The silence in the library was thick, the weight of what had just happened pressing down on everyone. Buffy, Willow, Giles, Oz, and Cordelia stood frozen, their eyes locked on Xander, who had just sent his vampire counterpart crashing into a pile of books and the retreating out of the library.
Buffy stepped forward cautiously, her grip tight on her stake. "You're Xander, right? You're not… the vampire?"
Willow's eyes were wide, a mixture of fear and hope in her voice. "Xander? How are you here? You're supposed to be…"
Xander exhaled slowly, the sight of them hitting him harder than he anticipated. They were all alive—young, unscarred by the horrors of the future. Seeing their faces brought a flood of emotions, memories of everything he had lost. His voice cracked slightly as he spoke. "Yeah, it's me. But… I'm not the Xander you knew."
Giles adjusted his glasses, frowning. "What do you mean? How are you not the same Xander?"
Xander ran a hand through his hair, struggling to find the words. "I… I came back. From a different time. In my world, everything went to hell. You… all of you died."
The room fell silent, the Scoobies staring at him in disbelief. Buffy took a step closer, her expression softening, but still confused. "What are you talking about?"
Cordelia rolled her eyes from the back of the room, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh great, *another* alternate dimension? Is this, like, the third one this week?"
Xander shot her a weary glance, but the bitterness in his chest outweighed his irritation. "It's not an alternate dimension, Cordy. In my timeline… in 2004, we couldn't stop the Hellmouth. Everyone… everyone but me died."
Willow gasped, her hand covering her mouth as she stepped back, visibly shaken. "What? No, that can't be…"
Xander's voice was rough, the memories of those last days etched into every word. "It happened. I fought for two years, wandering, trying to make sense of it all. Then a demon killed me." He looked up, locking eyes with them, the weight of his words hanging in the air. "Only, I didn't stay dead. Turns out, I'm Immortal."
Buffy blinked, stunned. "Immortal? Like, you can't die?"
"Not permanently," Xander replied, his tone grim. "When I died, something inside me awakened. I came back to life, and the demon that killed me? My quickening took care of him. After that, I spent the next seventy years fighting against something worse than the Hellmouth: Malakai."
Giles' face paled at the mention of the name. "Malakai… the ancient being trapped in the Hellmouth?"
Xander nodded. "Yeah. He got loose after the Hellmouth opened, and everything went to hell. I teamed up with resistance fighters, a few Slayers, and Duncan MacLeod. We fought him, but in the end… it wasn't enough. Everyone died, and I was about to, too, until the Powers That Be stepped in and sent me back here. To now. Graduation day. To fix what went wrong."
Buffy's expression shifted from shock to determination. "You came back to stop the Mayor?"
Xander nodded. "Yeah. The Mayor's Ascension is the first step in a chain reaction that leads to Malakai's release. I'm here to make sure that doesn't happen."
Willow's voice trembled, her eyes full of sadness and disbelief. "You've been through so much… seventy years? Alone?"
Xander hesitated, his chest tightening as he looked at Willow. "Yeah, Will. Seventy years of fighting. And losing. And now I'm here."
Giles cleared his throat, snapping back to the present. "Then we have to stop this Ascension. We've been working on a plan—"
Buffy took over, her voice resolute. "We know the Mayor's going to ascend into a demon at graduation. We figured we could stop him during the transformation—hit him with everything we've got."
Willow stepped in, her voice shaky but hopeful. "I've been working on a spell to protect us and slow him down during the change."
Oz added, "And we're going to evacuate the students, try to keep them safe while we focus on the Mayor."
Buffy's eyes flickered with determination. "We hit him while he's vulnerable and take him out."
Xander shook his head, his voice low and serious. "It's not enough."
Everyone looked at him, startled. Buffy frowned. "What do you mean, 'not enough'?"
Xander stepped forward, his gaze locking with Buffy's. "The Mayor isn't just turning into any demon. He's becoming an Old One. You can't fight that with swords or spells. The only record of an Old One ever being killed was when one got buried in an active volcano."
The room fell into stunned silence. Giles took a sharp breath. "A volcano?"
Buffy's face paled slightly. "We don't have one of those handy, Xander."
Xander's voice was steady, but firm. "We don't need a volcano. But we need something close. Explosives. We blow him up before he fully transforms. That's the only way to stop him before he becomes indestructible."
Willow's voice wavered. "Explosives? But how—"
Xander nodded. "I know a guy. Someone in town who can get us what we need, but we have to move fast. The Mayor's transformation will take time, but once he's fully turned, we won't be able to touch him."
Giles exchanged a concerned look with Buffy. "Explosives are a dangerous approach, Xander. What about the students?"
Xander gestured to the rest of them. "We evacuate as many as we can. We'll need distractions to keep the vampires off our backs during the eclipse. Willow's spell can help with that. The timing has to be perfect, but it's the only shot we've got."
Buffy crossed her arms, weighing his words. "You're asking us to trust you. And you're saying everything we've been planning… it's all wrong?"
Xander met her gaze. "Your plan is solid, Buff. But it's not enough. I've seen what happens when you don't go all in. A lot of people die. This is the only way."
The room was quiet for a long moment, the tension thick as Buffy processed his words. Finally, she nodded, her expression hardening. "Alright. We do it your way. But this better work, Xander."
Xander gave a tight smile. "It will. I'm not losing any of you again."
---
The library was buzzing with nervous energy. Buffy, Willow, Giles, Oz, and Cordelia gathered around the large wooden table, reviewing their plans for the Mayor's Ascension. The quiet tension hung thick in the air.
Xander stood a little off to the side, watching them as they spoke, feeling an odd mix of dread and nostalgia. He had watched this scene play out before—or something like it—but in his world, everything had gone wrong. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the flood of memories that threatened to overwhelm him.
They were alive. All of them.
That should have been a relief, but instead, it felt like a heavy weight pressing down on him. The faces of the people he'd lost—*these* people—flashed in his mind, filling him with a sense of urgency he struggled to control.
