Disclaimer: Since my name is not Joss Whedon, 'Angel' and all the characters associated with the show belong to someone who isn't me. I also don't own the storyline - that's taken from gidgetgirl's 'Twice The Trouble' Challenge, posted on the Chocolate Covered Strawberries Challenge Archive.
'Twice The Trouble' Challenge
A Fred Throwback. In season five of Angel, Illyria's attempt to takeover Fred's body is thwarted by the Powers that Be, and the result is that, when Illyria enters Fred's body, the body splits in half: into two identical little girls, save one has blue hair. The Angel gang has to keep little Illyria (if that's her name...) from taking over the world, and take care of little Fred. You take it from there.
Requirements:
The evil one must have blue hair.
Harmony must make an appearance in the fic.
Both Gunn and Wes must babysit... one of the girls must like each of them better than the other.
Author's Note I: I'd like to thank my beta, Botticelli's Venus, for her help proof-reading this chapter.
Author's Note II: I'm adding teleportation and telekinesis to Illyria's list of party tricks.
Author's Note III: To fischergirl – Don't worry, nobody is going to hurt little Fred. Do you honestly think that Wesley, Angel or any of the rest of the gang would let them if they tried?
Words in / / = Thoughts.
*
Chapter 7.
Same time, Wolfram and Hart Containment Area.
Nobody ever believed him when he told him that the law firm he worked for had a dungeon in the basement.
The first time he had been told of it, he had been convinced that his colleagues were trying to pull his leg.
Now, Knox was getting first hand experience of the Wolfram and Hart containment area and he was finding it less than pleasant.
Although the building was designed and built to the latest standards of modern architecture, some perverse quirk on the part of the designer had led him, her or it to go with the traditional dank, medieval look for the dungeon.
Judging from the smell, Knox assumed that the plumbing was also of medieval standards.
He had awoken in the miserable cell, chained to a damp, mildewed wall after Gunn had so rudely bludgeoned him over the head with a metal canister.
Since then, he had been subjected to repeated interrogations and threats from Angel, who couldn't quite seem to grasp the fact that Knox would rather bear any form of unimaginably brutal torture rather than betray his goddess.
Despite the strength of his convictions, he was becoming rather worried about the fact that the Divine One had not yet appeared, drawn to the sacred sacraments imbedded beneath his skin and, though he would never have admitted it, he was more than a little unnerved by Angel's vague references to chainsaws.
/My Goddess will come for me. / Knox thought, a little desperately. /She has to. /
No sooner had the thoughts formed in his mind than the dismal cell was illuminated by an ethereal blue glow.
Moving as fast as his heavy fetters allowed, Knox flung himself to the ground, prostrating himself on the cold, stone floor.
"I have waited for so long to bask in your radiance, O Sacred One." He murmured, his heart surging with joy at the thought of being in the presence of his deity.
"You are my Qwa'ha Xhan?"
Knox frowned. Her voice was not as he had expected it to be. It was higher, lighter.
"Rise."
Knox hastily climbed to his feet, keeping his eyes glued to the ground, not entirely sure what the correct protocol was for a first audience with the ancient goddess.
"You are taller than my last Qwa'ha Xhan." His goddess announced. "At least," Her tone became doubtful. "You appear to be."
"My humble stature is magnified by the glory of your presence O Celestial One." Knox pledged reverently, finally lifting his eyes. "I am your loyal servant, O Div . . ." He trailed off as his brain registered what he was seeing. "Oh sh*t!"
"Quite." Little Illyria's lips were pressed together in a scowl entirely unsuited to her childish features.
Little Fred, whose hand she still held, sucked her thumb as she regarded Knox solemnly, not saying anything.
Knox gulped. /This can't be good. /
"O Divine Majesty," He began, a little shakily. "Forgive me. I . . ."
"Enough!" Illyria's childlike voice resonated throughout the narrow confines of the cell. A flick of her hand sent the hapless Knox flying across the cell, careening into the stone wall. "You have failed me."
