Dreams & Portents
Xander's Dream...
Xander looked down from the window of the Good Humour truck at the 3 little boys. As one lifted his face towards him, Xander saw that the boy had green scales and a reptilian face. "Aaaaaahhhhh!" Xander yelled as he stumbled backwards. Scrabbling around for a weapon Xander found a crowbar and when he looked out the window the children were gone and Anya was tapping him on the shoulder.
"Xander, what have I told you about scaring the customers?"
"An, that was a demon. We do not give demons ice cream! Besides how do you know it wasn't going to try and bite my hand off?" Xander asked angrily.
Xander's head rocked back from the blow of Anya's fist that slammed into his right cheek. "Alexander Lavalle Harris! I don't want to hear that kind of talk around our daughter Mindy!"
Confused, Xander frowned. "Mindy? What are you talking about Anya?" Xander took a step backwards from Anya after seeing the angry look on her face.
"OUR daughter! Sometimes I wonder why I married you!" Anya picked a picture up and handed to Xander.
Xander looked at the picture and there he saw Anya and himself in a Park, and a little girl was sitting on his lap. The girl was about 4 years old, she had long blonde hair and was dressed in a fluffy pink dress with a large smile on her face. But what caught Xander's attention was the fact that she was covered with fur and looked like a cat. Her eyes were slitted and yellow, her arms and face had a soft, downy fur and a closer look at her hair showed it looked more like a lion's mane. Her jaw was slightly extended and Xander could see the razor sharp teeth in her mouth as she smiled. Turning to run out of the ice cream truck Xander threw the door open and ran headlong into the living room of a house.
Before he could move Xander heard "DADDY!" and a little figure jumped into his arms and knocking him onto the floor and the wind out of him.. A slightly rough tongue licked his cheek. "Daddy, you're home early today! Can we go play in the park?" The little girl asked.
Xander saw the girl was the same one from the picture and pushed her away roughly. "Get away from me!" Xander yelled as he scrambled to his feet. Mindy Harris burst into tears and ran out of the room, crying.
"Damn demon!" Xander uttered as there was a blinding white flash. When his vision cleared Xander saw he was standing in the charred shell of a house that had been utterly obliterated. Looking around all Xander could see was utter destruction all around him; the ground was blackened, burnt and dead and there wasn't one intact building or tree. In fact there wasn't anything around him except for the smell of death and decay...
"What the hell just happened here?" Xander asked out loud, just in time to see Buffy walking towards him. "Buffster, what's going on here?" Xander asked as Buffy stopped in front of him.
"Don't you like it?" Buffy asked. Spreading her arms wide and gesturing about her, "You caused this by what you chose to do." Buffy said in a matter-of-fact tone of voice. Turning Buffy started to walk away and stopped. "Come with me...or not. The choice, as always, is yours." With that Buffy continued to walk away.
"Wait! What do you mean I did this? How'd I do this? I'm not the Slayer, you are!" Xander yelled at Buffy as she walked away. Running Xander caught up with Buffy, "Isn't world saveage in your job description? Not mine?"
Xander took a step back at the intense look from Buffy that seemed to look thru him. "I lost my chance when you made your choice, Xander." Turning away from him, "That's how the world turns, on the choices we all make. Not just the expectation of someone else saving the world or making the hard choices." Sighing softly, "Sometimes it comes down to being able to see past someone's skin and what lies beneath..."
Turning, Buffy looked away and then looked back at him. Xander scrambled back as he saw Buffy's face; her brow ridge was extended and her eyes were yellow-gold. Two fangs peeked out from under her lips. Buffy's hand shot out, grabbing him by his shirt and lifting him off his feet. "Afraid?" Buffy asked before tossing Xander away from her. Holding one hand cupped up, an image of a little girl appeared in her hand and Xander recognized it was Mindy. "This was one future for you; you were married to a woman who loved you, had a daughter and you were happy." Buffy's hand closed into a fist and the image in it disappeared, "But your arrogance destroyed it and this is what you get instead."
Picking himself up, "Me arrogant? Come on Buffster this is Xander you're talking to!"
"So all demons are evil, right?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah! Look at Angelus and Spike...well maybe not Spike, but the Master or Dru or Darla!" Xander answered. "It's not like anyone would lose any sleep if they became dust buster chow!"
Xander saw the scenery had changed and he was standing outside a concentration camp, "And the mind that came up with this? Not very human was it? But wait...Of course this couldn't have been conceived of by anyone who was human" Buffy sneered as she said 'human'."
