The Archer

Xander leaned back in his chair as he watched them all. The bright sunlight was forcing him to turn his eyes into slits so that he could see them. They were out there, training.

"Let up a little bit, Faith," he called out, "This is a delicate weapon, not something that you can just pull back and let go."

"Isn't that the basic idea," asked Faith.

"No," said Xander, "It's elegant, not jerky. It's poetry in motion, it's a song within your heart."

"What if that song's 'Fuel' by Metallica," asked Jack.

"Then you need new tastes," said Jonathan.

"Do not insult Metallica," growled Faith, "They are one of the best bands on Earth."

"Jonathan, do not insult Metallica around Faith," said Xander, "At least, if you want to keep your head."

Xander, Faith, Jack, Jonathan, Oz, and surprisingly, Willow were gathered at the archery field that Xander used to practice at before he had gotten his house from Dom. Faith was already fair with the longbow, and both Jack and Oz had expressed the fact that they wanted to learn. Jonathan was there trying to get over his suicidal tendencies, and Xander believed that learning how to use a longbow would help him, if he meditated on the side. Willow was just there for Oz, but…that didn't mean that Xander couldn't teach her something.

"Twist your wrist a little, Oz," said Xander, "At the angle you have it, it could go into the woods and hit something…or somebody."

Oz nodded, then twisted his wrist the way Xander had shown him. He drew back and let the arrow sing. It struck the target on the very border.

"Nice," said Xander, "That's very good for a first time, Oz."

"How did you do on your first time," asked Jack.

"I shot my arrow into the woods," said Xander, "And about two inches into a tree."

Jack smiled and then took aim with his bow. He drew back and let it loose. It struck the target within the second circle, only a few inches away from the borders of the first circle, which contained the bull's-eye.

"Ah," said Xander, "You have good aim, but you draw back too quickly. Gain a focus on it."

"I'm not sure I'm really cut out for the longbow," said Jack, "I prefer either the gun or the knife."

Xander nodded, then turned to Jonathan. Jonathan sighed, then pulled back on his bowstring, bringing the arrow with it. He took a breath, then let it go. It sliced through the air and struck the target just seven inches from the bull's-eye.

"Nice," said Xander, "You got a good stance, your wrist movement is nearly flawless. But, every time you let the arrow go, you jerk to the left a little. That one movement causes the arrow to land away from the point. This won't hurt you so long as you use it correctly."

Jonathan nodded.

"How are you doing," asked Xander.

"…Better," said Jonathan, "It's nice to have friends. And it's good talking about my dad."

"What are we doing tonight," asked Faith.

"Don't know," said Oz, "Band doesn't have a gig."

"Why don't we all go to the Bronze," suggested Willow, "Spend a little time together."

Xander considered the idea, but didn't think that was such a good one. Everyone was frazzled about all the events, him more than most. He also knew that Faith was worried about him. He laid awake at night, listening to her. He could feel her aura. She was worried more about him than he was about everyone else. He'd have to do something, something to make everyone's worries go away for at least one moment.

"Why don't we do that," said Xander, "We go to the Bronze, have a little fun. We're all a little stressed out, and we could do with some unwinding. Why not?"

Then, a better idea popped into his head.

"The name of the game, gentleman, and lady," said vampire later that night, "Is cutthroat. Cordelia, you shall have one through five, Jack shall have six through ten, and I shall have eleven to fifteen."

The entire group, minus Wesley and Angel, were gathered inside the bar in Xander's realm. Wesley was asleep and Angel was currently MIA, but had said that he would return. So, everyone was taking the night off inside the bar. It had taken a moment to get everyone there that didn't have meditation experience, but it had worked out.

Vampire, Cordelia, and Jack were playing pool. Hyena and Oz were sitting at the bar, sipping on their drinks. Willow and Buffy were sitting at their table, chatting. Giles was playing the pinball game, talking to soldier as he did so. Xander and Faith were dancing to the music, acting like lunatics as they did so. Jonathan was checking out the songs on the jukebox.

"I wish every day could be like this," said Xander as he danced with Faith, "Just fun."

"I think that's what everyone wishes, boytoy," said Faith.

"Boytoy," asked Xander, "How can I be your boytoy? We haven't gone that far."

"And who's missing out on that," asked Faith with a smile.

"Well, who says we have to miss out on that," asked Xander.

