With a determined look, He-Man took several steps toward Snake Mountain but immediately stopped when his father's voice rang out, "There is an easier way to do that, He-Man. You do realize we have the entire Eternian Army with us, right? One word from me or Prince Adam and our artillery will decimate Skeletor's entire base."

He-Man turned around and nodded. "I do realize that, sire, but first, I need to make sure every animal and person is out of there. I refuse to hurt any living creature trying to teach Skeletor and his goons a lesson.

He-Man had spoken like the hero the king knew so well…and so much like his son. Randor still couldn't believe he hadn't figured it out before now. He almost felt angry with himself as the similarities between Adam and He-Man kept getting thrown in his face, but he would deal with that later. For now, he turned towards Man-at-Arms and extended his hand. Duncan passed him his spear and the king said spiritedly, "Then, let's go!"

He took a step forward to get started, but He-Man immediately replied, "You don't have to do that, Your Majesty. She-Ra, Man-at-Arms, Teela, and I can handle the search just fine on our own."

The king lowered his eyes slightly and stepped closer to He-Man. Whispering, he said, "I suspect I won't have many opportunities to fight along side my son, so I'd like to take advantage of this if you would let me. I enjoyed the last time we fought together—it would have been even better if I had realized it was you who had my back."

He-Man's face relaxed and he smiled warmly at the king. It was a look of true affection that left Randor gasping. Adam hadn't looked at him like that since he had been a small boy. "I'd like that, too," relented He-Man.

Randor stood beside his son hardly believing that after everything they had been through, they were there together and actually enjoying one another's company despite the task at hand. He hated to admit it to himself, but he knew that even though they had always loved one another, they hadn't always liked to be around each other. When he used to look at Adam, he had seen a boy who wouldn't take his responsibilities seriously. He had seen a boy who needed to grow up, a boy who didn't want to change.

Once again, feelings of self-loathing threatened to overwhelm him. Much to his dismay, Adam had never been the one that needed to change. "I was the one who needed to change," he thought depressingly. He glanced at He-Man again and the hero immediately reached a hand out and placed it on his shoulder.

"Don't be too hard on yourself," He-Man ordered; "I hid the truth from you. You saw and thought what I wanted you to. It's not your fault."

His son knew him well—He-Man knew instinctively what his father had been thinking. And as it turned out, Randor realized he didn't know the man beside him like he once thought he did. He thought he knew Adam, but clearly he didn't know anything besides his good nature.

Randor reached a hand up and placed it over his son's which was still clutching his shoulder in comfort. "When this is over," he stated resolutely, "I want to spend time together, lots and lots of time together. I want to make up for lost time. I want to know who you truly are." He paused. "If that's okay with you."

He-Man grinned and replied, "That's more than okay with me, Father. I'd like that very much." After taking a deep breath, he glanced at the others who were grinning at him and said, "All right, let's empty Snake Mountain."

=)=)=)

His groans echoed throughout the caverns beneath Snake Mountain. Hordak woke up and looked around at his surroundings. For a moment, he didn't know where he was or what had happened, but then he remembered. He had almost taken Prince Adam prisoner and kept Skeletor from getting his hands on him when that meddlesome King Randor attacked him!

He looked down at his arm and winced at the wound which still bled. The sword had pierced his arm and went through to the other side. Not knowing if it were possible, he tried to morph his arm into something that wouldn't bleed. It worked. As soon as he changed his arm into his freeze cannon, the pain ceased. He moaned in relief and immediately stood.

He glanced at the hole above him and wondered what he should do. He immediately decided that he wouldn't go up there, at least in that location. The Eternian Army was surrounding the area, so his best bet was to return to Snake Mountain.

He transformed his entire body into his rocket form and flew through the cavern at a high rate of speed. He didn't have a moment to lose. He realized his best bet to escape and get back to Etheria was to rescue Shadow Weaver. Then, once he gathered more troops, he would be back to make King Randor and Prince Adam pay for their actions! And, Skeletor!

=)=)=)

King Randor took a number of troops from each kingdom's army to accompany him and the others inside Snake Mountain. He didn't want to take too many of his own guard, because they still wanted to secure the area around Snake Mountain and catch any of the villains who may flee and get past them.

As they entered the lair through the passageway hidden by the waterfall, He-Man immediately checked out the location where Beastman had hidden earlier. He didn't want any surprises this time now that his father was with him.

