A Gunslinger's Glory
By: Bubbajack
Co-Authors/Editors: Icysnowsage, First Hasan/Dark Lord 331
Special Consultant: Heliosion
Obligatory First Chapter Disclaimer: We DO NOT own Ah My Goddess, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Delicious in Dungeon, Grenadier, Gate: Thus the JSDF Fought There, Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, Lazy Dungeon Master, Overlord, RWBY, Taimanin, My Senpai is Annoying, My Tiny Senpai, or Spy x Family.
Special thanks go out to my Super Donors: Alexander Murry, Apostle_of_Darkness, Ben wanless, Bobby Glass, CrazymanDK, GAMER HERZ, and Jareth Norris. And to all my other patrons as well.
Ch.1.1: Gunsmoke and Goddesses.
The Gunslinger walked up a sand dune, the hot wind at his back and blowing granules of sand through his hair as he crested the hill. Over yonder, in the distance, shining on the horizon like a haze made mirage, was the Tower, always the Tower. Looming and pointing up at the sky the charred skeletal finger of some dead god, it stood tall, imposing, and ever out of his reach, as if mocking him. From the shade granted by the brim of his hat, the Gunslinger scanned the horizon for the Man in Black. He saw no sign of him yet he could feel in his bones he had come this way… for this way was the Tower, and all roads, all destinies, led to the Tower. The Gunslinger kept walking, his gun belt swaying back and forth on his hips at a rhythmic pace before he took a sip from his canteen. His throat was a dry as the desert around him even after he'd swallowed what little water he dared drink. Placing the cap back on, he couldn't help but think to himself despite the heat, 'Man, I wish I had a Twinkie right now,'
And then, he was unceremoniously awoken from his recently recurring dream.
~Gunslinger's Glory~
Alexander Lavelle Harris awoke with a jolt when something small hit him in the head. Looking around wildly, he found the students of his math class laughing at him while his math teacher, Ms. Jackson was giving him a wry smile as she spoke to him like she was her grandson. "I know my class is a bit boring for you Alexander, but could you be a dear and save the sleeping till after you finish your test early please?"
"Right, sorry Ms. Jackson, had a rough night last night," He apologized. She didn't know the half of it of course, no one did, only his BFF's Buffy and Willow and possibly the librarian from the Land of Tweed. Giles knew how bad he really had it, and even then, he'd been keeping certain things to himself of late. Things like the recurring dreams he'd been having of some tower off in the distance and himself walking through a desert with a pair of giant revolvers on his hips, their blued metal embossed with the symbol of a rose and the handles made out of sandalwood that still carried a hint of its original scent. He could almost feel their phantom weight on his hips even now before dismissing the thought and paying attention to the lesson.
~Gunslinger's Glory~
After class his best friend, resident Slayer, and love of his life Buffy Summers came up to him and patted him on the shoulder asking, "You okay Xan? Willow told me what happened. I know the slayage is tough but you've never outright fallen asleep in class before."
He smiled at her reassuringly. "Yeah I'm fine Buffster, its just been a crazy couple of weeks since Halloween."
She pulled a face. "Uhg, don't mention that! I made a fool of myself in front of Angel!"
"See we were having such a nice conversation and then you brought up Captain Hairgel and ruined it," Xander said feeling just as sour as she sounded just then.
She sent him a death glare that would've made many a vampire void their bowels as she replied, "You seriously can't accept he has a soul can you?" She asked him her hackles starting to rise.
"No more than you can seriously accept that he's a murderous bloodsucking leech wearing a corpse like a cheap suit Buffy. Also, Hitler had a soul, so what's your point?"
"Who said what about Hitler?" Willow asked, interjecting herself into the conversation between her friends, hoping to lower the rising tensions.
"Xander still thinks Angel is evil and compared him to Hitler."
"No, don't put words in my mouth. I said even though Hitler had a soul he did horrible things, so should we just let it slide with him too?"
Willow looked back and forth between her friends before finally saying, "You both have a point, but you're both also wrong."
"Eh, Wills I thought," Buffy began only for the redhead to continue. "Xander is right in that having a soul doesn't make him good, nor does it erase all the horrible things he did. But he's wrong in thinking people can't choose to change. Your wrong in thinking just because he has a soul he automatically deserves a second chance, when in all honesty for him being reminded of all the terrible things he's done is torture for him. Leaving him with a guilty conscience. That's likely the point of the curse. The fact of the matter is, he hasn't tried to change for a century, he's just had the world's longest pity party and become as Xander calls it dark and broody." Willow then took a breath. It was the longest bit of not-Willow Babble she'd ever given.
"Who's side are you on Willow?" Buffy asked, sounding as betrayed as she felt.
"No one's. I'm giving an objective opinion based on the facts as I see them," She replied honestly. "You're both wrong and right just for different reasons Buffy. You don't see Xander getting angry do you?"
The boy in question blinked as he replied, "No, because usually you'd completely side with Buffy completely in any argument like this that popped up recently."
"What!?" Willow replied, her head snapping to her would-be beau, "I would not!"
Xander just replied by giving her a look that said, 'Really are you sure you want to start this argument?' It was a face Willow knew well even though she'd only seen it a handful of times throughout her youth and she knew when it appeared that she had better quit while she was ahead because if she didn't she was going to lose an argument. To Xander of all people.
Shrinking into her pink cardigan like a turtle into its shell, Willow replied, "Sorry Xander I didn't mean to become so biased. It's just been nice to have another girl to talk to about… girly things you know?"
He gave her his best fake smile. "Yeah of course I understand Wills, honestly I'm glad we have Buff as a friend. She lets you vent about chick stuff, and she gives me an outlet for all my violent impulses that doesn't involve me murdering Tony in his sleep! It's a win-win! I mean, I could do without her necrophiliac tendencies, but hey, no one's perfect." Xander fell over sideways when the Slayer shoved him in the arm hard. He hit the ground laughing and added, "Hey now Buff you're not even the first in this department. Even Mina Harker had a thing for Dracula."
"Ass," The Slayer grumbled goodnaturedly as she offered him a hand and easily pulled him to his feet. "Got anymore vampire jokes you need to get out of your system before we head to the auditorium?"
"No, I think I'm good, why? Also what's at the auditorium?"
