Adora found life in the castle very dull compared to her previous life as leader of the Great Rebellion. No one came to her for advice. There were no planning and strategy sessions. No negotiating for supplies. No nothing. She felt useless.
Of course, she spent time studying Eternian history. Getting to know her mother and father better. Even getting a sense of the culture. But she always felt like an outsider. It was hard to think that these were her people when the rebels of the Whispering Woods were closer to her.
Her one joy was Adam. He knew what she was really going through and made sure he spent time distracting her every day. The twins were currently lying by the palace fountain and hidden pool, looking up at the sky and just talking about past adventures. Laughing and relaxing. At moments like this, Adora could forget everything that she had lost. She was not alone.
"There you are!" An annoyed voice, belonging to Teela interrupted the moment. "Adam! I was expecting you for your training session! You're late."
It was an interesting thing to watch, Adam donning his fool character. He sat up, slouched and looked ashamed. "Well, Teela, I uh forgot."
That only made the captain madder. "Really? Forgot? Because that's the same excuse you've used since you both got back! Get up and get moving!"
The prince sighed and climbed to his feet. He turned to Adora. "I guess I'll see you later, sis."
"Help me up," Adora reached out and Adam effortlessly pulled her to her feet and handed over the crutches. "I feel like checking out the palace stables while you're busy." She grinned evilly. "Have fun, brother!"
And they went their separate ways.
Life in Eternia didn't stay quiet for long. He-Man soon made an appearance dealing with an incursion of Skeletor's henchmen. They were easily and quickly overthrown.
He was just making his final report to Man-At-Arms and Teela in the courtyard when he saw Adora approach. She was looking wistful and he suddenly realised that she was missing out on so much. Teela was trying to get his attention but He-Man walked over to his sister and smiled.
"Princess, how would you like a quick tour of Eternia? Now that you're here for good, it's worth taking a look around."
Battle Cat was nearby and still full of energy. He growled in anticipation.
"Thank you, He-Man! I would love that."
Adora grinned and felt her spirits lift. She was desperate to get out and just do something. Anything. She handed her crutches over to Man-At-Arms and let He-Man gather her up and place her on Battle Cat's saddle. He-Man sat right behind her.
Teela stood there with her mouth agape. No one but He-Man rode Battle Cat and the princess acted like this was a daily thing!
Man-At-Arms, holding the crutches, called out, "I'll leave these in my workshop. When you're done your tour, stop by and we can test out the exoskeleton I've been working on. It's nearly ready."
"We'll be back in a few hours, Duncan!" And with that, Battle Cat and company were gone.
He-Man took Adora around to all the major sites in the immediate area. He knew that she wanted to get a good lay of the land and he was proud of Eternia and wanted to share its beauty with his sister.
They were taking a break by the Fenlan Falls, Adora standing with a hand on He-Man's arm only for balance. "It's so beautiful, brother." She smiled. "Eternia is so very different from Etheria, but I love it."
"I often come here when I need to get away." He-Man grinned ruefully. "Sometimes my double life is exhausting."
Adora knew that the demands of royalty and being the champion of Eternia weighed heavily on Adam. She was only just starting to get a taste of the amount of obligation and lack of freedom there was in the royal life herself. How he managed to live both lives for years on end was simply amazing.
"I don't know if I will ever get used to this." She sighed. "I miss everything from my old life. I don't have any purpose here!"
"Adora –," He-Man began but was interrupted.
"And look at me!" She gestured up and down her left side. "I can't even walk without help! I feel worse than useless."
"Adora –"
"So much for being a champion! So much for everything I've sacrificed! So much for –," Adora was ranting at this point. Angry and upset.
"Adora!" He-Man used his powerful voice to interrupt his sister. He faced her and grasped both arms so she had to look at him. Look up at him – he was taller and without her heels, the height difference was more pronounced.
"This situation wasn't what we had hoped for and planned for. I get that, Sis, I really do." He closed his eyes briefly. "But, you're home now. We defeated the Horde and freed Etheria!"
"But the cost…"
He-Man fixed his eyes on Adora's. "You know that you or I would have gladly paid that again and again if it meant freedom for Etheria. You know that. But it's also ok to feel what you're feeling. This is the reality we both live with now. If I could have taken the brunt of the blast, I would have, with no hesitation!"
