The Test of Faith and Key to Fighting the Good Fight – Chapter 20

"I am in a little girl's body. Wonderful! Is this the best vessel you guys could find for me?" Prue complained, glancing at her sisters.

"Hey! Give us a break over here. We're trapped in a laser cage. Everybody here is basically evil. What were you expecting?" Piper asked curiously.

"I was hoping to be in the Slayer's body," Prue shrugged.

"Sorry, she's currently taken by an evil demon. Do you have any brighter ideas?" Paige titled her head, feeling a bit annoyed. Prue shook her head and sighed.

"You still have your own strength and powers. You are not really defenseless, Prue," Piper confirmed.

Prue looked around her and all the Hoygles seemed to have made the circle and were chanting again with a slightly green skinned, blonde haired girl slowly coming up to her.

"What are they doing?" Prue asked, bewildered.

"They're doing a ritual. When Buffy kills Dawn she is no longer a human anymore. Her demon change will be complete and the slayer power will deteriorate," Paige filled Prue in on the scenario.

"That's interesting. I always wanted to be the center of attention," Prue replied, sarcastically as she shifted from foot to foot wondering what she could possibly do.

Drusilla clapped energetically as she squeezed Spike's hand, watching the spectacle that was playing before them.

Below Prue was a golden bull plate and its eyes were burning red. She eased away from its evil presence and concentrated on the Hoygles and Buffy as she blinked at them, crashing them into the walls. They all sprung up quickly and surrounded Prue again.

Paige held her breath and looked away. The suspense was too much. Paige waited for Prue's scream, but instead heard a crash from behind them. Thick smoke filled the air as she heard several footsteps shuffle into the room.

"We'll take it from here," Angel responded as Willow and Fred rushed towards Dawn.

Willow studied Dawn's eyes. A look of awe flashed across Willow's face.

"What is it, Willow?" Fred asked nervously.

"I think it's my cousin. Prue? Is that really you?" Willow beamed as she hugged Dawn tightly. Prue could feel the pressure of the hug. Prue could feel everything that the girl was feeling, emotionally and physically.

"Yes, it's me, Wills. Wills? You can let go now. That's a bit too tight," Prue responded with a short laugh. "We need to rescue Piper, Paige and Leo out of the cage," Prue whispered. Willow and Fred nodded.

The Hoygles inched up on the Angel Investigations and the rest of the Scooby group with Spike, Drusilla and Buffy beside them.

"Does everyone know the drill?" Angel asked the group.

They all nodded simultaneously.

"Grab your weapons and stay close enough to one another in case the other person needs help," Angel commanded.

"What do we do with Faith and Buffy?" Wesley asked, taking out his ax.

"Don't kill 'em. They aren't fully demon unless they kill or take souls. In the mean time try to help 'em remember who they are as Slayers. Memory helps revive their inner spirit. Whatever you do don't look into their eyes or the Hoygles' eyes. Eyes are the pathway ta the soul," Doyle answered. Wesley nodded nervously adjusting his glasses.

"Demons, vampires and the First, oh my!" Xander tensed up.

"Have a little faith, man, you'll do fine," Doyle comforted Xander by patting his shoulder.

"What Faith? Where?" Xander spun around grabbing his ax in shaking hands.

"Easy now, buddy," Gunn responded as Xander accidentally bumped into him.

"Don't worry, Xanman. You're not the only one who is afraid. By the way Wizard of Oz is a good movie. One of my favorite classics," Lorne responded quickly, shaking as he picked up his sword.

Xander smiled slightly and nodded. He turned his head and his eyes bulged out of their sockets as Spike, Drusilla, Buffy and the Hogyles surrounded them.

"I'll take care of Spike and Drusilla and you take care of Buffy, Faith and the rest of the Hoygles," Angel pointed out to Doyle.

"But you're technically not a vampire anymore, man. How are you going ta handle 'em? Doyle lifted his eyebrows questioningly.

"I know their weaknesses. I made them, remember?" Angel responded, guiltily.

Doyle nodded uneasily as he watched his friend approach the vampires.

"'Member to cut out the Hoygles' eyes and cut their hearts out of their chests. It's the only way to kill 'em," Doyle told the rest of the group.

"Ready or not," Gunn commented as the Hoygles gathered around the group.

