E-MAIL: winteryuu@hotmail.com
DISTRIBUTION: Just ask.
RATING: PG
SUMMARY: Amidst a new prophecy, the Scooby gang come together for the ultimate battle, and discover a thing or two about themselves and each other along the way.
DISCLAIMER: All Buffy related things are owned by Joss Whedon, etc, etc. All things related to Final Fantasy are owned by SquareSoft, etc, etc. In short, I own nothing except the idea for this story.
FEEDBACK: Appreciated.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: OK, I've sort of messed with the "Buffy" universe,
so it's important to read this note. Please keep in mind the following
points:
1) Angel is good, and
he never lost his soul.
2) Everyone is a senior.
3) Buffy and Angel were
never together.
4) Cordelia and Oz don't
exist.
5) Willow is a full-fledged
witch.
6) Jenny is alive, and
she and Giles are in love.
If I think of anything else,
I'll let you know. Also, I've taken a few ideas from the RPG "Final Fantasy
II." (Also known as "Final Fantasy IV.") But you don't have to have played
the game to understand what's going on. Another point is that anything
you read in the story about the Arthurian legends is pure fiction. I didn't
get the information from any books; I just made it up.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
One to be born
From a Dragon Hoisting the
Light
And the Dark
Arises high up
In the sky
To the still land
Veiling the Moon
With the Light of Eternity
It brings
Another promise
To Mother Earth
With a Bounty
And Mercy.
Willow looked on as Buffy did a spinning back kick that landed solidly across the vampire's head and sent him crashing to the ground. Within seconds, the Slayer was on top of the vampire, plunging a stake into his heart.
Buffy sighed and stood up, brushing the dust from her clothes. She turned to her best friend and, noticing her standing there casually, remarked, "What, you're finished with your vamps already?"
"Yep," Willow grinned at the Slayer, "you'd be surprised how much faster you can dust a vamp when you can shoot a beam of light at 'em and have 'em just disintegrate."
"Lucky," Buffy quipped, "If I could do that, my job would be *so* much easier."
Willow laughed at the mock envy in her friend's voice and said, "C'mon, we'd better get back to the library."
"Yeah," Buffy agreed, gazing with pride at her best friend. It was hard to believe that it had been three years since she and her mom had moved to Sunnydale. And in that time, Buffy had made only a few friends, but they were of the truest kind, especially Willow.
Buffy marveled at how much Willow had changed, and how strong she had become. When she first moved here, Willow was a shy, quiet, girl that people hardly noticed, unless, of course, they needed tutoring. But now she was more confident.
Of course, the students at school never really noticed the changes. They were more subtle changes. She began walking with more confidence, wasn't afraid to speak out, and even began standing up to all the people who tried to insult her.
But these things weren't new. Buffy had seen them lying inside Willow for a long time; they just had to come to the surface. It was probably all of the evil the Scooby gang had to face every night that instigated the changes. That and the different Magicks Willow had been delving into. God knows they had saved her life about a million and one times.
But in spite of all the evil the gang'd had to face, Willow always retained an aura of innocence around her. It was that innocence that kept the gang alive, and that innocence that reminded Buffy of exactly what she was fighting for.
As the girls entered the library, they found Giles, Ms. Calendar, Xander, and Angel already waiting. "Hey guys," Buffy said, as they walked into the library, "what's everyone up to?"
"Giles says that some new evil is supposed to arise soon," Xander began, "so, of course, we all went into research mode. I did try to go out on a donut run instead, but unfortunately for me, all the shops are closed."
"Gee, Xander, you mean you actually had to skim a whole book?" Willow joked.
"Can you believe it? What is this world coming to?" Xander retorted.
Willow smiled to herself as she thought about everything she and her childhood friend had been through the past three years. And through it all, they had still remained very close. In fact, she had come to love everyone in the gang, each in a different way.
She loved Giles and Ms. Calendar like parents. Her own parents loved her, she knew that, but they were always away on trips, tours, conferences, meetings, and the like. It was Giles and Ms. Calendar that had watched her grow these past three years, encouraged her, advised her, and saved her. Her parents hadn't even noticed when she cut her hair.
Then there were Buffy and Xander. Her two best friends. They were like the brother and sister she never had. She and Xander would always hurl comments back and forth, but it was always playful. And she could confide to Buffy anything and everything that she was feeling and thinking.
And last but not least, Angel. The vampire with a soul. It was sort of ironic. When he first showed up in town, everyone took an immediate liking to him. Then they found out he was a vampire, with a soul, no less. It was hard for them to trust him completely in the beginning, but time and again he proved just how much he was needed.
Slowly, he began becoming more and more involved in everyone's life. At first, he just sort of showed up whenever something big was gonna happen, then he'd leave. But then he started to stick around, ask questions about how everyone was doing, even make a joke every now and then. As the months turned to years, he became an integral part of the group, finally free of the guilt that had plagued him for over 80 years.
That was party due to amodification in the curse that was placed on him. Ms. Calendar could see how much he was suffering, and how good he had become, so she called upon her tribe family to bind the soul permanently. They weren't too happy about it at first, but they came around. The permanent soul freed him of some of the guilt, but he still remained an immortal vampire.
Willow and Angel had started out being friends. She was one of the first ones to give him a chance, trust him. As she gazed at him, she realized once again just how strong her feelings were. They went beyond the strong friendship they had formed over the years. Willow tried to deny it in the beginning, saying that she felt nothing more than friendship, but after a while, she couldn't lie to herself anymore. She was falling in love with him. Problem was, she couldn't tell if Angel felt the same way. And she was too scared to tell him.
For all the confidence she had gained the past three years, part of her was still fragile, afraid of rejection, especially from the first man she had ever loved. And so she resigned herself to the acceptable, if not satisfying, bonds of friendship.
"I've found something," Angel said, looking up from the book he had been reading, "it's about a prophecy that's supposed to take place about 1500 years after the death of the Immortal King."
"Who's the Immortal King?" Xander asked.
"Arthur," Giles supplied.
"You mean King Arthur?" Buffy asked in very much the same tone as Xander had just moments before.
"Yes," Giles said, "what else does it say?" Giles asked.
"Well," Angel began, "it's a prediction by Merlin. It says that approximately 1500 years after the death of the Immortal King, an ancient evil, one that had been sealed previously, and once again by the King, will arise a third and final time."
"Man, this guy sure doesn't know when to quit, does he?" Xander joked.
"It goes on to say," Angel continued, "that at that time, a powerful Slayer, with an army of her own, will battle atop the Hellmouth, and to them, the ancient legend of Mysidia will apply. It ends there, and it's obviously about us."
"What's Mysidia?" Willow asked, curiously.
