Author: wise_ass_master (wise_ass_master@yahoo.com)
Distribution: It's fine, just please ask first.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, trademarks, ect. All belong to Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon.
Pairings: none really, just a little flirting
Rating: probably a strong PG-13 for language and violence.
Summary: This is just my interpretation of the upcoming episode "Showtime"; most of the events are completely fictional, although I did base the story on real Spoilers. So just a rundown, most of the occurrences don't happen, but some really do. You'll just have to figure it out for yourself (
Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer:
"So they're all slayers?" Dawn asked as she stared at the three girls in the living room. "Potentials," Giles answers.
"You wanna do the sleeping arrangements?" Willow asks with audible frustration in her voice. "Ok," Kennedy quickly answers before taking the blankets from Willow, "Just don't hog the covers," she says with a devilish smile.
"Guys!" Molly interrupts, "Annabelle split!"
Annabelle scurries down the alleyway before she is stopped by the Ubervamp, who inevitably kills her.
"I'm beyond tired, I'm beyond scared. I'm standing on the mouth of hell and it is going to swallow me whole, and it'll choke on me." Buffy states as a soft orchestra is heard in the backround, "We're not ready? THEY'RE not ready. They think we're gonna wait for the end to come, like we always do. I'm done waiting. They want an apocalypse? We'll give 'em one. Anyone else who wants to run, do it now. Cause we just became an army, we just declared war. From now on we won't just face our worst fears, we will seek them out. We will find them, and cut out their hearts one by one, until the First shows itself for what it really is. And I'll kill it myself. There is only one thing on this Earth more powerful than evil, and that's us. Any questions?"
"Showtime"
The silence continued before Molly slowly raised her hand, "What do we do first?" she asked as everyone exchanged glances around the table.
Buffy lowered her eyes, "We find the rest, before the First gets to them."
"I've already located one, in Shanghai. Her watcher disappeared, one can only assume." Giles trailed off.
"So she's the next target," Buffy started, "We get over there as soon as possible."
"Buffy," Giles hesitated, "It would be illogical for us all to depart for one potential when there are many more to be sought out."
Buffy nodded, "How many we talking here?"
Giles removed his glasses and set them on the table, "With 3-" he cut short, and corrected himself, "4 potential slayers already murdered, and the other two here.there should be 4 more, including the one in Shanghai, according to records."
"Okay, should we locate the other 3 before we.y'know, collect 'em?" Willow questioned.
Buffy shook her head, "Not nearly enough time, if this girl's watcher's already dead-"
"Then I'll go," Giles interrupted. All their heads swung to face him, "I'll go to Shanghai, and hopefully with my return, you'll have already found the others."
"Sounds like a plan, Willow, Anya, Dawn, take the potential guys and go through the rest of the Counsel's files, see if you can pin point any of them. Xander, you and I are going to Willy's, if Spike's still alive, we need to find him."
Xander nodded and exited the kitchen only to return a minute later with two jackets in hand, offering one to Buffy.
Before taking it, she turned to face Giles, "Be back soon? And in one piece?"
Giles gave a reassuring smile, "Promise."
"Good," Buffy returned his smile.
"Buffy," Willow called, "Be careful, you haven't completely healed.you might-"
"I'll be okay, Will. I have big strong Xander to protect me," Buffy sarcastically added.
In spite of her tone, Xander stood straight and puffed his chest out, "Don't worry, runt squad, Buffy and I will return."
Kennedy lowered her brow as Molly smiled.
As Buffy and Xander walked, Willow was able to hear the last of their conversation:
"Runt squad?" Buffy pushed.
"What?" Xander defensively asked, "Do you think they'd prefer 'Buffy mini- me's?' "
Then they all heard the door close, wondering if Buffy and Xander would return.
Several awkward seconds passed before Giles broke the silence, "I'm off to the airport. Be aware, the First may be targeting Shanghai, but there's no telling where they'll attack first. Kennedy, Molly, stay inside and stay close."
Kennedy and Molly both nodded.
"And Willow, to up the security, maybe a little protection spell would be in order?"
"Oh! No! No, no. I can't, too much, no magic," She babbled.
Anya interrupted, "It's true, the last locator spell was completely blown to hell. Willow went all wonky and glowy, not to mention scary."
Giles turned to Willow, "Dear God, Willow. All the days, you have to learn- "
"I know, and I didn't, it just," Willow cut off.
"It was the First," Dawn explained.
Anya nodded, "That too."
Giles expression changed to one of concern and pity, "You were inhabited by the First?"
Willow's eyes kept to the floor, desperately trying to avoid eye contact."
Giles approached her, then leaned on the table in front of her, "What one cannot control, is what inspires the greatest of fears. Coming back.being strong enough to understand that with all the power you hold, there are still things that are out of your hands is the strongest kind of power."
Willow lifted her eyes with a look of confusion.
Giles paused, "What I'm saying is you're afraid to use magics again, not because you might be corrupted, but because of the consequences afterwards. You cannot live your life in fear, when there's something you can do about it," Giles nodded towards Kennedy and Molly, "And by doing everything in your power to protect these girls is another step in learning how to control yourself."
Willow began to smile, but tried to hold it back, not wanting to be obvious.
Kennedy raised one brow and turned towards Molly, "He's always so cryptic, I never know what he's saying, how is it that she knows? Did I miss the class?"
Anya leaned in, "Don't feel bad, I don't think anybody really knows what he's saying. We just smile and nod, otherwise he'll keep talking."
Giles leaned forward with a smile and squeezed Willow's hand in his own, "And let's pretend we don't hear the disturbing conversation behind us and say our goodbyes, shall we?"
Willow couldn't help but laugh and stood to embrace Giles in a long hug.
"So what's the plan again?" Xander asked as they approached the entrance to Willy's.
"We beat any information out of anybody we find," Buffy stated casually as she started forward.
Xander sprinted forward to catch up with her, "What kind of plan is that? That's not a plan, that's a death wish!"
"Xander out of the past 6 and a half years you've known me, how many times have I gotten you killed?"
Xander thought for a moment, "That's not a fair question, you've died twice, and that's enough for the both of-" Xander quieted when he realized that two dozen vampire and demon eyes rested on him and Buffy, "Buffy? Are you sure you're rested enough?"
"I'm sure," Buffy didn't hesitate, "And I think we'll start with him."
Buffy strolled across the floor, keeping her eyes focused on a vampire who singled himself out by not turning his attention to her like everyone else had. Xander followed closely behind, even stepping on her heels.
"Xander!" Buffy exasperated, "We're trying to be somewhat stealthy here."
"Sorry! Sorry. They just keep staring at me, like they're gonna eat me.Well not 'like' because they probably will. Hey!" Xander saw Buffy sprint out the side door, hurdling tables in the process, also noticing the suspicious vampire was gone.
"Xander! He's getting away! Head him off!" Buffy called.
"Right!" He hesitated and ran back the way they came, as soon as he set foot outside, he was immediately knocked to the ground with a sickening crack that had been his head hitting the pavement.
"Good job Xander, we got him."
It took several seconds to realize the thing that had run into him was the vampire they were chasing.
"Now let's see what he has to say," Buffy lifted the vamp off Xander and found Xander slow to get up, "Are you alright?"
Xander nodded, "just a little bump."
But Buffy could easily see it was no bump, but a cut an inch and a half long on the left side of Xander's forehead, caused by the ground, "Xander, you're bleeding."
He touched his forehead and saw the blood on his hand, "I'm fine, really. Now let's just beat him so we can get out of this alley.it smells."
Buffy nodded and redirected her attention to the male vampire, who's hair was standing erect and taste in clothes resembled the 70's, "You heard him, telling us what you know about the First, and where it's got Spike."
The vampire didn't blink, instead he tested Buffy, "Spike who?"
