Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Angel
Hell Rising:
The Staff
By Edwin M. Alicea, Jr.
Notes from the Author
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This story takes place season six, Dawn is now with the Gang and everything through out the season has played out except the season finale and Xander's part in the season. No Buffybot either since the whole vision thing will happen here. Also Tara has not gone through the "Brain Drain". Riley left to places unknown before Joyce's brain tumor was discovered. The story takes place in early June 2001.
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Disclaimer
I am in now way associated with the producers, directors, writers, or creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel.
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Author's Notes #2
The story takes about a year after part one, three weeks till the year. Buffy is beginning to fall apart. Buffy now realizes she is in love with Xander. Xander was her main support when it came to slaying and staying normal, without him the darkness that surrounds her is slowly eating away at her soul and with Glory getting closer to Dawn every day she is slowly losing herself. The only reason she is still going is Dawn. The other Scoobies are worried about her.
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In a place full of white a single figure stands. The figure is a young man about 20 years of age. He is wearing a simple light blue T-shirt and lose fitting light blue pants covered by a large white robe. The robe is very simple though large. It has two blue lines the run from front to back going over his shoulder and light blue trimming. Another male figure approaching him on his right. The new male as two white wings that almost disappear against the coloring of the room. The first figure looks at the second before saying, "Hello Michael."
"Hello young one." The Archangel replies placing a hand on the young man's should. "I have just received word that you are to go to Earth now son." The young mans eyes become wide with excitement. However Michael shakes his head. "I am sorry but you will not being going home, at least not yet."
"Why can't I go home?" the young man says as tears threaten to fall down his face. "I miss my them so much."
"I know. I know." Michael can barely stand the like on the young man's face. "You will be sent to the desert."
"The desert?" questions the human male.
"Yes." The Archangel smiles at him. "It is my understanding that it is there that you will find you destiny, as well as learn about the family you come from." The young man looks at Michael strangely before nodding his head yes and disappearing in a flash of light. "It is time for you to leave up to your ancestors and your name young one." Michael then also disappears.
**********
The Magic Box -- Training Room
"I don't know how much more I can take Giles." Buffy tells her watcher as she sits down. She has tears flowing down her cheeks. "Glory keeps getting closer to Dawn and I know I can't stop her. Plus the anniversary of..." The slayer can't finish as she places her head into her hands and begins to quietly sob.
Giles is at her side in a moment encircling her in his arms. She leans on him as her body shakes. The watcher has never seen his charge this way before, and it scared him. "There may be a way for you to gain the strength need to face what's coming?" the young woman looked at him not needing to say anything. "It's a vision quest. It might provide you with answers with how to deal with everything you've faced this year. And may also provide us with a way to stop Glory."
"Where do we have to have this vision quest?" asks the slayer.
"First of all, it's not we just you." the older man tells her. "And there is a holy place out in the desert. You can go on the vision quest there."
"I can't leave Dawn unprotected." Buffy states.
"We can take her with us, or perhaps leave her with Willow and Tara." Responds the Englishman.
"I'd feel better if we take her." Says the blond slayer looking down.
"Of course Buffy." Giles tells her as he tightens his hug we can leave tomorrow.
**********
Later at the Summers Home
Buffy is in her room packing for the trip when she sees a worn spiral notebook on top of her nightstand. She reaches for it and holds it to her chest. "You going to take one with you?" questions Dawn from the door.
The slayer looks at her sister before placing it the notebook in her bag and answering, "Yeah. I feel like he's close by when I have one."
The teenager gives her big sister a sympathetic smile. "I know. Willow's the same way." Says Dawn softly. "You know it's funny. I know I never meet Xander, but between the memories the monks gave me and his journals I really miss him." Buffy gives her little sister her own sympathetic smile. "Can you read me an entry?"
The older sister pats her bed signaling Dawn to sit down while she reaching for the notebook she place in her bag. "Let's see her. Let me find a good one." States the slayer flipping through the pages. "Here's my favorite."
