HELLO ALL, LOVING THE REVIEWS ALL. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK, AND I HOPE THE REST OF STORY ENTERTAINS. PLEASE R & R AS ALWAYS

TITLE: THE END OF ALL THINGS

AUTHOR: AVES

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN BUFFY AND ANGEL AND ALL THOSE WONDERFUL CHARACTERS.


CHAPTER 18
BATTLEPOINTS

"Is everything ready?" Hamilton asked the druids who were transporting each of his warriors to their respective sites.

"Excellent," he replied as they nodded in response. He turned to his forces. "I have only one thing to say, kill, maim, destroy, do whatever you have to do but do not fail." The portals openeed and each team disappeared. He turned to a group of demons that had stayed behind. "Come, we have a key to acquire."


Willow had transported the Mexico and Sunnydale teams leaving only the Cleveland force. "Sorry you're going to miss the party," Spike said to Angel.

"Don't worry," Angel replied. "I have a feeling I'm going to see plenty of action."

Spike frowned at him. "Their coming for Dawn aren't they? I saw you looking at her when you told me you were staying behind."

"I'm almost sure of it." Angel said. "This is the Senior Partners' last shot. If I know Wolfrman and Hart they'd rather destroy the world then let us have it, and to do that they'll use the key to open all the door to all dimensions."

"Bloody bastards," Spike growled.

"They won't get her Spike," Angel promised. "I've got ten slayers staying here thinking they are guarding Willow, but they'll be here. Also Giles and I have worked out a plan to keep her safe."

"All right then, take care mate and don't let them get her." Spike said as he left Angel to join his team."

"We're ready," Spike told Willow and she began the teleportation spell.

"Hey why isn't Angel?" one of the Slayers said before they all disappeared.


"Wow, the place sure has changed." Xander said as he stood at the edge of the crater that had once been Sunnydale.

"So the Hellmouth is down there?" Connor asked.

"Yea," Buffy replied. "We've got some climbing to do. Let's go." The team made their way down the crater.

"Look at all the debris," Xander sighed. "I'm glad everybody got out."

"Not everybody," Buffy replied grimly as she shined a flashlight to an area where a partially intact skeleton lay.

"Aw man," Xander said. The group continued down the chasm only a few whispers the only noises until they reached the bottom of the dark crater. Buffy moved carefully to the Hellmouth itself shining her light on it.

"Looks like it's still covered up," she said.

"That good news," Xander replied. "So the Master and his goons haven't gotten here yet."

"Ah, but you would be wrong," a sinister voice echoed from the darkness.

"Oh no," Buffy sighed as hundreds of torches came to life revealing what looked to be an army of demon numbering at least a thousand. Among them a face that had plagued Buffy's nightmares years after their final battle.

"Hello Slayer," The Master growled. "I look forward to tasting you again."


Marcus had his sword drawn as soon as his group appeared at their destination. "Be ready," he commanded.

"Doesn't look like anyone is around," Faith observed.

"Yes, that what worries me," Marcus replied. "Usually when someone comes within a mile of the church the advanced guard is all over them. Something is seriously wrong here."

"What do you want to do?" she asked.

"We continue towards the church, it's only about a quarter-mile from here. We move quickly but quietly," the warrior replied.

Faith nodded and motioned at the other Slayers. "Move out, quietly."

The team scaled the mountainous terrain until they saw a massive ancient looking building that seemed to be carved into the side of the mountain. "What's that?" one of the slayers asked.

"That is my home," Marcus replied with a small smile.

Faith looked at him, a shocked look on her face. "That's the church?"

"Yes," Marcus replied. "The visible part anyway."

"There's more?" another slayer asked.

"Rooms, chambers, steps leading all the way down to the Hellmouth," Marcus answered.

"The church is on the Hellmouth?" Faith asked. "Whose crazy idea was that?"

"Where is one more needed?" Marcus responded with a shrug. The team kept moving until they reached the structure. "I don't like this," Marcus said looking around. "No guards, no one at the watchtowers, no one anywhere. We must go down to the Hellmouth, quickly. I fear we may be too late."


Spike tried to take in his surroundings as soon as he appeared from Willow's teleportation. He turned to face his team. "Look, Angel had to stay behing, trust me when I say it's a good reason. I'm leading this crew and Illyria is second in command. Any questions?"

"I have one deary," Spike heard a familiar voice say.

"Oh balls," Spike thought as he saw Drusilla and her army come from the shadows of the underground tunnel.

Drusilla looked atSpike with that insane look that used to turn him on, now it just gave him the creeps, "How long do you think you'll live after I rip out your heart?"


A thousand to about one hundred. Those were the odds Buffy was guessing as she fought against the demon army. Her group was holding its own against the horde but she couldn't be sure how long it would last. She was definately doing her part slashing and stabbing with the ancient weapon that had become an invaluable ally to her. She had taken out about twenty of her attackers so far. Connor stood closer to her his weapon finding almost as many demons as hers. She had to admit the kid was good.

"Buffy duck!" she heard him scream. She did the splitsto avoid a sweeping blow that would have taken off her head. She saw Connor leap over and spin kicked her attacker, followingwith a downward thrust of his sword that gutted the creature.

