While Adam and Teela were on their tour, Queen Marlena kept working on wedding preparations and part of that was her desire to include the mother of the bride. The trouble was that she wasn't sure how to proceed as she knew the Sorceress kept herself secured behind the walls of Castle Grayskull.
Two of the people that she knew could contact the Sorceress telepathically were gone, so that only left one other person. She hesitated in asking him though because she'd long suspected that Duncan had a deeper connection to the Sorceress than he'd let on. Having lost her own daughter, it had never made sense to her that any woman would willingly give up her child to some random strange man to raise.
Still, she felt she had no choice. She needed to speak with her son's future mother-in-law and didn't know another way other than just showing up at the castle and hoping to be allowed entrance.
She peered into the open door of Duncan's workshop to see him dismantling a Wind Raider. She took a deep breath to steel her nerves as she lightly tapped on the open door.
When he looked up from his work, she began tentatively, "I hope I'm not intruding."
"Not at all, Your Majesty." He gestured to the craft in front of him. "I was just working on the Wind Raider He-Man and Teela crashed last week. Unfortunately, it's beyond repair, so I was trying to see what parts I can salvage from it."
She frowned at the wreckage. "I'm just grateful that you trained your daughter to be such a skilled pilot, otherwise they could've both been seriously injured in that crash."
He laughed and replied, "Looking at the mess that was made of this Wind Raider, I was just thinking how grateful I am that your son was there to keep my daughter safe."
She nodded. "I believe they keep each other safe and will continue to do so for the rest of their lives. I'm so happy that they finally have each other."
"I am as well," he agreed. "But I have a feeling that you didn't just come here to discuss the incident that happened at Castle Grayskull when Skeletor attacked and blew the wing off this vehicle."
"No, but I did want to speak to you about the Castle or to be more precise, its guardian."
"The Sorceress?" Duncan swallowed hard, hoping that the queen wasn't about to ask him questions he was not prepared to answer regarding his relationship with her. While he had told Teela the whole story about her true parentage, he wasn't yet prepared to share that information with the king and queen or the fact that he'd lied to them for years. He knew it could potentially lead to him having more time with his wife and possibly even attempting to repair their broken marriage, but he wasn't sure he was ready to face the consequences of his deception even though he knew his wife wanted him to.
"Yes, Teela told me the other day that her mother would like to attend the wedding, but I was thinking that with her being the mother of the bride, she should be included as more than simply another wedding guest."
He breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "That's a lovely idea, but what does it have to do with me?"
"Well, I would like to speak to her in person and with Adam and Teela gone, you're the only other person I could think of who knows how to contact her. I would prefer not to just show up at Castle Grayskull unannounced."
"I understand," he nodded, though he didn't like the idea of having his estranged wife in his head again. Still, he knew he was the only option. He called her name, hoping she'd hear him.
"Yes, Duncan?" the Sorceress instantly replied in his head. He explained the situation to her and once he obtained her approval for a visit from the queen, he quickly closed his mind to her again. He turned his attention back to Marlena and with a firm nod, informed her, "She'll be expecting you."
"Thank you, Duncan," she replied gratefully.
"Do you need a ride over there?" he offered, though he wasn't really looking forward to being anywhere near the castle or his wife at the moment. It had now been two days since he'd shared her bed with her and this contact was the first he'd heard from her since then and he'd been the one to initiate the contact. "I can fly you over there in one of the other Wind Raiders of you like."
"No. Thank you. I'd rather do this alone. I can fly myself on the Sky Sled now that Teela's taught me how to pilot them."
"Let me at least send one of the palace guards with you for your protection. Since Skeletor attacked the castle just a few days ago, it might not be safe for you to go alone. If Skeletor were to see the Queen of Eternia flying alone, he might decide-"
"I appreciate your concern, Duncan, but I don't plan on going over there looking like a queen. It's like Teela said the other day, it's a challenge trying to fly a Sky-Sled in a dress."
He laughed and responded, "I should've known that wouldn't stop you. I just want you to promise me you'll be careful. King Randor would kill me if anything happened to you if he knew I let you go alone."
"You're not 'letting' me go alone. As your queen, I'm telling you that I'm going alone. If my dear husband has anything to say about it, he can deal with me."
Before Duncan could protest further, Marlena had turned on her heel and walked out, leaving him alone with his work and his lingering thoughts of his wife. She had insisted he leave the first night, but then pleaded with him to stay the next, followed by silence since then. How were they ever going to figure things out if they didn't communicate with each other? He was beginning to think the only place they communicated well was in bed.
