(Rack) Life of a magic dealer in Sunnydale was certainly a happy one. All those petty individuals and lost souls with so much power and no idea what to do with it. Daily dozens of clients came and wanted their dose to take their weak souls away from reality into a higher sphere and yet they stayed blind to the true bliss of it all. Receiving was one thing but giving and taking at the same time, the sweet taste of their essence, their raw power and untapped potential that was the real thing. Power was my game and I loved it, in a way it was my own addiction. And then there was Strawberry. Rarely before had I come across such vast, untapped potential, so much fire crackling under her skin just waiting to be released. She could be so much, she could shape the whole world in her hands and to her liking, she could clean the whole Hellmouth from any evil but herself if she wished and sealing it in the process. Instead she occupied herself with petty rituals, simply assisting the slayer and practicing a limiting religion. In a way she was the most naive of my customers. Strawberry was aware of what I was doing to her and at the same time not. I chuckled, knowing that she hadn't used the power I gave her. The strain of channeling everything out was written clearly all over her, body and aura. Such a waste. She had no idea how things really worked. What magic was all about and that if she wanted it the fact that it was Black Magic would mean as much as a cent in a mountain of gold. All was about control actually. Only if you lacked that magic would direct the path of your fate. Strawberry, however, was a mere child, a baby in the world of giants all around her. Her power equaled and excelled those around her but she didn't know what to do with it or how to properly do so. A pity but at the same time I had the most of it. It was like playing with fire. I knew if she exploded and finally turned against me I would be lucky to get out of here alive but as long as I kept it safe and in control, my own desires were met perfectly. This way... My thoughts were rudely interrupted and I had only a split second to react when I felt the nearly impenetrable shields around my operation base crumble like paper under fire. And that is what happened. Blue tongues of flame suddenly slashed through the walls around me as a deafening boom set free a raging inferno. Screams could be heard from the waiting room but I put them no mind. My customers were the least of my concerns now as I instantly pulled up a tight heat shield around me and strode to the already melted door. Stepping over its remains and avoiding the lashing fire all around me, I felt my anger rise inside of me until it was almost at the boiling point. Whoever dared this was going to pay. It had cost a lot of financial as well as magical investment to set up this place and would cost even more to rebuild. When I entered the waiting room, however, I froze, not quite certain I really saw what my eyes tried to tell me. The door was practically blasted to bits - not by the fire per se - and standing proudly and with a burning passion in her eyes that was more lethal than the actual flames around me was a person of my past and hadn't thought to ever see again. To be honest I had thought her long since dead. I fixed the figure with a disbelieving stare, taking in the red, fiery hair and flashing ruby eyes, the anger radiating in them and even though I managed to keep my cool outwardly, I was shaken and terrified to the core on the inside because I knew that Strawberry was a laugh compared to her... (Tara) The house was in a straining quiet at the moment. A few minutes ago I had heard hushed voices filtering upstairs, probably Xander and Anya demanding to be let in on the situation. Although I couldn't sense or hear the ex-demon anywhere. I wasn't trying though, simply concentrated on my unconscious mate and - with a sliver of hope - maybe lover again cradled in her best friends arms as we made our way upstairs. The part of me that was always worried over my friends well- being wanted to at least make sure that everyone was alright and that Dawn wasn't too freaked by the whole thing. But my heart had set priorities right now. And so I had wordlessly slipped into the... our bed behind Willow, taking over the right to hold her. That was some minutes ago and the voices from downstairs had stopped now, basking the house in a blanket of silence that was as much relaxing as it was nerve-retching. After all the stress and strain of lending Willow power in order to sustain her spirit I was exhausted beyond anything I had ever experienced before. Doing powerful spells and being drained afterwards was one thing but this had been way intense. I would not have traded it though if it meant that Willow lived and there was now hope for a new chance. Tried as I might though I could not get my raging mind to calm down enough to get some much needed sleep. I had come so close to lose Willow and the thought alone could not be bared. I knew for a long time that I was depended on her, needed her as much a human being needed to breathe. That time apart had been torture, self-inflicted torture that might be understandable on a certain level but was also needless and selfish on another. Was independence really that important? Was the freedom of my mind worth leaving a part of my heart behind? I did not know for sure anymore? Yes, the violation was wrong, the motives