by Ryan
Rating: 12 possible 15 (Hey,
I'm using the system we use in England)other parts maybe higher
or lower
Type: Cross-over (Xena characters
in use)
Violence: Yes, be warmed double
character death!
Language: Mild
Disclaimers:
1. Buffy and co. are owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant
Enemy and WB.
2. The characters from Xena:WP are owned by
Renaissance Picture and Universal MCA.
3. No copyright infringements intended.
E-mail:
willow.codex@virgin.net
Summary: It's the Concluding part
of the battle against Dahak.
<> means thoughts.
Buffy looked at Cordelia as did most of the gathered Amazons and Bachae. Cara came rushing out of the mansion. "Willow." She called out. She caught the look on Buffy face. "Noo!"
Giles and Cecrops had followed her out.
Cecrops reached Buffy at the same time Cara did. "What happened?" Cecrops asked.
"Velasca took them, she took Willow and
Angel." Buffy hung her head. <I should have stopped
her.>
******
Lucy looked at Gabrielle. "It's
time." Gabrielle spoke. Lucy nodded and lit the last of a
line of candles. Gabrielle and Lucy began to chant. The Hell
mouth began to glow and spark with power.
******
Angel down his eyes and saw Spike sitting there. "Mate, we're in it now." Spike groaned.
Angel took in his surroundings. <I'm in a cage.> "How long was I out?"
"Don't know you only just appeared mate." Spike hung his head.
Velasca smiled. "Wakey, wakey, Willow."
Willow opened her eyes and tired to move her hands and speak. "Don't bother girl, your strapped down."
"Is she prepared to witness my final victory?" Dahak appeared in flames.
"Yes master." Velasca bowed to him.
"Good, lets turn on the lights" As Dahak spoke the room lit up. Willow saw several girls tied down with hoods over their heads.
"The maidens are prepared." Velasca spoke.
"Have Angel and that idiot Spike brought in here."
"Of course." Velasca bowed again.
******
Gabrielle and Lucy finally stopped chanting.
Gabrielle shouted out a Latin phase and the Master's Hell mouth
began to merge into the smaller one. Lucy shouted out in Ancient
Greek and Dahak's mouth was linked to theirs.
******
Dahak looked at the maidens and his captive audience of three. "Watch as I open the biggest Hellmouth in all history. Oh, the maidens are to allow me to disembody the Princess."
Willow's eye widen and a muffled scream came from her. <No way! I like my body, I'm not leaving it without a fight you bastard.>
Dahak smiled and began to chant. The mouth appeared and he entered it's opening.
"Witness my victory, Willow, the mouth is open my power is now beyond your comprehension little girl." Dahak laughed.
Velasca stepped forward "Master."
Dahak smiled "Velasca my faith servant, prepare to disembody the girl, I will feast on her soul."
Angel strained against the bonds which held him as Velasca looked at Willow grinning. <Over my dead body.>
Gabrielle called out in Latin again then looked at Lucy. "Go, he has Willow." Gabrielle commanded. "He must not disembody her or he will win everything." Lucy walked away from Gabrielle who began chanting again.
Velasca placed a crystal in front of Willow and smaller ones in front of the maidens. Willow kept shifting into Bachae mode but found she could not hold the transformation. Dahak smiled at her. "Hope, can't help you now little." The crystals began to glow. Lucy ran towards the opening of Dahak's gate.
Dahak turned and fired a lightning bolt straight into Lucy. "Pathetic child." Dahak raged. "Velasca kill her."
Velasca pulled out a bone and rammed into the unconscious woman. "It's done, the youngest daughter is destroyed."
"Good, she and her mother rejected me." He laughed.<Foolish child.>
Willow felt tears roll down her face, her anger was growing. <Bastard! I'm going to kick your ass Bitch!> She changed to Bachae mode fully and held it. The spell which stopped her transformation before was no match for her rage.
Suddenly the maidens screamed as they were stuck by energy from the crystals. Willow was struck but turned the pain into more rage. "Just one more moment, Willow and it's all over." Dahak cooed.
"Dahak, her soul should have started draining off by now." Velasca called to him.
"What?" Dahak cried back. <What's going on?>
"You loose father." Hope's voice rang out as she appeared.
"Daughter." Dahak spat.
"You have broke the laws of the cosmos." Hope screamed pointing at Dahak.
"The cosmos is mine child." Dahak shouted back.
