| Return of the Dark One By Hordak Alpha Chapter Two: Witness Prince Adam landed on the ground with a hard thump. Adam looked up at Teela standing right over him with a staff in hand. "Come on Adam. Don't just sit there staring at me. If this was a real battle with one of Skeletor's soldiers you would probably be dead by now." said Teela with a little impatience. Teela and Adam were doing their daily sparing training match in the palace garden. Adam picked up his staff and moved in for the attack. Adam swung his staff out at Teela with force. Teela quickly blocked it and swept kicked Adam to the ground. Teela sighed. "Adam you leave yourself too open to attack. If you ever hope to be Eternia's king you will have to know a few combat moves." Teela and Adam were roughly the same age but ever since she had been made captain of the royal guard Teela tried to act more grown up, especially around Adam. Adam really did miss the old Teela who cared nothing more then to race Adam around the palace. But that was when they were twelve, they were now nineteen and were thinking more like adults. Before Adam could get up Duncan,the palace Man-At-Arms and Teela's father, peered out of the passage that lead from the garden back into the palace. "Adam could you please come in? I need to speak with you." Adam stood up dusting himself off. "Well Teela," he said, "got to go." With that Adam dashed off into the palace. 'Typical' thought Teela. Adam followed Duncan into his lab. Duncan closed the door and then said " Some royal intelligence in the port city of Oceanic picked up some interesting info last night." "What does it have to do with me?" asked Adam, yawning. "Everything," said Duncan,"It seems a homeless couple were attacked by orcs and were saved by a mysterious cloaked saviour. They reported their saviour was He-Man." " Well, that is impossible. I was in the palace all night." said Adam. "I knew it couldn't be you. Reportedly this He-Man killed the orcs." said Duncan. "Well then who could it be?" asked Adam. "Do you remember that android duplicate of He-Man Skeletor built last year?" asked Duncan. "Yeah, Faker. It can't be him. He is imprisoned within the abyss of Castle Grayskull." said Adam. "He was imprisoned in the abyss. I discussed it with the Sorceress this morning. It seems she can't sense Faker's presence in the abyss anymore." said Duncan. "No. Just great." said Adam. "I think our friend He-Man should go and find Faker." said Duncan with concern. "But wait. You said Faker saved those people." said Adam. "That may be but Faker is still dangerous. I suggest you try to find him as quickly as possible before he hurts any innocent people." said Duncan. Without another word Adam left the lab. Outside Adam found Cringer lounging on the front steps. "C'mon old pal. We have to go to Grayskull." said Adam prodding his tiger friend to get up. "Oh no. Not again." whined Cringer. "I'm afraid so. Lets go." said Adam. With that Adam and Cringer rushed away from the palace. Teela had just happened to over hear Adam's talk with Cringer from the balcony. "Not this time Adam. I'm through having you skip another one of my lessons." muttered Teela. She pulled the buckle from her belt and tossed it into the air. In mid air it instantly converted into a hover disc big enough for Teela to ride on. Grabbing her cobra staff and sheathing it to her back Teela hopped on the hover disc and sped off after Adam and Cringer. Adam and Cringer were far away enough from the palace to not be seen. Hidden by the trees of the forest Adam pulled the Sword of Power out of the padded over coat he wore. Teela had caught up to Adam and Cringer by now and was hidden a few feet away crouched down in some thick brush. ' Adam is holding He-Man's sword. How did he get that?' thought Teela. Adam held the sword high above his head and cried "BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!!" Energy lanced out from the sword and surrounded Adam in an aura. There was a brilliant blinding flash and where Prince Adam had once stood now stood He-Man, defender of Eternia. "I HAVE THE POWER!" cried He-Man. With a swift motion He-Man pointed the sword at Cringer. Teela stared in wide eyed fear and awe. A small burst of energy lanced out from the sword and emersed Cringer in an aura much like the one that had surrounded He-Man. There was another brilliant blinding flash and now in Cringer's place stood the mighty Battle Cat. He-Man sheathed his sword and hopped into the saddle on Battle Cat. "To Grayskull old friend." said He-Man. Battle Cat tore off toward the Evergreen Forest. Teela now was kneeling in her hiding place watching the action. The look of amazement and shock still on her face. |