Chapter 28: Cannibals and Wiccan worries
Faith and Willow had been debating for what seemed like an eternity, Glory was approaching in 8 months and Dawn was off adventuring this January with her girlfriend and wouldn't return until early Febuary to absorb her fake Dawns knowledge, but the issue at hand wasn't fake Dawns perfect assimilation into their lives. No it was something far more magical in nature, the hellmouth itself.
"We can close the damn thing for good! Demons are legging it from this dimension now they know you are boths gods! and your spells have destroyed trillions of evils, Ruby gave me the tally, you guys are winning for the first time in history!" Willow threw her hands up into the air and slammed them down on the counter top of the Summers kitchen and hurt herself something fierce but refused to show pain as Faith eyed her white hot knuckles with concern.
"The Council has disbanded, Wolfram and heart have run away and most clans are on the way out, the hellmouth itself is closing and if we mess with the natural process what will happen! something unexpected and completly avoidable, like it used too... my wife agrees with me Red!" Faith shot two healing spells into Willows wrists and she felt instant relief and even thanked Faith for doing so but stood her ground none the less.
"But the sooner we get rid of it the sooner we can focus solely on Glories minions, i've destroyed 2 groups who have been setting up bases in some very luxurious looking mansions and just need your go ahead and i'll have the thing done and dusted in a night!" Willow crossed her arms and stood her ground but Faith was having none of it as she knew for a fact this had a high chance of exploding in their face and Willows pride needed to be handled carefully.
Faith sighed and placed her pen down upon her recent sales of her artwork and many very healthy bank statements. "Red, i know you can do this and you are the only other witch i trust to next to Ruby but... please let this happen naturally, you and Tara have been perfect together and helped us rid this world of so much evil but please! i beg you... leave it be" Faith took her hand and placed it on Willows shoulder as she looked her directly in the eyes and Willow couldn't help but blush and try to look away.
"We can't win this fight without ya Red, But lets do this all slow and steady and i know about slow and steady... i flipped Buffy to the gay side of the force!" Faith grinned and Willow scoffed as she retorted with the obvious reaction to Faith little white lie.
"Oh please, Buffy is the whole reason you wear summer dresses and got married, i wouldn't be suprised if she was gay first and flipped you! Faith... you are so whipped" Willow chuckled and Faith shrugged her shoulders and accepted the truth and placed her hands on her hips.
"Atleast pretend like i'm the trouser wearer in the family just once Red! i got a whole image to uphold... tall, dark and mysteriously sexy! and anyway we switch roles alot so meh! i'm not a complete Buffy obsessed masochist" Faith chuckled but jumped out of her skin as Buffy had appeared behind her and playfully slapped her ass, causing her to jump atleast 3 feet in the air before coming back down to earth and finding herself pinned against the fridge and being made out with reckless abandon.
Willow slapped her forehead and sighed before letting a hearty laugh break forth, Faith had even let herself be pucked up and wrapped her legs around her wife and she's still pretending she isn't the whipped one in the relationship.
"Totally not whipped Faithy, Buffy should i grab the furry cuffs for Faith or the police ones?..." Willow watched as Buffy let Faith go slowly and kissed her passionately before responding and only Faith was out of breath and red in the face as Buffy kept her cool.
"Why grab the cuffs? i could tie her up with magical string again take her..." Buffy was interrupted with a soft Faith hand and a warm embrace as she silenced what she knew were very perverted words Willow would never have expected to hear come out of her best friends mouth.
"For a lovely breakfast that doesn't involve disturbing her best friend with all the sexual escapades we both get up to... seriously B, chill" Faith whispered the last part openly and Willow heard her clearly gut pretended she didn't.
Buffy pouted with an overly expressive range of emotions "But... i want everyone to know i'm the big dick in this relationship! Willows gay too, i must prove i'm the Alpha gay!" Buffy posed like a body builder but it just appeared as cute and quirky and no one could ever take that kind of thing seriously.
The handsome red headed witch shook her head to clear her thoughts as she imagined Buffy with a great big veiny monster between her legs and it stirred something she never wanted to face deep within her body. her attraction to both women, especially Buffy was a closely gaurded secret and not one she needed to bring up again or fantasize about on a boring wensday afternoon.
"Ok... Buffy with a monster between her legs is not something i would have ever imagined before today... you're the alpha gay, the lesbo queen Bee and I bow before your gay excellence oh! holy one!" Willow mock bowed and played along as Faith sorted out her white summer dress with red roses which had risen up high in certain places and she didn't fancy flashing the red head her well toned ass today.
"Thank you my beloved Wiccan advisor! let us change the subject to something more... buisness oriented, like the plan you were discussing before i got here. I was listening through Faith and I also think it's not a good idea" Buffy had grown more serious and Willow went from jovial to annoyed in seconds flat and she didn't hide it either.
Before she could speak Buffy cut her off "You are one of the smartest, hardest working and most magically gifted person i know! but this obsession you have with invoking dark magics for every single problem we have is becoming a problem... are you trying to prove yourself? are you obsessed with gaining power... when we go home this world is yours Willow!" Buffy watched her fidget in place with crossed arms and she looked down at the kitchen floor, trying to avoid Buffy and Faiths dominant gaze.
"I know you are the best, i have always known you were the strongest and you've never had to prove it to me or anyone... But leave the hellmouth to fade away into nothing and it will save us time and effort we could be pouring into the coming goddess" Buffy walked over to Willow with a languid pace and place her soft hand uoon her cheek and raised Willows eyes to meet with hers.
Willow spoke but with a stronger voice than she was used to hearing, "I can do this, Then we'll have one less problem to deal with and you'll be safer and so will Dawn!" Willow tried to play to what she knew Buffy cared for hut Buffy wasn't the same naive and morally superior girl she had once been not so long ago. Both she and Faith had become elegant women of class and knowledge she herself had failed to attain yet and it showed in every aspect of the Ex-Slayers lives.
