Synopsis

After years of peace, the vast and magical world of Eternia is plunged into chaos when a new evil arises in the form of Skeletor – the Lord of Destruction, and his vile minions. With his world turned upside down, young Prince Adam is chosen by destiny to save Eternia as He-Man, the most powerful man in the universe, and the new chosen champion. With Skeletor's legions rising in force, He-Man and his allies – Man-at-Arms, Teela and Battle Cat – seek new warriors to help them defend Eternia and to prevent the end of the universe. Two opposing forces, both good and evil, will become...

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE

Legends

Chapter One

Champions of Grayskull

For twenty years, the wondrous world of Eternia, has had peace. Brave heroes fought to keep their world safe from evil forces, monsters and dark magic. For the power of the planet came from the birth of magic, as Eternia was at the centre of the universe, as it was the first planet in creation.

In Eternos City, there was the ruler King Randor and his gracious wife Queen Marlena. Randor was a legendary war hero and Marlena was a celebrated scientist and diplomat. It was King Randor, who along with a team of Defenders, drove away the forces of evil to the Dark Hemisphere, where the great Goddess of Eternia created the Mystic Wall – an unbreakable barrier which reached the Eternian skies, and was able to keep the most evil of forces away. So no good-hearted Eternian has ever seen the face of evil, for many long years.

King Randor was a kind man of peace, who believed in a peaceful and united universe. He believed that all Eternians were equal, and he became a revered and respected king. Queen Marlena's kindness and graciousness made her a legend of her own. When help was needed, it was given to them by these compassionate rulers. No one felt different or suffered from poverty during Randor's reign.

Randor and Marlena had a son named Prince Adam. At 18 years old, Adam had became a charming and jovial young man who loved his friends and had a vigorous adventurous spirit.

Since birth, Adam had been trained in combat since by the wise Man-at-Arms, a weapons master and general of King Randor's armies, and the king's lifelong best friend. Man-at-Arms has a young daughter named Teela, who excelled at everything, from military tactics, hand-to-hand combat and becoming a great technician like her father.

Teela and Adam grew up together in the palace. While Teela has a more disciplined and mature nature, Adam's jovial and laid-back attitude something made them butt heads. But as they grew older, Teela had always known that Adam had the biggest and strongest heart than anyone she had ever known, and found his love for adventure and excitement charming.

These future heroes don't know about the darkness is lurking upon these peaceful times, and their respective destinies are about to unfold...with Eternia's future lying in their hands.

Present Day...

Eternos Palace is a grand and magnificent stronghold, constructed of resplendent white marble, purple domes and golden spires. It is surrounded by jagged mountains, verdant grasslands and a large lake (Lake Eternia).

On this day, the people celebrate as the beautiful Teela is award3e the rank of Captain of the Royal Guard, at the tender age of 19.

A rank she had worked very hard for, growing up to be a great tactician and combatant, and not to mention, a great leader.

Man-at-Arms finds Prince Adam's fearful green and orange-striped talking tiger Cringer, hiding in the corner.

"Those loud noises!" the cat quivers. "I-I-Is something attacking the p-p-palace?"

"No, Cringer," chuckles Man-at-Arms. "It's only children playing with firecrackers!"

Teela stands in the throne room, kneeling down before King Randor. Adam, Queen Marlena, Man-at-Arms and Cringer smile with pride.

"I now knight thee Captain of the Royal Guard," said King Randor, as he bestows upon her a new sword. "Arise, Captain Teela!"

"Thank you, your Majesty," Teela replies politely.

The wise Man-at-Arms dotes upon his daughter with pride.

King Randor wishes that Adam would be more like Teela, instead of a jovial party boy.

"Don't be so hard on him, my love," Marlena tells Randor. "One day he will become a great man, just like his father!"

While the people celebrate deep into the night, Adam and Teela take a stroll outside, gazing at the stars, where Adam commends Teela on her achievement.

"I always knew you were meant for great things," he tells her. "You were always the strongest person I know, just like Duncan."

"Shouldn't be partying with one of your girlfriends right now?" asked Teela.

"No, tonight is about you...my favourite girl!" says Adam.

