Final Thoughts by Cheri

Chapter 24

 

The thing about truth is it’s not always obvious. Sometimes you have to be willing to suffer the darkness in order to find it’s light.

Fade in Mansion

Angel stands hurriedly looking around.

Connor: Dad?

Angel: Connor.

Xander: Oh good, introductions won’t be necessary. Now where’s Buffy?

Angel: Buffy.

Xander: Yes, cute but deadly, stands about yay high. (He holds his hand up to demonstrate). What happened in the cave? Did she make it or not?

Angel: (Irritated) She made it.

Connor: She’s not evil?

Angel shakes his head and looks past them again.

Angel: Why are we here?

Connor: Ask our fearless leader.

Angel looks from Connor to Xander and back again.

Angel: Excuse me?

Xander: Don’t be so surprised. Ok, be surprised but don’t patronize.

Angel: Xander what the hell is going on?

Xander: I’ve been elected ringleader for this one Angel. Everyone is doing what I told them to do because I’m key guy. Sound familiar?

Angel: Whatever. We have to get out of here. I have to find the others. They have to know.

Connor: Know what?

Angel: It’s Buffy. She’s…

Xander: Oh God, the First got her. You let the First get her.

Angel: I didn’t let anything happen. It was her. She made a choice.

Xander: What choice?

Angel: Let’s get to the others first okay? This isn’t over.

He starts to push past but Xander grabs him by the arm.

Xander: We’ll go when I say. (Angel raises an eyebrow and looks at his arm) I want to know where my friend is.

Angel: (Shakes arm loose and faces off) She quit.

He turns and walks away leaving Xander staring dumbfounded.

 

Cut to Summers Home

Cordelia walks onto the porch and sees the destruction everywhere. Things seem quiet at first when she’s suddenly jumped from behind. Her hands reach out but too late to prevent her from falling inside and her head cracking against an overturned table. She grunts once and reaches up to feel the blood. She turns around and sees the vamp standing over her.

Cordy: I really don’t enjoy bleeding.

Vamp: Here, I can clean that up for you.

He opens his mouth baring his fangs and leans toward her.

Cordy: Has that line ever actually worked for you?

She stands up and puts her hands on her hips.

Cordy: What have you and your friends been doing? Nothing better to do than wreak havoc on a defenseless house?

Vamp: We came to destroy the ones.

Cordy: The whos?

Doyle: That’d be you and your brat pack Cordelia.

Cordy screams slightly and turns to see him walking through the opening.

Cordy: Doyle.

Doyle: Hey doll. Long time no play.

Vamp: Can I kill her now?

Doyle: Shouldn’t you be chasing the girl and her boyfriends?

Vamp: What good will that do me? I’ve been running all over this stupid town for days! I need a decent meal. (leers at Cordy) And I’m thinking she’s…

Doyle: Don’t think you wanna finish that thought Friend. Go now. You don’t want to upset me.

Vamp: (cowering then reluctantly heading out mumbling)

He leaves and Cordy pauses for a moment before smiling.

Cordy: Still the hero I see.

Doyle: Is that what you see?

She stops smiling at the words and gets a chill.

Doyle: Look again Doll.

She closes her eyes and backs up a step. When she opens them it’s Doyle still, but he’s decayed and hideous. And very, very angry. He slips back to normal and she realizes he’s the First.

Doyle: You betrayed everything you were, everything you claimed was a lie. You used me to get closer to him. You lied and cheated and manipulated your way into his heart.

Cordelia: You’re not Doyle.

Doyle: (smiles) Wow that higher being gig really sharpened your senses. Maybe you should have explained to Them that you needed an intellect before they gave you all kinds of power that you know nothing about.

Cordy: More power than you have I’d bet.

Doyle laughs and steps closer.

Doyle: I am power. Take a moment to accept it. (takes a step back and looks at a watch that isn’t there) I can wait.

Cordelia: Where are my friends?

