Chapter One: "Once More, With Feeling . . ."

Prince Adam paced nervously. His heart was racing in his chest. He rolled the words over and over in his head . . . but as soon as he saw Kathryn walking along the path, the words were gone. The pair stood in a lavish garden at Eternos. As she walked towards him, wearing a big smile, Adam was whisked back to their meeting.

She had taken him by surprise, grabbing his hands and dancing with him. Poor Kathryn had no idea just who he was. They didn't see each other, though, until some weeks afterwards at Kathryn's father's farm. It was there they shared their first kisses. Shortly after that came the fateful trip into the region belonging to the Pelicons, where Kathryn became aware of Adam's other persona - He-Man.

Kathryn stuck by him, though, and the two were so deep in love that it seemed like nothing could stop them. And having Kathryn knowing of his identity made life so much more the easier for him. There were no guilt-ridden lies, no inexplicable run-offs, no crazy explanations.

For Adam, the past year had been one full of love and passion. Which was why he was so ready. Which why he was so nervous.

"Hiya sweetheart," Kathryn greeted, smiling, her freckled face illuminated in the early afternoon sunlight, brown-blonde hair bouncing with each step. She was beautiful.

The two embrace and kissed. When they broke, Adam looked deep into her hazel eyes and found nothing but love.

"Kathryn," he began, "we need to talk."

"Okay."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Good, good. I'm, um, glad, because I need to talk to you about something." Adam smiled, then got down on both knees.

"Oh Ancients . . . Adam . . ."

"Kathryn . . . destiny has bound us. Love has binded our hearts. I ask now that you honor me in engaging in bring our lives together in the sacred rite of marriage?"

"YES! Yes, Adam, yes!" she shouted and pulled him close against her, kissing his face, tears streaming down her face. "Oh, Adam, yes I'll marry you."

They pulled back and Adam retrieved a pair of ribbons from his pocket. Both were silk, one was red for her and one was blue for him.

"Who have you told?"

"My parents, Adora, and your father."

"Oh, no wonder my Da was in such a good mood this mornin'!"

Adam took her into his arms. "You're going to be my Queen."

She gasped. "I never even thought about that! Do you think I'm worthy?"

He grinned ever wider. "Honey, if my Mom the alien can do it, so can you! Now let's go! We need to celebrate!"

Since his returning to Eternia after far too long a time spent in the Void, King Hiss has sought one secret goal. To do this, it has required certain resources and access to certain places that only by forming and breaking alliances with Skeletor and Hordak. Two years of work, now, was about to pay off.

Sitting in King Hiss' hand was a small amulet. It was golden snake with its head in the middle, mouth wide open. The snake had been split in two pieces - both hidden in various parts of Eternia. King Hiss managed to track them down over the past two years. There were two other portions, as well. A pair of red eyes, found at Viper Tower; and an emerald green jewel that Hiss discovered hidden in Snake Mountain.

But there was still on key ingredient to his plan . . .

King Hiss watched carefully as Snake-Face, Kobra Kahn, and Rattlor rushed through some ugly tall grass. This would be the time that they would have to be careful. They were getting close to accomplishing their goal. The seeds of all this were planted in Preternia, however, and things were thought to last that time. Most didn't.

"Well?" questioned King Hiss.

"We've found! It matches perfectly!"

Hiss smiled thinly. "Take me there."

King Hiss and his allies soon arrived a huge mound, sitting in the Sands of Fire, exactly between Snake Mountain and the Great Towers. This was it. This was the place. He could feel it - he could sense it.

"Contact the others! Order them to bring all of our equipment here immediately!"

"Ancients, it's hot," Teela sighed as she toweled off her sweat-drenched face. It was mid-June as the sun arched across the afternoon sky. The temperatures were record-breaking this summer and while Teela was no fan of the cold, it made her exercises all that more uncomfortable.

"Hot?" shouted Orko, appearing at her side with tall glass of Varfay Juice. "Here ya go!"

"Thanks Orko!" Teela replied, laughing a little. She drank down the whole glass. "That helps a lot."

"Heh heh! No problem!"

Teela looked towards a reflecting pool as she started back towards the Palace from the training grounds in the courtyard. She was a huge mess. Her hair, which had been back in a ponytail was now falling out of said ponytail holder. Her face was red and sweaty and she was more than sure she stank.

"Teela!" came an all too familiar voice.

Teela spun around and watched a very, very happy Kathryn and Adam walked over. Teela gulped just how messy she knew she looked. She wiped her face with Orko's sleeve, then attempted to fix her hair just a little by remaking her ponytail. By the time Adam and Kathryn reached her, Teela looked only slightly better.

What in the world were they so happy about? Adam was looking so upbeat and Kathryn was . . . giddy?

"Hey Teela," Adam greeted. "Just finish your work-out?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry. I probably look like crap and smell."

Adam shrugged. "Nah, you look - "

"SO what's going on? You two look like you're the happiest couple in the world!" Teela interrupted.

"We are!" Kathryn yelped.

Teela cocked her head a little. "Oh. Why's that?"

Adam smiled. "We're getting married!"

The two of them lifted their left hands, revealing a ribbon on their wrists.

Teela suddenly felt like someone just punched in the gut and she didn't know why. She forced herself to smile and then commander herself to laugh. Be excited, Teela, her brain shouted.

"That's great you two!"

"YAHHHHOOOOOOO!" shouted Orko, flying circles above them, tossing fireworks into the air.

Teela struggled with the right words. "That's really . . . wow! Fantastic!"

Adam smiled broadly. "Yeah. Well, come here!"

"Huh?" questioned Teela, and then was engulfed in a massive hug from Adam. Thoughts and images suddenly broke into her brain - the Ice Mountains, the quest for the Sword of the Ancients, the kisses the two of them shared - and she quickly returned the hug, then stepped back.

Kathryn half-hugged her.

"Well, this is great. It really is."

Adam looked over to Kathryn and smiled affectionately. "Yeah . . . it is," he said before kissing.

Teela sighed a little, then looked over at Orko, who was still flying around, firing out fireworks. "Well, guys," Teela said, her voice sounding sugar-sweet, "I gotta get a shower. See you two fiancé's later?"

Adam nodded. "Yeah. We're having a small dinner tonight with my family, but you and Duncan are free to come."

"I really would like it for you to come," Kathryn requested. "You're like a sister to Adam."

What surprised Teela was that she saw the sincerity in Kathryn's eyes. How in the world could anyone say no to this? "Uh-huh. Sure thing."

"Great!"'

Teela waved, walked out of sight, then ran to her room. She wasn't sure what bothered her about all this, but for some reason, Teela was feeling the same tumble of emotions she felt when He-Man shot her down last year. They weren't as intense, but Teela . . . just started crying as soon as she shut her door.