A Destiny of their own
by Birjoe

Part One

Deep underground, there is a dark square crypt. A single flame is burning in the middle of the room is lighting the crypt. On each of the four walls there are pentacle symbols engraved largely in black ink. There are also four crypt entrances at each of the walls, with the words, North, South, East, West written above the frames.

From each of the entrances, two demons dressed as monks come walking out holding a burning staff. They form a circle around the flame, then all at once, they kneel down in front of it. From the East entrance, another demon dressed as a monk comes walking in holding an arrow. Then from the West entrance, a demon, not dressed as a monk, but is wearing a heavy black robe, with the symbol of the pentacle on his forehead, walks out holding a book.

"I call upon you, Zeth. It is I, Anton. Let this be the beginning of the end for the human race…. So shall it be".

He then places the book into the flame. The demon holding the arrow hands the arrow to Anton.

"Zeth, son of evil, I awaken thee from the eternal slumber that has been forced upon you. Rise, rid us of the one they call the Slayer. Bring forth the destruction of the world".

Anton then places the arrow into flame. The arrow and book are then surrounded by this dark power, with black light surrounding the arrow. The black lights try and possess the book, but a white light protects it. The arrow starts to spin out of control as the monks continue to chant. The dark powers that had been surrounding the book and arrow shoot into the Anton, he opens his eyes, and they are red. He stares at the arrow, and in a voice that wasn’t his own, he yells,

"It shall be done!!!".

One of the monks, who are standing in the circle takes off its hood to reveal Buffy. The arrow, which is still spinning, shoots and stabs Buffy in the heart.

Cordelia awakens startled by what she has just seen.

"Oh my god" she says out of breath, "Buffy’s in trouble".

She looks up from behind her desk at ‘Angel Investigations’, and sees Angel staring at her, with worry and fear written all over his face.

Buffy and Riley are in the cemetery fighting off vampires.

"Riley, look out!!"

Riley was unable to defend himself from the vampire that was about to attack him. Riley is then thrown to the ground, and is knocked unconscious by his opponent. Buffy, after staking two vamps at once, runs over to Riley who is still lying on the ground being pummeled by his attacker.

"Hey you, stop picking on my boyfriend!!" she spits out angrily.

The vampire then turns his attention to Buffy.

"After I’m done with you slayer, I’m gonna have your boyfriend here for desert".

Buffy sarcastically replies. "You know, I’ve heard that one so many times, but I’m still left waiting".

The vampire not liking what Buffy said, lunges towards her with a stake a stake of his own. Buffy side steps his lunge, which puts him off balance, she turns him around, and snatches his stake off him.

"Look, tonight’s been a bit of a drag. What you say, that we just end it here. Thanks, Bye"

Buffy then stakes him and he turns to ashes. Buffy stares at the ashes for a moment, she then hears Riley moaning. She turns and runs to his side, and starts to help him up.

"Are you okay, your probably not okay, in the sense that you have just been knocked out".

Riley looks at her and smiles. Buffy having no choice in the matter smiles back at him.

"That attack was a complete surprise, I wonder what they wanted?"

Buffy looks around and sighs.

"Well, its not like we can ask them now. If your up to it"

Buffy looks over at the old building that the vampires had come from, she continues.

"maybe we could go and find the answer to that question".

Riley struggles to stand.

"Yeap, I think that I’m up to it, let’s go".

Buffy gives him a worried look, and Riley sees it,

"Buffy I’m fine, move, lets go"

They then head off into the building. Buffy walks down the stairs and sees that the room is filled with boxes and books. Buffy points to the boxes that are at the bottom of the stairs.

"Well, you look in these boxes, and I’ll take the boxes at the back"

Buffy heads off and starts to go through the boxes. Riley looks through the first box, to reveal nothing. He goes over to the second box, and looks into it. He pulls out an old book with an arrow attached to it.

"The Book of Lasharn"

Riley reads out the name of the book. He runs his hand over the arrow.

"Agh, son of a bi…"

Riley looks down on his hand and sees it bleeding heavily. Buffy comes over to Riley’s side after hearing him yell.

"Riley, what’s wrong?, are you okay?".

Buffy looks down at his hand and sees it bleeding.

"We need to get that covered before it gets infected".

Riley smiles then feels the pain in his hand.

"If you say so nursey".

Buffy begins to lead them out.

"Wait, you go on ahead, I’ll catch up".

Buffy was about to pretest but Riley interferes.

"I won’t be long. Go".

Buffy, although still unsure, heads up the stairs. Riley walks over to the book with the arrow on it.

"Your coming with me"

He then pulls the arrow off the book and puts in his army bag. From inside the bag, there are dark forces happening. The blood that was once on the arrow has now been absorbed into the arrow. The arrow then begins to glow.

Back at Buffy’s dorm room, Buffy is attending to Riley's wound.

"That cut seems pretty bad, here"

Buffy hands Riley a cloth so that he can wipe the blood away.

"I’m just going to grabs some bandages and stuff, wont be long"

She leaves her crossbow at the foot of her bed, and walks off into the bathroom. Riley walk over to the foot of Buffy’s bed and sits down. He puts his bag beside her crossbow.

"Here, that should do it. Hold this"

Buffy indicates to the bandage tape. Riley grabs it off her. Buffy begins to dress the wound. After that Buffy and Riley climb into bed, and fall asleep in each other’s arms. At the foot of the bed, the arrow starts to glow. The chanting of the monks can be heard. the arrow disappears from the bag, and then reappears clicking on to Buffy’s crossbow.

Buffy and Riley are still asleep. Buffy then begins to toss and turn in the bed, her eyes are moving rapidly. Now in her dream, she sees darkness, then fading into being, she sees the arrow with the designs on it. It begins to spin. Purple, Blue and red lights start to engulf the arrow....and it slows it down. From behind the now stationary arrow, a black flame starts to burn. Then slowly, The book of Lasharn fades in from the flame. The flame then disappears and the Pentacle symbols are shown faintly behind the arrow. Angel’s face replaces the pentacle symbol. He walks towards Buffy. His eyes are red, but then turn white. He speaks to Buffy in a soothing voice.

"Are you ready for whets to come, my love. You must choose your own destiny, Only then we have a chance to be free"

The arrow then shoots Angel in the heart he falls to the ground and bleeds to death.

Buffy wakes form her dream. It is now morning. Buffy lies in her bed, next to Riley in a state of confusion and worry.

That day, after classes, Buffy, Riley, Xander, Anya and Giles are all at Giles’s Apartment.

"The arrow just keeps spinning, then all I can do is see his face, I….", "Who’s face?"

Giles interferes with a question. Buffy now looks uncomfortable. Giles then repeats himself.

"Who’s face did you see Buffy".

Buffy looks over at Riley and quietly says Angel’s name. Riley looks back at Buffy surprised and seemingly hurt. Buffy looks away.

"Oh…., did Angel say anything to you?. Going from past references, when you dreamt of Angel, he always had something to tell you, to warn you of something that is coming".

Giles asked Buffy as he heads off to his books. Buffy is still looking away from Riley, and there is obviously tension in the air.

"Angel did say something",

Giles come back into the lounge with his head in his books. He looks up at Buffy.

"What did he say?"

Buffy looks really uncomfortable, but does as Giles asks.

"He asked me if I was ready. He also said that I have to find my own destiny – only then can we be free".

Giles reads through his books and finds something. He places the book in front of Buffy.

"Is this the arrow that you saw in you’re dream?"

Buffy looks at it, and nods.

"um, well this particular arrow belongs to the family of the 1st evil, the same first evil that tried to take Angel’s soul. You remember don’t you?".

Buffy nods and quietly says to herself.

"How could I forget".

Xander over hears Buffy, and raises his eyebrows.

"Well, it seems that this particular arrow belonged to Firsts eldest son – If I’m not mistaken, his name is Zeth. It says here. "To dream of Zeth, foretells his awakening. Then he will bring forth the apocalypse".

Xander and Anya look at each other confused. Giles realizes that know one in the room understood.

"It means that he has already been called, and he’s gonna kill us all". Buffy begins to get anxious

"How do we stop him?" Giles continues to read.

"It doesn’t say – it seems that we have vandals in our midst "

Giles and Buffy look over to the couch where Xander is.

"Oh, I get it. Everyone blame Xander, cause Xander always does the destruction work around here"

Giles shows the page that he was reading to Xander. There is a big heart shaped picture with the words "Xander Harris 4 Cordelia Chase. 1999" Xander looks down

"Oops, I didn’t think that book was one of the important ones"

Xander looks over at Anya, who isn’t at all impressed. So he just grins. Buffy starts to worry.

