BeneathYouICrunch -No Buffy won't be flame teleporting, or as it is called on Charmed Wikia - Flaming. The reason being Flaming appears to be a demon only power while Fire power like the one Buffy has can be used by either a witch or a demon.

Chapter 4: The Harvest

Luke bears down on Buffy, fangs bared. She struggles, but he's got her pinned. He rips open her shirt a bit to get at her throat. Grabs her - and screams. He jumps back, smoke curling out of his hand.

Buffy takes the moment and kicks with both legs, sends Luke flying back out of the tomb. She jumps up herself and before he can recover, she runs out of there as fast as she can - stumbling a bit and breathing hard from the beating she took - Buffy books through the graveyard. As she reaches the trees on the edge of it, she looks back at the Mausoleum. Nobody's coming.

She hears Willow scream. "No! Nooo! Get – off…"

Buffy runs to the sound of the voice - comes to find Willow on the ground, struggling with a vampire. Phoebe is fighting another vamp.

Buffy powers up a fireball, "Phoebe duck." Phoebe looks to Buffy and sees the fireball and drops to the ground as Buffy throws it dusting the vamp. She runs for Willow and kicks the vamp in the face, sending him flying way back.

The vamp lands hard on his back and scrambles away, holding his nose. Buffy is all business now, looking around her in quiet fury. Her senses alert. She hears a crack, some scuffing on the ground. She takes off, leaving Willow with Phoebe. After a moment, Willow rises and follows along with Phoebe.

Buffy comes upon two vamps dragging an unconscious Xander. She powers up a fireball throwing it at one, dusting it.

The other vamp looks around and spots Buffy. She powers up another fireball the other vamp flees before she has a chance to use it.

Willow runs up to Xander, cradles his head. He is just coming to. "Xander, are you okay?"

Buffy looks to Phoebe and whispers, "I really love this power. It's going to make being a Slayer that much easier. I can dust them from ten feet away."

Phoebe nods.

Xander frowns, "Man... something hit me..."

Buffy is looks around, "Where's Jesse?"

Willow shakes her head, "I don't know - they surrounded us - he was really weak..."

Xander nods, "That girl grabbed him. Took off."

Buffy frowns, "Which way?"

Xander shakes his head, "I don't know."

Phoebe nods, "I didn't see which way they took him, sorry Buffy."

Buffy looks into the night. "Jesse..."

In the library the next morning Giles is speaking, "This world is older than any of you know, and contrary to popular mythology, it did not begin as a paradise. For untold eons, Demons walked the earth; made it their home... their Hell." Phoebe rolls her eyes. "In time they lost their purchase on this reality, and the way was made for the mortal animals. For Man. What remains of the Old Ones are vestiges: Certain magicks, certain creatures..."

Buffy nods, "And vampires..."

Xander rises, agitated. "Okay, this is where I have a problem; see, because we're now talking about vampires. We're having a talk with vampires in it."

Willow nods, "Oooh... I need to sit down."

Phoebe shakes her head, "You are sitting down."

Willow smiles, "Oh. Good for me."

Xander nods, "So vampires are demons?"

Giles nods, "The books tell that the last Demon to leave this reality fed off a human, mixed their blood. He was a human form possessed - infected - by the Demon's soul. He bit another, and another... and so they walk the earth, feeding. Killing some, mixing their blood with others to make more of their kind. Waiting for the animals to die out, and the Old Ones to return."

Xander nods, "And that would be a what?"

Giles sighs, "As long as there have been vampires, there has been the Slayer. One girl in all the world…"

Buffy rolls her eyes and looks at Phoebe, "He loves doing this part."

Giles nods, "All right: They hunt vampires, one Slayer dies, the next is called, Buffy is the Slayer, don't tell anyone. I think that's all the vampire information you need."

Xander shakes his head, "Except for one thing. How do you kill them?"

Buffy shakes her head, "You don't. I do."

Xander nods, "Well, Jesse…"

Buffy sighs, "Jesse's my responsibility. I let him get taken."

Xander frowns, "That's not true."

Willow nods, "If you hadn't showed up, they would have... taken us too... Does anybody mind if I pass out."

Buffy nods, "Breathe..."

Willow sighs, "Breathe."

Phoebe smiles, "Breathe."

Buffy nods, "This big guy, Luke, he talked about an offering to the Master. I don't know who or what, but if they weren't just feeding, Jesse may still be alive. I'm gonna find him."