"Well this is different..." Xander started to say defending himself.
"Different rules for different people, right?" Buffy waved her hand and the humans inside were replaced by demons of all sizes and shapes. But all of them were thin and emaciated looking. "So then, if this happened to demons it would okay then?"
Xander saw one figure in a black uniform, hat and boots walk out of one of the buildings inside the camp. When the figure turned and he could see the face Xander paled visibly, Xander saw himself looking back at him. "Wha...?" Xander watched as his duplicate kicked a small demon, "Get back to work you piece of crap!" As the demon groveled, 'that' Xander drew his pistol from the holster at his side and shot the demon dead.
"Commandant, we have more workers coming in this afternoon." Came the voice of one of his guards.
"Good, process them quickly and get them to work. Eliminate any of the weaklings in the old bunch." With that 'other' Xander walked into his office and sat down, Xander found himself in the room with his doppleganger. Looking around Xander saw a wall calendar and when he looked closely Xander saw that it was for May of 2010.
Newspaper clippings lined the wall and Xander walked over and started reading them. Several were quite old, but one caption caught his eye. "Alex Harris helps push Demon Registration Bill thru Senate!" The date was May 5, 2007. One article caught Xander's eye and he started to read; "In accordance with the Demon Defense and Homeland Security laws, work camps are being setup across the US. The chief architect behind both bills, Alexander L. Harris, a successful construction magnate based out of Los Angeles wasn't available for comment at that time. His lawyer, Lilah Stevenson from the law-firm of Wolfram and Hart is seen here walking down the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court after successfully arguing her case regarding the treatment and use of demons due to their non-human state…."
"This can't be real. I'm not like this! I couldn't do anything like this!" Turning Xander looked for Buffy. "Buffy! Get me out of here, this isn't me!" Xander yelled.
"We all have dark places in our soul Xander," Buffy's voice drifted from behind him. Whirling around Xander saw no-one was there. "What makes you so special that you're beyond that? Remember your choices here." Xander heard Buffy's voice say.
Opening his eyes, Xander looked around and saw he was on the floor in Buffy's living room. "Phew! That was a hell of a dream, well that's the last time I have a pepperoni taco and orange soda combo before I go to sleep!"
Giles…Giles looked around and saw he was standing in one of the hallways in the Initiative Base. Behind him the ceiling had collapsed blocking off that direction straightening his glasses Giles started walking.
The corridor seemed to go on without end. In the silence Giles heard a soft growl, the brush of skin against the floor. It would seem I'm not alone even if I don't see them. As he walked down this never-ending corridor, finally he came to a door. Pushing the door open Giles stepped into the room and heard the door shut behind him and a CLICK as the door locked. Grasping the door knob in his hand Giles turned it and the knob came off in his hand. Dropping the useless item to the floor he turned back to the room and saw that it empty except for two doors; one on the left wall and one on the right wall.
Well it seems I won't be going out that way. Turning back Giles saw the symbol for the Council above the right door and over by the left door Giles saw a sign that read; HERE BE DRAGONS!
Walking over to the right door Giles opened it and put his hands up as he felt a wave of heat wash over him. The heat disappeared and Giles peered inside to see a large room. Several emaciated figures were chained to the wall and wearing rags. Another figure was in a box with only his head visible, his mouth was open as if he was screaming but no sound could be heard. My god! That's Charlie Watkins! My mentor! As Giles looked at Charlie he could hear the chittering of rats coming from inside the box.
"Come inside Mr. Giles, I've been waiting for you to arrive!" Giles heard Quentin Travers say. Looking for where the voice was coming from Giles saw Quentin standing next to a large metal, sarcophogus with holes where the eyes would see out from inside. An Iron Maiden? Giles thought as his mind raced confused by the sight that greeted him inside. "What the BLOODY HELL is going on here? Why are these people...good, honest, honorable people being tortured?"
"These people betrayed the Council in one way or another, just as Jack Sames," Quentin gestured to a skeleton inside a cage that was too small for a human was hanging above the ground, "over there had done. He ignored Council rules that put his Slayer and the Council at risk. Just as you have done, and now elements of the Prophecy are coming together. But the Prophecy can still be stopped fortunately, we have time and your Slayer will have to be judged by the Council for her actions, as well as those that have assisted her.."
