Ahriman stared straight ahead as Eris pulled the hard leather armor over his head, strapping it into place. She straightened and Ahriman bent to retrieve the much smaller set, returning the favor for her. She wrapped her hand around her hair, holding it up out of the way as his hands buckled the leather straps into place, and his lips brushed across the top of her spine. "The chaotic goddess of war, and I finally get to see her in her true element…"

Eris smiled, turning to help him with his bracers. "Ahriman, god of Death, Destruction and true evil. Are you ready for revenge?"

Ahriman smiled, pressing his lips to hers. "I am."

The pair stepped out of the low cave and onto the cliff, looking to the valley below.

Already the Army of Souls was on the move, rolling over the broken stone that lined the boundaries of Prince Vince's kingdom.

"Are we ready brothers?" Ahriman asked, glancing behind him.

Set cracked his knuckles, and Loki growled beside him. His eyes were a mass of swirling colors, and though he was most displeased at the loss of his original energy, he now possessed more power than ever. Set clapped a hand against his shoulder, nodding in the direction of the cliff's edge. "Loki and I take the front line."

Coyote grimaced, scratching his head as he re-formulated his plan. Anansi clicked away beside him, flexing all of his limbs as he tested the custom armor on the spider's joints. "Brother," Coyote started. "Anansi and I take the second string, and attack from beneath."

Maui stepped forward, his expression furious as he examined the ten-inch steel claws glinting cruelly from his right hand. "And I find you Geuse."

Ahriman nodded. "Once I arrive to take Geuse, you find Juno or the Prince, and take them. Let us go meet our destinies my brothers."

Nick popped his neck, adjusting his tie beneath his make-shift armor as he examined his army.

He preened nervously, checking himself in the tiny mirror once more. He hoped Geuse would at least have the sense and courtesy to leave Lydia behind. No need to have her see the poltergeist fall…

What would she think though? Surely she would be very upset with him for a long time, but he would make it up to her. He would take her to… to Paris, or Venice, or wherever it was her heart desired. He would dine her on the most exquisite foods. He would take her to China for the Chinese New Year celebrations, and make love to her beneath the fireworks.

He would win her heart.

Nick smiled, running his hand through his hair once more. Below him the lost souls clawed their way closer to the Plains of Dread.

"So close Lydia. Can you feel me coming?" Nick fixed his collar, his multi-colored eyes gleaming excitedly. "I'm so close to saving you, to making sure you'll never be hurt again. I'm coming for you my love."

"Dammit! No Lydia!"

Lydia's arms latched around his middle, holding him in place as he half-heartedly tried to free himself from her grip. "I'm not letting you go alone."

"They're comin' in a few days, from the North'n the South." Betel told her reluctantly.

He was perched on the edge of her bed, clad only in a pair of ridiculous pink boxers with poorly drawn scarab beetles scattered over the material. His elbows were draped across his knees and his head hung low as he glared at the floor.

Lydia sat up behind him, bare besides the sheet she held to her chest. She slipped her arms beneath his and hugged him from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder. "Are you scared?"

"I guess. But…" Betel turned his head, regarding her with one saddened emerald eye. "Mostly for you and the others."

Lydia smiled, pressing her lips to the side of his neck, just below his ear. "Don't worry Beej. I trust you. Jacques and Ginger trust you…" She kissed his cheek before she turned her head and rested her cheek against his shoulder. "I know you'll come back to me in one piece."

Betel sighed, reaching a hand behind him to rub her knee. "I sure hope so Babes…"

Betel finally managed to pry her fingers open and pushed her arms away from him. "Lydia… I ain't takin' ya! Two huge-ass armies're comin' ta destroy us. Both of'em want me dead, and both of'em want ya as a trophy." He turned to shake his head. "Ya can't fight with us. I know yer gonna hate me fer sayin' this, but yer just a breather."

Lydia glared crossing the floor to stand on the tips of her toes. She fisted her hand in his hair and brought his face down to her level, crashing her lips against his. His lips parted in shock and her tongue coaxed his into a violent, passionate dance as his arms wrapped around her, lifting the tiny body into the air and crushing her body against his.

When they finally parted, Betel stumbled back a bit, still stunned. Lydia panted, fisting her hands on her hips. "I'm not just some spineless little breather Beej." Still… there was so much she hadn't told him, so much she'd forgotten if she'd told him, or wanted to tell him but couldn't find the way to do so. "Six years ago, almost exactly, you tried to marry me." She shook her hair over her shoulder, straightening up as much as she could to stare him coolly in the eye. "I survived that. We've been through Hell and back this last year, and I've survived it all with you. I love you Beej, and I will not let you go off to fight in what is both of our battle."

Betel sighed. He didn't want her to come. She was so frail, still so full of delicate life…

But he knew he wouldn't win.

"Lyds… alright. But I got a few conditions-

"One: we go right now. I take ya around, ya listen ta what everyone says. Ya never fought exorcised ghosts before. Truth be told, mosta us ain't either. But the ways've been passed down over the centuries."

