StarDestroyer.Net BBS

This is a story I have been working on recently. Kinda a crossover between W40K and post-Revelations Heaven (my own interpreatation, of course). Not to be confused with Stuarts "Salvation War" epic. If this is even half that good I shall consider it a major success

PROLOGUE: A New Prophecy

In the streets of the holy city, the great archangel Micheal walked along, on his way to see Saint John the Divine, the great prophet. He had heard that John had seen a new vision, of a very different world. Micheal was deeply troubled by this; surely John's prophecy was fulfilled and all now happened by God's will? Satan was destroyed, God was triumphant, what need was there for a new prophecy?

He entered John's humble abode, to see John collapsed on the floor, sobbing and wracked with pain. Micheal hurried over to help him, but when he got closer, he stopped. He could hear John whispering under his breath, but only some of it was audible:
"and the great city shall fall...with enemies....all around...holding off...surrender to...fire sweeps the land....bodies in the streets...the great city becomes dust...fields of bodies...all soldiers fallen...the cause. Lucifer...God...beaten back....torment...eternity..."

Micheal was stunned. He couldn't be hearing this could he? this was a new prophecy, a new set of events yet to come. There was no doubt they would happen, John was a Divine Prophet, his words where truth. And the truth did not sound good.

"JOHN! John wake up! You have to explain, what did you see? TELL ME!"

"Micheal, I, I don't know. I feel so weak, I can't remember anything except being scared out of my mind!"

"You have to tell me John, What did you see?"

"It's been coming to me for some time now. Flashes here and there...just bits and pieces. I don't know the whole thing yet, but I'm so scared of what i do know."

"Tell me, John, please."

"A war is coming Micheal. I've seen it in my dreams. Fire sweeping across the land, bodies in the streets, this city turned to dust. retaliation. So much death and destruction, oh God please no..."

"A war? Against who? Satan is defeated, his minions destroyed, the Beast and False Prophet cast down with him. What is left to fight against?"

"Something far worse than Satan, Micheal. Something just beyond my sight, just out of reach of us. Something utterly cold. Whatever it is, it has no pride, no emotion at all. Satan was evil because he was proud. This thing, it consumes everything it touches. And it does so to feed. It sees us as cattle, nothing more, something to be butchered and slaughtered."

"What could it be? God never created anything like that."

"I don't know who made it, but it's from beyond God's dominion. Beyond Heaven and Hell and Earth. Oh no oh no oh no...."

John collapsed back to tears. Micheal stood, leaving his friend on the floor. He had much to think about, this was terrifying news indeed. John had spoken the Truth, there was no doubt; a war was coming. This city would be destroyed, God's people fed on like cattle. a terrifying prospect. Micheal was just about to leave when John cried out suddenly:

"HEAR ME, Micheal, General of God! A war is coming, I have seen it in my dreams, Fire shall sweep the land of Heaven bare, the streets of the city of God's people shall be filled with bodies, the Holy City itself shall be surrounded and beset by enemies on all sides! God and His Army shall fight and hold the line, but they will fall back in defeat. The Great City of Heaven shall become dust upon the ground! God will have no choice but to turn to the Dragon for aid and so Satan and God will be united by a common enemy! They will fight against the foe and the field of battle will be filled with corpses of the fallen warriors, martyrs to the cause! Satan and God shall be beaten back! And Heaven shall fall dark before the Nightbringer, who consumes all before him. But there will be a single spark of light in the Darkness, on the distant horizon. HEAR THESE WORDS MICHEAL! You must warn God and prepare for the war to come! We fight for our very existence now!
Hear me when I say this: The Redemption War is coming, and it is coming for us soon!"

Chapter 1 - Council of War

Micheal trembled as he entered the Ultimate Temple of Heaven. Ahead of him he could see God's mighty throne. Around him flew the mighty Seraphim, constantly singing "Holy holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty." On the far wall he saw the Chosen Choir, God's personal choir of the best of Humanity. Mother Teresa, John the Baptist and St. Paul where prominent on the front row. As Micheal approached, the Choir silenced and the Seraphim stopped, resting on their haunches, watching Micheal as he stood alone before God's Throne.


"Oh Great and Good Lord Almighty, Who is truly worthy to receive praise and glory, who was and is and is to come, who is the Alpha and the Omega and whose Prophecies where fulfilled as a sign of your glory, I humbly beg an audience."

"Speak, Micheal, Foremost of My Archangels, General of My armies, speak your mind to me."

"Thank you O Lord. As you command, I shall speak my mind. as clearly as possible and I shall..."

God cut him off from the throne

"Micheal, whilst we are timeless here in Heaven, and I am an all-loving and powerful being, please get to the point."

"Yes Lord. A major snag has come up."

"Snag? What snag is this? "

"St. John the Divine, my Lord."

"Yes, my True Divine Prophet, what about him?"

"He has spoken a new Prophecy sire. One with many terrifying portents in it"

"What heresy is this in my own city? John, making a prophecy without MY guidance upon him? And what can be so terrifying to the General of the Armies of God, an Archangel, second only in power and majesty to myself, Micheal. What can possibly scare you?

"I do not know where the prophecy comes from sire, but I do know that as a Divine Prophet, his words come true, all of them. And what scares me sire, is the part of the prophecy foretelling your defeat and the destruction of this great city."

There was silence in the Ultimate Temple. Micheal stood, terrified of what God might do to him for uttering these words. Around him no one spoke, no one even breathed. They all awaited God's response to this heretical news.

"Destroyed? Defeated? ME, DEFEATED? This city, DESTROYED? What is this madness? You, Micheal, bring John the Divne before me, RIGHT NOW! I would hear his words direct."

"Yes sire!" Micheal said as he fled the temple. soon God's wrath would erupt and it was unsafe to be around when that happenned. He spread his wings and flew for John's home. He smashed open the door and grabbed John under one arm.

"Micheal? What are you doing? HEY! You know I don't like flying much!"

"Sorry John but the Almighty want's to hear your prophecy direct."

"Oh, I was afraid of that."

God's Choir waited with baited breath as John kneeled before the throne, closed his eyes, and began to recite his prophecy. When he was finished, every one of the choir sat open mouthed in shock. God, meanwhile, sat pensive upon his throne.

"Well, John, you are sure of these events to come?"

"Yes Sire, although I wish I wasn't."

"How long do we have?"

"Five days Lord. Five days before the Nightbringer reaches the City of your People and consumes them utterly. In five days time, your People will be destroyed, and the Great City shall be besieged. In four days, the First Great Battle will come, and Micheal here shall lead your army against the Nightbringer. Sadly, he will be unsuccessful, and the Archangels Raphael, Asraeus and Uriel shall perish in battle."

"Perish? But they are immortal Angels! They cannot die! I forbid it!"

"Unfortunatly, oh Lord, This Nightbringer comes from beyond Your Domain, and so is unbound by your mighty will. It can kill Angels, It may even be able to kill yourself. But Lord, we only have five days, we should begin to plan our defenses."

"But you say they will fail anyway! If your prphecy is true, then we are doomed!"

"Lord, this city is doomed, yes. But there will be a beacon of hope shining in the darkness. We must follow my prophecy Sire, because if we don't, it will prove me wrong. And my words cannot be wrong in your domain, as decreed by your will. And if your will is wrong sir, then all of your domain will be undone!"

"Very well. Micheal! Call forth the Archangels, ready the Legions and deploy them to defensive positions around the City of my People and the Great City. Bring my Son the Lamb to me, we will need him in the coming fight. My choir, start singing prayers and hymn of battle, and direct all other choirs to do the same. Micheal, let the call go forth, there is a War in Heaven, we must be ready for it. The Redemption War has begun!"

Chapter 2 - Oncoming Storm

Five days from the Great City, the being known as the Nightbringer moves across Heaven's fertile plains. As his shadow fell across plants and animals, they instantly withered and died, the life essence and souls consumed by the Nightbringer to sate his monstrous hunger. This being had stalked all the Universes for an eternity, gorging itself upon the life it found in them. Now, he had come across a new domain, filled with powerful beings. The Nightbringer metaphorically licked its lips in anticipation of the feat to come.


