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Disclaimer. Characters belong to Joss Whedon and Fox tv, etc. Used without permission
feedback: Would be nice.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
"Quite a party you have out here son."
I stared at the General seated in front of my desk. Riley had come out, requesting a meeting between us, and was generally surprised when I agreed. They had seen the Horsemen in my mirror, the General had watched slack jawed, and listened while I explained the situation.
"You should have reported this," grumbled Riley.
"I considered it," now it was Willow, Buffy, an Xander who were slack jawed. Giles and Wesley just watched. "Then I rejected it."
"With all due respect, we just don't trust you, any more than we trust the Vampires, not to turn on us when it suits your purpose."
Riley reddened.
"Now why would you think that," asked the General."
"Because, for some reason or other, we are different from the normal run of humanity. Now, that doesn't make us superior, it certainly doesn't make us inferior, but it makes us different. History has shown that humanity is not kind to those of its members that are different."
"We haven't burned a witch at the stake in a long time."
"No, imprisonment or institutialization are considered sufficient inducements for us to toe the line. You no longer seek to eliminate us, you merely seek to control us, to use us as weapons for your purposes."
"Weapons?"
"Isn't that what the Initiative's all about?"
"You don't think you should serve your country? If your country requires it."
"I don't think it should be forced." I looked levelly at the General. "I'm here to fight the Horsemen, not to get involved in nationalistic policies. If I were, Italy is my country, not the United States."
"Listen boy," the General leaned forward in his seat. "I'm trying to give you a chance to redeem yourself for that little stunt you pulled last week. Now I'm real sorry your Apprentice got pulled in for questioning but..."
"First," I held up a hand. "Don't call me boy, and I'm not your son. Second, your Initiative left me with little choice but to pull that stunt, as you term it."
"Like it or not, the Horsemen," I waved dramatically at the mirror, are going to be stomping into this reality, and you're going to have them all over this part of California, real soon now. Within a day, they'll be all over North America. Two days, the World. You've got two choices, help or get out of the way."
"A little late to be asking for help."
"I'm not."
"Then what are you doing?"
"Establishing what side you are on."
"Now hold on," barked the General. "This isn't getting us anywhere."
"But sir, I..."
The General held up a hand and Riley snapped his mouth shut and settled back in his seat. The General turned his eyes to me.
"We've known for some time that something big was coming, something nasty that we, maybe, weren't able to handle. Our prisoners, the ones we could get talking, have been telling us. Our psychics have been warning us like crazy, but we've never been able to get a handle on it. It seems like you do."
"It also seem to be in both our interests to step back, and put aside our difference. At least until this is over."
"Fine with me," I said. He nodded, and the next few hours was spent going over strategies.
Buffy looked at me, after they had left. "You sure you know what your doing."
"We can't fight them and the Horsemen at the same time. There's also this. While you keep your friends close to your heart, you hold your enemies even closer."
She puzzled that out a little before nodding and following after her friends.
*********************************************************
"You figure it'll all come down here?" Angel stood beside me on a hill overlooking a small valley to the south of Sunnydale. In my minds eye, I saw a plain stretching out beyond the far end. With a black line coming over the horizon." Everything points to it. Might be better than other locales. Wish I knew?"
"We'll do it." Angel spoke with a confidence I wish I had.
"I'll meet them there," I said pointing to a hill to our left, and midway down the valley. I'll take on the Horsemen. Willow will be opposite," I pointed to a hill midway down the right side. "She will wait until I have them fully engaged, and strike from behind. She will do her best to keep them from bearing their full attention on her. "Xander and Buffy, plus some of the Watchers and Magi will created a diversion, to keep the Horde from coming to the Horsemen's aid. Wesley and Giles, with a another group will do the same in another location. There will be other smaller groups of course, but those will be the main forces." I laughed bitterly, thinking of the numbers. "Such as they are. We hope to break the horde up into manageable portions, and take out the leaders."
"How?"
"By opening a portal behind, or near them, and pushing them through it."
"Should work." Angel scanned the area. "Spike is gathering up the remnants of the master's old army, the ones that are left. He will have them here at night. He never let me in on his plans, but anything is to the good."
"And then we go back to killing each other off."
"Its his world too."
"Let's go back." I sighed, thinking of all the things that were being done.
We reached the house just in time to see Buffy on her way out."
"Patrol?" Angel looked at her, "Want some company?"
"Sure," Buffy's eyes sparkled as she contemplated being alone with Angel.
"I think we can forego patrolling for now." They both looked at me as if I had grown another head. "Come inside. Please."
They looked at each other, and followed me through the house. To the den, where the others were located."
"I just canceled Buffy's patrols for tonight, and the next few nights..."
"Until this is over, probably a good thing., said Willow looking at her hand. The Watchers gathered around the table didn't look pleased, looking at Xander, who looked at me."
