Disclaimer: getting really sick of having to say this.

Author's note: I was originally going to post another chapter. But then I thought that it would've made the story too long. So now, it's here, the very moment many of you have been waiting for.I want this chapter to be a blowout but I don't want it to be long. So instead, I decided to keep this fairly short. As mentioned before, there will be sequels. However, slight spoiler, seasons 4 and 5 will be one story. Also, there will be a few special guest appearances near the end. So sit back and relax and enjoy the story.

May 26th, 1999

Sunnydale High School

Late morning

Xander and the rest of the teenage scoobies stood in line waiting to receive their caps and gowns for their graduation. None of them could believe that the time was finally approaching: within a few days, they would be leaving this horrible institution forever. However, the thought of leaving was interrupted by a more disturbing thought. The mayor would be there when they graduate. Xander thought back to what was said when they arrived for the day.

Two hours ago...

As the gang was filling the library, everyone became eerily silent. This was on account of the possible repercussions that they thought of since they destroyed the box of Gavrok. The good news they had to share was that training the class of '99 was going much better than they had anticipated. A good number of the students had already learned some self-defense, especially from the class they were taught in the gym the year before. WHat surprised many of the students were how well the scoobies had been able to fight and teach them. This earned a respect for the scoobies that none could believe. As the gang had but one member assembled, everyone just chatted amongst themselves. Then Jonathan came in looking more worried than usual.

"Guys. I've got news. And it's not the good kind," he said to everyone, gaining their attention.

"What is it?" Amy asked her secret love interest. She had been around Jonathan enough to understand the bugged-out-eye look anywhere.

"You know how we've been waiting for the other shoe to drop? Wondering what would come next?" he asked the group.

"What's going on?" Willow asked her classmate.

"You won't believe who's speaking at the ceremony," Jonathan answered.

"Siegfried?" Amy asked.

"No," Jonathan replied.

"Roy?" Willow asked.

"No," Jonathan said with his brow furrowing.

"One of the tigers?" Faith asked sarcastically hoping to lighten the mood.

"Seriously?" Jonathan said as his face slightly grimaced.

"Sorry," Faith retorted.

"It's the mayor," Jonathan said, noting the put off looks of the others.

"Great. But should we be worried? He won't ascend," Buffy said.

"True. However, he is still a powerful sorcerer. We don't know what tricks he will try," Diana responded to Buffy's statement.

"Well, isn't this interesting?" an irritatingly chipper voice said entering the library. Everyone turned to see Wilkins enter the library with Snyder in tow. Seeing the imp with the mayor didn't surprise them as everyone in the group figured that the principal had known something was wrong with the school as well as the town. The entire group stopped and stared in hatred at the mayor for even thinking about showing himself there.

"It's give me such joy to see young people still enjoying reading," Wilkins said with a sickeningly sweet smile.

"Even if it's foul, offensive-" Snyder began until Wilkins looked at him with an outright glare.

"Anyway, it seems you all really enjoyed hanging around here. But now you won't be here any longer. Must feel nice," the mayor said with a smug look that showed his confidence.

"Whose to say you won't be?" Zabuto replied looking at the mayor.

"Well, you never know what could happen. People tend to surprise you," Wilkins said smiling, particularly at Xander and Faith, who smiled back. As the mayor and Snyder turned to leave, Faith and Xander let out a small laugh for their friends, knowing full well what would happen in a few days.

Xander brought his mind back to the present as he was next in line.

"It's almost here. Seems like every time we've faced stuff like this, it's usually worse than the last," Xander had mused to himself.

"How do you guys deal with this stuff?" Faith asked behind him.

"You got me. We just always worked together as a team. At least that's how we started. But now it's different. We have an even bigger group. Maybe things can change for the better this time around," Xander said sounding hopeful.

"You never know babe. But I can say you made a hell of a difference and I am proud of you," Faith said linking her left arm around his right. Xander could only smile at his girlfriend's declaration. They finally received their caps and gowns and left to finish the rest of the day.

Later at night...