"but we still have time don’t we?". Giles rubs his forehead.

"Buffy, He’s already been raised – that’s why you got the dreams"

Buffy cant believe what she is hearing.

"Giles we need to find out how to defeat him, you said that he has risen before?"

Giles nods.

"Okay, so we need to find out who defeated him, how, when and where. Xander I need you and Anya to go and see Willy – see what he knows".

Anya and Xander are nearly out the door before Buffy calls them

"oh, Xander, Stop over at the magic shop and ask if anyone has bought anything to bring back a evil son"

Xander nods. "On it!". Buffy turns to Giles.

"Riley and I are going to hit the sewers, see what we can find there. Giles I need you to continue to research up on Zeth, try his place of origin etc".

Giles nods, then Buffy and Riley head off.

In Buffy’s and Willows dorm room, Willow is studying. She gets up to stretch and sees Buffy had left her crossbow out. Willow walks over to it and picks it up. She sees the arrow that is on the crossbow and is intrigued by the designs. She hears faint chanting. She starts to freak, and starts to look around. The chants become more intense and louder. The temperature in the room drops Willow feels the cold and starts to shiver.

"Oh god, what’s happening?"

She then falls to the ground and begins to chant.

"Diana Hecete, I license thee to depart, goddess of creature great and small, I conjure thee to withdraw"

Willow is now standing in front of the mirror chanting with her eyes closed. She looks down on the arrow. The arrow begins to glow – Willow continuing to chant holds tight to the arrow. Her voice becomes more intense, more demanding.

"Diana Hecete, I license thee to depart – goddess of creatures great and small, I conjure thee to withdraw"

Willow once again looks down at the arrow. It has stopped glowing. She closes her eyes as she lifts her head up. She opens her eyes and sees Amy standing behind her naked.

Back at Giles’s apartment, Buffy and Riley come walking through the door, and sees everyone else sitting on the staircase looking disappointed.

"Well, did you guys find anything?"

Buffy looks at them.

"Nothing, you guys?"

Xander looks at Anya, and after getting a nod by Anya – he turns and faces Buffy.

"Willy said that a couple of nights ago, he had two new customers come into the bar. He said that he overheard them saying someone is going to bring on the apocalypse – when I pressed him for an answer,, he said that he didn’t know anything else".

Xander sees Buffy’s face looking disappointed.

"Sorry Buff, I got nothing other than that. Nothing at the magic shop too".

Buffy turns to Giles.

"How about you Giles, Any luck?"

Giles, who was in the kitchen comes walking out.

"I may have found something"

Buffy’s face lights up, and Xander notices it.

"Gee" He turns to Anya. "How come she didn’t do that when I told her about what we found?"

Anya just shrugs. Giles and Buffy look over at them, Xander sees them,

"What?".

Buffy turns back to Giles. Giles continues.

"Well, Zeth is not of this world, he kills by taking the souls of the two strongest worrior's this world has, but I’m not too sure about how. But I found something else. When he was defeated, he was put to sleep – in the literal sense, but I couldn’t find out how".

Then from the door comes a voice that Buffy and the rest of the crew recognize.

"I know. He was defeated by a witch named Destiny of the Lasharn coven".

Buffy looks towards the door, and sees Oz standing at the door.

"Oz" she goes over and hugs him. "What are you doing here?"

She lets go. "Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to see you, but I though because of the whole Willow thing, you couldn’t come back?".

Oz smiles. "That’s about the truth. I can come back if it’s about the apocalypse. I think that’s a valid excuse"

Buffy nods. "Very valid. Its great to see you".

Xander gets up and goes over to shake Oz’s hand.

"Hey buddy, how’s things" Oz shakes his hand.

"Good, apart from the theory that we’re all going to die."

Xander nods. "Yeap, I’d have to agree with you on that one".

Giles having no patience cuts in.

"Oz, don’t get me wrong, Its great to see you after all this time. But you have some information of some importance?"

Buffy and Xander lets Oz go over to the couch and sits down.

"Okay, where was I?"

Giles fills him in.

"Something about a witch"

Oz remembers.

"Yeah, that’s it. I was up to Destiny. So this Destiny girl is a direct descendant of the very first pure witch. She was the one who defeated Zeth by using an eternal sleep spell. The spell came from the book of Lasharn. It is the first and oldest book on witchcraft. The book contains the first and oldest spells – the real story behind witchcraft, and it also has the most modern true spells as well. Only she can defeat Zeth".

Buffy sighs. "Oh great, our only hope is on a way long ago dead witch.

Oz interrupts Buffy. "Well actually, that ain’t entirely true. Destiny, well, she’s kind of immortal. When Destiny was 18, and going through her right of passage. Her coven could see the power that she contained was great. So during her quest, they made her immortal, so that she can protect the world from the evils that threatened it. They where right, she’s really powerful. I've met her once. She’s a real nice person".

Xander claps his hands. "Ok, so all we need to do is find this Destiny girl, help her do her spell, and we’ll be done by supper" Xander turns to Giles.

"Speaking of supper – don’t you know how to feed your guests?"

Giles gives Xander a look of imprudence.

Buffy realizes that Riley has been awfully quiet. She goes over to him.

"Are you alright – you seem distant?"

Riley doesn’t look at her. He gets up, and walks over to the bar.

"Free to do what Buffy?" Buffy doesn’t seem to understand what Riley is saying.

"Free to do what? Riley spits out harshly.

Buffy is taken back by Riley’s outburst as are the others, who are now staring at him. Riley realizes that he has over reacted.

"I mean, sorry Buffy, I don’t know what came over me".

Anya slips out a snide remark

"How about intense jealously"

Xander looks at her surprised. Riley continues.

"Every time someone says Angels name, or speaks about how Angel did this or how Angel did that, I get the mean case of jealousy, and I start feeling sorry for myself"

Buffy continues to stare at him in disbelief. Riley’s voice begins to shake.

"You had this man in your life that you where in love with. And the only reason you two aren’t together now is because of his curse. It’s a bit hard to take at times".

Buffy walks over to him and hugs him.

"No one will ever come in between us, Ok"

Buffy lifts up his chin, and they look into each other’s eyes.

"Riley, I mean it. No one".

Just then, there is a knock at the door. Buffy goes over to answer it. She is unable to speak when she sees who it is at the door.

"Buffy who is it?" Giles asks in suspense.

Buffy opens the door, and everyone sees who it is. Anya feeling the tension tries to brake it.

"Well speak of the vampire. Hello Angel" The room is quite.

After a while, Angel felt that he had to break the silence.

"Hey Buffy, How you been?" Buffy doesn’t answer.

Angel looks over at Giles.

"Can I come in?"

Giles walks behind Buffy and pulls her aside.

"Angel, how are you?, please come in".

Angel steps past Buffy and walks into the lounge. Buffy watches him, and then closes the door.

"What are you doing here? Why have you come back?".

Cordelia just stops the door from closing, and she is followed by Wesley.

"Gee, so much for the welcome wagon. Gosh, You can feel the love in this room"

Xander gets up from where he is.

"Cordelia!"

He sees Wesley come in closely behind Cordy, and is disgusted.

"You ended up with him?. YOU ENDED UP WITH WESLEY".

Cordelia looks over at Xander. "What’s you drama?" Xander walks closer to her.

"My drama is that you ended up with Wesley"

Xander walks over to Wesley and stares him in the eyes.

"You’re a sick, sick man. Have you know shame. Cradle snatcher!!"

Cordelia walks over to Xander and hits him.

"Get over yourself Xander. Like I’d end up with that loser"

Cordy turns to Wesley.

"Sorry Wes, but its true".

Wesley just nods, and stands back embarrassed.

"Would you two just be quiet!!"

Buffy turns to Angel who is now standing by the counter.

"What are you doing here?, It been like a year, and you show up here out of know where"

Cordy looks over at Buffy and cuts in.

"We didn’t show up here from no where – we showed up from somewhere. That somewhere being L.A"

She looks over at Xander.

"Great shopping".

Buffy snaps at Cordy.

"Cordelia!"

Cordelia takes the hint, and goes over and sits by Anya.

"Hey Anya, how are you doing. Haven’t seen you ever since that whole "Wish" thing, so, hows that working for you?".

Anya was just about to answer, but Buffy spits harshly at Cordelia Buffy looks over at Cordelia.

"Cordelia, can’t you keep your trap shut?" Cordelia stands up and walks over to Buffy.

"Hello – Miss thinks she owns everyone just because she’s got super freak powers. This is no longer the Buffy Summers show. So get over yourself. We came here to warn you. But if your gonna be too caught up in Buffy world, then, Angel, I think that we should go".

