Well, here it is, the big finish to my little tale. I sure hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as I've enjoyed writing it. A year and a hundred revisions later, and it's finally done. Let the rejoicing commence! Or at least a few reviews hehe.

Thank you everyone for reading, I really do appreciate it. When I push one of my books through and get published, everyone that reviews one of my pieces here gets a free copy!

There will be a sequel to this story, the outline for it is nearly done. It will cover an Amazon, necromancer, and possibly a druid cleaning up the mess left behind at the end of this story. Before I write that tale however, I'm writing a Soul Calibur fic. That story deals with Talim and Mina taking on Nightmare and Tira. Please swing by there and check it out. It's titled 'Infernal Winds'. After it's complete, the sequel will shortly appear.

Happy Thanksgiving, I'll see ya in the Soul Calibur section next week!

XX

Luther's pain and hate subsided, and he once again reverted to human form. As soon as the dizziness of the transformation passed, Luther quickly ran to Frost's lifeless body. He held her tightly in his arms, her blood still flowing from her decapitation, staining his armor crimson red. He wept, then wailed at his loss. He had loved her deeply, and now once again, he had lost the woman he loved. He did not know what he was going to do. He did not know if he could go on.

His lament was interrupted by a new, different rumbling from behind him. He quickly turned, concerned that a new threat had arisen. He realized that he had no weapon, the holy blade had dissipated the same time his wings had. He would fight unarmed if he had to.

As his eyes met the source of the noise, he realized that fighting would not be necessary. A celestial host floated down from the sky. The angel was clad in shining golden armor, and had the same pure white wings that Luther had a few moments ago. The angel also had a flaming blade. He wore a hood that obscured his features, but his glowing white eyes could still been seen.

The angel landed softly, and moved towards Luther. "Well met again paladin. I am Tyrael. You freed me back in Tal Rasha's tomb." Tyrael explained.

"Yes, I remember, I am honored to be in your presence again." Luther greeted the angel.

"Do not be so hasty in your praise, not until you hear what I have to say." The angel warned.

A confused look spread across Luther's face.

"It is true that you have dispatched Diablo, the greatest task any mortal has ever done. But when you did so, you crossed a line. Though it should be impossible for any mortal to do, you somehow tapped into the power of the very heavens themselves. You called down a level of Holy power so high that you turned into an angel yourself.

"Though you used this power to perform the greatest of good, you nearly brought disaster to all of existence. Mortals are not pure, they have inside them a taint of evil, no matter who they are. When you changed and pulled the heavens into yourself, a part of the evil corruption of your soul leaked out, back into the heavens.

"It has taken the most powerful of the archangel mages to prevent the evil from destroying the heavens completely. We cannot know what will become of this corruption, if it can be stopped, or if it is nothing to worry about. Because of this, we cannot allow such power to exist, for if you were to tap into the heavens again, it could destroy everything. For this, you are to be punished." Tyrael explained.

Luther was taken aback. "What do you mean, my Lord? I did not use that power willingly, nor do I even know how I could use it. Surely I don't deserve punishment for something I cannot control!"

"It does not matter. We must protect the greater world. Your power cannot go unchecked, especially uncontrolled." Tyrael said sternly.

"So I am to die then?" Luther questioned.

"No, you saved the world from Diablo, that has earned your life. There is another punishment you must face."

"I am prepared for your judgment." Luther stood with his head bowed.

"Luther, on behalf of all the heavens, I revoke your status as a paladin. Henceforth you will no longer have the power of Light. You forevermore will be a fallen paladin." Tyrael said with great authority.

With the angel's words, the Light passed from Luther. He felt his aura dissipate and die, and his strength faded. Despair gripped at Luther's heart, and he suddenly felt like he had lost most of himself. Weakness took him, and the former paladin fell to his knees as tears streaked down his face.

"I am truly sorry Luther. This had to be done. Now go back to the fortress, and Cain will take you away from this place. Live out your remaining days with the knowledge that you are the Light's greatest champion and will be remembered for all time." Tyrael said, trying to comfort Luther.

Luther did not answer, but instead continued sobbing. Tyrael patted his shoulder briefly, trying to offer courage and sympathy, before ascending back into the realm of angels.

Luther was left alone in the Sanctuary, with overwhelming despair devouring his spirit. He turned and crawled back to Frost's body, lying beside her and resting his head against her chest. He did not know what to do, what would become of him.

As he lay by his slain lover, he allowed his mind to wander back over his life. He remembered his first wife, his precious little boy. He remembered finding their lifeless bodies, and felt the pain anew. Then his thoughts drifted over this journey with Frost. He remembered the bad times, the bickering, and he remembered the good times, the greatest no more than a day past. Now Frost was gone too.

When his wife had died, he was able to go on because he was a paladin, he had something to live for. Now he did not even have that. He had lost everything he had cared about. His wife and son had died, his new love Frost had died, and the Light had turned its back on him as well.

There was nothing for him to live for. He could not be a warrior of Light. He could not dare risk love again. Everything and everyone he cared about was gone. Only one option came to his mind. Only one way to relieve the pain he suffered. He would go and join those he loved beyond the veil of death. He would be free of the mortal world and all its pain.

Luther reached over and removed Wizardspike from Frost's dead hand. He examined the blade closely, remembering how happy she was when he had given the dagger to her. Remembering her happiness and being reminded that he would never see her again solidified his resolve. He sat up and quickly brought the blade to his neck.

He plunged the dagger in his throat and tore it across as hard as he could. Pain seared through his mind as he collapsed back to the floor beside his beloved. He could hear the rush of blood spurting out of his neck. He welcomed death and the release it would bring. As the life rushed from him, he heard a soul chilling sound.

A high, cackling laugh erupted into the air, and a large, looming shadow danced on the edge of Luther's diminishing vision.

Baal…….oh……..no………. With this thought, the mighty paladin died.

3