He-Man pulled the princess into a warm embrace. "But sis, no matter what, I am so glad to you here with me now."
Adora sniffed but clung tightly to her brother. "Even though I am a burden?"
"You are never a burden, sis. Never." He pulled back and with his thumbs, he wiped the tears from Adora's eyes. "I had no one here who understood what I go through every day. With you I can be myself. I need you."
"And I, you, Brother."
They grinned. Adora felt better. A lot of her recent emotions were negative and just talking things out helped a lot. Knowing she was needed helped even more.
"Shall we continue the grand tour?" He-Man gestured at Battle Cat. "There's a great fishing hole I want to show you!"
And off they went.
Hours had passed and Adora was in Duncan's workshop trying out the exoskeleton device that would support her leg better and free her up for proper walking. Adam was sitting quietly, fiddling with some tools. After carrying his sister into the workshop, he'd changed back to his normal form. He-Man never hung around for long and he didn't want to change established patterns too much.
With a snap, the two parts of the metal bracing came together. They fit perfectly. Duncan straightened up and offered Adora his hand. "That should do it. Princess, if you will stand, we can try out the device."
She stood, getting used to the feeling of the extra weight. It wasn't too heavy, just different.
"Ok now, try taking a few steps."
Still holding on to Duncan's hand, Adora took some steps. A grin widened on her face as she finally was able to see the world at her own true height. She let go and walked a bit faster.
Adam watched her with a matching grin.
Adora turned around to come back when there was a crack and a sizzle. The whole device shorted out and fell off. Her momentum caused her to over balance and she fell to the floor hard. Both men were at her side in a flash.
"I'm ok," Adora waved them off, hating that she was dependant on anyone and everyone. "Just knocked the wind out of me."
She sat up and looked at the mess of metal and gears around her. "That's odd. It's like your device just completely disintegrated and fell apart!"
"Yes," Duncan responded looking at the mess quizzically. "It's odd indeed. I don't know –"
Adam interrupted, his hand had brushed Adora's leg when he went to help her up. "Your leg is hot, sis!"
Adora started to laugh but he was adamant. "Feel it. Temperature. It's burning up."
And he was right. Compared to the other one, the princess's left leg was quite a bit warmer, though it was clearly cooling down.
"The sorceress said it was a powerful magic that was causing my problems," Adora said. "I wonder if the same magic just destroyed all your work?"
"That's possible and we can test it."
"We can?" Both twins spoke at the same time.
"I made two prototypes for you, Princess. Let's try out the other one. It's different enough that we can rule out mechanical failure if this one fizzles."
Adam pulled Adora to her feet while Man-At-Arms went to get the other apparatus. The second test proved to have the same results as the first. It looked like Adora was stuck with crutches, help and sitting by the sidelines for now.
It was a crushing blow.
The next day, in the courtyard Adora sat and watched Adam training with Teela. She had found the twins fishing at a royal pond. Again. She was none too happy to have to search for her charge, jealous that the princess went off with He-Man and generally feeling out of sorts. This made the training extra intense.
Adam didn't feel like working out at the moment. He could see his sister sitting by the outer palace wall clearly wishing she had a sword and legs and wanting to fight. He felt guilty about being the one with all the power. And, if he was going to be honest, he'd rather be fishing. He swing half-heartedly at Teela who blocked him easily.
"Adam! Pay attention!" Teela growled. Clearly frustrated and not understanding why Adam was worse than normal. "Why don't you show the princess how we fight here on Eternia!?"
Adam, fed up with the whole process, glanced over at Adora, decided on a course of action to end the training fast, and then faced Teela again in a fighting stance.
"Be careful what you wish for, Captain!" He said and then started attacking with a series of blows and complex moves that had Teela immediately on the defensive. When he had finally backed her into a losing position, swords locked and Teela held down by his brute strength, he grinned. "Is that good enough for today?"
Chest heaving from exertion and surprise, Teela nodded and reluctantly said, "I give."
"All right," Adam lowered his sword and turned his back, intent on heading over to his sister. At that moment Teela raised her arm to attack him from behind, a reminder that he shouldn't turn his back on his enemies. She thought she would bring the lesson under control this way. Losing to the prince was completely unexpected and it made her temper flare. But Adam somehow anticipated her move, twisted and parried.
