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Hi all, apologies for the delay, here is the new chapter it does have some passages I originally posted but there is substantial new material. Enjoy ss9
"She should have reverted by now."
"Should have?" Teela growled her emerald eyes narrowing dangerously. "Just what the hell did you do to her?"
"It was a binding potion; it will prevent her from using her external magic's." The nomad female explained. "It should have forced her to revert to her own form...I don't understand why..." She muttered reaching an intricately decorated hand out to touch Lyn's white hair gently before a startled Teela slapped her away.
"That is her normal form!" Teela snarled placing herself directly between the muttering nomads and Lyn's comatose form. "Has been for as long as I or my father before me have known her, so unless she's kept up a solid pretence for the last 20 years...."
Staggering back in shock the smaller woman glanced between a resolute Teela and the silent Lyn, allowing the captain to catch a glimpse of pale reflective eyes. "That is not possible...This woman has been dead for the last fifteen years...I would have known if she still lived."
"Maybe on this twisted world she has but not where we come from...Another dimension; don't ask me how I don't understand it!" Teela snapped her anger suddenly giving way to shock as the nomad woman dropped to her knees a low keening sound come from the back of her throat as she crawled her way over to Lyn's body, pulling the limp witch's head into her lap. Taking shuddering breaths the woman muttered soothing words in a foreign tongue whilst running her delicate pale hands through Lyn's short hair.
Hesitant and unsure Teela crouched down next to the shaken woman. "Who are you?"
Pausing in her muttering the nomad turned and caught Teela's gaze her pale eyes glassy with tears, eyes that up close were so familiar the breath caught in the Captain's throat. "My name is Rhia, I am her mother."
"Her mother." Teela gasped in disbelief. "But that's...that's just not possible." The bodyguard added crouching besides the trembling woman.
"I am...Her...Well I was the other Lyn's mother, another dimension you say?"
Nodding Teela watched as Rhia bent over her silent daughter her quick hands stroking Lyn's face and hair with the utmost tenderness. That was what it means to have a mother Teela thought bitterly, and even Lyn one of the foulest creatures to crawl out of the dark hemisphere had one that loved her; what had been so wrong with her that Teela's own mother had decided to abandon her? How Teela didn't have long to ponder her own thoughts as there was a sudden upswell of noise.
"The guards are coming, quick we have to hide, help me carry her." Rhia insisted and Teela at once complied but unfortunately they did not move fast enough.
"You there stop, don't move, hands above your head." A particularly aggressive guard demanded and when Teela didn't immediately drop Lyn and obey, she was treated to a quick kick to the back of her legs causing them to buckle and her to drop to her knees.
"Hands above your head now." He added venomously before turning back to his partner. "These the two she wanted."
"Yeah must be a blonde and a red head Milady said."
"Good, now girly you're going to get up nice and slow and keep your hands where I can see them."
Gritting her teeth Teela grudgingly complied, wincing as the handcuffs bit tightly into the skin of her wrists. "Where are we being taken?"
The sudden blow to the back of her head told her that clearly it had been the wrong thing to ask.
"Did I say you could speak?" The guard grunted, following up his punch with a sharp kick to Teela's stomach at caused her to taste bile at the back of her throat.
"Jonas quit toying with the bait and let's go!" His partner grumbled as he slung Lyn's comatose form over his shoulder.
"Bait?" Teela wheezed unable to bite her tongue and earning herself another blow.
"You really are glutton for punishment." Jonas hissed as he grabbed a firm hold of Teela's hair and dragged her up from the floor. "Lucky for you I'm a good mood, you and your little napping friend are going to be the star attraction at a little show the Kings putting on for all his loyal subjects. Good thing the beasties aren't too choosy both of you stink." He muttered before another hard blow to the back of her head sent Teela falling into darkness.
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"Come on Cringer just an hour or so more then we'll head back I promise!" Adam called out urging his reluctant feline friend to follow him further into the forest. "I know I'm close. Finding that crash site was the real breakthrough, I mean it was obvious someone had been and tampered with it but they missed the tracks leading into the forest. Must have been Beastman or one of Skeletor's other dim witted henchmen, how they missed that ripped cloth I'll never know, clearly they never had Duncan for a teacher."
