//------------------------------//
// Prologue 
// Story: From Eternia to Equestria 
// by deathtap 
//------------------------------//

"Get a medic over here now!" someone shouted over the sounds of lasers pelting over their heads. Explosions tore through the night sky as airships and gun-platforms tried their hardest to keep the invaders at bay. "Hurry!"

"How? How could this happen?" The old warrior whispered in response to his daughter's words. 

A charred, gaping hole stared her in the face. The damaged chest-plate had melted around the edges from a stray blaster round that had cut clean through his armor.

A medic rushed over and knelt by the wounded commander's side. There were a few moments of silence as he ran his scanner over the old warrior before putting several pieces of cloth over his chest while taking an auto-injector and slamming it into his arm. The medic looked up and ever so slightly shook his head.

Teela's mind blanked. In any other situation, she would have thrown herself onto her father and wept like a daughter should, but this was war and with the battle raging about them she knew she could not weep as she had wanted to. She needed to stay strong and true. There would be ample time to mourn later.

If there was a later.

Another gun platform burst into flames and started plummeting towards the planet. Even as the ship went down, the defense guns did not let up. Eternian soldiers were manning them to the last, even knowing that their ship was doomed. Their sacrifices would not be in vain. She would see to it.

"Father," Teela whispered, "Rest easy. I will not let Eternia fall."

Man-at-Arms, Sir Duncan of the Kingdom of Eternia, nodded, "Then I'll leave-" He choked back the feeling of pain that welled up in his body, the auto-injection had worn off. The medic made to put another in his arm, but Duncan stopped him by waving him off, "Save it for others who need it. I know that my time is nigh; it would be wasted on me."

The medic nodded and saluted before returning the device to his medical bag.

"Teela, I know you will do well. I'm sorry. Sorry about everything. I hope that you can forgive an old fool..."

"I already have, father. Rest well. We shall see each other again in time." 

The old man nodded, and closed his eyes for the last time.

"Take word to the King that Sir Duncan has passed," Teela said to the soldier behind her.

He saluted to her back and rushed towards the hover-tank. Another gun platform exploded in the air above them, but one of the Horde's ships was also falling from the skies. Soldiers of skin and blood against the legions of mechanical monstrosities. Even with machines of their own, the Horde far outnumbered them. 

But they had an ace up their sleeves. Two aces. The brother and sister of the Royal Court. Prince Adam and Princess Adora, holders of the Swords of Power. They were He-Man and She-Ra, and they had the soul mission of taking the fight to Horde Prime. High above them, above the atmosphere of their world, the true battle was taking place. All they were doing was buying time to save their world. It would all be for naught if there was no one left on Eternia or Etheria to save.





"Brother, we must hurry!" She-Ra said as her blade tore through the chest of one of the Horde soldiers easily. Unlike the invasion force far below them, these creatures were not made of metal and circuits, but of flesh and blood -- and were far more efficient at fighting.

"Find the control room and destroy it. I will find Horde Prime and end this once and for all!" He-Man shouted crushing the head of one of the enemy with one hand. It burst open, the contents spilling onto the floor through his fingers, "This ends today."

"Then may the Sorceress protect you, brother," She-Ra said as she kicked a door open to one side. According to the map she memorized, it would lead down towards the control center in the center of the ship.

"She's dead, She-Ra." He-Man paused briefly as he looked over his shoulder, "Orko, go with her. Take care of her."

"I do not need a baby-sitter..."

"That isn't a request!" He-Man cut her off, "Now go!"

She-Ra glared at her older twin, but didn't press the issue further. This was not the time.

"Are you sure, He-Man? I mean, she's capable-"

Whether or not He-Man heard his friend's words, he never knew. He took off down the hall, all he heard was his battle-cry as he cut through the enemy like a hot knife through butter. A cold shiver ran down Orko's spine. He had never seen Adam like this, but then again, never has the Horde dared to attack Eternia like this before.

"Adora, tell me," Orko asked as he hovered behind the Princess, "Why is the Horde really terrible?"

