DISCLAIMER
Laverne and Shirley belongs to Garry K Marshall and Paramount Television, Kate and Allie belongs to Sherry Coben, Cybill belongs to Jay Daniel and probably Cybill Shepherd herself. The Robin Hood characters is from the Richard Carpenter 'Robin of Sherwood' and not from the latest BBC version. Xena was created by Rob Tapert, Buffy, of course, was created by Joss Whedon, The Charmed characters comes from the imagination of Constance M Burge, Chris Carter created Dana Scully and Monica Reyes (The X Files), Thomas Harris (Clarice Starling) and Barbara Machin created the characters of Mel Silver and Frankie Wharton. Briefly, Rose, Donna and Martha are mentioned. They are an alternative version of Rose Tyler, Donna Noble and Martha Jones. I had created a whole series of stories which suggested a different ending for Journey's End. The concept therefore belongs to Russell T Davies and BBC Wales. The idea of Rose, Donna and Martha being the Last of the Time Lords is mine. I tried to do the characters justice, but bear in mind that I'm not a comedy writer and I've had to make one or two character adjustments to make this work. This is a sequel to The Eternal Joining - The Directors Cut and you do need to read that to understand a lot of what is going on.
THE DAUGHTERS OF HERNE
THE CIRCUS
Milwaukee 1960
The Circus had come to Milwaukee. The so called Greatest Show on Earth had paraded down Main Street in a pageant of spectacle and colour that gladdened the hearts of young and old alike. Lenny Kosonowski and Andrew Squiggman, Lenny and Squiggy to their friends, watched with child like awe as the parade passed by. They watched the jugglers do their stuff and wondered how they did it with so many balls. They watched the acrobats, most of them gorgeous young women, performing minor stunts on their moving trapezes. They laughed at the clowns as they played practical jokes on certain spectators that was lining the route, especially when they snatched a wig off one persons head and raced down the street laughing. The man ran down the road after them in a rage and became involved in a mock fight.
"A member of the troupe," Lenny suggested.
"Really?"
"Has to be," Lenny said.
Squiggy shrugged and then continued to watch the mock fight as it continued down the street. Then finally the Big Boss of the Circus himself arrived. He was riding on top of a Gipsy caravan resplendent in ringmaster outfit. Next to him was a beautiful, almost angelic woman with free blonde curly hair, she was dressed as a gipsy, but the dress she wore revealed her form. This caused Lenny to the palm of his hand to his mouth and Squiggy to make kissy faces. Right in front of them, the woman seemed to convulse in a fit. The Ringmaster stopped the caravan out of concern. The woman then straightened herself up and stood up to face the audience.
"Madame Rosita sees all," She said "She sees the past, the present and the future. She knows what gladdens the heart and darkens the spirit."
She smiled at the audience.
"She needs a volunteer."
The ever eager Lenny and Squiggy almost pushed people out of the way to volunteer. The action produced a smile from the Ringmaster.
"Will Madame Rosita settle for two volunteers?" The Ringmaster called in theatrical tones.
Again the Gipsy went into a convulsion. She stirred and took a deep breath.
"She will."
The Ringmaster climbed down and picked out Lenny and Squiggy. The Ringmaster then escorted the Gipsy down. An excited Lenny and Squiggy came forward and allowed the gipsy to touch their heads.
"Yes," The Gipsy smiled "You are what Madame Rosita looks for."
Lenny and Squiggy looked at each other, the excitement growing.
"Madame Rosita has a message for you to give to someone called Laverne De Fazio, and someone called Shirley Feeney."
Now Lenny and Squiggy looked perplexed. How the hell did she know that they knew them?
"They are to come to the circus tonight and seek out Madame Rosita. She has a message to give to them of extreme importance."
The gipsy looked at Lenny and Squiggy and smiled.
"She chose you to deliver this important message because you are good people with a good heart," The Gipsy said "The people they go out with tonight are no good. They will put them in danger of their very lives. You must bring them to Madame Rosita so that she can rescue them. Will you do this?"
"We will," Both Lenny and Squiggy said.
She touched their heads and nodded in satisfaction.
"As Madame Rosita says, you are good people, Leonard Kosonowski and Andrew Squiggman," She continued "You are loyal and trustworthy. Do not forget that."
The Gipsy climbed back onto the caravan. The Ringmaster shooed the horse onwards.
"Well done, Dite," a Voice in the Gipsy's head said.
The voice belong to Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare, and once the mortal enemy of Xena, Warrior Princess. Aphrodite, her sister, and the goddess of love, looked down at her smiling sister who was watching from the caravan.
"Next time, you play the Gipsy, darling sister," Aphrodite said "Those two were repulsive animals."
"But with a good heart."
Aphrodite shrugged in acceptance. Beside her the Ringmaster, actually The Earl of Cornwall, chuckled.
Knapp Street - Milwaukee
Laverne De Fazio and Shirley Feeney entered their apartment scared out of their wits. As Laverne shut the door, she put the chain on as well as lock every lock the door had. She and Shirley held onto each other tightly.
"We were lucky to get out of that alive," Laverne almost whimpered.
"So much for our dream dates," Shirley agreed "You think they'll come for us?"
"Don't put thoughts like that into my mind," Laverne said.
Laverne went into the kitchen and opened the fridge door. She took out a Pepsi for Shirley and prepared her favourite concoction, Milk and Pepsi, for herself. She handed Shirley, who had sat down by now, her drink and sat down beside her. For a full minute both women said nothing. They just stared out into space, full of dire thoughts about what had just happened.
"Lenny and Squiggy warned us," Laverne said "Mrs Babbish and Carmine told us that they were no good. Boy, didn't we listen."
"What do we do?" Shirley said "If they catch us, they'll do to us what they did to those other women. They raped and murdered them, Laverne. Raped and murdered."
"We hope the cops find them," Laverne answered "Shirl, we may have to consider moving in with my father for a time."
"And then what?" Shirley said "We still have to go to work, we still have to go shopping, we still have to live."
"At least we'll be protected."
Shirley took Laverne's hands. They felt clammy as did Shirley's herself. Fear itself was creeping in.
"You have nothing to fear except fear itself."
The voice, a male voice, made both Laverne and Shirley stand up.
"Who's there?" Both Laverne and Shirley said.
A mist seemed to drift out from their bedroom. Laverne held onto Shirley's hand and squeezed tightly. Fear of what was just happening rooted them to the spot.
"Who's there?" Laverne repeated.
"Your future, Laverne De Fazio, Daughter of Herne, your life, Shirley Feeney, Daughter of Herne."
"We got no parent known as Herne," Laverne said.