"It's career day, remember Xander?" Willow reminded him, "People are showing up and wanting to talk to us based on that test we took last week?"
He scoffed, "Well according to Snyder the only job I'm fit for is janitor or human sacrifice. Kali ma! Kali ma!" He said as he reached a hand out towards Willow with flexing fingers.
Playfully swatting him away Willow chided, "Don't listen to Principal Snyder, he's a butt."
Xander covered his mouth in mock horror, "Such language! My word, do you kiss your mother with that mouth young lady?! Why I never?!"
His antics caused the girls to smirk and roll their eyes as the trio made their way to the auditorium. Little did Alexander Lavelle Harris know that his entire life was about to change.
~Gunslinger's Glory~
Xander scanned the numerous booths that had been set up in the auditorium. There were many youngish-looking people in suits with complimentary ties, and in the more blue collar professions overalls and t-shirts with the occasional hardhat. He found himself being drawn to the construction workers booth, only to be stopped by the sound of someone calling his name.
"Alexander Lavelle Harris! Is there an Alexander Lavelle Harris here?!" Looking over to a far corner of the vast room, Xander saw an older man with slim features wearing a fedora and a black leather jacket over a polo shirt and jeans beckoning him over. Cautiously approaching, he inquired, "Yeah? Did you need me for something, Mister?"
"Whistler, Whistler Heterodyne," He said, offering Xander a hand, which he shook before continuing, "You're actually just the type of person we're looking for to join our company."
Xander looked around at the booth the man was standing behind, to say it was nondescript would be an understatement. It was a simple wooden table covered by a blue cloth with what looked to be a hastily painted sign that said, "The Company" on the top.
Giving the man a dubious once over the teen said, "This a scam isn't it?"
Whistler chuckled, "Come now lad, do I come off as a conman?"
To which Xander deadpanned, "Do you really want me to answer that?"
His laugh more rueful this time, Whistler continued, "Okay that's fair, but in all seriousness, we here at the Company really do need your help."
"My help with what? I'm just a teenager, and nobody really." Xander replied, perplexed at how any white collar place could want anything to do with him.
"Well Alexander we at the company appreciate a man of your talents. You have quite a resume and when it came across my superior's desk we had to recruit you. Even if it meant coming to this hell hole of a school. You are too good to let pass or worse get stolen by a competitor."
That caused the teen to quirk an eyebrow and self deprecatingly ask, "What talents? I'm barely passing my classes. No extracurricular activities. Hell I don't even do community service to help out. I also don't have any money to speak of. So what do you really want me for?" So what type of resume could I possibly have?"
Whistler gave him a deadpan glare and said, "Wow, did you leave your self-esteem in your other Hawaiian shirt or something? For goodness sakes kid, you're worth a heck of a lot more than you're giving yourself credit for! You've fought the good fight, time and time again with nothing more than grit and a can do attitude. You may not be the strongest or the smartest of your little circle of friends, but you're the one who sees the bigger picture who sees what needs to be done. I would've thought you'd be a bit more of a jump at the call type."
Xander's eyes widened in surprise before they narrowed in suspicion as he stepped closer to the booth he loomed over the shorter man as he spoke in a tone that was as steel wrapped in silk, "Who or what are you and what do you really want with me?"
Holding out his hands showing he meant no harm, Whistler replied with, "Easy boy easy, don't shoot the messenger now. I'm just here to offer you the opportunity to make something of yourself. You've got to be curious right? About the recurring dreams you've been having… and about those big irons you've got stashed under your bed?"
"How do you-" Xander began but he didn't get to finish because Whistler was on a roll now.
Whipping a hand to his coat pocket, he pulled out a calling card. "If you want to know what I know and how I know it, why don't you try calling this number when you get home, eh?" He said as he flicked the card at the boy, who caught it and looked at the number. It made no sense as it read as 6-459-463-3377. He looked up, a complaint ready to fire from his lips only to find the man and his booth had both disappeared into thin air. He didn't have much time to think about what just happened as seconds later gunshots rang out in the auditorium, causing the teen to duck down and turn towards the noise. He found Buffy on top of a female cop, one who had seemingly just tried to shoot her?
'Something wiggy this way comes' Xander thought to himself as he got up and moved to help the girl that was his heart's desire as she tussled with the cop, kicking the gun out of the woman's reach before Buffy put her in an armlock and hauled the both of them to their feet.
"What in all that is holy is going on here?!" Snyder hollered.
"Fake cop, gun, tried to shoot me…" Buffy said breathlessly.
Looking between them all Snyder snapped, "Summers, Harris! My office now! And Summers, don't let that one go."
"Y-Yes Principal Snyder," Buffy said, sounding a bit shaken up. Vampires, monsters, and ghouls she could handle but she'd never been shot at, much less in broad daylight before.
"Harris, grab the gun," Snyder called over his shoulder. "Kill a student in my school? Oh no, no, no! I don't care if it is one of the underachieving little bottomfeeders. If anyone gets to get rid of these little shits, it's going to be me."
"With what, my bare hands?"
"I don't care if you have to use a damn barbecue fork like all the rest of those damn gangs on PCP are doing Harris, just bring the damn gun!" Snyder snapped back.
Xander looked around for something to pick the gun up with and he was handed an unused napkin by a guy with messy hair wearing a spiked dog collar around his neck. "Here man, use this."
"Thanks, names Xander." he replied as he picked up the discharged firearm with practiced ease.
"Daniel Ozborne but folks call me Oz." He replied in a chill tone despite the fact a shooting had just taken place.
"Move your ass Harris!" Snyder's voice snapped through the air like the crack of a whip.
"Coming oh dark overlord," Xander muttered just loud enough for Oz to hear as he quickly followed in the little troll's wake. He could with any luck not get suspended by the end of the day.
~Gunslinger's Glory~
Both Buffy and Xander sat in principal Snyder's office as the man in question was finishing a phone call he made as soon as both teens arrived at his office. As the man finished the call with, "Thank you sir, I will handle it here. I am so sorry sir. Won't happen again."
As soon as the call finished Snyder turned to both of the teens, "Alright Summers. I get that you have been through a lot right now. I am going to level with you. I should have screened the participants on career day better. I just finished talking with the mayor. He isn't angry but wants me to take responsibility for this. So I am. First of all you are excused from school for the rest of the week. Miss Rosenburg or the librarian Mr. Giles will collect any makeup work while you are gone. Any questions?"
