Disclaimer: Everything Buffy belongs to Joss and the angry lawyers that
protect him from evil fanfic writers.
Rating: R
Author's Note: Sorry that it took so long to get this out, I know it's been over a month, but real life and another project took a lot of my time. I hope to have another part out in the near future. Thanks to all for their great and uplifting feedback.
Raise a little hell
The glow of his sword snapped him from his depressed trance. Danger, just what I need, he whined to himself. He unsheathed it and gently got up from his sobbing position and into a crouch.
"Set up over there," he heard a female voice command. "The rest of you surround the perimeter. I don't want the slayer to find anyway inside of this fortress."
Boy, I know that voice, he thought.
"No sign of the scout team at all," another vampire said.
"All right. Be on the look out for anything unexpected or any sort of trap. I want a full sweep of the entire area. No surprises. I have a stop to make, but I'll be back," she finished.
He leant down, as much as he dared, with his sword glowing brighter then he'd ever seen it. He gasped when he caught sight of the lead vampire. Tara. He sighed again. Poor Tara. Poor me. What the hell am I going to do now? They're sure to find me.
He watched Tara step through the shadows of what was Sunnydale high school, and vanish.
MAGIC BOX
Tara stepped out into the shadows just in time to hear Xander shout out, "Let's see if the bitch wants a piece of this!"
She chuckled at him. What an idiot. She watched their procession and took note that Dawn was going with them. Interesting, she thought. She also noticed that Angel wasn't. Also interesting. Which meant he had either died of old age, Angelus killed him, or (more likely) they had captured Angelus and left him and Angel in the shop. The latter would explain why Dawn was with them. Better to be protected against Amy then left alone with Angelus. Tara smiled wickedly.
Anya watched Angelus, her crossbow trained on him. Faith had given her another poisoned arrow that she was to shoot Angelus with when he awoke. They don't trust Dawn alone here, but I'll be just fine. Real comforting, she whined to herself.
STREETS
They marched down the Sunnydale streets with pride and determination. It was certainly a sight to see. Xander thought it reminded him of the time he had revived Buffy from the Master. She had the same aura about her. Basically it meant stay the hell out of my way. They had run into a vampire on their way to find the Master and Buffy had flipped him on his ass like it was nothing. It built a confidence in Xander he rarely had. It also terrified him.
His battle cry had given him temporary confidence, but it quickly faded. As much as he wanted to show he could play the hero, he prayed that he wouldn't have to. He also knew that they weren't all coming back alive. His own head, which he had to put away so he could give a proper burial for himself, was a brutal reminder. Who else besides me gets to give themselves a funeral, he mused.
He looked around at the group of people he had shared his life with for the past six years. He loved each and every one of them in his own way. Even Cordy. And now, best-case scenario, it would be the last time he'd see some of them.
"Aaa," a cry from behind him grabbed his attention. Xander turned to see Oz and Willow holding Cordelia up.
"What is it?" Buffy asked from the point of their march.
"Angel," she breathed. "Tara is going to kill him."
Buffy didn't even think. She let instinct guide her. Her feet carried her as fast as they could to the Magic Box. She could hear Faith right behind her telling her to slow down. I can't let him die, Buffy thought.
MAGIC BOX
Tara slipped in through the shadows and smiled at Anya. She let out a small gasp. "H-how'd you get in here?" Anya said nervously.
"Oh, I have my ways," she cooed and brushed at Angelus' hair. She stroked his distorted face.
Anya trained the crossbow on Tara. "Leave."
"I don't think so," Tara laughed. Anya pulled the trigger and the arrow shot out across the shop. Tara grabbed it before it reached her. Laughing, she wound up and threw the arrow back at Anya. Only by a stroke of luck was Anya able to roll off the chair and avoid taking the arrow in the heart. Instead it connected with her shoulder.
Anya began to cry. "Shut up!" Tara screamed. She grabbed Anya by the throat and tossed her into a bookshelf. "Should have killed you when I had the chance," Tara told her.
She walked over and untied Angelus. He fell down in a heap on the floor. Tara looked at him for a moment, and then snapped the chair he was tied to in pieces. She grabbed a sharp broken edge and started to bring it down to Angel's aged form.
"Sorry, Angel, it was just you're time to go," she chuckled.
"I wouldn't be too sure of that," Buffy cried and threw herself against Tara. They tumbled to the ground, away from Angel.
"Stupid bitch! You think you can stop the mistress?" Tara clawed at Buffy, who deflected the blow and somersaulted to her feet.
"I think I stand a chance."
Tara regarded Buffy for a moment. She heard the bell ring and saw Faith enter as well.
"Play time again," Angelus growled from the ground, shaking the cobwebs from his head, and then launched himself at Buffy's feet. She stuck her foot out and connected with his head. He recoiled in pain. However, the force of the kick knocked Buffy off her balance and she fell.
Against her better judgment, Tara made a move. She was on the slayer in a second and they grappled for position. Angelus shook his head a few times and then stepped between the girls and Faith, stopping her from intervening. "No fair, she didn't tag you," he taunted.
"You want to be tagged," Faith called and leapt feet first at Angelus. He slammed into the war table. Faith charged again and delivered a spinning kick that sent the demon into the counter. "Familiar much?" she questioned as she charged again.
"Okay you had your fun. But now it's time for my fun!" Angelus shouted. He picked up the sledgehammer and swung it at Faith. She tried to avoid it but he was too fast and it connected across her arm. She stumbled to the ground. "Oh, how great this will be," he said as he leaned over the slayer.
Buffy caught sight of Angelus towering over Faith with the hammer and she knew she had to throw Tara off her, but that was proving hard to do. Tara was a strong vampire, and very determined.
"Get off of our women!" echoed out from the door. Before either vampire knew what had happened, William and Xander burst through and threw them away. Xander drove his metal spikes into Tara's side and she rolled away in pain. William tackled Angelus, knocking the hammer to the floor.
"I've been waiting for this for a long time now!" he told Angelus.
"Me too Spike, my boy," it growled and kicked William off of him. He advanced on William with menace. Faith saw this with horror, but was in too much pain to stop it.
"Hey Deadboy," Xander called. He tossed a dagger he had at the monster. It missed by a lot and broke the glass in the counter. "I'm going to have to pay for that, aren't I?"
It was enough of a distraction to allow William to take Angelus by surprise. He opted for the maximum amount of pain he could deliver. A swift kick to the groin. "Oooh," he moaned in pain. "What is it with you people and my dick!"
Tara rushed over and pulled Angelus towards the shadows. "They're getting away," Xander said unnecessarily.
"No they're not," Buffy said and ran after the escaping vamps. She disappeared into the corridor, only to return a second later. "Okay, I don't get it. The door was closed, just like we left it, and there's no sign of them at all."
"Damnit, I had the bastard!" Faith cried, rubbing her aching shoulder, which was already healing.
"It's okay luv," William soothed and helped Faith to her feet.
"Know what you mean. I had Tara. I could have stopped the whole ritual," Buffy muttered. She slammed her fist against the war table, cracking the wooden table into two pieces.
"I'm going to have to pay for that too, aren't I?" Xander asked. Buffy shot him a, 'not now' look. "I'm just saying," he said defensively.
"Mates. End of the world we need to get back too," William reminded them.
"Anya!" Xander exclaimed suddenly. "Where's Anya?" He searched frantically for her and found her, lying unconscious. "Oh God, not again. She's lost a lot of blood," he pointed to her bleeding shoulder wound. "Anya. Anya stay with me!"
"Xan," Buffy said gently. "Let me see."
"NO! It's all my fault. If only she'd been stronger." This can't be happening, he thought.
Buffy bent over her. "Xan, it's okay. She hasn't lost that much blood. The poison is just making her sleep. She's alive, I promise." She looked into his brown chocolate eyes and he into her green soothing ones.
"Okay," he relented. Those eyes could get him to do anything.
She picked Anya up and took her back to the couch in the training room. Slowly and with care, Buffy removed the arrow from her shoulder. Quickly she took the first aid kit out and bandaged Anya's wounds. Buffy placed her hand on Anya's wrist.
"She has a strong pulse, Xan."
"She's a strong woman," he replied sadly. Oh Anya, he thought, I'm so sorry. I never meant for you to get caught up in this.
Buffy hugged him gently. "Once we stop Amy, we can make it up to her. Promise."
"A three-way might cheer her up," he told Buffy, letting her know he would be okay.
She slapped him playfully across the face. "In your dreams."
"Only the wet ones," he smiled at Buffy. She always gave him the strength to carry on.
William cleared his throat. "Uh-hem."
"We're," Xander paused purposefully, "coming."
Buffy pushed him playfully again and they fell behind Faith and William.
"What about Angel?" Faith asked when they returned to the front room. Faith was secretly relieved that Buffy had calmed down a bit. She remembered all too well what it was like to put the slaying on autopilot because of blind rage. It never ended well.
"Do you really think they'll come back for him?" Xander asked. Anya can't get hurt again. I won't let it happen, he thought determinedly.
"No, but we should do something just in case. For both of them," William replied, glancing at the training room. Poor Anya. I know what it's like to watch the one you love choose someone else. But, a door closes a window opens, just as long as I keep the bloody house from being bulldozed.
"What'd you have in mind?" Faith asked. We're running out of time, she thought.
"Is there some kind of barrier spell we can cast?" Buffy asked. Tara's little escapade had put them up against a wall. They needed to be on the move.
"Nothing I'm aware of, no," William conceded. Bloody hell.
"They won't come back," Angel whispered from the floor.
"Angel," Buffy said softly. "You can't know that."
"I know Angelus. He wants you dead. My death will serve nothing here, neither will Anya's. He's more interested in ending the world. And Tara won't risk another confrontation, she was only here to free him. Amy needs her for the ritual. Go."
She nodded slowly. "He's right."
"Angel, we'll fix this," Xander said. "I won't let this be the way you die. Perhaps a fiery, fiery death at Amy's hands, but not of old age."
Buffy just looked at Xander. She remembered a time, not that long ago, where Xander would have taken this chance to rub Angel's face in this situation.
"I owe you my life once, already," Angel muttered, beginning to slip away into sleep.
"Wrong me. I've done a lot worse to you, and I need to make it up. Angelus on the other hand, well I think a few more hits with the hammer would have made it, I don't know, no where close to even!" Xander exclaimed.
"Let's move, again," Buffy sighed. She looked at her first love, and then at her last, ultimate love. Most girls don't even get to have one man love them like this and I got to have two.
SUNNYDALE HIGH RUINS
He leaned up against one of the crumbling walls, pressing his hands against his sides, gripping his sword. He had expected that when the ritual went down he would be able to hid away and watch. Then he could sweep down, take Dawn away, his papa could restore her, and things would return to normal. At least as normal as things got in Sunnydale.
Now, Xander was dead. He was facing a vampire and demon army, and he was soon to be discovered. And still with no trace of his Dawn. No matter what else happened, things would never return to the way it was. If I could find his body, papa may be able to save him as well, he thought.
The hum of his sword quelled that thought. I'm not going to escape with my life, let alone find Xander's body. He silently checked his magic supply. He had already used the most powerful weapon in his arsenal the first time he discovered demons. Now, he had a few powders and potions, but nothing to protect himself from an army this size. Nothing but his sword and himself.
"I smell human," a vampire hissed.
Great, I've been detected. He braced himself for a battle.
SEWERS
"Mistress, I brought you a present," Tara called through the shadows.
Amy, dressed in a blood red ceremonial robe, turned to her. "Good. I need a word with him, await me outside. Take the key with you." She said nothing more, until Tara had dragged the unconscious Dawn out of the room.
"That was very stupid Angelus," she said calmly.
