Epilogue

A few weeks after Prince Adam's first birthday and on the first of the year, King Randor gathered Queen Marlena, King Stratos, Lord Buzz-Off, Captain Dekker, former Man-At-Arms Rohad, current Man-At-Arms Duncan, King Stephan, King Edward, Queen Johanna, Susannah, and Moss Man. They supped on the finest foods, wines, and mead's from all over. It was a small celebration, but there were many others like it all over Eternia.

It was the celebration of a New Year.

It was the celebration of a New Age of Eternia.

King Randor was talkative and spoke on great many things, but his mind was miles away. He looked at all these people in his life and mentally reviewed the past few years. How did he get here? How did any of them get here?

It had begun with Keldor's mistreatment by Randor himself. It had lead Keldor into a destructive plot that had caused his own exile. That had pushed King Miro over the edge and his father vanished. There was still no word on him nor his whereabouts.

Marlena had crashed some two years later and about that time, Teelana and Duncan met and had a Teela. Marlena was a woman that Randor had fallen hard in love with and was more than proud to have called her his wife.

Keldor returned then, more powerful than ever, with the Horde by his side. The war broke out, spanning much of the Light and Dark Hemispheres. Hordak was defeated, but at a terrible price. His own daughter. And Keldor's death and the Council of Evil fiasco were particularly draining. Memories were adjusted after that, most especially those of Stratos and Buzz-Off.

The war ended, but now the Elders were gone, leaving Eternos the most powerful government on the face of Eternia. Was Randor ready for such a responsibility? Time would tell, really. But as long as he had friends and family, he could be.

"I think it's time for a toast, sweetheart," Marlena told her husband, still as beautiful as the day he met her.

"Indeed indeed!" shouted Stephan.

Randor smiled and Marlena took his arm.

"It's been one heck of an Age, I can tell you that," Randor joked. "But in all seriousness, we are facing a new beginning. The past is but a prologue. The future is upon us. We stand here, people that can bring about change. And change must come. Only together, in the bonds of friendship, family, and love, can we find peace. Only together can we seek out our best destiny and bring to manifest. Only together . . . can good triumph over evil."

King Randor raised his glass. "Here's to our best destiny! Here's to the future!"

Hours later, in Adam's room, the window opened. A beautiful orange falcon soared and landed at the edge of crib. It stared at the small one, knowing just what its destiny held. Prince Adam . . . the son of King Randor; heir to Eternos Kingdom; the future Head of the Royal House; and someday . . . a hero of astounding virtue and strength. It astounded Zoar – the Sorceress – Teelana – just how much life ahead of him such thing so small could have.

She cooed a little and fluttered out the window. As soon as the window closed again, the door opened. Marlena and Randor walked in, the pale moonlight pouring through the window, a flurry of snowflakes flowing along in the night sky.

The two parents watched as their child slumbered, his young mind filled with wonderful dreams of the fantastic, his imagination stretched far from reality.

In the years to come, among the stars, his twin sister would find peace among those would be her enemies. Teela would be raised in a loving manner by her single father, the Man-At-Arms named Duncan. Stratos would marry; Stephan would also marry and have his own children; and Johanna and Edward would have another child. King Miro would find hope in the disparity of his prison.

Skeletor though, the man that was once Keldor, would find nothing but hatred.

For King Randor and Queen Marlena, there were many days to come. There would be good days and bad days. Days of such terrible sadness and days of incredible happiness. Life would go on and on, for the future unfolded before them. But they were strong, and with Prince Adam, they had love.

This family, for as battered and tragic as they were, would relish in their love. In the face of hatred and conflict, they had love. And with that love . . . this family had peace.

THE END . . . FOR TODAY

AFTERWORD:

I would first of all like to thank each and every one of you that have read this monster of a fanfic. The end has been long in coming. This poor fic has been the victim of multiple computer problems, writer's block, and (in some cases, I'll freely admit) just plain laziness.

Ultimately, though, now at the end of this epic adventure, I realize that despite the delays, I told the story I set out to tell some 20 months ago. I can only hope it tugged at your heartstrings or that it wrapped you up in its excitement. This, like all other fanfics, is a labor of love and I hope that comes through on the screen.

I'm sure a lot of you are wondering what comes next. Chronically, "The Elfsong of Eternia" comes after this. After that comes my "Books of Destiny" series ("The Crossroads of Destiny" and so forth), then some up-coming "New Adventures" fics and "The Final Adventure" stories (that are now due to be revised and re-written). However, I would keep an eye out for "He-Man – Year One" due to premiere in December.

One of the things I loved about MOTU and so on is that when the Classic line ended, there were a lot questions still in the air. While this can be frustrating, it can also serve to be great inspiration for projects such as this. There's nothing like coming up with own theories and ideas and the writing and incorporating them into MOTU yourself. What you have just read was just my vision of the events that were always in question. I hope you enjoyed them.

As for future fics?

The adventure, my friends, is just beginning . . . and this was merely the prelude . . .

W