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Description
DAY 1

The Morning:

I woke up this morning thinking nothing would be any different. Well, any different from what I was used too. You see I am awakened. I guess I should tell you what that particularly means. To be awakened is to be aware of what is really in this world. It means that you become aware of whom you fully and truly are, and to be able to realize that the world as it is known to the mass populous of the world is just a sugar coated-topping, or the edited for television version of a really graphic film. Anyways, back to what I was saying.

I opened my eyes slowly, hissing mental at the morning light that cracked through the window. I woke up thinking nothing would be any different from what I was used to. Well, was I was in for a rude surprise. The first thing that registered as wrong was the fact that either I had grown or the bed shrank. Even with my head all the way up against the wall, I didn't fit as usual. In fact, I didn't fit at all.  Rolling over to get out of the now-not-my-size bed, I realized problem number two. I recoiled with a whence as a sharp and uninvited pain shot through my back. I felt like rolling over on your arm and pulling it too far out of its natural rotation. After a moment, and sliding off the bed on my stomach, I finally get to the bathroom. I look in the mirror out of morning ritual habit, and there to behold is the giant anjel-like wings growing out of my back. Only one phrase came to mind.
"OH SHIT!"

I quickly get a hold of myself and go over recent events and suddenly it clicks; these are my wings.... in full physicality. Something must be seriously out of whack for something that never had any real substance to be manifested. I knew I wasn't going to be able to stretch them out in the bathroom, so I quickly take my morning shower, and then get dressed. I had to take a dagger to my shirt, effectively shredding the back so I could wear it. After I'm dressed I calmly walk into the living room and flex my wings fully, letting my grandma take in a full look. You could only suspect that the sight of her grandson with obsidian black feathered wings that look like they came off a 747-sized crow would be. She gasps, and I quickly explain to her what was going on - as best as I could.

Mid-sentence, I am overwhelmed with prophecies and foretelling of war and the coming of the destruction of all 5 realms. With these came memories, thoughts, and emotions that were never mine. Everything hit me in one foul swoop. My counterpart, named Azuriem, and I had taken our final step. In this, we assimilated into one being. In the midst of this mental chaos, I simply walked into my room, and pulled out my two blades... which are also now physical. I strap them to my waist and walk outside, knowing school starts soon. I caught myself thinking about school when stories of apocalypse were running through my mind - and I laughed quietly at myself.

I flex my wings a few times to get used to them, and I prepare to take off. Out of the far sight of my vision, I see a few what seem to be shadows... advancing, about five of them. I call out to them. Unsure if they know me as Azuriem or Arron - I let part that be.

“Call me what you will but know this, if your here to harm me - it won't happen. I know who I am and where I am from and what I am to do."

I drew my blades. While scanning the area over for all of my opponents - I discovered something very startling. The world itself looked different... like this realm as we know it and 5th realm had overlapped and joined.

"Great" I think to myself, "That explains the feathers. I wonder what and who all else has been shaken by this.” I looked back towards the shadows and they simply stood across the lawn from me. The middle one dropped its hood revealing the face of a woman with blonde hair and crystalline blue eyes.

"Shadow-walkers." I mumbled under my breath as the sect of warrior this woman fell into came to me. A small smile shaped her thin lips as she waited patiently to be recognized by my minds eye. It was my companion Anala, known by most others as Sha'Anala. I didn't know how I knew... I just did. You see, she had never connected to anyone here, and never had a true physical form of her own anywhere in this realm. So, seeing her actually in the flesh was unexpected and a slight shock. We exchange words, and she says the few sentences that my mind had been trying to make me understand.

"The realms have collided. The tide is high and the water is rising. The prime evils have resurfaced and are trying to lay waste to the main realms. The battle has been brought here, since it is the last one standing. As you can tell, what remnants of the 5th realm happened to remain have manifested here. With this manifestation, also the arms, equipment, and *ahem* true forms of all of those who know the truth have also crossed over. Trust me, we'll need all the help we can get. I knew you'd be able to reach everyone else, so I came to you." As she spoke, the shadows she had enveloped herself in dissipated - revealing the normal light leather armor and clothing she wears, with a deep blue cloak that covers it all.

