Authors Notes: New chapters up and its time the Guardians got aquainted with Adam's alter ego, lets begin.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe 2002 (c) Cartoon Network
W.I.T.C.H (C) Jetix
2
It Resumes: New champions
As thunder crashes around the dark castle in Meridian, the tyrant Phobos sat on his throne which grew red roses with sharp thorn branches. His loyal servant Cedric slithered over to his master.
"Report." Phobos said to him. Cedric began to transform and after a bright green glow he returned back to his human form.
"We have the rebel leader. But I was ambushed at the portal by the Guardians." Cedric reported, but Phobos was skeptical.
"The Guardians are old women, Cedric." Phobos told him.
"Not so, my prince. They are now young girls." Cedric explained, the prince was surprised and enraged that meant the energy he felt before was what he knew it was.
"So the Crystal has passed to a new generation." Phobos realised.
"There is more, there was someone with them a boy but his attire was not that of Earth nor Meridian, and he wasn't alone." Cedric explained. "A Trollan and a beast was with him but I was attacked by a warrior."
"Warrior?" Phobos asked.
"Yes after I vanquished the boy this man appeared out of nowhere, but the sword he wielded I could sense it was forged by powerful magic." Cedric continued. The dark prince took all this information in, how could some sword wielding warrior best his servant? More to the point where did he come from?
"Hm…the new guardians and the arrival of this stranger could complicate the search for my sister. Finding her is essential if I am to maintain my power over Meridian."
Just then a rather bulky guard with blue skin and white bone on his eyebrow brought in Caleb who was in chains and shackles. Caleb was forced to his knees before the dark prince.
"The troublemaker prince Phobos." Vathek glared at the tyrant that had been oppressing his home for so many years, he wasn't intimidated more angry.
"You will tell us the names of your fellows traitors in the rebellion." Phobos pointed to him. "You need not suffer I promise your release if you comply, refuse and you will rot in the dungeons."
"Never you'll learn nothing from me!" Caleb exclaimed with a defiant glare.
Outraged Phobos unleashed a torrent of wind from his hand lifting Caleb into the air. "Do not presume to test my patience! Since you won't hand over the information willingly let us see how obstinate you are after the oubliette."
Caleb was tossed into one of the pillars groaning in pain as he fell to the ground. Vathek then proceeded to take him to the dungeons.
Earth: Heatherfield:
A new day shone in Heatherfield, and a new day for learning at the Sheffield the five girls however all was still not well. They were shaken up after the events of yesterday, not only did they find out they'd been chosen as Guardians of the Veil but now they had to fight evil monsters like the snake man so it can't conquer the earth. They sat down in the courtyard having their lunches and discussed said events.
"That poor boy. I wonder who he was." Will sighed.
"Oh I wonder what that thing did to him." Hay Lin said a little scared of what the snake man did to the boy they saw.
"It's what it could have done to us that worries me." Taranee spoke up. "I mean thats what we're supposed to fight that with our so-called powers?"
"I am sorry, but I am far too pretty to end up as snake poo." Cornelia said swishing her hair to which the girls shared a chuckle.
"So what do you all think about Adam?" Will asked.
"Well aside from being not good at fighting a snake guy he's kinda cute I suppose." Cornelia said.
"Hey cut him some slack he tried to help, I guess the evil forces he's faced weren't that large." Irma said.
"I don't know I mean he seems to know how to handle a sword, and he did say he had experience in fighting evil monsters from his home." Taranee said.
"Yeah and Orko's pretty funny, I mean Cornelia seems to be the victim of his magic mishaps." Irma giggled much to Cornelia's dismay. "He'd kill at parties."
"Okay but what about that He-Man guy who showed up I mean where'd he come from?" Hay Lin asked.
"I don't know but I'm sure glad he did, he demolished that snake thing, and that cat of his has a nasty bite." Irma said.
"Its actually a Saber Tooth tiger given its sharp fangs." Taranee corrected.
"Will what do you think?" Cornelia asked.
"I don't know I'm glad he showed up but I don't know, did anyone notice anything about him?" Will asked. "You know something, familiar?"
The girls all looked at each other with the same expression, one of curiosity. They had to admit Will had a point there was something about the warrior who saved them, something they couldn't quite put their finger on. In that moment the school bell rang.
They threw away their rubbish and went to class. However there was something Will wanted to ask her new friends. "It's class picture day tomorrow. Do you guys get dressed up?" She asked.
The girls all simply chuckled and denied all of that but they all knew come picture day appearances mattered. Especially to Cornelia.
"Cornelia started shopping for it in kindergarten." Irma whispered to Will secretly as they went to class.
Silver Dragon:
Within the basement of the Silver Dragon, Prince Adam and his friends sat in isolation. They were still trying to process recent events. Cringer lay on the ground while Orko played with a yo yo he found.
Just then Adam pulled out of his bag the Magic Mirror, he hung it on the wall and looked into it. "Sorceress, are…are you there?"
The symbols on the mirror surged into life in a golden light, and smoke swirled in the mirror revealing the Sorceress herself as an astral projection. "Greetings Prince Adam." The Sorceress greeted. "I see you have arrived on Earth and have met the new guardians."
"Yeah I did." Adam sighed sadly.
"Yet I sense doubt hanging over you, what troubles you young prince of Eternia?" Sorceress asked him, it was time for Adam to come clean.
"Well, I've learned about this evil, its called Phobos and the new Guardians are no older than me." Adam sighed. "Not only that but then some giant Snakeman I tried to fight him but I failed, I changed to He-Man but I couldn't save this boy they took. He looked about my age."
The Sorceress could see how affected Adam was by this but she wondered why. "Did you not tell them you're He-Man?"
"Uh…no not exactly I wanted to but..I choked." Adam admitted.
"Why?" The Sorceress asked.
"I guess it's because it's the first time, I've shared my secret with anyone outside of you, Duncan, Orko or Cringer." Adam admitted. "But a lot of good its doing now, I mean maybe me coming here wasn't a good idea. These girls they're not used to magic like I am they're scared out of their minds."
"As to be expected Prince Adam." The Sorceress told him.
"But how can I help them, I failed as both Prince Adam and He-Man?" Adam asked.
"Do not be so quick to give up, for remember not too long ago you were hesitant to accept what destiny had in store for you." The Sorceress said to her champion. "And your right these new Guardians will be hesitant and afraid, which is why they will need guidance and support. For once we accept the missing part of our hearts we can do anything. Don't give up on them Prince Adam, they will need you as you need them before this is over."
The Eternian Prince had to admit she was right, he was dismissive of when Man At Arms brought him to Castle Grayskull on his birthday. However when he saw a loved one in danger and he knew he couldn't act against his foe he needed to accept what fate had given to him. It was clear that these girls were now in that position.
"Okay..I…I'll try." Adam finally said.
"Until we speak again champion of Eternia." Sorceress said as her projection disappeared from the mirror. Adam sat on the floor as Orko floated over.
"So what are you going to do Adam?" Orko asked.
Adam sighed before he answered. "I guess I'm gonna tell them, about He-Man and everything else."
"Y..you sure?" Cringer asked.
"Yeah, but maybe I should talk to Will first she seems more affected by this magic thing than the others. I should go find them." Adam said.
"Well Miss Lin said they're at school but it should be finishing soon." Cringer said.
"Okay I'll see if I can meet them." Adam said as he got up and headed out of the basement.
Meridian:
Deep in the dark dungeons of the castle Vathek and some of the guards were escorting Caleb to the oubliette. The rebel leader however had other ideas, he quickly slipped away from the guards and tried to fight them off. However he was quickly overwhelmed by the guards and the leaping Lurdens which grew in vast numbers until he was restrained.
Soon Caleb was in a cage hanging over a pit, the cage was lowered and as soon as it reached the bottom, the cage floor dropped releasing the rebel leader in the pit.
"Lets see how eternity in the oubliette suits you, traitor!" Vathek said to his prisoner. However unbeknownst to everyone else he secretly placed a key to the manacles into half a piece of bread as the cage returned. Vathek dropped the bread into the pit.
Just as Caleb was about to reach out and grab it another hand tried to take it. The rebel grabbed it by the arm and swung it away. It was a small Passling creature in an orange hooded shirt with a half torn shoe and a normal shoe. He was spooked.
"Blunk not steal. Trade? Rat for bread? Good deal, yes?" Blunk asked tossing a dead rat to the rebel and took the bread.
"Blunk?" Caleb suddenly remembered the name. "You're that smuggler!"
"Businessman." Blunk corrected.
"I didn't fight this long to perish in a hole with a talking pickle." Caleb complained.
"Pickle Ha!" Blunk laughed at that joke before he started eating the bread, while Caleb looked at the entrance to the pit.
