That night in Lampedos, Silenus reminds Angel why he puts up with his persistent questioning by organizing the city garrison and making sure grain and water supplies are adequate. Angel can sense that people are nervous and scared. He tries to personally reassure them. It works. But he comes across one familiar face that still looks despondent.

ANGEL: Mago, what's the matter? You look crushed.

MAGO: All my work. For nothing.

ANGEL: What work?

MAGO: My productions. Tomorrow was supposed to be opening night for "To Hades and Back."

ANGEL: You can still do your play.

MAGO: Really!

ANGEL: Sure. Show people that life goes on.

MAGO: Excellent idea! Boost their spirits. Remind them what they're fighting for. And the next night I can put on "Forgetfulness of Things Past." The people LOVE that one! It's so inspiring. You know what I'm talking about. You've seen it, right?

ANGEL: I've been busy, Mago. But I know the people are just crazy about your work. So put it on. It'll be just what they need.

MAGO: A royal endorsement. Thank you, sire!

Angel walks away. He hates when they call him that, and he's very uncomfortable about the dramatic works based on his life which have become all the rage in town. "To Hades and Back" is a fantasy based on Buffy's death and resurrection. Overcome by grief, Angel leaves Los Angeles for the summer, and journeys to the Underworld. After a series of excruciating trials and combats, he wins the right to see Buffy, and gets sent to Heaven. Buffy's really liked Paradise, but it hasn't truly been Heaven without Angel. While he's in Heaven, the Curse is lifted, and Angel learns that Buffy and him can enjoy eternal Perfect Happiness. But before he sees her, Angel has to choose between Heaven and Earth. He knows his friends need him. And he can see that Buffy's friends in Sunnydale desperately need her. So when he sees Buffy, Angel convinces her to go back with him and fight the good fight because neither of them can be truly happy if they know the people they love are suffering. Actual angels send them back to their respective towns, but alter their memories so Angel thinks he spent four months "meditating" in a monastery (The people Amastria aren't familiar with that religious concept) and Buffy has no memory of Angel's heavenly visit.

"Forgetfulness of Things Past" is a retelling of "I Will Remember You." Angel becomes human and enjoys transcendental bliss with Buffy. But this time, there are no Shanshu-related complications. Angel being human puts Buffy in no danger whatsoever. Nothing stands in the way of them living happily ever after. Except for Angel's conscience. He will be infinitely happier as a human being. But he wouldn't be a Champion. Evil would benefit from that. He has no choice but to serve the Greater Good and demand that The Powers make him into a vampire again. They point out how Buffy's memories of their temporary bliss will destroy her. So Angel undergoes a series of agonizing trials and mortal combats to earn one wish: that Buffy forget he was ever human. The people can't help but make their heroic Champion even more heroic.

The "race" begins at dawn the next day. Angel gives his people an inspirational speech before heading east to round up his allies in the coastal cities. They've been preparing for a fight, and were told the day before that this was now or never. Spike gets his 27,000 infantry and 6,000 cavalry on their way. Making a professional army of that size to travel 20 miles through enemy territory in a single day is a major challenge. But Spike's army is full of amateurs. The mercenaries try as best they can to keep the columns from stretching out. Their work is made even more difficult by the locals. Angel's told them they can attack the enemy to defend their property and hamper their advance. Hundreds of women fire at Spike's troops with their arrows, slings and javelins. Spike's cavalry chases them away without much trouble. But fighting off the intermittent attacks slows the army down. It's nearly nightfall when they reach a small river 10 miles from the capital. The day's almost done, and they're only halfway there. To make matters worse, thousands upon thousands of locals swarm at them from the rear, hoping to pick them off as they slowly cross the river. A group of brave young women closes with the invaders. Spike's girls eagerly face them. The Amastrians throw their javelins. The Thermadonians respond in kind. Then they charge the Amastrian women. Within seconds of coming to grips, the less-experienced Amastrians flee, leaving behind two dead and six wounded. Spike orders his girls to care for the wounded. He feels guilty about the senseless deaths.

