Adam and Teela sat under their favorite tree by the lake, his back against it, her back against the solid wall of his chest, his arms around her middle, their legs entwined as they just relaxed together, Cringer curled up beside them.

"This is nice," Teela commented. "Just relaxing together. It makes me think that you were right in what you said the day we got caught in that storm. I have been working too hard and not giving myself enough time to enjoy life."

"Wait, what was that again? Did you actually admit that I was right about something?" he teased.

"Don't get used to it," she fired back. "I was also right when I said you haven't worked hard enough in your lessons with me. But I do realize that part of that is because you've had other responsibilities that I wasn't aware of. When I think of all the times you've saved this planet, I feel ashamed of myself for yelling at you when you were neglectful of your studies."

"Don't," he replied softly. "It's my fault for never telling you the truth about myself, but when I constantly had your mother in my head reminding me that anyone who knows could be endangered just by knowing, I-I felt I couldn't take that risk."

"How are you feeling now that your father knows?"

"I don't know," he answered honestly. "I thought I'd be in for this huge lecture about not being trustworthy because I lied to him for six years, but he's been weirdly calm about the whole thing. The last time he brought it up was when he brought us breakfast that day after Skeletor's attack on the palace. I have a feeling my mother had something to do with that."

"That wouldn't surprise me. She's always been on your side. Seeing the closeness between you and your mother is what made me want to find mine four years ago."

"That's funny because I've always been a little envious of how close you are to your father and wished I had that with mine."

"I feel like the two of you are at least starting to understand each other better and it seems that he's eased up on his restrictions a bit. I mean, he hasn't said a word about you sleeping in my room for the past three nights."

"My guess is that it's because my father got his wish about us being more discreet after all," Adam laughed. "The way I felt after being trapped in that cage with all my energy being depleted, I couldn't have made love to you if I'd tried."

"Well, I would probably have turned you down even if you'd had the energy to try," she replied. "Two big magical battles in one day and I felt like I could sleep for a solid week. It took a lot of energy to bust you out of that cage."

"I know and that takes us right back to you working too hard and you've taken on even more lately with the things you're learning with the Sorceress while still keeping up with your guard duties and helping my mother with the wedding planning."

"But the wedding planning is only temporary. We'll be married in two more days, then that's all over with. And honestly, most of it is done anyway. The one big thing left is packing up our rooms to move into our new apartment across the palace and it will take both of us to do all that. Of course, that's assuming you're feeling well enough."

He nodded. "My strength is returning more every day. I was even able to finally raise my sword above my head again and draw a little on Grayskull's power to help."

"Oh?" She raised her eyebrows worriedly. "I hope you're not overworking yourself doing that."

"Look who's talking," he countered. "You really should take it a little easier yourself."

"I know, but I'm fine now. Besides, you have no room to talk after what happened to you. I think you need to start being more careful when you're confronting Skeletor, even as He-Man. You may be powerful, but you're not invincible."

"But how was I to know what would happen? I've had this power for six years now and there was only one other time that I ever had something nearly defeat me like that when I first met my sister and Hordak had me trapped in his Magna Beam charger and was sapping my willpower. Even then, once She-Ra got me out of it, I was able to quickly restore it with my sword. I never imagined He-man's power could be just so completely decimated like that. I mean, he never gets tired or needs to retreat or take a break."

"But you do," she pointed out "Knowing the whole truth, I've started to see how much being He-Man takes a toll on your body. I understand now why you always wanted to skip out on your training to nap. I had always thought you were just slacking off, but-" She frowned as she thought back to all the times she'd yelled at him. "I get why you found my comments about it so hurtful."

"It's okay, Teela, as I said, it's mostly my fault for never telling you the truth. You're right though, being He-Man is sometimes tiring because he doesn't need to sleep. But I feel the effects of the lack of sleep when I transform back, just like you're starting to feel the effects of using Grayskull's power as a Sorceress-in-training. But as much as I worry about your safety, I have to admit that even through the pain, I was amazed watching you the day you broke the magic on the cage. You looked like a goddess. You were so beautiful." When she turned her head to face him and raised an eyebrow, he protested, "Come on, Teela, don't give me that look. You know I've always found you beautiful, but this was different. This was…" he trailed off as he was finding it hard to come up with the right word.

"Magical?"

"Definitely magical," he agreed. "Speaking of magic, your mother told me that Skeletor's cage didn't do any lasting damage and as soon as I've got my full strength back, I'll be able to transform again."

"Good," she said in an unconvincing tone. "That's good news. Eternia needs its champion back.

