DAY 7
Giles nodded. The theory was right. Willow and he had talked it through for a long time.
Buffy listened doubtfully. "I don't know. I hate to change alligators in mid stream…." But then, as they watched, something clicked in Buffy's head. "But, as someone very dear just told me, 'you can't measure your enemies by their size, it's the size of their ambition that matters'. I say we go for it."
Their conclusion seemed logical. More than that, it felt right. The older he got, the more he found himself relying upon old habits, old suppositions, old instincts. "Right then," Giles concluded. "We'll head out at sunset. Saving Dawn is still the main objective, but Willow, it seems that it will all be up to you in the end, again. We will research entrapment and binding spells until tonight. Meanwhile, absolutely no magic. You must conserve your energy for the battle, then, once you hold the enemy, we will retrieve the Crown and it will be over." But somehow that seemed too easy.
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As they neared the large, square, concrete building, Willow began to tremble. Giles steadied her with a hand on her shoulder. "Here?" he whispered.
With a quick, thankful glance in his direction and nodding, the witch looked at the building's main entrance with worry etched into every line of her young face. What if she'd done the locater spell wrong? What if the ritual time was right? What if she leading the Slayer into a new portal, towards death once again?
The main door was lit by a single, naked bulb in a steel fixture above the door. Other than the chain link fence in front of them and a couple of sodium fixtures in the parking lot that lay between them and the door, no exterior defenses were obvious. Sensing her hesitation, Giles prompted, "They don't know we're coming, they're confident and they've got everything they need. No need to waste personnel out here when they're needed inside."
Slowly, Willow rose from where she was couched with the others and straightened herself with determination. "You're right. Let's go."
Despite her unsettling lack of Slayer power, Buffy's need to do something for Dawn drew her to the front lines again. Upon hearing Willow's okay, Buffy scrambled frantically over the fence in moments, making her way to where Dawn was in danger. Xander reached into Buffy's Slayer bag which he had carried and handed Gunn wire cutters for the fence. As soon as there was an opening, David held aside the fencing as the others made their way through it one at a time; Xander first, then Giles, Angel, Faith, and Gunn followed by Fred, and the four remaining SITs. Everyone who had been around and able had come here, to this battleground, as soon as Willow had pinpointed the location.
As pre-planned, David held back, taking up the rear guard position in case the fence had been alarmed after all. Buffy had stationed herself at one of the ground floor windows and as they neared the building, the others gathered where she stood for a report of what little she could see through the grimy panes.
David watched crossly as the group came together on the other side of the parking lot. He was as good a man as the lot of them. He ached for an opportunity to prove himself to Giles, and strangely, even more so to Buffy. With Willow about half way to the building, he let go of the fencing he'd been holding open. He was surprised at how much pressure he had obviously needed to apply to pull back the metal for the others to pass through for, when he released his grip, noisy vibrations rippled violently along the fence line loudly enough to make him jump nervously.
He pressed a shoulder heavily on the fence, hoping to dampen the vibrations but upon hearing the noise, the others turned toward him in unison. He folded his arms in an attempt to look casual and shrugged. Time slowed as the others remained motionless, assessing the damage he'd just caused. Maybe the rear was a better place for him after all.
After a few uneasy moments during which nothing untoward happened, everyone began to breathe again. David saw Willow turn back to continue her journey to the building and he dropped his gaze to the ground in annoyance, kicking at it as he would kick at himself if he could. Stupid, stupid mistake. As he muttered to himself, David thought he saw something move to his left and jerked his head in that direction. Before he could comprehend what was happening he felt someone, something, leap at him from the shadows along the fence line. David had heard nothing, seen nothing, but had been stalked and now attacked. Instinctively he fell to the ground and rolled, becoming a smaller target as Ovchi's muscular body sailed over him.
Canid animals make noise in attack to call others to their aid, but Ovchi was beyond needing help. He was a force unto himself. His attacks were quiet and deadly. He had been on the other side of the parking lot when the first girl had come over the fence. But she had only mildly aroused his curiosity. As more people began to enter his territory, however, he grew angry. Deciding to single out members of this intruding pack one by one, he had found David left behind, alone, in the shadows and had watched for his opportunity. But the man had avoided his first lunge. Landing heavily on the other side of his target, Ovchi's tough claws scrabbled to turn his body back toward David to finish the assault. The scratching sound did not carry far, but something tickled Willow's ear and she turned back in time to see the beast gathering himself to make a second leap at David who was rolling desperately on the ground, trying to right himself to make some kind of defense against this enemy. In the dark, Willow could only see the beast's shape and feel it's ferocity as it seemed to hold itself in check to allow David to make ready for battle, as though things were too easy. She was too far away from Buffy to call for help without yelling. She hesitated, wondering if she should use her magic to intervene and then it began.
Ovchi fell upon David, all teeth and hair and claws, snarling viciously, throwing the man on his back and planting huge paws on his chest. David fought to escape but with the beast bearing down upon him he could hardly even draw breath. With a colossal effort, he managed to push the animal's torso away to arms' length, maneuver his legs between their bodies and kick out hard. Any other creature would have been flung yards away, but Ovchi was stronger than anything David had ever imagined. The monster was back at him instantly. Ovchi snapped at his head and David wriggled just in time to hear the teeth rattle shut just where his ear had been. But, in turning to avoid the teeth, David's shirt pulled down, presenting his jugular vein and carotid artery to his opponent as though on a silver platter.
