Oracles
Episode 10
Willow and Kennedy's Room:
Buffy had just gotten off the phone. She had about a two hour long phone conversation with Angel. Afterwards, she returned to Willow's hotel room to tell the gang what she found out.
During her phone conversation, she had to explain everything to Angel. The main thing was the fact that she was still alive. She told him that Giles had been under a trance and that the First Evil was not destroyed. Then she moved on to questions about the amulet.
"What did you find out about the amulet?" Willow asked.
"Very little," Buffy replied, "I mean I already knew some but Angel didn't know much more than he told me before."
"Well what did you know?" Giles questioned.
"That it was very powerful and that it had cleansing power. And that it bestowed power to the right person that wore it," she answered.
"Who is the right person?" Xander asked.
"A champion," she replied, "Someone ensouled, more than human."
"Is that all?" Kennedy questioned, "It's not much."
"Well, Angel told me that it had something to do with the Shanshu Prophecy," she informed.
"The what prophecy?" Willow asked.
"The Shanshu Prophecy," she repeated.
"What's that?" Kennedy questioned.
"He said he didn't know," she told them, "He just said it had something to do with a vampire."
"Well, we should research," Willow said.
"That's a good idea, Willow," Giles said, "I'll stop by the library and get some books."
Buffy turned and headed towards the door. She opened it and stepped out.
"Where are you going, Buffy?" Giles questioned
"You know me, not much for the researching," she replied, "Besides I've got something else to do."
And with that Buffy was gone. Willow pulled out her laptop and began typing away. Everyone gathered around her.
"How come she gets to go out?" Kennedy questioned.
"Because she's responsible and can take care of herself," Giles answered.
"And I can't?" Kennedy asked.
"No, it's just some people would prefer your company," Willow told her, smiling.
Downtown Haynesville:
Buffy had gathered all the supplies she needed. Now she was walking around downtown, searching for energy. Angel told her that she'd be able to feel its power. She turned into the alley where she felt strong energy.
She pulled a small urn and some herbs out of her bag. She placed the urn down and poured the herbs into it. Then she took a rock and ground them up. After they were completely ground, she sprinkled them around the alley.
That's when a door opened in the building. It just appeared out of no where. She placed the urn on the ground and pulled out a necklace from her pocket. She walked through the doorway.
Willow and Kennedy's Room:
The gang was still in Willow's room. Giles had returned from the library with several large ancient books. Giles, Andrew, and Kennedy were searching through them, while Willow searched online with her laptop.
"We're getting no where!" Kennedy shouted slamming him book on the table.
"Calm down," Willow said, "There has to be something on this Shanshu Prophecy."
"I've found it!" Giles exclaimed, rising to his feet.
Everyone stood up and rushed over to where Giles was. They crowded around him, looking at the book.
"It says the Shanshu Prophecy will come true when the ensouled vampire fulfills their destiny," Giles read.
"Is that all?" Kennedy asked.
"Yeah, doesn't it say what will happen when the vampire fulfills their destiny?" Andrew asked.
"No, this is all that it says," he told them, "There is very little information in this book."
"And that means?" Kennedy asked.
"That we need to keep searching," Giles replied.
"I knew it!" Kennedy exclaimed.
Giles sat back down and opened another book. The rest of the gang went back to researching also.
The Gateway to the Oracles:
Buffy was surrounded by darkness. Everything was black. She could see nothing. She turned around to see the doorway close. Now she was stuck there for a while
She glanced around and saw two figures coming towards. It was a man and a woman. Now she was really confused.
"Your sacrifice?" the woman asked.
Buffy reached forward, the necklace in hand. She carefully gave it to the woman. The woman took the necklace gracefully and slipped it around her neck.
"So the slayer has finally paid us a visit," the man said.
"You and that witch were the ones that temporarily messed with the slayer line," the woman said, "Her magiks temporarily altered the future. Luckily it was only for a short while."
"Yeah well, it was our only choice," Buffy spoke up, "We needed to win."
"It doesn't seem like it mattered now, does it?" the woman questioned.
"We weakened the First," Buffy said, "So it was necessary."
"As you say, slayer," the woman replied, "However, the First Evil isn't your biggest problem anymore."
"What do you mean?" Buffy asked.
"There is something more powerful afoot," the man told her, "Something that the First Evil will fear."
"What is it?" Buffy asked.
"You will find out soon enough, slayer," the woman replied, "A few months ago, three men tampered with great magiks and freed her from her realm. She is back."
