Title: The New BtVS
Chapter: 1 - Welcome to the Hellmouth
Author: Cynthia (cynthia_taz@yahoo.com)
Homepage:
Summary: Start from S1, AU. A whole new Buffy world - Buffy moved to Sunnydale at 16. Faith and Willow are sisters, Tara and Xander are best friends... just read.
Rating: G (for now)
Disclaimer: All characters, sites and such from 'Buffy, The Vampire Slayer' and 'Angel' belong to Joss Whedon, UPN, WB, and et al. No copyright infringement intended. All new characters and the storyline belong to the author (Yah me!). This story is not sell or for any profit.
***
Buffy Anne Summers sat outside the principle office, waiting. It was her first day in Sunnydale High. Her mother had reminded her more than hundred times to have fun and more importantly, staying out of trouble. She sighed. It was not her fault that she burnt down the gym in school in LA. It was full of vampires and she was only doing her job. But of course, no one knows, and even she told them, no one would trust her. Who would have thought vampires are real? It's lucky if they didn't take her to hospital right away if she told them she was the vampire slayer, one girl on earth who fought the demons, the chosen one. She sighed again.
After her old school kicked her out, she moved to Sunnydale. Her parents had divorced so she was now living with only her mother and her younger sister. She had been in Sunnydale for almost a month, still, she hadn't made any friends yet. She was hoping that she could find someone when the term started. But after the meeting with Principle Snyder, her only hope now was not to be kicked out again. Principle Snyder had made very clear that he would "watch" her closely, and frightened her not to start anything at school. Luckily, before he could continue his screed, his secretary told him another two new students had arrived. She didn't know who they were, but from the look on his face, they must be very important. He immediately told her to wait outside, and politely (which was totally opposite attitude toward her) invited the two girls (one bruntte and one redhead) into his office.
After some time, the two girls walked out with the principle. The bruntte stepped out first, and the redhead followed right behind her. The principle gave them a smile, not a smile-smile but a I-hate-you-but-you're-my-boss-so-I-will-suck-up-with-you-smile, and then told them that he could take them to their first class. The redhead politely declined, saying that they could find the classroom themselves, not wanting to trouble him. He walked towards Buffy and handed her her schedule. "Don't be late." He said, and then he turned back to the two girls, gave them a "sneaky" smile, and walked back into his room. The three of them walked out from the office.
"That guy sucks!" The bruntte said the first thing they stepped out of the office.
"Yeah. I don't like him. Hypocrite." The redhead said, then turned to Buffy. "Um... you're a new student here too?"
"Yes." Buffy smiled at the two girls. "I'm Buffy. Buffy Summers, from LA."
"Willow Wilkins. She's Faith, my sister." The redhead said, pointing to the bruntte. "We're from Boston, just moved here yesterday."
"Wow. Then you're really new. I've been here for almost a month." Buffy took a look at her schedule. "I'm going to have history class this morning. What about you guys?"
"English. Physics in the afternoon." Faith read her schedule. "All our classes are the same, right Will?"
"Yeah."
"Good."
"No hooky sis. Daddy said if you keep doing that he would put us into different school, and more importantly, no play station." Willow smiled.
"Spoil sport." Faith pouted.
Buffy laughed. "You guys are fun. Are you really sisters? I mean, I got a sister five years younger than me and she's really annoying."
"Trust me. She's annoying too, and I'm only two years older." Faith said, pointed at her little sister.
"Am not." Willow stuck her tongue at Faith.
"Two years? But you two are in the same year!"
"Well, Will's smart chick. Dad actually wanted to send her to some geek school, but she keeps following me around." She sighed, but the smile on her face showed how much she was proud of her little sister.
Willow blushed a bit, but shot back. "Next time when you don't know how to do your assignment don't ask me, Faithy."
"Hey! No Faithy!" Faith protested. "I'm older than you! And as the assignment thing... well, what's sisters for?" She smiled.
Buffy laughed again, and stopped in front of the classroom. "I think here's my stop." She looked at the number on the door, and turned to the sisters. "I'll have physics in the afternoon too. Same class?"
Faith looked at Buffy's schedule. "Same class. Cool! So, see you later?"
"Yeah. See you later." Willow and Faith turned and left.
"Bye!" Buffy said, and walked into the class.
***
The history class had just ended. The girl who sat next to her (who had kindly lend her her textbook) smiled at her and shook her hand. "Hi. I'm Cordelia Chase."
"Hi. Buffy Summers. Thanks for lending me the book." Buffy smiled.
"No problem. You can get the textbook in library. I can show you. So, you're from LA?"
"Yeah... how did you know?"
"Well, Sunnydale is a small town. There are three new students in here this year, one from LA, two from Boston."
"Oh, Willow and Faith. Yeah. I met them in the principle office."
"So, is that true?" The two of them started walking out of the classroom.
"What's true?"
"That their father is Richard Wilkins the third?"
"Huh?"
"You know, the senior partner of the largest law firm in America? The soon-to-be mayor in Sunnydale?"
"Well, I don't know about that. But they're Wilkins."
The two walked down the corridor. When they walked pass a drinking fountain, Cordelia stopped, eyes narrowed down at the girl using the machine. "Hey! Moved! Can't you see I want to use the machine?"
Buffy stared at the poor girl. The girl's head shoot up, and looked at Cordelia. She said nothing, but stepped back. She looked at Buffy for a second, then turned and left. Cordelia drank, and then turned to Buffy. "You know, just make sure that you know who's the losers, stay away from them and you'll do fine." Buffy smiled but said nothing. They stopped outside the library.
"Well, here's the library. What class are you having later?"
"Um... physics."
"Well, I have gym. Come meet me after class so we can talk more. I wanted to know all about you."
"Um... yeah... okay." Buffy forced herself to smile. "Bye." She watched Cordelia left, and entered the library.
The library was empty. "Hello?" Buffy shouted, and walked closer to the counter. "Hello? Any bo-"
"Hi." A man with an english accent suddenly appeared from behind the counter, startled her. "Can I help you?"
"Yes. Um... hi. I'm looking for some books."
"You... you're Buffy Summers?"
"Yes. How did yo-"
"I know what you need." He grabbed a book from the shelf behind him, and showed it to Buffy. It was a huge acient book with title "VAMPIRE" on it.
Buffy stepped back a little. "That's not what I wanted." Her face paled.
