Something old, something new, something borrowed
S4: Willow's 'My Will be Done' spell causes Spike and Buffy to become close enough to trigger another spell to activate. Truths come to light. The Slayer demon is allowed to come to the fore, making something new. Goes AU very quickly. Buffy/Spike.
Starting during the Something Blue episode, after Willow cast the 'My Will be Done' spell. Buffy and Spike are Engaged, Giles is blind and Xander is a Demon magnet. Buffy and Spike are back at Giles after Riley sees Buffy looking at Wedding dresses, before Xander and Anya turn up.
Buffy snuggled into Spike's embrace as he sat back down after switching the telly on. The tiny TV, partial obscured by books, blared in the background. Spike smirked to himself, he hoped the noise from the television would be enough to distract the Watcher from them. He just wanted to kiss his fiancée without commentary and complaint.
Their attention turned back to Giles, as he made his way back from the kitchen. He had poured himself another glass of scotch. Buffy had offer a couple of times to get things for him but his angry retorts made her hold her tongue. Giles felt his way from the kitchen and back to the chair on the other side of the room from them. He sat heavily and rubbed his eyes again, in hope that he could rub the blindness out of them.
Spike waited until Giles was taking more notice to the sound coming from the television than them, relieved his that his ploy was going to work. He found the best way to stop his gorgeous fiancée from nattering about wedding plans, was to keep her lips occupied with his. He was enjoying planning the wedding but his plans were for the wedding night.
His hands start to roam further than he could have got away with if the Watcher could see his movements. Buffy muffled her gasp of pleasure into his neck. Spike took that as a green light to his actions. His hands getting bolder.
Buffy, never one to be one upped by anyone, took the challenge. At first her hands roamed over his clothes but very soon they both wanted more. Their hands started to sneak under clothes.
Buffy's finger met a sliver of skin above his waistband where his tee-shirt had risen at the back. His lips stopped their insistent movement over hers, his gasp and sudden stillness gave her the confidence to explore further. He just stared at her has her hands crept inside his shirt and made their way from his back to his stomach.
His body gradually relaxed to her exploratory touch. He smirked at her expression as she outlined his abs with feathery touches from her finger pads, her small hands moving higher with each pass.
With firm hands he tugged her shirt free from her waistband. It was her turn to freeze as his hands crept under the fabric.
With a gleeful look in her eye she held his gaze as she flattened her hands and firmly slid them up. The silent awe and lust written in his eyes as she flicked his nipples, bought a broad grin to her face.
Not to be out done he tightened his hands around her waist to re-position her. As he lifted her, her left hand unknowingly came into contact with the amulet he wore hidden under his shirt.
In that instant the were transported elsewhere. A huge empty white space.
They both came to instant alert. Each ready to fight. Each ready to protect the other.
A soft female voice reached them, "Ah, my Lovelorn warriors find each other at last, but for all the wrong reasons. Although, looking at all the obstacles put in your paths it is a miracle you ever came together. I will right it all and ensure none can impede you again. First you need an explanation. I can tell you much but some events need seeing to be believed. On this journey you cannot interact or be seen, you are merely viewing events so you can better understand."
Spike grabbed Buffy's hand as their surroundings changed again.
The both recognised the Magic shop. The voice spoke, "The amulet worn by William bought you here when you were both touching it. This is when it was gifted to him. The intensity of his genuine and heartfelt plea for love drew my attention. The amulet recognises the wearers Soul Mate. Yes, Vampires do have souls but the process of attaining the demon loosens them. The amulet brings the Soul Mates here for us to heal such rifts. I will ensure you understand the magnitude of the gift and make sure none can take it from you. I have found it is better to hide the memories of the amulet's existence. The recipient protects it and wears it until it is activated but they have no conscious memory of it".
Spike and Buffy viewed as a bereft Spike watched Willow collect her ingredients for the de-lusting spell (Lovers Walk episode). Spike winced as he admitted to Buffy his reasons for being there, he abandoned his search for a curse against Angel and decided to try to get a Love spell. He admitted he killed the shopkeeper after Willow left. His memory of events had been changed.
