~~ Part 1 ~~
She landed in a desert with a loud 'thud.' Buffy stood up and brushed the sand off her jeans, looking around to try to figure out where this 'portal' took her. Three men dressed in colorful robes, carrying intricately carved staffs appeared as if by magic. They spoke the same language that Dawn read from the book, but somehow Buffy understood them.
"You have come, daughter of Sineya, we have been waiting. Come there is much to do." The leader motioned with his staff toward a cave.
"Hold on James Earl Jones, exactly who are you; what do you mean you've been waiting and what's in that cave?" Buffy's chin came up as she stared straight into his eye.
"Power." Was his only response, the other two just watched and waited.
"I have power, what I need is information on how to kill the First Evil."
"Strength is Power. Knowledge is Power. Foresight is Power. Power comes in many forms. To kill a thing you must understand a thing. You must be able to become, to become what you were meant to be - the last Guardian of the Hellmouth."
"Huh? Oh, I get it. What happens if I only want to know how to fight the First, no add ons?"
This time it was the Shadowman's turn to look at her in confusion. "Let me show you what the future holds for you, young one, then you can decide." He gently touched her temple, causing a gasp to escape Buffy's lips.
In her mind, Buffy saw thousands of Turok-Hans underground just waiting to be released. She shook her head to clear it of the image then squared her shoulder and walked past the Shadowmen to the cave. "Well what are you waiting for Earth, Wind and Fire? I have some major ass to kick, not to mention that I haven't eaten today."
They followed her, pointing in unison to a circle marked on the cave floor. Buffy moved over to stand at its center. When a Shadowman started to chain her, she protested. "Oh no you don't, look I agreed to this but not to chains. I've learned that you have to accept the Slayer side and allow it to have its way. If I don't accept this freely, then I'll end up like cave girl Slayer. No thanks. Now, make with the mojo." She ordered, standing back and breathing slowly.
The Shadowmen started to hum, which turned into a low murmur then a chant. Their staffs beat in time with the rhythm their words created. The floor vibrated under their feet. A shadow grew from their staffs where it met the stone. Three separate shadows moved towards one another, meeting, when they hit, light flared chasing away any darkness except that which continued to grow.
Buffy watched it take on a ghost-like form that looked around the cave as if it wasn't sure where it was or why. Then, everything went black and silent. A warm wind rushed toward her as she tried not to brace herself. She closed her eyes and relaxed, trying to use meditation techniques. Her eyes flew open, as did her mouth, she felt as if her skin was on fire. Her blood was boiling her alive, forcing her to throw her head back as a scream tore from her lips.
Light poured from her mouth and eyes, the whole cave shook knocking the Shadowmen to their knees. Their faces showed fear intermixed with awe. Here in this place of in-between and waiting, they watched many Slayers die, stray from their path or deny their destiny. Never had they seen one such as the one before them, this Buffy Summers. She persevered through adversity, pulled herself back from the brink of utter despair even fought her way out of hell itself. Now, they weren't sure what they helped to create and would have to send back to her time. They only hoped that her world was ready for what they were about to receive.
Buffy's breathe came in hard gaps as the pain retreated. In fact, she felt like she did after the Master killed her - powerful. She felt in control for the first time in a long time. The power running through her body was more than extra strength, although there was that; it was the power to understand the enemy, to be one-step ahead of them. Buffy felt as if she could reach into the First's mind, that was if it had a mind and read its every thought. Her senses were ultra-sensitive and she could tell the Shadowmen weren't good or bad, but that muddy gray of in-between. She was ready to go back and finish this, once and for all. A wry smile crossed her lips when she thought about what was in store for everyone in Sunnydale, not just the First. She walked up to the head Shadowman and looked him over.
"Thank you for your help. You guys should pick a side; being in the middle does no one any good. Now, beam me home, Scotty." Buffy tried to sound chipper but it took a lot out of her. Her increased senses screamed at her to destroy the part of these men that was cast in shadow.
They looked at her in shock; they were the Shadowmen, powerful shaman. The ones who created the First Slayer. Now, here before them stood a Slayer telling them they needed to decide where they stood in the battle of good and evil. Each bowed their head to her, and then touched their staffs together re-opening the portal.
"Use your power wisely, daughter of Sineya. Remember, power also corrupts."
Buffy nodded. It was a lesson she witnessed firsthand with Faith then Willow. She didn't think she was likely to forget it any time soon.
Willow frantically tried to re-open the portal, but before she could finish setting up the portal opened and out stepped Buffy. She could almost taste the difference in her best friend. Goosebumps broke out on her skin and she couldn't stop herself from taking a step backward. Kennedy wrapped an arm around her in comfort. Willow shrugged it off unable to handle the contact with her senses on overload.
