AN:
1] hopefully, this posts with all punctuation intact. Don't know what happened last time
2] "words like this" are spoken, ; 'words like this' are thoughts
Enter the Comedian
By Karis
Night
Roadside pumpkin stand
Buffy felt several pumpkins smash as she tumbled from being hit. Setting up a farm-like stand to sell pumpkins, might be cute, but for her it just added to places she had to patrol. Now instead of meeting Angel at the bronze, she was covered in orange crap. Grabbing one of the gourds she threw it at the guys face. It worked like she hoped; he tried to knock it away causing it to explode into muck. Thereby, allowing her to charge up to him without problems. The resulting dust clung to her pulp covered clothing making it even grosser. Cleaning it off was futile and she stalked off toward home, never noticing the guy hiding with a video camera.
Somewhat later
The Bronze.
Holidays have traditions, one of them being bars and clubs putting up cheesy decorations. The Bronze was no exception, which meant the staff was busy putting up fake cobwebs and other klitchy decorations. They also were talking about the owner's plans for that night. How they had been told they would be in costume and about the 'one night only' menu. They were so intent on complaining about the Crap, it was easy for someone to avoid getting noticed. This was what Angel was doing. Buffy should have been here half an hour ago, but she was late again. He was just about to go out and look for her when someone sat down across from him. It wasn't Buffy, but instead that cheerleader, she complained about. He briefly hoped Buffy had sent her with news, but soon realized that she was just using him as someone to complain at about some boy who wasn't there. Then she pretended to flirt with him, as if he might be a replacement for whoever she was mad at. He was trying to figure a way out of this when he spotted Buffy standing in the doorway.
Buffy spotted angel and Cordelia as soon as she walked in. She knew she was kind of late, but to find her boyfriend sitting and apparently chatting up someone else, hurt. She considered confronting them, but realized what would be the point. She was just kidding herself; she would never have a normal life. She never had any time for girl stuff anymore, between school and training, and trying to figure out how to explain weird stains on her clothes. Maybe she should just let them be together. She feels her eyes beginning to tear, and sees Angel starting toward her. The last thing she needs is pity and leaves before he gets there.
The next day: Wednesday the 29th
Sunnydale High School
As the gang enters they see a table set up in the hallway. There is a banner: volunteers needed, over it and Xander goes over to check it out. He chats briefly with the students sitting there and looks over one of the handouts then rejoins Buffy and Willow who ask how 'bad' it is.
"Depends," Xander tells them "On how you feel about escorting sugar-hyped kids while they go trick-or- treating. Principal Snyder apparently decided the school would take part this year, but didn't figure on student apathy."
"Well, the idea isn't bad, given what goes on at night around here." Willow said "He should have signed people up by now thou, last minute things are tricky."
Buffy looked at her friend, and wondered if Willow planned to sign up for this. Then she shakes her head "He should have thought of that, as for me I have made plans for that night."
"Oh, I bet you have summers." says the familiar sneering voice from behind them. "Tossing eggs, keying cars, smashing pumpkins, soaping windows: Well not this year, instead you're going to do something to help people for a change." He brandishes a clipboard and pen. "We meet here at five thirty and leave at six and should be done by eight. That is, unless you want to get on my bad-side by giving me really good reasons why you can't do this?"
The tone in his voice tells them, they really don't have a choice. Reluctantly Buffy takes the pen and fills out the form. Willow takes it next, not liking his tactics but being inclined to have signed up anyway. Xander considers refusing, how wrong this is grating on him. He wants the kids to be safe, but bullying people into doing this is just wrong. However, the look in Snyder gives him promises things much worse. So despite envisioning this leading to bad things, he signs the form.
"Can you believe this?" Xander rants as they walk to the lounge "Aside from his take on the volunteering. It says we have to be dressed costume for this as well. Great, can this get any worse?"
"Yeah my one night to stay in and veg, stolen by Principal Troll" Buffy says headed for the couches. "According to Giles, tomorrow night is, like, dead for the undead. No one knows why but they stay out of sight. Weird, huh?"
"Yes, you would think it would be easy hunting for them." Willow says sitting down as Xander drops off his book bag and heads for the vending area. "Maybe it's too easy or something"
Xander just shakes his head, leave it to Willow to try and figure out why vamps do things. He pulls out his change as he walks over, and is about to get a soda when Larry puts a hand on his shoulder grabbing his attention.
"Hey Larry, what's up? Didn't see you, I'll wait if you want."
Larry ignores the submission, he needs to know stuff. "Shut it, I seen you hanging around Buffy. You getting anywhere with her?"
Xander feels his anxiety turn to anger "She's a friend, if that's what you're asking. Something I plan to grow into a long and happy future."
Larry slowly thinks about it "Thought so, you were struck out before you even stepped up. Face it; she is out of your league." He says with a sneer not seeing Buffy walking up behind him. "After I score with her, I might let her know. Maybe she'll give you a 'mercy' date. Given how 'fast' I heard she was I doubt it would be her first."
Xander doesn't see her either; His eyes are only on the Jock "Larry. Given she is a friend; I am telling you two things. First, that you don't have a chance with her. And second I really don't like what you're saying about her."
"So what wimp, what makes you think I care?" Larry says with a nasty smile "Not like you could do anything about it." With that he Grabs Xander and slams him into the vending machine. Then he gets ready to pound the wimps face a bit, but feels someone grab his hand.
Buffy squeezes his wrist, then a moment later slams him into the next machine along. She hears it rock and knows he will be bruised but doesn't care. She simply glares at him and then whispers "Be smart, disappear, Now!" Then seeing a pack of Twinkies the machine has dispensed, she tosses them to Xander. Then heads back over to join Willow.
Xander comes over a moment later and isn't happy. He seems mad that she had prevented him form getting hurt, and then goes on a rant about how she destroyed peoples respect for him and now he will be seen as worse than a wimp because he needs people to fight for him. Then he storms off leaving her confused. She sits back down and asks Willow. "Did I just violate some guy code or something?"
Willow shrugs "Maybe, boy stuff is hard to understand. Speaking of, how was your date last night?
"It didn't." Buffy says slumping down "Slayage resulted in a messed up outfit. By the time I got there he and Cordelia were making eyes to each other over cappuccino"
"Buffy, Angel wouldn't do that. Are you sure you weren't seeing things? What did he say about it?"
