A/N: Sorry for the wait. In the last chapter Faith ties up the Initiative guys. Buffy Spike talk happens. Spike's secret is revealed... you know the one where he hasn't ever done it... with his soul of course. Cordy and Angel went to visit the Oracles. Picks up with Cordy and Angel. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Yeah the characters aren't mine. I wish they were but no. everything belongs to an evil genius named Joss, Mutant Enemy.
Distribution: go ahead if you think it's that good. Always ask first
Spoilers: Some for AtS 'I Will Remember You' and 'Shanshu to L.A'. little tiny itty bitty ones though.
Chapter 23:
"This isn't what I pictured when I said I would go with you. Jeez Angel can you stop with the hound dog routine for just a second..." Cordelia tried again, but it was pretty much useless. Angel was in some weird like trance. They had been walking through the caves for a good twenty minutes and had found nothing remotely useful. Angel was still on the trail of something though.
"Okay maybe if you could just talk to me. You know some sign you're okay. Anything would do really. I mean this whole sniffing thing is freaking me out." Cordy said, but again she got nothing from Angel. It was like he was being drawn by something to go further through the caves.
"Jeez it would be really helpful if I had that cool glow-y power. I can't even see what I'm doing. I've tripped over three rocks and I think there's dirt on my face... and you don't even care. You're walking around here like zombie vamp with your night vision and you don't even care that..." Cordy trailed off when she felt something whipping at her skin. It was an odd feeling like there was a cold draft, but it felt... charged.
"Okay what was that? Angel listen to me I think I'm feeling something, but I don't..." Cordy stopped when she felt the feeling again, but this time instead of brushing against her it was pulling her.
"Okay I've officially lost it. That's right I've lost it... or I'm feeling what you're feeling. Only it's not as strong. Okay I really need to stop talking to myself. I'm trusting you, you know... don't screw it up." Cordy said looking upward like she was talking to the Powers.
She followed Angel, but only because the... whatever it was that was guiding her happened to be following Angel as well. It didn't seem to be as strong as Angel's though. she could still talk if she wanted to and she had the slight feeling that she could turnaround and ignore it if she wanted to.
It was odd that Angel would have the stronger link with the Powers considering she had been one and she still had the visions. Then the thought struck her that because of her Former Power status it was probably harder to manipulate her into doing what this force wanted. "Okay where did that come from? Must be this pull-y thingie." Cordelia muttered.
She and Angel walked for at least ten more minutes before coming to a stone pillar with a bowl and other ingredients on it.
"Okay what now." Cordelia asked. For the first time since they started their journey down the cave Angel looked over at her with clear eyes.
"You're supposed to do the summoning spell." Angel said.
"Oh yeah right he whole reason I'm here is to do that spell. Okay so what do I do?"
"I don't know. Throw some stuff into the bowl and presto. Like I said you should know how to do it on instinct." Angel said.
"Right, instinct." Cordelia said looking down at the various herbs. She picked up one and placed a little in the bowl. Then it was as if her hands weren't hers as she poured various things into the bowl and muttered a few incantations.
Suddenly a white door appeared out of nowhere. It was bordered with ivory and gold. It looked slightly the same as the door in L.A. only more... door like. Angel smiled when he remembered the first time he had went to visit the Oracles with Doyle during the day that wasn't. That entrance had been under the post office and it had given Angel a little laugh.
"Do you know where we are... I mean under." He asked Cordelia instantly realizing she'd have no idea.
"Um... no I don't make it a habit to run around in caves on the Hellmouth." Cordy said a little annoyed but without its usual bite.
"Hmmm, I'll have to ask Spike. Well here goes nothing." Angel said opening the door. The other side held a portal in various colors of blue and green. Angel stepped through it and was expelled to the other side like a bullet. He fell to the ground and took a deep unneeded breath.
"Okay... ow. Jeez how did I get roped into coming with you? I thought I was supposed to stay outside while you did your champion thing." Angel looked up to see Cordelia sprawled out on the floor next to him.
"I don't know what happened. Honestly. Every time I went with Doyle he had to stay on the outside.
"Well that's because those Oracles were arrogant prigs who thought they knew everything. Well I guess they did, but come on how many times can you be cryptic before it turns really annoying. Not to mention grading and time consuming. And what I can't want to see a familiar face." Angel and Cordelia both looked up at the sound of a familiar Irish accented voice.
"Doyle!" Cordelia screamed.