Everyone watched Buffy in silence, not sure what to say or do. Spike spoke first. "Slayer, it's good to have you back. What happened? You were only gone for a few minutes?" He smelled the air; she smelled different. Buffy's underlying scent was there, but there something else, something more.
Buffy couldn't control the growl that rumbled from deep in her throat. She stood still with her fists clinched, fighting the urge to destroy the vampire, irregardless that he had a soul. "Spike, step away from me. I can't explain it, but you're going to have to let me get used to you again." He looked at her with hurt in his azure blue eyes before doing what she asked.
"What did you learn? Did you find a way to fight the First?" Giles stayed seated not attempting to approach his Slayer. She was different and he wasn't sure what it meant, yet.
Dawn had no such misgivings as she moved forward catching Buffy's attention. The new uber-Slayer looked at her 'sister' and saw for the first time the green energy, she was created from and that Tara saw.
"Are you all right? Willow was going to open the portal, so we could get you back. What was it like there?"
Buffy turned to look at the redheaded witch. She saw the darkness that still ate at her soul. There was another in the room who held darkness within them and her head swung around to stare at - Anya.
"I'm going to have to ask some of you to stay somewhere that's else. The emergency kit was a success. The side effects will take some getting used to though. Spike, you, Anya and Willow will need to find some place to bunk down. Hopefully, I'll adjust to having you guys around. To give you the short version, the Shadowmen gave me a tune-up and you're setting off my radar."
Willow, Xander and even Giles were shocked. Buffy was kicking people out of her house; whatever happened to her, she wasn't the same Slayer.
"If Willow goes then I go too," Kennedy threatened.
"That's fine Kennedy; pack 'em up and move 'em out." Without another word, Buffy left the room.
The SiTs looked at one another not knowing what to do; Kennedy was one of them, even if they didn't like her very much. Buffy hadn't spent much time with them and at least Kennedy was a known pain in the butt.
Willow, Xander, Anya, Kennedy and Spike left the house without a word to anyone. Dawn tried to get them to stay but Willow just shook her head. Robin left wondering what changes using his mother's emergency kit had created.
Buffy came back down when she felt the others leave. She looked at the SiTs, recognizing the one who went to school with Dawn. "Amanda, I want you to tell me something about the person next to you."
Amanda felt like someone just put a bright spotlight on her. "Uh, well, this is Vi and she likes Snoop Dog and Cheese Doodles."
Buffy smiled. "Interesting combination. Now, Vi, you do the same for the person next to you."
"Why are we doing this? This ain't summer camp."
"You will do it because I asked you to. Kennedy liked to bark orders to try to prove that she was better than you. Well kiddos, I am better than you are and more powerful then you can even grasp. If I say do something, you do it. No questions, no whining, that's of course if you want to stay alive. Now do it!" She never raised her voice, but her words and the way she said them left no doubt about their truth.
"Buffy, that is uncalled for, these girls have been through a lot," Giles interjected.
"Enough Giles, a general leads and that's what I'm doing. You chose the army, not me. You can't argue now that they're only little girls. Make up your mind, are you here to help or not? If so, then back off and let me do what I need to, and right now that's getting to know these girls better."
Vi answered for the girl next to her and they continued around the room, one after another, telling some little bit of information. What they didn't realize was that they had bonded as a team. They were their own support system.
"Thank you, now there are a few things you need to know about me. I 'have' to work to keep this house and put food on the table for my sister and me. I'm not rich and it takes every penny that I have to make ends meet. After I work all day, I come home to the chaos that you've created in my home. I wash clothes and pick up for hours only to patrol until I can barely stand. The rules have changed and you have to pitch in and help around here. If you don't pull your weight then you can take your chances out there with the Bringers. Now, if you want to learn how to protect yourself, I can help you. If you would rather help Dawn and Giles with research that is fine too. I'll still expect you to train; Dawn does just not as intensively. Remember, the number one rule of slaying is - Don't Die."
The girls found themselves smiling at one another with a sense of relief and safety. They were floundering with only one Watcher, an over-the-top drill sergeant and no real authority figure to give them boundaries.
"You won't all become Slayers. In fact, only one will be called when Faith, the other Slayer, dies. What I can do is try to make sure that most of you get out of this alive. Go and get some sleep and we'll start training tomorrow."
Choruses of goodnight Buffy rang through the house as feet stomped up and down stairs. The house finally settled down and Buffy turned to Giles. A heavy silence hung between them.