"I hope that's not the only reason you came to me first." I gave her my normal half smile as we embraced. As usual, my love and I are brought together under unpleasant circumstances, and we cannot enjoy our time together. There is work to be done.

I leave here and run inside to fit into the clothes of war. I don my leather underclothes and my breastplate, bringing the light chain mesh arms and leggings to their rightful place. I then take my blades, and attach them around my waist and lower half to my thighs, so they're out of the way but easy to access. I rejoined Sha'Anala, tell her that I love her and ask her to find out anything more she can. With a simple nod, and a rebirth into the shadows from whence she came, she rejoins with allies and they are gone.
"Well, Time to try these things out in the real world." I get a running start and jump into the air, giving my wings a good flap and heading straight for Logan's house. Knowing him, he's already awake and wondering what the hell is going on. He's asleep, but not a complete moron. I sigh in relaxation as I feel myself uplifted into the air for the first time. I feel freer then I ever could in any car or plane. It's a shame most people will never get the chance to experience that feeling.

Once I land in front of Logan’s house, I knock on the door and flex my wings, still being unused to their physical weight. He answers the door with a knowing grin. I just grin back.

"Hello Logan." I have to use his mundane name since, to our knowledge he has no other. He made the choice to stay asleep to what most of my friends and I were and are a part of. He has some traits, like visions and intuition he couldn't ignore even if he tried. Like I said earlier, He's asleep - not stupid.  I explain the goings-on, and we decide to head to school - since most everyone else we need to find in the area would probably be there already, since we were not only running late, but also we had decided that if anything ever got crazy around town, that we would all meet there. If the current situation isn't crazy, I pray I never find out what is.

I take to the air and barely get there before he does. It amazes me that he is able to keep up on foot. We arrive in the courtyard at about the same time, me taking about a 50-foot drop and looking around quietly. Everyone looks at us. They know we look different, and are acting completely different. We laugh quietly, knowing that they continue to believe nothing, even as signs of the pending apocalypse are right in front of them. Curse their mundane eyes for not being able to see the truth. We just look at each other and nod. There is one other here that can help us.

We make our way out of the courtyard around the side of one of the buildings, and also away from not so prying eyes. Then comes the first battle. About 7 figures dressed in all black, even to the blades of their weapons. I look at Logan and tell him to find Robin... and protect her till I can find them later. He takes off, and I focus on the opposing force. Smiling grimly, I charge my hands with energy, pull my blades and let the energy flow into them.

"I hope you had a good life. It's about to end for you." They charge me. It was over for them before it ever began. The energy trails from my weapons were still in the air, even after the figures dropped. The smile fades, the weapons go into their sheaths and the energy trails slowly fade. "Weak." Even in my true arrogance, I was surprised that all of Azuriem battle instinct and skill had also flowed into me as we merged. In a second though, did I really expect to get only part of him and not all of it? I brushed off the train of thought and went to find my comrades.
~*~
I then head in the direction of Robin and Logan. Feeling their energy in the air. Finally finding them in one of the buildings I smile as I see more of the figures drop. "Looks like you two have been busy. Any idea who they are? Oh and what time is it?" I glance at the nearest clock and watch it strike noon.

The AfterNoon:

As the clock struck noon, I looked outside and gasped, not from the newly dead bodies on the floor compliments of Logan and Robin, but from the Etherelistic darkness that was enveloping the land.  I felt a twinge in the back of my neck. I spun and sent an energy blast at the doorway. When I saw that it was Sha ‘Anala, I quickly slashed my hand away from her. The blast sailed just over her shoulder, as she cocked her head away from the blast. The blast itself exploded on the back wall, and I smiled, "Sorry about that Sha ‘Anala."

She simply smiled and walked into the room, alone this time. She explained that the darkness wasn't natural, and it was because a prime evil had been resurrected. She said that it should simply be known as "The Darkness".