"Why didn't that sound sincere?" he asked.

"I've been thinking since this all happened that while I know your mission means a lot to you and is important to the planet, I thought for a moment that it might be nice not to have to share you with all of Eternia. Does that make me a selfish person?"

"Not any more selfish than I am in wishing you didn't have to take over as the Sorceress of Grayskull one day and leave me behind to raise our children alone," he answered honestly.

"Adam, I already told you that is never going to happen. Didn't I already prove that unlike my mother, I can channel the power of Grayskull from outside the castle? I even did it from an entirely different world just like you do when you change into He-Man on Etheria."

"Not without my sword, I don't," he argued. "And you used a telepathic link with your mother to do that. If you someday take over, you won't have her to do that with anymore."

"That may not be true. Remember when she was sent off to another dimension and the spirit of Grayskull contacted me to take her place temporarily?"

"Well, sure, but-"

"My mother explained to me that it was the spirit of King Grayskull, your ancient ancestor himself contacting me. Just like he and his wife, Queen Veena's spirits stayed there after they died, my mother thinks hers will too because she's so connected to the castle and the other spirits there and since I have a genetic link to her…"

"I see where you're going with this, but if all that's true and she's that connected to it, why can she still not use her powers in her true form outside the castle without being severely weakened?"

"Because unlike any other Sorceress, she was not a direct descendant of Queen Veena," Teela explained. "Also, unlike me, she's not the mother of the next descendant of King Grayskull and Queen Veena. But she's also the most powerful Sorceress the castle has ever known since she's fully immersed herself in its power. Even though I have no direct genetic link to the original inhabitants of Grayskull, I believe once I take her place, I'll still be able to channel its magic through being genetically linked on both sides as a descendant of the current Sorceress and mother of the next heir to that title who will be descendent of Queen Veena."

"But using all that magic outside the castle has been weakening you as well."

"I know, but I believe part of that is because I'm so new at it. Mother told me that when she took down Morgoth and the Horde to drive them off Eternia, even though she went back to Castle Grayskull, she couldn't use her powers for days afterward while she recuperated. I handled two big magical battles in the same day, so I'm already stronger than she is. Mother and I both believe that once I learn more control, it won't take so much effort for me to channel Grayskull's powers. I'm already finding it takes less effort to connect with the Spirit of Grayskull from here."

"You really do think you can have both, don't you? The titles of Queen of Eternia and Sorceress of Grayskull?"

"Yes. I'm determined I will have both, not just for me, but for our daughter so that she never has to make a choice like my mother did in leaving my father and me behind."

"Good, I'm not willing to lose you now after everything it took to get us here. I love you," he crooned in her ear as he leaned forward to lightly brush his lips against hers.

"Mmm," she sighed as they shared several tender kisses. "You know, even though neither of us feels up to making love right now, this is nice all by itself, just being together, holding each other."

"Yeah, it is," he agreed as she leaned back against him again and settled in as he attempted to stifle a yawn.

"You're tired again," she observed. "As much as I hate to say it, we should go back to the palace so you can get some more rest." She gave him a seductive grin. "I want your energy fully restored before our honeymoon."

"I'm sure you do," he replied back with a twinkle in his eyes. "But I don't care how tired I am, I will be making love to you on our wedding night."

"Is that so?"

"Mmm-hmm," he murmured against her lips as they kissed once more.

Cringer made a big show of covering his eyes with his paws and protested, "I wish you two would stop all that mushy stuff."

Adam and Teela laughed and Teela suggested, "Maybe you should find yourself a lady tiger friend." She stroked his ears affectionately.

"No thanks," the tiger sniffed as he curled up into a ball and let out a big yawn. "That sounds awfully tiring."

"Speaking of which, we really should get back to the palace so you can rest, Adam."

"I'm fine right here," he responded as he tightened his arms around her. "Besides, I don't feel like moving enough to get there."

Cringer opened one eye and suggested, "You should just nap right here like I do."

Adam and Teela laughed again and Adam replied, "Good idea, Cringe," as he patted him on the head. Still holding his bride, Adam closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep dreaming of their future together.

Adam awoke and judging by the sun's position in the sky, knew he must've slept for hours again. He found that they'd shifted in their sleep where he was now lying on his back with just his head against the tree and Teela had rolled over and was lying on top of him. He ran his hands down her back.

Her eyes fluttered open and she said, "Hey, there," with a smile.

"Hey there, yourself, what's with the big smile?"