I saw Buffy again finally. After the entire summer being Buffyless. She was at the bronze and was pretty down about some shank vampire bitch named Sunday, or Banana, or Vanilla, something to do with ice cream. All I know is that who ever that bitch was she hurt Buffy. That pissed me off me then words can describe. Buffy kept going on about not being good enough for college, betting this vampire, life. I couldn't believe it. She sounded so defeated. I sure if I would have found the bitch I would tie her to a cross and slowly dump her into a pool of holy water while the sun came up. Finally I couldn't take it anymore and I told Buffy how I feel. At least about her being my hero. I couldn't tell her everything, I'm just not strong enough. My speech did the trick cause I could see the old fire in Buffy again. She ending up kicking that shank's ass and turning her into low-grade fertilizer. Tonight showed me one thing though. That is I have to protect Buffy. She really is just a girl with too much to handle. I'll do what I can to protect her from what she does and the world. Well that's it for today J. I'll talk to you tomorrow.
The X-Man
Buffy closes the notebook and places it back in her bag. She can remember Xander's 'You're My Hero' speech as if he said it yesterday. The blond woman lets out a sigh. Looking up at Dawn Buffy quickly changed gears, "You finish getting you bag together?" the teen nods her head yes.
********
The Magic Box -- The next day
"How long are you guys going to be gone?" asks Willow sitting at the table while Buff and Dawn wait for Giles.
"Don't really know." The slayer answers honestly. "Mostly by tomorrow maybe the day after."
"What do you want us to do?" questions Tara who's sitting across from her girlfriend.
"Nothing really." Replies the head Scooby. "Just lay low. I don't want Glory coming after any of you."
Giles and Anya come out of the back with Giles giving instructions to his employee. "Now if the 'Eye of Newt' or any of the other merchandise run out her is the numbers of our suppliers." The watcher hands the ex-demon a least of five numbers. "The first is for all biological merchandise. The second are the powders. Third are the potions, and make sure to delute the love potions..."
"Yeah. Yeah. I know this already." Anya states annoyed. "Hello I'm Miss Inventory remember." She looks at the numbers and frowns. "What are the fifth one? I know the forth is the hospital."
"The fifth is my cellular phone number."
"Oh. Okay I've got everything now go." Says the woman pushing the three travelers out of the store. "I have money to take from customers."
*********
California Desert
Giles finished his little dance, which made Dawn giggle, seeing the watching doing the hokey pokey almost made Buffy giggle. Now both the watcher and the sister were waiting at the car while Buffy followed a mountain lion. "
So where we going kitty?" asks the young woman to the large cat. Of course the cat didn't answer, it just kept walking. "You're a real conversationalist." After walking for what seemed like hours the two unlikely travel companions come to a fire. Looking around Buffy spotted a large turned over log to sit on. The cat continue on its way leaving the slayer behind. She started to feel the cold in the air grow as time went on. Pulling her long coat against her to keep the cold away only provide to be futile. The cold begins to force her eyes close. The fire she was sitting in suddenly expanded in an explosive ten feet high. The explosion snaps Buffy's eyes open. The slayer then notices a figure move behind the flame. "Who's there!"
"You've come seeking strength." States a the first slayer.
"Yes." Replied Buffy. "I need the strength to defeat Glory."
"No." responds the first slayer. "You seek the strength to live."
Caught off guard by the first slayer's comment Buffy is silent for a few moments. "Yes." She admits. "I'm barely hanging on. I don't think I'll be able to stop Glory."
"Your strength will return with your HEART." Says the first slayer.
"My strength will return with my heart?" question Buffy.
"Your strength will return with your HEART." Repeats the first slayer before disappearing behind the flame into thin air.
"Great! Just Great!" screams the blond in frustration. She turns around and head in the direction she hopes that Giles and Dawn are.
*********
Somewhere in the Middle East
After two days of wandering the desert the young man in white and blue felt himself being pulled in one direction. He came upon a mountain that seemed to scream power. It was not the size of the mountain that gives it it's power, but rather what happens around it. The sun seem to shine brighter on this mountain giving it a richer color then the rest of the area. The clouds that seem to touch the top seemed larger and have a life of their own. The young man can feel himself being pulled toward the mountain. He begins to climb the face of the might rocky looking for the best and safest way to the summit. He reaches a path carved out of the mountain that leads to the top. The young man doesn't stop to rest even after three hours of climb for he feels the need to continue overcome his need to rest. When he finally reaches the top he discovers that it is enclosed. He enters the enclosure through a tight crevice.
The enclosure is open at the top now revealing the night sky. The stone walls reach at least twenty feet into the air. The entire space is as black as the night sky. Looking around the young man see nothing, but feels himself being pulled forward. Before he can take a step a fire explodes in front of him, in the center of the enclosure. He stands in awe as he sees a frail bush with a large stick, or branch in the center on fire. What is more neither the bush nor the stick was burning. 'It can't be.' The young man's mind says to him.
