FF: Two Worlds (Chapter 30: Scorched Earth)

["cilia" <cilia@xxxxx>]

Greetings all,
Well on Tuesday as promised, two chapters today, outlining the final
battle so enjoy and don't hurt by BB (beta bodyguard) too badly,
Cilia

Two Worlds
Cilia

Chapter 30: Scorched Earth

I never saw it coming. First, Willow and I had found the Warlock, or Lord
Darken, as he called himself. He was the being responsible for the death of
Angel and in a way responsible for Xander staying behind after our last
adventure together on Earth.
Then, Buffy and Grimm came bursting through the doors. I could hear the
fighting outside; the armies had reached the palace and were trying to storm
it. I knew that we, Willow and I, the lowly Ranger, had been allowed to
enter. This was a fight meant only for Willow; I was there only to bear
witness. Still, an ally drawn across time and space, seemingly by fate,
joined us.
-The Writings of Ranger Knight Cordelia Moondancer

Buffy charged for the Warlock. She was angry over the death of her friend
Xare, angry over the men and women who lay dead at the outskirts of the city
and all way up to the palace gates, angry for Piratess's getting hurt, angry
over what Cordelia had become. Angry that Willow. There was a crackle of
electricity as lightning flew from the Warlock's fingers, but Buffy knew
this trick and would not fooled again, she jumped and the bolt past safely
below her.
"Buffy, stop!" Willow ordered and the Slayer stopped, not by her own
will, but by the magic holding her. "This is between me and him, you should
go," Willow said calmly and the Warlock smiled from his throne when Willow
threw him a glare.
"But, but." Buffy protested as she floated towards the door. She
stopped herself by digging her arms into the walls.
"Buffy, please? Your mom must not be allowed to reach this room,"
Willow said firmly.
"She speaks the truth," a new, weirdly familiar voice confirmed from
behind the Slayer. She turned to see Theris, robes torn and bloodied, step
through the doorway, alone.
"Angel?" Buffy asked.

-

Ziel watched. She seemed to be doing a lot of that since joining Al'x. Her
first instinct had been to follow him in his chase for Joyce, but the sight
before her, what see was seeing, had to be recorded and be remembered.
"By the Gods," she muttered as she watched the angel place his hands
on Theris' body. The peaceful light that washed over the battlefield awed
her. Then the angel's body began to merge with the fallen hero. The light
grew brighter until there was only the High Elf, gasping for breath as life
returned to her battered form. Like time going backwards, Ziel watched as
the blood on the ground flowed back in and her wounds closed themselves.
Ziel somehow found the strength to move and began taking careful
steps towards the High Elf, her courage growing with each step until she
knelt down besides the gasping being.
"Theris." she whispered and watched as the High Elves face shifted
from the black hair and green eyes of the elf, to the brown hair and eyes of
a human man, then back to that of a woman with dark hair, but one eye green
and the one brown.
"Ziel." Theris asked. There was an odd echo in her voice, almost
like two beings speaking at once.
"You. are alive?" Ziel stated as she carefully ran her hands over
the wounds, but there were none.
"So it would appear. help me stand," she said and gently rose to her
feet.
"Is. he in there?" Ziel asked as she studied the High Elves eyes,
which were set on the fires burning in Joyce's wake.
"Yes, he is." Theris answered as she looked up and then rose into
the air. "I must find Joyce's daughter. If Al'x fails, she is the only one
who can stop the Avatar. Go, watch your heroes," she said as she hovered for
a moment then she picked up speed and was gone. Ziel blinked when she saw
the ethereal wings spread wide on the High Elf's back. She shook her head as
she took in the site of the wake the rampaging Avatar had left.