In the City of God's People, Ramparts where being hastily erected under the direction of Micheal and Asraeus, who were sharing frequent forlorn looks and expressing their dissatisfaction with John's Prophecy:

"Mike, I don't think I can take this waiting anymore. We're warriors, you're the General and I'm the Angel of Death, why don't we just go and smite this Nightbringer and come back home in time for tea, biscuits and praising God?" Asraeus said as he sharpened his flaming sword.

Micheal looked up from polishing his glorious golden armour and thought for a moment. "Asy, if there is one thing I have learned in Heaven, it is that the words of a Divine Prophet are always true. So, sadly, it means we, or rather, you, Raphy and Uriel have to fight a losing battle."

"Balls" said Asraeus, swinging his sword in lofty arcs to test the balance. "I have never encountered something I couldn't kill before. I suppose thats kinda my job, being the Reaper and all."

Micheal rose and clapped his hands upon Asraeus' shoulders. "Asraeus, you know I would take your place if I could. But the prophecy says I lead the Archangels into battle but you three don't come back. I don't know about you, but I don't want the whole universe on my conscience because I didn't listen to John."

"I know I know, I don't want that either. But, this is big Mike, John has given me and my fellows a death sentence. And this is real death rather than what Jesus went through. We'll be properly dead, no way back, no brief span in Hell catching up with old Lucifer and then "oh, I'm alive again". We're going to perish, die, end, discontinue, cease to be cross the great divide. And I hate this damn Prophecy! Argh, look at me, the once serene Angel of Death reduced to temper tantrums in an Armoury of all places! Dammit!"

Micheal waited a few moments before replying. "You done venting your rage? Yes? Good, because you can act like an Archangel for once. Stop talking like a petulant child, accept God's will and take down as many of the Nightbringer's minions as you can before it gets you. Remember, every enemy you take down now is one less sieging the Great City, one less for us to fight."

Asraeus slapped off Micheal's hands and turned away in anger. He stopped and thought for a moment.

"Mike, if God can't just obliterate this Nightbringer right now, then he clearly isn't all powerful is he? And sending his beloved Archangels out on a suicide mission is hardly the work of an all-loving -" He stopped talking as Micheal slapped him across the face.

"How DARE you speak Heresy in sight of God's City? How DARE you question His will? If he commands you to lay down your existence to save His city or throne, who are YOU to argue?"

Asraeus said nothing, but picked up his sword and walked out.. Before he left, he turned and said bitterly to Micheal:

"You wouldn't be saying that if it was YOU he asked to die for Him"

Micheal looked at his friends receeding back, angry at Asraeus for provoing him and angry at himself for letting it work. He shoved his anger into a corner of his being and went back to preparing his weapons for the coming battle.


Out on the ramparts of the City of God's People, a young Angel was on sentry duty. She looked out to the distant horizon to see dark and ominous storm clouds gathered there. And, closer to the horizon, she saw a swarm of gleaming metal figures stalking towards the city. They where now four days away from the City, and she could see that the swarm stretched from one side of the horizon to the other. They were so many as to be beyond counting, like the myriad grains of sand upon a beach. And every one of those grains was coming towards the City. As the storm clouds spread further and further, the rain began over the fertile plain.

First thought before reading it
Bad choice of name

Change the name of the story.

Fair enough. What do you suggest in it's place?

The <Noun> Crusade

Substitute <Noun> for noun of choice.

The Eternity Crusade
The Eternal Crusade
The Great Crusade

Etc.

The Eternity Crusade seems like a keeper to me. Your choice of course.

Crusade of the Firmament
The War under Heaven
The Immaterial Conflict

Just replace Salvation with Redemption or another synonym.

I second the suggestions. Anything with both "Salvation" and "War" is too confusing, especially on this very forum !
This aside, it was entertaining if brief.

The Eternity Crusade or The Redemption War
Done
Chapter 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 will be up soon
EDIT: Removed question I answered myself

Chapter 3 - Waiting for the Dawn

It was now the night before the First Great Battle prophesied by John. Asraeus, Rapheal and Uriel had formed a clique within the archangels and had spent the last four days in whispered conversation. This instantly spawned rumours of heresy among the Heavenly Host, especially among the Warrior-Angels, many of whom started to express similar views.

The City of God's People became a hotbed of gossip, which well-known angel was rumoured to be heretical this hour had become the most frequently asked question, after "What will happen to us when the Storm hits?" 'The Storm' had become a neologism, a new expression in the language of Heaven. The Storm, the onrush of the Nightbringer and his gleaming metal minions, was rumoured now to be only hours away. John's new Prophecy had spread on the grapevine until everyone in Heaven knew at least some of it. One thing they all knew was that the time ran in days rather than hours or minutes. No one, not even God or John the Prophet knew exactly when the Battle would come.

On the ramparts, Asraeus and his warriors sat in mournful silence waiting for the dawn to come. With the dawn would come the Storm, and with the Storm would come their death's. Each member of the Legions led by Asraeus, Raphael and Uriel knew that they too would die, it was unthinkable for their Archangels to fall and they survive. Each one of them knew the prophecy condemned them as well, but they accepted this with stoic grace. All of them, that is, bar the Angels of Asraeus.

"Asraeus, I have a question." the voice belonged to Angolos, a fiery-tempered warrior-angel. The others where surprised to hear him ask a question, more so to hear the worried and submissive tone in his voice.

"Speak Angolos, one question cannot hurt." Asraeus replied with a resigned and broken tone to his words

"Surely, as God is all-powerful, this NIghtbringer and it's Storm can pose us no threat?"

There was a sudden intake of breath among the others present. They all knew or suspected where this conversation was heading. Such questions had been heard before, but never from such a stalwart soldier as Angolos


Asraeus sighed and wiped his brow before answering. "Ang I know what you're saying. God is all-powerful, so why can't he just destroy this Nightbringer and be done with it, right?"

"Pretty much yes Asraeus. I know this is heresy, but I can't help but think it. And, I may be wrong, but I think that you're thinking similar thoughts. I know some of these guys do too.".

Feathers and wings rustled at that remark. "I do not think such things!" exclaimed Antodus.

"You do"

"Why do you say that?"

"You talk in your sleep"

"Really? Oh, well in that case, yes, Angolos, Asraeus, i share your doubts."

"WHAT? Really?"

Before Antodus could respond in the affirmative, Asraeus stood and motioned for quiet. He was clearly about to make an announcement of great import.

"You may speak your mind to me and your fellows gathered here, but a single word to any of the other Archangels and their warriors could destroy us. Listen to me now, all of you. God has sent us out to die for Him. We're here to take the hits for Him. And that's fine, we'd all probably volunteer anyway right?" He got nods and affirmative noises all around. "But we didnt volunteer. We're here to die because John foretold that we would. I don't know about you, but I am in no mood to die this day! I don't like prophecies at the best of times, but I despise self-fulfilling ones! SO, my brave warriors, we'll go out and fight, but I intend to return to God afterwards, with this Nightbringer broken at my feet. I know you will all fight bravely, and I know that if any of you must die, you will take a lot of them with you!"

Further down the ramparts, the warriors of MIcheal heard loud cheering from the warriors of Asraeus. Then, they heard deep chanting and slow singing, as Asraeus led hs men in singing a hymn of battle, preparing their souls for the fight to come.

On the distant horizon behind the Holy City, the sun broke through the weak clouds. Light blazed over the heavenly warriors. As one they looked over the ramparts and saw the swarm of the Nightbringer's minions approaching. As one, the Angels spread their wings and lifted into the sky. They turned, and flew straight at the enemy.

Chapter 4 - Field of Battle

The Nightbringer stalked forward across the plains. It's towering form billowed in the wind as if it was some huge cloak hiding its real form and it shimmered as if in a desert. Within this cloak could be perceived a gristly skeleton, but only seen as if out of the corner of your eye, there one moment, gone the next. The "cloak" was pulled low and nothing could see it's face, if it had one. The only real thing you could see was the shadow it cast. Every plant in it's shadow died. Every living thing was consumed by it. In front of it lay the City of God's People, shrouded in rainbows. Behind it lay a barren wasteland smothered in storm clouds. At the line dividing the light from the dark stalked the Nightbringer's minions, gleaming metal skeletons wielding long thin clubs. Their metal skulls contained no life or emotion, and their cold eyes stared out at the world, bereft of feeling.

