After Buffy returned home everyone gathered in the master bedroom. Sydney stood to address the group.
"First I would like to talk about a plan of attack. As you know, Buffy has recovered a weapon forged in ancient times and this scythe is our trump card. My plan is to use the power stored there to activate all the potentials, making everyone of them a slayer. There are many more potentials all over the world. The ones you have gathered here are only the top of the batting list due to age and some other factors. If every potential is a slayer then it will be virtually impossible for our visually impaired friends to take all of them out."
Sydney turned and spoke to Buffy and Faith. "This means that you will no longer be alone. Instead of the burden weighing solely on your shoulders, the heavy load will be shared among many. Since the beginning of the slayer line it has always been one girl, all alone, separated from those she is expected to save by her strength and her duty. 'Into every generation, a slayer is born. One girl in all the world. She alone will have the strength and skill to stop the rising darkness.' This is how it has always been because some men forced their will upon another. I'm here to give you your choice back. So, I ask you, are you ready not to be alone?"
A smile spread across both Buffy's and Faith's face and they nodded. "Good, then we will strike tomorrow before the First is completely prepared. It will give us all a better chance of making it out alive."
Willow spoke up and asked, "That's a good idea but how are we supposed to unlock the power contained within the scythe?"
Sydney turned and looked at her before saying, "That's where you come in. We have devised a spell to release it and I'll give you the details to that later but what do you think of the plan so far?"
Giles took off his glasses and said, "This flies in the face of everything we've ever—every generation has ever done in the fight against evil." He smiles and says. "I think its bloody brilliant."
Buffy looks surprised and asked him, "You mean that?"
Giles looks from Sydney to Buffy. "If you want my opinion."
"I really do." Buffy begins before Willow interrupts her. "Whoa, hey. Not to poop on the party here, but I'm the guy that's going to have to pull this thing off."
Faith seems to agree. "It is beaucoup d'mojo."
Willow continues, "This goes beyond anything I've ever done. It's a total loss of control, and not in a nice, wholesome, my girlfriend has a pierced tongue kind of way."
Dawn looks quizzically at Willow and Giles looks away, seemingly embarrassed. Buffy assures her, "I wouldn't ask if I didn't think you could do it."
But Willow counters once again, "I—I'm not sure that I'm stable enough."
At this Sydney finally interrupts, "I am. Willow, I understand that you are unsure and scared. But know this, everything major that has happened in your life so far has prepared you for this moment. When you did lose control last year was for a purpose, we are very sorry for the way it happened. And, to be honest, we knew exactly what would happen to push you over the edge and we're sorry we couldn't prevent it but you will be rewarded. We do know that you are one of the most powerful witches to date. You had to completely lose control so you could learn to gain total control. I know you can do it. For so has it been written and so shall it be."
Willow looks surprised at that and sheepishly asks, "This has been prophesized?"
Sydney simply nods her head. "We know that the witch who ended Angeleus' rein will activate the slayers. You can and you will do this."
As Willow contemplates this new information, Giles draws the attention back to him. "This will ensure the future of the slayer line and help us take out the Turok-Han but what about the First? Even if we destroy its army, it will only raise another?"
Sydney nodded and agreed, "You're bloody well right. It would take many years but eventually, she would come back but that's where I come in. I will need to be protected. That's another reason we will need all the slayers available present. I won't need long, just a few undisturbed seconds."
Giles put his glasses back on and thought about it. "Then I guess you know something else we don't because, all the research and information we've done indicates that the First cannot be defeated."
"You're right. What I know and you don't could fill a library ten times over but I don't mind shedding a little light, so to speak, on this for you. I have some abilities that you aren't aware of yet. Here's a little demo of what I'm capable of. And she said 'Let there be light.'" The room startled as every light turned on and what was once lit softly and gently by candles was now flooded with artificial light. "And there was and it was good."
Dawn, who looked uneasy on her feet, said "Wow." Then Willow said, "So, you're a witch?"
Sydney rushed over to Dawn's side and gently eased her onto the bed. She urged everyone sitting there off and then lay Dawn down. As she pushed Dawn's hair away from her face she quietly said, "I'm so sorry, Baby. I should have warned you."
