Disclaimer: All BtVS characters belong to Joss Whedon and Co. The original ones are mine.
Distribution: Sure, just let me know where it's going.
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Buffy ran across the field as fast as she could. She had to stop him. She was almost there when a large bearded man stepped in her way.
"Ho there lass, where do ya think yer goin'?" he demanded in a deep Scottish burr. You'd best stay out of the circle."
"I've got to stop him, magic won't work on them! Might make it worse."
"Don't you think he knows that? You just stay here with me lass and watch. I'm Ian, by the way. And don't worry, he won't let any harm come to those bairns of yours."
Buffy was going to knock Ian down but at that moment Jezeil's head snapped up, his eyes golden from edge to edge. He crossed his arms in front of his face then spread them out like wings. Then they were wings, the wings of a dragon. It was enormous, blue, green and gold. The huge wings beat the air as the dragon fought for height. Sweeping down in a dive it breathed fire over the demon army. It was real fire, Buffy saw, scorching the grass.
The ring around Buffy's friends broke, all of the demon army intent on the new threat. The army gathered and threw everything they had at the dragon but its scales were like steel. Many of them burned; the rest ran for the rift. When the last one had gone through the dragon landed in front of the opening and made a complex gesture with its front legs. The rift closed and disappeared. A moment later Jezeil was standing there. He turned and Buffy saw that his eyes still glowed. He raised his arms and the dead demons disappeared.
Buffy's troops had gathered around her. She heard Xander say, "Okay, wow. Anyone else want to join in the wow?"
"I do," said Dawn.
Riley touched Buffy on the arm. His voice low he said, "That's a pretty strange looking group Buffy. I don't think you should trust them just yet. Especially since they're using magic like that."
"Riley, that strange group just saved out butts."
"I guess. But they might have their own agenda. After all, Spike is with them and we both know his track record."
Buffy turned to face Riley, a frown on her face. "On the contrary, he's been a great help to me. I trust him. He's got a soul now."
"I see, and that changes everything. He's nice as a kitten now yeah? Just like Angel right?"
"No. Not like Angel actually. Angel is cursed with a soul. He can lose it. But Spike went out and got his for himself."
Riley nodded. "Right. So you two are still..."
"No. We're friends. That's all." Buffy turned away. She didn't know why she'd defended Spike. After all he'd left without telling her and he'd apparently found a new diversion. Of course that was beside the point. He could do what he liked as far as that was concerned. It was none of her business who he...played with.
Jezeil and his group approached Buffy and her friends. Anya ran out in front and hugged Jezeil tightly.
He laughed and hugged her back. "Anya! You're looking very well, humanity suits you."
"Thanks. Glad you're here. We were sure we'd all be dead by morning."
"No chance of that." He turned to Willow. "Miss Rosenberg, you look like a woman with a burning question."
"Um. There's a werewolf in your group."
"Yes?"
"The moon isn't full."
"And he's wearing bicycle shorts," added Xander.
Turning to the werewolf Jezeil exclaimed, "Philippe! It's not full moon!"
The werewolf slapped its forehead with a paw. Then it began to change and moments later he was a tall dark-haired man.
"Mon Dieu. What will ze ozerz sink of me? It iz, how you say, a dizgrace."
He flung an arm dramatically over his eyes.
"I get the bike shorts now," said Xander.
Jezeil patted his friend on the shoulder. "Now, now Philippe. Miss Rosenberg doesn't know." Turning back to Willow he said, "You see, when there is a full moon a werewolf must change. But he can change anytime. To do so he must learn control. He can also learn to keep his intellect in tact. There is aa club you might say, of werewolves who pass on the knowledge. And before you ask, you friend Oz is a member. He began a bit late but his education is progressing.
Finally Jezeil turned to Buffy. He inclined his head and said, "Miss Summers. I am Jezeil and we," he gestured to encompass his group. "Are the Hamatra."
She frowned. "The Hamatra?"
"We are keepers of the balance." He paused to glance at Andrew. "Not really The Justice League. More like the X-Men."
Giles spoke up then. "The Hamatra is a legend."
Jezeil turned to him. "For the Council certainly. How could they possibly believe that demons, werewolves, and vampires would keep the line against chaos? It would mean they had to change their whole world-view. The word demon was invented by humans to explain what they could not understand, what they feared. Some are indeed devoted to destruction and mayhem but not all. Some are just like humans. Living their lives. Good, bad, courageous, loving, lonely, happy. You should never generalize.
"Miss Summers, what an inspiring speech you gave last week prior to your little sojourn to the beginning. Just think, if King Henry had tried that approach at Agincourt he might have conquered Germany as well."
Buffy frowned and opened her mouth to reply but didn't get the chance.
"What were you thinking Miss Summers? What were you expecting? How long have these girls been here? Four months? As I recall it took you twice as long to be ready to deal with Lothos. And you're really the Slayer. They're just girls, no special powers, very little training. And yet they are here, with you on this field. But trashing their efforts wasn't the end was it? You also managed to insult your friends. They have been with you from the word go here in Sunnydale. Without them, Mr. Harris in particular, you would have been dead long ago. They have faced the same challenges the same dangers as you all without the benefit of Slayer strength, speed and agility. How dare you belittle their courage, their dedication, and their friendship? And as if that weren't enough, you ask Miss Rosenberg to do some serious magic and demand to see the old dangerous Spike. You don't have the slightest conception of what you're asking. When you were on your little journey you refused the demon heart because it would take away your humanity. That was too high a price to pay. And you were right to refuse. And yet you want your friends to make the same sacrifice that you refused. You want them to risk not just their lives but their very selves, to throw away all the progress they have made. Why on Earth should everyone be fighting your way? All of these people gathered here have their own talents, their own skills. Diversity is your strength. Use it."
