He-Man and the Guardians of the Veil Chapter 9: Return to Eternia PT 2, a He-Man + W.I.T.C.H. Crossover fanfic

Authors Notes: Hi all and we're back with He-Man and the Guardians of the Veil, I know this update seems a little out of order but recent inspiration from Masters of the Universe Revolution has helped spark some new ideas and I just couldn't wait to post this chapter. Before we begin however I have something very important to say.

I am very grateful for all my supporters in my stories, and I am always willing to accept comments,critisim and feedback. But please please please do not clutter my reviews with debates,arguments and insults, if there are those who don't like my stories then just don't read them. I always welcome ideas and thoughts some I take into consideration but understand these are my stories I have a plan and I intend to follow through with it. Once again I am very grateful for all the support and patience in my updates and am always willing to accept feedback,critisism and comments but debates arguments and insults will not be tolerated NO EXCEPTIONS!

Thank you.

Now onto He-Man and the Guardians of the Veil when last we left The Masters of the Universe have discovered that the Guardians are just children, not to mention that Will has been taken prisoner by Skeletor and his Evil Warriors! But whats become of the Heart of Kandrakar? Well lets find out!

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (c) Mattel

W.I.T.C.H (c) Jetix

Return to Eternia PT2

The skies above Snake Mountain were in a rage, as the sounds of enraged scream echoed from this vile fortress. Inside Beast Man was blasted to the ground, he looked beaten and battered. He looked up to his abuser namely an enraged Skeletor.

"P..Please Skeletor…I…I honesty didn't know that…" Beast Man begged for his life.

"SILENCE YOU FLEA RIDDEN FOOL!" Skeletor yelled. "THOSE GUARDIANS ARE NOTHING BUT MEER INFANTS YOU WERE DEFEATED BY CHILDREN!" Evil Lyn smirked in some amusement as she sat on the arm of Skeletors throne. "YOU DARE CALL YOURSELF AN EVIL WARRIOR YOU ARE NOT FIT TO EXTERMINATE A COCKROACH!"

"Yeah you tell him boss!" Trap Jaw laughed in amusement as did Whiplash. Beast Man just growled in anger towards the two backstabbers.

"I SHOULD WIPE YOU OUT HERE AND NOW FOR YOUR INCOMPETENCE!" Skeletor yelled charging his Havoc staff with immense power and the Bezerker cowered in fear, but luckily for him the master of Havoc lowered his weapon. "But just this once I shall be generous, and instead I have another job for you."

Beast Man looked greatly relieved that he was being spared. He stood up and breathed a sigh of relief. "So uh what you need me to do boss?"

Some minutes later Skeletor and Evil Lyn headed deeper into the fortress down into the cells where they keep prisoners. They looked one of the rock faces in the mountain into a pit sealed by a grate and far below, Will without her full Guardian powers was in shackles on a stone platform over a lake of boiling lava.

"So one of the Guardians of the Veil huh?" Skeletor said getting her attention and looking very unimpressed. "Not so powerful now are you."

Though Will was a little intimidated by Skeletors appearance she didn't let it show. "So your Skeletor huh, your just as Adam described you."

"Really?" Skeletor looked intrigued. "And what does the dear Prince of Eternia say about me?"

"Oh that your just a bone head who looks like he should be in a black and white cartoon." Will cracked with a smirk. Skeletors eyes glowed red in anger using his havoc staff to manipulate the walls of the cell.

The walls emerged as spikes as Will yelped in fright as she couldn't move she braced herself. However when she opened her eyes she was completely unharmed for the spikes had stopped just inches away from her face. They retracted back into the mountain walls.

"I would consider your next words carefully Guardian." Skeletor sneered. "Now let's cut to the chase you have something I want so hand over the crystal and on my word you will go free."

She knew what he was talking about but looking on her person she realised said object was missing. "I…I don't have it." She said.

"I don't have time for petty games girl! Just give me the Heart of Kandrakar!" Skeletor demanded again.

"I'm telling you I don't have it!" Will exclaimed. But Skeletor was not satisfied with that answer as he saw a bluff from a mile away but this was the wrong day to tick him off.

"My patience is wearing thin child!" Skeletor was about to use his Havoc staff until Evil Lyn stopped him.

"No wait!" She said holding his staff to stop him. "There are other means of obtaining information than simple bodily harm my dear Skeletor."

"Oh really?" He questioned with a raised eyebrow. If he had any that is.

Evil Lyn smirked and in a puff of purple smoke she teleported into the cell facing the restrained Guardian Leader. "Now this may hurt my dear child but not for long." Evil Lyn placed her staff close to Wills head. "Where is the Heart of Kandrakar?" She asked and suddenly Will was in immense pain as the staff was surging energy into her fore head and her screams echoed all over the mountain. After a while the torment stopped and Evil Lyn looked very surprised as she turned to her master.

"She's not lying, the Heart is not with her." She said to Skeletor.

"But thats impossible!" He said in surprise. "She's its bearer I saw her with it when I tried to extract it before…" Then suddenly it dawned on him what happened back at the forest. "That blast, she must've dropped the crystal during the skirmish!"

"Into the hands of He-Man no doubt." Evil Lyn realised. "No matter I will find out where it is and recapture it!"

"Oh on the contrary Evil Lyn." Skeletor said striking evilly. "This fits in nicely with my little plan to eliminate both He-Man and the Masters once and for all!"

"But how?" Evil Lyn asked.

"Why by exploiting their one weakness, they put the lives of others above their own, all we need to do is give them the victim." Skeletor smirked as they looked down on an unconscious Will who was now completely helpless.

Eternos:

Back in Eternos all was not well, for now the Guardians true identities as teenage children was now common knowledge to the Masters of the Universe, and now to the King and Queen of Eternos. The four Guardians, Caleb, Adam and Yan Lin now stood before the rulers along withe the Masters.

"The Guardians are merely children?" Randor questioned in surprise.

"Children hey I'll have you know some of us are teenagers!" Irma pointed out.

"Not helping." Taranee whispered to her.

"So the great Guardians are nothing but children playing dress up?" Buzz Off scoffed. "I somehow knew this was too good to be true."

King Randor then turned his attention to his son. "Well Adam I await your explanation and it had better be good, you were sent to train warriors not play with school children?"

"They are warriors!" Adam defended. "Yeah they maybe young but I've seen what they're capable of."

"Five little girls yeah somehow I don't see it." Teela scoffed. Caleb had just about enough of Teela's attitude.

"Hey!" He said standing up and addressing her. "These little girls have faced horrors that would make the likes of you people run and hide!"

"I find that hard to believe." Teela scoffed. "Just as I find it hard to believe that you a warrior rebel lets little girls fight his battles. Not surprising if they had Adam for a teacher."

That really pulled a nerve in the girls who at this point had just about enough of Teelas treatment towards Adam. "Hey we are in the room you know!" Hay Lin exclaimed.

"Listen you pompous, self centred arrogant little!" Irma was rolling up her jacket sleeves and had water surging round her fist ready to punch her.

"Everyone please!" Yan Lin spoke up and stopped what could've been a nasty fight, she then addressed the king and queen. "Your majesties, I understand how you may view this but know that I had become a Guardian when I was no younger than them. While they maybe young they have achieved great things and could be capable of greater things still. On earth we have a saying big things come in small packages."

The Masters and Teela looked a little unconvinced but Sy-Klone could see things a bit better. "The elder does have a point, it is said we must not underestimate even the youngest or smallest of warriors."

"Yeah I mean I underestimated my own abilities and I came good in the end." Mekaneck agreed.

"Then why were we not told of this?" Randor then asked.

"I didn't tell you father because if their identities were ever discovered it could put their families in jeopardy." Adam explained. "The Sorceress warned us that Skeletor somehow sensed the Hearts awakening on Earth so we had to take precautions for their safety."

"Well if you'd told us maybe we could've protected it!" Teela said. "And really I thought you changed Adam but once again you fled the battle field!" This caught King Randors attention.

"What?" He exclaimed.

"I left to help my parents Teela!" Adam argued back.

"Yeah and your in no position to tell him where his place lies!" Caleb agreed. "Besides I would've thought the great defenders of this world would handle it with one less warrior."

"He's right." Marlena then spoke getting everyones attention. "I was trapped under rubble while Randor was facing Skeletor, Adam was trying to help dig me out. Its just fortunate that He-Man arrived when he did."

To say the prince of Eternia was surprised to see his mother come to his defence was an understatement but he just went with it. "Right and once we got her out she sent me back to help the Masters but I was ambushed by one of Tri-Klop's doom seekers and I couldn't get back in time."

"Skeletor is a cunning adversary my king, given how easily he orchestrated these events to lure the Guardians into the open." Man At Arms agreed. "And I agreed with the decision to send Adam back to the palace."

The King contemplated all that was said to him. "I suppose so. To attack the palace with our forces distracted was a cunning move on his part."

"Okay and now we've addressed that we've got bigger problems." Taranee then said.

"Yeah like our friend Will in the hands of that creep Skeletor!" Irma said.

The Mystic Mountains:

In the high mists of the Mystic Mountains of Eternia, Beast Man, Merman and Clawful were wandering one of the mountain passes. Until they came across a small cave. They entered with Mermans trident shining a light through the darkness. "I don't get it what did Skeletor say we were looking for in here?" Clawful wondered.

"He said we came here looking for a beast that could rid us of the Masters for good." Beast Man explained.

"In the Mystic Mountains?" Merman wondered. "What kind of beast would linger in such a place?"

"One that no one has seen for thousands of years." Beast Man explained which caused even more wonder among the three Evil Warriors, just what monster had Skeletor sent them after? Soon they came to what looked like a large looking door with ancient writings surrounding the archway. On the front was a large iron lock with large chains around it.

Beast Man snarled in anticipation they had found what they were looking for. He motioned to Merman to open the door. He stepped forward and with a swing of his trident unleashed an all-powerful blast of energy concentrating it on the lock and slowly it started to crack until finally the lock was completely shattered and the chains fell to the ground with an almighty clang. With the lock destroyed the warriors were free to open the door, Beast Man and Clawful pushed on the stone door with all their strength, it would take a thousand human men to open a door like this but for these two it was nothing. When they finally had the doors open what they saw inside made the three gasp in horror, awe and surprise.

"What in the name of the elders is that!" Clawful exclaimed.

"I..It can't be!" Merman breathed in surprise.

"Oh yeah…the boss was right it does exist!" Beast Man smirked with a toothed smile.

Eternos:

Back in Eternos, the royal family, Masters, Guardians and rebel leader were all wondering what they should do regarding rescuing Will and the Heart of Kandrakar.

"If your friend Will is in Skeletors hands he must want the crystal." Stratos mused.

"Yeah we kinda figured that out." Cornelia said pointing out the obvious.

"Hes probably taken her to Snake Mountain, we've got to rescue her now!" Adam realised.

"Hey calm down Adam, we can't just go charging in as much as I'd want to." Ram Man said trying to calm the prince down.

