Willow sighed and looked around the immense desert she stood in. Sand stretched as far as the eye could see. Willow put a hand over her eyes and stood looking out over the horizon. She sighed and watched as Buffy trudged up the hill behind her.
"I don't see anything." Willow said, "Are you sure this is the right place?"
"Yeah, I've been here twice so I think I have the lay of the land." Buffy said walking up beside her friend "Wasn't that dune over there last time?"
"Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean doing the whole out of body experience thing while you're injured deal?" Willow asked.
"I want to take Bacchus out Will. That means I need to get some real ideas on how to take him apart. I can get some of those here, so I have to try because the next time he and I meet, one of us is going to die." Buffy said looking around the vast expanse.
"I get that, but we could have waited until the afternoon when you'd be more healed." Willow said, ever the voice of reason.
Buffy made no sound of protest; she merely looked in the distance.
"There. That hill. There's a cave up top." Buffy said as she began walking towards it.
"Gotta say, I'm not exactly looking forward to this." Willow sighed as she followed.
"Don't worry. I'll do the talking; you're just here to get us both out when the talking is over and done with."
"Gee, thanks a lot." Willow replied.
"Hey!" Buffy said turning, "You know exactly what I meant."
"Yeah." Willow sighed.
"You're a valuable member of this team Willow. Without you we couldn't have beaten half the guys we have before. I know I can count on you to help take down another guy." Buffy said turning back to head for the hill.
"You mean Willow or her magick is valuable?" Willow asked.
"I mean Willow. Remember your doppleganger? You took her down with a tranquilizer gun and then impersonated her to save all those people at the Bronze, using zero magick." Buffy explained, "Just calm down and do the meditation exercises Dr. Strange taught you. You're getting self doubt thrown at you."
"Kind of like in that dream." Willow said in realization.
"Exactly. It's a defense mechanism." Buffy replied.
"Well I'm gonna shove my defense mechanism down that prehistoric bitch's throat." Willow said smiling as she followed Buffy.
"There's the spirit. Now just don't get sand in your shoes and we're all set." Buffy laughed.
In the cave at the top of the hill, something growled. And watched.
"Anybody here?" Robin asked as he walked through the front door of the Summers house with a dozen donuts.
"Dining room!" Xander's voice rang out.
Robin walked into the dining room and stopped suddenly as he saw Xander amidst tons and tons of ancient texts. Xander peeked up and wore a confused look.
"What?"
"You're researching." Robin said, astonished.
Xander sighed, "Somebody had to. I think I'm making progress though. I've read so much Latin that I'm starting to think in it. It's till probably wrong but at least I'm thinking in it."
"Where's everyone else?" Robin asked as he sat down and put the box of donuts in front of Xander.
Xander greedily dug in and began devouring the pastries.
"Well, Buff and Will are in the basement doing this spell thing to try and get some answers about what we should do." Xander said with his mouth full, "And believe me if they're going where I think they are I'd rather be here. Kennedy's upstairs watching Tara. She still hasn't woken up yet."
"And Spike?" Robin said with a hint of anger.
"He's out doing the whole getting information from demon bars and everything again." Xander explained before looking down in disgust, "I got jelly donut on the page. If Giles were here, he'd kill me."
"Any luck on finding our other demon so far?" Robin asked as he picked up a book of his own.
"Nope. Can't find anything on demons that can turn invisible and shoot energy blasts. Well there were a few but they looked like squids. Definitely not what Buffy described." Xander said, "Hopefully this new guy will wait until Buffy kicks Bacchus's ass."
"You're pretty confident for her." Robin replied.
"Well considering she killed a vampire that was a little younger than this guy when we were sophomores in high school, yeah I guess I am. Oh and I got her this Super Soaker yesterday that we're going to fill up with Holy Water. That'll leave a mark." Xander smirked, "Plus she's going to have the rest of us there for her."
"You really think she's just going to let us all go out there and fight that thing?" Robin asked.
"Well, yeah. It's no big. We've all killed vampires before. I mean hey, you were a big time vamp hunter yourself once. No big." Xander replied.
"Yeah, I've hunted vampires before. Got my ass handed to me a few times too. And none of them were as old as this guy." Robin answered.