"I was just dreaming about our future family," she answered. "Oh, Adam, I know it's still a long time away, but I feel like I can't wait to meet our future children," she kissed him softly, "to hold them in my arms,' she kissed him again, "to see them take their first steps," another kiss, "hear their first words." And one more "and watch them grow up."

"You're going to be an amazing mother in the future," he responded, his heart full of love for her.

"And you, my sweet prince will be a wonderful father when we have our family."

"How touching!" Skeletor sneered from behind their tree. They both jumped to their feet poised in fighting stances. "But you can't make Teela a mother if you don't have a wedding and you can't have a wedding without a bride."

"NO!" Adam yelled when he saw Skeletor point the Havoc Staff at his bride and jumped in front of her, taking the full force of Skeletor's energy blast.

"Adam!" she screamed as he dropped to the ground in front of her. "Mother, I need you," she reached out with her mind as she aimed a blow at Skeletor, "Why can't you just leave us alone, you bone-faced bully!" She fired a freezing blast at him, but he dodged it.

Adam struggled to get to his feet, but couldn't so he reached out with his mind instead. "Adora, help Teela! Skeletor!" That was all he could manage before his head began to pound. He inched his way behind the tree out of Skeletor's view, hoping that if he couldn't transform himself, he could at least transform Cringer so that Battle Cat could help Teela. He groaned in pain as he struggled to get to his sword, but only got it partway out of its scabbard before the effort became too much for him.

Cringer seemed to sense his plan and came around to help, climbing onto Adam's back and nudging the sword with his nose until it fell to the ground. Adam gripped it, but didn't have the strength to raise it due to Skeletor's energy bolt, but he knew he had to try something. "By the power of Grayskull," he said softly so Skeletor wouldn't hear him. He felt the power around him, but he was still too weak to complete the transformation and he didn't know if Cringer would change if he couldn't as he'd never tried it before. He collapsed weakly from the effort. While he'd just had a nice nap and felt better than he had in days, the energy bolt had weakened him again. He tried to shake off its effects and forced himself to a sitting position, worried now that he no longer heard Teela fighting Skeletor. That must mean he'd overpowered her and had taken her to Snake Mountain. He reached for his sword again, closed his eyes to make himself focus and weakly pointed it in Cringer's general direction and repeated, "By the power of Grayskull." He felt his own transformation start and then fizzle out. He hung his head in defeat, but then he heard the familiar roar of Battle Cat. His eyes snapped open. "Wow, I actually did it," he exclaimed with delight.

"No, I did," She-Ra's commanding voice sounded as she leapt onto Battle Cat's back.

He looked up to see his sister standing before him, a smug smile on her face. "I didn't know your sword would work on Cringer," he said in surprise.

"Neither did I, but when I got here I saw what you were trying to do and thought I'd give it a try."

"Skeletor's taken Teela," he quickly informed her. "You have to hurry before he hurts her."

"First, I have to get you back to the palace where you'll be safe."

"No, that'll take too much time. I'll be fine here. Skeletor got what he wanted. Just go get my bride," he commanded. "If he hurt her or our babies, it would kill me."

"Alright," she said skeptically, but did what her brother wanted. She patted Battle Cat and used her brother's typical catchphrase. "Let's go, Cat!"

Battle Cat took off in a hurry, carrying She-Ra on her rescue mission.

In the dungeon of Snake Mountain, Teela, not for the first time, was chained to a wall. "Oh, brother, how do I always end up here," she moaned. She closed her eyes and concentrated, reaching for her mother with her mind. Together, their combined strength broke the magical chains. "Good. Now, I just need a weapon." She looked around the dungeon, but couldn't find anything useful to help her get past Skeletor's hover robots, or for that matter, any of his other minions should they show up and try to stop her escape.

She-Ra led Battle Cat right up to where she knew the dungeons of Snake Mountain were and paused to survey it. She decided this was no time for stealth like last time. That was what had led her brother into a trap. "Okay, Battle Cat. I think the weakest spot in the dungeon wall is right there." She pointed. "Are you with me?"

"I'm with you, She-Ra," he agreed in his low, growling voice, ready for battle.

"Then let's go!"

"Ah-ha!" Teela cried in triumph as she found a good length of loose pipe. "That should work if I can just pry it free." Again, she closed her eyes and with her mother backing her up, yanked it free from the wall. "There! That oughtta be good enough to make those robots fit for nothing but the scrap pile." A loud crash behind her startled her as she whipped around and raised the pipe, prepared for a fight.

"Relax, it's just me," She-Ra said. "My brother sent me to help you." She chuckled at the pipe in Teela's hand. "But I think he underestimated you, maybe you don't need my help."