"You guys don't understand its the Heart he wants and once Skeletor gets it not only is Eternia at risk, but he won't have any further use for Will." Adam explained.

"I realise the situation is dire, but the Heart of Kandrakar cannot be taken by force it must be given willingly, so therefore its powers will be inaccessible to him." Yan Lin explained.

"So thats good right he can't use the Heart?" Hay Lin said hopefully.

"I don't think so Hay Lin." Adam said.

"I hate to admit it but Adams right, Evil Lyn might find a work around knowing her skill as a witch." Teela agreed. Just then all of a sudden something big and fast blasted into the throne room surprising everyone. Taranee's hands ignited in fire while the Masters, Caleb and Adam drew their respective weapons while the King and Queen looked surprise.

It was a giant orb of purple energy which hovered in the room and suddenly the image of Skeletor was now before them all. "Greetings my dear royals of Eternos!" He bellowed.

Everyone glared at him while Blunk and Orko hid behind a cowering Cringer. "I bring grand tidings for you see I believe I have something of yours!" Skeletors image then changed to an image of Will tied up on a wooden pole on the sea.

"Will!" Adam,Caleb,Orko and the girls of WITCH exclaimed in horror.

"The so called leader of the Guardians of the Veil, you of Eternia must really be desperate to let little children fight in the absence of your so called champion!" Skeletor bellowed, which made Teela glare in anger as did the other Masters as the image changed back to Skeletor. "I have what I need from this child so she's of no use to me." This made Orko look confused for some reason that no one knew about. "Now I maybe considered cruel but for now I am being generous, you can find the child at the Sea of Rakash so hurry along before the tide comes in, though then again I hear children love the ocean!" The image disappeared and the energy orb disappeared into nothingness.

"So Skeletor does have the Crystal." Buzz Off realised.

"I don't like this, it aint like Skeletor to show mercy?" Adam wondered.

"Adam has a point." Taranee agreed seeing that something wasn't right. "I mean from what he's told us Skeletor isn't the kind of person to let someone go just because he has the crystal."

"How do we know this isn't a trap?" Cornelia wondered.

"I must agree your majesty this could be a diversionary tactic by Skeletor, leaving Grayskull venerable." Man At Arms agreed. "However at the same time we cannot leave the girl to ruin."

"Father I suggest we split up, one team to protect Grayskull the other to rescue the kid." Teela suggested.

"Even if we do manage to rescue Will, Skeletor still has the crystal." Yan Lin pointed out.

"Then after she's safe we'll regroup and attack Snake Mountain to reclaim the crystal." Teela suggested.

"Still something isn't right about this, and this meeting at the sea of Rakash its just screaming a trap." Adam said.

"Whats the Sea of Rakash?" Irma asked.

"Its the seas of Eternia and on the shoreline is a small village with a small population." Roboto explained.

"And unfortunately it's close to Mermans hunting grounds." Buzzoff explained. "But its clear in all directions except for the village."

"I agree with Prince Adam this sounds like it could be a trap." Stratos agreed.

"Even if it is a trap we can't leave Will!" Hay Lin pointed out.

"Agreed." Man at Arms said. "So heres what we'll do. Teela take the Masters and investigate the sea of Rakash but approach with caution meanwhile Mossman and myself will head to Grayskull and be ready to protect it in case Skeletor makes a move."

"Okay so what can we do to help?" Irma asked as the girls stepped up determined.

"You stay here at the palace." Randor then said to the four remaining Guardians.

"What?!" Adam and Caleb exclaimed while Yan Lin looked down realising this outcome.

"But we can help!" Hay Lin protested.

"Yeah we may not have our full powers but we can still fight!" Cornelia agreed. "Wills one of us and we don't leave a guardian behind!"

"You girls have helped enough. Leave this to the professionals." Teela said.

"Hey we are professionals! We've fought off the worst that Meridian could throw at us!" Irma argued.

"She's right Teela we've seen it they snuck into Phobo's castle without the Heart!" Orko agreed.

"This isn't Meridian Orko, here your out of your league." Teela pointed out. "Besides you said so yourself you don't have your full powers, and the last thing we want to do is endanger you all."

"But…" Taranee tried.

"Teela is right." Randor and Marlena stood from their thrones. "I admire your determination to help your friend but I'm sorry we can't endanger you all."

"But father, I've been training them for this!?" Adam tried to argued.

"Be that as it may Adam, but they have little power where our foes have great power. And I cannot condone those with a little experience go into battle." Randor said.

"Little experience! They've been fighting a rebellion against Phobos for weeks!" Adam argued. "Sure he's no Skeletor but they've handled situations without their powers if you would just give them the chance…"

"My word is final Adam the Guardians are not to interfere is that clear!" Randor said rather loudly which spooked the girls, Orko and Cringer. Adam just looked in disbelief.

"Come on guys we know we're not needed here." Hay Lin said hurt as they walked away.

"Yeah cause clearly we're not 'Masters of the Universe' like them!" Irma agreed rather sarcastically. "Like telling a child you can't play with that!"

"Some trip this is turning out to be." Taranee agreed as they walked out. Cornelia stopped in front of Teela but just pouted and held her head high smacking her face with her golden hair much to the warriors annoyance.

"Father your making a mistake!" Adam exclaimed.

"Hes not Adam." Teela said speaking to him. "Look I get it they're your friends and you have every right to believe in them, but we can't put them into something they're not ready for."

"Oh really like how you underestimated Roboto I would've thought after what happened to him you would know better by now!" Adam argued at her. "But I guess not!"

"Adam!" The King then spoke. "This is a matter for the Masters to handle and as the Prince to the throne you have your duties."

"My duty now is to the Guardians the ones you're side lining because of their age if you'd actually seen what they've done you would think twice!" Adam argued back. "If you'd only listen…"

"I have tried listening time after time my son but I too have tried to understand you to no avail! I am not questioning their abilities Adam but they are children without their full powers, and I cannot possibly endanger them, and neither should you. For a king knows when to send those experienced into battle and when to think of others." Randor said. "Something I thought you would have learned by now."

That just made Adams blood boil, sure his duties as He-Man kept him from learning how to be king like his dad and the duties he needs to fulfil. But hearing his father think of him this much well that was the last straw.

"Oh sure because I'm such the disappointment of your son and heir!" Adam argued angrily much to the surprise of Caleb, Teela, Yan Lin, Cringer, Orko, Blunk, Man At Arms and the other Masters. More so than the king and queen. "Believe it or not dad I try to take all you say to heart but it doesn't come to me as easily as it did you!" Adam argued.

"It never came easy to me son, the responsibility as king is a great burden one that soon will be handed to you." Randor told him as calmly as he could.

"Yeah but for all we know that could be years from now! And you know I'm beginning to think there's a reason that I haven't been getting this king stuff because maybe I'm not meant to be king!" Adam finally yelled which all but put a look of shock and gasps on everyones faces.

"D..Don't be ridiculous, Adam this burden is not an option your mother and I are not going to be around forever! You need to learn how to guide and lead this kingdom I have given you opportunity after opportunity but you neglect your duties especially in this time of upheaval with Skeletor on the loose.…" Randor tried but Adam shouted back.

"I HAVE BEEN!" Adam exclaimed. "But its not easy for me I'm not you! And I don't think I ever will be! But at least I know where you stand about what you think of me!" He glared angrily and then just turned to storm out of the throne room.

"Adam!" Randor yelled. "ADAM!" He yelled again but he didn't listen, Cringer and Orko soon followed the prince out of the room and Miss Lin soon followed them. Caleb however just stood there and took one look at the royals and warriors in the room.

"No disrespect your majesty, but while you've succeeded as a monarch, as far as, I can tell you've failed as a father." Caleb simply said as he then looked to Teela. "And you know I was told by Adam stories about this great captain of the guard, someone he trusted, admired and respected!" He said right in Teelas face. "But all I can see are warriors too full of pride to admit when they're wrong." He then followed his friends and stormed out of the room with Blunk close behind.

Randor was about to get up and follow but his wife stopped him by holding his arm. "Let him go, I think the last person our son wants to talk to right now is you." She said calmly and the king breathed in understanding and decided to let Adam cool off. Teela on the other hand didn't respect that and left the throne room to go find him. Leaving Man At Arms and the Masters to wonder what to do next.

Later in Man At Arms workshop:

"GAH we're inexperienced! Leave it to the professionals!" Irma grumbled in frustration pacing the workshop floor. Listening was Hay Lin who sat on the floor with Taranee while Cornelia sat on the bench with Orko floating next to her. Cringer sat with the air and fire guardians, while Man At Arms was calibrating his weaponry to head for Grayskull.

"Yeah they're treating us like kids!" Hay Lin pouted in frustration.

"Well we are kids." Taranee said.

"Yeah kids who have kicked butt with or without our powers!" Irma said. "And don't even get me started on Teela or the masters!"

Cornelia looked over to Man at Arms. "Ah no offence Duncan but your daughters a total snob and an arrogant jerk!"

Man At Arms sighed and closed a panel on his robotic arm. "Teela takes pride in her duties and responsibilities, and admittedly at times she can let herself get lost in her pride, but she does learn from her mistakes she's just angry about what damage the Evil Warriors have been causing lately."

"Well thats no reason for her to treat Adam the way she does!" Taranee stood up in an argumentative way. "How she tells him how he hides from a fight and it's really affecting his confidence!"

"Taranee's right, sure it maybe teasing but if she saw how confident he was on earth she'd be eating her words!" Hay Lin agreed. "I mean I thought from Adams stories she'd be an awesome person but so far I'm not seeing that."

"Yeah sure Teela can get at him at times, but they always brush past it they've been friends since they were kids." Cringer explained.

"Sure friends fight and teas each other but they always come good in the end." Orko agreed.

"I understand your argument girls, but Adam has no choice if he wants to protect his identity as He-Man for if she or anyone else discovered this, it could put them in great danger." Man at Arms explained to them.

"Oh please we hardly recognise him as He-Man." Cornelia scoffed. "I get he has to protect his identity but we hardly see the difference when he's either Adam or He-Man, with or without that Grayskull juice."

"Cornelia does have a point." Taranee agreed. "The power is that of Eternia's elders right, so thats mostly where He-Mans wisdom comes from, but the guidance and experience as a fighter that comes from Adam. So who says he can't find a balance between the two?"

Man At Arms had to admit the four Guardians did raise a valid point, it was true that when Adam is transformed into his alter ego he looks different but he's still the same man with the wisdom of Eternia's Elders. He and the Sorceress knew his identity had to be kept secret to protect his loved ones and the secrets within Grayskull. Never the less the burden does take a tole on Adam facing the judgement of those he loves around him much like his daughter or the king does. He knew this first hand when the prince let his pride get the best of him trying to prove he could be heroic without He-Man. Only to be proven wrong. Could the girls be right was there a balance needed?

Meanwhile:

In the courtyard Adam was swinging his sword slicing apart some practice drones. But he was putting a lot of agressive actions into them. One drone came flying at him and he yelled slicing it in half then one was coming in from behind and he tossed his sword like a frisbee slicing it clean in half as it swung round and landed back in his hands. He breathed in and out in exhaustion as sweat dropped from his brow.

