Chapter 7: Witch

"This is madness." Giles, deeply concerned, is staring at Buffy in a cheerleading outfit.

Buffy smiles, "You don't like the color."

Giles frowns, "I what? I don't - Buffy, do you ignore everything I say? As a rule?"

Buffy shakes her head, "No, I believe that's your trick. I told you I'm going out for the cheerleading squad."

Giles nods, "You have a sacred birthright, Buffy. You have been chosen to destroy Vampires, not wave pom-poms at people. As the Watcher, I forbid it."

Buffy rolls her eyes, "And you'll be stopping me how?"

Giles, "Dyeh, uh, well - by appealing to your common sense, if such a creature exists."

Buffy nods, "I'll still have time to fight the forces of evil, okay? But I want to have a life. I want to do something normal. Something safe. Something that doesn't involve vampires or warlocks."

In the Gym girls twirl and warm up.

Buffy enters with Willow, Xander, Piper, and Phoebe.

Willow nods, "Giles didn't approve, huh?"

Buffy nods, "He totally lost his water. We haven't even seen a vampire in a week. I'd say he should get a girlfriend if he wasn't so old."

Piper rolls her eyes, "Buffy."

Willow nods, "Well, we're behind you."

Phoebe nods, "Yeah. Even though I've always thought Cheerleading was kind of dumb. It's something you want to do so I'm behind you."

Piper nods, "Yeah Phoebe was a bit of a rebel when she was in high school. You should have seen the gang she hung out with."

Xander nods, "People scoff at things like school spirit - but when you see these young women giving their all like this..." Amber her feet on two chairs, slides down into an extra low split. "...Oooh, stretchy. Where was I?"

Phoebe shakes her head, "Teenage boys."

Willow nods, "You were pretending that seeing scantily-clad girls in revealing postures was a spiritual experience."

Xander smiles, "What do you mean, pretending?" He pulls out an I.D. bracelet. "Oh, hey. Here's a little good luck thing for the tryouts..."

Buffy charmed, "What is this?"

Willow less charmed, "What is that?"

Buffy takes the bracelet, puts it on. "This is so sweet!" She reads the bracelet. "Yours always..."

Xander nods, "That was on there when I got it. Really. They all said that."

Cordelia watches Amber stand on one leg and hold the other straight up in the air. "Just look at Amber. Who does she think she is, a Laker Girl?"

Willow shakes her head, "I heard she turned them down."

A Senior Cheerleader moves to the judge's table with two other Senior Cheerleaders. "Let's begin with..." She reads from list. "Amber Grove. If you're not auditioning move off the floor."

Piper, Phoebe, Xander, Willow, Buffy and Cordelia move back.

Willow spots Amy, "Hi Amy."

Amy smiles, "Hi."

Willow nods, "I didn't know you wanted to be a cheerleader. You lost a lot of weight."

Amy nods, "Had to."

Willow smiles, "Do you know Buffy?"

Amy nods, "Hi. Oh how I hate this, let me count the ways." Buffy smiles, warming to Amy's honesty. They watch Amber's routine - she's really good. "She trained with Benson - he's the best coach money can buy."

Buffy blinks, "They have cheerleading coaches?" She looks at Piper and Phoebe, "Think Prue would pay for me to have a coach?"

Amy nods, "Oh yeah. You don't have...? I train with my mom, three hours in the morning, three at night."

Buffy smiles sadly, "I envy you there."

Piper and Phoebe step up next to Buffy. Piper nods, "That's why we're here for you Buffy."

Amy smiles, "I know it's kinda hokey... but she's really great."

Cordelia, standing nearby, feigns boredom with Amber's performance, turns her back.

Everyone else watches Amber as smoke begins to emanate from her pom-poms.

Buffy frowns, "What the ... ?" She looks to Piper and Phoebe who indicate they see it also.

Willow frowns, "That girl's on fire."

Cordelia back still turned, "Enough with the hyperbole."

Amber stops, drops the pom-poms. The smoke is coming from her - and her hands and forearms suddenly burst into flames! Amber screams!

Buffy vaults to the large Razorbacks banner, rips it down and tackles Amber, wrapped her tightly in it and smothering the flames. "It's okay, you're gonna be okay..."

Later in the library Buffy enters, Piper and Phoebe have returned to the manor to look in the Book of Shadows.

Buffy sighs, "I've been slaying Vampires for more than a year now. I've seen some pretty cringeworthy stuff, but nobody's hands ever got toasted. Well except for mine, I guess. But that's because of my power and they don't actually get toasted."

Giles nods, "I imagine not."

Buffy nods, "So this is not a vampire problem."

Giles shakes his head, "No."

Buffy nods, "But it is funky, right? Not of the norm? Outside me of course."

Giles nods, "Quite. Spontaneous human combustion is rare, and scientifically unexplainable. But there've been cases reported for hundreds of years. Usually all that's left is a pile of ashes."

Willow sighs, "That's all that would have been left of Amber if it hadn't been for Buffy."

Xander nods, "So we have no idea what caused this? That's a comfort."

Buffy nods, "Piper and Phoebe went back to the manor to look in the Book. See if they could find anything."

Giles nods, "Well, that is the thrill of living on a hellmouth - one has a veritable cornucopia of fiends, devils and ghouls to engage - Pardon me for finding the glass half full."

Buffy nods, "Any common denominator in cases of spontaneous combustion?"

Giles nods, "Rage. In most cases the person who combusted was terribly angry or upset."