"Mrowllll." Cringer mewled in agreement as he followed in Adam's wake, rubbing his head against his master's thigh before nodding up at the lightening sky.
"I know, I know I said we'd be back before dawn but I know I'm on to something and who knows what will happen to this trail if it's left any longer. Whoever came through here seemed to be putting up quite a fight, and only two sets of prints both of which are smaller than most, possibly two women. You know Cringer if father would let me gamble I would place Eternia's treasury on the chance we're following Teela and Evil-Lyn. That would explain why Skeletor's goons investigated the crash site, Evil-Lyn must be missing as well..."
"Speaking of missing persons!" A loud baritone barked down from the treetops. "I could have sworn you agreed to remain behind and yet here I find you flouting the King's orders."
"Duncan!" Adam called out. "How did you find me?" He asked as the whine of the hover bike indicated the guardsman's descent.
"Simple when I upgraded all of the master's comms I added a homing beacon, considering the amount of time people go missing or are kidnapped by Skeletor's forces I thought it a wise precaution." Man-at-arms added sagely. "Adam why are you here, why did you abandon the army?"
"I didn't abandon anyone!" The prince replied hotly. "Nothing was happening and I needed to do something; Teela has been my best friend all my life I couldn't just sit back and accept the fact that she's gone, I won't! Moreover, look I found a trail, she didn't die in that crash and from the signs of fighting, I say she was well enough to hold her own. I say we follow the trail find out just where she ended up, even if we don't find her it might give us more of an idea just what took her and where they are keeping her."
"Adam..." Duncan began wearily. "I know this is hard to accept, I cannot bring myself to believe it but the Sorceress can find no trace of her, not even a flicker." Choking back a sob he continued. "Even my tracking devices cannot gain a lock. There is no hope."
"Fine." Adam spat his teeth gritted stubbornly. "Even if I accept that, don't we owe it to her to at least find her body, to bring it back to the palace for a proper ceremony, not just leave her for the forest creatures to maul? Or have you really become so cold so damn..."
"Adam!" Duncan growled his normally calm face twisted beyond recognition. "Don't you dare question me! Just because I am able to put the needs of others before my own selfish wishes..."
"Selfish! How dare you of all people accuse me of that, you who know the truth?"
"I will say what I see." Duncan retorted bitterly. "In this you are indulging the child in you not the adult, you wish to prove us all wrong, but your recklessness is putting other lives in danger, as a Prince it is your responsibility to protect those weaker than yourself."
"Well maybe I'm sick of it." Adam gasped dragging his power sword from his sheath. "I never asked for this...I was forced into it. So sure I get to help people but never as me. All people know of Adam is that he's a coward, someone who is a disappointment to his father, who runs out on his friends when they are in trouble well not this time!"
"And what of your father, your mother, what of the people of Eternia who are counting on you to save them?"
"I will, I just need to keep looking…I'll be back in a few hours Duncan you have my word." Adam pleaded.
Although part of him wanted nothing more than to allow it, or even to help the Prince search Duncan had to remain firm. "No there is no time Adam, what if Skeletor attacks whilst you are searching. I must insist that you return with me to the encampment."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I am sorry but you leave me no choice." Duncan muttered pressing a button his armour which caused a thin metal rope to leap out wrapping itself around the young Prince trapping his arms to his side. "Forgive me Adam…" Man-at-arms began keeping a tight hold of the tethered prince. However he had underestimated his opponent as before he could haul the boy in Adam kicked a bucket load of dirt and grit up into the older man's face, then ducking under the rope he turned it into a trip wire and rushed the older warrior.
Suddenly face down on the mossy floor of the forest Duncan rolled to the side just as the rope came swinging back, hitting the ground with a sharp snap. Reaching for his own weapon Duncan cursed when his hand encountered only air. Glancing back he saw his blaster lying back where he had landed the metal rope having severed it in two.
Cursing under his breath Duncan quickly scanned the area for his opponent, but Adam seemed to have vanished. Pulling himself to his feet Man-at-arms strode over to his hover-bike and was just reaching into the side compartment for another blaster when he felt the cold prick of a sword at his neck.
"Drop it."
"Adam."
