Greetings and Salutations. Sorry this took so long, I haven't been able to use the net. This is another part for my Phoenix Rising series. This one takes place at about the same time as Immortal Beginnings, the other story I just put up. I'm putting them both up at the same time because they both explain things you need to know to understand the story. You'll notice this ones chapterised, while the other isn't. That's because the other is finished. Sorry, you'll just have to wait for more.

As usual, I don't own this. X-Men, Blade, and other Marvel characters belong to Marvel. Witchblade belong to Top Cow. Buffy and related characters belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. Dark Angel belongs to whoever created it. Not me. Not now, nor ever will I own any of these characters. Joyce is mine (kinda. You'll see.).

In every generation, there is One Girl.

Only she can fight the vampires, demons and other forces of darkness.

She is the Slayer.

She is a test tube soldier, the peak of genetic perfection.

She was trained to perfection, faster, stronger, more agile than anyone else.

Then she escaped.

Now, she fights in a post Apocalyptic world, aided by a cyber rebel, evading the people who seek her.

She is the Dark Angel.

As Buffy walked through the cemetery, her mind wandered. She thought about her beautiful baby girl asleep back home, she thought of her upcoming marriage to Logan.

She thought of how quiet it had been lately.

Quiet was a good thing. Unless you were the Vampire Slayer, charged with guarding a Hellmouth. Then it was bad. Bad because it usually meant someone was planning something. Ever since Faith had beaten Belasco, it had been far to quiet. Even the vamps were keeping the blood drinking to a minimum. Buffy frowned. Admit it girl, she thought to herself. You're bored.

She was about to head home when something caught her eye. She walked past some tombstones to a rather large stone. It was strange looking with carvings right the way down it. She didn't even try to read it; she knew that would be impossible. Faith had described it to her. It was a cairn stone, used by Belasco and his N'Garai demons to travel to earth. She drew her sword; summoning the portion of power the Phoenix had left her before it left. A final reward. She brought the sword up above her head, ready to destroy the stone, when a presence behind her caused her to turn. She spun quickly, sword before her. She saw a demon, almost human except for the horns, red skin and almost scaly black arm.

"You are every bit as ugly as Faith described you." She said. Belasco grinned.

"And you, my dear, are every bit as striking as Angelus saw you." He said. Buffy glared at him. "Yes, when you sent him to Hell, I was lucky enough to be the one to pay host to him. You seemed to be the one that was foremost in his mind. A pity such a striking couple has been broke up."

"No regrets, red." Buffy said with a grin. "Though I'm still going to have to hurt you. I'd say I was sorry, but I'd be lying."

"I'm afraid that isn't quite going to happen. At least not the way you think." He held his hand out. "Goodbye Ms Summers." A beam of light shot from his hand, engulfing the Slayer. She faded away, until nothing was left but her sword.

Dawns head shot up. "No. Oh please no." She summoned her power, disappearing form the Magic Box. The others looked at each other.

"What was that about?" Xander asked.

"I can't feel her." Logan muttered. Everyone turned to him. "She's not there anymore. Where is she?" He clenched his fist, focusing on the feeling that had become the single anchor in his life. "Buffy."

Belasco stood there, rather proud of himself. This time the spell had worked. Buffy Summers was gone, her body had disintegrated. There was nothing left of her, and no one to stop him.

"Belasco!" He turned to see the newly named Guardian of the Earth behind him. "Where is she? Where is my sister?"

"Gone, as you can see." He said. "And this time, there is no return for her." He laughed. "And no one to stop me." Dawn clenched her fists.

"There will always be someone to stop you." She said. "Be it the X-Men, Faith, someone will always be there."

"Wrong." He said. "From the beginning there was only ever one person that could stop me, and soon she will be mine." He faded from sight. Dawn stood there. She couldn't believe it. But there was Buffy's sword, lying there discarded. Nothing could ever make her drop that, not unless…

Dawn walked over to pick it up. Buffy would want Joyce to have this. She bent over to pick it up…

And was forced back with shock. The feeling that came from the sword, it was Buffy, a last trace, but it wasn't fear. It was denial. Not something that one feels in death. Dawn felt into the earth, calling the images of Buffy's final moments. She watched on, and then found her answer.