Buffy looks at Angel, then to Cordy, and sighs. "Cordelia, I’m sorry" Cordelia nods and continues to talk. Buffy goes to sit next to Riley. "So, why are you here. I ask that in the nicest possible way" Cordy looks at Buffy then continues to talk.

"We came back here to tell you Buffy, that you are going to die".

Cordy look over at Angel, and than to Wesley.

"Ok, I told her, lets go".

Buffy looks at her in disbelief.

"What do you mean that Buffy is going to die?"

Cordy looks over to Riley.

"In my vision. Hey, wait a minute, I don’t know you".

She turns to the rest of the room.

"Is he supposed to be here?"

Riley walks over to Buffy.

"Yes I’m supposed to be here. I’m Riley".

Cordelia still looks at him.

"And……?, I’m supposed to care that you Riley because??"

Buffy looks over at Cordelia.

"Cordelia, can you just say what you saw"

Riley turns to Cordelia.

"So, what do you mean that Buffy’s going to die?"

Angel starts to explain.

"She doesn’t know why or how, but…"

Angel is interrupted by Riley

"You know what Angel, I wasn’t talking to you. So shut your mouth, before I shut it for you"

Angel than suddenly stand up and goes over to where Riley is. Buffy sees what’s happening, and jumps in between them.

"You two, stop it…Just stop it!"

Angel straightens his jacket and goes off and sits by the bar. Angel notices Oz.

"Hey Oz"

Oz replies. "Hey"

Buffy starts to get angry.

"Okay, are we done with the pleasantries? Can we get to work PLEASE"

Cordy turns to Angel.

"She’s become even more touchy than the last time I saw her, don’t you think?"

Angel starts to chuckle. Buffy turns around and gives him a look. He immediately straightens up. But looks over at Cordy and grins. Just then Willow comes bursting in the room.

"Hey, guess what, I bought Amy back. See"

Willow points to the door and Amy comes walking in. Willow realizes that the room is packed with people.

"Angel, Cordy, Wesley, what are you doing here"

From behind Wesley Oz stands up.

"Hey Willow" Willow stares at Oz in shock.

"Oz, what are you doing here?"

Oz steps around Wesley and goes towards Willow.

"I’ve come back to help prevent the apocalypse – You look good"

Willow looks down "Thanks, what, the apocalypse?".

Angel stands up.

"You know, I don’t want to be the bad guy here and stop us from having these tension driven conversations. But, its obvious that something big is going to happen, seeing that the whole gang is back together again".

Angel looks over at Riley.

"Plus outsiders. But if we don’t put aside our personal feelings about each other, we are going to die".

Buffy realizes that Angel is right. Buffy stands up.

"Okay guys and girls. It research mode"

Oz and Willow go and sit on opposite side of the room. Buffy speaks.

"This is what we do know. Zeth, the eldest son of the First Evil. Angel you remember the first evil don’t you?"

Angel looks at her.

"Its kind of hard to forget seeing that she wanted me to loose my soul in y…"

Angel stops himself before he could finish his sentence.

"Yes, I do." Buffy looks at him.

"Well it’s the firsts son. We are not sure about how he uses his power. But we do know that in order for him to move from the spiritual world into the physical – he must take the souls of the two strongest worriors this world has. Our only hope lies with an Immortal witch name Destiny, and her using a spell from the book of Lasharn to defeat Zeth. Cordelia, what did you see in your vision. And since when did you start getting visions?"

Cordelia goes over and sits by Angel.

"That’s a long story".

Angel buts in.

"She kissed a demon that gets visions, he died, and she got his power"

Cordy looks at him.

"Well, wasn’t as long as I thought. Anyway, in my vision, I saw an underground crypt with pentacle symbols on every wall. There are four walls for those of you who didn’t get that part"

She gets a ‘Doh’ look from the crew.

"What? Just making sure. The pentacle symbols didn’t look like the normal pentacles. It had three circles, and each circle was a different color. One man put a book and arrow in the flame that is in the middle of the room. The arrow began to spin and then stabbed Buffy, that’s all I got".

Buffy starts to get a connection.

"Giles, In my dream – I saw the flame, the book, and the arrow – but the arrow stabbed you"

Buffy points to Angel

"And you also said that I had to find my own destiny – so that we can be free, Do you get anything?"

Buffy looks at Angel, and they take a moment. Riley seeing what’s happening interrupts them.

"Angel, do you get anything?"

Angel and Buffy snap out of their moment to find that everyone was looking at them. Angel feeling all embarrassed starts to stutter.

"Ah. No..I-I mean ..yes…Hang on"

Buffy looks up at Angel.

"What?"

Angel gets up and start to pace.

"Cordelia, how did Buffy die in you vision?"

Cordy thinks for a minute.

"You where stabbed in the heart with the spinning arrow".

Angel then turns to Buffy.

"Buffy, how did I die?"

Buffy considers his question.

"You where stabbed through the hear… That’s it!!. Cordy, in your vision, was the arrow spinning above a book?"

Cordelia nods "Yeah it was".

Buffy and Angel nod.

"Okay, Buffy and Cordelia got the same dream, just different aspect about them. What’s for sure.. Is that the arrow kills both Buffy and I, I'm also guessing that the book in the fire is the Book of Lasharn. And it seems to be in a crypt beneath Sunnydale. Seeing that it was out to kill both Buffy and I, I’m going to make suggestion, and say that maybe Buffy and I are the worriors?"

Giles looks at them.

"Angel, I think your right". Wesley nods.

"I think that you two have proven more than once that you two together are a force to be reckoned with."

Angel turns to Giles..

"Giles, to find a witch –is it possible for another witch to locate her, or even call her?"

Giles considers his question.

"Well technically.."

Buffy cuts in.

"Giles we can’t be left on a technicality, is it possible"

Giles rubs his forehead.

"It is possible, Wesley wouldn’t you say?"

Wesley walks over to where Giles is.

"Yes that would be correct. By calling on Xanthia – the witches messenger, she may be able to contact, or even deliver the witch to the one summoning her". Giles nods.

"What are you thinking Buffy?"

Buffy looks at Angel.

"Oh I’m way past thinking, Giles, you and Wes are going to need to help each other out on this one. Amy welcome back, I need you and Willow to work a spell. Think you can handle it?"

Amy nods.

"Great, Xander, you and Cordelia get the ingredient for the spell to summon – Im scared to say it - Xena" Giles sighs

"Xanthia, Buffy"

Buffy shrugs her shoulders.

"Whatever"

Cordelia is heard moaning.

"You think that because I got the visions that Id get special treatment – Big no!!. I come all the way back to Stinkydale, to be an erin girl. Great. Next time I get a vision, I’m not telling anyone."

Buffy just stares at Cordelia.

"What?"

Buffy rolls her eyes, but continues to talk.

"Anya, you can also help research up Xanthia, Destiny, the Lasharn Coven – look for anything that will help in anyway. Angel do you still know your way around Sunnydale’s underground?"

Angel replies. "Like the back of my hand., Why?".

Buffy walks over to her weapons bag.

"You and I are going to see if we can find this crypt with all the symbols".

Angel agrees. "There might be one near the cemetery".

She goes over and grabs her jacket off the coat hanger.

"Good, we’ll hit that, but first, I need to go and stock up on weapons".

Riley stands up. "I’m coming with you"

Buffy looks at Riley. "Um, Oh, Riley, um, I don’t think that it would be a great idea if you tagged along…because of your hand"

Riley pulls Buffy to the side.

"Since when did not come with you on a patrol. Buffy, I’m coming. I don’t trust him"

Buffy looks back at Angel who is watching them.

"What do you think he’s gonna do – Bite me?"

Riley nods. "Buffy, for all we know, he could be Angelus, just acting to be normal Angel to get you alone…It has been a long time since you’ve seen him".

Buffy stares at Riley. "Riley, you have nothing to worry about. I know Angel, better than you know".

Riley looks down. "Don’t remind me".

Buffy looks into his eyes.

"But don’t worry, I’m with you remember".

Buffy begins to walk out but Riley grabs her.

"I’m still coming"

Angel not wanting to patrol with Riley calls Oz.

"Look, its gonna take you at least 20 – 30 minutes to get your stuff from your dorm. So I’ll go check out these other spots, and we’ll meet at the in the cemetery. Oz, you with me"

Oz gets up and walks out with Angel. Buffy is left watching Angel go.

In the study, Giles hands the Book of Xanthia to Amy.

"Okay Amy, do you think that you can do this? I mean if your too weak, we’ll just have to find another way around it"

Amy takes the book off Giles.

"Giles, I’ll be fine. I can handle this".

