"Lost Warrior"

By Christine A. House

Teela loses her eyesight in a battle at Castle Grayskull. He-man does all he can to help guide the woman he loves through this loss, but he also has to battle a loss of his own. Skeletor takes possession of his power sword.

Chapter 1

Prince Adam sometimes felt as if he were walking on an endless road. One that had no destination. No beginning. No end. As Prince of Eternia, he had responsibilities. A never ending life at court. As He-man he was in a battle where there was no victory. No glory. Just a monster that needed to be fed.

He only had one bright spot in it all. She kept him focused. Grounded. Without her, he couldn't exist. The warrior in him would have no reason to lift a sword.

Teela. His beautiful, courageous Teela. Captain of the Royal guard and the owner of his heart. He fell in love with her when he was five years old and that love has only grown with each passing year. Sadly, his love was not returned.

He had sacrificed any chance at achieving her love the day he accepted his destiny. From then on he had to become two beings. One she loved. Respected. The other she looked on with disappointment and annoyance. He had to become lost, and unfocused in order to display courage and achieve victory over his enemies.

There was great temptation in giving in and letting her see his true self. But if he chose to become selfish, then she could perish along with everyone else he held dear. No. He had to maintain his struggles. He would love her from within as the Prince, and as the warrior, he would know her touch. Her sweet voice would whisper to him, guide his hand in every thing he did.

Today was no different. He had missed yet another training session with her so that He-man could travel to the Grayskull to fight off yet another of Skeletors assaults on the great fortress of magic. She was there, right by his side, encouraging him with that tilt of her head and that gorgeous smile of hers."

"He-man, behind you!" Teela warned a little to late and he went sailing backward by the force of Skeletor's Havoc staff.

"You offend me He-man," Skeletor bellowed. "A pretty girl distracting you so easily. How disappointing."

He-man climbed to his feet, ignoring Skeletor.

"Are you okay?" Teela asked coming up beside him.

"Yeah. Just got the wind knocked out of me," He-man said, flashing her one of those heartbreaking smiles. "It's your fault."

"Me?" Teela said, sounding shocked.

"Yes. You," he said with a wink , watching Skeletor advance toward him.

"What did I do?" Teela asked

"Later," he said, pushing her behind him, and barely managing to block Skeletors staff as it charged again. He raised his sword, deflecting it and sending the current right back to Skeletor, who vanished, then reappeared behind Teela, grabbing her.

"Let her go, bonehead!" He-man warned, taking a step toward him

"One more step and your girl here will suffer for your bravery!" Skeletor warned, putting his hand around Teela's throat.

"I am warning you, Skeletor. You hurt her and--"

"And what? You are in no position to be making threats," Skeletor mocked, backing up toward his mighty Griffin. "She is coming with me."

"No!" He-man argued. "Teela--"

"You can have her back. Just lower that drawbridge!"

"He-man, no!" Teela shouted, pulling against Skeletor's grip.

He-man was torn. He knew he couldn't let Skeletor possess that kind of power, but his love was in danger.

Teela could she He-man struggling with Skeletor's threat. She wasn't about to be the cause of his turmoil. She stomped on Skeletor's foot with all her might and his hold on her eased and she pulled out of his grip, surprising Skeletor.

"Teela?" He-man called and she started backing toward him.

Skeletor was fuming. His plans were crumbling around him again. His eyes burned with fire and he raised his staff at them both. "I am tired of you and your heroics, He-man."

His Havoc staff started charging again, causing a green energy to fuse around it, then he rotated it several times and fired.

Teela didn't have time to think about her actions. She saw the man she loved in mortal danger and she reacted. "NO!" she ran directly in the path of Skeletor's anger and the green energy hit her head on, causing a blinding light to spark in her eyes and it propelled her backwards.

"Teela! No!" He-man cried, dropping his sword and running forward, catching her in his arms.

Skeletor found himself laughing hysterically. Then a glint of metal caught his eye and he saw He-man's sword on the ground.

The fool! He is not focused today. Skeletor thought, then with the wave of his hand, He-man's sword was in his possession. Not what I came for, but it will do. Then Skeletor made his way over to the mighty beast that was pacing nervously waiting for his master, and he charged off.