Xander nods, "So maybe Amber's got this power, like Buffy. To make herself be on fire. Like the Human Torch, only it hurts."

Buffy nods, "So I should get the skinny on Amber. See if she's had any colorful episodes before."

Willow nods, "That means hacking illegally into the school's computer system – at last something I can do." She moves to a computer.

Xander nods, "I'll ask around about her."

Buffy sighs, "Guys, you don't have to get involved."

Xander smiles, "What do you mean? We're a team! Aren't we a team?"

Willow nods, "Yeah, you're the Slayer and we're like the slayerettes."

Buffy shakes her head, "I don't want you putting yourselves in danger."

Xander smiles, "I laugh in the face of danger. Then I hide till it goes away."

Buffy nods, "Okay, well, I'm psyched for the help. And what if we find out Amber didn't cause this herself?"

Giles nods, "Then we will have to determine who or what did. And deal with it accordingly."

Xander nods, "Hey, we've fought vampires! Anything else'll be a walk in the park."

Buffy sighs, "Not likely. I just hope whatever it is doesn't require the power of three."

That evening at the manor Buffy enters the kitchen, throws her books on the kitchen table. "Hey, Prue."

Prue nods, "Hi. How was school?"

Buffy smiles, "A reverent joy. Did Piper and Phoebe tell you what happened at cheerleading tryouts?"

Prue frowns, "No, what happened?"

Buffy nods, "A girl caught fire. I quickly put it out."

Prue frowns, "Buffy…"

Buffy shakes her head, "I know what you're about to say Prue, but I swear I didn't use my power on Amber. Giles thinks she spontaneously combusted. Piper and Phoebe were going to check the Book and see if they could find anything."

Prue nods, "That is unusual, Buffy. I've only been home a couple minutes so I haven't checked to see if they are upstairs."

They head up to the attic to find Piper and Phoebe looking through the book.

Buffy nods, "So did you find anything?"

Piper and Phoebe shakes their heads. They close both Books (Charmed BoS and Buffy's BoS).

Piper sighs, "There is nothing in the book about a person suddenly catching on fire. You sure you didn't accidentally use you power?"

Buffy sighs, "I'm sure."

The next day back in the Gym at the school.

Senior Cheerleader stands before the group, "Despite the terrible thing that happened yesterday... we still have to pick new cheerleaders. If you make the team, you'll find your name posted in the Quad after lunch. Let's begin with group performance - Cordelia, Buffy, Amy, Morgan, Janice and Lishanne."

The five girls walk to the center of the gym.

Amy glares at her hands. "Why do my hands have to sweat when I get nervous?"

Buffy smiles, "Don't worry, you'll do great." She looks around trying to spot anything out of the ordinary.

The girls perform a group cheer it includes synchronized leaps, twirls and a basketball cheer.

Lishanne smiles, "We're Gateway, Gateway."

The group cheers, "We Never Fail, Never Fail."

Phoebe rolls her eyes, "I don't understand why Buffy wants to join the cheerleading squad."

Lishanne nods, "Jump and Shoot, Swish and Score."

The group cheers, "The Other Team Is Such a Bore. YEAHHH!"

Piper shakes her head, "Phoebe she enjoys it. Buffy said before she became well you know. She used to be on the cheerleading squad at Hemery. She used to enjoy it."

Morgan is okay. Lishanne is great. Cordelia is surprisingly good, as is Buffy, still a little rusty but impressive.

Amy starts out well but tries too hard - misses a couple of synchronized moves - and, in the big finish, each girl doing a cartwheel and sliding to their knees one at a time, Amy's hands slip on the floor, and she careens into Cordellia.

Cordelia frowns, "You saw that, right? That wasn't me."

In the Gym Foyer a few moments later.

Amy stands before a big trophy display case.

Buffy exits the locker room with Phoebe and Piper. They step up next to Amy. They follow her gaze and look at a cheerleader photo. Under the photo, it reads: 1977 - TRI-COUNTY BEST.

Amy smiles, "That's my mom."

Buffy blinks, "No..." She reads the name, "Catherine Madison. Get down with your bad self."

Phoebe rolls her eyes.

Amy nods, "Her nickname was Catherine The Great: she took that team and made them tri-county champions, no one's ever done that before or since. She and my dad were homecoming King and Queen, got married right after graduation."

Buffy nods, "That's kinda romantic."

Piper nods in agreement.

Amy nods, "Well... he was a big loser, couldn't make any money, took off with Miss Trailer Trash when I was twelve."

Buffy nods, "Okay, that part's less romantic. My folks split up, too before my mom passed away."

Piper nods, "Same with our parents."

Amy nods, "Drag, huh. He left my mom with nothing. She put herself through cosmetology school, bought me everything I ever wanted and never gained a single pound..."

Buffy nods, "She sounds great, Amy, but that doesn't mean you have to, you know, lock step as far as the cheerleading thing…"

Amy turns to Buffy, eyes filling. "It's just, she was the best, and I can't get my body to move like hers. I choked in there so bad." Amy looks very sad and forlorn as Willow enters. She tries to put on a brave face, heads for the girls' locker room. "...I gotta get changed..."

Willow looks at Amy, "Hi Amy..." She looks at Piper, Phoebe, and Buffy, "She okay?"

Buffy nods, "She's wiggin' about her mother... the big cheer queen back when."

Willow nods, "Yeah. Her mom's kinda..."

Buffy sighs, "Nazi-like?"

Piper frowns, "Buffy."

