REPOST: Armageddon parts 1 and 2

["sam " <shadowmage_draco@xxxxxxxxx>]

Title: The Armageddon(3 and 4/?)
Author: Shadowmage_draco
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters commonly associated
with Buffy the Vampire Slayer; they are used without permission. No
copyright infringement is intended.
Archive: Just ask
Pairing: B/W

Note: This is a repost of parts one and two of the Armageddon.
Gramatical errors from the original post have been corrercted but the
content remains the same.


Chapter 1: Visions and revelation

The ancient realm of mortal man:

At the top of the rocky cliffs of the land of Tasa stood a lone
figure. He wore blue mage robes and a red and black hooded cloak,
with the hood pulled up revealing nothing of his facial features
except for his eyes. They were blue on blue, the pupils seemed to
radiate out into the pre-dawn darkness. He watched out over the
shore line as the ocean waves pounded ruthlessly against the rocks
below. In the distance he saw a great golden dragon approaching his
position so he waited for golden dragons were the messengers of the
Gods themselves.

Sunnydale, CA, modern day:

Willow stood in the center of sunny dale. It was midnight and the
streets were abandoned. What was she doing here by her self? were
was Buffy her protector, her love? Suddenly a voice spoke from the
darkness. "Fear not little one, for the next cycle is at
hand"

"Who are you?" Willow asked her voice shaking in fear, why
had she
come out here alone.

"I am a messenger from the land of shadow, sent to tell of the
coming
of the guardian of the chosen"

"I don't understand?" Willow said noticing that this so
called
messenger seemed to have be a transparent image with no physical body
whatsoever. He wore armor like the knights did in the times of king
Author and carried a long sword but it was if he was just an illusion
from another place and another time.

"Look to the book of the ages for the answers you seek, it is
from
here the knowledge will be gained."

"But the book of the Ages is lost, how do I find it"

"Through truth and love shall the book of the ages be revealed to
those who have been called"

"What is that suppose to mean"

"Tell her" spoke the messenger as he and everything around
willow
began to slowly fade away, his final words echoing in here
mind. "Tell her" Willow awoke in a cold sweat. She looked
across
the room to here sleeping roommate <tell her>, could he have met that
she should tell Buffy how she felt about her. No that couldn't
be
it. All that would accomplish is Buffy freaking out and leaving
her. How could telling Buffy that she was in love with here reveal
the book the ages, all it would do is effectively end there friend
ship. Willow laid back down the messenger's words still
lingering in
her mid as she slowly drifted back to sleep, <tell her>



The ancient realm of mortal man:

The great golden dragon now stood a few feet away from the him. I
have been sent with a message from the Gods of man" bellowed the
might beast, "Talon, mage of the magic of shadow, you have been
called to be the guardian of the chosen"

Softly the young mage replied" I am only a mortal man, not worthy
of
such a great position. I do not understand why the Gods would choose
me"

"You under estimate yourself, after only 21 years on this earth
you
have become more powerful than any user of the magic arts living or
dead. You are pure in heart, only using the powers bestowed upon
you for the good of your fellow man. That is why you have been
called. So I ask you this young mage, do you except the your
destiny?"

"If it is the will of the Gods then so be it"

Thunder and lighting filled the sky and a aura of blue light
surrounded Talon and then he was gone. a column of light shown
through the storm clouds that filled the sky and a female voice
softly spoke "Great dragon know that I am the Goddess, you have
served us well and there is one more task that we ask of you".

