Title: Life Saver 8/10
Author: David A. Knapton
E-mail: If you want, but it is polite to let the author know you are doing so.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters belong to the owners of BtVS and the Gilmore Girls.
Spoiler: Season 7 of Buffy and mid to late season 1 of Gilmore Girls, so GG timeline is moved a few years.
Rating: 12A/PG-13.
Pairing: Lorelai/Luke eventually plus Buffy canon pairings.
Summery: Set around Touched Ep. 7.20 and a little of End of Days Ep. 7.21.
Notes: This was inspired by reading a couple of Buffy-Gilmore Girls crossovers and the fact that Hallmark (in the UK) have started showing GG from the first season.
It should also be noted that although a lot of the dialogue in this story comes from the scripts posted on BuffyWorld, some of it is changed or even spoken by different people.
Still no beta.
'' Thought.
Feedback: If you wish.
Please note I am English, so is my spelling. Live with it.
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Buffy and Faith watched as a man closed his shop before hurrying to his car parked nearby. The streets were full of cars, all going in the same direction, but no one was moving. People were even walking through the streets carrying their belongings. The slayers walked among them, looking around, when someone in a car called out to them. Smiling at Clem, who sat in a late model red VW Beetle, they walked over. "Hey, you," said Clem.
"Hey," said Buffy, "This is Faith. Faith this is Clem. A friend," she emphasised.
"Hi there," said Clem, "Can you believe this mishegaas?" he said looking around.
"Yeah. You'd think these people had never seen an apocalypse before," said Buffy chuckling humorously. "What about you? Just going for a quick spin to 7-11... in Nebraska?"
"It's getting bad here," said Clem seriously. "Really bad. Hellmouth acting up again, people feeling it, getting crazier. You can't swing a cat without hitting some kind of demonic activity. Not that I swing cats, or eat...nope. Heh. Cuttin' way back. Cholesterol—morsels. I mean, morals."
"Right," smirked Buffy, Faith just raised her eyebrow.
"We've seen some bad stuff in this town before but, you know, this time, it's like it just seems different, more powerful," said Clem shaking his head, "I don't think anyone's gonna be able to stop it... I mean, I'm sure you'll do fine. Complete confidence in you. Heh. Uh, if anyone can do it, you can, because you...rock. If you save the world, I'll come back, we'll have drinks... When. When, I mean. When you save the world." Buffy nodded understanding, "It's gonna be great with all the... rocking." His whole demeanour changed, "Maybe... maybe you should just get out of town this time."
"Yeah. I probably should," agreed Buffy already knowing she could not.
"You take care of yourself, okay?" said Clem waving then more softly, "Bye," he said as the traffic began to move forward.
As Faith walked away from the traffic, "So another ex," she said lightly.
Buffy chuckled.
--------------
"All right. So, what do we know?" asked Buffy as she and Faith came down the stairs into the basement. The potentials and the other Scoobies were already there.
"Well, we know we're basically the last humans left in Sunnydale," Xander explained.
"And that all the evil in town wants us dead," added Louise.
"I don't want to die," whined Vi.
"Don't worry. It's far more likely you'll live long enough to watch most of your friends die first. And then you'll die," said Anya.
"We also know that Caleb told you Buffy that everything's going down at the seal. I think we should head..." began Kennedy.
Faith cut her off, "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. So, we know we've got a lot of enemies. We'll start there."
"Ok. So let's go over our rogues' gallery. Who exactly do we have here?" said Buffy.
"Well, there's the First, who we can't touch," said Dawn.
"Then there's our friend the reverend I-hate-women," added Xander.
"Who's basically untouchable," pointed out Anya.
"There's the 'roid-rage vamps, who are pretty much the worst. And the..." began Lorelai.
"Bringers...I think they're still our weakest link," said Luke.
"We find this armoury they have and take it out," surmised Lorelai.
--------------
A little later Buffy, Faith and Giles were looking over a map of the tunnels under the town.
"Sewer tunnel on the north side's closest, so I guess you'll start there," said Buffy.
"Sounds fine. What time shall I tell everyone?" asked Giles.
"Whoa, hold on, what do you mean by, you! Don't you mean we?" said Faith.
Buffy looked at her sister Slayer, "I'm going back to the vineyard, as you said if we burned it down and they hung around there was something there. Well we did and they have, so I'm going to find out exactly what they are hiding."