Spike watched as Willow left, the shopkeeper asked him if he had found a spell book. The scene froze. The shopkeeper disappeared and a different woman replaced her. Spike stepped back from her in surprise. She spoke to him.
He now recognised the voice as the same one that greeted them in the white space, "William, Love spells never work as you would want them to. They don't bring you true love. I have this amulet for you. It will help you find your Soul-mate. When you both touch this amulet you will be joined forever. You will both become stronger with the union. You will take on the strengths of your partner to reduce your own weaknesses. Influences that would keep you apart will be nullified. Your cry has been heard. When you find your True Mate, I will ensure the connection is recognised".
Spike and Buffy watched as he mechanically lifted the chain over his head, dropping the amulet under his tee-shirt. The woman disappeared. Spike left the shop before the shopkeeper returned.
The woman's voice explained to them, "The shopkeeper survived the encounter with Spike but her time was near. She died two days after this".
The shop faded away and they were back in the white space.
The voice explained more, "I will show you some events that shaped you. I have muted your reactions to the next revelations so we can get through them all. Drusilla was never yours William, magic tied you to her. Your huge capacity to love made her years much happier than they would have otherwise been. Her path diverges from yours. She will be fine without you now, we have put her on a path to healing.
Buffy your capacity to love matches your Mate. You were starting to fear there was something wrong with you, due to the despicable way you have been treated. You would have walled yourself off from love to save yourself from the hurt".
A tinkling laugh preceded her next words, "I have had many names over the Millennia. Those names are better left in the past but you may call me Tina, since you both seem to need a name for me.
William, you have a strong aversion to magic with good reason. You have both been manipulated and shaped by magic, jealously, selfishness and greed. The dark magic that bought you together to activate the amulet is benign in comparison to some magic that has affected you. I am angered that you have been so manipulated. Those in power have turned a blind eye and worse. They have aided, even enabled the abusers. I will show you the insidious forces you have been under, both directly and indirectly. In future, only those spells and influences which you allow will be able to touch you. Any magic or actions which could impact you and yours, you will be able to contain or reflect back with the Wiccan multiplication. You will be aware of any plots or ill-intentions, from any source, against you and yours".
"Much of the magic used on you both has had a negative effect on how your life should have played out. The most insidious magic originated due to the Council, Angelus and the old Powers that Be. Willow is on the slippery path to dark magic. It is already tainting her soul and the power she is accessing from the Hellmouth will bring out her darkest impulses. If she is left unchecked she will become a major problem.
Magic can be used for benefit but without restraint many get a taste of power and the magic reveals the darkest side of their personality. You might understand it better if I describe it as equivalent to them becoming a vampire that thrives in magical chaos rather than the need to drink blood.
I will show you snippets of the past to give you a better understanding of those that have turned magic on you. I'm sorry," Tina whispered as our surroundings changed again.
As we became aware of our surroundings Spike whispered, "Darla".
Tina agreed, "Yes, she was still a child at this point. She knew a witch who taught her some simple spells. She wasn't very powerful but she did use what she could, for her own benefit. This is not so much about her but more to show you about those she influenced".
We watched a teenage Darla as she rebelled against any sort of modesty. Even at a young age she loved to scandalise and thrived on the attention she received. She found she could give herself even more pleasure by causing scandal in a sexual manner. Her parents threw her out. She was taken in by a lecherous older man. He taught her all his perversions and introduced her to others that lived outside societies norm. He doted on her and enabled her to scandalise many a social gathering. She loved having sex wherever and whenever she could. It would have killed her in the end but by then the Master had taken an interest in her. She flourished with him but still looked for the next leg over. She was sexually promiscuous and proud of it, she couldn't get enough, one man could never fully sate her.
We jumped in time and location to Liam being told repeatedly what a disappointment he was by his hard working Father. Liam avoided work like a plague. He drank, gambled, cheated, stole and fucked anything he could catch, usually in alleys outside the nearest pub.