"What is it that you wish of me my Goddess"

"This cycle of life is coming to a close and a new on is
starting, it
will be one of Chaos. The forces of good and evil will fight as they
never have before. Each side will chose there champions they will do
the battle. In the end the forces of darkness will grow strong and
seek to destroy the chosen warrior of the forces of good. Only the
magic of the warriors soul mate can offer protection at this time.
Together they will fight the forces of darkness back. When the dark
lords of evil see that the two soul mates have taken the upper hand
they will summon there powers to open up the gate to the underworld.
The soul mates can not win this battle for it is not there's to
fight, that is when the guardian of the chosen will once again walk
in the Mortal realm, for only he can defeat the dark lords. Talon
has been made an immortal, he has become a higher being. Being a
mage of shadow magic he has went to live until the time his calling
in the realm of shadows that surrounds the mortal realm. There he
will be able to see everything that is happening in this realm so
that he might re-enter it at the appointed time. You faithful dragon
must tell his of his life and his prophesy. Write them down in the
book of the ages and pass it along to the warriors of good."

Then all was silent, the storm clouds had vanished and the sun had
rose, the great dragon lifted his mighty wings into the air and to
flight, he had very little time to accomplish his task, this cycle of
chaos was already upon them.

Sunnydale, CA; Modern day

Buffy stood the cemetery, she was completely alone not even a single
vampire or demon was out tonight . Something was happening and it
frightened her. Suddenly a figure stood before her, he wore body
armor and seemed to be almost transparent. Buffy was getting ready
to speak when this mysterious figure spoke to her first.

"Fear not warrior of light for I am a messenger of the realm of
shadow. The cycle of Chaos is ending and you must seek out your soul
mate if either of you are to survive"

"What?"

"Only together can the two of you stand against the forces of
darkness, and only your love for one another can bring the guardian
of the chosen forth unto this mortal realm so he might fulfill his
destiny"

"What soul mate?"

"Your one true love, The one whom brings balance to your life and
you
balance to theirs. Together you must seek the book of the ages, it
is the only way that you can survive the darkness that is
coming."

"What darkness, and How do I stop it"

"You can not stop it, only the guardian of the chosen can, it is
you
and your soul mate who can call upon him and allow him entrance into
the mortal realm. You must however act quickly to find your true
love, before it is to late for the cycle of Chaos is ending and the
time of the great battle drawls near.".

"What battle?" Buffy asked fearing the answer she would
receive.

"The final battle, the Armageddon"

Buffy trembled in fear at this mysterious figures answer, She looked
at the figure as tears of shear terror rolled down her face. He was
talking about the final battle of good and evil, the end of the world
as she knew it and the only she could help was to find her soul mate,
her one true love. "Her voice was laced with anxiety, and her
words
only came out in a whimper. " How do I find my soul mate?"

"Look to your heart it will guide you, then seek the book of the
ages."

Then darkness surrounded her and a vision formed in her mind. She
was walking down the beach at sun set with Willow. They were holding
hands, and suddenly they stopped. Willow leaned into her and gently
kissed her on the lips. "I love you Buffy" The young witch
said.
Then she woke up.

As Buffy sat in her bed she looked around the room to see Willow
lying there. The moon showed through the window and it seemed to
radiate the young redheads beauty. Could Willow be the one. She
knew she was in love with her but was pretty sure the feeling was not
mutual. Sure Willow cared for her but that was as a friend. The
messenger had told her to look to her heart and she knew that in her
heart she loved Willow, but that was just a fantasy for her. Willow
could never love her the way she loved Willow, or could she. This
however would have to wait, She needed to talk top Giles after all
the end of the world was coming.

The Realm of Shadow

A young warrior dressed in full body armor knelt before a golden
throne. "The messages have been delivered Lord Talon"

"You have done well my faithful servant. Are the troops
preparing
for the war" Spoke the Guardian of the Chosen.

"Yes, my Lord"

"Good, The Armageddon is approaching rapidly. I can feel it,
even
as we speak the Dark Lords are awaking there forces seeking to gain
the upper hand. The age of Chaos is almost over and for now the fate
of the mortal realm lies in the hands of the chosen one and her
beloved."

"Why then did you not allow me to help them find one another."

