Chapter 132: The Gift
"Anything?" Buffy asks.
Giles looks up at Buffy. "Nothing you want to hear. The ritual is..."
"Explain it to us again." Piper says.
Giles sighs, "There's nothing new to –"
"Go through it again." Paige says, calm and slow.
Giles nods, "The Key was living energy. It needed to be channeled, poured into a specific spot at a specific time. With all attendant ritual, of course. The energy would flow into that spot, the walls between the dimensions break down. It stops – the energy is used up -and the walls come back up. Glory uses that time to get back to her dimension, not caring that all manner of hell will be unleashed on Earth in the meantime."
"But only for a little while, right?" Anya asks. "The walls come back, no more hell?"
"But that's only if the energy is stopped. And now that the Key is human ... is Dawn ..." Willow says.
"The blood flows, the gates will open. The gates will close when it flows no more. When Dawn is dead." Giles says.
"I have places to be!" Tara says.
"Why blood? Why is it Dawn's blood, why couldn't it be, like, a lymph ritual?" Xander says.
"'Cause it's always gotta be blood." Spike says.
"We're not actually discussing dinner right now." Xander says.
"Blood is life, lackbrain. Why do you think we eat it? It's what keeps you going, makes you warm, makes you hard, makes you other than dead. 'Course it's her blood." Spike says.
Everyone takes that in. Buffy moves forward. "Pretty simple math, here. We stop Glory before she can start the ritual. There's still a couple of hours, right?"
"If my calculations are right, but Buffy –" Giles says.
"I think I speak for my whole family when I say. We don't want to hear it –" Piper says.
"I understand that –" Giles says.
"No you don't understand! We're not talking about this!" Buffy says.
Giles stands, "Yes we bloody well are! If Glory begins the ritual... If we can't stop her ..."
"Say it. Come on, we're bloody well talking about this, tell me to kill my sister! Tell Piper, Phoebe and Paige they have to kill their cousin." Buffy says.
"She's not your sister or their cousin." Giles says.
"No. She's not. She's more than that." Buffy says, trying to articulate it... "More than family... my sister, my daughter..."
"She's your sister and your daughter?" Xander asks.
"She's me. The Monks made her out of me. I hold her and I feel closer to her than... It's more than just the memories they built, it's physical, it's... Dawn is a part of me. The only part that I..." Buffy says, but can't go on.
Piper, Paige and Phoebe moves beside Buffy and holds her.
"We'll solve this. We will. Don't have another coma, okay?" Willow says.
Piper nods, "Willow's right. We're not losing another member of this family."
"Buffy, Piper, if the ritual starts, every living creature in this and every other dimension imaginable will suffer unbearable torment and Death. Including Dawn." Giles says.
"Then the last thing she'll see is us protecting her." Paige says.
"You'll fail. You'll die. We all will." Giles says.
"I'm sorry. I love you all, but I'm sorry." Buffy says.
Anya raises her hand, "Okay, all in favor of Stopping Glory BEFORE the ritual! Suggestions? Ideas? Time's a-wastin' ..."
"When you say you love us all—" Spike says.
"Shut up." Xander and Giles say.
"Willow! I bet you've got some dark spell a'brewin'. You make her a toad, little hoppy toad, we hit her with a hammer..." Anya says.
Piper, Buffy, Paige and Phoebe roll their eyes.
"We haven't even come up with a spell, Anya. We could try the Source vanquishing spell but I don't think it will work on her." Piper says.
Tara laughs, "Hoppy toad ..."
"What about Ben? He can be killed, right? I mean, I know he's an innocent, but, you know, not, like "Dawn" innocent. We could kill... a regular guy..." Xander says. "God."
"It's doubtful he'll surface again this close to the ritual. We have to expect it's Glory we're dealing with." Giles says.
"Well somebody come up with something!" Anya says, panicky.
"Should we join essences and become superslayer again?" Xander asks.
Buffy shakes her head, "That worked against Frankenbot, but to kill a true god... I don't think it's enough. And I need you guys conscious ..."
"But we don't have to kill her, just stop her from performing the ritual. I mean, there's just the one time she can do it, right?" Willow says.
"Yeah, we get her on the ropes, we just gotta keep her occupied till it's too late!" Spike says.
"Okay, but I'm still not hearing enough ideas, she's a god, let's think outside the box!" Anya says.
"Why don't you go think outside the bleedin' box?" Spike asks.
Giles nods, "Yes, Anya, apart from your incredibly uninfectious enthusiasm, have you anything to contribute? Any ideas on how to fight a god? Love to hear 'em."
"How about we don't pick on my gi—" Xander says.
"The Dagon's Sphere!" Anya says.
"Sorry?" Giles asks.
"When Buffy first met Glory she found that magical glowy sphere that was meant to repel Glory. We've got it in the basement. It might drive her back, or hurt her... oh! And –" Anya says and motions towards the troll hammer. "—Olaf the Trollgod's enchanted hammer. You wanna fight a god, use the weapon of a god."
