Harmony the Vampire Slayer
Chapter 5: The Harvest, Part 1
Disclaimer: All Buffy and Angel characters belong to Josss Whedon, David Greenwalt, and 20th
Century Fox. No copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: Replies to Reviews: Mark Langenfeld: Um, Mark? It's an AU. Buffy's a vampire, also
over three centuries old. She was sired by Ripper.
Karmawiccan: I know Cordelia is a bit OOC, but I had to break that rule for her to be
Harmony's Willow. And, Devon may or may not be Harmony's Xander; you'll have to find out.
Grins evilly Darla deserved to die. EVIL! OK, I'm done. :-)
"Devon, wait up!" Harmony shouted, while running as fast as she could. With her Slayer speed,
she easily caught up with him.
"What do you want?" Devon snapped, walking in a speedy gait.
"I want to say, I'm not a freak. Come down to Mr. Price, and he'll explain everything."
"Why? I don't know what that was, but you killed it. You killed a human. You're a murderer!"
Devon accused.
"Devon, that wasn't a human. It was a vampire. Just, please, come down to Mr. Price and he'll
explain everything." Harmony pleaded with Devon.
"Fine, Harmony." Devon gave in with a sigh, exasperated. They turned around and walked back
to Wesley's room.
"Hello, Devon." Wesley greeted him, albeit a bit sourly.
"Hey." Devon said, emotionless, with a deadpan look.
"So, want me to explain what happened?" Harmony asked in a cheerful voice, surprising, all
things considered.
"Sure." Devon said, looking a bit indifferent.
"Okay well, vampires, demons, werewolves, witches, warlocks, evil purple frogs crossbred with
evil green pigs, they're all real." Harmony explained. This earned a weird look from Wesley.
"Evil frogs? Evil purple frogs? Crossbred with evil green pigs?" Wesley questioned.
"Hey, it could happen. Ya never know, in Sunny-D." Cordy offered.
"Anyway, after that rude interruption," Harmony glared at Wesley, "I'm the Slayer. In every
generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires demons, and forces
of darkness. She is the Slayer. 'She' is me. I'm the Slayer. Slayer comma the."
"Ok. I get that, I guess. But why you? Why pick on some rich blond girl who just wants to be
popular?" Devon asked, curiously.
"I dunno," she looked pointedly at Wes, "You're the Watcher here. Why? Why me?"
"I really can't answer that Harmony, you'd have to ask Whistler."
"Who's that? Can he whistle?" Harmony asked. Wes stifled a laugh, the image of Whistler
whistling striking him as funny.
"Uh, Whistler is a demon. Not good or bad, though. He serves as a messenger to The Powers
That Be of sorts. He's the one that determined you would be the next Slayer and I would be
your Watcher." Wesley explained.
"Oh." Harmony said.
"So, Buffy, have you seen Spike around lately?" Ripper asked, in his lair.
"Yes, actually. I went all taunter-ific on him in his crypt. It was fun." Buffy grinned evilly.
"Good. Stupid soul boy. Doesn't he know that good never wins?" Ripper drabbled bitterly.
"Hey guys, what's up?" Alexander LaVelle Harris came down from the sewage systems,
looking a bit disheveled.
"Hey, Xand." Buffy greeted.
"Hello, Xander." Ripper acknowledged.
"I found out something. The Slayer," Xander's visage twitched in and out of demon, "knows
about the Harvest."
"This is most interesting news. How did you find this out, if I may ask?" Ripper interrogated of
his grandchilde.
"I was standing under the place where the Slayer and her Watcher were discussing Spike and
you two. Thought it might be interesting. And, lo and behold, it was! So yayness!" Xander explained.
"What exactly did she say?" Ripper asked. "Well, she knows the general concept, but I don't
think she knows when the bite-ness starts. Shall we give her some hints?" Xander asked slyly.
"What did you have in mind?" Giles rose from his throne, which was reminiscent of a bat, wings
and all.