David closed his eyes, aware of his vulnerable state and the obvious outcome. Ovchi reared his head roaring in victory and opened his gaping mouth to take in David's now exposed neck when suddenly, the threat disappeared. David, opened his eyes to see Willow, surrounded in the soft glow of power, her hand outstretched before her, aimed at a point somewhere in his direction, but above him. Turning his eyes skyward, David saw the subject of her spell, the marauding animal that had been his mortal enemy only moments before, was suspended over him by ten feet, it's legs flailing uselessly in the night sky. David rapidly scuttled out from under the animal and stood for a moment, overwhelmed at the sheer size of it.
"I can't hold him there forever," Willow whispered hoarsely from two rows of parking lines away. "Get out of here."
With one last look at his nemesis, and knowing now what had protected the fence, David abandoned his rear guard and sprinted toward the building, "Thanks, Red. I owe ya," he called out softly then he turned toward Buffy and the others who were still unaware of what had just happened, deep in conference below the building's window.
Willow was beginning to shake with the effort of holding the animal in mid air. It was large, strong and very, very angry. But this was just a dumb animal, unable to account for its actions. She couldn't harm it. Tightening her grip only slightly, she stood, wondering what to do with it. She couldn't just put it down outside the fence, it was too dangerous, although it seemed to have stopped struggling against her. She took a step closer, still wary of its strength and size. "Well, fella, now what?" she murmured and the animal turned its piercing gaze toward her, intent on listening to her words. "Too bad that the cage at the high school is gone, or even the one at UCS…those bars would've held…."
With a stifled scream, Willow drew back her hand. The shimmer of her power dissipated like stardust around her and Rouj fell from where she had held him, landing hard, but feet first on the ground. They stood now meeting each other's stare as their minds raced.
Ovchi took in impressions of the woman before him. Independent, diminutive, shy but strong, like many he had hunted lately, but…different. This one was…familiar. He sniffed. A comforting scent of sage and peppermint filled his senses with that which he wanted least, yet wanted most, memory. He shook his massive head and growled in irritation.
"Oz?" Willow whispered. "Is that you?"
Willow began to panic. She had always been frightened of Oz's wolf, but there had been precautions; cages, darts, locks and chains. She realized, as she stared into the eyes of the animal before her, that the man she had loved was tightly locked away within there somewhere, but that the beast was master, for now. She trembled, "Oz?" she offered again.
The werewolf hesitated, confused, uncertain. He was also feeling something unpleasant, a tug at his…humanity? The life he had known, the one he had chosen, the one he chose to remember, was one of hate and killing, blood and power. Whatever, or whoever this girl was, was challenging all he knew, all he wanted to know. He began to grow more and more agitated, growling menacingly.
Giles had been drawn out of the group and to the scene looking for Willow. As he looked on, he stepped soundlessly in her direction and reaching her side, he spoke softly, "Willow? Are you all right? My God, is that…?"
The familiar, English-accented voice floated softly, reaching her, centering her. She knew what she had to do. With one fluid gesture, she filled the beast before her with sleep. When the werewolf fell to its stomach at her feet, she knelt down and laid her hands gently on its head. Stroking it lovingly for a moment, the young woman then leaned forward and whispered, "I'll be back for you," into the wolf's ear. Without moving she answered, "I'm fine Giles, and yes, it's him,"
Rising to her feet, she looked at Giles who was astonished by the circumstances, but still purposeful. "You didn't tire yourself did you? We need you, Willow," the Watcher reminded her and himself delicately, but urgently, of their current situation.
"I feel fine Giles. Let's go."
Without a second glance, they left the sleeping monster and went to rescue Dawn. Again.
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Buffy rubbed the pane of the dirty window with her elbow. She leaned in closer and watched as Magus strode to the center of the room, and ascended an elevated dais of rich, dark mahogany. He was dressed in some sort of regal uniform, the chest of which was emblazoned with illegible but frightening symbols of his position, meant to inspire fear in both his enemies and his subjects. A floor-length cape of what looked like black velvet was draped over his shoulders and the edges of this were fringed with locks of human hair, the variety of colors there making a constantly unique pattern. Buffy began to tremble. What did she think she was doing? Her against this huge ape-god? She wasn't who she had been, even two days ago. Running in there would be suicidal.
But then she followed Magus' glance back toward the platform steps and saw there a little man striding confidently up the treads with Dawn in his grasp. He was dressed ceremoniously, but in human attire, a deep blue suit with coordinating tie and kerchief. His movements were precise and his demeanor respectful but confident. Buffy did not recognize him immediately, but as the images began to merge with her memories of Glory, she finally put it together. And she was ticked. It may not have been Glory down there, but the enemy was the same. "And nobody hurts me or mine twice," she muttered.
Recon had never been Buffy's strong suit, she preferred the "go in and kill them" method, but without power on their side, planning was essential, so this time she looked over the situation carefully. Encircling the platform were several rows of worshipers, with the berobed minions kneeling on the platform itself, facing toward the crowd. At each door, and under each window stood an armed and armored, well, behemoth would be a good word. Each of these knights held a short battleaxe or mace at the ready and had a broad sword strapped to their hip. Fortunately their attention was all turned toward the ceremony and none appeared to have been made suspicious by the noises outside, yet.
As David and Willow rejoined the group, Buffy returned with a description of what she had seen through the dirty window. "He was there before too," she finished to no one in particular.
"Hmm?" Giles answered distractedly.
"That man. He was the one up on the tower with Dawn the last time."
Willow had overheard. "I do remember that. He must have been the one who threw Sp…," but she started again. "Are you sure that's him?"
"Absolutely," Buffy confirmed. "But as I recall, he's not a warrior. He's creepier."
Giles, who had long ago learned to trust Buffy's intuition, turned to Willow and asked, "Is that him, then?"
"Maybe. Yes."