"Yup the one and only Princess. So how's life been treating you two since I left the mortal coil? Wait don't answer that I actually already know the answer. I think congratulations are in order. Angel he looks nothing like you, but I can see the resemblance through the brooding." Doyle said. Angel looked at his old friend who basically looked the same as the day he died. He had the same clothes and everything.
"How... I mean... how?" Angel said not really what to ask first.
"I honestly don't know. One second I'm burning up and the next I'm in this calm place. Seemed like hundreds maybe thousands of years before I was pushed here and all of a sudden I know everything. I mean everything, Angel man. Didn't get an explanation as to why I knew everything, but I just did." Doyle said.
"So you're the new Oracle. I thought Anya said that they're the same person but different bodies" Cordelia said.
"Right, well I think she made a mistake. I get there knowledge and their memories for some reason. I think that's what Anya meant. So I guess I'm the new Oracle. Haven't gotten many visitors, but they all come here seeking my knowledge. It's a bit funny when you think about it." Doyle said.
"And they couldn't set you up with better clothes. I mean if you're all conduit to the Powers and all shouldn't you be in... I don't know robes of white and gauze or something." Cordy said.
"I would have been. You don't even want to begin to know how hard I fought to not have gauze." Doyle said not quiet repressing a shudder.
"Why didn't you leave? Contact us or something." Angel said finally finding his voice.
"Oh I tried. That was the first thing I did. I couldn't get out. Then, with my all knowing Powers, I realized I'm not supposed to leave. It's a bummer, but I'm dead so it really doesn't matter." Doyle said.
"Oh." Angel said quietly.
"It's not big deal really. I'm like at peace with myself so I can just be here. It's really quite fascinating." Doyle said.
"So... you were like floating around in heaven. I know how that goes. I was bored out of my mind up there." Cordelia said.
"Oh my heaven was different from your heaven. See you were there to work whereas I was there to be... well dead. I don't know what made them decide that I was Oracle material, but here I am." Doyle said.
"That's great. So... you know everything. How do you live with knowing everything?" Cordelia said.
"I don't, Princess I'm dead."
"Oh you know what I mean."
"Well it's really easy when you don't have anything better to do. I mean I get to sit around and look at everyone's lives. I just sort of... know. It doesn't overload my brain like the visions did with yours. Sorry about that by the way. I honestly didn't know I would give them to you." Doyle said.
"It's okay. I mean everything happens for a reason." Cordy said.
"Not to sound rash, but guys end of the world. Maybe we could catch up after we stop this apocalypse." Angel said. It was slightly unnerving to see his friend standing there like he was alive. Angel wondered if he could go over and hug him... not that he would, but it was something to ponder. He looked solid.
"Right, sorry, but Angel man the world's always ending. It's been forever since I've seen you guys. Well not really forever for you, but forever for me. I've been dead for what... four years?" Doyle said in a voice that said he wasn't really sure how long he'd been dead.
"Three. Four this December." Cordy said.
"Well it seemed like a lot longer to me. But Angel is right. And there's not much catching up to do. I already know everything about what's happened to you guys over those last three years. All knowing remember. So okay you seek answers... well ask the questions." Doyle said.
"You're not going to be cryptic like all the other Oracles are you?" Angel asked.
"Well it is in the job description. I'm supposed to use the BIG voice and talk all mighty in like lyrics and whatnot, but for you, I'll make an acceptation. The Powers won't mind. They owe me a few thousand."
"And I don't have to give you a gift right. We can do this gift free, because I forgot to bring one."
"No gift. I don't know what I'd do with it." Doyle said.
"Okay so questions. I guess the big one is what is this quest Spike, Xander and I have to go on." Angel asked.
"Spike... ha, that made me laugh. You know the whole soul thing. I mean last time I saw him there were hot pokers involved. Well I guess people or vamps can change. Anyway this quest. Yeah I think I've heard of it. It's just a small thing. You have to go to Kingman's Bluff. I think it's somewhere in Sunnydale. Anyway you go to Kingman's Bluff and there should be a cave... I know another cave... anyway there's a cave and you need to go into it." Doyle said.
"What can we accept to come from this cave? Demons, wizards, witches, other divinities." Angel said.
"Ever here of the Tribunal, Angel." Doyle said with a smile that tells Angel he knows that Angel knows what the Tribunal is.
"Yeah, I've heard of them." Angel said deciding to play along.
"Hear of them... didn't you have to like joust with one of their servants to save that lady that one time." Cordelia said.
"Cordy, Princess, never change." Doyle said with tons of affection. Cordy smiled one of her bright smiles at him and looked pleased.
