Title: Sandstorm
Author: Asp
Email: brdf@sympatico.ca
Distribution: You want it, take it. Just let me know where it's going
Disclaimer: Joss et all owns em - not me.
Rating: PG Though with dark undertones
Spoilers: Future-ish fic. Set just after The End Of Days. Mentions the occurrences of Buffy season 7/Angel season 4
Summary: After the End Of Days, Angel is granted his Shanshu - though the results are highly different from what any of them expected.
Sandstorm
by Asp
They were the only ones left in the chamber, the others were either dead or had stumbled out into the cool night air.
"Well, we did it," Buffy stated, exhaustion slurring her words.
Shuffling towards her, his left arm badly cut, Angel pulled her in close with his right. "Yeah, it's over. The First and his minions won't be bothering the world anymore."
Buffy rested her head into his good shoulder and closed her eyes. "I love you, Angel. I've never stopped, but it's impossible. We both know we can't be together."
"I know," Angel sighed. "I'll be going back to LA tomorrow night."
Just then she felt him stiffen, causing her to lift her head and turn around.
"There will be no need for that, Champion. We have found you to be a true warrior, and thus your reward is now offered. You know of which I speak."
Buffy and Angel just stared up at the luminescent form floating above them. "What does it mean?" Buffy asked Angel.
"Shanshu."
"Huh? What's that?"
The Higher being answered for him. "Shanshu is our reward for the Champion succeeding in his mission, with all of the sacrifices we have forced him to make. With it, he will sacrifice no more."
Angel looked down at the woman in his arms. "As far as I've been able to figure from reading the scrolls, Shanshu is a mystic power to turn me human again, binding me to the mortal plane."
Tears formed in the corners of her eyes. "Could it really be? We could be together?"
"Yes, Slayer. We have forced enough turmoil into both your lives over the past several years to make you stronger, to allow you to cope with all that would come before you. You have both proven worthy, so the decision has been made to offer the reward. Champion, do not forget, there will be sacrifices for you to make for this also. You will no longer have your vampire strength. You will no longer be a Champion. You will just be a man, much as you were before the fateful night when you were sired."
He looked from the being to the woman his soul loved. She gave a weak smile and nodded once. He stepped away from her and spoke. "I am ready. I accept the Shanshu."
Immediately, his body was engulfed in brilliant blue flames. His eyes closed, his hands shooting up to cover his face. Then the screams began. They echoed throughout the chamber, causing Buffy to want to run to him, knowing there was nothing she could do, but wait, and trust in this being not to kill the man she loved. Angel's body rose into the air, rotating slowly, the screams never dying, each one building atop the one before, until the chamber walls themselves seemed to scream in reply. Finally the flames extinguished, the body fell to the floor. Buffy ran to him, kneeling beside, trying to help him to stand.
Shaking her hand off, he stood to his full height, saying, "I dinna need your help."
She just stared. She'd never hear the Irish brogue before. "Angel?" she inquired tentatively.
"Nay," came the reply. "Tha' was the name me demon chose for itself. Me name now is Liam, as it was before."
"Li-Liam? Do you remember anything?"
"Are ye daft woman? O' course I remember. I remember the fool of a demon finding one such as yourself to be beautiful, of the soul, that was naugh' me own, falling in love wit' you, and of the sacrifices made so it could be wit' you. Thank God, tis me controlling my own body now, so I dinna have to look at you're face anymore."
"B-but, Angel!" she nearly wailed. She fell to her knees, the shock of the moment, the impact of the words hitting like fists into her already exhausted body. She couldn't take any more. She crumpled.
Liam looked down at her, smiled and walked out. The others, waiting outside tried to stop him, to congratulate him, but he walked past. First order of business, his mind said, find a good pub.
Author: Asp
Email: brdf@sympatico.ca
Distribution: You want it, take it. Just let me know where it's going
Disclaimer: Joss et all owns em - not me.
Rating: PG Though with dark undertones
Spoilers: Future-ish fic. Set just after The End Of Days. Mentions the occurrences of Buffy season 7/Angel season 4
Summary: After the End Of Days, Angel is granted his Shanshu - though the results are highly different from what any of them expected.
Sandstorm
by Asp
They were the only ones left in the chamber, the others were either dead or had stumbled out into the cool night air.
"Well, we did it," Buffy stated, exhaustion slurring her words.
Shuffling towards her, his left arm badly cut, Angel pulled her in close with his right. "Yeah, it's over. The First and his minions won't be bothering the world anymore."
Buffy rested her head into his good shoulder and closed her eyes. "I love you, Angel. I've never stopped, but it's impossible. We both know we can't be together."
"I know," Angel sighed. "I'll be going back to LA tomorrow night."
Just then she felt him stiffen, causing her to lift her head and turn around.
"There will be no need for that, Champion. We have found you to be a true warrior, and thus your reward is now offered. You know of which I speak."
Buffy and Angel just stared up at the luminescent form floating above them. "What does it mean?" Buffy asked Angel.
"Shanshu."
"Huh? What's that?"
The Higher being answered for him. "Shanshu is our reward for the Champion succeeding in his mission, with all of the sacrifices we have forced him to make. With it, he will sacrifice no more."
Angel looked down at the woman in his arms. "As far as I've been able to figure from reading the scrolls, Shanshu is a mystic power to turn me human again, binding me to the mortal plane."
Tears formed in the corners of her eyes. "Could it really be? We could be together?"
"Yes, Slayer. We have forced enough turmoil into both your lives over the past several years to make you stronger, to allow you to cope with all that would come before you. You have both proven worthy, so the decision has been made to offer the reward. Champion, do not forget, there will be sacrifices for you to make for this also. You will no longer have your vampire strength. You will no longer be a Champion. You will just be a man, much as you were before the fateful night when you were sired."
He looked from the being to the woman his soul loved. She gave a weak smile and nodded once. He stepped away from her and spoke. "I am ready. I accept the Shanshu."
Immediately, his body was engulfed in brilliant blue flames. His eyes closed, his hands shooting up to cover his face. Then the screams began. They echoed throughout the chamber, causing Buffy to want to run to him, knowing there was nothing she could do, but wait, and trust in this being not to kill the man she loved. Angel's body rose into the air, rotating slowly, the screams never dying, each one building atop the one before, until the chamber walls themselves seemed to scream in reply. Finally the flames extinguished, the body fell to the floor. Buffy ran to him, kneeling beside, trying to help him to stand.
Shaking her hand off, he stood to his full height, saying, "I dinna need your help."
She just stared. She'd never hear the Irish brogue before. "Angel?" she inquired tentatively.
"Nay," came the reply. "Tha' was the name me demon chose for itself. Me name now is Liam, as it was before."
"Li-Liam? Do you remember anything?"
"Are ye daft woman? O' course I remember. I remember the fool of a demon finding one such as yourself to be beautiful, of the soul, that was naugh' me own, falling in love wit' you, and of the sacrifices made so it could be wit' you. Thank God, tis me controlling my own body now, so I dinna have to look at you're face anymore."
"B-but, Angel!" she nearly wailed. She fell to her knees, the shock of the moment, the impact of the words hitting like fists into her already exhausted body. She couldn't take any more. She crumpled.
Liam looked down at her, smiled and walked out. The others, waiting outside tried to stop him, to congratulate him, but he walked past. First order of business, his mind said, find a good pub.