Willow nods, "This is probably the dumb question, but shouldn't we call the police?"

Giles sighs, "Do you think they'd believe us?"

Willow nods, "We don't have to say vampires. We could say there was... a bad man."

Buffy shakes her head, "They couldn't handle it if they did come. They'd only show up with guns."

Giles nods, "You've no idea where they took Jesse?"

Buffy shakes her head, "I looked around, but... soon as they got clear of the woods they could have just - whoom."

Xander frowns, "They can fly?"

Buffy sighs, "They can drive."

Xander nods, "Oh."

Willow shakes her head, "I don't remember hearing a car..."

Giles nods, "Well, let's take an enormous intuitive leap and say they went underground."

Buffy nods, "Vampires really jam on sewer systems. You can get anywhere in town without catching any rays. I didn't see any access around there, though."

Xander nods, "Well, there's electrical tunnels. They run under the whole town."

Giles nods, "If we had a diagnostic of the tunnel system, it might indicate a meeting place. I suppose we could go to the building commission…"

Buffy frowns, "We so don't have time."

Willow nods, "Uh, guys? There may be another way. I can pull up the maps on the computer. I got a question though how did you do the fire thing?"

Giles frowns, "Fire thing?"

Willow nods, "Buffy created a fireball in her hand."

Giles looks to Buffy and frowns, "That is a good question. Only a witch with an active power could do something like that. But…"

Buffy sighs, "Actually…"

Phoebe frowns, "Buffy…"

Giles looks at Phoebe, "You knew she could do this?"

Buffy sighs, "He's going to find out sooner or later. Especially if I keep using magic."

Phoebe frowns, "You know Prue is going to ground you for life."

Buffy nods, "We don't have to tell her you know."

Giles coughs, "Excuse me. Not that this conversation isn't interesting. But how can you do magic?"

Buffy smiles. "Like this." She powers up a fireball. Everyone except Phoebe gasps.

Giles nods, "That's rather amazing. I don't know of any Slayer that has been a witch before. Let alone a witch with an active power such as that. How did you come to have such a power?"

Buffy smiles extinguishing the fireball, "Remember my hint at the Bronze last night."

Giles nods, "That you and your cousin here are Charmed?"

Buffy nods, "You do some research on that and see what you come up with."

Giles nods, "Something to look into later. Willow you said you could get us maps of the electrical tunnels?"

A short time later they are looking at map of San Francisco on the computer.

Buffy nods, "There it is."

Willow nods, "This runs under the graveyard."

Xander shakes his head, "I don't see any access."

Giles nods, "So all the city plans are just open to the public?"

Phoebe rolls her eyes, "I doubt it."

Willow smiles, "Uh, well, in a way. I sort of stumbled onto them when I accidentally... decrypted the city council's security system."

Xander focused on the screen, "Someone's been naughty..."

Buffy sighs, "There's nothing here. This is useless!"

Giles frowns, "I think you should ease up on yourself."

Buffy frowns, "You're the one who told me I wasn't prepared enough. Understatement. I thought I was on top of it, and then that Monster Luke came out of nowhere…" She stops. Pauses.

Giles shakes his head, "That's before I learned about your power."

Xander nods, "What?"

Buffy working it out, "He didn't come out of nowhere. He came from behind me. I was facing the entrance. He came from behind me and he didn't follow me out." She looks at them, "The access to the tunnels is in the mausoleum."

Giles frowns, "Are you sure?"

Buffy nods, "The girl must have doubled back with Jesse after I got out. God, I'm so mentally challenged!"

Phoebe shakes her head, "You aren't, Buffy."

Xander nods, "So, what's the plan? We saddle up, right?"

Buffy shakes her head, "There's no 'we'. Okay? There is only me and Phoebe. I'm the Slayer, and you're not. And Phoebe has some martial arts training. Plus being one of my three legal guardians she can get me out of school with very few questions asked."

Xander frowns, "I knew you were gonna throw that in my face, the Slayer thing."

Buffy frowns, "Xander, this is deeply dangerous. I'm only letting Phoebe come along because she has fought them with me before."

Xander nods, "I'm inadequate. That's fine. I'm less than a man."

Willow shakes her head, "Buffy, I'm not anxious to go into a dark place full of monsters, but I do want to help. I need to."

Giles nods, "Then help me. I've been researching this Harvest affair. Seems to be some sort of pre-ordained massacre. Rivers of blood, Hell on earth... Quite charmless. I am fuzzy on the details, however, and it may be that you can wrest some information from that dread machine. That was a bit British, wasn't it?"