Darla ensnared him by allowing him to catch her. She perverted him even further. He revelled finding new extremes. He revered her and followed her every whim. She used her limited magic ability to her advantage to enhance her games and to draw in her prey. She fucked many other men much to Liam's annoyance. He found any woman, willing or not, as he waited for her return.
Liam had always had a bad case of envy, he always wanted what others had. Darla craved sex as he craved causing pain and suffering. He wanted to have someone follow his every whim. He tried to find someone with many of Darla's traits but when that didn't work he tried to make one. He wanted easy access so he could fuck them on a whim. He wanted them to be from a higher station in life, he thrived on taking something he shouldn't. His demon thrived on others pain, so he inflicted it in as many ways as he could imagine. Finding the most innocent, virtuous girl he could and corrupting her in as many ways as he could imagine, appealed to his sadistic nature.
Darla had been playing with magic to force the most sanctimonious citizens to the darker side of life. Darla's magic wasn't strong enough for Angelus. He had no aptitude for the hypnosis tricks known as Vampire thrall and no ability for magic. He cheated. He stole jewellery and got young gypsy girls enchant it for him. He liked them young and used his looks and silver tongue to make them fall for him. He learned how to intrigue them so they came to him. He visited the gypsy's regularly to procure magical charms and curses by whatever means he could. It was his eventual downfall.
Drusilla was the pinnacle of his twisted games. She had been the most upright and innocent within a strict family. Angelus took every last thing from her, mental and physical.
Angelus like to start slow with his torture. He loved to watch them flounder and flail as they tried to hang onto, even fight for their good name. Each time they allowed them some form of hope only to rip that from them at a critical moment. They orchestrated their targets fall into depravity. He and Darla would twist their targets mind and pervert their desires. They would torture them mentally and physically until their sanity fled. Using pendants he had charmed, he put them in a trance. He built up suggestions until they were forced to follow his every whim. They had no memory of his conditioning but slowly they would act on it against their will. He revelled in their horror and mortification as he caused their downfall.
Tina showed them Drusilla as Angelus started his campaign to corrupt her. Angelus used a necklace to put her in a trance. Buffy and Spike both recognised the one Drusilla still wears.
Tina explained, "Each time it was used the subject fell into the trance faster. He was able to build his influence and control, as she was drawn further into his web".
Angelus had a cruel smirk as he told Drusilla, "You must always be available for me. You must look chaste and innocent on the outside. You mustn't let anyone else know what a dirty whore you are for me. Underneath you will dress as my whore. Pretty dress for everyone to see but naked under it, all ready for me. I don't want anything in my way".
She started to squirm.
His smirk grew to a smile as he ordered her, "You may remove all your underwear now, if you want".
With an eerily blank face she stripped, pulling off every item of underwear, tearing some in her efforts to remove it. She replaced her gown.
As the dress fell back into place covering her modesty, he growled at her. "Show me, show only me. You love to let me see what a dirty girl you are. Play with yourself like I showed you".
Drusilla's face remained blank as she lifted her skirts, tucking them in so they stayed up, exposing herself. The front of her dress she pulled open so her breasts were completely free. She then started to maul her nipples, too hard to be anything but painful.
Angelus smiled and stepped forward, "I'll help you. Other places need attention".
His hands replaced hers. Her hands moved between her legs.
He kept reinforcing the instructions talking telling her how much she loved this, how she craved his touch, how no other touch would ever affect her as his did. He told her how she should always be ready for him. Telling her she was ready for him, he rammed himself into her without a care if she was or not.
He bit her nipple hard enough bring blood then he demanded, "Cum" using the trance to ensure she did.
As he lapped at his bite, sealing the wound as they both shuddered in release.
He smiled, "That's my naughty little girl. Now straighten yourself out, only I am allowed to see you like that. Now head home. Don't let anyone see what a dirty little girl you really are. You will never again wear anything that will get in my way. You will always be ready for sex, ready for me. You will feel my seed running down your legs. You will fear all the good people that see you for the dirty whore you are. You think they can see your shame. It makes you feel dirty. When you feel dirty, your shame makes you want to be even dirtier and want me even more, knowing how wrong it is".