"So who is going to lead the attack on the armoury?" asked Faith.
"You are Faith," said Buffy smiling a little at the sudden worry on the other Slayer's face, "Don't worry Faith it's better this way, most of the girls don't trust my judgement anymore," she said.
"That's not true B," said Faith.
"Maybe, maybe not. Either way it's got to be you, and anyway this way we split their forces," said Buffy.
Faith felt conflicted but after a moment, she nodded and turned to their Watcher. "How about around 9:00? 9:00 sharp. So, tomorrow morning we fight.
"Very well," said Giles, "Tomorrow. Goodnight," he said walking away, then he turned back, "Faith."
"Yeah?" she said.
"You'll do fine," said Giles before leaving.
--------------
The next morning Andrew stood addressing the potentials and the others in the living room, having returned just before dawn. "So, it turned out that all these stone tablets basically said the same thing. The First and Caleb are protecting something, and—and we don't know exactly what it is, but it's something powerful, and they don't want the slayers to get it. I'm thinking it could be the scythe, and if we're looking for an arsenal..."
"You're not coming," announced Faith.
Andrew looked irritated, "If one is looking for an arsenal, what better place to find the..."
"Scythe," finished Faith. "Ok. Got it. Good. Good thinking, Andrew."
"It's a pleasure, Faith. Back to you," said a very pleased Andrew.
"Where's Buffy?" Rory suddenly asked.
"She's doing something else. I'm leading this attack," said Faith.
Many of the potentials looked at each other curiously, "What?" asked Lorelai.
"She's going to check out why Caleb and the bringers are still hanging at the vineyard," explained Faith.
"What?" asked Dawn angrily.
"Buffy still thinks that there is something they are hiding there..."
"Like the scythe," Lorelai finished for Giles. "So why in hell are we planning this attack on the armoury before we know if the scythe is at the vineyard?"
"We hope to divide their forces," explained Giles.
"I don't like this," said Lorelai.
Faith looked at the woman, "Well this is how it's going to be. B thinks that some of you don't trust her judgement anymore. So you're stuck with me now. Now those of you coming with me to the arsenal, you know who you are. Everybody ready? Let's do this thing," she said walking toward the door. A dozen of the potentials including Lorelai, Rory, Madeline and Louise followed, all carrying various weapons.
Giles looked up at a very unhappy Dawn, "While it's light we should gather what supplies we can, food, medical supplies that sort of thing. Would you like to make lists with Andrew and Willow?"
Dawn nodded absently, "Sure," she said grabbing a pad and pen and heading towards the kitchen.
"Dawn," Giles called out and the teenager turned around, "I'm sure Buffy will be fine."
--------------
Buffy crouched by the side of a bush, observing the burnt-out building, the entire upper floor was gone and most of the white walls of the lower were black with soot, the floor was clear of debris. From her vantage point, Buffy could see bringers coming and going from the cellar stairs.
As Buffy slipped into the back, waiting for the right moment to attack, she was a little surprised that she could hear the First talking.
"Shouldn't be long now. Prophecies say one thing. Brute strength says another. We'll get it out," said Caleb.
"I heard you, Caleb," said the First.
"We're almost there," Caleb said confidently.
Buffy saw her moment; the only Bringer above ground had its back to her.
"Yes, that's true. Now, rouse the bringers. Get them back to work..." said the First as their conversation was interrupted by a Bringer being thrown down the stairs. Caleb and Buffy/First turned to see Buffy standing at the top of the stairs.
"Hey. Heard you got something of mine," Buffy said cockily, her hands on her hips, before coming quickly down the stairs and stopping out of easy reach of Caleb.
"Well, if it ain't the prodigal Slayer," said Caleb with a little smile.
Buffy looked around, "Where's it at? You know I'm gonna find it sooner or later."
Caleb shook his head, "No, you're not. I lay one hand on you, and you're just a dead little girl."
Buffy shrugged, "Lay a hand on me...if you can."
Caleb took a swing at Buffy. The Slayer ducked quickly and dodging, jumping and rolling in and around his various attacks, the former preacher never coming close to hitting her. Buffy landed behind him and ran with Caleb in hot pursuit. She jumped onto the wine barrels and ran across the top, kicking the last one into Caleb's path as she jumped back to the ground, causing it to bust and trip him. Buffy stood smirking at Caleb.
Buffy/First sat on a wine barrel, looking at the wine-covered Caleb on the floor, "Caleb, this is getting embarrassing."
