Disclaimer: (snorts) If you don't know what's owned by me and what isn't by now, then I don't know what to tell you.

Author's Note: Guys this is when me time/day cataloging everything really starts coming into play. Currently, Seacouver is two days ahead of Sunnydale. So make sure to keep an eye on the timing of things, because that's going to be beyond important very, very, very soon!

Gratitude: A big "Thank You" to all who reviewed/emailed me for the last part (you know who you are), and for reminding me I had fans waiting out there.

Apologies: I'm extremely sorry this part took so long to come out, guys! But school comes first, and I had a term paper and several essays to take care of (as well as FINALS), or I'd've been failing my classes! Then there was the Holidays, the After Holiday Blues, and a head cold to deal with...but I'm back (at least until the next crises hits)! All I can say after saying all that is that at least I didn't leave you with a Cliffhanger like I did that one time (or two...or three)!

Twilight Unicorn: The Vampiric Unicorn (who is starting to realize this story will reach the 200 page mark before it ends!)

Part 23

Sunnydale: Airport, 11am, Day 9

In a busy airport waiting area, Rave and Oz lounged back in their seats, occasionally glancing at the arrival times for a certain flight. They had been doing this for some time, when Rave sighed heavily in absolute boredom. His head falling back to thud against the wall behind him, the Native American asked in exasperation as he stared blankly at the ceiling, "How long did they say the delay would be again?"

"Three hours," the werewolf answered with his eyes closed. "They should be announcing his flight any moment."

Rave snorted disbelievingly and said, "I'll believe it when I hear it!" He then inquired more calmly, "Why am I here with you to pick up this guy? I don't know this person."

Turning his head to gaze at his fellow shapeshifter, Oz answered, "You'll understand when you meet him."

"I'd better," Rave muttered, as he slouched further down in his seat and closed his eyes.

Just at that moment, the announcer's voice crackled in the overhead speakers, saying monotonously, "Flight 1536 is now arriving and will dock at Gate 1 in five minutes."

Relief in his voice, Rave quietly exclaimed as he sat up straight and opened his eyes in relief, "Finally! If I had to wait around here much longer without anything to do, I wouldn't be responsible for my own actions. Being my father's son is a dangerous thing where boredom's concerned."

Standing and starting to move towards their destination, the werewolf asked, "Why's that?"

Rave stood, quickly caught up with Oz, and while walking beside the other man explained, "My last name's not Coyote for nothing. In truth, it should be Raven…but due to that being my mother's side, it isn't. My father is actually The Coyote, or Trickster as my people sometimes call him."

Oz glanced side-long at the Native American, and commented, "So you're a demigod then?"

Rave shrugged with indifference, and said, "According to my family: yeah…but I try not to think about it. I just want to be like everyone else. You can understand that."

Oz nodded then stopped, took out his wallet and keys, put them on a tray, and walked through the metal detector. He waited for Rave on the other side after collecting his possessions. Once they were together again, Oz said, "So if your coyote form comes from your father's side, then your mother's side can change into ravens?"

"Yep," Rave drawled as they at last reached their destination, "but I rarely use that shape, unless I'm spying on something. Amazing how many people will ignore the presence of a bird if it isn't squawking."

Both leaned back against one wall while facing the exit where the passengers of the plane would depart. Watching as people began slowly filtering into the building, Oz asked, "Have you ever heard of a celtic goddess named Flidhais?"

The shapechanger stiffened, then answered cautiously, "I've heard of her…why?"

Oz shrugged one shoulder, and said, "I met her. She was in a pretty sticky situation, and I got her out of it. I was wondering what you might know about her?"

Rave grimaced, then answered, "Other than that I'm supposed to be related to her through my father? Not much I can tell you."

Oz opened his mouth to comment, when he spotted the one he was looking for. Nodding his head once as the one he had looked for spotted him in turn, the werewolf said to Rave, "He's here."

As the other came towards them through the crowd of people, Rave looked and commented in startlement, "Another shapechanger?"

"When he really needs to, which isn't often. I've only seen him do it once to show me his form," Oz said in agreement and explanation, then added, "He's also Immortal, like Buffy and Amanda."

They stopped talking as the one they had waited for reached them. A sand-colored, messy, short-haired man of middle height inclined his head to the two and said in a softly spoken Scottish accent, "Oz, I don't hear from you in half a year, and then I receive your call asking me to come here with no explanation. What's going on that you need my help with?"