selfish and abusive but should I not have seen through it? If I really loved and deserved her love should I not have stayed and pulled her through this? What was a little sacrifice for our love? I had no answer for those questions and still couldn't decide what should have been done and what not. Important was that we were here now, together, save, alive and hopefully recovering. Willow shook and whimpered in her sleep and I brought my arms more tightly around her. "Tara, Buffy, no!" I could feel a surge of power, something dark and primal and even though I knew it was an unconscious reaction of her essence to the illusion created by the nightmare, I had to resist the fear of that stained magic. I would not shy away anymore, Willow needed my support right now. "Shh, it's okay, baby, I'm here." She calmed down a little but was still tense and curled up against me in a fetal position. I felt the tears unbidden in my eyes but movement from the door kept my attention focused there. Buffy had returned upstairs and was taking in the scene with a sad, guilty look. From the talks of the last days I knew exactly what was going through her and most of the guilt came not from the blame on what happened to her best friend but what little she probably felt about it. Her soul is unattached, Willow's words came back with relentless force and I quelled the urge to look away in rising shame. Instead I managed to stop her already in the process of turning with a barely whispered but pleading: "No." The Slayer turned uncertain, hovering in the same space for a few seconds as I tried to bring my message across without words. When it became clear that Buffy's insecurities didn't help with that at all. I called out softly: "Stay." The blonde's eyes widened for the fraction of a second but I managed to hold her gaze until her features soften. Buffy let the door close behind her and without another needed word slid under the covers. She stayed on her side for awhile but after some time we were comfortably snuggled up against each other and soon sound asleep. (Anya) As we strode into the dealer's lair I took in anything around me while most of my attention was still directed at Lina. I knew she was from the old world, her magic use alone had been a giveaway. But this part had been sealed off for as long as I was a demon. Daryial's appearance had startled me but he could have been outside back then. This one though... Everything in her aura practically SMELLED liked home. It was an ability I hadn't really used in a millennia as well but one that was not so easily lost. If that wasn't enough already, her power was far greater than mine had ever been in my prime. And back then I was considered one of the strongest, human mages. A power and status that would certainly take some time to rebuild. Lina's aura though was vivid, throbbing with barely restrained power that could strike a lethal blow any second. Rack would stand no chance against that. And I think he knew it. "Scarlet?" The dealer stopped upon entering the lobby, obviously unaffected by the intense heat around us. I could hear the wonder in his voice and gathered instantly that there had, apparently, been history between the two. A fact that often played into Rack's hands as I know from dealing with his case once but this time I was sure that wouldn't be a comfort the dealer. "Rack," Lina regarded him with nothing but disdain, her voice dripping acid. I had to shudder and was inwardly glad not be the one on the receiving end of her anger. She seemed so calm and collected dealing with Willow back then - from what little I witnessed after arriving late with Xander - but now it was as if someone had set free a wild and quite deadly animal. Emotional scars, I surmised, that would explain it and I was rather sure that was the case anyway. A lover probably, maybe lost to Rack or something differently. I had seen it before but let us just say that Willow wasn't the only person who almost lost the one important to them. And in my case the "almost" had been painfully missing... No, time for that now. Lina and Rack were standing opposite of each other, both judging the others strength and intentions. While the latter didn't need much interpretation, I could safely attest the aura of confidence around the redhead while the slightest quiver of fear shone through the dealer's façade. "Really? Did you have to make such a mess? This place costs, you know, and I'm sure that we could have settled this petty difference otherwise. I would have even given you one for free..." The rest of the arrogant speech intended to cover his own dread was cut of by a blazing arrow narrowly missing his head. I could not help myself but smirk. "This has gone too far, Rack. My assigned charge was almost killed tonight. I despised your shady business before this already but now you crossed a line. Pulling an unwilling soul purposefully into oblivion is something I cannot just overlook. I would have just liked to have her away from you but it is obvious that you won't even give her a chance." As expected Rack was puzzled for a moment, before his eyes lit up and he unexpectedly chuckled . "Oh, this is about Strawberry." A sudden laugh erupted from his throat and I really thought he had went insane. Maybe that wasn't far from the truth for almost all of his life... "And you," he pointed at Lina again and then laughed once more, "want to teach her? You can barely control yourself. How