Secret of the Sword, Act Nine

Act Nine: The Dark Alliance

Princess Adora had a secret.

As the sun rose over the horizon, she snuck out of her room and ran down the corridor.  After traveling across the courtyard, Adora walked into the stables.  The stable hands were at work, a few of them glancing at Adora as she made her way to a particular stall – the only ones that knew her secret.

Adora brushed down and fed a white furred horse, stroking its fine, orange-colored mane.  A beautiful animal, Spirit was.  She saddled him up and rode out from the Palace, hoping to clear her head.  The past forty-eight hours were still a mess, as she was still dealing with the fact that her brother was missing.

The Sorceress, Man-At-Arms, and Zodak had been hard at work trying to locate him . . . to no avail.  Queen Marlena and Adora's lies about Adam to Randor and Teela had gotten out of hand and were ever harder to maintain.  

After a quick ride, Adora started to turn back towards the Palace.  However, before she reached the doors, she heard a voice in her mind . . .

'Adora . . .'

It was the Sorceress of Grayskull.

"Sorceress?  What is it?  Did you find Adam?"

'Not yet,' she replied, 'but as of right now, we face a greater threat.  You must come to Castle Grayskull at once.'

"Should I gather more Masters?  If Castle Grayskull is in danger, then it might be best to."

'No, Adora.  You must come to Castle Grayskull alone.  I will inform Man-At-Arms that you came here so that no one questions your absence.'

"Um, thank you."  Adora ran her hand over Spirit's neck. "You ready for a trip into the Evergreen Forest, Spirit?"

Spirit whined loudly, as if excited.  Adora smiled, much to her own surprise.  She was grown up quite a bit in just the past couple of months.  Adapted to this place she now called home.  However, as she continued to live her, she felt a part of herself yearning for more than just the Palace.  Perhaps, despite settling here in and finding her family, she was looking for a way for her skills to be put to good use.

***

"Princess Adora has just left for Castle Grayskull to give Prince Adam help in searching for He-Man," Man-At-Arms reported a little later.  "There's still been no word on his hereabouts."

"I hope we can find him," Marlena said, more worried that she meant to sound.

"I as well," Randor responded.  "I can't help but feel as though trouble is about to come upon us again."

At that moment, as if on cue, the doors to the throne room came flying open.  Mekaneck came running in, out of breath.

"Sorry for the intrusion, your majesties, but I wouldn't have barged in if it weren't an emergency."

"What is it?" asked King Randor.

"A cadre of Snake-Men, Slime Warriors, and Evil Warriors are on their way here."

"Snake-Men and Evil Warriors?" questioned Man-At-Arms.

"That means that King Hsss and Skeletor have joined forces," Randor said grimly. "One of our greatest nightmare scenaroes.  How far?"

"An hour, maybe two."

Randor turned to Marlena. "Gather all the civilians and have them take shelter.  Man-At-Arms, gather the Masters.  Where are the Snake-Hunters?"

"In the field, sire."

"Have them here immediately.  They are the most experienced with the Snake-Men.  I'll take command of the Royal Guard."  King Randor made for the armory. "I WANT THIS CITY PREPARED FOR WAR!"

***

"It isss an honor to sstand alongsside you again, my lord," Kobra Kahn groveled to King Hsss as the army made its way to Eternos.  "Ssserving Sssskeletor hasss been . . . a constant insssult."

Nearby, both General Rattlor and Webstor rolled their eyes.  When Rattlor saw this, he spoke to Webstor.  "I thought you hated us," he said.  "For eating your children."

Webstor bared his fangs a little. "I still hate you.  But if Eternos falls, then Andreena will be without an ally."

General Rattlor nodded. "I see."  Rattlor turned back to Kobra Kahn, who was still sucking up to King Hsss.

"I hoped everyday you would return to the land of the living.  Eternia needs you," Kobra Kahn continued on and on.

"Enough, fool," Hsss snapped. "I have heard enough out of you.  You wish to serve me again?  Fine.  Be silent!"

"We are here," Skeletor announced.  The group of Snake-Men and Evil Warriors stood upon a ridge before Eternos.  Behind them the army of Snake-Men and Slime Warriors came to a halt.

"Remember the plan," Skeletor advised.  "Scare-Glow and Stinkor, head into the residential areas.  Slime Warriors and Snake-Men soldiers battle the Royal Guards.  The rest of you, deal with the Masters."

***

"Does anyone else miss the days when Skeletor would just go after some sort of artifact and we could just up and stop him?" asked Mekaneck, watching as the enemy grew ever closer.

"Yup, those were the days," Ram-Man replied. "What I wouldn't give for us to be at some random temple right now."

Man-E-Faces powered up his laser.  "Call me crazy, but I would rather Skeletor be just plain locked up."

"We can all dream," added Moss Man.


Not far away, Snout Spout joined Sy-Clone, Spinnerella, and Roboto at one of the walls.  All around them, soldiers and guards scurried along, preparing for the on-coming attack.  Weapons were passed around, checked and re-checked.

"Such tension," Snout Spout stated. "I've been through massive military attacks a few times now and it is still unnerving."

"War often is, Snout Spout," Spinnerella responded.

"We must hold fast, my friends," Sy-Clone told them. "We all have roles to play.  Fate has brought us here, so here is where we must remain until we are taken elsewhere."


Near the gate to Eternos, King Randor came over to Stratos, Buzz-Off, Man-At-Arms, and Fisto.  "The city itself is safe," Randor assured them.  "Royal Soldiers posted at every building and the citizens secure in their homes . . . for now."

"Where's Queen Marlena?"

"In the Palace, monitoring the situation. I -"

King Randor was cut off at the sound of a massive explosion.  The army began to launch missiles, which started to explode just in front of the wall.  Randor looked to his allies and nodded.  "Let's do this."

***

And so, the battle began quite suddenly.  In the air above, Terrordactyls and Battle-Hawks spiraled around, firing missiles and lasers at each other, small explosions going off all around.  Royal Soldiers and Skeleton Warriors exchanged weapons fire as the forces below launched long-range weapons at each other.

"As long as the walls and the gates stand, Eternos will have the upper hand," King Randor said to his companions.

How very true . . .

"Something's not right," Mekaneck reported to King Randor, rushing over.

"What do you mean?"

Mekaneck pointed to a large rock jutting out from the ground.  All around it, the Slime Warriors and Snake-Men soldiers were flowing forward towards Eternos.  However, standing atop this rock was King Hsss, Skeletor, Evil-Lyn and some of the Snake Priests.  They were chanting – no.  They were casting a spell.

"Damn it," King Randor grunted.

Before anyone else could act, a tremendous bolt of power went blasting out from between the spell-casters.  It arched through the air, over the army . . . and struck the gates of Eternos hard.  An explosion roared as the magic blasted away the mammoth doors and spread out, smashing portions of the wall to bits.

"They are upon us!" shouted Man-At-Arms as he lifted himself up. "BATTLE POSITIONS!"

At that moment, the enemy started to pour into Eternos.  The Masters and the Royal Guards took their positions and went to work.

"Evil-Lyn, take charge of our forces," Skeletor told her.  "Maintain the attack unless you hear from either King Hsss or myself otherwise.  Kill whomever you want . . . but leave King Randor for me."

King Hsss seemed a little interested in this, but said nothing.

"General Rattlor," Hsss addressed, "coordinate your attack with Evil-Lyn.  Leave no survivors."

As Rattlor and Evil-Lyn entered the fray, Hiss and Skeletor made for a pair of Ram Chariots.  They would head north now . . . to Castle Grayskull.