One-Night Stand
By thew40
The wind swept across the fields of the Fertile Plains, caressing the tall grass. It was a beautifully sunny day, the blue skies spotted with white clouds. It was a lie in the face of the chaos that had overtaken the entire world.
Sitting on a rock that jutted out of the fields, Teela watched carefully for the one that had answered her transceiver signal. It was an encrypted code that she sent out, only readable by others that had sworn their allegiance to Eternos.
"Anything yet?" asked a voice next to her.
Teela glanced down at Clamp Champ, who held firmly onto his clamp.
"No. But it's clear. Where's Mekaneck?"
Meckaneck appeared next to the rock. "Want me to take a look?"
"Yes. Go for it."
Mekaneck's head launched up, attached to body by his mechanical neck. It stopped eight feet above Teela and scanned along the horizon.
"I see them," Mekaneck reported. "A group of Royal Soldiers. I can't see any markings, though."
"From the Eternos kingdom?"
"Yeah, but no one I recognize."
Teela leapt off the rock and joined the twenty-seven Royal Soldiers that had been following her lead since the fall of Eternos. Also with her was Clamp Champ and Mekaneck, of course.
"Arm yourselves," she ordered and lifted up her laser cannon. "There are rumors of turncoats."
They did so and Teela lead them through the long-grass. Around them, insects and small animals scurried away. As they rounded a hill, the tall grass faded from them and came face-to-face with the group of Royal Soldiers that answered the transceiver signal.
Teela considered the group before them for a moment, as they did to them. There close to twenty of them, and the leader looked about five years older than Teela herself. His face was rugged and his hair was that of a dusty-blond.
"My name is John, son of Luke. I'm a Commander in West Eternos."
"Captain Teela, daughter of Duncan."
John nodded. "We've met before. The Dark Cloud Invasion at Castle Grayskull. Three, four years ago."
"I think I remember you."
"It's alright." John paused, then stepped forward. "We're not turncoats, if that's what you're thinking."
"Can't help but think that."
"Neither can I. However, you have two Heroic Warriors with you. That counts for something quite good," John returned. After a small silence, John looked almost pleadingly at Teela. "Eternos?"
"Defeated. The whole city was evacuated and imprisoned."
"The King and the Queen?"
"My father was able to get them to another planet right in the nick of time."
"Good, good."
"What about West Eternos, Commander?"
"Took a beating. It's now held by the Horde. King Stephan's last orders to me before he was captured were to get out of the city. We were going to make our way towards Eternos when we picked up on your transceiver signal. Pretty risky doing - GET DOWN!"
An energy blast screeched above them. John and Teela dove, as did both groups. A pair of Horde cruise transports sailed above the tall grass, unleashing bursts of energy at the small unit.
"Return fire! RETURN FIRE!" ordered Teela as her soldiers regrouped.
"Full spread," John commanded along her.
Laser beams pelted the closer cruise transport, resulting in its explosion. The second one was just beginning to turn when it too exploded.
"We need to get out of here," Teela suggested.
"Good. Where are you headed?"
"The Evergreen Forest."
"Pretty far north."
"Yeah. You coming?"
John grinned. "No where else to go, is there?"
After a few hours of walking, idle chitchat began to pick-up with the group. Though no one outright admitted it, there was a lot of relieve to find others still loyal to Eternos. Most of them were either dead, captured, or turncoats. The feeling finding a group of this size still serving the side of good was a pleasure worth soaking in.
As they hunkered down in a glade between Eternos and West Eternos, Teela took the first watch. John came and sat next to her.
"I don't understand it," John confessed as dusk came upon them.
"What's that, John?"
John turned to her. "We've battled it out with the greatest, you know? Eternia has stood up against King Hiss, his Snake-Men, and that Snake Goddess thing. We've beaten down the Spirit of Evil and the Dark Cloud. Marzo, Shokoti, Skeletor - all pushovers in the end. And the Horde . . . I mean, this the fourth Horde invasion. They've been taken down THREE TIMES and suddenly - they come back and in less than a few months, we're defeated."
Teela gazed at him. His face was knot of worry and stress. She wrapped her arm around his. "We're not defeated yet. Hordak found a way to pull himself back from the brink of defeat on Etheria and we'll do the same here."