"I'll need some time to get the protection spell in place," Willow said, looking up from her spellbook, her brow furrowed in concentration. "It's not super powerful, but it should help hold back some of the vampires."
Buffy nodded. " and I will be on the front line, trying to keep them off your backs. We need to make sure everyone's out of the way before things get bad."
Giles added, "The timing is crucial. Once the Mayor begins the transformation, we'll need to move quickly. We won't have a large window of opportunity."
Xander barely registered their words. His eyes were focused on Willow, her quiet determination as she made notes and prepared for the spell. It was almost too much to take in—seeing her alive, vibrant, and so full of hope. He had watched her die, and now, here she was, planning for a future she didn't even know was at risk.
Buffy's voice broke through his thoughts. "Xander?"
He blinked and looked up, realizing she was standing in front of him, watching him with that sharp, scrutinizing gaze of hers. "Yeah?"
"You okay?" Buffy asked, her tone both curious and concerned. "You've been kind of… distant."
Xander shifted, not quite meeting her eyes. "I'm fine. Just thinking."
Buffy didn't look convinced. She stepped a little closer, lowering her voice so the others wouldn't hear. "Look, I know this is a lot. And you've been through more than we can probably understand. But we need you with us. All the way."
Xander's chest tightened. She didn't get it. She couldn't understand what it felt like to watch her die, to lose them all, and then get a second chance to make things right. He swallowed hard, trying to push down the emotions bubbling up inside him. "I'm here, Buff. I'm with you."
She studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "Okay. Just… if something's going on, don't keep it to yourself."
Xander nodded, giving her a weak smile. "I won't."
Buffy turned back to the group, but Xander stayed where he was, his heart pounding. How could he explain to her the weight he was carrying? How could he make her understand that every moment he spent with them felt like a countdown to losing them all over again?
Willow looked up from her book, glancing over at him with a soft smile. "You okay, Xander?"
Her voice was warm and familiar, and it hit him like a punch to the gut. He forced a smile in return. "Yeah, Will. Just… you know. Big day."
Willow nodded sympathetically. "I know. It's a lot. But we've got a good plan, right?"
Xander's smile faltered. *You have no idea.* He wanted to tell her. He wanted to grab her and shake her and make her see what was really at stake. But he couldn't. Not yet.
Giles' voice interrupted his spiraling thoughts. "We'll need to make sure the students are evacuated quickly. If any stragglers remain, it could become a bloodbath."
Buffy's face hardened. "We'll make sure they're out of there. No one's getting caught in the crossfire."
There was a pause as the weight of their mission settled over them. Oz, ever the quiet observer, finally spoke. "We've been through worse, right?"
Cordelia scoffed. "You mean worse than a giant demon mayor, a swarm of vampires, and the end of Sunnydale as we know it? Sure, Oz. Definitely been through worse."
Oz raised an eyebrow. "Exactly."
Xander couldn't help but chuckle softly at that. Leave it to Oz to bring a little calm to the chaos. But the laughter died quickly as reality sank back in.
They had been through a lot together. But nothing like this. Nothing like what was coming.
Buffy turned toward him again. "Xander, you sure there's nothing we've missed?"
Xander pushed himself off the wall, walking toward the table. He could feel the weight of their eyes on him—waiting for him to confirm that everything would be okay. But the truth was, nothing was certain.
He looked at the faces of his friends—these people he loved more than anything—and swallowed the lump in his throat. "You've got a good plan," he said quietly. "It's solid."
Buffy studied him for a moment before nodding, seemingly satisfied. "Then let's make sure we're ready."
---
**Later that evening**, after hours of preparations and logistics, the library had emptied out. Most of the group had gone to get some rest before the battle tomorrow, but Xander stayed behind, staring out the window into the darkening sky.
He didn't feel tired. He felt like he was wound too tight, like if he let himself relax for even a second, the memories would overwhelm him. Seventy years of fighting, of losing, of watching everything he cared about turn to ash—it had shaped him into something he barely recognized anymore.
He heard soft footsteps and turned to see Willow standing there, looking at him with a worried expression. "Hey," she said softly. "You didn't come with us."
Xander shrugged, his voice a little rough. "Didn't feel like sleeping."
Willow stepped closer, her eyes searching his face. "You're… different, you know? I mean, I get why. You've been through a lot. But you're still Xander. I just want you to remember that."
Her words hit him harder than he expected. He looked down, unable to meet her gaze. "I'm trying, Will."
Willow reached out and placed her hand on his arm. "We're gonna get through this, Xander. Together."
Xander smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. He wanted to believe her. He really did. But deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that no matter what he did, the future was already written. And it was full of pain.
---
The streets of Sunnydale were eerily quiet as Xander led Buffy and Giles through town. The tension was palpable—graduation was just hours away, and the Mayor's Ascension loomed on the horizon.
They were headed to meet a man who could provide them with the explosives needed for Xander's plan. Xander had never met him in *this* timeline, but he knew the man well from his original world—the one where everything had fallen apart after they failed to seal the Hellmouth. In this version of events, the man wouldn't recognize Xander, but they didn't have the time or the luxury to be picky about allies.
Buffy, ever alert, walked beside him, her brow furrowed in suspicion. "So, this guy... he's really going to help us?"
Xander nodded, keeping his tone steady. "He'll have what we need."
Buffy raised an eyebrow. "And you know him how?"
Xander hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Let's just say I've dealt with him before... in a different situation."
Giles, ever inquisitive, adjusted his glasses and gave Xander a sideways glance. "You've been somewhat... reticent about your past. Should we be concerned about this contact?"
Xander shook his head. "No, he's fine. He's not going to ask questions, and that's what we need right now."
Buffy's suspicion deepened. "Shady guy who doesn't ask questions. Sounds perfect."
Xander chuckled darkly. "Yeah, he's not exactly the type you take home to meet the family, but he'll get the job done."
