Within minutes the group reached the cemetery. They hustled through the
gates, only pausing long enough to gain their bearings and to find out
where exactly the demon was residing. They found the nest easily, the
noise of the demon and the smell drawing them towards it.
Buffy grimaced at the smell, noting that Xander and Angel didn't even seem to notice the horrendous smell at all. Giles managed to keep up with Buffy, staying close by her side. He knew her habit of rushing into battle without trying to analyze the situation. He knew that she should follow Xander and Angel in this situation, but he had doubts that she would do so when confronted with the demon. He would make sure that his Slayer did not make a foolish move, with force if necessary. Willow hung back from the group. Oz was slightly ahead of her but the others were fairly far ahead of both of them.
Oz finally noticed that Willow seemed hesitant to join the group. "Willow, are you okay? Can you do this?"
"I, I don't know. I don't have my magic anymore. I can't fight without it! Giles has to release me; otherwise I can't help at all!" Willow's voice rose with each proceeding sentence.
"Willow, there is no way Giles would release your magic. Xander didn't have any skills either, but he managed to survive on the Hellmouth. If he can do it, you can as well. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Willow. Grow up and take responsibility for your actions." Oz turned back around and started to jog after the rest, who had managed to get a fair distance ahead of them.
Willow teared up. It seemed like she was ruining all her relationships. She didn't know when she had lost the ability to think beyond herself. She realized in that moment that she had totally lost sight of who she had once been when she and Xander had first met Buffy. She and Xander would never have a close relationship again. She knew that Oz was leaving her. And Buffy and Giles would probably never trust her again. She sighed. Willow shook off her introspective mood, knowing that now was not the time to be distracted. She hurried toward Oz, rushing to catch up.
She caught up just as the Xander and Angel engaged the demon. Xander started the action by tossing a blade. It hit the creature square in the eye and it started its screaming. The actual battle proved to be anticlimactic and was quickly over. Xander's opening move pretty much put the creature out of action. Angel had quickly followed up with one his obsidian blades and had completely blinded the thing. It continued to scream, a loud piercing sound that was continuous. It started striking out with its claws extended trying to at least catch one of its attackers.
Buffy stood still. Giles had his hand on her shoulder, preventing her from moving. However, he needn't have bothered as the girl was stunned at how well Xander, the former Zeppo, had handled his weapon. He was now moving quickly, striking randomly. His shots all hit and made considerable damage. Angel worked in counterpoint to the warrior, for that was what Xander truly was.
His former awkwardness in movement was completely gone. He had a warrior's grace, sure footed and every action showing the power he had contained within. Buffy knew that she, the Slayer, would have trouble taking this man in a fight.
Within five quick minutes, the demon that had caused so much fear was slain. Xander and Angel were not harmed, and in fact, had never been in real danger once they had taken the creature's sight. With one last screech, it was dispatched. When the demon hit the ground, flames consumed the flesh and a black, oily smoke rose and hung heavy in the air.
Xander and Angel were quick to push the Scooby gang back from the carcass, but remained within viewing distance watching as the body was consumed. Only when it had completely melted into ash, did they allow the group to leave. Xander hung back and whispered a few words over the site, cleansing the area from all taint left behind by the organism.
The walk back to the Watcher's was performed in a celebratory mood. While slightly upset that she never got a chance to fight the creature, Buffy was cheerful that she didn't ruin her outfit saving the world for once. Someone else had fought the baddie and had done the hard part. Now was the time for movies and pizza. Though Chinese might be a good change.
Xander and Angel led the victorious Scoobies back to the apartment. Their steps were significantly lighter than before. Xander had half feared that once their job was done, the Oracles would send both him and Angel back to the Hell they had left. When they didn't disappear, the slight apprehension he had felt dissipated and he allowed himself to feel free for the first time since he and Angel had awoken once again on the Hellmouth.