Just as she was explaining about the darkness... The lights went out in the room and flashed up... this is where I blacked out... When I came to, it was explained to me that “The Darkness” had enveloped me. Apparently I had a massive black aura around me and was talking with a slight slur (snake accent... accentuated S's so on and so forth). It was basically said that "The Darkness" had no form and could possess who ever he wanted. It also mentioned that because it had no form, no weapon or magic could hurt it.

You want to know our viewpoint? This is what we saw. A massive blackness engulfed my mind. With that blackness emerged a shapeless hand, formed a blade and held it to my throat.  Couldn’t move as the blade went around my entire neck. Azuriem was pissed... (Yes even though we were one we were still two)...he had his force blades within my mind drawn and was unable to move because he didn't want me to be killed... Eventually however the darkness left and we both fell to the ground, exhausted. We knew we were both tainted, we knew that now. We knew that it would be almost impossible to fend off the darkness if he came back. Looks like we would just have to try harder next time... With that we put up our defenses, next time we would be ready... return to the world of the living.

Once the darkness cleared we all moved to the outside to find Atherton, a person we trusted within this despairing realm of existence. Taking one look at the sky told you something was wrong. The sky looked like it was alive. It looked like a swirling mass of liquid. The clouds were bubbling and swirling, as if they were vying for control of the top of the mass itself. I guess you could say the clouds were alive. It was eerily creepy seeing the clouds act like that. The area itself was covered in a thick fog and was darker then when most storm clouds move in. You could tell that this wasn't a natural cloud cover. We eventually find Atherton, filling him in. He knows oddly what most of what we say. Shouldn't surprise me I suppose but eh oh well. He agrees to join, knowing what lies at stake here. It surprised me though, why had we not been attacked more then we had been. I guess I shouldn't worry about it, bigger things to worry about.

As I watched the clouds boil, it began to rain. Now this wasn't a problem, until a few raindrops hit my wings. This as a pain worse then when I was elbowed in the wing. It felt like the rain was eating away at my wings. I quickly covered my wings with whatever I could find. The rain only hurt my wings. This I found odd. We found cover in the cafeteria as soon as possible. (This is what our group consisted of so far; Atherton, Logan, Robin, Sha ‘Anala, and Me (Azuriem.)) We went to a table and talked about what needed to be done. Others in the group had also suffered the same fate from the rain (the ones w/ wings that is). Our wings looked like a mix between hamburger and a freshly plucked chicken. After we took care of our wings, we rested.

About an hour later I heard the doors open and close slowly. I stood up, flexed my wings, and smile at how quickly they had healed. I wake every one else up and we take positions, weapons drawn, and spells ready. I smiled and watched as Void (The Darkness) Warriors came up each set of stairs from both sides of the cafeteria. They numbered about 20. I laughed and wondered if that was it.

About 10 minutes later I’m finishing up the last one, the last one being almost a sweat to me, dies with a shattering uppercut from me, into his head. I sheath my blades; I looked around and smile, "Well, what now? You know the longer we wait the more The Darkness will send. First of all, we need to get one more person, her name is Kim."

Unknowing to us, she was already there. She announced herself, "Hello all." Hands on my swords as I spin. I see who it is and let them go. A simple hello or nod was all she got from us. She smiles and tells us she was once of The Darkness and that she knows what it is thinking.  I say, "So, what does it want?"

Before Kim can speak the west set of doors explode open and a massive black orb slams into the center of the cafeteria, shattering, leaving a 10foot tall massive barbarian type thing in the center of the floor. The lumbering creature looks around slowly and laughs, finally speaking. His mouth opens and guttural sounds emit from it’s mouth, penetrating all of our minds, this being what we heard, “Foolish mortals, is this all this world has to offer? Me, the berserker should have no trouble disposing of you all, this group of rag tag misfits.” With that he turns and swings at the newest arrival, Kim. She laughs as she steps back, his fits whizzing by her, missing her by mere spaces. Out of rage for her dodging his hit, he raised both fists into the air and slammed them into the ground. Sending out a shockwave fierce enough, that all mundane and mortals within the area were knocked out. This is when he found out, we weren’t mortals. Everyone in this group, Atherton, Kim, Logan, Robin, Sha ‘Anala, and me - Azuriem, were not mortals.

