Chapter 25

Piper and Mordaunt barged into the attic, sword fighting. Piper knocked his sword out of his hands and pushed him against the wall.

"You're a quick study." Mordaunt said.

"You're a good teacher." Piper said.

"So, you feel the sword's power?"

"Yes."

"How's it feel?"

"Not bad."

"You and Excalibur are becoming one. Soon nothing will matter. Nothing except the desire to rule."

Buffy and Angel ran in. "What's going on up here?" Buffy asked. "What's with the mess Piper?"

"Nothing. I'm just learning how to sword fight." Piper said, holding Excalibur tightly at her side. "Why didn't you show me this stuff before?"

"Because you never asked." Buffy looked around her. "Piper, you're destroying the Manor."

"I'll clean it up later."

"You'll clean it…." Buffy stopped when the Dark Knight, a demon, and two masked demons shimmered into the room.

"You." The Dark Knight said to Mordaunt.

"I was wondering when you would show up. Take him." Mordaunt said.

The Dark Knight attacked Piper and Mordaunt grabbed his sword and the three other demons attacked. Buffy and Angel went into defensive crouches and took on one of their own. Piper managed to vanquish the demon just as Buffy and Angel took out their masked demons. Then Piper stabbed the Dark Knight and vanquished him. "Your assimilation is complete. You are now one with Excalibur." Mordaunt said.

"Whoa. One with Excalibur?" Buffy asked.

"Now what?" Piper asked.

Paige and Phoebe orbed in. Piper turned to them, holding the sword at the ready. "It's just us." Paige said.

"He's not what you think he is." Phoebe said.

"He tried to kill us."

"He wants the sword."

"Wait, I'm confused. But also right." Buffy said.

"But the sword chose me." Piper said.

"No, he's just using you, he wants the power of the sword for himself." Paige said.

"You're not meant to control the sword." Phoebe said.

"But I do control it. And you don't think I can." Piper said.

"Perhaps we should leave." Mordaunt spoke up.

"Paige, Paige, Paige." Phoebe said.

"Excalibur." Paige tried to orb Excalibur but it didn't leave Piper's hands.

"Don't do that again." Piper said.

"It appears your queen has spoken." Mordaunt said. He and Piper disappeared.

"Her majesty has left the building." Phoebe said.

"Or her madness." Paige added.

"Ok, what the hell is going on?" Buffy asked.

Phoebe, Angel, Buffy, Paige, and Leo had all gathered in the conservatory. The others paced while Paige scryed for Piper.

"Anything?" Leo asked.

"Nope, can't find Piper anywhere." Paige said.

"Well, keep looking, she's bound to show up somewhere."

"Yeah, to do what?"

"I don't understand. If she wasn't supposed to pull the sword out of the stone, then why was she able to?" Buffy asked.

"Because according to the other Elders, she was only meant to pass it on to whom ever it was really meant for." Leo said.

"So she's not the new King Arthur but she is the new Lady of the Lake?"

"Basically, yeah."

"Well, why is it turning her evil?" Paige asked.

"Because only the ultimate power on earth can handle Excalibur." Angel said. "That's why the Lady stayed in the lake to insulate herself from the power of the sword."

"Ok, so we should find Piper and then drown her." Buffy said. Leo gave her a look. "Oh, I'm just kidding, Leo."

"It's no joke, it's the only way to keep the power from consuming her, destroying her." Leo said.

"Still, what does Mordaunt want with Piper?" Phoebe asked. "I mean, he's tricky, but he's hardly the ultimate power on earth."

"But he can use Piper to become that power." Buffy said, putting the pieces together.

The crystal pointed to a spot on the map. "Guess who just surfaced." Paige said.

"Let's go get her." Phoebe and Buffy grabbed each of Paige's hands and they orbed to where Piper was.

"Piper." Paige said.

"I should have known it was a trap." A demon said, getting up.

"You stay put." Piper said to the demon. She turned to the girls. "You, I warned you."

"Sorry, your majesty." Phoebe threw a potion and Piper destroyed it with the sword. "Paige, now, orb her."

Paige orbed out just as Piper threw Excalibur at her. Buffy caught Excalibur just as Paige orbed in behind Piper and grabbed her. Piper threw Paige over her shoulders and she landed on the ground in front of Phoebe and Buffy. Piper held out her hand and Excalibur was yanked out of Buffy's hands and returned to her.

"Impressive, huh? Now, make your queen proud." Mordaunt said.

Phoebe helped Paige up. The demon threw electricity bolts at Phoebe, Buffy, and Paige. Buffy managed to jump out of the way before it hit her, but they hit Paige and Phoebe in their chests. They fell to the ground, leaving their spirits behind.

"What just happened?" Paige asked.

"I don't know, but I don't think it's good." Phoebe said as Piper, Mordaunt, and the demon disappeared.

"Leo!" Buffy called.

Back at the Manor, a restored Phoebe and Paige, and Angel, Buffy, and Leo were in the conservatory once again. Phoebe was scrying and Paige was laying on the chair.

"Ow." Paige said.

"Feeling any better?" Leo asked.

