Authors Notes: Hi all and we're back with He-Man and the Guardians of the Veil, this was a chapter I just couldn't wait to write as its one I had been planning for some time. Apologies for any late updates I've been busy not to mention full of a cold, but I'm on the mend and now we're back on the stories! So lets begin.

He-Man 2002 (c) Mattel

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

12

Divide and Conquer

The skies above Meridian were growing darker and restless with each passing day. In the depths of the castle gears were grinding, as Lurdens were pushing on wooden beams turning a grinder, which grinder grain into flour, but not for the villagers but for the and Cedric were in the granary looking out at the village beyond the castle. Surrounded by sacks and sacks of flour.

"One of the villagers must know what happened to my sister 12 years ago." Phobos mused as lightning crashed outside. "I hear they're hungry. Try trading flour for information." He placed his hand in a sack of flour and held it in his hand, seeing if he can tempt the hungry peasants.

"And the other problem?" Cedric asked, as he was referring to the Guardians and of course He-Man. In response the dark prince scattered the flour across the floor and with one crash of thunder they were now in the throne room, and the reflecting sand showing them a projection of He-Man and the Guardians.

"Thanks to information gleamed from our, 'guest' Marzo, we now know this He-Man does not hail from Meridian but the planet Eternia." Phobos said glaring at the projection of his enemies.

"Eternia." Cedric breathed. "Now that is a name I never thought I would hear of again."

"Yes but most intriguingly it would seem the old stories of this Castle Grayskull are true." Phobos mused. "If this warrior is its guardian he may know how to access it."

"And I think we may know how to find him and this knowledge." Cedric mused as the projection then shifted to a projection of Adam and Will.

"Yes. The boy known as Adam who just so happens to be the Prince of Eternos on Eternia." Phobos smirked. "He-Man rescued him and the Guardian leader which means he must know where to find him! We can also use this chance to eliminate the Guardians at the same time!"

"That will not be an easy task." Cedric explained. "In my guise as the bookseller, I have learned that Prince Adam is always at the Guardians side, but fortunately I can locate and remove them one by one."

"You tried that. They thwarted you at every turn. Strength isn't enough." Phobos exclaimed. "But we have an even greater weapon. Cunning. You must attack when they're vulnerable, namely separate the boy from them and find out when he knows and how he can lead us to He-Man. Once he is separated from the Guardians they will be helpless especially when they are separated form the bearer of the Heart without their full powers they are powerless."

"It will be done my lord." Cedric hissed revealing his snake tongue as Phobos swatted the projection away.

Earth: Heatherfield:

In the two weeks since their return from Eternia, the girls of W.I.T.C.H and Adams lives had seen much change. Since learning of his Earth heritage from his mother Queen Marlena, Adam had begun to learn and embrace the world around him even more. He often helped out around the Silver Dragon serving tables and helping around the Lin family house hold.

In school he took more to some of his studies, and had started making new friends outside of the girls. He'd especially become good friends with Matt who even showed him his band that he played music with in their downtime. Martin had also become friends with Adam counting the times he kept Uriah and his goons off his back plus Martin had shown him more about comic books and fantasy novels, and he in turn was startled by how Adam spoke about most of how he saw the creatures in the books. Taranee had even found something very surprising in the cabinet of awards she couldn't wait to show him, on one of the shields it was engraved with his mothers name Marlena Glenn, meaning she attended this school as a kid.

In addition to Matt and Martin, Elyon had become good friends with Adam as she hung out with him and the girls and he too enjoyed her company as well and learning more about her childhood friendship with Cornelia. Of course she did ask about his home and their recent visit and they just kept the basic story of how his family lived in a big land and his uncle (Man At Arms) was an inventor who made all sorts of special inventions.

In geography class everyone listened to the teacher as he spoke to his students about one of the great mountains in their town.A diagram of said mountain was present on the blackboard. "Our own Mount Heatherfield, site of this weekend's ski trip, sits atop a volcano that's been dormant for years and years and years."

Most of the class were half asleep but most were listening. Adam sat at his desk which was next to Matts. "Uh is a trip to a volcano a good idea are they sure its completely dormant?" Adam whispered to him.

"Relax dude that volcanoes been dormant for years, zero chance of it blowing its top." Matt assured him. "Besides we're going to the ski lodge not the mountain itself."

"Ah I suppose." Adam shrugged and continued to listen to the teacher. Just then his gaze looked towards Will, who then looked and smiled at him happily and he replied with a friendly smile. This was noticed by Matt who have a smug smirk.

"Your not fooling anyone man." Matt said to him smugly while Adam just looked in confusion who wasn't he fooling?

Cafeteria:

It was now lunch time, and the girls, Elyon, Alechemy, Adam and Martin were sat at a table Adam sat opposite Elyon and next to Cornelia.

"Ooooo this ski trip is gonna be so fun!" Hay Lin beamed. "The food at the ski chalet is better than this."

"Hay Lin, the table we're eating off of tastes better than this." Taranee said as some mash potato slipped off her spoon.

"Yeah I mean seriously makes me wish I had a packed lunch." Alchemy agreed.

"So what's so great about racing down a mountain in the snow?" Adam asked not really getting skiing.

"Uh hello its thrilling, plus it's a pretty cool sport as well in the Winter Olympics." Irma pointed out.

"Have you ever been skiing Adam?" Elyon asked.

"Well can't say I have, but I did ride in snow covered hills before." Adam said recalling when he tried to rescue Stratos in the Ice Mountains of Eternia. "Plus I have ridden boards through the forest."

"Boards in a forest?" Elyon questioned. "Oh you ride a snowboard." She realised.

"Ah yeah that." Adam said not realising he was referring to his hoverboard.

"Well trust me Adam on this trip your gonna learn the joys and awesome ways of skiing." Hay Lin beamed.

"As long as you don't fall off down the mountain that is." Cornelia joked.

"Weren't we getting that new student from Switzerland today?" Will then asked.

"Maybe she's here and we didn't notice." Elyon guessed.

"Well if she is here I would think she'd stick out from the crowd." Adam guessed.

Just then he was proven right, the doors of the cafeteria suddenly swung open as a girl walked in all the students eyes mostly the boys were on her, she had slender looking skin and long flowing orange hair. With a yellow sweater and emerald green sleeveless jacket and a long blue and dark blue eyes revealed to be the greenest emerald colour, but her aura had the sense of arrogance and narcissism towards her. But it didn't stop the boys from gaping at her and sounding off wolf whistles as if a goddess had entered the room.

"No, my guess is that's her." Taranee wondered.

"Well Adam you were right she defiantly sticks out from the crowd." Alchemy pointed out. A point proven when out of nowhere Martin just leapt out of his seat and started doting on the girl like a lovesick puppy. Weirdly Irma was in shock.

"Good news. I think he's over you." Hay Lin said to her in a positive way but Irma was rather annoyed.

For the rest of the autumn day, all seemed as normal, well for the girls and Adam anyway. For the new girl who's name they later learned to be Sondra was on the minds of all the guys in school. They would dote on her even when she sat down for lunch and even offered their lunches, this annoyed Cornelia believing she should be the centre of attention. In her own views anyway. Even Martin who had found a new muse to crush on was taking pictures of Sondra with his camera who struck beautiful supermodel like poses. Her picture even replaced Irmas in Martins locker, which just drove her up the wall. Now normally the girls wouldn't be bothered by any of this but her snobbish attitude and constant criticism seemed to get more and more on their nerves.

Later the girls, Elyon, Alchemy and Adam were all gathered at one of the benches. Sondra was the only word on their lips.

"She says she makes her own clothes." Hay Lin vented. "Her sweater's made from "cashmere, from the chin of my grandmother's goats in the Alps." She said in a fake swiss accent.

"No way that's a real accent." Cornelia pointed out.

"Yeah I bet she just watched 20 Heidi movies before she came here." Elyon agreed.

"Not to mention she's so snobby and rude, she cut past me when I was getting something from the vending machines." Alchemy vented.

"She dissed me for not reading War and Peace in ze original Russian." Taranee said angrily. "I'd like to feed her the book in ze original Russian."

"Martin didn't even serenade me last night with his banjo. He was baking "welcome Sondra" muffins." Irma whined.

"But aren't you glad he's found a new crush?" Adam asked. "Plus I think Martin said you snapped his banjo in half the last time he did that?" He recalled from the times Martin tried to charm her.

"Hey I don't like him like him. I like him but as a friend and what if that snobby Sondra girl takes advantage of him! She probably already is!" Irma vented.

"Okay look girls I know I haven't the first clue about this but come on she maybe ah arrogant but she's not the worst?" Adam voiced.

"Seriously!" The girls all said.

"Come on I've seen people way worse than her, plus you've seen Teela she was all kinds of arrogant at times but she wasn't a bad person." Adam explained.

"Teela?" Elyon asked. "You mean that friend from your home town you guys told me about?"

"Yep and sure she was a little stuck up when we first met her but that Sondra girl is much worse!" Cornelia complained. "I mean every boy in school is pining after her!"

"You know now that I think about it, I'm surprised Adam isn't following her around like a love sick puppy." Alchemy then said. This did raise the same curious looks from all the girls.

"Thats right Adams the only guy here not doting on her." Hay Lin said.

"Uh why?" Adam asked.

"Uh hello look at you you've got a bod that all girls would pine over!" Cornelia voiced while Elyon just looked away a little and Will looked a little strange as well.

"Uh thanks…I think." Adam replied. "But to be honest Sondra isn't really my type, and trust me I've seen plenty of maidens in the past but none of them were really for me. That and my dad hasn't even thought about setting me up with someone yet."

"Maidens?" Elyon asked. "Adam you talk like your in an old fairy tale?" She chuckled.

"Ah well let's just say I grew up in a very medieval styled way with my dads traditions and all." Adam shrugged rubbing the back of his head to which Elyon giggled at that.

"Dude did'a hear Sondra's going skiing." Some boys were passing by and it seemed Sondra was joining them on the skiing trip.

"Awesome. Hey Adam." The other boy said giving him a fist bump which he accepted. "Excuse me, guys." The other boy said as they passed the girls.

"Do we look like guys?" Cornelia said annoyed.

"Well I am standing right here." Adam voiced. "But come on girls don't you think there's worse to worry about than a snobby transfer student?"

"You know what Adams right, we're not gonna let some snob ruin our ski trip this weekend." Will voiced. They had to admit they did raise a point compared to Phobos, Skeletor or even Cedric, this Sondra girl was hardly a threat.

"Adam!" Called a voice and he looked to see Matt was coming over.

"Matt hey!" Adam said as he came over but just as they met up. The doors opened and Sondra appeared.

"Oh uh hey Sondra." Adam greeted.

"I was just giving Sondra a tour of the school." Matt told him.

"Oh uh hello there I don't think we've met yet." Sondra said as she walked up to the incognito prince rather charmingly. "Ah Adam was it?"

"Ah y..yes." Adam said a little wierded out but she was clearly flirting with him. This scene put a rather annoyed look on Elyon's and the other girls faces but none more so it seems than Will.

"Perhaps you can show me around ze school as well." Sondra suggested.

"Ah thanks but I'm kinda busy with studying for tests." Adam said as he slowly walked away leaving a very surprised Sondra.

"Then again…maybe not a lot worse." Will said to herself just as the snow began to fall.

Later:

Another school day had ended and the girls were standing outside a certain book store. Cornelia and Elyon were inside as the blonde girl bought a magazine at the counter.

"I can't believe that girl is going." Cornelia said.

"It should be interesting." Elyon voiced. "Will says she can barely sit on a toboggan without falling over." They then left the book store, but the shop owner (Cedric) looked out and saw Adam was with the girls. He looked away and gave a sinister smirk having overheard about this ski trip it would seem an opportunity had presented itself.