"But the Horde Troopers . . . Teela, there are far more now then there were during the last war."
"And in the last Horde War, there were more than the previous. And the time before that, there was only one person. What's point here?"
"My point is . . ." John paused and sighed heavily "My point is that while I can't come close to having the combat experiences you have had, I've fought some battles. And I know when it's over. This feels like it's over."
Teela shook her head, red hair flopping around in a makeshift ponytail. "No. It's not over. Commander, I suggest you and I make a pact. We make through this." She jerked head back towards the rest of the unit. "We make sure they make through this. We'll beat back the Horde."
"How? Etheria has gone dark - "
"Except for the Whispering Woods."
"Doesn't matter. They're too busy to help us right now. Unless He-Man hauls his ass back to Eternia, we're screwed."
"Well, that's why we're heading to the Evergreen Forest. We're going to Castle Grayskull and going get in touch with He-Man or She-Ra."
John nodded. "Alright."
She patted him on the back. "Get some sleep, John."
"Okay." He looked at her, brown eyes even with her greens. "Thank you, Teela."
Teela smiled affectionately at him. "Not a problem."
"SORCERESS! SORCERESS, IT'S TEELA! LET ME IN!"
John looked over at the soldiers, who were moving around the fields uncomfortably. The remaining Heroic Warriors remained by her side, though they too were looking a little weary of this. Teela, however, was determined. She stood at the edge of the abyss, screaming and shouting at the top of her lungs. However, she was being ignored.
"LET US IN! TALK TO ME!" Teela screamed.
No reply. Not even a movement in the window. John stepped over to her. "Are you sure she's even in there? Maybe she could be on Etheria? Or maybe she left with He-Man?"
"No. She's there. I know it. But . . . something just isn't right." Teela sighed. She longed the Sword of the Ancients. That would gain her access to Grayskull. But it was gone - lost during the struggle with the Snake Goddess Vipera.
"Teela, we need to move on. It's . . ."
"IN-COMING!"
Mekaneck's warning just too late as laser beams fired from the forest, streams of crimson energy flying through the air. Horde Troopers began to emerge, weapons blazing, the occasional explosion rocking the fields.
The Royal Soldiers and the Heroic Warriors immediately took cover and returned fire. Some of the robots were blasted apart, but many continued forward in their march of destruction. Lasers sizzled through the air, cutting into their targets with ferocity.
"Maintain the left flank!" commanded Teela as she walked behind the Royal Soldiers. "Concentrate all fire power on their center lines and continue with a cross-fire!"
"Aim for their legs or their bellies, that's where they're weakest!" followed John.
Teela held back a smile. As much as she missed He-Man and Adam, it was nice working with someone again. Up until now, she had been going through the war mostly on her own. With someone by her side, she felt more secure. Stronger. Confident.
"Maintain the cross-fire! Right flank, move along the perimeter and - AHHH!"
A crimson energy beam struck her. Teela went flying backwards, a burning sensation overcoming her. Her body gave out as the sounds of laser fire filled her ears. John reached back and stopped her from completely collapsing. Everything moved slowly, but just as darkness started to overcome her, Teela recognized just how handsome John was.
"Teela?"
Her sea green eyes opened and Teela was staring at the Sorceress. She was glowing softly upon a dark background.
"Am I dreaming?" Teela asked and felt as though she was floating.
"Yes, but I am speaking to you in your dream. Your concern must not be for Castle Grayskull."
"Why? He-Man cared."
"You must understand that part of Grayskull is with He-Man now, clear across time/space. Hordak cares not for Castle Grayskull nor it's power or secrets - simply because it would be impossible for him to retrieve them. Hordak was once a member of the Council of Elders. He knows this."
"Okay, so you don't need our help. But we need yours."
"I can not help you. My power is limited now, for even I am stretched across the cosmos."
"He-Man?"
"He can not give up one planet for another."
"She-Ra?"
"I can no longer reach She-Ra."
Teela blinked. "So . . . what should I do?"
"Rest and be ready."
"Ready for what?"
"Ready for what?"
Teela opened her eyes. "Huh?"
She was laying in a huge bed and above her was Clamp Champ. Sunlight shined beautifully through gently curved windows. Teela recognized the designs. Avion. She was in Avion.