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely."

"B-but to destroy an entire world..." Orko refused to believe that any ruler, no matter how evil, would dare to exterminate an entire planet. It made no sense.

"Castle Grayskull is on this world, and Horde Prime believes that it is the only source of magic in the known universe with enough power to stop him. He believes it so much, he himself has come here to oversee the battle."

A blaster bolt singed the edge of the hallway as She-Ra dove across the hall. In mid-air, she flung her Sword of Protection at the Horde soldiers. In the interim, Orko summoned a fireball and blasted two more, burning them alive. They screamed as the magical fire consumed them and within moments all that remained were their charred corpses.

"I'll never get used to this..." the 'court-jester' muttered.





"Horde Prime!" He-Man roared, "Where are you? Come out to where I can see you, you coward!"

"You dare call me a coward, He-Man?" A voice said in the darkness of the throne room, "Here, in my ship?"

"I say that which is true! If it is not so, then show yourself!" He-Man said pointing his sword towards the general area where the voice had come from, "Or should I hunt for you in the dark as I did Hordak before I took his head!"

Pulling a bag from his side, he pulled the contents out and threw it into the darkness. The object bounced twice before coming to a rest, the ghost-white form visible even in the dark. 

Hordak's head. 

He-Man had taken it when he had taken Etheria, freeing it from the Horde's control, freeing the people and the kingdom with the help of his twin sister. It was not long after that the war finally broke. It was during that campaign when Horde soldiers trapped and killed his best friend, Cringer. The cowardly lion who became his steed Battle-Cat when the raw magic energies of his Sword of Power flowed into him. He had died trying to protect the Sorceress while she tried to channel the spell that would seal the Horde in another dimension forever. 

It had failed. 

Cringer had paid for everyone's failure, along with the Sorceress. Theirs deaths were sudden and quick. The portal between Etheria and Eternia remained open and was slowly pulling the worlds together. In time, they would cancel out one another's existence. Their only hope to stop it? Destroy Horde Prime, and use his Havoc Staff, the weapon that was perhaps the most feared in all the universe, to close the portals. He-Man had not told anyone this. There was no need to tell anyone this. If he failed, then the worlds were lost. 

"We are not so different, you and I. Join me, and I'll save your world. I'll even leave it to your rule. Govern over it as you wish, just join me and be a general in my army," Horde Prime said, his voice suddenly seductive, tantalizing. 

"The same way you tricked Skeletor into rejoining your ranks? I think not. Isn't it sad that he was the best chance you ever had in hoping to defeat me and yet you kill him?" He-Man laughed, "You're pathetic."

"How dare you? I will show you your place, Eternian!" 

A beam of dark purple light exploded from the darkness. He-Man dodged to one side, using his sword to deflect the blast. It tore a hole next to him in the floor. The Sword of Power vibrated in his hands. The power from Horde Prime's staff was raw ethereal energies, the same source of power that his own sword had. No wonder the Sorceress was powerless against Hordak. It all made sense now.





Swift Wind stood in the hold of Horde Prime's starship. He understood his mission was to guard the shuttle they had used to board, but he felt out of place for leaving She-Ra to her own devices. She was strong, cunning and fearless, but she made mistakes, some of which had nearly cost her her life. That was not all. After Battle-Cat's death, He-Man had changed so drastically. Normally Swift Wind was fearless, unshakable, but lately with He-Man he always felt afraid when he was close. It was as if the Horde had inadvertently released the raw rage He-Man had usually suppressed. Or perhaps it was because the Sorceress was gone as well.

"When did it all go so wrong?" The large white unicorn-pegasus stallion whispered. He spread his wings wide open, revealing his long blue feathers, bordered by pink and gold trimmings, his golden horn glowing furiously with raw power.

"Fear not," Bow said, patting his neck, "She-Ra has never failed us yet! We are this close from ending this confounded war once and for all. Let's hope that she makes it out of here alive." Bow muttered the last part to himself.