She only had the upper hand for moments and she was back on the defensive again. Step. Stab. Parry. Twist. Flip. She was on the ground this time with the sword at her throat.
"Had enough for today?" Adam was hardly out of breath and looking very serious.
Teela could only nod slightly. Eyes wide. He had never, ever fought like that before. She didn't think he had it in him.
"We're done here" Adam said firmly. "No more fighting today, ok?"
At her gasp of agreement, Adam removed his sword and pulled the Captain to her feet.
"Thanks, Teela! See ya!"
She could only watch as he sauntered over to his twin, clearly enjoying his little trick. Obviously the prince hadn't been trying hard enough in the past, but she would make sure he never gave a half effort at any future training lesson again! She left to put away the practise swords and head to her next duty of the day.
Adam's grin was infectious, and Adora couldn't help grinning back. "You shouldn't have done that, Brother!" She scolded him but only slightly.
He sat down beside her with a little whump. "Huh. I get tired of being known as lazy and slow sometimes. I just wanted to be myself. The true me."
Adora leaned on Adam's arm. "I know. And you should. No one will think you are He-Man now anyway."
"Aaaaaaaaaah, but I do!" Came a very familiar voice from right behind them.
"Skeletor!" Adam yelled jumping to his feet. He didn't get far, grabbed by a henchman at the same time that Adora was. "You'll never get away with this!"
The twins struggled and yelled but it was no use in their current forms. Skeletor's men were too strong.
"Well, Prince Adam," Skeletor paused over Adam's name, enjoying the hint. "Let's see if your precious He-Man can rescue you now!"
Turning to the henchmen he said "Take them away!" and the whole group turned to the wall where Skeletor blew a hole in it and they escaped to a waiting ship.
Teela had left the courtyard somewhat shaken and hurt and surprised. She didn't like being bested by anyone and to find out that her unreliable, incapable charge was actually more than capable turned her world upside down. How long had he known how to fight? How long had Adam lied?
She was just heading over to her office when a rumble in the distance happened. It sounded like a small explosion. A guard came running up.
"Captain! Skeletor just left the palace!"
"Notify the king." She ordered. "Do we have any surveillance as to what he was up to?"
"I don't know, Captain."
"Ok, go find out. I'll see to the royal family myself."
They both split off, running.
The king and queen were safe in their quarters, waiting for more information. Teela had guards all around making sure they couldn't be harmed. More guards were searching for the prince and princess. She was just waiting for news when her father, Man-At-Arms burst through the doorway.
"He took the twins!" Duncan was out of breath but didn't pause until he was before his King. "Skeletor and his henchmen took the prince and princess. The video isn't clear, I can't tell where he went, but I think we can safely assume it was Snake Mountain."
"He-Man," Queen Marlena began, "Duncan, see if you can reach him to help us!"
Duncan coughed discretely knowing that there was a good chance of no help coming from there at all. "I'll see what I can do, Highness."
"Assemble the Royal Guard!" Ordered King Randor. "No villain will keep my children for long!"
"Sire," Duncan began, feeling like he'd said this before, "I think maybe a small group should go and infiltrate Snake Mountain. If Skeletor sees an army, there's no telling what harm he could do to the prince and princess."
Randor paused, considering. "You're right, Man-At-Arms. Assemble a small team of my best warriors!"
A guard burst in the room at that point. "All wind raiders are in pre-flight checks. They will be ready to go in minutes."
"I'll take care of this, Sire," Duncan said and he and Teela left the room. There was a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it in.
In Skeletor's ship, Adora felt energized and ready to fight. Beside her, Adam was alert and looking around. They were tied up, arms bound at their sides, and tossed into the back end of Skeletor's transport. Guarded by a lizard man Adam had never seen before.
The lizard man was tall and rippling with muscles. He was covered in scales. What was really different about him was the look in his eyes. The one time Adam caught the lizard's eye, he shuddered. The cold, empty stare was unlike all of Skeletor's other henchmen. This guy was mean.
"Where are we going?" He asked. "What's going to happen to us?"
The lizard man only narrowed his eyes in response.
