Chapter 20 The Beginning of the End!

February 3, 2004

Buffy could barely sleep that night. She tossed and turned thinking of the bump in with Cordelia. But was it Cordy? Could it had been the Powers contacting her, using Cordelia as a disguise? Cordy is the link; so Giles claimed, but her body didn't move from her bed so says Fred. She couldn't take the wait; the suspense. Buffy pulls herself out of bed, and walks over to the window, staring at the night sky, thinking about the last day she was with the gang, that tube inside her bag with a certain scroll inside; the thought of coming face to face with the so called PTB. So many things were running through her mind; but she was suddenly brought back to reality when her alarm went off, and she realized what was to come, what she had to do.

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Buffy is in some kind of underground chamber. "I beseech access to the knowing ones.." Buffy began to say and was grabbed in by a mystical white light. She fell landing onto a dirt floor, taking a breather from how hurtful that just was. "Ow." she said slowly getting up. She found herself in a room almost like a cavern with a light only glistening in the middle. "Hello?" The room suddenly changed into a white marble chamber, and there stood two glittery figures who presented themselves to Angel; but now as only ghost like figures.

"Ms. Summers. We've been expecting you." said the female oracle.

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Images of symbols painted on a door, symbols tattooed on the body of a man, and images of Angel doubling over in pain. Cordelia gasps as she is thrust into consciousness by the vision.

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"I have questions that are in need of answering." Buffy mentioned.

"All in time, one is needed for them to be answered." replied the female.

"What do you mean one is needed?"

"You humans are all the same, never patient." said the male.

"We've been expecting you for quite some time Ms. Summers, you are part of a great prophecy that is yet to come." said the female.

"The Shanshu Prophecy?" Buffy exclaimed. The female Oracle smiled and nod. "Tell me."

"Patience. Once you know the question, you will truly know the answer."

Angel was sitting down in the office relaxed just reading. Alex walks in startled to find Angel.

"Angel!" He said putting his bag down. "Morning."

"Morning." Angel replied. "What's wrong?"

"You're in the office, at this time." He replied looking at his watch.

"I'm in a good mood today."

"Oh, then I'll try to keep it that way." Alex said leaving the office.

Angel suddenly grabbed his head, seeing flashes, it seemed worse then ever. He could barely make out the faces.

"Wow you're up early too." Alex said seeing Spike walking down the stairs.

"It's not like us vamps stay out at night, you twit." replied Spike, he suddenly saw Angel in the office, and rushed over. "Angel!" Spike shouted.

"Is he having one of those flashes?" Alex asked.

"Visions." replied Kate who just walked in.

Angel looked up at the team, after shaking it off.

"What did you see?" asked Spike, standing next to Kate.

"G." replied Angel and the team looked at each other worried. "Nice to have you back." The three turned around to find G standing at the door to the office.

"Angel." replied G smiling.

"Francis!" Kate shouted and quickly jumped in his arms. Alex went over to say hi too, smiling and shaking his hand.

"What did you see?" Spike asked again; while Kate and Alex were welcoming G home. But Angel didn't answer he just stood up and headed over to G, welcoming him back also. Spike stood there, not sure of what he should say or do. He felt there was something wrong, a reason for the visions to be getting worse especially for a demon who's had them so long.

"So how was it?" Angel asked sticking his hands in his pockets.

"It was good. Kate I need to talk to you, in private." Kate smiled and followed G outside.

"It's good to have him back, now Kate wont be such a pain in the ass. Hey speaking of pain, what did you see in your vision?" Alex asked. Angel suddenly looked down in pain. "You don't have to reenact it."

"Don't think it's an act mate." Spike replied. Angel falls to the floor, clammy, shivering, and panting in horror. He sees flashes of something that is soon to come. He saw G, Alex and Kate standing together in a circle, while Spike read some words out of a book. A flash of white light beamed across the hotel lobby, and Angel could see a portal being opened. He suddenly felt the pain of someone inside trying to come out, they were trapped inside; Angel suddenly saw Cordelia's face and quickly looked up.

"Cordy!"

Cordy walked out of her room to find everyone still, as if mannequins. No movement at all, as if time stopped.

"Oh boy." Cordy suddenly felt a slight pinch and a vision came whizzing by in her mind. An image of Buffy, and the oracles. Without another thought Cordy went into someone's room and grabbed some cloths as she headed out. The streets were even still; it reminded her of that night when she was on her way to meet up with Angel at the beach. But she couldn't think of that now the oracles were calling her and she knew it had to be important.

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Buffy was sitting down against the wall waiting for what ever is to come. "Ok that's it. I want my answers. There's two soul Vampire's out there who are champion's and one prophecy. Who does it belong too?" Buffy asked standing up.

"She is here." once the female Oracle said that Cordy came falling down landing on the dirt. "Now I get why Angel hated coming here." Cordy said getting up; she stops after seeing Buffy standing there, they walk over to each other; looking up and down, seeing how much they've changed since High school.

"Cordelia Chase." Buffy said looking a bit agitated.

