A/N: The last chapter. Enjoy, and don't forget to check the A/N at the bottom.

The Horseman

By JDWrites101

Chapter Eight: Crane and the Horseman Part III

Mr. G held onto Ethan's forearms for another moment and made sure the student was unconscious before allowing himself to take a step back. He watched the Spellmaster approach and waited for moment to make sure there would be no other disturbances. When nothing else happened he nodded and peered out the window. In the distance the clouds continued to darken as the moment fast approached.

"You've taken care of both those vampires and your Grandmother?" asked Mr. G. He flexed his fingers and felt magic surged through them. In less than an hour his powers would be back to their original strength and perhaps even stronger. "You've ensured they won't interfere with my plan?"

"You could say Evelyn's been tied up," Benny gave him a crooked grin. "And as for the vampires they won't wake up until the next ice age is over. What about Sarah? You made sure she won't-"

"It's not your place to question-" Mr. G caught movement from the corner of his eyes and jumped backwards. Benny stepped back almost leisurely with an uninterested gaze. The black swords missed them both before lodging itself with a loud crash in the chalkboard. Ethan slowly got up from the desk, his hair covering his eyes, and pulled the weapon free. He slouched forward from the weight and remained motionless.

"Oh dear," said Mr. G. A smile broke out across his face. There appeared to be some fight or perhaps something else within the boy after all. "I thought I had rendered you weakened and alone."

Ethan's head slouched backwards and black smoke surged softly from his mouth. It spilled over his body and solidified into the old dark armor. The teenager's head vanished in the sudden rush of smoke and he lifted the sword at both of them. "This boy is never alone."

Before G could make his response the Spellmaster casted several spells. One by one the Horseman deflected them with a swift swing of the sword. A desk exploded, another turned to ice and when Mr. G stepped forward to drain their adversary of its energy he was stopped by the point of the onyx blade. The small confines of the room was filled with a powerful presence and behind the Horseman the Hell Horse manifested and towered over them.

"Get out of our way," said Benny as he pressed his hands to the ground. Ice exploded upwards and the horse was thrown backwards through the side of the classroom and out into the open air. In the chaos the Horseman charged for the Spellmaster only to deflect another flurry of enchantments. They moved in an almost rhythmic dance of swings and spells. "Annoying little-"

Mr. G moved past them and out in the forest beyond. The Hell Horse stirred in its ice like shackles and he moved around it as fast as he could. He could sense the dark magic in the air, and unlike last time he would have to gather it all if he hoped to recreate the Lucifractor and purify Whitechapel.

Sarah, Rory, Erica, Ethan and the Hell Horse stood to one side of the clearing as Benny, and Mr. G stood on the other. Both sides looked at one another, neither of them moving as a gust of wind swayed the grass in a rhythmic motion.

"Anyone want to explain how Ethan ended up as the Headless Horseman?" asked Erica her eyes firmly locked on Benny and Mr. G. "Or why he tried to kill us earlier this month?"

"He wasn't attacking us was he?" Called out Sarah. The teacher gave her a wicked grin and said nothing. "He was trying to stop the bracelets from doing their jobs. That's why every time he attacked he used that strange pulse technique. It wasn't to kill; it was to sever your control over the students. Isn't that right G?"

"Correct," said Mr. G. "When the Lucifractor exploded last year my memories began to come back little by little. I couldn't do magic so I settled for the next best thing- potion based clothing. Anyone, regardless of whether they have powers, can make potions. So I linked the bracelets with my blood and prepared my return for Halloween. Fear helps fuel me and with all Hollows Eve just around the corner all rules are off making it the perfect chance for the rebirth of Sleepy Hollow."

"Expect for one thing," called out the Horseman. "You did not realize that I was also bonded with the Lucifractor that night. The moment your spell activated I was resurrected by Katrina's spirit to finish what I should have ended years ago."

"Ethan's more in tune with spirits than any of us," said Sarah. She clenched her fists, and assumed a running position. "No wonder Van Brunt chose him. Rory you and the Horseman deal with Benny, Erica and I will stop G."

"You really think the four of you posses the necessary strength to defeat me?" asked Mr. G as he held out his hands. Dark magic began to pour forth from the sky. One by one figures emerged from the ground and took shape. "I've collected the fears of everyone who has ever worn those bracelets and not just for power, but as a fail safe should things start to turn against me." Scarecrows manifested from the grass, the wind became bats, pumpkin vines emerged from the ground, tentacles shot forwards from the cracks, and the night insects became large spiders. Mr. G pointed at the group and commanded: "Finish them."

Both sides charged forward as lightning flashed, and thunder roared in the skies above them.

