Part 6

"Xander," she said softly. "W-w-what happened? I-I-I-is she…?"

"I tried Buffy. I tired to revive her. I couldn't. She had been gone too long after I came to."

Xander went to Buffy and held her.

"I'm sorry Buff."

Buffy began to cry on his shoulder.

"How? What happened," she asked.

"You happened," he started. "Sort of anyway."

She let go and looked at her friend.

"What are you talking about?"

"Me, Dawn, and your mom were playing a game. You came to bring Dawn to Spike's, but it wasn't you. I thought it was at first. But something was different."

"Is there anything you can remember to know what it was, a shape-shifting demon, a clone, or a robot version of me?"

"It was a robot, it had to be, but who-"

"SPIKE," they both said at the same time.

Xander hands Buffy a stake from his jacket pocket.

"You do the honors. Let's go open a can of whop ass on Spike."

Just as they are about to leave the ambulance shows up.

"We'll deal with this first then kill Spike," Buffy said solemnly.

"You know I'm here for you Buff, you and Dawn."

She smiles at her friend with tears in her eyes. The realization that her mother was dead was beginning to sink in. I'm going to hurt Spike until I can't hurt him anymore, I'll wait for him to get better, and do it again, then stake him, Buffy thought to herself.

Spike's crypt
Sunday May 20, 2001
12:30 am

The Buffy-bot is holding Dawn while Spike paces. He is limping a little.

"Where is Glory? I want her to get this chip out my head so I can kill the slayer. 'Come near me again and I'll stake you' bloody bitch won't get the chance to."

"You won't lay a finger on her."

Spike turns and faces Glory.

"Where's my key," she said.

He points to Dawn.

"Right there. The slayer's sister is the key. Those monk blokes turned that bright ball of energy it the slayer's sister. She's what you've been looking for."

Glory goes to Dawn and strokes her face. "So, you've been right in front of me and I never even knew it. I'm going to have so much fun killing your sister and those annoying friends of hers."

The Buffy-bot was grinning ear-to-ear, "Don't worry about the mother and that male friend known as Xander. I took care of them."

"You what," Spike asked.

"I choked the mother to death, and when I left the Xander wasn't moving, I'm sure he was dead."

"NO," Dawn yelled. "Not mom and Xander!"

"Is this robot really that dumb? The slayer will find out and track it to you. You'll be dead before the night's over."

"Oops, did I do a bad again Spikey?"

"Just get the chip out my cranium and I'll be fine."

"Sure. You did your part of the deal. I'll do mine."

She walked up to Spike and turned him around.

"Stand still. This may hurt a little," she said.

With that, she ripped Spikes head off and dropped it to the floor, turning him into a pile of dust.

"You killed my boyfriend, I'm going to kill your key."
Before the Buffy-bot could react she was grabbed from behind by Glory.

"I don't think so, let her go or I rip your head off."

She lets Dawn go, but before she can make a run for it Dawn pushes her back to the corner of the crypt.

"Now to deal with this thing."

Buffy's house…

The ambulance had just left. Buffy is in her room getting stakes ready.

"Spike must be working with Glory. Tonight he dies."

Buffy goes to her weapons trunk and whips out her Byzantine axe.

"Buffy, I don't think you'll need all that to kill Spike. Besides, are you sure you're up to this. I mean-"

Buffy interrupts him, "Don't even say it. I know okay. Because of Glory and Spike and apparently his Buffy-bot. I can't even grieve. I don't have time to because the world could end Monday morning. This battle is for my mom. Are you with me or not?"

Xander pulls Buffy into a hug. "I'm always with you Buff. Now and forever."

"Thanks"

"Now, let's go put Peroxide Pest in the ground. Then we try to find Dawn."

Spike's Crypt
1:00 am

Buffy breaks down the door and Xander follows her in.

"Where are you Spike?"

"Buffy," Xander said.

"What?"

Xander points to a pile of dust.

They go to it and find a chip inside the dust.

"I'm guessing Glory took care of him before we had a chance to," Xander said.

"Damn!"

"I know I wanted to see him dusted too, but there's nothing we can do."

"What is that in the corner," Buffy asked.

Xander stood up and went to the corner and dug around. He found Buffy's head and screamed.

"What," Buffy said.

"Oh. Sorry," he said. He pulls the head out of the now destroyed robot and tosses it to Buffy. "Buffy-bot, number one on my Christmas list."

Buffy glared at Xander. "Just kidding Buff."

"So Glory comes in kills Spike and the Buffy-bot. Why?"

"So they don't come to us with information is my guess. Glory must have killed them and took Dawn. Let's get to the magic shop. Let's hope Giles knows something helpful in taking down Glory."

After they leave, the top of the coffin is removed, and a Knight of Byzantium gets out.

"So, the slayer couldn't protect the Key."

Abandoned warehouse…

Hundreds of Knights are sitting down at what appears to be some kind of meeting.

The lead Knight, Edwin, speaks to them on an overhead balcony with a large map of Sunnydale.

"The slayer has failed. It is now up to us to stop Glorificus from using the Key. The spell will take place here, near the old high school," he said pointing to the map. "The spell to open the demon dimension will take place sometime early Monday morning. We have a little over 24 hours to find her and stop her. The first group of 200 will strike at her hideout in the morning. Half of you fight Glory while the rest of you find and destroy the key. Any questions?"

One of the knights stood up and asked, "What if we fail?"

Edwin answered, "Then we all take down the Key Monday morning before the Spell is cast."

The Magic Box…

"Sorry," Riley said. "But I'm not the one. I'm far from Buffy's White Knight. Maybe it's someone we're not thinking of."

"Well, lets think," Tara said. "Who has acted like Buffy's White Knight."

Willow is thinking when a strange thought pops in her head. Xander. It's Xander. Everything the host said is happening.

"Willow," Riley said. "Do you know who it is?"

"I think so," she replied.

At that moment Buffy and Xander walked into the magic shop.

"Guys, bad news," Buffy said. "Glory has Dawn."

"Riley," Xander said. "What are you doing back here? Shouldn't you be in the jungle fighting demons or something?"

"Yeah, but word has it something big was happening here soon, so me and the troops are here to help. Is that okay Buffy?"

"I guess so. We could use all the help we can get."

"Good," Riley said.

Xander sits next to Oz and says, "First you, now G.I. Joe, next thing you know Faith will be back in town."

Sunnydale Train station…

A train rolls into town. It stops with a loud squeal. People get off. A woman with dark hair is the last to get off.

"Well Sunnyhell, I'm back." Faith said.

End Part 6