(A/n): Ok, I've been sick for the past few weeks. Right before finals and regents...just my luck. Of course, I'm not giving up on my first epic. Especially since this is the last chapter. The big finale. With the plot twists and the action. Tying things up in a fascinating knot that leaves just enough wiggle room to create sequels and even prequels. Just like Joss Whedon. Grin
"I've waited several lifetimes for this." Illyria seethed as she picked up one of the employees' desks and threw it at Phoenix. As it tried to collide with her face, she brought her hands up and watched as it disintegrated into ash.
"For what? To lose again?" Phoenix mocked. Her lips didn't moving but quirked into a belittling smile that further enraged the ancient demon.
"It's strange. That you've been here for a whole twenty four hours, yet you've yet to raise your army." Phoenix walked slowly toward Illyria and then stopped suddenly. "Maybe then the playing fields would be even."
Illyria growled as she ran toward Phoenix and aimed a serious of punches toward her head. Phoenix ducked them easily, sardonic giggles accompanying every thrust of the Old One's arm.
"Like I would need help defeating you. Look what you've been reduced to! Taking the form of that...infant." Her face scrunched up in disgust as she spat the last word out. Illyria tried to kick Phoenix in the ribs but she caught her leg, picked her up, and flung her through the window and into Angel's office. Illyria's back slammed into the support beam and she felt to the floor, plaster covering her. Effortlessly she got up.
Phoenix approached the now empty windowpane. "And now YOU'VE been reduced to getting your ass kicked by an infant!"
Illyria's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I refuse to let you send me back to that coffin! I will destroy you, even if I have to level this world to do it!" Illyria raised her hand and the air around it rippled as she manipulated time. Smiling smugly, she watched as the Phoenix just stood their, her gaze unwavering.
Suddenly, she raised her hand and it was slowly engulfed in flames that seemed to spring to life out of her body. Illyria watched, surprised as Phoenix moved as if she were impervious to her time halt. She sliced through the air, opening a small passageway of fire, which she jumped into.
Illyria jumped back, startled and looked around, smelling the air.
"What's she doing?" Spike whispered.
"I don't know." Angel answered. "She seems to be...smelling the air. To find Becca."
"What? Where'd she go?" Spike moved to look over Harmony's desk from where they were all cowering but Angel pushed his head down.
"Phoenix," Lindsey said sharply, correcting the two. "Used her ability to jump realities, times and various planes of existence to escape Illyria's ability to bend time. Quite an effective strategy." Gingerly, he made his way to his knees as he moved next to Angel and watched. Spike moved next to him and Lawson next to him, making Spike growl and Lawson cower slightly.
...And there they were. Each had encountered the most vile and evil creatures this world or any other world had to offer and they were reduced to peaking their heads over the desk like children.
Chloe went for the triple score as she shook her head, sighed AND rolled her eyes at their stupidity. She huddled over near Virginia and Harmony. "The one thing that perplexes me the most about this whole thing," Chloe began as she looked around, assessing the colossal damage before finally pinning the sorceress down with her Interrogative Gaze. "...Is that you don't seem at all surprise."
Virginia smirked. "Well, this is the kind of thing you expect from archenemies." Virginia looked at Chloe sideways before sighing and sitting up. "You see, everything, EVERYTHING has a darkside. People and demigods alike." Virginia looked at the blank faces of Chloe and Harmony and turned to Wesley.
"Wesley, Huggie Bear? Could you please help me elaborate?" Harmony and Chloe snapped their heads toward Wesley at the mention of his old nickname and Wesley turned an interesting shade of pink.
"Ahem, yes, well...You see, the strongest point of Phoenix's darkside is her love for war. She's a very...fiery...being. And then when she decided to encase herself in a human body her darkside increased ten-fold. I mean, we've all seen how dark Man can be." Chloe nodded as she took in the information.
"Wait a minute, if just mixing with the average human got Phoenix all riled up, what about with Becca? I mean, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out she's got a dark past." Harmony pointed out.
Virginia nodded. "Yes. And her past is far darker than we know. The only person who has any idea of it is Lindsey. He's known her longer than any of us."
Lindsey turned around at the sound of his name. His eyes darted between them and finally rested on Chloe's before he turned back toward Illyria.
