The next 36 hours seemed to fly by and everyone was preparing for the meeting. The clansmen had heard that the Cullen's would be sparring with the Hamilton's today. As the sun broke the mountaintop on Thursday morning the hills surrounding the training grounds were already packed full of people who wanted to watch. Most were there to root for the Hamilton's but some held signs cheering on the Cullen's, they were the ones who could not help but root for the underdog. All matches would be with training swords or hand to hand combat. You had to pin your opponent for 10 seconds to win and if you had a gift you could use it. Everyone was warned this is real and no mercy is to be shown. Emmett was up first.

He had chosen to fight Soren because he was a full berserker and Emmett had never seen one before arriving here let alone fight one. As Soren stalked onto the field towards Emmett he began rethinking his decision. As Soren slipped deeper into berserkergang he was growing. When he stopped he was a foot taller, appeared to have gained 50 lbs and moved like a cat - game on. They circled each other a few times waiting for the other to strike. The entire match lasted 56 seconds. Soren disarmed Emmett on his second swing, pinned him and then sat on his chest. Soren was smug, Emmett was shocked and then angry as he left the field.

Jasper had chosen Grim and they were almost an even match. Grim was able to disarm him within 45 seconds but hand to hand was where Jasper excelled. He managed to almost pin Grim twice before he found himself pinned in a move so fast all Jasper saw was a blur. Jasper jumped up and he was pissed, "Have you just been toying with us, with me?" Grim looked at him, "No and actually at 4 minutes 17 seconds that is the longest I have ever sparred with someone who was not a member of my immediate family. I actually was fighting with you at my normal strength but the speed of the creatures you will be fighting. After the second time you almost pinned me I realized I needed to step up my game to win and there was no way I was going to lose. I would never hear the end of it. You should be proud of yourself, you did very well."

Esme wanted to go next and she had chosen Iris because she was a vampire. Esme was tentative going against her and everyone could see it. Esme was not a fighter, until Iris began to taunt her. "We are here to take your family from you. You are too weak to protect yourself let alone your family. They will die and you will watch because you don't have what it takes to save them. You will be forced to watch as I take your mate and make him beg for mercy before I tear his hea..." At that statement Esme let out a feral growl and pounced on her. She was able to wrestle Iris to ground for a few seconds before she was thrown off and pinned 30 seconds later. As she was getting up Iris said, "You did well Esme your anger both works for and against you. You need to harness that rage and control it so that it fuels your rage but don't let it distract you from what is happening around you."

Rosalie stepped out next and had chosen Jillian thinking it would be an even fight. She knew Jillian was a shifter and both times Rose had seen her shift into a falcon so she didn't think she would have an advantage. Her fight was over even faster than Emmett's, she lasted 33 seconds. Jillian shifted into a falcon and while Rose stood under her with a smug look on her face she shifted into a Siberian tiger and knocked Rose to the ground. Once Rose was on her back Jillian shifted back into human form and pinned her. Rose was pissed, "Get off of me! How dare you, you bitch, fight fair." With that statement Jillian cut her off, "Bitch is it. You were told in the beginning to use a gift if you had it. I have one and I used it. You are the one who had a smug superior look on your face thinking I could only shift into one form. You all need to understand that you do not know your opponents as well as you think you do. Take nothing at face value and expect anything. You, Rose, need to learn that you are not the most important person in a room and people will not bow down to you just because you wish it."

That left Edward and Alice. Edward decided to go next and he was glad he got to choose because he had no intention of fighting Gabriel. He knew the highlander had something to prove and would drag out his beating more than necessary. He chose Leif because both times Leif had spoken of Edward's feelings for Isabelle it had been with compassion. He was praying that some of that compassion would be used in this fight. He should have known better. He lasted longer than Emmett but not as long as Jasper at 2 minutes 6 seconds and only because he was a mind reader. Leif spoke after let him up, "I know why you picked me and it was a sound strategy, however, in a true battle you will not have a choice of who you fight. Remember Edward in battle if you want to win compassion is never shown, never."

Alice was the last one out and she had chosen Heidi because she knew she came out fine in the end if she did. She couldn't see the fight but she knew this would give her the best outcome. It was comical, even the Cullen's were laughing. Heidi walked out onto the field looking at Alice holding her sword and starting murmuring the spells she would need. First she had Alice lay down her sword, and then Alice lay down on the ground shouting "I surrender" and after the 10 seconds Alice got up, picked up her sword and resumed the stance she had before. Alice was looking at Heidi and said, "Well, are you ready to start?" Heidi laughed and said, "It's over and lasted all of 27 seconds." Alice stood there with her mouth open as Heidi went to rejoin her family. Once she reached them the clan sent up cheers that they had won.