Buffy crosses to the hammer -
"Nah, that thing's too heavy to –" Spike says.
- and Buffy hoists it easily.
"Yeah. Good." Spike says.
"I like this." Buffy says.
"Built for squashin'!" Anya says.
"Good heft to it. I just might do some damage with this." Buffy says. "Thanks."
"Here to help. Want to live." Anya says.
Everyone is a little nonplused by how smart Anya's being.
"Anya, that's all very - did you just think of all that just now?" Giles says.
"Smart chicks are so hot." Xander says.
"You couldn't have figured that out in tenth grade...?" Willow asks as Xander smiles at her.
"You know me and timing ..." Xander says.
"Well. We have some ideas. And a little time to come up with some more. Could give Glory a decent run, but ..." Giles says.
Piper nods, "But we still have no idea how to find her."
"Big day... it calls out and... I have to be there." Tara says as everyone looks at each other. "Big day ..."
At the construction site in the office a handful of minions bow their heads as Ben enters the room. He is carrying a purple ceremonial gown folded up for Dawn to wear.
She is sitting in her corner - not in a chair but on the floor, sullenly trying to make herself as small as possible. Four minions total are on hand to watch over her.
Ben approaches her, clearly contrite. "They, uh... said you have to put this on. For the ceremony."
Dawn looks around, uncomfortable: change right here? She glares at him. "What if I don't?"
"Come on, just –" Ben says.
"What if I don't like the color? It's a winter - I'm not a winter." Dawn says.
"I guess they didn't take that into account. Look, I... I wish there was another way." Ben says.
"And I wish you'd fall on your head and drown in your own barf, so I guess we're both having frowny days." Dawn says.
"I think... it'll be quick." Ben says.
"Actually, sir, the bleeding is quite a slow process, to give the portal time to –" Murk says.
"Thank you. For the information." Ben says. "I'll do what I can to –"
"Change." Dawn says.
"What?" Ben asks.
"Change. Be her. Be Glory." Dawn says.
"Dawn, I don't think you wanna –" Ben says.
"Be Glory! I don't wanna look at you! Glory! GLORY! GLORY!" Dawn screams at Ben.
"Will you just stop –" Ben says before he morphs into Glory.
"—shouting already? Jeez! I can't hear myself think about killing you. What's the hubbub, bub? What do you got against old Benjy?" Glory says.
"He's a monster. At least you're up front about it." Dawn says.
"Don't be so hard on the boy. He just wants to live - most guys'd do the same. 'Sides, he's probably the reason your sis, your family and their little cartoon pals are still alive. That little nagging pinch of humanity that makes me go for the hurt instead of the kill. Lowering myself to trade blows with a Slayer when I should have just put my fist through her heart. That's gotta be Ben." Glory says.
"Or maybe you just can't take Buffy." Dawn says. "Or Piper, Phoebe or Paige."
Glory tosses the robe to Dawn, holding one end herself. Dawn, startled, grabs hold - and Glory tugs at it - pulling Dawn off the floor right to her. She clamps a hand on the side of Dawn's face. "Funny thing... you've been here for a few hours now and I haven't seen big sis or your cousins galloping in to save you. They probably know what a terrible mistake that'd be."
"They're not afraid of you." Dawn says.
"Oh, no, sweetie baby, I'm talking about the ritual. 'Cause you know, I bleed you, the portals open, but once you die, they close. The faster you die, the better for your sorry species. I'm bettin' Buffy knows that. And since your not really her sister—" Glory says, squeezing so hard that Dawn cries with pain... "— I'm guessing she and your cousins aren't gonna show. And if they do... it might not be to save you." She tosses Dawn to the ground. Dawn lands on top of the grating, in a heap. Glory tosses the robe by her. "Now change. Pronto. Unless you want Ben here to watch."
Dawn hides her tears from Glory, her voice is small and she speaks softly, "Buffy... Piper… Phoebe… Paige… please help me ..."
At the Magic Box in the training room Buffy is on the bag, pounding away as Giles enters. Piper is sitting watching Buffy.
"You sure you're not going to tire yourself out?" Giles asks.
"I'm sure." Buffy says.
"We're still working on ideas. Time's short, but it's best to wait 'til the last minute. If we go in too early and she takes us out, no chance of getting her to miss her window." Giles says.
"So we wait." Piper says.
Buffy hits the bag with one last punch and the chain snaps, the bag flies a few feet before hitting the ground.
"I imagine you both hate me right now." Giles says.
Buffy turns to face him. "Little bit. But I understand."
Piper nods in agreement, "We all understand, Giles."
Giles nods, "I love Dawn."
"We know." Buffy says and Piper again nods in agreement.
"But I have sworn to protect this sorry world, and sometimes that means saying and doing... what other people can't. What they shouldn't have to." Giles says.
"You try to hurt her; you know we'll stop you." Piper says.
Giles nods, "I know."