Lydia nodded. "Alright."

"Kay, two: ya stick close ta me, Juno, Vince, Jacques and Ginger, or Monster, 'case somethin' happens."

Lydia nodded again. "Can do."

"Three, and Babes… Babes I'm bein' totally serious on this one. This is my most important." He stepped forward, gripping the tops of her arms as he stared hard down at her. "If anythin', anythin' happens, or if one of us tell ya to: Get. Yerself. Outta there. Got it?"

Lydia frowned. "Beej-"

Betel shook his head. "No Lydia, no negotiatin' on this. Don't worry about us, at all. If we tell ya, get outta there, that moment. Run, call my name, get the hell outta there and get ta safety. Please."

Lydia took a deep breath, dropping her head in defeat. "Okay."

Betel sighed, pulling her against him. "God kid, ya totally fucked over the bad-ass rep I worked fer so long ta build up, ya know that?"

Lydia chuckled, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I sure hope I didn't totally ruin it. You wouldn't be any fun at all if you turned all happy and nice and proper. I like'em dirty, crude and lewd." She lifted a hand and pat it against his belly. "With a healthy beer gut."

Betel rolled his eyes, kissing the top of her head. "Yeah I bet. Say them magic B-words Babes."

The void spit them out onto a dismal gray desert.

Lydia gasped, moving closer to Betelgeuse as monsters stormed pass her, covered in mismatching leather armor, carrying cruel, gleaming weapons or hauling supplies across the camp.

Monsters stretched for as far as the eye could see, preparing for the battle that was fast approaching.

"Betelgeuse… Lydia… Lydia why are you here?" The pair turned to see Vince and Juno staring open-mouthed at them, mostly Lydia as she stepped forward, glaring.

"I've already decided, and you can't not let me. I care about everyone here." He tried to hide her nausea and fear, her shaking knees as she stared across the ground at them. "I'm going to fight with you."

Juno shook her head, but another voice cut across her, and Lydia was suddenly covered by two bodies.

Barbara shook her head, leaning away to shake her. "Lydia what are you doing here?!"

Adam spun to face Betelgeuse, glaring daggers. "What the hell is your problem?!? How dare you bring her here?! Don't you care that she's pre-"

"Adam!" Lydia yanked hard on his arm, quashing down her fear at his almost-slip-of-the-tongue. "Adam I made him!" everyone but Betel stared at her in shock. The poltergeist hung his head and shoved his hands into his pockets, glaring at his feet. "I am not going to sit here while you fight eight crazy bastards that are after me and Betelgeuse. I am not any old mortal breather!"

Juno shook her head, looking up at Vince as he frowned thoughtfully at Lydia. "You're lowness you can't let her! She doesn't know how to fight!"

Vince took a deep breath, turning away from the group as he paced away.

Lydia watched, hoping against everyone else's hope as the Prince paced to and fro, expression twisted in concentration. When he finally returned, he stared hard at Lydia. "Loathe as I am to say it, we can use her. She possesses Tobias' power." Betel's eyes shot wide open, and he lifted his head, but Vince continued. "She and Betelgeuse are two of our most powerful allies. Come with me Lydia. Juno, Betelgeuse, see to the defense squad. Mr. and Mrs. Maitland, report to the blacksmith, and prepare yourselves." Vince held out a hand for Lydia, leading her through the thick crowd as Betel stared after her in horror. The only reason his feet moved was because of Juno using her own magic to push him along.

Lydia watched in fascination as plates of iron were hammered into shape while her leather padding was latched into place.

Vince kept up a running commentary as his own armor was fitted. "Iron is a nearly fool-proof defense against ghosts. It's like acid to us, and wards us off. Iron horseshoes were often hung over the doorways of homes in the old days, and in some areas still today to block the evil of our kind from invading homes."

Someone yanked Lydia's hair back, twisting it up before a knife sliced clean through. "HEY!"

Vince shook his head. "You can't wear a pony tail under your armor, and long hair only gets in your face. I'll see to it that someone grows it back for you."

Lydia watched as her tail of hair was carried off. "So I won't be able to be possessed while I wear this?"

Vince nodded. "You're heart and mind will be shielded from all invasions. Now, silver is more of an offense. It sickens the weaker of us, weakens us and poisons us if we are stabbed. Your blade is being forged from iron and silver."

As soon as Lydia's armor was fitted and taken off to make the final adjustments, she was hauled off for a crash course in sword fighting.

Lydia grit her teeth as the smug, growling bastard across from her smashed his fourth sword against her shield. The wooden imitation swords were lighter, weaker than a real sword, but Lydia was getting the idea. And the bruises.

"Look at this stupid little bitch. Betel sure can pick'em." His group snickered, but Vince silenced them with a cold glare. Her attacker continued to laugh wildly as she pushed herself up, still snarling. "The mighty 'Ghost with the Most' sure has fallen off his ladder. His whore can't ev-AAAAAAAAGGGGHHH!!!"