Angel took a deep breath to try to steady himself as he prepared for the worst from his uncanny creations.

"You smell scared nancy boy. Looks like this game is in my favour," Spike grinned as he grabbed Angel by the arm and threw him onto the floor.

"You know I'd always wondered what it would be like to actually beat you up, but it isn't fun without a few screams," Spike grabbed Angel by the neck and forced him to stand up. Drusilla sniffed Angel and licked her lips in a hungry manner.

"Grand Daddy is human and defenseless as a pussy cat. Mew!" Drusilla licked down Angel's neck, sending Angel's pulse rising.

"I say we rough him up a bit and play around with him," Drusilla purred as Spike roughly tied Angel up with rope to a pipe.

"Be my guest, luv, but I get to kill him," Spike demanded. Drusilla smiled and nodded as she began to wiggle her fingers in front of Angel.

Angel knew the routine and was ready for action, but stood still and motionless. He wasn't going to give them the satisfaction that they had the upper hand at this moment. He was going to wait for the exact moment to hop back into the fight and he hoped Buffy would join him.

"Willow, you block the path from the First and distract him while me and…." Prue paused to look at Fred.

"Fred." Fred nodded towards Prue.

"While me and Fred distract Phoebe and get my sisters out of the cage," Prue decided.

"It's alright with me, but he's strong. I'll have to do more than block him with a force field," Willow commented.

"Do whatever it takes. Just separate him from Phoebe and my sisters," Prue whispered.

Willow nodded as she threw a magical rock that just missed Cole's head. Cole's eyes narrowed at Willow as he threw an energy bolt at her. Willow blocked it with her force field sending it whizzing by Cole's ear.

"Tough little witch. I remember you, you're Dark Willow. It's funny that you're fighting against me when you should be fighting with me." Cole taunted.

"I'm not Dark Willow. I've changed and I'm not afraid of you. I will never join forces with you." Willow shouted at him.

"No? Do you miss your old powers, Willow? Do you miss that wonderful sensation streaming through your veins?" Cole laughed as he flicked his hand towards Willow. Willow's eyes widened in horror as the dark magic once more poured through her.

"Phoebe, you need to listen to me. Get your sisters out now," Prue shouted.

"Why Prue? So that you can prove that you are better than me again? For once I'm more powerful than you and you can't stand it. What makes you think I will release the Charmed Ones?" Phoebe said with a laugh.

"Because you are a Charmed One, Pheebs and this really isn't you. You've been tricked and deceived by Cole again. I told you time and time again that he is no good for you. He doesn't deserve you."

Phoebe lifted her eyebrow. "Since when have you been so insightful, Prue?" Phoebe clutched her locket tightly, sending beams of light flickering off the cage and hitting Leo.

"The key is in the locket! Grab it Prue!" Piper called out as she rushed over to Leo.

Phoebe grabbed Prue's hand and twisted her arm, sending Prue crashing to the floor.

Phoebe stepped over Prue and grabbed for Prue's throat. Prue gasped trying to suck in air. She started to panic. This body was only a lone and she didn't want it to be hurt or worse dead. Prue shook against Phoebe's grasp, concentrating on the locket.

She focused on the locket and jerked her head to the side sending Phoebe and the locket flying towards the cage.

"Thanks, Prue!" Paige called out. "Locket!" Paige held out her hand as the locket teleported into her hand. Paige opened the locket as the power zapped out from the cage.

Phoebe frowned, her arms crossed. "That wasn't very nice, Prue." Phoebe swung Prue into the air with a wave of her hand.

"Now what?" Paige asked Piper as they looked at Phoebe torturing Prue.

"Prue and Willow are strong witches. While they distract Mr. and Mrs. First we need to look for Phoebe's soul before it disappears," Piper commanded.

"Any ideas on where it could be?" Leo asked, leaning his hurt body into Piper.

"Wolfram and Hart has a wall that hides a secret room. I suggest we look for it quickly before we are followed by the demons," Fred suggested, looking behind at her friends fighting.

"Lead the way," Piper nodded, as they followed Fred to a dark, abandoned corner. Fred pressed her hand to the wall and spoke in Latin. Nothing happened.

