Disclaimer: (rolls eyes) Look elsewhere in this story for that info!
Author's Notes: The fiercest of the Warrior-Muses slowly peeks out from behind the bomb shelter's door. After seeing there is no one about , she beckons the Computer-Literate-Muse behind her to go out. The two quickly and safely reach their destination, and the handwritten pages given to them by their frazzled, exhausted, and sick Author is typed up and sent out. They then swiftly run back to the shelter and fearfully await the next mob of furious Readers. Meanwhile, the Author continues feverishly writing while her Muses guide her thoughts...for she is bound and determined to finish this tale by April at the earliest, or the end of May at the latest.
Author's Notes 2: I'm sorry for the delay, guys, but I had some RL stuff come up and wallop me on the head, and had to deal with that first. It actually took me having a leg infection and half of my college classes canceled due to said leg infection (I missed too many days) to slow me down enough to write again.
Gratitude's: El Chacal, Harry2, star, and Carycomic your reviews were overwhelmingly appreciated!
Twilight Unicorn: The Vampiric Unicorn (who is still blushing madly and grinning like a fool from all the high praises she received from the last part!)
Part 25
Sunnydale: Unknown Underground Cavern, 11:17pm, Day 10
The demoness sat on the young Slayer's bed, gazing in trepidation. She glanced at the empty glass cradled absently yet tensely in her hands, a few drops of blue-green liquid clinging to the bottom of the cup, and sighed heavily.
I gave her enough sedative to drop a full-grown man in minutes, and it still took an hour! What exactly are Slayers made of to do that? She shook her head. Never mind! Now that she's out, I can get going.
Halfrek placed the glass on the ground, rose from her seat, and strode over to the magiced door at the entrance of the small cave. Drawing in a steadying breath, she opened the door slightly, and glanced out. No one was there but a little brown mouse that the demons in this labyrinth of caves had not yet found to play with. Placing a hand over her heart to still its furious beating after hearing the little creature squeak, Halfrek looked behind her for one last glance of the youngest Slayer, then slipped out of the cave and quickly down the passageway.
As the demoness darted around a corner, D'Hoffryn stepped out of the alcove where he had just been out of sight, and gazed calculatingly in the direction his minion had taken...
Sunnydale: Magic Box (Training Room), 1:03am, Day 11
A blade cut perilously close to the Slayer's face as she dodged Connor's sword. She gave a brief glare to Angel as he gazed apologetically at her while Buffy blocked Amanda's weapon. With a roll of her eyes in exasperation, she maneuvered herself so that she was back-to-back with her husband. The two watched their Immortal opponents warily as they moved in tandem to keep their individual targets in sight. As the Immortals began to move forward to strike simultaneously in different places, a British accented voice called out sharply, "Hold!"
The four warriors in the large training ring froze, then turned to look at the one whom had spoken, annoyance clearly seen upon their faces…and something a little more than that in the eyes.
"What is it now, Quinton?" Buffy snarled while sheathing her sword, then crossing her arms and tapping her foot hard.
The head Watcher strode forward and said disapprovingly as he stopped in front of the Slayer, "How many times tonight have I said you shouldn't count on another to protect your back? And yet you are doing it again! What would happen should you suddenly find your support gone, hmm?"
Buffy's foot stopped moving suddenly with a small stomp as her eyes narrowed dangerously, in a hard tone she answered, "I would have done what I've always done: protected myself, and made sure the other's alright."
"Wrong!" the Watcher snapped. "You look out for yourself alone. That is what a Slayer's supposed to do! Your responsibility is to the safety of humankind as a whole. It doesn't matter how many individuals are lost to attain that goal!"
Absolute silence fell, but for the slow hiss of breath from the Immortal Slayer.
In the next moment, many things happened simultaneously: Angel lunged forward and grabbed his wife's arm to keep her from punching Quinton in a not so pleasant way, while Connor and Amanda helped hold her back; Giles unwillingly pulled the Head of his organization out of the Slayer's reach, earning an incensed glare from said Slayer; Gunn, Rave, and Gwen – who happened to be watching – started moving forward to aid the others; Willow, Tara, Xander, and Oz rose from their seats – where they had been talking quietly in a corner of the room for the past three hours – in alarm; and Whistler let out an ear-piercing whistle that froze all who heard it, then bellowed furiously, "ENOUGH!"
