AUTHOR'S NOTE We're getting closer to the battle! It'll be next chapter, I promise. Wow…this story's winding down. I've been posting for over a year, so that would probably make sense, lol.

DISCLAIMER Don't own anyone cept Holden.

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Chapter TwentySix: In Which the Transgenics Prepare for Battle

"What's an Ascension?" Max asked fearfully.

Angel came rushing back to where the army had halted. "Buffy!" he called.

"I know! I see it!" She hurried to meet Angel away from the transgenics. "Angel, what are we going to do? We can't fight this."

"Yes we can, Buffy. We've done it before."

Buffy looked at him incredulously. "Yeah, but if I remember right, we had a army armed with flamethrowers and a whole lot of dynamite!"

Angel looked behind her. "We have an army here, too. Just no dynamite."

Sighing, Buffy turned around. "We need a quick meeting. Now."

"Holden is going to tear up the city if we don't do something!" Angel looked over his shoulder, where screams came from the streets. "I don't think the Familiars are that big of a threat anymore."

Buffy turned around and flashed the command signals that Max had taught her. Max, Alec, and Willow came to her side. "Will," Buffy began. "We need a binding spell. It doesn't have to contain it, just slow it down."

"What kind of demon is it?" Willow asked.

"I don't know. That's not important. We'll find something that'll stop it."

"What is it?" Max asked, exasperated.

"You remember how I told you that you're all made up of demons?" Buffy asked. Max nodded. Buffy pointed to what used to be Holden. "That is what a pure demon looks like."

Max's eyes opened just a little wider. "Oh."

Angel was quietly studying Max, Alec, and the rest of the army. "Buffy, we need the Old Ones."

"What are you talking about?"

He took Buffy's hand and put it to Max's forehead. "You can feel it," he whispered. "It's in there."

It was there – a faint humming, just under Max's skin. "That's it," she said softly.

"What are any of you talking about?" Alec asked.

"That's why the Watcher's Council didn't want you escaping. That's why they sent me to kill Max. They've finally achieved what they wanted. They've harnessed the power of the underworld."

Buffy turned her attention to Willow. "Will, I changed my mind. We don't need a containment spell."

"Are you sure?" Willow looked warily at the demon that was busy consuming most of the Breeding Cult.

Buffy nodded. "I need you to, just for now, restore Illyria to her full power."

"No!" Angel cried. "Buffy, Fred's body can't take that!"

"She's the only one who can lead them! Only another Old One can make them into what they truly are." Buffy looked desperately back at the army. "Angel, it's the only way."

Sadly, Angel conceded and nodded. "Illyria!" he called.

"Wait, what's going to happen to her?" Alec asked fearfully.

"Willow will restore her full powers," Buffy explained. "An Old One at full power should be able to awaken the Old One's DNA in all of you. Then, once the battle is over, hopefully we'll be able to drain her again to a safer level."

Illyria approached Willow cautiously. Alec looked at her, his face pained. "What if you can't?"

Buffy put a hand on Alec's shoulder. "Have faith in this."

He cocked an eyebrow. "This is way over my head."

Willow broke up their conversation. "It's time."

"Okay." Without another word, Buffy sent Max and Alec to join the mass of transgenics. Once she'd led Spike, Original Cindy, Lorne, and Logan away, she gave Willow the all-clear sign.

The redhead's eyes clouded and darkened to black. Illyria's body convulsed just slightly and, encircled by crackling blue light, lifted off the ground. A bright fire burned in her eyes before she dropped the ground and Willow fell unconscious. Illyria looked at her hands in wonder. "I feel the power again," she said.

Angel approached her. "You know what to do."

She looked at him, in the same sharp manner she'd always had, and nodded. Spreading her arms, the immensely powerful demon woman called out to the sky in strange tongues. The transgenics watched her in awe, as electricity suddenly coursed through the veins. Strength beyond that which they had ever known energized ever fiber of their beings.

"They're ready," Illyria said finally. Buffy and Angel nodded.

Buffy turned to Angel. "You and Spike preoccupy him. See if you can get him to tire or something. The rest of us will back you up." The two vampires nodded and left. "Original Cindy!" she called.

"What's wrong with her?" OC cried, as she knelt next to Willow.

"The power of the spell drained most of her power. I need you to stay here and watch over her," Buffy said forcefully. "You got that?"

"Anything for her."

Buffy smiled. "Good. Logan, I need you to round up any surviving Familiars and get them out of here. Every time he eats, he gets stronger."

"Got it." Logan was gone in a flash, his exoskeleton carrying him toward the streets of slaughter in front of Terminal City.

The Slayer joined Illyria, as she surveyed her army. "Listen up!" Buffy called. "You all have to power. You know it. Now is the time to use it!"

"Let's bring this bitch down!" Max called back. She turned around, sliding back into the role of Terminal City commander. "Children of Manticore!" she shouted. "This is what we were built to do! It's big and scary, sure. But there's one of him and hundreds of us! Move out!"

Buffy, Illyria, and Max led the massive army from Terminal City out toward the demon awaiting them.

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The Answer to the Last Trivia Question

Buffy has faced a grand total of five snake demons/cults. In Season Two, she faces Machida and his followers in Reptile Boy. In Three, she faces Larconis in Band Candy and of course the Mayor in Graduation Day Part Two. She faces Glory's snake demon in Shadow in Season Five and finally the snake/worm that Anya creates as part of a wish in Beneath You in Season Seven. I guess it's safe to say that Buffy, like Dark Angel, is trying to tell us that snakes are bad.

No Trivia Question Today

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Review Responses

Gylzgurl You're right on all three! Good job. I love almost all Disney movies, but The Little Mermaid is my favorite. Lady and the Tramp is right up there too with Robin Hood, Bambi, and Lilo and Stitch.

Anna You were right on the four. I wasn't counting the snakes in I Only Have Eyes For You or Willow and the snake in Bargaining, because those aren't really demons. They're just part of spells.

LittleDrusilla Yeah, I like writing Holden and Angel. Snarky Angel is so much fun!

Samantha I actually wasn't planning on making it an Ascention, but when I got up to the face-off, it just felt like a cool idea. I'm glad you like it!