"What are you talking about Quentin? The Council has no right to judge Buffy or her friends, she left the Council and is beyond your authority and what Prophecy are you talking about?"
Quentin opened the Iron Maiden, exposing the rows of long spikes inside the door and chamber of the sarcophogus. "Come now, you of all people should realize that nothing is beyond our reach."
Just then Giles heard a female voice behind him. "Do you really want to go in there?" asked the contralto voice.
Turning around Giles saw a figure wearing a long, ankle length cloak and hood. "Not particularily, no. But yours isn't all that inviting either, Here be Dragons...an old warning by sailors for dangerous and unknown territory."
Giles heard a soft chuckle, "True, but were there really Dragons and Monsters there or was that just their fear of the unknown?" the woman asked.
"Of course there were no monsters, it was just a superstitious fear," Giles answered.
"Fear of the unknown or what we are taught to be afraid of is a powerful thing though. Are you sure you can face what you'll find in here?" the voice asked.
Walking over to the other door, "Of course I can, I am a Watcher after all!"
"Then enter and find the Truth..."
As Giles walked through the left door Giles found himself suddenly walking outside. It was nighttime and he was walking in a cemetery. Giles felt a hard blow to the back of his head that knocked him to his knees. "Give me all your money old man!" Came a voice behind him.
"Of course," Giles said as he turned around slowly and pulled his wallet out and tossed it over in front of his attacker. "Here you go." Giles said calmly.
The robber scooped the wallet up, "Idiot!" and aimed the gun at Giles' head. Just as Giles watched his finger start to squeeze the trigger Giles saw a green-skinned demon with spikes all over its face appear and tackle his robber to the ground Several hard punches later and the robber was lying still.
"Well I'd say that's a job that's well done," the green skinned demon said proudly.
"Uh yes," Giles stammered, unsure of what was going on here. "Who are you?" Giles asked curious about who this good samaritan was.
"Is everyone okay here," the demon asked out loud. "Well now that that bit of excitement is over..."
"What the bloody hell? What is going on here!" Giles
"Good question," Willow said as she appeared from nowhere, walking towards him.
"You're not really Willow are you." Giles said suspiciously.
"No, I'm borrowed. But if you are willing to let go of the past I have a key for your FUTURE. Are you willing to accept it?"
Giles reached for the large, yellow key in her open left hand. A quick move and the hand with the key disappeared.
"You have not answered my question."
"Yes I am," With that Giles grabbed the key from Willow's hand and felt an electrical shock as it passed through her hand, "Ouch!" Giles yelped but didn't relinquish his hold on the key.
Two small wooden boxes appeared in front of Giles, both boxes were identical in size, shape and appearance.
"You have one key, 2 locked boxes and one choice. The box on the left represents the Unknown and the one on the right represents Certainty. Choose."
"Is there a correct answer to this or does it not matter which one I choose?" Giles asked.
The woman stood there, her features shadowed and obscured from view, saying nothing.
"Very well then." And Giles looked back down at the two boxes. After several minutes Giles reached toward the box labeled, Unknown, "It's always better to have options and the unknown is always filled with that."
"You have chosen. See then what you did not choose." The box opened up and out of it jumped one of the spiders he had last seen from the Box of Gavrock. Just as it hit him in the face Giles felt a puff of wind and the spider disappeared.
The second box, Unknown, opened and Giles saw a dusty book inside the box. Reaching in he pulled the book out, turning it over Giles looked at the cover which was blank. Blowing a layer of the dust off Giles opened the book to the first page.
On the top of the page Giles saw hand-written, Bartolok's Prophecies and Curses as transcribed by Kyle the Younger. Giles felt his eyes open wide as he read the name of the book, "I thought that all the copies of this book had been lost! If this is real..." Giles trailed off. Before Giles could look at any more of the book the sunlight blinded his eyes. Looking up Giles saw the sun blazing down on him and looked around him in alarm. What the...?
Giles now found himself sitting in the middle of a desert. A few scrub trees could be seen among the sand-dunes around him. Over to the right however was a small shaded area with trees. Getting up Giles walked over and sat down in the shade to wait...
Tara's dreamscape…
Tara felt Willow's warm against her as she closed her eyes. A cold breeze blew in the room and Tara's eyes shot open as she felt goosebumps from the cold run up her arms and back. "Goddess it's cold in here! Who left the door open?" Tara asked. Looking around Tara saw that she was no longer in Buffy's living room, but rather she was standing outside in an alley.