"Buffy, I don't know what to say. You took a big risk with what you did." He pinched the bridge of his nose, fighting the headache that pounded there.
"I did what needed doing just like always. The difference is that now I don't need anyone to tell me how to fight - anything. That's what they gave me, Giles. Power but it comes at a cost. I get to see inside evil's head up close and personal; now, I only have to worry about falling over the edge. Goodnight, Giles." Buffy kissed his cheek then walked up the stairs to her own, surprisingly empty bedroom.
"Good lord, what have we done?"
Willow and the others walked along Sunnydale's quiet streets, more people left everyday. The minute they stepped outside, Spike took off for his crypt while the rest headed for Anya's apartment.
"Can you believe her, I mean who does she think she is," Kennedy started to rant. Her feelings were hurt from Willow's rejection and by none of the SiTs standing up for her. She knew that she was hard on them but that was how you lead - fear and respect.
"Oh, would you just shut up. You must be good at oral sex because even I think you talk too much. She asked us to leave so she wouldn't hurt us, you stupid girl." Anya glared at the arrogant Slayer wannabe. She had a good idea what happened to Buffy and hoped the Slayer could handle that much power.
"An, why would Buffy want to hurt you and Willow? Spike, I can understand but not you two. And what was with all the preaching before jumping into that portal? She could have died. We don't know anything about this Robin guy; he could be working for the First."
Anya stopped walking; her hands went immediately to her hips. "Grow up already, Xander. Buffy doesn't need you to monitor who she sees or what she does."
"Stop it, all of you!" Willow shouted, causing everyone to turn and look at the previously silent witch. She was shaking; her face a pale white with tears running down her cheeks. "Buffy could feel it couldn't she, Anya?"
The former vengeance demon nodded her head. "Yes, if what I think happened to Buffy is true then she can feel and possibly even see it."
"Could you two stop with the cryptic and translate this for those of us still in the dark here?"
"Buffy can see the marks on our souls."
"Huh, could you vague that up for me?"
"Xander, whatever Buffy did while she was in the portal made her sensitive to the evil that is still inside Anya and me. She's having trouble not slaying the evil that she feels. That's why she sent us away, so she could learn some control and not hurt us by accident."
"You aren't evil, Willow. What gives her the right to judge you, to judge anyone?"
"Kennedy, shut the hell up," Willow snapped at her lover, while Anya and Xander tried not to laugh.
"What! I stick up for you, try to comfort you and you pick that bitch over me? Fine, I see how this is, Buffy can do no wrong. She's the Slayer and everything she does is perfect. She's so perfect she doesn't even know our names." Kennedy didn't say another word for the rest of the walk.
Buffy crawled into bed with a deep sigh. She closed her eyes only to find herself in what looked like a vineyard where a man dressed like a preacher was talking to - her.
"She'll never figure out what we are doing. Even if she did, by then it will be too late. It's already started and even if they called her, she wouldn't go. The others hold her tightly in control."
She sat up in her bed and smiled. She knew what was coming, almost as if evil posted it on the evening news. Now, she had to decide the best way to get it done. Buffy went to wake up Giles.
"Giles, I need to talk to you."
"Buffy, are you all right? Are the girls all right?" Giles turned on his bedside lamp and sat up. He looked at her with concern but there it was again, that something different.
"Everyone's fine, but they aren't going to be if I don't go and take care of something. I need to get in touch with Wesley. Do you have his number in LA?"
"Wesley, what would he have to do with this, what's going on?"
"Listen, I don't know how much time I have, so do you have the number or not. I tried the normal operators but there's a problem with the lines, which isn't a good sign. So, Watcher up and at 'em. Do you have his cell number or not?" Buffy paced the room, a bundle of barely contained energy.
The air crackled and Giles swore he saw blue sparks. He rubbed his eyes, thinking that he definitely needed more sleep. "Let me get dressed and I'll find the number. If you could possibly put on a kettle, I'd appreciate it."
She didn't say a word, just left the room, heading for the kitchen. Dawn stumbled down the stairs and crawled into a kitchen chair. Buffy took out another mug and poured in hot chocolate mix. The kettle whistled while Giles joined them with an address book.
"Ah, here it is." He handed Buffy the address book, pointing to the number.
"Thanks Giles." She quickly dialed the number before he could ask any more questions.
Wesley searched through another book, trying to find anything that could help them. Taking Angel's soul was a huge mistake; he wondered when he would stop making those. Now, Lilah was dead, yet another mistake. What they needed was someone powerful enough to fight Angelus, or the Beast. They needed a Slayer. Unfortunately, the only one who had a chance with either had a Hellmouth to control. The phone startled him from his dark thoughts.
