Cyrus Knight lay in his hospital bed, his body aching from the severe injuries inflicted by Marcie. His thoughts were with his friends as he wondered how they were faring against the darkness that constantly threatened Sunnydale.
---
Xander sat at The Bronze, nervously practicing his lines on Willow. He was determined to ask Buffy to the upcoming dance and wanted to get it just right. Willow, ever the supportive friend, listened patiently, though her heart ached with unrequited love.
"You've got this, Xander," Willow encouraged, forcing a smile. "Just be yourself."
Xander took a deep breath. "Okay, here goes. Buffy, would you like to go to the dance with me?"
Willow nodded approvingly. "Perfect. Now just say it to her like you mean it."
---
Meanwhile, Cordelia was in her car, making out with her boyfriend, Kevin. Unbeknownst to them, Buffy was slaying a vampire nearby, her movements swift and precise. She dusted the vampire and brushed herself off, feeling the weight of her responsibilities pressing down on her.
In the library, Giles was engrossed in reading the Pergamum Codex, a book of prophecies that Angel had recently acquired. As he read a particular passage concerning Buffy, his face paled. The words left him shell-shocked, and he struggled to digest the information he had just learned.
An earthquake suddenly shook Sunnydale, rattling the library's windows and bookshelves. The Master, deep in his underground lair, reveled in the chaos. "The time is near," he murmured with glee.
---
The next morning, Buffy met Giles in the library, where thankfully no significant damage had been sustained from the earthquake. She noticed Giles's distracted demeanor and frowned.
"Giles, the vampires are getting bolder and rising in number. Something big is coming," Buffy said, concerned.
Giles looked up from the Codex, his eyes haunted. "Buffy, there's something you need to know…"
---
After biology class, Willow found an excuse to leave, leaving Xander alone with Buffy. Mustering his courage, Xander approached her. "Buffy, I was wondering… would you like to go to the dance with me?"
Buffy's face fell as she realized she had to let him down gently. "Xander, I care about you a lot, but I think we're better off as friends."
Xander tried to hide his disappointment, but it was clear. "Yeah, sure. Just friends." He walked away, his heart heavy with rejection.
---
Giles, unable to contain his anxiety, phoned Angel and asked to meet with him urgently. Miss Calendar arrived in the library, her expression serious.
"Rupert, I'm seeing apocalyptic portents. Something big is happening. Brother Luca, a monk in Cortona, has been emailing me about the Anointed One."
Giles nodded grimly. "I'll explain everything, but I need you to gather more information. We're running out of time."
In the school hall, Kevin and Willow promised to help Cordelia set up everything at The Bronze for the dance. Willow saw Xander sitting alone, wallowing in his misery, and offered him sympathy.
"Xander, I'm really sorry about Buffy. I know it hurts."
Xander sighed. "Yeah, thanks, Will. It's just… it's hard."
When Xander asked Willow to the dance, she shook her head gently. "I can't be your second choice, Xander. Even though I wish I could."
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
---
That evening, Buffy entered the library and overheard Giles and Angel discussing the prophecy. "The Codex says Buffy will face the Master and die tomorrow night," Giles said, his voice trembling.
Angel looked stricken. "No, that can't be true. There has to be a mistake."
Buffy's heart pounded as she listened. She felt a wave of devastation crash over her. Unable to contain her emotions, she threw the books across the library, startling both Giles and Angel.
"I won't do it. I'm quitting. Let someone else be the Slayer," Buffy declared, tears streaming down her face.
Giles and Angel tried to reason with her, warning that the Master would rise and unleash hell on earth without her to stop him. But Buffy was inconsolable. She left the cross Angel had given her on the table and stormed out of the library.
---
Buffy went home and tried to convince her mother to go away for the weekend. Joyce, unaware of the real reason behind Buffy's urgency, insisted she had to work at the gallery. She then presented Buffy with a stunning white prom dress.
"I met your father at a dance, you know. You should go, Buffy. You deserve to have some fun," Joyce said, smiling warmly.
Buffy forced a smile, feeling a mixture of dread and resignation. "Thanks, Mom."
