Disclaimer: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Angel" and all characters from the shows are the property of Joss Whedon, Fox, and the UPN or WB Television Networks. The Cthulhu Mythos material is loosely based on the "Call of Cthulhu" role-playing game (copyright Chaosium Inc.) and the book "Encyclopedia Cthulhiana" by Daniel Harms. SAVE is based on the organization in the Chill Roleplaying game (copyright Mayfair Games Inc.) and the earlier version of the game (copyright Pacesetter, Ltd.). My main source for information on Arthurian legends was "The Arthurian Companion" by Phyllis Ann Karr. The character of Melissa Johnson is my own invention. Any similarities between the organization called the "Order of the Grail" and any organization of a similar name in anyone else's stories are purely coincidental (apart from constraints due to basic Arthurian Mythology).
Wednesday December 18, 2002, Afternoon: Summers' Residence
Giles is talking to Buffy in the living room. "I've been
reviewing the material Alkindi sent us on the Sword of Abraham.
Apparently your new sword not only helps defend against magical
attack but also can be used to channel magical energy."
Friday March 21, 2003, Evening: Morningstar's Basement
Morningstar presents Willow with an amulet containing a glowing
crystal. Willow and Tara both examine it carefully. Willow
asks, in an awed tone, "What is it?"
Morningstar replies "Power." He pauses. "Tonight you start
learning how to use it."
Saturday March 22, Afternoon: Melissa Johnson's Residence
Melissa, Willow, and Tara are standing in her workroom. Melissa
examines Willow's new amulet and says "Extremely powerful."
Willow nods. "It's tuned to me now. Morningstar says I can use
it to help me do all sorts of things. Like healing spells. Or
even teleportation." She pauses and continues quietly "And get
myself into all kinds of trouble if I'm not careful."
Melissa replies "Just remember that last part."
Tuesday March 25, Night: Cemetery in Sunnydale
Faith and Buffy are patrolling. Buffy remarks "I'm not sure we
even need to patrol. We're almost the only ones left in town."
Faith says "I'm surprised this hasn't happened before."
Buffy replies "Melissa says we've never had anyone this powerful
here for this long a time."
Buffy sees Morningstar standing near a gravestone. Morningstar
approaches and says "I have something for you." He holds out an
amulet and a folder. "The amulet is very powerful and very
dangerous. I think it's meant for Spike since you both have
powerful weapons of your own." He pauses. "The scythe in
particular should be an excellent force multiplier."
Buffy hears something behind her. She turns and draws her sword
as Caleb comes out of hiding. "Nice little bauble you got from
your demon."
Morningstar steps back and Caleb grins. "He's abandoned you."
Caleb charges and Buffy and Faith fight him. Finally Buffy
slashes him with her sword and Faith beheads him with her scythe.
Morningstar steps forward again and says "Impressive."
Buffy replies "You could have helped."
Morningstar asks "Why would I spoil your fun?" He hands her the
amulet and folder and disappears.
Wednesday March 26, Morning: Summers' Residence
Willow, Tara, Giles, Melissa, Spike, and Faith are meeting in
Buffy's room. Buffy shows them the amulet. "I don't know what
it does or how to use it." She looks at Spike. "Morningstar
thought it was intended for you."
Friday March 28, Afternoon: Summers' Residence
Willow is talking to Spike in the basement. "It's very
dangerous. Trigger it and it releases a lot of energy." She
pauses. "I may be able to channel it so it doesn't kill you. Do
you still want it?"
Spike nods. "We just won't set it off unless there's a good
reason."
Saturday March 29, Morning: Summers' Residence
Willow, Tara, Melissa, Faith, Buffy, Giles, Spike, and Xander are
meeting in Buffy's room. Melissa reports "There's something
building under the Seal beneath the High School. It'll break
through eventually. And Anya's heard more rumors that something
big is about to happen."
Buffy says firmly "So we open the seal ourselves and attack
before they're ready." She pauses. "Willow can use the scythe
to activate the Potentials. Then we use Spike's amulet and
Willow's amulet to clear away the First's army."
Giles adds "I can talk to Gawaine and see what forces the Order
can provide. Willow can check with the coven to see if they can
help. And there are a number of other sources I can talk to."
Melissa looks around carefully. "I know of a spell that might
help. My friend Jennifer Lake likes to call it the 'Power of
Three' spell, although the Latin name roughly translates as
'Threefold Link'." She pauses. "We can use it to set up a link
between Willow, Tara, and Buffy. The link lasts to some extent
after the spell ends." She pauses again. "Willow, you'll be
casting three difficult spells in a row and juggling two of them
at once. Are you really up for that?"
Willow glances at Tara then answers "I have to be."
Melissa turns to Tara. "A lot depends on you, also. Willow is
going to have to be down there with the attack party in order to
activate Spike's amulet and channel it in a controlled way. If
she gets hurt and her concentration slips..."
Tara says fiercely "No one is getting past me to hurt Willow."