Buffy looks at Piper and nods understanding the unfinished statement.

Willow nods, "Heil. If she gains an ounce she padlocks the fridge and won't eat anything but broth."

Buffy sighs, "So Mommie Dearest is really... Mommie Dearest."

Willow nods, "There's a bitter streak – but Amy's nice. We used to hang in Junior High. When her mom'd go on a broth kick Amy'd come to my house and we'd just stuff ourselves with brownies."

Buffy nods, "Any word on Amber?"

Willow pulls a paper from her bookbag, "Nothing thrilling. Average student - got detention once for smoking - regular smoking, with a cigarette. Not being smoky. All pretty normal."

Piper frowns, "None of what happened yesterday makes sense."

Buffy nods, "We'll just have to see what happens next. Maybe nothing will."

Piper nods, "Well I need to get to Quake, Buffy. Phoebe why don't you go back to the manor and go back through the Books. Just in case we missed something yesterday."

Phoebe, "Ok. I'll see you at home Buffy."

They head out.

Later kids mill about after lunch in the quad. Xander and Willow walk through them.

Willow nods, "I told Buffy about Amber."

Xander smiles, "Cool. Was she wearing it?" Willow glares at him. "The bracelet. She was wearing it, right? That's pretty much like we're going out."

Willow shakes her head, "Except without the hugging or kissing or her knowing about it."

Xander nods, "So now I'm a figure of fun. I should just ask, right?"

Willow nods, "Won't know till you ask."

Xander smiles, "See, this is why you're cool. You're like a guy. You're my guy friend that knows about girl stuff."

Willow sighs, "Oh great. I'm a guy."

Xander sees the Senior Cheerleader moving towards the bulletin board, list in hand. Girls begin to gather. "Hey, they're posting the list!"

He bolts for the bulletin board. A sizable crowd has gathered. The Senior Cheerleader posts the list and goes. Girls stand on tiptoe, push and poke, trying to see. Buffy and Amy are on the periphery as Xander and Willow move up. A girl in tears breaks out of the crowd, runs off.

Lishanne, reading the list, jumps up and down with some friends. "Yess!"

Amy frowns, "I can't take this..."

Buffy tries to wedge into the crowd but two contenders step right in front of her.

Xander nods, "Spot me, I'm goin' in." He takes a little dive into the throng, works his way to the front where he finds himself nose to nose with Cordelia at the list. He lets her check it out first. "Women and children first."

Cordelia emerges, triumphant. "You're lucky."

Amy smiles, "I made it?"

Cordelia shakes her head, "I made it." She moves off

Xander, rubbing his arm, emerges from the throng. "One of those girls hit me really hard - we have to start testing for steroids - okay, not only did you make it, but you, Miss Summers, are the number one alternate and Amy's the number three!"

Amy's face falls, she turns and walks off.

Xander frowns, "What better way to celebrate than with a romantic drive-through for two at…"

Willow frowns, "Xander, alternates are the ones who didn't make the team. They only fill in if something happens to the ones who did."

Buffy goes after Amy, "Excuse me."

Xander nods, "For I am Xander, King of the Cretins, and all lesser cretins must bow before me."

Buffy walks over to Amy who is trying to control her feelings. "At least it's over. And you know what I think we should do about it? Brownie pig-out, my house, now."

Amy sighs, "How many more hours a day can I practice? How much more can I do? This would never have happened to my mom. Never." She takes off. Buffy watches her go.

The next morning in the kitchen. Buffy is getting her books together. Piper enters carrying an old yearbook. "Look what I found! I was sorting through some of your mom's stuff and found her old yearbook. Oh, look, there she is."

Buffy looks for a second. "Wow, who knew she had Farrah hair."

Piper shakes her head, "I think they called it Gidget hair."

Buffy nods, "Did Phoebe find anything yesterday?"

Piper shakes her head, "No. I hate to say it but this may not be something we can do anything about as witches."

Buffy nods, "Okay. I better get or I will miss school."

At school Cordelia, walks slowly, passes Xander and Willow.

Xander smiles, "Morning your Highness, beheadings at noon as usual? Okay, see how she has now clue I'm even a mammal, much less a human being?"

Willow nods, "None."

Xander sighs, "This invisible man syndrome, a blessing in Cordelia's case, a curse in Buffy's."

Willow shakes her head, "You're not invisible to Buffy."

Xander nods, "Worse, I'm just part of the scenery, like an old shoe, or a rug you walk on every day but you never really see…"

Willow trying to be helpful, "…like a pen that's all chewed up and you know you should throw it away but you don't, not 'cause you really like it that much but more 'cause you're just so used to it and…"

Xander nods, "Will. That is the point and let's not drive it through my head like a railroad spike. What I have do - what I'm going to do - is just what you said…"

Willow nods, "Throw away the pen, forget about Buffy." She tosses pen in trash.

Xander nods, "What I have to do - what I'm going to do - is be a man and ask her out. No more i.d. bracelets, subtle innuendo, or Polaroids outside her bedroom window late at night - that last is a joke to relieve the tension because here she comes."

Buffy rounds a corner, heading their way.

Willow nods, "I know I'm relieved."

Xander sighs, "Alright. Into battle I go. Would you ask her out for me? No. Man. Me. Battle." Buffy passes Cordelia at her locker. Buffy sees Cordelia reach for her combination - her fingers miss it, find it. Buffy moves on, is intercepted by Xander. "Buffy, how would you like to..."

Buffy looks back at Cordelia, "Is that even Cordelia's locker?"