"Fear? Me?" The stallion scoffed.

"Wait... did you hear something?"

"Above you!" Swift Wind yelled, and dove to cover the archer. 

Bow, quick as lightning, fired three arrows. They found their marks, the Horde troops screaming as the arrows pierced them fatally. Unfortunately, one of the blasters also found their marks and Bow moved no more. It was so quick, sudden. One moment he was his usual, cheerful self, and the next he was gone. Gone like so many before.

The Horde had to be stopped. The war needed to end. Too many friends had died. He thought of Kowl and his sarcastic humor, and how his first moment of true bravery and action were also his last. He had managed to delay the Horde invasion on his own by closing and destroying a portal on the other side of the dimensional rift on one of Hordak's flagships. His remains were shoved into She-Ra's face, his head atop the lance of one of the Horde's generals.

Now he was alone. 

Swift Wind bowed his head to Bow and said nothing. There would be words enough when this was all over.

The ship shook. The lights flickered. Another sudden surge and the ship started to shift angrily. Something was either very wrong or very right. A blue haze appeared in the hanger and Orko floated through. He turned around quickly and She-Ra stepped through the mist and Orko waved his hands and closed it off.

"Why didn't you do that in the first place?" She-Ra asked, panting, "You could've saved us the trouble of running around the ship!"

"I already explain that I  can't teleport unless I know where I've got to go! I can't know if I haven't been there. Just be glad I knew how to get here. Any further and I could've teleport us into space, or even inside the floor."

The ship heaved to one side, sending them all sprawling on the floor.

"Where is He-Man?" She-Ra asked looking around. 

It was then that she saw Bow lying on the floor. She turned away. She couldn't look at him like that. Losing Madame Razz was too much for her, and now Bow. One of her best friends, one of the first men to help her and her cause. Bow was always there for her when she needed someone. Was always there for her when she needed comfort.

"Let's shed tears for him when we defeat this army and halt the invasion," Swift Wind said quietly, "The people of both our worlds are relying on us. It is our duty to save them; our boon and our bane. We must protect our worlds. We must wait for He-Man and the staff."

A horrific roar echoed through the ship. Then, the starship began to lurch once more. Suddenly everything felt weightless, and She-Ra looked over to her stead. He flapped his giant wings and She-Ra turned her body using the now free-floating shuttle to orient herself. Orko hovered by their side.

"Get the ship ready to leave," She-Ra shouted at the mage, "We need to get out of here as soon as Adam reaches the hanger."

"Me? Fly that thing?" Orko looked at the shuttle, "Probably not a good idea, but okay..."

"And Orko."

"Yes, m'lady?"

"Bring Bow. Please."

"Anything for She-Ra," the mage said. 

Swift Wind darted through the halls, using his powerful wings to carry him through the halls. The dead littered the way, and the Unicorn-Pegasus found it hard not to gag whenever he flew the remains of a defeated foe. Finally, the two of them found the throne room. He-Man stood staring at the remains of Horde Prime, in each hand he clutched both his heads. Slowly he turned to She-Ra, a savage look on his face.

"Adam, what's wrong?"

"He has broken the staff. I tried to stop him, but my blade was not quick enough. So, I've taken his heads. Both of them. Horde Prime is no more. If our world cannot be free, then at least other worlds under his dominion now stand a chance to fight for freedom themselves."

"And what of our worlds?" Swift Wind asked, "My family still lives in Etheria, He-Man."

"Then we must head down there and try to close the portals ourselves. It is the only way."

The ship's engine core exploded, the ship surging to one side. Fire started to burst through the air ducts. The once great ship of the ruler of the universe was now becoming a flaming tomb. 

"We need to get out of here, now!"

He-Man nodded, and pushed away from the floor towards Swift Wind. The large stallion easily carried the two twins on his back.

"Hang on!" he shouted to his passengers.

"Fly through the walls, Swifty," She-Ra shouted.

"With pleasure!"

