Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel Cinematic Universe, Buffyverse or anything else you may recognize
Thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed or reviewed this fic so far.
And the biggest battle now.
Guest 1: Its not the CU I care about. You do realize I lost 2 stories in 2 months, right? One on which I'd worked on for months, almost a year. Its not CU that made me lose those fics, its the admins who decided to unjustly target me, and more reports on me means more targeting me. And I didn't actually delete anything at all, it was a temporary deletion to reduce reporting, so I could restore it while updating. My sneaking act has even gotten the CU all confused. Don't judge me if you're not in my shoes. Lose 2 stories in 2 months, especially one like 'The path to redemption', then we'll talk. However, your comment inspired me to put my stuff back up either way without caring who goes after it, so now I just don't care in general. If the site wants to be a piece of shit, I got a better option in AO3.
Guest 2: Thank you for letting me know and I liked that update by Welling :)
Omega Porunga: Thanks for the review. Glad you loved it. Nope, it was something temporary.
Chapter 16- Clash against the Apocalypse
Thor reached Apocalypse first, erupting with the Odinforce as he swung his ax, but Apocalypse dodged it in time, and getting behind Thor, grabbed his cape, throwing him away.
As he turned, Mjolnir hit him on the face, staggering him back as Steve caught it on return and used it to summon purple lightning, though Apocalypse defended with a mystical shield.
Wanda during that time flew into the air, covering Apocalypse all over with chaos magic and Reality Stone, trying to trap him in it.
Apocalypse roared as a shockwave from him sent them all back, but Tony fired Space Stone Energy at his face next, and flew at him with a punch, managing to affect him.
Before he could fire again, Apocalypse grabbed his hand and tossed him away into a corner.
Hulk did a thunderclap next, staggering Apocalypse back a bit before Blaze grabbed his throat with his flaming chain, trying to pull him down.
Apocalypse struggled slightly, gritting his teeth, as Willow used the Mind Stone, firing a beam from it that could have injured Apocalypse had he not summoned a mystical shield at the last moment, though the impact broke the shield nonetheless.
Then Apocalypse grabbed the chain, yanking it off and hurling Blaze at Adam, who flew into the air and charged him, managing to punch his face twice just as Hercules grabbed him from behind in a chokehold, both struggling, with Adam trying to bring his claws onto Apocalypse's head.
Apocalypse grabbed Adam's hands, struggling with both him and Hercules at this point. And then he let out a loud roar, pushing his head back, hitting Hercules who was dazed and let go as he then fired a blast from his hands at Adam, sending him flying off at the same time.
He then fired at the fallen heroes but Strange activated the Time Stone, using it to reverse the mystic blast back at Apocalypse, and he was hit, being sent back.
Warlock then sprung into action, hitting him on the face with his staff thrice at amazing speed, and leaping up, tried to strike him right on the head, but Apocalypse grabbed the staff at the last moment, managing to toss Warlock away.
Thor fired lightning from behind, hitting Apocalypse who gritted his teeth as Steve fired his Power Stone enhanced lightning too, both together making him scream a bit.
Wanda started wrapping him up in her energy as Willow once more fired the Mind Stone, but at the last minute Apocalypse stopped time and moved out of harm's way.
When it came back to normal, their attacks hit each other and caused a blast that sent all of them flying backwards, the shockwave from it breaking some buildings nearby too as Apocalypse looked around at them.
He then threw a magical spear at Tony, but Strange leapt in the way, using a mystical shield to block, though that one too shattered from the impact.
Steve leapt at him from above, managing to kick his face as he staggered back a bit, with Willow again firing the Mind Stone from her side, though he deflected it in time.
Taking the opportunity, Steve leapt, bashing his face with Mjolnir as Hulk grabbed him from behind, slamming his head down and punching him many times on the back of the head.
Apocalypse got up, throwing Hulk off, and as he tried to attack again, grabbed him by the wrist and twirled him, making the wind pick up due to the force.
And then he threw Hulk at Steve, tossing both of them away before Blaze rammed his bike into Apocalypse's abdomen, throwing him back from the impact. He was then over Apocalypse, trying to use the Penance Stare.
"HUNGRY!"
Apocalypse let out mad laughter. With the great power he had, he was beyond any regular soul, such tricks would not work on the former Sorcerer Supreme.
Ghost Rider was shocked as Apocalypse tossed him away onto his bike, sending both rolling away. Hercules picked up a pillar and slammed it on Apocalypse's face, staggering him back, then slammed it harder, before slamming it a third time, breaking the pillar into two.
As Apocalypse marched to him, Hercules slammed it on him even harder, as Apocalypse was staggered while the pillar broke even more, shorter than before.
The remainder he threw at Apocalypse, hitting him before he could react. Now Apocalypse was angrier because when Thor threw Stormbreaker, he deflected in time before brutally blasting Hercules away.
Next moment, he was lifted up into the air by Wanda's chaos magic as she tried to peel his skin off with her powers. Apocalypse gritted his teeth, resisting, and telekinetically pulled her to him, about to punch her head off.
Reacting in time, Wanda used the Reality Stone to cover Apocalypse's hand before he could swing fully, and as that distracted him, she hovered down.
Apocalypse then started firing at Thor who deflected with Stormbreaker a few times, then flew around to avoid.
Taking advantage Steve, Willow and Tony tried to fire at him from behind. Apocalypse just pushed one hand backwards and the telekinetic force sent all three of them flying away.
He then kept trying to blast them but they flew around to avoid his blasts. Adam then came at Apocalypse from above, breathing down flames that he barely avoided himself before using a telekinetic blast to send Adam away too.
As Apocalypse tried to blast Steve, Willow and Tony again, Thor leapt in the way and deflected it onto a building, shattering it.
Strange held out his hands, Eldritch whips trapping Apocalypse as many Stranges appeared, all trying to hold him down. Apocalypse gritted his teeth, the heroes moving in for the kill, but then a blast from him sent all of them flying off.
He was then about to blast Strange but Hulk leapt in the way, taking the brunt of it as he roared in rage and pain.
Hercules leapt at Apocalypse, grabbing both arms of his, trying to break them, the two now entering a wrestling match of sorts.
Apocalypse gritted his teeth, mystical energy erupting from his being, but Hercules wasn't letting go. The mystical energy caused cracks everywhere, and broke the ground underneath those two, making them fall onto a crater.
But Hercules still didn't give up, as there was a shockwave blast in the area, both of them leaping back at last.
Apocalypse clutched his fists, rocks rising everywhere as the water rose too.
Same time
"Angelus?" Angel called out to his other self.
"No", Dark Angel shook his head.
"What?" Angel was horrified. "You still have your soul? Then….how?"
"Apocalypse after apocalypse I stopped, I gave it my all!" Dark Angel ranted in anger. "Drove everyone away from me, sacrificed lives for the greater good! But the Shanshu never came!" He sounded broken, like he had completely given up on it. "It is all worthless!"
"So you join up with the actual Apocalypse?" Angel asked incredulously.
