I despise cliff hangers, even when I intentionally create them I know well the feeling of waiting for things to go forward. As such you should all be very happy with me because I am back barely a day later but I hope you all know too this is the end. I never thought I would come back to Eternia but as I am often surprised by my imagination, it found a way back and I brought you all with me. We continue as always.
No I do not own He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, but I nurtured my own set and gave them a Champion to follow raised and befriended by the Masters of old, should any aspiring artist wish to give them form and flesh I hereby give leave to do so on the condition you share them as I have shared their story.
Etheria - Crystal Castle
Light Hope felt it snap, the thread of fate that had hung over all of them was suddenly suspended. It was a bit shocking to feel it as he had thought all was settling on Eternia, but now everything paused. He tried do divine the futures, but nothing came back. This had happened only once before, and then He-Man had come and relit the way. He had never mentioned that to the Champion or the Sorceress, he had never felt the compulsion to.
Now the pillar of light instead sought to see where the pivot point was now. Once again He-Man held all their fates in his hands, but as always he was not alone. Though not his sister, She-Ra was as his side. How would things fall now? Was Hordak finally gone, or had he cheated them yet again? The powerful being could only watch and for the first time in a long time, pray that they were once again up to the task.
Castle Grayskull - Throne Room
The Sorceress blinked away the spots in her eyes. The scrying pool had blinded her at the last moment as she saw Adam succeed with She-Ra's help. What had happened next however even she had not fully grasped. Adam had tried to tell her what would be different this time, but she suspected he was uncomfortable with his method. Piercing a living being, even Hordak, was not something he could think on easily.
Even so, Adam did what had to be done for the right reasons and now some personal desire to be a force of justice onto himself. She felt tears fall as the scene came back to her and she saw he was gone. Shock robbed her of strength as the rest came to her.
She-Ra was gone as well, but the Sword of Protection lay on the ground right next to where she had been. Hordak was gone with them. So why was she feeling nervous and afraid still? Why did she think it was not over? Surely Adam had succeeded and this was the end of it? She tried to find him, but her powers, while vast and formidable, could not pierce where they had gone.
I can help you with that Sorceress. She blinked her emerald eyes as the voice spoke to her. She smiled at the familiar feeling of Light Hope. With a thought she cast out through the connection he had created for her and felt shock again as a scene came into focus for her. They were there, all three of them! Where was it though, what was that place?!
She could only grip the arm rests of her golden throne as she was a bystander in this, but she offered a prayer to the Elders to watch over her love and She-Ra. It was all she could do for them now.
Snake Mountain - Throne Room
Drak was one of the few still conscious. He had no skill against magical bars, but after the blazing light was gone he had tested them and found them dead steel now. There was no door, but no Spelean worth his wings would be ensnared by any metal cage long. Subternia did not suffer the weak to live long, even if they were cared for.
He noted with wry amusement that Grath had already worked her way free with her club. It brought some satisfaction to use his bare claws to pry the bars apart. The cages had never been meant to withstand physical attack really, just enhanced magically to nullify any superior strength and skills.
He quickly moved to Frosta, thankfully she still lived, but was out cold. He tried not to look at the strewn pieces of Roboto across the floor of the cavern. Pyth could wait as he was free and still alive. He saw Chlora get free easily with her plants just as he reached Frosta. He was unneeded however as Brythia iced a few bars and freed them both.
She was still far too pale even for her and the loss of blood was not good either. He could smell too much of her own on her for his liking. Hordak was gone, but his minions might still live no matter how incapacitated. They were no longer in any condition to face them.
Even so he did not even pause to pick up the Master frost warrior and escort to the one thing they could not leave behind.
Stratos was barely recognizable after what was obviously a last ditch attack. He applauded the audacity of him, knowing he was too wounded to fight and a detriment to his fellow warriors in lethal combat, he chose to sacrifice himself with the best chance of success.
"Damn birdman, what am I supposed to do now?" he doubted anyone by he could have heard that from Frosta. The crystals in her eyes nearly breached his defenses, but he would not grieve here of all places. He noted someone was missing. With a quick glance he finally found him. Floating gently near the ground he left Frosta near Stratos' corpse for now in whatever peace she could find here.
