DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything to do with Buffy the Vampire Slayer – it all belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Fox, etc. . .Neither do I own anything to do with Charmed, which belongs to Spelling Entertainment and Constance M. Burge. I think.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Alright, I'm back from holiday, therefore I bring you this update, but I won't have access to my computer until 8th August, so expect the next one at that date the earliest. This is the penultimate chapter.


Chapter 9 – Truth and Alliance

Faith sat cross-legged on a picnic blanket in the middle of the park, the Mayor sitting opposite. She nibbled at her sandwich nervously, looking up at him every once in a while, but then looking back down. They were surrounded by guards of course.

'Faithy, you're acting like a little mouse on that sandwich. You haven't even had breakfast, I'd expect you to be eating like a horse. Is something wrong with the food?'

She frowned a little. 'No, no – the food's five by five. I'm just. . .not hungry is all.'

The Mayor peered at Faith deeply. 'Since yesterday, after we got the Box, you've been acting strangely.'

She brushed away a strand of hair from her cheek. 'Nah, I guess. . .reality's starting to kick in.'

His eyes narrowed. 'You realize what you're doing is precisely contrary to what your powers were given to you for. You're having second thoughts about joining me.'

'No!' she urged, all of a sudden her heart pounding. She could act better than this, she knew she could.

'You're not thinking about contacting Buffy, are you?' he said it with so much hatred, she could hardly have said yes if the situation had been different.

'I'd never do that! I can't do that. She and all her friends hate me for what I've done; they wouldn't let me even if I wanted to!' Which was partly true, she added silently.

His eyebrows set themselves into a dark brooding expression. 'Are you implying that not even one bit of you wants to talk to her?'

'Of course not!' Faith confirmed. This one had been too close. The Mayor was rapidly losing his trust in her. Even though she'd fulfilled her main role – getting the ritual – she still had to find a way to get in touch with Prue and her sisters to see where and when – even how – she could deliver the Mayor to them so that he could be. . .destroyed.

And then the idea hit her. It was now or never.

'You know what?' Faith said confidently, 'I've had enough of Buffy and her annoying little friends.'

He chuckled. 'You and me both sugarplum.'

'What say we eliminate them. . .' she edged closer to him, '. . .permanently.'

He looked mildly taken aback. 'Well, I'd do it in a minute, but I thought you said you didn't want us to have extra bodies on our hands.'

'I changed my mind,' she said firmly. 'No one'll miss 'em.'

He shrugged offhandedly. 'Very well. I'll have my men-'

'No!' she insisted. 'I mean – men if you want, but if you and I go alone together, that would be better justice, right?'

For a moment he looked doubtful. That face passed within seconds, and he brightened up. 'Fine. Tonight at seven, at their little library where they hang around. I'll have some business, but you meet me there at the main entrance, alright?'

Faith smiled, letting the genuine content of success show. 'Great. By tonight, they'll all no longer be our problem.'

'Indeed.' He nodded, took a red apple and bit into it satisfactorily.


Phoebe took a deep breath, looking over everything they'd done. 'Wow. Not bad.'

Every object had been used for the potion, every amulet assigned, every symbol drawn. Piper was pouring the elaborate potion into small vials for her and her sisters. She was just about to pour one for Willow, when Prue stopped her.

'Piper, since when was it the Power of Four?'

Piper raised an eyebrow at her sister. 'I'm pouring some potion for Willow. She's helped make it, she might as well do the spell part with us.'

Prue gave an edgy smile, the kind given by salesmen when the customer points out something wrong with the product. 'Piper, your kindness and generosity are great, but uh. . .1: the Power of Three won't function at its best, and 2: the spell clearly states that only the Charmed Ones can perform it.'

'What?' Piper said skeptically. 'Let me see that. . .' she grabbed the page off the desk, her face relaxing slowly. 'Huh. I didn't know that.'

'God,' Buffy said, 'it makes us appreciate you guys even more.'

Phoebe smiled. 'It's our job.'

Suddenly, the telephone rang on the reception. Giles went to pick it up.

'Sunnydale High School library, Rupert Giles speaking.'

'Giles, it's me,' Faith's urgent voice sounded on the other end. 'Big news on the front. The Mayor's coming armed tonight at 7 to the library. You guys ready for him?'

Giles cast a brief glance at the prepared ritual. 'More than ever, I'm sure.'

