A/N: Please note I am making a reference to Filmation's "Origin of the Sorceress" in this chapter.

Chapter 55

Evil-Lynn stood on the edge of the cliff surrounding the abyss around Castle Grayskull, yelling up to the castle's keeper to be let in, "Sorceress, Teela needs you." "Please allow us entrance", she entreated.

Coming to stand by one of the turret windows, TeelaNa gazed down below seeing Skeletor's second in command holding a crying Teela in her arms. The Sorceress knew that this was the moment of truth. The one where her enemy would use her love for her daughter against her. TeelaNa's worst nightmare was coming true. She had endured living without her daughter, keeping their relationship a secret from her for so long as a means to protect her, for naught.

The Sorceress was in a quandary. The mother in her wanted to lower the drawbridge, run out, and gather her daughter in her arms. The guardian in her knew that she could do no such thing. Never in her life did TeelaNa regret the oath she took when she assumed the role of the castle's guardian. Actually, there was one time when she came close to regretting it. That was when she first came to the realization that she couldn't be a mother and protect Grayskull at the same time. TeelaNa remembered Kudok Ungol's speech to her before she disappeared. Her predecessor had warned her that if she accepted this mantle, she would never be the same, it would not be easy, and she would know great sadness along with the joy that came along protecting the peoples of Eternia. Freeing the people of Noella was one of her greatest joys. Needing to give up Teela was and always would be her greatest sadness. The heartbreak she endured during the months following that event were indescribable.

However, she took strength in knowing it was to ensure Teela lived. Her oath to protect the Castle and its secrets resonating strongly within her heart, TeelaNa telepathically contacted Duncan. She couldn't risk allowing them inside the castle walls without reinforcements. She wanted to call her champion too; however, decided against it as she knew he needed to remain at the Palace. This was one of those situations that she would have to deal with on her own, without his help. Seeing Teela within Evil-Lynn's arms gave her the confidence that she could fight her enemies on her own. TeelaNa knew that within these walls, her power surpassed that of her nemeses.

Continuing to gaze out of the window, the Sorceress waited for Skeletor to appear as she didn't think Evil-Lynn would attack on her own. Suddenly, an agonized cry of pain reached her ears. 'They've tortured my baby', she thought to herself. In a manner not typical for the Sorceress, she yelled at the woman below "You will rue the day you decided to use Teela to attack me", as she turned from the window. Before completely vanishing from view, TeelaNa heard her unwelcome visitor answer, "This is not a ruse, Sorceress." "Your daughter really needs you." "I'm not here to attack you." "Skeletor is dead", Evil-Lynn bellowed.

The evil sorceress's words stilled the Mystic Guardian's movements. 'What was Evil-Lynn talking about?' The Sorceress was unwilling to believe the white-haired magician, as she typically couldn't be trusted. TeelaNa couldn't risk it, especially because Duncan had not relayed the last piece of information when he asked for a portal to transport the King.. Deciding to meet her outdoors in her falcon form to ascertain the reality of the situation, she raised her hands to the side and uttered the words to change her form. Gliding out of the window, she passed over Teela's and Evil-Lynn's heads. What she saw caused her heart to tremble. Teela looked nine months pregnant, a feat TeelaNa knew was impossible as in her calculation her daughter was only in the fifth month of her pregnancy. Landing on a nearby branch, she let her magic breach into Evil-Lynn's mind. Surprisingly, the evil sorceress allowed their telepathic connection.

Through that connection she saw that Evil-Lynn was telling the truth. Her daughter was very close to giving birth. Jumping down from the branch, she landed next to Evil-Lynn transforming into her human form. "Give her to me", she ordered with a steady voice, to which her fellow mage easily complied. With her daughter in her arms, the Sorceress of Grayskull bid the drawbridge lowered. Taking a step forward, she turned her head to see that Evil-Lynn had turned around to leave Grayskull's territory.

"Evil-Lynn I'll need your help", she requested. TeelaNa had gleaned Evil-Lynn's true intentions when she connected with her telepathically. Gone was the need to conquer Grayskull and Eternia. In its stead, TeelaNa realized that Evil-Lynn was truly sorry for all the anguish she had caused. "Please come inside", she continued warmly.

Shock reverberated through Evil-Lynn's system. She couldn't believe that the Sorceress just asked her to enter Grayskull. She heard the ethereal woman state, "With your act of kindness bringing Teela to me, Grayskull has abolished you of all of your terrors." "You are no longer an enemy of Grayskull", she informed her.

"Thank you, Sorceress." "Tell me what I need to do to help. "I think she is in labor", Evil-Lynn answered amazed at the Sorceress's words.

With the drawbridge lowered, TeelaNa preceded Evil-Lynn into the castle. The two mages ascended a winding staircase leading into TeelaNa's private living area. Walking into a clean spare bedroom, TeelaNa asked "How is this possible?"

"I'm so sorry", Evil-Lynn began. "When Skeletor noticed that she was pregnant he enthralled her in a spell." "He warned that the baby would give him access inside Grayskull."

"Do you know what spell Skeletor used?", the Sorceress asked.