"Yeah, well, it got their attention away from you, didn't it," he returned, equally as calm.
"Yes, true, which is why you are still alive," she said. She rose and glided towards him. "You will get your chance at the slayer. Did I not tell you that?"
"Well, sometimes you just get that itch that only she can scratch."
Before he knew what had happened he was flipped over, on his back, with Amy holding him by the throat. "I assure you that I can make it so you never itch again. Are we clear?"
"Like a summer's night," he choked out.
"Good," she stepped off of Angelus. "Now, you will come with us to the Hellmouth. The slayers will arrive to try and stop me. Take the army and kill them and their friends. If Harris arrives, deal with him personally. He must be dead when the ritual is complete. Then, by the time they have another human champion, I will be too powerful to stop. Understand?"
"Yes, mistress," he said the last word with disdain.
"Do not cross me," she warned.
"Of course not," he replied. Something then dawned on Angelus. "Oh, about that army of yours."
"Yes," she growled at him.
They locked eyes for a moment. Angelus kept her stare and then he spat out, "Are they in fighting shape?"
"It's time for us to go," she replied. She did not like his defiance, but he would lead the army like nothing else could.
"Of course," he smiled, a horrible, distorted gesture on its face. It was a combination of the face of the young man Angelus had been placed in, Angel's vampire face, and a monster similar to the Master. The transference had destroyed the body he inhabited.
Oh well, he thought, let the bitch burn. Let her burn.
SUNNYDALE HIGH RUINS
Amy, Tara, Dawn, and Angelus stepped through the shadows and into what was once the library of Sunnydale High School.
"Is the area secure?" Tara demanded. Her answer was a demonic howl from what used to be the second floor of the school.
"Guess they aren't in that tiptop shape," Angelus chuckled.
"Shut up," Amy growled in return. "Tara, come with me and bring her. We need to set up for the ritual. I need to make the symbols and begin the summoning chant. You," she pointed at Angelus, "find out what that was, and take care of it!"
He curtsied to her, "Yes mistress."
She leaned in close to him and whispered, "Fail me, and I will torment you for eternity."
Despite his smirk, Angelus was actually intimidated and both he and Amy knew it. He nodded at her and went off in the direction of the howl.
I should really take control of his mind, Amy thought. But, two's company, three many become a crowd. I just hope that soul stays dormant, or else that priest will die very painfully. Oh wait, I killed him already. Oh well.
Angelus could smell the disturbance. It was a human, but not any of the ones Amy thought it was. Angelus didn't know who it was, nor did he care. He was just hungry. He crept stealthily up the broken staircase. His silence was shattered when a demon skidded across the broken shards of tile and down the stairs. Angelus tried to avoid him, but couldn't and cried out in pain.
"Keep um coming," a young man called. As if on cue, a vampire leapt at the young boy. That was a mistake. The boy swung a blue blade through the air and the vamp was without a head before he landed.
Angelus sized his opponent up, as he quickly recovered and bolted up the remaining steps. He was a young man about 16 years old. He had long brown hair that flowed a little off the neck. He was well built and developed, only a little shorter than his old body, and he looked to be close to as strong. Angelus took this all in a matter of seconds.
What really stood out to Angelus was the boy's maturity. He carried himself with confidence and power and had obviously lived beyond his years.
"Nice moves," Angelus said conversationally. "Why not try someone near your skill level."
The boy took in this demon. He reminded him of the pictures of the Master he had seen. A little more built, but same height. "You think you're up to it?" he responded. The adrenalin of his battle and fight for his life and his love's life spurred him on. I'm going to get myself killed this way, he thought.
"No. I'm out of your league, I said NEAR." The challenge was evident in Angelus' tone.
"I won't be baited," the boy replied.
"I'm sure you won't, did you have a name, I didn't catch it."
"Now you won't have the time, what a shame," he spat out. He pulled a small stone from his pouch and threw it at the wall behind Angelus.
"Missed me," he taunted and advanced on him.
The boy smiled. "No. I didn't." Just then, the rock exploded and the floor gave way under Angelus. He fell through it and landed on the floor below, hard. Gotta love magic, he thought. But, it's clear my presence has been detected, so it's time to find Dawn and leave.
Angelus shook his head and looked at the hole in the ceiling, which had just been his floor. A hole like that should shake this whole structure, he thought. The rock. He swore silently, MAGIC. And not just any kind of magic, he growled and rose to his feet with renewed passion. Gypsy magic.
STREETS
"Is everything…all right?" Giles asked cautiously as the four returned to the group. I hope so, he thought. That's the last thing anyone needs, more death.
"As good as it gets when in pre-apocalypse mode," Buffy replied. This is really it, she thought. We're going off to face our own deaths, haven't I been here and done that. They should make T-shirts for that. Oh God, Xander's humor really is wearing off on me. She smiled lovingly at Xander.
Though he was confused but the sudden look from her, he returned it with every once of his being. I will never let anything happen to you, ever again, he decided. This ends, today.
"So, I take it everything went okay?" Giles asked again. They look so very much in love, he thought, just a little enviously. Then his fatherly pride and love overcame it, and he knew that if they could survive this, Buffy and Xander would be together a long time.
"Is Angel okay?" Cordelia asked, a gesture that managed to be both full or genuine concern and annoyance. Quit with the damn puppy dog eyes and tell me about my, I mean Angel, she thought to herself.
"He's fine Cordy. Anya was a little banged up, but she's resting now," Faith interjected. "So, setup and recon still the plan?" Let's move, she thought, I just got my life together and I want a chance to start living it.
"What if they come back?" Willow asked quietly. Her despair at the whole situation, despite her best efforts to be strong and take courage in her friend's love of her, leaked through her every gesture.
"Angel said they wouldn't," Buffy smiled sadly at her friend.
"He's delusional," Cordy shrieked. "You took the word of a delusional man!"
"No one knows Angelus like Angel, Cord," Xander told her. She has really become attached to Angel, Xander thought. Is that a good thing?
"I agree," William replied. "Now, end of the world, shall we?"
They nodded and began their trip again.
SUNNYDALE HIGH RUINS
Okay, so far so good, he thought. He could sense Dawn. She was semi- conscious, which would make communication impossible, but he could track her now. He walked in a crouch, holding his sword out at the ready, prepared to take on anything that came his way.
"Bet you thought that was going to take care of me, didn't you?" he heard a voice behind him ask with quiet rage.
"Well," he began but Angelus cut him off.
"You should really do your homework. Angelus, ring any bells?"
The boy couldn't help but gasp. "But, you're, s-supposed to have a soul," he said, letting his nerves show more than he wanted.
"Well, that's the thing, isn't it? So, you also know how much I hate Gypsies, don't you?" Angelus charged the young man. He was stunned for a spit second, which was enough time for Angelus to close the gap and hammer him to the ground. "I really hate Gypsies!"
Angelus bent down to grab his neck and snap it, but the boy recovered enough to thrust his sword out, forcing Angelus to change his path and allowing the him to kick his legs out from under him. The young gypsy rolled away from Angelus and was on his feet again.
"And you should know," he spat out, "even though it wasn't my tribe that cursed you, Gypsies hate you too." Good, piss him off some more, he told himself sarcastically.
And he had. Angelus spun on his heels and made another move for him. He brought his sword around expertly, keeping Angelus at bay. Angelus hated to admit it, but the boy was skilled. I need to get the sword away from him, he thought.
The Gypsy sensed his chance. "Scared?" This time it was his voice that carried the challenge. Angelus took the challenge. He flipped in the air, somersaulting over the boy's head and landing on his feet. The demon delivered a sweep kick and dropped the boy to the ground. Angelus then slammed his elbow into the back of his head.
"Nope. Hungry."
TWO BLOCKS FROM SUNNYDALE HIGH RUINS
The group set up. The weapons were distributed quickly. Giles and Oz took the automatic crossbows that Xander had showed them how to use earlier. Cordelia took a flamethrower, as did Willow. Willow also had a bag of magic supplies. Most of it was for a protection circle that she planned to place around Dawn. But there was one other thing. No, she told herself, I can't do it.
Oz watched Willow. He was concerned about her. She needs, something, he thought. Then the word formed clearly in his mind: closure. He was snapped from his brief inner monologue when handed a sword and a stake.
"In case you need to engage in hand to hand," William said simply. William proceeded to equip himself with a flamethrower of his own.
Xander walked slowly over to the four of them. "Hey Wil, wouldn't happen to have that lightsaber for me, would ya?"
"Sorry," she said, she said dejectedly.
"I was just kidding," Xander said concerned. He wished there was something he could do for her. More than just offer her words of comfort, he wished he could actually provide comfort.
"She's just taking the Oz approach to speech," Oz offered on her behalf. She half smiled up at him in thanks. Xander nodded briefly, thinking I hope she and Oz can be friends again it might help her feel better.
Next to them, Buffy and Faith gathered the heavy-duty hand-to-hand weapons. They were anxious yet cautious. Buffy had to laugh inside. It was such a different feeling than the last time she and Faith had prepared for a battle on the same side. Faith had been so gun ho, not caring about living or dying, or odds. Now, they both had so much to lose. New and true loves, friends, family, and each other.
It had been a silent understanding between the two since Buffy had accepted Faith's apology and change. They rarely talked, but both felt the connection. They were mirror images of each other in some ways. Both had found the love of their lives with the other's fling. Both had hit rock bottom, and both had been helped by said flings to return to glory. Now, they could lose it all.
"Ready B?" Faith breathed out. She tried to hide the shaking in her hands. Fear was not an emotion Faith was used to. Kick ass, get some get out, and want take have, that's what I feel. Fear is weakness.
"I'm scared too," Buffy offered simply. They shared a look, again filled with silent understanding.
"It won't come down to Xander," Faith tried to reassure Buffy. Buffy just shook her head.
"We can try, but you and I both know that there's no guarantee." Faith could see fresh tears starting to come to Buffy's eyes. Buffy shook them away and reset her face in determination. A look Faith tried to match.
Dawn sat quietly against a tree, watching her friends, check that- family, prepare to do battle. She couldn't help the guilt. Even though it wasn't directly her fault, and in truth it wasn't even HER that was in danger, she couldn't shake the guilt. They had to risk their lives to stop Amy from using her, or a version of her, to destroy the world.
Dawn tried to just replay Anya's words, words that had given her strength and resolve. But seeing Xander's head early had destroyed her progress. She had returned to her self-hatred.
"We'll get them. For Xander and for Angel," Cordelia whispered as she took a seat next to the younger girl.
"Huh?" Dawn asked, not having been totally focused when Cordelia began speaking.
"I bet you blame yourself for Xander's death. Well trust me, Angel will blame himself too."
"But, it wasn't Angel's fault," Dawn objected.
"It was his demon, so he'll take the fall. And even though it wasn't our Xander," she said his name with a quiet tenderness, "he'll feel responsible. And I see the same look in your eyes."
Dawn began to deny it, but Cordy cut her off. "Please, you don't spend that much time with the King of Brooding and not pick up the body language."
Dawn couldn't help the giggle that escaped her lips. Cordy had set her up. "You did that on purpose."
Cordelia smiled at her, "So?"
Dawn took a deep breath. "You love him, don't you?"
Cordy looked the girl over. "Nah. I got over Xander a long time ago. Just regret that we parted without a real reconciliation. I mean, he bought me a prom dress sure, but is that really resolution?"
Dawn laughed at her. "What's so funny?" Cordy asked.
"I didn't mean Xander. And by the way, he told me how bad he felt about the way things happened with you two. But, I was talking about Angel."
Cordelia stared slightly at the young girl, searching for something to say. Luckily, she was spared when Giles came over and asked the women how they were.