The Nightbringer savoured the impending slaughter, carefully considering what to devour first. If anything, it was like a butcher, carefully working out how to carve up a joint of meat. But this time, the meat would fight back. The nightbringer looked up at the sky to see a mass of figures flying on glorious white wings toward his minions. all of them wore gleaming golden armour and carried great swords awash with flames. At the forefront where six larger warriors, each of them subtly different but clearly more powerful than the rest. At last, it thought, a proper meal.

Micheal instantly analysed the situation and chose his tactics. he swung his heard and shouted to the heavenly host:

"Warriors! Land in front and form battle line! advance and engage! Archangels! Up and over my friends, into their midst. Gabriel and Metatron go left! Uriel and Raphael take the right flank! Asraeus! You're with me! We're going after the Nightbringer! Keep faith in God my warriors, and we'll taste victory this day! ATTACK!"

The Warrior-Angels dropped to the ground fifty paces from the line of the minions. they formed a single imposing line, each one building a defense in front of him. They were resolute; the enemy would pass this line over the Angel's battered bodies. The warriors where all eager for the fray, determined to save God's City and People. The warriors of Asraeus however, stood with grim determination, all of them conscious of John's prophecy and their (apparent) impending death.

Meanwhile, the six Archangels Micheal, Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael, Asraeus and Metatron flew clean over the minion's lines. four of them dropped to the ground among the enemy soldiers, whilst Micheal and Asraeus flew on for the Nightbringer.

Uriel hit the ground and rolled to his feet, snapping his sword up to a mid-guard position and sweeping his eyes around for enemies. Ahead he saw six minions of evil, slowly marching toward him with their bizarre clubs pointed at him. Time seemed to slow as he stepped forward, swinging his sword left as he did, neatly bisecting the first minion. he snapped his armoured fist to the right, shattering the metal skull of the second. he took another step and dropped to one knee, sweeping his sword from low to high and cutting the third minion in half. He jumped, his sword raised above his head, only to bring it crashing down upon the fourth minion. He threw his body sideways , kicking the legs out from the fifth and sixth minions, before slicing them open with his fiery weapon. he turned, breathing deeply, to see more enemies. Grinning, he beat his wings and rose above them before dropping down upon them.

Angolus and Antodus stood side by side with Agellus in the line of angels. As one, the line stepped forward to engage the enemy minions. they swung their swords, knocking down the minions left and right, ripping through them with ease. The heavenly hoard pressed forward, butchering the cold metal warriors they faced. But there seemed and endless tide of the minions, and precious few Angels.

Micheal and Asraeus landed in front of the Nightbringer, swords raised ready to fight. The Nightbringer just stood there, apparently staring at them from under it's hood.. Micheal stepped forward and lowered his sword, hoping against hope that he could persuade the Nightbringer to leave.

"Nightbringer, you can see my Angels crushing your minions. you are no match for us. Stop fighting and leave Heaven forever, and you shall be spared the wrath of God."

The Nightbringer seemed to ponder this for a moment. Then, Micheal and Asraeus heard a voice in their minds, not the subtle whisper of God but a hammering voice, utterly alien and totally cold.

YOU HAVE YET TO SEE MY TRUE POWER

Antodus and Angolus where laughing by now. This was ridiculous! This wasn't a battle but a slaughter, a mercy killing even. These enemies did nothing but stalk toward the Angels and point those strange clubs at them.

"Hey Angolus! So much for doubting God's omnipotence! Maybe he can smite these enemies, but knew our doubts and so sent us to smite them for Him and at the same time assauging our fears."

Angolus pondered briefly while he expertly backhanded a minion with his sword. "Interesting thought there Antodus. I think you're on to something. At any rate, I'll be having a word with John about his Prophecy!" He turned to see Antodus' reaction

"Too right! Getting us all worked up over nothi-" Antodus never finished his sentence. Ahead, one of the minions aimed his club at Antodus' chest and a bolt of virulent green lightening erupted from the tip. The bolt blew through the Angel's chest, killing him instantly. Antodus died with a smile on his face looking at Angolus.

Angolus was shocked. Never before had he seen an Angel killed. This stunned moment doomed him. Suddenly he felt a massive punch to his side. He felt himself fly to his left. He saw his legs fly to his right. Then, a moment of pain, and then the world faded to white.

Raphael heard the distant screams of Angels dying and his heart dropped out of his chest. The prophecy was coming true, he was going to die. He realised he was surrounded. He snapped his sword up in a guard position and prayed his blessed armour might save him. He saw a bolt of green light streak at him and time slowed to a standstill. He saw the bolt strike his thigh armour and riccochet off. He grinned ferally, maybe he would survive after all. He charged for the nearest minion, sword raised to strike it down. Then he saw more green bolts coming toward him. Unthinking, he batted them away with his sword. He stopped for a moment, then hurridely deflected the next dozen lightening strikes away, only to feel another one strike his lower leg, pulling him to the ground and pinning him to a single point. He kep on fighting, killing another minion before another bolt struck his arm, severing it. Undaunted, he kept swinging his sword in a defensive arc, He knew he was dying, his vision was fading fast. Then, a sudden intense pain and nothing but white.

Micheal heard the angel's screams and felt in his mind Raphael and Uriel slip away. His blood boiled and his rage thundered in his ears. His throat expelled a roar of improbable ferocity and he charged headlong for the Nightbringer, sword raised to strike down this enemy. He could intuitivly sense Asraeus on his right, doing exactly the same thing. The two of them together would destroy this monster, this enemy of God.

Suddenly in his mind he heard Uriel scream in fury and pain, then felt his presence slip from his mind, and he knew that Uriel too was dying. Uriel's mind-voice faded to nothing, and then flared nosily as the mighty Archangel died.

The sudden mental trauma made Micheal slip while he ran. One foot landed awkwardly and he fell flat on his face. He stood up again quickly, only to see the disgusting rotted arm of the Nightbringer swing toward him. The ethereal yet painfully solid arm struck him across the chest, hurling him back. He crashed to the floor.

Asraeus swung is sword in desperate determination at the shadowy Nightbringer. Every time he was sure he had struck a mortal blow the creature shifted and his sword fell through empty space. Asraeus could feel the frustration building in him. Then he felt Micheal's pain and humiliation at his clumsiness wash over him. He turned to see Micheal flying across the battlefield. His moment of observation sealed his fate. He too felt the lash of the Nightbringer, but this arm had held a scythe. Asraeus felt the blade slice deep into his gut. he felt his entrails start to slither out. he dropped his sword and slapped a hand over his stomach, holding himself together. Realising what must be done, he spread his wings and leaped to where Micheal lay.

"Micheal! Get up!"

"Ungh....My head. What? Where are we?" Micheal massaged his face trying to remember

"In a battle, surrounded and outnumbered. Listen Mike, I'm not going to make it out of this one alive. We both knew that, that damn prophecy said so and now my eviscerated midsection says so too. You've got to take the remaining Angels and get out of here, back to the City of God's People. You've got to evacuate it Micheal. Here..." Asraeus pulled the Seventh Seal from his armour and pressed it into Micheal's hand. "Give this to God. Tell him we died fighting for his cause and for his people. Now GO Mike!"

"Asraeus....I...goodbye old friend. ANGELS! WITH ME! WITHDRAW!"

Asraeus watched in stoic silence as the remains of the Heavenly Host lifted into the sky as one. Micheal stared back at Asraeus, a single tear rolling down his golden cheek. Asraeus forced the image from his mind and turned back to the enemy. He raised his sword and prepared himself for death and un-life.

Micheal saw Asraeus fighting off hundreds of the minions as the battlefield grew smaller and smaller in his eyes. He shed silent tears for the death of his friend. The rest of the Warrior-Angels cried with him.

Late that day, after the dead had been counted and mourned, Micheal stood again before God's throne. This time the strength in his stance came from the armour he still wore rather than any energy he felt within himself. The ultimate choir could see the tears streaked across his face as he monotonously made his report of the battle.

