THE SWORD OF SHE-RA

BY

AIDAN CROSS

1/5/99

PART 15: BROTHER AND SISTER REUNITED

She-Ra led He-Man to a small clearing in the Whispering Woods, where she and her brother could privately recount their amazing story. Alone they stood, amongst the silent trees, feeling the warm breeze drifting across their faces. It was such a calm, soothing atmosphere after the terror of the Fright Zone.
"So….." said He-Man, "You’re my sister?"
"I am indeed."
"But….. I’ve never had a sister. I’ve never had any siblings! Surely my parents would have told me….."
"I guess there’s a reason why they haven’t. I was stolen from them when I was only a baby- they must have thought it would be too distressing for you."
"But….. surely other people would know….."
"I don’t know. But anyway, your quest is finally complete. The person who needed the sword now has it."
"But what about Adora? I thought it was for her because it was always glowing when she was around it!"
"I’ll explain that." said She-Ra. She held the sword high above her head, a flash of bright light erupted from it, and her form changed….. her hair turned blonde, her clothes changed to leather….. she was Adora.
"So!" remarked He-Man. "You are Adora. So why were you serving the Horde? What made you turn from them?"
"I was only serving the Horde because when I was a baby, Hordak and Horde Prime brainwashed me. Horde Prime is supposedly the master of all evil, who comes from Horde World, and he is Hordak’s mentor. He put metal implants into my head- but they’re removed now. I’ve finally become the person whom nature made me." Her voice was no longer so rough- now it was more gentle, her tone more sincere. She was a changed person. And her eyes looked completely different without their signs of bloodthirst.
"So how did you realise the sword was for you?"
"Well, first this man came in, wearing red armour….. said he was some kind of cosmic enforcer, but can’t remember what he said his name was….."
"Was it Zodac?"
"Zodac! Yes, that was him. I was….. so cruel to him. He must hate me."
"Zodac doesn’t hate anyone. He sympathises with all living creatures- good or evil, and he will forgive you."
"That’s refreshing to hear….. ‘cause I shot him….. I could have killed him. Anyway, he gave me the swords….. and then there was this woman who appeared in the jewel. She told me everything….. showed me what Horde Prime did to me….. and she brought out the Elders of Eternia to remove the implants in my brain. Then I became She-Ra."
"That woman would have been the Sorceress." He-Man replied. "It’s so good that she’s brought you to your senses."
"It sure is. But what about you? I guess you must have a double identity too, being in virtually the same position as She-Ra."
"I sure do." said He-Man. Drawing his sword and lifting it above his head, he cried "Let the power return!"
A small flash of light emerged from the sword, and He-Man’s form began to change….. until he became Prince Adam again. Adora instantly recognised him.
"So, you’re the guy who tried to talk to me about the sword, huh?"
"Yeah, that was me." said Adam. "If I’d known you were my sister, I don’t know how I’d have felt! I’m called Adam in this form."
"That was a pretty clever trick." said Adora, smiling. "But if I’d known you were He-Man then….. I sure would have hated you! And still, I did try to kill you….. I almost succeeded….. surely you must hate me?"
"You were brainwashed," said Adam, "there’s no way I can hate you when that wasn’t even the real you. But what I don’t understand is….. why have I never heard about you before? I didn’t even know Hordak had been on Eternia!"
"I think the Sorceress will be able to explain all!" said Adora, and lifted the sword. "Sorceress?" she called. "Can you hear me?"
The jewel in the sword shimmered with a bright light, and the face of the Sorceress appeared in the jewel.
"Congratulations, Adora." she said. "You have performed your first good deeds as She-Ra. You are worthy of being the heroine of Etheria."
"Thank you." Adora replied. "But Adam and I are still puzzled….. why did Adam never hear of me? Why did Hordak capture me?"
"I will tell you the whole story from the start." The Sorceress said. The sword then seemed to lift itself from Adora’s clutches, and began hovering in mid-air. Then, the Sorceress began her tale.
"Twenty years ago, the Queen of Eternia gave birth to twins. One of these was you, Adam- the other was you, Adora."
"So I’m the daughter of a King and Queen!" exclaimed Adora in surprise.
"Indeed you are- Adam is the Prince of Eternia, and you have never known it- but you are the princess."
Adora gasped in amazement. She had never expected this!
In the jewel appeared a young King and Queen, tending to two babies, each in separate cribs.
"That’s my mother and father!" said Adam. "That’s when they were young!"
The Sorceress continued her story. "Although the King and Queen were delighted, the twins were born at a time of great peril for Eternia. There was a savage war raging across the planet, led by a tyrant called Xazrog."
The image in the jewel changed, and Adora and Adam saw a young man, with black hair and sharp, evil eyes, shouting orders at a band of robots, looking similar to the Horde Troopers, except without the bat symbol, and less complex.
"That must be Xazrog!" said Adam. "And wasn’t this the war in which your husband was killed, Sorceress?"
