Buffy slowly woke up from her short sleep but was suddenly aware as she saw the brilliant light hovering above her.
"Oh, God!" she cried as she jumped upright and shielded her eyes. The light was too bright.
'Oh, oh forgive me. I forgot how sensitive mortal eyes are.' The feminine voice apologized as she dimmed her light to a faint glimmer.
She could now see the small creature that was standing on her dresser. If it hadn't been moving, Buffy could have sworn it was the most detailed pixie figurine she had ever seen. Her skin was a pale blue and the wings attached to her back shimmered of silver touched with the slightest hint of rose. The only thing covering her body was the waist long hair that matched the color of her wings. She was no taller than a quarter. Maybe it was just a figurine and she was still dreaming.
"Who are you and what do you want?" she demanded.
'In your language, I am called Crea and I am here because there is someone who needs your help.'
Buffy could feel the voice as feminine. It was strange, she knew what words were being spoken yet she couldn't hear it as she normally heard people speak.
"Okay, Crea, is it? How are you speaking to me?" she asked, before addressing anything else. "Your mouth hasn't moved?"
'You have much to learn,' the fairy replied, shaking her head. 'We cannot speak as mortals do. The only way you can hear is if we speak through your soul. It is the one telling you the words I wish you to hear.'
"Oh," Buffy responded cautiously. "So who is it I am supposed to help?"
'He is the one you call 'Spike.''
At the sound of his name, a look of concern came over the woman's face.
"Why? What happened to him?"
The fairy grew curious for a moment about the slayer's feelings.
''She' took him.'
"What? Who? Who took him?"
'The Evil One.'
Buffy sighed. "Well that's helpful, another one?."
'I'm sorry. I do not know her name in your language. But I do know that we must hurry. She will not wait long.'
"Why? What is she going to do? What does it have to do with Spike?"
Buffy glanced at the clock that rested on the same dresser. 5:12. It was SO early, maybe she was still dreaming. Were thoughts of Spike getting in her dreams now? It was bad enough while she was awake, but this...
'At midnight tonight, she will have finished stealing his magic.'
"Magic? You must have the wrong vampire, he doesn't do magic."
'Each vampire has a form of magic, although it isn't necessarily good. It's what allows them to exist. It prevents them from a second death. When the demon takes over, he uses it to sustain the body. You have it too, the magic. Although yours is a different kind. It allows you to do what you can. It keeps you alive. She' wants it to keep her alive as well. She finds creatures who have the magic and uses it as her own. She drains them of it, piece by piece until there is nothing left. She must do this keep herself alive. Once she is finished with one, she has a period of time where she is almost invincible, then she must find another. Depending on how much of the magic the creature she drains has, she gains its power twice over. We fairies are forbidden to go anywhere near her for fear of what might happen if she gained control of our magic.'
A look of fear washed over the small creature's face as she spoke.
"Why midnight? It could be anytime, a few days a few weeks?"
Buffy would have preferred a little more time, but somehow she knew she wouldn't get it.
'Vampires, it is told, do not last very long.'
"It is told?" she didn't feel like having any doubts floating around. "You mean you don't know for sure?"
'I am not very old for one of my kind. I have not seen as much as some others have in my lifetime. This is the first time I have ever been away from my homeland. The only reason I came was because I needed to. I was drawn here, and perhaps this is the reason why.'
"So you could be wrong. If anything did happen to Spike, it could have been something else, right?"
'Do not question me.' Crea's glow seemed to grow a little stronger and shone with a hint of gold. Her voice rang in Buffy's head with an air of superiority. 'I may not be very old for a fairy, but I have lived longer and seen more than you ever will. The elders have been here from the beginning. They know all and I, like all of my kind, have been taught well. I have spent many years being taught how to identify this creature alone. She uses illusions of the innocent to lure the victim to get close enough for her apparition to touch them. When she does, it transports them to where she dwells and imprisons them. From there she can do with them as she wills.'