Buffy's brow lowered, revealing she was more than angry. She twisted him around, grasping his hair and threw his face into the brick wall.
It took only a few seconds for the vampire to regain his composure, "I'm not saying anything Slayer," The vamp was able to say once he escaped his daze.
Xander threw his hands into the air, "What do we do now?"
Buffy thought for a moment, "We keep at it if we have to bash his head a million times, until he talks."
"K, got the 'Toad Lips'.is that all we need?" Dawn asked as she handed Willow a jar of mostly fluids with debris floating in it.
"Well, as soon as Anya gets the Manta powder.we'll be set," Willow replied.
"Are you sure we should do this inside the house? What if it explodes?"
Willow stopped for a second, "We'll just have to hope that doesn't happen," she stated in an upbeat manner.
Willow turned her attention to Kennedy and Molly sitting on the couch in the living room, "How you guys coming in there? Anything useful?"
"Think so," Kennedy called back, Molly picked up a piece of paper set aside on the table and handed it to Kennedy, "Some girl name.Vi. Like the letter, it says she was last resided in Orange County."
Willow sighed, "K, still two more to go."
"Anya's been gone awhile.shouldn't we be worried?" Dawn issued.
Willow debated her conscious, saying Anya was fine, and would be returning from the Magic Shop any second. Yet the other half screamed Anya was in trouble and needed help.
She arose from the table and went to the boarded up window the peek through a small opening. Willow saw nothing, not Anya approaching the house, not Bringers ready to kill, not even a leaf blowing across the street.
"I'm going to look for her, keep the doors locked and keep a lookout," Willow retrieved her jacket that was sitting on one of the chairs in the kitchen, "Don't forget to feed Andrew in the basement."
Dawn started forward, trying to step in between Willow and the front door, "You can't go out there, not alone. I'm going with you."
"Dawnie, I'll be quick, I promise but I need you to stay here, for when Buffy and Xander come back."
"No, no no. We've seen personally, what this Evil can do, it's too dangerous," Dawn stood her ground, determined not to let Willow pass.
Willow was at a loss of words, what else could she say? She knew the reason she wanted Dawn to stay wasn't because Willow needed her to wait. It was because she knew she might not be coming back.
"She's right," Kennedy stood, "You can't go at it alone. I'M going with you."
Willow and Dawn swung their heads towards her, and said in unison, "No."
"What? Anya's gone and you want to go by yourself? That's insane. Now let's go."
Before Willow could object again, Kennedy was out the front door and halfway across the lawn. Willow immediately caught up, "You can't go. Hello? Remember? YOU'RE the one who the First wants to kill."
Kennedy didn't utter a word, instead, kept her eyes forward and continued to walk.
Willow continued, even getting enraged by her silence, "You're the one that's insane! The First didn't manifest itself and have it's cult wannabes kill all those people for ME, it did it for you! Now you wanna go waltzing down the street practically wearing a bullseye on your forehead? You're insane, you know that? You're crazy, more than crazy, you-"
"Then why haven't you stopped me already?" Kennedy interrupted.
That question caught Willow off guard, mainly because she knew she hasn't physically done anything to stop Kennedy. Even thinking she WANTED her to come along, if not for safety in numbers.
"I will, I mean, I am.right now," Willow couldn't kid anybody, let alone herself anymore, "Alright, let's go," She said in defeat.
" 'Where the trees bend, the shadows will point the way'.That sounds a little bit, I dunno, vague?" Xander questioned, "I mean, there must be a million trees in Sunnydale, are we gonna follow each and every one's shadow?"
"It's the Christmas trees, where I first met the First, and where I saw the Ubervamp. I wasn't able to explore the entire cave, the vamp said Spike was in there, so that's where we'll go," Buffy commanded.
"We could use back up, maybe a few more thousand people, we can't just bust in there to rescue Spike, they'll tear us to pieces."
"K, we'll come back at sunrise, bring a towel," Buffy glanced at her watch, "which should be in about an hour.
"Y'know, I never liked you, you're always in the way, and you never listen," The First taunted Spike in the form of Buffy, "I prefer my pet," morphy-Buffy nodded her head toward the Ubervamp, "they do what you say, and never go all noble."
Spike tilted his head away from the First, but inevitably caused him pain. He could barely move without his sores enflaming, his face now almost completely covered in his own blood. But he couldn't stand the sight of this thing impersonating the one person he trusted and loved, it made him sick.
"You know Spike, they never wanted you. And why would you want to be with someone who wants nothing to do with you? It's pathetic," the First knelt and positioned it's artificial face inches away from Spikes, "I want you."
Spike closed his eyes, it's words hit too close to home, "You're wrong."
Morphy-Buffy laughed, then grabbed Spike by his hair and violently shook him, "You're reaching for the moon, babe."
Spike smiled the best he could then stared the imposter in the eyes, "She'll come for me."
"So you do magic, huh?" Kennedy started conversation.
"Uh, yeah, y'know here and there,: Willow was almost afraid, she was somewhat aware of Kennedy's intentions, or at least she thought she did. Could Willow have misunderstood Kennedy's remark about sleeping together? Maybe she was just being friendly, Willow thought.
"That's pretty cool, can you turn people into frogs, fly on brooms and stuff? You know? Like 'double, double toil and trouble'?"
Willow chuckled, "No. Well.maybe if I find the right spell."
Kennedy looked at Willow, who kept her eyes forward while she walked. She could tell Willow was hiding something, only time would tell.
"So what about you?" Willow interrupted Kennedy's thoughts.
Willow quickly turned her eyes back to the road when she saw Kennedy was staring at her. Kennedy did the same.
"Um, what about me, what?" she finally managed to get out.
Willow hesitated, "I mean, um, you don't sound British."
"Oh, yeah," Kennedy laughed, "Actually I'm from Tennessee, went to Rodchester to stay with my watcher." Kennedy fell silent.
Willow instantly felt horrible for asking the question, "I- I'm sorry."
Willow put on an artificial smile and shook her head, "Don't be, he went quick and painless. And he made sure I got out."
Willow nodded, "What about family?"
"Hate 'em, my dad ran off with the McDonalds drive through clerk, and my mom had a new boy toy for every night of the week, didn't even notice when I left."
At this point, Willow thought about literally sticking her foot in her mouth.
"Willow?" Kennedy whispered.
Willow was afraid to answer until she looked up at what Kennedy was looking at. Half a dozen, maybe more, Bringers, gathered around the entrance of the blackened Magic Box.
"Anya," Willow whispered, for what seemed like an eternity she felt paralyzed. She stared at the Bringers who seemed motionless, statued, like they were waiting for something. Before she could organize her thoughts, she felt a tug on her left elbow, hard enough to pull her behind a brick wall.
Kennedy held up her finger to her lips, trying not to frighten Willow even more.
Willow nodded.
Kennedy peeked around the corner, "What are they doing?"
"I don't know, but Anya's in there," Willow whispered, "We have to get in."
Kennedy slowly nodded, "Just hurry, ok?"
Willow looked at her with obvious confusion, "Wha-?"
Before Willow could finish, Kennedy sprinted to the middle of the street, "Hey! Assholes!"
They all completely turned their attention towards her.
Willow's eyes widened in fear, "Kennedy!" she whispered as loudly as she could, "What are you doing?!"
Kennedy ignored her, instead, picked up a few pebbles in the road and threw them at the eyeless soldiers, "Yeah, I'm talking to you."
Willow could see now that there were 7 Bringers in all, only because they began jogging towards Kennedy.
"Here we go." Kennedy mumbled to herself before she took off in the opposite direction.