Then she stood up and addressed Willow. "No, I'm not a witch. I'm a sorceress."
Willow quickly retorted, "Sorcery isn't real. You have to tap into the elements. And why did the backlash affect only Dawn?"
"Sorcery is very real. What I can do is not limited by the elements. I command the Will and the Word or the Wish and the Word, depending on who you ask."
After pulling herself back together, Dawn sat up and asked "But I heard it. Did anyone else hear it?"
She looked around the room and everyone was shaking their heads. Giles asked, "What do you mean hear it? What exactly did you hear?"
Dawn got a perplexed look on her face, "I don't know if heard is the right word. It's more like sensed. It was really strange."
Sydney smiled at Dawn. "When I use my will, I do make a noise, of sorts. Only those with certain talents can hear it. I'm sorry I didn't realize it would affect you that much. As you are around it more, you will grow accustomed to it. I need you to know what it was before it happened tomorrow because what I'm going to do will be different than that. I plan on not just killing the First but unmaking her. While that was kind of a pleasant experience, tomorrow when I gather my will you will want to try and stop it. You mustn't. If you do stop me, it will definitely destroy me and quite possibly this world. Do you understand?"
Dawn got a far away look in her eyes and was silent for a second. Then a voice that sounded similar to Dawn's but much older and wiser filled the room, "And so shall it be."
Dawn looked at Sydney wide eyed and Sydney only smiled and gave her a look of understanding. Buffy looked at Dawn and inquired to what just happened. Dawn looked at her and said, "I'm not exactly sure but I know it will be ok. There was this voice in my head that said 'So it has been written.' And I just knew in order for us to win, I had to agree."
"I'm glad our friend decided to pay you a little visit. It's going to make things a lot easier for you to accept."
Although he had been silent during this entire meeting, Xander raised his hand. After Sydney nodded at him to go ahead, the questions came pouring out of his mouth. "Ok, now I'm even more lost. Is it the First just trying to manipulate her? And why did she agree and since when does Dawn hear voices?"
"No, Xander it wasn't the First. I don't really know how to explain it but it was good." Dawn told him.
Sydney backed Dawn up. "She's right. It wasn't the First. In fact I am cloaking this entire room from the First right now. So, there is no way it could get in to spy. Our friend just needed her assurance that she would let me do my job."
"I don't understand. You keep saying our friend but who was that?" Dawn asked.
Sydney sighed and said, "Well, that's kind of difficult to explain. It may take awhile."
"But I need to know." Dawn said with the same confidence she made her pledge with. She didn't completely understand what was going on but she knew it was important, beyond apocalypse important.
"Yes, you do. I was hoping that I could wait and begin your education after all this is said and done but your right. You need to know." Sydney sat down on the edge of the bed. "Know now that this is the very condensed version of history. Now something's are going to go against what you have been taught and don't worry, watcher, the twins have all the books and proof you could ever want. They'll meet up with us later and they have been given instructions to bring their entire library and make you copies. It should be more than enough to rebuild a council."
Sydney turned and looked directly at Anya. "You will already know some of this and can give confirmation after I'm done."
Sydney turned to speak to Spike. When she made eye contact, he noticed the sadness that was reflected there. She opened and closed her mouth, shook her head and addressed the group once more. "I'm sorry about all the lies and deceptions we have used over the years but understand that we are trying to take care of everything and our instructions aren't always clear. Now first let me explain who 'we' are. There is Polgara, Belgarath, and the twins Beltira and Belkira. They are all disciples to the god, Aldur. There used to be many others but they have been lost along the way. I am a disciple of Eriod. While I do serve a different Master, we all have the same common goal. Our family is different than most. We all have what my grandfather, Belgarath, calls 'talent', which is what I demonstrated earlier. Also, you will notice that twins also run in the family. Aunt Pol has a twin and so do I. They were both lost many years ago."
Sydney paused and looked over at the open window before she began speaking again. "Baby girl, you might as well come in. You should know by now that no matter how sneaky you get you could never hide from me."
A black cat with kinked tail jumped from the roof and into the room. She immediately went and sat down in Sydney's lap. Sydney reached up and stoked the cat's head. "What are you doing here? You were supposed to stay with Pol and help her with the girls. (Pause) I know. (Pause) You will not be near any of the fighting tomorrow. Understand? (Pause) She is? Then who is with the girls?"