Sensing a hidden meaning, all eyes turned to Willow, but as everyone continued to wait expectantly, she only offered, "I could cause a distraction. Turn out the lights, make sparks, draw their attention away from the doors?"
Gunn shook his head. "They're obviously expecting something like that. A typical plan of attack won't work."
Ever the one to favor guerrilla warfare Faith suggested, "Well, how about the skylight?" She motioned to the large glass window above the crowd.
"Too high. No Super-Slayer landing gear, remember?" Xander prompted them. "But I might have an idea. "How's about we make our own way in with some of this?" Reaching into Buffy's bag he still carried, he pulled out eight round, red sticks of dynamite. The only thing missing was the 'ACME' stamp on the side. "Good, old-fashioned explosives. Union perks for the glorified carpenter," he responded.
Xander traded a look with Buffy that told her he remembered who had coined the phrase about him and in that one glance she knew that Xander wished that Spike was there too.
Faith reached past the others and grabbed the volatile materials out of Xander's grasp. She held out her other hand. "Caps?"
"Radio controlled detonator," the construction manager handed over the equipment.
"One on each wall and two at the doors, as a surprise for the big guys. Back in a flash." The young brunette was off at a run but a strong arm stopped her.
"Faith," Robin called out to stop her.
As she turned to argue, she felt a strong hand on her arm. "No. Not this time Faith. This is my job." Acceding to the fact that he was probably now faster than she, Faith handed over the supplies to Angel. Nodding he continued, "I'll set these then take up a position at that skylight. When the bombs go off, we go in."
"I'm going with you," Buffy demanded.
"No you're not," the rest said in unison.
"She's my sister. If anyone gets to be in the middle of this, it's me. I'm going."
After a moment's consideration, Angel conceded, "But only to rescue Dawn. Your mission is to get Dawn out. Nothing else."
Rummaging around in the bag again, Xander pulled out a length of rope with what looked like a small anchor attached to one end. "This ought to get you in and out of there." He offered the grappling hook to Buffy.
The others prepared their weapons and based on the intended location of the dynamite charges, they quickly determined stations and took up positions around the building. Andrew, though, was the only one who saw the worry darken David's features as he watched Buffy loop the rope over her shoulder and scale the side of the building.
"It is different from the inside, isn't it?" Andrew asked.
Before he could answer, they heard Gunn called softly, "David? Andrew? Move out." And they did.
When Buffy reached the skylight she looked down to find herself directly over the platform she'd seen from the other window, only about 30 feet higher. Frantically she searched for Dawn and found that she had now been positioned to one side of Magus.
When she saw her sister, Buffy realized that Dawn was dressed similarly to the last time in an elaborate velvet gown without shoes. Her hands were bound behind her to a post, and her mouth was gagged. Buffy noted that Magus was standing dead center on the stage, arms outstretched and basking in the crowd's adoration. Doc stood mildly at the god's other side, smiling. With horror, Buffy realized that about ten feet behind the trio, where she hadn't seen her before, another young girl was chained from the ceiling. Her hands and feet were manacled so that she hung face down, her body about four feet off the floor over where a large wooden bowl had been placed. This was obviously the girl that Fred and Gunn had seen captured. Visibly tired, the girl struggled hopelessly and was watched only spuriously by the two underlings that flanked her. Looking over the scene, Buffy counted about twenty of the robed minions bowing outwardly toward the rest of the gathering.
She was so absorbed in the scene below that she jumped when Angel slid into place next to her. "Five minutes," he whispered.
As they watched, Magus raised his hands signaling for silence and the prayerful chanting came to a halt. The robed minions stood and turned, all eyes on their god. "Fellow Dizenians and Dizenian wannabes, tonight, for the second time in as many years, we open the gates that have kept us prisoner here in this world. Last time the portal was sealed prematurely before my dear sister, Glorificus, could reassume her birthright, but tonight the ancient lineage of Krion will prevail as we throw open those doors permanently!" The throng before him roared in adulation and Magus continued, "The universes will meld and the beings that inhabit Dizen will be let loose to wreak our vengeance upon this world without mercy, just as we will destroy those who hold my throne. We will march upon the magnificent castle of my ancestors and the scepter of Kree will live in my hand once more! Victory will be ours!" The onlookers were screaming wildly now as Magus finished grandly, "Let the ritual begin!" The crowd cheered, brandishing steel tipped weapons of all sorts, stamping their feet and pushing forward toward the stage.
Magus gestured toward Doc who stepped forward. The older man reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a handful of what appeared to be red sand. Slowly he drew a three-foot circle on the floor. The crowd, recognizing the start of a spell began to murmur among themselves, speculating on its purpose.
When he had completed forming his ring of power, Doc reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a familiar gold circlet. Raising it up before the crowd, he stood completely still, commanding silence by his presence. Slowly the crowd obeyed. "Naillig's Crown," he began, "was a gift bestowed upon the people of this earth by a benevolent, mystical being nearly 6,000 years ago. At first it was virtually insignificant, used only to heal, but that same entity, being moved by a mad compassion for these people, later imbued the Crown with a part of its very self, a part which, when activated by a champion, can control the passages and portals between all people, between all beings, between all dimensions."
Doc was in his element, teaching, storytelling; his voice grew stronger. "Centuries ago, Earthlings at peace laid aside the true purpose of the Crown; the elements were divided, the crown buried and the energy it had contained was re-purposed to their own intent. The ancient passageways were hidden and forgotten. Now, however, it seems that those ancient memories have been rekindled. Even now, there are humans studying the relic's history and ancient stories of its significance. It is only a matter of time before they rediscover the Crown's true meaning and seek to imprison us in this realm with its power forever." The crowd hissed and booed those who would rule them. "If we allow this to happen, this world's insignificant race will have all of us by the throat. Today, though, we defeat them before they begin. We will destroy the Crown and the Key and all worlds will be one, all doors will be open. All pathways open to all creatures. Always."