He froze however when he saw what Orko was floating over. It was her sword. This time he could not stop them entirely, tears did form for his kind but they usually only shed them for family, not comrades.
Even so he acknowledged no one could not have been near this woman and not come to love her. She gave so much and shouldered the entire rebellion without even thinking of asking for help. She had been harshly reminded to take it, but that is what friends, no more than friends, were for.
He gently touched the Magus on his shoulder and was shocked when he turned up his yellowed eyes and they were full of hope.
"Quickly, all of you, come here!" Pyth surprised him by rising slowly and answering the call. Sigils blazing told him the Snakeman was not in good shape, but he lived. The rest gathered, Brythia bringing Frosta over herself. Tears were in the former's eyes now, the deep blue was impossible to hide on her pale cheeks.
They all gasped as their eye filled with a vision. And hope bloomed in him again, the tattered and bloodied form of She-Ra filled his gaze, and He-Man was with her. Fear entered his heart as he saw that Hordak also was there, in that strange place. Where were they, why did it seem familiar?
He knew they all offered up a lament to the Ancients, or in Pyth's case to the Elders perhaps.
Somewhere In-between
She-Ra had no notion of time here. She was still grasping desperately the far too strong limbs of Hordak as he continued to writhe in her hands. The light had blinded her, but she felt so much better than before. Grayskull had given her a second wind, but now she had no idea what was going on.
They stood on something that looked a lot like the crystal from the Chamber of the Elders. They were an island however in a sea of emerald light, not water, light. It was everywhere, and at the center was a formation much like the Crystal Throne she and He-Man had created at the Well.
Inside looked someone a great deal like He-Man, but she knew who it had to be. Shock hit her as the words from the journal floated through her. The description of how Adam had first used his power to save his love from death and still get his body out of Snake Mountain. They were at the nexus of Adam's power and Grayskull within him!
"Now what heroes? Shall we simply stay here until I learn how to escape and again wreak my rule upon Eternia?" the dark tones were not as strong as before, and there was still fear. Whatever his words, the warlord was not sure anymore. She smiled as she saw He-Man look up in wonder and confidence. His glacial eyes held a wisdom now they had lacked before.
"Oh I think the answer to that is arriving shortly dark one, in fact here she comes now," She-Ra felt the movement in the sea of light that began to coalesce. She held on tighter as Hordak tried to escape, but now it was like he was losing strength, not gaining or trying to magic his way out. She was surprised he had not tried to by now actually.
The light took form, a human form, but then a smooth tail also appeared and a woman shimmered before them in glory she had only heard of from a journal. She smiled wide, showing sharpened teeth much more like Battle Cat than a human's. She felt shock as she realized that despite being made of light, she was becoming more and more flesh toned.
Pale skin was covered with fur on the forearms and it was the same dark fur as the lithe body suit she wore. Her eyes were a deep red and they glinted with a joy that did not seem to match her rather shining arrival. Catra had been the one person missing from Hordak's returned forces and no one knew the why of her being excluded save perhaps she was not forgiven.
Standing before her on this island however, she began to suspect she had chosen not to come and had not been where Hordak expected to find her.
"So my 'lord' you have now come where you never wished to come, truly Grayskull is generous when it offers justice to people," her voice was feline laced, not rough like Grizzlor's but more like a purr was always there. It was not unpleasant, but again the Champion felt a chill as she heard it. The joy in it was not the kind one would expect from a being of light.
"You dare to defy me again! I am your master, your God! Free me and you will be forgiven, attack these fools!" Hordak was practically begging she realized. She looked at him again and noticed what she had missed until now. His body was still solid, but the crimson glow in his eyes was fading, it was dimmer. The arms in her grasp seemed to becoming still and she realized that the real warlord had no body anymore.
It had been destroyed 1000 years ago at the Well of Darkness by He-Man. A red mist was being forced out and Hordak did not seem pleased by it.