Adam knew they were flying for far too long. Snake Mountain wasn't that far away. He also knew there was nothing he could do in the state they were in. Waiting until he could change to He-Man would be their best bet.
The ship landed roughly and Skeletor came over to see his prisoners.
"Well, your royal highnesses," he sneered. "We're here."
"Where's here?" asked Adora. Alert. Watching. She didn't know Eternia like Adam but ever the soldier, she was looking for a means of escape. She silently cursed her infirmity but would deal with that when the time came.
At a gesture from Skeletor, lizard man grabbed Adora and roughly pulled her to her feet. Skeletor did the same to Adam. Adam absolutely did not like the way the lizard was eyeing his sister. A hungry, evil look crossed the reptile's face.
"If you wanted to dance, you could have asked nicely," Adora quipped. She wasn't afraid at all yet. This felt like old times.
The lizard smacked her across the face. Hard. Adam instantly started struggling in his bonds. Adora just got angry. She whipped her head forward and head butted the lizard man back. Hard. He staggered back and in doing so pulled Adora off her feet.
Adam, in the meanwhile used his weight to try and pull Skeletor off balance. Both twins were still tied up so fighting was difficult and over quickly. More henchmen filled the area and they were dragged out of the ship by many hands, unable to even wiggle.
"Bring them to the throne room!" Skeletor ordered. The whole group moved quickly away from the ship.
Now on the outside, Adam still couldn't tell where they were. The ship had landed inside some kind of cavern. It was huge and there was no sign of where the outside was. Looking up, the rock ended in complete darkness. The walls themselves faded out into the gloom as well. There were no identifying symbols of any kind.
Adam was worried. He knew Eternia and this place was completely unfamiliar. If they weren't in Snake Mountain, no one would be able to find them.
The twins were dragged into another room, significantly smaller but it held a stone throne, lots of devices of varying kinds and several shackles attached to the walls. The twins were shackled around their necks to the wall closest to the throne. Side by side.
Skeletor ordered his henchmen out and they quickly left. He stood there gloating for a while, enjoying his victory.
"What do you want, Skeletor?" Adam finally asked, tired of waiting. Actually he was tired period. Fighting Teela earlier and no food after made him wish the kidnapping had had better timing. Made him wish he hadn't decided to show off his swordsmanship skills.
"Actually," Skeletor sneered, "I'm waiting for He-Man to appear. He's going to rescue you soon, isn't he?"
"When he gets here, you'll be sorry!" Adam responded.
"Oh, I think he's here already," Skeletor replied. He paused for a beat and then leaned forward and said, "He-Man."
They were in deep trouble. Adora and Adam both realised that the secret was out. He was still never going to admit it, especially not to Skeletor! Adam tried to contact the sorceress telepathically. It wasn't his skill. Usually she reached out to him but he had to try. Instead of responding to Skeletor, Adam closed his eyes and started breathing calmly. Thinking. Reaching.
This infuriated the evil wizard and he took his staff and shot a beam out at Adam. For a moment, Adam glowed and spasmed.
Adora cried out, "Stop it! You're hurting him!"
Skeletor looked at her with disdain. "I'm just calling He-Man. And he will show himself or you both will suffer!" He ended with a bolt to Adora who immediately cried out and stiffened in pain.
This continued, bolts from the staff, for a while on the twins alternating between them. They quickly learned not to respond and Skeletor grew bored.
"I know you're He-Man! Change! Become him!" Skeletor focused on Adam. "I can feel magic surrounding you!" This time a light from Skeletor's hand appeared and slowly moved over Adam's body. It stopped by his right shoulder.
"Ah ha!" Skeletor pulled Adam forward and the light shone down his back. The Sword of Power was completely illuminated. "What's this, then? He-Man's sword!"
Skeletor unsheathed the sword and held it aloft. "A magic sword, it seems. I can feel the power of Grayskull running through it."
The twins could only lie slumped against the wall. Their energy was sapped from the torture.
"I believe, my dear Prince Adam that we have to settle some debts!" Skeletor laughed but it was a most evil laugh. He was still holding the sword, eyeing it and twisting it around.
Adora straightened up and sputtered. "You leave him alone!"
