Well, for those whom are familiar with "The Gift," the story is close to an end. Whew! I'm glad...this will be my first completed story. Well, read on and review. Thanks a bunch, Joss, for creating the Buffyverse... I dedicate this story in the memory of my friend, Jenn.

The usual disclaimers apply here...

At the Glory's Tower...Glory: (chuckles) So, you want a fight?

Wah, wah, wah, wah...

Buffy: Yes, I'd like that. Please put your dukes up and I will do the same.

The "Bionic Woman" theme song starts to play.

Glory: Where is that song coming from? (hands on her hip, bewilderment on her face)

Buffy does not give Glory a chance to wonder, she delivers a roundhouse kick, landing her foot squarely on Glory's breastbone. Glory stumbles back, dazed. She lets out a growl through her clenched teeth.

Glory: Superbitch! I'm a god; you can't do that to me! (launches a surprise backhand on Buffy's cheek)

Buffy's head snaps off, live wires sparkling with electricity out of Buffy's neck.

Glory: (stands back, smirking) Gosh, that was easy. I'm beautiful and strong!

Jinx: Yes, you are, oh so inspiration of all fear and wonderment in us all!

Behind Glory, Buffy slowly strides in, pulling her fist back. At an amazing slow speed, the punch connects with the back of Glory's head.

Glory: (eyes rolling back) Doo-oooooooh!

Glory stumbles forward, falling to ground, landing flat on her face.

Buffy: You're...not...exactly...the...

Glory stands back up, brushing dust off her black slacks. She is quite annoyed now. She turns around, fury in her eyes.

Buffy: ...brightest...god...in...the...heavens...?

Glory: (growling) Bitch, bitch, bitch!!! (jumps toward Buffy, her arms outstretched)

Cut to the scene atop the Glory's Tower...

Dawn is clad in ceremonial robes, her hair whipping back by the wind. Tears are streaming down her face, afraid of what is yet to come. In fact, she is so afraid that she knew she shouldn't have had those two glasses of water an hour ago.

Dawn: (looking down) This is not, like, so fair! Ugh, I need to, like, change robes...this one's damp.

A short and skinny white-haired man with eyes of a snake suddenly appears in front of Dawn, grinning from ear to ear.

Dawn: Doc! Save me! And I'll let you, like, touch me and stuff!

Doc: Hmmmm, that certainly does sound tempting...but Glorificus wouldn't like it if I had let you go.

Dawn: Noooo! Not fair, not fair! (stomps feet)

On the construction ground below...

The Scooby Gang and Spike are losing their battle against the loonies. One of them even had the audacity to bean Spike in his head with a heavy brick. Anya stands up a bit, looking over the makeshift wall.

Anya: Do you think if I had gone out there, would I get killed?

Xander: Yes, I think that's the general idea.

Anya: Hmm. (runs out from behind the wall, waving her arms)

Xander: Ahn! (to Giles and Willow) That Ahn...always trying to get out of her "contract."

Xander runs out to Anya and grabs her by her arms, dragging her back to their safe spot.

Anya: No, no, no!!! Let me go, you overgrown baseball player!

Tara and Willow are making out, caught up in the moment. From behind the scenes, someone runs out to the passionate girls and dumps a bucket of water on their heads. Soaking wet, Willow sputters angrily.

Joss: Action, action! (claps hands)

Imp: The Master has spoken!

Willow: (frowning) Spike, hear me!

Spike: (startled) Where did that voice come from? I didn't hear that...

Willow: (brow furrowed) You're hearing me think. Well, not quite--I'm just sitting here all crinkly-brow and you're just hearing my voice-over. But anyway, get over there and save Dawn! Again!

Spike: Gotcha...but what about the loonies?

The "loonies" are standing around, some are munching on Krispy Kreme donuts and some are sipping from their bottles of Evian water. Spike stands up and starts to run toward them, growling. The loonies jump; they had forgotten what they were supposed to do now.

Joss: Cut!

The imp rolls out the red carpet and Joss, in all of his Dungeonmaster's glory, walks down the carpet, steam hissing out of his ears.

Joss: (gesturing with his hands) Loonies, you're supposed to attack Spike now!

Joss turns around, walking back to his director's seat, huffing.

Joss: Action, action! (claps hands)

Imp: The Master has spoken!

The loonies leap toward the incoming Spike, their hands claw-like. Suddenly, the crowd divides into half, parting to let Spike through.

The showdown between Glory and Buffy...

Buffy backhands Glory, Glory's head slowly turning away, saliva flying out of her mouth. Buffy blinks once, her lips curving into a smirk. Glory looks back at Buffy, blinking slowly.

Glory: You...bitch...!

Buffy: Takes...one...to...know...one...!

Glory: (leaps toward Buffy) You'll...pay...!

Buffy crouches down, rolling away from Glory. A look of horror forms on Glory's face as she lands on the ground flat on her face, again. Buffy raises her troll hammer, slowly bringing it down. A sharp crack can be heard as the hammer connects with Glory's back. Glory's body twitches.

Glory: Ooooh...! I...needed...that...! Thanks...!

Buffy: No...problem...!

Buffy raises the hammer again and brings it down...again and again. After a while, Glory rolls onto her back, taking out a cigarette. She lights it and smokes it.

Glory: I'm a new woman now, thanks to you. (changes into a bloodied Ben)

Buffy: Ben...Glory...don't...ever...

Ben: Go near your sister and you? Gotcha!

Buffy stands up, slowly running toward the Glory's Tower's staircase. Ben rolls his eyes, chuckling sardonically. Giles steps in, bending down. He is wearing a leather jacket and denim pants, his hair slicked back.

Ben: Giles...

Giles: That's Ripper to you.

Ben: Ripper? Gah!

Giles a.k.a. Ripper brings his hand down on Ben's face, covering his nose and mouth. After a short while, Ben is dead. Giles stares at Ben's face, smirking. Ethan Rayne steps out of the darkness, placing a hand on Giles' shoulder.

Ethan: Ready to go, luv?

Giles: Not quite yet. There's still more to be done.

Ethan: Oh yes, Buffy.

Something crashes behind Giles and Ethan, making a very loud thud. Giles and Ethan spin around, curious. Xander is sitting on the ground next to a pile of wooden beams, dazed. Underneath the pile, Anya is unconscious...or is she?

Atop the Glory's Tower...

Spike and Doc are fighting, their lithe forms tangling. Spike looks at Dawn behind Doc, smirking.

Spike: I'm so bad! Yeah, I'm the Big Bad! Oh!

Doc has stuck his knife in Spike's stomach, pulling it out as he pushes Spike off the bridge. Wiping the blood off his knife, Doc looks at Dawn and grins.

Doc: Gee, that fellow didn't put up much of a fight, did he? Oh well.

In a flash, Doc appears by Dawn's side, slicing her stomach three times with his knife. Blood gushes out from the shallow cuts, Dawn groaning painfully. Doc looks concerned; Buffy hasn't showed up yet. He places a hand on Dawn's cuts, holding the blood back in. After what seemed like an hour, Buffy finally makes her arrival.

Buffy: Get...away...from...her...!

Doc: (holding up his bloody hands and knife) This should be interesting. (takes a step toward Buffy)

Criticism and praises are greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking a few minutes out of your busy, busy, busy lives to read this... bows repeatedly