"Well okay, maybe us mere mortals won't be out there, but Willow might. She can give this guy one hell of a hot foot if she wants. And I know Spike won't stay away from Buff even if she tells him to." Xander said, eating another donut.
"Yeah, that Spike really loves getting close to Slayers." Robin said, bitterly.
"You know what? A year ago I would have not only agreed with you but would have capped that little line off with something clever like, "To kill them"." Xander replied.
"A year ago?"
"Yeah, a year ago I would have staked Spike the first chance I got for what he did to Buffy and for the fact that I still could. He still had the chip in his head then. There wasn't a night I didn't think about doing it when he first came back too. It would have been easy because he was all crazy and couldn't defend himself." Xander explained.
"So why didn't you?"
"Because Buffy told me not to. And the fact that he had a soul."
"And you automatically believed that, lacking any real proof?" Robin asked.
"I don't doubt Buffy, not for a minute. Guy was half crazy from guilt anyway, so how could I not believe it?"
"But you didn't know."
"But he couldn't hurt anyone then. Plus we KNOW he has a soul now. I may not run the fan club for vampires with souls but I know Spike's not one of the bad guys anymore."
"He killed people."
"UNDER the First's control. And I hear your little playtime with Spike snapped him out of that." Xander fired back, slightly annoyed, "Look man, I know you have a thing about Spike and you mom because she was the Slayer he killed back in the seventies, but you gotta realize that he's not the same guy anymore. Spike may not be my favorite person in the world but he's part of the team, something it looks like you're still having problems adjusting to."
"I'm part of the team, I just don't like when the team has a murderer on it. Sorry for what he's done or not, he's still a murderer at heart. Just because you have a soul doesn't make you good. Charlie Manson's proof enough of that. He still has a demon in him and he could lose control at anytime—"
"And if he does, Buffy will take care of it." Xander said, now a little angry that this whole subject came up.
"Will she?" Robin asked.
"Yeah. She went through the same thing with Angel, and she did her job. And ya know what else? I wouldn't let Buffy hear you talking like this. I hear she already gave you a stern talking to about trying to kill Spike before."
"That was because we were going to fight the First and we needed him. That war's over now." Robin replied.
"Robin, I kinda like you man so I'm telling you this right now. Let it go. This thing will eat you up inside unless you do. I know from experience. Just let it go before Buffy and or Spike hear you talking that way. Chances are as good a vampire hunter as you were, you can't take either of them in a straight up fight. So just drop it." Xander said slowly, letting just a little bit of Soldier Guy's tone seep into his voice.
"Let's just get back to research." Robin said, looking down at his book.
"Praise Allah." Xander said aloud. He then started thinking very heavily.
"Oh man, I just defended Spike. I feel so dirty now."
Buffy and Willow walked to the mouth of the cave. Buffy looked inside while Willow seemed a bit hesitant to enter. She was fidgeting very noticeably. Her hair seemed a little long and more auburn than red as well. Additionally her jeans seemed to have become a skirt and her shirt was now a fuzzy sweater.
"Umm…Buffy?" Willow said nervously, noticing the change, "I should go. Kind of afraid now."
"Don't be silly Wills. You're just getting your self image from high school thrown back into your face. Just focus and tune it out." Buffy explained, walking further.
"O-Okay. I'll try." Willow said, concentrating and taking on her more up to date appearance, "Wow, self actualization. Metaphysical. How are you getting around the confidence dump, Buff?"
"Might have acted different in high school, but I was still the Slayer. I have to keep that in mind otherwise I'm going to end up worried that Snyder's going to put me in detention. But then I just remember a giant snake ate him." Buffy replied, smirking.
Suddenly there was movement to the side followed by a feral growl. Buffy caught it and stepped back. She was looking at a dark area of the cave and seemed to be able to make out SOMETHING. She turned to Willow slightly.
"How about a little light?"
"Sure." Willow said as her right hand was raised and began spewing out photons.
Buffy turned back to where she was looking at and was satisfied at what she saw.
"Hey there. It's me again. I need your help. Now are you going to just give it to me like last time or do we have to fight?" Buffy asked, folding her arms.
