Chapter 8 Orko's Buddy

Today someone came through a dimensional portal. It was a Trollan. Orko saw who it was. "Squonge it is so nice to see you," Orko said.

"Nice to meet you Squonge it is so nice to meet you," Adam said. "Orko has told us a lot about you," he said.

"Yes it is nice to meet his best friend from Trolla," Teela said.

"Orko I noticed something," Andra said. "How come your mage emblem looked different from you cousin Snoob's mage emblem and Squonge's mage emblem looks different from both yours and Snoob's?" she said.

"That is because there are different mage emblems I have them in a book right here," Orko said opening his hat and pulling out the book he was looking for.

"How many different mage emblem's are there?" Man at arms asked.

"Twelve," Orko answered. Then he opened the book. "Here we are this book shows all the mage emblems and what the are a sign for, what kind wizard has them, what the wizard values and what kind of magic they can do best." he said.

The first picture had the oracle ring. "This is the oracle ring the one I have," Orko said. "The rarest of all mage emblems, because so rare is the heart of Trollan who is worthy of this mark. It is said they have the skills to make Trolla where I am from a better place and help better relations between Trollans and other worlds. The ones who have oracle rings are called Ringbearers. The mark is so rare only five others have had it in all Trollan history. All those Trollans did great things before disappearing and no one knows if they are dead or alive," he said. "But I doubt I can live up to what they did, especially now I am on Eternia but other magical beings on Eternia think I can and think I can do many great things for Eternia and Trolla too. I doubt I can," he said.

"Guess you feel the pressure of what your predecessors did huh little buddy?" Adam asked.

"Yes," Orko said.

"Well Orko all great things come with time," Man at arms said. "Even though you get on my last nerve at times, and make mistakes, you are showing signs of improvement and amazing things, just give it time," he said.

"Now it is time for the next one," Orko said turning the page. It was a sun mark. "This one is the majesty sun, a mark of dignity." he said. "These Wizards are highly dignified. They hold high expectations and they do everything not only do things to keep their own dignity but the dignity of others." he said.

"Wow," Andra said.

Orko turned the page again. There was the sage starburst on the next page.

"There is the sage starburst, Snoob has that one," Orko said. "It is mark of wisdom and knowledge," he said. "Wizards with this mark have good judgement and tend think everything through before reacting," he said. "These wizards are normally depended on by other wizards to give advice on things due to their wisdom," he said.

"Last I checked Oracle rings were depended on for similar things and other things that tended to be more difficult," Squonge said.

"I know," Orko said and turned the page. It showed a crescent moon. "Now there is the serenity crescent it is a mark of peace," he said. "Wizards with this mark do all they can to keep the peace and only use violence as last resort." he said.

"I see," Damien said.

Orko turned the page again revealing a spiral mark. "That one is the cosmic swirl it is a symbol of power," Orko said. "My father has that one," he said. "It means these wizards are really powerhouses of magic. These wizards are strong and powerful in everything they do," he said. "They can even resist some of the strongest of spells." he said.

"Sounds like the kind of wizard that should not be taken lightly," Teela said.

"Exactly," Orko said. Then turned the page showing the diamond pulse. "There is the diamond pulse it is a mark of creativity." he said. "Wizards with this mark are usually song mages, artists, healers, and chefs." he said. "They use their magic to create beautiful things," he said. "Also to help others become well," he said.

"That is pretty special," Adam said.

Orko turned the page again. Revealing the Warrior bolt. "This is one Squonge has, the warrior bolt a mark of courage," Orko said. "Wizards who have this mark are brave as brave can be. They will go into most situations that most wizards will avoid," he said. "Most of these wizards become some kind of Trollan warrior," he said. "Like a defender, battle mage, or even a Flight force fighter like my best friend Squonge," he said.

"That's right," Squonge said. "I finished my training six years ago. I have been climbing up the ranks and now I am a captain in the Flight force," he said showing his mark.

"Impressive, you have high rank at a young age," Orko said.

"Yes I dazzled command you might say, and climbed up the ranks quickly," Squonge said.

"But how can you be a warrior you are so small?" Damien said. "You are a smaller than Orko," he said.

"Damien," Orko said.

"I mean look he's shorter than Orko, I agree how can he do much of brave feats?" Andra said.

"He probably can't handle himself in a real battle situation," Teela said.

"Stop! It's not the size the wizard but the magic in his heart," Orko said.

"What do you mean by that?" Damien asked.

"How about you figure it out yourself?" Orko asked.

"Let's get back to the book," Squonge said.

"Good idea," Orko said and turned the page. It was a picture of a hand with a circle around it. "There is the service hand, it is a mark of compassion," Orko said. "Wizards with this mark always do what they can to help others," he said. "Wizards like this either do charity work, or become healers," he said.

Then Orko turned the page again. It showed a picture of an arrow head. "There is the spirit arrow, it is a mark of spirituality." Orko said. "Wizards with this one are in tuned with magic and have strong hope and faith." he said. "They try their best to spread that feeling to others too," he said.

Then he turned the page again. It showed a picture of a paw with a circle around it. "There is the Paw of nature," Orko said. "My aunt has this one," he said. "It is mark for one who is one with nature." he said. "The wizards with this mark care about plants, animals and the environment all around us." he said. "These wizards do what they can to help it and protect it," he said. "They even use nature based spells best," he said. "They normally work someplace with plants or animals, or how to protect the local environment." he said.