do you want to teach her that?" Lina flung out her arm, palm pointed forward as a lance of power surged forward only to smash against an invisible barrier. "I should have let you join your little sidekick when I had the chance." Rack quieted down at my voice and fixed with a bemused grin. "Oh, Anyanka. I'm hurt so little respect from a fellow..." A Digu Volt smashed into his shield and pushed him back a few feet. "I was never your fellow anything. I was a wish-granting vengeance demon. You are just a pathetic sick THING." Rack didn't seem fazed by that and I moved forward to further enforce my words but was held back by a hand suddenly blocking my path. I looked at Lina for a moment. Taking in that deep calm suddenly meeting me. There was still anger but it was shaped into a sharp, cold blade of lethal steel now, an almost freezing calculation. And I knew that whatever Rack had tried with his mocking and however deep it might have hurt, the effect surely was the opposite of what he had hoped for. Without a word I stepped back and silently retreated out the burning house. I could see Rack tense the barest bit as Lina stepped forward to face him. Backing away until I couldn't see them anymore I flew up to a low roof and waited. That wasn't actually a long process. Just half a minute later the ground shook in a low tremble and the already ruined house literally burst apart as two figures shot out of the flames. Both were illuminated in flaring red auras but where Racks was a deep, tainted crimson, Lina's was a mixture of ruby and scarlet with a bright fire. When the two began their deathly dance I made sure that I would have a defensive spell ready either for Lina or myself. Sunnydale was about to be the ground of a magic duel that could barely be compared to the fight of a Slayer with a Hell Goddes. And that we already had. (Willow) I woke with a soundless scream, my throat dry and soar. When had I been drinking or eating the last time? It seemed like days. Maybe it even was days. It was dark around me and I wasn't sure where exactly I was. The images of the nightmare came rushing back and only when I finally registered the feel of a soft, familiar body against my back did I relax somewhat, relief flooding through me. Goddess, that had been so surreal and yet I couldn't get it out of my head how right everything felt. Not right as in it should be that way but that it was that way, in fact really real... Ouch, my head hurt. No babbling in your head for awhile, Willow. I recalled that in the dream that guy I thought was distantly familiar shot down Buffy and Tara and there was so much blood and... I never wanted this too happen, would never let it happen, as long I lived... I was alive. The realization hit me full force and images, impressions from earlier came rushing back to me. Collapsing on the pavement of Revello Drive, near death and with the absolute certainty that I would indeed be dead soon. When there were Buffy and Tara. I had felt so loved when their energy surged through me. Safe like a baby in its mother's arms. The body behind me mumbled something incoherently and snuggled closer. A faint smile came to my lips and my heart leapt a little with the joy I felt that moment. She was there for me again. I didn't hazard any illusions that this was going to be an easy road, for both of us. There were a lot of negative emotions to sort through, a lot of consolation and amends to make. But I could have the relieve again that everything would turn out to be alright in the end. Somehow. I had no idea why I didn't notice it before but maybe I had been too focused on the nightmare and Tara but there was another body against mine that I couldn't quite make out. But I felt a head resting against my shoulder and it was strangely comforting. Years of sleepovers and the year as dorm mates helped to quickly identify the body to be Buffy's and another smile flashed briefly over my face in the darkness. Tara was here. Buffy was here. And we were all together and at peace for the moment. A rest and peace all of us deserved and actually needed. My mind wanted to wrap around the odd sleeping arrangement and the warmth I felt with both women on either side but my still rather drained and overall exhausted body was not up to it and soon I felt myself drifting back to sleep, relishing in the feel of my mate and best friend surrounding me. Completed in the odd dynamics of our individual relationships. I must have dozed of for a few minutes and while my body was showing no outward signs of being awake, my spirit suddenly jerked awake for a moment. My magic capacities might be running low, only sustained by Tara and Buffy's energy but I could recognize the echoes in the distance, loud and clear. Beside me I could feel Tara's spirit stir and even the Slayer reacted subconsciously. Levels of magic were just raised of a magnitude that were truly frightening. Black Magic and there was a lot of fire. Two, they were two. Was that Rack? Yes. And the other one seemed distantly familiar. The stranger from last mind made her way back through the haze of memories. They were fighting, it was more like a miniature war. My spirit boggled as particular spells clashed and mental shields slammed into place before it could become to overwhelming. I lay hovering between sleep and wake for awhile longer, trying to figure out what was wrong. But then the echoes quieted down and finally stopped in the