Rory dodged Benny's fireball and reached out to grab his friend only to be flung sideways by a large tentacle. Vines surged after him and were stopped by the hooves of the Hell Horse. It gave a neigh and charged forward its head rocking back and forth knocking aside scarecrows. The Horseman ran with his sword held high and darted for the Spellmaster. He cut through the bats as they swarmed and brought his arm back for a wide swing. Rory screamed out:

"No! Don't hurt him!"

He halted and Benny took advantage of the opening. A bolt of lightning came crashing down from the sky and before the impact with the ground soared straight for them. The Horseman attempted to cut through it and fell sideways his left arm burnt and smoking.

"He is Crane's pawn and if he continues to stand in my way then I will put him down like the rest of these beasts."

"We've got a way of stopping him," said Rory as he stood up and ran between the groups of enemies. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and held it high. Benny looked at him and he activated the app. A white flash knocked the boy backwards with a loud boom.

"See we-" Rory was engulfed in a rush of black wind. Benny got up and cracked his hands with a grin. "The app should've worked! You should be free from-"

"Maybe," said the Spellmaster as he summoned several fireballs. "This is the real Benny."

Sarah and Erica drove their fists into the scarecrow and drove it back with surprising force. It skipped across the ground before landing in front of Mr. G. The man moved around the fallen monster and as he did the spiders surged forward.

"We can't let him gather his magic," said Sarah as she jumped up and slammed the nearest one into the ground. It gave a hiss before she kicked off to the side. "If he does then we've lost and there no second chances."

"I get that," said Erica as she ripped a vine from the ground. It writhed about in her hands and she used it to clear away as many spiders as possible before tossing at Mr. G. The teacher dodged it with unnatural ease. "How are we supposed to get anywhere near him with everything trying to kill us?"

"We have to try and get-" The Hell Horse crossed their path without stopping and as it did the creatures wilted before it. The horse gave a reassuring snort before charging after Benny. She nodded and cried: "Go go go!"

The two vampires rushed forward only to be hoisted into the air by a one of the large bat like creatures. Sarah drove her heel into its eye and was rewarded with a harsh screech. The man bat dropped her and she darted for the teacher.

"You don't have to do this Mr. G, we can still stop this before-"

"No," said the man as he turned to face her. All the kind features that had once made their teacher were gone. In their place the sharp details of this new man seemed almost impossibly vivid. "Mr. G is gone, all that exists is Ichabod Sinestero Crane."

He flicked his finger and she felt herself lifted backwards and thrown in the mass gathering of arachnids. She screamed out and dropped the pebble she was holding. As it bounced across the ground it made contact with several of the spiders each one turning to dust at its touch.

"How could I forget," whispered Sarah. As loud as she could she called out: "The pebbles negate Crane's magic!"

Erica reached for her small bag, took one it hand and scattered the rest along the area. One by one the vines, tentacles and spiders began to vanish. She held out her hand and drove it into the nearest scarecrow's leg. It howled at the touch and turned back into grass.

"Finally things are going our way," said the blonde as her fangs appeared. She smiled and assumed a fighting stance. "Let's do this."

Rory heard Sarah call out and pulled his own bag of pebbles from his pocket. Benny fired a blast of ice and he held it up. The spell vanished and the brunette gave him a confused look. Anger flashed across his face and he summoned a cyclone of fire behind him. The blonde smiled in response and held up the rock.

"Catch!" said Rory as he threw it with all his might. Benny's instincts kicked in and he caught it square in hand. The tornado dissipated and the Spellmaster looked backwards in confusion. When he turned he was greeted with sharp punch from the vampire. As the Benny fell backwards Rory jumped up and down massaging his hand. ""Ow ow! That hurt!"

"Rory," called out the Horseman as he held up his sword. "Keep the monsters away from me and I may be able to push things in our favor."

Rory nodded and opened the bag of pebbles. He took two and scattered the rest in front of Ethan. Anything that got past the initial rocks would have to deal with him. "How much time do you need?"

"Two minutes."

"Do your thing dude, I've got you covered."

The Hell Horse stormed pass and ripped through several pairs of scarecrows before being blasted sideways by Sinestero. It collapsed against the ground and Rory squeezed the two rocks in his hands as the monsters bore down on them. He knocked down two bats, several spiders, and vines before being pushed back by the overwhelming numbers. When it seemed like he was about to taken down the Horseman ran forward with the blade held high.

Darkness pulsed forward turning the advancing creatures to dust. "Hurry we must get to Crane before it is too late."

