Chapter Five: "Come What May"

"The rest you know," Veena said then. The air was still dank and chilly and both Adam and Adora stared intently at Veena. "When the Horde Incursion occurred, the Council of Elders retrieved some of the technology and helped Eternos and various other kingdoms develop computers, airships and pop-guns. Thus leading to now."

The four of them sat in still silence, staring not at each other, but at something randomly in the room. "It's . . . a lot to take in," Adora said at last, gazing into her tea cup.

"What can we do from here?" Adam questioned.

Veena looked to the Sorceress and nodded. The Sorceress spoke up. "There is danger in every step you take. Adora, you spoke of changing what the Cosmic Enforcers. Doing that would risk their wrath. And now that Skeletor knows that it was indeed a blood relative that was champion of Grayskull, he knows that he has a right to this power. It has most certainly re-dedicated him to his cause."

"What about the other races of Eternia?" Adora asked.

"The Elves found out about the Cosmic Enforcers, didn't they? That it was all an elaborate judgment," Adam assumed.

"In time, they did, yes," the Sorceress replied. "They told the others of the terrible scheme and all agreed to flee Eternia together."

"Then perhaps they can help us," Adora said. "Right?"

"I do not know, Adora," Sorceress answered.

"Can anyone help us?"

Veena sighed heavily. "There is one. While the Elders had indeed sealed away the technology after the Snake-Men Wars, they kept the Golden Discs of Knowledge. They gleamed upon the Cosmic Enforcer's plans. Unfortunately, they all too aware of encouraging their wrath. Thus, they left the Golden Discs with one whom they knew had a conflicted heart. More than that, they gave a great power to one who can not help but be honest. A child . . ."

"Starchild," Adam whispered. "She's the key to this? How?"

Veena shook her head. "I do not know completely."

Adam leaned back, his mind rolling over all that he had learned. Skeletor, more driven than ever. The history of the Eternia and the Cosmic Enforcers role in it explained. Starchild, possibly the only hope. What could he do now? What was the next step?

Veena stood up. Outside, the long hours of the night were ending and the sun was slowly rising. Had they really been here all night?

"Know now that what is to come will be the final conflict. Of all the trials you have faced, this is the greatest." Veena grimed. "Zodak told me that the Swords of Grayskull would be used in the final battle. He called it Rohana'Rota. For all the deceit that has come, Zodak's words were true he uttered that phrase."

Adam felt as though a great weight had been rolled upon him. He looked to his sister, who had that 'I'm ready for anything but this is going to trouble' look on her face. Years of Horde training, he assumed, must have given her that look.

"And now . . . my time has come to an end."

"What do you mean?" asked Adora, glancing at the Sorceress. The Sorceress was not shocked by this, but looked on with a strange sort of respect on her face.

"I am but a shadow of Veena. She has long since passed on. So then must I."

"I have one more question," Adam asked before he was even able to stop himself. The question had literally popped into his head.

"Yes?"

"You and King Grayskull . . ." he began slowly. "Even when there was rumor of war with Serpos and Vipera, the two of you married. Why?"

"Why?"

"Yes. Weren't you worried that . . ." H paused, trying to get his words right. "Weren't you afraid that your relationship might be used against you?"

Veena frowned and stepped over to Adam. She took both his hands in hers. "Oh, Adam, my boy, is that what's been stopping you all these years?"

Adam blinked. "I . . ."

"Understand this, my boy. Love is a force greater than any other. Magic, science, Good, Evil . . . it doesn't matter. Love and compassion are the key. Against even the darkest of threats, love can stand mighty and tall."

There was a flash of light in Adam's hands. He felt . . . cloth?

"What is this . . . ?" he asked, opening up his hands. His blue eyes widened at what he saw. "I . . ."

"You know what to do with those, Adam," Veena said. "Good journey, my boy."

Veena turned to Adora then. Like with Adam, she held Adora's hands. A light formed in Adora's hands and she found she was holding a smooth milky white gem.

"You have known a home on two worlds, my dear," Veena said. "This will allow to journey to both worlds. It will also take you to the lost kingdoms."

"Thank you, Veena."

Veena smiled, kissed both Adam and Adora on the cheeks, then stepped out the door.

There was a suddenly burst of golden light. The castle creaked and seemed to shift a little. It was warm once again.

Sighing, Adora turned to Adam.

"Now what?"

Adam broke his gaze from what Veena had given him. "I think . . . we tell the others." He then turned to the Sorceress. "I'm sorry."

"As am I," she responded.

Much to Adam's surprise, she embraced him. Adam simply hugged back.

Hours later and in Central Tower, King Adam surveyed the table before him. He recited all of their names in his head. Man-At-Arms, Teela, Stratos, Man-E-Faces, Mekaneck, Ram Man, Buzz-Off, Fisto, Orko, Moss Man, Roboto, Sy-Klone, Rio-Blast, Snout Sprout, Extendar, Clamp Champ, Rotar, Pelicor, Woodsman, and Gwildor – all Heroic Warriors. With them were the Great Rebellion – Queen Angella, King Micah, Frosta, Glimmer, Castaspella, Mermista, Flutterina, Netossa, Bow, Sorrowful, Spinnerella, Bow, Peek-A-Blue, Madame Razz and Broom, and Kowl. Rounding the group out was King Randor, Queen Marlena, U-R, and Gleep.

"What I am about to say," he began, "will be difficult to follow. But it's the truth. Let me first tell you what we know for a fact . . ."

And thus, he told them of what he had learned about the Cosmic Enforcers and all of their manipulations. He told them – briefly – of King Grayskull, Veena, the Ancients, the Elders, Hordak, and He-Ro. He told them of the reason why the other races left Eternia.

After nearly an hour of speaking and with answering various questions, Teela raised her hand.