"Goodbye Ms Summers."

Dawn couldn't help it. She leapt into the air, fists held high. "Up yours, Belasco." She said happily. "You screwed up." She smiled, calling Thor from Asgard. She had plans to make. "It's not over yet, red. Not by a long shot."

Seventeen years later, Asgard.

Thor looked at the sword, hanging in the same place it had for seventeen years. The Lord of Asgard shook his head. Seventeen years and not a trace of her. He was beginning to doubt that she had survived. He sighed. "Come back soon, Buffy. Thou art needed. Now more than ever."

"Lord Thor?" Thor turned.

"Yes Baldur?"

"I have grave news." Baldur said. "The mortals are getting closer to the girl." Thor sighed.

"What can be done?" Thor asked.

"Not a lot, my Lord." He said. "In fact, short of warning them in person, I…" He stopped, looking past the Lord of Asgard. Thor's eyes widened as he noticed the warmth at his back. He spun to see Buffy's sword had burst into flames.

"By my Eyes, it can't be…" He watched as a fiery Pheonix engulfed the sword, then disappeared. Thor smiled, wide. "She is back." He said. He sun back to Baldur. "She has returned. Alert the Guardian, quickly. Go." Baldur ran out the door, unable to hide the grin quickly spreading across his own face. He had never met the Slayer, but he knew she was a great warrior. And now more than ever, a great warrior was needed.

Thor himself remained where he was, his smile wider than he thought possible. "Welcome home, my friend."

High above Sunnydale.

Dawn looked over the edge of her Lookout, a gift form the Kais. "After all, where else can a Guardian hang her hat?" The North Kai said. Where indeed?

A burst of energy broke her from her reverie, followed by another, more heat than energy. Then Baldur appeared behind her.

"Lady Dawn!" He said excitedly. "Lady Dawn!"

"Baldur, take it easy." She said. She had never known the Asgardian to be so excited.

"It's her, my Lady!" He said. "She's back! I saw the sword go myself." Dawn froze.

"She's…" She leapt in the air. "YES! I knew it!" She laughed. "Finally, it's time. Thankyou for bringing the news Baldur." She said, finally able to regain control. "You'll have to excuse me, I have some preparations to make." The Asgardian bowed, and then left to spread the news. She was back. Buffy was back.

Let evil shudder, the Dragon Slayer had returned.

Canada.

She moved quietly and effortlessly through the woods. "She's over here." She heard. The girl grinned. Wrong way, asswipe, she thought. She watched as he moved in front of her. She snuck up behind him, weapon ready.

"If your the best Weapon X has to send after me, they're never gonna catch me." She said, pressing the blade against his throat. "Walk away, and don't come after me again, or you're gonna spend the rest of yer life trying to put yer guts back in, understand?" The soldier nodded. "Good. Leave." She released the soldier and watched him run. She chuckled. These creeps never learn.

"Joyce, head for the border." Joyce Summers, mutant, Vampire Slayer and bearer of the Witchblade looked up.

"What is it, Aunty Dawn?" She asked. "I'm having trouble with…"

"She's back! Buffy's back!" Joyce stopped dead in her tricks.

"My…mom…" She turned, heading for her dad's Harley. "I'm on my way."

Westchester.

Jubilee sighed as she walked into the hanger. The old school had certainly seen better days. But then, so had the world.

She drew a hand along the Blackbird. "You and me go a ways back, don't we?" She said. "Still can't believe Charlie retired you for those new fangled X-Jets. Well, at least we know which one would work now, hey?" She liked coming here to think. It held good memories of friends lost.

Like Logan and Buffy.

"No time for reminiscing, Jubes. You owe me a fifty." Dawn's voice echoed through her mind.

"Yeah, like that'd…" She stopped. The only time she had ever had a bet with Dawn was about Buffy. If Dawn's asking for the fifty, then… "Are you telling me…?"

"She's back. Seattle, as close as I can gather. You'll need to swing by Canada to pick Joyce up." Jubes grinned.

"I'm on it." She said, making pre flight preparations on the Blackbird.