Erica dodged Crane's magic and deflected the sound blast with the two pebbles she held. With a sideways grin she asked: "Is that the best you've got? I've fought dolls that were tougher than you."

He raised his hand and darkness came pouring down from the strange gathering in the sky. Erica rolled to the side and watched as Sarah tackled Crane from behind. They both rolled across the ground only to jump up and separate.

"Sarah behind you!" The brunette vampire deflected the fresh flurry of blasts only to be assaulted from behind by a scarecrow. The creature bore down on her and Erica threw her stone. It connected with the beast but once it was gone a large vine wrapped tightly around the blonde's legs.

"You're trying to defeat pure magic with nothing more than rocks and a vampire curse," said Crane. He snapped his fingers and the tentacles bounded Sarah to her spot on the ground. "You cannot defeat-"

A truck burst through the bushes and struck Crane squarely from the side. He bounced across the ground and lay still on the far edge of the clearing. Evelyn emerged from the car and wiped the sweat from her brow. She made a motion to the large object in the trunk.

"I brought something that can help. All we have to do is get Crane-"

A fireball surged past them and they turned in enough time to watch as Benny held his hands up.

Rory frowned and watched as the Hell Horse ran past. He reached out to grab the saddle and hoisted himself on with relative ease. In the distance he caught his friend in the act of raising his hands. Several bolts of lightning gathered above the truck crackling with pure energy.

"GO FASTER!" cried Rory. Reacting on instinct he jumped off, prayed he's calculated the landing right, and smiled when he felt Benny go slack underneath him. He stared down at the unconscious body of his friend and said: "Sorry buddy this was the safest way to knock you out."

"Use this to bind the stone," said Evelyn a she handed him her bandana. "It should negate both his magic and the possesion as long as it's in contact with his body."

Rory placed the pebble on Benny forehead and then tied it down with the cloth. Evelyn snapped her fingers and grinned when black ropes tightened themselves around her Grandson.

"That's how you perform a binding spell. It's basic magic, the same for fighting against possession. Its like four years of lessons have just gone out the window."

"Benny was never one for the basics," said Erica. She looked up at the battered car. "Now what's in the truck?"

"Crane's coffin," said Evelyn. "I lined it with the dark anti-magic rocks. Get him in there before he has a chance to gather his magic and it should dissipate forever. We have to move now though if we want to interfere with his plan."

"Excellent," said the Horseman as sliced through another monster. The Hell Horse came to his side and he mounted it. In the distance Crane stood up his eyes now glowing a solid black. "Now let us end this once and for all! We will distract the beasts while you handle Crane."

The horse charged and as it did Evelyn placed her hands together. The clouds finally gave way and it began to rain exclusively on the monsters. Anything the drops touched turned to ice and bathed the field a cold mist.

The vampires advanced and Crane tried to blast them all backwards with a purple shock wave. They scattered dodging the rain, remaining monsters, and together surrounded the warlock on all sides.

"We've given you more chances than you deserve," said Erica with her fangs bared. "Surrender or we're going to put you where you belong."

"You have nothing that can harm me," said Crane. He tired another attack and the trio negated them with their onyx rocks. "Those useless pebbles can only protect you for so long."

"You tried to hurt the students who put their trust in you," said Rory sadly. "Why did you betray them? Why would you betray us?"

"Because I am a Sinestero at heart and this city has never been anything but a cesspool for the monsters called humans. I will end that all for future generations, and I will do it with the pure magic provided by my ancestors. Tonight Sleepy Hollow will be recreated as a home for the supernatural and the supernatural alone."

"You don't have to be what others want you to be," said Sarah. She held out the rock in her hand and her friends did the same. "I had to learn that the hard way." He scoffed at her. "But you've given us no choice. If you want to be a monster then we're going to do what we do best."

"And what's that?"

Together the three vampires said: "Put the monster down."

They all ran forward, as they did Crane summoned a purple light from the gathering clouds. It came crashing down around him unnatural force and attempted to surge forward. Each vampire held up their rock and prevented the pillar of expanding forward. They struggled to keep it from pushing them backwards and the pillar began surged in on itself.

"WHITECHAPEL WILL BE CLEANSED!" cried Crane from the depths of magic. "I WILL BRING ABOUT THE AGE OF THE SUPERNATURAL!"

"This isn't working," cried Erica as she dug her heels into the ground. "We can't hold this forever."

"Guys," yelled Rory as his arms began to shake. "I'm losing my grip."

"Hold on," screamed Sarah. She felt the weight of the magic bear down on her and as it did her body began to numb. "We have to hold on."

"Don't give up," said Ethan as the Hell Horse ran forward. He jumped from the saddle and drove the onyx sword into the wall of purple energy. The pillar began to waver. "We can end this. Together."