He lifted her out of the trance but with the usual condition that full awareness would only return when he walked away. Hiding in the shadows he watched as the blank look left her face. As awareness came back she started to look panicked. She winced as her hand came to her bust. She looked around but she was alone. She checked her outer clothes not even noticing the underwear strewn around her or its absence from her body. She felt her hair with her hands and tried to put it back in place. She straightened up but winced again as her legs came together. She tried to walk in a regal manner but she had a slight limp. Every time she felt eyes on her, her blush deepened, as did her breathing. Tears squeezed from her eyes, streaking her cheeks. Angelus smirked at the reactions in her body due to his words.
Tina took Buffy and Spike back to the white space. Both had gone silent. They each lifted their eyes to her, "Drusilla had the most extreme conditioning of anyone, far beyond what you have just seen.
Yes, I am sorry to say he used pendants similar to that on both of you. His magically enforced suggestions that caused Buffy's interest in him. He placed triggers on her to want him and no other.
He loved the school girl look that Darla liked to use. He encouraged you to wear pigtails and skirts to mimic her but keep you looking innocent at the same time.
He never got to either of you to the extremes he did with Drusilla".
She went on, "Spike, Drusilla protected you from the worst of his perversions, bad as he still was. Most of the time his control of you, came in the form of the physical beatings without magical interference.
Buffy, your watcher and friends forced him to be more circumspect in his actions with you. His soul kept him partially in check. He did go into your room to repeat trances but his soul held him back so his visits were limited.
Instead, to force his will in a different way, he gave you both charmed rings".
Tina held one hand out flat and swept her other hand over it. Two necklaces and two rings appeared on her hand. A necklace with in the style of a sharks tooth necklace but a tiny railroad spike replica and a cross on a chain. The rings: Spike's skull ring and Buffy's Claddagh ring.
"The necklaces both have a spell on them that replicates hypnotism but the magic forces compliance. Wearing them enforces the effect.
Spike, I know you lost your necklace in a fight in the 1940's. It's influence started to wear off then.
The charms on the rings are quite complex. Simply put Spike's ring ensured he never killed Angelus and would protect and keep safe any of Angelus's pets until he returned. Buffy's ring ensured she would always want Angelus back and pine for him while he was gone, she would never be completely happy with another. It also conditioned her to accept Angelus words and instructions.
Spike, the ring kept drawing you to Sunnydale to protect his latest pet, in this case, Buffy. Part of the conditioning, on you both, prevented you from killing the other. Angelus was unaware of that side effect of the magic," Tina explained.
A sofa appeared behind Spike and Buffy, in time to catch them both as their legs gave way.
"I have removed all the spells from you both but some side effects can take time to wear off. Liam, Angelus and Angel are just variations of extremes. Regaining his soul in that manner he did and the guilt that came with it had him hiding in the dark for many decades, to lazy to do anything else.
The Powers that Be sent an emissary to encourage him come to your aid, he fell back into old tricks. They were behind bring him back from Acathla's dimension and putting him back in Buffy's path.
His soul just made him tone down his darkest traits. We have tied his soul to him permanently now, such as it is. He will know the pain he has caused others. He will know no peace until he fully understands the extent of hurt he has caused. He must try to make suitable reparations. I will make his visage reflect his inner persona. His vanity has always been his greatest weakness," Tina smiled.
Looking at them both she warned them, "I will show you each others lives and the influences behind events and reactions. This information will return in time, when you are ready to cope with it or as it becomes relevant".
They were back in the white place again reeling with all the new insights behind some of the most painful occurrences in their lives. Anger, hurt and betrayal remain even as the memories of the events slid away from them.
"You will need to know more about the bigger picture," She started to explain after allowing us time to recover, "You may have heard of the Powers that Be. It seems it has been forgotten that they are not the Powers of Good!