There was another brief pause then Sydney began to laugh. "That's great. He must have been thrilled to hear that."
Sydney turned her attention from the cat and back to the group. "Sorry about the interruption but this is Sally. She's been with me for a while now and wanted to be here for the showdown tomorrow. As you probably noticed, over the years we have developed a connection and she can speak to me. She also understands many different languages, including English. So, she will understand whatever you tell her and then if she needs to respond she will go through me. She has told me that Aunt Pol will be able to meet up with me in LA after we're done here. She was suppose to be bring her group of potentials with her but in order for her to get here in time she left them in the care of Grandfather, who has never understood teenage girls and is probably ready to kill them all himself. That's good news because Pol has forgotten more about medicine then the best doctor has ever hoped to learn. So, she will be able to patch everyone up."
Sydney looked over and noticed Spike was staring intently at Sally. He saw her watching him and offered an explanation. "Sally seems really familiar. I was trying to remember if I had ever seen her before."
Sydney looked down at Sally and then nodded. "You have. She said that she spent some time with you when I sent her here."
A look of understanding crossed Spike's features and he said, "That's right. She stayed at the crypt some the summer Buffy was...gone. Then she just stopped showing up. I had completely forgotten until just now."
"Yeah, she came back to me. I needed to know what was going on here but was unable to come myself. Now that that's been settled, I'll continue. So my family takes orders from our respective Masters and in accordance with Prophecy. Now for some more back-story. When the Universe was created everything was fine until a star died before its time. This accident caused the purpose of the Universe was split into two, which is commonly referred to as good and evil. Sometimes it's a more complicated than that but we don't have time for that now. Each Prophecy tries to pull the Universe in its direction and is battling for control. They cannot confront one another directly. Doing so would destroy everything. So the worlds were created as battlegrounds. Now comes some information you may or may not know either way, perhaps I can explain some more. Ul, father of the gods, and his children couldn't keep the worlds separate without constantly focusing their Will on them. So, all the gods gathered all their Wills together and pour it into the Key."
Everyone looked at Dawn.
"The Key was what some called 'living energy' but it is really the combined Will of the gods. I believe you know what happened with the Key since then. Do you have any questions about it?"
Sydney spoke only to Dawn. She didn't mind that the others were listening in but this information was for Dawn alone. Sydney was willing to tell her everything she wanted to know. Dawn asked, "I would like to know more about the monks that made the Key human."
Sydney nodded and said, "I'll tell you everything I know but granted I wasn't around. You had always stayed with Ul but you wanted to see more of the worlds you were created for. I agreed to take you with me. We traveled to many different places and you will be able to recall many of these memories as I teach you to use your talents."
Dawn looked surprised "Wait a minute; I'm not the Key anymore."
"Yes, you are. You always have been and you always will be. Things will begin to make more sense to you as time goes by and you remember. You must know that there is only one rule that the Universe has. Nothing can cease to exist. As with chemistry, matter can and will change forms and locations but cannot be destroyed. Anyone who tries will be destroyed hence the Prophecies not being able to confront one another. The Key is the instrument that executes this law. That's why I need your permission to win tomorrow. Now that the Key has been created, it cannot be unmade. As you learn to use your talents you will be able to change form so you may not always be human. This is difficult to explain because now that you are human that will always be a part of you but not necessarily who you are. In the same way because you were the Key in pure form, you will always be the Key but now that's not all you are. For another example, I was born a twin girl. I have been many things since my sister passed. I have been a wife, a lover, a fighter, a peacemaker, a student, a teacher and many others. Now, that doesn't mean I'm no longer a twin. I am. I'm just more than that. Understand?"
Dawn nodded her head, as did some of the others. "As I was saying you traveled with me for awhile. Something came up and I was unable to keep you with me. You decided to stay with the Monks that we had been staying with. It was while I was gone that they learned Glory was looking for you. They contacted me and told me. I was still unable to come and help so I sent them my Will with instructions to create a human body for you and send you to the Slayer for protection. Now, I didn't know that they blocked your memories, they made you to be Buffy's sister, or whose image they used."