Everyone's gaze swung to the Messenger as he stalked towards the larger of the two groups in the room, and spat out heatedly, "That. Is. Enough! I have lost all patience with you, Watcher! You have one choice alone at this moment: you leave this city. You are a distraction and a hindrance, and I cannot allow that with what is happening here. If you are truly as concerned with your precious new Slayer as you claim to be, you will do exactly what I have told you to do!"
The Messenger's words seemed to echo in the air as Quinton gazed infuriated at the demon, but before he could speak, a voice said in a dangerously soft tone that purred with a promise of death, "Just let me electrocute him…it'll solve all our problems."
"Can't allow you to do that, Gwen," Whistler said tightly, disgruntlement in his voice. "And don't ask me why either."
"I am not leaving," Quinton suddenly exclaimed stubbornly. "Not until this situation is resolved!"
"Like Hell you are," Buffy exploded, wrenching herself out of the others' grips by sheer force, then started to move towards Quinton threateningly. The Head Watcher began backing up to directly counterpoint each slow ponderous step the Slayer took towards him as she said heatedly, "For the past three days I've heard nothing but complaining from you about what we're doing here! You've put down everyone that's come across your path, and insulted nearly all in this room more than once. How do you expect us to concentrate on what we're attempting to do when you're standing behind us breathing down our necks? The only reason we aren't home in bed right now is 'cause you demanded that we get some training in. We're tired. We're irritable. And I don't know about them, but right now I'm fed up with you beyond all thought. So you'd better listen to Whistler, and do what he's said, 'cause from this moment on, you're nothing more than a bug that needs to be squashed to leave me alone!"
A stunned yet satisfied silence fell, as Quinton breathed heavily through his nose in fury. He took a step forward, and raised his hand as if to strike his antagonist...but it was caught. Jerking his head to see who would dare hold him back, he found himself gazing into infuriated Scottish eyes. In a voice that was nothing more than a rolling growl, Connor said, "Ye donna strike a Lady," and released him, only to find himself suddenly held by another.
Hands dug with bruising force into his arms, as Xander gazed at Quinton eye-to-eye. In an intense tone of voice that promised future retribution, he said, "If anything you've done here effects what happens to my son, there will be no place you could hide from me," and let go his tight grip.
Before the Watcher fully had time to regain his balance and understanding of his loss of control over the situation, he found himself being pushed and guided out of the room forcefully by Whistler. As the two stepped out of the training facility, the demon said succinctly over his shoulder to those within, "I'll be back shortly. Those that aren't the head of some group that's here may go."
As the door slammed shut, Quinton could be heard exclaiming indignantly, "Unhand me, demon! Messenger or not, I won't take orders from your kind!"
For several moments after the now gone Watcher's voice had faded away, there was a tense silence, then Buffy let out an audible whoosh of air in relief. Quickly striding over to the conference area, she turned around and fell back onto the couch, sprawling languidly in satisfaction, a smug look on her face. Angel shook his head, then joined his wife and allowed her to put her head on his lap.
"So who all wants to go," Xander asked calmly as he retook his seat from earlier. "'Cause I really don't want to walk to my place by myself."
"It's not safe for anyone to walk alone," Tara said quietly, unintentionally drawing everyone's attention to her. "At least, not until this whole situation's taken care of."
"Indeed not," Giles exclaimed softly in agreement while polishing his glasses.
"We'll go with you, Xander," Willow said as she took Tara's hand, then glanced at the werewolf on her other side, asking, "What about you, Oz?"
Lounging back, Oz replied placidly, "I'm staying for a little while. Me and Rave want to do some stuff before calling it quits for the night. The moon's full for tonight and the next two days, and we need to relieve some tension."
"We should probably go and take over for the others anyway," Amanda added while glancing at her wristwatch and grimacing. "I think it's way past time when we were supposed to do that."
"If Anya harasses you about why you're late," Buffy mumbled half-asleep, "then blame Quinton...she'll understand."
Quiet laughter was all that was heard from Connor and Gwen as those leaving rose from their seats at the obvious dismissal from the Slayer.