"Where am I?" she asked anyways. She wasn't feeling good. Her head spun a little. "What's going on?"
"You're in Avion. You were struck pretty hard. Stunted heavily. You pulled through."
Everything got a little wobbly. "I'm a trooper," she said without even meaning it. Right then, Teela realized just how heavily drugged up she was. "Oh man."
"Just take it easy."
Teela looked up and saw John standing in the door. "Hey."
"Hey yourself. You feeling okay?"
Teela studied him a moment, then her eyes grew large. "I'm very dizzy. And I have to puke."
As she wretched onto the floor, John's features scrunched. "Very nice."
Clamp Champ nodded and headed towards the door. "It's even better with super-senses. Excuse me."
"Do you need any help?" asked John, concern in his voice.
"No. Get out please. And send someone in here that'll clean up my puke."
Teela fell backwards in her bed, fighting off another bout of nausea. The medication or whatever they had given had here feeling quite dizzy. And she hated feeling dizzy in even the slightest.
As Teela laid there, her minds fluttered back to the dream. The Sorceress was there, wasn't she? Teela could almost guarantee it. She told her Grayskull would be safe. And that was the only impression Teela could really recall of the dream. It was good enough for her.
Two days after awakening in Avion, Teela learned of a meeting. The Horde was currently occupying all areas of the northern Fertile Plains. There has been no word from the Great Nest, so it was unknown they had been attacked or not. Nor was it known if the kingdoms that were often times opposed to Eternos had vanished just as the friendlier ones had. The Cave and Tree kingdoms were forced to fight together and that was the last message from them.
Both the Evergreen Forest and the Vine Jungle was teeming with Horde Troopers. And the amount of Horde Troopers was on the rise. There would be no stopping them when they entered into the Mystic Mountains.
Hence the meeting. With Granamyr gone, the two strongest powers in the Mystic Mountains were Avion and Insectia. Even the Ilkorts seemed to have gone into hiding and they were old allies of the Horde. To plan for the eventual attack, Stratos called to order a meeting with the Insectoid Hierarchy and the Avion Senate. Sitting in on the meeting would be Commander John, Teela, and Gwildor.
The meeting was held in one of the highest spires of Avion. From the Insectoids came Queen Andora of the Insectoid-Bees, Lord Borax of the Insectoid-Beetles, Counselor Syranna of the rarely-seen Insectoid-Ants, Queen Kexia XVIIIXII of the Kex, and Lord Sosoran of the Insectoid Moths. They sat on one side of a large circular table.
On the other side were Stratos, Hawk, High Speaker Mylan, and Military Commander Doshan. Lord Feather was also present. Teela, John, and Gwildor sat between them all.
For three hours, they plotted, planned, argued, and debated over the best course for these two mighty kingdoms of the Mystic Mountains. It should be no shock that as the heated discussion began to wind that there was no clear plan. However, it was appropriate that the Moth Sosoran came up with the idea that he did.
"We hide," Sosoran suggested.
Everyone looked right at him with a mixture of cynicism, curiosity, and general confusion.
"What do you mean 'hide?'" questioned Doshan.
"We leave Insectia and Avion. Seal them both up however we like and then we hide somewhere. They'll think we left Eternia just like the others and they'll leave us alone."
"And just how will we evacuate that quickly?" demanded Doshan.
"I'm not sure."
"The Cosmic Key," said Syranna.
Gwildor looked over at him. "Perhaps," he said, tapping his chin. "However, we would need a very powerful energy source to open and maintain power that long. Also, I need to know just where we intend on hiding out."
Teela leaned forward. "The Mines of Alluray. They're isolated, stable and huge."
"What about a power source?" asked Stratos.
"The Coridite Crystals. Gwildor, what about those?" asked Teela.
"Yes! Yes! Those would work just fine!"
Queen Andora, who was the most powerful of all Insectoids, spoke. "Lord Stratos? Lord Feather? What do you two think?"
Stratos glanced at the Avion who had been proclaimed the mightiest of all their people. He nodded.
"We believe this is the best option until we can find another way of dealing with this invasion."
Queen Andora looked to her fellows Insectoids. "We will return to Insectia and put it to a vote."
