TWICE CHOSEN
RogueAngel82
London
Watchers Council headquarters
A dark shadowy massive mansion stood amongst a wood of willowy trees. White pillars lined the porch, covered in twisting vines. Long windows shone with light from deep inside the ethereal looking building. By one of the windows sat a woman, her head slanted to the screen of her laptop on the desk in front of her, as the candles beside it caused her red hair to shine like fire.
She stood, her simple white dress swishing around her legs. She crossed her room, pausing at the edge of her fireplace. Watching the flickering flames, she wondered what had caused the uneasily feeling inside. That was wWhen she felt a slice go straight through her, straight through to the centre of the earth.
Doubling over she cried out, as she stumblinged forward falling into her bedside table. Something made of glass shattered, as the wooden dresser tilted.
"Oh Goddess," she whispered, falling to her floor. Her last conscious thought before she gave into the darkness was that somewhere, a Hellmouth had just opened.
#SC#
London
Centre of the supernatural
"Conformation just in," A computer tech officer stated, fingers flying across his keyboard. "A Hhellmouth is opening right now!"
"Where!" Demanded is superior, crossing to the techs side.
"America! A city called Reefside."
#SC#
Reefside
Residents of the city were shaken badly when an earthquake shudderedshook the ground. People –both good and bad- hid for safely as the ground groaned beneath them.
#SC#
London
"Red?"
"Huh?" The voice drifted into Willows subconscious mind. Slowly she opened her eyes, frowning at broken vase that lay shattered in front of her. Shouldn't that be one her bedside table? She wondered.
"Red!" The voice demanded.
Oh yeah, she remembered. She rolled over to look up at the concerned but slightly annoyed slayers face.
"I'm fine Faith." Willow assured, climbing to her feet. She set about brushing off her white dress when the details came flying back. "A Hellmouth! A Hellmouth just opened!"
"We know Red,Red; conformation just can in thanks to the good people at the supernatural centre. Reefside's still shakin'." Faith surveyed her for a moment, "You felt it open didn't you."
Willow nodded taking a long gulp of water for a near by glass. As one of the most powerful magic user on the planet, Willow commanded a vast supply of abilities. Sensing the weakening barriers between worlds was one of them.
"What it feel like?" Faith wanted to know.
"Like someone was slicing me open," Willow said blandly, "Slicing the earth open."
"The New York school will most likely send someone," Faith said shrugging as she changed the subject.
"You miss the action," Willow stated, glazing steadily at the dark haired slayer. At twenty-nine, Faith hardly looked it. Willow had been somewhat surprised, as had everyone else. When they found out the woman had been much younger than Buffy and her friends had thought her.
"Faith you don't have to be here," Willow stated with an understanding look, "If you want to go you can. Go help Kimberly."
"Hart?" Faith exclaimed, "She doesn't need my help. She's too much like B."
"Buffy? You mean short, valley girl that loves to shop and can kick your ass three ways from Sunday?" Willow smile, "Yeah she's like Buffy, but in other ways too. She's pissing off the council. Some feel she has totoo much power, they don't like her having so much control over the slayers."
"We thought we were making things better when we remade the council, but it turned out just as bad as it was." Faith said softly, referring to the old council that had been destroyed in an attack by the First. "What do you think they'll do?"
"Find a way to get her, out of the way."
#SC#
Flashback
"You use your gymnastics in fighting, it gives you an advantage…in some situations…. but we are going to teach you not to rely on it." Giles voice came to her from above her as he strolled the walkways just above her head.
"How?" she questioned, not turning her head to look at him. She already knew where he was.
"Various forms of fighting have been combined over the ages to form the basic slayer fighting style. This will be your stepping stone, your template to learning others."
"Karate?"
"Among others."
"Show her,"
Turning her head, Kim looked towards the other person in the training area with her. Standing as if you hadn'tnded a care in the world was Buffy Summers. Her blond hair pulled up in a ponytail, dress in jeans and a tee. She didn't at all look like was ready to fight.
Buffy was moving before Kim even had time to blink. One second she was stand there, the next she was right in front of her swinging.
Leaping in to a backwards handspring to avoid the attack, she regained her fooeeting only to be to meet with a powerful kick to the stomach thaten. kKnocked backwards, she was laid outfall to on the floor gasping for air.
"You instincts are good," Buffy commented stepping forward, "Speed Ok. But the style is off. Don't focus on fancy back flips so much, they'll help you out in a pinch. But Don't in the end what it comes down to is, whether if you can throw a punch or if you can block one."
"Fine!" Kimberly said from the floor directing her statement to both Buffy and Giles, "Teach me how to fight then."
End Flashback
"You're sending me to Reefside?"
"A Hhellmouth just opened there Miss Hart," Mr. Reid replied leaning back in his leather office chair.
"There's another one in Cleveland you never sent me there!"
Reid seemed to ignore the last comment, instead choosing to gloat silently.
"You've been searching for a way to get me out of your hair for years now," Kimberly stated, "What did you tell the council?"
"Jut that this new Hellmouth needs a formidable warrior, and then I recommend you. Most agreed on sending you, but those who didn't…well you're Kimberly Hart, who bestter to guard a Hellmouth then you?"
Furious was understatement to how Kimberly felt right now, she was far worse then furious; she was pissed off. He'd played her abilities and people's views of her against her. She flumed on the inside, before worrying about what would happen to the girls she was training,. bBut there was a Hellmouth that had just opened…in a city full of innocents.
"I will do my duty," was all she said before turning and leaving the room.
#SC#
Flashback
She gazed down at the letter that would change the world for her. Biting hard on her lower lip in order to keep the tears from flowing again. She flipped the envelope over again and again, noticing nothing special about the white stationary. She'd address the letter to the Youth Centre rather than Tommy's home. Hopeful that he would open it in front of the others.
Hopeful that they to would stay away. Feeling sick to her stomach, she lifted the letter the post box. Pausing for a second, before taking a deep breath for courage, she pushed it though the slot into the darkness.
End Flashback
Kimberly shoved the last of her stuff in the back of her car before climbing into the driver seat. She was surprised to hear the passenger door open. Turning she watched Jordan climb into the car.
"Hey," she greeted casually.
"What do you think your doing?" Kim asked
"Goin' with you," Jordan replied, her aqua eyes widely innocent, "What? It's not like they own me. 'Sides you're my watcher. I'm supposed to go where you go… So let's get this freak show on the road!"