Phoebe smiles, "Welcome to the new world."

Giles nods, "I want you to go on the Net."

Willow nods, "Oh! Yeah. Sure. I can do that."

Buffy nods, "Then we're out of here. If Jesse's alive, we'll bring him back."

Giles nods, "Do I have to tell you to be careful? Especially with your cousin going with you?"

Buffy looks at him a moment. Then they're out the door.

Buffy and Phoebe heads toward a gate that stands open. They are about to go through it when Mr. Flutie appears right behind them. "And where do we think we're going?"

Buffy frowns, "We? I? Me?"

Mr. Flutie nods, "We're not leaving school grounds, are we?"

Phoebe smiles and sticks out her hand, "Phoebe Halliwell. I'm one Buffy's cousins and one of her legal guardians. There is a family emergency at home."

Mr. Flutie takes Phoebe's hand and shakes it, "Nice to meet you Ms. Halliwell. I hope everything is alright."

Phoebe nods, "Don't know yet. Hopefully not."

Mr. Flutie nods, "Alright then." He lets them out before locking the gate.

The walks away from the school down the street.

Buffy smiles, "I knew there was a reason I was bringing you along. Prue will go ballistic now won't she? Between Giles, Willow and Xander knowing about my power and my ditching school."

Phoebe nods, "Possibly. But the good news you won't be alone there. She's likely to be just as equally mad at me. Especially when she finds out what went on last night."

Once back at the cemetery they enter the mausoleum cautiously, looking about them. Buffy senses a lurking presence, but the shadows give up nothing.

They reach the iron door on the other side. Buffy tries it, it's locked. She stops, letting out a long breath. "I don't suppose you've got a key on you?"

Phoebe frowns, "Who are you talking to?"

Angel steps from the shadows, a smile in his eyes. "That would be me. And they really don't like me dropping in."

Phoebe's eyes go wide as she recognizes Angel from the night before.

Buffy nods, "Why not?"

Angel smiles, "They really don't like me."

Buffy sarcastically, "How could that possibly be?"

Angel nods, "I knew you'd figure out this entryway sooner or later. Actually, I thought it was gonna be a little sooner."

Buffy shakes her head, "I'm sorry you had to wait. Look, if you're gonna be popping up with this cryptic wise man act on a regular basis, can you at least tell me your name?"

Phoebe nods, "Since you seem to know us it would be nice to know who you are."

Angel nods, "Angel."

Buffy blinks, "Angel. It's a pretty name."

Angel nods, "Don't go down there."

Buffy smiles and looks at Phoebe, "Deal with our going."

Angel nods, "You shouldn't be putting yourself at risk. Tonight is the Harvest. Unless you can prevent it, the Master walks."

Phoebe nods, "If this Harvest thing is such a suckfest, as my cousin here would say, why don't you stop it?"

Angel smiles, "Because I'm afraid." The unashamed openness of the statement catches Buffy a bit off guard. They look at him a moment. Buffy kicks the door open. "They'll be expecting you."

Buffy nods, "I've got a friend down there - or, a potential friend. Do you know what it's like to have a friend?" He doesn't answer. "That wasn't supposed to be a stumper."

Angel nods, "When you hit the tunnels, head east, toward the school. That's where you're likely to find them."

Phoebe nods, "You gonna wish us luck?"

Angel says nothing.

Buffy and Phoebe looks at him a moment more, then heads into the darkness.

Angel stands there, not moving. Quiet concern on his face. "Good luck."

They climb down a ladder. They look about them, taking it in.

Phoebe looks around, "Uhm you don't have a stake do you?"

Buffy smiles and hands Phoebe a stake, "Not like I will need it."

They start down a tunnel, moving slowly. Suddenly Buffy hears something and spins, sneaks up and looks down another tunnel.

Shadows. Noise. Nothing solid.

Buffy pulls her head back and Xander's right behind her and Phoebe!

Xander nods, "Did you see anything?"

Buffy shakes her head, "Xander!"

Phoebe nods, "What are you doing here?"

Xander smiles, "Something stupid. I followed you two. I couldn't just sit around not doing anything."

Buffy nods, "I understand. Now go away."

Xander nods, "Jesse's my bud, okay? If I can help him, then that's what I gotta do."

Buffy nods as she accepts it.

Phoebe frowns, "Buffy you're not serious?"

Xander nods, "Besides, it's this or Chem class."

