The Chosen One
Episode 22 (Part I)
Buffy's House:
Time was running out for the gang. The First was gathering power more and more each day. Caleb was still on the loose. Ubervamps were now roaming town and the Bringers were still terrorizing everyone. Spike and Buffy were no where to be seen and the gang began getting nervous and hopeless.
Sunnydale was pretty much empty. The only people left were the ones in Buffy's house, Buffy, and Spike. The gang had spent the past few days searching the deserted city for her or Spike, but their efforts were futile. They had pretty much given up hope.
"Willow, it looks like we are on our own this time," Giles told her.
"Meaning?" she questioned.
"That it is up to us to stop the apocalypse this time, without Buffy's help," he replied.
"Giles, we can't do that," she argued, "We've always had Buffy here. We can't just give up hope on her. If we charge into battle, we will lose. We need her to lead us into the final battle."
"I know, Willow,"
Giles said, "But there is nothing we can do. We searched the whole town, high
and low. Buffy is no where to be found."
"We can't do this alone," she
went on.
"We aren't alone," he countered, "And as much as I don't want to admit it, we have Faith leading us."
"Faith put the girls in danger. She doesn't deserve to lead us," Willow countered.
"No Willow, Buffy led them into danger," he countered, "She led them into that vineyard without even thinking. She didn't have a plan, she just barged in there and that's what got them all hurt or killed. Faith was set up. It was a trap."
"Oh so now this is all Buffy's fault?" Willow questioned, "Giles, Buffy has made mistakes before, big mistakes that always had some sort of cost. But she always made up for them, always came back to win."
Giles didn't have anything to say to that. He just left and headed into the living room where the others were. Willow followed.
"All right, listen up!" Faith ordered, "Time is running out! We're going to have to go into the battle soon. We can't waste anymore time screwing around! I'm going to lead all of you into this battle. Any questions?"
"What happens if we just sit this one out?" Rona asked.
"What do you mean?" Faith questioned.
"What if we just wait for the First to attack?" she repeated.
"Cuz then you can count on it that you'll die," she answered.
"We're going to die anyway, so why's it matter if we sit here and wait or go into battle?" Danielle asked.
"Would you rather die fighting? Or sitting here on your asses, waiting?" she asked.
"Do I have to answer that?" Danielle questioned.
"No, you better not," Faith replied.
That's when the lights in the house went out. Everyone screamed and began panicking. Faith just stood there with her arms crossed.
"We're going to find Caleb and kill him," she informed.
The Cemetery:
Buffy was wandering around, alone again, like she had been for a while. She couldn't find Spike. She wondered if he had fled town. She still couldn't go back home. She was too ashamed to face her friends after leading them into that battle and getting them all hurt.
She continued walking along. She thought about going into battle with the First all alone or if she should just leave town like the rest of Sunnydale. She didn't think she could just abandon her friends like that. They may need her soon.
She kept walking through the cemetery, holding the weapon. She still had to patrol. Vampires and demons were still on the loose, even though a lot had left due to the very powerful evil brewing in town. She wanted to know truly how powerful this thing was. Sure she had used it on the Ubervamps, but she wanted to see if it could take out anything.
As she walked on, she came upon an open crypt with a light pouring out. It was puzzling to her that a crypt would be open and that a bright light would be shining out. She walked into the crypt. It looked like an Egyptian tomb.
"Ah, you must be her" said a comforting voice.
Buffy spun around, confused. She didn't know where that voice was coming from. That's when a woman appeared from behind a. She was obviously old and dressed in white.
"Who are you?" Buffy questioned, holding the weapon, ready to attack.
"Don't worry," the woman comforted, "I am not here to harm you. I am one of many. Well, I was. Now I am the only one left. Ah…I see you've found the weapon we forged."
"Created?" Buffy questioned.
"Yes," the woman replied, "We created it to help the slayer. The shadow men created the slayer. They became the Watchers and they watched the slayer, helped her. I am a Guardian. We looked after the slayer; we forged that weapon and hid it from the Watchers."
"What is it?" Buffy asked.
"It's a scythe," she replied.
"What does it do? I mean, I'm sure it is more than just a weapon," Buffy asked.
"It is a super-weapon. It was used to defeat the last pure demon that walked the earth," she answered.
