Title: Destiny's Gifts
Chapter: Chapter 2
Author: Muse's Inspiration
Archive:Anywhere, just please let me know, ok?
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Prophecy brought them together; honor kept them apart; love made them need each other. Duty will always bring your rewards, just not always when you want them. (Crossover with Star Wars. Begins with TPM)
Disclaimer: See all disclaimers in first Chapter.
Author's Notes: Thank you so much for everyone that has reviewed this for me. I have had this story banging away in my head for a LONG time now and I finally just couldn't contain it anymore. I'm a little nervous about this one, since I don't know much about the Star Wars universe. So just remember, this is MY little universe we're playing in… lol
Also, anything that is italicized will be a 'sequence' of some sort. Dream, fight, memory, flashback, etc…
Kick. Block. Jab. Jab. Duck. Kick. Block.
It felt to Buffy like the deadly dance had been going on for hours. And maybe it had. She had lost all sense of time since she had gotten word that Ben/Glory had kidnapped Dawn to open the portal. Since that horror-filled moment, Buffy had fought her way through Hell's equivalent that was Sunnydale to find Dawn and now she feared that she might be too late. She could hear Dawn's screams from up on the scaffolding and knew that what little time she had left was quickly dwindling.
-Smack!-
She immediately saw stars from where Glory got in a lucky shot. At that point, Buffy and Glory both knew she was tiring and that if she didn't pull something out of her Slayer Bag O' Tricks, Glory would win this fight. That knowledge seemed to spur the Hell Goddess on with renewed vigor. Once again, the deadly dance began, but this time with the oldest living Slayer losing ground.
Suddenly, Glory lunged at her, intent on killing her then and there. Buffy jumped back quickly, but lost her footing on the loose rubble from the destruction of the work site and she lost her footing, causing her to fall backwards, sprawling out on the ground. She found herself looking up at Glory standing over her. Time seemed to slow down; sound faded away, everything seemed focused on the pinpoint of existence that was Glory towering over the Slayer as she watched the Goddess prepare to deliver the deathblow, ending her life.
In those final moments, as Buffy waited for her life to end, she couldn't help but allow the thought to drift across her consciousness: The dream was wrong. I'm alone. And I don't think I can do this…
At that same time, as she started to close her eyes for the inevitable, and in a way she couldn't explain, she heard 'his' voice from her dreams ghost through her mind; "it's not time yet, Sweeting… you're still needed. Open your eyes, Slayer!"
At the voice's command, Buffy's eyes snapped open and as she did so, her gaze focused above and behind Glory, onto her sister, Dawn.
As she locked eyes with Dawn, Buffy felt a renewed sense of strength flow her like she had never felt before. She ripped her gaze from Dawn to focus on Glory, and did so just in time, as the Goddess was lunging for the final blow. Buffy lashed out with a foot and caught Glory dead in the chest with a kick that had the full force of a Slayer's fury and strength behind it. Buffy smirked at the startled look on the Goddess's face as she flew backwards from the force of the kick.
"Hey!" she began as she flip-kicked herself back onto her feet, "what can I say? You just can't keep a good Slayer down."
"You can't stop me!" Glory snarled.
"You know, that whole 'snarling in rage while taunting the device of your destruction Hell Goddess' look really does nothing for you."
That seemed to enrage Glory even more and seemed to lose all sight of battle tactics and just charged Buffy head on.
From above, Dawn saw Glory charge her sister and knew that the Goddess had just made a fatal mistake. Knowing what was coming, she closed her eyes, but couldn't block the sound of Glory's screams from reaching her; or ignore the sounds of the cries changing to the deeper groans of pain as Ben regained control.
Buffy looked down at Ben, broken and bleeding, and felt numb. She could hear him, begging or crying, she wasn't sure which. All she knew was that things weren't over yet. Because as suddenly as the sense of relief washed over her, it left, riding away on the searing pain as she felt like she was being sliced to pieces. Just as quickly, she heard Dawn's cries become screams of agony. She looked up and saw one of Glory's henchmen doing a slice and dice job on her sister. She didn't even think twice… she turned and left Ben where he was, racing up to her sister. And therefore, didn't see Giles step out of the shadows, reach for Ben, and handle the Glory situation in true 'Ripper' style.
Buffy fought her way up the tower and didn't even pause when she reached the little monster who was torturing her sister. But as quickly as she removed the threat, she saw that she was too late. The portal had opened and the merge had begun.
Over the sound of the rushing wind and the howls of the creatures who were trying to become one with the new dimension, Buffy could hear Dawn screaming for her attention. But things were starting to click into place in Buffy's mind… the pain of Dawn's cuts being felt by her, the portal needing blood to open and close it, the Key being made of Slayer flesh and blood…
"It's the blood! It has to have the blood!" Dawn screamed.