"I have no more need of you, Princess!" Skeletor declared. "My quarrel is with He-Man now! He owes me for all the damage he's done over the years."
Skeletor turned and called out loudly, "Two Tongues! Come here!"
The lizard man appeared with a quiet speed and agility.
"For your help, you may have Princess Adora and use her in any way you want! I'm done with her."
The twins locked eyes. This was definitely far worse than anything they had had to deal with before. If Adora wasn't afraid before, she certainly was now.
The lizard man already started to release Adora from the wall, lust and vengeance in his eyes.
"Wait!" Adam called, desperate. Thinking fast. "You need Adora, Skeletor. Kill me, do what you want with me but if you marry her you can be the legitimate king of Eternia. She'll be next in line for the throne!"
Adora knew where Adam was going with this and played along.
"You've always been my favourite villain!" Lizard man was letting his hands roam over the princess in a way Adora did not like at all. "I'll –oof- marry you…!"
Skeletor strode over and grabbed the princess's face, showing no kindness. "I wouldn't touch your filth for any reason, Princess! I will take the throne of Eternia by force, using He-Man. Now be gone!" and he released her.
Two Tongues hauled Adora to her feet, not careful where his hands landed. Then he swung her up over his shoulders. As the lizard man prepared to leave, Skeletor turned away started torturing Adam with a vengeance. Using spells on the Sword of Power and running them through and off the sword to disperse into the prince.
Adam was powerless and screaming. Knowing he could very well lose his sister. Feeling a pain everywhere like he never had before. This was a Skeletor with all the stops pulled out. No bumbling. No kindness. Just pure evil. Very quickly there was no room left in his head for thoughts of any kind. Pain ruled and was everything.
Adora knew that this could be the last time she saw her beloved twin. She could feel his torment echoing inside her the same way he could feel her reactions. Their bond intensified at times like this. Useful but also crippling. Adora struggled against her captor, desperation making her especially strong.
She lunged particularly hard and fell to the ground. Two Tongues pulled her to her feet and back handed her again. Adora was furious. She was beyond furious.
She straightened up and felt a cold power coursing through her. When she glanced down at Adam on the floor screaming, she knew it was up to her. Feeling an urge she couldn't quash she called out "For the Honour of Grayskull!"
Her leg, the very leg that couldn't hold her up, that left her crippled and unable to function, started glowing. That glow quickly spread up to her whole body. Two Tongues, who had a strong grip on her body was immediately burned. He would have jumped back but he was frozen. And then incinerated.
She-Ra stood in Adora's place. Glorious. Strong. And furious. Her hands glowed with a power she had never had before. She was stronger and more terrible than she had ever been.
The stakes had never been higher.
"Unhand my brother, Skeletor!" She-Ra demanded. Her voice echoed loudly, powered by magic.
Skeletor was crazed with his efforts against Adam and didn't hear She-Ra.
She-Ra held her hands up and released the glow into balls and fired them at the evil wizard. He stumbled, startled.
"Wha-?" he gasped disoriented.
"Release my brother or suffer the consequences!" She-Ra demanded again.
"Fool!" Skeletor screamed. "I will do no such thing! Henchmen! Attack!"
The room filled with lizard men, hairy beasts and other terrible creatures. They surrounded She-Ra and lurched forward.
"I don't think so! Your time is up!" She-Ra closed her eyes and started glowing head to toe. She spun around and the glow dispersed. All henchmen were instantly incinerated.
Skeletor stood there, slack-mouthed. Adam lay unmoving on the ground.
"You don't kill!" Skeletor gasped. "You never kill!"
Suddenly, he was the one who was afraid. Terrified.
"I," She-Ra stepped forward with each word, "have had completely had enough of you! Eternia deserves peace! My BROTHER deserves to live his life in PEACE!" At this point she was glowing and looming and terrifying Skeletor.
"Be GONE!" She-Ra bellowed and the whole room filled with her glow.
It faded and all that was left was Skeletor's broken staff and a pile of ash and fabric.
She-Ra was stunned for a moment and then Adam moaned.
"Brother!" She knelt down and pulled off his ropes with ease. She brushed the hair back from his face.
"My sword," Adam whispered.
