Clark knew he shouldn't be, but he was watching Lois learn the Amazonian martial arts through the wall. He wanted to keep an eye on her and make sure she didn't get hurt. Lois was being taught various moves from various people. They were obviously going easy on her, but she was learning fast. If there was one thing Lois had a knack for, it was fighting. The only reason he wasn't supposed to watch was because he was a man, but he would never use it or share it, so he didn't see the harm. At least he hadn't been locked in the cage this time, but he had to stay in a windowless room of the palace.

Diana came in and said, "Thought I'd keep you company. I'm sure you're incredibly bored."

"A little bit. It doesn't seem like I'm able to do anything but eat, sleep, and breathe and even that's questionable at times."

Diana laughed and sat down beside him. "If it makes you feel any better, I don't think there's anything planned for tomorrow."

There was silence for a few moments, and Clark got up the nerve to ask her something he'd been wanting to ask her for a long time. "What's it like to be immortal?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean does it ever bother you to have no end? Do you ever get tired of it?"

"Every day's a new day. I don't get tired of it, and why would it bother me to have no end? It would seem stranger to have an end. For people to just flicker out like a flame would make no sense. I'm sure if you really relax and sense yourself, you can feel the eternal part. I think people that die go to an afterlife. There has to be such a place as the Elysian fields or Hades, depending on which you make it to."

"They call it heaven and hell in our culture. I believe in an afterlife. I saw my dad on the other side. I'm saying what if it's not possible to get to that afterlife?"

"Most people would like that. People only fear what they can't know or see. Death itself isn't scary. The change and uncertainty of what comes after is what scares them. People would love to put the afterlife off."

"But to go on and on with no end is scary. How many years have you been here?"

"We don't bother with measuring time. What's the point when you're immortal? I think though that I've lived through 19 changes of season, give or take a few."

"Only 19 years. How is that possible, if you don't mind my asking?"

"My mother lived in prehistorical times. She was pregnant with me when my dad killed her, killing the both of us, obviously. It was only recently that the longing for a child, because of what had happened, got more than she could bear. She made a trip to the outside world and found someone practiced enough in the old arts to give her the child she lost. It's probably how you and Lois heard about us. I'm sure the rumors surrounding her visit are still flying. I think the reason I don't hate men is that I don't remember my previous life, as might be expected. I've been curious ever since I was a little child to see what was beyond this island and what men were like. It's been so nice meeting the two of you because I've gotten to see a little of that."

"I still don't see why others long for immortality. I always think of Tuck Everlasting, but you wouldn't have seen that movie or a movie for that matter, but immortality is such an awful thing in it. I tell you what the part that bothers me is, being alone. I always have this nightmare of being in a cemetery and all my loved ones are gone forever, and I'll always be stuck in the land of the living."

"If you're talking loved ones, it would be bad. All the people around me live forever too."

"It'd make you afraid to love people, if you know without a doubt you're going to outlive them. Life is supposed to be about loving the people in it. Falling in love with a person becomes difficult and complicated. When you meet that special person you want to spend the rest of your life with but knowing that the life you have together will seem so short and far away some day, how do you get the courage to become closer? The only logical way to cope would be to become cold and distant and only interact with people when you have to save their lives."

"I don't know much about matters of the heart, but I'm sure the joy that comes from the love is worth it, and if it's a strong love, it would probably last through eternity."

"See that's the problem. It would last through eternity. No one would ever take her place because no one would ever be her. I'm not the kind of person that can have two soul mates. I'm sure there are a lot of people that would like to live long enough to have numerous spouses, but I'm not one of them. Couples are supposed to grow old together and have children that will carry on in their place."

"What makes you think you're immortal?"

"What?"

"You've been referring a lot to yourself. What makes you think you're immortal?"

He sighed. "There was this kid in high school that could see how a person would die when he touched them. He touched me, and he said it was like there was no end."

"Visions can be misinterpreted. What makes you're different from the rest of humanity?"

"I can't tell you what it is, but there's a difference."

"I think you're too late."

"Too late for what?"

"Too late to keep yourself from falling in love. You love Lois, don't you?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"Probably to everyone but Lois, and I think it would hurt you more if you didn't build a life with her and let that chance slip away, no matter how short that life is going to be. Everyone takes that chance of losing the one they love and living without them for the rest of a long life. A person isn't guaranteed the next second of life in most cases."

"I know you're right, but it doesn't matter anyway. She'll never feel the same about me. She's the most amazing, intriguing woman I've ever met, but I'm not her type. She'll only ever see me as a friend."

"I think you're wrong about Lois not loving you back and about being immortal. I want you to see someone."

"Who?"

"There's a woman in our tribe named Cassandra, who has the gift of interpreting dreams and visions and even seeing the future."

"Are you sure she's reliable?"

"She knew 2 visitors were coming to the island a week before you showed up."

"I'll see her."

Diana brought the woman into the room. She had jet black hair and her eyes were a hypnotic mixture of blue, green, and brown. Diana left them alone.

"You wish to know the meaning of a vision?" she asked.

"It was Princess Diana's idea. I'm positive I already know the meaning."

"Just like a man to think he already has the answer. I was murdered by a king, who didn't like that I told him he was about to kill someone and be killed himself by a usurper of his throne. I was right on both accounts, and I will be right when I interpret your vision."

Clark nodded. They both sat down on the floor, and she said, "Take my hands and concentrate on the vision."

"I never actually saw it. Somebody saw it for me."

"Well, think about that."

The next thing Clark knew, they were seeing the vision together.

The red cape with the S fluttered into view and then as if you were seeing the vision through another's eyes, that person flew toward the sun.

Clark gave a heavy sigh. There was no death in his death vision.

Cassandra released his hands, "You will die, mortal."

"But the vision—"

"Your legacy will not. You will create the identity of a super man that will bring good to the world. You will have descendants that will always fill these shoes, and the power of the sun will always give them powers until the end of time, making it seem that Superman never dies. Clark Kent will."

"I have a normal life span?"

"Yes, even if you're not from this world."

Clark got a startled look on his face.

"I sense your goodness. I have nothing to gain by telling anyone. Your real death occurs at the same time as your wife's. Would you like to hear about it and know who she is?"

He shook his head. "Some things are better left unknown."

"You're not only good but very wise."

"Thank you."

"I never say what I do not mean. Her lessons are over, you may go see her."

"How did you know—that was a stupid question. Thanks for your help."

It didn't take him long to get to Lois. He was so full of happiness, he wanted to hug her and he started to, but before his arms reached their target, he was on the ground. He could have been immovable, if he had seen it coming.

She squatted down beside him and said, "Hug at your own risk, Smallville."

She had definitely learned some new moves today. Gosh, he loved her. Talk about falling in love.

"I saw this psychic Amazon," he told her.

"She told you your fortune, did she?"

"She said I'm going to die eventually," he said with a grin.

Lois rolled her eyes and helped him up to the ground. "I hope this consultation was free. Unless you're an immortal Amazon, everybody dies. You didn't need a fortune teller for that. Give me your palm, and I can tell you your fortune. I had a friend who was into a bunch of mystical crap like palm reading." She ran a finger across the lines on his palm, making him shiver. "Looks good, Smallville. You have long life and love lines." She dropped his hand when she saw him giving her a loving smile. "Come on. I'm tired. Let's go up to our rooms. Oh, and thanks for washing my clothes last night. It was a thoughtful thing to do. I don't think I could've made it through the day in a suit of armor. I don't know how you got it dry so fast though with no sunshine or fire."

"I have my ways."

"Oh, right. The whole boy scout card again."

"Something like that."