"Do you have to look like that?" Caleb said under his breath.
"Will you concentrate," ordered the First.
"'Cause it's just a little confusing," Caleb said through gritted teeth.
"Fine. Go. Kill," said the First disappearing in a flash of light.
Caleb got to his feet swing a punch at Buffy, but she jumped into the air and did a flip, landing on her feet, easily avoiding his attack. He lunged at her, but Buffy propelled herself up the wall and across a rafter as Caleb ran under her, unable to stop himself. Buffy dropped to the ground and Caleb swung at her again, but she ducked avoiding the punch. With her back to the wall, Buffy stared at Caleb as he walked menacingly toward her.
He suddenly sprang at Buffy hoping to catch her unawares but she ducked again, causing Caleb to punch his fist into a rack of wine bottles. Buffy ran to the side and up a rack of wine barrels as Caleb ran toward her, as he did so she jumped over his head and ran toward the back of the cellar.
"You whore," Caleb called out.
Buffy stopped running and turned to face him, "You know, you really should watch your language. If someone didn't know you, they might think you were a woman-hating jerk."
Enraged, Caleb pushed over a wine barrel and charged toward the Slayer. From her position, Buffy could now see an open hatch in the floor, a glow coming from it. She grinned, ducked under Caleb's punch and slid across the floor into the hatch in the floor, the hatch shut and she heard wine barrels fall on top of it, holding the door closed.
Buffy walked into the cave-like room under the wine cellar a look of wonder coming to her eyes as she spied what could only be the scythe embedded in a rock the bringers were attempting to remove.
Quickly dispatching the two bringers in the room, Buffy approached the rock slowly, almost reverently. Caleb opened the hatch behind her and walked down the stairs into the room. Buffy turned to look at him. "So...you found it. Not impressed. 'Cause the question now, girly girl, is can you pry it from solid rock before I come over there..."
Buffy grabbed the handle and pulled the scythe out of the stone with ease, looking it over.
"Hmm. Darn," said Caleb exhaling. "Now, before you go hurting yourself with that thing, why don't you do yourself a courtesy and hand it over now."
Buffy cocked her head to the side, "Yeah. You want it?" she smirked hoisting the scythe up casually.
Caleb smiled nervously, "You don't even know what you got there," he said stepping back.
"I know you're backing away," observed Buffy. "And I know I need this to beat you... After all you are the First's chosen one," she smiled at the shock on Caleb's face at the realisation that she knew who and what he was.
"You think wielding some 2-sided doo-dad's gonna make a difference?" said Caleb angrily.
With a flash of light Buffy/First appeared behind Caleb frowning, her arms crossed. "Let her go, Caleb." he hesitated, "I said let her go."
"If I let her go, she slices me open with that thing," said Caleb.
"No, she doesn't," said the First, "She hasn't got time. She has friends." Buffy looked at the First worriedly. "And her friends are in trouble. Faith go boom."
"I'm not letting her out of here with that thing," said Caleb not liking it at all.
"Sure you are. Then you'll come back for it later...when she's got her back turned," smiled the First.
Buffy ran out of the cellar and headed for town. Caleb and the First watched her go.
--------------
Faith led the group of potentials through a dark tunnel, lit only by the handheld flashlights they carried. Faith pointed her light at a stockpile of traditional weapons along with gas canisters. "Everybody stop. I think we just found it," she said.
"Look at all this," said Kennedy.
Vi grabbed a sword from the pile, looking around, "I don't get it. Why'd they abandon all this stuff?" she asked.
A Bringer jumped down from the rafters.
"Maybe 'cause they didn't," said Lorelai.
Suddenly the tunnel seemed full of bringers. There was very little light, chaos rained with potentials and bringers swinging axes, swords and knives. At Lorelai's suggestion, the potentials had been paired with each other. They were nowhere near as deadly as Madeline and Louise, but it had helped enormously. So mother and daughter found themselves fighting side by side.
Rory ducked a swing at her head and Lorelai kicked the Bringer in the stomach, as he stumbled back she brought her sword down on his neck. Meanwhile Rory blocked the axe another Bringer had swung at her mother's exposed side and moving in closer she smashed the sword hilt into his face sending him to the ground where she plunged her sword into its chest.