Angel was also relieved. He and his mate were not harmed by the vicious creature and they hadn't really been in much danger. It was a good night of slaying for the vampire. He did allow himself to think of what would happen now. Xander had not indicated that he wanted to stay in Sunnydale. In fact, he had gotten the impression that Xander wanted to leave as soon as possible. There was nothing here anymore for either of them. Their relationships with the Scoobies would never be the same; the closeness that had once been there had been erased by time and by substandard treatment Xander had received before he had been sucked into Hell.
Xander's quick mind was coming up with options for he and Angel. For all intents and purposes, they DID work for TPTB. He didn't mind this, but Sunnydale was too small for Angel, Buffy and himself. Maybe L.A. would need a couple fighters for good?
As he walked side by side with Angel, he looked back over his shoulder. Buffy was hyped up and talking about the fight with Giles, acting out certain spots. She was most likely trying to persuade Giles to teach her some of the more complicated maneuvers he had preformed. He smirked. Who would have thought, the Slayer wanted to be like Xander the Zeppo!
Oz came next; Willow in the shadows following him. Her face was serious and Xander knew that she had some serious thinking ahead of her. Her future road would be the toughest out of all of them. She had a serious addiction that would never really leave her and would be an ache she'd have to learn how to live with for the rest of her life. He only hoped she was strong enough to overcome the addiction because he would not hesitate to correct her. It would hurt him; Willow was still his oldest friend. But he would do what was necessary.
The werewolf caught his attention again. The expression on his face was pensive, and Xander knew that Oz would be leaving town soon. The boy really had no reason to be there and Xander remembered that Oz desired control over his shape-shifting. Talking quietly with Angel, Xander made the decision that if, no when, he and Angel left Sunnydale, the offer to travel with them would be offered to the werewolf. Xander believed he would take it, perhaps even joining Xander and Angel wherever they ended up.
It was at this point that Xander reached the Watcher's home. Angel and Xander dropped off the weapons; Giles planned on keeping a few and returning the rest. The two begged off the victory party and after warning Giles to keep a close eye on Willow they left. Just before they left, they invited Oz over to the mansion the next afternoon. He agreed and they made their way to the mansion with no resistance from the normal Sunnydale nightlife.
Buffy grimaced at the smell, noting that Xander and Angel didn't even seem to notice the horrendous smell at all. Giles managed to keep up with Buffy, staying close by her side. He knew her habit of rushing into battle without trying to analyze the situation. He knew that she should follow Xander and Angel in this situation, but he had doubts that she would do so when confronted with the demon. He would make sure that his Slayer did not make a foolish move, with force if necessary. Willow hung back from the group. Oz was slightly ahead of her but the others were fairly far ahead of both of them.
Oz finally noticed that Willow seemed hesitant to join the group. "Willow, are you okay? Can you do this?"
"I, I don't know. I don't have my magic anymore. I can't fight without it! Giles has to release me; otherwise I can't help at all!" Willow's voice rose with each proceeding sentence.
"Willow, there is no way Giles would release your magic. Xander didn't have any skills either, but he managed to survive on the Hellmouth. If he can do it, you can as well. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Willow. Grow up and take responsibility for your actions." Oz turned back around and started to jog after the rest, who had managed to get a fair distance ahead of them.
Willow teared up. It seemed like she was ruining all her relationships. She didn't know when she had lost the ability to think beyond herself. She realized in that moment that she had totally lost sight of who she had once been when she and Xander had first met Buffy. She and Xander would never have a close relationship again. She knew that Oz was leaving her. And Buffy and Giles would probably never trust her again. She sighed. Willow shook off her introspective mood, knowing that now was not the time to be distracted. She hurried toward Oz, rushing to catch up.
She caught up just as the Xander and Angel engaged the demon. Xander started the action by tossing a blade. It hit the creature square in the eye and it started its screaming. The actual battle proved to be anticlimactic and was quickly over. Xander's opening move pretty much put the creature out of action. Angel had quickly followed up with one his obsidian blades and had completely blinded the thing. It continued to scream, a loud piercing sound that was continuous. It started striking out with its claws extended trying to at least catch one of its attackers.
