Sorry for the lack of updates. I lost internet for a while, cuz my cousin won't pay for dsl, I have killer writer's block and I had to deal with school and an almost boyfriend. Please review! It's the best sustenance I've got in this house!

Chapter 12: Show Stopper

Xander jogged to catch up to Buffy and Willow as they ambled along, on their way to the auditorium. "Has anyone seen Shana lately?" he asked hopefully.

Shana had recently taken a potion that regressed her body back to when she was 16, enabling her to attend school without suspicion by the higher ups of the establishment.

"Yeah, she said that there was someone she needed to see about guidance in L.A. Then she muttered, 'If he's even there yet.' It was weird. But she said she'd be back soon. Come on," Buffy said, " we have to go see Giles somehow he got roped into directing the talent show."

Shana arrived back in time to hear the Scoobies scoff at the idea of the talent show. "I'll have you know, I'm participating in the talent show."

"Of your own free will?" Willow asked, shocked.

"Yes, I'm singing," Shana responded laughing. "Do you want me to go up now or later?" she directed at Giles, walking backwards towards the stage.

Giles started, as if awaking. "What? Oh, um, yes, now would be fine," he said carefully, afraid of what new horror would befall him.

Shana hopped up onto the stage and grabbed the mike. In A Cappella, she sang the musical version of Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." Her voice was melodious, mesmerizing all within hearing range into stopping what they were doing to listen. As she closed in on the end, she felt peace and the message of the song wash over her.

When she finished, there was silence, before a deafening roar of applause erupted in the auditorium and from behind the stage, whistles randomly piercing the air. Her performance was easily the best of the entire program. Shana saw the Scooby Gang all giving her a standing ovation, Xander whistling appreciatively. She bowed, grinning, replaced the mike on the stand and jumped down, walking back to the Scoobies. Buffy came up to her and gave her a hug. "How did you do that? Can I do that? I don't want to do that. But seriously, I'm tingling!"

"That was so cool. Wasn't that cool, Xander? You were… wow," Willow rambled.

"Yes, that was rather magnificent, to say the least," Giles sputtered in admiration.

"Thank you, but it's no big."

"No, it's a big big. If I could do something like that –" Buffy was cut off be a newcomer.

"So you're volunteering to join the talent show?" The Scoobies turned around to see who had spoke.

"Principal Snyder! Um, no. I was just saying-" He cut her off again.

"It has come to my attention the three of you left school grounds yesterday afternoon."

"Yeah, but we were fighting a demo-" Willow elbowed Buffy, cutting her off.

"Fighting?" Snyder said in a disapproving tone.

"Not fighting!" Buffy said quickly.

"No, no we left to avoid fighting," Xander interjected to try to save them.

"Real anti-social types. You need to integrate into this school, people. I think I just found three eager new participants for the talent show."

"So what's your story, toots?" Sid asked. A demon hunter trapped in a ventriloquist dummy, he had been hunting a demon at the talent show and had assumed the Slayer was said demon. So Sid and the Scoobies were corroborating to figure out the true identity of the demon. "I've been getting' weird vibes off you since I go here."

Shana answered him with, "Great, a ventriloquist dummy inhabited by the soul of a long dead demon hunter is coaching me on weird vibes."

"I meant, what are you? You're not a Slayer, that's for sure."

"What I am is none of your concern."

"Look babe-"

"Don't call me babe, Chucky," she replied curtly.

"No need to get your panties in a wad. Unless you want to, cuz then-"

"You finish that thought and I will break you into kindling with my bare hands. I could do it, too. So don't push me."

"Fine, but do they know who or what you are?"

"They don't," Shana sighed.

"You're not a demon, vamps are out, there's only one Slayer, so what are you?"

"I'm a woman forced to become a tool of those with power over me."

"You look young, too young to be a woman."

"Great thing about magick, you can do almost anything."

"When are you going to stop hiding from them?"

"In my own time or if I'm forced to reveal myself."

"Are you human?"

"Mostly."

Shana refused to answer anymore of Sid's answers.

Buffy stood outside the door, taking in the conversation.