"Oh, we're just fine," Cordelia said quickly and hopped up. "Better get my flamethrower ready," she smiled weakly at Dawn and Giles, then left.
You know, Dawn thought, why do people hide this stuff. Teenage girls have crush radar from a mile away.
"Dawn," Giles repeated for a third time.
"Sorry," she said. "Just thinking. And non world ending thought too," she added as brightly as she could manage.
"That's good," the British man looked at her with care. I failed in my duty to protect you the first time, and I can't let this or the other Dawn down, he thought.
"Maybe I should ask you how you are," Dawn said, seeing Giles distant and sad look.
"Ah- p-perhaps when this is over."
There was a slight silence and Dawn broke it, giving in to her teenage curiosity. "Are you going back to England when this is over?"
Giles was taken aback. He had, of course, given it considerable thought. But, since he wasn't sure he'd be alive after this, he hadn't come to a final decision. He almost spoke this aloud, but decided it may hurt the fragile psyche of the girl. "I don't know," he said simply.
"Oh," Dawn said, clearly disappointed.
Giles cleaned his glasses, not sure what to say next. This was a position he was not used to. He was their guide. He had helped them all, and annoying as he may find them at times, he always had something to offer them. He could only remember feeling this lost once before, the first time Angel had lost his soul. Now there was a copy of Angelus running around to top of everything else.
He decided that he could try to show some leadership by sending the recon teams out now. "Buffy, Faith, we need to do the sweeps of the school so we can make our moves."
"Rupert," William whispered. "Do you think it's a good idea to send both slayers? If any vampires see us, we'll be sitting ducks."
"I see your point. And I don't want Xander near the school until absolutely necessary," Giles replied.
"Agreed. So, I was thinking I could take Faith and do a couple sweeps," William said.
"I, I, think you should take Buffy," Giles said. He knew William would want to do that as much as Buffy. Neither was going to be in a hurry to leave their mate's side. Which is why they must go separate, Giles told himself.
"You don't think I can balance my love of Faith and the job, is that it?"
"He's right," Faith stepped in quickly to diffuse the situation. "You love me too much," she batted her eyelashes at him, a gesture she had seen Buffy use incredibly effectively against Xander. William was not as swayed.
"Rupert, I can handle this," he said determined. "And you keep away from me with those bloody batting eyelashes. I am not Xander."
"Hey, I'm right here you know," he spoke up, standing just behind Willow.
"And you want me to go off with Buffy?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Xander, I want you no where near that high school," Buffy said, in a tone that didn't leave room for arguments.
"And you can't honestly do what's in the best interest of the mission when it comes to me, and the same goes for me too," Faith told William, in the same tone.
Xander and William exchanged bemused looks. "When did you two become one person?" Xander quipped.
"I bet you've had that dream a few times," Faith shot back. Buffy just rolled her eyes.
"Case closed, discussion over," Buffy said. She and Faith walked over to the men, grabbed them, and kissed them deeply. All four knew it could be their final exchange.
Buffy pulled away and looked deep into Xander's eyes. "Be safe," he whispered.
"I love you Xan," she replied, kissing his cheek.
"I love you too, Buff," he said.
Faith and William were still kissing. Finally, Buffy's tap on her shoulder snapped Faith back. She stared at William, but instead of addressing him said to Buffy, "Better bring him back," never taking her eyes of him.
He smiled, started to say something, then held back and kissed her forehead. Buffy had to shake her head at him. There was still Spike inside of him, but there was a real gentle side to him she had never seen when she was with him. The thought made her cringe slightly, but she shrugged it away with a quick stolen glance at Xander.
"Come on Billy," she teased William about his hair and name. He and Faith glared at her in response. "Xander, you are really a bad influence." With that, they headed for the school.
SUNNYDALE HIGH RUINS
"Sorry, I'm not on the menu," the gypsy replied and slammed a cross he'd been hiding in his sleeve, into the creatures face. Angelus recoiled in pain and growled at him. They stared each other off, each slowly climbing to his feet and circling. Each waited for the other to make a move. The gypsy thought he should get away. Continuing to fight with Angelus will only get me killed, and keep me away from Dawn.
"Beluro, acmorum, rusalo," he spoke. A white fog lifted off the ground and surrounded Angelus. "I am dead, you have killed me," he continued. Angelus growled and tired to walk through the fog but it held him like a wall.
"I'll kill you, you've got that part right," Angelus spat out. The gypsy smiled, weakened from the spell, but turned and ran off towards his sense of Dawn. When he was out of sight, the fog lifted and Angelus shook himself. "He's dead, I killed him," he said aloud, and went to return to Amy.
Buffy and William walked the two-block trek in almost complete silence. It had been a long time since Buffy had been to the school. It was still amazing to look at what she and her friends had done to save the world. It seemed symbolic that they had been the final class at the school. It was also symbolic that it ended when they blew it up. She smiled internally.
But what she saw around the school stopped her smile. Surrounding the ruins was a demon and vampire army the size of which she had never seen before. There had to be at least two hundred demons and a hundred and fifty vampires, she guessed.
"William," she hissed at the watcher.
"Relax luv, almost all the demons will be on our side. The rest, well that's what the gang and I are for," he offered.
Buffy didn't like it, but nodded. "Let's go around the back, see if we can find where Amy would be, and a spot for Xander to hid." The fact that Buffy's voice dropped slightly at her boyfriend's name did not go unnoticed by William.
"It'll be okay," he told her. She nodded half-heartedly and they moved around the back.
Buffy saw that her estimate was dead on. The demons surrounded the entire building. Buffy decided there wasn't a good point of entry.
"Bloody hell," William said for her. "This is going to be messy."
"You think?" Buffy spat back. They continued to walk in silence, hiding behind the trees and bushes that surrounded the school. William pulled out a pair of binoculars and looked around.
"See anything?" Buffy asked after a long silence.
"I see Tara, but no Dawn and no Amy. I would think they'd have to do the ritual in the library, but I can see it and I don't see them."
"Damn."
"Wait, here she comes," he said. He watched for a moment before saying, "That doesn't look pleasant."
"What doesn't look pleasant? Do I have to take your toy?"
"She's drawing the emblems needed for the spell. I just didn't realize she would be using her own blood."
"Ewww. Never mind, keep your toys," Buffy declared. "Wait, if she's already drawing the emblems."
"That means she's getting close. We don't have time for another recon Buffy, we need to move."
"Where can Xander hid?"
"The bushes should do nicely love. We'll keep him safe."
Buffy sighed. "No, he's got to be close enough that if she finishes the ritual he can rush in."
"I'll hid him," a voice whispered from the shadows.
Buffy and William spun around to see a young boy, no older than Dawn, with long dark hair,
holding a sword. He seemed to be exhausted.
"Who the hell are you?" William demanded.
"A friend," the boy said, staring at Buffy. "Of Xander's. I'll keep him safe."
"Yeah, like we can trust you," William began to advance on him, but Buffy held her hand out to
stop him.
"How do you know Xander?" she asked. I have a weird feeling, she thought.
"I, I can't tell you. I thought I could do this alone, but I need help," he said, sounding very
defeated.
"Buffy we can't," William began but was cut off with a glare from her.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"I can't tell you," he sighed. "Things have spun out of my control. I was supposed to save Dawn,
but I can't get to her, Amy has her well protected. Even so, I was supposed to be able to take her if the ritual was completed, take her home and they could fix her. But, things have changed."
"Your Xander," Buffy said softly. The boy just nodded.
"He wasn't even supposed to be here. I have no idea what has changed, but we've both already interfered too much in this world. And if Amy wins, I may not be able to get my Dawn home. So I want to help."
"You can get Xander in and keep him safe?" William asked, thinking this was a lot to take in on such short notice.
"I got out. I've been inside the school since Amy brought Dawn here. I didn't realize what I was up against until, well I recognize the ritual she's planning. If she succeeds it will be the end for all dimensions, not just yours. Just the fact that Dawn and I are here is tearing the dimensional fabrics apart. I have to succeed or the stability of all dimensions could dissolve."
"Okay, stay here and I'll bring Xander here when we arrive. There should be chaos during the fight, use it to your advantage," Buffy said. I can trust him, I can feel it, she thought.
The boy looked at her strangely for a moment, then nodded. "Buffy?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied.
"Nothing, just making sure."
Buffy tried not to let that comment upset her, but she understood what it meant. "I'm dead where you come from?"
"You know far too much already. I can tell you no more."
"I understand," she reached out and squeezed his shoulder. "Just take good care of Dawn when we get you two home."
"I will," he said solemnly. With that, the two parties left each other. The boy took a hiding spot in the trees, and Buffy and William went to rally the troops.
STREETS
"Buffy how do you know we can trust him?" William asked on their return trip.
"Call it slayer instincts, but I can just feel it," she told him.
"Or it's all a spell to make you trust him. Buffy, we can't just hand over Xander to a stranger. If anything I would think you'd be over protective of him."
"And that's the point. Do you think I'd trust Xander's life with someone unless I was positive about it?" Her tone was steel, and William let the subject drop.
I told you that bitch was crazy, Spike growled inside of him. William could only shake his head.
Buffy and William arrived at the camp to find everyone itching to get moving. Faith was pacing with nervous energy. Xander was swinging his arms around, trying to stay loose. Buffy noticed that even the unflappable Oz seemed a little on edge.
"We don't have much time. Amy's already started drawing the emblems. We have to move out now," Buffy commanded.
"Did you find a place for Xander to hid, until, well," Giles spattered out.
"I think," Buffy responded. She knew Giles would have just as hard a time with her plan as William did, if not more so. Buffy didn't have time to do things by committee.
"Good, good plan," Xander stammered. God, I'm going to die. Or even worse, I'm going to let them down.
"Hey," a soft voice called to him. Xander was shocked to see it belong to Dawn. "Relax, you'll be great. I want you to know I love you Xander," Dawn smiled at him.
Dawn had been so distant and Xander had been so preoccupied that he didn't take the time to think about how other Xander's death had made Dawn feel. There was obviously a deep connection between those two, he thought, and that means there is a potential for that between us. I have a family and I will not let them down.
"Thanks kiddo," Xander said in a much more controlled voice.
The scene nearly broke Buffy's heart.
"I just need to say that I can't thank all of you enough. If I die and don't go to hell, I got there with your help," Faith said, fighting the tears and fears threatening to break her.
"Same here," Cordelia said quietly. Buffy had to laugh inside at the sight of Cordy, with a flamethrower strapped to her back, ready for battle.
"Yeah," Oz said, with more emotion than they were used to hearing. That broke the group out into a chorus of yeah's and I love you's. No one said anything else; no one broke the moment. The group just began to move towards the school as a unit, Buffy and Faith in the lead, holding the hands of their lovers, with the rest of their family in tow behind them.
SUNNYDALE HIGH RUINS
Her blood was glowing on the ground. It had turned from a dark red, to bright molten lava red. The power is at hand, she thought. Amy flipped open the pages of her book. The three-page chant would take an hour to finish. Then, she would be ready to become the vessel.
"Oh Mistress," Angelus called out. If she could leave her circle of power, she would have hurt Angelus. As it was, her minions cut him off before he could enter the former library.
"What Angelus, you know I cannot be disturbed once the chanting begins."
"I just wanted to let you know I took care of your little gypsy problem. All dead,"
"Gypsy? Here? Never mind," she decided. "Just go to the front of the library and watch for the slayers. NOW!"
He bowed and left her. "Tara," she called.
Tara entered the room from the back, were the book stacks once stood, with Dawn in hand, "Yes mistress."
"Keep an eye on him. I don't trust him. Keep the key safe. The ritual begins in an hour."