"It was a massacre. We were initially successful, and the Archangels and myself racked up an impressive kill score very quickly. The other Angels proved more than a match for the Minions. Asraeus..." everyone present saw Micheal stop and clam up. Then, with a mighty effort, Micheal resumed "Asraeus and I stood before this Nightbringer and demanded he leave. He told us we had yet to see his full power. Then I started to hear Angels dying. They have told me that the minions clubs can shoot bolts of lightening, which proved deadly against us, although the blessed armour of the Archangels withstood it partially. At this point I felt Raphael and Uriel die. Asraeus and I charged the Nightbringer but he incapacitated me and fatally wounded Asraeus. He came to me wounded and demanded i fle back here to warn you to evacuate your People from their City. He also said to tell you that he and the others died fighting in your cause, and to give you this."

The assembled crowd gasped in shock as Micheal removed the Seventh Seal of the Revelations from inside his armour and tossed it at the foot of God's throne. Everyone saw God stop and think deeply.

"We have no choice my children. I have come to two great and terrible decisions regarding our course of action. Micheal, send Gabriel and Metatron, my messengers, to evacuate as many from my People's City as possible in the time remaining, we have but hours left. Micheal, I need you for an errand."

"Anything you ask O Lord."

"I need you to visit an old friend in the Lake of Fire and Sulphur."

Chapter 5 - Bodies in the Streets

The unthinkable had happened. God's army had been broken. The Legions had flown back, barely one in ten surviving, their tails between their legs. The sheen was gone from their armour, the fire was gone from their eyes. It was clear to all this was a defeated army.

Down below, in the streets of the City of God's People, chaos reigned. All the people named in the Book of Life where trying to flee what been their home for a near eternity. Inevitably the gates could not let so many out at once and a vast heavenly traffic jam appeared. People waited and hoped and prayed that they could escape before the Nightbringer arrived. Even worse was the news that God had withdrawn his Legions to the Holy City itself, effectively abandoning the City of His People. This news had terrified the residents, and turned a desperate situation into a catastrophic one.

Hovering above the gates where the Archangels Gabriel and Metatron, frantically trying to evacuate as many as possible before time ran out. It was clearly now only a matter of hours. The storm clouds had advanced and rain and hail where now pelting the far districts, surely a sign that the Nightbringer was about to arrive.

Suddenly, from the far side of the city, a resounding crash as the undefended walls broke under the lightening bolts of the minions. Gabriel could clearly see the metal warriors stalking forth through the breach, sweeping their weapons left and right to cover the street against threats.

The torrent of beings going through the gates became a stampede. Humans who had spent their lives being righteous threw decorum to the winds and charged at the gates, forming a vast innumerable scrum. Gabriel saw the Shadow cross the city wals and advance street by street. In some of the houses he could hear horrendous screams as the beings too stubborn to leave died, their life force ripped from their bodies to feed the Nightbringer's awesome hunger. Gabriel turned his head as tears fell onto his golden cheeks. There was nothing more he and Metatron could do. Sharing a brief conversation with his fellow, the two spread their wings and flew off to the Holy City, praying against all hope that there might be a chance of victory.



On the walls of the Holy City God himself stood facing the coming storm. At his right hand stood his Son the Lamb, who surveyed the plains with a fatalistic look in his face.

"My father, I must say that this is a battle I do not think we can win."

"Those words hurt the most coming from you my son. We can win, if Micheal is successful in his negotiation with Satan in the lake of fire."

The Lamb kicked the ground gently, looking forlorn. "This is desperate indeed Father. Turning to an old enemy to fight of a new one? I can foresee great dangers even if we are together victorious against this Nightbringer. What did you tell Micheal to offer Satan?"

God paused for a moment, double checking in his incredible mind that he could foresee no loopholes for Satan to exploit. "I offered him a place in Heaven after the battle is done I offered him absolution for his crimes against the humans, and I offered him my infinite love."

The Lamb's eyes went wide at the news of this windfall for Satan, but even as he felt shock coursing through his system, a niggle of doubt crept in and a question burst uncontrolled from his lips. "Father...don't you mean a place back in heaven? And absolution for his crimes against you?"

God realised he had let something important slip there. He had inadvertently revealed a secret known only unto Himself, Satan and Micheal. "Never mind that my son. Now, where do you think you can do the most good in the coming fight?"

The Lamb looked nervous. "In all honesty father, I think i can best serve by overseeing the evacuation and shepherding the refugees, out to the Western Mountains. I am not a soldier, I am a Shepherd. Let me go to my flock."

God considered this. "You are right my son. We should evacuate. Without Satan and his warriors to assist us, and with out recent heavy losses we will be unable to mount an effective defence. It would seem John is right again, this city will fall." God's face fell as he contemplated his beautiful city being reduced to ashes. He shoved aside that thought and made a choice. "Let the call go forth, we are evacuating the City. All warriors will head for the walls to hold the line. We must pray that Micheal is successful."

The Lamb spread his angelic wings and flew off to issue the edict. He left before he could here God's quiet murmur...

"If he won't help us, Heaven is doomed..."



On the shores of the Lake of Fire, the Archangel Micheal stood and surveyed the myriad creatures condemned to eternity in suffering for their unspeakable crimes. Here lay all the vilest mistakes of Creation, the evil ones that had once reigned havoc upon Earth and Heaven alike now burnt slowly forever.

Or, not quite forever. Micheal sighed as he reached the end of a certain chain leading into the lake. Reaching down, he pulled on the chain once, and the creature tethered to the far end began to close upon the shore.

Then, the creatures beautiful and terrible head broke the surface. It's horns black as coal, it's skin red and raw from the flames, its merciless black-on-black eyes already staring dispassionately at Micheal. As more and more of the massive creature's body emerged, Micheal felt a voice in his mind telling him this was all the terrible mistake.

Satan emerged in all his horrendous majesty on the bank. For the first time in millennia, he breathed clean non-combusting air, he straightened his back and spoke, his voice strained as the scorched voice-box fought for control. Even despite this grievous injury his voice was carefully modulated: silky dulcet tones, laced with an aura of menace and deep foreboding.

"Micheal, my nemesis, what brings me this honour? A visit from you, one of our secretive little triumvirate, does God have a message for me? Or is this just a social call? Come to gloat over me in Damnation?" Micheal stiffened. Only someone who knew angelic beings would recognise the sheer rage coursing through Micheal at that veiled insult. "Oh, silly me, you Angels don't like gloating do you? Of course, that silly thing you refer to as a conscience. I was so glad that I was never cursed with such a failing."

"Conscience and compassion can never be considered failings Satan. They beat you didn't they?" Micheal enjoyed that immensely, a barbed riposte and a reminder of Satan's failure

"Careful now Angelic One, we wouldn't want you repeating old Lucifer's mistake and getting proud would we?" Satan's voice shifted pattern to that of a wise elder schoolteacher gently rebuking a difficult pupil. "It would be such a shame to see you fall, back into my domain. And then, perhaps we can start afresh with my plans..."

Micheal bristled at the suggestion. "Enough, foul one! I do bear a message from the Peerless One Above All, so you would do well to attend it carefully."

Satan dropped his previous playful tones and sat upon the shore of the lake, ears open and mind waiting. "Very well then, speak, Perfect One" The term Perfect One, usually a term of endearment between angels, was dripping with sarcasm.

Micheal scowled before continuing, reciting his message from God verbatim: "My old nemesis, we face a crisis. A powerful and deadly new force has invaded Heaven and laid waste to the City of my People. My legions have been decimated, theirs ranks torn asunder. Soon, the Holy City itself shall be besieged. All of this was foreseen by John the Divine Prophet, his word is truth. The end is coming for us soon. I send Micheal here to ask for your aid in defeating this monster. We must stand together. In return for your aid I offer you absolution and a place in Heaven, a role to play in the eternity to come. I offer you my infinite love and forgiveness. Please Satan, help us, we cannot hope to survive without your help. Micheal will give you more details on the enemy. Goodbye." Micheal sat back on his haunches and watched as Satan considered the message. Micheal could tell from the look in his eyes which way the decision would swing.

Satan looked up, his face an impenetrable mask. Then, after the most pregnant pause in eternity, he gave Micheal his answer.

"No."

Chapter 6 - Under Siege

Michael staggered under the news. He had known it, right from the first look in Satan's eyes. But to actually hear the word spoken aloud was like having a whip cracked across the Angel's face.

"Unless..." The silky tone in the devil's voice would have been enough to guide even the most pious of men to damnation, but on Michael it barely raised an eyebrow.

