The first thing Evil-Lyn did after the portal had closed behind the group. Was removing one of the gemstones from the chalice they had taken, and then casually throw the rest of the chalice away on the ground where it harmlessly rolled away. And Evil-Lyn smirked as she looked at the gem.

Which upon closer inspection looked more like a tiny shard of glass, except it was glowing with a white eerie light.

"Evil-Lyn." Adam lectured in a stern voice.

"Oh don't be such a spoilsport." Evil-Lyn pouted. "Have I let you down yet?" she asked as she handed the shard over to Adam in a sigh.

Now Teela tried to take Adam in again. It was a little odd, somehow Adam looked like a hybrid between He-Man and his younger lankier self.

But the mix looked good. It suited Adam to put on some muscle and it suited He-Man to become leaner.

Adams's pants were pink, his favored color. But he lacked the pink vest he used to ear, instead he was down to just a white worn-out shirt and a brown fur laying across his shoulder. His boots were tall brown leather as well with fur trimmings and looked worn out but practical.

Teela found she had to look up to get a look at Adams's face which also looked stronger than a year ago, with a stronger jaw-line and that tanned skin of his standing in contrast to the white scar on his cheek and his shining blue eyes.

But it didn't look outright godlike like He-Man… He looked handsome though. If Teela was to be perfectly honest. Extremely handsome.

And of course, that smile stayed the same. He-Man or Adam. He always had had that same kind smile Teela realized. And as usual, he would smile that way when he saw her.

"What a surprise," Adam said kindly. "It really is good seeing you again Teela." she smiled. "And Duncan." he turned to Duncan.

"Glad to see you're doing well." Duncan smiled. "Looks like you have been busy."

And Adam laughed. "You can say that again."

In the same second Cringer started to rub himself against Teela's legs as he purred. "Teela." he almost cried. "I missed you."

Teela softened as she padded Cringer on the head. "I missed you too," she whispered. "You've been taking good care of Adam right?"

"Yes! I have!" Cringer said. "I made sure he didn't get into too much trouble!" he stated proudly and Adam chuckled amused.

"He's been very brave," Adam assured just as Beast-Man sneered and Cringer jumped in shock making Teela smirk.

Then though her smirk faltered as she looked up. "What are you doing with Evil-Lyn and beast-man though?" she asked. "Adam. You can't trust them."

Adam sighed deeply. "We better get inside of Grey-Skull. I'll explain everything there."

"You're inviting Evil-Lyn and Beast-man with you in?!" Teela asked.

Evil-Lyn rolled her eyes. "We have been coming and going for almost a year. Precious. Why make a big deal out of it now."

Teela gaped then looked at Adam. "Care to explain?" she asked.

"Inside," Adam said. "Come on."

Teela hesitated, but only for a moment, she trusted Adam. And would trust him with her life. So finally she followed the unlikely group through the gate of the great Castle Greyskull, to a familiar grand hall and…

Teela gasped. The sorcerers were where she had always been on her chair. But she didn't look like the sorcerers Teela remembered. She looked old and so incredibly frail. She looked impossible thin with her snow-white hair falling down her back and shoulders.

Slowly the sorcerers looked up and by the sight of them, her face softened in a smile. "You have returned," she said. Then her eyes landed on Teela and she gasped. "Teela." then her eyes softened. "How it warms my heart seeing you."

Teela halted then she bowed for the sorcerers. "It has been too long," she said. "I apologize for not having come for the year."

"Nothing to apologize for." The sorcerers assured. "You clearly had your hands full. Your duty to the people of Eternia obviously came first. That's what makes you an honorable Captain of the Guards. You have been making us all proud Teela."

And Teela smiled lightly by the praise just as Adam stepped forward and placed the little shard from the chalice by the sorcerer's feet and Teela realized.

There was a whole pile of tiny shards laying there at her feet. All glowing and pulsing.

"It's the last piece." Adam smiled.

"Finally." Evil-Lyn rolled her eyes. "We are almost out of time!"

The sorcerers smiled as she stood up, then she moved to the pile of tiny shards as she lifted her hands as the shards started to lift and reform until finally. They all connected to make a little sphere and Teela gasped.

"The heart of Eternia." she realized.

"No," Evil-Lyn said. "Just the container."

