A/N: Hello, Sleepyheads! Welcome to something new from yours truly, T2 Angel.
So, here's the scoop: I'm writing this to make up for that HORRIBLE third season ending! Like many of you, I couldn't believe what they did. I don't consider it canon and, unless they make a season four that brings Abbie back, I will never consider it canon. Thanks to my good friend, Kyoko Kasshu Minamino, she helped me realize that I wrote this to "work through my grief." Her support means a lot and especially since she was a huge fan of the show and she is just as PISSED OFF as the rest of us!
Now, to be honest, I'm taking inspiration from several sources, one being the TV show Supernatural. I know how that looks but the writers of Sleepy Hollow screwed this show, let me have this! Another source actually comes from Kyoko, herself. She is also known as Kyoko M. and she has a trilogy of books called The Black Parade that you should really read. Her books are what Sleepy Hollow should've been and could've been.
Also, I'm working on several other projects while this so it may take a while before it's all complete but, stick with me, I'm going to finish it.
Another note, you're going to notice some inconsistencies between my fan fiction and the show. Well, all I can say is that I missed a lot things from Season Three (can you blame me?) and my memory is fuzzy on a couple of things from the previous seasons (again, can you blame me?). But, all I can ask is that you be patient with me. I promise, I'm doing the best I can. Plus, the writers barely tried; at least, I'm putting forth some effort.
Feel free to leave me some reviews! I love those!
Lastly, I do not own the rights to Sleepy Hollow. If I did, I'd fire all the writers, hire some new writers (Kyoko included), and beg Nicole Beharie to come back.
With that, on to Sleepy Hollow: The Fated Ones!
Prologue
Pandora looked Abbie, "You know what needs to be done!"
"I have to do this, Crane!" Abbie shouted as she moved toward the box.
"Abbie, no!" Ichabod protested. "There's another way! There must be!"
"There isn't!"
"NO!" the Hidden One, desperately, used what little power he had left to force them all away from the box. He struggled up the stairs to reach the box, himself, and was just a hair's breadth from touching it.
Suddenly, a great rush of wind swept through the cavern, tossing everyone about the room. Abbie, Ichabod, and Jenny landed on the far side of the room, down the stairs; Pandora, on the other side, near the mirrors; and The Hidden One was lifted and dropped back, closest the box.
Dazed, the Hidden One groaned but he looked up and saw the box and stood up to take its power. "Power… yes…"
"No, that'll be enough of you," a voice said.
Suddenly, a sword pierced through the Hidden One's chest, drawing a sharp, deep grasp from him. He was lifted slowly off of the ground, straining to breathe as it was happening. Abbie, Ichabod, and Jenny looked up to see a man in three piece blue suit, holding an old century longsword, standing behind the Hidden One. He had jet black hair and pale skin that had a greyish hue to it.
"My leader has long since grown tired of your failures," the sword wielder said. He pulled the sword from the Hidden One's back, causing him to fall to the ground. He walked around him, "You didn't keep your promise. It's time to pay the debt long owed."
"Who the hell is that?!" Jenny asked.
"G… Golan…" Hidden One struggled to say, pushing up to his knees. He pressed his hand to his wound. "There… th-there is no need for this! All will be…"
Golan laughed. "No. My leader has heard all that before and he will wait no longer." He squatted down, "Time after time has ended in disappointment, plot after plot has failed," he looked over at Pandora, "you and your chess pieces." He looked back at the Hidden One. "You know? My leader showed you mercy when he found your pathetic shell of a self and this is how you repay him? So disappointing." He stood back to his feet.
The Hidden One's face hardened, knowing what fate was coming. "I will beg no more. Neither to you or your contemptible leader!"
"Wise. Insulting the executioner while he holds the axe." Golan chuckled. "You're just as human as the rest of them."
The Hidden One growled.
"It doesn't matter. Your time has come." Golan looked at the Witnesses, "And they made this so much easier than it was going to be. Somewhat, disappointing actually." He looked back at the Hidden One. "I wanted to see you fight for your miserable life." He smiled. "I'll settle for the fear I now see in your eyes."