"Didn't stay to give him a chance." Buffy said sadly "But face it, what's not to like. She was there in a stunning outfit, her hair and nails perfect, me I am lucky if my clothes are free from rips and stains, and slaying isn't good for hairdos or manicures. Besides, for all I know, he will be happier with her than me. Despite knowing him for months, he hasn't shared much with me. For all I know she is what he really likes in a girl."
Willow sighs "Yeah, it is hard to get to know people, especially when you can't talk to other people they know and find out stuff. Hey, maybe that is the answer. Wouldn't stuff about angel be recorded in the Watcher diaries? Maybe we could get a look at them and read up on Angel."
Buffy considers this "maybe, I know Giles has them in his office. But he usually keeps them locked up. I doubt he would let us read them for this."
Willow nods "True. But he wouldn't object if you were looking it up for slaying stuff. Given how Spike seems the main threat these days, looking up his history and stuff might be a good idea. If we finding out stuff about Angel as well, it is just happenstance."
During lunch
In the library
Giles is standing at the counter as they come in. he sees them heading for the book cage and wonders why they are there. "Buffy, Willow, is there some problem afoot?"
Willow looks nervous and Buffy launches into a story about knowing enemies and therefore being able to fight them better. Giles finds himself doubting it. He might have believed Willow wanting to do research, but from Buffy this is suspicious. He doesn't know what is going on but knows something is. "Buffy, you generally resist studying the histories. Why do I suspect there is something more going on?"
Willow realizes the plan was failing and quickly speaks up "Hey, just 'cause she didn't before, doesn't mean she can't change. Besides, maybe if history was taught better, we might be more interested in it. Most kids get bored of listening to people drone on about stuff. So they never see how it even applies everyday lives."
"Yeah, like this how you told me that Halloween is a big yawner? You never said why or how that came about, just that it was." Buffy said "So how are we supposed to care about stuff like that?"
Giles pinches the bridge of his nose. Something was defiantly going on, but what ever it was, he wasn't going to find out. That left him with two choices. He could try to refuse them, resulting in them trying some other way and perhaps damaging things. Or he could seem to accept this, and watch what happened. Also this would mean he had control of which books they had, and prevent them getting dangerous ones. Not the best choice, but better than the alternative, such was life.
"Not, I believe you're being fully honest with me. But, I will accept that for now." He said then opened a locked cabinet and took out several books before relocking it "I believe these might serve to answer questions about Spike and family. Some of the information is contradictory, unfortunately, but such are first person accounts generally. Please return them to me when you are done. As for the whys of Halloween, if you are really interested, I can explain it to you tomorrow night."
They picked up the books and moved into the main library. As they did Willow explained that they had been drafted into a safety program so would be unable to join him. He considers that this might be their real reason, but knows it is only part of the answer and goes back to what he was doing before. Buffy breaths a sigh of relief as he leaves them and they sit down. In his own way Giles is scarier than Snyder. "So, did he give us anything good?" she asks
"Not sure, they seem kind of recent." Willow says as she opens one of the books and finds out it is a copy of an older book. "Still, maybe, this one might have something." Willow says and tries to read the text but finding a problem "Darn, this isn't French. So aside from pictures, we won't get much out of it." She says as she looks at some drawings "Hey what's this? I think this part refers to 1778 but the sketch has a date on it of 1773. Maybe that's what he meant by conflicting information. I wish I could read the text. It probably would tell us why she is important and who she was."
"Short of asking Giles we may never know. But look there, that word 'Anglis', Maybe they meant to write Angel." Buffy said trying in vein to figure out what was written. "Let's see he would be college age sometime around those dates. Maybe this is what he liked in girls back then. What do you think?"
Willow knew that without real data, they were just guessing and making assumptions. Still the picture was very detailed. Someone had to work to make a sketch like that. "Don't know, but that outfit is really beautiful. She must have been some sort of noble woman or something. Makes you wonder about the artist, thou. I mean he gets the dress details really clear and messes up in drawing her. I mean look at her waist that can't be right."
"Yeah, unless she was a circus freak, maybe the drawing was done wrong for some reason. Like those weird ones people get where one feature is made huge. Just look at her face, that huge zit she had was made even more obvious." Buffy said then sighs loudly "Still it must have been nice, wearing fantabulous gowns to royal balls. Not to mention not having to worry about anything beyond what to tell people what you wanted them to do."
That evening
Sunnydale business district
Getting costumes two days before Halloween is a problem. Most decent stores were partly or completely sold out. As for the specialty places what was left was either inappropriate or very unpopular stuff. They had been getting frustrated until they saw a flyer tacked up, promising huge last minute discounts. Looking at the shop, Buffy knew that it was probably packed and so this would be sale shopping at its hardest. She clued in the others that once inside they would probably get separated unless they were real careful. True to her intuition as soon as they were in side they lost Xander. This was okay, as it gave her and Willow a chance to talk. Buffy had been working to increase Willows self confidence, but for each step she made something happened to nullify it. This would be the perfect time to get her and Xander together, that was if she could just get Willow to express, rather than repress herself.
"Will, if you're always hiding, no one will ever see you." Buffy said as she reached for a ghost costume. "Halloween is come as you aren't night. You can dress up as wild as you dare and no one blames you for it. It will be your perfect chance to get Xander's attention with no repercussions. You just have to go for it."
Willow shakes her head, she doesn't like disappointing Buffy, but getting wild or sexy, just isn't her. A moment later Xander rejoins them carrying a large toy rifle. He tells them he has some army clothes at home and this will complete the outfit. Buffy ignores most of what he is saying as she spots something thru the crowd. She isn't sure exactly what it is but decides to find out and makes her way over. Eventually she gets an unobstructed view and sees it is a fancy red 18th-century gown.
Buffy is almost spellbound by it as the others catch up. "Wow, it's amazing. It looks like that drawing we saw." Willow says seeing it
Xander isn't impressed "Way too frilly and heavy. Lace is okay but spandex is way better."
The shop owner however has a different opinion and asks if Buffy would like to try it on. When she doesn't immediately object he takes it off the mannequin and steers her so she is looking at a mirror with it in front of her. "Magnificent isn't it? Yes, I think we found a match. We have our hidden princess. Don't you agree?
