Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter Notes: First posted on Elysian Fields September 4th 2014 as a response to a challenge.

In the Age of Apocalypses, Beauty shall meet the Beast

The Beast, once a man, and Beauty, once a girl

Each a killer of the others' kind, a Slayer and a Slayer of Slayers

Each with hatred only natural

Until the pain of the Father unites them

Through choice but no choice, and then twice over

The Beast and Beauty will remain under roof

From monster to knight the Beast will transform

For the love of Beauty, against nature he will turn

The Beast shall earn the love the Beauty

His reward shall be Life, and the power of the Slayer

Buffy

The last time I saw Drusilla in my dream, it was before Angel lost his soul. So seeing her again – walking slowly towards me like a ghost flowing through a cemetery – isn't a good sign.

She stops a few paces in front of me and we just stand there staring at one another. She's smiling like the crazy bitch she is, and I know it can't be anything of the good.

And the dream had been going so well, too. Typical nonsense; Willow in a marching band, Xander dressed like a pirate, Giles making towers out of books, Mom and Dawn juggling pancakes… Even Riley's in it, dressed in a red shirt while shooting demon birds out of the sky.

But nope, the crazy vampire ho just has to show up. In the Bronze, of all places. Just like the last time.

"Miss Edith told me a story, Once Upon a Time," she says. The doll is suddenly in her hands, and she brings it up to her ear. "It's about a monster and a little girl. A tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme…"

OK, seriously? Celine Dion? Granted, the film it comes from is a pretty good movie… "Can you cut out the cryptic crap?"

She laughs. "Too many 'c's. The other letters will be jealous." Her eyes slide close as she sways from side to side. "Just a story, they said. But the stars told me where I could find the Beast. He wasn't a Beast at all when I found him, so I made him one."

"Made him?" I think of Spike. Drusilla's his sire, right?

"He was never mine," Drusilla continues. "All I had to do was make him a Beast. What goes around comes around. He will turn back someday, if Beauty sees the man within the Beast." Then she looks at me. "The beautiful sunshine will turn him back one day."

"Who are you talking about?" I already know, but I have to be sure.

"My dark prince. My Spike." The scene around us changes, and we're both standing in an alley way. Back in time, I guess. There's an old-fashioned look about it. I see Drusilla again, only she's wearing a blue dress and a shawl instead of her usual white. Sat down before her is…

OK, who knew Spike was a nerd when he was alive. And actually…kinda cute. In a cute-nerd kind of way.

I watch as Spike rises and backs away from Drusilla, saying something about her not having his purse. Then Drusilla goes on about how his "wealth" lies in his heart and mind, and then I realize what she's about to do. Of course, it should've been obvious; I've seen the result in all his bleach blonde, black leather glory.

My instincts tell me to stop it from happening, and I almost run to him. But Drusilla – the one in the white dress – holds her arm out and shakes her head. "Naughty. They do not see us. We do not touch them. We are the pixies who watch and whisper."

I watch helplessly as Spike – a good man – is stripped of his life and turned into a monster.

Then the scene changes again, and we're in Sunnydale – in a very familiar part of Sunnydale on a very familiar night.

I recognize myself dressed in black and stood in front of the police car. The cop is knocked out on the hood while Spike is sat next to him, rummaging through his pockets. Spike is explaining the reasons why he wants to save the world while the other me is listening.

"A special boy, my Spike," says Drusilla. "He's not like that others. He never wants to play with us; he always wants to play in the sunshine."

I turn to her. "Why are you showing me this?"

"United by the pain of the Father…" She laughs again. "Barely even friends, then somebody bends…unexpectedly…"

I roll my eyes. "I don't speak 'Cryptic' and I don't speak 'Disney'!"

Then she turns to me, and I see in her eyes that she's serious. No hint of laughter or craziness at all, and it's enough to wig me out.

"Both a little scared, neither one prepared, Beauty and the Beast."

My eyes snap open and I'm lying in my own bed.

"Buffy!" I hear Dawn yell from downstairs. "Are you gonna sleep all day? Come down! I'm watching Beauty and the Beast!"

Beauty and the… I sit upright, recalling the dream.

Either it's just a freaky coincidence…or something big is going down.