A/N : Wow, has it really been two weeks since I last updated this? Oh well, new chapter here for you now, although I should warn you that there will only be one more chapter after this and then maybe an epilogue, but the end is near! Thanx to everyone who reviewed, it really does mean a lot. Hope you like this chapter and apologies in advance cos the end is kind of cliff-hanger-ish, but I'll try to get the end chapter and epilogue done and posted asap (as well as the last few chapters of The Guy Next Door for those who are reading that too)
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)
Chapter 20 - Slayer Switching Spell
A Scooby meeting, not an irregular thing in Sunnydale, as a matter of fact, there had been a similar meeting just yesterday, but today's was different. The Slayer was present at the meeting, but that Slayer was no longer Buffy, it was Dawn, the purpose of this meeting being to find a way to change that fact and make things as they once were.
One man at the table was happy to be what he once was, a human instead of a demon, finally able to be with the woman he loved without supernatural complications. Spike had a lot to be thankful for, with the slight exception of the bloody frustrating human disease he had. Much sleep and hot chocolate had done wonders for him though, as well as the drugs Giles had managed to acquire...he really would have to ask old Ripper exactly where he'd got those from sometime...
"This could be very difficult Buffy" the Watcher told his almost-daughter, "We're dealing with very powerful forces"
"No more powerful than what the gang did to bring back Spike" she shrugged in response, "and I know that was dangerous but, you guys all know what you're doing and I trust you"
"It's nice to know you trust us Buffy" Willow smiled, "but Giles is right, this is a major deal, messing with the Slayer power and all"
"But it is possible?" Dawn piped up, "I mean, it might be dangerous but you can do it?"
"I-I'm n-not exactly sure" Tara stammered, wanting to help her friends as much as she could, but admittedly scared of the powers that would need to be invoked, "i-it would probably take a lot of research"
"Well we've had plenty of practice there" Xander commented, "We're full of research-y goodness here at Scooby central"
"So hows about we get on with it then, instead of sitting here poncing about?" Spike snapped, infuriated by too much talk and not enough action. It had taken all of his time and effort to convince Buffy he was able bodied enough to join the meeting instead of laying in bed like an invalid. It was his final point of argument that had finally made her cave.
'I spent enough time laying down when I was six feet under, at least let me move now that I can'.
Now all he wanted to do was fix the problem his two favourite girls were having, so that life, the mortal life he had now been given, could move on for everyone.
The gang hit the books and after many hours and cups of coffee it was Anya who hit upon something useful.
"Aha!" she exclaimed, "I think I've got something" she told the group with a grin as she read from the book in her hands, "This is in Latin but I'm pretty sure it's what we need" she said excitedly "these ancient people found a way to give physical strength and power to the weaker people in their armies by kind of siphoning it off from the stronger warriors"
"Sounds like the kind of spell we're looking for" Buffy nodded, "is it complicated?"
Anya shook her head as she read more.
"I don't know...its a while since I did any kind of complex spell..."
"Wills, Tara, why don't you take a look?" the currently ex-Slayer suggested and the ex-demon was forced to hand over the book, which she did with a frown. She hated that she was the one that found the spell and yet the red-head and her girlfriend would get all the credit for the actual doing of the spell. Xander saw the look on her face and instantly knew what she was thinking.
"You did really well Ahn, finding the spell like that" he told her with a smile, "We'd probably never have found it without you" he knew it was a lie, as everyone else did too, but they let her think she'd done really well and she grinned in delight.
"Well, this looks do-able" Willow said slowly as Tara nodded in agreement, reading over her girls shoulder, "but Buffy it's also very dangerous...there's a chance that, if too much power shifts or the force moves the wrong way, well..." she didn't even want to say what the consequences could be.
"Come on Will, spit it out" the eldest Summers urged.
"They could die" Spike said simply, unemotionally, looking straight at the red-headed witch beside him, he knew by the very look on her face what it was she'd been unable to say.
"Yes" she replied in a hushed whisper, feeling physically sick at the very idea of losing either of her friends.
"Then we're not doing it" Buffy said sternly, "It's not worth it" with that she stood up from the dining room table and made to walk away before the tears that were rapidly forming in her eyes spilled over.
"No" Dawn protested with force as she too rose to her feet, "We are doing this" she said just as firmly as her sister had spoken, if not more so.