Willow watched all 7 of them pass by the corner she was hiding behind, one by one, chasing, intending to kill Kennedy. But she had no time to process everything, as soon as the last one passed, she slowly walked along the wall, towards the Magic Box entrance. She looked back in time to see all of them disappear around the corner, Willow began running for the door. It didn't take much force to open it. Why were they waiting? The Magic Box looked deserted, although the blackened debris didn't help.
"Anya!" Willow called, "An-" "Willow?"
Willow ran towards Anya's voice, which lead her behind the counter.
Anya was huddled against the wall, with a large, dusted book sitting in her lap.
"Anya!" Willow knelt beside her, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, but I was starting to think the spell was wearing off. Took you long enough."
Willow ignored her comment, "You're hurt."
Anya glanced at her right shoulder, which had a tear in her shirt that revealed a deep cut, "I'm okay, now let's get out of here."
Willow stood, "Alright, Kennedy led them away, we should have enough time, got the powder?"
Anya nodded and held up a jar filled with a purplish sand.
"Do you thin they're alright?" Molly asked with her deep cockney accent.
Dawn was staring out the hole in the boarded window, "I don't know," She honestly replied.
"They've been gone an awfully long time."
"I know," Dawn simply said.
The room fell silent, both were afraid to be the first to break it.
Fatal thoughts couldn't help but force itself into Dawn's mind.
They're dead. They're being murdered right this second. I've got to do something.
Before Dawn could force them out, she spotted 3 people walking up the path to their door, "Molly!"
Molly's head swung around, she promptly stood up and looked out the window, "Oh, God."
"Get the weapons!" Dawn ordered, when she Molly hesitate, she continued, "Go!"
Molly ran to the tan chest and retrieved a crossbow and an ax. Dawn ran from lamp to lamp, turning them off, when she met with Molly in front of the door, she offered her the ax, Dawn took it and they both aimed their weapons at the front door.
They both stayed as still as possible. Molly could feel herself shaking but caught Dawn's reassuring glance.
After several seconds, they waited, expecting the door to be broken down and engaged in a battle. Instead, were greeted only by several knocks.
Neither one of them moved, paralyzed by fear and confusion.
When was the last time Evil knocked before attacking?
"Buffy? Buffy Summers?"
They heard the female voice ask in a heavy Russian accent.
Molly's wide eyes stared at the door, "Are they going to kill us?"
Dawn stood frozen for a moment, then answered, "I-I don't' think so." She slowly approached the door. Dawn took a deep breath and held it for several seconds then swung it open to reveal 3 girls who jumped at the sight of the ax being aimed at them.
Kennedy tried not to tempt herself to look back, it didn't take a genius to realize they were gaining on her. She had almost circled the entire block. Kennedy just hoped it was enough time for Willow and Anya to get a head start. As she rounded the corner she saw them both just exit the store, they didn't immediately notice her and the band of psychos training.
"Run! Go!" Kennedy yelled as loud as she could. Willow and Anya snapped their heads in Kennedy's direction, they hesitated and waited for her to near closer before they began fleeing.
"We have to get home, now!" Willow yelled.
"That's the direction we're going!" Anya quipped.
"A few axes should do it, it's gonna be a quick in and out, hopefully we won't get into any confrontations," Buffy informed Xander as they approached the Summer's porch. Bu as they opened the door, they weren't announced by the usual greeting.
Instead Dawn rounded out of the kitchen, "Willow?"
Buffy started uneasily, "No.Where IS Willow?" She asked, not sure if she was ready for the answer.
Dawn sighed, "She and Kennedy went out to find Anya."
Buffy's eyes widened, "What was Anya doing out there?!"
"Before Giles left, he told Willow to do a protection spell, Anya went out to get supplies, but she never came back."
"Oh God, Buffy," Xander exasperated.
Buffy's mind flooded with horrible thoughts, "I've got to go out and find them."
"So this is the infamous Buffy Summers? Wow, thought she'd be taller."
Buffy looked at Dawn.
"That's Rona, another potential."
"More potentials arrived?" Buffy questioned. Before Dawn had a chance to answer, three unfamiliar faces revealed themselves from the kitchen.
"I'm Rona," the Russian girl stated.
The young blonde beside her, who looked to be no more than 16, then introduced herself as Tessa.
Buffy stared at the last girl, a brunette who simply said, "Monica"
Buffy hesitated for several seconds, before Molly interrupted the silence, "And we located the last one, she's in an.Orange County?"
Buffy nodded, "Xander, do you think you could drive down there?"
"No problem, you got an address there, Molly?"
Molly handed him a thin files and pointed to a few lines which showed a street name and number.
"Okay," Xander clapped his hands together, "Be back in say 2 hours?"
Buffy nodded, "Be careful."
Xander exited just as Buffy started once more, "I'm going to find the others , DON'T leave the house." Dawn and Molly nodded in agreement while the newbies seemed unsure, even scared.
Willow's legs burned, even though she was now kneeling on the ground beside Kennedy and Anya. They all tried to control their breathing as not to draw attention, managing to hide, they were unsure for how long.
"Remind me why we're not high tailing it back to the house," Anya whispered, still breathing heavily.
Willow swallowed, trying to relieve the burning in her throat, "We can't lead them back to Dawn and Molly."
"Shh.." Kennedy's eyes searched the entrance to the alley in which they were hiding. All three fell silent as the footsteps grew closer.
Kennedy heard them pause at the beginning of the dumpster, knowing they would be discovered if they continued just a few feet more, she gripped her hands around the rim of an empty trashcan beside her. As soon as the footsteps began again, Kennedy stood as fast as she could and swung the trashcan around her body until it made contact with the intruder with a loud THWACK.
The cloaked Bringer fell to the ground with Kennedy standing over him. "Run!"
The three girls began heading toward the entrance when their view was blocked by 6 more cloaked figures.
"Oh, damn," Anya commented.
The wall of Bringers began to close in on them, forcing the girls to back peddle.
"This isn't good," Kennedy pointed out as they were almost cornered, unable to retreat any further.
The deadlies closed in, then began revealing glaring daggers of which Kennedy knew they'd be killed.
Ami Sentai, morad disten lashur te curssan corte.Ami Sentai, morad disten.
Kennedy turned to see Willow's arms collecting some kind of light, lashur te crussen corte. Within a blink of an eye, the lightning contained in Willow's hands raced along the walls, setting the alley way ablaze in a thunderclap.
The Bringers were forced back, but as hard as they fought, one by one, they flew into the sky then crashed into solid walls and car hoods. The lightning seemed to put itself in rewind as it returned itself to Willow, knocking the wind out of her and caused her to fall to her knees, with a painful cry.
"Willow!" Kennedy knelt beside her and when she was assured she was still alive, she continued, "that was amazing!"
Willow forced a smile, "Y'know, just a little hocus pocus."
"Oh my God," Buffy appeared at the end of the alley, "Are you guys okay?"
"We're alive, so I guess that's a yes," Anya informed.
Buffy jogged to the end of the road where Willow was just beginning to stand.
"Can we just go home now? I think I've had my daily dose of near death experiences," Anya sighed.
Buffy put her arm around Willow's waist as Kennedy did the same on her opposite side.
"Yeah, Dawn and Molly have been worried sick. On top of it all, more potentials came," Buffy explained.
"All at once?" Kennedy asked.
Buffy nodded, "Yeah, 3 of them, saved us some long trips, Xander went to Orange to get the last.
They continued slowly as they reached the street.
"Buffy?" Willow stopped, "There were 3?"
"Yeah, Rona, Tessa and some other girl, think her name was Monica."
"God, we need to get home now," Willow let go of Buffy and Kennedy and began to hobble, increasing her pace.
"Will! Whoa! Wait, why? What's wrong?" Buffy queried.
Willow turned around to face them, "there were three, Xander went to pick up Vi, that makes four, and Giles is on his way to the fifth."
Buffy stopped cold, her mind going into shutdown, not being able to believe she had been so naïve.
