A/N: Decepticon Fan...don't worry. Little Llama Girl has worked it in. What you will see in this chapter is just the start.
"Adam," Malick said, the greeting smile on his face quickly fading. "What brings you to Grayskull again so soon?" Serena appeared at his side, lowering her winged arms slowly as she too caught sense of Adam's concern.
"Keldor said we need to figure out how to drain some power from Faker so that he can destroy him," Adam said slowly. "It got me thinking. Do you think it's possible that Faker absorbed some of Grayskull's power while he was in the abyss?"
Serena and Malick exchanged horrified looks. "Could it be?" Malick asked rhetorically.
"Perhaps. And since it happened in the past, we should be able to see what happened in the mirror," Serena said, striving to remain calm. She waved a hand in front of the mirror, and a scene of Faker, far down the abyss, appeared on the screen. He looked dead at first, then there was a surge of power. As it passed by him, some of the sparks of power fell onto him. It happened several times, then he seemed to wake up. Faker sat up, putting a hand to his head. The next time the white surge of power passed by him, he put a hand out as if curious, and some of the power flowed from the stream to his hand.
"By the Ancients," Adam said, feeling sick to his stomach. "Every time Adora or I called on Grayskull's power, he absorbed some of it?"
"It would seem so," Serena agreed, her brow furrowed in worry.
"It stands to reason, in an odd way," Malick mused. "Faker's resemblance to you must have been strong enough to pull on the power and make it respond to him."
Adam made a face at the thought, disgust strong in his mouth. He ran a hand through his hair. "How on Eternia do we stop him?"
"The Sword of Truth will reveal him for what he is, and will strip Grayskull's power from him," Serena assured him.
Adam fell silent for a moment. So the others were right. Teela needed to go out there with the surveillance team and try to settle this now, before Faker could do any more damage.
Shadows led the way down the marble floor, a horse's length in front of Teela and Adam as they made their way down to the training grounds. Adam squeezed Teela's hand, his heart heavy with worry. Teela returned the squeeze, then pulled him to a stop.
"Adam, I know you don't want me on this mission, but if I can get close enough to Faker to reveal him for who he really is, then I have to take that chance." Teela looked into her husband's eyes and willed him to let go of his reluctance.
Adam met her gaze, but his brow remained furrowed. "I don't like it. I know the others will protect you, and I understand that you can't miss this chance to stop Faker before more people are hurt..." Adam trailed off as he gently placed his hands on Teela's arms. "But I don't like not being out there to protect you."
Teela opened her mouth to protest but Adam held his hands up to stop her protest. "I know you can take care of yourself, Captain," he assured her gently. "I just like it better when I can take care of you."
Teela hugged him impulsively, a flood of warmth consuming her. At the same time, she wondered how much of his concern had to do with no longer being He-Man.
Adam wrapped his arms around her and held on tightly. He closed his eyes and prayed that Good would protect his beautiful wife. When he opened them, Orko was coming down the hallway, attempting to balance a few vials in one hand while carefully holding onto the floating baby carriage with the other.
As they drew near to Teela and Adam, who still stood arm-in-arm, one of the babies let out a screech. Orko obediently stopped the carriage and moved to lift one of them out.
"Oh, let me," Teela offered. She scooped up one of the boys. He was larger than her hand now, but still fit into it. "You're so cute," she said to him, touching his nose with one finger. "Yes you are." The baby Trollan ignored her and continued to scream.
"Here, Teela," Orko said in a weary voice. "You'd better let me. Adam, can you hold these for a minute?" He handed the vials to Adam and took the baby from her. "There, there, Dreeko, here's the bottle." The baby settled down and sucked hungrily.
"Where are you headed, Orko?" Teela asked.
"Ramos asked if I could get samples of common Trollan illnesses so he can study them in the clean research room Man-at-Arms set up. Ramos said with all of the Trollans around the palace it's better to be safe than sorry." Orko floated by the baby carriage and placed a hand on it.
Adam noticed that Orko looked like he was holding himself up by the carriage more than his magic.
