These characters don't belong to me. They do, though, belong to Mattel. I'm not making any money off of this and so on.

This fic takes place in the same continuity as "Preludes and Beginnings," "He-Man: Year One," "The Elfsong of Eternia," "The Crossroads of Destiny," "Prophecy & Change," "Just Another Day," "The Final Adventure," "A Winter's Heart," and "The Shroud of the Horde."

It serves as a basic sequel to "Liberty and Valor" and concludes the Destiny series that started with "The Crossroads of Destiny," and continued in "Prophecy & Change," "Just Another Day," and "Liberty and Valor."

Previously:

The Snake Goddess Vipera has been restored. Taking Teela as a host and displacing Teela's life force, Vipera needed a life force to feast on and to give it strength. It went after Kathryn, Adam's fiancée, nearly killing her. He-Man was then faced with a decision - take Kathryn to the Elves to help her recover or stay and fight Vipera. He chose to take Kathryn to the Elves, leaving She-Ra to fight off Vipera. However, She-Ra failed to defend the Great Towers from the Snake-Men and later, Eternos itself fell to the Snake-Men's wrath. Meanwhile, back on Dellos, the island capital of the Elves, He-Man has just learned that Kathryn was pregnant, but had lost the baby due to the attack from Vipera.

Chapter One: "Ode to the Broken Hearted"
One year ago.

Eternos Transport ship; the Great Nest, home of the Pelicons.

The transport itself was a fairly large, four level ship with small compartments for resting and relaxing as well as huge storage bays. It didn't take long to find the one that had Kathryn in it. It was time to talk things out.

"Kathryn?" he asked, entering the small compartment. She was sitting on the single bench-seat, looking out the window when he came in.

"Adam, I was . . . I had to lie. Man-At-Arms helped," she told him, not really sure what else to say.

"I guess I owe you an explanation," he returned and shut the door.

"Yeah, I think you do." She paused. "Are you He-Man?"

"Yes."

"How?"

Adam told her the story. About how, after his sixteenth birthday, he received the Sword of Power and was transformed into He-Man. And that when he was needed, it would not be hard. She took all in with no questions and completely interest. When he was done, she turned her attention back to the window and didn't say anything for a minute or two. Adam thought it was over right then and there, and then she talked.

Facing him, eyes locked on his, Kathryn told Adam the words they had waited a while to say.

"I love you, Adam," she said.

Adam felt dizzy and warm inside at that. "I love you too."

"And I'm okay this He-Man thing, even if I still don't completely understand how it's possible. Well, maybe not completely okay . . . but I'd like to be. I love you, Adam, and I want this to work."

"Yeah. Me too."

She put her hand on his. "Then let's make it easy. Tell me everything about it and I'll do my best to swallow it and figure out how I feel about it." Kathryn kissed him. "I love you and I want to be with you."

"Are you sure?" asked Adam.

"Yes," Kathryn said with a grin. "Who wouldn't want to be going out with the most powerful man in the universe?"

Adam smiled. "Not you, apparently."

Kathryn ran her finger across his face. "You saved my life. You saved us all. How does . . . how does that make you feel?"

Adam smirked and put his arm around her. "Good. Exhilarated. It can be awfully scary sometimes, too."

"You've saved Eternia so many times. I mean, you actually met the Ancients!"

Adam nodded. "I did. Some of them are really nice. Others, eh, not so much."

"I would think it would all be second nature by now."

"It would be. But the threats just keep getting bigger and bigger. It was never easy. But it was easier fighting just Skeletor and those goons." Adam looked up, his face that of a man in deep thought. "But then . . . I mean, whenever things get tough. When the punches just won't stop. When everything is on the line and I'm at the end of my rope, I just think . . . I just put everyone in my head. I look for what I'm fighting for."

"And what are you fighting for?"

"Love. Life. Justice. Ultimately, peace. You know, I live with the eternal hope that every time I fight, it's the last time. It's never is, really, but there is just so much to fight for. All of Eternia needs me. And I have to be there for it."

Kathryn leaned back and she had a look on her face that made Adam want to love her for the rest of his life. There were no words as she came in and kissed him. No words as Adam's hand slipped over to the lock on the door. No words as passion excited them and they lost each other in kisses and heat and lust.

Present Day.

Dellos, Eternian home of the Elves.

Adam, not He-Man, stood on the beach of Dellos. He watched as the waves broke and then blanketed the sand with salty combination of foam and water. The breeze felt good. Summer was heating up and it would only get hotter. His thoughts were not on summer.