Buffy crosses over to the couch and sits next to Piper. Giles sits on the arm next to Buffy. "How many apocalypses is this for us?"
"Well, six, at least. Seems like a hundred." Giles says.
"I've always stopped them. Always won." Buffy says.
"We've always stopped them." Piper says, correcting Buffy.
Buffy nods, "Your right, Piper. I don't think I could have made it four plus years without you guys." She looks back at Giles, "I sacrificed Angel to save the world. I loved him so much... but I knew. What was right. I don't have that any more. I don't understand. I don't know how to live in this world, if these are the choices, if everything's just stripped away then I don't see the point. I just wish... I wish Prue was here."
Piper looks to Buffy and sees the tears in her eyes. She pulls her cousin, her sister into an embrace. "I do to, Buffy. But you have me, Phoebe and Paige."
Buffy sighs, "I know. You know the spirit guide told me that Death was my gift. I guess that means a Slayer really is just a killer after all."
"I think you're wrong about that." Giles says.
Buffy shakes her head, "It doesn't matter. If Dawn dies, then I'm done with it. I'm quitting."
Piper sees it in Buffy's eyes and nods, "So am I."
"So am I." Phoebe says.
They look up and see Phoebe and Paige standing in the door.
"So am I." Paige says.
At the construction site in the office, Dawn, who is now in her robe, is folding her clothes very neatly, silently laying them in a neat pile on the chair, putting her shoes under it. It's like a zen exercise, and though her eyes are wet, she says nothing. She looks at her little pile of clothes.
A minion comes in and whispers to Glory.
Glory looks over at Dawn, smiles. "Okay, campers! It's almost stab time! You two, get her."
The minions who came in and one other both grab Dawn. She screams and tries to twist out of their grasp. "BUFFY!"
"Hey hey HEY! Again with the screaming, you know you could scare bats away with that screech of yours. We're not doing it here. All this time together, you think I have no sense of style? Portal's up there." Glory says gesturing above them. "You're going out, but you're going out with a view." She looks to the minions. "Take her. See you in a few."
They pull Dawn out and drag her past crazies up the steps. Dawn looks above her in fear and confusion and sees for the first time what they've been building. It is a caligari-esque tower that rises a hundred feet and more above the construction site. At the very top a thirty foot platform sticks out like the devil's diving board. The end of the platform is constructed with poles and a hole in the floor so that Dawn can be bound facing in, with her feet on the edge of nothing.
The whole thing is huge and overwhelming, standing against the night sky.
Dawn, looks up, taking it in. She is pulled towards it by the minions.
At the Magic Box, Piper and Buffy comes to Willow and Tara.
"You got anything for me?" Buffy asks.
"Some ideas - well, notions, or theories, based on wild speculation. Did I mention I'm not good under pressure?" Willow says.
"I need you, Will. You along with Piper, Phoebe and Paige are my big guns." Buffy says.
"I'm your - I never was a gun... someone else should be the gun, I could maybe be a cudgel, or pointy stick ..." Willow says.
Buffy smiles, "Willow, besides us you're the strongest witch. You know that."
"Well, no ..." Willow says.
Piper nods, "She's right, Willow."
"You're the only one who's ever hurt Glory. At all. You along with Piper, Phoebe and Paige are my best shot at getting her on the ropes so don't get a jelly belly now. What about those spells you used on her before?" Buffy says.
"They only worked for a few minutes. Plus she knows about 'em – seeing how Dawn has yet to shimmer to us. I'd expect she has some kind of protection, some counter-mojo set up. I mean, she's gotta know we're coming. And she doesn't want Dawn leaving." Willow says.
"So..." Buffy says.
"Well, I do sort of have one idea, but… last few days I've mostly been looking into ways to help Tara. I know that shouldn't be my priority –" Willow says.
"Of course it should." Piper says as she places her hand over Willow's, squeezes.
Willow looks at her gratefully, "I've been charting their essences, mapping out ... I think... If I can get close enough, I may be able to reverse what Glory did. Kind of take back what she took from Tara. It might weaken Glory, or make her less coherent, or make all our heads explode - I'm still working out the details."
"I don't like the exploding heads. The rest sounds solid." Buffy says.
"I'll try to work it." Willow says. "Piper if you don't mind?"
Piper shakes her head, "No." She looks to Buffy. "I'll help Willow get whatever she needs ready to pull this off."
Giles, Spike, Xander and Anya have been talking, Xander and Anya having come back up with the sphere.
"Buffy..." Giles says.
Buffy goes to the group.
Willow grabs another book. She looks at Tara, who seems lost. "Don't worry, love. It won't be too long."
Tara abruptly slaps Willow. Willow recoils, in pain for both of them. "You can't even let it... Bitch, I'm supposed to work on the factors... I'm not..."
And she's a lost child again, tearing up, looking away.
Willow struggles hard not to cry herself. She says with quiet determination, "I'm gonna bring you back."
"Yes we are." Piper says. "Now let's work out how were going to do it."
