Disclaimer: Let's see -- a unicorn that is a vampire. Does that sound like Joss (or whoever owns Highlander) to you?

Author's Note: (grumble) Damn Muses not letting me have any fun! (pout)

Author's Note 2: (waaay too hyper (think of Willow on caffeine)) Scattered thoughts, scattered thoughts... Oh my, what scattered thoughts have I!

Author's Note 3: I just got a headache from all the pieces of this multi-plotted story suddenly coming together...ug!

Author's Note 4: Notes to various reviewers at bottom, and will be so for the rest of the story. And if anyone complains about me having too many Author's Notes, then they should read A Drop In the Ocean ( http // www . fanfiction . net / s / 913717 / ), now there's someone who writes long notes (yet the story's amazing (amazingly twisted, yet cool that is)!)

Twilight Unicorn: The Vampiric Unicorn (who feels far too giddy at the moment from all the high praises she has been getting)

Part 5

LA: Hyperion Hotel, 3am, Day 2

"How are we going to make sure that Dawn and Methos are safe from the Taraka Order?" Buffy asked in the lobby of the Hyperion Hotel.

"Wild goose chase," Cordelia said matter-of-factly. At everyone's – but Buffy's – confused looks, she explained, "Make them think we know who the other three are – which we do –, and then lead them in the wrong direction...several directions, actually. It should give us enough time to stop whatever plan Drusilla and this other woman have concocted."

"And that's another thing! Who is this person?" Buffy said, scowling, hands on her hips.

"Perhaps you should call Willow and see how she's doing on downloading that information. She might already have some answers," Wesley said while rubbing his eyes. "Otherwise, there is nothing we can do. All our sources are dried up, so to speak."

Buffy nodded agreement and headed over to the lobby's main phone.

Sunnydale: Willow and Tara's Room, about the same time as above

Willow snatched up the phone before the first ring had finished, and said tiredly, "What do you need?"

"You have anything yet," Buffy asked, startled.

"No, actually. I'm looking at the first gig I downloaded, and it's encrypted. It's a different encryption than the one I helped Cordelia with that one time. This one's a whole lot harder to break. This is going to take me longer than what I expected to get all this done."

"Great! Just what we didn't need!" the Slayer said sarcastically.

"Hey!" Willow snapped angrily. "Be glad I'm doing this at all! We have enough going on around here as it is!"

"Huh?" Buffy said surprised. "What's been happening?"

"Let's see, first there's the fact that due to Anya being pregnant, everyone's been taking turns watching the Magic Box with her. Second is that activity around here has risen, and we're having to have several groups patrol every night – all night – just to keep up with them... If I didn't know that we don't have a 'Big Bad' around here right now, I would say somebody was planning something and trying to distract us! And I'm sorry I'm yelling at you, but I am extremely tired and at the end of my rope because of all this."

LA: Hyperion Hotel, same time

Buffy stood at the check-out counter with her mouth hanging open and her eyes wide in shock. Angel was gazing at her in concern and worry, having heard everything Willow said. Silently, the souled vampire took the phone from his wife, and said into the speaker, "Willow, do you want me to see if I can get Gunn and his crew to Sunnydale to help out?"

"If it won't leave you guys short-handed...that'd be great!" Willow said eagerly, her anger instantly gone.

"Alright, we'll send them down to you as soon as we can. Just be prepared to explain things in more detail to them when they get there."

"Fine by me. Oh, I need to go. Could you tell Buffy I'm really sorry for yelling at her, Angel?"

"Yeah, I will. Call us when you have anything, k?"

"Will do. Bye, Angel."

"Bye, Willow."

Angel put the phone down slowly, then looked at Buffy, "She says she's sorry."

The Slayer nodded her understanding, then said, "There's something we haven't thought of: do we tell Dawn and the others about all this?"

"As long as we know the Order's after only you, I don't think we should. We might give away that it's them if we do," Angel said slowly, as though thinking out loud.

"Then the wild goose chase is on?" Cordelia stated more than asked.

"I believe 'yes' is the appropriate word," said Wesley. He then looked at Angel and Buffy. "Now, could you two say why you volunteered Gunn and his group to go to Sunnydale? He's supposed to be working with them alone and giving them some training on working together, not running off for some unknown reason."

Seacouver: Duncan MacLeod's Loft, Above the Dojo, 3amish, Day 2

"Well, home sweet home for the time being for you guys, I suppose," Methos said as he handed the keys to Dawn.

"Gotta admit," Spike said as he walked around the living room, "the man's got taste."

"Yeah, and if you two break or steal anything, Duncan will have my head. So behave."

