I'm back. Sorry for the wait. I hope you will still enjoy this fic.

Chapter 6 : deal

The last six months were very hard both for Adam and Teela. If for Teela it was hard to learn the ways of the sorcery, Adam, for his part, was very often call as He-man. The very first time was harder for him, because this time he had to fight his fellow masters and Skeletor's minions at the same time. Long ago, Adam had understand that the masters have fall upon Miro's power, but he was not ready to find that also Skeletor and his men were also under his power. It was disturbing for him to see the long last enemies fighting together . And Miro was there too.

The heir of the kingdom of Eternos had try to made the protector of Greyskull fall under his power. But, much to his amazement, the hero don't have looked at last falling under it. He-man was a hard person to manipulate, Miro had acknowledged it a long time ago. But he would never have expected for the hero to be immunized against his power. Miro had hoped for He-man to find and kill his "dear" brother and the wore he had for wife.

Never the masters would do it for him. Even if they all are under his control, there still was some thing that he can't force them to do. And, in a way, Adam is still too close from their heart for them to obey him and kill his brother. And Skeletor and his minions are not enough smart for this task. It must be just a matter of time before He-man fall like the others. That's why Miro was there for every battle, with no success until then.

Skeletor was angrier than ever with Miro. The prince don't have let him time alone with He-man to discuss about his plan. Skeletor had no other choice but act like if he still was under Miro's rule, but deep down it was an other matter. Skeletor is still not sure about who was the real father of Miro, but it doesn't matter anymore for him. The man deserved to die, and if he had to left his life to obtain his goal, then Skeletor was ready for it.

For once, he had found his mind again. By puting him under his spell, Miro had helped Keldor's mind to overload Skeletor's mind. When he had lost his face, Keldor had also lost a part of his mind who had made him a great warrior. The madness had become the truth for him for more than twenty years. But now, he was aware of what he had done and feel some feelings of regret. Not much but enough to made him think about how he wanted to end his life. And if he could do something right before dying, then his life would not have been a total lost.

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This morning, king Randor had decided to go to the city with his heir. Some of his spies have told him that his people were less and less happy with their prince. And Randor had thought that it will be a good thing for Miro to go with him, and show to his people how a good prince he can be. That's why Skeletor was free from Miro constant watching. And he was ready to make the most of the day. After ordering his minions some task for them to be out of his way, he take one of Beast-man griffin, and go to castle Grayskull. He had find that there is a great chance for prince Adam to be there, and he don't think he would have an other time like this to talk freely with him.

When Skeletor landed in front of the drawbridge, the sorceress and her apprentice come to the window. They both expected for the evil man to try to take the castle. But what he done stunned them. Skeletor had let his ram staff fall upon the floor and out of his reach. Then he called for the most unexpected people.

" Prince Adam !" Called Skeletor. " I have to discuss some things of the most great importance. I don't have anything against you. We need to made a deal."

Adam had come to the window as soon as his wife had told him by telepathy that Skeletor was here. That's why he had see and heard what the villain had told. He can't trust the man, not after all the time he had used his faith against him. But, there is something strange in Skeletor. He had never looked so sane, and Adam found himself wanting to know what deal Skeletor is talking about.

" How can I trust you ?" Was all he can ask.

" You can't." Answered truthfully Skeletor. " But even if my words don't mean a lot, I swear to you that I have just come here to made a deal with you, and not to take over this castle or fight He-man. We have the same enemy, and I thought it will be good for us to fight him together."

Against everything, Adam wanted to believe him. He saw the concerned look of his wife and mother-in-law, but he also understand that they let him free to made the right choice. A warm feeling come to him at it. Three years ago nor the sorceress nor Teela would have believe him ready to made the right choice on his own. But a lot of things have changed since then. And most of them were for the better. So, he chose to let Skeletor explain himself, and go outside of castle Greyskull to meet him.

" You have made the right choice, prince." Said Skeletor.

" Explain yourself." Said sternly Adam.

" You're right. I don't have a lot of time before Miro return to the palace. You are well aware that my men now have for master prince Miro ?"

" Yes, I am."