"An ancient city of mystics and wizards," Jenny replied, "my parents would tell me stories about it sometimes. It was supposed to have existed over 2500 years ago, in a land when Magick was nearly extinct."
"Did they tell you anything else?" Giles asked while frantically searching for a particular book.
"They used to tell me this poem of sorts, probably the legend, but I can't remember all the words."
"Please try," Giles said, pulling out a book and flipping through the pages.
"It was something like…'One to be born, from a Dragon, hoisting the Light-'"
"-And the Dark," Giles interrupted, reading from the book, "arises high up in the sky, to the still land, veiling the moon with the light of Eternity. It brings another promise to Mother Earth, with a Bounty and Mercy."
"Wait a minute," Xander said, "if this is in our time, and concerning us, there's only one person here that 'hoists the Light and the Dark'…"
He didn't have to finish the rest, because everyone knew exactly what he was going to say. At that moment, all eyes flew to Angel.
End Part 1
"What?" Angel asked defensively, "it's not me…"
"Come on, Dead Boy," Xander argued, "who else here fits that category."
"Well-" Angel began.
"I think Xander may be right," Giles broke in, "this entire prophecy may revolve around Angel."
"Did I just hear Giles say I was right?" Xander commented, "I'm on a roll today!"
"There's a first time for everything, Xand," Buffy replied. After turning her attention back to Giles, she asked, "But what do they mean by 'to be born from a dragon?' And is it just me or does it seem like the rest of that prophecy is written in some foreign language?"
"Well, it will be somewhat difficult to decipher," Giles agreed.
"I may know a little about it," Jenny cut in. "The legends my parents told me when I was a child were about a group of warriors."
"Will you tell us the story?" Willow asked.
"I don't remember all of the details, but I do know the basics. There were five warriors of the Light, destined to fight the arising evil: a Paladin, a Dragoon, a Black Wizard and Caller, a White Wizard, and a Ninja. The Paladin was a carrier of the Light, but he used to be a Dark Knight. He was the son of the Lunarians, a race that lives sleeping deep within the moon. Together, they fought the increasing numbers of monsters. And in the final battle, they defeated Zemus, the ultimate evil. Legend also has it that King Arthur's father, Uther Penndragon, was a descendant of the Paladin."
"And legend also says," Giles added, the wheels turning, "that Arthur's bastard son, Mordred, had a child of his own: a daughter that he had sent away to be protected until he had usurped Arthur's throne. He was supposed to send for her after he became king, but since he was killed in battle, she was supposedly raised by a foster family, one that settled in Ireland."
"So it's entirely possible that Angel was descended from the Penndragon line," Willow mused.
"Wait a minute!" Angel interrupted, "don't you guys think we're jumping to conclusions here?"
"It specifically says a powerful Slayer fighting on the Hellmouth with an army," Willow argued, "now, we may not be an army as in the sense of an army, like, with guns and camouflage clothing, but I'd say we're pretty darn close. And if that's the case, well, you're a vampire with a soul, Angel. There's not much more of a blend between Light and Dark than that."
"Willow's right, Angel," Buffy said, "it has to be you."
Angel knew that what they were saying was true, but he didn't want to believe it. By admitting that they were talking about him in the prophecy, it would mean admitting that everything that had happened to him, everything he had done, he would never have been able to change. Being turned into a vampire, killing all those innocent people, being plagued with a soul, suffering from all of that guilt. It was all supposed to happen.
He remembered dreaming at night when he first got his soul back about what his life could have been like had he not been turned. But if this prophecy was true, that meant he was born to become a demon, to become a killer.
But that also meant that it couldn't have been helped. That everything that happened may not have been his fault. He didn't know what to think. Whether or not this was a blessing or a curse would have to be figured out later. Right now, he had more important things to think about.
"So, what exactly does this mean, though?" Angel asked, submitting to the Fates, "if we are in this prophecy, what are we supposed to do?"
No one had an answer for that question. It seemed that only time would tell where they would be led.
End Part 2
Angel lay in his bed quietly, waiting for the sun to set in an hour, thinking about the new prophecy. When he heard an unexpected knock at his door, he wondered to himself who it could be. Getting up from the bed, Angel went to the door and opened it to find Willow standing outside.
"Willow," he said nonchalantly, trying to hide the sudden rush of joy he felt at seeing her beautiful face, "come on in."
As Willow stepped past him into the apartment she'd visited so many times before, Angel couldn't help but feel a tinge of excitement. He knew that he shouldn't be having these feelings for the young redhead, but he couldn't help them.
"So," he asked, "what brings you here?"
"Do I need an excuse to visit a friend?" Willow countered.
"Well, no…" Angel began.
"Well then, now that that's settled," Willow continued before he had a change to think of something to say, 'how are you?"
"Fine."
"You sure?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Considering everything that's happened at the library, with the prophecy and all, I just wanted to make sure you didn't spend the entire day brooding."
Angel smiled to himself and replied, "How is it that you know me so well?"
"You're easy to read," Willow answered his question with a shrug.
"Wait a minute," Angel said, "did you just say I was *easy* to read?"
"Well, yeah."
"But I'm a 250 year old vampire…you can't read me," Angel argued, wondering when his perfected stoic act had been un- coded.
"Men," Willow rolled her eyes, "alive or undead, you're all the same."
"And just what is that supposed to mean?" Angel asked, unknowingly stepping closer to the intoxicating witch.
"It means," Willow clarified, straightening to her full height, which still left her quite a few inches shorter than her latest subject of critique, "that you're all a bunch of egotistical males who feel that they can't ever show their feelings." She was enjoying this game.
Angel snickered at Willow's obvious attempt to goad him into joining the game. It worked. "I'll have you know that you women aren't all that different either."
"And just what is that supposed to mean?" Willow demanded.
"Just that you never come out and say what you're thinking. You always leave little hints and expect the men to magically know what you're thinking. 250 years and I have yet to understand the mystery that is women," Angel smiled at the little wheels he could see turning in the hacker's head. He was enjoying this. It wasn't often he could score any points in a verbal joust with Willow.
"Really?" Willow asked, her eyes narrowing mischievously.
"Willow?" Angel asked, getting nervous. He didn't like that look…
Before he knew what had hit him, he was suspended in mid-air, floating upside down, facing Willow. "Do you know how beautiful you look upside down?" he asked, slipping back into the roguish charm of his youth.
Of course, that particular statement seemed to further fuel Willow's increasing enjoyment with the ongoing battle of wits. Angel suddenly felt the world go out of proportion as he was spun into dizziness.
Finally everything finally stilled. "Oh, Willow," he called, still not giving in to her tactics, "you're not playing by the rules."