Doyle: Wow. You really are still all up on the Cordelia pedestal aren’t you? They’re not your friends. They only put up with you out of fear of Angel. And he only thinks you’re friends because you’ve managed to do some sort of whacked out mind meld on him. You know what he went through with the girl. His girl. His only true girl.

Cordy’s lip trembles slightly and she clenches her fists.

Cordy: Go away.

Doyle: (mimics) Go away. Go away. Sorry Love, not gonna work here. See, you’ve never come up against anything like me. There’s no answer for what I can do. What I’ve already done.

Cordy: There’s too many of us. We’re not just your average joe-blow do gooders Pal. We’ve got…

Doyle: What? Demons? Vampires? Slayers? A witch? And then there’s you. St Cordelia, higher being. Could They have maybe been less vague? I mean, you light up spontaneously, float occasionally, see visions of badness dancing in your head? But what do you do? Have you any idea of your purpose? Or is it that you’re afraid if you really question it, you’ll finally have to admit you don’t have one. Not then, not now, not ever.

Cordelia almost begins to cry and then seems to think of something. Her face becomes stoic, then angry. She steps forward with her hands on her hips.

Cordy: Listen here you noncorporeal, trash talking, meaningless threat slinging, hateful vessel of evil, I am not going to fall for Psycho analysis courtesy of the dark forces. I do have a purpose and it is first and foremost to kick your ass. Maybe not literally, but if I have to go through every sapless minion you have one by one, I’ll do it. You’re going down do you hear me?

Doyle: The question is do you?

Cordy: Huh?

Doyle disappears and Cordy looks around in confusion. Wesley walks up onto the porch.

Cordy: Where the hell have you been?

 

Cut to Cemetary

The girls leads Buffy up to the headstone.

Buffy: Why are we here?

Girl: It’s where you’ll leave it.

Buffy: Leave what?

Girl: The Slayer.

Buffy: I don’t understand.

Girl: The slayer died to save the world. You were not meant to be back here. If you are to survive, if the First is to be defeated it will only be when the Slayer is back in the ground.

Buffy: But what about me?

Girl: You still think of yourself as the Slayer. It will not be. The power will move on, down the line as it should have so long ago. Your fight will end here…tonight.

Buffy: And what about the rest? Will they still have to fight? Or will it be over for them too?

Girl: The fight is never over Silly.

Buffy: But you said I could save them.

Girl: What you will do is save them today. You will assure the First loses it’s hold on this world. It will go back under, only to begin the task of building power all over. The time will come again, but you will have done your part.

Buffy: So I will fight then?

Girl: (smiles) If that is what you wish.

Buffy: Where are they? Where is everyone?

Girl: If you intercede in the slightest, all will be lost.

Buffy: I won’t. I swear. I just want to see them. I want to see them win. Can’t I at least have that?

Girl: (sighs heavily) Very well. But you’re not going to like it.

 

Cut to College campus

Spike: This is a bloody waste of time. The initiative was buried. We should be looking for Buffy.

Anya: If she can be found Willow will find her. I’d put money on her and Angel going Shakespearean tragedy though.

Spike: Shut up! You have no idea…

Giles: Stop your belly aching Spike! She’s not yours to save.

Spike: Sod off. (beat) We’re not even doing what Willow asked anyway. She said to listen to Xander. Xander said you were supposed to be at the school with Faith.

Giles: And I think Xander would agree that I could be more useful here.

They walk along in silence for a moment before Anya begins to rattle again.

Anya: It’s sweet that Willow wanted to give Xander credit for something, but did she have to pick tonight? And why would he send us here? Some mutant X-man wanna be was constructed by a raving loon of a professor and Buffy kicked it’s butt. Cut and dry, end of story. What does Xander think we would find…

Giles: That’s it!

Spike: (spins defensively) What?

Giles: He said to draw strength from our previous triumphs over evil. All the way back to the First.

Anya: Is this a British thing? Cause I don’t follow.

Giles: Here. This place, we were at the peak of our power. We shared it, we joined. The four of us were one for a time.

Spike: And?

Giles: Before Dawn, before you Spike. Before you Anya. Before it became what it is now. It was these four. Buffy, Willow, Xander and myself. That’s where the first crack in the line happened.

