"Lily!" Buffy calls out rushing to the portal. There's a white flash and it vanishes from sight taking the other Slayer with it.
"No!" Buffy yells, but stops in her tracks missing the strike of a sword inches from her face.
Buffy leaps up cutting through the air with her Scythe, but Lindsey parries her attack and manages to clip Buffy's chest. She stumbles back and Lindsey steps forward when Wesley cuts him off.
"She's mine," he darkly declares and Lindsey backs off from Buffy.
"Never thought I'd see the day you'd grow a pair Wesley," Buffy insults her old Watcher.
"Always with the quips. Never serious," Wesley says in a tone that even catches Buffy by surprise.
Buffy stands on her guard as Wesley admires his glowing weapon. Both almost oblivious to the battle taking place behind them.
Riley opens up his pack and places the glowing orb inside of it; glancing at the raging fight as one of Future Dean's men soars over his head and crashes into one of the Bronze's pool tables. His demon soldiers gunning down every living thing in sight.
"What did you do to her?" Riley looks over his shoulder to see Becky has come back. He devilishly grins and turns to Dawn.
"Why don't you ask her?" He says to Becky. Dawn is suddenly on her feet, changes to her vampire face, and leaps at Becky. Becky falls back and shoots out her feet hitting Dawn in the throat and knocking her away.
All the good that'll do me when she doesn't breath! Becky berates herself as Dawn jumps up and attacks again pinning Becky to the ground.
"Gonna go out on a limb and say he stole your soul," Becky says holding Dawn back from her neck with all her might.
"What was your first clue?" Dawn asks in a voice far different from her original.
"If it's any consolation I'm very attracted to you right now," Dawn says in a sultry voice.
"It kind of is," Becky says right as Dawn manages to sink her teeth into Becky's neck.
"AHHH! Ohhh!" Becky winds up moaning much to Dawn's surprise. She continues to drain Becky of her blood when she feels a hot burning sensation on her neck.
She jerks away from Becky, who hits her in the face with her necklace that has a crucifix attached. Dawn collapses to the floor and Becky wraps the necklace around her neck in an effort to decapitate her. Dawn grabs at the necklace, but it burns her hands. Becky pulls harder, but suddenly breaks off and swings the necklace behind her.
It cuts into part of Angel's face, but he sneers, and decks Becky in the mouth propelling her back to the floor. Angel turns around and grabs hold of Present Dean's shot gun, directing his blast at one of Future Dean's soldiers. He elbows him in the throat hard surprisingly not crushing it and back hands him into the stage.
Buffy clashes with Wesley then they jump back from one another.
"You shouldn't have lasted this long," she says; almost panting in fact.
"That's the job Buffy. It changes you. Certainly changed Rupert and for the best I might add. He truly was the best of us," Wesley marvels and strikes out at Buffy. She dodges his first two strikes and their weapons lock on the third blasting off sparks.
"Not motivated by the teachings of the Council," he continues and breaks away from Buffy. He swings his blade missing Buffy's stomach by inches and throws a fireball as a follow up. Buffy ducks, but the ball singes part of her back. Buffy cries out, but throws the Scythe up in defense stopping Wesley as he slams down his sword at her.
"But for his father's love for you. A trait almost unheard of amongst Watchers. Then again, you had the same effect on Merrick and look where that got him."
"Shut up!" Buffy screams with venom in her voice.
She springs up shoving Wesley into a wall. The impact creating a sizeable hole in it. Buffy stabs the pointed end of the Scythe forward, but Wesley spins out of the way and cuts at Buffy's throat.
Buffy reacts fast and catches the blade inches away from her neck. Wesley smirks and pulls back slicing into Buffy's hand. She bites down on the pain and takes hold of the Scythe again. Their weapons connect yet again, but the recoil bounces Buffy back while Wesley maintains full control.
"I always respected Giles. I was sure to tell him that when I took his head off. A fast death for a worthy soul." Buffy's puts the Scythe into a vice grip lets out a viscious swing, which Wesley parries with ease.
"Fighting through anger won't get you anywhere. Haven't I taught you anything... oh that's right. I didn't."
"Shut up Wesley! SHUT! UP!" Buffy swipes at his head, but he dives beneath Buffy while taking a long swing into her waist. It connects and Buffy crashes to the ground.