"We will do the same."
The meeting broke up after a few more minutes of talk. Teela found herself wandering to a balcony that overlooked Avion. The Mines of Alluray would be perfect. But even the thought of the quest to get there the first time was fresh in Teela's mind. He-Man . . . Adam . . .
She missed them. Both of them. Especially now. She wanted them. She needed them.
"Teela?"
Teela started. She spun and saw John standing behind her, the twilight's rays running along his rugged features.
"John, hi. What's going on?"
"I was just checking up on you."
Teela smiled, much to her own surprise. Did he have a little thing for her? And more importantly, did she him?
"I'm doing okay, thanks," she replied quickly. He stepped a little closer.
"I was thinking. It may be a good idea to go after the Coridite anyway. Just in case. I hear it's pretty powerful."
Teela nodded and patted his arm. "I think that's a good idea. I'll go get the others."
Early the next morning, a Wind-Raider and a Talon Fighter (both discovered in storage at Avion) blasted off, carrying Teela, John, Mekaneck, Man-E-Faces, and Clamp Champ to the Widgets Fortress. As they came to a landing, the group walked towards the entrance of the abandoned fortress. Only the sounds of birds and bugs could be heard.
"Mekaneck," Teela said quietly, pointing to the main doors.
His elongated neck took his head through the doors and into the fortress. After a few seconds, his head returned to his body.
"Nothing."
Teela nodded. "Good. Let's move."
The group entered, weapons ready. Man-E-Faces spun to Robot and began to scan the interior of the fortress as they moved towards the storage area. Once there, Teela went to the computer unit right next to it to entrance. Her fingers pressed a few keys, the access code of the door she was given years ago.
However, it didn't work.
"Well, that worked," Clamp Champ snickered.
"I can hack into it, I think."
Man-E-Faces switched to Robot once more and attached a cord to his robotic cheek. The computer pad began to light. Man-E-Faces twitched a few times, then detached the cord. As soon as he did, the door unlocked and cranked open.
They all entered. Two huge containers sat in front of them, both full of Coridite. Wherever the Widgets went to, they decided to box it up before hand. Man-E-Faces went into Monster mode and began to pull one of the crates out. He, John, and Mekaneck headed to the Wind-Raider, leaving Teela and Clamp Champ behind.
A few minutes later, Man-E-Faces and John returned to pull the next one out. As soon as they all gathered together as the Wind Raider and the Talon Fighter and secured the two huge crates, a trio of explosions erupted around them.
"Stop them!" roared Grizzlor, leaping forth.
Above, Bat-Mechs came swooping in. Mekaneck, Man-E-Faces, John, and Clamp Champ opened fire. Teela activated her communicator.
"GWILDOR! WE NEED A PORTAL IMMEDIATELY!"
No answer.
Teela grunted and opened fire. Beams of energy went shooting into the air, blasting the Horde Troopers to pieces.
"We need to get out of here!" John proclaimed.
"I agree! Boys - cover fire, please!"
Teela began to power up the Wind Raider, but was not happy to see those Bat-Mechs still circling and swooping above them. The Talon Fighter, currently manned by Clamp Champ and Mekaneck also began to energize despite the onslaught of shots being taken.
Just as both airships started to lift off, the Bat-Mechs came closing down on them . . .
A noise not unlike chiming was heard and a huge portal appeared before both the Talon Fighter and the Wind Raider. Teela smiled and blasted forward, followed by the Talon Fighter.
"The decision has been made," Stratos told Teela and the others later that afternoon. "The Avions and the Insectoids will go to Mines of Alluray. And with that new deposit of Coridite, we can activate our force field around Avion and it can go on indefinitely."
"Good," Teela responded. "What about the Cosmic Key?"
"There's a problem with that," Gwildor confessed.
"What is it?"
"There's a high magnetic variance at the Mines of Alluray due to the nature of the mines and the area it's in," Gwildor explained. "We can use the Cosmic Key to get to a close location, but not straight to Mines."
"Could be trouble, then," Teela sighed.
"We'll do it anyways. It is what needs to be done."
Two days later, Stratos stood upon the highest spire of Avion. Below, his fellow Avions led its citizens to the teleportation area. Towers and cliffs were being evacuated full-force, and everyone had divided up into their sections. He waited from Gwildor to power up the Cosmic Key and as he did, he gazed out at that grand city in the sky.