Xander and Faith decided to patrol a section of the town. They had told the others to take the night off as the demons of the town were likely to be much less active. Vampires, however, were always a different story. A group of seven had surrounded the pair thinking it would be easy. Apparently, these vampires had no idea who the teenagers were. It was evident that they were out-of-towners. Xander and Faith proceeded to pummel and stake the vampires. As the fight came to an end, Xander and Faith were alerted to a new presence. For Xander, it felt familiar but had taken on a different feel. As Xander turned around, he came face-to-face with Spike and Drusilla.

"Well now, my kitten's grown into a lion now. It's absolutely magnificent," Dru said to Xander almost purring. Faith was practically seething at witnessing the vampiress' behavior to her boyfriend. Spike himself stood with a look of jealousy at how Drusilla was coming on to Xander of all people.

"I don't know who the hell you think you are! But no one steps to my man while I'm standing here!" Faith shouted approaching Drusilla.

"So you're the girl who's claimed my lion's heart now. Mmmmmm...we'd have made a wonderful threesome. But it seems it wasn't meant to be. But I won't leave my dear lion alone at this time," Drusilla said, with a strange bit of clarity for Xander.

"Xander, who is this bitch?" Faith said earning a growl from Drusilla.

"Faith, this is Drusilla. The vampire lady who saved me from Angelus, during the lovespell craziness," Xander responded with a sigh.

"Oh. So you're her. Wait a minute, what the hell are you doing back here now?" Faith asked. Spike had decided to step in and explain.

"Glad you asked. See a while back, after we left, something strange started happening to Dru. She had always been...well, loopy. But then one day she started talking and she was actually making sense. ANd if you know Dru's history, it's not something she'd done ever since she was turned. But she started talking about Droopy-boy over here and how she needed to be there for him. I tried my damned best to get her to leave it alone but she wouldn't give. And we broke up. And she said the mayor would do almost as bad as Angelus. So we came back here," Spike finished explaining.

Faith stared with wide eyes while Xander's jaw went slack at the story. It wasn't that they could've been lying tot them that bothered the human pair. What was strange was Drusilla actually feeling the need to come here and help someone.

"So...you guys...want in on what we're doing?" Xander asked still in shock.

"Yes. I want to help my proud, brave lion in any way I can," Drusilla said in a strangely loving tone to the young. Faith was almost hyperventilating while Spike simply rolled his eyes and turned away.

"Um...okay. Let's get you guys to the library," Xander said as he headed back towards the school. Faith, Drusilla, and Spike followed suit.

May 29th, 1999

Sunnydale High School

The day was warm and bright as the Sunnydale High School class of 1999 was filing in for the ceremony that would release them from the nightmare known as high school. The students finished making their entrance and sat down in their assigned chairs. THe music had finally died down as Snyder came up to the podium.

"Congratulations to the class of 1999. You've all proven, more or less, adequate. Now is a time of joy and celebration. So be quiet and give a hand for our mayor, Richard Wilkins III. You sit up straight. I saw that gesture. You see me after graduation," Snyder said as he stepped down. The parents had given a round of applause as Wilkins came up to the podium.

"Well. What a day this is. Special day. Today is the one hundredth anniversary founding of Sunnydale. And I know what that means to all you kids. Not a darn thing. 'Cause today, something much more important happens. Today, you all graduate from high school. All the pain, work, and excitement is finally over. And what's a hundred years of history compared to that?" Wilkins began cheerfully.

"He's really doing the whole speech?" Buffy groaned in her seat as the mayor continued.

"It's been a long road getting here. For you, for sunnydale. There's been achievement, joy, good times. But there's also been grief, pain, and loss. Some people who should be here today aren't. But we are. At the Journey's end. And is a journey? Distance traveled? TIme spent? No. It's what happens on the way. The things that shape you. And at the end, no one is the same. Today is about change. Not just your circumstances. But you as a person. You ascend...to a higher level," Wilkins stops as an eclipse occurs. Everyone notices that there is still a semblance of light. The students all shift uncomfortably.

"On that note, today would've been my ascension, to a being beyond your imagination. But sadly some meddlers ruined my chances," the mayor continued tossing away his notecards. Wilkins then flashed a deathly smile that sent chills to all the students.