"Heh he, you think I defied you?! I rejected you! I was forgiven by one who had no need to forgive me, who consoled me in my last moments rather than curse me. Adora finally gave me what I wanted from you, to be loved and cherished. I am simply here because one of us had to be and Adora had nothing else to say to you. Enjoy where you are going Hordak, there are many waiting for you, including your so recently resurrected generals. They are already screaming and you will NEVER leave there," the eyes had changed. She was crying! It was as if some dark wound was being drained as she yelled and a hollow feeling was all that was left. She-Ra understood! This was what she had wanted, to finally confront the villain that had shattered her life, her world.
Somewhere along the way though, she had taken on the rebellion and the responsibility of all the lives under her protection. She had followed her oaths, and her friends had helped her. Suddenly she saw the red mist fade and the body fell to pieces in front of them. She nearly collapsed until warm hands caught her.
She stared up at Catra and the woman looked at her with kindness now. Her red eyes were no longer scary or disturbing, they were what she expected, serenity and peace. She turned to He-Man who was now not looking so good either.
"He is coming, you must hold on," Catra then hugged him which shocked him by his look. His glacial eyes however were full of happiness for her. He whispered something to her and she actually giggled as she nodded. She then seemed to prance back across the water and vanished.
She-Ra rushed to his side as he nearly fell. He slammed the Power Sword point down into the crystal, but instead of piercing it, it glanced off. She just barely caught him. He looked at her with such tired eyes it made her afraid.
"Hold on He-Man, please, you don't have to go," the words left her before she really thought about them. She saw him smile at her then. That gentle smile that warmed her heart and told her everything would be all right. He was really quite good at it.
"Everything has its time She-Ra, even me, Hordak was my task and my battle," he stood up more firmly as he spoke and he looked at her sadly now. "I am so sorry you had to suffer for my mistake, I never wanted any of that." She shook her head in denial as he barely stood in front of her. The strongest man in the universe was fading in front of her.
"Honestly, I truly had no desire to ever hear the undying platitudes from you again you giant muscle brained buffoon!" Both turned in shock at that voice. Standing resolutely before them on the island with them with his bright blue skin a deeper hue and his clawed hands agains his waist was Skeletor.
He-Man thought he must be dreaming now. The reversal of their roles almost made him laugh but he could feel his life fading into the energy around him. Eternia was calling him back, to return where he belonged.
The full on slap hurt! He had to blink his vision clear as he saw Keldor, still in the form of Skeletor, wind his arm back again. He held up his own to stave off the attack.
"Have the decency to listen fool when I am speaking!" the whine to his voice was just as always. It actually made him smile to hear it, which in turn made those eyes blaze red in rage. She-Ra suddenly rushed at the mage and he saw the stunned drop of his jaw as she hugged him.
"You did it Skeletor, you saved us all," the voice was laced with tears, but He-Man would have it no other way. It was all thanks to her this had happened at all. He saw the debate in the mage and finally he sighed disgustedly as he hugged the Champion back.
"You tell anyone of this He-Man and I will end you!" he glared at him and laughter bubbled up even as the incessant call got louder. He felt She-Ra return and hold on to him. He had to get her back at least, she did not belong here. She had friends and loved ones waiting for her, also he had no desire to have Lyn come looking for him.
"I am happy to see you were truly redeemed Uncle," the twitch of the hooded skull head was well worth using that title. "I am afraid I can't stay, but I am glad I got to see you like this one more time." His eyelids were so heavy! He could never remember being this tired, even at his worst he had never felt this strong desire to let go.
"Adam," the voice had changed. He snapped his eyes open and saw Keldor restored. He was so different from the records now! He was also right in front of him. His eyes were the same color! He had not know that. Again the slap caught him off guard. When he cleared his vision again Skeletor was there once more.
"That was exhausting, now listen closely you blithering idiot. Do you think this is over?" he raised his hand out and a vision unleashed itself. It was a dark place, there were fires, but they were wrong. They did not flicker and blaze to illuminate, but seemed to make the shadows deeper. He saw them then, the thousands of forms whirling in the darkness. There was no sound but it did not take much to imagine the worst. He knew what he was looking at and there he was, the warlord was ensnared in so many chains it was beyond belief he could move.
