Title: Cry Havoc Once More
Author: Knife Hand
Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated
Spoilers: First four series of Buffy with some elements of five and six.
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy. I would buy it but I am broke.
Summary: The final battle is about to be joined and the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Friends will become enemies and enemies will become friends. A look at the final battle and the path that lead to it. (Multi Crossovers)
Author's notes at the bottom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We always thought it would be simple, like it was in high school. Humans versus demons, clear cut good and evil. We also thought we knew what a true Apocalypse was. We were wrong. Now it had come, The End of Days, Armageddon, the end of all things, the final Apocalypse. One final battle to determine the survival of humanity, and the ironic thing is that it is not lead by a demon, or a vampire bent on destruction. The end of the would was to be controlled by the hands of a black knight and his dark queen, two humans, fallen heroes of the light who had once given all they were to save what they would now destroy.
The dessert was bathed in the semi-light of an eclipse, on that had lasted for over a month. This area, which hardly ever received any rainfall, was about to have a deluge, of blood. One final battle was about to be joined with the forces protecting the world, the forces of Light, on one side and the destroyers, the forces of darkness, on the other. In one of the camps a man sat, tall and strong with dark hair and soulful brown eyes. He was looking over paperwork when a man entered the tent.
"Sir, there is an official request by the enemy for a parley in no mans land." The man said.
"Thank you." The tent's inhabitant replied and the man left.
"You're really going to meet them? Unarmed?" came a feminie voice from another entrance that lead into another tent.
"Of course." The man replied.
"Why, Xander?" the woman asked.
"My reasons will become apparent, Tara. Don't worry. I want you and Faith there as well. The presence of a Slayer should shake them." Xander said with a smile.
"Ok. I trust you. For now." Tara said before leaving the room.
********
Both of the camps held humans, vampires and demons. While the different species hated each other, in both cases the banded together in a united goal, to defeat the enemy in the other camp and follow through with their camps' mission. Many of the demons and vampires on the side of light were there mostly because they liked the way the world worked and did not want that to be disrupted while others had no genuine desire to harm humanity. As he walked through his camp, with Tara and Faith following him, Xander passed demons and vampires, the latter he particularly despised, but he figured that it was worthwhile to keep them as long as they worked towards the goal, above all was the goal. Taking another look around, Xander saw the humans this time. People from all over the world, from every nation. Military men and women, street fighters, martial artists, cops. All of these people were preparing themselves for battle, cleaning guns and such.
Another group, the Immortals, sat in another area of the camp cleaning and sharpening swords, axes and other bladed weapons that were their trademark. For millennia the Immortals had fought, engaging in single combat, the winner gaining all the knowledge of the loser, only really dieing when their head was separated from their bodies. The Immortals, though a small portion of the army numbering only several hundred in an army of millions, would be a pivotal part of the upcoming battle.
Putting the Immortals out of his mind, Xander jumped into the jeep that waited at the edge of the camp, with Tara and Faith, and drove out through miles of no mans land to the parley point, walking the last few hundred feet to prove that they had no weapons in the jeep. There they waited for the parley party from their enemy, but they did not have to wait long. Their enemy had also sent three humans as their parley, which did not surprise Xander as these three were at the head of the enemy's command structure.
********
The three enemy humans stoped about ten feet from Xander, Tara and Faith, glancing quickly at Faith, knowing that she was a Slayer. One of them, a blond woman stepped forward and Xander mimicked her.
"Why are you here?" the woman asked.
"You called a parley just for that?" Xander replied smirking.
The other woman and the man looked at each other but the blond did not visibly react to the comment.
"You know that you aren't going to win." She said.
"Such arrogance, I'm impressed." Xander responded calmly.
"I ask again, why are you here?"
The blond looked like she was getting annoyed.
"The answer is simple." Xander said, pausing for effect. "I'm evil, Buffy."
For a second you could hear a pin drop before Xander continued.
"We are going to destroy the world and from the ashes we will rule."