"Dawn" Buffy sighed turning back, aforementioned tears now running down her cheeks, "You could die, we both could, and all because I'm selfish and want my powers back. I won't do it"
"Well maybe you don't have a choice" Dawn yelled, shocking everyone who may have voiced an opinion into definite silence, "I don't want this power, it's not mine to have" she continued in a more even tone, "It's yours and you need it back. You are not selfish, if you were you wouldn't be saying no now, and maybe that means I'm selfish, I don't know, but life is all about risks Buffy and you have to be brave and take them sometimes...you taught me that"
The girls older sister did not reply, just stood there, completely still and silent, salty tracks down her face as these words hit her full force. Dawn was right, the little girl before her who wasn't so little anymore. Fourteen in looks and memories, barely a year old in actual terms, and yet she was so sensible and wise.
"You're right" Buffy forced out eventually, "If it weren't for risks...things would be so different...Spike wouldn't..." she got no further as she started to really cry. Too many emotions over the last few days, they all finally caught up with her and all that would come were tears.
Dawn moved toward her, grabbing her in a sisterly hug and it wasn't long before she was crying too. Ignoring his aching muscles and pounding head, Spike pulled himself from his seat to go and wrap an arm around each of his girls, and it was all the rest of the Scoobies could do not to cry as they bore witness to the three way hug of this strange little family.
"No matter what you do" Spike whispered to the Summers girls "you'll always be my girls and I'll always love you, whether you're humans, slayers, balls of energy or bloody crying messes like you are right now" he said, making both Buffy and Dawn giggle despite their tears, "I'll stand by you and I'll always love you, no matter what"
He knew it was the truth, that whatever happened he'd truly be in love with Buffy Summers forever and beyond, and that Dawn would always be the sister he never had, his precious Little Bit.
The two girls looked at each other, a look of understanding and agreement before turning to the rest of the gang, never leaving the safety of Spike's arms.
"We'll do it" they said together.
"I think we're almost ready" Willow announced as she and Tara re-counted the candles and checked the spell book.
In the centre of the Summers living room, all the furniture had been moved to the sides and a large circle of twelve candles had been set up, alternating red and black. A symbol was marked on the carpet in red and black sand which when looked at from a certain direction and in a certain way Xander realised looked kind of like a bunny with a party hat on. He dare not tell Anya of his thoughts and so instead whispered it to Dawn who would have laughed if she wasn't so tense with fear and anticipation.
"Where do we stand?" she asked the Wiccans as they stood just inside the circle opposite each other.
"You need t-to be here a-and here" Tara pointed to the spaces either side of herself and Willow. The four girls formed a square, Buffy facing Dawn, Willow facing Tara. The witches would act as the vessel by which the Slayer force would travel from Dawn to Buffy. With the four in position, they were ready to begin.
Willow took Tara's left hand flat between both her own as the blonde witch placed her right hand on top of the pile. The red-head nodded signalling that Giles should perform his part. He began to light the candles, one at a time, starting with the one directly behind Willow and moving anticlockwise around the circle.
Anya, Xander and Spike all watched from the side in anticipation as the concentration became evident in the two witches eyes. As the final candle was lit, Willow began to speak.
"Fortis. Enervis" she said loudly, looking first at Dawn on her left and then Buffy on her right, effectively naming them as the strong and the weak, and giving them their signal. Dawn placed her right hand on the bottom of Taras and Willows as Buffy placed her hand on the top. The pile of six hands began to glow almost immediately as Willow and Tara chanted in Latin.
The words were a jumble and meant less than nothing to the Slayer and her sister but there were others in the room who knew what was being said, Spike included. During his years as a vampire he had learnt many languages, but Latin had been something he'd been taught as a child, many years before his siring.
'Transfer the power, the weak shall be mighty, the mighty then less strong' he translated in his head as the witches spoke more loudly. The power could be tangibly felt in the air as the circle of candles seemed to become brighter, the voices of the Wiccans louder, the glow of the girls hands brighter.
'Transfer the power, strength to rise like fire' the chant continued as the yellow light around the four girls hands made them look as if the appendages were on fire. Spike physically flinched as he saw a look of what appeared to be pain pass over Dawn's face. He knew then it had begun. The power was leaking from her back into Buffy, and as it did, the glow seemed to shift, from the bottom of the pile of hands to the centre and upward to Buffy's hand on top. She too winced as the light of power travelled into her.
'Transfer the power, the weak shall be mighty, the mighty then less strong' Willow and Tara repeated, even louder than before as the lights, the candles, the entire room became brighter still, making it almost impossible for the rest of the Scoobies to see what was happening anymore.
'Transfer the power' Willow bellowed one final time, almost screaming at the strength the spell was taking from her, it was, after all, mostly her magicks that made the spell possible.
Suddenly, there was an almighty flash of brightest green, causing Xander, Anya, Giles and Spike to turn their heads and shield their eyes. When they looked back the candles were extinguished, the sand had been blown almost completely away, and the four young women lay collapsed on the ground, fighting for breath.
To Be Continued...