"Good thing Rupert can't see what a disgrace you've become," Wesley criticizes and kicks Buffy in the mouth; blood spurting out of it from that one kick.
Dawn tackles Becky back to the floor and immediately starts drinking from her.
Gunn slices and dices at Spike getting closer and closer to taking his head off.
Lindsey dodges Castiel's gun shot, slices into his wrist, cuts across his stomach, and hits him straight in the chin knocking him down.
"Some soldier of the lord," he mutters and stabs his sword back into one of Riley's good soldiers.
Castiel steadies himself and takes in all the carnage. Spotting Angel about to break Present Dean's neck. Dawn draining Becky. Wesley about to finish off Buffy. The rest of Angel's team, particularly Illyria and Doyle, laying waste to Future Dean's troops and whoever was good on Riley's team.
"NOOOOOOOO!" Castiel screams, but his voice quickly losses its humanity and transforms into a high pitched wail.
Everyone drops what they are doing and clamps their hands over their ears. Glasses shatter, lights burn out, people writhe on the floor in agony and Cas refuses to stop.
Angel and his team along with Dawn and Riley painfully run themselves over to Illyria, who activates a portal and teleports them all to safety. Riley's demon forces all smoke out of their meat suits and the Turok Han retreat too. The croats all dropping dead to the floor.
Kate turns to Castiel and throws him with her mind. He flies back right into the bar counter, which breaks his concentration and brings his voice back to normal.
"Ok. I REALLY didn't know I could still do that," he murmurs trying to get his bearings.
"I-i-i...is everyone ok?" Present Dean asks shakily.
"Did you really just ask that?" Future Dean asks back. The entire room is a mass of corpses, bullets, clips, knives, blood, and a little dust if anyone was lucky enough to get a Turok Han. Buffy watches it all in horror. Just absorbing it sends shivers running up her spine as blood seeps out of the area Wesley sliced into. The last sensation she feels is falling, but someone catches her.
The Present
Lily sits on a couch in Buffy's home surrounded by Xander, Dawn, Tara, Willow, and Spike. Giles pacing in the background mumbling obscenities about the damages to the space time continuum.
"Alright blondie. Start talking," Spike orders.
"Spike! We just ripped her out of her own time. You can't expect her to be in an incredibly talkie mood," Willow chastises.
"I'm not really complaining about being taken away. What the world was like...I can't even begin to describe," Lily says.
"Well then can you start with your name?" Xander asks.
"I'm Lily: The Vampire Slayer," she answers and Giles ceases his pacing.
"Excuse me?" He asks.
"In my time I'm the last living Slayer. I've been resurrected twice. Once by a demon and before that by The Watchers Council..."
"Impossible. The Council would never resurrect a Slayer; not even a potential. They'd never even consider it an option in their most desperate hour," Giles claims.
"Look, I don't know how, but the Slayer line got corrupted and the power became lost. They could only bring it back through resurrection and I was it by luck of the draw."
"Seems pretty logical of The Council to do so if there were no more Slayers, Giles," Tara says.
"Logical yes, but it goes against the very rules the Shadow Men created when they made the First Slayer. It can cause unpredictable side effects for the Slayer line. The power is not meant to be given back or shared," he explains.
"What about Buffy and Faith?" Dawn asks.
"A loophole in the rules since Buffy was naturally revived. But since magic was involved with Lily's resurrection anything could happen."
"But nothing happened when we resurrected Buffy. Everything's fine...besides the post traumatic removal from Heaven, but we were acting in her best interests, and thought she was in Hell because of her jumping into the portal, and I couldn't live with myself thinking that's what became of her!"
"Willow! Calm down!" Spike snaps at her.
"Don't yell at her. She's worried. We all are," Dawn says.
"She's still alive at least for now," Lily says.
"Define 'for now'," Giles requests.
"You pulled me back in the midst of an ambush. When I saw the portal I panicked and just wanted to save her," Lily apologizes to Giles.
"Come on guys. It's Buffy. Whatever she was fighting there it's nothing she can't handle," Xander says to brighten the mood.
"We're fighting Lucifer," Lily reveals.
"Lucifer...as in the Devil? He's real?" Xander asks.
"Yes you bloody idiot," Spike insults. "Heard that his cage has so much security that any demon that gets within a five mile radius of it is immediately vaporized...exactly how is he free?"
"Never mind how he is free!" Giles shouts. "Tara. Willow. You must redo the spell at once and for pete's sake be more specific this time," he says quietly furious.