Buffy looks at Phoebe and smiles. "If it was you instead of Jesse and I was in Xander's place I would be doing the exact same thing, Phoebe."

Phoebe nods as she accepts it also.

They make their way through the dark. They turn a corner, ready for anything.

Nothing. They keep walking, alert. Xander picks up the conversation they were in, "Okay, so: crosses, garlic, stake through the heart."

Buffy nods, "That'll get it done."

Xander nods, "Cool. Of course, I don't actually have any of those things."

Buffy hands Xander a cross. "Sorry I'm fresh out of stakes. Gave my only one to Phoebe."

Xander nods, "Well, the part of my brain that would tell me to bring that stuff is still busy telling me not to come down here. I brought this, though." He produces a flashlight, turns it on.

Phoebe frowns, "Turn that off!"

Xander turns the flashlight off, "Okay, okay. So, what else?"

Buffy frowns, "What else what?"

Xander nods, "For Vampire Slayage."

Buffy nods, "Beheading, fire…"

Xander a little weakly, "So you've done some beheading in your time."

Buffy nods, "Oh, yeah. There was this one time, I was pinned down by this vampire, he played left tackle for the varsity - I mean, before he was... well anyway he's got one of those really thick necks and all I've got is a little Exacto knife - You're not loving this story."

Phoebe rolls her eyes.

Xander smiles, "Actually, I find it oddly comforting."

They make their way through the dark. The banter quotient has plummeted – Buffy, Phoebe and Xander are fairly tense.

Buffy looks around, brow furrowed. "They're close"

Xander frowns, "How can you tell?"

Phoebe nods, "Yeah how can you?"

Buffy smiles, "No rats."

Xander doesn't love that information, but he says nothing. Still they progress, until… "Over there. What's that?" He indicates a small, dark side-chamber.

Nothing can be seen past the first few inches. They come up to it. Xander pulls out his flashlight, shines it. A beam of light finds a body, lying face down. It looks like…

Xander smiles, "Jesse!"

Buffy frowns, "Oh, no..."

Phoebe and Buffy starts forward, Xander keeping the light on them. Goes over to the body, reaches out and Jesse jumps up, brandishing a pipe. He's about to slam her with it when Xander calls out, "Jesse!"

Jesse stops, amazed, "Xander?" He drops the pipe and the two friends hug.

Xander pulls away, looking him over. "Jesse, man, are you okay?"

Jesse nods, "I'm not okay on an epic scale. We gotta get out of here!" He indicates his leg - he's been chained to the wall.

Xander smiles, "It's cool! Buffy's a superhero!"

Buffy shakes her head, "Hold on." She takes the pipe he dropped and smashes the lock on his shackles. It's not a quiet operation.

Xander frowns, "You think anybody heard that?"

Phoebe nods, "You can bet your life someone probably did. We should get out of here."

They start out.

Jesse nods, "They knew you were gonna come. They said that I - I was the bait..."

Xander frowns, "Oh, now you tell us."

Jesse nods, "I've seen their leader."

The look in his eyes describes their leader in detail.

Buffy and Phoebe leads the two boys back through the tunnel. They stop. Shadows move at the other end. "Oops."

Jesse shakes, "Oh, no, no..."

Phoebe nods, "Do you know another way out?"

Jesse nods, "I don't, uh, maybe?"

Xander nods, "Come on."

They head the other way. They pause at a fork.

Jesse nods, "Wait, wait. They brought me through here! There's a way up. I hope."

They take off.

They run in to a room, vampires approaching slowly behind them. Look around, horror growing on their faces.

There is no door. There is no exit. Buffy, Phoebe and Xander look about them, frantically.

Buffy frowns, "I don't think this is the way out." She goes back to the doorway they came in, listens for the approaching vampires.

Xander nods, "We can't fight our way back through those things... what do we do?"

Jesse smiles, "I've got an idea..."

Phoebe frowns, "Buffy!"

Buffy turns to face Jesse and see that he is now a vampire.

Jesse smiles, "You can die."

Xander backs away from Jesse.

Buffy looks from him to the entrance, not sure what to do. "Phoebe I can't power up a fireball and hold the door. Grab him and throw him out."

Xander sighs, "Jesse... Man, I'm sorry..."

Jesse nods, "Sorry? I feel good, Xander. I feel strong."

Phoebe nods and with Xander's help they grab Jesse and hurl him out of the room, knocking vampires over like bowling pins.

Buffy nods, "Help me!"