"Oh? Really? Then I must be mistaken." He put the book back to the shelf behind him. "Wh-" When he turned back, Buffy was gone.
***
Buffy walked around, trying to find a spot to eat her lunch. Then she saw the girl that had been "bitched" by Cordelia earlier. She walked towards her. "Hi. You're Tara, right?"
"Um... ye-yeah. H-hi."
"I'm Buffy. Buffy Summers. I'm new." Buffy smiled at her. "I need to catch up with my work and they said that you're the one to asked. Plus, I need someone to hang out with."
"Aren't y-you fr-friend with C-Cordy?" Tara asked, watching Buffy sat near her.
"Well, she's friendly-" Buffy saw the look on Tara's face. "-to me anyway, but I want to pass my test, you know?"
"Hey B!" Faith said, stood in front of Buffy, with Willow beside her. "Who's the hottie?" She looked at Tara.
Tara's face turned shade red. She looked down a bit, tried to hide her face from her long blond hair.
"Hi guys. She's Tara. I'm just asking her to help me to catch up with the work."
"Hi. Willow Wilkins." Willow shook Tara's hand, and smiled at the shy blond. "And she's my sister Faith. Nice to meet you."
"Tara M-McClay. N-nice to meet y-you." Tara looked up again, and smiled at the bruntte and the redhead. "Um... y-you are sisters?"
"Yeah."
"Wow! Hot chicks." A voice came from behind Tara. Tara turned and smiled. "Hi Xander."
"Hi." Xander looked at the three new girls. "So, care to introduced me to them?"
"Oh." Tara turned to the other girls. "He's Xander, my best friend."
"I take you guys are the new students?"
"Yeah. I'm Willow. This is Buffy and she's my big cranky sister Faith."
"You two are sisters?" Xander pointed at Willow and Faith.
"Ya. Why does people keep asking that?" Faith frowned.
"Well..." Buffy thought for a moment. "First, you're bruntte and she's a redhead. Second, you wear leather and she's not. Third, you guys are in the same grade. For-"
"Wait. You guys are in the same year?" Xander asked Faith. "So you're older than me or she's younger than us?"
"She's two years younger."
"Um... a cute smart chick. Looks like you got yourself a playmate Tara." Both Tara and Willow blushed by Xander's compliment.
"Are they bordering you?" Cordelia walked towards Buffy.
"No, but I'm thinking you're the one who bordered them, Queen C." Xander replied.
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Am I talking to you king of losers?"
"We're just talking." Buffy smiled. "Oh, and this's Willow and Faith."
"The Wilkins? Daughters of Richard Wilkins?" The tall bruntte looked at the sisters from head to toes. "Well, that's why I don't recognize you guys... certainly not looks like one."
"Looks like what?" Willow asked, confused by her reaction.
"You're wearing a fade t-shirt and she's all leather, really shouldn't be our type of clothes... "
"Huh?" Willow confused more.
"What Queen C means rich girls should wear Gucci and super high-heel shoes that can knock people out." Xander said.
"Again, have anyone ask for your option?" Cordy rolled her eyes again.
"Well, what can I say? I love leathers." Faith said.
"This's actually my maid's t-shirt..." Willow whispered.
"You borrow t-shirt from your maid? Eww." Cordelia was disgusted.
"That's all her fault!" Willow pointed at Faith. "She burnt all my clothes! I don't even have any underwears- " Willow cheek turned bright red when she found herself saying that loudly. Some students around them stopped and stared at them when they heard the statement.
"No underwear?" Buffy, Tara and Xander looked at Willow with their mouth dropped on the floor.
"You burnt all her clothes?" Cordy asked Faith.
"Well, yeah. I mean, she's in high school now, pink hello-kitty t-shirt won't work." Faith shrugged. "I do offer her my clothes."
"I refused to be the Mistress of Pain, thank you very much." Willow snapped. Several students stopped again and looked at the strange group.
"Mistress of Pain?" Xander blinked.
"Why don't you buy some new clothes?" Buffy asked.
"It's kinda hard to find a shop in the middle of the night while the next day is the first day at new school."
"Mistress of pain with no underwear?" Xander blinked again.
"HEY! No your mistress of pain with my sis's head!"
"Can we move on?" Willow prayed.
"Well, there's a shop downtown with the latest Gucci season collection." Cordy said.
"No Gucci for my little sister." Faith turned to Cordelia. "You'll shop with me today." Faith pointed at her little sister.
"I am? But I don't want to shop with you! You never let me choose anything!" Willow frowned.
"You're stuck with me Red. Deal with it." She turned to the others. "Wanna join us?"
***
Faith and Willow had spent hours shopping with Buffy and Tara. Cordy was busy in the afternoon while the others didn't allow Xander to go with them (as Willow needed to buy a whole new set of underwares). Willow wasn't really happy about the clothes hunting since her sister refused to let her to buy any clothes but leather.
The four of them were now sitting in a local club called "Brozen". After the shopping, they had agreed to meet there since none of the other three knew any places in Sunnydale.
Buffy was gladded that she finally made some friends. She didn't have any friends since she became a slayer. Not that she had many from the start, most people befriended with her because she was a cheerleader, but after the whole slayer thing entered her live everything went downfall. Her slaying forced her to quit cheerleading, her parents divorced, all her friends were scared by her "strange" behavior, and being kicked out of school for burning down the gym. She just hoped that she could leave the slaying once and for all.
She looked at her new friends. Tara was sitting next to her waiting for Xander, while Faith and Willow was dancing on the dance floor. Tara was shy, quiet, and stuttered alot. She told Buffy that she always did that when she was nervous. At least after the three hours non-stop shopping, she could now talk to her without stutter, much. Willow was just like Tara without stutter. While Tara seemed to have a tendency to hide behind her hair, Willow had an obsession in blushing from head to toe, and she babbled alot too. She had given her and Tara a one minute non-stop babbling about how she turned into "Mistress of Pain" last time when Faith forced her to wear one of her leathers collection, with also many other non-related stuff in between the speech. It finally stopped when Faith smashed her head, and made Buffy laughed so hard that she almost pee in her pants. Opposite to her little sister, Faith was totally untamed. Sometimes her choice of words could even make Buffy blush. She was wild, and very much like a kid, but you could see through her eyes and actions that how much she loved and protective towards her sister, and vice versa. Willow might keep whining about how her sister made all the decisions (especially about clothing) for her, but during their shopping tour, she never refused anything Faith asked. Like now she was wearing a deep red leather jacket, black leather pants and black boots that Faith chose for her. Buffy was certain that Willow was not really comfort in that, but she still wore them, made Faith a happy cranky sister. Buffy wondered if she and Dawnie could ever be like that.