"You okay, little guy?" Adam asked in concern.
"Just tired. Dree is even worse than I am. One baby is a ton of work, but three? We're just so tired, and poor Dree doesn't even get away by attending court like I can. I think we'll be okay. In about 25 years," Orko practically groaned.
Adam chuckled and Teela gazed at Orko sympathetically. "Can't you train some members of the palace staff to help out with the babies?" Teela asked.
"You'd allow someone to help?" asked Orko, clearly startled by the idea.
"Of course we would," Adam agreed. "And we wouldn't mind learning about how to care for your children ourselves. After all, they're your children, and that makes them part of the family-just like you."
Orko's weary eyes filled with happy tears. He threw his arms around Adam, but in the process his hand knocked the vials out of Adam's hand and onto the floor with a great crash, some of it splashing onto Teela's and Adam's feet.
"Oh no!" Orko exclaimed in horror. Adam and Teela recoiled, expecting smoke or an explosion, but nothing more happened.
"Tell me that's not what the Trollan diseases were in," Adam said, staring at the floor in dread.
"Uh..." Orko tugged at his scarf nervously. "I'm afraid so."
Teela groaned. "Or-ko." The word was no sooner out of her mouth than she began sneezing rapidly, and her eyes swelled up so much she couldn't even see out of them.
Adam would have laughed, but he suddenly couldn't see either, and every time he breathed he sounded as if he were playing a trumpet.
"You're kidding, right?" Teela wheezed in between sneezes. "How-achoo!-can any virus affect us this-achoo!-quickly?"
"Heh heh," Orko said nervously. "It must be because they're Trollan ones. You don't have any sort of immunity built up—and they are magical."
"Great," said Adam, his voice squeaking.
"I'll just whip up a few cots and go get Ramos," Orko said, wiggling his fingers.
Teela and Adam might have protested, but the gurneys zoomed in from nowhere and knocked into them. They fell unceremoniously onto the conjured cots.
"Or-ko," Teela sneezed. "What are you-"
But before she could finish her question, Orko disappeared in a flash of light-with the three babies.
"I think—achoo!-you're out of this mission," wheezed Adam, not bothering to get up from his cot. He ached all over.
Teela simply groaned and hid her head in her pillow.
"What do you mean you just left them in the hallway," bellowed Ramos as he turned a corner to find the Prince and Princess of Eternos sneezing on the beds.
"I was afraid to try to transport them with my magic, so I had to leave them here." Orko held up his hands as if to stave off the healer's attack. One hand slipped to his scarf to pull on it, his mind partially on his three babies who were now in the care of one of Ramos' nurses.
"And you couldn't have put wheels on those cots?" grumped Ramos as he bent over Adam and Teela and placed wristbands on them. He pressed buttons on the wristbands and a glow surrounded their bodies.
"Oh...heh heh. I didn't think of that. Here," Orko answered nervously. With a wiggle of his fingers the cots now had wheels—and so did Ramos.
"Orko!" Ramos growled.
"Oops, sorry," Orko half-whimpered. He put one hand to his head, snapped his fingers and wiggled his hands again, successfully making the wheels on Ramos' shoes disappear.
"I'll take Prince Adam, and you take Princess Teela," Ramos ordered gruffly, not even acknowledging that the wheels were gone. "Those quarantine cuffs will keep the disease from spreadin' any worse than it already has, but those things run out of energy quick. Come on," he ordered, seeing Orko hanging back guiltily. "Let's get movin'."
"Gotta tell others," wheezed Teela. "Won't be going on mission."
"I'll tell them soon enough, but now you've got ta rest. The little disease carrier thinks he accidently released Trollan Throat Choker disease on you and from what he told me it won't kill ya, but the sooner we start treatment the less likely you are to be in bed for a month." Ramos spoke matter-of-factly, but his eyes belied his concern and frustration.
Adam groaned at Ramos' words, then sneezed loudly.
