The story has elements of both Dark War storyline and DemonxBunny's Masters of the Multiverse, so all credit goes to both Impact Wrestling and DemonxBunny. I do not own the characters, only the OCs. The story is entirely fictional.

Characters may look and act different than they do in real life. This was done intentionally, and things will change over time in this story, so please be patient.

Rating: M, for violence, coarse language, and mature themes/events that will appear throughout this story. Remember, this is Femslash, so if that's not your thing, you may not like this story.

Pairings: Allie/Rosemary (DemonxBunny), others over time.

Aftermath of the Dark War Chapter 31: Conversing with The Shadow by Jurassicfatt

Rosemary's Pov, Shadow Realm

"Mitchell is alive?!"

"Alive and well. And if we are not careful, the two of them will roll over the multiverse, killing everything and everyone they deem unfit." I take a moment to compose myself.

"So, you're telling me that two of the three most powerful Warlords in history are alive? And they're both looking for Allie?"

"Yes." This is just getting better and better. Mitchell must be the other caster Cal detected. "Yes. He is the one contacting 'the Bunny' with false promises. Your sorcerer friend is quite skilled for a dark magic user."

"What do you mean by that?"

"As Overseer of the Shadow Realm, we protect the Hive, an enormous soul forge, which seeks balance throughout the multiverse. The Hive produces an energy. This 'Hive energy' is what helps bind realms together and rip them apart. It was created by the original gods themselves, Satan among them. Many have used it for their own purposes. A minute portion of it produces the dark magic sorcerers use in the Undead Realm."

"Really? This energy actually creates dark magic?"

The Shadow hums in approval. "Some call it dark magic, others dark matter. They are one in the same. Those spells your friend casts are produced by Hive energy. However, if the kind of magic we use is analogous to skilled carpentry, then what your sorcerer friend does is similar to the whittling of sticks." the Shadow states simply. "What Certrius and Mitchell do, however, is analogous to carpentry with bone. It is a disgusting perversion of our abilities and an insult to our power." His tone is filled with disgust as he utters their names.

"'Your' power? Explain."

"As we have mentioned, we are the Overseer of the Shadow Realm. Our job is to maintain the integrity of the multiverse by any means necessary. We have other interests, but that one is paramount. We are never to intervene in the dealings of mortals, except in certain circumstances: to recruit followers, maintain the forge through the harvest of souls, and to protect the multiverse from grave threats. Before we came to be Overseer, there was another, named 'The Geruda'. A son of Satan, he was the most powerful lord of this domain, then known as the Jade Realm. He protected the multiverse from countless threats, and was feared by many. But he was fraught by his beliefs."

"How so?"

"The Geruda believed that the only way for the multiverse to expand to its full potential, was if every universe was the same. His model of a perfect universe was one where those with beings who ruthlessly conquered and deceived others to achieve power. For him, the strong, both of physical and mental capability, prevailed and the weak of mind, but especially of body, were to burn or submit to them. If the weak, either alone or in number, were able to defeat a powerful being, it was simply a fluke. 'The Hive', as he so explained, 'was wrong in protecting those unfit to rule'."

"Why would he believe that? I can think of a million ways that a Warlord has been bested by Realmers and demons in number."

"The Hive knows." the Shadow says cryptically, before continuing. "His beliefs were skewed, perhaps by his upbringing, but they were his own. One day, after years of enforcing cosmic order, he decided to turn his back on the Hive and the Multiverse. He sent out his servants to promote those Realms he favored and destroy those he despised. In quick fashion, he destroyed 3000 realms, killing countless lives and causing irrevocable harm to the cosmos. On that day, 'we' were tasked with overthrowing the Geruda and becoming the new Overseer."

"How did you do it?"

"War. He left us no choice. Our armies battled across the Jade Realm, all the while fighting beasts and warriors like the ones you saw on your trek here. It was difficult, but we triumphed. We corrupted the Jade Realm with our essence, turning it into the Shadow Realm. We also took command over the Hive, and imbued souls into the forge. When we arrived in his throne room, the last area under his thrall, we gave him a choice: submit to death or suffer our wrath." The Shadow pauses, and another orb of magic appears in front of me. "He chose another path. Using his power, he transformed himself into a mortal being and fled to the Undead Realm, the very universe he deemed absolute perfection."

The image in the orb shows a winged red humanoid, with large curved horns, long dark claws, and an arrow shaped tail. The wings are similar to ones you'd see on a bat. His eyes are emerald green, and he wears some sort of necklace. "Knowing he was going to lose, he concentrated as much Hive energy as he could into an ingot. An object that would allow him to retain the powers he had as Overseer. This object was the Jade Jewel."

