Noticing Adam: The Uprising Chapter 12

Adam stared at the man before him and didn't know quite what to do. Like all the other people he had seen that day, this stranger looked vaguely familiar to him. Unfortunately, he couldn't place where he had seen him. Swallowing roughly, he asked, "Who are you?"

Before the man could answer, Hordak hissed, "Do not listen to a word he says Adam! He's a filthy, lying rebel!"

Adam gripped his sword tighter, feeling more and more awkward by the second because the weapon didn't feel like his, and took in the man's appearance. He was surprised to see the crown on his head. The stranger was obviously a king and he wondered what realm the Rebel had ruled over, because he thought he knew all of the former nobility on the planet. Clearly, he was wrong.

Despite Hordak's attempt to stop their conversation, the man answered, "I'm your father, Adam."

"What?" Adam gasped. He took a step back and ran into Hordak.

"I told you he was a liar…" Hordak whispered in his ear. Before he could say anything else, She-Ra interrupted him.

"He's telling the truth, Adam! This is your father; his name is King Randor!" she cried.

Adam hesitated before he lifted his sword in a protective stance again and said, "You're lying!" He then paused when he remembered that someone had called him "Prince Adam" earlier. Realizing that it might very well be true, he added, "And, even if you're not and you really are my father, I have to question why you are here. You abandoned me and Adora when we were infants! You wanted nothing to do with us! Why show up now?"

Randor shook his head and replied, "Hordak is lying to you, son. I never abandoned you when you were an infant. As a matter of fact, I raised you. You just don't remember it right now, because the Horde has cast a spell on you."

"Do you expect me to believe that when I know that's what you did to Adora?" he spat, but his speech was quickly cut short.

"Adam," called out She-Ra as she stepped back around King Randor. "Listen to your instincts."

"She-Ra," gasped Randor, "that's probably not going to…" His words ceased when she shushed him.

"What do you feel right now, Adam? Who do you feel closer to? Do you really feel like you belong with the Horde? Haven't you felt off recently? Haven't you felt like you don't even know them? Don't you feel something tugging at you right now, telling you that you know us and that you don't want to fight?"

Hordak grabbed his arm and hissed in his ear, "They're trying to brainwash you! Let's go, son! The others are retreating! We cannot defeat them alone!"

Adam turned to leave, but She-Ra yelled out, "Please, Adam! Look at me!"

He looked at her one more time. "Really see me, Adam. Look at me!" She closed her eyes and seemed to be concentrating deeply. Suddenly, he gasped. He felt...he felt his connection with Adora thrumming with life. He didn't know how he knew but she was calling to him. He looked all around, trying to find her, but soon his eyes settled back on She-Ra as Hordak pulled on him.

He snatched himself away from Hordak and continued to stare at her. He almost dropped to his knees, because he suddenly realized that this woman looked exactly like his sister. They could be twins! And, when that thought crossed his mind, that's when he realized the connection with his sister was emanating from her! "Ado…" He stopped himself from calling this woman his sister's name when a strange voice suddenly entered his mind.

"Don't reveal her secret, Adam. Yes, She-Ra is Adora, and it is a secret you have sworn to keep. Remember, Prince Adam, remember!"

This time, Adam did drop to his knees. Hordak, Randor, and She-Ra shouted his name in alarm, but all he could do was look up at this woman. She still looked like Adora, but he didn't know what to believe. Was this really Adora or was it some kind of trick? Hordak said they had brainwashed his sister, and perhaps they were attempting to do the same to him right now. He shook his head warily and asked himself aloud, "What on Eternia should I believe?"

Suddenly, King Randor laughed loudly.

Everyone, Adam included, looked at him like he had lost his mind, but it didn't matter because once again Hordak grabbed Adam by the arm and helped him up. He then shot another freeze ray at the Rebels, which She-Ra blocked with her sword. "Let's go, Adam!" he exclaimed and shot more rays at them as they ran.

King Randor followed and yelled, "Adam, what did you just ask yourself, son? Remember it word-for-word. Remember, you are the Prince of Eternia! Remember what you just said, please, son!"

"Adam, don't listen to him!" Hordak snapped. "They're tricking you!"

She-Ra stepped beside King Randor and cried, "Adam, you said, 'What on Eternia should I believe?' Don't you see, you said 'Eternia.' You are from Eternia, not Etheria. If you had been raised here, you wouldn't have had that word or phrase in your vocabulary! Please, remember us, Adam!"

Hordak shot at them again and said, "They're lying! They're trying to control you! We must leave!" He turned around to run but abruptly stopped. Adam looked around and realized they were surrounded by Rebels. There was no way to escape.

Hordak growled and spat nastily, "Where is Skeletor?"

Adam also looked around for him, but it was useless. Skeletor wasn't there and he had a feeling Hordak's old friend wasn't going to show up.