This is when he looked each and every one of us in the eyes and knew that we weren’t misfits, and we were a real threat. With that a black blanket engulfed the sky, plunging this world into darkness. Then a more even sinister voice entered our mind, “Within this blanket the mundane lives shall be enslaved. Now I have a work force to build up my empire once again, this time I will not be stopped. Try as you might, I will not be thwarted again, you all will perish within my domain!” With that the berserker let’s loose a mighty howl and charges Robin. Poor bastard, didn’t make it 10 foot before a massive blast of raw energy seared through his body on every side, every one of us had just blasted him with what we had. What might have been remnants of a soul was ripped from his body and tossed away, the lifeless husk falling to the ground.

The previous voice speaks up again, “Do know, that is only a fraction of what I have, as my power grows so will my forces. This is only the beginning, I know who you are, and I will seek out the others before you can get to them and they too will die by my hand. Never again will you see the sun, for now my darkness covers the land. However, try however hard you want, amuse me with your futile attempts to save this world. I’m in sore need for some amusement while I make this world mine.” With that ending statement our minds our filled with The Voids endless laughter, slowly fading out of our mind.

So I speak up after the voice fades, “Ok, Look everyone, it’s about 3 o clock now. Nothing we can do. So what I suggest is this, let’s go to my house. No idea what we’re going to do, considering the world is ending, but I suggest we come up with a plan. Also we need to gather the others. Ember, Damien and Raziel, they’ve been around the longest and will no what’s going on. Well, lets go home. Let’s move out.” With that we all exit the cafeteria and head for my house.

The Evening

About 15 minutes later, we arrived at my house; my grandmother stood against the doorway, and watched the rather… diverse group of my friends walk up, casters and warriors alike. She smiles and gestures us all inside, those of us taking a seat, and the rest standing. I snap on the radio, seeing if I can find anything, doubtful considering mankind had been enslaved with that black wave that now covered the world.

Luck would have it though that one song was playing, perhaps as last wish to those who were going to save mankind. The song was by P.O.D., and its title was “Set It Off”. It caught my attention the most; I found it ironic, as this was the last song we were to hear. It held true though, the parts that seemed to matter to my ears anyways. (This is not a direct quote, just what I found important out of the song. Lyrics.com for the entire song, or IM me for full song. Lines from P.O.D.’s Set It Off)

Our time has come, watch me set it off / It’s been a while but we back / So you can count it loss
We lay and wait, don’t hesitate / When opportunity knocks / Break the locks and rush the gates
Seize the day, we got moves to make / It’s got to be now / ‘Cause we’re half past late.
Say what you say, but you ain’t shown me nothin’ / If you want me to feel you / Then you best to show me something / All bark and no bite, talking all hype / I hang with the illest you I don’t recognize
Desensitize and paralyze / Sabotage headquarters / Flood your bloodlines, we sterilize
Me understand / Why dem cowards don’t want none/ Underground blaze the sound to Armageddon
Let your spirit fly / Stand up for yourself / Hold your head up high / Our time has come
Choose my battles, unravel your crew/ Dismantle, they still can’t handle or fathom what I throw at ‘em.

I look at everyone and smile slightly after the song ends and those lyrics specifically stick out in my mind. I then say, “Hmm… Looks like some of those lyrics stood out above the rest just explained what we have to do.  Heh, Arron always said, well when we were separate that is, that music was the key. Who would of guessed he was right in that respect. Yes everyone, I’m talking of half of myself in the 3rd person, I’m allowed to do that. Grandmother, do you think you could fix us some sandwiches or something, we’ve got a lot of planning ahead of us.” With that she smiles and says sure, then goes off into the kitchen to make some sandwiches. With that, our planning begins.