Buffy looked at Dawn, pulled her close and told her everything she ever wished she have told her before now.
Everyone heard Dawn's cries for Buffy to stop and none could believe what they were seeing as they watched the Slayer run and do a perfect dive off of the platform.
As she reached the portal, entering the brightly flowing light that was coming from it, she felt 'his' presence again. Time, once again, slowed down and everything focused on just the two of them, as his beautiful, peaceful voice caressed her.
-Is it time?-
-Yes, Sweeting… now it's time… I'm waiting…-
-I'm afraid…-
-I'm here…-
-I know…-
-…always, Sweeting…-
-…yes… always…-
And then, in a brilliant flash, Buffy disappeared, leaving behind all she had fought so hard to protect. The Slayer had made the ultimate sacrifice, and displayed the one thing that no other Slayers before her ever had: Completely selfless love.
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She was floating, soft and safe, in a warmth she didn't think she'd ever felt before. She was there, hanging in a limbo of awake and asleep, for some time before she heard the sounds of an argument.
"She wasn't supposed to do that!" a male voice said.
"Well, it happened. Now we have to deal with it." Another male, somewhat familiar, said.
"But it was supposed to be the Key that went through the portal!" a female voice chimed in.
"Irregardless, we have her here now." The second voice said.
"Send her back." The first voice stated firmly.
Buffy could feel the stunned shock of the other two over the statement.
"She died saving all of humanity in an act of selflessness and love. We can't just send her back to that hellhole!" the second voce finally exclaimed.
"Well, what do you recommend?" the female voice asked.
"She's been one of our greatest warriors. She has sacrificed all for her duty! She shouldn't just be cast out!"
"She's been your 'pet' since she was a child, Whistler! You've been meddling where you shouldn't have… and now we have someone here who shouldn't even BE here!" the first voice argued.
"Please," Whistler begged, "she's given up so much. She's different from the others… let her have a choice."
The silence after the plea was deafening.
"What you are asking for is unprecedented. She can't return to this plane. It would upset the balance."
"I have a suggestion…" the female interjected.
"Yes?" the first questioned.
"Our brothers and sisters have a quandary. They have a prophecy, but none to fulfill the whole of it. It states that a Chosen One not from there shall arrive. That could be her, you know…"
Several murmurs and sighs later, the first voice spoke. "Agreed. She could very well be The One. But meddling with prophecy is never a good thing… The Slayer shall go, as the prophecy states, but her fate is her own. Her gifts are hers, she's earned them, but she can receive no further assistance from us once she arrives. You will guide her, Whistler, to the knowledge of the Prophecy. From there, and this is absolute, you will interfere no more."
"Thank you, Your Graces."
"I fear she will not be so thankful…" the first voice said quietly.
"She will." Whistler said, "More than you will ever know…"
"Go, demon. Take her to her new home. And remember, no interference. Our brothers and sisters do not take well to meddling in their domain."
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Suddenly, Buffy found herself standing in a stark white room. She was wearing the white shift from her dreams. She looked and saw the demon and couldn't help the feeling of dismay that came over her.
"Why are you here, Whistler?"
"Slayer, I'm making sure that you get the reward you should have. You're going someplace where you have a say… You make the decisions for your life."
"What do I have to do?"
"Just find, guide and help The Chosen One. That's it. You're not battling demons. You're not stopping Apocalypses… You just have to make sure that the Chosen One survives to bring balance. You'll have some help. The Powers won't like it, but I'm going to send you in blind. I'm not a total bastard, Kid."
She stayed quiet.
"Trust me, Kid. Give it a chance. I think you'll like it there."
She still didn't say anything.
Whistler sighed and pointed behind her. "There are two doors. Left, is a new life and a fresh start. Right, you sleep. It's your choice, Slayer. It's your life. But you have to choose now."
Buffy turned and there were suddenly two doors before her. She was overwhelmed with indecision and fear. She remembered when she was a child and her parents were going through the divorce, she had been so confused. She had run to her mother, crying, not wanting the changes to happen. Her mother had wrapped her up in her arms and told her, "it'll be fine, Buffy. You're very special. You're strong. The hardest thing to do in this world is to live in it. All life is, is one change after another. Don't be afraid of it, Sweetheart. For every door that closes, a new one opens that is full of opportunities. Wonderful things come from change."
Without looking back, Buffy strode through the door on the left. She didn't see the small smile on the demon's face, or the blonde woman who now stood next to him.
"I was a little worried at first." She said.
"Don't worry, Joyce. The kid's strong. You taught her to be. She'll be fine."
"Thank you, Whistler."
"For what?"
Joyce smiled towards the door where her daughter had walked through. "For getting her this chance."
"She's earned it… now let's see what she does with it."
Then he turned and offered Joyce his arm, which she hooked hers through and they walked away, both thinking of the young blonde girl they had just helped set free…