Twenty minutes later, Marlena, dressed in her full flight suit, landed her Sky Sled on the bridge outside the castle. As she dismounted, she looked up at the closed Jaw Bridge, wondering how to proceed.
Just as she thought it, the Jaw Bridge descended and she heard the Sorceress saying, "Welcome, Your Majesty."
Marlena grabbed the bag she'd brought with her, slung it over her shoulder and stepped inside. She removed her helmet as she walked down the long corridor to the throne room where the Sorceress was descending the steps of her throne to greet the queen. Marlena gave a little nod and said, "Thank you for agreeing to see me on such short notice. I apologize if I'm intruding."
"Not at all, Queen Marlena." She gestured to her scrying mirror and walked toward it. "I was just looking in on our children."
Marlena followed her gaze and smiled as she saw the image of her son and future daughter-in-law politely greeting Queen Sumana of Arcadia. "Oh, look at them. They look every bit like a royal couple should."
"Teela looks lovely in the dress you helped her pick out," the Sorceress commented with a smile.
Beneath her light, sweet voice, the queen detected an edge of bitterness in the other woman's tone. "I've merely been trying to help her prepare for her future role as a princess as I myself had no preparation whatsoever for becoming Randor's queen. Do you disapprove?"
"Oh no! Not at all. I am grateful that you have been there for her when I couldn't be, taking her under your wing and teaching her things that only another woman could. Duncan has been a good father to her, but we both know there are things a girl needs that only a motherly figure can give her and it's quite clear that you have that kind of bond with her. I would say the way she speaks so fondly of you, she shares your affection for her. She was quite moved when you offered to lend her your bridal tiara, but I-." She blinked back the tears that had begun to form in her eyes.
"I think I understand. I wasn't able to raise my own daughter either," she reminded the Sorceress.
Teela Na nodded. "I know. I also know how heartbreaking it was for you when Adora was abducted. I suppose it was only natural that you would bond with my daughter, having lost yours."
The queen's eyes narrowed at the implication of her words. "Are you suggesting that my affection for Teela is only because I missed Adora?"
"No, I'm simply saying that as much as it might hurt me that you have a stronger connection to my daughter than I do, I understand why it is."
"Well, I could say the same about you," Marlena replied honestly.
"I don't know what you mean."
"Then allow me to explain. You say you understand how heartbroken I was when my daughter disappeared, but I don't see how you could. You willingly chose to give up your baby daughter and leave her motherless while my little girl was stolen from me and I would've given up everything I had just to know that she was safe and happy."
"You have no idea of my own heartbreak that led me to make that decision. I gave up more than just my daughter that day and it wasn't an easy choice to make."
At seeing the other woman wince, Marlena added, "I believe that and I am sorry to sound so harsh, but it's a fact. It's also a fact that you have known even before Adora was born of her destiny as the champion of Etheria, but didn't bother to inform me or her father. Even now that she has been returned to me, you communicate with her more than I do. You've had this secret relationship with her that I haven't been a part of, with both of my children in fact. I'm afraid I've lost count of how many times Adam has run from our home to do your bidding."
The Sorceress frowned and defended herself, "I was merely doing my job as guardian of Grayskull. The secrets I've kept and even giving up my only child to Duncan was for the best for all three children. None of them would be the people they are now if I hadn't. As for Adam 'doing my bidding' that's never been what it's about; the missions I've sent him on are for the good of all Eternia. I've been doing my part to protect this planet just as you and your husband have and Adam plays a vital role in that." There was an awkward silence between the two women as neither knew quite what to say, until finally she spoke up again, "So, I assume that's why you've come. You have questions about the twins' legacy now that Adam has shared his secret with you."
"No. Even before Adam confessed, I had suspected the truth and I don't need to know more than what he's already told me and I do know that both of my children chose to take on the roles you offered them. I'm quite proud of them for that. Unlike my husband, I don't feel the need to butt into every aspect of my adult son's life, however, I can't say it doesn't still sting that Adora is closer to you than she is to me because you share this magical power with her."
"I've merely acted as a mentor to her, much as Duncan has with Adam. But if your visit isn't about that, why did you come?"
She glanced at her curiously. "Duncan didn't tell you why I wanted to see you?"
"No. Duncan is a little angry with me at the moment and has been trying to limit what contact we have."