"Wyndam Pryce here."
"Hello Wesley. I think you might need some help."
"Buffy? How? I mean, how did you know that we needed help. Oh, I'm sorry where are my manners. Yes, Buffy, we do need your help, quite badly, I'm afraid. I made an error in judgment and not only do we have a creature that we can't seem to destroy, we, uhm err."
"You let the Angelus out of the box. Listen Wesley, I'll explain more when I see you, but I need to get there now and make sure that no one else knows that I'm coming. Where are you at right now?"
"I'm at my apartment. I came back here thinking that I'd left a tome that I needed for reference. Why can't anyone know that you're coming?" Wesley had a feeling that he wasn't the only one that changed since the last time they saw each other.
"Tell me where to meet you and I'll explain everything...If I leave now, I can get there in a little under two hours at most...I know where that's at...Okay, Wesley, I promise that it will all make sense when I get there. Bye." She hung up the phone and grabbed the bag that she had packed and left by the front door. "Giles, I will be back as soon as I can. Dawnie, come here."
Dawn grudgingly got up with a belligerent pout on her lips. "What?"
"Dawn, I'm coming back. If I don't go to LA and stop this, then we won't be able to stop the First. I need you to help the girls and explain what happened. I should only be gone a day, two at the most."
"We heard Buffy and we understand. You do what you need to and we'll take care of the house. We talked last night and figured out that it was time that we helped out." Buffy looked up to see the SiTs looking down from the upstairs and out the basement doorway.
"Thanks guys. Listen, if Kennedy comes back over, well I guess today, tell her I said she should run around the town three times."
Everyone laughed while Dawn kissed her good bye.
"Take care, Buffy and come back to us." Giles hugged her.
Wesley answered his door and found Buffy standing there with a big smile on her face. "Hello Wesley, like the new look, very Marlboro Man. Can I come in?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Please come in, Buffy. I have to return the compliment, you've turned into a beautiful woman." He could barely drag his eyes away from her dressed in red leather pants and a black baby t-shirt. Wesley let his eyes follow the curves that showed to advantage in her figure hugging clothes. They returned to the smile on her full pink lips.
Buffy didn't mind him checking her out, since she was doing the same. If she knew that he would grow up this nice, she would have kept him in Sunnydale. His blue eyes stood out against the shadow of his beard, which gave him an edgy look. His slim body held a distinct, sinewy strength that showed in the way he carried himself.
"I guess we better get right to it." Naughty thoughts immediately entered her mind. "Uhm, well," she tossed her bag down and curled up on his couch. "Why don't you park it here next to me? This could take a little bit for me to explain."
Wesley grinned as he folded his long body next to hers, and waited patiently.
"We have major problems in Sunnydale. I'm sorry to tell you, Wes, but the First Evil took out the Watchers Council. You and Giles are the only ones left as far as we know. The few Potential Slayers that Giles could rescue are living at my home as we speak. Plus, the Frist set some Uber-Vamp free. The principal at Dawn's high school is Nikki Wood's son and she left him a Slayer Emergency Kit. I used it after one of the girls hung herself. To cut this short, I met the guys who created the first Slayer and they gave me some kind of turbo-charge. That was how I knew what was happening here. Your problems are tied to ours. So, I thought maybe I could come and help you fix yours, then you could come help us with ours. Kind of an apocalypse share program, what do you say?" Her eyes twinkled as she smiled at him.
Wesley tried to absorb everything that Buffy had just told him. One thing for certain, they needed her more than she needed them. "I can't speak for anyone else, but I'd be more than happy to help you once LA's safe. The AI team and I have had a parting of the ways, and are only working together at the moment."
"Is that the stick up the butt way of saying, something happened and they bailed on you?"
He snorted with laughter. "Yes, I couldn't put it better myself. I tried to do what I thought was right with the information I had available. It turned out I was wrong and the team abandoned me even though I almost died."
"Believe me, Wesley, been there done that, second verse same as the first. You just have to decide whether you're going to accept your friend's warts and all, or treat them the way they treat you. I've made mistakes, lots of them, but I always apologized when I hurt someone. I'm hoping someday to receive the same courtesy. Now, are you sure that we need to return Angel's soul, I'd have no problem killing Angelus. Truth is I'm not sure I'd have a problem killing Angel. That turbo-charge I told you about, well it takes a lot for me to control it when there is badness around. Even with a soul, I'm a Slayer and he's a vampire."
Wesley couldn't stop himself from brushing a curl off her face and placing it behind her ear. She had the softest hair he had ever felt. "Sorry, Buffy, from what I understand he's supposed to play a major role in the End of Days. So, no, Bad Slayer, you can't kill the naughty vampire."