"Still." Adam turned to Teela. "To bring the heart back we needed its container. The shards had been spread across the entire world and Evil-Lyn and I have been collecting them."

"Okay… That I understand." Teela said. "But why Evil-Lyn?" she asked.

"Why do you think?" Evil-Lyn asked. "I am the greatest sorcerer on this miserable planet! Who else would be able to track down the shards made of pure magic! I can feel the magic within them and I knew where they were!"

Teela glared at Evil-Lyn.

"I would have gone myself." The sorcerers of Grey-Skull whispered. "But as you can see. The vanishing magic has affected my health. I wasn't strong enough."

"Me neither…" A little voice sounded and Teela looked down. To see a little Trollan. Not flying, but walking towards them.

"ORKO!" Teela gasped and rushed down just before the little Trollan tripped so she could catch him.

"So-Sorry." Orkos' big yellow eyes looked up at her.

Teela swallowed. "It's like Cringer said a year ago. You're made of magic."

"I tried to help," Orko said. "Find out where the shards are and send them there…. I don't think I was much help though."

"Nonsense," Adam assured. "All the places you send us to were correct. We found a shard at each location." he smiled then looked at Teela. "While we were retrieving the shards. The sorcerers and Teela were searching for the next one using whatever magic they had so they could send us there."

"Sometimes we were several kilometers off the mark though." Evil-Lyn huffed. "I wouldn't call him accurate."

"Evil-Lyn," Adam said in a warning voice and Evil-Lyn rolled her eyes as she looked away and Adam sighed. "When I found Evil-Lyn she had already hoarded several shards for herself." He finally explained. "I took a while. But finally, she understood why it's to her own benefit that we restore the heart instead of using up magic that is going to run out."

Teela sighed deeply. "Okay that explains Evil-Lyn," she admitted. "And you?" she turned to Beast-Man.

"I don't want to die." Beast-man simply said. Which in all fairness was an honest reply.

Then Teela looked at Adam. "Why didn't you tell us this is what you were up to? We could have helped."

"If we had needed your help I would have called for you," Adam said. "But… Making sure that the people didn't lose hope. That was just as important as collecting the shards. I needed you with the people."

Teela glanced down. "I failed," she admitted. "They lost hope. How else could Tri-Klops have gotten to them so easily?" she asked.

"No. Teela." Adam stepped towards her as Teela stood up and they were in front of each other. Then Adam put a hand on her shoulder. "Yes. Some have lost hope. But not everyone." he said and Teela looked up to see his blue sincere eyes looking at her. Filled with warmth and confidence. "They have been looking towards you. I really owe you."

Teela smiled lightly and Adam let go of her shoulder as they turned to the sorcerers who were standing with the orb she had just created.

"So what now?" Teela asked. "You gathered the shards to make a container. How do we get the magic back?"

"We won't be going anywhere." Evil-Lyn huffed. "Adam and I will go to the underworld to get the materials to reforge the sword of power."

Teela glared at the evil sorcerers.

"And I would have gone alone but of course. Only the champion can retrieve the materials required for the sword." Evil-Lyn groaned deeply.

Teela huffed then turned to Adam. "Care to explain all of that?" she asked.

Adam sighed deeply. But looked up as he straightened himself. "We gathered the shards to reform the heart. Now the magic core must be brought back here." he said. "Only the sword of power can transmit that magic."

"But it shattered," Teela said.

"Right. So we need to make a new one." Adam said. "The original power sword was created by combining a piece of the underworld with a piece of the heavens. So that's where we need to go."

"Great. Then when should we be going?" Teela asked.

Evil-Lyn glared at Teela. "You will not be coming," she said.

"And why not?" Teela asked.

"Because…" The sorcerers of Grey-Skull suddenly spoke up. "I will need you here. Now that I have this." she lifted the orb. "People will be coming for it. Tri-Klops are already gathering his own troops to attack Castle Grey-Skull so he can get his little piece of magic back."

"But." Teela tried and then groaned annoyed.

Evil-Lyn smirked amused as she walked past Teela. "And even if you were to come. What would you do? There's a reason why I am coming. I am the one who knows how to open the gate." she said. "What can you do Teela? All that potential you were born with and no one ever told you." she shook her head.

Teela blinked surprised. "What?"

And Evil-Lyns smirk turned into a grin. "You were born with an amazing magic core," she said. "But grew up to become a warrior. All of that potential locked away. I wonder why that is?"

