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Emptiness WithinChapter 5: Death of a Slayer
Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer…Buffy was down but she was far from out. Fending off the demons, she lashed out with all four limbs throwing them off her. They literally exploded away from her as she flipped back onto her feet.
Her stake flew from her hands striking one demon in the throat as she nailed another demon with a vicious haymaker. A quick side step avoided a wild clawed swipe as she punched the demon in the face.
It flipped backwards as Buffy whirled around to face her next opponent. It charged at her screaming and roaring in rage as Buffy prepared to meet it face on.
Suddenly the demon froze, red eyes widening in shock and glazed over in pain as it clutched at its chest. Buffy's eyes trailed down the demon's body until she realised there was a wooden stake sticking out from the leathery skin, her eyes widened in shock as the stake retracted itself allowing to lifeless body to fall onto the ground with a gentle thump.
She looked up at the demon's killer.
"Hello B," Faith drawled casually staking another demon with the wooden end of the scythe.
Buffy cocked her head to one side, hostility burning in her eyes.
"Hello Faith."
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"Hey B," Faith casually whipped the scythe around cutting down another demon, "How's life been lately?"
"Meh," Buffy shrugged, "Can't complain."
She pulled another stake out from her jacket and stabbed another demon viciously through the heart. More monsters poured in through the hole in the wall as the two Slayers continued fighting.
"See you got my gift," Buffy called nodding at the scythe as Faith continued to wield it with dangerous efficiency.
"Seems like," Faith agreed as she mowed down every demon that came towards with its razor sharp edge, "I like black better, though."
Buffy shrugged before ducking hurriedly as a demon sailed past overhead.
"Sorry, the First only had it in one colour," she explained as she jumped back up before spin kicking one of the demons in the chest.
She followed up with a vicious roundhouse punch before staking it in the eye. Black liquid gushed out from the wound as Buffy grimaced in disgust, pushing the screaming demon away. She whirled around and kicked another demon away.
"What brings you here, Faith?" Buffy asked, shouting over the din of battle as the two Slayers continued to fight against the incoming horde.
"To see you actually," Faith said casually swinging the scythe around again.
Metal bit into the demon's chest as Faith kicked its body away. Twirling the scythe around in her hand expertly, Faith punched another demon in the nose before slicing it neatly in half. The two sides of the body fell to the ground with a wet squelch as Buffy half-turned to regard her fellow Slayer.
"How did you find me?"
"Red."
Buffy raised an eyebrow.
"Wow, she must be powerful," she muttered distractedly as she punched another demon away.
"She turned blonde after the Slayer activation mojo," Faith said casually as though that meant something.
Buffy was surprised.
"Permanently?"
"Nah, she's red again."
Buffy threw a one-two combo punch at one of the demons hitting it in the chest and face before grabbing its hard and twisting it around viciously. A loud crack filled the air as Buffy hurled the lifeless corpse at another demon. They both went down as Faith continued to slice through the demons with her scythe.
"Oh, by the way nice job at Sunnydale," Buffy told her casually as if she was merely discussing the weather, "Closing the Hellmouth? Nice."
"You should've been there."
Buffy laughed bitterly.
"Yeah, should've been."
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Vi slit one of the demon's throats opened pushing the twitching body away as Rona ruthlessly hacked another demon apart.
"Jeez, what's with the numbers?" the dark-skinned Slayer demanded, "They're like freaking bunnies!"
"More like Demonic Bunnies from the Black Lagoon," Emma amended as she appeared by her side throwing demons left and right with powerful punches, "Minus the cheap special effects."
"The effects were lame," Rona agreed as she cut another demon open, "But horror movies are so overrated… I mean what's with the black chick always dies first clause?"
"I think Scary Movie pointed it out enough for us," Beth muttered as she joined the duo in beating the demon's back.
An arrow whistled through the air embedding itself into a demon's throat with deadly accuracy, it fell to the ground choking and clawing at its throat desperately as Dawn smiled victoriously before fitting another bolt into her crossbow and aiming again.
"Check out Robin Hood," Xander admired as Dawn fired again.
"More like Keira Knightly," Dawn retorted as she reloaded.
"Nah, King Arthur was overrated," Sari muttered as she slashed at a demon with her sword.
The force of the blow spun the demon around as metal sliced through flesh.
"But Lancelot…" Dawn mused as she fired again.
"Yum," Sari winked at the teenager as she casually slashed at another demon.
"Yummo," Dawn agreed taking out another demon as Xander fired his arrow as well.
"Umm… girls. Battle here?" the ever-sensible Nora reminded them as she fought against three demons that tried to overwhelm her with their numbers.
One instantly exploded into flames as Willow directed her attention onto the besieged Slayer. Nora took out another demon with a vicious backhand as Xander dispatched the third with a well-placed arrow.
Kennedy and June were in their element as they fought back to back. They were just fighting… they were practically dancing.
Each of their movements was fluid and deadly, striking with devastating force. Demons fell away from them as they punched and kicked with brutal strength, they were a flurry of movement dodging and attacking at the same time. The demons no matter how many times they tried to overwhelm them with numbers were simply no match.
Everyone watched as Kennedy's hand suddenly shot out and grabbed one of the demon's throats. With a vicious squeeze, she crushed its windpipe, its red eyes dulling as it died. Kennedy threw its body aside as she waded back into the fight.
June was equally as brutal preferring to beat her opponents to death rather than use her stake. She blocked one demon's swipes before grabbing its arm and breaking it with a violent twist. Her foot lashed out destroying its knees caps as it fell to the ground.
She finished it off with a vicious backhand. June smiled in satisfaction as the force of the blow spun the demon's head around in a full 360-degree turn, neck snapping in the process.
The corpse fell backwards as the Junior Slayer moved onto her next victim.
The demonic body count continued to skyrocket as the Slayers fought on.
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"Yeah, should've been."
Faith turned to glance at her.
"Why weren't you there?"
"Jeez," Buffy drawled, "I wonder."