"All other versions of me need to see its all worthless! You have a wife, and a son, but it doesn't matter, I'll take it all from you", Dark Angel snarled.
"What's up with you?" Spike asked his other self.
"Buffy….." Soulless Spike snarled, his hideous appearance making it even creepier. "Slept with me, used me, but didn't give a damn about my feelings because I had no soul!"
"You didn't get one?"
"Oh I tried to make her mine, she kicked me away", soulless Spike revealed as Spike and Angel both realized what he had tried to do to Buffy, enraging them both. "Decided if she sees me as a monster, I must look like one. And here we go."
Spike knew what he meant. Instead of passing the trials to get his soul back, he had used those to get his chip removed and become a monstrous Vampire like a Turok-Han.
"Your love for the Slayer and the soul you got because of it disgusts me", soulless Spike snarled at him.
Angel cracked his knuckles as Spike prepared to fight too. "Your monstrosity disgusts me, mate."
And with that, both sets of fighters charged, the good Ensouled Vampires battling their twisted, evil selves.
Angel leapt with a kick as Dark Angel backed to avoid, then backed off while blocking more blows from his doppelganger. Angel tried to spin kick but Dark Angel blocked. The two clashed fists again, then their feet while grabbing onto each other, both in a deadlock.
Angel then tried to sweep Dark Angel's feet from under him but he leapt in the air and blocked a blow from Angel. Angel freed his fist and was about to attack again but Dark Angel flipped behind him.
Angel turned, trying to strike as Dark Angel blocked or dodged, and they ended up on the opposite sides, ready to fight more.
Angel leapt in the air with a spin kick. Dark Angel blocked one foot but the other hit his chest, staggering him back while Angel landed on the ground.
Dark Angel smirked. "I'm gonna enjoy this more than I thought." Angel roared and leapt with a flip kick which Dark Angel ducked to avoid. He blocked a few more blows from Angel and when he tried to kick, Dark Angel jumped into the air and spinning, got behind him.
Angel kept trying to strike as Dark Angel blocked all blows and even head-butted him once, but Angel responded with a hard punch to the chest that sent Dark Angel flying back by a few feet.
In response, Dark Angel blitzed towards Angel and smacked his chest with both hands, sending him flying off as well. Before Angel could recover, Dark Angel spin kicked his face, sending him tumbling down to a lower floor, while Dark Angel leapt down.
Angel leapt up at Dark Angel, aiming a Superman punch, but got a kick on the chest that sent him crashing to the ground as Dark Angel landed in front of him.
At the same time, Spike faced soulless Spike. Both tried to kick simultaneously, their feet clashing before soulless Spike kicked Spike's chest, staggering him back.
Soulless Spike charged with another strike that Spike blocked, then tried to punch but soulless Spike ducked to avoid. Spike was then hit in the gut and smacked on the face, being sent away again.
Soulless Spike kneed Spike's gut and elbowed his face, sending him down once more. He then lifted Spike by the throat, about to rip it off.
Spike used some moves, striking his opponent's elbows, and managed to free himself before elbowing soulless Spike's face in a spin motion, sending him away again.
Soulless Spike roared and stabbed Spike's shoulder with his talons, dragging them to ruin the leather duster and making him bleed.
"You'll pay for that one", Spike snarled as he ducked, getting on soulless Spike's other side to avoid a blow, then tried to strike which his opponent blocked. Spike was then punched on the chest and abdomen with both fists, being sent flying to the ground.
At New York, the cyborg Demons had been destroyed as the Benatar and Ravager ships together shot down the converted Avengers Tower, destroying any cyborgs that were being prepared inside it.
Stakar then told Quill over comms. "Quill, next time you ask us to help you Terran friends, don't."
"We didn't have a choice Stakar, the Universe needed us!"
"Why do you care about the Universe?"
"Because we're the idiots who live in it!"
"...suppose you have a point."
"Let's go to China, baby", Quill said as all of them flew to China to help the Mystics out.
In Egypt, the Asgardians had arrived to help the Wakandans after having finished the Zombies, and so the battle was raging here too.
Wesley and Lilah were battling their enemies back to back now.
Lilah sliced one in the gut and kicked him back. "These guys are really starting to make me angry!"
"How angry?" Wesley shot another down.
"Remember when Murdock finally told me the truth about his little horned hobby?" Wesley unintentionally shivered, boy was she pissed when they told her Matt was Daredevil. Mostly because it took them so long to tell her.
"Yes."
"Worse!"
"Oh dear", Wesley muttered, almost feeling bad for their enemies. Almost.
Nearby, Colossus threw one enemy away and punched another as he muttered. "Let's hope they're having an easier time with the big blue nutcase."
Adam and Hercules were thrown down, before their heads were grabbed and slammed down again as they were tossed away.
Some forces of Apocalypse were now on Atlantis too, the other heroes getting busy in fighting them. Peter-2 struck one with his web and pulled as it was sent flying into Logan, who sliced it down with his claws.
"Nice one, bub", Logan gave Peter-2 a thumbs-up.
"Thanks, you too", Peter-2 returned the thumbs up.
Maximoff was running around, making them hit each other or tripping them around, while Buffy and Buffy-2 sliced them with their weapons.
"Here", Buffy tossed Buffy-2 the M?, who caught it, feeling its power in spite of being from a different Universe.
"This feels…powerful", she muttered with a smile and sliced a Zombie before cutting down a jackal-head.
"I know", Buffy nodded as Faith spin-kicked another nearby, and Buffy-2 tossed her the M?.
"Thanks", Faith used it to chop off the head of one, and then she tossed it to Slayer Dawn as she dodged the blow of a zombie and brought it down on its head, killing it too.
"Wow, this thing has a lot of juice", she commented, before tossing it to Felicia.
"Didn't use it last time", Felicia said, slicing a jackal-head's throat, then tossed it to Faith-2.
"Damn! This is something", she said as she spun and chopped off a zombie head.
Peter swung and kicked one away before flipping another down, and then webbing one more, hurled it at Dawn who stabbed it with her sword, while Peter-3 flipped behind a jackal-head and tripped it with webbing before throwing it away.
Tara stopped 2 zombies telekinetically and broke their heads as Blaze-2 fired some angelic flames near her from his head, and she manipulated those flames, burning enemies from all 4 species that were around her.
"Thank you", she called out to Blaze-2.
"Welcome", he said as Robbie struck one with his chain nearby, sharing a look with Blaze-2.
Old Man Logan and Laura were together, slicing anyone that came near them, when suddenly X-24 got up and roaring madly, charged at them.
They thought he was about to attack them, instead, he ran past them and chopped off the heads of 2 zombies before stabbing a cyborg and then stabbing it multiple times, ripping machinery and innards out.
"Whoa!" Old Man Logan muttered as X-24 turned to him. "Thank bub."
X-24 didn't respond, just snarled and continued killing more. Old Man Logan and Laura shared a look, an understanding passing between them, that both would help this guy now that he had a chance to be good, and then they continued fighting, helping X-24.
