The Quickening

Notes: Okay, one more chapter after this. I was going to put it all into one, but I don't want the chapter to be too unwieldy. Thanks for the reviews.

Previously:

"Guys?" Cordelia cut in, "Now that this catastrophe is over, can we head home to get some sleep? We've got a big day tomorrow."

Chapter Seventy-Three:

The wind was warm against her face. Breathing in deeply, Faith smiled as sea air filled her nostrils. It reminded her of home. "When I was a little girl, I used to hang around the docks and watch the ships come in. I always wanted to get on one and see where it took me," Faith said. "Sail away. Of course, I don't know why I'm telling you this."

"No, I imagine I don't really care, do I?" The First Evil asked. Faith opened her eyes. She was sitting on a white beach. The endless blue sea crashed before her. The sand was warm on her toes and she dug them down deep, smiling at the feel of the crystal specks rubbing against her skin. The sky was clear and blue above her, but storm clouds lingered on the horizon, out over the water, and Faith could see lightening shooting down from the heavens. "Looks like a storm is coming," the First commented.

"Better pack a raincoat," Faith murmured.

"Your Watcher told you that, didn't she?" The First asked.

"I don't remember," Faith answered. "It was a long time ago."

"A raincoat won't help you now," the First continued. "I think this storm is bigger than that."

"Human weakness, right?" Faith commented. "Always trying to protect ourselves when there's not a chance in Hell."

"Funny you should mention that," the First said. Faith looked over, taking in the image of the First sitting next to her on the beach. Its face was blurred, but Faith knew that the person lying beneath was one she would recognize.

"Why won't you just show me your face?" She asked.

"All things in due time, Faith," the First replied. "Your not ready, yet. But one day, you will be."

"What does that mean?" Faith asked.

"This life wasn't meant for you," the First said, glancing over at her. Faith could see piercing green eyes beneath the muddled features of its face.

"I don't know any other," Faith responded slowly.

The First smiled, or at least, Faith thought that it did. "Trying on big sister's clothes, are you? They'll never fit."

Faith turned back towards the sea to watch the storm gather over the water. The dark clouds rolled closer, bringing a cold wind with them that bit at Faith's skin. Thunder boomed and a torrent of rain poured down over the beach. Faith looked up into the clouds and opened her mouth, catching raindrops on her tongue. "I have to go. The Ascension is today. Miles to go. Human weakness and all that?"

"You all have it," the First confirmed. "Want to know what yours is, Faith?"

"I have a feeling you're going to tell me whether I do or not," Faith replied.

The First laughed, a cold, sinister laugh that filled Faith's ears. She shuddered. The First rose to its feet and reached a hand down for Faith. She took it and joined the First as it stood, facing the sea. "Jealousy."

…………………………..

Faith walked into the library, nearly tripped over her feet as she skidded to a stop. "I know, absolutely incredible, isn't it?" Giles asked excitedly, walking over to her. "I've never seen so many people in this library before," he said, his face beaming. Faith laughed.

"And here I was so impressed with all the weapons," she replied. All of the weapons that they could find were stacked and crammed in every corner of the library. Though the graduating class had been suspicious of the plan for destroying the Mayor at first, they had quickly jumped on board once reminded of the numerous times vampires and demons had tried to kill them over the course of their four years at Sunnydale High. Now, they seemed more excited about getting revenge than nervous about standing off with a powerful demon and all of its minions.

"The day will become night," Wesley said, reading aloud from an ancient text. He and the others were gathered around the book return counter.

"Meaning?" Buffy asked.

"An eclipse," Giles said as he and Faith joined them.

"Puts me back in the game," Angel commented. "Along with all of the Mayor's vamps."

"What makes you think you were ever out of the game?" Faith asked.

"We were just gonna put a trash bag over your head and let you loose," Buffy said, laughing as the corners of Angel's mouth lifted into a tiny smile.

"Good to know," he replied.

"How are we doing on weapons?" Xander asked.

"Looks like there'll be enough," Faith said, glancing back at the library tables. The students were sifting through weapons, selecting those that were easier to hide under their robes than some of the more unwieldy weapons that Giles had brought with him from his apartment. "Thinking that battle ax wasn't the best choice," she added, nodding over to an ax that looked to be taller than she.

Giles cleared his throat and removed his glasses, cleaning them on the front of his shirt. "Yes, well, I believe someone told me to bring everything that I had," he argued.

