Triumph and torment
Her leg swooped round and smacked the kick-bag right in the centre, her arm came up and hit the top ofit, then her leg came round again. On and on like this she went, working with each leg and each arm. The sweat was pouring down her face, her hair had come out of the neat ponytail she had so carefully put it in earlier, her white leotard stuck to her body. None of this she noticed, the look on her face was total concentration, each perfectly timed kick hit the exact target, each solid punch made the kick-bag swing more and more.
‘Teela!’
More kicks, more punches, harder and faster.
‘TEELA’
She turned round, her concentration broken, the bag swung towards her and inevitably knocked her off her feet so she was sprawled on the mats. She looked up, her face a mask of contempt. Adam stared down at her, laughing shining in his eyes.
‘I hope this is important, you made me lose my concentration!’ she snapped
‘Just came to remind you its the ball in an hour’ he said
‘Honestly, you interrupted my training for that?’
‘I thought you might have wanted some time to get ready, make yourself beautiful?’ Adam quieried.
‘I do NOT need time to get ready, I prefer to train. If you trained a little bit more, then maybe you wouldn’t be so lazy and undisciplined’ she snapped as she picked herself and head for the door. Just as she was walking out of the door, Adam called her name. She spun round.
‘You look really cute with your hair down, especially when you’re angry’ he said with a wink.
Teela didn’t even dignify it with a reply and strode off down the corridor to her room.
‘Boy, sure-re-re glad you didn’t make her mad.....’ Cringer came out from behind the small pot where he had been attempting to hide
‘She’s not mad, well not really. You know how intense Teela can be, training, training, training.’ Adam gave Cringer a pat on the head ‘Come on, lets go see how the food is doing in the kitchens.’
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Teela listened to them leave, from her room. She sank down in front of the mirror and looked at herself. What did Adam know! Training was so important, she had to train, she had to be the best. She was Captain of the Royal Guard, there were plenty of men underneath her that would jump at the chance of taking her place. She had earnt this position, worked hard for it. She’d made her father........her thoughts stalled there for a moment, yes, she had made Duncan proud, and he was her father, to all intents and purposes. Just, sometimes, she wished she knew who her real parents were, what they looked like, which parts of her had she inherited from who? Did her mother have the same blue eyes? Her father have the chestnut hair? It was hard, being the Captain of the Guards, a warrior, well sometimes she didn’t feel like one, when she was alone in her room at night, she felt like a little girl, lost somehow. Sometimes she just wished she had a mother to talk to, like Adam did with Queen Marlena. Teela looked at herself straight in the mirror. She looked mess, she thought, dark smudges on her face from the mats, hair strewn wildy about her head.
‘Pull yourself togther’ she said to the mirror. ‘You’re Captain of the Guards, act like it!’.
She looked at herself again, yes, she thought, all that training hasn’t been for nothing. Look at Adam, so undisciplined, if only he could be like He-man........her thoughts wandered again, confusion, mixed feelings, He-man, she admired him so much, he was so strong, so disciplined, so......handsome maybe, yet she felt she had something to prove to him. To prove she could handle situations, instead of him rushing in to save her all the time, like a damsel in distress. But without him, Eternia would be so much more worse off, he’s a hero.....she thought. She discarded her leotard and sank into the bath she had prepared, the warm water lapped around her aching muscles, soothing them. Her thoughts, drifting though they were, turned to tonight. The ball to celebrate the anniversary of King Randor and Queen Marlenas union. Queen Marlena had insisted on a very Earthian celebration, what she called ‘a ball’. It had taken a while for the Eternians to come round to the idea, but now they were all quite looking forward to it. As Teela stepped out of the water and wrapped a towel around herself, she caught sight of her outfit for tonight. Marlena had insisted on a dress, and a long dress at that, Teela had protested of course, it was unsuitable for a Captain of the Guard, she would feel unprotected. But, it had been the Queen’s wishes, and there were many Guards that would be on duty tonight, and if she was honest with herself, Teela was quite curious and excited about how the dress would look.
She sat infront of the mirror again and began to put her hair up into the ponytail. She stopped herself, remebering what Adam had said in the training room, that she looked cute with it down. Critically, she stared into the mirror. Maybe bundling some of it up on her head and some of it down? Yes, she thought, a total change of image for tonight. She wandered over to the other side of the room and slipped the dress over her head, her wrist intercom lay on a table next to the bed. She flicked the switch,
“Sergeant are the men in place”
“Yes Captain, they are”
Reassured she gave the man a few more instructions and then layed the intercom down. Off duty for the night, she told herself and turned to do one last check in the mirror.
Just as she was stood there, there was a knock on the door. Man-at-Arms gently pushed the door open.
‘Father’ she said, turning to him.
Duncan stood there, mouth open in surprise.
A small voice behind him said ‘wow’.
‘My sentiments exactly, Orko’ he managed to say.
‘What?’ quiered Teela, ‘is something wrong? Have I not put it on right?’
‘My dear, you look wonderful, its just a bit of a shock, seeing you like this.’