Willow walks over to Xander.

"Okay, these are the ingredients that are needed. Now Xander do I have to stress the Importance of getting these ingredients here quickly?"

Xander gives her a dumb look.

"Gee Willow, I do get the importance – But I’m not quite sure whether I should walk or crawl – help me out on this one". Xander then storms off.

Cordy looks at Willow. "Oh great, not only am I stuck with him as a research mate, but now, he’s gonna be grumpy".

Cordelia walks after Xander. Amy comes walking in behind Willow.

"You ready. Remember, free of hate, stress, blank emotions. Can you do that?, even if Oz’s here?"

Willow looks down. Amy puts her arm around Willow.

"The pain, confusion, and the awkward silences are going to be over soon. Just give it time".

Willow starts to sob.

"I don’t know what I’m doing anymore. I had this clear path for my life, but now… I don’t know… I’ve lost myself somewhere along my path… I’m so confused…hurt ..I just wish that everything would go back to when they where the best.. Before Oz was biten. Life was so good back then.. and now….Nothing.."

Willow falls to the ground and starts to cry more and more. Her pain can be felt as she cried. Amy just sits there holding Willow in her arms.

"Willow, I want you to know, that you are my best Friend. You looked after me when I was a rat. You gave food, shelter, and friendship. You even bought be back. I just wanted to say thank you".

Willow continues to cry.

Buffy opens her weapons trunk and grabs out a couple of stakes, holy water, arrows, and her crossbow, with the arrow ready for shooting. Buffy hands the crossbow to Riley. "Here, you can use this" Riley takes it off Buffy.

"Thanks".

Buffy heads out of the room but turns back to check.

"I think that we’ve go everything"

Buffy heads out of the room, with Riley following behind her and closing the door.

Angel and Oz are driving around in Oz’s van.

"So, Willow was … with … with…Tara…wow. I never…I never thought that Willow was….um…well was a….."

Oz cuts in

"That she’s a lesbian"

Angel sighs. "Well yeah, you two seemed so tight you know?"

Oz face saddens, and Angel sees it.

"Sorry Oz, I know how it feels to love something so much and having it hurt you. Is sucks"

Oz sighs. "I still love her Angel. And I regret the fact that I left her for so long..I…"

Angel spots something in the cemetery.

"Oz, stop the van".

Oz stops the van.

"What is it?"

Angel jumps out of the van and continues to look into the cemetery. He turns to Oz.

"Go and find Buffy. Tell her where I am. You’d probably catch her at Stevenson if you hurry".

Oz nods and takes off. Angel heads off into the cemetery. He sees 3 more vampires walking through the cemetery and head off into the old building. He reaches the door to the old building. He kneels down, and looks in through the staircase rails to see what’s happening down stairs. From behind Angel this hand taps him on the shoulder.

"Agh, Buffy you gave me a fright!"

Angel catches his breath and Buffy cant help but smile.

"So what’s the what?"

Riley looks at Buffy confused.

"Saw one vampire arrive here on its own. He then met up with two of his friends, and they all headed into this building. Did Oz tell you I was here?"

Buffy shrugged her shoulders.

"No, I felt you here".

Buffy cringes when she realizes what she said.

"I mean...I didn’t....No."

Angel covers her mouth with his hand.

"Sshh".

One of the vampires down stairs in the building looks up to the doorway. Buffy removes his hand from her mouth Angel then looks at her.

"Sorry" Riley looks at Angel is utter disgust in his eyes. "I’m going in. Angel cover me"..

Buffy heads off into the building, and Angel follows from behind. Riley having about enough that he can handle, grabs Angels arm and pulls him back outside of the building.

"Riley, what are you doing? Buffy needs..."

Riley then hits Angel with right upper cut. Angel just stands there and rubs his jaw.

"Don’t do that!"

Riley then tries to punch Angel again, but Angel ducked his punch and gave him a left and right in the gut, sending Riley across the lawn, landing against a large head stone. Buffy hearing the commotion comes running out of the building. Angel is leaning against the doorframe, while Riley sits up against the headstone.

"Angel what did you do?"

Buffy whispers angrily to Angel, and heads off to help Riley stand up. Angel knew that there was no use in arguing, so he walks off in the opposite direction. Not looking back.

Back at Giles Apartment Anya, Cordelia, Wesley and Xander are standing outside of the house.

"Gee, why couldn’t they have done the spell out here, I’m cold!"

Everyone looks at Cordelia and all Xander could do is smile. Anya sees Xander smiling at Cordelia

"What are you smiling at?"

Xander quickly removes his smile on his face and looks down. In the lounge, Willow and Amy are on their knees, kneeling down on each side of the pentacle that is on the floor, and they are in the midst of casting their spell.

"Blessed be the one called Xanthia - witches messenger thou aimist to be. "

Lights start to form around Willow and Amy, causing things to fly and smash due to the force

"Bring forth Destiny of the Lasharn coven - the one that we are out to seek."

While they are casting, the sound of thunder becomes loud, their voices start to become more intense, more defiant of what’s happening around them and they continue on

"Witches of the past/ present and future, except this lasting and true plea. For without the one that we seek - no more life there is to be. Xanthia - I Command thee bring forth Destiny"

Amy’s eyes go all white, while Willows go red

"Xanthia - I command thee, bring forth Destiny -I command thee - I command thee - So shall it be".

With a loud blast, and different colors surrounding them, the lights all explode and they are left in darkness. The pentacle symbol begins to glow. A light then flashes from the pentacle. Then there is a bright white light, then darkness. The candles that where blown out by the winds when they where casting where starting to burn again. Amy and Willow see this figure lying on the pentacle.

"It’s her, It’s Destiny"

Amy gets up and walks over to Destiny. Willow sees that Destiny is naked and then turns to Giles

"Giles come on, show me where you covers are"

Giles looks at Willow than leads them out of the room.

Amy is kneeling over Destiny and covering her with her jersey.

"Where am I?"

Amy continues to cover her

"You are in Sunnydale, in America - we summoned you cause we need your help"

Destiny sits up and takes Amy’s jersey off of her

"This wont be necessary" Destiny waves her hand across her body and in that instant was fully dressed. Amy was amazed at what she saw.

"Who are you? Which coven are you from?"

Amy looks down

"My name is Amy - I have no coven - its just me"

Destiny looks at her

"Your powers are great but weak - you have not even tapped into your absolute power. You shall be taught. Why am I here"

Willow walks in.

"We need your help, you are the only who can help us. The son of the 1st evil has been awaken from his eternal slumber, and we thought that you’d like to kill again".

Destiny takes what Willow says.

"If you are speaking the truth, then we have no time to waste. Is he in true form?"

Willow looks over at Giles.

"No. Zeth has not yet crossed over from the spirit world into the physical, if that’s what you where meaning"

Destiny looks at him "And you are?"

Giles is taken back by her bluntness.

"Rupert Giles."

Destiny continues.

"Then we have approximately 3 hrs before he rises" Giles looks concerned

"3 hrs, why so short"

Destiny walks over to him.

"Because the 1st half of the curse has been completed - I felt it the moment I was called"

Giles gives her a puzzled look.

"The book of Lasharn was stolen by the demonic council. On top of it was placed a arrow with designs to protect the book from anyone evil who might try to open it"

During the time that Destiny was speaking she showed those that are in the room a image of the book.

"But Anton, a warlock turned bad, and now a powerful demon was able to cast a spell, and turn the protection of the arrow into the arrow of darkness".

Giles removes his glasses, and wipes them with his cloth.

"The arrow of darkness. I've heard of it, but I was lead to believe that it was merely a myth"

Destiny looks at him.

"Mr. Rupert Giles"

Giles intervenes. "Just call me Giles".

Destiny nods her head and continues to speak.

"You where once a watcher, weren’t you?"

Giles is amazed. "Yes, how did you know?"

Destiny dismisses the question.

"That’s not important, what’s important is that you know myths always originate from somewhere. The dark arrow is much more than a myth, it is now a reality".

Giles puts his glasses back on and considers what she said.

"Therefore if that is true, then the only way to activate the arrow, is the blood of pure hate is upon it."

Destiny nods her head.

"Giles, you finally caught on. The arrow has been removed from the book, and the blood of true hate has been absorbed into the arrow".

Willow after seeing the image that Destiny showed of the Book, realized that she has seen the arrow.

"Oh my god Giles, I've seen that arrow".

Everyone turns to Willow.

"What do you mean, you’ve seen the arrow?"

Willow walks over to the image that Destiny has going.

"I saw this on Buffy’s crossbow. It had these designs on it, but it wasn’t this color, it was black."

Giles heads outside to where Xander and them are.

