Cordelia made it to Faith first grabbing her hair. Faith jerked back looking up. "What are you doing bitch?" Faith snarled punching Cordelia in the stomach causing her to let her hair loose.
"Getting rid of a man stealing ex-con whore." She punched Faith in the mouth busting her lip.
Faith's head swung to the side as blood dripped from her lip. She licked it off smiling. "Oh, this is going to be fun, come on Queenie. You sure now, not going to go cry to Angel? Not afraid I might accidentally pop one of those hooters of yours. It could end up flooding this place."
"That is it. Bring it on! Bitch. I'm part demon now; I'm so going to kick your skanky ass!" Cordy hissed. Faith laughed in her face as Cordy's face turned red with anger. Throwing her full weight at the younger girl, Cordy knocked Faith down. "Not so funny now?"
Cordy swung to hit her again when Faith threw her legs up grabbing her by the neck and flipped her over. Cordy landed hard on her stomach, one side of her face scraped on the rough floor. Faith walked over but before she can do anymore damage she was caught up again in the fighting. Cordelia grabbed her fallen sword to go after her but soon was fighting for her life.
Xander tried to blindside Giles but met with Anya's blade under his chin. "Go away Xander. Either help or run like the coward you are but you will not hurt Rupert. I will kill you myself before I let that happen." Her tone hard and her hand steady.
"Is there a problem dear?" Giles called over his shoulder.
"No sweetheart, I'm taking care of it you go ahead and kill some more things. I find you look quite stimulating like this," Anya answered him.
"Anya, I'm here to fight for you," Xander whined.
"I don't need you to. I never did. You were embarrassed by me, so go away Xander. My lover and I are here fighting side by side as equals." Anya nicked his chin. "To remember me by."
Xander slunk away humiliated. His ex-fiance had beat him with a sword before he even had a chance to do anything. He was going to show her that he was a real man now and she cut his chin. Looking around him, he noticed he had walked himself into the thick of things. "Oh shit!"
Willow concentrated on getting to Tara she threw fireballs proudly her eyes completely black. I will show her who is in control. I'm a better witch than she is. Pooh, learned magic is better than natural. No one is ever taking it from me again.
Wesley noticed Willow but couldn't get to Tara quick enough. "Oh no Tara, please no."
Tara was in a deep meditative state; her connection had her attached like an umbilical to the Earth. Willow approached seeing the green sphere around Tara and began to chant. The fireballs turned a deep dark red as she walked closer; she threw them. They bounced off the sphere hitting vampires, demons and barely missing Wesley.
"Willow, stop you don't understand," Wesley yelled.
"No, you don't; I am not letting anyone take it away from me again." She continued walking closer and it happened so quickly. One of the fireballs bounced off hitting Willow. She screamed as she began to burn in the flames of her own making.
Buffy reached Kennedy, "Oh no you don't; you are not going to touch her, you little bitch. You want to pick on a slayer; try me on for size."
Kennedy spun around her eyes widened then narrowed. "Gladly, it is about time someone did. I should have found a way to do this sooner." She smiled grasping her sword tightly and attacked Buffy.
Buffy used the scythe as they parried back and forth. Kennedy slashed Buffy across the stomach then kicked her closer to the opening of the Hellmouth. She watched as another face appeared on top of Kennedy's face then melted into it.
"This is more like it. Different slayer, but I have waited a long time to pay you back for last time. You won't win this time."
"You are the First, you are inside Kennedy now? Have you been there all along?"
"No, just helping her along. The dear girl had so much potential for a potential," she laughed.
"You are such a riot. What is the evil plan cause I can still kick your ass?"
"That was last time and I had no form. Now, I have a body that is all juiced up and raring to go." First Kennedy ran a hand down her body.
"Then let's dance." Buffy held the scythe ready.
"We will and you know the best part, your blood is going to open the Hellmouth. The rest of my children will rise and of course your little red haired friend over there. Oh, that is too bad, she had such a talented tongue," First Kennedy pouted.
Buffy glanced then stared. "Willow!" she screamed. The First grabbed the scythe from her hands and using the pointed end stabbed Buffy. She shoved Buffy over the edge of the opening.