It was a thing of incredible beauty, a jewel of the Mystic Mountains. It survived countless attacks by all sorts of evils - the Horde (twice now), the Snake-Men, Skeletor, the Ilkorts, and so many others throughout history. To abandon it now . . . it felt like giving up. Like turning over.
Like surrendering.
He hung his head. As he did so, a strange of chiming and music filled the air. A massive portal opened up. As it did, all of Avion flew right into it. It would take them to a secluded location far north, where they would rest for a day until the Insectoids could meet them up there.
"It's time to go," Delora said from behind Stratos. In her arms was their son, Talon. Far below, the city was continuing its evacuation. A force field shimmered into place, and would continue to do so for quite a while longer.
"It's hard to leave here," Stratos confided in her.
"We will return, my husband. When this war ends, we will return."
"And when will it? What advantage will we find?"
"He-Man will come back. Or She-Ra."
Stratos sighed. He looked at her, her beautiful dark moving in the breeze. He tried to smile, but couldn't muster it. Instead, he reached for baby Talon. Stratos held him up in his arms and showed him the city from their fine view.
"This is our home, my boy," he told the baby. "This is your home. And it shall always be that way."
With that, Stratos held the two of them and flew into the portal.
A moment later, with the entire city evacuated and the force field shimmering, the jewel of the Mystic Mountains stood silently lonely.
The next day, Teela watched as the Insectoids poured into the massive series of canyons the Avions were camped out in. It was such a sad thing, watching these two misplaced peoples as they now had to live together. So many innocents . . . the effects of this invasion were going to be long felt.
Teela was suddenly overcome with incredible sadness. Everything to swirl and crash upon her. The evacuation . . . the fall of Eternos . . . her father captured . . . the king and queen exiled. Adam. And He-Man - gone.
Her knees gave out. Teela sat down and started to sob. Tears poured from her eyes. After Adam and He-Man left, she cried a little, but not very much. This was the first real sob she had since all of this began.
"Teela? You okay?"
John.
"I'm . . . I . . ."
John walked over to her as the former captain tried to compose herself. It didn't work. He bent down in front of her. "What is it?"
She looked up at him, eyes full of tears, bottom lip trembling. He didn't say anything and neither did she. Instead, John opened up his arms and she fell right into them. She cried and cried, finding comfort in those arms. She would never forget that feeling.
"Both Avion and Insectia have been emptied," Dylamug reported.
Hordak grunted. "And indication as to where they went?"
"No."
The ruthless leader turned to Shadow Weaver. "I have checked with the Central Tower's sensor logs. There was an energy surge at both Insectia and Avion and then a third sixty miles north of the Eye of Zarcaan. Perhaps some sort of teleporter."
Hordak considered this. As he did, his fingers graced the blade of the Sword of Deception. His eyes rolled in thought. "Send Grizzlor, Catra, Leech, and Manteena to the location of that third energy surge. Take with them two units of Horde Troopers. Obliterate anyone they find."
"There's a small mining settlement in these ridges," Gwildor pointed out. "It's abandoned now because of the season. However, it would be the best location for our refugees."
Stratos looked to Queen Adrona, who nodded. "I agree."
"As do I."
"From there, it will be one more quick jump and then we'll be have to walk it to the Mines of Alluray."
Teela nodded. "Then you better get to work, Gwildor," she told him.
Gwildor pulled out the Cosmic Key and started to set the right parameters. As he did, Stratos sent forth messengers to tell the refugees to begin packing up. Teela stood on one of the ledges and watched as many of their new protectorates started to be prepare for their new lives.
She spotted John and just watched him. Teela was starting to feel something for him. He was attractive, of course, but more than anything, he made her feel good. He filled her with confidence and affection.
This was certainly not love she felt for him. She would know that because she had felt that emotion already in her life. Even so, though, there was a certain kind of closeness that Teela enjoyed having with John. It was a good feeling, just being close to another male. Again.
In the matter of few minutes, a massive blue and white portal opened. Teela watched as thousands upon thousands of Avions and Insectoids began to enter into it, this mass exodus taking them ever closer to their destination.