Osborn was finally staggering up as one zombie came at him but Otto lifted that one with his tentacle, throwing it off, and held out another tentacle to Osborn, allowing him to grasp it and help himself up.
"What have I done?" Osborn muttered, ashamed of his actions, especially killing May after this Peter who didn't even know him had tried to help him. "I-"
"You are not the only one with Demons in their closet, Norman", Otto told him gently as he stood next to his former colleague. "I have done terrible things too, horrible things, things that Rosie would be ashamed of. But I'm trying to be better, you can be too."
Osborn's face seemed to be a combination of reluctance and hope as he stood up, lifting his glider with him, and seeing Peter and Dawn fighting some foes, charged with a roar, stabbing one jackal-head with his glider.
Peter and Dawn turned to see him in shock as he ripped his glider out, then stabbed the jackal-head again and again till it was dead.
He looked at both of them, remorse in his eyes as they regarded him indifferently. "I don't deserve forgiveness", he finally said and carried on, Peter and Dawn sharing a look.
Meanwhile Vamp Willow, sexy Tara, Vamp Xander and Xander battled the minions together as Vamp Willow ripped off the head of one zombie. "These mindless things are so annoying."
"I know, right?" Sexy Tara asked as she stopped one cyborg with her magic, then punched it with her magic enhanced fist, breaking its machinery, then whispered to her. "Maybe I can blow your mind, huh?"
"Oh I'd love that", Vamp Willow smirked and sexy Tara smirked back, as Vamp Xander and Xander exchanged weird looks, then shrugged and continued fighting.
Warlock charged at Apocalypse and smacked his face with his staff, sending his face the other way. And then, enhancing himself and his staff with cosmic energy, he continued hitting Apocalypse in the abdomen multiple times, now winding him.
And then he gave Apocalypse an uppercut with his staff, sending him flying off before hitting his abdomen multiple times again. The last blow sent him falling down.
Warlock raised his staff, making a Cosmic ball, and hurled it downwards, hitting Apocalypse who blocked in time, but before he could react, Warlock flew at him and blasted his face again with a stronger blast.
As Apocalypse crashed down, Warlock raised his staff, Thor, Steve, Tony, Wanda and Willow joining him.
Taking the opportunity, all of them blasted Apocalypse together, making him scream when their combined attacks hit him, all of them damaging him finally.
When the smoke cleared, to their horror, Apocalypse got back up and flew up to them, blasting all away before smacking Warlock on the face as he fell downwards.
Apocalypse then brutally beat Warlock's abdomen and face multiple times, actually making him spit out golden blood, before throwing him down.
Then, before he could react, Tony blasted him from behind with the Space Stone on his suit's centerpiece. As Apocalypse was weakened, Tony continued blasting him with his powerful blasts, hitting him again and again, causing an explosion.
Once more though, to Tony's horror, Apocalypse, while damaged, was still standing. Now turning to Tony, Apocalypse grabbed him and ripped the Space Stone out of his chest, depowering the suit before tossing him away.
As Tony crashed to the ground, Tony-2 caught him, gently flying him away. "I got you man."
"Thanks."
Warlock was trying to get up when Apocalypse kneed him hard, making him spit out more golden blood.
As he tried to punch, Hercules, grabbed his wrist, trying to stop him, and managed to pull him back, slowly dragging him away.
Apocalypse angrily summoned a mystical spear and stabbed Hercules in the gut, making him gasp and spit out blood as Apocalypse retracted it.
Apocalypse then pinned Hercules to the ground, pummeling him brutally. "You think, after thousands of years trapped in a box, I'm going to let a group of mortals, godlings, and hellspawns stop me?! It didn't work before, and it won't work now!"
Hercules was thrown up and then was kicked on the face for his troubles, being sent flying off and crashing into a building.
Strange covered Apocalypse in a mystical barrier with Eldritch symbols, trying to crush him with it, only for Apocalypse to press a fist and shatter it.
"You disappoint me, Sorcerer Supreme, you would know this is nothing in front of me."
"I know", Strange shrugged as next moment, a blast from the Mind Stone made a hole through Apocalypse's abdomen, making him gasp as blood poured out of his mouth, Willow standing behind him.
As Apocalypse turned, she blasted again, making another hole as Apocalypse fell to his knees. She then walked closer, keeping the Mind Stone blast as intense as possible, slowly weakening Apocalypse from it, trying to get to his brain.
However, when she reached close, Apocalypse telekinetically ripped the tiara off her head, making her lose the Mind Stone, and he threw it off before telekinetically hurling Willow away.
Tara saw and hovering up, held out her hands, stopping Willow from falling using her own telekinesis, though the force from which Apocalypse had tossed her did affect Tara.
She slowly lowered Willow to the ground and ran next to her. Willow panted, Tara putting an arm around her shoulder.
"He's too strong", the redheaded Witch gasped grimly.
"I know", Tara watched the fight. "The rest have to give it their all."
Apocalypse healed himself with his power.
Steve charged Apocalypse with Mjolnir but was hurled back as Thor charged next and managed to strike him once, but was grabbed by the head and thrown away too.
Wanda picked up Apocalypse once more, trying the same trick as before, covering him with her powers as well as the Reality Stone.
Apocalypse's hand glowed. He then held it out and clutched something. Next moment, the Reality Stone was in his grip, Wanda horrified.
Using the opportunity, he blasted her. She blocked but the impact sent her crashing down, only for Maximoff to catch her in time, bridal style.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Apocalypse lifted Warlock by the throat and decked his chest and face, then slammed his face onto the ground, stepping on it. From a distance, Strange lifted a mystical blade and hurled it at him.
Apocalypse teleported to avoid it before appearing back, and grabbing Warlock, he ripped the Soul Stone out of his head, then threw both away.
"Gain as much power as you want, it doesn't matter, I am the end of days! There is nothing in the Multiverse that can stop me! I AM the Multiverse!"
That moment, the spell erupted, billowing outwards. Deep, glowing cracks pierced the sky.
The Multiverse was breaking apart!
Seeing no other choice, Strange hovered onto the highest building, seeing rifts and splits opening their way through the skyline.
"Oh my God!" Buffy whispered, all of them terrified.
"Come on Matt, guys", Faith muttered, hoping they did it.
Strange set to work, combating the onslaught of the Multiverse, sealing one rift, then another. "Angel, Spike, Stick, work faster."
Dark Angel lifted Angel by the collar and pushing him to the other side, kicked him away twice, then supporting himself on Angel's neck, kept kicking him while pushing him back.
Angel fell down another floor. Dark Angel leapt down at him but Angel raised both feet, hitting his chin and staggering him back before standing up.
Their clashing continued, Dark Angel blocking blows before being decked, then he kicked Angel's face before pushing him off.
He then decked Angel's chest twice and pushed him off before leaping and punching his chest, sending him down. Angel tried to sweep his feet from under him but Dark Angel jumped back, both ready to fight more.
Angel flipped up, only for Dark Angel to blitz at him and send him crashing through another wall. Angel then fell down, groaning in pain.
Dark Angel smirked, thinking he was winning.