"I see him on a daily basis. Is there anything I can do to help smooth things over?"
The Sorceress shook her head. "I'm afraid not. The argument between us is an old one that hasn't ended in over twenty years, since the day I gave Teela to him to raise." It had actually started even before Teela's birth, but the queen didn't know Duncan was her husband and despite their estrangement, she wouldn't betray him by revealing his lies to the king and queen no matter how much she may want the truth to be out so they could finally truly be husband and wife again.
"It certainly wasn't my intention for us to argue about who is closer to whose children, but I am glad we had this conversation because the wedding of our children is coming up fast and I feel it's best that we present a united front to show our support for them."
"I quite agree," the Sorceress agreed. "But as you know, I am unable to leave the castle for extended periods of time and still maintain my powers and my human form. That's why I wasn't at their engagement gala. It's going to be challenging enough just to be there for the wedding. As much as it would pain me to miss my daughter's wedding day, I wonder if I should even attempt it at all. I know she wants me there, but aside from the idea of leaving the castle unprotected for the day, I don't even have a proper dress to wear." She was also quite sure that her husband would no longer want her there.
"I thought of that. That's why I brought this." The queen reached into her bag and brought out a sketchbook. "Teela and I have been putting together a color scheme for the wedding and this is what I had in mind for you and me." She handed off the book to show the other woman. "Since I've been told that underneath your headdress, you have the same bright red hair that Teela does, I thought this color would be flattering to both of us."
"You're having a dress made for me?" Her eyes lit up, deeply moved by the gesture.
"Not yet," Marlena answered as she dug through her bag again. "That's just the design for it." She held up a tape measure. "I need your measurements to get it started."
The Sorceress tapped the opposite page where there was a sketch of another dress in a lighter emerald green. "I assume this one is yours?"
Queen Marlena nodded. "Yes, it's a slightly different design than yours because, let's face it, since I've given birth to twins, my hips are wider than yours and the belted waist on mine will help to minimize that." She indicated the original sketch and added, "And your legs are a bit longer than mine so I thought the asymmetrical skirt would accentuate that and the darker green would be more flattering since your hair is a brighter red than mine is."
"You've really thought this out," the Sorceress commented.
Queen Marlena nodded. "Our children are so completely in love with each other and they've been through so much heartache already in their young lives, they've earned the right to have some happiness. I just want to do my part to ensure they have that on their wedding day."
The other woman nodded, but didn't immediately respond as she turned the page of the sketchbook and was awestruck by what she saw. She felt tears forming in her eyes again as she gazed at the drawing and tried to imagine her daughter wearing it. When she felt she could speak again, she inquired, "Was this your design too?"
Marlena smiled. "I helped, but that was mostly Teela herself. I simply made suggestions, but she already had an idea of what she wanted. She was adamant that she didn't want a pure white dress, so instead it's a soft cream color with the gold accents along the bodice and the hem of the skirt. She told me she still wanted to look like the woman her prince fell in love with and this design resembles her armored guard uniform, but will still make her look like the princess she's to become."
"I can't wait to see her wearing it. I only wish I could be a larger part of the preparations," the Sorceress said sadly.
"Well, I don't see why you can't. I think it would be nice for you to be present not only for the wedding, but the rehearsal the day before and the dinner following it. We could even put you up in one of the guest suites for the night."
"That's a very generous offer and I appreciate it, but I feel I must decline as I shouldn't leave this castle for that long."
"If it's security you're worried about, I can speak to my husband about posting palace guards here while you're away. You've missed so much with your daughter; you shouldn't miss any more. While we're on that subject, I know that you have the ability to contact my daughter and since she doesn't yet know about Adam's engagement, I was wondering if you could get in touch with her. I'm sure Adam would love to have his sister here to help him celebrate his marriage." She noticed how abruptly the other woman's demeanor changed; her shoulders slumped as if in defeat and looked away, no longer making eye contact. "What is it? Is she alright?"
Teela Na hesitated, not wishing to worry the queen. She knew all too well how it felt to be outside her daughter's life and to worry about her from afar. She didn't wish to inflict that kind of pain on another mother.
When the silence dragged on, the Queen persisted as she laid a hand on the other woman's shoulder, hoping to get her facing her again. "Is there something going on with Adora that I don't know?"
"I-I don't know if I should tell you. You have been so happy about helping Adam and Teela plan their wedding, you shouldn't be burdened with worry at this time."