At that Dawn looked puzzled "whose image did they use?"
"My sister's" Sydney's voice was full of sadness. "You look just like her. If I hadn't known who you were when I saw you, I would have thought she had returned to me."
Sydney sat there, remembering for a minute before she continued. "I'm sorry but I still grieve for her. She lived a long, full and happy life but it never seems like enough. It turns out the monks were working with some different instructions as well. Pol had informed them it was necessary for your memories to be blocked. You couldn't know who you were or you would never allow me to bend the rules. I can't explain anymore right now and if you have any questions they'll have to wait until tomorrow night to be answered."
Sydney paused and made sure everyone was still with her before she continued. "With that information in mind, the voice you heard in your mind was the Prophecy. He shows up every now and then for guidance during the Events. That's what we have spent the last years preparing for, an Event. There are many different situations that have to be pushed just right to make an Event happen and outcome the way we want. Now, were there any other questions before we end this?"
Giles, who had been cleaning his glasses for a while, spoke up. "Yes, I would like to know how you get your 'instructions' and the 'Prophecy'."
"My instructions come directly from Eriod or are passed along as messages from Aldur or my family members. We are able to send our thoughts out to one another so we are able to communicate at all times. As for the Prophecy, on each side, two seers are chosen. They receive visions. We interrupt the visions and make sure those things happen or don't happen depending on the outcome we desire."
At that, Giles put his glasses back on. "If you knew this war was going on why are you just now showing up?"
"I should have been here much earlier but unfortunately our seers didn't give us all the information we needed. Luckily, ya'll are very good and have managed quite well. In fact with the choices you have made, even if I don't interfere you will still beat back The First. I'm just here to ensure The First cannot come back and to control the casualties."
Sydney looked down at the cat that seemed to be sleeping in her lap. "I can really do without your running commentary. (Pause) Fine."
She looks back up and continues. "Sally is insisting that you know the reason our seers didn't give us all the information they received. Here's a little background. Visions are very powerful and the human body and mind cannot handle them without taking damage. The visions drive a person mad or kill them and eventually both. Both our seers were in my charge. Our first seer was killed before his time. Our other seer's mind was broken before its time. Now, she is only able to interpret some of the visions. She gets them confused with her own delusions. Not to mention that she was turned into a demon so she only gives the visions she wants us to interfere with. Basically, it's my fault. Grandfather knows this is my mess, which is why I am here to clean it up. They were under my protection and it was my responsibility to get all the visions from them. I didn't."
Anya looked glanced around at everyone and decided to speak up. "I've heard many stories about you. I never believed them. I assumed you were some fairytales because there is not way one woman could do all that. Now I'm beginning to believe them. If only half the things I've heard are true, anyone under your protection would be completely safe. How was your Seer was killed?"
Sydney's eyes dropped to the floor and her voice was low and full of pain. "I killed him."
After a few moments, Sydney blinked back her unshed tears and spoke again. "Over the period of my long life, I have loved three men. I watched my husband grow old and wither away. I watched my Seer have visions that were crippling his body and mind. He couldn't do it anymore and wanted the release death would bring. He was a religious man and wouldn't do it himself. So, I killed him. Know this, when I love albeit rarely, it is fully. There is nothing I will not do for my Love or for a life he loves."
To that Anya asked. "What about the third?"
"He is under my protection and no harm will come to him. I will not fail again." Sydney said this with such conviction none dared contradict her. After several moments of silence, she stood with Sally in her arms. Her voice took on a tone of resignment, as if she had lost hope. "I think I'm done talking for tonight. We all have a big day ahead of us tomorrow. Do you best to get rested up." She handed a few papers she had been keeping in her shirt to Willow. Willow's eyes bugged. "This should be all the information you need to do the spell tomorrow. I can be in contact with the witch who devised it if you have any questions." She turned at looked at Buffy. "Is there someplace I can crash for awhile?"
Buffy merely shrugged, "Where ever you can find."
Spike stood up. "I'm the only one in the basement and you can smoke down there. You're more than welcome to stay there. I assume Sally will want to stay with you and we've bunked together before. It'll be like old times."