"What about the Vampires. Won't they be out hunting? We just let them go? Not that I'm disagreeing.""
"We have three days, four tops, before things get hairy, it won't make much difference to the body count." I smiled, "Those that get turned may be better able to survive. You've done a great job with the training and the fighting and everything. You're, we're, as ready as we will ever be. Now you need time for yourselves. Time to be with friends, with family, to say good bye, whatever you want.
"You're free to stay here, go to your homes. You're still off limits to the Vampire population, so you should be free to move about at night. Make your peace, and be back in two nights. We'll have a last night party, one last council of war."
"Willow nodded. "Me for home. I want some time with my parents, some time in my room, my bed."
"Me for the Bronze," said Xander. "I want to surround myself with people, loud music. Remind myself of why I'm doing this."
In the end, the Scooby Gang all left, after hugging each other.
"They'll be back," I told Wesley who had loudly stated his objections. "They probably won't survive this, and they know that, but they'll be back."
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
"Oooh decorations," Willow poked her head into the library two days later. I was up a ladder , taping the last streamer in place. Meg was in the kitchen cooking. "Where's the rest," she asked entering, and placing some packages on the table. "They here yet?"
"Buffy's here," I said climbing down the ladder. "So is Xander. They're down in the barn. Giles is out for a walk with the other Watchers, going over strategy. Xander would have gone with them, but felt he should spend more time with Buffy."
"He's probably right." She looked distracted a moment. "How about you? You never took any time off." Accusatory.
"Apparently you didn't quite forget everything," I told her, climbing down from the ladder. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have known. I didn't do anything strenuous."
"That's good." I felt as well as heard the concern in her voice.
"I don't want to lose you, M-Master." She had never called me that before, and I think her doing so now told me more about what she was feeling, than anything else. The connection between Master and Apprentice is a strongly felt one when the relationship works. Her lower lip quivered, and she lunged at me, wrapping her arms around me, squeezing for all she was worth.
"None of that," I said gently, returning her hug, the connection working both ways. There was a noise at the door, and I looked up to see Oz standing there. If she noticed, she didn't care. Giles appeared behind him, they glanced at each other.
"Saying goodbye," Oz told him.
"You've taught me so much." Willow disengaged from the embrace," smiling through the tears. "How can I ever repay you, I owe you so much."
"Just remember me," I told her, thinking back over the lessons I'd taught her. Of the eagerness with which she learned, and applied her lessons. Of the arguments we had had, when she thought her way was better, only giving in when she determined that I would not be moved. "That will be payment enough."
"I will," she whispered drawing away from me. "Always."
She squeaked when she turned, and saw Oz and Giles, who had been joined by Xander and Buffy. Willow pushed past them, and disappeared down the hall. Oz looked after her, then decided she needed to be alone. They looked at me. I looked at them, then turned and walked out onto the balcony.
***********************************************************
Willow screamed in frustation as she jammed her staff into an oncoming demon. It ashed under her magick almost immediately, but she paid it scant attention as she turned, readied for the next.
It had all started so well. Everything was in place, everyone was ready when the demon horde ripped through the dimensions. Everyone had held their fire, except for a few magick blasts, a token resistance.
Until the leaders had crossed a certain line.
Then the Initiative forces had opened up with Water Cannons, water bombers, the tanks filled with Holy Water. The ensuing chaos made worse by their answering fire, Magi, Wizards, Wiccans, Apprentices and others poured energies into the milling horde.
All except for Willow, who had been commanded to reserve her energies.
The ground forces attacked. Scything through the demons, coming out the other side, turned back, attacked again.
Still they poured through the gateway. For every demon that was ashed, ten more came to take its place.
After a while, the defenders were being worn down.
But it still would have worked. No one thought it would be any less than bloody.
It was working.
It fell apart when it came time to open the breach. The one they were going to push the Horsemen through.
Willow had been positioned partially down the hill Nat stood atop. Not far to her right, around the curve of the hill, but not far enough so she could not see him, was Giles. Waiting patiently for the signal.
She had wanted to be able to see him. It made her feel less vulnerable, less alone. She wished she had not.
A signal. With the rest of the Magi, Wizards, and Apprentices, Willow lifted her glowing staff high into the air. She felt the surge of energy transmitted, from other Magi, Wizards, others, who could not be there. But participated by sending their energies. It was their world too.
Willow sent a few experimental blasts into the Horde, was satisfied. Prepared herself, focused, on the part she was to play.
The command came, she raised her staff, as did Giles.
Then it happened.
She still couldn't believe it.
Giles spun and blasted away the top of the hill.
Three more demons ashed, Willow's breaths came in harrowing gasps. She didn't know how much longer she could continue. Or even if she wanted to.