Looking at the sky Tara saw it was dark, but not because it was night. Looking around at the sky more, Tara saw the sun was bracketed by the moon, blocking it out and darkening the sky to nighttime. An eclipse? That's odd, there shouldn't be one this year.
Walking out of the alley Tara looked down the street and saw a large crowd about a block away. Hmmm, weird time for a gathering. Tara thought to herself as she made her way down the block toward the crowd.
The closer she got the more nervous Tara started to feel, shaking it off as nerves Tara saw the closest person turn and had to stifle the scream the wanted to tear itself from her throat! The person wasn't a person at all! It was a demon! Ducking her head as she coughed Tara moved sideways and away from the demon that looked like a giant lizard. Tara heard some soft hissing as she moved away when a voice that cut through the air caught her attention.
The voice came from the center of the crowd; it seemed to be coming from a cowled figure. "Brethren! The time of the Prophecy is at hand!" Gesturing towards the sun, "Look and see the power of your Master! He has done this so that you can walk the earth as you have desired for several millennia. To walk on the surface without fear! You have seen the humans scuttling about as they try and find a reason for what has happened. Now is the time to strike and take back what is yours! All you have to do is Kill! Kill the humans as the cattle they are!"
There was a roar of approval from the crowd and Tara moved away as fast as possible. As soon as she was far enough away Tara saw a church and ran inside only to find herself standing in a Park. Standing next to her Tara saw it was not Willow, but Buffy. Turning Tara saw a look of tenderness on Buffy's face as she leaned in to kiss Tara on the cheek. "Hey gorgeous, glad you made it. I was getting worried."
"Uhmm, of course." Tara stammered, slightly embarrassed by Buffy's kiss. Opening herself up, Tara Looked at Buffy's aura. Tara noticed it was different from the emerald blue she was used to seeing. Now there were streaks of grey and red in it, but Tara didn't feel anything to be scared of. When Tara's vision returned to normal she saw that she was in Buffy's bedroom. Uh, hey! I'm in Buffy's bed here! a now nervous Tara looked for Buffy. Tara saw Buffy walk into the room dressed in a sapphire coloured silk robe, her bone-white skin glowed in the moonlight. As Buffy smiled Tara noticed the long fangs and the red eyes. Uhmm, this is sooooo not a good thing here. I am not really looking to be someone's snack. But if this is vamp Buffy, why don't I want to run out of here terrified I'm about to be an entree?
"Tara, I can never tell you enough times, Thank You. If you hadn't of found that spell...well I wouldn't be here talking to you now. Xe would have kept her promise to me about that..." Buffy moved closer and stopped at the foot of the bed.
"Uh, errr. Uhhh, Buffy I don't know what's going on here, but I'd feel a little better if you step back a little."
A knowing eyebrow went up, "Tara, all dreams have a purpose, we just have to understand what it is before it's too late."
"Huh? What are you talking about Buffy? I don't understand what's going on here." A lightbulb went off above Tara's head, "Wait! You're not Buffy, are you?" Tara asked.
"You're not asking the right questions." Buffy replied. "It's almost Dawn you know."
Looking down at her watch, "No, dawn's hours away." Tara said back.
"Oh that?" Buffy gestured to Tara's wristwatch. "The time's wrong on that."
Tara watched as Buffy leaned in close, Buffy's lips brushing her ear. "Just remember that help often comes in packages unlooked for." As Tara felt Buffy's fangs gently nip her throat, the sun came up and she found herself on the ground. Jumping up off of the sand Tara looked around her.
A desert had sprung up from nowhere, but in the distance she could see what looked like some trees and shade. Raising her hand to her throat as she started walking, Tara's hand came away with a few drops of blood on it.
Willow's Dream…
Willow looked at the blackboard in front of her, Mr. Graham, her high-school history teacher walked past her. "Ms. Rosenberg, can you give me 2 examples of why Benedict Arnold did not see his actions as treason."
"No." She finally said as she heard the laughter from the other kids in class and ducked her head to hide her flaming cheeks.
Xander's voice popped up from behind her, "It's okay Will. Even Thomas Alba Edison had days where he was the laughing stock of the school."
Willow stared at her friend, confusion painted on her face. When did Xander learn about Thomas Edison? This is too strange!
"Ms. Rosenberg, then are you prepared to give your oral report then? The class is waiting." Looking at her stockinged feet with black shoes Willow looked at the class from the front of the room. "My report is about the themes in 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe'…"
"Who cares?" Cordelia said out loud.