They reached a rundown warehouse on the edge of town. It was just as Xander remembered from his previous life—a place where deals went down in the shadows. Xander knocked on the door in a specific pattern, hoping the man was still the same.
After a few moments, the door creaked open, and a grizzled man in his fifties appeared. His eyes flicked over Xander, Buffy, and Giles with a look of practiced indifference.
"What do you want?" he asked, his voice rough, a cigarette dangling from his lips.
"We need explosives," Xander said bluntly, stepping forward.
The man eyed them suspiciously. "Explosives, huh? Not exactly legal around here."
Buffy crossed her arms, her voice firm. "Not exactly asking for legal."
The man smirked, clearly enjoying the tension. "You don't look like the usual type to be buying explosives. What's the occasion?"
Xander kept his voice calm. "Graduation's about to get messy. We want to be prepared."
The man leaned against the doorframe, studying Xander closely. "You sound like you've done this before."
Xander met his gaze, careful not to reveal too much. "You could say that."
There was a long pause as the man considered the group. Finally, he exhaled a puff of smoke and shrugged. "Alright. I can get you what you need. But it's gonna cost you."
Giles stepped forward, his tone polite but firm. "We'll pay whatever's necessary, but we're on a tight schedule."
The man nodded. "Give me a couple of hours. I'll have your gear ready."
Buffy frowned. "We don't have a couple of hours. Graduation starts soon."
The man smirked, clearly enjoying her frustration. "Then I suggest you find something to do in the meantime. Big orders like this don't just pop up out of thin air."
Xander clenched his fists, but he kept his voice level. "We'll be back in two hours."
The man gave a lazy salute and closed the door behind him.
---
The walk back toward the school was quiet, tension hanging between the group.
Buffy glanced over at Xander, her frustration evident. "This guy seems like a real piece of work. How do you know he'll actually come through?"
Xander shrugged. "He's in it for the money. As long as we pay him, we'll get what we need."
Buffy raised an eyebrow. "And you trust him?"
Xander hesitated. "I don't trust him. But he's reliable."
Giles, ever the cautious voice of reason, asked, "Reliable in what way, exactly?"
Xander sighed, running a hand through his hair. "In my... previous experience, this guy helped us out when things went south. He's not a friend, but he's a guy who knows how to survive. He came through for us then, and he'll do it again now."
Buffy stopped walking, turning to face him. "What do you mean 'when things went south'? What happened?"
Xander clenched his jaw, the memories of the other timeline flashing through his mind. "The Mayor's Ascension went down pretty much like it's supposed to. But later… we failed to seal the Hellmouth. And that was it. Everything we fought for went up in flames."
Buffy's face softened, the weight of his words sinking in. "You really think it could happen again?"
Xander nodded grimly. "If we screw this up, yeah. It could be just as bad. Worse."
There was a long silence as Buffy and Giles processed his words. Buffy's voice was quieter now, less defensive. "But this time, we know what we're up against. We've got you."
Xander forced a small smile, but the doubt in his chest remained. "Let's hope it's enough."
---
Back at the school, preparations were in full swing. Willow was setting up her spell, Cordelia was helping organize the students, and Oz was working with the rest of the gang to secure key exits. The tension was mounting as the clock ticked closer to graduation.
Xander stood near the entrance of the school, watching everyone move with purpose, trying to hold on to the hope that things would be different this time. He had been here before—watched them all fight with everything they had—and in the end, it hadn't been enough. But maybe, just maybe, they could avoid the worst.
Willow walked up beside him, her face full of quiet determination. "How'd it go with your guy?"
Xander shrugged, his voice heavy. "He'll have what we need."
Willow smiled, but there was a flicker of worry in her eyes. "That's good, right?"
"Yeah, it's good," Xander said, though his voice was tight. "It's just... this feels too familiar."
Willow's brow furrowed. "Because of the other timeline?"
Xander nodded. "We were so close, Will. We had the plan, the people, the determination. And we still lost. I don't know if I can go through that again."
Willow placed a hand on his arm, her voice soft but steady. "But we're not in that timeline anymore. We're here, now. And we've got you. That's the difference."
Xander smiled faintly, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I hope you're right."
Willow squeezed his arm gently before stepping away to join the others, leaving Xander alone with his thoughts. He knew she meant well—he knew they all had hope—but he couldn't shake the feeling that history had a way of repeating itself.
As the sun began to rise higher in the sky, signaling the beginning of a day that could change everything, Xander steeled himself for what was to come. He had already lived through the end once. This time, he was going to make damn sure it didn't happen again.
---
The school's halls were deceptively quiet, with the distant sounds of graduation preparations echoing through the corridors. But in the library, there was a different kind of preparation—a far more urgent one.
Xander stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching the others move around with a focused but measured air. He had been through this scenario before in another life, and it hadn't ended well. But this time, there was a difference: he had a backup plan. He wasn't going to let it fall apart again, not like last time. Still, the weight of his past and the faces of those he'd lost pressed heavily on his chest.
Across the room, Buffy glanced over at him, as if sensing his quiet resolve. She had been studying him since he'd returned, probably trying to reconcile the friend they had lost a year ago with the man standing before her now.
"Xander," Buffy called, making her way over. She looked at him with a mix of curiosity and concern. "You've been quiet. Too quiet. You got something on your mind?"
Xander forced a small smile but kept his posture reserved. "Just thinking about everything."
Buffy's brow furrowed as she leaned against a nearby table. "That doesn't exactly sound like the carefree Xander we used to know."
"Carefree Xander died a long time ago," Xander said softly, his tone measured but carrying the weight of years of battle and loss. "I'm here to make sure things don't go sideways again."
Buffy studied him, her eyes flicking over his face, searching for a trace of the friend she remembered. "We've got this," she said, her voice firm but not without a flicker of uncertainty. "We've got a good plan."
Xander nodded. "We do. But if anything goes wrong... I've got contingencies."