At Randor's questioning look, he explained, "I almost escaped earlier before you saved me. Beastman had hidden here and surprised me before Skeletor showed up."

The king nodded and they all crept carefully down the hall to the location where the elevator and staircases were present. He-Man showed them the secret one he had escaped through earlier and they broke into groups. "I want everyone to be extremely careful and keep up with everyone in your group," Randor said; "Our job is to secure the building and make sure no one is left inside."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the soldiers replied simultaneously. When Randor dismissed them, the groups separated and went to search the locations they were assigned.

"And, what are we to do?" Randor asked, fearing that He-Man hadn't given them an area to search because he had tagged along.

Without noticing his father's worry, He-Man went to the staircase and answered, "We're going to Skeletor's throne room. I know he isn't there, but I'm willing to bet in his absence someone, probably Evil-Lyn, has taken over and they're planning what move to make next."

He-Man looked at his own group which consisted of his normal partners: She-Ra, Man-at-Arms, and Teela. With the addition of his father, he had a feeling they'd be unstoppable. "Let's go," he stated and began to make his way up the stairs. He narrowed his brow as he concentrated on being hyper-vigilant as they moved through the mountain. There was no telling what they would come across.

When they finally got to Skeletor's throne room, they paused and listened to the ruckus going on inside:

Evil-Lyn hollered, "Where is he? He was taking Prince Adam to the dungeon and we haven't heard from him in hours!"

Two-Face replied, "Maybe King Randor captured him. Maybe the rescue party is here and we don't know it."

"King Randor?" spat Evil-Lyn, "That old geezer couldn't catch a fly! He can't even protect his own son or himself! It's far more likely Skeletor is fighting with Hordak again."

"Wrong, Evil-Lyn!" stated He-Man proudly as he walked into the room and placed his hands on his hips.

"He-Man!" exclaimed the room's occupants worriedly.

"But you're supposed to be hurt!" Beastman added with a gasp.

"Wrong again, Beastman! Now, I'm only going to say this once, so listen carefully. I'm giving you the option to leave here peacefully. Otherwise, my friends and I will take you prisoner."

"Friends?" questioned Evil-Lyn, smugly. "What friends?"

When She-Ra, Man-at-Arms, Teela, and King Randor walked into the room, she laughed and replied sarcastically, "Are they supposed to scare me, He-Man?"

King Randor moved to stand beside his son. "No, but the army outside just might," he boasted.

"What?" the others questioned worriedly.

"Don't listen to him," snapped Evil-Lyn. "He's lying! He's never brought an army to Snake Mountain before, so why would he now?"

Teela stepped forward and stood on the other side of He-Man. "Then, why don't you check your view screen, you witch!"

Without taking her eyes off of the trespassers, she backed up to the broken table that still miraculously worked and did as Teela suggested. When she saw the army, she gasped. "They're telling the truth," she shouted to the others.

Now, She-Ra stepped forward. "So, the question now is how you want to handle this? The hard way or the easy way? And, just so you know, I hope it's the hard way. I want a little payback for how all of you have treated my brother."

He-Man smiled at her and said, "Thanks, sis!"

"Don't mention it, brother," she replied.

Everyone stood still for a moment and everyone could have heard a pin drop if it had happened. Evil-Lyn took in her surroundings and the people in the room. The troops outside well outnumbered them, but they outnumbered the people in this room. It was a risk to fight them now only to be captured later, but they'd be captured in any circumstance if they went outside peacefully. Deciding to take the one chance they had which led to freedom, she screamed, "Get them, you fools!"

As soon as those words were uttered, He-Man hunkered down and waited for the villains to rush at them. When he crouched down, he caught several in his hands and threw them into the others. Stinkor got passed him, but with a quick pop on the head with the side of King Randor's staff, he was out cold within moments.

He-Man smiled at his father momentarily before looking back at Evil-Lyn. "Do you give up?"

Evil-Lyn laughed and said, "Fool, you may be able to juggle these idiots around, but you will not catch me!" She lifted her wand in the air with one hand and grabbed the edge of her black cape to bring it around her body as she tried to disappear.

Nothing happened.

"What?" she exclaimed. She started shaking her wand back and worth and repeated her actions again and again. "This isn't happening!" she yelled in frustration.

"I'm afraid it is," He-Man replied. "Courtesy of the Sorceress of Grayskull!"

He-Man looked back at his father for a second to wink when Randor yelled suddenly, "He-Man! Look out!"

