- - -
Sitting on his throne Skeletor stared into the growing darkness unable to quell the growing feeling of unease. Things were going well, better than he had ever hoped. Darconus and his shadow warriors had proved themselves most able allies and still his enemies had not a clue as to the nature of their attackers. Things were as perfect as they were ever going to be and yet there was one bright shining flaw, Lyn was still missing.
Tightening his grip on his Havoc staff Skeletor warred with the urge to abuse one of his minions, before randomly blasting one of the guards that stood silently at the door. Yet even the slump of the soldier's body as he crumpled to the floor unconscious could not relieve that knot of tension. Angst and annoyance, they were the perfect two words to describe his relationship with that upstart witch, he had long awaited the day when having conquered Eternia he would be free to dispose of her once and for all, rid himself forever of the one remaining link with his former life. Yet now his prayers seem to have been answered and instead of relief her absence brought only irritation.
Shaking his head as he forced those long buried emotions back where they belonged, Skeletor returned to the far more pressing problems that the witch's demise created. She had been essential in fulfilling his obligations towards Darconus and now her continued absence had been noted by his dark warriors. There was only so long he could convince the shadow warriors she was off on assignment and when they discovered his deception he had better have an alternative in mind or no doubt his newest allies would turn on him just as easily as they had the Eternians.
His foolish brother so quick all those years ago to dismiss his 'foolish myths and fancies' in favour of hard training with a sword, well he was now living to regret his hastiness albeit not for much longer if Skeletor had his way. However it would not be for Darconus to deal with the King and his precious family, no that was an honour Skeletor intended to keep for himself alone. He would keep his 'beloved' brother alive just long enough to realise the completeness of his failure as he watched his beloved wife and son perish before him. Then only when he begged for death would Skeletor release him.
That thought alone brought a painful smile to the dark mage's face, a look so manic that had any of his followers dared to gaze upon it it would have them cringing in horror. Things were going well after all and as for Lyn there were other witches out there, he would have his scouts begin to look at once just so he had something to appease Darconus once the truth about Evil-Lyn was discovered.
- - -
Exhausted Duncan finally roused as the sun finally set on the horizon. Cursing himself for falling asleep when he was supposed to be guarding the sleeping soldier Duncan forced himself back on to his feet staggering over to his patient. Placing his hand on the boy's forehead Duncan was relieved to find it cool and dry, the fever had gone and the blood replenishing potions had managed to place some colour back into his cheeks. Reaching over to the side table where a jug of water sat waiting Duncan damped a cloth before reaching out and squeezing out a few drops onto the boy's parched lips. The moment the drops hit his lips the soldier stirred. Suddenly excited Duncan leant over the boy his hand gripping his shoulder and shaking it slightly until the boy's eyes flickered open.
"Shush lad it's alright now you're safe." Duncan muttered soothingly when the soldier began to panic. "You're in Grayskull." He added when his assurances seemed to make no sense to the lad.
"UNDER ATTACK." The boy screeched seemingly oblivious to Duncan's presence.
Exasperated and unable to think of anything else Duncan barked out in his best Sergeant Major voice. "Attention Private, Report!"
That familiar order seemed to strike home and the boy blinked in the darkness before focusing on ManAtArms. "Sir..." He muttered clearly confused.
"You were attacked and wounded Private but you were found in time and healed. Now report!"
"I...I"
"Report Private!" Duncan practically growled fear gnawing at his belly what if after everything the boy was unable to help them? If they lost what small advantage they had all been counting on? "The enemy what intelligence can you report."
"They came out of the shadows....They were shadows...We tried to fight them, we tried everything but our swords just went through them they just strangled the life right out of the others." The solider gasped fighting back the tears that stung at his eyes.
"By the Elders...." ManAtArms gasped unable to believe what he was hearing. How could their soldiers stand a chance against such an enemy?
- - -
"Keldor." The name seemed to hang in the silent room and more than a few courtiers gaped her breach of etiquette their eyes turning towards the king to see how he would react.
"Personally I have always preferred Your Majesty." Keldor replied, the words spoken softly, but despite the gentle tone Teela could hear the underlying steel in his voice. There was something almost hypnotic in his intonation, a subliminal layering that made her instinctively cringe at his chastisement like an errant child before their parent. "However I'm sure Milady has some excuse for her lapse in judgement not to mention her tardiness. Tell me Teela what is this new game you are playing?"