"Yes, my husband, Zendar, is thought to have met his death around this time. Although Xazrog’s forces threatened to take over Eternia and capture Grayskull, they were no match for King Randor’s soldiers or the magic of Grayskull. They were eventually defeated just outside Grayskull- but in that battle, Xazrog suffered horrific injuries."
The image of a soldier crouching over the fallen body of Xazrog appeared in the jewel. But Xazrog’s face was now hideously disfigured- a discoloured, fleshy mess. Adam and Adora gasped in horror at the young man’s injuries.
"Xazrog was imprisoned in the royal cell," continued the Sorceress, "but it did not hold him for long. He escaped- and together with his sidekick Skeletor, he hatched revenge on the King and Queen."
"Skeletor!" remarked Adam, as the hooded, fleshless face of his arch enemy appeared in the jewel.
"You know this being?" asked Adora.
"Skeletor is the being who I defend Eternia from! Several people have told me of how he threatened Eternia when I had just been born!"
"Xazrog and Skeletor decided to steal both the Queen’s babies and bring them up to their own evil ways. But in the end, they only got you, Adora- as Man-At-Arms caught them before they could take Adam."
The image of a young Man-At-Arms knocking Skeletor to the ground, as Xazrog ran with Adora, appeared on the jewel.
"So I could have succumbed to the same fate as Adora!" remarked Adam, realising just how lucky he had been.
The scene on the jewel then changed to a place that was familiar to Adam- the interior of Snake Mountain. Xazrog stood by a time portal, with Adora in his arms.
"Man-At-Arms managed to force Skeletor into revealing that Xazrog’s secret base was Snake Mountain, the ancient fortress of evil." continued the Sorceress. "He and I made our way there- but before we could stop him, Xazrog escaped through the time portal with Adora. And we searched the whole planet for you, Adora- but we just couldn’t find you, so I used my magic to erase the memory of you from everyone on Eternia’s minds, apart from your parents, Man-At-Arms and myself."
"Then how did I get in the hands of Hordak and Horde Prime?" Adora asked.
"I will show you." said the Sorceress. Inside the jewel appeared the disfigured Xazrog, holding Adora, and conversing with Horde Prime. All they could see of Horde Prime were two demonic eyes, staring through a black mist. Then they saw Xazrog’s body being passed through some machinery. Through machine after machine it passed, until it finally emerged- but it was no longer the disfigured young man. Now it was a far more terrifying figure that was familiar to both Adam and Adora. It was Hordak! (For the full story, read ‘History of Eternia’)
"So- Xazrog is Hordak!" exclaimed Adam. "When I first saw him, I never suspected he had so much connection with Eternia!" "Hordak told me he was once an ordinary human," added Adora, "but that’s all I ever knew! But what was happening to me at this point?"
"This was when Horde Prime made the implants in your brain." replied the Sorceress. The image changed to the one that Adora had seen before- of the giant metal hand squeezing the fluid into Adora’s ears.
Then, the Sorceress’ face reappeared in the jewel. "That was all the Images that the Elders could pick up- but I think we know the rest."
"We sure do." said Adora. "That was when Hordak took me to Etheria, formed the Horde, then found Shadow Weaver and brought me up to his evil ways. But how did you find me?"
"After our twenty year search, the elders finally managed to trace your whereabouts. The sword of protection was forged thousands of years ago, as a simple extra should anyone else ever need the power of Grayskull. When the elders realised the situation you were in, they decided you needed the sword- to become She-Ra, Princess of Power! And now you have become She-Ra, and thrown off the Horde’s spell. Now you will be able to defend your planet- and strive to free it from the evil force which has ruled for so long! And with the power of Grayskull on your side, you shall do it!"
Adora bristled with pride as she realised the importance and supremacy of her destiny. Then she thought of all the crimes and murders she had committed.
"But….. in my lifetime I’ve killed so many innocent people, and committed so many crimes. Surely I don’t deserve to be She-Ra!"
"Of course you deserve to be She-Ra, Adora! You are a different person now that you have come to your senses. As She-Ra, you can make amends for the crimes you committed in your past!"
Adora smiled. "I sure will!"
"Good luck!" said the Sorceress, and her face faded from the jewel.
"Well….." said Adam, "I really never knew the story of Grayskull was that complicated!"
"I’m pretty amazed too." said Adora, taking hold of the sword. "But you bet, I’m gonna make up for all the bad I’ve done in my life. I’m gonna put right all the wrongs I’ve done! Repair all the damage I’ve done to this world! Hopefully even eliminate the empire of Hordak and the Evil Horde! My life begins here!"
Adam smiled at her. "You’re gonna make a real heroine, you know."
"I sure hope so. But now, let’s make our way to the rebel camp. I’ve got an announcement to make!"
"What’s that?"
"the announcement that the evil Force Captain Adora, one of the most feared members of the Horde, is now amongst the ranks of the Great Rebellion! Let’s make our way!"
"Sure thing!" said Adam, and the two long-lost siblings made their way through the woods side by side, knowing that a new era was dawning on Etheria- the era of She-Ra!