Looking closer, I see the Jewel, dark green and round on the bottom with three sharp edges at the top. "Once he entered the Undead Realm, he swiftly began to conquer. He killed every Warlord too stupid or proud to bend the knee. He convinced the others that he was his father, Satan, who had come down to give power to those who were worthy. He slaughtered and enslaved billions of demons. He was given the name 'Forbidden One' by those at the time. You are familiar with the story, yes?"

"The 'Forbidden One'? That's a legend. It tells of a Warlord so powerful, he had armies of titanic Warlords at his disposal, ready to do his bidding. It is said he reigned over the Undead Realm for years. Many of his records were destroyed upon his passing, questioning the legitimacy of the whole thing."

"He was no legend. His army was made of the most capable Warlord demons, both beast and humanoid. Of the humanoids, he had the sorcerers, who acted as his generals, and the priests, who advocated on his behalf, spreading his self-entitled religion and worshipping him as a God. While he was on conquest, he used the Jewel to create a pocket dimension within the Undead Realm, one that would serve as his new seat of power. He called it 'the Sepulcher'. Once he finished its construction, he would muster all the power he had, using it to take over Earth 74201 and all realms in close proximity. He wanted to make the Undead Realm the new center of the web and replace the, *Ahem*, 'false usurper'."

The images change to the Geruda with the Jewel, fighting three hooded figures. The first one is a large, hulking man of bronze skin, carrying a big black sword. The second looks to be female, with pale blue skin and yellow eyes, wielding two bronze sai. The third one is an average-sized man, one eye red and another one solid black. He carries a silver scythe with a black handle. "As Overseer, we cannot leave our post, the task of maintenance requiring our immediate presence. We send out agents of darkness, known as 'Demonic Souls' or 'Demon Assassins', to do our bidding. These three are some of the finest we have ever created: Arihota, Kukostag, and Magdera."

"The original assassins? The ones the academies were named after?"

"Why, yes. They hunted the Geruda across the Undead Realm, killing his minions and liberating the enslaved demon folk. After weeks of conflict, they finally trapped him, on the islands later called 'Tartiricia'. Arihota and Kukostag wounded him, dying in the process. It was Magdera, however, who landed the killing blow. Ending the Geruda's reign of terror."

The orb shows Magdera on the ground, clutching at his side, the Jewel in his hand. It then shows him being carried by a group of demons, who walk down into a catacomb. "Magdera was too distraught by the deaths of his siblings to do much of anything. He also knew he would not survive the injuries he sustained against the Geruda. He could not bring the Jewel to the Shadow Realm in his weakened condition. The demons, and even some Warlords he had saved, were so grateful that they carried him to their hovels, tending to his needs and trying desperately to heal him over a week. They asked him many questions, such as his birth place, his master, and his final wishes. Confused by their willingness to help him, he answered them all, even instructing them on how to contact us. He then asked for two things in return: that the Jewel be hidden, and that he be buried alongside his brother and sister. He died not seven days later. These demons forged a religion that worshipped the Assassins, the Shadow Realm, the Hive, and Us. They call themselves 'Hivelings'."

The image changes to sorcerers, with similar features to Certrius, casting magic, trying to hold off Beast Warlords. Others can be seen fleeing for their lives. "With the Geruda gone, the Warlords began to feud amongst one another again. This feud was greatest amongst the sorcerer clans and the priests whom were closest to the Geruda. The priests, shocked by his death, prayed for his resurrection and continued to recruit new members to the Satanic wicca cult he founded. The sorcerers, on the other hand, argued they were his successors, and expected the priests to bend the knee. Much blood was shed between the both of them, until ultimately few remained. The last surviving sorcerer clan went to Appalachia, while the remaining priests hid in the East. And for many years, they remained quiet. Never involving themselves in the Warlord conflicts or the Realmers arrival. Focusing their efforts solely on finding the Jade Jewel."

"Over generations, the sorcerers achieved little. It was not until a young sorcerer was born did change occur. This Warlord was smart, cunning, and brash. He could cast magic like no other, and was feared by his own brethren for his power. His name IS Certrius. He wanted to command the Sorcerer clan, but was refused time and time again because of his young age. He began to conspire, planning to usurp the head chief and become the new leader. Alas, by the time he had concocted his plan, Govion the Conqueror had declared war on all Warlords, Realmers, and demons in Appalachia. Certrius was tasked with defending them against this enemy. He saw that his clan was unable to defeat Govion's armies, despite their best efforts. He was so convinced that he decided his life was worth more than theirs. He killed his own brothers, sisters, and elders, bringing their heads to Govion as a pledge of allegiance. He then helped Govion take over Appalachia, becoming his greatest asset."

