Chapter One

"Critical States"

Teela winced in pain as she rushed out of the Talon Fighter. Her wounds were deep when Beast-Man laid into her and the recovery period was not yet over. But she didn't have time to recover any more. It was inperative that He-Man receives this message. It would mean should have to get into combat, most assuredly.

Pulling out her staff, Teela made for an elevator. She pulled for it to go down, taking her down a few levels. She didn't see anything on the fourth and third levels, and the same thing for the second. But the first one brought quite a sight.

Teela gasped.

His body bloody and smoldering, He-Man was thrusted away from Skeletor. "No!" she yelled, running into battle.

"You? I thought Beast-Man had taken care of you for good. Leave it to me to finish this!"

He fired a bolt at Teela, but the young royal captain leapt into the air and kicked Skeletor in the stomach. Skeletor lurched back, gasping.

"HE-MAN!" she shouted, swinging with her staff against the Chaos Staff. "The Sorceress! She told me that you have enough access to the Towers vast power as Skeletor does!"

Teela shoved the front of the staff into the Skeletor's face, then she flipped backwards, to He-Man's body.

"How . . .?" He-Man began.

"You need - "

"THAT'S ENOUGH OUT OF YOU!" yelled Skeletor, then. He threw up his hand and unleashed a crashing power blast.

Teela didn't even have to scream as it struck her young body, sending streams of energy coursing through her. She seized, her body rippling with destructive power. She was tossed back slammed into a wall, then smacking right onto the floor.

"TEELA!" screamed He-Man, heading towards her frail form.

But before he reached her, a bolt struck He-Man hard. He crumbled to the floor, in severe pain. He reached for Teela's limp and unmoving body . . . but Skeletor stood in the way, Chaos Staff brimming with power.

There was darkness.

And there was strange white light, flowing like a fog above Teela's eyes. Blue, ethereal haze filled her sight. She was vaguely aware of battle . . . and sounds . . .

Her mission had been completed. The Sorceress had sent her to instruct He-Man to draw power from the Central Towers and now he knew. She had been struck down - pain, burn, surging energy - and death seemed to warm over her.

Teela suddenly felt cold. Death was cold . . .

And there was whispering. Words she couldn't understand. Through the darkness as fog, there seemed to be a figure forming before her very eyes. Female, with beautiful eyes, fair skin, and red hair.

"Mother . . ."

Her mother was whispering, weaving some sort of spell. Teela was indeed dead, if this was her mother beckoning to her.

"I am here, my daughter," her mother said. "I am here."

Something strange happened to Teela's mother then, and she put on a headdress. The Sorceress's headdress. But that was impossible, because Teela's mother was dead and the Sorceress was alive.

Alive . . .

Teela closed her eyes once more.

And then there was darkness.

***

Standing at the door of Teela's room, Duncan sighed heavily. He turned to the Sorceress, who was now just coming down the corridor in the heart of Castle Grayskull. They had brought Teela here immediately after finding her body, in the vain hope that the Sorceress could help her.

"She's alive," the Sorceress said quietly.

"Thank the Ancients . . ." muttered Duncan.

"But . . . she's suffered heavy damage to her body. Her brain was overloaded with Skeletor's energy and vital organs are in a state of shock. Duncan . . ."

He closed his eyes firmly, plunging himself away from this. Duncan reached out and took Sorceress hand. "I know. But . . . I guess we just need to have faith . . ."

"Duncan, I'm not sure if there's much more I can do for her here. It may be best to take her back to Eternos. I have called her spirit back, but for her body . . . it is best for science."

Sorceress looked sadly into Teela's room, staring at the scarred body of her daughter. Duncan put his hand on her shoulder and nodded. The two embraced, comforting each other.

"I'll do what I can, Teelana . . ." he whispered.

After carefully loading her into a hoverbed, Duncan wheeled his daughter out of Castle Grayskull. What he found outside was shocking. He-Man stood there, flanked by all of the Heroic Warriors. Each and every one of them stood there, watching, waiting, concerned and worried for Teela.

Duncan was touched and suddenly realized just how much of an impact his daughter had had on his allies. It was quite moving.

