Part 17 "With the power of the Stone of Light you are no more!" Max shouted at the alien at the door. It gasped and disintegrated like a dusted vampire, "That felt amazing." Max mused. He melted back to his human form. The others did too. "Nothing like being back in your own form." Isabel said happily. And she had a reason to be happy. "I just felt something from Michael and Tess. "Max shivered. "They're in trouble." "Yes. Come on." Isabel burst out into the day. All the aliens saw them and began shooting. But nothing happened. Max felt like Neo from The Matrix. He belted out his words and the Stone shined brighter. All around him evil aliens dropped and disappeared. The smaller conquered ones shouted with happiness. While Max disintegrated bad aliens right and left Liz and Spike helped Isabel break the chains on her fellow planeteers. "Let's go!" Max grabbed Liz's hand and started towards the center of the city, disintegrating aliens right and left. "Max. Chill out a little." Isabel said nervously. "You don't have to go mass murdering them all." "Yes I do. Do you have any idea what they did to our people? To our parents? Each and everyone of them deserves this fate! It is prophesied!" "But you're going overboard and if you don't stop I'll take the stone away from you. It is my birthright too." Isabel threatened. "Fine. I won't be as destructive. But if any of them so much as touches one of my friends they all burn." A possessed look had taken over Max's face. They didn't dare argue. So they seized what could only be called the Palace. ************************************************************************************ "I can't watch this anymore." Tess turned to Michael and started crying. "Your turn next." One of them said to her. She cried even harder. Michael pushed her off and challenged the guard. "You'll have to kill me first." He said defiantly. "That can be done." He aimed his laser gun at Michael. Buffy automatically flew up and knocked the gun down. She kicked the alien hard a few times. "Who else wants to mess with me?" 10 guns aimed at her. "Oops." She bit her lip. "Let that alien go this instant!" The others who were still in alien form melted back to normal. Max stood at the door. "I am not afraid to use this." He held up the glowing stone. "Yes. I have the stone of Light." They yanked Tess towards the machine harder. Max yelled a warrior's cry and the stone brightened. The aliens screamed in pain as they disintegrated into nothing. "What happened?" Max asked looking sadly at Nessido. "They got him. But we have no time to lose. We have to stop their leader." Buffy grabbed his wrist and yanked him back up the stairs. Tess stood over the body of her adopted father. Michael stopped next to her. "Come on. Don't mourn him now. He died for the cause. We have other things to attend to." So the group now leaderless stormed upstairs. They charged what seemed to be the center room. "Who are you? How dare you come in here?" A large alien roared from a throne like seat. "We have come to fulfill the prophecies." Max said threateningly. Buffy took a place by his side and they lined up in an upside down v formation. "No." He growled. But they could see a hint of fear in his eyes. "By the power of the stone of Light I curse you!" Max shouted. He held up the stone and a burst of power hit the alien and his other cronies. They burst into flames right away but he laughed. "You think that can defeat me? It may defeat my followers but I am stronger." An opposite dark light flew at Max. He blocked it with the stone and it looked like a laser light show gone horribly wrong. "This isn't working." Cried Max, frustrated. The others looked at each other worried. Then Michael stepped forward. "I am of the prophecy. I call forth the power of the Stone of Light." He clamped his hand on Max's shoulder. The stone's brightness increased. "I am of the prophecy. I call forth the power of the Stone." Isabel put her hand on Max's other shoulder. "You can not do this to me!" The alien cried charging forward. Spike looked at him and reacted with the gun still in his arms. He fired rapidly a few times. The dark light began to falter and go crazy and then it stopped. The alien fell to the ground. Buffy moved cautiously over to him. She kicked him non to gently. Then she nodded. The sighs could be heard almost across the planet. Liz hurried over to Max. "Are you alright?" She touched the burned spots on his arms and face. They would all need a few weeks of rest after all that. "I'll be ok." He looked at her and smiled. Tentatively their lips touched and the kiss grew deeper. Michael glanced at Buffy and smiled shyly. Then he looked at Maria and frowned. He shook his head and glanced between the 2. Buffy took a step towards Michael and whispered something in his ear. He smiled and looked at Maria. Buffy winked and walked over to Spike and Tess. Michael walked over to Maria and kissed her hard. "Wait. "She pushed him away. "What did Buffy say?" Michael shrugged. "I guess you'll never know." (To those of you who actually care she said something along the lines of "You're not my type") When Max and Liz pulled apart Buffy approached them. "I just wanted you to know that you've both inspired me. Even though you are an alien with a destiny you make it work. You inspire me to make it work with Angel." "I have a question. How are we getting back to earth?" Isabel asked. "I kind of miss Alex." They all laughed. "Well there is still work guys. No doubt there are still a few rebels on the loose. And we a ton of fellow aliens to release." Max said pocketing the stone. They hurried through the building freeing the slaves who followed along like a triumphant parade. Everywhere they went the cheers grew greater. And the people rejoiced. In fact they held an alien celebration party that night. The small green people danced around the group singing songs of their greatness. They partied all night long. At one point it could be seen that Buffy and Spike were dancing together. "I might stay here. These people think I'm a God. And I'm rather happy to be able to go out during the day." Spike said looking at Buffy. She shrugged. "Go ahead." He frowned. "You're got gonna object? You're gonna let me go? After all I did for you out of the good of my bloody non beating heart?!" Her jaw dropped. "Let me get this right. You came here on your own terms? After all I've done to you? I can't imagine why." She shook her head fervently. Very confused. "Well you haven't staked me yet. And after all we've been through I've started to like you. It's a very thin line between blood and hate." she looked at him and laughed. But after the laughing subsided she smiled. "Yes it is Spike. Yes it is." And she did something that shocked both of them. She kissed his cheek. Of course she wrinkled her nose afterwards but it was a big step.