"What about the other races? Are they willing to return?"

"Adora and SeaHawk are seeing to that right now."

"How can we stop this, son?" asked Randor.

Adam smiled a little. "I have something in mind . . ."

Using the stone Veena gave her, Adora and SeaHawk appeared in the center of a dense forest. Almost immediately, eight Elves were upon them, bows and arrows trained on them.

"HALT THERE, INTRUDER!"

"Friendly, aren't they?" asked SeaHawk, looking ready for a fight.

"Shhh," Adora hushed him. "We're here in the name of peace. I am Queen Adora and this is King SeaHawk of Eternos."

"Let them go," came a commanding voice from the canopy above. Kittrina jumped down before Adora and SeaHawk. "They have come in search of answers, as you would expect. Let them have them."

"My thank you, Lady Kittrina," Adora replied.

The Cat-Woman led them down a trail through the forest. The Elves had seemingly vanished from sight. Shortly, the trio came to a small castle in an isolated field.

"Right on in," Kittrina said, waving her hands towards the open doors.

Adora and SeaHawk walked in. "Nice place," Hawk joked.

"Yes."

"Any idea what we're going to say?"

"Nope."

A pair of doors opened at the end of the long corridor. Within sat King Shorn, Granamyr, King Paw, Jacob of the Widgets, and King Jade. Before them was a long wooden table, pilled with papers and scrolls.

"This is not a surprise," Shorn said, looking up.

"Great leaders," Adora addressed. "I come to you on a mission of mercy. Eternia needs you."

"Why is that?" asked Jacob.

"Skeletor has renewed his war against the forces of good," SeaHawk answered. "We'll need all the help we can get."

"More than that," Adora added. "We know what the Cosmic Enforcers have done. We're looking into fixing it. But we need your support."

"You shall not have it," Paw grunted. "We were told the deal that were made. That world no longer belongs to us."

Granamyr lifted his hand. "Your time here is wasted. I recommend you return home and make peace with your while you can."

Adora and SeaHawk were suddenly overcome by an intense light. The next thing they knew, they were back in the forest.

"Well . . . that didn't go so well."

Adora frowned. "No, I'm afraid it didn't."

With that, she used her stone to return them to Eternia.

Adam had his arms wrapped around Teela's waist as they watched the sunset. Despite everything that happening and the feeling of tension riding along his shoulders, he felt better than he had since his journey into the underground. Coming clean, coming out with all that information . . . it was such a relief.

"We haven't had much of a chance to talk," Teela said suddenly.

"Yeah."

"Listen, Adam, this whole Zodak and Cosmic Enforcer thing . . . it's had you bothered for a while . . ."

He nodded. "Yeah. Teela, I'm sorry. I really am. I guess learning that I've just been a tool in this stupid . . ."

"Shush," she ordered, putting a finger to his lips. "I don't care. I love you, Adam. I love you with all my heart. I don't give a damn about tools or toys or balances of powers. All I know is that there has been a war on Eternia since before I was born. It's been terrible and the fact that it's the result of nothing more than a science experiment angers me. But this war . . . it's brought us together.

"Adam, despite Zodak, we've witnessed things we could never have seen otherwise. We've done things that no ordinary person could ever do. We've forged alliances that have been separated since before the Zodak came here. And that goes double for you, Adam. Double. I know that now everything has been out in the open and revealed. But what we experienced these past eleven years compares nothing to what we would have experienced if not for the manipulation.

"I know this has been very hard for you to accept, but for better or worse, it's happened. And if Skeletor attacks - and it's only a matter of time - then I will fight next to you. Even if you don't draw that sword of yours, I will fight next to you. Because I love you. I love you. I love you with all my heart. I will never leave you."

Adam kissed her deeply. And he knew in his heart what he had to do . . .

"I have to go," she said, sighing. "I promised Addison a snack."

"What are you making?" Adam asked, releasing her. His hands went into his pockets and he felt for the gift that Veena had given him.

"Apple dumplings."

He smiled. "Okay. I'll be by later, all right?"

She nodded. "All right. I love you."

"I love you too."

The two kissed again and then she was off to find her son. Adam lingered on the balcony for a few moments, then turned around. He had business to take care of.

After arriving at the Starship Eternia, he activated Gleep and U-R.

"I need a secure channel to Primus," he ordered. "As tight as you can get it."

"Who?" asked U-R as Gleep went to work.

"Master Sebrian."

Moments later, an image of Master Sebrian appeared on Adam's monitor.

"Adam! So good to see you!"

"The same here, Master Sebrian," Adam answered. "How are things on Primus?"

"Quiet, for once. And you?"

"Wish it was like that here, but we have some problems coming up. I've got a secure line here, but how about you?"

Sebrian looked off-screen for a few seconds, then nodded. "Secure."

"Good. I need your help, Master Sebrian. The Cosmic Enforcers have done something to Eternia. Something long ago, but it's . . . well, listen, do you still have contacts in the Galactic Council?"

"Yes, of course."

"Good. Because for what I have planned, we're going to need their support."

And with that, Adam began to tell Master Sebrian his plan . . .

"It is done."

Marzo looked up and saw Skeletor as he held up his new Havoc Staff. "Fantastic," Marzo grunted.

"Don't be impatient, Marzo. Despite the minor set-backs, everything is going exactly as I have planned. The Havoc Staff was only the first step in the next phase."

Sighing, Marzo looked to his new 'master.' "And what would the next phase be?"

"Snake Mountain," Skeletor replied. "And then, a stop back at Denebria."

"At what point do we actually take the fight to our enemies?"

Skeletor did his best impression of a smile. He stepped out of the bunker that he had established at the edge of the Valley of Storms. Faker and Marzo followed him.

"Patience, President Marzo," Skeletor chided. "Everything comes to he who waits."