"Well, I figured one of us could leave a book on their doorstep that just happened to be about
the Harvest." Xander grinned goofily, without a doubt enjoying plotting ways to confuse and
torture the Slayer and her Watcher.
"Good idea, Xand. I can do that. I'll go tonight. Chances are that uptight Watcher will find it."
Buffy volunteered.
"Thanks, Buff." Xander expressed thanks toward his sire.
The next morning, walking up the steps to Sunnydale High, Wesley noticed a crimson leather
bound book on the ground. Picking it up, he noticed it was, in fact, an old original Watcher's
Journal. The text on the cover said "Watcher's Journals: On the Vampire Called Ripper." It was
only seven in the morning, so Wesley had time to translate at least some of the book. He walked
to his classroom, skipping his morning routine, which was coffee, coffee, and more coffee.
Sitting down at his desk, he gazed at the book. It was ancient, yet still generally undamaged. He
opened it up. Apparently the book was written by one of the first Watchers ever, a Melinda
Giles. Turning the page, what he saw made bile rise up in his throat. Ripper, in all his evil,
demonic, glory took up a full two pages with his picture. Aside from the face, black leather, and
pyramid studs all over, he almost looked... peaceful. Calm, collected, and tranquil. The book
was handwritten in large, scrawling text. Wesley translated the first page. It gave a brief
history of Ripper, which Wesley already knew, but seeing as this book was written by someone
who had obviously ran across Ripper during her days as a Watcher, he decided to read through
it anyway. Good lord. I can't believe this. Those were Wesley's thoughts as he read
something as startling as a sudden 'BOO!'
The vampire Ripper may only be killed, really killed, in one way. Shoving a steel stake
through his brain. Ripper has confirmed this, though it is not known why, or how he was
able to be this powerful. It may be the work of a spell, a very powerful one, perhaps more
powerful than the very spell used to create Slayers.
"Okay, class! Remember, have that essay on the causes of World War II and how to prevent
future such events done by Friday!" Wesley called after the departing class.
"Harmony. I need to speak with you. I've found the most startling news," Wesley went into the
back room and motioned for Harmony to follow, "I found this book on the steps to the school.
It looks ancient, but unweathered. It's about Ripper, and subsequently, the Harvest. Here's the
new piece of news." Flipping past the page he wanted, Wesley read something as equally
startling as the piece he had read earlier. It was on the Harvest:
Every three years since the trapping of Ripper in different dimensions, there has been a
Harvest. None so far have succeeded, for the Watcher's Council has sent a Slayer and her
Watcher to the Hellmouth every time. So far, the Harvest has been on October 1st.
"Today. Tonight. The Harvest is tonight. Lord, almighty."
"What? The Harvest is tonight? But, I've barely been trained!" Harmony protested, "You
would think those evil nasties would change their calendars for their superior, but NO!"
"We can't change it. One more thing, though. I've found out something about Ripper.
According to this," Wesley turned to the page he'd originally wanted, "Ripper can only be
dusted with a steel stake pushed through his brain."
"Wow. Slayers are strong, strong enough to break a wooden chair leg, easily. I've found that
out, reading the Slayer's Journals you gave me. But, steel? Wes, is anyone strong enough to
break steel?" Harmony asked.
"Well, yes. We'll get the steel stake later. But for now, let's load you up with some weapons
that will extinguish regular vampires." Wesley told Harmony. "Give me your backpack. I don't
need to tell you how to use these weapons, as your Slayer instincts should kick in. I'll be fighting
with you tonight." Wesley notified Harmony, putting a single crossbow, vials of holy water and
hellfire, stakes, and a reaper wing into her backpack.
"Wow. I'm going all Xena-ish. I'm all aglow with yayness. Yayness!"
"Come back after school and tell your parents you're staying over at Cordelia's or something. If
need be, Cordelia can help with some protection spells."