Disclaimer: I own nothing besides the original characters, Joss and Mutant Enemy are the lucky ones.

Summary: Angel and his group took out the Thorn, but they opened up a whole new can of worms.

Pairings: Spuffy, Fresley, D/OC. Others might present themselves.

Warning: There will be cursing, violence and a smidgen of sex in this story.

Chapter Seven: Girl Power

Los Angeles - Graumans Chinese Theater - Seven weeks ago

'Why do these guys always have the same stale breath?'

Buffy muses as she uses the blade on her scythe to decapitate three demons, swinging it in an arc around her.

'I mean, besides Angel and Spike, no demons seem to brush their teeth.'

She whips the stake portion around, barreling through vampires and demons alike, the vamps dusting, the particles stinging her eyes; the demons she pushes off one by one.

'Angel's breathe always smelled like spearmint, even after drinking blood he'd make sure to brush before we made out.'

Kicking one demon in the midsection, she brings her blade up, slicing his head and upper torso in two.

Spike's was like the air after freshly fallen rain, natural and clean, which was odd considering he smoked like a chimney, and drank like a fish. Maybe he carried tic tacs, although the image of Spike popping a breath mint made her wanna giggle. But if he was to use them, it would probably be in anticipation of kissing.

'Spike kissage, lips of Spike, Mmmmm!'

A hand comes down on her shoulder, she spins, ready to maim, Faith grabs her arm steadying it as she speaks.

"Mind getting back in the game boss, it ain't even halftime yet!"

Buffy cocked her head, looking at Faith while saying indignantly.

"Excuse me, I was under the impression that you were a bad ass slayer who didn't need anybodies help."

Faith let go of her arm, crossing her own.

"B, if there still here, we'll find them."

Buffy hung her head, her voice only barely audible over the fighting.

"I don't think I could stand losing him again Faith, not after all we..."

Her voice broke, shaking her head she looked around; ready to start dealing out more pain.

"It's fine, we'll deal when we find them."

She turned and walked toward the nearest demon, swinging her leg out and tripping him, rising she brought her boot to it's temple snapping it's head so hard it's neck broke. Faith watched this admirably, Buffy could be a real stone cold bitch when she wanted to. Buffy looked over her shoulder and gave the barest of smiles to her.

"Thanks though."

Both women jumped back in, slicing and dicing all demons around them, their ferocity spurring their sister slayers on. Buffy looked to the skies, damning the weather, mystically induced or not. She called out for her goddess friend

"Wills, you still up there?"

A few miles away, Willow paused, turning her mind from the battle going on below.

"Yeah, I'm helping out the other squads, what'ya need?"

"You think you can do something about the weather, there's a lot of vamps, it'd help a ton if Mr. sun could come out to play."

"I'll see what I can do Buff, Dawn finally let you out?"

"We need all the warm bodies we can get"

'I wouldn't mind a room temperature one either.'

Slayer Base Camp - Same time

Wood stood in the back of the tent, listening to the radio chatter from the slayer squads and military forces. It was pure hell out there, and he was stuck here babysitting. Realistically he knew it was best someone stayed behind, he just wished it didn't have to be him. Dawn sat on a box of crates, listening intently for any news about her sister.

Several slayers lined the walls, hoping to hear their sister slayers report hostiles neutralized, nerves on edge; their senses telling them to grab the pointiest, sharpest thing around and join the fight. Dawn ran her hand's through her hair, jumping up she walked over to a weapons crate in the corner.

Since Riley had left Sunnydale, there had been some awesome advances in weaponry, streamlined cross bows filled the crate. Each holding fifteen arrows. The slayers hadn't felt much use for them, only a dozen or so grabbed on their way out. Dawn pulled one out and grabbed an extra cartridge of bolts. Turning around she ran into Wood.

"Where do you think your going?"

Dawn flipped her hair, putting the strap for the bow over her shoulder.

"I'm gonna go help my sister."

She tried to step past him, but he moved with her, barring her path.

"Your sister ordered all of us to stay here, that includes you."

Dawn smiled humorlessly, enunciating clearly.

"I never do what my sister tells me to, and I'm not gonna start now."

Wood crossed his arms, hanging his head, turning around he motioned to two of the more experienced girls.

"Go with her, make sure she doesn't get hurt."

Vail's Lair - Same time

Cyrus Vail sat in his throne, examining himself in the mirror for the hundredth time since he'd banished Angel and his comrades to the not so far future. He'd had far better hosts, strong, towering forms with which he could intimidate even the most hardened man or demon. Yet there was still a certain deadly charm in this man's appearance.

And the human had not been completely without power. There was some dormant demon blood in him, passed on from centuries old ancestors; Vail was able to enhance it, to bring it to the surface, increasing his own magical abilities and adding to his strength.

It was amazing how these humans fought so adamantly against demons, when more than half of them owed their existence to his kind. Back in the time before man worshiped the stars and sun, they'd worshiped him and his brethren. Ones like Illyria, and Zothrace, they'd been gods, and it hadn't been uncommon for his kind to sample the delights of the human stock, occasionally causing a half-breed to spawn.

Sometimes they were executed, because of malformations or not being worthy of their inherited blood rite. But many had also been made soldiers, strong enough to defend their overlords, but not enough to overthrow them. Once this was all done, their would be no use for humans, or half breeds, only the strong would survive the cleansing.

Running into the room, one of his servants bowed his head and addressed him.

"My lord, the slayers and military have arrived, they are engaging our forces."

Vail tossed the hand held mirror into the fire, the sound of it breaking reverberating in the small study.

"How many are there?"

"Roughly one hundred and fifty slayers My lord, along with several mystics and a few thousand soldiers."

"And how many demons?"

"A few hundred half breeds, and several thousand vampires. Should I dispatch the forces that have started arriving through the portals?"

Vail waved his hand, standing up he went to the window and glanced off into the distance.

"No, those are not out forces, they are his. We must battle them using the lesser demons we have at hand. At least until it is time for the ritual."

"Yes my lord, there is one other thing."

Vail went to the cabinet, pulling out a very expensive looking bottle of liquor.

"Speak."

"There is also a young sorceress with them. The one who performed the spell to imbue the slayers with their power."

Vail's hand shivered slightly, downing the glass and tossing it into the fire as well.

"Are you certain?"

"Yes my lord, she is assisting the slayers from the sky."

"I must deal with her personally then."

"Is that wise sir, you've only just acquired your new form."

Cyrus Vail glared at the minion, waving his hand, and causing it's head to explode instantaneously. Dramatically he strolled out onto the balcony, with the smallest push he flew into the air, soaring towards the center of Los Angeles.

It was time to show these mortals what an old one was truly capable of.