It's well after dark by the time the entire army has filed across the narrow bridge. Spike has no choice but to set up camp on a hill nine miles from his destination. Spike is met by 1,000 cavalry from Dorin who have come from the west to fight at his side. Around the same time, Angel is met by 10,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry from the coastal cities. He marches them back to Lampedos and arrives two hours before sunrise. Lysander has returned from up north with 500 archers and 1000 more cavalry. These forces join the 20,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry that made up the original Amastrian forces. Spike's gambit has failed. He realizes this the next morning when Angel marches his numerically superior army southward, traveling within three miles of Spike's camp. Angel parks his forces to Spike's southeast, right at the river crossing, cutting off his retreat. He hopes this will intimidate Spike's army and cause them to panic and desert their leader. Spike convinces his followers that Angel's running away from them, since Spike's heading north and Angel's heading south. He calls Angel's bluff and marches three miles to the north, placing his army on a hill six miles south of the capital. Angel follows him, marching to within seven miles of Lampedos, still cutting off Spike's retreat. These maneuvers take up most of the day, and they each set up camp three miles apart, allowing their exhausted troops a chance to get some sleep. Morale is still high in both armies, but both Spike and Angel worry about what they have gotten themselves into. Both of them wanted to win without a battle. Now that doesn't seem possible. Spike is also dumbfounded by how quickly all of Angel's allies arrived.

SPIKE: Tell me the truth – has the coast revolted? Because at this point I bloody well deserve a straight answer.

TELAMON: The eastern cities are more devoted to you than ever, sire.

SPIKE: Then why are they with my bloody enemy?

TELAMON: They are not with you enemy. Their exiles are.

SPIKE: If by exiles you mean their entire bloody armed forces.

TELAMON: Why is everything becoming bloody?

Spike grabs his head.

SPIKE: Just tell me what the b - . . . what is going on.

TELAMON: The small minority of residents who supported Angel voluntarily left their towns. And they took their weapons with them.

SPIKE: Well why didn't anyone stop them?

TELAMON: Because that would have led to mass bloodshed and civil war. Look at it this way, sire.

SPIKE: Please stop calling me that.

TELAMON: I apologize. The point I am trying to make is, all your enemies in the entire world are in that little camp over there. Defeat them, and you will have absolute power.

SPIKE: But I don't want abso – you really mean that?

Spike puts megalomaniacal temptations on the back burner (omnipotence is exhausting) and ventures out to meet with Angel in the no-man's-land between the two camps.

ANGEL: Well this is a fine mess you've gotten us into.

SPIKE: We wouldn't be here if you hadn't made all those people hate me.

ANGEL: Your actions made them mate you.

SPIKE: And your propaganda had nothing to do with it?

ANGEL: My propaganda? What about that those pornographic stories your people pedal about you and Buffy?

SPIKE: So you're brassed because they find me exciting? Better than your people's lame stories about you and Buffy getting married and living boringly ever after. And the Shanshu! Shows you these people don't know a sodding thing about demons.

ANGEL: What's that supposed to mean?

SPIKE: It means their imaginary demon is bloody ridiculous.

ANGEL: Imaginary? Spike, you mean you've never heard of –

SPIKE: A demon who turns vampires back into human beings? Please. You can't be human without a soul. So that means an entire species of demon came into existence to turn YOU into a human being. You're telling me you find that plausible?

ANGEL: So now our lives have to be plausible?

SPIKE: There are limits.

ANGEL: Since when?

SPIKE: groans How are things over at the Un-Popular Front?

ANGEL: Do you want to make me hit you again?

SPIKE: Fight to the death. That would be one way to settle this.

ANGEL: My people would also go along with that. Right now, it seems like the only way to prevent a battle. Too bad it's not workable.

SPIKE: Wouldn't want to make Connor an orphan.

ANGEL: And I would definitely not want to make . . . who exactly would mourn your passing?

SPIKE: Now now old boy. The fate of nations is at stake. Let's not get petty.

Spike smirks and walks away. They return to their respective camps. Meanwhile, Memnon is out on night patrol. He crosses paths with an enemy, also on night patrol. Memnon pulls out his sword. Antiope points her spear. Then she pulls it back and looks disappointed.

ANTIOPE: Oh. It's you. For a second there, I thought I was in danger.

Memnon puts away his sword and walks up to her, looking serious. She backs away and laughs.

MEMNON: I had a feeling we'd cross paths. We always do. Wonder why that is.

ANTIOPE: Because you can't take a hint.

MEMNON: Wrong. It's because you can't admit that you have feelings for me.