PART 16: ADORA IN THE REBELLION

Carlos and Glimmer had just arrived back at the rebel camp. Carlos had been giving a talk to some trainee scientists in the city of Bright Moon. He wasn’t his usual self. His forehead was strained with lines of worry, his approach was less than talkative, and his face was stern and grim.
"What’s wrong, Carlos?" asked Glimmer. "I’ve never seen you looking this worried before."
"I’m really worried about Adam." Carlos told her. "I have the feeling he’s in serious danger. Earlier on, I could have sworn I saw him- in the form of He-Man- in chains, and being repeatedly stabbed. I think I’d better go to Doom Tower to help him. If I’m not too late- I would have gone before if I hadn’t had to give that damn talk…"
"We should leave at once then!" said Glimmer. "There’s no way I’m letting the Horde get the better of Adam….."
"I say he be fine!" came a strange little voice from above in a tree. Glimmer and Carlos looked up, and saw Kowl, a little owl-like creature with large rainbow-coloured ears who lived inside the tree, emerging from his hollow.
"When I’ve been sleeping, the truth always dawns on me- and I’m not worried about Adam in the slightest." he said.
"I sure hope you’re right, Kowl." said Carlos. "Usually I know these things, but today my mind just isn’t right for it. At least we’ve still got you around. I really hope that Adam’s safe."
"He sure is safe." came a familiar voice from behind. Glimmer and Carlos spun around to see Adam standing behind them, safe and unharmed!
"Adam!" cried Glimmer, running up to him and hugging him. "Thank goodness you’re alright!"
"Told’ya so!" said Kowl, from up in the tree. "No words from Kowl are not to be trusted!"
"You’re a real hero!" said Carlos, breathing a sigh of relief as the lines of worry and concern faded from his face. But then he noticed something very strange- Force Captain Adora was standing some inches behind Adam! "Adora?" he called out. "What’s she doing here?"
"Ha! Adam’s captured her, I bet!" said Glimmer. "Now we can get her into jail where she belongs!"
"Not so fast, Glimmer." said Adam. "Adora’s got an announcement to make. Tell them, Adora."
Adora walked up to Carlos and Glimmer. They instantly noticed a slight change in her- her face seemed a lot more sincere, the lust for killing seemed gone from her eyes, which now looked beautiful and innocent.
"My friends," Adora began, "And yes, I mean my friends- I have left the Horde behind. I was only serving them because I was brainwashed as a child. I have no wish to hurt you- instead, I wish to join the Great Rebellion, and aid you in ridding this planet from Hordak!"
"Great Gods….. can this be true?" said Carlos.
"Well," said Glimmer, "didn’t Adam think that sword was meant to be for her?"
"He sure did!" said Carlos. He stepped up to Adora, and shook her hand. "It’s gonna be a little hard for me to get used to this- but I’m damn well pleased to have you as part of the rebellion!"
Glimmer also shook Adora’s hand, and said "I’m the leader of the rebels- and I say that if you’re sincere- you sure can join!"
Then Adora fell to her knees, and said "I now regret to extremes all the murders I committed. All the times I made innocent people suffer! And please, allow me to make amends for all I did! I will help defeat the Horde, and repair all the damage I did to this world!"
"You’d better announce it to the whole rebellion." said Glimmer. "Come with us."
Glimmer, Carlos and Adam led Adora into the centre of the camp, and Glimmer called a meeting. Within five minutes, the whole of the rebels who were present had gathered together. When they noticed that Force Captain Adora was there, this provoked instant angry reactions. Several angry rebels charged forward, brandishing their weapons. One man, aiming his pistol at her, screamed "You are the woman who murdered my brother! You’re gonna pay for what you did!"
"STAND BACK!" ordered Glimmer. Carlos rushed into the crowd, and blocked the angry men’s way. "Please, all of you assemble in single order and listen to what we have to say!" Glimmer shouted. "I understand that Adora has caused many of you pain and suffering in the past- but she has something to reveal to you! So if you would control your anger, and listen to her!"
The rebels just managed to make themselves calm down. But many of them still held their weapons at the ready, hoping to make Adora pay.
