Sorry for the (semi-)sabbatical from the story people, writer's block strikes at the most inopportune times.

~Shadow

The Next Day

Shadow awoke slowly, feeling somewhat weak, sighing, he shook his head ignoring it "I have more important matters to deal with today, come noon, only one of us will be left standing Jake."

Jake awoke as well much to the same train of thought, and he prepared his weapon, making sure it was loaded "only one thing can stop me now." Jake gave, with several clicks to get his rattle loaded. Before slithering out to the saloon to grab himself a drink or two before noon.

Shadow on the other hand was checking himself over, cleaning his weapons, and making sure every part worked perfectly. The black dragon went about this task with an apparent dedication, as if the task itself was saving him from madness. His shadow moving seemingly of it's own accord, as Lucien prepared for what he knew could not be stopped. The train was set into motion, the gears turning. Even if the emergency brake was tripped, he would still coast miles before his plans come to a halt, and even then, most of them would be complete, and all it would require is a small push from him before everything was changed forever. Lucian began to laugh, a silent dark laugh that emanated across the planes, but stayed quieter then the dirt on which the town was built.

The two combatants finished their preparations before taking their positions, a minute before noon. This was it, the moment Lucien pushed for, Shadow yearned for, and Jake feared.

"You ready?" Shadow asked, his hand hovering close to his gun.

"As ready as I'll ever be fer this here event." he gives, his rattle turning as it loaded a couple rounds

A white dragoness watched from the saloon, where the vast majority of the townsmen who stayed were at the moment. Breathing stopped as the countdown started. Ten... Nine... Eight... Rango stepped out from his office, looking on from the sidelines. Seven... Six... Five... Lucien pondered on the tasks that led to this moment. Four... Three... Two... Shadow and Jake tensed, ready to draw the instant after they heard the last number. One... The two moved so fast, it was a blur to the bystanders, four bullets whizzed by Shadow, the fourth hitting him in his chest and the fifth in his off-hand.

Jake didn't fair better, the first two bullets impaling themselves in a bloody explosion in his underbelly a third bouncing off his rattle-gun and the last three shots whizzing harmlessly past. Both pitched forward, seemingly dead. Shadow though, moved a minute later, clenching his teeth and fist through he pain, he moved through the haze of blood-loss to grab his gun, which he aimed at an unconcious jake and pulled the trigger. Clicks where his response as he dropped, now completely unresponsive.

The town soon busted into activity, one doctor hurrying over to treat Jake, another doctor tending to Shadow, Who, with an exclimation of surprise, grabbed at the hand Shadow gripped him with, red marks slowly starting to crawl their way down from his red eyes. It scared the man immensely, and a couple seconds later, when Shadow was fully covered in those horrible red, puffy looking red marks did he stand, still holding the doc by the throat. A low growl, and said doctor burst into flame, screaming his agony to everyone present, who were frozen in terror and astonishment.

The doctor did not survive such horrible black fire, soon, his body was hanging limp within the demon's grasp, who carelessly tossed him aside into a heap. The demon began walking, the dirt turning black as it's red-accented scales from such an intense evil presence. "Finally..." it hisses, Shadow's voice horribly distorted and, for lack of a better word, evil. "Finally I am free... Finally I do as I wish... Finally, I can RULE!" His hands shot skyward, and with an intense screaming sound, thousands of cracks opened on the road, leaving souls to pour into the sky, frozen in agony. Their cries a piercing wail of pain, terror, and agony. Whispers spoke to everyone, women who didn't exist were crying, men were calling out for loved ones long gone. From those cracks spewed black fire with the souls, and blackened bones reached their way up, crawling out of the openings to hell and grisly taking up weapons. Bits of flesh still clinging to their malformed and destroyed bodies. Blood, poured out of empty eye sockets. The one remaining doctor, quickly grabbed up Jake, and carried his ass back to Rango, who hurriedly got him inside. The white dragoness turned with a gentle sigh away from the scene of horror. Everyone had either rushed out of the Saloon, hastily grabbing their stuff, or were stood frozen at the sight before them. Watching as their world was taken over, swiped out from under the feet of both God and the Devil.

She was just prepared to leave when looking up, she saw a ocean-blue dragon holding a hand out to her.

"My Silv..." he smiles, a smile the white dragoness didn't see in ages.

"S-si?" she asks, her eyes lighting up In happiness, joining her love once more "Si! Oh, my Si..." she nuzzled the blue dragon, oblivious to everything but him "Finally... your back where you belong..."

The blue dragon nuzzles the white one gently, "How I've waited so long to hear that nickname again... Sitael... It's almost a ghost to me now..." he kissed her lightly "Although I don't think I'll be joining you back in my old place at his holy table. I've... I've done so much..."

The white dragoness was quick to shush his thoughts away from what he did in the past "Our lord is forgiving. His mercy knows no bounds, you remember what he did with the one the humans call Jesus. How he helped the Jews in their endeavors. How he gave Mohammad his teachings."

The blue dragon nodded his assent "Yeah... I remember... but this..." he looked out to the window, watching as the dread warriors attacked every house, slaughtering those who didn't fight back. "This is unforgivable, and I let it happen."

Silver shook her head again "He has already forgiven you, Love of my heart. Your punishment was complete ages ago. Your no longer bear the title 'Fallen' It wasn't by his will that you remained with that demon for the rest of your mortal life. It was by Lucien, and his mad grab for power. You were used by a demon wishing to satisfy his desires. He coveted the world, and he will pay for it. Though, that is for another time. We must go."

"But I can't leave them behind. I couldn't live with myself if I did." Sitael responded. "Not Rango, or Jake, or the people of the town I've come to make friends with, nor the others I've gained along the way. I have to stay, if only to help them retake their world, but please, go back home. Rally our forces. Try and get the angels involved. And for god sakes, get that bastard Samael to shut his ass up and see that this is only the beginning if we don't get the council involved now."

Silver giggled lightly "Being mortal changed you, my love. I like it, and I'm sure His mercy will extend to grant you your request. I shall go immediately, stay safe." she gave him a quick kiss, then seemed to phase out of existance as he felt light, and then heavy as his body gained physical form, muscles and bone growing where previously there was none. Then came the fun part. Sneak past Lucien and find Rango and Jake. Though as engrossed in finding a place to put his castle he would build over the bodies of the slain and fallen, Sitael didn't think he would have much of a problem with that. Steeling himself for the battles ahead, he opened the saloon door, and charged out.