Synopsis:
A large earthquake rips through town, creating a large crack in the floor of the library. In the midst of the chaos the Master grows exultant, realizing his day of ascension is at hand.Xander musters the courage to ask Buffy to the upcoming Spring Fling dance. Buffy declines the invitation, fearing it would spoil the friendship they enjoy. Xander is crestfallen. Ms. Calendar tells Giles that a series of apocalypse-like events have all occurred within three miles of the high school. Later that evening Buffy overhears Giles having an urgent conversation with Angel. He tells him that the Codex, an ancient book of prophesy, foretells how Buffy will face the Master... and it predicts she will die during battle. Angered and scared, Buffy steps forward. Unwilling to sacrifice her life at the age of sixteen, she announces that her days as the Slayer have ended.Cordelia and Willow enter the high school's AV room in search of Kevin, who was scheduled to set up a sound system for the big dance at the Bronze. The girls discover to their horror that Kevin and everyone else in the AV room are dead. Unsettled by the shocking discovery, Willow retires to her bedroom. Buffy comforts her friend as best she can. During the conversation, Buffy realizes she must face the Master.After researching more books, Giles and Ms. Calendar conclude that a child will lead the Slayer into Hell. Giles tells Calendar he has decided to face the Master himself. Buffy overhears the conversation and steps forward. When Giles refuses to change his mind, she delivers a punishing blow, knocking him unconscious. When Buffy exits the school, she encounters a young boy, Collin. The pair make their way to the Master's lair. Ms. Calendar reminds Xander and Willow that once the Master escapes, the Hellmouth opens and everyone on Earth will die at the hands of evil demons. Afterward Xander makes his way to Angel's apartment. The pair decide to join forces and help Buffy fight The Master.Collin leads Buffy down a tunnel toward the church. When Buffy steps down into the cathedral, the Master speaks from the shadows behind her. Buffy spins and shoots an arrow, but the Master catches the stake an inch from his heart. A ferocious battle ensues. The Master gains the upper hand and restrains Buffy. He tells her that prophesies are "tricky creatures," and that it is foretold that the Slayer will set him free. With that the Master buries his fangs in Buffy's neck. He then transverses the mystical wall and makes his way through the tunnel. Angel and Xander find Buffy facedown in a pool of water. Using CPR, Xander revives his friend. Her strength renewed, Buffy makes her way to the Hellmouth.Meanwhile Cordelia, Willow, and Ms. Calendar realize an army of the undead are converging on the library. They crash their car through the library doors, where they join Giles in battle. A tentacle bursts through the wood floor and grabs hold of Willow's leg, threatening to drag her into the Hellmouth. Buffy finds the Master standing on the roof of the library. Another fierce battle ensues. This time, however, Buffy gains the upper hand. She lifts the Master over her head and throws him through the skylight. The Master crashes into the library, where he is impaled on an upended shard of glass. His body explodes into dust. The Hellmouth closes. The vampires disappear. Angel returns to human form. The world safe from harm, Buffy and her friends decide to attend the dance at the Bronze.
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