In a place of eternal beauty, where no matter where you turned or looked everything looked perfect, stood three goddesses, Tokimi, Washu, and Tsunami. In the center of the room, stood a large throne. It was plain looking, being made of wood and having no decorations, but it gave an aura of power and respect, its owner being a being of great importance, and two tiers below that throne stood three equally beautiful thrones. The three upper goddesses walked to their thrones and sat down and contemplated what they where about to decide.
"Sister's, I have called you forth because the darkness that was created when we were brought into this world, has been growing stronger and I fear it will grow beyond us in a few millennia. Although we have been restricted from directly fighting one on one with the evil ones, we still can act and help indirectly," said Washu, the Goddess who had long spiky red hair that flowed all the way to the floor and glowed with an eternal beauty; her beautiful green eyes portraying to her sisters her fears.
"We must destroy it before it's too late; my people can not be left to suffer because of our inability to act." The youngest of the Goddesses Tsunami showed more emotion than the others and was considered weak by her middle sister
The middle of the three sisters turned toward Tsunami and anger was emitted from her like a clear dark wave, "You can not destroy something that is always around us, which is a part of us. You can only contain it and control it so that it cannot push you around. And furthermore, your people are not the only race out in the universe that will be affected, so stop being so sentimental and protective of them."
"Both of you shut up. I called you to together so we can prepare for the future. We all can look into many possible futures, but we can not know what exactly will happen." 'Even though I love my sisters I can't stand it when they start fighting and trying to impose their own views on the other.'
"But Washu-San," whine both Tsunami and Tokimi. Even as elder goddesses they still acted like children when trying to have their elder sister join their side.
Rolling her green eyes, she still wondered how they ever got anything done when all three of them where needed. Washu went on to explain her plan and how it depended on entrusting Tsunami the most.
"Why do we have to trust her with everything? Why her people and not mine? They may be symbiotic but they are very powerful," the pride she felt for her chosen race was evident in her voice. Tsunami chose to not reply to her sister's angry words and waited for her elder sister to answer.
"Her people are the most compatible with our powers and also, in many of our visions, they will grow to be very powerful and my chosen has also joined hers as well," Washu left no room for argument and the three prepared for what they had to accomplish.
Tsunami, the beautiful blue-haired goddess, hoped the best for her people but now she had determined their future. 'May my judgment not be the downfall of my people,' she mentally cried. Her pink eyes showed the worry and sadness at what she would bring upon one of her subjects if all else failed.
A cloaked figure sat in his throne in the grand palace. "Are you sure of this my daughter?"
"Yes father, I must know? How can I protect them if I do not know them," the female figure stepped away from her father and vanished from the room.
A giant ship can be seen entering the solar system. As it nears Earth, we can see that its hull is made of wood… but what kind of wood can be used for space travel? The large dome that encompasses the interior of the ship also protects the life, brain, and spirit of the ship, the space tree known as Ayeka. The ship, named after the crowned princess of the biggest empire in the galaxy, is commanded by and bonded to Prince Akiri, best friend of the lost crowned prince.
Prince Akiri exits his cryo-sleep chamber and a screen appears in front of him with Earth being displayed.
Xander had sneaked into the morgue where Buffy's body was being kept. He still couldn't believe that she was gone. His first love. His best friend. His hero. Gone from his world. He had to see her one more time before he left Sunnydale for good. His relationship with Anya had basically disappeared the moment Buffy died, devastated that such a powerful person in all their lives died. The effect of Joyce's death was still there, but it appeared ten-fold, and Xander did everything he could, but Anya ended up leaving a day after the event.
All he got was a note, saying:
Dear Xander:
My love and restorer of my soul, please forgive me for leaving. Sunnydale has just pushed me to my limits, I am still trying to come to grips with my mortal life and all the death is not helping. I must look for a life without Sunnydale, and it seems without you. I could never ask you to leave your friends, or Dawn. I know how you felt about Buffy and I know you will be Dawn's protector from now on. Please forgive me and I love you.
Anya
Trying to shake off the emptiness he felt without Anya, he made his way to where Buffy's body was stored. As he looked down at her body, he noticed how her beauty was still intact. Sadly, he noted that the sparkle that had made her unique was gone. This was the most painful thing he had ever done.
"Oh please, someone, anything, any god, or goddess, bring her back to me," he whispered silently, a small tear escaping his from his bloodshot eyes. He snorted as if anything good came from the higher-ups. He closed his eyes and bent over to give his best friend one last hug.
"Buffy, I will always love you… Please forgive me for leaving. I just can't handle it anymore. My world collapsed when you died." As he cried, he felt a sense of power flow through him.
Two small triangles appeared on his forehead and then a flash of light appeared around his body and Buffy's. The incredible grief he was going through has isolated him into his own little world of pain and misery. Thanks to his psychological prison, he failed to notice the effects, the slight drain, or the life that flowed back into Buffy's body.
"Goodbye, Buffy. You will always be one of my true loves." Xander turned around and walked toward the door of the morgue and suddenly a bright light appeared around him and he vanished right after he said, "Tsunami I am ready. Please take me to my destiny."
Buffy had gained consciousness the exact moment Xander disappeared, and she didn't fail to notice it… her enhanced Slayer ears even picked up his words. But what surprised her most was his declaration of love. His words where the last thoughts she had when she slipped back into a coma.
Giles was standing behind the counter looking through a new shipment of potions and books. Willow just walked into the shop and sits down next to Tara, who had been helping out Giles since Anya's departure.
"Hi Giles. Hi Honey," she greeted the two people, but her sad mood seemed to spread around the room, causing everyone's thoughts to drift back to Buffy… and Xander's disappearance.
"No word or letters from Xander, Willow?" Giles asked, actually managing to sound hopeful.
"No, Giles," the redhead sighed sadly. "And Buffy just keeps getting more depressed every time we mention him," she added, her voice portraying the gloomy cloud that had drifted above the Scooby Gang recently. Even the Scooby reference gave them a feeling of sadness as they remember the person that came up with the reference. Everyone felt the pain of Xander's disappearance, Anya's departure, and Buffy's near-death.
Buffy had come out of her coma two weeks after she was found in the morgue, alive. Since then, she had spoken barely more than two words.
All she would say was, "Xander's gone." And those words were all anyone could get from her. Even taking turns trying to cheer the blonde Slayer up, the Scooby Gang had failed to get any better results.
"What about Dawn, has she come out of her room or tried to be with Buffy?" Giles asked carefully, worriedly.
Willow managed to reply with an even sadder voice than she had used until now. "No… She won't even acknowledge that Buffy's alive. I-I think she blames Buffy for Xander's disappearance. I-I mean Buffy isn't helping the situation with Dawn by only saying that Xander's gone. We don't even know how she came back to life."
Finally, Willow's anger at the situation was starting to show as she went on. "I mean I can't help my best friends and then my best guy friend disappears. The weird feeling is that I know he is safe… I-I mean I can almost feel his essence out there. It must be all the advanced spells I have been practicing that lets me sense the ones I love," she said, finishing her little session, sat down next to Tara once more, and immediately started to cry.
Giles removed his glasses, rhythmically cleaning them with a random piece of cloth, and just let the tears flow at the loss of a dear friend. He was happy that Buffy returned, but with Xander gone, their reunion with Buffy was still a sad one. "Where can he be," he asked silently. "Why did he leave us?" he asked himself, not really expecting an answer.
At that very moment a chime was heard and "Maybe I can help with those questions."
Recognizing the voice out of millions, everyone in the shop immediately tensed up, managing to bury most of the pain and hurt deep inside. Turning toward the door, one pair of black-black witch's eyes bore at the newcomer. "Faith! What are you doing here! You're supposed to be in jail!" Willow barked out, the power she felt running through her body managing to overcome her shy and timid attitude. If the dark-haired Slayer tried anything, she would… she would do something bad, she was sure of it.
"Chill, Red. And try to relax. I was released and I am here about Xander," Faith replied slightly less cool than normal.
At the mention of Xander, everyone relaxed and the sadness took the place of the anger that was building up. Hope, even if it was only measured in slight quantities, started filling their hearts.
"Why would you know anything about Xander?" Willow's angry voice rang through the Magic Box. Even though the black-black of her eyes had died down, she still didn't trust the dark Slayer any more than she could throw her. And since Willow wasn't a particularly physically strong girl, that wasn't very far.
"Well, you see, he loves me," a big smirk was evident on Faith's face and it grew to a big smile as she saw Willow get totally pissed off. "He didn't say it so many words, but I am sure that's why he came to see me and talk to me," she added carefully now that she could see the table Willow was sitting on start to rattle. It had been some time since she had seen Willow, and Faith had no idea how far the redhead's powers had evolved. Judging by the sight of the large wooden table that was still rattling, the little redhead's powers had evolved pretty much.
"No, he never loved you," Willow said with conviction, rising from her seat.
Giles, knowing trouble when he saw it, interrupted the little global thermonuclear war that was about to befall his shop. "Well, Willow, there are a lot of things we don't know about Xander. Besides, why don't we hear Faith out before we make any judgments," he suggested, his weary voice indicating he didn't really have the strength to stop their fight, even if he had wanted to.
"Xander came to see me, according to Angel, the night that Buffy was found alive. He still believed her to be dead. We had a long talk and he listened, and was basically the X-man we love. I could see the pain behind his laugh and how he would try to not mention B or Anya. Now, don't ask me how he got in my cell, he wouldn't tell me, all I know is that when he left a big white-yellowish light surrounded him and he said, 'Now Tsunami.' I wondered what this Tsunami thing could be, but couldn't come up with anything, maybe you can G-man." Giles gave her an irritated glare and continued to listen to her.
Continuing slightly less abrasive, Faith said, "Anyway, he told me he would come and see me in about three months, so I figure he will be back in two months. I just have a feeling that he will find me anywhere I am so I figured I'd come and let you guys know and tell B personally. I have some things to go over with her."
"NO, you can't see her! You will get out of here and stop lying to us," Willow's eyes started to blacken and a dark aura started to surround her still standing frame. The table rattled.
'Damn some little babbling witch got a fucking back bone, but no matter.' For once Faith did not let her anger and the situation overwhelm her, "Willow. Look… I didn't come here to fight. I just came to see B and tell her what Xander told me, OK? I am sorry you're in pain and that Xander left, but it was too much for him," she answered calmly, raising her hands slightly to show she really meant no harm.
To say that Willow was shocked would be an understatement. As far as she knew, no one had ever seen Faith apologize before.
"Ok. Fine," the witch said coolly. "I'll take you to Buffy and Giles and Tara can stay and research on what you saw happen to Xander," Willow voiced her opinion. And the way she voiced it left no room for debate.
As Faith and Willow walked towards Buffy's house, the silence between them was starting to unnerve Faith. So, she decided to talk.
"So Willow, how has the demon factor in this town been," the dark Slayer asked levelly, managing to keep the tremor out of her voice. She didn't want to let on that Willow was starting to creep her out big time.
Willow was tired of looking at the negative side of life. She had done too much of that these last couple of weeks. Besides, with only a couple of blocks left to Buffy's house, Willow didn't want to arrive there fighting.
"Well…" Willow said, thinking it over slightly. "It's been unusually quiet. It's like all the demon and vampire baddies are scared. O-or some force has been keeping them in check. I mean the two weeks Buffy was in the hospital the vamp population exploded, but then… it just died down and Spike wouldn't tell us why. All he said was," and with that, Willow managed quite a good cockney accent to imitate the bleached vampire, 'Red, you wouldn't believe me if I told you.' So, the demon factor is down, which is good with Buffy's mental condition."
Faith let Willow talk her little rant. Not wanting to admit it, but she rather enjoyed the little rants every now and then. So, trying to remain friendly, she continued, "I heard that Buffy wasn't in action… but why?" Seeing Willow's posture change, she hurriedly added, "I mean she is alive, she has her friends, and well… Xander isn't in the way anymore. Don't look at me like that, OK?" she added with a slight incline in her voice when Willow's head turned slowly and dangerously towards her. "That's what he told me. He said, that while he was around Buffy he got the feeling that she thought he was in the way." Willow relaxed marginally at the explanation. "Xander is the reason Buffy isn't 'in action', as you put it. He was the heart of both the group, and of her. And she took him for granted… and now that he is gone, she doesn't know how to cope with all the stress. She ignores everyone and just says his name. Even Angel couldn't get a response from her… save for her trying to stake him, that is."
"Holy shit, B almost staked her Angel! Now he didn't tell me that," Faith said, sounding strangely emotional all of a sudden. She and Willow continued to talk and the conversation deviated to things other than Buffy.
Faith and Willow let themselves into Buffy's house, and Dawn walked up to them and gave a death glare to Faith. "What the hell are you doing here? Don't you think Buffy is in enough pain?" the girl asked, outraged.
"Look little girl, I know how you've been treating your sister so don't give me any lectures." This statement from Faith quickly quieted Dawn, but did not lessen the glare she was giving Faith. "I didn't come here to fight you or your sister. I came to talk to her and then to you."
Faith and Willow walked to the door leading to Buffy's room and knocked before going in. The knock was just a formality, since Buffy wouldn't answer them at all, but politeness still told them to do it. As Faith walked in, she noticed Buffy sitting near the window cradling a picture of Xander. 'So, she finally realized how special he is'. Faith was starting to get angry at how Buffy had ignored Xander over the years, and how she had treated him like less than shit. But then again, seeing her in a depression changed Faith's attitude towards Buffy quite quickly.
'Damn, B, I've never seen you so fucked up.' Faith just stared at Buffy and noticed how fragile she looked. She didn't look like the almighty Slayer, nor did she seem like the Slayer that she got ignored for. 'Well, Xander, I promised that I would one day make my peace with B, even though you thought it would be one-way conversation. This will be just as good.'
At this point Faith decided to get Buffy's attention. "Hey, B, I am back and well… I bring good news about Xander." Faith's smile vanished immediately as Buffy turned from the window and charged at her.
"Don't you mention his name bitch, or I will kill you," Buffy said dangerously. The raw passion behind Buffy's words scared Faith; she wasn't here to fight after all… she was here to help. 'Now don't do anything stupid Faith,' she thought to her self.
'Well, I am back again. Just like last week. Here to kill those bastards that took her away from me. I know that they didn't do it. Not personally. Their evil was what took her away from me, and I will fight them until the day I die. I owe it to her.'
Xander walked through one of the many cemeteries in Sunnydale as he patrolled. Since his departure, he had made it a habit to return every week and dispatch a large number of the ugliest and strongest vampires and demons he could find, before returning to his training. He was still surprised that not once had he seen any of his friends throughout the whole month. 'They must be taking Buffy's death really hard, but at least I'm able to keep the uglies away for them,' he thought to himself as he went through the park.
As he walked through the cemetery, he noticed ten vampires around two graves. 'Damnit. Now I have to dust these vamps and stop two freshies.' Xander sighed, and readied himself for battle.
"Yo! Pale, stupid and ugly!!" he yelled to the biggest of the group. Inwardly, he felt the anticipation of battle.