distance, I drifted back into Morpheus' arms, deciding that it could wait until tomorrow. Whatever happened, if it was dangerous for us when I would have been awake in a flash despite any physical protests. (Lina) Out of the corner of my eyes I saw Anya move away giving us the needed space. My gaze was fixed on the hated man in front of me and as anger began to fuel me from deep inside I began to chant. "Darkness from twilight..." Rack, I hated the name with a passion. It was when I was lost in my own addiction, though that time couldn't be compared at all with my new charge's. That was when he had found me. "Crimson from blood that flows..." He thought me to be weak and I was. Gone was the strong, confident sorceress of my youth. Life had betrayed me, brutally so, and I hadn't cared at that time. "Buried in the flow of time..." He took me in, amused himself for awhile and spat me out like Willow but as with Willow he hadn't gotten enough and drained me almost completely. It was then when Giles had found me, on the verge of death. "In thy great name I pledge myself to darkness..." Since he had moved from England shortly afterwards I had never been confronted with him again. Now he was doing the same thing again with Willow. Not over my dead body. "Those who oppose us shall be destroyed by the power you and I posses!" I cupped the glowing sphere of crimson and fixed Rack with a deathly glare. He had been bragging on about how he knew me so well and that I could never win against him. Well, he had only met the weak girl branded by tragedy, not the strong mage that had confronted powerful Mazoku and even slew one seventh of this world's Demon Lord. "You know nothing about me, Rack. But you are about to find out; sadly it will be the last thing you experience... No wait, that isn't so sad after all. DRAGU SLAVE!" And I let the most powerful spell known to everyone but me go. The dealer was so surprised that his half-hearted defense was washed away almost instantly. I knew though that he was made of sterner stuff when to be so easily defeated. Levitating up into the air I looked around carefully and was not being disappointed when Rack rose from the burning remains of his lair. Wiping the blood dripping from his bottom lip away his eyes narrowed. "Alright. It seems that was a 'no' to my offer." I did not even give him the benefit of staring at him hard. Instead I moved instantly. His eyes widened in surprise as I closed in quicker than he could react. "FLARE LANCE!" Rack dodged the spear formed by several fire arrows fused together but that was just a feint. One hand behind my back came suddenly shooting forward as I was almost above my enemy. "BALUS ROD!" A thin band of light crashed against his quickly brought up arm and proceeded to wrap around it. I tugged on the light whip and he was flung through the air and down on the roof of a building. I was not about to give him the time to recover. Landing on the roof I drew back the magic whip but got surprised when his hands suddenly were thrust out and a sizzling lightning bolt hit me in the shoulder while I tried to avoid the sudden attack. The grip on the spell lost, I rolled with the blow and came up half-kneeling one hand firmly place against the roof. "DUG WAVE!" The roof beneath my opponent exploded in a shockwave as the earth spell took effect but Rack was already airborne leaping back in a wide arc he came around with two small points of fiery lights on his hand and I immediately called out a Balus Wall to shield me from the two flames suddenly rushing for me. For a moment both of us halted, taking a few breaths. Not that I really needed it. "Not bad," Rack admitted with a cockiness that I knew was a mask. He was scared, terrified actually, I could almost smell it. "I know now why you always were so special to me. A pity we can't settle this like adults." "Shut up, Rack. I had enough of your delusions. This town is not big enough for the both of us. Leave here and never EVER cross my path again. If not, you should bow to the crowd now because you're about to leave the show." Of course the unworthy idiot wasn't clever. Pride prevented him from following his logical mind that knew he couldn't win. "Spare me the moral lecture, Scarlet. You are no better than me or Strawberry. I bet your pretty, little princess would be disgusted with what..." "BLAST ASH!" He leapt clear of the black void dropping in on him like a meteor with automatic targeting, barely. His left leg got scarred in the process which didn't seriously stop him. However, that last comment had served to snap the last string keeping my own rage in check. How DARE he speak about Lia like that? Coming together in a furious exchange of spells and occasionally physical blows I was quickly able to drive him back, flung him from the roof and smashed him into another wall with a well placed barrage of fireballs. A red haze of rage was covering my vision but I didn't care as I prepared for another Dragu Slave to finish the offending taint from my past once and for all. Buried under all this anger I had forgotten the basic rule of surviving for a sorceress. NEVER lose control in a fight with an equal opponent. And as much as I hated him Rack did come close to an equal opponent. Not quite but most of it he made up by his knowledge about me. Which he just wonderfully demonstrated, driving me into a rage with just a few pointed comments. Thus I was totally unprepared for the blinding