Buffy looks at herself in the mirror and imagines it. Wearing clothes like this, and not ruining them before a single night is done. It is a nice dream but that is all it ever can be "Oh how I wish, but sorry. There's no way I can afford it."
"Oh, nonsense." The man said "I am Ethan, by the way. As owner of this shop, I know how important it is getting the right people in the right costume. After seeing you, I doubt I could let anyone else hired this. I am sure we can come to an arrangement." Then he smiles as he sees he has set the hook, and all he needs do is real her in.
Friday afternoon
Harris house
Xander is relaxing in his room. He had laid out his costume as soon as he arrived from school, to make sure it was all there. The last he needed was last minute problems. He had just finished and was sitting down to read thru a book for English class when he hears his dad coming up to his room. "Great, I wonder what he wants" he wondered. A moment later he finds out as his dad enters looking almost sober. Apparently he heard Xander come in and wanted to know why he wasn't at school. Xander starts to remind him of the half-holiday, but is interrupted. His dad has seen the fatigues and wants to know why he has them. This results in Xander telling him about the safety program and how he was drafted.
His dad gets an odd look at that point. As if he is remembering something. Then he shakes his head and looks over the costume. "Army-guy huh? So where's the rest of it?"
Xander shrugs "I got a toy gun, don't need much else."
His dad looks very confused, then almost mad "Didn't I teach you anything boy. Things ain't done, if they ain't done right! Maybe it ain't too late to salvage things. Let's see that 'gun' of yours. Now!"
Despite knowing of the terrors that walked the night, Xander had no resistance when his dad yelled. He did as he was told and what followed wasn't pretty. His dad grabbed the toy and looked it over before announcing it was crap. Then he goes off on this weird rant about how if there ain't unit patches, they ain't really uniforms. Then, he tells Xander to go down and grab a certain box from under the basement stairs. Xander runs both ways and once back sees that inside there is also a uniform. But while the one he got seemed new this one looks kind of beat up. His dad begins pulling the stuff out and tells him to change into it. Once he is done he hands him some other stuff, belts and things and tells him to put them on.
"Not perfect, but at least you don't look like one of them." His dad mutters then seems to speak as if remembering something "Now, listen boy, two things you got to always remember. One: a solder's life depends on his weapons and equipment. Take care of them, and they will take care of you. Second, enemies ain't always on the other side, Some people might say they are your friends, but if you watch them careful, you'll see what they truly are." then he shakes his head again as if to clear it "Now, No way is you carrying anything made in china. If anybody asks, just tell em you're on R&R. But before anything your gonna take that piece of commie shit back where you got it. I don't care if you get your money back or not but your gonna do it! You hear me boy?"
Xander nodded and as a result found himself outside the costume shop shortly there after. He sighed, he had hoped today would at least partially not suck, but like so many days it gave a new definition to the word. The next few minutes reinforced this as well. The shop seemed deserted at first, but appeared to be open; however the friendly guy from yesterday had been replaced by someone else. This guy pointed to a sign that said 'No Refunds' then did his best to get rid of him. Xander might have caved, but between his dad and school and such he needed something to go right. So he stood up for himself and told the guy that he would exchange it for something else, but wouldn't leave unless they both were satisfied somehow. The guy looked ready to call the cops but then seemed to remember something and hesitated. Shortly later he was outside and heard the door lock behind him. In his hands was a box which the guy had said was worth more than he had paid. Moving over to one of the benches he pulled off the tape and checked what was inside. It looked like the contents of a junk drawer, but some of it was kind of neat. A real old metal toy pistol, which he thought could fit in his belt, what looked like an open pack of some kind of weird cigarettes, a plastic knife that looked almost real and a few buttons. One of which was his favorite, the 'happy face'. True it looked a bit messed up, almost like it had been splashed with mud but that was okay. He knew solder's wore good luck charms and if he had worn this in the field, it would explain the mud. He smiled and headed toward Buffy's house. Inside the shop the owner went back to his perpetrations glad the annoying teen was gone, not knowing what he had done buy dumping the stuff on the kid.
At the Summer's house
Buffy was glad she had Willow come over; she would never have got in this dress by herself. Especially, as the costume had included a corset. It was something like a girdle, but was even worse. In fact between the huge skirt and the weird underwear, she isn't sure if she is wearing this or it is wearing her. Still in the end she has to admire how good she looked. Even if she has a hard time recognizing herself in the heavy makeup and dark wig. Now if she could only get Willow to see she looked good too.
"Come-on Will, you look great even mom says so. I am sure Xander will agree when he gets here too."
"I-I don't know I can even let him see this Buffy." Willow says pulling the robe tighter around her. "It just isn't me; I can't wear stuff like this."
"Yes you can, and what are you afraid of? I know your swim suit covers less and Xander has seen you in that." Buffy says getting annoyed "Besides we've been over this already. You want Xander to lust after you, but he doesn't. Probably, because like most guys, he is clueless. In that outfit he won't be able to help but see you as the hottie you are. That is unless you have changed your mind and don't want him to know that. In which case we will start trying to find him a girlfriend."
"N-no, I don't want that." Willow says as she stands up and drop s the robe. She has to carefully balance, given the low boots have both high heals and thick soles. The pale yellow halter top that leaves her arms and shoulders bare. The skirt is the Black leatherette and very short. On her legs she has shear stockings with obvious seams. She knows she is dressed but feels almost naked. She is just glad she hid the ghost costume in the bag she planned to carry.
Buffy can't help but smile, even if she shouldn't. She doubted if Willow would look anymore nervous if this were her wedding night. She also knew that after this the shapeless clothes would fool no one. Buffy almost laughed at how Xander might react to seeing her. "Now remember, you are the new confident Willow remember. Trust me, So long as you keep that in mind there won't be any laughter. Drooling or maybe date requests, but no laughter."
Willow tells herself to try, but can't do it. "This is wrong, I am not like you, it just isn't in me" then she reaches for the robe to cover herself again.
Buffy pulls her away from it and over to the mirror. "Maybe, but confidence is like a muscle, you have to build it up. You just need a reason to start, or you'll never get anywhere." She stands behind her friend and straitens her shoulders and makes her stand up strait "Tonight is the night to do this. The night to put away the old you. The night to try things and not worry about stuff like what mean people will say." Buffy has a dreamy smile then hears the doorbell ring.