"A month?" Teela repeated as Ramos and Orko wheeled them into a quarantine room. "You've got to be kidding me." Adam moaned again, and she threw a frown in his general direction. "He's a miserable patient when he's healing from an injury. Do you know how miserable he'll be if he's sick for a month?"
"Is being nasty a side effect of this disease?" Adam retorted hoarsely, even though his body did feel as if it were on fire and he did hate it. "Because if it is, Teela's already got a bad case."
"Um, actually..." Orko said, tugging at his scarf. "It does tend to make people short-tempered."
Ramos shook his head. "Well, you two are stuck in here together. We're not riskin' contamination of anyone else. Orko and the babies will stay in the next room until we're sure they haven't contracted it as well." Orko seemed to want to argue, but Ramos glared at him. "I can't put isolation fields on the babies like I can Adam and Teela. So you have to stay and take care of them."
Orko put a hand in his mouth, chewing on his fingers. The idea of one of the babies getting sick was really frightening, but they should be okay. They had had shots, courtesy of Uncle Montork, almost right after they were born.
"How long's the incubation period?" Ramos asked gruffly.
"What?" Orko asked blankly. Ramos frowned at him, and Orko scrambled mentally to remember. "No more than one day for Trollans." Ramos nodded in satisfaction.
"Maybe She-Ra can heal us," Adam mumbled as Ramos hooked him up to an IV. "No drugs, Ramos."
"Prince Adam, keep your orders to yourself. They don't count in here," Ramos told him stiffly.
"Great idea!" Orko exclaimed. "I'll get She-Ra!"
"You can't get She-Ra," Teela pointed out weakly. "She's still away."
"Oh," Orko said, floating closer to the ground. Then he snapped his fingers. "I'll get Keldor and Lyn instead. Be right back!"
"You will stay right here!" Ramos roared, grabbing Orko by the arm. "I will not have you carryin' this disease all over the palace. I will call Keldor and Lyn."
Adam was in a haze as he lay under Ramos' scanner. He barely noticed Keldor entering.
"I hear you have both been infected by your tiny Trollan terror," joked Keldor. He noted with relief that Adam and Teela were now in long-term individual quarantine fields.
From behind a wide window where he and the babies were sequestered in the next room, Orko harrumphed and crossed his arms. Adam was about to shoot back a smart remark, but instead broke into a sneezing fit that ended with him glowering at Keldor even as he blew his nose on the tissues that were piled between him and Teela.
Keldor chuckled. "I think I'd better just heal you and go."
"First smart—achoo!-thing you've said all day," Teela grumped.
Keldor laid his hand on their arms and sent healing magics through them, but after more than ten minutes of intense concentration, he stepped away, gazing down sadly at his still-sick nephew and niece-in-law. "I'm afraid my magic cannot help it. I'm not sure any can."
"Oh no," moaned Orko. "I knew Trollans couldn't just magic it away, but I was hoping Eternian magics could."
"I wouldn't doubt that all your world's diseases are magic-resistant. Otherwise how would any of your people ever get sick?" pointed out Ramos as he fussed over several screens showing various vitals and readouts of Teela's and Adam's conditions.
Fisto grimaced as he asked Prince Adam to repeat his last sneeze-riddled communication. He growled to himself as he ended communication. As a general rule, Fisto liked Okro-but at moments like these when he took out the one person, Teela, who could reveal Faker for the fraud he was, Fisto felt like punching the little guy straight back to Trolla.
In addition to the time he was forced to dress in a billowy pink lace robe to attend Orko's wedding.
Fisto shook his head and forced himself to relax. It could have been worse with Orko. 'At least I'm not Duncan,' the warrior thought with a shudder.
The masters, his select guard members and the off-worlder Jonas stood in a loose semicircle around the transports.
"We'll have to go ahead without Princess Teela. She has caught a nasty cold." 'Or rather had one splashed all over her,' the grizzled man thought with irritation.
"Duh, that's too bad," said Rammy. "Sure would have been nice to fight a mission with her again. I missed workin' wit' her."
Fisto chuckled. Leave it to Rammy to completely ignore the tactical reason for bringing Teela.