Using his powerful wings, and his magic, he tore hole through the ship's halls, pushing towards the hanger. He-Man swung his sword every once in a while.

"Why are you doing that?" She-Ra asked.

He-Man looked at her, "Cutting the wires for the escape pods. No survivors. We don't need one of his generals taking his place."

"Adam!" She-Ra scolded, but said nothing more. This was not the time to argue.

Orko was waiting in the cockpit, the shuttle turned around and ready to go. As soon as Swift Wind was inside, he closed the doors and started to navigate through the debris. 

"What are you doing?" He-Man roared, "By the Power of Grayskull, shoot torpedoes into the hull and let's get down to the surface! We've do not have time for this!"

"B-b-but that will destroy the ship..."

"I care not for them! Nor should you. Do it. Now!" He-Man shouted.

"Adam, even if they are our enemies, you cannot just... murder them..."

He-Man walked to the joystick and armed the missiles. He turned to Orko and leaned in, "After all they've done to us, after all they've put us through, you wish to show them mercy? No. I ran out of mercy a long time ago."

The missiles tore a hole through the hull of the ship, the sudden opening sucking out all the air from inside. With expert control that could have rivaled even the best fighter pilots, He-Man piloted the shuttle out of the newly created exit, slipping through the gap and into space. Orko and She-Ra turned to see the massive ship turn over and burst into flames as sections of it started to exploded. Pieces of debris started raining down onto Eternia. 

Then a bright flash of light as the engine went into critical mass, and exploded. 

Below them they spotted the enemy ships falling from the skies straight into the planet's surface. Hundreds of them, one after another. Without their controller, the Horde machines were no longer a threat. 

And even after such a significant blow against the enemy, their planets were still in danger.





The shuttle landed near the palace. Teela stood there along with what was left of the royal family to welcome back the heroes from defeating Horde Prime.

"Welcome back my children," the king said hugging his offspring tenderly, "The battle here has been won, but I fear that the portals still remain open. The worlds are still merging, and we no longer have any means to stop it."

"There is one way," She-Ra said, "We go to Castle Grayskull and find a new Sorceress. One that can help close the portals."

"That could work, but that won't be enough. We need more power. More magic. A lot more." He-Man turned to Swift Wind, "An army of unicorns would help save our worlds. They have enough magic within them to help save both our planets."

Swift Wind looked at He-Man, "You wish for us to remain here while your people flee?"

"Or we could remain here and your people flee. Either way, it would save our worlds."

Swift Wind nodded understanding that He-Man was not trying to leave his people behind, "Then the unicorns will remain here on Eternia. We will channel our powers to end the merging."

He-Man nodded, "I am grateful. When you are ready, dear sister, we will head for Castle Grayskull."

"I shall see you later this evening then?" She-Ra said to her stead.

Swift Wind nodded, "Till then, m'lady."

She-Ra re-boarded the shuttle. She did not know what to expect, but she was neither nervous nor fearful. She had a duty to do, and she was chosen for a reason. He-Man saw his sister's face and held her hand tightly. She returned the gesture and smiled at him, letting him know that she was ready. Ready for what was to come.

They flew directly to Grayskull. 

Upon their arrival, He-Man walked out and headed towards the jawbridge. His sword resonated with the magic of the castle, and the bridge began to lower itself.

Orko looked up to his friend. "We've been through a lot together, and I've been your friend for so long, He-Man, but I think that... our paths must end here. I think that... it is time for me to return to my world."

He-Man turned to face his long-time friend. After a moment he could not longer meet Orko's gaze.

"I understand. Once the worlds merge, who knows what will happen to the magic of this land. I will miss you, Orko."

"We'll meet each other again one day. There is never a goodbye to my people, only long moments of separation."

For the first time in a long time, Adam smiled, "I like that."

He-Man looked over to She-Ra, "Do you wish to change your mind? I'm sure I can find another to take your place..."

"Brother, are you going to entrust the fate of two worlds to a stranger?" She-Ra asked.