"Must be this wall then," Fred skimmed her hand next to the other wall and chanted again as the wall brightened revealing a golden light as they stepped through the wall and disappeared from the room.

"How is everything going over there, man?" Gunn asked Lorne and Xander as he killed yet another Hoygle with his heavy ax. Although Gunn was beaten and bruised up, he was strong and knew the street smarts about dangerous and strong demons. His main worry was with Lorne and Xander.
They didn't look like they had the technique or were strong enough to fight evil forces.

Lorne and Xander forced smiles as they whipped the sweat off their foreheads.

Blood raced down Xander's lips as he glared up at the Hoygle and struggled to get up off the floor. These Hoygles meant business. An arm was brought down on Xander and Xander could feel an odd fuzzy and painful pulling sensation. Xander tried to move, but felt numb all over and couldn't move his limbs. Xander closed his eyes. This is it. This is my end. I will turn into a demon or become a demon's entrée. No Buffy and no Willow to save me. Xander screamed as the hand started to land on his chest,which began to burn and glow. Doyle suddenly dove and stepped in front of Xander and cut out the demon's eyes and ripped across its chest, surprising it as it fell down to the ground.

"I didn't mean it. I didn't mean to kill your other friends. Please don't kill me!" Xander panicked as he opened his eyes to see Doyle come up to him in demon form.

"Calm down, man. It's just me.We need to help Lorne. He doesn't look like he is doing well," Doyle pointed out. Xander sighed with relief as Doyle helped him up.

"Nice face. Did that hurt?" Xander asked, pointing at Doyle's blue spikes poking out of his face. Doyle sighed, dragging Xander with him towards Lorne.

Lorne was playing ring around the rosy with the Hoygle demons. He just couldn't get an aim at the demons without being tripped or slashed across the face. Lorne turned around and saw Doyle and Xander heading his way. Feeling relieved, he let his guard down as one of the demons slashed his arm and threw him down like a potato.

"That's ten for the Hoygles and zero for Lorne," Lorne replied between a coughing fit. He was tired and as far as he could see the fight had just begun for them. Doyle struck the demons' eyes with stakes as Xander cut their chest open with his ax. "How do you like that? We're playing the game with heart and soul," Xander grimaced, whipping his dark, bloody hands on his pants as Doyle reached for Lorne.

"The game is not over yet, man," Doyle replied as he wrapped Lorne's arm around his neck so that Lorne could lean into him.

"Gunn, pass me the sword. This demon is a feisty one," Wesley called out loudly above the demons' noise from the other side of the room. Gunn quickly tossed the sword over to Wesley. Wesley was aiming to strike the demon, but the demon caught the knife and shoved it into Wesley's arm. Wesley heaved, beckoning help from Gunn. Gunn limped over and shot two stakes into the creature's eyes, sending it squealing in pain.

"Thanks, Gunn," Wesley smiled as Gunn gently took the small sword out of Wesley's arm and sent it into the creature's chest. Gunn gave Wes a friendly salute and turned back to his fight. "Where's Fred?" Wes asked Gunn.

"I think she's helping the witches. Last time I saw them they were headed for a bright golden wall." Gunn replied with a shrug. Wesley's face fell.

"Don't worry, man. She'll be alright. She's been through hell, remember? Fred's a tough chick," Gunn reassured Wesley. Wesley nodded.

"Of course she is and that's why I worry about her." Wesley said with a sigh as they continued with their fight back to back.

"Whoosh!" Drusilla scrapped her fingernails across Angel's neck.

"Drip…drop…goes the rain. How refreshing…Mmmm…." Drusilla licked up Angel's neck, nicking her teeth under his chin.

"That's enough, Dru. You're pretty much seducing him, not torturing him." Spike complained.

"Let me have a try. I think I can stink up a bit of fear. For all those centuries you bossed me around, tonight you are going to pay," Spike threatened.

"Aww…look at them play," Drusilla said to Doyle as she clapped and hopped up and down with glee. Doyle sent Lorne and Xander off to fight again after he healed them, telling them to take extra precautions and care when they fought. It wasn't easy to fight and have the energy to heal his friends at the same time.With demonic form Doyle looked over at Angel and put his finger to his lips. Angel slightly nodded. Angel's chest was scratched up and soaked with blood. Spike was too busy to care to see what Angel was looking at and Drusilla thought Doyle was on her side. Angel struggled against his bounded up hands as the rope scratched into his skin, making him wince in pain. Angel gestured towards Doyle, slightly jerking his head towards Buffy's direction.

