Wow, thanks for all the reviews! Special thanks to spikebaybeegurl who has reviewed twice! Also thanks to lizardwoman, M.Alicia Garcia, star2421, xXxBaNdDoRlxXx, loved it, hell yeah and PadfootObssesed329.
Of course a massive huge thanks to foxyfreakinlady! Your support makes this a whole lot easier.
Disclaimer: If I owned Buffy this would be fact not fiction. Some text is used from Dead things written by Stephen S.De knight. Some text is also used from The Prom written by Joss whedon. Property of Fox and Mutant Enemy productions.
Chapter 3 – Who are you?
BUFFY
(Kneeling down clutching her head)
Oh god...
Spike gets up and goes over to her, he kneels down beside her
SPIKE
Hey, Buffy you alright?
BUFFY
(Still clutching her head)
No! I feel like I've been hit over the head with a sledgehammer
SPIKE
I know it felt like something knocked the wind out of me that is if I could still breathe
Spike helps Buffy to her feet, she looks a little woozy.
SPIKE
Still, are you alright? Not gonna faint on me are you?
BUFFY
No, but I might throw up on you
Spike looks a little scared and then leads her over to the bed. They both sit on the edge of the bed. Buffy is still looking sick and Spike looks very concerned.
BUFFY
What was that thing?
SPIKE
I don't know, but I'm betting Red and the watcher probably do, my guess is it's that spell she did, probably some kind of side affect
Buffy just groans. All of sudden Giles, Xander, Dawn, Kennedy and a crowd of potentials come crashing though the doors and down the stairs.
XANDER
Buffy! Oh my god Buffy, are you OK? We heard a big crash
DAWN
Was it a demon?
RHONA
Was it the ubervamps?
VIVIAN
Was it the first?
KENNEDY
The first is none corporeal idiot
GILES
What happened?
SPIKE
Some kind of energy barrier hit us both at full speed, sent us flying
GILES
Energy barrier?
SPIKE
I'm guessing it's got to do with whatever mojo Red did to us
KENNEDY
Who's red?
VIVIAN
What's Mojo?
DAWN
Oh, that's Spike speak for magic
KENNEDY
Magic? Hey maybe you could ask...
GILES
Willow
SPIKE
Where is she? I think I need to know a little more about this spell she did, might help us figure out what the hell's going on here
GILES
She's watching over Faith
KENNEDY
What's going on? Did Willow do something?
GILES
Just leave it Kennedy
Spike stands and moves towards the base of the stairs. Giles leans to block his way.
GILES
Maybe now wouldn't be the best time to be talking to her
SPIKE
Somebody has to, even if it is just to find out whatever mess she's got us all into, why are you going to stop me?
Spike looks defiantly at Giles. Giles looks at him for a moment and then stands back to let him through. Spike carries on up the stairs and exits. Giles watches him go and then continues looking at the basement door.
KENNEDY
Giles what is going on? Why is Spike going to speak to Willow?
GILES
Just leave it Kennedy!
Giles heads up the stairs. Kennedy looks at irritated and then follows along with the rest of the potentials. Xander and Dawn are left at the foot of the stairs; Buffy is still on the side of the bed concentrating hard on taking deep even breaths.
XANDER
Buffy are you sure you're OK? You seem kinda queasy
BUFFY
I'm fine
XANDER
Are you sure? Cause if you want we can kick Faith out of your room.
DAWN
(Squeals)
Ooo can I do it?
BUFFY
I'm fine guys seriously, there's no need for the worriness. I just need some rest.
XANDER
Well OK, we'll just kick one of the potentials off the couch, they're all training anyway so its not like they're using it
DAWN
Buffy, what happened?
BUFFY
I don't know, one minute I was going to punch Spike and the next...
XANDER
Wait a minute you were going to hit Spike? Wait to go Buff!
Buffy looks at Xander sternly.
XANDER
I'm not helping am I?
DAWN
Oo, Do you want me to get you some hot chocolate with marshmallows? I don't really like them but I still have some left; I have my own secret stash away from the piranhas
Xander and Buffy look at Dawn.
DAWN
What it's true! You should see what its like when its that time of the month, the way it works out one of us is always on and the fight for the....
