City on the Edge of Destruction
Chapter Six
Let the Battle Commence!

Authors note
It's been a long time coming. (Mainly because the other stories burnt out my muse to the point that it scurried away and hid in one of the lower hell dimensions) but here is the penultimate chapter of the story. I hope you like it because I finally do. Any questions I'll be able to answer them at the back end of the final chapter. Enjoy.

Chapter six

As the rain fell the four survivors saw the legions of demons shambling down the cramped back street, high in the sky a giant dragon screeched before landing on a nearby roof. Angel looked to his friends, and Spike, before clenching his sword tighter.

'You take the thirty thousand on the left…' started Gunn painfully sanding up.

'You're fading. You'll last ten minutes at best.' noted Illyria.

'Then lets make them memorable.' grinned the mortally wounded warrior. Together they stood their ground. Angel knew that there was no way out of this, this was the end.

Spike smiled 'Any idea of a plan?'

'We fight.'

'A bit more specific?'

Angel raised his sword, 'I kinda want to slay the dragon. Let's go to work.'

He took two steps before running into a materialising blue box and bouncing off. Dazed Angel looked up at the shape in front of him, draped in shadow from the flashing light above. Then the last voice he expected to hear again came from the other side;

'Looks like were just in time, what does that make us Xand?'

'Lucky Buff. Very lucky' he answered. Angel got up and moved around to the side of the box. The rest of his team behind him.

'And what's that make them?'

'Screwed?' Answered Dawn. Angel could see Buffy's disapproving glare.

' "In trouble" is how I would have put it Dawn, never mind. After you your Majesty.'

Angel frowned as someone dressed in chain mail spoke in Latin into the box before shouting a war cry. Then something in excess of ten thousand heavily armed medieval knights charged out of a box that couldn't hold two people with out cramping. Buffy and Xander followed them, Buffy's scythe almost singing as she wheeled it in an infinity loop though demons.

'What's going on?' Angel asked Dawn. Two people who looked like each others polar opposite flanked her. One looked like a old druid in flowing robes and carrying a staff. The other was dressed as an Edwardian English gentleman underneath a dirty brown coat, oversized hat and a scarf that dragged along the floor.

'Oh hi Angel. We heard you needed some help. Our friend gave us a lift; Angel this is Merlin and the Doctor. Guys this is…'

The Druid offered his hand 'Angel, champion for humanity and vampire with a soul. It's a honour to meet you.'

'Well thanks, you really the Merlin?'

'Yes I am.' he glanced at the full scale war that was erupting in the narrow ally. Angel had almost forgotten about that. Then he remembered Gunn.

'You're a doctor,' he said to the other one. 'Can you help my frien…'As he turned to gesture to Gunn he caught a glimpse of what he now recognized as a police box. Three things flew through his mind, first was that this guy probably wasn't a doctor in that sense. The second was what the hell was going on and the third was the most important:- why was Spike laughing.

The moment the "little bit" introduced her two companions (or was it the other way around?) Spike knew exactly who they were. Time Lords, bleeding Time Lords that actually existed! Then Angel tried to get the Doctor to look at Charlie-boy! He couldn't stop himself laughing.

Unfortunately this drew attention to the fact that he was there. Dawn looked at him and waved 'Hi Spike.' then she turned back to Angel. 'He's not that type of doctor, but I think Merlin could help.'

As the Druid went over to help the girl smiled at everyone like someone who had been permanently looked up in a padded room. 'Aren't you shocked to see me?' Spike asked.

'Nope. Buffy wants me here so that I'm safe with the Time Lords. You and Angel go have fun.' She pointed at battle. 'Go.'

Inside the Tardis Giles watched the battle, before he left the Doctor set the door so that you could see though it. Inside the TARDIS library Willow was researching trans-dimensional holes and how to repair them. Apparently that was her task on this sojourn through time and space.

For himself Giles knew that his was to discover the connection between Excalibur and Buffy's scythe. By comparing notes during the trip he and Merlin agreed that the fabled ladies of Avalon were the same group who worshiped the Slayer bloodline and who apparently forged both weapons. Now he planned to turn his attention on something else, Dawn's behaviour.

Over the last day or so, as they travelled, her grip on sanity had begun to slip. The ultimate result being that she had spent the trip here sitting on the Control Column making the noises for the TARDIS as she went up and down. After this frankly disturbing image Buffy had pointedly asked him to find out what was wrong with her.

