The Final Battle – Part One

- -

AUTHORS NOTE: Set post Not Fade Away, this fan.fic delves deep into my mind to find the storyline and plot. It will not be just like any other fan.fic set during this time, but something special in which that characters fight to win for the rights of humanity as well as their own personal gains and losses, including life.

- -

SUMMARY: The story picks up right where Not Fade Away left. It recalls the final scene of the episode, and continues on from there. It may have already been done, but I can promise that this story will prove to have twists, turns and love. It will also have loss and tremendous heartache as those who fight see they will lose.

- -

PROLOGUE

Angel ran into the alley after his brawl with Hamilton and having to deal with seeing his son possibly moments before his death. As he slowed to a halt reaching a wire gate, Angel scanned the alley for any of the team. The sword in his hand suddenly felt so heavy. Rain poured down in buckets, washing the blood from Angel's face down his jacket.

Spike stepped out of the shadows. 'Boo.'

Angel spun around. 'Anyone shown up yet?' he asked.

Spike answered, 'Not so far. You feel the heat.'

Angel stared into space for a moment, though his gaze was directed down the alley. 'It's coming.' He declared.

'Finally gout ourselves a descent brawl.' Spike noted. Suddenly Gunn appeared in the alley, running towards them.

'Damn! How'd I know the fang boys would pull through? Spike and Angel ran to his side to help him. 'You're lucky we're on the same side dawgs, cause I was on fire in there! My game was tight.' Spike and Angel sat him down on the lid of a garbage bin. Spike noticed some blood on Gunn's shirt.

'You're supposed to wear the red stuff on the inside Charlie boy.' He said. Gunn's left hand is pressed against the wound in his side. Ignoring his injury, Gunn asks about the others.

'Any word on Wes?' Spike shook his head in reply. Suddenly Illyria dropped down from a nearby rooftop with unpleasant news.

'Wesley's dead.' She said. Angel, Spike and Gunn struggle to handle to news, hanging their heads in respect of their fallen comrade.

'I am feeling grief for him. I can't seem to control it. I wish to do more violence.' Suddenly a mass of demons flock into the alley, running directly for the foursome standing alone at the rear of the alley.

'Well wishes just happen to be horses today.' Spike said. Angel looked up to see the demons heading their way.

'Among other things.' He said.

'Okay, you take the 30,000 on the left,' Gunn began as everyone moved towards the middle of the alley.

'You're fading. You'll last 10 minutes at best.' Illyria yelled over the shrieks and howls of the oncoming demons.

'Then let's make 'em memorable.' Gunn replies, again ignoring his injuries to focus on the bigger picture. The group turned to face the demonic army.

'And in terms of a plan?' Spike asked.

'We fight.' Angel replied.

'Bit more specific?' Spike asked again. Angel stepped forwards and looked up to a dragon soaring overhead.

'Well, I kind of want to slay the dragon.' He said boldly. He stood his ground, as did the others, as the demon army moved in. Let's go to work.' Angel raised his sword and it clanged against something metal.

CHAPTER ONE – THE ALLEY TO THE HYPERION

Angel's sword had connected with the battleaxe of a demon who'd taken a swing at him. As several demons ran past him, Spike, Gunn and Illyria stepped into work.

Spike kicked two demons back into the crowd only to have another two jump over them and tackle him to the ground. He grunted as the two demons pinned him to the ground and attempted to chop off his head with a battleaxe. He felt a burst of energy inside of him and he managed to throw off the two demons. They were hauled through the air and Angel watched briefly as they collided with a row of oncoming demons, knocking them all to the ground. He smiled only to have the happy moment stolen when he was hit in the head with the blunt side of an axe. He stumbled backwards, ready to fall to the ground. As he fell, he watched demons run past him on both side. Time seemed to slow down, almost as if Illyria had been tampering with it again.

Could she still do that? Her powers are gone. Angel thought to himself as he floated to the ground. Blood trickled from his nose and a tear in his lower lip. He could feel it dribbling down the back of his neck from his new wound. He figured that no one had noticed him fall, so he just lay there and let the demons run past. He figured that someone would realise soon, either that or he would be able to stand up again and fight soon. He just hoped that nothing dusted him.

As bodies of demons fell to the ground, Angel began to disappear. They crowded around him and he smiled as he realised it was his friends fighting, saving him. It made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside, even though there wasn't a single part of him to be warm in all of the heavy rain.

Gunn was fading, as Illyria predicted. He was slowing down and his reflexes were worse than pathetic. He could barely block any attacks, and he eventually took a sword stab to the stomach. He groaned in pain and gasped for air.

'Angel!' he called, not seeing his fighting comrade. 'Angel?' he dropped to his knees as demons ran past him, heading to where Illyria and Spike were busy battling demons galore.

'We're not going to win.' Illyria called to Spike. 'There are too many for us to fight.' Spike sighed. He knew she was right. She easily snapped the neck of two demons that came her way.

'Can you slow time for a bit so we can get Angel and Gunn and get out of here?' Spike asked, seeing Gunn kneeling on the wet pavement.

'You want to run?' Illyria asked, surprised. 'You told Angel you were prepared to fight until you're death.'