"Yeah, yeah. We know," Dawn said, just as Spike exclaimed, "Bloody 'Ell! Now that's what I call a stereo!" As the two Immortals turned to look at him strangely, the vampire said with a wicked grin, "I can't wait to dance with you to this system, Love!"

Methos decided at that moment that Dawn's matching grin was something that he didn't want to know the meaning of.

Ignorance is bliss, was all he thought as he made his excuses and left for his own apartment to sleep and make preparations.

Seacouver: Joe's Blues Bar, sometime after 11am, Day 2

"So the lovebirds got settled in alright?" Joe asked as he wiped down the serving bar and checked his supplies for the day.

"Yeah," Methos commented as he finished his first beer of the day, "they did. Pretty much went to bed the moment I left. I also made sure to tell them to get here before noon, so they should be here soon."

"Good. I wanted to go over stuff with them before opening shop."

"As do I," Methos said seriously.

Just at that moment, Dawn and Spike came through the door, looking extremely upset about something. What that something was became obvious when Whistler came through the door not a few seconds later carrying a duffel bag, his clothes wrinkled, saying crossly, "I go where the Powers That Be send me and do what They want me to do, alright! So don't go being ticked off at me because of Them!"

"No, Whistler, the reason we do it is 'cause you're the unlucky guinea pig for our own anger at Them. Especially since you're such an easy target to hit," Methos said coolly, then, "For what reason were you sent to us this time, Messenger?"

"Came to drop off something for the new Immortal here as well as a warning," the Messenger said as he placed his duffel bag on the bar top beside Methos.

"What's the warning," asked Dawn and Methos at the same moment.

Gazing at the two Immortals with grim amusement for a moment, then glancing over at Spike, then looking at all three at once, Whistler said, "It's cryptic – even for me –. Anyway, here it is: The past has come to haunt you, as it has before. This past must be laid to rest forever, or it will haunt you, always seeking to destroy you and your life. Choose wisely, Warriors, or you will not be granted your true destiny."

"And what is this destiny?" Methos asked as he leaned against the bar.

"Can't tell you, except for a hint: When the Four are joined, will destiny be revealed."

"Cryptic much?" Dawn commented at Spike's side.

"Hey," Whistler said, raising his hands, palm up, "what do you expect? I'm lucky They told me this much! Considering this is one of the big projects that the Powers That Be have been keeping very quiet over. Whatever They're planning goes beyond to even when I joined up and became Their Messenger... And that was somethin' around ten thousand years ago."

"And they call me old," Methos muttered in shock.

"Anyway," the Messenger said as he pulled out a sword-length cloth-wrapped package from his duffel bag and held it out to Dawn, "This is for you from the Powers."

Dawn eyed the package for a moment, then hesitantly took it. She placed it on the bar and slowly unwrapped it. She gasped as the sword fully came into view. The hilt was intricately designed, yet still plain at the same time. But it was the blade itself that caught the eye. For it was crystal, with what looked like fire flowing and moving within it.

"That's–" Dawn got out in shock, then looked to Whistler for confirmation of what she was thinking.

He nodded solemnly, then said, "Yeah, it's a Sword of Light – just like your mom's – only this is for the fire element. You're one of the Champions, Kid."

Next Part: Anyone want to guess? 'Cause I don't know!

To All Readers: HELP! Give me ideas people. They helped me with the last story, and they will help me with this one. You know that if you guys suggest something, I'll see what I can do about putting it in the story. Even asking for me to explain or clarify something will be used. Hell! even something you'd like to see happen (big or small) will be used. And you know that I'll do my best to put it in. So please, keep them coming!

To X-Lander: I killed Darla (rather spectacularly) in the first story, remember? Actually, I shouldn't say that 'cause even I forgot when I began writing in this universe again! And patience is a virtue, my friend. All will be explained in their own due time. Even I have to wait for my Muses to let me explain stuff or them explain things to me. They have a tendency of just dropping stuff on me (and you wonder where I get it from)!... Do you know how aggravating that is!

To Harry: (blushing deeply) Shucks! I don't think I'm that good! No way am I in their caliber... Am I? I honestly don't think I'm that good. But prove me wrong if you can!

To Laurëwen: Glad to know you like my notes. One of the reasons I write 'em (besides venting about things that happen while writing whatever I'm writing (have you ever noticed that the length of the notes is proportional to how long it takes me to write the part?)). I also know exactly what you're talking about concerning your computer! And as such, I can wait patiently (sort of).

To Lucky: We'll see. Oh, and Faith's dead, remember? It's in my first story. Which reminds me: I need to do something about the "new Slayer is called after the death of the old one" thing. Hmm... (grinning evilly) hehehe!