Well I'm back again after a delay again. Please remember that, as much as I enjoy writing these stories, this is something I do in my spare time and there will be times when I have no spare time. Also in addition to being a writer, I'm also an actor. That was the first major delay this time. After a far too long absence from the stage I landed a role in Arsenic and Old Lace. Rehearsals and performances ate up a lot of free time but it was worth it (for me at least). Sadly after that things went downhill and kept getting worse. So for a while I was just too depressed to write.

But my new years resolution is to stop procrastinating. Nevertheless before we continue let me take a moment to address some questions/issues from the replies. First, Yes I know all about Masters of the Universe Classics. I have every figure so far and am signed up for the subscription. On that note please remember that the bio card info on these figures is yet another continuity. It will have little to no influence on my stories. In particular Mattel decided to completely change He-Ro from Adam's ancestor a wizard named Gray to a cosmic warrior named Ro who's not related. Since I had already outlined my stories to include Gray in an significant role, (and I like that version better anyway) that's the one who will be used and I'm not changing it. Same goes for Sharella who was/is NOT the Green Goddess. See that woman with the bow on Megator's box art? That's the real Sharella.

More AdamxTeela? Eventually, but for now the focus is on Adora. King Hiss? Not for some time. Most of Eternia thinks he's dead right now. I do plan on bringing him back later but there's a lot I need to happen first so don't hold your breath.

As for Skeletor being like Voldemort. Well I am a Harry Potter fan and I will admit there's a similarity, but no the concept of the lich and his phylactery has been around in fantasy realms like Dungeons & Dragons long before Harry arrived on the scene. Also a lich puts his entire soul in one place. Splitting souls is what Hordak is doing to keep his soldiers eternal (and allows him to kill them instantly if they double cross him. That idea is actually based on Naraku from Inuyasha) but remember this only keeps them from aging they are still mortal.

And finally, I know Adora seems really tough but remember she was raised by Hordak, the ultimate evil, to be a weapon. I don't want to reveal too much but I will say I am making plans to keep her from getting too powerful, still She-Ra is the most powerful woman in the universe you know. I can't hold too much back. Now then let's continue:


CHAPTER THREE

It took a lot longer than expected for Spikor to get everything he needed to begin work. At first Adora shook off how distasteful she found him and chalked it up to extra attention to detail. However, it soon became apparent that the details Spikor was interested in had nothing to do with her sword. It was only with the greatest reluctance that she agreed to let him touch her arm in order to take measurements of its length and her muscle size. It was a necessary procedure to ensure the finished sword would not be too large or heavy for her to wield, but Adora didn't like being so close to Spikor, for more than one reason.

"Would you watch it?" Adora growled while wincing as she was again pricked by one of Spikor's many spines. It wasn't a serious wound in any way, but it had been enough to pierce the skin and draw blood.

"Oh for the love of the Ancients," Modulok groaned. "Stand aside, I'll take the measurements."

Spikor seemed about to object but a stern look from Hordak convinced him to back off. Nevertheless he grumbled, "Not my fault I'm this way." He had been speaking more to himself but Modulok responded anyway.

"Actually, from what I've heard, yes it is."

Spikor looked simply furious.

Spikor wasn't the only one who was unhappy. Shadow Weaver stood watching the whole ordeal in silent fury. She had allowed herself a silent smile when Adora was getting injured by Spikor, but was careful not to make a sound. Her expression was safely hidden under her mask, but she knew if she were to laugh, as she so wanted to, it would bring a harsh response from Hordak. That, in and of itself, infuriated her further.

It's disgusting how he fawns over her, she thought to herself. Showering her with praise and gifts when he should have torn her heart out years ago. Does he reward my years of loyal service? Adora is too dangerous to be kept alive. She should be destroyed now before she has a chance to turn on the Horde.

Weaver was interrupted in her brooding as Hordak grew ever louder in his frustrated rejections of the design sketches that Spikor was showing him.

"No, no those hilts are all too small for the stone!" he growled.

"Stone?" Shadow Weaver questioned aloud.

"What kind of gem are we talking about here" Spikor asked. "I can understand wanting to adorn the sword with jewels, it's fairly common, but if it's too big and heavy it'll mess up the weight." After a moment he added, "I'll have to take new calculations," while turning with a grin to Adora, who took a cautious step backward.

