Last time . . .

“Guess what, it’s gonna be me!”

“Ooooooh!!!” Josh belted out, breaking down into tears and running out of the rooms

“Every little thing I do . . .”

“Josh!?” They all said as he took off.

This time . . .

Lance was the first one out of the room, running after Josh, worried about what was wrong.

“What the hell just happened here?” Joey asked, just as confused as the rest of the guys.

“I have NO idea!” Chris said.

"Josh!?" Lance called after him, knowing he was heading to take a shower. "Josh!"

"What Lance?" Josh sighed.

"What's wrong with you? Why'd you just storm out like that?"

"It's ok babe, don't worry about it."

"Bullshit! Just tell me!"

"I can't!"

"Please?!" Lance pleaded, starting to cry.

"I . . . Lance, I can't! As much as I want to right now, I . . . I just can't!” He said getting frustrated. “I . . . I'm sorry!" he said walking into the bathroom, leaving Lance there crying.

"Lance?" Justin said as he, Joey and Chris entered the room.

"I . . . I don't know what's wrong! I mean . . . we were having such a good time!"

"Shhhh!" Chris said taking him into a hug.

"Jus . . ." Lance said looking at Justin, his eyes red and watery. "Could you talk to him? I don't even care that I can't know what's wrong, I just want him to talk to someone before he goes insane!"

"I'll see what I can do." Justin said looking in the direction if the bathroom.

As Josh stood under the jets of the hot shower, crying his eyes out, he wished that the whole Prophecy was over with, so he could finally rest. As he turned off the shower, he grabbed a towel and stepped out. As he was drying his face, he said,

"What do you want Justin?"

"You're the all knowing prophet, you tell me!"

"If I can't tell Lance what's wrong, what makes you think I'm gonna tell you?"

"Cause I know you, and I know you want to tell somebody, and what you say won't affect me as much as it would affect Lance!"

"Always so sure of yourself, aren't you?"

"In my line of work, you have to be!"

"Whatever, just get out of here so I can get dressed, then MAYBE I'll talk to you!"

"Whatever! Ain't like I've never seen you naked! And by the looks of things, nothing's changed! I still got a bigger cock than you do!" Justin said running out of the bathroom, leaving Josh there laughing.

"How'd it go?" Lance asked, waiting outside the bedroom.

"He's not gonna talk, he wants to though, but he can't cause he can't interfere with our futures without there being greater damage done than good." Justin replied, as Lance sighed. "Look, you gotta understand that he'd love nothing more than to tell us everything and try to prevent something, or make things work out . . ."

"NO! You look! I don't need you to lecture me on what I should and shouldn't do! You have NO idea how hard this is!"

"No? I don't know how hard it is to want to tell my loved ones something, but can't cause of the danger it'd put them in?! Or maybe to know that one my best friend's in the world is struggling with the fate of the world in his hands, and that all that knowledge is driving him insane?! I think I’d have a better understanding of what that’s like, so don't YOU tell ME that I don't know what it's like! Cause we're in the same boat here comrade!" Justin yelled, his Russian accent returning full force.

"Both of you stop this now!" Chris said, as he and Joey heard what was going on and came to investigate. "Let's not do this 'you don't know what I'm going through' bullshit!! We all see how hard this is on Josh, and fighting about isn't gonna make it any easier, so just STOP!!"

"Yeah, so make your peace and meet me downstairs in 10 minutes!" Josh said emerging from the room, walking straight passed them all.

All eyes were on the path Josh had walked down the hall, as the stiff air grew even more tense, the four friends stared at each other, all angry, frustrated, tired, sad and worried. Their leader stood alone in a battle that was more dangerous than anything either of them had ever faced before, and each of them knew it. As they continued to stare at each other, the tension building more and more, like a hot knife cutting through butter, Beryl charged his way down the hall.

“What the hell just happened here? I just felt the biggest wave of negativity.” He said stopping in front of them.

“Nothing, this doesn’t concern you!” Lance said coldly.

“Don’t talk to him like that!” Joey said defending him.

“Hey!” Beryl interrupted, “Joey, I’m a big boy, I can take care of myself. Lance, don’t take your anger out on someone who’s just trying to help!”

“Don’t tell me what to do!” Lance said, the harshness in his voice growing.

“Look at you . . . The Chosen One’s!” Beryl said unphazed by Lance’s remarks. “The five people picked to save us from the apocalypse, the five people who together hold a power greater than anything on this earth, the five people who can’t see that by fighting, they’re only diminishing their chance at success!”

“Shut up Beryl!” Justin said.

“No! I think it’s about time you all heard this!” He said continuing. “For the past few days that we’ve all been here, you’ve all managed to reclaim your relationship as brothers, and put the past behind you. Now, when your ability to win this battle depends on that relationship, you blow it all to dust! We all know that Josh is suffering, we all know that he can’t tell what he knows, we all know it’s for the best, we all know it’s killing him! But we also all know that we need to succeed! Pouring salt on old wounds is NOT gonna help in that cause! Can’t you people see that by arguing, and by bringing up the past you’re only hurting Josh more?!”

“Beryl . . .” Justin tried to say again.

