A/N: I meant to have this posted awhile ago. I had ten pages written right after I posted the last chapter. I then got involved with moving into a new apartment and all of the moving made me forget about updating. I apologize for not updating this sooner.

Ch. 10

The First

As soon as Buffy, Spike, and the Doctor had left, some of people living in the Summer's household started having regrets. All of the Scoobies were currently regretting their decision to kick out their friend and the one person who always seemed to win no matter the odds. Even though Faith had never really gotten along with Buffy, she still missed her fellow Slayer and felt bad for how everything went down. She would try her best to lead the potentials to victory and continue on her own personal road to redemption. Vi was the only other person in the household who regretted what had happened. She hadn't wanted Buffy and the others kicked out, but she felt like she should stay with the rest of the potentials and didn't want to get kicked out as well. Vi kept her mouth shut and went along with the group.

After the arguing had finished for the night, everyone went their own separate ways to try and get in some relaxation before everything went down. They could all feel that their conflict with the First would soon be coming to end one way or another. Faith spent the night with Robin, Xander spent the night with Anya, and the others decided to either sleep or hang out with each other. While this was happening, the Doctor, Buffy, and Spike were doing what they could to save the world again.

"Is the first evil ever going to show up?" The Doctor asked as he sat with his back against the TARDIS. He wasn't the most patient person and thought they would be getting started right away.

"Whatever happened to taking it easy and staying out of other people's business?" An old man had suddenly appeared. Buffy and Spike didn't recognize the man, but it seemed like the Doctor knew exactly who this was.

"I have changed a lot since I was you," said the Doctor. "It has been hundreds of years since I was you, but it was a bunch of humans who changed your mind about helping others."

"Is this you, Doctor?" Buffy asked looking between the Doctor that she knew and who she suspected to be another incarnation of the Time Lord.

"This was my first incarnation," said the Doctor. "He was grumpy and tried to act old like you do when you are young. I don't know why the first evil is playing this game, but it is not going to work on me."

"It has been so long since I have gotten to play with a Time Lord," said the first evil now in the form of Buffy. "Does Buffy know of all the times you have screwed up? Does she know that you are the one who released me?"

"What are you talking about?" Buffy asked the first. It was still unnerving to see the first pose as her.

"So he hasn't told you," said the first with a smirk. "I wonder if he even knows what he has done. I used to have a body, but I could release my essence and possess people and influence others. My body was destroyed since I met with the Doctor and his little blond companion. He does seem to have a thing for blondes. Much to my surprise, my body had been holding me back. Now that I am free I can go wherever I wish, whenever I wish. My powers have never been greater than they are now. Do you remember now, Doctor?"

The Doctor merely nodded. He thought he had been rid of the beast. He remembered the time when he thought that he would be stuck on that impossible planet with Rose forever. The Doctor would not want to spend eternity in one place, but he could have been content there with Rose by his side. The Doctor had to remember that Rose wasn't dead and that this creature couldn't turn into her. There were plenty of people the first could turn into.

"I know what you're thinking," said the first. "You are thinking of everyone you have failed over the years. The first than began flicking through different images of everyone that the Doctor had failed. Some were random people that the Doctor could not save, but others were ones the Doctor had cared about. He saw Adric who he could not save from the Cybermen, Astrid who could not be saved from falling, Jabe who had sacrificed herself to save everyone, the Face of Boe who had given his life to save New New York. Jack Harkness even appeared despite the fact that he wasn't dead, but had still died countless times blaming the Doctor for not helping him. The list went on until the Doctor was lost in his thoughts and feeling like he had never helped even one person. He either got people killed or screwed up beyond belief.

"Don't listen to it, Doctor," said Spike who knew only too well how the first could mess with your head.

"The first is correct," said the Doctor dejectedly.

"Tell them why you keep coming back to them," commanded the first back in the guise of Buffy.

