Kai rolled out the map of Sunnydale. All eyes seemed to be on her as she
carefully opened a pouch at her side, and took out six different colored
stones. One for each of the four portals of god, as she had explained
earlier.
"These stones come from the places each portal is located" she raised her hand above he map and dropped the rocks. Immediately they were drawn to six different spots on the map.
"That's so weird."
"They're naturally drawn to the place where they originated from, I just modified them to fit the map."
"So we just take our pick of which thing we want to go through, very interesting." Giles stated.
"Correct, point to which one and It'll take you there immediately."
"All up to you G-man." Xander grinned.
"Do not call be that wretched name, Alexander." Kai suddenly froze.
"I'd make your choice fast." She grabbed the hilt of the sword.
"I'm getting some bad vibes."
"What about Dawn?" Buffy asked immediately.
"I can set up a barrier around the house, the only thing that would get through it would be Sasseri if Dawn were to invite him in." Kai said, opening another pouch and taking out a single petal from a cherry blossom.
"A flower?" Willow asked.
"It's from Htrae, watch." Kai pinched it between her thumb and forefinger, and then tilted it so it was facing up. Her fingers were in a sort of 'O.K.' position and she raised the blossom closer to her mouth. She took a big gulp and blew.
Immediately the petal began o glow a pink light before more and more petals began to float about the room. Kai folded her hands neatly and closed her eyes.
"Kaerb!" she quickly separated her hands the petals shot about, going through the walls, like they were just holograms. From outside a pink light penetrated everything and then a nearly invisible pink shield was seen from out the window a second later.
"Very impressive." Giles commented, cleaning his glasses.
"Ugh, warn me next time." Xander complained, wiping at his eyes.
"What about the sun in your world?"
"No worries, sun don't hurt vampires in our world." Kai grinned cheekily at Spike.
"You were scared, ne?"
"Was not."
"Were too."
"Was not."
"Were too Poof."
"Half breed."
"Pi."
"O.k., we get it. You two don't like each other. Can we go before Dawn wakes up?" Buffy folded her arms over her chest.
"Sorry Slayer."
"Sorry." Kai straightened and cleared her throat.
"I say we go to the closest one, the one of fire. But I warn you the trip there is um.. how to put it.."
"Like a roller coaster?" Xander offered.
"Roller Coaster?" Kai said, trying the foreign words out on her tongue in utter bafflement.
"We'll explain later." Kai glared at the now snickering Spike.
"Yes, quite. Now, Willow, do you have your spell book?"
"Yes Giles."
"Then we're ready, please, do lead the way Kai." Kai grinned and extended her pointer finger.
"Alright, just touch the same stone I do and shout out Fire, or Erif, kay?"
"Right, let's go." Kai grinned and dramatically put her finger on the red stone.
"Erif!' a blue flame surrounded her and she gave a little shout as she was drawn into the stone, and was gone.
"Bloody hell!" Giles furiously cleaned his glasses. Buffy sighed, braced herself and touched the stone.
"Fire!" the same blue fire surrounded her as she was slowly pulled into the stone.
"Are you sure about this Giles? I have my doubts.." willow began but was cut off by Spike yelling 'Fire' and being pulled into the stone.
"Go on Wills." Xander gave her two thumbs up. Willow tensed her muscles and touched the stone.
"Fire!" she was engulfed in the flames and gave a little scream.
"Your turn Alexander."
"R-Right.." Xander gulped and touched the stone.
"Fire!" He gave a small start when he was engulfed in the flames and pulls. Giles rubbed the bridge of his nose and touched the stone.
"Fire!" And then he too was engulfed in flames.
Around the corner a pair of eyes had been watching. Those eyes belonged to no other than Dawn herself.
"I'll wait, and then I'll follow them." she said to herself and stood by the table where the map and stones were. She waited six minutes before cautiously touching the stone and shouting the word needed.
As soon as she was gone, the house was enveloped in eerie quiet.
*
Xander groaned and opened his eyes.
"Oh man, what a ride." He got up and then helped Giles up too. Spike and Buffy were standing and Willow too was just getting up. Kai was trying not to laugh at then he guessed because she was red in the face and her hand was in front of her face.
"Oh god your guys' faces were priceless!" She laughed and then sobered, taking a rope from her side.
"Alright, I need you all to tie yourselves to this so we don't get separated, o.k.?"
A few choice words were muttered by a certain vampire, but none-the-less, they all tied themselves to the rope. Kai took the front and tpok something else form her belt, talking all the while.
"I'm going to open the gateway, brace yourselves." She took more flowers from her pouch.
