C. Cowboy: sorry it took so long to get this next chapter out, I've had a rough time with college and writers block, but that's all clear and this chapter's finished, and the next chapter is already planed out and will be finished with in the next few days, I promise! Cowboy's honor! Anyway, I hope you find this chapter worth the wait. In this chapter, Adam will discover a few flaws in his plan, someone will begin to tire of his game, and Teela will continue to struggle with the fact of Adam's death. I hope I'm not making her look too weak, but you have to look at it from her point of view, her best friend since she was a little girl has been taken from her, and she's beginning to realize that she could have been kinder to him. She is a warrior, and one of the strongest female characters out there. Love her or hate her, the loss of one's best friend hurts a lot. Now on with the story! Read and Review!
Chapter 3: Troubles
He-Man had quickly settled into the guestroom, seeing as He-Man himself had only the Sword of Power moving was extremely easy. He threw himself down on the bed, which wasn't half as comfortable as his bed in Adam's room, and thought of the slight twicks that were not expected to take place in his plan.
Number one: Teela is in an extreme state of depression. He helped her with that so much earlier. He still didn't fully understand why he went off like that.
Number two: Sorceress is beyond upset with him on the subject, and she seemed to touch her own nerve when she brought something up about her having a daughter. He'd ask her about it when she wasn't wanting to rip his head off.
"He-Man?" a voice came from the doorway bringing the warrior out of his thoughts.
"Queen Marlena?" He-Man said setting up, "How can I help you, Your Highness."
The queen narrowed her eyes at the hero as if she was sizing him up, "You were there when Adam was… killed, where you not?"
"Uh, yes, yes I was Your Highness." He-Man said starting to worry a little bit.
"Of course you were." Marlena smirked as she walked across the room to look out the window, "I'm sure you're aware of the names that some have called my son." She said her back to the hero. "You know I've always thought there was more to the boy then he let on. He never was one to think things through, and often jumped in without thinking, but he was never a coward, nor was he AS lazy as he led people to think."
"Um…what are you saying, my Queen?" He-Man asked nervously.
"Oh that I am sure that behind the mysterious 'mask' my son wore, there was a strong young man, a 'he-man' if you will." She stated, "And something tells me there is more to what happened then you and Man-At-Arms are letting on, He-Man."
He-Man gulped silently but kept his strong face on. "I…I'm sorry, Your Highness." He said as she walked up and looked square in his face, though she was a little over three quarters his size.
"If you say so, He-Man." Marlena said as she turned her back and walked toward the door, "Forgive my intrusion. Good day."
"That…" He-Man sighed setting down and whipping the sweat away from his forehead, "was scary."
Later that day, He-Man made his way toward Duncan's shop, 'Maybe Duncan will have an idea on how to deal with my…er Adam's mother.'
He made it to the shop and started to open the door when he heard a crash inside. He-Man's eyes went wide. He drew his sword, kicked open the door and jumped inside, what he seen was not what he expected.
Buzz-Off was sprawling on the floor with Teela standing over him snake staff drawn.
He-Man looked and spotted Ramman and Makineck staring in utter shock, "What's going on here?" He-Man asked angrily making the two men look at him like frightened children.
"What is your problem??" Buzz-off hissed as Teela threw her staff away and tackled the bug-man to the ground.
"Teela, stop it, that's enough!" He-Man ordered but was completely ignored.
"Buzz-off," Teela growled sinking her fingernails into Buzz-off's neck bring blood, "if you EVER talk about him like that again…"
"He-Man get her off me!" Buzz-off whimpered painfully as her fingernails dug deeper.
He-Man pulled Teela off Buzz-off, and was surprised he had to use more strength then he expected.
"Teela! What's the meaning of this??" He-Man asked angrily glancing at her and Buzz-off. "Why did you attack, Buzz-off."
"He was talking about him…" Teela growled narrowing her eyes at Buzz-off.
"What?" He-Man asked turning his attention to Buzz-off, "What does she mean?"
"I… All I said was that Adam was probably cowering in the cannon when it went, that he couldn't do something heroic if he tried… and she…" Buzz-off said holding his bleeding neck.
"And she jumped you." He-Man finished for him, "These times have everyone on edge, go and have that neck checked out, Buzz-off."
