She/Remove
by Rob Morris
SUNNYDALE, MAY, 2002
The Witch who wanted to end the world had fallen at last, to the one that, in some ways, she loved best of all, and in his arms, she was nothing. She could barely even breathe. Her heart was forever gone, and her heart was holding her, never to let her go.
"Easy, Will. It's over."
She was gurgling incoherently, and she was so massively vulnerable on so many levels, he feared she might become gas in his arms and disperse.
"Wait. What are you doing?"
She didn't hear him mumble that, thankfully. He saw something-a shadow? Xander didn't get visions, but he was having one now. A sword was coming for Willow's neck. No, not a sword-just someone who may as well have been a sword.
"I'm here, Will. I'm here."
At the Magic Box, Anya helped Giles sit up against a wall while she questioned him further about the world's continued existence.
"I'll find some Advil. But did your coven's magic save the world or did Xander? And don't just tell me both. It's never so fifty-fifty."
Giles tried to remain conscious for his own sake.
"There was-a third factor involved. One I am not at liberty to discuss, I fear. But Xander played the larger of the two main roles."
Anya got him the blessed cold water, some for his head, some for his mouth. She nodded as he drank it down.
"Does this have to do with Xander being a magic capacitor?"
If Giles hadn't needed every last drop of water, he'd have surely done a spit-take at that.
"What-do you mean?"
"Well, I mean, even our dear friend Willow saw it. He's a demon-magnet. I was among the first vengeance demons to hit this town in a long while, because of a wish caused by him. He was the only really close friend of Buffy's Angelus targeted. The funny syphilis hits him, he gets in the
way of the Slayer-splitter spell, that South American girl falls for him-then falls apart for him. Mantis-woman goes after him, when you know that he and the jock can't have been the only virgins, cause guys lie. Olaf said he mounted me at our first dance when all that happened..."
"Anya."
"Yeah, well, my point is, its kinda obvious to someone who's been in the business that he pulls magic towards him. Even his first tartly encounter was Dark Slayer-girl. You know-I'll bet it was Faith who laid the seeds that soured him on romance? I should fig a way to transport her to a mens' prison while in the shower."
Giles shook his head.
"Doubtless, she'd enjoy it."
Giles felt awkward. He'd meant by that statement that Faith would enjoy the opportunity to fight and pick her partners, not being assaulted. But he welcomed the opportunity to draw Anya away from the truth she was nearer to than she realized.
The Slayer emerged from the gaping hole in the Earth, and she felt sick as she did. The battle was over, but her blood was still pumping. This was not a good sign.
"Dawn-if I ask you to, will you go home and order some pizzas?"
Dawn gulped.
"You think you'll still have to...ya know?"
"I don't know. I won't order you to go. But I will ask."
"I don't wanna see it, if you do have to. But what if she's at home?"
"No. I know where she is."
Perhaps since it was a request and not an order, Dawn acquiesced. Besides, if things went a certain way, she couldn't bear seeing Willow the way she found Tara.
The fight within Buffy's mind had already begun. Devoted if angry friend fought with the primal force of the Slayer.
*She is my friend.*
**Remove Her. She Is A Threat.**
*She was grieving. None of us are without sin in this burg.*
**Her grief and rage has nearly consumed you all, and more than once.**
*She is my friend.*
**Remove Her. She Is A Threat.**
*There's been enough death. Enough killing.*
**Think clearly. Was The Master to be spared? Did love spare Angelus? The Snake? Where is Ben? Do you think they let him live, so that Glory could rise again? Your path is made.**
*She is my friend.*
**Remove Her. She Is A Threat.**
*She had a bad time. It's been that way, all around.*
**All around. Yet only one makes all the others suffer for that.**
*She is my friend.*
**Remove Her. She Is A Threat.**
*That's too narrow a view. Part of the reason she got this way was saving and reviving our butts so often. She is a hero.*
**Heroes may become corrupt. If she is a true hero, she will accept that her time is done and that she is of no more use.**
*She is my friend.*
**Remove Her. She Is A Threat.**
Buffy saw the hillside. She could hear the open sobbing. She felt the sword in her hand. She kept walking towards them.
*You're making me do this.*
**The blood makes you do this. You may not refuse. It is your gift. Only the blood may stop the blood.**
*She is my friend!*
**REMOVE HER. SHE-IS A THREAAAAATT!.**
Over the rise she came, and Xander saw her. The mantra repeated one last time.
*She is my friend.*
**Remove Her. She Is A Threat.**
But now, a third voice added in. Though as yet unknown, it was the blood that stopped the blood.
***I will protect her. I will stop you.***
Buffy looked in the eyes of the man born next to her.
"Dawn's ordering pizzas. Get her back to my house, when you can. We'll compare and sort when we're not all falling apart."
The ball in Xander's arms tried to speak.
"Buf-sor. Sooo-sor. Din't mean-Din't-"
Buffy did not embrace her.
"Later."
And there would be a very, very harsh later. But for now, there were wounds to bind, and a loved one to bury. As she walked away, an image of the original Slayer confronted her. It spoke in her own voice, slightly twisted.
**Remove Her. She Is A Threat.**
Buffy rolled her eyes, then pointed past the image.
"Look! Its Fred and Barney!"
And when the primal force looked back again, Buffy had removed herself.