"No Principal Snyder sir, but what're we gonna do about her?" She said giving the woman whom she still had in an armlock a shake causing said woman to wince in pain.
"The Mayor said he'd take care of it personally, whatever that means," Snyder replied with an 'I could care less' shrug "Just… Just hang onto her until the police arrive, alright Summers?"
"Can do," Buffy grunted, tightening her grip on the woman's wrists even further.
Fixing his gaze on Xander, the boy he loved to hate, Snyder continued, "You will also be suspended for a week Harris."
"What?! Why? What did I do?" Xander said, wanting to fling his hands up in a rage only he didn't for two reasons, firstly he was being given a week of school, and secondly he was currently holding a gun loosely in a napkin. Not a good combo.
"You touched the gun Harris, meaning your fingerprints are going to be on it, thus I have no choice but to suspend you for the week. It's really such a shame that two of your group of hooligans won't be around to cause trouble while the police conduct a full investigation of this incident," He said with false sorrow as he looked Xander in the eye.
Glaring hatefully at the man behind the desk Buffy said, "If I didn't think she'd try to kill me again, I'd let her go just so I could slug you principal Snyder."
The female assassin who had up to now been silent spoke, "Let me go and I'll kill that one for free… I've seen and even done a lot of twisted things in my time, but that one?" She nodded at Snyder, "He takes the cake."
"Tempting," Buffy said as she hummed in thought to herself, "But no."
The woman shrugged, "Your loss. I didn't know an educator could be so malignant towards the very people he's supposed to be teaching. It makes one wonder why he took the job in the first place."
"Oh I never wanted to be a teacher, I wanted to be a prosecutor," Snyder revealed, "Or better yet, District Attorney,"
"You couldn't pass the bar could you?" The assassin asked.
"No…" Snyder seethed. "But then I had a thought: if I could scare the would-be criminals straight before they even think of committing a crime, even better! So I got my education degree as an administrator and here we are."
"Now it all makes sense, in the most twisted way possible," Xander said to no one in particular. "Also you told me to pick up that gun, you and several dozen eyewitnesses saw me pick it up after you said to do so."
"Well, now that maybe but we have to be sure… so many gangs on PCP these days you know?" Snyder idly remarked. "Just take the week off Harris." He then paused and mock gasped as he put a hand over his heart, "Could it actually be that some of Miss Rosenbergs good traits are rubbing off on you and you're actually concerned about your grades Harris?"
The teen scoffed, "No not really," 'But whenever something weird goes down in this town it usually somehow involves this school,' He thought to himself.
"Then take the damn win Harris, it's not like you're actually going to be charged. You're getting a free vacation. Accept it."
Xander shrugged, "Sure, no skin off my back I guess." Even though he didn't show it, on the inside, he was sweating. 'Both me and Buffy are out of school for the week? If that isn't a perfect storm for something to go wrong at the school, I dunno what is. We'll need to warn Wills and G-man to be extra vigilant while we're gone.' He shared a worried look with the Slayer and could tell she was thinking much the same as he was. It didn't make him feel any better.
~Gunslinger's Glory~
He was now lying on his bed in the basement next to all the stocked up Christmas lights and he found himself thinking over everything that had happened that day. His mind kept drifting back to the conversation he had with that weird guy Whistler. Reaching into his pants pocket, he pulled out the card and looked at it under the dim light of the single lightbulb that illuminated his 'room' if it could be called that. 'That guy, he's gotta be full of crap right?' Xander thought to himself even as he reached for the old rotary phone that sat on a rickety nightstand next to his bed. He balanced it out as best as he could with books but it still quivered ever so slightly as he dialed the number on the card. It rang three times and Xander found himself holding his breath for reasons he couldn't understand. Then, the sweetest voice he'd ever heard came on the other end of the line, "Welcome to the Goddess Relief Agency, I'm Belldandy and I see you used a Company granted card. Please hold, and I'll be with you in just a moment."
"Wait what?" He said, pulling the receiver away from his ear. He shook his head in disbelief as he thought, 'Did she just say Goddess Relief Agency?'
Xander quickly got his answer because a woman came out of his mirror above his sink. She had light brown hair and had blue teardrop tattoos on her forehead and both cheeks. She was wearing a white and blue chiffon toga And stood at about 5 foot 5. He blinked for just a moment and then reached for a stake as he asked in a cold voice. "Who are you? What are you doing in my room?"
She just smiled at him sweetly with aquamarine eyes as she replied. "I told you, didn't I? My name is Belldandy, a Goddess with a First Class Unlimited license, and I'm from the Goddess Relief Agency. My reasons for being here are twofold. Firstly, you were given a contractor card, And I have been chosen to be your Adjuster. Secondly, you have been deemed fit to be granted a wish."
Xander didn't loosen the hold he had on the stake behind his back as he continued. "I'm gonna need you to go over that one more time, please? I'll need you to explain what a contractor is, what your job is, and why I'm getting a wish. All kinds of things."
Belldandy smiled serenely as she began to explain. "Certainly. Where would you like me to begin? With the company, myself, or the wish you're being given?
Xander hesitated for a moment before he said. "Uh, we can start with you, I guess? What was that about an unlimited license?"
"Ah, yes. As I said, my name is Belldandy, and I am a Goddess first class with an unlimited license. What that essentially means is I can take whatever measures are necessary in order to fulfill whatever wish you may have. You can wish for anything. Women, money, power, the destruction of the universe, Whatever you want to wish for, it is yours to ask."
"You're pretty casual about the destruction of the universe for a goddess," Xander noted, "Aren't you supposed to be one of the good guys?"
"Good and evil are not so clear cut, Alexander. I, for example, exemplify the very concept of the present. What is now? Whereas my older sister Urd exemplifies the concept of the past. What was, And my youngest sister, Skuld, represents the future, or what could be. You could choose to destroy the planet with your could choose to make the love of your life, fall in love with you and reciprocate your could wish for money and never have to want for anything again. What you choose to do now will affect your present."
"Constants and variables," Xander muttered to himself. "For every reaction there is an equal and opposite reaction. An infinite number of branching paths and thus an infinite number of choices."