"I saw the new Guardians. But who was that warrior who was with them? Ah well it looks like a long wait to get rescued." He realised having some doubt in the new Guardians abilities. "I'll have to get out of here myself."
"Same thing he said." Blunk said picking up a skull. "He mostly out of here, aren't you?" He started moving the skulls jaw to imitate it talking. "Yes, I am."
Caleb started to climb the walls of the pit despite being in shackles completely ignoring Blunk. "I've been in tougher places than this. OK, not smellier places."
"Too high. Never make it." Blunk pointed out as Caleb continued to climb.
"Oh come on have you even tried?" Caleb asked but suddenly he lost his footing and slipped down the wall and landed on his butt.
"Oh about 3700 times." Blunk answered but when he bit into the bread he felt something hard in his mouth, and he spat out the key which landed at Calebs feet much to his delight.
The Passling tossed away the bread having lost his appetite, as Caleb unlocked his chains. "Keep it. I don't plan to still be here for dinner." Caleb said as he planned his next escape.
The Throne Room:
Meanwhile in the throne room Cedric stood before his master with some guards having discovered some recent information. "Prince Phobos we've located a portal." Cedric said.
"Good then it's time we learned more of our enemies." Phobos decided. "Use it to bring me this girl." He used his powers to cast a projection to the floor and it showed the face of a certain red headed keeper of the heart. "I sense she is the one who carries the Heart of Kandrakar, once that crystal is in my possession my power shall increase ten fold."
"I understand I will not fail." Cedric said as he was about to leave.
"Oh and Cedric." Phobos called. "Should this stranger interfere destroy him."
"Gladly." Cedric hissed with anticipation.
Earth: Heatherfield:
As the evening began to draw in, the girls were returning home from school. It was picture day tomorrow but right now Hay Lin was more excited about something else.
"So when do we go, huh? Tonight?" she squealed excitedly skipping.
"Whoa, slow down, Tinkerbell. We can rescue this rebel leader guy after picture day, right?" Cornelia said.
"Call me a wimp, but in the school yearbook, I'd like to still have a face." Taranee admitted.
"Forget picture day. I don't care what I look like. I care about who I am." Irma then said to them. "Let's go kick some Meridian butt. Maybe there'll be some cute evil boys there, like the one that snake thing caught or even like that He-Man guy."
Will however was a little in doubt about the idea of going given what happened last time. " Well I want to go but I don't know how much help we'll be by soaking him and covering him with garbage. Maybe we should talk to Adam and practice our magic again tomorrow." She then noticed the direction her friends were going in.
"Taranee, don't you go this way?" She asked.
"Oh yeah, my dad's cooking tonight. I'm going to Irma's place. " Taranne said before waving goodbye. "See you tomorrow, Will."
With that the girls all went their separate ways. While the group headed off talking about picture day Will was left behind, she did want to go with them but somewhere deep down she still felt like a bit of an outsider. Sure she'd just met these girls yesterday but they were brought together for some cosmic duty, but did this honestly make them friends or is this just a requirement?
She headed off down the alleyway. "Hey Will wait up!" Called a voice she turned and saw Adam running towards her.
"Oh uh hey Adam what are you doing here?" She asked.
"Well I.. was hoping to.. catch you and the girls." Adam said between breaths. "Hey by the way where are they?" He then asked.
"Oh they went home and I was about to do the same." Will said about to leave when Adam followed.
"Hey hold up, look I…I wanted to talk to you about yesterday, and all that happened." Adam then changed the subject.
"You mean how we were nearly eaten alive by that snake thing, yeah a little freaked out by that and that guy who showed up." Will said.
"Will theres a lot of things to take in about this." Adam said.
"Oh I understand but what fate doesn't understand is I don't need some crystal or monsters trying to get me killed." Will then admitted.
"Look I get it its a lot to take in, I found it hard to believe too but dwelling on one loss won't help an…" Suddenly before Adam could finish that sentence a portal appeared out of nowhere spooking the two of them. Suddenly Cedric emerged from the portal with a pair of Lurdens.
Will screamed in terror. Adam quickly drew his sword but Cedric was prepared and a Lurden leaped at him and pinned him to the wall. Adam struggled but he saw another Lurden grabbing Will by the arms and made her lose her backpack.
"NO!" Adam yelled and so he pushed the Lurden off and kicked him away. The prince needed to act fast and he had no choice as he raise his sword. "BY THE POWER OF…" Cedric's snake form swatted Adam with his fist into a wall before he could complete that sentence dropping the sword to the ground.
"Adam!" Will cried.
"Bring him too." Cedric ordered the Lurden who picked him up and tossed the unconscious prince over its shoulder. They went through the portal which closed behind them leaving the sword and Wills backpack behind.
The Next day:
The following morning, Orko and Cringer were in said alleyway looking for something. "No sign of him Cringer, you sure he went down here?" Orko asked.
"Yes I'm sure he didn't come back last night I think something happened to him." Cringer said worried as he tried to pick up Adam's scent.
"Well maybe he went with the girls?" Orko guessed however just then Cringer spotted something glinting on the ground.
They hurried over and found out what it was, it was a certain sword. "Its Adams sword!" Cringer gasped. "But where is he?"
Orko looked around but couldn't see any sign of him, but he did sense something that made him shiver. "Oh no, I'm sensing magical energy here. Just like what I felt at the…"
Suddenly Orko gasped realised what it could be. "The portal at the bridge! The Snakeman must've got him!"
Sheffield Institute:
Meanwhile at the school oblivious to what had happened the other girls mostly Cornelia was shocked that they'd gotten dressed up all fancy.
"You hypocrites!" Cornelia gasped.
"What?" Irma questioned.
"What do you mean "What"?" Cornelia said in air quotes. "I don't care what I look like, I care about who I am." She immitated before looking at Hay Lin's footwear "Nice shoes. Are you going to Oz after school?"
"Oh yeah like you didn't dress up." Hay Lin pointed out.
"Well we all knew I was lying." Cornelia said in a snarky attitude.
"Guys!" Called a voice the girls turned and saw Taranne running towards them and she too was all dressed up.
"Oh well if it isn't I get dizzy high heels." Cornelia said and noticed the bag that Taranee was carrying. "Is that for your cape and tiara?" She joked.
"Wait isn't that Will's backpack?" Irma asked.
"Yeah I found it on the sidewalk, the crystals still in it!" Taranee said. "Oh and I also found Adam's sword."
"Why didn't you bring it?" Hay Lin asked.
"What I ain't bringing a sword to school, that and I couldn't lift it, it's too heavy." Taranne explained.
"Pst!" Just then they heard a voice in the air, they looked around but couldn't see anything. "Girls pst!" The voice called again suddenly they heard some rustling in the bushes. So they went to look.
When they got out of the bush was Orko and Cringers heads, which startled the four girls. "Gah Orko! Cringer!" Taranee gasped.
"Uh hi girls." Orko said shyly.
"Uh what are you two doing here people will see you!" Cornelia silently exclaimed.
"We had no choice Adams in trouble!" Cringer said deeply scared and Orko showed them his sword.
"He was coming to find you guys but he never came back!" Orko agreed.
"Wait I got a call from Wills mom last night saying she didn't come home yesterday, something must be wrong!" Hay Lin realised.
"Come on lets not jump to conclusions here." Cornelia said. "Maybe she just dropped her bag and Adam clumsily dropped his heavy sword."
"No Adam doesn't go anywhere without his Sword of Power." Orko said.
"Yeah and Will would've noticed dropping her bag." Taranee said pulling out the Heart of Kandrakar, which suddenly started to glow showing them something.
Meridian:
In the throne room of the castle Adam and Will were tied up and forced to their knees in front of Phobos himself. They looked at him and the fear in Will's eyes was evident she was looking at the evil prince himself. Adam just glared it wasn't the first time he was in an evil ones presence. He knew he had to protect Will, but without his sword he was powerless.
"So this is one of the new Guardians, not very intimidating up close." Phobos pondered before looking to Adam. "And you stranger, you are not of Meridian nor of Earth."
"He is the boy who attacked me at the portal Prince Phobos." Cedric explained to his master.
Phobos then looked at Will dead in the eye. "Where is the Heart of Kandrakar?!" He demanded and flowers with thorns began growing over Will's legs.
"I…I don't know!" She cried.
"Hey leave her alone! If you want to torture someone torture me!" Adam yelled in defiance.
"Very well then perhaps you will be more cooperative." Phobos turned his attention on Adam. "Who are you and where do you come from?"
"The name is Adam, and if you think I'm gonna talk your just as crazy as a certain bone head I know!" Adam smirked.
"Hm, I do admire your iron will, ah Adam is it? But I don't have time for games now where is the Heart of Kandrakar!" Phobos demanded.
