Chapter XV: The Maternal Instinct
Evil-Lyn brandished her staff menacingly towards her opponent, as if daring her foe to attack. Her helmet had been knocked from her head earlier, and it now lay, forgotten, upon the ground. Lyn's somewhat long white hair billowed in the barest whisper of a breeze that enveloped the two of them. Her chest heaved as she inhaled deeply. She was mildly pleased with herself, being only a little out of breath, even though she had been fighting for almost three hours now. The end of her staff began to glow as she concentrated her energy into casting a spell.
Her opponent smiled, both at the challenge and at the new threat of Lyn's staff. Evil-Lyn's foe bore no weapons in hand, and yet still seemed to be doing quite well without them. As the purple energy from the young Dereskian's staff began to steady and then increase, her opponent's eyes narrowed. Lyn's violet eyes blazed pupil-less as the bolt from her staff erupted towards her foe, a strangled cry rippling through her throat. The bolt struck a large portion of their battlefield, and a great amount of dust flew into the air as it impacted, causing the young spellcaster to shield her eyes from possible blindness.
Out of the raging clouds of dust, her opponent burst upon her, having dodged the attack at the last second. Lyn's adversary kicked the staff from her hands as she fought her momentary surprise. Evil-Lyn was knocked onto her back by a sharp kick to her shins. Eyes blazing with an icy fire, the young Dereskian held herself up with her elbows and backed away, forming a ball of amethyst light in her hands.
While her opponent cautiously followed, being sure to keep a small amount of distance between them, Lyn stretched out with her leg as far as she possibly could, knocking her foe's ankle and causing her opponent to fall to the ground with a small cry of alarm. Taking advantage of her opponent's precarious state, Evil-Lyn jumped to her feet and laughed triumphantly, firing her ball of light with her fingertips.
Looking up at the cry of delight, Lyn's adversary had just enough time to see the threat and block the brunt of the attack. As the dust from the impact cleared, the young Dereskian stood over her enemy, who was balanced on her knees with her hand outstretched, her breath somewhat labored.
As Evil-Lyn looked down at her opponent triumphantly, she was most surprised to have her legs knocked out from underneath her. Her foe leapt up suddenly, Lyn's own Majick staff in her hands, and aimed it directly beneath the younger woman's throat.
The young Dereskian glared up at her adversary with an angry gaze, and then bowed her head. "You win again, Morämé," she observed in her native language.
Lady Moria smiled softly, her amethyst eyes whirling as she removed the staff from her daughter's neck and helped her back to her feet. "Yes, but only barely," she commented in the same tongue, handing Evil-Lyn her staff. "You are improving greatly, my dear. Soon I will not longer be able to defeat you."
Retrieving her helmet from where it had fallen, the younger Dereskian turned to look at her mother and smirked incredulously at that, a single eyebrow raised in inquiry. "I somewhat doubt I have improved that greatly, Mother dearest."
The elder woman winked at her daughter gently. "We shall soon see, love." She took her child's hand in her own and laughed gently. "Remember what I told you, Lyn. You must stop feeling when you fight. Do not rely upon your emotions, because they mislead you. 'The entire world is driving by a blind and ruthless will. To transcend the limitations of that world-'"
"'One must cease willing,'" Lyn recited dutifully. "I am aware of that, Mother." She rolled her eyes ever so slightly.
The elder woman crossed her arms. "You may scoff all you wish, my child, but the philosophy does prevent careless mistakes, such as the one you just made."
"I understand, Morämé. I shall strive to fight using the lessons you have taught me."
Lady Moria caressed her only child's cheek lovingly. "I suppose that is all I can ask of you," she smiled, eyes shining with a mother's pride. A small moment passed. "Do you think you can try getting us home, or would you like me to do it?" the elder Dereskian asked.
The younger woman was silent for a moment. "I think perhaps you should do it for today, Mother," she said softly. "I am a bit fatigued."