Doyle knew what that meant. He would have to bring back Buffy from the beyond by jogging her memory. Doyle looked over at Buffy who was helping the Master Hoygle with a spell by lending him her blood.

Doyle walked over and threw Buffy the stake. Buffy glared up at Doyle and caught it in time before it hurt the Master Hoygle and then she broke it into two. This may definitely take awhile, Doyle thought to himself. Buffy started towards Doyle with anger behind her green glowing eyes. She grabbed him by the collar and lifted him above her head. Even in his demonic form Doyle felt defenseless. It seemed like the demon inside her was using both its power and the slayer power combined.

"Put me down, darlin'. This is no time ta fight ya. Ye are the slayer, Buffy and ye need to be fightin' this virus and battlin' against these demons, not wit' 'em. What do ya say, luv? Doyle pulled out Angel's black and white picture of Buffy. Buffy frowned at it and looked away. Good. I'm actually startin' to get somewhere wit' her, Doyle thought.

"Look around you, darlin'. Yer mates are takin' it pretty hard here. They need ye badly," Doyle continued. Buffy studied the picture and then threw it on the ground, shaking her head.

"Buffy doesn't reside here anymore. Beat it!" Buffy threw Doyle to the ground.

Doyle shook himself off and turned to Angel with uncertainty. Angel's eyes were filled with tears of pain as Spike cut into his chest, he glanced briefly towards Doyle nodding for him to continue to awaken Buffy.Good heavens, I hope this works, Doyle thought nervously as he proceeded to try connecting spiritually with Buffy.

"What 'bout the slayer and hero who has saved the world many times and has sacrificed so much of her life to protect her family and friends?" Doyle shook himself back into human form to get through to Buffy's human spiritual form.

"She is dead and doesn't want to come back," the demon's voice resounded in Buffy once again.

"What would yer ma say 'bout that, luv? She believed in ye and still does. I've seen her and she still believes that ye can make a difference," Doyle commented.

Buffy frowned and bit her lip. He could tell she was fighting the demon inside of her and struggling to get out. She started to shake and fall to her knees panting.

"My mom?" Buffy's face softened and her voice finally came out. Doyle nodded, prepared to fight in case the demon made another move. The demon jerked inside her as her eyes changed from blue to green again.

"Dead is dead. She can't help me. No one can," the demon responded through Buffy. Doyle bent down to steady Buffy, but the demon inside her shook him off.

Doyle put his arm around Buffy carefully.

"She believes in ye, but the question is do ye still believe in yourself?" Doyle carefully stroked Buffy's cheek as a tear rolled down it. He lifted her face to his and saw clear blue eyes. Doyle sighed with relief and placed something in Buffy's hands. She looked down at the stake and nodded, whispering yes. Doyle smiled and winked at her, lifting her from the ground. Buffy could feel all the pain and darkness drift away from her as Doyle lifted her up. He saved her from drowning and from falling into nothingness. "Now I'm ready to kick some demon ass," Buffy fumed.

"There's a good lass," Doyle motioned Buffy towards Angel. Buffy froze. Drusilla and Spike were torturing and about to kill Angel.

"What's happening? Why can't Angel fight back?" Buffy looked back at Doyle with concern.

"'Cause he is human, darlin' and the Senior Partner's have hexed him." Doyle explained.

Buffy strode quickly towards Spike and Drusilla, knocking the surprised Drusilla on her back. Drusilla giggled.

"Look who's back from the circus," Drusilla crooned, marching around in circles.

"At least my mind is in better shape than yours," Buffy commented, shoving and pinning Drusilla on her back with her heeled boot. Drusilla smiled.

"Enough is enough, Dru. Bring back Spike's soul or else I will have to kill you," Buffy threatened.

"What soul?" Spike sniffed, grinning evilly.

Drusilla beamed proudly at Spike and clapped her hands.