"You know you've came back."
"Somehow I sincerely doubt that," Buffy said dryly as she staked another demon.
"That night?" Faith told her cocking an eyebrow, "Tensions were running high. People said things they didn't mean…"
Buffy laughed again as she punched another demon away.
"Didn't mean?" she repeated incredulously, "Oh, I'm pretty sure you all meant what you said."
"Jeez, B we were in the middle of a losing war and just came off a heavy loss… so sorry if some people got a bit you know… honest with their feelings," Faith snapped as she sliced through another demon.
The amount of demons pouring through the hole in the wall was definitely slowing by now. The two Slayers fought in silence for a while, each woman focusing on the enemy as they punched, kicked, sliced and stabbed their way through the remaining few. The scythe's blade hummed through the air, slicing through a demon's chest with surgical precision and neatness. Faith kicked the staggering demon away before flipping the scythe expertly in her hands, stabbing a demon behind her with the wooden point that adorned its end.
Buffy was in her element unleashing punishing blows that snapped necks and crushed limbs. Demons fell away around her, screeching in pain as Buffy continued to dish out punishment focusing all of her fury and confusion into the battle. Killing blows came hard and fast. Gritting her teeth, she ripped her way through a demon's chest with her stake, jagged wood point tearing muscles and skin as she literally ripped the heart out of the demon.
Throwing the pulsating mass behind her, Buffy shoved the corpse away before she whirled around looking for another victim.
There was none.
"There was a fun fight and a half wasn't it?" Faith muttered as she ripped the scythe free from a twitching body.
Buffy ignored her as she turned around and faced the wall, her back against the other Slayer.
"Thanks for the help," Buffy said casually as she took a step towards the wall "See you around sometime."
She grabbed the edge of the hole as Faith narrowed her eyes at her back.
"What, are you leaving now? Just like last time B?"
"Oh, the let's-piss-off-Buffy-so-she'll-have-an-emotional-epiphany-and-coming-running-back-to-the-fold ploy? Nice, Faith, really smart. Right up there with let's-lead-the-helpless-Potentials-down-into-Ubervamp-town," Buffy shot back, tossing the verbal barb behind her shoulder without turning around.
Faith glared at her. Without a pause, she hurled the scythe forwards in a spinning blur of silver and crimson. Buffy blinked as it slammed into the wall, sharp edge embedding itself into the brickwork right beside her head.
She cocked her head to the left studying the gleaming scythe.
"Jeez, Faith throwing your only weapon at the enemy and missing? There's even more stupid than your other plan."
"Screw you, B," Faith snarled.
"Love you too, F."
"The almighty, all-conquering Buffy," Faith spat, "Ditches her family and friends after a little spat. What's wrong, can't handle a little criticism?"
Buffy turned around, a bored look on her face.
"Maybe you miss the part when I told you pissing me off is not going to help but…" Buffy shrugged, "Here it is again… it's not going to help."
"When did you become a frigid ice bitch?"
"Hmmm… right around the time when everyone I knew ditched me, if my memory serves me right."
"Some lil' Slayer wannabes blow some steam and you run off? Look around! No one ditched you. We're all here to get you back. Red, your sis, Xander… we're all here."
"What plane of existence were you on that night?" Buffy demanded, "After all we went through, one mistake and I was out of there? The only reason you're all here is because you're all feeling guilty. So you're not here because of me. You're here because you want to help yourselves."
"It wasn't one mistake…"
Buffy rolled her eyes.
"Being the Slayer doesn't make me the General," she snapped, "I did the best I could and it wasn't good enough. Well sorry! Leading Potentials into War 101 wasn't in college when I went there."
"No one blamed you."
"Right and Andrew was our best line of defence against the First."
Faith glared at her.
"At least we helped us fight the First! Where the hell were you when we went down into the Hellmouth? Where the hell were you when Amanda and Anya and Spike died? Where the hell were you?"
"Where were you when I personally went up against Caleb and the First to get the damn scythe in the first place?" Buffy snapped, "Oh that's right! You were rejoicing in the fact that you finally got what you want… being me."
Faith laughed.
"Yeah, I'll admit it. I once wanted to be like you. But seeing you now? I think I'll stick to being me, thanks."
"That's fantastic Faith," Buffy shot back sweetly, "You finally got comfortable in your own skin, bravo to you. Now leave me the hell alone."
"You can't walk away from this."
"Why? I didn't want you here in the first place," Buffy snapped, "I'm not you Faith. I'm not in some dark place where I need help to get out. I'm fine, I'm fantastic, I'm happy-Buffy. I'm happy doing my job and I'm happy about my life. So go back to Cleveland and get the hell out of my face."
"Your job?" Faith spat, "In case you haven't noticed, you're working for demons."
"To kill demons," Buffy shrugged, "Can't see what the prob is."
"You're working for the evil side now."
"Not really, since I inevitably end up being hired to kill off my employers so in some twisted way… I end up killing all the bad guys anyway," Buffy informed her, casually.
"You're a Slayer, B!" Faith snapped, "Don't you know what that means?"
"I slay demons?" Buffy's face brightened as she clicked her fingers, "Oh that's right! That's what I'm doing anyway."
"How many innocent people have you killed in your little 'job'?" Faith demanded.
Buffy laughed.
"Sorry, Faith still innocent blood free. Jeez, too bad. We can't compare notes on how to kill innocent people."
Faith looked furious, her dark brown eyes were livid as anger roll off her skin in almost visible waves. She took a menacing step forwards as Buffy smirked at her, daring her to attack.
"Hey!" a voice behind her cried.
Buffy glanced over her shoulder. June glared at her.
"Leave her alone bitch!"
Willow, Dawn and Xander stared at her, their faces equal parts stunned and excited. Ignoring them, Buffy turned back to Faith.
"Seems like the welcoming party is here," she reached to her left and pulled the scythe free from the wall.
She instantly felt the weapon's magic roar through her veins, empowering her with a strength that practically made her skin hum with power.