A man dressed in a deer's outfit emerged from the mist. The mist disappeared.
"Who?" Shirley stammered "How?"
"The who, Shirley Feeney, is Herne the Hunter, Lord of the Trees," Herne said.
He removed the deer outfit to reveal a middle aged man in a medieval outfit.
"The how is within the two of you."
"How?" Laverne asked.
"You called for help, Laverne de Fazio," The Man said "The mist of time has sent you help. Only Daughters of Herne can do that."
"We caused that mist?"
"When you called for help," Herne answered.
"You're that help?" Shirley asked.
"No," Herne said "I am simply the messenger. The other daughters within your eternal triad are already responding to your call. Xena, the mighty Warrior Princess, the Bard Gabrielle, Eve, Daughter of the Warrior Princess, the Goddesses Athena and Aphrodite, Miss Parker, friend of the Goddesses, Kate McCardle and Allie Lowell, Cybill Sheridan and Maryann Thorpe, they have all responded to your call and have travelled the mists of time to be by your side at this moment of crisis. The evil you face is more formidable then you realise, Laverne. Staying with your father will not be enough."
"Why not?"
"Because he cannot protect you, nor can Carmine Ragusa, Lenny Kosonowski, Andrew Squiggman, Arthur Fonzarelli or Ritchie Cunningham," Herne said "You can, however, protect yourself, along with the daughters."
"The film," Laverne said clicking her fingers.
"What film?" Shirley asked.
"With Errol Flynn and Maureen O'Hara," Laverne said "About those women who rid an English village of bandits. The Andrews Sisters and Dinah Shore played team members, remember?"
"Fonzie almost laughed the building down," Shirley said "Completely unrealistic."
"It was in a sense that it didn't happen quite that way," Herne said "But you know how it happened, you watched it happened in your dreams."
"No dreams of mine," Laverne said.
"They were there," Herne insisted "You just dismissed them."
"If you say so."
Herne nodded. It was completely understandable that Laverne and Shirley would dismiss the idea like that. Most sane people would. Time, however, was short. If Laverne De Fazio and Shirley Feeney didn't believe, didn't go and see the Gipsy, didn't accept their heritage, the time line would be ripped apart and both Laverne and Shirley would be dead, killed by the maniacs that had just accepted. It was ironic that, by accepting that date at all, the time line had already been shattered, thus forcing Herne and the Daughters of Herne to respond to their call for help earlier than they wanted. It was meant to happen during the evacuation of Saigon in 1975. It was meant to involve the death of Shirley's then husband, Walter, to involve three weeks of Laverne and Shirley evading the Viet-Cong, with the help of Xena, Gabrielle, Eve, Athena, Aphrodite, Miss Parker, Kate, Allie, Cybill and Maryann, before being found by a retrieval squad sent in by the CIA, and lead by an old friend, Sergeant Plout, before the Viet-Cong found them and put two female imperialist spies on trial in front of the world's television. Now, time was in flux, anything could happen.
"I'm sorry to have to do this," Herne said "But time is short. You must learn about your heritage."
"Do what?" Shirley asked.
A mist engulfed the room. Both Laverne and Shirley looked at Herne in bewilderment. They began coughing, then they slumped with their heads resting on each others shoulders.
"Happy dreams, Laverne De Fazio, Shirley Feeney," Herne said.
Wickham 1203
"Where are we, Shirl?"
Laverne and Shirley looked around the scene that surrounded them. It was an English medieval village in the middle of a celebration. It was also hot, unbearably hot.
"It's gotta be a hundred degrees," Laverne said.
"At least," Shirley agreed.
They could hear the sound of laughter and were almost knocked down by running children.
"Hey," Laverne said "Watch it!"
The children looked up at them and smiled impishly.
"Leonard, Andrew, come here," Their mother called.
The two children stuck their tongues out at Laverne and Shirley and then ran away. Their mother, a tall blonde haired woman, approached them.
"You're new here," The Women said "You are most welcome. My name is Meg."
"Where are we?" Shirley asked.
"The Village of Wickham, my Lady Shirley."
"She called you my lady, Shirl," Laverne said.
"Of course, my Lady Laverne, why shouldn't I," The Woman said.
Laverne and Shirley looked at each other. How did this woman know their names?
"They're coming," They heard someone shout.
"Who's coming?" Shirley asked.
"Robin in the Hood and the Daughters of Herne," Meg said "They've just given the Sheriff of Nottingham and Sir Guy of Gisbourne a bloody nose. Wish I had seen it, heard it was spectacular."
"Robin Hood, Shirl, did you hear that. We're going to meet Robin Hood," Laverne whispered.
"Wonder if he looks like Errol Flynn?" Shirley said.
The way Robin in the Hood and the Daughters of Herne entered the village was like a Roman legion returning to Rome having conquered another country, or Eisenhower parading down Fifth Avenue in a shower of ticker tape when he came home after the end of World War Two. Laverne and Shirley saw a rugged, and very large, man haul a child up and place him on his broad shoulders and a smaller, equally rugged man being kissed by three women and enjoying it. Then they saw him, his arm was around a skinny red haired woman. He certainly wasn't Errol Flynn, but with his long blonde hair and the Lincoln green outfit, it could only be one person.
"Robin," They heard Meg say from behind them "Robin in the Hood."
"And the woman is?" Shirley asked.
"Marion of Leaford," Meg answered "And here are the Daughters of Herne."
Behind Robin, walking with a Saracen dressed in black, was three women: A small blonde, a slightly taller red head and a taller brunette.
"Buffy, Willow and Faith," Meg said.
"Buffy?" Laverne said "Is that a name?"
"I wouldn't tell her that," Meg replied.
Behind them, walking with a Friar was four women, three brunettes, and a shapely woman with lighter hair.
"Phoebe, Piper, Prue and Paige, they're sisters," Meg said "but, they are more than that."
"In what way?" Shirley asked.
"Magical witches. So is Willow."
"Witches?" Laverne said "As in broomsticks and pointed hats?"
"A stereotype created, believe it or not, by Phoebe."
Laverne and Shirley looked at the woman with the lighter hair. There was something wise and all knowing about her.
"And behind the sisters? Walking with the boy?" Shirley asked.
Laverne saw two women with red hair, a blonde with model looks, a tall brunette, and a shorter brunette arriving with the boy.
"The boy, and he would hate you calling him that, is called Much," Meg allowed herself a smile "With him are Clarice, Dana, Mel, Monica and Frankie."
There was something about all of the women that made them stand out, and instantly recognisable as Daughters of Herne. It was something Laverne and Shirley themselves shared with them - clothes that only could have been worn in the twentieth and twenty first century.