"Take her my sweet boy. Play with her all you want. We still have one baby on our side," Drusilla said with a laugh. Drusilla grabbed Buffy's boot and swung her around like a disco ball, throwing her into the wall. Buffy tried to get up, but was held down by a strong hand. It was Faith's hand. "You didn't think I was going to let you have all the fun, did you, B?" Faith asked, her eyes glowing deep green.

"Let me handle the girl, Faith. You can handle captain forehead," Spike suggested. Faith nodded. "It sounds good to me, blonde. I think me and him could go for a good round of fighting and who knows maybe more," Faith grinned, rubbing her hands together as if she were being introduced to a delicious snack.

"Where the heck are we, Fred?" Paige asked suspiciously, scrunching up her face.

"Apparently we're in the treasure room of Wolfram and Hart. It almost looks like the forest out of Alice and Wonderland," Fred explained.

The room was filled with dead vines that were lit by dim fluorescent lights that gave the room a gray ghoulish glow. It smelled musty like it wasn't used for a long time with dust and cob webs on the ceiling and floor.

"It looks more like a stoned wall dungeon. Do you really think they hid the Book of Shadows and Phoebe's soul in here?" Piper felt skeptical. Paige nodded.

"I swear I saw Cole before I passed out take the Book of Shadows with a golden holographic colored light, which I assumed is Phoebe's soul. It seemed like he walked through a wall." Paige said with a shrug.

"It doesn't hurt to try to look for it here, Piper. Besides, where else can we possibly look that isn't obvious and hidden by magical forces?" Leo concluded.

"You have a point," Piper admitted.

"I still feel we should have helped your sister or Buffy's sister and Willow," Fred said with a sigh as her eyes roamed around the room. The room had three rectangular tables coated with slime. They had demon's horns, a raven's claw, demon and human blood and demon horns across the tables that were laid out in a triangular fashion, surrounding the group.

"Interesting display we have here. What were they trying to do raise the dead?" Piper covered her nose at the decaying smell. Paige and Leo looked quickly around the place and shrugged their shoulders.

"It's not here," Paige groaned.

"I wouldn't be too sure of that. It could have been hidden mystically," Fred reassured her.

"I don't sense anything," Leo frowned, looking around the room once again.

"You wouldn't sense anything because it's not meant for a witch or any other species except for demons. I could be wrong, but I believe that one of the tables may hold what you're looking for here."

"Why can you sense it then, Fred?" Paige looked up at Fred curiously.

Fred shook her head. "I was in a hell dimension. You tend to learn a few things about demons and humans when you're down there," Fred shuttered.

"Be our guest then, Fred," Piper waved towards the tables, holding her breath and hoping with all her heart that Fred knew what she was doing.

"How does it feel to be Dark Willow again?" Cole beamed.

"Oh you have no idea," Willow forced a smile, controlling the urge to flow with the dark power given to her. Willow paused a second. That is just what he wants her to do. Maybe she could enjoy this temporary power after all without hurting her friends.

Willow, take the power, Prue whispered in Willow's head. We have more problems here to begin with and we need you to clean things up. Just control it instead of letting it take control over you. This is your chance to make things right again and to show your friends and family that you can still handle the power without going overboard.

Willow let the buzzing feeling crawl up her hands and it felt absolutely delicious.

Why can't everyday feel this way? Willow wondered. No…that would be wrong. Plus this is for Buffy and the Scooby gang. This is for Tara and Kennedy. They've been taken away from me too early. It's payback time.

Willow lifted her head. Her face began to glow and her hair began to turn a glowing yellow. She saw Cole's face drop. That only made her grin spread wider. Willow was blessed with Doyle's protection and healing powers inside that helped her take charge and turn the powers into good. Willow also learned from Giles long ago that power was a way to believe you were stronger, but giving into the darkness of it and craving it with greed and hunger only brought you down and made you a weaker being. She wasn't going to make that mistake twice. This was her fight. It was for Buffy, Xander, Kennedy and her beloved Tara.

"Bring it on, bad boy," Willow grinned, laughing as she threw a lightning bolt towards Cole.

Cole caught it and frowned.

"That's it Wills! Make Tara proud!" Prue shouted as she struggled underneath Phoebe's grasp.

"You need to shut up!" Phoebe threatened Prue, stepping roughly on top of Prue's mouth. Prue blinked sending Phoebe tumbling backwards, hard onto her back. Prue grinned. I still have it, she thought as she used her eyes to move Phoebe across the room and slapped her into the wall.