"Well..." Willow trailed off as Buffy walked over to her. "Willow when are you going to stop looking around you for what's really inside of you, you remember what happened to Marcy."
"Uh...wha?"
"Stop wearing all the costumes. They aren't who you are." Buffy said enigmatically.
"What are you talking about Buffy?" Willow asked and noticed the room was now empty.
"If you don't find out who you are, how are you going to save anyone?" Buffy asked as she walked around Willow in a circle.
"Buffy you need to stop walking in circles right now. I'm getting dizzy trying to watch you. Now when did you become Sphinx-Buffy?"
"About the same time you found the answer, you just need to find the question and you'll understand what's happening!"
"Damnit Buffy. Stop this! I'm tired and I don't want to play any stupid riddle games right now!" Willow yelled at Buffy.
"Fine." Buffy stopped walking and Willow saw that Buffy's hair was matted and long, her skin was covered in dirt and mud and she was dressed in rags that barely covered her body. Nervously Willow watched as 'Buffy' stalked on over to her. "The answer's always been right in front of you Willow, but you need to trust yourself enough to see it." Buffy turned her back on Willow, "Of course, not everyone likes being that close to the flame..."
As Willow started to say something she noticed she was standing outside in a desert, the sky dimmed as the sun moved slowly behind the moon and stayed there. The sky turned black as night and Willow noticed the eclipse wasn't ending. "Well on a scale of 1 to 10 for bad omens, I'd say this rates a 1000."
"Willow!" came Tara's voice from behind her. Turning Willow saw Tara only a few feet away. "Tara!" Willow called out as the two women ran towards each other, hugging and kissing as they met.
"Do you know what's going on?" Willow asked.
"I'm not sure, but maybe we can find someplace to rest over there." Tara said as she pointed towards the oasis in the distance.
"Sounds good to me." Willow said as she linked her arm in Tara's and the two started walking further into the desert.
Anya's Dream…
Anya got up from the bed and walked out of the bedroom and onto the sidewalk. Turning around Anya trees behind her and turned back around. Snorting, she saw the metal gate and sign for the Restfield Cemetery. "Well isn't this just fun!" Anya said sarcastically. "Why is it I don't get involved in their fight, but I'm still dragged into whatever trouble that manage to find anyway?"
Walking to the gate that was open, Anya passed through the arch and into the cemetery. Walking out of the darkness ahead Anya saw a figure and as it got closer Anya saw it was Buffy or at least it looked like her. Looking at her watch, Anya saw it was 8:15am but the sky was dark as night. Searching the skies Anya saw what she was looking for, An eclipse? That's strange
"Now that your here, we can begin." Buffy said as she stopped a few feet away in front of her.
"Begin? Begin what? Any why am I here?" Anya asked.
Buffy began speaking as she started to walk. "Come with me. We have much to discuss and very little time."
Sighing dramatically, "Fine as long as their are no bunnies!" Anya said as she caught up with Buffy.
"Do you know what the 2 basic elements to all things in existence are?" Buffy asked.
"No. Tell me." Anya said patiently
"Chaos and Order. Without them, nothing would exist."
"So? It's not like this is new information or something. This is basic cosmology here, not particle physics."
Buffy stopped walking near a crypt. "Yes, and both forces have dueled for control throughout your history. But the wind of change is coming..." Anya turned to look at Buffy as she stopped speaking, when Anya saw Buffy speaking but no sound was coming from her mouth. "...now is a time when the two forces shall have to unite against it. If it is not stopped then the consequences will be dire indeed."
"Huh?" Anya said, slightly confused at the seeming switch in topics. "You might want to repeat that since I didn't hear any of the middle part you were talking about."
"Time is short Anyanka. You must help the Slayer and her allies in this, if you don't, then they will fail and doom more than just your world but countless others as well."
"Buffy's fine without my help here, she has her Scoobies for all that research stuff." Anya replied archly.
Buffy looked at Anya and raised one eyebrow, "Who said I was talking about Buffy Summers?"
"Hey! I did my bit here! I helped Buffy with Xena, but that's it though! I'm getting the hell out of Dodge. I know what happens to places Xena visits and it's not pretty."
As Anya watched Buffy changed; her skin turned bone-white, her eyes changed colour, they had red irises and long fangs peeked out from under her lips. "You do not understand, so I will show you." Buffy grabbed Anya's left hand and Anya felt an electrical shock and then she was assaulted with images that made her stagger backwards from the intensity of them.
