Epilogue
"I can hardly believe it worked," Duncan said looking at Methos who was standing before there covered in black soot and with his clothes in tatters. He had just emerged from what was left of the high school.
"It did work, right?" Xander asked his teacher looking beyond him and into school. "He's not going to come out of there, is he?"
"Absolutely," Methos said, shaking her head. "Whatever didn't get blowed up got nice and barbecued."
Xander nodded, staring at the raging inferno that was the school. In his mindsight, there was no trace of the unnatural sickness that was the mayor's form. "He's dead," Xander said in awe. "We won." The two far older immortals sharing a knowing look having experienced many battles and wars first hand that Xander was currently flying on cloud 9 over the recent events. All of the Scoobies were exhausted and looking like they would sleep for a month.
"Your friend's honour?" Methos asked his friend Duncan knowing full well that the Highlander's strong moral conscience and a sense of nobility wouldn't allow him to let the immortal Karios off with just a word of caution.
"It's restored," Macleod simply stated and Methos offered him a little grin. He knew better than to ask any more details. There was no doubt a headless corpse somewhere close by that would prove that Duncan Macleod's legendary skill with the sword was no overstatement.
"So, what was it like?" Xander asked his teacher Methos as they walking next to the ruins of the high school. He was still basking in the victory. They had won, the Scooby Gang, his family had won. They'd all won even Methos and Macleod, but it was really Buffy's victory, really. She was their leader, the force they all rallied behind.
"Being in the middle of an explosion?" Methos replied. "Crispy," he said as a matter of fact. Xander rolled his eyes he wasn't expecting Methos to go into a great deal of detail on the subject. His teacher would often go cryptic over such conversations.
"In any case this was a big event for such a little town," Macleod commented as he walked with the immortal pair. In the distance, the echoing wail of sirens grew closer. Everyone was milling around, unsure of what to do next. A few scattered groups were cheering or laughing, and a few people were crying out of exhaustion or grief or both.
"Leading to a lot of questions, news cameras and reporters," Methos said nodding to where he saw a local news crew pull up to no doubt cover the story.
"What are we telling the police?" Macleod asked Xander curious to hear what the cover story was.
"The truth!" Methos snorted. "They blew up the school because the mayor turned into a giant snake?" He had seen many lies told to listening audiences and if there was something that he had observed was that while the governments and the liars changed the lies seemed to the same.
"I think Giles suggest we say that a gas line ruptured," said Giles. "Terrible accident."
"And all the weapons?" Macleod enquired as they passed a group of students holding stakes and crossbows.
Xander shrugged. "I doubt they'll notice."
"It's true, nobody ever notices anything in this town," Methos scoffed. "Still this leads to my exit stage left," he remarked causing Xander to look over with concern.
"You're leaving?" He asked shocked.
"I have no desire to be snapped by a camera in the background of a shot," Methos declared. "Plus, events like this usually attracts visitors of all kinds even a few curious immortal types hence another reason to make a swift exit."
"So just like that my training is over?" Xander said clearly disappointed. For all the ups and downs having Methos back in town keen to help Xander and his friends only for now to declare that he was leaving was a shock.
"Well, that is up to you my young immortal," Methos said turning to Xander. "I meant what I said earlier about the fact that you cannot live in two worlds. Fighting here and risking your life with your friends or fully embracing your immortal calling. I'm not asking you to start head hunting around the globe but simply leave this place and experience the world. There are immortals like Macleod who can train you possibly better than I can and teach you a whole new set of skills that can help you survive."
"He is right," Duncan agreed with the elder immortal. "I would not be standing here today if it was not for the many teachers I had in my life. Some would improve my skills with the sword, some would introduce me to new ways of thinking to improve my mind." Duncan said referring to teachers and friends like Darius, Connor, May-Ling, and Sean Burns who thanks to their teachings and training had help shape him into the man he is now.
"The training of the mind?" Replied Xander making a face. That sounded like a bunch of spiritual mumble jumble.
"A healthy mind and body were important for one's overall wellbeing," Macleod said with some conviction because of all his experiences and practices in Eastern meditations he firmly believed this. He had also found it cathartic giving him some semblance of balance amidst being an Immortal, the Game, and losing many friends and loved ones in his life. The young immortal still did not the slightest bit convinced… clearly this one had a lot to learn.
"In any case you will have to make a decision this life or your own," Methos said drawing the conversation back to the original point he was making.
Xander looked back at where he saw his friends gathered taking a moment to view the destruction of the high school. His face a naked display with concern and longingly. He turned back to his teacher and Macleod with his jaw firm. "I'm staying," he said simply. He would do anything for his friends even if it meant being the class clown for all of entirety.
