CH 30: Pips from Fern Gully

Protector of Man: A Dawn and Xander Special

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"You're welcome, just let me breathe!"

Xander laughed as Dawn let go and started bouncing around at his side. She'd had an idea months ago that he agreed to try out if she could pull off the costumes. She shocked him rather badly with how much detail she'd put into them. Classics from one of their favorite videogames (she got so many brownie points for sharing with him) that had been adapted from the original. The castle now looked more like a heavily armored knight and he loved the color scheme she came up with, whites and grays and gold that looked regal. Her own was nothing to sneeze at, an original work of her own, kind of a precursor to his. They'd be great at trick-or-treat.

They just needed a few batteries and such from the costume shop while Willow and Buffy perused for their own looks.

"Yes?"

"Hi Mrs. S."

"Xander? My goodness!"

"Dawnie does good work, doesn't she?"

As predicted a delight squeak came from upstairs and he was quickly engulfed in a Dawnie-hug, version 3.1, appreciation with a side helping of you-rock. He liked those hugs. They both felt rather smug when Buffy tripped over her skirts coming downstairs in shock.

Willow ran towards Xander and Dawn only to cry out in shock as they faded away, leaving two glowing orbs on the ground.

"Whatcha gonna do, eh? It's you, verses me and the little rugrats. Where's the bratty sister, or the whelp? All alone and the Slayer is about to be a mousy little meal for me."

Spike cut off his gloating at his grand-sire as a glowing orb suddenly appeared before the frightened woman that wore the body of the Slayer. Before she could think her actions through she reached out and grabbed it.

Immediately a glow suffused the room as a voice full of power boomed.

"Evil stands no chance, run while you can."

The figure that materialized was the Slayer's sister, but not. Dressed in armor that looked like a cross between Joan of Arc and a Valkyrie the glowing woman pulled a sword free that started to glow with runes.

Spike, for the first time that night, did the smart thing and dropped the Slayer, running as the backlash of magic washed through the area, causing another orb a small distance away to suddenly reform into a human being.

The years after Halloween had been good, even with the hardships. When things really got down, they had each other. Not in the romantic sense, but brother-and-sister, closer than even Buffy had been. After the others were gone they'd stayed for a while, watching from the background before moving on.

-Well, might as well go there, yes?-

-A version anyway. Could be fun.-

-Which one are you claiming?-

-What do you think?-

_You always had a thing for guys with dark hair.-

-Hey!-

-Nothing wrong with that.-

The presence brushed out, 'hugging' the other with affection that made her laugh.

-Well, I guess the same could be said of you and blondes.-

-Ouch, right to the core.-

Laughing they took a closer look at their soon-to-be charges and without having to say a word flipped their choices. Looks were one thing, attitudes were another and they just fit.

-Ladies first.-

-Such a gentleman.-

Zack eyed the army in front of him, feeling hopelessness trying to claw at him. He ahd to fight, he had to keep Cloud safe.

Suddenly the army shifted, seeming to focus on where he'd hidden Cloud. Without letting the soldiers leave his sight he twisted to see a summons material appear and plant itself firmly in Cloud's hand. He was shocked when his voice, faint and rough, called the Summon forth.

A warrior stepped out from the glow, planting herself firmly in front of the downed SOLDIER cadet with a knowing smirk on her face.

"I bring new light to lost heroes. I am Eos, Dawn Bringer, and you will not win."

Grinning she looked directly at Zack. He felt something lighten and some of his lost strength flowing back. For a moment he thought he felt the hand of his old teacher and mentor on his shoulder, urging him not to give up.

Eos smiled at him and winked.

A second light lit the area, floating directly in front of Zack.

The army tried to organize and fire at the SOLDIER, but the first Summon was holding them off with shots from a golden bow, making the guns useless as they melted on contact. She grinned wider as her voice filled the area again.

"Behold, Alexander, Protector of Man and Lost Heroes."

Zack grabbed on to the materia before he could think, pulling at with his will and shocked when it seemed to leap out, restoring him rather than draining. He could have sworn he heard a laugh as a castle materialized on the field as Eos vanished, crying out one last thing that had the army soldiers shivering.

"The White Knight Rides again!"

The gates fell, a horse neighed, and a shining White Knight rode from the castle with a battle cry that had the army fleeing for their lives before the might that had once been Alexander LaVelle Harris, Scooby, White Knight, One Who Sees and Protector of Man.