-sunnydale_90666- (Brave New World)

I still cannot fathom why I linger near them. They have tried more than once to rid me of my powers and have failed.

My army is gone from this world, but not from all worlds. I used to dance on mountains, walking from star to star as I traversed the various worlds that worshipped me.

I could still find one, if I was so inclined.

Yet, I am always drawn to my ruined temple where the sand slithers between the fingers of this body I inhabit. Here, there was once magic. Here, I was a God.

And so it shall be again.

Wesley tries to "train" me, as he says, so that I might become a useful member of this world. He does not understand - this is not my world.

The desolation this human body feels - for yes, it must be The Shell and not myself that causes residual emotions - is only a fraction of the myriad of reasons that I decided to leave.

I may be trapped within this feeble human form, but I am not trapped within this broken world.

And so I walked alone to my forgotten temple - my home - and began to open the portal that would lead me backwards through time. The soft glow of the energy contrasted with the crackling sound it made.

I peered through the ripples to make certain that my temple was intact in this other world I was about to enter. Yes, it was there, and it was truly magnificent.

My movements were stiff, head cocked to one side as I listened to all the sounds of the universe at once, feet taking trembling steps like those of a newborn deer towards my destiny.

I was about to enter a brave new world. And this time, there would be no one who could stop my army - or me.

My eyes suddenly opened and my head twisted around, the rest of this body not moving.

The sounds of the universe were interrupted by him once again.

"Wesley."