"Welcome To Springdale"
Episode 1 – Never Kill a Boy on the First Day of School
by Draconious
Authors Notes: This whole of this series of stories takes place during the events of Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 7, and immediately afterwards. This is the story of one town that has just received a new slayer. Springdale is not Sunnydale… but something is very wrong.
Author's Recognitions: I'd like to recognize Slim Dim who reviewed and gave me good pointers on how all my knowledge of martial arts comes from Jackie Chan and Buffy.. and a friend who took Karate when I was like 8 (a long time ago) so I had to google it. Incidently, I'll be calling Michael Wolf Master instead of Sensei, because the word for Instructor in Korean is way to un-understandable, unless your Korean, I suppose… I've posted updates of all chapters to reflect the changes.
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Samantha Jones circled her opponent wearily, looking for it, for a moment of weakness, a drop of his defenses. Her opponent took a swing at her, which she blocked, followed by a sweep kick, which she jumped. As he recovered from his sweep kick, she lashed out, knocking his supporting leg out from under him. He fell to the ground, before rolling quickly to his feet.
He watched, his arms raised in defense. She was a strong adversary, but he would beat her.
She faked a side kick. He blocked, and when open she kicked him in the ribs, then jabbed him in the side with 3 rabbit punches, before pulling back. She eyed him, awaiting his response.
He hesitated, not wanting to take the offense. She circled, knowing he would break first. He did, releasing a combination of punches, followed by a jump kick. She took two of the punches, resisting an urge to cry out, blocked two more, and then moved inside the jump kick. When he rose to the jump, she grasped his leg and spun, hurling him out of the circle. She smiled as the referee's whistle blew, and she was declared winner of the match.
Stepping back, she bowed first to her opponent, followed by a bow to her instructor, Master Wolf. She approached him when he signaled, and he handed her the 1st degree blue belt she had just earned.
A cheer arose, and she turned to the spectators. In the crowd was Amanda Stevenson, her best friend and confident since she had moved here to Springdale 2 ½ years ago. She was cheering and clapping for her friend's victory.
The ceremony complete, the celebration began and the students broke up into groups, stepping away from the Mat and sitting at the tables in the Rec center.
The Springdale Recreation Center was opened by Michael Wolf 2 years ago, as an add-on to his immensely popular teen club, Cobalt Dreams. The two buildings occupied an old warehouse that Wolf had renovated, keeping space in between the two as an apartment. Michael Wolf was a master of several martial arts, and began offering classes shortly after opening the Recreation Center.
Samantha Jones was one of his more advanced students. She had already had a few years of training in Tae-Kwon- Dowhen she moved to Springdale, and Wolf had little trouble picking up where her last Master had left off. She had now successfully tested for the 1st degree blue belt, and he was proud of his student.
"Master," Sam (as her friends called her) said as she approached her master.
He turned towards her. Were they not such good friends, he would be an imposing sight.
Standing 5'9" tall, and weighting in at 210 lbs, most of it muscle and scar tissue, Michael Wolf could intimidate many people. He had dark brown skin, short curly black hair, and chocolate brown eyes. He moved with the fluidity found in nature only in predators, and most people could tell that he was sizing them up when he looked at them.
The effect was ruined for same when he smiled. His entire face lit up with joy.
"Sam, I knew you could do it. I guess now I have to let you teach that class that you wanted to. Have your mother call me to make the arrangements." He shook her hand, happy that she had succeeded her next goal.
They had made a friendly wager… that if she could make the next belt before the new school year started, he would allow her to teach a class, and make a nice profit at the same time. She had succeeded, training throughout the summer to be in top shape for the test.
"Go to the bar and get a drink on the house, one for Amanda too. You earned it."
Sam smiled at her Master and bowed, turning towards the bar. Tied around her waist was her new blue belt.
"Two Strawberry Banana smoothies please, heavy on the berry in one, heavy on the banana in the other."
Mark, the juice bar tender, was already making her drinks before she was done. She always ordered them the same, anyways.
A few minutes later they were complete, and he said to her, "That will be $5.50."
Sam smiled and said, "Master said they were on him, for completing my test." Mark looked up, and receiving the nod from Michael, handed the two drinks to Sam.
She headed towards the table where Amanda was sitting. Where Sam was tall and muscular, Amanda Stevenson was shorter and more… feminine. Both were rather athletic, but the changes all girls go through had recent made Amanda the center of attention with many boys in the room.
Sam handed Amanda her banana – strawberry smoothie, and took a sip from her strawberry – banana smoothie.
"You looked good up there. Man, I wish I had moves like that. Any dates get out of hand and – Wham! They get what they deserve."
"I wish I got dates like you do," Sam said wistfully. While still rather attractive, her muscular physic and skill in fighting seemed to intimidate the boys off. In the 3 years she had lived here, she had only been asked out 2 times.
"Yeah, but all they are ever interested in is these…" she said, motioning towards her well endowed chest, "Not like…"
Sam interrupted her friend. "Jake. I know, none of the boys you are with are ever like Jake. No one will ever be good enough if you keep comparing them to your first."