Moria nodded and gently began to sink them into the ground. "Soon, my dear," she commented. "Very soon, it will not be me pulling us through walls and floors."
Appearing within the chambers of the monarchy, the two of them parted hands and the elder smiled at her child.
"What is on your agenda for the rest of the day, Morämé?" Lyn asked, twisting her hair back into her helmet.
The Dereskian Queen walked over to a nearby bookcase and took a great tome from one of the lower shelves. "Oh, a bit of writing, sketching, and then I shall have to take care of some unfinished business. Why do you ask?" she smiled, amused.
Lyn tapped her fingers on the end of her crystal staff. "I was hoping to cause a bit of mischief later on," she said, smiling as well.
Two pairs of amethyst eyes, one darker than the other, locked.
Moria laughed softly. "Did you? And what sort of mischief did you have in mind, love?"
"Something decidedly wicked. And very fun." Lyn's voice became deeper, entering the tone that Moria had come to recognize as her 'evil plot' voice. "You do know that the Eternians are having a ball to commemorate the varied nations of the planet tonight, do you not?"
"Yes, it has been the sole topic of Tri-Klops' Doomseekers for nearly a month now, why? Are you considering 'crashing the party'?" Moria questioned, wondering exactly how long Lyn had been planning whatever it was she was plotting.
A wicked glint came into the younger woman's eyes. "Mmm," she affirmed. "Every nation on the planet will be represented, Morämé. Every nation except ours. We should fix that."
Her daughter's amusement was not lost upon the elder woman. She laughed gently. "Well now, that was rude of them. And such a grievous fault must not carry on without being rectified."
"Does that mean we're going?" Lyn asked, her eyes sparkling like mad.
Moria caressed her child's cheek lovingly. "Oh, yes. It has been far too long since my social skills were tested."
The two of them laughed softly together, smiling with the love that can only belong to a mother and her child.
"Very well," the elder woman said after a moment or two. "I shall go attend to my unfinished business, and then we shall get ready to depart for this evening. Is that alright with you?"
Lyn nodded once and smiled widely at her mother. Since Moria had returned to her, so much had happened. She had become aware of who and what she was, she had learned and mastered new techniques she had never even conceived of, and, best of all, she had come to realize just what it was that she and her mother could do together.
On her own, of course, Lyn considered herself to be a force to be reckoned with. However, with her mother at her side, there was little she knew of that could sway them. Her mother was frighteningly powerful, that she knew, but not even Evil-Lyn was aware of the exact extent of what her mother was capable of. She doubted that even Moria herself knew. Even so, she decided, looking over at her mother, it was unequivocally pleasant to be with her again.
"Mother," she began, amusedly. "Where it is that you go on your 'unfinished business, hmm?" Her violet eyes twinkled softly.
The elder woman laughed gently, caressing her only child's cheek. "I visit a very old friend," she replied, winking.
"The Sorceress," Lyn declared, not really asking so much as stating an obvious fact.
Her mother regarded her, the signs of impressed amusement in her eyes. "Your perceptions have improved, my dear."
The younger woman shook her head. "Not really, Morämé. It was merely a matter of logic deduction. There are not many on this planet whom you consider 'very old.' And even less among those whom you view as your 'friends.'"
Moria smiled gently at her daughter. "True enough, Lyn. Though whether you admit it or not, you are improving. Either that or I am beginning to loose my touch, and we both know how unlikely that is," she commented, winking.
Evil-Lyn preened a small bit at the compliment, returning her mother's smile. "I'm glad you think so."
Her mother gently held Lyn closer to herself. "I had better tread with care around you, love. Otherwise my secrets may begin to slip into your consciousness without my consent."
The Sorceress of Snake Mountain chuckled. "What secrets could you possibly have that I would not discover eventually on my own?"
"That you would not discover?" Moria repeated, more to herself than her child. "None. However, I do have some that would not be good for you to learn just yet, as I am sure you have a secret or do you would not like me to learn just yet."
