Back to Normal

Episode 23

            An entire summer had gone by since the near end of the world. A few months since Buffy defeated the greatest evil the world had ever known. A few months since all evil was eliminated from the world. Everyone was happy and everything was back to normal.

            Buffy was through. She had no need for being the slayer anymore since there was no evil anymore. She could finally have a normal life after all. One thing that had kind of puzzled Buffy was the fact that Spike was still here. She went to Giles and asked him.

            "If the evil is gone, then why is Spike still here?" Buffy asked him.

            "That is a good question, Buffy," Giles replied, "I don't have an answer for it though."

            "Spike should have disappeared like all other vampires in the world," Buffy added.

            "But he didn't," Giles said, "This is going to involve some research."

            "Well good luck with that research, Giles," Buffy said and walked out of the room.

            She had some questions that she needed to ask Spike. He had been living in her basement since he had no where else to live. She opened the door and walked down the stairs.

            "Spike," Buffy called as she walked downstairs.

            Spike was sitting on his small bed, reading some kind of book.

            "What is it, luv?" he questioned.

            Buffy came over and sat besides him on the bed. She smiled as he put down the book.

            "I have some questions for you," she said.

            "Go ahead," he replied.

            "How did you do it?" she asked.

            "What you mean my soul?" he questioned.

            "Yeah, how did you get it back?" she asked.

            "I traveled halfway around the world to Africa in search of a legend. I made a deal with a demon. It put me through trials."

            "Trials?"

            "Very difficult trials. Didn't realize what pain was until afterwards. Didn't realize what it was until I was given this soul."

            "And after these trials he returned it?"

            "Yes, but it wasn't what I went there for. I wanted it removed."

            "The chip?"

            "Yeah. I wanted to kill you. I wanted to make you suffer for what you did to me so long ago. I wanted to kill again. I wanted to be what I was before. I guess the demon heard wrong."

            "Why did you come back here?"

            "I'm not sure. I don't remember much."

            "How'd you get back?"

            "From what I remember, I got back by boat."

            "And you lived in that warehouse?"

            "Yeah, it was near the place where the boat docked."

            "I see. Why are you still here?"

            "What do you mean?"

            "The evil is gone, you should be too."

            "You do understand that it's wrong."

            "What is?"

            "The evil isn't gone. Evil cannot be destroyed from the world. It's impossible. The slayer's job is endless. You"

            "How can you know this?"

            "I'm a creature of the darkness and I'm still here. And the past few nights, I've seen other vampires."

            "Then why didn't you tell me?"

            "I didn't want to spoil everyone's good mood."

            "So you'd rather have people die, then tell us vampires are still around."           

            "No."

            "Then what, Spike. You haven't changed. You're still evil."

            "Oh course I am, Buffy. I'm a vampire. The soul just makes me feel remorse; it can't stop me from killing. Humans have souls, but they still feel remorse after they've killed. I'm still evil within and so is Angel. You were played, Buffy. All of you were played."

            Buffy was angry. She stormed out of the basement and back upstairs. She walked into the dining room, where Giles was researching.

            "What did you get out of him?" he asked, without looking up from the book.

            "A lot," Buffy informed.

            "About why he's still here, right?" he questioned.

            "Yes," she replied, "He said that evil isn't gone."

            "What?" Giles questioned, "What about what we heard?"

            "He said he saw vampires in the cemetery a few nights ago."

            "Why didn't he come to tell you?"

            "He said that he didn't want to spoil everyone's good mood."

            "Hmm…I want you to patrol tonight to see if everything is okay."
            "I guess. It's not like I have anything else to do since it is Saturday."

A Few Hours Later, Summers Residence:

            Buffy was frustrated. Whatever had told her that evil was gone, had lied. She had been in the cemetery for a half hour and had already come across seven vampires. She easily dusted them. She walked in the door of her house.

            "What's the situation, Buffy?" Giles asked.

            "As much as I don't want to admit it, Spike was right. I dusted seven vampires and I was only there for a half hour," she told him.

            "It lied," Giles said.

            "What did?" she questioned.

            "Whatever it was that told us that evil would be gone. Buffy, something may be messing with us."

            "I don't know, Giles," she replied.

            "This is going to be trouble," he informed.

            "I know."

            "You may be in for the biggest battle of your life soon, Buffy."

            "I'll be ready, just like I was for this one. I will train hard and help to train the slayers-in-training."

            "I know, Buffy. I know."