"We don't have it and even if we did we wouldn't give it to you!" Adam defied.
Phobos was becoming impatient and so a vine wrapped around Adam and swung him into the wall, and then into a pillar. "ADAM!" Will cried. "Stop leave him alone!"
"Tell me where the heart is?!" Phobos demanded.
"I told you I don't know!" Will exclaimed.
Phobos could see they were telling the truth so he released his grip on Adam as he fell to the floor. "Take them to the dungeons we'll see how cooperative they will be then!"
Earth:
The girls, Cringer and Orko were gathered in a class room and saw the vision the Heart had shown them. "Adam and Will are in trouble!" Cringer gasped.
"We gotta go get them!" Hay Lin exclaimed.
"Are you serious you wanna skip school on picture day?" Cornelia said in disbelief.
"Hello! Will and Adam have been ceased by the forces of evil!" Taranee exclaimed.
"Yeah you saw that crystal they're in trouble and we have to help them!" Orko exclaimed.
"Well can't Adam get her out he's the fighting evil expert." Cornelia said.
"Well yeah but without his sword he doesn't have a chance!" Orko added.
"Okay even if they were we don't even know where they are or how to find them?" Cornelia said.
"Uh we may not know." Hay Lin said as they saw the crystal was trying to pull away from her almost like it was seeking its true owner. "But this thing seems to have an idea."
"Oh of course, the crystal must be attracted to Will." Orko realised. "Then lets go!"
The girls, Orko and Cringer snuck along the floor to avoid the windows so they wouldn't be seen, namely by the teachers for ditching school.
They soon found themselves going to the boiler room beneath the school. It was dark and cold with some cobwebs and piping all over the place.
"Wow it sure is dark down here." Orko said he then lit his finger with a small flame to illuminate their way. However Taranee was a little creeped out by the darkness of the boiler room.
"Uh I think I liked it better when I couldn't see." Taranee said as they walked.
"So this is where they store all the worlds dust." Irma said coughing from all the dust.
Suddenly Orko felt a shiver in him. "Whoa!"
"Orko whats wrong?" Hay Lin asked.
"I I just felt some magical energy." Orko said as he floated ahead to where it was, and when he turned a corner he found what he was looking for. "Uh guys lookie what I found." The Trollan said as the others caught up and saw what Orko found was a portal.
"Will and Adams on the other side of that!" Irma gasped.
"Yep." Orko hovered forwards and slowly poked his arm into the portal and surprisingly he didn't feel anything. He then poked his head through to see whats on the other side.
"Well it looks safe lets go." Orko said.
"This is crazy!Until she puts that on, we don't have any power." Cornelia exclaimed. "We're taking the word of what, some jewellery, to save a couple of people we hardly know?"
"Cornelia their names are Will and Adam and they're in terrible danger." Irma said in a scolding tone.
"Yeah last year I was the new girl." Taranee pointed out.
"But Adam's with her he can help her we're no good at this magic stuff!" Cornelia reminded.
"Adam may have experience and skill but he's no match for the likes of this Phobos guy without his sword!" Orko pointed out pulling out said sword.
"Okay what's so special about that sword anyway its just metal!" Cornelia argued.
"Hey this sword is more special than you realise!" Orko exclaimed back not even noticing the sword glowing briefly in the Hearts presence.
While Orko and Cornelia bickered, Cringer had other ideas. He was scared of what lay beyond the portal. However he bore a serious look and much to the girls surprise he walked towards the portal.
"Huh Cringer where are you going?" Hay Lin asked.
"To Adam." Cringer answered looking back to the girls.
"But hold on aren't you scared? You don't know whats out there!" Cornelia exclaimed in disbelief.
Cringer sighed before looking to the four girls. "Yeah, I've been scared ever since Adam found me, and Teela was the one who named me Cringer for obvious reasons. Everyday I'm scared out of my wits whenever Skeletor or the bad guys attack." The scared tiger said to all of them. "But if I've learned anything, is you never abandon a friend in a time of need, no matter if your scared you go, no matter what dangers come you go, because our friends need us."
The girls were all moved by what the cowardly tiger had said to them, and Orko was the most surprised of all this had to be the first time he'd heard Cringer so sincere instead of backing out. Hay Lin kneeled down and stroked the tigers head. "Your a really loyal friend you know that kitty." Hay Lin said.
"Well thats what loyal companions do." Cringer smiled.
"You know he's right, besides I like Will, she's funny smart, and Adam tried to help us so now let's help them!" Irma realised.
"I'm in!" Taranee agreed.
"Me too." Orko said.
"And me." Hay Lin said. Then everyone looked to the one person yet to agree but eventually she gave way to peer pressure.
"Gah okay guilt trip me why don't you! But no way I'm going first." Cornelia said.
Hay Lin approached the portal with Taranee. With one jerk of the heart Hay Lin was pulled through the portal and Taranee followed close behind her.
"Hey wait for me!" Orko called as he floated through. The only ones left to pass through are Cornelia, Irma and Cringer.
"Well uh after you Cringer." Cornelia said to the big cat, Cringer was a little nervous.
"Uh well um actually you go first after all ladies first." Cringer said.
"Huh and they say chivalry is dead." Irma said.
"Well uh if I'm last I'll just chicken out." Cornelia said a little afraid. "Same goes for Cringer."
"Well I won't I'll go last." Irma said to them.
"Then you have to do something." Cornelia said to them.
"Um what do we have to do?" Cringer asked.
"Push me." Cornelia simply said.
"My pleasure!" Irma said looking forward to it.
Meridian: The Dungeons:
Meanwhile deep in the darkness of the castle dungeons, Caleb had at last come up with an escape plan. Sadly however it involved enlisting the help of a certain Passling he had for a cell mate.
"Okay I'm going to have to trust you." Caleb said to him.
"Trust Blunk. Yes." Blunk said smiling.
Caleb then held each end of his shackles like a rope. "Put your foot, or hoof, or whatever it is, in here. When I count to three, jump, I'll throw you out. Then…"
"One!" Blunk hopped onto the chains before Caleb could finish his explanation.
"Listen! Then find a rope and lower it to me." Caleb finally finished.
"Rope. Yes. Good plan." Blunk replied.
"No terrible plan, but at this rate what do I have to lose and even if you betray me. At least it'll smell better down here." Caleb then said and Blunk just looked with a rather confused expression. It turned to excitement when Caleb executed the plan.
"One, two, three!" Caleb tossed Blunk from the chains and he flew screaming into the air nearly reaching the pit entrance. Blunk quickly grabbed onto the edge, however his grip slipped and he fell right back into the pit. Caleb tried to catch him but the Passling hit the ground with a thud.
Caleb couldn't help but crack a laugh. "Sorry let's try that again." Suddenly attempt two was cut short by the sound of clanging, and the cage being lowered. The occupants were a certain red haired girl and Eternian Prince.
"Thats right Guardian of the Veil, you and your friend are going down there with the Rebel leader!" Vathek called out.
The cage stopped and the floor dropped,Will and Adam fell out the cage. Caleb caught Will bridal style but Adam fell on his back grunting, the cage was raised and the guards left.
Will looked and recognised the face of the boy who caught her. "Hey your the kid from yesterday!?" She realised.
"You're not one of the guardians I saw, where's your older sister?" Caleb asked.
"Hey she is one of the Guardian pal!" Adam said getting up and dusting himself off. "Can't you tell without the wings?"
"And who are you supposed to be kid?" Caleb questioned.
"Kid?!" Adam said offended. "Your no older than me! Just who are you anyway?"
"The names Caleb leader of the rebellion." Caleb answered.
Suddenly Will put the pieces together about who this boy was. "Wait. You're the rebel leader I'm supposed to be saving? What are you rebelling against? Diaper rash?"
"Hey girly girl I'm fifteen." Caleb answered back. "Never mind. Activate the crystal and fly us out of here."
"Yeah uh about that. I didn't exactly bring it." Will said sheepishly.
"You didn't exactly bring it?!" Caleb exclaimed in surprise.
"Hey back off its not her fault we got ambushed by snake face up there!" Adam said to him. "Don't worry I should have us out of here in no…" However when he reached for his sword he realised that he didn't have it, he looked around but no sword of power and no sword meant no He-Man.
"Oh no no no! Wheres my sword!?" Adam exclaimed.
"Wait you lost your sword?!" Caleb criticised. "What kind of warrior loses his weapon?"
"Hey those beast things knocked me out I must've lost it on the other side of the Veil." Adam retorted back. "And I'm not just a warrior. I'm Prince Adam of Eternia."
"You a prince?" Caleb said a little skeptical. "And Eternia? Isn't that another realm I hear from stories how'd you get on the other side of the veil?"
"I got friends in high places." Adam said.