Teela was stunned to quiet. "I.." she said. "I never knew who my parents were," she said. "I was adopted," she whispered as Duncan looked the other way.

"And haven't you ever wondered?" Evil-Lyn asked.

"That's enough!" The sorcerers cut in. "Teela has always been free to choose her own path! That was the point. That she could grow up in freedom and not be tied down by destiny! She chose the path of a warrior and we are all very proud of her!"

Teela looked up at the sorcerers. You know of this?" she asked.

The sorcerers looked down. "This is not the time Teela," she said.

"I suppose." Teela glanced away. "And the reason why I never asked about my birth parents it's because." she looked up and then glanced at Duncan as she smiled. "I already know who my father is. That's enough for me."

And Duncan smiled lightly as he caught her eyes.

Teela smiled even more. "I wanted to be a warrior just like my father. So that's what I became." and she turned back to Evil-Lyn. "Okay then. Go with Adam. But I have a condition!"

"Oh yeah?" Evil-Lyn asked.

And Teela smirked as she placed her hands on her hips. "Orko will be coming with you."

"I… I will what?!" The Trollan asked from the floor.

"You're right Evil-Lyn," Teela said. "I don't know anything about magic. If you try some sneaky spell I won't know it. But Orko will. He's a creature made of magic."

"Well. I suppose." Orko contemplated.

"Absolutely not!" Evil-Lyn huffed. "Even when that vile creature had plenty of magic he was more trouble than he was worth! He'll just slow us down."

"Orko has always been a loyal companion who saved me many times!" Adam stepped in. "I think it's a great idea. We'll be going to a place ruled by magic. Orko will be of more use with us than here. He doesn't need to locate shards anymore."

Evil-Lyn seethed. "Fine!" she said. "But now I get to make my demand. Beast-man stays here! And make sure that you don't try any dirty tricks!"

Teela rolled her eyes. "We're not the ones known for betrayal."

"But you don't trust me," Evil-Lyn said. "That's why you want your little Trollan to keep an eye on me. So fine! Beast-man will keep an eye on you."

"Fine!" Teela exclaimed.

"Fine!" Evil-Lyn snorted back.

"Do I get to have a say?" Beast-Man asked.

"No." Evil-Lyn simply stated and Beast-Man lowered his head.

"Owww… I never get to decide anything." Beast-Man muttered in a sad voice.

"That's because you're an idiot." Evil-Lyn simply said. Then she snorted as she turned. "Well, I shall go rest up. We have a long travel ahead of us tomorrow. And time isn't exactly what we have a lot of."

Adam nodded as Evil-Lyn walked out. "We'll be going by sunrise tomorrow."

Evil-Lyn didn't even bother to respond as she just left, presumable for a room with a bed.

Teela sighed deeply then turned to Adam. "I can't believe you're working with her," she admitted.

"I don't really have a choice," Adam commented as Teela glanced at him. "Look. I'm not stupid. I don't trust her either." he said. "But the fact remains. We are all living in this world. If this world dies everyone dies. So we are all in the same boat now. No matter who we used to serve."

Teela nodded slowly.

"I…" Adam hesitated. "It looks like I'll have to borrow your sword for a while longer. Sorry about that."

Teela glanced at her own sword on Adams's back then up at him. "That's okay," she said. "I still expect it back in pristine condition. And I expect you to be the one to give it back to me."

Adam nodded. "That's what I am counting on," he said and halted. "It really is good seeing you… I missed you."

Teela sighed deeply. "I missed you too," she said. "I could really have used your optimism this year you know."

Adam smiled amused. "How is mom and dad?" he asked.

"Worried," Teela informed. "Missing their son." she looked at him. "But they have faith. They are looking forward to seeing you again."

"And you?" Adam asked.

"Feeling the same," Teela said. "But…. It helps now that I'm seeing you," she said and Adam smiled.

"Same here," Adam admitted. "There were a few times out there I was seriously asking myself. What would Teela do? Well okay… A lot of times." he said and Teela chuckled.

"That's funny," Teela said. "I was the same. Except… You! I was asking myself what would Adam do! I mean."

And Adam laughed loudly. A warm infectious laughter which was the same laugh as both Adam and He-Man would laugh in the past and Teela smiled. It really was him. And honestly right now. That was all that mattered.