"Sorry. He gets like that when he's worried about Buffy," Dawn says.
"I can't blame him," Lily tells her.
I sure hope you're alright Buffy, she thinks.
Ava's Hell House
"Stop, stop, stop, STOP!" A demon screams through the muffle over her mouth.
"Where's the enjoyment in that?" Ava asks casually running a finger over where the demon's host's heart would be.
Ava clamps her fist above it drawing out even louder screams. The thick black smoke from the demon being painfully ripped out of its meat suit. Tearing through every inch of flesh possible on its way out.
Ava laughs sardonically and releases her psychic grip. The demon's breaths come out in slow and long pants making Ava smirk at her.
"Man, I never get tired of doing that," she sighs as the door to the basement entrance opens up.
"Guess who's back?" Riley announces making his way inside along with Angel's forces.
"Riley. I never thought I'd see you again," Ava says leaving the demon behind.
"Just stopping by to drop something off," he says taking out the soul orb from his back pack.
"The soul taken straight from a vampire's body," he says with pride at his accomplishment. "Well the uncorrupted soul that is," he adds with a glance at Angel.
"You've done well, but I shouldn't have expected anything less from you," Ava says and pulls Riley down to give him a long kiss. Only stopping at the sound of Anya gagging from inside her cell.
"I still don't know what you plan to do, but Lucifer won't let you. You and I both know that," Anya weakly says.
Ava approaches the cell to see Anya lying on her side. A few blood stains on her clothes probably from the multiple nose bleeds she's gotten trying to use her powers.
"He'd have stopped me by now if he knew," Ava says running a hand along the cage.
"You can't beat him. Why can't you get that through your thick headed skull?"
"God would never create something that can't be opposed."
"Yeah, hence the other angels you stupid bitch."
"There's an opposite for everything Anya and I'm going to become the demon equivalent to an angel. Nothing can stop me." She faces her mind washed soldiers.
"It's almost endgame my loyal servants. Once I unlock the power the world is ours to inherit."
"I'm nobody's 'servant," Vampire Dawn speaks out. "I'm just here to cause as much copious violence and destruction as possible."
"Then you and I will get along just fine."
"It's not right."
Ava's head snaps down to the end of the line; Illyria.
"Not right," she whispers as Ava confronts her. She takes hold of the sides of Illyria's face and looks into her eyes.
"Fred. Why won't you just let go? Illyria's here to stay whether you like it or not and there isn't enough of your soul left to take control. Besides she's so far drained that any attack made on me would just be you throwing away your life...again." Ava uses her power and Illyria falls under her control again.
"Rest easy guys. We have a big day coming up."
Buffy gasps as her heart is pierced by the Scythe. Her body going cold; dead. Taking its agonizingly sweet time to shut down.
It's over Buffy. I win.
NOOOOO!
Buffy springs up and finds herself in Present Dean's arms.
"Take it easy Buffy. You're not in danger anymore," he assures. Buffy groans still feeling the sore stings from Wesley's attack and sinks back into the bed she's in.
"Where am I?" she sighs.
"Hospital," Future Dean answers. "Sunndydale's half dead, but people do still live here and need places to heal. Slaughter we just we through was too much for us work on our own."
"What are the casualties?"
"Both sides suffered heavy losses. Dawn is also gone. Riley did something to her. I don't know what, but she became evil," Present Dean says.
"Her soul...it's gone," Buffy whispers dipping her head down. "Any other bad news?" Her voice is low; almost devoid of life. This time it's Present Dean's turn to sigh.
"I'm sorry Buffy...,but we all took a vote while you were out cold. We're going after the Hellmouth at dawn," Present Dean reveals.
"No! You can't!" Buffy yells life surging back into her; almost jumping out of her bed, but sinks back into it because of the pain.
"Keep it down Buffy," Present Dean hushes.
"We're out of options Buffy," Future Dean says. "That little ambush put a dent in our ranks. We merged with the human remainder of Riley's team to compensate, but it won't do much good in the long run without a plan."
"You don't even know how..." Buffy starts, but Xander cuts her off.
"Riley's team had Willow's spell book. Written in it is a spell that could create a massive earthquake," Xander explains weakly; feeling Buffy's eyes drilling into him even though he can't see her watching.
"Last I checked we're two wiccans short," Buffy starts, but is cut off again.