Buffy knows her mom is downstairs, but begins making her way there. It is tricky moving thru the house in this, and she will be glad to get outside. Reaching the landing she sees Xander with a small plate of cookies and a glass of milk. She doesn't see the toy rifle anywhere, and his clothes look like hers sometimes do after patrol. He doesn't look hurt thou, and on closer inspection the gear looks like it is kind of old except for the happy face button on his collar.
Xander by this time had seen her and stood for a moment taking in the sight "Wow, Buffy you look really first class in that. Almost like a Princess out of a Disney movie." Then he straitens up and snaps off a salute "Ma'am, your escort, reporting for Duty. Please forgive me for no being in Full dress uniform, but they don't issue such to draftees in a war zone. Say you will forgive me, while I purge the memory of the evil Spandex from my mind."
Buffy curtsies slightly hiding her smile behind the fan "If I didn't know better Kind sir, I would think you seek to amuse me more than see to my safety."
Xander bows "If by jest, I might be with you and see you smile. Then you may call me The Comedian for as long as I am needed."
Buffy smiles as she hears Willow walking down the stairs but then turns and sees her friend is completely covered by the ghost sheet. "Ohh, Willow" she says disappointed
Xander gives his friend a smile wondering why she seems taller but shrugs it off "Going with an old favorite huh Will?" he says and turns to head out.
A short while later
Sunnydale High School
The PTA who had started the program had set up a refreshment stand and few games to amuse the children as they arrive. They had also have put up posters about safety rules and proper practices while they are out. The Principal is also there making sure the people who signed up have checked in and are in proper costumes.
Across the room Xander is doing a headcount of his own charges "Okay, listen up. We are a unit; we will move as a group and act as a group. Acting alone we would be vulnerable, but together we will return with full bags. Now for our tactics, grown ups hate tears, a convincing show may get you extra. But it can also backfire, just like the old 'missed me' ploy usually does. Our objective is Chocolate, gather as much as possible, but don't be stupid about it. Now any questions? Good, let's move out." He then salutes the flag at one end of the room and leads them toward the street.
Sometime later
On the streets
Willow has kept her group fairly near Xander's. This is partly as she is nervous being out after dark, but, mostly so they can occasionally talk. They have found that despite how they were recruited they were almost having fun at this. She also knew Buffy was nearby, but due to the dress she wasn't able to move as fast. Meanwhile back at Ethan's Shop the British mage is finishing off the final set of rituals to activate the spells he set up for this night. He knows that death might be the results of what he does, but doesn't care. Chaos is all that matters to him, disorder and mayhem that will be fun to watch.
Willow feels a wind come up and sees clouds gathering as if it were about to rain. She gets and awful feeling in her stomach, and tells the kids to get as far onto the porch and under cover as they can. Then she yells over to Xander to warn him, but suddenly can't seem to breathe.
Willow feels herself falling but somehow doesn't seem to move. Looking down she sees a person wearing a ghost costume like hers and suddenly realizes it might be her. Looking out at the street she marvels at what is there. Nothing looks right, it is as if there is weird mood lighting form somewhere, and the road has some kind of oily stuff spilled on it. She looks up briefly but regrets it. The sky is completely cloudless, but there are too many stars, and they don't look right.
Across the road she sees Xander. He seems to be mostly okay but seems to be shaking. She isn't sure what to do, if that is her down there, then she can't do much about it. She might be a ghost now, or she might be somehow separated from her physical self. In either case she would need help. Xander might not be able to do anything, but he would be able to interact with others and more important be able to use a phone to call guiles. Having decided that, she turned and found herself flying across the distance toward him. On the way she passes thru a couple of monsters which had suddenly appeared. As she does she feels the children trapped inside them, and something that feels unnatural as well. She doesn't know what it is but knows she doesn't want to touch it again.
Across the street Xander had spun around as he heard Willow yell of distress. He saw her grab her throat, and then suddenly he feels something hit him. It is like the air becomes very heavy, both icy cold and burning hot at the same time. Then things seem to go dark as if all, the lights in the world were gone and he is suddenly in some other place, one with way too many plants everywhere. And he somehow knew that someone or something else was driving his body again.
Xander had stood up and was looking around as Willow's ghost reached him. He seemed confused, where was he, for that matter who was he? He didn't seem to know. Worse his dog tags seemed to be missing. Taking stock of himself he found his uniform didn't have his name, but seemed to have been in combat recently. He had a combat knife, a German made pistol, but no extra ammo. He also found two other things, a pack of smokes and a button. The pack had a name written in it: 'Eddie', which was probably him. The button was weird; he knew it was important to him, but not why. It was as if he was under the influence of some drug and it was confusing him. Okay first rule of survival, observe your surroundings, take critical actions, Do nothing until you know for sure what you're doing is right. With that in mind he looked around and took stock of where he was. Americans lived here, that was clear; it was a comfortable temperature, and early evening. Given the look of these houses he seemed to be back in the real world.
"Xander! Wake up, are you alright? What's going on?"
'Eddie' as he now believed himself to be, looked at who was speaking and saw a ghost. It seemed to be a girl and she looked almost familiar. She had said; Sander, could that be his last name? "What? You think I know?" he said his eyes never leaving her form. "Do we know, I mean knew each other? Maybe you'll tell me where in the hell I am?"
Willow wanted to tell him to stop messing around, but couldn't. Xander didn't talk like that, she knew it was him, but the voice was different, even if you ignored the accent. "Listen, this may be hard to accept, but we've known each other for years. It is Halloween and something weird happened to us. I went as a ghost, and seem to be one now. You were dressed as some kind of solder and I guess became one now." She sees the disbelief in his face and then him draw out the pistol and point it at something coming down the street "No Don't! That isn't really a monster that is some kid trapped in a costume. Just like mine is over there. Listen we need to find Buffy, she will know what to do."