Evil-Lyn rushed at He-Man in her frustration of not being able to use magic to leave the area. He-Man whirled around quickly and as she was using her wand as a club to hit He-Man in the head, King Randor knocked it out of the way with his spear before she could.

As their father did this, She-Ra walked up to Evil-Lyn calmly, grabbed her arms, and picked her up off the floor. "She's not very smart, is she?" she questioned.

King Randor and He-Man looked at each other and laughed heartily. Soon, Teela, Man-at-Arms, and She-Ra joined them as they made their way around the room and tied their prisoners up.

=)=)=)

King Randor stood outside and waited at the AttakTrak, which was several hundred yards away, to give the final word. He watched as several loud booms occurred within Snake Mountain. Finally, he saw a large opening emerge from the stone and he saw his children throwing a Shrieker into the air. Immediately, the animal cried out a warning but left the area hurriedly when the creature saw that he had the means to escape.

Within moments, the king heard a whistle and saw Swiftwind fly to the twins. Each hopped on and made their way to him quickly.

He-Man jumped off the animal as soon as it landed and announced, "It's clear. No living creature is in there." King Randor nodded and took a deep, calming breath. He honestly never thought this day would come. He brought the AttakTrak's communicator to his mouth to speak the final words but suddenly stopped.

"Dad?" questioned He-Man and She-Ra softly.

The king smiled at his children and replied, "Prince Adam gave the orders to march. I think he should be the one to give the final order, as well."

She-Ra turned to her brother and said playfully, "Well, brother dear, that's your cue to find the prince. Do you know where he's hiding?"

He-Man laughed as he watched the others raise their eyebrows at She-Ra. He played along and said, "Yes, I think I saw him behind that rock." He pointed behind the AttakTrak and walked away. Within a minute, Prince Adam walked back up to them slowly.

Teela ran to him as soon as he stepped back in front of the vehicle and wrapped her arms around him. "Oh, I've missed you!" she exclaimed as she slipped her hands around his head and brought his lips to meet hers. She hadn't had the opportunity to express her relief and joy at having him back earlier, because he had been hurt and then he had turned into He-Man right away. She decided then and there that she wasn't going to let this opportunity slip through her fingertips.

Adam wrapped his arms around her and picked her up playfully, sliding his arms behind her thighs to do it.

"ADAM!" she hollered in surprise while the prince merely laughed.

After a moment, he set her back down on her feet and replied honestly, "I've missed you, too!" His eyes shined with the truth of his words.

Teela stood on the tips of her toes and met Adam's lips with her own one more time chastely. "I've been waiting to do this since you left," she mumbled after they pulled their lips apart again.

"Hmm, me, too," he admitted.

Then, they heard several coughs from several different people. "You do realize you have an audience, right?" they heard Randor ask good-naturedly.

Blushing, both pulled away from one another. "Sorry, Father," replied Adam as he grabbed Teela's hand and walked to the king's side.

"No apologies are necessary," the monarch replied. "I just had to give you a hard time."

Adam groaned good-humoredly and complained jokingly, "Please don't tell me you're one of those parents who likes to tease their sons about girls!"

"You wouldn't already know?" questioned Teela, unthinkingly.

She didn't notice the king's sudden frown, but Adam did. Knowing that the king was still sensitive about how their relationship had been up until that point, he replied to comfort him, "Well, you are my first girlfriend, really. So, how would I know?"

Teela blushed at hearing Adam call her his girlfriend in front of everyone. She glanced down and mumbled, "Good point."

The prince then pulled away from Teela and reached out to take the communicator from his father. "I heard you wanted me to give the final order," he stated happily.

"Yes, I did," he confirmed, forcing himself to smile after Teela's reminder of his failed attempts at parenting.

Adam squeezed his father's hand and turned to look at the mountain. "I'm not going to be sad to see this place go," he exclaimed. He brought the device he held to his lips, activated it, and said, "Guards, FIRE!"

In an instant, the area was filled with blasts and shots unlike any anyone had ever heard on the planet before. A dust storm of dirt stretched in every direction, making everyone have to close their eyes to shield them from the small debris. When things silenced, everyone opened their eyes and gasped. The mountain was now a massive pile of rubble before them.

"I can't believe we did it!" Adam said, finally coming to terms with what they had done. They had captured Skeletor and destroyed his lair. He glanced at Teela who suddenly laughed. He turned towards her completely and she immediately flung herself into his arms. They kissed happily and Adam twirled her around. When he released her, he finally went to She-Ra and Man-at-Arms and hugged them simultaneously. He then turned to his father, stepped in front of him slowly, and whispered, "Thank you, Father."