* * *
Angel's office.
"Wes, slow down. I can barely make out a word of what you're saying. What happened?" Angel's frown deepened as the former Watcher's words became coherent.
Spike, dropping by for his usual afternoon taunting, took one look at his grandsire's serious expression and wisely kept his mouth shut.
"You lost them?!" Angel exploded. "How did you lose them?! Both of them!"
"Boss?" Harmony knocked on the door before entering.
Angel scowled at her intrusion.
"What?" He barked, too concerned about little Fred's whereabouts to control his temper.
Harmony instinctively took a step back, wanting to put some distance between herself and her irate employer before continuing.
"Security just called." She told him in a meek voice. "There's been a security breach in the containment level.
Angel's scowl deepened as he met Spike's eyes, knowing that they were on the same wavelength.
"Knox."
* * *
Knox's cell.
Illyria paced back and forth in the narrow confines of the cell, taking the longest strides that her short legs allowed.
She paused, turning on her heel to glare at the cringing Knox.
"This was not what was to happen." Her words sounded strange in her childish voice. "I was to return in a form that would have allowed me to re-establish my kingdom. Instead, as a result of your failure, I return thus." She scowled at her small hands. "Scarcely stronger than a human child." Without warning, the little goddess's voice took on a distinct note of whining. "It's not fair!" She stamped her foot petulantly, yearning for the days when such a gesture on her part would have brought armies to their knees. "I want my world back. NOW!"
"Yes, O Divine One." Knox grovelled hastily, anxious to placate his irate deity. "Our numbers may be few, but we shall . . ."
"Few?" Illyria looked stricken, like a small child who had just learned that there was no Santa Claus. "But what has become of my army?"
"Gone." Knox shook his head regretfully. "There are only a handful of us left. A faithful handful." He added hastily, wanting to worm his way back into the miniature goddess's good graces.
Little Illyria waved aside his protestations of fidelity aside as though they were of little or no consequence. "How will you restore my world?"
"There's nothing I can do about that." Knox ducked slightly as he said it, not wanting a repeat of his encounter with the wall.
"Can we go back to the zoo now?" Fred was scared by everything that had happened in the past minute or so. "Wesley will be worried and we'll get into trouble for going off by ourselves." She glared at her counterpart. "Even though it was all your fault.
Illyria ignored her. She drew herself up to her full, not very considerable height and gave Knox her most intimidating glare. "If my army is gone, then you must bring me a new one." Her casual tone made it sound as though Knox would be able to purchase a demonic army at the nearest convenience store. "I will not accept excuses." She informed him. "Your success in this matter may balance out your previous failure."
Knox, knowing the unpleasant fate that had befallen others who had failed Illyria, nodded hastily. "I will." He pledged. "But I . . ." He gestured to the cell. "You know."
"Of course." Illyria inclined her head graciously. Ignoring little Fred's indignant protests, she snatched the other child's hand in hers, smiling in satisfaction as the room was once again enveloped in an ethereal glow.
* * *
"How long has it been since the alarm went off?" Angel asked, striding rapidly towards the door, flanked by Spike and a contingent of security guards.
"Approximately three minutes, sir." One of the team volunteered.
Angel swore under his breath. He had a sneaking suspicion that the child goddess could do a lot of damage in three minutes.
/She's far more powerful than we thought. / He thought ruefully.
The guards took up positions on either side of the door and Angel nodded to their leader, allowing him to open it.
His heart sank when he saw what had happened.
"Bollocks!" Spike exclaimed, rushing towards the fallen bodies of the two little girls. He caught the wrist of the child nearest to him and a relieved smile spread over his features. "It's alright.' He looked over at the stricken Angel. "They've just fainted."
TBC.
Author's Note: If anyone thinks this chapter is a bit strange, please rest assured that there is method to my madness.
I'll have the next update ready as soon as I can. In the meantime, please review.