DREAMWORLD


Episode I – "The Quest"



A/C: This episode is based when Faith is in a coma... between seasons three and four.



"That doesn't go there."


"I know – not one for rules," Faith simply replied, looking back at Buffy as they both emerged in a desert. The rogue slayer was sitting on a metal stool among the sand and stones.


"I've noticed" Buffy softly smiled as she looked around at her surroundings. "I've been here before. Are you on a quest?"


Faith shrugged, her darkened eyes glaring at the girl who had put her in the coma she was now in in reality. "I wasn't aware of one. Is it hard?"


"No," Buffy shook her head, the sun bouncing off her long blond hair. "It's mainly just the first slayer running around with bad hair... you remind me of her."


"Because I have bad hair?" Faith asked.


"No, silly... because you're both different to what a slayer should be" she replied, looking upon the brunette as if there was something wrong with her.


"Ever think that maybe you're the one that's not how a slayer should be?" now being defensive, Faith stood and looked out to the sun as it began to set.


Buffy giggled a little. "There's nothing wrong with me, Faith. I'm not the one who's a killer, remember?"


Faith laughs with her. Then, between the pair, is a flash of Angel. And just as suddenly as he appeared, he disappeared into nothingness.


Buffy stepped closer. "You can't have him."


"I know" she tilted her head down, realising that Angel was too good for her. Even though he had slaughtered many, tortured innocents... he was still too good for her. "Doesn't make me stop wanting though."


"Take, want, have... not applicable in this scenario," Buffy took another step closer to the slayer she had fought so many times before. The slayer she had befriended and had been betrayed by. The slayer she had stabbed and placed in a coma. "You know there's gonna be a storm, right?"


"It's the desert, B, not gonna happen" and as she said that the clouds covered the sun and down poured the rain, just like clockwork. Faith looked confused, "this isn't right."


"What, you bargain on it making sense?" Buffy laughed, now dressed in the attire she was in when she stabbed Faith. In her hand was a dagger, the same one she had used to try and kill her.


"No. None of this makes sense," Faith saw the dagger and shrugged. "You gonna kill me?"


"I have to" Buffy raised the knife and used it to cut the palm of her hand but no blood seeped through the wound. She looks back up to Faith. "Maybe if you die another slayer will be called... one that won't be a disappointment."


"I never meant to..." she trailed off. She looked back, seeing another flash, this time of the Mayor. She looked back and suddenly the dagger was in her stomach and blood was pouring out. Her eyes were raised to meet with Buffy's. "So this is it?"


"I guess" Buffy lifted a hand and ran it through Faith's hair.


Faith's heart began to beat faster as a single tear emerged in her eye. "B..."


"Sh, don't say a word. I'll look after the cat. I'll arrange the funeral and make sure you are cremated. We'll celebrate the fact that you're gone. I've gotta tell you though, Faith, it is a huge relief. At least I haven't got to go through the process of helping you on the road to redemption because that just sucks. I'd rather just have you dead," Buffy said, still with the same expression she has had throughout.


"It hurts..." Faith gasped, the life being drained out of her.


"Oh, I'm sorry" Buffy smiled, then took out the dagger. Suddenly she continuously stabbed Faith until she fell to the ground. Then she put the boot in, literally. She kicked and kicked and kicked until there was nothing left but a pile of ashes. Buffy wiped her hands clean of the dust that had settled on her. "Lets make it real next time, F"