"Faith, you need to snap out of it," Buffy shouted towards Faith. "You've been infected by the Hoygle virus and if you don't get out of it soon you'll become the demon." Faith shrugged indifferently.

"Why prolong the transition any longer? I know what I want now and it feels good." Faith spun around and then pounced onto Angel, shoving Doyle out of her way.

"Poor guy needs some attention. What should I do first? Take his soul or kill him?"

"Oh, do kill him! That would be so much fun!" Drusilla clapped, dancing around Faith giddily.

"I make my own rules, Wednesday. I will do what I want and you will watch!" Faith commanded. Drusilla stopped dancing and plopped herself down with a crazy, happy look on her features.

"Faith you don't want to do this," Angel pleaded, closing his eyes.

"How do you know what I want, brood boy?" Faith put her hands on her hips, frowning down at him.

"Because you'll regret every moment of hurting him if you do," Wesley replied, as he ripped another Hoygle apart with his ax.

Faith's eyes widened as she looked up at Wesley. Wesley didn't look at her, but showed her the scars he had from her torture session with him years ago. Faith backed up, her hand over her mouth. She remembered that day as if it were yesterday. How Angel had given her an extra chance. She looked back at Angel's defenseless body laying there waiting for her to tear it apart. Could she do it? Could she actually kill him and rip him apart after what he did for her? But he looked so helpless and tempting to devour. His soul must taste warm and sweet after being pulled back into his mortal living body. Faith shook her head and ran off. Wesley courageously trailed after her to make sure she was back or at least close to normal again.

Buffy side stepped Spike and flipped towards Drusilla, knocking her into the floor again.

"Last chance, Dru. Where is Spike's soul?" Buffy demanded. Drusilla shrugged and pointed her bony finger towards the leader of the Hoygles.

"All gone. He was hungry for a yummy snack," Drusilla giggled. Buffy side kicked Dru in the face. Drusilla pounced on Buffy, punching her into the gut and flipping Buffy onto her back. "BOOM! Slayer falls down," Drusilla grabbed Buffy by the hair and yanked her into the wall. "Up and down, up and down. Wee!" Drusilla yanked Buffy's hair back and forth, causing Buffy to fall back and forth against the wall. Spike glanced admiringly at Drusilla and headed back towards Angel with a scowl on his face.

"Fred, what are the chances that it is here? I mean you have already looked among all three of the tables and found nothing. Maybe it just isn't here." Piper replied, wearily.

"No, I believe I missed something. I think I've been looking at them separately when I should be looking at them as a unit. The powers are connecting it somehow." Fred took apart the puzzle with her mind.

"The triangular power itself has three different elements. The liquid human and demon blood represent eternity, the demon horns represent evil leadership and the raven claw represent protection. These three guard your sister as well as the book." Fred chanted another saying in Latin as the red mist and dark eyes flew and wind blew the mystical energy out into the cracks of the ceiling and walls.

"What the hell was that?" Piper asked curiously.

"That's the First's powerful minions that are devouring your sister's soul. I think I scared most of it away," Fred whispered. She waved her hand in the air to get rid of the unwanted evil aura. Putting back her jeweled magical charm, Fred slipped her hand through the head table and pulled out a thick book. Paige beamed and grabbed it immediately.

"Now for Phoebe's soul," Piper urged Fred to go on. Fred stuck her hand back through the table and pulled out a crystal vase with a cover over it. It looked like a scene from Beauty and the Beast, only there was a dim soul in the crystal, not a rose.

"Oh my god. Leo, you're right. Phoebe's soul is fading fast. Lets restore it quickly into her before it crumbles even more," Piper insisted.

Fred chanted closing the triangle back into its original tight space and opened the wall to let everyone out of the room.

"Faith? Can you hear me?" Wesley cautiously approached Faith. Faith nodded with her head in her hands as she shrunk down to the floor.

"Are you okay?" Wesley put his hand on top of her shoulder. Faith flinched away.

"Did I do anything to hurt you or anyone else?" Faith whispered, feeling guilty.

"No, but you almost hurt Angel," Wesley replied softly.

