Part Three – To the Top of Point Dread

One

Years ago, Teela had hated being in the centaur body, despite it being only for a few hours. Now, though, in the middle of her fourth day, she regretted ever hating it. She was filled with energy and vigor, moving faster than she ever could have with human legs.

Certain things – like going to the bathroom – had taken some getting used to, but overall, it was a very nice experience. Part of her even wanted to hang onto the flask and its contents simply out of wanting to be able to do this after she had her boy.

She arrived in the southern Fertile Plains without much incident. Near the boarder of the Desert and Fertile Plains, she had to move at night and – at one point, changed back to human briefly to hide easier – to avoid a rather aggressive Horde patrol.

Teela worried that her luck wasn't going to last all that much longer.

On a chilly evening, she entered the southern Fertile Plains. It was a vast, mysterious country. No one really knew much about it for a number of reasons. It was filled with massive, untamed creatures, which was one major factor. Galdor, an enemy kingdom of Eternos, was also blocking out most southern entryways.

Teela had only been down here once, and that was when dealing with the centaurs the last time. The mountain range loomed ahead of her. She decided to avoid rushing into the mountains until morning. Nestled below a small tree in a wide-open field, Teela took a swig of the potion. Her new lower torso changed, returning to normal.

She leaned low against the tree, eyes and ears wide open. Her communicator had a proximity alarm, allowing her to know if anyone was within forty feet. As she did her best to make herself comfortable, her hands absently ran along her bare belly, feeling the taunt skin. Within, her baby boy kicked up a storm. It was comforting for a good while, but after a bit, she was getting tired of it.

"Come on, sweetie, Mommy wants to get some rest," she said. It wasn't the first time she had called herself 'Mommy,' nor was it the first time it sounded strange to her ears. But she had swiftly surrendered to her fate of becoming a Mom. Of course, not having one did make her a little uncertain as to what it all entailed.

After a few pretty strong kicks, Teela sighed and readjusted herself.

"I need you to sleep," she said to her belly.

There was a kick so hard she could see it push against her skin. Laying her hands gently on her belly, she started humming lightly. Then, quietly, she began to sing a lullaby. She was far from a good singer, but what did her kid know about that? Despite her lack of talent, her boy soon calmed down.

Two

As her hooves stamped across the growingly rocky terrain, Teela spotted a few Gryphons watching her from above. Did they suspect her? Did they remember her? They didn't swoop; they didn't attack, so the centaur form must have given her some level of protection.

Her hooves carried her over a dense rocky portion of the mountain range. While she had passed the Gryphons, she could still feel eyes upon her. She was being watched – and carefully. After nearly another hour of travel, she stood upon the ridge of one of them mountains saw before her the vast fortress of Point Dread.

The walls were still intact, the mountain still rising above the structure that lined its base. Centaurs walked all along it, still armed. She could remember He-Man telling them to disband. Why were they still so well-prepared for an attack?

"Halt, woman!"

Teela sighed. "Yes?"

She turned around, seeing two Centaurs with long spears standing before her.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" asked one of them.

"My name is Teela. I am here to see Thane," she said, hands on where her human body met her horse body, where the fur was thin and fine.

"You can not just demand thus," the Centaur said. "What is your business here?"

"I'm a Centaur!"

"No you're not," came a new voice. Teela turned and saw the Centaur she had met so many years ago – Gragox. "I remember you. You were the imposter that stood with He-Man. What do you want here?"

"I need to see Thane. It is urgent business, concerning the fate of all Eternia."

Gragox looked to the two sentries, then slowly nodded. "Come with me."

With Gragox before her and the two sentries behind her, Teela was lead down through the gates of the fortress. Point Dread loomed above her, massive and tall in the mid-morning light.

Thane appeared, looking just about the same as he did the last time Teela had seen him. He looked her up and down. "I remember you," he said plainly.

"She got fat," Gragox stated.

"I'm pregnant, asshole," Teela snapped.

"I see that," Thane said, stepping forward. "What business do you have here? Teela, isn't it?"