Kennedy shook her head, "What?"
Buffy was finally able to get out, "Giles said there were only four more."
Willow nodded, "Which means we have an extra."
"Oh, Damn," Anya stated.
"So where did you guys say you were from?" Dawn asked as she set several sodas on the counter in front of the three new girls.
"I'm from Canada, Alberta," Tessa answered as she opened one of them with a slight fizz.
"Mauchvitch, Russia," Rona added.
"Texas," Monica simply replied.
"Ah, okay, anyhow, let me know if you need anything," Dawn approached the couch which Molly was sifting through the left over files.
"Shouldn't Buffy be back by now?" Molly asked.
"I hope so."
Within seconds they were interrupted by a blood curdling scream from the kitchen, followed by another.
Dawn trailed Molly as they rushed to see two girls on the floor and a dozen "alphabet eyed" cloaked men standing over them with bloody knives in each hand.
A single girl stood by the sink, leaning against the counter with her arms crossed.
"Rona." Dawn faded.
"Only four to go." "Rona" whispered, eyeing Molly.
"Molly!" Dawn grasped Molly's shirt and pulled her into the living room, "Go! Get out of here!" Dawn slammed the door open, but as soon as she saw her lawn full of a dozen Bringers blocking their only exit, she immediately swung the door closed.
"What do we do now?" Molly asked with audible terror in her voice.
"You die," Rona stated as she laughed.
"Up the stairs, Go!" Dawn pushed Molly up and followed closely behind.
As soon as they reached the top of the case, they barricaded themselves in Buffy's room.
"Jesus," Molly shouted as she heard several thumps climbing the stairs.
"Well, it's still in one piece," Anya noticed as they neared the house.
"But for how long?" Willow quipped.
"Get ready for a fight guys," Buffy approached the door, "It's open."
The first sight visible to Buffy was several Bringers on the staircase, which were now facing her.
"It's here," Were the last words Buffy was able to utter before the mini army charged towards her.
As two tried to strike Buffy above, she was able to block them with her wrists as she kicked a third who was trying to rush her. After flipping the two who struck first, she immediately had to grasp a wooden staff, to keep it from colliding with her chest. Buffy then used the stick to force three Bringers to the ground.
"Will! Find Molly and Dawn! Do the Spell!" Buffy shouted.
Buffy barely had enough time to agree before she found herself forcing her way into the house followed closely behind by Anya and Kennedy.
Realizing the staircase was blocked by two Bringers, Willow instead headed to the living room where the weapons chest was located. After sifting through some of then, she gripped two, "Anya!" she called as she tossed an ax in her direction. Anya barely had a hand on it when she was forced to swing it around her body to bury itself in an oncoming enemy's stomach.
"Kennedy!" Kennedy spun around to see Willow launch a sword toward her. She grabbed a hold of the handle then charged at a Bringer who was focused on Buffy.
Willow gripped a crossbow of her own and approached the side of the staircase, looking up, "Buffy! I need to get up there!"
"So go up!" Buffy called, preoccupied with the ongoing battle, after realizing the entrance was blocked, she ordered, "Kennedy! Get her up there!"
Kennedy swung around to see two cult wannabes at the bottom of the stairs, so she stood beside Willow on the side. She put her weapon on the floor and linked her hands together then bent over, "Up you go."
At first, Willow was confused, then realized what Kennedy was doing. She put her hand against the wall for balance then put her foot in Kennedy's intertwined fingers. In one quick motion, Kennedy boosted her to the rail of the stairs, Willow grasped the top and began to lift herself over the side. This gained the attention of the guards at the base, they began to climb to attack Willow. Kennedy retrieved her sword and wedged it between the wooden railings, causing the Bringers to fall and temporarily slide downward before they regained their stamina. But it gave just enough time to Willow to reach Buffy's door, which was unmovable, "Dawn? Open the door!"
Dawn cautiously approached the opposite side, "Willow?"
"Yes! Yes, hurry open the door!" she heard.
Without a moment more of hesitation, Dawn swung the door open just as Willow rushed in and closed it behind her, "We have to do the spell, now! Molly, turn off the lights."
Molly quickly complied although the complete darkness made her more frantic with the ongoing situation.
Willow lit five candles centering her, crossed her legs and closed her eyes.
Molly stood as still as possible as Dawn looked on with fascination.
Ukani sel Amorie tossa morrelio anig cantes. Goddess protect us from the harbor of murderers, cleanse the circle of malevolence. Pateol das son Gelet e haeta.
The two witnessed a yellow-orangish ring being to circulate around Willow. As it started to grow thicker, Willow took a handful of purple sand from her pocket, with one swift motion, she scattered the sand on the candles, which fizzed the moment they reached the flames.
The fire circle immediately expanded, rushing through Molly and Dawn, then through the wall.
Buffy began to feel herself tiring , they kept coming, never giving her a chance to collect herself.
Then she saw it, a blazed circle, making it's way toward them with incredible speed. When it reached Anya, it passed through her as if she were intangible, but threw the Bring she was fighting through the wall and onto the lawn.
The same happened to the two Kennedy was occupied with, then to the ones Buffy herself had been fighting.
By the time the ring had passed through the entire house, it settled, just behind the sideswalk, then expanded into a redish globe around the house.
Buffy approached one of the holes in the wall, only to see their enemies had already evacuated the area, "They're gone."
Anya cheerfully chimed in, "They're destroyed?"
Buffy shook her head, "I don't think so, they're just... 'gone', probably went back to headquarters."
Within seconds they heard footsteps descending from the staircase, "Is everyone okay?" Willow asked as she assessed the damage.
Buffy nodded with a corner smile, "Thanks to you, Will."
"The two girls." Dawn interrupted, "They're in the kitchen." she finished quietly.
Buffy sighed, then approached the kitchen to find the two she had met, Monica and Tessa, motionless in a pool of their own blood, "God."
Kennedy broke in, "two down."
Then Molly, "We're next, aren't we?"
"No," Buffy started, "Not if I can help it. But we need more muscle and brains, nobody knows them better than-"
"Spike?" Willow questioned.
"Spike," Buffy affirmatively replied.
Spike could barely stand, yet he found himself making his way through the stone tunnels. His vision was blurred by his own blood that seeped into his eyes, but Spike knew he couldn't stop. He had to get away. After circling a few times, he finally came to an oval which was illuminated by the moon, he had reached the exit. Without hesitating, he began to climb, ignoring every pain that told him he couldn't go any further. The figurative eternity passed when his hand reached the dirt, he pulled himself up using every ounce of strength he never had before.
It grabbed his foot, "No!" Spike screamed, "You're not taking me back!"
Yet it pulled him, he resisted, trying to grasp the Earth with his fingers. But it was too strong, his fingernails broke from the force, but Spike still struggled, to keep himself form being dragged down. He kicked, trying to lose his assailant, but in doing so, he lost his grip on the clod of dirt. Spike fell back into the abyss, screaming the entire way down.
"Spike!" Buffy whispered, "wake up! Now!"
Spike opened his eyes, realizing he dreamt his near escape, only to be face to face with Buffy, "get away from me."
Buffy ignored him, "We have to get you out of here, now!"
Spike lowered his head, "You won't have me, I'm done with your mind games."
Buffy grabbed his chin and lifted his head until his eyes met hers, "Spike, listen to me. I'm going to get you out of here, but you have to help me."
Spike's eyes searched hers, looking for only a hint of manipulation, but her found none, "Buffy?"
Buffy retrieved a knife from her belt, then used it to saw away at the ropes that binded his wrists, "Put your arm around me."
He complied, she held him up with her strength, and he let her support him all the way to the surface, knowing now he didn't have to be strong anymore, that she would be strong for both of them, and he could finally rest.