"We will be safer and happier when I don't have to scrape your body off the school basements walls, Willow if you do this i won't save you... i have already warned you, no reason to beat the point home is there" Buffys words had shocked the witch enough for her to actually consider not going and performing the destruction ritual Ruby had told her was pointless to learn as this dimensions demons were already leaving and the Hellmouth would cease to be in a few months.
Faith turned to Buffy and they were obviously communicating silently but it seemed to be a very passionate conversation and Buffy was standing her ground, where as Willow was just comtemplating what her once best friend had just said to her. She had made her line in the sand and she wasn't going to ever put up with Willows bad choices ever again and it made sense now she was a mother and almost two and a half years older than Wllow now.
Willow uncrossed her arms and placed her hands on her hips as she interrupted the womens private conversation, "You're not the Buffy we once knew are you... you grew up and left me and Xander behind, musta been easy after you left this hell hole i guess" Willow was quiet for the next few moments as she waited for the Blondes retort and she got it with a heaping of truth she didn't expect to be so expertly delivered.
"I told you i never wanted to come back Willow, i am her for my daughter... Faith and the other dimension made me realise the truth about life and also helped me focus on myself for once and what i wanted in life" Buffy turned to the food island and noticed the letters, bank statements and Faiths paperwork from the gallery she was still filling out as she fingered the documents as she spoke on further.
"The council was a joke, the Slayer powers a curse that would lead to my death sooner or later and hell, i couldn't tell anyone how i felt for Faith back then, that i was head over heels for a women you all despised with a passion" Buffy stopped fingering the letters and turned back to Willow as the morning sun came shining through the kitchen blinds.
"How long did i have Wills? a year or two alone before i let a vamp end me or some rouge demon who got in one too many lucky hits? The best thing that ever happened to me was falling through that portal and being a real women for the first time in my life..." Buffy placed a hand on her forehead and sighed before she stretched her arms outwards and gave her a questioning stance with her annoyed body langauge.
"This place fucked me up, But ya know something strange Willow... when you leave this place and a wonderful soul like the women i married actual listens and understands your problems... shit changes and ya realise the whole systems rigged against ya!" Faith walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder which Buffy placed her hand upon and gave her an understanding look she knew would help calm her down.
"I got to actually live for once and yeah i grew up and got the stick removed from my ass... how you need to do the same, go on holiday Wills, take tara somewhere nice for a week or two! it took me two whole years to get better and without Faith... i would of died inside long ago" Buffy was takeh into an embrace by her darling wife and Willow didn't have any retort prepared, she just listened and took in what she was being told for once.
After a few moments she spoke in a mousy voice, "Are we even friends anymore? or is this all buisness to you now? am i just a means to an end?" the red head was about to burst into tear but Buffy just didn't care for the drama anymore, she had a world tk save and a daughter to protect, nothing else really mattered anymore.
"Wills, you are always my friend but... i grew up and have a family to protect, you would be in the same head space if you were me... and you know it to be true" Buffy watched as the red head stormed out and slammed the door behind her with quite a bit of force that neither of them knew she posessed.
Faith held her close and Buffy melted into her embrace with a tired moan escaping her supple red lips. "They always want me to save the day and go along with everything! and yet... all i want to do is live my life with you" Buffy unfortunately heard her mother walking up the path and Faith sighed as she remembered she needed to finish up her paperwork and fast before Joyce gave her a right telling off.
Buffys eyes glistened in the early morning light as she softly spoke in her sexy morning voice, a pleasure she reserved solely for her darling wife. "So working woman, get your buisness in order cause this cutie patootie loves being spoiled" Her smile grew as Faiths deep but short chuckle filled her with a renewed vigor she most definetly needed as of late.
"Go help Joyce, she's grabbing something from the car and i'll finish signing these documents and then I'll treat ya to donuts and coffee in the park" Faith slowly let her go with a kiss and got back to work as she sensed Buffy being more of a nuisance to her mother than a help but it caused an upturned smirk to acckmpany her quick work.
She was happy, worried Willow would do something stupid but also very very happy as her eyes caught a rustling of morning wind reach its way through the trees and she realised how wonderful it would be to greet the sun with her beloved wife. hell, she was already in a sundress and the sun was shining gracefully.
Today was going to be a lovely day for them both.
~~*
Shots rang out through the decrepit aged warehouse as Dawn let loose and managed to nail a very slippery salamander demon who was once quite the snappy dresser. she would of even say he was quite the charmer if it wasn't for the fact she had caught him and his crew innthe midst of butchering some local women and children.
She had never trusted anyone who dressed as a priest ever since Buffy had become a Slayer there was always some slimey, overly charming member of the clergy who was less about the above and all about the below. fake memories but very useful in this moment as Persephone summoned purple thorns which impaled 2 of the best sharpshooters and Dawn finally got some breathing room at long last.
"Baby, we got 3 left, and 7 survivors, 2 butchered... blind and pincer!" Dawn didn't have to wait for persephone to hear her as the blind light formed in her clasped hand and she chucked it overhead like a grenade from behind the concrete steps she was hidden behind.
Persephone charged the blinded fools with Dawn who were shooting wildly into the air and after a few moments and a few well placed shotgun blasts the cannibals were finally out down but 2 unfortunate souls had already been butchered beyond recognition and it would of filled both girls hearts with sorrow if they didn't have a job to perform and a duty they personally held to heop these survivors home.
"I'll take pictures and walkie the local sheriff as we planned, cut the survivors free and we'll wait for help to arrive" Dawn did exactly what she said and took pictures of everything she could, the heaps of human and demon flesh who were victims and perpertrator. The rivers of dried blood which indicwted they had done this many... too many times before and the speacialised stoves they used to cook...