"As I was saying, you'll have to deal with them. Both you and Spike will have to fight some people in order to be deemed worthy or whatever. It's just like what happened with that lady. You fail, Xander dies and the world ends, but you know, no pressure." Doyle said.
"So me and Spike fight these demon things and we'll get what we're looking for." Angel said.
"That's the basic rundown. Course it's going to be hard Angel. The first time you face the Tribunal it was pretty easy all things considering. You became a champion and that was that. Spike... and I still can't believe it no matter how many times I see it play over and over again in my head... Spike he fought for his soul thus earning him the right to be a champion and Jesus I've been doing this to long because I just said thus." Doyle said.
"Well look at it this way. You sound scholarly... even if you do still look like a retard." Cordy said smiling at Doyle.
"Right back to the hard part. You were saying it was going to be hard." Angel said feeling a bit uneasy about all of it.
"Right, well they know you and Spike are champions and they'll try you as such." Doyle said.
"But didn't they already do that. Me with the lady and Spike with his soul." Angel asked.
"Well, with Spike they were trying to see if he was worthy enough to be a champion. If he could stand all the trials that he would be a champion. With you although you were being used as that lady's champion it wasn't yet set in stone that you were a champion. By defeating the Tribunal's warrior they established that you were a champion. Now that you both are champions... the only two true champions... things'll get a bit harder." Doyle said and Angel saw the grimace on his face.
"Sounds dangerous." Cordelia said.
"It is Cordy, but then again so is saving the world in the first place. You'll do just fine I have faith that you will." Doyle said.
"Would be kind of helpful if you could tell me for fact that I can do this." Angel said and it was just like talking to Doyle again.
Doyle always had the ability to make Angel more talkative with his carefree take on life.
"Sorry Angel man. I wish I could, but I'm not psychic. I know how things work. I know the past all of it really. I know the present and everything that's going on at this moment and I can offer you answers to your questions, but I can see into the future. If it's meant to be it'll happen." Doyle said.
"Great confidence boost." Angel muttered.
"Hey man if I was still alive I'd put my life in your hands and you know that. I've done it before. All you have to do is believe in yourself and your abilities. I know it's been hard this last year what with the rugrat and all, but you can do it. You fight evil. It's what you do." Doyle said.
"Yeah Angel, you're the Dark Avenger, remember." Cordelia said smiling slightly. Angel smiled back at her and her smile turned into one of those famous Cordelia Chase million dollar smiles.
Angel looked at Doyle who was also smiling and he felt a strange sense of rightness. this was him and Doyle and Cordelia. They had come so far since L.A. and here they were. A champion and a former Power and an Oracle. Three extremely powerful people and Angel knew that they were going down their right paths.
"Okay so the Tribunal. Can you tell me what kind of trials Spike and I'll have to endure?" Angel asked.
"It's not for me to say. They'll be trying and test you as an individual. I'm not sure if they have anything to do with strength... physical wise anyway." Doyle said.
"Great so we'll have to deal with mental trials. You sure you don't know what I can expect. Not even a little." Angel said.
"Sorry. The Tribunal's finicky about things. They'll change things up just to mess with you. I can tell you that you shouldn't bring your own weapons. They won't allow you to. They'll see it as an attack and you'll never be able to get what you're looking for." Doyle said.
"So it's just Angel, Spike and Xander. The rest of us won't be able to go with them." Cordy said.
"That's right. You'll just have to sit and wait." Doyle said.
"Buffy's not going to be too happy about that. I mean she's been so coddling over Spike it's starting to get sickening. That and the fact that she's gotta be in charge all the time." Cordy said.
"It doesn't matter. The Tribunal won't accept her as a champion and since she won't be accepted they won't let her in." Doyle said.
"So no weapons... how are we going to fight them without any weapons?" Angel asked.
"They'll most likely give you them." Doyle said.
"And we don't have to present them with a gift or light a sacred fighting torch or anything."
"Nope no gifts or sacred fighting torches. Just go in there and state your purpose."
"And this will lead to getting whatever key we need to decode the rest of the text." Angel said.
"Well not exactly. The Tribunal will give you another text and a shiny looking necklace thing. It's the spell to invoke the dead that you're looking for. The rest of the text that you have you're already fulfilling. It says 'you need to go to an Oracle and ask the questions that lie within your heart'. That's the ancient scripture anyway." Doyle said.
"Okay, so we do this. Thank you for the answers that I was looking for." Angel said.
"Yeah and we'll come visit, Doyle. Honest. After this is all over we'll stop by and talk to you. We won't take up too much of your time cause you know you probably have important stuff to do. But we will come and see you." Cordelia said.
