
He-Man grunted and started to walk out. "I agree."
He exited Grayskull. Everyone was pulling out, most of them well on their way back into the Evergreen Forest. Teela remained, leaning up against one of the arches on the bridge. A Road Ripper sat nearby.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"It's . . . nothing," he said, walking right by her.
She grabbed his arm. "No way," Teela answered. "We made an agreement, remember? No more secrets."
He-Man paused, stunned by those words. It shocked him to hear them for her, after everything he had just gone through with the Sorceress. He sighed and turned to her fully. "Not now, at least."
She nodded and kissed him on the cheek. He-Man lifted up the Sword of Power. "LET THE POWER RETURN!"
There was a flash of light and energy and He-Man was suddenly Adam, King of Eternos.
"I'm exhausted," he said then. "Let's go home."
Teela nodded in compliance. The two jumped onto the Road Ripper and rode off.
Above, in Castle Grayskull, the Sorceress watched them depart with sadness. She wanted nothing more than to tell Adam just how much she truly did hate the lies and the deceptions. The Sorceress shed a tear for all of this and hoped Adam understood just how hurt she felt at losing the trust between them.
The next day, after a dreamless sleep, Adam awoke to find that his presence was being requested over on Etheria. Adora was always asked to come, with the rest of the Great Rebellion – Glimmer, Bow, Mermista, Flutterina, and Castaspella. Light-Hope soon provided the portal and the group entered.
It was there that Light-Hope told them what he had in mind.
"No," Adora said, straight and blunt.
"I don't think there's much of a chose," Adam told her.
"There is. It's suicide."
Light-Hope flashed. "It is not," he told her. "Focusing all of my power into the darkness will allow for it to break."
"There's no guarantee. It might not work. We should get the Sorceress over here, Adam."
"Should would say the same exact thing."
"Light-Hope, please don't do this. There's got to be another way."
Light-Hope flashed again. "Adora . . . Adora . . . the power that holds this planet's life-force has swayed. The black oil-like substance Hordak used on Etheria has hardened. There is no more power or magic behind it. If allow myself to enter into it, I will be able to work my way around the planet. When I do, my power will be able to smash the oil and set everyone free."
"It makes sense," Glimmer agreed.
"I suppose . . ." Adora tried. "I just wish . . ."
"I'm certain we all wish it, Adora, but if Light-Hope can fix this, than he should," Castaspella told her.
"Etheria needs to be freed," Light-Hope said. "My power is the only one that can do it. You must know this."
Adora sighed. "I . . . I . . . yes . . ."
Light-Hope turned his attention to Mermista and Flutterina. "Soon enough, you will take to the skies and the seas once more."
"A day that is long in coming," Mermista said.
"Thank you, Light-Hope," Flutterina added.
Adam could then feel the gaze fall upon him. "You have learned what you can not unlearn," Light-Hope said to him, garnering a few odd glances from Adora and the others. "You must stand upon strength. You must stand tall."
Adam nodded, feeling a little better.
"Glimmer, Bow – your kingdom will be returned in time," Light-Hope said to them. "Castaspella, the solution to your dilemma begins where it started."
Casta thanked Light-Hope, but her mind went inward, trying to look for a deeper meaning.
"I am Light-Hope, Adora. I was made to fight darkness and despair."
Light-Hope flashed once more. "It will take much time to spread the world. But soon enough, Etheria will be freed."
"Right. Okay. Go."
"Yes."
Light-Hope suddenly grew brilliantly bright. Then, it became a beam of pure, golden energy that shot from the Crystal Castle and ran right into the solidified oil. As soon as it did, gold light, like little rivers, began to appear on the surface.
"It said it would take awhile."
"Yeah," Adora replied, her eyes staring out at it.
"Let's go home."
"I am home."
Adam paused. "I mean . . ."
"I know. Back to Eternia."