It was too much but ahe kept a brave face and a stoic attitude as Persephone helped the thankful but understandably panicked survivors who were being untied and praying to whatever gods they believed in, thankful for the rescue.
Dawn let the Radio fall back to her jean clad hips and the news the sheriff was only five minutes away had been heard by everyone and seemed to give them a feeling of security they hadn't felt since being captured but the jubilee was short lived as the warehouses rust drenched doors opened to reveal a very confused and increasingly angry looking bull demon covered in chains and body parts.
"Baby, shields up and get in the protective circle with the survivors... looks like we got one more to go and isn't he a chonker!" Dawn holstered her shotgun and challeneged the demonic beast with her Threaded cane which only seemed to anger the cannibal freak even more.
Hot steam shot from his bovine like nostrils as he refused to use his words, Persephone was already casting her spells and every survivor was huddled behind her in fear as the demon used his immense strength and blood drenched chains to charge the young but elegant bounty huntress who weaved him with expert spacing. She managed to smash the threaded cane into his jaw and temple before she slid between his legs and jabbed him clean in the nutsack.
He dropped to the floor in pain but was up before Dawn could switch her cane to electrified whip mode and she took a few steps back to allow him adequate time to get up and try again. Persephone barrier had functioned perfectly as the beast chucked a loose limp from his chains at the barrier and it burnt the flesh info nothing but a charred lump, the beast turned to Dawn as he realised the barrier was an obvious no go.
"What's wrong big boy, not man enough to fight a little lady such as myself... all that muscle and not much brains eh? shame" Dawn struck a strong pose as she danced about the beast and cracked her whip painfully against the monsterous creatures hide, his screams filled the warehouse as he swung wildly but never seemed to connect and only pound concrete.
Dawns elegance had really become something wonderous to watch and it was all because of Faiths rigorous Estoc and Rapier based training and advanced mixed martial arts lessons, she had become quite a formidable warrior and it showed as she flipped over the beast and warpped her bladed electrified whip around its neck and spoke a command which caused the whip weapon to unnaturally constrict and pop his head of like a crushed berry under her thumb and forefinger.
The creature stumbled forward a few paces and collapsed as the local sheriff could be heard pulling up outside, Persephone took that as a cue to disable the destructive yet useful barrier she had summoned and made sure everyone made their way to the front of the warehouse.
Dawn waved them out and bowed elegantly as the townsfolk were in shock but also happy to be survivors of the evil Cannibalistic cult which was now happily dealt with. Even though as she looked over all the blood stains both dry and old, the meat hacking tools and the cooking area which looked like something out of Hannibal lecters wettest of dreams.
Dawn was considering purifying the place with fire as the sheriff rushed in with his too very green behind the ears duputies and looked on with horror at the scene of unimaginable horror that lay before them. The youngest who had only had the badge for a little under a month thre his guts up at the sight and his boss took his hat off to pray, which was an understandable reaction considering the carnage.
The other deputy was more shocked that such a small girl had caused this amount of death and carnage, his eyes went straight to her whip which had reformed as she turned to greet them with a slow and solemn bow.
"Good morning Sheriff, I am the Bounty huntress Dawn Summers, the job is finished and all concerned parties have been neutralised as per the bounty agreement, i have taken pictures for proof and also for your records... i do have one request though if you would hear me for a moment" Dawn tapped her cane to the cold uneven ground close to the stump of the giant dead bull demon, the sound echoed unnaturally through the warehouse and commanded the sheriffs attention.
The aged man with skin like wrinkly old leather and a bristle thin moustache that seemed to shiver as he finished praying and gave his full attention to the professional but oddly youthful bountry huntress who stood before them all with a strong aura which commanded respect and oozed power.
"Well, little lady this whole situation is beyond anything i've ever seen in my 50 odd years on the job, if you've got something to say... ya might as well say it cause i'm a bit lost for words at the moment deary" The Sheriff placed his dark brown bowler hat back on his head which hid his obvious bald spot and aftually made him seem a little bit younger than he actually was. he stood there waiting as his deputy finished hurling up the contents of his breakfast all over the dirty old warehouse.
Dawn looked around and eventually pointed to the stains and fresh blood that led up to the dismembered victims and she spoke with a commanding tone. "I wish to magically destroy this old warehouse and purify the ground with white hot magical flames, if you wish to..." Dawn paused for a moment as she decided on the correct words to use whilst describing the victims of these filthy monsters.
"If you wish to return the poor souls to their loved ones, you have one hour... i will not suffer this place to stand any longer not while the blood is still fresh lain upon the stone" Dawn awaited the old sheriffs answer but he just paced as he considered what to do and finally his deputy who had just been staring at Dawn spoke up.
"I think she has a point boss, we can find out who they were from the survivors and lay 'em to rest, as for the body parts... we can transport the remains in those body bags we got laying in the wagon..." The deputy sounded like he had a plan and the sheriff nodded in affirmation and told him to get the bags and he'd help as long as he took the other deputy outside and put him on survivor watch.
As the Deputies left and the old sheriff and Dawn were left alone a silence fell over them for a few moments, a silence filled with understanding and respect for one anothers jobs and positions in this very moment.
"Summers, this old warehouse isn't owned by no one now... before we go you can cast your spells but we'll pray for the fallen dead, it is the least we can do for these poor folks" The sheriff seemed to be quite distraught about the whole situation but was holding together well, he tried to change the subject as to lighten the mood.
"Summers, ya said your name was... Is your mother Faith Summers perhaps?" He looked her up and down and she Moved closer through the carnage but with a slight grin as she confirmed his suspicions, she looked quite similar in many ways except her hair was slightly lighter and absurdly straight and her eyes greener but with a michevious glint that was well hidden.
"Yes, my mother is Faith Summers and my other mother is Buffy Summers. have you met them both before? the latter is basically the Mayor of Al-kufir and also Patron these days" Dawn spoke with a hint of pride she couldn't help but let free and it showed to anyone she came across.