*********************************************************
Her hand tingled. True, Buffy had been using it all morning, and now well into the afternoon, but that's not why it tingled. She had been the closest to Giles. It tingled where it had connected with the back of his skull.
Tears fell as she rebounded from a round house kick, not even noting the scream of agony caused by the Holy Water soaked sponges that lined her boots. Her knife slipped into the belly of another, plastic sheaths pressed together, compressing sponges placed next to the cutting edge. The demon shrieked.
Her hand tingled.
***********************************************************
Every muscle screamed as she pulled her sword from the body of yet anoother demon. Cordelia jerked it up just in time to parry a thrust from a fresh foe, and wished that she was better at this. True, she'd managed to hold her own, running on adrenalin and sheer determination. She didn't expect it to last much longer.
***********************************************************
"Angel! Over here."
Angel peered through the encroaching dusk to see Xander waving frantically, or at least doing the best he could to get his attention. Considering he was the focal point of a group of demons, it wasn't half bad. Angel snarled, and dove into the fray.
"What happened," he asked when he reached Xander's side.
"What didn't," Xander grunted skewering another demon on his twin bladed staff. "Nothing right. See that girl over there?"
Angel looked quickly to see Heidi Thorensen fighting off a demon a little to their right.
"I need you to get her over to that hill. They're getting ready to try again."
"Done," snapped Angel, thrusting away another demon. "Be back soon's I can."
"No, your job is to get Willow to the top of that hill."
"Willow?"
"She's pinch hitting for Carpenter, without her it all falls apart."
Angel started to say something but stared as a knife point slammed into Xander.
"Angel GO," Xander screamed.
Angel roared, as he watched Xander fall to his knees, knifing his attacker as he went down. He moved forward, but Xander shook his head, jerking an arm towards Heidi.
Angel had never liked Xander much, always finding him annoying, but now he found an overwhelming desire to save him. But he had a job to do, and he understood the importance of getting it done.
A demon shreiked as Angel spun away, grabbing Heidi's arm, praying that Xander was right. That he would somehow find a way to stay alive.
***********************************************************
Her whole body was on fire, and she knew it was almost over. Even a Slayer could reach the end of her rope. She didn't know if she really cared.
In quick succession, she ashed two demons, and was turning to the third, when ... When what? She didn't know, but it was like being encased in silly putty, she could barely move. She brought her stake up, but didn't think she could do anything with it, didn't know what to do with it if she could do anything.
But watch open mouthed as two figures slammed into the demon facing her.
"Another time Slayer, and I would enjoy meeting you like this," whispered a voice in her ear, as strong arms lifted her into a carry hold. "But not tonight. You fought the good fight, and its time for you to rest."
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Even demons can get tired, and the horde reeled back against itself under the onslaught of Spike's vampire army.
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Angel and Heidi reached the hill, to find an exhausted Willow just barely fending off a demon, while another circled to get behind her.
Willow never even looked back, stabbing at the one in front of her. Her hair was a mess, her eyes red and streaming. Her movements jerky and awkward.
Angel tookout the one behind her.
"Where's Buffy?"
"Don't know," gasped Willow. "Don't care, just want to get this over with. Ask Xander."
Angel looked about to ask again, but the mention of Xander's name reminded him that he had a job to do."
"Willow, Xander says their going to try again. You have to take Carpenter's place. You up to it?"
Willow nodded, and glanced at the top of the hill, counting the demons up there. "Does it matter?"
"No, I guess it doesn't," Angel glanced over as Cordelia slipped away from a demon, her blasde dripping with gore. She ran up.
"About time you showed," she panted. "Got a plan."
"Just to get Willow up there," he pointed to the top of the hill. "I'm freshest, so I'll go first. Then Willow, then Heidi, then you. Heidi, you stop off where you think you need to be, Cordy, stay with her, keep her alive."
"Hey, who's going to keep me alive?" Cordelia gripped her sword tighter, and fell into place. "I'd like to live too."
"So would we all," Angel smiled thinly, and started up the hill, towards the demons up there. He counted a dozen, some of them starting down to flank them. "So would we all."
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Willow stood at the top of the hill. An exhausted Angel had managed to get her up there, where she was told to rest and wait for the signal.
Oz had appeared out of nowhere, and now, all wolfed out, he tore into anything that tried to come near her.
A grateful Angel had disappeared down the hill to help a beseiged Cordelia, who was madly dancing the dance of death with three demons.
A voice whispered in her mind to take her position. It was now or never. She straightened, concentrated and twelve bands of runes glowed on her staff. She raised it, felt the surge of power.
"She thought of a door."
Heidi's power joined hers, and the door grew stronger, and manifested itself behind the Demon Princes, who had been bunched together, by the concentrated efforts of Magi, Wicca's, and other magic users.