Standing in the corner, well crouched in the corner was more like it, was a black woman with wild hair and white body and face paint all over her. She looked up and growled and moved back and forth a little, somewhat like an animal. She was a being that Buffy had both sought guidance from and fought in the past. She was the First Slayer.
Tara sat up in bed quickly and gasped for air. Kennedy instantly shot over to her.
"Tara?! Tara are you okay?" Kennedy asked, gripping her by the shoulders.
Tara looked around and seemed a bit confused.
"Why am I in our room?" Tara asked.
"Because Buffy and Spike brought you here." Kennedy explained.
"But the demon…"
"Fight's over. You guys lost. You managed to get away." Kennedy said trying to explain, "You've been slipping in and out on consciousness all night. The demon did a number on your head. Well, all of you."
Tara instinctively felt up for her head. She then felt for her chest.
"N-No wonder I'm so sore." Tara reasoned.
"That little healing power of yours is really handy." Kennedy smirked
"The others….are they—"
"They're fine. They got you back here." Kennedy said.
"What about Poe?" Tara asked.
To the right of her, Poe cawed loudly. Tara looked over at him and noticed he was injured. Though the crow's injured wing was set.
"Did you do that?" Tara asked.
"Yeah, little trick I learned in the girl scouts. They taught us how to take care of wounded animals. I never thought it would come in handy though." Kennedy said.
"Are you okay Poe?" Tara asked as the crow hopped over to get closer to her.
"Reasonably so. Kennedy's bedside manner is somewhat lacking however. I think she may have injured my wing more than that ruffian has." Poe cawed words that only Tara could understand.
Tara smirked.
"What did he say?" Kennedy asked.
"That you're a terrific nurse." Tara laughed.
"That's not what I said at all!" Poe cawed excitedly.
"Ah, I like you too." Kennedy said petting the bird.
"She's touching me! Make her stop Tara!" Poe cackled.
"You two are the cutest." Tara smirked, swinging her feet to the side to get up.
"Oh no!" Kennedy said blocking her, "You're staying right here!"
"Kennedy I'm fine. Really. You said it yourself; my healing power is really handy." Tara said.
"Well you're not done healing, otherwise you wouldn't be sore. And your brain might steal be healing, and we don't know how much it can take and—"
Tara quickly kissed her and smirked.
"You're babbling like Willow. I just want to take a shower and get cleaned up. You can even come with me if you're really so concerned." Tara said in a seductive voice, playing with the bottom of Kennedy's shirt.
"When you put it that way…" Kennedy said getting up and pulling Tara to the door.
"Humans." Poe cackled, "Human women to boot!"
"Oh hush." Tara called back.
"What did he say?" Kennedy asked.
"Oh nothing. Say, where's Willow. She might want in on this." Tara replied.
"Willow's kinda busy."
"Okay this is just crazy." Willow said sighing.
Moments ago, she and Buffy had confronted the First Slayer in her cave here in this weird little plane of existence. Buffy had even asked for help nicely and the First Slayer STILL jumped on her. The two began to fight fiercely and the battle pitched back and forth. The First Slayer's savagery gave her an early edge, but Buffy quickly turned it around and used thousands of years of combat techniques that had been developed after her prehistoric counterpart's death.
The First Slayer leapt at her. Buffy grabbed her arm and used her own momentum to send her crashing to the ground. The First Slaver sent out a wild kick, that Buffy easily leapt over. Coming back down, she sent out her own kick that knocked the First Slayer back against the cave wall. The First Slayer then charged angrily and was met with precision blows to the neck and stomach that made her stumble. A quick spin kick later, and the First Slayer was flat on her back.
"You had enough yet?" Buffy asked, folding her arms.
The First Slayer rose slowly. She then bowed her head to Buffy.
"I must test. You are strong. You passed." She said in a slightly primitive rasp.
"Thanks. You strong too. Also in need of hair care products." Buffy replied, "Now can we get down to business?"
The First Slayer sat on the ground folding her legs.
"You sit." She said.
Buffy immediately sat.
"You sit too." The First Slayer said looking to Willow.
"Oh okay! Sitting. Not a problem. See?!" Willow said also sitting.
