A/N: Thanks for your readership.

Chapter 4

-Three Days Later, Castle Greyskull-

Drawn to the sensational trial as chronicled by the media and curious about the verdict, thousands of Eternians congregated in the cold, huddled together across the abyss staring at the Olde Castle's ghoulish façade in awe, The Power emanating from its ancient stone foundations terrifying yet intriguing.

Numerous horse drawn carriages, royal traks, and all-terrain vehicles lined the snowy grounds, evidence of the many distinguished attendees inside.

Within, The Masters along with nobles from Eternia and delegates from Etheria gathered once again inside Ambassador Hall for the verdict and subsequent sentencing of The Dark Hemisphere's notorious brigands.

x

Keldor stood erect in the middle of his stony cell, his broad shoulders squared proud and defiant, his long ebony locks tumbling down his back, his chocolate gaze lifted as he listened to the rumblings of those above eager to gawk at and cheer his gruesome fate. He scowled.

"Fuckers," he mumbled.

"Stop whining and take your punishment like a man," came the harsh rebuke from the cell beside him.

Furious, his head snapped right. "I've had enough of your lectures, woman," he said sharply. "The only benefit of our upcoming execution is that I won't have to hear your MOUTH day in and day out!"

Panthor slinked up and rubbed his great body against his leg, the deposed prince glancing down. Kneeling, he stroked the purple cat's back.

"Perhaps they'll show you mercy, old friend," he said quietly. "You didn't ask for any of this."

Just then, an enormous crack of thunder just beyond the iron bars made him flinch and straighten, his eyes fixing on the winged woman.

"You have a visitor, Keldor Miro."

He thought about the irony; he as Skeletor having locked her away in another dimension while he roamed free, the tables now turned. He focused on her voice, so calm and soothing it belied what lie ahead for him just a few levels above. "Who is it?" he demanded.

Gesturing right, she stepped back and slowly vanished, the young man stepping into view, his expression subdued. "Hello, Uncle Keldor."

The older man pursed his lips. "What do you want?"

Folding his arms, Adam shrugged. "It's been a couple of weeks since I saw you last. Wanted to check in on you."

Keldor narrowed his gaze. "Why visit me at all?"

A funny little crooked smile crossed the Blond's lips. "You and I are a lot alike. Although we think we know, neither of us truly understands why someone could love us without qualification." His gaze shifted down to the panther. "You found him?"

"It was your girlfriend's mother who returned him to me," he spat grudgingly. "I suppose another notch of karma has been added to my belt, an unearned favor after what I did to your cat. I'm sure I'll burn in hell—"

"Don't be so sure," Adam replied. "I know what it's like to live tortured by your thoughts; the noise, the self-loathing and condemnation running through your mind twenty-four seven never letting up. I know a little about wanting to end it all only to receive an unexpected act of compassion." He lowered his chin. "Your situation's not as bad as you think."

Feeling a jolt, his uncle furrowed his brow. "Of course, it is."

He shook his head. "What you've done was heinous, no doubt. Although it doesn't absolve you of accountability, you were compromised by an external force. You were jealous and felt unloved and those thought distortions led you to embrace the darkness. You made choices as a result." Unfolding his arms, Adam took a step closer to the iron bars, ebony and sapphire locked.

"Although you may not give a shit, I want you to know I forgive you for selling my sister and me, and I hope someday you forgive yourself and your soul knows peace."

Although he'd hoped for his nephew's pardon, he couldn't believe his ears. Love and forgiveness?

The Prince turned to go—

"Are you saying…you love me? After all I've done to you and your father…your family?" Keldor's voice echoed incredulously.

He turned. "Yeah, I do—"

"For Ancients' sake WHY?" he asked, baffled.

Adam pressed his lips together. "Because…you're my uncle."

The Dark Prince's mouth fell open, Adam kneeling and coaxing Panthor to him, the cat reticent at first, his black gaze focusing before timidly slinking toward the open hand.

He stroked the great cat's head, the cat now comfortably nuzzling and licking his palm. His nephew gave a lopsided smile.

"You're actually a good little kitty, aren't you?"

Panthor now purring moved closer, licking Adam's cheek through the bars with abandon, the young man snorting a laugh, his eyes closed. "I guess you just needed a little love, huh?"

Shocked, Keldor stood frozen at the sight; his former nemesis connecting with Panthor who at one time had despised He-Man and Battlecat. "What the—?"

Another crack of thunder rattled him.

"It is time for the verdict and sentencing," the emerald eyed woman stated calmly and without emotion. Adam stood, Keldor's gaze narrowing.

"Did you do this?"

The Sorceress lifted a brow. "I did nothing. Reconciliation must come from the heart, Keldor Miro. It can neither be conjured or contrived."

He eyed them as the Sorceress and her Champion walked away, his nephew giving him a sharp nod as they disappeared through the ancient doors.

"Duh, gee Boss…that was so touching—"

"Will you shut up, you poor excuse of a crustacean maggot?"