"So instead, I'll take a different approach," the mayor said in a gravely deep voice, that echoed into the sky. Then, Wilkins levitated into the air, surrounded by a dark aura, changing his suit to black. As the parents ran for their lives outside of the quad, the students stood.

"Xander. Faith. Please join me so that we may wipe away these vermin," Wilkins said as said teenagers made their way in front of the class. Each sported an angry look on their faces until they broke into full on smiles.

"NOW!" they shouted in unison. The entire class of 1999 had disrobed to reveal all sorts of medieval weapons hidden. As the students spread out, they found the quad surrounded by vampires.

"FIRST WAVE!" Jonathan shouted as at least forty of the students had raised bows and crossbows with the arrowheads lit on fire. As they fired, a number of Wilkins' vampires had been dusted. He had not planned on the students being prepared for his ascension or the vampires' attack. The remaining vampires began to charge the students.

"EVERYONE! HAND-TO-HAND NOW!" Jonathan shouted as the students pulled out swords, clubs, bats, axes and stakes and charged. As the vampires retreated, they stopped as they came upon Angel, Spike and Drusilla standing guard with Giles, Wesley, Zabuto, Jenny, and Diana. Angel crept forward towards one of the enemy vampires before unleashing a litany of ferocious punches. As the battle commenced, everyone had been able to hold their own. Harmony had been bitten until another student had rescued her from being drained. The fight was going well as vampire after vampire was being dusted. However, there was one fight that would prove difficult.

Xander and Wilkins stared each other down. Faith stood off to the side deciding whether to help Xander or join the class. She looked into her boyfriend's eyes and realized that he thought it best to fight alone. She gave him one last glance before she ran off to join the others. Wilkins could only grimace further as he thought about all the time that he had spent on the two teenagers.

"And to think, I treated you both as if you were my own. This generation knows nothing of loyalty," Wilkins spat.

"You're wrong. You may have treated us like your own children. But we were just an ends to a mean for you. Real loyalty is showing those you care about truth but still standing by them to help stand them up when they feel that they can't. I've been in that position enough times to know," Xander retorted while powering up his own energy.

"Well then...it's time I show you what I do to those who lie to me," Wilkins said as he summoned a sword, causing Xander to draw the one that Whistler had given to him months ago. As the swords clashed, the two began a brutal battle of swordplay mixed with sorcery and energy. With each swing, one had cut the other without damaging any major arteries.

As Xander and Wilkins fought, the others had almost finished clearing the quad of vampires, even after other demons had joined the fight. FAith had made it easier for everyone else as she became a hurricane of fury, helping to wipe out and demons that tried to harm anyone. For her, it was a chance to rid herself of those horrible visions that she had seen of herself months ago. Since receiving them, she had figured that if she didn't see what she had, if Diana had died when Kakistos captured them, and she had not gotten to know Xander, the visions would very well have come true. Instead, she fought as a proud slayer working on the side of the light. When the fighting had died down for the graduating class, everyone looked to see Xander and the mayor still fighting. However, both looked like as if they were run through the mill. They each had sported cuts all over their bodies except for their faces. Unfortunately, the mayor had struck a low blow. As Xander dodged a blast of fire, Wilkins had snuck upon Xander. WIth his unused hand filled with dark magic, Wilkins had swiped at Xander's face, going over his left eye. The damage caused Xander's left eye to be dead as he could no longer see from it, leaving a scar even across his eyelids. Xander screamed as the pain was excruciating.

"Hmph. That's not even the las of what I will do. Once I kill you, that whore of your's will be next," Wilkins said. Xander snapped his head up after hearing the comment and charged Wilkins, using a super-boost from the energy that came with his power. Xander had plunged his hand deep into Wilkins' stomach, and with the other hand, plunged directly into his ribcage. Xander lifted the mayor off of his feet as the older man screamed for his life. Suddenly, Xander had charged up enough energy, that an energy pillar shot into the sky. The mayor let out a long, blood-curdling scream as his body disintegrated until there wasn't a trace of him left. As the energy dissipated, all fell silent. Then the students erupted into an uproar of cheering. They had survived the battle.

An hour later...

