By Sword and by Claw
Chapter Five
Buffy, despite being a ghost, suddenly felt weak, as if something was very wrong. 'What… What's happening?'
Jaga got a far away look in his eye. 'Your body has all but died. There is no more time and so much you don't know.'
'Right now I just need one thing. How to make this sword work.' She told him.
He nodded, 'We will talk again. We must, but later. The Sword reacts to your will dear one. To use it one must be one with it.'
Buffy rolled her eyes. 'That rates a big fat goose egg on the usefulness scale. How can I become one with it if I can't touch it.' Swaying slightly she collapsed on the floor of the library. It was becoming harder to breath, harder to focus. Quite a feat when she didn't have lungs or really any eyes.
'You don't have to hold anything, just listen. Feel the magic, hear the roar.' He told her.
Closing her, not really there, eyes Buffy tried. As she did she could feel herself falling, knowing that if she let go this fall would be her last. Holding on desperately for a chance she remembered finding the Sword.
It was dark, night. She was being hunted by vampires. So many vampires. There was no way she could fight them all at once. Not with just a single stake and her winning personality. She needed something more, Something to give her a fighting chance. A flame-thrower would have been nice. Then up in the distance, something was waiting. She knew it was waiting for her.
Like flipping a switch Buffy suddenly didn't stumble or trip. The dark forest, only lit by the cloudy moon and distant streetlights was now as clear as day in her mind. As if she knew every rock, leaf and fallen branch by it's first name.
She leapt over a log before swinging under a branch like it wasn't there. Opening up the gap between her and the horde of vampires Buffy turned and headed for the cave. If you didn't know where it was you weren't likely to ever find it. The was no path, not even a animal trail. As if they respected what was there too much. Bursting through the overgrown entrance Buffy ducked and rolled into the cave. Throwing the dead branches off her she half ran, half crawled deeper inside. Three blind turns later she saw a deep red light calling her. This far underground the air was still, but somehow fresh and clean.
The walls were tiled, showing a history of wars between monsters and animals. It looked like a fairy tale, something she almost recognised. As if she heard it in a previous life. All the stories seemed to start at the same point. A pillar in the middle of the cave. Growing out of the pillar was what looked like a stone tree, it's branches reaching up into the ceiling and holding it there.
In the lower, shorter, branches there was something that caught her eye. Instantly she knew what it was, the centrepiece of the whole thing and of each of the stories. The Sword of Omens and in it's hilt the source of the light in the room. The eye of Thundera.
As it glowed brighter the murals on the walls began to move. Panels and tiles sliding over and through one another, changing shape and re-enacting ancient battles. As they did Buffy stood up. Not only in the cave, but in the library of Sunnydale High at the same time. She could smell the books, the sent of Giles's left over tea. She could hear the laugher and the banter she and the others always had. At the same time she was in that cave, the sound of swords clashing, of animals roaring from the history around her The only thing not lost in that strange double vision. The Sword.
For the first time it was awake. Fully and looking at her. Buffy, Vampire Slayer, knew that she was more than just that. She was something much more important. From out of the walls came six shadows. All as real as Jaga who was standing next to her.
Two of them were almost identical, with pale blond fur and brown hair. One was a girl with a round pipe on her belt and the boy had a load of pouches across his chest. Buffy couldn't begin to guess how old they were, they looked fully grown but there was something child like about them. They has a cunning intelligence dancing behind easy smiles. The next shadow was huge, a dark purple in colour and made of muscle and scars. Buffy could almost feel his powerful strength fill the room. Then there was the woman, tall and thin with long beautiful blonde hair that Buffy was naturally very jealous of. She had a sense of speed and precision, like an arrow notched in a bow string. The one next to her was orange, with strong black stripes. Wearing full body armour he had the sort of handsome, arrogant, grin that only the really confidant and charming could getaway with.
Last was the lion. He stood tall and proud, Buffy almost instinctually knew he was the leader and no matter the hight all the others looked up to him. Where he lead they would follow and if he asked so would she. Wordlessly he nodded to her, accepting her and somehow even permitting her to do what was needed.
She knew what to do. Feel the magic, hear the roar. Taking a step forward her non-existent heart leapt into her non-existent mouth. 'Thunder.' Buffy forced herself to say.
The histories on the cave walls stopped and turned to face her. Another step forward. 'Thunder.' It was easier to say this time. Somewhere off in the distance, beyond the ever changing surroundings she felt something flinch. As if a great fathomless evil had heard her.