"Thanks. Lead the way."
"First I would like to talk about a plan of attack. As you know, Buffy has recovered a weapon forged in ancient times and this scythe is our trump card. My plan is to use the power stored there to activate all the potentials, making everyone of them a slayer. There are many more potentials all over the world. The ones you have gathered here are only the top of the batting list due to age and some other factors. If every potential is a slayer then it will be virtually impossible for our visually impaired friends to take all of them out."
Sydney turned and spoke to Buffy and Faith. "This means that you will no longer be alone. Instead of the burden weighing solely on your shoulders, the heavy load will be shared among many. Since the beginning of the slayer line it has always been one girl, all alone, separated from those she is expected to save by her strength and her duty. 'Into every generation, a slayer is born. One girl in all the world. She alone will have the strength and skill to stop the rising darkness.' This is how it has always been because some men forced their will upon another. I'm here to give you your choice back. So, I ask you, are you ready not to be alone?"
A smile spread across both Buffy's and Faith's face and they nodded. "Good, then we will strike tomorrow before the First is completely prepared. It will give us all a better chance of making it out alive."
Willow spoke up and asked, "That's a good idea but how are we supposed to unlock the power contained within the scythe?"
Sydney turned and looked at her before saying, "That's where you come in. We have devised a spell to release it and I'll give you the details to that later but what do you think of the plan so far?"
Giles took off his glasses and said, "This flies in the face of everything we've ever—every generation has ever done in the fight against evil." He smiles and says. "I think its bloody brilliant."
Buffy looks surprised and asked him, "You mean that?"
Giles looks from Sydney to Buffy. "If you want my opinion."
"I really do." Buffy begins before Willow interrupts her. "Whoa, hey. Not to poop on the party here, but I'm the guy that's going to have to pull this thing off."
Faith seems to agree. "It is beaucoup d'mojo."
Willow continues, "This goes beyond anything I've ever done. It's a total loss of control, and not in a nice, wholesome, my girlfriend has a pierced tongue kind of way."
Dawn looks quizzically at Willow and Giles looks away, seemingly embarrassed. Buffy assures her, "I wouldn't ask if I didn't think you could do it."
But Willow counters once again, "I—I'm not sure that I'm stable enough."
At this Sydney finally interrupts, "I am. Willow, I understand that you are unsure and scared. But know this, everything major that has happened in your life so far has prepared you for this moment. When you did lose control last year was for a purpose, we are very sorry for the way it happened. And, to be honest, we knew exactly what would happen to push you over the edge and we're sorry we couldn't prevent it but you will be rewarded. We do know that you are one of the most powerful witches to date. You had to completely lose control so you could learn to gain total control. I know you can do it. For so has it been written and so shall it be."
Willow looks surprised at that and sheepishly asks, "This has been prophesized?"
Sydney simply nods her head. "We know that the witch who ended Angeleus' rein will activate the slayers. You can and you will do this."
As Willow contemplates this new information, Giles draws the attention back to him. "This will ensure the future of the slayer line and help us take out the Turok-Han but what about the First? Even if we destroy its army, it will only raise another?"
Sydney nodded and agreed, "You're bloody well right. It would take many years but eventually, she would come back but that's where I come in. I will need to be protected. That's another reason we will need all the slayers available present. I won't need long, just a few undisturbed seconds."
Giles put his glasses back on and thought about it. "Then I guess you know something else we don't because, all the research and information we've done indicates that the First cannot be defeated."
"You're right. What I know and you don't could fill a library ten times over but I don't mind shedding a little light, so to speak, on this for you. I have some abilities that you aren't aware of yet. Here's a little demo of what I'm capable of. And she said 'Let there be light.'" The room startled as every light turned on and what was once lit softly and gently by candles was now flooded with artificial light. "And there was and it was good."
Dawn, who looked uneasy on her feet, said "Wow." Then Willow said, "So, you're a witch?"
Sydney rushed over to Dawn's side and gently eased her onto the bed. She urged everyone sitting there off and then lay Dawn down. As she pushed Dawn's hair away from her face she quietly said, "I'm so sorry, Baby. I should have warned you."