She smiled into Faith's shocked eyes.
"Guess we can get started."
And with that she leapt at the Slayer.
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Dawn almost felt her heart stop as she saw her sister for the first time in two years. Emotions ran through her mind in a chaotic maelstrom: shock, excitement, love and nervousness all vied for attention as she felt Xander and Willow stiffen beside her.
They had seen her too.
"Leave her alone bitch!" June roared suddenly, dark eyes crackling with adrenaline and fearlessness.
Buffy turned around, her hazel-green eyes sweeping over familiar and alien faces alike.
She turned back to Faith.
"Seems like the welcoming party is here," Buffy spat.
She reached to her left and yanked the scythe free from its position of being embedded into the wall. Dawn's eyes widened in shock as she realised what her sister was going to do.
"Faith!" she yelled.
"Guess we can get started," Buffy smirked as she lunged at the other Slayer.
Willow surged forwards, arms flung outwards as she began whispering under her breath, the air around her thrumming with power. Buffy whirled around in mid-air flinging the scythe towards them in one fluid movement, wooden stake end lancing towards them like a spear. Willow was slightly caught off-guard at the surprise move as June's eyes widened in shock as she realised her danger.
"STOP!" Willow cried desperately flinging her magic outwards blindly.
A dome of swirling white light slammed into place around them, the scythe striking the magic before bouncing off helplessly. Willow dissolved the wards as June leapt through the hole at Buffy.
The blonde Slayer had knocked Faith backwards with a vicious roundhouse punch to the head and was more than ready for June.
June swung at her but Buffy easily dodged the wild blow before hitting June with a triple combo kick. It struck the younger girl in the knees, stomach and face knocking the Slayer reeling backwards as she grabbed the girl's flailing arms hurling her straight at Faith.
Both Slayers went down as Buffy leapt over them, running deeper into the building with amazing speed. The others could only watch on as darkness consumed the lithe Slayer's form.
"What do we do?" Sari demanded as everyone stared after the Slayer in shock, stunned at the ease she had taken on both Faith and June.
It was Kennedy who answered.
"AFTER HER!"
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Buffy raced through the darkness, growling in frustration as she heard Kennedy's voice boom through the building.
"AFTER HER!"
"Damn," she muttered patting her jacket pockets, searching, "DAMN!"
She had no weapons left. Her last stake had gone into the gut of some random demon, leaving her with only her fists and feet. Normally she wouldn't have been very worried knowing full well she could beat almost anything up into a bloody pulp but she was up against multiple highly trained Slayers. Buffy had the feeling hand-to-hand combat was not the way to go.
She glanced around hoping to see a window or a door through which she could escape.
No such luck.
Her eyes darted to her left.
No luck either but…
Buffy smiled as she saw the intricate network of metal pipes that was embedded into one crumbling wall. Reaching out, she wrapped her fingers around one thick pipe and gave it a forceful yank.
It buckled but still held firm.
"Damn it," Buffy growled, "Come on."
The sound of boots pounding on hard concrete filled her ears as Buffy gave another pull.
She was rewarded with the screech of twisting metal, the pipe popped free from its mooring as Buffy gave her makeshift an experimental twirl.
"Perfect," the smile disappeared from Buffy's lips as her face hardened at the sound of approaching footsteps.
She glanced up and without a pause leapt into a standing jump that sent her soaring to the ceiling. Her left hand shot out, snagging a rotting crossbeam as she deftly swung herself up onto the wood balancing on the narrow plank delicately as she waited.
They were coming.
"I think she went this way!" June cried as Sari and Rebecca raced after her.
"June! Wait!" Sari yelled after the Slayer, "Slow down!"
June whirled around and glared at the younger girl.
"You guys are too slow!" she barked, "She's going to get away! That damn bitch is probably gone by now!"
"Damn bitch?" a new voice called from somewhere above them, "That's not very nice!"
June's head snapped up in time to see a metal pipe smacked down on her face, she dropped without a sound as Buffy landed gently, twirling her weapon in her hands.
"You guys aren't too slow," Buffy smirked, "I'm right here!"
Sari and Rebecca leapt at her as one, their swords slashing the air in powerful swings.
"CLANG!"
Buffy's pipe shot out deflecting both blades away as Buffy slammed into the girls with her body, bringing her superior strength into play. Sari was knocked aside as Buffy elbowed her in the face.
She fell away with a cry as Rebecca swung at the older Slayer again.
Buffy ducked the swing and lashed out with her pipe, the twisted end sliced into Rebecca's shirt, jagged metal tearing through fabric.
"Missed," Rebecca spat angrily as she slashed at the Slayer again.
Buffy swung the pole up, deflecting the blade and connecting with the girl's jaw. Rebecca's head snapped backwards as the rest of her body followed suit dumping her onto her back.
"Didn't miss," Buffy shot back as she swung the pole down onto the girl.
Metal connected with flesh as pain roared through Rebecca's body, darkness claimed her as Sari staggered to her feet.
"That hurt like a son of a bitch," the Junior Slayer gasped.
Buffy turned to regard her, pipe held at the ready.
"Jeez, Kamikaze Barbie," Sari quipped as she raised her sword.
"Slayer Wannabe."
"Wannabe?" Sari demanded, "I'll show you wannabe!"
Buffy cocked an eyebrow.
"I'll show you wann…" she frowned, "You do realise that doesn't make sense right? I mean… what is that supposed to mean? I'll show y…"
Sari lunged forwards with a wild swing as Buffy back pedalled to afford the blow.
"Hey!" the blonde Slayer snapped, "Rude much? Can we make with the bantering before the fighting? There are rules you know!"
She threw a punch at Sari that connected with vicious force.
"The Slayer always has to make with the witty foreplay before landing the final blow," Buffy continued, hitting Sari again, "Something like… I don't know… 'Heads up!'"