"Well then," Belldandy clapped her hands together as she smiled and said, "It seems you understand fate and destiny rather well."
"I don't believe in destiny or prophecy," He said dismissively.
"True free will is a thing," Belldandy acknowledged, "But just as there are many ways to get to a location. It's the road you take that matters, not so much how you get there."
"We're getting sidetracked. What's this about a company?" Xander said, changing the topic, not wanting to dwell on the idea of fate having its hooks in him or anyone else he knew and loved for that matter.
"Ah, yes, the Company, or the World Calamity Prevention Organization, Has operatives and operations spread all throughout the Omniverse, Their job is to prevent the collapse of as many multiversal threads as possible, using whatever means they have at their disposal. And you have been chosen to be one of their newest operatives. I will in essence be taking the role of your handler for the organization."
"Why me and why you?" Xander asked.
"You were chosen due to playing a pivotal role in what is to come for the Omniverse," Belldandy admitted. "You are the axle upon which the wheel of the omniverse turns. Or you have become such. Upon being possessed by one Roland Deschain."
Blinking owlishly, Xander asked. "What does the cowboy I dressed up as for Halloween have to do with any of this?"
"Everything. You know full well he's not just a cowboy, don't you, Alexander? That he keeps walking towards that Tower. And he needs to find it. Which means you need to find it. It's my job to make sure you get there."
"Why? Why is that tower so important?" He asked, even though he could feel it in his bones, even as he asked the question, as if he should already know the answer.
Belldandy just kept smiling sweetly at him as she replied, "You already know the answer, don't you?"
Xander bit his bottom lip, not wanting to answer. But he found himself doing it anyway. "It's the Dark center of everything, supposedly the body of Gan himself that rose up from the Prim, the primordial chaos. And bringing with it stability to the madness of creation."
Belldandy's eyes widened in surprise, "You got more of Roland's knowledge than even we realized. Are you coping with it all ok? Would you like me to make you some tea so you could relax?"
The teen shook his head in the negative, "No. Not yet, I have one more question."
"Go ahead," She prompted him with a wave of her hand.
Reaching under his bed, Xander pulled out a leather satchel of some kind. Reaching into it, his entire arm sunk into the depths of the too small bag, after a moment, Xander's arm came back up. Holding a pair of black iron and sandalwood revolvers. Each etched with white roses out of delicate silver inlay. "What are these things and why are they important?"
"Those are the guns of House Deschain, Forged out of the remnants of Excalibur itself. It signifies that you are the last gunslinger, as well as the last Scion of the House of Eld."
Xander sat down on his bed with a hard plop. Sighing, he said, "I think I'll take that tea now. Anything else you need to tell me can wait until I've processed all of this, Can't it?"
"Of course, the goddess replied in a kindly fashion. "I'll be right back after I make us a pot of tea."
"Um, be careful of my parents, their mean drunks, and they're always drunk," Xander warned her, even as he rubbed his brow to stave off the coming headache.
"Don't worry, I can handle myself," Belldandy assured him as she made her way towards the stairs.
~Gunslinger's Glory~
Belldandy floated her up the stairs so as not to disturb Xander's parents before she wanted to talk to them. She noticed all the beer cans and empty wine bottles that were spread throughout the house as she opened the door to the kitchen. She noticed some pictures on the wall of a semi happy family of Xander's parents holding a baby Xander. The smile on their faces was absent from the modern Harris family. Belldandy wondered what tragedies had befallen this Xander. The multiverse was kind as it was cruel to the Harris heir. He suffered many tragedies and many boons. However, there was one thing Belldandy was aware of.
Xander Harris brought destruction to order, prophecy, and destiny. He was the lone man that the powers that be made an honorary Constantine for his ability to manipulate if not outright laugh at their intricate plans that took centuries to develop. She also knew that Xander's unique upbringing will and has attracted beings of great strength, power, and allure. It almost made Belldandy think that Freyja had blessed the young Alexander to have an 'interesting' love life. Skuld had gone on a rant of how many different futures it was possible for her to end up with Xander, along with Belldandy, and Urd even too. She would rant and rave about how she wanted to choose her own future husband but also understood that as a member of the norn destiny is interwoven into their very beings. Thankfully joining the company had given Belldandy and her sisters some freedom in their choices and allowed their own destinies to finally become their own. It made Belldandy happy that she was able to meet one of her many possible lovers. One of the best boons of being the Norn of the present is that it allowed her to look into the weave of other worlds and see where she became happy. Alas there were also worlds where she despaired and fell as well. She could feel the very corruption of the hell mouth trying to find flaws in her divinity and lead her to falling. She could feel the gaze of unfathomable beings looking upon her.
Alexander had caused more of a stir up than he ever knew. Roland Deschain was a man destined to protect the multiverse. Or at least this version of the multiverse. Now a man who breaks destiny is bound to a destiny that brought many to ruin. Belldandy hoped that she would be able to help this particular Xander find happiness. Even if that meant she would fall in love with him. Belldandy blushed at the prospect of becoming one of many Goddesses that fell for Xander Harris. Skuld still applauded Xander for wooing Anyanka of all people. Skuld was almost willing to offer Xander a wish on those grounds alone. But first, she had to handle the present.
"Did the alcohol finally kill me?" spoke Tony Harris as he looked at Belldandy in his kitchen. He looked at the beer in his hand and back to the angel that graced him with her presence.
"No Mr. Harris, I am not an angel. I am a goddess though. Do you mind telling me where the tea is? I was going to brew your son a cup," questioned Belldandy. Her demeanor made any of the famous Harris snark disappear as Tony just scratched his chin.
"I uh. I actually don't know. Let me uh let me ask my wife," Tony spoke as he left to find his wife Jessica.
Belldandy started to hum a sweet tune that continued to uplift the spirits of all those within the home. Nearby vampires screamed in agony as the angelic song rang true and their soulless bodies could not handle the pure angelice purity in the song.
Tony came back with his wife, "Tony I swear if you are tripping off that homemade original Coca-cola recipe I am calling poison control…. Did I die and go to heaven?" spoke Jessica Harris in wonder as she also was awed by the sheer beauty that was the Norn of the present.