Faith sounded slightly relieved. 'Good. I'll be there at 6. Arm yourselves.' She hung up the phone with no pleasantries.

Giles peered curiously at the device in his hand, and then replaced it on the hook. 'That was Faith.'

The group perked. 'And?' Buffy asked keenly.

'The Mayor's coming here in. . .' Giles looked at the clock, 'oh – 3 hours?'

Somehow, it seemed that reality had just hit everyone. This was actually going to happen.

'He'll have lackies,' Giles added. 'Weapons are required.'

They simultaneously walked over to the cage where they hid the weapons. Xander muttered to Oz:

'Lackies? Check it out – Giles is learning cool new words.'

Oz cocked his head. 'Until he uses "boudoir", I remain unimpressed. . .'


Faith stepped impatiently along the sidewalk, sunset beginning to fall. It was five to six, about two hours since she'd talked to Giles.

She couldn't believe in a couple of hours, this could all be over. She could start her life over finally.

The thought lifted her spirits, until she caught sight of the Sunnydale High entrance, and a little gulp found its way down her throat. Confidently, she strode forward. The door got closer and closer – so close that she stuck out her hand to open it-

'Faith?'

She jumped, withdrawing her hand abruptly. Then she realized who the voice belonged to, a sick familiarity grasping her. Dread engulfed her consciousness, turning her to ice.

The Mayor.

'Why are you here so early?' he spoke casually, as if running into a friend on the street.

She swallowed. She didn't know what excuse would sound reasonable.

'Early? Isn't it 7 yet?' It was pathetic, she knew, but she couldn't think of anything else to say.

'Stop lying, you foolish little girl. . .' The Mayor spat out the words, venomous to her ears. 'I know very well why you're here. You've come to help the people in there that I wish to kill.'

Her eyes widened. 'No, I swear, I. . .'

'Rummaged through my office and the Books?' he finished off for her. Faith's digestive system seemed to be forcing her to throw up.

'What?' she uttered.

'You think I don't have cameras in my office, Faith? You think I don't see everything you do?'

She shook her head. It was all too much for her.

'I knew exactly where you'd been all night. Where you were this morning. Unfortunately, I don't know how much information you've divulged to the enemy.'

Faith knew the only thing she could do was run. She backed up into the door. Perhaps she could use the precious seconds to run and warn them about this – she was faster than the Mayor after all.

But not faster than his minions. Two huge scaly demons grabbed her at either side. She struggled, thinking it would be easy with Slayer strength, but it was the complate opposite.

'To the library, boys,' the Mayor commanded. A dozen of the same strong- looking reptilian demons appeared from nowhere. Faith just wanted to cry at the sight.

It was too late for a warning. She just hoped the gang would be ready for this attack.


'Where is she?!' Prue was panicking at the idea of Faith being found out. Piper was relaxed, but knew that in as little as half an hour, her nerves would be all over the place. 'Prue, it's barely a couple of minutes past six. She'll be here.'

Prue put her in tongue in her cheek, trying to get her mind off the worst possible things that could have happened.

A faint booming was heard in the background. Buffy raised her head suspiciously, and they all listened to the ominous sound.

Marching.

Rhythmic marching of a huge army.

And a low scream – Faith's.

'Faith!' Prue ran towards the double doors of the library.

'Prue, no!' Phoebe shouted. 'You don't know what's out there.'

Prue tensed up, hand on the door.

'Besides,' Buffy added, apprehensively grabbing an axe, 'they are coming here for sure.'

Like in a minor earthquake, the ground began to tremble. Prue sprang away from the door, standing by her sisters.

And then it all happened.

An army of dark green reptilian demons made their way in.


'Aa-ah. . .' Willow's voice pitch went up and down. 'Buffy? Were we counting on a huge army of demons storming in. . .?'

'I can't say we were, Will. . .' Buffy said nervously.

'Stop!' Piper yelled, sticking her hands out. She could see the Mayor, and knew he wouldn't freeze, but she was hoping the demons would.

They ceased movement for a couple of seconds, but slowly went back to marching.

'I think you'll find we're immune,' the Mayor taunted.

The Scooby Gang could think of nothing else but to fight. Rather than attacking though, they were just about managing to defend themselves and make sure the demons didn't ruin the set-up ritual up the steps.