Teela laughs sweetly, thinking I just kiss him now.

Man-at-Arms joins them outside. "You guys are missing out on quite a party!"

Suddenly, the entire area is enveloped by a strange green mist.

"What sorcery is this, Man-at-Arms?" asks a horrified Prince Adam.

It is something very unusual and scary, Man-at-Arms thinks back about his days of battle. His heart pounding as he recognizes this diabolical sorcery, hoping its not what he thinks it is.

"It can't be...it cannot be..." he fears,

Adam worries about his parents and fellow Eternians, and they rush into the palace throne room.

Teela commits to her duty as captain and leads the Royal Guards to help the people get to safety. Adam stands by his parents' side and Man-at-Arms protects them, armed with his mace. King Randor shudders as the green mist thickens, as he recognizes it too.

"How dare they come to Eternia?"

"What is this, father?" asked Adam.

"Brace yourself, son," said King Randor, with anger in his voice. "Our enemies have returned!"

Suddenly, a terrible shadow emerges from the throne room floor, a lot like the roots of a tree growing out of the earth. The shadow starts to change it's shape and turns into the form of a blue-skinned man wearing a purple cowl and flowing black cape. The man shows his face, which is a hideous decomposing green skull with glowing red eyes and yellowing-green teeth. It is the ugliest creature the Royal Family has ever laid their eyes on. Even Randor and Man-at-Arms, who fought together in war against monsters and demons. Could this strange creature be the ultimate face of evil?

"Who...or what are you?" asked Randor

"Come now, Randor," says the skull-faced man, in a demonic guttural voice. "Don't you recognize your handiwork?!"

Randor recognizes upon the bone-crest on his own armour, and thinks back when his younger half-brother Keldor was violently killed in battle by one of his spells tried to use against Randor and his men when trying to invade the Hall of Wisdom It agonized Randor what happened to his brother, even though at the time, Keldor had the worst of intentions.

"Keldor...brother...is that you?"

Thought to have been dead, everyone is shocked to see that Keldor was alive. Adam is horrified by the monster his uncle had become.

"Uncle Kel...it...can't be you?"

"The man you knew as Keldor is dead! I am Skeletor...LORD OF DESTRUCTION! My minions and I have found the means to break the accursed Mystic Wall. Did you really think you fools could hold us there forever?!"

Skeletor summons forth his two right-hand cohorts – the beautiful sorceress Evil-Lyn and a vicious ape-like brute who is called Beast Man. Evil-Lyn had used a spell of invisibility to keep them hidden along the palace walls.

"Its been a long time since I have killed me some humans," growls Beast Man.

"There, there, beastie!" says Evil-Lyn. "We will have our fun!"

Man-at-Arms gets in a vicious brawl with the animalistic Beast Man. Prince Adam bravely squares off against Evil-Lyn. Adam is captivated by her beauty, but sees a darkness in her eyes.

"What a handsome prince you are," she says. "Too bad you have to die!"

She swiftly moves towards him, preparing for the kill.

Before Adam is slain, Teela appears out of a blue, performing an impressive martial arts kick, which sends Evil-Lyn crashing into the wall, knocking her out. The shadow tentacles dissipate and Adam is set free. Teela and her guards had managed to get the people to safe distance.

"Are you alright?" she asked, putting her hands on his shoulders.

"Yes, thanks to my favourite girl!" says Adam, smiling.

Teela cannot believe that this Skeletor creature was once the prince's uncle, who was a kind and venerable man, an honoured member of the Royal Court, who they admired and respected when they were children.

Despite his brute strength, Man-at-Arms is able to outsmart Beast Man in one-on-one combat and defeats the savage henchman. Meanwhile, King Randor is engaged in a furious sword fight with the evil Skeletor. Brother against brother. A terrible dream unwanted by the king, although relished by the Lord of Destruction. Queen Marlena stands aside, fearful for the lives of her husband, son and dearest friends.

"You will die for the suffering you've brought upon me!" Skeletor sneered at his brother, remembering his excruciating "death" before his exile to the Dark Hemisphere of Eternia.

