This chapter wraps up the action. One more chapter to tie up all the loose ends. Enjoy!

Chapter 25: The Final Battle

*****Asgard*****

Buffy felt the pain as the giant's teeth pierced her neck. She struggled against its immovable arms. Then she felt herself falling. Arms closed around her.

"I've got you, babe. I've got you," Steve assured her as he cradled her.

Bucky stood guard as the Hulk went to a new level of berserker rage. When Buffy was bitten, his roar of rage had nearly risen the dead. Willow had used her telekinetic powers to pull the giant away from Buffy. Now the Hulk was literally ripping its body into parts.

"Is she okay?" Xander asked, kneeling next to her.

"I don't know," Steve said, brushing the hair from her face. She was unconscious.

"I have to get to Dawn," Xander said. "Take her to Loki. She needs blood."

"I will," Steve said, rising to his feet. He took off at a run. Bucky ran ahead to keep the enemies away. Xander took up the end.

Nearby, Thor was calling down lightening trying to get Thanos away from Atali. He'd managed to hit Atali once. Then Lady Sif and Spike jumped in front of them. Lady Sif had her shield up to deflect any attacks.

"Is she okay?" Spike asked as Lady Sif bent down to check her.

"She has a pulse," she said.

"Thor, Asgard and all its treasures will be mine!" Thanos exclaimed.

Willow decided that now was time for the other son of Asgard to come. "Loki, Thanos is here. He is trying to kill your sister!"

"Bring me there!" he replied.

Willow teleported Loki.

Loki blinked and looked at Thor. "I see you've made a mess of things," Loki said.

Thor shrugged. "I've been busy," he said.

"Ah, the traitorous Odinson finally makes an appearance," Thanos said.

Willow threw a bolt of magic at him. It didn't nothing to him.

"He is immune to most magic," Loki told her.

"I will destroy your kingdom and take the All-Father's staff for my own!" Thanos boasted.

"You'll try," Thor said. Then he charged Thanos, who held up his hand again and blasted Thor with a plasma blast. However, Thor held up his hammer, deflecting it.

The two fierce warriors fought a fierce battle. They were evenly matched. It went on so long that the onlookers turned away and began once more fighting the giant vampires.

Xander, though, stayed next to Dawn's side until she opened her eyes. "Are you okay?" he asked anxiously.

"I am," she said, sitting up. "What about Buffy? Is she all right?"

"Steve took her to get blood. I am sure she is fine," Xander said. Then he pointed. "Look, there she is now. Steve and Bucky are with her."

Faith ran up to Buffy. "B, are you okay?" she asked.

"Five by five," Buffy said with a grin. "They have some good meds! I got blood and some super vitamin. I feel great!"

"These giant vampires are bad ass!" Faith said excitedly.

"Tough to kill, right?" Buffy said with a grin.

"Give me your scythe," Faith demanded.

Buffy handed it to her. Buffy took Faith's broad sword in exchange.

"I'll give it back after I kill like a dozen with it!" Faith said. Then she turned and ran into the fray once more.

Buffy laughed and ran after her.

Bucky and Steve looked at one another. Steve chuckled.

"Those girls are nuts!" Bucky said. "They make no sense."

"Slayers are a different breed," Steve said. "Don't try to understand them. Just enjoy watching them fight." The two women had already killed two giants. It was clear they were competing.

A Skrull, though, began firing at them, and their attention focused on their own battle.

Loki turned to the witch. "We need to do something to stop Thanos," he said.

"What can we do? Thor's blows seem to not affect him much," Willow said.

"If we can't beat him, we have to contain him," Loki said.

Willow nodded. She threw a green band around Thanos and reached for Loki's hand, channeling his own power.

Thor held back his hammer as Thanos was pulled away from him, held immobilized by the green band.

"It worked!" Willow said excitedly.

Xander and Dawn walked up behind her. "Great job, Will! You did it!" Xander exclaimed, throwing his arm around her shoulders.

"Don't get too excited," Loki said. "It won't hold him for long."

"We can send him somewhere else," Willow said.

"I can open a portal and send him far away," Dawn suggested.

"That's a good idea," Willow said.

A Skrull ship, however, appeared above them and began firing. A blast hit Thanos and Thor. Willow joined with Loki and threw up a shield, protecting them from the barrage.

Thor jumped up and raised his hammer, calling lightening down to hit the ship. Tony, too, targeted it with his cannon.

The ship exploded, and the debris hit the shield, bouncing away from them.

The attack allowed Thanos to find a way out of his binding. He held up his hand and tried again to blast Atali. Loki seemed to be the only one looking at him and not the sky.

"Atali!" he yelled, diving in front of her. The energy blast hit him, knocking him a few feet away.