"To frilly." Spike muttered as Kai began to spread the flowers out in a line about five feet long.
"Earth!" the flowers glowed blue, "Htrae!" The flowers glowed Black. "Open to Zircon!"
"Shibby!' was all that came out of Xander's mouth as a door opened, swirling a combination of black and cerulean waves. Kai turned back to them, her eyes a little narrower and fangs a little longer, now visible out of the corners of her mouth, she looked animalistic. She delicately grabbed onto the rope. And stared back at the chasm.
"There is no turning back after this. Each of you must say the words, 'I am willing, let me pass' before going in. Abandon now if you can not handle it."
"Pfft! I've seen scary things than this! Lead on foxy lady!" Xander grinned ruefully.
"Not a soddin whelp."
"Lead on." Buffy said neutrally and she heard Willow take a gasp, then looked to see her nodding, Giles just gave her a look.
"But so be it, if Dawn suffers I will-"
"Do not worry yourself over that slayer, my shield WILL hold! Let's go!" Kai turned to the opening. On her face, determination.
'I am willing! Let me pass!" a dark black aurora enveloped her, it had blue tendrils going through it and she calmly began walking through, tugging the rest along.
"I am willing, let me pass!" Buffy was surrounded in a dark blue aurora as she went through.
".I am willing! Let me pass!" Willow was engulfed in a dark green, and she too stepped through.
"I am willing, let me pass!" Xander did his impression of superman, and was promptly engulfed in a yellow aurora and pulled through. Spike considered going game face, but didn't and stared at the gate.
"I am willing, let me pass." He growled and was engulfed in pitch black, and thrust into the void. Giles paused.
"I am willing let me pass!" a regal purple enveloped him and he was thrust in the void and the door began to slowly close.
All six of them soon found themselves falling through purple mist. Lightening crashed all around them and it was very moist. Suddenly, one by one, they hit the ground, which was covered in the thick moss. A thin mist covered the ground and the air pressure was a bit thinner than normal, making them wonder if they landed up on a mountain.
"Did everyone make it?" Kai asked gruffly.
"The Xand-man is all in one piece!" Xander called out with a grin. Several groans were heard, along with one 'bloody hell'.
Slowly, all of them came together and they untied themselves. Kai grinned.
"It's so dim.." Willow said, looking around. A few trees covered in moss and vines were all around them.
"Welcome to Htrae, you are in Zircon!" Kai laughed ears twitching around, listening to every sound.
"This is it? Was 'xpectin more out of ya.. " Kai glared at Spike.
"No, this is NOT it! We are on the hill of Sardonic!" she said curtly.
"Follow me if you want the real view." Slowly, she began off and they warily followed her.
"How peculiar." Giles said, looking around in awe.
"You haven't seen nothing yet Giles." Kai grinned and stopped at a ledge.
"Have yourself a gander." Buffy was first, and soon everyone was looking in awe. The sun was about to rise on a misty land. The grass bellow was covered in dew. Small houses stood out in the distance, and then a large castle was a little ways off. Dirt roads ran like serpents over the earth and a few wagons were about.
Xander whistled in appreciation.
"Feels great to be home." Kai said from behind them, she sounded busy? Slowly they turned to face her, and found her rummaging through a dense part of the woods on the right side.
"I know I left the damn thing around here somewhere! Ah here!" she swiftly disappeared into the brush and there was a loud rumbling. Buffy got into fighting stance and Xander got ready to defend as well. Spike automatically went game face, his nerves already on wit's end.
"Be ready Buffy."
"I know Giles." But suddenly a very strange machine came out. Kai waved to them from the steering wheel in the back. They could only stare at the strange machine in confusion.
"What the hell is THAT?" Xander asked, eyebrows raised.
"I'm.. I'm not sure Xander." Willow said unsteadily, starring at the thing as it sidled up to them. There were a few steps and the floor was polished board. It actually looked like a boat!
It had two parallel sides, about 6 meters long and four meters apart. Two meters in the front started and angle and met in the middle where the point had been rounded. In the back there was some steps and then a podium with a steering wheel, for in the back there was a rudder. The bottom was also built like a boat and it curled down, making a one-foot rudder. On the side there was something painted in some ancient text or what not.
They could only stare stupefied at the machine before them, for it was floating about a foot and a half off the ground!
"Are you just going to gawk or are you going to get on?" Kai asked, getting a bit irritable.
"Is that thing safe Giles?" Willow asked. Giles blinked and cleaned his glasses.
