A/N:

For those of you who read my first attempt at this story, I apologize for having you start from the beginning, but I think it'll really be much better as a result in the end. This story has been bouncing around in my head for a very long time, and I really wanted to do it justice. Just to let you know up front, it looks like it'll be about 50 chapters when it's done. I hope you all enjoy it and please let me know if you do! Although, even if you think it's absolute crap, I'd love to hear why. xP

Disclaimer:

Mutant Enemy, Joss Whedon, and co. own Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and all their associated characters, pasts, plots, etc. I do not. I claim no rights to them, and write this story purely in the name of fun, with no intention to profit. The plot itself of this story is mine, as well as at least one minor character to be introduced later. Please do not steal those. If you want to repost this story somewhere, give me credit, and let me know, though I'd prefer you just link to here.

Warnings:

This story will contain discussions of the bible, and biblical apocalypse. I will do my best not to offend anyone with my portrayal of it, but if you think you might be offended, you may want to pass on this story. There will also be mild to moderate swearing in this story, and at a later time there may be some sex, though I will attempt to keep it vague and T, but if any chapter begins to stray towards M a clear warning will be at the top of the chapter, and an alternate summary will be available for anyone uncomfortable with the content.

A special thank you to my amazing beta lazerwolf314!

A simple piece of metal is buried a few inches in the ground, with the face of a goat inscribed on it, blood pooling in grooves along the design.

Above the metal stands a lion, blood dripping from its mouth. "Come and see." It roars.

The scent of burning flesh fills the air. Embers seem to show in cracks along marble skin. Skin disintegrates, showing only flesh, then only bone, then only ash. And the world fills with a flash of white light.

A clear stone amulet falls to the ground, which begins to collapse around it.

Horse hooves can be heard echoing all around, and thousands of women, of every race and age begin to march forward to the beat.

"Sorry, luv, didn't take."

…

Buffy woke with a start, her sheets sticking to her sweat soaked skin. She groaned and turned to look at her clock. Seeing that it was slightly before 6, she let out an annoyed groan and flopped onto her back.

A few months ago a dream like this would have had her mind in a knot. It had felt so real, and yet it was beyond cryptic. Truthfully though, she'd been having the same dream almost every night since arriving in Italy. There were occasionally variations; sometimes she saw the horse, a pure white stallion, leading the girls. Other times she saw a crossbow, and even Andrew had been there once, standing, shaking, over the seal.

Now the only times she woke up sweating, were nights like this, nights she heard his voice, or saw his face. Sure, they were both unforgettable, with that accent, those cheekbones, that platinum hair, those delectable lips… But there was something about the dreams with him that made it harder to wake up, to face the day that she knew wouldn't hold even a mention of him.

Occasionally she had other dreams with him… Different dreams. But those were a different matter altogether and sadly, like most dreams; they faded from her memory quickly as the day went on. These dreams, they were heavier. They stuck with her through the day, every detail just as clear as if she were seeing it for real in broad daylight.

She had had dreams like that before, dreams that stuck with her long after she'd woken up. But those had, for the most part, been slayer dreams. This though, this was different. It wasn't some memory of a dead slayer, and it didn't foretell the future. It couldn't, not when it showed things clearly past, people long dead.

Knowing she couldn't dwell on it, Buffy untangled herself from her bedspread, and made her way into the bathroom. A nice shower might help. Wash the thoughts from her brain, the sweat from her body, and brace her for the rest of her day. Deep down though, she knew it was fruitless. His voice would ring in her ears all day now, haunting her. And yet, in a twisted way, she was grateful for that. It was better than a day without.

…

Buffy sat behind her office desk, twirling a stake in her hand as she stared absent-mindedly at a large stack of papers in front of her. She grumbled to herself as she skimmed the first few pages idly. This was what she'd been reduced to. One girl in all the world chosen to… read proposals, grade exams, and discipline students.

Years ago, she'd have been thrilled at the idea. The very prospect that someday she'd be able to live a "normal" life, with a typical day job, would've made her grin wildly and insist on celebrating at the Bronze. Now, she'd come to the overwhelming conclusion that there was, without question, a hell dimension dedicated to just such a lifestyle.

But, as everyone kept reminding her, this was how they saved the world now. This was how watchers and slayers learned to fight evil. She glanced at the stake she was twirling nostalgically before tossing it back into her top drawer and picking up a red pen in its place. The best she could do for the world was to teach, to lead, to babysit. So, for the foreseeable future, she'd live the life of a principal, for the good of the world.

"Hey Buffster!" Xander said as he walked into the office.

"Please tell me you come bearing an apocalypse. A nice, cheery, paperwork-free apocalypse?" She asked, setting her pen down as she smiled up at her friend.

"I'm pretty sure we've got to fill out apocalypse forms in triplicate, actually."

"Hmph. Well, a paper-eating demon then?"

"Actually, I think one of the junior Wicca classes summoned one of those last semester. But nope, I'm here to tell you you're needed in a meeting."

"I didn't think I had any meetings today." Buffy groaned, squinting at the sloppily written scribbles that made up her schedule.

"It's of the urgent, last minute variety. You'd think seers would plan their meetings ahead, but you'd be wrong."

"Seers?"

"Yep, conference room's full of 'em"

"Me and the prophecies sooo not mixxy." She sighed, standing up to go to the conference room.

Xander wished her luck, but explained he couldn't go to the meeting. He had a lecture to give in half an hour, and would therefore be spared the seers usually very cryptic prophecies. Buffy, however, had no classes until noon, and would have to attend. She gathered up a few of her things, and headed through the hallways she had grown to know very well in the past few months.

In years at Sunnydale High, she'd never quite figured out where some classes were. Then again, she hadn't exactly had perfect attendance either. Here, at Paladin University, she had no trouble finding her way through the maze of hallways from her office on the third floor down to Conference Room 7 in the 2nd basement. Unfortunately, she still arrived last, and it was clear the rest of the room had been waiting on her. She sighed, bracing herself before she walked through the door.