THE GUARDIAN

The Sorceress of Grayskull, a figure shrouded in mystery and the lone
person charged with stewardship over the imposing structure that is
Castle Grayskull. To the people of Eternia she is ubiquitous and someone 
who is praised in the same breath as the Ancients. What is known about 
her is essentially nothing that over the decades the people have created 
their own mythology about her. Some of it is based on truth but most 
of it is based on an idealized vision of who such a person like the 
Sorceress of Grayskull should be. Who is she?  Has she always served 
Grayskull and if not, where did she come from? Everyone has their theories. 
What the people remain ignorant about as they speculate about the 
amount of power she possesses, is how isolated the Sorceress of
Grayskull really is. As the guardian she has given up on everything
representative of a normal life--family, companionship, age, and death--they 
all elude her.

Many years ago she was told that she would witness great pain and great
joy. The speaker of those words spoke from personal experience and in
both cases she was correct. But her story is not tragic. She 
willingly accepted the responsibility she now possesses. Nor is it
romantic, her actions directly affect the lives of many people.

In the past it was far easier for her to maintain the emotional
detachment she ade adopted to avoid tarnishing her objectivity.
Her main responsibility has always been Grayskull and the safety of
Eternia. Her personal feeling should not influence her decision 
where they are concerned. 

She is not a goddess but she is powerful. She cannot see the future
but she can read the warning signs. Although with the prophecy that 
foretold that Eternia's champions were to be the descendants of 
King Grayskull, the Sorceress became bound to the royal family of 
Eternia. Her emotional bond with the family grew in ways she should 
have safeguarded against, but it was through that bond that she became 
familiar with the man that would raise and love her only child, Teela.
Seeing Teela well cared for and flourishing under the guidance of the 
King's closest friend and Man-at-Arms right under the shadow of Eternos 
only deepened her connection to the Royal Family. It was with them 
where the Sorceress of Grayskull went from imparial observer to active 
participant. She told herself it was out of duty for Grayskull and
Eternia, which wile true, was not entirely accurate. Ever since she 
let herself become emotionally involved with the well being of the
Royal Family she's stretched the boundaries of what she should concern 
herself with. She feels the sadness that weighs down the King and
Queen. There is an undercurrent of soleminity that veils even the
most joyous of events. And on days like today when the Sorceress makes 
her way into the depths of Castle Grayskull, past the futile  and 
numerous dimentional gateways and against the rational side of her 
brain, she chooses to willingly invade the privacy of others to feed
her feelings of failure. She is not a goddess but she is powerful.
She cannot see the future but she can delve through the past. A 
trance like state is all that is needed. It is during these moments
that she is attuned with the people of Eternia and their memories
overwhelm her like nothing else.

**********
"Have you heard? The Queen...Queen Marlena is expecting a baby!"

"I guess that settles that question. Whether or not we can mate
with her kind."

"I can't believe you're still so narrowminded. The Queen has more
than erased any doubts in my mind about her qualifications to rule.
Randor made a fine choice. They're children will be fine Eternians
and rulers."

"Halfbreeds," he mutters in contempt

"What!?"

"You heard me, halfbreeds. They won't be full Eternians. That alien
diluted their Eternian blood. They'll never be fit to rule."

"Well I have faith in our King and Queen. Eternia is in safe hands.
Oh Ancients, I'm late. I granted Melathka an audience. I'll see
you at court."

**********
The silence in a darkened hall inside the Palace Eternos is interrupted
by a light purring and a small sniffle eminating from the reconstructed
remains of another civilization's attempt at space travel. A small,
green tail can be seen hanging outside the entrance to the craft.

"Mother and father were talking about a baby. I heard them. You
didn't hear mother cry but she was. Father too. I didn't know kings
cried."

"You'll always be my friend right Cringe? In case they forget about
me."

**********
"What do you want for your birthday?"

"That's easy. Orko's flying trick. I wanna fly."

"That's no fun. Orko does that trick all the time. Pick something
better. Something you don't get anytime you want."

"A brother. Someone to play with."

"And what do you call me, huh?"

"But Teela you're a girl, and you get bored quickly."

"If I had a brother..."

**********
The late afternoon is filled with revelry. Banners awash in a
multitude  of colors flutter in the Eternian breeze as the citizens
of Eternos strain to get a glimpse of the royal family. Everyone
is dress in their finest--from the peddlers in the market, who have
even given their tents a much needed wash to the dignitaries who
were in the kingdom for the occassion. The Eternian Royal Guard, in
their ceremonial armor and slate-blue capes and flowing headdress
lined the corridors of the palace in allegiance to their kingdom
and king.

At the center of the excitement is the Prince of Eternia on the
eve of his 16th birthday. Many of the citizens present search their
memories for an occassion when they could recall Prince Adam dressed
in anything other than practical attire. The prince looked slightly
sheepish at all the attention but everyone agreed that he made quite
the regal impression dressed in some understated grays and blues. The
silver circlet on his temple shone in the setting sun. He is still
young but his promise was evident.

Randor, ever the pragmatic soldier, wanted to avoid excessive pomp
and circumstance whenever possible but when word spread that the
occassion was to be marked by a simple, low key ceremony the people
of Eternos quickly voiced their disapproval. Right before their eyes
they'd all watched the boy grow up. He'd played with their own children
from the market to the palace and had gotten into his fair share of
mischief with them as well. Everyone felt like the young prince was
one of their own and like any member of the family he deserved a
ceremony worthy of the event.