-

"Only in part, General," Theris nodded. "Come with me, there is much
to be done. Outside," she said as she offered Buffy her hand.
"Go!" Willow stressed, as Buffy was led away.
" I love you," Buffy mouthed and Willow mouthed the same back.
"Grimm, if you want to see Piratess again, I would get out of here,"
Cordelia shouted from her slouched position against the wall, knowing that
the thief would be familiar with the effects of a mage battle. The name of
Piratess seemed to pierce the fog of anger that covered Grimm's mind and it
dawned on him what was about to go down. Grimm turned around and made his
way out of the room, with the doors slamming hard behind they where alone
once again.
"Alone at last," the Warlock said as he rose from his seat.
"Just the three of us," Willow nodded, but there was flash of blue
light and a thud was heard.
"Sorry, luv, but make that four," a firm voice said as a man landed
with inhuman grace on the floor behind the throne.
"And you are?" Cordelia asked as she stood up, glad for the possible
back up. Then she looked up at the ceiling height, and then back to the man
standing in the darkness behind the throne. No way he could have come in
through those windows; they were in no way big enough for a human to slip
through.
Magic! Well this guy better be a mage, or else he's as good as dead, she
thought.
"My name." the man started as he stepped dramatically into full view. He
had a long red cape flowing over his shoulders and a white.was that a zoot
suit? ".Is Prince William Blood. And before you ask, because I'm sure you
will, I'm here because this." he said and raised a hand, revealing a red
crystal, ".drew me here," Spike finished as he also unsheathed a nasty
looking bastard sword as his blue eyes studied the surroundings. His hair
was black, but with a prominent white streak running through it.
"You!" the Warlock spat.
"Miss me?" Spike said with a grin and a wink.
"What the hell?" Cordelia exclaimed as the Warlock launched a volley of
fire bolts at the vampire, who merely dodged them and came up standing.
"Bloody 'ell! What, no hello? No nice to see you, again, what have you been
up to? Just zap zap, kill kill."
"Warlock!" Willow exclaimed. Taking advantage of the Warlock's distraction
with Spike's arrival, she unleashed a solid blast of energy towards the
Warlock. The energy surrounded him, but he merely shrugged it off as he
turned back to face her, looking extremely ticked off.
"Oh shit," Willow cursed as she ducked.
"The Avatar approaches," he said with laugh as he started gathering dark
tendrils of magic around himself. Willow saw Chaos itself flash before her
eyes. Cordelia glanced at Spike, who had just dropped in out of nowhere, but
she was thankful for it. He nodded, and an understanding past between them
as they both brought their swords to bear and got ready to charge.

I wasn't all that surprised at seeing William Blood that day. What he had
become over the years was in a way connected to the Warlock, much as it was
for Willow and Al'x. The Warlock was the dark threat that connected them
together and shaped their destinies, just as it shaped mine, in a way.
Perhaps if I hadn't been fighting him, I could have stopped Stjar'a from
emerging as the person she did, or maybe I could have helped stop Joyce. In
any case, it would have been better then the path I was set upon that day.
- The Writings of Ranger Knight Cordelia Moondancer

-

Theris dragged Buffy out into the courtyard. Or was it Angel? She was very
confused and kind of ticked off because Willow, once again, didn't seem to
need her.
"Angel, er. Theris?" she asked. "Would somebody explain this to me,
" she demanded as she kicked a charging ogre away.
"I am Theris." the High Elf nodded.
"Good, then."
"But within me, now dwells the soul of the one you call Angel," she
finished.
"So, Angel is in there, too?" Buffy asked poking at Theris'
shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm here," Theris said and Angel's echo became the dominant
voice. Both eyes had shifted into the brown Buffy knew all too well.
"This is so confusing," Buffy stated with a frown.
"Worry about it later General, because the scouts spotted Al'x Sun."
Grimm said as he came running up, "He's fighting a woman who does not look
too pleased. There's a lot of fire, so, I'm guessing it's your mom." Beyond
the courtyard, they could see that Tark was fighting and winning the battle
almost single handedly now. His team of archers was having a hard time
keeping up with the rampaging drow.
"Yeah, that would be mommy" Buffy said sadly as she turned her eyes
out into the city where a fire flared and died down again. "Great," she
muttered. "Grimm, gather the remaining soldiers and any one else you can
find. We're going out there to find out what's going on with my mom," she
said. "Theris, . Xare. my second, died out there. Could you." Buffy asked
with hope in her eyes.
"I cannot help her," Theris said in a low voice, wondering if she
should tell the whole truth.
Only if she asks, the voice in the back of her mind whispered.
"Thanks anyway, but we would welcome your assistance," Buffy said as
she turned to the gathering of her division.
"I will do what I can to calm your mother, but if Al'x has failed, then it
is up to you to stop her," Theris said as she took up a stance next to the
Slayer.
Grimm returned with a mixed group of soldiers. Some the General recognized,
but most she didn't.
"Grimm, why are there dwarves in the group?" Buffy whispered to her new
second as she looked over a small gathering of dwarves, led by Gymli.
"They've heard that the best fighting is with you," Grimm answered with a
shrug.
"Okay. This is for you newbie's: Welcome to the Roses," Buffy said looking
over the newcomers. "I only have one rule. You fight or I'll kill you
myself," she stated firmly. "Is that understood?"
Gods, I sound like such a cliché, she though to herself. No time to doubt,
just fight! The part of her mind that was pure Slayer, shouted.
"Yes ma'am," the dwarves stated, snapping her out of internal conversation.
"Good, Grimm move them out, we've got a mom to stop," Buffy ordered. "And
don't look at me like that. I just call'em as I see them," she added as they
set out, the constant eruptions of fire guiding them.