Eddie lowers his weapon, this sounds completely insane but that doesn't mean she is wrong. The longer he is awake the more things seem to be coming back. If that keeps up long enough he might get out of this alive. At the very least this chick seems to know where she is and that will increase his odds of survival. He follows the ghost of what ever she is down the street. They soon come upon someone, who the ghost thinks is that Buffy person. He really doubts that, given things. The frail he is seeing, looks like she just stepped off a movie set or something. Her dress looks like it has enough fabric for several normal ones and seems to have a framework of some kind as well. He looks further on and sees what she is running form. He doesn't know what it is, but it don't look human, and he knows he needs to get rid of it before it reaches them. His pistol is out and doesn't know how many shots he has left. He ends up firing twice and only managing to deliver a glancing blow to the things head. Absolutely crap shooting, but lucky for him the thing runs rather than continues its attack. Unfortunately the frail, hasn't been near combat and when he fired she screamed and fainted.
Eddie had figured this was SNAFU but was leaning toward calling it FUBAR now. The frail was Buffy, but somehow thought this was over 200 years ago. Worse she was a high nosed snob, and had 'informed' them of her distaste of them when she roused from fainting. Not that he was all that sure was real. He had been checking her over for wounds and had been about to loosen some of her clothing when she woke up and stopped him. No one who really passes out wakes like that. The ghost had led them to this house, saying they should be safe there. The 'princesses' hadn't liked that, but Eddie had convinced her to cooperate. He had simply told her, she could come willingly, or he would carry her there like a sack of rice and treat her just as gently... Personally he might have left her there but Ghost girl said they had to be together. Entering, he does a quick visual sweep before announcing that it seems deserted.
"I thought Mrs. Summers would be here, she wasn't going out. Dawn was in bed sick, but I don't hear her either." The ghost says and leads then into the sitting room. "We can't worry about that now. We need to find out what happened and find someway to fix it."
"Enough spirit, by what authority do you presume to give orders." Lady Buffy said her voice haughty as she swept over to one of the chairs and sat down "But Lady Annibeth will not be led astray by your tricks any longer. It is clear by your speech and by your mode of dress you were someone of low station as well as someone of questionable morals."
Willow looked at her friend in shock how could she say things like that. Then Eddie saw a picture on a table and picked it up. It was a shot of some beach and a pair of girls, and one of them seemed to be her, and she was wearing a swim suit that would get people arrested. True in the shot she was blond but the face and the expression was a perfect match. "Lady, given this seems to be you, I think you should shelve your attitude. I may not know what in the hell is going on, but we don't need you making the situation worse."
The Lady's face took on a loom of rage and she slapped him across the face "Non, such a thing is 'ce'impossible'. I am a Lady, in service to the Crown. I would never appear in such a degrading thing. To imply I would be seen so, is an insult. One you will answer dearly for, when my father hears of it when I am finally home"
Willow glanced at Xander, he didn't seem badly hurt though he would have a bruise on his face. "Buffy you _are_ home!" she said pleading "Come on try to remember, you need to snap out of this!" Buffy just gives her a cold look, and might have continued with the insults if not for Xander interrupting.
The slap seemed to have woken Xander up somehow and Willow saw a look of confidence on his face. She also saw that he was very angry as well and before she could stop him he acted on it. He stepped over and smashed Buffy across the face with his fist, causing her cry out and fall onto the couch.
"Lady, I don't know or care who you think you are. Maybe you got away with that shit before, but not here and not now that I can remember who I am. Nobody hits Eddie Blake and gets away with it. It don't matter if this is your home or not, it is defensible. Now, you gonna behave or am I gonna teach you some manners by blistering your butt."
Willow found herself shocked for the second time that night. She couldn't believe Xander had hit Buffy like that or was threatening her as well. She found herself wishing Buffy had dressed up as someone or something else, someone useful. Then she heard a scream form outside and saw Xander look outside and curse, then grabbing a baseball bat open the door and rush outside.
On the couch Lady Annie was sobbing, how dare that common ruffian hit her. Not to mention threatening her with a beating and leaving her with a ghost of some Irish tramp. She wasn't sure but she began to suspect she was in some unholy realm, if that was so only one thing could help her now. With that she pulled out her cross and begins to pray for deliverance.
Willow watches thru the window as Xander moves to save Cordelia. She is running from some kind of wolf creature and from the looks of it was almost caught a couple of times. He swings her so her path is toward the house and tells her to get inside then attacks the creature. Willow gasps as he shows an ability to fight she didn't know he had. The creature is probably far stronger than he is, but he strikes at its joints and then its eyes with his knife. She is relived as it falls obviously beaten, but then horrified at what he does next. He looks at it for a moment and then uses the bat to make sure it would never get up again. She didn't know what to think, it had been a monster, but aside form the possibility of it being a kid, to smash its skull in while it was helpless was sickening. It makes her despair about ever getting her childhood friend back as she moves to greet Cordelia.
"Okay, now you need to calm down. Your name is Cordelia, you're a high school student and this is Halloween. We're your friends." Willow explains not needing two hysterical people on her hands.
Cordelia gives her a look that would curdle cream "yeah right! As if I would be mental enough to believe that Willow."
Willow would have breathed a sigh of relief if she still had a body "Thank goodness you are still you. Things are so crazy tonight, I was beginning to lose hope. If I still was solid I would hug you."
Cordelia took a step back "Y-yeah. So what's going on, I mean 'Cujo' out there just appeared form no where. Look at what he did to my costume! No way Party-Town is gonna accept this back now."
Xander doesn't say anything he just looks at her and wonders. She also looks familiar but the feelings were different. With ghost-girl it's almost as if she is family, except he can't be sure how. With her there were ones of lust bit also scorn and disgust. Almost as if there was something tainting her, so she was somehow unclean. Despite knowing who he was he wasn't sure of things and he didn't like that one bit. The last thing he remembered was being on R&R in Saigon, now he was here and based on a degree on the wall it was years later. "Right, you two know each other, good. But we need deal with stuff. Get word out where we are, and defend ourselves till that help arrives."
Cordelia looks over at him and realizes he isn't himself and asks Willow "What's with him, he is acting weird even for him?"
Willow shakes her head "Wish I knew, and how to fix this. Look, just think of it like amnesia, okay? He is right thou. I am going to try and get help. You stay here and try to keep things calm. Find someway to keep things or barricade yourself in somewhere, maybe upstairs. I will be back as soon as I can." With that she headed out passing thru the wall.
Cordelia looks at the wall she went thru annoyed "Who died and made her boss?"