Chloe continued to look at him so Virginia just continued. "He already knows what is happening because of his relationship to the Phoenix."
"But I don't get it." Harmony yelled. "If she's so unstable and has such a "deep, dark past" why make her the Phoenix so she can go off the deep end again?"
"Because..." Lindsey interrupted. "She comes from a family who has a good track record when it come to keeping their demons just under the surface." Lindsey glanced toward both his sides at Angel and Spike. "Isn't that right, boys?"
Angel and Spike looked at Lindsey and then toward each other before slowly looking back toward Illyria. Carefully, Illyria stepped toward the center of the office, watching everything intently.
Suddenly, a thin slip of fire was exposed right above Illyria. Without warning, an anvil fell on Illyria's head. Every single mouth under that desk dropped, except while others were gasping, Lindsey, Chloe and Lawson were trying to keep from laughing.
Lawson swallowed a laugh. "Becca can't be too far from the surface. Only she would think of the "Acme" approach of ass kicking."
Virginia nodded. "Exactly. Becca's in there and Fred is in Illyria. We just need to draw them out." Virginia looked over at Wesley who squirmed slightly at the slightly sultry look in her eye. "Think you're ready to help her current flame, stud?"
Wesley blushed and looked toward Illyria. "Certainly"
Virginia nodded. "Lindsey. You're her priest and her friend. Go."
Lindsey nodded as he got to his feet. Wesley followed and they slowly walked toward the fire portal that still hovered in the air and the prone body of Illyria. Wesley moved to her side to check on her when her eyes popped open revealing that eerie blue. Her hand snapped up and grabbed Wesley by the neck, choking him as she stood effortlessly. She brought him up above her head.
"Foolish human emotion. So irrelevant." She tightening her grip on his neck. "So self-damaging." Before Lindsey could move to help him, Phoenix slipped out of her portal and in front of him.
"Crap." Lindsey whispered. "Hope I do better than Wes..."
Slowly, Phoenix sauntered toward a fidgety Lindsey. "Hey Becky." As she advanced toward him and into his 'personal bubble', Lindsey backed up until he tripped on the steps that dipped into the main part of the reception office and fell on his butt.
The blank look that was formerly on her face fell away and she laughed, causing Lindsey to visibly relax. She held out her hand and he took it, very relieved. "Whew. That was close. I didn't know what to expect. We were really worr..." Lindsey was cut off when Phoenix pulled his head down and kissed him.
"What the Hell?!" Chloe yelled as she popped up from under the desk. Harmony had to wrestle her down.
"What the Fuck?!" Lawson growled as he popped up. Angel had to wrestle him to the ground while Dru kept Spike from running up to Lindsey and thrashing him.
When Lindsey was able to pry her off of him, Phoenix opened her eyes as what seemed like blood dripped from her eyes, revealing their natural blue. After a few moments of blinking, Becca let out the most bloodcurdling scream
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT'S HOLY?!?!" Becca groaned. Her face contorted in disgust as she began wiping at her tongue. "Yuck! I've got Lindsey taste in my mouth!" While moaning in overly dramatic anguish, she fell to her knees and watched as her suit melted off of her skin like candle wax. Bit by bit it slid off and onto the floor, turning into little spots of fire as it hit and eventually fizzled away.
Lindsey looked at her unimpressed. "Are you done?"
Becca looked up and held out her hand. Lindsey grabbed it and helped her to her feet. "Yeah. I'm good."
An awkward silence descended between them until Wesley's body was thrown into Lindsey knocking them both to the floor. "Ow." Lindsey and Wesley groaned in unison.
Becca groaned and pulled Wesley to his feet. "Come on Prince Charming." Becca grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him. "Your Sleeping Beauty is in there sleeping so go give her a smooch so we can all go home and get some sleep."
Wesley nodded and went back into the line of fire...Only to get kicked in the chest and knocked back into Lindsey, who had only just managed to get back onto one knee before falling flat on his ass again. Wesley and Lindsey was a groaning heap of legs and arms.
"Hmmm. This isn't working." Becca stated with her super ability to state the obvious.
Even slowly than the first time, Wesley managed to get to his feet. "I think I've got it now."
