Chapter Seven

The key to all this seems to lie in wielding The Power of Grayskull, Teela thought as she walked through the crystal chamber that led to The Temple of The Dragon. The quake … the hypno-bug. I wouldn't have been able to get through them had I not used my … powers.

As Teela approached The Temple, a massive iron door blocked her path. Guess this is it, she thought. As she stood before the door, her necklace began to glow. The massive door suddenly swung open, as if in reply. Magical seal, she thought.

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Teela entered the massive crystal chamber to find a large pit before her. On the far side of the pit sat a massive crystal altar.

"The necklace you seek rests on top of the altar," said The Spirit of Grayskull to Teela.

"Sounds easy enough," Teela said to herself. Before she could take another step, the massive green, scaly, roaring head of a dragon arose from the pit, the head being attached to a seemingly endless neck.

This would explain why this place is called "The Temple of the Dragon", Teela thought wryly to herself.

As if one long-necked dragon wasn't enough, another head just like the first … and yet one more, making THREE … arose from the pit. The three-headed dragon blew a plume of flame at Teela as she just barely managed to dive behind a crystal outcropping.

Too big for my freeze ray, thought Teela as she glanced at her gauntlet. Freeze ray … that gives me an idea. "Okay, I think I've got the hang of this now," said Teela to herself. "POWER OF GRAYSKULL," she commanded. "FREEZE THE DRAGON!" All at once, all three heads of the dragon were encased in a block of ice.

I guess that's that, Teela thought. Before she could react, all three heads of the dragon breathed a plume of flame in unison, melted the ice, and broke free from its icy prison.

"What now, Teela?" The Spirit of Grayskull asked.

"Plan B," Teela replied. The dragon breathed another plume of flame at Teela, narrowly missing the top of her head. Yikes, that was close, she thought.

"What constitutes 'Plan B'?" The Spirit of Grayskull asked.

"I'm thinking," Teela replied. She then looked around at her surroundings. Let's try crystal. "POWER OF GRAYSKULL, SEAL THE DRAGON IN CRYSTAL!" Almost as soon as she spoke the words, the dragon was encased in a massive block of crystal.

THAT should hold em, Teela thought. Much to her surprise, the dragon reared up on his haunches, exposing his underbelly, and -- in a show of pure brute strength -- smashed its way out of its crystal prison.

THAT went over well, Teela thought wryly as the dragon roared and breathed a plume of flame just over her head. If I can't freeze or hold the dragon, perhaps I can cut it down to size. "POWER OF GRAYSKULL," she commanded. "SHRINK THE DRAGON TO THE SIZE OF A MOUSE!"

The chamber suddenly fell silent. No plume of flame … no roaring dragon … Nothing. "What happened?" Teela asked. "What happened to the dragon?"

"You've done it," The Spirit of Grayskull replied happily. "You've won."

"I DID?" Teela asked, surprised.

"Come and see," said The Spirit.

Teela emerged from her hiding place behind the crystal outcropping and walked over to the edge of the pit. The now-mouse-sized dragon was practically invisible from the top of the pit. "I did it," she said to herself. "I DID it!"

"You certainly did," said The Spirit. "A masterful stroke, if I do say so myself."

Teela grinned broadly. "I've got some unfinished business to take care of," she said. "Power of Grayskull, take me to the altar." In a flash of light, she disappeared and then reappeared before the altar.

The necklace -- a large blood-red ruby attached to a chain of crystal beads -- sat in a translucent crystal box on the altar. A well in the shape of Teela's silver pendant was inscribed in the altar next to the box. The pendant must unlock the box, Teela thought as she removed the silver necklace from around her neck and placed the pendant inside the well. The well glowed, after which the box slowly opened, exposing the necklace.

Teela took the necklace from the box. "Looks like my work here is done," she said to herself.

"Well done, Teela," The Spirit of Grayskull said softly, congratulating her. "Well done."

"Let's get out of here," said Teela. I have a few words for Zodak, she thought. "Power of Grayskull … take me to Zodak," she commanded. Just as soon as she spoke the words, she disappeared in a flash of light.

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The Sorceress of Grayskull's face beamed with pride as she stood before her Great Mirror.

That's my girl, she thought happily as she disappeared into thin air.