Angel then remembered those he fought for- Gunn, Lorne, Fred, Illyria, Buffy, Wesley, Lilah, Faith, Connor, Cordelia.
And Matt/Adam!
"When you're fighting an opponent who is stronger, faster, more experienced, whatever the case may be, remember this: Improvise. Adapt. Overcome."
Matt's words ringing in his head, Angel stood up for more, he and Dark Angel ready to go another round.
Dark Angel charged, Angel dodging, and then he spun to dodge a kick as well. They clashed fists as Angel threw himself down to avoid.
He then spun to kick Dark Angel who backed off but getting up, Angel smacked his face hard, sending him flying off and onto a wall, breaking it upon impact.
Stick was in front of the barrier around the spell, holding out his hands, trying to phase through, but it hurt him. "AGH!"
He staggered back, groaning. "How do I get past this shit?"
Spike charged soulless Spike, the two clashing again as Spike twisted his evil doppelganger's arm, though he freed himself fluidly.
Spike tried to punch but his arm was grabbed, only he grabbed soulless Spike's arm too when he tried to hit back.
Then managing to free his arm, he elbowed soulless Spike in the chest, but was grabbed by the throat. He smacked soulless Spike's arm away, then hit his abdomen many times before getting behind him, trapping him in a chokehold.
The two struggled brutally, soulless Spike pulling Spike's arm off, only for Spike to use his feet to throw his doppelganger up above and behind him, making him crash again.
Spike staggered up but soulless Spike grabbed him, dragging him away, and hit his head, then his face. Spike grabbed soulless Spike, tossing him down, and was about to hit but got scratched by the talons on the face, dazing him.
Spike fell down, soulless Spike getting up and lifting him by the collar, and decking him but he blocked. And with that, the clash resumed, Spike blocking another blow before being spin kicked away.
Soulless Spike slammed Spike to a wall twice, then got punched, then continued slamming Spike, stabbing his abdomen with his claws.
Spike screamed, then elbowed soulless Spike away. Soulless Spike tried to knee as Spike blocked but the impact sent him back again.
Soulless Spike struck as Spike grabbed him and slammed him to the wall, and tried to punch but was grabbed. He then hit soulless Spike on the knees.
Soulless Spike slammed him to the wall and punched but he dodged, only to get kicked onto the ground at that point.
Thor rammed into Apocalypse, the two clashing brutally as Steve joined too, making it a clash of three.
Apocalypse flew up to avoid them, when both Thor and Steve clashed against him, sending out a shockwave from it.
The battle was sending out shockwaves and explosions, levelling a few more buildings. Thor tried to strike as Apocalypse grabbed his hand, both struggling.
Then Odinforce and lightning erupted from Thor, sending Apocalypse back, Steve using the opportunity to slam his face, sending him flying off too.
Thor swung, Apocalypse blocking again, before ducking to avoid a strike from Steve, but Thor gave him an uppercut with Stormbreaker, giving him a giant cut as he was sent away from it again.
Next moment, Apocalypse blasted both fast, sending them off.
Hulk leapt at Apocalypse, grabbing his head from behind, trying to crush it as Apocalypse roared in anger and pain, struggling against the Green Goliath.
Then he grabbed Hulk's head, sending mystical energy, making Hulk scream and revert back to Banner. Apocalypse tossed Bruce away, only for Hulk-2 to catch him in time.
He put Bruce down, both he and Hulk-3 reverting back to Bruce-2 and David, watching the epic clash carry on before while Strange was trying to stop the Multiverse from closing in on them.
Unlike the time when Glory and Doc doing the ritual with Dawn's Key Blood had opened up the Multiverse, this time a simple reversal from the Time Stone wouldn't do it, due to Apocalypse's own counter spell.
Merlyn, the former Sorcerer Supreme, was as powerful as they were with Infinity Stones, so he was giving them a lot of trouble. They could surprise and hurt him at times, but he still had the upper hand, and any bad wounds did not last long as he healed himself.
Thor then grabbed Apocalypse, trying to toss him away, and hit him with lightning punches many times, only for Apocalypse to throw him into Steve.
Blaze grabbed Apocalypse's hand this time, trying to slice it with the chain, but Apocalypse grabbed it and sent a blast of power through it, making Blaze fly off and crash down once more.
Adam was watching, remembering the prophecy ring through his head. Matt knew what Adam was thinking and said mentally. "It will kill you."
"It will. Him, and me."
"We're in this together, brother."
"Not anymore." Adam reached into his chest, phasing through as he pulled out a white silhouette and placed it on the ground that turned into Matt, who stared shocked at his human self away from Adam.
"How?" He asked as the others continued battling Apocalypse, with Faith running next to Matt, the others watching too in shock.
Matt-2 and Elektra arrived next to the shocked Matt as well.
"Ever since the Hell-Mark was removed, it felt as if a…clutch, has been taken away. After a time, I realized I was stronger without it, more powerful, and with that power, I realized I could go as far as separate souls from bodies. In this case, separate man, from Devil."
"Adam…you'll die."
"But you will live, you all will. It was Mephisto that created this threat, and it is my duty to end it."
"I can't even think what my life will be like without you, and you've only been together for a couple years."
"Matthew, you and I have been together since the beginning, neither of us truly realized it, but even in your darkest moments, I was always with you. I just wish I could have done a better job protecting you, and those you love."
"You did nothing wrong…I just wish we could have had more time."
"Cherish each moment we had, and they'll go on for eternity."
"When did you get so wise?" Matt had a lump in his throat, Faith holding his arm, Elektra just staring up at Adam, with Matt-2 wondering how his life would have been if he too had an Adam with him.
"I had good teachers." Adam looked back as the battle with Apocalypse was threatening the planet. "It is time."
He made to fly over, but Matt grabbed his hand.
"Adam…I'm scared."
"Don't be, my brother. I have faith we will meet again." Adam looked at Faith and gave her a nod.
She nodded back, a bittersweet smile on her face.
Then as the rest watched, Adam flew off. "BACK OFF! HE'S MINE!"
Adam punched Apocalypse, sending him flying off. Apocalypse recovered in time and punched Adam back too.
"TAKE US OUT OF THIS PLANET!"
"Aye", Thor nodded, the Bifrost hitting the two creations of Mephisto. When it disappeared, both were gone.
Matt fell to his knees, teary-eyed, Faith hugging his chest from behind.
"What's he going to do?" Cordelia asked no one in particular.
"He's going to end it", Steve knew it, everyone feeling respect for Adam.
In a planet on Space, Adam punched Apocalypse, sending him flying off and landing onto another planet, making a huge crater.
Adam flew behind him, trying to slice as Apocalypse kept dodging, but eventually Adam sliced his face twice, shockwaves going around and making the planet break.
Adam pinned Apocalypse down, then brought his fists down upon him repeatedly, though Apocalypse had a mystic shield in place to block. Eventually, he blasted Adam away into Space, making him crash onto a mountain on another planet and breaking it.