"But." Buffy began.
"But what, Buff? You thought that you, Wills and Giles would come out here, talk to us and suddenly we would be on the same side, like we used to. Wake up and smell the carnage, the world does not work that way." Xander said.
"I'm so going to kick you ass. You know I can stop this." Buffy threatened.
"I don't think so. This is a definite first for you, Buff. You see, you created us; you made us what we are. In a way you are responsible for what we do." Xander said with venom in his voice.
Xander turned, followed by Tara and Faith towards the jeep.
"This parley is over." He announced.
"See ya later B, Red, Jeaves." Faith said, jumping into the back of the jeep.
They sped back to their camp, leaving behind three very confused and angry former friends.
"Everyone keeps weapons and armour close till this is over." Xander ordered and Faith nodded in the back seat.
********
Xander sat at his desk in his tent, a dagger sitting close at hand, looking over some reports.
"Come to bed." Tara said from the same doorway she had occupied earlier.
Xander looked over at his dark queen, who was dressed in a very seductive and thin nightgown. Xander glanced down at the VERY boring reports before following Tara into the sleeping chamber. Quickly changing into his night attire Xander lay down beside Tara and began to gently run one hand up and down her side while the other absently played with her silky blond hair.
"Do you regret it?" he asked quietly.
"Regret what, exactly?" Tara responded.
"Being here, like this." Xander said.
"No. I mean I sometimes wonder how our lives could have gone differently, but generally no." Tara said softly.
"I can't imagine like that anymore. Tell me about it." Xander whispered.
Tara rolled over and faced Xander, and began telling him all the notions she had come up with. What if Buffy had not excluded Xander after they defeated ADAM? What if he had not been run out of town by has 'friends' for his 'own protection'? What if Willow had used less magic when patrolling with Buffy? Would that have stoped the magic addiction? What about if Willow never slept with Amy while on a magic high? What if her family had not come back and kidnapped her? What if Xander had not saved her? Even, what if she had never fallen in love with Xander? They talked for hours, Tara telling Xander all her dreams of what life could have been, be they mundane or bizarre, even by Sunnydale standards and for a while they could forget that they were about to lead an army to destroy the world, that they would face off against and kill or be killed by people that they had called friends, even lovers. They could forget the darkness that consumed their lives and just be like any other couple in love, be each other's world.
********
Buffy stormed into her tent.
'How dare he? How dare he blame me for his choices? All I ever wanted to do was keep him safe. He was my best friend. How dare he go all evil on me when I loved him?' Buffy suddenly stoped at that thought. 'I love him?'
Before Buffy could consider the implications of that thought she was interrupted by someone at the tent flap.
"Buffy? Methos, Albus Dumbledore and General Hammond are here to see you." The messenger said.
"Send them in. Tell the other section heads that there will be a meeting in the morning." She replied.
The three leaders entered the tent, Methos representing the Immortals, Dumbledore the wand baring Witches and Wizards and General Hammond representing the elite Airforce command know as the SGC. The discussed the upcoming battle long into the night.
********
The armies faced off, several hundred feet apart, it had been three days since the parley and the battle was about to start. Xander, Tara and Faith stood at the centre of the Army of Darkness's ranks dressed in full battle gear. Xander stood tall and imposing in his armour. It was black and red plate mail covering his entire body, with leather and chain mail armour underneath. His gauntlets were fashioned to represent claws while his mantle, which extended down over his backplate, was made to represent dragon wings, although it was enchanted so that it wrapped around him like a cloak when standing still but did not impede his movements in battle while retaining its strength. His helmet was fashioned after the head of a dragon but leaving his face exposed. On his back, coming through a slit in the mantle's back, was a wicked looking Claymore, the blade totally black while the crossbar consisted of two battling dragons and the pommel made to represent a dragon's claw. At his waist were an axe and a mace, fashioned in a similar style to the sword. Coupled with his grim expression he was a formidable sight, however anyone who discounted or belittled the women at his side would learn that they were wrong, in a definitely painful and probably fatal lesson.