"Your mothers... odd lineage but yes, your mothers saved the town a year back from a bunch of bandits... i had no idea two women could conceive a child, especially since they can't be any older than 20 themselves... are you adopted?" The sheriff expected a reaction but Dawns lineage was no secret and she had no intention of keeping it here in this world.
"Nope, i am made from both of them, i was a magical being forced into this skin and it might not be the normal way but this dimension is full of alot of strange conceptions methods... i know a family of Rockmen back home that grow their children for centuries and then they just plop off them and become Rockmen... it's odd" Dawn cheekily grinned as the Sheriff shook his head and tried to clear his mind from the absurdity of it all, yet couldn't get over the idea of her age.
"Odd is one way to word it... you can't be over 20... and your mothers are young as well..." The sheriff mused but was cut off by a raised hand as she closed in on him and now calmly stood next to the aged law keeper with a cheery grin. she knew her actual age would freak him out, but it made her giggle internally when people found out.
"I'm physically 16 but I haven't existed in this form for that amount of time, under a year in fact... but my magical side is Millenia old and i can see my past with almost perfect clarity now after alot of hard work and magical learnings" she said the last hit with a slight southern twange and lightly bowed which caused the Sheriff to just ruffle his mustache and shake his head in disbelief.
He scoffed a little but was rather jovial about the whole exchange. "Weirdest person we had was that bird man who worked down McAndys farm... could split himself in half when he ate too much... think his clone works for the post office now, but hey... takes all kinds i always say" The sheriff turned to see Persephone walk back into the warehouse with the deputy in tow, carrying the body bags and his slight smile turned to a frown once more.
"Well Summers it was nice while it lasted, thanks for keeping my mind off the... well, the sadness of it all" The sheriff took a body bag and began to colledt the pieces of the cannibal cults victims. it was obvious to see he took no pleasure in this part of the job, but he was acutely aware that it must be done.
Persephone placed a hand on Dawns shoulder as the law makers cdid their duty and spoke in a light whisper, "Survivors are by the other deputy and trying to keep their shit together, this is one hell of a mess aint it. poor people" the jet black hair flowed freely in a light breeze that entered through the main entrance and set a chill to run up both their spines and yet the reality of the situation managed to keep them calm and grounded.
"I spoke to the Sheriff, when the place is cleared i'm going all Sodom and Gemmorah on this warehouse, but they'll pray first... it's only right afterall" Dawn didn#t take her eyes off the law makers as if she was punishing herself for not saving the victims, she could have hunted them last night but chose not too as she was tired from the journey.
Dawn knew she wasn't that tired and really just wanted to get her lover into bed and have her way with her... and because of that two people got butchered and it was all her fault.
"Stop it... i know what you are thinking!" Persephone pulled her close from behind and held her close as her emotions may have been hidden from those who didn't know her hut to her lover it was as if her internal pain was a tsunami crashing about around her.
Dawn took a deep breath and kept her voice controlled as she responded, "We shouldn't have gone to bed early, we should have done this last night... it was selfish and 2 people have died because i couldn't think straight.." Dawns voice sounded cold and unusually depressed but Persephone refused to let her believe she could have done anything to save them sooner.
"And how long where they killing, over 4 years according to the poster, going town to town... no other bounty hunters caught em, did they?" Persephone turned Dawn around and her purple eyes rested upon Dawns emerald orbs and settled there with an understanding look.
"We stopped them, you have saved an unknown amount by being here today and doing your job... you didn't even exist when they began perpetrating this evil upon the small towns... you might be magical but you aint that damn magical to stop something like this before you were even born" She brushed a soft hand over her cheek and Dawn nuzzled into the tender warmth and accepted the harsh but obvious truth her muse was presenting her with.
"I just, wish we could of helped more is all. but you're right... hey after this we should get some breakfast after cashing in... we can eat by the fountain in the main street if you want" Dawns offer sounded like music to her girlfriends ears and she took her up on the offer happily.
"Only if we take alot of pictures for our journals, i'm kinda liking the start of our adventures, lots of kissing and thrilling heroics... just how a book should be" Persephone planted a passionate lip busting kiss on Dawns lips and she had to remember they weren't alone but thankfully the sheriff and his deputy were too busy working to glance their way and catch them kissing.
They both breathed a sigh of relief as they parted because they heard the Sheriff confirm they had finished up the body part collection and were ready to leave the warehouse and let the bounty huntresses do their job. Dawn with her darling in tow lead both the sheriff and the deputy out of the main entrance and noticed a few villagers who weren't a part of the survivors or a member of the law makers had arrived with vehicles to held transport the survivors who were most likely related to them and greatful to see them safe.
"Sheriff, get everyone to a safe distance 400 metres at the minimum, this place is about to become a rather flat square shaped crater" Dawn waited until the Sheriff placed the body bags and placed them in the badk seat of his beaten up police wagon, he warned everyone to get back as the huntress was about to destroy the warehouse with powerful magic and they needed to step back atleast another 100 or so metres just to be safe.
The survivors seemed ok with the idea and happily did as they were told but watched from a distance as it wasn't every day you got rescued and got to see powerful magicks being performed. The sheriff gave confirmation and Persephone moved back but stayed alot closer as she casted a small protective barrisr for herself as she was thoroughly aware of the spell Dawn was about to conjure afternall the lessons they had taken together recently with Ruby.
"Ima khal... montiero es valhima! Val Moralis!!!" Dawn charged herself with holy energiesxand channeled them through out her entire body before placing her right hand towards the sky and the energy dissapeared into the clouds and seemed to grow there with a brillaint but eerie light that struck fear and concern for their own safety into the onlookers.
Dawn walked forward and vanished into the warehouse after a lengthy walk as she allowed the energy to build above them, after a minute and a half a sharp but lengthy whistle was heard echoing throughout the warehouse and the energy twisted within the clouds and suddenly shot back towards the warehouse and back to Dawn who was the lightning rod for a cube like and mighty pillar of light.