Buffy whirled around, twirling the pipe in her hands before landing the final blow, cracking Sari across the face with the metal weapon. The Junior Slayer hit the ground in a crumpled heat as Buffy looked at her dispassionately.
"Told you to watch out," Buffy smirked, "See? That's how it goes."
"Buffy," a soft voice whispered from behind her.
The blonde Slayer whirled around, her hazel-green eyes unreadable.
"Dawn."
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Xander dashed through the darkess, Willow right beside him as she tried to focus again, her magic rippling out around her as she strained to bear her power down onto her target.
"Damn it!" the witch cried in exasperation, "I can't track her down!"
"I thought you could!" Xander yelled at his best friend.
Willow gave a sigh of frustration.
"That anti-locating spell charm thing is like… like…" Willow trailed off, grasping for words, "A slippery fish-oil thing!"
"What?" Xander shot the witch a strange look.
"It's slippery and frustrating and annoying… and really, really hard!" Willow pouted as she continued to run, "I can't find her!"
"At least you stopped her from escaping," Xander reminded her.
Willow nodded, a satisfied smile on her face.
"Oooo… that's right! And hello self-esteem," she smiled at her best friend, "The wards should hold around the building… but this whole trapping Buffy like a rat thing… not sitting well with my conscience."
Xander sighed.
"Buffy's just a little confused right now… don't worry we'll get through to her."
Willow nodded.
"Darn tooting."
And the two continued to race through the shadows.
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"Dawn, how you've been?" Buffy said casually dropping her pipe.
It fell to the concrete with a loud clang.
"Been keeping out of trouble? Your grades okay?" Buffy continued conversationally as Dawn took another step closer towards her sister, "Met any boys yet? Cos if you have I'd have to make with the threatening and the background checking… right after I force you to join a convent and take a vow of celibacy."
"Buffy, come home," Dawn said softly.
Buffy laughed and shook her head.
"Sorry, I've got a home…" her eyes hardened, "But it's not with you guys."
"I'm sorry."
Buffy cocked her head to the left, studying her sister carefully. Two years had done little to change Dawn's physical appearance… except for the fact that she positively towered over her by now but her eyes told another story.
They were old eyes, eyes that had seen too much… lost too many. Buffy felt sadness twinge her heart at the realisation that little Dawnie had grown up.
Without her.
"I'm sorry too," Buffy sighed, genuine emotion in her voice, "I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you… watch you grow up to be a beautiful woman. All those things I promised that day but Dawn… things don't always work out the way we want it to."
"Tell me something I don't know," Dawn muttered, rolling her eyes.
Buffy felt the same flash of annoyance at the sight as she had two years ago. It was nice to know that even after all that had happened to them some things remained the same.
"Don't roll your eyes at me," Buffy muttered, "That's my eye roll. My patented eye roll. You're copyright infringing!"
Dawn snorted.
"Don't see a C with a circle around it anywhere," she retorted.
Buffy laughed as she turned to leave.
"Buffy! Where are you going!" Dawn cried as Buffy began to walk away.
The blonde Slayer turned back to regard her sister.
"Dawn… that night everyone made it very clear they didn't want me around… so here's your wish… goodbye."
"No! But that night! Everyone was just a little emotional…" Dawn trailed off as Buffy whirled around, fury blazing in her eyes.
"Emotional?" she demanded, "How about you Dawn? 'I need you to leave'? What the hell was that supposed to mean?"
"We were fighting a losing war… we needed everyone together…" Dawn tried to explain, hurriedly stumbling over her own words in her panic.
"Together?" Buffy repeated incredulously, "Hmm… 'I need you to leave' and together… that sounds like an oxymoron to me!"
"Buffy, you went to far…"
Buffy shrugged.
"Maybe I did but you guys were willing to chuck me out of my own house just because I went too far?"
"You didn't need to leave!" Dawn protested, "You only had to back down a little?"
"Again with the you saying 'leave'," Buffy shot back, "You know what you said that night so don't try to twist it around so you're the innocent."
Dawn glared at her.
"Stop being so selfish!"
Buffy's eyes widened in shock.
"You left us to fight alone! You left when you should've stayed and fought! You left us when we needed you!"
Buffy laughed.
"You left me to go out into the night alone knowing full well that the First and his little army was hanging around. Where were you then? Where were all of you when I took on Caleb and got the scythe? I helped you. I gave what you needed to fight against the First… that was enough. That was the end for me," Buffy finished coldly, "The Potentials and Faith I could understand not wanting me around… I screwed up! I admit that I let Molly and Annabelle and Eve die! But you? My own sister was against me? There's no way you can defend that."
Dawn took a hurried step backwards as Buffy stomped towards her, anger radiating off her in almost tangible waves. Such was her fury.
"I died for you Dawn. I threw myself into that damn portal and died for you. I raised you, I housed you, I fed you even though I had to take some pathetic, low-life job to do it! Wasn't that enough to get some loyalty?" Buffy spat, "But apparently not Dawnie! That's not enough for you."
"Buffy…" Dawn said quietly, "I'm sorry…"
The Slayer seemed to deflate as the tension dissipated from her body. Rage left her eyes as she turned around again.
"That's not enough… but it's a start."
The blonde Slayer walked away leaving her little sister to stand alone in the dark.
"It's a start," Dawn repeated quietly, dazed from her confrontation.
She smiled as she finally realised the magnitude of what her sister had said.
A very small flame ignited in her heart.
Small and fragile but it was there.
It was hope.
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Buffy growled in frustration as she slammed her shoulder against the door once more. Pulsating white energy flashed into life throwing the Slayer away as she landed roughly onto the concrete. With a small groan, she picked herself up glaring at the doorway and the shimmering ward that stretched across it.
"Damn Willow," she muttered knowing full well who had erected these barriers.
She frowned at the obstacle, wondering what she should do. Suddenly a small smile curled her lips.
"Hey Faith… been sneaking there behind me for long?" she asked turning around slowly.
Faith stood there beside her, scythe clutched in her hands, defiance burning in her eyes.
