Chapter Six

"A demon stole your clothes." Xena was skeptical. "And just what use would a demon have for YOUR clothes?"

"Well, he didn't exactly STEAL them, he just made them disappear."

"And I suppose he had a good reason? Doesn't sound like any demon I've ever heard of."

"What kind of demon was he? You know, I've never really seen a REAL demon. But I've heard stories about them," Gabrielle said.

"Just a demon. A – a boss demon, I guess you could say."

"You're not very forthcoming with answers," Xena said, as she moved her sword in a non-threatening way, yet was definitely a warning.

"Maybe she's hungry. I'm sure she'll have plenty to say after she fills her belly." Gabrielle said.

"Actually, I'm not hungry. I ate breakfast not too long ago."

"You eat breakfast at sundown?" Xena asked, becoming more and more suspicious of this stranger.

"Breakfast, lunch, supper. Who's to say you can't eat them whenever you want?"

By now Xena's sword was back up, pointing at Buffy's midsection. But Gabrielle put her hand on top of Xena's, gently pushing it back down.

"Now, let's not be hasty. She's obviously not a threat, maybe just a little confused. If she's not hungry, then maybe a good night's sleep might help."

"Well, I'm not very sleepy either. I've only been up a little while."

"You sleep during the day?"

Despite Gabrielle's efforts, Xena's sword had risen again, but this time its point was neck high.

"Either you start talking, and giving us some REAL answers, or this day is going to end very badly for you."

Buffy wasn't too worried about the sword, but she didn't want to fight if there was no reason to.

"Sure. Do you mind if we sit? And I wouldn't mind a drink of water first."

Gabrielle handed Buffy a water skin. Buffy uncorked it, sniffed the water, then drank down a mouthful. It wasn't as bad as she expected. Then she found a 'comfortable' spot near the fire, and began.

"Like I said, my name is Buffy Summers . . . ."

"You have two names?" Gabrielle asked. "Why?"

"Where I come from everyone has two names, sometimes three, or even four."

"Why?"

"Because there are so many of us, it would be too confusing otherwise."

"Where DO you come from?" Xena asked.

"The city is called Sunnydale, and that's in a state called California."

"Never heard of them."

"Well, they're pretty far away. To the west."

"Italia?" Gabrielle asked.

"Farther than that."

"Britannia?"

"Farther than that. Much, much farther!"

"There's nothing farther than Britannia, only the great Unexplored Sea." Xena contradicted her.

"Well, actually, there is. There is a whole other continent. Two of them to be exact, one north and one south, that have yet to be discovered. And California is on the west coast of the northern one."

"You must really think we're stupid," Xena said, not sure if she should be angry or feel pity for this obviously insane woman.

"But that's not the half of it. I also am from the future. I'm not sure exactly how far in the future, but around 2000 years, give or take a decade or two."

Gabrielle leaned over to Xena and whispered, "I understand now. She escaped from some kind of institution for people like her, you know, not right in the head. That's why she was naked."

Xean nodded in agreement.

Buffy smiled. Of course, what else would they think?

"There is one more thing – I came here looking for the Warrior Princess."

"So you found me, so what?"

"Well – I would never have heard of you except two of my good friends read about you."

"Oh?"

"In Gabrielle's scrolls."

"WHAT?" Gabrielle exclaimed. "That can't be! I have them right here with me. No one even knows they exist."

"Maybe not now, but 2000 years from now they will. Well, nerdy scholars will, anyway."

"I don't believe you."

"Then how did I know about them?"

"So how many do I have?"

"Right now? I have no idea, but Willow said they found something like twenty five of them."

"Twenty five! I've only written nine so far."

"Then I guess you'll write another sixteen."

"Where did they find them?" Xena asked.

"Some cave somewhere here in Greece."

"I can't believe it," Gabrielle said, almost out of breath. "MY scrolls, being found, and READ, 2000 years from now. We were talking about that a few days ago! I just can't believe it!"

"Neither can I," Xena snapped.

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