The Coming Battle by Songbird341

Summary: *Sequel to The Show Must Go On* After the Shadow/Light incident, Jade and Cat thought their adventures were over, and opened a talent show. What happens when their star performer is really a Light messenger, sent to prepare them for the ultimate battle between Light and Darkness?

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Victorious!

Hollywood Arts Talent Show

Ready to get discovered?

Nursed your talents at this school long enough?

Think you can get famous with one act?

Audition for the Hollywood Arts Talent Show!

Who knows? You could land the star performance!

Talent scouts will be attending, so this is not short of a star opportunity!

For more information, contact: Jade West or Cat Valentine

Jade looked over the flier Cat had typed up, and nodded approvingly. Cat had always had a knack for wording things perfectly. Otherwise, Jade would've taken it into her own hands, which she had a habit of doing, honestly. But only Jadelyn West knew that Cat wasn't always a dizzy airhead. But often.

They lounged on Cat's plush couch, in a peaceful living room, scented with cinnamon, like usual. They decided to come to her house after school was over, partly because Jade's mother was with her latest boyfriend, partly because Cat's foster parents were out with her crazy younger foster brother, Matt, and Jade would rather be alone than with her mother and her crazy meddling boyfriend. Plus, Cat needed to feed her doves. And her hamster. And her dogs. Oh, and her cats. Jade rolled her eyes behind closed lids at the fact that Cat had named a cat after her. Sweet, I guess, but a cat? I'd rather be a snake... At least she had picked a black cat, not a puffy white ragdoll cat.

Cat squealed happily, clapping her hands and doing a little dance in her silky lavender jogging suit. She had been so excited for the HA Talent Show. She and Jade were going to host it, judging the acts, training them, and singing at the end, while the judges voted. Jade, Cat and Andre usually sang a song and danced, which had won them 1st place for the past 3 years. Lane had seen this, and asked them to host, so someone else could have a chance at the prize. Though Jade wasn't convinced, Cat agreed to host, claiming it would be "fun and exciting".

But what's the use if you don't win? Jade questioned herself. And why on earth did I agree to this? She had been performing every year, holding out for the record label she had been wanting: Rose Thorne Records. The dream record label, of course. And, surprisingly, Cat hadn't accepted her first offer, Brite Starz Records, shocking her friends, but at the same time, relieving them. No one made it out of Brite Starz without wearing sleazy clothing, singing dirty songs, and pulling big unbelievable stunts for publicity. Fortunately, she had held out for the big guns: The Songbird Records. They were considering her now, so this ending performance would be deal-breaking.

But she wasn't worried about that. "You think people will audition? I hope so! This will be so fun!" Cat rambled on, something about her brother performing in a talent show, but "dropping his drawers" (Sometimes, Cat talks like a freaking grandmother.) and being banned from the talent show. And the school. Jade pretended to listen, but stared at the second-to-last line on the colorful piece of paper. Talent scouts will be attending, it said. Butterflies reenacted World War I in her stomach as her eyes traced the words over and over again. Her hands grew cold as a horrible picture flashed before her eyes: tripping on stage, hitting a flat note, burping into the mic, all kind of disasters that could ruin her shot at the Big Time. And then, all those butterflies flopped on their backs, and she almost threw up.

Cat noticed this, and touched her shoulder. "Are you okay, Jadey? Nervous?" She asked, chewing on a piece of hair and staring at a paler-than-usual Jade. "It's okay. I'm nervous too. You know that Rose Bush Records will love you, so you don't need to worry!" Jade looked at her, then leaned over, her hands resting on her knees.

"It's Rose Thorne, not Rose Bush." She scoffed in disgust, though, not disgusted enough to upset Cat. She knew her whining would make her stomach churn more than it did, so she was gentler in her next sentence. "Yeah, we'll put those fliers up around school early tomorrow morning. Come on, let's go to Carl's Copies before they close." She muttered, replied to with a "Kay kay!".

"Hold on, let me feed Mira, Matthew, Paisley, Kiki, Koko, June and Jade!" Cat called out, running down the hall and upstairs, to her new bedroom, received as of last month. Jade followed her up the two flights of stairs, up a ladder, and into the attic. Or, Cat's new bedroom.

It was huge: tall, with slanted ceilings, a wide wooden floor, and a little circular window facing the backyard, letting in a hazy kind of light (Jade's favorite kind of light). Her bed lay sideways next to that window, with a chest at the foot, and a table next to it, with a storybook, a lamp, and a plate of brownies sitting on it. There were bookcases, and a small toy box in the corner, overflowing with little toys, from barbies to Inside-Out Burger trinkets. And in one corner, farthest from the ladder, were all her animals. Her two doves, Mira and Matthew (named after her foster brother), her hamster, Paisley, her dogs, Kiki and Koko (both Shih-Tzu's) and her cats, June and Jade. She also had a goldfish, Percy, but her brother already fed him, in his strange adoration of the disgusting animal.