They were on Kathryn.

Or really, the unborn child that Kathryn had just lost.

The child that Adam would never know.

Adam felt like crying. Twenty-seven hours had gone by since Shorn broke the news and Adam finally felt an emotion. His knees buckled and he slammed down onto the sand. Streams of tears poured from his clear blue eyes. He had no idea that he could face such heartbreak . . . he had no idea he could understand these feelings . . .

The prince of Eternos had no idea she had even been pregnant. He hadn't talked to her since she was revived (though he had the chance to see her last evening; she was sleeping deeply), but he had a feeling she hadn't known either. The shock had worn off by yesterday afternoon and the more Adam thought about it, the more he realized that the timing had unfortunately been right. They had made love a number of times since that first time on the Transport ship, but they had been careful . . .

But not the last time, he had realized. Not that last time.

Adam began to compose himself. Lorn had told him that morning that Kathryn was going to need some more recovery time, but was perfectly healthy physically. They had to discuss this and Adam knew that it had to be Adam, not He-Man, that she spoke to. He had always made sure she knew there was a difference; she never seemed to care.

After a few more minutes, Adam looked down the beach and saw Kathryn walking towards him. Adam ran.

In a matter of seconds, she was in his arms and a kiss was planted on her lips.

"Oh Adam," she cried, tears escaping her eyes.

"Shhhh, shhhh."

"I didn't know. I'm so sorry. I didn't even know I was . . . I was pregnant . . ."

He kissed her cheek, tasting a salty tear on his lips. "It's all right. There's nothing to be sorry about."

She didn't say anything after that. She just cried into his shoulder. Adam held her tight against him, just happy to be holding her again. To be with her again. After a few tear-filled moments, Kathryn withdrew herself from his embrace.

"It'll be okay, Kathryn," Adam assured her, holding her hands. "We'll go back home. I'll take you back to your father. You can just stay there while I take care of Vipera."

Kathryn shook her head. "The Elves want me to stay here for a few more days."

"I can understand that. But I need to head back. I can't stay past this morning."

"I know. I know. I won't be coming back."

Adam nodded. "I know, sweetie. You have to stay here. You just told me that the Elves - "

"No, Adam. You don't understand. I won't be coming back with you because . . . oh, Ancients . . . because I can't do this . . ." Kathryn began to cry again.

"Can't do . . . no . . . oh, Kathryn . . . please . . ."

She reached for the Engagement Ribbon, untied it, and handed it out to him. "I just can't do this, Adam. I'm so sorry."

"Kathryn, wait, please," Adam practically begged. "I need you. I love you!"

Kathryn's face broke. She started to sob. "I can't do this! I can't live this life, Adam! I'm so sorry!"

"I don't . . . hey, Kathy . . . I don't understand."

"I lost a baby, Adam! I lost your baby! OUR BABY!" she shouted, face completely red. "I didn't even know . . . I didn't even . . . oh, Adam . . . I can't go through that again . . . I almost died. I could feel her eating away at me . . . I can't feel that again . . ."

Adam started to cry himself. "Kathryn, honey . . ."

She reached out and put her hands on his cheeks. "You lead such an honorable life. You fight like no one else before you. I love you, Adam. But I can't be with you anymore. I can't handle that lifestyle." Kathryn lowered her hands. "I can't be your wife, wondering whether or not Skeletor is going to kill you this time. I can't be the mother of your child and not be afraid this will happen again. I'm so sorry, Adam, but it's over and done with."

The Engagement Ribbon fell to the sand. She took a few steps back.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I'm sorry I brought you into this life."

Kathryn started to cry again. "We've apologized enough, Adam. And I brought myself into your life."

She looked towards the ocean and a flash of memory passed between them. The trip on the DiTillo. When they truly fell in love with each other.

"Good bye," she said.

Adam nodded; eyes cast down at the ribbon that half-buried in the sand.

"Good bye."

King Pythos halted in his footsteps. The leader of the Reptons still wasn't quite what this was all about. The summons from King Hiss to join him at Eternos was surprising enough, but the news that Vipera had returned was the big shocker. The Reptons were a race descended from the Snake-Men. Far less aggressive and much less concerned with the matters of Man than the Snake-Men had been. Pythos would have declined the summons had it not been for the matter of Vipera . . .

As the gates to Eternos opened, Pythos was shocked at just how empty the city was. Snake-Men stood guard along the main road that led to the Palace, but there were no Eternians there. No humans.