Most of the bringers seemed to be behind them, as if to block any escape. There Madeline, Louise, Kennedy and Chao-Ahn were making short work of them, the narrow space actually being to the potentials advantage because the bringers normal tactic was to overwhelm with numbers not skill.
Lorelai and Rory finished off the last Bringer near them and rushed forward to help Faith who was single-handedly holding back the bringers that had appeared from hiding in the room proper. As Faith back fisted one Bringer and Rory plunged her sword into its side, Lorelai aided Vi who was now being attacked by two bringers that rushed by Faith. She slashed one across the back, leaving a deep gash, as it turned around she swung her sword across its neck. Meanwhile Vi had managed to finish off the other.
Faith held the last Bringer's wrist, twisting it sharply she used its knife to stabbed him. The Slayer stood and looked around at all the dead bringers, and with more than some relief that with her first time in the leadership roll, all the potentials were still standing.
"Is that it? I mean, not that it wasn't fun, but..." said Vi entering the room with the others.
"Yo, Faith. Check this out," Kennedy called out. She shone her flashlight at something in the corner. Faith walked up to investigate. It was a trapdoor leading to some stairs.
Lorelai looked over at Faith; "I don't think we should all go down. It might be a trap."
Faith looked around for a moment, "Right," she nodded. "Madeline, Louise, Vi and Shannon, you stay here and watch our backs," the Slayer said before leading the others down the stairs.
Faith took the flashlight from Lorelai. She walked over the plank laid across a small waterway seeing a padlocked metal footlocker. She kicked the padlock, easily breaking it. Faith bent down and opened it. Her eyes went wide when she saw the counter counting down. She jumped back and screamed to the others. "Everybody get out," she cried out as she started running along the side of the passage away from the bomb.
Lorelai instinctively pushed Rory, as well as some of the others, in front of her, urging them to move quicker. Seconds later the box exploded sending a fireball down the passage, the concussion wave sending the potentials flying through the air. As darkness enveloped Lorelai, she found herself wrapping her arms around the girl in front of her, not knowing if it was Rory or one of the others, just hoping that she could shield her from harm.
The air was hazy with dust and debris from the explosion as Madeline and the other three girls made their way down the stairs, they saw the girls amid the rubble, crawling around. "Hey Rory, Faith... Anyone, are you alright?" she called out.
Amanda grabbed a flashlight as she got to her feet. "I'm okay... I think?" she said.
"Good," said Madeline leading the others forward, "Anyone else?"
Caridad stood up, "Me," she said coughing.
"Is anybody else alive? Rory? Lorelai? Anyone?" shouted Amanda.
"I'm..." someone coughed, partially hidden by another potential and a roofing beam, "I'm here."
The potentials lifted the beam out of the way and as gently as they could rolled Lorelai onto her back, all sighing with relief when they saw here chest rising and falling.
Rory accepted the hand that helped her up, her eyes going wide when she saw it was her mother she had been pinned under, "Mum," she cried falling back to her knees next to Lorelai.
"I think she'll be okay, once we get her out of here?" said Shannon trying to allay Rory's fears.
Amanda and Vi spotted Chao-Ahn crouched in a corner, they went over and helped her to her feet. The Chinese girl cradled her obviously broken arm.
"I think her arm is broken?" said Vi, she looked at the three bodies of girls she had known, including Molly, lying nearby, not moving, "I guess she's lucky."
Kennedy came out of a corner she had been thrown, "Where's Faith?"
"I don't know," said Vi.
"Find her," said Kennedy.
Caridad frowned at her, "Maybe we should get the hell out of this place. They could..."
"Find her," ordered Kennedy.
While Shannon watched over Lorelai and Chao-Ahn, as well as the distraught Rory, the others searched for the Slayer. Amanda and Caridad found her unconscious in the water under some debris.
Vi turned away at the sight, "Oh God," she cried.
"Is she alive?" asked Kennedy.
Amanda nodded, "Breathing. Pulse," she said putting her hand to the Slayer's neck.
"We gotta get her out of here," said Kennedy.
"Which way is out? 'cause the passage up top is gone, it caved in when the bomb went off," said Louise.
"What was that?" asked Caridad worriedly on hearing a distant growl; everyone stopped to look around.
"It could've been grinding metal. It could've been..." Vi began nervously.
"No, it was one of them," said Kennedy all the potentials knew what she meant.
"That's not possible," pointed out Madeline, "Willow said you have to know about the Hellmouth for it to open."
