Title: RETURN
Author: Ivytree
Rating: PG-13 - No sex, only violence
Disclaimer: Like I could create these guys.
All characters belong to Joss Whedon, UPN, Mutant Enemy, etc.
Feedback: Please!
Summary: A Spike-centric alternative ending (which you can bet will never happen) for Ep. 22 of this season, incorporating many (though not all) recent spoilers. The end of BtVS, and the beginning of The Spike Show.
NO SPOILERS THIS TIME
-------------------------------------------
RETURN
Part 21. Marvel to See
Buffy and Spike crept downstairs almost giddily, heading out into the darkness for a hunt. True, they wanted to check the local demon and vampire population for renewed vigor, since they themselves had shaken off the effects of paranormal exhaustion sooner than the humans, but really they were looking for a little violent fun and they both knew it. They went out through the kitchen door, leaving a note stuck to the refrigerator with a banana-shaped magnet: 'Went out to kill something. Back by sunrise. B. & S.'
"Should reassure 'em if they even wake up," Spike observed cheerfully. "Let's make for the baddies, all right, love?"
Hand in hand they strolled towards the nearest cemetery. It was a dark and clear night, and the trees were covered with new leaves, which rustled a bit in the spring breeze. Both of them listened hard for any untoward noises signifying vampire activity. Spike was actually bouncing on his toes in happy anticipation, and Buffy even gave a little skip. She felt a thrill of excitement she hadn't experienced in a long time. Once she had hated that feeling; being a predator was wrong, wasn't it? It was bad; it was ugly. It wasn't normal. It made her less than human. Now, with Spike at her side, it seemed so right; and exhilarating, too, all of a sudden. She felt more than human, not less.
Soon enough they heard a stealthy approach, and exchanging a glance they split up in a flanking maneuver. One, two, no four vampires were making their way along the graveyard path with no effort at concealment. Honestly, didn't they know this was the Slayer's town? Annoyed, Buffy stepped out in front of them and said sweetly, "I'm sorry -- were you boys looking for me?" The first vamp snarled and lunged for her throat, and she sprang into action, back kick, front kick, left hook, right cross. Spike went into game face at once, releasing his demon(s) with a pleased laugh, and fell on the vamps from the back, his black leather coat flying about him like dark wings. Now this was fun. Each vamp was softened up with forceful blows and tossed to Buffy for the kill, and between them they dusted all four in what seemed like record time.
Buffy stood brushing off her clothes, while Spike looked down at the dust-covered ground in some frustration. "Well, that was just sad," he said disdainfully.
"Maybe they were still sleepy," Buffy said. Then she realized she was defending the dead vamps' capabilities, so to speak. Well, she didn't like to see Spike disappointed.
"Okay, let's look 'round some more, then," he said, slipping back into human face. They moved along in companionable silence. It was a beautiful night, even a romantic night, but Spike had laid down the ground rules before they left the house. 'No snogging until we've done our bloody job.' So let's kill things already, she thought. And four dopey vamps didn't really make their joint quota.
They crossed the cemetery diagonally, taking a shortcut (little used for various Sunnydale-specific reasons, most of them with pointy teeth) that led to the park. The bushes were a bit thicker here, and there was an iron fence, easily hopped, for those with super-strength at least. They were just about to start over it when Spike whispered, "Aha!" flaring his nostrils like a war-horse scenting battle. He signaled to her to conceal herself and a few moments later she heard grunting and snorting coming their way from the other side of the fence.
Three demons lumbered into view, big, hairy, and long-horned; in fact, they looked like bipedal highland cattle, with rather bovine faces -- except for the sharp tusks and claws. Buffy worked her way closer to the fence, and peered through. She could see the area of the park Warren had used for his Hellmouth power-siphoning spell clearly; several figures were standing about, black against a dim, occult reddish light. She couldn't identify any of the figures but one -- Amy!
As she watched, a tall man with lank hair hanging about his face put his hand on Amy's shoulder, and ugly reddish sparks arced from his fingers. She saw him push the girl roughly so that she stumbled, and they both turned to leave in the opposite direction. Uh-oh, Buffy thought. The barrier that kept the Hellmouth closed was thinning, as Giles had feared. And just as he had said, users of dark magic were attracted to this spot -- it was starting already.
The cattle-demons were making for the fence, right where Buffy and Spike had concealed themselves. Apparently they knew about the shortcut, too. One moved out ahead of the other two, possibly a scout, or the leader. They were obviously on a mission, and whatever it was, they had to be prevented from carrying it out. Buffy cursed her lack of weaponry. She and Spike were strong, but these guys were big. Really, really big. For a moment she caught Spike's eye, which had a distinct gleam in it; they were going to go for it anyway. She felt an eager shiver of anticipation run right down to her toes.