Faith looked up at Wesley for a moment. Wesley held his breath and courageously looked Faith in the eye. Faith's eyes were back to their normal brown color, but her life like spark was missing.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I can't believe I almost did it again," Faith shook her head, feeling shocked.

"It wasn't entirely all your fault, Faith. You were being controlled by a demon inside you. To be honest I thought it was going to overcome you altogether, but you seem to surprise me. You seem to surprise us all, Faith. You've actually changed a bit and had the strength to fight the demon. I wouldn't use the word care, but you now understand what it's like to feel broken and to be able to walk again." Wesley consoled her.

"Thank you? I really don't know what to say about that, Wes. I'm no touchy feely kinda girl, but it's nice to hear it from an old guy like yourself," Faith elbowed Wes playfully in the stomach. "Of course," Wesley coughed, rubbing his sore, wounded stomach.

Suddenly the wall shone brightly opening up and revealing Fred, Paige, Piper and Leo. They seemed to be carrying an odd thick looking book and a glass closed vase with a golden – holographic light that seemed to be dimming by the second.

"What is that Fred?" Wes pointed to the book and glowing vase.

"Just a spell book and a missing s-o-u-l," Fred winked. "They're trying to put the soul back into their sister before it fades away forever. Where's Willow?" Wes pointed Willow out to Fred. Fred's eyes widened in awe as she saw Willow being tackled by the First Evil. She ran over to Willow, but Willow just shooed Fred away with her hand. Willow was covered with heat scares, but still had the strength to stand up.

"This is my fight, Fred. I can't let you or anyone into this. I will only get out on my own terms. Go find Phoebe and Prue. I'll be fine here," Willow assured Fred. Fred nodded as she and the sisters looked for Phoebe.

"You know, luv. I think this calls for a celebration," Spike said with a laugh.

"I'll pop the cork," Drusilla giggled as Buffy jammed her into the wall with her knee. Doyle tried to help and get into the fight, but Buffy gestured for him to help Wesley, Faith, Xander, Lorne and Gunn fight and kill off the other Hoygles.

"I think you've pulled enough corks these past centuries. Time to put a stop to it all," Buffy grabbed her stake and heard Dru cackling loudly for the last time as she shoved it into Drusilla's heart. As her hands filled with dust, Buffy smiled. It felt good to get rid of that thorn in her side. She had been dying to do it for a long time. Buffy's smile didn't last for long as she turned to see Spike grabbing Angel by the collar and turning Angel's neck to the side. Spike's demonic face showed as he grinned wickedly at Buffy.

"A life for a life, pet. You killed my luv so be prepared for me to kill your luv." Spike titled his head cockily towards Angel, waiting for Buffy to react.

Buffy pulled out a stake from her pocket and shook her head looking at him, anger burning within her.

"Oh go ahead, Slayer, kill me! Or are you too emotional to strike?" Spike taunted with a sneer. Buffy took a step towards Spike and looked upon Angel whispering I'm sorry before she staked Spike in the heart. Catching Angel in her arms, she gently laid him down slowly on the floor next to Spike's remains.

"Prue, come say this with us quickly before Phoebe's soul disappears," Piper urged. Prue flipped in the air towards Piper and Paige before Phoebe could get to her. They read together:

Phoebe's soul was amiss,

Now bring back the Phoebe, our sister

The loving person we knew before all of this.

Leo opened the vase as Phoebe's soul traveled and flowed back into her and the red mist sunk back inside Cole.

Phoebe blinked and then looked around in alarm and then back at her sisters.

"What is happening and where am I?" Phoebe asked, panicking.

"To make a long story short we're in the middle of an apocalypse and you were the First Evil's wife. He was using you to kill us and the Slayers to use our power for evil against humankind and to destroy the world," Paige replied quickly.

"Cole?" Phoebe shouted angrily.

"Yes and that's not all. He stole your soul too," Piper added matter of factly.

"How did you guys get my soul back?"

"Long story with the Power of Three," Prue replied with a laugh, appearing outside of Dawn's body.

"Prue. Oh my god, it's you! Thank you so much."

"Yeah, you owe me sister," Prue winked.

"Where are you going in such a rush?" Phoebe asked curiously.