As over half of them continued the constant march inward, explosions echoed through the air. Teela spun and watched as Grizzlor, Catra, Leech, Manteena and a vast number of Horde Troopers came running across the ledge of the cliffs of that surrounded the entire area.
Teela was in action in a matter of seconds.
"Clamp Champ! Man-E-Faces! With me! Mekaneck, you and Stratos keep them moving! JOHN - WE NEED COVER FIRE!"
The air sizzled with laser beams as the Royal Soldiers opened fire on the Horde Troopers, blasting them to bits. Man-E-Faces, Clamp Champ and Teela ran to the back of the mass crowd of Avions and Insectoids to protect them from the Horde Elite.
"Man-E-Faces! We need a scan!" Teela ordered.
Man-E-Faces spun to ROBOT and began to scan the canyon. He turned to Teela. "We're all clear."
"Good. Let's start to pull back."
Suddenly, Teela was thrown to the ground by Catra's tigress form. Teela rolled back, then came up and kicked Catra in the face. Catra reverted back to her natural state as her mask went flying into the air. Grizzlor, Manteena, and Leech followed up and the Horde Troopers were right behind them.
Teela took a quick look around and found that they were only ones left here. The portal shimmered behind her.
Clamp Champ and Man-E-Faces entered the fray against the Horde Elite.
"We need to get out of here!" Teela shouted, throwing Catra to the ground and noticing the Horde Troopers rushing towards the portal.
"AGREED!" shouted Man-E-Faces. His face spun to MONSTER and he roared, voice echoing in a guttural shout. He slammed two massive fists at Grizzlor, then began to tear into Manteena. He threw him into Leech. This gave him a second.
"GO! I CAN HOLD THEM!"
Teela stepped forward. "No!"
"GO! NOW!"
Man-E-Faces was in the middle of beserker rage. His whole body seemed to fit the face he had right now. He began to tear into Grizzlor. Clamp Champ turned to Teela and grabbed her by the arm.
"We need to go!"
"NO! I CAN'T LEAVE HIM!"
"You're going to have to!"
Clamp Champ lifted her up and rushed into the portal. Teela watched with wide-eyed horror and despair as Grizzlor, Catra, and Leech overcame Man-E-Faces. As soon as they entered, the portal closed.
The mining town the Avions, Insectoids and the Royal Soldiers were making their home was not very large, but no one complained. Living quarters supported entire families. As huge bon fires were lit and guards assembled along the perimeter, a northeastern wind brought flurries of snow. By most reckoning, it would be the last snow of winter. Neither Insectoid nor Avion welcomed it.
Avions hate the snow simply out of superstition. It was a poor omen, one that meant weak flying and slow responses. Insectoids felt the need to hibernate whenever it snowed - the urge to keep themselves in the warm catacombs of their mountain homes.
Humans have no real problem with it.
Perhaps it was anxiety after the attack or weariness after all the movement, or maybe it was the snow, but whatever the case - everyone just wanted to keep to him or herself. All of the buildings in the abandoned mining town were filled to the brim with quiet and reserved Avions and Insectoids.
The Heroic Warriors and the Royal Soldiers (those not on duty during the intensive night watch) hunkered down in the tavern and inn. Even then, they remained in their rooms, nothing but their brothers-in-arms and the howling wind to keep them company.
"I've spoken to both leaders," Stratos told Teela as he met with her and Gwildor. "They both agree that we need to leave here by tomorrow afternoon."
"Do you know how they found us?" she asked, the question pointed at Gwildor.
Gwildor nodded. "I ran a diagnostic on the Cosmic Key. It turns out that the Cordite Crystal creates an energy surge that can be very easy to detect."
"Can you fix the problem?"
"The proper shielding should help, yes."
"Good. All right, well, why don't you two get some sleep? It's been . . . a long day."
Stratos and Gwildor left her quarters and Teela went to window. Outside, huge bon fires lit the streets and the snowy winds twirled between buildings. She felt miserable. It was February now . . . and in two months, it would make the one-year anniversary of He-Man's departure. And what a horrible year it had been.
"I . . . need a drink."
