I had to rewrite this chapter at least twice, and there was some problems with loading it, and i'm still not sure that it came out the way i wanted it to, but here it is, without furthur ado, chapter 12. Hopefully a lot of things will be explained!

disclaimer: i don't own GoT, and i used a line/concept from the Matrix, which is an awesome movie, but i don't own that either.

"We've been through a lot together--and most of it was your fault."

Isabel

Matt came home grinning like a complete and total idiot Saturday night, so I knew that everything had gone according to plan. It was actually really hard not to tell Neriah that Matt was going to Prom to try to win her back, but I totally managed to keep the secret.

It's Monday and I've cut last period so I can "help" Arkarian set up for the meeting. He's really gotten into the snack thing actually…today he's got chocolate chip cookies and celery set out.

"Arkarian…please don't tell me that you baked those."

"What?" he shrugs. "It was easy; the instructions are on the back."

I just have to smile and shake my head. "So you bake now?"

He raises an eyebrow. "Hasn't anyone ever told you that I'm mysterious in ways that no human can understand?"

"I just didn't think those 'mysterious ways' included magic in the kitchen, Betty Crocker." Those words are barely out of my mouth when he kisses me. And we're kissing when Matt, Neriah, and Dillon come in.

"Whoa there, horn dogs. Let's stop the PDA!" Dillon pretends to cower in revulsion as he shields his face. I see a flicker of annoyance in Matt's face, but he's used to it by now. Neriah's just smiling at me. I can tell she's figured out my part in Saturday's plot.

"We're not IN a public place, we're in my home." Arkarian points out wisely.

"Fine then, stop the GDAWNPYP." Dillon shrugs.

"The GDA-what?"

"Gross Displays of Affection While Normal People are in Your Presence," Dillon shrugs as if this is the most obvious thing in the world.

I flush a little, but reply hotly "Dillon, you don't qualify as a normal-"

"I thought the Prom drama was over?" Shaun walks in with Jimmy.

"Wait, don't tell me, let me guess: Arkarian's secret passion for Dillon has come out, but Isabel's having a problem with her pride, even though she's secretly relieved because Ethan's been the object of her lust all along-" Jimmy is cut off by the entrance of more Named.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa…who's lusting after Ethan?" Rochelle demands, walking in with Gabe in her arms.

"Everybody." Ethan, Matt, and Jimmy reply in unison.

"ALRIGHT, I vote we start the meeting-" Lord Penbarin is here. Matt must have invited him and rest of the Tribunal. Instantly things get more serious.

People take their normal seats around the room. Matt's at the front, with Neriah seated with the rest of the Tribunal, who are on stools or standing. Arkarian is standing with his arms around me in the back. Matt has almost fully grown into his position as a leader, but sometimes he still thinks that Arkarian could do it better. It's better if Arkarian's not visible and prominent. Ethan and Rochelle are stretch out on the couch, with Gabe between them. Dillon's rocking on a stool.

"Four days ago in earth time, a child was taken from his home in a 17th century French orphanage and brought back here to Angel Falls." Matt begins. Gabe giggles loudly, and Ethan shrinks into the couch. "No, Ethan, it wasn't your fault. This boy didn't seem to be as…stunned…as one might expect him to be. The fact that he's two years old yet seems to have helped. The young minds are so much more willing to believe and able to adapt."

"He's two and a half, actually." Rochelle mentions, prompting an eye roll from Lord Penbarin.

"Whatever. Anyways," Matt continues unruffled. "What Ethan, Isabel, and Neriah didn't know when they brought the boy back was that the day before, Jimmy drained Veridian."

"Darn. It would have made in interesting swimming hole." Dillon interrupts.

"No, it wouldn't have." Ethan and Rochelle say at the same time, sharing a smile.

"Oh, yeah, forgot about your near-death experience-"

"WHAT HE FOUND after all the water had been replaced to the lake was that the prophecy was…changed."

There is a complete silence for once. The Prophecy can change?

"Changed?" Neriah frowns.

"Actually, it's a whole new one." Jimmy speaks up. "Pertaining to…more."

"More Named?" Ethan asks, looking surprised.

"No, no…you and only you can be Named." Matt speaks up. "But…they are Chosen."

"The Chosen? Are you kidding me?" Dillon speaks up. "We're being replaced?"