"I said drop it old man."
"I know you won't hurt me Adam." Man-at-arms retorted confidently his clever mind quickly accessing what resources he had, of course the sleeping vapour. So he dropped the blaster and feigning an injury leant heavily against the bike leaving his right hand free to grope in his second trouser pocket for the vial.
"Don't try anything, I'm going to leave and you will not try to stop me."
"I'm sorry." Duncan muttered before he flung the vial over his shoulder in Adam's general direction, red gaseous smoke filling the air the moment the glass shattered and Duncan immediately activated the gas mask function within his armour. Squinting through the narrowed vision of his mask Man-at-arms waved the gas away, yet instead of a slumped sleeping prince there was only empty woodland.
"Big mistake old man." Adam hissed and a moment later Man-at-arms realised what he meant as his feet went flying out from under him and he was twisted upside down, suspended from his ankles by his own rope. It was Duncan realised a remarkable bit of strategy and part f him couldn't help but he proud the boy had listened to some of his lectures over the years.
"Always remember to guard your rear." Adam mocked. "Never expect your opponent to be where you expect." He added raising Duncan's own spare blaster against him. "I don't know whether to be pleased I bested you or insulted you thought it would be so easy."
"Adam please."
"No Duncan I gave you a chance once before and look where that has gotten us I think It will be best to leave you dangling." The prince retorted before turning to leave.
"You can't just leave. You have a duty…you made a promise the day you took that sword." Duncan cried out in once last attempt to get the boy to see reason
"You're right I did." Adam retorted. "But no one bothered to explain the consequences of that promise did they Man-at-arms. I've spent the last two years running from one fight to the next, and when I'm not fighting I have to see the people I love struggle with their disappointment. Teela thinks I am a coward always running from a fight when I should be standing with my friends. My father, hell even my mother, think I am a disgrace of a prince. They don't realise when I fall asleep in council or seen distracted that I've probably been out all night battling Skeletor and his minions. It's fine for you and the other masters you are credited with all your victories and given chance to recuperate. I am just expected to keep going living two lives, when in fact I am truly living neither, I am just existing."
"Well I've had just about enough as I can stomach." He added flinging the sword down at Duncan's feet. "Here take this back to your precious sorceress tell her to go find somebody else to be the Elder's lapdog, I'm through."
"Adam no...wait..." Duncan called out after the headstrong prince as he ran off into the bush.
'Man-at-Arms....Come in Man-at-Arms...'
Sighing Duncan pulled out his communicator. "Man-at-Arms here."
'Man-at-Arms the King has called an emergency council session your presence is required to escort the Kulatak delegation to the meeting, they are bringing a large deposit of Eternium to aid the war effort.'
"Very well tell King Randor I will see to it immediately." Switching off his communicator Duncan struggled in his bindings, his efforts only sending him swinging gently back and forth. Grunting with the effort Man-at-arms crunched his stomach muscles and pulled his upper body back up towards his bound feet. Reaching into his boot he withdrew a wicked looking knife and began hacking at each metal strand of the rope, thanking the elders for the Eternium blade.
Finally the rope gave way and Man-at-arms returned to the ground. Cursing the Prince's impetuousness he reached down and picked up Adam's power sword, his eyes widening when he caught sight of the other object lying at his feet, Adam's communicator.
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"Hmm interesting." Skeletor murmured rubbing his clawed hand through Panthor's thick purple fur as his doomseeker displayed the disagreement between Duncan and the young prince. "If only we could have gotten close enough to hear what it was about, aye Tri-clops?"
"Any closer and Man-at-Arms would have noticed for sure."
"Hmm well no matter, now we know the little prince is all alone, and unarmed. Hardly a challenge at the best of times but now it would be almost pathetic."
"I could dispatch him for you Lord Skeletor." Tri-Clops offered.
"Naaa let me send one of my animal pals after him Skeletor, they'll squish him good." Beastman countered.
"No...No he is family after all and there are something's one should see to oneself." Skeletor expounded regally his grip tightening on his Havoc staff. "Hold the ground we made over night and keep the scouts looking for a witch...I honestly don't understand what could be possibly be taking you so long?"