"Teela…love. Hang on!" He-man said, lowering her to the ground. He brushed her hair out of her face and started looking her over, desperately trying to see if there were any wounds.

He-man, bring me my daughter

"Sorceress?" He-man heard her in his mind and he looked up as the drawbridge came down.

He-man picked her up in his powerful arms and made his way into the mighty fortress. He found the Sorceress waiting in her throne room.

"Lie her down here." she commanded, indicating a large marble table that suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

He-man lowered his love gently down on the cold marble and held her hand as the Sorceress started incanting some ancient words over her daughter.

"I…She stepped in the way, saving me!" He cried. "Why? Teela, wake up…please!" He coaxed.

"She loves you."

He-man looked up at her words, but her eyes remained closed as if she hadn't spoken to him, the ancient words still spilling form her mind.

"Elders only knows why," he said sadly, looking down at her beautiful face. "Teela, don't do this! Wake up!"

"I can sense no mortal injuries, He-man," the Sorceress said, opening her eyes finally, watching her daughter close. She touched a hand to Teela's forehead. "There are some powder burns under her eyes…"

He-man gasped, noticing it for the fist time. He used his thumb to trace under her eyes, gently wiping the powder from them as he kissed each eyelid delicately.

"We just need to wake her," The Sorceress said.

He-man eased his arms around her and eased her up some. "Teela, love, I am here. You need to open those beautiful eyes for me," he whispered, lowering his head, resting it against hers. She stirred and He-man caressed her cheeks. "Teela, follow my voice. Come on beautiful."

"He-man..?" Her eyes eased open. "Oh…What…h…happened?"

"I'm here," he soothed, kissing her, trying to bring her around. "You took that blast from Skeletor's staff."

Teel felt like here eyes were on fire. She opened and closed them, over and over, trying to focus on the sound of He-man's voice. Why was it so dark? "He-man….I….Where am I?" she whispered.

"In Grayskull," He-man answered. "Are you hurt?"

"Why is it so dark?" she asked.

He-man felt a cold fear run through him. She wasn't looking right at him. "Teela…It's not dark, love."

Teela started shaking, and tears cascaded down her delicate cheeks as she squeezed her eyes shut.

"Teela, what is it?" The Sorceress asked, startling her.

Teela turned at the sound of the great mystics voice. "Who….Who's there?" She cried, reaching out.

The Sorceress and He-man exchanges worried glances, then He-man tucked a finger under Teela's chin and tilted her face up to him. "Teela?"

"He-man ….I….can't see …"

To Be continued…

Chapter 2

He-man felt as he had been struck down. "Teela….it's okay. I'm here," he soothed as he pulled her in his arms. Every tear she shed was like a knife in the chest.

"No…it's not!" she cried, burying her face against his powerful chest. "I…I can't see you."

"Teela, love….please don't cry," he pleaded, sensing her panic.

"I….I am scared," she whimpered, lowering her head

He-man framed her face within his hands, trying to raise it up, but she resisted.

"No! Please…..stop!"

"Teela, please….I need to look at you," he tried again.

"No!" she cried. "Why can't I see you?"

"I don't know, love," He-man said, fighting back his own turmoil. "Skeletor….His staff did something. You jumped in front of it…Why?"

She reached out to him when she heard the anguish in his voice. He guided her eyes to him, without speaking. "You are safe," she whispered. "That's all that matters."

"Teela," he whispered, wiping here tears. "You are….so precious to me. If I had lost you…."

She took a shaky hand to his cheek, searching for the right words through the darkness. Not being able to see into his beautiful blue eyes was unbearable. "I…can't not see you," she cried. "Do….something!" she pleaded.

He-man had never felt so helpless. He so wanted to take the fear out of her voice.

"Teela….I don't know that I can," he said. "Sorceress…" He looked to her, praying she had an answer.

"I am sorry, He-man. Skeletor's staff is fused from ancient power. Dark magic," the Sorceress said. "I shall have to consult with the Elders."

"You….can do that?" He-man asked, surprised. Tapping into the power of Grayskull was not something she did. This was he daughter though and he knew she would stop at nothing to find an answer.

