"What you see now occurred eons ago. What you are witnessing is history's first war."
Images flashed. A blonde being with ivory white wings swung a sword of primal, universal fire at another, similar being. The other being met the sword with a spear, producing flashes of light that lit up like a supernova. Near them were millions upon millions of beings, similarly winged and fighting hard. Arrows of light flew through the air at warp speeds, putting millions of holes into whomever they hit. Explosions rocked the area, shredding the wings of hundreds more. A great golden figure with three faces strode into the field of battle, issuing forth blasts from its hands and rotating head, throwing enemies into disarray. A green cloaked force with skeleton like features cut through an immense group of the beings like a hot knife through butter. A massive bull-like warrior fought all comers sending everyone who approached him to the wayside with mighty blows.
"This is Heaven. Its forces are fighting off a massive attack, an invasion…from within."
The being with the sword, bloody and roaring, struck at the being with the spear. He howled accusations at the spear-bearer. The spear-bearer merely defended himself impassively, obviously taking no joy in this battle.
"Those who met him, recognize the one with the sword as Lucifer Morningstar. The one he battles is called Michael. Anyone who is familiar with the most fundamental Sunday school lesson knows this story. Lucifer fell from grace because he grew jealous of God and wanted to be God himself. What followed was cosmic insurrection. A third of Heaven's forces joined the charismatic king angel in revolt to take the shining capitol of Elysium. A force led by Michael, with aid from Gabriel the judge, the Spectre Force, and the Bull King of the Pax-Dei, Asmodel met Lucifer's legions. It is impossible to know how long the war raged, but in the end there was but one outcome."
Lucifer swung at Michael with his fiery blade as Michael blocked with his light-spears handle. The blade broke the spear in twain, but Michael recovered and buried the tip of the spear into Lucifer's stomach. Lucifer roared in pain as the weapon did its work and brought him to his knees. Then using the remnants of his spear's handle, Michael delivered a sickening blow to the Morningstar's brow, rendering him unconscious.
"With their charismatic leader defeated, Lucifer's army surrendered. Without his might, they could not win. The Presence, who was so far above those involved in the war and therefore did not participate, delivered judgment upon the errant angel. While the Presence had not the heart to end any of his children, the Fallen no longer had a place within the walls of Elysium or in any section of Heaven. They were exiled to a newly created dimension to live out the rest of Eternity. Hell."
Lucifer looked back over his shoulder hatefully as he and his millions walked out of the golden spires of Elysium and marched to a place that was unknown to them.
"In this realm, which was much more harsh than Heaven, the Fallen had to adapt to survive. Gradually their forms began to change."
Time passed, formerly bright and beautiful angels changed to twisted, foul mockeries of themselves. Feathery bird-like wings became the wings of bats. Beautiful hair became stringy and unkempt as horns pierced upwards out of their skulls. Lucifer sat on a throne with his hand to his jaw, thinking as he observed the changes in his people.
"But why did the revolt begin in the first place? Why did Lucifer, who had previously been happy to serve the Presence, suddenly decide to sever ties with his Creator? It all lay in Lucifer's role in Heaven. He was the Light-Bearer. As such all forms of light emanated from him. Not only mere physical light, but also the light of insight. Of thought. Lucifer was a thinker, a planner, with amazing labyrinth-like thoughts. Of all the angels, it was he who contemplated the most. And as with all of the Presence's creations, he had free will. Given these two factors, it was fairly simple to see why Lucifer arrived at the conclusion to revolt. He was truly creation's first true thinker."
"And in the moment where Lucifer began to think of uprising, evil was born. Lucifer became proud, arrogant, and his mind grew venomous. Thoughts of possessing all of the power of the Presence consumed him. Power became an obsession. He wanted it. He savored it. Power was the single thing upon his mind. Not right. Not wrong. Just power. I speak from experience now when I state the next point. Sometimes when a being already has incredible near infinite power, certain things should not be thought. Said thoughts can begin to build a will of their own. I, Warlock, had such a thing occur to me when I first gained the Infinity Gauntlet. I expunged my dark self, the Magus and my good side, the Goddess, giving them life of their own. Apparently I was not the sole being this had occurred to."