Willow threw her magic at Thanos, but he held up his left hand and shot a plasma blast at her. She deflected it but was unable to stop his next attack on Dawn. This time, though, when he hit Dawn, her body reacted very differently. Her back bent backwards and a bright green energy poured out of her. It hit Thanos, who screamed in pain. Then the green energy seemed to expand and move throughout the land surrounding the castle. Every enemy that was attacking them—vampire and alien Skrulls—were hit with the green energy. However, they didn't scream. Instead, the energy burned them to ashes. In a moment, the fight was over.

"What the hell?" Xander exclaimed, looking at Dawn, who was floating a few feet off the ground. She was still unconscious.

Thanos was getting back to his feet when the booming voice of the All-Father spoke behind them.

"Thanos, son of Alars, you dare attack my daughter?" Odin shouted angrily. He had his scepter in his hand and pointed it at Thanos. A ray of blue energy came out of it, hitting Thanos. The energy moved him up off the ground. Odin pulled him with it until Thanos stood in front of him, but he was unable to stand on his own power. No matter how he struggled, he could not get free from Odin's magic tie.

Everyone stood in awe at the awaken One-Eye God of the Nine Realms, who seemed duly energized after his long slumber. The slayers on the field had no enemy left to fight and had begun making their way to the light show.

"What has happened to Dawn?" Xander dared asked the All-Father.

"I will never allow her to be taken against her will again or killed before her time," Odin said to him. "I placed one of my sacred stones inside of her when I reformed her. It has wielded with her natural power that earth's monks manipulated. The power inside her now is infinite and cannot be taken from her. Any who try will die."

"Thanos yet lives," Thor pointed out.

"Only because his Mistress protects him. Not even I can render him a death blow," Odin said. "However, I can bind him and send him to a place that will take him centuries to free himself from." He took up the spear called Gungnir in his left hand and pointed to the space above Thanos' head. A portal opened. "Thanos, you are banished from Asgard henceforth. Do not attempt to return!" Then he threw Thanos into it.

The First, appearing as Buffy, appeared in front of Odin. "You think that you've won? You think that I can't find more enemies to mount against you?" It said with a glare.

"Do not dare to wear the form of our princess. Show your true face!" Odin ordered, blasting it with his scepter.

The Buffy image morphed into a red demon-like creature that grew until it was over ten feet tall. It had horns and looked like every earth picture of the devil. It even had a tail. Everyone took a step aback as fear built in the slayers and Asgardians. However, Odin seemed unconcerned.

The creature burned with rage. "I will have my revenge!" it screamed.

"Not on my planet," Odin said coldly. "The Slayer defeated you fairly. Now we have defeated you yet again. Accept your loss and be gone!" He hit the First with his power, and it screamed in pain and fury. Odin opened another portal and threw the menacing creature screaming into it.

"Damn, B! Who's the old man?" Faith asked, standing a few yards away.

Buffy was moving toward her sister and didn't pause to answer.

"That's Odin, Thor's father," Steve answered, following his girl. "Show him respect."

"How's Dawn?" Buffy asked, running to her. She started to touch her but was put off by the green glow coming from her.

"She will be fine forthwith," Odin said. He pointed his scepter at her and a white glow encased her. Then he reached down and took her hand. "Daughter, are you well?"

Atali stood up slowly and opened her eyes. "What happened?" she asked.

"You kicked major ass!" Faith told her, grinning.

"A total bad-ass!" Xander added, hugging her. "I was so scared."

"What?" Atali-Dawn asked, puzzled.

"Did you know that your Key powers can reduce vampires to dust?" Buffy asked her.

"Seriously?" Atali replied, grinning.

"I have placed a protective stone inside of you. If your life is threatened, it will protect you," Odin explained.

"So, it's over?" Willow asked. She held out her had to help Loki rise to his feet.

"It is," Thor said. "Now we must see to the injured."

Odin gazed at Loki. "I see you have joined your people to fight for Asgard," he said.

"This is my home," Loki said coldly.

"If you swear to never again conspire to take the throne from your brother or harm any people who is not our enemy, I will allow you to become once again a prince of Asgard with all its privileges," Odin informed him.

"So, one good deed and all the people he killed on earth is forgotten?" Tony said unhappily.

"Never forgotten," Odin said. "He will not set foot on your planet."

"I did not realize that earth had such extraordinary people as your slayers," Loki admitted.

"That shouldn't matter. Regular people have to right to not be ruled by an egomaniac," Xander said pointedly.

"Well, Willow almost destroyed the earth that one time and skinned a man alive," Dawn said, determined to defend her brother. "We forgave her."