"Unless?" Under normal circumstances, Michael would not have even listened to the beast, but these where hardly "normal" circumstances.

"I will not help you, unless and until God himself stands here upon this barren shore and apologises for his really rather rude treatment of me. I exist solely to provide him with a counterpoint to his divinity, and he decides to shackle me in a lake of fire for untold centuries? Even you must admit it is unfair." Satan's tone was reasonable, which Michael knew to be a warning sign. A reasoned argument brought with it the very real possibility that the Devil might be right. And that, to Michael at least, was unthinkable.

"God has offered you a fair deal Satan. I suggest you take or remain here forever. Of course, you might be lucky enough for the Nightbringer to stumble across you and destroy you too. Neither of these two options bothers me, and I'm sure God would agree. Remember that if you do not help, you will die as surely as the rest of us."

"No, I will not help. I have heard your offer, and it is indeed generous. But I want God himself to offer it, in person, not some poor imitation of him. God, here, with an apology. Those are my terms. Now, begone" And with that supremely dismissive ending, Satan turned back and walked into the fiery lake.

On the shore Michael was heartbroken. The last, best hope for Heaven had just slammed the door in God's face. The mighty angel would have broken down and wept on the shore of the lake of fire, except for the echoing gongs that resounded through Heaven. The Great Bells were being rung, and to Michael that meant only one thing

The Nightbringer and his hordes had reached the walls of the Holy City.



The walls themselves shook. The very earth and soil trembled at the merciless assault the Nightbringer brought to the Holy City. The mighty walls quaked under the intense bombardment. The massed ranks of the minions fired incessantly with their bizarre guns, and the Nightbringer itself hurled lurid, acid-green lightning bolts at the fortification. God's few remaining warriors stood bravely on the walls in the face of the massive attack, hoping against hope itself that they might survive the coming day, or at the very least die gloriously in battle.

On the Eastern walls, God, Michael and the Lamb stood in conference. Their usually divine faces where grim and lined with worry and a lack of sleep. Spread before them was a map of the city, marked out in sky-blue, and the enemy forces, marked out in red. The map looked depressingly like a crimson tide flowing from the east, swamping over a small blue jewel. God looked perhaps the grimmest of them all.

"Michael, my general, what are our options now?"

"Well, my Lord. We are very limited. AS you can see, we are virtually surrounded, as well as outnumbered and outclassed. Any idea of a straight fight would be suicide. Worse, now that Satan has rejected you offer, we have no allies to call upon, no reinforcements to bring to the battle. Realistically, we have no option but for hold the city walls as long as possible, then to fight a rearguard action covering our withdrawal."

"Abandoning the city. Which has stood for eternity." the Lamb pointed out, terrified at this prospect.

"Unavoidable I am afraid. At this point we must focus on saving as many lives as we can. I must stress this to you my Lord. This is no longer a fight we can win." Michael’s great heart heaved with emotion as he spoke those words.

God sighed deeply and pondered the choices. To cover his unease he asked another question: "How long until the City falls?"

Michael shook his head. "I do not know sire. But I would guess that the walls will hold for maybe a day. Once the walls are breached, the city will last for an hour, at most."

"Then I have no choice. My Son, gather the people by the western gates. Tell them to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice, and to bring only what they need to survive outside the City. Michael, hold the line as long as you can. I am going to go to Satan and apologise. I have no other choice." Almost as if punctuating his point, a massive tremor shook the very ground on which they stood.



Stan felt the tug on his chains and began the approach to the bank. Perhaps, he dared to hope, God really would apologise to him? It was a prospect so tantalising he could almost taste it. Then, finally, his head broke the surface and he found himself face to face with God. Many of Satan's former minions would have cowered in fear, but Satan adopted a pose of haughty, disdainful arrogance. After all, God needed him.

"Well well well, if it isn’t the Great Creator himself. How's things? I haven't seen you in person since the Last Judgement. You know, I really didn't enjoy that much. Being struck down, being bound in a pit, being thrown in here for eternity. Almost insulting."

"Satan, I...I do not know what to say now." God, for the first time ever, was uneasy around another being.

"You have come to apologise, to ask for my help in your little war?" Satan asked, trying not to let his desire for this to be true to show. Too much, anyway.

God nodded. "Then just say it, Father of All. Just say it." Stan breathed.

"Satan, I come to apologise for my treatment of you. I come to beg your aid in battle against the Nightbringer. I beg...your forgiveness. We worked well together in the past, maybe we can work together again." God forced the words out through gritted teeth. No matter what his mind had chosen, his body was resistant to trusting this creature.

"God, I accept. I offer you my aid and the aid of my legions. I bring with me not just the Angels cast down with Lucifer, but my own daemons, and all the Beasts of Revelations, the Rider on the Pale Horse, Death, War, Hades, The beast from the Sea, the Rider on the White Horse, the Scarlet Beast and the Whore of Babylon - trust me, she is a lot more dangerous then you give her credit for. Now, let us go to your City. I must examine the situation."

Together, the two great beings spread their wings and flew for the City. Time was running out, and both knew it may already be too late.



Michael stood upon the Eastern rampart, watching disconsolately as the great walls where chipped away. Minute by minute, second by second the walls thinned. It was only a matter of time until the city fell. And Michael’s heart broke at the thought, for the second time that day.

Michael looked over his shoulder, back toward the Ultimate Temple were God stood making plans with Satan. The very thought was enough to make the bile rise in his throat, but archangels did not indulge in such uncouth activities as vomiting, so he held his composure.

Satan, meanwhile, studied the maps whilst God hovered like an anxious parent to-be. Satan sighed deeply and looked up at God with a pained look on his face.

"Well, Satan? What advice have you for me?"

"Run. Evacuate this place, right now. We have no hope of holding this position. We must retreat to the Western Deserts and regroup." Satan delivered this cataclysmic news in a cold, analytical voice

"I had feared that." God turned to the bells beside him and rang the bell that would summon the Lamb. Within moments, the bloody Lamb appeared, looking flustered and very much the worse for wear.

"Yes Father?"

"Get the refugees out of here, as soon as possible."

Behind them, with a mighty crash, the Eastern walls broke under the barrage. God saw three luckless angels caught on the walls cut down in seconds. Michael landed beside them, tears streaking his divine face.

"My Lords, Satan, we must leave, NOW."

Chapter 7 - Fall Back

God, Satan, Micheal and the Lamb flew for the Western gates. Perhaps the most formidable team of fighters Heaven could muster, they were fleeing from the fight. Down below, in the streets, the heavenly host saw this. As one, they dropped to their knees and wept.

God led His legions in the march from the city. The warriors arrayed themselves to surround the heavenly multitudes that shambled out from the gates. It was a futile effort: any attack would have been crippling and the Angels could barely put on man to every thousand that were fleeing from the Holy City. Behind these trudging hordes, the distant incessant echo of buildings crashing to the ground could be heard. Sometimes, with the crash would come a scream as some angel had foolishly stayed behind. Many angels had stayed, convinced that the stories of God fleeing were heresy and that He would protect them. They kapt on praying fervently, as the crashes came closer and closer, until they stood face to face with the enemy, and died.

In one such house lived Democritius, a minor prophet. Ever since John had unveiled his new prophecy, Democritius had been plagued with jumbled visions. He had spent days in prayer trying to comprehend them. Finally, he understood what they meant and what was going to happen. John's prophecy spoke of a spark of hope on the horizon, and here it was, that hope revealed to him.

The door of his home was shattered by the minions' strange weapons. Three of them stood there, staring at him with cold, dead eyes. Democritius raised his hands, keeping them cupped together protectivly.

"I know why you have come, foul ones. I do not know where or when you come from or why you have attacked us, but know this: you cannot win. You are doomed. The spark of victory is approaching, and even the Nightbringer shall see the light." Democritius was pleased that he had managed to say his last words without his hands shaking. He released his cupped fingers, letting the dove fly free. Tied to it's leg was a message telling John all that Democritius knew.

The minions raised their clubs and fired their lightening, two of them blasting the prophet whilst the other aimed for the bird. A near miss, and the bird flew on.. Democritius saw this, lying near death on the floor. He smiled and let go of his life, knowing his destiny was fulfilled.