Spike threw a punch to one demon before snapping its neck and kicking back another. 'No stupid, we've going to retreat to higher ground, get some more weapons then return to finish them off. If we don't finish them, then they'll finish us. The least we can do is try with what we've got.'

'I agree with your proposal.' In a second time had slowed down. 'You find Angel, I'll help Gunn.'

Spike scanned the area, but no one seemed to be moving faster than the demons slow-paced dash at them. He must have been dusted, Spike thought in horror. He never realised it, but he had grown fond of Angel and didn't want him to die. Or at least, be dusted.

'Help.' Came a voice from amongst the demon army. 'Spike?' It was Angel; Spike knew it. He ran in between demons, darting in and out. He eventually found Angel, where he had lay for the past few minutes.

'Angel!' Spike cried as he dropped to Angel's side. 'You're meant to be up fighting those demons.' Spike pointed to the demons that slowly ran past them.

'I got… hit.' He mumbled, allowing Spike to help him to his feet.

'And you're gonna give up that easily?' Spike asked. 'Please. I signed on for dying bravely not giving up at the first sign of weakness. I don't believe you did either.'

Angel groaned at Spike and watched as the demons flew past in slow motion. 'What is going on?'

'Illyria. Come on we don't have long.' Spike dragged his grand-sire over to where Illyria was holding Gunn, supporting him. He was close to death, and Spike figured that there wasn't much more they could do for him but to allow him to die while only they surrounded him. It was the least they could do, seeing as how only Illyria was there for Wes.

'Everyone, into the Hyperion.' Angel instructed, breaking free of Spike's hold to drag himself inside. Blood trickled from the wound on the back of his head, where he was hit. Spike shook his head at the thought of Angel's pain. He followed everyone inside, watching as time returned to normal as he closed the door.

'Where is your weapon stock Angel?' Spike asked.

'Upstairs.' Angel started up the stairs, wincing with the pain of each step.

'Look mate, let me go.' Spike offered.

'No, I'm fine.' Angel pushed him away and continued up the stairs. Spike took Angel's arm and wrapped it around his shoulder. Angel stopped and looked at Spike. He didn't object, and allowed Spike to help him. There was a connection between the two century-old vampires. They seemed to help each other out when it came down to things like this.

Illyria dragged Gunn over to a dusty old couch and eased him down. She tried not to cause him any further pain, but noticed more blood escaping from a fresh wound in his stomach.

'You're lucky to last this long.' She said. 'You will be dead in a few minutes.' She remembered her final moments with Wesley and felt anger again.

Gunn leant back, slumping into the couch. 'Call Angel and Spike back.' He whispered, straining under the pain.

'Angel! Spike!' Illyria shouted, as she was asked to. They appeared at the top of the stairs carrying a trunk that she could only assume was full of weapons.

'What is it?' Spike called back.

'Gunn is dying.' She stated. 'He wants you here.' Angel was able to walk almost normally after a bit of a rest in the room they got the weapons trunk from. A bed is usually helpful for rest.

'Heads up.' Angel said, straining as he and Spike dropped the trunk over the railing. It slammed heavily on the ground making an awful noise. They rushed down the stairs, Spike stopping once to check on Angel as he almost skipped down the stairs. They headed over to the couch and gathered around Gunn. Angel sat on the coffee table facing Gunn and Spike stood nearby.

'Gunn.' Angel began. 'You can fight this, I know you can.' He was trying to give Gunn more will to live, but it wasn't working.

'Angel…' He coughed up blood. 'Spike.' He said, turning his head. 'Illyria.'

'Gunn, come on mate you can't give up now, we've almost won this thing.' Spike tried positive reinforcement.

'Who are we kidding guys, we can't win this.' Gunn whimpered and his hand shook near his wound.

'We were never going to win.' Angel explained. 'We were only going to show the Senior Partners that they don't own us. We were only ever going to show them that we could do things ourselves, and it was never anything more than that. I'm surprised we've all lasted a long as we have.' He hung his head in respect for Wesley, whom they had all lost.

'Angel…' Gunn began before coughing up more blood. 'I understand that. I voted 'yes' remember? We all did.' He groaned in pain. 'But I can't fight with you anymore. I'm in too much pain, but I just won't die.'

Angel remembered back to a remotely similar situation on a submarine when a man was needed so that he could save others. Angel turned him into a vampire and saved his life, so he could save the lives of others. He sighed, and after telling himself he would never under any circumstances do that again, decided it needed to be done.

'Gunn, I need you to make a choice.' Angel said. Spike looked at him strangely. 'Do you want to be a vampire and live like us, or do you want to die slowly and painfully like you are right now?' he paused and Spike stared at him, bewildered.

'Angel? What the hell are you doing?' he asked.

'I've done this before Spike. Remember the submarine?' he sighed and Spike shook his head in regret. 'I'm sorry Gunn, but what do you want to do?'

Gunn hung his head and thought for a moment. He seemed to have stopped breathing, but a second later he coughed blood again and looked up.

'I can't stand this, I'm not ready to die and I know that you guys need all the help you can get. Yes.' He cocked his head to the side, revealing his bared neck. He pulled at his collar to reveal more flesh, and remained still so Angel could bite him.

