Chapter 25: The End of Time
11th of October 2010, 11:30 AM, Lex Building, 53rd street, Manhattan, New York
Buffy fought, the only time she ever had seen so many demons was in Sunnydale during the War of Twilight. From the corner of her eye she saw how Melaka dusted Harth and to her horror saw that Kate was able to sneak up to her. And she watched in horror when Sam charged her and the twins started to fight, a fight till the death.
At that moment Buffy knew what should happen next, what was coming. Quickly she went back to her fight with the horde of demons. She knew time was running out, literally. Only problem was, Willow was nowhere to be found. Looking around she spotted Xander next to Dawn using fighting moves that where not out of place on a slayer, but on Xander it just looked unbelievable.
"Where did you learn to fight like that?" Buffy asked Xander when she was close enough.
"You pick up a thing or two when you are a vampire." Xander answered, but Buffy had the feeling that was not the source of Xander's new found powers, but now was not the time to ponder that.
"Have you seen Willow?" Buffy asked over the din of the fighting.
"Last I saw her she was locked in battle with Amy." Xander answered pointing towards the edge of the building.
"Good, she has to finish it." Buffy said while looking at the slowly growing rift in the air trough which more and more demons came.
"So this is it? No other solutions?" Xander asked with a slight fear in his voice.
"I'm afraid not Xander, now excuse me, I need to get my killer." Buffy said with a small attempt at humor.
Just when Buffy got to the edge of the building Amy suddenly fell down to the ground and moved no more. "Willow!" Buffy shouted. Willow looked over at her and came over.
As soon as Willow landed Buffy trusted the scythe in her hands with a feeling of dread, but oddly determined.
"No!" Willow said trying to give the scythe back, apparently guessing what Buffy wanted.
"You don't have a choice anymore Willow! Look at what is happening! You have to finish it!" Buffy shouted, all fear leaving her now that the moment was close at hand.
"I can reverse the ritual!" Willow shouted back.
"No Willow! We both know how this ends! Do it!" Buffy shouted prostrating herself in front of Willow.
"No!" Willow said again but this time dropping the scythe to the ground. "I said this before I will say it again, I will not kill you!" Willow shouted while backing away.
Sighing Buffy picked up the scythe and charged to Willow picking her up from the ground. "You must Willow! Or all will be lost!" Buffy shouted in her face.
"I will reverse the ritual, then we will see what we do about the end of time." Willow countered.
At this Buffy dropped Willow. "Okay, you have one change to reverse this mess your way, after that we do this my way." Buffy said menacingly.
Willow moved to the place where Amy had been sitting a couple of hours before and started chanting. Buffy used the moment's peace to look around. The rift was still growing bigger, the fight between Sam and Kate was in full swing, neither of them having the upper hand, Melaka was lying on the ground getting weaker by the minute, but no one could get to her. Xander and Dawn where still fighting off the demons, and the slayers where helping in that field. But soon they would be overwhelmed.
"Willow!" Buffy shouted getting impatient.
"I can't control it!" Willow shouted, at that moment a second rift opened and a big tornado came out of it destroying all buildings it touched.
"End it!" Buffy shouted throwing the scythe to Willow.
Willow caught it and looked to it. Buffy wanted to shout again, but Willow turned to her with a look of fear on her face.
Buffy looked around and saw that a third rift had opened trough which even more demons came. The world was truly ending.
"Willow, now!" Buffy shouted. Willow looked around and got a shocked expression on her face which quickly changed into determination. Buffy looked around to see what got Willow so shocked and saw that Xander was about to be stabbed in the back by a demon and would never be able to react in time.
Without further hesitation Willow walked to Buffy and thrust the Scythe trough her body, and Buffy felt her life fleeing away from her.
Casting one last look around Buffy saw that Sam had managed to dust Kate and saw him running towards Melaka, the spell now broken. She also saw all demons disappearing the way they had come, the rifts closing. She saw Xander and Dawn joining Melaka. She also saw the slayers walking around taking care of the wounded and dead among them.
And then Buffy saw other images, images of her past. She saw her fight against the Master, how he had killed her, only to be saved by Xander. Saw herself together with Angel, and sending him to hell. She saw her fights with Faith and how she had plunged Faith's own weapon in her. She saw how Willow, Xander, Giles and she had joined forces to defeat Adam.
Buffy saw her mom lying dead on the couch. She saw herself die for Dawn to save the world, saw herself jump of the tower. She saw herself rising out of the grave, brought back by the hands of Willow. Saw herself together with Spike in her worst moments. Saw herself fighting against Dark Willow. She saw how she had shared her power with all other potentials. How they had beaten the First Evil.
Buffy saw herself killing Dark Willow in the future, and saw demons coming to the Seed of Wonder to steal it as a hearth for a new dimension she had created together with Angel. She saw Xander destroying said seed to end it all.
And now Buffy would be dying for the third and final time, her final peace. A peace she had longed to have for the last ten years. That longing had never gone fully away. But now finally it would come to her.
"Thanks." Buffy said softly, and all she knew after that was peace and quiet, she was done, she was complete.