"I…I" Teela stuttered stumbling over her words as she tried to think of something of anything.
"She's an impostor!" A clear confident voice called out and the crowd of courtiers parted effortlessly before her accuser as she stalked the throne room coming to stand in front of Teela, a smirk playing about her lips as Teela stared into eyes that were more than a little familiar. "Not a very competent one at that." Her counterpart added her emerald eyes raking up and down Teela's tattered appearance as she circled her. "As if I'd ever be seen in that rag!"
Biting down on her lip Teela fought to keep her temper under control, she matched the patronising glare of her counterpart, taking in the perfectly coiffed auburn hair and the dangerously revealing cut of her court dress. "The feeling is more than mutual I assure you!"
Snorting in amusement Adam finally dragged himself up from his chair beside the throne, his blue eyes raking over Teela's figure before meeting her eye and smirking at the embarrassed blush that stained her cheeks. Wandering over to the little group he placed a restraining hand on Milady's arm. "She certainly sounds like you beloved even if she does lack your charm."
"She sounds nothing like me, it's a common trick, or low grade magics."
"Perhaps…" Keldor replied his dark eyes taking in everything yet giving nothing away as he watched the interaction between them in fascination his eyes straying for a moment onto the silent Lyn before returning to the problem at hand. "Yet I do not sense any such thing and I doubt this little scrap has enough power in her to confound my sight."
"Could it be possible sire that they are twins? That the traitor concealed this other from us?" Adam asked watching as his uncle paused to consider it, an elegant long finger rubbing his royal chin.
"Again it is possible, her father was indeed a master of deception, it was almost shame we had to execute him."
Gasping in horror Teela lost what little control she still had over her temper, balling her fists she tensed ready to lay into the first person to twitch. "How dare…"
"As touching as this little scene is, some of us would prefer to find out what is really going on." Evil-Lyn's curt tone dampened Teela's anger, she had forgotten about the witch, at least Evil-Lyn's sarcasm was something she could rely on.
"I am trying to."
Snorting in derision Lyn stretched her manacled arms surprising everyone when her bonds dropped to her feet. "Standard Eternian Locks a mere child could have figured them out." She explained kicking them aside as she stepped forward, her ice blue eyes flickering between the two Teelas, a slight smirk pulling at her lips as she caught sight of the look of disgust and the wrinkled nose on the pampered version's face. "My apologies your highnesses I seem to have forgotten to pack my best dress." She added sarcastically dipping a curtsey in her ripped bodysuit and armour.
"And you are?"
"No one important." Lyn replied enigmatically meeting the Prince's gaze and holding it until Adam started to squirm. "Just a visitor passing through your realm."
"A visitor in manacles?" Milady scoffed.
"I didn't arrive in manacles." Lyn retorted. "That was an over-reaction by one of your green soldiers, as if poor little me could possibly be a threat."
"Size can be deceptive, and I for one never under-estimate anyone." Adam replied his eyes narrowing as they flickered back and forth between Evil-Lyn and Teela. "And this smells too much like rebel trickery. Have you been sent here to assassinate us, some foolish attempt to prevent the Calling Ceremony?"
"The What?" Teela blustered; her ignorance and confusion clear to everyone, eliciting raised eyebrows from the Royal family and a dramatic eye rolling from Evil-Lyn.
"Captain did you lose your brains as well as your common sense during our little trip?" Lyn muttered truly astounded by her companion's stupidity. "I thought you sought to gain information not reveal it?"
Biting her lip Teela settled for simply glaring at the smirking witch, eyeing up the guards that Prince Adam waved forward.
"Take them to the dungeon we will deal with them later, now we have our guests to attend to." Keldor announced his interest in the newcomers waning when compared to the delights of the dancing girls. "Oh and find this one some non-standard Eternian locks. I wouldn't want you to grow complacent my dear." He added as a throwaway to Lyn who to his surprise merely shrugged it off. His eyes narrowing for a moment before he resumed his amenable expression.
Resisting the urge to throw a quick punch Teela reluctantly allowed the Royal Guards to bind her wrists. Glancing back at Evil-Lyn she spat. "This is all your fault!"
- - -
"Can't you magic us out of here?"