"Yes mistress." And Tara and a semi-conscious Dawn disappeared from the room.
Amy took a deep and unnecessary breath, and began the chant.
***************************************************************
The Scoobies arrived. Buffy slowed the pace. "The best bet is the back. It's closest to the library and," she paused, "and Xander's hiding space."
"The back it is," Giles concurred. The group moved behind the cover of the night and trees around the school grounds.
"How come the trees didn't get burnt down too, it was a big explosion?" Xander asked.
"So I would have something pretty to look at afterward when my brain wasn't firing on all cylinders," Buffy joked. That had been a long night for her. They were facing similar odds now, except without an army of students to back them up.
They came around to the back. They gave out a collective gasp at the size of the demon army. William had warned them, but it still was a shock to see.
"I don't mean to be pessimistic, but there are a lot of them and not so many of us," Oz said.
"Never tell me the odds," Xander deadpanned in his best Han Solo voice.
"I'll take the point," Giles said, ignoring the boys. "William and Oz at my sides. Cordelia stay back until the chaos has begun. Willow."
"I know, stay here, set up camp, keep Dawn safe and see what I can conjure up," she said. "I just want it over, then I can deal."
"I know the feeling," Faith agreed.
"Once the chaos breaks out, Faith and I come a running. Avoid hand to hand if possible," Buffy reminded them.
"Hey, last defense guy here," Xander spoke up.
"Over there," Buffy pointed to a figure in the bushes. He looked at her strangely.
"Shrubbery?"
"A way to get inside," she said, hoping he would pick up on her hint. He did. Either that or he accepted her explanation. The others were too worried to catch their last exchange.
"So, when do we start?" Oz asked.
In response, William lit a flare and threw it into the night sky. When it went off, the various demon species all wore twisted expressions of smiles and turned on the vampires. The cries of shock and confusion lifted into the night sky, echoing against the ruins of the school.
"I'd say now," Cordelia said simply. This is for you Angel, she thought.
"Charge!" Giles called. I always wanted to do that.
Buffy and Xander exchanged one last look. It was the embodiment of their love for each other. With that, Buffy turned and ran off.
"Be careful Xander," Willow whispered, holding Dawn tightly.
"You too," he smiled sadly at the two girls, and then headed towards the shrubs.
Willow took out her bag of magic, trying not to watch the massacre that was beginning behind her. She took out the purple sand and poured it in a circle to surround them. Willow withdrew several other items from her bag, including spell books and materials. The last thing she took out she looked at sadly.
"Dawn," the red head spoke softly, "I want you to take this from me. I couldn't stop myself from brining it and I'm not sure I can resist the urge to use it, but it's past the time for this. So take it," she stuck the object towards the younger girl. Dawn carefully took it from her and held it.
"What is it Willow?"
Willow couldn't help her sad face, "It's called an Orb of Thesulah."
***************************************************************
Xander wandered over to the shrubs, hoping that Buffy had something in mind. She wouldn't send me into trouble, he thought. But she might try and keep me out of the battle.
"Xander," a voice called.
Xander tensed and started to reach for a dagger.
"Xander," the voice said happily. Before Xander knew what happened he was enwrapped by a pair of arms. He began to struggle until he realized it was a hug.
"Uh, hello," he said confused.
"Sorry, I just, seeing you, I didn't get a chance to say goodbye," the boy broke off.
"Other Xander you mean?" Xander asked, suddenly amazed by his ability to pick up on things.
"My Xander," he nodded. "We came here for my Dawn. But things have gotten out of hand. If Amy wins it's only a matter of time before she breaks dimensional barriers for good, and then, well the universe ends."
"Comforting. What's your name?" Xander asked. Buffy wouldn't send me to him unless she trusted him, and he does seem trustworthy, he thought.
"I can't tell you. Not that it matters much anymore, but."
"Destroy the fabric of the universe," Xander finished. The boy nodded. He had a huge smile on his face, but it faded to sadness. "What, something on my face?"
"No," the boy said sadly. "It's just that, in my dimension, you have become, how to put this kindly, well rather jaded and harsh. The only time I see you relaxed is when you're with Dawn. Your love for her is great, but even then not enough to overcome your loss. She told me how you used to be, and it's nice to see what she meant."
The young man's words hurt Xander. Not for himself, but for other him. He could easily imagine becoming like that under the right circumstances. "What happened?"
The boy sighed. "Willow couldn't reverse Tara and Glory killed her. Before that, from what I gather, nothing much was different to that point. Buffy still sacrificed herself. But with Willow dead, Buffy stayed that way. Tara was still insane, Anya left because you wouldn't leave Sunnydale, and even Spike left. It was just you and Dawn before I came."
Xander had to fight the tears. That would have been more than enough to jade him.
"Xander," the boy said, "I was debating telling you this the whole time I was here, should I run into you. Now, with my Xander dead, I feel I owe it to you. Tell Buffy how you feel. My Xander recognized it, after all the pain, he knew he still loved her just as much as he did the first day he saw her. He regretted never telling her, never making her understand his, your, love. Should we survive, tell her."
Xander smiled. "I already have."
The boy smiled as well. "At least I know, somewhere, you two got to be together."
"Well, let's stop this bitch so I we can get you your true love," Xander replied.
The boy couldn't hide his half smile. "I didn't tell you that."
"You didn't need too," Xander replied
***************************************************************
Chaos was an understatement. Demons fighting demons. Demons fighting vampires. No one knew whose side they were on. Giles didn't know what demons were on their side, so he directed the fire at the vampires. Oz, for his part, was using the automatic crossbow with precision. Cordelia and William blazed a path for the slayers to charge through. Their flames caught both demon and vampire. William knew he would have to make it up to the demons at some points.
Buffy and Faith found the path set for them and charged up it. They didn't take time to fight with their foes, a quick stake and move on. Buffy prayed they could get through. But when she had a chance to really look around her, she realized the slayers were the least of the vampires problems. Demons were tearing the vampires apart. The ones that spoke in English yelled about being free of oppression. How not symbolic, Buffy had a chance to think before plunging a stake into a vampire that was running from several large brown demons.
Buffy and the demon exchanged a look.
"Slayers," it growled.
"Demons," Buffy replied icily. The demon turned directions, with his fellow demons, and started to clear the path for the pair. "Nifty trick," Faith told her.
"I like to call it winning friends through fear," Buffy replied with a false sense of brightness.
"You'll have to teach me that sometime," Faith yelled, as she slammed a stake home in an advancing vamp.
"It's really similar to winning friends through puns." A demon lunged at Buffy. If not friend, foe, she thought, and slammed her fist into the green, slimy head. "Mucus, why does it always have to be mucus?"
***************************************************************
The entire attack was going better than Giles had expected. He had been afraid of a high casualty rate on their side, but for the most part, they just stood back and watched the fighting. The demons were brutal and angry. The vampires had recovered from their shock, but it had been more than enough time to let the demons gain a decided advantage.
"Hey Giles, I'm taking off," Oz said calmly.
Giles spun around, momentarily taking his eyes off the raging battle in front of him. He was treated to Oz tossing his flamethrower and weapons aside with a strange look on his face. Suddenly, Oz contorted a bit and changed into the wolf.
"Oh, Oz," Giles muttered and watched the werewolf launch himself into the fray. "God Damnit!" Giles cursed.
"What is it?" William called from his side.
"Oz decided to take a paws on role," Giles replied. Dear Lord, did I just make a bad pun. Back for little less than a week and they start rubbing off on me. Giles didn't have time to think of much else as the vampires began to advance in droves.
"Bloody hell," he shouted.
"Looks like the vampires have regrouped," William shouted.
"We have eyes," Cordelia shouted back.
"Fall back," Giles motioned with one arm while shooting his automatic crossbow with the other.
"HELP WOULD BE NICE!" William yelled at the top of his lungs.
***************************************************************
Willow stared at the orb she had given Dawn. She wanted to use it so badly.
The sound of William's scream broke the trace the orb held over her. That's when Willow knew she had to make a choice. She could cast a spell to turn the creature that killed her lover back into her lover again. But she wouldn't really be her Tara. She'd be someone else, murder can do that to people, Willow thought. On top of that, Tara would still be under Amy's incredibly powerful mind control, Willow reasoned with herself. Her other choice was to help those who were still alive and in her life.
"I have to do something," she told Dawn. She finally realized she could never have Tara back. But there is something I can have back, my life, she thought.
Dawn held the orb and watched Willow plunge into her supplies for a spell. Willow grabbed a small bag of powder and a book. It was the most powerful spell Willow would dare attempt, and she had tried nothing this dangerous since she had pulled herself from the black arts. She prayed to her goddess that this spell wouldn't lead her down the dark path again.
"Goddess Hjuin, hear my call," Willow chanted, tossing the powder in the direction of the raging fight, "protect the ones I love, send the living dead away!"
"D-did it work?" Dawn asked.
Before the girls eyes, an invisible force slammed into the vampires, sending them hurtling backwards through the air.
"It should buy them some time," Willow nodded. She barely noticed the blood trickling from her nose, or the near blinding dizziness. All Willow knew was that she had no desire to reach for a more powerful spell. She had beaten her addiction. She had never been prouder of her will power. Willow's body, however, had other plans for her. She barely even noticed as the world blackened around her, sending her falling into Dawn's arms.
***************************************************************
The chaos of the war, because it had stopped being a battle long ago it was now a war, allowed the boy and Xander to move easily into the school. Xander followed him up the ruins of a stairwell to what he'd been using as a camp. From there, they could easily scope out the fighting. Xander could even see Angelus guarding the entrance to the library, though the library itself was just out of sight.
"This is a good spot," Xander commented as the boy crouched next to him.
"That's one mean son of a bitch," the boy replied, pointing at Angelus.
"Don't have to tell me twice," Xander chuckled.
"Angel is still good in my world," the boy said.
"He's still good here too. He's been split into his demon and ensouled half, like humpty dumpty. And we have to put him back together again. If we survive that is."
"How was he split?" the gypsy asked, always curious about different types of magic.
"Some crazy priest."
"O'Leary," the boy said the name as if a curse.
"Yeah, that's it. How did you know?"
"O'Leary wreaked havoc upon the gypsy tribes for years. Claiming every one of us was possessed and needed to be cleansed."
"Like I said, fun guy to have at parties. Can you undo the whammy?" Xander asked.
"I can't, I'm not that skilled," he admitted. "But others are. Dawn might be able too."
"Dawn?" Xander questioned.
"She has great power within her. Your Dawn just must learn to use it."
"And your people have taught her?" Xander asked.
He nodded. "Which is why you were never meant to know about me. Things must take their natural course. Now that you know," he sighed, "I may have done irreversible damage."
"Have faith. You've never seen the Buffster in action. She stops things like this, I mean the world still turns. When this is finished you can work some mojo to erase your memory from us."
"That is dark and dangerous magic you speak of," he said solemnly.
"I know. But if we live it'll be worth the risk," Xander patted the young man on the back and turned back to Angelus.
***************************************************************
Amy finished the final words of the chant. She could feel the power. It surrounded her. It was almost palpable. Amy thought if she reached her hands out she could touch it. But she knew better. She was aware of the battle being fought around her, of the slayers advancement. But once she finished the chant she realized how insignificant it was. Ultimate power was at her fingertips. Then, it would no longer matter if the demons WANTED to obey her. They would have no choice.
"Ta-ra," Amy sang. The buzz she felt was better than any physical feeling know to man. If was as if her body tingled everywhere with ecstasy. Within moments it would be hers.
"Yes, mistress," Tara said, coming in the back with Dawn.
"It is time."