It ended quickly but he no longer felt the call. It was as if Eternia too was shocked at what had been revealed. Keldor stood calmly before them in his darker form looking at him.
"You knew that pulling Grayskull through Hordak's body would rip both of you away, She-Ra just tagged along because she chose to so far as I can tell," he nodded at her and looked back at He-Man. "It was the right choice, Hordak was no longer a physical being and you had isolated him with your return. Now however you are fading because you also think your time is over, and in this place thought is reality. Hordak feared his end and what would come, thus was he pulled to his fate."
She-Ra seemed pale but she nodded her understanding now. He-Man already knew what he meant but the pull was coming again, the desire to return to where he was supposed to be.
"STOP THAT FOOL!" The mage's eyes blazed red as golden energy slammed into him. She-Ra looked shocked, but the blast only laid him on his back. He looked up as he noticed the pull stopped again. "You are more stubborn than Randor ever was, honestly!"
The pool appeared again, but this time it was Eternos, nearly 13 years ago, in flames. This time though it was not Skeletor, but the Senators simply duking it out and ravaging the land and people. Millions died and what few kingdoms that resisted barely held on. All stood alone and eventually civilization fell to tatters.
There was no champion, no hero rose to save them, spirit or otherwise. She-Ra let tears fall freely at the memories, but she looked at He-Man, her sapphire eyes implored him to understand something and it finally fell into place.
"You want me to go back?! I am not needed anymore, She-Ra is there, and the Masters, even a new Mystic Warrior!" The cackling laughter stilled his protest, it was too much like the many times they had confronted each other and the mage had gotten his way or at least not been totally defeated.
"Yes cause that went SO well didn't it fool? Having Masters and a Champion, even a Mystic Warrior saved so many lives when I razed Eternos to cinders. I knew you were a slow learner about this kind of thing but seriously, realize the second mistake you made," another vision flashed in front of them. This time He-Man knew it well.
He was an old man, standing atop Grayskull, but this time he heard his thoughts.
Time for me to go. They don't need me anymore and the world will be safe.
The image flickered to a much earlier night, the moonslit banquet after Zodac joined their side. He lay on the grass with a much slimmer Cringer at his side and Teela not far off just in eyesight in full battle gear.
It is never going to end is it? Skeletor is just the tip of the mountain and there will always be more...He-man will always be needed.
The visions ended and the mage stood triumphant with his arms crossed in front of him. He was glaring now in smug arrogance and He-Man had to laugh. He had won. First time ever, Skeletor had defeated He-Man completely.
The pull shattered and he felt Grayskull flow back into him. He knew what he was being told, what King Grayskull had hoped for and the Elders had worked so hard to prepare for. She-Ra looked at him with tears in her eyes and both looked up as Skeletor laughed again.
"I trust I will not need to repeat this lesson, although I did enjoy slapping you around nephew," He-Man smiled wide as Keldor turned from them and like Catra vanished back to beyond the sea of energy, a sea he would never see the other side of.
"I guess I should have paid more attention to the Sorceress when I had the chance, come on She-Ra, let's go home," he gathered her under his left arm and raised his sword up. He felt a burden lift from him, a worry he had had niggling in the back of his heart. Time enough to work it all out later.
"LET THE POWER RETURN!" The sword twisted open and the world vanished in blinding light.
Eternia 1 Year Later
Adam and Anna returned to Snake Mountain. Their victory was not without loss, but all of Eternia learned of it quickly thanks to both the Sorceress and Orko. Word spread and the people truly rejoiced, Hordak was gone, his forces shattered. The work was not over and first there was friendship to honor. The 3 fallen Masters: Stratos, Roboto, and Sy-Klone were brought to Castle Grayskull for services and then interred in the newly created memorial at Eternos.
Pyth was welcomed home to Sanctuary as the new Mystic Warrior, although it was difficult for Queen Khar to accept, it was still an honor for her son. Snake Mountain was put into their care by Anna and they agreed to allow the Enchantress to ensure Serpos stayed dormant. Only Pyth and the Champions know of its role in his selection.