The crowd hung on his every word as Doc moved forward into the circle. "The Crown is that which you see before you." He let go of the crown and it floated smoothly, exactly where he had released it. He indicated Dawn with a smile. "The energy, you cannot see is held within this vessel. But not for long. Soon, after 5,000 years, the Crown of Naillig will be whole again, and will rest on the head of our god, Magistericos!" The crowd cheered lustily in anticipation of their victory.
With a majestic sweep of his hand Doc reached out toward Dawn for only a moment, but it was a moment that lasted forever. Then Doc raised a finger; nothing more. He said no incantation, spoke no mystical words, called upon no other spirit, just raised his finger and single green spark emerged from Dawn's chest. She was fascinated, horrified even, but apparently unharmed and all onlookers were in awe as more and more green-tinged sparks followed the first towards Doc's raised digit. As the sparks neared him, Doc directed them, spinning his finger slowly to create a glowing green ball of sparkling light that shimmered and crackled in the air near his head.
Angel firmly held Buffy back as the process began. They had known this was coming but Willow had been sure that it wouldn't un-create Dawn, that she was not animated by the energy because the Crown provided animation before the energy existed. It was within her, but not of her. Buffy whimpered as she saw Dawn's body arch and slump as the energy was drawn from her. "It's not working. He's killing her." She struggled against Angel, suddenly and desperately realizing how much she missed her super strength.
"No, he's not. Look," Angel whispered urgently into her ear. They both looked down to see Dawn shaking her head as though she were dazed. "She's okay." He drew his arms back from Buffy as she began to relax. The separation of the key was his cue.
"Dawnie," Buffy muttered. "Daw…." Her words were cut short by the huge explosions that Angel had just detonated on every side of the building below her. The roof shook and, had they not been lying on their stomachs to look through the skylight, they would have both been thrown off their feet.
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As soon as the walls blew, chaos broke out everywhere. Most of the regular congregation simply dropped their weapons and scattered. Others that made a couple of turns in the melee, looking for targets and finding none, fled as well. The minions, though, formed a ring around the stage and facing out, assumed a vantage point from which they could defend their god. Xander, Robin and Gunn were on them in seconds. Swords, knives and axes are fine, but not when you're up against AK74s. Shots rang out and soon even the most stouthearted were seeking cover.
David, Kennedy and several others entered through the gaping holes in the building, following the guns. They and the SITs that followed wielded the more traditional weapons; crossbows, axes, swords and knives. Although outnumbered, their weapons and experience quickly gave the good guys the upper hand. The less loyal participants quickly saw where their fortunes lay and threw down their weapons in surrender. Robin and Kennedy secured the prisoners.
David's group began their assault on the core of evil on the platform. The scabby minions in their brown robes were forming a tight circle around Dawn, Magus, Doc and the sacrifice.
On the roof, Buffy and Angel saw how the battle was progressing. Angel knew instinctively that the central circle of minions would be the most difficult for the warriors to penetrate. "I'm going in," he said simply and then he poised himself, at the rim of the skylight, aimed and jumped.
Buffy watched him disappear into the dust-filled space below. And she saw one more thing. The knights that had held back until now, still positioned near what remained of the building walls, were beginning to move in toward the center of the melee, surrounding and surprising her friends. She called out, but the din drowned her voice. In desperation to warn them, she forgot her shortcomings and Xander's saving rope and followed Angel's free fall.
Magus fought to comprehend what had happened. "What? How? Who?" he stuttered, enraged. "Where was Ovchi? Why weren't the others watching the perimeter?" He struggled to sort the priorities of the moment, to do some crisis management. "Doc, the ritual?"
The slim, older man remained the calm. He was in charge of this particular hurricane. "I am proceeding with all due speed, Magus. Please be patient." Somewhere in his brain, the huge god noted that Doc had not called him by his full name for the first time, ever. Magus stood uncertainly at a distance and watched as Doc juggled Dawn's energy and Naillig's Crown in space. Looking around him, he judged that the time would be sufficient. "All is going according to plan."
The god's momentary distraction with Doc was the advantage that Angel had seen from the roof, and now he landed next to Magus upon the stage. The minions were all concentrating upon the battle outside the circle, Doc stood working magic within his circle, so Angel had Magus to himself. The vampire steadied himself and watched with amusement as the god removed his abhorrent cloak with a flourish and threw it to the side. The two powerful men faced off. Feinting to his left, Angel landed the first blow, a quick, right that sent Magus sailing off his feet and across the stage. With no wolf to worry about, Angel felt confident and he threw that first punch. But he was wrong.
Buffy landed exactly where she had planned, on the platform about 15 feet from where Angel had come down, but outside the ring of minions. Her training had taught her to flex her knees and roll as she landed, but a 30' drop for a mere mortal was something new. She gasped as her left ankle twisted under her with a sharp crack. She carried only a short sword which, remained, fortunately, within it's scabbard now, for not having drawn her weapon, and tottering uncertainly in place, this girl appeared to no one as an immediate threat and she was left alone.
Waves of pain washed through her and she struggled to remain upright and out of the path of sweeping blades in the other's battles. For a moment she felt small and weak and very frightened. What the hell did she think she was doing? Then, Faith was there at her side, her own axe dripping with the fight. Despite the battle, Faith had seen her land and was worried, asking urgently, "B? You okay?"