To Be Continued
I crave the feedback. I need it to keep me going. Please fuel my fire, even if only a word or comment I need to have it. Please.
Rating: R
Author's Note: Sorry that it took so long to get this out, I know it's been over a month, but real life and another project took a lot of my time. I hope to have another part out in the near future. Thanks to all for their great and uplifting feedback.
Raise a little hell
The glow of his sword snapped him from his depressed trance. Danger, just what I need, he whined to himself. He unsheathed it and gently got up from his sobbing position and into a crouch.
"Set up over there," he heard a female voice command. "The rest of you surround the perimeter. I don't want the slayer to find anyway inside of this fortress."
Boy, I know that voice, he thought.
"No sign of the scout team at all," another vampire said.
"All right. Be on the look out for anything unexpected or any sort of trap. I want a full sweep of the entire area. No surprises. I have a stop to make, but I'll be back," she finished.
He leant down, as much as he dared, with his sword glowing brighter then he'd ever seen it. He gasped when he caught sight of the lead vampire. Tara. He sighed again. Poor Tara. Poor me. What the hell am I going to do now? They're sure to find me.
He watched Tara step through the shadows of what was Sunnydale high school, and vanish.
MAGIC BOX
Tara stepped out into the shadows just in time to hear Xander shout out, "Let's see if the bitch wants a piece of this!"
She chuckled at him. What an idiot. She watched their procession and took note that Dawn was going with them. Interesting, she thought. She also noticed that Angel wasn't. Also interesting. Which meant he had either died of old age, Angelus killed him, or (more likely) they had captured Angelus and left him and Angel in the shop. The latter would explain why Dawn was with them. Better to be protected against Amy then left alone with Angelus. Tara smiled wickedly.
Anya watched Angelus, her crossbow trained on him. Faith had given her another poisoned arrow that she was to shoot Angelus with when he awoke. They don't trust Dawn alone here, but I'll be just fine. Real comforting, she whined to herself.
STREETS
They marched down the Sunnydale streets with pride and determination. It was certainly a sight to see. Xander thought it reminded him of the time he had revived Buffy from the Master. She had the same aura about her. Basically it meant stay the hell out of my way. They had run into a vampire on their way to find the Master and Buffy had flipped him on his ass like it was nothing. It built a confidence in Xander he rarely had. It also terrified him.
His battle cry had given him temporary confidence, but it quickly faded. As much as he wanted to show he could play the hero, he prayed that he wouldn't have to. He also knew that they weren't all coming back alive. His own head, which he had to put away so he could give a proper burial for himself, was a brutal reminder. Who else besides me gets to give themselves a funeral, he mused.
He looked around at the group of people he had shared his life with for the past six years. He loved each and every one of them in his own way. Even Cordy. And now, best-case scenario, it would be the last time he'd see some of them.
"Aaa," a cry from behind him grabbed his attention. Xander turned to see Oz and Willow holding Cordelia up.
"What is it?" Buffy asked from the point of their march.
"Angel," she breathed. "Tara is going to kill him."
Buffy didn't even think. She let instinct guide her. Her feet carried her as fast as they could to the Magic Box. She could hear Faith right behind her telling her to slow down. I can't let him die, Buffy thought.
MAGIC BOX
Tara slipped in through the shadows and smiled at Anya. She let out a small gasp. "H-how'd you get in here?" Anya said nervously.
"Oh, I have my ways," she cooed and brushed at Angelus' hair. She stroked his distorted face.
Anya trained the crossbow on Tara. "Leave."
"I don't think so," Tara laughed. Anya pulled the trigger and the arrow shot out across the shop. Tara grabbed it before it reached her. Laughing, she wound up and threw the arrow back at Anya. Only by a stroke of luck was Anya able to roll off the chair and avoid taking the arrow in the heart. Instead it connected with her shoulder.
Anya began to cry. "Shut up!" Tara screamed. She grabbed Anya by the throat and tossed her into a bookshelf. "Should have killed you when I had the chance," Tara told her.
She walked over and untied Angelus. He fell down in a heap on the floor. Tara looked at him for a moment, and then snapped the chair he was tied to in pieces. She grabbed a sharp broken edge and started to bring it down to Angel's aged form.
"Sorry, Angel, it was just you're time to go," she chuckled.
"I wouldn't be too sure of that," Buffy cried and threw herself against Tara. They tumbled to the ground, away from Angel.
"Stupid bitch! You think you can stop the mistress?" Tara clawed at Buffy, who deflected the blow and somersaulted to her feet.
"I think I stand a chance."
Tara regarded Buffy for a moment. She heard the bell ring and saw Faith enter as well.
"Play time again," Angelus growled from the ground, shaking the cobwebs from his head, and then launched himself at Buffy's feet. She stuck her foot out and connected with his head. He recoiled in pain. However, the force of the kick knocked Buffy off her balance and she fell.
Against her better judgment, Tara made a move. She was on the slayer in a second and they grappled for position. Angelus shook his head a few times and then stepped between the girls and Faith, stopping her from intervening. "No fair, she didn't tag you," he taunted.
"You want to be tagged," Faith called and leapt feet first at Angelus. He slammed into the war table. Faith charged again and delivered a spinning kick that sent the demon into the counter. "Familiar much?" she questioned as she charged again.
"Okay you had your fun. But now it's time for my fun!" Angelus shouted. He picked up the sledgehammer and swung it at Faith. She tried to avoid it but he was too fast and it connected across her arm. She stumbled to the ground. "Oh, how great this will be," he said as he leaned over the slayer.
Buffy caught sight of Angelus towering over Faith with the hammer and she knew she had to throw Tara off her, but that was proving hard to do. Tara was a strong vampire, and very determined.
"Get off of our women!" echoed out from the door. Before either vampire knew what had happened, William and Xander burst through and threw them away. Xander drove his metal spikes into Tara's side and she rolled away in pain. William tackled Angelus, knocking the hammer to the floor.
"I've been waiting for this for a long time now!" he told Angelus.
"Me too Spike, my boy," it growled and kicked William off of him. He advanced on William with menace. Faith saw this with horror, but was in too much pain to stop it.
"Hey Deadboy," Xander called. He tossed a dagger he had at the monster. It missed by a lot and broke the glass in the counter. "I'm going to have to pay for that, aren't I?"
It was enough of a distraction to allow William to take Angelus by surprise. He opted for the maximum amount of pain he could deliver. A swift kick to the groin. "Oooh," he moaned in pain. "What is it with you people and my dick!"
Tara rushed over and pulled Angelus towards the shadows. "They're getting away," Xander said unnecessarily.
"No they're not," Buffy said and ran after the escaping vamps. She disappeared into the corridor, only to return a second later. "Okay, I don't get it. The door was closed, just like we left it, and there's no sign of them at all."
"Damnit, I had the bastard!" Faith cried, rubbing her aching shoulder, which was already healing.
"It's okay luv," William soothed and helped Faith to her feet.
"Know what you mean. I had Tara. I could have stopped the whole ritual," Buffy muttered. She slammed her fist against the war table, cracking the wooden table into two pieces.
"I'm going to have to pay for that too, aren't I?" Xander asked. Buffy shot him a, 'not now' look. "I'm just saying," he said defensively.
"Mates. End of the world we need to get back too," William reminded them.
"Anya!" Xander exclaimed suddenly. "Where's Anya?" He searched frantically for her and found her, lying unconscious. "Oh God, not again. She's lost a lot of blood," he pointed to her bleeding shoulder wound. "Anya. Anya stay with me!"
"Xan," Buffy said gently. "Let me see."
"NO! It's all my fault. If only she'd been stronger." This can't be happening, he thought.
Buffy bent over her. "Xan, it's okay. She hasn't lost that much blood. The poison is just making her sleep. She's alive, I promise." She looked into his brown chocolate eyes and he into her green soothing ones.
"Okay," he relented. Those eyes could get him to do anything.
She picked Anya up and took her back to the couch in the training room. Slowly and with care, Buffy removed the arrow from her shoulder. Quickly she took the first aid kit out and bandaged Anya's wounds. Buffy placed her hand on Anya's wrist.
"She has a strong pulse, Xan."
"She's a strong woman," he replied sadly. Oh Anya, he thought, I'm so sorry. I never meant for you to get caught up in this.
Buffy hugged him gently. "Once we stop Amy, we can make it up to her. Promise."
"A three-way might cheer her up," he told Buffy, letting her know he would be okay.
She slapped him playfully across the face. "In your dreams."
"Only the wet ones," he smiled at Buffy. She always gave him the strength to carry on.
William cleared his throat. "Uh-hem."
"We're," Xander paused purposefully, "coming."
Buffy pushed him playfully again and they fell behind Faith and William.
"What about Angel?" Faith asked when they returned to the front room. Faith was secretly relieved that Buffy had calmed down a bit. She remembered all too well what it was like to put the slaying on autopilot because of blind rage. It never ended well.
"Do you really think they'll come back for him?" Xander asked. Anya can't get hurt again. I won't let it happen, he thought determinedly.
"No, but we should do something just in case. For both of them," William replied, glancing at the training room. Poor Anya. I know what it's like to watch the one you love choose someone else. But, a door closes a window opens, just as long as I keep the bloody house from being bulldozed.
"What'd you have in mind?" Faith asked. We're running out of time, she thought.
"Is there some kind of barrier spell we can cast?" Buffy asked. Tara's little escapade had put them up against a wall. They needed to be on the move.
"Nothing I'm aware of, no," William conceded. Bloody hell.
"They won't come back," Angel whispered from the floor.
"Angel," Buffy said softly. "You can't know that."
"I know Angelus. He wants you dead. My death will serve nothing here, neither will Anya's. He's more interested in ending the world. And Tara won't risk another confrontation, she was only here to free him. Amy needs her for the ritual. Go."
She nodded slowly. "He's right."
"Angel, we'll fix this," Xander said. "I won't let this be the way you die. Perhaps a fiery, fiery death at Amy's hands, but not of old age."
Buffy just looked at Xander. She remembered a time, not that long ago, where Xander would have taken this chance to rub Angel's face in this situation.
"I owe you my life once, already," Angel muttered, beginning to slip away into sleep.
"Wrong me. I've done a lot worse to you, and I need to make it up. Angelus on the other hand, well I think a few more hits with the hammer would have made it, I don't know, no where close to even!" Xander exclaimed.
"Let's move, again," Buffy sighed. She looked at her first love, and then at her last, ultimate love. Most girls don't even get to have one man love them like this and I got to have two.
SUNNYDALE HIGH RUINS
He leaned up against one of the crumbling walls, pressing his hands against his sides, gripping his sword. He had expected that when the ritual went down he would be able to hid away and watch. Then he could sweep down, take Dawn away, his papa could restore her, and things would return to normal. At least as normal as things got in Sunnydale.
Now, Xander was dead. He was facing a vampire and demon army, and he was soon to be discovered. And still with no trace of his Dawn. No matter what else happened, things would never return to the way it was. If I could find his body, papa may be able to save him as well, he thought.
The hum of his sword quelled that thought. I'm not going to escape with my life, let alone find Xander's body. He silently checked his magic supply. He had already used the most powerful weapon in his arsenal the first time he discovered demons. Now, he had a few powders and potions, but nothing to protect himself from an army this size. Nothing but his sword and himself.
"I smell human," a vampire hissed.
Great, I've been detected. He braced himself for a battle.
SEWERS
"Mistress, I brought you a present," Tara called through the shadows.
Amy, dressed in a blood red ceremonial robe, turned to her. "Good. I need a word with him, await me outside. Take the key with you." She said nothing more, until Tara had dragged the unconscious Dawn out of the room.
"That was very stupid Angelus," she said calmly.