"Xander, I need you to go over to Buffy’s dorm room. Find her crossbow, and bring it here. Just in case it isn’t there, go looking for Buffy make sure that Arrow isn't fired. Cordelia, go with Xander, you might get a vision that might pinpoint the exact location of the arrow"

Just then Oz returns. "Hey, what’s going on?"

Giles turns to Oz.

"Have you seen Buffy?"

Oz shrugs his shoulders.

"That’s why I came here, Angel saw this vampire or something go into the cemetery, so he got out and told me to go over to Buffy’s dorm room, but when I got there, she wasn’t there. So I guessed she might of come here. I see that guess is wrong."

Amy, Destiny, Willow, come out of the house. Xander then stands up and goes over to Cordy.

"Cordy, can you get anything, can you see anything"

Cordelia looks at Xander.

"Gee Xander, I cant just turn this thing on, its not easily turned on, like some people"

Anya hears that last remark and bursts.

"What does that mean. Xander, you slept with her. Next thing you’re going to tell me that you slept with Willow too"

Destiny looks at Anya.

"To the power that be - and the powers within - I call upon thee"

Destiny is now surrounded by a globe of purple light.

"I ask that you remove those of us that are not going to be the overall help for this mission. Keep here the ones who’s mere presence will define the outcome - I command thee - I command thee - So shall it be"

The light that engulfed Destiny spreads out and surrounds Anya. Then Anya disappears.

"Anya, Anya, Where did she go?"

Xander walks over to Destiny and grabs her by her collar.

"What did you do with Anya?"

Destiny pushes Xander off of her.

"Anya is fine, she’s safely tucked away for the time being. She is no help for our cause - we didn’t need her. Don’t worry, if I somehow die, which is highly unlikely, or Zeth is defeated, she will return to this spot".

Xander realizes that Destiny was right.

"So what do we do now?. Hey,... why didn’t it take Wesley?"

Wesley gives Xander an incredulous look.

Everyone is gathered in Giles apartment discussing what to do.

"True hate - I don’t think that Buffy would have activated the arrow cause I don’t think she hates anyone. She was even able to forgive Faith - now if that’s possible than I doubt that true hate rests in her".

Xander snaps his fingers

"Riley, I has to be Riley’s blood. Did you guys see when Buffy mentioned Angels name he became jealous man, from Jealousia - I’m sure that there is real pure hate going on there!"

Giles looks at Xander.

"That’s it Xander except for the Jealousia. Oh dear..."

Giles turns to Oz.

"Did you say that you left Angel alone at the cemetery".

Oz nods.

"That’s where they said that they’d meet."

Wesley interrupts Oz.

"So Buffy is going to meet Angel at the cemetery with Riley, oh dear, what if they have already go the arrow.?"

Giles realizing what needs to be done starts to give out orders.

"Xander, You , Cordelia, Willow and Oz, go to the cemetery and find Buffy... Amy, I need you to stay back here and assist Destiny in casting the spell. But first we need retrieve the Book Of Lasharn"

Destiny interrupts Giles.

"The Book can be bought to me via magic, Amy, you are the one to help me"

Amy nods her head. Willow and the rest of the crew head off to the cemetery.

Angel continues to walk through the cemetery to blow off steam.

"Angel, ANGEL"

Angel turns around to see Buffy chasing him, but he continues to walk.

"Angel, wait!!"

Buffy realizes that Angel isn’t gonna stop so she runs up to him and grabs his arm and turns him to her.

"What was that about? Is that how you deal with your problems, you lash out at people"

Angel gets angry.

"Buffy you are so blinded by your hate for me that you wont even realize that I did nothing - I did nothing Buffy. He can’t handle having me around, knowing what we shared. Do you even remember what we shared Buffy?"

Buffy looks hurt by what Angel just said, then angrily replies.

"How could you even ask me that, Of course I remember what we shared... the life that I had with you... But Angel times change.."

before Buffy couldn’t finish her sentence Angel cuts in.

"Its not just time that has changed Buffy, You have too, and I've got to say that it’s not for the better.. But you want to know something, one thing that hasn’t changed is that I still care about you"

Buffy is taken back by what he is saying.

"Although I’m on the other side of the country, I can still feel you, I feel your pain and sorrow - your happiness and contentment and that is about as close to true happiness as I’m gonna get".

Angel sees Buffy is in shock.

"I would never lie to you"

Angel begins to walk off.

"Angel, wait!"

Angel stops and turns around , Buffy moves in closer to him.

"Your not the only one who still cares. But we can never.."

Angel cuts in

"Never be, I know. But Buffy, don’t ever think that I am out to get you, or even hurt you. All I want is your happiness ..... even if it’s with someone else"..

Buffy hugs him and whispers in his ear.

"If only things where different". Angel closes his eye and holds Buffy.

"I know"

They stand there in the cemetery just holding each other. After a while they let each other go. Buffy tries to hide her tears but to no avail.. Angel wipes away her tears, and then kisses her gently on the cheek. Buffy and Angel hear someone yelling for help.

"Oh my god, its Riley!"

Buffy runs towards the old building with Angel following closely behind her.

Buffy and Angel come slowly walking down the stairs, and sees Riley being tied up by two vampires.

"Ok, I see two here on the right, can you see any others?"

Angel looks around and sees 3 just beyond the steps.

"3, on the left, by the steps. What’s the plan?"

Buffy checks the situation out.

"You take left, I take right?, Don’t get hurt".

Buffy and Angel then creep down the stairs. Angel stakes the first Vampire leaving him two.

"Is this a private party or can anyone join?"

Buffy, is then chased by the two vampires. The fight is on.

In Giles apartment, Amy and Destiny are in the middle of casting their spell.

"Lasting fire of life - Bringers of love and Strife - Give us guidance that we need - to find the book that we seek. --Powers in the majestic line I summon thee"

The candles that surround Amy and Destiny have blue and purple flames. In the middle of the pentacle, sits the book of Lasharn. Destiny gets up, goes over to the book.

"Welcome home"

She picks it up, then goes over to the bar.

"Okay, we need a spell that will defeat Zeth once and for all".

She opens the book then speaks to it.

"show me the spell that would defeat Zeth"

The books pages begin to flip, then it stops on specific page. Destiny reads it out.

"To vanquish Zeth: Son of the first"

Destiny looks at what is needed.

"Nothing is needed for this spell. But it needs to be done now. Time is ticking away, and Amy, if you aren’t ready, then it’s all over before it has begun".

Amy looks down to her hands that are fidgeting.

"I’m ready, Destiny. Lets do it."

In Oz’s van, tension in brewing.

"You know what Xander, you where the worst thing to ever happen to me. I must have been delirious at the time".

Xander looks at her. "Is that so?"

Cordelia looks at him. "Yes that is so".

Xander considers her answer.

"Then why may I ask, did you tell Buffy that you loved me?"

Cordelia looks disgusted, and Oz and Willow listen intensely.

"What?, Xander what planet are you from... When did I tell Buffy that?"

Xander moves in closer to her.

"When Mr. Trick set up that Slayerfest, and thought that you where Faith. Come on Cordy, I’m sure your little mind can think that far back"..

Cordelia looks disgusted.

"I-I was wrong"

Xander clicks his fingers.

"Ah ha, I was right. And you admit it!!"

Cordy crosses her arms.

"Yes Xander, I admit when I make a mistake".

Oz and Willow remain quite.

"Will, are you Ok?, I’m sorry for not telling you that I was coming back. I should have told you. I didn’t want you to hate the fact that I’m here. Once this is over, I’ll leave".

Willow looks down.

"Oz, I don’t hate you, I never have. Its just things are different now, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want you around. I-I kind of still love you. I miss you a lot. And lately, I’ve been very confused about where my life has been heading, and then you show up, and it doesn’t make it any easier. That’s why I was so distant. But what I do know is that even though I don’t know where I’m at right now, I still want us to be friends, If that’s alright with you".

Oz is quiet, and Willow looks worried.

"Oz?"

Oz looks at her.

"Will, I want you to know that, what ever you may do, or may become. I want you to remember that you always got me. I’ll still love you, no matter what".

Willow looks at him and they both smile. Xander and Cordy have become quiet as they listened to Willow and Oz.

"Oz, buddy, I think that this is us".

Xander points to the cemetery and sees the old

building.

Amy and Destiny prepare for their spell.

"Remember Amy, this spell is powerful, but I know that you can handle it. Just remember to breathe. Ready?"

Amy nods. Destiny lights a candle and begins to chant.