"You two are already so messed up," began the Doctor. "I felt like there was no possible way I could screw you two up anymore than you already are."

"Okay," said Spike. He looked at Buffy who merely shrugged.

"There are worse reasons," said Buffy. "We know we are messed up. I have just never had people want to hang out with me for that reason. I have failed plenty of people. I wonder why my friends would be like if they had never met me. I was told about at alternate reality where I had never come to Sunnydale and everything here was worse. So no matter how bad things are here, I know they could be worse. Doctor, think of all the good you have done. Things may not always go the way you want them to, but everything could be worse. There probably wouldn't even be an earth right now without you."

"You're right," said the Doctor who slowly got to hit feet and did not take his eyes off the first. "You may be the ultimate evil, but all you can do is talk. I am all for talking as it is preferable to violence, but I was just reminded of my purpose. I am going to die soon and I don't want to go, but I know I will go out doing what is right."

"So why did you want to meet me here?" The first asked the Time Lord. "I know you didn't plan on being reminded of all of your failures such as killing your own people. So why are you here?"

"Everyone gets one chance," said the Doctor in a deadly tone. "I came here to tell you this is your one chance. Leave now, leave these people alone, take your Bringers, take Caleb and never return. This is your one warning and your one chance to leave. Next time we meet, things will not end well for you."

"You made sure that I was incorporeal," said the first. "There is nothing that you can do to me."

"Don't be so sure about that," said the Doctor who finally turned away. "We're leaving now." The Doctor beckoned to Buffy and Spike who followed him inside the TARDIS.

"You okay?" Buffy asked with concern present in her voice.

"Thanks for back there," said the Doctor. "I didn't think that the first evil would be able to get to me the way it did."

"So you faced it before?" Spike asked with extreme curiosity.

"I met what many cultures considered the devil," explained the Doctor. "I thought I had defeated the devil, but I guess you can never truly defeat the idea of evil. That is all the first evil is now. The first is nothing but the idea of evil. As long as there is evil, than the first will exist. That doesn't mean we can't deal the first a serious blow. The first said it was stronger than ever. That must mean that there is more evil in the world now, but it we can bring the world back into balance, than that will weaken the first and keep it at bay for awhile."

"So do we go to the vineyard next and get whatever it hidden there?" Buffy asked.

"Of course," said the Doctor who was back to his usual cheerful self.

"As much as I hate to say this, we are going to need the others working with us if we want any chance of weakening the first," said Spike with disgust in his voice.

"That's the spirit!" Exclaimed the Doctor while patting Spike on the shoulder.

The mission to get whatever was hidden in the vineyard turned out to be easier than any of them had expected. They had set out early after getting some sleep and materialized the TARDIS inside the vineyard. The Doctor was able to use his scanners to pinpoint a strange energy signal coming from inside the vineyard. Caleb was waiting for them when they stepped out of the TARDIS.

"My master said that you would probably try to come here, bitch," sneered Caleb.

"Is that any way to speak to her?" The Doctor asked the misogynistic priest in front of him.

"She is just another little girl that will die by my hand," said Caleb confidently.

"We'll see about that," said Buffy who then spun around and delivered a powerful kick to Caleb's head. Before she could move away, Caleb grabbed her foot and flipped her over backwards. Caleb delivered a forceful punch to her face before Buffy was able to fully get back on her feet.

Spike vamped out and snarled at the man who dared to treat his girlfriend this way. "Go get what we came here for," said Spike who was glaring daggers at the priest. "I'll hold him off."

Buffy and the Doctor ran past and jumped down into a cellar that was just below the room they were currently in. Both of them tried to ignore the sounds of pain from up above. Buffy hoped that Spike would be alright. Buffy glanced around the room and noticed a magnificent weapon set in stone. She could feel right away that this weapon belonged to her. It looked like an axe that had a stake at the end. Before Buffy could get to the weapon, Caleb joined them in the cellar.