"Who says I have to?" she grinned impishly, "I can make my own rules." As her arms raised for yet another show of her abilities, Angel figured it was time to cut his losses, "Would it please my lady if I opted for surrender?" he asked, attempting to raise his arms despite his somewhat awkward position.
"Already?" Willow replied, silently reveling in her latest victory, "I suppose." As she let out an exaggerated sigh, the young witch lowered her arms, simultaneously bringing Angel into solid contact with the ground.
"You sure know how to spoil a girl's fun," Willow told him.
"No," Angel said, "I just know when I'm beat. But I can be fun if you want me to."
Willow's heart beat accelerated at the suggestive tone in his voice, but she tried to convince herself that it was nothing, that she was just imagining things.
Angel nearly died from embarrassment after he said those words. He began harshly berating himself mentally for slipping. He knew that it was impossible for someone as beautiful and wonderful and caring as Willow to ever love a monster like him.
"Ahem," Willow's voice broke the sudden uneasy silence that threatened to fill the room and spoil the moment. And things were going so well.
"Willow, I-" Angel began. He was cut off, though, as a wild flash of searing pain shot through his body. He gasped for unnecessary breath as he tried to keep the pain from filling his entire being. He felt as if he was being torn in half. Light began dancing in front of his eyes and he reached out for Willow's hand, seeking some kind of comfort or escape.
He felt it as Willow grabbed onto his hand, her voice frantic as she tried to discern what was wrong. Angel felt some of the pain release as her hand squeezed his, but it was too little too late, as the vampire slipped into darkness.
Willow's heart constricted tightly in her chest as she saw the glazed look in her friend's eyes, and watched helplessly as he slipped into unconsciousness.
"Angel!"
End Part 3
"Angel!" Willow yelled, trying to wake the unconscious vampire. She splashed more water into his face in hopes of reviving him, this time receiving the desired results. The vampire stirred.
Willow breathed a sigh of relief as she saw Angel's eyes slowly open and begin to focus. "What happened?" he asked, bewildered.
"Why don't you tell me?" Willow asked, "one minute you're fine, the next, you've landed face-down on the floor, completely out."
"I remember getting really dizzy, then seeing a dragon right in front of me."
"A dragon? Here? You were definitely hallucinating."
"No," Angel clarified, "not here in this room, but with my second sight."
Willow nodded her head in understanding. When she began delving into different Magicks, she had to learn to use and control her second sight. It was difficult to explain, but it was necessary to have. Once a person has conjured up and has in his control a certain amount of energy, they must be able to use their second sight to literally see the energy flowing around them in order to harness it effectively. The second sight is also what enables certain receptive people to have premonitions. They see what is going to happen either with their eyes closed, as in a dream, or in their mind, behind the physical vision, as in a daydream.
"What happened after you saw the dragon?" Willow asked, concerned.
"I woke up," Angel answered truthfully.
"I don't like this," Willow told him, "maybe we should go see Giles. What with the impending prophecy, this may be something important. Unless, of course, you go around seeing dragons all the time."
Angel grinned at Willow's attempt at humor. She always did know how to lighten a situation. Angel nodded his head in response to Willow's former statement and said, "I agree, we should go see Giles."
Willow helped Angel off the floor and the two of them headed to the library.
***
"Giles?" Willow called out as she pushed the library doors open, "you here?" It seemed to her a rather pointless question considering the fact that Giles was always at the library.
As Willow and Angel entered into the library, they were surprised to find that everyone else was there as well: Giles, Jenny, Buffy, and Xander.
"What's going on here?" Angel asked, wondering why everyone was assembled here.
"We were invited," Buffy stated, holding up a small white card, "welcome to the party."
"Invited by who?" Willow asked, taking the card from her friend's hand. At closer inspection, she saw that it was a thicker card made out of a material she wasn't familiar with. It wasn't paper, it wasn't an index card, and it wasn't cardboard or tagboard or posterboard. It was soft, almost as if it was woven together by hand, but sturdy. On it was one printed--or sown--in letters of script gold, one simple word: Library.
"We all got one," Xander said, noticing the perplexed look on his friend's face, "for a second, I thought it was an invitation to a real party, but I guess I'm just not that lucky."
"So the million dollar question is," Jenny interrupted, "who sent the cards?"
"I assume by the expressions on your faces that you two didn't receive one?" Giles asked.
Angel and Willow looked at each other a moment, then shook their heads. "Actually, we ended up here for a different reason," Angel began, "I sort of saw this dragon, then blacked out." He decided not to go into the non-existent details.
"I see," Giles said, obviously as baffled by that bit of news as Angel and Willow were. "What sort of dragon?" Giles wanted to get as much information as he could. It may have been some sort of a sign.
"Well, it was pretty big, almost…flowing. Like it was a crest on a flag that was being blown by the wind. Only there wasn't a flag. And the dragon was red."
"A red dragon?" Giles asked, an idea creeping into his mind. But of course it couldn't be relevant. Could it?
"Giles?" Buffy asked, standing up as she recognized the look on her Watcher's face. He was pondering something. "What are you thinking it was?"
Giles was startled out of his thoughts by his slayer's question, then began to explain the direction of his thoughts. "Well, legend has it that the crest on the flag of the Penndragons was a red dragon."
Xander let out a low whistle at the news, but remained quiet. No one in the room was sure what to say next. It obviously meant something big, but they had no idea what.
In that instant, the library doors swung open to reveal a woman surrounded by a golden light standing in the opening.
"I see you have received my invitations."
End Part 4
A collective intake of breath could be heard as the occupants of the Sunnydale High School Library got their first good look at the figure standing in the doorway. She was utterly radiant.
She stood perhaps 5 feet tall, but her stance and posture and the pure grace that radiated from her made her seem several inches taller. She was indeed an imposing figure. The woman was clothed in a dark robe, of the richest blue color, and she had atop her forehead a crescent moon, which seemed to shine in the dim lighting of the library. Her long, dark, hair came down in waves around her shoulders and she smiled a purely captivating smile.
"I've died and gone to heaven," Xander murmured underneath his breath. The woman looked in his direction and grinned slightly, saying, "Not quite yet, my child."
As she neared the residents of the library, it seemed to everyone that she was almost gliding on the air, her feet not touching the ground.
"I apologize for the sudden entrance," she continued, trying to put the Warriors at ease, "allow me to introduce myself. I am Morgan le Fay, High Priestess of the Holy Isle of Avalon."
"Moran le Fay?" Giles breathed in utter astonishment, "it's impossible…"
"Nothing is impossible, Rupert," Morgan spoke, "but we have not time for minor chatter. I came here for a reason, which must take precedence."
"The prophecy?" Willow asked, entranced by the sheer power that radiated off of this being.