"Damn you…" the Hidden One growled.
"All debts will now be paid." He lifted sword and, in a movement quicker than any could track, the Hidden One's head was separated from his body. It rolled down the stairs stopping at the base of the steps.
Abbie, Ichabod, and Jenny couldn't believe what they just saw. In one swift movement, the threat of the Hidden One had ended. They looked up at the man who did it and saw that it wasn't even a hard effort for him to finish him.
Golan scoffed. "Useless." He walked over to Pandora's Box and stared at it. "Pathetic thing. Just as inadequate…" He looked at Pandora, "as its namesake."
Pandora stared at him with a look of pure fear. "Lord… Golan."
"Pandora. My leader is displeased with you."
"I… I have turned against the Hidden One."
"Yes, that was wise. But, that betrayal came too late."
Pandora's eyes widened.
Golan looked at the box. "My leader was waiting for the Hidden One to deliver on what was owed. But his constant failures," he looked at Pandora, "and yours have exceeded the limits of his patience."
"His patience? His patience! What of mine?! What of the trials I have been put through?!"
"Spare me your useless trifles, woman. Your time is done."
Pandora shook her head. "No. No! Yours is done!" She raised her hand and an invisible force of power hit Golan.
He stumbled then looked at her, simmering rage entering his eyes. "Who do you think you are, witch?"
"Powerful!" Pandora declared. "Stronger than you all!"
She forced her hands forward and pushed Golan, causing him to drop his sword and forced him down the stairs, with an impact that seemed to have broken his neck. He lay at the base of stairs motionless.
"I am a goddess," Pandora declared.
"Oh, hell," Abbie said.
"Quite the unexpected turn of events," Ichabod said.
Pandora looked at them all. "You have nothing to fear from me. As long as you bow and worship me, I will be a benevolent goddess. Strong, powerful. Eternal."
"Amazing how short eternity is these days."
They all looked at the sound of the voice came from Golan's corpse. Or what they thought was a corpse. With a speed that no one could track, Golan got to his feet and rushed at Pandora, grabbed both of her wrists and snapped them easily. Pandora screamed in pain as her hands became useless, sinking down to her knees.
Golan exhaled, cracked his neck and straightened his suit. "Damn it. I hope you didn't ruin it. I happen to like this suit."
Pandora looked at him, wide eyed. "H-How…"
"You should've known better, Pandora. You don't challenge those more powerful than and you, certainly, don't think yourself strong enough to kill them."
Despite the pain raging through her, Pandora steeled herself. "I regret nothing," she said, breathing in heaves. "The Hidden One, you, your leader… I am better rid of all of you. I've grown tired of all of you."
"You're not alone. And, to make it all clear, it is we who will be rid of you." Golan picked up his longsword.
"Just know: the Hidden One was no more loyal to you than I was! He had no intention on delivering on his promise!"
"Don't insult me, woman. Moreover, don't insult my leader. The Hidden One is an old charlatan. We knew who we were dealing with long before we approached him. My leader knew he was to be betrayed, sooner or later. Still, he imagined you and that failure of a god would be of some use before then but that proved to be folly. Late grows the hour and, even shorter still, my leader's tolerance."
Pandora started to hyperventilate but she steadied her breathing. "I've lived long enough. Do your worst!"
"I intend to." He walked over to her. He rolled his eyes, "Stand up. At least, have the dignity to die on your feet."
Pandora slowly got to her feet.
"You have failed, Pandora." He ran his sword through her chest.
She gasped.
"For the last time," he growled.
Pandora's head drooped down as she breathed her last.
Golan removed his sword and let her corpse fall. He scoffed. "Humans." He looked at Ichabod, Abbie, and Jenny. "Witnesses. It would probably be in my best interest to kill you all now."
The three of them didn't know what to do. Their weapons were too far from them to get to and something told them that he would be on them before they had the chance to get to any of them.
Golan exhaled. "However, that is not my task. For now, you have a reprieve. You've impressed my leader but know that this is but a stay of execution. In time, you will find that your days on this earth are numbered. Make all the peace you can while you can. For when my leader decides your fates, your fates are decided."