"I call upon heavens" Amy light another candle. "I call upon the stars" Then they chant their spell together. "I call upon all that is pure. Innocence’s of the heart. Essence of life, fire of fury. descendant of old - come be our jury"

In the old building, Buffy and Angel are still fighting off the vampires. Buffy stakes her last one, and runs over to untie Riley.

"Come on, we’ve got to get out of here".

Riley runs over to the table that the Vampires put the crossbow on. He grabs it and follows Buffy up the stairs. Another vampire drops on Buffy, throwing her to the ground. Riley goes over to help Buffy, but is thrown back by the vampire. Buffy is up against the wall as the vampire starts too lean in to bite her neck.

"Angel, help me. Agh"

Angel seeing what was happening hurries and stakes the 2 vampires that he was facing.

"Buffy, I’m coming".

Angel heads over to her, but is stopped by another vamp.

Amy and Destiny continue to do their spell.

"Eternal sleep, was not enough - bring forth his death - take down the demon that is known to be Zeth. Rise mystic spirits - help us in our plea - destroy the one named Zeth, so the world can still be free"

Destiny and Amy are now levitating above the pentacle on the ground. The pentacle symbol starts to burn - and purple and blue color surround and engulf them.

"So shall it be, let it be done - deliver us - so that we’ll still be free"

Amy breaks off into her own chant.

"Diana Hecete, Bring forth the power that mystifies - make sure that Zeth will die - I command thee!!"

Amy and Destiny fall to the ground. And Giles and Wesley look on.

Riley looks over to Angel, who has just staked the vampire that attacked him.

"Take the life of the undead - only then will she love you"

Riley looks around. "Who said that?"

The voice repeats itself, still whispering.

"Take the life of the undead - only then will she love you"

Riley stares at Angel - his glare burns into Angel’s back. Angel can feel Riley's gaze on him, so Angel turns to look at Riley, and is attacked by another Vampire. Riley lifts the crossbow up and takes aim at Angel.

Buffy, after staking the vampire that attacked her - looks over at Angel, who is fighting another vampire. In the corner of her eye, she sees something flicker. She turns to see Riley taking aim at Angel. Buffy begins to panic. Riley’s finger is on the trigger.

"Oh no, RILEY NO!"

Riley turns to Buffy and then back to Angel.

"Only then will she love" Riley grins evilly.

"Good bye Angel".

Buffy starts to run towards Angel.

"Oh, god, Angel – no, don’t, Riley NO - ANGEL LOOK OUT".

Riley pulls the trigger. The arrow glides through the air.

Just then, Oz, Willow, Xander and Cordelia come running down the stairs. Willow sees what’s happening.

"Oh god"

They see Riley pull the trigger and Buffy running to Angel to save him. Willow screams.

"Riley, NO"

Willow and the rest of them watch as Buffy is shot in her back, which penetrated her heart. Buffy, feels the arrow as it goes through her, She closes her eyes and yelps in pain. She then falls back onto Angel, who has been shot through the heart himself. Buffy and Angel fall to the ground. Angel’s face changed from his vampire face into his real face as he falls. He lands on his back, and Buffy lies on his chest. Willow, Xander, Oz and Cordelia run towards Buffy and Angel who are lying limp on the ground. Riley drops the crossbow.

"Oh my god, what have I done?".

Buffy moves her head and sees the blood come out of Angel’s wound.

"Angel, y-your heart is bleeding"

She looks up into Angels eyes, and sees the pain in his eyes. Tears start to swell in Buffy’s eyes. She tries to blink them away, but a single tear runs down her cheek. Blood starts to drip out of her mouth and land on Angel’s chest. Then, as if in sequence – their eyes close and their bodies become lifeless. Willow, Xander, Oz and Cordelia all kneel down beside Buffy and Angel. Willow starts to cry. Xander turns to Cordelia

"Cordy, run. Go call an Ambulance, Go!!!"

Xander tries to cover Buffy’s wound.

"Buffy, come on, Buffy" Xander starts to slap Buffy’s face.

"Come on Buff. Don’t you die on me, you hear me". Xander is now in tears.

"Buffy, wake up damn it!!."

Xander’s voice has become shaky, and he starts to pound on Buffy’s chest. Cordelia runs up the stairs and out of the building. Willow is trying to keep Angel from bleeding to death.

"Angel, wake up". She continues to hold his wound, and looks down on him.

"Why are you still here, Xander why is her bleeding?"

Willow then realizes.

"Xander, Angel is human!"

Xander looks up at Willow then down to Angel.

"Oh my god"

They continue to try and resuscitate Buffy and Angel.

"Oh my god, Buffy"

Riley comes from behind Xander and sees Buffy lying limp on the ground. Xander looks back over his shoulder, and then looks over at Oz.

"Oz, here, come and do this".

Oz does as Xander asks. Xander stands up and punches Riley in the gut. Riley falls to the ground. Xander straightens up

"Get out - get out before I beat you so hard that you wish that it was you who dies. Get out!!!"

Riley shakes his head.

"No, I want to stay here".

Xander smacks him another one.

"You’re not welcome here" Riley stands up and walks out.

Moments later, the ambulance arrives and takes Buffy and Angel off to the hospital.

In the hospital waiting room, Willow, Oz, Xander and Cordelia sit around waiting for the doctors to come out. Oz holds Willow as she cries into his shoulder, and Cordelia comforts Xander as they all sit around on the waiting room couches.. Giles comes bursting through the door, with Joyce by his side. They head for the reception desk. Joyce speaks frantically.

"Where is she? I want to see my daughter".

One of the nurses walks up to address Joyce.

"Miss, I’m gonna have to ask you to calm down."

Joyce slams her hand on the desk.

"Don’t you dare tell me to calm down. My daughter is somewhere in here, and I want to know where!".

Xander hearing all the commotion looks over his shoulder.

"Giles, over here".

Giles sees Xander and ushers Joyce to go with him. The rest of the crew stands up.

"Where’s Buffy, what happened?"

Giles makes Joyce sit down, and takes the seat beside her.

"Xander what happened?".

The rest of the crew also sits down. Xander begins to talk.

"We got to the cemetery, and we could hear fighting in the old building. So we went to check it out. We got inside, only to see Riley taking aim, and shooting at Angel".

Giles has a look of disbelief on his face.

"Oh dear"..

Xander continues.

"Buffy realized that Riley was going to shoot Angel, so she ran over to Angel to try and intercept the arrow, but they both got shot in the heart…"

Xander voice begins to break. Oz turns to Giles.

"Giles there is another thing…"

Cordelia sees the doctor over at the reception desk. She then interrupts Oz.

"Hey, isn’t that Buffy and Angel’s doctor?"

They all look up and agree that it is. Giles looks over at Cordelia.

"What do you mean Angel’s doctor?"

By then the doctor has reached everyone sitting in the waiting room. Xander looks worried as the doctor isn’t smiling.

"Hey doc, give it to us straight".

The doctor starts to speak.

"Well, they made it through the surgery, surprisingly. But there was extensive damage caused by whatever shot them. The next twenty four hours are going to be the determining factor".

Joyce tugs on the doctor’s coat.

"Can I see her?" The doctor looks at her and nods.

In room 316, Buffy and Angel’s bodies lie next to each other in their beds. Joyce runs to Buffy’s side and leans in to hug her.

"Oh Buffy, my baby" Xander and the rest of the crew realizing that this is Joyce’s time begin to walk out. Joyce turns to them walking out.

"Where are you all going?"

Willow, with tears in her eyes, looks back at Joyce then to Buffy.

"We thought that you should have your own time with Buffy".

Joyce waves them to come back in.

"You are her family as well".

They all come back in. Willow walks over to the opposite side of Buffy’s bed, grabs her hand, and starts to cry again. Giles walks over to Angel’s bed. He touches Angel’s chest and feels his hearts faint beat.

"Oh dear, What have you gotten yourself into Angel?"

Cordelia walks over beside Giles.

"Giles, why is he still here?, was he supposed to turn to ashes"

Giles is unable to explain.

Buffy comes walking in from pitch blank darkness, into a crypt with only a single flame burning. She looks around confused.

"I’ve seen this room before".

She sees the arrow of darkness floating in the flame. She goes over to it, and grabs it out of the flame. She gets a flashback of what happened. She sees herself fighting vampires, and looking over to Angel. She looks over to Riley who is taking aim at Angel. She runs over to try and push Angel out of the way, but is shot. Then her flashback goes blank.

Buffy gasps for air.

"Angel?, Angel?"

She looks around the room in a panic. A pair of arms grabs her around the waist. She throws them off of her. She turns to that it is Angel.

"Angel" She says excitedly. "Angel, I thought I lost you. I didn’t know whether I’d see you again"

Buffy hugs Angel. After a while, they let each other go.