Buffy nodded but hopped in place twice before finding her balance. "Not goin' anywhere in a hurry though," she answered.
Without another thought Buffy grabbed for her sword, freeing it from its sheath and bringing it down forcefully toward Faith's right shoulder. Years of tutelage under an excellent Watcher, had obviously trained not only a Slayer, but a Buffy as well. Her blade landed true, quickly severing the head of the berobed, well-armed figure behind Faith. With a quick smile of gratitude, Faith turned and the two ex-Slayers stood back to back, taking on all comers. In the process of dispatching another of Magus' loyal followers a flash of light caught Buffy's eye; the knights.
She scanned the room. David and Kennedy were fighting off four minions coming at them with spear and axe, Fred and Andrew had begun to herd the prisoners, which they had surrounded, into one corner of the room and were searching them for hidden weapons. One of the girls was making headway in her sword fight with a much smaller, but much stronger foe, unaware of the knight who had raised his mace over her head. "Xander, Robin, Gunn!" she shouted. The men with machine guns turned in her direction. "Behind you!"
The men turned to see the mace's evil weight descend on Rona. She was dead before she hit the floor and a full dozen knights were closing in on them all. Bullets now began to fly in the opposite direction, away from the platform, but predictably the shells bounced off the armor. The knights continued their slow-paced advance on their otherwise preoccupied friends.
David dodged a blade and stepped in to impale his enemy with his own sword. He had been successful in battle, but he had seen Buffy fall. Fear for her life had sustained him. As he reassessed his immediate danger he saw Buffy. Despite everything, she fought like a hellion and he felt…proud. Lost in this thought David never saw the knight as it raised its axe to cleave the young, blonde Englishman in two. Across the room, Buffy saw and her opened her lips to scream, but David never heard her.
Magus got up and laughed. "Lucky punch, vampire," he brushed himself off and came at Angel with renewed vigor. The god moved toward Angel with more strength than Angel had seen in centuries, strength but no finesse. The vampire planted his feet and reminded himself that since he no longer had surprise on his side, quickness, agility and speed were going to win him this fight.
The next sound David heard was the twisting metal and the cry of unfulfilled evil all rolled into one. He turned to look, but before he could comprehend it, a knight fell to the ground, behind him, armor clattering and separating as the knight disintegrated to dust before his eyes.
Standing behind the fallen armor was Giles. In his hand he held the Slayer's Scythe and on his face was a determination that David could not imagine existed within his bookish mentor's repertoire. Smoothly, Giles turned toward the next knight and with little effort, dealt death again.
David and the others took up his sword and moved into the battle once more buoyed by Giles' success.
Once the two ex-Slayers dispatched the band of minions that had confronted them, Faith, knowing where Buffy's heart was, leapt up onto the stage and turned back. She offered her arm to assist the limping Buffy onto the platform and Buffy took it.
On the dais, Faith and Buffy killed two more of Magus' followers before Faith felt comfortable leaving Buffy's side. But when Faith felt she could, she rushed to assist Angel in his battle with Magus.
Buffy looked around to get her bearings then hobbled as quickly as she could to her sister. Tossing the sword she carried, Buffy threw her arms around Dawn. She held on tightly for a few precious seconds. She began removing the ropes that held the younger girl's hands and arms, examining her frantically for injuries. "I'm okay, Buffy," Dawn said with as much conviction as she could muster. "Really. They have what they want from me. Go help Angel." Looking Dawn over one more time to reassure herself, Buffy nodded, grabbed the blade again and pushed herself up off the floor, heading in the direction of the titanic battle raging between Angel and Magus.
Buffy arrived at the front lines at the same time as Faith where they were both immediately struck down by Angel's airborne body being repelled by a very large man on the other end of a very large fist. The three of them, vampire and two ex-Slayers, tumbled into a chaotic tangle of limbs.
"Buffy, Faith, take Dawn and get out of here!" Angel yelled as they struggled to regain the offensive.
"Sorry, old habits. We'll…." But before anyone could utter another word some of the brown-clad followers, recognizing the trio's temporary helplessness, seized the advantage and set upon them ferociously.
Seeing Magus still standing, Doc, whose hands were occupied, ordered, "Slayer. Blood. Now," in carefully measured tones. Recognizing that this would be his only chance to regain his family's throne, his destiny, Magus stepped quickly to where the innocent girl was still chained from the ceiling.
Magus pulled a knife from his belt and began to make shallow, but vivid cuts into the exposed skin of the chained victim. As the wounds began to drip into the bowl below, Magus stepped back to watch the passageway to his world start to materialize.
Dawn rubbed her wrists and shook her hands to bring feeling back to her fingers. She was sitting on her heels within the center of the melee, relatively unscathed. Looking around, she wondered helplessly what to do next. Unexpectedly, she felt strong hands tugging her urgently to her feet. "There y'are li'l bit. Le's get you outta here."
There was nothing she wanted more, but Dawn stopped, "No. I'm not leaving."
"This's no place for you. C'mon."
"I don't expect you to know this yet, but when a Summers girl says 'No', she means it." Dawn drew herself up to full height and meant it.
"Okay, okay. Jus' stay low then, for cryin'…." Just then, his words were drowned out by the screaming of the young girl in chains.
Obediently Willow crouched on the ground outside the building, listening to the thunder of the battle within, to the sounds of retreating footsteps and now to the screams. Giles had said for her to wait for ten minutes, but the waiting was torture. Her every instinct called her to action, but Giles had been very clear about her role tonight. She was to wait. Trying to concentrate on something else, her mind fell to thinking about the wolf she'd left sleeping in the parking lot nearby.