"She's only guessing and anyway we're not the only ones that know about it," said Kennedy.
"Plans?" asked Vi.
"Run," said Kennedy. "Get Lorelai," she said going over to where Faith lay, and with the aid of Amanda, lifted her up and between them began moving down the passage. With the aid of Madeline and Rory, Louise placed Lorelai over her shoulder, fireman style, and with anxious looks from Rory, they all followed the others.
The tunnel branched and turned numerous times eventually ending in a wall of rubble. "Oh no! It's blocked!" growled Caridad.
"Oh, my God," cried Vi.
"I told you this wasn't the way!" said Caridad.
"Cut the chatter. Up and over. Wounded first. Let's go," said Kennedy.
Rory and Madeline climbed on top of the debris and as gently as they could they pulled the still unconscious Lorelai and Faith through to the other side then Madeline aided Chao-Ahn through. Finally, when Vi, the last potential, was almost over the pile, a Turok-Han reached for her. She screamed, as did the others, and instinctively backed away as she watched it climb over the pile and move toward them.
"Group together. Form a circle. Nobody panic. It's all of us, one of him. We can take one of these things," said Kennedy.
As the potentials stared at the Turok-Han coming towards them from the pile of debris, many fingering their weapons nervously, another Turok-Han jumped down the steps beside them.
The girls stared down the Turok-Han in front of them.
"Remember the training," Kennedy reminded them, "Everybody, get ready," suddenly a Turok-Han was behind her and grabbed her, knocking her down, she screamed.
"There's another one," said Amanda.
With the aid of Madeline, Kennedy freed herself from the Turok-Han and backed away from it, "Move! Move! Move! Up and over," she shouted.
"Not that one!" cried Amanda glancing at Kennedy as she pointed toward yet another Turok-Han, "That one."
The potentials all screamed as the three Turok-Han advanced toward them.
"Weapons. Over there," pointed Caridad.
Kennedy ran towards the weapons, but one of the Turok-Han charged toward her, she swung the sword she had grabbed at it, but to no avail. The Turok-Han easily disarmed her, grabbing her by the neck, and lifted her off the ground choking her...
Suddenly a loud crash echoed through the room as something fell from the ceiling, allowing light to enter the room from above. Buffy jumped down through the hole into the room holding the scythe. The Turok-Han dropped Kennedy and stalked toward Buffy with its two brethren.
The Slayer swung the weapon at the Turok-Han as it approached her and then used the pointed end to stake the second Turok-Han that came at her from the side dusting both. The third Turok-Han approached her and knocked her down, causing her to drop the scythe, but Buffy tumbled forward, grabbed her weapon again before leaping to her feet and beheaded the last Turok-Han, turning it to dust before everyone's eyes.
The potentials had stared incredulously at the sight of Buffy in action. Kennedy panting as she held her neck.
Buffy looked around at the potentials, "Get the wounded. We're leaving," she said.
"Are there more?" asked Rory worriedly.
"There's always more. Let's move," Buffy said heading for the exit that was now visible in the lit room.
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When the potentials reached the daylight, they found Luke and Xander waiting with their vehicles. Without hesitating Rory ran to her Watcher, "Luke, it's mum, she saved me. Luke she won't wake-up," she cried into his chest.
"Okay Rory, we'll make her better," said Luke before smiling down at the teenager, "Okay that sounded better in my head than the way it came out, I didn't mean to talk to you like you're a five year old."
Despite the worry about her mother, Rory gave a little laugh, "Thanks anyway," she said moving away from him and wiping her eyes on her sleeve as they both went to help the others get her mother and Faith into the back of his truck.
They all squeezed into the two vehicles, Rory, Madeline and Louise riding with Buffy in the back of the truck. Rory and Buffy supporting Lorelai's and Faith's heads respectively.
On reaching the house, Luke and Xander, with the help of Buffy and Rory, gently got the two unconscious women out the back of Luke's truck, cradling them in their arms, the two men hurried into the house. An impromptu triage unit had been set-up in the living room, as the healthy potentials treated the wounded. Besides the two unconscious women and Chao-Ahn's broken arm, all the others had cuts and bruises of various degrees.
"I hope we're in time," said Xander gently lowering Faith to the recliner as Luke placed Lorelai on the couch.
"Is she okay? Is she gonna be okay?" asked a distraught Rory looking over at her mother from where Dawn was cleaning her numerous abrasions.