"B," the brunette Slayer said evenly.
"F," Buffy said just as calmly.
"We both know this whole talking thing ain't going to work," Buffy sighed, "And I know you're not going to leave me alone."
"B, your friends need you. Giles needs you. Everyone wants you home," Faith pleaded, trying anyway despite the Slayer's words, "We don't have to do this."
"Well, since your debating skills ain't exactly big with the persuasion I think we do have to do this."
The Slayers began circling each other, sizing their opponents up as Faith began twirling the scythe in her hands.
"We can do this the easy way, B."
"Yeah, but this way is so much more fun."
Faith shrugged and leapt the blonde Slayer swinging the scythe around. Buffy rolled under the swipe and sprang upwards hitting Faith with a double-handed open palm punch. It struck the Slayer in the chest knocking her backwards as Buffy threw herself into a flying kick.
Faith grabbed the blonde Slayer's foot and hurled her against the wall. Bricks crumbled beneath her as Buffy hit the ground, she instantly flipped back up onto her feet as Faith charged at her.
Buffy leapt to the side, the scythe blade hitting the ground, bitting into the concrete as Faith struggled to pull it free.
"What's wrong? Can't pull off a King Arthur?" Buffy smirked, "Well, we can't all be special."
She leapt into a small hop kick that struck Faith in the chest. The Slayer's head snapped backwards as Buffy coldly threw a roundhouse punch that connected with the cheek. Faith spun away as Buffy leapt after her. Faith threw a quick one-two combat strike that struck Buffy in the chest twice before nailing her with a left hook that sent her teetering backwards.
The blonde Slayer steadied herself blocking Faith's next move before snaking her hand through the woman's defences and hitting her neck with a vicious chop. Faith fell away choking for breath as Buffy watched on, fists and feet at the ready.
"Damn B, you've gotten faster," Faith rasped as she straightened; fight still left in her body.
"Nah, you've just gotten slow."
Faith threw two left hooks at her as Buffy ducked to avoid them, a lightning fast uppercut struck her in the face dumping her onto her back as Faith backed away, a satisfied smile on her face.
"Hey, I'm still here. Still fresh," Faith smirked, "And I've got some wicked new skills."
"No, Faith," Buffy staggered to her feet, "I don't swing that way."
"What? Are you homophobic now? Cos that's really strange since your best friend is one," Faith leapt into a spin kick that struck Buffy in the chest, knocking her back.
Buffy stumbled backwards.
"I'm fine with that!" Buffy unleashed a barrage of punches all of which Faith deftly blocked, "But I just not that kind of girl."
"What kind of girl are you?" Faith demanded.
Buffy leapt into a flip, double kicking Faith in the face. The Slayer hit the ground as Buffy landed nimbly.
"A good or bad one depending on the time of month," Buffy was dumped onto her back as Faith lashed out with a leg-sweep.
Both Slayers rolled to their feet as they threw a left hook at each other. Buffy was struck across the face as Faith took a hit in the gut.
"Ow," Faith groaned, "Ouch."
"Yeah, big ouch," Buffy agreed.
They continued to spar as they picked up the conversation again.
"And unfortunately for you it's that time of the month again," Buffy informed her, "So I might get a little grumpy."
Faith scrunched up her nose.
"Didn't need to know that, B," Faith muttered as she struck Buffy with a left hook.
Buffy lashed out with her right foot catching Faith just above her knees, with a cry the dark Slayer stumbled backwards as Buffy leapt forwards with a spinning kick that struck Faith in the chest.
The Slayer flew across the room, her back slamming into a nearby support post as Buffy charged at her.
"CRACK!"
Faith ducked as the blonde Slayer threw a high kick at her. Buffy's foot struck the post just missing Faith as the dark-haired woman grinned.
"Miss me, B."
"Didn't mean to hit you," Buffy said calmly as she stepped back.
Faith stared at her in confusion as Buffy jerked her head upwards.
"Timber," she murmured.
The support post shattered as the crossbeams in the ceiling above began to tremble. Buffy hit Faith again with another kick as the ceiling crumbled. Wood, concrete and plaster rained down on the Slayer as she threw her hands above her head in a feeble attempt to protect herself. Buffy soon lost sight of the Slayer under a hail of wood and debris as she hurriedly backed away from the avalanche of twisted deluge.
The dust settled and Buffy's eyes were greeted with a mound of rubble.
She cocked her head as she studied her handiwork.
"Someone really should close this place down," she muttered, "It's a health hazar…"
"BAM!"
A blast of white light struck Buffy in the chest as she flew backwards hitting the wall with incredible force. The air was driven from her battered lungs as she slid to the floor, blinking furiously trying to clear her vision.
Willow stood before her, towering over her fallen form menacingly. Her green eyes were flashing from black to green slowly like a crazed traffic light.
When she spoke, her voice was a guttural growl.
"What have you done?" she barked.
Buffy studied her face.
"Jeez, Will. Veins again. Maybe you should use Maybelline to fix that up… you're worth it."
"Buffy?"
Buffy glanced at the speaker.
"Xander," she slowly stood up as Willow glared to glare at her, her eyes still flashing from black to green, "Well, I guess we're back together again. Crazy reunion, hey?"
"What have you done?" Willow demanded.
Xander put a calming hand on Willow's shoulders but the witch ignored him as she continued to send death glares at Buffy.
"Faith? We just had a little chat that ended up into an all out free for all," Buffy smiled proudly, "I won."
"Will, calm down," Xander whispered soothingly to his friend, his dark eyes on Buffy.
Willow blinked furiously as her whole body shook, the blackness bleed away from her eyes as Buffy watched on interestedly.
"Cool, from Darth Willow to normal Willow in under sixty seconds," she mused.
She pulled a face.
"Darth Willow? You thought two years would've purged that Andrew influence away from me but…" Buffy sighed, "No dice."
Xander took a small step forwards, his dark eyes studying Buffy's face as he slowly reached forwards.