"Who are you?" Ichabod asked.
"No one to be trifled with, Witness," Golan declared, aiming his sword at him. "You'd do well to remember that. Know this: I have no love for humans but I had nothing but contempt for these worthless fools."
"Is that why you saved us?" Abbie asked.
Golan scoffed. "I did not save you. I came for what was promised. Well, part of a promise, anyway." He reached into Pandora's Box and easily pulled out a dark red stone. "The fool thought he could keep this from us. Petty imbecile." He turned back to the Witnesses, he stared at Abbie then at the Box. He looked back at Abbie, "That useless thing leeches for your soul."
"I noticed," Abbie said.
"Hm." He circled the Box. "Once this thing is destroyed, it will trouble you no longer. And, quite frankly, I will be thrilled to be rid of this eyesore. As I said, you have a reprieve. For now…" He flipped the sword so the edge was aimed at the box. "…take solace that this strike is not for any of you." His sword began to glow a dark green. He looked at them, "Until we meet again." He looked back down at the box, "Vagitus Mortis!" His eyes turned black and green energy completely covered the sword and he drove the sword into the box. Power and energy swirled around for a few moment before causing an explosion of force and light and knocking Team Witness out.
Ichabod woke up first, groaning as he did so. There was no way to tell how much time had passed but it felt like he'd been down for a while. He felt his face and found a laceration just over his right eye. He looked around and saw Jenny had started to move. "Jenny?" he asked.
She pushed on an elbow and looked at him.
"Are you…"
"I've felt better," she replied. "But I've felt worse." She gasped. "Abbie."
They both looked and saw Abbie face down on the ground. She wasn't moving.
Ichabod crawled over to her. He turned her over and propped her head up, "Leftenant!" Jenny scooted over to her, as well.
Abbie didn't respond.
Ichabod and Jenny looked at each other, unsure, then back at her.
"Leftenant!" he shouted, louder.
"Abbie, come on!" Jenny shouted.
Still, no response.
"He said destroying the box would free her, right?" Jenny asked.
"I fear it wouldn't be the first time we have been lied to," Ichabod replied.
Jenny took a deep breath and looked at her sister, "Abbie, come on! Come on, wake up!"
"Abbie!" Ichabod shouted.
After another moment, Abbie twitched and moaned, lowly. "Crane…"
He released the breath he didn't know he was holding.
She slowly opened her eyes. She looked at him. "Hey."
He let out a shaken breath. "Greetings."
She looked at the two of them, "Ain't you two a sight?"
"Like you look like Halle Berry right now," Jenny replied.
"Closer than you."
"You wish."
"Considering what we all have been through, at this moment, I believe if we pass for alive is a point in our favor."
The Mills girls laughed at that.
Ichabod looked up at where the Box and Golan once were. "It's over."
"Yeah," Abbie said.
"But what the hell was that all about?" Jenny asked.
"Questions best kept for later," Ichabod answered. "For now… let us depart from this dreadful place and get some much needed rest."
"That's the best idea I've heard all week," Abbie agreed.
Los Angeles, California.
Edom sat in the bar, sipping on the red wine while the piano player performed a subdued Moonlight Sonata. He was enjoying the calmed atmosphere when he felt a sudden power shift wave through him.
He looked around the room then turned around, facing the east. "Well, well, well," he whispered to himself. "Pandora. And the Hidden One. Destroyed? Interesting." He closed his eyes. "So, that's where you are. Or… were." He opened his eyes then chuckled, "It's been a long time since I've been there." He looked back at the piano player and took another sip of wine. He set the glass down and pulled out his cell phone. "Yes, this is Edom Thane. I need my home on 417 Carver made ready as soon as possible. I'll be headed there in a few days." He fell silent for a second. "Take your time. Just make sure everything is concealed. Thank you." He hung the phone up. He scoffed and picked up his glass again. "Always good to go home." He took a sip, again taking in the atmosphere and the music. "What do you have in store for me this time? You always have the best surprises… Sleepy Hollow."
A/N: And so... we begin.
Reviews, please! I love those!