Description
DAY 1

The Morning:

I woke up this morning thinking nothing would be any different. Well, any different from what I was used too. You see I am awakened. I guess I should tell you what that particularly means. To be awakened is to be aware of what is really in this world. It means that you become aware of whom you fully and truly are, and to be able to realize that the world as it is known to the mass populous of the world is just a sugar coated-topping, or the edited for television version of a really graphic film. Anyways, back to what I was saying.

I opened my eyes slowly, hissing mental at the morning light that cracked through the window. I woke up thinking nothing would be any different from what I was used to. Well, was I was in for a rude surprise. The first thing that registered as wrong was the fact that either I had grown or the bed shrank. Even with my head all the way up against the wall, I didn't fit as usual. In fact, I didn't fit at all.  Rolling over to get out of the now-not-my-size bed, I realized problem number two. I recoiled with a whence as a sharp and uninvited pain shot through my back. I felt like rolling over on your arm and pulling it too far out of its natural rotation. After a moment, and sliding off the bed on my stomach, I finally get to the bathroom. I look in the mirror out of morning ritual habit, and there to behold is the giant anjel-like wings growing out of my back. Only one phrase came to mind.
"OH SHIT!"

I quickly get a hold of myself and go over recent events and suddenly it clicks; these are my wings.... in full physicality. Something must be seriously out of whack for something that never had any real substance to be manifested. I knew I wasn't going to be able to stretch them out in the bathroom, so I quickly take my morning shower, and then get dressed. I had to take a dagger to my shirt, effectively shredding the back so I could wear it. After I'm dressed I calmly walk into the living room and flex my wings fully, letting my grandma take in a full look. You could only suspect that the sight of her grandson with obsidian black feathered wings that look like they came off a 747-sized crow would be. She gasps, and I quickly explain to her what was going on - as best as I could.

Mid-sentence, I am overwhelmed with prophecies and foretelling of war and the coming of the destruction of all 5 realms. With these came memories, thoughts, and emotions that were never mine. Everything hit me in one foul swoop. My counterpart, named Azuriem, and I had taken our final step. In this, we assimilated into one being. In the midst of this mental chaos, I simply walked into my room, and pulled out my two blades... which are also now physical. I strap them to my waist and walk outside, knowing school starts soon. I caught myself thinking about school when stories of apocalypse were running through my mind - and I laughed quietly at myself.

I flex my wings a few times to get used to them, and I prepare to take off. Out of the far sight of my vision, I see a few what seem to be shadows... advancing, about five of them. I call out to them. Unsure if they know me as Azuriem or Arron - I let part that be.

“Call me what you will but know this, if your here to harm me - it won't happen. I know who I am and where I am from and what I am to do."

I drew my blades. While scanning the area over for all of my opponents - I discovered something very startling. The world itself looked different... like this realm as we know it and 5th realm had overlapped and joined.

"Great" I think to myself, "That explains the feathers. I wonder what and who all else has been shaken by this.” I looked back towards the shadows and they simply stood across the lawn from me. The middle one dropped its hood revealing the face of a woman with blonde hair and crystalline blue eyes.

"Shadow-walkers." I mumbled under my breath as the sect of warrior this woman fell into came to me. A small smile shaped her thin lips as she waited patiently to be recognized by my minds eye. It was my companion Anala, known by most others as Sha'Anala. I didn't know how I knew... I just did. You see, she had never connected to anyone here, and never had a true physical form of her own anywhere in this realm. So, seeing her actually in the flesh was unexpected and a slight shock. We exchange words, and she says the few sentences that my mind had been trying to make me understand.

"The realms have collided. The tide is high and the water is rising. The prime evils have resurfaced and are trying to lay waste to the main realms. The battle has been brought here, since it is the last one standing. As you can tell, what remnants of the 5th realm happened to remain have manifested here. With this manifestation, also the arms, equipment, and *ahem* true forms of all of those who know the truth have also crossed over. Trust me, we'll need all the help we can get. I knew you'd be able to reach everyone else, so I came to you." As she spoke, the shadows she had enveloped herself in dissipated - revealing the normal light leather armor and clothing she wears, with a deep blue cloak that covers it all.