Xander frowns, "Huh? I don't know, what I'm saying here is, accompany me Friday night..."

Buffy, not really listening, sees Cordelia give up on the locker which won't open for her, walk off. "Hang on, Xander, I have to... we can pick this up later, you don't mind, do you?" She turns and goes.

Xander watches her. A small high-pitched sound builds slowly in the back of his throat - the sound of a plan going down, down, down. "Pplllewww!"

Cordelia moves slowly, making her way across campus.

Buffy exits a building fifty yards or so behind Cordelia. Follows her, concerned.

Cordelia makes her way over towards the Driver's Ed area. Orange cones are set up in a little course on the blacktop. A driver's ed car, Mr. Pole, and two students are waiting for her. Cordelia walks up.

Mr. Pole frowns, "Nice of you to join us Cordelia. We didn't keep you waiting or anything did we? It's your turn to drive. Let's buckle up, people."

Mr. Pole and students move to the car.

Cordelia shakes her head, "I don't want to drive today, Mr. Pole."

Mr. Pole looks wildly uncomfortable for a moment, "You've flunked Driver's Ed twice - show me some moves or you'll be taking the bus to college."

Cordelia marches to the car, climbs behind the wheel.

Buffy moves up, keeping an eye on Cordelia.

Mr. Pole buckles up in the passenger seat. "Check your brake, your mirrors, start the engine, put the car in drive..." Cordelia looks at the gear shift indicator. It's a big blur. This girl is having trouble seeing. "...let' move forward and through the cones in a gentle, even turn to the…" Cordelia puts the car in reverse, steps on the gas. The car jerks backwards, knocking into a pole. "…brakes!"

Cordelia slams on the brakes, jams the car through every gear until she finds drive, hits the gas. The car screeches forward.

Mr. Pole frowns, "Slow down, turn right, right, BRAKES, BRAKES!"

Cordelia does as she's told, yanking the wheel, stomping on the brakes.

The car launches into a nasty skid, right off the blacktop, onto the grass, careening out of control now towards the street.

Buffy starts running like hell.

Mr. Pole and the Kids in the back scream.

The car skids into the street and stops. A car swerves around them, tires squealing, horn blaring.

Mr. Pole frowns, "Everyone out!"

Cordelia, Mr. Pole, the students scramble out. Mr. Pole and the students run. Cordelia looks around, completely disoriented.

Dark and murky, dimmest shape of a UPS size truck bearing down on her. She takes a step away, then another - in about five seconds she's going to be hamburger.

Buffy tears across the grass onto the sidewalk.

Cordelia screams, terrified, expecting the worst.

The truck hits its breaks, heading right at Cordelia.

Buffy leaps on a parked car, using it as a booster to send her airborne. She flies through the air, tackles Cordelia carrying her out of harm's way as the truck screeches past.

Cordelia looks around without seeing. "What's happening?! I can't see anything!"

Buffy frowns, "Cordelia, it's okay, you're gonna be - Oh, god..." She looks at Cordelia whose eyes glaze over to murky white.

Cordelia in hysterics, "What's happening to me!?"

Later in the Library...

Giles nods, "Witchcraft. Blinding your enemy to disable and disorient them is a classic."

Buffy shakes her head, "That's nothing I would do."

Giles nods, "That's because you are a good witch."

Xander frowns, "First vampires, now witches... No offense, Buffy. Anyways it's no wonder you can still afford a house in San Francisco."

Giles nods, "Why would someone want to harm Cordelia?"

Willow shrugs, "Maybe because... they met her. Did I say that?"

Giles nods, "Then why was Amber set ablaze?"

Xander nods, "Yeah, those guys don't hang."

Buffy sighs, "They're both cheerleaders."

Giles frowns, "Someone doesn't like cheerleading."

Buffy nods, "Or likes it too much."

Willow nods, "Amy."

Buffy nods, "Amy."

Xander nods, "So you guys are leaning towards Amy."

Buffy nods, "She's desperate to get on that team... I get the feeling she'd do anything to make her mom's dream come true."

Giles nods, "Now I do want to make sure I've got this right. This witch is casting horrible, disfiguring spells so that she can be a cheerleader."

Buffy sighs, "Your point being?"

Giles nods, "Priorities. Really, if I had the power of the black mass I'd set my sights a little higher than making the pep squad."

Buffy nods, "I think you're underestimating the amount of pressure a parent can lay on you. If you're not a picture perfect carbon copy they tend to wig. Shoot Prue is kind of that way."

Willow nods, "Cheerleading was kind of her mom's last hurrah."

Xander nods, "We still gotta stop Amy. We should grab her before…"

Giles flipping through the text, "Let's be certain she's the witch before we arouse her suspicions. She's capable of some fairly ugly things."

Buffy nods, "All right, you're a high school girl, you're desperate to make the team and please your mom, you turn to witchcraft. What's the first thing you do?"

Willow smiles, "Check out the books on witchcraft!" She moves to the computer at check-out desk, scanning records.

Xander shakes his head, "That's the last thing you do! You don't leave a paper trail. Forget that…"

Willow nods, "It'll just take a minute…"

Xander looks around nervous, "We don't have a minute. Cheerleaders' lives are in danger - Buffy's in danger." He grabs Buffy, tries to hustle her out. "You were the first alternate. You're on the team now that Cordelia's out - you could be next, we have to get you to a safe house."

Buffy glares at Xander, "First off I'm a witch with an active power. Second we don't even know if I would be the next to be targeted."