"No." "Everything happened so fast and I never had a chance to ask him", Evil-Lynn informed her.

Placing Teela on the bed, the Sorceress asked Evil-Lynn to conjure up towels and buckets of soapy and fresh warm water. Leaning over her daughter's sweaty body she spoke soothingly to her, "Teela you are home, my heart."

Finally opening her eyes, Teela gazed into the loving concerned eyes of the Sorceress of Grayskull who was stroking her hair away from her face.

"Sorceress?", she asked softly taking in her mother's actions as they comforted and reassured her.

"Yes, my love."

"I'm scared", Teela answered. "It hurts too much, something must be wrong with my baby."

"Nothing is wrong Teela", the Sorceress said with conviction lovingly caressing her daughter's sweaty cheek. "Every mother to be is scared at this point, but you'll get through this."

"Where's Adam?", Teela asked.

"Shhh, love." "Don't fret", the Sorceress stated trying to cover up Teela's statement. Looking over to Evil-Lynn who was in the process of materializing buckets of hot water, she noticed she stilled her movements upon hearing Teela call out for Adam.

Evil-Lynn thought it was peculiar that the captain would ask for the cowardly prince at this moment and not the father of the child. Turning to face the two women by the bed, Evil-Lynn carried a soaked towel toward them. Standing over the bed, she handed the towel to the Sorceress who placed it carefully on Teela's forehead.

She was shocked when Teela grabbed hold of one of her hands squeezing tightly. Looking over to the Sorceress she saw that Teela had also taken hold of one of her mother's hands. Evil-Lynn felt totally out of her element. She had never experienced a woman giving birth before. Abruptly, she felt the Sorceress's presence in her mind. Apparently, the Sorceress was faced with the same fear. Telepathically, Grayskull's Guardian let her know that she had given birth to Teela through magic not natural birth.

Before either could react further to their lack of experience, Teela let out another agonizing scream as she lifted her torso off the bed, pushing her ribcage toward her pelvis with all her strength. With a snap of her fingers, the Sorceress removed her daughter's dirty clothing covering her body with a flowing white nightgown. When the throes of the contraction ebbed, Teela laid back down on the bed, pulling on her mother's hand.

Leaning down to her, she heard her daughter's sweet weak voice asking for Adam once again. Deciding to be honest with her the Sorceress answered, "He can't come right now, Teela." "His father needs him."

Not knowing that the King of Eternia was at this time bedridden himself as he fought for his life, Teela responded "Now is not the time for Adam to act the dutiful Prince." "He has to be here." "He would want to be here", she pleaded passionately. "He'll be so mad at me if the baby is born and he is not here." "Sorceress please, you have to call him", she continued. As the birthing was approaching, Teela couldn't get her last words to him out of her mind. She remembered the anguish on his face when she threatened to abort his child. Knowing now how much he sacrificed daily to ensure everyone's safety, Teela didn't want to take this special occasion away from him, despite still not knowing what their future was.

"Teela…..", her mother pleaded but didn't finish her statement as another contraction overcame Teela this one stronger than any of the previous ones. TeelaNa was in a bind. She couldn't decide what was right or wrong. If she called for Adam and his father died without him by his side it would not look good for Adam. If she didn't call him, then he would miss the birth of his child. TeelaNa wished that this decision didn't lay on her shoulders.

Luckily, the landing of Duncan's SkySled on the roof took the decision from her. Duncan came barreling down the staircase bursting into the room where his daughter lay on the bed. He was shocked to see Evil-Lynn there, but ignored her presence as he stared down at Teela. Ancients, how he had missed her. Bending low, he placed a loving kiss on her forehead.

"Daddy", he heard his heart utter. "I'm so glad you are here", Teela stated. She knew that with her father's arrival she could go through anything. He had raised her to be strong, able to overcome any and all obstacles. She would use this time to prove herself to him. His calm demeanor brought a serenity over the woman who was about to bring another life into the world.

With Duncan's arrival, Evil-Lynn stepped away from the bed allowing him to take her place. Silently, she watched as Teela pushed through another contraction. Hearing her name, she looked at Duncan who was directing her to stand by the end of the bed. "I need you stand between her legs and tell me if she is crowning", he stated as he dipped his hands into the hot soapy water and then rinsed them off in another.

A look of confusion came over her features. Realizing that Evil-Lynn was unfamiliar with the terminology, Duncan explained that he wanted her to check to see if she could see the baby's head. Complying, she did as she was asked. Sure enough, she was able to see the red-haired tip of the baby's head protruding from Teela's body. Stepping back, but not moving from her post, Evil-Lynn waited for further instructions.

Before long, Teela gave another strong push as she thrust her baby out of her body and into Evil-Lynn's waiting hands. Relief flooded Teela's body that the excruciating pains immediately lessened. Teela watched as Evil-Lynn moved away from the bed allowing Duncan to take over. Gently placing the newborn into its grandfather's hands, the white-haired mage stepped away from the bed. She watched as Man-At-Arms cut the umbilical cord before walking with the baby over to one of the clean buckets of warm soapy water which he picked up in his free hand. As he walked past her, he nodded his thanks to her for her assistance. Holding the newborn tightly within his arms, Duncan walked out of the birthing room and into the hallway. Away from his daughter's eyes he turned the infant upside down, slapping its small round derriere. Calling Evil-Lynn he requested that she bring a clean dry towel out to him.