Saturday March 29, Morning: Summers' Residence
Buffy is meeting with the Potentials. She is flanked by Willow,
Xander, Tara, Giles, and Spike. Buffy tells them that they will
attack tomorrow morning and explains their plan. "Are you ready
to be strong?"
Saturday March 29, Night: Summers' Residence
Willow and Tara are in their room. Tara says "You've been
studying all day. You need your rest."
Willow responds "I've never tried anything this difficult. I
have to get this right."
Tara reassures her "You can handle it."
Willow says "You're the one who keeps telling me I need to be
more careful."
Tara takes Willow's hand. "So believe me when I say you can do
this."
Sunday March 30, Early Morning: Summers' Residence
Willow wakes up and sees what appears to be Buffy's mom.
Joyce tells her "There's still time to turn back. If you don't,
you'll end up hurting everyone, even Tara." She pauses. "It's
too much power for you to handle." She pauses again.
"Especially since you've always been drawn to the dark side of
magic."
Willow protests "Tara believes in me. So does Buffy."
Joyce responds "Buffy doesn't know enough about magic. And you
wiped Tara's memory twice in a few days. Then you did it again
only a few months ago." She pauses. "And she's still with you.
Maybe Tara has a blind spot when it comes to you. Maybe she
won't see the danger until it's too late."
Willow shakes her head. "Tara would say something if I was doing
anything too risky. And the last time was an accident."
Joyce nods. "Accident. Perhaps. And if you couldn't handle the
power you had then, how are you going to handle even more power?"
She vanishes and Willow stares after her.
Sunday March 30, Morning: Summers' Residence
Willow and Tara are in their room. Willow says hesitantly "Tara,
someone who looked like Buffy's mom appeared last night. She
said I'd end up hurting you if I didn't turn back. That I was
attracted to the dark side of magic. And that you wouldn't see
the danger in time. I think it was the First, but..."
Tara reassures her. "It must have been the First. It's worried
that our plan is going to work." She pauses. "You'll be fine.
I believe in you." She smiles. "So are you going to trust me or
listen to some phantom?"
Sunday March 30, Morning: Sunnydale High School
Buffy, Faith, Willow, Tara, Dawn, Xander, Spike, Anya, Andrew,
Principal Wood, Giles, Melissa, Amy, and the Potentials arrive at
the High School in a school bus. The contingent from the Order
of the Grail is already there. It includes Gawaine, Bedivere,
Cador, Priamus, Elyzabel, Sadok, Aglovale, Avenable, and the
mages Lynette, Seraide, and Gwenbaus.
Faith and Spike lead most of the Potentials to the basement.
Gawaine, Lynette, Bedivere, Cador, Elyzabel, Seraide, and
Gwenbaus go with them. Three smaller parties move to cut off
possible escape routes: Giles, Wood, and Sadok head to the
lounge; Xander, Dawn, and Aglovale to the atrium; and Anya,
Andrew, and Avenable to the main hall.
Buffy, Willow, and Tara link hands and chant. Willow's new
amulet glows more brightly. It then fades as the glow surrounds
Willow and spreads to Tara and Buffy. The three of them break
apart and Buffy goes to the basement along with Melissa.
Meanwhile, Willow picks up the scythe and she and Tara go to
Wood's office along with Priamus and Kennedy.
Buffy and Faith use a magical knife to slice their palms and then
drip blood on the Seal in the basement. The Seal opens and Buffy
leads the others down into the Hellmouth. They advance toward a
precipice and see a cavern below them filled with Turok-Han.
They position themselves around the precipice to await the
attack. Buffy is in the center, Faith a few feet away to the
right, and Gwenbaus just behind Faith. Gawaine, Bedivere, and
Seraide position themselves in the left flank, while Lynette,
Cador, and Elyzabel do the same in the right flank. Spike is
behind the line in the center and Amy stands in front of him.
The Turok-Han see the group and charge.
In Wood's office, Willow finishes chanting. Light fills the room
and power is sent out to the Potentials making them all Slayers.
Willow picks up the scythe and hands it to Kennedy. "Get this to
Faith." Kennedy takes the scythe and rushes to the basement.
Tara asks Willow "Can you walk?"
Willow stands up carefully. "Yes." She heads to the basement
along with Tara and Priamus.
Below the Seal, Buffy and the others meet the attack. Buffy's
sword glows with power as she slashes at the Turok-Han. Gawaine
anchors the left flank, his own sword flashing light. Lynette,
Seraide, Gwenbaus, and Amy aim blasts whenever they find a
target. Kennedy jumps through the Seal, tosses the scythe to
Faith, then joins the battle herself.
A group of Turok-Han break through the line and head up through
the Seal. Shortly afterwards, Willow, Tara, and Priamus come
down through the Seal. Tara calls Spike over to them and Willow
concentrates on Spike's amulet. Tara and Priamus move to shield
Willow from any attackers and Amy moves back to help. Tara
blasts two groups of Turok-Han who try to attack Willow. Amy and
Priamus mop up the few survivors.
