Chapter Seven

"Fates of Men and Women"

Night passed over Eternia, washing it with an uncomfortable small amount of moon and star light. When the sun finally did dawn, it was crimson and the omens of its rise spread like wildfire. Chaos seemed to grasp every kingdom and every race as word of wars and army marches touched the four corners of the planet.

He-Man stood on the top of Central Tower and looked out upon the horizon, his thoughts racing with the events of late. The rise of the Snake Men. The return of the Great Towers. The Horde/Snake Men war. Even before that . . . an emotional reunion with his twin sister and the liberation of Brightmoon.

"Hey, He-Man, you okay?"

The hero of Eternia turned around and found Orko behind him. "I'm . . . I'm okay, all things considered. I bet you wish you were still on Trolla, though?"

Orko shrugged. "Well, yeah. I suppose so. But I'm supposed to be here, right? You know, royal duty and all."

He-Man laughed for the first time in a few days. "Yeah. Well, I'm glad you're here. Do me a favor, will you? Try and keep morale up a little bit. We've got to keep people's spirits up."

"Sure thing, He-Man."

Orko saluted and made for the stairs. He-Man grinned, but it faded away as he heard Man-At-Arms arrive.

"We've received a few messages regarding our pleas for help. Most of the roads have been cut off," Man-At-Arms explained.

"By whom? Snake Men?"

Man-At-Arms shook his head. "No. Worse. The Horde."

"What?!"

"Hordak's made his move. Quite bold too. He's blocked the roads between the different kingdoms, but hasn't attacked anyone yet."

"Send a message to the other royal family members - King Stephan and Queen Johanna - and inform them to brace for battle. Has there been any word from the Avions and Insectoids? What happened to Buzz-Off and Stratos?"

"They don't know. But it will be hard to get their assistance now that the Horde have set up camp in the Vine Jungle."

"Right. Looks like it's just us, then. Assemble everyone in the Main Hall. It's time we do something about this war."

***

"Doom Tower," muttered King Hiss as he examined the monitor that displayed the large fortress of the Horde. "For years, it has stood on Etheria, it's darkness spreading across the planet. I intent on ridding Etheria of that darkness."

"When?" questioned Angella.

"Soon enough, my dear. Soon enough. My forces are still preparing an attack plan, and I'm still armoring my Snake Men. But trust me, Angella, this will be a fitting victory."

Just then, a communicator on King Hiss' belt beeped. He grabbed it and spoke into it. "This is King Hiss."

"King Hiss, this is Snake Face at Eternos. We have a development. Hordak has taken North Eternos and Western Eternos. The kingdoms of King Stephan and Queen Johanna have fallen to Horde rule."

Hiss snarled. "Damn! All right, Snake Face! Prepare the teleporter. I'll be at Eternos within the hour. Hiss out."

"What about Doom Tower and the Fright Zone?" questioned Angella.

"Rattlor will carry out my orders. Don't worry, Angella, all will come together as planned."

***

Pregnant, winged, naked, and torch-bearing, Teela strode forth. The sand beneath her feet squished between her toes. The sound of the ocean churning before her was soothing to her ears. She close now, so close. Something was going to happen so to her. Something that would decide her fate . . . her destiny. Whether or not Teela would live or die.

Just as the ocean reached it's farthest of the beach, Teela saw a figure wading out in the water, the surf swirling around her. Teela moved forward, holding her torch above her head. The surf wrapped around her naked, protruding abdomen and naked flesh as she moved towards the figure.

As she drew closer, the figure's body became more apparent. It was woman, with long flowing red hair, all in a stark white dress.

"You are you?" asked Teela, her wings out above the water.

The woman turned to Teela, and revealed her face to be completely blank. Not one feature on it. Teela knew somewhere in her heart that she should have gasped, but it didn't seem to affect her.

"Death seeks you, even now . . ." a mouth-less voice sang to Teela. "You must face it with the power you have been given."

***

King Hiss arrived at Eternos and immediately saw Snake Face making for an upper corridor. "Snake Face!" called the King of the Snake Men.