The light completly decimated everything in its path with a mighty strike out unbelievable power, the energy was pure white and crackled with blackened lightning for over 9 seconds before dissapating into nothiness along with the warehouse and all of its contents. all that was left was a blackened square dugout of scorched earth with a defiant figure standing withing the middle and chanting an unknown spell of protection, although no one but Persephone could tell at this distance.
From the shocking light and unbearably loud strike no one could keep there eye open for long after being blinded by the sudden light, only the sheriff and his deputies had the foresight to wear their sunglasses to lessen the blow to their collective retinas.
Dawn finished her chanting and made her way out of the now flat burnt earth of the once disgusting cannibal hideout, she walked slowly back towards the survivors and Persephone followed next to her and as she told the Sheriff the job was finished and she would collect her pay upon her return to the village.
The Sheriff waited for everyone to get their visions back and for one or two of the survivors to stop screaming how blind they were now and bla bla bla. it was all so troublesome when normal citizens were unaware of those who could chuck ancient and powerful magics about as simply as a curved stone skipping across a silent pool.
"We will talk to the local stone mason and have a memorial erected, the families would like that, we've lost so many in the last few months... to these animals..." The sheriffs voice was dour but he tried to hide his feelings by twiddling his glorious mustache and changing the conversation rather abruptly.
Dawn just turned to Persephone and pulled her in for a light kiss on the forehead that caused her to blush a deep shade of pink that she tried to hide with her long and flowing het black hair. The Survivors were being piled into the cop cars and the Sheriff offered them a ride back to town but they both decided to walk back to town as it was such a beautiful day and they saw no reason to waste the fair weather when they live in a desert.
The aged Sheriff tipped his hat to them both and told them he looked forward to cashing them out and the drinks would be on him, Dawn wasn't fast enough to tell him she was alcohol free and didn't like the taste or weird buzzy feeling it gave her before they had all left and began the short drive back into the sleepy village.
Dawn sighed as she turned to take Persephones arm and link it with hers before starting on their quiet walk back. "The birds sing differently here ya know, we can take some pictures on the way back if you'd like?" Dawn chucked the suggestion out there and Persephone jumped at the idea as she knew exactly what kind of picture she wanted to take.
"There was a lightly wooded area we passed on the way here with a destroyed stone wall... if the sun hits it right i might be able to plop you on the wall and snap a masterpiece... that i'll have my way with later" Persephone purred and playfully nibbled Dawns ear which she knew drove her crazy with lust but she controlled herself slightly by stealing a chaste kiss.
They both enjoyed their private walk back to the village and they both got a lot of snaps in the bag and even managed to have a little fun before returning later than expected back to town, they managed very simply to enjoy their day but back in Sunnydale the Red headed witch was fighting for her life against something that shouldn't have awoken and this time wasn't her fault.
~~*
Willow had been angry and enraged after her verbal beatdown at the hands of her once best friend who had, if she was completly honest with herself told the absoloute truth and grown up alot faster than she had and was progressing her life along at an honestly 'supernatural pace' to the point she had a magical child who was now in a relationship with a very pretty woman named after the greek goddess of death with all the strength and skill to back their powers up.
Tara was her rock these days and it was all new and scary but also so, so wonderful in delightfully delicious ways. But she didn't need to hear her new girlfriend vent about all the things that were driving her up the wall, she wanted her to just be happy and all cute and sparkly like she usually was.
But Tara was having none of that as she was a very talented readee of Auras to the point even someone like Ruby asked her opinion on anything aura related and even enjoyed teaching her more advanged magical and aura reading techniques along the Slayers and their deadly daughter. and even now she was at the magic box and along with Anya was helping Ruby set up some very deadly defences to protect them all when Glorificus finally arrived.
Willow had only got to the end of Rovello drive when she saw something she had never expected to see just speed past her and it was a very odd looking Blue haired woman and an older and much more ruggedly handsome Wesley Windham price, but the energy about them was all wrong and she could sense the time distortion all about herself as the blue haired Women was gone and entered through a sudden portal.
"Willow, i'm from a year or two in the future, Spike destroyed Wolfram and heart and now we're fighting Old ones! anyway i have to go, oh! tell Buffy and Faith thanks for the their help in the future if you get the chance! bye..." And as quickly as he appeared, Wesley was gone through the portal and Willow was just left standing their under the soft morning light wondering what the hell had just happened.
After a few moments Willow shook her head and cast a spell to send the new memory back to Buffy and Faith but also a message to 'discuss it with Ruby' as Willow just wanted ro be left alone today and actually walked over 6 miles back to her shared dorm room with Tara and meditate on her worriesome troubles for alot longer than she normally would have.
It was mid day as a weary Tara came home and fell onto the bed they had begun to share without even realising the room was blacked out from the cutains and the only lights were Willows candles burning brightly and illuminating her meditating form. But as she snapped out of it Both realised the other was in the room and a warm smile crept upon both of their faces.
"Meditating so deeply can be good for you Wills, maybe you could come over here and help me... meditate myself into a deep and restful nap" Tara was so tired she didn't even stutter nervously as she usually would and just climbed underneath the bed covers and held them in place to invite her beautiful red headed girlfriend inside and snuggle her to sleep.
"I could go for a nap, you wouldn't believe the weirdness of my day, time travellers and unwinable arguments aren't really my fortè you know" Willow sprung up and quickly locked there dorm room door as Tara had forgot too as she darted for the warm comfort of her bed without thinking about anything else at all.
Willow entered their shared sheets and snuggled up to Tara and let her lovers warmth overtake her as they began to passionately makeout even though the mousy witch could barely keep her eyes open and Willow herself had felt they would both benefit from a power nap, or just a weak and sloppy nap if they could get too it.