Phoebe and Xander come to the door with her. With their backs to it, they slam it shut as an arm shoots in, grasping for them. Buffy opens the door slightly and slams it again till the arm withdraws. She bolts the door, breathing heavily.

Xander shakes his head, "I can't believe it... we were too late."

Phoebe nods, "Its okay, Xander."

A resounding thud shudders the door. The vampires are gonna break it down.

Buffy nods, "We need to get out of here."

Xander shakes his head, "There is no out of here!"

Another thud and the door begin to buckle on its hinges. Buffy looks around - there is some junk lying around. She throws it out of the way to see if there is a doorway behind it. No joy.

Phoebe and Xander also look around. Phoebe smiles as she spies an air vent. "Buffy up there."

Buffy follows Phoebe's gaze. She throws a box down, steps on it to reach the vent. Pulls away the metal sheet, revealing the grate. It's big enough to climb through. She begins trying to pry the grate open with her bare hands.

Another thud. Xander looks from Buffy to the door. Buffy pulls, behind a corner.

The door comes off its hinges enough for a vampire to put his fingers through, grip it.

Buffy rips the grating loose, throws it aside. "Come on!"

The door comes out enough for a vampire to get its face in.

Xander runs by, climbs on the box. He sticks the flashlight in in the air vent. Nothing. Clear. He crawls in, starts worming his way down it.

Phoebe jumps in behind Xander.

Buffy jumps up and pulls herself into the air vent.

The three of them crawl along in the dark, the vampires at their heels.

They come to a wider space, with a ladder going up. Sunlight can be seen through the grating at the very top.

Xander nods, "Up?"

Phoebe nods, "Up."

Xander starts climbing, Buffy and Phoebe right behind him. He gets to the top and opens the grating, climbs into a street.

It's deserted as Xander rolls out, reaches in to help Phoebe and then Buffy up. Buffy is almost out when a hand grabs her ankle, starts pulling her back down.

She pulls up, bringing the hand up into the sunlight. It beings to smoke, the vampire shrieks and withdrawal's his hand.

Buffy rolls out, slams the grating shut.

For a moment they all just lie there, catching their breath.

A short time later they return to the library.

Willow takes one look at their faces and doesn't have to ask. She does anyway. "Did you find Jesse?"

Xander nods, "Yeah."

Willow sighs, "Was he dead?"

Buffy nods, "Worse." She sits heavily. "I'm sorry, Willow. We were too late. And they were waiting for us."

Willow nods, "At least you three are okay."

Xander kicks a trash bin in frustration. "I don't like vampires. I'm gonna take a stand and say they're not good."

Buffy nods, "So, Giles, you got anything that can make this day worse?"

Giles smiles, "How about the end of the world."

Buffy smiles, "I knew I could count on you."

Phoebe rolls her eyes.

Giles nods, "This is what we know. Some sixty years ago a very old, very powerful vampire came to this shore, and not just to feed."

Phoebe nods, "He came 'cause San Francisco is a mystical convergence?"

Giles nods, "Yes. The Spanish who first settled here called it Boca Del Inferno - roughly translated: Hellmouth. A sort of portal from this reality to the next. This vampire hoped to open it."

Buffy nods, "Bring the demons back."

Xander sighs, "End of the world."

Willow nods, "But he blew it. Or, I mean, there was an earthquake that swallowed about half the town. And him too - or at least there was no more vampire-type killings after."

Giles nods, "Opening dimensional portals is tricky business. Odds are he got himself stuck. Like a cork in a bottle."

Phoebe nods, "And this Harvest thing is to get him out?"

Giles nods, "It comes once in a century, on this night. A Master can draw power from one of his minions while it feeds. Enough power to break free, and to open the portal. The minion is called the Vessel, and he bears this symbol." He shows them a sketch of the three-pointed star.

Buffy nods, "So, I dust anyone sporting this look, and no Harvest."

Giles nods, "Simply put, yes."

Buffy smiles, "Any clue where this little get-together is being held?"

Giles nods, "Well, there are a number of possibilities…"

Xander nods, "They're going to the Bronze."

Willow blinks, "Are you sure?"

Xander nods, "Come on, tasty young morsels all over the place. Anyway, that's where Jesse's gonna be. Trust me."

Phoebe shakes her head, "I'm not sure. There is any number of clubs in San Francisco they could go to."

Buffy shakes her head, "I think Xander is right. It's about the only club that let's in high school students and adults."

Giles nods, "Then we need to get there. The sun will be down before long."