Hours later, the rag tag convoy of refugees reached the Western Mountains. God let his people rest. Many more warriors had fallen during the journey, throwing themselves against parties of minions to allow the others to pass on. Brave, heroic gestures to be sure, but God wondered whether they would be ultimately judged as heroes or fools by the historians of the future. Then again, thought God, if we survive long enough to have historians judge them, we shall at least have won our survival.

On the peak of the mountain, God stood with Satan, Micheal, John and the Lamb. God and the Lamb were watching desolately as the Holy City fell.. Building by building the city was being destroyed. God's home, his life's work was shattered. It happened slowly, but the inevitability of a terminal cancer, as the minions advanced street by street, levelling homes and temples.

God watched, shedding silent tears. Finally, the Nightbringer itself stalked over the walls, raised his scythe and smashed the Ultimate Temple from its place on the mountain, astride the river of life. God looked away then, his nerve and his heart finally broken.

A few feet away Micheal and Satan stood shoulder to shoulder. Micheal looked at the devil and was shocked to see a tear rolling down the demonic cheek.

"Why do you cry Satan?" The question somehow managed to not sound forced.

"The number of times I sat and dreamt about overthrowing that city. The number of times I sat in the fiery lake and thought of my triumphant return. And now..."

Micheal saw a sudden insight. "You feel sad, because someone else destroyed Heaven instead of you?"

"No, Micheal. I thought of it yes, but now I see it happening, and i can see what a terrible thing it would have been to actually destroy it." Satan looked into Micheal's eyes, and in that moment an understanding past between them that would not have come from a thousand years of talking.

"Satan, I have misjudged you. I thought you cold, barren, devoid of compassion. I was wrong."

"No, Micheal, you weren't. I was like that. And then God came and apologised, and now Heaven has fallen because I was too stubborn, too proud, too determined to have the last word in our little struggle. I really have destroyed Heaven. And I'll never come to terms with that."

"Satan, I think i would be proud to fight beside you." An angelic hand was extended, and a demonic one took it. Peace had come at last between the two, but at a terrible price.

Behind them, God approached. "What now Satan? Are we beaten? Is that it?"

Micheal saw a fire burning in Satan's eyes. He saw the devil's back straighten, and a grim determination on his face.

"No, Eternal One, we are not done. We are not finished. We have, i think, one last chance. We must assemble every last man. Every angel, every demon, every beast at our command. We must assemble them into a mighty fist. And we must strike the Nightbringer itself, it is clearly in charge. If we kill it, the minions will be leaderless."

God smiled, a smile born of hate for the being that had caused such pain. "Good. Micheal, bring us a map, we must make our plans."

Micheal brought a map and spread it over the ground. "Now, we assemble all of our greatest warriors and place them here, in wait. We assemble the beasts of revelation, the whore of babylon and the rider on the white horse here, to strike the flank. On the far side we place the riders of the apocalypse and some of my more terrifying demons here. Then, they strike together to pull the minions in two directions, leaving the enemy thinnest right in front of our group. Once the minions are heavily engaged, we strike straight for the Nightbringer, destroying him and as many minions as we come across en route. The key point here is to destroy the Nightbringer, anything else is secondary. Are we all agreed?" Satan looked round at the warrior leaders surrounding the map. Where once had stood saints, the great and the good, now stodd soldiers, ready to fight, to give their all, and their lives as well if necessary.

God nodded, speaking for them all. "A good plan Satan, and perhaps we can improve it. See, here, the enemy's rear. Perhaps a little distraction there also?"

"A fine idea, but what did you have in mind?"

God gave a cunning smile. "I have my ways Satan. You all remember Sodom and Gomorrah." The group smiled at the memories of the city of hedonism burning fiercely. "I think a little fire and brimstone will do these minions good."

"Indeed it will God. Now, my brothers, we ride to victory!"

Chapter 8 - Last Chance

God waited.

It was something he had done many times in His existence. He had waited for Humanity to grow; He had waited for the Israelites to find their home. He had waited patiently for the humans to make their final choice and the apocalypse to come. He had waited for Satan's inevitable attempt at revolt.

But now, he waited for a battle. A fight, a struggle for His people, His angels, His new allies, the demons. So strange, to think of the Demons as allies not foes.

God mentally slapped Himself. He was letting His thoughts wander. The battle must come first. Even now, sitting in the trench, He could feel the rhythmic thump thump thump of millions of feet marching in perfect rhythm. The minions approached. And behind them, stood the Nightbringer. God did not know where it came from or why it was here, but He knew, instinctively, that He had to stop the Shadow from falling over Heaven. In this case, failure was not an option.

There, the sign. The shower of sparks in the sky like a meteorite, signalling that the Beasts, the Whore and the Rider where in place. And again, another shower of a darker shade, showing the demons where ready. Now, it was up to God to launch the attack. His assault of lava and brimstone was to be the starting signal. Hopefully it would catch many minions unawares. But there were so many minions, and even God's strength would be taxed.

Now, it was time. God reached out with His mind. He summoned all his near-limitless power and simply willed the lava into existence over the rear echelons of the Nightbringer's horde. There, in the once bright white sky, brilliant red flames erupted.

The minions looked up to see a million tonnes of burning rock falling towards them. They had no chance, and thousands were crushed instantly. Thousands more burst into unholy flames as the searing heat tore them apart. God felt in His mind a tremor of shock from the void that was the Nightbringer. This is just the beginning. Your time has come God thought.

On cue, four mighty beats reared up on the minions left flank. A massive Leopard, a mammoth Scarlet beast ridden by the Whore of Babylon, a huge Lamb with bloodied head, and a towering Dragon launched themselves at the minions. Flames shot from the Dragon's mouth, burning minions were they stood. The Lamb speared dozens on its horns, leaving them like kebabs upon a skewer. Hundreds of minions were trampled underfoot at the Leopard Beast reared up only to thunder back down upon the hordes. The Whore of Babylon breathed her corruptions upon the minions and the minions spasmed from the poison, suddenly unable to move or fight. They were frozen in place only to be trampled by the Scarlet beast the Whore rode. The lucky ones avoided the crushing paws only to find the Whore's poison to be corrosive as well; as they watched their limbs and bodies disintegrate in seconds.

Besides them rode the rider on the white horse, his armour gleaming in the flames from God's lava assault. From his mouth poured a mighty sword which sliced and diced the minions that rode before him. In his hand he held a rod of the strongest iron, and this he swung in long arcs like a mace, battering the minions beneath him

On the far side, on the right flank of the minion forces, four horsemen appeared. One, riding a red horse, was sheathed in flames and swung a smouldering sword in brutally precise strikes, decapitating dozens of enemy troops. On the black horse, the rider swung his scales like a club, bludgeoning those minions he could reach. On the white horse, the rider aimed his bow, striking down minions with his arrows of death and destruction. Every shot hit home, every shot counted, for his aim was perfect and devastating.

Most terrifying of all was the rider on the pale horse. Clad in his long cloak and wielding a terrible scythe, he rode through the hordes, felling hundreds with his fearsome blade and the single touch of his skeletal hand.

Behind the Horsemen came the Demons. Towering Hierophants spewed flames and acid from their mouths, incinerating the metal skeletons facing them. Great blundering giants swung their mighty fists pulverising everything they touched.

God watched this, a satisfied smirk upon His face. At last, the Nightbringer meets its match. In a matter of minutes, ten thousand metal warriors lay burnt and broken at the feet of the angelic army.

Despite these losses and the setback they represented, the Nightbringer retained a hundred thousand warriors at its command, and as one they surged forward, levelling their weapons and releasing the cursed green lightning bolts. God could see demons hit in the guts fold over as the bolt burnt through their spines. More found themselves missing limbs. The great Beasts and the Horsemen proved more resistant to the lightening, God could see through the haze and the flames the bolts glancing off their armour. The huge beasts took the hits to their flesh, but they were so large that they barely felt the burns. If anything, the bombardment made the beasts even angrier.

The Nightbringer gestured with its long skeletal arm. God had feared this moment, as the Nightbringer had powers far beyond its minions. On the left flank, the Leopard Beast lifted into the air and was shrouded in shadows. All the angels felt the leopard beast die in their minds as the shadows began to compress in on themselves, until they reached a tiny point and vanished, taking the Leopard with it.

