The au visited by The Protectors and Faith, one week after their visit and the revelations of au Grandma.
Giles had called the Scoobies to meet in the library. He was fairly sure what he had to say would not go over well, especially with Buffy and Willow.
"So Giles, what's the what? We haven't seen much of you this week."
"That's because I have been in consultations all week, Buffy."
"Consultations with who?"
"I spoke with the Chief of the Chumash People, Shawn Michaels. He confirmed that Xander's grandmother was a seer. Also, she felt Xander had a large, naturally occurring mystical potential. She intended to teach him herself. Unfortunately, she died before she could."
"So my grandmother knew about vampires and demons and such?"
"Yes, she did. He also confirmed Cordelia's potential as well. Her grandfather was a member of the Tribe as well, before his death."
"I have also consulted with the Beljoxas eye, the Oracles of the Powers and the Loa, as well as the Spirit Guides."
"Who are they and why are you talking with them, Giles?" Buffy asked, confused.
"To confirm or deny the revelations of Xander's alternate reality grandmother."
"Giles, why would you do that? Obviously she's off her rocker."
"Nice, Buffy, insulting my grandmother." Xander said sourly.
"Well you know what I mean, Xander. Saying Angel was a coward and mean things about us. Like Willow would ever use Magic to make you cheat or that we would destroy Magic. It's ridiculous."
"Not according to any source I consulted Buffy. Every one of the them, all of whom cannot lie, confirmed, you will destroy Magic, unless you change the path you're on. They also confirmed, having two Slayers damages the essence of the Slayer. Having more could potentially destroy it completely. And Faith is the True Slayer, the only one with the capacity to pass on the essence after death."
"Is this a joke, Giles? Because it's not funny." Buffy said angrily.
"No, it is most definitely not a joke, Buffy. Which is why I propose doing the tests she recommended. The diagnostic on Willow. The past life regression on Angel. And confirmation of Xander and Cordelia's mystical potential."
"I don't see why we should do any of those things. What will it prove?"
"Whether or not everything else she said was correct, Buffy."
"Well I say we don't need to do any of them."
"And since when do you get to decide anything, for any of us, Buffy?" Xander asked. "My life, my choice. Seems to me you and Willow have forgotten that fact."
"Xander, don't be like that, we just want what's best for you, that all." Willow said.
"And now I'm asking, what gives you the right to decide what's best for me? Being a Slayer gives Buffy no rights, privileges or authority over anyone. Her authority begins and ends with how to kill vampires and demons. You don't even have that much authority, Willow. Look me in the eye and tell me you didn't use Magic on me against my will."
Willow avoided eye contact.
"I thought so. I've been real confused, Willow. Trying to understand, how I could go from seeing you as a sister to kissing you, especially considering, I'm not attracted to you. I also remember several times when I decided, I was going to discuss it with you and then just not. You used other spells too, didn't you?"
"It was for your own good, Xander. You were never going to be happy with her!"
"Except, I was happy, Willow. Happier than I ever thought possible. And you took that from me. From both me and Cordy. I don't know if I can ever forgive you. Giles, do the test you need to on me."
"Me too, Giles." Cordelia said. "And make it snappy, Xander and I need to talk."
"You can do the past life regression test on me too, Giles." Angel said. "I want to know where the soul was."
"Angel, it's unnecessary!"
"Yes, it is, Buffy, for me it is."
"Fine, whatever."
It didn't take long for Giles to do the necessary tests, each of which confirmed Xander and Cordelia's potential. The past life regression test proved something else. The soul had also been reincarnated when the Kalderash cursed Angel originally. Two people had to die make the curse work.
Willow was horrified at the knowledge she'd inadvertently killed an unborn child in her quest to help Buffy. She agreed to the diagnostic on herself. What Giles found scared her more than anything else, yet revealed. She'd had no mystical potential of her own. She really had traded a piece of her soul for power. It was permanently lost. And the core of Magic she now had? Demonic in nature.
Giles immediately informed her she would need cleansing rituals to clean the demonic taint from herself. And she would never be able to do Magic without risking further damage to herself.
"Angel, did Xander follow you down into the Master's lair?" Buffy asked.
"No, we went down together and he did CPR on you. I didn't know how."
"And were you too afraid to help me?"
"Yes."
Xander and Cordelia left to talk, while Willow and Giles discussed the cleansing rituals she would need. Buffy and Angel sat in the courtyard in an uncomfortable silence. Buffy's assumptions regarding her rescue in the Master lair had been something she'd never questioned. Now she didn't know what to think.