flare that hit me, making me lose control over the spell, almost grilling myself in the process. "WIND SHIELD!" I could actually feel when a surely lethal energy bolt exploded against the spiritual barrier. I glanced up and saw Anya standing on a nearby roof, her hand outstretched ready to launch another spell. Her eyes suddenly got really wide and my head whipped around as I felt a huge gathering of magic. It was Rack. Oh shit! The guy was desperate. Obviously he HAD admitted to himself that there was no way he could win but instead of giving up he had saved up all his reserves, down to the last ounce of life-force in his body. All of this was gathered now in a warping and hissing corona of blackness all around him. He must have taken all those hits to partially absorb some of my spell's power, I realized while my mind turned into a whirlwind, trying to find a counter. At least a dozen spells and actions were discarded, during which Rack was beginning to be engulfed by the vast blackness. By the time Anya landed next to me and was trying to get me away the magic dealer was complete wrapped into a cocoon of pure darkness. Almost like... Aha! "YOU MAY BE STRONGER THAN I BUT YOU WILL NOT LEAVE THIS PLACE ALIVE!" L-sama, do they always have to boom like this? That is more annoying and distracting than the actual power. "You wish," I muttered and shoved Anya behind me. The sphere of blackness began to expand and I rushed forward in what must have looked like an attempt of suicide. Drawing on my reserves I quickly chanted the boosting spell to activate my blood talismans. When the first phrase of the incantation left my lips a thick energy beam leapt from what had once been a human shape. "Oh Lord of the Darkness and Four Worlds, I beseech thy fragments; by all the power thou possesseth..." I could have cast an enhanced Dragu Slave. That would have protected me along with Rack and Anya in the eye of the storm... That is if I have wanted the backlash to not only level Sunnydale but sent an earthquake along the west coast that would be mentioned in the history books a thousand years from here. Brutal and naked power was not always the answer. "... grant the heavens' wrath to my hand; unleash the sword of dark, freezing nothingness..." The sphere of an infinite void bypassing even that of the dealer's aura was slowly beginning to shift and form into a new shape between my hands. It grew larger, more defined and yet not. "... by our power, our combined might... "A blade, but the edges were blurry, constantly in motion and never solid. "... let us walk as one along the path of destruction!" The lethal beam was almost upon me as I brought my arms up and cried out the final words to ignite my strongest spell save for one that I prayed never to be forced to cast again. "LAGUNA BLADE!" The last emotion that Rack, powerful wizard and shady magic dealer, experienced before the blade of naked chaos parted his self- destructive attack in two and before it slashed right through the practically impenetrable shield of magic around him was utter disbelief. (Dawn) Everything was silent in the house as I tiptoed down the stairs to the kitchen. Awoken for the third time this night I had decided to get something to drink and maybe to eat before trying to sleep again. I wished I could have contributed more to this night's crisis, then I would probably be as spent as the girls. Worry had practically eaten me alive, along with the feeling of helplessness. Sometimes I really wished I could be more than just "the kid that everyone has to protect". I'm almost sixteen for God's sake, Buffy had been slaying by this time already. I slipped past the couch, not wanting to wake the stranger who had introduced himself as Daryial, a friend of Anya's though it disturbed me that the ex-demon knew a dragon and never had mentioned it... The house was becoming more and more crowded lately and Mom would probably get a fit when she knew how many people came and left on a frequent basis. Tonight room had actually become an issue. With the newcomer and the girl who would obviously stay as well... I had promptly shushed off Xander to take Buffy's room. Since she was out cold in Willow and Tara's bed she couldn't say anything. I suppose it was a magic thing or something, it better be a magic thing. I didn't want my sister messing up the chances of my two favorite witches getting back together. And just a picture of all three of them... Eww! "Huh?" The couch was empty as I noticed now. Cold too. Anya's friend must have been gone already, maybe to look for her and the other girl. Shrugging my shoulders I got myself a glass of apple juice and set down at the kitchen table. I doubted sleep would come so easily. So maybe I should sit here for awhile, calm my mind and such things... As if this every works when it should. "Hey, Dawn, can't sleep either?" Xander's voice came from the kitchen entrance and I looked up to see him standing just there, looking probably as bad I did. I gave him a weak smile. "Nah. Too much on my mind." He trotted over and got himself something to drink as well. "Yeah, kinda gets you freaked when you have no idea what is going on, you know?" I confirmed with a nod that I indeed knew. There was silence for a few moments as we quietly nibbled on our drinks. I glanced over cautiously and corrected my earlier assumption. He looked far worse than I felt or could ever look. Next to the confusion deep lines