It had been Oz. She was as sure of that as anything. She had seen him in his other form for three days a month for nearly two years. Sitting outside the bars of his imprisonment on those nights, she had memorized him. He had meant more to her than anything, had been her first love, her first lover. Then, when his wolf grew stronger, he feared for her safety. So, with no promise to return, he'd left her alone and set out on his quest. Willow thought back to how his abandonment had hurt her, but she felt no anger. As it turned out, Oz had returned. In fact, accomplished the impossible. He had overcome his demon self and become a man with which she could share a life without fear. And he returned triumphantly to her. It was the stuff of fairy tales.
But his timing had been bad. When he came back, she was already in love again, with Tara. As much as Oz had been her heart's treasure, Tara had been her soul mate. The two women had so much in common and Tara had provided Willow with a strength that she couldn't have imagined earlier, helping her explore all she could be in both human and magic worlds. Tara's death had driven Willow mad for a time, her loss was so excruciating.
With her friends' help, Willow had regained herself, and then there had been Kennedy. Kennedy had been different. Their relationship had been different. Looking back at it, Willow knew that they had never fallen in love. But they had been close, friends even. But Willow's heart had always ached for the past. What was it Kennedy had said? That Willow was a romantic, that she needed a "happily ever after"?
Looking at her watch, Willow had two minutes yet to wait. She shook her head and tried to clear her mind for the mission. Hoping that the sleeping spell she had put on Oz would hold, and that in doing it she hadn't worn herself out so much that she would be unable to help the team, her last thought was that it was about time for a fairy tale ending.
As Buffy, Faith and Angel struggled to fight off the minions and get to their feet, the screams provided further incentive. Buffy was deathly afraid that it was Dawn she was hearing, but in her struggle, she managed a glimpse in her sister's direction and see her standing with David's arm protectively around her. Although her posture suggested she was safe, her face read an entirely different emotion. Following Dawn's horrified gaze, Buffy found the source of the screams, it was the other girl. "Oh, my God," she breathed, pointing out what was happening to the others at the same time. With renewed effort the three of them put away the last minion.
"You're too late!" Magus laughed, stepping back to admire his handiwork and welcome the doorway to his kingdom. All eyes turned in his direction.
"No!," Buffy cried. Steeling a glance at Dawn, almost silently Buffy added, "Angel, he doesn't know! It's the wrong blood."
David and Dawn joined them, and the five of them watched the first drop of blood fall from the belly of the screaming girl into the bowl below her.
Nothing happened.
No portal opened.
No sparks flashed.
Nothing.
Never had Magus felt bewildered, but now his world was spinning wildly around him. His mind whirled through a checklist. They'd collected all the trimmings and seen to all the details, had formed the core of his army that would swell in numbers when his loyal allies from the other world welcomed him home. Ritual, ceremony, crown, key, blood; all were in place. What had gone wrong?
In puzzling it out, Magus didn't hear Giles as he called to Buffy. When she looked toward him, the older man tossed her the scythe. Catching it expertly she adjusted her balance and stepped toward the god.
Just before death descended upon him, Magus put the pieces together. Everything that had been set in place had been dictated, fashioned, designed and put into action by one man. As the blade of the Slayer's scythe fell, the god screamed the name of his betrayer, "Doc!"
Doc turned toward Magus' roar in time to see him fall below the others' power. He smiled. He loved chess. Turning back toward where the Crown hung in mid air before him, Doc closed his eyes. "Now she will come." With all that was happening around him, now was not the time to be distracted. Concentrating on his words, the wizened old man began to chant.
Sporadic gunshots continued to ring out; cries of pain echoed throughout the huge room; broken glass crunched under heavy shoes and into falling bodies. Small battles still raged, but most of the worshipers and minions had already either died or fled. David found where the chains had been secured, and gently lowered the injured and still weeping girl into Xander and Gunn's waiting arms.
Things seemed to be on hold as Doc continued his spell, like everyone was waiting for something to happen. That was when Willow stepped into the building.
The witch had been obedient to Giles' wishes, holding back outside until the way was clear for her to reach the platform. Now she joined him and together they walked up the stairs. Jinx, the minion leader, stood in their way.
The ex-Watcher stepped up confidently and pulled a large switchblade from his pocket. Snapping it open it became a comfortable extension of his hand as he demanded, "Let us through."
The unkempt little man laughed nervously and foolishly brandished a sword in Giles' direction. Instantly, the minion's blade was flung from his hand and the tip of Giles' knife was at the scabby little man's throat. "Let us through," Giles repeated, lower and with more authority.
Two other be-robed servants edged toward the stage, but Faith called out and with skills undiminished by the loss of power, the ex-Slayer stopped them. "I wouldn't, if I were you," she threatened, and the two little men took a step back.
The room grew deadly silent as the participants in the other battles fell quiet to witness this final confrontation.
His gaze never having left the first minion, a sinister smile spread across Giles features as he asked, "Are you really going to make me say it again?"
With only the slightest hesitation, the frightened little man fell to his knees and covered his eyes, "No, merciful and forgiving one. No. Please proceed regally as your Most Significant Self…." Giles pushed aside the groveller with his foot, then he, too, stepped aside to allow Willow passage to center stage.
Willow stepped up to the red circle on the floor, the toes of her shoes and it's dust separated by just a breath. She looked from it to Doc, to the levitated crown and glowing key. And waited.
Doc didn't acknowledge her presence. He continued to chant words that no one could recognize. As Willow watched, a small thin line began to separate itself from the green energy ball and wend its way slowly through the air toward the crown.