"Ooh, Wesley. If I'm a naughty Slayer will you spank me?" Buffy pouted prettily.
His pants suddenly felt a little too tight. "You little minx, when this is over, I just might at that. Now, where do we start, so we can see about finishing? I don't like the idea of leaving Fred, Cordelia and Lorne at the Hyperion with only Gunn and Connor to protect them."
"Let me grab a few more weapons, then I'm ready to go. Angelus is bound to be out searching for the Beast; he doesn't like competition for the Biggest Bad. I already know where the Beast's hiding, by the time that we get there the stupid vampire will show up." She jumped up from the couch and proceeded to dig through her bag, pulling out several stakes, knives, a crossbow and a sword. Buffy hid them on her body, except for the crossbow, which she slung over her shoulder. "Are you ready?"
Wesley flicked the swords in his wrists to make sure they were in working order, then added several stakes to his boots. "Lead on Lady Slayer."
"Cool wrist action."
They continued to quip as they walked out the door as if they were old friends, or lovers.
While Buffy and Wesley headed out to kill the Beast and capture Angelus, the AI team continued their desperate search for Angel's soul. Cordelia sat on her bed smiling while everyone looked in every nook and cranny of the Hyperion. It was all about to happen; soon she would get exactly what she wanted money, fame, power - Angel. After her baby was born, she would be worshiped. Cordelia Chase, Queen Mother, no too stodgy, Goddess Cordelia, yeah I can handle that.
A knock on her door had her quickly hiding Wo Pang's jar under her bed. "Come in," she called out, straightening her clothes to hide her thriving pregnancy.
"Cordy, are you okay? You've been up here by yourself a long time and everyone's getting worried." Fred' looked at her dear fried with sympathetic eyes. She remembered how she felt when Gwen shocked Gunn and he while she stood helpless. He was only gone for a few minutes, but she still had nightmares about losing him.
"I'm all right Fred. It's just a lot's happened since I came back and now...Angel is Angelus." Cordelia's voice caught on a sob. Tears rolled down her cheeks and Fred moved to sit on the bed beside her friend, slipping a slender arm around her.
Wesley and Buffy made their way towards the warehouse where she knew the Beast was waiting. They easily blended into the shadows working together to fight the demons and vampires that crossed their path. With the city cast into endless darkness, it was an all you can eat buffet for demons and vampires. Wesley did little more than cover Buffy's back, although he did hold his own.
Buffy would simply stop walking and wait. Wesley learned after the second time this occurred to be prepared for a fight. He would move into position and cover her back. Within minutes sometimes seconds, a group of vampires or demons or both would converge on them. He watched Buffy turn into pure energy; she was everywhere at once. Stakes flew through the air; never missing their targets, with her crossbow in one hand and a knife in the other Buffy gave a feral growl then attacked. The demons in their ignorance thought to overpower the Slayer, her blood called out to them like a siren's song. Buffy understood this power now and allowed it free reign.
Wesley felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He turned to see blue sparks crackly from Buffy's fingertips, before she ripped off a large demon's head. The few remaining demons started to run, but it was no use. She pounced on them, tearing them to shreds with her bare hands.
Buffy stood up, taking a deep breath then slowly walked over to Wesley. He watched her, waiting to see what she would do next. She pushed him against a wall and devoured his mouth. Wesley's hands came down to cup her firm rear, pulling her up so they could both reach each other better. Her strong Slayer legs wrapped around his waist and she moved her hips against him.
He moaned; his skin was on fire. His sessions with Lilah were explosive, passionate; they explored every sexual boundary known to man. Nothing prepared him for this, for her - Buffy. She was like a wild storm. Once she caught you, there was nowhere to turn; it was beautiful and frightening in its intensity and power.
Buffy pulled away to look at Wesley. "Are you okay? I didn't mean to start something we can't finish - yet. This may sound crazy but I want you, Wesley, and if you have no objections after we put Angelus back in the box and clean up. I'm going to have you before I have to go back to Sunnydale and clean up there." She slipped down his body and stepped away.
He watched her then simply took her hand and placed it where he was straining against his pants. "Does this answer your question? Now let's as you say, kick some ass so we can get to the more important part of today's program. In other words, Miss Summers, let's hurry so we can go back to my apartment and fuck like bunnies." A grin crossed his lips and his eyes gleamed with repressed lust.
"Why Mr. Wyndam Pryce, you have a potty mouth. I can't wait to see what else you've learned to do with it." Buffy sauntered off with a swing to her leather-clad hips.
"Give me strength." He pulled himself away from the wall to catch up with her.
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