Snake Face turned around and bowed to Hiss. "My apologies, my king. I wasn't expecting you so soon."

"No need. Where are you heading?"

Snake Face lead King Hiss in the opposite direction he had been heading. "We found a room we had previously overlooked. There was a comatose female inside on life support machines. I felt it best to take her off it. Save power for the weapons."

King Hiss grasped hold of Snake Face's neck. "WHAT?! I ordered no civilians killed!"

"She was the Captain of the Royal Guard!" choked Snake Face. "Her condition was fatal . . ."

"Teela," Hiss muttered, dropping Snake Face. "He-Man's little crush, Man-At-Arm's daughter. A good bargaining chip. And you sought to kill her?!"

The pair entered Teela's room and King Hiss saw the charged and beaten form of Teela on the bed. "I am sorry, my king. I was not thinking . . ."

King Hiss eyed Teela's snake staff in the corner. "No. You weren't. And I have an idea."

"What kind of idea is that, my king?"

"I will heal her. When she comes awake, I will take command of her mind. Teela will be my bride."

"Can you awaken her from this death?"

"The injuries must be healed first. Her mind will take work."

***

Teela stood in front of the faceless woman and sudden felt afraid. "Something is happening. Out beyond the ocean."

"A test of strength, Teela," said the woman. "A force wants to take as it's own. You can overcome it very easily . . . but first, you must overcome something else."

"What?"

"Death. Prepare yourself. Destiny awaits."

The oceans began to vanish, as did the woman. The water was suddenly gone. A great and grave darkness overcame Teela and the landscape around her. Her heart thundered as a sudden cold chilled her naked flesh.

And then the darkness changed, suddenly hurling itself into a shape before. The fog that has persisted to follow returned, becoming like a background to her. The darkness reformed itself, long tentacles swirling out around it.

Death. This was death.

It's coldness reached and touched Teela, causing her body to wish there was something to cover her. Her belly felt numb. The torch began to dim. Her wings began to freeze up. She wanted to give up suddenly, and give into the darkness of death before her.

***

"You've healed her wounds, master!" Snake Face exclaimed as the light from King Hiss' hand faded. Teela's burns were refreshed before smooth, tender flesh. Beast-Man's wounds were nothing more than light scars on her torso. "She should spring to life at any moment and come under your spell!"

"No," King Hiss said then. "Her mind . . . her spirit it too far away from this body anymore . . . I can not bring it back. My spell to bring her back and fall in love with me has failed."

***

"No," Teela whispered as the tentacles began to wrap around her. She lifted up the torch, feeling more determined to not give in to this. Her protruding abdomen suddenly felt warm and alive with a child. Her wings broke from the growing ice, getting larger and prepared.

"NO!"

She wings flapped and she spun around, the now gigantic flames of the torch setting the tentacles aflame. The fires of the torch spread throughout the tentacles, burning them away and moved towards the core of the darkness. It suddenly got fire, and it looked as if the surface was melting away.

Teela's wings grew huge. Death needed to now be pushed away for now and for a long time for her. Touching her abdomen, everything suddenly began clear. This dream . . . this vision . . . all these metaphors.

The torch was her strength. The wings were her heart. The pregnant womb was her life. As so, she pushed herself forward . . . and slammed right into the dark core of the Death!

Her womb lit up brightly as it touched the darkness. A cold cry emitted from the darkness and it dissipated from around her body.

Teela then stood. The fog began to grow bright and Teela smiled so widely, everything becoming so clear to her. "I'M ALIVE!" she cried out. "I'M ALIVE!"

She smiled and jumped up and down. Everything felt so good, so clean, so wonderfully new. Teela then saw shadows form from the fog, and become alive. First there was the blacksmith. Her stepped up to her and touched her wings.

When he did, Teela's felt her heart grow stronger. The wings disappeared and in the place of her blacksmith, stood Duncan.

"I am your past, your present, and your future," he said to her. "I love you Teela. My daughter."

He then stepped away. The two statues came from the fog and their stone hands touched Teela's belly. It faded and Teela felt rejuvenated. The two statues suddenly became He-Man and Prince Adam.