"I am not sure, Willow. But, we have put our faith in Kai thus far, a recommend we do thus so." Giles smiled kindly at Kai who beamed and gave him two thumbs ups. She got down from the podium and opened a door, throwing down a small rope ladder. She gently helped pull Giles up and smiled.
"Since you proved yourself not to be chicken you get your first choice for a seat." She pointed to the floor, which was littered with pillows in choice places.
Buffy was up next, followed by Willow, Xander, and then Spike.
Giles took a seat at one of the corners, Buffy by him Xander resting near the steps, willow in between the two groups, and Spike continued to be his usual broody sell so he was alone in the other corner.
Kai reclaimed her place at the wheel.
"Well, this is your captain, Captain K, speaking. Would you like the nice, quiet, boring, trip to the castle or would you like the one that scares the living daylights out of ogres?" Kai asked dramatically.
"The nice bor-" Willow started.
"Pfft! We can handle anything a wanker like you could dish out!" Spike said with a glare and a flash of his fangs. Kai's grin turned almost devilish.
"Great! I hate the boring one!"
"Spike!"
"Wot?"
Here we go!" Kai grinned and turned the machine on full, turning it around and backing up a few yards.
"Hold onto your stomachs!" Willow grabbed a hold of Xander, her eyes wide.
"Oh bloody hell! You're not seriously thinking of-" Kai grinned and revved the engine.
"Prepare to take back your comment vamp boy!" Kai let out a whoop as she pushed it full speed and went flying over the cliff! The sensation was much like a VERY large and VERY fast roller coaster, and the aircraft when at a very fast decent.
"BLOODY HELL!" Giles yelled, clutching onto the side of the aircraft, his knuckles white. Buffy's face was just priceless, Willow was screaming bloody murder, Xander was having the time of his life, and Spike was cursing up a storm. Kai was just laughing her ass off and they landed with only a considerable jarring.
"What the bloody hell were you thinking?!" Giles demanded, flustered.
"I wasn't thinking anything except that it would be fun to see Mr. Macho over there loosen up a bit." Kai grinned and stuck her tongue out between her fangs. Spike indignantly did the same.
"Children! Can we PLEASE not argue."
"I'm not a soddin child Slayer!"
"Neither am I!"
"QUIET!" Everyone stared at Willow, the airboat even stopped!
"That's better. Kai, don't EVER do that again!" Kai just nodded, grinning.
"O.k., that's enough fun I guess. Who's up for a nice boring ride?"
Several hands rose.
"Fine.. fine.."
TBC
"These stones come from the places each portal is located" she raised her hand above he map and dropped the rocks. Immediately they were drawn to six different spots on the map.
"That's so weird."
"They're naturally drawn to the place where they originated from, I just modified them to fit the map."
"So we just take our pick of which thing we want to go through, very interesting." Giles stated.
"Correct, point to which one and It'll take you there immediately."
"All up to you G-man." Xander grinned.
"Do not call be that wretched name, Alexander." Kai suddenly froze.
"I'd make your choice fast." She grabbed the hilt of the sword.
"I'm getting some bad vibes."
"What about Dawn?" Buffy asked immediately.
"I can set up a barrier around the house, the only thing that would get through it would be Sasseri if Dawn were to invite him in." Kai said, opening another pouch and taking out a single petal from a cherry blossom.
"A flower?" Willow asked.
"It's from Htrae, watch." Kai pinched it between her thumb and forefinger, and then tilted it so it was facing up. Her fingers were in a sort of 'O.K.' position and she raised the blossom closer to her mouth. She took a big gulp and blew.
Immediately the petal began o glow a pink light before more and more petals began to float about the room. Kai folded her hands neatly and closed her eyes.
"Kaerb!" she quickly separated her hands the petals shot about, going through the walls, like they were just holograms. From outside a pink light penetrated everything and then a nearly invisible pink shield was seen from out the window a second later.
"Very impressive." Giles commented, cleaning his glasses.
"Ugh, warn me next time." Xander complained, wiping at his eyes.
"What about the sun in your world?"
"No worries, sun don't hurt vampires in our world." Kai grinned cheekily at Spike.
"You were scared, ne?"
"Was not."
"Were too."
"Was not."
"Were too Poof."
"Half breed."
"Pi."
"O.k., we get it. You two don't like each other. Can we go before Dawn wakes up?" Buffy folded her arms over her chest.
"Sorry Slayer."
"Sorry." Kai straightened and cleared her throat.
"I say we go to the closest one, the one of fire. But I warn you the trip there is um.. how to put it.."
"Like a roller coaster?" Xander offered.
"Roller Coaster?" Kai said, trying the foreign words out on her tongue in utter bafflement.