Then she stood up and addressed Willow. "No, I'm not a witch. I'm a sorceress."
Willow quickly retorted, "Sorcery isn't real. You have to tap into the elements. And why did the backlash affect only Dawn?"
"Sorcery is very real. What I can do is not limited by the elements. I command the Will and the Word or the Wish and the Word, depending on who you ask."
After pulling herself back together, Dawn sat up and asked "But I heard it. Did anyone else hear it?"
She looked around the room and everyone was shaking their heads. Giles asked, "What do you mean hear it? What exactly did you hear?"
Dawn got a perplexed look on her face, "I don't know if heard is the right word. It's more like sensed. It was really strange."
Sydney smiled at Dawn. "When I use my will, I do make a noise, of sorts. Only those with certain talents can hear it. I'm sorry I didn't realize it would affect you that much. As you are around it more, you will grow accustomed to it. I need you to know what it was before it happened tomorrow because what I'm going to do will be different than that. I plan on not just killing the First but unmaking her. While that was kind of a pleasant experience, tomorrow when I gather my will you will want to try and stop it. You mustn't. If you do stop me, it will definitely destroy me and quite possibly this world. Do you understand?"
Dawn got a far away look in her eyes and was silent for a second. Then a voice that sounded similar to Dawn's but much older and wiser filled the room, "And so shall it be."
Dawn looked at Sydney wide eyed and Sydney only smiled and gave her a look of understanding. Buffy looked at Dawn and inquired to what just happened. Dawn looked at her and said, "I'm not exactly sure but I know it will be ok. There was this voice in my head that said 'So it has been written.' And I just knew in order for us to win, I had to agree."
"I'm glad our friend decided to pay you a little visit. It's going to make things a lot easier for you to accept."
Although he had been silent during this entire meeting, Xander raised his hand. After Sydney nodded at him to go ahead, the questions came pouring out of his mouth. "Ok, now I'm even more lost. Is it the First just trying to manipulate her? And why did she agree and since when does Dawn hear voices?"
"No, Xander it wasn't the First. I don't really know how to explain it but it was good." Dawn told him.
Sydney backed Dawn up. "She's right. It wasn't the First. In fact I am cloaking this entire room from the First right now. So, there is no way it could get in to spy. Our friend just needed her assurance that she would let me do my job."
"I don't understand. You keep saying our friend but who was that?" Dawn asked.
Sydney sighed and said, "Well, that's kind of difficult to explain. It may take awhile."
"But I need to know." Dawn said with the same confidence she made her pledge with. She didn't completely understand what was going on but she knew it was important, beyond apocalypse important.
"Yes, you do. I was hoping that I could wait and begin your education after all this is said and done but your right. You need to know." Sydney sat down on the edge of the bed. "Know now that this is the very condensed version of history. Now something's are going to go against what you have been taught and don't worry, watcher, the twins have all the books and proof you could ever want. They'll meet up with us later and they have been given instructions to bring their entire library and make you copies. It should be more than enough to rebuild a council."
Sydney turned and looked directly at Anya. "You will already know some of this and can give confirmation after I'm done."
Sydney turned to speak to Spike. When she made eye contact, he noticed the sadness that was reflected there. She opened and closed her mouth, shook her head and addressed the group once more. "I'm sorry about all the lies and deceptions we have used over the years but understand that we are trying to take care of everything and our instructions aren't always clear. Now first let me explain who 'we' are. There is Polgara, Belgarath, and the twins Beltira and Belkira. They are all disciples to the god, Aldur. There used to be many others but they have been lost along the way. I am a disciple of Eriod. While I do serve a different Master, we all have the same common goal. Our family is different than most. We all have what my grandfather, Belgarath, calls 'talent', which is what I demonstrated earlier. Also, you will notice that twins also run in the family. Aunt Pol has a twin and so do I. They were both lost many years ago."
Sydney paused and looked over at the open window before she began speaking again. "Baby girl, you might as well come in. You should know by now that no matter how sneaky you get you could never hide from me."
A black cat with kinked tail jumped from the roof and into the room. She immediately went and sat down in Sydney's lap. Sydney reached up and stoked the cat's head. "What are you doing here? You were supposed to stay with Pol and help her with the girls. (Pause) I know. (Pause) You will not be near any of the fighting tomorrow. Understand? (Pause) She is? Then who is with the girls?"