Lucifer roared in pain on his throne as he clutched his head. The various elder demons stared at their lord as he fell from his throne in agony. His forehead began to emit arcs of energy as he howled. The small arcs became full streams of black energy. Lucifer fell to his knees as twin claws began to pierce his forehead from the inside out. Pushing the angel flesh aside, something began to crawl forth. It was dark black, having no form save its clawed arms and horned head with its blazing red eyes. A great explosion shook the foundations of Hell, and when the smoke cleared Lucifer stared down at the culmination of his dark impulses. His pride, hatred, and lust for power. He stared down at the creature in awe as the demon lords backed away from it in fear. Lucifer smirked as they did that, and the thing that had come from the Fallen One looked upon him with wonder. And it knelt, to its father, its creator, to itself.
"And that was how Lucifer's dark thoughts became the First Evil."
Everyone in Buffy's living room opened their eyes as Warlock's images faded from their brain. Some like Buffy and Angel were in shock of what they had just seen. Some others like the Potential Slayers showed fear. Cold indifference was on the faces of Thanos, Spike, and Gamora. Warlock merely regarded them all.
"And now that dark thought has taken form and exists on this world. This second day since its arrival has now passed, meaning five remain until this world you know is erased. We must strike and we must defeat it before this time is up, for with every life claimed it will grow in power as will its hunger for power. Currently, the First is in its weakest state. We must take advantage of that fact." Warlock went on.
"But why us?" Buffy asked, "Why the Slayers?"
"Yeah, B has a good point. What are we supposed to be able to do against that thing? I've heard people say that it's afraid of us. Judging from what I saw, it's not very afraid. It totally played with us like we were action figures." Faith said, slightly shaken by the incident.
"Demons were born of Lucifer and his ilk. Some turned from the path of darkness, while others did not. Because of demons terrorizing the land, Slayers were created to combat them." Warlock explained.
"Demons are the invading bacteria, so then Slayers would be antibodies." Thanos said, understanding before anyone save Warlock himself.
"The First, despite its power, is merely another demon. It can be killed." Warlock stated.
"Antibodies can kill individual invading matter, but they can be useless against more potent diseases and cancers." Wesley said.
"I tend to agree with Wesley. These girls are strong but they cannot fight this creature hand to hand if the Justice League failed." Giles added.
"Ah, but I never said you were going to fight it physically. The First existed for eons as mental force, but now it is physical. Being confined to a body for now hampers its mind. By striking at the mind it can be destroyed. Also, with any luck its attention will be further divided by trying to deal with earth's champions in the physical realm." Warlock explained.
"Okay, I'll buy that, but how do we do that? We tend to be more up close and stick the piece of wood in the monster's heart types of gals." Buffy asked.
"You have my help of course. I possess two gems on my Gauntlet that control aspects of the mind and the soul. Using magick, you can be sent onto the astral plane to strike at the First with aid from these gems. And of course you will be backed by the combined willpowers of myself and Thanos." Warlock said, motioning to the Titan who had a murderously evil grin on his face.
"I see two flaws with this plan already." Giles stated.
"Name them." Warlock smirked.
"While their minds travel to the astral plane, their bodies would be vulnerable to attack. Furthermore, you're sending children onto a plane that they have no experience being on. Their minds could be swept away and lost there forever!" Giles said.
"Why do you think all of you were summoned? Only the Slayers will enter the astral plane. The rest of you are here to guard the bodies of the Slayers and Potential Slayers from any possible attacks. Secondly, yes it is a consideration that they could become lost forever, but we have a few days to train them to increase their mental and physical discipline. And I have two excellent teachers in both those regards." Warlock smirked as Thanos and Gamora smiled evilly.
"I don't want to be a Slayer anymore." Amanda whined.
"I suggest that everyone get a good night's rest. Training begins promptly tomorrow morning at seven." Warlock said.
