I do not own any of the characters from He-man and the Masters of the Universe. Original Characters are of my creation and subject to use by permission from me. This is a work of fiction any likeness to real people is purely coincidental.

He-Man and the

Masters of the Universe: Eternal

Prelude

Wind howled across the barren stone surface of the cliffs below Snake Mountain. The sound caused by the mighty storm that raged filled the night sky like the sound of thousands of souls in torment screaming out. It was enough to make anyone caught out in it mad. Shadows danced in the moonlight as the figures moved silently through the night towards their objective. They moved slowly along the path that was obscured by fog that was whirling in the raging wind. Normally the path was treacherous enough in the best of conditions, but this night what was already dangerous became almost deadly.

As they moved silently in single file the four figures held close to the mountain's face as they ascended the pathway that would lead them to the doors of the forbin mountain's entrance. They risked much by coming here. Cloaks drawn about them tighty to keep the chill of the night off of them and to obscure their features from any eyes that might be prying they pushed on. Each moment seemed an eternity as they were buffeted by the intense weather. Sheer determination in their task their motivation as each footfall took them further.

The man in the lead raised a hand of caution to those behind him. Standing slightly off the path ahead was a large panthor who it appeared had been hunting for from its jaws hung the corpse of some animal. Its eyes shone yellow in the faint light as it stared at them. A deep growl muffled only slightly by the contents of its jaws emitted from it. Neither it nor the traveling companions made a move as each looked at the other. With a single bond the panthor moved up the sheer wall of the cliff to a cavern above.

"An entrance," the woman in the back whispered. A sound that was almost lost in the howl of the wind if not for the magic intoned in her voice. "We can enter there. Surly it would be an easier path then the one we travel."

"Fool," the man in the lead responded, "Think. That creature cared a large carcase in its maw. It feeds young. If we enter that cavern we stand the chance of having to defend ourselves from a mother who will fight to protect her young. It is better we keep our path. There is no certainty that the cavern she calls home would lead into the mountain besides."

There was no more discussion as that man in the lead began the trek forward once again. Moving slowly he kept an eye on the cliff side above. They had only seen the pantor because it wanted them to see it, there was no knowing what else lay hidden in the shadows. He would be a fool to think that there was not more that was unseen. From his back he removed the wrapped bundle as he continued. As he removed the cloth the skull of the ram on top of the staff began to glow a faint green illuminating the path ahead. It was as if the light from the staff began to cause the fog in front of them to part and the wind about them to cease.

His companions looked about in disbelief. The man directly behind him fidgeted with his weapon as he continued. Checking the weapon over by feeling alone seemed to reassure him. Magic bothered him, he trusted the forge and steel. The ability to forge the tool needed and wield it with skill and precision was what he preferred. It was partially the training, partially his skill as a member of the royal guard. He may not trust magic but he trusted the man who wielded it and lead them now. He would follow the Prince anywhere.

The third member of the party moved with a lopsided gante as the continued up the path. Red eyes gleaming in the night as he continued to stare up at the direction the pantor had gone. His leader had spoken true the creature had young. He could tell that as the other had by the contents of its jaws, but also the lack of weight on the creatures frame, the sagging titts that were still swollen from milk, and the smell. He had touched its mind briefly to see if it posed any danger only to feel that its only goal was to return to its den unbothered. He hadn't bothered to move his hand to his whip for there was no purpose. He knew about gifts and the fact that the staff glowed as his leader unwrapped had not fazed him in the slightest.

Last in the party was the woman. A proud creature in her own right and one who did not feel it was right to skulk in darkness to complete their task. Nevertheless she trusted their leader like none other, he bethrolled knew of the dark arts in a way only a few did. That is what had drawn her to him at first. Power spoke to her and she could feel it pour from him. It had been her who had led him to the Havok Staff after he had told her of the prophecy. If they were to bring about the completion of their task he would need something to enhance his natural power after all.