Blunk then came up to them. "Why catch her not catch Blunk?" He asked.
One look and Will screamed grabbing onto Caleb as the startled Passling ran away shaking. "Don't worry, he's harmless I think."
Adam took a look at the shaking creature. "Wait is that a Passling? Wow you don't see many of these around Eternia." He remembered some of Man At Arms lessons about mystical creatures back when he and Teela were younger but never once did he get to see a living Passling.
"These guys are smugglers right?" Adam asked.
"Discount importer!" Blunk retorted before picking up a skull. "Skull for jacket good trade yes?"
"Uh no this is royal Eternian wool, not sure its your type." Adam said a little disgusted by the smell.
Earth: Heatherfield:
"Heh heh, you know I was wrong I should go last." Cornelia had yet to enter the portal and Irma who had, had enough of waiting decided to take action.
"No your right I should push you." Irma pushed Cornelia through the portal.
Meridian:
On the other side Cornelia fell out of the portal and splashed into what looked like a primordial swamp. She emerged from the water all wet with what looked like a frog crossed with a squid on her head.
"EWWW gross gross gross groooooss!" Cornelia squealed. Orko floated over and pulled the creature off her head and flung it away.
"You know this kinda reminds me of the swamp where I first met Adam and Cringer when they were little." Orko reminiscing of when he first came to Eternia by accident from his homeland Trolla.
Cornelia shook her hair to get the swamp water out. "So this is Meridian, not exactly like the fantasy lands you see in kids books?"
"Shhh keep it down you guys all of evil is gonna hear you!" Taranee quietly warned.
Orko then flew over to Hay Lin who still held the crystal. "Hey Hay Lin anything on Adam and Will?"
"Nope I got no signal here." Hay Lin replied, however Taranee was more concerned about where Cornelia was still sitting.
"Uh you might want to move away from there." She then advised.
"I am getting tired of people telling…" Cornelia was suddenly interrupted by Irma screaming as she fell out of the portal splashing down into the swamp covering Cornelia in water. Irma surfaces and shakes off the water.
"Well that certainly wakes up your underwear." Irma said, which made Hay Lin giggle a little.
"Hey where's…" Before Orko could finish that sentence Cringer fell from the portal screaming and splashed between the two girls who were now more soaked by the swamp water.
He emerged and shook all the water out of his fur. "Brrr thats cold!" Cringer gasped.
"There is such a thing as say it don't spray it!" Cornelia snapped.
"Sorry." Cringer apologised.
Just then the heart began tugging on the string, this told the group they finally had an idea of which way to go. "This way." Hay Lin said and the group followed.
They trekked through the swamp while keeping a sharp look out. Especially Cringer because swamps were the best place for an ambush, despite not being transformed he had some Battle Cat instinct somewhere.
"Hey Cornelia don't look down." Orko then suggested.
"Thats for heights you dummy." Cornelia said to him.
"Yeah but if you look down and saw your reflection you'd freak out." Orko said noticing how dirty she looked from the swamp water.
The Dungeons:
The ones being rescued however were still trying to figure a way out. "Look, it's simple. He stands on my shoulders You stand on his shoulders, he then stands on yours." Caleb explained wanting to give Will and Adam a leg up so Blunk could climb up and pull them out.
"Not until he's had a 9-month bath, he doesn't." Will disagreed not wanting a smelly Passling climbing on her.
"Wouldn't work anyway the shafts too tall." Adam agreed sitting on the ground trying to find another way out.
"Great! I need a rope, some kind of weapon. And what do I get? A wannabe warrior prince who loses his weapon and short redhead with attitude!"
"Hey I am a prince!" Adam exclaimed. "And if I had my sword the guys up there would be worried."
"Yeah and I'm a Guardian of the Veil, your just some guy at the bottom of a hole." Will then said.
"He do this don't put foot big hurt." Blunk intimidating their last escape attempt.
Adam ignoring that part looked to Will he was a little concerned. While Caleb worked on a way to get out of this pit he went over to her. "Hey you okay?"
"Well lets see, yesterday I move to a new town, and find out I've been chosen by some magical destiny to be some guardian to fight evil. Only to lose the crystal that gives us powers and get stuck in a pit after coming face to face with an evil psycho!" Will said trying not to shout. "But other than that I'm fine how are you?"
"Oh well at least your taking it well." Adam joked only for Will to glare. "Okay sorry sorry just trying to lighten the mood. Look don't worry we'll get out of here Orko and the others will have noticed we're gone by now they'll come help us."
"How can you be so sure?" Will asked. "I mean the girls have no powers, Orkos not so good at magic and well I don't think Cringers much of a claws out cat."
"Because we never leave friends behind thats why, back on Eternia the Masters look out for each other and despite our differences we help each other, because were teammates and friends." Adam explained.
"Are they even my friends though?" Will asked much to the Prince's surprise. "I mean we only just met, and we were only put together because of this crystal, but when it's all over, are we really friends or is this a one time thing?"
"Hey don't say that you are friends, I know I don't know much about you Will, but I know it can be hard accepting new things, it took me a while to accept my destiny too and the burden that came with it." Adam said. "I mean every time I raise my sword I keep questioning why me, but I knew with others like Orko, Cringer and Man at Arms I knew it would get easier. They are your friends destiny or not."
Will was rather surprised and touched by what the Eternian prince had said, and maybe she was doubting herself. Thinking the girls weren't really her friends but some package deal with the destiny given, but maybe she was wrong.
"You think so?" She asked.
"I know so." Adam smiled to which Will smiled back.
"Don't worry we'll find a way out this isn't the first prison I've been in, well apart from the fact it was inside a mountain shaped like a snake and was surrounded by spikes." Adam recalled when he was captured by Skeletor because he wanted to show Teela and his father he could be, as brave as, his alter ego. Will just giggled at that while Caleb still shook his head not believing his story.
Meanwhile:
Outside the rest of the Guardians, Cringer and Orko had just emerged from the swamp and arrived at a horrifying sight. It was the shadow of the castle itself, and to the group it was a rather intimidating sight.
"Whoa…look at the storm system above that castle!" Orko breathed.
"Yep I'd say that screams evil ruler lives here." Irma said.
"Its like something out of that film Meleficent." Cornelia noted.
"So uh are we going in there?" Cringer asked a little scared.
"That is the general idea." Taranee said a little scared as she stays close to the green and orange tiger.
They look and see the moat around the castle. Hay Lin takes a look at the water and sees some kind of shadow in the water. "Oh look fishies." She said happily.
However it wasn't small fishies for emerging from the water was a giant monster fish with great red eyes. "Hay Lin!" Irma exclaimed.
Hay Lin tried to run but tripped and fell. The monster was about to get her, until Orko flew in and from performing a spell circle a large puff of smoke blasted right in its eyes blinding it. Hay Lin and the others were able to escape and hide behind the thorns surrounding the castle.
They peaked up and saw the monster was gone, while Cringer was still shaking from fright. "Whew thanks Orko." Hay Lin thanked.
"Hey I actually meant to do that!" Orko said happily.
"Uh Cringer, your a cat aren't you supposed to eat fish?" Irma asked the trembling cat.
"N..n..not ones that big, well u..unless you count that one me and Adam caught one time we went fishing." Cringer stuttered.
"Well one things for sure, we're defiantly not swimming across." Irma said.
"No worries I'll make a bridge." Orko said as he started twiddling his fingers and used his magic on some of the thorns which came together to make a bridge, however after a few seconds it fell apart. "Or maybe not." Orko said cringing sad that his magic goofed again.
"Well I sort of have an idea." Cornelia then said which put a rather surprised look on everyones faces. "Oh don't act so surprise."
The blonde then climbed up on the thorns and then reached her hand out. She focused her powers on the vine over at the nearby tower then slowly but surely, it came free and swung into her hand.
"Wow!" Cornelia said in surprise.
"Nice Cornelia! Couldn't have done it better myself!" Orko complimented.
"Naturally." Cornelia said.
Everyone hurried to her. "Me first!" Hay Lin called. The girls grabbed the vine but could see there wasn't room for Cringer.
"Sorry Cringer, your too heavy." Irma said to him.
"We'll have to go in turns I'll swing with him." Hay Lin offered.
With that decided Irma, Cornelia and Taranee swung over first with Cornelia hitting the wall flat in the face. Orko flew over and pulled the blonde girl up onto the ledge. He then flew the vine over to Hay Lin and Cringer.
"Okay Cringer hold tight." Hay Lin said as she and the cat grabbed onto the vine and swung across, they screamed as they reached the other side. While Hay Lin landed on the top of the tower Cringer landed on the edge, but luckily he dug into the wall with his claws.
The girls proceeded to pull the tiger up onto solid ground and was trembling like crazy. "See that wasn't such a chore now was it." Orko said.
