Disclaimer: These characters and the world of Buffy The Vampire Slayer are
the property of Joss Whedon.
Note: This story contains some description of graphic violence.
Ri'Oth
Prologue: The Tower
As two black-clad figures faced one another atop the steel tower, two titans, a god and a champion wielding the weapon of a god, waged in unholy conflict amid chaos below, the outcome of which would decide the fate of every soul on Earth. The Slayer was Earth's champion this night. She fought like it.
Atop the complex of metal sinew, a soulless creature of the night protected an innocent from the blade of another; The Worshipper of the Beast. Suddenly the black-eyed demon struck with speed such that the impassioned vampire was unable to defend himself.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The girl swung again with the massive war-hammer, and for the first time, a god bled. And bled. And resisted no longer as the Slayer struck again and again caving in Glory's immortal features. Suddenly those features shifted into the face of a man who chose he only path he believed led to life. Ben coughed up a lungful of blood as Buffy ceased her onslaught. From that battered face came the words "I'm sorry". Her expression neutral, her voice anything but, Buffy responded,
"Tell her its over. Glory had her shot and she blew it. If she-"
"No", Ben choked, "its not over Buffy, I'm so sorry. If – if the bloodletting happens! The Door! It won't close, not until-". His own gag cut him short. "Just... my room – behind the painting. Its all... Save her, Buffy!" She dropped the hammer and ran towards the tower.
Ben was aware of someone else. The Watcher crouched beside him. "Can you move?" he asked.
"Need... a minute", replied the intern. "She, she could have killed me". Giles replaced his glasses while explaining how Buffy could never do such a thing, and how Glory would make her pay for her mercy.
"She's a hero, you see? Not like us". Rupert Giles never blinked while he smothered the helpless man with one hand.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Doc swept Spike's legs and held up his beaten opponent to face Dawn, a look of horror on Spike's face before he was casually flung from the hundred feet tall structure.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Buffy never paused to see the figure fly down as she scaled Glory's Tower faster than any other human possibly could. She arrived at the top to see a suit-wearing man facing her sister. She nonchalantly dispatched him from the structure, to see Dawn, bleeding. Untying her sister, Buffy didn't notice as the drops of blood hang in mid-air, forming a small whole in the sky. Both sisters however, saw the portal grow as lightning spewed forth in all directions.
From far below, a surrogate father, two best friends and their lovers came to the realisation that the world was about to be undone. They never heard the young girl's pleas that she be allowed to die to save them.
"Buffy" pleaded Dawn, "you have to let me go. The blood's started and until the blood stops flowing it will never stop". Images crowded Buffy's thoughts. Visions of Spike and The First Slayer and of Dawn. Summers' blood. Dawn was crying, "You know you have to let me go." Buffy turned to face the end of the platform. The way was lit. She saw it, as did Dawn. "Buffy, no."
"I have to." She turned to Dawn. "Honey, there's not enough time, listen." She gave Dawn her last words of love as the sky around was consumed in fire and lightning, emanating from the ever-expanding Gateway. Turning, the Slayer ran toward the light, leaping from the tower, and was gone from this world.
Note: This story contains some description of graphic violence.
Ri'Oth
Prologue: The Tower
As two black-clad figures faced one another atop the steel tower, two titans, a god and a champion wielding the weapon of a god, waged in unholy conflict amid chaos below, the outcome of which would decide the fate of every soul on Earth. The Slayer was Earth's champion this night. She fought like it.
Atop the complex of metal sinew, a soulless creature of the night protected an innocent from the blade of another; The Worshipper of the Beast. Suddenly the black-eyed demon struck with speed such that the impassioned vampire was unable to defend himself.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The girl swung again with the massive war-hammer, and for the first time, a god bled. And bled. And resisted no longer as the Slayer struck again and again caving in Glory's immortal features. Suddenly those features shifted into the face of a man who chose he only path he believed led to life. Ben coughed up a lungful of blood as Buffy ceased her onslaught. From that battered face came the words "I'm sorry". Her expression neutral, her voice anything but, Buffy responded,
"Tell her its over. Glory had her shot and she blew it. If she-"
"No", Ben choked, "its not over Buffy, I'm so sorry. If – if the bloodletting happens! The Door! It won't close, not until-". His own gag cut him short. "Just... my room – behind the painting. Its all... Save her, Buffy!" She dropped the hammer and ran towards the tower.
Ben was aware of someone else. The Watcher crouched beside him. "Can you move?" he asked.
"Need... a minute", replied the intern. "She, she could have killed me". Giles replaced his glasses while explaining how Buffy could never do such a thing, and how Glory would make her pay for her mercy.
"She's a hero, you see? Not like us". Rupert Giles never blinked while he smothered the helpless man with one hand.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Doc swept Spike's legs and held up his beaten opponent to face Dawn, a look of horror on Spike's face before he was casually flung from the hundred feet tall structure.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Buffy never paused to see the figure fly down as she scaled Glory's Tower faster than any other human possibly could. She arrived at the top to see a suit-wearing man facing her sister. She nonchalantly dispatched him from the structure, to see Dawn, bleeding. Untying her sister, Buffy didn't notice as the drops of blood hang in mid-air, forming a small whole in the sky. Both sisters however, saw the portal grow as lightning spewed forth in all directions.
From far below, a surrogate father, two best friends and their lovers came to the realisation that the world was about to be undone. They never heard the young girl's pleas that she be allowed to die to save them.
"Buffy" pleaded Dawn, "you have to let me go. The blood's started and until the blood stops flowing it will never stop". Images crowded Buffy's thoughts. Visions of Spike and The First Slayer and of Dawn. Summers' blood. Dawn was crying, "You know you have to let me go." Buffy turned to face the end of the platform. The way was lit. She saw it, as did Dawn. "Buffy, no."
"I have to." She turned to Dawn. "Honey, there's not enough time, listen." She gave Dawn her last words of love as the sky around was consumed in fire and lightning, emanating from the ever-expanding Gateway. Turning, the Slayer ran toward the light, leaping from the tower, and was gone from this world.