Willow grins in triumph and energy shoots out of Spike's amulet.
Willow channels the energy at the Turok-Han, incinerating them.
The cavern starts to shake and debris falls from the ceiling.
Buffy tells the others to retreat and the new Slayers leave
through the seal along with five from the Order. Faith, Gawaine,
and Lynette pause at the exit. Melissa, Willow, Tara, Buffy, and
Priamus remain inside, facing the cavern.
The floor of the cavern seems to move and a shapeless black mass
emerges from the floor. It extends tentacles and starts to
climb. Melissa says "A Larva of the Other Gods. They've been
trying to wait for it to mature." Melissa and Tara aim blasts at
the creature and Willow focuses energy from Spike's amulet at it.
Buffy advances to the edge of the precipice. As the creature
reaches the top, she stabs it with her sword. The sword channels
energy into the creature until it drops to the floor of the
cavern. The floor shakes as the creature hits it and
disintegrates. A hole opens in the floor and the group sees a
bubbling amorphous mass slowly start to rise. Willow
concentrates and channels energy at the mass. "I just ended the
link spell. The Larva opened a gateway and I have to close it.
I need Spike to stay but the rest of you have to leave now."
Tara starts to protest but Willow repeats "You have to leave."
Tara studies Willow carefully and then nods. Meanwhile, Buffy
takes Spike's hand then reluctantly lets go. Faith, Gawaine, and
Lynette exit through the Seal. Melissa, Priamus, Buffy, and Tara
follow them.
The mass continues to rise even as Willow channels more energy at
it. Spike tells her "It's not working. You need to really let
loose."
Willow says quietly "It'll kill you."
Spike smiles. He walks to the edge of the precipice and jumps
down to the floor of the cavern. The flow of energy from his
amulet becomes stronger, burning him up from the inside as the
bubbling mass is driven back. Willow waits for the right moment
and concentrates. The floor shakes and becomes rock again.
Willow throws herself to the ground as the roof of the cavern
collapses on her.
Sunday March 30, Morning: Near Sunnydale High School
The school bus is parked some distance away from a crater that
used to be the High School. A van containing the contingent from
the Order of the Grail is parked next to it. Buffy, Xander,
Giles, Tara, Dawn, and Melissa stare at the crater. Tara says
firmly "Willow's still alive under there. We have to help her."
Giles asks "How? Xander, any ideas?"
Xander shakes his head. "It's going to take a long time to dig
through all of that. If we can even do it without killing her."
Sunday March 30, Morning: Summers' Residence
Tara walks slowly into her and Willow's room. She sees Willow,
gives a shout of joy and rushes to hug her. She then steps back
for a moment. Buffy, Xander, Dawn, Giles, and Melissa enter and
stare in amazement. Buffy asks "How?"
Willow explains "The ceiling fell. I realized I was still alive
and I concentrated. Ended up here." She pauses. "There are
more new Slayers all around the world. I can feel them. We have
to find them, explain what's happening." She pauses again. "Is
anyone hurt? I think I might be able to help."
Buffy shakes her head. "Eve died in the battle. Everyone else
is going to be fine. Some injuries but Slayers heal fast." She
pauses. "Willow, are you all right?"
Willow smiles. "I'm fine. I just feel so alive."
Melissa's eyes widen. She says softly "Apotheosis. Her only
weakness..."
Buffy turns toward Melissa. "Her only weakness is what?"
Giles responds "You and Tara, I imagine. I would guess it has
something to do with the linking spell."
Melissa considers. She glances uneasily at Willow. "I think
so." She pauses. "They seem to be largely protected from her
powers." She pauses again. "The Hellmouth is still there. It's
probably going to be harder to open but it's there."
Sunday March 30, Night: Summers' Residence
Buffy is dreaming. She sees Willow. Willow's hair and eyes are
completely black and she is sending magical bolts at nearby
houses. Buffy draws her sword and charges. Her sword deflects a
magical bolt and she stabs Willow. Willow drops to the ground,
dead.
Buffy wakes up. She looks around and tries to go back to sleep.
Monday March 31, Early Morning: Summers' Residence
Willow wakes up and sees what appears to be Veruca. Veruca looks
partially translucent.
Willow says "We hurt you, didn't we?"
Veruca replies "I'll recover." She pauses. "They're scared of
you now. They're going to turn on you."
Willow shakes her head. "They're my friends."
Veruca says "Not for long. They're already suspicious of you.
And they know you're not really human anymore." She pauses.
"Even if they don't want to admit it." She vanishes.
Monday March 31, Morning: Melissa Johnson's Residence
Buffy is talking to Giles in his room. She tells him about her
dream. "It was just a dream, wasn't it?"
Giles replies "Probably." He pauses. "Buffy, we can't know
what's going to happen in the future, but you shouldn't have to
worry about having to kill Willow. At least not anytime soon."