"Master, he was only trying to—"

"SHUT UP!" Trap-Jaw, Tri-Klops, Merman, and Evil-Lyn all chimed out of anxious aggravation. Beastman and Clawful blinked at one another across their cells.

"We just wanted to help," the cerise eyed beast mumbled dejectedly, his hands wrapped around the glowing iron bars.

xxx

With Man-At-Arms standing at attention and The Royal Guard armed and at their posts, their Majesties sat pensive and still in the King's Bench, Prince Adam and Princess Adora flanking them, the nobles and The Masters seated in the gallery, anxious chatter rising as the Magistrate entered. The herald struck his staff three times against the ancient stone.

"Proceedings are now in session! All rise in deference to Their Majesties, King Randor and Queen Marlena, High King and Queen of Eternia and The Three Realms!" he announced.

As these were formal legal proceedings in an Eternian court, everyone, including the Prince and Princess stood bowing and curtseying in genuflection to Randor and Marlena, the purveyors of the Laws of the Land.

Wearing solemn expressions, the couple inclined their chins as everyone took their seats, Stratos and Sy-Klone giving a nod to the Prince who returned it.

Accustomed to the mundane protocols, the Magistrate casually removed his spectacles from his case and hooked them behind his ears. With a sigh, he picked up several documents silently reading over them, Adam and Adora exchanging uneasy glances.

"Castle Greyskull, please present the accused."

Immediately, seven handcuffed individuals materialized before everyone, gasps and chatter waving over the gallery at the impressive sorcery and theatricality. Scowling, Keldor and Evil-Lyn scanned the chambers, everyone gawking as all present recoiled at the giant mutants to their side.

"Your Majesty, may we begin?" the older man asked.

The King gave a nod as the magistrate turned back to his documents.

"Keldor Miro, formerly known as the Prince Royal and Heir Presumptive, son of King Evindor Miro and brother of King Randor Miro—"

"Yeah, yeah I know who I am - we all know who we are, so just get on with it already!" Keldor snapped.

The room erupted in gasps and intrigued musings, the herald pounding the end of his staff against the stone. "Will the chambers now be silent!"

The Miro brothers silently stared at each other, the Magistrate turning to Randor.

"Your Majesty, may we continue?"

Without a word, blinking, Randor nodded.

"Thank you, Sire." He looked at the Seven. "Do any of you have anything to say before we get started?"

"No," Keldor answered for all, his ebony gaze locked straight ahead toward the back of the chambers, his expression stone.

"Very well. You all have been accused of the following: treason, murder, embezzlement, dark sorcery, sedition, abduction, grand larceny and arson…"

As the charges were read off, the attendees gasped, the chatter rising in decibels.

"Witnesses have provided corroborating testimony for every count listed, Greyskull has provided recordings as evidence. After three weeks of deliberation, it is the opinion of this magistrate that you have all been found GUILTY as charged—"

The Seven glanced anxiously at one another as the sound of surprised gasps and chatter filled Ambassador Hall, the herald banging his staff calming everyone as the murmurs died down.

Gathering and tapping the ends of the documents, the judge placed them aside and picked up another set. "Contradictory evidence was produced by The Masters, The Defender and Protector of Castle Greyskull, and the King himself as attestation to the apparent change of heart made by the accused that may significantly impact the sentencing portion of these proceedings—"

More gasps.

"After review and deliberation of the addendum, it is further opinion of this court that one compendium of good acts does not outweigh the decades of atrocities committed by these before you. With that, I do find the following GUILTY; the charges serious enough to qualify these seven for immediate execution—"

As he read off their names, the chambers broke into energetic chatter, Keldor and Evil-Lyn glancing wearily at one another, Clawful and Merman confused, Trap-Jaw and Tri-Klops clenching their jaws in anger as Beastman brought his cuffed wrists to his face and burst into tears, Adam's empathetic gaze falling on his childhood archrival, his brow knit.

"HEY! What happened to Sorceress Teela's promise that we were gonna be changed back to human form, huh?" Trap-Jaw shouted angrily.

Duncan's jaw dropped as the Prince's eyes went wide, the room suddenly hushed to a low murmur at the invocation of the Captain's name, their gazes darting to the royal family. Confused, the judge frowned and pulled off his spectacles.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Yeah! The interim Sorceress of the Castle promised we'd revert back to ourselves after we helped them win against The Horde!" he continued. "That was a gotdamned LIE! Greyskull is nothing but a liar and a con and you can't trust anything he says neither can you trust Captain Teela—!"

Furious the Castle roared, the stones rumbling and quaking at the impertinence, attendees within shrieking and scrambling from their seats while outside, screaming, people began to scatter at the terrifying sight of Greyskull melting down, the Twins staring at each other.

Man-At-Arms rushed to the royal family calling over the Guard as they surrounded them, Duncan's eyes on the ceiling's stones threatening to shake loose and topple while still shackled, the offenders jostled about eyes wide, fearing for their lives as the judge glanced about anxiously, picking up his gavel and banging it against the desk.

"Order! Order in the court—!"

The Sorceress suddenly appeared before the bench in a blinding light and ear-splitting crack of thunder, her features grim, her arms spread wide calming the agitated ancient stone as it slowed and settled.

Silence. She turned to the older man.

"Magistrate, the Spirit of Greyskull will not abide unfounded accusations made against him," she explained, her features stone. "He will however allow the proceedings to continue on the condition there be no further licentious outbursts made by the offendors. Any further allegations will lead to a most dreadful and horrifying end." Snapping her head to him, her furious green gaze locked on Trap-Jaw who seemed to wither under it. Adora leaned over.

"That's definitely where Teela gets her temper from," she whispered.

Her brother pressed his lips together stifling a grin.

The judge blinked open mouthed at the sexy winged woman dressed in emerald armor and matching ethereal eyes. Duncan did his best to hide his pride and amusement.

More silence as all present gawked at the supernatural figurehead before them.

"Jar Dinn?"

The man's startled gaze found the King.

"Continue," Randor calmly stated with a gesture.

With a quick nod, swallowing hard the older man patted the desk attempting to locate his spectacles. Finding them he shakily put them on, the Sorceress closing her eyes, lifting her chin and tossing her arms into the air disappearing with an echoing crack of thunder and lightning, the attendees crying out in awe.

Traumatized, the herald managed only one bang of his staff. "Th-the proceedings are now back in session."

Regaining his composure, the magistrate shifted in his seat and cleared his throat. "N-now that all has been settled, umm, we will begin sentencing. His Majesty has provided his decision," he stopped to pick up a shaky official document. Reading it his eyes went wide, Keldor's narrowed.

Glancing at the King who simply quirked a brow, Jar Dinn cleared his throat once again, his eyes going back to the paper.

"It is the King's decision to remit a permanent stay of execution. His Majesty sentences the guilty to exile to The Dark Hemisphere, never to set foot again upon any of the surrounding lands. If the lawbreakers go against this judgement, re-initiation of said execution will activate immediately without hearing or trial—"

The chambers burst into energetic chatter, some angry, some incredulous over the King's decision, hazel and ebony locking gazes, Keldor shocked at his brother's compassion. His eyes immediately went to his nephew who merely gave a quiet nod.

Evil-Lyn, Beastman, Trap-Jaw, Tri-Klops, Clawful, and Merman stood in shock, eyes round at the King's mercy as the judge banged the gavel once again, the chambers quieting. Putting the papers aside, he picked up a folder, opened it, and read off the following:

"The accused formerly known as Lord Skeletor, Evil-Lyn, Beastman, Trap-Jaw, Tri-Klops, Clawful, and Merman will hereby permanently return to their true forms by the power of Greyskull: Keldor Miro, Evelyn Zieg-Powers, Phineas Quinton, Jamari Trazoid, Tory Klopsmyn, Zaccheus Lobkyn, and Vladimir Mermby and will be remanded to the lands of the aforementioned Dark Hemisphere for life."

More chatter as the Seven, still shackled, began to shimmer with Greyskull's sorcery, their eyes darting about glancing down at themselves as the darkness surrounding Keldor and Evelyn seemed to dissipate, the mutants transforming to their human selves; Phineas back to the bully Adam amusingly remembered, Jamari a stocky ex-soldier from the Mystic Mountain region, Tory a slim, red-haired chemical engineer from Eternos still wearing his lab coat, Zaccheus and Vladimir village fishermen from Maurtenya.

Surprised and relieved, jubilant, the former mutants cried out and danced a jig, Keldor and Evelyn quietly examining each other as the attendees marveled and murmured their shock. The judge banged the gavel once more.

"You will all now be remanded to your place of exile."

Duncan snapped his fingers as the Guard surrounded the sobering criminals, still cuffed. Jar Dinn removed his spectacles.

"Any parting words?"

Keldor glanced up at his big brother who simply held his gaze, his features unreadable. "Only that I am grateful for my brother's act of compassion today and that I will never forget it. We will abide by his judgement. Thank you."

He nodded at the King who nodded back, the former prince's gaze shifting to his Earthen sister-in-law, her hazel-blue gaze filling with tears, his eyes finding his niece and nephew who offered cautious smiles and a nod, he returning it, his ebony gaze glistening with gratitude.

He mouthed, Thank You again as the Royal Guard roughly shoved them from the King's presence and toward the back grounds of the Castle to awaiting traks loaded with food and supplies to start their new lives.

"Your Majesty, do we have your permission to dismiss?"

Randor gave a nod as the gavel banged, the assembly standing and with bows and curtseys began to disperse, chattering amongst themselves at the historic proceedings they were fortunate enough to witness firsthand, The Masters nodding to the Royal Family as they returned to their lands with the promise to attend the upcoming memorial ceremonies.

The family of four didn't stir, they simply sat back and exchanged glances.

Randor took a deep cleansing breath.

"My brother, it's finally over."