Sighing Evil-Lyn rolled her eyes as Teela continued to whine, biting back a cutting remark that would only exacerbate the Captain. "No."
"Can't or Won't?" Teela retorted her blue eyes narrowing in frustration as the witch continued to sit in silence studying her manacles.
"Both actually." Lyn replied lifting her ice coloured eyes from her task to meet Teela's gaze. "Teleporting requires a great deal of magical energy, something I exhausted trying to escape from that energy field, not to mention dangerous without a focusing device to control the magical flow. And you destroyed my wand remember?" She added spitefully.
"You attacked me as I recall." Teela countered a smirk gracing her lips as Lyn was forced to concede that point. "So if you can't magic us out of here I suppose that leaves it up to me."
"What are you going to do? Roundhouse a whole barrack of guards? Hmmm perhaps you can win them over with you obvious charm and sophistication?"
"If you don't have anything productive to add then why don't you just shut up?" Teela snapped, her fiery temper getting the better of her. "I need to think of a way out."
"Why?" Lyn asked clearly amused as she picked at her manacles.
Gasping in surprise Teela retorted. "You're not actually suggesting we stay here? Wait for them to execute us?"
"Clearly not you foolish girl." Lyn retorted, a small smirk playing around her lips, as Teela bristled at the jibe about her age.
"What I mean is you shouldn't rush into these things, even if you could figure a way out of the dungeons, where would we go? How do we get back? What sort of opposition would we face? Here we can gather such intelligence until the time is right to make our move." Lyn added as if explaining to a particularly slow child or Beastman. "Surely your father the 'Oh so great and wonderful Man-at-Arms' taught you such things?"
"Don't you talk about my father, you're not fit to speak his name!"
Shrugging Lyn quickly returned to her task and within a minute her bindings dropped to the floor. Standing up she stretched, suppressing her amusement as Teela scowled.
"How the hell do you do that?" Teela blurted out an edge of admiration in her voice as Lyn made quick work of her ankle chain and stretched out comfortably on her bunk.
"Practice child, endless practice."
"What does Skeletor tie you up on a regular basis? I should have realised he was into that!" Teela said before she could stop herself, realising too late her own precarious position. Yet she needn't have worried as a tired Lyn merely lifted an eyebrow before shifting to make herself more comfortable.
"What an imagination you have." Lyn murmured, her eyes drifting shut as her exhaustion caught up with her.
"You're just going to leave me like this?"
Wearily opening one eye Lyn met Teela's gaze trying to contain her exhaustion from showing. "Try using the intelligence you were born with…Start at the pin joints." She added before unconsciousness claimed her.
- - -
Outside the King's tent Duncan shifted nervously from foot to foot waiting to be admitted. He wasn't sure which news to break first, his daughter's passing or the truth about their new apparently invincible enemy. Stifling a sob Duncan forced his feelings down, they still had no proof, no body had been found; there was still a chance no matter how remote that the Sorceress was wrong.
"Come in my old friend." Randor called out to Duncan and the old soldier obeyed automatically. "You have news for us?" The king added waving his old friend over a seat, a frown momentarily marring his noble brow at how beaten Duncan appeared.
Sighing deeply Duncan tried to assemble his jumbled thoughts, forcing all thoughts of his daughter from his mind; thousands more Eternian's depended on him to do his job and he couldn't fail them the way he had so clearly failed his only child. "The young private awoke; he spoke of the men's own shadows turning against them, strangling the breath out of them. Yet our soldiers' swords went right through the wraiths and then when Skeletor arrived they vanished back into the darkness."
"The Shadow-warriors." Randor muttered his eyes glazed over in memory.
"Your Majesty?" He-man asked glancing up suddenly. "You've heard of them before?"
Drawn out of his memories Randor caught He-man's intense gaze. "It was just something I remember. A story my grandmother used to tell us, an old myth among her people."
"Many myths have a basis in fact." Duncan offered hopefully. "Can you remember what she told you?"