She rejoiced as she realised why she had been kept out of the magickal part of the fight. The power roared through her, andshe grasped it weilded it, knitted it into the door that was needed. She despaired as she felt life force energies add themselves to the power she weided, neede to get through the dimension. Prayed that where ever the Horsemen ended up, they would get what they deserved.
Mage lights appeared on surrounding hills, concentrated on one side. Energies slammed into the Horsemen, who fought back with a terrible skill. But they too had been exhausted, by the attrition they had been under all day. They could barely hold against such concentrated fire.
They held for as long as they could.
But eventually they took the path of least resistance, and with a roar of defiance, that promised an eventual return, they were forced through the door.
The door was slammed shut.
Willow collapsed.
************************************************************
"Hi." Buffy sat down beside Willow, and glanced out over the valley. Three weeks ago, they'd saved the world once again, at this very spot, and now you wouldn't know it. Scouring winds had blown the ash to sea, not even the grass was trampled.
"Meg thought you would be here, and when you didn't show up for a while, we began to wonder..."
"If I was all right," Willow finished for her. "I'm fine, couldn't be better. I just got a lot of thinking to do."
"About?" Buffy pursed her lips. She too had done a lot of thinking, about her future, being back with the Council, having Xander as her Watcher. Getting her life back to normal.
"Stuff," Willow looked down. "How's Xander?"
"Still in the hospital, you should go see him. Everyone's amazed he's still alive, especially Xander." Buffy leaned back on her arms. "Cordy says that as soon as you slammed the door shut, Angel started looking for him. Didn't think he cared, but he found him. He was barely alive."
"So whatcha been thinking about?"
"Professor Hauptmann thinks I should go to Italy, when the terms over, so I can spend a couple months at the Academy, learning how to be a Magus."
"Wait, whoa." Buffy held up a hand. "You're going to be the Magus?"
Willow picked up her staff, which was laying on the ground beside her. A barely whispered word, and twelve runic rings appeared, glowing on the staff.
"As Nat's Apprentice, I took his place when he died. They made it official. I just got to learn more about the rights and responsibilities of being a Magus."
"You gonna do it?"
"I bought the farm." Willow changed the subject.
"You what?"
"Meg says it has too many bad memories, and I think she wants to go back to Italy. The Academy wants her to stay on as my housekeeper, do for me what she did for Nat. I have some money from an inheritance, and Dad's going to help."
"I told Meg there'd always be a place for her here. She says she'd like that." Willow glanced at the staff. "She might stay. Her family's been tending to Maguses, Magii, what ever, for centuries and she doesn't want to be sent to some stranger. I think she'd like a holiday first, before she decides."
The two girls sat in silence, atop the sun drenched hill, each lost in their own thoughts.
"Why did he do it?" Willow was the first to break the silence.
"Who, Nat, or Giles." Buffy thought a moment. "Xander thinks Giles might have been taken over while he was in that coma. He wasn't found after.." Buffy nearly choked. "It's hard to see how he could've survived."
"He did," Willow stared straight ahead. "I think I'd know if he didn't"
Buffy nodded, but kept her thoughts to herself. Part of her rejoiced that her substitute father might have survived. Part of her, the greater art, dreaded the thought of ever seeing him again. Part of her feared that she would not. She couldn't dwell n it.
"I think Nat did it because someone had to."
"But no one's ever going to know will they?"
Buffy sighed. Willow was right. Local residents had moved back in, believing the military's story, and who could blame them. Nothing looked disturbed. The valley was as green with grass as ever. As for those who had actually witnessed the events, hellmouth blindness had set in with a vengeance.
"That's not why he did it." Buffy sat up and suddenly grinned. "That doesn't mean that we can't do something, to memorialize this spot." Excitedly she ransacked her bag, and drew out a wide bladed knife, hammer, and chisel. "Never know what your going to need."
"Buffy what," Willow began as Buffy began digging into the grass.
"I did some research. Bedrocks real close to the surface. C'mon help me dig."
Even with Slayer strength and magick enhanced muscles, it took some time to clear enough space for what Buffy wanted. Taking the hammer and chisel, in deep letters, she wrote "Nathaniel Carpenter". Underneath, she wrote a series of Greek characters.
"Buffy, what was that last word." Willow patted the last piece of grass in place, effectively hiding away the carving.
"It's greek for Thermopylae."
"Oh, where the Spartans met the Persians."
"You know about that?" Buffy looked confused, only for a moment. "Of course you did." She grinned at her friend. "You know Wills, some day, just once, I want to know something you don't"
"Never happen," Willow grinned.
Buffy smiled. Beat you to the bottom."
The spell was half formed, when dismissed and the red haired Magus tore off after her friend.
FINISHED.