-

Al'x parried Joyce's latest blow. The jolt made his arm hurt in a new place,
he was pretty sure his palms were bruised and a wrist broken. He was in no
shape to fight the angry avatar, hell, no man could hold her off once in
full fury, and he was after all, just a man.
"Joyce listen to me." he pleaded as he blocked another blow, he was
on his knees and it was getting warm. "This place, or something here."
another blow cut him off. "Dammit! Something is corrupting you," he finished
as he managed to gather the power to push her away once again.
"I don't care! I feel so. alive!" she exclaimed as fire danced
around her.
"Great," he muttered as he dodged a fire bolt and dove for shelter
behind the remains of a wall. Checking his newest injury, where she had hit
him with the handle of her sword, he found blood. There was a crack as he
snapped his nose back into place.
"Al'x." Joyce sang as she stalked through the burned remains of the
house they had been fighting in. "Don't you want me?" she asked.
"More then you might think," he shouted back, before wincing at the
pain in his left shoulder. He had collided a little to hard with the wall
and dislocated it.
Thatta a boy Al'x, keep her distracted. Willow and the others are
bound to figure out what's going on here, he thought. He hoped.
"You do? Oh, that is sooo sweet." she cooed as she stepped over a
burned skeleton, "I want you, too." She said in low voice. "Dead." She
finished.
"Can't we have it both ways?" he asked standing up from his hiding
place. His sword held in one hand.
"Sorry, sweetie, no can do. You had your chance," she said and
charged for him.
Al'x stood and waited as long as he dared, before falling backwards
and rolling with her charge. He grabbed her arms as they went down, causing
a stab of white-hot pain from his arm to almost blind him. Shear willpower
gave him the strength to throw her to the ground behind him. Coming to a
stop on her back against the remainders of a wall, she didn't seem to be
moving.
"Please don't get up," he whispered, as he slowly got to his knees,
the walked carefully over to her. His breathing was ragged; his left arm
hung limp at his side, he counted at least five broken ribs and his nose had
seen better days.
"Stupid man," Joyce muttered as he eyes flew open and her legs came
up impossibly fast to wrap around his neck and twist him to the ground,
"Stupid, dead man," she corrected as her arm lunged for his throat and she
stood, lifting him from the ground.
I am so dead, he thought as his mind tried to find a way out of
this.
"Joyce, drop him," Ziel shouted as she came running through the
rubble. Holding an aimed crossbow in her hands.
"Ziel, stay out of this," Joyce ordered as Al'x eyes turned.
"I'm sorry," Ziel whispered as she let the bolt fly, but it never it
hit, it burned to ashes before ever reaching the avatar's body. The next
thing she felt was an intense heat wave hitting her, throwing her to the
ground. The scream of pain from the young priestess seemed to pierce Joyce's
rage.
"A-Al'x." a weak voice whispered as the hold on his neck loosened
and the fire in her eyes died down.
"Joyce?" Al'x croaked.
"I'm. not in control," Joyce whispered with tears in her eyes.
"Then take control," Al'x stated firmly. "It's just a matter of
wills," he said.
"Mom! Drop him now!"
Joyce looked over to see her daughter standing before her. A black
cloak flowing behind her, eyes red from crying and dust, cuts in her face
and on her body, hairs standing up from a braid that was coming loose and
two bloodied swords in her hands. Behind her stood a small group of dwarves
and drow. At her right, stood Theris and to her left a young human. From the
other side, Gymli, her friend, and drinking partner stepped forth.
"C'mon, wee lass, put da'lad down," he pleaded, but held his axe
tight.
"You.don't. understand," Joyce screamed. "He wants this!"
"Who wants this Joyce?" Theris asked softly.
"Theris?" Joyce asked, sweat forming on her brow.
"Yes, my friend, I am alive." Theris said. "Now who wants this?"
"He wants it," Joyce said, but her voice was getting weaker. "He
wants the war to go on!"
"No, that's not true." Ziel shouted as she stood up, her face was
red and her dark hair burnt around the edges.
"Yes it is!" Joyce shouted and threw Al'x away as the rage once
again consumed her.
"Al'x, you okay?" Buffy shouted, having opted to watch.
"Oh, just fine, General. Glad to see you could join the party," Al'x
said as he struggled to get up.
"Just stay down," she ordered. "Mom? Are you."
"Foolish little human," Joyce said as the fire flared in her eyes.
"Shit.take her down," Buffy ordered in a sad voice and without
flinching and her soldiers were off.
"Somebody talk to me," she shouted as she watched the dwarves hurl
themselves at the mom. She was not going after her mother until she had some
answers.
"She's being influenced by something dark," Al'x explained as he
staggered to his feet. There was a scream of defiance as Gymli hurled
himself at his friend.
"Explain. fast," Buffy said, as she sheathed her swords and got
ready to charge.
"The 'he' is the God of Chaos," Al'x explained.
"Masquerading as the God of War," Ziel finished as she joined them.
"What do I need to do?" Buffy asked, ripping the hood of her cloak
into ribbons, tying one around her head as a sweatband and wrapping the
others around her hands.
"Hold her off, until Willow destroys the Warlock and Chaos's hold
over this place is broken," Theris explained in her echoing voice.
"Great," Buffy said as she stepped out onto the field of battle.
Joyce threw Gymli off and now there was only her and her mother standing in
the ruins of what had once been a beautiful house, maybe.
"Avatar," Buffy nodded as the circled each other.
That's a girl. This is not your mom, just her body, the Slayer in
her told her. Willow, please be quick, she thought and looked down at the
bracelet she wore.
"Slayer," Joyce nodded back.
No, Joyce screamed at the back of mind, but the dark fire was in
control.
"Let's dance," Buffy as she lunged, the swords still resting on her
back.
The avatar smiled as she sheathed her sword and blocked the Slayer's blow
with a blow of her own, the force of it sending the Slayer staggering back.
Al'x watched in horror as the two battled, each blow contained more then
enough power to kill a normal being.
"Theris, can we somehow. I don't know, slow Joyce down or
something?" he asked.
"We can do little," Theris said, "but Ziel can do much,"
"Me?" Ziel asked.
"Sing the songs," Al'x said with a snap of his fingers. "I doubt the
real God of War is taking kindly to the manipulation of his avatar."
"I can try," Ziel said as she stepped forth and raised her hands.
Soon the Song of War drifted through the streets of the city of
Necris, for the first time in over a thousand years.