"Honey, you can't even keep those pretty eyes of yours open... lay against my chest, so i can hold you closer and whisper sweet somethings into your ears" Willow grinned from ear to ear as Tara happily complied and even planted a light kiss on her collarbone but fell hastily to sleep and Willow wasn't awake for that much longer either but her words were kind and loving.
Although the evening had arrived quicker than expected and Faith along with it, they had work to do as someone had released an unholy and ancient evil... a beast to proceed the coming of Glorificus and aparently bring the Ex-Slayers wife to come ruin her wonderful nap.
The three headed Medusa.
~~*
Giles was reading an old tome in the back of the magic shop which had a not so detailed description of the three headed hydra but instead had exactly what they needed, the functions of each head and the weaknesses which included Grecian silver and also any kind of magic not linked to the phases of the moon or the tides of the oceans. which funnily enough had no nullification effects on any magic from Al-kufir but this monster was an apocalypse level threat and was stronger than any of Buffys previous Sunnydale threats.
"This three headed Medusa is a pure demon, has stone vision, shoots fire from her eyes and can also affect gravity... within a 10 mile radius" Giles looked up from his dusty old tome and directly at Buffy who seemed unnafected by this extremly worrying news. instead she was looking over her rifle, handgun and machete, obviously preparing for the battle ahead internally and it was at this moment he knew she had truly outgrown him.
It wasn't unexpected now as she was a married mother to a magical child but it stung she had kept everyone except her closest loved ones at arms length but at the same time he understood why and her growth was commendable. That iron will was still there but her overly naive morals had corrected themselves quickly and in a more reasonable ways.
"Did you hear me Buffy? this Medusa demon is stronger than anything you've ever faced and taking a flippant attitude with this creature might get you killed!" Giles spoke in such a fatherly tone laced with worry that Buffy stopped what she was doing and turned to talk to him with an understanding look painted across her rose colored cheeks.
"Giles, we've killed stronger and anyway it's weak to magic which means we have a great chance to wreck it and also... magic doesn't affect us anymore like it would a Slayer or a human, we have Angelic powers now" Buffy turned to see Willow with Faith in tow open the entrance to the Magic box up and finished saying what she wanted before she would be intterupted by whatever came next.
"Anyway, the monster is a physical powerhouse, a head on collison is far from the best laid plan but... maybe? it depends on how the situation escalates" Buffy waited for Faith to kiss her and melted into her taller wife as if she had been yearning to see her again as if she hadn't seen her in years, not the 2 hours it had been after their mid day picnic where they discussed the strange Willow memory she had sent them both.
Giles cleaned his glasses and Willow walked up to the ex watcher who was happy to talk to the young redhead who herself seemed worried and also a bit lost as thing hadn't been like this for a long time, the whole gang working together and trying to find the solution to this demonic problem. it had become almost normal to live a normal life as Sunnydale had become safe once more and this moment actually made Willow feel an adrenaline rush for the first time in a very long time.
"Willow, you look a tad worriesome, Buffy seems quite confident she can take this beast down and of course she has Faith for back up. there doesn't seem to be anything we can do other than research and wait until the beast makes itself known" Giles handed her some tomes and Willow was more than happy to get to work as she had come alone and told Tara she should get some sleep so she could get back to the good old ways.
"We know most demons have left this dimension, this is most likely something old or a full blood demon that was trapped and didn't get the memo, Ruby showed me how to astral project and converge auras" Willow seemed to buzz with excitement as she may get to perform some strong magic once again and the idea made her brain buzz in a rather pleasurable way.
"When we did one last week we monitored all the remaining demon auras and it was miniscule at a low seven thousand and over six of those seven were sealed away and not exactly in any position to awake any time soon" Willow placed the books she was given and placed them on the table before returning and finishing her conversstiin with Giles.
"Funny thing is this demon is awake and was unsealed by a mix of this dimensions magic and also magic from Glories dimension, Ruby thinks it's Glories minions trying to grow an army after seeing how little demonic entities have remained on this side of our existence for bloodier pastures" the youthful redhead was handed a box of Donuts by the blonde shop keep Anya who decided to add her own twist on the conversation.
"You know it's kind of odd how you can't just track Glories minions and go all chainsaw massacre on them, my own friend Halfrek always said it was much simpler to execute your problems rather than suffer them" Anyas cheery attitude came off as odd but she did have a point, why couldn't they track these minions and just lop their heads off and be done with it.
Buffy who had been listening as she held herself against Faiths supple and strong frame gave her own answer to that particular question. "Because they have such strong 'hiding' magic or whatever Ruby called it but basically they can hide themselves from our detection magic and their aint a damn thing we can do about it" she yawned after she spoke and held herself back against Faith who just wrapped her back up in her embrace and slowly kissed the top of her head.
"Oh shit... well that's not entirely fair is it... good to know you're ok with the minion murder though, maybe we can track magical rituals performed in the last 24 hours" Anya seemed excited by the idea but this time Ruby burst out of the back room that led to the upstairs and answered Anya with a straight to the point attitude.
"Too many resident cast spells and rituals in this town and because all magic is linked to the seed in this dimension and ours isn't it makes it almost impossible for us to differentiate or investigate each and every magic user in this massive town" Ruby walked towards Faith who was leaning against the counter and holding her wife tenderly and magically removed Buffy with a flick of the wrist and made her float a few metres over with a rather un-ladylike huff of annoyance.
"What the hell, can't a girl hold her wife without being interrupted for 2 bleeding seconds... and people wonder why i prefer Al-kufir, except the main cultprit lives down the damn road!" Buffy whined and pointed directly at the magically inclined women who was now hugging her wife and also sticking out her tongue to annoy her even more and the problem was, it worked.
"Well i'm really popular today, must be my lucky day or sommin" Faith grinned happily as she hugged her mother figure back and gave Buffy a look which disarmed her anger and made Buffy just tap her heel down a bit too hard and hoped tap managed to hide the sound of splintering wood beneath her heeled feet.