The sharp snap of boots caught their ears just as they were loading into the attack track. Fisto looked up and his stomach turned over.
"So you're short a person for some mission?" Lohni asked, her voice official but her brown eyes soft as she looked at Fisto. "I know I don't have the Sword of Truth, but I'll be happy to help." Her face was slightly flushed. She had deliberately delayed her return to Etheria, hoping for a bit more time with Fisto, but he had been busy. She'd finally decided that if joining him on a mission was what it would take to get some time together, that's what she'd do. It looked like her timing was perfect for once.
Jonas snickered quietly behind his hand. He wasn't sure he felt much being accomplished by this mission as far as the safety of the kingdom was concerned, but he was beginning to sense a reason for it none-the-less.
Fisto swallowed hard, wondering how he was supposed to concentrate on a raving mission with such an important beauty next to him...or was that an important mission and a raving beauty? Suddenly he couldn't think quite straight. 'Cut it out,' he told himself firmly. 'He-Man fought next to Teela many times without seeming like his mind was on her, and we all knew he cared for her. Surely I can manage that with this one.' With that thought firmly in place, he nodded sharply. "An extra set of eyes would be appreciated," he said, "especially one as experienced as yours." 'And beautiful.'
Lohni smiled as if she knew exactly what was on his mind. "Great. Lead the way, Fisto."
He loved the way she said his name, as if it were a real name, not just a nickname. 'Oh boy, I'm in deep,' he thought as he settled into the track and glanced over at her. The funny thing was, he didn't mind. He didn't mind at all.
Teela rolled her eyes in a mixture of sympathy and irritation as Adam moaned. She sympathized with him on one hand; this was a truly rotten illness. But she had never thought "He-Man" would be such a wimp over what amounted to a horrible, miserable cold.
"Would you please stop that?" she asked between gritted teeth.
Adam forced his eyes open. "Was I moaning again?" he rasped. "Sorry about that." He shifted, biting back another groan. The touch of the sheets on his skin even irritated him. "I forgot how awful it is to be sick."
"Huh?" Teela asked blankly, her own thoughts on her terrible thirst.
"I haven't been sick since I-" the door whooshed open and Fisto strode in, forcing Adam to amend his words, "turned eighteen."
"Oh," Teela said, understanding dawning.
"Your Highness," Fisto said, offering a sharp salute.
"What did you find, Fisto?" Adam asked hoarsely.
Fisto grimaced. He did not like returning with so little information. Especially since what information they had was all bad.
"We were unable to find Faker, but so many moved about the camp in heavy cloaks that there was no easy identification of anyone. We heard simple farmers, scholars, and noblemen from kingdoms just outside the borders of Eternos all repeating the same thing. Randor has been brainwashed by Skeletor, and our planet is doomed if they don't help He-Man take the throne." Fisto waited a moment as he saw Prince Adam's pale face flush. He decided that there was no easy way to tell the prince the rest, but he had to.
"There was no sign of advanced weaponry, but there was a powerful magic there. One of the guards had a bit of talent and could sense it, and it gave him the creeps. Unfortunately, he's never developed his skill enough and couldn't tell us more. We tried to get closer. But when we did, we felt the magic affecting us, making us angry and unreasonable. After one of my troops took aim at Stratos, I had to pull out," Fisto finished gruffly. "I am sure the soldier fell under the power of the magic surrounding the place. It was so bad that that Truth Sworn was sick the whole way back. Said the place was contaminated with an evil he's never encountered before."
"By the Ancients," Adam muttered. He coughed heavily, and Fisto waited patiently as Adam caught his breath. "What do you recommend, Fisto?"
Fisto took a deep breath. "We need time to call up all of our troops, Sire. And I believe we need the Sorceress of Grayskull, or perhaps Keldor and Lyn, to help us figure out what could be casting a spell like that."