All the eyes looking at Willow made her turn very red. "I was out of my mind with grief," she said weakly.

"But it's still an excuse," Dawn said with a stubborn lift of her chin. "I mean, I forgave you. You were really mean to me and tried to kill all of us, but we got over it. Loki promised me that he would only seek the throne of Jotunhiem."

"The truce with Laufey cannot easily be broken. Asgard has been through enough battles here of late," Odin said sternly.

"We are immortal. I can wait until he grows frail," Loki said.

A roar was heard as the Hulk stomp toward them, causing slayers to jump out of his way. He bent toward Buffy examining her for injury. "I am fine, Big Guy," Buffy assured him.

Then he turned and looked at Willow. She smiled. "It's good, sweetie. Bring Bruce back to me," she ordered him.

Without breaking his gaze, he began to change. Then Bruce was standing there, feeling foolish to be dressed in his purple underpants Odin gave him with all the eyes on him.

Odin looked at Willow in admiration. "You have managed to control the beast. That is an impressive accomplishment," he told her.

"Is all well?" a voice called from behind them. Frigga and Pepper appeared. Tony moved to embrace her while Odin greeted his wife.

"I think a major party is needed!" Faith declared.

They all began to gather the injured and move into the castle. Food and drinks were passed around.

Eventually, Buffy heard the bad news about Robin and went to Faith, who was telling a tale tell to the Warrior Threes. "Faith, can we talk?" Buffy asked.

"Sure. What's up, B?" she asked with a too bright smile.

Buffy took her hand and moved her out of the room into a nearby corridor. She released her hand and faced her. "Are you okay, Faith?" she asked.

"I'm five by five," Faith said with a shrug.

Buffy put her hand on her shoulder. "I heard about Robin. I am so sorry, Faith. He was an incredible man," Buffy said.

Faith gave her a hollow look. "He died saving me," she said softly.

Buffy's eyes were full of compassion, and she pulled Faith close for a hug. At first, Faith was stiff and unreceptive in her arms. Then she began to sob.

Steve came upon them several minutes later. They were on the floor, Faith's head in her lap as she continued to cry. Bucky was on his heels and paused abruptly when he spotted the two women on the floor. Buffy shook her head and mouthed, "Later."

Steve gave her a nod of understanding and turned to follow Bucky out of the hall. Both men stood guard over the doorway, preventing any further interruptions.

To see such a strong woman so heartbroken was hard to see. However, they both were very familiar with loss and empathized with the woman.

Buffy knew exactly how much pain Faith was in and would give her all the time she needed.

It was another twenty minutes before Faith sat up. She was embarrassed and gave Buffy a sheepish smile. "Sorry for going all girl on you," she said.

"It's what sisters are for," Buffy said with a pointed look. She held out her hand and pulled them both to their feet. "Are you ready to get a drink?"

"About ten," Faith said with a sigh. She wiped her eyes and face with her shirt. "I totally need a shower!"

"We're both covered in gore," Buffy acknowledged with a grin. "Let's get cleaned up."

"Then we can get our party on. Robin would expect that," Faith said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"I'm sure he's watching right now," Buffy said.

"You think?" Faith asked, hopefully.

"I think the people we love see the big moments in our lives," Buffy said. "I feel my mother all the time."

The idea comforted Faith, and she followed Buffy to their rooms to clean up.

Steve glanced at Bucky. "She'll be okay," he said.

Bucky nodded, watching the two women disappear down the hallway. "I've never loved anyone enough to mourn like that," he admitted.

Steve clapped him on the shoulder. "There's still time. You have time now to fall in love," he said.

Bucky followed him back to their table, his thoughts distracted with thoughts of love. Could he ever feel that way? Was he too broken? His eyes looked over the group of people assembled. He saw the blonde vampire with a soul flirt with the Lady Sif. He saw Dr. Banner, who held a monster inside, smile at the witch. Even Loki, the bad seed seemed content as he smiled at his sister. He knew enough about all of them to know that they all had their own demons they fought.

Maybe, one day he would be whole. Maybe, one day he could laugh and be as carefree as Xander, who seemed to be the center of so much boisterous laughter.

Someday.

*****Almost the End*****

I hope my lack of expertise on the comics didn't detract too much from your enjoyment of my portrayal of Thanos and what went on with Dawn. I was vague about what exactly Odin did on purpose, mainly because I don't know enough about all the magic stones in their universe. But the Key power was mostly ignored in BTVS the show, so I felt using Dawn made the most sense. I had more for this chapter, but it didn't fit the title. I cut it into another chapter. The final chapter is the epilogue and will be posted in a few days. I'd love to know your thoughts on this final battle. Thanks for reading!