Chapter Five

She has a point, Teela thought as she lay awake in bed in her quarters. How much do we really KNOW about He-Man? All we know … is that he's a mysterious warrior who rides a tiger and comes and goes at will.

Where does he COME from? Teela wondered. Where does he sleep at night? Why does he do … what he DOES?

Teela rolled over on one side. He seems to be on OUR side, she thought. So far…

At last, Evil-Lyn thought as she relaxed in her lair a few days later. I … Evil-Lyn … will do what that blundering oaf Skeletor and all of his pathetic minions could not. She then smiled evilly and thought, I will do it by striking him … where he least expects it.

"FOCUS, ADAM! FOCUS!" Teela barked to a dazed Prince Adam. The two of them were in the Royal Courtyard practicing combat drills, each armed with a sword and shield.

"Huh?" A dazed Prince Adam grunted.

Teela sighed. "You're dropping your guard again," she said. "You're leaving yourself WIDE open."

"Teela, I…" Adam stammered.

"Save it," Teela snapped. "Let's try this again…"

Isn't THIS nice, thought Evil-Lyn as she watched Teela and Adam in a magical transparent orb floating before her. Now, let's make this a little more … Interesting…

From out of nowhere, a giant fire-breathing blue dragon magically appeared overhead, raining orange fireballs down upon Teela and Adam.

"ADAM, GET DOWN!" Teela cried as she instinctively threw herself against the Prince, shoving him to one side and shielding him with her own body. She then raised her shield before her, deflecting the fireballs away from them.

"GET OUT OF HERE!" Teela commanded.

"But Teela…" Adam protested.

"GO! DO IT!" Teela cried. "I'll take care of it!"

Having heard this, Adam obediently ran away. THIS is a first, he thought.

If THIS doesn't bring that muscle-bound fool He-Man out of the woodwork, NOTHING will, Evil-Lyn thought.

Teela fought valiantly against the dragon, shooting freeze-ray blast after freeze-ray blast from her gauntlet - to no avail.

I could sure use some help right about now, she thought.

Teela doesn't stand a chance against that dragon, Adam thought as he raised his Sword of Power aloft in a nearby secluded alcove.

Teela fought the dragon for what seemed like the longest time, deflecting the fireballs away with her shield and firing the occasional freeze-ray blast from her gauntlet.

All at once, she felt herself being suddenly shoved to the ground. She looked up just in time to see He-Man - The Most Powerful Man in the Universe - towering over her.

Well, well, well … look who's decided to join us, thought Evil-Lyn with a smile as she watched He-Man and Teela thorough her magical viewer.

"HE-MAN!" Teela cried.

"Stay down!" He-Man commanded. "I've got him!" As the dragon roared overhead, he deflected the oncoming fireballs with his Sword of Power, one right after the other.

Teela scrambled to her feet and took her place a few paces behind He-Man's back, one hand resting on the hilt of a sheathed dagger hanging from her belt. This is your chance, she thought. Take him out now … get him while his back is turned.

Here's your chance, thought Evil-Lyn, silently egging Teela on. TAKE IT!

For what seemed like an eternity, He-Man batted away oncoming fireball after oncoming fireball with the Sword of Power. With one final swing, he lobbed a fireball back at the dragon, engulfing it in flames and destroying it in mid-air.

STOP IT! Teela thought as reason suddenly seized her. Stop it, now! She then released her grip on the dagger. This is ridiculous.

"Teela?" said a masculine voice - He-Man's.

Teela looked up from her reverie long enough to see He-Man suddenly facing her.

"Are you all right?" He-Man inquired.

"Umm … fine," stammered Teela. She grinned sheepishly and said, "Just … fine."

"You sure?" He-Man asked quizzically. "You seemed a little … off … today."

"Umm … yeah," Teela replied. "Everything's … fine."

Blast that goody-goody Teela, Evil-Lyn thought bitterly. She hasn't the strength to do what's … necessary. With a wave of her hand, she dissolved the viewer. It would seem that … STRONGER measures … are indicated.