ANTIOPE: I admit I have feelings for you. And they're all bad.

MEMNON: What about that night we spent together?

ANTIOPE: You no that meant nothing to me. It never does.

MEMNON: Because an Amazon can never love a man.

ANTIOPE: No. Because no woman could ever love a jerk like you.

MEMNON: So you admit it's possible for you to love a man.

ANTIOPE: A good man.

MEMNON: I can be good. A man can change.

ANTIOPE: You've said that before.

MEMNON: I want to. But you and your women don't. It doesn't have to be like this. We don't have to fight. We can work together.

ANTIOPE: Why would I ever want to work with you?

MEMNON: Because being enemies isn't working out for either of us. I'll do anything to be with you. Give up everything. You're all I want in life.

ANTIOPE: That mean you'd rather die than live without me?

MEMNON: Yes.

ANTIOPE: I can help you with that.

MEMNON: Tell me you're happy.

ANTIOPE: Don't ever give me orders.

MEMNON: Something's missing in your life. Something's always been missing. You can have any woman you want. You've had plenty. But you've never loved one.

ANTIOPE: You think I could love you?

MEMNON: Stranger things have happened.

Memnon disappears into the darkness before she can say "I could never love you." Two miles to the south, Hiero is out on his horse. Ostensibly, he was patrolling. But the real reason he is out is because he didn't think Angel wants him around. And he isn't patrolling so much as looking for Penelope. In the moonlight, he can see a young woman who looks like her. She wears a leather forearm guard on her left arm, possibly to cover the wound he gave her. Hiero gets off his horse and tiptoed into the forest, where she is standing watch. He gets within 25 feet and watches her for a few seconds from behind a tree.

HIERO: Don't worry. This time I'm alone.

Penelope turns towards the voice, frightened.

HIERO: You don't recognize my voice, Penelope?

PENELOPE: Hiero?

He steps out from behind the tree and walks towards her.

HIERO: Thought you could use some company.

PENELOPE: You shouldn't sneak up on a soldier like that.

HIERO: I didn't sneak up. I even gave you warning.

PENELOPE: If one of my girls catches us together, she'll kill you and then have a lot of questions for me.

HIERO: I checked. No one's nearby.

PENELOPE: For now.

HIERO: I just wanted a few minutes.

PENELOPE: To do what? Insult my brother? Badmouth my king?

HIERO: I know you love your brother. He's family. Family's important.

PENELOPE: Your family must be real important. Is your daddy a rich baron?

HIERO: He's dead. My mother and father died of the plague when I was four.

PENELOPE: Oh. I'm sorry. My father died when I was ten. He was killed by Amazons.

HIERO: I'm sorry. That must have been tough for you.

PENELOPE: Even tougher for Andrea. She saw them kill daddy.

HIERO: Wow. That explains a lot. And I guess it means your family knows how costly war can be.

PENELOPE: Not standing up to your enemies costs even more.

HIERO: Do you want a battle?

PENELOPE: I'd settle for a surrender.

HIERO: Doesn't it bother you that we could be killing each other tomorrow? That I could kill your brother?

PENELOPE: In your dreams. Why are you going soft? Is this a trick?

HIERO: Whatever happens tomorrow, I hope nothing bad happens to you.

PENELOPE: You too. she looks confused. Why is the enemy wishing her well? They stand in silence for a few seconds You want us to take you hostage again? Get!

Hiero walks back to her horse and rides away.

PENELOPE: That boy ain't right.

When he gets back to camp, Hiero meekly goes over to Angel's tent.

ANGEL: Come on in.

HIERO: Thanks.

ANGEL: Forget about the other night. We don't have time to worry about the past. There's too much happening right now. Speaking of which, you don't look like a man on the night before battle.

HIERO: What was it like when you first met Buffy?

ANGEL: Are you in love?

HIERO: I don't know.

ANGEL: But you've met someone?

HIERO: I have. How did you and Buffy meet?

ANGEL: I approached her from behind. She kicked me to the ground.

HIERO: smiles Must have made you feel great.

ANGEL: No. It made me feel pain.

HIERO: I meant seeing her. Talking to her for the first time. Looking into her eyes.

ANGEL: You really are in love. Who is it?