For the first time in her life, Teela blushed. Man-at-Arms walked over and pinned a delicate flower to her dress.
‘Whats this for?’ she asked
‘An old earth custom, I am told. And I also took the liberty of hiding an intercom inside it, just so you could relax a little tonight.’
Teela squeezed her fathers hand.
‘Thank you’ she said.
‘Are you ready?’ he asked and held out his arm, which Teela took, and with Orko following on behind they walked out of the room, to the main hall.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Adam stood in the middle of the huge room. Decorations were everywhere, he hardly recognised it. There was a long table of food along the right hand wall, every conceivable type was there. Uniformed servants ran about making sure everyone had enough food and drink, and at the bottom, where the thrones stood, a some musicians played, on a raised platform. The gentle music filled the room, people were soon dancing to it. Adam breathed in, the atmosphere was amazing, he’d never been to anything like this. He looked down at Cringer. Cringer was making eyes at the food table whilst trying to paw the bow off that he had round his neck.
‘Cringer, leave the bow alone, it makes you look.....’ he searched for a word, ‘dignified?’
‘Thanks,’ the cat said ‘I look pretty stupid, I think I’ll go check on the food table.’
Adam laughed as the big cat padded across the room. Just then, he heard his mother come up behind him.
‘Adam, you look very dashing’ she said.
He smiled, she’d chosen the clothes for him. A pair of blue pants with a white shirt and a blue tunic over the top.
‘Mother,’ he said, kissing her check, ‘you look delightful too’ and he meant it.
Queen Marlena was wearing a beautiful long gold gown, specially made by the tailors in the palace. She smiled, she knew her son meant every word, such a wonderful boy, growing up so much now.
‘I think there are some young ladies over in the corner that would like to dance with the young prince’ she said and then wandered over to where her husband was talking to some dignatries.
Adam walked over to the corner. The girls, all blushed bright red and giggled to one another. He choose the blond one and asked her to dance, she accepted and he swept her out on to the floor.
They were dancing, slowly to one of the pieces, when Man-at-Arms entered the room. Adam had to do a double take, and he stood on his partners foot. He looked again, was that Teela? With Man-at-Arms? He couldn’t believe his eyes, she had her hair piled up on to the top of her head, with some whispy tendrils spilling down onto her neck, her dress began on her shoulders and crossed over her chest and then disappeared leaving her abdomen uncovered, the material then reappeared at her hips and swept down to the floor. Everyone saw her in her Captains uniform everyday which was normal Eternian wear and left little to the imagination, but this dress, it covered more, yet teased the watcher’s mind. Adam couldn’t believe it, and it was the most beautiful blue, making her eyes stand out all the more. He walked over to her, the room was almost silent. Every man’s eyes were on her. (To see what she looked like click here)
‘Teela, you look amazing’ he said.
‘Thank you, Adam. The outfit....suits you’ Teela was lost for words, she wasn’t used to being in this sort of situation, she was drawing everyones attention and it made her feel a little uncomfortable.
‘Duncan, would you mind if I took your daughter for her first dance?’ Adam asked. Duncan smiled and handed Teelas arm over to Adam. Teela shot her father a look. He knew what it meant, she’d have words with him later about this. He could see she felt out of her depth, she didn’t feel in control, but he thought it would do her good. Adam lead her across the dance floor and the musicians began to play. The two of them, struck up a stiff, cautious, dance position and began to move. But as the music flowed over them, they began to relax and fell into their normal relationship. Adam held her a little tighter and Teela began to let her guard down. They began to talk about how Cringer had been hiding earlier and laughing, and then they began talking of their childhood together, especially when Adam had first been given Cringer. Before they knew it, many songs had passed.
‘I think we’d better stop, I’m monopolising the most stunning woman here.’ Adam said.
‘You’re only saying that to make me blush’ Teela said, doing so. ‘If you spent half as much time practising your training as you seem to have been doing dancing, then you would be a much better warrior’ she said.
Adam smiled at her, the smile which said ‘If only you knew’ and lead her to the edge of the dance floor. Another Eternian male immeadiately wandered over and asked her to dance. Adam watched as she went out onto the dance floor.
‘hmmmmmmmmmmm’ a voice said in his ear. He looked around and saw Orko hovering next to him, staring in Teelas direction.
‘Oh, hi Orko’ Adam said ‘She’s amazing isn’t she’ Orko sighed.
‘Who?’ Adam said, pretending not to know.
‘Teela, of course. Never seen her out of uniform before’
‘No neither have I.’ said Adam, thoughtfully.
He wandered out onto a balcony off the room, and sat on the edge, looking up at the two Eternian moons. She did look amazing, he thought. Quite different to normal, not that she wasn’t normally, well, beautiful, but she was like his sister. He remembered all the many many times she had bossed him around and all the training she forced him to do. The amount of times she had called him lazy, laughed at him, ruined his fishing trips with Cringer. He looked back across into the ballroom and a smile crossed his face. Orko had asked her to dance, and was being swung round the ballroom, his hat threatening to fall off. A small animal peeped out from underneath the back of it. He looked back at the moons, and his mind turned to his parents, 25 years of union they were celebrating, a life-time of love. Adam couldn’t imagine a love as strong as that. Just then he heard footsteps close by, he looked round. Teela was standing a little way off.