Los Angeles.

Kitty ducked under the stroke as the Immortal came after her again. She brought her sword up, its ebon blade humming with mystic energy. She spun, her foot catching her opponent in the gut. He doubled over, giving her time to take his head.

Angel ran over to her as the last of the other Immortals Quickening went into his beloved. "I hate when you do that." He said.

"You and me both." Kitty said. Angel helped her to her feet. The Shadowsword had, once again, disappeared.

"Kitty, Angel, good news." Dawn sent suddenly. "She's back."

"Who is?" Angel asked.

"Buffy. She's in Seattle." Angel looked at Kitty.

"Finally." The Immortal said. "Connors already in Seattle." Angel nodded.

"I'll let him know." Angel said.

"Joyce and Jubes are already on the way." Dawn said. Angel looked at Kitty again. As much as he loved her, with all his soul, there would always be a part of him that wondered what might have happened.

"We'll be there as soon as possible." He said.

"Right." Kitty walked up to him.

"You alright?" She asked. Angel shook his head.

"We need to get to Seattle." He said. "She's going to need us when she finds out about Logan."

Seattle.

Buffy stirred and opened her eyes. She was no longer in Sunnydale, but that wasn't the first thing she noticed. Neither was the fact that she was in a wharehouse. The first thing she noticed was that she couldn't feel Logan anymore.

She sat there for what seemed like hours, trying to find him. Since the Phoenix had used her to defeat the Dragon, she had always been able to sense Logan, a little something in the back of her brain. Now, there was nothing.

"Where is he?" She whispered. "Why can't I feel him? Logan, where are you?" She curled up into a ball. "Logan…"

"Buffy!" Dawn's voice broke through her sadness. "Buffy, can you hear me?" Buffy raised her head.

"Dawn?" She couldn't believe it was her little sister. She sounded…older. "Dawn, is that you?"

"Buffy, it is you." Dawn said excitedly. "Thank God, I have been so worried. It's been seventeen years…"

"What?" Buffy stood. "Seventeen…Dawn, where's Logan? Why can't I feel him? What do you mean 'seventeen years'?"

"Buffy, you disappeared seventeen years ago. Belasco thought he killed you, and so'd everyone else. Except me."

"What about Logan?" Buffy demanded. "Dawn I can't feel him."

"Logan's dead. He died a while back. Buffy, I'm sorry." Buffy fell back to the ground, shaking her head in disbelief.

"No, it can't be." She whispered. "We were supposed to get married, raise our daughter. We were supposed to get a happily ever after. Why did this happen?"

"I don't know, but we will fix it somehow. I've already got some back up on the way. I'll sort something out, Buffy. I'll get you back somehow, trust me."

"I do." Buffy said. "It's just…wait a sec, back up? Who?"

"Oh, you know the usual suspects. Jubes, Angel, Kitty. Connor's already in Seattle, he's almost there."

"Whoa, time out. Connor? Angel's kid?" Buffy couldn't believe it. "How's he look?"

"Buffy, behave. Beside, he's totally taken by Joyce."

"Joyce? My daughter, alive?" Buffy felt hope returning. "How? What's she like?"

"Find out yourself. She's coming with Jubilee." Buffy felt like doing back flips. Her daughter was alive. And on her way. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a car outside. She walked outside and watched as a brown haired teen climbed out of the black car. He went to pull a bag out of the back when he noticed her.

"Please tell me your not Buffy Summers." He said. Buffy grinned.

"Sorry to disappoint you but yeah, I am." She held her hand out as he walked around the car to meet her.

"Damn." He said. "Dad never told me you were this cute. At least now I know where Joyce gets her looks." Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"Connor?" The teen nodded. "You have grown up. Last time I saw you, you were still crapping in a nappy." Connor turned red. "At least you've learnt how to blush. Your old man never did get that." Connor laughed.

"Yeah, that's true enough. C'mon, you…" He stopped as something blazed in the sky behind Buffy. "What the hell is that?" Buffy turned and gasped as she recognised the shape of a firebird coming towards them. She held out her hand and the bird wrapped itself around her hand. "Whoa."