On Xander's left stood Faith, who was dressed in thin, black leather. The only armour that she had on was made mostly of hardened leather that had been magically strengthened. She had shin guards on that protected her lower legs and had many small spikes facing out of the armour, so that anything she kicked would be punctured by multiple spikes. She also had bracers on that extended from her elbows down over her hands and while the bracers did not have the spikes of the shin guards, they did have blades protruding from each end so that a punch or elbow would cause a painful wound. Over her shoulders, Faith had shoulder guards with large spikes, which not only protected her shoulders and upper body but allowed for an additional weapon if she tackled someone. In each hand she held a short, black sword that she handled with ease and that had a three inch long spike in place of a pommel, and she also carried a pair of daggers in her belt.
On Xander's right stood Tara, who looked the most vulnerable. Tara was dressed in a simple yet elegant dress that was semi-tight to the waist but loose below the waist for freedom of movement and with slightly loose sleaves. The material, which appeared to be silk, was magically enhanced to be stronger that it looked. In her hands was a rather plain looking black quarterstaff, many people would miss the carefully carved dragon that graced the staff, that she held with a familiar ease, which appeared to be her only weapon. Tara was the most dangerous because in addition to the throwing knives that were hidden up her sleaves, she knew magic that made her more dangerous to anyone who crossed her than either of her companions.
Now, with the certainty of a fight, Xander was pulled into his memories, as he had been for every fight since that day over fifteen years earlier, that flashed by his minds eye in an instant that seemed to take years, and through his bond with her, he could feel Tara being likewise pulled into her own memories, a curse that the both shared and could not change but in the back of his mind Xander knew it was worth it, as long as he was with Tara.
TBC
AN: Next chapter is the beginning of the road that lead to this point. :) Review, Please!
AN2: For the purposes of this fic, I am assuming that Giles was in his late thirties/early forties during the series, thus he is in his late fifties here and will probably take a more administrative role that combat. I just wanted to make that clear.
Author: Knife Hand
Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated
Spoilers: First four series of Buffy with some elements of five and six.
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy. I would buy it but I am broke.
Summary: The final battle is about to be joined and the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Friends will become enemies and enemies will become friends. A look at the final battle and the path that lead to it. (Multi Crossovers)
Author's notes at the bottom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We always thought it would be simple, like it was in high school. Humans versus demons, clear cut good and evil. We also thought we knew what a true Apocalypse was. We were wrong. Now it had come, The End of Days, Armageddon, the end of all things, the final Apocalypse. One final battle to determine the survival of humanity, and the ironic thing is that it is not lead by a demon, or a vampire bent on destruction. The end of the would was to be controlled by the hands of a black knight and his dark queen, two humans, fallen heroes of the light who had once given all they were to save what they would now destroy.
The dessert was bathed in the semi-light of an eclipse, on that had lasted for over a month. This area, which hardly ever received any rainfall, was about to have a deluge, of blood. One final battle was about to be joined with the forces protecting the world, the forces of Light, on one side and the destroyers, the forces of darkness, on the other. In one of the camps a man sat, tall and strong with dark hair and soulful brown eyes. He was looking over paperwork when a man entered the tent.
"Sir, there is an official request by the enemy for a parley in no mans land." The man said.
"Thank you." The tent's inhabitant replied and the man left.
"You're really going to meet them? Unarmed?" came a feminie voice from another entrance that lead into another tent.
"Of course." The man replied.
"Why, Xander?" the woman asked.
"My reasons will become apparent, Tara. Don't worry. I want you and Faith there as well. The presence of a Slayer should shake them." Xander said with a smile.
"Ok. I trust you. For now." Tara said before leaving the room.