"So, what do you think about this place?" Tara asked, drawn Buffy out of her own thoughts.
"It's a bit small, but great. You hang out here alot?"
"Not really, but X-Xander loves to come here." She shrugged. "Well, it's the only place you can hang out in Sunnydale anyway."
"Um, are you and Xander... you know? Dating?"
"Me and Xander?" Tara looked at Buffy for a second, and the laughed. "No. I mean, Xander is great, but no. We're very good friends though."
"I see." Buffy slipped some water when Willow and Faith walked back to the table.
"Gosh! I'm thirsty." Faith picked up a soda on the table.
"Hey! That's mine!" Willow protested, but before she could do anything, Faith had finished the whole can.
"You can have mine." Faith said, sat beside Buffy.
Willow picked up the other can on the table, jiggled it. "It's empty."
"Too bad." Faith smiled. Willow gave up and sat next to her.
"Well hello ladies." Xander appeared in front of the table with a boy - well, teen-ager with brown hair.
"Hi." Tara smiled. "Guys, this is Oz."
"Hi. New students?"
"Yeah. Hello. I'm Willow."
"Hi. Oz." Oz replied, shook Willow's hand, then turned to Faith.
"Will's big cranky sister." Faith smiled at him. Oz waited.
"She's Faith." Willow added. "Don't mind her. She's always like that." Oz smiled.
"Buffy Summers." Buffy shook Oz hand.
"You're the one who burnt down the gym in LA?"
"Um... yeah?" Buffy felt a bit uneasy.
"Cool!" Oz smiled.
"You burnt down a school gym? Wow!" Faith was impressed. "May be we can burn Will's clothes together! I think she still got some fluffy t-shirts in the laundry."
"Hey! No burning of my clothes!" Willow protested. Faith giggled.
"They're really sisters?" Oz asked Xander. Xander shrugged.
"Yes. We're sisters. Same sperm, same egg. Why does everyone have to ask that?" Faith frowned, and then turned to Buffy before she could answer. "Yeah yeah yeah. I knew."
"Well, technically we are not same sperm and egg. I mean, if we're from the same sperm and egg, isn't that means we should be born at the same time? Unless say the sperm and egg reproduced itself and frozen in there for two years and made me ... oh! Or may be I'm actually in there for two years before I was born. But if that so then mum would be like pregnant for two- no, almost three years in total 'cos you know it's two years plus ten months and- HEY!" Willow rubbed the back of her head where Faith had just hit.
"Stop your rumble. You scared them." Faith pointed at the others.
Willow looked around, and found that all of them went silence and stared at her. "Um... sorry. Got carried away." She gave them a sheepish smile.
"Well," Buffy shook her head, clear her head from what Willow just said about the whole "pregnant-for-three-years" speech. "That's all right I guess. So, why don't you guys- English."
"Huh?" Xander gave a blank look to Buffy.
"Isn't that Mr. Giles?" Tara said. Everyone followed the eye sights of Buffy and Tara, and stared at a man with glasses on the second floor.
"Who is he?" Willow asked.
"Oh. He's the new librarian. I think he's British." Xander said, sat at the table while Oz took the chair next to him.
"He's new?" Buffy asked, her eyes narrowed at him.
"Yeah." Oz replied.
"Excuse me." Buffy stood up and walked upstairs towards the librarian.
"Hi Ms Summers." Giles greeted her when she saw her walked towards him.
"What do you want? A dance with the American teenagers?"
"Well, I actually come to see you."
"Leave me alone."
"Ms Su-"
"Call me Buffy. And I've quit."
"You can't quit. You knew that."
"I don't care. Just-" Buffy looked down at the first floor, and saw Cordelia dancing with some guy wearing an extremely color silk shirt and dancing like in the cheap bad 70's movie. After sometime, the man led Cordelia out of the dance floor.
"Shit." Buffy said. She went downstairs quickly with Giles right behind her. She looked around, but couldn't find Cordy.
"What's going on?" Xander asked when they saw Buffy and Giles worried face.
"Have you seen Cordelia?"
"Oh, she just left with some guy."
"Shit." Without saying another word, she rushed towards the exit. The others followed behind.
***
Buffy was now standing outside Bronze, looking around. Then, she heard a scream coming from an alley behind the club. "There." She rushed towards the alley.
"What the fuck is going on?" Faith damned, the others followed right behind.
When they reached the alley, they saw Cordelia sitting on the ground, pressing her back on the wall, one hand covering her neck, trying to get away from the four figures who were now surrounding her.
"Hey! Why don't you picked someone with your own size?" Buffy stood in front of the alley and said.
"Well well well, another meal." The man who had danced with Cordelia said. Then, the fight started.
Buffy fist reached the first guy, sending him back a few inches. Two of them then rushed towards Buffy in the same time. She round-kicked and send them away, but the forth one sneaked from behind and bear-hugged her.
Giles, seeing the opportunity, rushed towards Cordy and tried drag her away, but the one who was hit by Buffy first saw him and knocked him unconscious. Xander and Oz ran towards that man immediately. Xander jumped up on the man from behind while Oz fist collected to the man's jaw. That man stepped back a little, his face changed. His eyes was now flashed yellow and he showed his fangs. He sank his teeth into Xander's arm. Xander yelled, and fell back on the floor. "XANDER!" Tara immediately rushed towards Xander.
Buffy tried to free herself, but the man was too strong. Another guy started walking towards Buffy, but stopped as Faith ran and stood in between him and Buffy. "Hi buddy." She said, start bashing the man. Willow saw Cordelia was still sitting there, shocked. She ran and kneed beside her, watching the others fight.
Buffy stepped back and spurned on the guy's foot. He yelled and let her go. Buffy turned around, took out a stake from her back, and stabbed it into his heart. The man turned into dust.
Faith kept hitting the man with her fists, but he suddenly ducked and swung his leg, sending Faith onto the ground. Buffy ran towards him and stake him before he could do any more damage. Faith eyes widened when the man suddenly disappeared in front of her.