'Okay, so maybe this isn't a dream' Buffy thought. 'But if this isn't a dream, then Spike could be in real danger.' She should have been laughing at the thought, but for once, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
"Why are you interested in helping a vampire?" she asked the small creature. "If you are so worried about 'evil ones,' I would have thought you put creatures like Spike into that category."
'You are the vampire slayer. What has this one done to make you allow him to live?'
Crea smiled as Buffy looked away and lowered her eyes.
'I have lived longer than both of you and I know much. It is because of the things I have seen which causes me to want to help this one. As I have said, you have much to learn, and perhaps this is a piece of it.'
Buffy thought about what the fairy had said. She had much to learn? She could agree with that. Since when had she started caring about the well-being of Spike. He was a vampire, soulless, evil, right? And she was the slayer. It was her job to kill things like him. So why hadn't she already? Because he was helpless? Yeah, sure, that would have just made it easier for her. For anything, anyone else, she would have killed them anyway. Buffy couldn't believe what she was about to do.
She pulled the sheets around her as she got up from the bed.
"Okay, I...am going to get dressed. I am also going to get a hold of my friends because they would be a big help." Then her mind seemed to drift off as she thought about something else. "Maybe Willow can come up with a spell or two to help..."
She walked over to her closet and began to go through her clothes. Crea followed, drifting around her.
'Wait, we cannot tell anyone else about this, about me. I took a large enough chance exposing myself to you. I cannot be put into any more danger.'
"I have trusted these people with my life time and time again, and we need more information. They can get it for us. Any help we can get would be really good right now especially if there is a time limit."
Crea seemed to consider it for a moment.
'If you think it would be best. But we must hurry.'
"Good," Buffy replied, pulling a blue top over herself, then looked briefly at the fairy. "Oh, and before we go, you didn't happen to bring a set of clothes with you, did you? You may be little and all, but I am sure that a few of my friends might find it awkward, that or they would enjoy it way too much."
'Oh, I forgot about human customs. I apologize.'
She waved a small hand down the extent of her body and instantly there was silver strap covering her chest and another forming a short skirt.
Buffy was amazed, "Wow, why can't I do stuff like that. It would save me endless hours of searching in the stores, save lots of money too."
She then went back to finding herself something to wear, all the time praying that they would be able to find him in time.
..................................................................
Buffy stood, looking vacantly out a window of the magic shop as Crea quickly explained the situation to the others. They seemed to be handling it quite well.
"Ooh," Willow said exclaimed. "It's a real, honest to goodness, fairy! This is so exciting!"
"Yeah, but aren't you normally naked?" Xander put in, sounding a little disappointed.
"Hey, you aren't supposed to be thinking about anyone like that except me," Anya scolded, punching him lightly in the arm. "Besides, she's too little for you to have sex with."
"Thanks for that oh-so-obvious info."
"This is kinda neat," Tara said smiling and peeking around Willow.
"It's not just neat, it is positively fascinating," Giles commented as he examined the fairy closer. "Now, you say that you come from Ireland, correct? How have you managed to keep hidden for such a long period of time? I mean, there are the fables, but there are no actual accounts of the fairy folk."
'We have our ways.' Was the only response Crea gave.
"Y...yes," Giles said, his mind seemed to be wandering again. "Surely you must."
"Hey, if you are from Ireland how come you don't speak like those Irish people. All 'I wan' me lucky charms' kinda thing?" Xander inquired, doing a less-than-perfect impression.
Crea appeared to giggle as she answered. We were around long before they had accents like that. Besides, I don't speak with words, you hear me as you think you should hear me.
"This is great," Buffy interrupted, "now that we all have put in our twenty questions for the news bearer, can we figure out what we're gonna to do? We have to figure out where this thing is and how to stop her. We also don't have all the time in the world. It's already noon."
"Well, we could just let her keep him. It wouldn't be a big loss, one less vampire to worry about." Xander said, emotionless.