They head out toward the door.

Buffy nods, "We gotta make a stop. Won't take long."

Giles frowns, "What for?"

Buffy smiles, "Supplies. And a little ammunition."

Buffy and Phoebe make their way back to the Manor. The moment they step in to the Foyer, they find Prue waiting for them.

Prue shakes her head, "Where have you two been all day? Buffy I got a call from school saying Phoebe took you out of classes due to a family emergency at home. Yet neither of you came home."

Buffy sighs, "We have a vampire problem, Prue. One in which I need yours, Piper and Phoebe's help with. Or it could mean the end of the world."

Prue shakes her head, "No, Buffy. You're grounded."

Buffy rolls her eyes, "Fine starting tomorrow, okay? I'm serious Prue. If we don't stop this tonight, tomorrow we may all be dead."

Phoebe nods, "It's what we've been dealing with all day, Prue. First it was just to rescue a new friend of Buffy's who ended up becoming a vampire before we could get to him. But we found out about this prophecy that if it comes to pass will literally mean hell on earth."

Prue sighs, "Alright. But starting tomorrow you're grounded. Go get what you need. I'll call Piper and have her meet us… Where are we going?"

Phoebe nods, "Remember that club I always hung out in?"

Prue nods, "The Bronze? Yeah so?"

Buffy nods, "That's where were going."

Buffy heads up to her room as Prue makes a phone call to Piper.

Buffy comes down with a bag loaded with stakes, crosses, etc. She hands one of each of the jewelry boxes that Angel gave her to Prue and Phoebe.

Prue looks at the box, "What is this for?"

Buffy smiles, "Put it on." Prue opens the jewelry box to find a cross. She looks at Buffy. "Vampires are repelled by crosses. It can even hurt them, but the best thing against vampires is fire, stakes and decapitation. I have the fire thing down."

Prue frowns, "How's that?"

Buffy smiles, "See last night I finally got my power." She powers up a fireball. "See. Anyways I have stakes, holy water, crosses in this bag."

Piper walks in the door, "What's the family emergency?"

Buffy smiles, "Vampires. Come on time for me to do my job. And you all get to come along."

They leave and Prue drives them to the Bronze to find Willow, Giles and Xander waiting.

Giles frowns, "Buffy who are these people?"

Buffy smiles, "Did you research that word I told you about?"

Giles nods, "I found one obscure text relating to three very powerful witches."

Buffy smiles, "You're looking at them."

Prue frowns, "Buffy!"

Giles blinks, "You're the Charmed Ones?"

Phoebe smiles, "That would be us. But don't tell anyone, ok?"

Giles nods, "Of course. Your secret is safe with me."

Prue rolls her eyes, "Buffy we will be talking about this when we get home. Now how are we getting in?"

Buffy walks over to the front door. She tries it - it's locked. "It's locked."

Giles nods, "We're too late."

Xander nods, "Can you break it down?"

Buffy shakes her head, "Not this thing. You guys try the back entrance. I'll find my own way."

Prue looks at Buffy, "Where are you going?"

Buffy looks up, "I think I remember seeing a skylight last night. So up and in. You guys go with Giles, okay?"

Giles nods, "Right." To Xander and Willow. "Come on."

Prue nods, "Be careful."

Buffy nods, "Guys!" They stop. Buffy hands them her bag of tricks.

Upstairs in the bronze a window by the balcony opens slowly. An oblivious vampire before it, Buffy slips in. She looks down at the stage, at Luke.

Luke smiles, "I feel him rising! I need another!"

Buffy sees the three-pointed star on his head. "The Vessel..."

The vampire turns, hearing this. He grabs Buffy, dragging her up to the middle of the balcony to present her to Luke.

Luke smiles, "Tonight in his ascension. Tonight will be History at its end! Yours is a glorious sacrifice. Degradation most holy." He looks around. "What, no volunteers?"

Darla emerges, holding Cordelia. "Here's a pretty one."

Cordelia frightened, "Noooo..."

Darla drags her toward the stage, hands her over to Luke.

Buffy slips out of the vampire's grasp and powers up a fireball throwing it at him, dusting him. "Oh, I'm sorry. Were you in the middle of something."

Luke looks around for the source of the voice and then looks up spotting Buffy, "YOU!"

Buffy smiles, "You didn't think I'd miss this, did you?"

Luke smiles, "I hoped you'd come."