"maybe she did." Eddie mutters shrugs and continues in a normal voice "It don't matter, Her advice ain't steered me wrong yet.. Now you and Lady Useless go upstairs and check what resources we have to work with. I doubt you'll find any weapons but we might find a room we can fall back to, if needed. While your up there see if you can find her some proper clothing. If we need to run her in that outfit will just slow us down. Ill see what I can do down here."
Cordelia looks at him and sees he is serous. The confidence he is showing is a refreshing change from the loser he usually was. True she would never admit it,but the uniform didn't look half bad on him. She moved over to where Buffy was kneeling and taking hold of her arm indicated they were going upstairs.
Lady Annibeth almost slapped down this trollop for daring to touch her. But knew if she did the brute might hit her again, or worse Her status was no shield here and she would need to cooperate till she could have these people thrown into prison for their crimes. "There is nothing wrong with my clothing. This is a proper dress, I am meant to wear such beautiful things. Your sort does the fighting I merely need to look pretty and marry well, and give my husband his due."
Eddie looked over at her, she was all but hiding behind the other girl. She would probably bolt if he leaned toward her "My kind? Yeah you rich types love it when we do your bidding. Well your in a war zone now, and here everyone has to be ready to fight, if only to save themselves."
Lady Annie was aghast. Fight like some common person? Risk getting wounded or even scared so her beauty would be gone? She drew herself up and told him "I'd sooner die."
Eddie shrugged "Then you'll die and we won't have to worry about you, now get upstairs." He order hearing someone moving around the back door. He moves to the doorway and waits in ambush in case this is an enemy.
Meanwhile at the library
Willow hoped that Giles would have some idea what was going on, because if he didn't she might just scream. It was bad enough she did have a body, and that Buffy was acting,more like Cordelia than she usually did. But Xander had changed to become someone who killed as easily as if this were some video game. Fortunately for her she knew Giles was there tonight. Not that going into the school was pleasant, it felt even more twisted than the rest of the town had, but she needed to get there. She spots him as she comes though the wall, and moves over to him quickly. This causes him to react in fear and surprise scattering file cards everywhere.
A few minutes later Giles is calmed down and is sitting with a cup of tea listening to Willows story and checking thru a book on possible spells that could do this. "So let me see if I have this correct. Everyone became whatever they dressed as and had no memory of who they really were?" he pauses as Willow nods then continues "Xander became someone named Edward, and Buffy became someone named Annie from seventeen seventy something? Perhaps I should ask what you were dressed up as?"
Willow is sure she would be blushing if she could "I went as a ghost, Buffy gave me these clothes and I wore them under the costume. Still at least I am not as bad as Cordelia was. She dressed as some kind of cat girl in a unitard and you can just tell she didn't have anything on underneath."
"do you mean that became her skin" Giles asked in disbelief "that she turned into some kind of cat creature?"
Willow shook her head "No, thankfully for my sanity she wasn't effected. She's the same old Cordelia."
Giles blinked if she didn't change then that might be the key "Willow, do you know where she got her costume, was it the same place as you?"
Willow thought about it "wait, She said something, Partytown. That's it! She was complaining they wouldn't take it back. Buffy and I got outs from that new place. Ethan's."
Back at Buffy's house.
Eddie had moved stuff in front of the windows and door when he heard sounds from the kitchen. According to the ghost two other women lived here, so it might be them. But by the sounds of things it wasn't. He heard the guy calling out but not saying who he was. T was suspicious and so Eddie elected to wait and see what the guy might do. The guy seems to hear people upstairs and comes out of the kitchen. The guys face ain't normal and Eddie somehow knows, that ain't good. So he keeps absolutely still until the guy starts to pass his position and then strikes.
Hitting the back of the guys knees and riding him down Eddie puts the knife to the guys spine and presses down. "If I so much as flinch this blade will cut into you. When it does that the best you can hope for is a life in a wheelchair. Now who are you and what you doing here?"
Angel doesn't understand, he can smell this is Xander on his back but it doesn't sound or act like him "Xander its me Angel. What's going on, its nuts out there. I need to find Buffy and make sure she is alright."
Eddie considers the words then jumps clear while keeping his gun trained on the guy "Your the second person one who thinks I am this Xander. Now get up real slow, and sit over there. I don't know who you are, but mean to find out."
Angel knows the gun won't really hurt him, but decides to do as he is told. Fighting Xander would be easy, but Buffy would be mad a him. When she shows up this will be worked out, he is trying to convince Xander if this when Cordelia appears at the top of the stairs.
She had heard him down here and come to investigate. "Angel, don't bother. He doesn't know who you are. Something has changed most everyone into monsters and other weird things. Eddie here isn't Xander anymore and believe me when I say he isn't someone to mess with." She then turns to Xander "She is upstairs, washing her face, I couldn't get her to change clothes, I'm not even sure she knows how to dress herself. But I did find some swords and knifes up there." And with that she puts a couple down near him
Eddie nods, not great but better than nothing. Then the lights go out and they hear Buffy scream in freight. "Cordelia, get back upstairs and see if you can shut her up, we're gonna have company. Me and Choirboy here, will try and fight them off. But we might get overrun, grab a weapon form up there and be ready to defend your self." Then he turned to angel and tosses him the sword. "By the stairs, make our stand there. We won't know where they will come in till they do. You ready to do this?"
Angel nodded and then went back into game face "My kind of party, lets do it."
A moment later something huge (and possibly once living) comes thru the large front window followed soon after by a large group of disreputable looking men carrying weapons. Angel could recall people like this back in history. People who saw laws as a joke and mayhem as fun. People who attacked, then injured anyone who had nothing worth stealing. Creatures who although human were as cruel as any minion. He didn't want to kill them, it wasn't their fault they were in such costumes. But when he heard them gloating about how much fun they would have once they got to the women he stopped caring. Especially when he spotted Spike outside laughing. He knew how they used scum like this in the past and there was no way he was letting that happen. Once this wore off, if it did, these people would find themselves bruised and battered and perhaps in hospital. but that is how it had to be. As for Spike, for organizing this attack he would die.
"Eddie, if you get the chance, the guy over there outside, we can blame him for this happening."
Eddie was busy, he had a knife in each hand and was enjoying himself, dealing with this unskilled scum. He spared a glance outside, so he would know who he could lay this on. The guy was dressed like some kind of Nazi, but looked like a fighter. Problem was the guys attacking had them hemmed while he just watched. Then one of them stepped in front of him with a gun in his hand.
