Chapter 13

"We're here." Oz pointed to a faint mist hovering in the air. "See the rope worked fine."

"Stop them!" The trio whirled around. Well Xander slowly turned. The fairies were flying at them, wands at the ready.

"Go." Oz pushed Anya. She smacked into the barrier and for a moment they froze. It looked like the end. But then she tumbled through and disappeared. Oz pushed at Xander who cried and trumpeted as he was squished against the barrier. Eventually he to got through. The fairies looked at Oz. He backed up to the barrier and pushed. The rope was being yanked and he felt like if it was yanked any more he would be cut into 2. Why wasn't it working? Well it was because a fairy was coming back through.

"Look. It's our brother!" The bratty fairy princess yelled. The fairies gathered around the sorcerer family and forgot Oz in their attack of hatred. He pushed against the barrier and fell through.

He met Xander and Anya on the other side. "I'm still an elephant?" Xander wailed.

"Shut up and kneel." Anya helped oz climb on and they proceeded to barrel down the road towards the castle. Suddenly from the dark woods out charged a centaur right into Xander.

"Stop you!" the centaur yelled angrily. He bent his head down with its little horns and prepared to charge at Xander. Oz and Anya held on for dear life as Xander reared and came down right on top of the centaur. They cringed at the horrible sounds made as the 2 ton elephant crushed the evil creature.

"Let's keep going." Oz stammered. They kept going. They had a new found respect for Xander. Buffy was coming towards them from the other direction.

"Oz! Anya...and Xander?"

"Yes. We are back."

"Good get to the castle. They need help. Everything is in shambles." Angel appeared from behind her and the unicorn. "We are going to stop this thing once and for all." Buffy and Angel and the unicorn passed the trio and went towards the gateway. The night was almost over. But she couldn't do it without Angel. They were the key.

Back at the Castle...

"Look! It's Oz and Anya and ...a red elephant?" Willow shouted to Cordelia over the din. She swiped her sword and the satyr in front of her giggled madly.

"Good. Maybe Buffy and Angel will be able to close the portal now."

"I hope." Willow sighed. If they didn't close it most of them wouldn't live to see morning. The only reason that she and Cordelia had survived so long was the fact that they had about 8 years experience facing the hellmouth and all the nasty demons that were attracted to it.

"Do not mess with me! I am the Xander elephant!" Willow's draw dropped when the elephant reared with Anya and Oz on it and came down on top of ugly toll like thing. When he righted himself Oz and Anya dropped of and precariously made their way over to Willow and Cordelia.

"We'll explain later. "Anya said picking up a dropped weapon. "Let's finish this."

Back in the woods...

"Are you ready?" Angel looked at Buffy. She nodded. The unicorn let her down. They walked closer to the glowing gateway. The unicorn whinnied but Buffy held on to its mane tightly.

"I'm sorry my friend." She whispered. "You have to go back. It is a pity not all fairy creatures are as gentle as you.

"Good luck." Angel stood back. Buffy positioned herself directly in front of the gateway. The glow reached out and tried to pull her in. She took a deep breath.

"Blood of the blood that opened the door, take back your creatures, let go no more. Spells upon spell that these people did do, take it all back as if time flew. I am the fifth daughter and he the fifth son, now it is time for our battle to be won. Seal up this door, nothing ever nevermore!" Her voice rang out firm and clear to the night. The ground rumbled and quaked. The unicorn bucked and began hopping around. The glow pierced the night and began sucking back all the mystical creatures that had escaped.

Buffy tried to back up, but the shaking earth made it difficult. The unicorn shot out of her grip. And then in her most triumphant hour the most tragic thing happened. It impaled Angel. He screamed. To Buffy it reminded her all to much of when she stabbed him with a sword and sent him to hell. The unicorn pulled away and was sucked into the gateway. The vortex stopped and all was quiet for a moment. Buffy stared at Angel and the gaping wound.

Then the gaping wound glowed. It sparkled with magic. Like a laser it shot to the sky. Angel screamed again and from his back wings began to grow. Buffy could hardly believe her eyes. "Help me." Angel gasped. It wasn't real. None of it was real. The wings began to beat, making the wind rush up about them. Buffy gripped her hair back so she could watch.

Then he rose. He looked at her wildly. "What's happening to me?" Angel shouted. Higher and higher his new wings took him. So high in the dawn sky. Buffy feared for a moment that the oncoming sun would burn him. But no. The strangest thing happened. The rays of light shot through the wings, just like the light through the wound. Feathers fell all around her. Soft glistening feathers.

The raw wing bones, devoid of their feathers could not suspend Angel any longer. He plummeted. Buffy moved into action. She judged his fall and prepared to catch him. No matter what happened to her she wouldn't let him fall to his death. He fell smack dab into her arms and they both tumbled to the ground. No harsh crunching sounds were heard. Buffy dared to look at him. The wing bones fell off silently. His cheeks were rosy and his eyes bright.

"Angel what happened to you?" Buffy gasped.

"My shanshu. My reward."

"What?"

"I'm human. I'm free. For good. No Mohra demon. They promised me freedom!" He stood up painfully. The day smiled down at him. From the trees the birds began chirping. The waterfalls began flowing again. The world was anew. She helped him walk back along the road, joyfully relishing in his soft human flesh. They were the same age now. They were soul mates. All was going to be right in the world.