"Buffy, is it really you?"
"No, I'm Duffy, Buffy's long-lost twin who just happens to walk, talk, look and slay like her," Buffy retorted.
"I've missed you," Xander said softly.
Buffy softened.
"I've missed you too."
Willow's anger disappeared as she moved closer to her long lost friend.
"We've all missed you," she whispered gently, "Especially us… and Giles."
"I know," Buffy gave them a teary smile as she took another step towards them, "You don't know how many times I've dreamed of this movement…"
"You kinda expect violins and a full orchestra to swell up in the background, don't you?" Xander teased with a small smile as he closed the final few inches between them.
Buffy smiled up at him.
"Yeah," Buffy sighed, "I've thought of this moment for so long and now that we're all here…"
Her smile disappeared as her eyes hardened revealing the iron-willed warrior that dwelled beneath her beaming façade.
"I can finally do this," she hissed.
Xander and Willow's eyes widened in shock as Buffy's hand shot outwards with deadly speed. Before anybody could react Buffy had grabbed Xander around his neck pulling her towards him as she trapped him there with her arms.
Willow's eyes instantly flashed to back as she roared with rage. She raised her hand, red energy crackling between her fingertips.
Buffy laughed.
"Make one move and Xander dies."
Willow glared at her as Buffy smirked tightening her crushing grip on Xander.
It was a standoff.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Everyone jumped as a thundering sound roared through the air.
"What the hell?" Rona muttered as the sound died away as suddenly as it had appeared.
"What was that?" Vi demanded.
Nora, Emma and Beth exchanged confused looks as Kennedy began running towards the direction of the sound.
"Come on!" she yelled impatiently, "It's probably Buf… WAH!"
Kennedy was flung aside as dark shape tackled her into the ground.
"What the hell?" Beth instantly dashed over to help but another figure leapt out from the shadows swatting her aside.
"Oh man," Rona groaned as pinpoints of glowing red appeared all around them.
"They're back and they don't look happy," Vi noted as Emma and Nora slowly shifted into fighting stances.
Beth fought her attacker off as Rona and Vi rushed to help her and Kennedy. A pair of strong hands wrenched the demon off Kennedy as the Slayer flipped back onto her feet.
"Looks like we've got a fight on our hands," the Senior Slayer noted as Vi calmly snapped the neck of the demon she had hauled off her friend.
"Yeah, looks like," Vi dropped the body and turned around just in time to see Beth and Rona finish off theirs.
"Is it just me or are there even more than last time…" Emma whispered to Nora.
"Not just you," Nora said calmly as she raised her sword.
"Pair up!" Kennedy barked, "Protect each other's bac…"
Before she could finish her final word, the demons leapt forwards with a blood-chilling roar.
"How did they get in?" Beth demanded as she backhanded a demon, "Isn't the wards still in place?"
"Maybe they got in before!" Kennedy snapped, "Who cares! FIGHT!"
Beth pulled a face as she ripped a demon open with her sword. Flipping over the demon's body, she punched a demon in the face with an uppercut stabbing it in the chest as it hit the ground.
Kennedy was ripping into the demons with her bare fist crushing bones with each punch as she brought her brute strength into play, beating each demon into submission or death. Vi had found herself paired up with the usually timid Emma, usually being the operative word.
Emma was in the process of hacking of a demon's head off its neck as another one tried to sneak up behind her. Before Vi could react, the tiny Slayer whirled around sword flashing through the air.
It bit into demon's face as it fell without a sound, pulling her sword free, the Junior Slayer finished off her first victim with a spinning slash.
Vi shook her head, forcing herself to focus as she stabbed a demon in the chest. It fell backwards as it another leapt forwards to take its place. She threw a left hook at it but it blocked her, trapping her arm with its hands. A vicious head-butt knocked it back as Vi slit its throat open, dark blood spraying into the air.
Nora and Rona threw their demons at one another, their scaled backs slamming together as Nora ran both of them through. Ripping her sword free, the Scottish Slayer lashed out with her right foot, staggering a demon as Rona leapt in with her battleaxe neatly decapitating it.
Beth hit the ground as one of the demons nailed her with a punch but she lashed out with her sword, its razor sharp blade punching through the demon's skull as it died noisily. Grimacing as the demon's body fell onto her, Beth scrambled free before joining the fight.
As the Slayers fought, the demons continued to pour into the battlefield.
It was kind of unfair.
The Slayers had no idea that the demons were being let in.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"I'll kill you," Willow barked.
"When did you become so bitchy?" Buffy wanted to know, "You never were like this before."
"I've never been held hostage before, maybe," Xander suggested squeakily as Buffy continued to crush him to her.
"True," Buffy acknowledged with a nod, "Wait… what about that time with that date of yours… Lisa?"
"She tried to sacrifice me… but nope, no hostage holding."
Buffy shrugged.
"Making sure. Don't want to be a liar."
"I'll going to kill you."
"Got the memo," Buffy shot back, "Look Wills, I've had a long night. So why don't we listen me out and we can all go home?"
"No," Willow snapped.
"Will," Xander pleaded, "Please listen."
Willow narrowed her eyes at Buffy but nodded slowly.
"Destroy the wards and I'll be out of here and Xander gets to stay death-free."
"Yay," Xander muttered dryly, "This is so humiliating. From Zeppo to handyman to yellow-crayon talking guy to Poker chip… behold the evolution process that is Xander Harris."
Buffy and Willow ignored him.
"How can I trust you?" Willow demanded.
"You can't," Buffy told her firmly, "But I really don't want to wash blood out of my clothes. It's a bitch."
"… to annoying stain," Xander continued muttering to himself, "Maybe I'll become a butterfly next."
"So, what's the stich Willow. Deal or no deal?"
"I will find you later and kill you," Willow whispered.
"Oh?" Buffy pretended to be hurt, "What happened to the whole 'we've missed you' routine."
"You're a pathetic," Willow hissed, "You were my friend once. You were a hero once. You were a Slayer once and now you're nothing."