"No, that's good. That could be pivotal." Buffy says. "Thanks, guys."
"Well, then you're going to need –" Giles says.
Buffy nods, "Way ahead of you. We got time?"
"Yes. If you hurry." Giles says.
"I'll grab some weapons, too." Buffy says.
"I'm looking for something in a broadsword ..." Xander says.
"Don't be swinging that thing near me." Spike says.
"Hey, I happen to be –" Xander says.
"A glorified brick-layer?" Spike asks.
Xander readies himself for a comeback... "I'm also a swell bowler."
"Has his own shoes." Anya says.
"The Gods themselves do tremble." Spike says.
"Spike. Shut your mouth. And come with me. Paige why don't you come also. You can orb Spike to the Manor." Buffy says before she flames out.
Paige grabs Spike and orbs out.
Buffy flames in to the foyer as Paige and Spike orb in beside her.
"Weapons in the chest. I'll grab the stuff upstairs –" Buffy says.
Spike moves toward the chest. "Won't bother with the small stuff. Couple of good axes should hold off Glory's mates while you take on the lady herself."
"We're not all gonna make it. You two know that." Buffy says.
Spike returns, a couple of axes in hand. "Yeah. Hey, I always knew I'd go down fighting. Sure as hell never thought it'd be on this side... or for this reason..."
Paige nods, "Part of the hazards of a Charmed One. That said though I don't want to lose a member of our family."
"I'm counting on you two and Piper and Phoebe. To help protect her." Buffy says.
"'Til the end of the world - even if that happens to be tonight. Nobody touches the Little Bit while Spike's around. I promise." Spike says.
"I'll be one minute." Buffy says as she starts up the stairs.
"I know you'll never love me." Spike says. "I know that I'm a monster. But you treat me like a man, and that's..." He stops himself. "Get your stuff. I'll be here."
Buffy pauses for the briefest of moments before she goes up. She heads into her room and looks around noticing the touches that Dawn has added. She walks over to Celia's bassinet and notices the blanket Dawn had gotten her as a baby gift for Celia. She moves over to Dawn's side of the bed and sits down, smoothing out the pillow absently with her hand.
She takes a picture off the bed table. It's of her, Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Dawn. Tears start to fall from her eyes.
"Buffy?" Paige says from the door. Buffy looks at her and Paige can see the tears in her eyes. She walks over to Buffy and sits next to her. She pulls Buffy's head onto her shoulder as she holds her close.
At the construction site up on the platform Dawn is pulling at bonds her that hold her - at the end of the platform. She can't shimmer out even up here. The platform end in a kind of a circle with a plank sticking out - that is, her feet at the end of it, her bare toes dangling over a prodigious plummet to the ground. This is so the blood can flow directly to the sacred spot. Right now it doesn't look sacred - it just looks like a long drop.
Dawn is trying to be stoic - turns her head away so the last minion doesn't see the tear running down her face.
The minions finish, head across the platform and down the tower. The last one offers, "She will come to you soon."
Back at the Magic Box, Buffy flames in as Spike orbs in with Paige.
"We on schedule?" Buffy asks.
Giles nods, "Yes. It's time."
"Willow?" Buffy says.
Willow moves to Tara, speaks to her quietly. "Tara... baby... is there somewhere you should be?"
"They held me down ..." Tara says.
"Nobody's holding you. It's the big day, right? Do you want to go?" Willow says.
Hesitantly, Tara looks about her and rises. Starts for the door. Stops on her way, pointing at Giles. "You're a killer. It's all put down ..." The thought forgotten, she wanders out of the shop.
"Willow, stay close but don't crowd her. We'll follow in a minute. Everyone knows their jobs. Remember, the ritual starts, we all die. And Piper, Phoebe, Paige and I'll kill anyone who comes near Dawn." Buffy says as she moves off toward the basement.
The others gather weapons as Willow heads out the door.
Spike is handing over some of his weaponry to Giles, who bags it. "Not exactly the St. Crispin's Day speech, was it?"
"We few..." Giles says in sardonic agreement.
"we happy few…" Spike and Giles say together.
"We band of buggered..." Spike says.
They head off.
Moments later Tara is making her way through the neighborhood. She seems distracted, even halts at times, but her path is sure. Willow follows behind at a bit of a distance, the rest of the gang even further behind.
Tara sees the tower; she becomes agitated as she heads for it. Willow stops where Tara was moments before staring at the tower. The gang stop beside her as they follow her gaze to the tower.
"Shpadoinkle ..." Xander says.
"What is that...?" Anya asks.
"The portal must open up there." Giles says.
Buffy, Piper, Phoebe and Paige takes it in.
Xander looks off to one side. "Hey, check that out. I think I can work with that."
"Give it a shot." Buffy says.
"See you guys in there." Xander says as he squeezes Anya's hand and goes towards a wrecking ball in a neighboring lot.
"Will, you're up." Buffy says. "Paige stay close to her."
Willow tries to look determined.
"Need anything?" Giles asks.