"No ma'am, but I would like to know where your tea is located. I wanted to brew some for your son. He is in quite dire straits right now and I wanted to calm his nerves."
"What … What is going on with my boy? What could he have possibly done to deserve you gracing our home with your beauty?" questioned Jessica Harris. She may have been a terrible number but the longer she was near Belldandy the more clear her mind became. As if years of alcohol abuse had been cleansed from her mind.
"Your son has completed the hero's journey. He has defied prophecy. He has then continued to change his fate. Now the forces that be are trying to get rid of him. He is now too powerful a piece to leave on the board."
"I didn't raise no quitter. He will fight to the last nail. I know that much. If you are here to help my son then I can't express in words how grateful I am that you can. I ….. Don't deserve to be called his father after everything I have done to that boy. Hell my brother does more for him by at least buying him nice clothes for christmas," spoke Tony as years of anger, frustration, and rage disappeared from his body. He turned to the sink. Looked at the beer in his hand. And did something that would have his son accusing him of being possessed. He poured the rest of the beer down the drain. As the alcohol poured down the drain Tony felt more clear headed. With clarity came wisdom, and with that wisdom he felt guilt, shame, and dare he say despair.
Tears both started to fall from the Harris parents as they realized with shame that they let their addiction, guilt, and shame overshadow the one good thing in their life. They neglected their son.
All throughout this Belldandy continued to sing a simple tune as the tea began to boil. She continued to hum and spread forth her divinity encompassing the whole house now. She felt the atmosphere begin to lighten further. When the tea finished there was no longer a feeling of despair in the house as the occupants now felt a connection and desire to live in the present and thus move forward.
"I want you to know that I will watch over Xander now. He has earned that much. I don't know if he can stay here, though. He has a future planned for him. A future that is ever changing. If he stays here, I see only tragedy to befall him. Now he must spread his wings and leave. If there is anything you want me to do for your son. I can grant you this small wish."
"Please…. I beg you. I am not a god fearing man. I never believed before but now I humbly ask. Please help our son. I know he is hurt. I know he has that Harris look in his eye. He has vengeance in his soul. He won't stop till he gets his pound of flesh. Please. If needed you can take my life as payment. I know some of the denizens of this town take souls as payment. Just please protect Alexander. I don't know If I could bear another loss in my life. This town has taken much from our family."
"I am no demon nor a denizen of hell. I will not take your life. However, I swear on my name Belldandy that I shall protect your son. He will live a grand life. He shall live up to his moniker as the defender of man. Know that in your lowest moment you did not raise a loser, or a coward. You raised a hero."
With that Belldandy left with a pot of hot tea and two cups. She smiled serenely knowing that the present is ever-changing and maybe just maybe she changed Xander's for the better with just a little talk.
~Gunslinger's Glory~
Levitating down the stairs so she didn't spill the tea, Belldandy returned to her Contractor. She found him sitting on his bed looking into a bag, not just any bag she knew, but Roland Deschain's Grow Bag, a magical item that had the ability to generate both money and tobacco. "Another holdover from Roland Deschain, Alexander? Also cream, sugar?" She asked politely as she poured him a cup.
His head snapping up like that of a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar he replied, "Umm, whatever you think is best, I'm not usually one for tea to be honest."
Putting two sugar and one cream into the teacup, the Norn of the Present handed him his cup, which he took a tentative sip of before grimacing a little and saying, "I still prefer soda,"
"Hmm, a sweeter tea next time? Perhaps peppermint or chamomile?" Belldandy suggested.
Xander shrugged, "How'd it go with my folks? They give you any trouble?" He asked worriedly.
The goddess was quick to assuage his fears. "Oh heavens no. In fact they seem to have quite a bit of faith that you will succeed in your task Alexander."
"My parents? My parents? Did you brainwash them or something Bell? I'm not complaining, but I gotta ask."
She let out a laugh like windchimes on a summer day, and Xander thought he could definitely get used to hearing that. "Heavens no. I merely talked to them, though I imagine having a goddess in such close proximity had a cleansing effect on their minds."
"So just you being around is actually turning my folks into decent people? Can I plug you into a wall socket to amplify the effect or something?" He asked jokingly.
Again, Belldandy released a chime-like chuckle before saying, "No unfortunately not."
"Damn!" Xander swore before taking another sip of tea, sighing, and saying, "Well, moving on, what's this whole Company Contractor thing, how does it work and what's in it for you and me?"
"The Company allows one to travel the omniverse, usually to collapsing worldlines and capturing via methods magical and mundane those who could be of beneficial use to the company and their operatives."
"Capturing?"
Clearing her throat the goddess clarified as her cheeks slightly reddened, "A magical compulsion that can compel the target it is used to show loyalty, love, if not outright lust for the contractor who binds them with their mark."
"That sounds a helluva lot like slavery and brainwashing Bell… Why would I want to have anything to do with them? Why do you?"
"Allow me to explain, the severity of the compulsion is controlled by the contractor. Some choose to have it do nothing at all, other than telling other beings this person belongs to a contractor. While others use it for what you are no doubt thinking at the moment. As for why the company is allowed to operate like it is… they do more good than harm. Contractors have saved entire multiverses and if all it cost was a few women falling in love with them then is that not worth the cost of billions of lives?"
Grimacing Xander replied, "No, that sounds and awful lot like rape and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Would you be okay if I forcibly bound you to my side forever if it meant I protected that tower?"
"Yes absolutely," She promptly replied.
"That's what I-" He did a double take, "Wait what?"
She reiterated, "I would have no qualms whatsoever about being bound to you forever Alexander."
"You'd… you're serious aren't you? You want me to reach the Tower that badly?" he asked incredulously.
Belldandy shook her head, "While you reaching the Tower, it is important. I would not mind being bound to you because you are you. You would neither force me to do anything I don't want to do nor harm a woman against her will. You are a much better man than most Contractors and many women would be quite happy to be by your side if given the choice I'm sure."
For his part, the teen just stared at her for a moment, blinking slightly his mouth slightly agape before he said, "I… okay then. I… I have no way to counter that. Umm, why don't you explain my contract to me since you're basically my lawyer."
"Of course," She said kindly, "To begin you have the patronage of Gan himself. This gives you access to the Eldritch heritage and no you are not turning into an eldritch abomination but rather, you are slowly becoming a being attached to dreams, symbols, and signs of your choosing."