Silver Dragon:

Later everyone was getting ready for the trip. Adam was packing some warm winter clothes and boots as recommended by Miss Lin. Will sat next to his bag who was next to Caleb "Okay so lets see I need these boots and this and ah…oh this?" He asked Hay Lin.

"Yep thats the basic gist for the cold weather and skiing." Hay Lin said as she looked through a box of winter gear. Caleb however just looked confused as he looked at the girls gathering their winter clothes. Cornelia meanwhile was trying to see how to use skis and the ski sticks.

"Um, if you're holding one in each hand, how do you fix your hair?" She asked.

"Ah you don't Cornelia, we just ride down the mountain run." Hay Lin explained.

"So you take these sticks and these boards and just ride down a mountain?" They looked to see Orko with some ski sticks in his hands and floated over some skis.

"Yeah and you ride on the snow and even move in different directions." Hay Lin said.

"So how do you know about Skiing so much Hay Lin?" Adam asked.

"Oh my grandma taught me a few things." Hay Lin voiced.

"Indeed." Miss Lin then entered the room. "I used to be quite the skier when I was younger I could pull of some sick moves." She said.

"Uh grandma people don't really say sick anymore." Hay Lin said.

"Wow that sounds like fun." Orko beamed. "Say Will you ever do skiing?" He asked.

"Oh no, I don't really like skiing that much." Will simply said. "I actually prefer swimming."

"Really didn't know you were a swimmer?" Adam asked as he packed his bag out of interest.

"Yeah I actually compete in a few tournaments did it a lot back in my home town." Will explained. "Won a few gold medals too."

"Hold up." Caleb then said getting their attention. "So you don't like skiing?"

"Right." Taranee said as she and Hay Lin looked over a box.

"You don't like this girl?" Caleb asked again.

"Right." Cornelia then said.

"So you're going skiing... with this girl?" Caleb asked even more confused.

"Right." The girls said which left the rebel leader even more confused.

"Don't bother trying Caleb trust me on that." Adam told him as he turned away from his bag. Just then Caleb picked up one of the skis and flexed it slightly.

"These would make fine longbows." He observed. Instead you're gonna stand on them and fall down the outside of a volcano? I mean for Guardians and a champion of Grayskull isn't worrying about a ski trip a waste of time."

"It's a little something called fun." Irma said sitting on a chair backwards.

"Don't be too hard on him, Irma. He doesn't have that in his world." Will teased.

"I know what fun is. I have it all the time." Caleb denied.

"Really? So what do you do to get down and get crazy? Plan a rebellion in a red nose and clown shoes?" Cornelia teased while she was looking through clothes while Taranee and Hay Lin laughed at each other in silly winter hats. Orko then popped up wearing ski goggles and his eyes looked way bigger and they laughed at that.

Corneila then proceeded to put a fluffy cat bobby hat on the rebel leaders head.

"Hey go easy on him Cornelia." Adam said. "Not much time for fun in Meridian these days with fun suckers around." He said jokingly.

"Oh thats rich coming from you, bet you don't have much fun with fighting a skull faced lunatic on a day to day basis?" Caleb snarked with a smirk.

"I'll have you know me and Teela would sometimes race our hoverboards during training. For hand to eye coordination she said." Adam explained. "Plus I think we deserve a break between fighting Phobos and then fighting Skeletor on Eternia and all."

"Not as much fun as Cringer it seems." Caleb said as they all looked to see Cringer trying to fit into Adams bag but given his size he couldn't one said anything about the big cat coming on this trip but Cringer had other ideas. The prince just shook his head.

"Cringer get out of there!" Adam told him and the big green and orange cat just smiled innocently as he leaped down from the bed.

"Do you guys really have to go?" Cringer asked in a whining way. "Why can't I come?"

"Cringer you know you and Orko have to stay here." Will explained as she stroked his head. "Besides I'm pretty sure people could mistake you for a snow tiger."

"Aww but it's so boring here not to mention it can be a little scary at times." Cringer tried not knowing that Orko was behind him with ski goggles and a silly hat on his head. "I mean…" He turned round and saw Orko behind him and screamed.

"YIIIIIIPEEESS!" Cringer leaped into the air and clung his claws to the wall in fright and shook.

"Hey easy Cringer it's just me." Orko said removing the goggles and changed his snow hat back to his normal wizard one.

Cringer breathed a sigh of relief and dropped off the wall still shaking. Hay Lin came over and stroked the big cat to try and calm him down which he happily purred to.

"Hey Adam, I don't know why we haven't asked about this yet but has Cringer always been so…well…Cringer?" Irma then asked.

Adam chuckled and shook his head at that. "Yeah, he's always been like that since I first found him."

"Seriously?" Cornelia asked. "How so?"

Adam could see the girls even Caleb were all interested in this tale, so he decided to tell it. "Well you see it all goes back to a time long before Orko came to Eternia. Man At Arms had recently made a new animal call device and I decided to test it for him…."

Flashback: Eternia: Some years ago:

In the courtyard of the Royal Palace a 13 year old Prince Adam was on his sky sled with a backpack on his back. Man At Arms handed him a flute looking device that had a dial on the middle of it. His mother and father were also present.

"Heres the new animal caller I made up Adam." Man At Arms told him. It imitates all the sounds of the animals you'll likely meet on your camping trip."

"Ah thanks Man at Arms." Young Adam said.

"Now be careful out there darling the hills of Eternia can be rather treacherous and some of the animals could be dangerous." Marlena said with worry in her voice.

"Oh come now Marlena let the boy be, besides this could be good for him." Randor told his wife. "But all the same take care son and have a good trip."

"Thanks father." Young Adam smiled. "I'll see you all in a few days." He mounted a sky sled and headed out into the distance.

"Wait they let you go by yourself?" Will asked.

"Yeah, see when my dad was young my grandfather sent him off on a trip on his own to learn survival and about some of the wildlife of Eternia." Adam said.

"Ah so a survival trip." Caleb realised.

"Anyway." Adam continued. "I'd reached the hills of Eternia and decided to see what the new animal call could do."

In the hills of Eternia, Adam had parked his sky sled in a clearing and began exploring his terrain. He found himself at the overlook seeing vast trees and cliffs in the distance as he admired it through his binoculars. It wasn't long before he got his first sight at the wildlife in the hills. For he saw what looked like an Eternian equivalent of a deer except it had stripes on his back and some spots.

Young Adam picked up a recording device and started the test. "Mount Tellar, mid morning spotted one Spine Deer a young buck general area of forest glade." Adam then took out the animal call and twisted the dial to a certain setting.

With one blow it mimicked the sound of the animal in question. The Spine Deer turned its head and snorted back.

"Well that call works." Young Adam said and so he continued his trek through the Forest Glade. Little did he realise though he was about to have a beastly encounter and a surprising meeting.

The call of a feral beast echoed through the air alerting the young prince. "Uh oh!" He quickly took cover behind a nearby boulder and peaked out to watch what was about to on a nearby ridge was a large looking Saber Cat the Eternian equivalent of a Saber Tooth cat, only much larger and much fiercer.

"A Saber Cat!" Young Adam breathed. "And he looks hungry!"

However the beast did not seem interested in Adam for its gaze was on some bushes in the jungle nearby. Soon it was apparent why for the young prince heard the painful cries of an animal in distress and it sounded like a cat. The Saber Cat was closing in on its prey so an alerted Adam had to act fast to make sure the beast did not get its prey.

"The only thing a Saber Cats afraid of is a Manticore." Young Adam remembered from his teachings from the trips he took with Teela and Man At Arms. "Maybe I can scare it off with a Manticore call." He picked up the animal call and quickly adjusted it to the right settings.

The Saber Cat was closing in on the bushes where the distressed animal cry was heard. Its claws were sharpened and licked its teeth in anticipation of an easy meal. With no time to lose the young prince acted and blew through the call mimicking the call of its natural predator. The Saber Cat was startled thinking a Manticore was nearby and so on instinct it abandoned its quarry and fled.

Young Adam breathed a sigh of relief his plan worked. "Whew, thank goodness this works." He smiled but kept hearing the distressed animal call, and so he went to investigate.

He pushed back all the shrubbery but what he found he almost couldn't believe. Its was a small tiger cub with green fur and orange stripes. The poor cub whined and cried in pain and fear.

"Well heh look at you fella, where's your mother?" Young Adam said looking around for the cubs mother, however his gaze was then fixed on the cub and its wound. There was a nasty looking gash on his side like he'd been attacked. The cub cried in pain. "You've been hurt." Adam gasped and tried to reach for him. "Lets see what we can do to fix you up."

However when he tried the cub just backed away in fright and swatted his right paw at Adam making him back off. "Whoa whoa its okay…its okay I'm not going to hurt you fella."

The cub was trembling in fright, he wasn't sure what to do but he felt his wound was getting worse. He looked to see Young Adam was slowly reaching his hand out but didn't come any closer. The cub sniffed his hand getting his scent and he could sense the human was no threat. So he began to lick his hand this showed he trusted him.

Later the cub was in Young Adam's lap, he'd just finished applying a bandage to his wound from the medical supplies in his backpack. "That might make you feel better." Young Adam stroked the cubs back to calm him down.

"But you don't look too good fella I think I'd better take you back to the palace where you can be properly treated." Young Adam said and carried the small cub in his arms as he picked up his bag then headed back to his sky sled hoping someone at the palace could help the wounded animal.

"So I took the cub back to the palace, hoping Man At Arms could help him." Adam narrated.

The Royal Palace:

In Man At Arms workshop the small cub was on the examination table, the aforementioned master, the King and Queen and Adam were present.

"He's very badly hurt Adam, I don't know if I can save him." Duncan said to a very worried Adam.

"But you have to try Man At Arms, he lost his mother and somehow he got terribly hurt out there." Young Adam said very worried. "If I hadn't found him then he…"

His mother then quickly put her hand on his shoulder to calm him down. "Adam stay calm you did the right thing bringing the little cub here." Marlena voiced.

"Yes it was a very brave son, but his wound looks pretty bad," Randor voiced. "But I'm sure Duncan will do what he can to help him."

"He's right don't worry Prince Adam I'll do my best." Duncan told him assuringly and the young Prince nodded with assurance.

Many days later:

Days and days had passed, Man At Arms used all at his disposal to tend the cubs wounds, and all the time Adam was in the room to care for the cub giving him food and drink. Thankfully soon enough Young Adam was smiling as he looked down to see a very healthy green and orange tiger cub stroking his leg happily.

"It took some doing, but with Duncans help and my love and care, the little cub soon got well again." Adam narrated.

"Aww thats so cute." Hay Lin beamed.

Young Adam placed a bowl of cold milk down on the floor and the cub drank from it, while the prince stroked his head."Hey I think he'll be alright." Young Adam smiled.

"Heh I think so too, mostly thanks to you." Man At Arms agreed.

They all looked to see the cub drinking from the bowl, and then the young prince looked to his parents. "So mom dad can I keep him please!" He asked.

The king looked rather unsure. "I..I don't know Adam, a pet let alone a wild tiger cub is a rather big responsibility." Randor told him.

"Oh please father I'll take great care of him please." Adam said begging as he knelt down and the small cub licked his hand and cuddled up to him.

"You have to admit Randor, the little one has grown quite attached to Adam." Marlena noticed. "I think it would be hard to separate the two of them."

"Its true your majesty." Man At Arms voiced. "and its true having a pet is a lot of responsibility, but I have a feeling that the cub maybe a great companion for Adam to have in the future. And he has cared for him while I treated his wounds."

The king of Eternos contemplated all that was said to him by his wife and oldest friend, and they did raise good points. He saw how happy the cub was with his son, as was he and somehow it seemed wrong to separate them.