Willow sees something on computer, "Xander..."

Xander innocent, "Yes?"

Willow nods, "Witches - Historic Roots to Modern Practice checked out by Alexander Harris."

Buffy moves to computer, "The Pagan Rites, checked out by Alexander…"

Xander nods, "All right, all right. It's not what you think."

Willow smiles, "You like to look at the semi-nude engravings?"

Xander nods, "Oh. Well, then it is what you think."

Giles nods, "We'll need a conclusive test anyway. There should be one - yes! The dunking stool. We throw her in the pond. If she floats, she's a witch; if she drowns, she's innocent."

Buffy frowns, "Please. I may not have been a witch for long but even I know that one doesn't actually work."

Giles nods, "Some of my texts are a bit outdated."

Buffy nods, "You think?"

Giles looks in another book, "Ah! Yes. This should work. You'll need some of her hair, a little quicksilver and aqua fortis."

Buffy nods, "We may have some of that at home."

Willow nods, "That's just mercury and nitric acid, we can get it in the science lab."

Giles nods, "Heat ingredients and apply to witch, if a spell has been cast in previous forty-eight hours witch's skin will turn blue. Oh, and you'll need some eye of newt."

Later in science class… Dr. Gregory is demonstrating dissecting a frog, "Those on track one may begin their dissections. Those on track two, add your hydrochloric acid and ammonium hydroxide to your beakers..."

Xander holds a scalpel poised over a frog. He lowers the scalpel, "I can't." He puts the scalpel down.

Willow takes it, makes a quick neat incision. "One eye of newt..."

Xander nods, "Wow, you've got a killer streak I've never seen before. Hope I never cross you."

Buffy rolls her eyes.

Willow nods, "I do too, then I'd have to carve you up in neat little pieces." She holds up the scalpel, gives him her sweet Willow smile.

Xander laughs, "Ha ha." He takes scalpel respectfully. "How's Buffy coming with the hair?"

Buffy moves past Lishanne.

Lishanne sarcastically, "Isn't this exciting?"

Buffy laughs, "Oh yeah." She reaches Amy. "Help. Which is the hydrochloric acid and which is the ammonium hydroxide?"

Amy nods, "Well, the bottle that says hydrochloric acid is usually the hydrochloric acid."

Buffy smiles, "Read the bottles - what a concept." She drops her pen, bends down to pick it up, as she does, her hand slips inside Amy's purse, grabs some hair off Amy's brush. She straightens up.

Amy's looking at Buffy.

Buffy moves back to her seat. Keeping her back to Willow and Xander, she reaches back, drops the hair in front of Willow who adds it to a chemical mix on a Bunsen burner.

Amy glances at them.

Xander through his teeth, "Smile and wave to the nice witch."

Buffy rolls her eyes.

Willow hands the beaker to Buffy. "All set. You have a plan?"

Buffy nods, "Spill it on her, try and make it look natural."

Xander nods, "We'll be right behind you. Only farther away."

Buffy heads for Amy's desk with beaker.

Dr. Gregory nods, "Lishanne, can you tell me why these chemicals have this reaction?" Buffy casually spills a drops or two on Amy's arm. Buffy looks at Amy's arm the drops do turn blue. Amy's eyes locked are locked on Lishanne. Buffy turns to follow Amy's gaze. "Lishanne? Are you - Oh my god."

Lishanne knocks a few beakers over as she stumblingly rises and turns, grabbing at the first thing she sees - which is Amy. Amy is brought face to face with Lishanne – who has no mouth. Amy backs away, terrified by what she sees.

After science class Buffy, Willow and Xander are clustered, conferring in the hall.

Xander nods, "Did you see? Amy was as freaked out as the rest of us."

Willow shakes her head, "So it's not her?"

Buffy sighs, "The test was positive. She's our Sabrina. I just don't think she realizes what she's doing."

Willow nods, "Should we talk to her?"

Buffy sighs, "Maybe we should talk to her mother. I wonder if she knows what she's created."

The next morning Buffy wakes at the sound of her alarm clock going off. She lumps around under the cover, mewling in protest before she reaches for the clock. She grabs it and casually crushes it with her hand. Pulls her head out from under the covers to look at what she has wrought.

Buffy laughs, "Oops."

A bit later Buffy enters the kitchen. Piper is making breakfast. Buffy comes in in a really good mood.

Buffy sings to herself, "MACHO MACHO MAN... Hey, juice." She downs an entire glass in one sip. "Quality juice. Not from concentrate."

Piper tentatively, "You're in a good mood."

Buffy nods, "I am. I'm on the squad. Which is great because I feel like cheering. And leading others to cheer. Hey, juice!" She downs Piper's as well.

Piper nods, "Did anything happen yesterday?"

Buffy nods, "Yeah Cordelia lost her eyesight. And it's looking like we may have a witch casting spells to get herself on the cheerleading squad."

Piper frowns, "I'm coming to school with you."

Buffy shakes her head, "I'm ok Piper, really."

Piper nods, "Okay but if you decide to confront this supposed witch you give me, Prue and Phoebe a call so we can be there to back you up with the power of three."

Buffy nods, "Will do, Peeper."

Piper frowns, "Buffy, are you feeling well?"

Buffy smiles, "I can't be in a good mood? That's a new house rule? Fine, I don't mind, cuz I'm a…" She begins to sing again. "MACHO MACHO MAN..."

She sings her way out, leaving Piper somewhat worried.

Later in the Gym Buffy is with the rest of the cheerleading squad. "Turn up the music!"

