Author's Note: Okay guys this is it. Last chapter. Big battle in the end. It's going to be almost exactly the same as Graduation Part 2 so it you guys saw it which I'm sure all of you have. You can visualize this chapter easily. Hope you guys like it.
Today was the day. Graduation Day. The day they all have been preparing for, the day they have been dreading. Graduation was supposed to be a great day where they officially become adults. Where they say goodbye to all their friends and celebrate all the memories they shared at the school. But it's Sunnydale High, nothing is ever that simple and easy. Of course it required something supernatural and dangerous to say goodbye.
Buffy was going through a lot but knew she had to stay focused. Faith had declared that they were officially done and was moving on with Alyssa which hurt worse then Buffy ever thought it would. She cried all night after Faith left that night, she called Willow letting her know what happened. The redhead rushed over to the Summers residence and held Buffy the entire night as she cried. Hearing that she had no chance with Faith and that Angel was also leaving her just shattered her. She felt like she didn't know what to do but thankfully with help from Willow and Xander she got her act together. Even though she was hurting what mattered most was defeating the Mayor and making sure all hell didn't break loose. Literally. She pushed aside the thoughts of Angel and Faith and focused on the task at hand. The Mayor. She needed to make sure not only was she prepared but the entire graduating class. The students of Sunnydale weren't that stupid, they knew weird things happened in their town. So when the Scooby Gang went around informing the graduating class that things were about to go down they were instantly on board. It was pretty easy to understand, fight alongside them or die. All of them agreed to fight instead of dying. Oz gathered a lot of dynamite from some of his friends for the grand finale they had prepared if the fight became to difficult for them.
And now it was time for their graduation. The ceremony was only an hour away and Buffy was in the library with all of her friends.
"Are you alright Buffy?" Buffy looked over at Giles as she finished putting on her red graduation gown.
"Yeah. I think we can actually pull this off.
Giles smiled and nodded in agreement, "We always prevail and we will again. Now you guys should get going. I'm sure they students are lining up already." Xander, Willow, Oz, Cordelia, and Buffy fixed up their gowns and hats and stood by the door.
"We'll see you out their G-Man," Xander smiled and exited the library along with Willow and Oz.
"I'll set up the second group," Angel stood up and headed over to Buffy. He smiled and placed a kiss on her temple, "Good luck out there." Angel left the library and Cordelia followed after. Giles stood up and placed a comforting hand on Buffy's shoulder. She smiled up at him giving him a confident look. Giles chuckled knowing his Slayer was as tough as they came and left the library. She sighed and looked over at the long table in the center and smiled slightly at the remaining person in the room.
"And then there were two.."
Faith chuckled and nodded, "Yeah. The two slayers in the end huh."
"You did say we were end game," Buffy responded knowing the double meaning of her statement.
Faith smiled and stood up from the table walking towards her, "We are end game B. But the game it's close to being over yet." Buffy smiled, all in that one statement Buffy knew she still had a chance. Faith still cared for her and had hope for them.. That's all she needed to hear from the brunette.
"Let's go kick some ass F."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world B."
Faith took Buffy's hand and let her outside to where the class was lining up. Buffy waved goodbye to Faith and stood in line waiting for the music to start. She was at ease knowing that her and Faith were in a decent situation. Her mom and Dawn promised to stay away from the school until they got an okay from one of them that everything was over.
The graduates walk down the quad and take their seats. The music stopped and Snyder took the stage. "Congratulations to the call of 1999. You all proved more or less adequate. This is a time of celebration, so sit still and be quiet." Snyder looked around the crowd and pointed to a student, "You. Spit out that gum. See me after graduation.. Now please welcome our distinguished guest speaker. Richard Wilkins the third."
The parents in the back and faculty clap loudly while most students remain quiet. The Mayor smiled down at the students and took out his cue cards.
"Well. What a day this is! A special day. Today is our centennial the one hundreds anniversary of the founding of Sunnydale and I know what that means to all of you kids. Not a darn thing. Because today something much more important happens, today you all graduate from high school. Today all the pain, all the work, all the excitement is finally over. And what's a hundred years of history compared to that. You know what kids?..."
"Oh my god. He's going to do the entire speech," Buffy said to Willow.
"Man just ascend already."
"Evil!" Buffy sighed as she slouched in her chair.
"...for all of you it may be that there is a place in Sunnydale's history whether you like it or not. It's been a long road getting here. For you...for Sunnydale. There has been achievement, joy, good times...and there has been grief. There's been loss. Some people who should be here today aren't. But we are. Journey's end. And what is a journey? Just distance traveled? Time spent? No. it's what happens on the way, it's the things that happen to you. At the end of the journey you're not the same. Today is about change. Graduation doesn't just mean your circumstances change, it means you do. You ascend...to a higher level. Nothing will ever be the same. Nothing..."