"Well, she had no right to do that, I may not have known him well, but she said thing ten times worse then that to his face while he was alive, so what right does she have to accuse me. Someone said you and Adam were best friends." Buzz-off said trying to get into Teela's face, "Some best friends, in fact, I'd say if Adam survived you would have said the exact same thing I said to his face."
"That's enough!" He-Man said angrily stepping between Buzz-Off and Teela, "Go and get that neck check out before I give you more injuries to have to be checked."
Buzz-off stepped back then made his way out the door, and He-Man turned towards Teela, "Teela, what were you…"
"How could I be so cruel?" Teela whimpered, "Adam hated me… he had to…"
"Teela, Listen, Adam…" He-Man started soothing.
"No, he hated me, after all I did…all I said, he had to have hated me with all his heart and soul. No wonder he avoided me so much…" Teela said fighting off sobs, then running out the door.
"Well… that went well." He-Man said rubbing the back of his head.
He-Man left the shop with no answers and even more of a headache. Ever since Adam's 'death' she'd been a hurricane of emotions, one minute ready to kill, the next about to cry her eyes out.
"Maybe … Duncan was right," He-Man sighed running his hand through his blond locks, "Maybe this was a bad idea … but nothing I can do about it now …"
"Yes it is, Son," Duncan's voice came behind him.
"Man-At-Arms!" He-Man cried, "Where have you been?"
"Field testing a prototype," Duncan explained, "So she still not taking it well?"
He-Man sighed and looked out the window, toward his favorite napping spot, which at this time, Teela and Cringer now occupied. Since Adam's 'departure' Cringer had been Teela shadow, and she had little complaints. At that moment, under the tree, Teela reclined against its trunk with Cringer's large head resting in her lap. "She'll get over it," He-Man said flatly.
"She's my daughter, Adam," Duncan stated matter-of-factly, "Your 'death' hurt her, and that hurts me. And lets just say, when this is over with," Duncan got close to He-Man's face, "you better make it up to her."
He-Man made an audible gulp, before stepping away from Man-At-Arms, "I'll … be sure to do that," he said uncomfortably.
"See that you do … son," Duncan said, almost growling.
"I … better be on my way …" He-Man said in a faint fearful voice, "Talk to you later, Duncan."
He-Man walked toward the exit, rubbing his forehead, "Ancients! Is there anyone not mad at me?"
He climbed on a vacant wind raider, and took to the air to think. It really did seem like there was several small repercussions in his plan that he didn't expect, including the fact that half the kingdom probably wouldn't mind if he and Skeletor started to battle and killed each other. Now all he had to do is beat Skeletor, and he can miraculously bring Adam back from the dead, do what ever he can to make it up to Teela so that Duncan don't behead him, and hide away this damn sword so he never ever sees it again. Simple enough, huh?
Meanwhile at Snake Mountain, Skeletor sat on his throne, his mind working out the last twitches of his latest plans to take Castle Grayskull. "Lord Skeletor!" Tri Klops announced walking into Skeletor's chamber, "Shouldn't we be attacking Grayskull, while the Masters are all grieving Prince Adam's death?"
"I am not totally insensitive, Tri Klops," Skeletor hissed, "I do know we will need our full forces to attack Grayskull, and Evil Lyn has yet to stop her own crying over Prince Charming," he said spitting out the crack at the end, "and why aren't the rest of you morning his death, I always thought all cowards stuck together?"
Tri Klops mumbled something under his breath while his fist trembled behind his back, "What was that, Tri Klops? I don't think I heard you." Skeletor asked his red eyes glowing.
"Nothing, Skeletor," Tri Klops chocked.
"Whatever, if you are so ready to attack Castle Grayskull gather the men, I've a plan." Skeletor said setting back on his throne.
"Oh yippee …" Tri Klops whispered in a monotone voice as he exited the chamber.
"How long was I asleep?" Teela yawned standing up from below the tree. It was now night, and the breeze announced a storm was coming. "Can't believe I slept all day, I'm turning into …" She started but the very thought caused a sharp pain to stab her heart.
"Turning into who? Prince Adam?" a voice sounded behind her.
"What? SKELETOR!" She gasped as she began to back step away form the lord of darkness. "How … how did you get in here? GUARDS!"
"They won't come, little girl," Skeletor taunted, "Why would they come to the aid to a murderer? I must admit I am impressed; I tried many times to kill someone of the royal family. I should be the only one with royal blood on my hands. You'll pay for my embarrassment!"