Pt 2: "Potential" will be coming soon.
Distribution: It's fine, just please ask first.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, trademarks, ect. All belong to Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon.
Pairings: none really, just a little flirting
Rating: probably a strong PG-13 for language and violence.
Summary: This is just my interpretation of the upcoming episode "Showtime"; most of the events are completely fictional, although I did base the story on real Spoilers. So just a rundown, most of the occurrences don't happen, but some really do. You'll just have to figure it out for yourself (
Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer:
"So they're all slayers?" Dawn asked as she stared at the three girls in the living room. "Potentials," Giles answers.
"You wanna do the sleeping arrangements?" Willow asks with audible frustration in her voice. "Ok," Kennedy quickly answers before taking the blankets from Willow, "Just don't hog the covers," she says with a devilish smile.
"Guys!" Molly interrupts, "Annabelle split!"
Annabelle scurries down the alleyway before she is stopped by the Ubervamp, who inevitably kills her.
"I'm beyond tired, I'm beyond scared. I'm standing on the mouth of hell and it is going to swallow me whole, and it'll choke on me." Buffy states as a soft orchestra is heard in the backround, "We're not ready? THEY'RE not ready. They think we're gonna wait for the end to come, like we always do. I'm done waiting. They want an apocalypse? We'll give 'em one. Anyone else who wants to run, do it now. Cause we just became an army, we just declared war. From now on we won't just face our worst fears, we will seek them out. We will find them, and cut out their hearts one by one, until the First shows itself for what it really is. And I'll kill it myself. There is only one thing on this Earth more powerful than evil, and that's us. Any questions?"
"Showtime"
The silence continued before Molly slowly raised her hand, "What do we do first?" she asked as everyone exchanged glances around the table.
Buffy lowered her eyes, "We find the rest, before the First gets to them."
"I've already located one, in Shanghai. Her watcher disappeared, one can only assume." Giles trailed off.
"So she's the next target," Buffy started, "We get over there as soon as possible."
"Buffy," Giles hesitated, "It would be illogical for us all to depart for one potential when there are many more to be sought out."
Buffy nodded, "How many we talking here?"
Giles removed his glasses and set them on the table, "With 3-" he cut short, and corrected himself, "4 potential slayers already murdered, and the other two here.there should be 4 more, including the one in Shanghai, according to records."
"Okay, should we locate the other 3 before we.y'know, collect 'em?" Willow questioned.
Buffy shook her head, "Not nearly enough time, if this girl's watcher's already dead-"
"Then I'll go," Giles interrupted. All their heads swung to face him, "I'll go to Shanghai, and hopefully with my return, you'll have already found the others."
"Sounds like a plan, Willow, Anya, Dawn, take the potential guys and go through the rest of the Counsel's files, see if you can pin point any of them. Xander, you and I are going to Willy's, if Spike's still alive, we need to find him."
Xander nodded and exited the kitchen only to return a minute later with two jackets in hand, offering one to Buffy.
Before taking it, she turned to face Giles, "Be back soon? And in one piece?"
Giles gave a reassuring smile, "Promise."
"Good," Buffy returned his smile.
"Buffy," Willow called, "Be careful, you haven't completely healed.you might-"
"I'll be okay, Will. I have big strong Xander to protect me," Buffy sarcastically added.
In spite of her tone, Xander stood straight and puffed his chest out, "Don't worry, runt squad, Buffy and I will return."
Kennedy lowered her brow as Molly smiled.
As Buffy and Xander walked, Willow was able to hear the last of their conversation:
"Runt squad?" Buffy pushed.
"What?" Xander defensively asked, "Do you think they'd prefer 'Buffy mini- me's?' "
Then they all heard the door close, wondering if Buffy and Xander would return.
Several awkward seconds passed before Giles broke the silence, "I'm off to the airport. Be aware, the First may be targeting Shanghai, but there's no telling where they'll attack first. Kennedy, Molly, stay inside and stay close."
Kennedy and Molly both nodded.
"And Willow, to up the security, maybe a little protection spell would be in order?"
"Oh! No! No, no. I can't, too much, no magic," She babbled.
Anya interrupted, "It's true, the last locator spell was completely blown to hell. Willow went all wonky and glowy, not to mention scary."
Giles turned to Willow, "Dear God, Willow. All the days, you have to learn- "
"I know, and I didn't, it just," Willow cut off.
"It was the First," Dawn explained.
Anya nodded, "That too."
Giles expression changed to one of concern and pity, "You were inhabited by the First?"
Willow's eyes kept to the floor, desperately trying to avoid eye contact."
Giles approached her, then leaned on the table in front of her, "What one cannot control, is what inspires the greatest of fears. Coming back.being strong enough to understand that with all the power you hold, there are still things that are out of your hands is the strongest kind of power."
Willow lifted her eyes with a look of confusion.
Giles paused, "What I'm saying is you're afraid to use magics again, not because you might be corrupted, but because of the consequences afterwards. You cannot live your life in fear, when there's something you can do about it," Giles nodded towards Kennedy and Molly, "And by doing everything in your power to protect these girls is another step in learning how to control yourself."
Willow began to smile, but tried to hold it back, not wanting to be obvious.
Kennedy raised one brow and turned towards Molly, "He's always so cryptic, I never know what he's saying, how is it that she knows? Did I miss the class?"
Anya leaned in, "Don't feel bad, I don't think anybody really knows what he's saying. We just smile and nod, otherwise he'll keep talking."
Giles leaned forward with a smile and squeezed Willow's hand in his own, "And let's pretend we don't hear the disturbing conversation behind us and say our goodbyes, shall we?"
Willow couldn't help but laugh and stood to embrace Giles in a long hug.
"So what's the plan again?" Xander asked as they approached the entrance to Willy's.
"We beat any information out of anybody we find," Buffy stated casually as she started forward.
Xander sprinted forward to catch up with her, "What kind of plan is that? That's not a plan, that's a death wish!"
"Xander out of the past 6 and a half years you've known me, how many times have I gotten you killed?"
Xander thought for a moment, "That's not a fair question, you've died twice, and that's enough for the both of-" Xander quieted when he realized that two dozen vampire and demon eyes rested on him and Buffy, "Buffy? Are you sure you're rested enough?"
"I'm sure," Buffy didn't hesitate, "And I think we'll start with him."
Buffy strolled across the floor, keeping her eyes focused on a vampire who singled himself out by not turning his attention to her like everyone else had. Xander followed closely behind, even stepping on her heels.
"Xander!" Buffy exasperated, "We're trying to be somewhat stealthy here."
"Sorry! Sorry. They just keep staring at me, like they're gonna eat me.Well not 'like' because they probably will. Hey!" Xander saw Buffy sprint out the side door, hurdling tables in the process, also noticing the suspicious vampire was gone.
"Xander! He's getting away! Head him off!" Buffy called.
"Right!" He hesitated and ran back the way they came, as soon as he set foot outside, he was immediately knocked to the ground with a sickening crack that had been his head hitting the pavement.
"Good job Xander, we got him."
It took several seconds to realize the thing that had run into him was the vampire they were chasing.
"Now let's see what he has to say," Buffy lifted the vamp off Xander and found Xander slow to get up, "Are you alright?"
Xander nodded, "just a little bump."
But Buffy could easily see it was no bump, but a cut an inch and a half long on the left side of Xander's forehead, caused by the ground, "Xander, you're bleeding."
He touched his forehead and saw the blood on his hand, "I'm fine, really. Now let's just beat him so we can get out of this alley.it smells."
Buffy nodded and redirected her attention to the male vampire, who's hair was standing erect and taste in clothes resembled the 70's, "You heard him, telling us what you know about the First, and where it's got Spike."
The vampire didn't blink, instead he tested Buffy, "Spike who?"
