Chapter Nine
It was noon. Teela stood at the Old Stone Bridge in Founder's Park, waiting to keep her appointment with the old woman. Nearby, Zoar the Falcon sat perched on a lamppost, maintaining a silent vigil.
What could the Sorceress of Grayskull want with my mother? Teela wondered, glancing at Zoar. All at once, she heard a roar. She turned around to see none other than He-Man - The Most Powerful Man in the Universe - striding towards her on his mighty Battle Cat.
"HE-MAN!" Teela cried.
He-Man and Battle Cat came to a stop at Teela's side. "Hello, Teela," he said.
"What're YOU doing here?" Teela asked.
"I … heard about what happened," He-Man replied.
Teela's face sank. "I … hope that you can forgive me," she said mournfully. "There's been a terrible mistake."
He-Man put a comforting hand on Teela's shoulder and said, "We all make mistakes."
"I'm sorry I doubted you."
"You didn't ACT on it … THAT'S what counts," said He-Man.
"I came SO close, though," said Teela. "TOO close."
"It's in the past," said He-Man.
Teela smiled and said, "Thank you, He-Man."
He-Man looked over the bridge just in time to see the old woman coming over the rise. "Here she comes," he said.
The old woman came to a stop before He-Man and Teela. She looked at He-Man with disapproval and said to Teela, "You've failed again."
"Forgive me, Mother," Teela replied. "I can't do it."
"Good-bye, Teela," said the old woman, turning to leave.
"Now, wait just a minute…" said He-Man.
The old woman turned back around to face He-Man. "Yes?" she said.
"I don't appreciate people spreading lies about me," said He-Man.
"That's not my concern," the old woman shot back.
"It's not your place to be judge, jury, and executioner…"
"So I've been TOLD," the old woman grumbled.
He-Man suddenly switched gears. "So you're Teela's mother…" he said.
The old woman stiffened and replied, "That's right."
"If you truly ARE Teela's mother, then perhaps you won't mind answering … a few questions," said He-Man.
The old woman's mouth twitched slightly. "All right…" she said.
"When was Teela born?" He-Man asked.
The old woman stood by in silence. How the blazes should I know? she thought.
"WHERE was she born?" He-Man pressed on, not giving the old woman time to answer.
"Um … Uh…" was all the old woman could stammer in reply.
"You don't remember when she was born … you don't even remember WHERE she was born," said He-Man. He then added, "Funny … It's not the sort of thing a mother usually FORGETS."
How does He-Man know so much about ME? Teela wondered.
"Don't tell me, let me guess," He-Man continued. "You were kidnapped and drugged … and Teela was torn from your womb while you were unconscious. Is THAT it?" He wore an expression on his face that said I can't believe I SAID that. "Is THAT how it happened? Is THAT the reason why you don't remember your own daughter's BIRTH?"
That doesn't sound like the He-Man I know, Teela thought. She glanced at Zoar, and then back at He-Man. Is there something going on between those two that I don't know about?
"How high did she graduate from the Academy?" He-Man interrogated.
In a flash of blue light, the old woman abandoned her disguise and revealed her true form: Evil-Lyn. "Why do you pester me with such TRIVIA?" she snapped.
Teela stared agape at the sight of Evil-Lyn. EVIL-LYN? she thought. Is SHE my mother?
"You regard … the intimate details of your own daughter's life … as mere TRIVIA?" interjected He-Man. "And to think you call yourself a MOTHER!"
"I don't have to stand for this!" fumed Evil-Lyn. She opened a portal and said, "I don't see why everyone's making such a fuss over Man-At-Arm's little BRAT!"
"GET OUT OF HERE!" bellowed He-Man. "You're NOT her mother!"
How does SHE know about me and Father? Teela wondered.
"Go!" He-Man thundered at Evil-Lyn. "Leave us!"
After a tense moment of silence, Evil-Lyn pointed to He-Man and said, "This TIME, He-Man." She then turned and walked through the portal.
After Evil-Lyn had left, Teela ran over the bridge and into the nearby woods. I think I'm gonna be sick, she thought. A few moments later, Zoar the Falcon took off from her perch and chased after Teela.
"Should we go after them?" asked Battle Cat.
He-Man shook his head … No. "They're going to need … some time alone," he replied.