Lyn considered a small moment and then agreed. "I suppose so." A moment of silence fell upon them. "When will I learn, Morämé?" the younger woman asked, staring into her mother's eyes.
"Soon," Moria replied. "Very soon. Just as you will receive the Collective very soon." The elder woman looked away suddenly, not really focusing on anything in particular. She appeared to be lost in thought, but in actuality, her thoughts ranged over many places, many timelines and many ideas, some which had been reality, some which were reality, and some that were far too outlandish to possibly become reality.
Evil-Lyn seemed to notice this change in her mother's attitude. Thus, where she normally would have pressed the matter of her succession, instead she remained silent for a few moments. She placed her hand upon her mother's shoulder, and looked where at what her mother seemed to be looking at.
"What are thinking of, Morämé? Where have you gone?" she questioned softly, resting her head against Moria's.
The elder Dereskian continued to stare at nothing, but still replied, "I'm not quite sure, Lyn."
Lyn turned her mother's face gently so that their eyes locked. "Morämé," she said softly. "Are you entirely happy?"
Whatever fog Moria was in seemed to lift for a small moment as she stared into her child's eyes. "With you? Yes. I don't think I could be any happier than when I am with you."
Her daughter smiled softly, her unspoken 'why' hanging in the air.
Lady Moria took her daughter's face in her hands and smiled. "When I look at you, Lyn, I see. everything I had ever aspired to become in youth. You are.confident, controlled, specific, true to your plans and. everything I could ever have wanted in my daughter."
"You are all of those things, too, Mother," Evil-Lyn commented, winking. "You cling to everything you hold dear to, and never let anything sway you once you have chosen your path."
The elder woman shook her head and walked over to the nearby wall, placing her hand on the bookcase and gazing at the many tomes of ancient Dereskian lore. "All I cling to is the past, Moritënia. You live here, now, acting on things that have an effect on today. .I, on the other hand. I adhere to a world that died away a very long time ago."
"But you're happy doing it," the younger woman replied, again placing her hand on her mother's shoulder. "You find peace in that world."
Moria turned slowly and looked at her only child. "Lyn. 'You cannot find peace by avoiding life.' .It is true that I happy when I am with you. but that is only when I am with you."
"And the Sorceress?" Evil-Lyn questioned, her eyebrows raised. "You spend a good bit of your time with her. Does that not make you happy?"
The elder woman let out a small laugh. "The Sorceress? She is an. amusing diversion, but that is really all. Yes, I find some small pleasure in tormenting her, and find it sometimes refreshing to talk to someone with a brain, other than you, of course, dear. But that is truly the extent of my 'happiness' with her. Though, I will admit, her incorruptibility is very tempting."
Lyn looked at her mother with one brow quirked. "Tempting in what way?" she asked, "The idea of corrupting it?" Her mother nodded, amethyst eyes flashing wildly. Evil-Lyn laughed. "Oh, Mother. You're such a wonder to everyone, even me. And yet you delight in things I would find entertaining."
"Such as 'crashing' Eternian parties?" Moria suggested, eyes whirling.
Another laugh erupted from the younger woman. "Yes, exactly," she affirmed, smiling widely.
The Ancient Dereskian hugged her daughter closely. "I suppose I should be off then, and I will return before late afternoon so that we may get ready."
This comment brought Lyn pause. "Mother," she asked, "What are we going to wear?"
"I'm sure we'll think of something completely spectacular and out of the ordinary," the elder woman said, winking. She gave her daughter a quick hug and caressed her cheek lovingly. "I'll be back soon, love." She smiled, and, never taking her eyes off her child, she began to fade into the wall. .......
Within the Eternian palace, all of the local women and men were busy preparing themselves for the great celebration that would be taking place within their very walls.
True, the festivity itself was very simple in the long run. A large dinner and social hour for the most part, complete with dancing, entertainment, and other forms of the socially expected aspects of the Eternian royalty.