Cordelia and Wesley ran to hide behind the bookcases – they both knew they had no idea how to fight. The only reason they were there was to see the Mayor destroyed.

Prue tried to concentrate on telekinetically throwing the demons back, even though she knew they were almost completely immune. With all her might, more inner strength than she had ever summoned before, they barely shifted backwards.

Wait – OK, maybe she couldn't move them, but what she could do. . .

Taking in the atmosphere around her, she tried to remember the first time she'd used rage to unlock her power. She just had to remember that, channel all the rage she could. . .

She caught sight of Faith trying to writhe herself free from the demons. It was enough.

Books from all directions zoomed towards the demons and beat them over and over. This would buy some time at least.


Phoebe backed up into the desk. The three pages from the ritual crumpled beneath her fingers. She snatched them up, and felt her heart stop at a glimpse of the spell on the third page.

Spell to Ally Demons to Your Side.

'Oh my God. . .' she uttered under her breath. 'Prue! Piper!'

'Kinda busy, Phoebs!' Piper called behind her, throwing a book from the floor at a demon.

'Please. . .take. . .care!' Giles shouted amongst the throwing. 'Some of these are one of a kind!'

Buffy shot a look at Giles, meanwhile hitting a demon in front of her repeatedly with an axe. It caused him to cower away.

'Guys!' Phoebe walked over, pulling them back. 'Look!' she pointed at the page.

'Of course!' Prue's eyes widened. The three entwined hands, reading off the paper:

'Let the balance of good and evil be thrown off the scales,
Demons, be under our control, so our enemy's plot fails.
Alliance with us, you may mime,
Nevertheless, make us partners in crime.'

Like mechanical toys, the demons switched off their movement. Faith was released, and she ran over to them. She threw herself gratefully at Prue, who embraced her wholeheartedly.

'What?!' The Mayor's gruff voice roared. 'What did you do to my army?!'

'Sorry,' Piper fake apologized. 'It's our army now.'

He stood rooted to the spot. 'You can't do this to me! Faith – it's not too late. We can take over Sunnydale together! You can have anything you want!'

She sharply fired back: 'I have all I want. . .' a beat, '. . .right here.'

Buffy couldn't help but smile, as she spoke to the demons. 'Take him to the centre of the pentagram, boys.'

The demons crowded around him, taking a body part each. They were too strong for him to fight back. He'd certainly chosen appropriate demons.

He was pushed to the center of the pentagram, the Charmed sisters gathering at 3 of the 5 points. Before he could escape, they chanted:

'Raise the barrier, hold the creature inside,
As we prepare to destroy it, it can neither run nor hide.'

For the first time they'd ever seen, the Mayor looked scared. A translucent bubble formed around him. He couldn't escape now.

'What's this do exactly?' Oz asked.

'It stops anything from coming out,' Phoebe explained, 'but allows all our potions in.'

'Wait!' Wesley ran over to Faith, handing her an amulet. 'Put this on.'

She smiled. 'Thanks Wes.'

'Faith, stop them!' the Mayor said desperately. 'I love you!'

She looked him right in the eye. 'Don't you use that word. You think you know love – all that you've ever seen is people pretending to love. It's all been false – everything around you.'

'No, Faith!' His cry was genuine. Before his destruction, he'd tapped into his one tiny remainder of humanity. 'Before I die. . .I want you to know that you really meant something to me. . .'

She raised her head, still not trusting what he was saying. The Charmed sisters had refrained from finishing him off until he stopped speaking.

'. . .and I understand the pull of doing the right thing, being a Slayer – the effect it has on you. I thought I could beat that, but obviously I can't. I'm just glad that. . .you opened your heart for me.'

Faith hesitated, thinking about what she could say, what her last words would be to him.

'You're welcome.' She looked at the Charmed Ones. 'Now kill him.'

Prue, Piper and Phoebe took a deep breath. From memory, each holding a vial with individual qualities for destruction, they chanted the spell.

'Your invincibility we now strip away,
So you cannot transform on Ascension Day,
The evil you've done and you plan to do,
We'll now prevent, removing the existence of you.'
Phoebe: 'The pain you have caused, an eye for an eye,'
Piper: 'The poison from your mouth, every single dark lie,'
Prue: 'To Ascend to a great demon, you wished to try,'
Together: 'Because of all that – now you will die!'