"Yeah, well, it got their attention away from you, didn't it," he returned, equally as calm.
"Yes, true, which is why you are still alive," she said. She rose and glided towards him. "You will get your chance at the slayer. Did I not tell you that?"
"Well, sometimes you just get that itch that only she can scratch."
Before he knew what had happened he was flipped over, on his back, with Amy holding him by the throat. "I assure you that I can make it so you never itch again. Are we clear?"
"Like a summer's night," he choked out.
"Good," she stepped off of Angelus. "Now, you will come with us to the Hellmouth. The slayers will arrive to try and stop me. Take the army and kill them and their friends. If Harris arrives, deal with him personally. He must be dead when the ritual is complete. Then, by the time they have another human champion, I will be too powerful to stop. Understand?"
"Yes, mistress," he said the last word with disdain.
"Do not cross me," she warned.
"Of course not," he replied. Something then dawned on Angelus. "Oh, about that army of yours."
"Yes," she growled at him.
They locked eyes for a moment. Angelus kept her stare and then he spat out, "Are they in fighting shape?"
"It's time for us to go," she replied. She did not like his defiance, but he would lead the army like nothing else could.
"Of course," he smiled, a horrible, distorted gesture on its face. It was a combination of the face of the young man Angelus had been placed in, Angel's vampire face, and a monster similar to the Master. The transference had destroyed the body he inhabited.
Oh well, he thought, let the bitch burn. Let her burn.
SUNNYDALE HIGH RUINS
Amy, Tara, Dawn, and Angelus stepped through the shadows and into what was once the library of Sunnydale High School.
"Is the area secure?" Tara demanded. Her answer was a demonic howl from what used to be the second floor of the school.
"Guess they aren't in that tiptop shape," Angelus chuckled.
"Shut up," Amy growled in return. "Tara, come with me and bring her. We need to set up for the ritual. I need to make the symbols and begin the summoning chant. You," she pointed at Angelus, "find out what that was, and take care of it!"
He curtsied to her, "Yes mistress."
She leaned in close to him and whispered, "Fail me, and I will torment you for eternity."
Despite his smirk, Angelus was actually intimidated and both he and Amy knew it. He nodded at her and went off in the direction of the howl.
I should really take control of his mind, Amy thought. But, two's company, three many become a crowd. I just hope that soul stays dormant, or else that priest will die very painfully. Oh wait, I killed him already. Oh well.
Angelus could smell the disturbance. It was a human, but not any of the ones Amy thought it was. Angelus didn't know who it was, nor did he care. He was just hungry. He crept stealthily up the broken staircase. His silence was shattered when a demon skidded across the broken shards of tile and down the stairs. Angelus tried to avoid him, but couldn't and cried out in pain.
"Keep um coming," a young man called. As if on cue, a vampire leapt at the young boy. That was a mistake. The boy swung a blue blade through the air and the vamp was without a head before he landed.
Angelus sized his opponent up, as he quickly recovered and bolted up the remaining steps. He was a young man about 16 years old. He had long brown hair that flowed a little off the neck. He was well built and developed, only a little shorter than his old body, and he looked to be close to as strong. Angelus took this all in a matter of seconds.
What really stood out to Angelus was the boy's maturity. He carried himself with confidence and power and had obviously lived beyond his years.
"Nice moves," Angelus said conversationally. "Why not try someone near your skill level."
The boy took in this demon. He reminded him of the pictures of the Master he had seen. A little more built, but same height. "You think you're up to it?" he responded. The adrenalin of his battle and fight for his life and his love's life spurred him on. I'm going to get myself killed this way, he thought.
"No. I'm out of your league, I said NEAR." The challenge was evident in Angelus' tone.
"I won't be baited," the boy replied.
"I'm sure you won't, did you have a name, I didn't catch it."
"Now you won't have the time, what a shame," he spat out. He pulled a small stone from his pouch and threw it at the wall behind Angelus.
"Missed me," he taunted and advanced on him.
The boy smiled. "No. I didn't." Just then, the rock exploded and the floor gave way under Angelus. He fell through it and landed on the floor below, hard. Gotta love magic, he thought. But, it's clear my presence has been detected, so it's time to find Dawn and leave.
Angelus shook his head and looked at the hole in the ceiling, which had just been his floor. A hole like that should shake this whole structure, he thought. The rock. He swore silently, MAGIC. And not just any kind of magic, he growled and rose to his feet with renewed passion. Gypsy magic.
STREETS
"Is everything…all right?" Giles asked cautiously as the four returned to the group. I hope so, he thought. That's the last thing anyone needs, more death.
"As good as it gets when in pre-apocalypse mode," Buffy replied. This is really it, she thought. We're going off to face our own deaths, haven't I been here and done that. They should make T-shirts for that. Oh God, Xander's humor really is wearing off on me. She smiled lovingly at Xander.
Though he was confused but the sudden look from her, he returned it with every once of his being. I will never let anything happen to you, ever again, he decided. This ends, today.
"So, I take it everything went okay?" Giles asked again. They look so very much in love, he thought, just a little enviously. Then his fatherly pride and love overcame it, and he knew that if they could survive this, Buffy and Xander would be together a long time.
"Is Angel okay?" Cordelia asked, a gesture that managed to be both full or genuine concern and annoyance. Quit with the damn puppy dog eyes and tell me about my, I mean Angel, she thought to herself.
"He's fine Cordy. Anya was a little banged up, but she's resting now," Faith interjected. "So, setup and recon still the plan?" Let's move, she thought, I just got my life together and I want a chance to start living it.
"What if they come back?" Willow asked quietly. Her despair at the whole situation, despite her best efforts to be strong and take courage in her friend's love of her, leaked through her every gesture.
"Angel said they wouldn't," Buffy smiled sadly at her friend.
"He's delusional," Cordy shrieked. "You took the word of a delusional man!"
"No one knows Angelus like Angel, Cord," Xander told her. She has really become attached to Angel, Xander thought. Is that a good thing?
"I agree," William replied. "Now, end of the world, shall we?"
They nodded and began their trip again.
SUNNYDALE HIGH RUINS
Okay, so far so good, he thought. He could sense Dawn. She was semi- conscious, which would make communication impossible, but he could track her now. He walked in a crouch, holding his sword out at the ready, prepared to take on anything that came his way.
"Bet you thought that was going to take care of me, didn't you?" he heard a voice behind him ask with quiet rage.
"Well," he began but Angelus cut him off.
"You should really do your homework. Angelus, ring any bells?"
The boy couldn't help but gasp. "But, you're, s-supposed to have a soul," he said, letting his nerves show more than he wanted.
"Well, that's the thing, isn't it? So, you also know how much I hate Gypsies, don't you?" Angelus charged the young man. He was stunned for a spit second, which was enough time for Angelus to close the gap and hammer him to the ground. "I really hate Gypsies!"
Angelus bent down to grab his neck and snap it, but the boy recovered enough to thrust his sword out, forcing Angelus to change his path and allowing the him to kick his legs out from under him. The young gypsy rolled away from Angelus and was on his feet again.
"And you should know," he spat out, "even though it wasn't my tribe that cursed you, Gypsies hate you too." Good, piss him off some more, he told himself sarcastically.
And he had. Angelus spun on his heels and made another move for him. He brought his sword around expertly, keeping Angelus at bay. Angelus hated to admit it, but the boy was skilled. I need to get the sword away from him, he thought.
The Gypsy sensed his chance. "Scared?" This time it was his voice that carried the challenge. Angelus took the challenge. He flipped in the air, somersaulting over the boy's head and landing on his feet. The demon delivered a sweep kick and dropped the boy to the ground. Angelus then slammed his elbow into the back of his head.
"Nope. Hungry."
TWO BLOCKS FROM SUNNYDALE HIGH RUINS
The group set up. The weapons were distributed quickly. Giles and Oz took the automatic crossbows that Xander had showed them how to use earlier. Cordelia took a flamethrower, as did Willow. Willow also had a bag of magic supplies. Most of it was for a protection circle that she planned to place around Dawn. But there was one other thing. No, she told herself, I can't do it.
Oz watched Willow. He was concerned about her. She needs, something, he thought. Then the word formed clearly in his mind: closure. He was snapped from his brief inner monologue when handed a sword and a stake.
"In case you need to engage in hand to hand," William said simply. William proceeded to equip himself with a flamethrower of his own.
Xander walked slowly over to the four of them. "Hey Wil, wouldn't happen to have that lightsaber for me, would ya?"
"Sorry," she said, she said dejectedly.
"I was just kidding," Xander said concerned. He wished there was something he could do for her. More than just offer her words of comfort, he wished he could actually provide comfort.
"She's just taking the Oz approach to speech," Oz offered on her behalf. She half smiled up at him in thanks. Xander nodded briefly, thinking I hope she and Oz can be friends again it might help her feel better.
Next to them, Buffy and Faith gathered the heavy-duty hand-to-hand weapons. They were anxious yet cautious. Buffy had to laugh inside. It was such a different feeling than the last time she and Faith had prepared for a battle on the same side. Faith had been so gun ho, not caring about living or dying, or odds. Now, they both had so much to lose. New and true loves, friends, family, and each other.
It had been a silent understanding between the two since Buffy had accepted Faith's apology and change. They rarely talked, but both felt the connection. They were mirror images of each other in some ways. Both had found the love of their lives with the other's fling. Both had hit rock bottom, and both had been helped by said flings to return to glory. Now, they could lose it all.
"Ready B?" Faith breathed out. She tried to hide the shaking in her hands. Fear was not an emotion Faith was used to. Kick ass, get some get out, and want take have, that's what I feel. Fear is weakness.
"I'm scared too," Buffy offered simply. They shared a look, again filled with silent understanding.
"It won't come down to Xander," Faith tried to reassure Buffy. Buffy just shook her head.
"We can try, but you and I both know that there's no guarantee." Faith could see fresh tears starting to come to Buffy's eyes. Buffy shook them away and reset her face in determination. A look Faith tried to match.
Dawn sat quietly against a tree, watching her friends, check that- family, prepare to do battle. She couldn't help the guilt. Even though it wasn't directly her fault, and in truth it wasn't even HER that was in danger, she couldn't shake the guilt. They had to risk their lives to stop Amy from using her, or a version of her, to destroy the world.
Dawn tried to just replay Anya's words, words that had given her strength and resolve. But seeing Xander's head early had destroyed her progress. She had returned to her self-hatred.
"We'll get them. For Xander and for Angel," Cordelia whispered as she took a seat next to the younger girl.
"Huh?" Dawn asked, not having been totally focused when Cordelia began speaking.
"I bet you blame yourself for Xander's death. Well trust me, Angel will blame himself too."
"But, it wasn't Angel's fault," Dawn objected.
"It was his demon, so he'll take the fall. And even though it wasn't our Xander," she said his name with a quiet tenderness, "he'll feel responsible. And I see the same look in your eyes."
Dawn began to deny it, but Cordy cut her off. "Please, you don't spend that much time with the King of Brooding and not pick up the body language."
Dawn couldn't help the giggle that escaped her lips. Cordy had set her up. "You did that on purpose."
Cordelia smiled at her, "So?"
Dawn took a deep breath. "You love him, don't you?"
Cordy looked the girl over. "Nah. I got over Xander a long time ago. Just regret that we parted without a real reconciliation. I mean, he bought me a prom dress sure, but is that really resolution?"
Dawn laughed at her. "What's so funny?" Cordy asked.
"I didn't mean Xander. And by the way, he told me how bad he felt about the way things happened with you two. But, I was talking about Angel."
Cordelia stared slightly at the young girl, searching for something to say. Luckily, she was spared when Giles came over and asked the women how they were.