With her mother's aide, Teela proceeded to rid her body of the afterbirth before the Sorceress magically changed the bed sheet and the robe Teela was wearing. By the time she was changed, Evil-Lynn had procured a warm blanket to swaddle the baby in, although she and Duncan had not yet re-entered the room. When they finally did, Teela was comfortably sitting up in the bed her arms outstretched to receive her baby.

Duncan carefully walked the baby back to its mother, kissing her before slowly and carefully placing the precious bundle into her eagerly awaiting arms.

Teela looked down into the scrunched up face of her child. She took in the baby's red curly hair so much like her own. Pulling the towel down, a scream was torn from her lips as she gazed at the blue stillborn form of her child. The baby's skin resembled that of Skeletor's. Placing the baby upon her knees, Teela proceeded to give it CPR using two fingers between the child's sternum to successively depress its chest cavity.

Her ministrations proved unsuccessful in reviving the newborn. Looking up at her father, she took in his pitiful expression as he shook his head from side to side, tears falling freely down his face. "What's wrong?", Teela asked as she totally removed the towel from the infant's body.

"Teela….she didn't make it", she heard her father answer through his tears.

"Daddy?", Teela asked unwilling to make the connection to comprehend the words her father was uttering.

Bending over his daughter's body, Duncan reached for the baby pulling its unmoving form from his daughter's resisting embrace. "It was too early", he said. "She wasn't ready to be born."

Hearing his words shredded Teela's heart in two. Her mind grabbed onto her father's words and wouldn't let go.

"Why?", Teela asked through her tears as the Sorceress attempted to envelop her daughter in her arms. Pushing the wing-garbed woman away, Teela repeated her question. "Why, Daddy, why?"

How could Duncan answer that question? The scientist in him could easily give a text book answer to his daughter's query. The father in him could not.

"May I?", they all heard Evil-Lynn state as she walked up to the bed. "I may be able to understand why the baby didn't make it, by using my magic."

Unsure if he should give the baby over to this being that helped abduct his daughter, Duncan questioningly looked at his wife. Dejected from her attempts to comfort her wailing daughter, the Sorceress gave him a brief nod before looking down at Teela. Duncan waited for his daughter's decision. If Teela asked him, he would use the same cannon that killed Skeletor to blast this witch.

Teela contemplated not allowing Evil-Lynn to hold her baby. Looking at her mother for guidance, she agreed when she saw the Sorceress nodding her head. Giving her permission, Teela watched as her father placed the baby into Evil-Lynn's arms.

Evil-Lynn closed her eyes concentrating on pulling the magic away from the baby. Opening her eyes she uttered, "Skeletor's spell altered her DNA." "The baby's system couldn't handle the sped up development coupled with the DNA changing spell." "The baby is blue, because he tried cloning himself within her", she informed them.

Having her answer, Teela thumped back against the bed. One thought flooded her mind. Adam would never forgive her. Regret that she didn't do more to escape her captivity flooded her heart. Lifting her head off the pillow she addressed the two magic bearers in the room. With a strong authoritative voice that didn't match the level of her physical and emotional exhaustion, she demanded "Do something." "You must be able to use your magic to bring her back to life."

"I'm sorry Teela, I cannot", answered the Sorceress. Evil-Lynn answered by shaking her head in the negative.

"Why?", Teela pleaded. "What good is your power if you can't help me?", she stated angrily. Resentment that no one was willing to help her was quickly taking over her sense of logic.

"Teela, when have you known the Sorceress to use her powers for her own personal reasons", her father attempted to reason with her.

"It's not for her, it's for me", Teela answered confidently. "If this baby is not alive by the time Adam gets here, I'm afraid of what his reaction will be."

"Teela, she can't…", Duncan once again attempted to reason with her; however, his daughter interrupted him stating, "Father, you were there." "You saw his reaction when he revealed to everyone that I was pregnant."

"I remember." "He was upset that you kept your condition a secret from him", Duncan stated.

"No." "He was angry because I threatened to abort her", Teela corrected him. Turning to face the Sorceress, Teela continued "Please, I beseech you to help me."

Stepping forward the Sorceress addressed her, "Daughter, not even the Power of Grayskull can bring back the dead." Continuing from beneath her tears she stated, "If I could take this pain away from you, I would."

The word 'daugther' verified to all those present that Teela was indeed the Sorceress's child. Brokenhearted and destitute Teela thumped back down onto the pillows. The Sorceress looked down into the grief stricken face of her daughter. She did the only thing she could think of to help alleviate her daughter's pain. Whispering a spell, she placed her daughter into a deep comatose-like sleep.

Turning to face the others still present in the room, she informed them "We have to let Adam know", again shocking Evil-Lynn who finally made the connection. Adam was the child's father, not He-Man.

Before exiting the room, TeelaNa took her stillborn grandchild into her arms. Holding the babe close to her heart, she wished she had the power to take this pain from her daughter.