"We love you," He-Man and Prince Adam said as one. "We are the ones that would gladly exchange our lives for yours."

They then stepped away. The armored man walked from the fog and touched her torch. The torch disappeared and Teela felt her body grow stronger. The armored man then transformed into King Randor.

"The kingdom loves you," Randor said. "I am the one you serve and serves you in duty."

And then all four of them faded away. Teela felt a dress come around her flesh, giving her clothing for the first time since this dream started.

"Teela . . ." The faceless woman appeared and stepped up to her.

"You never answered my question," Teela stated. "Who are you?"

The faceless woman's hair covered her face for a second and then when it passed, she was stood revealed. "I am Teelana," said the woman. And then something happened to Teelana. The headdress of the Sorceress appeared on her head. "I am the Sorceress. Most of all . . . I am your mother."

Teela's eyes grew wide. "What?"

"I gave you up to your father for your own good, my dear. It has been so hard for the both of us. I've watched you from afar and know of the hardships you've had . . . and you'll continue to have."

"You mean I won't remember any of this?"

"No."

"Will you?"

"Yes. I guided you through this, Teela, because it is what you had to do. You saved yourself, Teela. But I will tell you this . . . I love you. You may not remember it. But I do love you, my long lost daughter."

Teela wasn't sure how to answer, but only nodded and stepped forward. The two embraced strongly. "I love you too," she gasped as tears rolled down her cheeks.

The Sorceress stepped away then. "Come awake, Teela. Come alive."

The fog then overcame Teela.

There was light.

***

"Master!" yelped Snake Face as King Hiss made for the door. "She's waking up!"

King Hiss turned on his heel and watched as the delicate female form of Teela shifted awake. "What . . . what . . . happened? Where am I?" she moaned as she sat up in her bed.

"The spell worked!" Hiss gasped quietly. He walked towards her. "Teela! My love! You have awoken!"

She looked up at him. "I thought I had this dream, but I don't remember it . . . something about an outside force . . . trying to control me. I don't remember . . ."

King Hiss handed her her staff. "My dearest Teela, do not fret. I have rescued you from death's icy grasp. Here is your staff."

Teela took from Hiss and weighed it in her hands. "No . . . I saved myself."

That's when she busted into action. The staff spun around and slammed King Hiss in the face. She then smashed the end into Hiss' gut, causing him to stagger back. Before Snake Face could move, Teela flipped up and went back to the window.

Snake Face lunged, but Teela sent a piece of life-support machinery sailing towards him. It clobbered him, causing the stone Snake Man to fall against King Hiss. Teela jumped and flipped over the bed, and made for the door.

Snake Men jumped into action. She dodged them and ran down the corridor. "Snake Men, all over the Palace. What have I missed?"

Two long arms then shot towards her. Teela leapt up and dodged them. Her foot landed firmly on Sssqueeze's face. "Don't think so!"

Sssqueeze stumbled back and Teela flipped at a window. Snake Men were coming down from both sides.

So, Teela leapt out the window.

King Hiss rushed over and looked to see where she landed. He found nothing. "Find her! She couldn't have gone far!"

As the King Hiss and the Snake Face rushed to the ground, a sudden explosion forced them back. Teela flew by, riding on a Laser Bolt. She revved the engines and blasted forward. The Snake Men tried to keep up, but when Teela launched into the air, they knew they were too late.

Hiss sneered. "There goes our bargaining chip . . ."

***

He-Man studied She-Ra's map. "According to our informant, Kowl, the Snake Men are prepping for a battle in three days," she explained. "But that's only if King Hiss doesn't return sooner."

"Return?" questioned Man-At-Arms, looking exhausted.

"Kowl has reason to believe he's returned to Eternia. To Eternos, for that matter."

"Why?"

"We don't know."

Man-At-Arms groaned. "Can you show us the - " But Duncan didn't get a chance to continue. The doors creaked open, revealing a striking person on the other side.

Teela smirked smugly, dressed in a hooded robe over a nursing gown. "Hey guys. Miss me?"