"J…just don't ask me to do that again! I'd rather get turned into Battle Cat then swing from a vine!" Cringer trembled.
"Battle what?" Cornelia asked.
"Oh uh nothing nothing." Orko dismissed quickly. "Uh Hay Lin which way now?"
Hay Lin looked at the Crystal and it pointed them to the entrance in front of them. "Over here." She lead them through the door. Little did they know, they were being watched by something hiding in the rocks above as a single eye was illuminated.
Throne Room:
In the silence of the Meridian throne room, the dark prince felt a surge of power. He knew exactly what it was. "I sense it! The Heart Of Kandrakar, it's here. The other Guardians."
Cedric immediately transformed into his giant snake form and looked with anticipation. "Itssss lunch time!" He hissed.
Meanwhile:
The group had managed to make their way into the dungeons, however it was rather dark. They only had the crystal to illuminate their way.
"Oooo its so dark." Cringer said a little scared.
"No problem I've got this." Orko illuminated a small fire in his hand to help light the way.
They walked down the corridor, however Cornelia soon got her face caught in some spiderwebs. "Gah! And on picture day!" They soon got her untangled and Orko pulled a brush from his robes and brushed away the webs.
They continued through the tunnel until they saw a light at the end of it. The group emerged into a large room with several deep pits in the floor and cages hanging from them.
"W..wheres Adam and Will?" Cringer asked. Right on cue the Heart of Kandrakar pulled Hay Lin to the pit closest to them.
Far below Caleb was still trying to climb out, but fell off the wall while Adam just felt the walls in hopes a brick was loose. Will just sat quietly with Blunk, however just then.
"Will!" Called a voice, they looked up and saw their friends at the hole.
"Hay Lin! We're down here!" Will called delighted to hear the voices of her friends.
"Adam!" Cringer called.
"Its okay Cringer I'm down here too!" Adam called to his friend.
"Catch!" Hay Lin called and then released the crystal and it floated down into the pit right into Wills open hand.
"GUARDIANS UNITE!" Upon saying those words the crystal surged into life engulfing Will in a bright pink light which surged up into the air.
"You think she caught it?" Hay Lin asked but then they saw a bright pink light which engulfed the four girls blinding Cringer and Orko. The light faded and revealed all the girls in their Guardian forms.
"I'll take that as a yes." Orko said then he floated down into the pit.
Caleb's eyes widened in shock after seeing Will transform into her guardian state. "Okay now I'm convinced."
"Okay guys grab on and I'll fly you out." Will offered.
"No Will we're too heavy I don't think you'll be able to carry us out." Adam said.
"Good thing I'm here." Just then Orko flew down. Caleb was more surprised than ever seeing this little magician float down.
"Whos this some wizard?" Caleb asked.
"Ahem thats royal court wizard to you!" Orko said. "Anyway I'm here to help you out."
"How you can't carry us." Caleb questioned.
"I don't need to." Orko said as he reached into his robes, then to Adam's amazement he pulled out a certain sword of his.
"Tada!" Orko cheered.
"My power sword!" Adam exclaimed as he took back his weapon.
"Hows that going to help?" Caleb still questioned.
"Your about to find out." Adam said but then looked to Will who looked a little confused. "Sorry Will I guess I should've told you and the others this before, but maybe its better to show rather than tell." Will just bore a confused look, just what was he talking about. Without any further delay Adam held aloft his magic sword and said.
"BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!"
"Oh watch this Will this is the good part!" Orko said excitedly
The sword hilt unlocked and twisted. On Eternia Castle Grayskull surged into life with energy flying into the sky. Storm clouds gathered round the Meridian castle and a blast of lightning shot down into the dungeons. The other Guardians heard the boom of something above them.
"What was that?!" Taranee spooked.
"Oh boy I think I know." Cringer said knowing what was coming next.
Lighting shot down from the ceiling and into the pit causing the girls to yelp. The energy struck the tip of the sword blinding the Guardian and Rebel leader even Blunk. The energy was changing Adam, gauntlets appeared on his wrists as his muscles grew and his size doubled, he now had on barbarian furs and boots, with a metal belt and a brown harness across his body with the hexagonal symbol of Grayskull appearing as he stood in front of the castle itself. The light faded and to Wills shock and amazement he was now He-Man.
"I…HAVE THE POWER!"
Wills jaw was dropped as was Caleb's by what they'd just seen Orko however had a natural expression having seen this a number of times.
"I..incredible!" Caleb breathed in surprise. Blunk's eyes popped right out of his head as he gasped in surprise.
"A…Adam! Y..Your He-Man!" Will said in complete shock.
"Yes it's still me Adam." He-Man said to her. "Look I'll explain everything later but right now we need to get out of here." Will nodded in understanding as she flew up into the air, with Orko close behind her. He-Man turned to Caleb and Blunk.
"Grab on." He said and so they did, Caleb grabbed his right arm while Blunk climbed onto his back. He-Man crouched down then with one leap he shot into the air like a bolt of lightning.
Will shot out of the hole and landed on her feet greeting her fellow Guardians. "Will your okay!" Hay Lin said smiling.
"Wheres Adam?" Irma asked, then right on cue He-Man shot out of the hole with the rebel leader and Blunk and landed on the ground with a thud.
"Whoa! Where'd he come from?" Irma said in shock.
He-Man set Caleb and Blunk down on the ground. "Whoa, if I knew you could do that I would've been nicer to you." Caleb said amazed.
"Hey its that He-Man guy again!" Hay Lin said surprised. "But how'd he get down there?"
"And where's Adam?" Cornelia asked.
"Uh girls." Will said getting their attention. "You're looking right at him." She gestured to He-Man.
"WHAT?!" The girls shrieked.
"The..theres no way thats Adam!" Cornelia couldn't believe it.
"Yeah how do we know it's really him?" Irma asked.
"Its me alright Irma but why don't you take a closer look." He-Man suggested.
Hay Lin stepped up and took a good long look at the champion, and as she looked into his eyes she couldn't believe it. "It..it really is him its really Adam!"
It took the girls a while but after looking closely they could start to see the resemblance. "No..way!" Cornelia gasped.
"Whoa princey boy just went Conan on us!" Irma said in amazement.
"So, the guy who helped us yesterday that was you!" Taranee exclaimed.
"Indeed it was, I apologise for this but I couldn't risk that Snakeman knowing my secret." He-Man explained.
"Adam!" Cringer leaped onto his friend and licked his face.
"Hey hey cut it out Cringer." He-Man chuckled.
"You guys really came for us, you.. you really are my friends." Will said amazed.
"Well of course we did silly." Cornelia smiled.
"Yeah we're all in this together, and no way we're letting these bozos take our new best friends." Irma agreed.
Will smiled rather touched at that, as she looked to He-Man who gave a nod of approval. Just then the girls eyed a certain boy that they recognised from the other day.
"Hey it's you you didn't get eaten by that thing!" Hay Lin realised to which Caleb gave a honest shrug.
"Yeah and…ew what is that?" Taranee asked as the girls all eyed a drooling Passling that was in their company.
"So much for cute boys." Cornelia said. However their reunion was cut short, by the sound of rather loud footsteps coming towards them.
"Uh oh sounds like we have company!" Orko gasped. Blunk quickly hid behind Cringer.
He-Man looked to Cringer and knew what to do. "Then let's even the odds, sorry Cringer but we've got work to do."
"Oh I was afraid you'd say that." Cringer gulped. He-Man pointed his sword at Cringer and energy shot from it hitting the animal.
The girls gasped as they were blinded by the light. Cringer suddenly trippled in size and his teeth grew like sabers. His armour and saddle appeared and with one loud roar he had now become Battle Cat.
"What the!" Cornelia gasped.
"Holy!" Taranee yelped.
"Cringer?!" Hay Lin said in surprise.
"Actually now he's Battle Cat!" Orko exclaimed.
"Well your certainly not a Cringer anymore are you." Irma smirked rather impressed.
Suddenly the door was slammed down and Lurdens with their weapons ready charged in towards the Guardians and their allies. He-Man stepped forwards, but surprisingly sheathed his sword away, however he raised his fists into the air and slammed them on the ground. The shockwave surged through the floor like a massive wave sending the creatures hurdling into the air.
"Holy cow he's Superman strong!" Will exclaimed but then snapped back to reality. "Cornelia, Taranee, Irma help He-Man block the stairs! Hay Lin you and Orko find an exit."
The Guardians flew to their respective assignments, and Orko flew off with Hay Lin. The Lurdens surged down the stairs towards He-Man who had his sword at the ready. One Lurden swung his blade which clashed with the sword of Power, He-Mn used his mighty strength to push the Lurden into the others with great force. He-Man grabbed the stone stairs and ripped it away causing the Lurdens to tumble to the ground.