Sunnydale: Magic Box (Training Room), 1:41am, Day 11
Giles, Gunn, Angel, and Buffy sat or sprawled on various pieces of furniture in the lounge/conference area of the training room above the Magic Box, talking—and in Buffy's case: sleeping. Every once in a while, someone would discreetly glance towards the training area where Oz and Rave were sparing in animal-form. Over half an hour had passed since Whistler had left with Quinton in tow, and they were silently wondering when the Messenger would return.
"I still say we let Rave and Oz go in were-form to where those demons are hiding and find out what they can," Gunn said seriously. "They're the best shot we have of knowing anything!"
"I don't want to risk it," Angel said firmly. "There's too few of us here as it is."
"As well," Giles added, "demons from past encounters with those two will recognize them."
"Then what else can we do," Gunn questioned heatedly in frustration.
"Nothing but wait. It's all we can do, Gunn."
Those quietly spoken words drew the three men's gazes to the Slayer, to see her awake and staring with resignation at the ceiling. Angel made a soothing sound, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, and squeezed slightly. The Slayer looked at him with a wan smile and gratitude in her eyes before sitting up. Directing her gaze to her semi-coworker, she said seriously, "I don't like this anymore than you do, Gunn, but what choice do we have? We've used up all our resources trying to find out where D'Hoffryn and his group're hiding. You know that Sunnydale has a labyrinth of caves, tunnels, and who knows what under it. The closest we have to an expert of the Underground is Angel, and he admits he doesn't know enough! It's going to take a miracle to find Dora and free her safely...and I'm sorry, but I'm fresh out of those."
A grim silence fell...a silence that was too complete they soon realized. Almost turning as one, the four leaders looked over to where Rave and Oz had been sparing to see them in were-form instead of animal-form, staring intently towards the training room's main entrance.
His expression concerned, and somewhat alarmed, Giles asked, "Rave, Oz, what is it?"
"Demon coming up the stairs," Oz growled.
"Not Whistler, but smelt it here before," Rave added as he crouched low to the ground.
At those words, those with supernatural hearing became aware of the sound of a single set of footsteps slowly and cautiously making their way up to the training room. Buffy and Angel swiftly stood and drew their swords, colored light shimmering from the crystal blades. Gunn and Giles immediately reacted to the immortal couple's actions, and grabbed the weapons nearest to them, while the two shapeshifters moved an equal distance from the others and the door.
Everybody tensed as the door slowly opened partway.
A dark curly haired head peeked around the door to reveal eyes filled with fear and determination. Seeing those within, a female voice said nervously with a waver, "I'm not here to fight, but to give you guys information about D'Hoffryn. Please don't kill me!"
Her eyes narrowing, Buffy asked sharply, "Who are you?"
"Halfrek," came the frightened reply. "I'm a friend of Anyanka's!"
The Slayer frowned, then muttered, "Why does that name sound familiar?"
With a confused look on his face, Gunn said, "That's that friend of Anya's that we interrogated awhile back."
"Dear Lord," Giles muttered in shock as he lowered his weapon, "according to her own words, she should be dead...not alive."
Her eyes narrowing further, Buffy inquired suspiciously to their terrified intruder, "How can you be her when you're supposed to be dead?"
One could almost hear Halfrek swallow before answering in a near squeak, "I'm her! Be-because D'Hoffryn needs me alive to watch over those he's kidnapping he says. And if that doesn't convince you, then ask your shapeshifters! They should know my smell."
"Rave," Angel questioned, "you said you recognize her smell. Is it the same as the night you guys summoned her?"
"Yes," came the growled response.
"Alright, let her in," Angel calmly commanded the shapeshifters, then said to his stressed and agitated wife while sheathing his weapon, "Buffy, stand down. There's nothing to fight here."
"There's always something to fight," the Slayer snapped as she put away her sword. On receiving an admonishing look from her husband, she amended, "but not right now.
Giles cleared his throat, then said in request, "Halfrek, come on in, and tell us why you are here."
The demoness slowly entered the room, a nervous laugh escaping her as she uneasily passed between Rave and Oz, then by the scowling Buffy—whom Angel had a restraining hand on. At a beckoning gesture from Giles, Halfrek took a seat by the now seated Watcher. The others quickly settled, with Oz and Rave – once more in human form – standing behind the couch where Halfrek sat.