"Does this mean I have a chance of winning?" Buffy questioned.
"It may. It all depends on how you use it. Remember, the end is near. You are running low on time," the woman replied.
"Did she say the end is near or the end is here," someone said.
Suddenly the woman gasped in pain. Her eyes bulged and she cried out. Then she fell dead to the ground. Buffy was taken aback. There, wedged in her back, was a large dagger, one that she had seen before. What shocked her even more was that Caleb was standing over the woman's body. He smirked.
"Do you actually believe that woman?" he asked, "Women are always making up stories. You know, women are always such great liars."
"Here we go with the sermons again," Buffy muttered.
"I searched for several years for this mystical weapon. I searched all over the world. Then I came upon a mission near here," Caleb began, "I found a secret room there behind some tapestry; no one there knew it existed. I was so excited because I thought I had actually found the location of the scythe. Then I found the inscription. It stated…"
"It is not for thee, it is for her alone to wield," Buffy interrupted, finishing his sentence.
"I'm not finished!" Caleb shouted in anger.
"Oh sorry, go on," Buffy said.
"I was furious of this! I burned a mark on the priest and killed all the others. Then I came here, to Sunnydale, the town on the mouth of hell. I came to the old vineyard, where I had been clued in that that was where the scythe was hidden. I tried many a times to remove it, but couldn't. I knew that I could never let you have it, so I guarded it, my Bringers and I."
"Okay, this is getting really boring," Buffy interrupted, "It's a great story and all, but it's just getting too boring."
"Women, always impatience," Caleb went on, "They can never wait for anything. You're a whore! You always will be!"
"Careful with all those words there because if someone didn't know you, they might think you're a woman hater," Buffy countered.
Caleb swung his fist at her. Buffy dodged and countered by swinging the scythe at his head. Caleb ducked and tripped Buffy. She fell to the ground, dropping the scythe. It skidded across the floor of the crypt and hit the wall. Caleb smirked and headed towards it.
Buffy grabbed him by the ankle, causing him to fall to his face. Caleb groaned in pain but quickly stood up. He kicked Buffy, causing her to hit the wall. She came to her senses and tackled him to the ground, before he could reach the scythe.
"You'll never be able to control its powers," Caleb informed, "Give it up!"
"Never!" Buffy shouted.
He shoved Buffy off of him and jumped to his feet. He ran towards the scythe, but Buffy gave him a roundhouse kick, knocking him into the side of the crypt. He grunted, then turned and ran at Buffy. He began throwing punches, left and right. Buffy was doing good at blocking them at first, but he began getting a few in. Caleb then surprised her and kicked her feet out from under her. She fell to the ground, her back hitting the floor. She gasped in pain.
Caleb then bent down, lifting her up by the throat. He squeezed tightly and held her high into the air.
"I finally get the chance to tame you," he said, "You're finished!"
He tossed her across the room. She hit the far wall and collapsed. She was out cold. Caleb smirked and walked calmly to where the scythe lay. Right before he reached the weapon, it was lifted out of his vision.
"Now, now, I don't think Buffy would appreciate you getting your hands on this," the man said, waving the scythe in the air.
"Who the hell are you?" Caleb demanded.
"It doesn't matter," the man replied.
He punched Caleb across the jaw. Caleb flew across the crypt and hit a pillar. That's when Buffy opened her eyes. She slowly stood up and saw Caleb lying on the other side of the crypt. Then she noticed the man standing before her, holding the scythe.
"Angel?" Buffy questioned.
"Hi Buffy," Angel replied, "I heard you needed my help."
Buffy walked over to him. She embraced him in a big huge. She smiled.
"Now don't we all just love reunions," Caleb stated, rising to his feet, "Now I seem to remember a certain bible…"
She broke off the embrace and turned to face the evil preacher. She punched him in the jaw, cutting him off. He flew across the room and landed on the floor, out cold.
"I told you I didn't want to hear another sermon," she said.
"I saved this for you," Angel said, handing her the scythe.
"Thank you," she whispered, "I missed you so much."
"I've missed you too," he replied, embracing her in another hug.