Tara tried to help Xander to stood up while Oz trying to hit the man who bit Xander. The man kicked into Oz's stomach, sending him towards Tara and Xander. The three of them fell down again. Buffy yelled, kicked his face, and send him to the opposite wall.
At the same time, the forth man (who danced with Cordy earlier) walked towards Willow and Cordelia. Willow immediately stood in front of Cordy, trying to protect her. The man smiled, showing his now yellow eyes and shape fangs. Willow screamed and started trying to hit the monster in front of her. His fist reached out and hit Willow's stomach.
"WILLOW!" Faith shouted when she saw Willow being hit by that man. She picked up a pipe nearby and hit the man in his head. The man fell onto the floor. Faith dropped her pipe and caught her little sister before she fell.
Wasting no time, Buffy ran towards the man she just kicked and staked him.
Faith caught her sister, steadied her. She didn't see the man she just hit stood up again. He picked up the pipe on the floor, raised his arms. "FAITH!" Wllow shouted. She spun Faith around, and the pipe reached her shoulder.
Hearing Willow scream, Buffy turned and saw a man hit Willow with a pipe. She threw her stake towards the man, and hit the target. It turned into dust.
Buffy stood there, breathing heavily. Faith carefully held Willow and led her up. Tara, Xander and Oz slowly walked towards Buffy. Cordy was still a bit shocked when Giles regain his conscious and help her up.
"So, explanation in order?" Buffy smiled sheepishly.
***
"So, vampires and demons are real."
Buffy nodded.
"Sunnydale is on the hellmouth, which attract vampires and demons."
Giles nodded.
"And you're vampire slayer."
Buffy nodded again.
"And you're her watcher."
Giles nodded again.
"And you're vampire slayer."
"Yes." Buffy said, frustrated. "How many times are you going to ask?"
"Well, sorry that I wanted to make this clear. I almost died tonight, you know?" Cordelia said angrily, her hands still touching the wound on her neck.
"This story teaches you not to dance with some guy wearing colorful silk s- ouch!" Xander moved back a little, but Oz steadied him.
"Don't move." Giles said, cleaning the wound on Xander's arm. "Almost done."
"You s-sure he won't turn into v-vampire or something?" Tara asked.
"No. In order to be turned the vampire will need to suck all your blood and you'll need to suck their blood and well, it's a whole sucking thing." Buffy said. "Usually they'll just kill you."
"That's fun, moving to the mouth of hell," Faith said sarcastically. "How come you guys don't know about that? I mean, you lived here like years, right? How come no one knows?"
"Well, this place always has problems, but I-I don't really understand until now." Tara said.
"I moved here no more than three days. My sister burnt all my clothes on day one, and then being attacked by vampires on day two. I wonder what will happen tomorrow." Willow turned around and looked at Faith who was holding a ice pack on Willow's shoulder. "Say, is there any chance that you're being controlled by some leather demon? Buffy can slay it so I don't need to wear leather anymore?"
"Nope. Sorry." Faith smiled at her little sister.
"So, the reason you burnt the school gym in LA..." Oz asked. It was the first time he spoke since they went back to the Sunnydale High school library.
"Because it was full of vampires. It was the only way to get ride of them. And then I got suspended." Buffy eyes now narrowed on the watcher. "I got kicked out from school and lost all my friends. Just because I'm the chosen one."
"Um... well..." Giles finished bandaging Xander's arms, and then started polished his glasses. "I'm sorry. I knew it must be very hard for you-"
"Damn right."
"But you got to understand Buffy. It's your density. If you don't do it, no one can." Giles put on his glasses again. "Do you know why you moved here? Why for all places you moved to Sunnydale?"
"Because my mum got a job in the gallery here?"
"It's because you're the slayer, the Chosen One. One born with the strength and skill to fight the vampires, to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their numbers. It is not a coincident. It is fate."
Buffy sighed. "Well, I still don't like it."
"But you won't be alone now. We can help you." Willow said.
"Huh?"
"Willow's right. I mean, now we know the t-truth, we can't just turn our back on it. A-at least I can't." Tara said, smiled at Buffy.
"But it's too dangerous. I mean look at you guys tonight. I can't-"
"Don't you see that? We're always in danger. If we don't fight tonight, Cordelia will die. *We* will die. Rather than waiting for some demons to get us one day, why don't we help you to fight back? It'll be much safer for anyone in long term. Even if we don't fight as good as you, at least we can give you some supports, physically and mentally." Oz reasoned.
"Wow! It's the longest sentences ever came from your mouth!" Xander smiled at his friend. Oz smiled back at him.
"I can do m-magic." Tara said. "I am not powerful or anything, but I can do small stuff like floating pencils. May be I can start learning some healing spells so we can heal faster if we get hurt again."
"Wow! Cool!" Willow looked at Tara. Tara blushed.
"And I can fight with you. I've been boxing since eight." Faith said.
"Well, you do fight good." Buffy smiled.
"Me too!" Xander exclaimed.
"Oh please." Cordy rolled her eyes. "You can't even last two seconds."
"And that comes from the one who had been sitting there doing nothing while we fight."
"I was hurt at that time!" Cordelia protested. "Not that I'll go out with you guys fighting. Why am I talking to you anyway? I so need a bath." Cordelia stood up and walked towards the exit, but frozen when she was opening the door. "How am I going to get home?" She turned and looked at the others.
"Well, it's late... let me drive you all home. We can continue our conversation tomorrow morning." Then Giles frowned. "But my car may be a bit..."
"My van is in the school car park too." Oz said.
"Oh, that's good. Let me get the keys first." Giles said, disappeared inside his office.
"You have a van? You can drive?" Willow asked.
"Yeah. I'm senior."
"So cool! Hey! May be we can set up a mobile resource and command center in your van so when we go fight demons we can put all the weapons in it o-or, oh! We can set it up as a mobile medical center and Tara's the doctor and heals everyone there and-" Everyone was laughing and talking, except Faith who stood there watching her little sister silencely. She then looked down and saw the ice pack she had just used on her sister's shoulder. Her hands tightened, her mind kept running. She looked up again when Giles came out and locked his office's door, prepared to leave. Willow smiled at her.
"You okay?" Willow asked.
Looking at Willow's smiling face, she made up her mind. "Big cranky sister desperately need a bath. Let's go."