"I can't stand this fact. I hate you, like I have hated your father. I would have been glad to kill you before. But now, it is not anymore the case."

" I'm glad to hear it." Said Adam with some dark humour. " So, if you don't wanted to kill me anymore, how can I be of any use to you ?"

" You are smart, prince Adam, smarter than your father and the others give you credit. I'm glad you don't like to fight or else with you and He-man, me and my minions would not have last long."

" Stop this at once!" Commanded Adam. " Tell me about your deal."

" I want your help to stop Miro before he become the new king of Eternos."

" What ?" Exclaime a stunned Adam. " How can I do that ?"

" By letting the people known about your new place of living." Said Skeletor.

" How can this change anything ? And how can it help you ?"

" You are well loved amongst your people, dear prince. If they know where you are, then they will come to you ."

" And, how will it fall into your plan ?" Asked Adam.

" The more the people come to you, the less Miro can have under his power. That's all I ask for you."

" And what will you give me, if I do what you asked ?"

" Castle greyskull would never been under attack of my men nor the masters."

" You can't promised it to me !" Exclaimed Adam.

" I can. And I will do it, if you are ready to made this deal. Miro is not the only one who can use some mind power. I can use some of them. Not much, but enough to made believe Miro that you were far away from this old castle."

" Miro would see the truth."

" No, he won't. He is so sure of his power that I can fool him easily. I made a bargain with you : accept my deal and see what happen during the next month. You are well aware that Miro don't let more than three days pass before he launched an other attack. So, if no attack from us happen during this month, then you have to keep your words and let the new of your hiding place going to your people's hear. Deal ?"

Adam was not sure of what to do. He don't trusted Skeletor and he was well aware that the villain had an hidden agenda, but he can't found what it is. Skeletor don't asked too much from him, and he can't see how this will change anything, but if they can have a whole month of peace, then maybe it will be good to accept this deal. He was more than tired from the constant battle, and some peace will be good. Maybe, he can accept the deal. After all, he had nothing to lose from it.

" Deal." He said. " I hope I will never regret it."

" Who knows ? But I don't think you would be unhappy with the result of it. Good day dear prince. We will see us again in a month."

Skeletor take his staff and ran to his griffin. As soon as he no longer was in sight, Teela ran to her husband. She hugged him.

" You have made the right choice." She said.

" Are you sure ? I am not."

" I don't know why, but something tell me that Skeletor will keep his words. Miro is his sole enemy. I don't see how letting our people knowing about your living place will change anything. But I know it will, and for the best."

" I hope you're right."

The two of them returned to their castle hand in hand. They have to discuss about it with their mothers.

As soon as Skeletor was far away from the castle, he let his laugh coming out. This fool prince had agree to help him, and Skeletor would keep his words to him. The prince can't understand how what Skeletor wanted can change the odd of the war between the two sons of Randor, but Skeletor knows better. Miro's power have some limits, and for each member of his clan there is a human to fight him. If Miro had so much power it's because his personal enemy was pretty powerless. But the more people who will come to pledge themselves to him, the less Miro would have of power. Miro and Adam were born to fight each other. Only one of them can survive. And when Miro would have lost his power, then Skeletor would have his revenge. If everything go through the plan, then in less than two years, Miro would not be anything more than a despised memory.

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Duncan can take much more. He barely sleep and the idea of eating disgusted him. He had no more any idea of what is right or wrong. His memory was full of lie and he was lost. And he missed his daughter even more than ever. He was long past his hate for Adam. Now, he would just be happy to see her again. He don't even search for the queen anymore. He felt himself falling into madness. That's why he don't fight anymore his wish to go to castle Greyskull. He don't know what happen to him there, but it can't be as hard as his current life. Miro's orders don't matter anymore to him. He just hoped to see his beloved Teela a last time, before he died. That's this hope who force him to take an other step to his final goal. Maybe he would meet the death there, but at last the sorceress can show him a picture of his daughter before she kill him for failing to his words. He can't hoped for more.

To be continued.

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Next chapter : Duncan meet Teela and Adam again, and the sorceress found something very important.