Orko then turned the page again and it showed a scale. "That one is the balance scale, a mark of justice." Orko said. "The wizards who have this mark are just at heart and very honorable." he said. "They value justice and seek for it to played out the right way." he said. "They have a strong sense of right and wrong," he said.

Then Orko made it to the last page where a gem was shown with many colors. "This is the prism gem, a mark of beauty," Orko said. "The wizards with this mark try everything they can to make things around them beautiful and make others feel beautiful," he said. "They feel that everyone and everything has right to feel like they are beautiful," he said.

"That is quite a few different wizards," Adam said.

"It sure is," Orko said.

"Hey do you have some place where I can work out, I want to get my heart pumping, I am eager for some exercise," Squonge said.

"There is a workout room next to my lab, I will show you the way," Man at arms said.

Once shown the work out room Squonge started to work out. He was doing well. He was very strong. He zapped out of his uniform into something more comfortable so he wouldn't get too hot. He was working out hard. Teela came in to work out too.

Squonge noticed some of her training. "Might I give a tip?" Squonge asked.

"Tip?" Teela asked.

"Try breathing out when make the strike," Squonge said. "It will give you punch or kick more force, help maintain your blood pressure, help vital oxygen go back to your muscles, help with stamina, make you less tired, and help strength your core." he said.

"Okay if you insist," Teela said and did so and the dummy was struck harder. "Thanks for the tip," she said.

Orko was out in the woods when Beastman, Trapjaw and Clawful grabbed him. "Oh no!" Orko said and fired spell in sky to alert he needs help.

Squonge noticed this. "Orko sent up a magic emergency flare he needs help," Squonge said.

They all rushed off to help Orko. Adam made sure to turn into He-man to face the villians.

"What do you dummies want?" Orko asked the villains.

"We want to use you to get what we want for not only the king but also the sorceress," Beastman said.

"Yes, you are their little buddy," Trapjaw said.

"Yes they will do anything to ensure your safety," Clawful said.

"Oh you think using my buddy as leverage and threatening his friends into getting what you want is a good idea?" Squonge asked coming up to them. He had raced ahead of everyone else.

"Squonge," Orko said.

"Why you little pipsqueak I will show you," Clawful said and came after him. Squonge dodge and managed to use his magic to twist his claw behind his back. "Hey I can hardly move," he said. "Hey release me this hurts," he said.

Squonge saw Beastman running towards him and got an idea. "As you wish," Squonge said turned tossed Clawful with his magic into Beastman.

"Ow!" Beastman and Clawful said.

The others were trying get where Squonge went. "I doubt he can handle himself he is much smaller than Orko," Damien said.

"He might get himself hurt," Andra said.

Then Man at Arms paused at the path shortly and saw the scene in front of him. "Father what is wrong?" Teela asked.

"Look and see for yourself," Man at arms said.

There was Squonge holding his own against three of Skeletor's warriors. "He's amazing," Andra said.

"Look at him go," Damien said.

"Wow," Teela said.

"Orko was right it is not the size of the wizard but the magic in his heart," He Man said. "But we might want to help him by freeing Orko." he said.

They rushed in and Teela freed Orko. Squonge saw Andra being approached from behind by Trapjaw and he picked him up with magic and threw him down. Just them Beastman grabbed Squonge from behind. "You can you use your magic like this," Beastman said.

"True but I know how to fight with things other than magic," Squonge said and proceed to give Beastman a sharp and hard elbow strike into the gut. That made Beastman release him and he did a back hand strike to Clawful who approached him from behind.

Then Squonge touched his mage emblem and pulled free a bolt. "Orko give our friends cover shield," Squonge said.

"Okay," Orko said and made a force field around his friends. Then Squonge made it the bolt supercharge and big threw it making a huge blast.

Beastman, Clawful and Trapjaw were singed from the electricity.

"Yikes let's get out of here!" Trapjaw said then started to run as the did Beastman and Clawful.

"That little Trollan pipsqueak is maniac!" Beastman said.

"This is crazy bested by a little Trollan!" Clawful said.

"It was your idea!" Trapjaw and Beastman said.

Squonge, Orko and their friends began to laugh. "You sure showed them buddy," Orko said.

"I guess I did," Squonge said.

Andra, Damien and Teela came up to Squonge. "Squonge I would like to apologize," Damien said.

"Me too," Andra said.

"Same here," Teela said.

"I thought you couldn't be very brave or a good warrior simply because you were small," Damien said.

"I thought that too, and you even saved me," Andra said.

"You are an impressive Flight fighter," Teela said. "You are great warrior and we should've give you a chance," she said.

"Apology accepted," Squonge said. "Well I have to get going now," he said. "So I will see you all soon," he said.

"Take care Squonge," Orko said. "Keep up the good work," he said.

"You keep up what you are doing to buddy," Squonge told Orko.

Then Squonge left and Orko turned around. "Isn't my best friend Squonge something?" Orko asked.

"Yes he is something." He man said.

They all laughed again.

"Hi in today's story, you saw Teela, Damien and I make the mistake of thinking Squonge wasn't warrior material or brave due to his size," Andra said. "But the fact is courage or strength has nothing to do with the size of the person," she said. "What matters is what it is like inside, sometimes to smallest or weakest looking person maybe the strongest and bravest of all," she said. "See you next time," she said.