The lead creature reached the fence and began to climb; as it dropped between them, it spotted Buffy and attacked without hesitation; Spike, fully vamped out, growled and pounced. Between them, they pummeled it to the ground, with no fancy footwork required, just brute force. Unfortunately this was barely effective; the monster kept trying to lumber to its feet, slashing with its talons, biting, and emitting guttural bellows, and the soon the others would be upon them.
"We should have brought axes or something," Buffy panted between blows; "Our bad! I don't think a stake's gonna affect this guy!"
"Hold him!"
Kneeling on the enormous creature's back, she grabbed its arms, and Spike took a solid grip on its antlers; with an echoing roar, he gave a mighty twist. The head came off in his hands, spraying demon blood over Buffy and himself; she leaped back from the fallen carcass in surprise. His eyes glowing yellow, Spike lifted the massive head up and brought it down over his knee, breaking off one antler, which he politely tossed to Buffy. Then he twisted the other antler off, and threw the head aside. "These are nice and sharp," he said, grinning happily, fangs gleaming. "Now for his pals." They had weapons after all, it seemed.
Buffy smiled hugely, her eyes shining. "Cool!" she said.
TBC
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"And when they saw Sir Percival they asked him of whence he was. And he answered: Of the court of King Arthur. Then they cried all at once: Slay him. Then Sir Percival smote the first to the earth and his horse upon him. And then seven of the knights smote upon his shield all at once, and the remnant slew his horse so that he fell to the earth. So had they slain him or taken him had not the good knight, Sir Galahad, with the red arms come there by adventure into those parts. And when he saw all those knights upon one knight he cried: Save me that knight's life. And then he dressed him toward the twenty men of arms as fast as his horse might drive, with his spear in the rest, and smote the foremost horse and man to the earth. And when his spear was broken he set his hand to his sword, and smote on the right hand and on the left hand that it was marvel to see, and at every stroke he smote one down or put him to a rebuke, so that they would fight no more but fled to a thick forest, and Sir Galahad followed them."
Sir Thomas Malory, The Holy Grail
Author: Ivytree
Rating: PG-13 - No sex, only violence
Disclaimer: Like I could create these guys.
All characters belong to Joss Whedon, UPN, Mutant Enemy, etc.
Feedback: Please!
Summary: A Spike-centric alternative ending (which you can bet will never happen) for Ep. 22 of this season, incorporating many (though not all) recent spoilers. The end of BtVS, and the beginning of The Spike Show.
NO SPOILERS THIS TIME
-------------------------------------------
RETURN
Part 21. Marvel to See
Buffy and Spike crept downstairs almost giddily, heading out into the darkness for a hunt. True, they wanted to check the local demon and vampire population for renewed vigor, since they themselves had shaken off the effects of paranormal exhaustion sooner than the humans, but really they were looking for a little violent fun and they both knew it. They went out through the kitchen door, leaving a note stuck to the refrigerator with a banana-shaped magnet: 'Went out to kill something. Back by sunrise. B. & S.'
"Should reassure 'em if they even wake up," Spike observed cheerfully. "Let's make for the baddies, all right, love?"
Hand in hand they strolled towards the nearest cemetery. It was a dark and clear night, and the trees were covered with new leaves, which rustled a bit in the spring breeze. Both of them listened hard for any untoward noises signifying vampire activity. Spike was actually bouncing on his toes in happy anticipation, and Buffy even gave a little skip. She felt a thrill of excitement she hadn't experienced in a long time. Once she had hated that feeling; being a predator was wrong, wasn't it? It was bad; it was ugly. It wasn't normal. It made her less than human. Now, with Spike at her side, it seemed so right; and exhilarating, too, all of a sudden. She felt more than human, not less.
Soon enough they heard a stealthy approach, and exchanging a glance they split up in a flanking maneuver. One, two, no four vampires were making their way along the graveyard path with no effort at concealment. Honestly, didn't they know this was the Slayer's town? Annoyed, Buffy stepped out in front of them and said sweetly, "I'm sorry -- were you boys looking for me?" The first vamp snarled and lunged for her throat, and she sprang into action, back kick, front kick, left hook, right cross. Spike went into game face at once, releasing his demon(s) with a pleased laugh, and fell on the vamps from the back, his black leather coat flying about him like dark wings. Now this was fun. Each vamp was softened up with forceful blows and tossed to Buffy for the kill, and between them they dusted all four in what seemed like record time.