The cheerleaders - Buffy, Senior Cheerleader and the rest practice. Buffy has a big, happy grin on her face, she's workin' this cheer - unfortunately she's workin' it completely out of sync with everyone else. Buffy stomps on the Senior Cheerleader's foot.

Senior Cheerleader frowns, "Ow! Get it together, Buffy, we have a game in less than four hours."

Willow and Xander slip in to watch.

Buffy yells, "Hey Willow, Xander! My buds are here. I love my buds."

Xander frowns, "Is it me, or is Buffy somewhat looped?"

Each girl launches the one next to her into a spinning cartwheel. Buffy is launched.

Willow nods, "We better get her out of there."

Xander nods, "Yeah, before she..." Buffy cartwheels to the Senior Cheerleader, grabs her and hurls her like a flying sack of potatoes. Willow and Xander wince. "...hurts somebody."

The Senior Cheerleader is splatted in the corner of the gym where she landed. She gets up, way more angry than hurt.

Buffy frowns, "Did I do that?"

The Senior Cheerleader nods, "You are so out of here!"

Willow and Xander rush in, grab Buffy.

Willow smiles, "It's not her fault…"

Xander nods, "She's on medication…"

The Senior Cheerleader frowns, "Obviously not enough. Who's our next alternate - oh." Amy is right there, in costume. "Amy, you just made cheerleader."

Buffy shakes her head, "No no no, you don't want her, she's a wi…"

Xander clamps a hand over Buffy's mouth as Willow and he hustle her out. "A wise choice indeed."

Amy stands, innocently joins the line,

Willow and Xander drag Buffy out, shut the door.

Buffy smiles, "She's a witchy!"

Willow frowns, "Buffy…"

Buffy nods, "I just got kicked off the team, didn't I?"

Xander nods, "I don't think it's your fault."

Buffy smiles, "I know you don't. That's cause you're my friend. You're my Xander-shaped friend. ...do you have any idea why I love you so, Xander?"

Willow nods, "We gotta get you to…"

Xander nods, "Let her speak!"

Buffy smiles, "I'll tell you. You're not like other guys at all..."

Xander nods, "Well..."

Buffy smiles, "You are completely and totally one of the girls. I'm that comfy with you."

Willow can't help but look a little pleased.

Xander looks like he just got cancer. "That's great."

Buffy nods, "Any other guy gave me a bracelet, they'd want to date me, it'd be a thing, but you - you …" She staggers a bit. "Oh. I don't feel so good." She slumps over, pale and sweaty.

Willow frowns, "Buffy?"

Buffy frowns, "Something is really... not good..." She collapses in their arms.

Willow looks at Xander, "Get her to Giles office. I'll go call her cousins."

Short time later in the library Buffy's laid out in two easy chairs. A cold compress on her head. She's conscious but very sick.

Giles, Willow and Xander stand over her, concerned.

Prue, Piper, and Phoebe come in.

Willow nods, "We gotta get her to a hospital."

Giles nods, "They can't help her. This is a Bloodstone Vengeance Spell, hits the body hard, like drinking a quart of alcohol, then eradicates the immune system."

Prue frowns, "Vengeance spell?

Xander shakes his head, "Like she's getting even with Buffy?"

Buffy weak, "'Cause she knows I know she's a witch."

Giles nods, "The others she just wanted out of the running, you she intends to..."

Buffy nods, "Kill."

Piper frowns, "How much time do we have?"

Giles nods, "I'm sure we have…"

Buffy sighs, "Truth please."

Giles nods, "Couple of hours, three at most."

Xander frowns, "So how do we reverse Buffy's spell?"

Giles nods, "I've been researching that. We can reverse all the spells if we can get our hands on Amy's spell book…"

Willow nods, "And if we can't get our hands on it?"

Giles sighs, "The only other way is to cut the witch's head off."

Phoebe frowns, "She's still human Giles. Unless she's a warlock and then there might be a vanquish for her."

Xander raises his hand, "Show of hands..."

Buffy shakes her head, "No. It's not Amy's fault. She became a witch to survive her mother."

Xander nods, "I don't care why, I care that you go on breathing."

Prue, Piper and Phoebe nod in agreement.

Buffy nods, "Giles, where would she be casting these spells?"

Giles nods, "She needs a sacred space with a pentagram, a large pot..."

Phoebe rolls her eyes, "You're kidding right? Cause we don't."

Buffy looks at Phoebe and nods, "At home. Help me get up." Giles and Prue helps her up. "We'll go to her house, find her book…"

Willow nods, "We'll go with you."

Buffy shakes her head, "No. Stay here, keep an eye on Amy."

Giles nods, "And keep her away from the science lab. We'll need it to cast our counter spells. Prue I suggest you go there now and do what you need to prepare. You and your sisters are more powerful than I when it comes to magic. Phoebe go with Willow and Xander. Piper you come with Buffy and I to Amy's house. Your power to freeze could come in handy if we need it."

A short time later Giles pulls up outside Amy's house. Giles and Piper help Buffy out of the car. They walk up to the front door and Giles knocks loudly. Buffy peeks in the window by the door.

Inside the house Catherine starts at the sound of knocking. She takes something and slides it under the coffee table. Comes anxiously to the door. She opens it to find Giles, Piper and Buffy.

Catherine nods, "What do you want? Is there something wrong?"

Giles nods, "Mrs. Madison, we need to talk to you about your daughter."