"So much for the film," Laverne said "Boy, did they get that wrong."
"The Fonz would love to have been proven right," Shirley agreed.
"Want to meet them?"
"We can?" Laverne asked.
"You have as much right as the rest of us, Laverne De Fazio, Shirley Feeney," Meg almost cried out "Daughters of Herne, Ancestors of Robert of Huntingdon and Marion of Leaford."
Laverne and Shirley looked nervously around knowing that people were now looking at them. They felt themselves being pushed forward and the crowd parting like the Red Sea to let them through. Robin and Marion met them half way. Robin almost pulled Shirley off her feet and twirled her around like a father finding his lost daughter. Marion hugged Laverne.
"You've come home, Laverne," Marion said.
"Excuse me?" Laverne said "This ain't home."
"Of course it is," Robert said.
He hauled Laverne up in the same way he hauled Shirley up, and twirled her around. At the same time Marion hugged Shirley. Shirley, for some reason, cried.
"Vernie, it's our dream," Shirley said "I remember now."
"So do I," Laverne said.
They looked at Buffy, Willow, Phoebe, Piper, Prue, Faith, Clarice, Dana, Monica, Mel and Frankie and saw the smile on their faces.
"A joyous day indeed," The Friar said "Two more daughters have come home."
Laverne and Shirley, guided by Robert and Marion, approached Buffy and Willow tentatively, not sure what to do. Buffy launched at Laverne and hugged her tightly.
"A little pain here," Laverne whimpered.
"Sorry," Buffy said relaxing her grip.
Whilst still holding Laverne, and noting that Willow had Shirley's other hand, Buffy reached out and took Shirley's free hand.
"Welcome to the Daughters of Herne, Laverne and Shirley," Buffy smiled.
They were soon surrounded by the others, including Meg and an aristocratic looking man - The Earl of Cornwall. Buffy put a protective arm around Meg.
"My mother, Joyce," Buffy explained "Another Daughter of Herne."
"Sorry," Joyce (Meg) said.
"That's how you knew who we were," Shirley said.
Joyce nodded. Little John hauled Shirley in the air and twirled her around just like Robert did earlier, Will Scarlet hugged Laverne. The Earl of Cornwall shook both Laverne and Shirley by the hand as did the Saracen, Nasir.
"A time to celebrate," The softly spoken Saracen said.
"Yeah, it is," Laverne said.
As Nasir moved away, Laverne nudged Shirley.
"Did you see him, Shirl?" Laverne said "He's mine."
"Standards, Laverne," Shirley admonished "No voodeodoeing on the first date."
"Not even a voodeo?"
"You can't anyway," Clarice Starling said putting an arm around them "He's taken."
They watched Nasir being kissed by a smaller dark haired woman.
"As you are," Phoebe Halliwell said.
"With whom?" Laverne asked "Shirley has impossible dreams, and my dates turn into disasters."
"Ever wondered why?" Phoebe asked.
"Standards," Shirley answered.
"Not entirely," Phoebe smiled "But, you'll learn. The Gipsy will teach you, as will the rest of your eternal triad."
The laughter and the merriment stopped when a boy ran into the village.
"They're coming," He shouted.
Robert stopped the boy.
"Who?"
"Gisbourne and many soldiers," The Boy said "They are looking for you and the Daughters."
"Bloody Gisbourne!" Monica Reyes exclaimed.
"We've got to go," Scarlet added.
"You don't have time," The Boy said "They're almost here."
"You know where to go," Phillip, the Village Elder, added.
"You sure?" Buffy asked.
"Go," Phillip said urgently.
Laverne and Shirley felt the tall Brunette, Prue Halliwell, and Buffy's mother, Joyce, haul them in the same direction as the others. They went with them, a sense of danger invading their every instinct. Soon they were being escorted down some steps into an underground room.
"What's going on here?" Laverne finally had to ask.
That produced a hand around the mouth from Mel Silver, the blonde model girl. She was about to bite Mel's hand but a shake of Shirley's head stopped her. They heard horses thunder into the village, followed by a great deal of screaming. A male voice echoed through their hiding place.
"Let it be known that the bounty on Robin in the Hood, his followers, and the Daughters of Herne has been increased," The man, supposedly Gisbourne, called "Anybody who turns them in will be rewarded handsomely. If you are shielding them, let it be known that such action will have dire consequences."
"And what will that be?" The Voice belonged to the Earl of Cornwall.
"My Lord?"
"Tell De Reynaud and the Abbot that if anybody harms the people of this village in anyway, they'll have me to answer to."
"My Lord, I must protest."
"Robin in the Hood is to be found and prosecuted, as are his followers, and the Daughters of Herne," Cornwall said.
"What's he doing?" Shirley whispered.
"Politics," She heard Frankie Wharton answer "He cannot be seen to be allied with us. They would cut off his inheritance and have him executed."
"Nice people," Laverne whispered back.
"That's what we have to live with," Will Scarlet said.
"We're lucky that Cornwall is on our side," Prue said "Without him we would be in a great deal of trouble."
"That I can see," Shirley said.
"You will not harm the people in this village, or in any village," They heard Cornwall continued "You must search for Robin in the Hood and the Daughters whilst respecting the people of your land."
"They are peasants!"
"They are people, Gisbourne," Cornwall countered "People with livelihoods. Tell De Reynaud that he can carry out his search until his heart is content, but he will not harm anybody in any village."
"Even if they're hiding them?"
"Can that be proven?"
"They have been seen in this village often."
"Can that be proven, Gisbourne?" Cornwall said "Where are these witnesses, can you produce them?"
Both Laverne and Shirley took a deep breath. They could feel everybody else doing the same thing.
"No, My Lord," Gisbourne finally said.
"Then go," Cornwall said "Your message has been delivered and understood. Take your people and go."
There was silence for a moment. Then they heard a command for the soldiers to leave. Everybody in the cavern breathed again. A minute later, Cornwall entered. He approached Laverne and Shirley.
"Laverne De Fazio, Shirley Feeney, when Lenny and Squiggy come, you must go with them to see the Gipsy," He said "Lives depend on it."
Marion hugged both of them.
"Be careful, use the Daughters of Herne as your guide."
"You will get through the danger that awaits you," Robert added "You have my strength, I can feel it."
A mist emerged. The Daughters linked arms. Both Laverne and Shirley waved to them and walked into the mist.
Knapp Street
They both woke up and looked around. They were back home.
"Herne?" Laverne called.
There was nothing. No horned man, no medieval smell, nothing.
"Shirl?"
"I haven't a clue what has just happened," Shirley admitted.
"It felt real," Laverne said "It's like we were there."