"Your undead lover will not be joining you and you will not be able to pull that weapon from the stone," said Caleb confidently.

"Is Spike still alive or undead?" The Doctor asked as a distraction while Buffy moved towards the scythe.

"He is not a pile of dust, but he is in no condition to join you," said Caleb.

This was all Buffy needed to hear before she turned her attention to her weapon. "I feel like Arthur right now," said Buffy who was of course referring to Arthur being the one to pull Excalibur from solid stone. It was not like she had witnessed this event, but she had learned about Excalibur in school and had no doubt that it was true. Buffy gripped the handle of the scythe with one hand and was able to easily pull it from the stone much to the amazement and disbelief of Caleb.

"You think you can stop me now that you have that?" Caleb asked, but with not as much confidence as he had before.

"Let them go," said the first in the guise of Buffy who had suddenly appeared at his side. "They are going to have a lot of work ahead of them dealing with so many dead little girls."

"What are you talking about?" Buffy asked with concern in her voice.

"I don't think Faith and the others enjoyed our little surprise for them," replied the first.

The first surprisingly then told the three of them where they could find Faith and the potentials. They were located in a sewer that had been set up as a trap. Buffy, Spike, and the Doctor raced back to the TARDIS and headed to the sewers where the others supposedly were located.

Buffy had decided on the way there that this was something she needed to handle alone. She left both Spike and the Doctor in the TARDIS and went down into the sewers herself. Buffy was confronted by quite a few Turok-han, but she was able to easily defeat them all with the help of her new weapon. She helped the survivors to the surface and led them back to the TARDIS. She was very thankful at the moment for the use of the space and time ship since it could get the injured back home quicker than dragging everyone back.

After helping out the potentials and Faith, the Doctor went back to his TARDIS to think and to give the others some space. He knew this was something they needed to deal with themselves and he thought it would be best if he stayed out of the way. By the time he decided he should get back to the others, Buffy had already left. The Doctor was surprised to see that Spike had been left behind. The two of them decided that they needed to find Buffy and offer her any help that they could.

Spike, using his enhanced senses was able to locate Buffy in one of the many cemeteries in Sunnydale. By the time they arrived, they saw Buffy holding the scythe which was now covered in blood and embracing another man.

"Who is that?" The Doctor asked an angry looking Spike.

"Angel," growled Spike. "He and Buffy used to date and thought they were soul mates. They broke up because Angel cannot experience one moment of perfect happiness or he loses his soul. Unlike me, Angel had a soul forced on him as a punishment so that he would be forced to feel guilty and relive all his past evil deeds. His soul is never supposed to find peace."

"Buffy loves you," said the Doctor. "It is clear to anyone with eyes just how much she loves you."

"I still hate the bloody poof," said a slightly calmer Spike.

The two of them saw Angel hand Buffy a necklace and then left. Neither one knew what the necklace was and why Angel would suddenly just take off like that. Buffy seemed to know they were there and came over to meet them.

"Caleb is dead," said a smiling Buffy. "I split him in two. I think we can win this now."

"What was Angel doing here?" Spike asked curiously. He was happy about the fact that Caleb was dead, but he couldn't ignore the Angel issue.

"Angel gave us a present to help us win," said Buffy who was fondling the necklace.

"Do I get to put on the fancy necklace since you've got that that fancy axe? Spike asked holding out his hand.

"Angel gave me specific directions about this necklace," Buffy began. "He said that someone who has a soul and is more than human has to wear this. He offered to stay and help, but I sent him away. LA needs him, especially if we fail here. I don't know much about this necklace."

"Obviously I am meant to wear it if Angel was going to," said Spike who was still holding out his hand. "I am more than human and I have a soul."

"I can analyze this necklace back in the TARDIS," said the Doctor. "We can figure out exactly what this thing does."