"That is not the way of things, destiny is a very mysterious
creature. They must find one another on there own, then and only
then can I fulfill my destiny. Pray to the Gods of the ancient realm
that they find one another and the book before it is to late."

"My Lord how close at hand is the Armageddon"

"The dark lords are growing impatient, they know that the soul
mates
have not found one another yet and now move to destroy them before
than can. If that happens then The gateway to the underworld will be
opened and I will not be allowed to stop it, The Gods will only
allow me to fight in the name of the mortal realm unless soul mates
are together. Without the shadow realm and its warriors to stop the
Dark Lords will easily win and the mortal realm will be lost"

"Isn't there anything we can do my lord"

"Yes"

"Tell me what it is you wish me to do"

"accompany me to the mortal realm"

"I thought you could not interfere with them finding one
another"

"That is correct My faithful servant but once they do I can make
the
path easier for them."

"I do not understand what you are saying my Lord"
"Those entrusted to watch out for and care for the chosen
warriors
hearts have grown cold and they have forgotten who it is they serve.
They no longer follow the rules that the Gods set forth upon their
foundation and banish anyone who defies them and tries to make them
se the light. If man can not remind them of the path they were
called to follow then I will. I will make them see the light"

"And if they do not my Lord"

"Then I will destroy them. The Gods might not allow me to fight
on
the chosen ones behalf without her finding her soul mate, but they
will allow me to deal with those who have failed me be they of this
realm or the mortal realm. Are you ready to travel again my faithful
servant"

"Yes my Lord but to were is it that we travel"

"England"

Chapter 2: The path unfolds

Sunnydale, CA

Willow awoke as the first rays of sun light hit the California coast
line, Buffy was on the phone apparently talking to Giles from what
she could make out of the conversation. Here voice was gripped with
fear, and willow could se that she was physically trembling as she
tried to form words out of thoughts that were racing through her mind
at the speed of light.

"Buffy, just calm down and speak slowly" said a very groggy
Giles.

"I H-h-had a vision, it was p-p-p-prophetic" Buffy stammered
her
voice barley above a whisper.

Giles was starting to get very worried, what could shake up Buffy
this bad after all she has been through it had to be big. His voice
full of anxiety he asked "What is it" Her reply sent a cold
shiver
down his spin, she had simply said Armageddon. Her and willow were
on their way over and so was the rest of the scoobs , as they so
liked to call themselves. Giles mind began to go over all of his
training as a watcher, recalling all the prophecies and lore that
were covered and now the one the council feared the most seemed to be
un folding. His mind drifted back as he recalled his mentor reading
from an ancient scroll that had been transcribed from the book of the
ages. <The warrior and her soul mate stand against the darkness. The
Dark Lords of the underworld seek to destroy them and then the realm
of man. Only together in love will they survive, only together in
love will the guardian of the chosen come to fight on their behalf,
and only then can the Armageddon be prevented. This is the prophecy
of the shadow mage Talon>. This was all he could recall of the story
and prophecy. The scroll;; had been passed down from generation to
generation of watchers, it was all they new of Talon and the
Armageddon for the book that contained all the knowledge of this
particular prophecy had long been lost to the mortal realm. His
thoughts was interrupted by a load pounding at the door. He quickly
got up and answered it. It was Xander and Anya. He let them in and
waited for Buffy and Willow to arrive.

"It was scary Giles, He said that I must find my soul mate, my
one
true love or neither one of us could survive the darkness that was
coming." Willows heart skipped a beat when she heard what Buffy
had
just told Giles.

All Giles could say was "I see"

"I see, he talked about the battle of Armageddon, the end of
everything that we know and said that only Me and My soul mate could
stop it, I don't know what to do."

Willow was becoming hyper aware of what everything the slayer was
saying. Her mind began to race, <Could this be the same messenger
that came to her, if so then possibly her dreams would come to
reality and she and Buffy could be together.> A voice from deep
inside her said was shouting for joy at this prospect, <could it be>.