"Hello, old friend." Buffy whispered. The bird cried out, then faded, giving way to a sword. "Welcome home."

"Nice trick." Connor said as buffy slipped her sword into the scabbard still at her side. "Kitty and Dad told me about your sword. Said that'd be the sure way of telling you are who you say you are." He opened the car door for her. "C'mon, we'd better get out of here. Before anything else happens."

She watched as the boy showed the young woman into the car. That trick with the sword was pretty cool she had to admit that. She thought a moment. A sword in a bird of fire why did that sound so familiar…

Her thoughts were interrupted by her mobile phone. "Hit me."

"Max, we've got problems." Max grimaced slightly.

"What is it this time, Logan?" She asked. "An orphanage getting sold to project developers?"

"I wish it were that simple." Logan Cale, secretly the pirate broadcaster Eyes Only, said. "Alec just walked in with Joshua."

"Joshua? Is he all right? What happened?" Joshua, the first experiment of Project Manticore, was also one of Max's few friends.

"They almost found him." Logan told her. "If Alec hadn't followed them…" Logan didn't need to finish the sentence.

"I'm on my way." She said.

"Are you all right?" Logan asked. "You sound distracted." Max looked down at where the car had been.

"I'll tell you when I get there." She said. "Definitely something you need to hear face to face."

"All right, just be careful."

"Aren't I always?" She asked before hanging up. She looked down one more time, and then disappeared into the night.

"Well, this is it." Connor said as they walked into his apartment. "Not much, I know, but I've got no complaints." Buffy looked around. It was small, almost cosy. Two bedrooms and lots of photos.

"Its fine, Connor." She said. "Thanks for letting me stay." The teen shrugged.

"Don't sweat it." He said. "Dad always went on about you. Best Slayer ever, he says. It's a pleasure, and besides, Joyce'd kill me if I let her mom wander around Seattle without a guide." Buffy laughed at that, and picked up a photo. It was Connor, cuddled up to a girl about his age.

"Is this…?" Connor looked at the photo.

"Yeah, that's Joyce." He said as Buffy placed back on the shelf. "That's about two months ago. She took off afterwards. Something she had to handle." Buffy nodded and looked through the other photos. Her jaw dropped as her eye's fell on one photo in particular.

"Oh my…" She picked up the photo. It was of her and the old gang, Angel and Oz included. "Where did you get this?"

"Dad had it lying around." Connor said. "He said I could hold onto it. Why?" Buffy grinned, pointing to herself in the photo.

"This is the old gang, when Angel was hanging around us." She said. "Feels like lifetimes since that photo was taken. What happened here anyway? It looks like…the bad guys won."

"Close enough to it." Connor said. "Few years back, some terrorists let off a nuke just outside the earths atmosphere, to far out for the radiation to do any damage. All this was caused by the Pulse."

"Pulse?" Connor nodded.

"When the bomb went off, it released an Electro Magnetic Pulse that wiped out every computer system in America. Bank records, criminal records, everything gone." He explained. "It's taken us this long to get this far. There's no telling how long it will take to fix everything, and even then, nothing will be the same." He shook his head. "Dad, Kitty and some others have been running around trying to keep the demon population down, but something's coming. I'm glad your back. Believe me, we need all the help we can get." Buffy looked out the window. A shattered world, the demons getting ready for something big and she just happens to show up?

"Let's get started, then." She said. Connor turned to her. "This is just a little too neat and tidy for me to count it as a coincidence." She turned back to him. Her eyes were lit up and there was a strange smile on her face. "I've been out of circulation for seventeen years. It's time to remind the bad guys who's in charge." She looked over at the photo again. "But maybe not alone…" Connor grinned, reaching for his mobile.

"They set something up in case you wanted to get the band back together, a message system." He said, handing it to her. Buffy took a breath and punched in a message.

"So, what now?" She asked. Connor took the phone. He read the message before dialling the number. Avengers Assemble, huh? It fit.

"Now we wait." He said. "Unless you want to get started."

"What do you think?" She asked. "Let's move, kid."

That's that. Next the Scooby reunion. But much has changed. Be ready for some of my trade mark weird pairings.

Stay Tuned.

Doc.