A half hour later, Buffy, the Doctor, and Spike were back in the TARDIS. Buffy and Spike were sitting near the console while the Doctor was running a scan on the necklace. The look on his face told the two of them that he did not like the results.

"Will this necklace help us?" Buffy asked after seeing the Doctor's concerned look.

"Yes, but it will come with a price. This necklace with destroy every vampire with the power of the sun."

Spike spoke without hesitation and only minimal fear in his voice. "I guess this is a fight I am not going to survive."

"I am so stupid! The Doctor yelled out all of a sudden. "I know what happens here and this can be changed. Something different has happened. I don't think I was here the first time around otherwise the Buffy we saw in the future would have told me. I am definitely more than human, but I am not a vampire. I could survive wearing the necklace whereas Spike would not be able to since he is a vampire. This part of what we have seen can be rewritten. We know that Sunnydale with be destroyed, but we can be prepared. Too much knowledge of your own future isn't good, but I think this is a case where an exception can be made."

"Why didn't you tell this to us before?" Buffy asked, clearly distressed that maybe more people could have been saved.

"I am getting old," said the Doctor. "You didn't mention much, but you told me to tell you about the first, Tara, Anya, Spike, all the young girls that are going to die, and Xander losing an eye. I obviously arrived at the time when I could make changes. I have a feeling that right now is when I am meant to tell you everything. I also believe that I am the one who is meant to wear that necklace. I'm not going to die here because I am sure the prophesy didn't mean here and now. It doesn't feel like the right time."

"Are you ever going to tell us more about this prophesy?" Buffy asked the Doctor. "I am prophesy girl and these things never end well." Buffy knew all too well about prophesies and she had been able to come back for her foretold death back when she was a sophomore in High School.

"My song will end when he knocks four times," said the Doctor. "I don't know if I will outright die or regenerate, but I can feel that my time is coming to an end, in this body at least."The Doctor shook his head to try and rid himself of thoughts of what was to come. He needed to focus on what was happening now. He could worry about his song ending after this was finished.

Buffy began pacing around the console while deep in thought. She looked at the necklace and was thinking about her newest weapon which felt like it belonged to her. Buffy was pretty sure the weapon was meant for the Slayer. Why should it just be her and Faith with all the power? Why couldn't the rest of the potentials share in their power? "We have the necklace and that cool new weapon, but I don't think it is going to be enough. What we need is more Slayers."

"Unless you want the Doctor to go back in time and pick some up, than I think we are stuck with just you and Faith," said Spike.

"What if we could turn the potentials into Slayers? Buffy shot back at her boyfriend. "What do you think, Doctor?"

"It is an interesting idea," replied the Doctor after thinking on it for a few moments. "I'm not sure if it is possible, but I have never let that stop me before. You would need some way to harness the essence of the Slayers and broadcast it out to every girl who holds that Slayer spark within them."

"Would that scythe from the vineyard work?" Buffy asked while already knowing the answer. "It feels like it belongs to me. That leads me to believe that it hold the essence of the Slayer in a physical form."

"Very good," said the Doctor. "The only problem now is how to get the spark within the scythe to ignite the spark within the potential Slayers. It is possible I could rig something up with the TARDIS, but Slayers seem to be more mystical."

"Would magic work?" Spike asked the two of them. He had seen Willow work some pretty impressive mojo in the past. He didn't see why Red couldn't manage this task.

"I am not the one with an understanding of magic," said the Doctor. "I am still uncertain how such a thing can possibly exist and be harnessed and manipulated by humans, but it would seem like Willow could find a way to accomplish this task. Merlin is the only other magic user I have encountered who was more powerful than Willow. It is not like I have met all that many people who can use magic, but both of them are powerful."

"I just worry about her going all veiny and scary again while trying something this big," said a worried Buffy.

"If my understanding of magic is correct, Willow normally channels magic that is within herself or from the Earth itself," said the Doctor who was still working out his thoughts as he was speaking. "In this case, Willow would be channeling the power that already is within the scythe. She would be acting as a conduit between the scythe and the potential Slayers. I think this might just work."