"Taking out your frustrations huh?" He looked and saw Caleb and Blunk were watching.

"Yeah, better than shouting when no one listens." Adam breathed as he wiped the brow of his head with a towel. "Just another day in the life of cowardly prince Adam."

"Adam no coward! Adam brave brave like Blunk!" Blunk said.

The prince couldn't help but chuckle at the Passlings surprising words of encouragement. "Yeah well my dad and Teela have a different take on it." He said.

"Kinda noticed." Caleb said. "Look, Adam I know you and your dad don't really have the best relationship but you gotta be careful." This seemed to get Adams attention. "I mean he's right about one thing he's not always going to be around and if he's either killed in battle or die of old age you might never get the chance to tell him how you really feel. Trust me I know."

"How?" Adam asked.

"Because…I lost my own father." Caleb admitted with sorrow, and this put a look of remorse on the Eternian Princes face. Caleb then sat down on one of the courtyard steps and Blunk too was curious about this story. "When Phobos took the throne, my father Julian was the one who started the Rebellion to fight back and give everyone their freedom and rights back. He taught me everything I know, because he wanted me to be ready to lead the rebellion if anything ever happened to him. Sure we had our differences sometimes but we got through it together."

"So what happened to him?" Adam then asked as if he didn't already know the answer.

The rebel leader sighed in grief, before he told him. "During the battle of Greywoods my father lead the attack against Phobos's forces but he…he was killed in battle."

To say Adam was shocked by this was more than an understatement to know that the leader of the Rebellion had lost his father in a battle at such a young age. "I..I'm sorry."

"Yeah, and to be honest Adam when I see you and your dad it makes me wish I still had mine." Caleb admitted.

"But thats just it, you could talk to your dad openly about things but I don't have that option. Because I need to keep my identity as He-Man a secret from him, sometimes I wish I could but if I did it would put him and my family in danger if Skeletor ever found out." Adam let out with a frustrated breath. "Its why I can't be the son he wants me to be."

He felt a had on his shoulder looking to Caleb. "But thats just it Adam your not him, you're your own man. My dad did things his way but I do things the way I thought was best. If your dad doesn't understand that thats his loss." He said to him. "Because if he could see what you did in Meridian as Adam he'd know better." The prince replied with a warm understanding smile to know his friend understood. Just then he saw a familiar face coming towards them.

"Uh oh here comes trouble." Adam noted and Caleb looked to see Teela was coming towards them, so Caleb and the Passling decided to take their leave without even looking at the Captain of the guard, leaving them completely alone.

"Well that went well." Teela said referring to the argument earlier.

"Teela please I'm not in the mood for a lecture." Adam groaned as he polished his sword.

"Hey I'm not here to give you one." Teela said in some understanding tone. "I was just gonna say, that was something standing up to your father like that for those girls." Adam listened as she spoke. "That seemed, a little unlike you, normally you'd run from that or just brush it off."

"Yeah well a lots changed while I've been on Earth." Adam said as he turned slightly to see her.

"That much is sure." Teela said but then sighed seeing her friend didn't agree with his fathers decision. "I…I'm sorry about how things went in there and I know you want to help the Guardians. I…I promise we'll try and get her back alive okay."

"I appreciate that Teela, but I still think this is a trap not like my father listens to me anyway." Adam said with some frustration in his voice.

"Well its hard for your dad to take you seriously if you don't prove yourself in a fight." Teela said.

"See thats part of the problem Teela." Adam then said turning to face her. "Its more than just fights and courage that makes a warrior and I think my father and everyone else has forgotten that, and has it crossed your mind there's a better way for me to serve Eternia than just combat. It sometimes takes brains to fight a war."

"When did you suddenly get wise to warriors?" Teela questioned with a knowing smile.

"When you see suffering in Meridian, training guardians and helping to fight a rebellion it makes you see things differently." Adam explained.

"Well it isn't Meridian here Adam and this kingdom needs its prince." Teela told him. "If you want to save your friend Will you could come with us."

"No offence Teela but right now my place with the other girls is just fine, who by the way are more than you and my father think." Adam said as he turned his back to her and picking up his towel.

"Adam thats not…" Teela tried to explain but. "That will be all Captain." Adam simply said with a little could see there was no use arguing to him about this and to her he hadn't changed a bit. So with a frustrated and upset expression she turned round to leave. The prince just looked at his reflection in the sword and when he looked back he saw his reflection of his alter ego. It was time to do something he'd been putting off for too long.

The captain of the guard walked down the hallway of the castle heading for the hanger to meet the other Masters. She was so full of frustration towards Adams behaviour how is he supposed to be taken seriously by his father if he doesn't step up?

"You look like your in a hurry?" Said a voice from behind her, she turned round and saw staring behind her was He-Man.

"He-Man!" She said rather surprised to see him. "W..what are you doing here?"

"Here to see a friend, and I know enough to see when she's in turmoil. That and I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with Prince Adam." He-Man said to her and so she let it all out.

"Yeah I guess I am, my home is constantly being attacked by Skeletor we're barely holding on as it is. And my best friend who I thought was training warriors was actually teaching little girls with little power how to fight. He just doesn't understand how bad things have been here I thought his time away changed him but he's still the same no show of a warrior!"

He-Man tried his best to hide his frustrated feelings or rather Prince Adams frustration at her words. "Teela, do not let your emotions get to you, because I sense your problems are not with Prince Adam or the Guardians but rather with me."

The captain of the guard sighed as she faced the champion with a hurt and angered look. "Just where on Eternia have you been! You just left us without a single word leaving Eternia and Grayskull venerable to Skeletors attacks! We needed you and you weren't! Father tells me you have other obligations but I want to hear it from you!"

He-Man sighed. "I do have obligations beyond Eternia and Castle Grayskull but I have my reasons."

"Like what?!" Teela questioned "we needed you here!"

"And when did the great Defenders of Eternia let one man fight their battles?" He-Man said to her which made Teela look incredulous. "Teela, I won't always be here to protect Eternia, sometimes you can't let one man fight all your battles for you, I can't be everywhere at once which is why I couldn't be here now." Teela listened to the champions words as he spoke. "The Masters of the Universe have defended this planet since the Great Unrest long before I appeared and they will continue to defend it whether I am here or not. Your letting your emotions get the best of you Teela, and when we allow our emotions to cloud our judgement it can throw us out of balance a warrior has to find balance in all things and rely more on their will to fight for whats right and rather than their fists."

This did leave a lot for Teela to think about, its true the Masters had been defending her home since before she was born. However with all that had been going on now she just couldn't see it right now.

"The same can also be said for underestimating ones abilities." He-Man then said getting her attention. "These guardians maybe young but they do have potential, the problem is not letting them prove their potential, and that is the worst thing a warrior can possibly do underestimate ones worth and abilities."

"Be that as it may but right now this threat that Skeletor poses requires more experienced warriors, the girls may've got lucky once with Marzo and todays battle but we can't chance it." Teela said. "Right now we're needed at the Sea of Rakash to save their leader and we could use your help."

"I'm sorry Teela the Sorceress needs me at Grayskull in case this is a trap laid by Skeletor." He-Man said as he turned to leave. "But think about what I've said, don't let emotion cloud your judgement." He then bound out of the hallway window and left a very frustrated Teela behind it looked like everyone was disappointing her lately. So with one angered punch to the wall she went to join the other Masters.

Minutes later a Wind Raider carrying, Teela, Cy-Klone, Ram Man, Roboto and Man-E-Faces took to the sky towards the sea of Rakash with Stratos and Buzz Off close behind. From Man at Arms workshop the girls, Caleb, Blunk, Orko and Cringer looked out the window to see them leave on their mission. Just then they saw Adam enter the room, and looking at his frustrated and saddened expression the girls could see something was wrong.

"Hey you okay?" Hay Lin asked as they came over.

"Yeah I and He-Man had a very lengthly conversation with Teela but it looks like nothings changed, she feels like I've abandoned Eternia and in a way she's right." Adam sighed. "But other than that I'm fine how're you guys holding up?" He said with a more upbeat face.

"Hey come on don't let her get you down, if anything you have more courage and fortitude than she can ever know." Taranee said defending him.

"I'll say!" Cornelia said. "Besides what does she know about us she doesn't even know us that well, same goes for the Masters sure they're cool but they haven't seen the threats we've seen."

"Yeah but…ah maybe I shouldn't have suggested we come to Eternia in the first place, now Wills been captured and we might have lost the Heart." Adam admitted with remorse.

"No thats not on you." Hay Lin said to him with a consoling hand on her shoulder. "We wanted to come and see this world that you talked about so its on us too."

Irma then leaned on his shoulder with her arm. "And hey you standing up to your old man like that, total Earth teen right of passage." She said with a smile. "Plus he, that snob Teela and the Masters don't know squat about the Adam we know."

"The Adam who's always got our backs no matter what." Hay Lin agreed.

"Who always manages to help keep us together, who sees the best in us and even helps us in all this magic worlds drama." Taranee agreed.

"The Adam we know, who has more courage and fortitude than anyone we've ever met, the one Will and the rest of us respect and can always count on when things get tough if its school, if its WITCH or anything else. The Adam who inspired us to go the distance." Cornelia then said.

"That is the Adam we've come to know, the one they'll never understand." Irma finished.

The Prince of Eternia was very touched by all their kind and encouraging words they really were his friends and they truly believed in him and had his back. Cringer, Orko, Caleb and Blunk all smiled confidently at Adam knowing they were right. Man At Arms couldn't help but smile proudly at this scene training the Guardians, and learning of Earth really did have an impact on him, since a long time ago he would never have talked back to his father or the Masters just to protect his secret.

"Thanks guys." Adam said gratefully. "And we will get Will back, and just prey its not to late to stop Skeletor from using the crystal."

Orko then hovered rather sheepishly towards them. "Uh guys…what if…what if Skeletor doesn't use it."

"He has the crystal so Wills useless to him if he can find a way to tap into its power." Caleb reminded the Trollan wizard. It was then that the group noticed Orko looked terribly nervous and guilty. Something that Man at Arms had seen before and looked at the Trollan rather interrogatingly.

"Orko is there something you want to tell us?" Man At Arms asked which instantly got everyones attention and all eyes were on him.

"He…uh…" Orko reached into his right sleeve and to everyones surprise he pulled out. "Doesn't have the crystal." The Heart of Kandrakar hung from his hand much to everyones surprise.

"WHAT!" Everyone exclaimed surprised as Orko handed Adam the crystal. "But Orko…how..when how did you?"

"Well I woke up just when I saw Will being taken by Skeletor, and when I looked in front of me the Heart was just there in the grass." Orko explained. "Will must've dropped it in the fight."

"And you didn't tell us why?!" Cornelia asked interrogatingly.

"I was gonna but then everything turned into a huge mess." Orko explained. "But we have it and Skeletor doesn't thats gotta count as a win right?"