"What did you do?" Anya asked afraid.
"I gave you a taste of what you will face so that you will understand that it cannot be destroyed. It can only be sealed away for a time before it finds a way to escape again."
"But I still don't know what it is!"
"That is something you will have to discover for yourself, we cannot hand you the answer," Buffy replied enigmatically.
"Anything else you can tell me then?" Anya asked exasperated.
"Yes. The answers lie in the beginning, seek out the Council of Elders as they have what you need to begin. But beware the answers they give you!"
Anya watched as the scenery melted away to reveal a desert now. Looking all around her Anya spotted the oasis ahead of her. "I guess this means I'm not leaving Sunnydale then." Anya said frowning before she heading towards the oasis and hopefully more answers.
Faith's Dreamscape…
Faith felt a hand on her thigh and opened her eyes to see Buffy had snuggled closer, almost wrapping herself around Faith. One arm was thrown across her chest and one leg was tangled with hers. Well this isn't a bad way to wake up! Faith smirked mentally before sighing. Too bad she'd never let this happen if she were awake.
Closing her eyes to enjoy the moment while it lasted, Faith felt the cold seeping in through the floor. "Floor? What the..." Faith started to say as she shot upright and looked around to see she was lying on the floor at the Initiative complex.
About 15' away Faith saw a young blond at the entrance to the corridor, when a demon charged in and the short, blonde reach back and pull out 2 sais from under her long coat. As the demon charged the blonde the demon roared as it reared back and attacked her. In the blink of an eye, the blonde dodged the attack and the demon was bleeding from 4 wounds in its' back. Before the demon could do anything the blonde had stabbed the demon again; once in the stomach and the other sai was shoved up under the demon's jaw into its mouth clamping it shut. Faith watched in awe as the blonde reached up and snapped the demon's neck as easily as a rotten twig.
As Faith was about to call out, the blonde disappeared out of the corridor. Walking down the corridor Faith walked past the demon and as she left the corridor Faith found herself outside. "Huh?" Faith uttered in surprise. But there ahead of her was the blonde again. This time she seemed to be pacing and very nervous or upset. Faith was about to say something when something stopped her and she saw the blonde woman 'shift'. Her skin became a bone-white colour, her eyes were now red and glowed, and Faith saw the fangs as she snarled angrily. What the hell kind of vamp is that?
Faith ran after the woman and caught up in time to see her fighting what looked like one of Adam's human/demon monsters. The blonde seemed to be dancing around the demon, almost taunting it as she would inflict small wounds all over. She did this for several minutes before she broke both the demon's arms and then started to feed on it.
Moving away while the vampire was distracted Faith saw candles in the distance and walked towards them. Moving through a thicket Faith found herself walking into a candle-lit room. Faith could see the forms of two naked women lying near the center of the room, a large blanket covered them both. Moving close Faith saw one of them shift and Faith's jaw hit the floor in surprise. Oh my god! That's B! As Faith moved to wake her fellow Slayer when a hand touched her arm stopping her before she reached B.
Surprised Faith turned to see Tara standing next to her shaking her head. "Tara, what's going on here?"
"Everything is as it was meant to be."
"Talk straight damnit. B's not like that, she doesn't just sleep around, especially with women and she doesn't like women that way."
"Are you so sure Faith? Have you forgotten what was said to you at the hospital last night already?" Tara asked with a knowing look in her eyes.
"How would you know about that Tara?" Faith asked suspiciously.
Tara smiled enigmatically and turned away.
"Damnit Tara!" Faith yelled as she reached to grab Tara's arm when she found herself standing in the Initiative complex again.
"What do you see around you?" Faith heard Tara's voice from behind. Turning Faith saw Tara walking towards her and seemed to shimmer out and then back in again, each time Tara was closer until Tara was standing only a few feet away.
"What do I see? Death, destruction and waste," said Faith.
"This is a perilous time for her," said Tara. "She will need your support to survive the change."
Frowning, "Her? Her who Tara? What changes are you talking about?" Faith asked. "You're not really Tara are you then?" Faith asked with a dawning realization.
"No."
"Are you prepared to kill her, even though you love her?" Tara asked.
"It hasn't come down to that, there's no reason for me to kill B."
