Elsewhere
Tobias shakes his head as he paces about, trying to process the news he was just rocked with.
Tobias: That can't ..that can't be true.
Michael: You have seen all that has happened. Look around you…
Tobias does as he sees he is the only one who is completely frozen in place as all time seems to have stood still.
Michael: Seeing is believing. Understanding...well, that takes a bit more time.
Lucifer: Every universe in their own way has a Messiah. Sometimes it is J.C. other times it's someone else entirely.
Michael: We had sneaking suspicions it could be you but there were other candidates.
Tobias: There were?
Lucifer: The girl's brother…
Tobias: Blayde?
Michael: And her.
Michael nods at Valencia as Tobias looks at her as Michael comes to him.
Michael: But they have other parts they'll need to play going forward.
Tobias looks at the cosmic door as he looks at everyone and shakes his head.
Tobias: What awaits me on the other side?
Lucifer: A journey to find yourself. Your true self. You won't be alone.
Michael: We cannot follow. We have been tethered here and we just see this through to the end. But what waits for you are the Three.
Tobias: The Three?
Lucifer: Mind. Body. And Spirit. The three will be your guides and will even return and aid you in the fight to come.
Tobias: No...no I can't go I can't leave them! They need me...for the fights ahead…
Lucifer: Your fight is with Xander. A false god with the power of a God who twiddles away to gather more power. Besides...the fight won't be with them...not yet anyways.
Tobias: What are you talking about?
Lucifer comes over to him as he points out a large black mass that was slowly creeping through.
Lucifer: Do you see that.
Tobias nods as he watches as it slowly crept further and further into view.
Lucifer: When you flip on the lights and say "let there be light" you invite the darkness in. Through the course of many millennia a silent unseen battle wages between the forces of the light and darkness. Xander here...has invited a new darkness...one born from his creations fears, angst and nightmares…
Michael: They will be a plague that will keep all sides busy.
Tobias: All the more reason not to go.
Lucifer: You'll only slowly bring them down. You've been a catatonic mess ever since you realized you had lost. You talk tough now, but even you realize that as of right now, you're nothing.
Tobias looks away as Michael clears his throat.
Michael: My brother is a bit blunt. But I shall not mince words either. He is right. These people you deem friends and worthy, they will come through, but you can show them that belief by becoming who you are meant to be. You are the one who will drive away the darkness, not this creeping mass of monstrosities, but the real darkness...Xander.
Tobias looks at everyone.
Tobias: Will they know? Will you tell them?
Lucifer: It's better for them not to know.
Vade: Is that so?
Lucifer and Michael are then surprised as they see Vade looking at the three as he comes and stands by Tobias.
Vade: Don't worry, I will be sure they know what they need to know.
Lucifer: Sly little fucker.
Michael: Is it possible…?
Vade: No...as soon as I saw the flash I guess my body went into a suspended state because of my time manipulation so I didn't stick on me for very long. Just caught the last bit here.
Lucifer: Then you can speak sense to him.
Lucifer folds his arms as Vade looks at the incoming black mass and then at Tobias.
Vade: If it's true...then you have to do this.
Tobias: I can't just abandon you guys…
Vade: As long as one of us believes in you, you'll never be forgotten. I can do that for you. Hold the fort down till you get back.
Tobias seems unsure as Vade pats him reassuringly.
Vade: If you believe in us... you'll do this...and know we can get through this. It's gonna suck. But we are strong together. And we're only going to get stronger. Look at what we almost did with no training and no experience together.
Vade goes and surveys the world as he nods.
Vade: Yeah. Yeah we can do this. We got this Tobias.
Tobias takes a deep breath as he sighs and nods.
Tobias: I know you're right...I just…
Vade: Stop that shit. Are you or are you not a Dreamer?
Tobias nods.
Tobias: I am.
Vade: You've been through it all. Seen it all. And yet you are still here, destined for something greater. You could be like everyone else, but you're not like everyone else. Embrace it. Use it, wield it! Xander is still a threat and he's not gonna be ready for you when you return. If you don't go then we'll never be able to stop him.
Vade turns as he goes and stands by Lucifer and Michael by the cosmic door.
Vade: We'll be here. Ready to fight by your side again. I promise.
Michael: As do I.
Lucifer shrugs as Tobias chuckled.
Tobias: Fuck you too, Lucy.
Lucifer: Hey, I'm not a good guy here. I'm simply serving my own self interests.
Tobias: Right.
Tobias looks at Valencia and then at Esmeray as he takes a deep breath.
Tobias: I know leaving you both will leave it's mark...I'm sorry...I can only hope that one day you understand...and that you're both still here when I return…
Tobias closes his eyes as he turns and heads towards the cosmic door as Vade extends a hand.
Vade: Be ready to kick ass when you get back.
Tobias: Better kick some ass while I'm gone.
Vade: You know I will.
Tobias looks at Michael and then to Lucifer as he looks at the door and nods as he takes the fateful steps forward and steps through, disappearing into the ether of time as the door dissipates and closed as Vade looks at. Michael and Lucifer as the black mass of nightmares begin to settle and firm all through the world.
Michael: And so begins the new age of darkness…
Time suddenly speeds up and everyone looks about confused as to what had happened as Esmeray looks around and doesn't see Tobias as Blayde and Valencia panic with her as they look about, crying out his name as Kami and Kelsey look to see the sky becoming eerily dark as they hear horrendous and terrifying sounds permeating from the dark as Tegan and the zealots come to the ledge of the Mega Compound and seem just as off out and disturbed by the sight and sounds as all over the entire world the light was suddenly drowned out by an all encompassing darkness as creatures and monsters of all hideous types and shapes and sizes begin to appear from the dark and attack anyone moving, the screams and sheer terror filling the entire globe as every ray sunshine and light had been snuffed out as the Nightmares had begun to lay siege on the unsuspecting masses.
The Nightmare War Had Begun.
End of Book One.