Thanks to Forrestib who gave me the idea to write this one-shot that explains how and when Xander met Ra's al Ghul. This is a companion piece to "Broken But Not Destroyed." However, you don't have to read the longer story to follow this. It explains how Xander met Ra's. It takes place about ten years before the events in "Broken But Not Destroyed". It would be close to four years since season 7 of BTVS.
Xander and the League
Xander was getting frustrated as he stomped through the rough terrain in the Hindu Kush Mountains. After spending a year in Africa collecting slayers and battling demon tribes, he should've been used to the challenges of nature. However, Asia and Africa were very different. He and a group of his girls were tracking down a pair of very deadly Katako demon hybrids. The kind that couldn't be killed just any regular way. Not only was their hide nearly impenetrable, but only a magic blade could do the work. Willow had gifted him with an ancient ax that had been blessed by a coven of popular witches. It should do the trick. All the slayers carried some type of blade similarly blessed.
After days of being surrounded by women, Xander had sent them in the opposite direction—the direction the demons most likely would be at. He desired some alone time. It'd been too long since he'd been away from any of his girls. He called them his because Buffy and Kennedy spent most of their time training slayers, while he and Faith took them into the field. They went with a group of twenty or so each time a trouble spot was located. Faith was currently with a group in South America while Buffy was at the hellmouth in Ohio.
The past few years had been exciting and filled with challenges. Giles had reorganized the remnant of the Watcher's Council. There were too many slayers and not enough Watchers, so each Watcher usually had a group of five to ten they were overseeing. The more experienced the Watcher had in real battles, the bigger the group. Currently, Xander was the most experienced since he had grown up on the hellmouth in the infamous Sunnydale. If Anya could see him now, she'd be both proud and horrified. All these women, and he was way too celibate.
Xander sighed. It was the story of his life. The role of protector, brother, and friend was forever a barrier for romance.
Frowning, he spotted a well beaten trail. "What is a walking trail doing way out here in the middle of nowhere?" he wondered aloud. Their sources had indicated that the area was not inhabited by people, which is why the demons liked to hide out in the area after feeding on a small village several miles away. He decided to explore and began walking down it.
He hadn't gone very far when he heard a girl's voice cry out. At first, he assumed one of his slayers had went off the beaten path and was in trouble. Moving swiftly, he pushed through some trees. What he saw was one of the Katako demons killing some men dressed like ninjas. A young girl seemed to be the sole survivor and was trying to fight it off alone. Although she obviously knew how to fight with a blade, Xander knew she wouldn't have much luck against the hybrid. Its humanoid features masked a very tough layer of skin. Only a beheading could actually kill it. A normal blade would be unable to do the job, however.
"Get away from it!" he called out. He jumped in front of her, knocking the demon back with a hard blow from his ax. Intelligence was found in its eyes. Xander tried to reason with it. "You know you can't go around killing humans like this."
"Who can stop us? You?" it mocked.
Xander shrugged and stepped forward, swinging his blade. When it was able to penetrate the demon's skin, the demon's eyes flared in alarm. "Yep, I think I can manage," Xander said with a grin. He moved forward while the demon was hurt and kicked its knees, knocking it down. Then he didn't hesitate and swung hard, cutting off its head.
"You killed it!" the girl cried out in amazement.
Xander raised up and turned to her. She was a bit older than her slight frame had suggested. He figured she was fifteen or sixteen. "That's what I do," he said easily. He held out his hand. "I'm Xander."
The girl took a breath, seeming to collect herself. She took his hand. "I am Nyssa al Ghul, heir to the demon," she said.
Xander's eyebrow rose at the introduction. "Demon? Your father is a demon?" he asked.
A voice behind him had him turning. "I am the head of a figurative demon," Ra's said. He looked down at the beheaded body and took in the scene.
"That's the head of a real demon, father!" Nyssa exclaimed, pointing.
"I can see that," Ra's said. He'd heard rumors. However, few ventured into the isolated mountain where his city was hidden.
"The demon has a mate, so it's not over," Xander said grimly. A cry of anguish had them turning. The Katako's mate roared with rage.
Ra's pulled out his sword, preparing for battle. Xander raised his hand in warning. "You won't get far with that," he said.
"I have never been defeated," Ra's said arrogantly.
Xander grinned. It seemed Buffy and Faith hadn't cornered the market on arrogance after all. He shrugged. "Suit yourself," he said.
Ra's met the demon's blow with his sword. However, it didn't seem to hurt the creature. He thrust and parried, wanting to punish it for the loss of his men. These creatures dared attack his precious child. It must die. He plunged his sword, trying to stab at the thing's heart. His blade broke. A hard blow to his head had him flying several feet away.
Ra's watched as the one-eyed America stood his ground in front of Nyssa, facing the monster.