Buffy had noticed Willow drifting away as she was talking.
"Willow,
are you all right" asked a very worried slayer. Willow did not
respond and Buffy walked over to her, "Will you still in
there?"

Willow suddenly became aware that Buffy was standing in front of here
talking but she really did not hear what the blonde was saying now,
she had to know "Buffy what did the messenger look like?"

Buffy was a little taken back by this question but answered it
anyways "He was about six feet tall, and wore body armor, kinda
like
the one you see in the movies about knights and dragons..."

Willow cut in before Buffy could finish " And He was there but
not
there, almost transparent"

Buffy finished the sentence for her " and he said to find the
book of
the ages"

"exactly"

"how did you know that Willow"

"I also had a dream, that he came to me and told me to seek my
soul
mate and find the book of ages for the next cycle was upon us"

Before Buffy could reply a very anxious Giles cut into their
conversation "Did you say the next cycle was upon us?" sweat
was now
running down his forehead and he had lost some of the coloring in his
face. parts of the tale were now coming back to his mind and he was
on the verge of sure panic.

"Giles are you O.K." asked Willow and Buffy in unison.

"If the next cycle is upon us that can only mean the forces of
darkness have already started there move to gain control over the
mortal realm, I have got to call the council"

"The council, did you forget that we are not talking to them"
shouted
an agitated slayer.

"We need there help, the prophecy of Armageddon is different than
any
other prophecy"

"How is that, we've faced the end of the world before"
Her voice was
full of anger, rumbaing how the council had betrayed her.

"Buffy, it is believed that all life goes through different
cycles,
some are shorter than others, but in general they usually last about
2500 years. No one is for sure when the cycle we are in actually
started but from what you are saying I believe now that it most
likely was about 500 BC

"So why bring the council into this"

"When the cycles changed it is rumored that magic on both the
sides
of light and darkness both are the strongest. The last time the
cycle changed it is said in several ancient text that the Gods were
still in direct control of the mortal realm, but now they are not.
The prophecy that seems to be unfolding here was written when that
cycle was giving way to this one. There are several among those who
know about the book of the ages and it's prophecy that is was
scribed
to from the Gods themselves, more particularly the Goddess.

The room grew deadly silent at Giles words. Willow was the first to
speak "The Goddess"\

"Yes" was all Giles said, his face was now very somber.
"So you can
see that what we are dealing with is greater than anything we have
ever faced before, greater than anything man has ever faced"

Everyone just sat there looking at Giles, except for Willow who was
intently staring at Buffy. <I have got to tell her> "Buffy we
need
to talk" Willow said in a voice so soft that the slayer had to
strain to hear her.

"Now?"

"Yes now, Giles can we use the kitchen?"

He was about to say something to Willow about now not being a good
time after all there was allot they needed to discuss, but Willow had
on her resolve face and there was something else in her eyes, love.
He simply nodded and Willow got up and started to walk out of the
room, a confused Buffy followed.

"What was that about?" Piped Xander

"I am not sure, but I think this prophecy is unfolding even
more"

"It was Anya's turn now "What is that suppose to mean"

Giles looked at the two of them, then to the kitchen door that Buffy
had shut behind her , then back toward them. "We will have to
just
wait and see"

Willow looked at Buffy the messengers words were echoing repeatedly
in her mind <TELL HER>. She took a deep breath and gathered every
once of her inner strength, normally the idea of telling Buffy that
she loved her would have frightened her very much but after hearing
about Buffys dream she was pretty sure now that the slayer felt the
same way or at least she hoped she did. Buffy watched willow in
amazement, The redhead had taken a deep breath and then came out with
the resolve face. This was big, all Buffy could think was somehow
Willow had figured out about her love for her and now she was going
to have to face this alone without her best friend and love.