What happened next, caused time to slow down almost to a stop. Minutes seemed like days and seconds took hours. Connor was running towards Buffy screaming her name. Wesley caught Tara as she collapsed. Hearing Connor's scream Giles and Anya turned their eyes wide in horror. Lorne roared as he ran towards the edge. Angel saw her fall just as Spike was about to hit him and screamed Buffy's name. Faith stood in horror. Cordelia had a vampire's fangs at the throat. Xander was on the ground being beaten. Willow's body stood engulfed in flames; her face frozen in a scream.
Buffy's body hit the bottom; her blood filled the seal. The First smiled until it noticed the blood change from red to sliver. "NO!" Her blood filled in all the symbols until it looked like a large silver circle. Buffy's eyes were shut as her body lay crumpled in the middle. An explosion rocked the cave as a brilliant blinding light poured out of the opening. It was like a volcano of light and there at its center was Buffy.
Not a Buffy any of them had ever seen, she floated on a cushion of light. She was gowned in a dress of opalescent white that flashed blues, greens, pinks and gold. Her golden hair gently flowed around her like a cape. The most amazing thing of all though was her wings. They sprouted from her tiny shoulders to span the cavern, throwing light out into the darkest corner. The feathers were dove white but shimmered in the night like diamonds. Her eyes glowed as she smiled at her loved ones.
Buffy looked out into the cave pulling her wings in close as if guarding the light. Then she opened them wide arching her back as the light hit her body. It shot out encompassing the cave then flowed out into the tunnel. It shot out through the town like a steady shower of rain then shot back.
The light returned at a rapid speed, as it passed those in the cave their hair wiped into their faces. They held their hands to their eyes to see the light hit Buffy's body. She screamed as she fell back into the opening. Time returned to a normal speed. Looking in the cave no demons remained. The only vampires were Spike and Angel.
Xander looked up to see Willow's last scream as she disappeared in a cloud of flame and smoke. "Willow," he screamed. He dragged himself to his feet stumbling towards the last place he had seen his best friend.
Cordelia sighed in relief to see Spike shove a badly beaten Angel away. He moved towards Faith who crumpled to her knees crying. She ran to Angel.
Lorne rushed to the edge as Connor began to climb down. Tears running down his face as he spied Buffy's small crumpled body.
Wesley picked up Tara in his arms just as Xander reached them. "What happened to Willow?"
"She tried to kill Tara but the spell bounced. Willow burned in her own flames." Wesley turned his back to go see about Buffy.
"So, she is responsible for killing Willow?"
Wesley turned at Tara's sob a cold hard look on his face. "Xander, go away, go home or wherever it is you hide yourself from the truth. But get out of my sight before another person is gravely injured."
Xander walked away muttering to himself. "I'll be back and when I do I will find you, all of you and you will pay."
They gathered at the edge watching Connor pick up Buffy, tears streamed down his face. "Please, I will do whatever you want, just don't take her please." Connor prayed then kissed her.
He saw Giles had crawled part way down to help hand her up. He handed her to the older man who in turned kissed her forehead, tears ran down his face to fall on her pale one. Her body was gently handed from one loved one to another. Tara had Buffy's head in her lap when they all made it back to the top.
Shaking Cordelia off Angel fell to his knees beside Buffy's body crying. "Please, Buffy, don't die come back to me."
"Get, the hell, away from her," Connor ordered.
"Connor, I love her. She was mine first; you just have to understand."
Connor pulled Angel away. "I told you to stay away from her. It is bad enough you tried to rape her you aren't going to cry over her body now. Where was your great love when she needed you? You were too wrapped up in Whoredelia over there even to realize she hadn't been in hell. Don't say another word. Just take your bitches and leave now!" He demanded going back towards Buffy.
"How dare you call me a whore. What about your precious Buffy? She is no angel herself. What do you mean bitches? I am the only bitch he has, I mean, ooh!" She stomped her foot.
"Shut up, Cor. Connor!" He started back towards Buffy.
Connor spun back around. "The name is Stephen." He hit Angel in the stomach. "Stephen Holtz." Hitting him in the jaw. "Go away Angel you are nothing to me or her. So leave!" He hit Angel in the chest sending him backwards until his body stopped when he hit the wall.