********
Both of the camps held humans, vampires and demons. While the different species hated each other, in both cases the banded together in a united goal, to defeat the enemy in the other camp and follow through with their camps' mission. Many of the demons and vampires on the side of light were there mostly because they liked the way the world worked and did not want that to be disrupted while others had no genuine desire to harm humanity. As he walked through his camp, with Tara and Faith following him, Xander passed demons and vampires, the latter he particularly despised, but he figured that it was worthwhile to keep them as long as they worked towards the goal, above all was the goal. Taking another look around, Xander saw the humans this time. People from all over the world, from every nation. Military men and women, street fighters, martial artists, cops. All of these people were preparing themselves for battle, cleaning guns and such.
Another group, the Immortals, sat in another area of the camp cleaning and sharpening swords, axes and other bladed weapons that were their trademark. For millennia the Immortals had fought, engaging in single combat, the winner gaining all the knowledge of the loser, only really dieing when their head was separated from their bodies. The Immortals, though a small portion of the army numbering only several hundred in an army of millions, would be a pivotal part of the upcoming battle.
Putting the Immortals out of his mind, Xander jumped into the jeep that waited at the edge of the camp, with Tara and Faith, and drove out through miles of no mans land to the parley point, walking the last few hundred feet to prove that they had no weapons in the jeep. There they waited for the parley party from their enemy, but they did not have to wait long. Their enemy had also sent three humans as their parley, which did not surprise Xander as these three were at the head of the enemy's command structure.
********
The three enemy humans stoped about ten feet from Xander, Tara and Faith, glancing quickly at Faith, knowing that she was a Slayer. One of them, a blond woman stepped forward and Xander mimicked her.
"Why are you here?" the woman asked.
"You called a parley just for that?" Xander replied smirking.
The other woman and the man looked at each other but the blond did not visibly react to the comment.
"You know that you aren't going to win." She said.
"Such arrogance, I'm impressed." Xander responded calmly.
"I ask again, why are you here?"
The blond looked like she was getting annoyed.
"The answer is simple." Xander said, pausing for effect. "I'm evil, Buffy."
For a second you could hear a pin drop before Xander continued.
"We are going to destroy the world and from the ashes we will rule."
"But." Buffy began.
"But what, Buff? You thought that you, Wills and Giles would come out here, talk to us and suddenly we would be on the same side, like we used to. Wake up and smell the carnage, the world does not work that way." Xander said.
"I'm so going to kick you ass. You know I can stop this." Buffy threatened.
"I don't think so. This is a definite first for you, Buff. You see, you created us; you made us what we are. In a way you are responsible for what we do." Xander said with venom in his voice.
Xander turned, followed by Tara and Faith towards the jeep.
"This parley is over." He announced.
"See ya later B, Red, Jeaves." Faith said, jumping into the back of the jeep.
They sped back to their camp, leaving behind three very confused and angry former friends.
"Everyone keeps weapons and armour close till this is over." Xander ordered and Faith nodded in the back seat.
********
Xander sat at his desk in his tent, a dagger sitting close at hand, looking over some reports.
"Come to bed." Tara said from the same doorway she had occupied earlier.
Xander looked over at his dark queen, who was dressed in a very seductive and thin nightgown. Xander glanced down at the VERY boring reports before following Tara into the sleeping chamber. Quickly changing into his night attire Xander lay down beside Tara and began to gently run one hand up and down her side while the other absently played with her silky blond hair.
"Do you regret it?" he asked quietly.
"Regret what, exactly?" Tara responded.
"Being here, like this." Xander said.
"No. I mean I sometimes wonder how our lives could have gone differently, but generally no." Tara said softly.
"I can't imagine like that anymore. Tell me about it." Xander whispered.
Tara rolled over and faced Xander, and began telling him all the notions she had come up with. What if Buffy had not excluded Xander after they defeated ADAM? What if he had not been run out of town by has 'friends' for his 'own protection'? What if Willow had used less magic when patrolling with Buffy? Would that have stoped the magic addiction? What about if Willow never slept with Amy while on a magic high? What if her family had not come back and kidnapped her? What if Xander had not saved her? Even, what if she had never fallen in love with Xander? They talked for hours, Tara telling Xander all her dreams of what life could have been, be they mundane or bizarre, even by Sunnydale standards and for a while they could forget that they were about to lead an army to destroy the world, that they would face off against and kill or be killed by people that they had called friends, even lovers. They could forget the darkness that consumed their lives and just be like any other couple in love, be each other's world.