"Look, it's dinnertime," the leader replied to his group as they started to circle Xander. "Well if it isn't Obi Wan Kenobi. What's with the getup," the leader asked Xander, who looked at the robe he was wearing. It did resemble the Jedi outfit… slightly.
"Well the Jedi look is in," Xander said, remaining still. "Come get some," he added with a smirk, which was hidden by his robe. He waited until the leader was about to strike him before he ignited his sword. His gift from the Goddess Tsunami was more than just a sword or a cool-looking rod of energy resembling a light saber. It was the second most powerful Juraian blade ever created, the second master key to all their ships.
The sound of the blade took the leader by surprise. 'This guy thinks he's a real Jedi. Easy prey… he's a lunatic!' The leader backed off and decided to change tactics. After all, they outnumbered the wannabe a dozen to one.
Instead of him fighting this Jedi wannabe, the leader decided he would have all of them attack him at once. He figured he could stay behind and supervise. 'The loss of a few men to get this grub taken out would be worth it', he thought.
"Ok boys! Surround him and when I give the word, attack!" He didn't care if Xander heard him. The leader believed in his superiority of numbers.
"So now you're getting all cowardly and not fighting me vamp to human, huh?" Xander taunted. "Come on! Show your boys you can kill me!"
This totally pissed the leader off, but the vampire, over one hundred years of age, didn't live to be that old without becoming careful.
As they circled him, Xander started to get annoyed that they wouldn't attack him. He was really fired up and wanted to test the latest bit of knowledge he had been given. As all nine of the vamps surrounded him, a grin could be seen through his hood.
"What the fuck you laughing at, Flesh Bag? My boys will mop the floor with you and then we will have a nice little snack with you," the big toothy smile that the vampire gave Xander only irritated the robed warrior more.
"Well, how about this?" Xander concentrated on his weapon and then another blade appeared at the opposite side of the other. He loved his weapon. It reminded him so much of Darth Maul, even though they were clearly on opposite sides of the Force. "The Force is weak in these young ones, prepare to be dust," Xander cried as he jumped up into the air. While descending, he made a three hundred and sixty degree spin in mid-air, blade extended. He decapitated three of the vampires in front of him. The leader, seeing that three of his gang were cut down in a matter of seconds, decided to run.
As the leader started to run, he saw something that made him laugh. The unknown Jedi-character jumped up, his double-bladed energy weapon zooming through the air, but instead of hurting the other vampires the blades extinguished leaving the man land on his feet looking confused.
Xander had it all planned how he was going to end this battle, first he was going to stab the first vampire through the gut, pull the weapon straight backwards, stab it through the second's chest. Then he was going to complete his mid-air roll and land, and start swinging the weapon as if it were a staff, decapitating the third and fourth vampire, and bring it around to take the head of vampire number one. Vampire two, who would be hurt, would just looked scared shitless as he would bring the weapon down to take the vampires head. Being all heroic he would then jump up high into the air, and landed right in front of the leader, facing him. Then after taunting him to touch the sword he could laugh as it baked to a crisp! He could easily imagine it, "Yo, fearless leader! Come back here," he would yell at the turned-tail and running vampire. "I'll tell you what. I'll give you my weapon and then we will see who is tough." All confident he would walk back, "Alright Give me the weapon and let's see how tough you are," The leader's confidence having grown tremendously, with the knowledge of having such a powerful weapon and then he would become unstoppable!
Xander internally chuckled as he thought what would happen next, "Here," he would throw the weapon to the vampire and smile.
He even imagined how confident the vampire would be, 'Not believing how gullible this mortal was, and the vampire would catch the weapon.' Immediately, the vampire started screaming, sparks of power flowing from the handle up over his arm. "Help me!" he would scream as he'd noticed his arm catch fire from holding the holy relic.
Then Xander thought he could make a great line, "Forgot to tell you that the weapon was made as and revered as a holy relic… oops!" he would laugh as he'd will the weapon into his hand and walked away from the burning vampire.
But it didn't go like that, his whole plan went to shit as he lost his concentration and the blade was extinguished. He was shocked he had practiced for hours and weeks on end on wielding this weapon, but it looked like keeping his concentration up during battle was harder than he thought. 'Shit now what!' Before he could do anything though one of the vampires kicked the Akiri-ken from his hand and the whole gang started to rain blows down on him.
The leader was extremely happy; his underlings where doing wonderfully and he had only lost the two new vampires and the weakest grunt. He watched as they totally tried to dismember their enemy.
Xander wasn't totally surprised that he fucked up, he had messed up so much in his life, why not this. 'Can't I do anything right!' He grunted as a kick connected to his backside and gave some damage to his kidneys. He knew he had to do something or else he would die. He tried to ignore all the pain that was coming from the kicks and claws that kept hitting him and opened the connection he had to the Akiri-ken. Being so weakened he was only able to summon it without the blade already active.
'I hope this works,' the wooden handle moved faster than a human or demon eye could see and appeared in his hand. Concentrating and trying to ignore the pain, he tried to use the blades nature force field to repel them, but again another kick to the head distracted him. 'Ah man that hurt!' Finally not able to move the attack stopped and the leader of the gang walked up to him.
Picking the human up by the neck Xander was turned to face the leader. "Time to die young Jedi," he said as he prepared to kill this whelp.
Spike had just witnessed the most incredible action scene he had ever seen go wrong. He has fought all his undead life and never has it been so spectacular failure of fighting ability. It must be the light sword that made it cool at first, because it only lasted like 30 seconds, the vampire laughed to himself, then he gasped as the leader screamed in rage and pain.
Xander did the only thing he could. He jabbed the hilt of his sword into the vampire's chest. The others looked on mortified as smoke billowed up from around where the sword touched him before exploding in a cloud of dust leaving only Xander gasping for breath.
Xander was released as the others moved back in shock; one of them quickly composed himself and ran at him in pure anger. Seeing the incoming bogey, Xander dived out of its way and coughed up blood as he landed on the ground. He got up and concentrated as he ignited is blade. He noticed that the blade was smaller and had was pretty dull compared to its bright bluish color now it was a sickly purple, 'damn beating took a lot out of me.'
Using all the concentration he had and trying to remember the basic skills from his training he went for an easy kill as the same vampire charged him. As the vampire charged him recklessly Xander step to the right and brought down the blade onto the vampires' head; the head flew off and landed on the ground before it turned to dust along with the rest of the body.
Spike was still shocked, there was only one person he knew that could take that kind of beating and still come out of it. "Droopy? Is that you?" The fear in Spike's voice really was evident. All that Spike could think of was to run and not cross him.
Two of the younger vampires had run off when they saw their leader explode so it only left two left. Xander didn't know if he had enough energy to take them on. He ignited the other end and noticed that the front ends blade shorted as a result. Calming himself and concentrating as hard as he could, so he could toss the blade at the two remaining vampires as they ran towards him. Controlling the blade with his mind through the link it had with him, he maneuvered it to try and cut one of the vampires in half. The vampire tried to dodge one end but the blade had twisted on its axis and cut the vampire with the opposite side.
The last vampire got to Xander before the blade reached him and the blade dropped to the ground as the two started fighting. Xander was feeling slightly better as his body healed itself faster than any other human could. The two were exchanging punches and kicks, Xander aimed a kick to the left knee but was blocked as the vampire raised his leg and took the hit. As a counter move the vampire uppercut his opponent, quickly disorienting Xander and followed up with two rapid kicks to the chest. Looking at all the options, he knew he had to use a side of himself he didn't like using. Having no choice Xander pushed all the pain and fatigue away and just charged the vampire and using his new acquired strength dove and ripped the vampires head off.
Spike made up his mind and started to leave as he saw the last vampire get decapitated. "Yo chip for brains! Turn around," a voice from behind him said. Spike turned around, slowly, and he was shocked to see the hooded figure he had just seen fight in front of him. 'How does he know I was here?' Spike wondered. 'I wonder what he wants… Oh shit! He wants to kill me!'
"You know I am a friend of the Slayer, she would kill you if you hurt me," Spike tried, on his best intimidating voice as he tried to act like he didn't know it was Xander. 'Yeah more like spit on my ashes and pat you on the back,' he added internally.
"Now, now, Spike. We both know she would be extremely happy to see you be dust," the figure replied calmly. Spike noticed the smile coming from the hooded figure. "But how is she going to hurt me if she's dead? And I know Faith isn't out of jail yet."
'Hmm, he doesn't know. That's good. Gives me a chance.' "Well… you got me there mate. Who are you?"
"It doesn't matter," the hooded figure replied icily. All I need to say is that you better keep your promise to Buffy, or else…" With those threatening words, Xander removed the Akiri-ken from its place on his hip and ignited it. The light blue light sword was highlighted by a blood red glow as it lit up Xander's face. Spike was shocked to see Xander completely healed and to even see Droopy was not bringing pleasant memories to mind. He still recalled a few hours after Buffy had died and Xander confronted him.
They where at the Magic Box after taking Buffy's body to the morgue and everyone else had gone home; all except Xander, Spike, and Anya; Anya who was in the backroom of the Magic Box, talking to Giles on the phone, leaving Xander and Spike alone in the room together.
Xander slowly walked up to Spike and slowly but steadily said, "Don't ever try to touch her again. I know you wanted to carry her to the morgue. If I ever see you attempt to touch her again I will not kill you. Instead I will slowly rip you limb from limb." And the worst thing about all of this was the fact that Spike believed each and every word of it.
But what shocked Spike even more was the simple fact that Xander had grabbed him by the neck and had lifted him up with out any problem. And it didn't help that his eyes where glowing blue with a yellow outline while he was doing it, either.
Xander dropped him and told him to let Anya know that he'd be back later to talk to her.
Xander removed his hood and slowly walked up Spike and placed part of the light blade on his arm and watched as it started to burn him. To Spike's credit he didn't run or move he just took the pain. "Spike. What did you just see?"
"I just saw you get your ass handed to you before you got your head out of your ass and it was -" he was cut off by a punch to the face and the blade placed once again against his body; on his shoulder this time.
"Wrong, you just saw nothing, you got me, nothing. Now, for the reason I came to talk to you." Xander disengaged the blade and stuffed it back from where it came and then he walked over to a bench and sat down while he waited for Spike to get a clue and follow him to the bench.
Xander just sat there, taking in his surroundings. Watching how the trees swayed with the wind and how the entrance to the cemetery was still rusted and needing of a replacement. All the times he patrolled with her and all the times they argued about him not patrolling came back to him. The outcome of one of those nights in his senior year still was clear to him and it was also one of the nights that changed who he was and what he was.
One thought went through Buffy's mind and it was that she had to kill Faith, 'That bitch must die; she must feel the pain I went through.' She moved away from the window and charged at Faith, with the goal of ending the dark slayer's life.
Willow saw the way Buffy was acting and it reminded her of the Angel incident and she knew that she would just get in the way. No matter how much she hated Faith, this confrontation had to happen sooner or later and all she could do was stay out of the way for now. Willow left the hallway, went to the living room, and waited for the two slayers to get through with the battle that was about to happen.
Faith waited patiently as Buffy came toward her. She noticed that the blonde slayer wasn't in top shape so she wasn't worried about a long drawn out physical fight. A verbal battle might be different though. Faith easily blocked the double kick Buffy tried to hit her with and caught both punches that where aimed at her torso. "Come on B, we both know you're not in top shape. For once listen, and don't react. Stop being stubborn, its can come back to haunt you later. Trust me I know," the last part of her little speech was made in a soft, sad tone as Faith noticed that Buffy had stopped fighting and had turned towards her bed.
Deciding that Buffy wasn't going to be the first to talk Faith composed herself, "Look Buffy, I only came to make my peace with you. I came to apologize for the way things went down and to say I forgive you for also making my life hell. I know you think you were right the whole time, but you treated me like crap even before I went bad. I realize now that I had others that cared, and that I didn't need your approval for anything. I'll be going now, and I'll also be coming around helping with the slaying until Xander returns. And he'll be back, he promised me. He may not know you're alive, but he'll be back." Faith turned and made to leave glad that her practiced speech was over, but was stopped by Buffy.
"Wait!" Buffy shouted in urgency, she wanted to know more about what happened to Xander and she also wanted to set Faith straight about what she said about forgiving her. "I didn't do anything wrong!" she said, as she thought about how everything went wrong back a few years ago with Faith.
Faith stopped and sighed, she knew that they were going to have a long conversation that she was not ready for. "Look Buffy, I am not really ready to have it out with you right now. I just came to tell you I'd be around and that we will be able to talk eventually. I also think we will have to have a group talk, because I also have issues with them. And I know they have issues with me, ok." Without waiting for a reply Faith left and walked out of the house, going straight to Xander's old apartment. 'It's a good thing he paid a whole year in advance; now it's mine,' she mentally chuckled. "Thanks Xand-man. Even when you're not trying, you are always looking out for your friends." She thought about her night with him and how he had told her about his place and how she was always invited.
Even though his wounds where already healed Xander tried to hide the blood spots on his clothing as he materialized in front of the holographic figure. He had grown used to the holographic-like woman who claimed to be the brain of the ship he currently was living in.
Tsunami looked at him with sad eyes, she knew he was hurt and that things had not gone according to his plan. "You are back to continue your training," she said evenly.
Xander snorted at the question, "Well dahh, I live here too you know. Plus looking at you helps." He smiled at her and walked through the ship going toward the training room. He had to learn to not loose his concentration, and that was what he was going to go do. Practice meditating. 'If some one ever told me I would meditate, I would have laughed at them.'
Before he could go into the chamber though he was ported into the main tree chamber at the heart of the ship, "You must first watch this," she then moved her arm and a series of images began to form around him. First he could make out the indistinct shapes of two fighters. One was graceful and flowing in the movement and it seemed enchanting. The other figure was fighting using simple basic steps that seemed like it was barely able to maintain against the other.
The images seemed to become clearer, sharper and he could tell that the first fighter was a female and definitely in good shape, while the other was a male and seemed rather plain. As he watched he could see how graceful she was though her attacks were vicious and unrelenting, seemingly beating him down.
"This fight happened many years ago, before many of the things that you now know were ever even imagined."
It seemed that the woman would certainly win; however, just as she performed a spin attack on him he brought his sword up and severed her hand from her body. The woman howled in rage and attacked. Though see seemed graceful still, she seemed to become more vicious and savage. But what truly seemed amazing is that her hand had almost instantly returned to her.
As he watched he could see that the male fighter's quick basic moves had repeated the same thing, this time on her other hand. And, like before, it regrew, and now she had lost all of her gracefulness and had turned to savage attacks. The fight came to a sudden end when his sword pierced her throat. Xander felt a lump in his throat as he watched her hands go limp as she hung from his sword.
"What have you learned from this?"
Xander looked at her stupefied, unable to form words much less draw a meaning from it.
She looked at him with her sad eyes and shook her head sadly. "Though her fancy moves and grace looked good in a fight and caused many that knew her to run in fear, his simple and basic attacks proved to be her undoing." Smiling at him slightly, she spoke like a gentle breeze through the trees as she added, "I know your heart. Do you see where in her attack that she made her four mistakes?"