There was another brief pause then Sydney began to laugh. "That's great. He must have been thrilled to hear that."
Sydney turned her attention from the cat and back to the group. "Sorry about the interruption but this is Sally. She's been with me for a while now and wanted to be here for the showdown tomorrow. As you probably noticed, over the years we have developed a connection and she can speak to me. She also understands many different languages, including English. So, she will understand whatever you tell her and then if she needs to respond she will go through me. She has told me that Aunt Pol will be able to meet up with me in LA after we're done here. She was suppose to be bring her group of potentials with her but in order for her to get here in time she left them in the care of Grandfather, who has never understood teenage girls and is probably ready to kill them all himself. That's good news because Pol has forgotten more about medicine then the best doctor has ever hoped to learn. So, she will be able to patch everyone up."
Sydney looked over and noticed Spike was staring intently at Sally. He saw her watching him and offered an explanation. "Sally seems really familiar. I was trying to remember if I had ever seen her before."
Sydney looked down at Sally and then nodded. "You have. She said that she spent some time with you when I sent her here."
A look of understanding crossed Spike's features and he said, "That's right. She stayed at the crypt some the summer Buffy was...gone. Then she just stopped showing up. I had completely forgotten until just now."
"Yeah, she came back to me. I needed to know what was going on here but was unable to come myself. Now that that's been settled, I'll continue. So my family takes orders from our respective Masters and in accordance with Prophecy. Now for some more back-story. When the Universe was created everything was fine until a star died before its time. This accident caused the purpose of the Universe was split into two, which is commonly referred to as good and evil. Sometimes it's a more complicated than that but we don't have time for that now. Each Prophecy tries to pull the Universe in its direction and is battling for control. They cannot confront one another directly. Doing so would destroy everything. So the worlds were created as battlegrounds. Now comes some information you may or may not know either way, perhaps I can explain some more. Ul, father of the gods, and his children couldn't keep the worlds separate without constantly focusing their Will on them. So, all the gods gathered all their Wills together and pour it into the Key."
Everyone looked at Dawn.
"The Key was what some called 'living energy' but it is really the combined Will of the gods. I believe you know what happened with the Key since then. Do you have any questions about it?"
Sydney spoke only to Dawn. She didn't mind that the others were listening in but this information was for Dawn alone. Sydney was willing to tell her everything she wanted to know. Dawn asked, "I would like to know more about the monks that made the Key human."
Sydney nodded and said, "I'll tell you everything I know but granted I wasn't around. You had always stayed with Ul but you wanted to see more of the worlds you were created for. I agreed to take you with me. We traveled to many different places and you will be able to recall many of these memories as I teach you to use your talents."
Dawn looked surprised "Wait a minute; I'm not the Key anymore."
"Yes, you are. You always have been and you always will be. Things will begin to make more sense to you as time goes by and you remember. You must know that there is only one rule that the Universe has. Nothing can cease to exist. As with chemistry, matter can and will change forms and locations but cannot be destroyed. Anyone who tries will be destroyed hence the Prophecies not being able to confront one another. The Key is the instrument that executes this law. That's why I need your permission to win tomorrow. Now that the Key has been created, it cannot be unmade. As you learn to use your talents you will be able to change form so you may not always be human. This is difficult to explain because now that you are human that will always be a part of you but not necessarily who you are. In the same way because you were the Key in pure form, you will always be the Key but now that's not all you are. For another example, I was born a twin girl. I have been many things since my sister passed. I have been a wife, a lover, a fighter, a peacemaker, a student, a teacher and many others. Now, that doesn't mean I'm no longer a twin. I am. I'm just more than that. Understand?"
Dawn nodded her head, as did some of the others. "As I was saying you traveled with me for awhile. Something came up and I was unable to keep you with me. You decided to stay with the Monks that we had been staying with. It was while I was gone that they learned Glory was looking for you. They contacted me and told me. I was still unable to come and help so I sent them my Will with instructions to create a human body for you and send you to the Slayer for protection. Now, I didn't know that they blocked your memories, they made you to be Buffy's sister, or whose image they used."