Chapter: 1 - Welcome to the Hellmouth
Author: Cynthia (cynthia_taz@yahoo.com)
Homepage:
Summary: Start from S1, AU. A whole new Buffy world - Buffy moved to Sunnydale at 16. Faith and Willow are sisters, Tara and Xander are best friends... just read.
Rating: G (for now)
Disclaimer: All characters, sites and such from 'Buffy, The Vampire Slayer' and 'Angel' belong to Joss Whedon, UPN, WB, and et al. No copyright infringement intended. All new characters and the storyline belong to the author (Yah me!). This story is not sell or for any profit.
***
Buffy Anne Summers sat outside the principle office, waiting. It was her first day in Sunnydale High. Her mother had reminded her more than hundred times to have fun and more importantly, staying out of trouble. She sighed. It was not her fault that she burnt down the gym in school in LA. It was full of vampires and she was only doing her job. But of course, no one knows, and even she told them, no one would trust her. Who would have thought vampires are real? It's lucky if they didn't take her to hospital right away if she told them she was the vampire slayer, one girl on earth who fought the demons, the chosen one. She sighed again.
After her old school kicked her out, she moved to Sunnydale. Her parents had divorced so she was now living with only her mother and her younger sister. She had been in Sunnydale for almost a month, still, she hadn't made any friends yet. She was hoping that she could find someone when the term started. But after the meeting with Principle Snyder, her only hope now was not to be kicked out again. Principle Snyder had made very clear that he would "watch" her closely, and frightened her not to start anything at school. Luckily, before he could continue his screed, his secretary told him another two new students had arrived. She didn't know who they were, but from the look on his face, they must be very important. He immediately told her to wait outside, and politely (which was totally opposite attitude toward her) invited the two girls (one bruntte and one redhead) into his office.
After some time, the two girls walked out with the principle. The bruntte stepped out first, and the redhead followed right behind her. The principle gave them a smile, not a smile-smile but a I-hate-you-but-you're-my-boss-so-I-will-suck-up-with-you-smile, and then told them that he could take them to their first class. The redhead politely declined, saying that they could find the classroom themselves, not wanting to trouble him. He walked towards Buffy and handed her her schedule. "Don't be late." He said, and then he turned back to the two girls, gave them a "sneaky" smile, and walked back into his room. The three of them walked out from the office.
"That guy sucks!" The bruntte said the first thing they stepped out of the office.
"Yeah. I don't like him. Hypocrite." The redhead said, then turned to Buffy. "Um... you're a new student here too?"
"Yes." Buffy smiled at the two girls. "I'm Buffy. Buffy Summers, from LA."
"Willow Wilkins. She's Faith, my sister." The redhead said, pointing to the bruntte. "We're from Boston, just moved here yesterday."
"Wow. Then you're really new. I've been here for almost a month." Buffy took a look at her schedule. "I'm going to have history class this morning. What about you guys?"
"English. Physics in the afternoon." Faith read her schedule. "All our classes are the same, right Will?"
"Yeah."
"Good."
"No hooky sis. Daddy said if you keep doing that he would put us into different school, and more importantly, no play station." Willow smiled.
"Spoil sport." Faith pouted.
Buffy laughed. "You guys are fun. Are you really sisters? I mean, I got a sister five years younger than me and she's really annoying."
"Trust me. She's annoying too, and I'm only two years older." Faith said, pointed at her little sister.
"Am not." Willow stuck her tongue at Faith.
"Two years? But you two are in the same year!"
"Well, Will's smart chick. Dad actually wanted to send her to some geek school, but she keeps following me around." She sighed, but the smile on her face showed how much she was proud of her little sister.
Willow blushed a bit, but shot back. "Next time when you don't know how to do your assignment don't ask me, Faithy."
"Hey! No Faithy!" Faith protested. "I'm older than you! And as the assignment thing... well, what's sisters for?" She smiled.
Buffy laughed again, and stopped in front of the classroom. "I think here's my stop." She looked at the number on the door, and turned to the sisters. "I'll have physics in the afternoon too. Same class?"
Faith looked at Buffy's schedule. "Same class. Cool! So, see you later?"
"Yeah. See you later." Willow and Faith turned and left.
"Bye!" Buffy said, and walked into the class.
***
The history class had just ended. The girl who sat next to her (who had kindly lend her her textbook) smiled at her and shook her hand. "Hi. I'm Cordelia Chase."
"Hi. Buffy Summers. Thanks for lending me the book." Buffy smiled.
"No problem. You can get the textbook in library. I can show you. So, you're from LA?"
"Yeah... how did you know?"
"Well, Sunnydale is a small town. There are three new students in here this year, one from LA, two from Boston."
"Oh, Willow and Faith. Yeah. I met them in the principle office."
"So, is that true?" The two of them started walking out of the classroom.
"What's true?"
"That their father is Richard Wilkins the third?"
"Huh?"
"You know, the senior partner of the largest law firm in America? The soon-to-be mayor in Sunnydale?"
"Well, I don't know about that. But they're Wilkins."
The two walked down the corridor. When they walked pass a drinking fountain, Cordelia stopped, eyes narrowed down at the girl using the machine. "Hey! Moved! Can't you see I want to use the machine?"
Buffy stared at the poor girl. The girl's head shoot up, and looked at Cordelia. She said nothing, but stepped back. She looked at Buffy for a second, then turned and left. Cordelia drank, and then turned to Buffy. "You know, just make sure that you know who's the losers, stay away from them and you'll do fine." Buffy smiled but said nothing. They stopped outside the library.
"Well, here's the library. What class are you having later?"
"Um... physics."
"Well, I have gym. Come meet me after class so we can talk more. I wanted to know all about you."
"Um... yeah... okay." Buffy forced herself to smile. "Bye." She watched Cordelia left, and entered the library.
The library was empty. "Hello?" Buffy shouted, and walked closer to the counter. "Hello? Any bo-"
"Hi." A man with an english accent suddenly appeared from behind the counter, startled her. "Can I help you?"
"Yes. Um... hi. I'm looking for some books."
"You... you're Buffy Summers?"
"Yes. How did yo-"
"I know what you need." He grabbed a book from the shelf behind him, and showed it to Buffy. It was a huge acient book with title "VAMPIRE" on it.
Buffy stepped back a little. "That's not what I wanted." Her face paled.