'Four!' He cried mentally, 'I saw nothing that looked like a mistake.'
The image played again this time slower and he saw how the woman attacked and then spun around to throw some sort of energy at him when he took her hand. "There!" he yelled happily and she smiled at him.
"Correct, do not take your eyes off your opponent."
Again it played and he watched as she began to attack viciously, "Wait! There, she got angry and attacked, right" he smiled happy that he was catching on.
"Correct, if you attack in anger you will loose."
After her hand was cut off again she charged him like a crazed animal and then was killed. "She lost control of herself," he stated sadly as it seemed so sad to see her die. Though he couldn't see either of their faces, he was still sorry for her.
"Correct again. If you loose control of your anger, then the battle is over. You have lost." She stated it simply and he realized that he had missed one.
"What, what is the fourth mistake?" He looked confused; he had watched it twice now, but where was the fourth?
"Her last mistake was not learning from the past. Once he took her right hand he performed the same move and took her other one. If you do not learn from the past, it will only cause you grief." He looked at her and he had the strange feeling that she was not just talking about sword fighting. "It is time for you to continue training, go and think on these things." She then melded back into the great tree at the center of the ship as he turned to go away.
'Why can't she teleport me back, this ship is huge? But noooo, she teleports me to where she is, but can't send me back; and what the hell she could have easily materialized there.' He continued on his long journey to the training room, coming to the realization that it was probably her reaction to him trying to flirt with her.
As he finally neared the training room, he contemplated what he was shown and told, 'I did try to show boat before, no wonder I got my ass handed to me.' He also tried to shake the images of the fight, the beautiful woman ended up dying and he wondered what she did to deserve that. If there is one thing he learned from his fights in Sunnydale that all the vampires and demons that where overconfident and tried to show off always got killed and beaten to a pulp by Buffy. 'I won't be the one to lose because of overconfidence,' he thought as the image of him being swatted around by those exact vampires before he got his powers.
He kneeled on the mat and got into lotus position and tried to concentrate and center himself. He focused on his Jurian energy as Tsunami had taught him to, but couldn't really reach it because the battle he was shown kept playing over and over in his mind.
Willow saw Faith run out of the house and wondered happened, but she had come to realize that she couldn't pry into Buffy's life right now. It was no use, because Buffy was non-responsive. She got off the couch and walked up the stairs into Buffy's room, "Hey Buffy, you ok," she softly asked.
Buffy turned toward her long time friend and didn't know what to do or say. She really didn't want to deal with explanations and being babied right now. "I am fine, I just want to be alone."
Surprised that Buffy actually said something to her, Willow smiled slightly but then frowned because it had taken Faith to get her to respond. She sighed, "Ok, then I'll be going. Call me if you need me." 'Yeah like you will!' she mentally cried. Willow turned and left the premises thinking how everything had gone so wrong and how she couldn't even reach her best friend anymore.
As Willow walked out of the room, Buffy thought about what Faith had said and how she mentioned that Xander would be back. The one thought that she kept going through her mind was that she couldn't fail her friends, her sister, and her Xander. She got up and decided to do something that was a long time waiting.
Buffy was totally determined as she walked toward the room down the hallway; she was going to start getting her life together. She couldn't let it fall apart, 'I was given another chance, how many people can say they had a third chance at life. NONE!' She came upon the door and knocked.
After knocked three times, she decided to just walk in, 'I did it all the time before, why not now.' She walked into the room and what she saw almost made her cry. Her sister was asleep on her bed and around the entire bed were pictures of Xander, her mother, her, and the rest of the gang. 'She must feel so lost, like I do.'
Walking slowly and sitting next to Dawn, Buffy looked at the pictures and a tear left her left eye. She continued to look through the pictures for about an hour, before Dawn started to awaken.
Dawn rubbed her eyes and rubbed them again as she saw her sister sitting next to her, she was shocked to see her there. 'This has to be a dream, she never leaves her room to talk or see anyone.' "Buffy?" Dawn asked in a mixture of surprise and confusion. The pain she had gone through the last couple of months didn't seem to end; now she was seeing her sister in her room, it had to be a dream. "Why can't I have a good dream?"
Buffy smiled sadly at her sister, "It's not a dream." She felt the despair returning as she thought of the pain Dawn had to go through alone. Someone should have been there of her. 'I should have been there for her.' Even though the others were like family, they couldn't really take the place of a blood relative; she knew this because she could feel the emptiness her mother's absence left.
Dawn just stared at her sister, she was a lost for words. She had planned this happening eventually, the arguing that would go on. How she felt abandoned by everyone, by Buffy, by their mom, and by the only guy that was there the whole time, Xander. "You left me, you left me all alone and then you come back and you still ignore me like I am nothing. Is that it, do you see me as just nothing, a ball of energy without a soul?" cried Dawn as she tried to hold herself together.
Buffy wanted to scream, 'No! I don't see you like that,' but her sister's words hurt, possibly more than they were meant to. 'Maybe I was better off not coming out of my room,' she thought bitterly. Buffy bowed her head and she knew her failure was complete; no matter what else she had been good at, it no longer mattered. "I'm sorry," the words left her mouth before she could stop them, and before she would give her sister the chance to respond Buffy tried to stand and run away. Her legs failed to carry her as the images of Xander were all around her. "What have I done..." she cried before toppling over. The weight of all that was going on had proven too much for her to carry anymore.
Seeing her sister try to run and eventually fall, angered Dawn, "Is that you will do from now on, RUN AWAY!" Dawn stood up and walked towards her sister and kneeled down, 'It's time, no more beating around the bush.' "Look Buffy, I know you meant it when you said you're sorry," her voice softened as she said this and then hardened again, "but you have to stop running. Please, I don't want to be alone anymore. I'll be here for you too and I am sorry I blamed you for Xander leaving. It's not your fault, and it's not mine, it's his running like he did."
"I've failed…" she said softly. "Everything, everyone…" her voice became lost as she tried to gather her words again. Buffy had always been proud of being able to protect her friends, her family, but there was no protection from her. She was barely able to hear her sisters' words at first, but she forced her self to try harder. Inside her head she could just picture her family and friends looking at her, 'Whatever happened to the once proud slayer, the one we all loved,' they would say to her.
"No, Buffy, you haven't failed; even though you're the slayer you can also make mistakes." She paused and took a breath, as Buffy seemed to stop and appeared to be listening. "Look I have thought about this a lot and I don't blame you for jumping or leaving," Buffy looked up from the floor at her sister, "but I do blame you when you didn't let anyone help you when you came back." Buffy started to lift herself into a sitting position as her sister continued, "I'm not capable of handling all this stress, I also know you're not, that's why we have our friends and each other."
Buffy was shocked that her sister could understand what she had felt so clearly. To say the least Buffy was impressed and the first thought that went through her mind was, 'Wow, when you get so Yoda like.' The sheer levity of her thought brought a smile to her face as she regarded her sister. "I…" her throat hurt still but she had to force the words out. "I'm sorry for leaving you." She then tried to stand and instead just moved to her knees and hugged her sister. "I… I'm not good at this."
Pulling away from Dawn slightly she looked at her sister, "Thanks." Using her sleeve, Buffy whipped her tears away then stood slowly. "You… you hungry?" Dawn agreed and they both decided to go out and see what they could find, 'Things might just be alright, at least I can hope for it.'
Faith and Buffy were slowly walking through one of the many fabulous cemeteries in Sunnydale. The latest news from Spike had warned them that a new group of vampires where trying to expand their forces to oppose the two slayers. Things between them weren't perfect, but after fighting and verbally abusing each other, the two had come to the understanding that they had to give each other another chance.
Deciding that it was time to be honest with her fellow slayer Faith gathered her wits, "Buffy, I think it's about time to let you in on more of what happened with me and Xand a couple months ago in the cell." Faith used Buffy's name not only to show her seriousness but also show that the respect that she had for her fellow Slayer. 'Damn,' Faith thought, 'how do I tell her this?'
"Go ahead, I'm listening," she said calmly though she was more than a little apprehensive. Faith had helped her get through the last couple of weeks and it helped her forgive the rogue Slayer for her past mistakes. Not that it helped the others from forgiving her. But the more Faith revealed about that night the more Buffy was scared that she would hear something she wouldn't like.
She took a deep breath and waited for Faith as they casually patrolled the empty cemetery. 'Damnit, Spike! There aren't any vamps here! Trying to be alone with me, are you? Well, Faith ruined that.' Buffy chuckled at the thought and tried to keep the mood light, though the longer Faith paused, the more tense things felt.
"Well it's time I told it all. Well, at first, there was this blinding bluish-yellow light and there he was. He looked a wreck and his eyes seemed almost dead. He looked at me, pleading for help. I didn't tell you this, but he had been writing me in prison since the first week I was there. Finally I had a friend… Someone who cared, and forgave me for my mistakes. At first I would rip up his letters and then cry myself to sleep because I was afraid, B. Afraid that, if he really saw who I was that he would leave me." A few sniffles left her. She didn't like to cry in front of people, so she tried to contain herself.
She looked at Buffy, and remembered her promise to Xander. That she would try to live a real life and get peace between Buffy and herself. Faith sniffled some more.
A single tear can be seen flowing from Buffy's face, "I know how you feel, for so many years I kept him at arms length. Afraid of what could happen or what could be…but no more. I will not let any one else get that close to me."
Faith was shocked by Buffy's declaration, but she knew that once Xander returned, Buffy would change her tune. "Well the letters became intimate and he eventually visited me once a month. He forgave me Buffy… can you believe that? He forgave me and he said that he'd be there for me, but he's not. Not yet, anyway… but I have to hope that he will come back. Anyway, back to that night. He looked so helpless, so lost I just ignored every question of how he was there and I just hugged him. He cried for what seemed like hours and then he kissed me. He said I was one of the few that made him feel whole… which was a huge surprise. Well things expanded from there and we ended up sleeping together. Let me just tell you he was so gentle and caring, a totally different experience for me. It felt like he was afraid I would disappear."
As Faith continued to tell Buffy about her encounter with Xander, Buffy just stopped and froze. She couldn't believe what he did after what he had said. And with Faith, even though she had been making progress with Faith this was just a bit much.
Before Faith could register what was happening, she was punched in the face and was kicked into a tombstone breaking it on impact. "You Bitch," she heard from Buffy. She opened her eyes to see Buffy running from her.
"Oh shit! Good going Faith," she told her self out loud.
He had been training with Tsunami for the past few months working on his sword skills. After the cemetery incident, he took his training more seriously and meditated more so he could better control his power and his weapon. He wasn't shocked that it didn't come so easy to him, even after the memory transfer. The day she released the mental guards that kept him normal throughout the years was interesting and even still today he could recall the moment easily.
When Tsunami had approached him after he had begun his training, she had told him, "One more thing, Alexander."
"Xander," he had corrected hoping that he might be able to make things a little less formal all the time.
"Very well," she then moved closer to him though he could not tell if she was walking or floating. "In your past I've had to block your memories of me and your powers for your own safe keeping. Now that you have decided to begin your training it is time to remove those."
She had placed her hand on his head and he thought he should've felt pain, or a rush or something, but instead it was just the refreshing of his memories being brought back to the surface. "Three times have your mental blocks been knocked down. I am sorry for placing them but, without training, you could be a danger to your friends because of the demons it would attract. First was when you first revived Buffy, you did not know then, that something was wrong, so I just reinstated your blocks and you noticed nothing. Second was the Night you were almost turned and the third was just recently when Buffy had died."
After she had returned his memories he had sat down and actually let them wash over him, though these were not the best memories he had, they were still important. Xander could recall the Night that she was talking about in particular now. It had been back when Angelus was still around.
He couldn't believe it. He had had another fight with Buffy about dusting Angelus. He kept telling her that Angel was gone and killing Angelus would save lives. But she wouldn't hear of either that, or the fact that Angel couldn't be saved. Finally, when he mentioned Miss Calendar's death, Buffy had kicked him out of her house.
He slowly walked home with his head bent low and a single tear leaving his eye. 'I love her so much… Why does she do this? Doesn't she know what could happen? I don't want to lose any more friends!' He didn't notice the shadow that was following or the small giggle that the shadow gave off.
He was two blocks from his house when he finally noticed the shadow moving parallel to him and he started running toward his home. Then the shadow caught up with him and knocked him down. What he felt couldn't even be described as the figure smiled down at him.
"Oh my little kitten wants to play with me, Miss Edith will be so happy. You're one special kitten. Daddy doesn't like my kitten very much, but I'll change that." She slowly walked to where he was lying on the ground.
Seeing Drusilla was not something that he wanted to have happen to him. He slowly slipped out the stake that was in his pocket and was about to jump at her when she slapped him and kicked the stake away.
"Now, kitten! Play nice or mommy will have to be rough with you. But you'll like that, so please be naughty. I like being rough. So much power, so much grief," she purred as she caressed his face.
Xander knew only one thing was crucial: survival. He also knew that Drusilla apparently liked him. So Xander did the only thing he thought he could do to get away with his life: he jumped up and kissed her. Her response was exactly what he wanted.
"Ohhh, kitten wants to play with mommy," she purred.
He started to kiss slowly down her neck and slowly started pushing her toward the tree with a branch that he could easily push her into. As he made his way toward the tree, Drusilla started to get restless and started to claw at his clothes. He quickly reacted and started to massage her right breast, making her gasp. Just before he made it to the tree she grabbed him, and pivoted around, impaling him onto the branch.
"Did you think that you can play naughty without me knowing it kitten? Miss Edith says I should punish you," she giggled as she licked the wound on his right shoulder.
"Mmmmmmmm, you taste wonderful." She started to prod the wound and giggled as he screamed and moaned as he started to lose consciousness.
He barely remembered her tearing him from the branch and laying him on the ground. "Now you will become one of us, then you can play with Miss Edith." Her face morphed into the vampire demon and she started to drink. "So powerful, so yummy," she slit her wrist and had him drink until he stopped breathing.
He woke to find himself in a big wonderful room, with a beautiful woman in front of him. "What happened to me?" he asked her.
"You're all right," she softly whispered.
The rest of room was made of wood that seems to shine and sparkle within the dimly lit room. The figure seemed to float in front of him and he also noticed that her reflection was not the same as he saw in front of him. It revealed another beauty that seemed about 16. Her beauty even rivaled his Buffy. 'Since when is she mine?' He questioned his own thought soon after. 'More like never will be mine,' he mentally berated himself. His lopsided smile turned into a frown and Tsunami mistook it for is displeasure at his current situation.
"Who are you and where are we?" Xander asked tentatively.
"I am Tsunami, the ship of Jurai," the woman replied softly as if that would answer everything. Tsunami knew better. She could reveal only a small amount. The rest would come later. "Jurai is the strongest empire in the universe with the help of my daughter-space trees. And yes, we are in space, orbiting the Earth, Alexander," she quickly replied as she noticed him about to ask. "We are inside of me."