"You people make me sick," Caleb murmured, standing up and walking towards them, "The only thing you care about is love, when you should worry about what is happening around you. The world will soon be crumbling around you and all you do is hold on to the one you love. You don't fight, you just wait. That's all you've ever done. You're all pathetic!"
"See, maybe you're just jealous that you don't have someone. Have you ever loved someone Caleb?" she asked, holding the scythe ready to attack.
"Well now, there goes the woman being curious again. Curiosity only brings trouble and that's all it has brought to women. Take Eve for example. She was curious enough to eat the apple…," he said, but was cut off.
Buffy slashed him across the chest with the scythe. He stumbled backwards in pain. Blood was gushing from his wound.
"What did I say about those sermons?" Buffy questioned, still holding the scythe in attack position.
Caleb lunged at her, giving her a strong hit across the face. She groaned in pain, but countered with a blow to his gut.
"Oh god I've missed this," Angel said, leaning against the side of the crypt.
She gave him a strong roundhouse kick that sent him flying into the crypt wall. She followed it up with a front kick to the face. His nose was now broken. Caleb fought back still. He dished out a few punches to her chest and ended it with a side kick. The kick hit her in the chest, causing her to stumble backwards. She regained her senses and knocked his feet out from under him.
"You're gonna lose," Angel told him, "She's so going to kick your ass."
Caleb grabbed her legs, pulling her to the ground. She fell with a loud groan, but still held onto the scythe. She whipped it around, hitting Caleb in the arm. It left a huge gash there.
"I guess this thing does have the power to take you out," she said, rising to her feet.
Caleb rose slowly, apparently angry. She took this great opportunity to end it. She swung the scythe back and then forward. It connected to his gut, slicing him open. Blood was everywhere. He gasped out loud.
"No," he whispered, "This can't be the end."
"It is," Buffy replied, bringing the scythe down again.
It sliced him across the chest once again. He shouted in pain, and then fell to the ground. He was dead. This threat was finally over.
Buffy turned around to face Angel. He smiled at her, she smiled back.
"It's been awhile," he said.
"Yes it has," she replied, "It always seems like you come back just in time for the apocalypse."
"You're right, it does seem like that," he replied.
She smiled again then embraced him in another hug.
"What are you doing out here all alone?" he asked.
"Well, its kind of a long story," she replied, "I led my friends into battle with Caleb, only to get them all hurt and/or killed, including Xander. I was so upset that I left. I haven't been home in a few weeks."
"Oh, I see," he said, "Well don't you think that it's about time to head back and gather the troops to face this evil?"
Buffy didn't answer. She smiled at him again. He knew what the answer was. He gripped her hand and the two of them headed towards her house.
Buffy's House:
"Is everyone armed and ready?" Faith asked, addressing the troops.
Everyone was standing in the living room. All the girls were holding weapons. Faith realized that she needed all of them to beat Caleb. She was bringing Willow with her this time.
"What the bloody hell is going on in here?" Spike questioned, coming in from the back door.
He entered the family room and looked around. He was surprised that they were all going out.
"Spike?" Giles questioned, "What are you doing back here?"
"Well I came back to see if Buffy had returned yet," he replied, "But apparently she hasn't. So I guess I'll be on my way."
Just then the door opened. All eyes turned towards it. Buffy walked in, carrying some sort of weapon.
"I'm home," she said.
Everyone stared in shock. They had never thought that she'd come back. What shocked them all even more was who followed her in.
"Hello everyone," Angel said.
Everyone was puzzled.
"It's great to have you back, B," Faith said
"Thanks. Where is everyone going this late?" Buffy asked.
"Well, we're going in to face Caleb," Faith replied.
"Caleb is gone," Buffy said.
"You beat him?" Rona questioned from the other side of the room.
Buffy didn't answer her.
"Where did you get that?" Giles asked, pointing to the scythe.
"The vineyard," she replied, "Scared Caleb when I pulled it out of the rock. It's some kind of scythe. I felt power when I pulled it out, like it belongs to me."
"That's interesting," he answered.
There was silence for a few moments, but then Buffy spoke up.
"Alright now is the time," she began, "I'm leading you all straight into the mouth of hell. We're going to the school, everyone is coming."
"But Buffy, shouldn't we research more?" Giles questioned.
"No need to," she answered, "Caleb is gone. The only thing left to do is to go to the seal and defeat the First in the Hellmouth."