‘Sorry, I didn’t realise there was anyone else out here, I just wanted some air.’ she said
‘No its ok, I was just thinking about some things.’ Adam replied.
‘What things?’ Teela moved over and sat down on the wall.
‘Oh just about love, and my parents union.’
‘Yes, I know, 25 years’ Teela sighed ‘I wish I knew my parents were this happy’ she said and then more quietly ‘I wish I knew.......’
Adam looked at her, she looked so vulnerable, he’d never seen her like this before.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said, trying to compose herself. ‘I shouldn’t be talking like this.’
‘No, I don't mind, its just you’ve never talked about your real parents before.’
‘I love Duncan, with all my heart, its just.......I envy the relationship you have with your mother.’ she looked down at her lap, embarrassed. Adam brought his hand up and touched the side of her face, she titled her head up and looked at him. He could see the tears behind her eyes. He caressed the side of her face and she placed her hand on his, he brought his face towards hers......
‘Captain, captain.’
Adam snapped out of the daze. Teela pressed the switch on the corsage Man-at-arms had given her.
‘Yes, sergeant, what is it?’
‘We have reports of the village outside the palace gates being attacked by Skeletor and his henchmen.’ Teela jumped up,
‘I have to go,’ she said and dashed off, picking up Man-at-Arms on the way, with the remaining guards.
Adam watched her leave. He whistled for Cringer, who came slopping over, a piece of meat in his mouth.
‘Come on Cringer, time to do our duty’
‘Oh no, not again, I was just begining to enjoy myself.’
Adam quickly checked to see no-one was looking and then pulled his sword out from underneath his tunic.
‘By the power of grayskull. I have the power!’
Cringer was transformed into Battlecat, and Adam became He-man. He lept onto the cats back and they dropped down off the balcony and out of the palace gates.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Teela ran towards her room, she managed to drag the ball dress off and grab her usual uniform and pull it on, before rushing downstairs to asemble the guards. Man-at-arms was already down there, dealing out the weapons and vehicles. Teela ran to the front wind-raider and stood up on the front of it.
‘We have heard there is a village being attacked outside the gates, it it believed Skeletor and his henchmen are responsible. Our primary concern is for the people of the village, we must help them and try and resolve this conflict.’
With that said, she jumped down into the seat of the windraider and the army took off towards the village. The first signs of trouble could be heard a few miles away. Piercing screams ripped through the air, as did the sounds of fighting. Teela could smell burning in the air, she urged the pilot to go faster. Her body was tensing in anticipation of the fight. As the windraider came into land, Teela took in the surroundings. Many of the houses of the village were on fire. It was dark now in Eternia, the only light came from the two moons and the fires, and all that could be seen were masses off shadowy figures running and screaming. The windraider landed and Teela jumped out. She could see Skeletors henchmen torching some of the houses and others rounding up the villagers, no sign of Skeletor though. Just then some moving figures caught her eye. He-man and Battlecat came bounding up.
‘He-man, thank the elders you’re here’
‘Yes, the sorceress told me there was trouble here, I thought you might like the help.’
With that said, he ran off towards the epicentre of the commotion. Teela watched him stride away. She sent her men out, some to try and fight against Skeletors henchmen and others to try and put the fires out and help the villagers. Teela herself, ran towards someone she recognised..........Beastman.
‘Oi, furry features’ she shouted, watching the man pushing a small child about. ‘Why not pick on someone your own size’
‘Grrrr, a woman?’ he scoffed. ‘What’s a woman going to do against a man like me.’ he lunged for her.
Teela kicked her boot up into his groin. He doubled over in pain.
‘That?’ she said with a smile.
He pulled his arm round and his whip lashed out, catching her on the side of her face. Teela reached her hand up and felt blood. He lashed out his whip again, but this time she was ready. She circled her sword round and caught the end of the whip, a sharp tug pulled it out of Beastman’s hand. Holding it in her own hand, she started to experiment, snapping it at his feet.
‘Ooooo I could get used, to using this!’ she said with a glint in her eye.
She managed to wrap it round his feet, bringing the big man crashing to the floor. He hit his head on a rock and was out cold. Teela looked around to see where to go next. She could see He-man fighting with Mer-man. It looked for a moment as if the evil one had the upper hand, He-man was on his knees with his sword up, blocking Mer-mans swings, but each one pushed him further down. He-man’s back touched the floor but then Battle-Cat jumped in and hit the back of Mer-man, sending him sprawling onto the floor. He-man managed to get up and hit the henchman on the back of his head with the handle of his sword.
‘Thanks Cat’
‘Grrrrr, no problem, never liked fish anyway, a little too slimy’
He-Man looked over to where Teela was watching, and smiled. A kick to Teela’s back sent her flying onto the ground. She picked herself up and flung round, and came face to face with Evil-Lyn.