XANDER
I think we are getting a little off unisex talk here, lets try and steer the conversation away from the things I don't need to know
DAWN
Wimp
XANDER
Hey!
BUFFY
Guys!
Both Xander and Dawn silence immediately.
BUFFY
Thanks for the oh so focused concern but I think I am just gonna rest here for a while.
XANDER
Buff it's OK we can move a potential out of Dawn's room, it should be easy enough, just get Andrew to start talking about his Star Wars collection
BUFFY
Xander please, I just want to lie down is that OK?
XANDER
All I'm saying is you don't have to sleep in the basement we have other rooms and this is your house....
DAWN
Xander! Maybe we should just let Buffy get some rest yeah?
Dawn smile quickly at Buffy who gives her a relived smile back. Xander takes the hint and walks up the stairs. Buffy lies down on the bed. Dawn comes over to her and strokes her hair.
DAWN
Call me if you need anything OK? And don't worry about Xander, I'll get the girls to have well timed PMS every time he goes near the basement door.
BUFFY
He does mean well.
DAWN
Yeah I know, that's what makes it more fun.
Dawn grins evilly at Buffy, Buffy gives her a quick grin back. Dawn goes up the stairs and exits and leaves the room shutting the door behind her. Buffy lies on the bed alone and closes her eyes.
JOYCE
Penny for your thoughts?
Buffy's eyes snap open and she sits up to see her mother sitting on the bed beside her smiling.
JOYCE
Never could tell what was going on in that head of yours, always worrying and...
BUFFY
You're not my mother
JOYCE
Oh, now come on Buffy I know we've had our differences before but there's no need to block me completely from your life...
Buffy stands up in front of her mother.
BUFFY
Get out. You're not her
JOYCE
(stands)
No, I'm not but that doesn't mean we can't still talk, is that how I raised you?
BUFFY
I have nothing to say to you.
JOYCE
No?
Joyce morphs into Angel.
ANGEL
Well I guess that leaves me then doesn't it?
BUFFY
Again still not with the believing.
ANGEL
(starts to walk around the room, Buffy keeping her eye on him all the time)
Really? You still seemed pretty shaken up though. (mocking voice) 'You're not my mother' Jeez, you'd think the slayer would be able to handle me by now, but one false face and its all (mocking voice) 'Get out, You're not her' Well news flash honey... I didn't want to be, I just like getting under your skin. And we all know how well that works out..........
BUFFY
Shut up.
ANGEL
Ooooo hit a nerve have I? (He walks up to her face again) Ever wondered why I get under your skin so much?
BUFFY
I don't know, maybe its because you're a sad ass ghost who gets his kicks talking to people. For the big bad you're supposed to be, I gotta say, not so scary.
ANGEL
Nope sorry Buff got to disagree with you on that. You see, now I think it's because you get all hurt and upset just because I remind you of all the people who have left you, your mom... me (mocking voice) 'You don't want to be with me? I cant believe your breaking up with me...'
BUFFY
Shut up!
Angel laughs evilly.
ANGEL
It's strange isn't it? How in the end we always leave you? Maybe it's you...
Angel morphs into Spike
SPIKE
Coz in the end we all get bored, that is except for me luv, because in the end I will always be there for you, because you belong with me.
Spike reaches his hand up and acts as if he is stroking her hair.
SPIKE
Always said you were a creature of the night pet
He starts to circle her.
SPIKE
(Whispers in her ear from behind her)
You see you try to be with them, but you're in love with the dark, with me. What would they think of you if they found out? The things you've done? If they knew who you really were? What you have inside of you?"
Spike walks in front of her again.
SPIKE
And now it seems your just even more of a demon then you thought you were. Like my little present did you luv? What you didn't think I would let you walk away with that if I didn't want you to have it did you? And now the slayers all demon friendly, oh how the mighty have fallen. (he chuckles) Still now at least my army have a new general
BUFFY
What you think I'm gonna come join you? I'm the opposition! Someone really needs to teach you the concept of war
SPIKE
(Laughs)
Err, I think I know a thing or two about that pet. I bet your feeling really sure of yourself now, bet your feeling really powerful, but see that power comes from demon's, it comes from evil, and where there's evil...