"We'll explain later." Kai glared at the now snickering Spike.
"Yes, quite. Now, Willow, do you have your spell book?"
"Yes Giles."
"Then we're ready, please, do lead the way Kai." Kai grinned and extended her pointer finger.
"Alright, just touch the same stone I do and shout out Fire, or Erif, kay?"
"Right, let's go." Kai grinned and dramatically put her finger on the red stone.
"Erif!' a blue flame surrounded her and she gave a little shout as she was drawn into the stone, and was gone.
"Bloody hell!" Giles furiously cleaned his glasses. Buffy sighed, braced herself and touched the stone.
"Fire!" the same blue fire surrounded her as she was slowly pulled into the stone.
"Are you sure about this Giles? I have my doubts.." willow began but was cut off by Spike yelling 'Fire' and being pulled into the stone.
"Go on Wills." Xander gave her two thumbs up. Willow tensed her muscles and touched the stone.
"Fire!" she was engulfed in the flames and gave a little scream.
"Your turn Alexander."
"R-Right.." Xander gulped and touched the stone.
"Fire!" He gave a small start when he was engulfed in the flames and pulls. Giles rubbed the bridge of his nose and touched the stone.
"Fire!" And then he too was engulfed in flames.
Around the corner a pair of eyes had been watching. Those eyes belonged to no other than Dawn herself.
"I'll wait, and then I'll follow them." she said to herself and stood by the table where the map and stones were. She waited six minutes before cautiously touching the stone and shouting the word needed.
As soon as she was gone, the house was enveloped in eerie quiet.
*
Xander groaned and opened his eyes.
"Oh man, what a ride." He got up and then helped Giles up too. Spike and Buffy were standing and Willow too was just getting up. Kai was trying not to laugh at then he guessed because she was red in the face and her hand was in front of her face.
"Oh god your guys' faces were priceless!" She laughed and then sobered, taking a rope from her side.
"Alright, I need you all to tie yourselves to this so we don't get separated, o.k.?"
A few choice words were muttered by a certain vampire, but none-the-less, they all tied themselves to the rope. Kai took the front and tpok something else form her belt, talking all the while.
"I'm going to open the gateway, brace yourselves." She took more flowers from her pouch.
"To frilly." Spike muttered as Kai began to spread the flowers out in a line about five feet long.
"Earth!" the flowers glowed blue, "Htrae!" The flowers glowed Black. "Open to Zircon!"
"Shibby!' was all that came out of Xander's mouth as a door opened, swirling a combination of black and cerulean waves. Kai turned back to them, her eyes a little narrower and fangs a little longer, now visible out of the corners of her mouth, she looked animalistic. She delicately grabbed onto the rope. And stared back at the chasm.
"There is no turning back after this. Each of you must say the words, 'I am willing, let me pass' before going in. Abandon now if you can not handle it."
"Pfft! I've seen scary things than this! Lead on foxy lady!" Xander grinned ruefully.
"Not a soddin whelp."
"Lead on." Buffy said neutrally and she heard Willow take a gasp, then looked to see her nodding, Giles just gave her a look.
"But so be it, if Dawn suffers I will-"
"Do not worry yourself over that slayer, my shield WILL hold! Let's go!" Kai turned to the opening. On her face, determination.
'I am willing! Let me pass!" a dark black aurora enveloped her, it had blue tendrils going through it and she calmly began walking through, tugging the rest along.
"I am willing, let me pass!" Buffy was surrounded in a dark blue aurora as she went through.
".I am willing! Let me pass!" Willow was engulfed in a dark green, and she too stepped through.
"I am willing, let me pass!" Xander did his impression of superman, and was promptly engulfed in a yellow aurora and pulled through. Spike considered going game face, but didn't and stared at the gate.
"I am willing, let me pass." He growled and was engulfed in pitch black, and thrust into the void. Giles paused.
"I am willing let me pass!" a regal purple enveloped him and he was thrust in the void and the door began to slowly close.
All six of them soon found themselves falling through purple mist. Lightening crashed all around them and it was very moist. Suddenly, one by one, they hit the ground, which was covered in the thick moss. A thin mist covered the ground and the air pressure was a bit thinner than normal, making them wonder if they landed up on a mountain.
"Did everyone make it?" Kai asked gruffly.
"The Xand-man is all in one piece!" Xander called out with a grin. Several groans were heard, along with one 'bloody hell'.
Slowly, all of them came together and they untied themselves. Kai grinned.
"It's so dim.." Willow said, looking around. A few trees covered in moss and vines were all around them.
"Welcome to Htrae, you are in Zircon!" Kai laughed ears twitching around, listening to every sound.