As he speaks the students look up and see the sun is being completely blocked out. It's time. Buffy's eyes met the Mayor's and he flinched in pain. "And so as we look back on..." He groans in pain as he tries to complete his speech, "on the events that brought us to this day.."
"Come on.." Buffy removes her hat as does Willow.
"We..we must all...It has begun. My destiny," the Mayor smiles as the students watch him closesly. "It's a little sooner then I expected. I had this whole section on civic pride but I guess we'll just skip to the big finish!"
Buffy and Willow look at each other as the Mayor groans and beings to stretch and grow. His suit splits apart and the parents and faculty begin to scream and run away. The Mayor suddenly transforms to a large snake like demon with clawed mandibles surrounding its mouth. The student body all rise starring up at the Mayor, he has grown pas the roof of the school building.
"Now!" Buffy calls out and all the students remove their gowns revealing crosses, axes, flame throwers, and other weapons. "Flame units."
The students with the flame throwers step forward and fire at the Mayor. Xander steps forward, "First wave!" A group of students including Willow with crossbows step forward and fire at the Mayor. The Mayor screams and hisses and lunges down swallowing a student whole. Some of the students scream in fear and run towards the stairs where a group of vampires are waiting for them. Oz and Xander go towards the stairs with students that have crossbows and step up on the top of the stairs. "Fire!" Many vampires perished and turn to leave away from the swarm of arrows but find Angel and his group ready to attack. They all charge at one another and begin a battle on the stairs.
Back at the podium the Mayor is killing off students easily and Buffy knows she needs to act fast. "Guys fall back, go to the battle on the ground with Xander!" The Mayor looks over at Buffy and even though in his demon form the Mayor knew he wanted to hurt and kill Buffy. Buffy could tell he was going to charge at her and her eyes went wide. He was already lunging towards her and she didn't have enough time to move. Before the Mayor could land a hit though she was tackled from the side onto the ground. When she looks up she sees Faith quickly getting to her feet and grabbing a flame thrower firing at the Mayor to give Buffy a bit more time.
"Come on B. Let's end this shit." Buffy nodded and stood up beside Faith. They dropped the flame thrower and the Mayor was back on the attack. Buffy grabbed Faith's hand and they ran into the school with the Mayor hot on their trail. He breaks through the walls like a train chasing after the two girls. They rush into the library and as soon as the Mayor enters the jump out the window where Giles is. The Mayor stops and sees he is surrounded by dynamite. "Oh.."
Giles it the switch and the entire library went up in a huge explosion. The school grounds shake and some of the remaining vampires escaped. It was over. Graduation Day was finally over and the Mayor was destroyed. Buffy, Faith, and Giles walked to the rest of the gang and student body as the police and ambulances began to arrive. The all lined up looking at what's left of their school.
"So who is ready for college?" Xander smiled as he looked at them.
"I can definitely use a bed. I'm exhausted," Buffy said.
"Yeah I agree. I need my beauty sleep."
"I think we all need a long rest," Willow smiled.
"Yeah. Why don't we all go to my house? Big sleepover to end the night?"
Everyone nodded and turned to head out, Buffy follow behind when she felt a presence. She looked to her left and saw Angel in the distance looking at her. She turned to look at him and he just nodded once and turned away walking into the darkness. She knew it was the last time she'd see him for a while or even ever. Angel was gone for good. She sighed and before she continued walking to catch up with everyone she looked to the right and saw Faith talking to an EMT. She smiled and walked away from the man and stopped knowing someone was looking at her. Faith turned and met Buffy's gaze, she smiled and was going to take a step towards Buffy when someone called her name. Buffy turned to the voice and saw Alyssa running towards Faith and embracing her. Faith hugged Alyssa smiling down at the girl. Alyssa gave Faith a kiss and hugged her once more. Faith held Alyssa in her arms with a smile but then remembered who was watching them. Her smile slowly faded and she looked up at Buffy. Buffy smiled slightly nodding in understanding, Faith smiled back. She placed her arm around Alyssa and they walked away to go home. Buffy sighed, it was over for now and she was happy. She caught up with her friends and they all headed to the Summer residence smiling and laughing about their adventures. There was never a dull day in Sunnydale or in the life of Buffy Summers. And that's how she liked it. Now she was preparing for her next adventure. College. Let's see if she survives that one.