A/N: WELL IT'S BEEN A FEW DAYS, SORRY I'M TO THE POINT WHERE I'M ACTUALLY HAVING TO WRITE MORE CHAPTERS BEFORE I'M READY TO POST ANYTHING. THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE GREAT REVIEWS AND I'M ALREADY LOOKING AHEAD FOR ANOTHER PROJECT FEATURING SOME OF THE CHARACTERS FROM THIS STORY. ANYWAY PLEASE READ AND REVIEW AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS.

TITLE: THE END OF ALL THINGS

AUTHOR: AVES

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN I JUST TRIBUTE.


CHAPTER 21
WARRIOR'S CAUSE

Marcus had reached the creature as it started to jump into the Hellmouth. The warrior dangled halfway over the ledge his arms holding the creature by the neck. The thing was thrashing and kicking trying to free itself from the warrior's grip. "Stop squirming blast you!" he yelled as his body started to slowly slide over the edge. "I've got to think of something fast," the warrior thought to himself. He felt his leg brush against his sword as continued his slide, and an idea formed in his head. "This is either going to save us or kill us," he thought. The warrior put his plan to action twisting his body to where his leg brought his sword with it as he slid. The creature screeched as Marcus twisted its neck as he moved. "God be with me," he whispered as he fell over the edge. Marcus released his grip on the creature and it made a laughing sound as it fell, its goal seemingly accomplised. The warrior ignored the sound as he grabbed his falling weapon and turned swinging the blade. The creature had no time to react as the warrior's blade found its target seperating the thing's head from its body. Marcus took no time to celebrate as he quickly went to the task of saving his own life. He slammed his weapon point first into the side of the pit. The weapon tore into the rock before finally stopping his fall. The warrior took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "Please God don't let it explode," he prayed.


The ground shook causing everyone in Spike's apartment to grab hold of something. "Those are becoming more frequent," Giles stated.

"Yea I noticed," Angel responded.

"Angel!" Willow cried, "The opening of the Hellmouth is causing this! I can feel the pain in the Earth. If we don't find a way to stop it the planet is going to tear itself apart."

"Great, just what we need," Angel said dryly. He looked at Giles, "Any ideas?"

"I would think finding a way to stop the destruction of the Earth would be a priority," the watcher responded.

"No, you think?" Angel said. "All right we see if we can find where that red beam is going to. My bet would be the site of the old Wolfrman and Hart office. We all go, and we try to stay out of sight, we don't need any unnecessary battles. Let's move."


Buffy continued her attack taking the offensive against The Master. The vampire got in a few hits, but spent most of his time dodging the Slayer's scythe. "What's the matter ugly?" Buffy taunted. "Little girl too much for you?" The vampire dodge another attack and was able to grab her weapon.

"Not even close," he growled. The Master twisted his body trying to seperate Buffy from her weapon, however Buffy went with the move, flipping over and kicking the vampire causing him to release the scythe. Buffy hit the vampire in the face causing him to stagger back. Buffy refused to let up following with a swing of her weapon that cut a gash across the vampire's chest.

"You little whore!" The Master screeched, "How dare you!" Buffy ignored the insult totally focused on destroying her foe. She spun around and brought the pointed end of her weapon into his chest just missing his heart. The attack didn't kill the vampire, however his scream of pain echoed throughout the chasm. Buffy jerked out her weapon and swung it in a wide circle the sharp end headed for The Master's neck. "This was not the way," he began right before his head came off. The vampire fell into a pile of ash and Buffy dropped to her knees. She wanted to just rest, but a thought that entered her mind caused her to immediately jump back to her feet.

"The Hellmouth!"


The fight between Faith and Angelus had became a virtual deadlock. Both fighters sported nasty scars from their battle. Faith had a small cut in her side and a huge gash on her left arm. Angelus was dealing with the pain he still felt from a small opening across his throat that Faith had given him with a wild swing from her blade. Neither fighter could seem to finish the attack that would have brought them victory. Angelus thought he had Faith with the same move he used during their fight in L.A. that had led to his biting her, but she quickly rolled from his grasp and coutered with a punch to his head. Faith had nearly delivered a lethal blow with her weapon but was knocked off balance by a desperate elbow from the vampire causing her to swing wide. Both of them now stood in fighting positions waiting for the other to make a move.