'Are you sure about this?' Angel double-checked before making his move. He morphed into game face and leant in. 'Gunn, I just want you to know, I'm sorry.'

Spike reached out and pulled his shoulders back. 'Do you realise what that will do Angel?' Spike said. Angel nodded and leant in again. Spike pulled him back again. 'Angel. Is it really worth it? We're going to be dusted anyway, just let the boy die.'

'I don't want to die!' Gunn yelled suddenly, grabbing Angel's arms and pulling him in. Angel sunk his fangs into Gunn's neck and he screamed in pain. When he pulled away, he held his wrist out for Gunn to drink from.

'I'm sorry.' He whispered. Gunn drank the blood from his wrist and sat back, alive as he possibly could be. Even though he was now dead like Angel and Spike.

'It's okay, it was my choice.' Gunn replied.

'Welcome to the team.' Angel said, hanging his head in guilt.

CHAPTER TWO – BACK TO BATTLE

Angel stood up and walked away, leaving the others standing around Gunn on the couch. He opened the trunk resting on the floor and made a pile of the weapons they could use.

A crossbow, a sword, a battleaxe, another sword, arrows, a shield and another crossbow with arrows.

'Choose your weapon guys, we've got a fight to win.' Angel declared, picking up a new sword since the one he began the battle with was lost somewhere outside in the alley.

'Gunn, from now on you've gotta watch your back.' Spike told Gunn. 'Anything goes through your chest and your basically finished. Do you need any more blood cause I think I've got some to spare? He held out his wrist.

'Nah, I'm fine now. I'll probably regret this choice but if we make it through, I'm gonna live forever.'

'Guys, there's something I have to tell you.' Angel said as they all picked up some form of a weapon.

'What Angel?' Gunn asked, now proudly standing strong. 'I signed away the Shanshu, so if we make it through this alive, Spike it's yours.'

Spike stood there silently, confused. 'Excuse me?' he stuttered. 'You signed it away? You idiot Angel, but thanks.'

Angel shook his head. 'The Circle forced e to sign the parchment so I have no hope anymore. All I can hope for is that you can live life again like I only wish I could have.'

Spike sighed. 'Thanks.'

'I want to know what it feels like to have my heart beating inside of my chest. I want to know what it's like to have my blood flowing again like it did over a hundred years ago. I miss all those human qualities.' He wandered over to the stairs. 'Come on, we've got a battle to go finish.' He trudged up the stairs as the others watched him, feeling his pain.

'I sense defeat from Angel.' Illyria stated. 'He fears dying because he knows he can't come back but he also fears living because he knows he can never be human.' They hesitantly followed him up the stairs to the second floor, taking post at a window.

Spike and Gunn had the two crossbows; Illyria had a sword, as did Angel. Gunn and Spike each had a secondary weapon, Gunn and sword and Spike the battleaxe. He and Gunn aimed their bows down into the alley and fired.

Screams shot up from beneath them and the growling of the beasts continued as two fell to the ground He remember a saying from his time spent with Buffy.

From beneath you, it devours. It didn't make him feel any better. He fired again and turned to see Gunn doing the same. Another two demons feel to the ground, receiving a similar fate to the first two.

'I guess we're off again?' Gunn asked, not fully understanding his new power.

'Yeah, and now you're stronger and tougher than before, only you have to worry about being stabbed through the heart with a sharp little wooden stick.' Spike said, firing another arrow. A screech was heard as another demon fell to the ground. 'Fire again Charlie-boy!'

Gunn fired two more arrows, and Spike fired another one. Three demons feel to the pavement, drenched in the rain that still fell quite heavily.

Suddenly, there was a bright light at the end of the alley. It was almost like a spotlight, shining brightly in all their eyes. The demons stopped and shielded their eyes, blinded by the brightness. Angel noticed as they all began to burn away to nothing and be washed away by the rain. He was confused, but was happy to see them go.

'What's the deal?' he asked. Spike turned to him and shrugged. He turned back and looked out the window again. He fired another arrow, his last, and as it struck a demon it burst into a million tiny pieces.

'Whoa! Now that's what I'm talking about!' he scoffed to the others. Angel stood there, puzzled. Then many more of the demons began disappearing and he caught sight of some people below fighting them off.

'Hey.' He cried. 'Look down there.' He pointed to a group of people standing in a circle at the end of the alley.

'Are they crazy? This isn't Halloween, they'll be killed.' Gunn exclaimed. 'Hey! Get out of here!' Suddenly all the faces below turned to them.

They were girls, all of them. Young girls, slightly older girls. When Angel, Spike, Gunn and Illyria noticed how organised they were, they decided that they had to be the Slayers. And there was someone else with them … Buffy.

- -

Sure, these two chapters are fairly short and there isn't much said about their survival, but don't you think that things are getting interesting now? Buffy has shown up with the Slayers and they're here to help. Or are they…? Of course they are! But who knows what will happen after the final battle, because the Senior Partners promised to rain hell on the world. I can tell you some things about the future of this story, there will be love rekindled and lives lost. You can't always win.

- -