"My dad did take a while to come around but he eventually let me keep Cringer." Adam narrated.

Later in the day Adam was deep in his studies on a nearby bench, reading a book while Cringer slept next to him. Meanwhile a young Teela was training with staffs, with other cadets. They parried and span their staffs rather skilfully. Once they were done they slammed the bottom of their staffs on the ground and the very loud sound startled the cub so badly he scurried up Young Adams shirt. This resulted in Teela and the cadets laughing at the prince and his scared pet.

"What a scaredy cat."One cadet said. "Look at him shake!" They all continued laughing. "BOO!"

"Hey leave him alone!" Young Adam defended.

"He's not even a real pet Adam, he's just a Cringer." Young Teela said teasingly.

"CRINGER! CRINGER! CRINGER!" The bully cadet teased and everyone else started calling it out too. Adam had had just about enough.

"I don't care I like him!" Adam defended and just walked away carrying him in his shirt while the other cadets just continued to tease him. When he left, the young Teela couldn't help but feel a little guilty, she knew she was only teasing. But it seems this joke might've gone too far.

"Wow, even as a kid Teela was a jerk." Cornelia said.

"Cornelia shush I wanna know what happens next!" Hay Lin hushed.

Later Adam was in his room with Cringer licking his hand happily. He was still dwelling on what happened earlier. "Its alright fella your a great pet." He said to the little cub as he purred and rubbed his face on his leg.

Just then he heard a knock on the door, and he looked to see his best friend in the doorway. He just looked away and young Teela looked even more ashamed as she walked in.

"Hey, Adam…y…you know I was just joking right?" She asked.

"Yeah sure." Adam said angrily. "But you didn't exactly stop them did you."

"No, I…didn't I…I'm sorry I didn't mean for it to get out of hand like that." Young Teela said. "But just so you know after you left I reminded them that the next time they mess with my best friend who happens to be the prince they deal with me!" She said all tough like, and it was true she did armlock one of the cadets and sternly told him so and to keep in line.

The young prince could see she was telling the truth as she came over and sat on his bed with him and the little cub. "Hey…i..is it okay if I pet him?"

"Sure." Adam smiled and so she reached her hand out and though the cub was a little timid he sniffed her hand and then rubbed his head under it and purred.

"H..hey he's actually kind of cute." Young Teela giggled.

"Yeah." Young Adam chuckled. "And you know I have to admit, Cringer is a good name for him." The two looked at the cub who looked at them. "You're afraid of you own shadow aren't you?" He said as the cub stroked his face on Adam's hand. Just then he looked and saw a large looking shadow and shrieked in fright and hid behind the two of them. They looked and saw the shadow was coming from the princes spare shirt.

The two shared a laugh as the cub came out from behind them. The prince stroked his head while Teela stroked his back to calm him down.

"Well then Cringer it is." Young Teela smiled.

"Yep." Young Adam agreed as he hugged the head of the newly named Cringer.

Present day:

"So I got older and so did Cringer but he didn't really seem to change he was still afraid of his own shadow." Adam finished. "The rest as they say is history."

"Well after what he went through, losing his mom and then being attacked by a wild animal you've been though a whole lot Cringer." Will said to the big cat.

"Tell me about it." Cringer said.

"But what I don't get is how can he be so scared as Cringer but when he's Battle Cat he's completely different." Cornelia wondered.

"Maybe its like when Adam transforms to He-Man." Taranee theorised. "When he's transformed he wise and strong, while with Cringer when he's Battle Cat he becomes the complete opposite of himself."

"Oh like how we transform we can be a whole lot more than we already are." Hay Lin said.

"Yeah something like that." Taranee agreed.

"Well its not fun, and I hate being Battle Cat, and it's always so scary when we have to go and face danger." Cringer whined.

"Hey come on Cringer don't beat yourself up." Irma said stroking his head.

"Yeah there were defiantly times when you were afraid but you went into danger anyway." Hay Lin agreed. "Like when we saved Will, Adam and Caleb you were prepared to go through a portal into certain death just to save him."

"Yeah I guess I did." Cringer said bashfully, and he had to admit they were right he was brave at times. But he still wasn't sure about them going on this trip without him. But of course Cringer had other ideas.

The weekend:

The weekend soon arrived, and the students from Sheffield Institute including the chaperone Principal Knickerbocker helped to load the students suit cases onto the busses. Everyone was dressed in warm clothes. The girls of WITCH and Adam soon arrived with their suitcases and bags. Adam was sporting a dark purple thick jacket over a white sweater, a blue bobbie hat and thick grey pants and a maroon red scarf with dark brown snow boots.

Just as they were approaching the bus though, they happened to spot the snobby student approaching the bus with love sick boys helping her with her luggage Martin among them.

"Merci beaucoup, mes petits garçons." Sondra giggled, while the girls all looked annoyed.

"She realises she said that in French right even though she's supposed to be miss Swiss." Taranee grumbled.

"Girls come on don't let this spoil the trip, we're here to enjoy ourselves." Adam said to them trying to be a little more upbeat. "Besides you've seen Teela and you didn't let her get you down."

"Yeah you know Adam has a point we're here to enjoy ourselves with no evil monsters to worry about." Will agreed.

Despite this there was still some annoyed feelings in the group as Cornelia marched with a frown towards the bus and started loading their luggage. They then boarded the bus to take their seats. Adam took a seat on the middle left row of the bus, but just as Will was about to sit down next to him. Sondra swooped in and took said seat next to Adam which took him completely by surprise.

"Oh heh hello Adam, I think we got off on the wrong foot the other day." Sondra said to him in a flirting way.

"Hey I was about to sit there?" Will said.

"Oh I'm sorry but you can sit somewhere else right?" Sondra said, and before Adam could say anything Will just sighed and walked away.

"Will!" Adam tried but it was too late so Sondra just started chatting to him so he decided to listen.

Will sat at another seat and just sighed looking out the window looking rather sad she wasn't sitting with her friend. "Hey this seat taken?" She looked and saw Matt had come to sit next to her.

"Ah yeah sure." Will said and so he sat next to her but noticed she looked unhappy.

"Hey you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah yeah I'm okay." Will simply said but Matt wasn't so convinced and he noticed how Sondra was sitting next to Adam.

"Ah right, well I don't think Adams really that into her so there isn't anything to worry about." Matt assured her. "Unless he's clueless about girls."

"Heh." Will gave a small giggle. "You have no idea, but why would I be upset about that?"

"Oh I don't know maybe cause you might like him?" Matt said.

"What n..no no! We're just friends thats all." Will waved her hands frantically. "I'm just looking out for him."

"Okay sorry didn't mean to jump to conclusions." Matt assured with a small laugh. This did seem to cheer Will up a bit.

Outside the bus, the last of the students were loading the bus with their luggage. But little did they realise that something was sneaking around the bushes. Blunk popped out of the bushes as he was looking for 'treasures' to trade and sell in Meridian. He snuck around the cars even looked at his reflection in some of the bus hubcaps. As another school chaperone was loading suitcases into the bus Blunk snuck round the back. Just then he noticed a tailpipe that looked rather valuable that he could make a quick buck off of.

"Hmm trumpet." Blunk mused and so he tried to pull it off but considering it was attached to the vehicle it wouldn't move an inch. As a result he let go and rolled to the ground, he looked around for anything he could use to get it off. He then noticed a lone rock laying nearby.

"Ah Trumpet remover." Blunk beamed and had an idea. The bus driver was almost done loading the cases but just as Blunk walked by he grabbed his hoodie and unknowingly tossed him into the bus cargo bay, before he loaded the last bag and shut it tight.

The bus with the Sheffield students on board was now on route to Mount Heatherfield, as the snow covered mountain itself honed into view. However unknown to the innocent people in the bus a certain large coiled snake slithered through the snow on the ridge above.

The Silver Dragon:

Back at the Silver Dragon, all seemed normal Hay Lin's father had just taken the trash out and thrown it into the large bin. When he walked away, a large black coloured sheet sneaked out from behind the bin, it snuck out of the alley way and through some of the backstreets. Under the sheet was Cringer, he decided to sneak out and the direction he was heading in was towards a certain mountain.

Mount Heatherfield:

Soon the school trip arrived at the ski lodge at Mount Heatherfield, people were walking around, riding the ski lifts, and even riding down the mountain on their ski's. The students had started to unload their bags from the bus. Adam looked at his surroundings as he picked up his bag.

"Wow." He breathed. "This looks amazing."

"Wait till you have hot chocolate in the lodge it's supposed to be the most soothing thing ever!" Hay Lin said to him. Irma had just unpacked her bag and noticed a certain stalker of hers looking for someone while holding a flask of hot chocolate, she walked over to him.

"Hey, Martin." She greeted.

"Oh, er... Oh, hi…" Martin said just looking at her as if he didn't even know her.

"Irma. I'm the one you're always bugging." Irma reminded him.

"Excuse me. I gotta give Sondra this hot chocolate while it's still warm." Martin simply said as he looked for that snob much to Irma's annoyance.

"Okay I'm lost I thought you said you didn't like him?" Adam asked her.

"Hey I never said I don't like him, sure he's annoying but he's not a bad person." Irma pointed out. "Besides I've known him since we were kids and honestly he deserves better than that snob!"

"Uh huh so why're you jealous?" Adam smirked teasingly.

"Oh your one to talk, how many girls have been after you mr hunky warrior prince?" Cornelia smirked as she came over.

"Ha ha very funny." Adam joked. "But I'll have you know I don't really have time for girls given my responsibilities."Just then he saw Will was getting off the bus in her winter wear. He went over to her while Cornelia and Irma both looked at each other with the same knowing look.

"Will!" He called out and Will turned to see him coming over.

"Hey Adam." Will greeted. "So ready to have a blast skiing, not that I will be able to anyway."

"Yeah." Adam said then had an idea. "Hey you know, if you did want to learn how to ski, I might be able to help?"

"You know how to ski?" Will asked with a questionable raised eyebrow.

"Back home Man At Arms taught me how to handle all forms of vehicles I'm pretty sure I can handle a couple of planks of wood." Adam said smugly.

"Well trust me it is harder than it looks." Will explained recalling the times she tried to ski and failed miserably.

"What's harder than it looks?" They looked to see Matt was next to them.

"Ah skiing and how it looks way easier on tv." Will said.

"Yeah thats true but hey practice makes perfect." Matt said.

"Ah Adam, Matthew there you are." They turned and looked to see Sondra was coming towards them. "Oh great." Both Adam and Will said in their heads.

"Who's your little friend?" the snobby girl then asked.

"It's Will." Will said a little annoyed. "We're in the same history class, math class, science class."

"I can't remember every face. Surely you don't ski on those tiny little legs." Sondra said almost like she was teasing her.

Adam really didn't like her tone. "Hey hold on Sondra you don't speak to my friend like that?"

"I'm just pointing something out, because skiing requires people with long legs, we ski a lot in Switzerland." Sondra said.

"Well where I come from we don't insult people like that." Adam said to her defending Will.

"It wasn't an insult Adam, and why are you being so defensive of ah Will?" Sondra asked and then wondered. "Oh are you her boyfriend or something?"

That made Adam blush a little. "Ah n..no she she's just a friend really." He stuttered while Will looked away a little embarrassed.

"Oh well I wouldn't imagine you dating someone so small." Sondra said with a smirk. Adam really didn't like how she was speaking and for that matter neither did Matt. For Will she just snapped.

"Now hold on.." Adam was about to argue back.

"Adam I'll handle this." Will stepped forwards. "Do you really think I care anything about what anyone says about me? I've heard that a lot but for the record I can ski with my short legs as much as you can talk with your tiny little brain!"