"Buffy, I’d hate to the one keeping this at a professional level. But we need to find a way out of here. Do we even know where here is?" Buffy looks around.

"Maybe the spell didn’t work, and maybe this is the post apocalypse".

Then a voice from in the flame interrupts Buffy.

"Or maybe the spell did work, ruining my easiest chance of getting out of here. No matter, there are other ways to skin a cat.".

Then from out of the flame stand a man. Buffy looks at him in curiosity.

"Let me guess. You’re the all and mighty power Zeth".

Zeth smiles.

"You’d be correct. So you’re the Slayer? Well your not what I was expecting".

Buffy puts her hands on her hips.

"Well sorry to disappoint you".

Zeth laughs bitterly.

"No that’s fine. I don’t mind at all. Ah and you".

Zeth turns to Angel.

"You’re the Angelus that everyone was raving on about, I would say that I’m pleased to meet you, but then that would be lying".

Angel stares at him with intense hate.

"Well, I’d say the feeling is mutual".

Zeth grins evilly.

"Aren’t you two a pack of sarcastic using children. Look, let’s get to business. You two are going to do something for me".

Buffy shrugs her shoulders.

"Yeah what’s that?"

Zeth walks sternly up to Buffy and grabs her by her hair.

"Your gonna kill each other"!!

Giles and the rest of the crew come walking out of Buffy and Angel’s room, leaving Joyce in there by herself. Giles speaks to the group.

"Angel is human, and I want to know why. I have this feeling that if we find out why Angel has become human, maybe then we can…"

Giles trails off. Xander raises his eyebrows.

"Giles what are you talking about?".

Giles rubs his forehead.

"The doctor said that, its practically a miracle that these two are still alive"

Xander buts in as Giles goes silent.

"And?"

Giles looks at Xander.

"Can you give me a chance to think Xander? Now, I’m thinking that maybe we’re dealing with something super natural. If you are all up to it, we could find out".

Xander looks around.

"I’m in"

Willow looks at everyone else.

"Are we in?" Cordy and Oz nod their heads.

"We’ll meet back at my apartment in a ten minutes, well talk about what we are going to do when we get there, I've got to go and pick something up".

They all head off out of the hospital. Giles walks back into Buffy and Angel’s room.

"Ah, Joyce. Everyone has gone back to my apartment. I think that maybe something else is the cause of this. I just wanted you to know what we where doing".

Joyce looks up from Buffy to Giles.

"Shes just a baby Giles. How could something like this happen to her?"

Giles walks over to Joyce and holds her.

"Joyce, we’re going to find out what’s doing this".

Joyce lets go.

"Thank you"

Giles walks over to Buffy’s bed and kisses her on the forehead. He then walks out.

At Giles Apartment, Giles is giving out orders. Destiny, Amy and Wesley are also there.

"The more we find out about Zeth, the more understanding we’ll have about him. Destiny, are you sure there wasn’t a side effect to the spell that you and Amy cast?"

Destiny looks over at Giles.

"There was none. Let me reassure the lot of you. The spell worked. Zeth has not become of this world."

Giles moves around the room.

"Ok, well lets all get started".

The group then goes off and starts to research.

Zeth walks around Buffy and Angel.

"Its quite easy. Slayer, either you kill Angelus, or he kills you. That’s all I ask".

Buffy follows him as he walks around them.

"Ok, would you like me to kill him slowly or quick?"

Zeth smiles.

"Slowly, but if you think that you cant handle him screaming. maybe a quick death would be more appropriate".

Buffy laughs.

"Yeah right. You can’t kill something that is already dead"

Zeth walks over to the flame.

"That’s where you’re wrong Slayer. You and your lover boy here, are not dead, your merely between worlds"

Buffy gives him a confused look.

"Look, since you ruined one of my chances to escape this world, I think that its fitting that you two help me in the other ritual that can free me."

Angel looks at him intensely.

"What other ritual?"

Wesley looks up from the book that he was reading.

"The Test!"

Giles walks over to Wesley who holds out the book for Giles to read.

"The Spiritual Test. If the arrow of darkness does not free Zeth by taking the lives of the two strongest human worriors, their souls are taken from the physical world, into the spiritual world. They are then subjected to the Spiritual Test. The Spiritual Test is a test where the two worriors face off against each other in a battle till the death. Thus freeing Zeth. The Demonic Council designed this test to fail. Who ever enters the test, will die".

Giles looks up from the book to see everyone in the room looking worried.

Buffy continues to look at Zeth.

"So you think that Angel and I are just going to this test out of the goodness of our hearts. Guess again loser".

Zeth with the flick of his finger sends Buffy across the room. Angel tries to attack him, but he is also no match. Zeth grabs his arm and angrily growls.

"Angel, I forgot to tell you that you are now human. You have no strength. You are nothing more than a ""has been vampire".

He then throws Angel towards Buffy.

"Although, I wouldn’t mind continuing to hurt the two of you. But you two have a test that you have to fail. So good luck".

Zeth fades off into the darkness, leaving Buffy and Angel looking after him.

"Oh my god Giles, the more delayed the spell is done, the more likely they are going to loose".

Willow walks over to show Giles the page that she was reading.

"It also says that we can bring back Buffy and Angel by using the spell of retrieving souls, but has to be done before they kill each other in the test".

Destiny walks over to the Book of Lasharn.

"Book, show me the spell of Retrieving souls"

The books pages then start to flip. The rest of the crew watch on as the pages nearly come to the end of the book. The book stops. Destiny reads out what is said.

"This spell is used to summon back the souls who are trapped in the spiritual world, back to their rightful place. I think we have a winner".

Destiny reads on.

"This spell can only be cast by the three using the pentacle of trinity. In order for the spell to work – the three must be in three different locations – significant to the souls that are to retrieved. On the night of a full moon, by signal of the wolf howling to the moon, the witches will all together chant the spell. By doing so, the souls will return to their rightful place".

Everyone looks on with disbelief. Giles thinks for a moment.

"The full moon is on tonight, therefore we need to do the spell tonight or we will loose them"

Willow looks over at Oz.

"Well we have our wolf to howl to the moon. But does it mean about the significant locations?"

Wesley thinks as well.

"Significant location could mean anything".

Cordelia clicks her fingers.

"I think I know. Could the three significant locations be the most important moments in both their lives. Like turning points?"

Giles looks over at Cordelia.

"Cordelia, your absolutely right. You and Xander have been coming up with the right suggestions all day. What have you two been doing?"

Cordelia frowns. "Nothing, Thank god"

Xander looks over at Cordelia. "Like I’d ever want you again, Miss stuck up herself"

Giles continues to elaborate on his thoughts.

"If we think about it. The three have to be in three significant places – therefore, there are only three significant moments to choose from"

Xander jumps in.

"Yeah but there could be a lot".

Oz interrupts Xander.

"Not exactly, if you think about it. If we were talking turning points in their lives, I’d have to go with when Angel turned into a vampire. When Buffy was first called"

Xander interrupts him

"How are we supposed to know when Buffy got her first phone call?"

He gets a look from everyone in the room. Cordelia walks over him.

"Called as in called by the council – to be the Slayer, Duh"

Xander grins embarrassed. Oz continues

"And the third place would be where they were killed – I m guessing that the third had to do with them being together".

Giles taps Oz on the shoulder.

"Excellent work Oz" Oz shrugs.

"Thanks" Willow is lost in thought.

"If we are to go to these places that means going to L.A, Ireland and to cemetery, and how do we know who goes where?"

Destiny reads the book and then looks over at Willow.

"There are three colors that the pentacle represents. And there are three colors that the three are known by. Red, Purple and Blue. Red goes to LA, that’s you Willow, Purple goes to Ireland, that’s me, and Blue goes to the cemetery, that’s you Amy"

"How are we going to get there?"

Amy asks, Destiny looks at them.

"Xanthia is going to help us – she will deliver us to these locations".

Giles claps his hand together.

"Well lets get going – well set up in here, while the rest of you go and wait outside".

Xnader and them all do as they are told and head outside. Cordy can be heard moaning.

"Again we have to go and wait out in the cold – gee I wish I was the witch freak".

Cordelia closes the door behind her as she walks out.

"We must firstly call upon Xanthia again to send us where we need to go".

Destiny, Amy and Willow all kneel down a triangle. Destiny leads them in the chanting

"Blessed be the one named Xanthia – witches messenger thou aimist to be – I call upon you my sister – help us."

Xanthia appears surrounded in purple, blue and red lights. She smiles.

"Sister, you call me again – what is needed of me?"

Destiny speaks to her softly.