Buffy raised an eyebrow.
"Harsh but sorry, unlike little Miss Buried Alive there," she gestured at the pile of debris, which Faith was under, "I don't have any childhood trauma… in fact say all you want about me… I really don't care."
Willow gritted her teeth.
"Fine," she snapped, her voice as cold as a blizzard, "I'll drop the wards."
"Peachy," Buffy smiled as she began dragging Xander over to the doorway, "Always knew you were the smart one Will."
Willow merely growled at her before extending her arms forwards.
"DROP!" she barked, power rolling through her voice.
White energy shimmered in the doorway before blinking out of existence, cautiously Buffy reached a hand out behind her and felt the air.
Nothing.
"Nice doing business with you," Buffy called cheerfully to the furious witch, "See you around some time soon."
With that she hurled Xander at Willow, the witch was totally unprepared as he slammed into her taking them both down. They fell in a sprawl of limbs as Buffy dashed out through the door into the night, her emotions playing havoc with her mind.
Stumbling blindly through the night as tears began to fall down her face, Buffy headed to the only place she knew.
Home.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
June slowly crawled to her feet.
"Where is she?" she demanded furiously glaring around.
Rebecca was crouched down beside Sari who seemed to be knocked out.
"She's gone…" the Slayer sighed, "Damn, she's good. Took us all out."
"I'm going after her!" June announced fiercely.
"She'll kick your ass again," Rebecca protested.
"Screw that," June raced off as Rebecca sighed.
"Sari?"
"I'll be fine," the young Slayer muttered, her eyes fluttering open, "Hurts like hell but I'll be fine. Make sure June doesn't kill herself."
Rebecca nodded before climbing to her feet and dashing after June. Sari groaned as she tried to roll over.
"Heads up?" the Slayer mused as she slowly crawled to her feet, "What kind of pun is that?"
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"This is fun," Beth muttered as she sliced another demon open, "Where the hell are they coming from?"
"I don't know!" Kennedy cried in frustration.
She lashed out with her hands grabbing one demon around the neck. With a cry she threw it up against the wall before punching it in the gut.
"Why are you here?" she roared into its face, "What the hell are you trying to pull?"
The demon looked up at her with dull red eyes, the crimson orbs glazed over in pain.
"We work for her," it rasped in broken English, "We were meant to delay yo…"
It died before it could finish. Kennedy stared down at its broken body.
"Her?"
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"Xander, you okay?" Willow cried frantically as she shook her friend's still body.
Xander's one good eyes fluttered open.
"Ow," Xander muttered, "That hurt. I can't believe she tried to kidnap me! I fell so used!"
Willow smiled gently before helping him up onto his feet.
"I can't believe I let her go," she sighed in frustration as she glanced at the open hallway, "And I can't believe the dark magic took over so quickly… I thought I was improving."
"You're doing your best and you were stressed," Xander soothed her, "Anyone would turn evil in that situ…"
"What the hell?"
Both of them turned around. June and Rebecca stood at the doorway gasping at the sight of the collapsed ceiling.
"Wha…" Rebecca began.
Xander's eyes widened.
"Faith!" he ran over to the rubble and began trying to free her.
"Stay back," Willow commanded, "I'll handle this."
"Will, maybe you shouldn't use magi…" Xander began.
He was forced to leap out of the way as energy began crackling around the witch's lithe form.
"I can handle this," Willow muttered grimly as she focused.
Her eyes began flashing again from black to green as the energy around her spiked unsteadily: flaring one moment, mere embers the next.
"Will…" Xander began.
"SILENCE!" she roared.
She whirled around to face her friend and opened her mouth. A stream of shimmering air and crackling green energy struck his chest, flinging him backwards. Xander was sent flying.
He crashed into the wall, landing painfully onto his back as Willow twisted to face the two Slayers. They backed away slowly as she screamed at them.
A blast of energy struck Rebecca throwing her back as June leapt at Willow, intent on fighting the witch.
"Thicken," Willow muttered.
June struck an invisible barrier, bouncing off the magic as she hit the ground painfully. Willow, her eyes now completely black, slowly stalked towards the Slayer, the air around her crackling with power.
"Hello June," Willow whispered, her voice turning into a raspy growl, "I've got a question for you."
June stared up into the witch's veined face.
"What?" she spat.
"Do you want to be strong?"
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"KENNEDY!"
"Oof!" the Slayer hit the ground as a demon cannon-balled into her.
Vi and Rona charged at the demon tearing it apart with dagger and axe as Kennedy rolled onto her feet, her eyes venomous with rage.
"WHO DO YOU WORK FOR?" she roared as she charged into the demons, tearing through them like a rabid tiger.
The demons were no match for the Senior Slayer's wrath. They fell away from her as Kennedy lashed out with fists and feet, her fury transforming into bloodlust. The Junior Slayers backed off as Vi and Rona joined Kennedy in finishing off the last of the demons.
"Ken!" Vi barked, "Calm the hell down!"
Kennedy whirled around and glared at her.
"We need to know."
"Know what?" Rona demanded.
"Who sent them here."
"Huh?"
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"What?" June was confused, "What the hell are you going on about Will…"
"I'm not Willow," the dark-eyed witch told her, "My name is beyond your pathetic mortal comprehension. I am beyond anything you can possibly conceive of."
"Umm… did you knock your head by any chance?" June asked worriedly as she crawled to her feet.
'Willow' merely smirked.
"I've been watching you," she continued, "I know you."
"Duh," June muttered.
Willow's eyes flashed with fury as she took a menacing step forwards.
"Do not play with me mortal," she hissed, "I can crush you like an insect between my fingers."
Waves of dark energy rolled off the woman's pale skin as June hurriedly backed off, every hair on her body rising as pure, undulated terror roared through her nerves.
"What do you want?" she whispered, not daring to meet Willow's dark eyes.
"I want you."
"What?"
Willow smirked.