Buffy's brow lowered, revealing she was more than angry. She twisted him around, grasping his hair and threw his face into the brick wall.
It took only a few seconds for the vampire to regain his composure, "I'm not saying anything Slayer," The vamp was able to say once he escaped his daze.
Xander threw his hands into the air, "What do we do now?"
Buffy thought for a moment, "We keep at it if we have to bash his head a million times, until he talks."
"K, got the 'Toad Lips'.is that all we need?" Dawn asked as she handed Willow a jar of mostly fluids with debris floating in it.
"Well, as soon as Anya gets the Manta powder.we'll be set," Willow replied.
"Are you sure we should do this inside the house? What if it explodes?"
Willow stopped for a second, "We'll just have to hope that doesn't happen," she stated in an upbeat manner.
Willow turned her attention to Kennedy and Molly sitting on the couch in the living room, "How you guys coming in there? Anything useful?"
"Think so," Kennedy called back, Molly picked up a piece of paper set aside on the table and handed it to Kennedy, "Some girl name.Vi. Like the letter, it says she was last resided in Orange County."
Willow sighed, "K, still two more to go."
"Anya's been gone awhile.shouldn't we be worried?" Dawn issued.
Willow debated her conscious, saying Anya was fine, and would be returning from the Magic Shop any second. Yet the other half screamed Anya was in trouble and needed help.
She arose from the table and went to the boarded up window the peek through a small opening. Willow saw nothing, not Anya approaching the house, not Bringers ready to kill, not even a leaf blowing across the street.
"I'm going to look for her, keep the doors locked and keep a lookout," Willow retrieved her jacket that was sitting on one of the chairs in the kitchen, "Don't forget to feed Andrew in the basement."
Dawn started forward, trying to step in between Willow and the front door, "You can't go out there, not alone. I'm going with you."
"Dawnie, I'll be quick, I promise but I need you to stay here, for when Buffy and Xander come back."
"No, no no. We've seen personally, what this Evil can do, it's too dangerous," Dawn stood her ground, determined not to let Willow pass.
Willow was at a loss of words, what else could she say? She knew the reason she wanted Dawn to stay wasn't because Willow needed her to wait. It was because she knew she might not be coming back.
"She's right," Kennedy stood, "You can't go at it alone. I'M going with you."
Willow and Dawn swung their heads towards her, and said in unison, "No."
"What? Anya's gone and you want to go by yourself? That's insane. Now let's go."
Before Willow could object again, Kennedy was out the front door and halfway across the lawn. Willow immediately caught up, "You can't go. Hello? Remember? YOU'RE the one who the First wants to kill."
Kennedy didn't utter a word, instead, kept her eyes forward and continued to walk.
Willow continued, even getting enraged by her silence, "You're the one that's insane! The First didn't manifest itself and have it's cult wannabes kill all those people for ME, it did it for you! Now you wanna go waltzing down the street practically wearing a bullseye on your forehead? You're insane, you know that? You're crazy, more than crazy, you-"
"Then why haven't you stopped me already?" Kennedy interrupted.
That question caught Willow off guard, mainly because she knew she hasn't physically done anything to stop Kennedy. Even thinking she WANTED her to come along, if not for safety in numbers.
"I will, I mean, I am.right now," Willow couldn't kid anybody, let alone herself anymore, "Alright, let's go," She said in defeat.
" 'Where the trees bend, the shadows will point the way'.That sounds a little bit, I dunno, vague?" Xander questioned, "I mean, there must be a million trees in Sunnydale, are we gonna follow each and every one's shadow?"
"It's the Christmas trees, where I first met the First, and where I saw the Ubervamp. I wasn't able to explore the entire cave, the vamp said Spike was in there, so that's where we'll go," Buffy commanded.
"We could use back up, maybe a few more thousand people, we can't just bust in there to rescue Spike, they'll tear us to pieces."
"K, we'll come back at sunrise, bring a towel," Buffy glanced at her watch, "which should be in about an hour.
"Y'know, I never liked you, you're always in the way, and you never listen," The First taunted Spike in the form of Buffy, "I prefer my pet," morphy-Buffy nodded her head toward the Ubervamp, "they do what you say, and never go all noble."
Spike tilted his head away from the First, but inevitably caused him pain. He could barely move without his sores enflaming, his face now almost completely covered in his own blood. But he couldn't stand the sight of this thing impersonating the one person he trusted and loved, it made him sick.
"You know Spike, they never wanted you. And why would you want to be with someone who wants nothing to do with you? It's pathetic," the First knelt and positioned it's artificial face inches away from Spikes, "I want you."
Spike closed his eyes, it's words hit too close to home, "You're wrong."
Morphy-Buffy laughed, then grabbed Spike by his hair and violently shook him, "You're reaching for the moon, babe."
Spike smiled the best he could then stared the imposter in the eyes, "She'll come for me."
"So you do magic, huh?" Kennedy started conversation.
"Uh, yeah, y'know here and there,: Willow was almost afraid, she was somewhat aware of Kennedy's intentions, or at least she thought she did. Could Willow have misunderstood Kennedy's remark about sleeping together? Maybe she was just being friendly, Willow thought.
"That's pretty cool, can you turn people into frogs, fly on brooms and stuff? You know? Like 'double, double toil and trouble'?"
Willow chuckled, "No. Well.maybe if I find the right spell."
Kennedy looked at Willow, who kept her eyes forward while she walked. She could tell Willow was hiding something, only time would tell.
"So what about you?" Willow interrupted Kennedy's thoughts.
Willow quickly turned her eyes back to the road when she saw Kennedy was staring at her. Kennedy did the same.
"Um, what about me, what?" she finally managed to get out.
Willow hesitated, "I mean, um, you don't sound British."
"Oh, yeah," Kennedy laughed, "Actually I'm from Tennessee, went to Rodchester to stay with my watcher." Kennedy fell silent.
Willow instantly felt horrible for asking the question, "I- I'm sorry."
Willow put on an artificial smile and shook her head, "Don't be, he went quick and painless. And he made sure I got out."
Willow nodded, "What about family?"
"Hate 'em, my dad ran off with the McDonalds drive through clerk, and my mom had a new boy toy for every night of the week, didn't even notice when I left."
At this point, Willow thought about literally sticking her foot in her mouth.
"Willow?" Kennedy whispered.
Willow was afraid to answer until she looked up at what Kennedy was looking at. Half a dozen, maybe more, Bringers, gathered around the entrance of the blackened Magic Box.
"Anya," Willow whispered, for what seemed like an eternity she felt paralyzed. She stared at the Bringers who seemed motionless, statued, like they were waiting for something. Before she could organize her thoughts, she felt a tug on her left elbow, hard enough to pull her behind a brick wall.
Kennedy held up her finger to her lips, trying not to frighten Willow even more.
Willow nodded.
Kennedy peeked around the corner, "What are they doing?"
"I don't know, but Anya's in there," Willow whispered, "We have to get in."
Kennedy slowly nodded, "Just hurry, ok?"
Willow looked at her with obvious confusion, "Wha-?"
Before Willow could finish, Kennedy sprinted to the middle of the street, "Hey! Assholes!"
They all completely turned their attention towards her.
Willow's eyes widened in fear, "Kennedy!" she whispered as loudly as she could, "What are you doing?!"
Kennedy ignored her, instead, picked up a few pebbles in the road and threw them at the eyeless soldiers, "Yeah, I'm talking to you."
Willow could see now that there were 7 Bringers in all, only because they began jogging towards Kennedy.
"Here we go." Kennedy mumbled to herself before she took off in the opposite direction.
Willow watched all 7 of them pass by the corner she was hiding behind, one by one, chasing, intending to kill Kennedy. But she had no time to process everything, as soon as the last one passed, she slowly walked along the wall, towards the Magic Box entrance. She looked back in time to see all of them disappear around the corner, Willow began running for the door. It didn't take much force to open it. Why were they waiting? The Magic Box looked deserted, although the blackened debris didn't help.