"Oh? Really? Then I must be mistaken." He put the book back to the shelf behind him. "Wh-" When he turned back, Buffy was gone.
***
Buffy walked around, trying to find a spot to eat her lunch. Then she saw the girl that had been "bitched" by Cordelia earlier. She walked towards her. "Hi. You're Tara, right?"
"Um... ye-yeah. H-hi."
"I'm Buffy. Buffy Summers. I'm new." Buffy smiled at her. "I need to catch up with my work and they said that you're the one to asked. Plus, I need someone to hang out with."
"Aren't y-you fr-friend with C-Cordy?" Tara asked, watching Buffy sat near her.
"Well, she's friendly-" Buffy saw the look on Tara's face. "-to me anyway, but I want to pass my test, you know?"
"Hey B!" Faith said, stood in front of Buffy, with Willow beside her. "Who's the hottie?" She looked at Tara.
Tara's face turned shade red. She looked down a bit, tried to hide her face from her long blond hair.
"Hi guys. She's Tara. I'm just asking her to help me to catch up with the work."
"Hi. Willow Wilkins." Willow shook Tara's hand, and smiled at the shy blond. "And she's my sister Faith. Nice to meet you."
"Tara M-McClay. N-nice to meet y-you." Tara looked up again, and smiled at the bruntte and the redhead. "Um... y-you are sisters?"
"Yeah."
"Wow! Hot chicks." A voice came from behind Tara. Tara turned and smiled. "Hi Xander."
"Hi." Xander looked at the three new girls. "So, care to introduced me to them?"
"Oh." Tara turned to the other girls. "He's Xander, my best friend."
"I take you guys are the new students?"
"Yeah. I'm Willow. This is Buffy and she's my big cranky sister Faith."
"You two are sisters?" Xander pointed at Willow and Faith.
"Ya. Why does people keep asking that?" Faith frowned.
"Well..." Buffy thought for a moment. "First, you're bruntte and she's a redhead. Second, you wear leather and she's not. Third, you guys are in the same grade. For-"
"Wait. You guys are in the same year?" Xander asked Faith. "So you're older than me or she's younger than us?"
"She's two years younger."
"Um... a cute smart chick. Looks like you got yourself a playmate Tara." Both Tara and Willow blushed by Xander's compliment.
"Are they bordering you?" Cordelia walked towards Buffy.
"No, but I'm thinking you're the one who bordered them, Queen C." Xander replied.
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Am I talking to you king of losers?"
"We're just talking." Buffy smiled. "Oh, and this's Willow and Faith."
"The Wilkins? Daughters of Richard Wilkins?" The tall bruntte looked at the sisters from head to toes. "Well, that's why I don't recognize you guys... certainly not looks like one."
"Looks like what?" Willow asked, confused by her reaction.
"You're wearing a fade t-shirt and she's all leather, really shouldn't be our type of clothes... "
"Huh?" Willow confused more.
"What Queen C means rich girls should wear Gucci and super high-heel shoes that can knock people out." Xander said.
"Again, have anyone ask for your option?" Cordy rolled her eyes again.
"Well, what can I say? I love leathers." Faith said.
"This's actually my maid's t-shirt..." Willow whispered.
"You borrow t-shirt from your maid? Eww." Cordelia was disgusted.
"That's all her fault!" Willow pointed at Faith. "She burnt all my clothes! I don't even have any underwears- " Willow cheek turned bright red when she found herself saying that loudly. Some students around them stopped and stared at them when they heard the statement.
"No underwear?" Buffy, Tara and Xander looked at Willow with their mouth dropped on the floor.
"You burnt all her clothes?" Cordy asked Faith.
"Well, yeah. I mean, she's in high school now, pink hello-kitty t-shirt won't work." Faith shrugged. "I do offer her my clothes."
"I refused to be the Mistress of Pain, thank you very much." Willow snapped. Several students stopped again and looked at the strange group.
"Mistress of Pain?" Xander blinked.
"Why don't you buy some new clothes?" Buffy asked.
"It's kinda hard to find a shop in the middle of the night while the next day is the first day at new school."
"Mistress of pain with no underwear?" Xander blinked again.
"HEY! No your mistress of pain with my sis's head!"
"Can we move on?" Willow prayed.
"Well, there's a shop downtown with the latest Gucci season collection." Cordy said.
"No Gucci for my little sister." Faith turned to Cordelia. "You'll shop with me today." Faith pointed at her little sister.
"I am? But I don't want to shop with you! You never let me choose anything!" Willow frowned.
"You're stuck with me Red. Deal with it." She turned to the others. "Wanna join us?"
***
Faith and Willow had spent hours shopping with Buffy and Tara. Cordy was busy in the afternoon while the others didn't allow Xander to go with them (as Willow needed to buy a whole new set of underwares). Willow wasn't really happy about the clothes hunting since her sister refused to let her to buy any clothes but leather.
The four of them were now sitting in a local club called "Brozen". After the shopping, they had agreed to meet there since none of the other three knew any places in Sunnydale.
Buffy was gladded that she finally made some friends. She didn't have any friends since she became a slayer. Not that she had many from the start, most people befriended with her because she was a cheerleader, but after the whole slayer thing entered her live everything went downfall. Her slaying forced her to quit cheerleading, her parents divorced, all her friends were scared by her "strange" behavior, and being kicked out of school for burning down the gym. She just hoped that she could leave the slaying once and for all.
She looked at her new friends. Tara was sitting next to her waiting for Xander, while Faith and Willow was dancing on the dance floor. Tara was shy, quiet, and stuttered alot. She told Buffy that she always did that when she was nervous. At least after the three hours non-stop shopping, she could now talk to her without stutter, much. Willow was just like Tara without stutter. While Tara seemed to have a tendency to hide behind her hair, Willow had an obsession in blushing from head to toe, and she babbled alot too. She had given her and Tara a one minute non-stop babbling about how she turned into "Mistress of Pain" last time when Faith forced her to wear one of her leathers collection, with also many other non-related stuff in between the speech. It finally stopped when Faith smashed her head, and made Buffy laughed so hard that she almost pee in her pants. Opposite to her little sister, Faith was totally untamed. Sometimes her choice of words could even make Buffy blush. She was wild, and very much like a kid, but you could see through her eyes and actions that how much she loved and protective towards her sister, and vice versa. Willow might keep whining about how her sister made all the decisions (especially about clothing) for her, but during their shopping tour, she never refused anything Faith asked. Like now she was wearing a deep red leather jacket, black leather pants and black boots that Faith chose for her. Buffy was certain that Willow was not really comfort in that, but she still wore them, made Faith a happy cranky sister. Buffy wondered if she and Dawnie could ever be like that.