Buffy raised an eyebrow. "Backup plans? You didn't mention that before."
Xander shrugged slightly, not looking directly at her. "Didn't think I needed to."
Buffy hesitated, her voice softening. "I get it. Things went bad in your future, didn't they? You're afraid it's going to happen again."
Xander's jaw tightened. He had told them some things about his future, but he hadn't gone into the worst of it. The horrors. The endless fights. The faces of his friends, one by one, taken away by the hell they couldn't stop. "I'm not afraid, Buff. Just... prepared."
Buffy's gaze softened, her own sense of leadership making her understand what Xander was going through, even if she couldn't fully grasp the extent of his experiences. "We're all in this together. Whatever happens."
Xander gave her a small nod. He wanted to believe her, to trust that they would come out on top this time. But he had seen too much to rely solely on hope.
---
Later in the library, the team had gathered to go over the final details. The tension was thick, and everyone was on edge. Xander, Buffy, Giles, Willow, Angel, and the others sat around the large table, reviewing their plans for the upcoming fight.
Angel leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, watching the group with that same brooding intensity he always carried. He had been quiet since Xander had returned, keeping mostly to himself. Xander could tell Angel was carrying guilt—guilt for not saving Xander in the past when Angelus had wreaked havoc.
Giles stood at the front of the group, laying out their final strategy. "We have the explosives set under the stage, ready to go. Xander, how are the secondary measures?"
Xander nodded, his tone calm but firm. "Everything's in place. If the Mayor gets out of the school or something goes wrong, we've got a fallback."
Buffy raised an eyebrow. "You're really going all in on these backups, huh?"
Xander met her gaze. "I've learned to always have a plan B."
Willow, sitting cross-legged with her spellbooks open, glanced up. "What about the spells? They're ready to hold the vampires off, but I can't guarantee they'll last long."
Angel finally spoke, his deep voice quiet but filled with resolve. "I'll handle the vampires. Keep them away from Willow so she can focus on the spells. I won't let them get through."
Buffy nodded at Angel, her expression softening slightly. She had been keeping a close eye on him since his return from Hell, knowing the weight of his guilt and trying to trust him again. "Thanks, Angel."
Xander watched the exchange. His feelings about Angel were complicated, but he wasn't here to dig up old grudges. They needed everyone on board for this fight, even the vampire who had caused so much pain in his past.
Giles glanced at the group. "Let's stay focused. The key to defeating the Mayor is timing. Once he begins the transformation, we won't have long."
Cordelia, leaning against a nearby bookshelf with her arms crossed, chimed in, her voice laced with impatience. "And if this whole thing goes south? What then?"
Xander's voice was steady, but there was a gravity to it that made everyone listen. "If it goes wrong, we fall back. I've set up traps and fail-safes around the school grounds. They'll buy us time, but only if we act fast."
Angel nodded in agreement. "If things go bad, I'll cover the escape. We can't afford any distractions during the main event."
Buffy's eyes flicked between Xander and Angel, the seriousness of the moment settling in. "We're sticking to the plan. No one goes rogue, no one makes any sudden moves."
Xander's jaw clenched slightly, knowing that even the best-laid plans could fall apart. "We'll stick to it. But if it starts to go sideways, we adapt. No hesitation."
---
As the night drew closer to the moment of action, the library began to empty as everyone prepared in their own ways. Xander stayed behind, his mind racing through every contingency, every possible scenario that could go wrong. He wasn't going to be caught off guard this time.
The quiet shuffle of footsteps pulled him from his thoughts, and he looked up to see Willow approaching. She gave him a soft, tentative smile. "Hey."
Xander returned the smile, though it was smaller, more weighed down by the weight of the moment. "Hey, Will."
Willow stepped closer, her eyes full of concern. "I just wanted to check in... y'know, before everything goes down."
Xander exhaled softly, nodding. "I appreciate that."
She hesitated, her voice quieter now. "It's... it's been a while since we've had you here. The real you, I mean. And I know you've been through a lot... but I wanted you to know, we've missed you. I've missed you."
Xander looked away, the guilt creeping in again. "I missed you too, Will. More than you know."
Willow placed a hand on his arm, her voice gentle. "You're not alone in this. Whatever happens, we're in it together."
Xander smiled, a bit more sincerely this time. "I know. And I'm ready, Will. I'm not letting what happened before happen again."
Willow nodded, her expression a mix of hope and worry. "We'll make it through. We always do."
Xander didn't respond immediately. He just gave her a small nod, his mind still racing with the what-ifs. But deep down, he knew she was right. They were in this together, and whatever happened, they would face it as a team.
---
The school grounds were a mix of anticipation and dread. The morning of graduation was upon them, but for the Scoobies, it felt like standing on the edge of a precipice. They knew the battle was coming, and though the stage was set for a monumental showdown with the Mayor, there was an undercurrent of tension. They had been here before—in battles they'd barely walked away from—and today felt no different.
Xander had already run over the plan in his mind dozens of times. He had backup plans, and if everything fell apart, he was prepared for that too. But he also knew this was a group that didn't quit until the last breath, and that gave him hope, if only a sliver.
As the team gathered in front of the library one last time, Xander found himself standing next to Angel. The brooding vampire had been distant, as usual, but Xander could sense something deeper at play. The guilt Angel carried was almost palpable—a weight that had grown heavier since Xander had returned.
Angel shifted uncomfortably, his gaze sweeping over the assembled group. "You've come back from a place none of us can really imagine," Angel said, breaking the silence between them. His voice was low, meant for Xander alone.
Xander glanced at him, the hint of a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Yeah, well, you've been to Hell and back too."
Angel's jaw tightened, his eyes darkening at the mention of Hell. "Not the same, Xander. You died. Because of me."
Xander let out a slow breath, feeling the familiar pull of the past. He had wanted to avoid this conversation, but he could see that Angel needed it. "Angelus killed him… me," Xander said, shaking his head at the confusing sentence his voice steady. "Not you."