"Connor what have you done?" Cordy yelled. "That is your father. This is all Buffy's fault."
"Junior let me handle her. You go see your woman. I think she is waking up. Chit doesn't know how to give up," Spike smiled, ignoring the tears on his own face.
Connor took off running to Buffy's side where Giles gave him his place. "Stephen she was asking for you. If she asks tell her I had one thing left to do." Connor nodded, something in the older man's eyes told him Angel was fixing to have a chat with Ripper.
"Anya, dearest, a moment," Giles asked.
Anya walked over to him a little away from the others who ignored Kennedy's fallen body. He whispered in her ear and she nodded to him. "Have fun but be sure to bring him home tonight. I've been wanting him to give me orgasm since we got here."
"Don't worry dearest, he'll be more than happy to oblige" Giles chuckled.
Angel shook his head trying to get up. "Best you stay down for this; it will be easier on you." He heard a hard voice in his ear. There crouched before him with a stake in each hand was the Ripper. "Made these special for you with a little help from a friend."
"Giles, you don't want to do this. I have a soul," Angel sputtered.
"So does every rapist and murderer."
"I work for the Powers. They send Cordy visions for me to carry out."
"Do you really? So tell me Angel how many souls have you saved since we exorcised that demon from her? How many visions have she had?" Ripper smirked at the arrogant vampire.
Angel paled if that was possible. "Nnone, but I thought they were just letting her heal."
"Right like they did Buffy after being ripped out of Heaven. She was slaying within a week." Ripper buried a stake in Angel's thigh . The flesh sizzled and burned as he screamed. "Hurts doesn't it soaked in holy water but most of all special wood. Carved from Rowan Oak you are Irish, do you remember you history?" Ripper hissed.
"Sacred, holy" Angel gasped. Hit leg was on fire. Angel felt as if he was back in Hell.
"Then you aren't as stupid as everyone says. It will leave a nice reminder for you every time you look at it, Angel. Don't you ever go near my daughter again." He sunk another stake into Angel this one just missed his heart. "Do we understand each other, now?" Ripper growled.
Almost delirious with pain with pain Angel nodded. "Say it" Ripper barked.
"I will never go near Buffy again," Angel gasped out through gritted teeth.
"Swear it!" "I swear."
Giles walked away then stopped. "I'll take your head next time, no words, no warning, just dust."
Angel slumped against the wall defeated and delirious with pain. Spike told Cordelia a few home truths but she ignored him. Noticing Angel's crumpled body she ran to him seeing that he had managed to pull out the stakes.
Buffy's eyes were opened when Giles returned. He looked at Stephen nodding understanding passed between the two most important people in Buffy's life. They would protect their girl from anyone who caused her harm.
Connor picked her up, as he walked out everyone followed. Gunn and Fred had seen Angel and Cordelia's true natures and ignored their 'friends' crumpled body. They finally understood the difference between a true champion and one whose personal interests come before anything else.
"Angel baby what can I do everyone is gone. I can't pick you up you are two heavy."
"Need blood, Cor." Looking at him, she knew he needed more than she could give him. Just then, she spied Xander who came storming back in the cave.
"Where did they go? Where is that bitch?" Xander growled.
"There are two many to choose from to answer you. I need your help Angel was hurt; he is over there. They just left us here damn them. Please Xander, you are so strong now. Would you help me?" Cordy brushed against him.
Looking at her breasts pushed up against his arm. "Sure Cordy then you will do something for me right?" He suggestively rubbed her breasts.
Cordy looked him in the eye. "Once we are out of here, I will do whatever you want. Just think Xander you can have me any way you can imagine." Her voice went husky as she rubbed him through his pants.
Xander grabbed her breasts roughly then ground his hips into her. "Gotta say Cordy, liking the upgrade can't wait to fuck 'em and your ass. Yeah, I can't wait to finally tap that ass."
"You can tap it, spank it, fuck it anything you want. We need to hurry. Once he is out of here, I promise you Xander, I can handle anything you can dream up." She pushed his hand into her shirt, so he could feel her breasts freely.
Xander moved in front of her walking quickly towards Angel. He was already hard thinking of what he would do to her. When he was almost to Angel, something smashed into his head.