HIERO: I'd rather not say. I'll just say she's special. Definitely not like any girl I've ever met before. But she's not the sort of girl guys like me are supposed to marry.

ANGEL: She's poor.

HIERO: Among other things. But she has a noble heart.

ANGEL: This is why you shouldn't waste your time playing warlord. Promise me that once I settle things with Spike, you'll give up fighting and go home to be with her and to help your country.

HIERO: I'll be with her. I'll help my country. I promise. I don't want to fight if it takes me away from her.

ANGEL: I'm glad you've finally figured out what really matters in life. rubs the top of Hiero's head, who smiles and laughs.

HIERO: So you'll be leaving? I mean, once you take care of Spike?

ANGEL: People need me back home.

HIERO: I know. Connor needs you. Does he know how lucky he is to be your son?

ANGEL: Considering everything that's happened to him, I think Connor would have been luckier to have anyone but me as his father.

HIERO: He's had it really rough. But only when you weren't around to help him. His life's a lot better when you're in it. Does he know that?

ANGEL: Maybe someday he will.

SPIKE: What's on your mind, Mems. Worried about the battle?

MEMNON: No. You're battle plan's good. And cautious. Which surprised me.

SPIKE: I know how to make the other bloke make the first mistake. So what's bothering you?

MEMNON: It's Antiope.

SPIKE: You won't be facing her.

MEMNON: I know. I just don't understand why she can't see how much I love her.

SPIKE: Killing her friends might have something to do with that.

MEMNON: I had to prove my manhood. Before that, all she did was laugh at me.

SPIKE: I understand. I really do. But it's time you try something new. Instead of proving that you'll kill for her, trying showing Antiope that you're willing to die for her. Girls like that better.

MEMNON: Okay. But how am I supposed to do that?

SPIKE: Do I have to do all your thinking?

MEMNON: Sorry. I'll figure it out for myself. Thanks Spike.

Angel's made the rounds to his commanders, and talked to the Amazons. He's worried they won't hold back until he orders them to attack. They are an independent bunch of women who don't like to be ordered around by men. But they love Angel. After taking care of business, he headed back to his tent for the night. Antiope went after him.

ANGEL: Is there a problem?

ANTIOPE: I just wanted to talk.

ANGEL: Sure, Antiope.

ANTIOPE: We can go to my tent, if you want.

Angel pauses for a few seconds. He's afraid of leading her on. But she knows his heart belongs to Buffy. So he goes.

ANGEL: What is it you wanted to talk about?

ANTIOPE: A man. I mean, men. Since you are one. Kind of. Angel looks hurt I mean, you're more than a man. More than other men. Stronger. Braver. Better.

ANGEL: Just stronger.

ANTIOPE: No. You're better than any man I've ever met. Nicer. More gallant. You're better than any man any of this girls have met. To be honest, you're kind of like our dream guy.

ANGEL: Please don't say that.

ANTIOPE: But it's true.

ANGEL: Well, smiles bashfully if you insist. Thanks. You women are pretty amazing yourselves. You know I've met some really special women, but you're right up there.

ANTIOPE: You mean that? smiles. her heart races

ANGEL: Yeah. Hasn't anyone ever told you that before?

ANTIOPE: Maybe. But it means more coming from you. I know you used to be bad. But then you changed. And became great. Can other men change?

ANGEL: What kind of men are you talking about?

ANTIOPE: The normal kind. With souls. And no special powers. Can bad men become good?

ANGEL: Everyone can change.

ANTIOPE: Even if they've killed people?

ANGEL: If they really want to.

ANTIOPE: How do you know you can trust them?

ANGEL: You can't. It's about faith.

ANTIOPE: You mean how you trusted Faith even after she tried to kill you?

ANGEL: On one level, maybe. But on another, more literal level, I meant you have to have faith in the person. There's nothing they can do to earn or deserve your trust.

ANTIOPE: So you have to take a chance. Like what you do. But you have such a huge, brave heart. Much bigger than mine.

ANGEL: No I don't. I just know what it's like to need someone to give you a second chance.

ANTIOPE: Because you were evil. I haven't been evil. So I'm not like you. Am I like Buffy? She's always been good, but she gave you a chance. laughs She even gave Spike a chance. Not that I would use their relationship as a model. I'd never want to have with any man what she's had with Spike.

ANGEL: You really shouldn't want what she had with me, either.

