Xander and Cordelia were relaxing, watching a movie at her place a month later, just after his birthday. "We're ready to start training." Xander said, during a break. "Giles' books are all moved, the meeting room upstairs is set up. I'm just debating on how much Anla'shok training I should teach you guys."
"I know you're planning to teach us the denn'bok." Cordelia said. "What all is involved in Anla'shok training?"
"Normally it's two years worth of training, which is why Alexander could take on a roomful of humans and expect to be the one walking out."
"We don't have years to get ready. Two months since Halloween and we have moved fast eliminating almost every threat your memories from your other self was aware of. Whoever these beings who think they can test humans are, they've probably been planning something to test us with. If it's not a matter of pure pride to think they'd even think we're worth testing."
"Whether they do or not, we've still got a city and Hellmouth to guard." Xander reminded her. "And from creatures that are stronger than humans. But human strength lies in our ability to innovate, create and unite. Which brings me back to what to teach the rest of you, at least to start with."
"Tell me about the training and I'll help you decide." Cordelia offered.
Xander smiled at her and then did so. "As Anla'shok, we choose to do that which frightens us, knowing that there are no guarantees. That's why the motto of the Anla'shok includes 'we walk in the dark places others fear to tread.' It's exactly what we're choosing to do."
"I was afraid to lose my popularity by dating you. That seems so small a fear in comparison to what's out there. And if I hadn't faced it, I wouldn't have you. We wouldn't have what we're building between us, not to mention, what we're building to take this fight to the Dark. So far, facing fear has been worth it."
"By the time we're ready to retire from doing this, I hope you still feel the same way."
"Have faith, I do. Tell me more about the training."
"Well, it involves learning three other languages, but in this reality they're not real and as far as the show is concerned, constructed languages. It's not the first time I've learned a constructed language, I speak and read Klingon, but the Spanish I learned in school will be far more useful in our world."
"So will the French and Italian my stepmother required me to learn. So, scratch the language lessons, at least for now. Next?"
"They are taught delight, respect, and compassion. They learn that for one's actions to be pure they must proceed from direction, determination, patience and strength. Anla'shok are taught how to live, breathe, fight, die and are taught how to face and use terror."
"Facing terror is one thing, but using it? What does that mean?"
"It doesn't mean terrorizing others, it means overcoming and drawing strength from what terrifies us. I'm afraid of having my mind invaded again, like the Hyena did and yet I let you into my mind. I'm afraid of Tony Harris and I have told him I will not let him hurt me again. Willow is afraid of public humiliation, but allowed you to change her wardrobe. You were afraid of losing your popularity, but chose to date me. Compared to hunting vampires these seem like small fears, but if we don't face and deal with the small fears, how can we face and deal with the bigger ones?"
"You've been teaching us already." Cordelia realized. "That's why you told me your feelings, why you showed Willow the truth about herself and got Amy to talk to Giles about her mother. Facing our fears."
"Not intentionally. It was selfish really, it was the day after I got the memories of my counterpart. I wanted what he was fighting so hard and hopefully succeeded to get back, the girl he loved who looked at him with love and acceptance and gave him peace, for myself and for Willow to accept that I was never going to see her that way. You choosing me was always going to be your choice and helping Amy was the right thing to do."
"None of us regret it." Cordelia assured him.
"Good, I'm glad." He clasped her hand in his and continued. "Training includes paramedic training, gymnastics, hand to hand combat, various weapons besides the pike, not all of which exist here, but I also know modern weapons from my counterpart, which I can teach you all, strategy and tactics, which are also apart of Anla'shok training anyway."
"All of which will help us. Giles will teach us the sword and the weaknesses of the various demons we encounter. We'll be very well trained and hopefully able to handle anything that comes to Sunnydale."
"So we can survive and keep the Hellmouth closed and people safe." Xander summed up. "While living our lives and building a future. And I very much want a future, a future with you."
"You're not the only one who feels that way." Cordelia assured him.
"Good, being alone in this would seriously suck." They continued to discuss the future, their hopes and their dreams, both personal and otherwise.
A/N Various aspects of Anla'shok training from kitsundendotxyz/SF.