"No one dies here today!" says Randor

He looks across the room to see Prince Adam, also fearing for his son's life. He disarms Skeletor of his own sword.

Skeletor then partially raises his right hand, and the form of a purple staff with a ram skull take shape, glowing with dark purple energies. It is Skeletor's Havoc Staff, and he uses its magic to blast the king in the chest, fatally wounding him.

Adam watches in horror as his father collapses to the ground. Evil-Lyn regains consciousness, and magically teleports herself to where the queen is standing. Muttering another ancient incantation, a large portal opens up behind the queen, and a giant glowing demonic hand grabs her, pulling her inside. Adam's cries as he hears his mother's scream, being pulled into an unknown dimension, and the portal Evil-Lyn created fades out.

King Randor is dying from his wounds, and desperately calls out his wife's name in a hoarse voice. Adam runs to his father's side.

"Father, stay with me, please," Adam begs.

"Adam, I apologize for always being so hard on you," said King Randor, shivering. "I...love you...son!"

The king dies in the prince's arms. "I promise you, father. I will become the man you always wanted me to be!" He then yells a resounding "NO!: at the top of his lungs, have lost both his parents in a single night.

Skeletor laughs maniacally. "At last. My score has been settled!"

Adam looks at the Lord of Destruction in anger, tears of sadness swelling in his eyes.

Skeletor leers towards him. "When I return, you will be the next one to die! Another day!"

Skeletor changes back into an eerie shadowy form and disappears from the throne room. His evil laughter still ringing in the prince's ears. Evil-Lyn and the wounded Beast Man also vanish.

Man-at-Arms and Teela are also saddened by the king's death and the queen's disappearance.

"I am sorry, Prince Adam," said Man-at-Arms, as a teary-eyed Teela consoles Adam. "We must leave...Our people need our aid. I swear to you, your parents will be avenged!"

Finding Cringer outside, who is equally sorrowful by the loss of the king and queen, Man-at-Arms gets hold of a Wind Raider, the finest flying vehicle in the kingdom, and one of his greatest inventions.

"Great King Randor...Kind Queen Marlena...dead..." the fearful feline whelps.

"Don't worry, Cringer," says Teela, stroking his head/ "Everything's going to be alright!"

As they depart the palace and take to the skies looking for anyone in danger, the nightmare continues as they look down in horror as Skeletor has risen an large army of weird skeletal creatures known as Skelcons, attack the palace. From above, they see that Skeletor is standing on a precipice, using his black magic to bring the Skelcons, who are undead creatures, out from under the ground. Countless of them. Staggering numbers. They are almost completely mindless. Only driven to kill and destroy. But Skeletor controls them like puppets.

"Go, my soldiers!" Skeletor commands, standing on a high precipice with his lackeys. "Destroy everything!"

The Skelcons attack the palace in swarms, destroying all buildings and slaying anyone in their path. Countless lives lost.

"Man-at-Arms! We need to get down there!" commanded Prince Adam. "Our people need us"

Man-at-Arms is hesitant, as he appears to care more about the lives about the prince and his daughter. But he also cannot refuse an order from the prince.

Suddenly, they hear the cry of a falcon, and their feathered friend Zoar appears before them in the sky. A beautiful falcon with orange, blue and white fur, Zoar has been a friend to them all their live and communicates them telepathically. She has even been a kind confidant to them, especially on a bad day. And grew fond of Prince Adam as he grew up.

"You will not survive the attack of Skeletor's forces!" she tells them. "You all must survive...Eternia's future depends on it! You must all follow me to Castle Grayskull!"

It baffles them to follow her to Castle Grayskull, an abandoned fortress at the end of the mysterious Evergreen Forest. Grayskull was a fortress of mystery, but its legend was forgotten. When they were children, they were told about legendary champions in Eternia's past that defended the castle from the forces of evil. More protected, the great magical power of Eternia was hidden within the castle, and the champion of every era wielded a mighty sword which harnessed that power.

Never setting eyes upon the castle, and believing it to be nothing more than an "old ruin", the four friends are baffled by Zoar's instructions. But knowing she is the only one they could trust, they followed her. They flew for many miles over the Evergreen Forest, which stretches out as far as the eye can see. A forest that goes on forever. It has been told that the Evergreen Forest as old as Eternia itself, and the great magic of the planet.