"Could use some courage ..." Willow says as Spike thrusts a flask at her. "The real kind." Spike takes a drink himself before putting the flash away. "But thanks." She takes a deep breath, closes her eyes. She and Paige begin chanting an incantation.
A few moments later, Tara enters the site. Crazies are milling about, no longer building, but many of them still gathering bricks and chains and metal bars - to be used as weapons. A couple of minions, armed with blades, keep an eye on them.
Tara joins in mindlessly, rummaging about the piles of rubble for something with heft. Suddenly Glory grabs Tara's shoulder, and spins her around.
"You. What are you doing here?" Glory says.
Willow appears between them and shoves her fingers into both Glory's and Tara's heads. Paige stands behind Willow still chanting the incantation. "She's with me."
Glory gasps in paralyzed pain - as do the other girls - as white, crackling energy bursts from her head, running along Willow's arms straight into Tara's head.
Glory, Willow and Tara all shake as energy flows from Glory through Willow and into Tara. Suddenly there is a blast that sends all four girls, Paige included, flying back in different directions.
Paige, Willow and Tara all land hard, lying unconscious.
Glory lands and is on her feet again in a second. Minions run to her. "What the frikkin' hell did that bitch do to me!?"
"You look fine! Truly!" Murk says.
"Stylish and affordable! Or ..." Gronx says.
Glory takes a step, stumbles... "She made a little, she made a hole ... God I need a meal... I need a brain to eat –"
"Take mine, oh groove-tastic one –" Murk says.
"I said a BRAIN, you worthless dirt! I got places to be! Big day... Need a brain ..." Glory says as she turns slowly as she sees Buffy. "Suppose I could always use yours."
Buffy is the epitome of cool. Battle ready. "Okay then. Come and get it."
Glory and Buffy eye each other. Buffy takes a circling step, Glory watching her with disdain. She takes a step as well, but it is a tad unsteady.
"You don't seem very well. Do you need to lie down and have a tonic?" Buffy says.
"Your little witchbitch gave me kind of a headache there. And all it did to her was kill her and her friend and your cousin, so kudos to her! But if you think this is gonna last more than eight seconds..." Glory says.
"I notice that you're talking, whereas in your position I would attack me." Buffy says.
"Oh most sweaty-naughty-feelings-causing one, should we –" Murk says.
"Guard the girl! I can take care of hairdo here. This is a... a..." Glory says.
"Diversionary tactic?" Murk asks.
"Go! Guard!" Glory says.
The minions spread out around the stairway area.
"You keep saying I'm nothing, I'm still not feeling attacked by you. It's strange ..." Buffy says as Glory moves toward her, then hesitates. Confusion crosses Glory's face. She continues to move toward Buffy, but slowly, with effort. "You're not as blurry with speed as usual, either."
"The witch ..." Glory says.
"It's not her." Buffy says as she produces the Dagon's Sphere from behind her back. "It might be this..." Glory snarls at the sight of it. "I heard it was supposed to repel you. So my guess is that you probably shouldn't touch it."
Buffy tosses the Dagon's Sphere to Glory, who instinctively catches it - energy ripples from it, causing her to convulse with agony. A scream welling up inside her, she crushes the sphere in her hand. Looking down, breathing hard, she looks up with murderous hate... "You're gonna wish –"
Buffy hits Glory right across her jaw. Glory flies back, hits the ground. Anger rebounds her up, only to meet a flurry of blows and kicks from the determined Slayer. She barely fends them off at first, then starts to get her own back, landing a couple of good blows.
Up on the platform Dawn is alone, cranes to see below her - has Buffy, Piper, Paige and Phoebe come?
Down below Buffy and Glory fight, the minions gather the crazies to guard the stairway as well.
"Stand fast! Kill anyone who dares approach! This is our day of Glory!" Murk says.
"Well punned!" Gronx says.
"Well, it just called out to me –" Murk says.
An arrow in the chest sends Murk toppling to the ground. Suddenly Giles, Spike, Piper, Phoebe and Anya all charge the group. Anya has a baseball bat, wades through the crazies with a warrior yell. Giles is by her side, he wields a sword but uses it defensively against the crazies, saving his killing thrusts for the minions. Piper is freezing crazies left and right. Phoebe attacks using the martial arts she learned back when Cole was still Belthazor.
Spike jumps over the whole defensive crazy line to land in the thick of the minions, just fists and fury. In his fighting fervor, Spike decks a crazy. His chip activates and he clutches his head in pain, allowing a minion to knock him to the ground.
Willow comes blearily to consciousness. She sits up - pain spiking her head - and looks around. The noise of battle is far away, not because the battle is far away, but because her ears are not quite working normally.
She looks around with increasing urgency, finally seeing Tara who is lying still, a few yards away. Willow drags herself to Tara, tries to cradle her head. "Tara? Tara!" Even her own voice seems far away.