The remaining Masters committed to rebuilding their world, under Skeletor's and Hordak's reign there had been rampant destruction and death. The two Champions were seen often helping the weak and innocent and protecting Eternia from the remaining pockets of the Horde. Frosta and Brythia are constant companions often as well with the Magus Orko with them. Avion offered to make Frosta part of their kingdom, but she declined and continued with her own efforts to rebuild Eternia.
One year has passed of rebuilding and healing, one year of tears, pain, and grief. So little time and yet so much has changed.
She stood here again. The Sands of Fire would never change, but now they at least would not be forgotten. The sacrifices and the pain would not be for nothing. She smiled as she felt a tiny hand grab her pale blue hair. She heard the happy gurgle of the far too scrunched up face of her child, their child.
"He looks quite like his father," Frosta smiled as Lyn came up to her. The Enchantress was a far cry from who she used to be, her new role as Guardian of Snake Mountain was not as isolated as the Ram Temple had been, and she was glad for that. Both women smiled wide as the baby with amber eyes smiled and sneezed suddenly. He wriggled energetically and the ridges that would one day be wings, if Orko was correct, stood out in the sunlight through the dark clouds overhead. She still was not used to sunlight here, even if it had been here before.
"I know he will be just as stubborn too," Frosta's love flowed in her voice. She had properly thanked Orko for his actions a year ago, thanks to him, part of Stratos was still with her and it had given her new life with him gone. Brythia still stood by her as well, even now she could hear the calm voice very clearing telling the horse it would stop being disobedient or she would turn it into an ice statue.
The carriage was ancient, but she preferred it these days to wind raiders and such. There would be time enough for flying when the little one grew up. Avion had asked after him again but she would not consider a fixed path for her son, he had the right to choose.
She saw her friend glance far off to the east and knew she was looking toward the Crystal Throne, a strange place still even a year later. It was still avoided by most people, but not the Masters. They gathered again as peace settled the land.
"Did you hear about those two troublesome ones?" Lyn smiled as she spoke. Frosta knew she mirrored the look. The lavender and dark robes swirled in the wind as she turned to look back at her. Both looked up as a wind raider screeched by overhead. Even at this distance she could see the bickering couple.
Drak had been very resistant to Grath's affection, not totally unreasonable since her sense of humor was very skewed. Still she had no doubts about them, Grath had never really expressed her emotions in words, but in her actions. Drak had not been doing well right after that last fight. Cryoc's death, even though she had been an enemy so long, had been hard to take.
Grath had pushed him to find solutions to the near famine they had later this past year and other issues that required his odd way of thinking. Challenging him to keep trying to beat the odds as he always done. Lyn and been the first to suggest Grath was being more than a friend and Frosta was quick to agree. Brythia had bet against it, but she had been smirking when she did that. It was well worth winning that bet from her!
Even in love, they never changed though. Drak was always so serious where Grath was always playful. Even so she was glad for them as well. Supposedly they were leading Subternia to more peaceful relations, usually after some heads were cracked by Grath's club or Drak's schemes ran circles around political idiots.
She smiled wider as the few leaders of the rebellion that stayed power hungry when they tried to set up their own little tyrannical kingdoms after Hordak fell. She-Ra had been less than merciful in shattering their defenses.
She wondered where Chlora was, but helping Anna run Eternos was more than a full time job, but she had proven herself very effective during the war. People even preferred her to Anna, as dealing with Anna was a bit nerve wracking when she was sure she was right, truly the daughter of Lyn in those moments, but still loved by her people.
Both women laughed as they saw shared memories in their eyes. The future was so much brighter. They walked to join their friends, who even now were grilling Brythia on all the details of Frosta no doubt.
Eternos - City Outskirts
The skyline was lit up like she once remembered. It was something she had dreamed of seeing since she was little again, and now she stood as the wind ruffled her skirt under the shining bright blue sky, only one moon barely visible.
The emerald grass seemed to glow with life as the dark branches of the trees swayed with the breeze. The rumble of the waterfalls tossed mist high into the sky and allowed a dazzling show of rainbows to color the sky near her palace. It was still hard to wrap her mind around that.