"Well good work keeping it hidden Orko." Adam said. "If you hadn't Skeletor would really have it now."

"But it doesn't add up." Taranee said figuring things out. "If Skeletor doesn't have the crystal why would he let Will go? Why not hold her hostage and make us give him the crystal for ransom."

"Yeah whats with the lame tactics?" Irma agreed. Yet they didn't notice the crystal glowing.

"Uh guys." Cringer said as he directed everyones attention to the crystal. "Somethings happening." They all gazed into the crystal it was showing them a vision, they looked horrified for what they saw was Will in shackles but it wasn't at a beach rondevu.

"WILL!" Hay Lin gasped in horror however Adam recognised the room all too well indeed.

"Guys, I've got a feeling thats not the sea of Rakash." Cornelia feared.

"Because it isn't, thats Snake Mountain she's in one of the prison cells. I should know its the same one old bone head locked me in when I was his prisoner." Adam confirmed.

"Oh no if Wills in Snake Mountain she's in bigger trouble now!" Cringer shivered.

"Hey I'm all for storming a bad guy fortress but I got a question. How do we know thats the real Will in there?" Irma then asked.

"I've got another one. If that is the real Will." Caleb soon came to the same conclusion as Adam and Man At Arms. "Who is the Masters going to rescue at the Sea of Rakash?"

It didn't take everyone long to come to the horrifying conclusion to what this vision meant. "This means they're!" Taranee gasped.

"Walking right into a trap!" Adam realised without word Man At Arms grabbed his helmet and put it on.

"We need to move!" He said and the group hurried or in Orkos case hovered after him. They all arrived at the communications hub and Adam quickly grabbed the radio to try and contact Teela and the other Masters.

"Teela! Teela come in don't go to the sea of Rakash its a trap!" Adam called on the radio but all they got was static which was very unsettling. Man at Arms then took the radio from the prince as he tried.

"Man At Arms to Teela, do not proceed to the sea of Rakash repeat do not proceed return to Eternos at once!" He called but again it was static, he tried tuning the instruments on the console to try and strengthen the signal but it was no good.

"Whats wrong?" Taranee asked as the Master of Technology slammed his fist down on the console in frustration.

"Damn it! All com channels are being jammed! Skeletor is up to this!" He realised.

"So that means we can't warn Teela and the others!" Adam realised as well.

"Aw well tough break for Teela." Cornelia shrugged.

"Cornelia!" Taranee seethed at her.

"What she's been nothing but a jerk to us and Adam I'd say this is karma!" Cornelia said.

"Be that as it may Cornelia right now our personal feelings don't matter they're walking right into a trap to leave Grayskull venerable!" Man At Arms reminded.

"We gotta do something!" Irma said. "Full powers or not we gotta stop this."

"And we will." Adam then decided. "We didn't come here to be told to sit out of a fight, we're going to Snake Mountain to get Will back and then we're going to help the Masters and stop Skeletor."

"Hold on aren't you going to tell your dad?" Irma asked rather knowingly with a smirk.

"This is something that can't wait for royal approval, plus I think there's a saying sometimes it's better to beg for forgiveness than ask permission." Adam then smirked back.

"Oh yeah hes a rebel prince." Irma smirked.

"Then let's go get our girl." Cornelia agreed punching her fist into her palm.

"You guys go, I'll go with Duncan and Moss Man to Castle Grayskull." Caleb then said much to everyones surprise Cornelia especially.

"What, are you sure?" Cornelia asked.

"I'm sure if the power is as great as the Sorceress says you need your best soldiers on the frontlines to defend it." Caleb said with every ounce of determination.

"Agreed, we must protect Grayskull I'll send word to the Sorceress and see if we can contact some help for the Masters the rest of you get to Snake Mountain and find Will." Man At Arms agreed.

"Me Blunk help defend castle!" Blunk said with a knights helmet on and holding Teelas spare staff.

"But take mr blood hound with you." Caleb said much to Blunks disappointment.

"Hey don't worry pal your moment will come."Orko comforted the Passling. Man at Arms and Caleb hurried out of the communications room to find Moss Man while Adam, the girls, Orko, Cringer and Blunk ran out of the room.

"Come on we've gotta.." They hurried down the hallway of the castle. When suddenly Adam stopped in his tracks just as he bumped into someone causing the girls to stop as well. They all looked up and saw Queen Marlena above them.

"Your majesty!" The girls exclaimed.

"Mom? Uh hey uh what are you doing here?" Adam asked.

"I came looking for you Adam, and it seems I've caught you just before you go and do something foolish." Marlena said to them rather strictly it looked like they were busted, but then something really strange happened. "And just in time too because there is a spare Wind Raider in the hanger, and anyone with a mind to either go on a joyride or unauthorised mission could be there in no time at all. If they hurry." That last part she said in a very hinting way.

Adam was all but confused. "Wait Mom..y…your not going to try and stop us?" The girls were more than surprised.

"Adam, your father is right about one thing you will be king someday, but ultimately it's your choice of what kind of king you're going to be." Marlena said to him. "No one can tell you how to best make that decision. But all I ask is that you be brave be smart and more than anything else follow your own path and be true to the man you choose to be, not what others make you out to be."

The Eternian Prince smiled at his mother happily and understandingly, while the girls were all but amazed normally a parent much less a Queen would stop a reckless stunt like that didn't seem to be the case.

"Thanks mom." Adam smiled and the group hurried down the hall leaving the Queen smiling.

The group soon arrived in the hanger area, and just as Marlena had said there was a second Wind Raider all fuelled and ready to go. The group stayed hidden behind some of the crates in case and guards came by. Adam poked up and saw no guards patrolling.

"Okay lets go." Adam said but suddenly Cornelia stopped him by pulling his arm back. "Huh what?!"

"Adam, aren't you forgetting something?" The blonde then hinted towards a certain sword on his back and Adam understood the message loud and clear.

"Way ahead of you." Adam smirked and Cringer really didn't like what was coming next, as the prince drew his sword, held it aloft and said certain magic words.

"BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!"

The sword hilt unlocked and a blast of lightning came down from above as Grayskull itself lit up with power. The golden lightning struck the sword as a column of magic surrounded him transforming him.

"I…HAVE….THE POWER!"

One spectacular transformation later Adam was now transformed into He-Man and with one point of his sword Cringer was transformed into Battle Cat letting out a mighty roar!

Without further delay what was left of WITCH, Orko, He-Man, Battle Cat and Orko boarded the Wind Raider with the champion in the pilots seat. Activating its engines they took to the sky and blasted off towards the Dark all this from one of the balconies was Queen Marlena, who looked out with a mixture of worry and pride and as she turned round to go back into the palace she said.

"Be careful Adam."

Meanwhile: The Sea of Rakash:

Far away, the coastline at the Sea of Rakash seemed strangely quiet. However at that moment, the Masters of the Universe arrived on their Wind Raider and sky sleds landing on the beach. Disembarking from their vehicles they looked around for any sign of trouble, yet there was nothing.

"Its quiet." Buzz Off observed.

"Yeah a little too quiet if you ask me." Ram Man agreed feeling a little uneasy.

"Mekkaneck any sign of the Guardian leader?" Teela asked and Mekkaneck extended his neck to give him a birds eye view of the area and scanned for signs of life.

"Nothing so far, but it looks like the village is deserted, I'll keep scanning." Mekk reported. While far below Sy-Klone felt uneasy.

"There is something amiss here, I can sense it in the air." He said.

"I must agree, this village is normally swarming with people. For them to leave it to decay is quite unsettling." Stratos agreed, as Roboto looked closer at the village on his long range scanners from his hud he could see the buildings were completely intact no sign of any damage what so ever, but the ground was littered with broken carts and left behind belongings.

"Area scan indicates no sign of structural damage eliminating the possibility of an attack. However further scans show many foot prints and belongings littered on the ground, indicating many people fleeing in a hurry." Roboto reported.

"So what could make them leave?" Stratos wondered and in truth Teela was wondering the same thing, but for the moment she was focused on the task at hand.

"Hold on!" Called Mekaneck. "I have something." He zoomed his goggles in on something in the middle of the sea. It was a wooden raft with someone tied to a pole, upon a closer look he could see a certain red headed girl. "Its her its Will!"

"I'll get her." Buzz Off said as he fluttered his wings and flew out onto the sea.

"Buzz Off be cautious!" Stratos called. The Andreenid flew over to the raft and landed on it to face the bound Guardian Leader.

"Hang on kid I'll get you out." He reached out to her but as he got closer touching her head she suddenly turned to dust before his very eyes. He was shocked. Kneeling down to get a closer look his insect like eyes widened knowing what it was.

"Mimic dust!" He exclaimed and it could be heard from the shore line.

"We've been had!" Man-E-Faces exclaimed in realisation all of a sudden the waves below the raft Buzz Off was on started to shake and buckle and the land began to rumble.

"Earthquake!" Ram Man exclaimed but suddenly the waters bubbled prompting Buzz-Off to fly off it quickly and rejoin the Masters. The water surface broke and something rather large emerged from the depths, Stratos and Sy-Klones eyes widened in terror seeing what emerged from the watery depths of the sea.

"I…It cannot be!" Sy-Klone said in horror.

"I'm afraid it is!" Stratos breathed in horror. "Its…its…"

Before them now was a massive looking sea beast that resembled something of a Kraken with pinkish violet skin covered in oozing slime on its eight tentacles. In the centre of the beasts head/body was a giant red and yellow eye with a massive mouth, snarling teeth and large fearsome looking horns near its jaw. This was no ordinary Eternian sea beast it wasn't of Eternia at all it was.

"THE ORLAX OF PRIMERIA!"

The beast unleashed a fearsome roar that shook the very sea and ground beneath it. "I..it can't be I thought that was just a myth!" Teela exclaimed in terror.

"Well it looks pretty real to me!" Ram Man exclaimed but then they saw two certain Evil Warrior riding atop the mighty scaly beast. Merman and Beast Man rode on the beasts back, just then a familiar cackle echoed through the air and they saw above riding two viscous griffins were Skeletor, Evil Lyn, Trap Jaw, Tri-Klopps, while Clawful and Whiplash were in the cockpit of a Terrordactyl.

"The Orlax of Primeria a beast of legend, a creature that not even the mighty Snakemen could tame locked away five hundred years ago!" Skeletor proclaimed. "But now it is free and with a little persuasion." He gestured to MerMan who controlled this sea creature with his ability to command the creatures of the sea while Beast Man lashed his whip at the beast to make it obey his commands. "It now does my every bidding and my first command is OBLITERATE THE MASTERS!"

The Masters looked at the beast as it roared lashing its tentacles towards it. "Scatter!" Teela exclaimed as they ducked and flipped out of the way of the ancient beasts attacks. Teela landed not too far away from Ram Man.

"Prince Adam was right this was a trap!" Ram Man realised much to Teela's own realisation and horror.

"And I walked us right into it!" She breathed and tried her com link. "Father come in!" Sadly all she got was static their communications were cut off.