Tara blinks awake, looks around her in dazed confusion. Finally focuses on Willow's face. Willow looks at her, waiting for some sign of her mental state ... "Willow?"
"Tara..." Willow says.
Tara's eyes fill with tears. She is back. "Willow... I got so lost ..."
"I found you." Willow says as she covers Tara's face with kisses... "I'll always find you..." She embraces Tara, tightly.
Next to them Paige opens her eyes and looks around and then sees Tara and Willow, "Did it work?"
Willow smiles, "It worked. Tara's okay."
Paige smiles, "That's good."
Buffy and Glory still trading blows. Buffy swings a punch - and Glory catches it in her hand.
"You know what?" Glory says as she backhands Buffy hard, sends her staggering. "I'm feeling a little better. And now I'm a little bored."
"Well that's the –" Buffy starts to say as Glory Kicks her in the face and knocks her head right off and it flies into a corner.
"I'm sorry, you had a comment?" Glory says. Though breathing hard from the fight, she's glee central, 'til she looks carefully at Buffy's body. She notices the wires and cybertechnology coming out of Buffy's neck.
It's not Buffy it's the Buffybot.
"Wow... the Slayer's a robot! Did everybody else know the Slayer was a robot?" Glory says.
"Glory..." Buffy says from behind Glory. Glory spins - and Buffy swings Olaf's hammer into her face, home run style. Glory flies back and smashes into the nearest wall, dropping in a dazed heap. "You're not the brightest god in the heavens, are you?"
"Buffy! Piper! Phoebe! Paige!" Dawn calls down from above.
Up on the platform Dawn is screaming for help, realizing that Buffy, Piper, Phoebe and Paige are near. "BUFFY! PIPER! PHOEBE! PAIGE! I'M UP HERE! I CAN'T SHIMMER!"
Down below Buffy looks up and tries to flame out finding she can't. She bolts for the stairs. She is behind the flanking Minions and easily takes out the one who gets in her way.
Glory she shakes off the blow, looking around her... Sees Buffy heading up ... "Oh no you don't ..." She gets up…
Buffy climbs/runs up the tower - as Glory whips up from below, not at blurspeed, but faster than Buffy, grabs her.
There is much fighting with the swinging and the HongKonging and the kicking and it's harsh and beautiful, Glory knocking the hammer out of Buffy's hand and finally knocking Buffy back and down, Buffy grabbing hold of Glory so they both plummet down back into the construction site. They both land hard, Glory by a section of drywall, Buffy just beyond it.
Xander smiles from the other side of the fence, "Beautiful... hold that pose."
Buffy and Glory rise shakily.
"You lost your hammer, sweetcheeks. What're you gonna hit me with now?" Glory says.
Buffy glances to the side and a giant wrecking ball swings through the wall and knocks Glory all the way through the wall into the office and most of the way across the room, where she lands in hellish pain and attendant crashing.
"Whatever's handy ..." Buffy says.
Xander smiles from where is working the crane, "And the glorified brick-layer picks up a spare ..." He climbs out of the cab.
Buffy picks up the hammer and bounds through the hole after Glory.
Giles, Spike, Anya, Piper and Phoebe have been beaten back to behind a pile of rubble, where various crazies and/or minions occasionally charge over or hurl something at them. The rest of them form a cordon between them and the stairs.
"Has anybody noticed that we're moving backwards?" Anya says.
Spike pokes his head up - and is hit with a thrown brick. "It's crossed my mind ..."
"If Buffy can keep Glory down long enough, it won't matter. There's only a few minutes left to start the ritual." Giles says.
Up on the platform Dawn is still alone up here. She looks down, around, then back up and screams, Doc is standing before her on the platform.
"Can you help me? Untie me ..." Dawn says.
"Oh, sweet girl, I can do magic!" Doc says.
"Please help me... she's coming ..." Dawn says.
"Well she seems to be running late, is the thing. And if her splendidness isn't here to bleed you ..." Doc says as Dawn's face drains of color. "Yes, it's all coming together at last. Hey kid. Wanna see a trick?"
With a theatrical flourish, he produces a gleaming knife. And a terrible smile.
Down below Xander runs up to the gang like a soldier in the trenches, squats with them.
"How are we doing?" Xander asks.
"So far, it's a tie." Anya says.
"We haven't gotten up to Dawn, but neither has anyone else." Piper says.
Spike is squinting up at the platform. "Someone's up there."
They all look.
"Okay, we gotta charge or something ..." Xander says.
"We tried that." Phoebe says. "And since the crazies are innocents we can't exactly use our powers on them either."
Spike is trying to figure out what to do... suddenly he freezes.
"Spike..."
Willow's voice echoes, only in his head.
"Can you hear me?"
Spike nods, "Loud and clear ..."
"Who? What?" Giles asks.
Willow is looking up at the tower, then towards the others. She, Paige and Tara have not moved yet. She continues to speak, but her lips do not move - it's all telepathic.
"Is someone up there with Dawn?"
Spike nods, "Yeah. Can't see who."