"What is?" Buffy questioned, becoming frustrated.
"Before time existed, there were two being," the man began, "Two Gods, they were. They were the two that created the universe, created your world and all the others. One was the good being; he created all things good in the universe. The other was the evil being; she created all things evil. They were both all powerful, but she wanted more. She wanted to rule all good things, but he wouldn't let her. A great battle started between the two. Many dimensions and beings were destroyed in this battle. The victor was indeed the good being. When she was weak enough, he banished her into an empty dimension for eternity."
"And now what?" Buffy asked.
"The men heard of this story and believed it," the woman informed, "We have no clue how they discovered it at all, but they did. They used their magiks to break the seal on her dimension and free her. And now everyone and everything is in great danger."
"How do I stop it?" Buffy asked.
"We do not know," the woman answered, "There may not be a way to stop her."
"You must not tell anyone about this," the man told her, "No one must know."
"But…" Buffy began.
"No!" the man shouted, interrupting her, "They will all know when the time comes."
"Now what have you come here seeking?" the woman asked her.
"Spike," Buffy said, "What happened with him?"
"Ah…the vampire with the soul," the woman said, "He had fulfilled his destiny. He was sent back to earth."
"Is that all?" Buffy asked.
"Yes," the man told her, "The Powers That Be sent him back."
"The Shanshu Prophecy," Buffy asked, "What is it?"
"When an ensouled vampire fulfills his destiny, he will become mortal," the man answered, "The vampire made the ultimate sacrifice. He sacrificed himself for the world, for the safety of humans. He adverted the apocalypse with his sacrifice. The vampire is human."
"Spike's human," Buffy said.
"But there is one drawback," the woman said, "He needs to hold onto that amulet. It is his lifeline."
She stood there in disbelief. She couldn't believe that Spike was no longer a vampire, but a human. She had always believed that it would be Angel to become human.
"Any other questions that you seek answers for?" the woman asked.
Buffy shook her head no. The man and woman began walking away from her. The doorway reopened behind Buffy. She turned around and walked out, back into the sunlight.
Downtown Haynesville:
Buffy was walking alone downtown. She had to clear her head. She couldn't think about the things she had just learned from the oracles. It was all overwhelming. She couldn't tell anyone the thing about Spike yet. She had to prove it.
She walked slowly through the streets. There were a few people here and there, but that was all. This town was slightly smaller than Sunnydale and had less people. The thing that bothered her was the fact that no one knew their town was on a Hellmouth.
Suddenly, she was hit by a beam of energy from an alley. It knocked her on her back, in the street. Buffy glanced up to see a truck barreling towards her. The driver slammed on the breaks and the truck stopped inches in front of her.
Buffy rose to her feet and looked towards the alley. There he stood; the warlock that she had failed to kill; the one she let get away.
"You thought you killed me, slayer," the warlock said, "Didn't you notice that my body wasn't there?"
He shot another beam of energy towards her. She dove out of the way. It hit the truck. Unfortunately, the truck was a gas truck and it exploded in a huge fireball. Buffy shielded her eyes from the explosion.
When she glanced towards the warlock, he was on the ground. The explosion had knocked him off his feet. Buffy heard the sounds of the fire engines on their way to the scene. She wondered how this was going to be explained.
She ran towards the warlock. She grabbed him by his neck and pulled him to his feet.
"Wasn't that just the smartest magik trick you just pulled," Buffy said sarcastically, "Now how am I supposed to explain that to the police?"
The warlock didn't answer. He just looked her in the eyes. She looked back and noticed pure hatred.
"I can't kill you know either because your body doesn't turn to dust," she told him, "You know, just teleport both of us out of here."
"I'd rot in hell before I helped you out, slayer," he said.
And with that, he was gone. He had teleported safely away. And now Buffy would have to explain what happened to the police. She would have to find the warlock later.
The Sewers:
Buffy was wondering through the damp sewers. She needed to find Spike. She needed his help in finding this warlock. It had taken a while to get away from the police. They had so many questions about the accident. Of course she had to lie to them.
"Spike!" Buffy called as she entered the area where he stayed.
"What's wrong, Buffy?" Spike asked, standing up.
"I need you to help me find something," she said, walking towards him, "Actually someone."
Buffy continued walking towards him. Just before she reached him, her foot got caught on something. She tripped and fell forward. Spike stepped forward and caught her in his arms. She breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thanks," she replied, looking up at his face.
"No problem, luv," he said.