"I hope that's not the only reason you came to me first." I gave her my normal half smile as we embraced. As usual, my love and I are brought together under unpleasant circumstances, and we cannot enjoy our time together. There is work to be done.

I leave here and run inside to fit into the clothes of war. I don my leather underclothes and my breastplate, bringing the light chain mesh arms and leggings to their rightful place. I then take my blades, and attach them around my waist and lower half to my thighs, so they're out of the way but easy to access. I rejoined Sha'Anala, tell her that I love her and ask her to find out anything more she can. With a simple nod, and a rebirth into the shadows from whence she came, she rejoins with allies and they are gone.
"Well, Time to try these things out in the real world." I get a running start and jump into the air, giving my wings a good flap and heading straight for Logan's house. Knowing him, he's already awake and wondering what the hell is going on. He's asleep, but not a complete moron. I sigh in relaxation as I feel myself uplifted into the air for the first time. I feel freer then I ever could in any car or plane. It's a shame most people will never get the chance to experience that feeling.

Once I land in front of Logan’s house, I knock on the door and flex my wings, still being unused to their physical weight. He answers the door with a knowing grin. I just grin back.

"Hello Logan." I have to use his mundane name since, to our knowledge he has no other. He made the choice to stay asleep to what most of my friends and I were and are a part of. He has some traits, like visions and intuition he couldn't ignore even if he tried. Like I said earlier, He's asleep - not stupid.  I explain the goings-on, and we decide to head to school - since most everyone else we need to find in the area would probably be there already, since we were not only running late, but also we had decided that if anything ever got crazy around town, that we would all meet there. If the current situation isn't crazy, I pray I never find out what is.

I take to the air and barely get there before he does. It amazes me that he is able to keep up on foot. We arrive in the courtyard at about the same time, me taking about a 50-foot drop and looking around quietly. Everyone looks at us. They know we look different, and are acting completely different. We laugh quietly, knowing that they continue to believe nothing, even as signs of the pending apocalypse are right in front of them. Curse their mundane eyes for not being able to see the truth. We just look at each other and nod. There is one other here that can help us.

We make our way out of the courtyard around the side of one of the buildings, and also away from not so prying eyes. Then comes the first battle. About 7 figures dressed in all black, even to the blades of their weapons. I look at Logan and tell him to find Robin... and protect her till I can find them later. He takes off, and I focus on the opposing force. Smiling grimly, I charge my hands with energy, pull my blades and let the energy flow into them.

"I hope you had a good life. It's about to end for you." They charge me. It was over for them before it ever began. The energy trails from my weapons were still in the air, even after the figures dropped. The smile fades, the weapons go into their sheaths and the energy trails slowly fade. "Weak." Even in my true arrogance, I was surprised that all of Azuriem battle instinct and skill had also flowed into me as we merged. In a second though, did I really expect to get only part of him and not all of it? I brushed off the train of thought and went to find my comrades.
~*~
I then head in the direction of Robin and Logan. Feeling their energy in the air. Finally finding them in one of the buildings I smile as I see more of the figures drop. "Looks like you two have been busy. Any idea who they are? Oh and what time is it?" I glance at the nearest clock and watch it strike noon.

The AfterNoon:

As the clock struck noon, I looked outside and gasped, not from the newly dead bodies on the floor compliments of Logan and Robin, but from the Etherelistic darkness that was enveloping the land.  I felt a twinge in the back of my neck. I spun and sent an energy blast at the doorway. When I saw that it was Sha ‘Anala, I quickly slashed my hand away from her. The blast sailed just over her shoulder, as she cocked her head away from the blast. The blast itself exploded on the back wall, and I smiled, "Sorry about that Sha ‘Anala."

She simply smiled and walked into the room, alone this time. She explained that the darkness wasn't natural, and it was because a prime evil had been resurrected. She said that it should simply be known as "The Darkness".