"So, what do you think about this place?" Tara asked, drawn Buffy out of her own thoughts.
"It's a bit small, but great. You hang out here alot?"
"Not really, but X-Xander loves to come here." She shrugged. "Well, it's the only place you can hang out in Sunnydale anyway."
"Um, are you and Xander... you know? Dating?"
"Me and Xander?" Tara looked at Buffy for a second, and the laughed. "No. I mean, Xander is great, but no. We're very good friends though."
"I see." Buffy slipped some water when Willow and Faith walked back to the table.
"Gosh! I'm thirsty." Faith picked up a soda on the table.
"Hey! That's mine!" Willow protested, but before she could do anything, Faith had finished the whole can.
"You can have mine." Faith said, sat beside Buffy.
Willow picked up the other can on the table, jiggled it. "It's empty."
"Too bad." Faith smiled. Willow gave up and sat next to her.
"Well hello ladies." Xander appeared in front of the table with a boy - well, teen-ager with brown hair.
"Hi." Tara smiled. "Guys, this is Oz."
"Hi. New students?"
"Yeah. Hello. I'm Willow."
"Hi. Oz." Oz replied, shook Willow's hand, then turned to Faith.
"Will's big cranky sister." Faith smiled at him. Oz waited.
"She's Faith." Willow added. "Don't mind her. She's always like that." Oz smiled.
"Buffy Summers." Buffy shook Oz hand.
"You're the one who burnt down the gym in LA?"
"Um... yeah?" Buffy felt a bit uneasy.
"Cool!" Oz smiled.
"You burnt down a school gym? Wow!" Faith was impressed. "May be we can burn Will's clothes together! I think she still got some fluffy t-shirts in the laundry."
"Hey! No burning of my clothes!" Willow protested. Faith giggled.
"They're really sisters?" Oz asked Xander. Xander shrugged.
"Yes. We're sisters. Same sperm, same egg. Why does everyone have to ask that?" Faith frowned, and then turned to Buffy before she could answer. "Yeah yeah yeah. I knew."
"Well, technically we are not same sperm and egg. I mean, if we're from the same sperm and egg, isn't that means we should be born at the same time? Unless say the sperm and egg reproduced itself and frozen in there for two years and made me ... oh! Or may be I'm actually in there for two years before I was born. But if that so then mum would be like pregnant for two- no, almost three years in total 'cos you know it's two years plus ten months and- HEY!" Willow rubbed the back of her head where Faith had just hit.
"Stop your rumble. You scared them." Faith pointed at the others.
Willow looked around, and found that all of them went silence and stared at her. "Um... sorry. Got carried away." She gave them a sheepish smile.
"Well," Buffy shook her head, clear her head from what Willow just said about the whole "pregnant-for-three-years" speech. "That's all right I guess. So, why don't you guys- English."
"Huh?" Xander gave a blank look to Buffy.
"Isn't that Mr. Giles?" Tara said. Everyone followed the eye sights of Buffy and Tara, and stared at a man with glasses on the second floor.
"Who is he?" Willow asked.
"Oh. He's the new librarian. I think he's British." Xander said, sat at the table while Oz took the chair next to him.
"He's new?" Buffy asked, her eyes narrowed at him.
"Yeah." Oz replied.
"Excuse me." Buffy stood up and walked upstairs towards the librarian.
"Hi Ms Summers." Giles greeted her when she saw her walked towards him.
"What do you want? A dance with the American teenagers?"
"Well, I actually come to see you."
"Leave me alone."
"Ms Su-"
"Call me Buffy. And I've quit."
"You can't quit. You knew that."
"I don't care. Just-" Buffy looked down at the first floor, and saw Cordelia dancing with some guy wearing an extremely color silk shirt and dancing like in the cheap bad 70's movie. After sometime, the man led Cordelia out of the dance floor.
"Shit." Buffy said. She went downstairs quickly with Giles right behind her. She looked around, but couldn't find Cordy.
"What's going on?" Xander asked when they saw Buffy and Giles worried face.
"Have you seen Cordelia?"
"Oh, she just left with some guy."
"Shit." Without saying another word, she rushed towards the exit. The others followed behind.
***
Buffy was now standing outside Bronze, looking around. Then, she heard a scream coming from an alley behind the club. "There." She rushed towards the alley.
"What the fuck is going on?" Faith damned, the others followed right behind.
When they reached the alley, they saw Cordelia sitting on the ground, pressing her back on the wall, one hand covering her neck, trying to get away from the four figures who were now surrounding her.
"Hey! Why don't you picked someone with your own size?" Buffy stood in front of the alley and said.
"Well well well, another meal." The man who had danced with Cordelia said. Then, the fight started.
Buffy fist reached the first guy, sending him back a few inches. Two of them then rushed towards Buffy in the same time. She round-kicked and send them away, but the forth one sneaked from behind and bear-hugged her.
Giles, seeing the opportunity, rushed towards Cordy and tried drag her away, but the one who was hit by Buffy first saw him and knocked him unconscious. Xander and Oz ran towards that man immediately. Xander jumped up on the man from behind while Oz fist collected to the man's jaw. That man stepped back a little, his face changed. His eyes was now flashed yellow and he showed his fangs. He sank his teeth into Xander's arm. Xander yelled, and fell back on the floor. "XANDER!" Tara immediately rushed towards Xander.
Buffy tried to free herself, but the man was too strong. Another guy started walking towards Buffy, but stopped as Faith ran and stood in between him and Buffy. "Hi buddy." She said, start bashing the man. Willow saw Cordelia was still sitting there, shocked. She ran and kneed beside her, watching the others fight.
Buffy stepped back and spurned on the guy's foot. He yelled and let her go. Buffy turned around, took out a stake from her back, and stabbed it into his heart. The man turned into dust.
Faith kept hitting the man with her fists, but he suddenly ducked and swung his leg, sending Faith onto the ground. Buffy ran towards him and stake him before he could do any more damage. Faith eyes widened when the man suddenly disappeared in front of her.
