Title: Secret History, New Destiny
Author: DarkGoddess (aka Empress of the Azure Skies)
Summary: Buffy discovers her heritage and the truth about why some girls are potentials and others are not. But the Scoobies soon discover this is only the tip of the iceberg…
Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or any of the other series used in this story. Buffy belongs to Joss Whedon and all others are property of their respective owners.
This story is on both my account Empress of the Azure Skies and my Twisting the Hellmouth account DarkGoddess.
--
Buffy tried to appear stoic, fearless, but her instincts were telling her to run, run as far away as she can and never, ever, look back. She was here, in the lair of the Master of Aurelius, one of the most infamous and powerful vampires in history. He had already shown that her crossbow would be useless against him.
She could barely see anything in the dim light and her mind made every sound, real and imagined, out to be him coming after her. She knew she would die tonight, the prophecy had said so. She thought she had accepted her fate, but apparently she was wrong.
Finally, she mustered the courage to speak.
"You know, for someone who's all powerful, you sure do like to hide."
"I'm waiting for you. I want this moment to last," the Master replied.
"Well, I don't."
She froze when she realized that he had somehow gotten behind her.
"I understand," he said.
She finally got her wits back and turned to face him. Seeing his grotesque, bat-like face this close up was certainly not something she needed. He easily knocked the crossbow out of her hands. He grabbed her by the neck. She knocked away his arm before he could choke her and she tried to get away. He held out his arm and she stopped. Her brain was screaming, commanding her muscles to move, but to no avail. She could only watch in horror as he approached. He moved behind her and casually took her jacket off of her.
Her fear reached its peak as she repeated over and over in her mind I don't wanna die, I don't wanna die, I don't wanna die…
"You tried," he said patronizingly, "You heard the prophecy that I was about to break free and you came to stop me. But prophecies are tricky creatures. They don't tell you everything."
His voice dropped to a whisper, "You're the one that sets me free. If you hadn't come, I couldn't go. Think about that."
He bit her neck. The adrenaline pumping through her system made the pain almost nonexistent, but the realization that in a few seconds she would be dead hurts her more than any physical pain ever could. Every regret, everything left unfinished, every person she hadn't gotten to know, all of it flashed to the forefront of her mind.
The seconds dragged on for years until he finally let her go. She had no strength left and simply fell to her knees. He spoke, but it sounded like he was miles away. The last thing she heard was the splash as she fell into the water.
--
She was floating in darkness, but it was almost comforting. There was no fear, no pain, no feeling at all, only blissful oblivion.
Am I dead? she thought.
"Yes," responded a male voice. It was a cold voice, as if indifferent to not just her plight, but to everything.
"Who's there?" she asked desperately.
"It is not necessary that you know," the voice replied.
"Where am I?"
"This is Mu. The closest word in your language would be 'nothingness.' It is the void between the land of the living and the land of the dead. It is a place for those who can go to neither Heaven nor Hell. I brought you here."
"Why?"
"Your friend is coming to save you, but he will arrive too late. I am here to offer you a choice: go on to the land of the dead where you can be at peace or return to the land of the living and face a life of constant fighting and grief."
She didn't even hesitate with her answer.
"I want to live. I want to hang out with friends and go to prom and get grounded and all that other stupid stuff that teenagers do. I'm not ready to die."
"Very well. I will give you the power to wield 'it.' Just be certain to leave no trace of your enemy behind."
A light appeared in the darkness. It grew larger and larger until she could clearly see the form of a giant dog in front of her. It was easily as big as a house with white fur and a large mane of gray fur stretching from its chest and tufts of gray far on its ankles, red eyes, and an odd blue crescent moon on its forehead. It regarded her for a second, then transformed into a ball of light flew toward her. It completely enveloped her and seeped into her. She began to have the sensation of falling and heard someone else's thoughts echo in her head:
Know that this Sesshomaru is proud of you, my daughter.
--
Buffy suddenly jerked up out of the puddle. She coughed as she tried to expel the water from her lungs. She reached for her chest, only to feel something sticking out of it. Instinctively, she grabbed it, pulling on it. She felt a strange sensation as more kept coming as she pulled.