Angel moved away from the others, walking to one of the tables to select his a weapon for himself. Buffy followed after him. Faith watched as the two lovers talked. Buffy was obviously distressed at what Angel had to say to her. Walking back, the blonde slayer stopped beside Faith, crossing her arms over her chest. "What's up, B?" Faith asked, bumping the other girl with her elbow.

"Angel's leaving after the fight," Buffy said. "Going to L.A."

"It's for the best," Faith replied.

"I know," Buffy said wearily. "But it's still not something that I wanted to hear. Is everyone ready?" She asked, addressing the others.

"Ready and set," Cordelia answered.

"Good," Buffy responded. "Let's go graduate."

…………………………..

Faith watched from the trees lining the quad as the graduating class took their seats and the music died away. "God this is boring," she muttered to herself. "No wonder I dropped out." She searched the crowd until she found Xander sitting with the others. He looked back at her and smiled. Despite her growing anxiety, Faith smiled back. She was starting to wonder if the First Evil had been stringing her along the whole time. Perhaps she was playing right into its hands. For the first time, she had been the one to pull through when the others needed her and it had felt good.

Principal Snyder's whiny voice pulled Faith out of her thoughts. "Congratulations to the class of 1999. You all proved more or less adequate. This is a time of celebration, so: sit still and be quiet," Snyder said, surveying the students. "Spit out that gum," he said to one of the students in the front. "Please welcome our distinguished guest speaker – Richard Wilkins the 3rd. I saw that gesture," he finished, pointing to another student. "See me after graduation."

Faith watched as the Mayor stood and approached the podium. Her slayer senses were tingling. Every bone in her body was ready to fight. The Mayor pulled a pack of cue cards out of his pocket, cleared his throat, smiled, and then spoke. "Well. What a day this is! A special day. Today is our centennial – the one hundred year anniversary of the founding of Sunnydale. I know what that means to all of you kids – not a darn thing. Because today something much more important happens. Today, you all graduate from high school. And what is a hundred years of history compared to that? You know what kids…"

"I can't believe it," Faith muttered. "He's gonna do the whole damn speech. Just ascend already."

"Perhaps you shouldn't encourage him," Wesley said, moving over to her.

"He's gonna bore us all to death before we even get a chance to fight," Faith complained.

"I have to agree, though I usually am one to go in for these sorts of things," Wesley commented. "I'm getting rather antsy myself."

"It's been a long road getting here – for you and for Sunnydale," the Mayor continued. "There has been achievement, joy, good times, and loss. But now is the journey's end. And what is a journey? Is it just distance traveled? Time spent?" The Mayor rhetorically asked. Shaking his head, he continued, "No. It's what happens on the way, it's the things that happen to you. At the end of the journey, you're not the same." Faith thought about his words. She clearly remembered her first night in Sunnydale. She had been alone, tired, hungry, and scared. She did not have anyone or anything in the world worth living for except a calling that she did not even understand. Now, things were so different. She had people she cared about, who returned her love with more than she could ever give them. She had purpose.

"Maybe it was selfish," Faith muttered to herself.

"What?" Wesley asked, looking over at her. Faith shook her head.

"Nothing," she replied. However, a dark cloud hung over her heart. Perhaps the world would have been a better place if Sunnydale had been destroyed along with everyone in it. Maybe then the First would never have its chance to prove its worth. But Faith would never find out. She had been given everything that she ever wanted and nothing was going to take it from her. "What's wrong with him?" Faith asked when the Mayor paused, seeming to wince in pain.

"I don't know," Wesley replied. "But something tells me we won't have to wait much longer."

"Today is about change as well. Graduation doesn't just mean that your circumstances change. It means you do. You ascend to a higher level," the Mayor said. He paused again, gripping his side as pain washed over him. "Nothing will ever be the same. Nothing." Faith looked up into the sky as a shadow passed over the Mayor. Clouds were brewing, blocking the sun.

"So it begins," Faith muttered.

"My destiny," the Mayor said, smiling. "It's a little sooner than I expected, but I guess we'll just skip to the big finish!" He declared. The Mayor grimaced, his skin stretching and growing. His suit split through the middle as he began to transform, suddenly taking shape into an enormous snake. Claws dangled from its mouth as it grew in size, eventually towering over the roof of the school.

"Damn," Faith said in astonishment as the Mayor ascended. Faith looked back at the parents, who had been seated to the side of the students. They had jumped out of their chairs and were backing away from the monster, some of them screaming in panic. A horde of vampires crept up behind the students and Faith smiled, shifting her attention back to Buffy. Buffy rose to her feet with the other students. Faith momentarily lost sight of her and moved closer, waiting for Buffy's signal.

"Now!" She heard the blonde yell and she started running.