Catherine shakes her head, "I'm not allowed to - you'll have to come back." She tries to shut the door - Giles pushes it open rather forcefully.

Giles and Piper ushers Buffy in. They move Buffy to the couch.

Giles turns to Catherine. "Your daughter is up to something very dangerous. Are you aware of that?"

Catherine shakes her head, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Piper nods, "I think you know very well."

Catherine frowns, "You have to go. She's gonna be home soon."

Giles frowns, "This girl is very sick. You will shut up and you will listen to us. You daughter has access to some very powerful magics. Somehow your obsession with cheerleading has made her…"

Catherine near tears, "I don't care about cheerleading! It's not my fault she's doing stuff."

Buffy stares intently at Catherine.

Giles nods, "As her mother, you should accept some responsibility for her actions."

Catherine laughs. "Well, these kids today..."

Buffy looks at her, then looks at what Amy hid under the table. She sees under the table is a plate of brownies.

Buffy stands, weakly. Piper turns and helps her up.

Catherine shakes her head, "She's out of her mind. Ever since..."

Piper shakes her head, "You're afraid of her."

Catherine turns to look at Buffy and Piper, who approaches her slowly. Giles turns as well.

Buffy shakes her head, "Amy?" Catherine takes a step back, wide eyed. "Are you Amy?"

Giles frowns, "I don't understand..."

Buffy nods, "She switched, didn't she? She switched your bodies. She wanted to relive her glory days. Catherine the Great."

Giles frowns, "Good lord..."

Piper nods in agreement.

Catherine nods, quietly. "She said I was wasting my youth... So she took it."

Catherine sits down on the couch next to Buffy and Piper. She is terrified and fighting back tears. "I didn't know about her... her power. When my dad was here they would fight, he called her a witch. I thought he meant something else. When he left I wanted to go with him but she wouldn't even let me call. She got crazy. She'd lock herself upstairs for days. And she'd get down on me all the time. She said I didn't deserve to have it so easy, that I didn't know how hard it was to be her. I guess she showed me, huh?" She does cry now, quietly.

It takes all of Buffy's effort to say, "Amy, it's gonna be okay."

Piper nods in agreement, "My cousin is right, Amy."

Catherine nods, "A few months ago I woke up in her bed, I didn't know where I was... and I looked in the mirror..."

Giles nods, "She locked herself upstairs. Where?"

Catherine nods, "She has a room in the attic."

Buffy looks at Piper, "Why is it always the attic?"

Giles nods, "Show me."

The door to the attic burst opens a moment later as Giles and Piper enter the attic.

Catherine stays in the doorway, too afraid to enter as Giles comes up to the dolls. "If she finds out I've been in here she'll kill me."

Giles frowns, "My God... Piper."

Piper makes her way over next to Giles and sees what he is looking at two dolls; a woman and a girl. The dolls are lashed together with a thorny vine.

Piper shakes her head, "This is nothing like I've seen before."

Giles nods, "I believe we can reverse your mother's spell. All of them, in fact."

Piper looks to Giles, "You sure?"

Catherine smiles, "You really could?"

Giles nods, "Yes, but we need her Book of Shadows."

He looks around. Tentatively, Catherine enters, and helps. They rummage about in the dark recesses of the place, looking on shelves, under old blankets.

Giles discovers a small trunk. As he pulls it open he says to Catherine, "Collect those dolls, and all the personal…" A cat leaps out a Giles, screeching. Giles jumps back as the cat hits the floor and takes off out of the room. Giles takes a moment to recover himself. "Nice kitty..." He looks in the trunk. "What were you guarding? Yes..." He pulls out the book. "This is it."

Giles comes back down with the book, Catherine with the box of talismans. Piper follows behind them.

Buffy is back on the couch. She looks ghastly, but she looks up to Giles and Piper with hope. "Did we find?"

Giles nods, "We found."

Giles gently helps Buffy to her feet. He hands the book to Piper and picks Buffy up.

Catherine nods, "Where are you going?"

Giles nods, "We're going to school. And you're coming with us."

Later at school they enter the science lab. Prue is finishing setting everything they might need up. Giles places Buffy on a table. He takes off his jacket and places it under Buffy's head for a pillow. "We're going to stop this. I promise. Just hang on." He stands up, digs in the box for the book.

Piper looks at Buffy

Catherine nods, "How is she?"

Giles nods, "We only have a few minutes." He pulls the book out of the box, starts looking through it. "Let's see... We'll need lead, sulphur, some sort of diacetate..."

He goes over to the glass cabinet with the chemicals in it. It's locked. Casually, still looking down at the book for reference, he picks up a metal beaker and smashes the glass. He looks in and starts picking out vials of useful substances.

Catherine nods, "What should I do?"

Giles turns to her. "Find me a frog."

A moment later something is bubbling in a beaker, a Bunsen burner under it.

Catherine is nearby, reluctantly prying out a dead frog's eyes.

Giles nods, "Right. Prue, Piper."

They nod and go to the book as Giles throws in a powder. They read from the book, "The center is dark. The darkness breathes. The listener hears."

Giles throws in another powder.

Prue nods, "Hear me."

Catherine is reeling shaking off a momentary change. "It's working..."

Prue and Piper continue to read, "Unlock the gate, let the darkness shine. Cover us with holy fear. Show me. Show me"

The lights in the room blow out.

Catherine is reeling from the flashes. She looks up suddenly. "She's heading this way."

Prue and Piper continue to read, "Corsheth, and Gilail, the gate is closed. Receive the dark, release the unworthy... Take of mine energy and be sated!"