"The stone in question is weightless," Hordak said, speaking with a loud tone that clearly demanded Spikor focus his attention on him. Hordak placed a hand to his chest and suddenly a strange blue crystal appeared in his grasp, as though he had pulled it out of his own body.

Shadow Weaver gasped in shock, "Master! Is that what I think it is?"

"This stone is made out of a soul fragment," Hordak nodded. "Not just any soul though, this one holds particular significance. This stone is made from a piece of the soul of King Grayskull himself!"

"WHAT?!?" everyone shouted in unison.

"Master, how did you ever acquire this?" Adora asked.

"As you know," Hordak explained. "During our last battle, after my corporeal form was rent asunder, my spirit passed through Grayskull's body as I was pulled into Despondos, fatally wounding him. What history does not tell however, is that during that moment I also ripped away a piece of his soul and stored it within myself."

"Like you do with those you grant eternalness to?"

"Yes," Hordak nodded. "However, while those souls are given to me willingly in exchange for the gift of living forever young, this I took by force, and gave nothing in return."

"Master, you cannot be serious!" Shadow Weaver gasped.

"Have you ever known me to joke?" Hordak sneered, clearly displeased with her tone. But Weaver would not back down over a matter like this.

"To take such a prize and adorn Adora's sword with it?"

"Shadow Weaver may have a point," Adora said, drawing a surprised look from the dark sorceress. "Surely it can be put to better use than a mere decoration for my blade."

"Grayskull is dead," Hordak shrugged nonchalantly. "As such the soul stone is of no real use to me. Instead it shall rest on your sword as you use it to cut down his very bloodline. This shall be my ultimate revenge. My enemy's spirit shall be able to feel every blow, every slice, every life struck down. As long as this blade stands against his descendants and their followers, Grayskull's soul shall be unable to rest in peace."

"Now that is dark. I love it," Spikor said, reaching for the soul stone. Something in the way he looked at the prize, a sense of longing and greed in his eyes, made Adora intercept him and take the stone herself. Before Spikor could react or protest, she moved away effectively placing Leech between her and the spiny brute.

Leech and Spikor glared at each other, as though each was waiting, even daring the other to make a move. Neither would however, and the stare down became a stalemate.

Shadow Weaver took advantage of this distraction to address Hordak in a low voice so that no one else would hear. "Master, this is too much! I've warned you repeatedly about trusting Adora completely, and you've dismissed it over and over. I've taken it in stride because I know you have had nothing but my word until now, but surely you can see the danger here!"

"Enlighten me," Hordak sneered.

"That girl already has Grayskull's blood in her veins, and now you wish to place part of his soul in her hands? It's power could affect her and bring out the true nature of her being that you believe suppressed. How long do you really think she will remain blind? It's only because of her lack of contact with anyone outside the Horde that she's lasted this long."

"You seem to be implying that I have taken leave of my senses," Hordak said in a displeased tone.

"With all due respect, oh great and powerful one, what you think will be your greatest weapon against your foes will surely be your undoing! Adora simply cannot…"

Shadow Weaver paused here as she noticed a small red gemstone that had appeared suddenly in Hordak's hand. A soon as Hordak was sure she had seen it he closed his hand around the stone and began squeezing it hard. At the same time Weaver clutched her chest as she felt a sharp pain. The tighter Hordak squeezed the stone, the greater the pain became. She could barely move, barely breathe. It felt as though her heart was being crushed within her own body.

"This is the only influence these soul stones have Shadow Weaver!" Hordak snarled. "They do not threaten my power, they only increase it! You are of great use to me, but you need to remember your place! You have heard of what happened to Calix when he dared to question my judgment! I could easily do the same to you, and your body is much more fragile than his was."

"Master…. Please…" Shadow Weaver gasped, barely able to talk.

"Now Weaver," Hordak said, loosening his grip slightly but still keeping her in pain, "Suppose for a moment Adora does slip out of my control, are you suggesting I won't be able to handle one teenage girl? Do you not think I haven't thought about every possibility?"

"I do! I do!" Shadow Weaver groaned, desperate to stop the torture. Hordak's face implied he did not truly believe her sincerity, nevertheless he released his grip. Weaver took deep breaths regaining herself as Hordak absorbed the soul stone back into his body. Turning away from her he noticed Adora staring at the stone in her hand with a mixture of curiosity and entrancement. As he moved to her he addressed Shadow Weaver over his shoulder.