Willow was now staring at Buffy wondering what to do. The slayer
looked very worried, willow thought, <no, that is not it she's
nervous and their is something else>. It took her a couple of
seconds to figure out what was mixing itself with the nervousness
that filled the beautiful blondes eyes, then it dawned on her, Willow
was beyond a shadow of a doubt that Buffy felt the same way. Willow
started to walk towards her, after all actions speak louder than
Words.

She was now standing just inches from Buffy, the slayers body was now
trembling, her eyes locked onto Willows. Buffy had just started to
say something when Willow leaned into her and every so gently placed
a soft kiss upon her lips. All Buffy could do was let out a whimper.
Then Willow spoke "I love you"

"Willow?"

"Yes"

"Did you say that you love me" Buffys voice was so quit that
Willow
had to strain to hear her even though she was only inches from her.

Willow looked into Buffys eyes, "Yes, and I do love you. Every
fabric of my being loves you. You are the first thing I think of
when I wake up and the last thought in my mind as I go to sleep. I
love you so much that I don't think I could make it through a
single
day without you by my side" Willow could not stop talking, all
the
emotions she had bottled up inside of her came pouring out, each word
nothing but the truth of her own heart that she had been suppressing
for so long. "I do not know how or when it happened but it did,
all I
honestly know is that I love you and I always will.

Willow had spoken from her heart and now waited to see what was going
to happen now. Her insides were churning, she had put her soul out
on the table and now it was Buffys turn, a voice kept screaming out
inside of the young witch <please feel the same way>. A tear rolled
down Buff's cheek. It was follow by another then another. The
slayer was crying. Willow was not sure what to do so she went with
her gut instinct and closed the gap between them and held Buffy in
her arms. As soon as she did she felt Buffy relax and heard a small
whimper come from the slayer "Willow, I have waited a very long
time
to hear those words"

"You have" Willow asked holding onto Buffy even tighter.

"yes, and now I guess it is my turn"

"Your turn for what"

"to say that I love you Willow, love you more than life itself.
The
only reason that I can go out there every night and face the
Hellsmouth is because of you"

"Because of Me"

"Your my reason to keep on living, my entire world. My mom,
Giles,
Xander, and Anya there all good friend and I care for them and if
something would happen to any off them I don't know what I would
do
but I could go on. However a world without my Wills is one I
don't
think I could last that long in, without you I would just curl up and
die."

"Buffy don't talk like that" Willow said as tears were
rolling down
her eyes, she did not want anything to happen to Buffy and did not
like it at all when she talked about death.

"I can't help I, it is how I feel. I love you so much that
it
hurts." Buffy then leaned into Willow and place and returned
Willows
kiss "I love you Willow"

"What do we do now"

"Well Willow I think we should march back in there and tell Giles
that we have found our soul mates"

"You think were each other soul mates"

"I know it " Said a now extremely confidant slayer

"So do I"

Slowly they broke there embrace and took one anthers had. "Guess
it
is time to face our friends, " asked Buffy

"Yep" Gulped Willow, <What were they going to say>

The two walked back into the room hand in hand. Xander and Anya
there eyes filled with curiosity were looking at them and Giles was
on the phone. He hung it up and looked at the two of them. Before
he could say anything Spike, who had come up from the basement when
his vampiric ears picked up on the conversation going on in the
kitchen and was now standing in the hallway, not wanting to come out
into them room for the curtains were wide open, inserted his two
cents "It's about Bloody time". A devilish grin filled
his face, all
he could think about was how much this was going to get to soul boy.

"And what are you doing up here" shouted Giles

"Vampiric hearing" was all he could say as both Willow and
Buffy both
turned a most interesting shade of red.

"There blushing" shouted Xander

"Mark one up for the rocket scientist" Spike said, he was
laughing
out loud now <Wonder if the watcher would notice if he called LA>

It was Giles who spoke next "I take it the two of you have
something
to tell us"

Buffy looked at willow and the redheaded smiled, let go of Buffys
hand and warped her arm around the slayers waist. With that Buffy
looked straight at Giles and simply said "Were do we find this
book
of the ages"

"I see" Replied Giles and he did.