Tara tried to help Xander to stood up while Oz trying to hit the man who bit Xander. The man kicked into Oz's stomach, sending him towards Tara and Xander. The three of them fell down again. Buffy yelled, kicked his face, and send him to the opposite wall.
At the same time, the forth man (who danced with Cordy earlier) walked towards Willow and Cordelia. Willow immediately stood in front of Cordy, trying to protect her. The man smiled, showing his now yellow eyes and shape fangs. Willow screamed and started trying to hit the monster in front of her. His fist reached out and hit Willow's stomach.
"WILLOW!" Faith shouted when she saw Willow being hit by that man. She picked up a pipe nearby and hit the man in his head. The man fell onto the floor. Faith dropped her pipe and caught her little sister before she fell.
Wasting no time, Buffy ran towards the man she just kicked and staked him.
Faith caught her sister, steadied her. She didn't see the man she just hit stood up again. He picked up the pipe on the floor, raised his arms. "FAITH!" Wllow shouted. She spun Faith around, and the pipe reached her shoulder.
Hearing Willow scream, Buffy turned and saw a man hit Willow with a pipe. She threw her stake towards the man, and hit the target. It turned into dust.
Buffy stood there, breathing heavily. Faith carefully held Willow and led her up. Tara, Xander and Oz slowly walked towards Buffy. Cordy was still a bit shocked when Giles regain his conscious and help her up.
"So, explanation in order?" Buffy smiled sheepishly.
***
"So, vampires and demons are real."
Buffy nodded.
"Sunnydale is on the hellmouth, which attract vampires and demons."
Giles nodded.
"And you're vampire slayer."
Buffy nodded again.
"And you're her watcher."
Giles nodded again.
"And you're vampire slayer."
"Yes." Buffy said, frustrated. "How many times are you going to ask?"
"Well, sorry that I wanted to make this clear. I almost died tonight, you know?" Cordelia said angrily, her hands still touching the wound on her neck.
"This story teaches you not to dance with some guy wearing colorful silk s- ouch!" Xander moved back a little, but Oz steadied him.
"Don't move." Giles said, cleaning the wound on Xander's arm. "Almost done."
"You s-sure he won't turn into v-vampire or something?" Tara asked.
"No. In order to be turned the vampire will need to suck all your blood and you'll need to suck their blood and well, it's a whole sucking thing." Buffy said. "Usually they'll just kill you."
"That's fun, moving to the mouth of hell," Faith said sarcastically. "How come you guys don't know about that? I mean, you lived here like years, right? How come no one knows?"
"Well, this place always has problems, but I-I don't really understand until now." Tara said.
"I moved here no more than three days. My sister burnt all my clothes on day one, and then being attacked by vampires on day two. I wonder what will happen tomorrow." Willow turned around and looked at Faith who was holding a ice pack on Willow's shoulder. "Say, is there any chance that you're being controlled by some leather demon? Buffy can slay it so I don't need to wear leather anymore?"
"Nope. Sorry." Faith smiled at her little sister.
"So, the reason you burnt the school gym in LA..." Oz asked. It was the first time he spoke since they went back to the Sunnydale High school library.
"Because it was full of vampires. It was the only way to get ride of them. And then I got suspended." Buffy eyes now narrowed on the watcher. "I got kicked out from school and lost all my friends. Just because I'm the chosen one."
"Um... well..." Giles finished bandaging Xander's arms, and then started polished his glasses. "I'm sorry. I knew it must be very hard for you-"
"Damn right."
"But you got to understand Buffy. It's your density. If you don't do it, no one can." Giles put on his glasses again. "Do you know why you moved here? Why for all places you moved to Sunnydale?"
"Because my mum got a job in the gallery here?"
"It's because you're the slayer, the Chosen One. One born with the strength and skill to fight the vampires, to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their numbers. It is not a coincident. It is fate."
Buffy sighed. "Well, I still don't like it."
"But you won't be alone now. We can help you." Willow said.
"Huh?"
"Willow's right. I mean, now we know the t-truth, we can't just turn our back on it. A-at least I can't." Tara said, smiled at Buffy.
"But it's too dangerous. I mean look at you guys tonight. I can't-"
"Don't you see that? We're always in danger. If we don't fight tonight, Cordelia will die. *We* will die. Rather than waiting for some demons to get us one day, why don't we help you to fight back? It'll be much safer for anyone in long term. Even if we don't fight as good as you, at least we can give you some supports, physically and mentally." Oz reasoned.
"Wow! It's the longest sentences ever came from your mouth!" Xander smiled at his friend. Oz smiled back at him.
"I can do m-magic." Tara said. "I am not powerful or anything, but I can do small stuff like floating pencils. May be I can start learning some healing spells so we can heal faster if we get hurt again."
"Wow! Cool!" Willow looked at Tara. Tara blushed.
"And I can fight with you. I've been boxing since eight." Faith said.
"Well, you do fight good." Buffy smiled.
"Me too!" Xander exclaimed.
"Oh please." Cordy rolled her eyes. "You can't even last two seconds."
"And that comes from the one who had been sitting there doing nothing while we fight."
"I was hurt at that time!" Cordelia protested. "Not that I'll go out with you guys fighting. Why am I talking to you anyway? I so need a bath." Cordelia stood up and walked towards the exit, but frozen when she was opening the door. "How am I going to get home?" She turned and looked at the others.
"Well, it's late... let me drive you all home. We can continue our conversation tomorrow morning." Then Giles frowned. "But my car may be a bit..."
"My van is in the school car park too." Oz said.
"Oh, that's good. Let me get the keys first." Giles said, disappeared inside his office.
"You have a van? You can drive?" Willow asked.
"Yeah. I'm senior."
"So cool! Hey! May be we can set up a mobile resource and command center in your van so when we go fight demons we can put all the weapons in it o-or, oh! We can set it up as a mobile medical center and Tara's the doctor and heals everyone there and-" Everyone was laughing and talking, except Faith who stood there watching her little sister silencely. She then looked down and saw the ice pack she had just used on her sister's shoulder. Her hands tightened, her mind kept running. She looked up again when Giles came out and locked his office's door, prepared to leave. Willow smiled at her.
"You okay?" Willow asked.
Looking at Willow's smiling face, she made up her mind. "Big cranky sister desperately need a bath. Let's go."