Anya: So it wasn’t my fault for letting them bring her back. It was your fault. The four of you. This is oddly calming. I feel relief now.

Spike: Splendid.

Giles: We must go back. We must find them all.

Spike: Thank you! This is what I’ve been bloody well saying!

Giles: (starts walking still working through it in his head) She shared it with us. She gave us the power. Now we have too much. We’re too great a risk to the First. She’s not alone. She hasn’t been for so long. That’s the only way.

Spike and Anya listen as they try and keep up from behind.

Anya: (whispers) He always does this when he’s being brilliant.

Spike: Goody.

 

Cut to Woods

Willow is looking at the sealed cave when she closes her eyes and begins to communicate with the others.

 

Cut to High School

Faith and Fred are walking through the empty school.

Fred: I still don’t get what we’re doing here.

Faith: Xanman said we’d find what we needed in the basement.

Fred: and how am I useful here?

Faith: You’re not that I can see. But he didn’t want me going it alone. So just stay out of the way and try not to get dead.

Fred: I’ve gotten very good at that part.

Faith: Then you should be fine.

Willow: (V.O.) Faith!

Faith jumps and spins defensively.

Faith: What the….?

Fred: What?

Willow: Faith, get back to the cemetery now!

Faith: Why?

Fred: (looking around) Why what?

Willow: I’ll send the others there. Go now!

Faith: Man I always dug the witch gig.

Faith grabs her arm and pulls.

Faith: Come with me.

 

Cut to Cemetery entrance

Dawn: Would you guys please keep up?

Lorne: I don’t see what the big rush is.

Dawn: Willow told me we had to hurry up and get to the cemetery.

Gunn: Willow? And when did she tell you this?

Dawn: When we were running from the house. She contacted me. It’s this thing she does. You guys just probably couldn’t hear her cause she doesn’t know you that well.

Lorne: Nothing brings people closer, faster than the end of the world. That’s what I’ve always said.

Gunn: Are the others going to be here? It’s only a matter of time before we have more friends of the First showing up.

Dawn: I’m sure they will be. She said Xander was gathering everyone else. Don’t worry, just trust me when I say we’re in the right place.

Lorne doesn’t get to respond before he’s picked up and tossed into a tree. Dawn screams and looks into the face of a vamp. He starts to step towards her but stops suddenly looking behind her. Dawn spins and looks at her Mom smiling at her.

Joyce: Hello dear.

Dawn: Don’t call me dear you evil bitch.

Joyce: (a bit taken aback) My, such language for your mother. No time for pleasantries?

Dawn: You’re the one that’s running out of time. So unless you can suddenly do your own dirty work, get the hell out of our way.

Dawn steps through her like she’s nothing to go help Lorne stand.

Lorne: Who is…?

Gunn quickly stakes the vamp and turns to look at Joyce. Dawn gives her one last look before pulling Gunn’s arm and walking away only to hear Joyce call after her.

Joyce: I told you she wouldn’t choose you! In the end, Buffy will never choose you Dawn!

Gunn: What was that about?

Dawn: Nothing. She’s not real.

Joyce smiles wickedly and fades away after watching them go.

 

Cut to Entrance to Cemetery

Angel, Xander and Connor walk side by side by side.

Xander: What do you mean she quit? Buffy would never quit.

Angel: I gave you an answer. I’m sorry if you don’t like it, but it’s the truth. Buffy is not going to help us.

Connor: I guess this is how things got so bad here. The Slayer wasn’t interested in fighting anymore.

Xander reaches and grabs Connor’s arm to stop him.

Xander: Listen to me Vamp spawn! You don’t know Buffy or any of us for that matter and you have no idea the things we’ve done here, so don’t judge.

Angel: You’re gonna want to take your hands off my son now Boy.

Xander: (glares at Angel) Do you think you scare me?

Connor: He should.

Angel: I’m not trying to scare you Xander. And I don’t want to fight. We need to save our strength for what’s to come believe me. You have no idea…

Xander: No, I don’t think you do.