'Thunder.' She called out again and the library stacks shook with a rumble of power. Suddenly it was as if she was being pushed back. The evil she felt reacting to her cry, trying to stop her. Push her back, pull her down into the depths of after death. There was no way she could fight that force. Not alone.
She wasn't. The seven shadows joined hands and then, through Jaga at her side touched her shoulder. 'Thunder!' Buffy cried out in defiance of them and the evil was thrown back. Like the air after a storm everything stopped, as if everything, existence itself, held it's breath. Waiting for what came next.
Buffy had, in that moment, the weight of destiny, the combined strength of all the Thundercats that there had ever been, and there was only one thing she could possibly do with that power. Touching the Eye of Thundera she screamed to the heavens 'Thundercats Ho!'
Willow grabbed Oz's arm tightly. 'Oh no, please no.' she whispered. Buffy couldn't be dead. She just couldn't. 'No.' Willow held on even tighter.
'It's okay.' her boyfriend said back. They watched as Giles half carried Buffy's mother out of the room and to a chair. Willow looked to Xander and Wesley who looked back. Before anyone could say anything Giles spun and lifted the Doctor clear off the ground.
Willow didn't think anyone short of a Slayer could do that, but Giles was really angry. 'Who?' he asked.
'Wasn't me…' the doctor gasped. 'The Administrator, I tried to stop them but…'
While holding the struggling Doctor Giles turned to the nurse that was still on the floor. 'I should have known.' Dropping the man the former Watcher pulled out a hanky and started rolling it over his knuckles. 'Who?' he asked the cowering nurse.
Willow knew Giles could be scary. She knew he'd been a bit of a rebel in his youth, but this was actually terrifying. 'I'd answer him.' Xander prompted. 'He is not a happy man, and if he doesn't beat it out of you I will.'
'I don't…' The nurse began and Giles cracked his knuckles. 'It wasn't me. You don't know what they'll do. What they can do!'
'It was the Mayor, wasn't it?' Giles said in that creepy quite voice he was using, emphasised with another crack.
'The Mayor?' the Doctor asked. 'What are you talking about?'
'Richard Wilkins the Third. He arranged it, the assassination attempt and… this.' Angel growled, his face blank with rage.
Willow held on to her boyfriend tightly, it was like the world under her feet was spinning. 'Why?' asks Buffy's mom, her voice breaking. 'Why would he kill my little girl?'
'Because we were trying to stop him.' Wesley admitted guiltily. 'Mayor Wilkins is a Warlock, an evil spellcaster, who plans to become a demon in only a few days. If he succeeds the result will be disastrous.'
'This is crazy.' The doctor shook his head as he got to his feet. 'Demons, warlocks magic? I don't believe you.'
'I am monumentally unconcerned about what you do and don't believe, doctor' Giles said quietly. 'Angel, Xander. Would you both be so kind as to bring me the hospital administrator.'
Angel nodded and headed down the corridor. 'In how many pieces? Xander asked.
'As long as he can still speak I don't really care.'
'Hey Deadboy, wait up.'
Willow watched the boys walk away. 'Giles, what do we do?' She asked him.
'There's nothing we can do.' Wesley answered. 'With Faith by his side we can't stop him. All we can do is warn the Council.'
'What's this Council going to do? Call the police?' The doctor asked sarcastically.
Giles glared at him. 'Wilkins owns the police, he has people everywhere. The Council is in England. The only thing they can do read what happened in the newspapers.'
'Mr Giles is correct
Willow looked at the pair of englishmen and she knew what they weren't saying. They'd failed. With Buffy dead the world didn't stand a chance. Not against what the Mayor was going to become. It would be like Godzilla, nothing could stop him. Not now. They'd lost.
Willow took the moment to faint.
She was speed, every fibre of her being was speed. She was alive in movement. The ground beneath her was a blur as she ran. She was a dark blur, a guided missile down the streets of Sunnydale.
While she barely felt the blacktop at her feet she left a divot. Each paw print and explosion that tore up the road. Windows shattered, car alarms screamed and fire hydrants erupted. Her long tail acting like a rudder in the air, letting her turn sharply. Her night-black whiskers twitching, telling her in a thousand different ways the right direction to go.
Buffy had never felt anything like it, but before she could stop she had one last errand to run.
Faith looked out of her window and over Sunny-hell. Buffy was dead, her boss was going to see to that and then he'd be ready. A hundred years ago, hell more really, of planning and preparation all lead up to this. Deals with more demons than Faith could count, Princes of hell, devils and dark gods who's names she couldn't pronounce.