"Not replaced. Although remember, some of us aren't going to be around forever." Jimmy shares an amused look with Shaun. Dillon forgets that he was never actually Named in the first place. "But there is a new generation coming in, with their own part to play in the infinitive battle of good and evil."

"So you're saying that when the Prophecy said that it was the final battle…they were just joking?" Rochelle demands. Gabe is playing with her hair, and I feel a new respect as I look at the little toddler who will grow up to help save the world. Good thing that he has a good disposition.

"It was never said it was final-"

"Only that the world would be free." Rochelle answers.

"Wow, who's the nerd who memorized the Prophecy?" Dillon mutters.

"Shut it, moron."

"Free from Lathenia's grip." Arkarian speaks up at last. "But now there are new enemies, along with the old. Evil has found a way to survive yet again."

"As it must." Lady Arabella speaks at last. She looks older but no less elegant than she did a month ago. "When the world was created, there was a balance between the Light and the Dark. As much as we hate the Evil, without it the world would be a painless Utopia."

"What's so wrong with that?" Dillon asks.

"Human beings define their reality through suffering and misery. The perfect world would be a dream that your cerebrum would keep trying to wake up from, and no one would accept it. Think of how boring the perfect life would be after awhile." Lady Devine follows Arabella's train of thought. And it does make sense. "In a way, we need the Dark side, people like Marduke and Carter. It's just when they try to take over and tip the scale in favor of evil that we have a problem with it."

"So this...the Order of Chaos…is going to be around forever? We'll be fighting it until the end of time?" Rochelle looks thoughtful.

"Essentially, yes." Matt bites his lip. "And now, we've discovered a new generation to help continue the battle."

"And that's where this little guy comes in?" Ethan nudges Gabe, who's sitting there stoically now, as if actually listening and understanding. He's only two-and a half-but somehow I get the weird sense that he understands a lot more than we think he does.

"He is mentioned, yes." Arkarian says. I can't believe he didn't tell me this until Prom night.

"Can we see it?" Rochelle asks suddenly. She has this weird look on her face, and then I realize that she's feeling protective over Gabe! She's actually dismayed that he's in danger! Quickly I cover my thoughts so that she doesn't hear them and squawk or something.

"Yes, I was actually planning to take you there next…" Matt nods. "Everyone must come."

"Oh boy…field trip!" Dillon jumps up, excited again. The whole group-the Named, Tribunal, and Gabe-trek through Arkarian's quarters through the back secret passageway into Veridian. The last time I was here, Ethan and I had to hurdle through obstacles placed by Jimmy to protect the ancient treasure. These obstacles have been washed away and worn down by the water, so that it's quite easy to just walk through.

"Um, Jimmy? Shouldn't this new prophecy be…protected?" I ask. It seems as though Marduke could just waltz right in here and destroy it.

"Yes, but Marduke doesn't know of the Prophecy's change yet. He probably thinks that it's still flooded. And there's simple force field, of course, which I removed for our coming. But yes, I'm working on the new fortifications right away, and they should hold up slightly better than our last ones. Different, anyways, for the first time in thousands of years."

Finally we reach the huge wall where the Prophecy is written, several meters tall and wide. This new Prophecy is also written in the simple-yet-pain-in-the-ass code: every seventh letter is English, but it's also weirdly twisted or upside down or something. Matt has brought paper and begins to decipher it. It takes ages.

"Matt? Hurry…I think Gabe has to go potty."

"He's not the only one." Ethan mutters.

"Alright I've got it." Matt reads it out loud.

"As the New Age begins, a traitor takes his rightful side.

Old enemies reappear who have taken some from all,

Vengeance burns on both sides.

"The downfall of he cannot come about

Until an innocent youth is brought forth

He will lead into victory the five Chosen

Who have been called.

"A fighter shall be merciful, a flower show her thorns

And one who is clouded in mystery

Shall be shown as much more than he seems.

"The last two warriors, joined by blood, share a dark and dangerous past.

To unlock their true power, they must set aside their internal strife

And learn to trust the other.

"Different personalities shall cause as much good as grief

Once they are all accepted, but

Beware the treacherous heart that plants

Doubts and mistrust abound."

There is complete silence for a moment. Then Dillon breaks it:

"Who writes these things?"

And there you have it. please review and let me know how i did, and if there's any questions i can answer for you. It really means a lot! (sarah, use your name this time-i think i've got you pegged. and read that book.) i'll be on vacation until next thursday, but hopefully i can write and then just type it up. until next time,

-HaLo