Hostage

By Red Blaze 16

Part 1

Snake Mountain, lair of the evil Skeletor, sits dark in the fading light. While inside the den of wickedness, Skeletor stares into the viewing crystal. The image, transmitted to him via Tri-clops' doomseeker, shows He-Man and Teela speaking on the grounds of the Palace of Eternos.

I wonder what these two are talking about, thinks Skeletor as he listens in to the heroes' conversation. *

"Some villain calling himself the Game Master tried to take me as a gladiator for his cosmic games," explains He-Man on the screen.

Too bad he did not succeed in taking you, thinks Skeletor with a sneer.

Tuning back into the conversation that is taking place, Skeletor realizes that he has lost some of what was being said.

"…I'd hate it if you were taken away from Eternia. I'd be losing one of the best warriors I'd ever knew, as well as one of my best friends. You mean a lot to me," says Teela with a smile.

"You mean a great deal to me too," replies He-Man, giving the woman a smile in return.

Sitting back in his chair, Skeletor waves his hand and closes off what he is watching. Pondering over what he has heard, Skeletor smiles slowly to himself.

He cares for the woman. I might just be able to use this information to my advantage.

...

Strolling through the Palace halls, Teela heads for her father's workshop. Though she knows that he is probably busy, she also knows that he's always willing to spend some time with her.

"Good morning, Father," says the red-headed woman as she enters the workshop.

Stopping what he is doing, Man-At-Arms, gives his daughter a warm smile before looking back down at what he is working on.

"What are you up to this morning?" asks Man-At-Arms.

"Oh, just taking a walk," replies Teela, as she steps over to see what her father is doing.

Nodding his head, the old warrior doesn't lift his eyes from his work.

"What are you doing?" she asks.

"I decided to improve on the dueling droid."

Surprised, Teela takes a step back from the work bench.

"Again? But we haven't been able to defeat the improvements you made last time," says Teela.

"I know," replies Man-At-Arms with a quick smile, finally taking his eyes from the droid. "I need to keep you on your toes."

Shaking her head, Teela just gives her father a quick grin. Turning around, she is about to head out of the workshop when an alarm blares through the halls and the workshop.

"We are under attack. All troops report to your battle stations."

Taking one last look at her father, Teela rushes out of the room.

...

Getting a skysled into air, Teela looks down once to see that she is not alone in the coming battle. Below her, on the ground, stands He-Man with his faithful companion, Battle Cat. Turning her gaze back to the battle ahead, Teela swerves just in time to avoid a head on collision with Beastman.

I better keep my eyes up here, thinks Teela to herself.

Turning her sled, Teela moves to go after Beastman. As she flies away from Eternos, Teela begins to wonder if the animal caller is leading her into a trap. Just as thoughts cross her mind about turning back, the skysled under her shudder with a hit.

Jerking her head this way and that, she tries to find where the attack is coming from. Shuddering again with a blow, Teela has finally found who is shooting at her.

Trap-Jaw! I should have known.

Pulling her sled into a steep climb to avoid being hit again, Teela is knocked from the sled. Falling through the air, Teela has a moment to wonder where the newest attack came from before she hits the ground below.

...

Landing the skysled, Beastman steps away from it and toward the fallen woman. From behind, he can hear the sound of a second sled landing. Glancing over his shoulder, he watches as Trap-Jaw walks toward him.

"She better be alive or Skeletor will be pissed," says Trap-Jaw

"As long as she lives long enough to suit Skeletor, he won't care," growls Beastman, as he steps forward and hefts Teela over his shoulder.

Walking back toward his sled, Beastman takes to the air with Teela as his prisoner.

…

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Ok, so I've never written a He-Man story. Let me know what you think!

*The scene that Skeletor is observing comes from He-Man (circa 1984) episode 61, Pawns of the Game Master.