"Let's get back and tell the others," said Buffy with a smile on her face. Caleb was dead, things were looking up for her and her friends, and they finally had a plan to seriously hurt the first."

"One problem with the plan," said Spike bringing down the mood in the TARDIS. When he had Buffy and the Doctor's attention he continued. "Sunnydale is going to be destroyed. I am guessing this necklace is going to cause some major damage. It seems the most likely cause of the destruction."

The Doctor threw himself at Spike and hugged him much to Spike's surprise. "You are brilliant. I feel like you don't get told that often enough. You are observant and think through the possibilities. Even though I knew about the destruction to the town, it didn't occur to me that it could be caused by the necklace. Luckily for us we might be able to change something else this time around. We will be attacking the Hellmouth which is right below the high school. I could set up a force field around the outer perimeter of the school and keep the damage to just the school."

Thirty minutes later the Doctor, Buffy, and Spike had gotten back to the house and had just finished explaining the plan they had gone over in the TARDIS. Some seemed skeptical, some were excited to have a legitimate plan, and some were scared at their role in everything. However, everyone was ecstatic at the news that Caleb had been defeated.

"Willow, how much time would you need to prepare?" Buffy asked her nervous looking friend.

"I can be ready by tomorrow afternoon," responded Willow while trying to sound more confident than she felt.

"Are you sure?" The Doctor asked. Even though the plan sounded simple in theory, if Willow wasn't ready, than they might still win, but there could be a lot more loss of life.

"I can do this," said Willow feeling more confident this time.

The next morning the plan was being finalized before everyone headed out to the school. Unfortunately not everyone could be useful. Spike and Anya were instructed to stay out of this fight since they were told they would not survive it otherwise. With the force field placed around the school that would keep all the damage in as well as anyone within the perimeter. Only the TARDIS would be able to get out when the work was completed.

"We are changing something huge here, and it does feel like a fixed point. We did see the future and we know what is supposed to happen, but I think we can cheat this one time. What is the point in being the last of the Time Lords if you can't bend the rules every now and then? We only know to change things because we saw the result before if we did not. If we did not see what happened, than we wouldn't know to change anything. So we are creating a paradox. I'm hoping that using the TARDIS to create the force field will keep the paradox contained to that area. Just for the sake of the Universe, I am also going to put a perception filter up if we accomplish our task. That way when our past selves come they will see what we saw before. Everything needs to be perceived the same way it was the first time around or time could begin to collapse." The Doctor looked around at everyone giving him blank looks. "I have the difficult work, so all I need is for Buffy to read from the script I have prepared for her and everything will be fine."

It was at that point that Willow came down the steps and announced that she was ready. The Doctor had worked out all computations he would need for the force field and perception filter the night before so he was ready to go as well. Xander remained at the house with Dawn, Anya, and Andrew while the others piled into the TARDIS.

Spike entered the TARDIS as well. He was not going to be kept behind while everyone else was off saving the world. He had gotten his soul back for Buffy, but it was so that he could prove to her that he was more than just a monster. He was a fighter and he would not be left behind. If he died during this fight, than at least he would be dying for a worthy cause and right beside the love of his undead life.

The Doctor understood the look in Spike's eyes and let him in the TARDIS with a nod of understanding. Everyone tried to find something to hold onto while the Doctor flipped various switches. The trip to the Hellmouth was quick, but an extremely bumpy ride. The Doctor let Willow and Giles off in the Principal's office which was located directly above the Hellmouth. They would have to make their way into the Hellmouth themselves to get into the TARDIS. The Doctor wished them luck and took the TARDIS into the mouth of Hell.

The Doctor opened the TARDIS doors with Buffy and Spike at this side. They looked out across the landscape and saw thousands of Turok han. Their presence did not go unnoticed and the uber vamps were now making their way up the cliffs to get at the blue box that had just materialized.