At last, the magnificent structure that is Castle Grayskull comes into view. The four friends are amazed that the castle is as real as life itself. A magnificent stone edifice of green walls and a large skull face on its front. Surrounded by rough mountains and spectral coloured clouds, beneath the castle was a deep black chasm, which is known as the Bottomless Abyss.

"All the legends...the great warriors of the past that defended Castle Grayskull...is it all true?" asks Prince Adam.

"Yes, my prince," says Zoar. "All the stories...are completely true!"

The jaw bridge of Grayskull opens up, revealing a long dark passageway. On the walls were two banners – the left-sided wall is a green banner with a purple dragon and on the right-sided wall is a lime-colored banner with an orange firebird on it , and gargoyles are sculpted along the top of the walls on either side.

Before entering the castle, Adam and his friends look up to see Zoar approaching. Suddenly, the orange and blue falcon is illuminated with resplendent white light, and she comes to the ground, the white light surrounding her enlarges and changes into the form of a beautiful woman with deep blue eyes in a falcon headdress, with massive orange and blue wings protruding from her back, and carrying a long pearl-white staff with a form of a falcon forth.

"I am the Sorceress of Grayskull!" she says. "This is my true form. If I leave Grayskull, my power fades. To travel Eternia, I can only take the form of Zoar the falcon. Welcome to Castle Grayskull!"

The Sorceress leads them into her throne room, surrounded by large green marble columns on skull sculptures. Her throne chair was a large stone skull face.

"So d-d-dark...so s-s-scary," Cringer stammers.

He shivers with fear, frightened by the darkness and eeriness of the castle, but Adam and Teela calm him down.

"There's no real danger here, old cat," says Adam/ "The Sorceress is our friend."

The Sorceress sits on her throne, and tells them a story, using her vast array of magical powers to create pictures and imagery...

"The great and powerful Council of Elders created the great Orb of Power, containing the infinite power of the universe – the essence of creation itself. They also created a magical sword which could harness that power...and this sword was wielded by the formers champions of Grayskull...

The very first hero was King Grayskull, known as "the First One," who saved Eternia from the Horde invaders and their malevolent overlord, Hordak; the second hero was Grayskull's younger brother He-Ro, who became a mighty wizard who defended Eternia against the venomous Snake Men; the third hero was Vikor, the barbarian from the North who defeated the terrible fear-monger Scare Glow; the forth was Wun-Dar, who fought in the savage ways against the murderous Fighting Foe Men; and the last hero was Oo-Larr, the jungle lord who saved Castle Grayskull from the onslaught of the warlord Red Beast, and his armies of Beast People.

The castle was named after King Grayskull, as the Hall of Wisdom was under peril by the never-ending threat of the forces of evil. So they changed into this skull-faced edifice to draw away evil invaders. The magic surrounding Grayskull hides the true form of the Hall of Wisdom.

When a champion of Grayskull died or sacrificed himself in battle, the Sword of Power was magically split in two. When the next champion rose, the two halves of the sword chose its master, and would unite as one unified blade.

With the arrival of Skeletor, it is know time for a new champion to rise, and to bring back hope for the people."

The Sorceress then opened the floors of a throne room, which revealed a blinding light. They followed her, and they travelled with her on large levitating stone tablets. When they reached the bottom, they entered a magnificent room filled large crystals, ancient Eternian writings on the stone walls and lots of stranger doorways.

In the centre of the room was a large pyramid-shaped structure made from Eternium – the hardest metal in the universe. On the centre of the structure was a large red iron cross engraved on it. The pyramid opened, revealing the Great Orb inside – the power of Grayskull.

"My I ask Sorceress," says Prince Adam, "who is the next champion?"

The Sorceress smiles, and says: "It is you, Prince Adam. You will become the next champion of Grayskull!"

The prince is taken aback.

"Me? But...I am no great warrior. I am...just plain old Prince Adam. What about Teela...or Man-at-Arms. They are the true warriors. Ten times of what I will ever be!"

The Sorceress looks upon him.