"We're trying to stop a demon lord from completing his plan," the werewolf explained, as the two clasped arms for a moment. "The thing is we don't know what the plan is."

"But whatever it is," Rave added, as the man turned to him, "the higher powers don't want it to happen. We have one of Their main Messengers helping us out as proof."

"Heh," the man said, then introduced himself while extending his hand, saying, "Conner MacLeod."

"Raven Coyote, but you can simply call me Rave," the dual shapeshifter said as he clasped the Immortal's outstretched hand.

The Immortal nodded, then said, "Well, now that introductions are over, let's get out of here."

As the group began wending their way to pick up Conner's luggage, Oz commented with a faint gleam in his eyes, "Anxious to get your sword, huh?"

Without looking at the werewolf, the Immortal said dryly, "You'd feel the same way if you couldn't have your claws in a fight, Pup."

Oz smiled slightly.

Sunnydale: Crawford Mansion, Noon, Day 9

Buffy put down the phone in the living room, and said, "Willow says that everything's quiet over at Xander and Anya's place, and Amanda and Gwen are apparently having a wonderful time talking about sex with Anya…much to Willow and Tara's disgust."

Bethany snorted in amusement from where she leaned against one side of the fireplace, before commenting in a tongue in cheek fashion, "They're probably learning a few things they'll never use, then."

A sound that sounded suspiciously like a suppressed laugh was heard from Angel's direction, where he lounged in a chair reading a book. Buffy raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment as she noticed Gunn walking out of the bedroom where Marie and Sara were staying.

"How are they," the Slayer asked as the demon hunter sat down in the chair opposite Angel.

"They're still in that healing-trance-thing Willow and Tara put them into yesterday morning," the African American said worriedly, then asked, "Shouldn't they be awake already?"

Angel closed the book he hadn't been paying too much attention to, and answered Gunn, saying, "Tara says that those two should come out of it sometime today. But if they haven't, she and Willow will call them back from wherever they've gone in the morning."

"That'll be a relief," Bethany said. "I hate seeing them so still."

"You and me both, girl," Gunn commented in agreement.

As Gunn finished speaking, Buffy stiffened, a hand flying to her throat as a vehicle was heard pulling up to the mansion. Angel rose to his feet as the Slayer pulled out her sword and walked over to the entrance door. Taking a steadying breath, she opened said door, Angel standing behind her. They watched uneasily as Oz and Rave stepped out of the werewolf's van, then stared in startlement at the last person to leave the vehicle.

Buffy laughed in disbelief, and said in shock and growing amazement as she walked out to meet her fellow Immortal, "I don't believe it! What're you doing here you crazy Scot? You couldn't have possibly brought your cousin with you?"

Connor shook his head at the flood of questions, and answered simply, "I was asked to help, and I came. As for that cousin of mine: I don't know where he's hied off to. The oldest of us alone knows where he's gone, and that one refuses to tell me where."

"You're not the only one, Connor," Angel supplied. "He won't tell anyone Duncan's location."

"Hey, you guys," Rave called from the entrance way of the mansion, drawing the three immortal beings attention to him. "The food we got on the way here will get cold and unappetizing if you three remain out here. Come in and eat."

The three looked at each other, then headed into the large stone building. Once inside, Connor was swiftly introduced to Gunn and Bethany, and they to he. As all sat down with a plate of Chinese take-out—all but Angel as he held Buffy on his lap as she ate, Oz spoke.

"Have you guys thought of anyone else who could help with our demon problem?"

Buffy swallowed the mouthful she had been chewing, and answered, "We've already called in everyone on our end, and we were the ones brought in by Whistler to help out. There's no one else we can call on such short notice."

"Not completely true, Buffy," Gunn said, then pointed out, "There's still Dawn, Spike, and that other Immortal that hangs out with you guys a lot."

"No!" the Slayer said forcefully. "I'm not bringing Dawn into this mess."

"But she is a Slayer, Buffy," Connor said reasonably. "Her strength and skill would help a great deal."

"NO!"

"I have a possible suggestion on someone who could help," Oz supplied in hopes of stopping the impending argument—as Angel looked about ready to add his opinion to Buffy's. As all turned to look at him, the werewolf said, "Remember when I told you about that goddess I helped? Well, what I didn't mention was that I have free reign to ask Her for help with anything. I could call Her in."

"What do you know about this goddess, Oz," Angel asked while rubbing a soothing hand up and down Buffy's tense back.