"Inside of you?" he asked confused. "But you are a human being… at least you look like it. I should know better coming from the Mouth of Hell. Great, another Demon after me. I am definitely the PTB's punching bag. First a bug lady, then a mummy…" he kept babbling until he noticed the figure giggling at him. This shook him out of his little babble fest and he thought about what she said about tree ships. "I see... You are the owner of this ship."
"No. The owner is Sasami," replying once again as if that could answer everything.
"Sasami?" Now he was perplexed. Who could this Sasami person be?
"Yes...And I am the mind of this ship."
"I don't understand. Please explain," he was starting to get curious, now that he had established that she wasn't going to hurt him, like Drusilla had been.
"I am the mother of all the space trees, and we helped the Juraian people create one of the most powerful and stable empires in the whole universe. You're here because you're a descendent of two princes of that empire. One is from your paternal side and one on your maternal side. I look over all of the royal family, but you, Alexander, are special. You are the future of this world. I stopped your death and transformation, before it was too late. There will be side-effects. Only the strong Juraian energy in you allowed me to change you back, the demon was still in its weak stage when I attacked it. You will have vampire strength; its healing will combine with your Juraian enhanced healing. Other side-effects will come as time goes by. I only hope that they aren't on the evil side of the spectrum. Now here is the hard part, you see through the screen." She pointed to the big screen that appeared behind her in front of the tree. "That is Sunnydale, if you chose to help the Slayer, I will have to block your powers or you can go with me and learn to control them."
"Please take me there," Xander said almost immediately. "They're my friends… I can't just leave them."
"I cannot leave this place. Therefore, I will have to block your memory of this time, as well as your powers. I am sorry but you would be a danger to everyone on the planet without training." Xander sighed, and nodded. He understood.
"You must go alone. Can you go alone?" she asked him.
"I don't mind it. I have been alone all my life," Xander replied sadly.
"All right. Until then, trust in your own powers. I may have blocked them, but your subconscious will remember everything. Call upon them if no choice is left for you or your loved ones. Please be careful… the Hellmouth is extremely dangerous."
Tsunami approached him after Xander had finished an intense physical routine.
"Alexander, it is time for you to begin your next stage of training," she said. "This is a stage that has been lost to Jurai for millennia. Long ago there were two branches of the Juraian people. Those with the pure Juraian powers, and those with magical powers. Both powers came from within the person, but the magical powers also allowed the user to use nature and its surroundings. After a civil war between the two, the magical users left Jurai and came here to Earth." The sadness about what she was revealing was clear on her beautiful face.
"Are you telling me that earth was colonized by the Juraian people? How can that be? We don't have advance technology and we don't have the space trees, either… at least, last time I checked," Xander replied, confused.
"It was found that the space trees could not dwell on Earth. Earth consisted of the first humans and then the Juraian wizards, at first both cultures blended together. Once the trees set root here, they lose their powers… and that was what happened. By the time this fact was discovered, it was too late, and they had already taken root. It shortened the people's lives, but it also allowed them to concentrate only on their magical powers. Again, there was a break in the ranks as people who did not display the magical powers started to despise their brothers and relatives who did have magic. After many years of persecution, the wizards decided to hide all aspects of their powers and separate themselves form the other non-magic people. And that is how it has been for hundreds of years."
"What does this have to do with me?" Xander asked, getting into the story now.
"Alexander, don't you see? You are one of the few that has both powers I once gave the Juraian people. Both the pure Juraian energy and the magical powers run through you. You are one of the few that can actually hold your body together with that much power. Now it's time to develop the magical aspect of your power that has remained hidden up until now. Alexander, I want you to start training in magic. You will enter a new world, one with its own dangers and challenges. The people in that world know about the demons, but they do not know of the space trees and the empire. They wiped it out of their archives after the space trees took root."
"As long as I have this sword, I think I can manage," Xander said confidently, gripping his Akiri-ken with a solid grasp, as if the sword was an integral part of him. He hadn't left it since the day he bonded with it.
"The sword is only a tool for drawing and concentrating your power, Alexander. Trust your own powers. Have faith in them, and they will help you well in life," Tsunami told him.
"My power? Mine?" he asked, confused. He had learned to use his weapon and was still learning to do so. He trusted it with his life, but his own power still frightened him. He could understand an energy weapon, sure; but power within himself, no. He was still thinking the same way he did while in Sunnydale all those years: he wasn't supposed to have powers. The others had their powers.
"I will teleport you to a train station in London, England. From there, you will arrive at Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft. The school headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, will provide all that is needed. He knows about me and he is the only magic user I trust with that knowledge. Be careful and enjoy yourself," she said, handing him a letter with the Hogwarts seal and a train ticket.
"I have no problem with going to school," Xander said, confidently. "But before I go I have to fulfill a promise I made to a friend and make one last check on Sunnydale."
"Very well," Tsunami answered, dipping her head, acknowledging the request, and knowing how important his promises are to him. "But if you are talking about seeing Faith: she was released in June from prison. She resides in Sunnydale." Before Xander could respond to her not telling him this information sooner, Tsunami extended her powers toward him and he vanished.
Xander appeared in the alley next to the Magic Box, not where he wanted to be. He had been trying to avoid the gang for the last few months, and now Tsunami had dropped him about as close as she could get him without actually dropping him right in the middle of a meeting.
He knew that, if they saw him, they would want him to stay with them. He couldn't stay now, now that he knew what his purpose in life was. "Well, I better get going before anyone sees me." But before he made a run for it, he couldn't resist throwing just one look through the back room window.
He slowly opened the back door to the training room. From the towels sprawled out on the floor and then seeing the dummy he built was totally destroyed, he deduced that the training room had been used recently. 'Wow! Faith must be pissed to totally destroy it like that. Hmm… I wonder if Giles can fix it. Probably not,' he mentally chuckled. Making his way to the door towards the front room, he came to a quick stop and slowly pushed the door slightly to peek through. What he saw shook him to his core.
He saw Buffy and Willow talking in the room. Seeing her again… alive… after all this time… Xander's emotions went into overload, and he could feel his knees start to buckle. He was about to run when the look on Buffy's face, as well as the energetic manner in which she was waving her hands, snapped him out of his panic attack.
Willow had closed the store as soon as Buffy had run into the store in tears. Now she was waiting for Buffy to stop pacing and start telling her what had happened. "What happened, Buffy? What got you so worked up? Is it Faith? Did she do something?" Willow asked the later with a slightly elevated voice, indicating that her protective streak towards her friend was flaring up again.
Willow's remark only got Buffy's emotions more worked up. She paced more and kept repeating. "That bitch!" over and over. Finally Willow got tired of Buffy's routine, grabbed her, and sat her down in the chair next to hers.
"Ok Buffy. Tell me what happened." Willow took her seat and calmly waited for her friend to start telling.
In the backroom Xander also waited and hoped it wasn't bad news. Even though he should know better than to hope… something deep inside of him warned him that something was seriously wrong, the part of himself that was his warrior's instinct.
Buffy took a big breath and said, "Faith and I where patrolling and just getting along. You know; we have been getting closer and becoming friends again. And then she just got all sad and told me some of what happened with her and Xander," Buffy sobbed, taking another breath, trying to recompose herself.
"What happened, Buffy?" Willow was still of the opinion that Faith couldn't be trusted. She was also jealous of how fast Faith and Buffy had gotten over what happened in the past. What really irked her was that Faith was the one that helped Buffy break through her mental breakdown, something that she herself hadn't been able to do.
In the backroom, Xander gulped, patted his instincts on the back, and rubbed his forehead from the sweat that was forming. He knew exactly where this was going, and he didn't like this one bit.
"That bastard, if I ever see him I'll cut it off. I will definitely cut it off!" Buffy shouted, waving her arms in a slash motion, one that scared Willow a little bit. "He slept with her, on the same day I came back, he slept with her!" she shouted, starting to cry again.
Willow moved her chair up to Buffy and hugged her friend. "Maybe he was lonely, or lost. I mean your death did hit us all hard. It's Faith's fault, she took advantage of him."
"NOOOOO!" Buffy screamed. "Don't defend him. Faith was in jail, he went to her. He took advantage of her friendship toward him!"
The pain that Xander was feeling was far beyond anything he could describe. First the elation that she was alive and then the pain from her words… it was too hard for him to handle. Never in his life had he felt so much emotional pain, not even at her death. Maybe it was because he had let her down, maybe because he soiled her memory, or maybe it was because he felt the truth in all her words. 'I've hurt the two people that are closest to my heart! I don't deserve them. I have to go. But I promised Faith that I would see her about this time… But I can't. Not now. Not like this. A letter will have to do,' Xander thought.
Xander was now the one pacing back and forth. He didn't know what to do. The recent events had just been too much. He finally sat down and wrote the letter for Faith. He felt like crap, all he ever did was hurt the people he loved. This was so much like the 'fluke', but worse. He was so agitated he didn't notice that half the stuff in his room was not his and that it was feminine in nature.
With his heavy heart he picked up the letter and made his way to the nearest cemetery to lessen the tension for the Slayers. 'The least I can do is kill something for them,' his thoughts were morbid to say the least.
Walking through the streets of Sunnydale seemed to calm him down, but the lingering pain of hurting the two women that he would do anything for, was still there. He had been going through the conversation Buffy had with Willow and the events that night he visited Faith. The more we went through the memories the more he believed Buffy's assessment.
He made his way into the nearest cemetery. Ironically, it was named after the person most responsible for the people in it, Mayor Wilkins. Well, Wilky did leave with a bang. He tried to figure out how he was going to remedy the situation with the two Slayers, but nothing he thought up could help him. His internal contemplation was interrupted, when he noticed that a heavy light was coming from the mausoleum a few feet in front of him.
"What the fuck," he whispered. "Better not be any vamps, I'm not in the mood for any of them. I want a challenge." He slowly made his way toward the mausoleum using all the stealth training he got, but of course being Xander; he stepped on a branch. The crack of the branch seemed extremely loud to him. However loud it was, it wasn't enough to alert the beings in the crypt. He lowered himself next to the entrance and listened to what was being said.
"We have to stop the Slayers. Both of them together have almost decimated our forces. Only together can we have a chance," Xander heard something say. The voice was dark and malicious, and Xander couldn't resist throwing a peek inside. He soon pulled his head away from the entrance, and wished he hadn't looked.
Seven vampires who seemed to worship the Drane-ra Demon were there as well as half a dozen Chaos demons. They seemed to hang on every word that left the Drane-ra's malformed mouth. "But the Slayers have never been beaten," one of the vampires said. Apparently, the other vampires agreed with that assessment, and some hubbub started rising, which Xander could faintly make out as questions on how to deal with two pissed-off Slayers.
"I have been watching them for years. Beating them now will be an easy task. They have always had the foolish human male to protect them and help them at their greatest time of need. He is gone, and defeating them without him will be an easy task." His confidence radiated out toward the others and it seemed to help the moral.
Xander couldn't believe his eyes or ears. A dozen vampires and demons working together on trying to kill the people that meant everything to him? So they think with me gone that they can't defend themselves, what load of shit. But since I am here I might as help lessen their numbers.
He scanned the room trying to familiarize himself with the opposition and with the room. The room looked like the typical crypt, resembling Spike's lovely home. To the right of the entrance, he noticed Catherine Madison, who appeared to have been turned. 'Great now I have to deal with a psycho-vampire witch. At least now she can stay gone. How in HELL did she get out of that trophy? Damn it. I should have thought of it then. Of course, when we blew up the school it must have knocked her out. Looks like the retard Lyle Gorche is back. That idiot couldn't do anything right, he'll be an easy kill.' Next to Lyle Gorche was some one that almost made Xander laugh and reveal his position.
Lyle Gorche was awed by the Drane-ra. He had heard that nothing could kill the demon, not even decapitation. His new girlfriend was beginning to irritate him, though. She kept blabbering about how the ugly Drane-ra should listen to her, since she was as powerful as Spike.
"You know, he isn't all that tough. I fought Angel, Buffy, and even Spike. And what's this crap he is talking about human male, the only human male with Buffy is Xander. And let me tell you: he is such a lousy fighter, I kicked his ass and he ran away, crying like a girl. He punches like a girl without a fashion sense. I still don't understand what Cordelia saw in him. I mean, he's weak and he didn't have any money, or a descent car," Harmony kept talking and rambling on and on.
Finally Lyle had enough, "Shut the fuck up wench before I stake you."
Xander noticed that the two vampires moved away from the others and started verbally abusing each other. He knew he couldn't fight them all, but he could try. There was only one way he could possible gain an upper hand so he stood up and walked into the room.
The moment he entered, everyone around him just stopped what they where doing and just stared at him.
The Drane-ra was shocked at the evil radiating from the human, it was all encompassing and it gave him a perverse tingle of joy just to be in its presence. He couldn't lose his dominant hold on the group now, "Who the hell are you, mortal? Why have you disturbed us? Do you have a death wish? In that case, I will be more than happy to fulfill that wish," Drane-ra growled at Xander.
Xander's face was concealed by the hood on the robe he wore, "You dare enter my territory and try to harm my enemies?!" Xander barked, trying his best to sound like an 'evil overlord'. "I do not believe in 'the enemies of my enemies are my friends'. Anyone who tries to hurt the Slayers, other than me, will wish for death." He emphasized his point by increasing the dark atmosphere he was radiating. He mentally snickered. If they only knew that it was the 'foolish boy'. "Drane-ra. I know what kills your kind. I wouldn't challenge me if I where you."
"You DARE challenge me boy, I'll have...."
"Shut the fuck up!!" Xander bellowed, cutting off the demon's reply. "Look at you!" Xander continued, his arms sweeping around the room. "Look at what you have here! This group is pathetic! I feel like killing myself for being in the same room, let alone work with them! Although I do might add that the lovely Catherine Madison is a nice touch." 'Can't have them all charge at me, especially psycho witch there.' He turned toward her, and noticed that the vampire in question gave him a seductive smile, which only caused him to shiver in disgust.
"Hmm... let's see about five fledgling vamps and a bunch of walking chaos demons. I heard a story that a pathetic vampire named Spike lost his love to a Chaos demon. You demons lower yourself to associate with vamps, that's just stupid," Xander finished.
Lyle who was behind Xander slowly made his way toward him, using all the vampire stealth he had.
"Hey! My Spikey is not pathetic, even though he tried to stake me." Not one with much mass upstairs, Harmony was about to charge him when Lyle interrupted her.
"Hey you're mine, stop mentioning that loser..." Realizing his mistake too late Lyle was knocked back by a punch to the chest from Xander.
"Don't sneak up on me and don't fuck with me. You want a real leader, then I am it. Anyone care to challenge me, feel free come and get some." He noticed that the Drane-ra, Catherine, and four chaos demons started to leave as he raised his aura. 'I guess they're not as dumb as I thought. But it still leaves two chaos demons and seven vampires. What to do?'
He was able to dodge the two Chaos demons that attacked him immediately. But the vampires thought it meant he was a weakling and attacked him.
The fledglings attacked him en masse and started to pound on him, kicking whenever they saw an opening. "Fuck," grunted Xander as another kick hit him in the ribs. He jumped above and over the vampires. As he landed, he ignited both sides of the Akiri-ken and started to hack them apart, not really using any stylish moves, but going for quick kills.
