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Although this article is based on canonical information, the actual name of this subject is conjectural. |  |
- “Today is about change. Graduation doesn't just mean your circumstances change, it means you do. You ascend to a higher level. Nothing will ever be the same. Nothing.”
- ―Richard Wilkins[src]
A battle occurred during the graduation of the Class of '99 of the Sunnydale High School. The students staged a surprise attack to defend themselves from the newly-ascended Mayor Richard Wilkins and his vampire minions.[1]
History[]
Background[]
The graduation was going to go as planned, with Mayor Wilkins there to present a speech before ascending into the Old One Olvikan, when he would seek to devour the graduating students. Initially, Faith was to be at his right hand; however, she fell into a coma the night before[1] after the duel in her apartment against Buffy.[2]
The Mayor had several dozen vampires that were ordered to enter from the sewers, behind the student's seats, and make sure that none of them escaped. They were, however, forbidden to feed on any escapees, as the Mayor needed to eat to sustain himself during the first few seconds after the Ascension.[1]
The battle[]
During the ceremony, the Mayor still continued with his speech though his ascension went earlier than planned, preventing the him from starting his section on "civic pride" when an eclipse activated his ascension before the students and faculty. The Scooby Gang, aware of the Mayor's plan, managed to convince the entire graduating class to be part of a surprise attack against the Mayor. Seconds after his transformation the students unveiled their robes and revealed a verity of weapons such as stakes and crosses. Larry and another student employed the use of flamethrowers.[1]
The "first wave" included various students, including Willow, firing at the Mayor with ranged weapons like harpoon guns, spears, and crossbows, under the command of Xander. The vampires then cornered in on the fleeing students, beating them. Oz noticed this and Xander ordered a number of students wielding flaming longbows to deal with them. With several of them dusted, the vampires retreated until they noticed Angel, Wesley, and Percy with a number of other fighters behind them. The students and Angel's army horded into battle with the vampires.[1]
During the battle, even though the vampires were handled well, the Mayor remained unharmed and uninjured by the class' efforts and took the lives of Larry and Principal Snyder who was eaten after showing his disapproval of the event. Buffy told the students to fall back while she accosted the Mayor and left Xander to give the orders. Xander told them to initiate close combat, sporting swords, axes, and even baseball bats. During this, one of the vampires disobeyed the Mayor[1] by siring Harmony.[3] Buffy drew the Mayor's attention and pulled out Faith's knife, detailing how she gutted her with the intention of angering the Mayor, and concluded her speech by calling him "Dick."[1]
The Mayor followed Buffy into the school building to the library. Buffy jumped out of a window while the Mayor was left in the library which he just noticed was filled with explosives. Giles, given Buffy's signal, detonated the explosives, destroying the Mayor and the school. The remaining students watched as the school was set ablaze and, with every vampire dead, they were left victorious.[1]
Aftermath[]
With the battle ended and the world saved, a large number of ambulances and fire trucks were called to put out the fire and assist the injured fighters. As this happened, Buffy watched as Angel turned to leave town for good.[1]
After three years, Sunnydale High was eventually rebuilt in 2002.[4] However, the school was destroyed once more in 2003, along with the rest of Sunnydale.[5]
Participants[]
Side 1[]
One side was led by Wilkins ascended as an Old One and about 15 vampire minions.
- Richard Wilkins
- 13 vampires
- Other 4 vampires (deceased)
Side 2[]
The other side was formed by a total of 97 students from the Class of '99, two former Watchers, and one vampire. Among the students, there were members of the Scooby Gang: a Slayer and four vampire hunters.
- Angel
- Larry Blaisdell (deceased)
- Cordelia Chase
- Rupert Giles
- Alexander Harris
- Douglas Jeffries
- Joe
- Justin
- Harmony Kendall (sired)
- Jonathan Levinson
- Daniel Osbourne
- Willow Rosenberg
- Buffy Summers
- Percy West
- Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
- Other 4 students (deceased)
- Other 81 students
Neutral[]
About 52 humans attended the graduation without attempting to be involved in the battle.
- Snyder (deceased)
- Other 11 faculty members
- About 40 family members
Appearances[]
Canonical[]
- "Graduation Day, Part Two"
- "The Harsh Light of Day" (Only mentioned)
- "Rm w/a Vu" (Only mentioned)
- "This Year's Girl" (Only mentioned)
- "End of Days" (Only mentioned)
- "Not Fade Away" (Only mentioned)
Other[]
- Double Cross (Only mentioned)
- Haunted, Part One (Only mentioned)
- Haunted, Part Two (Only mentioned)
- In Every Generation (Only mentioned)