"see What" Xander asked

"See that there in love, sometimes I don't know why I put up
with
you" Retorted Anya.

Xander came back "because you love me" and Anya smiled

"Well Giles how do we find the book of ages, after all according
to
the messenger after we find one another we are suppose to look for
the book of ages" Buffys words were extremely focused at the
moment,
she knew that she loved willow and willow loved here. She also knew
that if they were going to be together forever, but at the moment
forever seemed to be a very short time, the Armageddon was coming and
she had to protect her new found love.

Giles spoke, his words did not come out easily and everyone could
sense that something was defiantly wrong "I am not sure, I spent
the
last several minutes trying to contact the council, but there is no
answer, I fear something is going on"

"The prophecy" Willow and Buffy said in unison

"I don't know, I just don't know"

Half way around the world something indeed was going on.

England

In the reception area of the watchers council complex the switch
board was ringing , its operator sat in a trance unable to move or
even acknowledge in her mind that it was ringing. There were several
others in the main lobby, mostly watchers or researchers for the
council who had dropped in to try and find out why the council had
called a secret session and was meeting in privacy. However that
would have to wait for they to like the switch board operator were
seemly frozen in time unable to move or even think. In fact the only
two figures that seemed to be moving at all were slowly making there
way towards the main meeting chamber.

The council was in session, every single council member was there,
fifty two in all. They were in full session and tempers were
flaring. The head of the council himself had called this special
meeting which soon turned into a heated debate. The subject was what
are we to do about Buffy Summers, and as soon as the head of the
council opened it for discussion lines were immediately formed and
they had been fighting amongst themselves for over a half hour now.
Even as the head of the council was trying to regain some control
over this meeting Talon and his messanger were making their way to
the meeting chambers and the council caught up in there rather
heated discussion was oblivious to the fact that very soon things
were going to change forever.

"I demand order" shouted the council head as he banged a
heavy wooden
gavel on the large oak table they all sat around "and I demand it
know. He had succeeded in getting there attention so he
continued "We will discuss this subject in an organized
controlled
manner, it is our duty to do so, Mr. Rilley I believe you have the
floor".

Thank you sir," said a middle aged man wearing metal rimmed
glasses "as I was saying we should simply call another slayer
and
write off Ms Summers as a lost cause"

A young woman raised here had and the council head recognized
her. "And how do you propose to do that, I am the newest member
of
this counsel but last time I checked there could only be one
slayer"

"Mr. Rilley, she brings up a good point. Have you any
suggestions"

"Yes sir, we must element Ms Summers"

The council head thought about his Rilly's answer for a second
then
spoke "I tend to agree"

"That is insane, we can not kill a slayer who has done nothing
wrong"
a young man newly promoted from watcher to council member shouted

"You have something to add Wesley" Asked the head of the
council.

"Ms summers still is doing her duty and rather well might I add.
She
has done nothing wrong"

"She has broken off communications"

"Since when is not talking to the council a capitol offense"

"You off all people should know, she would not except you as her
watcher but instead defied the council by staying with Mr. Giles
after we had dismissed him for his failure in the test . She then
broke all communications with us. She is out of control and a out of
control slayer can be a very dangerous thing, or do you get forget
about the incident with Faith"

""Buffy handled that problem for us, and has continued about her
duty. She is doing what she was trained to do, what she was meant
to do and the more I reflect on what happened during my brief
presence in Sunny dale the more I believe Giles was correct in his
actions"

"He disobeyed the council, he questioned the way we do things.
If we
are to fight this war then order and control must be contained."
the
head of the councils voice was filled with rage as responded to
Wesley's almost sacrilegious remarks

There was no stopping Wesley now, the council had gone to far and he
knew it. "Then possibly are way of doing things is wrong" as
Wesley
finished that statement the council once again broke into utter
chaos.