Angel's eyes flashed with self-loathing. "Angelus is still part of me. No matter how hard I try to fight him."
For a moment, neither of them spoke, the weight of their shared history settling between them. Xander had been angry once, furious that Angel's darker half had taken everything from him. But that anger had burned out years ago, replaced by the cold reality of survival.
"I don't blame you," Xander said quietly, looking out toward the horizon. "You weren't you back then. And we're all carrying scars from the past."
Angel turned to face him, his expression grim. "Still, I owe you. I failed you. I won't let that happen again."
Xander finally met his eyes, his gaze steady. "Then don't. We've got bigger things to worry about right now. The past is the past."
Angel nodded, though the weight of his guilt didn't lift. But the moment of understanding between them had shifted something—an unspoken agreement that whatever bitterness had existed before was gone. Now, they were allies.
---
Inside the library, the Scoobies were making final preparations. Willow was placing the last of her protection wards, while Giles and Buffy discussed strategy over a large map of the school grounds. Oz, Cordelia, and Wesley stood nearby, making sure the students knew what to do once the chaos began.
Buffy leaned over the map, her brow furrowed in concentration. "We hit him hard the moment he starts to transform," she said, her voice firm. "We can't give him a chance to fully turn."
Giles nodded, adjusting his glasses. "Agreed. The explosives will need to be timed perfectly. Once he reaches his full demonic form, we'll lose any chance of stopping him conventionally."
Xander stood quietly off to the side, watching the group work together. It was eerily similar to how things had played out in his original timeline, but this time there were small differences. They were more confident now, more prepared. And yet, Xander couldn't shake the feeling that something could still go wrong.
Willow approached him, her face serious but kind. "How are you holding up?"
Xander gave her a small smile. "As well as I can, given the circumstances."
Willow nodded, biting her lip. "I know you're worried. About everything. But we've got this. We've been through worse."
Xander's smile faltered slightly. "I wish I had your confidence, Will."
Willow gave him a soft look, her eyes full of warmth. "We're stronger now. You're here with us. That's what's different."
Xander nodded, though the weight of his memories still pressed heavily on him. He wanted to believe that this time would be different, that they could stop the Mayor and avoid the hellscape his timeline had become. But part of him was always preparing for the worst.
---
The final moments before graduation began were a whirlwind of activity. The students were arriving, blissfully unaware of the battle that was about to unfold. Teachers moved through the crowd, ushering them toward their seats, while the Scoobies stood nearby, eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger.
Xander was with Buffy, Giles, and Angel near the stage, making last-minute adjustments to the explosives hidden beneath it. Angel's brooding figure cast a long shadow as he watched the scene unfold, his eyes never leaving the perimeter where the Mayor was expected to appear.
Buffy glanced at Xander, her voice calm but serious. "You've got the detonator?"
Xander patted the pocket of his jacket. "Right here. Once he starts to change, we blow the place sky-high."
Buffy nodded, her jaw clenched. "And if something goes wrong?"
Xander's voice was steady. "We improvise. But we won't get a second shot."
There was a tense silence as the gravity of the situation sank in. The Mayor was one of the most powerful enemies they had ever faced, and this wasn't just about winning—it was about survival.
Angel, standing off to the side, spoke up. "I'll deal with the vampires when they start swarming. Keep them away from the students."
Buffy looked at him, her eyes full of determination. "I'll be right there with you."
Xander felt the weight of the moment. This was it. The culmination of all the planning, the backup plans, and the years he had spent fighting to make sure this moment didn't end in disaster. But no matter how prepared they were, there was always a chance something could go wrong.
And if it did, Xander was ready to step up and finish the job.
---
This was just the calm before the storm was over. The battle was about to begin.
---
The sun was shining bright, a stark contrast to the storm brewing within the Scoobies. The graduation ceremony had officially started, students sitting in neat rows, unaware of the doom that hung over their heads. Parents sat in the bleachers, beaming with pride. The stage was decorated with banners that proudly declared "Class of 1999," but the only thing the Scoobies could focus on was the lurking danger.
Xander, standing to the side of the stage with the rest of the group, felt the tension knotting in his stomach. The Mayor was there—sitting, smiling, and pretending to be just another public official giving a graduation speech. But Xander knew better. They all did.
He scanned the crowd, spotting Willow, Oz, and Cordelia stationed among the students, their eyes alert. Giles was closer to the front, talking quietly with Wesley, while Buffy stood beside him, trying to keep her nerves in check. Her eyes flicked back and forth between the Mayor and the crowd.
The plan was set. The explosives were in place under the stage, ready to go off the moment the Mayor began his transformation. They just had to time it perfectly.
Giles adjusted his glasses, keeping his voice low. "Everyone in position?"
Xander nodded. "Everyone's where they need to be. Once he starts changing, we hit the switch."
Buffy clenched her fists, her face set in determination. "We've only got one shot at this. We can't miss."
Angel, standing a little ways off, crossed his arms. "I'll make sure the vampires don't get to the students. You guys focus on the Mayor."
Buffy glanced at him, her voice quieter. "Be careful."
Angel gave her a small nod, his expression unreadable. "You too."
The Mayor stood up at the podium, adjusting his tie and flashing a wide, unsettling smile at the audience. "Well, congratulations, Class of '99. You've all done incredibly well to get here."
Xander's fingers twitched toward the detonator in his pocket. The tension in the air was thick, almost unbearable. It felt like the calm before a massive storm. He had been here before, and the weight of that memory made his heart race.
Buffy leaned in, her voice low but urgent. "We'll know when it's time, right?"
Xander nodded, his gaze locked on the Mayor. "We'll know."
---
**The Mayor's speech droned on**, his tone cheerful, almost fatherly. But beneath the surface, there was something sinister—something that only the Scoobies could see. Xander's grip on the detonator tightened as the Mayor's words took on a darker edge.