"I need to be in L.A and my friend here needs to be in Ireland – we are the three"

Xanthia looks over at Willow and Amy.

"So shall it be"

Xanthia orders the red light to pick Willow up and then orders the purple to pick Destiny up, then they all disappear. Amy is left in the circle alone.

"Giles, it worked. They are there, I need to go the cemetery" Giles looks at Oz.

"Oz, when you change – you need to be in the cemetery, so you and Amy head off to the cemetery"

Oz looks worried.

"What if I attack Amy?"

Amy looks up at Oz.

"You wont" Oz accepts that and then him and Amy head off to the cemetery.

Buffy and Angel are still looking around but can only see the flame.

"What do we do now?"

Buffy shrugs her shoulders.

"I don’t know" The flame grows bigger and engulfs Buffy and Angel.

"Buffy, Buffy, what’s happening?"

Angel tries to grab Buffy’s arm, but they both disappear.

Angel, stands in the same alley way where Darla bit him. He looks around and sees no one.

"What are you thinking?"

Angel turns around to see Darla looking at him. She has blood all over her mouth and a cut across her chest.

"I’m thinking, what’s for dinner?".

Angel sees Buffy walking out of her house. Buffy looks around, not seeing Angel watching her.

"Isn’t she a thing of beauty"

Darla doesn’t look impressed.

"She looks tasty. Go on – I know you want to".

Angel kisses Darla roughly, cutting her lip. He then pursues Buffy.

Amy and Oz are set up in the old building.

"I have to leave, I can feel me change".

Amy grabs his arm.

"You don’t need too. I’m safe".

Amy kneels down on her side of the pentacle, and awaits Oz to change. Oz starts to change. He sees Amy, but does nothing – he runs up the stairs and out of the building. Oz stops at the entrance at the cemetery. He turns back and sees the moon clearly. He then lets out a big howl. Amy in the old building, Destiny in L.A at the high school, and Willow in the alley way in Ireland- all hear Oz, then in sequence they begin their chanting.

"I call forth the power that is.
I call forth the power that was
I call forth the power that is coming into being
Hear me"

Angel follows Buffy into the Berkley Cemetery. She stops near a grave.

"Why, how thoughtful of you, you bring flowers to those that aren’t worthy of receiving such gifts and thoughtfulness".

Buffy looks back at him startled.

"Who are you?, Why are you following?"

Angel smiles, then vamps out. Buffy screams and begins to run. The faint sound of the Destiny, Amy and Willow are heard chanting as Buffy and Angel are running through the cemetery.

Willow has become trapped in a trance, as are Destiny and Amy

"Powers of the witches rise, Ascendant masters watchful eyes. Lights of power fill my being, be the one that I am seeing."

Lights begin to surround them. Red lights surround Willow, purple lights surround Destiny and blue lights surround Amy.

Buffy looks back as she sees Angel catching up to her. She looks forward and continues to run.

Destiny, Amy and Willow’s chants become more intense, as the lights that surround them become fiercer.

"We call upon Lasaryth - the keeper of the essence of life. We summon you here and now - to deliver us from this strife. We ask that you return these souls to their rightful place - So that generations of human life can remain safe"

The lights that surround Destiny, Amy and Willow, start to circle them. The lights become more intense, then they explode.

Buffy is still running from Angel. The faint chants of Destiny, Amy and Willow become louder. Flash backs start to happen as they run. Buffy sees the day that she was first called, by the watcher council. She sees the first vampire that she ever staked. She sees the High School Gym is full of vampires and her flicking a match and throwing it into the gym. Then she sees her new home in Sunnydale. Her first day at Sunnydale High School. Meeting Cordelia, Willow and Oz. Then Angel.

Angel gains on Buffy as she is disorientated by her flashbacks. He then has his. Angel sees himself in pub with his friend getting drunk, and hitting on the whores. He sees Darla biting him and turning him into a vampire. In a church in London, He sees himself drinking Drucila - and turning her into his obsession. He’s seen running from Gypsy’s. They then restore his soul. He remembers Whistler going to him and asking him to help the fight against evil. Angel then remembers when he first saw Buffy, and how he felt. Then moving to Sunnydale to wait for Buffy- Then Buffy and Angel first meet.

Willow, Amy, and Destiny are now together in Sunnydale. They stand in the cemetery looking down at two headstones. The three different colors that where surrounding each of the witches are now engulfing each other. They flow in a circle in the middle of the triangle that the witches have made. The lights are now closely surrounding the headstone which read

"Here lies Buffy Summers : Born 17 January 1981 - Died 29 of February 2001. Beloved Daughter of Hank and Joyce Summers. Will always be remember by her friends Willow, Xander, Oz, Cordelia and Giles" And on the other headstone reads. "Here lies our Angel of mercy. Forever be the day that your souls will be free"

Then in sequence. Willow, Amy and Destiny all open their eyes. Willow’s eyes are dark red, Amy’s eyes are blue and Destiny’s eyes are dark purple. They continue to chant, as the voices become louder, stronger and fierce.

"Bringith the night - call forth the day - let the Slayers soul be one with her body"

Thunder and lighting appear, then rain starts to fall heavily.

Buffy and Angel’s flashbacks become more intense, but they still run from each other. They both see their first meeting. Buffy sees her inviting Angel into her home - finding out that he’s a vampire. Their first kiss Angel sees himself helping Buffy when she was drowning by the hand of the master. Buffy sees her and Angel in a passionate embrace. Buffy and Angel sees Buffy on her 17th birthday. Angel gives Buffy his claddgah ring. They both see each other making love. Then Angel sees himself turning into Angelus. Buffy sees herself crying on her bed. Buffy sees her confrontation with Mrs. Calendar. Angel sees himself killing Mrs. Calendar. Buffy continues to run from Angel in the cemetery.

Willow is now leading the chanting as the force of wind throws her hair all over the place.

"Goddess Dayeck - protector of the of all things good. I call thee. With thee on side, bring forth what is known. Bring forth what is unknown, let the highest of powers hear my call - surrender the mystic power of Lance - god of all things possible. Surrender into the triangle of Trinity".

Willow’s voice becomes shaky.

Buffy reaches a stone wall. With one forceful punch, she penetrates the wall, and finds her an opening. Her knuckles are torn, and bleeding. Angel climbs through the opening that she has made and continues to follow. The flashbacks become more in excessive. Buffy and Angel both see the fight in front of the demon Acathla. As Angel runs after Buffy, he feels the pain that he felt when she stabbed him. Angel falls to the ground screaming in pain.

"Agh!!"

But he gets up, more determined to catch her.

Amy looks over to Willow and nods. She then leads the chant.

"Diana Hecete - goddess of creatures great and small - I summon thee. I ask thou to open the gate to the nether world. To the dimension of lost souls - I command thee to watch over the opening so that nothing but the chosen two are aloud to be free - So shall it be"..

The three witches look into each other eyes. They are now levitating, six feet above the ground. The rain remains heavy, the thunder and lighting still come, and the winds are still forceful.

Buffy looks back and sees Angel has fallen, she continues to run. The flashbacks still come. She sees her last fight, and Riley taking aim and shooting both her and Angel. She falls to the ground, feeling the pain of the arrow, she grabs her chest where her heart is.

"Oh god"

Buffy has tears coming down her cheeks. It begins to rain heavily, with thunder storms and lighting. She sees her mother crying over her at the hospital. Angel looks up from the ground and also sees Buffy on the ground. He gets up, and runs. He gets a flashback of him in the hospital room. Then at the same time, him and Buffy see their funerals, and what’s written on their headstones.

Destiny begins to complete the spell.

"Hear me Lasharn - the mother of us all. Hear me. I summon thee with the intention of freeing the Slayer and the one named Angel from the eternal damnation that is going to be placed unto them".

Buffy tries to move from where she is but is unable. Angel catches her.

Destiny’s voice chanting the last part of the spell becomes intense - and demanding

"I command thee - I command thee - Powers of above and below - I command thee. Let it be".

Angel, while Destiny is chanting grabs Buffy by her neck, and goes to snap it. Destiny then reaches for the heavens

"So shall it be"

While she did that Angel twists Buffy’s head. Then there is nothing but white light and silence.

It is still silent in Buffy and Angels hospital room. Then the sound of the heart monitor flat lining is heard as both Buffy and Angel’s heart stop beating.

At the cemetery, with the sound of the heart monitor flat lining still being heard. Amy, Willow and Destiny lie limp, and lifeless in their triangle. The rain, which cant be heard, is beating down on them. Then from the heart monitor, the sound of heart beats are heard

"Beep, Beep"

To Be Continued...

Readers,

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So that the next one can be even better than this one.

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