Seeing the vampires get defeated so easily, the Chaos demons ran through the entrance into the cemetery. Limping in pursuit, Xander was not happy and noticed that one of the Chaos demons had turned around and was charging him. 'Not so smart is it?' Xander asked himself, smiling slightly.
Having been punched by Buffy didn't make for a happy Faith. 'I knew she would do that, I just knew it. Attack first; ask questions later, just like me.' She chuckled at the last part. Rubbing her bruised cheek, she noticed a couple of chaos demons running from a crypt to her left.
"Now what could scare chaos demons, hmm?" She learned from the past not to go running into things, but that didn't stop her from slowly jogging into trouble.
She saw a figure blast past her from the crypt, it had a brown cloak and he seemed to be running faster than even she could go. One thing popped into her head, 'Demon, Demon, Demon, powerful at that.' She could feel the dark aura flowing from it; it made her skin crawl.
"Hey you," she wanted to kill him before he became a threat. The chaos demons could wait. The figure just ignored her and continued to catch up to the Chaos demons.
It seemed that the Chaos demons sensed him before he slowed down because one of them backhanded him through the air. "What the fuck," she was shocked to see that the other Chaos demon's head just slide off.
She ran toward the Chaos demon noticing that it was distracted and staked it, "Now that was too easy."
"Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck! First I have to run after those fucks and then I get distracted and get backhanded. Now what?" He slowly got up, scanned the cemetery, and tried to see who had called him before.
The second he noticed the figure that just staked the Chaos demon, he froze. Nothing, absolutely nothing was being processed in his mind. As she turned toward him, and slowly and seductively stalked towards him he snapped out of his trance. He dropped the letter that he wrote, knowing she would find it.
"Goodbye," he said as a big light surrounded him and he was gone.
"Looks like droopy made another round," Spike whispered to himself. He made his way to where Xander had been, and quickly picked up the letter before Faith could see what he was doing.
Faith was to say the least confused, she had just been in front of a demon, a very powerful one and it suddenly froze and its aura changed. The change was so fast and complete it shook her up. "Spike. Did you just see what I saw?" the expression on Faith's face was priceless.
Spiked laughed, "You know, pet, I have never seen you so shocked before. And yeah, I saw the whole light show. Bloody hell, it gave me a headache just looking at it."
"He sounded familiar… I just can't figure who it was, but he totally had my Slayer sense going crazy. It felt like he gave off a cloud of evil." She thought about it and just for a brief second, the presence was familiar, and comforting, 'but how could a demon have that kind of feeling?'
Her earlier statement caused Spike to stumble and laugh, "Yeah, evil, right."
Being laughed at never really went well with Faith. Snapping out of her confusion she grabbed Spike by the neck and lifted him off the ground, "What the fuck do you know?"
'Shit a pissed off psycho-slayer, not what I need.' "I don't know anything, alright? Look, if I find out anything I'll let you know."
She dropped him and he ran off. "Fucking bitch, I'll get you and the fucking wanker too," he mumbled as he ran towards his crypt. "Now I wonder what this letter says," he laughed all the way home.
"Hmm, let's see… where am I going? Oh, yeah, platform nine and three-quarters for 11 o'clock. OK!" Xander just wandered through the station for about thirty minutes before he got frustrated and asked the nearest person where the platform was. "Excuse me sir, can you tell me where platform 9 and þ is?"
"What are you talking about boy? There is no such place," the old British man looked at him in disgust. "Damn Yanks," he muttered as he walked away.
"Great. Just great. Couldn't she just port me to the damn platform? Why outside?" He kept mumbling as he walked towards the intersection between platform 9 and 10. 'No Alexander, I couldn't. The platform is protected by magic and it would disturb too many people to break it. The alley was a much better place.' He actually fell over when he heard the voice in his head.
'What the hell? How can I hear you?' Xander thought back to his mentor.
'We are connected through the Akiri-ken,' the space-tree commented as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
'Ok, but please stay out of my head ok. It makes me uncomfortable,' Xander replied, getting up, and checking to see if he hadn't drawn too much attention to himself.
'Very well, Alexander.' It sounded as if Tsunami was not happy with his request.
Xander just stared at the big plastic number nine over one platform and the big number ten over the one next to it, and in the middle was nothing but a wall.
Then he noticed a group of people behind him and caught a few words of what they were saying.
"Harry, you go first, I hate platform 9 and þ..."
Xander made a quick 180 spin and looked at the group. He noticed a boy with black hair and ragged old clothes on with a cart with an owl and a trunk run towards the walk between the two platforms. He was about to yell at the kid when the boy vanished.
"What…?" he stood there shocked. But then he remembered Tsunami mentioning magic and then it made sense.
"Oh great, a muggle," replied one of the red headed boys. Xander inspected the family closer and noticed that all of them had flaming red hair and freckles. "Mom, can I use the memory charm on him please?" the boy seemed to whine at his mother.
"Now Fred, be quiet, I'll do it." The plump older woman took out what appeared to be a wand, but was interrupted before she could do anything.
"Hold up, wait a second. What's a muggle? And maybe you can help me. I'm looking for platform 9 þ. And please, no magic. I've had enough magic in my life," Xander asked the woman.
The family stood there, shocked. The older woman stepped up to him, "What do you want with platform 9 and þ?" She asked, staring at him as if daring him to lie.
Running his hands through his hair, Xander replied, "Well, I am going to Hogwarts for some training. Look, I even have a train ticket." Xander pulled out his train ticket to prove his story.
"Oh well, why didn't you mention the school? Just follow my son Ron here," she motioned to a boy that seemed to be about 15 years old.
"Thanks. I thought I was lost," Xander replied honestly.
"Not a problem, dear. But aren't you a little old to be going to Hogwarts for the first time?" she asked, seemingly kinder to him after he mentioned Hogwarts.
He just shrugged as he waited for his turn to go through with the boy named Ron, when they noticed a couple of really beautiful girls walk up to the same wall. To Xander, and Ron, they looked like angels come down from heaven, their shoulder-long chestnut hair tied in a pony-tail, their tanned skin even and spotless, and both had a pair of the most intense curiously-green eyes Xander had ever seen.
"We walked all over the station," the first girl said to her companion, seemingly examining the wall. "Logic dictates that nine and three-quarters is through here."
"It's a wall, April," the second girl replied.
"Yes, but we are going to a magic-school, so…" the first girl, now known as April, said. She extended her arm, and it went right through the wall. "See? Holographic."
The second girl smiled, and shook her head. "You're something, Kawaii," the second girl, still nameless, said as she and her partner disappeared through the holographic wall.
Xander following his guide, and was awed at what he saw. He turned around and saw a wrought-iron archway where the barrier had been, with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it. A scarlet engine, with the name Hogwarts Express plastered on the front, was waiting next to the platform, which was packed with people. He turned and watched as Ron's owl, 'What do they need owls for?' Xander asked himself, noticing that the animal began hopping up and down in its small cage and twittered madly when he saw all the people.
"Shut up, Pig," said Ron as he made his way towards one of the compartments.
'Why would anyone name an owl Pig?' Xander mentally chuckled.
Faith and Buffy had gotten back to speaking terms … a fact, which has confused Faith to no end. If she didn't know better, it seemed that Buffy didn't even blame her anymore and blamed Xander. 'Yeah, right. B loves him,' Faith thought to herself.
'It's a good thing she let me stay at her home; I was getting tired of those shitty motels.' She walked into the Summers' kitchen, and passed by Dawn. "Hey kiddo, how's it going? You start school this week right."
"Don't talk to me, you skank! You might have helped Buffy out of her funk but I don't want you here." Dawn turned red and quickly left the kitchen towards her room.
'Shit man, she is never going to get over what I did. I apologized, what else she want me to do. Well I am living here I guess I'll just confront her and at least try to be civil.' Faith then turned and made her way towards Dawn's room.
Dawn lay on her bed crying. She was still angry at Faith, 'Why should I be, it's not like any of the memories I have of her are real. But they hurt so much. I trusted her. I thought she was so cool. She betrayed me… us, why for some laughs. I bet the spell that put the memories in everyone else's minds didn't affect her, she just knows me as the fake sister.'
She popped in her Kittie CD and started to listen to Brackish when a knock was heard at her door. She ignored it and put the music louder. She fell back onto her bed, and closed her eyes. Then someone turned off the stereo, and Dawn's eyes flew open.
"Nice taste in music, I am glad to see you still have the CD I gave you." Faith made her way to the bed and sat next to where Dawn was laying.
"Faith, just leave me alone, ok? I'm not Buffy. You can't convince me that you're good." She regretted her words as soon as she saw the hurt in Faith's face. She was almost sure that a tear was threatening to fall, 'But Faith never cries.' "Look, I'm sorry, ok? What do you want?" She was not going to be nice, not mean but not nice either.
Faith looked around the room nervously and then steadied her nerves. "Look, Dawn, I am sorry for what I did in the past. I know I betrayed and hurt you, I didn't mean to, I had a lot of shit going on. You and Xander," Faith noticed Dawn cringe at the mention of the missing man in their lives. "I am sorry I knocked you and your mom out." The sorrow was evident in her eyes.
Dawn sat up quickly, shocked by what she heard, 'She doesn't know, she doesn't know.' Dawn didn't know if she should torture Faith or just tell her.
"Look Dawn, I know we won't be cool for a while, but I am not going anywhere and I am going to help you guys, ok?" Faith softened her voice, something that she had recently been trying to perfect. 'Being nice is harder than being mean. Argh.'
"Yeah, I understand, but I need time. Can you please go; I want to be left alone."
Faith got up and before walking out of the room, "Look, kid, if you need someone to talk to, I'm here and give your sis a chance too. She's trying to deal with all this, so don't take her distance as an insult."
Left alone in her room, Dawn pulled out her diary and started to write in it.
Well, school will be starting again in a few days, what a bummer. Buffy is getting better, but she doesn't talk to anyone other than Faith. I am worried about my sister, but at least she's staying away from my Spike.
Speaking of Spike: he's been ignoring us, which has pissed me off. Another day without Xander, I am so over my crush. He left us, me.
Anyway, I had a talk with Faith, and I don't know if I trust her yet.
Willow was pissed to say the least, "Why the hell is Buffy letting Faith stay at her house? I don't get it! I know she doesn't blame Faith, but I still think it was her and not Xander. I mean, come on! There is no way he could have taken advantage of her." She kept babbling on how Faith was as evil as she was a bitch, while Tara just listened.
"But honey, we don't really know what happened." As always Tara was trying to be reasonable about what was going on. "He didn't leave you on purpose, Willow. He'll come back." Finally mentioning what was really bothering Willow, Tara braced herself for her girlfriend to explode. She got the exact opposite.
"Do you think it was because I was trying to convince him to bring back Buffy with dark magic? Tara, I need him, he's my best friend, it's so hard! And Buffy's ignoring me, I can't believe Faith, Faith was able to help her and I wasn't."
"Faith's a Slayer and it could be the reason. I don't know what went on with them, but all that matters is that Buffy is better, not who helped her get there, Willow," Tara's voice had a little hint of disappointment in it.
Willow collapsed on the couch and started to cry, "B… but she won't even talk to me about it, maybe I can look through one of the magic books."
"No Willow, no spells," the anger from Tara was evident in her slightly louder than usual voice.
"Fine, but what else am I suppose to do? I mean Faith sleeps with Xander again and Buffy's ok with it. Well I am not ok with it." Her resolve face made itself present.
Seeing that most of the carriages were already packed with students, Xander opted to enter one of the last carriages. He sat himself at the end of the carriage and tried to conceal himself as best he could, not wanting to be interrupted by students. He instead chose to observe them and see how they interacted. His time with Tsunami gave him time to contemplate how different everyone was. There were aliens out there, wizards, witches, demons, both good and bad, and others. And to think that the power of the wizards is from another planet, yet it grew here instead of being suppressed, as on Jurai. Xander's mind boggled at all the new information.
He noticed that the boy Ron and his friends had sat at the front of the compartment, so he decided to watch them.
"Harry! How was your summer? You didn't respond to my letters. Did the Dursley's bother you again?" Ron sounded cheery and glad to be with his friends again.
"Summer was ok; Dursley's left me alone since I got permission to use magic at home. And Dumbledore kept me updated on Voldemort's actions." Harry seemed sad and depressed and just seemed to just want to get the conversation over.
Ron gasped at the mention of You Know Who's name. "Blimey Harry, please don't say his name."
A growl of anger was heard from Harry as he got up and started yelling, "I will not call him You Know Who, I'll use his name and honor the people that have fought against him!" Harry got up from his seat next to Ron and sat next a girl with brown hair that seemed like she took a lot of time maintaining it.
Xander was confused by the boy named Harry's reaction to his friend but chose to ignore it for now. "Hmm interesting, I wonder if they have any Twinkies." His hunger was finally catching up to him; trying his best to ignore it he turned his attention to the boy and girl in the front.
"Harry, how are you really doing? If you need someone to talk to I am here, ok? We're friends and I'll help you anyway I can," her voice was full of love and caring.
"Thanks Hermione, that means a lot to me. But for now I'm ok." Both of them just seemed to relax into their seats and look out the windows as the train started to move out of the station.
So wrapped up into the others, Xander didn't notice the boy that had asked him to sit next to him. "Excuse me, but can I sit here. The other carriages are really loud and I just want some quiet."
Xander turned to look at a tall young man that had long dreadlocks and a pair of glasses. "Sure no problem, by the way my name's Xander."
"My name is Pumpkin, Pumpkin Escobar," Pumpkin smiled at Xander and extended his hand.
Xander accepted the handshake and laughed, "You wouldn't happen to work in Los Angeles local 305." Xander was trying really hard not to laugh.
"Nah, but you want some crack, and get high?" Pumpkin laughed and waved his hands around in an excited way.
Pumpkin's actions only served to have Xander laugh and slide off his seat. "Cool man, that movie was great. So I take it you're from the states, you have no accent and you know a fun flick when you see it." Xander had a big smile and was relaxing for the first time since he left to train with Tsunami. Out of the corner of his eye Xander noticed that the others in the carriage had turned and stared at him for a couple of seconds. 'Yeah, me funny man. Well someone had to brighten up the gloomy atmosphere.'
"Yeah, I am from Jersey, but my parents moved to London 7 years ago. I still keep in touch with my pals there; I never did get an accent. Thank God. By the way I never seen you at Hogwarts, what year are you?"
"This is my first visit to Hogwarts; I am to meet with the headmaster. How about you, how many years have you been at Hogwarts?" Xander was starting to feel uncomfortable about all the questions but decided he needed a friend in the school and well he liked Pumpkin. Before Pumpkin could answer, "You wouldn't happen to have any Twinkies on you."
Pumpkin chuckled, "Nah dude, sorry. As to your other questions, it takes seven years to complete Hogwarts wizard training, and thank god it's my last year..."
'Fuck, I can't be here that long. Oh well got to do what I got to do,' Xander thought
Pumpkins eyes widen, "You mean your a first year, you must be the oldest first year ever. Not that it's a bad thing, wow."