=)=)=)

Randor cringed as he studied Adam's expression. His boy was so confused and frightened—it was obvious he didn't know what to believe or do. "Oh, please, let me get him back," the king prayed silently. He wanted nothing more than to make all of Adam's fears go away, but he knew that was impossible at this point. He watched as Adam studied everyone who surrounded them. Hordak and he backed up to the front of the Command Crawler. There was nowhere else left to go, because various rebels were on all sides of the vehicle and quickly approaching.

Closing his eyes for a moment as if in prayer, Adam took a step forward and got in front of Hordak. He then held his sword up and prepared for any sudden attacks.

The king paused and grabbed She-Ra's shoulder to stop her from approaching. All the Rebels stopped moving as well. "Adam," said King Randor soothingly. He stepped forward in front of everyone to address him. "I know you're frightened and I know you're worried about your sister. I even know that you're confused and you're questioning who to trust. Ado…She-Ra told you a moment ago to listen to your instincts. Do that now. Do you feel as though you can trust me to keep my word? If you do, then believe this: if you come with us now, I promise the Rebellion will not cast any spells on you and we'll let you spend all the time you want with your sister. You just need to come with us, son."

He extended his hand to him and held his palm out. "Just…drop the sword and take my hand. I promise if you do that, things will get better."

He could tell Adam was giving his words serious thought, but before his son could come to any conclusion, Shadow Weaver suddenly appeared behind him.

"Quickly, into the Crawler, Hordak!" Shadow Weaver touched the side of the vehicle behind them and a door opened. Shadow Weaver floated inside and Hordak quickly followed. He then looked back and extended a hand to Adam. "Son, come on," he said insistently.

Adam turned and stared at Hordak.

Randor knew he was taking a chance, but he realized it was now or never since Adam wasn't paying attention. He rushed forward and grabbed the sword his son was carrying. Unfortunately, Adam didn't let go; instead, he turned back around and began to resist. He whipped the sword out of Randor's hand, and just as Hordak had shown him while sparring, he swept his foot out, caught Randor by the leg, and made him fall to the ground.

Standing over the fallen king, Adam placed the sword's blade at his throat.

"Yes, that's it, son!" cried Hordak.

"ADAM!" She-Ra exclaimed. She ran as close as she dared and whispered so Adam could hear but Hordak couldn't. "Please don't hurt our father, Adam! He just wanted to get the sword out of your hand, so we could take you with us without any fear of attack."

Randor watched as his son swallowed roughly and glanced at her before he looked back down at him.

"Finish him!" Hordak yelled. Knowing they needed to shut him up, several Rebels who were already behind Adam, ran to get to Hordak. The Horde leader sprinted inside before they even got close and sealed the door shut.

Randor could tell Adam knew what just occurred even though he hadn't seen it. He knew the boy was now realizing he was alone and surrounded by Rebels. He was worried it would make Adam react irrationally.

She-Ra, however, obviously confident that she could reach her brother, said, "Did you hear what Hordak just told you to do? He told you to kill this man. Ask yourself if a good and noble guy would really ask you to kill someone who is down. Is that truly who you are? I know that's who Hordak is, but it's not you, Adam, and it's because you weren't raised by him. You were raised by King Randor and Queen Marlena on Eternia."

Then, Randor noticed that Teela walked up and stood beside She-Ra. "And, this is your girlfriend, Adam. Her name is Teela. She's your oldest childhood friend."

She-Ra motioned her head towards Teela and the captain took over. "Adam, I know you recognized me a while ago when you were running to Hordak. I saw you look back at me. If we're lying about you knowing us and that this is your father, then why do you feel like you know us? Why are you recognizing us? Please, believe us. You know us. You love us and we love you. We all need you so much. I need you, because if you're lost to the Horde forever, I'll never forgive myself. I'm the one who is responsible for your capture and your confusion." Tears slipped down her cheeks uncontrollably.

Everyone held their breath momentarily as they watched Adam shake uncontrollably. Suddenly, he dropped the sword and went to his knees. He covered his face with his hands and instantly all three moved towards him. Randor reached him first since he was already on the ground in front of him.

"Adam," he said softly, touching the side of his hand which still covered his face.

His son pulled away, and then the sounds of the Command Crawler turning on grabbed their attention. Adam looked back and watched Hordak and Shadow Weaver leave him. Randor knew Adam was feeling abandoned. He scooted closer to him and whispered, "If he was your father, he wouldn't have left you just now. He would have fought desperately to get you back."

Adam stared at him for a moment and then stood abruptly. Randor also got to his feet as Adam settled his gaze on She-Ra. He watched curiously for what was going to happen next and was surprised when She-Ra simply nodded at his son. Adam then sighed and Randor could tell he had resigned to follow them back to camp.

=)=)=)

I know, I know. It's not that long, but I wanted to get this out. I hope you enjoyed it.