"You are wrong." Hope bellowed. "The judgement is against you!" Hope cried out as the power of the universe began to manifest itself though the her ghostly form. Dahak stepped back in terror. Willow found herself free. She quickly spotted Velasca and growled.
"The cosmic law states the souls of a pregnant woman and the child she carries may not be torn from them." Hope cried out "Thy time as come demon. Thy have no hiding place." The Hellmouth began to glow.
"No." Dahak made a run for the Hellmouth. "No! I'm blocked!" He came to a sudden halt.
"Bye Velasca." Willow growled as she tore into Velasca. All Velasca could do was scream.
Velasca slumped to the floor gasping Willow held a dragger in her hand. Willow stopped. "No I wouldn't kill you."
"Then you are a fool." Velasca gasped back.
Willow turn away from her. Velasca grinned until an energy bolt stuck her in the chest, Velasca was turned into a pile of dusty bones. "Who?" Willow gasped.
"I Thor" Bellowed a voice. "She broke the cosmic law and freed me to intervene. Now behold the Judgement of the universe itself."
Dahak was fighting back against Hope who was easy deflecting his effects. "It's over father you can not escape this time." Hope stated.
"Arrrggghh." Gabrielle screamed from inside the Hellmouth.
"If I'm going die, so is your mother, child." Dahak snared at Hope.
Willow's eyes went wide as she watched Dahak throw a crystal into the HellMouth. He began to laugh just as the cosmic energy struck him reducing him to ash.
Gabrielle walked out of the Hellmouth a crystal stuck in her chest. The Mouth closed behind her.
"Gabrielle, hold on." Willow rushed to aid her.
"Too late Willow," Gabrielle sighed falling to her knees. "I've gota go now, I can't stay."
Angel found himself free, and ran to Willow's
side. Thor waved his hand and the maidens were sent back to their
homes. Spike looked at Thor after being freed and then
disappeared into the night. Thor hung his head and lifted a hand
and the chamber was transformed back into the school gym. Hope
smiled at Thor as tears rolled down her face. Hope whispered a
word "Home".
******
Angel, Willow and Gabrielle found themselves back at the mansion. Cara spotted them. "Willow!" She cried rushing to them. "Willow what's wrong" Then she saw her mother's body. "No, No Noo" She wailed.
Gabrielle coughed a little. "I can't stay." Cara looked across at Gabrielle.
"Cara, Willow listen to me." Cara knelt next to Willow and Angel. "Dahak can never return, he's gone for good this time. So is Velasca. Remember me. I love you. Tell the little one."
"Mother" James knelt near Gabrielle around them had gathered the Amazons and Bachae. Summoned by Cara's wailing moments earlier.
"I'm sorry but I can't stay."
Gabrielle looked James in the eyes. Gabrielle's breathing slowed.
"I will be watch.. ing o..v..er... you a..ll.
Good...bye." With that she past over. Willow burned her head
in Angel's shoulder. Cara sat there and began to wail. The
Amazons draw their swords and saluted the fallen Queen.
******
Gabrielle opened her eyes and saw Hope looking down at her but it was not Hope the woman but Hope the child. "Welcome home. Mother, the others are waiting for you."
"Come on Gabrielle get up." It was Hecuba's voice.
"Yeah, Gabby." Her sister Lila looked over Hope's shoulder at her and over Lila's shoulder Lucy and Shelia.
"Solon and Xena are coming over to welcome you across." Artermis spoke as she appeared. "You did well. Now enjoy your reward for battling the forces of evil."
Gabrielle smiled <I finally home!>
Three days later at night. Willow stood on raised platform to her right Angel and to her left Cara and her sisters. Before them was three funeral pyres, one for Willow's parents, one for Lucy and one for Gabrielle.
"Tonight we honour the fallen, Queen Gabrielle, Lady Lucy, and finally Princess Sheila and Ira by parents."
The gathered Amazons and Bachae lit arrows awaiting the new Queen's signal to light the pyres.
Willow felt tears roll down her cheeks. "Farewell, Aunt Lucy, Farewell Great Grandmother, Farewell Father, Farewell Momma." Willow whispered. She lifted her hand and slowly lowered it.
Arrows of fire shot into the pyres. As the arrows struck rose petals came from the night sky. Angel placed an arm across Willow's shoulder. Willow rested her head against him.
James closed his eyes. "Nice one, Mom." He whispered drawing puzzled looks from Buffy and Joyce.
End of part 18.
Page updated: 11/08/01