Links to Fray? *SPOILERS INSIDE*

[TheHeartist]

During Illyria's timeshifts, we see first an older Angel in a futuristic setting, then Spike with what looks like the Scythe in a futuristic setting. Joss has stated before that he wants to go back to the story of Fray at some point so...is After The Fall making links there, filling the gap between them? The big revelation at the end of After The Fall could be the gang finally escaping from Hell to find that times moves differently there and when they emerge back in their own world, it's far off into the future (albeit before the events of Fray, obviously.)

[white avenger]

I haven't read this issue (in fact, I'm not certain which issue you refer to), but the concept of time moving differently in different dimensions is a common one with Joss, so you might be right. If so, the entire Angel/Buffy/Spike argument might never be settled. Our boys might just have to find something or someONE new to argue about. (Anyone wanta debate Spray vs Fangel?)

[Allycat]

It's a very interesting hook, but Brian Lynch has said that the future Angel and Spike images have nothing to do with the world of Fray. Having said that, perhaps they return not 200 years after the last Slayer is called (the events of Fray), but a mere 100 years. Still enough for Buffy to be dust and bones. Perhaps Spike and Angel, and a Slayer still in Hell.A. are the ones who start the cycle again, after magic was banned.

[white avenger]

It's a very interesting hook, but Brian Lynch has said that the future Angel and Spike images have nothing to do with the world of Fray. Having said that, perhaps they return not 200 years after the last Slayer is called (the events of Fray), but a mere 100 years. Still enough for Buffy to be dust and bones. Perhaps Spike and Angel, and a Slayer still in Hell.A. are the ones who start the cycle again, after magic was banned.

Maybe Angel, Spike, an unknown Slayer, and an unnamed demon return from LAHell, Angel somehow loses his soul and goes evil again, killing the Slayer and either killing or subduing Spike. Angelus starts the new crop of vampires (Lurks) and establishes a partnership with the demon. Together, they manage to open an interdimensional portal, allowing demons access to earth once more.

The unknown Slayer's death starts a chain reaction that reactivates the Slayer line, but because the Watchers have slipped into ruin and insanity, it takes several generations for a new Slayer to be identified and located (for the sake of the argument here, we would have to assume that location by the Watchers is somehow a requisite of the newly called Slayer actually receiving her powers, but that might actually be the case. Buffy didn't seem to exhibit and super Slayer powers before Merrick located her and informed her that she was, indeed, the Slayer, either in the movie or in the "revised origin" comic book.)

There are flaws in this scenario, of course, but no flaws too big for Joss and his writers to ignore if they really wanted to tell it this way.

[TheHeartist]

Maybe Angel, Spike, an unknown Slayer, and an unnamed demon return from LAHell, Angel somehow loses his soul and goes evil again, killing the Slayer and either killing or subduing Spike. Angelus starts the new crop of vampires (Lurks) and establishes a partnership with the demon. Together, they manage to open an interdimensional portal, allowing demons access to earth once more.

The unknown Slayer's death starts a chain reaction that reactivates the Slayer line, but because the Watchers have slipped into ruin and insanity, it takes several generations for a new Slayer to be identified and located (for the sake of the argument here, we would have to assume that location by the Watchers is somehow a requisite of the newly called Slayer actually receiving her powers, but that might actually be the case. Buffy didn't seem to exhibit and super Slayer powers before Merrick located her and informed her that she was, indeed, the Slayer, either in the movie or in the "revised origin" comic book.)

There are flaws in this scenario, of course, but no flaws too big for Joss and his writers to ignore if they really wanted to tell it this way.

Maybe but...I can't believe Joss would build Angel up to ultimately be the one to cast the world into darkness again. He's supposed to be like, hero dude.

Edit:

Good point, but that wasn't done with bad intentions. Angeleus rebirthing vamps and demons into the world pangs slightly more of bad intentions than standing up to the Senior Partners in Not Fade Away

[thegifting]

I couldn't care less about Fray joining our boy Angel than I do now, but that's because people are simply desperate for crossovers now that we have two canon books. Seriously, if the shows were still on the air and Fray came on you'd be excited briefly and then terribly disappointed the next that the show and it's characters can't carry a story by themselves. Same thing here, I promise.

[alexa]

I think it's obvious the stories can carry on their own.. that's why we still have them. But of course people love crossovers.
Anyway I think it was a fair question because in the timeshift.. he really looks like he's carrying a black slayer scythe, and there's flying cars. Would be cool if Spike was still around then, but who knows what Joss has in mind.

[TheHeartist]

I couldn't care less about Fray joining our boy Angel than I do now, but that's because people are simply desperate for crossovers now that we have two canon books. Seriously, if the shows were still on the air and Fray came on you'd be excited briefly and then terribly disappointed the next that the show and it's characters can't carry a story by themselves. Same thing here, I promise.

I wasn't talking about Fray and ATF crossing over as such. Just Fray picking up where ATF leaves off, but the sections of the story are being displayed in reverse order, Star Wars-stylee.