"Are you talking to us?" Xander asks.
"Get up there. Go now."
"Yeah. But what about Paige can't she orb?" Spike says.
"No she can't. There are wards preventing her from orbing. GO!"
Spike does, splits from the group and heads for the enemy -
Willow and Tara join hands and whip their heads toward the group of minions and crazies -
The group is split down the middle, bodies thrown back by an invisible force, Spike sprints through and leaps up the stairs ...
Spike climbs with astonishing alacrity...
Up on the platform Doc has closed in on Dawn somewhat. He pulls an antique pocket watch out of his pocket, looks at it. "What do you know? Just about that time."
"SPIKE!" Dawn sees Spike pull himself onto the platform, sees Doc, who turns to greet Spike.
"Doesn't a fellow stay dead when you kill 'im?" Spike asks.
"Look who's talking." Doc says.
"Come on, Doc. Let's you and me have a go." Spike says.
"I do have a prior appointment..." Doc says pointing behind him to Dawn.
"This won't take long." Spike says.
Doc nods, "No. I don't imagine it will."
Spike comes at him - and he comes forward as well, sidestepping with preternatural grace and suddenly he's behind Spike, driving the knife up into his back to the hilt – Spike screams -
In the office Buffy hits Glory in the face with the hammer, sending her smashing into a pile of crashy things.
"This isn't fair." Glory says.
"I'm sorry. You want to rip apart the fabric of reality, destroy my world and kill my sister and now you're introducing the concept of fairness?" Glory says.
Glory leaps at her, swinging at her with a crowbar, slashing her neck and sending her reeling. Her next swing, Buffy blocks with the hammer, kicking her back. The crowbar clatters to the ground - Glory is really hurting. "You're just a mortal... you couldn't understand my pain."
"I guess I'll have to settle for causing it." Buffy says as she hits Glory with the hammer.
Glory staggers back again. "You can't kill me ..."
"No... but my arm's not even tired." Buffy says as she hits Glory with the hammer again.
Up on the platform the knife clatters to the platform. Spike spins to face Doc again. Both are breathing hard from battle.
"You don't come near the girl, Doc." Spike says.
"I don't smell a soul anywhere on you... why do you even care?" Doc asks.
"I made a promise to a lady." Spike says.
"Oh." Doc says as he opens his mouth, tongue shooting out.
Spike dodges the tongue but as it snaps back Doc sweeps his legs out from under him, as Spike gets back up he finds Doc gripping him from behind, they are facing Dawn, Spike struggling bootlessly.
"Well I'll send the lady your regrets." Doc says.
Spike locks eyes with Dawn, panic in both their expressions, "No –"
Doc hurls Spike off the platform.
Dawn cries out.
Down below Spike lands horribly, things cracking, blood pooling, a rebar through his leg. He can hardly move but to weep for his failure.
In the office Buffy is wailing on Glory with the hammer. Glory's face is bloody, she is dazed. A blow sends her to her knees, an uppercut puts her right on her back.
"Stop it..." Glory says.
"You're a god ..." Buffy says as she slams it into Glory's face. "MAKE it stop."
And again. And again. She raises the hammer - it has blood on it as well - and hesitates.
Glory, bloody and defeated, morphs into Ben. He is equally battered, and looks up helplessly at Buffy.
"I'm sorry ..." Ben says.
"Tell her it's over. She missed her shot. She goes. She ever - EVER – comes near me and mine again..." Buffy says.
"We won't. I swear." Ben says.
Buffy rises, eyes still on the boy. Then she turns and bolts.
Ben coughs, trying to sit up, despair in his eyes. He lays back down ... "Guess we're stuck with each other, huh baby?"
Suddenly there is another figure looming over him. He squints to see Giles, squatting over him. "Can you move?"
"Need... a minute… She could have killed me." Ben says.
Giles shakes his head, "No she couldn't. Never. And sooner or later, Glory will re-emerge and make Buffy pay for that mercy, and the world with her. Buffy even knows that, and still she wouldn't take a human life. Because she's a hero, you see. She's not like us."
"Us?" Ben asks.
Giles coldly clamps his hand over Ben's mouth and nose. Ben struggles feebly for a while. Then stops. Giles' expression never changes.
Buffy climbs up the tower - and hears Dawn SCREAM!
On the platform tears flow down Dawn's face as she screams in pain.
Doc is right in front of her, face near hers, grinning... "Shallow cuts, shallow cuts... let the blood flow free..." He is slicing her along the arms and ribs.
Buffy climbs up to the top of the tower, "Dawn."
"Buffy..." Dawn says.
Buffy strides toward Doc. He turns and gracefully hurls the knife at her face. She bats it out of the way.
"Well, this should be interest—" Doc says.
Buffy reaches him and bats him aside as easily as she did the knife, never breaking stride on her way to Dawn. Dawn sees Doc fall off the side of the platform falling towards the ground below.
Buffy starts to untie Dawn.
"Buffy, it hurts ..." Dawn says.