"Yes," Morgan responded, turning her gaze to the young witch that stood before her, "I sent your friends their invitations just as the Paladin received his vision. It is time."
"Paladin? You mean Angel?" Buffy asked. Morgan nodded her head in confirmation, "And now the time has come to for you to assume your rightful roles, beginning with you, Janna."
Jenny's eyes widened in shock as the High Priestess turned to rest her gaze upon the tribeswoman. She had heard stories as a child about Morgan le Fay, none of which coincided with the current legends of King Arthur. She was a being of immense power, half mortal, half fae, but wholly servant to the Goddess.
"Your role in this is minor, yet pivotal," Morgan informed her, "you are to teach the Warriors the lessons they must know and understand in order to complete their mission."
"But…I've never…I mean-"
"I understand your confusion. You've heard many of these teachings as a child, many in lives past, and many lay residing in the depths of your mind. You must bring them to the surface, explore them, understand them, and help your charges. I am here only to direct to the Warriors the paths they must take. You must help them continue down the paths, and ensure they do not stray. It will not be easy, and there will be times when no interference will be allowed, as they must discover things on their own, but you are their guide."
"I understand," Jenny said, looking directly into the priestess' eyes, the ancient teachings already beginning their emergence. Knowledge that should not be known. But this was her destiny. She could feel it flowing within her veins-it called to her. It felt right. But she was afraid.
"Good," Morgan smiled, "and now I bless thee." She stepped forth and stood mere inches from Jenny, holding her arms open, as a mother beckoning her child, offering comfort. Jenny stepped into the warm embrace, feeling at once at peace. Morgan placed a soft kiss on the brow of the Guide, and stepped away to gaze at the crescent moon now shinning on Jenny's forehead. The Goddess had blessed her, and claimed her a Child. Morgan smiled.
Jenny stepped back, knowing her path had been laid, and waited in silence for Morgan to light the paths of the others. Suddenly, she could see things clearly, and knew as did Morgan, the paths that had been selected for the others. Jenny smiled, knowing they had been well chosen.
"Alexander," Morgan stated, stepping toward the youth. "Upon you has been bestowed the path of the Ninja."
"Ninja? As in black clothing, big swords, warrior of the night?" Xander wondered, liking this path.
"Two out of three isn't bad," Morgan smiled at him, "you have a child's heart, and the countenance of a fool, but I sense within you courage and bravery as has yet to be shown to the world."
"Um…thanks?" Xander said, not sure if her statement was a compliment or insult. She didn't clarify. She only placed her hand over his collarbone and spoke a few words of blessing. When she removed her hand, there remained in its place a crescent moon, glimmering, comforting. Another Child had been claimed.
Xander couldn't explain the feeling, but he liked it nonetheless. It was peaceful, strong, and almost childish in a way, and had such clarity. He looked up to see that Morgan had moved on to Giles, and knew, as did Jenny, what Giles' path was to be.
"Rupert," the Fae spoke to the astounded Watcher, "I assume a part of you already knows which path you were selected for. As a youngster, you dabbled, but were consumed by the darkness, the thirst for power."
"Ripper," Giles stated, once again feeling the flush of embarrassment. He would never forget who he was, nor what he had done.
"Do not be ashamed, Rupert," the kind voice spoke to him, "you were young, and foolhardy. But it was always for the best. Do you truly think that had you not been who you were, you would ever be who you are?"
Giles had never thought about it from that perspective. "So I am to be a Magick user?" he asked.
"Of sorts," Morgan replied, "you will follow the path of the Black Wizard and Caller."
Giles nodded his head in understanding. It did make sense. After all, he was already familiar with the art of Summoning. Had they not called forth Eyegon as children? He took a sharp intake of breath as the delicate hand of Arthur's sister rested itself upon his collarbone, leaving behind the famed crescent moon and a flood of new sensations. He finally felt the presence of the Entity for whom he and his Slayer had fought so hard for, and simply smiled. He had been blessed.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy gulped in anticipation as the priestess came to stand in front of her. "Slayer," she spoke, her voice filled with a motherly softness, "I will never understand why the Fates choose them so young."
For the first time in Buffy's life, she was speechless. She had no witty comment to make to this all-knowing being. Morgan continued, "I can see you have suffered much. More than any child should. And you fear your death."
"You can see all of that?" Buffy asked, stunned at her accuracy.
"That and much more," Morgan responded, "but you have no reason to fear. You are one of the most powerful Slayers I have witnessed in my existence, and the Goddess knows this. She did well in selecting you. Know that when the time comes for you to leave this mortal plane, your mission will have been finished, and you will be free to rest in the arms of the Goddess…at least until you are called again."
"You mean I have to do this all over again?" Buffy asked, not sure if she was willing to spend another lifetime as a Slayer.
Morgan smiled at the look upon the Slayer's face and spoke, "Not necessarily as a Slayer. Every mortal is set upon this earth for a reason. They have a purpose. Sometimes it is completed in one lifetime, sometimes it takes more than one."
"Oh," was all Buffy could say.
"Your path is that of the Dragoon…a fearless warrior with the bravest of hearts and the purest of souls. I see that within you now. Your path will be clearer than most others, as you have walked it in darkness for the past four years. Now it is lighted, and has a more direct purpose."
Buffy wasn't sure exactly what she was talking about, but her words rang with the clarity of Truth. The path of the Dragoon and the path of the Slayer were not much different. She stepped into the outstretched arms of the High Priestess, and felt the gentle kiss on her forehead. She knew the crescent now shone in that very spot, and she felt comforted. She was being guarded and loved, and some of the ache and the suffering had finally been lifted off of her heart. She wasn't alone, and she never would be again.
"Willow," Morgan spoke next, her gaze turning to the young, yet powerful, witch, "your soul glows of innocence and purity. It is captivating and rich and will aid you throughout your life. You are a healer, natural born. Upon you lies the path of the White Wizard."
"A Healer?" Willow asked.
"Yes," Morgan replied, "suited well, perhaps, for your natural instinct to help people. It is strong in you." Willow just smiled. "You have within you a power rarely found in this plane," Morgan continued, "it is strong, and will need guidance. I sense within you the potential to become perhaps the strongest witch ever born. Maybe someday, you will join me in Avalon as my pupil."
"Avalon? Really?" Willow asked, her curiosity taking over, "it must be beautiful there."
"It is," Morgan replied, "and I have a feeling you will see it someday. But for now, you have a mission to complete." She enveloped Willow in her arms and the crescent moon took its place on the witch's forehead.