"Or maybe I do." She nodded to Battle Cat. "I could use a ride out of here."

She-Ra reached for her future sister-in-law's hand and helped her climb onto Battle Cat's back with her. "Before we go though, I think I need to have a word with Skeletor about attacking my family again. I don't think he got the message the last time." She patted Battle Cat again. "Let's go, Cat!"

"I have a few things to say to that bonehead anyway." Teela smiled, pleased that She-Ra had referred to her as family.

"Brace yourself. We're not going in the easy way this time." She-Ra told her.

Teela knew all too well what that meant, having ridden around with He-Man several times. She braced herself for impact just before Battle Cat crashed through the wall of Skeletor's throne room as he was crowing to his minions about finally putting an end to the royal wedding.

"Not so fast," Teela shouted as she and She-Ra leapt from Battle Cat's back both poised in fighting stances. "Don't you know not to count your chickens before they hatch? Adam and I are going to be married and have our family."

"And I'll be here to make sure they do!" She-Ra added.

Beast Man moved as if to attack, but Skeletor held him off with a wave of his hand, "Not yet, you flea-bitten furball." He turned his attention to Teela. "Are you sure you want to go through with a wedding when you know your groom was forced into it?" he jeered.

"That's not true!" Teela argued.

"Come now, Captain, let's not lie to each other. I know you studied the laws of Eternia, so you must know about the law that the prince or princess must be married and produce a royal heir by age twenty-five."

"So? That's an archaic law that hasn't been enforced in centuries."

"Oh? Then how is it that I know through my scrying abilities that my half-wit half-brother resurrected that law just for Prince Adam to force him to get his life together and be a respectable heir apparent?"

"Again, so?"

"So, you don't care that Adam's only marrying you to fulfill his father's wishes?"

She-Ra chimed in. "Don't listen to him, Teela. He's only trying to mess with your mind. I know in my heart that Adam really loves you and wants to marry you. If it were just to fulfill this law, he could've chosen anyone, but he wanted you."

"Oh, but how sad and lonely he would be if it were with anybody, but his faithful childhood companion," Skeletor cooed with glee as he could see he was starting to make Teela uncomfortable.

The Sorceress nudged Teela's mind again. Don't pay any attention to him, my daughter. She-Ra is right. Adam is in love with you and has been for many years. You are his destiny, don't forget that."

"Right," Teela nodded as she shook off Skeletor's taunts. "I get what you're trying to do, but it's not working. You lose."

"Do I? Or are you the real loser? Settling for puny Prince Adam when everyone knows it's your hunky hero, He-Man that you really want, but now you can never have him because I finally killed him."

She-Ra and Teela exchanged knowing looks and Teela smirked at him, satisfied in the knowledge that Skeletor didn't know what they did; that He-Man was still alive and well within Adam.

"She-Ra, I don't know about you, but I think this bag of bones needs to be taught a lesson for what he did to your brother."

"You got it!" They both charged him at the same time, but Beast Man jumped into the fray as well. Soon, Teela and She-Ra were fighting back to back She-Ra against Skeletor and Teela against Beast Man. "Switch with me," Teela hissed to She-Ra as she realized that she was better equipped to deflect Skeletor's energy bolts with her own magic than she was Beast Man's brute strength.

"On three?" She-Ra suggested.

"One."

"Two"

"Three!" Teela cried as they linked arms and did a tandem flip, Teela's feet slamming into Skeletor's bony face, his Havoc Staff flying out of his hands, while She-Ra knocked Beast Man to the ground, knocking him out with one blow, then turning her attention to Trap-Jaw and the swarm of robots that were approaching.

"How sweet that you'd rather fight me," Skeletor taunted her. "Old friends are the best aren't they, like your friendship with Adam that shouldn't be any more than that until his father coerced him into marrying you."

Teela shook her head. "That's not going to work on me again," She swore as he got to his feet and reached for his staff. She waved her hand and it skittered out of his reach.

"How did you do that?"

"I've been learning some new tricks lately," She grinned maliciously at him. "Would you like to see?" She used the heat spell to shoot a blast of hot air his way to demonstrate her new power, knocking him off his feet again. "It's a good thing you don't have any skin left on your face or that might have really hurt."

He leapt to his feet and charged her, Teela swung with the pipe, but he grabbed the end of it and tugged. "I was hoping you'd do that." She released her end of the pipe and fired another bolt of heat at it until it glowed red hot. Skeletor screamed and dropped the pipe. "Let that be a lesson to you to stay away from Adam and me. And just so we're clear, you're not invited to the wedding." Teela turned her attention to She-Ra who was making quick work of the hover robots, a pile of them smoking at her feet while both Trap-Jaw and Beast Man were knocked out against the wall.