"I'm sure she'll be fine," said Madeline who was having a nasty gash on her forehead attended too; "Right?" she said to Giles who had begun checking on Lorelai.
"I'll do everything I can, we all will. But I must tell you that if there were still medical personnel at the hospital, I would have no hesitation in sending her there," said Giles. "I won't lie to you Rory, your mother has been unconscious to long for my liking, and there is more than likely blood bleeding into her head, placing adverse pressure on her brain."
"No," said Rory shaking her head, "I-I can't-can't do this without her." She turned to Willow who was looking after Faith, "Willow do what you did to me in the hospital, use my energy to make her better... Please Willow."
Willow turned looking at Rory with sympathy in her eyes, "This is different, all I had to do to help you was counter the enchantment on the knife that wounded you and then seal it. The energy required would be enormous, more then a dozen potentials could supply."
The potentials all glanced around at each other; seeming to come to a collective decision, Kennedy looked at the redhead, "How about two dozen?"
"And a Slayer," said Buffy smiling down at her best friend.
"And a Key," added Dawn.
Willow sighed at the realisation that she had very little chance of avoiding the attempt, "Okay I'll try," she said. She rose from where she had been looking at Faith, "Xand, can you take Faith to Buffy's room, the bed's all ready for her," she said going to retrieve the things she would need for the spell.
"Sure," said Xander picking the dark Slayer up and leaving with Robin trailing behind.
"Key?" queried Rory looking at Dawn.
"Yeah, it's a long story maybe when we have time I'll tell you about it," said Dawn wrapping a bandage around the other teenager's forearm.
"You guys heal fast, right? You slayers?" said Kennedy looking at Buffy as she watched the two men leave with Faith.
"Yeah," said Buffy.
"So that's the scythe?" said Caridad.
"I took it from Caleb," explained Buffy.
"I think we got punished," announced Amanda.
"What?" frowned Buffy.
Kennedy looked nervously at Buffy, "Faith said, she said that you thought some of us didn't trust you anymore. We, uh...we followed her. And it was..."
"It didn't work out," finished Vi quietly.
"You guys... it was a trap. It's not her fault. That could've just as easily happened to me," explained Buffy.
Vi shook her head.
"We're sorry," said Caridad speaking for all the potentials, "We're sorry we didn't trust you more! So are you... are you, like, gonna lead us again?"
Buffy looked around, "I guess!" she said as Willow returned carrying her satchel of magickal supplies.
"I think it may be better if Lorelai is on the floor with everyone that is going to do this kneeling around her holding hands," suggested Willow.
Luke placed Lorelai onto a mattress used by one of the potentials as a bed and stepped back smiling reassuringly at Rory.
"Rory, as the closest to your mother, and Buffy being the strongest place a hand on my shoulders and complete the circle, I have a feeling I'm gonna need both my hands for this."
The potentials, as well as Buffy and Dawn, knelt around the woman that many, especially the younger ones, looked on as a mother/best friend. They all linked hands, and Buffy and Rory each placed a hand on Willow's shoulders.
"The poison of a serpent, the venom of the dog, the sharpness of the spear, doth not well in man or woman.
The blood of one dog, the blood of many dogs, the blood of the hound of Fliethas. These I invoke."
Willow flicked drops of blood on Lorelai.
"It is not a wart to which my spittle is applied."
Willow leaned forward and spat on Lorelai.
"I strike wounds.
I strike the disease of the dog that bites, of the thorn that wounds, of the iron that strikes.
I invoke the three that are one, maiden, mother and crone against the serpent.
Benediction on this body to be healed; benediction on the spittle; benediction on her who casts out the disease.
By my will so mute it be."
To those just observing, the magickal energy swept around the room pinning them to the walls as it rushed into the redhead, who channelled it into Lorelai whose body slowly rose into the air, now surrounded by the energy.
Lorelai screamed like a banshee and everything went white for the participants.
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Buffy rose with the others, looking around the Bronze. "Mum!" she heard Rory cry out; she turned to see mother and daughter hugging.
"Wh-what's going on? Where are we?" asked Kennedy.
Lorelai glanced over at her fellow potential, "Well last time it happened I was told it was nowhere, between one moment and the next," she smiled as everyone looked around. "By the way guys, thanks for saving me, she said I would have died soon if you hadn't done the spell."
"She?" queried Buffy.
Lorelai nodded her head behind them, the Slayer turned with the rest to see a short blonde girl walking towards them.