Everyone stood in silence for a few moments. They were still holding their weapons.
Buffy spoke up once again, "I hate this. I hate being here. I hate that you have to be here. I hate that there's evil, and that I was chosen to fight it. I wish…a whole lot of the time…that I hadn't been. I know a lot of you wish I hadn't been either. But this isn't about wishes. This is about choices. I believe we can beat this evil. Not when it comes, not when its army is ready, now. I'm opening the seal. I'm going down into the Hellmouth, and I'm finishing this once and for all. Right now you're asking yourself, 'What makes this different? What makes us anything more than a bunch of girls being picked off, one by one?' It's true that none of you have the power that Faith and I do. So here's the part where you make a choice."
"Uh oh," Rona whispered to Amanda, "Here she goes again. She comes back here making speeches about how we're gonna die."
"Be quiet!" Vi whispered.
"What if you could have that power... now?" Buffy questioned, "In every generation, one slayer is born...because a bunch of men who died thousands of years ago made up that rule. They were powerful men. This woman is more powerful than all of them combined. So I say we change the rule. I say my power... should be our power. Tomorrow, Willow will use the essence of the scythe to change our destiny. From now on, every girl in the world who might be a slayer... will be a slayer. Every girl who could have the power... will have the power... can stand up, will stand up. Slayers...every one of us, make your choice, are you ready to be strong?"
Sunnydale High School Basement:
Buffy stood over the seal, examining how they were to go about the plan. All the potentials were behind her, along with Faith, Spike, and Angel. The others were guarding all the doors out of the school. Giles and Xander watched one door, Wood and Jake watched the second one, and Anya and Andrew watched the final door. Buffy didn't want any Ubervamps to escape the school.
Meanwhile, Willow sat in the principal's office. It was directly over the seal. She had a plan to make the potentials all stronger. She sat with the scythe lying in front of her. She was going to draw power out from it in order to do a spell. It was to be the biggest spell she had ever done.
Buffy, Faith, and the girls were all kneeling around the seal. Buffy held up a dagger and quickly cut her palms, then passed it to Faith. She held her palms over the seal, letting her blood drip on it. Faith did the same and passed it along. Soon, all the potentials had cut their palms and were holding them over the seal.
The blood quickly filled the design on the seal and began to glow. They had activated it. The star began to fold up, revealing a large hole. Buffy peered down into it. It was a large cavern, it was hell.
Willow sat in the principal's office, the scythe in front of her. She was chanting a spell. The scythe began to glow as she chanted. Energy began to envelop her and make her glow. She could feel the power radiating from this super-weapon. She felt connected to the scythe and could tell that the power from it was becoming one with her. It was giving her the energy that she needed to perform her spell.
"She better hurry up with that spell!" Buffy exclaimed, "I'm gonna need her and that scythe soon."
"She'll be here, don't worry," Faith responded.
Willow's chanting intensified as she gripped the scythe. She screamed as a blast of energy left her body in the shape of a ring. Suddenly the blast of energy hit all the potentials. They all gasped in shock as some sort of energy entered their bodies.
"I feel it!" Kennedy exclaimed.
"It worked," Buffy whispered.
"I'm stronger," Danielle said, "I can feel the energy."
"So, they're all slayers now?" Spike asked.
"If my spell worked right," Willow said entering the room, holding the scythe.
"Willow, your hair," Buffy mentioned, pointing to Willow's new look.
"What, what's wrong with it?" she asked.
Willow reached for her hair and held a strand in front of her face. It was white!
"What happened?" she exclaimed.
"It might be some kind of side effect of the spell," Angel put in.
"It was weird though," Willow began, "I did the spell, but I didn't feel darkness coming forth."
"Do you think it had something to do with the power in the scythe?" Kennedy asked, "Like maybe it ridded you of the darkness inside."
"I think she may be right," Angel replied.
Willow handed the scythe to Buffy. She gripped it tightly and glanced down into the hole. She was ready. She could feel the power in the scythe radiating again.
"Is everyone ready?" she asked.
One by one, everyone nodded.
"Good!" she exclaimed, "Let's go!"
She turned away from the group and then leapt into the darkness that awaited them all down in hell.
TO BE CONTINUED
