We Have the Power!
Copyright© 2026 by Carlos Santiago
Chapter 11: What Happens Next
“You can’t go home again.”
— Thomas Wolfe, You Can’t Go Home Again. Published posthumously by Harper & Brothers, New York, in 1940. Edited and compiled from Wolfe’s unpublished manuscript The October Fair by Edward Aswell. Copyright © 1940 by the Estate of Thomas Wolfe. All rights reserved.
The journey back toward Castle Grayskull began in thoughtful silence. Marzo grabbed a pack from inside his raft and made sure the stone was among his belongings. He said something about fish and cheese that neither Lyn nor Adam understood.
Additionally, Adam nor Lyn had much desire to speak after what Count Marzo had revealed to them. The knowledge that destiny, through that of every timeline, had not considered their relationship as one worthy of consideration weighed heavily on each. Adam was struggling with the extra knowledge that he was not as heroic as his other versions.
The old wizard, for his part, seemed perfectly content to let the swamp and forest fill the silence. In fact, he was marching forward with a joyous tune, and he seemed to say something about how it was good to be doing something.
Eventually, the towers of Castle Grayskull was coming into view in the distance.
Marzo pointed to Lyn.
“If we’re walking through the front gate while coming from the direction of the Dark Hemisphere,” he said, “it would probably be prudent if we weren’t seen by friend of foe with Skeletor’s second-in-command and Eternia’s Champion publicly.”
Lyn gave him a flat look.
“I might have reached that conclusion myself.”
“I suspected you would,” said the old man. “I have been around the block once or twice. I come to destinations faster than most.”
He lifted one hand.
Golden threads of magic drifted around Lyn before settling across her black robes. The dark garments faded into the simple dress of a traveling seamstress. Her jeweled headdress disappeared beneath a plain linen scarf, while her staff became nothing more than a polished walking stick.
Lyn looked down at herself.
“I suppose this will suffice.”
“It will hold until I dismiss it,” Marzo assured her. “Try not to set anyone on fire. That tends to attract attention.”
Adam almost smiled.
“That reminds me, Marzo. You said we would understand why you had magic after you told us your story, but I don’t. Why do you have magic despite being in this form?”
“Oh! I thought I made that clear. If not, I do apologize,” he said.
When neither Lyn or Adam interrupted him, he went on.
“After bouncing through time, I picked up a few things, including how to do magic without my amulet. It is not nearly as strong if I did have the bauble, but it serves.”
“Why not use those powers to retrieve the amulet and become what you were?” Lyn wondered. “I am sure being in this condition hinders you.”
“Oh. It does,” Marzo confessed. “However, I admit that if I was in that greater form, I might be tempted to be a lesser version of myself and chase power again. And all things considered, I would rather remove the temptation instead of trying to resist it.”
He looked toward Adam expectantly. He had mentioned He-Man in his complaint list. Adam simply made an O with his mouth before raising the Sword of Power.
“Let the Power return.”
When the words were spoken, the effect was immediate. Where He-Man had stood now stood Prince Adam once more.
He lowered the sword.
Marzo nodded in approval.
“Much better,” he said. “There is little reason for us to be accosted now.”
“What if a threat should come?” Lyn asked.
“Are you still not a practitioner of some of the most powerful magicks on the the Dark Hemisphere? Oh you are?” he added snidely. “Then, I think we will be fine.”
Lyn was about to say something, but Adam put his hand on hers and shook his head.
The conversational argument might be fun when they were safe, but until they were at Grayskull, it would be best to not fight.
The towers of Castle Grayskull rose upon the horizon.
Skeletor slowed his pace.
The Ram Stone rested securely at his belt while Marzo’s amulet was in his left hand and the Havok Staff was in his right.
He was much closer now. His dream was very nearly his. Mouth watering, he restrained himself. He knew better than to say anything. After all, until the moment of actualization came, he would only hurt himself by being overly excited.
Many an idiot can dream of accomplishing a task. A true master of success only celebrated after the victory. A moment before and he would be no better than his servants.
For decades he had schemed, fought, and sacrificed everything for the secrets hidden beyond those walls. The Council of Elders, the Sorceress, and He-Man had all denied him.
Soon, very soon, none of them would be capable of preventing him from harnessing the vast powers of the universe, but before he could harm them, he needed to succeed.
Within that simple building could lay power beyond imagination. He was not sure how exactly, but there was knowledge gathered across untold ages, magic older than most modern kingdoms, and the force that had elevated King Grayskull above every champion who came before him.
Even as he thought about the matter, his mind crossed over to the Sword of Power He-Man wielded. He did not know how, but this too played a part. How important was the blasted weapon? Skeletor did not know; however, if he could align events how he wanted, he would have the power, all of the power, for himself.
After all, might had always belonged to the deserving, and who had deserved success more than Skeletor? He had the ambition, had suffered, had waited, had lost more than so many others. If anyone was justified in their actions, certainly it was him.
He was coming.
All that waited within would be his. Of that, he promised himself.
The royal palace had been strangely quiet in the absence of Adam. A certain laughter and ease vanished when he was gone. All there was to repair and improve the palace. Even Orko being the court jester offered no happiness for anyone in the same way the prince had been.
Queen Marlena stood beside one of the great windows overlooking Eternos. The city bustled with its usual life, yet she found no comfort in the familiar sight. How could she? Her son was nowhere to be found.
A knock sounded at the chamber door.
“Ah, Duncan,” she said. “I was hoping you would be able to answer my summons today.”
Man-at-Arms stepped inside, dressed in his green armor though without his helmet.
One look at the queen informed him why she had sent for him. Though, he did not need to think long on the subject though. Adam was important to her, more than most, but he was cherished by all.
“You’ve heard nothing, then?” Marlena asked.
He slowly shook his head.
“No, Your Majesty.”
She folded her arms tightly.
“It’s been weeks since he left, days since he threw Mer-Man over the wall,” she said, holding back her sadness. “I would have thought he would be back by today.”
Duncan understood her concern all too well. She was Adam’s mother. Soon after giving birth to her twins, Adora had been taken from the queen. To lose one child could break a mother’s heart; to lose both would destroy her.
Man-at-Arms had watched the prince grow from a curious little boy into a young man. Adam possessed a good heart, but that same heart was what led him to danger.
“I’ve been thinking the same thing,” Duncan admitted. “If he were simply going to Grayskull, this would be a simple matter. I know he implied there was more work to do for Sorceress, but I did not think he would accept anything that took him away for another long period of time.”
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