AS THE SNOW STICKS

The wind howling was all that could be heard other than that chatting of the vampires that stood deep in the woods.

Jacob was attempting to make a bonfire when Benjamin lit his finger on fire, then all five of them, and sending the flames to the wood.

"That's what I'm talkin' about," Jacob smirked. "A little pre-battle bonfire. Telling war stories." He continued as he looked up to see Zafrina and Senna, standing in front of each other. "Or just standing there like frickin' statues."

Garrett sped over, sitting a little away from Melanie. "Name any American battle. I was there."

"Little Bighorn." Jacob challenged.

"I came this close-"Garrett started, holding his fingers up to show the small size. "-to biting Custer. But the Indians got him first."

Kate was suddenly sitting on Garretts knew. "Try Oleg's assault on Constantinople. He didn't win that one on his own."

"If you're talking battles, you're talking the Eleven Years' War." Liam started, the leader of the Irish coven. "No one does the rebellion like the Irish."

"You lost the Eleven Years' War," Garrett stated.

"Aye. But it was one hell of a rebellion."

All the vampires, including Jacob, was now sat around the bonfire, sitting on logs and yelling their own stories. "When we ruled, everything came to us," Vladimir spoke. "Prey, diplomats, favour seekers. Such was our power. But we never put on white hats and called ourselves saints."

"We were honest about what we were," Stefan added.

"We sat still for a very long time. We didn't notice we were beginning to petrify." Vladimir continued.

"Perhaps the Volturi did us a favour when they... burned our castles." Said Stefan.

Vladimir looked around at everyone before he confided. "We've been waiting 1500 years to return that favour. We have been ready to do battle for ages-"

Melanie zoned out the rest of the story, noticing Edward standing himself further away, she decided to take this time to speak with him.

"I can't help thinking." Edward started as Melanie reached him. "All these people are putting themselves in danger because I fell in love with a human."

"None of these people are here against their will, Edward. You found your mate, even if it caused a lot of stuff. You deserve to be happy."

Edward shook his head. "But at what cost?"

"Everyone here has something to fight for. They have their friends and family, their own mates, I know I'll find to the ends of the earth for Alice if I had to, I don't blame you for what you've done, as much as I did previously. I understand."

"Mel, I've never thanked you properly. For doing everything in your power, to be there for me. You have no idea how much I appreciate it." Edward said, turning to face his friend before pulling her in for a strong hug.

"Whatever happens tomorrow, we'll be okay," Melanie confirmed, taking Edwards hand in her own as the two watched all the different covens.

As the sun rose the next morning, the Cullens and their friends made it to the battlefield, a large area in the woods where no trees were, a place that was big enough for a fight.

"If we live through this, I'll follow you anywhere, woman." Melanie heard Garrett say to Kate as she was standing beside him, in the middle of him and Carmen as she held her sister's hand.

"Now you tell me," Kate replied with a smile.

All of a sudden, footsteps were heard, the sound made Melanie's un-beating heart jump, as the adrenaline pumped through her body. "The Redcoats are coming! The Redcoats are coming."

"We're in the endgame now," Melanie whispered to Carmen who shook her head.

"Now's now the time."

The Volturi kings and their hundred witnesses and guards walked through the snow-covered ground frowned, stopping a long while away, at least twenty feet, knowing that all the vampires had super-hearing and could listen.

"Aro's looking for Alice," Edward said to Melanie, catching her attention, her head snapped up, glaring at the Volturi one by one until she got to Jane who was smiling at her, she continued looking at them all, stopping once she saw Irina, who looked at her family in fear.

Carlisle stepped forward, walking in front of his family before speaking. "Aro, let us discuss things as we used to. In a civilised manner."

"Fair words, Carlisle. But a little out of place, given the battalion you've assembled against us." Aro replied calmly.

"I can promise you, that was never my intent. No laws have been broken."

"We see the child. Do not treat us as fools." Snapped Caius.

"She is not an Immortal!" Carlisle shouted, in an attempt to get the point across. "These witnesses can attest to that., or you can look. See the flush of human blood in her cheeks."

"Artifice!" Caius yelled.