"You are wrong, my prince," she says. "You have always been a misunderstood young man, Adam. You have great bravery, compassion and selflessness. Traits that are a true champion of Grayskull possesses. The Sword of Power will make you mighty. It is time to fulfil its destiny."

Prince Adam turns to his friends.

"What do you think, guys?"

"Maybe Eternia needs more than a king right now," says Teela. "It needs something greater...it needs a hero!"

"We believe in you, lad," says Man-at-Arms.

"Don't doubt y-y-yourself, Adam," adds Cringer.

Adam turns back to the Sorceress.

"Step forth, Adam of Eternia," she says.

The prince does as he is asked, and the Sorceress' hands starts glowing in radiant light, and before Adam, the two halves of the legendary Sword of Power take form, levitating in mid-air.

"Hold out your hand," the Sorceress tells him.

Adam raises his hand and the two blades glow. Mystical light energy flow around the two blades, and they glow even brighter, eventually joining together to become one unified sword.

Suddenly, the great Council of Elders appear in spirit form, and incant the ancient Eternian dialect.

"We have waited for this day for eons," says the Council leader Keclar, who smiles upon Adam. "At last, Grayskull has chosen its new champion!"

The Elders incant the ancient Eternian language, and wisdom of the universe, in the form of bright light, emits from their hands, and floods into Adam's mind, and then the Elders disappear.

Adam is aware of his instructions, He holds the sword aloft and cries: "BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!"

Man-at-Arms, Teela and Cringer watch on as lightning lights up above and pours down onto the Sword of Power. The entire room is filled with blinding light, brighter than the Eternian sun, enveloping everything, including Adam.

The light starts to fade, and all kind of energies flow around the prince, coursing like lightning over his body. Although the form of Prince Adam has transformed entirely – gone in the thin young man in royal attire, who is a now a tall and muscular warrior dressed in barbarian clothing, including silver power vest with a red iron cross in the centre of the harness. It looks like Adam has transformed into an older version of himself, with a prominent appearance. The true form of a hero.

As the energies flow around him, he lowers the sword and holds its horizontally in front of his chest, crying "I...have...THE POWER!" An explosion of light bursts around him as he cries those words, and then dissipates.

He looks at the quivering Cringer, and points the sword at him. In a flash of light, the weak and timid feline is transformed into a gigantic fighting tiger with rippling muscles and shining red armor, covering his head and back. The tiger roars loudly.

Teela carefully walks up to Adam

"Adam...is that...you?"

The powerful warrior he has transformed into smiles at her...a smile that instantly reassures her that is definitely still the young man she was so fond of.

"Yes, Teela," he chuckles softly. "It's still me!"

The Sorceress comes before them.

"From this day forth, in this form, he will be called He-Man, defender of Eternia," he says, "and Cringer will be known as Battle Cat in his transformed state."

Little did our heroes know that Skeletor and his henchman who was travelling the land had witnessed the entire sky above Grayskull light above with loud crackling sounds of lightning, illuminating the heavens. Skeletor was riding his ferocious purple-furred feline steed Panthor, while Evil-Lyn and Beast Man were riding two large griffins.

"What is going on at that old castle, my lord?" asked Beast Man.

"That castle is thousands of years old," replies Skeletor. What could possibly be happening there? It hasn't been inhabited in centuries!"

Evil-Lyn turns to her master.

"Shall we go and knock the castle down, my lord?" she asked. "Just for the heck of it?"

"What a delightfully wicked idea, my dear," Skeletor sneers. "I am not called the Lord of Destruction for nothing!"

Back at Grayskull, the Sorceress senses that Skeletor is approaching and He-Man and the Heroic Warriors prepare for the great battle ahead. A battle that will determine the fate of the universe.

Skeletor and his vile minions reach the castle, and all is seemingly quiet. Until they hear a beastly roar, and see He-Man and his friends standing before Grayskull, ready to face the villains.

All three villains are taking aback by this strange new warrior.

"So Eternia's defenders survived the fall of Eternos after all," says Skeletor, dismally looking upon Teela and Man-at-Arms. "And who may I ask is your new muscle bound friend?"