"My patience has its limits Weaver, and you have reached them! I'd advise you never to speak of such things to me again." Shadow Weaver nodded. She would not stop thinking such things, for she knew she was right, but to say anything out loud would be a death wish.

"Come child," Hordak said to Adora. "We must hand over the stone so that Spikor can begin his work."

"Master," Adora said soft and hesitantly, "I am unsure of this."

"Do not worry Adora," Hordak grinned. "I doubt the blacksmith will be foolish enough to do anything with the stone besides that which I have instructed." Here he turned to Spikor and spoke with a less then subtle tone. "Because I'm sure he realizes, should he cross me, my fury will make anything his spikes could do seem like a tickle!"

Adora shook her head. "It's not that My Lord. Forgive me for being so forward, but somehow I'm troubled by the thought of wielding a piece of Grayskull's soul. I know he wronged you and that you have every right to seek vengeance, but somehow the thought of tormenting his soul for eternity just seems wrong to me."

Hordak was taken aback for a moment and his eyes drifted toward Shadow Weaver who resisted the urge to imply an "I told you so" and simply made a gesture to indicate Hordak should deal with it as he saw fit.

"Now Adora," Hordak said in an uncharacteristicly gentle tone. "You know of the cruelties of Grayskull and his line. All the torments we have endured because of him. You yourself had to grow up in Despondos because of his decedents." As he spoke Hordak slowly ran his hand over Adora's head as though stroking her hair. With this Adora's expression changed and she blinked rapidly as if suddenly dazed and confused.

"No.. yes... I... I don't..."

"It is rightful justice," Hordak whispered in her ear. "Grayskull must suffer. It is for the good of us all."

Adora straightened. Her face turned into a sinister sneer and, ever so briefly, her bright blue eyes flashed blood red. "Yes," she hissed, "for the good of us all." With that she handed over the stone.

Shadow Weaver clenched her fists and ground her teeth in fury. You fool! she sneered in her mind at Hordak. Have you no eyes, no brain to see the truth, or are you simply to stubborn to admit that I am right and you are wrong? No matter how many times you strengthen that spell, she will continue to break through with her true nature until one day no amount of magic or lies will be able to keep her under your control. When that day comes there will be nothing you can do. Well you may be content to steer yourself towards destruction, but I will not be dragged down with you. If Hordak won't do what needs to be done with Adora, then I'll just have to handle the matter myself.

I must be cautious, she thought as she began pacing, an oddity since her feet did not touch the ground. Though this is for Hordak's own good, he would not see it so. Were he to know it was I who destroyed Adora, I would find myself slain as well. I will have to somehow arrange for her death in such a way as I appear guiltless.

"What sort of treachery is this?" Hordak roared drawing a shocked gasp from Shadow Weaver. For a moment she thought he had somehow been able to hear her thoughts. She quickly relaxed however as she turned and saw Hordak had been speaking to Spikor and not her.

"I'm not a sorcerer," Spikor complained. "I can't just make a sword magically appear in seconds. It takes time to properly forge a blade. Particularly if you want it to be the best it can possibly be."

"This sword was intended to be first used for a specific assassination," Hordak explained, though with a touch more patience. "Time is a factor."

"Do you want it fast or do you want it good?" Spikor grunted, taking a firm stance.

"I believe my master would like the best combination of both," Adora offered.

Spikor thought for a moment then said, "If I put off all other work and only concentrate on the one sword I can have it ready in two days. That's the best I can do."

"That would put us right on the prince's birthday itself," Adora said to Hordak. "It's not before like you wanted but killing him on the actual date would be equally devastating to the Eternians, if not more so."

"True," Hordak nodded. "However, that is also when security will be at its tightest, making the challenge and danger to you far too high."

"Then it would seem you must make a choice master," Shadow Weaver said. "Which is more important? Killing the prince before his birthday, or killing him with the new sword.. The choice is yours of course," she added quickly with a slight bow. "If I may offer my opinion however, I say strike now. It is not as though they will know the significance of the sword."

"Very well," Hordak said. "But to help assure Adora's successful infiltration, you, Weaver, will go along to provide a distraction while she slips in."

"Alone?"

Hordak sneered as though he was going to say yes, but then waved his hand in dismissal. "Take along some backup then. Just remember you are simply trying to divert attention, not wipe them out."

"As you wish," Weaver nodded. "In fact, I have a plan in mind already."