Giles probably could. So could Red. The Mayor would probably tell her to kill them next. It wouldn't be hard, she'd even enjoy killing Wesley, but what then. Buffy was gone, the Mayor was going to rule most of the world before to long?
What would she do then? Faith had a horrible feeling she'd feel guilty. Guilty for killing Buffy, guilty for ending the world. Why? What had the world done for her? A mother that probably still hadn't noticed she wasn't there and a father that had left so quickly Faith wasn't sure she ever met him. She'd had friends before, Of course all friends did was betray you and laugh at you behind your back. She'd had boyfriends who'd dumped her, cheated on her or just left.
What was the point in saving a world that took everything from her? Why should she feel guilt for taking something back. Faith scowled at the city and her own reflection. 'Should all just go to hell.' she hissed. That was when she saw it.
Whatever it was it left a trail of destruction behind. Lights showering sparks and cars thrown about like leaves. Grabbing her knife Faith opened the door and stepped out onto the balcony. Zipping this way and that down roads and back streets, whatever it was had to be coming for her.
Well whoever or whatever it was a nice bit of mindless violence was just what she needed. Dropping into a classic stance the Dark Slayer didn't have to wait long. The whatever bounded down the street and in a bounding leap cleared the road and landed on the building's edge. Before she could react the creature leapt again, straight at her. Front paws throwing her backwards, the last thing Faith saw of it was two piercing green eyes looking deep into her own.
Time stopped, everything stopped, and then it wasn't some hell beast in front of her. It was Buffy. 'I'm sorry Faith.'
Faith was half way in the air, frozen, but while she couldn't move she could still see and feel everything. She could even speak. 'How…'
'It's a long story. I might tell you someday. Let's just say were more like sisters than either of us ever knew, and I'm sorry. I should have been there for you. I should have stopped you, but I couldn't.
'What I am… What I did was my choice.' Faith sneered back. The last thing she wanted was pity. Least of all from little miss perfect.
'Yes. It was, but I still should have helped you see what that was, but I was just as blind.' Buffy sounded sad, determined and resigned at the same time. Faith felt a chill. 'See you soon, Sister.' With that she was gone.
Time started again as Faith was sent through the glass. It shattered like raindrops, her knife clattering off to one side and all Faith could do was lie there staring at the roof.
She didn't even notice she was crying until the sun rose.
Giles, for the first time in a long time held on to his rage. He let it burn, because that was all he could do. His Slayer was dead, the world was on the brink of disaster and hope was gone.
All he had left in the few short hours remaining was vengeance. To take his pound of flesh from any and everyone responsible for what had happened. It was pointless, immature even in some ways wrong, from a moral standpoint at least, but he was long past caring.
Willow had collapsed and between them Wesley and Oz carried her out to the reception area where she could be looked after. The doctor went with them. That just left him and Joyce to wait for the Vampire and Xander to return.
Giles had first hand experience of just what Angel, or Angelus, was capable of in ways of torture and inflicting pain. For the first time in his life Giles not only welcomed it but was sure he would enjoy watching the Master Vampire work.
'Is this what she wanted?' Joyce asked quietly. 'You, like this?'
'Don't be…' He bit his tongue, holding off the sarcastic remark. Slowly he tried to reign in his anger and knelt next to Buffy's mother. 'No.' he said, voice cracking with emotion. 'But it doesn't matter anymore Joyce. I'm not sure anything does. After graduation tomorrow everything's going to change and without Buffy to stop it that change is going to be for the worse.'
'It changed today, Mr Giles.' Joyce managed to say before crying helplessly. He could only nod back and pull her into an awkward hug. After a moment he looked up to see the Administrator being dragged down the hall by Angel.
Just as he began to stand up everything exploded. It was like being in a sudden tornado. Neon lights above them exploded, the ground shook and tiles leapt off the walls. Instinctively Giles coved Joyce's head and held on.
It was as if the whole building suddenly hiccupped. A quickly as it had stared it stopped. Breathing heavily he pulled back and looked around. Both Xander and Angel had dived into door frames and were looking at one another dumbfounded. further down the debris strewn corridor Wesley, Oz and a shaky Willow stepped into view. Then Joyce gasped.
Giles spun to see Buffy standing at the door to her room. Still dressed in the hospital gown, her hair was wild and left arm encased in the strange gold sheath she had found. She looked down at him and her now kneeling mother and smirked. 'Well, that was fun.'
End Chapter Five