Chapter 16

"Here is the gateway! I give it to you Gods. Open the gate and give me my power!" Cordelia tried to scream as Willow cut a small x in her forehead with an ornate knife. "Open I say!" Angel watched in horror, unable to stop it.
"Willow, stop right there." Buffy stopped in the doorway. Her voice was salvation to Angel.
"You can't stop me. No one can." Willow pressed her palm to Cordelia's forehead. Her eyes rolled up into the back of her head.
"Wanna bet." Faith shoved Buffy forward. She held on as Buffy touched Willow. All of a sudden they were drawn into the connection also. The electricity that was going through Willow and Cordelia filled them.
A vortex was created, encircling the 4 women.
"Hang on Buffy!" Faith yelled. Buffy looked tired and faint from the sheer magnitude of it. 2 holes grew from the top of the vortex. One led to a place of white light and one led to a place of black darkness. Lightening struck from both of them, hitting Willow.
"I am becoming!"
"Buffy!" Faith pinched the other Slayer's arm as she felt herself being pulled away. Then a strange calm overtook her and it felt like her mind was oozing into Buffy's. They meshed and Faith was able to connect to Willow. She could feel the power of the Zoolog demon, mixed with Slayer ruminating inside Buffy, but she was merely the vessel.
"Do not stop me Faith. You could be with me. Instead you will die."
"I will never go back to the dark side." Hands reached out from the holes, grabbing at them. Faith saw images of Buffy's resurrection in her mind's eye and could feel the battle of good and evil brewing in Willow. She knew what she had to do.
Using Buffy she changed the flow of energy, using Buffy's and her own to combat the pull of evil. She pushed it backwards, expelling it back through Willow and through Cordelia. Willow fumed and let another bolt of energy go, knocking Faith and Buffy away. Faith dragged Buffy up, back towards the center of the vortex. She could hear the screams of the other Scoobies, outside the vortex. She was determined not to let them down. She wanted to make amends and this was her big chance.
"Don't wimp out on me now B!" Grabbing Willow one more time Faith pushed the evil energy back. A great smash resonated around the room as the vortex seemed to freeze then shatter. Shards of ice went flying, cutting them all. Cordelia who was chained and rigid from the energy, went limp in her cuffs. Willow fell to the ground. The holes retreated back.
Faith slid to the ground as the others gathered around. Buffy's eyes opened. "What happened? Are you guys ok? Faith? Are you ok?"
"I'm fine. Buffy how are you?"
"Not sure." Her eyelids fluttered. Faith felt a presence over her and then Spike lifted Buffy up.
"Oh God." Anya's trembling voice shook them all. They realized what had taken place. The already dilapidated school had blown up again, leaving an open view of the midnight blue sky. Cordelia and Willow didn't move.
Angel, when he fell from the ground slowly stood and reached out for Cordelia. Xander, now back to normal bent down to Willow. They both shook their heads and looked at each other.
"It's over." Faith said at last. A gentle snow started falling, covering them.
"Can we go home?" Dawn buried her head in Spike's coat, shivering.
"We should go find Tara." Anya rubbed her arms.
"Poor Cordelia. She didn't do anything wrong." Gunn shook his head. He had just begun to like her. And now, he could barely keep the tears back.
"Why did they have to die?" Buffy sobbed, starting a chain reaction. Everyone took everyone else in a large hug of condolence.
"I'm not sure baby. But there's a plan for all of us." Spike assured Buffy as he led the procession of sad people out. Xander picked up Willow's body, which finally looked at peace. Angel carried Cordelia, the martyr.
Some might say this story has no good ending. How could it be so cruel? Life is cruel. But it goes on. Things will happen that we can't explain. But with Faith by our side we can overcome.