All of the court women were busy having their hair prepared and their dresses ironed out at the last minute because some indistinguishable wrinkle had been discovered. The King and Queen were very busy planning the celebrations and going over Randor's welcoming speech. The Masters were all occupied heightening security or making sure everything would be perfect. Even Prince Adam was busy doing his part to help in decorating the palace for the evening's activities.
And throughout it all, Teela felt out of place. She was standing beneath a tree, watching all of the royal court ladies going by in search of stray buttons or whatever it was they were looking for. She struggled to hold back a sneer. Social events had never been her strong suit, and she was utterly loathing the events she knew would follow tonight. Her father was forcing her to wear a dress, of all things. And it was PINK! He had said something about promoting the idea of the feminine beauty of the culture. Teela's own thoughts tended to wander on letting the rest of the female population primp; she would be a fighter. She was definitely not looking forward to an evening of being introduced to people she had never met from places she had never been to. The very idea of such a social activity was enough to make her want to be physically ill.
"Teela!"
The sound of someone calling her name caused her to break out of her reverie. She looked up to see her father coming towards her.
Please be good news. she thought inwardly. An attack on Grayskull, a trade dispute, anything! Please don't make me go to this stupid party.Her father stopped nearby her tree and smiled at her, instantly dampening her spirits further.
"I just wanted to make sure you were all set for this evening," Man- At-Arms said. "The other Masters and I have checked and re-checked the perimeters. There is no possible way that anything could spoil this night."
"Oh," the redhead replied, her voice only letting a little bit of her disappointment show. "Wonderful." She really had no wish to remain there talking, so she invented an excuse to leave. "I guess I'll go get ready, then," she said. "Wouldn't want to be late because my hair wasn't done or whatever."
Man-At-Arms nodded, not really picking up on his daughter's sour mood. "Have fun," he smiled, before running off to check on more perimeter guards.
Teela inwardly cursed and scuffed her boots on the ground. "Where's Skeletor when it might actually be convenient?" she muttered, walking slowly to her chambers to get ready, dragging her feet along the way.
Evil-Lyn brandished her staff menacingly towards her opponent, as if daring her foe to attack. Her helmet had been knocked from her head earlier, and it now lay, forgotten, upon the ground. Lyn's somewhat long white hair billowed in the barest whisper of a breeze that enveloped the two of them. Her chest heaved as she inhaled deeply. She was mildly pleased with herself, being only a little out of breath, even though she had been fighting for almost three hours now. The end of her staff began to glow as she concentrated her energy into casting a spell.
Her opponent smiled, both at the challenge and at the new threat of Lyn's staff. Evil-Lyn's foe bore no weapons in hand, and yet still seemed to be doing quite well without them. As the purple energy from the young Dereskian's staff began to steady and then increase, her opponent's eyes narrowed. Lyn's violet eyes blazed pupil-less as the bolt from her staff erupted towards her foe, a strangled cry rippling through her throat. The bolt struck a large portion of their battlefield, and a great amount of dust flew into the air as it impacted, causing the young spellcaster to shield her eyes from possible blindness.
Out of the raging clouds of dust, her opponent burst upon her, having dodged the attack at the last second. Lyn's adversary kicked the staff from her hands as she fought her momentary surprise. Evil-Lyn was knocked onto her back by a sharp kick to her shins. Eyes blazing with an icy fire, the young Dereskian held herself up with her elbows and backed away, forming a ball of amethyst light in her hands.
While her opponent cautiously followed, being sure to keep a small amount of distance between them, Lyn stretched out with her leg as far as she possibly could, knocking her foe's ankle and causing her opponent to fall to the ground with a small cry of alarm. Taking advantage of her opponent's precarious state, Evil-Lyn jumped to her feet and laughed triumphantly, firing her ball of light with her fingertips.
Looking up at the cry of delight, Lyn's adversary had just enough time to see the threat and block the brunt of the attack. As the dust from the impact cleared, the young Dereskian stood over her enemy, who was balanced on her knees with her hand outstretched, her breath somewhat labored.
