AUTHOR'S NOTE Just btw, in the last chapter, "My City of Ruin" that Max sings is the theme song to my X-Men fic "From the Ashes" and the song that Jace sings is the theme song to my Passions fic "Unbreakable Love." (sniff) Poor Timmy. Sorry this chapter's a little shorter. I'll update soon!

DISCLAIMER Don't own them. Never will.

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Chapter Twenty-Five: In Which The Truth About the Coming is Revealed

Max and Alec led Buffy and Angel down the corridor. "What exactly are we dealing with again?" Buffy asked as she examined the battle-axe that Angel had managed to turn up for her.

"These guys, they're stronger than I am."

"Oh good. That helps."

"They keep talking about the Second Coming. It's some horrible event that will wipe out all life on the planet except these guys. Each father passes the test down to his son, each mother to daughter."

"What does this test entail exactly?" Angel asked.

Max shrugged. "I accidentally went through it. It has to do with poisoning the child with a snake and if they survive, they're worthy of the cult."

"Another snake cult!" Buffy said. "I hate those."

Max slowed and turned to look at her. "Huh?"

Buffy shrugged. "Snake demons, snake cults, I've seen far too many."

"Oh." Max turned and started down the corridor again.

"Where are we going?" Angel asked.

Max stopped at a doorway that led to a platform overlooking the main hall at the front of Terminal City. Buffy gasped as she looked down. Willow, Spike, Illyria, Logan, and Original Cindy stood below. Behind them, Max's siblings and the entire population of Terminal City had massed behind them. "We're going to war," Max said.

Seattle Streets

Holden led the Familiars to the gates of Terminal City. "Brothers and Sisters!" he called. "Here is the stronghold of the enemy! Take it!"

For a moment, the Familiars stared at the man before them. "Sir, we have no reason to fight the transgenics," a Sister said.

Holden turned his fiery gaze on her. "They are a threat to you!"

"There is no threat to us," the Elder Woman said. "The Coming will wipe out all life other than the Familiars. It is unavoidable."

"Insolent hag!" Holden spat. "Wolfram and Hart has put in hard work to ensure your survival! Your pathetic little cult would be nowhere without our protection and resources!"

White narrowed his eyes menacingly. From his place beside the Elder Woman, he growled, "We no longer need Wolfram and Hart. The Coming is in a matter of moments. Not even you will survive it." He grinned coldly. Holden opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

"Looks like you're on your own," remarked a voice behind him.

Holden spun around. "Angelus," he hissed. "You are supposed to be dead!"

Angel shrugged from the darkened doorway that he'd taken refuge in from the sun. "I am dead." He hoped that his exchange with Holden would give Max, Buffy, and the others time enough to assemble and move against the Familiars. "So you're the newest liaison to the Senior Partners, huh?"

"You do not scare me."

"Really? Well, you didn't see what I did to Marcus Hamilton. And Eve!" Angel laughed. "Eve was a joke." He enjoyed the swift nervous look that flitted across Holden's face as his features shifted and yellow eyes and fangs glinted from the shadows. "I wonder if you're any better?"

"The Senior Partners will step up their pursuit of you, Angelus, now that they know you're alive."

"I'm not alive. I'm dead, remember?"

Behind Holden, a Familiar laughed softly. "You will pay for that," the furious lawyer fumed.

"I think not," White said evenly. "Look."

"The Coming!" the Familiars cried. All eyes turned to the sky as the moon slowly slid across the sun, plunging Seattle into darkness.

Chanting rose up from the mass of robed Familiars assembled. "The Coming is upon us!" "We are saved!" "Let the Chosen Ones live on!"

But Angel's attention was turned fully to Holden, who was grinning sadistically. His skin seemed almost liquid as his skin faded to a sickly looking yellow. White's face fell in fear as comprehension dawned on him. "We've been tricked. This is no Coming!" he whispered. He screamed, "It's a trap! We have to get out of here!"

"Oh God," Angel whispered.

Terminal City Gates

Buffy came to a screeching halt as she, Max, and Alec led the transgenic army from Terminal City. "Dammit! Don't do that!" Max yelled.

Buffy didn't reply. Sensing something was wrong, Willow left her place and made her way to the head of the column. "What is it Buffy? What's going on?"

The Slayer just stared at the spectacle in front of her. She saw Angel and the Familiars all gaping in shock at the events taking place. Willow followed her gaze and gasped in horror. "Oh no!" Max cried. "It's the Coming!" Murmurs and fearful whispers rippled through the ranks.

"It's not the Coming," Willow said, terror edging into her voice.

"Then what the Hell is it?" Alec asked.

It was Buffy who answered him. "It's an Ascension."

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The Answer to the Last Trivia Question

"La La Lu" is from Lady and the Tramp. Darling sings it to her baby as Lady's watching her rock him from the doorway. Gylzgurl got it right.

Today's Trivia Question Is:

Buffy complains about snake cults. How many snake demons and/or snake cults has she actually faced over the years?

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Review Responses

Gylzgurl Yep, good job! I heart that movie. Hehe, who am I kidding, I heart all Disney movies!

Xephon Yeah, Buffy was annoying in that chapter. But she sees killing Max as the only way she can get home and doesn't really care about much else at that point.

LittleDrusilla Smallville's good, but it's no Buffy. Although there are a lot of characters from Dark Angel that show up randomly. Along with White, Hannah, Sung, and Alec have all been on the show, Alec for a whole season. And nope, not Treasure Planet, but Lady and the Tramp. Good guess tho!

Samantha Yeah, I agree. I love Alec and wholeheartedly think that he should have a little love in his life, which is why I gave him Illyria, but not from Max. Max and Logan are meant to be together. End of story.