"What? But I … I didn't …" Teela stumbled for her words as she backed away, till she hit someone.
"Don't be so hard on her," Teela heard as Evil Lyn walked around her followed by the rest of Skeletor's generals, "After all, if she has done anything, but proved she's one of us."
"Teela?" her Father's voice said as she turned and saw the masters running up and standing between her and Skeletor's forces. "You are not my daughter," Duncan said as the Masters all turned and glared at her hatefully, "No daughter of mine would fail to protect not only her prince, but also her best friend."
"Father … no …" Teela whimpered fighting to hold back her tears.
"Save it, Teela," He-Man snapped, "You didn't deserve to be best friends with Adam. Why he stuck by you all these years, I'll never know!" he spit hatefully, causing her to drop to her knees.
"Teela," King Randor said as he and Queen Marlena walked up to look down on her, "You are here by banished from the Kingdom of Eternos for failure, you failed to protect your prince. You failed to protect your best friend. You failed to protect the one you could have loved. You FAILED!"
"I … I …" Teela stammered as everyone surrounded her, pointing their fingers and repeating 'YOU FAILED!'
"Hey! Leave her alone! Back off!" Another voice sounded, and began to push through the crowd, then pushing everyone away, "Hey, you ok, Teela?" the very familiar voice asked.
"A-Adam?" Teela asked looking up at him, then his out stretched hand, "You're … you're alive?"
"Sorry … but no," Adam said casually once she got to her feet, "But hey, don't look sad!" he said with the smile she secretly adored, "You wouldn't believe the gorgeous angels waiting on me hand and foot up there!" Adam chuckled a bit before growing serious, "Teela, I just came back, to ask you something. I'm just curious really, but why?"
"W-Why what?" Teela asked confusion covering her now pale face.
"Well … why were you always so cruel to me, when all I really wanted you to do was be my friend?" Adam asked as Teela choked back a sob, "Why did you stop being my friend after big, blonde, and dumb showed up?" Teela started to back step shaking her head slowly, "and, last but not least, why did you let me die? You're supposed to be my bodyguard and my best friend, why did you let me die?"
"Adam … I … I …" Teela stuttered back stepping, but Adam keep moving closer and closer.
"I just want to know why, Teela?" Adam asked again, his usually carefree yet caring eyes now shimmering with hurt.
"I'm … I'm …" She rambled as she stumbled backwards, and landed hard on the ground.
"Teela?"
"Teela?"
"Teela?"
"I'M SORRY! I'M SO SORRY!!!" She cried out jumping up, almost making Duncan jump out of his armor.
"Teela, Teela, calm down, it was just a dream!" Duncan soothed his unsettled daughter.
"Father?" Teela asked trying to return her breathing to normal.
"He doesn't blame you," Duncan said forcefully, knowing exactly what she was dreaming, he then looked over his shoulder, giving the worried looking He-Man a death glare, "He only has himself to blame."
"Teela, Grayskull is under attack, you don't have to come if you don't feel able," Duncan said softly his hand never leaving his daughter's shoulder.
"No, I'm coming," Teela said, shaking off the effects of her nightmare, "I've let everyone down enough."
"Teela …" Duncan sighed, before she placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, father," She said softly before taking her wind raider.
Duncan just gave He-Man another look before taking his own wind raider and the Masters along with He-Man on Battle Cat made their way to Castle Grayskull.
The battle outside Castle Grayskull was much the same as usual; Skeletor's forces would try to rush the Castle's defenses, nothing really original or new on Skeletor's part. For the Masters, it was another day on the job, though Teela was acting a little different, a little more reckless.
Teela was currently trying to take on Trap Jaw, Whiplash, and Clawful at the same time, and actually wasn't doing that bad.
Teela spun her snake staff around striking her three battle mates. Then bring it hard down right between Clawful's eyes, sending him to dreamland. Finally Whiplash's tail caught her back making her smack into the ground. She pulled herself to a setting position, and shook her head before looking up to see Trap Jaw aiming his gun arm at her head.
She looked down the barrel of the gun, and let her lips form a small smile, "Adam …" she sighed slightly, "I'm coming …"
To Be Continued …
Next Chapter: someone learns a secret!