Willow couldn't help but feel excited. She felt the moon on her forehead, and was bombarded by the power it gave her. She could feel it in her blood, building. And she felt something else, too. It was glorious. It was as if she was still in the arms of the priestess, but she wasn't. She was in the arms of the Goddess. And she always would be. She was protected, blessed, and needed. She would not fail. The Goddess she had served for so long was with her now, and she was strong. Willow sighed.
"And you, Paladin," Morgan spoke, turning to the remaining person in the room, "you have known your path since you first read the Legend."
Angel nodded his head, saying nothing. How could he possibly become a Paladin, a warrior of the Light, with a demon residing in his body, constantly battling for power against his soul, at points almost winning?
Morgan sensed the direction of his thoughts and ached to comfort him as she had the others, but the Paladin must achieve peace on his own. He must confront and defeat his Darkness on his own if he is to truly become a servant of the Light.
"You have within you," Morgan began, choosing her words carefully, "both the Darkness and the Light. But the two are constantly struggling inside of you. Only one must be the victor. The Paladin can have no Darkness within his heart. He must be surrounded only by the Light, or he will fail. If even a hint of the Dark creeps into his heart and influences his actions, he will fall into eternal Darkness. It is a difficult path."
Angel knew what was expected of him, but he didn't know if he could live up to it. "I can't fight the demon," he argued.
"You can," Morgan stated matter-of-factly, "and you will. The time for the last confrontation has arrived. You can delay it no longer. You can live in guilt no longer. The Light must win the battle within you. If it doesn't, all hope is lost, and the battle will end before it ever begins."
"How can you possibly ask me to fight a demon that has been a part of me so long? To kill and vanquish a part of me that has existed for over two centuries?" Angel asked, feeling the anger and hopelessness fill his voice.
"I never said you had to kill the demon," Morgan told the tortured vampire, "you can never kill the demon. If the demon dies, you die. It is a part of you, as Evil is a part of all mortals. But you must defeat it, you must bind it, and keep it from manifesting itself in your actions. You must not let it control your thoughts or feelings, either. You must suppress it and keep it from influencing you. The guilt you carry with you feeds the demon, makes him strong. If you carry guilt for its actions, the Darkness will continue to hold you. You must free yourself."
"How can I do that?" Angel asked, desperately wanting to rid himself of his guilt, bind the demon, become a warrior of the Light.
"You must confront him, face to face," Morgan spoke the words slowly, letting them sink in. She then raised her arms and, before the gazes of everyone in the library, conjured up a full-length mirror, which stood directly in front of Angel. Only this time, the mirror had a reflection. Not of Angel, but of Angelus, the demon, wearing his game face.
"What the…?!" Angel wondered, completely confused.
As everyone looked on, the figure in the mirror stepped out and stood face to face with Angel. The time had come for the final battle between Angel and Angelus, and the two forms, finally separated, squared off.
End Part 5
"Oh my gosh," Willow breathed as she stared at the sight before her. Angel and Angelus in the same room, about to fight it out. For all the confidence she had in Angel's abilities, she had no idea how this would play out. All she could do was stand back like everyone else and watch.
"Well," Angelus spoke, circling Angel, "if it isn't the little wimp. You do know you're gonna lose, don't you?" he asked, right before he lunged at Angel.
Angel threw up his arms in a successful effort to block the blow. He countered with two solid punches to Angelus' stomach. Angelus grunted and stepped back a moment, but returned full force. He faked an attack to Angel's head, but then went in low and landed a solid punch to Angel's chest, following up with an uppercut to his chin, then finishing with a hook kick to his head.
Angel was thrown back into one of the tables, and he felt the anger build up inside of him. There was no way he was going to lose to this demon that had caused him so much agony. He lunged at Angelus, but was too slow. Angelus smoothly stepped out of the way, grabbed Angel from behind as he flew by, and threw him roughly into a bookcase which toppled on top of him.
"Give it up, Angel," he taunted, "you're no match for me. You should know by now that you'll never win. You're weak. And the Light you fight for doesn't even exist. There is only Darkness."
Angelus' statement had the desired effect as it threw Angel into a rage. He felt the desire within him to tear Angelus limb from limb, and he knew he would enjoy doing it, too. Once more, Angel went on the offensive. He began with a sidekick that landed nicely across the side of Angelus' head, but when he tried to follow with a reverse punch to his nose, Angelus grabbed his hand and roughly pulled on it, causing Angel to lose his balance and stumble forward. As Angel flailed to regain his balance, Angelus delivered a powerful blow to a spot underneath Angel's arm, causing him to grimace in pain.
Morgan watched on in concentration as she saw what was happening. She wanted to interfere, but knew she was forbidden from doing so. He must discover the key for himself.
"What's the matter, Angel?" Angelus goaded, "tiring already? I'm just getting warmed up." He rushed in suddenly and delivered a series of lightening-quick punches to Angel's face, then a roundhouse to his chest, and ending with a spinning back kick to his jaw. "Had enough already?"
Angel didn't know what was going on. He stepped back to catch his breath and waited a while for the pain to numb. Angel wondered to himself what was happening. His attacks weren't working and he was being beaten into a bloody pulp. He felt his hatred flare again, and prepared to lunge when Angelus spoke, "That's it, Angel. Feel the hate. Feel the anger. Feel the guilt. And die."
Suddenly it hit Angel. His anger. His hatred. His guilt. It was feeding the demon, making it strong. Making him weak. He had to let it go. He had to fight without it if he wanted to win. He had to replace it with something else. But what?
Angel looked over at the concerned faces of his friends, the people who were counting on him to win. The people who needed him. His eyes finally met those of Willow, the woman he loved with a passion, but was too afraid to admit it. If he lost, he would never get the chance, and the demon would destroy her, too. He thought of the world losing such innocence and purity, he thought of him losing her, he thought of his love for her, and it made him strong. His love for Willow made him strong.
Angel grasped that love like a lifeline. He needed it to survive. He let the love for Willow and his friends wash over him, through him, fill him. He let the love drive out all of the hatred, the anger, and the guilt. He looked at Angelus, staring smugly at him, arms crossed over his chest, and he felt nothing. The demon was not him. The demon would control him no longer. He didn't need the guilt. He had found a weapon that was much stronger. And, wielding this weapon, this love, for all it was worth, Angel entered once more into the battle.
Angelus was completely unprepared for the serenity in Angel's soul. It caught him off guard as Angel pummeled into him, punching and kicking, biting and slashing, winning. Angelus howled in hatred, letting it wash over him, and returned the blows. He lashed out with a sidekick, only to have Angel duck and return with a backfist strike to his nose. Angelus reeled back from the pain, but tried again with an uppercut to Angel's chin.