‘Lost your concentration, Captain?’ Evil-Lyn hissed. ‘Need big brave He-man to come and help you out?’
‘I can do just fine on my own’ Teela replied, sending her fist into Evil-Lyns face. ‘Skeletor not with you tonight? He’s let his slut do all his dirty work for him?’
Evil-Lyn spat at Teela and kicked her legs out from under her, Teela grabbed her as she was falling to the floor and the two fell to the ground. Teela could feel her hair being grabbed at, so she reached for Evil-Lyns head, and ripped off her headgear, exposing a tangled mess of grey, thining hair, so brittle it came away in her hands. Evil-Lyn scream and started scrabbling about on the floor, trying to get her headress back.
‘I thought you were the most powerful sorceress in Snake Mountain? Can’t even make your own hair grow!’ Teela snapped at her, as she got to her feet.
Evil-Lyn grabbed her headress and pulled it over her hair. She got to her feet and began to chant. Teela could see magic building so she swept her legs under the other womans and knocked her to the floor, the blow interrupting the spell. Teela drew her sword and held it at the woman’s throat.
‘What is so imporatnt about this village? Why is Skeletor burning it?’
Evil-Lyn remained silent. Teela edged her blade closer so it started to dig in slightly.
‘He need slaves, to mine diamonds in the pits under snake mountain’ Evil-Lyn managed to spit out.
‘Why, what does he need the diamonds for?’
Just then, a bright light appeared in the middle of the village and Skeletor himslef stepped out. He-man was close by and turned to face him.
‘So He-man, you’ve come and ruined my plans again.’ Skeletor said as he surveyed the bodies of his henchmen lying stunned around.
‘Skeletor, I will always ruin your plans’ he replied.
With that statement he lifted the power sword and swung towards Skeletor. Skeletor raised his havoc staff and fired a bolt at He-man which knocked him to the ground. Teela left Evil-Lyn and ran over.
‘Evil-Lyn, Beastman, Mer-man, back to Snake Mountain.’ Skeletor shouted and with that he walked back through the portal, followed by his minions. Teela turned He-man’s face towards her, his eyes opened.
‘I’m ok,’ he said, ‘just a little stunned.’
He picked himself up and joined the rest of the Eternians who were starting to put out fires and help the villagers rescue their homes. Once this was done the army began to reassemle at the windraiders and make the journey back to the palace. Man-at-Arms took the first parties back. He-man and Teela were left to bring up the rear. The penultimate windraider had taken off as a woman came running down the hills.
‘My children, help me they’re trapped!'
He-man and Teela went running over. The woman sobbed as she explained that her two young children had run to hide in the caves and now they were trapped. He-man and Teela ran up to the caves, they clambered through the passageway, and they could hear the voices of the children crying out. Teela ran into the chamber of the caves first, she saw the two children standing there and ran over to them. She put her arms around them to comfort them. Her arms passed through them.
‘Projections’ she cried. ‘Its a trap!’
But too late, Skeletor stood at the cave mouth with the woman, who morphed into Evil-Lyn. He sent bolt of power from his havoc staff to the room of the cave. Rocks began to pile in.
‘Get out of this one, He-man’ he cried, and created a portal back to Snake Mountain.
He-man rushed to where the rocks were falling in, he tried to stop them, like he usually did, but it seemed he had little strength.
‘That spell Skeletor cast before, its drained my strength.’ he managed to shout to Teela, before the rocks came crashing down.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
She heaved the rocks off him, fotunately they had only covered his arm, not much major damage seemed to have been done. She dragged him across the cave floor and rest him against a rock. Some water was lying, stangant, on the floor and she used this to clean the blood from his arm. He-man began to wake, and winched slightly.
‘The big hero, afraid of pain?’ she teased.
‘Not so much a hero now’ he said.
‘Its only a spell, it should wear off soon. Until then, you’re stuck with me in this cave, unless some other hero comes by and rescues us!’
He-man looked at his arm, the cut was quite deep. He stared up at Teela and smiled.
‘Thanks for taking care of me.’ he said.
‘Its nothing, its nice to be able to look after you once in a while, instead of you always running to my rescue.’
‘Not always, just some of the time.’ he said.
‘Hmmm,’ she said, ‘I always seem to need you’.
‘Well maybe I need you too.’ he said and touched her hand that was tending to his arm.
He ran his hand up her arm, to touch her face. He lightly brushed the cut, from Beastmans whip, on her cheek. He pulled her face close and touched his lips to hers. Teela felt explosions inside her body. She shut her mind out and let her body take control. This was He-man, he was kissing her, something she had always dreamed about. She melted her body into his, and kissed him back. His hands began to move over her body, she traced her fingers over his chest. They slowly undressed one another and began to make love.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sunlight streamed in to her eyes from a gap in the roof of the cave. Teela’s eyes opened and she looked around her. She found she was lying across He-man’s chest, she looked up at his face and watched him as he slept. He looked so peaceful, and.......harmless. Teela smiled to herself. She stood up carefully trying not to wake him and gathered her uniform and began to put it on. He-man’s eyes opened, he looked at Teela and smiled and then just watched her.