"On this day, I Randor, hereby decree that Adam, my only son is
officially named my heir to the throne of Eternia. May he one day
rule with compassion, strength, and honor. To my son Prince Adam,
future King of Eternia!"

The roar of the crowd as they launched into cheers and applause
could be heard for miles away.

**********
"Happy Birthday Adora," the Queen whispered softly to the air
around her. "I hope that wherever you are that you're safe."

"Adora..."

The long lost child of Eternia and of Grayskull and perhaps the
greatest secret to be sequestered within the castle walls. For the
sake of those that remain her existence remains solely the resident
of lonely, late night thoughts and passing questions of "what if".
She is barely allowed the courtesy of a whisper for fear of who
might overhear. An innocent spirited away in anger and in revenge.

News of the royal twins impending birth set the kingdom into eager
anticipation despite the ongoing conflict. With those tiny unborn
children lay the future of the kingdom and of Eternia. When it was
all over they would bury and mourn their dead, rebuild their homes,
reseed their fields, and live for the future. In the midst of all
that destruction and heartbreak hope was found in the miracle of
life, unblemished from the horrors of the world. News that even in
the face of such a great defeat their enemy was able to take one
victory in the abduction of one of the royal twins would shatter
the people's resolve to move past the events of their present and
look to the future. Nothing can be more devestating than the loss of
hope. It would permeate every aspect of their lives and would allow
them to become easily susceptible to exploitation. The reprecussions
from the loss of the tiny princess would be felt for years to come.
The Sorceress knew this and the King's Man-at-Arms, even as he tried
vehemently track the long gone perpetrator, knew this as well.

Usually the only after affect would be emotional but this time a 
physical discomfort accompanied it. Her actions obviously did not 
agree with her if her current state is any indication. Today the
memories were stronger and more vivid then they had ever been 
before and her body was only reminding her of what her conscience 
already knew--her actions no matter how much she justifies them 
are still intrusive and wrong. Yet the abduction of the young 
princess remains an open would and it angers the Sorceress that 
even with the powers of Grayskull she has been unsuccessfull at 
finding Adora's whereabouts.

Unbenkownst to the Sorceress something has awoken in Grayskull 
and she is now being used as a conduit. Slightly disoriented and 
weak the Sorceress finds herself in the void beneath Grayskull. 
She's here for a reason. It calls to her, pleading to be heard. At 
the base of the void stands a lone pedestal--horizontal and solid. 
She hadn't been down here in years, not even when Adam claimed 
the Sword of Power. The sturdiness of the rock beneath her fingers 
as she runs her hand over the surface is a comfort. The Sword of 
Protection lays in its groove in a rather unassuming way. It's a
beautiful sword, much like its twin, and intended for someone with a
great destiny.

The jewel at the center, opaque and motionless, gives off nothing of
the promise that is possible if in the right hands. Without the right
person the sword is lifeless and left eternally waiting for its owner.
As the Sorceress stands over the Sword of Protection in her receptive
state she tentatively reaches out towards the jewel. The minute her
fingers make contact with the cool surface of the jewel she is frozen
in shock as she becomes a recepticle for the precious knowledge it
possesses.

The stench of death begins to encroach the cavernous room and the
Sorceress shuts her eyes tightly as if that could will the smell from
her nostrils. She instantly regrets her action because when she opens
her eyes again she almost doubles over in pain from what lay before her.
The smell of death was now visual as she stood on the terrain just outside
Castle Grayskull. No surviors. She stood in shocked silence as she
looked towards the horizon and the blood red sunset. When she turned
she was overwhelmed by the movement causes disorientation and then...
darkness. The distinctive sound of someone retching nearby was all
she could distinguish.

"You're better than this. Stop it," a male voice spit out.

"Don't ever mistake my affection for you as weakness," another voice
whispers harshly, or is it the same voice?

"No more. None of it. It has to stop," a young woman's voice says
through staggard breathing.

"I'm very, very proud of you," a familiar voice praises.

"Move out!" a woman comanded.

It was all a jumble of voices and no faces to attribute them to. Their
source might have been indistinguishable but their words were clear.

Her mind works overtime process the new information as she remains 
enveloped by the darkness. The Sorceress' eyes widen in astonishment
for it was becoming jarringly clear to her now. It was never enough
to simply  pray for Adora's physical safety. Her emotional and 
psychological well being were neglected by everyone who simply assumed 
that her heritage would be enough in providing her guidance against the 
Horde. If the terror and disorientation  she had just experienced was 
any indication they had grossly underestimated the capabilites of
the Horde.



She's left completely unaware that not once did she physically
leave her chambers.

And in the corner of the room, where there once was nothing before,
stands a stone pedestal--smooth and simple in design but not in
importance. On the surface are two sword shaped impressions. One
vacant for several years now and the second holding another sword
that is waiting to be claimed. The jewl in its center sparkes to
live for the first time since its creation. Unfortunately no one
is there to actually witness such a moment. The room's long occupant
is focusing intently on other matters.

"Adam...Grayskull," the Sorceress manages to whisper hoarsely before
she collapses on the floor in exhaustion.