Amanda blushed. "Boyfriend. Jake was my first boyfriend. Not my first. I haven't had one of those yet." She hesitated, taking another sip of her drink. "It's just… we broke up so quickly… his father already had all his stuff packed when he told Jake the news that they were moving. He had one afternoon with me, and then he was gone to New York."
Sam nodded to herself while Amanda was talking. She had heard it all before. Although Amanda got many more boys than Sam ever does, she was still really hung up on her boyfriend of 2 years, Jake Adams. They had gone out through all of 6th and 7th grade years, only to have to move away unexpectedly. She thought that Amanda never got the closure she desperately needed.
"Yeah Amanda, I know…" She tuned her friend out and drank her drink.
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"Yes, I'd like to talk to Gregory Scott, please. Yes, I'm Michael Wolf. Yes, I'll hold."
Michael stood in his secretary's office, trying to get through on the phone. *International calls are such a bother.* he though. Using his fingers to open the Venetian blinds, he peeked out. Sitting at the table, Amanda and Sam were drinking their drinks and gossiping. *Probably about that Boy, I'll bet.* he wondered.
"Yes. I'm terribly sorry. I wasn't aware that Mr. Scott had passed away. Perhaps I can speak to Justin Wilson? Him as well? Alright, is anyone on the High Council still alive?" Michael couldn't believe he was having so much trouble getting anyone of authority on the phone.
"Oh?! I didn't know that. I hadn't been made aware. Who is currently in authority then? Let me get a piece of paper… unhuh… Giles… got it. Thanks. My apologies. I had no idea there had been a disaster. I'll try and contact Mr. Giles myself. Thank you."
Michael hung up the phone, stunned. The Watchers Council, destroyed? While he had never had the best of relationships with the council, considering them at best a bunch of over controlling anal-retentive bastards, he had to admit that their organization had their uses. Now apparently, the main organizing force of the Council was a field operative working out of southern California, of all places.
*Well, they kicked me out, so they don't need to know. I'll contact Mr. Giles… sometime.* Picking up the phone number he had jotted down, he took one last glance though the window before heading back deeper into the office, and then into his apartment. He pinned the number to a peg board in his office, which lay above a bookcase. On the bookcase was a thick book, bound in what appeared to be metal and leather. Its title was deeply engraved into the cover.
Vampyr.
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Amanda climbed onto her mountain bike, readying her helmet. Sam was ahead of her, already pushing off. With her slightly less than athletic body, Amanda had decided last year to work out with Sam. In a few years, lounging would take her off the "Voluptuous" list and put her into the "Fat" list.
Pushing off, she followed her friend down the black top road away from the Community Center. With school starting tomorrow, they had decided to have one last swim in the lake, to celebrate the end of summer and Sam's victory.
Pumping down a hill, Amanda caught up to her best friend.
"Hey, wait up! Are you trying to leave me behind?" she asked.
"No, I just really need to get into the water. I swear the 'center had air conditioning before that match began. I'm so sweaty now, I really need to jump into the lake."
Amanda nodded in agreement and the two of them peddled towards the trail heading down to Carter's Lake.
Carter's Lake is a man-made lake that Springdale was built around. In the early 20's, Alan Carter decided to take his family's money and build a dam. People called him crazy. He did it anyway. Hiring work crews and engineering firms, they dammed off an end of the valley, and the 4 feeder streams filled the valley in less than a year. It's rumored that some of the buildings from the old settlement are still visible under the water. No one has seen them that Sam knew of, however.
Arriving at the turn off, Sam led the way. Hanging on tight, Amanda followed her down the steep incline, a bumpy bike trail etched by dozens of bike riding teens through the years. The trail was not an easy one, and Amanda felt a wave of pride in that she was still good enough to take it. Jumping into the air, her mountain bike cleared a fallen tree and she hit the breaks, skidding to a stop next to Sam.
They had arrived at the edge of the lake. They parked their bikes and began undressing, revealing that they were both wearing a two piece bikini underneath their clothes. (Sam had changed when she had gotten out of her judogi (Tae-kwon-do uniform), at the center.) Stepping over to the water, Sam watched Amanda get undressed with some envy. Wearing a blue high cut bikini, Amanda was a sight to see. Sam's black bikini was nice enough, but it was not filled out as well. *Sure, I may be in better shape, but the boys definitely notice her shape more often.*
Turning, she took in the view over the lake. From the bank where they stood, the view was tremendous. In the distance, one could see the other bank, and on the shore, though the ever present mists, was barely visible the old Carter estate, the abandoned mansion of Alan Carter. It had been renovated in the late 50's, but abandoned soon afterwards. Rumors held that it was haunted.
Sam slid into the water, followed by Amanda. Soon they were splashing and having a good time.
TBC….
Authors Notes: Well, this is the first chapter. Shorter than I intended, but I wanted to get it out there and see what people thought. Coming soon… the first day of school!
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