"Nice work," Buffy complimented him as she got back on her feet.

"Thanks," Connor replied. "If I can do that a thousand more times we might just make it."


The Master stood on one of the many ledges of the chasm. He studied Buffy's movements, impressed at how her skills had increased since their last encounter. He spoke to the creature that Hamilton had given him who was standing behind him. "You are just aching to get blood on your hands aren't you?" The creature growled an affirmative.

"Very well," The vampire said with a wicked smile. "I think it is time we joined this battle. Remember, the lead slayer is not to be killed. The others you may do with as you please. Now come, I haven't tasted slayer blood in a very long time, and I'm hungry."


Marcus led his team through the dark church not having said a word since they entered the building. Faith was beginning to really worry about him. She thought he looked like he was going to explode. She was about to assure him for about the twentieth time when she heard him let out a short cry as he began to run to the altar.

"Marcus?" she called and ran after him.

He was kneeling holding someone in his arms when she reached him. "Marcus, who is that?"

"Father Torres," he said pain evident in hisvoice.

Faith kneeled next to him and the man he held had a deep slash in his chest. "Marcus, he's alive," she said hearing a shallow breath come from the priest. The warrior laid the man on the floor .

"Father Torres, can you hear me?" he asked. The elderly man opened his eyes and smiled weakly.

"Marcus," he groaned, "my son, I knew you would come back."

"Father, where are the other?" the warrior asked.

"Either dead or defending the Hellmouth," the priest replied his voice a barely audible groan.

"Who did this to you?" Marcus asked hot tears now running down his face.

"A devil with the face of an angel," the priest sighed right before the life left his body.

Marcus stood up his right hand now grasping his weapon so tight it was causing his hand to spasm. Faith put a hand on his shoulder. "Marcus I'm so sorry,"

"We go to the Hellmouth now," he said through gritted teeth. "I have a vampire to kill."


Hamilton stood underneath the ruins of the Wolfram and Hart building. His forces were ready to attack the Hyperion and capture the key but a message from his masters had brought him to a chamber deep beneath the ground. He smirked as three huge beings came from a portal in the center of the chamber. "Masters," he addressed them. "Welcome to the site of your triumph. You are finally home."

"Is all ready?" The Wolf asked

"Yes," Hamilton said. "The teams have arrived at their destinations and now that you have arrived. I shall go acquire the key."

"Do not fail us Hamilton," the Ram hissed. "Your continued existance depends on it."

Hamilton swallowed a bit unnerved by the Ram's statement. "Yes, my lords. I leave immediately. The hour of your victory is at hand."


Spike landed upside down the force of Drusilla's blow had sent him flying. "Well this is going well," he thought. The vampire regained his composure in time to dodge another attack from his sire.

"Poor Spikey," she moaned. "First that nasty chip tames him, then the Slayer, and now a nasty soul. Mommy needs to put her little boy out of his misery." Spike responeded by swinging at her but only got air as Drusilla dodged, grabbed his arm, and threw him over again. Spike got up again, more slowly this time. He was ready to face Drusilla again but instead just saw her crash next to him.

"The half-breed woman annoys me," Illyria snarled as she moved towards them ready to continue her assault on Drusilla. "I wish to cause her more harm."

Spike moved next to her. "Sorry Blue, this one is mine."

Drusilla starting cackling catching Spike and Illyria by surprise.

"What is her defect?" Illyria asked

"What isn't?" Spike responded right before he was picked up by the back of the neck and slammed to the ground. "Bloody hell!" the vampire swore. He looked to see that Illyria had suffered the same fate, however she was already on her feet starting at their attacker. The creature towered over her and it was one of the scariest things Spike had ever seen. It was over seven feet tall and seemed to be some kind of cyborg. "Great," Spike thought. "Just what I need, Adam on steroids."

"You will pay for striking Illyria, god-king of," Illyria's rant was interrupted as the creature back handed her knocking her back about twenty feet into the chamber's wall shaking the entire structure. Spike stood stunned, not quite sure what to do next. Drusilla cackled again as she moved next to the creature.

"See my pretty new pet?" she moaned. "He's going to kill all your little friends and then help destroy the world."


Willow was doing her best to keep track of all the thoughts flowing in and out of her mind. "Can you tell us what's going on?" Giles asked as he pace nervously.

"Buffy's group seems to be doing ok so far, Spike's getting his butt kicked, and Faith, well her group isn't fighting yet but she's really worried about Marcus.

"Great," Giles responed dryly.

"Wait," Willow said. "Got to focus someone in trouble, oh no." Willow no sooner got out the words when one of the slayers came crashing through the window. Giles ran over to the girl.

"Dead," he choked.

"Yes," they all heard a voice say as Hamilton and his team came into the hotel, "and if you don't give me the key the rest of you will be as well."


COMING NEXT CHAPTER

The fight rages on. Buffy faces her greatest enemy once more. Faith and Angelus have a rematch, and an icon of the Angel series is no more. All this and more in Chapter 19 of THE END OF ALL THINGS: ROAD TO HELL