That little remark caused all the boys to gasp in shock as Sondra dropped her hot chocolate in shock did this girl just talk back to her. The whole atmosphere was tense with confrontation and glaring between the two girls.

"Oh boy here we go." Matt grimaced while Adam looked rather concerned. He had seen the look in Wills eyes on Teelas face more than a few times before.

"What are you saying?" Sondra scoffed while glaring.

"I'm saying I can ski the homemade goat pants off of you." Will challenged with a smirk.

"Well then, we have to have a little race. Winner sits with Adam on the bus ride back." Sondra challenged which surprised the aforementioned Prince to say the least.

"Fine by me." Will glared.

"Ah girls.." Adam tried but.

"STAY OUT OF THIS!" The two girls exclaimed back at him prompting him to jump back a bit.

"Yeah trust me dude you don't want to go anywhere near this one." Matt told him.

"Good then we'll race tomorrow morning on ze slopes." Sondra said and the two walked in different directions leaving Adam, Matt and the girls with very concerned looks on their faces.

"I've got a feeling this isn't gonna end well." Taranee voiced.

"Nope it's not." Adam said worried it seemed Will was letting her pride get the best of her. But why was he caught in the middle?

Meanwhile another of the students unloaded his skis from the bus, when he was gone Blunk slowly crawled out of the bus. He was a little dizzy from all the bouncing around in the bus. The Pasling saw he was not in the city anymore, he looked and saw he had a ski stick stuck in his boot he tried to shake it out but he wasn't looking where he was going and fell off the ridge.

He hit the ground hard in the snow. Blunk got up and felt the snow covered ground. "Oh good thing Blunk land on something soft."

"Ughhhhhh!" The Pasling jumped in fright when he heard the ground beneath him groan. The snow rose up but fell off a large object.

"AHHHH SNOW MONSTER!" Blunk yelled. But the snow fell off the object revealing a snow covered Cringer who was shivering with a black cloak over his head.

"Oh hey Cringer." Blunk greeted.

"H…h…hey…B…B…Blunk!" Cringer shivered.

Up top Hay Lin looked back thinking she'd heard something. "Hey did anyone hear anything?" She asked the rest of the group.

"Eh probably just the wind." Cornelia shrugged and so the girls headed off to enjoy the trip.

"Remember, children, stay on the north side of the mountain, well away from Dead Man's Trail." Principal Knickerbocker instructed her students as they were on a snowy hills. Near one of the slopes was a large warning sign, telling people not to go down said slope.

"GAINWAY!" Everyone turned and saw Hay Lin was skiing down the slope way too fast. And she was heading right for Principal Knickerbocker.

"No, no, no, Hay Lin." She tried but her student was coming in way way too fast. !"Hay Lin! No!"

Adam quickly leaped in and tried to grab Hay Lin but sadly they both crashed into Principal Knickerbocker and both went zooming down the slope. Adam tried to slow them down using his foot but they still skidded down the slope past Irma and Taranee.

"You know I admire Adam, and Hay Lin." Taranee said. "They don't care about snobby girls, boys, or what people think of them." The two suddenly soared off a jump and wiped out on the slope. "Or whether they'll ever walk again."

"Eh Adams a glutton for punishment." Irma shrugged.

In the snow the skis were buried in the snow and Hay Lin groaned as she got up from the snow with her hat on her face. She looked around and heard a groan, she looked to her right and saw a very dazed Adam getting up slowly from the snow covered ground.

"Ah thanks Adam." Hay Lin thanked.

"Heh your welcome." Adam groaned as he fell back into the snow like there were stars spinning round his head. He really was a glutton for punishment.

Later that evening night had fallen over Mount Heatherfield, as the mist gathered around the ski lift smoke rose from the lodge chimney. In her room Will was enjoying a cup of hot coco near the fire place with her feet up on the chair.

Just then she heard a knock on the door. "Come in." She said.

The door opened and it revealed Adam and he was holding an ice pack on his head. "Hey." He said.

"What happened to you?" Will said with a stifled chuckle.

"Well I'd say a very stern reminder to be careful about trying to stop Hay Lin skiing down the slope way too fast." Adam said Will couldn't help but chuckle at that.

Adam did share the chuckle but then he turned to a more concerned look. "Will look we need to talk about this race Sondra challenged you to."

"Hey don't worry I'll be fine." Will said.

"Ah last time I checked you don't know how to ski?, do you really wanna get hurt just to prove some point to a snobby girl, she's not exactly Skeletor or Phobos." Adam reminded her.

"I know she's not but I think it's about time someone cut her down to size." Will then said.

"Look Will." Adam said sitting down in the chair opposite her. "I know what its like to try and prove something you remember how I told you and the girls about how I got captured by Skeletor just because I wanted to show people I could be brave as Prince Adam?"

"Yeah but how is this the same?" Will asked.

"Because I let my pride get the better of me." Adam explained. "I let those words get in my head and it made me wreak less."

"I'm not being wreak less, I'm just looking out for you. She's taken advantage of every boy in school and I don't want to see her do that to you too." Will told him.

Before Adam could say anymore Hay Lin suddenly burst into the room looking rather frantic. The two gasped in shock. "Will, I… Oh hey Adam. Listen I need your scarf and your hat and your sweater. Do you have any extra gloves and maybe a large blanket?"

"H..Hay Lin what's going on?" Adam asked.

"Well parts of it you'll like but the other parts you won't." Hay Lin told him which left them both confused. But never the less they hurried out of the room.

Hay Lin lead them outside to find poor Blunk and Cringer shivering despite his fur coat. They gave Blunk some warm clothes to warm up while Cringer was wrapped up in a blanket.

"Keep this around your face." Will said wrapping the scarf round Blunks face. "We don't wanna start a panic. No offence."

"Need... cocoa." Blunk shivered.

"S…S…Sooo c…c.c..cold!" Cringer shivered.

"Cringer what are you and Blunk even doing here I told you to stay at the Dragon." Adam asked.

"I…it was boring in there and I wanted to come on the trip too, I was getting lonely!" Cringer shivered.

"Blunk looking for things to trade, then next thing Blunk knows Blunk ends up in metal box fell out and Blunk find big cat." The Passling shivered.

"Well Blunk can stay out of sight but what do we do about Cringer should we bring him inside?" Hay Lin asked.

"I don't think Cringer could pull off being a cat skinned rug." Will said. "Plus the last thing we need to do is start a panic."

"Wills right but it should be warm by the boiler round back so they can warm up there." Adam then said, before they could discuss any more they heard the sound of a car pulling up to the lodge.

Miss Lin dressed in warm winter clothing got out of the car and stretched her arms out while Orko floated out wearing a fluffy scarf and mittens. "Hi guys." Orko said happily.

"Grandma, Orko what are you doing here?" Hay Lin asked.

"He made me drive him up to prove a silly point." Miss Lin pointed to Caleb coming out of the back seat.

"I'm no fun, huh?" Caleb smirked. "Just tell that to my skis." He held up an old pair of skis that looked more like wooden planks.

Adam, Will, and Hay Lin looked completely dumbfounded. "Ah you sure they aren't old fence posts?"

"They look like the deck planks from the Titanic." Will added rather skeptical.

"Those babies served me well back in China." Yan Lin pointed out.

"Okay so why's Orko here?" Adam asked.

"I decided to come watch how skiing works. It looks like fun." Orko said then he noticed Cringer. "Oh hey Cringer."

"Ah I wondered where you disappeared to my furry friend." Yan Lin said as she walked over to him and stroked his head.

"Caleb why don't you take Cringer round back to the boiler to warm up. and meet us inside." Will said to him.

"Sure thing." Caleb said as he and a blanket wrapped Cringer headed round to the back of the lodge while the girls, Miss Lin, Orko and Adam headed inside while talking.

"So Caleb asked you to drive him up here to prove he can have fun?" Hay Lin asked.

"Eh figured he could use a break like the rest of you." Miss Lin smiled. "Besides those babies served me well back in China."

"They look like they served Genghis Khan back in China." Hay Lin said.

"Yeah I don't think he'll last five minutes." Adam agreed with a laugh.

"I got new skis now. I'm gonna carve me up some powder, dudes." Miss Lin said as they walked inside while Blunk stayed hidden in the bushes close by but as he turned round to walk away he bumped into something. But when he looked up he looked terrified for it was Cedric in his snake form.

Before Blunk could run away the giant Snakeman grabbed him in his tail and smirked. His gaze then turned to see the lodge and a window showing Adam was talking with the girls. He glared and smirked knowing his next target was in sight and he now had just the thing to bring him running.

The next morning:

A new day had risen and everyone began to have fun on the ski slopes. Orko was with Hay Lin on one of the slopes in a thick coat, and scarf. He hovered close to the ground so it looked like he had group all engineered the cover story that he was Hay Lins little cousin who came up with her grandma last night. Though it was mostly true.

"Okay ready Orko?" Hay Lin asked excitedly as Orko stood on his own skis and some sticks in hand.

"Ah uh is this right?" Orko asked.

"Yep just make sure you bend down as you go down the slopes." Hay Lin said.

"Oh hold on." Orko then cracked his fingers and pointed them down at his skis. "Stay close not far stick to me like glue." He performed a spell and then the skis stuck to him meaning he could use them.

"Okay lets go!" Orko cheered and so Hay Lin pushed off with her ski sticks and zoomed down the slope, the small Trollan mirrored her actions and zoomed down the slopes and he went down faster and faster and he had to admit this was fun.

The two swooped down the slope, however when Orko tried to turn he wend too far and tripped on the snow and began rolling down the slope and snow gathered all over the small wizard.

"WHOA WHOA WHOA HAYYYYYYLIIIIIIIIN HEEEEEELLLLP!" Hay Lin turned round and saw a giant snow ball behind her causing her to scream and quickly used her air powers to blast her faster down the hill as the snow ball rolled after her like a boulder in a tomb.

"Oh Orko." Adam shook his head having witnessed the whole thing from another slope close by. He pushed off with his own skis but as he slid down the slope and picked up speed, he quickly began to lose his balance and couldn't slow down until finally he tripped and hit the snow face first. Seems he wasn't so good at skiing either. He got up from the snow and just as he did he saw something zoom by, what he saw were some students on what looked like large looking boards. They were snowboards, and for some reason he had a look of excitement on his face.

Meanwhile on the ski lift, Cornelia, Will and Taranee were on their way up to the slope. Caleb rode one behind them with Alchemy.

"You're crazy to race Sondra. She's like a total Swiss, OK? They're born on skis." Cornelia told Will.

"And you said yourself, you're a lousy skier." Taranee reminded her.

"Yep, but I'm a terrific Guardian." Will said with a hint in her voice. It didn't take her fellow Guardians long to figure out what she was planing to do.

"We're supposed to use our powers to fight evil, not snooty foreigners." Taranee then reminded her.

"Trust me, she's evil." Will said with a determined smirk. "Besides there's no way I'm letting that snob manipulate Adam like everyone else you saw how Martin reacted."

"Okay normally I wouldn't pass up a chance to cut that snob down to size but this seems a bit much." Cornelia then said but then her eyes widened and turned into a knowing smirk. "Oh I see it now."

"See what?" Will asked confused.

"Will if I didn't know any better I'd say you were jealous of seeing Adam with another girl?" Cornelia smirked.

Taranee soon caught on to what she was saying and shared her smirk. Will however just blushed and shook it off. "N…No! thats not why! He's my friend and I just don't trust Sondra, he doesn't know her!"

"Mm hmm." Cornelia maintained her teasing smirk but Will looked away grumpily.

Up on the slope everyone was getting ready. Caleb with his ah medieval skis were ready to go. "All right, I'm ready to have fun." He said as he adjusted his ski glasses, then pushed off down the slope.