They both got off the couch and went into the bedroom that they shared. It was the usual sight, pictures of Fabian on the wall; two beds, one neatly made, the other roughly made, and other Laverne and Shirley style knick-knacks. No evidence that Herne had been there.
"This has been some evening," Laverne said.
She sat on her bed thoughtfully. Shirley sat next to her.
"What do we do?" Shirley asked "Do we find this gipsy?"
"With Nutball and Looney Tune looking for us?" Laverne said "They wanted to have their way with us and then kill us, remember."
"All the more reason to go to the circus and find this gipsy," Shirley said "Maybe she can help."
Laverne looked at Shirley.
"A gipsy against two nut jobs?" Laverne said "Somebody drop you on your head when you were born?"
"I mean our eternal triad - A Warrior Princess, two Goddesses, we must stand a chance with such allies."
They both got up and headed back to the front room at the sound of a noise. They saw Lenny and Squiggy in there.
"I locked that door, Shirl," Laverne said " I know I did."
"It was unlocked," Lenny said.
Laverne and Shirley looked at each other. That was how Herne left.
"We've come to take you to the circus," Squiggy said.
"To see the Gipsy?" Shirley said.
"You've spoilt our surprise," Squiggy replied almost indignantly "How did you know?"
"Tell you later, Squig," Laverne said.
Laverne and Shirley almost ushered Lenny and Squiggy out before following them and locking the door.
The Circus
The Circus was eerily quiet after performance. The adrenalin that was used in the performance had all but gone to create this nirvana type peace. It was a job well done, a circus that was satisfied that it had spread joy to the multitude if only for one evening. It now settled down to the task of the night, to spread enlightenment and to dispense justice to those who needed it. Laverne and Shirley entered the circus ring looking puzzled. The note pinned to the door of the Gipsy Caravan had told them to go to the circus ring itself and to wait for the Gipsy there.
"Lenny?" Laverne called "Squiggy?"
The boys hadn't followed.
"I was sure they were behind us," Shirley said "Lenny, Squiggy, come out wherever you are."
Again silence. Something was wrong.
"Come on, Lenny, Squiggy, a joke's a joke," Laverne said "It ain't funny anymore."
A searchlight was suddenly turned on illuminating them in the centre of the ring.
"Len? Squig?"
"They've gone home," A female voice said "Their jobs have been done."
"And how do we get home?" Shirley asked.
"You don't," The Female voice continued "The old Laverne De Fazio and Shirley Feeney doesn't anyway."
"Meaning?"
"That as from tonight, things change," The voice said "This was earlier than planned, but events have forced this to happen."
"What events?" Laverne challenged "What changes?"
At that moment two more women were pushed into the light. One was a small mouse coloured blonde, the other, a taller, slightly more elegant woman with dark brown frizzy hair.
"What's going on here?" The taller brunette called.
"We were brought here to meet the Gipsy," The blonde said "Where is she?"
She looked in surprise at Laverne and Shirley, and then nudged her companion.
"Allie!" the Brunette moaned "Now's not the time for one of your complaints. We've been kidnapped."
"Kate, we have company."
"Allie!"
The woman known as Kate turned to admonish the woman called Allie only to see Laverne and Shirley for the first time.
"Who the hell are you?" Kate asked.
"Kate, there's no need to be rude."
"Allie, they may be our kidnappers."
"I don't think so, lady," Laverne said in a threatening gesture.
Shirley slipped in behind her friend for protection.
"In fact, you may have lured us to this place," Laverne continued "What are you going to do, rob us? We got nothing to rob."
"We're not interested in anybodies money," Allie said "All we want to know is who brought us here, and why?"
"Allie?"
"Kate," Allie said "I'm convinced it wasn't our friends here. Somebody else brought us and them here."
Allie looked up to the sky.
"If you can hear us, show yourselves," She shouted "We demand an explanation."
There was silence, and it was deafening.
"Come on, Gipsy Lady," Laverne said "You spoke to Shirley and myself. What's wrong with our friends here?"
Allie held onto Kate. Kate looked nervously around. She then noted Laverne and Shirley's clothes and the clothes that she and Allie were wearing. There was a definite era difference in what they were wearing.
"I'm sorry I was rude to you," Kate said "I'm Kate McCardle, this is my friend, Allie Lowell."
Kate held out her hand. Laverne looked at it, and then at Shirley. Shirley stepped out from behind Laverne and accepted Kate's hand.
"Shirley Feeney, the aggressive one is called Laverne De Fazio."
"I'm not aggressive," Laverne complained "I'm just cautious."
"Cautious?"
"I am, Shirl."
"Can we discuss caution later," Allie said "We have a problem here."
"What year is this?" Kate suddenly asked.
"Kate?"
"Allie, look at the way Laverne and Shirley are dressed."
"What of it?" Laverne said.
"I agree," Allie said "There's nothing unusual about the way they're dressed. A little old fashioned, but there's no problem with that."
"Old fashioned," Shirley said "We paid a fortune for these outfits."
Kate looked at Allie imploring her to listen to what she had just said. Allie looked at Kate with wide eyes. It had just hit her what Kate was suggesting.
"You're kidding?"
"I'm not."
Allie turned to both Laverne and Shirley with an embarrassed smile.
"Can you humour us by telling us what year this is?"
"1960," Shirley answered.
Allie's look turned to horror. She looked at Kate.
"We've gone back in time?" Allie said "How?"
"Remember that mist we entered," Kate said "You were puzzled about how it showed up so quickly."
"Yes," Allie said "We ended up on the road leading to this circus."
"The mist of time," Shirley said.
"Shirl?" Laverne questioned.
"Laverne, The Mist of Time," Shirley said "Herne said that only Daughters of Herne can operate the Mists of Time. He also said that our eternal triad will travel the mists of time to be by our side during our time of crisis. Marion of Leaford also suggested that we use the Daughters of Herne as a guide."
"That was a dream, Shirl," Laverne said.
"What if it wasn't," Shirley said "What if we did go back to that village in medieval England."
"Excuse me," Kate said "I'm totally lost. Daughters of Herne, The Mists of Time, Eternal Triad, Marion of Leaford. What is going on here?"
"Have you had a dream about a group of women battling horned demons in a Cornish village in Medieval England," Laverne asked.
"Excuse me?"
"Remember the Errol Flynn, Maureen O'Hara movie concerning a group of women who saved a village from bandits?"
"Utter garbage," Allie said "I can't believe Errol Flynn and Maureen O'Hara agreed to do that. It certainly didn't help the Andrews Sisters and Dinah Shore."
"That garbage was based on true events," Laverne said "The group of modern day women battling horned demons in a Cornish village was real."
"You are joking."