Chewing on her lip for a moment, Halfrek leaned forward and drew in a breath to begin speaking, when a voice said in an irate tone, "And who do we have here?"
Halfrek froze as everyone else turned to see Whistler standing to the side of the group, scowling in anger and frustration at the demoness, arms crossed. Slowly turning in her seat, Halfrek said in an alarmed and anxious voice that began as a yelp, then slowly trailed off, "Whistler! I was told you were here. I'm guessing that whatever's going on is even worse than what I was thinking it was, then."
Expression foreboding, the Messenger said darkly in warning, "Depends on how much you've figured out...especially with you being D'Hoffryn's right hand since Anyanka's downfall, Halfrek."
The demoness laughed nervously again as she rung her hands, then admitted, "I haven't figured out much—'cause he's not talking to anyone about what he's doing, but I'm starting to get what he has planned from bits and pieces...and I'm terrified."
"Do tell," was all the Messenger replied.
Clearing her throat, Halfrek sat up straight, and gazed at the others in the room that she could see. They were all looking at her intently, and in one case: with barely constrained violence. A petrified smile flitted across her face, before she said in sudden seriousness—her composure changing completely as she at last began to say what she came there to say, "Like I said, it's not much, but it's more than anyone else. D'Hoffryn's planning something so big, he's saying it'll change the very balance between Good and Evil...and after some of the stuff I've seen and heard: I believe him."
She paused and shook her head, as though trying to dispel disturbing images within her mind, then continued, "It's not Dora he wants, but what she has. He wants to use it to transform someone...or something. I haven't been able to figure out what, or why."
"What about Anya's baby," Angel asked quietly. "Why does he need the child?"
Anxiety in her eyes, Halfrek exclaimed softly in despair while throwing up her hands, "I don't know! I wish I did. It could be that the baby's to be changed, or it's for the one transformed. All I know for certain is that the girl and baby are essential to his plan, but he wouldn't say why."
"And you will remain unknowing until I think it's time to tell you, Halfrek," a cold, yet indifferent voice said.
A deer caught in the headlights look on her face, Halfrek gasped out, "Oh, crap!" and surged out of her seat to face the one who spoke, as did everyone else.
D'Hoffryn stood in the open doorway of the training room.
His eyes focused solely upon his minion, the demon lord continued, saying, "You have caused me some trouble, girl, yet at the same time...you have made things easier." His gaze switched to Whistler, as he addressed the demon. "Messenger, as the rules that have been set by our Masters dictate, I present to this group of Warriors a Challenge. I am still missing one piece of my plan. You have what I want: Anyanka's child. And I have what you want: the girl-Slayer. The last of Pandora's direct female descendants...yes, I know who she is. I would declare a fight for tomorrow night around eight at the old drive-in theater at the edge of town. It's big enough for my minions to fit in and have room for your group. Whichever side wins gets what they desire. Do you declare this Challenge fair?"
Whistler's face was grim as he stared darkly at D'Hoffryn, before saying, "You have thought this out very well, demon lord. They have underestimated you, as I see no way of stopping this. Very well: you shall have your Challenge. Make sure your people are there, or you will forfeit Pandora's Daughter to us after nine that night...that is my condition."
A cruel smile slowly taking over his face, the demon lord said in a near mocking tone, "Have no fear: we will be there...just make sure your people are on time!" His expression suddenly serious, D'Hoffryn barked out suddenly, "Halfrek, to me!" As his minion rushed fearfully to his side, he grabbed her and teleported them both out of the room in a cloud of dark sulfuric smoke.
An electrified tension remained behind after the two demons had left, then a female voice asked very softly and dangerously, "What just happened here, Whistler?"
Turning away from gazing at the place where D'Hoffryn had stood, Whistler stared at Buffy, and said slowly, ponderously in trepidation, "Something I had hoped would never be. Something the Powers That Be hoped would never happen: a true chance for Evil to win in this dimension."
"How?"
"D'Hoffryn has Dora...and what the young Slayer possesses is his at the moment," was Whistler's reply. "What he could possibly do with it is too dark to even think about, but the Powers That Be have been forced to do so to try to counter what is currently happening."
"Dear Lord: Pandora's Box," Giles softly exclaimed in sudden understanding and horror.