Carlisle and Thorne walked towards the field gaining Gabriel's attention. Carlisle spoke first saying, "Everything is done and the results are on your desk waiting for you." "Thank you, Carlisle." He replied and then turned to his son asking, "Were you able to get it?" Thorne nodded, "Yes and I also took a phone call about the Council meeting. It is to be held in the Nevada desert in the United States. They are faxing a map of the exact location." Gabriel looked at Isabelle, "This is not good, I wonder who picked the location." He then turned address the Cullen's, "You all did well for a first sparring match with us. Your battle weapons are done and will be delivered to you. Use the time before the meeting tonight to get used to them and practice. We will discuss our findings and theories with you at that time. Have a good day."

Sunset found the Hamilton's and Cullen's gathered around the table in the solar with all sorts of papers spread out on it. Isabelle stood, picked up a stack of papers and put them in the middle of the table. "These are the test results from the hybrids. They are genetically engineering them with the human girls that were taken. They are mixing everything lycan/vampire, druid/lycan, vampire/voodoo, voodoo/werewolf, druid/werewolf, druid/witch the list goes on and on. The DNA types recognized are: druid, werewolf, vampire, lycan, voodoo, gypsy, witch, shifter and perhaps the most troubling demon. The demon DNA means they have pulled something from the underworld besides Brude's. It appears the only type they haven't acquired is fae and berserker. Some of them are fairly evenly mixed but others were definitely bred for a certain trait, either strength or intelligence. They have all been given growth hormones to a point, but the ones bred for strength were given more and they are also more aggressive. That seems to be the only drawback to the hormones their aggressiveness. They werewolves are teaching them to fight and as much as it sickens me to admit this, they are building themselves quite the newborn army. If there are not any questions let's move on to who is behind this."

She looked around the table to be sure no one had questions then continued. "First you need to understand about Brude's. When Earth was young is when the Fae and Brude's arrived. They got along well with each other and around the time humans arrived other creatures did also, demons. The demons were savages and started killing the humans. The Fae and Brude's joined together to banish the demons to the underworld. Millennia passed and there were only small problems until the Inca's. The Fae were happy sitting back and observing humanity but not the Brude's any big jump in technology is because of them. They reached a point where they wanted to make the humans slaves to them but then the Brude women became extinct because so few were born and they started forcefully taking human women that is when the Fae stepped in. It took a decade but the Fae were finally able to banish all 12 of the remaining Brude's to the underworld. They have not been happy there and have been trying to escape every since. Most of the really weird things the Druids have done over the centuries are ceremonies they preformed trying to let the Brude's out."

Isabelle took her seat by Gabriel at the table, "Now it is time to discuss who is behind this and the real reason why they are doing this to your coven Carlisle." She laid her hand on top of Gabriel's and he continued, "We are the ultimate target Carlisle, your coven is just the catalyst to start the process. When Isabelle gives her report stating that you are innocent is when we expect the charges to be brought against her and the Guardians of being biased and protecting a guilty coven. They will use the fact that she personally marked you and we are sure by now they know about her relationship with you all when she was human. It will be used to discredit and turn the clans against her. The Guardians have settled most disputes between the clans without blood shed and if they are out of the way the clans will quickly war with each other. Because the Volturi insisted that she investigate I am sure the ones behind this are ready to strike against them too. When Emmett's memories are activated is when we will know they are prepared to act. My best guess as to how they want this to happen is like this. Isabelle would say you are innocent, someone brings up about her connection to you and then Emmett's memories are activated and either he or another member of your coven would give something away about his memory and he would be forced to admit he did it. At that point the accuser would be proven right, the Guardians would be held and possibly punished at that time but that is not what is going to happen."

The Cullen's were stunned. They had no idea what to say to anything they had heard. Carlisle spoke first, "Why now? Who is behind this? Someone has gone to a lot of trouble to set this up, what if it doesn't work? What then?"

Gabriel raised his hand so Carlisle would stop for a moment. "The first question is easy. Why now, because people are starting to believe again. Not as much as in the middle ages but mystical things are starting to be 'in' again and with that in mind if this plan doesn't work they will just continue to fan the flames of discourse in the human world until they find a plan that does work. In the meantime if the clans are fighting amongst themselves then it makes less fighting they will have to due later to gain control of everything. The ultimate prize in this game is Earth, our place in the world and who rules."