"No, I'm pretty sure 'ow' signifies that I am not in fact feeling any better." She sat up. "I'm getting tired of this whole soul separating from my body thing. It's getting to be a disturbing pattern."

"It's pretty close too, your souls were getting ready to move on."

"Move on to where exactly?"

"Nice try."

"I can not believe, Piper. Did you see that look in her eyes?" Phoebe asked.

"Hey, at least it looked like she was having fun for once." Paige said.

"I'm just glad you girls are ok." Angel said. "Especially you." He said to Buffy.

"Angel…." Buffy started.

"You do understand that if you'd have been killed today too, our baby would have died too."

"I know, but….."

"We're going to have to talk about you going out on these dangerous missions."

"He's right." Leo said. "This baby was a gift that can easily be taken away. The Elders trust that you'll do everything you can to protect that baby."

"I'm trying, but it's really hard to ignore the call of duty." Buffy said.

"Just remember that you're not invincible like Piper was." Paige said.

Buffy nodded and then turned to Phoebe. "Find her yet?"

"No, nothing." Phoebe said.

"All right, keep trying." Leo said. "Just like last time, they can't do anything until they resurface."

"Yeah, unless Mordaunt wants her to help him rule the underworld." Paige said.

"There's gotta be another way to get her out of this." Angel said.

"I just wish we knew who King Arthur is."

"Wait, what do you mean?" Phoebe asked.

"I mean, if we need to separate Piper from the sword, what better way than to figure out who she's meant to give it to." Wyatt gurgled from the playpen. "No."

"It's Wyatt, oh my god, it has to be." Phoebe said. Leo groaned in pain. "What's the matter?"

"It's Piper, she's hurt." Leo said.

The crystal pointed to a spot on the map. "Harding Park, let's go."

"I got Wyatt." Buffy said.

"I'll stay so if anything happens, I can orb you guys out of here quick."

Phoebe orbed out with Leo. Not even three seconds after they did, Mordaunt appeared and walked up to the playpen holding Excalibur. "My apologies, King Wyatt." He said. "I guess it just wasn't meant to be." Mordaunt stabbed the lumpy blanket bundle in the playpen and lifted up the bundle. It was a teddy bear wrapped in a blanket. "What!"

"Ohh, and that's his favorite teddy bear." Buffy said behind him.

Piper, Phoebe and Leo orbed in. Piper took Wyatt from Buffy. "Bet you didn't expect this when you got up this morning."

"But I still got Excalibur." Mordaunt said.

"Not for long." Phoebe said.

"Go for it, Wyatt." Leo said.

Wyatt orbed out Excalibur and it orbed back in, hovering in front of Wyatt. Wyatt pointed and Excalibur flew across the room and stabbed Mordaunt. Mordaunt exploded and was vanquished. The sword dropped to the floor.

"Ok, sweetie, that's very, very good." Piper said. "But we need to put this away, so you don't put an eye out. At least until you're eighteen and your aunt Buffy can show you how to use it."

Buffy walked over to Excalibur and picked it up like it was light as a feather. "Wow, the real Excalibur. I can't believe I'm holding this. Wyatt, your aunt Buffy is definitely going to teach you how to use this thing one day." Buffy walked over to the stone and pushed Excalibur into it. "But that won't be for a long while."

"How are you?" Paige asked Piper.

"Oh, fine." Piper said. "Do you think you could orb this into the attic?"

"Absolutely." The sword and the stone orbed out.

"Away from any furniture?"

They heard a crash from upstairs. "Sorry."

"Don't worry, I'll just add it to my list." Piper said with a laugh.

Buffy bounced Wyatt while Piper looked on. "Listen, I want you to promise me and your mommy that before we take that thing out of storage, you're gonna play lots of football and baseball and have lots of normal toys, and maybe we can get a dog."

Piper laughed just as Leo walked in. "What do you think? Should we get a dog?"

"How are we doing?" Leo asked.

"Uh, his highness seems content."

"What about you?"

"I'm doing all right. At least I have my priorities straight now. I was so busy doing stuff and all I really wanted to do was hang out with him."

"Well, you should have more time for that now. I fixed the washer."

"You did?"

"And the sink, and the cable, and the toilet."

"Wow, I forgot how handy you were to have around the house."

"Pretty strange, huh?"

"Kind of scary, actually."

"Why?"

"Well, we've seen what he can do without the sword. I can't begin to imagine what he could do with it. Especially after Buffy starts teaching him."

"Well, whatever it is, it's meant to be."

"It doesn't make it any less scary, though. But that's tomorrow's problem. I'll worry about it then. Okey-dokey."

"Works for me." Leo looked at Buffy. "How are you doing?"

"I'm actually feeling pretty darn good. I can't wait until Alex is born."

"Alex?" Piper asked.

"Yup."

"You're having a boy?" Leo asked.

"A girl. The doctor said that she could tell the sex of the baby."

"Does Angel know?" Piper asked.

"Not yet. But I'll tell him soon." Buffy smiled at Wyatt. "You're gonna get to meet your cousin soon, Wyatt." He smiled. "Yes you are. Alexis Prudence Summers."

"I like that." Leo said.

"I do too." Piper said. "What do you think Wyatt? Do you think she'll like it?" Wyatt gurgled and laughed.