"I think you guys can finish this on your own. You don't need me anymore now that the spell is finished. I promise I'll visit you guys. Now kick some demon ass!" Prue winked as she twinkled away.

Dawn blinked a couple of times, feeling confused.

"It's okay, honey. You were just helping us. We'll explain the rest to you later," Paige smiled at Dawn. Dawn nodded and grabbed a weapon and joined her Scooby gang party as the Charmed Ones advanced towards Cole.

Willow heaved in and out as she threw another electric bolt towards the First. He caught it in his fists.

"You know you're getting boring Dark Willow or is it Willow? You should have accepted my powers as they were instead of changing them into weaker good powers."

"She's not your vessel or anyone else's for that matter." Phoebe stuck up for Willow, her hands on her hips.

"Phoebe, luv, aren't you supposed to be helping Spike and Dru kill the Slayers?" Cole grinned nervously.

"No, I think that she has better things to do with her life than follow up with your dirty work" Buffy fumed. "Spike and Dru decided to bust out of here. Looks like you're by yourself again with these gross demons by your side. Kind of sucks, doesn't it? I mean since me and Faith aren't demons anymore you're really don't have a plan of action or anything to fall back on," Buffy shrugged indifferently.

"It's not over yet, Slayer. There are two Hellmouths. Not just one anymore. How can you be at two places at the same time? How can you compete with my Master Hoygle?" Cole boomed, laughing.

"Right ahead of you there, big guy. Your Master Hoygle was a pleasure to kill. I can even use his heart as a trophy," Faith mused, throwing the Hoygle's heart at Cole's feet.

"Just how are you going to destroy the Hellmouths?" Cole smirked.

Doyle whispered into Paige's ear. Paige nodded and grinned.

"Everyone over here, quickly. We need your help with this one. It can only work if we are grouped up" Paige shouted to the people fighting.

With Angel over Doyle's shoulder, Faith, Gunn, Wesley, Lorne and Xander hustled as fast as they could towards the circle as Buffy, Willow, Piper, Paige, Phoebe and Leo created another circle making the shape look like a figure eight. They all held hands to make a chain leaving the evil aura trapped and unable to break free from the Hellmouth.

"This is fer Angel. This is a way ta restore him back ta normal and ta destroy the rest 'o the Hoygle kin. Ready?" Paige nodded towards Doyle. "Repeat our words," Paige exclaimed to the group.

From East to West

And North to South,

Get rid of the San Francisco and the Los Angeles

Hellmouths.

The Hoygle demons made people feel like they were being pulled into a dark endless hole,

Make them suffer with no power of the soul.

For the people among us here are strong,

Send these beasts where they belong.

The group then stepped back from the Hellmouth and when the Hoygles scampered towards the group, they began to be pulled back into the bull plate like a Jumanji game except every event was real and disturbed all the Scoobies', Angel Investigations' team and Charmed Ones' consciences and tainted their souls. Cole fell to his knees in anger as the building began to fall on top of his babies and the hellmouth disappeared into the ground. His cries of anger echoed throughout the building as Cole got sucked up into the hellmouth.

The group scurried out of the Wolfram and Hart building as fast as they could with Doyle trailing behind, helping Angel out of the building.

As the last of the debris hit the ground and the Wolfram and Hart building was officially demolished, the Scooby gang, Angel Investigations and Charmed Ones looked back with pride.

"There goes another work place," Gunn joked.

"I wonder where we're going to go now." Xander wondered out loud.

"We could always join teams. The new expanded Angel Investigations Team has a good ring to it. We always need extra hands to help fight the good fight," Doyle said with a smile, looking down at Buffy. Buffy and Angel looked at Doyle and then looked back each other and smiled, nodding at Doyle's comment.

"I owe you one and I will have to hold you to that promise," Angel grinned, shaking Doyle's hand.

Doyle smiled at the thought of returning to Angel Investigations. He restored Buffy and Angel back to normal and helped bring the world back out of the shadows one soul at a time. He no longer was ashamed of himself as a whole because it turned out that his human half and demon and white lighter half were a blessing to the world after all.

The End

In memory of Glenn Quinn (May 1970-December2002) You're an inspiration. This story would never have been completed without your character,Doyle.Thanks for the piece of mind! I give this story to you. "Erin Go Bragh - Ireland Forever"