"Run from a knife, step into a gun" he said quoting something he heard once and quickly sliced open the guys arm, catching the gun as he dropped it.
Outside Spike was enjoying the show. Sure the Poof and The kid were holding their own, but he had the numbers and even if they didn't fall there were others he could get. He didn't even worry when he saw The poof point him out to the kid. So what, even if one of them came out he was better and would win. He almost laughed as the kid got his hands on a gun form someone and pointed it at him. Vampires didn't worry about bullets. It wasn't like he could be killed by them. What did the kid hope to accomplish with it? A moment later he found out.
The kid Started shooting but wasn't trying to kill him, but instead tried to make him hurt. The first shot hit him in the belt buckle the next a bit lower, the third shot hit him in the knee shattering it. He knew he would heal, but that would take time he wasn't sure he had. If the Poof managed to get outside now, he might actually win against him. There was nothing Spike hated as much as a fair fight, and so he needed to get out of there. That kid had balls, no question, and he would have to be careful of that in the future. Assuming the kid survived tonight
Soon there after the rest of the scum fled following the example of their leader. Eddie was glad, he seemed very out of shape given how out of breath he was. Would have to work on that, assuming he ever got a chance. The worse was the guy angel wasn't even breathing hard, come to think on it he wasn't breathing at all. Looking him over he saw the guy had several wounds that should have been trouble but he just ignored them. What was he, some kind of lab experiment like there were rumors of years back. His mind still wasn't completely clear, but he thought he knew about somebody like that, somebody more than human.
Attempts at remembering were canceled as that chick Cordelia appeared at the top of the stairs holding her side and looking like she had stepped in the ring with somebody "They got Buffy" she said "This guy came thru the back window and took her, I tried to fight, but he had friends and I couldn't stop them."
Eddie just shook his head. Great, he just knew Choirboy would insist on them finding and rescuing her. Well he would have to wait while he checked over Cordelia and caught his breath. Odds were those guys wouldn't be all that hard to find, at least he hoped not.
Sometime later
Ethan's Costume Shop
The rear door of the shop was for some odd reason unlocked, and that worried Giles. "The Blighter must be expecting me, keep an eye out, he might have some sort of trap waiting for intruders."
Willow nodded but then saw something thru the curtains. It seem to be some sort of lamp, but she hadn't seen anything like that in here earlier. It was glowing so brightly it almost hurt to look at it "Giles, do you mean something like that?" she asked pointing.
He looked and saw the statue, noting symbols on it in what appeared to be blood. "Perhaps. A bust of Janus, the roman deity of doorways, and gates. The mythical representation of the past and future of time. It is possible who ever cast the spell used this as part of it."
"More than just possible, and a big part based on how bright the green light it is giving off is." Willow said then noticed the other person in the shop "Giles he is over there, and I think he has a gun."
Ethan chuckles "Hello Ripper, your getting forgetful in your old age. Janus is the god of duality; good and evil, order and chaos, dark and light, male and female. Perhaps even Chunky and creamy, thou that is probably just peanut butter. I wonder if you even recall how powerful I am. Its been years after all."
Giles stared in loathing at the other man. "If that were so, you wouldn't have need of a gun. Your foolish pranks are putting lives at risk.. Tell me how to stops the spell!"
Ethan shakes his head "Poor old Ripper, such concern, you used to be more fun. The spell will end when it is supposed to, and not a minute before. Only I know how to end it, and I don't feel like telling you."
Willow decided enough was enough "Look Stupid, it is obvious that statue is a conduit for the power of this. Take that away, all this should shut down. Now put down that gun, it won't work on me anyways and do as your told."
Ethan blinks, if she was still alive he would kill her for talking to him that way. He makes a gesture "Be gone, return to your mortal shell lies, Be gone from this place." casting a banishment.
Giles watches as the spell drags Willow from the shop, but then acts before Ethan can recover. He quickly knocks the gun flying and grabs his old friend around the throat "now then Ethan, lets talk about what a bad boy you've been. He says smiling as the other man realizes how much trouble he is in.
Somewhere toward the docks
Lady Anne struggled against her captors. The brutes had torn her dress and exposed her legs as they dragged her form the house. Then they ad dragged her thru the streets to this place. They spoke as if they were pirates, something Annie had been told of growing up. She knew what happened to girls they took. They had torn her jewels from her and thrown her in here, then one had tossed her crucifix too her and laughed that she might have need of it soon. She had beloved him and began to pray when she head something behind her.
The thing was a mockery of a man. Its garb was torn and bloody and its features monstrous. It was as if a sculptor had changed his mind as to the finished size several times whole he carved it. It might well serve as a model for gargoyles, except that it was flesh not stone. Then she saw to her horror, the hunger in its eye turn to a look of lust.
"heh heh, pretty, Me want"
Lady Annibeth backed away as fast as she was able. She must escape somehow, lest this creature take her virtue and ruin her for life. She began to scream for help, not that it would probably do much good, and call out to god to rescue her form this nightmare.
Fortunately for her, Willow's ghost had passed her while it was being dragged by the spell. That meant she could direct the others to where she was. True it wasn't exact but it got them close enough for angel to pick up her scent trail. Willow was just glad that Cordelia wasn't with them. For all that she hated the stuck up cheerleader, she didn't want to see her maimed or killed by the things out tonight. Arriving at the building Xander suggested a three prong attack; angel going in the way they had, Willow strait in, and himself in thru the back.
Eddie watched as Lady useless tried to escape the thing. He remembered more now, and knew he had done stuff like this before. Waiting till the right moment he leapt down so he landed feet first on the thing, then rolled clear "Hey Ugly, Interested Chicks don't scream and run." And with that he attacked the thing. He wasn't sure if this was someone in costume or some real monster, so he figured to disable rather than kill. Oddly enough each time he hit the thing it felt really good. As if he was paying this thing back for something. Unfortunately no matter how many times he put it down it just kept getting back up. Still at least Lady Useless had finally stopped screeching, probably due to ghost girl telling her she was being rescued and her seeing choirboy showing up.