"Now as much as I would love to stay and watch your pitiful demise I have a date with destiny!" Skeletor cackled evilly. "Forward to Castle Grayskull!" So the forces of evil fled the scene and headed away from the Sea of Rakash and onward to Grayskull.

Man-E-Faces, Buzz Off, Mekkaneck and Stratos fired their blasters and maces at the giant beast but shockingly their laser fire just went right through the beast doing no damage what so ever. Roboto unleashed his full armada or weapons firing upon the Orlax but again nothing seemed to phase it.

"It is no good! Our weapons have no affect on this thing!" Man-E-Faces robot face said.

"Legend tells the Orlax is a dimensional being able to exist in two dimensions at once!" Stratos remembered the old tales. "Even King Hiss and the Snakemen couldn't tame it any attempts to proved fatal! Nothing can harm it!"

"Oh boy this is not good!" Ram Man exclaimed.

"We can't give up stand your ground!" Teela proclaimed and they charged at the slimy beast of old who gave out a roar into battle.

While Beast Man and Merman could only snicker from the beasts back. "Hehehheh this is gonna be fun!" Beast Man snickered.

Meanwhile: Palace of Eternos:

Back at the palace the King of Eternia looked out from the archway in his throne room over his kingdom. He was contemplating something, namely the argument he had with his son. He breathed a sigh of frustration.

"Brooding over it isn't going to change anything." He looked to see his wife Marlena joining him seeing what was troubling him.

"It seems there are certain things that I cannot undo." Randor sighed. "I just…" He breathed in frustration. "Marlena my love I am just at my whits end with that boy, he neglects his responsibilities all I've tried to teach him and now he lets children fight in battles beyond them."

"That wasn't for us to decide Randor, if this Heart of Kandrakar chose them and even their predecessors at such a young age it must be for a good reason." Marlena told him. "Just hearing the stories they've told us and all they and Adam have done for Meridian just shows that maybe there's more to them than meets the eye."

"Maybe so, but I just don't understand why Adam can't take his royal duties seriously he never appears in battle and seems to think my teachings mean nothing!" Randor spoke in some frustration like he was losing his patience with his own son and heir. "And now he say he doesn't want to be king! He just doesn't understand this is something he cannot ignore I've tried everything to make him understand this!"

"Not quite everything your majesty." Another voice spoke and the two royals turned to see Yan Lin standing behind them.

"Miss Lin we…we didn't hear you come in." Marlena said rather surprised.

"Forgive me I couldn't help but eavesdrop." Miss Lin explained then addressing King Randor. "Your majesty I believe I see what the problem is, the problem is that you are treating Adam as if he was already the leader of this kingdom, and no disrespect but to thrust so much responsibility on him so soon can only hinder ones confidence."

"No disrespect taken, but none the less my son will inherit my crown someday, and I need him to be prepared for that. More prepared than I ever was." Randor looked out on the distant lands beyond his kingdom gazing to where the great Hall of Wisdom once stood. "My role as king was thrusted upon me by the Council of Elders when the Hall of Wisdom fell and they became pure energy. I was merely a soldier not a king. I had no idea how to govern a people, I wasn't prepared."

Miss Lin then joined him in the archway. "You know King Randor, destiny and duty are a funny thing, they can call upon us but only at a moment of our choosing. Just as destiny called upon me and my friends to be Guardians of the Veil just as it called upon my granddaughter and her friends now. I feel perhaps Adam was destined to aid them in their fight but he has to handle that in his own way." She looked to the king. "But what you must understand is Adam is not you, he can only be the kind of man he wants to be and whether you know it or not he has been listening."

This caught the kings attention. "When I look at him teaching the girls I see him passing on lessons that he learned from you. It has had a great impact on them Will especially as she bares the responsibility of leadership and follows Adams example as he encourages her to succeed, as do her fellow Guardians. He just has his own way of doing things."

This did make King Randor consider things a little and began to see the argument in the throne room a little differently. "I understand you doubt the girls abilities for such a young age but if we hamper ones potential they can never truly explore what they can do."

"She's right Randor, but at the same time you're right." Marlena agreed holding her husbands hand. "Adam will one day be king but he must decide how he will carry this burden. That isn't a decision anyone can tell him how to make."

"I suppose…" Randor contemplated as he rubbed his chin.

"Plus, it is said that kids do have a way of rising to the occasion." Yan Lin smirked.

"Old Guardian wisdom?" Randor said with an amused smile.

"Nope ancient grandma wisdom." Yan Lin cracked.

"My lord!" Just then a palace guard ran into the room with grate haste, then bowed before his king and queen. "The Wind Raider is missing, and so are Prince Adam and the four Guardians."

Randor was startled by this news and it didn't take him long to realise what his son had done. "Ah another thing about kids your highness, sometimes they just don't listen to their elders." Yan Lin then chuckled.

"How true." Randor sighed from exhaustion. Unknowingly the former Air Guardian gave a knowing smile to the Queen who responded with one of her own. Did she know something her husband didn't?

The Dark Hemisphere:

The Wind Raider carrying the girls, He-Man, Blunk, Orko and Battle Cat had soon entered the Dark Hemisphere a barren land with erupting volcanoes blasting out fire and ash covering the dark land.

"Whoa, so this is the Dark Hemisphere." Irma said surprised. "Feels like we just took a wrong turn into Mordor."

"Yeah this place just screams evil lives here." Cornelia agreed.

"So why does it look so different than the rest of the planet Adam?" Hay Lin called.

"Much like the lighter hemisphere of Eternia the Dark Hemisphere makes up one half of the planet." He-Man explained. "they were created years ago by a dark sorcerer known as Hordak using an artefact called the Triad he tried to divide the planet in half, but doing so nearly caused the planet to split apart. Hordak stopped the spell and the pieces of the Triad were scattered to the distant corners of Eternia."

"Whoa one artefact nearly destroyed the planet!" Hay Lin exclaimed.

"Yeah twice when Two Bad tried to split himself apart." Orko pointed out.

"Ooo Blunk too pretty for planet to be split apart." Blunk quivered.

"After Keldors defeat after the Great Unrest the Evil Warriors were driven out here. To ensure the safety of Eternia, Man At Arms and the Sorceress created a barrier to make sure the evil ones were kept at bay, until Skeletor shattered it." He-Man then said as they passed the remnants of said barrier which surprised Taranee.

"Whoa it would've taken a great blast the equivalent of three Atomic bombs to shatter that barrier." Taranee realised.

He-Man looked at the landscape and it didn't take him long to determine where they were and what they were close to. With a movement in the controls he set the Wind Raider down to some jagged rocks, the perfect use of concealment. They all disembarked and the champion pushed the vehicle into a nearby cave to avoid discovery.

The group then followed the Champion of Grayskull across the volcanic plains of this land. "Uh aren't we a little bit worried of volcanic ash if these volcanoes erupt constantly?" Taranee said a little concerned.

"Oh I wouldn't worry about that its just flames coming out of those volcanos nothing too serious." Orko assured.

"Great cause this face is too pretty to be turned to…" Cornelia accidentally bumped into Irma. "Hey watch where." She noticed that her jaw was dropped as was Hay Lins, and as she looked to see what they were looking at her jaw dropped as well.

"Guardians…." He-Man said seriously. "Welcome to Snake Mountain. They all gazed at the horrifying fortress standing before them, this sight put the first time they laid eyes on Phobos's castle look like a children's haunted house.

"Whoa…" Hay Lin breathed while Taranee looked very intimidated by this sight.

"Okay its official Skelecreep has Phobos beat in the fortress of evil department." Irma said.

"It wasn't always Skeletors, he took it as his base." He-Man said. "It was once the great stronghold of the Snakemen and their leader King Hiss. Millions of years ago they nearly brought Eternia to its knees but the Council of Elders banished them to the void."

"I remember this." Hay Lin remembered some of Adams stories he told the girls back on Earth. "You said that Cobra Kahn guy tricked Skeletor to try and release them only to be stopped by you and uh whats his name uh Zodak!"

"Thats right." He-Man nodded the group then noticed a pink glow pulsing from He-Mans belt pouch he reached into it and found the Heart was glowing brighter and pulling itself towards Snake Mountain.

"And thats where Will is." Irma said.

"So how do we get inside?" Taranee wondered but didn't notice that Blunk was walking near the cliffs like something had caught his attention.

Irma gazed down at the cliff edge to see a river of molten lava below, kicking a pebble it fell in and hit the lava. "Well we're not swinging across this one."

"Come on guys we infiltrated one evil castle a giant snake fortress shouldn't be hard." Hay Lin said with a little optimism.

"Girls Blunk found way in!" Called a voice and the group hurried to what Blunk was talking about and just across the lava river they saw a number of holes/caves in the rock face.

"Good work Blunk!" Hay Lin cheered.

"Wow thats a lot of holes, did Ram Man make any of these?" Taranee asked the champion who just shook his head.

"Okay but which one leads us to Will?" Cornelia wondered, and the girls thought the same thing, just then an idea popped into Orkos head.

"Oh I know!" He chirped as he took the Heart of Kandrakar from He-Man and floated over the lava river and over to the holed wall. Holding up the crystal he flew slowly past the caves one by one. The group watched with anticipation at what the small wizard was trying to do.

The answer came quite suddenly, for as Orko floated to the fourth hole on the left of the mountainside the crystal glowed brighter and was trying to pull itself from his hand.

"This one!" Orko called to them.

"Oh I get it as Wills the bearer of the crystal it can lead us to her, and Orko's used it like a dousing rod to narrow down the caves!" Taranee realised.

"Wow guess our little guy is full of surprises." Cornelia said with an impressed smirk.

"Great now all we gotta do is find away across the boiling lava." Irma reminded everyone.

"Battle Cat and I could jump us across but that gap is pretty wide." He-Man noted and Battle Cat seemed rather unsure about jumping across the gap. While the group wondered about ideas Taranee looked around their surroundings, namely at the ground beneath their feet and the molten lava below. She suddenly had an idea.

"I got it, Cornelia can get us across." She said as everyone turned to the aforementioned blonde.

"Uh Taranee I'm the Earth Guardian not a Guardian of volcanoes!" Cornelia reminded her.

"Lava is mostly molten rock superheated from Earths core which are blasted out of volcanoes." Taranee explained being all smart.

"Oh yeah we covered that in geography class." Hay Lin beamed.

"Sush." Irma said with a finger to her mouth.

"Since molten rock is from the earth by that logic you should be able to influence that as well." Taranee told the earth guardian. "You know think outside the box."

Cornelia wasn't sure about this but then again she remembered when they were learning their powers with Adams guidance that she wasn't limited to plants or dirt. So with a brave face she stepped up to the cliff edge and held her hand out over the warm vapours from the lava below, closed her eyes and concentrated.

Everyone watched closely waiting for something to happen, so far nothing happened but Cornelia's focus didn't abate. Then suddenly the lava below began to shift and turn then it blasted upwards, Cornelia then waved her arms and the lava began to shape itself into a curved shape leading to the cave.