"Cas and I have enough supernatural energies surging through us to make the spell work. It'll definitely destroy Sunnydale, but it's the best option we have." Kate feels so low right now.
When she suggested wiping out Sunnydale she secretly hoped they'd find another way. Maybe the only reason she suggested it was so she'd feel like escaping from Los Angeles half dead would mean something. There's no getting around it now unfortunately.
"What about the angels?" Buffy reminds them.
"It doesn't matter savior. Even if you get sent back what are we supposed to do? Wait for reality to catch up and hope whatever changes that happen are good? We need insurance in case we wind up right back where we started. You can hate me all you want, but you know that what I say is true."
He's right. Buffy does hate him. Not only because Future Dean is a total prick, but because she know that he is right. She gives a hesitant nod of silent agreement.
"Then it's settled," Future Dean remarks. Everyone, but the two Deans leave the room.
"Look Buffy. I know how you feel..."
"No you don't," she whispers not looking at Present Dean.
"YES. He does as a matter of fact," Future Dean says.
"Not to sound like anymore of a jerk than I already have, but you aren't the only one to have ever been in a doomsday scenario. When all hope seems lost. I've been there. I was terrified by how far humanity had fallen and was truly dead on the inside. I'm not speaking metaphorically. One of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse actually confirmed it, but that's another story. You want to know what I did?"
"You looked inside yourself and found the strength to keep going," Buffy mumbles into her pillow.
"No. I gave up. Ready to send myself to the angels with a ribbon and bow attached. Save it," he cuts off Present Dean before he has a chance to interrupt.
"The only reason the world isn't a bigger smoldering pile of ash right now is because my brother stopped me. THEN I looked inside myself and found the strength to keep going. We still went our separate ways, but it kept me from making what I still consider a stupid decision. Even if we do die tomorrow do you want to die with a feeling of hopelessness or knowing that you went out giving everything you had?"
"Wow Future me. That was inspiring," Present Dean says pretending to shed a tear.
"Shut it. The moral of the speech: You remember that fierce spirit you had when you first met me. Find it again because heads are going to roll tomorrow and I'd like for as few of them as possible to be of our kind." Future Dean stands and leaves the room.
"Think we achieved a break through with your future self," Buffy states half smiling.
"I believe we have, but you should sleep now Buffy. Big day tomorrow." Dean stands to give Buffy some privacy, but she grabs his arm.
"Dean. Could you stay with me tonight? I'd like the company even though I won't be conscious to witness it." Dean gives Buffy a goofy grin and pulls up a chair beside her. Dean places a comforting hand over Buffy's and she smiles as her eyes close shut. He didn't move his hand for the rest of the night.
Despite saying 'we attack at dawn" Future Dean gave his troops a little extra time to recuperate. The minute it struck noon they mobilized into action. Buffy leading the pack into her old nightmare.
"Welcome to Sunnydale High," she fake greets approaching the blown up twice high school.
"The rules of survival are simple. Never cross the cheerleaders, the teachers are normally wrong, and above all else, if something seems evil it usually is. Remember that the Hellmouth is below the library. The library is where Cas and Kate will be stationed while they start the spell."
"Whatever's in the Hellmouth will be on us in seconds the minute they start. Buffy and Riley's commandos will go into the Hellmouth to keep whatever's in there busy while we stand guard above. Anything that gets out, you take off its head. I don't care what it is. If they get into the library we're as good as finished," Future Dean picks up.
"Remember to not get caught up in the fighting. This is meant to distract Lucifer and his soldiers; not to win," Present Dean takes over.
"If we aren't interrupted it should take us around ten minutes to complete the spell," Kate explains. "After that it'll be around another ten before the entire city comes down so get to your cars fast."
"Everybody knows their jobs. The spell gets stopped and we're all going to die," Buffy says while having a sense of deja vu.
"If you have to go to the bathroom it's to your left. If you don't have to go to the bathroom, picture what you are about to face. Better to go now," Xander jokes as the teams disperse.
"Had to get in one last joke didn't you?" Buffy laughs.
"Never know which moment will be your last," Xander replies. Buffy steps forward and hugs Xander.
"Thank you for believing in me," she thanks.
"You've saved the world more than once. Hard not to," Xander says back. Buffy smiles and kisses Xander's forehead much to his surprise. "Please tell me there were witnesses to that."