"Wish we could show you," Shirley said.
A mist suddenly emerged in front of them. Laverne, Shirley, Kate and Allie looked at each other.
"Somebody heard you, Shirl," Laverne said.
Shirley held out a hand. Allie took it. Laverne and Kate also took each others hands. They walked into the mist together.
Sherwood Forest 1203
Laverne, Shirley, Kate and Allie arrived to find that there was an archery competition in progress amongst Robert, his followers, and the Daughters of Herne. Each of them was taking turns in firing an arrow at a sack filled with straw which was being pushed by a boy that Laverne and Shirley recognised as Much. As soon as the boy pushed the sack he was running away as fast as he could, thus ensuring that he wasn't hit by flying arrows. The friar was taking his turn and aiming his arrow at the moving sack. A man, Scarlet, made a noise causing the Friar to misfire.
"I'm going to kill you, Will Scatlock," The Friar raged.
He aimed a mock blow at Scarlet, who dodged, laughing as he did so.
"Have another go," Robert said.
"As long as you put a gag in his mouth," The Friar said pointing at Scarlet.
"I think I can arrange that," Prue Halliwell said putting a hand over Scarlet's mouth. Scarlet tried to get free but found Prue's grip too strong.
"You going to behave?"
Scarlet muffled a yes.
"I suggest that you fire before I let him go," Prue said.
"Much!" The Friar called "Quickly."
Much ran to the sack and started it moving. He ran away as quickly as he could. The Friar took aim with half an eye on Prue and Scarlet. He fired and the arrow hit its target. He turned around, bowed to Prue and gave Scarlet a look of triumph. Prue released Scarlet, who glared at her.
"Just you wait when it's your turn," Scarlet warned.
"He'll do nothing," Robert said with a smile "If he does, I will gag him personally."
From their hiding place, Kate and Allie watched with disbelief. Laverne and Shirley saw the look on their new friends' faces and smiled. They hadn't witnessed this sort of banter before, but they knew that this was more than possible, considering the bond that this group had.
"Where are we?" Kate asked "Who are these people?"
"Robin in the Hood, his followers, and the Daughters of Herne," Shirley answered.
"There was some sort of celebration going on," Laverne added "They seemed to be coming home from some sort of raid on Nottingham Castle, or something like that. Never got the full story."
"No we didn't," Shirley agreed.
Both Kate and Allie looked at the events unfolding in front of them. There was a strong camaraderie evident amongst this group, and there was a similar feeling with their relationship with Laverne and Shirley. They felt a strong bond, a friendship that echoed through the ages even though they didn't know them. Yet, they also had a feeling that they didn't have all the answers, that this was being forced on them at a rate of knots without giving either of them a chance to think about what they were witnessing. They needed answers, if only to comprehend what was going on.
"What are we doing here?" Allie asked
"Meeting our ancestors," Laverne answered "And our fellow Daughters."
"Ancestors, Fellow Daughters?"
"Robin in the Hood," Shirley said nodding in the direction of the blonde haired man standing with a shorter, skinnier red-haired woman "The woman with him is Marion of Leaford."
"Still lost," Kate said.
"Our descendants," Laverne said.
"In what way?" Kate pressed.
"Not quite sure myself," Laverne admitted "All Herne said is that we were Daughters of Herne and we had inherited gifts from Robert of Huntingdon, Robin Hood to you and me, and Marion of Leaford."
"The women you see in modern dress are also Daughters of Herne," Shirley added "We share their heritage, and according to Herne, their gifts."
Both Kate and Allie watched as each woman in modern dress approached the shooting range to take their turn in this archery contest. For some reason, both of them recognised the small red head firing the first shot as Clarice Starling, Special Agent Clarice Starling of the Federal Bureau of Investigations to be precise. They watched her bow the arrow and wait until the boy started swinging the sack before taking aim.
"Come on, girl," Will Scarlet called "You can do it."
They saw Clarice take a deep breath. Then she drew the string and then let go. The arrow flew through the air and hit the sack to the left.
"She hit," Allie whispered.
"Way to go, Clarice!" Kate said.
Laverne, Shirley and Allie looked at Kate.
"Her name just popped into my head," Kate said.
"Popped into your head?" Shirley said.
"Like magic," Kate said "I had a feeling that I knew who she was."
"So did I," Allie added.
"We had the same feeling," Laverne said with half a smile.
"We did have help, Laverne," Shirley said.
"I would have recognised her without Joyce Summers," Laverne returned.
"Really?"
"I would have."
"Guys," Allie said.
Both Laverne and Shirley looked at Allie and her stern look. They both responded with quivering lips. Allie smiled and hugged both of them. They continued watching as another federal agent, this time Monica Reyes took Clarice's place.
"Go, Monica," Robert called "You can do it. Just concentrate on the target."
"Monica Reyes," Kate whispered "Special Agent Monica Reyes also of the FBI."
Laverne nodded confirming the identification.
"Okay, Much," Monica called.
Much pushed the sack again and ran. Monica aimed and fired. The arrow just missed the moving target. Monica was crestfallen.
"You didn't compensate for the wind, Mon," Frankie Wharton called.
"I'd like to see you do better, Doctor Wharton," Monica returned.
Frankie Wharton nodded and strode up to the mark amidst a cacophony of cheers from the others.
"I think Frankie's accepted Monica's challenge" Kate commentated.
"So I see," Shirley said.
Laverne nudged both Kate and Allie. Allie in turn nudged Shirley. Little John was blowing air into a bag.
"I think there's gonna be trouble," Laverne said.
"You don't say," Shirley returned.
Just as Frankie was about to fire, Little John popped the bag. Frankie's arrow went miles wide, forcing Much to jump away from its flight. Frankie mouthed her apologies to Much and glared at John.
"Thanks a lot, John," Frankie complained "That could have killed someone."
"Me," Much echoed.
"You didn't compensate for the noise," Monica called back.
Frankie looked at Monica, and then burst into laughter. The others, including Laverne, Shirley, Kate and Allie in hiding, burst into laughter. Suddenly, they were being hauled into the open, by Robert and by Buffy, and forced into the arena.
"Laverne, Shirley?" Piper said.
"Hi, Piper," Laverne said.
"Why were you hiding?" Dana Scully asked.
"Didn't want to disturb you," Shirley answered.
"You can never disturb us," Buffy said "You're welcome any time, and so are your friends."
Buffy hugged Shirley, and then released her and Laverne. Robert put his arms around Kate and Allie. Allie squirmed a little at the squeeze. She squirmed even more when Buffy hugged her and Kate.
"Welcome home, all of you."
"More daughters coming home," The Friar smiled "This week gets better and better. We've had so many daughters return to the fold."