" Xander, he's been so...well...nice lately. " said Willow, accusingly. "I'd feel kinda bad if we didn't try."
"I agree with Willow," added Giles. "H...he's been rather helpful and, I almost hate to say it but, it would be a shame to lose him. Besides, we can't risk having this new creature take anything or anyone she wants. For all we know, her next victim could be Buffy."
"We're going to get him back," ordered Buffy impatiently. "And there will be no further discussion about it. We've wasted enough time already."
Turning to Crea, she asked, "How do we find her?"
'She will keep herself very well hid,' the fairy informed her. 'You must use the magic she did. It will take you to where she keeps him. Once in there, you can see where she is staying and you will have the ability to bring him back the same as how she took him. You will not be able to fight her, however, for you will only have a small amount of time before you must return. Once you have returned, you will be very weak, for the magic drains your energy. Having people here to help is perhaps better after all.'
"There's no catch to this, right?" Buffy asked, not quite sure she wanted to get involved with magic. "I mean, it's simple, no complications or anything?"
'No, you just need to make sure that you do not touch anything but him. You will have time to look at things, but you must retrieve him. Worry of nothing else.'
"Okay, only him, got it. So when do I go?"
'Now, if you are ready.'
Buffy took a deep breath, "I'm as ready as I'll get."
Crea spoke to the slayer briefly in words only meant for her, 'No matter what you will see, he is the same. We can worry about what must be done when you return. He loves you too, you know. There is more to him than what he shows.'
Buffy looked at her questioningly. Too? What was she talking about? She couldn't love him. He loved her? Could that be true? It couldn't be. He was a vampire, he was Spike. What did she mean? What was it she would see?
Everyone heard it when Crea spoke the words. They were in a language they had never heard before, but the power from them could be felt. The fairy then held her hand up and she began to glow brightly. She had become so radiant that they couldn't look at her. They weren't able to see her as she lowered her petite arm and pointed at the Slayer. In a brilliant flash, Buffy vanished and the light dissipated.
'Good luck' the fairy said to the wind.
Now we wait. She told the others.
"Oh, God!" she cried as she jumped upright and shielded her eyes. The light was too bright.
'Oh, oh forgive me. I forgot how sensitive mortal eyes are.' The feminine voice apologized as she dimmed her light to a faint glimmer.
She could now see the small creature that was standing on her dresser. If it hadn't been moving, Buffy could have sworn it was the most detailed pixie figurine she had ever seen. Her skin was a pale blue and the wings attached to her back shimmered of silver touched with the slightest hint of rose. The only thing covering her body was the waist long hair that matched the color of her wings. She was no taller than a quarter. Maybe it was just a figurine and she was still dreaming.
"Who are you and what do you want?" she demanded.
'In your language, I am called Crea and I am here because there is someone who needs your help.'
Buffy could feel the voice as feminine. It was strange, she knew what words were being spoken yet she couldn't hear it as she normally heard people speak.
"Okay, Crea, is it? How are you speaking to me?" she asked, before addressing anything else. "Your mouth hasn't moved?"
'You have much to learn,' the fairy replied, shaking her head. 'We cannot speak as mortals do. The only way you can hear is if we speak through your soul. It is the one telling you the words I wish you to hear.'
"Oh," Buffy responded cautiously. "So who is it I am supposed to help?"
'He is the one you call 'Spike.''
At the sound of his name, a look of concern came over the woman's face.
"Why? What happened to him?"
The fairy grew curious for a moment about the slayer's feelings.
''She' took him.'
"What? Who? Who took him?"
'The Evil One.'
Buffy sighed. "Well that's helpful, another one?."
'I'm sorry. I do not know her name in your language. But I do know that we must hurry. She will not wait long.'
"Why? What is she going to do? What does it have to do with Spike?"
Buffy glanced at the clock that rested on the same dresser. 5:12. It was SO early, maybe she was still dreaming. Were thoughts of Spike getting in her dreams now? It was bad enough while she was awake, but this...