-

I later learned that it was on the streets of Necris that Stjar'a came to
accept her heritage. Something I had always assumed would include me, but
that was not to be. The changes she underwent that day, much like my own,
changed everything for us.
- The Writings of Ranger Knight Cordelia Moondancer

Stjar'a was not sure whether she should feel sick or glad, but she was
taking great pleasure in each and every street, square and building they
retook from the dark forces. Still, she was fighting like a drow, sneaking
up on her enemy, and stabbing them in the back, attacking, often without
warning, and leaving nothing alive. For the first time she used her innate
ability to summon a globe of darkness. It was a talent she had always hid,
but she now used it, without fear, to sneak upon an ogre and kill it. She
was going against so many of the things Al'x and her father her taught her
about nobility and the ways of her people.
"Princess Stjar'a," a soldier called out.
"What is it?" she asked.
"They're holed in," the soldier answered pointing to one of the
houses along the street. A rain of bolts came flying from its windows,
forcing the army to take cover in the alleyways.
"We need archers," she shouted but they were pinned down behind a
corner.
"It is being taken care of," a calm voice said from behind her as
Tark stepped out of the shadows.
"Good. Thank you, General Tark" Stjar'a nodded as the hail of
flaming arrows left the archers bowstrings.
"The smoke will force them out into the street," Tark said.
"And we'll be waiting," Stjar'a said as she readied her swords.
"Princess, are you alright?" Tark asked.
"I'm fine, General Tark," Stjar'a said in a firm voice. "Why do you ask?"
Tark paused before answering, it wasn't his place to stop this young
woman from embracing her heritage fully, but seeing a being once so noble
become so much like his own kind pained him. Granted, some of his kind was
striving to distance themselves from their innate chaos, but you could only
go so far.
"Just. concerned," he said.
"I assure you, I'm fine," Stjar'a nodded, and then smiled as the
gray dwarves started pouring out of the building.
"In my name," she shouted as she rushed into the street, with
scimitars poised to strike and a sensation of freedom, freedom from the
rules of valor and honor in her heart.
Tark sighed before following, it seemed that many things were going
to be lost this day.

-

TBC... you betcha and the next one will leave you well... pissed off at
me...