"Okay cave Slayer, you've always got some sort of cryptic message for me whenever I come and see you, so start spilling" Buffy said.
The First Slayer watched Buffy closely but said nothing. She did this for a few minutes.
"She's not talking Buffy." Willow said.
"Way to state the obvious Will." Buffy replied, "Come on Betty Rubble, say something. "The Slayer is alone" or "Death is your gift". Something!"
"Hunt. Fight. Die." The First Slayer said.
"Huh?" Buffy and Willow asked at once.
"Hunt! Fight! Die! Great circle, no escape. Is life. But to Slayer, there is no hunt. She hunted. She just fight and die." The First Slayer explained.
"Okay, wishing I had a translator here." Buffy said.
"You might have one. I think what she's talking about is the law of the jungle. I mean that's how it was when she was around right? Her people had to hunt, they probably fought, and they eventually died." Willow said, trying her best to reason out the First Slayer's words.
"Red one understand. Now understand this. Slayer no hunt. She hunted."
"I think I understand that one." Buffy replied, "It's like I was saying a little while ago, the Big Bads always come after me."
"Yes. Slayer hunted. That's why she die. They come to her on own terms. Slayer needs to hunt. Then she come to them on her terms!" the First Slayer said.
"…That's it? That's your wisdom? I said that myself a few hours ago!" Buffy sighed incredulously.
The First Slayer grabbed her by the jaw and growled.
"You say that. Do you do?" the First Slayer asked, "Hunt in day. Go on own terms. Find and kill. Then move on. Only hunter win this fight. Think like hunter.
Buffy gripped the First Slayer's wrist and pried it off, "Do you have anything else to tell me?"
"Hunt. Fight. Kill. Mean it." The First Slayer growled.
"Oh I mean it. I came and hunted you didn't I?" Buffy replied.
"Yes. Good. Now go hunt it!" the First Slayer smiled, "You hunt me, you beat me! Now hunt it!"
Buffy stood, "Alright Will. Let's get back to our bodies. This pretty much went nowhere."
"Well…I think it went alright, but okay. It was nice seeing you again miss First Slayer. And if you ever throw self doubt at me again I'll bring your cave down on ya, okay?" Willow said standing, chipper as could be.
Buffy sighed audibly as she walked out of the cave and back down the hill with Willow in tow. This was a waste of time. The First Slayer didn't tell her anything she didn't already know. She was already going to go and hunt Bacchus down. She didn't need a prehistoric psych test to tell her to do that.
The First Slayer watched the pair go and cocked her head.
"Those crazy kids today huh?" a short man wearing garish seventies era clothing came walking out of the darkness in the cave.
The First Slayer regarded him, and then stood straight up, her primitive garments changing to modern ones and her body paint fading away.
"Tell me about it. They think they've seen it all." The First Slayer laughed.
"Well that Slayer has pretty much seen it all. Strongest one that ever lived. She took out the First Evil." The man replied.
"I'm well aware of that, Whistler. It's just that she's so headstrong and arrogant and absolutely will not listen to reason." The First Slayer sighed.
"Reminds me of a certain Slayer I knew once." Whistler replied.
"Very funny. You know what I mean though." The First Slayer sighed.
"Yeah, won't see the forest for the trees. I think it's funny that they'd think you'd still be a barbarian even after you've been dead for thousands of years. It's even funnier that you play that for all its worth." Whistler smirked.
"It's for effect. Seems to grab their attention and keep it." The First Slayer replied before watching Buffy and Willow in the distance again.
"She'll come through all right. It'll be rough but she'll do fine. She'll make you proud." Whistler said, sensing the First Slayer was nervous.
"I know that, it's just that for an agent of Order, she has so much Chaos about her. Her lover, her sister, all of that. It worries me" The First Slayer sighed.
"Eh, it all balances out in the end. Ya got me and guys like Dr. Fate to thank for that. But she'll be good. She's got one hell of a destiny." Whistler said, observing a cave painting before entering the darkness again.
The First Slayer watched him go and then looked at the painting herself sighing.
A sun underwater. A sun on fire. A sun and crescent moon close together, and beneath it a sun with a crescent moon imposed over it.
"Yes, but a hard destiny nonetheless." The First Slayer sighed.