Settling back in his chair Randor rubbed his chin thoughtfully, forcing his mind back to his childhood, when he and Keldor used to gather at their great-grandmother's feet on the long winter evenings and she would tell then tales from her people. "Once upon a time…" Randor broke off unable to resist a smile at the memory and the way he had fallen into his grandmother's storytelling mode. "there were a race of beings called the shadow mages, so named because of their unique abilities to control their own shadow. They had control of some ancient artefact that enabled them to command their shadows. At first they used this power to command their shadows to carry out their own labours; till the fields, clean their houses whilst the owner was able to sit in leisure. On such a power their civilisation grew bountiful and prosperous yet that was not enough for some of the mages, and in their greed they demanded more of their reflections, pouring more of their power into solidifying their shadows until they had created their own slave race.
What they didn't realise was that as they poured of themselves into the shadows they began to warp, until they were no longer mere reflections of the mage but another being entirely; one that was self aware, growing in power and in hatred for their masters. Eventually they revolted, turning on their masters, reversing the process and pouring their souls into the mage's body and stripping out the original soul. At one point it looked as though the entire race would be wiped out, until one young apprentice broke into the city father's temple and destroyed the artefact."
"What happened next were they destroyed?" Duncan asked.
"Nobody knows, the mages who had been possessed died immediately and the power to control shadows was lost. In time the shadow mages ceased to exist."
"So it couldn't be the same…I mean if the artefact was destroyed." He-man added glancing back and forth between the king and Duncan.
"If it was destroyed." Randor replied wearily. "Keldor often insisted having heard different endings to the story, in some it was destroyed, reabsorbed into the shadows from whence it came. In others the apprentice was only able to shatter it, breaking the spell but not destroying the wraiths entirely. In that story the pieces were taken to the four corners of the globe and hidden lest anyone should ever try to awaken the shadow warriors."
"Someone like Skeletor for example?" He-man muttered darkly.
"Indeed." Randor muttered. "Yet until we find out what this ancient artefact is we are no closer to finding a solution."
"The sorceress might have access to that information, the records of Grayskull are ancient and if any reference to it exists it will be there." He-man replied. "Perhaps we could have Teela look through them?"
Drawing in a shaky breath Duncan choked. "That will not be possible…Teela is…Teela is missing and the sorceress can find no trace of her, no trace at all." He added sadly as he watched He-Man's eyes widen in realisation.
"You can't mean…It's a lie!" The hero of Grayskull insisted jumping to his feet and bringing his great fist down on the King's table, cracking the ancient marble slab in one swift blow. "She isn't dead I would know it…I would feel it…"
"I'm sorry A…He-Man." Duncan corrected, wanting nothing more than to place his arms around his pupil, knowing that the prince would be suffering just as much as he, yet realising in time the illusion of He-Man needed to be preserved even now. "Perhaps there is some other magic at work here…those shadow beasts or whatever they are called may have taken her somewhere beyond the Sorceress's reach?
"Then we must find them!" He-Man demanded. "Now what are we waiting for…"
"No!" Randor insisted drawing himself up to his full height. "I will not send any man under my command on a suicide mission out of anger, we will look for Teela but first we will find out more about what we are up against. Duncan I need you to return to Grayskull, search every record, find me something we can use."
Nodding Man-at-Arms stood and immediately made for his transport, pausing only place a reassuring hand on Adam's shoulder, waiting until the boy met his eye and nodded his agreement. Reassured the prince was not about to run off on some fool's errand Duncan turned and hurried back to Grayskull, a flicker of hope burning deep within his breast.
- - -
"79 minions sitting on a wall
79 minions sitting on a wall
And if 1 stupid minion should accidentally fall
That will be 78 minions…."
"Fine." Lyn huffed angrily, her lips a thin line as she tried to rein in her annoyance. Swinging her feet off her bunk she stomped angrily across the room to where Teela sat smugly. The Captain's childish droning had been carrying on these past two hours and showed no sign of stopping. It was bad enough to have been captured and thrown into a dungeon, being a revolutionary it was a fact of life Lyn had come to accept. But to be contained in a room the size of most broom closets with one of the most annoying childish people she had ever encountered was something else entirely.
"However before I do this I want it understood there will be no more singing, no more whining, in fact no irritating noises of any kind!"
"Agreed." Teela replied sweetly, holding out her manacles watching as the witch expertly manipulated the lock and freed her from her restraint. "Thank you." She added massaging her wrists and getting the blood flowing back into her fingers.
"Now let's work on getting out of here." Teela mumbled drawing herself back, preparing the test the strength of the cell bars with a well placed kick when Evil-Lyn suddenly grabbed her shoulder and forced her down onto her cot.