"Earth!" Cornelia used her powers to fire green energy into the ground, rising from it were giant roots which entangled the Lurdens in their grip. Cornelia smiled at her accomplishments when suddenly a Lurden leaped and tried to grab her. Before he could Battle Cat leaped and grabbed him in his jaw and tossed him into an incoming Lurden about to attack Caleb and Blunk.
Cornelia hovered down to the armoured cat and stroked his head. "Thanks Cat." Battle Cat purred saying your welcome, before they got back into the fight.
Taranee flew up to another set of stairs the Lurdens were coming down. "Fire!" She blasted the stairwell with a large fire ball which caused them to fall to the ground.
However a majority of them were coming in through the tunnel the group had entered previously. Caleb found a discarded sword and fought back slashing at the Lurdens with his blade. Will leaped up and flew away from the incoming Lurdens.
He-Man leaped down and slammed the ground knocking some of the Lurdens away. "Will you need to fight back!" He called.
"But I don't have any powers?" Will called back.
"Then rely on your natural ability use them to your advantage!" He-Man called remembering Man at Arms and Teela's teachings.
Will nodded and tried she flew down and as a Lurden was about to attack she threw a kick which knocked him away with such force. Another was about to attack from behind until she twirled round and kicked it away.
"Wow I'm pretty strong." Will said surprised.
Irma hovered above the Lurdens that still approached them through the tunnels. "Okay fellas time to wrap this up!" Irma used her hands to generate a large water ball. "WATER!" The water flew from her hands and surged to the ground like a tidal wave which instantly washed away all the Lurdens in one fell swoop.
Caleb struck down one of the few remaining Lurdens with his sword. However one was about to attack from behind him, until Battle Cat lunged in and pinned him to the ground snarling with his saber teeth. Caleb then knocked him out with a kick of his foot.
"Nice one big cat." Caleb complimented to which Battle Cat just growled in triumph.
The Guardians and He-Man regrouped. "Okay we blocked the stairs but its not gonna hold them long." Cornelia said.
"Just so as it's for long enough." He-Man said to them just then Orko and Hay Lin arrived back. "Hay Lin, Orko have you found a way out?"
"Uh small problem He-Man theres loads of tunnels down there!" Orko explained.
"Yeah its like this really cool maze, well cool if we weren't trapped in here and everything." Hay Lin then said.
"We need to find a way out and fast." Will said.
Blunk then walks up to Hay Lin and the girls. "Take knows tunnel. Secret way out." He panted.
"Well he's kind of cute." Hay Lin said suddenly more Lurdens and Guards appeared sliding down the chains in the ceiling.
"We don't have much choice follow him!" He-Man said as he mounted Battle Cat. He offered his hand to Caleb which he took and rode behind him as everyone flew/rode out of the dungeons following Blunk with monsters close behind them.
They ran/flew through the tunnels as fast as they could. As they passed a steel barred door, Cornelia needed to act fast. "Earth!" She used her powers to close the doors then a giant root sealed them shut preventing the Lurdens from following them. They slammed their weapons on the door and tried to force it open to no avail.
Soon Cornelia caught up to the others. "That should buy us some time." She said to Will.
They followed Blunk to what looked like a damaged cell grate. "Tunnel. Yes. Under moat." Blunk said as he moved all the rotten wood and trash from the secret passage. Only to discover it was barred up. "NO BARS!" He gulped in despair.
Meanwhile the Lurdens still couldn't get past the sealed gate. However, just then a certain Snake monster arrived and charged straight through the gate shattering the root and the bars themselves. He let out a roar that echoed throughout the whole castle and dungeons.
"Stand back!" Taranee snapped her fingers and a flame ignited on her finger and started to burn the bars.
"Thats what you get for trusting a smuggler." Caleb said.
"Wholesaler." Blunk protested.
"Whatever never trust a Passling I say." Caleb said.
"Do not be so quick to judge Caleb, he lead us this far." He-Man said.
"Uh who are you again?" Cornelia asked the Rebel leader.
"He's the rebel leader." Will explained.
"You're the rebel leader?" Cornelia said surprised. "Wow he's actually kind of cute." She thought to herself.
Suddenly they heard a rather familiar roar echoing through the tunnels. "Oh no I know that roar sounds like that Cedric things back for round two!" Orko gulped.
"Taranee stand back let me try." He-Man said to the fire guardian. She stood aside as he drew his Sword of Power and with one slash cracked the rock wall. He dug his hands and began pulling it free from the wall, but the roar was getting louder.
"I'll hold him off go!" Caleb said as he ran into the tunnels.
"Wait you don't have any powers!" Will called.
"Guarding the Veil is more important than one rebel fighter." Caleb said to them. "Go!" He ran into the tunnels just as he caught sight of Cedric himself. "Hey snake face!"
He ran just as Cedric was close behind him, the Rebel leader ran through the halls of the dungeons, but Cedric was getting closer and closer to him.
Eventually He-Man ripped the rock from the wall making a large hole. "Cornelia can you dig the rest of the tunnel?" He-Man asked.
"Yeah." Cornelia focused her powers and with one burst made a large enough tunnel.
"Okay all of your head through the tunnel, and get to the portal where you came from." He-Man said to them.
"What about you?" Hay Lin asked.
"I'm going to help Caleb, he won't last long against Cedric." He-Man explained to them.
"Well we'll come with you." Will said.
"No you all need to leave, you have great power and are noble warriors I'm best suited to go and help the Rebel Leader, and we can't let evil go through the portal you came through." He-Man said to them. "If we're not out in five minutes go through the portal and seal it with or without us. Orko go with them!"
"I will." Orko said to him. He-Man then mounted Battle Cat and looked to his Guardian allies.
"I'll catch up with you go!" He said as Battle Cat roared and ran down into the tunnels.
The girls had to admire He-Mans/Adams courage despite the odds that were against him, and the chances of his survival seemed slim he was willing to charge into battle. So they followed Blunk through the tunnel and to safety.
They emerged on the other side a distance away from the castle. Blunk hopped across the roots while the Guardians and Orko flew in the air. However Will couldn't bring herself to fly away as she looked at the castle.
"I mean every time I raise my sword I keep questioning why me, but I knew with others like Orko, Cringer and Man at Arms I knew it would get easier. They are your friends destiny or not." Adams voice echoed in her mind.
"Will." Called a voice and she looked to see her fellow Guardians waiting for her.
"I'm going back for Adam." Will said.
"What?" The girls said.
"He's risking his life down there we have to help him." Will said to them.
"Don't worry Will, He-Man can take care of himself he's the most powerful man in the universe." Orko assured.
"Most powerful or not he believed in us to accept this destiny we need to help him." Will said to the other guardians. They all looked at each other and realised she was right and it was clear what they had to do next.
Meanwhile:
In the underground tunnels of the castle Caleb ran as fast as he could with his slithering presser close behind him. Suddenly he stopped as he was at the edge of a cliff. Cedric emerged behind him with a sadistic smile as he cornered his prey.
"Well well no where to run or hide boy!" Cedric smirked. "Now the Abyss of Shadows welcomes you!" He rose his tail ready to strike when suddenly.
He heard a roar turned round and was slashed by Battle Cats armoured claws across the face. He and his rider landed next to Caleb and let out a roar. Cedric glared at the two with a large claw mark across his face, which bled. He-Man dismounted his companion and drew his sword.
"Caleb take Battle Cat and get to the Portal the Guardians are heading there now!" He-Man said to him.
"What about you?" Caleb asked.
"I'll be right behind you go!" He said, and without any delay Caleb mounted Battle Cat who then leaped away from the cliff.
He-Man turned back to see Cedric who roared at him. "You have no idea what your doing challenging me warrior!"
"Actually I do, and by the way. The name is He-Man!" He leaped forwards with a giant bound.
Cedric crossed his fists and blocked He-Mans fist strike which sent a shockwave through the tunnels. The Snake Man unfolds his arms sending He-Man close to the edge, to then try and slam his tail down on him. He-Man grabs the tail in his bare hands and then pulls on it swinging Cedric round with his almighty strength and sent him flying into the tunnel and crashing to the ground.
Far below Caleb watched this battle take place, he had to admit he was beginning to admire this mans courage. He was taking on impossible odds knowing he may not survive no matter what strength he had, and the Guardians seem to have faith in him, perhaps he could be of great help in this fight against Phobos.
He-Man walked to the tunnels but stood battle ready after hearing a noise. Cedric charged through the smoke left fist first, He-Man surged his own fist forwards and as they collided a massive shockwave was sent through the tunnels causing multiple rocks to collapse. He-Man and Cedric struggled against each other until He-Man delivered a blow that completely broke the Snakemans hand. Cedric growled in pain as he pulled his fist back to see his hand dangling like a piece of string.