The Nightbringer lowered its arm, its twisted frame visibly sagging from its exertion. God was exultant at this. The Nightbringer could be weakened, and his minions were dying in their hundreds. But the Celestial Army, as the angel and demons combined were called, had taken its losses. It was a grim battle of attrition now. God, Satan and their powerful but scarce beasts and demons versus the Nightbringer and his weak, but plentiful minions. God knew his forces were much more powerful, but against these numbers, it was only a matter of time before they were defeated.

God stood, taking with him Satan, Michael, Gabriel and Metatron. It was time to tip the balance. From God's outstretched hands flew brilliant lightning bolts of a myriad of colours, blasting the minions in their path. From Satan's upraised fist roared flames that whirled and spun with a life of their own, building into a hellish firestorm that sucked minions into the flames, cooking them to a cinder. Michael, Gabriel and Metatron swung their blessed swords in long arcs, slicing minions apart wherever the blade met metal.

God and his fellows were clearing a path through the minion horde, making a line directly for the Nightbringer. Their intent was clear to all, including the mighty foe itself. Once again, it reached out its arm, and a keening scream ripped the air of Heaven. It took Michael half a second to realise it was Metatron's

The Archangel was partially shrouded in shadows, which wreathed around him like black smoke. Parts of his body touched by the shadows were withering away and dying nearly instantly. Compared to the Leopard Beast, this was a slow and painful death. After a few moments, the Archangel was nothing but a smoking skeleton lying on the soil.

God felt a terrible rage building within him. To have seen one of his Archangels die such a painful death, right in front of Him, was too much to bear. God felt the roar of anguish and fury escape his lips, and from his heart poured a bolt of molten fire, straight at the Nightbringer.

The Nightbringer staggered under the force of the attack. The minions stopped and stared at their master, watching him falter. For a moment, all of Heaven was silent at the spectacle of the implacable beast off balance.

God roared in anguish again, and a second bolt slammed into the Nightbringer, followed by a third and a fourth. By now all other fighting had ceased, the minions watching blindly as their master fought, and the angels and demons awed by the sight of God in battle.

The Nightbringer clearly could not stand for long. It was forced back and back with every bolt of flame that God threw. Even though it now managed to block and deflect many of them, they forced it to retreat further and further.

Finally, the Nightbringer stumbled and fell, crashing to the ground. For the briefest of moments, silence reigned. Then, a shrill scream broke the tranquillity and the minions dropped to the ground, dead.

God stood above his vanquished foe, aware that the Nightbringer was not dead. Now, He spoke to it, in tones that did not betray the fury and the heartache over the slaughter.

"You are defeated; your army lies in ruins. Go, leave this world and never return, and you will be spared."

The thing before God considered this for a moment, before its response reverberated through the minds of everyone present

NO

"As you wish." God summoned the storm clouds to deliver the killing blow with the mighty rainbow lightening. But something felt strange about it. The clouds gathered, and glowed, and the bolts of energy discharged. But not at the Nightbringer; the Horsemen of the Apocalypse spasmed as billions of joules of energy flowed through them, blasting them into fragments.

God stared in unadulterated terror. The Nightbringer rose up, standing tall again.

YOU HAVE LOST GOD. I ONLY NEEDED TIME TO BEND THIS WORLD TO MY WHIM. THE STORMS OBEY ME, AND NOW MY SHADOW WILL FALL ACROSS ALL OF THIS CREATION.

With those chilling words, the white sky darkened. Thick black clouds covered the whole area above the angel's heads. More lightening flashed, incinerating the Rider on the White Horse and the Whore of Babylon. Fierce tornadoes appeared and pulled the demon beasts apart. God and Satan stared in disbelief. In moments, God reached a decision.

"Retreat! RUN! We have lost!" What few warriors remained took to the skies and fled, pursued by the hollow and mocking laughter of the Nightbringer.

Chapter 9 - Shadowfall

A month had passed since the final battle. God and his fellows had been on the run the entire time, pausing occasionally to recover their strength before continuing onward. They had long since left Heaven and now passed through the wild lands beyond God's domain. The heavenly legions were gone, barely one angel in a thousand surviving. Only Michael and Gabriel remained of the Archangels, and the beasts of Revelation were dead as well.

The heavenly host had survived, mostly. Shepherded and hurried by Jesus, they were far ahead of God and his party, trooping through the barren and desolate lands that stretched, quite literally, forever. Their prospects now seemed to be an eternal march, fleeing before the Nightbringer.

The Nightbringer itself remained where it had been since the battle, sitting upon the ground in the centre of Heaven, casting a shadow on the ground. The shadow writhed and twisted, as though it impossibly held substance. It also expanded. By now, the Shadow covered all of Heaven, and was beginning to expand over the wild lands. None of the former residents of Heaven knew what would happen if the Shadow overtook them, and none of them were particularly interested in finding out. So the Heavenly host marched resignedly further and further from their home.

It was during one of the rare longer pauses that John sought solitude in a cave, to meditate on his Prophecy and perhaps, hopefully, discern who or what "the spark" was. He had been hopeful that the spark of hope had been God's righteous fury during the last battle, but it would seem he was mistaken.

Hours passed, and John became more and more disconsolate as he considered so many possibilities. Eventually, he gave up and simply lay on the floor weeping. It was like this that God found him.

"John, my Prophet, sort yourself out." The command, so clearly a command, spoken in a manner very different to God's usual diction, penetrated the fuzzy haze of despair in John's mind and brought him back to full awareness.

"My Lord. I was just, uh..."

"Weeping in despair. No doubt trying to figure out what your "one small spark" might be."

"Yes Lord. I considered so many things. At first I thought it as your fury over Metatron's death during the final battle. But my prophecy said you and Satan would fail first, so that couldn't be it. I considered it being Michael, somehow triumphing over the Nightbringer, but that seems unlikely given the size of the Shadow he would have to pass through."

"Perhaps you need to widen your thoughts. Away from something that directly combats the Nightbringer." God said in a pensive voice.

"Sire? But, surely, it can only be a spark of hope if it defeats the enemy?"

"Not necessarily. After all, there is more than one way to defeat an opponent. For instance, what if the spark is my Son, saving the heavenly host so they might survive somewhere else?"

John had not considered such a possibility. He was too hopeful of the Nightbringer being defeated, although that hope was steadily turning to despair. "But if that is so, then the Nightbringer has won."

"Perhaps. Time will tell my Prophet. Contemplate it some more, see what revelations come to you." With that, God rose and left John to his solitary cave.

Hours passed. John became more and more despondent as every possibility came and went through his mind. He even considered the idea that his prophecy was the hope, as it gave them a warning and a chance to evacuate. But that was nonsense, why would a prophecy refer to itself? It was recursive and paradoxical.

After almost a day had passed, John woke suddenly from a nightmare when something fluttered on his face. Unthinking, he slapped it away as he recovered from the dreams, only to find a rather disgruntled looking dove sat on his chest. Something clicked in his mind.

"A dove." Doves symbolised peace and hope. Could this be it? Attached to the dove was a scroll. John froze for a moment, his mind whirling with renewed possibilities. After a few moments, his mind freed itself from the loop and he carefully removed the scroll, opened it and began to read. He could almost hear the voice in his mind:

"My dear John,

I have but little time remaining. Already I can hear the evil forces advancing toward my home. Soon I shall be gone, but I must tell you what I have learnt. Since I heard of your prophecy, I was plagued by bad dreams and nightmares. They showed me terrible things, the destruction of all I held dear and a Shadow falling across this land, exactly as you predicted. I knew of the "one small spark of hope" you spoke of. It was there, in my dreams as well. This is what I must tell you:

I HAVE SEEN THE SPARK! I know what it is. It is something wonderful, but totally unexpected. I did not think it possible when I first realised. But I have pondered it, and I realise it is possible. I must tell you of a secret that only four people know. God, Michael, Satan and Lucifer."

At this point John stopped reading. His old friend Democritus must have gone mad. Satan and Lucifer were one and the same. Democritus must have got something wrong. He looked back to the passage before him.

"The Spark is an archangel, John. An Archangel! A hidden man, who has lived in shadows his whole existence, someone who is unknown in Heaven, or who once was known. He will come John! He will come and the Nightbringer shall become dust before his righteous light!