"You know why you were sent by the Council to Sunnydale. To reign in the rogue Slayer and if you couldn't...to kill her. Why have you hesitated?" Tara asked her eyes dark and unreadable.
"What do you know about my deal with the Council...Tara?" Faith sneered, anger coloured her face. One hand slid back to the knife at the small of her back and grasped the hilt.
Quentin Travers now stood where Tara was a moment ago. "Well Miss Spencer. We had a deal and one that you've not kept up your end thus far. The Slayer is out of control and you have done nothing to stop her." Quentin's deep voice echoed in the room. "If you continue this way I will have no choice but to sever our end, irregardless of the consequences to Miss McDougal."
Snarling, in one swift move Faith pulled the knife out from behind her and threw it at Quentin. As the knife hit Quentin in the throat he shimmered and disappeared. "Damn you whoever you are! Stop playing these friggin' games!"
"These aren't games Faith," came a woman's voice behind her. Turning around tiredly, Faith saw the blonde from the corridor and the forest standing behind her.
"Then what is this? And who and what are you?"
"You know what this is Faith and why this is happening. As for who and what I am? Ask Willow about Xena. But I have something to show you, something you need to know before you can go on. Follow me."
The blonde walked through a door and Faith followed her outside. Faith could smell the salt air and looking around she saw she was in some graveyard. "Hmmmm?" The blonde had stopped by a small, plastic gravestone that had written on it; Jane Doe #45732990, Died Oct 15, 1999.
"Why are we here?" Faith asked, confused.
"This is the final resting place of Senior Watcher Sarah McDougal. She died 2 weeks after you had made your deal with the Council."
Faith thought back to the last card she'd gotten from Miss McDougal. It had seemed a little off, but that doesn't mean... Faith thought desperately. Stop lying to yourself, you've always known! Faith inner Slayer voice ripped at her. "Nonononononono!" Tears slid down Faith's cheeks as she fell to her knees. As the realization she'd been lied to and her Watcher was dead.
Wiping her face angrily Faith fought back the tears, saving her anger for when she found the Council...With that Faith stood up and walked out of the potter's field, slowly the grass changed into sand and Faith found herself walking in a desert. Only a short distance she could see an oasis and a small fire, which meant there were people there.
Standing near the fire Faith saw 'Tara'. "So why are you here now Tara? Haven't you done enough?"
"For her, the One."
Faith watches as a crouching figure walks up to her. The figure is a woman, her blonde hair is dirty and in dreadlocks. Dirt covers her body and there is coat of mud on her face and darkens her eyes and she is wearing rags. Slowly the figure circles Faith and stops only a foot away. As Faith looks at this cavewoman Faith sees something that makes her look closer, "B? Is that you?" she murmurs softly.
"Someone has to speak for her," says Tara.
"Why can't she speak for herself then?"
"I have no name. No speech. I live in the action of death…the blood cry…the penetrating wound. I am destruction. Absolute...Alone." Tara says for the First Slayer.
"So you're the Slayer..."
"The First," Tara adds. "The Slayer does not walk in this world," says Tara.
"I walk, I talk, I ride. There's trees in the desert since you moved out." The First Slayer shook her head no. Faith continued, "And I don't sleep on a bed of bones. Now give me back my friends."
"No...friends. Just the kill." The First Slayer grunts out.
"Wrong Slay-girl! It doesn't work that way anymore." Faith barely dodged the leaping attack by the First Slayer and fell to the ground with the First Slayer on top. A hard kick knocked the First Slayer backwards and Faith dove under a slashing attack with a stone knife that appeared in the First Slayer's hand.
In a blindingly fast move, the First Slayer tackled Faith to the ground and slammed a large rock down where Faith's head had been a moment earlier. The two Slayers started to grapple and roll down a large sand dune.
Giles and Xander were the first to find the fire in the oasis, Willow and Tara were the next to arrive. Both women looked tired and worn out. As they all settled down a dirty, dusty, angry Anya trudged up to the fire.
"You people are sooo lucky I don't have my old job! I really hate Slayer dreams!" Anya yelled as she moved to sit down. "I'm not even really here and I have sand in places it was never meant to be! At least I won't find any bunnies here."
With that last word uttered a man in a bunny suit and a silver tray walked over to Anya. "I wear the cheese, it does not wear me." he said.
"BUNNIES!" Anya screamed as she ran into the desert.
Faith continued to fight the First Slayer when she finally yelled, "ENOUGH!" and found herself standing in the doorway to Buffy's bedroom.