"Oh, okay," He took a breath. "What else do I need to know?"
"Under Gan's boon, you are immune to magic being used on you directly, that does not mean however that magic can't be used on objects you use like your grow bag, guns or clothes."
"Cool so I can't be cursed, hypnotized, or directly attacked with magic now."
"Indeed," Belldandy confirmed, "You also have Roland Deschain's skills in hunting, tracking, survival, and use of his guns."
Xander huffed a little bit, "Yeah I kinda figured that bit already. I've felt a bit of body dysphoria ever since Halloween, like I'm supposed to be several inches taller and a lot more muscular to boot."
Belldandy nodded sympathetically, "That would be due to the fact that Roland Deschain is still lingering in your subconscious."
"He's doing what now?!" Xander asked, his hazel eyes widening in shock as he looked at the goddess'.
"If you would like, I could put you in a trance so you could have a chat with him? You two seem to be… out of sync. That could be due to the spell and Roland Deschain's Gan having given him magic immunity."
"Yeah let's do that in a sec, first off what else do I need to know about this Company contract?"
"You've been granted access to your own pocket dimension that has its own Dungeon. In addition, since you have been granted the Eldritch Heritage, you are automatically given another heritage for free. It was decided to grant you Mastermind which lets you hire others at lesser cost to yourself."
Raising an eyebrow, the teen inquired, "So I'm essentially a cowboy supervillain? Cause that's what it sounds like."
"More of a… leader of a Fellowship, you are, for lack of a better term, the Ringbearer."
"Does that make you my Sam Gamgee?" He asked with a small smile.
Returning it with one of her own, Belldandy replied, "If that is what you wish, then yes."
"Well then it is time for me to meet my own ring wraith,' Xander said with slight fear in his eyes. After all Roland Deschain was infamous for a reason to all readers of Stephen King.
"If you feel comfortable Xander I can make sure you don't go in alone?" asked Belldandy.
Confusion came to Xander's eyes," How?"
"All goddesses of my class have an angel that helps protect them. My angel can accompany you within your mind."
"I …. I would appreciate that please."
"No problem Alexander. Her name is Holy Bell. She will meet you in your mind."
"See you soon Bell," with that Xander slowly fell unconscious as he fell into Belldandy's lap as she gently tousled his hair and offered a GODLY lap pillow.
~Gunslinger's Glory~
Xander found himself walking through a town. One riddled with both bullet holes and corpses. The front window of a saloon had been blasted outwards as if someone had jumped out of it from inside, and a trail of bodies led from inside the building out the back door and down the street. Xander knew where he was. It was the town of Tull and this was the aftermath of the battle that took place here. Xander spun on the spot, looking around for Roland Deschain, the Last Gunslinger and the final Scion of the House of Eld. He could feel someone watching him from the second story of the saloon. His gaze locked onto a shadowy figure staring at him from the window.
"Roland? Roland Deschain?!" Xander called out. The figure disappeared, prompting Xander to head into the saloon itself. He gingerly stepped over the bodies of the corpses inside as he headed for the stairs, wincing everytime they creaked under his weight as he knew Roland's senses were so keen he could hear a drop of blood falling from across a battlefield during a firefight. 'Then again, since that's the case, there's no point in hiding, is there?' Xander reasoned to himself. So thinking he walked boldly forward before coming to the room at the end of the hall. He pushed the door open and walked inside. There was a bed, a dresser on which a mirror sat, and some dust coated wooden boards that made up the floor. The window didn't quite fit the frame making it look slightly off for lack of a better term.
He walked to the window and looked out. He knew he had the gunslinger wanted, he could've easily shot him from where he was now standing. 'But he didn't, which means he probably wants to talk, I hope.'
Feeling a slender pair of arms wrapped around his neck Xander looked up to see an honest to goodness angel with golden blonde hair, and dove white wings smiling down at him. "Hello Alex. It's nice to meet you! My name is Holy Bell, but you call just call me Holly if you like since Bell seems to already be taken. Heheh."
"Well, hello there," He greeted the angel with a smile. "The pleasure is all mine I assure you. You don't happen to know where the gunslinger we're looking for might happen to be would you Holly?"
"He's right behind us, aren't you Mr. Deschain?" Holy Bell asked, glancing behind herself while using her wings as a shield to protect Xander from any potential fire from the Deschain ancestral arms.
Xander turned around and saw Roland Deschain himself for the first time. He was tall, having at least four inches on Xander himself who was five foot ten, wearing a canvas long coat, a basic ragged t-shirt, durable jeans and boots. His face was rugged and hardened by conflict and sorrows, his hair was short but windswept and messy, yet his eyes were cold, almost emotionless except for a single flickering ember, a spark one could call obsession, burned in his eyes. His sandwood guns were trained on Xander, and the gunslinger's gaze looked him over as keen as a knife's edge.
After a long tense moment, the younger of the two men spoke, "Roland Deschain I presume?"
"Alexander Lavelle Harris," The gunslinger replied back, drawing out every syllable of his full name. "Thrust onto a path so abruptly… yet you don't believe in ka, in fate."
"I don't… but I can protect the people I care about and spit in evil's eye in the process, all the better I suppose."
"What reason do you have to seek the Tower?" Roland asked, his thumbs resting on the hammers of his guns.
The teen shrugged before moving to sit on the bed, not really concerned about the guns trained on him the whole time. "Reason? I don't really have a reason if I'm being honest…" He locked eyes with the scowling gunman, "Do I really need one though? If I reach the Tower, it'll piss off the bad guys and that's good enough for me."
Roland blinked in surprise, for he could feel no deceit from the young man. "You're serious aren't you?"
"Alex is no liar Deschain!" Holy Bell defended her and her mistress' future lover staunchly. "He, unlike you, won't stab anyone and everyone in the back to set foot in the Tower."
Deschain flinched as if struck. "I… deserved that." He said after a moment of silence. "You are right to judge me harshly Miss Angel, but for all I have done, I have done for the sake of reaching the Tower. Can he make the same difficult decisions as I have had to do? Or will he falter and fail?"