As Evil-Lyn looked down at her opponent triumphantly, she was most surprised to have her legs knocked out from underneath her. Her foe leapt up suddenly, Lyn's own Majick staff in her hands, and aimed it directly beneath the younger woman's throat.
The young Dereskian glared up at her adversary with an angry gaze, and then bowed her head. "You win again, Morämé," she observed in her native language.
Lady Moria smiled softly, her amethyst eyes whirling as she removed the staff from her daughter's neck and helped her back to her feet. "Yes, but only barely," she commented in the same tongue, handing Evil-Lyn her staff. "You are improving greatly, my dear. Soon I will not longer be able to defeat you."
Retrieving her helmet from where it had fallen, the younger Dereskian turned to look at her mother and smirked incredulously at that, a single eyebrow raised in inquiry. "I somewhat doubt I have improved that greatly, Mother dearest."
The elder woman winked at her daughter gently. "We shall soon see, love." She took her child's hand in her own and laughed gently. "Remember what I told you, Lyn. You must stop feeling when you fight. Do not rely upon your emotions, because they mislead you. 'The entire world is driving by a blind and ruthless will. To transcend the limitations of that world-'"
"'One must cease willing,'" Lyn recited dutifully. "I am aware of that, Mother." She rolled her eyes ever so slightly.
The elder woman crossed her arms. "You may scoff all you wish, my child, but the philosophy does prevent careless mistakes, such as the one you just made."
"I understand, Morämé. I shall strive to fight using the lessons you have taught me."
Lady Moria caressed her only child's cheek lovingly. "I suppose that is all I can ask of you," she smiled, eyes shining with a mother's pride. A small moment passed. "Do you think you can try getting us home, or would you like me to do it?" the elder Dereskian asked.
The younger woman was silent for a moment. "I think perhaps you should do it for today, Mother," she said softly. "I am a bit fatigued."
Moria nodded and gently began to sink them into the ground. "Soon, my dear," she commented. "Very soon, it will not be me pulling us through walls and floors."
Appearing within the chambers of the monarchy, the two of them parted hands and the elder smiled at her child.
"What is on your agenda for the rest of the day, Morämé?" Lyn asked, twisting her hair back into her helmet.
The Dereskian Queen walked over to a nearby bookcase and took a great tome from one of the lower shelves. "Oh, a bit of writing, sketching, and then I shall have to take care of some unfinished business. Why do you ask?" she smiled, amused.
Lyn tapped her fingers on the end of her crystal staff. "I was hoping to cause a bit of mischief later on," she said, smiling as well.
Two pairs of amethyst eyes, one darker than the other, locked.
Moria laughed softly. "Did you? And what sort of mischief did you have in mind, love?"
"Something decidedly wicked. And very fun." Lyn's voice became deeper, entering the tone that Moria had come to recognize as her 'evil plot' voice. "You do know that the Eternians are having a ball to commemorate the varied nations of the planet tonight, do you not?"
"Yes, it has been the sole topic of Tri-Klops' Doomseekers for nearly a month now, why? Are you considering 'crashing the party'?" Moria questioned, wondering exactly how long Lyn had been planning whatever it was she was plotting.
A wicked glint came into the younger woman's eyes. "Mmm," she affirmed. "Every nation on the planet will be represented, Morämé. Every nation except ours. We should fix that."
Her daughter's amusement was not lost upon the elder woman. She laughed gently. "Well now, that was rude of them. And such a grievous fault must not carry on without being rectified."
"Does that mean we're going?" Lyn asked, her eyes sparkling like mad.
Moria caressed her child's cheek lovingly. "Oh, yes. It has been far too long since my social skills were tested."
The two of them laughed softly together, smiling with the love that can only belong to a mother and her child.
"Very well," the elder woman said after a moment or two. "I shall go attend to my unfinished business, and then we shall get ready to depart for this evening. Is that alright with you?"