The large 4 posted bed sat in front of her, Mr. Gordo was on the left side of the bed leaning against the pillows and a dark, brown, koala bear dressed in a leather duster and fangs sat next to Mr. Gordo. Just above the bed handing from a string was another stuffed animal; a black bat that also had fangs. Embroidered into the leather jacket it wore was the name "Shadow".
"Why am I here now?" Faith asked.
Before any answer was forthcoming Faith felt a hard blow from behind that knocked her to the ground. As Faith turned she saw the First Slayer over her and stab down, only there was no pain, no...nothing. Bored Faith looked up, "Are you done yet?" Faith asked as she got up and climbed onto the bed in between the 2 stuffed animals. "I'm really tired, I've had a long day and this dream is done." With that last thought Faith woke up in the Buffy's living room.
Everyone else seemed to be looking around at each other as well, "Uhmm, I think we should pass on the movie." Faith said as she noticed that Buffy was missing.
Tara, Willow and Faith each woke up and saw the other, but as they looked there was no one else in the room.
"You have any ideas what's going on now?" Faith asked Willow.
"No. Slayer dream or something else?" Willow asked.
Tara looked at both women as if they were slightly daft, "Would you like to fill me in? What's going on:
Willow and Faith looked at Tara and spoke in unison, "Slayer Dream."
"So what do we do now then?" Tara asked.
"We look around and see what we find," said Faith as she walked to the front door. Willow and Tara were only a few steps behind. Opening the door all three women stepped outside and into the night. As they walked outside Faith, Willow and Tara saw Cordelia standing on the steps.
"Well, you've finally arrived," Cordelia said. "This is only the beginning, the road you may walk will be a long one. But it will not be a lonely road." Cordelia said ominously. "But you will face death and pain on this road and only if you are strong will you survive."
"Go away! You aren't Cordy and we're tired of all the BS cryptic 'tudes tonight!" Faith said angrily to Cordelia.
"Very well." And with that Cordelia melted into a mist that gently blew away on the breeze.
Faith ushered Red and Tara back into the house. "Look, I'm betting if we go back to sleep we'll wake up if we tell ourselves this was only a dream. But we have to believe we are in control of this dream."
"I guess.." and "are you sure?" were Willow and Tara's replies.
"Trust me," Faith grinned crookedly.
All three women moved back to the spots they had started in, as they drifted off each one of them heard Cordelia's voice in their head; "You think you know... who you are, what's to come...You haven't even begun,"
With that everyone in the room woke suddenly looking around at each other. Xander raised his hand, "Anyone not want to go back to sleep after that? Because that was not a fun." Xander quipped as he stood up.
"Well, Slayer dreams aren't my idea of tea and crumpets. However I believe this was more, why don't we move to the kitchen and discuss this."
"Agreed," Tara and Willow chime in unison as they walk to the kitchen. Only Faith pauses as she looks around the room nervously. "HEY WAIT!" Faith calls out loudly. "Are we missing someone…like BUFFY!"
"What the..." Xander mumbles. Son of a bitch! I was right about her! Xander thinks darkly. There was something going on with Buffy!
Willow spots Xander as he heads for the front door. "Xander wait!" Willow says loudly. Seeing Xander doesn't even pause, Willow's eyes glow green as she murmurs two words and a blue wall springs up in front of the door.
Stopping, Xander turns angrily towards Willow. "Will, what are you doing?" Xander asks angrily.
Frowning, "I'm stopping you from making a mistake and getting yourself killed!"
Seeing the two friends were close to the boiling point, Tara stepped in. "We need to figure out what happened to see if there was anything to do with Buffy in that dream we all shared. If we run outside half-cocked more than just us could get killed or hurt."
"Willow, can you get my bag in the kitchen please?" Tara asks while giving her lover a 'look'. When Willow finally nods and leaves Tara speaks up again. "Xander, you have to calm down and think. You can't just charge around outside and expect to find Buffy if she's missing."
Xander frowned, its not that he didn't like Tara. He just didn't trust her 100 yet. "Thanks for the advice Tara, but sometimes that's what the situation calls for and it's worked for me in the past good enough."
"So you're ready to throw caution to the winds and just head off willy-nilly? What if you're wrong and what you do gets Buffy or Willow hurt because of it? How will you live with yourself if that happens?" Tara said angrily before turning and heading into the kitchen without a second glance.
End Chapter 13