Teela stood up and walked out of quarters. She walked down the stairs and into the bar. Surprisingly enough, John was there, sipping at a mug of beer. Even more surprising was that she was actually happy to see him. Five minutes ago and the thought of drinking with someone was distasteful. However, now it cheered her.
"Teela. Kinda surprised to see you down here."
"I need a drink."
"Me too. Have a seat. Let's talk."
She joined him and was poured a beer. Teela took a whiff. "Where's this been?"
"Cold storage. It's not bad."
Teela took a gulp. She was never much a fan of mead, but she drank it anyway. "Ugh. Yeah, it's not bad. Not good, but not bad."
"Yeah." He paused. "I heard about Man-E-Faces. I'm sorry."
She nodded. "So am I. It's just . . . I hate this war, John. It's gone awful."
"No kidding." He finished off his mug, turned to a barrel and then refilled it.
"I've never felt his bad, John. Never. Everything's gone wrong. Adam and He-Man are both gone. My father is captured. Eternos is destroyed. The people I've been sworn to protect . . . I've failed. I've become a failure."
John put a hand on her shoulder. "This about Man-E-Faces?"
"Yes and no."
"Then what is it about?"
"Nothing and everything, John. I took an oath to protect the people of Eternos. And right now? They're prisoners of the Horde. Every town and city now has a wall built around it. Eternos City itself has been emptied and practically wiped out. I failed in that oath."
"They're not dead."
"They might as well be."
"It's not too late to save them. After we're done here, maybe we can get a bunch of stragglers together and bust them loose . . ."
Teela shrugged and refilled her mug. "I don't know. I want to, but where are we going to get the man-power?"
"I don't know."
"Let's face it, John. We're just holding out for He-Man. And Ancients know when he'll be back."
"Soon, I hope would hope. You don't sound like the same Teela that was giving me a pep talk a few days ago."
"I know. I'm sorry. I'm just loosing my faith in all of this."
She finished off her second beer. He filled her for a third. By now, the alcohol was starting take its effect. Teela felt a little on the warm side and her legs were feeling slightly shaky.
"Teela, if what we're aiming at is survival right now, then what we need to maintain us is faith." His hand reached over and touched hers. Teela stopped halfway through her beer and looked over at him.
"And you have faith in Eternia?"
"I do now. Teela . . . I . . ." He halted, struggling with the correct words.
"What is it?"
With an expression of pure truth, he gazed at her. "I lost everything when West Eternos fell. I figured you all for dead. And when I saw you . . . and the others, well, it was like someone splashed cold water on me. I couldn't believe it. I really couldn't. Being with you, it's restored my faith and my hope in all of Eternia. My faith and my hope is . . . us."
He squeezed her hand. Teela looked at him, eyes wide. She leaned forward and kissed him. He returned it. The alcohol may have had something to do with it and she'll claim that it did for the longest time - but deep in her heart, she knows that she just wanted to be with him.
John was a wonderful man. She would know none ever like him again. And though there was no strong love between them, there was a bond unlike anything else.
They kissed and passion filled them. Teela took his hand and went up to her room. It was there that passion did them in and they came together in lust.
What happened the next morning happened quickly.
When Teela woke up, John was laying next to her, still sleeping. She ran her finger across his perfectly edged chin and smiled. He woke up then and smiled at her.
"Hi."
"Hi."
"I seem to be in your bed."
"Yeah."
"I also seem to be naked in your bed."
"Yeah."
His smile grew even wider. "I had a good time last night. It was . . . incredible."
"It was." She blushed. "My first time, actually."
John ran his fingers through her soft red hair. "Really? Because it was really good."
Her face turned beat red. She never felt like this before. "Thanks, I guess."
"Up for a second?"
She smirked. "Maybe."
"Maybe?"
They both leaned in for a kiss. However, before their lips could meet, Teela's communicator started to beep. She sighed and picked it up from the nightstand.
"This is Teela."
"Teela, this is Meckaneck. Those sensor arrays we set-up last are detecting in-coming Horde Troopers."
"ETA?"
"One hour."
"Have the leadership been informed?"
"Yes. They're gathering everyone for immediate teleportation. Scouts are reporting the destination is clear. Gwildor has set-up the proper shielding on the Cosmic Key. We should be able to get there undetected."
"All right. Is Stratos gathering as much military as he can?"
