That Which Redeems
Post NFA . . . and Pre ;)
I do not own Angel, Buffy, or any other character of the two series. They belong to Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon. If I owned 'em both series would still be on. So please don't send me the paperwork for a lawsuit. Also any resemblance to any other show or fic is purely coincidental. As of the date of this writing I am unaware of any such conflict and will remove any my writings contain if notified! However the ideas and multiplicity of new characters do belong to me. So don't use 'em unless you ask!
Pairings: I'm not telling! It totally takes the surprise away!
Characters: Way too many to list. Plus I wouldn't tell anyway :P (insert above statement).
Summary: Takes up where Joss left off and continues until I get bored, run out of ideas, or receive more than fifty death threats. As an aside, this is the first fic I've ever written. Critiques are appreciated, but be nice. My self-esteem is fragile. ;)
Chapter One
The End of all Things
It is strange what can happen in the most desperate of circumstances. There was no way any of them should have survived the first push by such a massive force. None.
Illyria, knowing that she herself was by far the most powerful and durable of them took her position at the point of the spear.
This surprised the others. She was an Old One. Why should she defend these lesser creatures? Illyria's own Mind-Threads were unable to sort out the puzzle; how could any of them- half-breeds and a mortal –possibly understand. She knew only that Wesley would have done it if he were still alive.
The thought lashed her with grief, but she lashed it back, subordoning the human emotion to her will. Even as the sour taste of offal filled her senses. Even leashed her grief for her Guide refused to subside.
It seemed almost as if she had regained her control over time. Surely minutes had passed since she took her position, but the Demonic horde had barely moved at all.
She found it impossible to marshal the full power of her Mind-Threads to meet the task at hand. Many of them grieved for Wesley refusing her commands to rally. They dredged up every memory that even peripherally included him and shoved them forward. Others contemplated the soon-to-be death of the human Charles. These also filled her with sorrow. She did not realize she had felt for him so deeply.
So be it she shrugged mentally.
And brought together what she could.
And waited.
XXXXX
Angel wasn't really impressed by Illyria's move to the front. Probably just can't wait to start the killing! No thought of mutual defense or- he forced himself to cut off the useless line of thought as Spike moved to his side and Gunn took their backs.
I should probably say something inspirational. . . Nothing came to mind. Oh well, he thinks I don't suppose it'll matter anyway in a few minutes.
Strange how time seems to stop when the Apocalypse is staring you in the face. Hours seem to pass as he grips his weapon ever more tightly. He had expected to feel fear here at the end of his life. But all he could remember was her. Her smile. The smell of her favorite perfume. The sun glinting off her hair as she walked in the door. It seemed like an age of the Earth had passed since he had seen her. The thought of perhaps seeing her again someday if he ever escaped purgatory was enough to fill his heart with joy. A quote surfaced from an old book he'd once read and he spoke aloud.
"And for the Victorious Dead the great hall of Valhalla awaits. That great Champions who die heroic deaths may feast and drink within her walls forever." And another whispered so that not even Spike could hear.
"Now for Wrath, now for Ruin, and the World's ending!"
The Demonic wave struck.
XXXXX
A small part of Spike couldn't believe he was doing this. Why the bloody hell was he standing in an alley beside the Big Pouf waiting for thousands of very cranky demons to come kill him?
Because of her. His world colored with her smile, and bleached to gray when she frowned. The only sun he would ever feel again rose when she laughed and set when her laughter ceased. He had loved her before he had possessed his soul, and loved her even more now that he had it.
So he stood beside his grandsire and waited secure in the knowledge that she would have done the same.
As the wave came closer he lifted his eyes to the sky and smiled.
XXXXX
He was in horrible pain. His wounds were deep and many. As he stood there he could almost feel his life force seeping from his pores. I suppose I should be scared. He thinks, surprised that he isn't when he is so closely confronted by his own end. His enhanced brain is working overtime, filing away as much data as humanly possible. The Dragon, the giants, the wave of demons. But there was no fear. For himself or the others. They had thrown the dice, and if not won, at least forced a draw. The Black Thorn was gone. And they were soon to follow.
Gunn forced himself to stand straight through the pain. He hoped that his actions would merit forgiveness for what he'd done to Fred, though he didn't expect it.
What he did now he did for her and what she could have been. So he would go to his end like a hero.
Like a Champion.
Like Fred.
XXXXX
He raced over the rooftops of LA. He had discovered what was to happen by sheer accident. He had been away so long! And he reappears in this world only to learn that the Apocalypse was happening in his back yard! He would be damned if he was gonna let it succeed! In my left hand I hold Winter! In my right I hold Death! All who seek to harm my world beware!
XXXXX
Not exactly long I know, and with no real fight scenes, but I wanted to set up why all of the characters are at that battlefield at that moment, and why they're fighting as well as a glimpse of possible love interests. So please review! Thanks.