Each member of the party had their reasons for being there on the side of the mountain. In the faint glow of the staff they marched forward towards their goal. As minutes turned to hours they finally reached the carved doors to the forbidden hall of the Snake Men. With a gesture from the leader the woman moved forward. He offered his left hand to her which she took in her right. The other two companions took up position on either side. She could feel his power mix with hers.

With a fluid movement on his arm the staff moved lowering toward the door. Power surged through them before unleashing through the skull. A crimson light shot forth battering the large stone doors. A thunderous shattering of stone overrode the howl of the wind for a brief moment before silence. The wind stopped and the fog seemed to clear. Where doors had stood now a gaping hole. As the leader of the group dropped the woman's hand he raised the staff in triumph letting out a cackling laugh.

As his laughing subsided he said not a word as he strode into the darkness before him. What had seemed like a pale green light emanating from the staff on the march up now appeared as the radiant light of day in the dark hall that they moved into. The air was stale, smelling of mold and death. Nothing seemed to fase the leader, for Keldor was on a mission.

He had spent hours in the royal library pouring over old manuscripts searching for any answer on how to gain more power. As the second son of the King and born of a concubine he had no claim to the throne proper, but he was not determined to merely live in the shadow of his favored brother. No, he had searched for the kernel of truth in the old legends. The seed that he could plant and nurture to bring about his own destiny. With the arrival of Lyn he had found it. Her Father had brought with him the legend of the Snake Men and King Greyskull.

Deep within Snake Mountain lay the layer of the extinct race he had discovered as it had seemed King Greyskulls advisor had also. In that layer was a pool of power, a portal to a realm that would grant unimaginable power. However unlike the fool Hordak he had spent years studying and searching the true nature of that power. He was determined to have it. Keldor had found many rumors, half truths buried in stories of the past. He knew he did not fully understand the power he seeked, but to find it was the first step. He was sure there was more knowledge hidden in the halls of the Snake Men also.

He moved forward with the air of a man with authority. His staff glowing brighter the further he went into the hall. The staff that Lyn had stolen from her Father at his bequeath. It like the pool of power that lay deep inside a relic of an age gone by. It was said to be the staff that Havok had forged in the pool to fight King Greyskull after the later had vanquished the Snake Men from Eternia. Weakened from his fight King Greyskull sought advice from his advisor Hardak on how best to ensure that the Snake Men posed no threat in returning. It was the advice of his advisor to forge a weapon from the enemy's very fortress to seal them away forever. So the staff had been made. The rod carved from the very mountain they called home and the skull of King Hiss's most prized pet used as the conduit.

As Hardak slayed the ram in the pool of power something had corrupted him it was said. A great battle was fought between him and King Greyskull on the cusp of the very pool. Greyskull drove Hordak into the pool it was said and tendrils seemed to rise up sucking him deep into the pool. Once the pool calmed the only thing that remained was the staff. Greyskull was said to have taken it and hidden it so no other mortal would ever be corrupted as his friend had been. Keldor's hand tightened around the polished purple shaft.

Finally after moving deeper and deeper into the widening caverns of the mountain the party arrived at what appeared to be a large raised stone structure. What the texts had called a pool looked more like a baptisimil font in front of an stone statue behind the altar had been destroyed but Keldor could tell that it had been some kind of large serpent. As he approached he could feel the power of the staff grow in his hand, a warmth emanated from the font. Then without warning he felt a power attack his mind.

Falling to the floor he used the staff to brace himself as he took a knee trying to remain upright. Lyn was on one side and Kronis on the other holding him as he struggled with the power trying to wrestle control of his mind. As quickly as it came it seemed to subside. As he allowed his two companions to help him to his feet he heard a voice in his mind.

"You have finally come. I've been waiting. Kneel Keldor son of Miro, descendent of Greyskull. We have much to discuss and you much to learn. For I am Hordak and you will be the vessel of my revenge."