"Remove your sandals. You stand on holy ground." Says a voice that comes from nowhere yet is everywhere. The bass in the voice goes through the young man giving him a test of the power of the speaker.
"Who...who...who are you?" the young man asks frighten almost sure of the answer.
"I have had many names." The voice speaks. "I have been known as Yahweh, Elohem, and Jehovah. I am the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."
"Oh my GOD." The young man says softly as he rushes to throw off his sandals behind him.
"I have called you to me today for I have work for you to do."
"What is it that my GOD asks me to do?" the young man responds still in awe.
"You shall go onto this mortal world and protect from those who would shake to harm it. You shall face hellgods, demons and men alike."
"How can I face them my LORD. I am but a normal man."
The flame erupts in anger at the young man's statement. "Do you question your God's judgment?" The young man takes several steps back until he hits a stone wall the keeps him from retreating farther. "You were born to protect this world as you are name, 'Protector of the World.' You shall go onto the Mouth of Hell with the tool I gave to your ancestor." At the last sentence the flame around the stick in the center of the bush changed color. The flame now had a soft blue light to it. "Receive your destiny SON of the SONS of MOSES. Receive his staff Alexander."
'My ancestor was Moses.' Alexander says to himself as he walks toward the staff. "The Staff of Moses." He says out loud. When Alexander touches the staff he is meet with the vision of a dark skinned and black hair in a red robe, much like his own, leading a group of people into the desert.
"Go onto the Mouth of Hell and work my wonders. Protect all of my creations." The voice of god says as the fire around the bush slowly disappears.
*********
Sunnydale City Limits -- Three days later
"I'm home."
*********
Outside of Summers Home
Buffy is on the porch walking down the stairs onto the lawn. "Dawn I be right back. I'm just going to see Giles real quick." She yells to the open door with her sister standing under the doorway.
"I can take care of myself you know." Dawn yells back a bit annoyed.
"Dawn don't..." the slayer starts to say but stops when she hits someone. Turning around to she who she walked into and stops dead in her tracks. It was Glory.
"I tried to be nice and ask for the key, but you just wouldn't give it to now would you." The hellgod states.
"Dawn get in the house!" the young woman yells.
"Buffy..." Dawn tries to argue
"Dawn..." Buffy gets out before Glory backhands her onto the porch.
"So now I'm done being miss nice and decided to change my tactics." Glory says as if she wasn't interrupted. "You see I'm going to beat your sister to death while you watch and tell me where my key is." The crazy blond moves toward the house as Buffy begins to stand.
"Dawn RUN!" screams Buffy taking her fighting stance.
"That's right Dawn R..." Glory starts to taunt until she hits a force field protecting the house. "What the hell is this?"
The hellgod moves her hands along the invisible wall. She lifts her hand and strikes the force field thinking that she'll punch a hole through it. When her fist slams into the force field she is thrown back from the shock wave that occurs. "What kind of magic is this?"
"This is the power of God." States Alexander as he comes from the side of the house. The three woman turn to look at the source of the voice. Buffy and Dawn gasp in surprise while Glory looks on unimpressed.
"And who are you?" asks the crazy god.
"The name's Alexander." The young man says smiling. "Xander to my friends." Buffy starts to tear up as Xander moves in front of Glory. His hair is longer, but it's him. He holds up the staff and says, "This is the Staff of Moses." I have been sent here to protect this world. I'll give you one chance Glory, leave now and don't come back and you can still breathe."
"I'm so scared." Glory smirks. "Get out of the way boy."
"I didn't want to do this, but I guess I have to. Bare with me because this is going to sound corny." Xander lifts the staff into the air. "Behold the power of God." He slams the staff into the ground. From the staff wind starts to blow. Gentle at first but it quickly begins to gain strength. Using the staff Xander focuses the winds on Glory.
"Nice trick." Glory nods at Xander. "But you're going to have to do better then that."
"Don't worry I will." The young man says. A silver light is emitting from the staff. The same silver light starts to cover Glory as she screams in pain.
"What are you doing?" screams the hellgod. Her body can be seen morphing to that of Ben.