Shortly after that talk Dawn had started skipping across the control room like a hyperactive (and rather aimless) bee.

With Giles working on the loony sister problem Buffy could divert all of her energies to kicking demon ass. She remembered Dawn's reaction to that statement and ground her teeth. Yes it was true that the demons didn't have any donkeys for her to kick and yes she meant to say arses… God she hoped Giles would find what was wrong with that girl.

After beheading another giant demon Buffy landed with a roll and blocked a clumsy swing from one more her size. To her left the king was making short work of the lesser demons that were after him, the mystical sword obviously gave him the strength to take them down. 'Are you alright?'

'That I am. It is good to see that even in this new world the English weather has remained the same!'

Shuddering Buffy turned on another demon bisecting it and ramming the blade deep into its face. It looked like she had completely missed the four foot tall demon that got behind her.

'Watch your back love.' She knew that voice but it couldn't be him… it couldn't. She turned around (the stake hilt ramming through the small demons brain) and there he was, sword in hand, hacking demons apart to reach her. The closer he got the more she knew it was him. In the middle of the war this was the silent eye of the storm. Eventually he made it to her and smiled that cocky smile of his. 'How you been Love?'

In response she punched his lights out. Repeatedly.

Dawn was still having the time of her life. Okay, so she had taken a vacation from reality and belonged in a padded room, so what. With the things life was throwing at her what was she supposed to do? Smile and hope they all make sense in the end? Why not be mad, it gives you the answers. All right so it was forty two, but that makes a certain sense… Should she start blabbering again or just watch. Something funny was probably happening so she should watch. It would be funny.

Owlishly she watched as Merlin got to work on the wounds of the big black guy. He'd live, for now. He wasn't going to die until his grandson finished college, top of the class with a girlfriend who loved him. Dawn felt happy for him, so happy that she giggled a little. Looking around her eyes rested on the Doctor. He was a good man. Brilliant, even beyond his considerable age, but he cared for people. He couldn't stand the idea of having the power to help and being denied that power by people who were scared of it. That's why he stole the TARDIS and that's why he roamed the universe, trying to keep a fragile balance for life to exist and grow. The only reason he was angry, some of the time, was that he could see the good work his people could do, given the chance. Dawn felt sad for him. Then again he liked being a crotchety old man, so she liked him.

Then she noticed Charles was all better now. Oh that was good, now he wouldn't be so sad about being left out of the fight. She told him what he had to do.

'Are you sure she's, well you know, in control of all her faculties.' Charles asked

'On the contrary, we are all sure she's lost control. However she is often right. I'd go and have fun if I was you.'

'Well thanks for everything guy's but you're right there is something for me to do.' with that he joined in the fight.

After Charles had left Dawn heard Merlin talking to the Doctor. 'I'm worried about her, she seems to be slipping further and further.'

'Nonsense she's perfectly fine. And stop talking about her as if she's not here.'

'Of course, sorry.' he said to her.

'I don't mind, you're a little slow and I understand that.' He didn't like that frank evaluation but was too busy protecting her from the large demon that had suddenly charged at them.

The Doctor watched Merlin panic and sighed. From the size and shape of the beast it could easily split a man in half with the crude axe in it's hand. Calmly he reached into his pocket and produced a jelly baby, offering it to the huge mindless creature.

It took the brainless brute a long moment to understand that the small green sweet was food and take it from the Doctor's outstretched hand. With his other hand he reversed the polarity of his sonic-screwdriver. In one movement he pointed it at the large monster and hit the switch.

Thoughtlessly the demon reached for what at first he must have thought was another sweet before the sonic waves caused him to implode, spectacularly.

'You said that wouldn't work.?' said the Key. Oddly it was more of a question than a statement.

'He's not dead.' the Doctor picked up what was the size a garden gnome and made of stone. 'Merely transmogrified into this rather fetching garden ornament.' On second thought it wasn't that fetching, he through it over his shoulder with a slight shrug. Where it smashed into pieces. 'Jelly Baby?' he offered and the Key smiled again.

Xander was in the thick of things in the middle of the alley, somewhere he didn't want to be. The large axe he had borrowed from a knight was bent beyond recognition and the less said about the shield the better. At his side Deadboy wasn't fairing much better.

As for the dragon in front, Xander wished it was somewhere else.