She-Ra sat on Battle Cat over looking her home and was smiling ear to hear. The whine of an engine had her glance up and she felt her heart pick up in pace as the Mystic Warrior landed.
They had promised to meet here before heading out, they had delayed this conversation for far too long. Chlora was covering for her so Anna had an excuse to be gone, and She-Ra her alibi for getting outside the walls, again. Pyth found it far too amusing that she thought of her role as Champion as an escape sometimes. Honestly the debates in council were worse than the Horde ever had been, at least the Horde she could fight!
She rode over to him and quickly entered the copse of trees. She dismissed her power and felt satisfied she no longer lost height to She-Ra as Anna. Her 19 year old self was very similar to the Champion, although she had cropped her hair lately with the heat of summer, it was much preferable.
She rushed into his arms but the hug she noticed was ended quickly. His golden eyes were full of joy to see her, but she recognized the long noticeable mantle of duty. Sighing he should relax more she let Cringer have at him. In this she noticed he smiled as he allowed the tiger to greet him properly.
"I will never get used to how friendly he is after seeing him in battle so much, just like you two," it was yet another observation Pyth had made of them. He sighed and looked up at her. His stance and look had her worried slightly, but she would not let him derail her now.
"I love you Pyth," the words softly left her, but they might as well have stunned him. He had to reach deep to keep standing. Part of him rejoiced, long suspected joy tried to burst forth, but he put a clamp on it. She stood there in her maroon blouse with golden thread embroidered into the shoulders and down the open sleeves. Her dark leather pants were a tad distracting to him completed with simple leather shoes.
She never dressed as flamboyantly as some suggested she should, and after a year it was just accepted. He suspected her bed was still just a mattress on the floor with a single desk and simple furnishings. His mother heartily approved anytime she visited, as did Adrenos and Avion. The tight relations with those 3 realms had brought stability far faster than most had imagined.
It helped that the Masters remained apart and helped all equally, with the Champions and Mystic Warrior to boot as well. He looked at her deeply and wished he could reach out, but his damnable power had told him and he had confirmed it with the Sorceress. He had to be who he was and she who she was.
"I love you as well my Princess," he enjoyed getting her riled, she still hated the title he called her, even though she was now Queen of Eternos. She would always be Princess to him. She moved towards him but he stepped back, and the hurt in her eyes was far worse than anything Hordak had done to him.
"Then why?" She had been hinting they had to talk, hinting at more, but he had known from the beginning this was something she had not fully considered. She loved him, and he her, but they were more than just ordinary people. He-Man himself had tried to convince him to ignore this, but when honestly asked, the hero had admitted that being selfish was not something they could be.
"I am the Mystic Warrior Anna, a being that will be compelled to live a long time, longer than I normally would, but that aside I am a Snakeman," he flexed one of his limbs and for the first time in his life wished he did not see scales there. No matter the truth, his heart was torn here as well. "I will not deny what I feel, but you are the Queen of Eternos, and more. I cannot promise you that I will always be there anymore, my new duties do not equate to what I wish to do, but what I must do." He saw the pain in her eyes and it was all he could do to keep talking. She knew what was coming, she had feared it since he had first donned this armor.
"You are leaving aren't you? Like Zodac before, you have to leave?" Her voice was so soft and she looked down now. He could smell the salty tang of her tears and was never more glad he could not shed any. Still he could not deny her.
"Yes my Princess, it is time for me to meditate and sleep. My selection came with a price, Serpos is my responsibility as is my role as Mystic Warrior. I carry the hope of a God and my people. I love you with all my heart, but my honor and my duty leave me no chance to walk by your side," he heard it in his voice, the breaking of his soul. She looked up at him and he knew he might as well be naked to her. She saw everything, all he was being asked and this time he did not stop her from running into his arms.
His moments were few now, but he had one more place to go, one more oath to keep before he would leave. He looked at her and saw her nod to him. Standing back he watched her transform and for the first time he appreciated the fact she loved him. The strongest woman in the universe loved a Snakeman, and he had to break that heart. It was not his choice to do so, but for the good of Eternia. That at least she could understand and hopefully move on from. He had the sworn oath of Adam that he would help her any way he could.