Adora stepped up to the crowd of rebels. "All of you-" she began, "every one of you- I owe an apology. I killed your friends. I killed your families. I destroyed everything that many of you loved. And now I regret every moment of it. I know it shall be hard for you to believe.…. as I always seemed to love it so much. But now I find it hard to believe that I could have loved a second of it. Now, my stomach turns when I think that it was I who did all that." she hung her head down low, and bent down to her knees in front of the crowd. The crowd stared at her, many of them suspiciously. Could this girl really be telling the truth?
"None of you ever knew this-" she continued, "but the Adora you have known for the past few years was not the real Adora. As a child, I was kidnapped by Hordak, and brainwashed by the dreadful powers of his master- Horde Prime. I spent the next twenty years with metal implants in my brain, which controlled my whole mind- but I didn’t even know they were there. At the same time, Hordak told me many lies. He pretended he loved me as his daughter- when all I really was to him was a tool for killing innocent people! And it sickens me to think of all the things I have done!" a light tear seeped from her left eye, trickling down her face. "And now- I cannot blame you for hating me, after the bad I have done for you. But I want to join the rebellion- and fight to eliminate our planet of this cruel and brutal evil that has threatened you for too long. And I can only beg of you- please give me a chance. I am no longer ‘Force Captain Adora’. Now I am just- Adora- member of the Great Rebellion. And please trust me….. as I am entirely at your service."
She fell silent, and a whisper began to run through the crowd of rebels. Yes, this girl did seem sincere- but could they really trust her? After all the evil she had done? Could she perhaps just be a very good actress, and could this be another of Hordak’s evil schemes?
"I think she’s telling the truth." said a man wearing dark glasses.
"She’s lying!" shouted one man. "Hordak’s just sent her here to spy on us! She will kill us in the night when we are not suspicious!"
"No….. I tell you….."
"She’s lying!" added another man.
"Bitch! Give her the fate she deserves!"
"Yeah!!! Let’s all get her!"
A band of rebel men charged forward, wielding pitchforks and knives. Adora flinched back in fright.
"STOP ALL THIS CACOPHONY!!!" yelled Carlos, pulling out an electric device from his pocket. He flicked a switch, and a red beam emerged from the small device. He whisked it through the air, and the beam caught the angry rebels, not hurting them, but driving them back, away from Adora.
Carlos looked at the crowd of rebels in pity. "I don’t know who some of you think you are." he said, shaking his head. "However much wrong Adora’s done you, by trying to massacre her you’re not making yourselves any better, are you?"
"Er….. he’s right!" said one rebel man. "I am sorry sir….. we will cease violence for now."
"I should think so." said Carlos. "And if you’re really that sceptical of the girl, my lie detector will show you whether or not she’s telling the truth." He pulled out another small device from his pocket, flicked it on and walked up to Adora with it. A small screen on the device flickered on. "Just tell us what you told them before." he said. "If ‘lie’ appears on the screen, you’re lying- if ‘truth’ appears you’re telling the truth."
"I have left the Horde behind, and I wish to join the rebellion." said Adora.
The device began to click repeatedly, then ‘TRUTH’ appeared on the screen, and Carlos held it up for the whole crowd to see. Looks like she’s telling the truth alright, doesn’t it?" he said.
The rebellion were quite amazed, as they had never suspected this girl would convert to their side, but as much as they hated Adora, they could only take Carlos’ word.
It’ll take some time for you to believe it." Carlos said, "but Adora’s one of us now." lifting Adora to her feet, he declared "Welcome Adora!"
Adora only received a minor cheer from the crowd, which upset her a little, but she could understand. As Adam and Carlos and Glimmer led her back to their hut, Carlos said "Don’t worry, Adora. You’ll be met with a little hostility at first, but it’ll die down girl. You’ll soon show them what you’re made of."
"I sure hope so." said Adora, smiling nervously. "And you know, Carlos….. I’m sorry for all I’ve done….."
"You’ve no need to be sorry." said Carlos.
"All the evil you committed was really Hordak’s evil." said Glimmer. "And now you’ve thrown off his spell, we’re more than glad to have you in the rebellion. Now how about we go to Bright Moon, and show my mother our new addition?"
"That sounds like a pretty good idea." said Adam. "Let’s go!"
Adam, Adora, Carlos and Glimmer made their way through the woods towards the city of Bright Moon. The Rebellion had gained a new addition who would be more than powerful to their needs. But as yet, they didn’t know just how powerful…..