"Yes. And our own commandos have been assembled. We're just waiting for you and Commander John."
"We'll - I mean, I'll be there in a few minutes. Teela out."
Teela turned to John, who heard the whole thing. He was already half-dressed. "Looks like no second times."
"Nope, guess not."
In what seemed like a flash, John and Teela were standing side-by-side as Gwildor's portal shimmered and held open as the citizens of Avion and Insectia entered.
"How much time?" Teela asked, turning now to Mekaneck.
"Any minute now."
Teela turned back to the mass exodus. "Hurry it up, guys."
A sudden explosion had everyone on their feet. A pair of Bat-Mechs swooped down from the gray clouds above, launching missiles at the now empty buildings. As they came closer to the large crowd, a swarm of Insectoid-Bees and Moths, couple with Avion warriors, began to attack. They cast upon the Bat-Mechs small bombs, which blew the pair up in quite a marvelous sight.
Teela grinned. "We may actually pull this off."
As soon as those words parted her lips, steady streams of laser fire came against them all. Legions of Horde Troopers began to enter the small outpost, weapons firing at will. Teela immediately tried to take control of the situation, but there were far more of them this time than the last.
"Pull back towards the portal!" She turned to look at the now diminishing crowd of Avions and Insectoids. She took some satisfaction in the fact they were moving much faster than the on-coming -
"TEELA! LOOK OUT!"
Teela spun around at the sound of John's voice, but moved too slowly. Two hands that held her last night now shoved her to the ground. Teela looked up in horror as a barrage of laser fire rained across John's body. Blood issued forth and he collapsed. The Royal Soldiers around began to fire back, one of their leaders killed.
John fell right next to Teela. She dragged him behind a nearby building. His eyes were wide and bloodshot. His flesh was singed and smoldering, blood pouring form his wounds.
"John! JOHN!"
With one weak hand, he pulled head down to his. His mouth came against her ear and he whispered one word to her.
"Faith."
He then died.
The battle ended with John being the only casualty. With the Coridite Crystal's energy signature masked, the Cosmic Key made it impossible for anyone to trace their whereabouts. From their arrival point, it took the Avions and the Insectoids two full days and three long nights to reach the Mines of Alluray.
The Avions took the mountains cliffs and ledges. The Insectoids took the mines themselves, careful to avoid the lower chambers. The land was immediately cultivated and vegetation grew. Animals were hunted, their furs and meat spread throughout the citizens - most especially to the sick, children and elderly.
From computer terminals, both cultures were able to gaze upon their abandoned kingdoms from afar, making sure their security was still intact. It never changed.
Spring was coming. It snowed a few times during the first week, but during the second week, it stopped. The third week, it rained most days. The fourth week, life was beginning to find a status quo at the Mines of Alluray as temperatures soared upwards.
Five weeks after her arrival here at the Mines of Alluray, Teela stood in thought before John's grave. Flowers were beginning to grow in front of its marker and she found that strangely ironic.
"Teela? You wanted to see us?"
She turned to fully face Gwildor, Meckaneck, Stratos, and Clamp Champ. "Yes. If it's all right with you, I propose we head back down south. The Mines of Alluray are safe for now. And with a strong military power here and the isolation, I believe it will continue to be an ideal location. Lubic was able to get a few more refugees to that secret cavern, so I think we should meet up with them there."
"I'm for that," Clamp Champ replied.
Stratos nodded. "It will be difficult to maintain ourselves against the Horde, but I agree - we need to be able to stand against the forces of evil once and for all."
Teela grinned a little. "Faith, Stratos. It's the last thing John said to me before he died. And I have faith that we can do this. That we can win back Eternia."
Meckaneck shared Teela's grin. "Four against nearly a million Horde Troopers? Piece of cake."
Teela took a deep breath. "Unfortunately, Meckaneck, it's going to have to be only three for a while."
Gwildor perked an eyebrow. "Why's that?"
Teela paused and looked at them all. They were here friends, her family. She loved them and they loved her in return. She had faith in each one of them and they in her.
"I'm pregnant."
Thew40 has also written Preludes and Beginnings; The Crossroads of Destiny; Prophecy & Change; Just Another Day; The Final Adventure; A Winter's Heart; and Roots with Brimstone.