At first he was doing well skiing down the slope, but as he began to pick up speed he couldn't slow down, and under his feet the old wooden skis began to crumble away piece by piece. Caleb screamed as the last of the skis crumbled away and hit the snow covered ground and skidded to a halt. Just as a screaming Hay Lin zoomed by with a snowball trapped Orko fast behind her until a loud boom erupted. The scene cut to a tree and its trunk was covered in snow.

Hay Lin popped her head out of the snow, and she was very dazed from the crash. Orkos head then popped out and his eyes were spinning round and round and round. "Uhhhh…I'm sorry I brunt down your workshop Man At Arms." Orko muttered before he collapsed to the ground with the skis still stuck to the bottom of his robes.

Cornelia covered her face in embarrassment namely for Caleb's misfortune. While Irma had an unsurprised look on her face. "Wow those old skis held up better than I thought."

"YAHOOOOOO!" A loud cry echoed through the air, and zooming in was Adam on a snowboard zooming down the slope like a pro. Caleb couldn't believe what he was seeing nor could the girls.

Another snowboarder than stopped next to the downed Caleb. "Whoa, dude, skis are for losers. You want these." The snowboarder put a spare snowboard right in front of him and then rode off.

The girls slid down closer to see Caleb develop a smile and picked up the board then put a helmet on his head. "Ha a Mummer board.!" He said You didn't tell me it's like Mummboarding." Caleb beamed while Irma looked confused.

Caleb adjusted his shades then rode down on the board like a pro, and it wasn't long until he caught up with Adam. It turns out Mumm-Boarding wasn't so different than snow boarding or in the Prince of Eternias case riding a hoverboard. The two of them raced down the mountain and even rode of the ledge getting some air. Caleb performed several flips in the air before they slid down the ridge again. Adam performed a spin in the air as well before he landed back down. The girls gasped in shock as they watched them both slide down giving a high five before confidently sliding down with their hands confidently in their pockets.

"Wow, I gotta admit that was cool." Irma simply said. But Cornelia on the other hand couldn't take her eyes of Caleb she had to admit he looked pretty cool snowboarding down the slopes like that and before she knew it a dreamy smile began to form, while Irma looked with a knowing smirk.

Caleb and Adam soon reached the bottom of the run. "Wow, that was pretty cool!" Adam said impressed.

"Thanks turns out this isn't so different from Mummboarding in Meridian." Caleb said.

"Mummboarding?" Adam asked.

"Oh its like this only we do it in mud." Caleb explained. "But didn't know you were skilled on a Mummer board too?"

"Yeah saw these guys using these ah snowboards I think they call them and it's not so different than using my hoverboard back home." Adam admitted.

Just then he heard a strange sound in the trees nearby. "Hey you hear that?" Adam asked.

"Eh its probably the local wildlife." Caleb shrugged as he headed back up the slope with his snowboard. However Adam didn't seem convinced but then.

"Help help!" A familiar cry sounded and Adam realised it was Blunk.

"Blunk?" Adam called but got no reply so he hurried into the trees pushing past all the trees and bushes until he found a large looking tree, and Blunk tied to it.

He ran over and pulled the gag off the Paslings mouth. "Blunk what…"

"It trap LOOK OUT!" Blunk cried suddenly a hissing noise prompted the Eternian Prince to turn round and towering above him was Cedric who smirked evilly.

"Cedric!" Adam yelled, the giant Snakeman swung his tail and tried to crush him but the prince ducked out of the way just before his tail slammed the ground, the shockwave blew the tree back and Blunk was sent flying.

Adam quickly drew his sword from his winter coat and charged at the giant Snakeman who simply slithered, then swung his fist at Adam only for him to duck underneath, slide and land a slash on his side. Cedric roared in fury as he landed a swat with his other hand causing the prince to crash into a tree causing him to drop his sword in the snow. Blunk popped out of the snow and saw what transpired.

Cedric picked up Adam by his leg and glared right into his eyes. "Hello, boy." He smirked, "Or should I say, your majesty!"

Adams eyes bulged from his head in shock, did he know something?! Before he could answer Cedric slithered away with his prisoner, and it seemed he forgot about his bait. Blunk looked petrified seeing his friend being taken, but he saw his sword stuck in the ground. Quickly he picked it up and tried to lift it into the air. "Gah!" Blunk groaned. With a bit of effort he lifted it into the air.

"BLUNK HAVE THE POWER!" He yelled, but sadly nothing happened he dropped the blade tip to the ground. "Blunk must warn girls!" He dragged the sword and hurried out of the forest.

Elsewhere:

Far away in a nearby cave in the volcano, a large boulder was pulled back and Cedric entered tossing his captive Adam to the ground. He looked up to see the villain looming over him.

"Heh nice place kinda fitting for a snake to go hiding under rocks!" Adam smirked.

"Not the comforts your used to…Prince Adam." Cedric hissed.

"So you know I'm a prince whats wrong Phobos worried for competition?" Adam glared.

"Oh there's a great deal we know of you, Adam son of Randor of Eternia." Cedric slithered round him like a snake cornering its prey.

To say Adam was surprised was an understatement. "How do you know about that!?"

"Curtesy of a certain Count who promised to get the Heart of Kandrakar for Phobos, only to betray us for his own gain!" Cedric said it didn't take long for Adam to guess who he was talking about.

"Marzo!" He breathed. Realising that the evil princes soldiers must've captured him after their last encounter. Cedric loomed over his captive forcing him to back into a corner of the cave.

"You will tell me everything that you know of He-Man and the Guardians particularly the one with red hair." He demanded. He knew the Snakeman shapeshifter was talking about the girls. His eyes glared when he mentioned a certain red head.

"What makes you think I know anything?" Adam tried to deny it.

"Don't bother denying it, I have observed you with them you are…close with them and their leader." Cedric hissed. "But tell me where can I find He-Man!"

The captive prince knew without his sword he couldn't transform but that didn't mean he wasn't helpless. "Oh you don't need to find him, he will find you!"

Cedric growled as he clenched his fist tightly. "My patience is wearing thin boy now tell me and I will make this quick and painless!"

"You think I'm scared, I've heard tales back home of the Snakemen, and I don't think you fit the profile of King Hiss!" Suddenly that was reciprocated by Cedric punching the cave wall above him shattering the rocks that littered the ground.

"Don't dare mention that name! The name of the one who made me what I am!" He growled. "The one who hunted me and my kind for sport!"

The prince was startled, but at the same time curious how did this snake know about the tale of King Hiss. By the look in his eye he could see a deep seeded hatred in his eyes. Then he realised.

"Wait…y…your from Eternia aren't you." Adam breathed in surprised.

"Ah….perceptive." Cedric smirked. "Yes I was not born of Meridian I was a child of Eternia just like you." Cedric hissed. "During the time of the Snakemens rein I was the son of a simple traveler until we were attacked by Snakemen, they killed my father and took me to their fortress. It was there that they made me and so many others into what I am!" Cedric saw flashbacks of his father being killed by Cobra Kahn and his fellow Snakemen the child Cedric was taken by one and marched to Snake Mountain which had a third and second head on the tower.

"King Hiss had a cruel means of turning his prisoners into his own soldiers, soldiers who could blend as humans but changed into their true forms!" Cedric continued. "I undertook the process, turning me into what you see now! But Hiss was not satisfied with what he'd created he saw us as impure and instead he caged us, tourtured us and forced us to fight each other his way of amusement!" he cackled.

"There are others like you?" Adam asked.

"Once there were many now there is only one." Cedric hissed angrily. "I managed to escape that accursed place but when people saw my transformed appearance I was cast out and hunted by my fellow Eternians. I disappeared surviving however I could until years later after the Snakemens defeat I learned to control my abilities. What King Hiss did to me had prolonged my life and delayed old age. I reintegrated myself into society and became a known scholar at the Hall of Wisdom, but I wanted more until a kindred spirit showed me more leading to chaotic times."

"The Great Unrest." Adam realised.

"Yes but I was betrayed and the Council of Elders banished me to another world, and that world was Meridian. I was found by the royal family, and became their servant but I kept my true nature a secret." Cedric smirked.

"And let me guess you swore your allegiance to Phobos when he took power!" Adam realised.

"Phobos saw my potential in the power I possessed, and I have always learned that the strength of one individual earns his place in power." Cedric said glaring right at Adam.

"Phobos stole his power from his parents and the true heir of Meridian!" Adam exclaimed.

"Power flows to the one who knows it! To earn it is not enough!" Cedric hissed. "Such as the Heart of Kandrakar! Now tell me all you know of the Guardians and He-Man!" He roared and the loud roars echoed from the caves and everywhere.

Ski Lodge:

Back at the lodge Cringer was trying to warm himself up by the boiler round the back. Suddenly he heard a door creak open and scurried under the floorboards of the decking. One of the lodge staff members came out, and checked the temperature on the boiler to see it was working right. After a minute he went back inside, prompting Cringer to come out of hiding.

"Cringer!" The cat jumped up and grabbed onto the roof with fright. "Cringer cat!" He looked down and saw Blunk, but what caught his eye was the sword he had in his possession.

"B…Blunk?" Cringer said as he suddenly lost his grip and hit the ground as chunks of snow landed on him. Blunk hurried up to him.

"Cringer cat! He-Man big trouble!" Blunk frantically told him. This alerted Cringer.

"A..Adam is in trouble!" Cringer gasped.

"Cedric grawwrrrrgh took Adam away used Blunk as bait!" Blunk exclaimed.

"Cedric…h..hes here!" Cringer panicked. "The girls he must be here for them too!"

"Yes must help friends!" Blunk said.

The big cat realised there was no time to waste, he knew without his sword Adam was helpless, but at the same time if Cedric was here it meant he was after the Guardians as well. Though he didn't like it he had to do something.

"Hey guys!" they looked up to see Orko hovering over to them sadly with the skis still stuck to him. He hadn't found the spell to get them unstuck. "I guess skiing is fun when you have legs huh."

"Orko!" Cringer said getting his attention. "Y..you gotta warn the girls that shapeshifting snake is here and he has Adam!"

"C..Cedric!" Orko jumped in fright.

"Yes he catch Blunk lured Adam out and now he took Adam!" Blunk said.

"We…we gotta rescue him!" Orko exclaimed.

Cringer knew they had to act now, and despite being so afraid of everything since he was a cub he always had Adam to help him and now he had to help him. Remembering his friends words he took a deep breath and made a decision.

"I know so you go warn the girls me and Blunk will find Adam…Th…though I really hate the idea of going into danger." Cringer shivered.

"Blunk go with Battle Cat you brave like him!" Blunk encouraged the fradey cat. He nodded to that.

"Alrighty!" Orko saluted and floated off while trying to pull off the skis.

Cringer approached the sword and took a sniff and sniffed the air trying to find its owners scent. Soon he picked up something. "Okay where was Adam taken?"

"Follow Blunk, follow!" Blunk said and the two hurried off into the dense mountain forest.

Inside the lodge Will had called Hay Lin into her room, she was briefing her about her plan to win the race, as it was drawing near. "Alright Hay Lin thats the plan just fly above me and use your power over air to keep me upright. The rest will be easy."

"Ah okay but isn't that cheating?" Hay Lin asked a little unsure about using their powers to win a race?

"I hope so. I'm not gonna beat her fair and square." Will told her looking out the window.

"I'm not sure about this Will, I mean using our powers for something as petty as a snotty girl? Hay Lin said.

"Look this may not seem noble, but you don't know her." Will said pulling out the Heart of Kandrakar.

One brief flash of pink light illuminated from the lodge window but little did they know they were being watched. From the ledge at the cave Cedric eyed them coming out of the lodge window in their Guardian forms and flew into the sky. Adam saw them as well restrained in Cedrics tail.