Backstage the exit door bursts open, a metal pipe-wielding Giles starts in. Prue, Piper, Phoebe each of them holding stakes and all three of them wearing the crosses Angel gave to Buffy the night before. Xander and Willow follows behind them.

A vampire comes at Buffy from the side and she grabs him, throws him into the hookah pit.

He scrambles back up and she flips herself over backwards, goes through the hole and lands on top of the pool table. A cue is lying on the table - she does a hand spring and lands on the floor holding on the cue.

A vampire rushes her from the side. Buffy without looking, jams the cue end into his heart dusting him. "Okay, Vessel-boy. You want blood?" She steps forward just as the cue rises like the arm of a guard gate and we hear the vampire's body thud to the floor.

Luke smiles, "I want yours. Only yours."

Buffy smiles, "Then come and get it."

Cordelia, seeing her chance, tries to break free of Luke's grasp. He throws her to one side and Buffy runs, leaps at him, and slams her fist into his face.

Luke stumbles back in pain. He comes back at her but she ducks, comes back up with a roundhouse kick to the face.

Buffy brings out her stake, comes at him - but he blocks. Nails her in the face, and she skids into the corner, badly hurt. The stake falls at his feet.

The door to the backstage bursts open, Xander nearly falling out. He looks about him - no vampires in the immediate vicinity - and beings herding people out. "Come on!"

The people rush past Willow and Giles, who push them towards the exit.

Phoebe, Piper, and Prue head into the main area of the Bronze. They spot Buffy fighting Luke.

Buffy kicks Luke in the chest. He flies back, landing hard. She's about to go in for the kill when she sees a vampire going for Xander, who's too busy shepherding people out to notice.

Buffy turns to the drum kit and kicks the cymbal right off the stand. She catches it in midair - the vampire reaches Xander, grabs him- Buffy hurls the cymbal, frisbee style - the vampire turns, eyes wide, and the cymbal flies straight at his neck—it slices through his neck dusting him.

Xander softly, "Heads up..."

Buffy barely has time to turn before Luke grabs her from behind, lifting her up in a crushing bear hug.

Xander is going to help Buffy when he hears a shriek, turns and sees Cordelia is being dragged off into the area below the stairs by Jesse.

Buffy catches sight of Prue coming up to Luke. Suddenly Luke is sent flying. "Thanks Prue."

Jesse throws Cordelia to the ground, kneeling above her. Pinning her. "Hold still! You're not helping."

Xander appears behind Jesse, holding a stake. He could plunge it right through the back into the heart, but he hesitates. "Jesse, man... don't make me do it."

Jesse looks around, grinning inhumanly. "Buddy..."

Backstage people are still rushing out. Giles motions, "Come on! We've got to open the front as well!" He heads for the door to the main room and Darla jumps on him, digging for his throat. His stake is knocked out of his hand as he topples to the ground.

Xander takes a step back as Jesse rises, faces him. "Jesse, I know there's still a part of you in there."

Jesse exasperated, "Okay, let's deal with this. Jesse was an excruciating loser who couldn't get a date with anyone in the sighted community! Look at me now! I'm a new man!" He grabs Xander and hurls him against the wall. Xander falls in a heap to the cowering Cordelia. "See, the old Jesse would have reasoned with you."

Backstage Willow frantically digs through Buffy's bag, looking for a weapon. She pulls out the jar of holy water. Darla continues to struggle with Giles - has him pinned on the ground. "Get off him!"

Darla turns to face Willow and is doused with holy water right in the face.

Screaming, Darla brings her hands to her face, smoke pouring out from between her fingers.

Giles pushes her off him, getting up to face her. But Darla is already stumbling out the exit in smoking agony.

Buffy powers up a fireball, "You're messing with the wrong witch, Vessel boy." She throws it at Luke dusting him.

Jesse picks Xander up again, fury etching his demon face. "I'm sick of you getting in the way, you know? Cordelia, she's gonna live forever. You're not." Xander holds the stake up to Jesse's chest, determined but scared. "Oh, right! Put me out of my misery! You don't have the g…"

A fleeing woman slams into Jesse from behind, driving him onto the stake. He drags himself on a stunned Xander, dying. And then he's dust.

Xander barely has time to react before two more vampires grab him. He struggles with the remaining vampires, who hold him, their attention on the stage.

Buffy looks down at the spot where Luke's body was. After a moment, she turns her gaze slowly toward the vampires. They look at the expression on her face for about 1/8th of a second, then they drop Xander and bolt out of the front door.