ANTIOPE: No. I want what you two would have had if there wasn't a Curse. That's what all the girls want.

ANGEL: I'm glad you're thinking of finally giving the weaker sex a chance.

ANTIOPE: I am not! I was just, curious. About you. And about your thoughts. On things.

ANGEL: I'm sure there are a few decent men in this world who want to make you happy. And a few who will hurt you. The problem is, they're usually the same guys. Loving men takes a lot more courage than killing them.

Spike's soldiers only have a two days' supply of food left. Angel's advisors want him to wait Spike out. They say time is on his side. But Angel isn't so sure. Spike has spent two days in Amastria unopposed. Angel's soldiers are getting frustrated. If he doesn't fight Spike soon, they'll become demoralized. Outnumbered and on enemy soil, Spike knows he has no choice but to offer battle. He's picked the most advantageous spot. It's a little to the south and east of his camp, between the hills and the river. Angel deploys his army opposite Spike's, two miles to the east. The tedious task of deploying tens of thousands of mostly amateur soldiers takes most of the morning.

On Spike's right wing, next to the river, are his 3,000 mercenary heavy cavalry, led by Memnon. A hundred yards in front of them is a screen of 500 archers. To the left of the horsemen are 10,000 heavy infantry from southern Thermadonia, then 10,000 heavy infantry from northern Thermadonia, all of them lined up eight deep. 4,000 women were mixed in among the 16,000 men. Behind the infantry, on its left and right flanks are squares of 2,500 infantry, the one of the left led by Penelope and the one on the right led by Andrea. In the center of each square are 1,600 girls armed with axes, swords and short spears. Surrounding them on all sides are 900 men lined up five deep. These men, drawn from the freed Amastrian serfs in the occupied territories, carry 15 foot-long pikes, and the outermost row wears bronze corselets to protect their chests. The enthusiastic girls on the inside will push the men forward and make it impossible for them to retreat. Once this irresistible force has smashed through the enemy line, the girls will pour out and slaughter the disorganized and terrified enemy soldiers. To the left of the infantry are 3,000 Thermadonian light cavalry, led by Kreon. He lines up in the center of this formation with his 500 picked cavalry, all of them wearing black capes. The left wing rests on a hill, where Spike has stationed 500 archers. Two hundred yards in front of the entire left wing is a screen of 1000 slingers. Hidden behind the hill are the 1,000 heavy cavalry from Dorin.

On Angel's left wing, opposite Spike's mercenary cavalry, are 3,000 heavy Amastrian cavalry commanded by Hiero, who is in the center with his 600 picked cavalry that wear black capes with gold borders. One hundred yards in front of them in a screen of 500 Uxili archers. To their right are the 10,000 heavy infantry from the coastal cities. To their right are the 10,000 heavy infantry from Amastria. They face their historic enemies from Northern (Old) Thermadonia. Behind the phalanx are 10,000 newly-trained Amastrians, arrayed in battalions 1,000-strong and eight men deep, placed at intervals behind the main line as a reserve. The reserves are armed with spears, swords and rectangular shields. To the right of the infantry, and facing Kreon's light horsemen, are the 2,000 allied heavy cavalry and Thalestris's 1,000 Amazons. To Thalestris's right are the thousand Amazons led by Hippolyta, with the thousand led by Panthesilea on the far right wing. These 2,000 Amazons overlap Spike's line, though the hill on which Spike anchors his left wing makes it difficult for them to outflank him. However, the Amazons on Angel's far right flank make it impossible for Kreon to attack the cavalry in front of him.

Angel slowly marches his army west until his lines are within a half-mile of Spike's. They stop. The two armies get a good look at each other. Spike's battle line is close to two-and-a-half miles-long. Angel's is nearly three miles long. There are more than 72,000 combatants on that field, ready to tear each other to pieces. Spike and Angel are both more-than-a-little queasy. They try their best not the show it. Angel leaps up a tall tree on a ridge behind his lines to get a good look at Spike's formation. When he gets down, he moves his reserve infantry towards the left and right flanks of the phalanx to protect against Spike's squares. According to Angel's orders, no one can attack until Panthesilea's Amazons begin the assault on Spike's left wing. Angel knows that, given her conflicted loyalties, this Amazon Queen won't jump the gun. Spike's orders are for everyone to hold their ground until the Amazons attack. He wants to hold his strong defensive position until the enemy is tired and overextended, then counter-attack. This is a perfect recipe for a stalemate, which is what the two vampires want.