"It's not every day that you face such a momentous occasion," the Mayor said, his voice growing more intense. "Graduation marks the end of your childhood and the beginning of a new chapter. A new world. One that you will help shape."
Xander's heart pounded in his chest. He knew the signs. The transformation was coming.
The Mayor's smile widened, and his gaze seemed to darken. "And today, you will witness something truly spectacular."
Buffy glanced at Xander, her face taut with anticipation. "Now?"
"Not yet," Xander murmured, his eyes never leaving the Mayor.
---
The air around the stage shifted, growing heavier. The students in the crowd began to fidget, some whispering to each other, sensing that something was off. And then it happened—the Mayor's voice deepened, his body beginning to twitch and shift unnaturally.
"He's starting!" Buffy hissed, her body tensing as she prepared for the fight.
The Mayor let out a low, guttural laugh, his human features beginning to warp and stretch. His skin rippled, turning a sickly green as his body began to elongate and contort into something monstrous. The transformation had begun.
Xander pulled the detonator from his pocket, his thumb hovering over the button. His heart pounded in his chest, every muscle in his body ready to spring into action.
"Wait for it…" Xander muttered, his voice tense.
Buffy's hands clenched into fists, her entire body poised to strike. "We can't let him finish transforming!"
Giles, standing nearby, whispered urgently. "Timing is crucial, Xander. The explosives need to go off before he fully completes the process."
"I know," Xander said, his voice tight.
The Mayor's body twisted further, grotesquely stretching and expanding into his true demonic form—a massive snake-like creature, towering over the stage. His voice rumbled through the air, deep and filled with malice. "Class of 1999, welcome to your ascension!"
The students gasped, the horror spreading through the crowd like wildfire. The Scoobies sprang into action.
"Now!" Buffy shouted.
Xander hit the detonator.
---
The explosion was deafening, a massive blast tearing through the stage and the area around it. The force of the explosion sent debris flying in all directions, smoke billowing into the sky. The Mayor let out an unearthly roar as the explosion hit him, his monstrous body thrashing violently as flames engulfed him.
Xander shielded his face from the blast, his ears ringing from the impact. "Did it work?" he shouted over the chaos, his eyes darting around for any sign of the Mayor.
Buffy, already moving toward the wreckage, squinted through the smoke. "I don't know! I can't see him!"
Giles, coughing as he waved the smoke away from his face, looked grim. "If he's still alive, we're in trouble."
Angel appeared at Xander's side, his face set in determination. "We need to be ready for whatever comes next. If that didn't kill him…"
Xander's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. "If that didn't kill him, we improvise."
---
As the smoke began to clear, the Scoobies stared at the wreckage of the stage, their hearts pounding. For a moment, it seemed like the explosion had done the job. The stage was in ruins, and the Mayor's massive, twisted form lay still among the debris.
Buffy's breath came in short, sharp bursts as she stood over the wreckage, her eyes fixed on the Mayor's body. "Is he dead?"
Xander stepped forward cautiously, his gaze locked on the Mayor's still form. "Let's hope so."
But before anyone could breathe a sigh of relief, the Mayor's body twitched.
And then it moved.
His monstrous, snake-like form began to rise from the rubble, his body writhing as the flames around him extinguished. The Mayor's deep, rumbling laugh echoed through the air, sending a chill down Xander's spine.
"You didn't think it'd be that easy, did you?" the Mayor growled, his voice distorted and full of menace. His massive body reared up, towering over the Scoobies.
Buffy's eyes widened in horror. "He's still alive."
Xander clenched his fists, his mind racing. "Plan B. We fall back."
---
The Mayor's demonic form surged forward, crashing through what remained of the stage, heading straight for the crowd of students.**
Buffy was already in motion, grabbing the nearest weapon she could find and shouting at the Scoobies. "Angel! Willow! Get the students out of here, now!"
Xander turned toward Giles, his heart racing. "We need to slow him down! I'll cover the retreat."
Giles nodded, his face pale but determined. "Be careful, Xander."
"I've got this," Xander said, his voice calm despite the chaos around him. He grabbed a weapon and moved toward the Mayor, ready to face the monstrous creature head-on.
The battle had truly begun.
---
The ruins of Sunnydale High blurred past as Buffy sprinted through the debris, her heart pounding in her chest.** Behind her, the massive, serpentine form of the Mayor slithered with terrifying speed, crushing everything in his path. Each thundering crash of his body against the ground sent tremors rippling through the courtyard.
Xander, not far behind Buffy, darted through the wreckage, his breath ragged but steady. The pain from his earlier hit throbbed in his ribs, but he forced it aside. There was no time to slow down, no time to think about anything but surviving.
Angel, his vampiric strength allowing him to keep pace easily, appeared at Buffy's side, his face set in grim determination. "He's gaining on us," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the chaos.
Buffy glanced over at him, her expression tight. "We just need to get him away from the students."
"We're almost there!" Xander shouted from behind them, pointing toward the open field just beyond the edge of the school grounds. "If we can get him into the open, we'll have more room to maneuver!"
The Mayor's voice, twisted and distorted in his demonic form, rumbled through the air, dripping with malice. "You think you can outrun me? You can't stop what's already begun!"
Xander's grip on his makeshift weapon tightened. **They were running out of time. They had to act fast.
---
Back at the school, the Scoobies were doing their best to manage the evacuation.
Willow's protective barrier shimmered in the sunlight as she focused all her energy on keeping it strong. Sweat dripped down her forehead, and her hands shook from the strain, but she refused to let it falter. "We need to get them all out now!" she shouted, her voice trembling with exhaustion.
Oz was beside her, helping guide the last of the students through the exits. His calm demeanor kept the students from completely panicking, but even he could sense the urgency. "Let's go, people!" he called out, his voice surprisingly firm. "Keep moving!"
Giles, overseeing the chaos from a distance, spotted Wesley struggling to guide a group of younger students away from the danger. He rushed over, grabbing Wesley by the arm and pulling him aside. "Get them to safety, now!" Giles barked, his usual calm demeanor replaced by sharp urgency.
