Hey everyone! So I've made a lot of changes to this story from when I first posted the first chapter. Firstly, I've changed it to a crossover story since I am also doing rewrites of some Buffy episodes and I wanted people who like Giles to also see this story. Second, I've placed a legend of sorts on the first chapter about the labeling or how you would identify the chapter if its a re-write of a Buffy or an Angel episode by the chapter index. It's written on Chapter 1 but I'll post it here as well:
AE - Angel Episode
BE - Buffy Episode
OE - Original Episode
So we've been having two chapters of the AI Gang...it's time to travel back to Sunnydale!
Buffy Episode 5x12 Checkpoint
Giles was glad that the Magic Box no longer served as Watchers' central and he had it all back to himself. That was until he heard the familiar man clear his throat.
Giles turned to see Quentin Travers at the doorway, one hand inside his pant pocket the other holding a small box.
"Might I interest you in a drink?" asked Travers as he sat himself and placed the small box he had on the table.
Giles glared at him. "Or not. I would like to have a word, Rupert."
Giles crossed his arms in front of him, giving Travers the signal to continue. "I had more than one motive into coming here, Rupert. It is also why I easily accepted Ms. Summers' terms, in hiring you back."
Giles' glare did not leave his face but he was curious. Something in the way Travers was speaking…it was like he needed something from Giles.
Travers tossed the small box to Giles and the watcher easily caught it. "Open it."
Giles eyed the box and then the other man in the room. "It's not a bomb, man. I'm not here to kill you."
Giles gave Travers a suspicious look but slowly opened the box. Inside were two crystals that were glowing blue.
"What do you know of the Gem of All Portals, Rupert?" asked Travers, standing up to study some of the books inside the shop.
Giles eyed Travers and then back at the crystals he was holding. "The Gem of All Portals was original a crystal that said to house all the magical activity in the world. But as the magical activity increased, the newly formed Watchers' Council thought to protect it from evil forces." Travers nodded and Giles continued. "They sent a seasoned Warlock along with his apprentice to retrieve the crystal but with the growing magical activity around the world…a mere object wasn't enough to house the power."
"And when the warlock and his apprentice arrived, the power attached itself to something far more sustainable than an object." continued Travers. "The power attached itself into a human being."
"Not equally. The apprentice pushed the Warlock out of harm's way and he was given more of the crystals power," said Giles, lifting up the blue crystals Travers had given him. "And the original crystal broke into four crystals."
"Two of which you hold in your hands," said Travers.
"The Gem is a myth," said Giles. "It was just a story created to make the history of the Council more heroic and noble."
"The knowledge of the gem is at a need to know basis, Rupert," began Travers. "The Watchers' Council has its own share of prophetic destinies."
"I don't understand…"
"The Gem of All Portals is a Watcher that will save the world from a darkness that is way beyond any apocalypse we face on a day to day basis," said Travers as he took a book from the shelf and opened it to a specific page. "It has happened before with the original Gem and his mentor but it is said that the apocalypse will happen again."
"We've faced many apocalypses in our time," said Giles. "What makes this different?"
"Because this is one apocalypse that the Watchers' Council plays a key role," said Travers. "It hasn't been identified if the Council will cause this…but the Council will stop it."
"The Gem will stop it," said Giles as he eyed the crystals. "The Gem's crystals glow green."
"What does that tell you?" asked Travers, with a sarcastic smile.
"The Gem's mentor, the one that helps him use his powers," began Giles. "His crystals glow blue."
"And here I thought you didn't believe," said Travers.
"How sure are you that I am the mentor?" asked Giles.
"Those started glowing blue the day you were born," said Travers.
"Lots of Watchers were born the same day I was," reasoned Giles.
"They started growing in intensity when you had your short tenures as 'Ripper'," continued Travers. "And they've been glowing ever stronger ever since you were assigned here."
Giles remained silent, trying to accept that he just like Buffy had a mythical destiny. "Why are you telling me this now? Why not before?"
Travers turned the page of the book he had presented in front of Giles until it landed to an image of a dagger. "Because this has resurfaced. The Dagger of Portals can only be wielded by one person."
"Why not just secure the dagger?"
"The dagger itself is magical. It will stop at nothing to reunite with its owner." explained Travers. "And when that happens…" Travers tossed Giles another two crystals identical to the one he already had but these weren't glowing. "You have the task of reawakening him."
Giles studied the crystals he had then turned to Travers. "You have no idea who he is?"
"No," said Travers, rubbing his forehead. "Unlike the mentor, the Gem's powers only surface once his mentor awakens him."
"You must know who the original gem and mentor were," began Giles. "Maybe it's hereditary."
"Well your theory is debunked seeing as you are not related to either the original Gem or his mentor," began Travers. "Only the dagger will identify the Gem."
"And you couldn't inform me about this sooner?" asked Giles.
Travers smiled. "I was hoping you would come back with us to England and I would have informed you there." He paused. "Your magical prowess will increase dramatically now that you have your crystals. It may help you in your coming battle with Glory."
"Quentin," began Giles. "Once the Gem is awakened…what do I do?"
"Train him," said Travers. "Help him. That is what we Watchers do in the first place. We look out for people who have the hard task of saving the world. What is easier this time around is that the Gem is also a Watcher but he will still need guidance, a mentor. With that much power and responsibility on his shoulders… he needs a parental figure he knows is going through the same fate."
Travers walked closer to Giles and patted him on the shoulder. "The Gem is believed to be a myth but other powers, other creatures believe in his existence…he is considered the greatest warlock that ever lived…the great and powerful mage…his mentor is regarded just the same. Once the word gets out, the Gem and you will be hunted down for your power…I for one wouldn't want to face that alone."
Travers patted Giles' back and made to leave. "It is funny that out of all the Watchers in existence…you would be one of the most important in our history." Giles stared at him. "The most unlikely candidate…but your fate has been set in stone from the start just like the Gem's…whoever he might be."
The most unlikely candidate…Giles has to smile at that. So the Council had written him off as a failure and yet now…he was one of the most important Watchers in existence. "I'm willing to take that as a compliment, Quentin."
"I'm sure you are, Rupert." said Travers. "Good luck."