Angel stiffened as he too began to find the pieces starting to come together, and breathed out, shocked, "No!"
Her emotions quickly turning from fury to unease with just a touch of fear, Buffy asked cautiously, "Honey, what is it?"
His gaze flicking over to his wife, Angel said grimly, "D'Hoffryn's trying to create a true Dark Slayer."
As Buffy gapped at her husband, stunned, Whistler added quietly, wearily, "Not just a Dark Slayer, but a Slayer line that hunts those that fight for Good...the total opposite of what the current Slayer line does."
The Immortal Slayer sat on the couch abruptly, looking very ill, as Gunn said in confusion and curiosity, "How the Hell do you go about making a Slayer line, and what's this about Pandora's Box? That's just a story."
"Yes, a story much diluted from the truth," Giles said in reply as he put his glasses back on. Sighing, the Watcher sat down tiredly, looking at all present. "I was hoping beyond hope that I would not need to reveal this to you, but circumstances have forced my hand. The story of Pandora's Box is far older and more complex than is known in this day and age. There was indeed a box given to her by the gods, but it did not hold all the evil of the world in it, but actually held all the good in the world within itself.
"When Pandora opened the box, she released half of the goodness before closing it, but there was an unusual side-effect: the empty portion filled with evil. Good now existed in the world, and it did not take long before Good realized that they needed an advantage over Evil in order to balance things. The gods that were siding with Good came up with the idea of a warrior that, though killed, was not dead, that would live on in another: the Slayer. The gods gave to Pandora a spell using the contents within the box she possessed to create the Slayer, and she used it."
"Huh," Oz said, "I always wondered how the Slayers came about."
"That had to be some pretty heavy mojo," Gunn muttered.
"It was," Whistler said in response to the demon hunter's comment. "It also put Pandora and her descendents into a pretty precarious and powerful position." On seeing all but Giles confused by what he had just said, the Messenger explained, saying, "You see, Evil wanted to destroy Pandora and any connected to her by blood for creating an opponent they couldn't fully defeat with the way the Slayer could continue on even after death. As well, Pandora's Daughters possess perhaps one of the most powerful objects in this dimension...that both sides can use. It was because of this that the Council of Watchers was created: to protect Pandora's heirs and what was in their possession, and to watch over the Slayer and aid her in her battle against Evil."
"Quinton and most of my organization have fallen far from the original mandate," Giles said softly, his expression grim yet sad at the same time. "It is one of the reasons I rarely call upon them for help in most situations. They've lost their focus, and are starting to turn to the ways of Evil...even if they don't recognize nor believe it when accused."
"I have a question," Rave said, drawing everyone's attention purposefully towards him. "What happened when Evil entered Pandora's Box? Giles, you said it had an unusual side-effect. In what way?"
The Watcher winced, then with a heart-felt sigh, answered as he slipped off his glasses and put them in a pocket, "I do not truly wish to speak of this, but as I've revealed this much, I might as well reveal all. The Good within Pandora's Box was used to create the Slayer. But due to Evil being in the Box as well, a bit of that exists within the essence of the Slayer Spirit...and it is by this sliver that a Slayer sometimes slips to follow the ways of Evil. One act of pure evil – no matter how innocent and unintended – will cause her to fall towards the darkness within her."
"Oh, God," Buffy moaned in horrified realization as she sat suddenly. "That's why Faith did what she did."
Looking somberly at the Slayer, Giles said simply, "Yes. As well, had the Watchers Council not interfered when they did, we may have been able to bring Faith back from where she had fallen."
"There's nothing to be done for it now. Faith's dead, and we can't bring her back," the Slayer muttered darkly, her head bowed in grief over lost chances. Drawing in a few ragged breaths to compose herself and to think about the task ahead, Buffy then turned to look at Whistler with determination in her eyes, and asked, "What can we expect from D'Hoffryn, Whistler? How many can he call to do what he wants?"
Grimacing, the Messenger ran a hand through his hair, and replied, "A lot. I don't know the exact numbers at the moment, but it's somewhere around three-to-five thousand...probably more by now."
"Shit," Gunn quietly and heartfeltly exclaimed, as Angel said, "We're barely holding it together as it is. How are we possibly going to battle that many at once?"
