Chapter Eight

"I see you've returned," said Zodak to Teela. They were gathered once more in The Evergreen Forest, Zodak sitting in his chair.

"Yeah," said Teela. She held up the necklace and said, "Here's your necklace."

"Teela," said a soft feminine voice behind Teela. She turned around to find The Sorceress of Grayskull standing next to her, a delicate hand resting on Teela's shoulder.

"Teela-Na," said Zodak, acknowledging The Sorceress's presence. "Glad you could join us."

"Are you all right?" The Sorceress asked Teela, ignoring Zodak.

Teela nodded her head. "I'm fine."

"I'll take the necklace now, Teela," said Zodak, reaching for the necklace. As he reached for the necklace, Teela let it drop to the ground and buried the ruby underneath the toe of her boot.

"Teela, what are you doing?" Zodak asked, perplexed.

"That necklace was worthless," Teela growled. Her eyes now blazed with fury. "Skeletor was never a threat. He was never within twenty MILES of the place!" She drew her sword and waved it menacingly at Zodak. "You LIED to me, Zodak! You DECEIVED me!" In a fit of rage, Teela charged Zodak, brandishing her sword. The Sorceress of Grayskull stepped into her path and braced herself against Teela's chest, holding her back.

"Really, Teela. This is not necessary…" said Zodak, taken aback by the enraged Teela.

"You think I'm STUPID?" Teela shouted at Zodak over The Sorceress's shoulder, sword swinging wildly. "You think I wouldn't have figured this OUT?"

"Teela, control yourself," The Sorceress said softly, her petite frame braced against Teela's towering, muscular one. "There's nothing to be gained from killing Zodak."

"I could've been KILLED!" Teela exclaimed, brandishing her sword. "I risked my life for NOTHING!"

"I share your anger," said The Sorceress. "You have every right to be angry…" The Sorceress paused. " … But is revenge worth a prison sentence?"

Teela let out a breath. "You're right," she said as she sheathed her sword and backed down. "He's not worth it." Teela paused. "Why'd you do it, Zodak? WHY?"

Zodak settled himself in his chair. "Curiosity," he said.

" 'Curiosity…' " Teela said dryly.

"I've heard about your … powers," said Zodak. "I wished to see them for myself."

"You DO know what curiosity did to the cat now … Don't you?" Teela shot back.

"That's enough," said The Sorceress with an edge in her voice.

Zodak smiled. "I supposed I should've expected this," he said. "I received a similar reception from your mother after I put HER through this course."

Teela and The Sorceress looked at each other. How did he KNOW?

"You did well," Zodak continued. "Given time … and practice … I'm sure that someday you'll make a worthy successor to your mother."

"THAT'S nice to know," Teela said dryly.

"I really should be going," said Zodak. "It seems … that my work here is complete."

"Yeah," said Teela. "You DO that."

"Farewell, Teela," said Zodak as he and his chair disappeared into thin air.

"Is it TRUE?" Teela asked The Sorceress after Zodak had left.

"Is WHAT true?" The Sorceress inquired in reply.

"What he said," Teela replied. "About you … going through this course."

The Sorceress nodded her head. "Yes," she said. "Yes, I went through this course."

That explains a LOT, Teela thought. That would explain how she knew about the mosaic … and the jewel. "You were one up on ME," she said. "I didn't have your powers."

The Sorceress smiled and shook her head. "When I went through it, I didn't have my powers," she said.

Teela knitted her brows in confusion. "I don't understand," she said.

"When I went through the course, I was like you … a rookie," said The Sorceress. "A twenty-one-year-old rookie." The Sorceress paused. "At the time, I wasn't too far removed from herding sheep back in Noella." The Sorceress paused again. "I barely got out with my life."

"How did he know … about US?" Teela asked. "I did not tell him."

"Nor I," said The Sorceress. "I suppose the best answer I can give you is that he's … Zodak. He simply … KNOWS."

"Thanks for pulling me outta there," said Teela.

The Sorceress smiled and shook her head. "YOU did it," she said. "I merely guided you."

"A-HEM," The invisible Spirit of Grayskull grunted, as if he were clearing his throat.

"Correction," said The Sorceress with a smile and a light laugh. "WE … merely guided you."

"I suppose some good DID come out of this," said Teela. "I now know … that there is much that I do not know."

"It gets easier with experience," said The Sorceress reassuringly. "Shall we go?" she said, gesturing back towards Castle Grayskull.

Teela nodded. "What was it like for YOU?" she asked as she and The Sorceress walked back towards Castle Grayskull.

The Sorceress stopped. "I don't understand," she said.

Teela stopped. "Well, I had to fight a dragon for a necklace," she said. "Who did YOU have to fight … and for WHAT?" Teela paused. "I'm curious…"

The Sorceress resumed walking, Teela following alongside. "You and I fought the same thing … a dragon," said The Sorceress. "He made ME retrieve a black pearl…"

THE END