"Who is behind this? The Brude's are the final puppet masters of this but there are several layers to get to them. They are using the Druids and their magic to come and go from the underworld. They are using the werewolves as the muscle and guard dogs for the girls. Druids and werewolves are seen as the bottom of the mythical world. They can only go up and I am sure have been promised much for their help and were stupid enough to believe whatever they were promised. The Romanian vampires are also closely involved in this plot and they want to rule the remaining vampires when this is done and are willing to report to the Brude's. One of the Lycan clans is also involved, although at this time we are unsure which one it is either the French or the Russians. But we are sure it is one of them and they are responsible for keeping the hybrid's in line. The leader of the clan involved will take over and rule the Lycans, while reporting to the Brude's. If the Brude's win they will imprison the humans and maybe some other creatures so they can rule openly. The world as we now know it would be over. The Brude's are dark vicious creatures who have no regard for anyone else. Just as they came to Earth they are capable of leaving it once it has been used up, however with today's technology they could also take prisoners with them and move on to destroy another planet. The Fae have said they will not step in again, that we have everything we need to defeat them forever and that is what we plan to do. We have a strategy that includes your coven but before we get into that we need to ask and make sure all of you are in. This is a not a choice to be taken lightly, understand that some of us at this table may not survive it. If you need time to discuss this amongst yourselves we understand but if you want to help us we need to know very soon."

Carlisle looked at his family and they all nodded to him. "We are all in" he said, "We have nothing to lose by doing this and everything to gain. We would not be able to stand by and let something take over Earth. What is the strategy?"

"Good, then let's get down to business" Gabriel said pulling out a map of the world. "First, we will need to call the Volturi. While the brothers are required at the meeting their entire guard is not permitted. We want to send them to take care of the Romanians. Once Aro is told the entire plot I am sure he will not object. Next, we want to send Siobhan's coven and your nomad allies to South America to eliminate the werewolves at the compound where the girls are being held. They can drop the girls off in the closest major city. No one but the human women are to get out alive, this must be stressed to them. Are you alright asking this of your allies Carlisle?"

"Yes, I am fine with it. Especially if I can explain more of what is happening to them I am sure they will help." "That's fine" Gabriel said, "The phones here are secure with the first call just ask them to start moving south and when it is to late for it to matter you can call back and tell them exactly what to do. The Denali Coven needs to meet us in Nevada and we will explain then what they are needed for to them."

"Normally when I go to a council meeting I just take 2-3 Guardians with me but for this one they will all be accompanying me." Isabelle stated. "This will immediately make people wonder what is happening and I have no intention of explaining. Now, Leif and Digby will be leading the group going to London to take care of the Druid's there. That is where the largest gathering of them is located and they will also be in position to keep an eye on Stonehenge. Michael & Grimm will go to Siberia and lead the group against the werewolves left there; I expect most of werewolves to be somewhere near the council meeting. Ruth has assured me that the gypsies will take care of the wolves left in Romania. Ingram and Keldan will be going to New Orleans to take care of the voodoo priestesses and Thunder will be staying here to protect the clan. That leaves Gabriel, Soren, Haldor and Thorne to go with us to the meeting, as well as all the Cullen's."

"We are less sure of how things will go at the actual meeting because we don't yet know who will be there." Gabriel continued. "Isabelle will go to the meeting with Carlisle, Esme, Emmett and Rosalie as well as all the Guardians with the exception of Kate. They will get the feel of things from who is there and hopefully deep listening to them. Be prepared at all times to defend yourselves. If asked, Soren, Kate and I are bringing the rest of the Cullen's and will arrive in time before the actual meeting starts. In reality we will split up at the Nevada border; Edward & Soren will approach from the north, Haldor & Jasper from the east, Alice and I will come from the south and Thorne and Kate from the west. What we need is information; who is out there, where are they and how many are there and what is their plan? We will meet up with each other and the Denali's in Reno 6 hours before the meeting is due to start. Once we have more information we can figure out how to proceed."

"Are there any questions?" Isabelle asked. "OK. We leave in 5 hours so be sure you are ready. Go hunt if you need to, we will put the flag up signaling the Cullen's are in the woods. Be on the training fields in 5 hours the helicopters will take us to the airport for your flight to Las Vegas."

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or its characters.

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