Willow just watched as the crown began to absorb the energy that had rightfully been its all along. The small circlet, delicate, but dull and uninteresting before, seemed to grow, not in size, but in substance. It seemed to shimmer from within, its very essence commanding attention and wonder.
The young witch fought the almost irresistible urge to fall down and worship before the Crown, forgetting her plan completely. Then she took a deep breath and focused on her mission. Willow waited until all of the energy had been transferred into the crown and timed her attack.
Raising her arms to the heavens and throwing back her head, she called out, "Seth, Egyptian god of capture, of power and revenge, hear my prayer."
"And so, it is down to us at last," Doc mused, unshaken. "As it should be. Power against power. Will against will." Unheeding, Willow continued her incantation. "But you are too late, witch. I have but one last invocation to make, and the door will open. Magus' Dizenian army will bow to my Crown and destroy you all."
Soon the incantations of both sorcerer and witch were vying for volume;
"Imprison my enemy, bind him with the bonds of his own evil purpose. Assist in his capture, enable his fall, and share in the satisfaction of his defeat.
Stay his hand.
Hold his spirit.
Deny his will."
"Open the doors to many worlds and furnish me authority over all evils in all dimensions. This power is my destiny, and with it I will triumph over my enemies. I bear the ancient Crown of Naillig. I hold the key to all worlds, to all possibilities, to all dimensions."
Between the two warring parties, a force grew. Whether it was good against evil, or just the meeting of their two wills, no one was sure, but the energy of the combat flashed throughout the room. The bodies of both opponents shook as the power they channeled surged through them.
Willow began to tire. Somewhere within her human self, was a little voice crying out for her to stop. The energy was doing damage; it was too much strain for her small body. Sheer willpower kept her going even as her body began to give up on her, shaking uncontrollably, her words slurring, blood beginning to ooze from her eyes nose and mouth, she fell to the floor.
Instantly, the energy with which she had contained Doc inside his enchanted circle broke free, showering everyone on the platform with sparks of spent power. Doc stopped chanting, a look of triumph on his face. He lifted the Crown again, broke from his circle and stepped to Willow's side. Looking down on her he shook his head. "Foolish girl. You could have been so much more," he muttered. He turned to the others who stood rooted to the spot, staring at the spectacle. "There," he began, "lies your champion. And, here, as you can see, I still stand."
The others still could not move, unsure of his intent or what might happen next, now that Willow was no longer protecting them. Doc spun slowly, taking in the scene majestically around him, as if time were his. Magus' body lay near his severed head on the platform, Buffy and David and stood nearby. The innocent girl huddled on the floor, Faith and Angel administering first aid as best they could. All eyes were on him.
With a small smirk, Doc turned back in Angel's direction. He looked down upon the fallen god who lay on the floor beside the vampire, "Poor, foolish Magus. Don't get me wrong, Magistericos, served his purpose. Gathering and slaughtering, he drew the attention on himself. He was the perfect pawn."
"And thank you, Angel, it is Angel isn't it?" Angel nodded dumbly. "Yes, I thought so. Thank you for playing your part so well too. Finding the crown and releasing it from the safe at Wolfram and Hart to use its power and save your lady fair was a nice touch. I couldn't have planned it better myself. How romantic, and then how easy for us to steal. And, of course, I certainly could not have defeated Magus quite so readily as you and your assistants. I am, as you can see, not strong in a physical sense.
"And I owe you a debt as well, Slayer."
Buffy was appalled. "I've done nothing for you."
"Oh, but you have, indeed!," he argued. "You obviously decided to have the Slayer spell reversed a couple of nights ago. Although it was of no consequence to my own plans, it served to confuse and therefore defeat Magistericos. And, of course, in the end, you even provided me with a worthy adversary." He indicated Willow who still lay on the floor.
Without missing a beat he continued, "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Ripper." Doc turned to where Giles had begun to cross the platform, hopefully undetected. "Or you, boy." Xander was thrown to the floor, having been hit in the shoulder by a powerful bolt of magical energy from Doc's hand. as he attempted to mount the stage opposite of where Doc's attention had been drawn. "I think we have quite enough players right now to finish."
Buffy found her voice, "Finish? How?"
"Ah, Ms. Summers. How fitting for you to ask, as it was actually you who gave me the idea in the first place. Don't you remember? The last time we met was in a very similar situation. I had just thrown this young man…. That's who you remind me of! Are you…? No, you're not."
"Distant relations," David offered, trying to redirect Doc back to his story in hopes that he would eventually reveal his plans and purpose.
"Huh," Doc clucked deep within his throat. "Striking likeness."
"So I've been told."
"Too bad. I had begun to find him…useful in certain business dealings. Ah, well, no matter. As I was saying, Miss Summers, when we last met, a portal had just opened and then you found a way to close it. At the time, I had only wanted the portal opened. I thought that having a passage between the two worlds would create havoc here and that was my only goal. However, in retrospect, later, I realized that controlling the opening and closing of such a doorway would be…more desirable."
From his spot on the floor, Giles interjected, "Commerce."
"Exactly. If I control the passageway, I control the tariffs, the taxes, duties, customs, graft, greed…all are at my disposal and all meant to profit me."
"So all you wanted was the Crown all along?" Buffy challenged. "Not, 'all pathways open to all creatures'?"
The small demon laughed, amusement reflected in his evil eyes, "No, my dear. That was but a tale for the masses. There is no profit in giving away that which you can sell."
"So you're the troll, then?" Dawn asked. "Exacting payment for people to cross the bridge?"