"Knowing where Adora lives, I worry for her all the time," Marlena pointed out. When the other woman shook her head, Marlena begged, "Please, Sorceress, if there's something going on with my daughter, if she's in danger, I need to know. How would you feel if it were Teela?"
"Do you think I haven't felt the same with Teela? She's a warrior just as Adora is and she constantly puts herself in danger and while I try to help where I can, many times all I can do is sit here and worry."
"Well, you helping where you can is at least more than I can do." She gestured to the scrying mirror. "And you have the ability to look in on Teela whenever you like. All I have when it comes to Adora is my constant fear for her safety and not knowing only makes it worse."
The Sorceress nodded with a sigh and finally relented. "You win. I have been trying to contact Adora for days, but I keep getting some kind of interference where she and I can barely hear one another. The last time we had a complete conversation was the day of that big storm when He-Man asked me to warn his sister about the machine Skeletor had as he learned during his trip to Snake Mountain that Hordak created it. Much like you, he was worried for Adora's safety." She also told the queen of their suspicion that Hordak might have another such machine on Etheria.
Marlena's eyes widened in fear for her daughter. "Oh no, my little girl! I hope she's alright!"
"This is why I didn't wish to tell you; that look of alarm on your face, but let me assure you that even though I haven't been able to maintain my connection to Adora, I have spoken with her and she appears to be perfectly healthy even if she is in battle."
"I just hope it stays that way." She shuddered as she thought of the possibility of losing her daughter again.
"I promise you that I'm doing everything I can," Teela Na assured her. "You berated me earlier for having a secret relationship with your children, but I swear to you, I have always tried to protect them and ensure their safety for you because I know all too well exactly what it's like to fret over your child's well-being from a distance and being helpless to do anything about it. I am deeply sorry that I don't have more information to give you, but I simply don't know what's happening on Etheria right now."
Marlena nodded in understanding. "I thank you for at least sharing what you do know." She bit down on her lip, lost in thought for a moment and then suggested, "Adam will be back from his tour some time tomorrow evening so perhaps it's time for him to take another trip to Etheria to help Adora."
"I have been reluctant to suggest it to him since he's been so wrapped up in the wedding preparations, but I may not have a choice. It's entirely possible that he may be needed. While He-Man and She-Ra are both powerful on their own, they're even more powerful when they combine their abilities. It's a shame that they can't work together more often, but I honestly believe, and Adam does too, that it was meant to be this way; that despite how painful it is to have your family separated, he was meant to stay here as Eternia's champion while his twin fulfills the same role on Etheria."
Marlena was silent for a long moment as she contemplated that idea, wondering if she should ask the question that has plagued her since the day her baby girl was kidnapped. She was torn because she wanted to know the truth, but also didn't want to fracture the tenuous truce between herself and the Sorceress when she'd been honest in her statement earlier that they needed to work together to show support for their children on their upcoming marriage.
Sensing the queen's hesitation, the Sorceress stated plainly, "Whatever is on your mind, just say it. I think since we've already been blatantly honest with each other today, there is no need to shy away from uncomfortable topics now."
Marlena took a deep breath in an attempt to steel herself for whatever answer she might receive to her question. "You have been known to see the future so what I need to know is this; did you know ahead of time that the Horde was going to attack my family and steal my baby girl?"
"No, I thought we had driven the Horde from this world permanently the day I became the Sorceress," she answered honestly. "If I had known they would retaliate just three years later, I would have done whatever it took to stop it. However, I did know something was going to happen to change her legacy because what I did see was Adam growing up to become King of Eternia in spite of Adora being your first-born. But I didn't know what circumstances would lead to that as there could have been many events that could cause such a thing, even something as simple as Adora renouncing her title. I have had many visions of many different possible futures, but that is one thing that has always remained the same; Prince Adam will one day be king."
"And Teela his queen," Marlena added.
The Sorceress shook her head. "No. Unfortunately, that's still to be determined."
"What? Are you saying Skeletor may succeed in his schemes to stop the royal wedding? If that's so, then what are we doing all this for?" She nodded to the sketchbook the Sorceress still held.
"I don't know yet. I do know that they will have their children, a son who will take on his father's legacy and a daughter who will take on Teela's and that Adam will be king. The question is whether Teela will rule by his side as his queen. I've seen them both together and apart during his reign as the future is always malleable," she explained. "That's why you must continue with what you're doing to get them to their wedding day and let me worry about the visions of the future."