The two looked at each other a moment longer, then Pyth mounted his floating chair and she Battle Cat. They made their way to the Crystal Throne.
Castle Grayskull
"I am in no hurry to move Teela," he felt a poke in his ribs as his love reminding him she was more than capable of ejecting him out of bed by force if she wished. Truly he was doing his best to smile as he felt the heart break in Anna. Even so far away he felt it like a physical wound.
He had tried to find a way, any way, for them to find a happy ending, but the visions were clear. Pyth was the answer to reconciling Serpos and ending the threat of Snake Mountain forever. It would not be an easy task, it would take centuries. It also explained why he was the Mystic Warrior beyond his other revelations.
He had passed the bond to him nearly 8 months ago, and it was a burden he was glad to be rid of. Rolling out of bed he admired Teela in all her glory, a fact she noticed as she turned beat red. He barely dodge the pillow thrown his way and laughed truly. He knew she could read him, but would not ask about what he was enduring.
It was truly odd to be connected to Eternia and others as he was. He knew there would come a time he had to leave again, but this time Teela would be there, ready to call him back. His glacial eyes took in the room and felt the warm glow of home. How long had he practically lived at Grayskull before coming here in his old age? Had he only aged because he expected too or because he had to that first time?
He no longer had the wisdom when he had faced Keldor, but a bit of it remained. He had chosen to leave because he thought he would no longer be needed, but he was wrong. He had been chosen to be He-Man, the only one. She-Ra was of the Elders, but He-Man was from Grayskull himself. He was foretold to battle evil, love kindness, and bring justice. How many people did Adam think could have fit the bill after he was gone?
Sighing he finished dressing and picked up the Power Sword. Strapping it to his back he went up to the roof and found Orko waiting. Teela could not leave the castle, but she would be with them in their minds. The trailing white beard was still amusing to Adam, truly he could picture Duncan grasping that beard to hold Orko still as he tried to escape after yet another failed spell.
He was not as full of energy as he used to be, and he had stopped casting spells. It was unspoken, but he had chosen to stay on Eternia to the end of his days. Adam wondered if there was anything he could do, but old age would claim him soon.
He hugged the little Trollan and welcomed the spindly embrace around his neck.
"Come on old friend, time to see the Masters," roaring the sky sled to life, they made their way towards the Sands of Fire.
The Crystal Throne
They gathered together again. The two Champions and the Masters of the Universe. She-Ra and He-Man greeted their friends and after Orko assured them all was well, they turned back into themselves. They happily held the son of Stratos and Frosta, while all noticed the sadness in Anna's eyes and Pyth's as well. Lyn held her daughter tightly and found herself once again feeling pity for a Snakeman. She chose to allow it this once.
"Friends, I am glad to see you all here as we promised to gather long ago," Adam stood before them all and glanced to Keldor, still frozen in the crystal. His glacial eyes took them all in as he placed his hand on the front and spoke to them.
"I know he started this all, puppet or not, but I wanted us all to be here and remember that even the darkest of souls can be redeemed. Hordak was beyond saving, but Keldor found a way," he turned to Anna and saw the shock on her face as he looked at her in gratitude. He saw all the others looking at her and she began to blush furiously.
"Anna, Eternia is in good hands and I know all those we have lost are glad to have stood by you, but it was you alone that found the dormant heart of Keldor inside of Skeletor," he walked to her and smiled wide as she shuffled her feet now. She was fine in the heat of battle or standing her ground in a debate but praise from him or the Masters always made her blush.
He saw pride in Pyth's eyes, and love from all the others. Lyn tried to hide her tears behind the lavender orb of her staff. Choosing not to risk her wrath he simply embraced Anna and heard the laughter and applause. It had been a hard year for them all, a hard push to pick up an entire world from darkness and pain while not being able to indulge their own always.
Anna had been everywhere as herself and She-Ra and Adam would not let her go by without praise. He let Lyn take over and the others, save Pyth he noted, also hugged her. Quietly he stepped back to the Snakeman.
"You talked?" he asked it quietly and the slight nod spoke volumes. He saw the happiness in her sapphire eyes and wished he could add that one once more of love to it, but being Champion meant that life did not always go the way you wished.