Adam closed his eyes and almost immediately started drifting. He jerked his head up and fought to stay awake, to focus, but the fever was rampaging through his body, making it difficult. "Go to Grayskull," he managed. "No, wait. Talk to Keldor and Lyn first-see if they have an idea of what Hutch and Marzo might be drawing power from. If that fails, go to Grayskull. The Sorceress might be able to use your memories to help her figure out what the cause is."
Adam took a deeper breath than he should have; it set him off into another round of a hacking cough.
Fisto bowed quickly, gave Adam a pitying glance, then headed down the hall. Adam was panting and holding his head when he finally stopped coughing.
Orko floated in, looking dejected. He and the babies had been released the day before when they showed no signs of the disease, but Orko was still clearly depressed. His ears drooped and his shoulders slumped as he magicked two mugs of ice water over to Adam and Teela with straws so they could sip while reclining.
"Thanks Orko," Teela rasped after taking a long sip.
"Aw. I'm really sorry you two," Orko said softly, playing with the end of his robe. "I wish Keldor could have healed you."
"Orko, stop. Lyn and Keldor both had a good point when they said that if this disease could be charmed away with magic it wouldn't be a disease that Trollans would have," Teela tried to reassure him. By the time she was done speaking though, she wasn't sure that what she had said had made any sense.
"I know, but it doesn't make me feel any better about how sick I made you. And right after you were being so nice to me and Dree Elle." Orko sighed heavily.
"Now, Orko," chided Marlena gently as she walked in the door carrying a tray. "It was an accident. And Ramos agrees that Adam and Teela will be fine when this has run its course. Beating yourself up for it will accomplish nothing."
Marlena sat her tray down between her son and daughter-in-law's bed. She took one steaming bowl from the tray resting between them and turned to Adam. "You first," Marlena said. "The sooner you get better, the sooner Teela can rest without your moaning and groaning."
Adam thought that he might have been offended-if he had enough energy to be, anyway. Instead, he allowed his mother to guide him into a half-sitting position.
"This is my mother's chicken soup recipe. I told you those chickens Orko conjured up would come in handy one day," she joked. "I won't leave till you eat this whole bowl. It's the best thing in the universe when you're sick."
Adam raised the spoon nervously. "This isn't anything like that glop Ramos serves, is it?" he asked suspiciously.
Marlena crossed her arms impatiently. "Eat it, young man, or I'll tell Ramos to bring that glop in here."
Horrified by that thought, Adam obediently took a spoonful. "Mmm." He could almost feel the relief course through his entire body as the hot broth slid down, soothing his sore throat. "This is really good, Mother."
"You don't have to sound so surprised," she said drily. "I do know how to cook." She handed another bowl to Teela. "You too."
The two younger people found themselves eating it faster and faster, until the bowls were empty.
"Wow, I feel so much better!" Teela exclaimed, stretching. "I think my fever's gone!"
"What was in that soup?" Adam asked, again eyeing the bowl a bit suspiciously.
"Just my mother's recipe and a bit of love," Marlena said in surprise. She put a hand to Adam's forehead. "You do seem better. How odd."
"It's not just odd, it's impossible!" squeaked Orko. "This disease lasts at least a month. They've only been sick a few days. I think you may have found a cure!"
A smile tugged at Marlena's mouth. "A cure for the Trollan version of the common cold. How ironic." She turned and left the room, her shoulders shaking with silent laughter, as the others stared at each other in confusion.
"Mother I would think you would want to place that in the Royal Trophy Case," teased Adam. The gaudy flashing and sparking figurine revolved on its neon pedestal. "It's not every day you receive the Trollan Triumph Tribute Award for medical breakthroughs."
Marlena chuckled. "Chicken soup is hardly something I need to include with the memories of battle fought or victories won, my son," she explained with a smile. "Though I am glad I was able to help."
"And to think," teased Teela, "when you took those chickens Orko accidently made and started breeding them in the west garden all we could do was complain about the smell. Now we've been offered a mint for breeding stock and tips on care and raising these weird birds."
Adam grinned as he said, "Well, they don't fly and they have an annoying habit of making a horrible ruckus first thing in the morning when everyone else should be sleeping. They're perfect for Trolla."