Xander raised a hand when he saw Holy Bell ready herself to launch another verbal salvo at the gunslinger. "It's alright Holly. I understand where he's coming from," The angel remained silent but tightened her grip on his neck and her wings around his person all the more. Poking his head out from behind one fluffy appendage, Xander replied to his question. "I won't fail because I have no intention of doing this alone. One person can only do so much but a group, or even an organization trying to reach the same goal? They can get a lot more done by helping each other out. And with the right team I can't lose."
"Forming a team, that's your answer?" Roland said grimacing as the sound of the hammers on his guns clicking back echoed in the room.
Xander nodded resolutely, "Yeah it is, because till now I've been the powerless one, so I know what I can and can't do by myself. No man is an island Roland Deschain, one would think you would've figured that out by now."
Slowly, ever so slowly, Roland lowered his guns half pulling the trigger before he uncocked them and placed them back into his special holsters on his hips. "You could still fail, you know?"
"I might fall, but if I do I have people around me who can help me back to my feet, and I can do the same for others too."
"You know, for someone who doesn't believe in ka, you understand the concept of ka-tet, that of fatebound companions rather well."
Xander just shook his head as he grinned at the man, "Fate? No, but I do believe in people."
Releasing an aggrieved sigh, Roland said, "That'll have to do I suppose. From here on I, Roland Deschain, adopt you, Alexander Lavelle Harris into House Deschain. May you, my spiritual successor and son, succeed in the quest to find the Dark Tower, where I, your spiritual father, has failed."
"Thanks?" Xander replied unsure how he was supposed to feel about this, "I'll do my best to succeed or die trying."
Roland chuckled dryly, "Let's aim for the former and try to avoid the latter, Alexander." He looked out the window at the massacre and ghost town he'd made of Tull, as he continued, "I think you should be going…" Hearing the boy make his way towards the door, Roland added, "Alexander? I personally hope, by the time you reach the Tower, you have fewer regrets than I, and much less blood on your hands."
"Thanks Roland, I… I hope so too," Xander said as he left through the bedroom door, that had somehow become a portal of light.
He looked at Holy Bell questioningly who urged him onwards, "Go on Alex, that will lead you back to consciousness where Belldandy is waiting," She took a moment to peck him on the cheek. "That's for being our hero. Don't forget about me once you wake up, okay?"
"Yeah, sure Holly, seeya in a bit," Xander promised as he stepped into the light.
~Gunslinger's Glory~
Xander awoke to feeling the most wonderful softness around his head. It felt like he was on a lucious cloud. He opened his eyes and looked into the shimmering sapphire gemstones that were Belldandy's eyes as she looked down at him with a gentle smile. Xander had to admit he blushed a little in embarrassment at such an amazing situation he was put in.
"Holy Bell told me the meeting went well. I hope you can experience your own life and destiny Xander. Is there anything else you would like," spoke Belldandy as she unashamedly ran her fingers through Xander's hair in such a way that made all the stress leave his body.
Remembering something she said earlier, Xander decided to ask her a favor first, "You spoke of a dungeon. By any chance could I check that out first?"
"Certainly Xander. Now the dungeon is formless right now so we need to decide on what it would have as a basis. Is there anything in particular you would like the dungeon to be based off of?"
"I can't think of anything in particular. The major question is, since this is a dungeon will I have intruders?"
"Well the dungeon doesn't have a locked location. Thanks to your eldritch nature it kind of teleports from place to place to regain resources."
Xander just stared at Belldandy for a second," I have a dungeon that teleports across the world?"
"Omniverse actually. The dungeon can pick random but appropriate locations to help you build your retinue as a contractor. Be warned it will act based on your emotions and needs a bit of your soul to activate first."
"I am really starting to doubt how benevolent this company really is. Okay how much of my soul am I about to lose and is it even worth it? Will I lose my emotions or have them numbed?"
Belldandy began to wave her hands, "Oh nothing of the sort. It is kind of like a blood donation but on a more spiritual level. I will simply transfer a fragment of your soul and allow the dungeon core to develop from that. Thanks to the soul being removed safely you should be healed back up in about a week with proper nutrition and exercise."
"So no twinkies for a week darn. I might just have to say no Bell," joked Xander as he was gently slapped on the shoulder by a chuckling Belldandy, "So how am I going to do this?"
"Oh I already did it when I slapped you on the arm just now."
A small sphere formed in Belldandy's hand. It pulsed and thrived like a living being and started to expand into a humanoid form till it took the shape of a young girl of about fifteen with her curtain of long blonde haired being held back by a red ribbon, her eyes were as blue as a cloudless sky, with a bust as big as an infrared airbag, and she was wearing red dress trimmed in white lace, that had a window that showed off her stomach and navel. She wore white stockings on her legs and had mary janes on her feet.
"What the…? Belldandy explain?" Xander said, his voice rising to a panicked pitch.
"Not to worry, Alexander, this is your dungeon's core. What would you like to call her?"
"Her? I'm way too young to be a father Bell."
The Goddess just smiled. "Your relationship with her need not be familial if you don't want it to be. You can treat her as a friend, colleague, or something more if you so wish."
'The heck does she mean by 'something more?' Xander asked himself. "Well if I have to call you something don't I? Does she currently have a name?"
"Dungeon Core six-nine-five." The girl spoke looking up at Xander. "That's this one's current designation."
The teen sighed to himself. "Well, that won't do, now will it? Okay a name…"
"If I may?" Belldandy interjected upon seeing him struggling, "I have a suggestion."
The young man nodded at her gratefully, "Go ahead."
"Why not Ariadne, Princess of Crete and home of the Labyrinth?"
Xander thought it over before saying, "Not bad, but didn't Thesus end up abandoning Ariadne in Naxos? Kinda feels like a bad omen… I never thought that G-man having me read all those old books would actually come in handy like this."
"You raise a fine point, and you'll find legends are more fact than fiction so it is good you have that knowledge." Belldandy informed him.
"A name… a name for dungeon core six-nine-five… I've got it!" Xander said excitedly as he exclaimed, "Rokuko. Rokuko Labyrinthart. That's your name."
Belldandy smiled, "I'm surprised you chose a Japanese name."
He just shrugged in response, "I've seen Toonami a time or two and read some manga, the translated stuff arrives here in California first after all."