"Remind me again, why you have so many filthy – lovely animals." Jade coughed. Cat giggled and explained as she fed her dogs.

"Because they're so sweet!" She squeaked, stroking Koko's fluffy, chocolate-brown and white face. Kiki whimpered, and Cat walked over and petted(?) her. "Oh, I'm sorry Kiki, baby. Mommy woves you too, sweetie-pie!" She cooed. Jade rolled her eyes.

"So, are you gonna keep these... creatures up here every day?" She asked, almost concerned. She's not that dumb, right?

"Of course not, silly!" She walked over to her hamster cage. "I carry my cats and dogs downstairs every day! Except for today, because we're leaving. And Matt already let the doggies out." Jade wondered what on earth would ever persuade Cat to carry those smelly animals up and down that ladder every day. But that's just Cat, I guess...

"And the birds fly down! Speaking of which," Cat paused, jumping onto her bed, opening the window and sticking her head out. "Mira, Matthew!" She called out and whistled.

Jade watched in awe as the two doves flew in through the window, resting on Cat's arm.

She couldn't help but be impressed. She walked up to Cat, not lifting her gaze from the obviously-brainwashed bird. "How did you get them to do that? They were free! They could have flown far away and be out of the country by now!" She gaped.

Cat smiled, caressing the snow white bird as she spoke. "If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it's yours!" She practically sang.

Jade had never understood that phrase. If something wants to be set free, why on earth would it come back? As far as she was concerned, if it's free, it's lucky, so it should kick its tail-feathers in to high gear and make for Mexico!

"Hey... What's that?" Jade shifted her gaze to one of the white birds' foot. Or talons. Or whatever.

"Whatty?" Cat asked in concern, examining her doves. Jade shook her head and pointed to a piece of paper in it's foot.

"That. It's a note," Jade pulled the paper out of its clutches. "It was carrying a note?"

"She, Jade. She was carrying it. Mira's a she!" Cat corrected her. Jade groaned inwardly and unrolled the note.

"I can't understand it! It all looks like it's upside-down or something!" She thrust the paper at Cat. "You try and decode it! You're always doing those stupid puzzles..." She grumbled, embarrassed that she couldn't read it herself.

"Oh! It's Italian!" Cat giggled, staring at it.

There was a pause. "Do you speak Italian?" Jade asked slowly. Cat nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah? THEN READ IT!" She spat, slightly offending Cat.

"Kay kay..." Cat scanned the page and began, clearing her throat.

"A time is near

To face our offenders

To conquer our destroyers

To stop the past's repetitive future

So sent to you, our warriors

The chosen ones,

An attendant

Who will train you and ready you

For that coming time." She finished. She looked up at Jade, who was zoned out. "What's that supposed to mean?" She asked softly, no offense even hinted in her voice. Only pure confusion and worry.

Jade shook her head slowly. "I have no idea, Cat..."

Cat looked at the note again, chewing on her lower lip. "Maybe it has something to do with the Sha-"

"No. No, it doesn't. Let's go to Carl's Copies now." Jade said abruptly, cutting Cat off. She didn't like thinking about... The Shadows. She still hadn't forgotten what Melissa had said to her, about becoming a Shadow. What had she meant by that? Jade felt more sick than she had when the thought entered her mind.

Her mind was a dark place: filled with horrifying creatures, dangerous ideas, disgusting sights that others would find quite disturbing, haunting memories she hadn't shaken from her childhood. A cold, lonely place that even a zombie, hungry for brains, would avoid. So of course, the Shadow of Marcus Trindle would enter her body. It was fitting.

What had struck her odd was that while Cat was a Light when she was "escorted" from her body, Jade was a Shadow. It scared her, to think that maybe she was a Shadow, herself. Though she always considered herself a dark creation, made only for suffering and causing others pain.

But then, Robbie was a Shadow. Still, Marcus was a blood-relative. Maybe he was born a Shadow...

So, heeding Jade's quick, angered response, Cat fed the doves and hurried downstairs, outside, and to the car, Jade close behind. But as they made their way to and from Carl's Copies, she couldn't think about anything but the note until she was at her own front door that night, waiting for entrance.

It's nothing, Jade. Just some prank. You're overreacting. When no one answered, Jade kicked the locked door open, and stomped up to bed. She didn't even want to know where her mother was that night.

;"*"*"*"*"*;

Thanks for reading my first chapter of The Coming Battle!

This might not be the best first chapter, but it's just setting the scene. I have a great feeling about this story, so stay tuned ;)

PLEEAASEEEEEE review! The last story got about 5-6 reviews each chapter, so I'm pushing for 7! Thank you!

**~Songbird341~**