"Well it's not like they grow on trees." Beastman muttered. "I never thought I'd miss Evil-Lyn least she could manage his bad moods..."
"What did you say Beastman?" Skeletor hissed his eyes glowing a warning red as his fingers tightened on his havoc staff.
"Nothing Skeletor...it was just his stomach." Tri-Clops insisted elbowing the muttering Beastman. "We're working on it."
"You'd better be."
"We are."
"Hmm." Skeletor grunted before waving Tri-Clops and Beastman out of his throne room.
"I was just saying...." Beastman moaned as Tri-Clops dragged him away before his stupidity got him blasted.
Rubbing his skull Skeletor cursed under his breath, what had he done to be burdened with such idiotic minions?
- - -
Resisting the urge to rub his forehead in frustration Randor settled instead for clenching his fists as General Stingrad of the Andreenids continued to try to score points in face of criticism from Stratos. This war council was getting nowhere fast; in fact they seemed to be going round circles. The only bright spot had been the safe arrival of the Kulatak delegation and their supply of Eternium. Now if only he could get his allies to agree on how to proceed and He-man returned from wherever he had vanished to things might actually start improving.
"And how can we guarantee that…"
Stifling a groan Randor gave into the urge to rub his forehead after all, General Stingrad continued to drone on. It was times like this he was almost tempted to pull a tyrant act, he would bet his entire kingdom Skeletor never wasted time in committee. Smothering a snigger as an image of the arch mage sat surrounded by his dim-witted minions as they debated whether they should attack Grayskull again or perhaps this week they should try their luck with the palace. Narrowing his eyes as he stared at General Stingrad it wasn't an impossible task to superimpose Tri-Klops on the pompous Andreenid or even see a bemused looking Beast-man where the kindly Ram-man stood scratching his helmeted head.
However before he could day dream himself into trouble Man-at-arms caught his king's gaze, and indicated he needed a quick word. "Excuse me General." Randor quickly interrupted. "May I suggest a quick recess; I have intelligence reports to receive."
Falling in step with his old friend Randor followed Duncan out of the tent. "Speak my old friend you look troubled."
"I have troubling news to report sire, the sorceress contacted me early this morning." Duncan paused uncomfortable with the web of half truths he had to feed his king and oldest friend. "She was concerned as Prince Adam had left the protections of Grayskull."
"WHAT!" Randor exclaimed, the blood draining from his face in horror. "Why would he do such a foolhardy thing."
Closing his eyes briefly as he swallowed down the lump in his throat Duncan managed to speak without betraying his own turmoil. "He has taken Teela's death hard, the prince is convinced she is still alive."
"You know this, how?"
"I was able to track him down via his communicator, there was an altercation."
"You had words?" Randor guessed.
"Words and blows." Duncan clarified a hint of colour coming to his cheeks as he admitted. "The Prince was able to incapacitate me and escape."
"Adam…Adam bested you?"
"Indeed he showed himself quite adept." Duncan muttered clearly embarrassed by the fact.
Stunned Randor paced back and forth, just what on earth had possessed Adam to be so foolish. "Now of all times the boy decides to try and prove himself!"
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Groaning as the pounding didn't seem to get any better Lyn reluctantly opened her eyes before immediately closing them again. She had to be delusional, the last thing she remembered was that woman shoving a noxious potion down her throat, it had to be making her hallucinate. Taking several deep breaths Lyn reached for her magic to sooth her headache, annoyed when it responded sluggishly to what was simple internal healing spells. Then once she was feeling marginally better she opened her eyes once more. Damn it had been real all along.
Glancing across she caught sight of Teela and if it wasn't for their equivalent positions she would have laughed. The unconscious bodyguard was bound by thick chains to a large bolder, her long red hair loose about her face and a decidedly diaphanous white dress clinging to her toned body. Their boulder sat the far end of an arena of sorts, high stone walls surrounded a large sandy stadium, above which many stone seats seemed to stretch off into the sky. Seats which seemed to be rapidly filling.
However it wasn't the crowd that continued to hold her attention. A sudden blast of heat caused the temperature in the stadium to rocket and an excited gasp to escape the spectators. Whipping her head round Lyn began to pray to any god that might listen, anything but this, not a Dragon.
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