Lyn nodded once and smiled widely at her mother. Since Moria had returned to her, so much had happened. She had become aware of who and what she was, she had learned and mastered new techniques she had never even conceived of, and, best of all, she had come to realize just what it was that she and her mother could do together.
On her own, of course, Lyn considered herself to be a force to be reckoned with. However, with her mother at her side, there was little she knew of that could sway them. Her mother was frighteningly powerful, that she knew, but not even Evil-Lyn was aware of the exact extent of what her mother was capable of. She doubted that even Moria herself knew. Even so, she decided, looking over at her mother, it was unequivocally pleasant to be with her again.
"Mother," she began, amusedly. "Where it is that you go on your 'unfinished business, hmm?" Her violet eyes twinkled softly.
The elder woman laughed gently, caressing her only child's cheek. "I visit a very old friend," she replied, winking.
"The Sorceress," Lyn declared, not really asking so much as stating an obvious fact.
Her mother regarded her, the signs of impressed amusement in her eyes. "Your perceptions have improved, my dear."
The younger woman shook her head. "Not really, Morämé. It was merely a matter of logic deduction. There are not many on this planet whom you consider 'very old.' And even less among those whom you view as your 'friends.'"
Moria smiled gently at her daughter. "True enough, Lyn. Though whether you admit it or not, you are improving. Either that or I am beginning to loose my touch, and we both know how unlikely that is," she commented, winking.
Evil-Lyn preened a small bit at the compliment, returning her mother's smile. "I'm glad you think so."
Her mother gently held Lyn closer to herself. "I had better tread with care around you, love. Otherwise my secrets may begin to slip into your consciousness without my consent."
The Sorceress of Snake Mountain chuckled. "What secrets could you possibly have that I would not discover eventually on my own?"
"That you would not discover?" Moria repeated, more to herself than her child. "None. However, I do have some that would not be good for you to learn just yet, as I am sure you have a secret or do you would not like me to learn just yet."
Lyn considered a small moment and then agreed. "I suppose so." A moment of silence fell upon them. "When will I learn, Morämé?" the younger woman asked, staring into her mother's eyes.
"Soon," Moria replied. "Very soon. Just as you will receive the Collective very soon." The elder woman looked away suddenly, not really focusing on anything in particular. She appeared to be lost in thought, but in actuality, her thoughts ranged over many places, many timelines and many ideas, some which had been reality, some which were reality, and some that were far too outlandish to possibly become reality.
Evil-Lyn seemed to notice this change in her mother's attitude. Thus, where she normally would have pressed the matter of her succession, instead she remained silent for a few moments. She placed her hand upon her mother's shoulder, and looked where at what her mother seemed to be looking at.
"What are thinking of, Morämé? Where have you gone?" she questioned softly, resting her head against Moria's.
The elder Dereskian continued to stare at nothing, but still replied, "I'm not quite sure, Lyn."
Lyn turned her mother's face gently so that their eyes locked. "Morämé," she said softly. "Are you entirely happy?"
Whatever fog Moria was in seemed to lift for a small moment as she stared into her child's eyes. "With you? Yes. I don't think I could be any happier than when I am with you."
Her daughter smiled softly, her unspoken 'why' hanging in the air.
Lady Moria took her daughter's face in her hands and smiled. "When I look at you, Lyn, I see. everything I had ever aspired to become in youth. You are.confident, controlled, specific, true to your plans and. everything I could ever have wanted in my daughter."
"You are all of those things, too, Mother," Evil-Lyn commented, winking. "You cling to everything you hold dear to, and never let anything sway you once you have chosen your path."
The elder woman shook her head and walked over to the nearby wall, placing her hand on the bookcase and gazing at the many tomes of ancient Dereskian lore. "All I cling to is the past, Moritënia. You live here, now, acting on things that have an effect on today. .I, on the other hand. I adhere to a world that died away a very long time ago."
"But you're happy doing it," the younger woman replied, again placing her hand on her mother's shoulder. "You find peace in that world."