"…You want to get out of here," asked Faith, an odd look in her eyes.

"Think that's a good idea," asked Xander.

"Why not?"

"Well, we are in my spirit realm. Wonder what it'd be like."

"Let's find out."

Vampire lined his shot up, then struck. In went the thirteen and the fifteen balls.

"Game and match," said vampire.

"I never was good at cutthroat," said Jack.

"Oh, well," said Cordelia, "You and me can still go for second."

"Nah," said Jack, "Jonathan! You wanna play?"

"Sure," said Jonathan, "What's the game?"

"Just regular pool," answered Jack.

"Would you care to dance, fair lady," asked vampire as he bowed.

"Why, thank you," said Cordelia, "I would."

Vampire led Cordelia over to the dance floor as Jonathan loaded up a slow song. As they came forward, they passed Xander and Faith as they were leaving.

"Where you going," asked Cordelia.

"We were going…out," said Faith.

"I just thought up a brand new idea for another part of the realm and I want to go and see if it'll work," said Xander.

"Cool," said Cordelia.

As she turned and walked away, vampire faced them and gave them the 'two-thumbs up' sign.

"How are you and wolfy getting along," asked hyena.

"We're doing good," said Oz, "I've started meditating every other day. Getting in touch with the wolf. I actually managed to tap into its strength the other day."

"Good, good," said hyena, "You and Willow?"

"We're good. It's just the stress of it all."

"…Go and dance, boy. If you don't, I'll wupp your little wolfy behind."

Oz said nothing, but nodded and stood up.

"I want to go to college," said Buffy, "I got into Northwestern."

"That is so cool," said Willow, "I'm so proud of you!"

"Thanks, but…it's all mootville for me. I mean, even with Cordelia and Faith here, it'd be wrong for me to just pick up everything and abandon them here."

"Cordelia said that she's going to LA right after graduation and the Ascension. From what the Books said, that's when it should be. A hundred years after the founding of power which, for the Mayor, would be the town's founding."

"Hope she doesn't skip town before then."

"Buffy."

"I know, I know. Still working on it. Anyway, I really just have to accept that I've got to be here, even with three Slayers."

"What about Faith? I mean, Xander's not leaving until this summer, and that's just on a road trip. He'll be back before College starts up, he thinks. She'll still be able to stay with him."

"I think she wants to go with Xander. I mean, I would too if I were in her position. And, who knows? They might not come back. They might find a nice place to settle down. Besides, I just don't have it in me to leave mom or Giles. Oh, well. I got into UC Sunnydale. Yay! But, you, you got into nearly every college on the face of the Earth! Where are you going to go?"

"I don't know. I thought about going to study and become a Watcher, but…after all that Giles has been through, I don't think I could take it. I think I might…stay here."

"What? No, Willow, you can't stay here. You need to go and get out of this place. Go, fly free! You're not bound here."

"Actually, I kinda am. Oz is staying here, going to UC Sunnydale, too. Plus, I kind of enjoy the fight. I mean, I'm not like old Faith. I don't get off on it. I just…like helping people. I think I can do a lot more for people here than anywhere else. I want to stay here, Buffy. For me. Not just for everyone else."

"…I love you, Willow."

"I love you too, Buffy."

The two hugged each other, then separated. Willow looked up when she felt an arm on her shoulder.

"Dance," asked Oz.

She smiled and nodded, then stood up and left Buffy to ponder. As she sat there, Jonathan sat down in the seat across from her.

"Hey," he said nervously, "Would y-you l-l-like to dance?"

"…Sure."

"I still don't know what we should do," said Giles, "I mean, we have the Mayor against us, all the demons and vampires that work for him against us, and we have Xander's original trainer against us. It just seems like he's got nearly every advantage against us."

"There are three things that can bring any country down," said soldier, "Reconnaissance, strategy, and devotion. If you have these three, you've already won half the battle. All you have to do is exercise it."

"Well, everyone here is devoted, except maybe the two new ones. I think they're mainly here for Xander. But, you're suggesting that we begin watching the Mayor?"

"Why not? It's always best to know your enemy better than you know your friend, is it not?"

"…You make a good point."

Xander laid back against the pillows in the room. Technically, the pillows inside his spirit realm. He felt the body next to him stretch out. He smiled and wrapped his arms around Faith, and then closed his eyes and let his mind wander.