"Mother! Adam!" Adora's voice echoed in the hall, interrupting their laughter. A loud thunk sounded as she dropped her suitcases. "We're back!"
Teela, Marlena, and Adam turned to find Adora running down the hall, her blond hair streaming behind her. She threw herself first into Adam's arms, then Marlena's, and finally Teela's, laughing greetings the entire time. Hawk followed more slowly, a look of indulged contentment on his face.
"Adora, you're glowing," Marlena complimented her. "Married life is agreeing with you already."
Adora blushed and tucked a hand through Hawk's arm. "I've never been so happy in my life," she confided.
"Well, I'm glad to see you back. I feel like you've been gone for ages!" Adam exclaimed. He shook Hawk's hand enthusiastically as Marlena gave the ex-pirate a kiss on the cheek.
"Is everything all right?" Adora asked worriedly. "We've already heard about the army massing near Illgar."
Teela and Adam exchanged glances. "You might know as much as we do," Adam said in a frustrated tone. "We had a scouting party go out, but they didn't find much."
Adora was about to respond when she caught sight of the Trollan Triumph Tribute Award. "What is that?" she asked, her eyes wide.
"Mother found the cured for a deadly Trollan disease," Adam said, straight-faced.
"What?" Adora and Hawk asked together.
"Adam, it was not deadly," Marlena scolded him.
"It felt deadly," he grumbled, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
"Wimp," Teela teased him.
"Sounds like we have some news to catch up on," Adora said, looking around at the three of them.
"More than you know," Adam said more seriously.
Adora caught the distress in his tone. "Sounds like we need a brother-sister talk," she said sympathetically, mistakenly believing he needed someone to talk to about He-Man.
Adam shook his head. "No. We need to find Jonas and Antaris. They have a question for you and Hawk. And as much as I'd like for you to enjoy your homecoming first, with the sentencing tomorrow, that's just not possible. They need to speak with you right away." He gestured down the hall. "We'd better go."
Adora gave her mother a quick hug. "We'll catch up later," she promised Marlena, who nodded in response.
It didn't take long for Adora's curiosity about everything to take over her mind. She decided to start with what was most likely the safest topic. "So, while we're on our way, dear brother," she said with a cheeky grin, "what was with the strange sparking hunk of metal in Mother's hands? It didn't seem like something she would usually have. Unless she's planning on a radical redecoration of the palace."
"I think I'd have to run away from home it that was Mother's idea of redecorating," Adam joked. "No, actually Mother really did find a cure to a miserable month-long Trollan illness." Adam chuckled. "Something called chicken soup. The Trollan High Council of Wizards gave Mother the Trollan Tribute Award for Contribution to Health and Magical Malady Prevention." His formal tone did nothing to detract from the absurdness of such a magnificent title belonging to such a gaudy-looking award. Adora giggled and Hawk laughed outright.
"So what is this Antaris wants to speak to us about?" Adora asked after the laughter had subsided.
Adam's grinned faded quickly. The group's pace had slowed as they laughed; Adam purposefully picked up the pace again and the others followed suit.
"I take it it's not about an all expense-paid pleasure cruise to a seaside resort?" guessed Hawk dryly.
"That's a fair guess," said Adam evasively. He turned a corridor to a small set of rooms on the servant's wings.
"You didn't offer our guests a suite?" Adora asked her brother in surprise. "It's not like you to not offer every courtesy to our guests."
"I did, but they knew we were a little tight on space for your wedding, so they volunteered to move down here," Adam countered, shaking his head slightly. He raised an eyebrow at Adora, mildly surprised she hadn't known before where Antaris and Jonas were staying, and that she had thought he might not have offered them a guest suite. "They also asked that they be on the ground floor if possible. They wished to go back and forth to assist with the Alma O'Delan refugees, and this turned out to be easier than the suite they were in before."
Adora nodded and Hawk just shook his head. "They are a strange duo. They make Keldor and Lyn's behavior seem almost normal."