Illyria looked down at the half breed, a smile threatening to come to her lips. 'You told me that the two of you cared for each other.'

He flipped to his feet in an attempt to be impressive; 'We do.' he grinned.

'Then why did she hit you?'

'That's how we say hello. You should see her when she means to hurt me.' and he rushed to her side. Illyria smiled at the two for no reason she could fully understand before turning her strength to the mayhem around her.

Angel rolled from the fire ball that threatened to engulf him, pulling Xander with him. 'Get out of here Xander, I can't protect you and fight this thing!'

'Protect me? what makes you think I need you to do that. You go left I'll hit right.'

Pulling the young man to his feet Angel tried to cowl him with a glance. Only to be surprised by the fire behind he man's remaining eye. 'Fine just stay away from the head and claws.'

' "Don't get eaten" I'll try to remember that.' He dashed off towards the dragon, aiming to hack at the beast's armoured neck.

Buffy and Spike had fought their way to one of the roof tops. Between them there wasn't any demons left in the vicinity. 'What happened Spike?'

'Toasted and ghosted pet, toasted and ghosted. The damn jewel trapped me when I burnt up. Some wanker posted me here and I ended up haunting Wolfram and Heart for a few months before said wanker gave me back me body.' She looked at him, there was something more to it. 'I'm sorry I didn't tell you love. Its just I couldn't think how.'

'How long… how long have you been back?'

'Nine months.' Buffy cracked him across the jaw but he was ready for it. 'So how's the Immortal?' he asked

'The who?'

'The Immortal? Rome?'

'No clue. Spike, in case you haven't noticed that's a time machine down there. The Doctor picked us up five minutes after the big fight over the Hellmouth'

'So you're…'

'…From something like last year? Yep.'

'Oh. Why'd you hit me then?

'For not telling the other me.'

'Right… Looks like the boy and the brood machine are in trouble down there.' In the cramped alleyway Buffy could see Angel and Xander hopelessly trying to kill what bore a remarkable resemblance to a dragon. With a nod she told Spike the plan.

Together they jumped down onto the dragon's back and began hacking at the sweep spot between the wings.

'I've found it! Giles I've found it. Come on.' Willow burst from one of the doors and pulled the Watcher with her. 'Doctor I've got it. I need the Sword and the Scythe, together they have the power I'll need to seal the barriers!' The witch shouted as she charged out of the doors.

'Excellent. Do you want to go get them or should I?' He waved his hand at the bloody battle.

'Oh I didn't think about that. Where's Buffy?'

Dawn silently pointed at the Dragon where Buffy and Spike were working on a wing the same way a pair of woodcutters would deal with a stubborn tree.

'Spike's alive! She said he died.'

'Not yet.' Dawn, Merlin and the Doctor said at once before looking at each other.

'Not yet what? Alive or dead.' asked Giles, probably just as shocked as willow was.

'Both.' The three answered again.

'I don't understand.' Willow felt she had to say that.

This time the two Time Lords and the less than sane girl looked at each other before speaking; 'Good.'

Then Dawn pointed back to the battle. 'It's fallen over.' Somehow Buffy had gotten through the beast's neck and taken its head.

Willow took that opening in the battle to shout. 'Buffy, King Arthur! I need you! Quickly!' With a mighty roar from the dragon Buffy buried the scythe in its back and flip/jumped off. Arthur was less of a show off and merely ran over. 'Buffy I need the scythe thing.'

'Why didn't you say so?'

'I thought it was obvious.' Willow answered not bothering to sigh. Out of the corner of her eye she saw it spinning towards them. After Buffy caught it she asked what had happened.

Dawn giggled and said; 'Sonic-screwdriver. It's like a futuristic Swiss army knife.'

'Okay. Cool. Alright I need you, your majesty, to put the tip of the sword across the top of the scythe. Thanks now you stand there and you there please.' Willow stood between them, the crossed weapons met at her head height. 'Powers of spirit without end I call on you. King and man. Warrior and woman. Together more than the whole. Balance and mercy. War and grief. Together more than the whole. We call your power now. Heal our land, heal our sky. Banish those who seek to conquer. Embrace those who protect. Return the barrier and restore the balance.'

'That's it?'

'Yes'

'Nothing is happening good Lady. Are you sure the incantation was correct.'

'To be honest. Not really.'

'Oh boy.'

End chapter six