"I tried to warn your mate. He didn't listen. Now he's dead. We can't allow you to kill innocent people," Xander said casually. Ra's was impressed by the man's composure. The man couldn't be very far into his twenties, yet he faced such a threat easily. It was clear this was not the first time he'd faced such a challenge. Ra's got to his feet. He would learn the man's secret and keep his League without equal.
"Humans are never innocent!" it spit out before charging Xander.
Ra's watched as the man dodged and pivoted, kicking the demon hard in the stomach. He wasn't easily impressed, but this man impressed him. His poise and courage was not typical of the Americans he had encountered. The demon managed to get a hard blow to the one-eyed man's face. However, the guy just laughed and went after the demon with a vengeance. Soon, he had managed to knock the demon down. Then he swung his axe, cutting off the monster's head.
Xander looked at the teenager. "Are you okay?" he asked.
"I am fine," she replied stiffly. It was unusual for her to need any help, especially in front of her larger than life father.
Several of Ra's men began appearing, the commotion brought them out. "Are you injured?" one of his men asked. It was unlikely, but they had never had a demon attack them.
"I am not. Thanks to this man," Ra's said, pointing.
Xander looked sheepish. "It was nothing," he said.
"Why are you here?" Ra's asked as his men began gathering up their fallen comrades.
"We were tracking that," he said pointing.
"His name is Xander, Father," Nyssa said. "He saved my life."
Ra's didn't want to admit that the young man might've saved him. However, he did know his daughter's life was owed to the man. Ra's stepped forward and extended his hand. "I am Ra's al Ghul, and I am in your debt."
His men looked sharply at the new comer. Never had they heard their leader utter those words.
Xander grinned. "I'm sure you would've managed to evade the creature," he said.
Ra's noticed he never used the word defeat. "Why did your ax work while my blade failed?" he inquired.
"This particular demon is a hybrid. Its skin can only be penetrated by a sacred blade. One that's been empowered by magic or some higher power blessing," Xander explained.
Ra's nodded. "That is good to know. We will make sure we have such weapons," he said.
"They are rare, but there are other creatures that sometimes require the same type of weapon," Xander explained.
"How is it that you know such things?" Ra's asked.
"I grew up on a hellmouth in California," Xander said casually.
Ra's frowned. He'd heard rumors, but he'd dismissed it as too preposterous. It seemed there was much he still had to learn about the world. "Come," he said, gesturing to Xander to follow his men. "I would honor you with a feast."
"I'm sorry, I can't stay," Xander said regretfully.
"You would refuse my hospitality?" Ra's asked in disapproval.
"If I didn't have responsibilities, I'd gladly party it up with you," Xander said, smiling.
"My League could use one of your skills and courage," Ra's said thoughtfully. He gazed down at his daughter. "Are you married?"
Xander laughed. "Nah. Almost once, but I lost my courage. I was too young at the time," he said.
"So you are currently unattached?" Ra's asked.
"My love died on the hellmouth," Xander said grimly.
"My daughter could use a strong man like yourself as husband," Ra's suggested, shocking his daughter and Xander.
"Father!" Nyssa gasped in dismay. She wanted to die of embarrassment.
"It is my right to arrange a suitable match for you, daughter," Ra's said to her.
Xander knew this was a tenuous situation. He had heard of this man and his band of highly trained assassins. It wouldn't be smart to offend him. However, he also wasn't able to accept his offer.
"I prefer to choose my own mates," Xander said. "Also, my fate is already tied too tightly with the Golden Slayer. Maybe you have heard of her?" Buffy had begun to be referred as that across Asia. Faith was always the Dark Slayer.
"I have," Ra's said. He gave a signal to one of his lieutenants. Six or seven of his men made their way to his side.
"I work with her," Xander said.
"If you train with us, we will hone your skills in ways you cannot imagine," Ra's said.
"Respectfully, I must decline," Xander said with a slight nod of his head. He'd noticed the reappearance of armed ninja looking men. He was starting to get nervous. Then he saw a moment in the tree behind Ra's and relaxed. "Although working with mostly men would be a nice change, I must decline your gracious offer."
"No one can be allowed to refuse the League," Ra's said grimly. "I'm afraid I must insist. I cannot force you to marry Nyssa. However, if you spent time here, you may grow to love her. She is highly skilled."
"Why do these things happen to me?" Xander asked, looking up. He sighed, shaking his head. "As I stated, I have responsibilities elsewhere. I don't want to hurt any of your men, so please, back off."
Ra's couldn't help smiling at the man's bravado. "Brave words. But an invitation to join the League is not to be dismissed so easily," Ra's said.
Xander gave a nod. Twenty women all around his daughter's age or slightly older appeared. "I cannot stay. My girls need me," he said.
Ra's was a bit surprised at the women he had under his command. Americans usually didn't travel in such a manner. "You think your children would be a detour against my trained soldiers?" he asked with a laugh.
