Author's Note: My first attempt at a fanfic.I Don't own anything from the show. Reviews appreciated.

A Tale of Faith

"Nobody knows what you are. Not even you, little Miss Seen-it-all. The Ascension isn't just my day. It's yours too; your day to blossom, to show the world what a powerful girl you are. I think of what you've done, what I know you will do. No father could be prouder".

"I hope I don't let you down."

Prologue

An old man walked the perimeter while the mages did their work. There were five robed figures sitting on the outskirts of a large circle. They were chanting a language that was unknown to him.

Faith: Come to get me? You gonna feed me to Angel? You know you're not going to take me alive.
Buffy: Not a problem.
Faith: Well, look at you. All dressed up in big sister's clothes.
Buffy: You told me I was just like you. That I was holding it in.
They approach until they're standing face to face.
Faith: Ready to cut loose?
Buffy: Try me.
Faith: Okay then. Give us a kiss.

Buffy punches her in the jaw.

In the center of the circle laid a small figurine tied to a blood stained blade. He sighed to himself regretfully. He still wished it had not come to this, but there were no other options.

They fight for a while.
Faith: Not getting tired are you? I'm just starting to feel it.
They fight some more. They fall together through a window, landing on a terrace. While Faith is recovering from the fall, Buffy handcuffs Faith's right wrist to Buffy's right wrist.
Buffy: Stick around.

The fight continues

The man felt a gentle tap on his shoulder, shaking him from his musings. There was no time to back out now. A deal was a deal. Now all that was left to do was hope that he wasn't about to make a terrible mistake. He walks away from the main work area and heads into the shadows of the room. With a nod to the head caster he signals for the spell to begin in earnest. The chanting picks up, driven with a sudden intensity that wasn't there before. The air in the room seems to crackle. In unison all five of the spell casters reached to their sides where sealed vials had lain. One by one going around the circle each slammed their glass vial into the ground In front of them releasing colorful grains. Impossibly, instead of the contents staying were they fell they all seemingly crawled toward the objects in the center. Once they reach the center they begin to swirl around the doll mixing in a sea of colors. Faster they swirl together until the figure is completely unable to be seen.

Faith spins Buffy so she can get the leverage to use her legs and manages to snap the handcuff chain. They face off. Faith holds a length of pipe. Buffy pulls out Faith's knife.
Faith: That's mine.
Buffy: You're about to get it back.
They exchange blows, Faith dodging the knife. They move to the edge of the terrace and Faith holds Buffy at the edge.
Faith: Man, I'm going to miss this.
Buffy breaks Faith's grip and plunges the knife into Faith's abdomen. Both of them looked stunned for a moment.
Faith: (weakly, but smiling) You did it.
Faith throws Buffy away from her.
Faith: You killed me.
Faith climbs onto the low wall at the edge of the terrace and looks down.
Faith: Still won't help your boy, though. Shoulda been there, B, quite a ride.
Faith falls backward off the wall

The ingredients become airborne lifting up the doll and knife with it. The colors of the ingredients bleed into the doll, leaving only glowing white swirling spots. The spots then begin to glow brighter, to the point where it hurt to look at them. The old man was forced to look away. The volume of the robed figures' chanting had risen during this time. At the moment they were currently yelling their chant. With one last utterance they all stopped abruptly. The old figure looked up to see that the spots, and the figurine with them, had disappeared from the center of the circle. For about 15 seconds his stomach dropped. It looked like the spell has failed. 17 seconds after the chanting had stopped the room filled with a blinding white light. When his vision cleared the old man looked into the center of the circle and saw a female figure. Naked she lay sprawled face down; her hair draped messily covering her face. Around her the once colorful ingredients-turned white spots now lay in their charred final form, what appeared to the unknowing eye to be black sand

The room fell fallen silent until the women stirred and looked around. "Miss?" the head spell caster called He called out half in concern, half out of curiosity to see if his amazing feet had actually been successful. "Miss Summers?" still no response from the figure. "Buffy?" The figure first went stock still then turned on the caster with an unreadable look in her eye.

The moment hung in the air uncomfortably. The old man, snapping out of his shock chose then to cut in. "I thank you all for you services, but now it is quite important that you leave the two of us alone." The five mages just looked at the man. Surprised and possibly a little offended at his crassness. "Now!" the old man stated with impatience. The five robed figures groggily got to their feet and headed out of the room a few brislings at the disrespect. Others just were gleefully chatting about what they had just done. A male voice could be heard from the hallway calling to them. "If you follow me, I'll happily pay you for your services as agreed upon; also I have been asked to remind you all that if any of you break your oath of silence and ever speak of what you just did or saw in that room you'll die a horrible painful death. This way please."

When the sounds of footsteps had disappeared the old man turned his attention back to the nude woman, more accurately the nude girl, in front of him. Trying on his best unthreatening smile he greeted his guest warmly. "I'm sorry about all this confusion with those guys. They can be a little much to deal with sometimes and this time I just couldn't afford to let them know too much." The girl just stared at him blankly. "But enough about them, you're probably confused enough as it is. Well let me get on with it then. First I would like to sincerely welcome you, to my home Faith, The vampire slayer."

The Dark-haired girl opened her mouth to say something but then closed it again. Then opened it once more "Am I…? I mean..is this? Am I dead?"