Wesley nodded, too flustered to argue. "R-right! Of course!"
---
As Buffy, Xander, and Angel reached the edge of the open field, the Mayor let out a deafening roar.** His massive body reared up, towering over them like a grotesque serpent from a nightmare. The ground shook beneath their feet as his head came crashing down toward them.
Buffy barely had time to dive out of the way, rolling across the grass as the Mayor's massive tail whipped through the air. "Xander! Angel! We need to take him down now!" she shouted, scrambling to her feet.
Angel, using his vampiric speed, darted around the Mayor, trying to distract him. "Over here, you oversized garden snake!" he yelled, grabbing the Mayor's attention.
The Mayor turned his massive head toward Angel, his yellow eyes glowing with malice. "Such bravery," he hissed. "It'll be your last mistake."
Angel dodged another swipe of the Mayor's tail, but Xander knew they couldn't keep this up much longer. They needed to find a way to stop him—for good.
Buffy, her sword still in hand, glanced at Xander, her eyes full of determination. "We need something big—something that can stop him for good."
Xander's mind raced as he scanned the area. He knew there was one around here in the open, but he just needed to locate it… He turned to Buffy, his face grim. "There's a gas main that runs under this field. If we can get him over it…"
Buffy's eyes widened in understanding. "We blow it."
"Exactly," Xander said, already moving toward a nearby maintenance hatch. "I'll get it open. You keep him busy."
Buffy didn't hesitate. She sprinted toward the Mayor, her sword gleaming in the sunlight as she slashed at his massive body, trying to draw his attention away from Xander.
The Mayor's laughter echoed across the field as he swung his tail at her. "You can't kill me, Buffy. I'm invincible!"
"We'll see about that," Buffy muttered, ducking under another swing and stabbing her sword deep into the Mayor's side. The blade barely made a dent, but it was enough to keep him distracted.
---
Xander reached the maintenance hatch and wrenched it open, revealing the gas main below. His heart pounded as he worked quickly, pulling the valves and setting the pipeline to release the gas. The smell hit him immediately, a pungent reminder of the danger they were about to unleash.
"Buffy!" Xander shouted over the noise. "Get him over here!"
Buffy glanced at Angel, who had been doing his best to keep the Mayor off-balance. "Angel! We need to move him!"
Angel nodded and sprinted toward the Mayor, grabbing a length of chain from the debris. With a quick throw, he looped the chain around the Mayor's tail and pulled, forcing the massive demon to twist toward Xander's position.
The Mayor roared in fury as his body coiled around the gas main, his massive head snapping toward Xander. "You think this will stop me? I've survived worse!"
Xander's fingers trembled as he held the lighter in his hand. **This was it. "Not this time."
Buffy's voice rang out over the chaos. "Xander, now!"
Without hesitation, Xander flicked the lighter and tossed it toward the gas main.
---
The explosion was instant. A massive fireball erupted from the ground, engulfing the Mayor in a torrent of flames. The shockwave knocked Xander off his feet, sending him tumbling across the field. Buffy and Angel were thrown backward by the force of the blast, barely managing to stay on their feet.
The Mayor let out an ear-piercing scream as the fire consumed him, his massive body writhing in agony. For a moment, it seemed like he might survive—but then his form began to collapse, his once-invincible body crumbling under the weight of the explosion.
Xander, his vision blurry from the impact, watched as the Mayor's massive, charred form finally stilled. The towering figure that had once threatened to destroy Sunnydale was no more. All that remained was a smoldering pile of debris and ash.
Buffy staggered to her feet, her face covered in soot and sweat. She stared at the wreckage, breathing heavily, her hands trembling. "Is… is it over?"
Angel, his eyes locked on the wreckage, nodded slowly. "It's over."
Xander, coughing as he pushed himself upright, managed a weak smile. "We did it."
---
The battle was won. The Mayor was defeated. But as the Scoobies began to regroup, the weight of what had just happened settled over them like a dark cloud. They had survived—barely—but the cost had been high.
Buffy turned to Xander, her expression a mix of relief and exhaustion. "You okay?"
Xander nodded, though the pain in his body told a different story. "Yeah. I'll live."
Buffy managed a small smile, but her eyes were filled with the same weariness that Xander had seen in his own reflection so many times. This victory had been hard-fought, but it didn't feel like a triumph. There was too much at stake—too much still to come.
As the flames from the explosion flickered out, Xander couldn't help but think about the future. They had stopped the Mayor, but what about the Hellmouth? What about Malakar?
Buffy's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "We'll deal with it. Together."
Xander looked at her, surprised by her words. But as he met her gaze, he realized she had seen the same thing in his eyes—fear. Uncertainty. And maybe just a bit of hope.
"Yeah," Xander said softly. "Together."
---
The explosion still echoed in Xander's ears as he stumbled to his feet, the blast from the gas main leaving a crater in the field. Dust and debris hung in the air, swirling around the remains of the Mayor's monstrous form, now nothing more than smoldering ash and broken flesh.
Xander wiped the soot from his face, wincing as the movement pulled at his bruised ribs. His breath came in short gasps, but he forced himself to focus. **They had won. The Mayor was dead.
Buffy, covered in grime and blood, staggered toward him. She paused a few feet away, her eyes wide, as if waiting for confirmation that it was truly over. Xander met her gaze, offering a nod as he tried to catch his breath.
"It worked," he managed to say, voice hoarse.
Buffy let out a shaky laugh, relief washing over her exhausted features. "Yeah… it did."
Angel appeared from the shadows, his face a mixture of relief and concern. He had been standing just far enough away to avoid the worst of the explosion, but even he looked battered. His eyes flicked between Buffy and Xander. "Are you both okay?"
"We're alive," Buffy replied, wiping a trickle of blood from her lip. "That's enough for now."