"How long will you be staying Adam?" he had been expecting the question from him for sometime, but truly he knew He-Man was still needed for some time yet.
"Anna needs me to be He-Man for a time yet, but eventually I will have to go. So far as anyone knows there is just He-Man, I understand if I turned up anywhere near Sanctuary your mother would likely enshrine me," the smirk was not missed by Adam. Queen Khar was still impressed by the legendary Champion of Grayskull.
"Will you ever be free?" again Adam expected the question. He turned to Pyth and looked him right in the eye. He simply looked at the happy group behind him and beyond that to the everlasting symbol of his uncle's redemption. With a twinkle in his eye he drew out his sword and did as he had done thousands of times before.
"BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!" the sword twisted open and all turned as He-Man replaced Adam. He saw Pyth smile his odd smile in understanding. "I HAVE THE POWER!" The transformation complete the Champion stood before them all and looked at peace.
"I see, forgive my curiosity," Pyth flicked his tongue and saw the curious looks from the Masters. He-Man saw understanding from Anna. Even Lyn looked at him and with joy they knew how he felt. It was the difference between being forced to a path and embracing it.
"I am free, I am He-Man, Defender of Eternia, Protector of the Secrets of Castle Grayskull," sheathing his sword on his back he embraced his friends and laughed with them for this moment in the sun. Now and forever he was the Champion of Grayskull, it was his fate and he would not have it any other way.
Legends sprang from Eternos reborn. She-Ra and He-Man defended Eternia for many years as did the Masters. The Snakemen kept their kingdom in the Vine Jungle, but were now part of Eternia at large and welcomed by all the peoples on it. Subternia was restored and remade into a single kingdom under Drak and Grath, although they denied any titles beyond tactician and troublemaker. Frosta raised her son with Brythia always at her side, although it was not as the latter may have hoped, it was a very happy life culminated in seeing Feros ascend the throne of Avion of his own choosing and being a man Stratos would be proud of.
The years wound on and all the Masters became as mythical as their predecessors. Magus Orko was interred on the palace grounds, although Chlora modified his headstone to read: Here lies the bravest court magician of Eternia. Queen Anna eventually married, but always there were rumors that she had taken so long to find a husband because her first love had not come to pass.
She returned the Sword of Protection when she could no longer be the Champion, Queen, and parent. Adam took the sword back, but left open if she should ever need it to call. She-Ra was never seen again in her lifetime. She enjoyed all her children, grandchildren, and even a few great grandchildren before age finally claimed her.
All her people of the time were stunned when nearly the entire world gathered for her. Those that knew the truth looked on in tears and joy, the war had not broken her and she had made the world of peace she had dreamed of. Shock was only completed as a pillar of light slammed into the ground and the Mystic Warrior reappeared after nearly 2 centuries absence. He had not aged a day.
None commented when He-Man joined him shortly after with Battle Cat at his side. The two legends welcomed the remaining Masters and all paid honor to her. Strangely no one was surprised that She-Ra did not come, she had had to leave, they all knew that.
Shortly after it was learned that He-Man was also having to go, but that he would always return when needed. He swore this and then vanished. Castle Grayskull was slowly forgotten again, but this time the legend persisted, that the Champion of Grayskull would now and forever always be by Eternia's side.
The Enchantress was finally freed from her duty when Serpos entwined his power to Adam's inside Eternia. She sealed away the Ram Stone in Grayskull and lived out the rest of her days by watching the world her daughter created see sunshine and peace. Wherever darkness threatened, it faced the Fate of Grayskull always, to stand between the innocent and its threat. Lyn smiled that she would see Anna again one day soon, and she would never let her daughter go again.
Thus does my romp end in Eternia. Summations may seem less detailed, but there truly is not happily ever after tie offs, Details are never settled and life rarely turns our seamlessly. I am happy with how this story unfolded and glad I could bring you all along with me. I normally would think this is the end, but I will simply say it is an end and leave it at that. Safe journey to you all as you wander the highways of cyberspace and may you find your own stories as I have found mine.