"Buffy Summers." Cordy looking a bit agitated herself.

"You've changed."

"You too." Cordy replied. "How's life and death been treating you?" asked Cordy in a normal everyday tone.

"Life…same as always, world ending slayer saves the day. Death relaxing, had a few breaks. You? How's the life and demon treating you?"

"If you mean the whole demon who took over my body, I hope Angel kicked it's ass for me. Other than me as a demon, couldn't complain." They both shrugged and faced towards the oracles as if what they just had was a normal everyday conversation.

The oracles just stood finding themselves a bit confused.

"I know this is the wrong time to be bringing this up, and I would never want to hurt you, but…"

"Francis, what's wrong?" asked Kate not liking where this was going.

G couldn't come in to telling her about his power and how much he is afraid he may betray her, or kill her even.

"Francis!" Kate shouted getting his attention.

"The line of business we're in, it's better if we just--"

"G! We need your help, get your books and magic together, we're opening a portal tonight!" Spike shouted, startling both Kate and G.

"What!?"

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The hours have passed and all Angel could think about was the vision he just had. He saw his best friend, the woman he grew to love locked inside another dimension suffering, and he was going to get her out.

February 4, 2004

"We take what we can get, champ, and we do our best with it. I'll be seeing you." Cordy said walking out of the office. She suddenly stops and turns around. "Oh, what the hell. One for the road?" Cordelia after walking back, kisses Angel, but moments later the phone rings.

"You know, um... I don't...I don't need to get that." replied Angel.

Cordelia gently straightens Angel's tie, "That you have to get." Angel walks towards the phone leaving Cordy alone in the other room. "Oh... and you're welcome."

"Angel." Spike said startling Angel who was thinking of the last moment he had with Cordy. The funeral had never happened since her family took her body away to have cremated, or so that's what Angel was told.

"What is it?"

"We're ready." replied Spike looking out towards the lobby. Angel followed as Alex gave a book to Spike to read.

"I'm not sure if we should be doing this." mentioned G, more worried about loosing control of his power.

"There's no time for ifs!" Shouted Angel.

"I thought we're suppose to prevent visions from happening." said Kate, having also a terrified feeling about this.

"Spike!" Angel said ignoring Kate.

Spike gave Angel a nod and began to read the passage. "A-nol-blosh, Centool, acreee, acreee, A-nol-blosh, Centool, acreee, acreee…" Spike continued to repeat the four words written in the book for portals. Suddenly, there's a huge electrical charge in the middle of the lobby, accompanied by a loud clap of thunder. Light begins to shimmer from the ground. Alex, Kate and G stare oddly at each other as the glow begins to move up their bodies. They grab onto each other's hands as they looked up, their eyes slowly fading to white, as their bodies slowly began to glow.

"Keep going!" Angel shouted to Spike seeing the look on his face.

"A-nol-blosh, Centool, acreee, acreee…" Spike continued on as he and Angel watched the portal slowly forming inside the circle. Screaming came from all around, as the portal began to open, a beam of white light shot to Angel knocking him down to the ground. He began to scream out in pain holding onto his head. Visions were whizzing by, similar to what Cordelia went through when she was marked by Voca. Spike continued to read the words. Screams of horror were surrounding him, and he couldn't help but feel for his new friends and Angel. He dropped the book and pushed G out of the way, Spike taking his place. G now on the ground came to; a bit weak from the energy being sucked out from him. He could see what was going on, and quickly knew what must be done.

"She's coming! She's coming!" whispering frightened voices were repeating themselves through Angel's mind as he sees different deaths through out the years.

February 4, 2004

"Are you ready?" asked Buffy as a portal to another world opened.

"Do I have a choice?" Cordelia replied knowing she's already made it. The portal was opened and a shivering cold wind came bursting in. Cordelia suddenly became slightly afraid, but knew what she had to do. She will be frozen, until it is time for her to be let out, to help Angel with his final battle. "You better not screw this up like the last time." mentioned Cordy pointing to the oracles.

"Hey! I'll see you later." Buffy said and gave her slight smile she gives to the ones who she barely knows, but will be playing a huge part in her life.

"Just don't screw this up, and you can count on seeing me again." Cordy replied and jumped inside the portal.

"So it begins." Buffy said, as the portal closed.

"Ashtrutakis!" G shouted pointing his hand towards the portal. The portal closed, as Spike, Kate and Alex fell to the ground. Angel knocked unconscious. G went around to see if everyone was alright.

Meanwhile miles away from the hotel…. A bright beam of light illuminates as a portal begins to open. It gets more and more intense, and the shimmering lights come whizzing by the portal. Suddenly a blindingly bright white light flashes out. A body falls through and hit's the ground hard. The light fades as the portal closes, and a young brunette woman is left lying there. She is unsteady as she tries to get up, but she seems to be slightly weak to do more than lift her head. Her breathing is shallow and labored, and she shivers violently as she looks up and around; seeing the LA lights.

"Damn it feels good to be back!" Faith brought herself to say.