Disclaimer. Characters belong to Joss Whedon and Fox tv, etc. Used without permission
feedback: Would be nice.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
"Quite a party you have out here son."
I stared at the General seated in front of my desk. Riley had come out, requesting a meeting between us, and was generally surprised when I agreed. They had seen the Horsemen in my mirror, the General had watched slack jawed, and listened while I explained the situation.
"You should have reported this," grumbled Riley.
"I considered it," now it was Willow, Buffy, an Xander who were slack jawed. Giles and Wesley just watched. "Then I rejected it."
"With all due respect, we just don't trust you, any more than we trust the Vampires, not to turn on us when it suits your purpose."
Riley reddened.
"Now why would you think that," asked the General."
"Because, for some reason or other, we are different from the normal run of humanity. Now, that doesn't make us superior, it certainly doesn't make us inferior, but it makes us different. History has shown that humanity is not kind to those of its members that are different."
"We haven't burned a witch at the stake in a long time."
"No, imprisonment or institutialization are considered sufficient inducements for us to toe the line. You no longer seek to eliminate us, you merely seek to control us, to use us as weapons for your purposes."
"Weapons?"
"Isn't that what the Initiative's all about?"
"You don't think you should serve your country? If your country requires it."
"I don't think it should be forced." I looked levelly at the General. "I'm here to fight the Horsemen, not to get involved in nationalistic policies. If I were, Italy is my country, not the United States."
"Listen boy," the General leaned forward in his seat. "I'm trying to give you a chance to redeem yourself for that little stunt you pulled last week. Now I'm real sorry your Apprentice got pulled in for questioning but..."
"First," I held up a hand. "Don't call me boy, and I'm not your son. Second, your Initiative left me with little choice but to pull that stunt, as you term it."
"Like it or not, the Horsemen," I waved dramatically at the mirror, are going to be stomping into this reality, and you're going to have them all over this part of California, real soon now. Within a day, they'll be all over North America. Two days, the World. You've got two choices, help or get out of the way."
"A little late to be asking for help."
"I'm not."
"Then what are you doing?"
"Establishing what side you are on."
"Now hold on," barked the General. "This isn't getting us anywhere."
"But sir, I..."
The General held up a hand and Riley snapped his mouth shut and settled back in his seat. The General turned his eyes to me.
"We've known for some time that something big was coming, something nasty that we, maybe, weren't able to handle. Our prisoners, the ones we could get talking, have been telling us. Our psychics have been warning us like crazy, but we've never been able to get a handle on it. It seems like you do."
"It also seem to be in both our interests to step back, and put aside our difference. At least until this is over."
"Fine with me," I said. He nodded, and the next few hours was spent going over strategies.
Buffy looked at me, after they had left. "You sure you know what your doing."
"We can't fight them and the Horsemen at the same time. There's also this. While you keep your friends close to your heart, you hold your enemies even closer."
She puzzled that out a little before nodding and following after her friends.
*********************************************************
"You figure it'll all come down here?" Angel stood beside me on a hill overlooking a small valley to the south of Sunnydale. In my minds eye, I saw a plain stretching out beyond the far end. With a black line coming over the horizon." Everything points to it. Might be better than other locales. Wish I knew?"
"We'll do it." Angel spoke with a confidence I wish I had.
"I'll meet them there," I said pointing to a hill to our left, and midway down the valley. I'll take on the Horsemen. Willow will be opposite," I pointed to a hill midway down the right side. "She will wait until I have them fully engaged, and strike from behind. She will do her best to keep them from bearing their full attention on her. "Xander and Buffy, plus some of the Watchers and Magi will created a diversion, to keep the Horde from coming to the Horsemen's aid. Wesley and Giles, with a another group will do the same in another location. There will be other smaller groups of course, but those will be the main forces." I laughed bitterly, thinking of the numbers. "Such as they are. We hope to break the horde up into manageable portions, and take out the leaders."
"How?"
"By opening a portal behind, or near them, and pushing them through it."
"Should work." Angel scanned the area. "Spike is gathering up the remnants of the master's old army, the ones that are left. He will have them here at night. He never let me in on his plans, but anything is to the good."
"And then we go back to killing each other off."
"Its his world too."
"Let's go back." I sighed, thinking of all the things that were being done.
We reached the house just in time to see Buffy on her way out."
"Patrol?" Angel looked at her, "Want some company?"
"Sure," Buffy's eyes sparkled as she contemplated being alone with Angel.
"I think we can forego patrolling for now." They both looked at me as if I had grown another head. "Come inside. Please."
They looked at each other, and followed me through the house. To the den, where the others were located."
"I just canceled Buffy's patrols for tonight, and the next few nights..."
"Until this is over, probably a good thing., said Willow looking at her hand. The Watchers gathered around the table didn't look pleased, looking at Xander, who looked at me."