Xander nodded but remained quiet. His thoughts were already racing ahead. **They had beaten the Mayor, but this wasn't the end—not by a long shot.
---
Back at the school, the evacuation was nearly complete. Willow's protective barrier shimmered faintly in the distance, and Giles was directing the last of the students to safety. The school grounds were littered with debris from the earlier fight, and the smoke from the explosion hung in the air like a thick fog.
Willow was trembling from exhaustion as Oz helped her stay on her feet. "We did it," she whispered, though her voice was tinged with disbelief. "The Mayor's gone, right?"
Oz nodded, his usual calm demeanor offering a sense of stability. "Yeah. But I'm guessing this isn't over for Xander."
Willow glanced toward the field where the explosion had taken place, her brow furrowed with concern. "It never is."
---
Back at the crater, Buffy, Angel, and Xander stood in silence, staring at the charred remains of what had once been Richard Wilkins. The sense of victory hung in the air, but it felt muted—like they had won the battle but were still waiting for the next war to begin.
Buffy turned to Xander, her voice quiet but filled with curiosity. "So… blowing up a gas main? That was your backup plan?"
Xander, still catching his breath, gave her a wry smile. "One of them, yeah."
Buffy's eyes widened in disbelief. She looked around at the destruction surrounding them, shaking her head as she brushed some of the ash off her jacket. "This was your plan? This was the 'just in case'?"
Xander shrugged, the movement causing a sharp pain in his ribs. "It wasn't the *first* plan. But when the explosives didn't do the trick, I figured we needed something bigger."
Buffy raised an eyebrow, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "So, gas explosion. Got it. You always come prepared, don't you?"
Xander met her sarcasm with a tired grin. "I try."
Buffy couldn't help but smile, though there was still a flicker of disbelief in her eyes. "Well, next time, maybe give us a heads-up when you're planning to blow up half the school."
Angel, still standing nearby, chimed in with a deadpan expression. "It wouldn't be Sunnydale if we didn't blow up something during graduation."
Xander chuckled, though the sound was hollow. **They had survived, but the cost was high, and the feeling of victory was fleeting.** There was something darker on the horizon, and Xander knew it better than anyone.
---
As the last of the students were evacuated**, the Scoobies regrouped near the edge of the school grounds, exhausted but alive. Willow's protective barrier flickered and then disappeared as she let out a deep breath, the strain of holding the magic for so long evident in her trembling hands.
She saw Xander standing among the wreckage and immediately rushed over to him, her eyes wide with concern. "Xander! You're okay!" She threw her arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug.
Xander winced slightly but returned the hug. "Yeah, I'm okay," he said, his voice softer now. "We all made it."
Willow pulled back, her face filled with relief. "I was so scared when I saw the explosion. I thought…"
"I know," Xander interrupted, offering her a reassuring smile. "But I'm still here. I promise."
Oz, standing a few steps behind Willow, nodded toward Xander. "That was quite a light show."
Xander gave a small shrug. "Sometimes, you've got to go big."
---
The group slowly gathered near the wreckage**, exhaustion etched into every face. Giles, still coordinating the faculty's efforts to guide the students to safety, finally made his way over to the Scoobies, his expression serious but relieved.
"We've done it, then?" Giles asked, his eyes flicking between the group. "The Mayor is… gone?"
"Yeah," Buffy confirmed, her voice weary. "He's gone."
Giles let out a long breath, adjusting his glasses. "Well, it's not exactly how I imagined it going, but a victory nonetheless."
Xander, leaning against a piece of rubble, stared off into the distance, his mind elsewhere. **They had won this battle, but the war was far from over.** Malakar was still out there. And the Hellmouth… it was only a matter of time before it opened again.
Buffy, sensing the weight on his shoulders, glanced over at him. "You had a backup plan for if the explosion didn't work. You had everything planned out."
Xander nodded, though his expression remained somber. "I've had a lot of time to think about how things can go wrong."
Buffy's eyes softened as she stepped closer to him. "Xander… what really happened in your timeline?"
Xander's jaw tightened. **He knew this conversation was coming**, but the truth was still hard to speak. He took a deep breath, forcing the memories back to the surface. "In my timeline, we didn't stop the Hellmouth from opening. We lost."
Buffy's face paled, and the others fell silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air.
"We fought," Xander continued, his voice low and rough. "But it wasn't enough. The Hellmouth opened, and everything—everyone—was gone. I lost all of you. Willow, Giles… you, Buffy." His voice cracked slightly as he said her name.
Buffy looked away, her expression pained. "Everyone?"
Xander nodded. "Everyone."
There was a heavy silence between them as the reality of what Xander had endured began to sink in.
"So you were sent back to stop it from happening again?" Willow asked quietly, her voice trembling.
Xander swallowed hard, the memories of his past—or his future—weighing heavily on him. "Yeah. The Powers That Be… they sent me back to make sure we don't fail this time. But if we screw up again…"
Buffy's hand tightened around the hilt of her sword, her expression resolute. "We won't. We'll stop it. Whatever comes next, we'll face it together."
Xander met her gaze, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah. Together."
---
The night fell quiet as the Scoobies gathered, their battle-worn bodies resting for the first time in what felt like days. They had survived, but the toll of the battle weighed heavily on all of them. The victory felt bittersweet.
Giles stood by the remnants of the school, his expression somber as he surveyed the damage. "We may have stopped the Mayor," he said softly, "but this is only the beginning. The Hellmouth still looms."
Buffy, sitting beside him, nodded, though her eyes were distant. "We'll be ready."
Xander, still leaning against the rubble, stared into the distance, his mind already racing with thoughts of the future. They had won today, but Malakar, the First Evil, and the Hellmouth were still out there.
And Xander wasn't sure if they were ready for what was coming next.
"We'll stop it," Xander said quietly. "Whatever comes next… we'll stop it."
Buffy turned to him, her gaze steady. "Together?"
Xander met her eyes and nodded, his voice quiet but firm. "Together."