She stared in amazement at what she had in her hand. It was a sword in a wooden sheath. She stood up and removed the sword from the sheath to see a katana of exquisite quality
"Tenseiga," she whispered examined the blade more closely.
She heard footsteps and was instantly alert. She relaxes when she recognizes the scents of the people approaching her: Xander and Angel.
Wait she thinks, coming to a realization how can I smell them? How do I know what this sword's name is? How did it get in my chest?!
"Buffy, thank God!" Xander panted as he and Angel entered the chamber, "I guess the prophecy was wrong."
The relief was plastered on his face. Buffy was surprised to see him with Angel considering his feelings for the vampire.
"No," she replied, "he killed me and escaped, but someone named Szechuan or something like that took me to this moo place and brought me back. Gave me this nifty sword, too."
"Are you sure you didn't hit your head, Buff?"
"I'm fine. Come on, we need to stop him."
"You know where he went?" inquired Angel.
"No, but I can follow his scent," she responded.
This earned a confused look from Xander and Angel. She sheathed Tenseiga and moved passed Xander and Angel with a huge lunge, running after the Master's scent. She could hear Angel following behind with his vampire speed and Xander lagging far back. The scenery blurred as she sped passed it. She increased her pace until she reached the school and reached the roof with a single bound. Gloating over the library's skylight at the Scoobies fighting the tentacled demon was the Master himself.
"Yes, come forth my child. Come into my world."
"I don't think it's yours just yet,"
He turned to her, clearly shocked.
"You're dead!"
"I may be dead, but I'm still pretty. Which is more than I can say for you."
"You were destined to die! It was written!"
"Normally I would have a snappy come back for that, but I'm just really tired of looking at that ugly ass face of yours."
She drew Tenseiga with an audible 'shing.' She took a stance with the sword facing forward.
"Now, let's see what this baby can do."
"Your little toy won't save you," spat the Master.
He stretched out his arm again to hypnotize her. She lowered the sword to her side and walked over to him obediently. He smiled triumphantly as she was almost in his grasp. Just as he was about to grab her, she swung Tenseiga at his outstretched arm.
"You tried," she echoed patronizingly.
The sword glowed blue and then made contact with his body, but did not cut him. Instead, he exploded into dust which scattered everywhere the second it touched him. She looked in shock at the skeleton left behind. She hadn't expected that. She stood up, sheathing Tenseiga, and examined the body. Remembering Sesshomaru's words, she lifted her foot up and began stomping on it again and again, crushing it into fine powder that was carried away in the wind.
She could hear the triumphant cries of her friends below as the tentacle demon returned to the Hellmouth and the vampires retreated. She hurried down to join them.
"Buffy!" Everyone says at once.
"Yes, the Slayer returns alive and triumphant," she replied, "Giles, next time, if a prophecy says I'm going to die, make sure it says I'm going to stay dead before we all get worked up and everything."
"You died?!" asked Willow.
"Yeah, she drowned and then she said some things that didn't make sense," Xander said.
"What happened?" Giles inquired.
"Something that will probably require a whole bunch of research in some moldy, older than dirt books, but can we just not worry about it right now?" Buffy requested.
"Yes, I believe it can wait. I'm rather tired of being in this library."
"I agree," said Ms. Calendar, "Let's get out of here."
"I hear there's a dance going on at the Bronze," suggested Xander, "Could be fun."
"Yeah!" chimed in Cordelia.
"Hey, I'm game," interjected Buffy, "We did save the world after all, I think we deserve some party time."
They all made their way to the exit, but Buffy and Angel hung back a little.
"I'm starved," she complained, "I hope they have lots of food there."
Angel chuckled.
"I like your dress, by the way."
"Thanks, it's been a big hit with everyone."
--
Author's Note: Sorry about the length, I intended it to be longer. The rest of the chapters will be longer and there will be less copying from the show as I introduce more cross overs.
A final note: don't take everything you've read too literally.