Anya waltzed over to Buffy and gave her a gleeful but understanding look as she gave her a little pat on the shoulder and began to speak in her usual straight forward and blunt way. "Now, there there Buffy, she's a tall amazon beauty with unparalled strength... it's always difficult to keep the flies away from the honey even at the best of times. i recommend a large blunt object, it worked when i was human" Anya looked so pleased with her reasoning but alot of people forget she was last human over a 1000 years ago when vikings just took what they wanted whenever they felt like it.
"Unfortunately Faith doesn't like me chucking around too many blunt objects" Buffy moaned and she crossed her arms and sighed as Faith interjected with as to why.
"Everytime you swing around something blunt, i get a shining new bruise and it's usually on my head" Faiths head exploded with memories both funny and stupid in their own ways and one or two just complete accidents, she used her connection to remind Buffy and it just cause her to roll her eyes and then pout.
Ruby let go of Faith and moved towards Willow but not before giving them both news on Dawn and her adventures "Oh yes, Jean stopped me before i travelled back and told me Dawn took down a rather horrific cannibal gang, notorious in many places and has been handsomely rewarded" Ruby glided past Buffy and Anya as she came towards Willow and tapped her on the shoulder.
"Red, your girlfriend has quite the talent with auras, i have some books in the back for her to read so come with me and you can buy them for her, consider it a... well just a spontaneous gift she would very much adore" Ruby expertly linked her arm with the ginger witches and directed her to her soon to be rather expensive purchase but Ruby had really mastered the art of the sale ads Willow did truly believe Tara would adore such books.
Tara could expand her horizons and continue her studies and Willow would be able to learn along with her, hell it might even give her some brownie points in the bedroom and she would love to cash them in quickly.
As Willow disappeared into the back of the shop and into the black magic section, Faith couldn't help but feel a sense of pride at the news her daughter was saving lives and working hard to make the world a much better place to live in.
"A gang of Cannibals eh! that's my girl. next'll be a dragon or something if she gets lucky, i've always wanted to fight a bear or a dragon" Faith revealed as Anya wandered off and decided to continue on with her previous work and began to work the books as Giles got to his research and Buffy finished checking her gear for the fight ahead.
"If we ever fight a bear I'll need therapy, there deadly but so cute and fluffy. maybe we could just teleport them to a forest or something?" Buffy was given a strange look by everyone as she mimed a portal opening and pushing the imaginary bear through the invisible portal and Anya couldn't help but but in and gave Buffy a bit of advice when it came to bears.
"A full grown bear is taller than you sitting on Faiths shoulder and they can crush every bone in the body with very little effort, as for dragons i've never met a fully grown one so one would imagine it's not exactly a picnic. plus they are completly resistant to magic, it's why their bones and parts go for so much, imagine making weapons, charms and armors with something that powerful" Anya darted towards a specific book case and showed Buffy a part of a very informative book she would later take home to read out of curiosity.
Faith greeted Xander as he walked through the door without looking at him and he pointed out how creepy that was and she just waved it off by saying he had a very manly walk and it seemed to brighten his day quite a bit. he was grinning from ear to ear and Willow had returned with Ruby and was suprised to see Xander here as she thought he'd be deep in his work after he got his promotion but aparently not.
"Hey wills, i got the evening off so i thought i'd just pop in and see what's going down. especially since we're basically demon free. haven't seen a fang boy in months!" Xander sat down and Giles handed him a donut but gave him a look he had only seen when they were back in school and a long night was ahead of them, usually researching a bit bad or scary demon freak.
"Glories minions summoned a three headed Medusa, alas Buffy seems to have everything under control it seems" Giles lay the donut box on table and asked him if he wanted anything to drink and he went off to make him a coffee and Buffy and Faith wanted a mint tea each as it was good for the soul or so they both said.
Xander enjoyed the sugary treat but had to ask "Well if Buffy says everything's under control we have nothing to worry about, right?" He looked towards Faith who nodded an affirmative 'of course' and he took it as gospel but it was something both Willow and Buffy picked up on and seemed confused by it. afterall Xander wasn't originally on the Faith side of things and was very vocal about his distaste for the girl but ever since they returned he seemed to completly trust her after a few weeks and it rubbed everyone as slightly odd.
"Well no one will need me then, plus i have so much paperwork after taking the new promotion but my new flat looks great so i can't complain... Willow doesn't like the kitchen though..." Xander said accusatorily and Willow put both her hands up in the air as if he was pointing a gun at her.
Willow explained herself "It's just so small, i mean Xander doesn't cook alot anyway but he still needs a bigger kitchen. his balcony is nice though, it's had a nice view of the park" She noticed how proud he seemed to be adulting and she couldn't help but feel pleased for him and they Ex-Slayers seemed to agree.
Faith spoke with her usual deep and mysterious voice and it seemed to command these days more than allude to other things and everyone seemed to always listen when she spoke now, as if she was older, calmer and more controlled.
"Maybe we should pop over for a movie night, Buffy just got a few new videos, some Star Trek and the Phantom menace too but we haven't had time to sit down and watch em" Faiths eyes darted from Buffy to Xander and the latter really enjoyed the idea and asked Willow if she would bring Tara and Anya even got an invite which she seemed really excited about.
Buffy on the other hand didn't seem happy at all and yet Faith just shot her such a sweet smile that she just instantly caved and agreed with whatever she wanted. Buffy had a habit of going along with whatever she wanted as Faith always seemed to have her best interests in mind and she was aware of how much of an introvert she had become of the last year.
Even back in Al-Kufir she was much more social and it just seemed like all the work in both Sunnydale and back home had really gotten to her. Faith however refused to let her work get to her and was always enthusiastic to teach and now sell a majority of her work to the point she was now rolling in cash and even had her own plans to purchase a house soon for them both here but Buffy didn't see why she would and even argued against it.