"Anya!" Willow called, "An-" "Willow?"
Willow ran towards Anya's voice, which lead her behind the counter.
Anya was huddled against the wall, with a large, dusted book sitting in her lap.
"Anya!" Willow knelt beside her, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, but I was starting to think the spell was wearing off. Took you long enough."
Willow ignored her comment, "You're hurt."
Anya glanced at her right shoulder, which had a tear in her shirt that revealed a deep cut, "I'm okay, now let's get out of here."
Willow stood, "Alright, Kennedy led them away, we should have enough time, got the powder?"
Anya nodded and held up a jar filled with a purplish sand.
"Do you thin they're alright?" Molly asked with her deep cockney accent.
Dawn was staring out the hole in the boarded window, "I don't know," She honestly replied.
"They've been gone an awfully long time."
"I know," Dawn simply said.
The room fell silent, both were afraid to be the first to break it.
Fatal thoughts couldn't help but force itself into Dawn's mind.
They're dead. They're being murdered right this second. I've got to do something.
Before Dawn could force them out, she spotted 3 people walking up the path to their door, "Molly!"
Molly's head swung around, she promptly stood up and looked out the window, "Oh, God."
"Get the weapons!" Dawn ordered, when she Molly hesitate, she continued, "Go!"
Molly ran to the tan chest and retrieved a crossbow and an ax. Dawn ran from lamp to lamp, turning them off, when she met with Molly in front of the door, she offered her the ax, Dawn took it and they both aimed their weapons at the front door.
They both stayed as still as possible. Molly could feel herself shaking but caught Dawn's reassuring glance.
After several seconds, they waited, expecting the door to be broken down and engaged in a battle. Instead, were greeted only by several knocks.
Neither one of them moved, paralyzed by fear and confusion.
When was the last time Evil knocked before attacking?
"Buffy? Buffy Summers?"
They heard the female voice ask in a heavy Russian accent.
Molly's wide eyes stared at the door, "Are they going to kill us?"
Dawn stood frozen for a moment, then answered, "I-I don't' think so." She slowly approached the door. Dawn took a deep breath and held it for several seconds then swung it open to reveal 3 girls who jumped at the sight of the ax being aimed at them.
Kennedy tried not to tempt herself to look back, it didn't take a genius to realize they were gaining on her. She had almost circled the entire block. Kennedy just hoped it was enough time for Willow and Anya to get a head start. As she rounded the corner she saw them both just exit the store, they didn't immediately notice her and the band of psychos training.
"Run! Go!" Kennedy yelled as loud as she could. Willow and Anya snapped their heads in Kennedy's direction, they hesitated and waited for her to near closer before they began fleeing.
"We have to get home, now!" Willow yelled.
"That's the direction we're going!" Anya quipped.
"A few axes should do it, it's gonna be a quick in and out, hopefully we won't get into any confrontations," Buffy informed Xander as they approached the Summer's porch. Bu as they opened the door, they weren't announced by the usual greeting.
Instead Dawn rounded out of the kitchen, "Willow?"
Buffy started uneasily, "No.Where IS Willow?" She asked, not sure if she was ready for the answer.
Dawn sighed, "She and Kennedy went out to find Anya."
Buffy's eyes widened, "What was Anya doing out there?!"
"Before Giles left, he told Willow to do a protection spell, Anya went out to get supplies, but she never came back."
"Oh God, Buffy," Xander exasperated.
Buffy's mind flooded with horrible thoughts, "I've got to go out and find them."
"So this is the infamous Buffy Summers? Wow, thought she'd be taller."
Buffy looked at Dawn.
"That's Rona, another potential."
"More potentials arrived?" Buffy questioned. Before Dawn had a chance to answer, three unfamiliar faces revealed themselves from the kitchen.
"I'm Rona," the Russian girl stated.
The young blonde beside her, who looked to be no more than 16, then introduced herself as Tessa.
Buffy stared at the last girl, a brunette who simply said, "Monica"
Buffy hesitated for several seconds, before Molly interrupted the silence, "And we located the last one, she's in an.Orange County?"
Buffy nodded, "Xander, do you think you could drive down there?"
"No problem, you got an address there, Molly?"
Molly handed him a thin files and pointed to a few lines which showed a street name and number.
"Okay," Xander clapped his hands together, "Be back in say 2 hours?"
Buffy nodded, "Be careful."
Xander exited just as Buffy started once more, "I'm going to find the others , DON'T leave the house." Dawn and Molly nodded in agreement while the newbies seemed unsure, even scared.
Willow's legs burned, even though she was now kneeling on the ground beside Kennedy and Anya. They all tried to control their breathing as not to draw attention, managing to hide, they were unsure for how long.
"Remind me why we're not high tailing it back to the house," Anya whispered, still breathing heavily.
Willow swallowed, trying to relieve the burning in her throat, "We can't lead them back to Dawn and Molly."
"Shh.." Kennedy's eyes searched the entrance to the alley in which they were hiding. All three fell silent as the footsteps grew closer.
Kennedy heard them pause at the beginning of the dumpster, knowing they would be discovered if they continued just a few feet more, she gripped her hands around the rim of an empty trashcan beside her. As soon as the footsteps began again, Kennedy stood as fast as she could and swung the trashcan around her body until it made contact with the intruder with a loud THWACK.
The cloaked Bringer fell to the ground with Kennedy standing over him. "Run!"
The three girls began heading toward the entrance when their view was blocked by 6 more cloaked figures.
"Oh, damn," Anya commented.
The wall of Bringers began to close in on them, forcing the girls to back peddle.
"This isn't good," Kennedy pointed out as they were almost cornered, unable to retreat any further.
The deadlies closed in, then began revealing glaring daggers of which Kennedy knew they'd be killed.
Ami Sentai, morad disten lashur te curssan corte.Ami Sentai, morad disten.
Kennedy turned to see Willow's arms collecting some kind of light, lashur te crussen corte. Within a blink of an eye, the lightning contained in Willow's hands raced along the walls, setting the alley way ablaze in a thunderclap.
The Bringers were forced back, but as hard as they fought, one by one, they flew into the sky then crashed into solid walls and car hoods. The lightning seemed to put itself in rewind as it returned itself to Willow, knocking the wind out of her and caused her to fall to her knees, with a painful cry.
"Willow!" Kennedy knelt beside her and when she was assured she was still alive, she continued, "that was amazing!"
Willow forced a smile, "Y'know, just a little hocus pocus."
"Oh my God," Buffy appeared at the end of the alley, "Are you guys okay?"
"We're alive, so I guess that's a yes," Anya informed.
Buffy jogged to the end of the road where Willow was just beginning to stand.
"Can we just go home now? I think I've had my daily dose of near death experiences," Anya sighed.
Buffy put her arm around Willow's waist as Kennedy did the same on her opposite side.
"Yeah, Dawn and Molly have been worried sick. On top of it all, more potentials came," Buffy explained.
"All at once?" Kennedy asked.
Buffy nodded, "Yeah, 3 of them, saved us some long trips, Xander went to Orange to get the last.
They continued slowly as they reached the street.
"Buffy?" Willow stopped, "There were 3?"
"Yeah, Rona, Tessa and some other girl, think her name was Monica."
"God, we need to get home now," Willow let go of Buffy and Kennedy and began to hobble, increasing her pace.
"Will! Whoa! Wait, why? What's wrong?" Buffy queried.
Willow turned around to face them, "there were three, Xander went to pick up Vi, that makes four, and Giles is on his way to the fifth."
Buffy stopped cold, her mind going into shutdown, not being able to believe she had been so naïve.
