Part 13: The Fates

Swords clashing in the night.
Shouts of encouragement.
Unnatural light casting shadows upon the fighters.
Pegasus and night-stallion fighting to defeat each other.
Blood drawn.
Battle ended.

"Well done," spoke Mavric from where he had watched with the others.

Buffy and Angel went over to the others as their mounts went into the forest. Grinning in exhausted triumph, Buffy asked, "How long did that match go?"

Angel looked at his "watch", and said, "Roughly five hours, Love. And at this rate -- when we finally face the harpy -- we'll be able to go for several days at a time without rest."

Buffy frowned at that, before saying, "Speaking of which: we still haven't been told how to defeat the harpy."

"Another group that is coming will tell you that, Slayer," said a druid.

The Slayer scowled as she said in annoyance, "You know, at this rate, we're going to need to rent a stadium so that everyone that wants to watch us battle the harpy can watch!"

"The group that is coming is not large," explained another druid, "but are only three women that are called the Fates."

"Why's that," asked Willow curiously.

"As with the Fates of Greek legend," said a female druid, "these three can see the past, present, and future."

Mavric then said, "The Fates of this time are sisters. Triplets, in fact. Together, they are the most powerful group of seers to exist since the fall of the Greek Gods."

"And what of Merlin, Mavric," asked a Watcher.

The wizard turned his gaze to Buffy and Angel, and quietly said, "Yes, he did posses power, but it was not for the sight. No matter what others thought. But his power doesn't even compare to the power that these two paladins weld."

"What do you mean?" asked another.

"Their spirits have lived lifetimes. One in just one body. The other in many. Though they did not know it, they sought each other out constantly. Through all that time, they learned and grew in power, until they once again found each other. In this lifetime, they have been rejoined, and through hardships unbearable...they have stayed together, and bound themselves to each other forever."

A week had passed without anything out of the ordinary happening -- for Sunnydale that is --, when they received the first use of the Beacons as other than timepieces.

Buffy ran out of the school, looking at her "watch" to make sure she was going to the right place, and muttered, "Why the Bronze? Nothing ever happens there during the day!"

The sun was steadily rising in the sky when Buffy reached the dance club, and spotted Angel and Giles. She also saw a lot of yellow police tape and cars flashing their red and blue lights as well.

Slipping into the crowd, Buffy went over to the vampire and Watcher, and asked, "What happened?"

"Seems the harpy's at it again," Angel said grimly.

Buffy closed her eyes, then asked bluntly, "Details?"

Angel reached out and gathered the Slayer into his arms, as Giles said quietly, so that those around them could not hear, "There were three of them. Two males, and one female. They were found by the owner of the Bronze about half an hour ago, when he was locking up."

Buffy nodded, accepting the comforting presence of her husband, then pushed away, her expression determined. She gazed at Giles, and asked, "When will the Fates get here?"

"They are coming today," Giles said. "That is another reason why I called for you."

"So that we can meet them before everyone else?" Buffy guessed.

Giles nodded his agreement, as Angel asked, "When will they arrive?"

"In about an hour."

"Flight 666 arriving at Gate 9," the airport announcer's voice echoed hollowly.

Buffy rolled her eyes, as Angel muttered, "Hell...and the ninth-level of Hell." He then said bitterly, "As if I need any more reminders of that place!"

"Hey," Buffy said quietly as she took Angel's hand in hers. "Don't go there, Honey. Remember: if you go there, I'll go there. Since I'm the one who put you in that place."

As Buffy and Angel stared intently within each other's eyes, Giles looked heavenward, sighed, then said in exasperation, "Will both of you quit that! We're going to be late!"

"Look," said Buffy, pointing as they reached Gate 9, "that's gotta be them."

Three females with flaming-red hair and emerald-green eyes came out of the gate. They looked all the same, even their clothes which consisted of a dark green shirt, blue jeans, and white tennis shoes.

With raised eyebrows, Angel murmured, "Aren't they a little...young?"

"Fifteen at the most," Giles said in agreement, 'though clearly not surprised.

"Hey!" Buffy said in protest. "That's how old I was when I became Slayer, so don't go dissing them 'til you know 'em!"

By this time, the three sisters had spotted Buffy, Angel, and Giles, and had started to walk over to them. When they reached the paladins and Watcher, one of the Fates said in a soft lilting voice, "Greetings, I am Dawn, the eldest sister of the Fates, and seer of the past. I take it that you are the ones that have come to take us where we need to go?"

Giles nodded, then said, "Yes, we are. My name is Giles. The ones with me are Buffy and Angel. They--"

"Are the reason we are here," interrupted another Fate. "I greet you, my Lord and Lady. I am Cora, the middle sister, and seer of the present."

"And I," said the last Fate, "am Eve, youngest sister, and seer of the future."

Cora nodded, then said calmly, "So you might know -- and not think ill of our youth -- we are fourteen years old. We began our training almost from our birth, and willingly take up the task given to us on our birth by the heavens."

"You aren't bitter?" Buffy asked curiously.

"No," said Dawn gently, her expression sad as she gazed at the Slayer. "We knew of our duty from our birth, and understood the burden we would carry."

Buffy looked down and away from the three Fates, her lips thinning in bitter memories. A hand gently placed under her chin lifted up her face. Slowly she raised her eyes to gaze into Angel's.

She saw tenderness and understanding there, as the vampire whispered, "Don't go there. No regrets, remember?"

Buffy nodded, then sighed as she looked back at the Fates. With a half-hearted grin, she said, "Sorry about that. My husband and I have a tendency to forget that there are others around us at times."

Eve inclined her head, before saying, "You have both had to endure hardships that should not have been possible to bear to reach the point where you are now. It is understandable."

"And on that note," said Giles quietly, yet firmly, "I suggest we take our leave of this place, and go to the high school. It has been arranged that I and Angel will be your guardians while you three are here. Those arrangements include that you go to the high school as well."

"Great," Angel muttered. "That means another visit to Principal Snyder."