"The thought of never seeing you again..." He-Man looked at Orko who nodded, "never crossed my mind. We will see each other again. Perhaps not on Eternia or Etheria, but one day."

She-Ra hugged her brother, "Give my love to father. He will not understand this."

"I shall. Give my love to mother if you should see her. She is dearly missed." 

The border between life and death was blurred within the castle walls, and within the pool in which the raw energies of the universe was gathered. Whether or not She-Ra would live to become the Sorceress was still unknown.

"I shall, dearest brother." 

She-Ra released her brother for the last time and turned to enter the castle. Adam watched as the gates closed behind her and the drawbridge began to raise. Taking his sword from his back, he placed it in the ground in front of it. 

"The Sword of Power shall return to Grayskull. With the Horde defeated, the danger is gone. Perhaps one day it shall be needed once more... one day..." Adam released his grip from the hilt and felt the power of He-Man still with him. 

A parting gift? Perhaps for his service to this world and the other.

Orko touched his friend's shoulder, "Until the next time."

"Take care of yourself, Orko. I will miss you."

"Me too, He-Man... Adam. Me too." Orko said, his voice echoing as he faded out of Eternia for the last time.





"How many are left?" He-Man asked.

"Nearly everyone has gone through to Etheria, sir," the soldier reported, "Sir, why are we going to Etheria? Would it not make more sense for us to remain on Eternia instead?"

"You may stay if you wish, but I cannot. This world will be flooded with powerful magic," He looked up at the sky, "I cannot guarantee that either of us would survive it."

"But why not do that on Etheria, Your Highness? Surely the unicorns would prefer that their home planet be kept for them."

"Because that was the choice made," He-Man said, "Come, let us not beat about the bush. I will also miss Eternia, but we have a chance to rebuild on a new world. Etheria is bigger than this world, and has much to explore."

"If you say so, sir."

The soldier went on his way as Swift Wind stood next to He-Man.

"I see that you've kept your form as He-Man. Is it permanent?"

"Feels so," Adam replied looking at his hands, "And you are still a unicorn."

"Perhaps a gift from the Ancients for defeating an ancient evil?"

"Perhaps."

"All unicorns present and accounted for, sir," Blaze said bowing his head.

"And we are almost all evacuated from this world as well. There are a few that refuse to leave. They might not survive the magical storm..." He-Man shrugged, "We have warned them, and I am not about to bother convincing them with force."

Swift Wind nodded in understanding. "Then we shall grant them a gift. There has been too much death on this day. I will not allow another being to die."

"Thank you," Adam bowed, "You are noble leader... king."

"King?" Swift Wind laughed at the suggestion, "No, not king. Perhaps a prince, but never a king. That title will sit with you and yours for the rest of time."

"I do not rule worlds, Swift Wind. I rule only those that wish for it."

"And as long as the rule of your line is fair and just, my country will always refer to your line as the line of the kings and queens," Swift Wind smiled, "A prince or princess sounds a lot better as well."

Adam laughed heartily, "Indeed it does."

Lightning flashed through the skies, and thunder echoed through the clouds. 

It had begun.

"It is time for me to take my final farewell. I trust that you will take care of yourself and your kind from here on?"

"I shall. Until the day we should meet once more, farewell."

"Farewell."

Adam stepped into the portal along with the last of his soldiers and watched as the image of the stallion faded into nothingness behind him. He walked over to a small stool and sat down.

"Sire! He-Man does not sit on a stool! He must sit on a throne!" a soldier shouted.

"No. He-Man sits on a stool, because it is not what you sit on that defines you, it is your actions. And until this world is safe and I convinced of it, I will remain on this stool." 

"He is not king yet," Teela stated, "He is our prince, and we must love him like one."

He-Man heard that and looked up at her and smiled, "Thank you, Teela. I like that."





"You do not have a choice," Swift Wind stated, "If you do not wish to be like us, then we will make you something that can survive the magical anomalies. You had your chance to flee and you did not take it. Now you must choose whether to accept our help, or die."