"Daughters?" Kate said.
"Of Herne," Will Scarlet smiled "Soon we'll have enough for an entire army. An army that will kick the Sheriff of Nottingham and Gisbourne all the way back to Normandy."
"Okay," Kate said trying to make sense of this "I don't know what this means at the moment. I'm Kate McCardle, this is my friend Allie Lowell, by the way."
"We know who you are, Kate, Allie" Marion said.
Marion approached Allie and put her arms around her. Then did the same to Kate. Kate and Allie looked at Laverne and Shirley for guidance. All they did was smile.
Thirty Minutes Later
The reunion was completed and the Archery competition continued. Laverne, Shirley, Kate and Allie sat in between Robert and Marion as guests of honour. There was no hiding now. There was no need, everything was out in the open. Both Kate and Allie, as in a way did Laverne and Shirley, began slowly to understand what being a Daughter was all about through the conversations they had with Phoebe, wise clever Phoebe, full of hidden wisdom; with Mel Silver and Frankie; even with the scary and intimidating Faith. Faith told them about how she found out she was a Daughter, about how she tried to kill Buffy, Willow and Phoebe and finding out that by killing them, she would have had to kill herself as well. Their deaths would have cascaded into her.
"We are joined at the hip," Faith told them "You die, we die."
"Our Achilles Heel?" Allie suggested.
"Our Kryptonite, call it what you will," Willow agreed "We love each other like sisters, like lovers."
"We're even married to each other," Mel added.
"What?" That came from Laverne.
Even Shirley looked shocked at that statement. Kate and Allie just remained puzzled.
"Oh yeah," Paige said "That's part of it. We gave ourselves body and spirit to each other. It's a bond that can never be broken."
"Except by death," Kate said.
"Death is the undiscovered country," Phoebe said "Who knows what happens when we die. Maybe the Daughters will rise in another place, and in another time."
"Lets not get metaphorical here," Piper said.
"What I'm meaning is that the bond is fixed, it can never be broken," Phoebe said "Xena, Athena and Aphrodite taught us that when they were introduced into the family."
"And if anybody has experience of such things, it's the mighty Warrior Princess, Xena," Piper added.
"That woman has died more times than you've had hot dinners, and still returned to talk about it," Paige finished.
Kate, Allie, Laverne and Shirley looked at Paige looking for an explanation for that statement. All Paige did was smile. Allie shook her head.
"You're seeing this as a family?" Allie asked.
"Only way you can," Frankie said.
"Guys," Monica interrupted.
She was nodding in the direction of Buffy and Faith who had stepped up to the mark.
"You've got to see this," Scarlet whispered to Kate and Allie together "These two are always doing this."
Buffy and Faith looked at each other, trying to psych each other out.
"What are they doing?" Shirley asked.
"Trying to dare each other to miss," Little John answered "We've got a pool going on who will miss first."
"Who's the favourite?" Laverne asked.
"Vernie!" Shirley frowned.
"Who's the money on?" Kate finished.
"Does it matter, Kate, Laverne?" Allie said.
Kate and Laverne looked at each other and decided on their favourite for the big miss.
"What's the stake?" Kate asked.
"Oh, Kate!" Allie said with a frown.
"Al, it's a bit of fun," Kate said.
"A bit of harmless fun," Laverne agreed.
Shirley and Allie looked at each other, and then surrendered. They could see Buffy and Faith getting ready to fire their arrows at the now moving target.
"How much on them not missing?" Allie said.
"Not missing?" Kate pressed.
"They're not going to miss," Shirley said "I can feel it."
"So can I," Allie said.
Both Buffy and Faith chose that moment to fire. Both arrows hit their target dead centre. Kate, Laverne, John and Scarlet looked at Shirley and Allie.
"We could feel that they weren't going to miss," Allie explained "I don't know how."
"It was uncanny," Shirley continued "It was if we were tuned into their mind somehow."
Phoebe put arms around Shirley and Allie.
"Let's find out if that's true," She said "It's your turn."
"Oh no," Allie protested "We don't fire arrows."
"Definitely not," Shirley added "No way."
"Come on, Allie, Shirley" Kate said "What's the harm in trying?"
"If you miss, you miss," Laverne added "We wont hold it against you."
"Then you and Kate show us how it's done, Vernie," Shirley said
Allie folded her arms.
"I'll only do it if you and Laverne do it first, Kate."
Kate and Laverne looked at each other and then got up and headed for the range.
"If we do this, you'll do it?" Kate said.
"Did we hear that right, Shirl?" Laverne added.
"Scouts honour," Allie answered for both of them.
"You were never in the Scouts, or any organisation, Allie," Kate said with a smile.
"You do it, we do it." Shirley said.
"Come on," Faith shouted "Get on with it."
"They said they would do it if you did it," Piper said "We'll hold them to it."
Kate and Laverne took bows from the rack, and loaded them with arrows.
"Together?" Laverne asked.
"If Buffy and Faith can do it, so can we," Kate answered.
"Okay Much," Laverne called "Push the sack."
Much looked at Robert, who gave him the nod. Much pushed the sack and jumped away. Both Laverne and Kate pulled back the bowstring and fired at the same time. To everybody's, especially Allie and Shirley's amazement, they both hit as accurately as Buffy and Faith not a couple of minutes ago.
"As easy as that, Allie, Shirl," Laverne said.
"Now it is your turn," Piper said.
"I don't know," Allie said.
"You promised."
Shirley took Allie's hand and pulled her to the range. Kate helped Allie fix the arrow to the bow, Laverne did the same thing for Shirley.
"You can do it one at a time," Robert called "The target doesn't have to be moving."
Both Allie and Shirley took deep breaths.
"Move the target," Allie said.
"You sure?" Kate asked.
"Swing the target," Shirley finished "We need to know if we can do it."
"That's my Shirl," Laverne said hugging her best friend.
"Good luck, Allie," Kate said "And it doesn't matter if you miss."
At Robert's signal, Much started the target swinging. Allie looked at Shirley.
"On three," Allie said.
Shirley nodded.
"One," Allie counted.
"Two," Shirley added
"Three," They both said together.
They both released the bowstring, the arrows flew through the air and hit the target to the left and to the right. The cheers echoed through the glades, only to be interrupted by the sound of a horn.
"Company," Little John said.
"Gisbourne," Will Scarlet said with a scowl.
"That man will never give up," Phoebe said.
"I say we teach him a lesson," Faith said.
Robert shook his head.
"The Sheriff will retaliate," He said "We have to get into hiding, and you four have to leave."
"Why?" Kate said "What's going on?"