Buffy stood brushing off her clothes, while Spike looked down at the dust-covered ground in some frustration. "Well, that was just sad," he said disdainfully.
"Maybe they were still sleepy," Buffy said. Then she realized she was defending the dead vamps' capabilities, so to speak. Well, she didn't like to see Spike disappointed.
"Okay, let's look 'round some more, then," he said, slipping back into human face. They moved along in companionable silence. It was a beautiful night, even a romantic night, but Spike had laid down the ground rules before they left the house. 'No snogging until we've done our bloody job.' So let's kill things already, she thought. And four dopey vamps didn't really make their joint quota.
They crossed the cemetery diagonally, taking a shortcut (little used for various Sunnydale-specific reasons, most of them with pointy teeth) that led to the park. The bushes were a bit thicker here, and there was an iron fence, easily hopped, for those with super-strength at least. They were just about to start over it when Spike whispered, "Aha!" flaring his nostrils like a war-horse scenting battle. He signaled to her to conceal herself and a few moments later she heard grunting and snorting coming their way from the other side of the fence.
Three demons lumbered into view, big, hairy, and long-horned; in fact, they looked like bipedal highland cattle, with rather bovine faces -- except for the sharp tusks and claws. Buffy worked her way closer to the fence, and peered through. She could see the area of the park Warren had used for his Hellmouth power-siphoning spell clearly; several figures were standing about, black against a dim, occult reddish light. She couldn't identify any of the figures but one -- Amy!
As she watched, a tall man with lank hair hanging about his face put his hand on Amy's shoulder, and ugly reddish sparks arced from his fingers. She saw him push the girl roughly so that she stumbled, and they both turned to leave in the opposite direction. Uh-oh, Buffy thought. The barrier that kept the Hellmouth closed was thinning, as Giles had feared. And just as he had said, users of dark magic were attracted to this spot -- it was starting already.
The cattle-demons were making for the fence, right where Buffy and Spike had concealed themselves. Apparently they knew about the shortcut, too. One moved out ahead of the other two, possibly a scout, or the leader. They were obviously on a mission, and whatever it was, they had to be prevented from carrying it out. Buffy cursed her lack of weaponry. She and Spike were strong, but these guys were big. Really, really big. For a moment she caught Spike's eye, which had a distinct gleam in it; they were going to go for it anyway. She felt an eager shiver of anticipation run right down to her toes.
The lead creature reached the fence and began to climb; as it dropped between them, it spotted Buffy and attacked without hesitation; Spike, fully vamped out, growled and pounced. Between them, they pummeled it to the ground, with no fancy footwork required, just brute force. Unfortunately this was barely effective; the monster kept trying to lumber to its feet, slashing with its talons, biting, and emitting guttural bellows, and the soon the others would be upon them.
"We should have brought axes or something," Buffy panted between blows; "Our bad! I don't think a stake's gonna affect this guy!"
"Hold him!"
Kneeling on the enormous creature's back, she grabbed its arms, and Spike took a solid grip on its antlers; with an echoing roar, he gave a mighty twist. The head came off in his hands, spraying demon blood over Buffy and himself; she leaped back from the fallen carcass in surprise. His eyes glowing yellow, Spike lifted the massive head up and brought it down over his knee, breaking off one antler, which he politely tossed to Buffy. Then he twisted the other antler off, and threw the head aside. "These are nice and sharp," he said, grinning happily, fangs gleaming. "Now for his pals." They had weapons after all, it seemed.
Buffy smiled hugely, her eyes shining. "Cool!" she said.
TBC
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"And when they saw Sir Percival they asked him of whence he was. And he answered: Of the court of King Arthur. Then they cried all at once: Slay him. Then Sir Percival smote the first to the earth and his horse upon him. And then seven of the knights smote upon his shield all at once, and the remnant slew his horse so that he fell to the earth. So had they slain him or taken him had not the good knight, Sir Galahad, with the red arms come there by adventure into those parts. And when he saw all those knights upon one knight he cried: Save me that knight's life. And then he dressed him toward the twenty men of arms as fast as his horse might drive, with his spear in the rest, and smote the foremost horse and man to the earth. And when his spear was broken he set his hand to his sword, and smote on the right hand and on the left hand that it was marvel to see, and at every stroke he smote one down or put him to a rebuke, so that they would fight no more but fled to a thick forest, and Sir Galahad followed them."
Sir Thomas Malory, The Holy Grail