The Amastrian phalanx is armed with bronze helmets, bronze corselets, bronze greaves, a three foot-wide round wooden shield covered in bronze, eight foot-long spears and two foot-long swords. The Thermadonians weren't wealthy enough to afford all this armor. So Spike created their phalanx on the cheap. They all have bronze helmets, but only the front row wears a corselet and greaves. They each carry a 15 foot-long pike with two hands and wear a two foot-wide round leather-covered wooden shield around their necks to protect their chest and left arms. The spear points of the first four rows extend out in front of the phalanx. Angel's officers are worried about the new type of phalanx Spike has "invented." Angel reassures them that Spike's formation is too shallow to stand up to Angel's forces. The weapons and polished armor of Angel's foot soldiers gleam in the sunlight. Spike's forces are dirtier and of more humble appearance. Spike walks out in front of the center of his line so his soldiers can see him.

SPIKE: Look at them. Did Angel come for a battle, or a parade?

The Thermadonians laugh at their spiffy-looking enemies and flip them the bird English-style. Angel's men yell back at them. Then Angel jumps over his front-line. They cheer their leader.

SPIKE: Bloody show-off.

The two sides continue roaring at one another. It's like an FA Cup championship at Wembley. Except there's no game to watch, and the tens of thousands of Arsenal and Manchester United fans are about to spill onto the pitch and slaughter each other. Spike and Angel walk two hundred yards in front of their lines. The soldiers grow quiet. Everyone is tense, expecting the battle to start any second now. Spike wears his silver diadem and golden laurel wreath atop his head. Angel wears a gold crown. On his chest is a richly decorated bronze corselet which depicts a mythical hero slaying beasts. The two vampires stare at each other for over a minute. Then they begin walking towards one another. The soldiers murmur. They believe Spike and Angel are about to settle the matter through single combat. Everyone gets excited, expecting their hero to defeat their arch-villain once-and-for-all. When he gets near Angel, Spike puts his arms out and spins around, looking at the great mass of humanity that surrounds him on all sides. When the two of them meet face-to-face, the seventy thousand warriors go dead quiet. Spike's chuckling. Angel looks very serious.

SPIKE: Can you believe this? It's like Woodstock. With weapons! Bloody amazing.

ANGEL: Good to know you're finally taking this seriously.

SPIKE: Well, that's your fault. How can I take you seriously when you're wearing a tiara?

ANGEL: It's a crown. And you're wearing two. laughs Is the Golden God trying to call me pompous?

SPIKE: You're wearing armor! Either that makes you pompous, or it makes you a coward. Take your bloody pick, mate.

ANGEL: Spike, in case you haven't noticed, this is a lot bigger than the two of us.

SPIKE: You've always had a flair for the obvious.

ANGEL: These people want a battle. If that happens, thousands will die.

SPIKE: Unless we tell them not to.

ANGEL: It's not that simple.

SPIKE: Of course it is. We're gods! We can do whatever we bloody well want.

ANGEL: So, what you're saying is, there's no reason these two peoples can't live in peace.

SPIKE: Now you're gettin' it. You've always been a little slow on the uptake.

ANGEL: Why didn't this occur to you BEFORE you invaded my country?

SPIKE: It did. I just wanted to negotiate from position of strength.

Spike looks back over his shoulder, waves to his line of battle, and smiles. Angel groans at what he sees as Spike's grandiose immaturity.

ANGEL: You know what Churchill said about Americans?

SPIKE: He liked to talk. I'm pretty sure he said more than one thing about them.

ANGEL: I think it was something like they do the right thing after they've exhausted all the alternatives. Guess the same thing would apply to you.

SPIKE: Wait just a bloody minute. Are you calling me an American? Cuz if you want to make a deal, it's not good to start by insulting my honor.

ANGEL: Maybe I wasn't the one who made Drusilla insane. A century with you would drive anyone crazy.

SPIKE: Is this your idea of negotiating? I have an army on your soil. You should show me some bloody respect.

ANGEL: And I'm the one without a sense of humor.

They pause for five seconds and look around.

SPIKE: So how do we do this?