"Of course you Princess. I'm holding you to that. When you save the world come back and say hi." Doyle said opening the portal. Cordelia gave Doyle one last smile before stepping through the portal. Angel went to go step through the portal when it closed.
"Doyle..."
"Okay now they owe me something and I'm collecting. Your head's all jumbled man and I didn't know that my death was going to make it so you'd lose your way." Doyle said.
"I've lost my way?" Angel asked with a certain amount of confusion in his voice.
"Well, yeah, I mean not totally, but you're getting there. This thing with Connor and Cordelia and Darla. It's got you all jumbled up. Now I know you've accepted everything that's happened to you, but you're going to lose everything if you don't change." Doyle said. "I thought you said you can't see into the future?" Angel said.
"I can't... not really. I'm just guessing. See Angel you're a puppet to the Powers and they know it. I know it." Doyle said.
"I'm not a puppet to anyone." Angel said somewhat stubbornly.
"Yes, you are. You just don't want to admit it. So I'm going to give you something that will give you some of your freedom back and will probably help you in this fight." Doyle said.
"What is it?" Angel asked.
"I'm going to give you your soul permanently." Angel stood staring blankly at Doyle for a few minutes. He didn't know what to say to Doyle about the new turn of events. It was something he had always dreamed of having, but never really thought could come true. To have his soul with no repercussions and just to be... free to be happy and experience that happiness.
"Why? Come on Doyle I know the Powers don't give someone something for nothing." Angel said.
"Yeah I know, but this is. It's truly something for nothing. I could have anything I want they said. They owe me or something because of the way I died. Anyway they said that I can choose anything I want and I chose this. No strings Angel, just pure freedom." Doyle said.
"You're not kidding me. You're actually telling the truth." Angel said.
"Angel would I lie to you. They said permanent soul with no repercussions. They've been watching you too Angel man. They can see a slipping pattern. That and... they're afraid." Doyle said.
"Afraid. What are they afraid of?"
"You basically you losing your soul. They see what's happening with Connor and how you're getting closer and closer to him everyday. They see that Buffy isn't to be worried about... although they are concerned with her fascination with the undead if you know what I mean. They see a new threat though." Doyle said.
"Another threat... another person to have perfect happiness with?"
"Exactly."
"Who?"
"Come on man, we both know who I'm talking about. It's Princess. They can tell that you love Cordelia and not just in a sister brother way. They know that you're getting closer and closer that whole Higher Being ascension thing was to come up with a way to stop you two."
"What?! They took Cordy away so they could come up with a way to stop us."
"Yup, Cordy was smart though and she figured it out. They sent her down there with no memory hoping for the best. They totally wiped out the thought that she was here as a diversion. Course we had nothing to do with the Connor thing, but it turned out for the best. You and he are on good terms." Doyle said.
Angel nodded his head curtly. He was upset that the Powers had thought it their right to meddle in things that weren't there business.
"You have me to thank for the whole thing. You know Cordy coming back. She wanted to and they wouldn't let her. I talked them into it after they saw she was getting powerful and would probably be able to get herself out. They took away the memory of the power too. That was her price. So they send me down here as an Oracle and I say well you owe me and they saw name it. And so I named it." Doyle said.
"Wow you gave up your time in heaven so I can have a soul." Angel said.
"Well it wasn't much a sacrifice. I get to see you when I want or well when you have time and I get to save the world... again. All and all I think it's a pretty good idea. One of my better ones."
"Doyle... I don't know what to say."
"Say yes. I can't do it without your permission. Free will and what not. It's a big thing with them." Doyle said looking upward.
"Yes of course are you crazy! I mean... yeah okay." Angel said trying to act indifferent after his display of glee.
"You know now that you're going to have a soul permanent like maybe you can do something for me." Doyle said laughing at Angel's change in attitude.
"Name it."
"Well I want you all to be happy. That's the main thing for me right now. Maybe you could tell Harry I said hi... you know if she's still in L.A. Also I want you to... well when I met you I was on a mission. Make him more integrated into the human world. You gotta stop hiding you glee man. Bounce if you want to. This is a big deal." Doyle said.
Angel looked as though he were thinking it over.
"Yeah okay this is so great. I can't wait."
"Also promise me you'll talk to Cordy. I know you two love each other that way and I want to see you happy." Angel looked over at Doyle and saw the strain in his eyes.