"Oh, we're just fine," Cordelia said quickly and hopped up. "Better get my flamethrower ready," she smiled weakly at Dawn and Giles, then left.
You know, Dawn thought, why do people hide this stuff. Teenage girls have crush radar from a mile away.
"Dawn," Giles repeated for a third time.
"Sorry," she said. "Just thinking. And non world ending thought too," she added as brightly as she could manage.
"That's good," the British man looked at her with care. I failed in my duty to protect you the first time, and I can't let this or the other Dawn down, he thought.
"Maybe I should ask you how you are," Dawn said, seeing Giles distant and sad look.
"Ah- p-perhaps when this is over."
There was a slight silence and Dawn broke it, giving in to her teenage curiosity. "Are you going back to England when this is over?"
Giles was taken aback. He had, of course, given it considerable thought. But, since he wasn't sure he'd be alive after this, he hadn't come to a final decision. He almost spoke this aloud, but decided it may hurt the fragile psyche of the girl. "I don't know," he said simply.
"Oh," Dawn said, clearly disappointed.
Giles cleaned his glasses, not sure what to say next. This was a position he was not used to. He was their guide. He had helped them all, and annoying as he may find them at times, he always had something to offer them. He could only remember feeling this lost once before, the first time Angel had lost his soul. Now there was a copy of Angelus running around to top of everything else.
He decided that he could try to show some leadership by sending the recon teams out now. "Buffy, Faith, we need to do the sweeps of the school so we can make our moves."
"Rupert," William whispered. "Do you think it's a good idea to send both slayers? If any vampires see us, we'll be sitting ducks."
"I see your point. And I don't want Xander near the school until absolutely necessary," Giles replied.
"Agreed. So, I was thinking I could take Faith and do a couple sweeps," William said.
"I, I, think you should take Buffy," Giles said. He knew William would want to do that as much as Buffy. Neither was going to be in a hurry to leave their mate's side. Which is why they must go separate, Giles told himself.
"You don't think I can balance my love of Faith and the job, is that it?"
"He's right," Faith stepped in quickly to diffuse the situation. "You love me too much," she batted her eyelashes at him, a gesture she had seen Buffy use incredibly effectively against Xander. William was not as swayed.
"Rupert, I can handle this," he said determined. "And you keep away from me with those bloody batting eyelashes. I am not Xander."
"Hey, I'm right here you know," he spoke up, standing just behind Willow.
"And you want me to go off with Buffy?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Xander, I want you no where near that high school," Buffy said, in a tone that didn't leave room for arguments.
"And you can't honestly do what's in the best interest of the mission when it comes to me, and the same goes for me too," Faith told William, in the same tone.
Xander and William exchanged bemused looks. "When did you two become one person?" Xander quipped.
"I bet you've had that dream a few times," Faith shot back. Buffy just rolled her eyes.
"Case closed, discussion over," Buffy said. She and Faith walked over to the men, grabbed them, and kissed them deeply. All four knew it could be their final exchange.
Buffy pulled away and looked deep into Xander's eyes. "Be safe," he whispered.
"I love you Xan," she replied, kissing his cheek.
"I love you too, Buff," he said.
Faith and William were still kissing. Finally, Buffy's tap on her shoulder snapped Faith back. She stared at William, but instead of addressing him said to Buffy, "Better bring him back," never taking her eyes of him.
He smiled, started to say something, then held back and kissed her forehead. Buffy had to shake her head at him. There was still Spike inside of him, but there was a real gentle side to him she had never seen when she was with him. The thought made her cringe slightly, but she shrugged it away with a quick stolen glance at Xander.
"Come on Billy," she teased William about his hair and name. He and Faith glared at her in response. "Xander, you are really a bad influence." With that, they headed for the school.
SUNNYDALE HIGH RUINS
"Sorry, I'm not on the menu," the gypsy replied and slammed a cross he'd been hiding in his sleeve, into the creatures face. Angelus recoiled in pain and growled at him. They stared each other off, each slowly climbing to his feet and circling. Each waited for the other to make a move. The gypsy thought he should get away. Continuing to fight with Angelus will only get me killed, and keep me away from Dawn.
"Beluro, acmorum, rusalo," he spoke. A white fog lifted off the ground and surrounded Angelus. "I am dead, you have killed me," he continued. Angelus growled and tired to walk through the fog but it held him like a wall.
"I'll kill you, you've got that part right," Angelus spat out. The gypsy smiled, weakened from the spell, but turned and ran off towards his sense of Dawn. When he was out of sight, the fog lifted and Angelus shook himself. "He's dead, I killed him," he said aloud, and went to return to Amy.
Buffy and William walked the two-block trek in almost complete silence. It had been a long time since Buffy had been to the school. It was still amazing to look at what she and her friends had done to save the world. It seemed symbolic that they had been the final class at the school. It was also symbolic that it ended when they blew it up. She smiled internally.
But what she saw around the school stopped her smile. Surrounding the ruins was a demon and vampire army the size of which she had never seen before. There had to be at least two hundred demons and a hundred and fifty vampires, she guessed.
"William," she hissed at the watcher.
"Relax luv, almost all the demons will be on our side. The rest, well that's what the gang and I are for," he offered.
Buffy didn't like it, but nodded. "Let's go around the back, see if we can find where Amy would be, and a spot for Xander to hid." The fact that Buffy's voice dropped slightly at her boyfriend's name did not go unnoticed by William.
"It'll be okay," he told her. She nodded half-heartedly and they moved around the back.
Buffy saw that her estimate was dead on. The demons surrounded the entire building. Buffy decided there wasn't a good point of entry.
"Bloody hell," William said for her. "This is going to be messy."
"You think?" Buffy spat back. They continued to walk in silence, hiding behind the trees and bushes that surrounded the school. William pulled out a pair of binoculars and looked around.
"See anything?" Buffy asked after a long silence.
"I see Tara, but no Dawn and no Amy. I would think they'd have to do the ritual in the library, but I can see it and I don't see them."
"Damn."
"Wait, here she comes," he said. He watched for a moment before saying, "That doesn't look pleasant."
"What doesn't look pleasant? Do I have to take your toy?"
"She's drawing the emblems needed for the spell. I just didn't realize she would be using her own blood."
"Ewww. Never mind, keep your toys," Buffy declared. "Wait, if she's already drawing the emblems."
"That means she's getting close. We don't have time for another recon Buffy, we need to move."
"Where can Xander hid?"
"The bushes should do nicely love. We'll keep him safe."
Buffy sighed. "No, he's got to be close enough that if she finishes the ritual he can rush in."
"I'll hid him," a voice whispered from the shadows.
Buffy and William spun around to see a young boy, no older than Dawn, with long dark hair,
holding a sword. He seemed to be exhausted.
"Who the hell are you?" William demanded.
"A friend," the boy said, staring at Buffy. "Of Xander's. I'll keep him safe."
"Yeah, like we can trust you," William began to advance on him, but Buffy held her hand out to
stop him.
"How do you know Xander?" she asked. I have a weird feeling, she thought.
"I, I can't tell you. I thought I could do this alone, but I need help," he said, sounding very
defeated.
"Buffy we can't," William began but was cut off with a glare from her.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"I can't tell you," he sighed. "Things have spun out of my control. I was supposed to save Dawn,
but I can't get to her, Amy has her well protected. Even so, I was supposed to be able to take her if the ritual was completed, take her home and they could fix her. But, things have changed."
"Your Xander," Buffy said softly. The boy just nodded.
"He wasn't even supposed to be here. I have no idea what has changed, but we've both already interfered too much in this world. And if Amy wins, I may not be able to get my Dawn home. So I want to help."
"You can get Xander in and keep him safe?" William asked, thinking this was a lot to take in on such short notice.
"I got out. I've been inside the school since Amy brought Dawn here. I didn't realize what I was up against until, well I recognize the ritual she's planning. If she succeeds it will be the end for all dimensions, not just yours. Just the fact that Dawn and I are here is tearing the dimensional fabrics apart. I have to succeed or the stability of all dimensions could dissolve."
"Okay, stay here and I'll bring Xander here when we arrive. There should be chaos during the fight, use it to your advantage," Buffy said. I can trust him, I can feel it, she thought.
The boy looked at her strangely for a moment, then nodded. "Buffy?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied.
"Nothing, just making sure."
Buffy tried not to let that comment upset her, but she understood what it meant. "I'm dead where you come from?"
"You know far too much already. I can tell you no more."
"I understand," she reached out and squeezed his shoulder. "Just take good care of Dawn when we get you two home."
"I will," he said solemnly. With that, the two parties left each other. The boy took a hiding spot in the trees, and Buffy and William went to rally the troops.
STREETS
"Buffy how do you know we can trust him?" William asked on their return trip.
"Call it slayer instincts, but I can just feel it," she told him.
"Or it's all a spell to make you trust him. Buffy, we can't just hand over Xander to a stranger. If anything I would think you'd be over protective of him."
"And that's the point. Do you think I'd trust Xander's life with someone unless I was positive about it?" Her tone was steel, and William let the subject drop.
I told you that bitch was crazy, Spike growled inside of him. William could only shake his head.
Buffy and William arrived at the camp to find everyone itching to get moving. Faith was pacing with nervous energy. Xander was swinging his arms around, trying to stay loose. Buffy noticed that even the unflappable Oz seemed a little on edge.
"We don't have much time. Amy's already started drawing the emblems. We have to move out now," Buffy commanded.
"Did you find a place for Xander to hid, until, well," Giles spattered out.
"I think," Buffy responded. She knew Giles would have just as hard a time with her plan as William did, if not more so. Buffy didn't have time to do things by committee.
"Good, good plan," Xander stammered. God, I'm going to die. Or even worse, I'm going to let them down.
"Hey," a soft voice called to him. Xander was shocked to see it belong to Dawn. "Relax, you'll be great. I want you to know I love you Xander," Dawn smiled at him.
Dawn had been so distant and Xander had been so preoccupied that he didn't take the time to think about how other Xander's death had made Dawn feel. There was obviously a deep connection between those two, he thought, and that means there is a potential for that between us. I have a family and I will not let them down.
"Thanks kiddo," Xander said in a much more controlled voice.
The scene nearly broke Buffy's heart.
"I just need to say that I can't thank all of you enough. If I die and don't go to hell, I got there with your help," Faith said, fighting the tears and fears threatening to break her.
"Same here," Cordelia said quietly. Buffy had to laugh inside at the sight of Cordy, with a flamethrower strapped to her back, ready for battle.
"Yeah," Oz said, with more emotion than they were used to hearing. That broke the group out into a chorus of yeah's and I love you's. No one said anything else; no one broke the moment. The group just began to move towards the school as a unit, Buffy and Faith in the lead, holding the hands of their lovers, with the rest of their family in tow behind them.
SUNNYDALE HIGH RUINS
Her blood was glowing on the ground. It had turned from a dark red, to bright molten lava red. The power is at hand, she thought. Amy flipped open the pages of her book. The three-page chant would take an hour to finish. Then, she would be ready to become the vessel.
"Oh Mistress," Angelus called out. If she could leave her circle of power, she would have hurt Angelus. As it was, her minions cut him off before he could enter the former library.
"What Angelus, you know I cannot be disturbed once the chanting begins."
"I just wanted to let you know I took care of your little gypsy problem. All dead,"
"Gypsy? Here? Never mind," she decided. "Just go to the front of the library and watch for the slayers. NOW!"
He bowed and left her. "Tara," she called.
Tara entered the room from the back, were the book stacks once stood, with Dawn in hand, "Yes mistress."
"Keep an eye on him. I don't trust him. Keep the key safe. The ritual begins in an hour."