"I'm recreating the balance you screwed up." He responds. The light grows brighter completely covering the combined bodies of Glory and Ben. When the light fades Ben is standing there in Glory's dress causing a giggle to come out of Xander.
"What happened?" asked the young doctor looking at his body.
"I gave you your life back." Xander said smiling. "Now go and enjoy it."
"Is it permanent?" the twenty-four asked.
"I don't know?" Xander confessed. "But if something happens and she starts to come back out let me know." The young doctor smiles and runs into the yard hoping to get back to his meager living conditions and change before anyone else can see him.
"Xander?" she asks softly so wanting to believe it's him, but not being able to do so. He turns around and smiles at the slayer.
"Hey Buff. I'm home." The young man says simply trying to keep the emotion out of his voice, but the glint of tears in his eyes gives him away. He opens his arms and the young woman jumps into them. They hold on to each other as if trying to hold on to a dream. The slayer cried into his robe not able to hold back her emotions, while he cried into her hair.
"Don't...leave...me...again." she tells him in between the tears.
He tightens his grip on her at her words before responding, "I'm not going anywhere. I love you."
"I love you too." Buffy confesses. Xander pulls away from her in surprise. She takes one look at his face and can see the question there. She nods her head yes. He descends on her mouth giving her a soft but passionate kiss.
The young man looks up and asks, "And who is that?" looking at Dawn.
"I'm Dawn." The teenager responds shyly.
"You're the one I've heard so much about." Xander states earning confused looks from the two sisters.
"You've heard of Dawn?" questions Buffy.
"Yeah." He answers simply. "She's the key. I was sent to keep the world safe so I have to keep her safe. Besides want kind guy would I be if I let such a cute girl get hurt?"
"You think I'm cute?" asks Dawn in a very timid way.
"You betcha." Xander responds. "I mean if I was still sixteen your sister..." he tries to get out but an elbow to the ribs stops him. "Would still be on the top of my list." Buffy smiles in approval of his comment while Dawn giggles. "So where is everyone?"
"Everyone should be at the 'Magic Box." Replies Dawn. "They're going to be so happy to see you."
"Yeah." Confirms Buffy. "You might even scare Spike to death, if he wasn't already dead that was." She turns to him and sees an evil smile on his face and the gleam in his eye that she missed so much.
"Dead you say. Spike you say. Let's go say hi." He tells them rubbing his hands together and smirking.
********
The Magic Box
The gang is talking to one another around the table in the back of the shop.
"Anything?" asks Giles rubbing his nose.
"No." answers Willow a little dejected. Tara squeezes her hand in comfort.
"Not a bloody thing." barks out Spike. "Where's the slayer all ready?" As if on cue, Buffy and Dawn walk into the shop. "It's about bloody time."
"Not now Spike." Yells out Buffy as she heads to the back.
"What bug crawled up her butt?" asks the blond vampire.
"Glory." Answers Dawn. Willow looks to the back to the doorway leading to the training room worried.
"Maybe I should go in and..." begins the red head until a scream from the slayer stops her.
"Spike get in here." She screams. The vampire smiles to himself until she continues, "I need something to hit."
The vampire's smile dies on his lips and he turns to Willow, "Maybe you should talk to 'er Reds."
"Um...I think I'll stay here." Willow replies. Dawn is trying her damnest not to laugh. Giles and Tara she her trying to control herself and know something's up.
"How bout you Rupes?" Spike asks.
"No thank you. I'd rather stay conscious." Giles answers the vampire.
"SPIKE!!!!" screams Buffy again.
Spike swallow as he heads to the trainer room.
"Best of luck." Giles calls out to him. The vampire turns around and glares at the watcher. "I do hope she bloody sends him through the bloody wall." The watcher comments as the vampire disappears through the doorway.
As soon as Spike steps through the threshold he jumps back screaming in fear. The gang, except for Dawn who is laughing her head off, turns to look at the vampire. "It's a bloody ghost!" yells Spike backing away from the doorway.
"What are you talking about?" question Giles. Spike gets up and points to something behind the doorway.
"Spike if there was a ghost in the shop don't you think..." Willow begins before someone jumps out from where the vampire was pointing.
"BOO!" yells Xander causing everyone to lookup and scream. Anya falls out of her chair, Giles jumps back and loses his glasses, while Willow and Tara squeeze each other tightly. The gang can hear laughter from Xander, Dawn, and Buffy. Willow looks up at the person who scared her. What she sees is her childhood friend returned from the dead laughing at them.