"What about the Vampires. Won't they be out hunting? We just let them go? Not that I'm disagreeing.""
"We have three days, four tops, before things get hairy, it won't make much difference to the body count." I smiled, "Those that get turned may be better able to survive. You've done a great job with the training and the fighting and everything. You're, we're, as ready as we will ever be. Now you need time for yourselves. Time to be with friends, with family, to say good bye, whatever you want.
"You're free to stay here, go to your homes. You're still off limits to the Vampire population, so you should be free to move about at night. Make your peace, and be back in two nights. We'll have a last night party, one last council of war."
"Willow nodded. "Me for home. I want some time with my parents, some time in my room, my bed."
"Me for the Bronze," said Xander. "I want to surround myself with people, loud music. Remind myself of why I'm doing this."
In the end, the Scooby Gang all left, after hugging each other.
"They'll be back," I told Wesley who had loudly stated his objections. "They probably won't survive this, and they know that, but they'll be back."
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
"Oooh decorations," Willow poked her head into the library two days later. I was up a ladder , taping the last streamer in place. Meg was in the kitchen cooking. "Where's the rest," she asked entering, and placing some packages on the table. "They here yet?"
"Buffy's here," I said climbing down the ladder. "So is Xander. They're down in the barn. Giles is out for a walk with the other Watchers, going over strategy. Xander would have gone with them, but felt he should spend more time with Buffy."
"He's probably right." She looked distracted a moment. "How about you? You never took any time off." Accusatory.
"Apparently you didn't quite forget everything," I told her, climbing down from the ladder. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have known. I didn't do anything strenuous."
"That's good." I felt as well as heard the concern in her voice.
"I don't want to lose you, M-Master." She had never called me that before, and I think her doing so now told me more about what she was feeling, than anything else. The connection between Master and Apprentice is a strongly felt one when the relationship works. Her lower lip quivered, and she lunged at me, wrapping her arms around me, squeezing for all she was worth.
"None of that," I said gently, returning her hug, the connection working both ways. There was a noise at the door, and I looked up to see Oz standing there. If she noticed, she didn't care. Giles appeared behind him, they glanced at each other.
"Saying goodbye," Oz told him.
"You've taught me so much." Willow disengaged from the embrace," smiling through the tears. "How can I ever repay you, I owe you so much."
"Just remember me," I told her, thinking back over the lessons I'd taught her. Of the eagerness with which she learned, and applied her lessons. Of the arguments we had had, when she thought her way was better, only giving in when she determined that I would not be moved. "That will be payment enough."
"I will," she whispered drawing away from me. "Always."
She squeaked when she turned, and saw Oz and Giles, who had been joined by Xander and Buffy. Willow pushed past them, and disappeared down the hall. Oz looked after her, then decided she needed to be alone. They looked at me. I looked at them, then turned and walked out onto the balcony.
***********************************************************
Willow screamed in frustation as she jammed her staff into an oncoming demon. It ashed under her magick almost immediately, but she paid it scant attention as she turned, readied for the next.
It had all started so well. Everything was in place, everyone was ready when the demon horde ripped through the dimensions. Everyone had held their fire, except for a few magick blasts, a token resistance.
Until the leaders had crossed a certain line.
Then the Initiative forces had opened up with Water Cannons, water bombers, the tanks filled with Holy Water. The ensuing chaos made worse by their answering fire, Magi, Wizards, Wiccans, Apprentices and others poured energies into the milling horde.
All except for Willow, who had been commanded to reserve her energies.
The ground forces attacked. Scything through the demons, coming out the other side, turned back, attacked again.
Still they poured through the gateway. For every demon that was ashed, ten more came to take its place.
After a while, the defenders were being worn down.
But it still would have worked. No one thought it would be any less than bloody.
It was working.
It fell apart when it came time to open the breach. The one they were going to push the Horsemen through.
Willow had been positioned partially down the hill Nat stood atop. Not far to her right, around the curve of the hill, but not far enough so she could not see him, was Giles. Waiting patiently for the signal.
She had wanted to be able to see him. It made her feel less vulnerable, less alone. She wished she had not.
A signal. With the rest of the Magi, Wizards, and Apprentices, Willow lifted her glowing staff high into the air. She felt the surge of energy transmitted, from other Magi, Wizards, others, who could not be there. But participated by sending their energies. It was their world too.
Willow sent a few experimental blasts into the Horde, was satisfied. Prepared herself, focused, on the part she was to play.
The command came, she raised her staff, as did Giles.
Then it happened.
She still couldn't believe it.
Giles spun and blasted away the top of the hill.
Three more demons ashed, Willow's breaths came in harrowing gasps. She didn't know how much longer she could continue. Or even if she wanted to.