"Are you a complete idiot?" Lyn hissed in Teela's ear.
"Get off of me!"
"Hush you foolish child, do you not think we are being watched? Even with my strength depleted I can feel the scrying spells on this room. We are being studied and measured, our abilities noted so they can be used against us. If you want to escape then you must let you opponent underestimate you and your abilities…Honestly how you have remained alive so long escapes me completely." Lynn added incredulously as she sat down beside the bodyguard on the bunk.
"Excuse me it is not like I have much experience with breaking out of holding cells!" Teela snorted. "Not being a psychotic terrorist and all."
Shrugging aside the insult as if it meant nothing Lynn continued with her lesson. "They are curious about us now; they don't know what to make of us, especially you what with the likeness to her high and mightiness."
Nodding thoughtfully Teela ran through her memories of that encounter. "It was strange like looking in a mirror and seeing yourself but then not yourself."
"I don't know you both come across as short tempered, brain dead, powerless scraps to me." Lynn teased, smirking when Teela tensed to retaliate. "Although I do admit you have better dress sense!"
Biting back a snide retort, Teela's thoughts turned to the other surprise of the evening. "Keldor as king…What happened to King Randor do you think? I mean Adam's here so some things must have been the same." She added turning to Evil-Lyn, surprised when the witch didn't immediately answer, her pale face even whiter than usual.
"You know something don't you…" Teela snapped accusingly, jolting the witch from her thoughts. "Why is it whenever the King's brother is mentioned everyone gets that look on their face?"
"What look?" Lynn hedged, her stomach twisting at the sound of Keldor's name being spoken aloud; it had been so long since she had even thought it let alone referred to anyone by it, he had been solely Skeletor for so long.
"The King...Our King is the same and my father…I don't think anyone else really remembers him, but….but you knew him too didn't you?" Teela gasped. "How could…he died so long ago…"
"Magic of course." Lyn replied as if explaining to a particularly slow child. "You don't think I simply sprang up out of the earth as I am now do you? I had a mother and father, I too was a child once…Although it seems long enough ago now."
"You…you were a child?" Teela snorted in amusement. "What did your parent's do suckle you on sour milk and let you play with demons instead of puffskins?"
Rolling her eyes Lynn chose to ignore those comments. "What do you think they meant by 'The Calling Ceremony'?"
"If you wanted to know all you had to do was ask?" A smug voice interrupted their solitude and the swish of silk against the flagstones signalled her arrival.
"Milady." Lyn responded courteously inclining her head slightly. "We are honoured." She added a tinge of sarcasm entering her measured tone. "What can we humble prisoners possibly do for you?"
"Hold your tongue for a start I did not come to converse with you!" Milady retorted her blue eyes narrowing in contempt as she caught the witch's barely concealed disgust. "I came to see if my 'double' looked as realistic by daylight as she did last night...You come over here where I can see you!"
Sighing in annoyance Teela got to her feet and performed an exaggerated twirl. "Anything else your highness, perhaps you would like me to do a couple of flips or perhaps sing the national anthem?"
"Silence traitor, I don't know what the rebels were thinking. Were they planning on kidnapping me and have you replace me? Are they that deluded to think you could possibly pass for me, true there is a passing resemblance but nothing more, your manner, your dress..." Milady broke off. "Well whatever their little scheme it has all been for naught, tomorrow you are to compete in the arena with the rest of the prisoners our guests must have their entertainment."
"The arena?" Lyn asked.
"My my you really must be from elsewhere King Keldor's games are legendary. Although somehow I doubt the pair of you will survive the challenges to claim the Royal pardon."
"Oh I don't know I think you'll find we are both full of surprises." Lyn retorted. "Although I would say we are hardly being given a fair opportunity, are the other competitors starved of food and water, and some medical attention to tend to our wounds wouldn't be amiss."
"My aren't we demanding for a mere serf, but King Keldor is nothing but generous your needs will be met and then tomorrow you will die along with all the other traitors." Milday replied drawing herself up to her full height as she stared down at Evil-Lyn in disgust. "I will enjoy watching you beg for mercy."
"I do not beg." Lyn retorted her pride momentarily getting the better of her.
"We shall see." Milday smirked before sweeping out of the dungeon her long red skirts caressing the flagstones as she walked.
- - -