Suddenly, Xander's air of geniality disappeared, and he moved closer, his resolve unwavering. "These women are not children. They are highly skilled, supernaturally enhanced slayers," he explained. "They may look harmless, but I assure you, they are deadly. And they are used to battling creatures like that." He pointed down at the hybrids.
Ra's considered the man. There was steel in his eyes. He had saved his daughter and possibly him from a demon. He commanded an army of slayers. Surrender without a battle, however, was not a part of the League's code. "How about we fight for the right to keep you?" Ra's asked with a pleased smile. If his soldiers could take the girls, the man would have no choice. If his soldiers lost, they would learn much. Either way, he would come out with an advantage.
"My best friend is the Red Witch. No one can keep me against my will," Xander said. Then he grinned. "Or rather hers." Willow had only grown more powerful as she mastered the true essence of magic. She would come undone if a man such as Ra's al Ghul tried to enslave him or imprison him.
"The League will not surrender without a fight," Ra's said. He had no fear of witchcraft.
Xander shrugged. "Fine. If one of my girls gets killed, you will die," Xander said, saying it as if he was announcing the rising of the sun.
His confidence in his ability to kill Ra's both angered and impressed him. It'd been ages since anyone had tried to oppose his will so openly. He grabbed his daughter's hand and pulled her to his side. "You will not engage," he told her. "There will be no killing." His soldiers understood and the fight began.
Xander knew he didn't need to say anything to his slayers. They knew not to kill humans. However, they always relished a good fight. The assassins were highly trained. Normally, the girls would hold back when fighting a regular human. These men, however, forced them to go all out.
Ra's watched in amazement as the young girls disarmed his men in a relatively short time. Then he was even more dumfounded as one by one they were knocked out. Never had his soldiers been beaten so soundly. His grudging admiration for the man and his slayers grew.
"Buffy, our head slayer—the Golden one—can easily beat all of these girls," Xander said. "As could Faith. So I'd think carefully before you try challenging any of them yourself. We don't fight humans unless they get in our way. Our interests should never be in conflict—that is as long as you don't try nabbing any of us."
Ra's nodded. "You have taught us much," he conceded. "Your normal enemy is a demon?"
"The slayers were created to fight vampires. We kill all soulless vampires, but when it comes to demons, only the evil kind," Xander said.
"So some demons aren't evil?" Ra's asked, his mind calculating. He must get his hand on a demon or a vampire. His League must be able to defeat all foes.
"Some are. Some aren't. They're like people. Some good, some bad," Xander said.
Ra's nodded thoughtfully. "Then we shall part friends," he said, extending his hand once again to the young man.
Xander shook his hand. "That's always my preference," he said, grinning. "I can never have too many friends. I've made a lot of enemies."
"Somehow that does not surprise me," Ra's said with a wry grin. His men began to stir.
"Ladies, let's go. We got what we came here for," Xander said.
"I can't believe you killed both of them without us, Xan! That's totally not cool!" one of the girls complained.
Ra's listened as another complained about how long it'd been since they'd gotten to kill anything. He gave his daughter a grateful look. "I will never complain about you again, daughter," he told her.
Nyssa wasn't sure what to think about the group of female warriors who had so easily defeated her father's soldiers. However, she was wise for her age. "We must learn all about them. They cannot be allowed to defeat us so easily again," she said, offended by the humiliation.
"You have learned a valuable lesson, Nyssa," Ra's said, stroking her hair. "One can never grow complacent. There are always new challenges to overcome and enemies to battle."
"They beat us so effortlessly, Father!" she complained.
"Next time, they will not see us defeated so easily," Ra's said. "However, we don't need an enemy such as them. We have enough. Nevertheless, we must prepare to fight these creatures." He looked down at the slain demons.
"And the slayers?" his daughter questioned.
"We will seek no fight," Ra's replied. "However, we will be ready the next time we meet."
The League would never be taken off guard again by any threat. Ra's al Ghul was the head of a very powerful body. The body would continue to grow both in strength and in number. Yet…
"He would've been an incredible asset," Ra's remarked, a rare note of regret in his voice. He smiled at her. "A fitting mate for you."
"I don't need a man!" she said hotly.
Ra's laughed. "I won't live forever, my daughter. You will need a strong partner by your side. The demon head is always a target," Ra's remarked. However, his mind was no longer on his daughter. He was already making plans. One of his contacts was bound to know how to capture a vampire or demon. The training could never stop.
******The End*****
I don't know much at all about Ra's or the League outside of the show. However, I would think that if Ra's did encounter the supernatural, he'd do everything in his power to make sure he and his soldiers could defeat the new threat.
So if you are reading, "Broken Not Destroyed", you can now know that Nyssa has been trained to handle any supernatural threat. Sara's ignorance will be addressed in the story. Thanks for reading. I hope this didn't disappoint.
Thanks to Forcystus5 for helping pick a demon!