The Observer:
The Slayer's army is moving out, moving like a horde through the streets towards their goal. They move like water, flowing between the buildings, engulfing and absorbing the people in their way. Now I've gotta wonder whether they'll wear away the fortress or break on it. I have to hope that they'll destroy the fortress; crack it open in the first wave.
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Rick:
I've been Ed's friend for as long as I can remember. My parents died before I ever really got to know them, and it was Ed's father that took care of both of us like his own. He taught us about the good fight, about how we were the chosen few that knew about the things in the dark, and that we were the few chosen to fight them. We have contacts all over the world and, until very recently, I thought we were number one in the demon fighting business. And then Angel appeared. We've allied ourselves with a man who was the most feared demon on the planet for over a hundred years. And let's not forget Jericho, the vampire that has actually been trying to kill us since our childhood.
This is our one last chance, and yet I feel like I'm betraying everything that Alistair Giles taught me. I look over to Ed walking forward and try to figure out if he's thinking the same thing. But I can't. I can't understand him at all any more. Maybe he's adjusting to this better than I am.
Or maybe it's killing him.
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Edward:
This is all wrong. I keep running it over and over in my mind. Am I doing the right thing? What am I doing? I was the head man, and I thought I was doing quite well. But then these ancient warriors appear out of nowhere and I can see for the first time that I know nothing about fighting evil. Should I be letting these demons help? Can I do anything about it?
For decades, warriors for the Powers That Be looked to me for guidance – well, me and Spike. And it was because we had roots in the past. Spike was there, fighting evil for centuries. And my family had been demon hunters for almost as long. But they never knew any more than I did, did they? Everything I've known is wrong. Not all demons are evil, well that'll take some getting used to. Keeping secrets isn't helping anyone; it's just giving the First a world to prey on.
I keep telling myself to speak up, to say something against this atrocity. Jericho – the first lieutenant of BC&N – is practically leading the way! How much sense does that make? None! I have to say something.
But the army won't listen to me any more. No, they're listening to the warriors that died fighting over half a millennium ago. And one of them is Matt's kid sister. I can't imagine what he must be going through.
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Matt:
Everyone dies. Slayers die. Jackie is dead. And Buffy is dead. And yet here she is, leading our troops in the great climactic battle that will determine the fate of the entire world.
Sweet Eve, she was so innocent. I can hardly imagine that my sweet and pure little sister is now the greatest Slayer that there has ever been. And I can't believe that she always has been. I'm so proud of her, even though I know it wasn't anything that I did that allowed her to change. No, she did that all by herself – with a little help from the man she loves.
She reminds me so much of Jackie. I remember the first time I saw her, so new to the world of demons, so scared of what awaited her. Of course, I was relatively new as well. My parents had both died a couple of years beforehand, both under mysterious circumstances and both – according to the coroners' reports – of massive blood loss. Edward's people managed to dust the vampires before they could claim Eve or me, and showed us what the world was like. I had taken up the axe that day, and sworn that nobody would ever suffer loss as I had. It was a naïve sentiment, I know that now, but it is still one that I try to uphold. For two years I endured rigorous self-torture, training myself to be able to protect my sister, and then Jackie appeared.
I had heard of the Slayers, even seen a few, but she was something else, something so pure that I couldn't bear to see her fragile innocence shattered by the monsters that had destroyed my own. So I tried to look out for her, to show her how to fight the demons without forgetting the people. And in turn, she taught me the very same things.
She blossomed, took charge while always caring for the people around her. She never left anyone behind, and on those few occasions when we were separated – for various reasons – we were always reunited again with such passion. We were all but inseparable for over five years.
I wonder if that's how Angel felt with Buffy? He has his Slayer back again. Mine is gone for good. No, not for good, we'll meet again. I know I'll see Jackie again. But not yet.
I'm happy for Angel. And for Buffy.
Really I am.
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Angel:
Buffy's back. My god, I can't believe it. I dreamed we'd be reunited, oh how I wanted it. One day I would become human – and now I'm human. Then I would find Buffy and we'd be together, and everything would be perfect.
Well, my work as a vampire is done; Buffy is back in my life after so long. We can be together. The thought has hardly had a chance to surface since I realised she was back. We've hardly even talked.
I have to talk to her, tell her everything. I have to tell her how much I love her, how sorry I am that I did those things to her, and how happy I am that we're together again.
I love her so much. And she's beside me, her spirit drawing my soul to her, drawing forth these legions that are following us. I don't know anyone else who can inspire an army like she does.
She told me once that she knew exactly what I had done because I had done it to her. And she forgave me. I only wonder if she can forgive my tryst with Darla – how can I tell her that I had a son?
Maybe I'll tell her once we're through this.
What if we never get through this?
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The Army:
We're stopping, and every one of us stares up at the building. We've arrived, and suddenly we all are shocked into the realisation that this is actually happening.
We're going to do this. We're going in.
And we're going to win, once and for all.
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The Observer:
For most of them, this will be the biggest and most important battle they've ever had to face.
For a select few, this will be nothing compared to what's come before – or what has yet to come.