PART 17: THE SAVIOURS OF BRIGHT MOON

Glimmer and Carlos entered Castle Bright Moon with Adam and Adora. The guards permitted them once Glimmer had explained that Adora was on their side, and they made their way to Queen Angella’s throne room.
"Good to see you this evening, Glimmer." said Angella. "But who is this you bring? Force Captain Adora? What is she doing here?"
"Force Captain Adora is now a member of the Rebellion." Glimmer told Angella. She quickly explained how Adora had been brainwashed by Horde Prime as a child, but was now completely free from his mind control and wished to help eliminate Hordak from their world.
Angella could hardly believe this….. could it be true? "Is this true, Adora? Are you really joining our side?"
Adora fell to her knees in front of the queen, just as she had done in front of the rebels. "Your majesty, I beg your forgiveness. I committed so many crimes….. but please do not jail me for them, as that is all in the past."
Angella had never heard Adora speak like this before….. she had never sounded this sincere. She really sounded like she truly regretted her crimes.
"How can we be sure this is not some sort of trick?" said Angella.
"I’ve tested it on the lie-detector, and she’s telling the truth alright." said Carlos. "Now we can welcome this new addition to the Rebellion! And she wants to live in Bright Moon too….."
"Then I am most honoured to accept her as a citizen of Bright Moon and member of the Great Rebellion!" said Angella. "Welcome Adora!"
Adora stepped up to the queen, and shook her hand. "I’ve spent the past twenty years brainwashed….." she told her, "but my brother came to this planet, and brought me to light….."
Now this sounded strange. Brother? It was Adam who had come to Etheria to find Adora….. "so this means….. Adam’s your brother?!" exclaimed Glimmer.
"That’s right." said Adam. "We haven’t told you yet, but Adora and I are indeed siblings." He slung a loving arm round Adora, his long lost sister. "I never heard about her before, and that’s why I had no idea who she was when I came to Etheria- but the Sorceress of Grayskull, who sent me on this mission, told us both the story of how the Horde stole Adora as a baby."
"So she’s also an Eternian?" said Angella.
"Yes," said Adora, "the princess of Eternia. Yeah, that sounds even stranger, but mine and Adam’s parents are the King and Queen….. but don’t worry, I won’t be going back to Eternia just yet. First I will help to ensure that Hordak and the Evil Horde are driven from our world!"
"We’re most glad to have you with us, Adora." said Carlos.
"Now I can show everyone the new Adora!" Adora added. "I’m no longer that hard-headed thug I was in the Horde. I will now only use violence when it’s needed- and I will drive the Horde from this world if it’s the last thing I do!"
"Congratulations, Adora!" said Carlos. "How about a ceremony to celebrate your transferral to the Rebellion?"
"No thanks, Carlos. I think there’s probably too many people who won’t like me after what I did in the Horde. Besides, I think Adam and I will need some sleep!"
"We sure do!" said Adam.
"Okay then," said Glimmer, "there are a few spare bedrooms near me. You can go in them!"
"Sure thing." said Adam, and they said goodnight to Angella, then departed to bed. Adam and Adora were exhausted after their adventure- but it was not quite over…..

Meanwhile, in Doom Tower, Hordak was mad with rage at the rescue of He-Man by this red-haired heroine. Where had she come from? She had rescued He-Man just at the moment he was about to die, and she had even made off with both of the swords. Just as Hordak had been about to win against He-Man, and find out the secrets within the two swords, this warrior woman appeared from nowhere and took him back to square one. And even worse, after that she had somehow restored He-Man’s strength and gone and freed all the slaves down in the mines! Now he would be faced with the task of not only recapturing He-Man and the swords, but capturing this heroine too. It was going to be incredibly tough….. but Hordak knew he could never give in.
"Are you sure you didn’t see anyone come into the room and take the swords?" Hordak asked Shadow Weaver in her chamber.
"Absolutely no-one." she said. "I just turned around and they were gone."
"Thieving bitch! That woman must have sneaked in and done it when you weren’t looking! Lock the door when you study from now on!"
"I will, Hordak. Normally I would have done….. it’s just my mind’s still recovering from that spell that He-Man backfired on me. That bastard….. he’s even destroyed your best slave plantations!"
"I know….. and freed most of the slaves! But he will pay, I will see to it, he will pay! I will launch an air-raid on Bright Moon! He-Man and that foolish woman will come after us then, and we will destroy them! Where’s Adora? I must have her assemble the thugs and prepare for our attack!"
"I tell you, my lord, I have not seen Adora anywhere."
Hordak flicked on his wrist-radio. "Hordak through Senador. Senador- find Force Captain Adora and tell her to assemble the thugs for an air-raid on Bright Moon."
"Right away, master." Senador replied.
"Soon He-Man will pay….. I will make sure of it!"

But several hours later, Senador emerged inside the main hall, and said "Mighty Hordak, I regret to inform you that I cannot find Adora anywhere in the Fright Zone. I have alerted all hordesmen to search for her, but she seems to be nowhere around here. No-one reports seeing her in the last few hours either."
"Blast it. She must have gone out to slaughter someone. But still, we shall still be able to carry out our attack. Senador- assemble the thugs yourself. And tell Catra to be ready with the Horde Flyers, and to prepare the best ones for battle- we must destroy the rebels and He-Man!"
"I will, master." Senador departed, and went to assemble Hordak’s band of thugs. Within several hours, Hordak and Shadow Weaver were preparing the annihilator for battle, and the thugs were manning the Batmex crafts and Horde Flyers. When each machine was fully armed and ready for battle, Hordak issued orders through his radio to each craft.
"All crafts blast off for Bright Moon at once! The rebels shall not escape our armed forces!"
The evil fighter crafts blasted off into the skies, leaving furious trails of red hot energy behind them. Hordak was at his most determined- and most dangerous as his angry swarm of crafts blasted through the skies to Bright Moon.