He points to himself in a big gesture grinning
SPIKE
See, this has all worked out great for me, I get to have a lovely juicy little slayer to play around with... well actually I think I'll leave the other me to do that...
He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.
Spike morphs into Caleb
CALEB
See what you can't seem to understand is that, I am everywhere, and you can't beat back this rising dark. Because what you're fighting with, its just borrowed power, borrowed from me and you sure as hell can't beat me with my own power. I just wonder what your friend's are gonna say...
Caleb morphs into Joyce
JOYCE
What did you think that they would accept you? Buffy you're part of the very thing they hate, you are connected to this great all consuming evil that is going to sweep the world. Because that's what you are.....
Joyce morphs into Buffy.
BUFFY
You're evil. A thing. An evil, soulless, thing. And now its time I think I have a bit of fun don't you?
Buffy gives a little wave and then disappears. The real Buffy is left standing by herself. She stares into space for a while and then she takes a deep angry breath and storms up the stairs. She throws open the basement door and storms through the kitchen and dining room. She is about to go up the stairs when she is met suddenly by Spike.
SPIKE
Hey, I was just coming to talk to you
BUFFY
Get out of my way Spike
SPIKE
Now, look I know Willow was wrong and everything but there are some good reasons why....
BUFFY
Spike, get out of my way. Now.
SPIKE
Buffy just listen....
Buffy puts both of her hands up to push Spike out of the way
As soon as both of her hands go to make contact with both of Spike's arms two small walls of energy appear on either side before her hands make contact with his skin. As soon as Buffy's hands made contact with the energy, Buffy is blown so far back she crashes through the wall and a part of the door leaving a large hole, she lands face down on her lawn about 1 meter away. At the same time Spike is thrown backwards into the stairs at such a force the entire bottom end of the stairs collapses.
SPIKE
Bloody hell!
Spike sits up awkwardly in the rubble and peers though the hole in the wall
SPIKE
Buffy?!
Xander, Dawn, Giles, Kennedy and all of the potentials all come pouring out of the kitchen.
DAWN
Oh my God Spike, what happened?
Xander looks at Spike amidst the rubble of the bottom half of the staircase.
XANDER
Spike would you look at the mess you've made? Do you have any idea how long this is gonna take to...
Xander spots the hole in the wall
RHONA
Wow.... What happened? Was it the bringers?
WILLOW
It was...
SPIKE
Yep, the stupid bint tried to throw me out the way
He is still peering through the hole on the wall.
KENNEDY
And she made you crush the entire stairs? Wow, Buffy's got more power than I thought (she trails off as she looks through the hole in the wall) Hey isn't that her?
Spike gets up and then finds a large part of the staircase has fallen on top of him, he easily tosses the huge bulk of wood to one side and gets up heading through the hole.
POTENTIAL
Wow, I didn't know vampire strength was so.... Strong
DAWN
That's not just vampire strength...
XANDER
Does somebody want to tell Spike it's daylight... (He trails off)
Spike walks into the sunlight and onto the lawn. He kneels down and picks up Buffy's unconscious form. He heads back to the house.
XANDER
Did everyone just see...?
DAWN
We all saw it Xander
KENNEDY
Aren't vampires supposed to be like allergic to sunlight?
DAWN
They're supposed to be...
Spike carries Buffy into the house through the hole and sets her down on the couch. He sits next to her. She has many bleeding gashes and cuts over her face and body.
WILLOW
Is she OK?
Giles enters with a handful of weapons from the back door. When he sees Buffy he drops all of them.
GILES
Dear God...
He rushes over to the couch and kneels down next to her.
GILES
What happened?
SPIKE
She tried to throw me out of the way, same thing happened as last time.
GILES
Err Vivian perhaps you could get some bandages, a first aid kit?
Vivian turns to exit. Giles takes of his glasses.
SPIKE
No! Wait.
Buffy's wounds are rapidly healing and covering up, within the space of a few seconds all her cuts are gone. She takes a deep breath and then wakes up.
GILES
Oh thank god, Buffy are you alright?
BUFFY
(Groggily)
What happened?
SPIKE
You tried to hit me again luv, except this time we were hit a little harder than before
BUFFY
He was, you were...