"Xander?" she asks slowly and softly. Se looks up and smiles at her.
"That's my name." He responds.
"It can't be." The red head shakes her head. "We saw you die."
"It's me Will. Who else do you know that looks this good?" He asks smiling. Seeing that she is still too afraid to believe him he changes strategies. "Okay I see I'm going to have to bring out the big guns. It's not Christmas, but what the hell." As he finished Xander begins to do the 'Snoopy Dance.' The dance causes Dawn to laugh harder and the rest of the gang to look at the young man like he was out of his mind. But the dance did the trick.
"XANDER!" screams Willow as she runs around the table to him. Xander envelops the small woman in his arms. With his robe on it looks like Willow disappears into the hug. The witch cries tears of joy in Xander's arms. She tries to say something but can't. Slowly the gang makes it's way to Xander hugging him and Willow since she won't let go of him, this of course causes him to laugh. After re-introductions are made and more tears shed Xander stands next to Buffy with her arms around his waste his left arm around her and his left arm holding Willow.
"Glory?" blurts out Anya as she jumps up. Everyone turns to face her. "What? I'm glad Xander's back, but we still have to stop Glory. I for one don't want to die." She says sitting back down.
"She's right." States Giles. "We still have to find a way to stop her and keep Dawn safe.
"Well actually..." Xander starts but is interrupted by Dawn.
"The staff!" the teenager yells.
"Excuse me?" asks a confused watcher.
"Xander, he used the staff to turn Glory into Ben." The young brunette replies.
"Into Ben?" asks the watcher rubbing his glasses now.
"Yeah." Admits Xander. "You see Glory was Ben. She was confined into his body when he was born. I reset the balance that keep Ben in control."
"How?" asks the red headed witch.
"With the staff."
"With this thing?" Spike asks heading for the staff.
"Don't!" yells Xander, but it was too late. The vampire grabbed the staff and his hands immediately became engulf in flames.
"OH BLOODY 'ELL!!!!!!!!!!!!" Spikes screams running around the store yelling, "Someone put me out." Anya runs to the back and gets a bucket or water from the sink. She returns and throws the water over Spike putting out the fire and soaking the bottle blond vampire. "Damn it woman. I said put me out not drown me."
"Your point?" questions the ex-demon confused. Shaking their head the gang turns toward Xander who is looking over the staff.
"This is the Staff of Moses." He explains holding it out. "As in parting the Red Sea Staff of Moses. One of the most sacred objects in history, so extremely bad for VAMPIRES."
The vampire looks at his hands then back out the Xander before saying, "I can see that you wanker."
"The Staff of Moses." States Giles awed by the artifact. "Where did you find it."
"Sinai." Responds the young man. "In the Burning Bush"
"You were at Sinai and saw the Burning Bush." Says Willow looking at her childhood friend with wide eyes.
"Yup. Even talked to the big gal up stairs." He tells the group pointing up.
"I knew it!" yells out Anya.
"You knew I was at Sinai?" questions Xander.
"No." she shrugs off his comment. "That God was a woman."
"Oh." Everyone said before laughing.
"That's not all." Says Xander breaking everyone out of his or her laughs. "Turns out I'm related to Moses and was sent to protect the world."
"Related...Moses...World" Willow tried to grasp those concepts.
Turning serious, in an instant, Xander states to the group, "God sent me here to stop Glory because I'm going to need some help."
"Help?" asks Buffy.
"Yeah." He says softly. "First we have to go to LA and get the others including Faith. Then we head to Bethlehem."
"Bethlehem?" asks Giles.
"We have to go to Israel?" questions Tara finally speaking up.
"No." Xander tells them shaking his head. "Pennsylvania."
"Pennsylvania." Dawn repeats. "We have to go to Bethlehem Pennsylvania. Why?"
"That's were the Son is going to raise."
**********
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Images play out in a young man dreams, men and women being tortured, beaten, raped and killed. The young man starts to shake in his sleep as the dreams continue. He sees a young woman with blond hair being choked to death by him. He can feel his power as he breaks her body as well as her spirit. He begins to enjoy the feeling when he sits up in his bed breathing heavy, sweat pouring off his body.
"No." he says to himself. "I'm not a monster. I'm better then that. I'm not a monster. I'm not a monster. I'm not a monster. I'm not. I'm not..."