********
Buffy stormed into her tent.
'How dare he? How dare he blame me for his choices? All I ever wanted to do was keep him safe. He was my best friend. How dare he go all evil on me when I loved him?' Buffy suddenly stoped at that thought. 'I love him?'
Before Buffy could consider the implications of that thought she was interrupted by someone at the tent flap.
"Buffy? Methos, Albus Dumbledore and General Hammond are here to see you." The messenger said.
"Send them in. Tell the other section heads that there will be a meeting in the morning." She replied.
The three leaders entered the tent, Methos representing the Immortals, Dumbledore the wand baring Witches and Wizards and General Hammond representing the elite Airforce command know as the SGC. The discussed the upcoming battle long into the night.
********
The armies faced off, several hundred feet apart, it had been three days since the parley and the battle was about to start. Xander, Tara and Faith stood at the centre of the Army of Darkness's ranks dressed in full battle gear. Xander stood tall and imposing in his armour. It was black and red plate mail covering his entire body, with leather and chain mail armour underneath. His gauntlets were fashioned to represent claws while his mantle, which extended down over his backplate, was made to represent dragon wings, although it was enchanted so that it wrapped around him like a cloak when standing still but did not impede his movements in battle while retaining its strength. His helmet was fashioned after the head of a dragon but leaving his face exposed. On his back, coming through a slit in the mantle's back, was a wicked looking Claymore, the blade totally black while the crossbar consisted of two battling dragons and the pommel made to represent a dragon's claw. At his waist were an axe and a mace, fashioned in a similar style to the sword. Coupled with his grim expression he was a formidable sight, however anyone who discounted or belittled the women at his side would learn that they were wrong, in a definitely painful and probably fatal lesson.
On Xander's left stood Faith, who was dressed in thin, black leather. The only armour that she had on was made mostly of hardened leather that had been magically strengthened. She had shin guards on that protected her lower legs and had many small spikes facing out of the armour, so that anything she kicked would be punctured by multiple spikes. She also had bracers on that extended from her elbows down over her hands and while the bracers did not have the spikes of the shin guards, they did have blades protruding from each end so that a punch or elbow would cause a painful wound. Over her shoulders, Faith had shoulder guards with large spikes, which not only protected her shoulders and upper body but allowed for an additional weapon if she tackled someone. In each hand she held a short, black sword that she handled with ease and that had a three inch long spike in place of a pommel, and she also carried a pair of daggers in her belt.
On Xander's right stood Tara, who looked the most vulnerable. Tara was dressed in a simple yet elegant dress that was semi-tight to the waist but loose below the waist for freedom of movement and with slightly loose sleaves. The material, which appeared to be silk, was magically enhanced to be stronger that it looked. In her hands was a rather plain looking black quarterstaff, many people would miss the carefully carved dragon that graced the staff, that she held with a familiar ease, which appeared to be her only weapon. Tara was the most dangerous because in addition to the throwing knives that were hidden up her sleaves, she knew magic that made her more dangerous to anyone who crossed her than either of her companions.
Now, with the certainty of a fight, Xander was pulled into his memories, as he had been for every fight since that day over fifteen years earlier, that flashed by his minds eye in an instant that seemed to take years, and through his bond with her, he could feel Tara being likewise pulled into her own memories, a curse that the both shared and could not change but in the back of his mind Xander knew it was worth it, as long as he was with Tara.
TBC
AN: Next chapter is the beginning of the road that lead to this point. :) Review, Please!
AN2: For the purposes of this fic, I am assuming that Giles was in his late thirties/early forties during the series, thus he is in his late fifties here and will probably take a more administrative role that combat. I just wanted to make that clear.