She-Ra retrieved it and held it out for Adam. He grasped it weakly. "By the power of Grayskull!"
Nothing happened.
Adam tried again, a little louder. There was nothing.
She-Ra knew exactly how that felt. At the same time, she could see her brother was injured and needed help. Once more, her hands glowed, warmly this time, and she put them on his head. "Let your wounds be healed."
It took some time, draining She-Ra of her energy, but Adam was soon restored. As he stood, she sank to her knees and the power of She-Ra faded out returning Adora to her natural form.
Adam tried the sword once more. "By the Power of Grayskull!" but he already knew it was futile.
Adora slowly stood up, gratefully realising that her leg was completely restored. "We need to get out of here."
"Yeah," Adam agreed. 'Before more henchmen show up!"
Adora knew that there were no more henchmen here or on Snake Mountain. Knew, without knowing how, that she had ended the evil on Eternia for a long, long time. She still desperately wanted to get out of there though.
"The hanger is that way. Let's see if we can fly Skeletor's ship home."
The twins raced out the door and they were in luck! The ship was there and the door was open. It was eerily quiet in the hanger and they wasted no time boarding the ship. They each sat at a control seat and took a moment to get familiar with the controls.
Adora flipped a switch and suddenly the roof opened up above them. Blue sky.
"Ready to go home, brother?"
Escorted by Eternian guards in ships, the twin's ship landed safely at the palace. They emerged to weapons pointing at them but it became quickly clear that they were alone and this was no trick of Skeletor's. The king and queen were overjoyed to see the twins again. A happy reunion followed.
Later, sitting quietly in Adam's room, the twins went over the details of the day they couldn't share with the others.
"I don't understand what happened," Adam was saying. "My sword just feels like ordinary metal now."
"That's because it is," a voice from the window said. The sorceress was standing there, shaking her feathers out a bit. It was clear she had flown in her falcon form from Castle Grayskull to see them. "It is over. Your time as He-Man, champion of Eternia, has come to an end."
"Why? How?" Adam stood abruptly.
Adora rose more slowly. "It's because I killed everyone, isn't it." She stated. It sounded so bad. They did not kill. Ever. And yet, she was home because she obliterated the Horde. There was blood on her hands because there was no other way. Remove the problem once and for all.
"Yes, Princess. With Skeletor and every creature of evil now gone, Eternia will know a peace unlike any other for many, many years."
Adam stared at his sister with wide eyes. "You killed them? How? When?"
"You were out of it, Brother. Being tortured. Skeletor's plan was working." She replied. "I was being taken off to be tormented and killed horribly. It was our most desperate hour."
"The power that crippled Adora's leg was of Castle Grayskull," the Sorceress interjected. "From a dark time, long ago. I was coming to warn you about it but Skeletor showed up first. It was an ancient magic, from the First Ones. The Sword of Honour must have been a conductor for it when you obliterated the Horde on Etheria."
Adam again was completely dumbstruck. "We killed the Horde?"
"I suspected it with the way you both were transported back to Eternia. The power was so great that it blew back into Adora. The spirits of Castle Grayskull clearly decided to end the battles once and for all. Adora did not choose to kill; she became their conduit and their weapon."
Adam sat down hard. "This is so much to take in."
Adora glanced down for a second. "So what next? What happens now?"
"This is the end of your time as champions. You will live in peace, grow old and rule as King and Queen. It will be a time of prosperity." The Sorceress responded. "He-Man and She-Ra will fade into stories and from there into legend until they are needed again. Other people, in the distant future, will take up the swords when it is time and restore balance to the universe as you have done."
The Sorceress stood in front of Adam. "I will take the Sword of Power now, please."
He numbly held it out and placed it on the Sorceress's outstretched hands. It glowed for a moment and then vanished.
"Thank you, Prince Adam. Princess Adora. Your sacrifices, dedication and service towards all people will be rewarded with love and peace. No one will forget in their hearts what you have done for them, though they will not know that you were He-Man and She-Ra." With a small nod, the Sorceress shimmered into her falcon form and flew out the window.
"It's over," Adam said with a tone of disbelief as he stood. He reached out and pulled his sister into a tight hug.
"It's over." Adora repeated, knowing the next chapter in their lives would be completely different from before. "It's really over."
End