*********************************************************
Her hand tingled. True, Buffy had been using it all morning, and now well into the afternoon, but that's not why it tingled. She had been the closest to Giles. It tingled where it had connected with the back of his skull.
Tears fell as she rebounded from a round house kick, not even noting the scream of agony caused by the Holy Water soaked sponges that lined her boots. Her knife slipped into the belly of another, plastic sheaths pressed together, compressing sponges placed next to the cutting edge. The demon shrieked.
Her hand tingled.
***********************************************************
Every muscle screamed as she pulled her sword from the body of yet anoother demon. Cordelia jerked it up just in time to parry a thrust from a fresh foe, and wished that she was better at this. True, she'd managed to hold her own, running on adrenalin and sheer determination. She didn't expect it to last much longer.
***********************************************************
"Angel! Over here."
Angel peered through the encroaching dusk to see Xander waving frantically, or at least doing the best he could to get his attention. Considering he was the focal point of a group of demons, it wasn't half bad. Angel snarled, and dove into the fray.
"What happened," he asked when he reached Xander's side.
"What didn't," Xander grunted skewering another demon on his twin bladed staff. "Nothing right. See that girl over there?"
Angel looked quickly to see Heidi Thorensen fighting off a demon a little to their right.
"I need you to get her over to that hill. They're getting ready to try again."
"Done," snapped Angel, thrusting away another demon. "Be back soon's I can."
"No, your job is to get Willow to the top of that hill."
"Willow?"
"She's pinch hitting for Carpenter, without her it all falls apart."
Angel started to say something but stared as a knife point slammed into Xander.
"Angel GO," Xander screamed.
Angel roared, as he watched Xander fall to his knees, knifing his attacker as he went down. He moved forward, but Xander shook his head, jerking an arm towards Heidi.
Angel had never liked Xander much, always finding him annoying, but now he found an overwhelming desire to save him. But he had a job to do, and he understood the importance of getting it done.
A demon shreiked as Angel spun away, grabbing Heidi's arm, praying that Xander was right. That he would somehow find a way to stay alive.
***********************************************************
Her whole body was on fire, and she knew it was almost over. Even a Slayer could reach the end of her rope. She didn't know if she really cared.
In quick succession, she ashed two demons, and was turning to the third, when ... When what? She didn't know, but it was like being encased in silly putty, she could barely move. She brought her stake up, but didn't think she could do anything with it, didn't know what to do with it if she could do anything.
But watch open mouthed as two figures slammed into the demon facing her.
"Another time Slayer, and I would enjoy meeting you like this," whispered a voice in her ear, as strong arms lifted her into a carry hold. "But not tonight. You fought the good fight, and its time for you to rest."
************************************************************
Even demons can get tired, and the horde reeled back against itself under the onslaught of Spike's vampire army.
************************************************************
Angel and Heidi reached the hill, to find an exhausted Willow just barely fending off a demon, while another circled to get behind her.
Willow never even looked back, stabbing at the one in front of her. Her hair was a mess, her eyes red and streaming. Her movements jerky and awkward.
Angel tookout the one behind her.
"Where's Buffy?"
"Don't know," gasped Willow. "Don't care, just want to get this over with. Ask Xander."
Angel looked about to ask again, but the mention of Xander's name reminded him that he had a job to do."
"Willow, Xander says their going to try again. You have to take Carpenter's place. You up to it?"
Willow nodded, and glanced at the top of the hill, counting the demons up there. "Does it matter?"
"No, I guess it doesn't," Angel glanced over as Cordelia slipped away from a demon, her blasde dripping with gore. She ran up.
"About time you showed," she panted. "Got a plan."
"Just to get Willow up there," he pointed to the top of the hill. "I'm freshest, so I'll go first. Then Willow, then Heidi, then you. Heidi, you stop off where you think you need to be, Cordy, stay with her, keep her alive."
"Hey, who's going to keep me alive?" Cordelia gripped her sword tighter, and fell into place. "I'd like to live too."
"So would we all," Angel smiled thinly, and started up the hill, towards the demons up there. He counted a dozen, some of them starting down to flank them. "So would we all."
***********************************************************
Willow stood at the top of the hill. An exhausted Angel had managed to get her up there, where she was told to rest and wait for the signal.
Oz had appeared out of nowhere, and now, all wolfed out, he tore into anything that tried to come near her.
A grateful Angel had disappeared down the hill to help a beseiged Cordelia, who was madly dancing the dance of death with three demons.
A voice whispered in her mind to take her position. It was now or never. She straightened, concentrated and twelve bands of runes glowed on her staff. She raised it, felt the surge of power.
"She thought of a door."
Heidi's power joined hers, and the door grew stronger, and manifested itself behind the Demon Princes, who had been bunched together, by the concentrated efforts of Magi, Wicca's, and other magic users.
