The Guide-Prologue

Title: The Guide

Author: JennK (known as JAK on BA Fluff)

Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Joss Whedon and Co, except for Cathy, she's mine. Please ask before you borrow her, or my words.

An#1: This story was a very massive undertaking, more so than I expected when it began. I previously posted the prologue and the first ten parts of this story on BA fluff. I have decided to start posting here now that both BTVS and Angel are over, hoping to reach a greater, or at least different ;), audience.

An#2: To make sure that this is entirely clear, I'll repeat it even though it will also be explained in the next part- the story is set in the summer following season four but Cathy has seen up to the end of season five. Therefore she has knowledge of their next year as it went previously without ger involvement.

Description: attack of the Mary Sue armed with video tapes of seasons one-five of BTVS and seasons one and two of Angel- need I say more? Well, actually she isn't entirely a Mary Sue, there a little of me mixed in there as well. It isn't really a crossover fic, although an element of ST:TNG will be involved.

Rating: Same rating on the show, not too big on the smut though.

Thanks: to my good friend and partner in watching BTVS and Angel, SCWLC. Your ideas, editing assistance and suggestions have been invaluable. Even though you let me do all the hard work of actually writing the story ;).

Feedback: yes, please, please, please! I'd really like to know what people think of the story. Please be kind though, it's my first fic. Direct it to: jennkarlinskyyahoo.ca.

Pairings: B/R, B/A (it WILL be B/A promise), W/T, X/Anya

Legend: /../= thoughts, ..= verbal emphasis

Prophecy: The device shall be brought forth by the agents of darkness. This, in the time when the Chosen One knows the love of the Warrior, the demon with a soul and walks with those of darkness turned to the light. Beware of the Stone of Gol forged by those of Vulcan. A guide shall come, the all seeing fanatic who knows more yet less and is not from this world. With the involvement of all those who have walked with the Slayer and still keep her cause, including the Warrior and those who walk with him in the place of Angels. The fondest desires of the guide must be acted upon. This is as it must be or the world shall end.

Sunnydale, California- Buffyverse

Buffy Anne Summers sighed, bored. It was almost the end of summer vacation, and the Hellmouth had been eerily quiet ever since the gang had combined forces to destroy Adam. She hadn't even encountered very many vampires. She was getting restless and feeling seriously in need of kicking some demon butt. A month ago, Giles had done a serious research session, worried that this quiet spell was leading up to something big - it's usually a bad sign when the forces of darkness lay low. He'd found nothing, though.

Buffy turned off the TV, giving up on being able to enjoy a quiet evening. She was way too antsy and it was still light out, too early to go patrolling. She could give Riley a call and see if he wanted to work out, but lately she'd just been getting more and more confused where he was concerned. She needed some time to figure out how to make it work. He was a great guy and totally devoted to her, but he was just not 'clicking' anymore. It's not that she wanted to

break up with him - she loved him, really, and she owed it to Angel to make it work with a normal guy. It was why he left, after all. /Angel/.She so did not want to go there, it was still way too painful even a year after he left.

Buffy couldn't believe that she had even thought about breaking up with Riley. She loved him, absolutely, and she really didn't feel like facing the forces of evil without having someone to hold at night. Once again, Angel came to mind and she got up. That's it, she needed to find something to do now. She decided that she'd head over to Giles' place and see if they could have another Slayer training session. At the very least she could work out on her own.

New York, New York- our Universe

Cathy did a quick inventory of her half of the dorm room. Her first year of University had gone great, but they put her with the most obnoxious roommate imaginable, who kept a totally different schedule from hers. Thank goodness, Melissa was able to find a decent place near campus for them to share, at a reasonable price. /Good/, she thought to herself, only her Buffy tapes remained. An avid fan of the show, she'd taped all the episodes after "Angel" and owned the commercial tape of the first episode as well. Naturally, she'd also taped Angel once the spinoff had started.