Adam was woken up in the first light of dawn by a terrifying wailing sound. It was the sound of a siren- the sound of approaching doom. He quickly threw on his vest and trousers, and rushed out into the hall of Castle Bright Moon. Through the window, he saw an army of Horde Fighter crafts, zooming towards the city. They shot laser beams down at the tall buildings, scattering people through the streets.
Adam was about to bang on Adora’s door to wake her up- but she burst out before he had the chance, wearing only a short blouse and skirt.
"It’s the Horde!" she cried. "Now’s my chance to show Hordak that I’m no longer one of his evil band and to pay him back for what he did to me!"
"Should we become He-Man and She-Ra?" asked Adam.
"Not yet- I want Hordak to see Adora first. But we need the swords for when the time comes!"
Adam quickly darted back into his room, and seized the sword of power, which was hidden below the bed. He emerged from his room to see that Adora had done the same with the sword of protection. With their swords on their backs, the two siblings made their way through the hallways of Castle Bright Moon.
They passed Glimmer and Carlos along the way. "See you two are already on the go." said Carlos.
"We’ll be right behind you!" added Glimmer.
Adam and Adora burst out into the streets of Bright Moon, Glimmer behind them firing bolts from her hands at the flying machines. High above their heads, Carlos blasted into the skies propelling his hover beetle vehicle, its mechanical legs skimming the air as he shot bolt after bolt from its eyes.

Up in Hordak’s Annihilator, Hordak laughed in evil glee at the poor citizens who were scattering from street to street at the sight of the Horde machines. Soon they would be joining the injured and dead, who lay sprawled violently across the streets. "But it’s not them I’m interested in….." shrieked the maniacal dictator, "I WANT HE-MAN!"
"I’m sure we will see him soon….." said Shadow Weaver, "…..but wait! There’s Force Captain Adora, running through that street down there!"
"What’s she doing here? Perhaps she was causing destruction here already. Shadow Weaver, open the bottom hatch of this craft- I am switching to rocket mode!"
Shadow Weaver flicked a switch, and the circular hatch in the ground opened up. Then Shadow Weaver halted the ship, and Hordak began to change. His body began to whirr with energy, and his limbs folded up over the rest of his body. Then a jet engine sprang out from inside him, and he blasted off, through the hatch of the ship and down towards the streets below.
When he reached Adora, he quickly transformed back to his normal form. "Adora, what are you doing here? Usually you let me know before you leave to wreak havoc!"
"Wreaking havoc is something I don’t do any more, metal face. And neither do I kill. Neither do I torture. Neither do I molest slaves. Neither do I even belong to your stupid army any more!!!" She glared angrily at the evil dictator who had brainwashed her all those years ago.
Hordak didn’t believe what he was seeing. Surely there was no way she could have broken the mind control? "What do you mean, Adora?" he asked. "You have always been one of my most faithful servants….."
"Yes, when I was under that damn brainwashing spell I was ‘faithful’- but not any more. You’re mistaken if you think I’m gonna have anything more to do with you and your bunch of thugs- other than fighting against you and driving you from our world! I am a member of the Great Rebellion- and together we shall strive to free Etheria!"
A cheer went up amongst the citizens on the street as they observed Hordak’s most trusted warrior….. jilting him! Hordak’s eyes glowed red with anger….. "How did you break the mind control?! How?! Which bastard did this….. NO!!! This cannot be!!!"
"Oh, yes it can- ‘Xazrog’!"
"And how….. did you know my real name?"
"Perhaps the same way I know that my parents are the King and Queen of Eternia? That you stole me from them as a baby? And that you brainwashed me, and lied to me, telling me I was like a daughter to you when all I was was a tool for conquering Etheria! You lying bastard!" And with that, she clenched her fist as tight as it would go, and threw a mighty punch into his metal face.
Hordak fell to the ground. This was something that he hoped would never come….. Adora coming to her senses, and attacking him! As he picked himself up, he noticed a man standing nearby Adora….. a man he recognised….. the man who He-Man had sent to Doom Tower to try and turn Adora from him! No doubt he would have something to do with it! Pointing at the man, he shouted orders into the sky: "Warriors- destroy this man! Strip him to the bone!!!"
"Don’t you lay a finger on my brother!" shouted Adora, diving into Adam and gently pushing him to the ground. They looked up, ready to dodge the beams from Hordak’s fighter crafts- but they were already being dealt with by Carlos as the Hover Beetle skimmed rapidly through the skies as it zapped them, so fast they could not keep up with it!
Then Hordak was stunned by a purple beam shot by Angella, just as he was about to charge at Adam and Adora. "I’ll keep him busy!" said Angella. "You two go with Glimmer and help the people!"
As Adam and Adora turned to help the people, followed by Glimmer, they knew they could do a lot more than just help! "I’ve got the message through to Hordak in fine style," said Adora, "now to begin on my way to full revenge!"
"I’m with you!" said Adam, and dodged into a side alley. Glimmer followed them inside. "Hey, she’s not meant to be around, is she?" said Adora.
"It’s okay," said Adam, "she knows already! Now let’s get going!" Glimmer watched as Adam and Adora pulled their swords out from their backs.