"As if Xander Harris, I am not ever touching you again no one will." Cordelia smirked maliciously.
She drug his body over to Angel then went to fetch her sword from where it had fallen. Thinking fast she laid Angel down then slit Xander's wrist holding it over Angel's mouth. He drank it down like a baby bird. When she couldn't get anymore from that arm, she moved to other one.
Angel started to heal but was still unconscious. She pulled Xander's body over to a dark corner leaving him to die alone forgotten in the dark. Cordy moved back over to Angel propping him back up. She unbuttoned her shirt taking a nail she sliced into her breast then pressed it to his mouth. Angel vamped out at the smell of blood then sank his fangs in as he began to drink on his own.
She mussed her hair ripping her blouse in two. Cordelia laid herself on him a believable faint. Angel roused to look at her. "Cor, come on wake up."
"Angel, are you okay? I fed you all that I could, was it enough?" Her eyes fluttered as she gasped the words out.
"Yeah, I'm okay. Cor, thank you. Where is everyone else? They didn't just leave us here, did they?"
"Yes Angel, even Fred and Gunn went with Buffy. They wouldn't even turn around when I shouted at them to help me. It is only you and me now, Angel. We are all we have, no one else seems to care." Tears ran down her face.
He wiped her face. "It will be okay, Cor, I won't leave you. Let's get out of here and go back to LA."
"Okay Angel, if that is what you want." She whispered hiding her face in his shoulder. Her face hid her excited smile at the thought of it being just her and Angel from now on. They were going to be together forever she would see to it. How true those words were she didn't know.
Everyone gathered in Buffy's room as she lay on the bed. "I am okay guys, really." She was held in Connor's arms as he lay beside her. "I remember falling then I remember feeling like I did when I was in heaven. The next thing I felt like I was hugging Dinza times about 100 crashing into my body then nothing. So what happened?"
"Kennedy stabbed you then pushed you in" Connor said hoarsely. He still was having trouble realizing that she was truly all right and safe at home with him.
"It wasn't Kennedy; it was the First by then. I saw Jenny's face sink into hers. Said it needed a slayer's blood to open the seal and mine would do. That my death would cause hell on Earth. We were fixing to fight when we heard Willow's scream. I glanced over and it took the scythe and stabbed me with it. Oh, that must be what she meant."
"Who dear?" Giles' voice was quiet as he watched the daughter of his heart closely. He was so relived not to have lost her once again.
"When I found the scythe the Guardian told me there would be a need for it. Man's arrogance and stupidity would cause it to happen. Someone was bound to do what Willow did. Giles, my guess is a book would have been discovered for whatever champion was brought back; I just had the lucky lotto ticket. She told me I would use it and feel it then know what to do but I couldn't talk about it to anyone. I guess, that is what she meant. It was going to be used on me but it had to be for things to turn out right. If I would have killed the First in Kennedy's body, they would have won. Don't you see?" Buffy looked at them all but especially at the two watcher's.
"She was still human underneath, not yours to judge, right?" Wesley asked.
"The prophesy meant that your blood was the key and the puzzle right. It unlocked the book for us to read then the scythe once it stabbed you closed the seal. But instead of opening the Hellmouth, it opened you, your inner self. We saw what was inside, your true face," Giles said.
"But what about the rest, outside in and inside out, opening and closing doors?" Lorne asked.
"I believe I know if I may?" Wesley offered. "Inside out and outside in refers to what Buffy mentioned. To win Evil had to think it had won by Buffy's loss. Doors opened and closed did you not notice the complete removal of the demons and vampires? Angel remained because of his soul and Cordelia is still half-human. We aren't sure what Kennedy was but apparently, she didn't have a soul. The real anomaly here is Spike."
"Oh, that is easy, he has a soul," Buffy offered.
"What do you mean; how did he get one; was he cursed?" Giles rattled off questions.
"Nope I don't think he ever really lost his connection to his soul. Spike has always had a great capacity for love even the Judge said so. There was Dru, my Mom and, and now Faith." Buffy had almost said Dawn's name.
"I do not have a bloody soul, like Peaches." He growled glaring at Buffy for even thinking he was like his grandsire.
