The Gate of Genesis

This will be the final chronological storyline featuring Arbiter as an active protagonist. As edits are made, it will be rewritten in the style of a short story. All characters (especially those well-known to Arbiter) are welcome to join. Feel free to create crossovers to your own character's histories as well, for this story will contain several flashbacks. This story will also explain a bit more in depth about Arbiter's origins and the nature of the Balance.

Chronologically, it follows Court Of The Red Queen, which was preceeded by Dusk.

 (So sayeth the Arbiter)  19:07, April 8, 2011 (UTC)

The Gate of Genesis
Across a barren rocky plain, blasted countless years ago with the horrors of war, walks Arbiter. His emerald green hair dances gently in the soft wind, while his golden eyes gleam with purpose. On the horizon, he sees his destination; a tall, ancient bronze tower that stood alone, surrounded by an empty and wounded ground. "How incredible," he mused, "that an ancient structure like that can withstand brutal war and the passage of immeasurable time."

He stopped, and the world suddenly seemed to stop with him. Slowly, he held out his hand, and flipped his palm to the sky. With a red glow, a rose appeared in his hand; a rose that he knew had changed hands twice- from Queen Red to Inferno Pendragon, and then he had picked it up after Inferno had dropped it. He marveled about how the rose had meant something different for each of them. An image appeared in his mind's eye- a young girl with a cheerful grin and silver hair. Arbiter weakly smiled. "Over a couple thousand years, and I still cannot forget?"

"You... I remember you..."

"That voice... it strikes a chord in my memory..."

"You were once here, long ago... you were a child of the shadows, living here once."

"...wait a moment... I thought I died... I gave the last of my energies to those who would save their worlds from destruction... is this-"

"This is neither Heaven, nor Hell, nor any kind of limbo, purgatory, or any afterlife for that matter."

"What is it, then?"

"This is the origin, the beginning of everything, for creation must be brought forth from destruction, light from darkness... such is the nature of the Balance..."

(edit here, we are back to Arbiter walking toward the tower.)