‘What are you looking at?’ she said, quite embarrassed and covering herself up.
‘You! You weren’t that bashful last night.’ he said, a playful grin on his face.
He stood up and swept her into his arms and kissed her. Teela felt like she could carry on doing this all day. Suddenly scrabbling noises disturbed them.
‘He-Man? Teela’ a voice shouted. ‘Are you OK?’
‘Man-at-Arms!’ He-Man said.
‘We have to start to try and get out of this place, they’ll wonder what on earth we have been doing!’ Teela said, and she grabbed for a rock and began to struggle to get it out of the way.
He-Man stood next to her, picking rocks up like they were plastic.
‘Looks like the spell wore off.’ Teela commented.
Soon they had formed quite a gap and Teela was able to crawl through, into the waiting arms of her father. Man-at-Arms held her close and then helped He-Man get through.
‘Lucky BattleCat knew where to find you two or you could have been stuck in here for days!’ Man-at-Arms said, ‘Hope it wasn’t too much of an unpleasent experience.’
Teela and He-man exchanged galnces.
‘No father, it wasn’t. Anyway the spell was only a mild one and wore off after a few hours.’ Teela said.
With that, they made their way back to Eternia. Teela rode with He-man on BattleCat, only the two of them knowing why she held on to him so tight.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Adam walked down the corridor. A smile played across his lips.
‘I don’t know what you’re smiling about.’ Cringer said, ‘she doesn’t know that it is you!’
‘I know, I know, but I know it is me, and that’s enough for me at the moment. I will tell her the secret as soon as I get chance and its the right time.’
They turned into the training room to find Teela already there for the lesson, however her mind hadn’t quite got there yet.
‘Teela?’ Adam said.
She didn’t move in the slightest, her eyes were staring off into the distance. Adam was pretty sure he knew what she was thinking about, it brought a smile to his face again. Cringer left in disgust. Adam walked up to Teela and waved his hand in front of his face.
‘Eternia to Teela?’ he said.
Teela snapped out of the daze she was in, and stared at Adam.
‘Right, training.’ she said, quite coldly.
They began to warm up on the mats. Adam’s eyes couldn’t help but stray to her bare legs as she stretched them out. Images of them wrapped round him played across his mind. It was killing him, not being able to share these thoughts with her. He could see her mind was totally taken up by last night, but it was taken up by thoughts of He-Man and not Adam. What if she actually liked He-Man more? And didn’t even find Adam attractive at all? All these thoughts were making his head funny. He needed to talk to someone, but who? He could hardly go to Duncan and say, oh I made love to your daughter last night as He-Man and now I don’t know what to do. Although Duncan was his best friend, he might understand. He’d go and talk to him later.
Teela could see out of the corner of her eye that Adam was watching her. She knew her mind wasn’t on the class, but on last night. It had been amazing, she’d never felt like that before. But here was Adam, just looking at her, reminding her of the other ‘last night’ at the ball, which felt like so long ago. She knew that something special had happened between her and Adam at the ball, but also that something very special had happen with He-man last night? Or had it, she hadn’t seen him since. Off being a hero she supposed. Or maybe with another girl, maybe he liked the adoration. She pulled herself together and got up off the mat. She wasn’t paid to do all this thinking, she was paid to train the Prince in combat.
‘Ok, we’ll start with a few moves we worked on last week. Do you remember them?’
‘Yes I think I do’ Adam replied.
They began to move around the mats, Teela throwing puches towards Adam and him blocking them. Teela was struggling to keep her concentration, her mind kept straying and it showed. Adam swept her legs from underneath her and pinned her to the mats. She found herself on her back, both arms pinned and Adam above her. Before she knew it, they were kissing, she could feel shots of electricity running in her head. She knew she had wanted this to happen. But what about last night? What about He-man? What did she feel? For both of them. She used all her force to push Adam off and ran out of the room, down the corridor and out of the building. Adam got up, and watched her run out of the window. He had his answer, he thought. With a heartfelt sigh he wandered down the corridor to Duncan’s laboratory.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Sorceress was sat in Castle Greyskull deep in meditation when something came into her mind. She concentrated her thoughts so she could read it. There was someone close to the castle, but they weren’t a threat. She felt something stronger, a mother’s bond, it could be called. Teela was outside and she could sense she was upset. In her mind the Sorceress could see she needed someone to talk to. Anyone. Teelana put away all thoughts of the bond between the two of them. Teela couldn’t know yet. Instead she projected herself so her voice could be heard outside the castle.
Teela had just ran once she had left the training room. She wanted to get as far away from the palace as possible. And now she found herself outside Greyskull. The imposing building rose from the ground in front of her. Even though it wasn’t all that far from Eternia, the climate totally changed at this part of the land. All around the area looked barren and a wind blew across the plains, making Teela shiver. Most Eternians were terrified of Greyskull and its barren landscpe, but strangely Teela never felt afraid her, she felt something of a warmth for the Castle. She stood there and looked at the outside. A voice suddenly spoke in her head.