The champion of Grayskull charged forwards, and Cedric ripped some stalactites from the ceiling and threw them at him. He-Man simply sliced them apart with his sword then delivered a slash to Cedrics chest causing him to yell in pain.
"Gah! Th..that sword its forged by great magic!" Cedric exclaimed, it was almost as if he'd felt that magic once before.
He-Man was about to deliver another attack when suddenly a blast of energy came flying towards him. He dodged it only for the blast to bounce off the wall and hit him in the side blasting him into the wall and he lost his sword which hit the ground tip first.
Cedric looked and saw his Prince Phobos was in the tunnels. "As always Cedric I am forced to clean up your mess!"
He-Man regained consciousness and tried to reach for his sword only to receive another blast from Phobos which he blocked with his arms. "Prince Phobos I presume!" He-Man guessed.
"Hmm its strange you know my name yet I don't know yours warrior?" Phobos said intrigued.
"Lets just say your captives told me as I and the other Guardians set them free." He-Man said to him. "I have come here to aid them in freeing this world from your tyranny and free it we shall."
"What hope do you have uh He-Man is it?" Phobos said. "Your one man and your all alone." The prince then unleashes a powerful blast of energy on the champion which he manages to block but its pushing back dangerously close to the edge, towards the abyss below.
"He's not alone!" Called a voice then out of nowhere Will swooped in with the Sword of Power in two hands and swung it at Phobos knocking him into the wall.
Will landed next to He-Man and the sword clanged on the tip. "Whew this things heavier than I thought it was going to be."
"Will?" He-Man said in surprise. "What are you doing here I told you to…"
"Hey destiny or not we never leave friends behind." Will said to was about to recover and attack when suddenly roots emerged from the walls and grabbed him by the waist and tossed him into the opposite wall.
Cornelia flew in and landed next to He-Man and Will. Phobos growled as he tried to free himself. "Besides we couldn't let you have all the fun." Cornelia smiled to him.
Cedric went to help his master only to be met by a torrent of fire which hit him in the chest, then came a hurricane force whirlwind which blasted him into the tunnel wall. Hay Lin and Taranee arrived next to the group.
Phobos finally blasted himself free and looked to the group that stood before him. "ENOUGH YOU ARE ALL BENEATH ME!"
"Then try this!" Suddenly Caleb and Battle Cat leaped at the evil prince and knocked him to the ground with an almighty thud. The beast roared as he landed on the other side.
"I really gotta get me one of these." Caleb admired Battle Cat.
Phobos looked to his slithery servant and glared. "Get up you fool!" He yelled.
Cedric tried to get up but was soon met by Orko. "Hi there, surfs up!" Orko cast a spell that summoned the rocks from the walls and crashed into his arm and head. The Trollan then flew away just as a large tsunami of water washed the villainous prince and snake man away in a flash.
Irma and Orko stood side by side in pride. "Yeah you better run!" Orko cried.
"Yeah and I hope that robes dry clean only." Irma smirked.
Everyone gathered to He-Man as Will handed him back his sword. "I think this is yours."
"Thank you my friends." He-Man smiled as he took back his weapon and so he mounted his loyal companion they rode out of the castle as fast as they could.
They rode/flew through the swamp, until finally they reached the portal the other Guardians, Orko and Cringer entered. "Theres the portal ahead!" Irma called.
However just as the end seemed in sight, the ground below their feet rumbled. Emerging from the ground was a gigantic Gargoyle with a large boulder on its head a bony hand and a gigantic fist of stone. One red eye lay in the centre of its head with sharp teeth.
The girls screamed in terror as did Blunk. "Oh why do they always comeback for more!" Orko cried.
The brute roared to the heavens then moved to crush them with his giant fist. "Scatter!" He-Man called and everyone went in different directions.
The Guardians flew round the beast who tried to swat them like flies. He-Man and Caleb rode Battle cat up its back, and the champion leaped and jammed his sword into its head causing the beast to yell in pain. It tried to crush him with its giant fist but He-Man leaped from the beast and skidded into the swamp water.
Will flew over to He-Man. "That things between us and the portal!"
"We need to stop it long enough for us to escape!" He-Man said.
"How its too strong?" Will asked as they saw Taranee nearly get squashed by the beasts fists.
"You need to work together as one, its the only way I'll buy you some time!" He-Man said to her which she nodded.
He-Man ran to the beast. "HEY COME GET ME ROCK HEAD!" The beast turned its attention on the champion and tried to crush him with his fist He-Man jumped out of the way and drove his sword into its hand causing it to yell in pain.
Will then joined her fellow Guardians. "Guys listen up we need to work together its the only way we'll beat that thing!"
"How?" Cornelia asked.
"Think about it Irma has water, Taranee has fire, and you've got Earth Cornelia, what does that give us?" Will asked.
The others soon got the idea of what their leader was telling them. "Sounds like a plan!" Irma smirked.
"Right we need to get it off balance first Irma, Hay Lin help Battle Cat take it off balance." Will directed.
"You got it!" Hay Lin said as the two guardians flew to the beast who was trying to grab Battle Cat and Caleb.
Irma summoned a stream of water and blasted it under the beast and straight up splashing into its face blinding it. Then it was Hay Lins turn, she took a deep breath then blew a gust of wind which blasted against the Gargoyle. Battle Cat then charged towards the beast and head butted its chest sending it hurdling to the ground.
He-Man then slammed the ground below sending a torrent of rocks and water at the Gargoyle which hit its face and eye blinding it for a moment.
"Guardians now while its weakened!" He-Man called to them. Now it was Cornelia's turn, she summoned the earth below the water and it gathered as a large mud pile above the Gargoyle. With a snap of the Earth Guardians fingers the mud dropped all over the beast.
"Fire!" Taranee fired a stream of fire that surrounded the mud covered Gargoyle and the heat set like concrete. Orko flew over and with a snap of his fingers plants grew on top for a more pretty display.
"One final touch." Orko chuckled, and to everyone around the stone it would seem victory was theirs. However it was not to last, for suddenly the rock began to crack and with one roar the beast had broken free. Everyone was in shock and horror.
"Quick through the portal!" Orko cried and so everyone, Guardian, He-Man, Caleb, Battle Cat and Blunk included ran for the portal but the beast wasn't far behind.
Orko went through the portal first followed by Caleb, He-Man, Battle Cat and Blunk. Taranee, Cornelia and Hay Lin soon followed.
On the other side Will and Irma had made it through but so did the large fist of the Gargoyle. It grabbed Irma and started to pull her back. "Gah Will help!" She cried.
Will acted fast and pulled out the heart, while He-Man ran and leaped up to the side with his sword in hand. The whole world was in slowmotion as He-Man with one slash sliced the beasts giant hand clean off as he landed. The fist turned to stone and crumbled, Irma fell into He-Mans arms who was quick to catch her.
Will channeled and focussed the hearts power sealing the portal shut. Everyone was accounted for, and with that Will used the Heart to transform everyone back to their human forms. Cornelia's and Hay Lins hair was all messed up.
"Can you believe what we just did!" Cornelia breathed in amazement.
"That was so cool talk about teamwork!" Irma agreed still in He-Man's arms bridal style.
"I'll say we were all like bam pow zap and He-Man was like by the power of Grayskull! Kablam! We showed them not to mess with us!" Orko agreed floating around them.
"Hey what happened to your face?" Will asked seeing Cornelia's messed up hair and face.
"When we swung across the moat, Cornelia George of the Jungled into the wall Wham!" Hay Lin said giggling.
"Indeed, despite the circumstances you all performed admirably. Once you accepted your duties and power you were capable of great feats." He-Man said.
"I'll say we were!" Taranee agreed.
Suddenly He-Man received a hug from Irma. "Oh and thanks for the save big guy I thought I was a goner!"
"Heh your welcome." He-Man said given her tight grip. He-Man then lowered Irma down to her feet then raised his sword in the air. "LET THE POWER RETURN!"
Upon command a blast of energy shot down and hit the sword blinding the Guardians, Caleb and Blunk. One flash later He-Man and Battle Cat reverted back to Adam and Cringer.
"There he is." Will said and the other girls were completely surprised.
"Wow where have you been and Cringer been hiding that muscle." Irma said surprised.
"Yeah." Adam chuckled. "Look I..I'm sorry I didn't tell you my secret, I just I was hesitant at putting this on all of you."
"Hey its okay we've all been freaked by this whole magic thing." Hay Lin said.
"I'm guessing theres a story to come with that?" Will asked.
"Yeah most of it you already know, but I'll tell you the rest when we get back to the Silver Dragon." Adam said.