As she neatly packed her tapes up in a box, Cathy once again imagined that she was face to face with Buffy and her gang, including Angel. She'd love to give all of them a piece of her mind, especially Xander and Willow. She knows that they don't really mean Buffy any harm, they do like her after all, but they just don't get it so they make things harder on her unwittingly. She'd sure love to be able to knock some sense into them! Also, she added, as she taped the box

closed, she'd like to get rid of Riley. Not that she didn't like him, but he is totally not right for Buffy. /Buffy and Angel so should be together. It's wrong for them to have to stay apart. Angel's work in LA is important, but it should be done in a way that allows them to be together. Also,/ she continued, as she closed the door behind her and headed down the hall, /Faith has had it rough and therefore deserves help and sympathy rather then anger and mistrust. The difficult part there is her torture of Wesley - that's going to be hard to get past. With Angel, at least, he wasn't in control of what he was doing. Faith did not have the excuse of being without a soul. That's harder to accept and let go, let alone forgive./

Suddenly, Cathy felt a blast of warm air and saw a mass of swirling lights. Before she could even scream, she felt herself lifted off her feet and pulled into the air. Then everything went black.

Sunnydale, California- Buffyverse

Willow glanced around her, quietly keeping an eye out for any sign of demonic activity. She knew Giles and Buffy were worried about how quiet it had been this summer, ever since they killed Adam and stopped Professor Walsh's evil experiments on demons. Their anxiety

was beginning to be infectious, and Willow had decided that rather then spend a quiet evening with Tara, she would do some more research of her own in Giles' books. As always, Willow smiled when she thought of Tara, her girl. She'd never expected to fall in love with a woman,

but it had all been so incredible that she wouldn't question her good fortune. It was wonderful being able to do magic with her- they had both learned so much. It was truly remarkable, what they could do together. She'd learned to focus her abilities so much more then she ever thought possible.

Suddenly, Willow felt a tingly sensation which told her magic was at use. Before she could search for the source, it appeared right in front of her, in the middle of the sidewalk, not far from Giles' house. A portal appeared and a girl came through and fell to the ground. She was short, about 5'3" and chubby with dark brown hair and brown eyes. The box she was carrying fell too. As Willow stepped forward to check and see if she was okay, she noticed that the box was

labeled Buffy tapes'. /Huh? Maybe these are supposed to be given to Buffy. But why would a stranger bring tapes for Buffy?/ Willow checked to make sure that the girl was still breathing and had a pulse, then she looked around furtively to make sure that the street was still deserted. /I'd better bring her and the tapes to Giles/, Willow decided. They'd take her to the hospital soon if she remained unconscious.

Willow pulled out her cell phone, a recent birthday gift from her parents, and dialed Giles' house.

Giles answered after a few rings. "Hello?"

"Hi, Giles." Willow replied. "There's something you need to see."

"Willow." Giles responded. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just come please- and bring your car."

"Okay- Buffy's with me. Should she come, too?"

"Sure, we could use her strength. I'm on Kennedy Rd., three blocks south of Jefferson St."

A few minutes later, Giles and Buffy pulled up. As they got out of the car Buffy asked "What is it Willow? A demon?"

As Giles noticed the girl on the ground, he replied for Willow: "I think not, Buffy, she appears human enough. Why call us, Willow, and not an ambulance? Was she attacked?"

"I don't think so, Giles." Willow responded. "I was headed over to your place to do some more research when she just appeared out of nowhere and fell to the ground. I think it was a portal, although I have no idea from where. Look at what the label on the box says, Buffy, and you'll see why I called you and Giles."

Buffy read the label and frowned in puzzlement. " Buffy tapes'", she repeated out loud for Giles' benefit. "Did she say anything at all, Will? Why would a stranger bring me tapes?"

"I have no idea, Buffy. All I know is it has something to with you, so I called Giles. We need to keep these tapes secret, at least until we know more."

"Of course." Giles affirmed. " Yes, it's quite puzzling. Let's get her back to my place. We'll know very little until she awakens. If necessary, we'll take her to the hospital. Buffy, help her to the car, will you? Let's go, Willow." He picked up the box and put it into the trunk.

Cathy slowly awakened, to the murmur of voices. The voices sounded vaguely familiar.

End Prologue