"Will no!" Adam muttered having a feeling she was letting her pride get the best of her.

"Seems I don't need your information after all." Cedric glared bringing him up to his eye level. Before he tossed him back into the cave. "Now they are divided they will be easier to defeat and their screams will make He-Man come to me!"

"Leave them alone!" Adam yelled getting up and charged at Cedric only to be swatted into a wall by his tail. Cedric sealed the cave with the large boulder sealing him inside. He slithered down from the ledge and down into the undergrowth. Little did he know that he too was being watched. By a certain seeking eye that hovered in place and then followed the shapeshifter to see what was happening.

At the top of the slope, Matt, Sondra and a few kids were waiting for the race to start. Sondra was standing with her skis and sticks in hand. She looked but saw no sign of her opponent. "Where's your foolish little friend?" Sondra asked. "More to ze point where is Adam?"

"No idea haven't seen him since this morning?" Matt wondered.

Cornelia, Irma and Taranee were below watching, just then Caleb glided in on his snowboard accidentally covering the girls in snow. Taranee was rather surprised.

"Where'd he learn to do that?" She asked.

"Mummboarding." Cornelia answered. " Apparently its the Meridian version of snowboarding. Except You do it on mudslides."

Caleb dismounted his board and just stood with it and adjusted his glasses like a cool guy. In truth Cornelia couldn't help but hide a blush. It wasn't long until Miss Lin joined them on her own skis just to see this race that was going on.

"What is going on here?" Miss Lin asked.

"Oh Will challenged Sondra to a ski race down the slopes just so that snob can't sit with Adam." Irma explained.

"Will can't ski. How can she win a race?" Yan Lin asked as she looked around for her granddaughter. "And where's Hay Lin? Where is Adam?"

"Wait he hasn't come back yet?" Caleb asked. "He was just with me when we were Mumm-Boarding down the slope?"

"So why wouldn't he be here? Ya know to talk Will out of this crazy race?" Taranee asked him but he could only shrug.

Speaking of Will she struggled with effort on her skis as she arrived at the starting line. Matt, Sondra and everyone else were rather surprised. "Will is that you?" Matt asked looking at her appearance.

Will was in her Guardian form but she was wearing snow boots, goggles a snow jacket to hide her wings and a hat to hide her true appearance. She wore a scarf round her face as well to hide it. Though Matt could've sworn she'd grown a little taller.

"I'm ready. What's the course?" Will asked behind her scarf.

"You lead, I'll follow, until right before the finish." Sondra said teasing her. Will glared at her but looked to the skies and saw Hay Lin in her Guardian form flying above giving her a thumbs up that she was good to go.

"You don't have to have this stupid race. I'm sure Adam will sit with both of you on the bus." Matt tried to call off this race.

The girls however didn't listen as the gauntlet had been thrown down. They leaned forward ready to set off. "Just say go." Will said.

"Shouldn't we at least wait till he gets here?" Matt tried one more time but when the girls looked at him their looks said they weren't waiting around. Matt just sighed realising there was no reasoning with them. "Go."

Will took off first but instantly she lost one of her ski sticks going down a slope, and as she jumped the second she lost the other stick and was going down without them much to everyones shock. Sondra took advantage and put her ski goggles on and looked to Matt.

"Tell Adam I'll see him on ze bus." She smirked confidently as she set off in pursuit.

"Adam where the heck are you?" Matt said in his thoughts.

Will zoomed down the snow covered slopes trying to keep her balance while Sondra soared over them with ease. High above the race course Hay Lin swooped in and twirled her hands.

"Air!" She said and small gust of wind formed around Will which helped keep her upright, while lifting her into the air slightly.

The girls, Caleb and Miss Lin were completely surprised by this. "What's she doing?" Cornelia asked.

Hay Lin manipulated the air around Will to move her along the slopes with great ease moving her hands guiding her friend even pulling off a few cool moves. Sondra unaware of the magic involved was completely surprised but wasn't about to let this girl beat her so she pushed forwards.

They swooped and zoomed down the course slope after slope, but as they were coming to a clearing Hay Lin looked down and saw an innocent rabbit being chased by a very hungry fox. Out of nowhere the currents around Will disappeared and she shrieked as she was losing her balance and zoomed out of control.

Meanwhile the rabbit was backed up against a large rock covered in snow, its hunter was closing in for the kill. Suddenly without warning a small twister of wind catapulted the fox away into the distance it was so startled it ran away in fright.

"Hey, Mr Bunny." Hay Lin cooed as she landed next to the wild rabbit and knelt down to stroke its head. "No rabbit stew for you tonight, Mr Fox."

A loud familiar shriek echoed all around turning the Air Guardians gaze back to Will who zoomed over the slope out of control, and screaming with Sondra close behind however her biggest concern was where she was heading.

"Oh no!" Hay Lin gasped as she flew off in pursuit.

Will zoomed over the slopes, but to everyones horror she was heading towards a particular trail they had all been warned to stay away from at the start of the trip.

"Wait isn't that leading to Dead Mans Trail!" Elyon exclaimed in shock from the top of the slope.

"Has she lost it!" Alchemy panicked. Sondra stopped before the trail seeing her opponent disappear onto the trail quite surprised.

Will was now terrified zooming down the trail out of control she even covered her eyes. High above the trail Hay Lin tried to use her powers over air to try and help her friend but the tall trees covering the trail made it difficult to keep track of Will who was weaving in and out of the trees out of control.

"No. What's she doing?!" Matt screamed.

"Oh I can't look!" Alchemy agreed covering her eyes.

"Sondra, don't follow her." Martin called out to her, however this girl was not only snobby but ignorant, as she just zoomed down the trail on her skis much to the surprise of everyone.

"Oh no!" Yan Lin exclaimed seeing this from their vantage point.

"That girls not just snobby she's crazy!" Irma exclaimed.

"Guys! Guys!" the gang turned round and saw Orko was hovering over to them still with the skis stuck to him.

"Orko!" Taranee panicked seeing him floating down to them. "You know you can't go flying around what if someone sees you!"

"Never mind that we got trouble like big trouble!" Orko exclaimed.

"You mean Will, doing a suicide run down the Dead Mans trail?" Cornelia pointed out.

"No not that! Its Adam he's been taken by old snake face!" Orko panicked.

"What!" Everyone exclaimed.

"Cedrics here! But how did he know where to find us?!" Irma exclaimed.

"It does not matter now, it's time we ended this race before anyone else gets hurt!" Yan Lin realised then turned to the small sorcerer. "Orko go after Will and warn her what's happening, we'll catch up with you!"

"Aye aye Miss Lin!" Orko saluted.

"Hold up." she then said stopping the small wizard in his tracks and then with one pull she got the skis off him.

"Huh? I've been trying to do that for hours how did you?" Orko asked.

"Eh that spell of yours wears off after time now go!" Yan Lin exclaimed and Orko did a classic cartoon style zoom away.

On Deadman's Trail, the Guardian Leader zoomed past lots of trees with Hay Lin close behind trying to get a clear shot with her powers. The tree canopy however made this impossible.

"Will I can't see you!" Hay Lin called.

Will heard her but her focus right now was try not to be killed as she narrowly zoomed round a tree with Sondra now getting a beat on her. In the air Orko looked around for any signs of the girls but out of the corner of his eye he saw Hay Lin flying around.

"Hay Lin!" Orko cried and flew off after her as he flew by a flock of birds flew right past him knocking him off balance. As he regained his balance he could've sworn he saw a small drone flying around but dismissed it as an illusion and zoomed off to catch up to Hay Lin and Will.

High above the ski slope Cedirc glared down to see the other Guardians, the veteran Guardian and Rebel leader on a ledge below the starting line of the race. It was time to put his plan into action. With one slam of his tail it caused the ridge to crumble creating an instant.

"AVALANCHE!" Alchemy cried as all the students panicked seeing the aforementioned avalanche coming towards them.

"Oh! Back! Everybody back!" Principal Knickerbocker exclaimed warning her students who ran away avoiding the snow torrent. Our heroes however turned round to see the avalanche coming towards them.

"RUN!" Caleb exclaimed and they quickly ran for their lives in the hopes of outrunning the avalanche but it was far quicker than them. It crashed into them and separated them and when the smoke cleared the whole area was completely buried.

The other students were safe and clear from the collapse and Knickerbocker was taking a headcount. "Is everyone alright?" Principal Knickerbocker asked.

"Yeah we're fine." Matt said.

"All good." said another student.

"Wait." Elyon then spoke up. "Cornelia, Adam, Hay Lin and the others aren't here!" This brought a look of distress among the students and their chaperones.

"Sondra and Will are still down on the Deadman's trail!" Martin realised in horror.

"Oh no!"Knickerbocker exclaimed.

Up top Cedric smirked seeing his plan to divide his enemies was working. "Now to go in for the kill!" He hissed and made his way down the slopes.

Back on the Dead Mans trail Will continued to ski out of control until finally she'd lost her balance tripped and hit the ground hard with her face flat in the snow and her skis were catapulted off her boots. A smirking Sondra zoomed by taking the lead in the race thinking it was good as won. But as she raced along she caught sight of something glinting in the sky blinding her, she suddenly lost control and jumped off the high slope and hit the ground.

"AHHHHHH!" She screamed in pain.

Unaware of this Hay Lin landed next to Will feeling really guilty. "Will, I'm sorry. Are you all right? " She asked as Will lifted her head out of the snow. "There was this cute little bunny and this big, mean…"

"Girls!" They looked and saw Orko flying over to them looking very panicked.

"Okro?" Will said surprised.

"What's wrong?" Hay Lin asked seeing the panicked look in the Trollans eyes.

"We got big trouble! Adams been captured and the others maybe in trouble!" Orko said panicked.

"What!" Hay Lin exclaimed.

"Wait captured captured by who?" Will asked. Suddenly the ground shook, and two large familiar green fists emerged from the ground revealing it to be Cedric with his prey in sight.

"Him." Orko gulped and the girls looked startled.

Cedric roared and lashed his tail at his prey. "Look out!" Will exclaimed and the group flew away just as the tail slammed into the ground.

Meanwhile:

In the confines of his cave prison, Adam kept slamming his arm into the large stone to try and move it. All to no avail. He rubbed his arm as it ached and ached from all the effort. "Gah!" He growled.

He realised there was no way out. However, he heard something it sounded like something was scratching against something hard and brittle. Then suddenly he heard a crack in the wall behind him. He turned around, just to see the wall crack and then crumble to pieces and in the smoke two shadowed objects they stepped in to reveal it was Cringer and on his back was Blunk.

"Blunk and Cringer to rescue!" Blunk cheered holding the sword in his hand.

"Cringer! Blunk!" Adam exclaimed in surprise. "H..how'd you find me?"

"Oh Blunk and big cat followed noses." Blunk explained.

"But how'd you get in here? Thats solid rock?" Adam pointed to the wall.

"I know b..but when I clawed at it it was really soft and so after some digging here we are." Cringer voice. "Are you okay Adam?"

"Yeah but Cedric is the worst host." Adam joked but then turned serious. "Now come on the girls may need our help."

"Here He-Man." Blunk said handing him the sword which he slipped into his coat.

"Follow, follow." Blunk said as he and Cringer headed back into the tunnel they dug and the two started digging in another direction as Adam followed from behind.

In the snow covered slops the girls skis and sticks were stuck in the ground. Beneath the surface of the snow Taranee generated a small fireball illuminating hers and Cornelia's faces. But the other girls, Caleb and Miss Lin weren't with them as they got separated in the avalanche.

"I can melt a little more snow, but without Will transforming me, it's not enough to get us out." Taranee said.