"Allons-y," said the Doctor putting on the necklace and stepping out of the TARDIS. He had set everything up before exiting the TARDIS. Now everything was down to plain old fashioned luck. A group of potentials formed a circle around the Doctor. He was the one with the necklace that would hopefully save them all. Vi was directly in front of the Doctor and gave him a quick smile before focusing on the vampires heading their way. Faith and Spike were each on a side of the cliff they were on with Buffy in the middle. A line of potential Slayers were arranged behind them. Everyone was in formation and ready to fight.

The battle began and it was brutal. Vampires were coming at them from all directions while the first evil taunted them.

"You know you can't save them," said the first to the Doctor. "You are going to fail and everyone here will die. Even if you do succeed, you will be doing something you despise above all else. You are going to kill thousands if you succeed. Can you live with all those deaths?"

"This has to be done," said the Doctor with determination. "I got rid of my own people to save the Universe. I can destroy these mindless vampires if it will save the Earth."

The first was not expecting this answer. It would have to find someone else to discourage. Buffy was currently injured. If the first couldn't take down the Doctor, than it would make sure the Slayer who started all of this would die. Unfortunately for the first it was at that moment that Willow's spell kicked in and the potential Slayers were now proper Slayers with all the powers that came with the title. Buffy and Faith must have gotten a dose of power since Buffy was now up and fighting again and Faith seemed energized. Vampires were going down left and right, but still some of the new Slayers died. Not everyone had trained for as long as the others and the number of uber vamps were overwhelming.

Within a few minutes a strange glow began to emanate from the amulet the Doctor was wearing. Spike noticed a tingle on his skin that felt the same as indirect sunlight. He took that as his cue to get back inside the TARDIS. A moment later he was joined by Willow and Giles who had made it into the Hellmouth just in time to watch the show from the safety of the TARDIS now that their work was complete. The light of the amulet kept on getting brighter and vampires began exploding into dust all over the place. The walls of the cavern began to shake and rubble began to fall. The Slayers took this as their cue to now get back inside the TARDIS.

The Doctor was the last one inside the TARDIS. He only left the battlefield once he was sure every Turok han had been destroyed. He took off the necklace and it immediately went dark. He tossed it to the side as he ran to the controls. The walls were still crashing down around them. Even though the TARDIS could survive being buried, he would rather not risk it.

Soon they found themselves materializing behind a school bus. The perception filter was in place. The Doctor had to make it a strong one so that his past self would not get suspicious. The Doctor heard the interaction between Buffy who had memorized what she had to say and the past Doctor. Once he was sure that the others were gone he dropped the perception filter and saw that the town was still intact minus one high school and Hellmouth. He supposed he would have to get used to the fact that he was wrong about the Hellmouth. It seemed similar to a time rift and had put out the same type of energy, but this had been much different after seeing the Hellmouth up close.

The Doctor took everyone back home and made ready to say his goodbyes. "You were all brilliant. I have a feeling that I won't be seeing most of you again, but I want you all to go out and continue doing good and protecting this planet. The Doctor hugged the Scooby gang goodbye before turning to Buffy and Spike. "You know you two are welcome to travel with me anytime, but now is not a good time. You have responsibilities to attend to with getting the new Slayers settled, and there is something I can't put off any longer." The Doctor hugged Buffy and Spike before turning around to face the TARDIS which was right in front of him.

The Doctor gave them all one last fond look before getting back into the TARDIS and letting the TARDIS take him where he needed to go. Buffy and Spike who knew the Doctor the best felt strange with him leaving this time around. The TARDIS was gone and now all they could do was get on with their lives and hope that one day they would see the Doctor again.

A/N: Thanks everyone for reading. I am going to try my best to not take so long getting the next chapter up. I know this chapter felt like it could be the ending of the story, but there is still more to go. Until next time.