SPIKE
Buffy?
VIVIAN
OK, what the hell was that? First there's a huge hole in the wall and then the staircase is like gone, and people are being blown apart by some mystical energy thingy and now Buffy's all super healy girl!
KENNEDY
Viv's gotta point you know, how did you heal that fast Buffy? And more to the point how did you end up on the lawn via a big hole in the wall anyway?
WILLOW
Kennedy, not now
GILES
No, (he stands and puts his glasses back on) she has a right to know, you all do
BUFFY
They have a right to know? Giles, I don't even know what's going on!
She sits up next to Spike.
WILLOW
I do
BUFFY
Oh yeah I forgot you have the answer to everything.
Willow looks hurt.
KENNEDY
Yeah you see now what's with that? Why are you taking this out on Willow?
BUFFY
Because it's her fault that we're in this mess!
KENNEDY
What mess?!
GILES
Buffy please, Willow only did what was necessary. It was not her fault or anybody else's for that matter, this is just something we are going to have to deal with.
BUFFY
That's easy for you to say! You don't have the First inside of you!
VIVIAN
Buffy's the first?
RHONA
Would explain a lot...
DAWN
Buffy's not the first!
RHONA
How do we know? What better way to kill us all then to impersonate her?
XANDER
Guys! Would you knock if off? Giles is trying to say something here and I for one would like to know why I'm going to have to spend all night replacing that door and what is left of the staircase.
Buffy looks confused and then she sees past the potentials to see the rubble at the end of the top of the staircase.
BUFFY
What?...
SPIKE
We both went to opposite ends; the stairway was in my way
DAWN
Can somebody please explain what's going on here?
SPIKE
I think Willow should
BUFFY
Oh there is no way she's...
SPIKE
It's either that or Giles explains
Buffy stays silent and looks frostily at Willow. Willow looks further hurt by Buffy's attitude and shoots Spike a thank you glance. Giles takes off his glasses and begins to clean them clearly distressed.
WILLOW
OK, so maybe everyone should sit down.
All of the potentials fan out and sit in various parts of the room. Buffy and Spike remain on the couch next to each other, Dawn joins them. Giles sits on weapons chest, Kennedy doesn't move from her position standing near the door. Willow stands in the middle of the room.
KENNEDY
Wait, did anyone check on Faith?
WILLOW
I've just come down from there, she's fine, Andrew's with her, besides its not like she's going anywhere.
SPIKE
Wait a minute, how did you get down here?
WILLOW
I teleported in behind you guy's. When I heard the bang, I figured it was quicker.
VIVIAN
Teleported huh? Cool
GILES
Let's try and stay focused here shall we
WILLOW
Right so, straight to business then, OK so it looks like we've had a development on the whole war front thing, and it's to do with the scythe that Buffy got from Caleb and the First.
KENNEDY
When she split him in half?
VIVIAN
She split him in half? Ewww...
KENNEDY
What are you talking about? You should be cheering, at least that's one less thing that's trying to kill us
BUFFY
Guy's, can we please stay on topic here please?
WILLOW
Right, so anyway back to the whole scythe thing. So anyway Giles and me did some research on it with the help of the coven...
VIVIAN
You have a coven?
WILLOW
No I just went to one when I was...
KENNEDY
Is this the coven you went to when you tried to destroy the world?
RHONA
You tried to destroy the world?!
DAWN
Could everybody please stop talking?
RHONA
Well sorree for acting freaked out that yet another person living with us tried to destroy the world at some point.
WILLOW
Guy's....
VIVIAN
Is that why Andrew's so afraid of you? Did you like offer him up to a God in exchange for the world ending?
KENNEDY
What kind of God would accept Andrew as an offering? Except maybe the God of nerd's
WILLOW
Guy's!
A wave of green energy emits from Willows hands. The whole room goes quiet.
BUFFY
What did you do? Did you take their voices away?
WILLOW
No I just caused silence
SPIKE
Caused silence?
GILES
Willow, maybe all this magic isn't such....
WILLOW
It's OK Giles I know what I'm doing. I used the earth's energy to create a realm of peace; its just means there will be less disruption. It's harmless. Besides, they all need to her what I'm gonna say.