"No, not like Angel's. You were never like him as a human. You kept the best parts of your previous life." Buffy smiled at her friend. The only one that she had trusted to keep her family safe.
"Has anyone noticed the difference in the way the town feels?"
"What do you mean?" Giles looked at Tara waiting for her to explain.
"It is as if it is clean again. All the bad stuff has been swept away. The earth and air are clean, at peace." She blushed as everyone looked at her in wonder. They were all taking in what she said and realizing she was right.
"Sunnydale is just a town now I think, nothing to attract baddies. People can come back and just live a normal life here. This town had paid its dues. It has earned some peace. I imagine it will even be uncomfortable for any ooglies that decide to come here; they will just keep on moving. Didn't do away with all the bad stuff but there is at least one place that is safe. Like jazzercise we burned away the bad stuff."
"If Kennedy is still alive and still a slayer then what do we do?" Tara asked.
"I vote we sick rabbits on her." Anya shuddered thinking of their beady eyes and sharp teeth.
"I don't think you have to worry about it; chit is gone. Checked on her body before we left. There is something else though. Peaches was feeding off her as well right up to the time the fighting started. There is no telling what her blood has done to him." Spike told them his head shook. He thought about how he used to look up to Angelus, wanting to be like him.
"Man, Angel has gone round the bend. Me and Fred will have to go to LA to get our stuff and find somewhere else to live. There is no way we are going to have anything to do with him." Gunn crossed his arms. He knew he never should have trusted the vampire.
"Gunn, you are both welcome to come and work with us at Wild Angels. I don't think you are going to have to worry about Angel or Cordelia. The Guardian told me something else and it seems that she was right. I asked her what had happened to Willow and Xander. Why their lives were still messed up since I was brought back. She told me that since they were considered warriors of the light their fates would be decided by the Powers. Tara and Anya were able to overcome the problems that they had and are now stronger because of it."
"Do you mean that it was a test and we passed and they didn't?" Tara's heart wept for her fallen lover. She thought of the bright happy girl she had fallen in love with rather than who she had become at the end.
"Yeah, in a way. She said when one of their warriors falls off the path, they were tested by the Powers. If they overcome whatever was thrown at them then everything would be okay for them, but.." Buffy explanation was interrupted by Lorne's sad voice.
"If they don't, they will be punished by the Powers, in whatever manner they see fit" Lorne said sadly as he thought of his old friends. "I was afraid of this when we found out about Cordelia. Her and Angel aren't ours to worry about anymore. The Powers will decide what to do with them and it won't be pretty boys and girls."
"If you mean it then Gunn and I would like to join you at Wild Angels," Fred said shyly.
"Fred, you are both more than welcome. You could even move into my apartment if you wanted to, until we can make other arrangements We have an extra bedroom, you will only need one won't you?"
"Yes, one is all we will ever need again" Gunn hugged the shy brunette to him.
"I was also thinking about moving the Magic Box to LA since it won't be needed here." Giles told Buffy but was glancing at Anya. She smiled at him, nodded then threw herself into his arms.
"That only leaves you three. What do you say want to come to the City of Angels at least this angel?" Buffy smiled, hoping that Tara, Faith and Spike would make it unanimous.
All three looked at one another then at Buffy and said 'Yes' simultaneously. Everyone laughed as they talked about their plans to move everyone out to LA.
"They have done well haven't they sister?" A man with pale blue skin marked with gold symbols asked as he looked down on the group in Sunnydale.
"Yes, they have brother and we will be sure that they are handsomely rewarded. She is quite amazing isn't she. I still miss her though and her voice." A woman with pale green skin marked with silver symbols looked at her brother.
"We must now decide the final fate of the remaining two who have fallen so far from the path. What do you suggest sister?" His voice was hard as he thought of the opportunities given to Angel and Cordelia. Opportunities that Buffy did not have yet it was she who prevailed while the other two fell further from the path.
"What are their greatest weaknesses, brother? I think we should be sure that have returned to them, all that they have given to others. They should feel everyday what they have squandered away in their greed and arrogance. They will live forever in this limbo until the end. What say you, brother?"
A picture entered the man's mind and he nodded. It was just. It was right. "Yes sister, I see what your mind is seeing; it is a most fitting punishment."