They plunge their hands into the brew! Huge colored cloud shoots up.

Catherine sees the door rattle, startles back in terror

Prue and Piper pull out their dripping hands as they continue to read, "Be sated! Release the unworthy!" An axe hits the door, burying itself above the lock. "Release! Release!" The door bursts open, An axe wielding Amy running in. She takes one quick look around, heads for Buffy. "RELEASE!"

Amy raises the axe - there is a flash of light - and she stops. Lowers it as Buffy stands, completely restored.

Buffy and Amy look at each other in wonder. "Amy?"

Catherine flies, screaming and tackling Buffy. The woman has gone completely apeshit. Giles comes at her and she just looks up at him and a desk moves at him, knocking him down.

Prue and Piper come around the table heading for Buffy. Prue telekinetically throws Catherine against the wall.

Catherine stands, comes toward the cowering Amy. Nothing but hate in her gaze. "You. You little brat."

Amy shakes her head, "Mom, please..." She is retreating, raising the axe more for protection than anything else.

Catherine merely cocks her head and the axe flies out of Amy's hand and into her own. Amy stifles a scream. "Raise a hand to your own mother? Who gave you birth, who gave up her life, her LIFE so you could drag your worthless carcass around and call it living?" She slams the axe into a table top.

Amy looks from the axe to her mother.

Something is happening - energy begins emanating from Catherine - like sparks, only black. Something very powerful is brewing in her. "You were never anything but trouble. I'll put you where you'll never make trouble again."

Buffy appears right behind Catherine. "Hey, guess what?" Catherine turns. "I feel better."

Buffy hits Catherine and she flies over a table, hits the ground with all attendant smashing of glass things.

Buffy comes around the table and Catherine pops back up, wired with fury.

Catherine frowns, "That body was mine! Mine!"

Buffy nods, "Oh, grow up."

Catherine throws her head back in a mystical shriek - and Buffy is flung back over the teacher's desk. She rises to see Catherine shaking, about to cast the spell.

Buffy looks to Prue and Piper, "Prue, Piper." They nod coming around the table to Buffy and clasps her hands. "Power of Three spell?"

Prue and Piper nods as they and Buffy begin to chant, "The Power of Three will set us free."

Catherin begins chanting her own spell, "I shall look upon my enemy…" Her arms crackle with energy - she opens her eyes and they are glowing darkly- she throws her arms forward with the final phrase. "…I shall look upon her and the dark place will have her soul! Corsheth! Take her!"

Catherine's spell rebounds off Prue, Piper and Buffy's Power of Three spell back at Catherine. She screams. Glows. Energy singing around her, wrapping her up. Then there's nothing.

Giles, no longer pinned, gets up, creeps forward with Amy. Buffy, Piper, and Prue comes from behind the desk. They all look around them, but they are alone. After a while...

Giles nods, "Well, that was interesting. Remind me never to get on your guys bad side."

Piper nods, "Will do."

Buffy nods, "Are you guys okay?"

Amy feelingly, "I'm fine."

Buffy smiles at her.

Giles nods, "I think all the spells were reversed."

Buffy looks at her cousins, "You guys saved my life."

Prue nods, "Just don't make a habit of it, Buffy."

Piper rolls her eyes, "Any time, Buffy. Any time."

They head for the door as Xander leaps out at Amy, tackles her. "I got her! I got her! Cut her head off!"

Buffy frowns, "Xander, what are you doing?"

Xander smiles, "Saving you." Buffy pulls him off Amy. "But she's evil!"

Giles shakes his head, "Well, it wasn't exactly her."

Amy nods, "It was my mom."

Xander blinks, "Oh." It takes a moment for him to realize he has no idea what they're talking about.

Willow runs in now, carrying a baseball bat. "Where is she?"

Xander smiles, "Willow! It's cool."

Willow nods, "It is?"

Xander nods, "Oh yeah. I took care of it."

Buffy, Prue and Piper roll their eyes.

The next day in the Gym Foyer Buffy and Amy are walking through the hall.

Amy smiles, "Dad is so impossible. He doesn't ever want me going anywhere, wants to spend total quality time together. I'm like, "Dad, I can go out, it's perfectly safe." He's got all this guilt at leaving me with mom and he's being a total pain."

Buffy nods, "You're loving it."

Amy nods, "Every single minute."

Cordelia breezes by with the other cheerleaders as they get out of the gym. "Hey, I'm really sorry you guys got bumped back to alternate. Hold it - wait - no I'm not."

Amy nods, "Well, I know I'll miss the intellectual thrill of spelling words out with my arms."

Cordelia frowns, "Ooh, these grapes are sour." She exits, passing Buffy, who is staring at the trophy case.

Amy looks to her, the smile leaving her face. "Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot you actually wanted to be on the squad."

Buffy shakes her head, "No, that's okay. Cheerleading is just a little too hairy these days."

Amy nods, "That's for sure." For a moment they both look at Catherine's trophy. "Catherine the Great."

Buffy nods, "And there's been no sign of her?"

Amy shakes her head, "That last spell, she said I'd never make trouble again. Wherever she is, I don't think we have to worry."

Buffy nods, "And if she comes back you know who to call. But remember you can't tell anyone that Prue, Phoebe, Piper or I are witches."

Amy nods, "I will on both accounts. Anyways I'm just happy to have my body back." They walk off. "I'm thinking of getting fat."

Buffy smiles, "Well, that look is in for spring."