"Its working!" Taranee said amazed, and the others just couldn't believe it Cornelia was influencing the lava itself. "Irma care to cool it off."

Irma smirked and pointed her hands like guns and fired a spray of water over what the Earth Guardian had created and the immense cold of the water soon turned the lava to solid rock which had created a bridge to the cave.

"Wow blondie made bridge!" Blunk cheered.

"Okay…that was awesome!" Cornelia breathed amazed that she managed to do that.

"Good thing I pay attention in classes." Taranee said with pride.

"You go girl!" Orko beamed as he floated over.

"Nice work, you're all learning well." He-Man smiled.

"Well we had an awesome teach!" Irma said, and the champion smiled with pride he could see the girls had taken his teachings in about working outside the box and using their natural talents and abilities. With that they walked along the new bridge and entered the cave, He-Man drew his sword and took the lead with Battle Cat while, the girls, Orko, and Blunk followed close behind.

"Keep it tight and keep your eyes open, Skeletor wouldn't have left his fortress unguarded." He-Man said with an air of caution in his voice as they headed down the tunnels.

Everyone was on alert as they were now in the lions den, there could be traps anywhere. However all seemed quiet just then Cornelia heard a squishing sound below her feet and grimaced. She looked down and lifted her foot.

"EEWW! These are my favourite boots!" Cornelia whined leaning on the wall seeing the soles of her boots were stained with some white substance.

"Uh Corny we're inside a snake fortress nows not the time to complain about your boots being stained by a little mud!" Irma said through her teeth whispering.

Taranee however took a closer look at the boot and at the white substance. "Uh guys…I don't think this is mud, if anything it looks more like…spiders web."

This made everyone look in concern what kind of spider could leave a webbing piece that big. "T..that's gotta be a big spider." Hay Lin said a little spooked, all of a sudden He-Man saw a looming shadow over Cornelia it was the shape of someone he recognised all too well.

"CORNELIA MOVE!" He-Man yelled this alerted Cornelia but she was too slow to avoid a web line that entangled her arms she screamed as Taranee, Imra, and Hay Lin tried to pull their friend back. Battle Cat quickly leaped in and slashed his claws at the web freeing her from the grasp of the one who trapped her. Emerging from the shadows was none other than.

"Webstor!" He-Man growled. "So Skeletor knew we were coming!"

"Of course he did, he would've been disappointed if you and your fairy friends would come here for your little friend!" Webstor hissed sinisterly.

"Ugh that is one ugly bug!" Irma gagged.

"If I capture the crystal for him, Skeltor will reward me greatly!" Webstor smirked.

"Not gonna happen bug face!" Hay Lin defied.

"Yeah and the thing about bugs your size…they make a bigger mess when I fry them!" Taranee challenged with her fists ignited in fire.

However He-Man stopped them by drawing his sword. "No Battle Cat and I will deal with Webstor the rest of you go on and find Will." He said to them.

"You sure?" Irma asked.

"I'm sure now go!" He-Man told them with a determined look, the four guardians did want to help but they knew that finding Will came first, so with Orko and Blunk in tow they hurried down the tunnel following the path deeper into this fortress.

Webstor slashed his spider legs and fired his webs towards the champion, but he quickly deflected them by spinning his sword slicing the webs to pieces.

"You're going to have to try better than that!" He-Man challenged Webstor hissed and charged at him and likewise did the latter and Battle Cat charging at their opponent.

Sea of Rakash:

Back at the Sea of Rakash the Masters were rapidly loosing ground against the Orlax, they kept firing their weapons but it still had no affect against this beast of old. Roboto fired a barrage of missiles at the beasts eye and that did seem to hurt it a little forcing it back. Man-E-Faces switched to his monster face and grabbed onto one of its tentacles and pulled it back with all his strength, his strength wasn't as mighty as He-Mans but it was enough to hold it in place.

This left it open to Ram Man who charged forwards jumped and rammed right into the beasts chest sending it crashing into the sea. Though the Masters seemed victorious it was short lived as the ancient beast of Primeria just got right back up again.

Sy-Klone summoned a massive tornado in his balms directing his power on the beast followed by laser blasts from Mekkaneck, Teela and Buzzoffs weapons trying to hold the beast back.

"Teela this isn't working this thing doesn't feel any of our attacks!" Buzz Off called.

"Buzz Off's right this things just a distraction Skeletors at Grayskull!" Stratos called out in agreement.

The Orlax swiped at the Masters catapulting them away like flies. Teela was quick to recover but she saw the Masters were right they couldn't hold their ground against this beast much longer. A tentacle was rearing up ready to crush the captain of the guard slamming down to the ground. Teela readied herself but the impact never came.

Because Ram Man was holding up the tentacle with his bare hands. He then crouched down and blasted up into the air blasting the tentacle back and rammed right into the creatures eye. The Orlax cried out in anger and pain as it swatted the Master of demolition back with its tentacle slamming the sanded ground.

"Ram Man are you okay?" Teela asked kneeling down to his level.

"Yeah yeah I'm good!" Ram Man rubbed his metal plated head. "But we ain't gonna be if we can't take down this thing!" He looked out at the Orlax which was still deflecting the weapon blasts fired by the Masters.

"Nothing we do can make a dent in this thing!" Mekaneck exclaimed. "Gah I kinda wish that fire guardian was here she could heat up the sea and maybe weaken this thing so we can go all out on the attack!"

"Indeed!" Stratos exclaimed dodging attacks from the Orlax's tentacles as Buzz Off soars in and slashes at the tentacles even managing to land a slashed cut into the tentacle. "Perhaps the earth guardian could restrain it with the very sand or at least blind it!"

"Not to mention the water guardian could blast this thing on land so we'd have the advantage!" Buzz Off sighed in agreement.

"The Air Guardians powers combined with mine could aid in turning the tide against this beast!" Sy-Klone agreed.

Teela looked at her fellow Masters in an agreeing look, it was in the heat of this battle that they began to see the true value the girls from Earth had to offer. She also realised that Adam was right about this being a trap that Skeletor had fooled them just to keep them away from Castle Grayskull. With a terrible realisation she realised what a fool she had been and now they were in a fight they weren't sure they could win.

"Eternia help us." Teela breathed praying for a miracle as they faced down the monstrous beast.

However her pray was heard from Castle Grayskull, for the Sorceress had been listening through her telepathic powers. She could sense Teela was in trouble and she was showing great concern on her face, but why would she be so concerned for Teela in particular?

"Teela…she needs hear my thoughts." The Sorceress realised in a breath however the loud echo of an explosion blasted through the halls of the ancient fortress. It seemed they had problems of their own.

Emerging from one of the eyeholes of the skull in the castle walls the guardian of Grayskull, saw something approaching. With her all seeing eyes she saw Skeletors forces were approaching and that he and Trap Jaw were firing their respective weapons at the castle walls. While below Man At Arms formed his arm cannon firing back at the incoming forces.

Acting quickly the Sorceress formed her staff and used its magic to raise the magical barrier around the castle to try and protect it. Evil Lyn and Skeltor summoned a massive ball of dark magic energy from their staffs and catapulted it right at the barrier only to be dispersed the minute it hit the barrier. The Evil Warriors jumped from their griffins and charged towards the fortress.

Man At Arms stood ready with his weapons, and soon Moss Man joined his side with Caleb who drew his sword standing before the castle. "This is gonna be tough, and you know we can't keep them at bay for long." MossMan told Duncan.

Man At Arms knew they were severally outnumbered without the other Masters or He-Man they were all that stood between Skeletor and the power inside Grayskull.

"That doesn't mean we can't delay them." Caleb said drawing his sword. "I know Adam and the girls will succeed and maybe help even the odds but until then we're the last line of defense. Besides I've been leading a rebellion to free my home for years defending a castle from an incoming horde is nothing new." He smirked.

"Your assuming we're gonna survive this?" Moss Man said with a raised eyebrow."

"Well lets just say Adam and Hay Lins optimism rubs off on you." Caleb smirked and Man At Arms nodded in agreement.

"We hold the line and protect Castle Grayskull at all cost!" Man At Arms said as his battle mask and armour activated and readied his weapons. Moss Man formed a synth from tree roots. Skeletor and his Evil Warriors charged towards the castle and the trio of warriors did the same as they clashed in battle.

Meanwhile: Snake Mountain:

The remainder of WITCH, Blunk and Orko were still navigating their way through the volcanic insides of Snake Mountain. Blunk looked over the side of the cliff path suddenly a blast of Lava surged up nearly hitting his face if he hadn't jumped back in fright.

"AHHH!" He yelped jumping back towards the girls. Orko still held the crystal in his hand and it was pulling him in the direction of its bearer.

"This place is huge how are we gonna find Will in here!" Cornelia wondered.

"I hope He-Mans gonna be okay handling that Web thing." Hay Lin said concerned that they left He-Man behind facing Webstor.

"Hey Webstors got nothing on He-Man, he's just Skeltors small time hood." Orko said but the girls were just weirded out by the Trollans new lingo.

"You've been letting him watch way too many movies." Irma said to Hay Lin. However at that moment Blunks keen Pasling senses picked up something.

"Oooo something smell like Blunk!" Blunk said which prompted the girls to smell the air and when they did they gagged in disgust.

"GAHH What on earth is that smell!" Cornelia gagged.

"It can't be Blunk even he doesn't smell that bad!"Taranee plugged up her nose. Even Orko couldn't stand that smell but he realised it could only be one thing. Right on cue they heard the sounds of chuckling echo through the tunnels.

When they peaked round the corner they saw Stinkor and Two Bad standing outside the cell. Two Bad was sitting on a bench kicking rocks while Stinkor was wandering up and down the hall.

"Gah! Why'd they have to leave you here to guard?" Baddrah's head said. "That stink is killing me!"

"Hey at least I get some peace and quiet! Plus its better than Beast Man." Tuvar's head said enduring his other heads complaint.

"Uh am I seeing things or does that guy have two heads?" Irma questioned.

"Its Stinkor and Two Bad." Orko whispered.

"Two Bad?" Taranee questioned.

"Yeah once a couple of mercenaries merged into one by Skeletor, and lets just say they don't get along too well." Orko explained.

"Wow two heads means double the headache." Cornelia realised.

"I can hear still hear ya you know!" Stinkor exclaimed. While the girls continued to listen.

"Hey go take your stink elsewhere can hardly breathe!" Two Bad the humanoid skunk just walked away to shut him up. Two Bad then looked in the cell to a restrained Will.

"Heh not so powerful when your stuck in a cell huh!" Tuvar teased.

"Why don't you take a picture it'll last longer!" Will said to him sarcastically.

Hay Lin gasped knowing that voice in the cell. "Its Will!"

"We gotta get past them to get her out!" Orko realised.

"I'll see if I can find a back way in." Cornelia notioned and started feeling the walls she was next to.

"So how're we gonna get past those two?" Taranee wondered knowing they didn't have the power to over whelm them. However Irma bore a mischievous smirk on her face and picked up a rock.

