Author's Note: One chapter left!
Battles are never different. They may have different causes or circumstances, the actual battle itself, is never different. In battles, people fight, die, and win or lose. Going into this battle, I felt like a weight had been placed on my chest. If I failed, Xander, Giles, and Willow would stay dead and everyone else I cared about would also die. I couldn't allow that to happen. The Evolver had to be stopped here and now.
Outside, the roar of the thunder could be heard from miles around. The clouds had darkened considerably so that any light couldn't pierce its covering. A storm was coming and I hoped that I would be alive to see it arrive.
I could feel Angel's presence nearby and I felt a little comforted that whatever happened, at least he and I would be together. Up in the sky, I could faintly make out the beginnings of magic forming a portal. I needed to push the Evolver into that portal and I needed to survive until then.
As if on cue, the Evolver magically appeared in the sky.
"Slayer," He greeted a smirk on his face. "You obviously don't understand the concept of death, now do you?"
"Nope," I answered, sarcasm coating my voice. "What can I say? I was never good at taking hints!"
"Then, perhaps my friends could teach you." He clapped his hands and I was surrounded my warriors complete with swords. I got into a fighting stance when I felt Angel behind me.
"Go," He ordered.
"Angel," I muttered.
"I've got these guys," He replied reassuringly. "You've got bigger demons to fry. Go, Buffy."
I nodded and quickly sprinted towards the Evolver. Angel would be able to hold his own, he had to! I could feel my feet becoming lighter as I ran and I was pretty sure that I could thank the Gods for that. I was below the Evolver in two seconds flat.
"Now Champion!" I could hear Athena's voice call, "Fly!"
I jumped up and pretty soon I was in the air with the Evolver. I didn't question why or how, but instead focused on the mission.
"So, the Gods themselves are aiding you," He remarked unhappily. "Those Gods let her die and I shall never be a slave to them again!" He held his hand out and a sword appeared. "Come, Slayer, so that I may kill you."
I held my hand out and a sword magically appeared in my hand too. I could feel a warm presence beside me and I was sure it was Athena holding up her promise of helping me in battle.
I charged and the clash of metal could be heard even as lightning spilt the sky. The Evolver was quick and I had to use all of my slayer senses to keep myself from being chopped up into little pieces.
"Any suggestions?" I muttered to the Goddess as I blocked another blow.
"Get him to speak. It'll give you an opening."
I nodded. Getting people to talk was one of the things that I did best.
"You won't win!" I shouted, hitting his blade with all of my strength, He was able to block it like it was nothing.
"Is that what you're telling yourself so you won't feel the fear that's threatening to consume you?" I ignored him and blocked his attack. "Your friends are dead Slayer and soon your beloved with perish with them." He stopped his attack and simply pointed to where Angel was. I tossed my head around and saw that Angel was clearly being overwhelmed. I wanted to go to him, but my body wouldn't move.
"You know your duty as does he." Athena whispered. "If he falls, then Chronos will bring him back, but if you fall everyone shall remain in Hades. Be strong of heart and continue the battle."
I bit my lower lip and faced the Evolver. I had to believe in what the Goddess was saying; everything would be fine in the end.
"Do you not care?" The Evolver asked. "Your beloved will die and yet, you stand here without as much as a hint of emotion on your face."
"I care about him as much as you cared about your beloved."
That struck a chord. His eyes filled with grief and pain.
"The Gods killed her! They took her away from me and I shall never ever forget what they did to me!"
In the distance, I could see the portal becoming bigger. I need to get rid of him now!
I charged while he was distracted and stabbed him through the heart. He gasped in shock and I used the momentum of me crashing into him to hurl him towards the portal. But as he was being sucked in, I felt a sharp pain in my chest. Looking down, I gasped. A small knife had been plunged into my heart.
"A-Angel," I coughed as the Evolver coughed, blood coming up.
"If I go Slayer, you go too." He pulled the knife out and a gush of blood poured from the wound. I began to shudder as the Evolver smiled sickeningly. "Beloved, I come to you."
With that, he was sucked into the portal.
I firmly put my hands over my heart to try and stop the blood flow. I could feel myself shudder and I slowly made my way back to the ground where I could see a pile of bodies, a stake, and ashes.
Angel was dead.
Chocking for air, I saw the portal close up. The Evolver was gone, but so was everyone else.
"P-please," I coughed.
My eyes were closing as I saw a bolt of lightning streak across the sky.
"Pl-please."
Author's Note: Review please!
