Buffy wiggled her pencil in her fingers while she sat at her newly acquired counselor's desk. It had been a week since her encounter with the 'Three of the Heartless' or whatever they called themselves. She'd been through so much in the past week and a half. The re-opening of the school (now with angry spirits), the three, Willow and the Gnarl, and... Cassie.
Buffy tried not to think about it. She knew she couldn't save everybody, but Cassie... She was so young. Had so much going for her. What, with her art and poetry. She was destined for greatness, but fate had other plans. She reminded Buffy so much of herself. The loneliness, the need to be loved, the dreams of someday ice-skating at Rockefeller Center. It was too hard for her.
Buffy had so much going on that she forgot to mention it to Willow. She would mention it to Dawn, who was really great at research nowadays, but she didn't want to worry her. She would lose Buffy again if it came to it, and Buffy was more than willing to give up her life for the greater good again. Buffy picked up the phone off of her desk and dialed in her number. Willow would surely be home today.
"Will?" She said, hearing her on the other line.
"I'm going to need you to get Xander and Anya together for this afternoon. Something apocalypse-y is afoot yet again in Sunnydale. Shocking isn't it?" Buffy said sarcastically.
"O-okay buffy." Willow said, slightly yawning. "Any specifics? Anything you can tell me over the phone? Research?"
Buffy smiled and thought 'That's my girl.' Their friendship had remained strong, even after six and a half years of heartache and death, not to mention trying to kill each other on more than one occasion. Willow was always bookish and very useful, and she was always enthused when she got to help. Aside from that, she was a powerful wiccan. Buffy was so very proud of her at times, for how long she's come.
"Not at the moment. Just don't tell Dawn, okay? I don't want her to worry." She said through the phone, twirling the cord in her hand.
"Alright, Buffy. I trust your judgement. I'll see what I can do."
"Oh and Willow." Buffy said clutching the phone.
"Yeah?" She answered back questionably.
"Thank you. I just want you to know that we all love you for doing these things." Buffy smiled.
Willow blushed on the other end. "Thanks Buffy. It's okay, really. I'll try not to kill you guys again." She said with a little humor. Smiling, Buffy hung up the phone.
* * *
Buffy sat down on the sofa next to Xander as Willow and Anya sat in the chairs across from her. She looked around at everyone as if to imply that it was important.
"Well?" Anya said, urging her to start. " Hurry, my ass is numb and I'm hoping I won't be here all night."
Buffy raised an eyebrow, then started.
"About a week ago, I fought these guys. They called themselves the 'Three of the Heartless' and..." Buffy sighed briefly, then went on. "They said something about the Key."
Everyone went silent. They all knew what happened the last time some baddie mentioned the Key. The world came closer to ending then than it ever had before. To lighten up the uncomfortable silence, Xander chimed in.
"Why do they always come in threes?" He said. They all looked confused at him.
"Well, there was the three, and there were three gentlemen, and three assassins. And now these guys. Crazy."
They all kind of giggled. It was true, which was exactly what made it funny to them. Buffy continued.
"Anyways. They said something about their master. Handsome... er, no. Hanson..." Buffy wracked her brain trying to remember.
"Oh yes, because we all fear the all-mighty MMMbop." Xander smiled.
"Oh yes, that song was truly terrifying. They use it for torture now in the lower levels of hell." Anya said, looking around. " Im serious."
"Ansem! Yeah, that was it." Buffy exclaimed.
"So, Buffy, Were there any marks or symbols or anything on these guys?" Willow asked.
"Well... They all had tattoos of a black heart on their right shoulder. And... Oh," Buffy shook her head.
"This will sound strange, but they had a Mickey Mouse symbol on their armor."
They all just stared blankly.
"Do we... know any demons that worship cartoons?" Willow said, raising an eyebrow.
"Umm... May I just say what's on everybody's mind. HUH!" Xander added.
"I'm being serious guys. I'm not saying it IS a mickey symbol, just strikingly similar." Buffy said.
"Well I find it truly terrifying." Anya said. " if an oversized rat is real, then what about that gigantic bunny?" Anya shuddered.
"Well, I can look through the books on the heart symbol, but I don't know about the mouse thing. I may have to consult the web for that one." Willow said, preparing to go research.
"Remember guys. Don't tell Dawn. At least not until we know what it is we're dealing with." Buffy said as everybody scattered. It would be a looong day.