"For what?" he questioned, truly not knowing.

"For not giving up on us even when I was giving up on myself. For making this all possible. For being my father."

Randor reached out and pulled his son to him tightly. "It is I who should be thanking you! You are the one who made this possible, and it is an honor to have you as a son!"

Adam squeezed his father tightly before pulling away. He glanced to the back of the AttakTrak where only Skeletor remained to be loaded. He grinned and exclaimed almost to himself, "I can't believe we won...finally."

Suddenly, there was a loud commotion and several guardsmen rushed forward. Everyone turned in that direction and Adam questioned loudly, "What is it?"

"We think it's another enemy," one of the soldiers yelled back.

Within minutes, soldiers marched to the king and prince. They had their arms tightly around the arms of Hordak and Shadow Weaver. Adam suddenly realized that they hadn't been able to leave either, thanks to the Sorceress. He had almost forgotten about them!

He squeezed his eyes shut and thanked the Ancients that they caught them, too. He looked to his sister and for once didn't care what anyone saw. He rushed to her and hugged her. He whispered in her ear, "We got him, sis! You can come home and stay. We did it!"

As the soldiers took the Hordesmen to the back of the AttakTrak, Adam could hear Hordak yelling, "I need to speak with Prince Adam! Bring him to me or take me to see him!"

Adam hugged his sister one more time and went towards Horde leader. "Adam," She-Ra warned.

"It's okay," he comforted her. "There isn't much he can do now."

King Randor, She-Ra, Teela, and Man-at-Arms accompanied him. "You asked for me, Hordak," the prince stated once he was within several feet of him. "What do you want?"

Hordak smiled and answered, "I did you a favor. You promised me if I helped you, you'd owe me one. I believe now is the appropriate time to ask for it."

A painful brick settled in Adam's stomach. "What do you want?"

"I think you already know. Allow Shadow Weaver and I to go back to Etheria," he said simply.

"No," spat Randor, "if you think for one second we'll let you go after everything you've pulled over the years, you're out of your mind."

Hordak ignored him and focused on Prince Adam. "You promised. You said you were a man of your word. Let's put that claim to the test."

Adam closed his eyes as tears rushed into them. He looked at his sister who was already frowning at him. She walked over to him and whispered, "It's okay, Adam. We'll have another day."

He nodded sadly, turned away, and went to the king. "I gave him my word, Father. He helped me to escape regardless of what happened afterward. I can't break my promise."

The king frowned. He knew he really didn't have a choice. He couldn't go against Adam's wishes. His son was the most honorable man he knew, and he knew Adam would do anything to keep his promise, even if he had to bust Hordak out of the palace prison as He-Man to get it done.

He nodded helplessly. "I understand, son."

Adam looked at the guards that held them and said reluctantly, "Release them." The guards begrudgingly did as they were told. He then looked upward and said, "Sorceress, make a portal to send them back to Etheria."

The dimensional gate immediately appeared, and tears slipped down Adam's cheeks as he realized his promise ruined his sister's homecoming. He shook his head and looked at Hordak bitterly. "Now, we're even. Don't expect me to ever help you again," he stated with more calm than he felt.

Hordak laughed and said, "We'll see, Prince Adam." The villain then looked back at his companion and continued, "Come, Weaver." At that moment as Shadow Weaver walked into the gate, Hordak purposely stared at what was left of Snake Mountain and then at the back of the AttakTrak.

His eyes settled on Skeletor, who they kept refreezing so he wouldn't be able to use his magic to fight them and escape. Unknowingly to Hordak, back at Castle Grayskull, the Sorceress was conjuring a jail cell to keep him in. At the sight of his old pupil contained, Hordak immediately exclaimed, "Well, well, well…seems like old Bonehead finally got what's coming to him." He grinned at Adam and changed his lower body into a rocket booster. "You know, Prince Adam, there is something you should know when dealing with the Horde that She-Ra and Adora should have been able to tell you."

"What's that?" he replied.

"Never, ever trust the Horde and expect the unexpected."

Suddenly, Hordak took off with his rocket boosters, flew to Skeletor, picked him up, and shot through the portal.

Everyone yelled, but no one was quick enough to stop him. Hordak's laugh, as well as Shadow Weaver's, was heard as the dimensional gate closed.