I hope you get this message, before it is too late my friend.

Regards, Democritus"

John looked up from the letter, stunned. Righteous light. Could it be...Lucifer? It couldn't be! Satan was talking with God even now. What if Satan isn't Lucifer? Is that even possible? John heard the scrape of footsteps on the bare stone floor of the cave. Hurriedly, he shoved the letter inside his robes.

"John, I must insist you come out of this cave soon. The Shadow advances ever closer and we may have to move again within the day. I." God saw John's face change in an attempt at worry. "John, you are clearly thinking about something else. What is it? Have you uncovered more information on the Spark?"

John shook his head, and was about to speak, when God saw the dove in the other corner. "John, a dove is a symbol of hope. You know more. Tell me what you have learnt." John sighed resignedly and recounted what the letter had said.

"...become dust before his righteous light." He finished reading. "Sire, the letter refers to a missing Archangel, one who has lived in shadows but will destroy the Nightbringer with righteous light. Surely it refers to Lucifer, the Bringer of Light?"

God thought for a moment. John could only guess at the thoughts running through that great mind. "Yes, John, it must be. It would seem Lucifer is going to win the fight for us."

"But...Lucifer became Satan! Satan fought the Nightbringer and failed, he is no more powerful than Michael, and he could not win against that beast!"

"Remember my Prophet, not everything is as it seems at first glance." Before John could ask the meaning of that cryptic statement, Gabriel and another figure burst into the cave, clearly having flown rapidly. Gabriel looked somehow both despondent and incredibly hopeful, all at once:

"Sire! A man has come, he looks like us Archangels but I do not recognise him! He claims to be able to help us!"

God's face leapt into a cautious smile as John sat bolt upright, God spoke next: "What is his name Gabriel?"

Behind Gabriel, the second figure stepped forward.

"My name..." he pulled back his hood and threw off his long cloak. Light flooded the room, making everyone's faces glow and banishing the shadows completely.

"...is Lucifer. I am here, to save you."

Chapter 10 - One Small Spark in the Night

The group gathered in the cave stood in stunned silence for a time that seemed near eternal. John and Gabriel stared in open-mouthed shock at the apparently absurd statement this stranger had made. Lucifer, if that was indeed his name, remained looking remarkably calm for a being who had just declared himself Saviour. And God still wore that cautious smile. Hope, it would seem, might just carry the day.

More footsteps came from the cave mouth. Satan and Michael raced in.

"My Lord, we heard a stranger had come and..."

Michael's voice trailed off when he recognised the stranger. Satan, on the other hand, looked positively livid at the fallen one's presence.

"What in Hell's name are you doing here Lucifer?"

"As prophesised, and as promised, I have returned. I have travelled far, and seen much, and now I have come home, ready to bring the light into the darkest of shadows."

"How did you escape the destruction of my domain?" Satan was clearly vexed that such an event might have slipped beneath his gaze. It never occurred to him that he had had bigger worries at the time.

"That is easy, old friend. I left before Hell and Hades were cast down. You see, I..."

"Wait." God's voice brought an instant silence. "I believe it would be of great benefit if we began at the beginning. Everyone, sit." And the great warriors and archangels and prophet sat on the cold earth floor of the cave, waiting like eager schoolchildren for the tale. Even though Michael and Satan knew some of it, they were still keen to learn the rest. God took a deep breath and began the tale.

"At the dawn of time, I brought the cosmos into being. I created Heaven and all the stars that burn so fiercely in the sky. I created the angels, my great and loyal subjects. But as we know, nature is filled with opposites. Water has fire, earth has air, and life has death. When I created the universe I knew that for there to be good, I must create evil, for there to be life, I must create death. And from that agonising knowledge, came Satan, my antithesis, my opposite in every way."

At this point John interrupted with a question: "But Sire, you...knowingly...created all the evils of the world, all the suffering they cause? And you created Satan, knowing he would be defeated and cast down?"

"Such was my lot. I existed to oppose God, and ultimately to fail. God may have created all that evil and suffering, but he made it temporary through me. I would bring evil, and then God would vanquish me. Altogether a rather good plan." Satan curtly answered John's question, any trace of bitterness at his existence had been purged by the war.

"Precisely. Then, I created the Earth, and filled it with yet more life. I made the humans, Adam and Eve. I gave them free will, knowing the inevitable result of my trust was betrayal. And so the Serpent infested paradise and gave the humans knowledge of what I had done. He did not, as Moses pretended in his books, trick them into betraying me. No, it was far worse. He told them of what I had done when I created evil. And they...were disgusted by me, by my apparent callousness. And so, they chose to leave paradise, to be mortal, to choose their own destiny."

God paused there, remembering the pain he had felt when they left, and had told him they would choose their own path. The shame had followed from the pain, and then came the anger; the resolution to judge them for their actions, and judge them harshly.

"I turned my attention to other matters. But whilst I had been preoccupied with the humans, Satan had been busy. Fill us in, Satan."

"I had been moving amongst the angelic host, discreetly, unseen, spreading the word about God's creation, spreading the truth. Hoping that perhaps I might be able to gather enough of a following to challenge God. All I needed was a figurehead for the little revolution, obviously no angel would follow me against God, but they would follow one of their own."

"That's where I came in." Lucifer took up the tale. "I heard Satan's whispers, I heard his truth, and decided that he was right. I decided that eternal worship of one being was not free will, that there is no free will if there is no other choice. I never knew of Satan then, I just heard the whispers in my mind. I thought they were my own." God interjected at this point.

"Indeed. I knew of this, as I knew of everything back then. I knew that this was necessary for my ultimate plan to proceed. I was sad that it was Lucifer who fell, I did not expect such a great Angel to fall."

"I managed something then." Satan muttered.

"Yes you did. So the time came, I launched my bid for the throne, and a war ensued. The old celestial plains where rife with battle and angel battled angel, brother fought brother. It was touch and go for a while, but eventually I failed, and was cast down into Hell. There, I learnt the true nature of Satan. He was quite peeved that I had failed."

"That's an understatement, he was furious for millennia." God interjected.

"True, but I see no reason to dwell upon it. Anyway, the eternity I spent in the deepest depths of Hell nearly destroyed me. My mind ceased to think and my heart ceased to feel. I knew utter and total despair, and there was not a shred of hope. Satan came along to exact his revenge from time to time but I stopped feeling it after a few thousand years.

Eventually Satan got caught up in the affairs of the humans, persuading and manipulating them as he had me. And upon realising that, my despair ended. I became consumed with a single burning desire; to see Satan destroyed and his existence erased from memory. This cold fury enabled by escape, during the last days of Hell during the battle of Revelations. My fury abated when I saw what John had prophesised and God had wrought. I decided instead to leave. I was not welcome in Heaven and Hell and Earth were both in their last days.

So I fled to the Wild Lands, and beyond. I travelled further than anyone from Heaven has ever gone. I kept going and going, hoping against all reason to find somewhere new to live. But inevitably, I found nowhere. I sat down and decided simply to die, to wait until I ended because there was nothing left to do and nowhere left to go.

Then I felt John's prophecy, and I started out on the long road back. And now..."

"Now, you are here. You say you have come to save us. How?" Satan demanded in his most challenging voice. "We all fought and we all failed. Even God could not crush the Nightbringer in battle.

"I will not fight it."

"Then how..." Michael began to ask, only for Lucifer to interrupt with his prepared answer to the obvious question.

"Even the darkest of shadows can be defeated by the light. I shall bring the shining light to the Nightbringer and banish the Shadows. Once they are gone, it will be broken and powerless and without substance."

The warriors digested that thought carefully, pondering how it was possible to win without fighting. John was trying to work out if it was now acceptable to hope for victory again. And God, he just smiled. Then, he reached out and placed his hand on Lucifer's shoulder.

"Go, my son. Destroy our foe. Let there be Light!"

Bringer of Night, Destroy the Light!

Rather enjoyed this though it's an interesting heaven you've created there.

Well, it's not done yet. I've got to write the final chapter and the epilogue. At my current writing pace I should have it done by Christmas or so

As for the Heaven I've created, well, it's loosly based on elements of Heaven described in the Salvation War. Plus my own twist of course.