With all their force, they threw their bottles into the bubble at the Mayor's feet. His face was invaded by pain.

'Nooooooo!' He dropped to his knees, screaming in agony. A fire was consuming him, going inwards to out. The last thing they saw was his burning body. He erupted into fireworks within the bubble, which subsequently broke.

He was gone.

Everyone panted – their breaths had been held the entire time.

'We did it,' Willow said simply.

'Yes,' Giles took off his glasses, 'we killed the Mayor.'

'So. . .' Xander went over to Buffy, 'no big snake on Graduation?'

'Guess not.' Buffy dropped her axe lifelessly, walking over to the sand circle and pentagram. She kicked them lightly. 'It's over.'

'So. . .guys?' Faith said slowly. 'Do you trust me yet?'

Buffy didn't know what it was. Perhaps it was the Slayer bond. But she realized Faith had proven herself – she really was on the good side. She ran over to Faith, hugging her tightly in an overwhelming moment of emotion. Faith held a firm grip on Buffy, vowing to fight against evil for always.

'It's good to have you back, Faith,' Buffy whispered in her ear.

Prue smiled. That was another innocent in the 'saved' bag.

'Hey, I have a question. . .' Oz turned his head to the army of a dozen demons standing in perfect formation. 'What do we do with those guys?'

'Wait. . .' Xander came a few meters closer. 'They're under our control, right?' The Charmed Ones nodded weakly. Xander crouched lower, keeping eye contact with the demons.

'Sit!'

All together, they sat down cross-legged.

'Roll over!'

They lay down on their backs and did so.

'Do the Macarena!'

They stood up, about to carry out the cheesy dance, but Buffy intervened.

'No!' She scolded Xander with her eyes.

'Hey, let's each take one as our personal slave!' Cordy suggested.

They started at her bizarrely.

'Huh!' she scoffed. 'Kidding!'

'Well, in any case,' Giles filled the silence, 'we need to get rid of them. We can't exactly have a dozen demons walking around.'

'On the Hellmouth?' Buffy reminded. 'Sounds like a daily occurrence.'

Wesley spoke up. 'I could get the Council to. . .'

All of a sudden, the ground began to shake under their feet. They were terrified for a few seconds, until the huge green demons exploded in front of their very eyes, turning into chickens. The Halliwells burst out laughing.

'Chickens?' Buffy shouted among the clucking and flapping.

'Oh!' Wesley pranced over to the occult books that hadn't been thrown on the floor. Looking at the titles, he pulled one out, flicking through it.

'Aha!' he found the page he was searching for. 'I knew it! Rahmqvist demons!'

'Rahmqvist?' Faith asked.

Giles leaned back on the railing. 'Of course! When Rahmqvist demons fulfil their purpose, they permanently turn into chickens!'

Feathers flapped around everywhere as they all giggled.

'You know. . .' Cordy called above the noise, 'I think the demons would have been easier to explain!'

They were waving their hands about, amulets on their necks swinging left and right.

The doors of the library swung open, and Snyder walked in wearing baggy pajamas and a floppy hat.

'What is-' his voice was incredibly irritated. As soon as he caught sight of the chickens, he looked doubtfully between Giles and Buffy. 'Why is their poultry on my campus?'

'Uh. . .' Willow came up with an idea. 'It's a, um. . .biology project.'

He furrowed his eyebrows. 'About what?!'

'Uh. . .' Xander stood in front of Willow. 'We're uh. . .testing! Testing. . .chickens. . .whether they, um. . .'

'. . .can read!' Buffy finished off. 'We're testing if chickens can read. But uh. . .we're finding that. . .they're not too keen on the books.'

'So I guess it's back to the farm for these guys!' Cordy reluctantly picked one up, cuddling it like a baby.

Snyder's eyes darted left and right. 'School ended 5 hours ago! Go to your homes – I'm trying to get some rest!' With that, he exited.

It was too much. Everyone in the library collapsed laughing, except Oz who was finding he felt a special connection with a lone chicken in the corner.


A/N: There is one more chapter left to tie up all the loose ends, and for the school year to be completed with a prom and a graduation. As I said before, 8th August at the earliest is next update. And thanks everybody for your great positive feedback and making me finish this story!

Oh, and Rahmqvist = a brand of colouring pencils :)

Another useful place to find demon names is in the ingredients lists of candy :)