Aro lifted his hand, silencing his co-leader. "I will collect every facet of the truth. But from someone more central to the story. Edward, as the child clings to your newborn mate, I assume you are involved."

Edward placed his hand on Renesmee's head, smiling at her, nodding to Bella, before walking across the snow towards the Volturi, as he reached Aro, he placed his hand in his as Aro began to read his memories.

The vampire leader gasped silently. "I'd like to meet her." Edward turned around to his family, making Jacob growl at Aro as he along with Bella and Renesmee walked forward, Bella stopping as she turned to look at Emmett and Melanie, who nodded, walking forward together in synch until they caught up with the trio.

"Ahh." Aro let out an amused noise. "Young Bella. Immortality becomes you. " Suddenly Aro lets out a horrific laugh, that made Melanie cringe and scratch the back of her neck in an attempt not to laugh, knowing she'd get scolded for if they made it out alive. "I hear her strange heart."

Renesmee stepped closer to Aro who was bent down a little, a creepy smile on his face and his hand stretched out. "Hello, Aro." Instead of taking Aro's hand as he had expected, Renesmee lifted her hand to touch his face.

Melanie watched his expression go from confused to awe in an instant. "Magnifico." He mumbled to himself. "Half mortal, half immortal. Conceived and carried by this newborn while she was still human."

"Impossible!" Caius seethed.

Aro turned around to face him quickly, anger was written all over his face. "Do you think they fooled me, brother?"

As the Cullen's began to make their way back to their friends, Jacob stayed behind for a moment barking and snaring at them before turning around and following after.

"Bring the informer forward," Caius instructed. Multiple guards suddenly walked forward, dragging Irina along with them. "Is that the child you saw?"

Irina looked at her family, the young child in worry before stuttering out. "I'm not sure." As Caius said, Jane, Irina was quick to speak again, not wanting to feel the pain the blonde vampire could make her feel. "She's changed. This child is bigger."

"Then your allegations were false." Caius accused.

Irina nodded slowly. "The Cullens are innocent. I take full responsibility for my mistake." She turned to her coven, Tanya, Kate, Carmen, Niklaus, Eleazer and Melanie. "I'm sorry."

"Caius, no!"

Melanie gasped as she witnessed her sister's arms being ripped off and then her head before she was set on fire. "Irina." She yelled before rushing forward, Kate and Tanya following behind.

Emmett, Eleazer and Nik all rushed for Melanie, knowing they would need the strongest to even keep Melanie where she was, Lupin who was in his wolf form ran and stood in front, in case she managed to escape. "Blind them," Edward ordered Zafrina.

Melanie's vision was gone, all she could see was darkness as she continued to fight with her friends. "Melanie, Mel! You need to calm down! You can't run into a fight right now." Nik instructed, but it was no use, she was blinded by rage, and he knew the only thing that could get Melanie to calm down when she was in this state, was her wife. "Think about Alice!"

Melanie began to calm down once her sight was back, she wrapped her arms around Nik who guided her over to Carmen so he could go and see Tanya.

Out of nowhere, Edward falls to the ground in pain, Bella grunts as she tries to project her shield onto him, to stop Jane from using her gift, the Cullen stumbles for a minute before standing up with ease.

Jane looks at the vampires individually, everyone beside Melanie that is, once she noticed that none of them was affected, anger started to build up inside, she took a step forward ready to charge, but was stopped by her twin.

Melanie noticed Alec begin to use his gift, the black smoke emerging from his hands, Melanie glared at the boy, conjuring her ball of red energy, which caught Aro's attention and stopped Alec from continuing.

"Aro, you see there's no law broke here," Carlisle spoke.

Aro grinned once again. "Agreed. But does it then follow that there is no danger? For the first time in our history... humans pose a threat to our kind. Their modern technology has given birth to weapons that could destroy us. Maintaining our secrets has never been more imperative. In such perilous times, only the known is safe. Only the known is tolerable. And we know nothing of what this child will become. Can we live with such uncertainty? Spare ourselves a fight today, only to die tomorrow."

Melanie was suddenly hit with a feeling, the feeling of content and happiness she had been missing for so long, and she knew automatically who it was.

Alice.

WORDS: 1674
STATUS: UNEDITED
NOTE: And the battle commences.