Willow looks at Buffy.
WILLOW
So anyway as I was saying, we found some information through the coven about the scythe that Buffy retrieved. It turns out it is a part of an ancient prophecy which describes the final fight with the last pure demon that exists which we now call the First. The prophecy tells of an ancient weapon, made by these people called the Guardians who basically watched over the watchers before they got all organized and became a council. This scythe was forged in secret ready for the final fight in which the slayer would use it to fight the First. Now the scythe was made from a mixture of essences, the essence of the slayer and the essence from the demon that created her. When Buffy went though that portal and met the shadow men who created the slayer, they tried to get the same demon that had created the first slayer to merge with Buffy.
Willow paused and looked around; everyone was silent with a sort of amazed look on their faces. Both Giles and Spike give Willow an encouraging nod.
WILLOW
The reason why the shadowmen did this is because they were trying to prepare Buffy for the final fight in case she didn't find the scythe, that's why that spell and those shadow puppets were in an emergency bag. It was meant to be a back up. So anyway the rest of this prophecy described what else was needed for the final fight, it said that the slayer would need to merge essences with a demon to gain his strengths. But this demon had to be one who had willingly sought redemption by getting back his soul, in other words Spike. This is because when a demon has a soul it anchors him, so when Spikes demon essence merged with Buffy's he still had something to keep him doing good. The spell that was written to join Buffy and Spike together was called Nostri Necto, which basically translates to be as one and to seal the bond. This spell has mixed their essences together and then split in half giving each of them equal power, this power has all of the abilities they would have separately as a slayer and vampire and it also massively decreases their weaknesses. That's why Spike can walk in the sun, although he can't stay in it for too long, and why the two of them are now about a gazillion times stronger then they were before. And finally, the reason why we these energy fields appear whenever Buffy tries to hit Spike or vice versa if the situation arises is because they are joined together. The spell forbids them to hurt each other, it's also why Buffy takes longer to heal than Spike when she tries to hit him because she's in a way hitting herself. But it doesn't really matter anyway because if anything else hit's either of them now, they heal instantly, that's what you get when you add slayer and vamparic healing together.
Willow takes a deep breath.
WILLOW
Have I missed anything?
GILES
Just one other thing, Buffy remember when I told you that you and Spike had a connection? Well it seems that you do, you are connected, you won't be able to hear each other's thought's or feel what one another is feeling but there is a connection, and I imagine you will start to feel the advantages of this spell very soon. The senses, and the instinct will grow more astute over time.
WILLOW
Oh! Also, see how the scythe is half axe half stake? Well that's supposed to represent the slayer and the demon within. I know that's not really relevant, but I just thought that was cool.
Willow gives a half a smile. Buffy gives a glimmer of a smile.
GILES
Also one final thing, I would suggest that you don't try hitting him again Buffy not only for the sake of the house, but also if you were to continue getting these energy shocks I believe it could seriously harm you and the spell.
SPIKE
No objections here, that bloody well hurt.
BUFFY
But I still don't understand why you couldn't have just told us all this, why wait to do it behind our backs?
WILLOW
Buffy that's not what we were trying to do at all, it's just when you sleep your essence rises to the surface, it becomes a lot clearer. If we had done it while you were awake it could have taken days.
GILES
We don't have a lot of time left; we still have a lot of tests to do to find out the limits of your powers if indeed there are any
WILLOW
I think we found the scythe a little late, Athena said that the book that told us about the prophecy felt like it has been opened for a couple of weeks before she found it, maybe even longer than that.
GILES
We could be heading into war tomorrow for all we know...
BUFFY
That kinda reminds me. Downstairs I had a visit from...
SPIKE
Wait a minute; what are we supposed to do in the final fight?
Giles takes off his glasses worriedly.
GILES
Ah....
A/N I know! I know! Another cliffhanger! But I promise you it will all be worth it.. a few things quickly though when the First calls Buffy a 'evil soulless thing' that is supposed to be a reference to Smashed, when she calls Spike that. So when you imagine that version of Buffy imagine her in that outfit. Again reviews really and truly help so please review! I will try and make the next chapter as short coming as this one was. (two days, 20 pages, new personal record) Again, anyone see what I did with the title?