She rejoiced as she realised why she had been kept out of the magickal part of the fight. The power roared through her, andshe grasped it weilded it, knitted it into the door that was needed. She despaired as she felt life force energies add themselves to the power she weided, neede to get through the dimension. Prayed that where ever the Horsemen ended up, they would get what they deserved.
Mage lights appeared on surrounding hills, concentrated on one side. Energies slammed into the Horsemen, who fought back with a terrible skill. But they too had been exhausted, by the attrition they had been under all day. They could barely hold against such concentrated fire.
They held for as long as they could.
But eventually they took the path of least resistance, and with a roar of defiance, that promised an eventual return, they were forced through the door.
The door was slammed shut.
Willow collapsed.
************************************************************
"Hi." Buffy sat down beside Willow, and glanced out over the valley. Three weeks ago, they'd saved the world once again, at this very spot, and now you wouldn't know it. Scouring winds had blown the ash to sea, not even the grass was trampled.
"Meg thought you would be here, and when you didn't show up for a while, we began to wonder..."
"If I was all right," Willow finished for her. "I'm fine, couldn't be better. I just got a lot of thinking to do."
"About?" Buffy pursed her lips. She too had done a lot of thinking, about her future, being back with the Council, having Xander as her Watcher. Getting her life back to normal.
"Stuff," Willow looked down. "How's Xander?"
"Still in the hospital, you should go see him. Everyone's amazed he's still alive, especially Xander." Buffy leaned back on her arms. "Cordy says that as soon as you slammed the door shut, Angel started looking for him. Didn't think he cared, but he found him. He was barely alive."
"So whatcha been thinking about?"
"Professor Hauptmann thinks I should go to Italy, when the terms over, so I can spend a couple months at the Academy, learning how to be a Magus."
"Wait, whoa." Buffy held up a hand. "You're going to be the Magus?"
Willow picked up her staff, which was laying on the ground beside her. A barely whispered word, and twelve runic rings appeared, glowing on the staff.
"As Nat's Apprentice, I took his place when he died. They made it official. I just got to learn more about the rights and responsibilities of being a Magus."
"You gonna do it?"
"I bought the farm." Willow changed the subject.
"You what?"
"Meg says it has too many bad memories, and I think she wants to go back to Italy. The Academy wants her to stay on as my housekeeper, do for me what she did for Nat. I have some money from an inheritance, and Dad's going to help."
"I told Meg there'd always be a place for her here. She says she'd like that." Willow glanced at the staff. "She might stay. Her family's been tending to Maguses, Magii, what ever, for centuries and she doesn't want to be sent to some stranger. I think she'd like a holiday first, before she decides."
The two girls sat in silence, atop the sun drenched hill, each lost in their own thoughts.
"Why did he do it?" Willow was the first to break the silence.
"Who, Nat, or Giles." Buffy thought a moment. "Xander thinks Giles might have been taken over while he was in that coma. He wasn't found after.." Buffy nearly choked. "It's hard to see how he could've survived."
"He did," Willow stared straight ahead. "I think I'd know if he didn't"
Buffy nodded, but kept her thoughts to herself. Part of her rejoiced that her substitute father might have survived. Part of her, the greater art, dreaded the thought of ever seeing him again. Part of her feared that she would not. She couldn't dwell n it.
"I think Nat did it because someone had to."
"But no one's ever going to know will they?"
Buffy sighed. Willow was right. Local residents had moved back in, believing the military's story, and who could blame them. Nothing looked disturbed. The valley was as green with grass as ever. As for those who had actually witnessed the events, hellmouth blindness had set in with a vengeance.
"That's not why he did it." Buffy sat up and suddenly grinned. "That doesn't mean that we can't do something, to memorialize this spot." Excitedly she ransacked her bag, and drew out a wide bladed knife, hammer, and chisel. "Never know what your going to need."
"Buffy what," Willow began as Buffy began digging into the grass.
"I did some research. Bedrocks real close to the surface. C'mon help me dig."
Even with Slayer strength and magick enhanced muscles, it took some time to clear enough space for what Buffy wanted. Taking the hammer and chisel, in deep letters, she wrote "Nathaniel Carpenter". Underneath, she wrote a series of Greek characters.
"Buffy, what was that last word." Willow patted the last piece of grass in place, effectively hiding away the carving.
"It's greek for Thermopylae."
"Oh, where the Spartans met the Persians."
"You know about that?" Buffy looked confused, only for a moment. "Of course you did." She grinned at her friend. "You know Wills, some day, just once, I want to know something you don't"
"Never happen," Willow grinned.
Buffy smiled. Beat you to the bottom."
The spell was half formed, when dismissed and the red haired Magus tore off after her friend.
FINISHED.