The ghost was flung from the circle, and Lydia straightened, staring at her smoking palm.

Vince smiled, stepping forward to pat a hand against her shoulder. "Marie has unlocked her family's power. Use it wisely Lydia. In the right hands, the white magic flowing through your veins could easily level half of what is coming. Which reminds me, I had one of my servants dig it up for you." He pulled a small book from his coat, pressing it into her palm. "A book of the basic workings of magic and a few low-level spells. I do hope it can help you."

Lydia smiled, leaning up to kiss Vince's cheek. "Thank you Vince. For everything."

The suns were setting over the horizon as Lydia removed her helmet, and set it beside her on the stone.

Her legs hung over the cliff that overlooked the camp. Lanterns had been lit all around and still there was a never-ending stream of traffic.

This had all happened so fast…

Lydia sighed, lifting her head to try and see the stars.

"Hey Lyds."

Lydia's face broke into a bright smile as her head whipped around to find her poltergeist grimacing down at her. She chuckled, studying his change in appearance. "Wow, short hair."

Betel rolled his eyes, scratching the top of his head, irritated. "I look like a moron."

Lydia chuckled, patting the space beside her. "Come sit with me."

His hair wasn't the only thing that changed, though it was much shorter than any time he'd ever posed as BJ. It was less than an inch long, shaggy and jaggedly shaved in the barber's haste. He wore an old-fashioned tunic that fell to his elbows and was held tight against his waist by a thick leather belt. He wore actual trousers with padded knees and groin and heavy steel boots. He looked so medieval.

Betel flopped beside her, leaning back on his arms as he took his turn in studying her armor and cropped hair. He grimaced, lifting a hand to stroke the brutally chopped raven locks. "I can't believe it. They killed yer hair…"

Lydia shrugged. "It will grow. You like it long?"

Betel chuckled, turning his head to stare out across the camp. "M'still sorta tryin' ta wrap my mind around all this. Never thought anythin' like this would happen, even with these dudes after us."

Lydia scooted closer, leaning against him as she closed her eyes. "I know the feeling…" Her hand rubbed almost absently over her armored stomach. "Apparently I really do have powers. I just had to wait for a great-ancestor to deem me worthy." She chuckled.

Betel frowned, turning his head. "Yeah… what was that all about? Ya have Tobias' power?"

And then Lydia couldn't hold back the floodgates. Everything from his own origins to her ancestor back to the curse and to the creation of Ahriman. Everything but the baby.

She couldn't. She couldn't bring herself to put that on him on what could possibly be their last night together.

Lydia talked for nearly an hour, until her throat grew sore.

Betel exhaled deeply.

"So… There's a chance I'm gonna wind up fuckin' everyone over…"

"No." Lydia shifted so she could lay her head in his lap. "I'll never let it happen Beej. I'm the one that is supposed to sway you one way or another. And I won't let Tobias take you from me."

Betel's hand stroked absently through her cropped hair. "Our lives suck… ya know that? S'like… why the fuck can't destiny just mind its own damn business and leave us alone?"

Lydia laughed. "Well… I'm glad destiny nosed in. We might never have come together without destiny."

Betel smiled, leaning down to kiss her slowly. He pulled away, but her hand curled in the front of his tunic and pulled him down to her again.

And suddenly she was away from the cliff, and pulling his tunic over his head and he had juiced her armor off into a pile away from the cliff's edge, and their bodies were rocking together as the last rays of the higher sun disappeared below the horizon.

I JUST HAD TO GET THIS OUT HERE AND YOU KNOW WHY?!?!!?!!1!?!o?n!e!?!!?!!??!?

BECAUSE I HAVE ALL BUT THE LAST CHAPTER WRITTEN! ALL I HAVE TO DO IS EDIT!!!

Anyway, there it is.

Short, sweet, and to the point I guess.

WHOOO-HOOO! Big Battle time next chapter!

LoliPear: But there's sort of a point to having the baby in this one.I apologize for disappointing you, though I sincerely hope you stick around for the next installment, despite your disappointment. And I feel like maybe I'm making him a little too OOC… I'm a little horrified by that. And yes, the war is coming, and I hope I did it justice.

Prats 'R' Us: Lol, glad you enjoyed! Strawberry or cookie dough? I have both. Anyway, yes, she's one bad-ass powerful little sorceress, which was surprisingly hard to actually write. Imagining is so much easier. ;p. And yes, Ahriman is related to our favorite Goth. And still no big reveal yet. Playing it up as I tend to over-do. ;p.

RaversAnthem: Yes you did! xD. Glad you enjoyed!

BlackRose-FlowerofDeath: Did you know I've never actually been able to finish that, or Meet the Spartans, despite the many times I try? Something always interrupts me! It's insanity! Hah… I should try and draw that… and after this I believe we are only getting to chapter 28. =(. So close to a good, even number. Oh well.

Ceysna: I tried, glad you enjoyed! And all of that is coming up soon enough, though some of it may wait until next story… Anyway, glad you are enjoying!