"Come on. Let's get to our post," Pamela laughs in response pulling Xander to follow her.
Buffy sort of takes her time making her way to the Hellmouth; observing her old school. Remembering her encounter with Spike in the school, facing off with the mutated reptilian swim team members, fighting the Master, blowing the place up. All the shit she's been through, it's a wonder she hasn't died...and stayed dead.
"Hey Buff." Present Dean's voice brings her back to reality and she notices she is standing right outside the library.
The two Deans along with Kate and Castiel are in the room. Both hunters with flame throwers attached to their backs.
"Sure you don't want me down there with you?" Present Dean asks.
"At least one of us has to make it back to the past. I'm more experienced fighting vampires, so I have a better shot at surviving down there. Think those things will work?" She asks pointing to the flamethrowers.
"If they don't we won't have to worry about the world after the battle is over," Future Dean responds.
"Good luck to you both," Buffy says extending a hand, which Present Dean shakes.
"If we survive and make it back, look me up in Sunnydale. We'll stop the apocalypse together."
"It's not an if. We will survive." Present Dean gives his other self a look. "All of us."
"Leave me out of this slightly touching moment," Future Dean dismisses though Buffy catches a smile that lasts for a second.
"Think we're making more progress with him," she jokes and gives them both a warm smile before leaving.
"Whatever's going on in your head, it'll never work out," Future Dean says.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Present Dean denies.
"Have you forgotten that I'm you?" His future self jokes.
"Let's focus on the task at hand. You're absolutely positive these flamethrowers will do the job?" Present Dean asks.
"If not I'll be seeing you in Hell real soon," Future Dean answers.
"Just watch where you aim those things," Cas requests finishing the preparations for the spell. He sits down in the center of the room and Kate takes a seat in front of him.
"You sure enough of your angel mojo is left for this to work?"
"I don't know. Sometimes you just need to have a little faith," he says clasping hands with Kate; eyes turning blue.
"Let's bring the house down," Kate says with her eyes turning black.
Beneath the library
"Looks like we're expected," Spike says acknowledging a flight of stairs going from the basement to the Hellmouth.
"That'll make things much easier," Buffy says and they all make their descent. "You ready for this Spike?"
"I have to regain my dignity after that pitiful performance of mine at the Bronze. You worried?"
"No. This is just another day at the office." Even as Buffy acts all cocky and brave chills run down her spine. This is the second time she's been in the Hellmouth since college and it still creeps her out to no end.
"Do you guys hear something?" A commando asks.
Buffy hears it too and it increases in size the closer they get to the edge of a cliff. She approaches it with haste and gasps. Turok Han. Thousands of them are just waiting at the bottom of the cliff.
"I'm not worried," Buffy repeats knowing that they are greatly outnumbered. Even after merging with Riley's good troops their numbers aren't anything to smile at.
"As long as Cas and Kate are well into the spell before they..." the Turok Hans' heads all shoot up in their direction. Among them are Ava and Angel's team.
"See us," Buffy chokes out. Their enemies charge without hesitation. Buffy shuts her eyes and images flash before them.
"You like Hell so much? Go there," and Buffy shoves the Master off the roof to his death.
"Buffy," Angel whispers and is sucked into the demon vortex.
"NOW!" Buffy pulls off her robes to reveal a hidden cache of weapons along with the rest of the graduating class.
"We are forever," Composite Buffy declares to Adam. Power greater than she's ever felt surging through her.
The rising sun helped Buffy make up her mind in that instance. Was she truly frightened? Yes, but it was her duty as a Slayer to this. No matter what the cost and she puts on a brave face.
"Dawn, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love you. But this is the work that I have to do. Tell Giles ... tell Giles I figured it out. And, and I'm okay. And give my love to my friends. You have to take care of them now. You have to take care of each other. You have to be strong. Dawn, the hardest thing in this world ..."
"Is to live in it." Buffy opens her eyes. The Turok Han about to be on her and the others.
"Buffy?" Spike asks. She gives him a courageous look and looks back at the cliff.
"These guys are dust."
To Be Continued...
A/N: Ok I could not resist all the Chosen references thrown into this chapter. I hope you've enjoyed the ride as much as I've enjoyed writing it as we approach the end of Apocalypse Now. But if you think you know how it ends...THINK AGAIN. lol. Trust me. You're going to want to see how it ends (I hope you will at least). See ya!