"He killed his own people? What a piece of shit!"

"Yes, he is a vile, disgusting cretin. But James Mitchell is just as vile, and much more calculating than Certrius. You see, while the Sorcerer clan were feeble by this time, with Certrius being the sole exception, the Satanic wicca cultists were strong. Mitchell was born in it, and can trace his line directly to the Geruda himself. A mixed lineage of Realmer and demon blood. Unlike his parents, however, once he became a priest and law-maker, he ventured beyond his cultist compound. Became advocate for many Warlord demons. Helping them achieve success. Mitchell does not only enjoy killing. He actually prefers to achieve power from contracts. He enlists his aid to others, and has that being, be they Warlord, Realmer, or demon, sign a contract. This contract stipulates that their soul is his to claim and to do what he so pleases with. Over many years of service, he attained knowledge and connections with people all over the Realm, making him a very formidable threat. He was drawn to Govion most of all."

"Why?"

"Because James Mitchell, likes his parents, is a zealot of the cult, praying every day for the return of 'Satan'. When he travelled to Appalachia, he met Govion in front of a village of demon folk. He witnessed him demand submission. When many refused, Govion slit each of their throats individually. One by one. Mitchell was so taken aback, that he immediately bended the knee, much to the surprise of the Conqueror. Mitchell believed that Govion, unknowingly, was Satan reincarnate, and that with his brutality, he would reclaim the Undead Realm as his own. When Govion said that he wished to conquer Tartiricia, the very place the Geruda had been slain, it only further cemented his theory. It was here that Mitchell and Certrius met, becoming allies in Govion's quest for power. You know the story of Tartiricia from your friend, yes?" I nod. "Did you ever wonder what 'relic' Certrius used to bring Govion's armies to the Islands?" The realization dawns on me.

"The Jewel." The Shadow hums again.

"Yes. Certrius used Mitchell's connections to discover its location. He razed the outpost to the ground, killing all Hivelings who defended the site, and took the Jewel. He held great respect to Mitchell for helping him find it, vowing never to allow war to come to his cult haven. The three then ventured to Tartiricia, and were bested by Hades. After Hades' sacrifice, Certrius was unconscious and barely alive, but Mitchell was awake. He pulled Certrius from the wreckage, had whatever men were left fetch a boat and retreated to his haven. He used dark magic to heal Certrius. The Jewel was knocked into the ocean. By the grace of the Hive, a portal opened, and brought it to Earth 74201, where it stayed for hundreds of years. We sent servants after it, but they never returned. Some mortals tried to take it for themselves, but went mad, as they were not strong enough to wield its power. We believed the threat had been extinguished. We directed our efforts towards other conflicts and searched for more servants. And then one day, a ripple of energy was sent throughout the multiverse, which led to the Jewel sending out a beacon. Mitchell and Certrius heard it, with the sorcerer going into the other Realm to finally reclaim what he believed was rightfully his. But instead, your 'Bunny' discovered the Jewel, and now she is being hunted by these heinous criminals." I stop, allowing myself to process what The Shadow just told me. I feel my emotions start to go wild.

"So, this is all your fault?! What kind of an Overseer are you? Letting these evil bastards stay alive. Why didn't you keep sending servants to look for the Jewel, or to kill them? You say that the Geruda, Certrius, and Mitchell are power-hungry, but all you talk about is yourself, your wars, and 'your' power. If you are such a noble being-"

"We did not bring you here for you to insult us, assassin!" the Shadow cuts in, raising his voice. "Nor to preach our noble pursuits. We harvest souls, child. We possess mortals, with the intention of turning them into our servants. And we send them on missions. To murder. To maim. To conspire! To deceive! TO DESTROY! We are not Saints, assassin! Nor will we pretend to be. But one of our paramount concerns is maintaining the integrity of the Multiverse, and hence, cosmic order. So long as Certrius and Mitchell live, they are a threat to ALL UNIVERSES! If they get full power over the Jewel, Certrius will rebuild the Sepulcher. Once he does, he will attack the Shadow Realm, with enough power to challenge and, possibly, kill us. Even if he is unsuccessful, he will then siphon Hive energy from the Shadow Realm into the Sepulcher, and make the Undead Realm the center of the cosmic web. He, himself, will become the 'new' rival Overseer."