"You know, this has been real fun Faith," the vampire said, "but I bet my new friend is in the Hellmouth ready to make it go boom. So why don't you just accept the fact that I'm going to violate you in every inhuman way possible."

"I wouldn't bet on that," Faith replied while resuming her attack kicking at his head. The vampire dodged the attack and backhanded her sending her to the ground. Angelus brought the his weapon around pointing the tip of the blade right at her neck.

"What part of you should I start with?" he said licking his lips.

"You really are a perverse bastard you know that?" a voice said from directly behind him.

"What?" the vampire asked right before being picked up and thrown away from his intended victim. Faith smiled as she saw her rescuer.

"Marcus, perfect timing babe," The warrior smiled at her before falling to one knee. "Whoa," Faith said while jumping up to catch him. "You okay?"

"Ask me that again when I haven't just climbed out of Hellmouth," he responded.

Faith chuckled as she helped him up, "I take it you killed whatever that thing was."

"I killed it," he said. "The Hellmouth is still dormant, and I just want to collapse."

Faith got his arm around her and finished getting him to his feet. "Aw isn't that sweet, Faith helping her flavor of the week," Angelus taunted. The vampire was standing in front of them with a very pissed-off look on his face. "I think I'll make you watch what I do to her," he snarled at Marcus.

Marcus smirked at the vampire, his taunts having no affect. "It's over Angelus, your little pet is dead. No opening of the Hellmouth today."

The statemment made the vampire's eyes flash with rage. "You are going to die for this," he shouted. "I'll make sure of that myself." The vampire smiled as a dark vortex appeared behind him. "I'll see you soon, this is far from over," he said before disappearing into the portal. Marcus leaned against Faith as the rest of the demon army vanished.

"Good work," he said.

"Don't get used to saving me," she said playfully giving him a small hug. "I'm not the damsel in distress type."

The warrior chuckled and gave her a kiss on her forehead. "I wasn't planning on it."

"So what now?" she asked.

"We contact Willow and get back to Los Angeles." he replied. "Angelus was right about one thing. This is far from over."


Riley aimed and fired his rifle. Bullets flew at the creature and several of the projectiles his home the explosive shells slowing the monster just enough for Connor to reach their enemy. The youngster drove his blade into the thing's neck. The attack barely had any affect on the creature. It turnedaround and caught Connor with a brutal kick that made him feel like his stomach was going to cave in. Riley rushed to his new ally's aid, pressing his attack by trying to land a blow with his electric baton weapons, but he was instead met with viscious punch to his sternumthat caused the breath to leave his body. The creature took time to look at both of his downed opponents trying to decide which one to finish off when in sensed a new challenger.

"Hey big bad ugly boy," it heard it's new opponent say. The creature looked at its challenge. It seemed smaller than its other opponents and the creature recognized it as female. "You've done pretty good against the kiddies," it said. "Now let's see how you handle the Slayer."


"Great Faith, that's awesome news," Willow said aloud after receiving a mental report from the Slayer.

"They stop the attack there?" Angel asked.

"Yea," Willow replied. "Marcus killed the creature they were trying to open the Hellmouth with, and Angelus took off after that."

"I don't think it would be foolish to assume that both Angelus and Drusilla will be returning here," Giles said.

"I'd about bank on it," Angel replied with a frown. "Ok," he said to the rest of the group. "We stop here for now. I don't want to get to Wolfram and Hart and have their whole force waiting on us. Willow, are you up to getting our teams back."

"I think so," Willow replied, "but I only bring back the ones I sent. If we want any help from Riley's squad or Marcus' priest friends they'll have to find a way here on their own."

Angel nodded, understanding. "All right, get Spike's team here first, and can you tell how Buffy is doing?" Willow concentrated on her mental link with Buffy and then looked at Angel.

"She's doing her usual, trying to save the world."