"Paris?" exclaimed Rory.
Paris laughed as she walked up to them, "No, not even close. I just like to take the form of feisty babes," she said.
"I think you just like shocking the hell out of people," laughed Lorelai.
Paris giggled, "You might be right?"
"You're the one that told Lorelai about the scythe," surmised Buffy.
"Yeah, glad to see you got it. Now all you need to do is find the Guardian who will tell you what it is," said Paris.
"Why not just tell us?" asked Kennedy.
"Sorry babe, doesn't work that way," said Paris, "Although I am able to circumvent the rules to some extent, I can't just give you everything you need, freewill and all that."
"So why did you bring us here?" asked Willow.
"As a reward for saving my Era Matris Trucido," she nodded towards Lorelai, "Who, as I hoped, is now linked with all my girls, even those yet unborn. She is mother to all."
Buffy and the potentials looked at Lorelai, "She told me the same thing, but won't elaborate!" said Lorelai.
"Sorry, freewill and all," giggled Paris at some of the looks sent her way. She became serious as she looked at Willow, "I also brought you here to tell you Willow, Above all to thy own self be true, believe in yourself and you will become more than you could possibly imagine."
Willow blinked and groaned a little as she lifted her head off the mat of the Summers living room.
Lorelai crouched down in front of the redhead a smile on her face, "You okay?" she asked.
"Ah yeah I think?" said Willow.
"Lorelai. Are you okay?" asked Luke coming forward now the energy had passed.
Lorelai looked up as she helped Willow and Rory up, "Yeah, I feel great now my girls healed me," she frowned as she looked around at the potentials, "I hope you all don't expect a weekly allowance?"
"What do you mean by weekly allowance?" asked Chao-Ahn.
Lorelai smiled at the Chinese girl, "It's money that parents give their children, you know so they can buy things they want."
"Oh I see, I was never given a weekly allowance back home," Chao-Ahn smiled, "Can I come and live in America with you?"
"We'll hafta see kiddo," laughed Lorelai.
"Mum, you can understand her?" said Rory.
Lorelai frowned at what had just happened, "Ah yeah I guess. Was I speaking English then? 'Cause I thought I was."
"Yes you were speaking English," said Giles cleaning his glasses vigorously, "And Chao-Ahn was not! Willow, I don't believe your spell worked as you planned."
"No, it doesn't have anything to do with the spell," said Willow, "I think she was given the ability by the thing that appeared to us just now."
"What are you talking about?" asked Luke.
"The spell let the thing that selects the slayers do its thing again, but we all went this time," explained Willow. The redhead frowned, "She also called Lorelai, her Era Matris Trucido."
"What?" exclaimed Giles and Luke together.
"Ah yeah, that's what she called me. So for those of us that forgot all the Latin from school the moment it left the teacher's mouth. What does it mean?" said Lorelai.
"It is part of the legend of the Slayer's origin. Era Matris Trucido was the title given to the mother of the first Slayer. I'm not sure what the significance of the title to you is, as far as I am aware, the mother had no mystical power, she just happened to be the mother of the first Slayer!" said Giles.
"Okay, got that," said Lorelai a little anger coming into her voice, "Just the mother of the child that those bastard Shadowmen took and changed into a weapon. So what the hell does it mean?"
"Yes quite," said Giles taken aback, "Era Matris Trucido translates as Mistress Mother of the Slayer."
"Okay Will," said Buffy turning to her friend, "Can you get on the net and see what you can find on this title?"
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A couple of the potentials stood around the edge of the room staring at Faith as Giles and Luke looked after her. Giles took her pulse as Buffy walked into the room going pale at the sight of her fellow Slayer looking so beat-up.
"Is she breathing okay?" asked Luke.
Giles nodded, "Yes but still unconscious."
"We've still got work to do," said Buffy forcing herself not to look at Faith.
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Buffy led Giles and Lorelai into Willow's room, where the redhead sat at her desk with her laptop in front of her.
"The only thing I know for sure is it made Caleb back off in a hurry," said Buffy to her two companions as she walked over to her friend.
Lorelai giggled, "So it's true. Scythe matters," she said pushing Giles playfully.
"And, ignoring that," said Giles, "I'd just like to point out this is really quite ingenious."
Buffy smiled, "Kills strong bodies 3 ways."
"And you say you sense something when you hold it?" said Willow turning to look at the others.
