It's been a few weeks since Allison and Lydia have been staying in Sunnydale, during their first week no one spoke of the light that Lydia shot from her hand into the gaping hole of what used to be Sunnydale High. Everyone pretty much swept the new found information under the rug. Allison never asked Lydia about it because she knew that Lydia didn't know herself, so it would be pointless to ask and it also had something to do with Lydia constantly staying up late and reading some of Willow's books trying to get a consensus as to what was happening to her.
Allison started her slayer training or what Faith liked to call it "How to Be a Badass like your Older Sister 101". Allison laughed at the name and Buffy rolled her eyes, an amused expression playing on her lips. It was challenging, but Allison loved a challenge. The physical stuff was like muscle memory for her, Faith knew it, but she had to make sure that she was equipped to handle the requirements that Allison's new destiny held. It was never said, but Allison knew that Faith and even Buffy feared for her future. They both knew there were thousands of slayers around the world and that Allison might not have to deal with supernatural threats alone, but they don't want her to think that she can't live a semi-normal life with Lydia without having to look over their shoulders. Even though, that is also probably an issue for the present, they wanted a better future for them, especially since new developments such as Lydia's new powers keep adding on to the stress.
The knowledge part of training was probably Allison's least favorite part. It wasn't because she had to read a lot of old books, but because Willow and Dawn may be really nice friends, they prove to be very strict teachers. Lydia even stepped in to help Allison study the material, but she wasn't very nice when Allison would get a question wrong. The strawberry-blonde maybe sweet when there is no training to be had, but when the studying part came she thought of a very scheming way to get Allison to pass. It was like a game, whenever Lydia would ask Allison a question, if the brunette were to get the question right she'd receive a kiss on the lips. It sounds great, but if Allison were to get the answer wrong Lydia would revoke kissing privileges for a few hours. Allison really loved kissing Lydia, but she hated getting answers wrong.
They all got along swimmingly. Kind of like a family. Faith and Buffy were like the parents, Dawn was the wacky older sister and Willow was the cool aunt to Allison and Lydia.
They even had special living arrangements, so Lydia and Allison could stay for the duration of their summer vacation. Faith and Buffy slept in the master bedroom, Willow was in Buffy's old room, Dawn still had her room and Allison and Lydia slept in the basement that they turned into a little apartment area. This brings us to the present. Well, sort of.
Lydia was having one of those prophetic type dreams again. They weren't as bad as the ones Peter put into her head, but she still found them weird. Like the one she is having now.
It's that woman again. She is tall statuesque, with long dark flowing hair, a beautiful round face and dark blue eyes. She is wearing a dark flowing dress that opens up at her thighs. The way that she moves is god like in nature. Lydia always wonders how this woman found her.
"My dear Lydia, you are apart of me. Find me and you will get all the answers that you seek." She says in a velvety voice. Most people would find it lovely, but Lydia finds it annoying.
"I'm trying, okay! I have read every book in this damn house a thousand times. There is no one in any of the books with your description." Lydia spits angrily. She doesn't mean to sound angry, but she doesn't understand what this lady is getting at.
"Child, I am older than those Latin based books. No one would have record of me unless they originated from Greece, but you do. It's all up here." The woman reaches out graciously a pale hand pointing to Lydia's head.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean? I don't know you. You haven't even properly introduced yourself." Lydia fumes losing patience with this goddess lady.
"Lydia. Do you know where it is that you originated?" She asks
"Um… From my parents?" Lydia doesn't understand this woman's question at all.
"Oh, there is much for you to learn." The woman laughs lightly.
"About what?" Lydia asks
"Yourself, child. There is a reason you have a slayer bound to you and a reason why you are in Sunnydale. I'll give you a hint, ask the witch of the light upstairs for guidance and her inner darkness will lead you to your roots." The woman says ceremoniously before simply popping out.
"Great. What the hell does that mean?" Lydia says standing in the marble covered room that they were both in.
Lydia tries to think, but dream thinking is harder to control than conscious thinking. When people are awake it's like their thoughts are bits and pieces thrown around slowly in order to be controlled, but in a dream like state it's fair game for thoughts to roam free.
Which is why this one jerks Lydia awake. The scenes unfold in slow motion. Willow with dark eyes and jet black hair flaying a guy alive, then Willow stealing some warlock's power. She sees more, but it's all so fast Lydia jerks herself out of her place of rest next to Allison.
She doesn't even care that she is now laying on the cold hard grown with a headache from hell.
"Willow!" She screams shaking. Her shriek causes Allison to get out of bed with a protective stance, knife in hand ready to hurt anyone that dares lay a hand on her girlfriend.
"Oh my god, Lyds. What happened?" Allison's stance falters as she drops her knife on the floor and kneels to cradle Lydia's still shaking form.
"What the hell is going on?!" Faith yells coming down the stairs, a still half asleep, Buffy, Dawn and Willow bounding down the stairs after her. Looking for trouble, but seeing none; their focus turns to the two girls on the floor. Lydia shaking hysterically and Allison cradling her head murmuring reassurances into her ears.
The room is silent, except Lydia's sharp breaths and Allison's murmured words. Then Allison finds a moment to speak. "Willow." Her voice monotone. "She screamed your name in fear, Willow." Allison looking into Willow's green eyes, horror forming in the younger girl's dark ones.
A few hours passed, the group found themselves in the living room sitting on chairs and the couch like their first meeting. Only this time they found themselves restless from lack of sleep, concern adorning their faces waiting for someone to speak.
"Lydia, do you remember anything about your nightmare?" Buffy staring across the room at Lydia's tired form.
"I-I, I keep having these dreams." Her features turning pale starting her revelation. She didn't want to tell anyone about the dreams until she found more answers, but she supposes that won't be happening now. She feels a comforting hand in hers and looks up to find Allison's encouraging expression, letting her know that everything would be okay.
Lydia delves into the retelling of her dream with the annoying goddess like stranger. The room's faces change from concern, to intrigue, to understanding throughout Lydia's story.
"I apologize if my past has made you weary of me, Lydia." The older ginger speaks. "I will try my best to help you. I think I know what that woman is talking about." Willow finishes.
Everyone turns to the witch asking eyes her to continue and spare the suspense.
"I felt something calling out to me, when I was trying to raise the chapel during my "Dark Willow" period on Kingman's Bluff. Lydia, have you ever heard of a Pantheon?" Willow asks tension building in her voice.
"You mean like the Greek Gods and Goddesses?" Lydia asks giving Willow a quizzical look. "You mean I'm a-"
"A full blood Earth goddess. Your parallel is that of one that Zeus named Nox." Willow says breathlessly.
"It all makes sense, the immunity from "the bite", raising Peter from the dead; but with limited powers. Sensing the energy of this town and closing the hellmouth for good. I am the supernatural justice system." Lydia finishes, her eyes wide from newborn common knowledge.
"So, she is the earth version of the powers that be?" Dawn asks excitedly.
Willow nods quietly answering her question.
"So, you are both saying that it was fated for Allison to be called and that the light from Lydia's hand closed the hellmouth forever?" Buffy asks not looking convinced.
A new voice chimes in to answer her, "Yes, slayer. Lydia and Allison are meant for far greater things than fighting the darkness. They are old souls fated to restore balanced order to this crumbling world." the new comer's voice light and velvety.
"Excuse me. Who the hell are you?" Faith asks standing in a defensive stance.
"My dearest apologies. I am-" The voice is interrupted by Lydia's quiet answer.
"Nox." She says with awe. Her face looking slightly annoyed.