Millennia ago it was decided to separate the Universe into Realms. A Realm is an area that abides by the same rules, it can cover multiple dimensions. You may have heard of some of the other realms and dimensions?"
Buffy and Spike both thought of some of the hell like dimensions they had been told about and some of the quirky dimensions.
She smiled, "Yes. All extremes and variations exist. There are many similar to here but many others would be strange to you. To keep to the agreements made in each realm we left caretakers to watch over them. They were the ones you knew as the Powers that Be. They were supposed to ensure the realms remain within their agreed boundaries and allow no outside interference. They should have prevented any from disrupting the overall balance, keeping their own actions to a minimum.
They grew bored and used their powers to manipulate their Champions on both sides for their own entertainment. They had foreknowledge and could see outcomes of events and decisions. They have changed events to make their champions life as difficult as possible but still get the results that were required for the balance, all for their viewing pleasure and amusement.
We are not happy with the trials and heartache they caused you, solely for their own entertainment. For example, they purposely put Angel in your path knowing his proclivity for young girls and the damage he would cause. While they ensured you were in the right place to avert each apocalypse they put many stumbling blocks in your path and deprived you of rewards that should have been yours".
She smiled, "Your anger is justified. We are disgusted by some particularly despicable future events they set up for their entertainment. The balance must be maintained but not by mentally torturing our champions. We reward those that act on our behalf.
Those that condoned the actions against you and others like you, have felt our wrath. They have been replaced and made an example of, beyond the extremes either of you have yet imagined. The new Powers will have no power or influence over you. We will also ensure you know if someone is acting on their behalf and their intent.
They have allowed Beings from outside this realm to influence events here. These Beings will be bought into this realm. Their influences will be neutralised. Since they want to enter to this realm so badly we will bring them here and convert them into the lifeforms they despise the most, usually humans! They will retain the knowledge of how far they have fallen. It will be ensured that they will have no opportunity to regain any power or influence.
Beings that reside within this realm were all deemed suitable at the time. The Powers that Be were supposed to prevent entry to those that are not suited for this realm. Any that enter were supposed to be kept within the guidelines, by converting them into an existing life form or having their abilities limited for the duration of their stay. We have closed all the loopholes and ensured that our rules are automatically complied with from now on".
Tina nodded, "Yes I hear your thoughts. In answer to your question, the closest I can tell you is, we oversee those you knew as the Powers that Be. We spent much time in the past influencing events in this realm before moving to other realms. It was decided that our influence was causing problems. The Powers that Be are those that took over. We were complacent and only took note of their overall results. We are modifying their responsibilities and we will watch more closely from now on".
Tina let that sink in before starting on the next obstacle, "Popular beliefs about Vampires and Slayers aren't accurate. One is not completely evil and the other is not completely good. Both Slayers and Vampires are humans with a demon in residence.
The method of harnessing the demon within the Chosen One is not acceptable and it will not continue in the same manner. Their inability to let the demon out fully when fighting weakens the human host. It is this that causes the death wish to build in them and is the primary cause of their premature death.
The Chosen Ones are inaccurately taught that all non-human lifeforms are evil demons to make slaying easier for them.
The Watcher's Council know that Slayers can only find their true long term partners in their equals; another human with a demon in residence. They hide these facts to keep their control of frightened young girls. Few Slayers that manage to survive to maturity. Those that do have always tried to escape from Council control. The Council maintain control by killing any Slayer that try to leave their control, they get a new innocent each time. They tried to have you killed on a few occasions, knowledge of that will return to you in time. Some prophesies have paused their latest plans to have you replaced".
"Let me show you how the first Chosen One was created," she explained
Their surroundings changed to a cave in a desert. They watched old men with sticks chant over a young girl.
Tina kept up a commentary as they watched on, "The Being they tied to the slayer line was the last of her kind in this realm. As you can see she is very human like in appearance. Her species are a powerful race but their name will mean nothing to you. I will just call them Slayer demons to reduce confusion for you".
