AUTHOR: Goddess Isa
EMAIL: goddessisa@aol.com
SUMMARY: While Buffy is off killing Glory, Angel is given a chance to change the future, and he takes it even though it may cost him everything
SPOILER: MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THE END FO S5 BUFFY! Read at your own risk. Also contains minor ANGEL S2 spoilers.
DISTRIBUTION: Sure, just email me & lmk where it's going - I like seeing my name in print =) http://planetslaythis.homestead.com is my website.
FEEDBACK: Please, I'd hate to have to Slay for it. =P
RATING: TV-14
DISCLAIMER: Joss Whedon, David Greenwalt and UPN own the characters in this fic that you know. The characters that you don't, like Elisabeth and Joseph for instance, are all mine. I love it when I can say that.
Chapter Two - Discovery
The cave was dark.
Not that most caves Angel traveled through weren't, but this one was especially eerie. He felt privileged to be trusted enough by the others to take this one on his own--it was the first time they were really letting him take charge of things since his return.
He liked it.
"Let's see," Angel mumbled to himself. "The map said I take a right, then a left, then another right--"
"And you'll arrive at the Witch's altar with the candles everywhere?" a beautiful woman cloaked in lavender silk approached Angel and waved a hand. The room illuminated with candles, just like Cordy had drawn from memory of her vision.
Angel shivered. He'd never known of a demon to have that kind of powers. Only a Witch. But Cordy didn't get a Witchy vibe from the vision. She said she sensed something bigger. Angel could only imagine what she'd meant.
"Welcome," the woman said, giving him a warm smile. "You're just in time."
"You were expecting me," Angel guessed.
"I was hopeful that you'd make an appearance, yes."
"Who are you?" Angel asked, stepping away from her.
"You needn't be afraid, Warrior. I am here to guide you unlike any other."
"Who are you?" he repeated.
She laughed. "They were right about you. Always asking questions. If you were breathing, I am quite sure we'd have you down as a Conspiracy Theorist."
"I'm low on time," Angel told her, not sure what else he should say.
"On the contrary, in here, time is all you've got," she reached out a hand for him. "Life is valuable without hours and minutes."
"Somehow I doubt that," Angel said dryly"
"Come," she extended her hand again. "I have much to show you."
"Not until you tell me your name."
"I am Elisabeth. An Elder. And you are wasting precious seconds we haven't got to spare."
Angel warily took the woman's hand. "I thought you said time is on our side up here."
Elisabeth smiled. "I wasn't talking about here. I was talking about down there."
As soon as she said the words, Angel appeared in a hospital room. There were doctors milling around everywhere, and a machine was making the flatline noise.
Angel screamed when a nurse moved aside and he saw that the patient lying on the bed was Buffy.
"You can't touch her," Elisabeth warned as he reached for his love. "You aren't here, not really. This is just a glimpse. A test."
"A test of what?"
"Your character," she waved her arm and they were back in the cave where he'd met her.
"I don't understand. Please, tell me that Buffy's going to be all right. I can't live if she isn't okay."
"You aren't living anyway," Elisabeth waved a hand and a glass of something sparkling and pink appeared in her hand. "Do you know why you are here?"
"Cordelia had a vision. I came to check it out."
Elisabeth smiled. "I sent her that vision, just like I send her so many of the others. This one was different though. Do you know why?"
"Because it was a trick?" Angel guessed.
"The Elders do not play games, Angelus," she said in a warning tone. "I would think you should've learned that by now."
"I never was a fast learner. Tell me about Buffy."
"Wouldn't you rather I show you?"
Angel shrugged.
"It's so much more fun to see the show live and in person," she waved her glass away and extended her hand to him again.
When he didn't move, she said, "You're going to have to touch me for this to work."
Reluctantly, Angel took her hand again and was instantly walking through Buffy's life. It was strange, seeing all the things they'd done whirl past him. Things were moving too fast to linger, but too slow to forget a single memory.
"This is where it gets interesting," Elisabeth told him.
Angel watched as Buffy spoke soothingly to Dawn before leaving her in Spike's care. He watched as she snuck out when everyone else was asleep and headed for Glory's hideout.
He stared at her as she used weapon after weapon, spell after spell, dark magick and light, and still, she failed.
Giles was not far behind, but Glorificus and her minions had already set the place on fire before leaving for parts unknown. Giles managed to rescue Buffy without either of them suffering severe burns, but those were the least of his concerns.
She wasn't breathing.
Giles rushed her to a hospital, and again, Angel watched as the doctors worked to revive her. Her heart stopped and her time of death was called.
"No!" Angel shouted. "She can't die! I won't let her! I won't let that happen!"
"That's just what I wanted to hear," Elisabeth said as they reappeared in the cave.
"Why are you showing me all this?" Angel asked. "You said this was a test--what kind of test?"
"A test of your will," Elisabeth answered. "Of your spirit, your heart. You were never meant to be a vampire, you know that don't you?"
"You mean some are?" his tone was sarcastic, but Elisabeth simply ignored it and nodded.
"Of course. Most things that go on are meant to be, Angel, but there is the occasional accident that we have no control over."
"Buffy is not going to be one of those accidents. I won't allow it."
"I'm so glad to hear you say that."
"Tell me what to do."
"It's simple. You have to go back to the past, to your human life, and not let Darla sire you."
Angel blinked. "I have to what?"
"You heard me. Of course, if you're not strong enough to do that--"
"I can handle anything for Buffy," Angel promised. "What else do I have to do?"
"You must kill her, with a tree branch you just happen to find in the alley."
"And then what?"
"Then you shall live out your mortal life and die."
"How does that help Buffy?" Angel demanded.
"Without you in her life, the Slayer will rely on her own instincts to fight and only that. She will never reveal herself to others, and fate will take its course as it was meant to be."
"I don't understand," Angel was flustered as Hell.
"You will," Elisabeth promised. "I'll need your answer now."
"You promise me that Buffy will live?" Angel asked.
"The battle with Glorificus will never even come to pass."
"Then yes, I'll do it. For Buffy."
Elisabeth smiled, and waved her hand.