Chapter 24
There were demons everywhere in the alley behind the Hyperion Hotel. They have been planning for the upcoming apocalypse for days, but they had no idea it would be like this. They were fighting off the demons as best they could. Angel, Spike, Buffy, Gunn, Wesley, Connor, and even Dawn. They were outnumbered and had numerous injuries; luckily Buffy's were healing fast. Buffy watched as Angel and Spike fought side by side and took out demon after demon. She was amazed at how well they fought together. She could tell that everyone was getting tired and she didn't think they would be able to last that much longer. Buffy tried to locate Dawn and couldn't find her anywhere. Buffy didn't want Dawn in the fight, but she had to let her sister grow up some time and Dawn really wanted to help. Blood was spilled as Buffy decapitated a demon to her right. They kept coming when suddenly everything stopped. Buffy looked around to see that every demon was frozen in place. The others were just as surprised as she was. Dawn limped over to her and Buffy put her arm around her sister so she wouldn't fall down. "What happened?" Dawn asked and Buffy shook her head.
"I don't know." The others walked over to where Buffy and Dawn were looking just as confused.
"It looks like time stopped. What do you suppose did this?" Spike asked and everyone wondered the same thing when they all heard a familiar voice.
"That would be me." The voice said as someone then walked over to them and she seemed to appear out of nowhere.
"Willow?" Buffy said and the red head gave her a smile.
"Hey, Buffy. I thought you could use some help." Buffy smiled back at her.
"You don't know how glad I am to see you." She said.
"Red, you did this?" Spike asked and Willow turned to look at him.
"Yeah, it's pretty cool isn't it? It won't hold though. I'll need Buffy's help to finish them off." Buffy seemed surprised by that.
"Me, what can I do?" Willow walked closer to Buffy.
"You're the key in all of this, Buffy. That's why they brought you back because you would play a big part in the apocalypse. Without you the world wouldn't have a chance." Willow explained.
"Wait, I thought Spike and Angel were the keys to saving the world. I was only sent here to help them." Willow shook her head.
"That's what they wanted you to think, but the truth is that the world wouldn't have been saved without you. We have to hurry before they unfreeze. Take my hand." Buffy raised her eyebrows and still seemed confused at what Willow was telling her. Willow saw her hesitation and grasped Buffy's hand. "Just trust me." She said as she closed her eyes. Buffy did the same and then they were both enveloped in a white glow as Willow recited words that weren't in English. They figured it was some spell. Everyone else stepped back as Willow's hair started to turn white, they noticed that Buffy's hair was doing the same thing. The white light around them got bigger and it enveloped all of the frozen demons. The energy was too much and the demons started to burn until there was nothing left. The light started to fade as Willow let Buffy's hand go. She fell back and landed in Spike's arms. Her eyes opened to look up at him.
"Did we win?" She asked a little dazed and Spike smiled at her.
"I think so." She stood up and looked around and saw that all the demons were gone. Willow's hair then turned back to normal and she looked at all of them.
"That felt good." She told them and Buffy smiled at her.
"We really did it. That was amazing, I felt this power go through me. I didn't realize it would be that easy though. Thanks, Will. We wouldn't have been able to do it without you." Willow waved her hand in the air.
"Think nothing of it, just glad I could help. I have to go, I left Kennedy alone and she's probably wondering where I am." She told them as she gave Buffy a hug and then Dawn. "I'll see you guys soon." She said to them and then looked at Spike. "It's good to have you back." She told him as she also gave him a hug which surprised him, but he hugged her back anyway. She let go of him and looked back at Buffy. "By the way, Buffy. You don't have to worry about those visions being painful anymore. You're finally getting a break from the headaches." Buffy sighed in relief.
"Oh, thank god. That was such a drag." She said and Willow smiled at her. She gave everyone a final wave and then she was gone. They all didn't know what to say after that. Dawn looked at her sister and finally noticed something.
"Buffy, you're blonde again." She said and everyone else looked at her and noticed it also. Buffy frowned as she touched her hair. She let out a sigh.
"Great, it'll be a pain to dye this again. How come her hair went back to normal? Oh well, I had more fun as a blonde anyway." She said and Spike put his arm around her.
"I do prefer you this way." Buffy rested her head on his chest and then smiled when she heard the beating that was coming from his heart. She wondered how long it would take him to figure it out.