The people looked at one another, "How dare you horses speak to us this way? We are humans! We are your masters! We ride atop of you! Change us? You must be mad..."

"You say this as if you have a choice. Since you refuse to be like us, I think this is a more suitable form for your kind." 

Swift Wind's horn glowed a bright blue, and in the next instant the humans turned into a half-mutation of dog and man.

"You call us filth? Yet that is where you will dig your homes! For the rest of your lives and those of your descendants, you will live beneath us, digging under our feet out of sight! That is what you get for insulting us!" 

The dog creatures yelped and began to dig their holes in the ground around him. In moments the ex-human population had disappeared beneath the soil.

"That wasn't very nice, Swifty," A melodic voice said from next to him. 

"She-Ra?" the stallion asked.

The woman shook her head, "No longer. I am the Sorceress."

"Yes. I had forgotten... you're beautiful in that form..." Swift Wind said, stunned by her majesty. She was elegant, her skin was fair and even, her hair was a variety of pastel colored streaks, atop her head she wore a small crown, and her body was shrouded in a very faint, transparent cloth. 

Swift Wind had never been attracted to the human female form, yet he found that he was unable to take his eyes off of her.

The sorceress blushed, "Thank you, Swifty, but now isn't the time to... be distracted. Let's save our worlds."

He nodded.

As the Sorceress mounted his back, he felt her on top of him. It took everything he had to suppress the feelings in his body. She was right, this was not the time. They traveled to where the unicorns had assembled, and landed gently. All their eyes fell on the Sorceress.

"It is time for us to start," she said, her eyes starting to glow a deep blue as an aura of the same color surrounded her, "We must pry the worlds apart. Focus your magic into me."

The unicorns did so eagerly. They shot their powers into the Sorceress as she concentrated all the magic towards where the portal was. The sky changed from a violent violent to a gentler cyan as the skies started to clear. The lightning began to abate, and the sound of thunder faded quickly. Soon it was over. It all happened so terribly quickly that it took them all a moment to realize that they had just saved the world.

Once the knowledge had sunk in, they all began to cheer.

"That was... simple." Swift Wind placed his head on the Sorceress' shoulder.

She giggled, "It was a lot easier than I had thought. He-Man had left the Sword of Power behind, so perhaps the combination of the two Swords, the Sword of Power and the Sword of Protection helped. But it is done! We are free!"

The unicorns continued to scream and yell in jubilation. In her mind, Adora wished she could see the throngs of people in the cities of Etheria celebrating their own freedom from Horde oppression. She had fought so long and hard that being unable to see it gave her a slightly empty feeling.

Now it was time to rebuild.

"You know," Swift Wind said as he descended the platform, "Since this is our planet, I was thinking of changing its name. What do you think?"

"You are the ruler of this world, Swifty. Whatever you want to do is okay by me." She flashed him a smile.

Again his breath caught in his throat. He had to cough to clear it, "I was thinking of calling it by the name 'Equestria'. Do you like it?"

"That is beautiful," The Sorceress replied, "I think it suits this new world perfectly." 

"You do?" He asked.

"I do," she replied, as she pat his neck, "Now you must build a new castle from which to govern the lands."

"How about... Castle Grayskull?"

"Oh no, one cannot dwell within the castle's walls. It is forbidden for all, save the chosen few."

"Then why not build around it?" Swift Wind asked.

The Sorceress laughed. It was music to his ears, "Very well. Around it is fine."

As the two of them headed towards the castle, a pair of eyes glared at the Sorceress' back. 

Star Wind watched as her mate and the Sorceress walked away together unnoticed by the others. She narrowed her eyes, a dark shroud seemed to surround her and a voice in the back of her mind crept in. It told her a great many things as a very thin, faint purple aura of magic slowly found its way up to her muzzle and she breathed it in.

A cold shiver ran down the Sorceress' spine. She spun around and searched for a moment. She could have sworn she had felt the presence of Horde Prime right behind her, but all she saw was Swift Wind's mate, Star Wind, staring back at her.