"It will take time," the Sorceress said. "Take her home. Man-at-Arms needs to know what happened."

"No….I…I don't want my father to see me like this," she cried, burying her face against his chest.

He-man closed his eyes as she broke down more. He said nothing. Words failed him. He just held her, stroking her hair, gently rocking her back and forth.

"Teela, your father loves you," the Sorceress assured her. "Give it time. Life never gives us more than we can handle."

Teela turned to where her voice filled the room. "I'm suppose to just handle this?"

"Teela, easy," He-Man soothed. "I'm going to take care of you," he said reaching for his sword.

It hit him cold. How could he have not noticed?

"What is it He-Man?" the Sorceress asked.

"My sword. I….I left it outside."

The Sorceress closed her eyes and concentrated, preparing to teleport it to He-Man. Her eyes snap open. "It is in Skeletor's hands."

"What?" He-Man bellowed

"He-Man, go and get it," Teela urged. "You cannot let him possess it. I'm fine.."

"No!" He-Man argued.

"It's my fault," she cried.

"No, it's not," He-Man countered, refusing to let her blame herself . He-Man guided her gentle hands to his lips, kissing each one with great tenderness. "Teela, I love you. Nothing else matters."

Teela felt her heart constrict at his words. "No. Please…don't say that!" she choked out. "You can't love me. Not like this." She lowered her head, feeling lost.

He-Man cupped her chin and slowly brought his lips to hers, letting her feel his love.

"Please…. Don't!" she whispered, pulling out of his reach.

He-Man encircled her waist within his arms and pulled her closer, worshipping her mouth further. Teela sank into him, breathing in his scent.

"I….love you," she moaned between his kisses. "Don't let go. Please…."

He-Man pulled her close to his heart. "I won't. I'm right here," he said touching his lips across her forehead, her cheeks and finally resting his head against hers.

"What am I going to do?" she whispered. "A warrior cannot survive without eyes."

"Don't worry about that now, love," He-Man said. "I will be your eyes….always."

"I don't want to live like this," she argued. "I'm Captain. How can I lead?"

He placed a finger to her lips. "Your father can take care of that."

"He shouldn't have to," she said defiantly. "My place is with the guards…"

"Your place is with me," He-Man said, pulling her closer.

"You need to get your sword back," Teela reminded him. "It's important…"

"You come first," He-man said picking her up in his arms. "Sorceress, please keep us posted."

"I will," she assured him. "Teela, you are strong. Don't lose hope."

The Sorceress so wanted to take her daughter in her arms. They ached to comfort her, but she trusted He-Man to feel that void.

"Thank you," was all Teela could say as she rested her head against He-man's shoulder.

The jaw bridge lowered and He-Man went out to Teela's Wind Raider, easing her in the seat." We are on out way home, love," He-Man assured her as he typed in the codes and brought the Wind Raider into the air, pushing it toward Eternos.

Man-At-Arms was not a man with a great deal of patience. At least not where his daughter was concerned.

He-Man left for Grayskull and, as usual, she followed. Teela lost all sense of reason where He-Man was concerned.

Adam didn't help with his encouragement. Letting himself have a relationship with her the only way he knew how.They deserved to be happy. He didn't deny them that. He just wanted Adam to realize what he was doing. Once the invisible barrier was down, there was no repairing it.

An insistent beeping on his Com-link brought him out of his thoughts."Man-At-Arms here?"

"Duncan, it's He-Man…."

"He-Man, where have you been? I cannot reach Teela…."

"I have her here in the Wind Raider, Duncan," He-man said, caution in his voice. "There…was an accident."

Man-At-Arms felt chilled all of a sudden. "What?"

"It's Teela. She was hit with a blast from Skeletor's Havoc Staff."

"What? When? How is she?" He wasn't getting answers fast enough.

He-Man struggled with his words. "He was….aiming at me," He-Man admitted, the guilt eating at his soul. "She ran in front of me….took the blast. Duncan, have a med team alerted."

"Why? What is wrong with my daughter?"

There was silence. Then static.

"He-Man?!"

"Duncan…she….she's blind."

To Be Continued….