"It is. And my business is that of Eternia. Although . . . shouldn't I be asking you the same question? He-Man asked you all to disband."

"He gave us permission to remain here, remember? Despite the loss of the Key of Grayskull, there are sigils and artifacts within the walls of Point Dread. I find them important, so I have declared the continual protection of this mountain."

Teela nodded. "I see."

"Do you have a problem with that?" asked Gragox.

"None at all."

Thane looked her hard in the eyes. "And you have come here for what reason?"

"I come seeking the Sword of the Ancients."

"Is that so?"

"I am an avatar of the Ancients, and wielded it in battle against Horde, the Dark Cloud, and the Spirit of Evil. It is my weapon. I must have it. It may just be the key to stopping Hordak once and for all."

Thane nodded heavily. "Follow me."

Teela complied, following the Centaur leader through the many tunnels of the fortress until at last coming into the mountain itself. The corridors of Point Dread were like a maze - intersecting, bypassing, dead-ending, and winding. At least, they arrived in massive chamber at what Teela guessed was the heart of Point Dread.

The walls of the chamber were lined with cryptographs, symbols, sigils, and various phrases and words in High Speech, Man Speech, Dragon/Troll, the words of the Ancients, and what she could only guess were some archaic phrases from the age of Preternia.

It was what stood in the center of the chamber that stunned Teela the most. It was a statue of He-Man and She-Ra, standing back-to-back.

"Wow," she gasped.

"Indeed," Thane agreed, then led her over to one of the walls.

There was an image of the Sword of the Ancients in the hands of a woman. The words scrolled around the woman were written in the language of the Ancients, though it didn't make any sense to Teela. Her studies in the Ancients tongues was very limited.

"This is you," Thane said, pointing to the woman. "She bares your name. Teela, daughter of Duncan and Teelana. Of the Order of the Goddess. Avatar of the Ancients."

Teela nodded, but didn't quite understand the 'Order of the Goddess' part, but she agreed with the rest.

"So what do I do?"

"If it is your destiny to seek out the Sword of the Ancients, then you must seek it out. You found it once, did you not? You must find it once more. Where did you find it?"

"The Ice Mountains," she replied. It was so far . . .

"Was that where it was lost?"

"No. It was tossed into a portal at Eternos." She grunted a little. "Are you telling me that I came all this way to find out that I need to go to Eternos?"

"Do you?"

"I . . . I'm not sure. I . . . it's so dangerous."

"Teela, there is something the Ancients gave us. We believe you would call it a teleporter. It will take you where you need to go."

"Eternos?" she questioned herself, but then found herself struck by a certain memory. "No. Snake Mountain."

Thane stiffened. "Why would you go to that evil place?"

"Years ago, there was an imposter Sword of the Ancients there. While it was one of the blades used by the Ancients, it was not the Sword of the Ancients. It's in one of the lower chambers."

Thane stepped forward.

"If it is an imposter sword, then why would you want to go there?"

"Because I believe that it is a key to finding the real sword. The Ancients put that one there to fool thieves, but I'm thinking that perhaps it is answer. They're tricky like that."

"Teela, what you speak of is madness! The threat of Snake Mountain is greater and you are with child!"

Teela looked him hard in the eyes. "I am not afraid."

"Then what of your child?"

"If I reach the Sword of the Ancients, then I will be fine."

Thane shook his head heavily. "Then go."

Three

Teela returned herself back into human form. She wasn't sure what she needed, but prepared herself all the same. She consolidated everything into one backpack and she groaned as she added more weight to it. Laser pistols in both hands and staff at her side, Teela felt as ready as she was.

"Take this, please," Thane said, handing her a chain male. "It will protect you."

She laid it over her shoulders and draped down to her thighs. She immediately groaned as she shifted around, all backed down.

Teela then walked over to the teleporter. She wasn't too surprised by it, as she had seen some of the technology the Ancients had somehow had back in the First Age. The Zactons were another example of that. The teleporter – however – did read her own thoughts. She pictured the chamber deep beneath Snake Mountain.

A blue light overcame here and Teela was gone . . .