This time the head of the council would not be able to regain control
he would have no need to. The room fell silent as the great oak
doors were ripped off and thrown by an unseen force down a deserted
hallway. The room filled with a mystic blue haze and two figures now
stood in the door way. All heads turned to them and pure terror
gripped them. The larger figure wore battle armoire of a knight and
carried a rather large and impressive looking sword but he was almost
unrecognized by them. It was the other figure that they were
immediately drawn to and as soon as they looked upon him they could
no longer speak. He wore the robes of an ancient mage with a red and
black hooded cloak that seemed to flutter as if it was caught in a
mild breeze even though there was none. The hood was pulled up over
his head and the only facial feature that could be seen was a set of
glowing blue eyes that permeated through the mist and pierced into
each one of there souls looking for some shred of humanity.

Talon stood there for several minutes gazing into each and every
member of the councils soul. He had to make them see the light, the
Armageddon was growing nearer. Then he spoke his words echoed like
thunder throughout the entire complex shattering every window in the
massive building. "Know this; I am Talon, Guardian of the
Chosen,
hand picked by the Gods of man." as he spoke his eyes began to
change. the steady blue glow gave way to what appeared to be bright
blue flames dancing in his eyes and a bright blue light now
surrounded his body. The messenger then knew that his master had
become very angry at these mortal men and even he was frightened at
what vengeance the Guardian of the Chosen might enacted upon this
particular group.

Talon had looked into there souls hoping to find a way to make them
see the truth but what he saw there was darkness, the council had
been lost, except for a very few who had seen the light on there own.
The majority of them were plotting to murder the chosen one, only
these few were opposed to the idea. If anyone there were able to
see pass the intensity of his eyes they would have noticed a single
tear roll down the immortal mages cheek. He knew now what he must do
and he shed that single tear for the council and the task that he now
had to take, the path of his destiny had taken an unexpected turn and
it now tore at his eternal heart but there was no other choice , they
were to far gone.

"I see into the neither regions of your souls and feel what each
of
you feel in the abyss of your mortal hearts, your thoughts have
become like an open book to me. I thought that your hearts had grown
cold and your souls callus with the passage of time, but know I know
that the hearts of most of you have grown dark. The evil that you
are so set against fighting has already beaten you. It did not
happen in any war, or through any type of black magic, but in each of
your hearts and souls. You did not forget the rules of the Gods but
over time willing chose to ignore them. For you it is no longer
about the fight against darkness but it is about power and control
and these things have corrupted you. then darkness it set itself
upon your mortal souls. There are few among you who still care for
the watchers and the chosen one, but as for the rest of you could
care less, all that matters to you is that you remain in control.
you have become servants to the very forces the council was
established to fight against" Talon raised his hand into the air
and
the haze in the room became a thick fog, and as quickly as it came it
was gone along with Talon. Wesley and five others were left standing
before the messenger. The meeting chamber floor was now covered in
ashes of what used to be the rest of the council, judgment had been
passed.

The messenger walked towards Wesley and the remaining council members
who were trembling in fear. There was movement in the hallway and
several watchers had run into the chamber, they froze in utter shock
at what they saw.

Wesley looked at the messenger and all he could say was "Why"

"They were to far gone, the Guardian of the Chosen was unable to
make
them see the light, you and the others who remain however had already
seen the light before we arrived in the mortal realm. It was
necessary for judgment to be passed"

The watchers who had entered the room stood there stunned at the
words they had heard. The looked at the messenger, then to the
remaining council members and knew that it was true, Talon had come,
they were in awe.

"In time they could have been made to understand, We could have
protected the slayer form them" Wesley said with all sincerity in
his
voice. He had opposed what they had become but still regretted there
deaths.