Once again, Angel dodged and caught his arm, twisting it so that it broke. He then dropped the arm and flew in with three successive punches to the demon's gut, one to the face, a roundhouse to his chest, a hook kick to the side of his head, a spinning back kick which landed in the exact same spot, and finally a knife-hand blow to the pressure point just below the neck.
Angelus couldn't believe he had lost. He growled one final time before his mind entered oblivion.
Angel stood panting, still feeling the love, but this time mixed with the joy of victory. He felt Morgan step next to him, and he could see the smile that sparkled in her eyes. She was proud. He looked down and Morgan's outstretched hand and saw the stake that lay there.
"You said…" Angel began in confusion.
"He will not die in the sense of being gone from your soul, but you can't very well leave his body lying around, now can you?" Morgan chided, "it will be symbolic of your final binding of the demon."
Angel nodded his head, grasped the stake, and with a great effort, plunged it into the heart of the demon, watching as it turned to dust. He was finally free.
Morgan smiled in relief, and turned Angel around to face her. "You have done well, Paladin. You have discovered the key of the Light. And with it, the Goddess bestows her blessings." Morgan again placed her hand over the collarbone of the Paladin, and in it's place lay the crescent moon, shinning along with the other five that were just like it in the room.
"I have a gift to present to you, Paladin," Morgan said, extending her hand to begin another conjuring spell. Only this time, there appeared in her hand the most beautiful sword Angel had ever seen. It shone with a light he could not identify, perhaps it came from within itself, and the blade gleamed with a deadly brilliance. The hilt was made of gold, and encrusted with the most beautiful jewels: a mixture of diamond, emerald, and ruby.
"I present to you," Morgan stated with a new authority in her voice, "the legendary sword, Excalibur."
Angel was speechless. Excalibur. His. He looked up into the eyes of the woman before him, but was unable to ask the question on his mind. He didn't have to. "Yes," Morgan spoke, "it is yours, ready to fight alongside you in your battle. Use it well, and I will return to claim it after your victory."
With tentative fingers, Angel reached out to grasp the magnificent sword, and as he held it in his hands, he felt a presence, almost as if the sword has a spirit of its own. He spoke, "Thank you, Lady. It does me great honor to serve the Light, and I will not fail." He bowed low for a moment, then raised himself up to meet Morgan's gaze. He would be ready.
"You all must now train for the mission which lies ahead," Morgan spoke, addressing everyone in the room, "it will not be easy, and it will take time and determination. But it can be done. I leave you now in the hands of your guide."
"Will we ever see you again?" Willow asked.
"Perhaps, perhaps not. Only time will tell," Morgan answered, being intentionally vague, "Now, go ye forth into battle, my children, and emerge victorious!" And in a blinding flash of light, Morgan le Fay was gone.
End Part 6
One Month Later…
Jenny couldn't help but feel proud at the progress everyone had been making. It had been a month since Morgan le Fay appeared in the library to set everyone on their paths, and since that time, there has been nothing but constant growth.
It was strange thinking about how much everyone had changed, and yet had stayed the same. There were so many new qualities being brought to the front in the youngsters, even Rupert, but the old qualities, the ones that had appealed to all of them in the beginning, still shone as bright as ever.
Each of the five warriors had spent the last month training vigorously for the upcoming battle, learning all they could, becoming familiar with their new abilities. Not to mention the fact that school was finally coming to a close as well. To be more precise, it was exactly a month and a half until graduation. Assuming, of course, that the six of them made it that far.
No one still had any idea what the upcoming battle would entail. For all the insight Jenny had been blessed with, some things were still hazy for her. She did know, however, that the time for the battle was approaching. And she had done all she could, taught as well as she could.
Rupert, who had been set upon the path of the Black Wizard and Caller, had perfectly mastered his abilities, but then again, there was never any doubt that he would. He had gone on difficult spiritual missions to gain alliances with such Guardians as Bahamut, Ifrit, Shiva, Indra, and Leviatan, all of whom were ready to be called in the time of battle, as they had been 2500 years ago, when the previous Warriors had fought the Evil.
Aside from developing his magical abilities, Rupert perfected his fighting techniques with weapons such as rods, staffs, daggers, and even bows and arrows. The weapons of modern man, as they were disappointed to discover, had no effect on the Ancient Evils. They were immune.
It was, however, Xander that had surprised her the most. He was truly a formidable fighter when he put his mind to it. And the constant jokes he makes in the guise of a fool would inevitably serve in his favor by throwing his opponent off. Who would expect a fool to be able to fight? But Xander was certainly no fool. He had mastered the path of Ninja almost with perfection. A few areas were still difficult for him to grasp, but he was still, in most ways, a child, as were the others.
Xander's assortments of weapons were none other than the traditional Ninja weapons: the short, middle, and longs swords, and as of recently, the two legendary swords, the Murasame and the Masamune, both gifts from the Guardians. He had learned to use all of them well, along with the basic Ninja magicks, most of which were mere illusions.
Then there was the Slayer, Buffy. She had progressed well, though with no magical abilities. The Dragoon needed no Magick to battle the Evil. Her weapon was her own power and strength, physical as well as mental, and she used the air as her companion. She carried with her a spear, along with the Slayer's tools of stakes, crossbows and the like, though she would not need them for this battle.
Buffy had truly changed this past month. She was always social and friendly, but there was always inside of her a feeling of loneliness, a wild and desperate need to belong, to be normal. She clutched to the dream of one day being normal almost as a lifeline, but in the past month, Jenny had noticed that she had released her grip, to float freely in the deep ocean that was Life. She no longer had within her the ache of loneliness, but Jenny couldn't explain where it had gone. She only thanked the Goddess that it had gone.
Willow. Her and Rupert's protégé. The White Wizard. Willow had within her a true power few people would ever witness, and Morgan had been right: she would grow to become even more powerful, both in ability, and in spirit. She had trained hard this past month, as weaponry had never been her specialty. But the healing ability, that was as natural to her as breathing. She mastered that in only a few days.
Though Willow still had much to learn in the art of fighting, she had come a long way, and there was no doubt she could hold her own when the time for battle came. She had trained hard with the bow and arrow, and became an excellent markswoman. She never missed her target. She also trained with Rupert, learning to fight with the rod and staff, and had become proficient in those areas as well. But again, there was never any doubt.
Then there was Angel, the Paladin. Warrior of the Light. He had, without a doubt, the most difficult path to follow, as he was expected to never waver from it, and yet it was gray as mist. There were times when his path baffled even herself, but Jenny was determined to direct him as best she could. He had done well. The fight with Angelus a month ago had done him well. He was finally able to put that part of his life behind him and move forward. Move forward into a possibly non-existent future. But Jenny didn't want to dwell on that.
