I'm back!
I would like to remind you that I own none of the characters contained within. Buffy & co. are the property of Joss Whedon and the others belong to DC Comics.
Thanks to all reviewers, much appreciated!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------And you wouldn't be alone." As Batman turns at his words, Robin adds "Batman, you need to talk to these people, and consider what they've lost, both today and since they decided not to let the dark win. Additionally, Oracle wants a word."
Batman activates his communicator, not, however, his JLA device but an altogether more secure one. After all, he's Batman.
"What is it Oracle?"
"Jason Blood insists on speaking with you, he's gone so far as to threaten to post Etrigan's poetry on every website he can find. He says it's relevant to the Sunnydale situation."
"Understood" is the growled reply "put him through." There was a click as the connection was made. "Blood, if this isn't vital, Etrigan's poetry on the internet will not save you."
"Well Batman, are you aware of Sunnydale's background? It's mystical significance? The presence of the most powerful witch on the planet residing there, one who last year nearly ended the world? How about the massive spell which has changed the way the world works forever? Is that vital enough?"
"Continue."
"Sunnydale was on the Mouth of Hell, an entrance to the hell dimensions, the aura of which called to supernatural evil from all over the world. Vampires, Demons, Werewolves, you name it, they came to visit. As fate would have it, recently the Slayer, a mystical warrior for good, arrived in Sunnydale, re-wrote the rulebook and has postponed the apocalypse a fair few times. Aided by her friends, Miss Summers is the longest living Slayer on record, at 7 years. Though the fact that she's died, twice, does make it a tad complicated. Now, one of her friends learned magic to help in the fight against evil, but became addicted to it. She went cold-turkey, and was keeping herself off it, but when her partner was killed in front of her, she lost it. She brought the world to the brink of destruction in her rage and pain and no-one knows what stopped her. Etrigan was most disappointed, he found her darkness enticing. I pitied the girl should they have met until an hour ago, when she cast a spell which changed the world. Previously there has been a single slayer at a time, though with Miss Summers first death, another was called and there were two. Now, due to the witch, there are hundreds all over the world. Oh, and the only organisation whose mandate would have been to help them was blown up recently. Now, what I suggest is you avoid threatening anyone, bow out gracefully and get the hell away from Willow Rosenberg!"
"I'll take it under advisement. The information is appreciated. Batman out." (This is his version of 'Thanks'). Batman was unsure what to think. If she can end the world, she needed to be stopped, but she helps save the world. Hmm. Better keep her under surveillance, make that all of them. Get to these new 'Slayers' before they do to reduce their resources. Maybe set up my own organisation to support them… ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile
After Robin's pronouncement, he'd moved back to Secret to see if he could cheer her up. Buffy went with him as she felt sorry for the mist-girl. Must be pretty crap to be unable to touch or interact with the world. And I thought I'd had it tough. Buffy noticed that Secret was still watching the mini-slayers warily.
"Look, um, Secret. Would it help if you knew why we feel like we do? It might reassure you a bit that we're not going to attack you or anything." Offered Buffy.
"That might help."
"Well, back in pre-history, all sorts of monsters and big-bads ruled the earth. Some men decided to make a warrior to fight them and protect the human race. So they took a young girl to a cave, and, without her consent, merged the essence of a demon lord with hers, giving her the demons strength. She was the First Slayer, the one from who the rest of us get our power. Since then there's always been a slayer, the one girl in all the world to fight vampires, demons and the forces of darkness. Now, about a year after I'd been called as the slayer, there was a prophecy that said I would die fighting this vamp called The Master. I went anyway and died, he drowned me. But Xander and Angel followed me, and Xander performed CPR and I was no longer dead. However, this called another slayer called Kendra. She was killed by a vamp called Drusilla, so Faith was called. So, then there were two. But this big bad called The First Evil had been gaining strength and was going to open the Hellmouth and release an army of ubur-vampires. I barely managed to kill one when it got out early, and The First had hundreds of thousands down there. So, using this neat weapon made for the slayer, I got Willow to cast a spell to activate all of the potentials as slayers. So, here we are."
Robin was shocked, he'd thought he'd had it tough fighting crime in Gotham and with Young Justice, but at least it was his choice. To have the weight of the world thrust on your shoulders… even Superman takes time off occasionally!
Secret was more saddened, because she could see past the words to the feelings behind them, the hurt, pain and loneliness that had almost conquered Buffy more than once.
"Thanks, I feel a bit better about you lot now, though the idea of teenagers being forced to fight vampires strikes me as just plain wrong."
"I agree." Said Buffy "which is why the new slayers will get a choice. They'll all need training, loads of nasties seem to see killing a Slayer as a badge of honour, but no one gets forced to fight."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Over to one side, the other members of Young Justice are talking amongst themselves about what they've heard.
"Man, I hate being sidelined soon as the big bad Bat shows up." Complained Superboy.
"Well, he is more experienced." Offered Wondergirl.
"Experiencedatwhat?Hewasjustassurprisedbythosegirlsaswewere!" joined in Impulse.
"True, but what organisation could escape Batman's notice for as long as these people have claimed to be around?" asked Arrowette.
"Did ya hear Buffy there talking, it was like, 'I've died, so what', when Supes died it was a massive thing, but if we believe what we've heard these guys do just as much with no recognition."
"Gaia! If they're telling the truth, they should've come to us or the JLA or something. Not muddled through on their own."
"Idunno,usandtheJLAareshortonmagicuser.Titanstoo.JSAmaybe,plustheyaretheoneswiththeknowledgeforthistypeofthing,notus."
There was a pause.
"Imp, if you'd just slow down we'd be able to understand you better. But you're right. Ack! Can't believe I just said that!" exclaimed Superboy.
"I think we should give them some support. Even if the JLA does nothing, we should give them a communicator at least, maybe access to some training facilities to help with all those new slayers."
"Good idea Cissie. Unless Rob gives us a very good reason not to, we'll do it!"
"Do what?" asks Willow as she teleports back from LA, bringing Spike with her.