"Yes mistress." And Tara and a semi-conscious Dawn disappeared from the room.
Amy took a deep and unnecessary breath, and began the chant.
***************************************************************
The Scoobies arrived. Buffy slowed the pace. "The best bet is the back. It's closest to the library and," she paused, "and Xander's hiding space."
"The back it is," Giles concurred. The group moved behind the cover of the night and trees around the school grounds.
"How come the trees didn't get burnt down too, it was a big explosion?" Xander asked.
"So I would have something pretty to look at afterward when my brain wasn't firing on all cylinders," Buffy joked. That had been a long night for her. They were facing similar odds now, except without an army of students to back them up.
They came around to the back. They gave out a collective gasp at the size of the demon army. William had warned them, but it still was a shock to see.
"I don't mean to be pessimistic, but there are a lot of them and not so many of us," Oz said.
"Never tell me the odds," Xander deadpanned in his best Han Solo voice.
"I'll take the point," Giles said, ignoring the boys. "William and Oz at my sides. Cordelia stay back until the chaos has begun. Willow."
"I know, stay here, set up camp, keep Dawn safe and see what I can conjure up," she said. "I just want it over, then I can deal."
"I know the feeling," Faith agreed.
"Once the chaos breaks out, Faith and I come a running. Avoid hand to hand if possible," Buffy reminded them.
"Hey, last defense guy here," Xander spoke up.
"Over there," Buffy pointed to a figure in the bushes. He looked at her strangely.
"Shrubbery?"
"A way to get inside," she said, hoping he would pick up on her hint. He did. Either that or he accepted her explanation. The others were too worried to catch their last exchange.
"So, when do we start?" Oz asked.
In response, William lit a flare and threw it into the night sky. When it went off, the various demon species all wore twisted expressions of smiles and turned on the vampires. The cries of shock and confusion lifted into the night sky, echoing against the ruins of the school.
"I'd say now," Cordelia said simply. This is for you Angel, she thought.
"Charge!" Giles called. I always wanted to do that.
Buffy and Xander exchanged one last look. It was the embodiment of their love for each other. With that, Buffy turned and ran off.
"Be careful Xander," Willow whispered, holding Dawn tightly.
"You too," he smiled sadly at the two girls, and then headed towards the shrubs.
Willow took out her bag of magic, trying not to watch the massacre that was beginning behind her. She took out the purple sand and poured it in a circle to surround them. Willow withdrew several other items from her bag, including spell books and materials. The last thing she took out she looked at sadly.
"Dawn," the red head spoke softly, "I want you to take this from me. I couldn't stop myself from brining it and I'm not sure I can resist the urge to use it, but it's past the time for this. So take it," she stuck the object towards the younger girl. Dawn carefully took it from her and held it.
"What is it Willow?"
Willow couldn't help her sad face, "It's called an Orb of Thesulah."
***************************************************************
Xander wandered over to the shrubs, hoping that Buffy had something in mind. She wouldn't send me into trouble, he thought. But she might try and keep me out of the battle.
"Xander," a voice called.
Xander tensed and started to reach for a dagger.
"Xander," the voice said happily. Before Xander knew what happened he was enwrapped by a pair of arms. He began to struggle until he realized it was a hug.
"Uh, hello," he said confused.
"Sorry, I just, seeing you, I didn't get a chance to say goodbye," the boy broke off.
"Other Xander you mean?" Xander asked, suddenly amazed by his ability to pick up on things.
"My Xander," he nodded. "We came here for my Dawn. But things have gotten out of hand. If Amy wins it's only a matter of time before she breaks dimensional barriers for good, and then, well the universe ends."
"Comforting. What's your name?" Xander asked. Buffy wouldn't send me to him unless she trusted him, and he does seem trustworthy, he thought.
"I can't tell you. Not that it matters much anymore, but."
"Destroy the fabric of the universe," Xander finished. The boy nodded. He had a huge smile on his face, but it faded to sadness. "What, something on my face?"
"No," the boy said sadly. "It's just that, in my dimension, you have become, how to put this kindly, well rather jaded and harsh. The only time I see you relaxed is when you're with Dawn. Your love for her is great, but even then not enough to overcome your loss. She told me how you used to be, and it's nice to see what she meant."
The young man's words hurt Xander. Not for himself, but for other him. He could easily imagine becoming like that under the right circumstances. "What happened?"
The boy sighed. "Willow couldn't reverse Tara and Glory killed her. Before that, from what I gather, nothing much was different to that point. Buffy still sacrificed herself. But with Willow dead, Buffy stayed that way. Tara was still insane, Anya left because you wouldn't leave Sunnydale, and even Spike left. It was just you and Dawn before I came."
Xander had to fight the tears. That would have been more than enough to jade him.
"Xander," the boy said, "I was debating telling you this the whole time I was here, should I run into you. Now, with my Xander dead, I feel I owe it to you. Tell Buffy how you feel. My Xander recognized it, after all the pain, he knew he still loved her just as much as he did the first day he saw her. He regretted never telling her, never making her understand his, your, love. Should we survive, tell her."
Xander smiled. "I already have."
The boy smiled as well. "At least I know, somewhere, you two got to be together."
"Well, let's stop this bitch so I we can get you your true love," Xander replied.
The boy couldn't hide his half smile. "I didn't tell you that."
"You didn't need too," Xander replied
***************************************************************
Chaos was an understatement. Demons fighting demons. Demons fighting vampires. No one knew whose side they were on. Giles didn't know what demons were on their side, so he directed the fire at the vampires. Oz, for his part, was using the automatic crossbow with precision. Cordelia and William blazed a path for the slayers to charge through. Their flames caught both demon and vampire. William knew he would have to make it up to the demons at some points.
Buffy and Faith found the path set for them and charged up it. They didn't take time to fight with their foes, a quick stake and move on. Buffy prayed they could get through. But when she had a chance to really look around her, she realized the slayers were the least of the vampires problems. Demons were tearing the vampires apart. The ones that spoke in English yelled about being free of oppression. How not symbolic, Buffy had a chance to think before plunging a stake into a vampire that was running from several large brown demons.
Buffy and the demon exchanged a look.
"Slayers," it growled.
"Demons," Buffy replied icily. The demon turned directions, with his fellow demons, and started to clear the path for the pair. "Nifty trick," Faith told her.
"I like to call it winning friends through fear," Buffy replied with a false sense of brightness.
"You'll have to teach me that sometime," Faith yelled, as she slammed a stake home in an advancing vamp.
"It's really similar to winning friends through puns." A demon lunged at Buffy. If not friend, foe, she thought, and slammed her fist into the green, slimy head. "Mucus, why does it always have to be mucus?"
***************************************************************
The entire attack was going better than Giles had expected. He had been afraid of a high casualty rate on their side, but for the most part, they just stood back and watched the fighting. The demons were brutal and angry. The vampires had recovered from their shock, but it had been more than enough time to let the demons gain a decided advantage.
"Hey Giles, I'm taking off," Oz said calmly.
Giles spun around, momentarily taking his eyes off the raging battle in front of him. He was treated to Oz tossing his flamethrower and weapons aside with a strange look on his face. Suddenly, Oz contorted a bit and changed into the wolf.
"Oh, Oz," Giles muttered and watched the werewolf launch himself into the fray. "God Damnit!" Giles cursed.
"What is it?" William called from his side.
"Oz decided to take a paws on role," Giles replied. Dear Lord, did I just make a bad pun. Back for little less than a week and they start rubbing off on me. Giles didn't have time to think of much else as the vampires began to advance in droves.
"Bloody hell," he shouted.
"Looks like the vampires have regrouped," William shouted.
"We have eyes," Cordelia shouted back.
"Fall back," Giles motioned with one arm while shooting his automatic crossbow with the other.
"HELP WOULD BE NICE!" William yelled at the top of his lungs.
***************************************************************
Willow stared at the orb she had given Dawn. She wanted to use it so badly.
The sound of William's scream broke the trace the orb held over her. That's when Willow knew she had to make a choice. She could cast a spell to turn the creature that killed her lover back into her lover again. But she wouldn't really be her Tara. She'd be someone else, murder can do that to people, Willow thought. On top of that, Tara would still be under Amy's incredibly powerful mind control, Willow reasoned with herself. Her other choice was to help those who were still alive and in her life.
"I have to do something," she told Dawn. She finally realized she could never have Tara back. But there is something I can have back, my life, she thought.
Dawn held the orb and watched Willow plunge into her supplies for a spell. Willow grabbed a small bag of powder and a book. It was the most powerful spell Willow would dare attempt, and she had tried nothing this dangerous since she had pulled herself from the black arts. She prayed to her goddess that this spell wouldn't lead her down the dark path again.
"Goddess Hjuin, hear my call," Willow chanted, tossing the powder in the direction of the raging fight, "protect the ones I love, send the living dead away!"
"D-did it work?" Dawn asked.
Before the girls eyes, an invisible force slammed into the vampires, sending them hurtling backwards through the air.
"It should buy them some time," Willow nodded. She barely noticed the blood trickling from her nose, or the near blinding dizziness. All Willow knew was that she had no desire to reach for a more powerful spell. She had beaten her addiction. She had never been prouder of her will power. Willow's body, however, had other plans for her. She barely even noticed as the world blackened around her, sending her falling into Dawn's arms.
***************************************************************
The chaos of the war, because it had stopped being a battle long ago it was now a war, allowed the boy and Xander to move easily into the school. Xander followed him up the ruins of a stairwell to what he'd been using as a camp. From there, they could easily scope out the fighting. Xander could even see Angelus guarding the entrance to the library, though the library itself was just out of sight.
"This is a good spot," Xander commented as the boy crouched next to him.
"That's one mean son of a bitch," the boy replied, pointing at Angelus.
"Don't have to tell me twice," Xander chuckled.
"Angel is still good in my world," the boy said.
"He's still good here too. He's been split into his demon and ensouled half, like humpty dumpty. And we have to put him back together again. If we survive that is."
"How was he split?" the gypsy asked, always curious about different types of magic.
"Some crazy priest."
"O'Leary," the boy said the name as if a curse.
"Yeah, that's it. How did you know?"
"O'Leary wreaked havoc upon the gypsy tribes for years. Claiming every one of us was possessed and needed to be cleansed."
"Like I said, fun guy to have at parties. Can you undo the whammy?" Xander asked.
"I can't, I'm not that skilled," he admitted. "But others are. Dawn might be able too."
"Dawn?" Xander questioned.
"She has great power within her. Your Dawn just must learn to use it."
"And your people have taught her?" Xander asked.
He nodded. "Which is why you were never meant to know about me. Things must take their natural course. Now that you know," he sighed, "I may have done irreversible damage."
"Have faith. You've never seen the Buffster in action. She stops things like this, I mean the world still turns. When this is finished you can work some mojo to erase your memory from us."
"That is dark and dangerous magic you speak of," he said solemnly.
"I know. But if we live it'll be worth the risk," Xander patted the young man on the back and turned back to Angelus.
***************************************************************
Amy finished the final words of the chant. She could feel the power. It surrounded her. It was almost palpable. Amy thought if she reached her hands out she could touch it. But she knew better. She was aware of the battle being fought around her, of the slayers advancement. But once she finished the chant she realized how insignificant it was. Ultimate power was at her fingertips. Then, it would no longer matter if the demons WANTED to obey her. They would have no choice.
"Ta-ra," Amy sang. The buzz she felt was better than any physical feeling know to man. If was as if her body tingled everywhere with ecstasy. Within moments it would be hers.
"Yes, mistress," Tara said, coming in the back with Dawn.
"It is time."
To Be Continued
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