Apocalypse teleported to the other one, looking at Adam getting up. Adam charged with a punch, Apocalypse teleporting to his other side. Adam tried to hit again and got the same result, the Devil breaking some ground instead.
Apocalypse held out his hand, firing a mystic blast of water and energy at Adam. Adam put his arms in the way, blocking, then charged with a roar, powering through, and punched Apocalypse hard.
Grabbing his face, he threw the former Sorcerer Supreme down, then tried to punch but he teleported away in time.
Apocalypse leapt down on Adam from above, Adam rolling away to avoid while Apocalypse shattered a huge portion of the planet instead.
Apocalypse hurled a mystic disk, Adam deflecting, only for many portals to open around Adam, all firing down blast upon blast at him.
Suddenly, Adam's hand burst through the portal in front of Apocalypse, grabbing and tossing him away. Adam then punched but Apocalypse was unaffected, the impact destroying most of the planet.
This was just an illusion that faded away, and then the real Apocalypse blasted Adam with a mystic disk from behind, sending him flying off and crashing again.
Adam flew at Apocalypse, dodging some mystic disks, and caught one in his mouth, crushing it, before punching Apocalypse away.
He was then surrounded by 4 Apocalpyses, only, he sensed the real one and grabbing his foot, tossed him down. Apocalypse hit the ground, sending out mystical energies that morphed into 3 giant monsters, all surrounding Adam.
Adam dodged one's blow and leaping on it, ripped its face off. The next tried to strike but he ripped its arm off, and decked its face, destroying it, before killing the last with flames.
Adam and Apocalypse then exchanged blows, glowing violet cracks appearing on the latter's skin, each catching a fist and holding the moment in a contest of strength.
"Looking to finish what the father has started?" Apocalypse pulled his fist free and punched Adam down, pounding his face deeper into the earth of the planet. "You'll fail! You'll like they all did! LIKE THEY ALWAYS WILL!"
Adam caught the next punch and breathed fire on Apocalypse's face before kicking him off, still mid-air, Adam grabs him by the face and dragged on him on the planet, digging a trench in their wake before grabbing a leg and slamming down, making a deep crater.
"I'm not doing this for him." Adam told the downed dark sorcerer as his body began to radiate with fire like a phoenix. Apocalypse got up and swung at Adam, but the Devil ducked under and wrapped his arms around Apocalypse, trapping his arms from moving.
"I'm doing this for my family."
Angel marched towards Dark Angel, who staggered up, angry. He charged as Angel blocked or dodged all his punches. He tried to strike but Angel grabbed his arm and spinning, got behind him, hitting his back and sending him forwards.
Then he decked Dark Angel's face before smacking his chin. Dark Angel tried to strike but Angel struck his legs hard, making him flip and fall down to the ground.
Dark Angel glared in rage, both charging once more. Dark Angel tried to strike but Angel got behind him and hit his back, making him gasp.
The two faced each other once more, Dark Angel throwing in a strong punch, but Angel deflected his strike, as well as his next one, and then another, before spinning and punching his chest. As Dark Angel struck, Angel grabbed his wrists and flipped him to the ground.
He tried to get up but got a spin kick to the face, sending him flying up and crashing near some weapons, an ax falling next to him.
Picking up the ax, Dark Angel charged Angel, who rushed him and with a leap, flipping, kicking his chin and chest, disarming him while catching the ax, his doppelganger being tossed off.
"Buffy….." Spike whispered, remembering her face, their moments, and getting strength, rolled away to avoid a strike from soulless Spike's talons.
And then standing up, he rammed into soulless Spike, throwing both down. Soulless Spike tried to elbow his face but he rolled out of the way and getting up, blocked more strikes, and dodged another before hitting his abdomen, then blocking more, decked his soulless self's chest with both fists, sending him back.
Soulless Spike was winded, then getting up, leapt with a punch that Spike blocked. Soulless Spike struck with his claws, Spike trying to hold back.
Then gritting his teeth, he twisted his arms and punched soulless Spike's chest, staggering him back, and with a roar, charged before punching his chest and abdomen multiple times, not giving him a chance to retaliate.
After that, he leapt and punched hard, making soulless Spike spit out blood as he fell away. Getting up, he rushed off, Spike following, only to suddenly be stabbed in the gut with the talons.
Spike roared and pulled out, the two clashing once more as Spike twisted soulless Spike's arm. Soulless Spike grabbed his throat with the other one, and he grabbed it, twisting that too.
Spike then elbowed soulless Spike's face, and grabbing him by the collar, slammed him down, Dark Angel falling nearby as Angel had thrown him off.
Stick appeared near them. "You know, its gonna take a bulldozer to take down the barrier."
Spike joked. "We're short of one."
"A strong explosion would work too", Stick shrugged.
"How'd we do that?" Angel asked.
Stick sighed, then told them how. "I can overcharge myself with spiritual energy that makes me up, and blow up", he looked at the downed evil doppelgangers, "and take these two shits out with me."
Angel and Spike shared a look, clearly concerned, then Angel turned to Stick. "Stick...that sounds like a one-way trip."
"With my record, it likely is."
"Getting blown up, not exactly a decent way to go." Spike then said.
"I've lived long enough, I've done enough, and I've already died. Not much left for me. All I can do, is what I think is right."
Angel and Spike realized what it meant for Stick, being the hero, when often he had to play the morally ambiguous warrior for the good guys, and being a ghost was his second chance.
"I won't say I'll miss you, old man, but you're decent enough as a dead guy." Spike.
"Suppose you guys aren't bad, for blooducksers."
"Thank you, Stick." Angel responded.
"Just do me a favor, and look after Matty. He's all I have left."
The two nodded firmly.
Stick turned to the evil counterparts, who were staggering up, though Angel's and Spike's beatings had weakened them too much to even try to resist.
"Alright, suckheads, lets go on a trip. One way to Hell!"
Stick tackled the two Vampires into the barrier, all of them feeling the pain as it started burning them, Dark Angel and Soulless Spike screaming.
Stick started glowing, making the two scream louder, and then he exploded, taking out the barrier which shattered into pieces, and the evil Vamps were gone.
Angel and Spike averted their eyes to protect them, then looked to the front.
"Stick…." Angel whispered sadly.
"He's…" Spike trailed off.
Stick was gone. And he had become a hero.
Strange watched as the Multiverse started repairing itself, the cracks all sealing up.
"It is repaired!" Strange called out. "The Multiverse is coming back to normal."
"Huh? Looks like we can go", nerd Cordy realized, waving to Cordelia. "Bye."
"Goodbye, and good job", Cordelia complimented her nerd self who smiled, then faded away back to her Universe.
"This is it", Faith-2 realized, and said to Tara and Faith. "Thank you for helping me find myself."
"Not a problem", Tara assured.
"Yeah, take care of yourself", Faith urged her, Faith-2 fading away too.
Kingpin and Bullseye faded away as well, still groaning, and the corpses of Russoti, Russian, Howard, John Saint and Blackout were gone too.
"Keep it going on your Earths, will ya?" Frank asked his two doppelgangers.
