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.).
Sunnydale.
Xander Harris looked around at the broken remains of Sunnydale High. It had been rebuilt since Graduation Day, and the battle against the Mayor, but it hadn't lasted long, especially after the Pulse. He looked at the young girl beside him. "So, you ready?" She looked up at him.
"I don't know." She said. "I mean, what if I screw up? This is the Hellmouth, you know? I stuff this, it's game over." Xander shook his head.
"Your the Slayer." He said to his young charge. "This is what you do, and you don't have much time to do it in." He looked at his watch. "Two hours, to be exact." She rolled her eyes.
"Great, plenty of time." She said. "So what are you going to do while I'm rising my neck, watch?" Xander chuckled. She had spirit and, he had to admit, she was so much like Buffy it was scary.
"I know a lot of Watchers still send their Slayers in alone." He said. "But not me. Fighting along side Buffy for so long, I realize the Slayers need more than just information. Don't worry kid; I've got your back."
"Thanks." Xander's phone beeped. He pulled it out. "What's that, instructions?" The girl watched as a smile spread across Xander's face. "Hey, Xand, what's the stitch?" Xander read the message over and over.
"Avengers Assemble." He muttered, putting the phone back in his pocket. "Let's finish this quickly. We have to head to Seattle."
"Something big." The Slayer asked. Xander nodded, unable to stop smiling.
"Yeah." He said. "Something big." Brilliant timing Buff, he thought as they moved in.
England.
"Okay, if you follow this tunnel, you should get to the main nest." The voice came over his headset. Blade walked forward, gun ready. Ever since the pulse, the vamps around here had been a little more active. It was his job to convince them to back off.
"So how big are we talking?" He asked.
"Shouldn't be to much more than you can handle." The voice said. Blade moved into the main cavern, guns blazing. He looked around. Looks like he…
"Shit!" He said, diving back around the corner. "I thought you said I could handle it."
"Oops."
"Oops?" Blade said, releasing another spray of silver bullets. "You walk me into a holiday home for suck heads and all you can say is 'oops'?" He put his guns away and pulled out his sword. "Damn your lucky I was bored, Willow." The red headed witch winced as Blade move forward.
"Sorry, Blade." She said. "I was going on the activity around. It suggests a whole lot less then what there is." Blade muttered some choice oaths as he took the heads of several vamps. He threw his boomerang, eliminating several more. "I'll call the cavalry." She said.
"I'd prefer the National Guard, Wills." Blade said.
"Sorry, mate." A cockney voice said over his headset. "I hope we'll do."
"Just do your job, Spike." Willow ordered.
"Yes ma'am, Red Baroness, ma'am." Spike said with his trademark grin, dropping in on the vamps. "Now, which of you boys wants to start?" One vamp smashed him across the face. He doubled over, and then came up almost straight away, game face in place. "That's it? Here, let me show you how it's done." He was so concentrated on the vampire in front of him, that he didn't see the one behind him.
Luckily, Riley did.
He brought the rifle up and sent a bullet smashing through the vamps skull. "Watch your back, seventeen. I can't save your ass all night."
"The names Spike, soldier boy." He said. "Get it right." He shoved a stake into his opponent's heart, and then went looking for another.
"I wish they'd at least try to get along." Willow muttered.
"They are, Willow." Dru said from behind her. In the years since showing up, souled, on Spikes doorstep, she had managed to regain at least a semblance of her sanity. "If they weren't, they'd be fighting each other instead of the vampire."
"I guess." She said. Her mobile phone began beeping. "What the hell could…" Her eyes widened as she read the message. "I…can't believe it. Blade!"
"I'm working." He said.
"Work faster, lover." Willow said. "I just got a message. Buffy's back and she needs our help."
"Bloody hell." Spike said. "Doesn't that chit know how to stay dead?" He smiled to himself. Actually, it was about time she decided to get her ass back here. Life just wasn't the same without The Slayer making his life hell.
Riley kept his cool, externally anyway. Internally, he was a mess. The last time he had seen Buffy it had been after she had freed him from the Dragon. He had never really gotten over her. Now maybe, just maybe, he had a chance to set things straight. He turned around, planting his last explosive. "I'm done." He said, climbing back out the hole he had entered. Spike through his explosive at the designated spot.
"Can I leave now?" He said, heading for the entrance of the cave. Blade grimaced. Sure, one was a vamp, and they were total pains in the ass, but they did good work. He reached for a UV grenade.
"So long suckers." He said, throwing the grenade and pulling back. He heard the grenade go off, reducing the vamps to dust. "I'm clear."
"Got it." Dru said, hitting the detonator. Blade watched as the entire mountainside collapsed.
"All right." Blade said. "Let's go see what her excuse is."
Sydney.
"You heard me, mate. Hand over yer wallet." The mugger said. The man just stood there, unmoving.
"What if I don't want to?" He said. The mugger grinned, pulling out his knife. "Oh. Well, if that's the case…" Suddenly, he began to change. His face began to shift, growing fur and fangs. His eyes took on a yellow tint and his hands began resembling paws. Claws grew from his fingers, and fur sprouted up his arms. He bent over slightly, his eyes still on the mugger. "You still want my wallet?" He growled. The mugger dropped his knife and ran. The werewolf reverted back to his human form, looking up at the sun above him. It was still hard, but his control was a lot better than it was.
"Are ye done scaring th' locals, Oz?" A read headed Irish woman said, rounding the corner.
"Ah, come on, Rahne." Oz said. "He asked for it."
"Be that as it may, I dinnae teach ye how tae control the Beast so ye could scare muggers." The mutant lycanthrope said. Oz sidled up to her.
"I'm sorry." He said, nuzzling up to her neck. "I was just…" He growled as his mobile went off. "This had better be bloody well…" He stopped as he saw the message. Avengers Assemble. "Buffy." He muttered. Rahne looked at the message.
"It'll take us a while tae make our way tae Seattle." She said.
"Doesn't matter how long it takes." Oz said. "I'm not letting them down again." Wolfsbane smiled up at her mate.
"Aright, luv." She whispered. "If it's important tae ye, we'll go." Oz bent down, kissing her on the lips.
"Have I told you how much I love you lately?" He asked.
"Aye, but that dinnae mean ye should stop."
So there you go. My trade mark weird pairings. I'm sure there'll be plenty of questions. All I can say is hang on. You'll get your answers eventually. Next up, Buffy meets her daughter.
Stay Tuned.
Doc.