"Man i've been wanting to see the new Star Wars film, question is... chinese or indian? which falls out of a mouth better when you get dazzled by sweet lightsaber duels!" Xander began to lightsaber duel Willow with a blue pen and her a HB pencil but was forced to stop as soon as giles returned with drinks in hand and everyone sat around the table and began to discuss a possible battle plan.
"Looks like me and my lovely wife will go out on patrol and us a spell or two to find the beast, maybe try and take it from a diatance? rather than head on... but just in case the Medusa can freeze us we kinda need you Wills, ya might have to de-stone us or teleport us home" Buffy seemed to really put her trust in Willow ans although she was flattered by the notion she believed the young red headed Witch could save them both it was completly unfounded from her point of view.
"Shouldn't you take Ruby instead? she's the real deal, i usually mess up alot of spells or..."Willow began to panic but Faith was quick to walk around the table and kneel down next to her, holding her hand and rubbing her shoulder gently as she reassured her and it seemed to help somewhat.
"Red, we trust you y'know... how on earth do ya think we'll get through this if we don't have the strongest Wiccan this dimension has to offer batting a homerun for us. I'll never understand why you get so nervous over all the little things" Faith gave her such a calming look that Willow couldn't help but feel a little flattered, maybe it helped because Faith was so beautiful and statueque most of the time but she shouldn't think like that about her friends wife.
Buffy also jumped in and said what she thought "Been trusting you since day one, might of been angry here and there but well i don't think right when it comes to Faith... But i've always trusted your ability, it's why when we're gone this is gonna be your job if you want it?" she slowly closed her eyes and suddenly her leather satchel appeared in front of her eyes and she decided to draw as they had time to kill since the Medusa in question was nocturnal according to the tomes and she never liked research anyway.
"I want to... be the big bad witch but, i'm not sure if i can, but i'll try ya know... that's all i can do" Willow sounded scared of herself rather than nervous and Ruby had noticed alot quicker than everyone else because she once also felt that way in her younger years and it was a familiar feeling and sight with those who were so magically gifted like them.
Faith brought her in for a hug and Willow blushed at the unexpected closeness and everyone noticed but kept their mouth shut as to not ruin the moment. "You're right Red, it's all you can do. But we will be here for you. hell i'm even buying a house soon since my sketchbooks and canvases are selling like hotcakes". Faith iust dropped that bomb out of nowhere.
Buffy who was doing a preliminary sketch was forced to stop and give Faith an annoyed look as she sat down next to her, she allowed everyone else to congratulate them but since she didn't look too pleased by the idea Xander was the first to ask why.
"Hey Buff, why the hesitation. it's not everyday a Slayer gets a family and buys a home but ya don't seem happy about it. so what gives?" Xanders voice was serious but still filled with worry and an obvious hesitation that didn't go unnoticed by everyone else.
"My home is in Al-Kufir with my lovely wife... she doesn't need to buy a house here because after Glory we are going home... hell, i'm basically the towns sole financier and Mayor. I can't let The Madame and Jean do all the work, Rhino and Sina work so hard for us as well and i just want to go home" Buffy turned away from Xander and everyone else and looked deep into Faiths warm dark eyes.
"I want to go home to the place we built together... I've left Sunnydale behind from the moment i found you in that desert town... why would you ever buy a house here?" Buffy inew why but she didn't think there was any real point to it all and even though Faith was about to tell her why she knew even now, if she could they would be at home right now and not in this empty hell world she had grown to despise more and more.
"Your mother is here, Dawns first breaths were taken here... I'm just making sure we have somewhere to come back to and somewhere safe that we can... well we both want more children and i wan't them growing up better than I did... with mothers that love them" Faith had said something she had never pointed out before and it did make sense, but Buffy didn't expect her to say it all so openly in front of everyone.
Before Xander could ask how Willow whispered in his ear exactly how they would do it after Ruby had offered her the same spells and Xander grinned from ear to ear and ending up being slapped in the back of the head as he seemed way too damn happy about it all.
Giles who was still reading had looked up from his magical tome and spoke with a fatherly voice which had always calmed Buffy whenever she felt lost in the past and it sure did help, even how.
"Well it's a nice idea, having two homes in seperate dimensions. quite the back up too if an apocalypse comes for us again, although with so little demons, this dimension will be safer than your home away from home don't you think?" Giles repositioned his glasses on the bridge of his nose and had directed his question towards Buffy who just shrugged and went back to drawing, she obviously had no interest in entertaining the idea and Faith refused to push it.
"It's just a back up plan, we'll be spending our years in Al-kufir but we will come back every how and then... mainly because i married a trekkie and she gets so dramatic when she misses an episode or two" Faith leaned ofer to give the women ignoring her a kiss but was met instantly with Buffy quickly kissing her back but also hastily going back to drawing as she was still annoyed but didn't have any real reason to stress the point.
"Well atleast i'm not in trouble. But anyway we got hours before the hunt begins and Red, get ya best wand out cause we'll need you at your best, ok!" Faith began to sketch herself after magically conjuring her own supplies and Willow could help but take umbridge with the 'wand' comment.
"I'm more of a gandalf kinda girl, plus staffs really hurt when you swing em about ya know" Willow mimed her kung fu, staff fighting moves and Completly decimated a fresh donut. much to the chagrin of both Giles ans Xander who loved the cream filled ones.
Alas soon they would have to fight the three headed Medusa and although Willow had her worries, the way both Ex-Slayers seemed so unbothered had managed to give her hope, hope that one day she could be like them both. she would of never thought there would be a day where she idiolized both Buffy and Faith, butnthe had become something so much more than they were before.
Maybe all they had needed was time, understanding and to get away from SunnyHell for a few years... maybe she should try it one day too, maybe Willow should go on an adventure herself.