"Definitely, never gonna stop, we will carry on", Frank-3 agreed with him.
"Yep, those who do evil to others, they'll get theirs", Frank-2 nodded.
Frank said to Frank-2. "Take care of yourself, Army."
The former Delta Force operator nodded in return. "You too, Marine."
Then Frank turned to the taller alternate, who said to him, "Semper Fi."
And Frank returned it. "Semper Fi."
The 3 Franks shared a nod of brotherhood and mutual respect before Frank-2 and Frank-3 faded away into their Universes.
Absorbing Man faded away too, as Bruce hugged Bruce-2 and David hard. "Take care of yourselves, both of you. Please. Don't let anyone get you, you two are heroes too, remember that."
"We will, and thank you, for helping me realize Hulk is not a monster", Brucee-2 choked, hugging the other two tighter.
"Thank you for saving my life", David thanked them too. "This is it, but I will never forget."
They parted, looking at each other emotionally as Bruce-2 and David were gone too.
"All of you, stay safe", Slayer Dawn said to her doppelganger and the rest. "Keep it going, like I will."
"Good luck", Dawn told her doppelganger.
"Yeah, we wish you the best", Buffy nodded.
"Stay safe Dawnie", Willow waved at her.
"Take care", Tara smiled.
"We'll miss you", Xander added.
"Don't change the outfit", Felicia added to some chuckles.
"Yep, goodbye", Slayer Dawn faded away.
"Huh?" Ripper muttered, walking to the group of Scoobies, who all hugged him tightly, and he knew why.
"He was a hero, I will try to be", Ripper assured them all. "Thank you for showing me what I can be. His sacrifice will not be in vain."
"Go", Buffy muttered to him, all looking at him with tears. "Be a hero."
Ripper nodded, smiling, then faded away in front of the teary-eyed Scoobies, with Rack fading away too.
X-24 looked around, seeing the others looking at him in sympathy, and he faded away next, as Old Man Logan looked at Logan. They grasped hands. "Thank you."
"No, thank you."
A smile was shared, with Logan patting the head of Laura, who gave him a big hug that he returned, lovingly, kissing her forehead.
"Thank you", she said.
"You can talk?" He asked in shock.
"Yes", she nodded.
"Then what was-"
"She talks when she wants", Old Man Logan shrugged as Laura smiled.
Then she held Old Man Logan's hand and both faded away too.
"Well, this was fun, now I'm gonna finally get back to making out", Vamp Willow commented, smirking.
"Yeah, but you all take care", sexy Tara waved at her doppelgangers.
"Good luck with your lives, or life and unlife", Willow wished them both.
"Hope this works out", Tara added as both Vamp Willow and sexy Tara faded away too. Sexy Tara had done a spell to ensure Vamp Willow ended up where she was when they returned, rather than at Sunnydale.
That way, they could be together.
"Well, goodbye people, been a while since I worked with others, nice reminder, thanks", Liam said to them all. "Will keep you all in my mind, which is rare. Be honored."
"Yeah, now we're going, goodbye, and I defended the innocent at least", William added, he and Liam fading too as the rest waved to them.
"Sorry about the mess again", Vamp Xander said to Xander. "But I'll try to remain human now. Not try, I will. Its who I am."
Xander smiled. "You helped me in a big way. Thanks."
"No problem."
The two hugged each other, and Vamp Xander shared a nod with the rest before fading away too.
"I'm gonna go back too, but I know you all will remember me", Johnny Storm winked at them, making them chuckle.
"Either way, this was a fascinating experience", Reed said.
"And horrifying", Sue added with a shudder. "Like-"
"If we meet again, I'll get back at you", Ben said, pointing at Bruce, and all chuckled as the Fantastic Four faded away, the heroes waving to them.
"Take care, sister", Maximoff hugged Wanda, who didn't want to let go. "We'll always be with you", he touched her chest where her heart was, "in here."
Wanda nodded with tears. "Take care of your sisters."
Maximoff nodded, he and Wanda smiling at each other as he faded away into his own Universe then.
"Well, time to go", Tony-2 smirked at Tony. "You're real smart, you know that?"
"Back at ya, pal", Tony replied, the two nodding at each other before Tony-2 faded away as well.
"Thank you for giving us another chance", Matt-2 thanked Matt and Faith, sharing loving hugs with both of them.
"Yes, we appreciate it", Elektra added with a smile.
"Good luck to you both", Faith smiled, giving two thumbs up. "Work it out."
"Yeah, or we'll come over and kick your asses", Matt added, getting some chuckles out of all as Elektra hugged them both too, and then they faded away.
"This is shit I've never seen, and I liked it, goodbye all", Venom waved at them, and they waved back as he faded away too.
The dead Lothos, Amilyn and the other Vamps were gone too.
Buffy hugged Buffy-2. "Couldn't have done this without you. I'm gonna miss you, thanks so much."
"I'll miss you too", Buffy-2 told Buffy. "Live and fight, for them."
"For them."
"And have a normal life", Buffy-2 urged Buffy, who nodded, the two staring at each other as Buffy-2 then faded away.
Max, Flint, Otto, Connors and Eddie-2 all faded away as well.
Osborn looked up at Peter, then turned away.
"Norman."
Norman turned to look at Peter, expecting anger and hatred in his eyes. Instead, he saw kindness and sympathy.
"I forgive you."
Peter-2 gave a smile of pride, remembering when he'd forgiven Flint. Norman had tears in his eyes as he gave a bittersweet smile, and nodded, before fading away.
Angel and Spike arrived via portal, Cordelia and Buffy running to them and hugging them, as both couples kissed happily.
Blaze-2 was still spewing blue flames and walked to Angel, holding up his hand, making him nervous. "Uhh…what is it?"
"You….prophecy….." Blaze-2 grabbed Angel by the face, making him scream in agony as Cordelia tried to stop him.
"Hey, what are you doing?" She said when Angel's screaming stopped, a light covering him.
"Oh my God!" Angel gasped as he felt his heart beating again as his body felt the exhaustion from his activities. "My heart….its beating….."
"Blimey!" Spike realized what had happened as his jaw dropped, and Blaze-2 let Angel go, making him fall to his knees while Cordelia rushed to him, hugging Angel.
"Angel, you okay?"
"I'm…..I'm human now", Angel said, looking up at Blaze-2 and nodding. "Thank you."
Blaze-2 nodded back as Cordelia had an overjoyed. "Congratulations, Angel."
"Now we can be…" Angel trailed off with a smile as they shared a loving kiss and hugged, Cordelia hearing Angel's heartbeat in his chest.
"Why does he get the Shanshu?" Spike asked randomly, then after a moment of consideration, shrugged. "Who am I kidding? Of course it was gonna be Angel!"
Buffy held his hand. "Shanshu or not, I wanna be with you."
"I want to be with you too", he smiled as they shared a kiss, and then he looked at Angel. "Well, congratulations Angel, guess the better man won."
Angel just nodded humbly as Buffy gave him a smile too, happy for him and Cordelia, and he smiled back.