"Nice work!"

"Thanks." She-Ra nodded to a still moaning Skeletor. "You too."

"Thanks. You ready to get out of here?"

"Most definitely. I want to check on Adam and I'm sure you do too."

She-Ra whistled for Battle Cat who had Evil-Lyn pinned to the ground preventing her from reaching for her fallen wand. He leapt toward them, pausing just long enough for the two women to clamber onto his back and then they were off again.

They hurried back to the tree by the lake where they'd left Adam and found him fast asleep. Teela knelt by his side and whispered his name, "Adam." When she got no response, she tried again. "Adam." She looked up at She-Ra worriedly, but then let out a shriek when Adam flipped her over and kissed her soundly. Teela wrapped her arms around him and returned his kiss.

"Ahem," She-Ra cleared her throat loudly to get their attention. Adam reluctantly stopped kissing his fiancée and turned his head toward his sister.

Teela playfully slugged him. "You scared me! I thought something was really wrong with you."

"I couldn't resist," he teased.

"So, I take it you're feeling better." Adora said with a scolding look.

"Yeah, it really just took time to shake off the effects of Skeletor's energy bolt." Adam rose from the ground, pulling Teela with him and wrapping his arms around her. "But don't tell Father that I'm doing better or he'll make me go back to sleeping in my own room."

"I hadn't thought of that," Teela replied with a frown. "With your father and his restrictive rules, he'll probably start posting guards outside our rooms."

"But you're their captain," Adam reminded her. "You could just order them to back off."

"Not if they have orders from your father," she pointed out. "I may be their captain, but I don't outrank their king."

"This is ridiculous." She-Ra rolled her eyes. "You're going to be married in two days. You can't keep your hands off each other for that long?" She shook her head. Now that the danger was over, she transformed back into Adora, changing Battle Cat along with her.

"You know, your sister has a point and we are both well enough now to sleep separately. It's only two more days." Teela pointed out.

"Two more long days," he sighed.

"Two more long days you can use to keep recovering so you'll have plenty of stamina for our wedding night."

"Oh, brother," Adora groaned.

"Yes?" Adam teased, finally beginning to feel like his old self again.

"Very funny."

"I want you to know I really do appreciate you helping Teela today."

"Actually, she didn't really need much of my help. All I really did was beat up some robots and knock out Beast Man and Trap-Jaw. She got herself free and took on Skeletor himself all on her own."

"That's my girl," he said proudly as he put one arm around Teela, the other around his sister and they walked back toward the palace together.

When they reached the throne room and told their parents what has happened, the king and queen beamed with pride at their daughter's heroics. Duncan, however, did not look pleased. He glowered at Adam, red-faced and looking like he was ready to explode.

Adam and Teela exchanged worried looks. The last time they'd seen him looking that furious was when Orko had nearly blown up his workshop.

"Are you okay, Father?" Teela asked as she clasped Adam's hand tightly.

"No," he spat angrily. "I am most certainly not okay.


Marius entered Snake Mountain's throne room to find the mess left behind. "What happened here?"

When he heard the story, he replied angrily, "You had Teela here and you let her escape? The best way to stop the wedding would be to keep her away from the palace and you couldn't manage that even with He-Man gone?"

"But She-Ra was here," Skeletor argued. "Just like she was there at the palace when we attacked and she was set on revenge for what I did to her brother. I think I made a grave mistake in eliminating He-Man. Teela is more determined than ever to marry the pathetic prince and provide him an heir now that her heart's desire, He-Man has been destroyed."

"If you think it's He-Man she's always wanted and not Prince Adam, then you don't know her as well as you think you do. Trust me, I was there at the palace when she first became his bodyguard and the way she was all over him tells a different story," he spat bitterly. "As for She-Ra, couldn't you just do to her what you did to He-Man."

"No, I couldn't. It took all the strength I had getting into the abyss of Grayskull to siphon off even a little bit of its power. But, that does give me an idea. She-Ra said she would be here to make sure this wedding happens, which means she's planning on staying away from Etheria at least until then. I must contact Hordak to let him know what's going on here. In the meantime, I have a new job for you. Do you still have your guard uniform?"

"Only the one from when I was in training."

"That's even better," Skeletor cackled maniacally. "Get it while I contact Hordak and I'll let you in on the rest of the plan."