Disclaimer: I own nothing, Joss owns all

A new type of Hero Prologue
By Michael Dunbar



The sun beams down on a hot day, high above the valleys of Caldemar. A small bird flies freely through a white puffy cloud but then quickly a larger bird with a 4 foot wingspan flies down and grabs it with it's talons and continues in a downward spiral to it's nest where it's children await eagerly.

The bird swoops past a hill where a lone man stands. The hill is very steep on all sides, he is stood on his right leg his left leg high above him as he performs a vicious kick to the air head high, his chest his bare and the only thing he is wearing are some black trousers.

Concentrating harder the sweat is pouring from his body the heat from above not helping the situation and the high pressure and low oxygen atmosphere from been up so high makes him a better athlete.

A black clump of hair is matted to his forehead with all the sweat, he leaps up and flips in mid-air and lands gracefully back on top of the high hill.

Punching quickly he performs several one-two combinations and a vicious kick that would have left any man facing him with a high pitched voice.

He suddenly stops then turns and jumps off the edge of the high hill, his body seems to glide slowly down to the floor below, landing with a slight thud on one knee he instantly jumps up and heads for a clump of trees that are about 1000 metres away.

Reaching them quickly he jumps and places his foot on the branch of the nearest tree and leaps forward. His body seems to move so quickly as he leaps from tree top to tree top and then so suddenly in the dead centre of the 3 mile wide forest he stops and falls into the gloominess that is below.

Turning he smiles gently "You called?"

In the direction he is facing a small man sits in a wooden chair close to a fire, he places his hands gently over the fire warming them even though it's 95 degrees out.

Turning his head he smiles at out hero and nods his head, the small man as a beard that hangs from his chin, he is about 5" tall and an aura about him that even though his size commands respect.

"I did" he replies his voice very gently "It is time for you to leave this place my boy"

The smile disappears from our man's face as he looks over the old man for signs of a joke but he could not find any.

"Leave... here?" looking around he casually places his hand out in the open and a small bird flies down and perches on it, rubbing the birds under belly gently he smiles then places his hand up into the air letting the bird fly from his hand.

"You are needed" the old man simply says.

"But I don't want to leave, i have not finished my trainin...."

"This is not negotiable" he interrupts nearly shouts "You are needed in this world, we knew that when i first brought you here to train that you would be needed one day and that day is now"

"I understand master.. It's just what will happen to you?"

"I have fulfilled my duty to the Powers now i can die"

"Nooo" the young man replies and walks over falling to his knees at the side of the chair "I need you, i mean i've never been to a hellmouth before"

"you will do fine Xander" the pained expression makes him tap Xander's on the head slightly offering comfort "You are by far the best student I have ever had, never before as someone surpassed there master, but I am glad you were the first my boy"

"You can't die" a lone can be seen falling from the man's cheek onto the floor below and is soon soaked into the mud "Come with me"

"Nay, nay I have lived too long already, I have passed on my skills to one who is deserving hand he is you and remember I will always be in here"

He points to Xander's heart and smiles.

"When.. When am I to leave master"

"3 sunsets from now"

"But.. That is not enough time I must be prepared for what is to come"

"You are prepared you have been prepared for some time now, you must go to this Sunnydale and fight the biggest threat to the world that has ever been known, and you will win, you know how I know?"

Xander shakes his head gently as he tries to comprehend the fact that is master who he had lived with for so long now was going to die.

"Because you my boy are special and you was taught by me, I don't train losers"

Xander smiles slightly at that and stands up.

"So this is it?"

"No, this is not it, we will meet again in the plains of glemor high above the clouds, you remember that and have faith"

"I will master.. I will"