Doyle had once loved Cordelia and Angel knew he would have given everything to be with her, but he knew that he couldn't. Doyle had said the Powers had told him he could have anything he wanted and Angel didn't doubt that they meant anything. He could have come back, but he didn't. He knew his place and all he wanted was for his friends to be happy.
"Doyle... I miss you. I still think about you every so often. I wish... I wish it were me instead of you."
"Aw, man, don't say that. I'm totally fine with my existence. I know that I wanted the girl. Coulda had her to if I was alive. We made a dinner date you know. Anyway it's not my place anymore. I belong here and you belong with her. It takes a big man to say that. I do get it Angel. Fighting the good fight. I saw it when I died to save all of you and I still see it. It's about choices and where you belong and this is where I belong. No regrets that was always my motto." Doyle said.
"I will come visit. Me and Cordy both. And maybe you can meet some of the other people. They're really good people." Angel said.
"I look forward to meeting them. Although I might get teased on in the Oracle world. we're not supposed to let just anybody in, but you know I like to live dangerously." Doyle said.
"Okay we better do this. I don't want to just leave you but..."
"It's the end of the world. I know Angel. I get it. All right this might sting a bit." Doyle said lifting his hands in the air.
He muttered a few words in what sounded like Latin and walked closer to Angel still muttering. He place his hand on Angel's chest and a bright light circle Angel. Doyle was right. It did sting... a lot, but it wasn't anything searing. It took a few minutes before the light and the stinging stopped and he looked around and saw Doyle smiling at him. Angel shifted from one foot to the other and then smiled back at Doyle.
"Your Latin sure has gotten better." Angel said teasingly.
"Angel not to sound too much like Cordy but... duh! All knowing remember."
"How could I forget? I don't feel any different." Angel said.
"I don't imagine you would. Your soul was already there. I just took the curse away, but it's full proof. Nothing would get by my all knowing self. Well you better go. It's been at least ten minutes here so it's been a few seconds in the real world." Doyle said.
"Like I said Doyle. We'll come see you after this is done." Angel said.
"I know, now go save the world so I can still have a job." Doyle said. Before Angel could reply Doyle had opened the portal and had pushed him out.
Angel landed on the floor again. He never remembered the force of being pushed out being that hard.
"Jeez Angel you were gone for a couple of seconds. Did you get caught or something. I mean I was actually starting to worry." Cordy said.
"No, I was just talking to Doyle about some stuff." Angel said getting off the ground and brushing off some dust.
"About what. I mean what could you two possibly be discussing with out me. Were there some more things you needed to know about the Tribunal. Angel hello are you even listening to me. Don't tell me you went all zombie again." Cordy said.
"Cordy, I have to tell you something." Angel said turning towards Cordy and walking over to her.
"What? Is it about what you and Doyle were talking about?" Cordy asked.
"Yeah sort of." Angel said taking Cordy into his arms. He pressed her close to his chest and just looked into her eyes. "Angel..."
"Cordy, Doyle gave me my soul... permanently."
"What?! Angel that's great." Cordy said flinging her arms around Angel's neck to hug him.
"I know it is." Angel said into Cordy's hair.
Cordy looked up at Angel and her eyes were filled with joy and Angel hoped that his eyes reflected the same. He dipped his head and captured her lips in a kiss. It was a sweet kiss nothing overly obscene. Just a happy to be... around kiss.
"What was that for?" Cordy said after Angel pulled away from the kiss.
"Just because I realized... or well I had a little help... anyway I realized that I have to start acting more human. I stopped after Doyle died. I mean I had tried being human with friends and doing things with Doyle like going to bars and what not, but then I died and I was trying, but it wasn't the same. Now I think after seeing Doyle I realized that I could be... human like if I wanted to." Angel said.
"That and you know now curse to keep you from achieving perfect happiness either." Cordy said coyly.
"Well yeah that to. This isn't anything right now Cordy. You and me, but I was hoping it could be a start." Angel said letting the hopeful tone seep into his voice. Cordy looked up at him and saw genuine interest. She rested her head on Angel's chest and sighed.
"It's a start."
A/N: I'm aware that is took a turn from the regular stuff. I mean it's a little more AtS and less BtVS, but everyone's here and everyone needs equal share time. Sorry if it wasn't what you expected but it's my story and I get to chose what goes where. Sorry if you don't watch Angel and don't know who Doyle was, but I always liked him and he's appeared in a few of my stories already. I just love being a fan fiction writer. I can take characters long dead and give them life. Anyhoo. We'll pick up with Buffy and Spike in the next chapter as Buffy searches for the missing Spike. Please review. I LOVE reviews.