"Yep. I'm a newbie," Xander chuckled. He turned towards the window and noticed that the train was taking them out of London. He gazed at the fields of sheep and cows. 'Well you don't see that those in Sunnydale,' he mentally chuckled. "Anyway so tell me about Hogwarts, I don't know much about it."
As they talked about the school and wizards in general, a smiling, dimpled woman slid next to them and "Anything off the cart, dears?" Xander raised an eyebrow at her question.
'Finally, food.' Xander got up immediately and was followed by Pumpkin as they went out into the corridor. "Finally Twinkies and more goodies. Hey, where are the Twinkies?"
Pumpkin just laughed, "Sorry only wizard goodies here, but they're just as good, if not better."
Xander looked at everything they had, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, 'ew, frogs,' Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Licorice Wands, and other strange things. "Damn I only have US currency."
"Don't worry dude, I have it covered. Just pick anything you want and when we get a chance to go to Goblin Bank in Hogsmeade we'll change your money to wizard currency."
Taking his new friends advice, Xander got some of everything and waited as Pumpkin paid.
After the duo had retaken their seats, and Xander had pried open his package of Blowing Gum, their conversation was interrupted.
"Excuse us for bothering," a velvety-soft vice said, making both Xander and Pumpkin look up. Before them stood the two beauties Xander had seen at the wall earlier. "Are those seats taken?" the first girl asked, the one who had figured out what the wall was all about.
"Eh…" Xander replied dumb, star struck.
"Not in the least," Pumpkin replied, motioning for the empty seats. "I've never seen you two before… and believe me when I say that I would never forget faces like yours."
The two girls smiled sweetly at him, causing Pumpkin's mind to blow into orbit.
"We're new," The first girl answered. "I'm April. This is Ariana."
"I'm Xander," Xander answered, finally managing to compose himself. "Alexander Lavelle Harris, at your service," he added theatrically. April and Ariana smiled at him. "I'm new as well," he heard himself say over the thumping of his heart and through the fog that turned his brain to cotton.
"Pumpkin. Pumpkin Escobar," Pumpkin said. "Last year, unfortunately… I will only be graced by your presence for one year."
April and Ariana seemed to enjoy that remark, because they chuckled slightly. Soon, Xander and Pumpkin resumed their earlier conversation, every now and then throwing a concerned look at the two girls, who had lapsed into silence and were looking sadly at the window.
Faith ran around her room like a maniac, she was trying to stuff as many things in her duffle bag as she could. She had to get away from here as fast as she could, already having called the bus station she knew she had an hour before the last bus of the day left. She sat down in the kitchen table and started to write letters for Buffy and Dawn.
Just then Buffy walked in through the kitchen door. "Hey, Faith, how's it going? What's wrong?"
Buffy had never seen Faith showing so much emotion, she looked haunted and scared. The only time she had seen Faith this scared was when they talked about her night with Xander. "Is something bothering you," Buffy put in as much comforting emotion as she could. Things with Faith weren't perfect, but she promised herself that she wouldn't let Faith go back towards the darkness. "You can talk to me."
Buffy walked around the round table and moved a chair next to Faith; she did not fail to see the duffle bag full of Faith's things. She chose to ignore it for now. "Did something happen with Dawn or one of the others?"
Faith looked scared, even at the verge of tears and this puzzled and worried Buffy. In all the years of knowing Faith, she never showed her emotions especially if she was scared. "Go to the bathroom all your questions will be answered there."
Buffy got up and ran to the bathroom, expecting something terrible when she got there, but all she saw was a package and its contents. She studied the contents carefully, not hearing the door closing in the kitchen. "Oh my god," she quickly stated and ran towards the kitchen
"Faith!" she yelled as she noticed that Faith was gone. She ran outside and noticed Faith running at the end of the block.
Catching up to Faith, "Don't run Faith, I'm your friend. I'm here for you."
Faith was actually crying, "Shut up, B. I don't need your pity or your help. I am getting out of this hell hole and everyone that has brought me pain."
"You're not alone Faith, I'm here to help. Please don't run, you've helped me so much and I plan to help you through this. So is it true, is it his?" Buffy was confused she was happy and sad at the same time, but one emotion stood clear, confusion.
"Yeah, I am pregnant and it's Xander's. Jeeze Buffy I haven't been with anyone other than him in years."
Buffy felt shameful about asking her who the father was. "Let's go home and talk."
"No Buffy, I am leaving." Faith turned to leave but was stopped by a firm grip on her shoulder by Buffy. "Don't touch me B; I don't want to hurt you." She shrugged off the hand and continued on her way, until Buffy ran and blocked her way and got into a fighting stance.
"If you want a fight, then fine. We'll fight, but you're not leaving."
"Buffy I'm three months pregnant, I know it ain't showing but you can hurt the baby."
"I'm not letting you go Faith." Buffy put her hands on her hips and waited for Faith's reply.
"Why? I'm pregnant; I'll just be a burden on you. Not even the father of the baby wants me." Faith stared crying and almost fell as her knees gave out, but was caught by Buffy.
Buffy grabbed her into a hug and rocked her, "Look Faith we are working things out, and I want to help. I know Xander isn't here, but who needs him. I'll help you, I want to help you."
"I am scared B, I don't know what to do. I can't take care of myself, let alone a baby."
"Don't worry we'll figure this out together." They slowly got up and made their way to the house.
Willow was about to close the Magic Box for the night and spend some much-needed downtime with Tara. At the same time, Buffy was in the back room, getting ready for her patrol. Running this store can be really hard. Giles left earlier, with some story about a date or something like that. Yeah right, he probably didn't want to clean up.
"Did you say something Will?" asked Buffy as she walked up to the front of the store. "By the way I have to talk to you before I go patrolling tonight… unless you want to join me."
"As much as I would love to go against the forces of evil tonight, I can't. Tara and I have a date tonight." Willow blushed as she thought what the date would entail.
"Are you having naughty thoughts, Willow?" Buffy asked, laughing at her friend's discomfort. I'm glad me and Wills are at talking again, I wonder what's been bothering her so much lately, Buffy added silently.
"Well, umm, you see," Willow turned even redder, if that were possible.
"Relax, Will. I was just teasing," Buffy said with a quick chuckle. "But I do need to talk to you. Can we sit down and talk for a few minutes?"
"Sure," Willow said, finishing the cleanup of the store, and they both moved to the desk in the back of the room. Willow sat and watched Buffy as she prepared herself.
Buffy didn't know how to start the conversation. This is Willow! I can talk to her! "Things haven't been perfect since I've come back," the Slayer began. "I am here to apologize for being so distant. It was just so hard at first, being back and seeing everyone. At some points I didn't want to be back, just be dead and at rest, you know? I would like to think I was in heaven, but to tell you the truth I don't know where I was. All I draw is a big blank."
Willow moved her chair next to Buffy's and took her best friends hand. "I am here for you Buffy. Just think about all we've been through. Adam, the Master, the Mayor… just to name a few. And you and me were there for each other. We always will be," Willow said, sniffing slightly, and Buffy could see a tear escaping Willow's eye.
"Yeah Will, I know… but there is some error to your logic…" Buffy whispered, just looking at Willow as if to stare the answer into her.
"Xander," the name of the person that meant so much to both of them and had caused them so much pain recently. Silence passed through them for the next ten minutes, until Buffy finally decided to continue the conversation.
"I know without him… those times you talked about… could have not possibly have been livable. And… and he left us Will! He left me." Buffy's eyes teared up, and she fought to keep them inside.
"I know, but you have to know that he didn't leave you, Buffy. I don't think he left us, we still hold a place in his heart, but you don't know how hard it was for him. And with Anya leaving him like that…" Willow didn't know how things would turn out, but she promised herself she wouldn't push Xander away, not again.
"What? Where is Anya? I thought she went with him?" A confused Buffy stared at Willow hoping her friend held answers.
Willow was shocked at Buffy's question. But then again… all she's done lately is hang out with Faith, she thought bitterly. "Well to satisfy your curiosity, she left him after you died, something about not handling death and not wanting to stay in Sunnydale. He was so crushed, Buffy," Willow's anger was evident in the way she replied to Buffy's question. "Two of the most important people in his life left him! Do you think he would just be the same after that? His world was crushed!" Willow screamed at Buffy.
"I… I didn't know. That still doesn't excuse him for taking advantage of Faith," Buffy replied in a small voice.
"As if! Xander wouldn't take advantage of anyone! And ask yourself this question: are you mad that he took advantage of Faith or that he slept with her instead of you?" Willow had observed how hard Buffy took Xander's disappearance and figured there was more than friendship that Buffy was feeling.
"You're wrong Will, dead wrong. I don't know what my feelings for him are but it is definitely not more than friendship… if even that anymore," she whispered.
"Yeah, keep trying to convince yourself about that Buffy, but you can't fool me," Willow presented her resolve face and waited for Buffy's response to that.
"That's beside the point. The reason I wanted to talk to you is about Faith," Buffy said coolly, trying to change the subject.
Willow made a disgusted face and stared into Buffy's eyes. "Fine, change the subject. But this isn't over Buffy. You can't dismiss him as only a convenience when he is around and then mock him when he is gone. Now, what has the skank done now?" Willow was not going to be nice about Faith. I don't have to be nice to that bitch, and I never will be. She abused my best friend. Trying not to think about how Xander told her about his first time and how he felt after being thrown out of the room. She clearly remembered his words, "Maybe I am destined to be used and unloved." That had hurt her then, and it still did.
Not wanting to fight further with Willow, Buffy just got to the point. "Xander got her pregnant."
To say Willow was shocked would an understatement. She just sat there, her eyes glazed over, and her mouth wide open.
"Will," Buffy tried to snap her friend out her shock, but it didn't work. For the next five minutes Buffy tried everything she could think of to get Willow to respond, from shaking her to slapping her, but nothing worked.
Finally after Buffy started to panic, Willow snapped out of her shock, "Oh," was all she said. But what was going to her mind was totally different. NO, NO, NOOOOOOOOOOOO! Why her!? She doesn't deserve him or the baby!! That…that… bitch!! Willow's mind just kept on dragging up reasons why Faith was the worst kind of sewer-dredge humanity could produce.
"Yeah, and she's scared and doesn't know what to do… You know, this is all Xander's fault! If he just didn't think with his dick all the time," Buffy said angrily, her voice portraying just what she thought of Xander.
"Buffy… I'm tired of defending him, and trying to talk to you. I have to go." Willow got up, took her purse and walked to the door. "Lock up," she commanded without turning around and walked out.
Buffy was shocked that Willow walked out, and tried to think of what went wrong with her conversation. She had just gone to Willow for advice… not to argue.
Well, she's tired of defending him. That's good. Trying to twist her friend's words, Buffy figured that Willow just needed time to digest how reckless Xander had been with Faith. I've really gotten to know Faith. She's not all that bad. Her life hadn't been great, and I didn't understand that at first. Now I do, and I've got to try.'
The train had finally made it to its destination; the night sky was beautiful, full of stars, and a bright moon. Xander and Pumpkin stepped out of the carriage and the two girls April and Ariana followed directly behind them. Xander noticed that Pumpkin had a robe on to help with the cold night, but the girls didn't even seem phased by the temperature. He on the other hand was freezing. Damn I knew a t-shirt wasn't a good idea.
He felt so out of place as he noticed all the students had their wizards' robes, and all he had on was a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. At least he wasn't the only one. April and Ariana had t-shirts on about some cartoon named Dragon Ball Z. He turned his head when he noticed a large gruff voice yell, "Firs' years! Over here, Firs' years!" A giant of a man, and giant was the only way to describe him; he was larger than Xander's 6 feet. The kind smile he provided made Xander at ease to be in the man's presence. "I guess since this is my first time here, I am first year." He turned to the two girls and noticed them approaching the giant man. No way! They're first years like me! This is starting to get weird… and having lived on the Hellmouth, I know a thing or two about weird.
The giant man's big hairy face beamed over the sea of first years, "My name is Hagrid and I hope ye enjoy yer years at Hogwarts. C'mon follow me?any more firs' years? Follow me!"
The large group of first years that included Xander and the two girls he sat with earlier slowly walked through a steep, narrow path that went through a thick path of trees.
"Ye will be able to see o' Hogwarts in a sec," said the large man that led them through the path. As it came into view to say its beauty awed Xander would be an understatement. It was an extremely large castle, putting to shame any of the castles he had ever seen in movies about the middle ages. The path he noticed opened onto the edge of a great black lake, atop the high mountain on the other side the vast castle stood with its many turrets and towers.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of small boats. Xander, April and Ariana took a boat to themselves. Their larger frames would not let another person into the boat. Hagrid yelled out, "FORWARD!"
April and Ariana studied the boat and figured that it was magic that made it travel so smoothly across the lake. Then Hagrid yelled, "Heads down!" as they reached a cliff, they bent their heads and the boat went through a curtain of ivy into an opening. The dark tunnel they entered lead to a harbor underneath the castle.
They followed everyone out of the boats and waited for Hagrid to open the gate that led into the castle. April watched the young man that had accompanied them on the boat. He seemed nice on the train and it seemed that her and Ariana where not the only ones that where here as older first years.
What'd ya say about helping him? After all, he probably won't be able to keep up with us… not many people can. Ariana mentally sent to April.
Of course we'll help him out, April replied with conviction. But I get a funny feeling when I look at him…Did you see his eyes? Something's haunting him. And there's something else… April's open eyes got a glossy shine which told Ariana all she needed to know. April was looking at Xander in mind-space. Soon, April continued, he's trying to put the pieces back together, just like us. Maybe, after a while… maybe he'll trust us enough, and we can help.
Ariana simply sent a nod through the mind-space link. Possibly. But we'll also need to learn to trust him… after all, our secrets…
I know, April replied simply, sadly.
As the door opened they noticed a tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes that had a very stern face.
I think I'll like her. Strict, yet fair, just like Mother Superior, Ariana commented to April.
Yeah, April's mental voice showed the pain of leaving their first home still had on her. But she mentally chucked as she noticed the young man next her become ridged as he examined the woman. I don't think he has the same thoughts as we do, Ari, she mentally chuckled to Ariana.
Ariana simply chuckled in response as she too, examined the rigid boy.
"I am Professor McGonagall, and welcome to Hogwarts." the older woman said. "Follow me," she pulled the door wide revealing a stone walled hallway lit with flaming torches. They could hear the voices of hundreds of people and the girls figured it was the other students. Instead of going where the voices where coming from, they entered a small, empty chamber off the hall. It was very crowded and uncomfortable. The girls where pushed against the young man from before.
He is muscular, sent Ariana to April with a chuckle. April just ignored her, knowing very well that it was just teasing. Ariana wouldn't leave her for anything or anybody in the world.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts."
Just like the Phoenixes, Ari. April sent to Ariana as they listened to the professor. I wonder if they get special privileges as well, she finished. Ariana just shrugged in respond.
"You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house you becomes yours."
She walked up to Xander, April and Ariana, "Well why have you not put on your robes and why are you wearing Muggle clothes." The rest of the students in the room chuckled at this.