Buffy stood still. Giles had his hand on her shoulder, preventing her from moving. However, he needn't have bothered as the girl was stunned at how well Xander, the former Zeppo, had handled his weapon. He was now moving quickly, striking randomly. His shots all hit and made considerable damage. Angel worked in counterpoint to the warrior, for that was what Xander truly was.
His former awkwardness in movement was completely gone. He had a warrior's grace, sure footed and every action showing the power he had contained within. Buffy knew that she, the Slayer, would have trouble taking this man in a fight.
Within five quick minutes, the demon that had caused so much fear was slain. Xander and Angel were not harmed, and in fact, had never been in real danger once they had taken the creature's sight. With one last screech, it was dispatched. When the demon hit the ground, flames consumed the flesh and a black, oily smoke rose and hung heavy in the air.
Xander and Angel were quick to push the Scooby gang back from the carcass, but remained within viewing distance watching as the body was consumed. Only when it had completely melted into ash, did they allow the group to leave. Xander hung back and whispered a few words over the site, cleansing the area from all taint left behind by the organism.
The walk back to the Watcher's was performed in a celebratory mood. While slightly upset that she never got a chance to fight the creature, Buffy was cheerful that she didn't ruin her outfit saving the world for once. Someone else had fought the baddie and had done the hard part. Now was the time for movies and pizza. Though Chinese might be a good change.
Xander and Angel led the victorious Scoobies back to the apartment. Their steps were significantly lighter than before. Xander had half feared that once their job was done, the Oracles would send both him and Angel back to the Hell they had left. When they didn't disappear, the slight apprehension he had felt dissipated and he allowed himself to feel free for the first time since he and Angel had awoken once again on the Hellmouth.
Angel was also relieved. He and his mate were not harmed by the vicious creature and they hadn't really been in much danger. It was a good night of slaying for the vampire. He did allow himself to think of what would happen now. Xander had not indicated that he wanted to stay in Sunnydale. In fact, he had gotten the impression that Xander wanted to leave as soon as possible. There was nothing here anymore for either of them. Their relationships with the Scoobies would never be the same; the closeness that had once been there had been erased by time and by substandard treatment Xander had received before he had been sucked into Hell.
Xander's quick mind was coming up with options for he and Angel. For all intents and purposes, they DID work for TPTB. He didn't mind this, but Sunnydale was too small for Angel, Buffy and himself. Maybe L.A. would need a couple fighters for good?
As he walked side by side with Angel, he looked back over his shoulder. Buffy was hyped up and talking about the fight with Giles, acting out certain spots. She was most likely trying to persuade Giles to teach her some of the more complicated maneuvers he had preformed. He smirked. Who would have thought, the Slayer wanted to be like Xander the Zeppo!
Oz came next; Willow in the shadows following him. Her face was serious and Xander knew that she had some serious thinking ahead of her. Her future road would be the toughest out of all of them. She had a serious addiction that would never really leave her and would be an ache she'd have to learn how to live with for the rest of her life. He only hoped she was strong enough to overcome the addiction because he would not hesitate to correct her. It would hurt him; Willow was still his oldest friend. But he would do what was necessary.
The werewolf caught his attention again. The expression on his face was pensive, and Xander knew that Oz would be leaving town soon. The boy really had no reason to be there and Xander remembered that Oz desired control over his shape-shifting. Talking quietly with Angel, Xander made the decision that if, no when, he and Angel left Sunnydale, the offer to travel with them would be offered to the werewolf. Xander believed he would take it, perhaps even joining Xander and Angel wherever they ended up.
It was at this point that Xander reached the Watcher's home. Angel and Xander dropped off the weapons; Giles planned on keeping a few and returning the rest. The two begged off the victory party and after warning Giles to keep a close eye on Willow they left. Just before they left, they invited Oz over to the mansion the next afternoon. He agreed and they made their way to the mansion with no resistance from the normal Sunnydale nightlife.