Adam shouted: "BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!" Adora shouted: "FOR THE HONOUR OF GRAYSKULL!"

Glimmer shielded her eyes as two massive bursts of light emerged from the siblings’ swords and surrounded their bodies. When she had managed to strain her eyes enough to look up, she saw the transformation to He-Man consuming Adam’s body, as a flash of light increased his stature and muscle mass….. but something very similar was happening to Adora. As a coil of light encircled her body, her height increased, her hair turned bright red, and longer, wearing a golden tiara….. her clothing became bright and sparkling, covered in rich, elegant jewels, as a long red cape ran down her back.
As the mighty form of He-Man completely replaced that of Adam, He-Man lowered the sword across his chest and shouted "I HAVE THE POWER!" Adora, in her dazzling, goddess-like new form, did the same, shouting "I AM SHE-RA!"
Then the light fizzled back into the swords, and Glimmer gazed in awe upon the immensely powerful forms of the two heroes. "Glimmer- meet She-Ra!" said He-Man.
"I’ll explain all later-" said She-Ra, "but now, we must see to the Horde!"

The Hover Beetle was proving to be Carlos’ most successful invention yet. He was having an easy time confusing the Horde, as he piloted it through the air, swerving it rapidly from side to side, zapping every craft in his way! Suddenly he felt something from behind knock the machine. Carlos spun it around, and saw Senador, zooming towards him in a Horde Batmex craft! So, he though he could confuse Carlos by attacking from behind….. Carlos would show him that that was no use. He quickly dived the beetle below Senador’s craft, then he crouched down to the controls as he propelled it upwards, and it coursed through the middle of the Batmex craft, sending pieces of metal and rubble spiralling to the ground- along with the rear half of the Batmex craft.
Carlos swerved the beetle down towards Senador’s wrecked craft. "You fool….." said Senador, "You have made a mess of my craft! You shall pay!" and he aimed his gun directly at Carlos, and fired a laser bolt- but Carlos was too quick for him and propelled the beetle straight into what remained of the Batmex craft- which exploded into pieces, along with Senador, who amongst the cloud of smoke and rubble, could not be seen- but he sure couldn’t have survived.
Leaving the wrecked remains to drift to the ground, Carlos revved up his engine to concentrate on the other flying machines!

Down on the street, Glimmer emerged from the side alley, charging towards Catra and Leech, who had just swarmed down from their flyers.
"Don’t think a feeble girl like you can defeat Catra!" Catra said, baring her claws.
"Or the suction power of Leech!" Leech added, reaching his suction pads towards her.
"Well even if I can’t- these two sure can!" announced Glimmer, as the powerful forms of He-Man and She-Ra came hurtling out of the alleyway. Leech was instantly felled by a powerful blow from He-Man, as She-Ra countered Catra’s attack with a high kick.
As the citizens erupted into cheer for these two heroes, and the Horde flying crafts above were given a run for life by Carlos, Hordak burst in front of He-Man and She-Ra, his arm hooked tightly around Angella’s neck.
"So, He-Man, you finally dare to show your cursed face. And you have brought your female friend along, I see. Well, you may have escaped me yesterday, but this time you will not be so lucky. Both of you- surrender your swords, or Queen Angella dies!" He turned his other arm to cannon mode, and aimed it into her face.
"Don’t do it!" called Glimmer. "There must be some other way we can save my mother!"
"As if we’d give in that easily!" laughed She-Ra, and fired a bolt of power at Hordak from her sword. It hit him in the neck, and he dropped Angella, who flew free of his grasp and joined He-Man, She-Ra, and Glimmer. The four of them faced Hordak, muscles tensed for action.
"You’re outnumbered, Hordak- time you gave in!" said She-Ra. Hordak did not move.
"Okay then," said She-Ra, "let’s make him move!" And the four of them charged on the mad dictator, and with their tremendous punches, sent him spiralling across the street. "Etheria has a new defender!" announced She-Ra, "And that am I, She-Ra! You will pay for the many times you have made innocent people suffer, Hordak! Your rule will not last long!"
A huge cheer went up amongst the citizens of Bright Moon, all around them.
Hordak took one long glance at the barbarian-like hero, He-Man, standing before him. He had no chance of beating this man as yet. Especially now that he had She-Ra with him….. who, it seemed, was here to stay. Then he looked above, at the Horde flying crafts being scattered through the air by the strange-looking beetle machine. It was so humiliating to see so may of his masterful crafts being defeated by such a ridiculous-looking machine. His crafts were sent spiralling through the air, hordesmen were being knocked out to plummet to their death….. some were even retreating back to the Fright Zone. He had lost the battle. If he stuck around, he may only suffer proper defeat. So he quickly transformed to rocket mode, blasted away from the crowd of heroes, and up through the hatch of the Annihilator, where Shadow Weaver sat in wait.
"Adora….. has turned against me." he said solemnly, as he turned back to his normal form. "And now we have this infernal She-Ra to deal with….."
"So I see, Hordak." Shadow Weaver said grimly. "So I see."
Hordak didn’t even bother issuing a retreat to his recruits. He just programmed the automatic pilot to steer back to Doom Tower, and the ship blasted off. The remaining ships, which stood no chance against Carlos and the Hover Beetle, quickly followed the Annihilator back to their base.