‘Teela, you are troubled, come inside.’
Teela instantly recognised the voice of the Sorceress. The voice sounded reassuring so Teela found herself walking up to the Jawbridge. In response to her movements, the Sorceress commanded the Jawbridge to lower. Teela stepped inside the castle and was met by the Sorceress. The Sorceress reached her arm out and touched Teela’s shoulder.
‘You look troubled, can I help in anyway?’
She led Teela into the main hall of Greyskull and they sat down. Teela was quite nervous, she had never really spoken to the Sorceress except in matter of Eternian state, yet she felt she could talk to her. Maybe she could help.
‘Have you ever been in love Sorceress?’ Teela asked.
One of the hardest questions to answer, the Sorceress thought.
‘Yes, many years ago. I was married to a man named Dannon, he was a hero in Eternia and a wonderful man.’
‘What happened?’ Teela asked.
‘He was killed defending Eternia from attack, and then I took up my post here in Greyskull and have stayed here ever since.’
‘Were you in love with Dannon?’
‘Yes, I loved him with all my heart, and more.’
‘But how, how did you know you loved him?’ Teela asked.
‘When the right person comes along, you know.’
The Sorceress looked at Teela and saw the confused look on her daughters face. She longed to reach out and hold her, make her troubles go away. But, the time was not right. For now she had to solve Teela’s problems as the Soreceress and not as her mother.
‘But what if there is two?’ Teela asked quietly.
The thoughts were stronger now in the Sorceresses mind, thoughts coming from Teela. Two men, Adam and He-man. The same feelings for both. The Sorceress knew the answer but she couldn’t tell Teela, that wasn’t her place. Her heart went out to Teela, such strong feelings and all this pain for no reason.
‘You must look with your heart, that is the only way. Look with your heart.’
Teela took the words in but they meant little. She thanked the Sorceress and walked out of Greyskull into the plains. The Sorceress watched her go with a heavy heart. Such an awkward situation. She wished she could be Teela’s mother, just for once. It could make many things a lot simpler.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Adam slumped down onto one of the benches in Man-at-Arms laboratory and put his head in his hands. Man-at-Arms stopped what he was doing and came over to the Prince.
‘What brings you down here looking so low. I thought you should be training? Teela won’t be happy!’
Adam sighed and looked at Duncan.
‘Whats the matter?’ the man asked.
‘Women,’ Adam replied. ‘Or one woman in particular’
‘Need I ask who?’ Duncan asked.
‘Is it that obvious?’ Adam said.
‘Not really, I just always thought you two would find one another.’
‘But thats the problem. We haven’t, well she’s found a part of me.’
Duncan looked confused, so Adam told him all the details, leaving out certain parts but letting Duncan get the gist of the story.
‘I think you have got this wrong.’ Duncan said.
‘Got what wrong. She was happy to be with me as He-man, but the moment I kissed her as Adam she ran off. Couldn’t be more simpler. She likes He-man, not Adam.’
‘Maybe she is confused?’ Duncan asked.
‘Confused about what?’
‘Her feelings? She doesn’t know its the same person. As far as she is concerned in the past 24 hours she has been kissed by two different men. Not an easy situation to deal with!’
Adam thought about this. The idea hadn’t crossed his mind. He had been so wrapped up in the idea that she didn’t like him as Adam.
‘You really think so?’
Duncan didn’t respond. Adam could see a faraway look in his eyes. He waited for a moment and Duncan turned to him.
‘I know so, the Sorceress just told me that Teela appeared at Greyskull and she has been talking to her.’ Adam’s face brightened considerably.
‘So all I have to do is talk to her!’
‘It would help.’ Man-at-Arms said as Adam dashed out of the room.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Teela started to make her way back to the palace. She was taking the long route through the forest when she saw Beast-man and Trap-jaw escorting some prisoners through woods. Teela realised that just her alone couldn’t overpower them, so she followed them, keeping behind the trees to find out what they were up to. The two henchmen were pushing what seemed to be villagers along the path. She could hear the two of them talking amongst themselves, they mentioned something about a diamond. Teela thought about what Evil-Lyn had told her last night and worked out that this had something to do with the diamonds that Skeletor was trying to mine. Obviously the prisoners were being taken to the mine as many had digging tools with them. If she could find out the location of the mine then she could report back and assemble an army to overpower Skeletor. The forest opened out onto a clearing where there was a deep hole dug going down into the earth, rope was coming out of it and Teela could just make out some villagers dragging a sack out of the hole. This must be where the diamonds were coming from. She stood up and turned to go back to the palace. As she turned she hit herself on something, it smelled horrible and was incredibly hairy. Beastman! The huge animal grabbed her around her arms and picked her up so she couldn’t struggle.
‘Skeletor will be pleased with this present.’ He growled.