Clearing his throat, Wesley walked over to Illyria. "You are my sunshine. My only sunshine. You make me happy. When skies are gray."
Amidst the "Awwwww's" of the women the hysterical laughter of men, Wesley serenaded Illyira, who stood there with a look of horror on her face that slowly melted into the sappiest, puppy dog, face. Blue eyes became brown and a squeal escaped Freds' lips.
"Awwww, Wesley." Fred mewed as she kissed Wesley.
"That was rather anti-climatic." Becca huffed as Lindsey finally made it to his feet. Looking around skeptically to make sure no one else was going to be flying into him. Just when he thought he was safe, Chloe tackled him in a blur of blonde hair and tiny fists of fury.
"What did I do!" Lindsey managed to choke out between 'Omphs' and 'Ows'.
"You didn't seem to be minding that kiss you and Becca shared. She wasn't herself but you weren't exactly pulling away." Becca covered her mouth and moved whozzily as if to vomit and Lawson moved behind her to keep her steady. Becca turned around and glared. "Why didn't you try to stop me?! I'd have rather kissed you than him."
Lawson grinned. "Really? I'll have to keep that in mind." He was too busy wriggling his eyebrows in a suggestive matter that he didn't notice Spike standing right behind him. Taking this chance, he kicked Lawson right in the ass. Lawson let out an indignant yelp.
"Keep your hormones in check when you're around my daughter, Popeye." Spike and Dru moved toward Becca. "How are you feeling? Any residual side effects to sharing a body with a higher being?" Becca shook her head. "Nah. Not for me but you could still ask Fred. When her lips are less preoccupied..."
Angel cleared his throat after a few awkward moments, sufficiently separating the two. Fred and Wesley grinned sheepishly and mumbled a quick 'Sorry.'
This time it was Wesley who cleared his throat. Desperate to take the attention off of him and Fred he decided to get back to work. "Right, Lindsey, Becca? If you two will come in my office we'll be able to use that tattoo to decode the Shanshu prophecy."
Becca and Lindsey looked at each. "Actually." Becca began. "I don't have to go. Virginia made the tattoo permanent."
Everyone looked at the sorceress and she sighed. "Not that I didn't have complete confidence in your abilities. I mean, that was just a tiny...precaution. Just incase you didn't come back."
Everyone stared at her blankly until Chloe tried to punch her in the face. Unfortunately, Lindsey was able to catch her arm before it came in contact with her face.
Angel rubbed his eyes, wondering how he could have possibly attracted so many...colorful...characters in only 277 years. "Right. I don't know about you guys but I could use a drink. I have a bar in my place."
As if he were offering money, a stampede to his office began. At that point they could have all used something 100 Proof in their systems.
Becca stayed behind with Lindsey and Wesley. "I'm gonna take a quick walk around. I'll meet up with you guys."
She walked away and Wesley and Lindsey walked to his office. After closing the door, Wesley walked to his bookcase and said a quick incantation to another small dimension. As he put his hand through it the space around it rippled and he pulled out the Scroll of Aberijian.
"Let's get started, shall we? Take off your shirt" Wesley said before realizing how that sounded.
He looked at Lindsey disturbed expression. "You know what I mean you ninny."
Becca eased inside of the hospital room and sat down next to the sleeping figure "Stab wound to the lower abdomen." Becca read the medical chart. His head was tossing and turning relentlessly, without any hope of a peaceful sleep.
Becca touched his arm softly. "Hey, Charles." She whispered and watched as his eyes snapped open. He looked at her blankly before answering. "I know you. You're Spike's kid, right?" His voice was low and gravelly so Becca grabbed the pitcher of water and cup on the nightstand by his bed.
"Yeah. We haven't had the chance to formerly meet, yet." Gunn dragged himself up into a sitting position and took the water Becca offered him. "Thank you."
Becca smiled, pulling a seat up next to his bed. "You're Welcome." Becca watched him for a moment, waiting until he put the cup down to start.
"I know..." Becca started. "That there's nothing I can do to help with the guilt you're feeling. I just hope you can find solace in the fact that Fred's back."
Gunn looked at her in shock. "But how? Illyria took her body. She's already..." Becca raised her hand to silence him.
