CHAPTER ONE

It's the Day of the Dead, and I'm exactly where I should be... In a cemetery. I both love and hate this place. I love it because it's beautiful, and peaceful, and it gives me a connection to two people I love very dearly. I hate it because that connection exists only because they're both dead.

"I brought you some lavender, Baby," I say to Tara. "I know how much you love this stuff." I lay it down on her grave. I've been sitting here for over an hour, talking to her headstone. I finally sigh and kiss it, knowing she's with me. "I love you," I whisper. Then I stand and go to the other person I've come to visit today.

Before settling in, I respectfully place a couple of beautiful lillies on a grave. "Hi, Mrs. Summers," I say politely. "How are you?" Then I sit at the next grave, trying not to cry. It's been five years, but part of me still can't accept that she won't be back this time. "Hey, Buffy," I say. "What's new?"

I leave a mixture of herbs for peace and healing on my best friend's grave and sit there for a long time as I ramble about whatever I can think of. Finally, as the sun sets, I know I have to leave. Sure, I've got a few stakes on me and I'm armed with a ton of magick, but it's best not to temp the Universe into making me some baby vampire's breakfast.

I'm about to leave when I feel eyes on me. I'm creeped out, but I don't see anyone, so I quickly hurry out of the cemetery. I get home fifteen minutes later, and that's when I find the envelope in my mailbox. I open it cautiously, not sure why I'm so freaked out. That's when I see handwriting I know entirely too well.

You look beautiful, but I do miss your overalls. Have you missed me?

I drop the note and try not to scream. The note is from my ex-boyfriend from high school, Victor. Back when I was young, naive, and still thought I was straight, Vic asked me out. He was older, cute, and charming, and I'd never had a boyfriend before. I never talk about Vic. He was one of Xander's friends and I was so desperate for someone to love me that I didn't realize what a maniac he was until it was too late. Vic was controlling, psychotic, and abusive. He was also a devoted Occultist and he had an obsession with vampires. Buffy, Xander, and I tried to tell him they didn't exist, but he knew better. Somehow, Vic was fully aware of the supernatural and the truth about Sunnydale. Anyway, things were really bad with Vic, and he became obsessed with me. Buffy and Xander helped me leave him and protected me from him, but now Buffy's gone, and I hardly get to see Xander anymore, and Vic is back... He's found me.

I grab every protective charm I can carry, pack a bag with some clothes, my laptop, and some of the magickal supplies I can't live without, and then I leave my house. He knows where I live. I'm not safe there anymore.

I have no idea where I'm going, but I keep driving. Finally, I find a wooded area, and I continue on foot. I walk as fast as I can, looking over my shoulder frequently to make sure no one's there. One of the times I do that, I walk straight into someone and let out a completely undignified scream.

"Well, I was gonna say 'boo,' but I guess I don't have to now," a familiar voice says with a laugh.

I stare at her as I recognize her. "Faith?" I ask. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same, Witchy Woman," Faith replies casually. I haven't seen her in over a decade, but she doesn't look very different. "It's been a while, huh?" She asks.

"I have to go," I say.

"What's going on, Willow? Seriously."

"It's personal."

"You're wandering through the woods with a suitcase and your purse and you look completely terrified. Obviously, you need help. We're old friends. Talk to me."

"I don't know if I'd call us friends..."

"I was once a Scoobie, too, Will. I wasn't always on the wrong side of things... And I'm not anymore."

"Why should I believe that?"

"Because our pet alien sensed a woman in need of our help, and I'd bet anything that she meant you."

"Alien?"

"It's sort of a long story. Come with me, Willow. You're not safe out here. I'll bring you to the Sanctuary, and then I'll explain everything. I promise."

I never know which team Faith is on, but she seems to genuinely want to help, and I don't really see any better options. "Okay," I say. I follow her deeper into the woods and wonder if maybe this isn't one of my better ideas.

We reach a magickal barrier. I feel it as we cross through it and my jaw drops as a gorgeous mansion appears. "What the...?" I ask.

"Welcome to the Sanctuary," Faith says.

I notice an amazing garden as we walk toward the front of the mansion. "Yo, Ivy, what's up?" Faith calls to the woman tending it.

Ivy smiles mysteriously but says nothing. As we enter through an enormous archway, a woman greets us.

"Welcome, Dear Child," she greets me. "You are safe here."

I recognize her and immediately geek out. "Holy-! You're Wonder Woman!" My inner comic book nerd is screaming.

"You may call me Diana," she says pleasantly.

"D, this is Willow. She's part of a crew I used to run with... The good one," Faith explains.

"What brings you to us, Willow?"

It's Wonder Woman. I am positive I can trust her, even if I didn't know she was a real person until now. "My ex boyfriend found me... He's abusive and unstable... And he's sort of obsessed with me," I say awkwardly.

"I have housed many women who believed themselves broken here at the Sanctuary. What I teach them is how to unlock the warriors within their spirits. You are a Spirit Warrior, my dear. You are welcome here."

As we walk, I spot a woman upside-down in a chair. Her face lights up when she sees me. "Hiya!" She greets me, still upside-down. "I'm Harley."