Just as she was explaining about the darkness... The lights went out in the room and flashed up... this is where I blacked out... When I came to, it was explained to me that “The Darkness” had enveloped me. Apparently I had a massive black aura around me and was talking with a slight slur (snake accent... accentuated S's so on and so forth). It was basically said that "The Darkness" had no form and could possess who ever he wanted. It also mentioned that because it had no form, no weapon or magic could hurt it.

You want to know our viewpoint? This is what we saw. A massive blackness engulfed my mind. With that blackness emerged a shapeless hand, formed a blade and held it to my throat.  Couldn’t move as the blade went around my entire neck. Azuriem was pissed... (Yes even though we were one we were still two)...he had his force blades within my mind drawn and was unable to move because he didn't want me to be killed... Eventually however the darkness left and we both fell to the ground, exhausted. We knew we were both tainted, we knew that now. We knew that it would be almost impossible to fend off the darkness if he came back. Looks like we would just have to try harder next time... With that we put up our defenses, next time we would be ready... return to the world of the living.

Once the darkness cleared we all moved to the outside to find Atherton, a person we trusted within this despairing realm of existence. Taking one look at the sky told you something was wrong. The sky looked like it was alive. It looked like a swirling mass of liquid. The clouds were bubbling and swirling, as if they were vying for control of the top of the mass itself. I guess you could say the clouds were alive. It was eerily creepy seeing the clouds act like that. The area itself was covered in a thick fog and was darker then when most storm clouds move in. You could tell that this wasn't a natural cloud cover. We eventually find Atherton, filling him in. He knows oddly what most of what we say. Shouldn't surprise me I suppose but eh oh well. He agrees to join, knowing what lies at stake here. It surprised me though, why had we not been attacked more then we had been. I guess I shouldn't worry about it, bigger things to worry about.

As I watched the clouds boil, it began to rain. Now this wasn't a problem, until a few raindrops hit my wings. This as a pain worse then when I was elbowed in the wing. It felt like the rain was eating away at my wings. I quickly covered my wings with whatever I could find. The rain only hurt my wings. This I found odd. We found cover in the cafeteria as soon as possible. (This is what our group consisted of so far; Atherton, Logan, Robin, Sha ‘Anala, and Me (Azuriem.)) We went to a table and talked about what needed to be done. Others in the group had also suffered the same fate from the rain (the ones w/ wings that is). Our wings looked like a mix between hamburger and a freshly plucked chicken. After we took care of our wings, we rested.

About an hour later I heard the doors open and close slowly. I stood up, flexed my wings, and smile at how quickly they had healed. I wake every one else up and we take positions, weapons drawn, and spells ready. I smiled and watched as Void (The Darkness) Warriors came up each set of stairs from both sides of the cafeteria. They numbered about 20. I laughed and wondered if that was it.

About 10 minutes later I’m finishing up the last one, the last one being almost a sweat to me, dies with a shattering uppercut from me, into his head. I sheath my blades; I looked around and smile, "Well, what now? You know the longer we wait the more The Darkness will send. First of all, we need to get one more person, her name is Kim."

Unknowing to us, she was already there. She announced herself, "Hello all." Hands on my swords as I spin. I see who it is and let them go. A simple hello or nod was all she got from us. She smiles and tells us she was once of The Darkness and that she knows what it is thinking.  I say, "So, what does it want?"

Before Kim can speak the west set of doors explode open and a massive black orb slams into the center of the cafeteria, shattering, leaving a 10foot tall massive barbarian type thing in the center of the floor. The lumbering creature looks around slowly and laughs, finally speaking. His mouth opens and guttural sounds emit from it’s mouth, penetrating all of our minds, this being what we heard, “Foolish mortals, is this all this world has to offer? Me, the berserker should have no trouble disposing of you all, this group of rag tag misfits.” With that he turns and swings at the newest arrival, Kim. She laughs as she steps back, his fits whizzing by her, missing her by mere spaces. Out of rage for her dodging his hit, he raised both fists into the air and slammed them into the ground. Sending out a shockwave fierce enough, that all mundane and mortals within the area were knocked out. This is when he found out, we weren’t mortals. Everyone in this group, Atherton, Kim, Logan, Robin, Sha ‘Anala, and me - Azuriem, were not mortals.