He had just put it to its knees again with a home run swing to its crotch and was about to try bashing in its head again when he realized it. He knew why ghost-girl looked familiar. Seeing her in the dusty filled gloomy conditions it was easy to picture similar clothes worn by a different red head. This one was younger and her hair strait, and that told him who she was. His Jaine, the one girl in all the world he wanted to protect from the evils of the world. He had to find out what happened, there had to be something he could do.. Unfortunately his distraction cost him dearly as the creature had recovered and went on the attack.
Meanwhile
At Ethan's shop
.
Ethan spat out blood from the split lip as he tried to get up form the floor "well, maybe that tweed is just an act, and your still Ripper under it all. I wonder if the Slayer or her friends have any clue what lurks among them? Doubt it or they would send you back where you came from."
Giles ignored the threat "So far I have been gentle with you Ethan. Now tell me how to safely end the spell, and I might let you walk out of here with only a few bruises. Otherwise I might have to get creative, maybe test willow's theory and use your head to break the statue."
Ethan laughed "More threats? Just like the tweed brigade back then. I still remember what ripper and I did to them. But I guess that mask of respectability has got comfortable, either that or you've gone soft."
Giles remembers too, but it brings no joy. Maybe some softness crept in with maturity, but that wont stop him from dealing with Ethan as he deserves. Up until now he had just used his fists, well if he wanted hard, the berk would feel his boots as well. This he began with a hard one to the kidneys. Ethan's scream assured him of the pain is gave, He was also sure the next was just as bad. Given it was to the ribs and he heard a crack. "Last chance, Tell me what I need to know and you'll get out of hospital in one piece. Don't tell me and you might not get out of there at all." Giles delivers a kick to soft tissue as he finishes speaking
Ethan isn't sure, that he will do it but knows he can't take the chance "Okay, I give, the ghost was right. The statue is powering the spell. Destroy that and the spell will end. I don't know about how or the effects, metaphysical changes weren't part of my plans."
Giles shutters remembering some other spells, and the after effects of them. He also recalls some of the traps Ethan laid on thing back then. Maybe the man is counting on him touching the thing to destroy it. Well, he knew how to deal with that. Grabbing him he hauled him up off the floor and dragged him over to the statue. Thrusting him toward it he watched as the man slammed face first into it. He smiled as Ethan fell to the ground taking the cheap plaster bust with him and it shattering as it hit the floor.
As that happens
Back near the docks
Eddie knew he is in trouble, the most stupid thing to do in a fight is to ignore an enemy, especially a dangerous one. The thing had got its hands on him and was taking great pleasure in making him regret it. He suspected he had a couple broken ribs, a few loose or missing teeth and couldn't see out of one eye. He was also certain that if Choirboy wasn't distracting it he would be far worse off than he already was. The weird thing was this thing wanted to hurt him, as if they hated each other for years or something. The Creature had continued to hurt him even after he was no longer a threat. He then realized this could be his last fight and tried his best to smile, as the thing picked him up. Yeah it was stupid, but he always told her he would go out smiling and he wanted to keep that promise at least.
He glanced over and saw the faces of the others as the thing threw him toward the open shipping door. Then the last of his memories suddenly became clear and he felt himself began to scream. So caught up in the memories, he didn't notice the thickening of the air and odd shiver across his skin.
Buffy felt it thou as the bindings on her thoughts disappeared. She ripped the wig away and resolved to find some normal clothes and then set this dress on fire. Never had any of her nightmares been as bad as this night, she had become some brainless ditz that saw being helpless as a good thing. She didn't see Willow around, but suspected that she was back where ever her body had ended up. Whether she, or any of them, would forgive her for the things she said she didn't know. But what she did know was that thing that wanted to use her as a plaything and had hurt Xander. If it was still here she could get rid of some of her frustration s by pounding it into jelly.
She stood up to do so, but realized she was still hearing someone screaming. Glancing over she sees Xander on the ground by the open shipping door. He seems to be in absolute terror of something. Rushing over she takes hold of him and makes him look at her. "Xander! Wake up, its over!"
Xander stops, as if she had ended whatever was causing his torment. But he doesn't wake up and only whimpers about mumbles being so very sorry. Buffy can see he is in rough shape and needs to go to the hospital. She also realizes the stain on the happy face button was probably blood, mostly due to there being more on it now. She then feels a hand on her shoulder and looks up to see angel.
"I used the phone here call for an ambulance. But they said it would be a while. Do you think we should take them there ourselves?"
Buffy looks over and that boy from school is laying there where the monster was. "I am not sure" she says "Xander is badly hurt, I might hurt him more getting him there. Maybe we should thou."
A couple of hours Later
Sunnydale Hospital .
Giles sits down beside Buffy in the waiting room, handing her a cup of hot chocolate. "So your mother brought your sister here shortly after you left and so missed the whole mess of it?"
"Yup, dawn was already sick, but near as I can tell the magic somehow made it worse. Mom panicked and drove her over here as fast as she could." Buffy told him glad of being out of that dress. Willow had met here, having gone to her house and grabbed her sweats as soon as she regained conciseness. Other than handing them to her the girl hadn't said much and was now sitting by Xander's bedside worrying. Xander was still unconscious, and looked even worse now than he had back at the warehouse. She had told the admitting nurse he got hurt fighting Larry, the truth if not rally accurate. Both of them were a mess, and from what she heard it was amazing either of them were alive. "I just hope Xander will be okay, I've never a scream like that. I don't think I'll ever forget it, it was like he was being burned alive or something. Please tell me I get to slay the guy who did this."
Giles shook his head sadly. "I wish I could Buffy, Lord knows he probably deserves it. But humans must be left to be dealt with by the authorities. If it is any comfort, his injuries will pain him for months unless I miss my guess, and I doubt even if he escapes the police he will ever want to come back here. I just hope there are no side effects of the spell ending as it did. Chaos magic tends to be unpredictable at the best of times."
Buffy nods and looks out the window to where Angel is standing. She wishes he could be here, but understands why it isn't possible. The blood-smell of the ward and on her would drive him crazy. She still could hear Lady Annibeth's voice in her head and wondered if it would ever be gone. On thing she was sure about thou, and that was she wanted to get here hands on Ethan. She might not be allowed to kill him but she could see to it he regretted ever messing with her. 'Stay in prison Rayne. Stay there and you'll stay safe' she silently vowed to herself 'Cause if we meet again, you'll wish I was allowed to kill you.'
FIN