"H-How is she?" He-Man choked out.

"She's alive," Duncan replied. "But barely. We . . . we need to get her to Eternos."

The Heroic Warriors separated allowing Duncan and Teela to move into a nearby Attack Track. He-Man looked back at Castle Grayskull before mounting Battle Cat. The Soceress stood in the window of one of the towers and looked down sadly.

He-Man breathed heavily, and followed Man-At-Arms.

***

Two Weeks Later . . .

Randor walked down the corridor, next to Marlena. "I'm concerned for Duncan," Marlena confessed.

"I know. He's put in too many long hours. Who is it he wants us to meet?"

"His name is Rotar, dear. The soldier that was attacked last month in library. Duncan helped turn him into a new Heroic Warriors using a robotic construction machine."

"Ah yes. Didn't King Hiss try and steal it right afterwards?"

"Yes. He even created his own new warrior - Twistoid. He was hoping to create a whole army, but failed. All thanks to Rotar."

"Thank the Ancients," Marlena gasped. "And Rotar too."

"Have you heard anything about Teela?"

"Still in very critical condition last I checked. A coma. Deep one, too."

Randor frowned, then entered into the Laboratory. Man-At-Arms stood inside, talking with Rotar. The short, red-armored 'Energy Zoid' pivoted over to the King and Queen and bowed.

"King Randor, Queen Marlena. I am Rotar."

"Rise, Rotar," Randor instructed. "It is an honor to meet such a skilled warrior."

"Thank you, your majesty."

"You served well as a soldier," Marlena began, "so we expect you to be great with your new powers. We have faith in you."

"Thank you."

"Well, if you will excuse us, the Queen and I have royal matters to attend."

"Of course."

The pair left the room, leaving Rotar alone with Man-At-Arms. He had worked with Man-At-Arms many times as a soldier, and always held the great man in high regard. Even moreso now, as a result as his help. But Rotar knew that as glad as Man-At-Arms was in helping him, Duncan's thoughts were for his injured daughter.

"I was thinking about meeting with Sy-Klone," said Rotar, sensing that Man-At-Arms wanted some time alone. "Figured he could teach me some good tricks."

"That's a good idea. If you need me for anything, Rotar, let me know."

***

Darkness above Snake Mountain, casting shadows into a deeper shade of black. The thick hung in the air, causing Snake Mountain to be the only source of light. Standing perched at the edge of the snake mouth, stood King Hiss, brooding, pensive, deep in thought.

"What are you doing, Hiss?" asked Skeletor, emerging behind the snake king.

"Plotting out a war."

"What are you talking about?"

King Hiss squinted. "You have no idea, do you? What happened at the Central Tower was something new, Skeletor. Something unexpected, but always inevitable."

"Teela's death? Yes, I always felt that - "

Hiss sighed. "No, you morose outcast, I am not speaking about that. I meant with Hordak. Our confrontation was inevitable."

"Hordak . . ." Skeletor muttered.

"Do you know everything about Hordak, Skeletor? His complete history? I know you served under him."

Skeletor grunted. "Unfortunately. All I know is that he was once a great and powerful figure, who turned to the side of evil."

"That is only half the story, Skeletor."

"Eh? Only half?"

"The Council of Elders, Skeletor. You know of them, do you not?"

"Of course I do!"

"For a time, Hordak was one of them. He worked with them as a member of the vast empire Horde. I knew of this, and planned to reveal it to the Council. I figured that it would cause unrest within their ranks, allowing my forces to sweep in.

"But before I had the chance to, Hordak concocted a grand plan. He and the Elders sent a great warrior to face me. With that warrior, they were able to seal me away in the same dimension I was locked into."

"Until I released you."

"Yes. Until you released me, Skeletor. But I never revealed the truth. I spent years hating Hordak, and he's knows it. I have sworn my revenge. And I shall have it. The drums of war are beating, Skeletor."

"What do you mean, Hiss?"

"A state of war now exists, Skeletor, between myself and the Snake Men and Hordak and the Horde. Only one side can win. The war has begun . . ."