"In that case, let's get your measurements so we can get started on your dress." She held up the tape measure.
Marlena completed her task and as she was preparing to leave, she said to the Sorceress, "Thank you for taking the time to meet with me and I hope you'll at least consider my offer of staying at the palace before the wedding."
"If you really think you can help keep the castle safe, then I'll come," she promised with a smile.
With her bag packed up and once again suited up to hide her identity, Marlena mounted her Sky-Sled and made her way back to the palace. She had just reached the gates when she caught sight of another Sky-Sled turning off to the right of the building where Adam and Teela's rooms were housed. "That doesn't look like one of ours," she commented suspiciously and decided to follow. She'd only gotten a fleeting glimpse of the pilot, but it was enough to know that it wasn't one of the palace guards behind the controls.
As she steered around the corner, she saw that her suspicions were correct as it was Two-Bad flying the other vehicle. "What has Skeletor got you up to?"
She fired a warning shot to get their attention.
"Oh no!" Two-Bad's blue head cried as the purple one said, "We should get out of here!" The other argued back, "No, Skeletor told us not to leave until we find out when Prince Adam is returning from his tour." The two beings in one fought over the controls spinning their Sky-Sled in circles just before it lurched upward above Queen Marlena's and accidentally launched a laser blast.
Marlena dodged the blast, executing a perfect Immelmann turn and fired back, her laser beam hitting her enemy's Sky-Sled with pinpoint accuracy in the center of the exhaust port. "Take that, double trouble!" she crowed gleefully as she watched their vehicle spin out of control and slam into the outer walls of the palace.
She quickly flew back to the loading dock, removed her helmet and then hurried to the guard station to inform the duty officer of what had occurred and then returned toward Duncan's workshop to inform him as well since he was overseeing the guard while Teela was away.
Duncan frowned. "I told you I was worried something like this would happen if you went alone."
"Oh, relax, they weren't after me when they didn't even know I was there. They were already spying on the palace before I returned from Castle Grayskull and besides, they still don't know it was me because I had my helmet on the whole time."
"True, but you're also wearing your NASA flight suit so it can't be that hard for them to figure out who you are and report back to Skeletor. How many people from Earth live here on Eternia?"
"Oh, please," she scoffed with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Even with two heads, Two-Bad has the brain power of a dead battery. As for Skeletor, how smart can he be when he's never even considered once that He-Man only shows up when Adam is nowhere around?"
"Still, I can't help worry for your safety as you're one of my oldest friends."
"I appreciate it, Duncan, but as you can see, I made it to the castle alive and unharmed and I accomplished what I set out to do in going. While we're on the subject, there is one other thing you can help me with." She explained her offer to the Sorceress and her desire to dispatch some palace guards to protect the castle in her absence.
"You invited her to stay here?" Duncan asked in alarm.
"Is that an issue for you? Shouldn't she be close for your daughter's wedding?"
Duncan quickly put on a mask of professionalism as he knew he was in danger of giving away his true feelings. "Oh, of course you're right. She should be here. I'll help you talk the king into it."
"Thank you, Duncan. Now I should go get changed back into my normal clothes."
He nodded and after she had departed, he let out a deep sigh. While it was only going to be for one night, he didn't know how he was going to handle having his wife sleeping under the same roof after their recent escapades in her bedroom. Would they end up falling into bed together again or would they awkwardly pretend that their last two nights together had never happened and that they weren't still desperately in love with each other?
After their humiliating defeat, Two-Bad slunk off to Snake Mountain to face Skeletor's wrath.
"So, let me get this straight, not only did you fail to complete your mission in getting the details of Prince Adam's royal tour, you wrecked one of my Sky-Sleds in the process?" Skeletor glared at them.
"HE got it wrecked!" the blue head pointed to his other half.
"Me? You're the one who wouldn't relinquish the controls to me and let me steer!"
"But you're the one who didn't notice we were being followed!"
"Enough, you doltish, dimwitted duo," Skeletor snapped as he zapped them with the Havoc Staff. "It just goes to show that if I want something done right, I need a smarter support system." He turned his attention to the man standing beside him. "That's where you come in, my new friend. You say you're as anxious to stop this royal wedding as I am?"
"That's right," Marius grinned maliciously. "I know just how to do it too. I know things about Prince Adam and Teela that even their own parents don't know about them."
Skeletor returned his grin. "Do tell."