"Watch this." Irma then proceeded to throw the rock which hit Stinkor right in the back of his head.

"OW!" Stinkor exclaimed and turned angrily to the obvious suspect being Two Bad. "HEY WHATS THE BIG IDEA?!" He stomped towards the two headed warrior.

"What?" Two Bad asked.

"You hit me in the head!" Stinkor accused.

"No we didn't!" Baddrah argued back.

"Yeah keep walking stink face you must be imagining things." Tuvar agreed and gagged at his smell. "And please tone down the stink!"

Stinkor growled in his gas mask putting out more stink fumes as he walked away. Taranee saw the fumes and had an idea and nodded to Irma to keep it up. So the water guardian stepped it up and formed a large water blob and tossed it right at Stinkor soaking him.

"H..HEY!" Stinkor yelled his fur was now soaking wet, he turned round and saw an empty bucket close to Two Bad. "THATS IT!" He yelled and unleashed more stink fumes from his body and marched up to him.

"BLECH!" Two Bad exclaimed smelling the immense smell and turned to a very angry looking Stinkor. "We said tone down the smell!"

"Oh you want a stink Stinkor will give you a stink!" Stinkor exclaims and fired a stink beam at Two Bad who quickly ducked out of the way of the blast and then charged at him and the two grappled while Baddrah was gagging at the smell.

However little did they know of what was coming next, for while they were distracted Taranee quickly stepped out and concentrated her powers to generate a large sphere of fire and hurled it at the two enemies. The moment the fire made contact with Stinkors gaseous fumes.

*BANG!* A huge explosion which catapulted the two villains off the edge and down onto the bottom floor completely knocked out.

"Fun fact fellas never put gas near an open flame even the smelly kind." Taranee cracked.

"Wow stinky man make large bang!" Blunk said amazed.

"Yeah so maybe you outta take a bath every now and then." Irma joked.

"AGHH NO NO BATH NOT THAT!" Blunk panicked.

"Good thinking with that rock thing Irma." Hay Lin beamed.

"Yeah how'd you know that would work?" Orko asked.

"Well when you have a little brother who watches cartoons every morning you learn a few things." Irma shrugged proudly.

"Girls." Cornelia called. "I think I've found a way in." She felt the rock wall and concentrated and then suddenly the rocks began to move and crack and then they shattered to smaller rocks.

Will gasped as she turned to the sound and saw a part of the wall crumbled away to reveal her friends and Blunk were here to rescue her. "Guys!" She exclaimed in joy.

Cornelia used her powers to erect a bridge from the lava which Irma cooled down with a blast of water. Will was surprised as the girls crossed the bridge to help their friend. Orko used his magic and seconds later the shackles holding Will in place were unlocked and she was free.

"Wow lava bridge thats new." Will smiled impressed.

"Yeah surprised me too." Cornelia said.

"But what are you guys doing here Skeletor was just using me to lure you away." Will suddenly realised something. "Wait is Adam with you?"

"Yeah he's fighting Webstor with Battle Cat." Taranee explained.

"Oh no this was Skeletors plan lure you guys here and set a trap for the Masters!" Will remembered Skeletors words before he and Evil Lyn left. "He's attacking Grayskull!"

"Yeah we kinda figured that out earlier." Irma said. "So we better put it in gear and get to that castle!"

"But I don't have the…." "Tada!" Orko interrupted her showing Will the Heart of Kandrakar hanging from his hand.

"The Heart!" Will said over joyed as the small wizard lowered it into her hand and she wasted no time with saying the magic words.

"GUARDIANS UNITE!"

The Heart surged with power and one epic magical transformation later the girls were transformed into W.I.T.C.H.

"The Heart!"

"Water!"

"Fire!"

"Earth"

"Air!"

"Aw yeah we're back baby!" Taranee said as her fists caught on fire while Orko and Blunk were amazed.

The Guardians flew out of the cell to try and rejoin He-Man only to smell a familiar disgusting smell. In front of them were a seriously ticked off Stinkor and Two Bad who had managed to get back on the top floor.

"Going somewhere ladies!" Tuvar smirked. "You're going nowhere!" Baddrah smirked in agreement for once.

The girls took up a battle stance with their powers at the ready. "Sorry boys but you ain't going to the ball with us tonight!" Cornelia challenged.

"Hah you squirts think you can beat us! Thats a good one!" Stinkor cracked with a laugh behind his gas mask.

"Then have a laugh on me!" Called a voice from behind them and flying towards them was a beat up Webstor who slammed right into Two Bad sending them both flying off the edge. Stinkor turned to see He-Man was standing there with some of Webstors webs dangling off him.

The skunk man was about to unleash a stink beam only for Battle Cat to pounce on him and swatted his tail at him and sent him flying off the edge. Just as Two Bad and Webstor were getting back up Stinkor landed on their backs in a dogpile and unleashed some of his stink fumes right on top of them. They all gagged in disgust much to the amusement of the heroes above who all shared a laugh.

"You okay Will?" He-Man asked looking to the Guardian leader.

"I'm fine, plus Skeletor is like the worst host." Will said, but then turned serious. "But right now we have bigger problems!" But just before Will could explain everything.

"He-Man!" Called the voice of the Sorceress in everyone heads. "Have you succeeded in rescuing Will?"

"We have her Sorceress whats wrong?" He-Man asked.

"Then you must hurry Grayskull is under seige Man At Arms and the others can't hold Skeletor back forever we need you all here now!" The Sorceress relayed.

"But what about Teela and the Masters? Skeletors lured them into a trap with something called an Oral they need our help!" Will then said.

"The Orlax of Primeria yes I know I have already sent them help, you are needed here for if Skeletor gets the power inside Grayskull all will be lost!" The Sorceress explained.

"We understand Sorceress we're on our way!" He-Man understood what was at stake and the girls soon realised it too.

Seconds later He-Man was riding Battle Cat who rode faster than he'd ever gone before. The Guardians flew behind them at top speed keeping up with him. Orko clung to Hay Lin as he couldn't fly as fast while Blunk rode on Battle Cat with He-Man. Riding through the tunnels all of a sudden the ground around them began to shake.

"Whats happening!" Cornelia exclaimed.

"An earthquake!" Irma wondered.

"Uh is it just me or is it getting hot in here?" Hay Lin said feeling the heat on her skin as did everyone else. however Taranee looked behind them and saw what was making that noise and heat. A flood of lava was surging through the tunnels like a torrent.

"Lava torrent!" Taranee exclaimed He-Man looked behind him seeing this and knew this was a trap laid by Skeletor so they couldn't get out alive. So they pushed forward with all their stamina. Suddenly parts of the walls opened and unleashed a flurry of spikes towards them. Seeing this He-Man quickly unsheathed his sword and twirled it like a helicopter blade slashing the spikes away.

"Fire!" Taranee fired a massive blast of fire at the other spikes melting them to ash. They were able to move forward but the defences and traps of Snake Mountain wasn't going to let them off that lightly for a large wall of fire erupted from the ground blocking the tunnel.

"Irma Hay Lin! Cool us a path!" Will called, moving quickly the Water and Air Guardians flew forwards and joined hands unleashing their combined powers as a torrent freezing the fire into ice. Cornelia was up next.

"EARTH!" Cornelia manipulated the rocks in the wall and formed them around Battle Cats head forming a large ram. "Go for it boys!"

Battle Cat growled as he and He-Man charged and rammed right through the ice wall shaking off the battering ram as they all flew/ran faster to escape. The lava torrent was getting ever closer, "AHH LAVA LAVA!" Blunk cried in horror.

Suddenly a section of the floor ahead of them caved in and below it was a pit of lava with what looked like snake fangs sticking out from the pool. Battle Cat with his riders leaped over the gap but they could see they wouldn't be able to reach the other side.

"Air!" Hay Lin exclaimed and unleashed a large gust that propelled Battle Cat, He-Man and Blunk to the other side of the pit as the other Guardians flew over the pit the lava torrent however was moving even faster and catching up to our heroes, as they drifted round a corner they saw their exit in sight the tunnel they came in through.

The Guardians and Orko flew out like jets while Battle Cat, He-Man and Blunk were riding faster towards the tunnel exit with the lava getting ever closer He-Man scowled determined and with one final push Battle Cat leaped from the tunnel and the whole world had turned to slow motion, finally He-Man Blunk and Battle Cat landed on the other side skidding across the ash covered cliff to see the lava spew out of all the tunnels and destroying the bridge Cornelia had made earlier.

"Whew talk about the heat is on." Irma said breathing a sigh of relief.

"Yeah at least we can tick escaping a lava river off our list." Taranee agreed.

"Come on we've gotta get to Grayskull!" Will then said with urgency.

Meanwhile: The Sea of Rakash:

The fight at the Sea of Rakash was growing more intense. The Masters of the Universe had all their weapons trained on the Orlax but still couldn't hurt the beast. Teela could see this situation was hopeless, but then she noticed the two Evil warriors riding atop it how they were controlling it with their respective abilities.

"Wait thats it!" She realised. "Forget the Orlax target Beast Man and Merman we free it from their control and its worthless to them!" She ordered.

Buzz Off and Stratos heard that order and immediately flew towards the two evil warriors only for Merman to direct his trident at them and fired a powerful laser blast at them. The two arial masters were quick to dodge the attack but Beast Man commanded the Orlax and it grabbed them with its tentacles trapping them.

Mekaneck quickly extended his neck allowing Man-E-Faces to climb up it and switching to his robot face he scanned the beast for certain key points and fired his blaster at the tentacles freeing the two Masters. Cy-Klone created a mighty gust of wind lifting Teela and Roboto up into the sky propelling them towards the head of the Orlax. Roboto drew his right energy cannon and fired upon Beast Man and Merman who quickly dodged to the right to avoid the blast. Teela leaped down onto the beasts head and fired her staff laser at Merman blasting his trident out of his hand before she performed a roundhouse kick and knocked him off the Orlax and into the sea.

Beast Man cracked his whip and slashed it at Roboto badly damaging his chest plate with a gash sparking with electricity. However this wasn't going to stop the robotic master and he formed his shoulder cannons firing upon the Bezerker. Beast Man lashed his whip to deflect the blasts but Roboto then fired a grapple line trapping Beast Mans right arm holding his whip then suddenly Teela leaped in from above and swung her staff slamming right into his head knocking him back. Just as the Bezerker was about to retaliate.

"Heads up fang face!" Flying in thanks to Cy-Klones air tornadoes was Ram Man who slammed right into Beast Man sending him crashing into the sea with Merman. With them both gone the Orlax seemed to suddenly calm itself, however all of a sudden the beast roared out loudly catapulting Roboto and Teela from the top of its head and into the shallow waters.

"I suspect that removing their control has made the beast more aggressive." Roboto analysed. The Orlax roared in a rage as its tentacles spread around and lashed at anything that moved slamming onto the beach. One was about to crush Man-E-Faces but Stratos quickly swooped in and carried him to safety.