"Not much," the were shapeshifter admitted. "Her name's practically nonexistent, except in the most ancient of legends…but what I've been able to pick up has been good. She's not evil, if that's what you're worried about."

"Well, that's good to hear," Bethany said, "but can we trust this goddess…whoever She is?"

A silence fell, then Rave said almost too quietly to hear, "Yeah, you can."

Everyone's attention turned to him. As he glanced at those gazing at him, he added in a firm tone of voice, "My family knows the one Oz is talking about, and I can tell you we can trust Her. I can guarantee this on my honor."

The tension seemed to drain from the Slayer as she thought about what she had just heard, then nodded her head, and said decisively, "Alright, we'll call in this goddess of Oz's, but not until we have no other choice. I don't like the idea of a goddess running around here with free reign for a long period of time. I don't want a repeat of Glory…even if she's on our side."

Sunnydale: Unknown Underground Cavern, 9:47pm, Day 9

A low anguished moan brought Halfrek swiftly over to the small cot where Dora lay. What she saw broke her heart.

The young Slayer rested in troubled sleep, her skin flushed as if with fever, while sweat drenched her clothes. She turned, further entangling herself in the bedding. A choked sob escaped her as her eyes flickered rapidly under the closed lids as she dreamed.

Her look was one of utter helplessness as Halfrek sat down beside Dora's prone and restless form and smoothed sweat-damp hair from the girl's face. She sighed heavily, then looked up as D'Hoffryn entered the chamber.

Halfrek's voice was tormented as she asked the demon lord, "What's wrong with her?"

The lord of vengeance looked indifferently down at Dora, then said bluntly, "It's the Slayer essence within her. She does not have control of it yet. It rages within her to destroy the demons it senses surround her."

The lesser vengeance demon gazed shocked at D'Hoffryn, before exclaiming, then asking uncertainly, "That can't be it! There can't possibly be that many here…can there?"

D'Hoffryn glanced up at Halfrek, a dark humor in his eyes, before commanding, "Come with me." Upon seeing his minion's hesitance, he added before leaving the room, "The girl will be fine. The door is enchanted so that you and I alone can enter and leave this small cave. As well: the others know that if they disobey me, they will answer to me personally. She is perfectly safe."

With one last uneasy look at the young Slayer, Halfrek followed after her master. They traveled through numerous corridors, passing a great number of demons as they did so. After many minutes, they at last reached the antechamber to the largest of the underground caves.

Pausing before entering the main underground cavern, D'Hoffryn turned to face Halfrek, and said, "I have lost patience with the other demon lords and their mocking of my rank. They don't think I should be counted equal to them." A dangerous gleam entered his eyes. "They say I haven't done a significant enough service for the greater benefit of Evil." He smiled a terrible smile. "What I have planned will – when fulfilled – make those lords realize that I am actually above their petty ranks when the Master of all Evil recognizes my efforts."

With these words, the demon lord entered the largest underground cavern, Halfrek following. The lesser demon drew breath in sharply at the sight before her. Demons beyond count filled the cave from wall-to-wall; all mingling, comparing weapons and fighting styles, laughing, arguing, and attempting to out intimidate each other.

A look of pride upon his face, D'Hoffryn said quietly yet grandly as he gestured, "Behold my army, Halfrek. From all corners of the world and other dimensions they have come at my call. With them, I will be able to stop those who would see my plan unfulfilled, and become the greatest of all demon lords."

Halfrek moved until she stood beside D'Hoffryn, and asked dazedly—while trying to wrap her mind around the numbers she saw before her, "But why do you need the two children? What purpose do they serve…besides angering some pretty powerful people?"

Glancing sidelong at the one beside him, the demon lord answered simply, "They are the entire reason for my plan. With them, Evil may very well win in the End of Days."

Gazing mutely out at the demons before her, Halfrek thought, I know he wants the necklace Dora has, but why Anyanka's baby? I don't like this at all. Her eyes narrowed in sudden resolve. I don't care if it means my very death. I won't let D'Hoffryn have that baby! I will find a way to warn them.

Next Part: Seacouver. Partings, Manipulations, and Meetings. The end draws ever nearer (six parts in total left)!

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to the new blankety blank friggin' BLANK regulations on this site, I won't be doing reviewer responses after each part (and that means there's none for this one!). That is, unless you make sure to put your email addy in the area that specifies it, or sign in if you have an account...or just email me directly. I'll try to respond to you all. (TU mutters to herself as she goes back to writing) Damn site's no longer any fun.

Nothing else to say, expect I'll see you in the next part! --TU