Teela kicked out at the man and managed to break free and drop on the floor. But she couldn’t get up in time, Beastman kicked her hard and knocked her unconcious. He slung her over his shoulder and took her down towards the mine area.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Her head throbbed and she couldn’t see very much. She tried to move her arms, but they were firmly bound above her head. Her legs were bound too. She was helpless. A bright light shone in her eyes.
‘Wakey, wakey.’ an evil voice crowed.
She opened her eyes and could just make out the skull of Skeletor.
‘Ah, our hostage awakes.’ he cackled. ‘She will make a good barginning chip with the people of Eternia.’
‘And what makes you think they will do your bidding in exchange for me?’ she spat at him.
‘I think a certain hero could be manipulated’ he hissed.
‘Evil-Lyn, make sure a message gets to the palace that either He-man comes and retrieves the diamonds of power from the centre of the world for me or Teela will be executed!’
‘Yes, master.’ Evil-Lyn said. glaring at Teela. The prettier woman was getting the full attention of Skeletor. It didn’t please the witch.
‘Master, I do like that word.’ he said, his head coming close to Teela’s. ‘and you here so helpless and bound.’
He leaned in closer to her. Teela spat in his face. Skeletor swung round and smacked her across the face leaving a bloody mark. He swung round and stalked off, leaving her on her own. Teela struggled for a few minutes against her binds but found they were made of pure energy and couldn’t be moved. She sank back against the rock she was tied to. Although all her training wouldn’t let her mouth speak the words, her mind cried out for help
. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Sorceress was having a fitful sleep when suddenly a thought awoke her. She could sense again that Teela was in trouble but this time, she was in danger. Immediately she concentrated her thoughts on Adam.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Adam had been lying in bed thinking of Teela. He hadn’t managed to find her after his talk with Duncan, but he was going to talk to her in the morning. His dreams were interrupted by the Sorceress. He listened to what she said, that Teela was in danger, being held by Skeletor and he leapt out of bed.
‘Cringer, wake up, we’re needed!’
‘Not again,’ the reluctant cat moaned, ‘just another few hours sleep?’
‘Now!’ Adam demanded.
He pulled his sword out and lifted it above his head.
‘By the power of Greyskull! I have the power!’ he was transformed into He-man and he pointed his sword at the cowering Cringer, changing him into BattleCat. He ran out onto the corridor and was met by Duncan.
‘He-man, thank the ancients! We have just had word from Skeletor, he has Teela captive and if you don’t mine the diamonds for him, he’ll execute her!’
‘Assemble some men and come with me!’ He-man said.
Soon He-man, Battlecat, Man-at-Arms, Stratos and Ram-Man were on their way to the forest area where the mine was. He-man explained the plan to them and they all nodded and went their separate ways leaving He-man alone. He climbed up on to the top of the slope and shouted out.
‘Skeletor, I am here.’
Skeletor looked round and saw He-man sliding down the slope.
‘Ah, you have come. Tell me, will you get the diamonds?’
‘I will go and fetch the diamonds if you will let Teela free!’
‘Ah, I think not!’
‘Then I will not get the diamonds for you.’
‘So be it!’ Skeletor drew a sword and swung it at Teela.
‘No!!!!!’ He-man cried. ‘I will get the diamonds, don’t harm her. As a gesture of goodwill, let the villagers free. I can get what you want. You no longer need them.’
Skeletor thought for a moment and then motioned to his henchmen to free the villagers.
‘I have done my part. Now bring me the diamonds!’ Skeletor hissed.
He-man ran down towards the pit and jumped down. Teela held her breath, as the minutes passed by. Then he appeared again. His hand clasping something that sparkled brightly.
‘The diamonds!’ Skeletor whispered.
He-man walked towards Skeletor.
‘Are these what you want?’ he asked, looking around him.
His plan was working. He saw that Man-at-Arms had been able to stun Beastman with a sleep spray he had invented. Ram-man had been able to knock trap-jaw out and he could see Stratos flying off into the distance carrying Evil-Lyn. Only Skeletor left. He could see Man-at-Arms creeping up behind Skeletor. He had to act fast if he was going to distract Skeletor so Duncan could get Teela free. He walked closer to Skeletor. The diamonds held above his head.
‘Give the diamonds to me, He-man and she will go free, unharmed.’
‘And what would you do with them once you had them?’
‘Why power a laser which will destroy Eternia of course!’ Skeletor said cackling.
‘NEVER!’ He-man shouted.
Giving the signal to Man-at-Arms. He-man squeezed his hand tight and crushed the diamonds to powder and threw them in the air. Skeletor watched this happen and swung round with his sword towards Teela. He-man looked on in horror as he saw she was still against the rock. He watched her crumple to the ground as the sword hit. He rushed towards Skeletor and punched him hard, throwing him across the ground. Ram-man ran in and took the sword off Skeletor, placing the blade just at his thoat for when he woke up. He-man rushed to where Man-at-Arms was, next to the fallen form of Teela. He knelt down and picked her up so her head was on his knees.