"Its out of control we've got to stop it now!" Teela exclaimed.

"How our weapons have no affect on this thing!" Buzz Off reminded her, and the Masters were beginning to wonder if they could ever truly defeat this thing. Just as the Orlax was reeling for another attack, a blast of light struck the beast with such devastating force, so much it forced the creature to pull away from the Masters. The latter of which were in shock what could've attacked him or rather who, for then floating down from the sky on a white metal chair was a muscular dark skinned warrior in red, white and gray armour bearing a helmet in red and gray with black and white circles as the eyes. This was the mystical enforcer of the cosmos. Zodak.

He stood from his chair and formed his double red pronged staff in his hand. The Orlax roared in a rage as it readied its tentacles on the mystic warrior. However Zodak didn't move for white glowing tattoos glowed on his arms and legs as he twirled his weapon surging with white mystical energy and fired a blast at the Orlax right in its eye and focused the blast causing the beast to scream in pain until finally it collapsed into the water. Zodak then raised his hand and the ancient beast was locked down with restraints made of mystic energy.

"Zodak." Stratos said very surprised.

"I have neutralised the Orlax, it will be reimprisoned in somewhere much more secure." Zodak said simply.

"But how did you know we were in trouble?" Mekkaneck asked.

"The Sorceress contacted me, you are all needed at Castle Grayskull. He-Man and those known as the Guardians of the Veil are already on their way there."

"Wait He-Man and the Guardians?" Teela asked.

"But they have no power?!" Sy-klone said greatly horrified.

"Not so, Prince Adam and his companions left to rescue the Guardian Leader from Snake Mountain. He-Man arrived in time to aid them." Zodak explained having heard the story from the Sorceress while she kept certain identities a secret. "They also have the Heart of Kandrakar with them having kept it safe from Skeletor."

"Well…I'll be damned." Buzz Off said impressed.

"I guess Adam was right we should never have underestimated their abilities." Man-E-Faces said.

Teela just stood there with a look of remorse on her face for she doubted Adam and the girls most of all. Yet her best friend defied his fathers orders and went to Snake Mountain with them to rescue their leader, braving its dangers. She'd been so blind, it would seem He-Man was right she allowed her emotions to cloud her judgement and shouldn't have underestimated the guardians. Just as she underestimated Roboto all that long ago.

"Hang on if He-Man had arrived at Snake Mountain why didn't he show up to help us?!" Buzz Off questioned.

"Thats right we could've really used his help but like the past few weeks he's nowhere to be found!" Man-E-Faces monster face agreed.

"Hey come on guys we can't expect He-Man to fight all our battles he can't be everywhere at once!" Ram Man said.

"Yeah and thats probably why he couldn't help protect Eternia or Grayskull from Skeletors attacks." Mekaneck agreed.

"Your right." Teela finally said as she turned to the masters. "But maybe we could have! Since He-Man appeared we've always counted on him but my father and most of you here have protected this world since the Great Unrest! Its time we stopped letting one man fight all our battles we're the Masters of the Universe! Its time we acted like it!"

The Masters all nodded in agreement to what the Captain of the Guard had said and it was true they were the defenders of Eternia before He-Man appeared, and of late they had been lacking that in the champions absence.

"Come on we've got a skull head to pound!" Ram Man exclaimed and the Masters hurried to their vehicles and blasted off for Castle GraySkull.

Castle Grayskull:

Man At Arms was flung to the ground, he readied his arm cannon only for it to be sliced off by Trap Jaws arm blade and he cried out in pain. Trap Jaw readied his blade only for Caleb to tackle him away. The rebel leader hurried to Man At Arms.

"Duncan you okay?" Caleb asked.

"I'll live." Duncan groaned as his cannon reformed into his arm which was intact. Their attention turned to Moss Man who was using his influence over nature to hold the Evil Warriors back. His vines rose from the ground and charged at Evil Lyn, Tri-Klopps and Skeletor like spears.

Evil Lyn forms a large energy orb on her staff and fires it while Tri-Klopps changes to his laser eye and fires a concentrated beam while Skeletor fires an all powerful blast from his havoc staff completely incinerating the vines. Whiplash leaped in and swung his devestating tail and slammed it into Moss Man who protected himself with his weapons only for them to shatter like match wood. Whiplash attacked again only for Caleb to jump onto the tail and then kick him right in the face and slashed at him with his sword. He swung his sword again only to be caught by Clawfuls very strong claw and he snapped the sword blade in half like it was nothing much to Caleb's horror.

"Oh boy." Caleb was blasted back into Moss Man sliding right next to the downed Man At Arms by one shot from Skeletors Havoc staff. The downed warriors looked up and saw the Evil Warriors creeping ever closer to them and the castle.

"A valiant effort but utterly pointless." Skeletor aimed his staff at the warriors and was ready to finish them off with one shot. When suddenly, The Sorceress herself flew down from Grayskull armed with her staff. She opened her wings and and twirled her weapon unleashing a powerful energy wave blasting Skeletor and his forces away.

She looked to the three warriors who bore a look of gratitude towards the Guardian of Grayskull. Man At Arms bore a very grateful smile which she smiled back in return. However this moment was interrupted by a maniacal cackling.

"HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHH!" Skeletor emerged from the smoke with Evil Lyn at his side.

"I had a feeling there was a power behind this castles defences and now I see how." Evil Lyn smirked. "For this castle has a guardian protecting it!"

"How impressive I don't believe we've had the pleasure of making your acquaintance guardian!" Skeletor smirked his bone teeth.

"I am the Sorceress guardian of Castle Grayskull!" The Sorceress bellowed. Skeletor slashed his Havoc staff unleashing a wave of dark magic which the Sorceress deflected with just a slight of her hand with an energy shield. "I will not allow you into these walls Skeletor. Time after time you have tried to take this castle but you will never succeed. For in truth you are not a master of havoc! You are a master of failure!"

This made Skeletors eyes glow red with absolute fury. "Foolish whelp you will not keep from me what is rightfully mine that which was denied to me by my brother and of the Elders!" Skeletor focused all the power of his havoc staff and then from its open skull mouth unleashed it as a powerful torrent at the Sorceress who was quick to block it with her staff forming a shield around herself and the downed warriors.

Skeletor foccused all his might on that barrier, and soon Evil Lyn joined him with dark magic from her own staff. Pressuring the shield more and more it was starting to crack Skeletor cackled with delight as he foccused more of his power into his staff unleashing as did Evil Lyn and with one joint blast the Sorceress's shield was all but shattered and she cried in pain as she fell to the ground.

"NO!" Man At Arms cried. Suddenly the barrier that protected the castle had fallen as the Sorceress created it with her weakened the barrier was gone. Skeletor just cackled victorious as his Evil Warriors rose up once again and joined their master in approaching the castle as Skeletor used his staff to unleash large energy chains made of havoc magic and pulled the draw bridge down with one pull.

Caleb wasn't going down without a fight, he stood up and readied his broken sword facing them down. Much to Skeletors amusement.

"Heh you have courage boy, it's such heroic nonsense when I take the power of the Elders I may keep you as my gladiator for amusement!" Skeletor glared. "Consider it a mercy."

"You can bring as many psychos as you want your not getting in that castle!" Caleb challenged. "I won't let you conquer this world!"

"Heh! You and what army fool." Skeletor scoffed pointing his havoc staff at Caleb. "But what I offered you was a mercy, just for the record that was me being reasonable." The staff energised but before he could unleash it.

"Not today Skeletor!" He froze in shock as he turned to see his nemesis He-Man charging towards them riding the Wind Raider but jumped from it with Battle Cat joining the battle. Skeletor and his minions couldn't believe it but the surprises weren't over yet. Suddenly a large circle of fire ensnared the Evil Warriors, the ground below them cracked and crumbled suddenly blasting up as a pillar catapulting them into the air and then blasted by two powerful torrents of water and air and slammed them to the ground.

"We're gonna stop you!" Skeltors red pupils shrank as did Evil Lyns in pure shock as floating before them and the castle were all five Guardians of the Veil.

"You really gotta hire better security Skeletor." Will smirked, He-Man, Orko, Blunk and Battle Cat leaped over and joined them standing before Grayskull facing their foes. They all struck a heroic pose.

"If this ain't the poster shot someones getting fired!" Irma smirked.

Hay Lin quickly went over to the Sorceress with Will to see if she was hurt. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Will asked.

The Sorceress took a breath before she replied. "I…I am alright."

"Caleb!" Cornelia said as she hurried to him. "Are you…"

"Yeah I'm good, nothing I haven't done before." Caleb admitted. "I thought you guys would never get here I was about to show'em how we do it Meridian style."

Cornelia looked with a raised eyebrow while Moss Man just scoffed. "Ech hey save the flirting for later will ya we've got bigger problems!" He said holding his side seeing the Evil Warriors before them.

"Duncan get the Sorceress and the wounded inside we'll take it from here." He-Man said to Man At Arms who nodded in agreement as he helped the guardian of Grayskull to her feet while Caleb helped Moss Man inside the Castle.

"You foolish children dare to challenge us after the humiliation we served on you last time!" Evil Lyn challenged.

"Nothing you say could ever humiliate anyone lady!" Will smirked.

"Yeah because we have a power that you guys don't!" Taranee agreed. "We actually work together!"

"You guys maybe tougher than what we've faced before but the fact is you guys underestimate us!" Hay Lin agreed.

"Besides last time was the warm up round we were just getting warmed up!" Irma smirked.

"We may not be the Masters of the Universe but we are who we've always been Guardians of the Veil and they say the younger generation is always better than the last one!" Cornelia said waving her hair.

Skeletor just growled as he and the Evil Warriors sood battle ready with their respective powers and weapons as he and He-Man glared each other down in a show down. The champion of Grayskull drew his sword and stood with the Guardians ready for battle.

"Ready Guardians!" He-Man said.

"READY!" The Guardians replied, for now in this moment the safety of Castle Grayskull was now in their hands.

To be continued...

Authors Notes: DUN DUN DUN Now things are getting intense, only He-Man and the Guardians of the Veil stand between Skeletor and Castle Grayskull not to mention it gives the girls the chance to get some much needed payback! Now as you've noticed I've included the Orlax of Primeria from Masters of the Universe Revelation/He-Man cgi comic I thought it be a worthy adversary for the Masters lured into Skeletors trap with Beast Man and Mermans control given the Orlax is essentially a giant Kraken like creature and Merman has a way of controling sea creatures it stands to reason he and Beast Man could control it conjointly. And yes you've guessed it Marlena knows that Adam is He-Man. Now I decided in this story that Adam would finally stand up to his dad about his expectations because I felt it was a needed element to show how much the Prince of Eternia has to handle in his responsibilities as Champion of Grayskull.

Plus the girls also bringing up a valid point of Adam trying to find a balance between his two identities because honestly no one recognises him as He-Man thanks to that Grayskull juice. Now the fight for Grayskull has begun and lets just say they will need all the power they have, and who knows maybe they'll get a little power boost hint hint.

So Until next time BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!