"You have to deal with your problem," Marion said "You have to link with your eternal triad and stop what is about to happen, your lives depend on it."
"Our lives?" Allie countered.
Robert nodded. Both Marion and Robert hugged Kate, Allie, Laverne and Shirley.
"Now go," Buffy said.
"And good luck," Faith finished.
With that, Robert and his group scattered. The mist appeared again. Just as Gisbourne and his troops appeared, Laverne and Shirley pulled Kate and Allie into the mist.
The Circus Ring
They walked through the mist and into the Circus Ring again. Something had changed. There was a comradeship that encompassed all four of them.
"Welcome back," The Gipsy called.
"Now you speak to them," Laverne said.
"Kate and Allie had to be introduced to their destiny in the same way you were," The Gipsy said.
"Why didn't you speak to them?" Shirley asked.
"It's okay, Shirl, Laverne," Allie said "We're not fussed."
"No it's not," Laverne retorted.
"It was rude," Shirley added.
"It was necessary."
An auburn haired woman entered the ring. With her was a dark haired woman with long legs and a snappy dress sense, and a shorter blonde haired woman with an angelic smile.
"Why?" Kate asked.
"We had to know if you were who you say you were, Mrs McCardle, or should I say Miss Hanlon."
Kate looked at the auburn haired woman suspiciously. How did she know that?
"Well done, Sis," The Gipsy said "You and your big mouth."
"Aphrodite, please."
"Aphrodite?" Allie said in shock "The Goddess of Love?"
"One of her many names," The Auburn haired said.
Aphrodite emerged into the light wearing the Gipsy costume that she wore when she first met Lenny and Squiggy. She clicked her fingers and changed instantly into something more Aphrodite.
"Oh Dite!" The Auburn Haired woman shook her head.
Beside her the shorter blonde haired woman smiled. In contrast, Laverne, Shirley, Kate and Allie looked stunned. Shirley looked at the Auburn Haired woman again
"You must be Athena," Shirley said "The Goddess of Wisdom."
Athena nodded her head.
"And of Warfare," Athena added.
"Miss Parker?" Laverne asked.
"Score one for Laverne De Fazio," Miss Parker said.
"Gabrielle," Kate said.
"The one and only," Gabrielle smiled.
Aphrodite put an arm around Gabrielle.
"Can't say any better?" The Goddess of Love.
"Where are the others?" Allie asked.
"Around," Athena said.
A wolf whistle echoed through the air. It was a familiar wolf whistle. Laverne grasped Shirley's hand. The nut jobs had found them. Kate took Laverne's hand.
"You're no longer alone," she said "We can face them together."
Laverne and Shirley's psychotic dates emerged form the shadows. Both men were tall. One had dark hair and a scar across his face, the other had sandy hair.
"Like the company you keep, Laverne, Shirley," The Dark Haired man said "Safety in numbers, eh."
Laverne gripped Shirley's hand tighter. Athena touched Shirley on the shoulder and moved in front of them.
"I suggest that you leave now," Athena said.
The two men looked at each other.
"You know who we are, Sweet Cakes?"
"The brutal killers of six innocent women," Miss Parker said
"This is where it ends," Kate said stepping in front of Laverne and Shirley. Allie also moved in front of the two frightened bottle cappers.
"You're going to have to get through us to get to them," Allie said "So I suggest that you leave before you get badly hurt."
"Or killed," Another voice added.
Cybill Sheridan and Maryann Thorpe emerged from the shadows. Cybill took Laverne's hand and squeezed it. Then she and Maryann moved to the line that was protecting Laverne and Shirley.
"I suggest that you take Mrs Lowell's and Athena's advice and leave while you have the chance," Cybill said.
"Laverne De Fazio and Shirley Feeney are off limits to you, forever," Maryann added "You even try to come near them, the consequences will be dire."
The two men laughed. The dark haired man whistled and more men entered the ring, all of them tough looking, all of them hungry for a bit of female meat.
"Guys," The Dark haired man said "I promised you that you'd have your chance. Well, here we are. Take your pick. But, leave De Fazio and Feeney for us."
Both Laverne and Shirley started whimpering. Aphrodite held onto both of them.
"Hold on," The Goddess of Love said.
The other women formed a circle around the three of them ready to face the advancing men.
"This is your last chance," Athena said "Back off while you still can."
The two men continued laughing. That seemed to produce a feeling of anger in Laverne and Shirley. They broke free of Aphrodite and took their place in the circle next to Kate and Allie on one side and Cybill and Maryann on the other. Aphrodite moved next to her Sister. Athena looked at Laverne and Shirley.
"You sure?" Athena asked.
"We are Daughters of Herne," Shirley said "These men are nothing."
"Nothing?" The Sandy Haired man said.
"You heard, scuzz ball," Laverne said "Nothing."
"Did you hear that, guys" The Dark Haired man shouted "She called us nothings. Want to show these little girlies here how nothing we are?"
With that, the Dark Haired man produced a flick knife which he opened with almost a casual flick of the wrist. Within seconds, he was dropping it and holding his hand. A sharp circular metallic object had just hit him on the hand. A yell produced the entry of two more women, both of them brandishing swords, and both of them looking dangerous, hungry and ready to slice and dice. The taller of the two women caught the metallic object in her hand and brandished it menacingly.
"You are nothing," Xena, The Warrior Princess said "You are worse than nothing, you are something we scrape off our boots."
"Leave while you still live," The shorter younger woman said "That is your last warning. There will be no more."
Suddenly, the Sandy Haired man beside him had doubts.
"Brad, we should leave," He said "There are other fishes in the sea."
"No chance," Brad, The Dark Haired man said "I've been insulted by some little girlie with a big sword. That deserves punishment."
Aphrodite closed her eyes.
"Xena is not going to like that, neither is Eve," She whispered to Laverne.
"What are they going to do?" Laverne asked.
"Watch."
The man called Brad lunged forward at Xena. Xena sent him flying with a well timed right cross.
"Leave, Brad Simpkins," Athena called "Leave while you still have skin."
Brad Simpkins roared and lunged at Eve this time. Eve went into Livia mode and sent him flying with a roundhouse kick. Now the Dark Haired man was bleeding from a cut on his mouth.
"They just don't learn, mother," Eve said.
"Scum just rises to the surface, Eve," Xena said "Remember that."
"Get them!" He roared.
Some of the men moved menacingly forward. Parker sent one back with a punch that would have made boxing proud. Another was sent flying with a roundhouse kick from Gabrielle. Athena sent another flying with a punch of her own. Even Aphrodite took one out with a knee to the groin that put tears in his eyes.
"Bet that hurt, buddy," She gloated.