Angel had proven himself an expert with the sword, and Excalibur never left his side. He also studied with Willow to learn a few of the basic healing spells, as those were things a Paladin must know, if the time ever came.
Jenny had also noticed, in the times she had spent with the two of them, that a bond other than friendship had developed, though she doubted that either of them had admitted their feelings. Angel and Willow were both, in many ways, too fragile and afraid to take the chance of being rejected. Though they deserved the chance to be together, Jenny knew that their top priority was to be prepared for the battle, and it killed her to think about the fact that they may never get the chance to tell each other how they feel, if things didn't go well.
Again, Jenny shrugged the doubt aside. They would succeed. They had to. There was no other choice. They would do what they had to do. And now she would do what she had to do. Jenny could feel the evil energy gathering, and knew that Zemus was awakening. Her role was now finished. She had done all she could do, and now she could only hope that things went well. It was time to step aside and let the Warriors complete their mission.
Rising to her feet and calling the attention of everyone in the room, Jenny spoke the scariest words she had ever known in her entire life, "It is time."
End Part 7
"I can't believe we're actually on our way to the moon!" Willow cried in awe and disbelief.
Angel looked over at her from the control seat and grinned in agreement. Of all the possibilities, this was certainly not one of them. He, Willow, Buffy, Xander, and Giles were all on board a ship called the "Big Whale," a ship that was now in flight to the moon.
None of them could believe it when Jenny told them that they had to go to the moon in order to stop Zemus. It was generally accepted that the demon would arise in Sunnydale. Now here they were, sitting aboard a legendary ship that had stayed dormant beneath the oceans for nearly 2500 years, and on their way to the moon. Thankfully, the ship didn't travel through the Physical Plane, but rather through the Astral Plane; that way, it didn't emit any type of signal for the satellites to catch. They certainly would have a lot of explaining to do if someone associated with the U.S government-or, more importantly, the Defense branch of the U.S government-suddenly noticed a renegade ship heading for the moon.
Since the ship was perfectly capable of taking itself to the moon, he and Willow decided to just sit back and watch the view from the control room.
"I've never even thought it was possible to travel by machine through the Astral Plane," Willow mused. The vampire next to her heard her comment and admitted, "I wasn't even aware there was an Astral Plane until yesterday."
Willow rolled her eyes in amusement and muttered, "Geez, after two and a half centuries you'd expect an immortal to have learned something."
"Watch it," Angel warned her darkly.
"Or what?" Willow countered.
"Or-" Angel was cut off as he noticed that they were ready to land. He took control of the ship as Willow searched for a flat area to land. "There!" she pointed to an elevated spot just below them.
After a few moments of circling and fidgeting with the controls, the two of them finally figured out how the landing gear worked, and they completed a safe landing.
"All ready?" Angel asked, as he and Willow emerged from the control room. Xander, Buffy, and Giles were already standing and Buffy replied, "About as ready as we'll ever be. C'mon."
The five Warriors exited the ship and looked around, none of them sure whether or not it was safe to return to the Physical Plane. They decided against it.
"And where exactly were we supposed to go?" Xander asked.
"Well, it never specified…" Giles expressed his confusion as well.
"Oh, that's just great!" Xander muttered sarcastically.
"Hey, look!" Buffy yelled and pointed to two figures approaching from the distance, "I wonder who they are?"
"Obviously someone we're supposed to meet, considering the fact that we're still in the Astral Plane," Willow responded.
As the figures approached, the group could begin to make out the physical characteristics of the two men. One was a rather aged man with a long white beard, short, dressed in a light blue garment, and carrying a walking stick. The other was significantly taller, but shrouded by his dark blue and gold garment.
"Welcome to our home," the older one spoke, as they neared. Coming to a stop in front of the Warriors, he continued, "I am FuSoYa, Guardian of the Lunarians' slumber. This is my companion, Golbez."
"Lunarians?" Buffy wondered aloud.
"Yes," FuSoYa answered, "Millennia ago, the planet between Mars and Jupiter was about to be shattered. The people who survived this calamity escaped by ships and headed to the Blue Planet."
"The Blue Planet?" Xander wondered.
"Your land, Earth. However, the people of your planet were still in the process of evolution, and we did not want to disrupt the natural course that the Higher Beings had set for your planet. Thus we created the Moon and kept sleeping beneath the surface. Now that Zemus is arising again, your help was needed, and you were called here, thus awakening me from my slumber."
"I guess it's a good thing your people don't venture out onto the surface all that often," Xander quipped, "or you'd have been hauled back to Earth years ago as aliens."
"I suppose," Golbez answered, "But when we do emerge to the surface it is through the Astral Plane. The men who have ventured here in the past years have none of the abilities to see into the parallel planes that surround the Physical."
"So, you're a race of wizards?" Giles asked.
"Though we prefer not to use our Gifts very often," FuSoYa clarified, "we are a peace loving people. But the very nature of Magick allows it to be used both for the Light and for the Darkness. We prefer not to have our people tempted by such an alluring power. But enough of this talk, we are running short in time. I will lead you to the entrance of Zemus' cave. From there, I'm afraid, you are on your own."
"If your people are wizards, though," Willow asked the man, "why haven't you tried to stop Zemus?"
"We have, child," FuSoYa answered, "both myself and my companion, who was raised on the Blue Planet, during the time of the Ancient Warriors, but we failed. The Darkness can only be battled by those who have been properly trained to wield the Light. Come, I will show you to the cave."
***
When they emerged in the Underground, the home of the Lunarians, the group returned to the Physical Plane, where they were able to see the underground lairs with more clarity. Though the Astral Plane exists parallel to the Physical Plane, it is encased in mist, since it is only a temporary reflection of the Physical Plane.
FuSoYa and Golbez led the Warriors inside what seemed like a crystal palace. They walked past the throne room, into a room sealed off in the back. Inside this room were eight crystals, arranged in a large circle, and in the middle was a large pedestal of sorts. Willow, who was sensitive to Magick even before the prophecy began, immediately sensed the power radiating off of the crystals and the pedestal.
"Here is where you will enter the cave of Zemus," Golbez told them, "now take this."
He handed Angel a crystal about the size of his hand. "What is this?" Angel asked.
"This is the Crystal of Light," Golbez told him, "you will need it to weaken Zemus. Use it with only the purest of the Light inside of you, or it will not have any effect. The Dark only will only strengthen Zemus."
Angel nodded his head in understanding and pocketed the crystal. "Now," FuSoYa told them, "if you all will gather on the pedestal, the Crystals of the Moon will send you where you need to go."
Not sure what was going to happen, but too in awe to ask, the five did as they were told and stepped onto the pedestal. The light in the room began to grow tremendously, brighter and brighter, until it blinded the Warriors. When they could finally see again, they were in a small cave in a strange place.