When all the Horde ships had gone from sight, Carlos descended the Hover Beetle swiftly to the ground. Then he looked upon the triumphant form of He-Man, and the beautiful red-haired heroine who was with him. "So, who’s this beauty?" he asked, climbing out from the Hover Beetle.
"Carlos- I’d like you to meet my sister, She-Ra!"
"Pleased to meet you!" Carlos said, shaking her hand. Then he whispered "Adora?"
"Sure am!" She-Ra nodded. "I’ll explain later!"

Within the next few hours, Queen Angella’s servants began clearing up the wreckage from the brief battle. The mood in the air was one of triumph. This was the quickest ever that an assault by the Horde had been foiled. There were also no fatalities- only several injuries- and before this, every time the Horde had attacked they had caused at least some deaths, or captured someone. There was also fewer damage caused to the city than usual. This was the first time ever that the rebellion had been completely victorious. And they had Carlos to thank, with his superb new Hover Beetle invention. He was going to prove a very important source to the rebels. But even better, one of Hordak’s most feared warriors, Force Captain Adora, had now left her evil ways behind and pledged alliance to the rebellion, and she had even been seen punching her old master. And better still, the rebellion had two new heroes on their side- the mighty defender of Eternia, He-Man- and his beautiful sister She-Ra, the Princess of Power. These fighters were more powerful than anyone had previously dared to imagine. He-Man would have to be leaving for Eternia soon- but She-Ra would be staying on Etheria to defend the world from the rule of the Horde. And her power packed quite a punch. With her on their side, and He-Man to call whenever things got serious, it really did look as though the Horde rule could be nearing an end.
The story that the people got was that He-Man came from a mountain tribe (as many people on Eternia believed) and came to Etheria to help Adam release Adora from the Horde, and had then called his sister She-Ra, from the same tribe, to Etheria to help him. But by the remains of Senador’s ruined ship, He-Man and She-Ra were telling the whole of the real story to Carlos and Glimmer.
"So now Adora’s been granted the power of Grayskull, just like He-Man." said Carlos. "Sure is an amazing story. I’d really like to see this Grayskull, and see a bit of life on Eternia. I’ve always wanted to go to another planet!"
"Maybe you’ll be able to visit some time." said He-Man. "I’m hoping that Adora will be able to visit soon, to see her parents!"
"That mountain tribe story seems convincing enough." said Glimmer. "Should keep most people from suspecting you’re really Adam and Adora. But I’d better be welcoming our other new addition to the Rebellion too. Our new heroine, She-Ra!"
She-Ra smiled. She knew she’d have some problems with hostility as Adora, but as She-Ra, everyone seemed to love her. And she knew she would be able to defeat Hordak in the end, and have him pay for what he had done to her. She was a radically changed person.
Down below the heroes were the remains of Senador’s craft, a pile of rubble and charred metal. The golden metal arm of Senador could be seen poking out from the rubble. This marked the first time an entire craft and warrior had been fully defeated by the Rebellion, and just showed how powerful Carlos’ inventions were becoming.
"That new Hover Beetle of yours sure works well." said Glimmer.
"I’m really proud of it!" said Carlos. "I will be able to make more vehicles that will increase the power of the rebellion. Soon we will bring the Horde to a standstill!"
"But….. one thing, He-Man….." said She-Ra.
"What’s that, She-Ra?"
"I just….. can’t stop thinking about my parents, and my homeworld. Is there any way I’ll be able to see them soon?"
"Well….. maybe you could come back with me just for a while when I go home. You’ll have to ask the Sorceress if it’s okay. You should be able to see them soon."
"You will." came a voice from out of the blue. It had come from She-Ra’s sword! But it was not the voice of the Sorceress- this voice was masculine, deep and dignified. She-Ra pulled the sword out, and saw that there was a bright light floating in the jewel.
"You must follow your sword." the voice said. "It shall glow, and you must follow the glow- the brighter it glows, the closer you are to your destination. Once you have reached it, I shall reveal your powers, and send you through to Eternia. You must begin your journey now!"
The light faded from the jewel, and the sword began to glow. "I don’t know what this place is," said She-Ra, "but it sure must be important!"
"You’re right." said He-Man. "Let’s go!"
"Good luck, wherever it is!" said Carlos.
He-Man and She-Ra bade goodbye to Carlos and Glimmer, and followed the mysterious glow from the sword.

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