Brad himself tried to make it to Laverne and Shirley themselves but found himself facing a wall that was Xena.
"You just don't quit," Xena said "I admire that. But."
Xena sent him flying again. Suddenly the brave, fearsome killers of six women weren't feeling so brave. These women were fighting back and giving as good as they were being given. Some of the men fled the scene to run into police officers who had been told to wait outside by Cornwall. Soon the Dark Haired man was on his own, even his Sandy haired friend had done a bunk rather than continue getting the hammering he was getting from Eve. They surrounded him and placed him in the centre of a very large circle. There was even the drama of a spotlight falling on him. Laverne and Shirley, backed up by Kate and Allie, gently pushed Xena in an attempt to get through. Xena gladly stepped aside.
"Not so tough now aren't you, Brad," Laverne said.
Suddenly Laverne punched him in the stomach. Shirley glared at Laverne for a moment, then delivered her own slap to the man's face. The force sent Brad to the ground in a heap, and provoked a surprised look from Laverne, and a smile from both Xena and Athena.
"You put six women through a nightmare," Shirley said "The same nightmare you wanted to put us through. Well guess what, the shoe's on the other foot."
"Time to face the justice of the Daughters of Herne," Kate said.
"Or," Allie said "You can face the American justice system. Maybe you can convince them how a broken home led you to kill six women."
"Is that possible?" Maryann Thorpe asked.
"Anything's possible, Maryann," Cybill Sheridan said.
"A frightening prospect," Maryann said.
"Either way, there will be justice done today," Cybill said "He either fries in an electric chair care of the American legal system or he fries in here."
"Kill him?" Shirley said.
"I still believe you have the death penalty in this state," Kate said "I don't necessarily agree with it."
"But this guy killed six women and would have killed Laverne, Shirley, and probably us as well if he had the chance," Allie finished.
Kate nodded in Allie's direction
"I think we should vote," Cybill suggested "Should we hand him over to the police and take a chance that some smart lawyer might get him off, or should we dispense justice in here."
"I say kill him," Eve said.
"Mercy," Gabrielle said "Let the legal system deal with him."
"Death," Miss Parker said "Otherwise, he could get let out on a technicality and continue his killing spree."
Brad was starting to look terrified.
"Kill the son of a bitch," Laverne suggested.
"Vernie!" Shirley said.
"He would have killed us, Shirl."
"I still think the legal system will deal with him, So I say mercy."
"Mercy," Aphrodite said "I don't believe in killing people."
"Death," Allie said.
"Al!" Kate said in disgust.
"He has terrified the women of this city just for his own pleasure," Allie said "A man like that doesn't deserve to live."
"He has to be given the chance to reform."
"Sorry, Kate, I don't think he will."
"Neither do I," Xena said "He may look frightened now, but if he gets the chance he will do it again. I've been down that road myself. It's a very hard road to come off."
"But you did, Xena," Gabrielle said "So did Athena, and you did kill her."
"And Aphrodite saved her."
"In the same way Ares saved Eve and myself," Gabrielle said "By sacrificing her godhood. She was given a second chance, and she reformed."
Everybody looked at Athena.
"Gabrielle is right, Aphrodite saving me did give me the chance to reform, but I agree with Xena and Allie, I don't think this man will reform. So I vote death."
"Cybill?" Maryann asked.
"I'm not happy with killing people for justice sake," Cybill said "More importantly, If we kill him in cold blood we become murderers ourselves, or has everybody forgotten that."
"We haven't killed anybody yet, that's true," Athena said "But this man will continue killing. We cannot let that continue."
"I wont," Brad said for the first time.
"I still say no," Cybill said "We would have blood on our hands."
"I vote yes," Maryann said "He will not reform. He may say he wouldn't kill to save his skin but once he's feeling brave again he will, if only to save face. However, I think he think he should be allowed to make his own mind up."
"I'll go along with that," Allie said.
Kate, Laverne, Shirley, Cybill, Miss Parker, Gabrielle, Aphrodite and even Xena and Eve nodded their agreement to that suggestion.
"It is your choice," Athena said "Either face justice in here, or take your chances with the legal system. But I have to warn you, either way you could end up dead. As you heard, we have a tie in here, but I think one or two could be swung in favour of hanging you from the nearest tree, and I suspect that the police officers outside would applaud and probably would turn a blind eye, especially if it meant less paper work."
Brad looked at all twelve women. He especially looked at Laverne and Shirley. Shirley had voted no. However, if she thought she could get away with it, the answer would be yes, he was sure of that.
Epilogue
Brad Simpkins was put into the police car and driven away. His friends were also taken to separate police precicents to undergo interrogation for their part in the six murders. The case would make headlines for several days. Laverne and Shirley would receive praise, and even a medal, for the brave way that they used themselves as bait to lure the killers out. The one thing that would never come out was how they were actually caught. Cornwall saw to that. He also made sure that everybody was returned to their different times safely with their memories of what happened retained. Cornwall was well aware that they had worked together before, and there were reasons why they had to have their memories of those occasions wiped. He hoped that they would never find out what actually happened, or find out about the massive crime that they had committed, but had to be committed in order to save an entire universe. It was a crime that put their entire capital punishment debate in the shade as technically, by the laws of the Shadow Proclamation and the Galactic Federation, Xena, Gabrielle, Eve, Miss Parker, Athena, Aphrodite, Laverne De Fazio, Shirley Feeney, Kate McCardle, Allie Lowell, Cybill Sheridan and Maryann Thorpe should have been sentenced to death, and still could be if their part in the biggest criminal act in Galactic Federation history was ever revealed, along with many of the other Daughters of Herne, and probably Cornwall and the Last of the Time Lords themselves.
"Will anybody ever tell them?" Buffy asked.
Cornwall shook his head.
"Not voluntarily," He said "But I have a horrible feeling that it will come out eventually."
"We need to be ready for that day."
The voice belonged to the woman who was formerly known as Martha Jones. She, and the Time Lords formerly known as Rose Tyler and Donna Noble emerged from the shadows.
"Because, we're one hundred per cent sure it will come out," Donna said "And I'm not sure how they're going to take it."
"Especially Laverne, Shirley, Cybill, Maryann, Kate and Allie," Rose said "The fact that they helped in the committing of genocide is not going to go down too well in their conscience, even if it was for a good cause."
Cornwall looked at Buffy and wished for one moment that he could wipe Buffy's and the rest of the original Daughters of Herne's minds of those events. The only saving grace they had was that they had no choice. It was genocide or the continuation of a war that would have lead to the destruction of the universe in several dimensions, thus causing chaos within time itself which, with no temporal super powers, would have been virtually impossible to clean up.