Buffy raised her chin. "Are you finished?"
"For the moment."
"Nice speech. But I'm the Slayer, the Chosen one who has..."
"Yes, yes, yes. I know. To you and to your friends here you are The Slayer, The Chosen One, the fate of the world resting on your shoulders. To me, you're number 591."
"What?"
"Poor short lived Kendra was 592, and the lovely but confused Faith is 593. There have actually been 595 Slayers chosen during my lifetime but I missed the first two. They died before I was aware that such a person as the Slayer existed."
Dawn pushed her way to the front of the group. "Buffy's different," she said angrily.
Jezeil smiled and replied, "They were all different, all individuals. But what have you got to know them by? The Watcher diaries. Full of notes on progress of training and number of vampires killed. No way to really know those girls, their personalities, idiosyncrasies, their dreams. No way to know that Miriam liked to skinny dip in the pond behind her parents' house, that Tomoko had this irrational fear of spiders, that Mercedes wanted to be a Flamenco dancer in Seville." He paused and turned to Faith. "And who in the future will know that though Faith's heart was filled with pain she chose to go on."
Faith swallowed and clenched her jaw, holding back tears.
"It is true, Miss Summers, that you have broken more rules than the most Slayers. You left the Council, a very good choice, and you kept your friends, an even better choice. Your friends have kept you alive, in more ways than one. But you seem to have forgotten how to work as a group. You've pushed them away, asserted what you feel is your superiority. Big mistake."
Buffy shook her head. "Are you trying to make me angry? I've got a homicidal Evil running around and you want me to stand here listening to you? I think you should get out of my way or you'll see what a Slayer really is, up close and personal."
Jezeil's eyebrows went up and behind him several of the Hamatra began to snicker. One man in particular started to laugh and soon he was doubled over, tears running down his face.
Jezeil turned to him and asked, "Are you all right Ian? Take deep breaths."
Turning back to Buffy he said, ". I am beyond you. So far beyond you you couldn't see me on a clear day with a telescope. If I were to turn," he glanced at Andrew again. "To turn to the dark side I would make your time with the First Evil seem like the Ladies Auxiliary Luncheon. If your death were my desire you would be dead. I could do it with a thought Slayer, a mere thought. But perhaps you don't believe me."
A moment later Buffy was gone and in her place was a tortoise.
There was a shocked silence. Then everyone began to speak at once. Jezeil held up a hand and said, "Don't panic, it's only temporary. She'll turn back in about an hour. Take her home, feed her some lettuce and try to keep her from getting under anything. It could be painful when she turns back. Miss Rosenberg, when she's herself again be sure to tell her that this crisis will be solved with brains, not brawn."
Riley stepped forward to confront Spike. "So, these are your new friends huh? And after this you think we should believe that you, a piece of demon filth, are one of the good guys?"
Spike did not react but Jezeil's eyes narrowed. "Mind your tongue Agent Finn. You are speaking to the Heir of Malabor, Wielder of the Spirit, member of the Hamatra. And what you say to one, you say to all."
Riley didn't back down. He was ready for a fight, his hand on his gun. He'd trained to fight against these animals. Any pretense at cooperation on their part was just a blind. Eventually they would turn on you.
Jezeil raised a brow. "Don't tempt me Agent Finn. I would be only too happy to deal with you. You and your camouflaged commandos have caused a great deal of trouble around the world, meddling in things that you cannot possibly comprehend. You see everything in black and white when there are not only shades of gray but whole spectra of colors. You view your targets through the lens of pseudo-science, as if they were simply vermin to be exterminated. In fact they are players in a great dance that has existed since the beginning of time, part of the balance between Good and Evil, light and dark. This balance must be protected. Even now there has been a shift and you can see the results.
"I suggest you return to your headquarters or whatever you call it. This is not your place. I will also mention again that you are incredibly unobservant. You don't seem to be able to see what is right in front of you."
Riley stuck his chin out. "I'm here to help Buffy."
"By insulting and threatening her friends and allies? And we are allies. That's a very odd form of assistance Agent Finn. Very well. I will allow you to stay, but I suggest you keep your mouth shut. My patience is not inexhaustible.
"Enough. Go home. Sleep if you can. There will be only a brief respite."
Willow frowned. What did Jezeil mean? What was it Riley wasn't seeing?
She turned to face Spike and saw the answer.
During the fight a blade had slit the front of Spike's shirt so it flapped open. And there, hanging around his neck, lying against his bare skin was a cross. A cross that was not burning his skin. And there was more. Sweat had dripped down his face and his chest was rising and falling with his breath. She raised her eyes to meet his. He winked at her. Willow felt her mouth drop open.
Dawn picked up Buffy and the two groups separated each heading for home. Except for Willow. She darted forward and grabbed Spike by the sleeve. He turned to her and waited for her to speak.
"When were you planning to tell Buffy?"
He shook his head. "Later. Maybe never."
"Never? Did you plan on ducking behind something if you met one of us on the street during the day?"
"We wouldn't have met. When this is over, I'm going back to London with Jezeil and Lenore. And anyway, it doesn't matter."
"Doesn't matter?! That you're human?"
"It matters to me. But not to her. Not really. She gave me another chance and I'm grateful for that. More grateful than she'll ever know for her support and belief, her willingness to trust me. But now that's not enough. I'm going with them because there is nothing for me here. Nothing but memories and pain." He shook his head slowly. "Spike, he would stay anyway. He didn't have anything else. Even a smile was something. It was everything. But I have life now and I intend to live."
He turned away and started after his friends.
"Spike!" Willow shouted.
He paused only long enough to say, "William." Then he was gone.