Five of the Plagues, Four Horsemen, and Pestilence in a Pear Tree

Title: Five of the Plagues, Four Horsemen, and Pestilence in a Pear Tree
Fandom: Highlander
Summary: Horsemen and experimenting
Timeline: Long ago and hopefully far away
From: The Plague Ficathon



The waters turn to blood; that's what happens when you slaughter a thousand men, women and children near a small spring. Bodies float in the pond. For years later, crunchy bones pop out of the muddy shores.

The village is wiped out, and without people to feed them, the local animals die out as well. Hungry dogs run away, searching for new owners. In this day and age, no one knows the word ecosystem. All they know is that massacre disturbs everything. With no natural predators, amphibians and small reptiles multiply uncontrollably. Without enough warm blooded animals, lice lie in waiting, hidden in the grass, waiting for the next wave of human occupation to bring cattle with it.

With the new humans, new cattle, new predators return to the area as well. The wolves and bears are a constant danger to the mortals and all they own. And not just the animals pose a danger; the Horsemen return.

"You killed them all once before," Methos grumbles.

"I want to try something new. Not by the sword...." Kronos casts a glance towards Silas and Caspian. "This will be different."

The diseased wolf is released into the village; mad, foaming at the mouth, it bites more than it kills. The disease spreads in men and cattle. Kronos observes, fascinated. Methos remains on a nearby hill, away from the stench of the dead and dying. Kronos returns every day, excitedly sharing his tales of gore with the others. More plagues start and spread like wildfire. Kronos is giddy and Methos is disgusted. But not long after, no one is left. Only the four of them. The river isn't flooded with blood, but the new village is now a mass grave. Satisfied, Kronos mounts his horse.

"Time to move on," he says, grinning. The other three have already grown bored with the process, but the outcome, oh, the outcome they are all pleased with.

[end]

Crash: Wesley

Title: Crash
Fandom: Angel
Summry: Wesley, Alternative Ending


Crash and burn. Go out not in a blaze of glory, a hero's exit, but in faded flames and unpleasant noises, saving the world by doing the menial work, by being cannon fodder. Wesley knows it when he walks into the wizard's den.

His magic is weaker, yes, but his blade is strong. He shoves it into the ancient man, who doubles over in pain. Still it doesn’t kill him. The wizard raises his hand for one last shot, to end Wesley. Blue eyes close; he knew this was coming. He's just glad the wound he inflicted is a mortal one. He did well, in the end.

Something whooshes past him and his eyes snap open to catch the sight of the old man's head crumbling to dust around a small, girlish hand. Wesley turns, surprised, to find Illyria. Vail drops to the floor.

"You said you won't die tonight," she says simply. Wesley nods, dumbfounded, and stumbles, knees buckling when he realises he's alive. She catches him before he falls. "We'll go to meet the others," she says, and supports his weight on their way to the door.

[end]