Buffy felt her whole body shake as the creature brought down its wrist blade on her weapon. The slayer dropped trying to sweep the creature's leg but it was no good as she felt like her leg had hit a tree trunk. The thing tried to take advantage of Buffy's shock by stabbing down with its weapon, however Buffy quickly reacted, knocking the blade to the side with her scythe. The slayer followed by kicking the thing in the chest with both feet sending it back. Buffy leaped to her feet, her weapon ready, waiting for the creature's next move. The monster looked at her and snarled before raising its hand palmward. A projectile shot quickly from the thing's hand and Buffy had just enough time to raise her weapon blocking the spike-type projectile. The creature fired several more of the spikes and Buffy ducked and dodged trying to avoid the attacks. She was successful until the last projectile caughther on the calf. The slayer screamed in pain and fell. Buffy sensed the thing pressing its attack and rolled on her back bringing her weapon up in a defensive position just as the creature was bringing its blade down on her. She blocked the attack, but was now struggling as the thing pushed its weapon down against her. The creature made a laughing sound as it pointed its palm at her again preparing to fire another attack, this time directly at her head.
"Ok Willow, I'll tell them," Faith said responding the wiccan's mental message. She walked over to Marcus who was bandaging up several wounds on an elderly looking priest. Marcus noticed her approach and looked at her smiling. "Faith this is Father Grayson. Father Grayson, this is young woman I told you about."

The priest looked at her and smiled warmly, "Faith, a lovely name for a lovely young woman. I do not know how to express my thanks for your help."

"Just doing my thing padre," Faith replied before turning her attention to Marcus. "Just got word from Willow, big happenings back in L.A. she wants up to prepare for beam out." She looked back at the priest. "I wish your boys could come with us Father but our ride back says she can only bring back the ones she sent here."

"That is quite alright my dear," the priest replied. "As you surely noticed we have much rebuilding to do here. Besides I have great belief in the champions of good in this war." The priest took the bandages from Marcus and put a hand on the warrior's shoulder. Thank you my son, we would have been lost if not for you and your allies. Now go win this war."

Marcus took his friend's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze before letting it go. "I won't fail." he vowed.

The priest smiled, "Of that I have no doubt, now go."

Marcus stood and took Faith's hand, "Ready to save the world?" he asked.

"Always," she responded. Marcus said a quick good-bye the rest of his friends and then helped Faith round up the other Slayers. Faith contacted Willow and Marcus waved at the priests before they disappeared.

"God be with you my son," Father Grayson said as they went out of sight. "God be with you all."


The crackle of electricity that engulfed the creature caught Buffy by surprise. and it really caught the creature by surprise. The thing howled in pain from not only Riley's attack but also from the point of the the sword that wascoming out of its chest. The creature turned away from Buffy to go after its unseen attacker giving her the chance to move out of harm's way. She grabbed her calf which was still throbbing from the spike embedded in it. Riley came to her side and started examining the wound.

"You alright?" he asked.

"Other than the fact it hurt likes hell, yea I think so," she replied. "Where's Connor?"

Riley smiled at pointed to where the youngster had taken over the fight with the creature, "He's holding his own, let's get you to a medic."

"But Connor," she started to protest.

"We get that out of you then we come back," Riley insisted. "The kid has got some serious skills. He'll be fine.


Connor was in fact doing quite fine. He ripped his sword out of the creature's chest and slashed it across its gut. The thing howled and fell to one knee. "Yes!" Connor thought as he finally seemed to really hurt the creature. His joy was short lived however as the thing lunged at him at blinding speed knocking him down. Connor quickly recovered was shocked to see the creature screaming instead of attacking. He looked past the thing and saw Buffy leaning against Riley. The soldier shook his head.

"She never listens," he said.

Connor ducked a clumsy attack by the creature and saw the reason for its scream. The slayer's weapon was embedded in the thing's back. Connor grabbed the scythe and ripped it out of the creature's back causing it to screech once more. The youngster didn't let up attacking the thing by thrusting his weapon into the creature's eye. The thing jerked back ripping the sword out of Connor's hand, however Connor still had Buffy's weapon and brought around in a wide arc catching the creature in the shoulder. Connor brought the weapon down and divided the creature in half. Connor dropped to all fours exhausted. He raised his head and saw Riley walking towards him. Buffy was on the ground still holding her leg.

"You ok?" she asked.

"Yea," he replied. "Let's get back to L.A. I've got some more bad guys to kill."


COMING NEXT CHAPTER

The battle for reality shifts to Los Angeles, Evil arises from the ruins of Wolfram and Hart, and Angel vs Angelus. All this and more in Chapter 22 of THE END OF ALL THINGS: BLOOD WAR