Blaze-2 walked past them to Darla as she asked. "What do you-"
"Prophecy…." He grabbed her by the face and she screamed in agony as well when the light covered her, and she too felt her heart beat while her body felt ache and exhaustion.
"My heart….I can feel it….." she fell to her knees as Blaze-2 let go, while she put a hand to her chest, feeling it.
Angel stood up as Buffy helped Darla up.
"Thank you", Darla said to Blaze-2 as he nodded and turned away, then looked at Angel. "How does it feel?"
"Like…..like I'm a newborn", Angel told her as both smiled and hugged, kissing each other's cheeks.
"I know, it's a good feeling", Darla said, the two parting. "Now I guess its time to start over with my life."
"I get you", Angel nodded.
Blaze-2 looked at Blaze and Robbie. "Bring vengeance."
"Bring justice", both said together as their normal human faces appeared.
"You know, it was nice meeting others like me, good to know work's being done all over", Blaze-2 told them both.
"And you gave me hope, thank you for that", Blaze responded.
"We will carry on", Robbie added as Blaze-2 nodded and faded away as well.
Darla hugged Cordelia. "Take care of my son. He is yours now." She looked between Angel and Cordelia. "Both of you take care of him."
"Thank you. I will, and you take care too", Cordelia wished Darla, the two kissing each other's cheeks as the now human Darla faded away as well.
"Hey! Uh... I think this is it. I think you're about to go home", Peter said to the other.
Peter-2 nodded. "Okay."
Peter-3 muttered. "All right."
"Um, look, I, uh... thank you! I just want to- I want you- I want to tell you that... I really don't know how to say this, I—"
Peter-3 started. "Peter..."
"I want you to know that I'm—"The other two Peters smiled.
Peter-2 pointed out. "You know. It's what we do."
Peter smiled. "Yeah. It's what we do. Um…" He hugged them both tight as they hugged back. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." He pulled back. "I guess... I guess I'll see you."
Peter-2 agreed. "Same."
"Goodbye", Peter-3 waved.
A final smile between the three. Everyone from the other Universes had come in as counterparts, but parted as friends.
With that, Peter-2 and Peter-3 faded away as well.
The Multiverse was sealed and everyone was back where they belonged.
Adam and Apocalypse were both engulfed by the fire in the shape of a phoenix, the energy having been summoned from EVERY SINGLE DIMENSION to create this great power, Apocalypse screaming and straining, but Adam wasn't letting go, the flames and energy licking them both, engulfing them. Adam was a Nexus Being too, so he had the power to battle Apocalypse.
And then-
KABOOM!
Apocalypse and Adam were both blown to bits, and then the planet, moons, and neighbouring planets all went out too.
Apocalypse was dead!
Matt was suddenly in an all-white space, which he could see. Adam was standing there.
"It's done. You're safe."
"The cost was deep."
"I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil."
"And you're not a Devil. You, are a hero. My brother."
Suddenly, Adam began to glow, his shape changing as his red skin and wings began to fade away in a shower of golden light that blinded Matt. When his vision returned, he saw a man, a white shirt under a black suit, and two pure white wings sprouting from his back.
Adam stared at his human hand, the Caucasian skin, normally shaped nails, and ran it through his head of actual hair. It was unbelievable, so much so he began to laugh. "Now I look the part."
Matt laughed with him, but his brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"I look like you." Matt's jaw slacked as he stared, for the first time since he was a kid, at himself. All those years, wondering, imagining what he could be like, now he knew.
The room began to light up, Matt didn't have time to question it before Adam engulfed him in a hug.
"Take care of yourself, brother."
Matt said nothing, holding on to a part of himself for one last time.
When he returned to the world he knew, not a second had passed, but feeling something in his hand, Matt ran his hand over it before letting out a mix of a choke and a laugh.
It was a feather.
"Until next time, brother."
Angel and Spike walked next to Matt, putting their hands on his shoulder.
"Matt….." Angel trailed off.
"What?" Matt asked as he stood up, Faith supporting him.
"Your mentor, Stick, umm…." Spike tried to find the words. "He ummm….."
"He sacrificed himself to destroy the barrier and spell, used the spiritual energy in him to blow it up", Angel finally revealed, Matt feeling another stab in his heart. "Took out 2 bad guys as well."
"I'm sorry mate", Spike comforted Matt, as Faith gave him a hug, Matt having tears in his eyes while holding the feather.
"He was a hero", he finally said, all three nodding while Matt held up the feather. "They all were."
Matt put a hand on Angel's chest, feeling his heart beat as well. "And congratulations Angel, you've earned it."
"Thank you", Angel smiled, Matt grasping the feather in his hand as he held it to his chest.
All the heroes stood together, the wounded ones like Hercules and Warlock being helped to stand too, looking up at the now clear sky.
Apocalypse was gone, his apocalypse had been stopped, and the Multiverse had been properly fixed. But not without cost.
"We've all done it", Steve finally said, looking up at the sky while remembering those lost in this conflict. "They may be gone, but we'll never forget them."
And Steve was right. They won't.
One week later
After the Infinity Stones had been put back in their rightful places, a memorial was held for all the fallen Heroes behind the Avengers Compound, right next to Coulson's grave.
The memorial was for all the heroes who gave their lives in this conflict- Kennedy, Vi, Daisy, Giles, May, Stick and Adam!
Stick may have been already dead but he still hung around as a ghost, now that was gone too.
Everyone was present, some in tears, others barely controlling themselves, some having emotionless masks for faces but being torn up deep inside.
"They fought for us", Steve spoke for all the fallen ones as he looked up. "Because they knew…it was the right thing to do."
Some nods.
"All of them brought something to the table, all of them were ready to do whatever it takes, to make sure good came out on top. They showed us that heroism and kindness would triumph over the darkness any day."
More nods as they looked up at Steve and the names on the memorial firmly.
"They may be gone, but we are here. And we've all stopped the greatest threat to the Multiverse, with them. We did not let their sacrifices be in vain, and we will not let their sacrifices be in vain in the future. We will live our lives, and we will fight evil, no matter what shape or form it may take. I see you, and I know each and every one of you is a hero."
Bittersweet smiles to Steve's statement.
"We will always be around, and we will honor them all."
And he was right. They would. While they had lost their lives in this battle, they'd be glad knowing their efforts were not in vain, and that the battle against evil would be continued in their name.
Good would always prevail over evil.
Always.
Later
Angel stood in the sunlight, basking in it after a good while, then held up Connor who laughed as Angel smiled, spinning with him. "Yeah, daddy is playing with you in sunlight, you like that, don't you?"
"Yes dada", Connor cooed as Angel kissed his forehead.
Cordelia held his other hand and they walked to the car. "Well, now at least we can be like a normal family. Kind of."
"So, what shall you do now?" Wesley asked Angel as they turned around to face the rest of the team.
"Yeah, I mean, I guess we have to do this without you, right?" Gunn wondered.
"I think not", Fred realized on noticing their looks.