Adam chuckled. "I know. They seem to just drift through their days with little agenda, yet always show up at the most vital moments with assistance or insight. It's strange because it's obvious that they are not planning any of this."
Adora nodded, thinking back to her conversation with Hawk about her responsibilities to Grayskull now that He-Man was gone.
"This is their room," Adam said. He lifted up his hand and knocked two times. Antaris opened the door right away.
"Hello, Prince Adam." He looked over Adam's shoulder and saw Adora and Hawk behind the prince. "And welcome back to the happy couple," he greeted.
"Thank you," Adora said, sensing the warmth and sincerity behind Antaris' words.
"May we come in?" Adam asked.
"Of course," said Antaris, stepping aside and gesturing for Adam, Adora, and Hawk to enter the small room. He motioned for the trio to sit on the nearby beds and he took the small wooden stool and sat between them.
"What can I help you with?" Antaris asked.
"Actually," said Adam, "I want you to tell Adora and Hawk what you shared with me earlier this week."
Antaris nodded, and looked to Adora. "I should start out by telling you that I am aware you are She-Ra."
"How?" gasped Adora. "Did Uncle Keldor-"
"No," interrupted Antaris. "The magic of Grayskull tried to lead us away from understanding the similarities between you and the persona you adopt when powered by the sword, but our bond to the Truth was stronger than that particular magic. And do not fear. It is obvious that the secret to such incredible power must be protected. Jonas and I do not have any intention of sharing what we know of your secret with anyone else."
"Then what is it you want to discuss with us?" asked Hawk tersely. It rankled him that someone had figured out her secret faster than he had, especially these peculiar Truth Sworn.
"I wish to make you aware of another possible threat to your secret and danger to your Castle Grayskull." Antaris swallowed hard. "A woman of evil who is very much familiar to you, Adora."
Adora gasped slightly. "Shadow Weaver is on your world," she said faintly, her stomach dropping to her feet.
"Yes, she is," Antaris answered. "She has placed herself in a position of great influence in Devrian's high council. I do not know if she knows your secret as well, but if she does, I fear she may strike at Castle Grayskull sometime in the near future when Devrian's gaze is otherwise occupied."
"That's not all," prompted Adam.
Antaris nodded. "I share this with you simply for your consideration, Princess Adora. Please do not feel a need to act upon this simply because I share it. A truth revealed is more a tool for Truth Sworn and a gift to assist us in growing our faith."
Adora nodded and Hawk motioned impatiently for Antaris to continue.
"For as long as the Horde has been on our world we have known that our world would live in the dominion of the Horde until the day a prince, one once devoted to evil, and sealed and cleaned by Truth would come to lead us to victory and freedom from the Horde. At Keldor's Rite of Position, it was revealed that he was the one we've been waiting for all this time. It was also revealed that he, the prince, would bring with him a princess, as devoted to good as he was once to evil and together they would see the Horde purified from Evil forever and see our world free and led by Truth once more." Antaris fell silent, allowing them to draw their own conclusions.
Adora worried her lip for a moment.
"Blazing barnacles," Hawk said, annoyed. "And that means we should pack up our bags and take off to Carina? We don't even know if Keldor will be exiled. The way it looks now, he'll be in the prison mines for the rest of his life."
Antaris shook his head and held up his hands. "You misunderstand, my friend. I do not know if Adora is this princess we wait for. I will admit that with her history with the Horde, the power of Grayskull strengthening her, and the great threat that Shadow Weaver will more than likely pose to your world and to Grayskull, it seems logical that Adora would be that princess. However, I have learned not to assume." His gaze shifted to Adam. "You must forgive me if I appeared over-eager, Prince Adam. I'm sure you can understand what seeing these things come to pass means to me after the suffering my world has endured."
"Please don't apologize," Adam said, placing one hand on Antaris' shoulder. "I have witnessed the torment of living under a cruel regime. I understand how eager you must be to see it end."
"I need to speak with Hawk and my family. How soon do you need my answer?" Adora asked softly.