"My lord would have wanted it that way also, it hurt him deeply
to
have to deal with his servants the way he was forced to, but there is
no way he could make them see that which they had no desire to see,
and the price has become to high for there existence to be tolerated
any longer"

Wesley looked around at the watchers and his fellow council members
and saw that they were just as confused as he was, "What is
happening that is so great that the Guardian of the Chosen is forced
to come and judge the council, what is price is so high that warrants
the loss of so many souls"

"The Realm of mortal man itself is at stake. Know this young
council
member, the cycle of chaos is coming to an end, as we speak the Dark
Lords are moving in preparation to consume this realm. The chosen
and her soul mate seek one another, if they have found each other yet
I do not know, but they were still searching when I left the realm of
shadows. The Dark Lords seek to destroy them before they can fulfill
the prophecy written in the book of the ages. All this is happening
for a reason, know that reason to be that the Armageddon is at
hand"

The room was silent, no one dared even move after hearing the
messengers words. They had to remind themselves to breath, their
greatest fear the destruction of the entire mortal realm seemed to be
unfolding before there eyes and they had failed to see it coming,
failed to aid the chosen one in her quest, and failed the powers they
had sworn to serve. There hearts were filled with great sadness, and
each and everyone of them wept in shame. The messenger just stood
there and waited for them to let everything sink in.

It was Wesley who finally spoke, "What can we do to help them"

"This is what is to be done. The watchers and slayers in
training
are released from their bond as is everyone else who is under the
employment of the council. For now and till the end of time the
council is disband, for the Guardian no longer has use of such an
organization for he shall soon walk the mortal realm if all goes as
he has foreseen . You and the other council members are to gather
all the books and knowledge contained within these halls that the six
of you can take and travel to the hellsmouth. You must do this
quickly for time draws short. When you arrive immediately contact
the chosen one and her friends and aid them in any way you can."

"We shall do as you ask, and this time we will not fail them"

"This I Know". and as the messenger finished that last
sentence he
simply vanished into thin air.

They all stood there For a moment then Wesley yelled " You heard
him
start grabbing book we got very little time"

The Realm of Shadow

The messenger having just returned from the mortal realm made
straight away towards the throne room. He instantly spotted Talon
looking out a east window at the vast mountains of the realm.
"My
Lord, are you all right"

"I will be fine my faithful servant, I wish I could have spared
them
my judgment but they were to far gone into the darkness." Another
tear rolled down his eternal cheek, it had hurt him greatly to judge
the council for ant human suffering caused him great pain, but that
was why he had been chosen in the first place. He gathered up his
self and spoke yet again "Did you give those who remain my
instructions"

"Yes my Lord"

"Good for the path of the prophecy is unfolding, the Dark Lords
were
not fast enough in there attempt to keep the soul mates from one
another, but they will seek to destroy them anyway"

"Then they had succeeded in finding one another"

"Yes, they have"

"What is to happen now my Lord"

"The time has come for you to once again to enter the realm of
mortal
man but this time I will send you forth with the staff of shadow "

"Why am I to take such a powerful item into the mortal realm, my
lord"

"The soul mates and their friends now seek the book of the ages
as
they were instructed, the time has come for us to reveal it along
with some very special gift that will aid them in the task at
hand".

"When do I leave my Lord"

"I will send you to them when they need they you the most"

"There is more my Lord, I hear it in your voice"

"You have served me well and your insight does you great justice.

The soul mates have a very dangerous and painful path ahead of them
before the Armageddon starts and our warriors go into battle. It
will take everything they have for them to survive and the cost that
they will be forced to pay is great but know that rewards shall be
greater"

"I do not understand of these things you speak my Lord"

"The cycle of chaos is breaking apart at the seams, and they
alone
stand at the hellsmouth. Already I can hear the sounds of war, they
echo in the night like distant thunder and grow louder at each
passing hour. They are bonded and will survive as the Gods
themselves had said those around them however lives hang in the
balance of the fates. I sense great sorrow for the two, now go my
faithful servant for I shall be calling you soon"