Moria turned slowly and looked at her only child. "Lyn. 'You cannot find peace by avoiding life.' .It is true that I happy when I am with you. but that is only when I am with you."
"And the Sorceress?" Evil-Lyn questioned, her eyebrows raised. "You spend a good bit of your time with her. Does that not make you happy?"
The elder woman let out a small laugh. "The Sorceress? She is an. amusing diversion, but that is really all. Yes, I find some small pleasure in tormenting her, and find it sometimes refreshing to talk to someone with a brain, other than you, of course, dear. But that is truly the extent of my 'happiness' with her. Though, I will admit, her incorruptibility is very tempting."
Lyn looked at her mother with one brow quirked. "Tempting in what way?" she asked, "The idea of corrupting it?" Her mother nodded, amethyst eyes flashing wildly. Evil-Lyn laughed. "Oh, Mother. You're such a wonder to everyone, even me. And yet you delight in things I would find entertaining."
"Such as 'crashing' Eternian parties?" Moria suggested, eyes whirling.
Another laugh erupted from the younger woman. "Yes, exactly," she affirmed, smiling widely.
The Ancient Dereskian hugged her daughter closely. "I suppose I should be off then, and I will return before late afternoon so that we may get ready."
This comment brought Lyn pause. "Mother," she asked, "What are we going to wear?"
"I'm sure we'll think of something completely spectacular and out of the ordinary," the elder woman said, winking. She gave her daughter a quick hug and caressed her cheek lovingly. "I'll be back soon, love." She smiled, and, never taking her eyes off her child, she began to fade into the wall. .......
Within the Eternian palace, all of the local women and men were busy preparing themselves for the great celebration that would be taking place within their very walls.
True, the festivity itself was very simple in the long run. A large dinner and social hour for the most part, complete with dancing, entertainment, and other forms of the socially expected aspects of the Eternian royalty.
All of the court women were busy having their hair prepared and their dresses ironed out at the last minute because some indistinguishable wrinkle had been discovered. The King and Queen were very busy planning the celebrations and going over Randor's welcoming speech. The Masters were all occupied heightening security or making sure everything would be perfect. Even Prince Adam was busy doing his part to help in decorating the palace for the evening's activities.
And throughout it all, Teela felt out of place. She was standing beneath a tree, watching all of the royal court ladies going by in search of stray buttons or whatever it was they were looking for. She struggled to hold back a sneer. Social events had never been her strong suit, and she was utterly loathing the events she knew would follow tonight. Her father was forcing her to wear a dress, of all things. And it was PINK! He had said something about promoting the idea of the feminine beauty of the culture. Teela's own thoughts tended to wander on letting the rest of the female population primp; she would be a fighter. She was definitely not looking forward to an evening of being introduced to people she had never met from places she had never been to. The very idea of such a social activity was enough to make her want to be physically ill.
"Teela!"
The sound of someone calling her name caused her to break out of her reverie. She looked up to see her father coming towards her.
Please be good news. she thought inwardly. An attack on Grayskull, a trade dispute, anything! Please don't make me go to this stupid party.Her father stopped nearby her tree and smiled at her, instantly dampening her spirits further.
"I just wanted to make sure you were all set for this evening," Man- At-Arms said. "The other Masters and I have checked and re-checked the perimeters. There is no possible way that anything could spoil this night."
"Oh," the redhead replied, her voice only letting a little bit of her disappointment show. "Wonderful." She really had no wish to remain there talking, so she invented an excuse to leave. "I guess I'll go get ready, then," she said. "Wouldn't want to be late because my hair wasn't done or whatever."
Man-At-Arms nodded, not really picking up on his daughter's sour mood. "Have fun," he smiled, before running off to check on more perimeter guards.
Teela inwardly cursed and scuffed her boots on the ground. "Where's Skeletor when it might actually be convenient?" she muttered, walking slowly to her chambers to get ready, dragging her feet along the way.