Kennedy shook her head, "What?"
Buffy was finally able to get out, "Giles said there were only four more."
Willow nodded, "Which means we have an extra."
"Oh, Damn," Anya stated.
"So where did you guys say you were from?" Dawn asked as she set several sodas on the counter in front of the three new girls.
"I'm from Canada, Alberta," Tessa answered as she opened one of them with a slight fizz.
"Mauchvitch, Russia," Rona added.
"Texas," Monica simply replied.
"Ah, okay, anyhow, let me know if you need anything," Dawn approached the couch which Molly was sifting through the left over files.
"Shouldn't Buffy be back by now?" Molly asked.
"I hope so."
Within seconds they were interrupted by a blood curdling scream from the kitchen, followed by another.
Dawn trailed Molly as they rushed to see two girls on the floor and a dozen "alphabet eyed" cloaked men standing over them with bloody knives in each hand.
A single girl stood by the sink, leaning against the counter with her arms crossed.
"Rona." Dawn faded.
"Only four to go." "Rona" whispered, eyeing Molly.
"Molly!" Dawn grasped Molly's shirt and pulled her into the living room, "Go! Get out of here!" Dawn slammed the door open, but as soon as she saw her lawn full of a dozen Bringers blocking their only exit, she immediately swung the door closed.
"What do we do now?" Molly asked with audible terror in her voice.
"You die," Rona stated as she laughed.
"Up the stairs, Go!" Dawn pushed Molly up and followed closely behind.
As soon as they reached the top of the case, they barricaded themselves in Buffy's room.
"Jesus," Molly shouted as she heard several thumps climbing the stairs.
"Well, it's still in one piece," Anya noticed as they neared the house.
"But for how long?" Willow quipped.
"Get ready for a fight guys," Buffy approached the door, "It's open."
The first sight visible to Buffy was several Bringers on the staircase, which were now facing her.
"It's here," Were the last words Buffy was able to utter before the mini army charged towards her.
As two tried to strike Buffy above, she was able to block them with her wrists as she kicked a third who was trying to rush her. After flipping the two who struck first, she immediately had to grasp a wooden staff, to keep it from colliding with her chest. Buffy then used the stick to force three Bringers to the ground.
"Will! Find Molly and Dawn! Do the Spell!" Buffy shouted.
Buffy barely had enough time to agree before she found herself forcing her way into the house followed closely behind by Anya and Kennedy.
Realizing the staircase was blocked by two Bringers, Willow instead headed to the living room where the weapons chest was located. After sifting through some of then, she gripped two, "Anya!" she called as she tossed an ax in her direction. Anya barely had a hand on it when she was forced to swing it around her body to bury itself in an oncoming enemy's stomach.
"Kennedy!" Kennedy spun around to see Willow launch a sword toward her. She grabbed a hold of the handle then charged at a Bringer who was focused on Buffy.
Willow gripped a crossbow of her own and approached the side of the staircase, looking up, "Buffy! I need to get up there!"
"So go up!" Buffy called, preoccupied with the ongoing battle, after realizing the entrance was blocked, she ordered, "Kennedy! Get her up there!"
Kennedy swung around to see two cult wannabes at the bottom of the stairs, so she stood beside Willow on the side. She put her weapon on the floor and linked her hands together then bent over, "Up you go."
At first, Willow was confused, then realized what Kennedy was doing. She put her hand against the wall for balance then put her foot in Kennedy's intertwined fingers. In one quick motion, Kennedy boosted her to the rail of the stairs, Willow grasped the top and began to lift herself over the side. This gained the attention of the guards at the base, they began to climb to attack Willow. Kennedy retrieved her sword and wedged it between the wooden railings, causing the Bringers to fall and temporarily slide downward before they regained their stamina. But it gave just enough time to Willow to reach Buffy's door, which was unmovable, "Dawn? Open the door!"
Dawn cautiously approached the opposite side, "Willow?"
"Yes! Yes, hurry open the door!" she heard.
Without a moment more of hesitation, Dawn swung the door open just as Willow rushed in and closed it behind her, "We have to do the spell, now! Molly, turn off the lights."
Molly quickly complied although the complete darkness made her more frantic with the ongoing situation.
Willow lit five candles centering her, crossed her legs and closed her eyes.
Molly stood as still as possible as Dawn looked on with fascination.
Ukani sel Amorie tossa morrelio anig cantes. Goddess protect us from the harbor of murderers, cleanse the circle of malevolence. Pateol das son Gelet e haeta.
The two witnessed a yellow-orangish ring being to circulate around Willow. As it started to grow thicker, Willow took a handful of purple sand from her pocket, with one swift motion, she scattered the sand on the candles, which fizzed the moment they reached the flames.
The fire circle immediately expanded, rushing through Molly and Dawn, then through the wall.
Buffy began to feel herself tiring , they kept coming, never giving her a chance to collect herself.
Then she saw it, a blazed circle, making it's way toward them with incredible speed. When it reached Anya, it passed through her as if she were intangible, but threw the Bring she was fighting through the wall and onto the lawn.
The same happened to the two Kennedy was occupied with, then to the ones Buffy herself had been fighting.
By the time the ring had passed through the entire house, it settled, just behind the sideswalk, then expanded into a redish globe around the house.
Buffy approached one of the holes in the wall, only to see their enemies had already evacuated the area, "They're gone."
Anya cheerfully chimed in, "They're destroyed?"
Buffy shook her head, "I don't think so, they're just... 'gone', probably went back to headquarters."
Within seconds they heard footsteps descending from the staircase, "Is everyone okay?" Willow asked as she assessed the damage.
Buffy nodded with a corner smile, "Thanks to you, Will."
"The two girls." Dawn interrupted, "They're in the kitchen." she finished quietly.
Buffy sighed, then approached the kitchen to find the two she had met, Monica and Tessa, motionless in a pool of their own blood, "God."
Kennedy broke in, "two down."
Then Molly, "We're next, aren't we?"
"No," Buffy started, "Not if I can help it. But we need more muscle and brains, nobody knows them better than-"
"Spike?" Willow questioned.
"Spike," Buffy affirmatively replied.
Spike could barely stand, yet he found himself making his way through the stone tunnels. His vision was blurred by his own blood that seeped into his eyes, but Spike knew he couldn't stop. He had to get away. After circling a few times, he finally came to an oval which was illuminated by the moon, he had reached the exit. Without hesitating, he began to climb, ignoring every pain that told him he couldn't go any further. The figurative eternity passed when his hand reached the dirt, he pulled himself up using every ounce of strength he never had before.
It grabbed his foot, "No!" Spike screamed, "You're not taking me back!"
Yet it pulled him, he resisted, trying to grasp the Earth with his fingers. But it was too strong, his fingernails broke from the force, but Spike still struggled, to keep himself form being dragged down. He kicked, trying to lose his assailant, but in doing so, he lost his grip on the clod of dirt. Spike fell back into the abyss, screaming the entire way down.
"Spike!" Buffy whispered, "wake up! Now!"
Spike opened his eyes, realizing he dreamt his near escape, only to be face to face with Buffy, "get away from me."
Buffy ignored him, "We have to get you out of here, now!"
Spike lowered his head, "You won't have me, I'm done with your mind games."
Buffy grabbed his chin and lifted his head until his eyes met hers, "Spike, listen to me. I'm going to get you out of here, but you have to help me."
Spike's eyes searched hers, looking for only a hint of manipulation, but her found none, "Buffy?"
Buffy retrieved a knife from her belt, then used it to saw away at the ropes that binded his wrists, "Put your arm around me."
He complied, she held him up with her strength, and he let her support him all the way to the surface, knowing now he didn't have to be strong anymore, that she would be strong for both of them, and he could finally rest.
Pt 2: "Potential" will be coming soon.