"Ah, yes Dawn. Back to our analogy." Doc thought about it. "Yes, the troll. Very good. Still, I prefer my ending where the troll outwits the Big Billy Goat Gruff." Pointedly, he turned back to the others, lifted the Crown and settled it on his own head. "The energy source had to be restored to the Crown to make it whole and usable for my purposes. And, as you see, you have provided that to me as well. You have all been most help…ful…."
Suddenly Doc fumbled for words. "What?" The Crown on his head began to glow more brightly, its color changing from green to yellow to red, back and forth through the spectrum, and a thrumming sound began. At first the sound was low, but then the light began to pulsate, both the light and the sound grow stronger and stronger with each occurrence. Doc raised his hands to his head and attempted to take off the circlet, but it would not be removed.
Soon the light emitting from the Crown grew blinding and the sound so deafening that everyone else turned away, eyes tightly closed, hands over their ears. With each beat the pain intensified. They sank to their knees, covering their heads. The floor shook and what little glass still remained within the windows shattered from the sound. Then, when it seemed the next sound would be unbearable, it was over.
One by one the gang members opened their eyes and uncovered their ears, testing their safety. It was silent now and, as they raised their heads and looked around, they found that the earlier light show had been replaced by a steady, eerie glow of the softest hues of green; Dawn's green.
As they blinked away the blindness they saw an unearthly figure kneeling over Willow. It was without true form, but each of them would later recall a different feature, something that had made them happy to look upon. Xander remembered a gentle, warm smile very much like Anya's, Dawn, that it had her mother's wise and loving eyes. Giles saw in the figure the stubborn, characteristic turn of Jenny's head; Robin recalled within it his mother's strength and Alan felt unwavering forgiveness. Buffy remembered angels, or the feeling of angels in her heaven. Still none of them could be sure, not at first and not even later, of the appearance of the Entity.
It was, or seemed to be, nearly 10' tall and robed, they thought, in robes constructed of millions of points of light, each one shimmering as it moved, and moving not so much with the figure, but around it, as if each point of light was repositioning itself moment to moment as the body they enveloped, moved. They were entranced, not by a spell, but by the poetry of motion and light before them and they watched as the being wrapped its healing cloak of light around Willow.
Moments, or hours later, for time had lost meaning, the figure withdrew and hovered above them. Willow sat up, smiling, calm, healed. Only then did Buffy notice the fine white ash that now covered the floor, as though someone had dropped a paper bag full of flour from far above. Glowing at the center of the pattern, lay Naillig's Crown. It hung, still suspended in mid-air, at approximately the height of Doc's head. Buffy realized that the ash she had noticed was all that was left of him. From the corner of her eye, she caught a movement.
"Faith! No!" Buffy cried as she saw the younger woman stepping trancelike toward the Crown. Buffy tensed, ready to tackle Faith before she touched the dangerous Crown.
"Wait!" Giles interrupted. He stepped up onto the platform and repeated softly, "Wait. 'In use it lays upon the head of the chosen'he quoted. "Buffy, Faith may no longer be a Slayer, but I believe she has still been chosen."
Robin jumped up onto the platform and started haltingly toward the woman he had discovered he loved. But from his new vantage point he had a clear view of the joy on Faith's face, and he stopped, knowing even more than any of them, that this moment was the fulfillment of something sacred.
They all watched silently as Faith stepped forward, her eyes unwavering, her resolve complete. She reached out with both hands and reverently grasped Naillig's Crown. At her touch, the Crown's light flashed brilliantly once more and then subsided into a quiet intensity. Faith held the Crown between her two hands and walked confidently toward the robed figure, which now hovered nearby. She knelt before her and she waited. Slowly the spirit took the Crown from Faith's hands and raised it above the young woman's bowed head. The being seemed to hesitate, and then with a nod, it lowered the circlet into position. As the Crown settled onto the Chosen One, the spirit's light shattered into its separate points, showering Faith in brilliance and was gone.
The first to find his voice, Xander whispered in awe, "What was that?"
"That," Giles explained, "Was a coronation." Giles stepped up and took Faith's elbow, helping her to her feet. With wonder and respect in his voice, Giles addressed the ex-Slayer, "Its power is bequeathed to that one in every generation who seeks only to serve the People's peace."
#####
After everyone helped secure the prisoners, the gang assessed their losses. They mourned the loss of Rona who, despite her cynicism had proven herself over time. A detail of prisoners was sent to bury the lost girl near the site of her final battle.
Buffy, whose ankle was now throbbing and hung at a disturbing angle sat on the platform, unable to move. David ignored his own damage to lift her into his arms. Together they went with Xander and Andrew who were taking the imprisoned girl to the hospital for treatment of her cuts and wounds.
Gunn, Fred, Shannon and Caridad volunteered to watch the captives until the police arrived. At the very least, trespassing charges would be pressed.
Robin approached Faith tentatively. What does one say to a newly crowned champion after all? He looked into her eyes, which were filled with peace. He could tell that she'd found her destiny. He began to kneel before her, but she stopped him. "If it's not ours, it's not really mine, Robin." Faith reached out and took his hand until he stood before her. "Will you stay? To keep my head on straight?" Robin hesitated. "All this power could turn a girl's head, if she doesn't have something better to look at." With a grin, Robin took Faith into his arms and kissed her.
Giles walked with Willow back to where they had left Oz sleeping. The great beast still lay on the pavement, breathing heavily. Willow knelt at its side and ran her fingers into his fur. "We'll take him back with us, Willow," the Englishman said. There's a cage in the basement of the Hyperion, used for demons and such. He can recover there."
"Will he recover? I mean, do you think he'll ever be human again?" Willow wondered sadly. "I don't know what I'd do if I've lost him again."
Giles spoke with confidence, "He conquered his wolf for you once. He will again."