‘Is she.........’ he whispered.
‘Just stunned, I managed to release the bonds a second before Skeletor swung, she fell to the ground just in time but banged her head slightly.’
He-man gently pushed Teela’s hair out of her face. He noticed the mark on her face from where Skeletor had hit her earlier. He stroked it gently. Teela’s eyes opened and she looked at him.
‘I thought I’d lost you.’ He-man said, his eyes deep and sorrowful.
‘I’m fine,’ she smiled. ‘Just got a little headache!’
Duncan reached over and touched her shoulder. She looked up into her fathers eyes and said again. ‘I’m fine, honest’
She stood up and leant against her father. He-man walked over to where Skeletor was lying. But before he could do anything a portal appeared, and the figure of Evil-Lyn was inside it, she called for her master. Skeletor crawled through the portal and disappeared.
‘Oh well, another time.’ He-man said.
‘Thank you, He-man.’ Teela said.
‘You don’t have to thank me.’ he said.
Then he whistled for Battlecat who was harrassing Beastman nearby. He swung himself up onto the cats back and they bounded off.
‘Running away again.’ Teela said to herself.
‘What was that?’ said Duncan.
‘Nothing’ she replied. The 4 hereos left, began to make their way back to the palace.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As they got back to the Palace and entered the main hall, they found King Randor, Queen Marlena and Prince Adam waiting for them. The King and Queen were overjoyed to see the hereos had returned and defeated Skeletor for the time being. Adam, knowing his parents were there and knowing Teela thought he had been at the palace all the time, felt he had to do something. He walked over to Teela, and put his arms round her, looking her in the eyes he said.
‘I thought I’d lost you.’
Teela looked at him for a moment, and in his eyes, she saw something she knew she had seen before.
‘I need to talk to you.’ she whispered in his ear. ‘Come to my room, later.’
Adam nodded and let go of her. A large feast was held that night in the heroes honour with masses of luxurious food and Orko entertaining. Even Duncan had to admit it was funny when Orko managed to upturn a vase of flowers on his head instead of making them vanish, after a while at least. Teela had had a traumatic day and no-one commented when she made her excuses and left. She went to her room and brushed her hair out. Sat in front of the mirror she smiled to herself. Then she undressed and climbed into bed. A short while later there was a knock on the door.
‘Come in’ she called.
Adam walked into the room. He stood at the door, speechless. The last thing he had expect was for Teela to be in bed, naked. There was a sheet covering her, but, well he hadn’t expected this.
‘What’s wrong? You didn’t mind it the other night in the cave.’ Teela allowed a few seconds for the words to sink in, and then stepped out of bed.
She clasped the sheet tantilisingly to her body as she made the steps towards Adam, then once she was close enough she kissed him. Adam was stunned.
‘But, you know?’
‘Yes, I know you are He-man.’
‘But how? Why? When?’
Teela laughed. ‘I only worked it out a short while ago, when you ‘both’ said that you thought you’d lost me. It was the same both times. And I listened to what the Sorceress said and looked with my heart and found the two people I was in love with was the same one.’
‘I’m glad’ Adam said.
Teela reached her arms up round his neck, causing the sheet to fall off. She held herself close to him and kissed him more passionately. Adam picked her up in his arms and carried her to her bed. Gently he laid her down and rolled on top of her. Kissing her again he rolled onto his back. She propped herself up on her elbow and looked at him.
‘What I want to know is why you didn’t tell me before! It would have saved a lot of heartache.’
‘Erm, well, very few people knew. It was a very big secret. The Sorceress first told me my destiny.’
‘So the Sorceress knows, that makes sense. But you didn’t trust me?’
‘Of course I did, it was just that Duncan knew.....’ ‘My father knew?’
‘And Orko did......’ Teelas eyes went wide open.
‘Orko? Orko knew, he knew and I didn’t. You trusted him and not me?’
Adam laughed. ‘See, you get so mad. I knew you would get mad when I told you so I put it off. You must learn to control your temper. You’re dating a prince now!’ he said jokingly.
Teela reached behind him and smacked a pillow over his head.
‘What was that for?’
‘Cause you deserved it!’ she said smugly. ‘Anyway after all that training you should have been able to block it!’
‘But I’m always helpless when you’re around!’ he replied.
Teela looked at him. She couldn’t think of anything to say, her head was so full and there were all these new feelings. Adam reached up and kissed her again. She rested her head on his chest and started to take his shirt off. He looked at her, seriousness crept into his eyes.
‘I did want to tell you, it was just......complicated. You were the one person I wanted to tell more than anyone.’
‘I understand.’ she said and finshed off undressing him.
He wrapped his arms around her again.
‘I love you’ he whispered.
‘I love you too, both of you.’ she replied.
Thanks go to Carol T, who gave me the support to actually open this to the public and to to Busta Toons who was a great help. Also thanks to O.Sharp for publicshing the unproduced scripts 'The sad peace.....' who's ideas I used for the Sorceress' history.
Charlie.