"Good idea." Cringer yawned. "All that running around as Battle Cat has me pooped." Just then Blunk scurried away into the halls of the boiler room eager to explore this strange new world, which did startle Cornelia a bit.
"So this is Earth huh." Caleb said looking around. "Its not what I expected."
"Oh this is just a boiler room inside a building." Taranee explained. "Namely under the school."
"Hey trust me pall its better outside, but word to the wise don't go walking around with a tiger and a wizard, it could attract attention." Adam joked. "But hey you'll get used to it."
Silver Dragon:
Soon everyone was back safely at the Silver Dragon, they'd found Caleb some causal clothes to wear, which consisted of a dark green short sleeved shirt, beige brown jeans , a black belt with a gold buckle and brown shoes. The girls Adam, Cringer and Orko were sat at a table having cups of tea. Adam had finished telling them the tale of how he became He-Man.
"So let me get this straight, when you turned sixteen the Sorceress of this Castle Grayskull gave you that sword to protect Eternia as He-Man?" Will asked.
"Yeah thats pretty much it, and kinda like you I thought the Sorceress had made a mistake, but when I saw my father in danger and the odds against us. I knew what I had to do and so I accepted the burden." Adam said. "Since then me and Cringer have been guarding Castle Grayskull from those who would do it harm."
"Castle Grayskull?" Caleb said surprised. "I thought that was just a story."
"You've heard of it?" Orko asked.
"Well only stories in Meridian we were told as kids, they say theres a realm named Eternia and at its heart is a castle containing a great power of the universe." Caleb remembered the story he was told as a child.
"Well its real alright just like Eternia and the Sword of Power." Orko pointed out.
"So all you have to do is say by the power of Grayskull and it changes you into He-Man." Taranee asked.
"Yeah thats about it, I'm still Adam on the inside." Adam explained. "But I have to keep my identity a secret from everyone."
"Why?" Irma asked.
"You know how I told you about Skeletor?" Adam asked to which the girls nodded. "Well if I told anyone and he was to gain this knowledge it could put my family and friends at risk. So I play the act of a careless arrogant prince who runs when a fight comes."
"Like what happened when we first saw the snake guy?" Cornelia realised and now felt guilty about how she treated him. "I..I'm sorry about what I said before I.."
"Hey its okay I'm used to it." Adam assured.
"But surely someone knows your He-Man?" Will asked.
"Well aside from the Sorceress only three others share my secret, two of whom you've already met." Adam explained. "Theres Man at Arms, leader of the Masters, and master of technology and of course Orko and Cringer."
"Yeah, me and Cringer followed Adam into Grayskull when he first transformed, which was also the day Cringer became Battle Cat." Orko explained.
"Yeah and I regret that you talked me into it!" Cringer complained.
"Oh come on Cringer its not so bad." Adam said.
"Yeah I actually like that side of you." Irma agreed.
"But we all love this version of you just as much." Hay Lin said cuddling Cringers head.
"Aw shucks." Cringer said blushing.
"So if this sword gives great power it can help turn the tide on Phobos." Caleb said as he picked up the sword and held it in the air despite its weight. "Grr its heavy." He groaned but eventually held it aloft.
"BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!" He called, sadly though nothing happened. "Huh why didn't it work?" Caleb said surprised.
"Sorry Caleb it doesn't work like that, Adams the chosen champion so only he can use it." Orko said to him.
The girls and Adam all laughed at Caleb's misfortune. "Still when your He-Man you totally owned that slimy snake guy!" Irma exclaimed. "I mean we fought we flew and that slimy creepo escaped into the pipes."
"You think that Blunk thing will be okay?" Hay Lin asked.
"Passlings can be resourceful creatures, but I would be quite surprised if we ever saw him again." Caleb said looking out the window.
"Well if he pops up in the girls locker room I'm switching schools." Taranee said. "But I gotta admit it was intense."
While they talked Hay Lin was writing something on her hand. She looked excited when it was finished. "OOooo and look what I've figured out our initials spell."
She showed her hand had the words W.I.T.C.H written on it. Orko took a look and soon figured out the meaning. "Oh I get it WITCH, W for Will, I for Irma, T for Taranee, C for Cornelia and H for Hay Lin. Thats perfect!"
"Sounds good to me." Adam agreed. "And you know whatever lies ahead I'm with you all to the end of the line."
"Same here." Orko said and Cringer nodded in agreement.
"Yeah but the main thing is the bad guy didn't get our new best friends." Irma said referring to not just Will but Adam as well as the group enveloped them in a group hug.
However as Yan Lin put down the tea pot she looked and saw what looked like a mirror flying from the kitchen and landed on the table startling the girls and everyone else. Just then smoke emerged from the mirror and the astral form of the Sorceress of Grayskull appeared.
"Whoa!" Irma said in surprise.
"Is that…." Will asked.
"Yep the Sorceress of Grayskull." Adam confirmed.
"She's beautiful." Taranee gasped seeing how she bore a resemblance to an Egyptian goddess from her history books in school.
"Greetings Prince Adam." The Sorceress greeted then noticing the five girls in the room. "Ah and these must be the new Guardians of the Veil, I am humbled to be in your presence chosen ones."
"Uh yes uh mam." Will greeted rather nervously.
"I am glad to see you all together, for there is great work that needs to be done." The Sorceress said to all of them.
"Yeah we saved Will now we need to free Meridian." Hay Lin said.
"Ah but Phobos didn't want Will nor Adam." Yan Lin explained much to the surprise of everyone. "Only her power he may have failed to claim it today but I sense he will try again."
"Indeed." The Sorceress said before turning to the Guardians. "Which is why your identities as the Guardians must remain a secret, for if the dark forces gained such knowledge, it could bring grave harm to your family and friends."
"We understand." Will said.
"As does Orko." Irma said towards a certain Trollan with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh uh right heh." Orko said.
"Indeed, and with He-Mans help I have no doubt you shall prevail, help each other draw upon one another, and remember the true force that binds you all." The Sorceress said. "Good luck Guardians and Champion of Eternia for the fate of all is in your hands."
With that the projection of the Sorceress disappeared into the mirror. "Yeah no pressure or anything." Cornelia said.
"But she's right." Caleb said. "Phobos has discovered that the rightful heir to the throne is alive here on Earth, thats why I came here when we first met."
"The heir?" Adam asked.
"Yes Phobos has a sister, but some years ago she disappeared without a trace. She was thought to be dead until now." Caleb explained.
"So that means we gotta find her first." Hay Lin realised.
"Right, we may not have expected this but its now our responsibility, we're going to find the heir and free Meridian." Will said. "Thats what He-Man and the Guardians of the Veil are going to do."
"Well said Will." Adam said as he drew his sword and held it over the table. One by one the girls placed their hands on the swords blade as did Orko and Cringer, then when they lifted them up they all shouted.
"WE HAVE THE POWER!"
Eternia: Snake Mountain:
Meanwhile in the darkening depths that is Snake Mountain. The demon Skeletor sat on his throne in silence. "Castle Grayskull is the source of absolute power! I can feel it!" He exclaimed. "And once I have it no one can deny my rightful place as ruler of Eternia!"
"My lord Skeletor." His attention was then drawn on Evil Lyn.
"My dear Evil Lyn what have you to report? It had better be good." Skeletor asked.
"Well in stirring my magics I felt a sudden surge of magical energy, not unlike anything I've ever seen." Evil Lyn explained. "I'm not sure how but its almost equal to that of the power that lies in Grayskull."
This perked Skeletors attention. "Continue Evil Lyn."
The evil sorceress conjured a magic projection from her staff, it showed her master what looked like a pink crystal. "I cannot say for certain but I felt this surge like its power had awoken but I cannot yet lock onto its origin point, something is blocking me. But rest assured I will not rest till I know its secrets!"
"See that you do! For if this power exists it will give me the edge I need to be rid of He-Man and those accursed Masters and finally claim Castle Grayskull and its power!"Skeletor commanded. "This looks promising….extremely promising!" He smiled sinisterly as his eyes glowed red in the darkness of his skull face.
One battle maybe over but the war had only just begun, and the fate of all shall be decided and only one can be the victor.
Authors Notes: Well the battle is over but the war has only just begun, and it looks like Phobos may not be the only piece on the board. But now the Guardians know of Adams identity as He-Man, and together they must find the heir before its too late. Now my original plan was to have Adam transform in front of all five guardians, but I thought having the old 'take a good look' trick would be much better.
Now to point something out Adam's serving as the moral support to the girls in this story so while there no need to play the cowardly prince act until they go to Eternal, which they will sometime later in the story. Also I hope you've paid attention to the sword glowing in the presence of the Heart of Kandrakar, reasons why will become clear in later chapters.
Until Next time BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!