At the entrance to the cave the saw a wild looking woman with an obviously broken leg and other severe injuries. She was staked down within a circle of herbs, her injuries untended. Her face had an otherworldly cast but nothing as extreme as a vampires ridges. She had a feral look and they noticed her silver eyes were narrowed to slits in the low light.
Tina continued, "During the upheaval all Beings were given the choice of remaining or moving to a more suitable realm. The few that chose to remain in a dimension that they no longer belonged in were given a choice. They could be converted into a more compatible species or have their abilities and needs capped to fit the criteria of the realm.
We have recently become aware that many rules have been bent or broken. As I mentioned, we will be closing any gaps and ensuring any that are in a realm are limited to its rules. We will no longer allow outside influences have any sway here.
At the time of the exodus, the only way for the Shamans to harness a greater power was to tie a demon essence within a human.
The Slayer demon was badly injured which is how they were able to capture her. They restrained and magically shielded her during the exodus. Her tribe left this realm to one more suited to them. They are more powerful than any demons that now remain.
They tried to tie her essence within one of themselves but found the only suitable host were young girls with certain traits. Potentials is the term they use to describe those that carry the required traits. The young girl they found became the first Chosen One of the Slayer line as it now exists.
The Chosen One only uses part of the Slayer demon power both to hide it from us and in an attempt by the shamans to retain the girl's humanity. They have released more of the Slayer demon influence in times of great upheaval. The human host is unable to survive for long with the extra power but the Shaman only cared about her completing the particular mission. A magic infused scythe was used as a battery for her untapped power. It would have been a powerful weapon and caused great suffering to the Slayer demon if it had been used. I have destroyed the scythe and dissipated the power for her sake.
The demon within the Chosen One connects more closely the longer the girl survives. As soon as the demon is able she turns on those that cage her. When the Slayer's demon becomes too strong and linked with the host body, the Shaman have her host killed and restrained her spirit again. She moves into the next new innocent, malleable host. They used many different methods to keep her in their control.
The Shamans that did this are known to you as the Council of Watchers".
"When you died and came back the Slayer's essence was accidentally split by the Shaman's magic," she explained, "She may be immortal but it is wrong to torture any Being. She needs restoring. The other host has instability within her, adding Slayer expectations tipped her over the edge. Recombining the Slayer essence within you will be best for all three entities. Faith will wake soon, we will put her on a new path. She will have no memory of her time as a Chosen one".
Again their surroundings returned to the white space. Chanting met them. Spike and Buffy stood watching their bodies still sat on the couch, Buffy curled up on Spike's lap, his arms encircling her. The sound of the chanting grew and became a tangible force.
Tina looked at Spike, "Angelus gave his demon full control. Liam was too lazy to take control as he enjoyed the mayhem. He hated you since your human host was so strong. I know you always thought William as weak, he had and still has, a strength of character that stayed true regardless what was thrown at him. Angelus tortured you to try to bring your demon forward, to try to keep a form of control over you. All that did, was make William and your demon work together. You became stronger as the union between you solidified. The magic he used on you to try to control you, actually aided your human side to care for and protect Drusilla. Without a properly connected soul, the host tends to be overwhelmed by the demon. We will correct this too".
Her words were now directed to Buffy, "The reason you survived so long is you allowed more balance between human and demon. Most potential slayers are trained and indoctrinated by the Council, from a young age. You lacked this training, so you relied on the instincts of the demon. When you fight you allow your instincts to lead, that allowed the Slayer to take the reins. Your unconscious acceptance of her allowed greater connection to form between the two of you. The Watcher trained Slayers rarely managed to connect to the level you attained even in your first few months. This connection has strengthened you but it is still not enough for either of you. A human host is insufficient to contain a Slayer demon for any length of time. She is the one that took most of the influence from Angelus's magic since she could better resist some of those impulses".
