FIC: The Cycle of Hope (1/1)

["Shadow" <Shadowlander1@xxxxxxx>]

Title: The Cycle of Hope... Begins with Death (1/1)
Author: Shadowlander
Email: Shadowlander1@xxxxxxx
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters commonly associated with
Buffy the Vampire Slayer; they belong to others and are used without
permission. No copyright infringement is intended.
Rate: PG-13
Archive: You want it you got it... just let me know where it is going first
please.
Notes: A/U - a vision of things that once were... or a hint of what is to
come? You decide.

THE CYCLE OF HOPE... BEGINS WITH DEATH (1/1)

In the end there was silence and stillness... on the battlefield the Chosen
stood... their ranks depleted by death and destruction. Out of the one
thousand that went into the face hell to stop a terrible madness only a
handful remained of a once proud people. After days of terror ending the
long war between the light and the dark, all that remained were a handful of
warriors, lacking in experience and power, they alone remained to tell the
tale of the deeds done... of the sacrifices and heroism made by their
brothers and sisters for a planet that would never know just how much they
gave for people they would never meet and who would never know their names.

Lowering her war-axe, a small blonde - in height but not strength the
strongest of the surviving warriors - cast a wiry eye around her, sure the
terrible images would be forever scarred in her mind. To her right, a tall
shaggy haired boy, was sitting on a patch of scarred bloody earth pouring
his canteen of water over his head, his broken sword resting against one
knee... the end of which was still stuck in the demon laying at his feet.
Catching her eye, he nodded sadly giving her a weak smile, before drinking
the rest of his warm water and wiping his mouth on the back of his tattered
sleeve.

Satisfied that he was as well as could be considering the circumstances, her
gaze moved on, noting the two figures resting in a standing position with
their backs to each other, as if waiting for the next wave of attackers.
The two finally relaxing almost as one when the still silence finally
penetrated their battle haze, fatigue and injury causing them to lower their
weapons and collapse to the ground. 'Always competing with each other to
the end,' she thought ruefully of the two sword brothers, one light with
almost white hair, the other larger and darker always looking after the
smaller blonde like an over protective big brother, but still glad they had
survived. 'Things would be boring without their constant fighting,' a
little voice whispered in the back of her mind before being chased away by
memories of the hell they had survived.

Shaking her head she turned to the oldest member of their little group, a
healer kneeling in the mud and grime of the battlefield his medical kit open
and nearly empty as he worked on his patient, a battle scarred female that
was watching her with a grim look in her eyes. The two sharing a private
moment, knowing that the battle may have been won... but the war was far
from over. They both knew it... they could feel it in their bones... the
blood of their common ancestry calling to them telling them to prepare... to
be ready to defend the world they were now guardians of.

A movement in the sky caught the small blonde's attention as three figures
slowly descended from the sky, one figure immediately flying into her arms
with a choked cry. Holding her younger sister to her the blonde looked over
her sibling's shoulder at the other two women who had accompanied the softly
crying girl in her arms. Nodding almost absently at the haunted looks in
the eyes staring back at her, the blonde... the unspoken leader of a
decimated Clan momentarily closed her eyes fighting the tears threatening to
over take her.

"Beth"

The shaggy haired man on the ground voice caused the blonde to open her eyes
once more finally bringing an end to the terrible stillness. "The sun's
rising." Was all he said with a nod to his dark head indicating the ball of
fire slowly painting the sky in reds and oranges, beginning it climb into
the uncaring space over looking the place of death and destruction their
were standing in.

Following his gaze the blonde slowly smiled, the pain in her heart and mind
lifting for a bit, hearing the words of her grandfather whispering once more
in her mind one last time, <With the rising of the sun... comes a new day
and new hope... always remember that... with each new day there is new
hope>. Gently nudging her sister to turn the blonde's smile grew as firm
determination settled over her. She was now leader of a dying Clan,
protector of a world that would never know of them... and she would do her
duty. Honour the memories of her brothers and sisters that didn't make
it... that gave their lives for their fellow man, not because of misplaced
dreams of glory... but because it was thing to do.

"So it is Xan... so it is," she said watching the slowing climbing ball of
fire paint the over heard sky a myriad of colours. 'With each new sun rise
there is always hope.' She thought casting her face to the heavens vowing to
continue the fight... to honour the memories of those who had come before
her and will follow... as time slowly marched on.

End?

I have no idea what the hell this is about either. Questions, comments??
Bribes? Hello... anyone?? Special thanks to my bud Melissa for coming up
with the title and giving the honest opinion of "I don't get it", you're the
best. :: insert big grin here ::

Shadow -
Dir. of Pub. Safety of the SECoLGA and Chief Dungeon Keeper. Vampire Teddy
Bear and Flying Fox of the Woods Outback. The Big Bad and Little Comma.
Mistress of Mischief, corruptor of the innocent, tormentor of Quindolyn.
Founding Member of the Ger Willow and Buffy Naked Society. {GWBNS - Hey,
its a way of life!} Dark MIstress of Weirdness. Yang to Alex's Yin.
Charter Member of the Hand of Chaos, member of the Order of the Silver Claw
of the Highland Werewolves of Gaia. Member of the Questionably Sane Biker
Were-Folk Assn. {QSBWFA}

AIM screen name: ShadowDrake
Yahoo screen name: drakesshadow
MSN messenger: Tankesly@xxxxxxxxxxx {Shadow}