The magic seemed to glow brighter and then all at once it vanished. Crane looked down at his hands and then turned to look up at them.

"I… I only wanted to help…." He reached out and as he did his body vanished. The only thing left of Ichabod Sinestero Crane was the purple orb on the ground.

"Let's get that thing into the coffin," ordered Evelyn with a frown. "And put as many of those rocks around it as possible. It'll block out its magic, and if we bury it with enough of them then over the years it'll eventually lose its power."

"Finally," said the Horseman as he exhaled and lowered his blade. "I have fulfilled my promise to Katrina and am able to rest."

Black smoke rose from Ethan's mouth and into the air. The Hell Horse neighed and with one last shake of its head faded. Ethan looked at his friends with a strange expression, noted his attire and nodded. "I… I was the Horseman. Now that the fights over its kind of hard to accept."

"Dude not just was," said Rory with a wild grin. "But still are."

"Ethan I'm so glad your back to normal," said Sarah as she rushed forward to give him a hug. Which proved awkward with the armor and sword between them. Ethan smiled and when he did the garments disappeared. "Well... mostly normal."

"I-I think," they reappeared. "I think… I... may have some new… powers…."

"My master will return," screamed Benny from his place on the ground. "One day he will come back and you will all-"

"Is there anyway to get him back to normal?" asked Erica as she poked him with the tip of her foot. "Because this is gonna get very annoying very fast."

"Try the app again," offered Sarah. Ethan handed her his phone and she held it out. It flashed again. "Well?"

"I WILL SACRIFICE YOU ALL IN THE NAME OF SLEEPY HOLLOW!"

"I know a few exorcism spells," said Evelyn with a sly smile. "Might not be the easiest thing to do but it'll be lesson for him on how to master his basic techniques. Especially when it comes to possession. Isn't this like the third time this has happened?"

"Fourth," mumbled Erica. "We can't forget the time he was hypnotized by the shadows in the doorway."

"Oh! Oh will his head turn in a full circle?" asked Rory excitedly. "Because that would be so awesome."

"Guys really?" asked Ethan as he approached his friend. He pointed the sword at Benny's wrist and flicked it. The small bracelet fell to the ground where it turned to ash. "Ta-da."

Benny's eyes went empty for a moment before he began to struggle against his bindings. "Hey what's going on? Why is everyone just standing around and why- Oh my god Ethan's the Horseman!"

He rolled over onto his stomach and began to wiggle away. "FLEE MY FRIENDS! FLEE!"

Ethan sighed and with a twitch of wrist the ropes were cut away. "Calm down dude." He held out his hand and as he did the armor vanished. He helped Benny to his feet and added: "I'll explain everything once we're home."

"Bad news guys," said Evelyn as she examined the truck. "It looks like we're going to be walking home, and as for Crane we'll have to bury the new Lucifractor later." She placed several nails on the coffin and uttered an incantation. They drilled themselves in and the wood turned a dark onyx shade. "No will ever open this again."

As they walked Ethan took Sarah's hand in his and together they shared a small blush a smile.

"So…" said Ethan turning even redder than before. "What grade did you end up getting on that essay of yours?"

"Oh a B+," said Sarah trying her best not to looked too embarrassed. "Teacher said there wasn't enough evidence to support my claims but I presented several fascinating ideas that had never been considered before."

"That reminds me I forgot to tell you," he reached for his phone and showed her the picture he had taken. "Katrina is a very distant relative to your family. You have maybe 1/36th of Van Tassel blood in your lineage. Not much but in this city that's all it takes."

"What?" Benny and Erica took his phone and examined the image. "Amazing."

"Crane's magic might have been linked to the Horseman," said Ethan with a grin. "But I'm guessing that Sarah's blood's the one that jump started its resurrection."

He looked up at the sky and noticed that all the clouds had vanished, and with it seemed the strange cold snap. He watched the stars twinkle for a moment and then turned to woman whose hand he was still holding. "W-would you like to get a pumpkin spice latte with me?"

Sarah laughed and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "How about a dinner and movie instead?"

"Sounds like a date to me."

Together they looked up at the sky and Ethan smiled. It was going to be another beautiful night in Whitechapel and perhaps an even more beautiful Halloween.

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. As of now I only have more story planned for this section and it will either be an urban mystery or fairytale. I haven't decided which one I'll do but for now I plan on finishing my other Christmas story (a total overhaul from what it is) and The Spellmaster's Mother (which will update on Friday). And please don't forget to leave a review it would mean a lot to me. I'll see you again soon! Any questions I can answer send me a PM!