He-Man dismounts from Battle Cat, and steps forward.

"My name is He-Man," he replies. "I have come to help these noble warriors to defend Eternia...and to protect the universe against your evil, Skeletor!"

"And where is the young prince?" asked Evil-Lyn. "Has he fallen like the noble King Randor?"

"He's safe from the likes of you!" a defensive Teela jabs.

"We will no longer tolerate you causing death and destruction, Skeletor!" says Man-at-Arms.

Skeletor feels terribly insulted, as no one talks to the Lord of Destruction that way.

He charges towards them, his Havoc Staff glowing with energy. He-Man apppears before him in a blur of movement, and the the very first time, two of the most powerful beings on Eternia have their very first battle. Teela holds her own against Evil-Lyn, as Man-at-Arms engaged in another vicious battle with Beast Man. Battle Cat and Panthor have engaged in a fierce cat fight,

The fight between He-Man and Skeletor is awing. While Skeletor has the advantage being a powerful sorcerer, he is totally surprised by He-Man's strength and power. Could this be the opponent he had always dreamed of facing? A hero which would be equal to his malevolence?

The fight goes on, as sword clashes against staff.

Teela, showing incredible form in combat, manages to overthrow Evil-Lyn out cold, even though the evil sorceress' own magical powers temporarily gave her the upper hand. Unfortunately, Man-at-Arms is wounded by Beast Man, even though his impenetrable armour takes the brunt of it.

Beast Man wishes to help his lord, as pounces towards He-Man like the wild animal he is. Luckily. Battle Cat steps in, faster than Beast Man can make out his movements, roars loudly, and swats Beast Man away like a fly. Panthor is wounded after his fight with He-Man's mighty steed.

The fight between He-Man and Skeletor rages on fiercely. He-Man eventually disarms Skeletor from his Havoc Staff and overthrows Skeletor with his supernatural strength.

Lying on the ground, He-Man lifts his sword and prepares for a killing blow.

"Go on, boy," he seethes. "Use the sword the way it was meant to...and kill me!"

He-Man hesitates, and thinks about his father. King Randor was a peaceful man, and believed all beings in the universe should be united for a greater good. Vengeance was not the answer, even though Skeletor killed the king. He-Man could not let the anger for his father's murder consume him.

"If I were to kill you, Skeletor," he says, "I will become the monster you are. The noble King Randor has died...I will not dishonour his memory by causing bloodshed. Leave Grayskull now, and never return!"

Skeletor gets up, and laughs.

"One day I will destroy you, He-Man,"' he says. "Then all of Eternia will fall before me!"

"That will never happen," says He-Man. "Not as long as my friends and I are here to stop.

Skeletor scowls, and mounts Panthor, as Evil-Lyn and Beast Man take to the skies atop their griffin steed.

"Please give young Prince Adam my regards," says Skeletor, and flees.

He-Man and Teela help Man-at-Arms, whose wounds appear not to be fatal. As they approach the entrance to the castle, the Sorceress appears to He-Man.

"Congratulations on your victory, He-Man," she says with gratefulness. "You have proven yourself to be the rightful defender of Grayskull. And thank you, Man-at-Arms, Teela and Battle Cat, on your incredible bravery. Castle Grayskull does not have champion...you are all champions!"

Later that evening, Teela and Prince Adam are standing atop Castle Grayskull, admiring the lookout over the Evergreen Forest, stretching far beyond the outskirts of the castle.

Teela kisses Adam on the cheek. "I am so proud of you, Adam."

Adam smiles shyly.

"Shouldn't it be He-Man you should be thanking?" he asks. "It was the mighty He-Man who defeated Skeletor. Not Prince Adam of Eternia."

"I admire He-Man's strength and courage," she says. "But he has your heart. Your earnestness and your modesty. Always remember, that you and He-Man are equally important."

She holds his hand, and the two of them share this beautiful moment together, watching the sun go down over the rocky mountains and verdant Evergreen Forest surrounding Castle Grayskull.

Many adventures lie ahead for them. The threat of Skeletor's is ever constant, and a new age of heroes has dawned on Eternia. Heroes that will become...MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE.