A/N: You can thank my friend TheSorceressQueen for coaxing me into posting this chapter tonight instead of tomorrow LOL. Again, this is going to be a very different story from the others. I hope you enjoy, and thanks for the reviews :)

Chapter 5

Greyskull's drawbridge lowered, hitting the ground with a reverberating thud as the royal family emerged, Commander Duncan ahead of the party in escort as cordoned off crowds ogled and journalists feverishly clicked away with cameras shouting questions.

"Sire, how do you feel about Prince Keldor's banishment and are you having second thoughts about the stay of execution?"

"Why did the castle erupt—?"

"Where's the Princess' Etherian boyfriend Lieutenant Bow? Are they engaged yet?"

Accustomed to the barrage of probing questions, the four simply withheld comment and made their way to the awaiting carriages, Duncan stepping to the security car that rode ahead.

"Prince Adam, it's been reported that Captain Duncan snuck into your chambers a few nights ago and never emerged! Are you two involved in an illicit affair—?"

The Prince abruptly stopped and whirled on him causing the man to cut himself off, lower his camera, and step back, Adam charging him, Adora grabbing his bicep and pulling him backward snapping him out of whatever it was he wanted to do to the journalist.

They all climbed into the carriage, the footmen hopping on the footrails as the lead snapped the reins, the horses taking off with a hop in near full gallop. Randor eyed his son.

"Pray tell, what the hell was that?"

Adam stared out the window mumbling something.

"Elocution, dear," Marlena stated dryly.

"The fuck should I know…," he quietly replied, his eyes never leaving the window.

"Language, young man," Randor admonished, Adora's sapphire gaze shifting back and forth between the men. His father tried again, "Is he referring to the night that you recovered speech?"

Adam glanced at him before returning to the scenery flying by.

"What did I tell you, son? You must be careful. Teela's reputation is at stake. I know it's a despicable double standard, but she'll suffer far more reproach than you – you know this. We had this talk before."

"I know."

"Brother, were you going to belt that guy or what?"

He quirked an amused brow at her. "I'm not sure. I blacked out so I only remember hearing it and turning around."

Marlena's eyebrows flew up. Adam shrugged.

"You are so fiercely protective of Teela to the point you blacked out?"

Adam nodded at his father.

Knitting his brow, Randor shook his head. "Oh son, you've got to work on that."

"I know. I've known for a while I've got work to do."

He turned his attention to his daughter studying her brother. "And you, young woman—"

Adora snapped her head to him.

"Just as Adam is getting sloppy, you're getting a little too lax engaging in public displays of affection," he accused, "Both of you need to rein it in. Do you understand me?"

Adam rolled his eyes while disappointed, Adora took a deep breath.

"Yes, sir."

"Wait. What exactly is reining it in?" he asked using air quotes.

Randor narrowed his gaze. "If you two can't figure out a way to remain discreet, I'm putting you on a fast until the wedding night—," the King nearly burst into laughter at the expression on the Prince's face— "Yes. If you're caught again, NO fooling around until it's official. And that means no funny business during the entire official courtship either."

Adam squinted at him. "So, Uncle Keldor and I were both sentenced today—"

His sister burst into hearty laughter, his eyes slowly moving to glare at her joviality, Marlena shaking her head as Randor folded his arms in satisfaction watching the countryside whizz by.

Dinner was quiet, only the sounds of dishes breaking the silence.

"So…Mr. Keldor isn't returning to the Palace?"

"No, Orko," Duncan replied. "He did some terrible things. He's banished to the DH."

"Isn't that the territory King Evindor bequeathed to him anyway?"

Randor took a deep breath, attempting to hide the weariness. "Yes, Orko, it is. Knowing what I know about how my brother became so corrupted, I couldn't bring myself to…execute him. Father had already portioned that part of the kingdom to him. Even when I sentenced him for treason back when Adam was little, I never officially took the Dark Hemisphere off the books."

Teela's emerald gaze quietly studied the King's saddened features.

"Some people are angry over your leniency, Sire," Farrell said, "They feel you're getting soft."

Randor shrugged a shoulder. "Perhaps. But I can't overlook how he helped us with Horde Prime. And I can't dismiss the fact he was brainwashed into following that evil witch."

Adam studied him. "You did the right thing, Dad."

His father smiled a nod.

Having already finished his dinner and eyeing his friend's plate, Cringer sat on his haunches, his nose in the air sniffing at all the tasty goodness on the table.

"Cringe," Adam drew out in warning. "Because you stole the steak right off my plate last night, you get nothing."

The cat gave a sigh and lay back down. His golden gaze locked on his friend, he gave an annoyed snort.

*don't think i didn't know where you were today

*you've been with another cat

*i can smell him on you

Both Adam and Teela nearly choked in a fit of laughter on soup and water, Adora joining in hugging her stomach as the only three who can hear the cat's thoughts, the table flinching in surprise.

"What happened?"

Concerned, Marlena and Farrell patted their children's backs.

Coughing, waving a napkin Adam shook his head. "Nothing, Dad, we're fine."

More uncontrolled chuckling as the three young people struggled to recover from Cringer's zinger retort, the cat coolly closing his eyes and resting his head on his paws.

xxx

After dinner everyone called it a night, Adam escorting Adora and Teela to their chambers.

Stopping, his sister gave him a tight squeeze and a kiss on the cheek. "I love you, Brother. And I'm glad you're back. Don't go away ever again—you got that?" her voice initially soft, her tone waxed more like an order at the end of it.

Adam's eyebrows flipped. "Yes, Sir. You sound like my commanding officer."

The women chuckled as Adora hugged Teela. "Good night, Captain. Sleep well."

"Thanks, I will," the Redhead smiled, "You too."

Entering the security code, she opened the door and went through, the two slowly ambling to Teela's next.

Stopping in front of her door they faced each other, glanced at the security detail in the distance, then back at each other.

"Remember the night you performed speech pathology on me?"

Teela's eyebrows darted in amusement before turning into a sexy grin. "Yes," she drew out.

He gazed down at her. "Well, we were ratted out."

Her eyes went wide with horror. "WHAT?"

Pensive he glanced away licking his lips, his gaze distant, Teela unable to take her eyes off of them, her body reacting involuntarily.

"Someone talked to the press. I was asked today why you entered my chambers one night and never left."

She took a sharp intake of air. "Oh no."

Sober, Adam nodded. "As a result, to protect your reputation Dad put me on blast. If I get sloppy like that again, then no sex for the foreseeable future—"

She shook her head and whisper shouted, "Absolutely not, no can do. We'd better go back to using that secret passage—"

"And we'd better do it a little quieter—"

At his reply, Teela clapped a hand over her mouth stifling a laugh.

Settling, she took a deep calming breath. "We'd better be good or else I'm going to scream. And not in a good way."

Pursing his lips, he tilted his head. "Yep." He lifted a fist. "Good night."

She blew an exasperated puff of air, "Night," she said dejectedly, bumping the backs of their fists. Turning, she entered the code and walked in, her eyes locked on his as she closed the door.

With a sigh and his head down, shoving his hands in his pockets he walked to his room.

The next morning, the family assembled in the Drawing Room for a family portrait, Adam yawning and bleary eyed.

"Wake up Brother Dearest, you look woozy." Adora squinted at him. "What were you doing last night?" she teased.

He shot her a Really? look. "Sleeping." He eyed her. "And you? Dreaming about Loverboy?"

Her mouth flew open before punching him in the arm. Hard.

"Shit!" he winced, rubbing his left bicep.

"That's what you get."

"Children! Behave!" Marlena shouted in that motherly-authoritative tone from across the room. "Get over here," she waved as the two made their way to the staging area.

This was the second series of official family portraits to be taken, the first set, digital photos. Today was the sketching for the oil painting which will hang in Greyskull Assembly Hall there at the Palace.

Randor quickly read and signed off on official documents, handing it over to his assistant Lady Daria before taking his seat, Marlena settling next to him. The twins took their positions directly behind their parents—

"No, no, no, Your Highnesses," the artist whined shaking his head. "My Prince, you are to stand behind His Majesty. My Princess, you are behind Her Majesty. You know the significance of this! Please. Quickly, quickly!" he clapped, the twins looking slightly bored and annoyed glancing at each other and switching places, Helmeh at the entrance looking quite pleased, and proud.

With the exception of the Queen who wore a formal gown along with the Queen's sash, ranking pins and diamond pendants topped off with the imperial crown, Randor, Adam, and Adora wore their official military uniforms and sashes determining royal rank (Adora having officially been granted position of Captain in the Eternian Army commensurate with her Force Captain ranking). Adam slouched as Adora looked way too perky—

"No slouching, Prince Adam!" the man tsked. "Bring those broad shoulders square! Be proud! Be—"

"Be quiet," Adam finished, annoyed.

Knowing exactly where he was behind her, Marlena blind slapped her son's arm.

"Ow!"

"I said BEHAVE."

Making a face, the Prince took a deep breath. Shifting his boots to nearly hip distance, straightening and schooling his features he clasped his hands behind his back and lifted his chin—

"Bravo! Perfect, perfect!" the man gushed before closing one eye, holding a brush out aligning with his thumb and motioning with his hands for the four of them to inch closer. They did so and he was satisfied.

As the portraiture began, maintaining the pose, the family relaxed.

"What's on the docket today, children?"

"I've got a meeting with my territory administrators, then off to Etheria."

Adam's eyes darted left.

"Official business?"

"Yes, Dad. Commander Glimmer needs information on some of the remaining Horde safehouses they found in the last few weeks."

"Good. And you, son?"

"Finishing up the last two restoration specs in my southern territories, then sparring."

The King nodded. "Don't forget to get with your mother by end of day today regarding the ceremony logistics—," the twins both groaned—, "Nope, don't want to hear it! She needs both of you to complete the invitee lists, you know this, kids."

"For two people who love having fun, you certainly despise the planning part of it," Marlena snorted a tease. "How else do you think these things get organized? Out of thin air?"

The twins rolled their eyes.

The Princess said goodbye to her assistant Baron Paxton and packed up her desk. Visiting the stalls, she greeted Spirit with a kiss, he braying happily as she saddled him up and rode him, along with her security detail, to Castle Greyskull.

As the drawbridge lowered, she made arrangements for her security, to meet her back at the Castle before teatime. Protesting at first, she assured them that The Rebellion had plenty of guards who could protect her, their concerns allayed as they bowed and monitored her until she disappeared, along with her steed, into the inky blackness that was the castle's gaping maw.

xx

Greeting her, Teela'Na started to open a portal when Adora stopped her.

"I have a question, Sorceress."

She nodded. "Of course, Princess Adora."

"Why was Greyskull silent when Adam was going through his difficulties last week?"

She smiled. "The Omniscient One knows this is a battle Prince Adam must face alone," she explained, her gaze soft and tender. "He carries a dissociative order and has compartmentalized his thoughts and feelings. This is how he adapted and survived his abusive environment as a boy. And this is why you see him react in various contradictory ways to different stimuli."

She reached out a hand and placed it on Adora's wringing ones. "We will always be here for him, but this is something he must conquer within himself. He knows this to be true," she glanced down at the younger woman's anxious response. "He will be alright, Protector. He needs time. As do you," she said with a small smile.

Adora winced and glanced down at her hands before releasing them and fidgeting.

"Sorry."

"No apology necessary, Little One."

The older woman held her gaze. "Are you ready?"

Adora nodded. "I am."

With a smile, the Sorceress turned and flew up a palm, a portal ripping open space and time with a thunderous roar, the sphere rotating, the cold winds whipping their hair, the snowy redwoods of The Whispering Woods swaying in the frigid breeze awaiting them.

She gestured as Adora grasped Spirit's lead and walked through.

Closing the portal, Teela'Na's features suddenly waxed somber.

xxx

-Gymnasium, Eternos Palace -

"Back for more?" Teela taunted, sword in hand as they circled one another.

Adam's gaze tightened. "You wanted a rematch. Granted that was nearly a year ago but still…hold a grudge much?" he teased.

"First point wins. I'm beating you this time, pal," she said, ignoring the dig.

"Keep dreaming."

Captain Duncan lunged at him in a burst of explosive energy, the Prince parrying as she pivoted and brought the blade down axe style, he counter-parrying before executing a coule attempting derobement, opening her up leaving her mid-section vulnerable, she maintaining her grip and blocking with the shield in time, the tip of his blade grazing it as he spun, Teela swinging her blade and missing, rallying and scooping the leg in a miss, Adam back flipping as she recovered in a double spin, the two ending facing each other, their swords clanging entwined, echoing in the empty gym. They stared at each other, their breathing labored.

Adam winked, pissing Teela off as she pushed him away with a grunt-like shout, swung the shield, pivoted and counter-attacked, he parrying, their swords clanging mercilessly.

Unbeknownst to them, a few off-duty guards had gathered outside the gymnasium, peering through the windows as they watched the two spar, placing bets on who would win this time.

Adam tossed his sword in the air, her eyes following it, and, using the diversion for a jump spin hook kick he knocked the shield from her left arm as it hit the mat hard, her jaw dropping as he caught the sword on the way down, she quickly recovering as the two lunging and parrying dueled it out, the audience outside bursting into cheers and jeers.

It went on for a while, both pointless on the board, the two going at it until Teela saw an opening and, sword in hand, did a back handed walkover flip knocking the sword from Adam's hand as it rotated flying upward—

"Shit—"

The crowd went wild as grinning, Teela rushed forward for the winning point, Adam evading with an aerial flip over her head in the opposite direction grabbing the sword on the way down, coming down behind her on a walk landing and slapping the broadside of the blade against her ass.

"Point. I win, Cupcake."

The gallery in the hall erupted in cheers and laughter, the Prince and the Captain's heads snapping to the sound as the guys applauded, whooped and hollered, gawking as money exchanged hands, bets won and lost. Adam gestured at them with his chin.

"Your friends?"

She scowled at him. "Go ahead and gloat, buddy," she teased. "Next time, I'm wiping the floor with your ass. Got it?"

His eyebrows flew up. "Sounds like fun—"

She shoved him, he tripping backward, arms flying as the guards roared with laughter and walked off, three curious off-duty guards staying behind baffled.

The remaining guards peeked through the windows as the Prince and the Captain gathered their gear and walked through the opposite exit, laughing and elbowing one another. The men exchanged wide eyed glances.

"I remember that move at Castle Greyskull," he said, "The one where he throws the blade in the air?"

"Yeah man, me too," the other replied. "And I remember the Captain's back flip, but she was wearing some sort of armor at the time—"

"There can be no doubt that that, my friends, was He-Man and the Sorceress," the third surmised.

He pushed STOP on the recording device.