My mind goes back to the nightmares Allie has been having, most involving Certrius harming her, and Cherry Bomb trying to find out where she is. Allie is just a pawn to them. A 'hurdle' in their quest for power. Bastards.

"We concur, assassin. Once Certrius obtains enough power, his first order of business will be to repay Mitchell. According to our Hivelings, Mitchell has already decided what he wants. Certrius will bring his army of Warlords to your Bunny's Realm, and attack all major population centers. The humans will defend themselves, no doubt, but their conventional weapons and tactics will be no match. They will rely on more powerful methods, which will lead to their own destruction. Billions will die in the blasts, and in the devastating fallout thereafter. But not all of the Warlords will be affected by the bombs, nor the radiation. They will continue to hunt for the survivors. The humans will kill each other for whatever scraps remain. And then, when all hope seems lost, Mitchell and his followers will arrive. They will 'kill' the Warlords and send them back from whence they came. Mitchell will offer a helping hand to the mortals. He will provide food, water, shelter, and security. In exchange, he will ask one thing in return: that they join his cult and sign their souls over to him, thereby increasing his power. He will become GOD among the humans, and rule over them for all time. That is what will happen should you fail to stop them. This is no longer simply a fight for the Undead Realm, but for all realms in existence!" the Shadow proclaims.

"Why did you wait so long to stop him? There is no way you didn't foresee this happening!"

"We have tried and failed. They are not the only threat in the multiverse. We have many others that we must account for, across multiple timelines. Govion is said to have survived 15 assassination attempts, yes? Wrong! 11 of those 15 attempts were not meant for him, but for Certrius and Mitchell! We sent our Hivelings, and then OUR Demon Assassins to eliminate them. And every time, they fell by these blasphemers' hands. Once Certrius got possession of the Jade Jewel, he used it to block himself, Mitchell, Govion, and their combined armies from our sight. Hiding from us, like the vermin they are. We are still unable to find them presently! Every Hiveling sent in to spy and uncover their location has gone missing. As their power has increased, we have less ability to contact our followers. That is why we instructed them to create that amulet. And by the will of the Hive, we were informed of your presence in the Realm."

"Why did you want to contact me in the first place? What am I to you in this whole story?"

"You need every possible advantage to defeat Certrius and Mitchell. We could have contacted anyone, but we chose you bec-"

"CUZ? Where are you C? We need ya! Cuz!" I hear Rebel say loudly.

Rosemary's Pov, Omni Sports Tournament, Cal's tent, Night

My eyes open. I'm back in the tent, sitting in the middle of the tarp, the dim candles barely lighting the room. The amulet has grown cold and is no longer shining.

No, no, no! Damn it! I was just about to get the answers I needed! I close my eyes and try to concentrate.

"Want. Take. Have." I say aloud, but there is nothing but silence. I tap the amulet a few times. "Come on, work damn it! Want. Take. Have. Want. Take. Ha-"

The seal activates, the red light returning around me. I huff. Cal tears open the entrance flap, he and Rebel rushing into the tent. "Cuz? I need to speak to you."

"This better be important, Rebel. I was just about to get information on the amulet and why I was given-"

"Allie's been arrested!"

"WHAT?" I scream, getting up immediately. "What do you mean arrested? Tell me what happened, now!"

"After you left for Cal's, the two of us were just talking, having a good ol' laugh. Some of them guards show up, asking for you. They say that Allie was 'spotted' doing some illegal behaviour during the games. They wouldn't specify what. Then they said her paperwork doesn't add up, and that she needed to come down to Keeril's tent for questioning. I tried to stop them, but they refused to let me pass. They wouldn't even let me follow." She shows me a bruise, right above her collarbone. "Shoved me back with the bottom of a club real hard. I ran here as fast as I could. I'm so sorry I failed ya, Cuz." she says, teary-eyed. Fucking bastards!

"How did they know she did anything wrong? Who told them?"

"They said 'that's on a need-to-know basis'. When I tried to grab Allie, they whacked me." My blood is boiling right now. I motion for them to follow me and walk out of the tent. "Cuz, wait! Where are you going?"

"Keeril's tent. I'm setting this straight right now! Come on!"

Author's Note: Hey everyone. Hope you enjoyed the latest chapter. So, some major bombshells dropped by the Shadow to Rosemary about the history of the Hive, as well as Certrius and Mitchell's horrifying goals. And just when Rosemary is about to find out her role, she's awoken by Rebel, only to find out Allie has been arrested by the guards? On what grounds? What will happen when Rosemary confront her accusers? Find out next time. If you enjoyed this chapter, feel free to leave a review. It is always appreciated.