"You know, you're pretty good at figuring things out." Thor told Xander, after he and Cordelia shimmered into the room he and Artemis were in. "You're right, our blood in you did hide you from the creature's view. But then, that's how you figure out ways around prophecies. I'm not sure if you're just clever that way or if it's an offshoot of your seeing ability. Either way, you've learned to use it well. The message has been sent and received. They now have a new choice, accept the truth of why they exist and fight the enemies of mankind or ignore it. Free will has set humans apart from the beginning. This is a better choice then forcing compliance would have been. They won't resent it so much, if they have a chance to choose for themselves. We should have remembered that."
"Maybe it took our human perspective to see it." Xander said. "After all I resent Buffy and Willow trying to make me do things I don't want to do."
"True and understandable. Well, you've fullfilled the purpose you were created for, as well as the purpose you claimed for your immortality, to find the truth. A new purpose is therefore necessary or you'll wander the Earth growing ever more resentful of your unending life. It's one of the reasons the ones who gave rise to the legend of the four horsemen of the apocalypse became what they did. They were bored and looking for challenges. They found it in trying to conquer three continents. I prefer my son not choose that path." Thor said dryly.
"Yeah, me too." Xander said. "I just want to help, that's all. Even if I get it wrong, at least I'm trying, right?"
"I agree and that leads me to my suggestion of how you can spend your long life." And Thor explained his idea.
Cordelia and Artemis were also taking.
"You were healing faster, my dear." Artemis told her. "And there's a reason for that. While that demon was attacking that Seer that looked like you and she was covered in the particle storm, she used the opportunity to escape. She shimmered out of the storm and materialized within you. She blended with you, completely. Physically and mentally. This is different then the two vampires with souls that you've met. They were two distinct beings in one body. By blending with you, the Seer made the two of you one whole being. Half human, half demon. But only physically demon. In blending her mind and her knowledge in you, she no longer exists. Which means she can't control you. Somewhat influence you, yes. Given that she was sexually aggressive. But you're fortunate, Xander's a demon magnet, she was as interested in him as you are. Which basically means she made your libido even stronger. In blending with you, she also gave you her abilities, she augmented your own seeing ability and added premonitions and divination to it, which is why you recognized the divining pool. She also made you immortal."
"Why did she blend with me?"
"She was hoping to hide from the Avatars. She quickly realized, she'd miscalculated. Your god blood gave you a district advantage over her. If she tried to use force or attempted control, you'd have swatted her down like a fly. The only way to undue this is to make you a god. You're not ready for that, you need to grow into it. A long time ago we realized, just making someone a god could cause all kinds of problems. It's really a very different existence. In time, both you and Xander will be ready for that, but you need time to get there. Thor has an idea on how to help you get there and I think it's a good one." And Artemis filled Cordelia in as well.
Back on Earth, Faith made her way to Sunnydale. A place she didn't want to go and to talk to people she really didn't want to talk to. But the Slayer dream she'd had, made it clear, Sunnydale was where she needed to be and Buffy's peeps, were the people she needed to be talking to. She arrived at Giles' condo and knocked on his door.
"Faith? I didn't know you were planning to come to Sunnydale. Is there something I can help you with?"
"Yeah, G. I need you to call B, Red and Mrs. S. I had a Slayer dream and I need to talk to them and you about it."
Giles motioned her in. "Something bad?" He asked.
"Depends on your point of view, I guess. I'll tell you about it once they get here."
It didn't take long for the three woman to arrive and Faith immediately launched into why she was there.
"First off, Xander and Cordelia did it. I was talking to Cass when she suddenly went blank. When she came out of it, she told me the Call had gone out. With it came a message. The Game is over, the Prize has been claimed. The Prize is the truth of why immortals exist. And something else came with the message. Xander shared what makes his blood holy with all immortals worldwide. It they choose to challenge each other, they'll quickly find that they can make holy ground as well. And since fighting on holy ground can have all kinds of nasty side effects, it's hoped it will be enough to stop challenges all together. Duncan's been getting phone calls from immortals he knows all over the world confirming they heard the Call too. Many of them are actually glad they have a purpose to their existence. He also pointed out, they still can't go near Hellmouths, which brings me to why I'm here."