"Hell if I know," Whistler said in exasperation, then added in frustration, "I've called in all I can without overstepping my bounds as Messenger. Whatever further help you get, you get on your own."
After a moment of silence, Oz cleared his throat. When everyone was looking at him, he suggested, "I can call in the goddess that owes me a favor."
Buffy groaned, her displeasure evident as she slumped back in her seat. Angel sat down by his wife, placed a hand on her knee, and said to her, "Do we have much choice, Buffy? We're outnumbered, and need all the help we can get."
"I know," came the grumbled response. She shook her head once, then gazed at Oz, and said, "Do whatever you need to to call her, Oz."
The werewolf nodded, then moved away from the others until he stood in the center of the training ring. He drew in a deep breath, and let is out slowly as his head fell back. As he began to draw another breath in, the changing took him. His image seemed to dissolve, then reform. When it did, a russet colored wolf the size of a warhorse stood in the place of a man. Sitting on its haunches, the wolf threw back its head and howled. In the echoing silence of that howl, an answering cry was distantly heard. A moment later, bright silver light appeared beside the wolf, then was gone. A pale woman stood there, her expression somber, yet her slitted silver eyes shone with joy and vital life.
Flidhais had arrived.
Placing a hand upon the wolf's shoulder, the goddess said, "Thou hast called, and I have answered, mine Champion. What wouldst thou have me do?"
The wolf shifted, changing back into a man. Oz looked upon the one he had called, and said seriously, "We need your help, 'cause we need an army to fight against D'Hoffryn's tomorrow night. Can you help us?"
"Much dost thou ask of me," Flidhais murmured, then said firmly, "Yet, I have foreseen thy need, and have prepared for this moment. An army of shapechangers wilt thou have, for what I have is thine to command, mine Champion."
Rave's breath hissed out of him in stunned shock, drawing the goddess' attention to him. Tilting her head to the side, Flidhais slowly walked over to the Native American, and stopped before him. Raising a hand, she gently traced his jaw-line, a tender smile upon her face, and love in her eyes.
In a voice filled with fondness, the goddess said, "Greetings, mine son's son. Though young thou art in years, long have I wished to meet thee."
"You know me," Rave asked, staring in wonder at the woman before him.
"Aye," came the simple response. She then turned away to look at the others present in the room. Upon spotting Angel and Buffy sitting together, Flidhais bowed deeply to them, saying as she rose, "Honored am I to be in thine presence, Champions."
"You know who we are," Buffy asked, startled, as she sat up straight.
"All who fight in the war know thee and thine mate, Slayer. The Spirit shines strong within thee, and the soul of thine mate is pure indeed...just as I have been told."
The goddess then turned her attention to the three remaining people in the room, her gaze passing over Gunn and Giles in mild interest to rest fully upon Whistler. She frowned, then commented, "Thou dost still live, Messenger? I thought thou wouldst have been destroyed by now."
"Glad to see you alive, too, Flidhais," Whistler said dryly. "We dealt with the ones who trapped you not long after it happened, if you want to know."
"Glad am I for that," she said in response, "but what dost thou do here in this dark land? For what purpose have They sent thee?"
After a momentary pause, the Messenger said bluntly, "I'm trying to prevent the End of Days from beginning."
The goddess stilled, taking on the appearance of a statue, before drawing breath in sharply and shuddering. Wild-eyed and terrified, she exclaimed, "It cannot be!"
"It is, and we're all that stands in Evil's way, Flidhais."
A day, a night, and a day passed, and in two separate places a battle was prepared for.
Next Part: Seacouver. All is in place. It is time for the final showdowns to begin!
Author's Note 3 (just so you know I'm going to be beginning an Interlude of stories set in this trilogy when I post the next part. The interludes will consist of things you (the Reviewers) have mentioned to me that you wanted further explanation of, and also those things that I felt needed more fleshing out, but couldn't be done in the main context of the trilogy without breaking the flow of the plotlines. I hope you guys enjoy the stories when I start posting them.
Important Notice (again): If you don't give me a way to contact you, how can I reply? Please make sure to leave me some way to get a hold of you (and thank you to those who did remember)!
Regarding this part: You don't want to kill me just yet. Wait until the end of this story...it'll be worth it! --TU