"None of you have any powers, right? Well, except Illyria in you, Fred, but the rest of you don't", Angel pointed out and they had to concede. "I'm not a Vampire anymore, but I have my skills, experiences and knowledge." He shared a smile with Cordy. "We're going to stick around and do what we've always done."
"Help the helpless", Cordelia shrugged.
"Oooh that makes me so happy to hear we still got you two", Lorne kissed Angel and Cordelia on the cheeks, then said to Angel. "Just don't sing."
"Gotcha."
"At least I got a human boss now", Lilah quipped, making the rest chuckle.
Fred turned into Illyria. "I will listen, but it is up to me if I follow you or not."
"Fair enough", Angel shrugged as Illyria became Fred again, the group chuckling once more.
Spike, Buffy, Willow, Tara, Peter, Dawn, Felicia, Xander and Anya sat together with Miss Kitty sitting nearby, Tara telling Buffy and Peter. "I know, it must still be hard, losing them both. I felt the same when mom was gone."
"Don't think its gonna get any better", Buffy muttered sadly.
Xander sighed. "It hurts 'cause they're gone. And then it hurts all over again because you remember what they stood for, and you wonder, "Is all that gone too?""
A beat as that landed on Peter and he remembered Steve's speech. "No, it's not gone. Everyone that she helped...and he taught…..they'll keep it going. We'll keep it going."
Anya asked Peter. "You really think so?"
Peter nodded firmly. "I know it."
Willow patted his shoulder with a smile as he smiled back, Dawn holding his hand and resting her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad we're all here."
"Yeah, we all are Dawnie", Willow nodded.
"Well, now we're all in the same city", Spike pointed out. "All of us get together at least once a week, what do ya lot say?"
"I say I agree, and Matt and Faith come too", Felicia added, everyone nodding in agreement.
Buffy downed her drink. "For now, we rest, but if anything pops up, we go to work."
Everyone nodded firmly, agreeing.
Matt and Faith were walking away, Bear walking with them as Faith sighed. "Guess time to go back to our normal lives now."
"You know what normal is for us", Matt reminded and both chuckled, sharing a kiss.
"I know how much both of them meant to you. I'm sorry", she said, the two holding hands now.
"Thank you", Matt replied. "I'm glad to have you though."
"Well, not just me", Faith said, confusing Matt a bit, and then she leaned towards him, whispering in his ear. "I'm pregnant."
Matt's jaw dropped as he realized in all the chaos, he'd never paid attention to that bit. "Really?"
"Really", Faith smiled, Matt lowering himself to her stomach and realizing there was a baby inside.
"Oh my God!" He said happily as he stood up and both Matt and Faith kissed each other happily, glad to be together and having a new addition in their family soon.
The ones who had sacrificed themselves may be gone, but they would never be forgotten.
And finally, the end of it. So now Stick and Adam go too, though Matt remains. Rest In Peace Stick and Adam the good Devil.
It was hard taking them out, but it had to be done.
Hope all enjoyed the battles too, and everything else from start to end.
The Angel vs. Dark Angel thing was suggested by Bl4ckHunter so thank you to him, while Spike vs. soulless Spike was suggested by Brainstorm Sorcerer so thank you to him.
Let's be honest, whether you prefer Angel or Spike, Angel should get the Shanshu, it was always connected to his character arc, and he's worked more for it than Spike has. Now I wouldn't mind Spike getting it either, and I have read some decent stories where he got it too, but Angel deserves it more I say. Unless you wanna count what happened in the follow-up comics but those were all bullshit anyway so throw them aside since they're a waste of pages.
Plus, I don't think Spike actually wants the Shanshu, he only wanted it for a little while when he first heard of it to stick it to Angel, but I don't think he wanted it at all later, and so he wouldn't care if Angel got it and he didn't because deep down he knows it was always gonna be Angel's.
And really, he seems to love being a Vampire while Angel wanted to be human one day, so I really don't think Spike wants it. And as much as she wants to deny, Buffy needs someone by her side who can actually hold his own, which is why Spike with a soul is the one for her. Spike with a soul is a good guy, loves being a Vampire, and treats her better than Angel, Riley or his own soulless self ever did.
Angel babied her too much, and let's not forget him getting a boner over a 15 year old sucking on a lollipop, then stalking her for months. The show may have shrugged it off but I won't. Honestly, I won't say I hated Angel but I really DID NOT like Angel in 'Buffy', but Angel in 'Angel' was an amazing, likeable and complex character and I loved him in his own show. Plus Angel 1x19 is proof that Angel and Buffy are best off apart and only bring out the worst in each other. And I don't buy the BS that they never moved on. They did, they just regress to the lovesick puppies they were in Buffy Seasons 1-3 whenever they meet again because Joss Whedon is an idiot.
Riley was just an insecure, annoying jackass and his fragile manliness couldn't handle his girlfriend being stronger than him, his views on women seem to be semi-classical. And considering how fast he got married after leaving Buffy, it shows how much the Vamp prostitute addict was into the relationship. Plus their relationship has the biggest power imbalance since Riley was a TA and could have easily messed up Buffy's grades and been an obstacle to her future if he was that kind of guy. Even if he wasn't, the whole relationship was wrong on SO many levels. I fucking hated Angel/Buffy but Buffy/Riley managed to be even worse somehow.
Soulless Spike may have loved Buffy but it was a twisted and obsessive love and he treated her like trash, and she did the same to him. He might have tried to be good for a little while and even succeeded (see 5x18 to 6x8) but eventually he reverted to his base instincts. And considering how they were going, it was a doomed relationship even before THAT in 6x19, which fortunately never happened in this series, and if you've read it from the start you'd know how and why.
Which is why Ensouled Spike/Buffy is the best pairing for them both. And I fucking hate Joss for breaking them up in comics with the excuse that it doesn't work when there's no crisis *rolls eyes* A BS excuse just to draw out the Angel/Buffy/Spike love triangle.
Not even the Stefan/Elena/Damon love triangle lasted this long. But then again, except Simon and Kaylee in 'Firefly' (to my knowledge), Joss the creep can't allow any of his shows' good couples to be happy. I hate the rat bastard for ruining Willow/Tara, Angel/Cordelia, Spike/Buffy, Wesley/Lilah, Giles/Jenny, Wesley/Fred, Xander/Anya and various other great couples.
Anyway, rant over, Angel/Cordelia is the best pairing for them both too since Cordy brings out the best in Angel and both help each other grow into better people, as the relationship was crucial to their character growth. One turned from a creep into a champion, the other turned from a mean high school girl into a champion. They're each other's everything.
Darla got the Shanshu as well since in her Universe it refers to her and she's the only Vamp with a soul.
However, I've something else for Spike in mind which the next chapter will reveal, and I think it will satisfy all, hopefully.
Since the Scoobies, Team Angel and Matt and Faith along with Peter were always the main focus in this series, they get the final scenes on here.
And thanks a lot to Brainstorm Sorcerer for his help with scenes once more.
Now there is one more chapter to go, the epilogue of course, and that will be the last one here. Damn! Can't believe its almost over.
Hope all enjoyed and see you all next time with the final chapter.