The Archer

"So, what is this spell called again," asked Amy.

She and Anya were in an empty classroom after school the next day. They were preparing a spell so that Anya could regain her necklace from the alternate world where she had been defeated, though Amy wasn't aware of that.

"It's just a simple temporal fold," said Anya impatiently as she prepared the spell, "We both call on Eryishon, then endless one, offer up thee standard supplication, and then there's a small temporal fold. Hopefully. Then, I pour the sacred sand on the necklace representation, then Eryishon brings it forth from when it was lost."

Amy nodded. She'd never done this kind of spell before, but Rak had told her of it. Rak was a mage who would give people highs off of magic. Amy had met him through her mother, back when she was still in her mother's body. When Amy had begun to delve into magic, Rak had come to her and told her that he could help. That was how she got so powerful so fast.

"This had better be worth my money, child," said Anya.

"It will be," said Amy, "Let's begin."

Willow was walking to the library, her mind in the clouds. The whole school was alight with rumors over the three replacements for the Dingoes last night in the Bronze. Some people were saying that they had split up and that Oz had to get a new crew together fast, so he slapped them all together. That was the closest thing to the truth.

In reality, the band itself last night had been excellent. They sounded just as good, if not, better than the original Dingoes. Xander and Oz played like nothing else mattered, Faith beat those drums worse than she does a vampire, and Giles! Giles could sing. When she had heard him sing, she was instantly reminded of when she had had a crush on the librarian.

Buffy and Cordelia's reactions were right with hers. They were both surprised, but they loved it. Unfortunately, things didn't have a happy ending. The original members, except for Devon, quit after they heard how easily they had been replaced. So, for the time being, Xander and Faith were the acting members of the band. Giles said that he had enjoyed his time in the spotlight, but he was more than happy to hand the torch over to Devon. He preferred his dusty books more to the loudness of the Bronze, but…he had enjoyed it, and would cherish it for a long time. And he was there whenever he was needed.

She sighed as she walked to the library doors, then gasped as she suddenly felt a wave of power strike her.

Xander and Faith leaned in against the doorway. Xander gripped his longbow, and his fingers twitched against the bowstring. He relaxed his grip on the arrow. Faith was there, armed with a short sword. They were there at the apartment on another tip from Willy. The first apartment he had raided had been where Dom was staying, but she saw him coming. This time, he hoped things would be different.

'On three,' Xander mouthed, '1…2…3.'

Faith kicked in the door and Xander went in first, longbow pointed forward. Faith was right behind him, ready to slam her blade into Dominique's heart. Instead, they found an empty apartment. There was writing along the walls in blue paint.

'Better luck next time.'

Willow rushed into the classroom, hoping that she wasn't too late. Someone was using very powerful magic to break into the mesh of things, to make things different than they once were. Such spells were dangerous, especially when there was an ex-demon looking for powers inside the school.

Willow looked inside and saw Amy and Anya, sitting together, bright purple magical lights whirling about them. Anya and Amy held a bottle of powder. That would complete the spell. Willow didn't think as she charged forward, just as the powder was dropped. She put her hand underneath the powder before it could hit the floor.

Willow backed away and looked at the two girls.

"What do you think you're doing," growled Anya.

"Stopping you from getting your power center back," said Willow.

"Power center," asked Amy, "What power center?"

"None of your concern," said Anya as she looked at the plate.

Willow grabbed the plate and threw it up against the wall, shattering it.

"Amy," she said, "Anya is an ex-vengeance demon. Don't help her get that necklace back, or else we'll have Anyanka back on our hands."

"Anyanka," said Amy in fear, "I've read of her. I can't believe I was going to help you!"

"It's not here," said Anya.

"Don't help her again," said Willow.

She turned around and left the classroom. Amy glared at Anya, gathered her supplies, then turn back to the former demon.

"I'm not giving you back your money," said Amy.

With that, she left. Anya glared after her, then glared down at the ground where her necklace should be. She slammed her fists into the floor, then yelled.

"Nothing!"

Inside of the factory on the other side of town, she awoke. She laid upon the floor, her leather suit squeaking as she sat up. Her red hair got caught in her eyes as she looked around.

"This is weird," said the vampiric Willow.