At that Dawn looked puzzled "whose image did they use?"
"My sister's" Sydney's voice was full of sadness. "You look just like her. If I hadn't known who you were when I saw you, I would have thought she had returned to me."
Sydney sat there, remembering for a minute before she continued. "I'm sorry but I still grieve for her. She lived a long, full and happy life but it never seems like enough. It turns out the monks were working with some different instructions as well. Pol had informed them it was necessary for your memories to be blocked. You couldn't know who you were or you would never allow me to bend the rules. I can't explain anymore right now and if you have any questions they'll have to wait until tomorrow night to be answered."
Sydney paused and made sure everyone was still with her before she continued. "With that information in mind, the voice you heard in your mind was the Prophecy. He shows up every now and then for guidance during the Events. That's what we have spent the last years preparing for, an Event. There are many different situations that have to be pushed just right to make an Event happen and outcome the way we want. Now, were there any other questions before we end this?"
Giles, who had been cleaning his glasses for a while, spoke up. "Yes, I would like to know how you get your 'instructions' and the 'Prophecy'."
"My instructions come directly from Eriod or are passed along as messages from Aldur or my family members. We are able to send our thoughts out to one another so we are able to communicate at all times. As for the Prophecy, on each side, two seers are chosen. They receive visions. We interrupt the visions and make sure those things happen or don't happen depending on the outcome we desire."
At that, Giles put his glasses back on. "If you knew this war was going on why are you just now showing up?"
"I should have been here much earlier but unfortunately our seers didn't give us all the information we needed. Luckily, ya'll are very good and have managed quite well. In fact with the choices you have made, even if I don't interfere you will still beat back The First. I'm just here to ensure The First cannot come back and to control the casualties."
Sydney looked down at the cat that seemed to be sleeping in her lap. "I can really do without your running commentary. (Pause) Fine."
She looks back up and continues. "Sally is insisting that you know the reason our seers didn't give us all the information they received. Here's a little background. Visions are very powerful and the human body and mind cannot handle them without taking damage. The visions drive a person mad or kill them and eventually both. Both our seers were in my charge. Our first seer was killed before his time. Our other seer's mind was broken before its time. Now, she is only able to interpret some of the visions. She gets them confused with her own delusions. Not to mention that she was turned into a demon so she only gives the visions she wants us to interfere with. Basically, it's my fault. Grandfather knows this is my mess, which is why I am here to clean it up. They were under my protection and it was my responsibility to get all the visions from them. I didn't."
Anya looked glanced around at everyone and decided to speak up. "I've heard many stories about you. I never believed them. I assumed you were some fairytales because there is not way one woman could do all that. Now I'm beginning to believe them. If only half the things I've heard are true, anyone under your protection would be completely safe. How was your Seer was killed?"
Sydney's eyes dropped to the floor and her voice was low and full of pain. "I killed him."
After a few moments, Sydney blinked back her unshed tears and spoke again. "Over the period of my long life, I have loved three men. I watched my husband grow old and wither away. I watched my Seer have visions that were crippling his body and mind. He couldn't do it anymore and wanted the release death would bring. He was a religious man and wouldn't do it himself. So, I killed him. Know this, when I love albeit rarely, it is fully. There is nothing I will not do for my Love or for a life he loves."
To that Anya asked. "What about the third?"
"He is under my protection and no harm will come to him. I will not fail again." Sydney said this with such conviction none dared contradict her. After several moments of silence, she stood with Sally in her arms. Her voice took on a tone of resignment, as if she had lost hope. "I think I'm done talking for tonight. We all have a big day ahead of us tomorrow. Do you best to get rested up." She handed a few papers she had been keeping in her shirt to Willow. Willow's eyes bugged. "This should be all the information you need to do the spell tomorrow. I can be in contact with the witch who devised it if you have any questions." She turned at looked at Buffy. "Is there someplace I can crash for awhile?"
Buffy merely shrugged, "Where ever you can find."
Spike stood up. "I'm the only one in the basement and you can smoke down there. You're more than welcome to stay there. I assume Sally will want to stay with you and we've bunked together before. It'll be like old times."
"Thanks. Lead the way."