"Well keep trying we've got to find the others." Cornelia said.

Elsewhere Caleb, Miss Lin and Irma were buried as well. Irma was trying to use her powers over water to get through the snow. She managed to open a small hole and sunlight began shining through.

"Make it wider." Celeb urged her, Irma put all her strength into her powers but the gap wasn't getting any wider.

"I... can't." Irma groaned. "Without transforming, my power over water isn't strong enough."

"Do not give up so easily Irma, we will find a way out of this." Miss Lin told her. "I just hope Orko got to Will and Hay Lin in time."

However all was not well for them. Cedric swung his tail towards the girls who flew away to avoid his attacks, Hay Lin tried focusing her powers to form a large gust of air and fired it at the giant snake and while they pushed him back they didn't have as much of an impact as it normally would.

"It is as Phobos said. Apart you are all weaker." Cedric hissed smirking.

"Think again snake breath!" Cedric turned round and saw Orko extending his hands and unleashed a blast of magic hitting the snake dead in his eyes blinding him.

"GAHHH!" He cried out in pain. "Irritating pest!" He swung his tail trying to swat Orko but he flew out of the way every time he swung.

"Hay Lin now!" Will told her and using this distraction Hay Lin focused her powers remembering her training on Eternia. Using her powers she formed several disks of air and fired them at her opponent.

They struck Cedric in his arms chest and one struck him right in the head forcing him back. This was followed up by Will unleashing the power of the Heart as a flash of light blinding him and she landed a kick to his head.

"Though a wind maybe weal, doesn't make it any less powerful!" Hay Lin exclaimed.

Elsewhere Blunk, Cringer and Adam kept digging underground hoping to try and find the others. It felt like they had gone for miles, just then Adam crashed into Blunk who'd crashed into Cringers behind.

"Huh why'd we stop?" Adam asked their answer came with Cringer sniffing the air.

"Hey what's that smell?" Cringer asked. Blunk took a sniff as well with his own heightened sense of smell, and he soon picked up on what the big cat was smelling.

"Oooo I smell girls." Blunk said.

"Right and…" Cringer said sniffing further getting a significant fragrance. "One smells very fragrant."

It then dawned on Adam of what or who that smell could be. "Hey its gotta be Cornelia! They must be close by! Which way?"

The two sniffed the air until they got the scent properly. "Girls that way dig dig dig!" Blunk said and so Cringer started digging with his claws like an animal possessed with the Passlings help. Adam followed being careful of the pieces of rock that fell in his face.

It wasn't long until they hit snow, while above ground Taranee tried to make her fire ball bigger, then suddenly they heard a grumbling coming from below them. Cornelia saw the snow erupting up near her legs prompting her to back up in surprise. Then pop! Cringer and Blunks heads popped out of the snow.

"Blunk! Cringer?" The girls said startled.

"Girls Blunk and Big cat found you!" Blunk beamed. Just then a muffled voice came from below them ,prompting the two to climb out of the hole and then Adam appeared after he pulled off his bobby hat.

"And what am I chop liver?" Adam said glad he could breathe.

"Adam!" Taranee said. "You alright? Orko told us that snake creep captured you!"

"Yes big snake catch Blunk. Used Blunk as bait draw Adam out catch Adam." Blunk explained.

"Yeah and I would've stayed trapped if Cringer and Blunk hadn't found me." Adam said.

"How'd you find us?" Cornelia asked.

"Lets just say it's a good thing you wore your perfume today Cornelia and our two friends here have a good sense of smell." Adam said and Cornelia smirked at that.

"But how'd you escape?" Taranee asked.

"Trapped in cave, dig dig dig." Blunk said.

"Yeah some of the rocks were pretty soft and easy to break through with my claws." Cringer added.

"But this is solid rock?" Taranee wondered.

"Dig, dig, crust dig dig!" Blunk said and then Cornelia gasped realising something.

"It's a volcano. They have side vents, tunnels to the surface!" Cornelia realised which was met with amazed looks. "What I know stuff too."

"But I get it and the hardened lava must've sealed them off with a thin layer of crust." Taranee realised as Adam climbed out of the tunnel.

"Hence how Cringer and Blunk were able to dig me out of the cave." Adam agreed.

"Okay well Adam turn into He-Man and get us out of here." Cornelia suggested.

"Not a good idea unless you wanna cause another avalanche." Taranee said knowing the thundering sound of the power beaming down might cause another avalanche.

"Okay fair point." Cornelia realised. "Blunk, Cringer try and find Irma and the others."

Both Cringer and Blunk nodded and started digging down the tunnel again. In that moment Adam realised something.

"Where's Will and Hay Lin?" He asked.

Taranee and Cornelia looked at each other awkwardly and this told Adam what he already suspected. "Oh don't tell me she…"

"Yep she did the race." Taranee winced. The prince sighed and pulled his hand down his face.

"Ughh she's got more pride issues than I did." He shook his head remembering his struggle with his own pride.

Meanwhile, Caleb tried using Miss Lins skis to try and widen the gap that Irma had made with her powers. Hitting it again and again but it was not getting any wider.

"Don't you have any spells or secret snow-melting potions?" Caleb asked Irma.

"We're not witches. It's just our initials." Irma told him.

"Oh yeah thats more Orkos department." Caleb realised. However at that moment help was at hand, as the sound of rustling snow and rocks could be heard. Irma looked and popping out of the snow was Blunks head.

"Dig dig dig!" Blunk said but suddenly a force pushed him out of the tunnel and behind him was Cringer who pushed his way through leaving a large hole behind him.

"Everyone alright?" Cringer asked.

"Boy are we glad to see you big cat." Caleb smiled.

Hay Lin was catapulted into a tree and fell to the ground,Cedric loomed over her ready to deliver the killing blow. Strangely however it never came the Air Guardian looked up and saw Orko had formed a shield around her protecting her from Cedrics attacks who punched and punched the shield again and again.

Orko struggled with effort to keep the shield up. Seeing he was getting weaker Will leaped into action, she jumped onto Cedric's back and pulled on his hair forcing him to reel up. Hay Lin acted quick and unleashed a wind punch right into the Snakemans jaw. This made Cedric enraged grabbed Will by her legs and tossed her into Hay Lin and Orko sending them crashing to the ground.

Cedric readied another attack forcing them to roll out of the way before his tail slammed into the ground.

On the snow covered slopes some clawed green paws blasted through the snow followed by small hairy hands. Cringer and Blunk had finally dug out of the snow. Then climbing out was Adam and Caleb who helped, Cornelia, Irma, Taranee and Miss Lin out of the hole.

"Okay all present and accounted for what next?" Irma asked.

"We need to find Will and Hay Lin, Cedric must've gone after them after dealing with us." Adam realised.

"Its gonna be tricky with a forest this big." Caleb said, a faint flash of light caught Taranee's attention.

"Well that might help." She pointed out, they turned to see flashes of pink light and smoke coming from an area of the Deadman's trail not too far from them.

"Go I'll stay with Blunk." Miss Lin told them. Wasting no time Caleb picked up his snowboard, and mounted it while the girls picked up their skis. Caleb put his shades and helmet on and slid away. Taranee mounted behind Irma on her skis.

"Stand on my skis and don't forget to turn when I turn." Irma instructed her.

"I can't. I'll fall off." Taranee said worried as they started to move.

"If you do, roll to where Will is." Irma said as they headed down the slope with Cornelia close behind. Adam however didn't need a snowboard his transportation was standing right next to him, as Cringer noticed his smirk.

"Oh dear. I know that look." Cringer groaned.

Cringer leaped from the slope with Adam on his back while holding his fur. It didn't take them long to catch up to the others. "Coming through!" They looked to see Cringer running down the slope very fast as they were coming up to a bump in the trail.

"Ready!" Adam said to his companion.

"Not really!" Cringer panicked, with one bound he leaped from the bump as Adam drew his sword and held it in the air.

"BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!" He exclaimed as a certain power surged from the sky and into the sword. "I HAVE THE POWER!"

A massive column of energy struck the ground and emerging from it was the now transformed He-Man and Battle Cat. The champions appearance was now different his harness, gauntlets and belt were now a greyish blue colour and the symbol of Grayskull was a dark blue. He also had a large shouldered on his left shoulder with ice spikes in it, a large furred whiteish blue cloak, greyish blue furs coming from his belt and furred boots.

They rode down the slope with Caleb and the girls close behind. "You know there are times I wish we could transform on our own." Cornelia grumbled but they pushed forwards.

In the heat of battle Cedric was closing in, Will quickly summoned the Heart and unleashed a blast from it blinding Cedric long enough for Orko to unleash a magical blast from his scepter forcing him back. Hay Lin jumped from behind and landed a kick on Cedrics jaw before she unleashed a torrent of air blasting him back.

"Okay there's a bump coming up!" Irma told Taranee as they were closing in on the battle ground.

"Grrr! You foolish whelps will not last forever you're all alone!" Cedric roared as he thwacked Hay Lin with his tail, prompting Orko to catch her in his arms.

"They're not alone!" Cedrics eyes widened as he turned to see He-Man and Battle Cat leap up and head butted the giant snake man in the chest sending him crashing to the ground.

Following that was the other three Guardians soaring from the jump and into the air. Will wasted no time pulling out the Heart of Kandrakar. "GUARDIANS UNITE!" She proclaimed and one by one Cornelia, Taranee and Irma were all transformed into their Guardian forms as their skis hit the ground.

Cedric was so blinding by the light of their transformation he failed to see Caleb snowboarding up the slope jumped on Cedrics tail and rode his scaly back and struck him in the face as he roared in pain.

Caleb soared in the air and landed on the ground like a badass followed by the other Guardians, as He-Man dismounted Battle Cat and drew his sword. "Grrr how did you know I was here!" Cedric yelled.

"Prince Adam told me right when he got out of that cave!" He-Man told him. "I know Marzo told you and your master all about me and him!"

"Then you will wish you stayed on Eternia Champion of Grayskull! When I am finished with you the secrets of Grayskull will be ours!" Cedric swung his snake tail at the heroes who quickly dived/flew out of the way to avoid it.

"So what's the plan we power up with Grayskull and kick lizard lips butt!" Irma suggested.

"No remember what the Sorceress said, if he finds out we have the Power, then Phobos will know." Will said. "But that doesn't mean we can't show him our other new tricks."

Cedric roared and slithered towards them. Cornelia attacked first concentrating her powers and then out of nowhere columns of molten lava erupted from the ground surrounding Cedric taking him by surprise. She manipulated the lava as it span around the snake and then restrained him.

Irma then attacked next. "WATER!" She unleashed a huge torrent of water hitting the lava which cooled it in seconds and the giant snake found himself restrained. He roared in fury and with all his strength he began to break free from his bonds.

"He-Man up for being a human bullet!" Hay Lin called.

"Ready when you are!" He-Man smirked.

"AIR!" Hay Lin focused her powers and a large current gathered round He-Man lifting him into the air and she blasted him forwards like a bullet. The moment Cedirc broke free he was met with He-Mans bare knuckles crashing into his jaw almost like it nearly broke his jaw.

He-Man then landed on the other side, and was joined by Will. "Up for the combo?" He asked her.

"Do you need to ask?" Will smirked and so they charged forwards, she took He-Mans hand and he swung her into the air as she put the heart in her fist. Cedric turned and an energised fist from Will slammed into the middle of his face. Soon followed by a slash from He-Mans sword.

Cedric roared and slammed his fists into the ground multiple times shattering it to pieces. Battle Cat with Caleb on his back rode on the shattered pieces of earth and Cornelia manipulated them with her powers giving them a boost into the air.

Battle Cat leaped from the rock and swung his tail and struck Cedric in the chest followed by a kick from Caleb in his chest.