After a while the red robed king arrived at the Palace that once belonged to Eternos. He was greeted by Tung Lashor and taken into the throne room.

"Ah, King Pythos! Welcome!" King Hiss greeted, sitting in King Randor's seat. In Marlena's chair was a woman wearing a red cloak - the hood of which shrouded her face in shadow.

"King Hiss. Congratulations on your conquest."

Hiss stood up and stepped down from the throne. "Eternos has fallen to us, that is for sure. The Age of the Viper has begun!"

Pythos rubbed his chin. "You speak too quickly, Hiss. Eternia is far more than just Eternos. What of the whole kingdom? North Eternos? West Eternos? The Southlands?"

"All will be dealt with in time. But Eternos is not the only place that we control." A hologram of the Great Towers appeared between them. "The Great Towers of Eternia are under our command." Snake Mountain then replaced the Great Towers. "And Snake Mountain."

"Hmmm. I see. But where is He-Man? And She-Ra? And Skeleton, then?"

King Hiss smiled. "We have yet to apprehend them."

"Then you have nothing, King Hiss."

"You dare doubt your elder?" questioned Vipera in Teela's voice. The cloaked form that had been sitting in Queen Marlena's throne stood up. The hood fell back to reveal Teela's face . . . though it was not as it once had been. It was flatter, green, and scaled like that of a Snake-Man.

"You must be Vipera," Pythos said, sighing. "But you are not. Every Repton knows that Vipera could only take the form of a Eternian human female, not a Snake-Man female."

"This body was once Eternian human," Vipera slithered, stepping over. "But then I put this one."

She lifted her hand so Pythos could see. He looked at it, then at her face. "The Serpent's Ring? Then that means . . . you truly are Vipera. And that ring is transforming that body into that of Snake-Man."

"Yessss," replied Vipera.

"There are even greater plans in motion, now," King Hiss said. "Follow me."

King Hiss led King Pythos to a balcony overlooking the courtyard. Below stood the Heroic Warriors, the Royal Soldiers, and King Randor as statues.

"We are working on a way to use the Serpent's Ring to turn them all into Snake-Men. After that, we shall commence our attack on North and West Eternos, where they shall meet the same fate," King Hiss explained. "With those forces behind us, our new Snake-Men army will spread through the many kingdoms of Men, transforming them all into loyal Snake-Men. After that, no force on Eternia can stop us."

Pythos nodded. "And what of me? And the Reptons?"

"Stand by us, King Pythos."

Pythos looked down upon the statues and took in a deep breath. "I shall, King Hiss. The Reptons and the Snake-Men stand united."

It was the silence that worried He-Man. As the Wind-Raider fired across the evening sky, the radio sat silently next to the controls. What had happened in his absence? The doubts of his leaving were weighing heavily on him, but they were sitting right next to the thoughts about his entire place on Eternia.

Once - had it been that long ago? - He-Man nearly gave up his place as champion of Grayskull due to the fact that he believed he killed someone. In the end, it was nothing more than one of Skeletor's more cruel tricks. His faith had been renewed. But thoughts along those lines were seeping in, this time sparked off by Kathryn.

In the haze of emotional pain he felt, He-Man realized that his very lifestyle demanded risk from all those close to him. What price were they going to pay? How far would his enemies go to defeat him? King Hiss had struck closer than any other - but was this just the beginning? His own parents had lost a daughter for nineteen years. He-Man had lost his fiancée and an unborn child he didn't even know had existed.

A thought so terrible yet so very loud rang out in his mind.

After Vipera and King Hiss were dealt with, He-Man felt the temptation to give up the Sword of Power, and let She-Ra handle Eternia's villains. Let Adam be Adam.

He-Man forced this thought out as he approached Castle Grayskull. He turned his focus on the task at hand.

The Wind-Raider landed before Castle Grayskull. He-Man and Battle-Cat emerged. The sky was dark over Grayskull as they strode forward.

Just as they neared the bridge, a man emerged from behind a large boulder.

"Skeletor!" shouted He-Man, pulling out his Sword of Power. By his side, Battle-Cat growled.

"Good evening He-Man!" Skeletor greeted in return.

"I see you've decided to attack Grayskull amongst all the chaos," He-Man stated. "I'm not surprised. But you picked one bad day to - "

"HE-MAN! STOP!"

He-Man halted in his tracks and turned to Man-At-Arms, who stepped out from behind Skeletor.

"Duncan? What is going on here?"

"Skeletor's not here to destroy Castle Grayskull, He-Man. He's helping to protect it."