'At midnight tonight, she will have finished stealing his magic.'
"Magic? You must have the wrong vampire, he doesn't do magic."
'Each vampire has a form of magic, although it isn't necessarily good. It's what allows them to exist. It prevents them from a second death. When the demon takes over, he uses it to sustain the body. You have it too, the magic. Although yours is a different kind. It allows you to do what you can. It keeps you alive. She' wants it to keep her alive as well. She finds creatures who have the magic and uses it as her own. She drains them of it, piece by piece until there is nothing left. She must do this keep herself alive. Once she is finished with one, she has a period of time where she is almost invincible, then she must find another. Depending on how much of the magic the creature she drains has, she gains its power twice over. We fairies are forbidden to go anywhere near her for fear of what might happen if she gained control of our magic.'
A look of fear washed over the small creature's face as she spoke.
"Why midnight? It could be anytime, a few days a few weeks?"
Buffy would have preferred a little more time, but somehow she knew she wouldn't get it.
'Vampires, it is told, do not last very long.'
"It is told?" she didn't feel like having any doubts floating around. "You mean you don't know for sure?"
'I am not very old for one of my kind. I have not seen as much as some others have in my lifetime. This is the first time I have ever been away from my homeland. The only reason I came was because I needed to. I was drawn here, and perhaps this is the reason why.'
"So you could be wrong. If anything did happen to Spike, it could have been something else, right?"
'Do not question me.' Crea's glow seemed to grow a little stronger and shone with a hint of gold. Her voice rang in Buffy's head with an air of superiority. 'I may not be very old for a fairy, but I have lived longer and seen more than you ever will. The elders have been here from the beginning. They know all and I, like all of my kind, have been taught well. I have spent many years being taught how to identify this creature alone. She uses illusions of the innocent to lure the victim to get close enough for her apparition to touch them. When she does, it transports them to where she dwells and imprisons them. From there she can do with them as she wills.'
'Okay, so maybe this isn't a dream' Buffy thought. 'But if this isn't a dream, then Spike could be in real danger.' She should have been laughing at the thought, but for once, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
"Why are you interested in helping a vampire?" she asked the small creature. "If you are so worried about 'evil ones,' I would have thought you put creatures like Spike into that category."
'You are the vampire slayer. What has this one done to make you allow him to live?'
Crea smiled as Buffy looked away and lowered her eyes.
'I have lived longer than both of you and I know much. It is because of the things I have seen which causes me to want to help this one. As I have said, you have much to learn, and perhaps this is a piece of it.'
Buffy thought about what the fairy had said. She had much to learn? She could agree with that. Since when had she started caring about the well-being of Spike. He was a vampire, soulless, evil, right? And she was the slayer. It was her job to kill things like him. So why hadn't she already? Because he was helpless? Yeah, sure, that would have just made it easier for her. For anything, anyone else, she would have killed them anyway. Buffy couldn't believe what she was about to do.
She pulled the sheets around her as she got up from the bed.
"Okay, I...am going to get dressed. I am also going to get a hold of my friends because they would be a big help." Then her mind seemed to drift off as she thought about something else. "Maybe Willow can come up with a spell or two to help..."
She walked over to her closet and began to go through her clothes. Crea followed, drifting around her.
'Wait, we cannot tell anyone else about this, about me. I took a large enough chance exposing myself to you. I cannot be put into any more danger.'
"I have trusted these people with my life time and time again, and we need more information. They can get it for us. Any help we can get would be really good right now especially if there is a time limit."
Crea seemed to consider it for a moment.
'If you think it would be best. But we must hurry.'
"Good," Buffy replied, pulling a blue top over herself, then looked briefly at the fairy. "Oh, and before we go, you didn't happen to bring a set of clothes with you, did you? You may be little and all, but I am sure that a few of my friends might find it awkward, that or they would enjoy it way too much."
'Oh, I forgot about human customs. I apologize.'