"I'm not going to lie to you. It was a close call. And although Illyria and Fred now share one body I assure you that she's back."
Gunn stared at her, speechless and tears threatening to spill over. Becca just smiled and started to stand. She placed a hand on his leg and smiled. "Don't worry about why or how just yet. Concentrate on getting better. We need you."
Becca walked toward the door but Gunn's voice stopped her from leaving. "Wait!" She turned around and watched as he struggled to remember something. "Becca. That's your name isn't it?" She nodded. Gunn looked like he was debating over what to say to her before he sighed. "Watch your back, alright kid?" Becca smiled and left Gunn alone, to hopefully get the first good amount of rest he's had in what felt like ages.
"Oh my." Wesley said with awe in his voice.
Lindsey frowned. "What?" Lindsey was sitting perched up on Wesley desk. Wes alternated between peering at his chest, the scroll and the book that Wolfram & Hart had with the rest of the Shanshu prophecy.
Wesley grabbed his phone and called Angel's place. "Hello, Angel? I think you should come down here. And bring Spike, Dru and Lawson with you. I don't care if you were about to play spin the bottle it's very important." Wesley hung up the phone and went back to staring at Lindsey's chest.
They heard a tentative knock and watched as the door opened and Becca walked in to join them. "Have you had any luck, Wes?"
Wesley looked up. "Uh, yes, quite. But I'd rather wait for the others to come down first. I called them down." Wesley looked at the book, talking to Becca distractedly. "I was gonna have Lawson find you if you hadn't returned in time."
Becca nodded and moved next to Lindsey to sit on the table. They looked toward the door when they heard the knob turn. Angel, Dru, spike and Lawson came in, giggling slightly.
"You called just in time, Wes." Spike smirked. "I was just about to kiss your girlfriend." Wesley rolled his eyes.
"Thank God for small miracles." Wesley moved in the center of the room with the book in hand. "The reason why I called you into this room is because I've managed to decode the Shanshu prophecy. The reason there's a whole passage on Angel in here is because it's about your vampire bloodline. The Order of Aurelius."
Surprise and confusion was sketched on each person's face. Angel was the first to speak. "That's impossible. I mean, why would a whole prophecy center around us? Each one of us isn't going to be given a soul so just how much is left in that prophecy that we couldn't figure out?"
Wesley continued. "It turns out that many huge events have been foretold. It goes into detail of how there's a vampire with a soul that gets to be human. That's you Angel. Another vampire with a soul who takes over as Champion of the People. That would be Spike."
"How do you know I don't get the 'Golden Boy' special?" Spike asked.
"Because the prophecy also talks of two children. Both born to vampires but one was fathered by one with a soul and the other without. When Becca was born you didn't have a soul. In the same passage it speaks of you becoming The Champion of Light and Protector of Fire."
Spike looked over at Becca who shrugged. He smiled a bit and walked over to her side where he grabbed her hand.
"Wait a minute." Lawson said. "Doesn't that mean that Angel will have a kid?"
Angel looked like a deer caught in headlights so Becca intervened. "Maybe. But let's not cross that road until we get to it."
Spike pouted. "I thought I was the only one with Super Sperm."
A hush spread across the room until Wes cleared his throat and changed the subject. "Quite. Since you have your own road to take Lawson. It says that the vampire sired by the vampire with a soul will also play an intricate part in the upcoming Apocalypse. You and Dru will fight in the service of the one who will ascend."
Lindsey frowned. "I really, REALLY hate this cryptic talk." Angel grunted in agreement.
Becca smirked. "Hey, Wes. What's in the Tarot cards for me?"
Wesley pushed the rim of his glasses up his nose. "Uh, yes. As I said before. There are two children born unto vampires. One is called The Destroyer and the other The Phoenix." Wesley looked up at her.Lindsey scoffed. "What kind of sissy name is "The Destroyer"?""Oh, I don't know. I kinda like it." Everyone turned around to see Cordelia leaning on the doorframe. Cordelia moved in revealing a slightly nervous Connor."Hi. I'm The Destroyer."
THE END.....
Or is it? DU DU DUNNNNNN
That was so much fun
R&R
Because
Uhhhh
It would be nice......