Angel: I’ve been around a while, I think I know exactly…

Xander hauls off and punches Angel in the face catching him completely off guard. So much so, that he stumbles and falls, vamping out. Connor begins to go after Xander but then he sees. Xander tackles the vamp going after Angel and they roll across the cold earth.

Another comes from the shadows trouncing on Angel knocking him face first into the ground. Connor kicks him in the side and hurdles Angel to stake him easily. Angel in the mean time has seen Xander struggling with the first vamp and covers the ground on his hands and knees in an instant to pull them apart. Just before he snaps it’s neck, the vamp smiles at him as if Angel has just shown him something very important. But it’s too late and Angel doesn’t have time to find out if he really saw it or not.

Faith: Wow, Xander and Angel watching eachother’s backs. Now I know it’s serious.

Xander glances up as he stands to see Faith and Fred have joined them.

Angel: Where are the others?

Fred: It’s just us Angel. Apparently, Faith is hearing voices.

Connor: What?

Faith: It’s Willow.

Xander: She called you too?

Angel: What do you mean?

Xander: Willow gets in my head sometimes. It’s a thing we learned. But I thought it was just Buffy and I.

Faith: Sorry to disappoint.

Angel: So why didn’t you tell me?

Xander: Why didn’t you tell me about Buffy?

Angel: You know, if you can’t handle working together then…

Xander: (interrupting) I’m sorry, but did you forget I just saved your ass!

Angel: I don’t know if I’d go that far. A sucker punch isn’t exactly noble strategy.

Fred: Maybe we should be worrying about finding the others here Boys.

Faith: She’s right. Let’s move before we get another welcome party.

They all turn and head towards their destination only to see Giles, Spike and Anya walking several yards away from them. Spike is the first to turn and see them.

Spike: Bloody great.

Anya: Xander!

The two groups merge and look at one another almost waiting.

Giles: So who’s missing?

They all look around.

Spike (looks at Angel): Buffy.

Faith: Angel?

Xander: He says she quit.

Giles: Beg your pardon?

Dawn: She wouldn’t quit!

Angel: She chose to give up the fight. She’s giving up the slayer line. She’s trying to fix what you all messed up.

Xander: Don’t you even try and blame that on us! All we did was…

Giles: Bring her back from the dead for the second time.

Spike: Bleeding fools!

Principal Snyder: Some things never change.

Xander: What the…?

Snyder: It’s really funny when you think about it.

Xander: Ok, now this is just cruel.

Fred: Who is this?

Angel: Didn’t you get eaten by the mayor?

Gunn: Eaten?

Snyder: Sacrifices are made in every battle.

Xander: Ok, is this supposed to scare us? Cause Snyder? Not so much.

Snyder: Oh, I think we can fix that.

Slowly, Snyder begins to morph into everything they’ve ever faced. The master, Darla, Spike, Angelus, Faith, the Mayor, Adam, Glory. It goes on like this as the entire group begins to show apprehension, stepping back to watch as it begins to speak.

First: We all played a part you see. As did all of you. Each battle leaving you with more courage and ego until you forgot just how important what you did was. You thought you had grown to be unstoppable. And why not, you kept stopping us didn’t you? But with each victory, your stronghold lessened.

Gunn: Why won’t this thing just stick with one face?

Xander: We have to get to Willow. We have to find Buffy.

First: (laughs) She’s gone. She’s already released her power. Now all that is left…

It doesn’t finish before the group hears the footsteps around them and realizes they’re surrounded.

Faith: Ok, this might get dirty.

Angel: Spike, you up for it?

Spike vamps out.

Spike: Just try not to get in my way.

Xander: Anya, take Fred and Dawn and go find Willow.

Xander: (telepathically) Willow, if you hear me, watch the girls.

Willow: I hear you Xander. You have to lead them Xander. Remember what I said.

Xander: Love not gonna do the trick with these guys Will, but thanks for the tip.

Willow (to Dawn): Dawnie, Buffy’s grave!