The snake man growled as he looked to his enemies. "You…you've learned some new tricks since our last encounter Guardians!"

"What can we say snake face we've been training!" Taranee smirked and ignited her fist in fire. Swinging her arm she made a circle of fire and blasted fire balls at the ground below leaving their enemy blinded by all the steam coming from the melted snow.

"Water!" Irma exclaimed unleashing a torrent of water creating more steam from the fire. "AIR!" Hay Lin fired a torrent of air into the water creating a tornado. However Cedric wasn't going down without a fight with one slam of his tail and fists he unleashed a shock wave which completely vaporised the tornado of elements knocking his opponents back.

Charging at his enemies he roared but then he was stopped in his tracks. He looked and saw the Earth Guardian holding his fists back with earth gauntlets on her arms. "Surprise!" She smirked and then with one stamp of her foot a block of earth struck Cedric in the head which was followed by Battle Cat leaping into action and pinned him to the ground.

Only for the giant snake man to wrap his tail round the armoured cat and toss him to the side, but he landed on his feet.

"We need to wrap this up now!"

"On it!" Cornelia said. "He-Man, Battle Cat get ready!"

He-Man bounded to Battle Cat and mounted him ready. "EARTH!" Cornelia slammed her hand into the ground and in seconds vines erupted from the ground. "NOW!"

He-Man rode his companion grabbing hold of one of the vines pulling it along. He circled Cedric who tried to attack only for He-Man to leap off Battle Cat and wrap the vine round his lower arm then jumped from his arm tossing the vine to Will who flew in and wrapped it around his other arm restraining him. Will then tossed the vine to Battle Cat who grabbed it in his teeth and pulled on it hard pulling the snake man to the snow covered ground.

With him restrained Cornelia quickly used the other vines to tie him down to the ground followed by Irma and Hay Lin firing blasts of ice and water onto him freezing him in his restraints. The giant snake man was now completely restrained. He growled in anger as he struggled to break free.

"Ha lets see ya slither out of that!" Orko cheered.

"Nice work guys!" Will said to her team.

"Guess cold blooded reptiles really do hate the cold." Taranee snarked.

"So what do we do with him now?" Cornelia asked.

"I say we put him in Sondra's luggage." Irma suggested.

"A tempting thought but maybe we should let Caleb decide that." Will said.

"Agreed." He-Man nodded.

Cedric however gave a near deafening roar as with all his strength he broke free of his bonds shattering the ice and vines. The shockwave blasted the heroes back and he rose from his bonds and pulled off a lone vine on his shoulder. He glared at his opponents who had their respective powers and weapons at the ready. Glaring each other down in a stand off, but in the end Cedric just roared and dived into the snow tunnelling down into the ground and vanished without a trace.

"Should we go after him?" Caleb asked.

"No, I think he's had enough." Will said.

"For now." He-Man agreed.

Meanwhile on the trail Sondra was writhing in pain clutching her leg. Which meant she injured it on the run after her fall. "Owww!" She cried but just then.

"There she is." She looked and saw Will, Adam, Cornelia, Hay Lin, Taranee, Irma, (in their mortal forms) and Caleb coming over to her.

"Sondra you okay?" Will asked her.

"Of course I'm not okay I think my legs broken!" Sondra exclaimed.

"Hey take it easy we're trying to help you." Will said.

"Yeah take a chill pill Miss Swiss." Irma said.

Sondra just grumbled she was being helped by her opponent in the race of all people. "Why even bother, you could just win ze race now thats what you wanted wasn't it?!"

"No this race was a mistake, and we're helping you because it's the right thing to do." Will said. "So you can either wait here for help to come or you can let us help." She offered her hand. Adam couldn't help but smile at how his friend was being the bigger person about this.

Realising her situation Sondra begrudgingly accepted her offer of help and Will pulled her to her feet though she cringed in pain as she limped a little. "Zis doesn't make us friends or anything."

Will didn't dignify that with a response as Cornelia came over and held her other arm and they carried her back up the pathway.

Hours later night had fallen and they met up with the rest of the school trip, of course Principal Knickerbocker wanted an explanation. The group came up with the story of how they got separated in the avalanche and managed to find each other in the snow and helped Sondra back to the lodge. She accepted their story and as night fell everyone was gathered in the lodge as some boys helped Sondra onto the sofa while holding her sprained ankle.

"Ow!" Sondra cried. "Careful, you doofs. That hurt." The boys propped up her sprained ankle but everyone gasped when they heard her speak. Sondra herself realised she wasn't speaking in an accent.

"What's with the…?" Martin questioned.

"Did you guys hear that?" Matt asked.

"I know I did." Adam agreed crossing his arms.

"Your ankle's only sprained, but I think your accent's broken." Will said with her arms crossed as well.

Sondra could only smile rather embarrassed just then Hay Lin took a closer look at her sweater namely the label inside. "Dry-clean only. Grandma's goat hair, huh?"

"Yeah, we should get you to the bolnitsa." Taranee then said.

"And what does that mean?" Sondra asked.

"Hospital." Taranee explained. "You said you spoke Russian. And by the way, no cashmere goats in Switzerland. Unless you're from the Himalayas as well."

"And honestly coming up with a fake accent and stories just to grab attention?" Adam agreed. "Haven't you ever heard the old saying just be yourself?"

"Who cares? Being yourself is for losers. And as soon as I reach my parents, I'm switching schools anyway." Sondra pouted.

"So I guess there was no need for that race after all." Adam said namely to Will who just rubbed the back of her head embarrassed a little.

"Yeah but I gotta say Will going down Dead Mans point that was insane." Matt agreed with a smile. "But you know if you ever wanna learn how to ski properly I could teach you."

"Thanks Matt but, I think I've had enough skiing for one day." Will then said.

"Ah well at least it was a slithery ride?" Adam said with a raised eyebrow which was reciprocated with Will having a raised eyebrow of her own.

"So I don't have some dumb accent." Sondra complained as everyone walked away. "So what?"

"Sheesh desperate for attention much?" Alchemy said.

"I know what a total loser." Elyon agreed.

"No duh. Pretending to be all Miss Fascinating Swiss Person." Cornelia added. However some of the boys were still drawn to Sondra despite finding out she was a fake, to Irma's annoyance that included Martin.

"Weren't you listening? She's a fake." Irma reminded him.

"But her face and shiny, lustrous hair are oh, so real." Martin awed as he sat close to an annoyed Sondra.

Irma just looked dumbfounded as Adam walked by. "Hey look at it this way, when she's gone he'll be hot on your heels again in no time." He teased.

"Ha ha, not funny." Irma grumbled.

Outside the lodge the group, Caleb, Blunk, Cringer, Orko and Miss Lin were on the steps. The Eternian prince had just finished explaining what had happened and what he'd recently learned about Cedric. Their attention turned to the map to locate a portal.

"No new portals." Hay Lin said as the map didn't show any portals in the area.

"That means he didn't return to Meridian." Caleb realised.

"Best guess he probably ran back to his little hidihole wherever that is." Will said sat next to Adam.

"So Phobos knows your from Eternia?" Hay Lin asked Adam.

"Yeah seems after our fight with Marzo, Phobo's guards must found him and bled him dry for information." Adam said.

"So does that means he knows…." Taranee said concerned for a certain secret.

"No. He doesn't know me and He-Man are the same person." Adam assured them.

"Besides Marzo didn't know Adam was He-Man to start with so nothing to worry about." Orko pitched in.

"True but if Phobos learned of Eternia it is more than likely he knows of Castle Grayskull as well." Yan Lin said which raised some concern among the group. "However with the veil in place he has no means of reaching it."

"Well thats one bit of good news." Irma said.

"But still I can't believe that snake face was once from Eternia as well." Cornelia then said.

"You know I had a feeling he was different from the other shapeshifters in Meridian." Caleb said. "Some of them either age or stay in their current form."

"Yeah turns out King Hiss did something to him that prevents him from ageing probably why he's lasted this long." Adam said.

"Well if thats a short cut to eternal youth I'll stick with the spa." Cornelia then said.

"Still I'm glad you and Blunk showed up when you did Cringer." Adam smiled to his companion and the Pasling.

"In a way you guys really saved the day." Will agreed.

"Blunk always here to save the day!" Blunk said standing like a super hero.

"Y..yeah I guess I did." Cringer said bashfully.

"You might just have a little Battle Cat instinct in you after all." Irma said.

"Still I do hate having to become him though." Cringer admitted.

"Well I think I speak for all of us when I say, we're glad you did, cause without him He-Man would be a very lonely fella." Will then said.

"Its true Cringer. King Randor says that being on Earth had helped Adam in a way but I think its also helped you as well." Cornelia agreed.

"True you would've been terrified at the first sign of danger but today you jumped into action to help." Orko agreed.

"Cringer brave brave like Blunk." Blunk agreed.

The big cat was truly flattered by all this praise he was getting from his friends and loved ones. He had to admit they had a point ever since being found in the jungle by Adam he's been so afraid and stuck close to him, but since his change to Battle Cat and coming to Earth he realised he might be learning to be brave no matter the danger.

"Awww shucks then I guess I'm stuck with it." Cringer blushed as Hay Lin and the other girls hugged the tigers head lovingly. Caleb could only smile impressed.

Adam and Will watched this happy scene with a smile, and it was then he remembered something. "So…." He said getting Wills attention. "Front of the bus, or back?" He asked which put a smile on Wills face. "But no more crazy stunts?" He said.

"Heh you got yourself a deal teach." Will smiled and this did not go unnoticed by a smirking blonde girl who's smirk was shared among the other girls.

The sun then rose on a new day in Heatherfield, and outside a certain book store a slithery tail opened a sewer grate and a column of light beamed out of the open hole. Cedric now in his guise as Rick Hoffman jumped out of the sewer grate and walked into his bookstore with the keys and switched the sign from closed to open.

Yet he was unaware he was being watched by a certain drone that had been following him since the events on the mountain. It flies away from the scene and across the city, until it finally arrived at a large condemned house, it flew in through the window and inside the living area it hovered in place. Like it was waiting.

Suddenly a large purple portal opened in the centre of the room, and a hand grabbed the Doom Seeker and that person was Tri-Klopps. He felt a presence behind him and turned to bow to it.

"Your seeker has done well Tri-Klopps." Said a familiar voice and the shadow looked around the room then out of the window seeing the city before them.

"So this is Earth." He said. "Not much to look at….but then again it could always use some…." Stepping out into the light was none other than.

"Havoc." Skeletor smirked as his eyes glowed bright red and his laughter echoed all around him as now a new evil had arrived on Earth.

Moral:

On the snow covered Mount Heatherfield, He-Man in his Ice Armour looked out from the cliff edge at the ever whiteness of the snow.

"Pride is a very tricky thing." He said looking at the fourth wall. "Some consider it a good thing feel self respect and be respected by others but other times it can cloud ones judgement leading to unforeseen consequences."

"So when someone mocks you or even challenges you, never let your personal pride or jealousy get in the way. Be the bigger person and let it go, because in the end you'll be the better for it." He-Man said smiling.

"Until next time."

Authors Notes: A...nd Scene! Whew what a heck of a ski trip, now for this story I decided to add more to Cedrics back story a little such as have him be a hybrid experiment of the Snakemen, and how he was originally from Eternia and you can guess who was the one who encouraged him to pursue a place of power. (Revealed in later chapters. Also yes I am considering the AdamXWill idea as having rewatched a few episodes for ideas it might be interesting to approach plus the two do have a lot in common. Now I decided to focus on pride in this chapter and add more to the episode like Will and the gang helping Sondra back to the lodge and being the bigger person for it.

But now it seems a new evil has come to earth what havoc is coming to haunt the gang now

Until next time

BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!