"I am a Dungeon Core, but What type of Dungeon am I supposed to be the core of?" Rokuko asked inquisitively.
Xander gave an awkward little laugh, "We're still working on that bit Rokuko. Patience please."
Narrowing her eyes at him the newly sentient Dungeon Core accused, "You're just being lazy and indecisive aren't you?"
"What, no? I just have no idea how to go about making a dungeon in the first place."
"Then why did you bring me into being in the first place if you had no clue what you were doing?! That's just irresponsible!" She snapped.
'Why do I feel like I'm being told off by my child for bringing her into the world in the first place?' Xander asked himself, 'Because that's what it feels like just happened,'
"That was my fault actually," Belldandy admitted. "While Xander has the right to own a dungeon it was I who created you as his core."
Sapphire blue eyes met sky blue and each held the other's gaze for a moment before Rokuko huffed indignantly. "Fine whatever. It's annoying but it can't be helped I suppose. It's just a dungeon core without a dungeon feels rather… purposeless. I believe the human term is raison d'etre?"
"Reason to live?" Xander was familiar with the term, his raison d'etre was to kill as many vampires, demons and monsters that haunted the night as he could before they finally took him with them… 'Maybe that could work for her too!' He thought. "I know what the theme of our dungeon is gonna be guys!"
"What?" Rokuko asked excitedly to get started, to have a place she could call her own.
"We're going to make a dungeon… that kills monsters. Well monsters, demons, evil people, things like that."
The dungeon core blinked. "So basically you want to create… a Sacred Dungeon?"
Xander nodded, "Pretty much? Is it doable?"
Rokuko grinned maliciously, "Absolutely!"
Belldandy happily chimed in, "Since it's a Sacred Dungeon, Holy Bell, and I can provide you with Devotion Points simply by existing within its confines as well."
Xander steepled his fingers as he said, "It's all coming together… now we just need a location… There's plenty of abandoned churches around here, why don't we just pick one?"
Rokuko nodded, "Sounds good. Holy ground would make a good start to a Sacred Dungeon."
"It'll have to wait till tomorrow unfortunately," Belldandy informed the two. "It will take at least a day for any Devotion points to accrue from Holy Bell and I and we can't start building till then."
Xander got an idea when thinking of a sacred dungeon to attract evil," Hey Belldandy. When you mentioned that there was some truth to myths does that mean all myths?"
"Yes actually and very astute of you." The Goddess complimented.
Xander then turned and looked to Rokuko," Does a dungeon's layout have to be a physical place or can it have the basis or blueprint developed from another form of media?"
Rokuko began to smile mischievously, "Oh what did you have in mind? A physical location or anchor to your home plane is needed but I can start the basis and development of the dungeon based on specifications in a form of story as long as it is described."
Xander then smirked," Good cause I have a location that was so sacred and filled to the brim with treasure it attracted a fire dragon to take it." Xander walked to his dresser and pulled out a well worn and well read book. It was one of Xander's guilty pleasures to read when he needed to stay up late and watch a graveyard or stay up late to keep Willow or Buffy company.
Belldandy saw the book Xander held and she too began to smile. It was a grand basis for a dungeon.
Rokuko grabbed the book from Xander's hands and read the title aloud, "The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien?"
"If my guess is correct this will help you develop a grand dungeon, a sacred city, and a defensible location if needed. The Lonely Mountain was fortess that made it almost impossible to hunt the dragon within. They had to draw him out of the mountain first to kill him. So why not make that the basis for your dungeon?"
Rokuko nodded her head in agreement as the work started to glow then was absorbed into her body. "Blueprint accepted. Dungeon basis the Lonely Mountain."
Belldandy then interrupted the two giddy teenagers(?), "Just remember that me and Holy Bell still require a day to accumulate Dungeon points so we will have to wait till tomorrow to continue any more work."
Both Xander and Rokuko were a bit bummed out, if only for a moment. "Well, I can only speak for myself, but is anyone else hungry? I could go for some tacos al pastor myself."
Xander's answer came in not one but two stomach grumbles from both Belldandy and Rokuko
"Dinner would be great Xander," spoke Belldandy as she guided Rokuko out of the house along with Xander to go find some late night grub.
As they passed the den Belldandy heard ,gentle snoring as Xander's parents rested on the couch. Not from drunkenness but exhaustion over feeling sober for the first time in years.
As the goddess, new contractor and dungeon core went off the moon glowed a little brighter.
Sadly where there is light a shadow will develop. The lonely mountain attracted great good and evil with the basis made many in Sunnydale feel a change in the atmosphere. Something pure and good was afoot in this little town.
The gaze of a king in crimson looked down upon this town from on high and he chuckled, "Let the games begin heir of Deschain."
(...)
Word Count: 10,350 Number of Pages: 21 Date Completed: 9/22/2023
(...)
AN: Hello readers and welcome to a BTVS Xander Waifu Catalog fic. Yeah, you read that right. Xander has access to the waifu catalog, but he also has the same job Roland Deschain had in the Dark Tower books… Be afraid, be very afraid, because what happens when you take a man who believed in ka, in fate and stick him with someone who scoffs in its face. This is what. But anyway, here's Snowy and First Hassan to wrap things up.
Snowy:This is the second in a series of waifu catalogues Bubba and me thought up. Now Xander is on the path to the tower. There are many trials and tribulations along the way. Who knows if Xander is going to be able to survive with aid of Belldandy. Who knows what the future will hold for the young gunslinger. Read and wait XD.
First Hassan: Ohohohoho! Another one! The mad author has once more made a deal with the company! We have decided to include one of our most favorite and memorable character of the Inkblot Production, Alexander Harris or better known as Xander!...Hello everyone First Hassan here and today we are bringing you yet another story which we the crew and Bubba has created, the Gunslinger Glory! This is gonna be unique cause you better be prepared of an incoming multiverse travel that mainly involves with one of the most dangerous place in the multiverse, the dark tower. Xander is gonna need more than just his skills and wits, he's gonna need his guns for this. Thank you guys for reading our story, if you want more or want to be a chapter ahead, head to Bubba' account where it hasn't been edited by yours truly. I'll see you guys later! (Turning around while blue flames surrounds Hassan before disappearing)
Till next time everyone this has been an Inkblot Bros Production, Peace!