Dawn: Come on.

She takes off with Anya and Fred following behind.

Gunn, Angel, Faith, Spike, Giles and Lorne form a circle facing out at the dozens of demons and vamps coming towards them.

Lorne: Where’s my bat when I need it?

Angel hands him a dagger and pulls a stake out of his pocket. The others each produce weapons of different varieties to battle with. Faith is the first to make contact. She blocks a punch and flips a vamp over her shoulder.

Spike is kicked backwards by one and he uses the stumble as leverage to jump sideways and elbow it in the back. Angel ducks under another’s blow and stakes it behind his back. Xander is knocked to the ground and one jumps to straddle him.

Xander: What would you think if I told you I loved you?

The vamp growls and punches him in the face.

Xander: That’s what I was afraid of.

He jams a finger in the thing’s eye and kicks up to push it off him. Giles has seen it and dives to tackle. Xander assists him with his dagger and stuns it long enough for Giles to move and Gunn to step in with his machete. The dust settles as they notice Faith being double teamed.

 

Cut to Buffy

Buffy: They keep coming!

Girl: And they will until you fulfill your bargain.

Buffy: You said I could see them!

Girl: You will see them trust me. But if you wait to do your part, you will only see them die.

Buffy: That wasn’t the deal!

Girl: It is time to put the Slayer in the ground.

Dawn: Put the Slayer where?

Buffy spins to see Dawn, Anya and Fred standing behind her.

Buffy: Dawn!

Dawn: (smiling) I knew you’d come back. I knew Angel was full of it!

Anya: They’re fighting now. You should go.

Willow: She can’t.

Girl: I wasn’t expecting an audience.

Buffy: Willow. I’m so glad to see you.

Dawn: What is she talking about Buffy?

Buffy: I don’t have a lot of time.

Anya: None of us do. The First is not giving up.

Willow: I’m so sorry Buffy.

Fred: Can someone please tell me what’s going on?

Girl: It has to be now.

Buffy: Give me one second!

Willow: She can’t choose us.

Dawn: Stop saying that!

Buffy: I only have one chance to fix this.

Fred: Angel said you quit.

Buffy: Not exactly.

A mist begins to rise from the earth. Buffy sees it and glances at the girl.

Girl: No more time.

Dawn: Mom said you wouldn’t choose me.

Buffy: I’m choosing life Dawn. All of your lives.

Willow: Move back.

Dawn: No!

The mist has grown now and begins to pull at Buffy. She grimaces slightly and turns back.

Buffy: This is how it’s supposed to be. Tell Xander he can do it. He always could. Tell Giles he was right. And thank you. Willow, oh Willow.

Willow lets a tear slip past her eyelashes.

Buffy: It’s not your fault Will. You loved me. That’s all you’re guilty of. That’s all any of us are guilty of.

She pauses and searches Willow’s face.

Buffy: You’ll tell him won’t you?

Willow nods and wipes her eyes. Anya and Fred step back.

Buffy: Dawn, you’re so strong now. You always were. One day you’ll see why. I swear.

Dawn: You’re leaving me again! I’ll never understand that. We could all die Buffy.

Buffy smiles a bit before a grimace replaces it.

Buffy: It happens to the best of us.

With that, the ground opens and Buffy is sucked into it’s depths. She cries out only once before the earth closes over her. The Girl smiles as she looks at the empty ground.

Girl: I always loved that part.

Dawn: Shut up!

She reaches for her but the girl disappears. Dawn collapses on the ground over the grave.

Dawn: No! Buffy please no!

Willow reaches for her and she shakes her off. Suddenly the ground begins shaking violently. The earthquake knocks them all down.

Fred: What now? What did she do?

 

Cut to the fight

The battle continues as the ground shakes. The First appears as the participants forget the fight long enough to get their balance. It’s the anointed one.

Boy: What have you done? (looks to the skies) What have you done????

Angel: (whispers to himself) Buffy.

Headstones shatter around them, the vamps and demons begin to wail loudly. Something very big is happening. And no one knows whose side it will help.