Before April and Ariana could answer her, a very angry Xander answered, "Well as you can see where aren't your typical first years and you don't have to be so rude to us. To answer your question, I was told only to talk to the headmaster." She only glared at him and turned to the girls.
As she did so, April and Ariana bowed fully. It was April who said, "We humbly apologize, Professor. We were not informed that we needed special supplies. If there is a way to rectify this situation as soon as convenient, we will be in order at that time."
Before the professor could say anything, "When I talk to the headmaster, I'll be able to supply them. It's no trouble." Xander smiled at the girls, he loved help a person in need.
"Thank you," April said, bowing to him. "In return for your kindness, please allow us to pay for the supplies."
"Consider it the beginning of an interesting friendship." He gave his lop-sided grin.
"Again, we thank you," April said. "But we wish to repay your kindness. Please allow us the opportunity to do so."
Xander lifted his one eyebrow at April. Okay. This is strange here. Half a second later, his brain hit him. She really wants to do something in return, you dolt. Let her! "Okay," Xander said. "It's arranged, then."
"Thank you," April and Ariana said, bowing again. Xander chuckled, and returned a semi-clumsy bow of his own.
"Very well, after the Sorting you will meet with Professor Dumbledore. I shall return when we are ready for all of you," she said, projected to the rest of the students.
Looking around the girls noticed that all the younger boys and girl where nervous. I don't see any reason to be nervous. Look at Alexander. He seems so calm. April sent to Ariana.
Well so are we. Not surprising, what we went through… but I do wonder what this sorting will entail. I just hope that we can get our hands on all that knowledge. Ariana sent back.
The professor returned, "Now form a line and follow me."
April and Ariana, along with Alexander, who seemed to be their new friend, waited at the end of the line. They entered the Great Hall and marveled at its beauty. It was lit by thousands of candles that floated in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the end of the massive hall was another table where the teachers were sitting. As April looked up she saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars, which looked perfectly like the sky outside.
"Amazing," she whispered. They came to halt in front of the teachers' table and Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. Everyone became quiet and stared at the hat. I wonder what's so special about that hat. April and Ariana sent to each other at the same time, causing but girls to chuckle audibly.
Then the hat twitched, and a rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth and began to sing:
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty, But don't judge on what you see, I'll eat myself if you can find A smarter hat than me. You can keep your bowlers black, You top hats sleek and tall, For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat And I can cap them all. There's nothing hidden in your head The Sorting Hat can't see, (That statement made April, Ariana, and Alexander really nervous.) So try me on and I will tell you Where you ought to be. You might belong in Gryffindor, Where dwell the brave at heart, Their daring, nerve, and chivalry set Gryffindors apart; You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal, Those patient Hufflepuffs are true and unafraid of toil; Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, If you've a ready mind, Where those of wit and learning, Will always find their kind; (I bet that is the one we get into, April mentally said to Ari.) Or perhaps in Slytherin You'll make your real friends, Those cunning folk use any means To achieve their ends. So put me on! Don't be afraid! And don't get in a flap! You're in safe hands (though I have none) For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became still again. "Interesting that a hat will determine which house we go in," replied Alexander to the girls. They just nodded at him. He wished could put in a joke.
The professor pulled a long roll of parchment and started to call the names of the students. As the students went up and sat on the stool, the professor put the hat on them and after a moment it would yell out the house they belonged to. The house would applause for the students they would receive as one of their own. For some it took a minute, maybe more and others it barely touched their heads before yelling the house.
Finally she got up to the last three people, which happen to be the oldest first years and also were not in the list she had. All the students whispered, wondering who the older students where. The professor pulled up another list and called out,
"Fromthefield, April."
April walked to the front of the stool, and bowed to the professor. At that, she sat down on the stool, totally unconcerned. So very human, though you don't think you are. Such intelligence would be a good match for Ravenclaw.
As I thought, April replied to the hat. By the way, I would appreciate it if you kept our secrets.
Was that a gulp she heard from the hat? April wondered why. Of course, the mystical object answered.
But what a heart, you have much loyalty to those who earn it. But the greatest asset you have is your courage, the hat said at that point. "Therefore you go to GRYFFINDOR!" The hat yelled the last part. April got up, turned, once again bowed to the professor, walked to the table, bowed to her new fellow students, and sat across from Pumpkin. Everyone on the Gryffindor table cheered and clapped for her. "Welcome to your new home away from home," replied Pumpkin.
"Thank you," April replied with a smile. "We will do our best to bring honor and glory to our house."
Pumpkin looked strangely at her, yet April's attention was already diverted back to the scene at the front of the room, where the Professor yelled out,
"Smith, Ariana."
As April, Ariana walked to the front, unconcerned, bowed to the professor, and sat down.
So violent if separated from you life-partner, yet equal in intelligence, loyalty, and kindness, the hat thought to her. You share so much of the same qualities. Your bravery and courage at the times of need are great; the hat finished its silent thought to Ariana. "Again you go to GRYFFINDOR!" it yelled across the room. Ariana got up, turned, bowed to the professor, easily strode over to the Gryffindor table, bowed to her new fellow students, and sat down next to April.
"You knew you were going to be assigned to the same house?" Pumpkin asked.
"Of course," April replied with a gentle smile.
"There was never any doubt about that," Ariana answered, also smiling. "For our entire lives, we've been together… we've never been split up… Ever. And we were pretty sure that we wouldn't be separated now." Ariana could feel April's mental anguish at her statement. There was one time where they had been separated. Ariana's mind encompassed April's through the link. Sorry, Kawaii, she apologized quietly to her life-partner.
Tsunami watched quietly and watched the proceedings in the Great Hall of Hogwarts through Xander's eyes, 'I don't think he would be happy if he knew we were so closely bonded.' She smiled as each child made their way to their newly appointed house. 'I wonder if it would bother Alexander if I talked to him.'
Alexander, may I speak with you, her voice was almost like a soft gentle wind in his mind. It felt wonderful, but it also made him nervous that another being, tree whatever, could speak to him in his mind. I hope I am not going nuts, that's all I need! he thought. He heard a giggle from the voice in his head.
Groaning, he mentally accepted her request to speak to him. So, what you think of all this? he asked her.
Well honestly, I am intrigued how they divide themselves into different houses. They all seem happy and it would seem they get the most out of their experience that way.
Yeah, but it's creepy how they do it. It's like their in your 'head'. He emphasized the last part.
Does it really bother you that much that I wish to speak with you? It is very lonely out here and you're the first person I've been in physical contact with in 400 years.
Worried that he messed up, I am sorry; I just have to get used to it. I mean have y— Getting frustrated he mentally mumbles, Great, not only am I hearing a tree's voice in my head, but a cute lonely one as well.
Xander reddened as he heard an echoed giggle in his mind, he found that strange, but continued to wait as he saw another person going up to the hat. He noticed a few of the Professors staring at him, I wonder what's their problem.
That wasn't nice Alexander. They're your teachers, you should respect them. Tsunami didn't like how easily they could tell something was going on with Xander. She could tell by the way they looked at him, maybe the conversation is leaking out energy. Alexander, try and concentrate a little like I taught you and try to lessen your aura. I think our conversation is having an effect on your energy output.
Xander noticed that one of the Professors was giving death looks at one of the students in the Gryffindor table. I wonder what grudge he has?
I do not know Alexander, but it may be interesting to find out. Now please try to concentrate and hide your aura before some of your professors start asking too many questions.
Xander concentrated and slowed his breathing as he was trained to do; slowly the energy encompassing him was reduced. There, happy? You know how hard that is for me.
Alexander, it had to be done. We can not be interrogated about weird auras surrounding you, she responded with a tone that said 'stop pestering me with such simple questions and complaints.'
Well it's almost my turn. This better be worth it.
Oh it will, you'll see. Now pay attention.
Damn. It's my turn. Maybe the hat will go to sleep. My life is that boring. And I don't think I like that professor. She was mean to April and Ariana. Besides, I don't like authority… never did, and never will.
"Masters, Alexander," the professor yelled out.
Now Xander was confused. What in Hell? They even got my name wrong!! This is starting to get ridiculous! He walked up to the professor and whispered with as much respect as he could muster in his present state, "I think you got my name wrong. It's Alexander Harris."
Professor McGonagall looked at him as if he just grew another head, and now sported scales. "I'm sorry young man, but the magic pen that lists all the names is never wrong. Not once in the hundred years that Hogwarts has existed."
Xander shrugged and grumbled to himself about hating magic and sat on the stool. The moment the hat hit his head, it started shaking for a couple of seconds and then stood stiff still. Such pain, such loyalty, but so much power. Your power can grow in Slytherin, but I can see above all you have a strong heart and bravery to challenge all before you. What house do you want?
Xander was shocked that he was asked in his best 'Xander': huh?
You have potential to be placed in all of the houses. This is a hard choice indeed… in Slytherin your power will grow beyond any before you. In Gryffindor you will learn control and loyalty and courage with friends for life. In Ravenclaw, you will be with others that have the same vast intelligence. In Hufflepuff you will be with those that are loyal beyond all others.
Well… power is nothing without control, and above all loyalty and courage is what is needed to fight the evil in the world. Besides, I want to be with those two girls. I think They're HOT, Xander added to his thought to the Hat. I think I'll choose Gryffindor.
Very well, "GRYFFINDOR" yelled out the hat. The hall was shocked in near-silence. Never before had the hat taken so long to chose and its violent reaction at the beginning was disturbing. The Gryffindors knew what to do though, and they all clapped and cheered.
Xander stood up and sat next to Pumpkin "So what's everyone so shocked about?" he asked, bending closer to the friend he had made on the train.
"Dude, didn't you notice how violently the hat acted towards you?" Pumpkin looked at Xander pointedly, as if trying to determine whether or not Xander was doing ok.
Xander raised his eyebrow. "Kinda hard to look at something that's on top of your head," he said with a chuckle. "Besides that professor got my name wrong," Xander said, wondered where the Masters-thing came from.
"I never heard of the magic pen that lists al the names being wrong, but don't worry about it. I know you'll be shocked when we get our food."
"Food, yeah, that's what I need," his stomach made a huge growl at his comment making everyone around him laugh.
Ignoring the laughs Xander examined the room and looked towards the High Table where the faculty was seated. At the end of the table, Hagrid was seated. I like him; he acts like he's got a big heart. In the center of the table, in a large gold chair, sat a silver haired older man. He must be the headmaster… and did he just smile at me? Next to Dumbledore sat an Asian man, he had grayish hair tied up in a ponytail, a light from the room seemed to shine off his glasses blocking Xander from seeing his eyes. "Yo, Pumpkin who is that next to the headmaster?"
"I heard he was the new DADA teacher, he comes from Japan I think," said Pumpkin as if it was common knowledge.
"Japan," both April and Ariana said. It will be good to have a teacher of the Japanese school, April said. I've grown used to it with Morimoto-sensei… I'll miss the signs of respect a student has for a teacher, and the respect a teacher has for the student.
I know what you mean, Ariana replied. I miss him too…
He helped us so much, April whispered.
"Hey girls!" they heard, snapping them out of their 'dream'.
"Excuse us," April replied. "We just dreamed off for a moment."
"I can see that," Xander said with a chuckle. "I asked why you were staring into space like that."
"Oh," April replied with a sad smile. "We spent the last three years of our lives in Japan. It's nice to have someone here who reminds us of the place we left behind there," she replied easily.
"Now, what's DADA?" Xander asked.
"It's an art form," April replied immediately. "Mostly writers and poets who deliberately tried to spread confusion, and provoke the people. They're known as anti-artists, and their reaction grew in response to the First World War."
"Possibly," Pumpkin said as the rest of the table stared at April. "But in here, it stands for 'Defense Against the Dark Arts'. Do you see that guy next to the new professor? That's Professor Snape. He has wanted to teach that class for ages, but it's never happened. I hate that guy."
"He can't be that bad," Ariana replied.
"You'll find out for yourself," Pumpkin said, with wicked smile.
"I'm starting to get really hungry. Where's the food?" Xander laughed to Pumpkin.
"Just hold your horses, dude. In a minute," Pumpkin answered, pointing to the headmaster.
Albus Dumbledore got up and smiled at the students, "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts!" He waved his hands and sat back down. Everyone clapped and cheered.
I think I am going to like him, April said with a chuckle to Ariana.
Ditto, Kawaii. Very much ditto, Ariana replied with an easy mental smile.
The dishes in front of him were now piled with food. The table was full of roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, and many other things. Xander's mouth hung open and he drooled.
"You better close your mouth, Alexander… a fly may mistake it for something else otherwise," replied Ariana with laughter clearly in her eyes.
"Yeah. Your drool is starting to create a puddle," April chuckled.
Xander closed his mouth and started to pile food onto his plate. He ate and ate and ate, shocking everyone. No one knew that a person could eat so much.
No wonder he kept complaining about Twinkies before. He's got a bottomless stomach. Pumpkin thought.
All the commotion with Xander's appetite took away the attention from April and Ariana who also had more than average appetites, although theirs was still civil, contrary to Xander's.
April and Ariana chuckled at Xander's antics and his ability to pile food down his throat. He has got to be a Saiyan; no way a normal human can eat that much, mentally laughed April to Ariana.
Yeah, he would scare Goku and piss of the great Saiyan prince himself, Vegeta. Ariana laughed back to April.
Not much trouble there… Vegeta gets pissed at his own shadow, April replied casually. Besides, Goku can kick Vegeta's ass anytime. The show shows so.
Xander stopped eating for a sec and looked around at the other students' shocked expressions, he turned towards Pumpkin, "What's there problem?"
"Don't worry dude, they just never seen anybody eat so much," laughed Pumpkin. He laughed so hard he almost fell off his chair.
Xander looked around and turned red, and decided to eat slower and not fill his plate up so fast.
As everyone continued to eat, conversations started and others kept to themselves as they ate. Finally the desserts disappeared, much to Xander's disappointment. "Man just one more pie, please," he mumbled.
Pumpkin laughed, "Man! Aren't you filled yet? You ate enough for an army!"
"I guess not," Xander laughed. They both turned to look up at the High Table.
Professor Dumbledore got up, "Ahem, just a few words and notices to give you."
"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well. Remember not to use magic in between classes in the corridors, this message courtesy of Mr. Filch."
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. Finally do not forget about the return of Lord Voldemort," everyone gasped at the use of that name. "We can not forget the loss of our dear friend and fellow student Cedric Diggory, please take a minute and pay your respects." The hall became quiet, except for the Slytherins, who were clapping and yelling that Diggory got what he deserved.
For the first time, an angry twinkle was seen on Dumbledore's eyes by the students. "Table Slytherin, for the disgrace you have shown, you loose 50 points." Everyone at the table groaned but became quiet.
Xander turned to Pumpkin to ask what was going on, but Pumpkin waved him off as if the subject would be discussed later.
As the hall became quiet once again, "When visiting Hogsmeade be careful of others and if any trouble is seen please report to any of the available professors."
Now in a more cheery voice, "Let us sing the school song before we go off to bed!" Dumbledore retrieved his wand and waved it, a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which raised high above the tables and twisted itself, snakelike into words.