That's when Buffy noticed it. Spike had a heartbeat and he was breathing. She was shocked. She still couldn't believe it. She placed her feet on the ground and stood up.
"Spike, I have something to tell you."
"What is it, luv?"
"I went to visit some oracles today," she began, "I found out something important."
"What did you find out?"
"It has to do with you and coming back to Earth."
"What's wrong, Buffy?"
"Spike…you're human."
"Oh come on, Buffy. Do you expect me to believe that?"
"When you died, did you talk to the Powers That Be?"
"Come to think of it, yes I did."
"Do you remember anything they said to you?"
"It was one. Looked like Anya, she did."
"Anya?"
"That doesn't matter right now. But yes, I do remember a little. She said something about me coming back different. Buffy, I wasn't supposed to have any memories of my past, any memories of you or what happened. But me being alive, that's not true. It can't be."
"Spike, feel for a heartbeat."
Spike slowly took his hand and placed it where his heart would be. He pressed it to his chest and wait. His face was filled with horror. He had a heartbeat.
"Luv...Buffy..."
"Yes Spike?"
"I'm alive."
"I know Spike. But there's one thing you need to know. You hafta keep the amulet on or you will die."
Spike embraced her in a large hug. She hugged him back. Buffy broke it and kissed him. Spike returned that kiss. After a few moments, Spike broke the kiss.
"What was it you came to ask me, luv?" he asked.
"It doesn't matter now."
Downtown Haynesville:
Buffy and Spike were now walking through town. Buffy finally told him why she came to see him in the first place. Spike agreed to help, although, he couldn't track the warlock by smelling him.
They had been searching all over town for more than an hour. Their efforts proved to be futile. Buffy was just about to give up for the night, when she heard a voice call out.
"Slayer!" the warlock shouted, "Did you really think I was through with you?"
Buffy's head turned to where the voice was coming from. She looked across the street and saw him, the warlock.
"Oh and you brought the vampire this time," he said, "Now I can kill both of you."
The warlock began chanting very quickly. Buffy made a mad dash across the street. She had to stop him before he used magik and hurt anyone. She leaped towards him, attempting to tackle. Suddenly, his eyes became black and a great force of energy flew from his body.
The energy hit Buffy. She flew back across the street, hitting Spike. Both fell to the ground. Buffy looked up to see the warlock floating towards them. She quickly jumped to her feet.
The warlock reached them and began chanting once again. Buffy took this opportunity to fight back. She gave him a front kick to the face. She heard a loud crack. The warlock continued chanting though. Buffy gave him another front kick to the head. This time it didn't work. He caught her foot in midair.
"Nice try, slayer," the warlock said, "Did you think I'd let you do it again?"
He twisted her leg and she gasped in pain. Spike rose to his feet and lunged at the warlock. The warlock swung his fist, knocking Spike back to the ground. He was bleeding already.
The warlock swung Buffy by her leg and tossed her through the front window of a shop. The glass shattered and she landed on her side in the store. She slowly stood up, pulling shards of glass from her skin.
That's when she remembered something. She had brought a stake with her. She slid it out of her pocket and gripped it tightly. Meanwhile, the warlock held Spike tightly around the neck with one hand.
"See vampire," he said, "Now you know what it felt like when you did this to my partner."
Spike was turning blue. He couldn't breathe. He was slowly dying. Darkness was slowly taking over his vision. Buffy leaped through the broken window at the warlock. She thrust her stake into his back, causing him to shout in pain.
Spike was dropped to the ground. He was coughing, trying to catch his breath. Buffy pulled the stake out of the warlock and tripped him. She gripped the stake tightly and raised it above him.
She shoved it downward, into the heart of the warlock. He shouted in pain and anguish as it plunged into his heart. He died instantly. Buffy pulled the stake out and slid it back into her pocket. Then she walked over to help Spike up.
Axel's Place:
Buffy had brought Spike back to Axel's place. Luckily Axel was out of town still. He'd be back in a few days. She had the whole place to herself and she loved it.
"Spike, I want you to stay with me," she said.
Spike smiled. Buffy slowly crawled into bed. She motioned for him to climb in with her. He slid off his leather duster and carefully crawled in next to her. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. They were finally together.
Buffy slowly drifted to sleep in his arms. She was happy. She finally had someone she could be with. Spike lay, smiling as he watched her drift into a deep sleep. He was human. He had a heartbeat and could breathe. He was alive again, for the first time in over 100 years. And he was happy.