"This is it? Was 'xpectin more out of ya.. " Kai glared at Spike.
"No, this is NOT it! We are on the hill of Sardonic!" she said curtly.
"Follow me if you want the real view." Slowly, she began off and they warily followed her.
"How peculiar." Giles said, looking around in awe.
"You haven't seen nothing yet Giles." Kai grinned and stopped at a ledge.
"Have yourself a gander." Buffy was first, and soon everyone was looking in awe. The sun was about to rise on a misty land. The grass bellow was covered in dew. Small houses stood out in the distance, and then a large castle was a little ways off. Dirt roads ran like serpents over the earth and a few wagons were about.
Xander whistled in appreciation.
"Feels great to be home." Kai said from behind them, she sounded busy? Slowly they turned to face her, and found her rummaging through a dense part of the woods on the right side.
"I know I left the damn thing around here somewhere! Ah here!" she swiftly disappeared into the brush and there was a loud rumbling. Buffy got into fighting stance and Xander got ready to defend as well. Spike automatically went game face, his nerves already on wit's end.
"Be ready Buffy."
"I know Giles." But suddenly a very strange machine came out. Kai waved to them from the steering wheel in the back. They could only stare at the strange machine in confusion.
"What the hell is THAT?" Xander asked, eyebrows raised.
"I'm.. I'm not sure Xander." Willow said unsteadily, starring at the thing as it sidled up to them. There were a few steps and the floor was polished board. It actually looked like a boat!
It had two parallel sides, about 6 meters long and four meters apart. Two meters in the front started and angle and met in the middle where the point had been rounded. In the back there was some steps and then a podium with a steering wheel, for in the back there was a rudder. The bottom was also built like a boat and it curled down, making a one-foot rudder. On the side there was something painted in some ancient text or what not.
They could only stare stupefied at the machine before them, for it was floating about a foot and a half off the ground!
"Are you just going to gawk or are you going to get on?" Kai asked, getting a bit irritable.
"Is that thing safe Giles?" Willow asked. Giles blinked and cleaned his glasses.
"I am not sure, Willow. But, we have put our faith in Kai thus far, a recommend we do thus so." Giles smiled kindly at Kai who beamed and gave him two thumbs ups. She got down from the podium and opened a door, throwing down a small rope ladder. She gently helped pull Giles up and smiled.
"Since you proved yourself not to be chicken you get your first choice for a seat." She pointed to the floor, which was littered with pillows in choice places.
Buffy was up next, followed by Willow, Xander, and then Spike.
Giles took a seat at one of the corners, Buffy by him Xander resting near the steps, willow in between the two groups, and Spike continued to be his usual broody sell so he was alone in the other corner.
Kai reclaimed her place at the wheel.
"Well, this is your captain, Captain K, speaking. Would you like the nice, quiet, boring, trip to the castle or would you like the one that scares the living daylights out of ogres?" Kai asked dramatically.
"The nice bor-" Willow started.
"Pfft! We can handle anything a wanker like you could dish out!" Spike said with a glare and a flash of his fangs. Kai's grin turned almost devilish.
"Great! I hate the boring one!"
"Spike!"
"Wot?"
Here we go!" Kai grinned and turned the machine on full, turning it around and backing up a few yards.
"Hold onto your stomachs!" Willow grabbed a hold of Xander, her eyes wide.
"Oh bloody hell! You're not seriously thinking of-" Kai grinned and revved the engine.
"Prepare to take back your comment vamp boy!" Kai let out a whoop as she pushed it full speed and went flying over the cliff! The sensation was much like a VERY large and VERY fast roller coaster, and the aircraft when at a very fast decent.
"BLOODY HELL!" Giles yelled, clutching onto the side of the aircraft, his knuckles white. Buffy's face was just priceless, Willow was screaming bloody murder, Xander was having the time of his life, and Spike was cursing up a storm. Kai was just laughing her ass off and they landed with only a considerable jarring.
"What the bloody hell were you thinking?!" Giles demanded, flustered.
"I wasn't thinking anything except that it would be fun to see Mr. Macho over there loosen up a bit." Kai grinned and stuck her tongue out between her fangs. Spike indignantly did the same.
"Children! Can we PLEASE not argue."
"I'm not a soddin child Slayer!"
"Neither am I!"
"QUIET!" Everyone stared at Willow, the airboat even stopped!
"That's better. Kai, don't EVER do that again!" Kai just nodded, grinning.
"O.k., that's enough fun I guess. Who's up for a nice boring ride?"
Several hands rose.
"Fine.. fine.."
TBC