Macleod noted that Methos seemed disappointed but he himself had a level of understanding. His first teacher and clansman Connor Macleod had told him the story of Connor's relationship with his beloved wife Heather. The time they pain and agony that both Connor and Heather felt due to Connor's unageing took a toll on both of them. It had forever caused Connor to be careful when meeting new people and distant at times. The story had also had an affect on Duncan most notably at the time of the man's wedding where he choose to trigger by his wife's immortality. A decision he regretted and haunted him for centuries as he understood that it robbed her of her mortal life and her ability to have children. "It is his choice," Duncan stated to Methos who looked at Macleod and then agreed. Despite what he had felt as Xander's teacher he knew that all immortals and mortals were bound by living their life the way they chose. It is their right after all.
"Fine," Methos sharply before perking up slightly. "Well how about we consider the summer the long goodbye?" Causing Xander to frown. "You come with me to see the world and experience a bit of life outside this town. I promise to bring you home in one piece for the start of university so you can be there for your friends." Xander opened his mouth to protest but was cut off by one of Methos put downs. "Xander if we both know if I left it to you to plan, you would probably find yourself working in a strip club down the down. At this way you go on a proper trip."
"Fine," Xander grumbled. In truth his plans for his road trip had taken a hit since he had bought Cordelia her dress for the prom.
"I think I will leave you to it and simply head to Paris," Duncan told the other immortals.
"That's still a hotspot for immortals," Methos pointed out knowing that Macleod's participation in the Game had decreased since the death of his protégé Richie Ryan.
"I know… but it's still home," Macleod declared.
"Any pieces of advice for me?" Xander asked the champion.
Macleod looked at the young immortal sizing him up. The boy had much to learn if he was going to live in the game. "Live, grow stronger, fight another day," he said before giving a sly smile to Methos as he walked off.
Xander looked between the two men with a puzzled expression. "What's up?" he asked noting Methos giving the departing Highlander a bemused smile.
"That's the same thing I once told him… I guess he does learn after all," Methos said with a wryly grin. "Come we should make tracks and prepare for a little adventure," he said sizing Xander up. he wasn't the boy he was when Methos came across him on the streets nearly a year ago, now he was a man who was prepared to fight to the end. True he still had a lot of growing up still to do but his heart was in the right place. "Xander you are an immortal now. I never have tried to tell you how you to live your life but simply prepare you. Living through history is difficult… our game is frustrating, and you will find as the years go on humans always repeat the same mistakes, sometimes even several times in a few centuries. And no matter how hoarse one would scream to try making them remember, it didn't matter. Stubborn mortals who think they always know better."
"Just mortals?" Xander said pointedly with a raised eyebrow at Methos who shrugged a little by means of apology.
"Being immortal meant being lonely," Methos said as he continued. "Befriend a mortal and watch them die in a blink, befriend an immortal and they try to take your head in a blink. Few were the Immortals who didn't decide that your Quickening was more important than your friendship after a few centuries. I have not tried to sugarcoat any aspects of immortality to you. You will find as the years wear your objective thinking will tell you that still are human despite the infinite lifespan but the redundancy of it all makes you doubt your very nature. I have seen immortals declare themselves gods and very much act like that. Never lose sight of what you are or what makes you, you."
"Another lesson?" Xander asked him.
"The most important one," Methos told the young immortal. "In all the time I have been on this earth I have never claimed to be Einstein or Caesar nor Buddha. I'm just a guy like you. Never forget that."
End
Author's note
So that is it. After many months I finally managed to finished this. I have mixed feelings about it. The intent was to make the chapters feel like almost deleted scenes from the episode. You could almost watch an episode and one of the chapters would slot right in. Season 3 and 4 of Buffy are great for this as let's face it Xander is given far less to do this so you the fanfiction writer are given far more space to work with. Even as I opened the story up including Macleod and having the Scoobies learned of Xander's immortality I tried not to move from that format. It meant that the story was at times slow, and I doubt I will do a long running storyline such as that.
I am pleased that I stuck pretty much true to the characters especially with regards to Xander's training. Becoming an immortal doesn't mean that Xander will move up the food chain and suddenly start taking heads left, right and centre. He is still Xander the smart-ass slacker/everyman. Put him a straight fight with Duncan Macleod and Xander won't last long. So it meant that Methos was going to take his time in training Xander. He wasn't about to become the greatest swordsman overnight in this fiction. I am also pleased the way that all the characters turned out from Methos & Xander to the others. I decided that I would after the revelation of Xander's immortality I would have Buffy as the understanding one and Willow very hurt over it. I think that this is in keeping with the show as Willow was never fully supportive with all of Xander's decisions on the show while I believe Buffy could at least relate to fate and destiny being forced onto Xander. It also makes a nice contrast for the show as season 3 had Buffy and Xander having arguments every so often.
Anyways mixed feelings but I thank you all for making it this far. Please feel free to write a comment or review.