“No, you shut up Justin! Listen to me . . . All of you! I may not be a Dream Master, but I know that part of their power lies within traveling on the Astral Plane, and take it from someone who is very familiar with the Astral Plane, the more negativity you hold, the more doubt that plagues your mind and the more anger you hold in your emotion, the more likely you’re gonna end up in a place that you DON’T want to be, that these kids aren’t gonna be able to help you get out of! You need to settle whatever you have against each other, and do it quick, cause the longer you wait, the further the sun goes down! Look at each other! You’re ALL feeling the same thing! Now, instead of using it against the other, how bout you come together as family, like you always did before, and help each other be strong in this! If you guys can come together right now, and put all the issues aside, and give into the love that you all hold for each other, then all that negativity, all that fear, anger, doubt and frustration will go away and be replaced with the courage, strength and love you need to get you all through this! Now, I’m gonna go downstairs and get ready for our trip, you four need to do what I just said, so we can do this!” And with his last word, Beryl disappeared, teleporting downstairs.

As the four stood looking at each other, each with a tear in his eye, the silence that was once filled with tension, anger and frustration, turned into a flood of fraternal love. No words were said, as each stared into the others eyes. They went in closer to each other, forming a group hug, then hugged each individual separately. Still not saying a word, for Beryl had said it all. They all knew how sorry the other was, for everything. For Justin leaving, for Chris swearing them off, for Lance holding a grudge, and for Joey not trying to get to Chris. None of it mattered as they all focused on their bond, and their goal. As the smiles all formed on their faces while they joined the others downstairs, a warm feeling filled Josh, and he knew that everything was all right.

“Thank you Beryl!” Josh said telepathically.

“I was only doing what was necessary!” Beryl replied.

“Vanessa!” Sonia said, as Vanessa stepped out of the shower and made her way to her room.

“Yeah?” She said turning, the towel wrapped on her head almost falling.

“Can I talk to you?”

“Sure! Come on in!” She said as they approached her room. “What’s up?”

“Well . . . It’s just . . . well . . .”

”You’re scared?” Vanessa asked, knowing the youngest member of her team all too well.

“Yeah . . .”

”That’s understandable . . . I think we all are!”

”Really? I’m not the only one?”

“No! I mean . . . We’ve never done something on this level before, and especially without Doc around.”

“Yeah . . . that’s another thing that worried me . . .”

“The doctor we’re going to be facing now, isn’t the doctor we all knew and loved. This is a demon corrupted by evil. He may be powerful, but I truly believe that by us sticking together, we can overcome and defeat him, just like he trained us to when he was alive!”

“I hope you’re right! Thanks Vanessa!” Sonia said turning to walk out the room.

“You’re welcome!” She replied as Sonia left. “I hope I am too kid, I hope I am too!”

Hours passed in seconds, while waiting for the sun to go down. More and more teams showed up by the minute, and soon enough, they were all at their posts, briefed of the mission and all. Jonathan was instructed to stay in the control room with Little Justin and Jack, and keep them safe. With the two youngest members of the Chosen Ones’ bloodlines, if anything failed, it was up to them to live in their legacy. With Jonathan granted the knowledge of the past and future, and Little Justin infused with a very powerful spirit guide, keeping them alive was just as important as saving the Chosen Ones’ lives.

            The sun was about to start setting, which meant it was time to get into place. As they each got in their assigned positions, each with their appointed Dream Master, they all couldn't help but feel a little nervous. No one, not even Josh, had any idea as to what was in store for them, all they knew was that they could not and would not fail. From all the information they gained, they all prayed that they were going back to the right time.

“This is it everybody!” Josh said.

“Attention all slayers” Lance telepathically said, “this is the moment of truth, the moment we’ve been waiting for, for years. I don’t have to tell you how important this is, because you all know. All I ask now is that you all take care of each other and watch each other’s backs! We’re going to be coming under major attack, take the proper precautions and be safe!”

“Are we ready?” Dom asked.

“Let’s do this!” Justin said.

They all sat down, the Chosen Ones on their designated letters Beryl on an unmarked spot just outside the circle, with the Dream Masters facing them.

Dom was facing Josh, Vanessa was facing Justin, Sean was facing Joey, Leo was facing Beryl, Buffy was facing Lance, and Sonia was facing Chris. Each of the couples joined hands, as the leaders of each team started the ritual.

“Powers of good and right, protect and guide this circle of love and light.” Josh said as they all closed their eyes and concentrated. “Pass us through time with strength and might, grant us power and stealth of sight. Power of the Chosen Ones, give us flight!”

“Listen to the sound of my voice.” Dom said, softly but sternly. “It is the sound of dreams, the past, present and future. Hear my words and let them guide you to the land of dreams. You see a strong, brilliant white light beaming out of your forehead; let it connect to the person in front of you. Let the white light disperse any and all fear you may be feeling. Envision the white light spreading throughout your entire body, engulfing you in its strength and purity. As the white light surrounds your every body, let it take you up. Feel yourself lifting off the ground, into the air.” Dom continued to say, now telepathically, as they all went into a deep meditative trance. “As you feel yourself lifting off the ground, see yourself inside the white light, continue to hold on to your guide. Look around; let the white light take you to a magnificent garden. See yourself in the middle of a beautiful green garden. In the center of the garden is a fountain, walk towards it and meet your guide there. See yourself walking towards the fountain, and meeting your guide there. Once you have met with your guide, they will lead you the rest of the way.”

TBC . . .

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If you haven’t heard already . . . it’s coming! The long awaited Buffy/Chosen Ones Cross Over! In a three part mini series (taking place before Faith’s return, and just before the sun returns to L.A. ) they will meet and questions will be answered. The story will be posted on the DM page, since that is where the most traffic is. (This is also buying us time on DM of course! But we need it to make sure we get everything in there.)  So . . . As promised, along with this Chapter, the first part of the Xover will be posted. ENJOY!