"You are not a Slayer. You are something more. You don't care about the 'cause', you don't care about protecting the innocent… what you care about…" Willow took another step towards June, "Is power and I can give it to you."
"How?"
Willow cocked her head as she opened her mouth, this time when she spoke no actual sound came from her lips but June stared at her as though she could hear what the witch was saying. Willow's silent speech continued as June nodded, slowly at first but becoming faster and more eager as her eyes began flashing.
"I can give you the world," Willow told her, her voice returning back to normal, "Do you want it?"
June smirked.
"I want everything."
"Good," Willow raised her hand and gestured to somewhere behind her.
June watched as the scythe freed itself from the concrete wall and shot across the room to the witch. Willow deftly caught it, her eyes crackling with dark energy as she smirked at June.
"The demons I summoned won't keep the others for long… but it's enough."
"Enough for what?"
"This," Willow gripped the scythe tightly as her head snapped backwards.
A string of guttural screams ripped itself free from her throat as her whole body began convulsing. June watched on in fascination as the scythe began glowing with dark light, Willow suddenly straightened and stared straight into June's eyes.
June stared into those dark irises and saw hell and death and destruction dancing in ecstatic ballet. She saw terror, horror, fear, malice and most of all…
Power.
"COME FORTH!" Willow barked as streams of black light struck June's body.
The Slayer jumped as something warm and hard fell into her hand. The light faded away as June stared down at the thing grasped between her fingers.
It was the scythe but it was no. Instead of a majestic crimson, the colour of blood, it was black. The blackest of blacks, pure ebony like Willow's eyes.
The smooth metal surface was twisted into horrific shapes, forged into screaming demonic faces but the edge was still razor sharp, still extremely deadly. June felt power shoot through her body as she stared down at the dark scythe.
"Use it," Willow whispered, "Now! Embrace your destiny."
June smirked as she savoured the power.
"Yes," she murmured gently to herself, "Yes. Yes. Yes."
She whirled around and stalked over to where Rebecca lay on the ground, the Junior Slayer was slowly coming to.
"June?" she moaned blinking in confusion, "What the hell…"
She caught sight of Willow.
"Whoa! What's with the Wicked Witch look?"
No answer, both June and Willow remained silent, a smirk dancing across the latter's face.
"June?" she looked up at her fellow Slayer and gasped as she saw what the girl had in her hands, "What's that?"
June smirked down at her.
"Power."
"What the hel… ARGH!" Rebecca screamed in pain as June swung the scythe down.
Razor metal sliced through skin and flesh as Rebecca's eyes snapped open, becoming impossibly wide.
"What…" the Slayer gasped clutching the deep cut slashed across her chest, "What the…"
June kicked her in the face knocking her back down onto the ground.
"Congratulations Rebecca," June smirked, smiling coldly down at her, "You're my first."
"How? Why?"
Red splashed against the concrete as Rebecca's eyes became unfocused. Her hands weakened as they fell away from the mortal wound sliced into her body.
It was 'Willow' who spoke.
And it was the last thing Rebecca Swain, Vampire Slayer, ever heard.
"She's a human being," 'Willow' taunted, "Making her choice.
June swung the dark scythe down for the last time. Willow laughed in ecstasy as the scythe began glowing a brilliant green, a similar glow flashed across her skin as June turned around to stare at her, an evil smirk dancing across her face.
The glowing faded away as Willow began laughing.
"That was nifty," she growled.
"Fun for me too," June sniggered, not in the least concerned about the fact she had just murdered a fellow Slayer.
The sound of footsteps reached their ears.
"Hurry," 'Willow' growled, "Remember the plan?"
June nodded briskly as Willow waved her hands at the dark scythe. June jumped as metal dissolved into thick black smoke, the plume of darkness drifted over to Willow like a writhing serpent, twisting this and that way before finally rearing up into the air and plunging itself into her skin as the witch's body writhed.
"AH!" Willow screamed as black and green energy raced across her skin.
The convulsions died away as June glared at her, 'Willow' narrowed her eyes at the Slayer.
"Don't worry," she hissed, "You'll get it back later."
She turned to regard Xander.
"Forget," she hissed waving her hands at him.
Black energy washed over the man as 'Willow' turned back to June.
"He will not remember what happened. He will think that the blonde Slayer knocked him out," 'Willow' sniggered, "Remember the plan. The others must not know of me yet. It is too early, failure and success goes hand in hand right now walking along a narrow line. The slightest mishap could result in disaster."
"Lie," June snapped, "Got ya."
'Willow' narrowed her eyes at her before closing her eyes, when she opened them again the blackness was gone replaced with emerald green. With a small sigh, she fell to the ground.
"REBECCA?" Beth cried as she ran into the room, "OH GOD! What happened?"
June stared at her, her eyes wide as tears leaked down her face.
"She did it… she… I tried to… but she… Faith… Xander… Willow…" she closed her eyes, "Oh god… Rebecca…"
She collapsed to the ground sobbing in pain.
"Who's she?" Kennedy demanded.
"The blonde one…" June stared up at them, "Buffy."
"That bitch," Kennedy growled, "I'm going to friggin kill her!"
The Slayers gathered around Rebecca's body as Beth and Emma began crying. Kennedy, Vi and Rona looked furious as Nora looked on, her face an unreadable mask. The sound of sobs filled the air as June looked away.
An evil smirked unfurled across her face.
"Idiots."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Buffy slowly opened the door to the safehouse, her body and mind exhausted beyond even her endurance.
It was Ryan who greeted her.
"What's up?" Buffy said lightly, trying to pretend that she was perfectly fine.
Ryan grinned at her.
"We've got a job."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
CLIFFHANGER! What is going on? Willow evil? You'll just have to see (smirks)! Thank you to all the people who reviewed! I really, really appreciate it! And I like to thank everyone who reviewed and said they love my original characters! This means a lot to me, this is probably one of the few non-crossover fics (BTVS/Angel doesn't count) that I've written!