---
The next day at school, Cordelia and Willow found the members of the audio-visual club, including Kevin, slaughtered by vampires. The TV played a cartoon of the Three Little Pigs, adding a macabre touch to the scene. Willow was shell-shocked, even though she had faced vampires and death before, this felt more personal.
Buffy, dressed in her prom dress, showed up at Willow's house. Willow, still reeling from the trauma, hugged Buffy tightly. "I can't believe this happened. It's so… close."
Buffy's resolve hardened. She knew she couldn't run from her destiny. She headed back to the library, where Giles was explaining everything to Ms. Calendar.
"Buffy is the Slayer. It's her duty to face the Master," Giles said solemnly.
Ms. Calendar looked shocked. "But the prophecy… she'll die."
Giles nodded. "I know. That's why I'm going to face the Master myself."
Buffy overheard and stepped forward. "No, Giles. It's my fight. I won't let you do this."
Giles tried to argue, but Buffy knocked him out to prevent him from stopping her. Ms. Calendar looked at Buffy with a mix of fear and admiration.
"If you go, you'll die," Ms. Calendar reminded her.
Buffy nodded. "I know. But at least I might be able to take him down with me."
---
Outside of school, Buffy found the Anointed One. He played his role well, asking for help. Buffy, fully aware of who he was, allowed him to lead her to the Master's lair.
Back at the library, Willow and Xander arrived and learned of the prophecy. Xander, determined to help, left to find Angel. He arrived at Angel's apartment, and despite their mutual dislike, they both agreed to work together to save Buffy.
"Buffy's gone to face the Master. We have to help her," Xander urged.
Angel agreed, and they set off to find the Master's lair.
---
In the lair, the Master taunted Buffy as they fought. "It is your blood that will free me," he said, sinking his fangs into her neck. Buffy struggled, but the Master's grip was too strong. He drank from her and left her to drown in a shallow pool before breaking free of his mystical prison and rising to the surface.
---
At the library, Willow and Ms. Calendar realized the Hellmouth was underneath The Bronze. As they left to investigate, they saw an army of vampires approaching the school. Cordelia arrived just in time to rescue them, driving her car straight into the school.
Xander and Angel reached Buffy, only to find her lifeless body. Xander, knowing Angel couldn't perform CPR, took over and managed to revive her.
Buffy gasped for air, her eyes filled with determination. "We have to stop the Master."
---
Buffy, Xander, Angel, Cordelia, Willow, and Ms. Calendar headed to the surface, ready to face the Master. They arrived at The Bronze, where the Master was using his power to summon all manner of beasts from the Hellmouth.
Cordelia, Willow, Giles, and Ms. Calendar fought off vampires trying to enter the library. As they battled, a tentacled creature rose through the floor.
Buffy confronted the Master above the library. With newfound strength and resolve, she fought him fiercely. She managed to throw the Master into the library, where he was impaled on a jutting piece of wood. His body disintegrated, leaving only his skeleton, and the Hellmouth closed, sucking the tentacled creature back down.
---
The gang regrouped, reflecting on the harrowing events. Buffy, still in her prom dress, looked at her friends with gratitude.
"We did it. The Hellmouth is closed, and the vampires are gone," Buffy said, her voice filled with relief.
Giles nodded. "I should have known you wouldn't let death stop you."
The stunned friends stared at each other, wondering what to do next. Giles suggested they leave the library, joking that he didn't like it much anymore.
Buffy smiled. "We saved the world. I say we party."
Ms. Calendar asked about the Master's skeleton, and Buffy assured her it wasn't going anywhere. They left the library, ready to enjoy the dance and celebrate their victory.
As they entered The Bronze, the mood was festive. Buffy, Xander, Willow, Cordelia, and Angel shared a moment of triumph. They had faced incredible odds and emerged victorious.
Buffy looked around at her friends, feeling a sense of unity and strength. They had faced the darkness together and won. The future might hold more challenges, but for now, they would celebrate their victory.
"Here's to saving the world," Xander said, raising his glass.
"To friends," Willow added.