Angel exited the cave and saw a doorway in the distance. "I'm guessing that's the way to Zemus," he told the others, who had just joined him, "no point in heading for the battle right now. I say we rest."
"I agree," Giles said.
They all returned to the relative safety of the cave, each one wondering whether or not they would ever return home.
Willow thought about all the dreams she had, and wondered whether or not they would ever happen. She thought about all the plans she had laid out for herself over the years, all the goals she had yet to reach. But in a strange way, she felt like she had already achieved the basis for the goals she was supposed to reach.
Angel noticed Willow standing quietly by herself, and felt a pang of regret that they may never get the chance to be together. She would never have even known that he loved her. Angel decided he couldn't let that happen. He had to tell her, and the time was now.
Willow turned at the sound of Angel's voice. "Hey," she said quietly in response to his greeting.
"Mind if we step outside for a second?" he asked. Willow nodded her head and wondered to herself about the fact that she may never get the chance to tell Angel how she felt about him. But she had to, and it was now or never.
As they stepped away from the cave, Angel spoke, "We need to talk…I have something important I want to say to you."
"I have something I want to say to you, too," Willow responded.
And so they stood, looking into each other's eyes, each wondering where to begin.
End Part 8
"Willow--"
"Angel--" the words were spoken simultaneously. Willow blushed and said, "You go first."
"No, you go first," Angel told her.
Willow smiled for a moment, trying desperately to calm the nerves that were wracking her body. She opened her mouth only to realize how erratic her breathing was, then promptly shut it, unsuccessfully trying to return to homeostasis. Finally she decided the best course would be to just plunge into it. "Angel," she began, "I've wanted to tell you this for a long time, but I guess I never really had the guts."
"Yes?" Angel asked, feeling something build up inside of him that he hadn't felt for a long time. He stepped closer to Willow until there was barely any room between the two of them, and took her hands in his own.
Willow felt an electric current run through her at his proximity, then continued, "Like I said, I've wanted to say this for awhile. So, here goes--"
"Hey!" Xander said, coming up behind the flustered couple, "here you guys are-we were wondering where you ran off to. What, are you too in the middle of some liaison or something?"
Upon seeing the expressions on his friends' faces, Xander immediately asked if he'd said something wrong. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" he asked. He had always known that the two of them had it bad for each other, hell everyone knew, but if they were actually about to spill the beans, and then he came barging along…
"You know, I think I'll just be on my merry way," Xander continued, feeling more like the fool each passing minute, "and leave you two to finish talking about whatever it was you were talking about."
Xander didn't even wait for a response as he turned and hurried away from the couple, ducking his head in embarrassment. "Whew!" he muttered to himself when he was sure he was out of the hearing range of even Angel.
Willow laughed nervously at Angel once Xander had gone, then said, "So where was I?"
"You were saying that you had wanted to tell me something for a long time," Angel prompted her, a hopeful note in his voice. This could very well turn out to be the best day of his undead life.
"Right," Willow said. And as soon as she said the word, she knew she wouldn't tell him. "I just wanted to say that I think you're one of the best friends I've ever had, and that I care about you, and that I hope we all get through this intact," she finished with a smile.
Angel's heart plummeted so fast he thought he heard it as it hit the floor. Friends. She thought of him as a friend.
"So what was it that you wanted to say?" Willow asked him hurriedly, ashamed at her own weakness.
"Oh," Angel was startled back into the present, "just that you're a great friend, too."
"Oh," Willow said, breathing a sigh of relief that she hadn't said anything, considering that was how he felt. But the relief was quickly overpowered by sadness. Sadness that he didn't feel for her the way she felt for him. But who was she kidding, anyway? It's not like she was all that special anyhow.
"Well," she spoke up, "I guess we should get back inside now."
"Yeah," Angel agreed.
The couple returned to the cave to find that a meal had been prepared, as well as a campfire, and that some sleeping bags had been arranged.
"We've decided that it would be best to rest the night, then confront Zemus in the morning," Giles told the two.
"Good idea," Angel said, heading for the sleeping bag farthest from the fire. He didn't want to take any chances.
"So we'll rest up and head out first thing in the morning. Any questions?" Buffy asked, emerging with a bowl of something Willow couldn't identify, but smelled good nonetheless.
Everyone nodded in agreement, then took to their own affairs.
***
The following day proved to hold more anxiety than anyone had anticipated. Any sound, any movement caused everyone to jump. Nerves and adrenaline mixed in an odd combination as the Warriors prepared their weapons for battle.
When all was ready, Buffy, falling almost instantly into her Slayer role, led the others out of the cave and up to the entrance into Zemus' lair.
"All ready?" she asked, turning around and surveying the expressions on the faces of her dearest companions.
"Let's do it," Xander said.
Everyone nodded in agreement and headed into the lair, finding it unexpectedly well lit. The light proved to be coming from a large fire roaring below a pitfall at the other end of the lair.
Willow was immediately bombarded my the stench of Evil, and spoke, "I don't like this. We're approaching him at full power…"
"There isn't any other way to approach him," Angel reminded her.
When the Warriors reached the edge of the pitfall, they heard a loud rumbling that grew constantly in sound. Finally, a large figure emerged from the depths, and the Warriors beheld the most hideous sight they had ever seen. This was the taint of Evil. No, this *was* Evil.
"Warriors," the Darkness rumbled, "at last you have come. But it is no use. You will suffer and perish. My Hatred will last until I destroy all. Come, step into my Darkness!"
"The Darkness is no match for the Light!" Angel spoke up, remembering the Crystal of the Light Golbez had given him. He held it up to Zemus, and the five Warriors of the Light concentrated their Wills through the crystal, in an effort to weaken Zemus.
"No!" Zemus yelled, "I will not perish! Not again!"
There was a large blast of light from below, so bright that the Warriors had to shield their eyes. When they were finally able to look again, they saw that where the figure of Zemus once stood, there was nothing.
Angel looked down at the crystal in his hand and saw that the light it had previously glowed with was gone. It would be of no use to them now. He pocketed the crystal once more.
"He's dead?" Xander wondered aloud.
"He can't be…" Giles spoke.
"It was too easy," Willow added.
Suddenly a violent trembling of the ground shook the Warriors off balance.
"Fools!" the Darkness bellowed once more, "You cannot destroy me! I am the Absolute Dark Substance, the product of Zemus' hatred. My name is Zeromus and I am the Hatred!"
"Death only increased Zemus' hatred," Giles told the others frantically.
"Uh-oh," Xander breathed.
"This is definitely not of the good," Buffy agreed.
"Now, perish!" Zeromus yelled.
And so the battle began.
End Part 9