Paramedics and firefighters were scattered about the many of the students had sustained injuries during the battle. However, it was fortunate that none of the students had died during the fight. As the scoobies were milling about checking on the other students, a certain demon had made his way over to Xander.

"That was quite a fight you guys out up there kid," Whistler said as he sat next to the young man.

"Well, we had to do something. I'm just glad it's over," Xander responded, feeling somewhat low, due to the loss of his eye.

"Yeah. I'm sorry about your eye," Whistler said sadly.

"Don't worry about it. It may be lost. But there was still a lot we all gained from this. Now we all have a chance to move on," Xander said.

"That you do. That road-trip sounds like a good chance to rest. You should take Faith with you. You both could use it," Whistler said getting up to walk away. Xander stood up a moment later to join Faith, who was speaking with her sister slayers about what was next. Buffy turned around to see Angel approaching them. He gave her a small smile which she returned.

Angel had originally planned to leave or Los Angeles until Xander came to his home and talked him out of it. The young man had explained to the en-souled vampire that the Powers were setting him up for a destiny that he would never truly be free from. He also convinced Angel that staying would be better as the hellmouth would still be active and the town would need all the help it could get. He and Buffy had broken up for good. But after a long talk, they realized that it was for the best. But they would still be there for each other.

Cordelia had joined the gathering to weigh in. Xander had also convinced her to stay as well. Her father had been arrested for tax fraud which left her at the same economic level as Xander. However, she wasn't bothered much by the idea as she figured that her a number of her college plans were up in smoke. However, with some more convincing from Diana, Cordelia decided to stay as the female watcher would pay for her's and Faith's tuition for college. The scoobies had all gathered in front of the school conversing when Spike and Drusilla stood before them.

"Well congratulations ducks. You made it through," Spike said.

"Yup. And if you start causing trouble, your ass is mine," Buffy said.

"Don't worry love. I'm heading out of this place anyway. Figure I'd make my way down to Mexico. I hear the tequila incredible," Spike said earning weird looks from everyone.

"Ooooookay. And what about Vampira over here?" Faith asked pointing to Drusilla.

"Don't worry. I intend to keep my lion's den as clean as it can be," the vampiress said smiling at Xander. This made the others turn to Xander with curious looks. The young man could only shrug his shoulders. Everyone looked at the school in a happier mood.

"We actually did it. We survived," Jonathan declared with excitement.

"Yes. It was quite a fight," Kendra threw in.

"I think he means high school," Oz threw in with a smirk.

"So did I," Kendra retorted with a smile.

"Let's take a moment," Jonathan said.

"And the moment's over. So what now?" Amy asked.

"Well, I don't know about you guys. But me and Faith are going to hit the road for the summer. We stopped the big bad, and now we can rest for a while," Xander said happily, slinging an arm over Faith's shoulders.

"That sounds nice. I hope you guys have fun," Willow said to her longtime best friend, with genuine happiness.

"Thanks. Now I just want to go home and sleep," Xander said until Faith whispered in his ear. 'Or not', he thought happily.

Wilkins Apartment

Faith laid with her head on Xander's chest. Xander had fallen asleep after they made love a second time that night. She smiled as she thought about everything leading to this moment. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, dreaming of a future where everything would be alright with the world.

Lower Realms

The First and the Source stood quietly after observing everything that had happened with Wilkins failed plans for ascension. Already they heard his screams in the level directly above their domain. They figured that he would have no more use by the time they decide to act. However, that proved to be an issue as they still weren't sure about the threat of Xander Harris and changes he had made.

"So what will we do now?" the First asked.

"We wait. He may have changed the destinies of his friends. But that doesn't mean it'll have lasting effects on others unless he comes into contact with them. Besides, didn't you want to have some fun with that little brigade of teenagers?" the Source asked it's creation.

"Yes. But I cannot make a move without the higher beings taken notice," the First responded.

"Hmph. Those 'Powers' are nothing but power-mongers just like those damned 'Elders'. They're so arrogant, they even believe themselves to rulers of this world. But in due time, we shall take this world and make it ours. And then we shall take Him out," the Source said as it vanished to keep an eye on it's enemies. Despite his plans for the three women who stopped him at every turn, he had no idea that fate would draw two warriors to them.