She waved a small hand down the extent of her body and instantly there was silver strap covering her chest and another forming a short skirt.
Buffy was amazed, "Wow, why can't I do stuff like that. It would save me endless hours of searching in the stores, save lots of money too."
She then went back to finding herself something to wear, all the time praying that they would be able to find him in time.
..................................................................
Buffy stood, looking vacantly out a window of the magic shop as Crea quickly explained the situation to the others. They seemed to be handling it quite well.
"Ooh," Willow said exclaimed. "It's a real, honest to goodness, fairy! This is so exciting!"
"Yeah, but aren't you normally naked?" Xander put in, sounding a little disappointed.
"Hey, you aren't supposed to be thinking about anyone like that except me," Anya scolded, punching him lightly in the arm. "Besides, she's too little for you to have sex with."
"Thanks for that oh-so-obvious info."
"This is kinda neat," Tara said smiling and peeking around Willow.
"It's not just neat, it is positively fascinating," Giles commented as he examined the fairy closer. "Now, you say that you come from Ireland, correct? How have you managed to keep hidden for such a long period of time? I mean, there are the fables, but there are no actual accounts of the fairy folk."
'We have our ways.' Was the only response Crea gave.
"Y...yes," Giles said, his mind seemed to be wandering again. "Surely you must."
"Hey, if you are from Ireland how come you don't speak like those Irish people. All 'I wan' me lucky charms' kinda thing?" Xander inquired, doing a less-than-perfect impression.
Crea appeared to giggle as she answered. We were around long before they had accents like that. Besides, I don't speak with words, you hear me as you think you should hear me.
"This is great," Buffy interrupted, "now that we all have put in our twenty questions for the news bearer, can we figure out what we're gonna to do? We have to figure out where this thing is and how to stop her. We also don't have all the time in the world. It's already noon."
"Well, we could just let her keep him. It wouldn't be a big loss, one less vampire to worry about." Xander said, emotionless.
" Xander, he's been so...well...nice lately. " said Willow, accusingly. "I'd feel kinda bad if we didn't try."
"I agree with Willow," added Giles. "H...he's been rather helpful and, I almost hate to say it but, it would be a shame to lose him. Besides, we can't risk having this new creature take anything or anyone she wants. For all we know, her next victim could be Buffy."
"We're going to get him back," ordered Buffy impatiently. "And there will be no further discussion about it. We've wasted enough time already."
Turning to Crea, she asked, "How do we find her?"
'She will keep herself very well hid,' the fairy informed her. 'You must use the magic she did. It will take you to where she keeps him. Once in there, you can see where she is staying and you will have the ability to bring him back the same as how she took him. You will not be able to fight her, however, for you will only have a small amount of time before you must return. Once you have returned, you will be very weak, for the magic drains your energy. Having people here to help is perhaps better after all.'
"There's no catch to this, right?" Buffy asked, not quite sure she wanted to get involved with magic. "I mean, it's simple, no complications or anything?"
'No, you just need to make sure that you do not touch anything but him. You will have time to look at things, but you must retrieve him. Worry of nothing else.'
"Okay, only him, got it. So when do I go?"
'Now, if you are ready.'
Buffy took a deep breath, "I'm as ready as I'll get."
Crea spoke to the slayer briefly in words only meant for her, 'No matter what you will see, he is the same. We can worry about what must be done when you return. He loves you too, you know. There is more to him than what he shows.'
Buffy looked at her questioningly. Too? What was she talking about? She couldn't love him. He loved her? Could that be true? It couldn't be. He was a vampire, he was Spike. What did she mean? What was it she would see?
Everyone heard it when Crea spoke the words. They were in a language they had never heard before, but the power from them could be felt. The fairy then held her hand up and she began to glow brightly. She had become so radiant that they couldn't look at her. They weren't able to see her as she lowered her petite arm and pointed at the Slayer. In a brilliant flash, Buffy vanished and the light dissipated.
'Good luck' the fairy said to the wind.
Now we wait. She told the others.