Xander sat inside the Bronze that night. Faith was at home, sleeping peacefully in the bed. He heard three moans of pleasure come from inside his head, followed quickly by fantasies projected from four points of view. Vampire certainly had some sick and twisted views, and hyena was just too damn frightening. Soldier's idea of Faith was…disturbing, to say the least. But none of them compared to Xander's own thoughts. He could feel his usually calm demeanor slip away for an instant, replaced momentarily by a giddy grin.

He and Faith hadn't engaged in 'sins of the flesh,' as a televangelist from Dallas had once said, at least according to Ron White. He wasn't worried about this. Despite four warring viewpoints upon sex, Xander's won out against all of them. He believed that it was something worth waiting for, something…to be appreciated.

Suddenly, Xander's senses went into overdrive. Something was different, something…new, and yet familiar. He looked up at the doorway and saw a sight that looked infinitely familiar, and yet, a stark contrast of reality.

Willow sauntered in, her flaming hair illuminated against her pale skin, skin so marvelously personified against the dark leather suit that encased her body. Xander felt something deep inside him stir, and he knew what it was. Instantly, he felt both hyena and soldier come up in defense, but both were quickly overpowered. Xander felt himself flung into his realm.

Willow walked through the Bronze, her leather squeaking against her ample body. She felt the oddity of it all, seeing her once home tarnished by humans. Humans who so eagerly stared at her, in awe and confusion. Boredom.

Xander stood up against the night inside the distraught town of Sunnydale, the Sunnydale of vampire's world. Xander stood with hyena on his left and soldier on his right, while vampire stood before the three. His fangs flashed against the night sky, reflected in the moonlight.

"How is she here," demanded soldier.

"I don't know," answered vampire.

"Ugh," groaned hyena, "What should we do now?"

"…I wish I knew," said vampire.

"You are the one with the most experience with her," said Xander, "What do you believe we should do?"

"…Help her," said vampire, "She's young, barely even three years worth of vampiric blood in her. She and I did a lot during our time, but…"

"You want us to ensoul her," whispered soldier.

"Out of the question," growled hyena, "Angel didn't deserve that second chance he received from Willow, and this vampire doesn't deserve any chance whatsoever!"

"She was turned," said vampire, "She was turned against her will."

"Such as all vampires," said hyena, "If we toss a blind eye against her, then what kind of creatures are we should we not obey our own laws?"

"It's not a blind eye," said vampire, "It's a punishment. She's committed crimes, but so have I, and yet, here I am."

"You existed through him," said hyena, "This one exists outside. There is a difference."

"She deserves a chance," pleaded vampire, "Please, if you will not allow her her soul returned, then at least see her home. To her own world, and not this one."

"I am loath to admit," said soldier, "But, this vampire does make a point. This creature does not belong here, and yet, she is here. Vampire, do you remember what happens to her?"

"I am slain before she is," said vampire, "But, I could find out."

"Go," said Xander.

As vampire walked off into the night, the three stood together.

"What should we do," asked soldier.

"Kill her," said hyena.

"She doesn't belong in this world," said soldier, "If we kill her, it could have unparalleled effects in both realities. The same is true if we give her back her soul."

"It all depends on what the vampire says," howled hyena, "And if he says that she dies anyway, I want to see her dead."

"We shall do nothing," said Xander.

"What," asked hyena in disbelief.

"It is not our choice to make," said Xander, "It is Willow's own being here, her own…essence, just in vampiric form. If she chooses to have her slain, then we shall honor her wishes. If she chooses to send her back, then we shall send her back. If she chooses to return her soul to her, then we shall aid her."

Vampire walked back from his journey all of a sudden, a downtrodden look upon his face.

"What have you found," asked Xander.

"She dies," said vampire, "Oz slams her into a sharpened piece of wood at the end."

"…We'll lead her to the library," said Xander.

Xander came out of his realm and looked up to see one of the most interesting scenes ever. Vampire Willow was standing near the pool table, clutching Percy's throat in her hands. Xander leapt up and grabbed hold of Percy, then flung him up to the second floor. Xander sent out a shockwave to all those around, effectively sending them away from the scene. Xander sighed and turned back to Willow.

"Xander," she exclaimed with a smile that sent shivers up his spine.

"Yeah," said Xander as he latched onto her senses, "It's me."

He shifted into his game-face, then used his senses to knock her unconscious. He sighed and caught her, going back to his regular face as he did so. He lifted her up and walked out the door of the Bronze.