This is when he looked each and every one of us in the eyes and knew that we weren’t misfits, and we were a real threat. With that a black blanket engulfed the sky, plunging this world into darkness. Then a more even sinister voice entered our mind, “Within this blanket the mundane lives shall be enslaved. Now I have a work force to build up my empire once again, this time I will not be stopped. Try as you might, I will not be thwarted again, you all will perish within my domain!” With that the berserker let’s loose a mighty howl and charges Robin. Poor bastard, didn’t make it 10 foot before a massive blast of raw energy seared through his body on every side, every one of us had just blasted him with what we had. What might have been remnants of a soul was ripped from his body and tossed away, the lifeless husk falling to the ground.

The previous voice speaks up again, “Do know, that is only a fraction of what I have, as my power grows so will my forces. This is only the beginning, I know who you are, and I will seek out the others before you can get to them and they too will die by my hand. Never again will you see the sun, for now my darkness covers the land. However, try however hard you want, amuse me with your futile attempts to save this world. I’m in sore need for some amusement while I make this world mine.” With that ending statement our minds our filled with The Voids endless laughter, slowly fading out of our mind.

So I speak up after the voice fades, “Ok, Look everyone, it’s about 3 o clock now. Nothing we can do. So what I suggest is this, let’s go to my house. No idea what we’re going to do, considering the world is ending, but I suggest we come up with a plan. Also we need to gather the others. Ember, Damien and Raziel, they’ve been around the longest and will no what’s going on. Well, lets go home. Let’s move out.” With that we all exit the cafeteria and head for my house.

The Evening

About 15 minutes later, we arrived at my house; my grandmother stood against the doorway, and watched the rather… diverse group of my friends walk up, casters and warriors alike. She smiles and gestures us all inside, those of us taking a seat, and the rest standing. I snap on the radio, seeing if I can find anything, doubtful considering mankind had been enslaved with that black wave that now covered the world.

Luck would have it though that one song was playing, perhaps as last wish to those who were going to save mankind. The song was by P.O.D., and its title was “Set It Off”. It caught my attention the most; I found it ironic, as this was the last song we were to hear. It held true though, the parts that seemed to matter to my ears anyways. (This is not a direct quote, just what I found important out of the song. Lyrics.com for the entire song, or IM me for full song. Lines from P.O.D.’s Set It Off)

Our time has come, watch me set it off / It’s been a while but we back / So you can count it loss
We lay and wait, don’t hesitate / When opportunity knocks / Break the locks and rush the gates
Seize the day, we got moves to make / It’s got to be now / ‘Cause we’re half past late.
Say what you say, but you ain’t shown me nothin’ / If you want me to feel you / Then you best to show me something / All bark and no bite, talking all hype / I hang with the illest you I don’t recognize
Desensitize and paralyze / Sabotage headquarters / Flood your bloodlines, we sterilize
Me understand / Why dem cowards don’t want none/ Underground blaze the sound to Armageddon
Let your spirit fly / Stand up for yourself / Hold your head up high / Our time has come
Choose my battles, unravel your crew/ Dismantle, they still can’t handle or fathom what I throw at ‘em.

I look at everyone and smile slightly after the song ends and those lyrics specifically stick out in my mind. I then say, “Hmm… Looks like some of those lyrics stood out above the rest just explained what we have to do.  Heh, Arron always said, well when we were separate that is, that music was the key. Who would of guessed he was right in that respect. Yes everyone, I’m talking of half of myself in the 3rd person, I’m allowed to do that. Grandmother, do you think you could fix us some sandwiches or something, we’ve got a lot of planning ahead of us.” With that she smiles and says sure, then goes off into the kitchen to make some sandwiches. With that, our planning begins.