"Every year we do this," Pumpkin said to the girls and Xander.
"Everyone pick their favorite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!" They all sang, Xander thought that it was a cute song. Everyone finished, and Dumbledore clapped and, "Off to bed!"
Xander and the girls stayed behind as the other first years left to go to the dormitory. Professor McGonagall came up to them and stopped Harry and two of his friends before they left. "Mister Potter, Mister Weasley, and Miss Granger, will you accompany me to Professor Dumbledore's office?"
The three teenagers looked shocked and scared, their expression clearly conveying the message why where they being summoned so soon?
Xander noticed their discomfort and looked up at the professor, "I just need you to accompany Mr. Masters, Miss Fromthefield, and Miss Smith back to dormitory when they are done speaking with him."
The teens relaxed immediately and nodded to the professor, while Xander started to turn red and he started to get really angry as well. "Excuse me, Professor. As I told you before, my name is Harris, not Masters. I would appreciate it if you didn't make that mistake again." He tried really hard not to yell at her.
The experiences teens gasped, as they had never seen anyone be so rude at the professor. But what shocked them more was her response.
"Yes, well the magic pen that lists the names is never wrong. Maybe you should talk to Professor Dumbledore about that before you snap at me." She seemed so calm and replied with respect.
"Sorry about the outburst. I'll talk with him then," Xander said, calmed down now.
All of them followed the professor up some stairs to the second floor and down a corridor. After a few minutes of walking, the group halted in front of an ugly stone gargoyle against a wall. "I wonder if I could get one of those to protect my Twinkies …" as Xander said his last word, the gargoyle jumped out of the way and the wall slid open to reveal an upwards moving spiral stair-case.
"… back home," Xander finished, voice shocked at what he had witnessed. April and Ariana were smiling slightly, one eyebrow raised.
"Then who will protect them from you?" Pumpkin chuckled, as if nothing unusual happened. Everyone laughed until Ron asked what a Twinkie was. The professor just raised an eyebrow at Xander.
Xander shrieked in horror. "Y…you don't know what a Twinkie is!? Oh, the horror!" Everyone laughed again except Ron and the professor. Harry leaned over to Ron and mentioned that it was a Muggle pastry.
"Hey, man. Quick question… why did big stone and ugly over there get out the way when I mentioned Twinkies?" Xander asked Harry, leaning closer to him.
"Well, I guess it's the password to get to Dumbledore's office. He usually picks his favorite sweets as his password," Harry replied calmly.
Xander gave Harry a big lopsided smile. "I am definitely going to like this guy," he said with conviction, electing a chuckle from some of the people present. Professor McGonagall ushered them up the long staircase until they reached a gleaming oak door with a brass knocker in the shape of a griffin.
Xander looked around and was amazed at the portraits of what he assumed where previous Headmasters and Headmistresses, and how they moved and talked to each other. There was a desk and 7 chairs around the table; next to the desk was a golden perch used by a beautiful gold-and-red bird.
"Amazing!" Ariana choked out at the sight of the bird. "Isn't that a phoenix?"
April nodded slowly. "A very living phoenix… and outside of a mythology book."
As the two girls, entranced by the bird, ventured closer, it flew up from its stand, approaching the girls tentatively as well, as if bird and girls were watching each other intently, trying to figure out how to establish 'first contact' the best way. Finally, it was April who lifted her arm, holding it horizontally, and allowed herself to enter the state of inner peace that made her a non-threat to the most ferocious of animals. The Phoenix screeched once, and touched down on the girl's arm. Both girls smiled, looking over the beautiful creature with amazing attention. It was April who first ventured to pet the fire-bird. When she received no adverse reactions, Ariana joined in as well, petting the bird across the back.
"Ahh, it looks like Fawkes made new friends," Dumbledore said with a smile as he entered from an adjacent room. He was now certain about his earlier decision…He knew that, once Fawkes liked someone, they must be good people. "Everyone, please take a seat," he said, sitting down behind the desk. Xander could see the Sorting Hat standing behind Dumbledore, and there was a beautiful sword next to it.
"Welcome to my office, Alexander, April, and Ariana. And once again, Welcome to Hogwarts," he said, bowing his head both to show respect and greet the newcomers. The girls bowed from their seats, while Xander merely dipped his head and smiled at the headmaster.
"Professor, I loved your password. It's great to meet a fellow Twinkie lover," Xander said, standing up and extended his hand to the person behind the desk.
Dumbledore laughed and took Xander's hand in a friendly clasp. "Yes, I can't resist the sweets," he said with a chuckle. Everyone in the room snickered slightly, except for April and Ariana, who merely smiled. Snickering or laughing would indicate disrespect… and if there was one thing both had learned from their stay in Japan, it was respect for teachers.
The two Twinkie lovers had returned to their seats, and Dumbledore turned to April and Ariana. "April and Ariana, allow me to start with you first. I have reviewed your records from your previous schooling, although this is an unusual thing to do for new students. But, when the pen placed your names on the list, and indicated that you were above the age limit, I had to look into it, merely as a precaution to determine in which areas you needed extra effort. I can say that I am glad I looked. I can honestly say that I am honored to have the two longest active members of the Institute of higher Learning's Phoenixes in our ranks," his eyes twinkled and he smiled at the girls.
"Thank you, headmaster," both of the girls responded, unsure. Professor McGonagall stared at the duo.
"You were Phoenixes," she asked with a hint of awe in her voice. "For how long, may I ask?"
April and Ariana bowed their heads. "Five years, Professor. We were forced to leave… an emergency forced us to move to Japan," April answered with a slight tremor in her voice. Ariana placed a calming hand on her friend's shoulder. April smiled gratefully, although a little sadly, at Ariana.
Dumbledore smiled and looked to Professor McGonagall. "Minerva, the girls will set up their own curriculum. They will learn at their own pace. Give them a list of all the books they need and the classes that are available. I have no doubt that they can learn faster if they aren't hampered by the professors."
"But Albus! It would be impossible for them to learn so much without hands-on work that we do in the classroom!" she protested, a little surprised by the headmaster's words. "I know that the Phoenixes are supposed to be the best and brightest, but I am doubtful that even they can learn without a single practical example."
Dumbledore nodded. "They will still be required to attend class with the other Gryffindors, but they will not be required to follow the pace of the class. They will be allowed to set their own pace and the professors will answer any questions and set tasks for them to finish in order for them to be able to show improvement," as he finished he turned to the couple, watching the proceedings with a keen intellect. "Will this be acceptable?" he asked them.
"Yes sir, just one question. Will we be able to ask any of the professors questions, like your self for instance?" April asked respectfully.
Before he could answer, Professor McGonagall cut in. "Of course not! Headmaster Dumbledore is a very busy and powerful wizard!"
Dumbledore smiled at the professor, turned to the girls, and his smile grew wider. "Yes, of course you may… if I am not busy with other matters."
"Thank you, headmaster," April said, she and her companion bowing. "If you would allow me one more question, sir... but... is there an area for general experimentation? After all, magic, if I understand it correctly, can have very... explosive results. Is there an area where we can experiment without accidentally damaging something valuable and/or irreplaceable?" April asked.
"Yes, when the time comes that you anticipate the need for a secluded room, please ask Professor McGonagall."
"Thank you for your help, Headmaster. We will not fail you, or the trust you have put in us," April said, bowing once again.
Xander looked at the duo, not understanding why they weren't seasick from all the bopping.
Dumbledore nodded. "I'm sure you won't," he said with a friendly smile. He then turned his attention to Xander, "Now, Alexander, you on the other hand, will have limited amount of time available. Our mutual acquaintance," his said with twinkling eyes, "has requested that you must learn everything in one year's time."
Everyone gasped, except April and Ariana, He's probably an undiscovered Phoenix, April thought to Ariana. Poor boy… growing up in normal education with a mind built to reach for the stars.
Ariana nodded slowly. Or he's a new one… after all; we left over three years ago. Who knows how many new people the Institute has by now?
True, April allowed. Very true. We'll see.
That we will, Kawaii. That we will, Ariana replied calmly, with a smile in Xander's direction.
"But Albus! No student has ever been able to finish that quickly! I must object to this decision," Professor McGonagall protested.
How long did it take us to finish three years of Junior High School, and the three years of high School? Three months, give or take? April asked her companion.
When we were seven years old. We've grown a lot stronger since then. These seven years shouldn't take us more than two and a half months, three months tops, if the matter is hard or extensive, Ariana answered calmly. Both girls looked at each other. Three months, and we're done, they vowed to each other. We'll show the Professor WHY we made Phoenix five years in a row, April thought to her companion with a smile.
Xander had stood up by now, and had turned to the female professor. "If Mr. Dumbledore says that I have to do it, then I don't know how, but I'll do it!" Xander said with a determined look in his eyes. April and Ariana were probably the only ones in the room who could read that there was also a great shock about the demand placed on him.
He's not a Phoenix, April thought to her friend. A Phoenix knows how to meet impossible demands. We'll help him… with Phoenix mind-training. We'll teach him to assimilate data.
Agreed, Ariana answered. He helped us, so we should help him, any way we can.
"Very well," Dumbledore said, glad that Xander was willing to meet this challenge head-on. "He will have the same type of schooling as the girls, but he will have to finish a year's worth of lessons every month. The remaining months will be used on advanced training," the headmaster decided.
To say Minerva McGonagall was shocked would not nearly describe her reaction and how she felt. Never has anyone been put under so much training before. This is insane… What is GOING ON here? "Albus, may I ask why he must go through so much training so quickly?" she asked, her voice carefully neutral.
"I am sorry, Minerva, but I promised a friend not to reveal too much," he gave her an apologetic smile and then turned to Xander, "Is this acceptable Alexander? Is there anything else you require?"
"When I said I was going to like you, I meant it," Xander said with a grin. "Sure, it's cool… but I do need facilities so I can train."
Dumbledore gave him a knowing look. "Of course, we have big training facility, normally accessible only 5th years and above. You may use it, anytime you like. As long as it does not interfere with your magical training, of course," the headmaster concluded with a smile.
"Cool," he turned to Harry, "Do you know where it is?"
Harry, totally confused by what had occurred, just shook his head.
"Don't worry Mister Potter and Mister Masters. The prefects will tell you were it is once you return to the dormitory," Dumbledore smiled slyly, knowing what the next question would be.
"Why does everyone insist that my last name is Masters?" Xander cried. "Ha, Ha, you guys got me, you can stop the joke already." This has to be joke. What else could it be? Xander's mind grunted inwardly.
"Exactly what I thought you where going to say. Katsuhito, I think it's time you come in." The old man that Xander had seen earlier at the High Table, the Japanese DADA teacher, entered from the same room that Dumbledore entered from earlier.
He just stared at Xander as trying to see something or find something, when suddenly; a tear left his right eye. "No wonder Tsunami wanted me to come here," he whispered, but Xander caught what he said.
Tsunami? April and Ariana asked each other at the same time. Why is Xander's heart thumping so hard, and why is the Japanese DADA teacher showing emotions? April voiced both their questions.
I don't know, Kawaii. This is getting weirder by the minute. For a Japanese TEACHER to show emotions… in front of NEW students…it takes something big. And who would be called Tsunami? How can you call someone after a destructive force of nature?
Questions, questions, April replied. Riddles to be solved. We'll solve them.
You can bet we will, Ariana answered. I want to know what is going on here.
April simply chuckled through the link.
Xander was shocked to hear Tsunami's name and wondered how many secrets she was withholding from him. "Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked coolly, studying the Japanese teacher.
Katsuhito just stepped closer to Xander and kept looking at him, as if staring at his soul. To say this was frightening Xander was an understatement. On instinct, he jumped out of the chair and pulled out the Akiri-ken. The power-readings he was getting from the old man where higher than the other wizards. He didn't know if the Japanese man was friend or foe. Careful not to ignite the blade and totally blow his cover, Xander just kept Akiri-ken at the ready. April and Ariana where curious of his actions, but figured that he was just trying to show his magical item.
Xander was shocked when Katsuhito just walked up to him and placed his hand on the end of the sword and nothing happened. What the fuck, isn't he supposed to get shocked now? Only family members of the royal family can touch my Akiri-ken. "What?" he muttered.
No one else knew what to do, and were wondering what the item Xander pulled out was. Katsuhito stepped back and whispered in pure Juraian, "I see you have Akiri's blade with you, my Grandson." Xander had learned the language from Tsunami and thought no one here knew it.
Unknown language, April's genetic memories told her. I've recorded it. The more we know about it, the more I'll add to it… now I am REALLY beginning to wonder what is going on here.
First he gets the same treatment as us, then he pulls out a magic wand that looks like a sword-handle, and now he and our DADA teacher are talking in Unknown. You're right, April. Something not right, and we'll need to figure it out… soon. For all we know, they might be agents left from Zodiac, or some other group, trying to get their hands on our genetically enhanced bodies.
April gulped through the link, and a shudder went through her. I really hoped it was over, Love… I really hoped it was over… I don't want to run again.
Now we have Morimoto-sensei, and Yahiko-Kun. We can stay with them. Carol is keeping a continuous eye on air-traffic. We can bail anytime.
April took a shuddering breath. Right. I need to pull myself together.
Ariana's mental voice turned velvety soft. After what we went through, we're entitled to be careful, she said.
Xander gasped, unable to think clearly. Who was this man that claimed to be his grandfather? A painful memory crashed into him. His life at home finally made sense. His father's words echoed in his mind. You're no son of mine; you're worthless, his father would say, before the beatings would start. This time anger was the only thing he was feeling, "I need my rest can we go to the dormitory," he asked Dumbledore with a tired voice. He really did feel tired. Of course, at the same time, he ignored the Japanese man.
"Very well. Mister Potter, Miss Granger, and Mister Weasley, can you please show our new friends to the dormitory? Thank you and good night." The six got up and left for the dormitory… after April and Ariana bowed to the Headmaster, the DADA teacher, and the Professor in turn.
"Albus, what is going on here?" a very angry Minerva McGonagall asked.
"I am sorry; Minerva, but I can not reveal anything at the moment. Please try to understand," Dumbledore said, sounding apologetic.
She got up angrily. "Very well, Albus. But I do not like to be kept out of the loop, especially when it concerns MY students in MY house," she said, clearly emphasizing the 'my', before walking out of the office.
"Well, that didn't go very well, Katsuhito. Did it?" The smile that Dumbledore had on early left his face and a neutral expression replaced it.
"No, I didn't expect to finally find him. Tsunami told us she couldn't find him," tears left his eyes as he recalled the pain that his daughter went through when Alexander turned up missing.
"She may have her reasons. She was the one that told me to use the pen to get his name," Dumbledore said thoughtfully.
"Yes, that may be, but she kept him from us. I hope he's had a good life, so his mother and father can now rest in peace," Katsuhito said. As a second thought, he added, "I think Alexander is right. I feel tired too. I think I'll go to bed. Good night." Katsuhito bowed to Dumbledore and left his office.
"Interesting days indeed," Dumbledore whispered, before he retired to his own bedroom.