"Any possibility that you can make the rest of the house as big as the living room?" Buffy asked.
"No. In fact I'm going to return this room to its original size. Stretching it like so isn't good for it." Warlock replied.
"How about you turn my house into a palace?" Buffy asked again.
"No. That would be silly."
"Okay people, I need to know who's coming with me to my place cause there's not near enough room here." Xander said a few minutes later.
"I'm coming. I want sex." Anya said bluntly.
Cordelia laughed, "Finally got some huh Xander?"
"He gets a lot. He's insatiable. There was this one time that I had this schoolgirl costume—"
"OKAY AN! No need to tell even more people about our bedroom activities." Xander said clamping a hand over her mouth.
"I guess I can come. Anya and I can talk about fashion like we used to." Cordelia said.
"If you come then so do I." Angel added.
Xander mentally sighed.
"Okay Dead Boy, just don't be getting any ideas about biting me." Xander replied.
"I'm not going to bite you." Angel said.
"Spike used to try." Xander stated.
" I BLOODY WELL DID NOT!" Spike yelled from across the room.
"I believe I'll stay and help Mr. Giles with any possible research he needs. I won't be doing much sleeping. Besides, I rather like not being known as the weakling I used to be." Wesley smirked.
"I'm in I guess." Gunn said.
"Ditto for me. At least I know you people." Gwen added.
"I can stay and help Wesley." Fred said, looking to Wes. Gunn scowled somewhat.
"What about you Oz?" Xander asked.
"I'm good man. Doctor Strange teleported my van here." Oz replied.
"Riley?" Xander asked.
Riley looked at Angel and two more exes of Buffy locked eyes in anger.
"That's okay Xander. Sam and I are going to rent a room. Wouldn't want to cramp the Billowy Coated King of Pain's brooding space." Riley said, eyeing Angel.
"Whatever you say Rebound." Angel growled.
"God what is with Buffy's boyfriends and wanting to kill each other? I mean I'm more desirable anyway. I should be fought over." Anya pouted.
"There there An." Xander patted her back, "Cordy, you think your friend Lorne would want to come along?"
Before Cordy could answer, Lorne came running up, "Yes please! Let's go!"
"Finally got away from Clem?" Xander asked.
"Locked him in the bathroom." Lorne said, exasperatedly, as he escaped an obsessed fan.
"Okay then, we're off then. Come on An." Xander said pulling at Anya's arm. Anya stood there, looking at Warlock like she was transfixed.
"Anya?" Cordelia asked.
"Oh! What?" Anya said, snapping out of it.
"We're ready. You okay?" Xander asked his lover.
"Oh yeah! You bet! Just thinking about sex! You know how much I like playing naughty nurse!" Anya chirped.
The group with Xander raised their eyebrows at Xander. Xander merely shrugged.
"I like kinkiness. Xander is fond of the leather and the riding crop. Can we move on now PLEASE?" Xander asked.
"Yeah…yeah we can." Anya said, looking back at Warlock then hurrying out the door.
"No." Anya repeated in her head, "I'm happy. I'm in love. I can't do that."
"You may have to." Warlock said mentally.
"Why me?" Anya asked in her head.
"You know the power of D'Hoffryn. It must be you." Warlock replied.
"I can't do it okay? I have a life now. I'm not a demon anymore. I can't and I won't." Anya stated firmly.
"I hope you reconsider." Warlock said.
"Well I don't. Now get out of my head!" Anya mentally screamed.
As they walked to Xander's car, Xander sighed.
"I'm going to have to make two trips." Xander groaned.
"No, we just all have to sit on each other's laps is all." Anya said, "I'll sit on yours Xander."
Xander groaned again, then looked at Anya with a smile. He bent down and kissed her.
"You're crazy An, but I love you." Xander stated.
"And you're easily embarrassed, and you have nice arms, and a strong member, and I love you too." Anya said wrapping her arms around him. She loved him so much, that she would never become a demon again. No matter what Warlock said.