"Not much," Buffy said, "But it's strong. And I knew it belonged to me. I just knew it."
"Well she did kind of hint that it belonged with the Slayer," pointed out Lorelai.
Giles inspected the weapon closely, "In addition to being ancient, it's clearly mystical."
"Yeah, I figured that one out when I King Arthured it out of the stone," smiled Buffy.
"So you're thinking it's like some kind of traditional Slayer weapon," said Willow looking at Lorelai.
"I can't imagine how something like this could exist without my having heard of it," said Giles.
"Well, the Council were not traditionally known for their communication skills," pointed out Buffy.
"Right. Um..." agreed Giles sitting on the bed, "Any chance that it might be something other than a tool for killing things?"
"The First's guys clearly wanted it out of that stone," said Buffy. "It's not just a tool. It's important. We need to find out whatever we can. Who made it, when, why? Does it have a name?" she shrugged, "I don't know, a credit report?"
"Maybe the Guardian has what we need?" said Lorelai her eyes suddenly brightening as something occurred to her, "Hey maybe that's what the Guardian is guarding, the knowledge of the scythe."
"Yes you could be right!" said Giles standing up. "Willow, do a search for any reference to Guardians of Knowledge. I'll have some of the girls help me search through the books," he said heading for the door with the scythe.
"Yeah," said Willow before looking at her friend, "Don't worry, Buff. We'll find out everything there is to know," she smiled turning back to her laptop.
"Good," said Buffy rising from the bed, "Because right now, that thing's all we've got going for us."
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Buffy and Lorelai sat on a couple of stools in the kitchen, while Xander paced back and forth in front of them.
"You got it?" asked Buffy.
"Wait," said Xander stopping the pacing, "I'm not to the 'Got it' place yet. I'm still in the neighbourhood of 'You've gotta be kidding'."
Buffy sighed, "You know it's for the good."
"I don't," said Xander, "Buffy, do you get that? If I do this, that's it for me for this fight. I feel like you're putting me out to pasture."
"Of course I'm not putting you out to pasture," said Buffy shaking her head. "What does that even mean?" she mused.
"Well, you know, it's like, uh... when a cow gets old and loses an eye, or its ability to be milked, the farmer takes it and puts it in a different pasture so it won't have to... fight...with the priests," chuckled Xander. "Look, I don't need you to protect me."
"I'm not," protested Buffy.
"I got hurt, but I'm not done. I can still fight," pointed out Xander.
"Like a cow," giggled Lorelai.
Buffy giggled herself before becoming serious again, "I know. That's why I need you to do this. Xander, I need someone that I can count on no matter what happens."
Xander shook his head, "I just always thought that I would... I would be there with you... you know, for the end."
"Hey," said Buffy indignantly.
Xander back peddled quickly, "Well, not that this is the end."
"Thanks a lot," said Buffy in mock anger.
"No, no, no. By the end, I meant, uh... a heroic, uplifting way. See, I'm still optimistic," said Xander taking it for genuine anger, "You're just thrown off a little by this gritty-looking eye patch."
Buffy smiled, "I know what you meant."
"I should be at your side. That's all I'm saying," he said seriously.
"You will be," reassure Buffy, "You're my strength, Xander. You're the reason I made it this far. I trust you with my life. That's why I need you to do this for me."
Xander got a little misty, "Okay," he said with some resignation.
Lorelai broke the mood, "Also Xander, you can't shoot a bow and arrow anymore, and every time you pick up a sword, I worry that you're gonna break one of the good lamps." Buffy joined in the giggling.
"Hey..." said Xander in outrage.
"Don't look at me. You're the one who said I'm gonna die," laughed Buffy.
"I never said you were gonna die," said Xander heading for the door, "I—I implied that you were gonna die. It's totally different."
"Yeah, Okay. Sure," said Buffy.
"Besides," Xander called back over his shoulder, "If you die, I'll just bring you back to life. That's what I do," he said with a shrug.
Lorelai sobered as she looked at the Slayer, "I just, wanting to use the w word here, you know...I could send Rory and the others away with Dawn and Xander," she sighed, "But not gonna happen... god I hate this!" she sighed.
"I've hate most of the last seven years of my life," stated Buffy.
"So, doesn't get any easier?" said Lorelai, resignation in her voice.
"Not noticeably," Buffy sighed putting her head on the older woman's shoulder, "I miss my mum."