"You don't need to speak with me," Hawk said gruffly. He eyed Adam in a slightly irritated fashion. "Adam's right. That's no way to live." He looked Antaris in the eye for a long moment before turning to Adora. "If you feel we should go, then I agree."
"But I would be leaving Grayskull unprotected, and my family in danger from Hutch, Marzo, and Faker," Adora protested, her brow furrowed with worry.
"We'll manage-" Adam started to assure her, though in his heart he was anything but confident.
"You need not give us an answer now," Antaris interrupted gently. "You can come at any time. We would very much appreciate your help, whether that comes in a few days or a few years."
Adora nodded, her mind heavy with her responsibilities. Adam reached over and grasped her hand for a moment, and her tension eased slightly. He understood. They all did, really. All she could do was consider it, talk to her parents and the Sorceress, and make the decision Grayskull's wisdom told her was right.
But she had a feeling she already knew what it was.
"Too early," grumbled Hawk. He'd had to wake up three hour before dawn to deliver Kobra Khan to his people. Overseeing the extradition of prisoners, apparently, would be one of his tasks as Man-at-Arms one day. Duncan felt Hawk should have hand-on practice with this. "Yeah, right," muttered Hawk. "He just didn't want to do it himself because the Snakepeople have such a strange schedule compared to the rest of us." This abysmal time of the morning was peak business for good old King Hiss and his people.
Normally Hawk enjoyed being up early, but truth be told, he hadn't wanted to get up and leave Adora's side today. He also hadn't slept well. Something about the trial today had him on edge. Having to handle Kobra Khan himself hadn't helped. If it weren't for the fact that everyone else was preparing for the sentencing later that day, he would have talked Fisto into accompanying him. At least two of the regular guards were with him, he reflected as the transport moved onward.
Hawk fought sleep as he watched the villain fidget in his energy cage. This journey couldn't be over soon enough.
"Thank you, Prince Sea Hawk, for delivering this vile traitor back to our people. We have long desired to banish him to our dark moon prison colony. Yet every time he is captured, he escapes," King Hiss said in his gentle voice.
Hawk flinched. It was the first time he'd been addressed as Prince. "I'm glad to hear it," he said to the kind old monarch. "Are you going to try him today?" Hawk sincerely hoped not. Keldor's sentencing was later today. One difficult legal proceeding a day to keep track of was enough for Hawk, thank you very much.
"He has already been tried and convicted. Not since those zealots of the Cult of Serpos, have we had such a vile creature bear the name of Snakeman. And with those fiends we will ship him before the dawn arrives." King Hiss seemed particularly satisfied with this punishment.
"Cult of Serpos?" Hawk asked, his hand lightly touching his cutlass out of habit.
"They were a dark and vile menace to our people. Spreading their poisonous prophesy to our impressionable young ones. They believed that Snake Mountain was a temple to the ancient snake god Serpos, and that deep within its core was the door to unleash the most vile tyrant our people have ever known." The wizened Snakeman shook his head sadly.
"Is it possible? Could this tyrant be brought back?" Hawk asked worriedly. The last thing Eternia needed now was another megalomaniac running rampant across the planet.
"I don't think so," the King said thoughtfully. "Now that Snake Mountain has been destroyed that entrance to our dimension has been destroyed forever. King Hiss the Viper is sealed away forever."
"King Hiss?" asked Hawk, confused. "I thought you were King Hiss?"
The Snakeman chuckled. "I am. Kiss Hiss is the title of all of our people's rulers. The moment a king is chosen of the people, we shed our name like last summer's skin. This King we refer to as viper—the supreme insult—because he is said to have sold his soul for dark magic. It was a magic that allowed him to transform from an ordinary Snakeman to a seven-headed serpent. Each head more deadly and vile than the other." Old King Hiss shivered. "An abomination."
The story was interrupted by the sound of a rocket being launched from the large crater Hawk and King Hiss was overlooking.
"Justice is served. May Eternia never again suffer the presence of Kobra Khan."
Hawk nodded in agreement as he watched Kobra Khan journey through the void of space to his exile.