"Harley?" I ask. "Harley Quinn? But she's a villain..." I say.

"We don't judge our sisters by their past acts, only by their potential for good once they arrive," Diana explains.

"Which is why I'm allowed here," Faith explains.

"Sorry... This is just... A lot," I say.

"No offense taken, Sweetums," Harley says. "I am a villain, but I'm trying to change my dastardly ways." She grins at me and I relax. Anyone with a smile that infectious can't be all bad.

"What are your strengths?" Diana asks me.

"She's a super powerful witch," a new voice says excitedly. "Sorry... Didn't mean to read you. You think loudly."

I spin around and see a pretty redhead with green skin. I'm a bit stunned. "Remember I mentioned our pet alien?" Faith asks. "That's Miss Martian."

"M'gann M'orzz. Please, call me Megan," she says quickly.

"Hi, Megan," I say. "I'm Willow... But I'm guessing you already knew that?"

"Yes... I'm sorry. You were obviously in distress when you crossed into the woods, and I could hear you. I wasn't trying to pry-"

"It's okay," I say quickly. "I've read the comics. I know your story."

"Comics?" Megan asks in confusion.

"Our stories are so legendary, they are chronicled in comic book form," Diana says patiently.

"They're like regular books, but with pictures!" Harley explains excitedly. "I have my entire collection!"

"We're not meant to read our own stories," Diana clarifies. "They change things to suit their own plots too frequently, and it can confuse our own realities... Harley, however, has access to all versions of herself anyway, so we allow it."

"This is amazing," I say.

"And trippy. It takes some getting used to," Faith says. "What you think you know isn't valid here. It's not just DC people, either. Marvel's got fucked-up women in need of help, too. Diana isn't a brand snob when it comes to helping people."

"You are all my sisters," Diana says. "Your prophet doesn't matter, be it Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, or any other."

"Dark Horse is us, by the way, Willow," Faith explains.

"Wait, we have comics?" I ask.

"Yeah, and I hear there used to be a pretty badass TV series, too."

I can't wrap my mind around that, so I don't even try. "How's B, anyway?" Faith asks.

I'm suddenly depressed. "We lost her," I say. "A demon possessed her and by the time we got it out of her, it was too late... She didn't survive the injuries from the battle."

"Wait... Buffy's dead?" Faith looks genuinely stunned. She also looks surprisingly sad. "Are you sure it can't be reversed? We've thought she was dead before."

"Xander and I tried everything. We even went to Angel, Wesley, and Cordelia... Hell, we even tried Spike. No one could find a way to save her, and Giles finally confirmed that she was lost to us for good..."

"Right. You, um... You're good, right? I need to go take care of something..." Faith runs off before anyone can try to stop her.

"They were friends," Megan says. "Unusual friends who frequently hated each other, but still like family... This loss is hitting her hard."

"M'gann," Diana says firmly. "Let Faith's thoughts be her own to share."

"Right, right... I'm sorry," Megan says.

There is a knock at the door to the room we're in. A beautiful woman walks in looking nervous. "I'm sorry to interrupt," she says quickly, "but Kitty's come back. She's injured pretty badly."

Diana nods and motions for us to follow her. "Willow, this is Wanda Maximoff. If you plan to stay with us, Wanda will teach you combat magick. She does it for anyone with the gift," Diana tells me.

"Wanda..." I pause. "Scarlet Witch?"

"That is my other name, yes," Wanda replies.

We get to the next room and I see someone lying on the floor in a pool of blood. "She came through the wall in rough shape," Wanda explains.

"Oh, my dear..." Diana says. She immediately begins pulling out bandages and first aid supplies. "Kitty? Kitty, can you hear me?"

The girl on the floor opens her eyes. "It was one of Magneto's minions," she says shakily.

My eyes go wide. "Kitty Pryde? Like Shadowcat?" I ask Wanda.

"Yes... And my father's people did this to her... Family," Wanda mumbles as she begins trying to heal Kitty's wounds.

I kneel beside her automatically. "Let me help," I say, casting my own healing spell.

Wanda looks to Diana for approval. "It can't hurt," Diana says.

Wanda and I work together until most of the damage is healed. Kitty finally looks up at us. "Thanks, Wanda, and... um...?" She says.

"Willow," I provide.

"Willow comes from Faith's world," Megan explains.

"Nice to meet you," Kitty says as she sits up. "I owe you one."

I just helped save Kitty Pryde's life. This is turning out to be a very strange night. "Will you be staying with us, Willow?" Diana asks.

I look at her and I know my answer. "Yes," I say. "I think I will."

I feel like I belong here, even if I don't understand why. The only thing I know is I'm safer here than out there on my own. Vic can't hurt me here. Anyway, I'm a Scoobie. I'm pretty good with weird and wacky. Hopefully, this will turn out well. Either way, I'm too curious not to stay for a bit, at least until I figure out a better plan.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This fic will likely contain potentially triggering content at some point. As it continues, more details on Vic will come out. I intend to introduce more characters from DC and Marvel, as well as bring in other Buffy characters in future chapters. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Any reviews are appreciated!