"I got you... You're gonna be okay ..." Buffy says.
"Oh, God, Buffy ..." Dawn says.
Blood seeps down Dawn's leg, pooling on her foot and finally dripping down into the air...
The blood stops in the middle of the air some twenty feet down, clearly suspended by some mystical force. Another few drops join it and they begin to transform into a crackling ball of energy, white with power at the very center.
Buffy hurriedly unties Dawn, starts dragging her down the platform. Dawn resists. Finally stops, looking back. "Come on!"
Dawn looks at the ball of energy. The platform rumbles and shakes, wind whipping both girls' hair. Looks back at Buffy. "I can't."
"What? We have to get down!" Buffy says.
Dawn shakes her head, "Buffy, it's started."
The energy ball grows - and shoots out a lightning-like tentacle of energy. It hits an intersection of the street - and the street crumbles away into a fiery abyss. Again, a bolt and a nearby building is transformed into an alien looking structure.
Down below the crazies and the minions have all prostrated themselves on the ground.
Giles is coming out of the hole in the wall. The light above him and everyone at the site is powerful, and the place is starting to shake. He grabs the wall for support, looking up at the platform, knowing the worst.
"Paige?" Piper says. "If you can orb go!"
"The wards are still up." Paige says having tried to orb, but still can't. "We'll have to come up with a counter spell to bring them down."
Up on the platform Buffy and Dawn see what's happening. Another rumble nearly shakes them off their feet.
"I'm sorry ..." Dawn says.
Buffy shakes her head, "It doesn't matter. Nothing –" Dawn makes a break for it, tries to run back to the end of the platform. Buffy grabs her, pulls her back, gets between her and the end. "What are you doing?"
"I can end this." Dawn says.
"No!" Buffy says.
"I have to jump. The energy –" Dawn says.
"It'll kill you!" Buffy says.
"I know. Buffy, I know about the ritual! I have to stop it." Dawn says.
"No!" Buffy says.
"I have to! Look at what's happening!" Dawn says.
In the sky a rift opens and a huge dragon flies out, screaming as it sails past the girls.
"Buffy –" Dawn says.
"I don't care! Dawn, I won't lose you –" Buffy says.
"You have to! You have to let me go! Blood starts it, and until the blood stops flowing it'll never stop. You know you have to let me ..." Dawn says.
Buffy looks at her in despair - can she really let this happen?
"It has to have the blood ..." Dawn says.
And realization sweeps over Buffy's face...
"It's always blood…"
"They made her from me".
"Death is your gift."
Buffy looks to Dawn as she remembers when Phoebe cast the spell that brought her future self and past self into the present. And that the future Phoebe had given her one hint about her future, Dawn. At the time she was unsure how the hint referred to her sister. But now she understood. Future Phoebe had been warning her of this event. And now everything locked in to place. She knows what she had to do, she must die so her sister and daughter both can live. Buffy knew if she let Dawn jump that she would be unable to live with herself and as a result Celia would suffer for it.
The sun is just starting to rise beyond the edge of the platform.
Buffy looks at it, uncommonly serene and then turns back to Dawn one final time.
Dawn knows without knowing. "Buffy... no ..."
"Dawnie... I have to –" Buffy says.
"NO!" Dawn says.
"Listen to me! There's no time, Dawn, please listen." Buffy says as she brings Dawn close so she can speak in her ear. "Dawn listen to me. Listen. I love you. I'll always love you. But this is the work I have to do. Tell Giles I... I figured it out. And I'm okay. Give my love to Piper, Phoebe and Paige, to my friends and to Celia. You have to take care of them now - you have to take care of each other. You have to be strong. Dawn. Not only for yourself but for Celia as well. You have to take care of her and raise her for me, and remind her of the wonderful mother she had. The hardest thing in this world is to live in it. Be brave. Live. For me."
Buffy wipes a tear away, taking the moment to memorize Dawn's face. She kisses her, and she turns and runs toward the end of the platform. She reaches it and swandives right out and down towards the ball of energy.
Dawn watches, crying...
As Buffy's body sails down into the energy field of the portal she causes the energy to go even wilder.
Down below the group look in vain to see what has happened.
Buffy floats in the center of the maelstrom, being hit with the equivalent of a million jolts of electricity. Her eyes slowly close.
The energy ball - expands and suddenly contracts out of existence as Buffy's body falls through and comes down to lay on the ground in front of them.
As the smoke clears, The gang comes slowly toward her. Dawn, having climbed down is the farthest behind, the most alone. Xander carrying Anya, who looks out of danger, but clearly as stricken as the rest. They mostly register stoic, humbled shock. Willow weeps openly. As does Spike, who must hide from the encroaching sunlight, collapsing in wretched sobs at his failure, at the death of his love.
Giles comes the closest, standing over the body of his Slayer, the others folding in behind.
Dawn moves to Piper, Phoebe and Paige. They pull Dawn into their arms holding her, crying with her for the loss of another member of their family.