Tina stood with the viewing versions of Spike and Buffy, "They are allowing the demon part to fully merge with the human hosts. You will no longer have a host-demon symbiosis, the merging will give you the properties of a new species. Certain traits of each demon are being shared to improve compatibility. The full Slayer demon strength is within you both but won't be accessible in this dimension due to the limitations of the realm. We are removing the weaknesses from each Being. This will make life in this realm more comfortable, allowing you to fit in more easily.
They are ensuring all four parts of this soul union are as fully integrated as possible. We are trying to minimise any upheaval as the impact of the changes becomes evident. It will take a few days for the changes to settle in. We see that you will find this the best way to come to terms with everything. We have implanted all the relevant knowledge within you, it will come to your minds gradually or as you need it.
We have removed the influences of all that tried to control you, by what ever means. You are protected against all such things from henceforth".
Their perspective changed, returning them to their bodies on the sofa in the white space.
As the surroundings shifted again Tina reminded them, "Remember neither species or possession of a soul makes a Being good or evil. Thoughts and actions are the drive that dictates good or evil. We have given you the ability to see the balance between light and dark that exists inside anything able to contain it.
You can see and remove or block any controlling influences. The influences can be reflected back on the source, if you choose. It reflects back to the originator, if third parties are involved it reflects back on them also".
Tina gave a tinkling laugh, "Yes, some could use Karma as a description. The idea that one reaps what one sows. A single grain of corn produces a full head of corn, the multiplication can suit the infraction. The Wicca rules will take precedence unless you decide differently.
Extremes must be kept in check to ensure the realm remains stable. We believe in free will and consent, when possible.
You are both stronger now, work together and your strengths will be more evident. You have many abilities to aid you in your undertaking, they will be revealed as the need arises.
We ask you fight to maintain the balance, we will start you on the right path. You will learn how to interpret the bigger picture so you will know when you need to intervene or not. The Slayer dreams and foretelling will to aid you. The combining of your demon aspect and human side should make them easier to interpret. Your intuition has been heightened to aid you both to react to events as they occur.
The Watcher's Council claimed to aid the Slayer so we have reorganised them to do just that. We have transferred all their resources into your control and made you Joint Heads of the organisation with all the benefits attached to that position. We have thinned the departments that are no longer relevant. A local office is being set up as a model you can expand from, to aid your quest. They have contacts within governments which you can use to your benefit.
We have given you the knowledge you need, it will come to you as you need it. We don't what to overwhelm you".
Buffy felt the weight of responsibility.
Tina acknowledged her fears, "Buffy, you have been used as a weapon rather than treated as a person. They pointed you in the right direction then left you to do the dirty work. You have known no real rest since you were called. The necessary time you took to recover came at the cost of disapproval from those closest to you. Both of you have fought valiantly but without balance within yourselves. We seek to redress this imbalance.
The Hellmouth naturally draws those that intend to disrupt the Balance. We know you both enjoy a good fight. We would never ask our Warriors to curb their appetites, it is part of who you are. You need to accept yourselves to be at your best, your strongest. We want you to live to your fullest. The gifts are given to you to aid you in all aspects of your new lives.
You will have the knowledge of problems when it will be most beneficial. Those who work in our name will be rewarded for their efforts. We have compensated you for past transgressions by rewarding you both well, the changes we have made are a powerful gift".
A smile sounded in her voice, "We ask for your aid to prevented any from disrupting the overall balance. We will give you all the facts at our disposal. We will give you freedom to act as you see fit to resolve any issue so the realm remains within its agreed boundaries. We ask that you allow free will and consent to all Beings, for so long as they respect the rights of others.
Will you fight for those who would have these rights taken from them? Will you accept our gifts and use them in our name?"
Buffy looked into Spike's eyes. They both nodded, "We will do our best".
Tina heard their mental agreement as well as their words, "You are Immortal Warriors charged to maintain Balance.
Free will and consent are important to us. Every Being consented to the rules of this realm when the realms were separated. Those that break the rules forfeit their own rights. Ignorance is not a defence.
Those that would seek to control sentient life for the purpose of harming others, will cause great damage to the balance. They need to be stopped. Spike this is the chip they placed in your head to control you. Stop them".