Giles and Willow come slowly out; meet Buffy, Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Xander in the middle of the dance floor.

Giles nods, "I take it it's over."

Willow nods, "Did we win?"

A moment, as they look about at the carnage that surrounds them. Most of the patrons have fled, though some remain, stunned and silent.

Buffy nods, "Well, we averted the apocalypse. You gotta give us points for that."

Prue glares at Buffy, "No we don't. We're still having that talk when we get home."

Xander nods, "One thing's for sure. Nothing is ever gonna be the same."

Later that evening at the Manor.

Buffy and Phoebe sit in the living room. Prue stood in front of them, "You know I don't like being the bad guy. But since we became witches we have to be careful. Buffy you told several people…"

Buffy shook her head, "Actually I told no one I was the Slayer or a witch."

Phoebe nods, "She didn't."

Prue sighs, "Then how did they find out?"

Buffy shook her head, "I think Giles might be Merrick's replacement. He knew from the moment I stepped in the library at school who I was."

Prue frowns, "Whose Merrick?"

Buffy sighs, "Merrick was my Watcher in L.A. before he died at the hands of a vampire. A Watcher is supposed to be someone who trains the Slayer. Anyways that's how I think Giles knows I'm the Slayer is because he's Merrick's replacement. Xander happened to be in the library and overheard a conversation I had with Giles. That's how he learned I was the Slayer. Willow on the other hand saw me dust a vampire last night with my power."

Prue nods, "The fire thing, that's your power?"

Buffy nods, "I think so. Have to say it'll make my job as the Slayer that much easier. Anyways when Phoebe and I were at the Bronze last night I was talking with Giles. Phoebe came and told me she had a premonition about Willow dying at the hands of a vampire. So Phoebe and I went to rescue Willow who didn't know she was with a vampire. Giles wanted to know why Phoebe was coming with me and I just said that Phoebe and I were Charmed. When Willow mentioned seeing me use my power this morning. Giles questioned me about it. I simply reminded Giles about the word Charmed and told him to research it if he wanted to know more. He obviously did and that's how he found out about you, Piper and Phoebe. I told no-one that I'm a Charmed Slayer or you three are the Charmed Ones."

Prue sighs, "Buffy this puts us in a bad situation you are aware of that. What would have happened if Willow, Xander or Mr. Giles had been warlocks? We would have been in a world of trouble. Now based on what happened tonight I would say they're not. But you can't go revealing to anyone else that we're witches or you're the Charmed Slayer. Tomorrow I will talk to Mr. Giles and your friends and make sure that they won't tell anyone else. Also you're grounded for the next week. That's means no going out to the Bronze, no talking to your friends on the phone."

Buffy nods, "Ok Prue."

The next day at school Buffy, Willow, Giles and Xander are near the fountain in the quad.

Xander has a look of disbelief on his face.

Buffy smiles, "Well, what exactly were you expecting?"

Xander shrugs, "I don't know! Something. The dead rose! We should've at least had an assembly."

Giles nods, "People have a tendency to rationalize what they can, and forget what they can't."

Buffy nods, "Believe me, I've seen it happen."

Willow nods, "Well, I'll never forget it. None of it."

Giles smiles, "Good. Next time you'll be prepared."

Xander nods, "Next time?"

Willow sighs, "Next time is why?"

Giles nods, "We stopped the master from freeing himself and opening the mouth of Hell. Doesn't mean he'll stop trying. I'd say the fun is just beginning."

Willow frowns, "More vampires?"

Giles nods, "Not just vampires. The next creature we face may be something quite different."

Buffy sighs, "I can hardly wait."

Giles nods, "We're at a center of mystical convergence here. We may in fact stand between the earth and total destruction."

Xander frowns, "Buffy, this isn't good."

Buffy smiles, "Well, I gotta look on the bright side. Maybe I can get kicked out of school."

Xander nods, "Hey, that's a plan. 'Cause a lot of schools aren't on Hellmouths."

Willow nods, "Maybe you could blow something up. They're really strict about that."

Buffy shakes her head, "I was aiming for a subtle approach, like excessive not studying."

Giles watches them go, an uneasy smile plastered on his lips. "The earth is doomed."

Buffy shakes her head, "Ah who am I kidding. Prue would kill me if I got kicked out."

Giles nods, "Now I want you to remember what Prue and I told you all. You can tell no one that Buffy is a Charmed Slayer, or that her cousins are the Charmed Ones."

Willow and Xander both nod. "We won't," they say together.