of worry were showing. Reaching out with one hand, I took one of his and squeezed briefly. "I'm sure Anya is alright. This girl seemed to know what she was doing." I wasn't even sure what she had been doing, only that it was some kind of magic. Xander looked at me and in the light of the dim kitchen lamp I could have sworn that a brief look of fear flickered over his face. "That's not that I'm worried about. She..." He trailed off and I thought that was some adult stuff again, that I wasn't supposed to know. Well, I wouldn't be giving ground on this. "What?" I pressed, fixing him with a stare which Xander completely ignored since he was looking down. Finally the young man who had always been more of an actual friend to me when the others heaved a sigh. "I was on my way here when some vamps attacked. If Anya hadn't flown by and practically scorched them I would have been meat by now." Eww, bad visual, Xand- man... Wait a minute! "What do you mean with scorched?" I couldn't quite imagine Anya carrying a torch or something around and with what... "Magic. Some kind of heavy, flashy lightning spell. Burnt them alive." Oh. "Oh," I said aloud. A moment later the rest sunk in. Oh my god! I might be a teenager still but I am by no means dumb. I didn't have a relationship yet but got a lot of experience from watching those around me already. "You are worried that whatever her sudden burst in magic means might alienate you from her." Xander looked up again sharply and stared at me surprised and maybe even a little proud, before dropping his head back down. "Yes, Dawn. Exactly that." (Anya) A sharp wind whistled through the narrow alley, carrying the smell of burnt and charged air away. Other than the sounds of ragged breathing and the wind the area was bathed in creepy silence. I still stood where I did a minute or more ago, hands half-outstretched in a vain attempt to protect us from Rack's suicide attack. It had become unnecessary. Frighteningly unnecessary. My eyes were glued on the figure kneeling on the ground, the power around her was slowly discharging as she channeled it back to... wherever it came from. This hadn't be a simple spell after all. Had this even been a spell? L-sama, she was POWERFUL! What I had witnessed would have been deemed impossible for a mere human in my time. Those were powers that rivaled, maybe even surpassed that of a Mazoku. The spell, that Laguna Blade, was pure chaos. Energy taken directly from the Sea. It called upon the highest source of Black Magic and that alone was an achievement that called for the title of a Master Mage. And there I thought I had been good in the old days... Finally Lina stood up and brushed off her clothing. The thick cloak and typical clothing of a travelling mage seemed somewhat out of place in this part of the world. Lina moaned audibly and rubbed her temples. "Haven't done that in a long time. I almost forgot how much that takes out of you." She looked up at me and grinned, posing dramatically. "Impressed?" I simply nodded, not trusting my voice yet. The sound of flapping wings snapped me out of my shocked state. I glanced upwards to see Daryial making his descent, morphing back into human form and levitating the rest into the narrow back alley. "I see," he said with a look towards Lina, "that you succeeded in bringing down the sorcerer." Lina rolled her eyes. "As if there was ever any doubt about it." My friend simply smiled. "Ah, but of course. Nothing less of the great Lina Inverse." "Lina INVERSE?" My head was spinning and wasn't able to process all the new information. This information sent me reeling. I knew about the infamous Dra-mata from my time as Anyanka. Since the old land was Mazoku territory I wasn't really active there but I had always kept a close eye on my home. And even if not. Everyone knew about Lina Inverse, slayer of Hellmaster Fibrizo, not to mention Demon Lord Dark Star and of course that one seventh of Shabranigdu... I should have known. There are not so many people named Lina with that abilities and the name was rooted in Japan I think. So, even less chances of a coincidence. The realization simply hadn't come. No wonder Rack was practically without a serious chance. The person in question just smiled wryly at my surprised outburst. "Indeed, Anya. I did tell you that you had everything necessary to avert the prophecy already at hand." The look he received clearly indicated that I was not convinced, maybe a little more hopeful, but not convinced. "Prophecy?" Lina asked curiously, walking over to us. "The Crossing," I replied curtly to which the red- haired mage boggled. An eyebrow raised, her tone was quite disbelieving. "Excuse me? I'm not in the mood for jokes right now. I have a magic addict to train, there is no time for prophecies." "I wasn't joking." Daryial's laugh bellowed through the alley and Lina looked stricken. "You really have to work on this bluntness problem of yours." I swatted the dragon on the arm. "That's how I am, can't change it." After a period of silence Lina sighed heavily and swinging her arms wildly around, a rant was soon spilling from her lips. "Great. As something would ever go the easy way. You'll owe me for that Giles..." I shut out her rant and turned to Daryial. "So, what do we do now?" My old friend's smile did not waver. "This is in your hands. I have merely been a messenger and must return to my home." Blinking, I stared at him, my anger quickly rising. "WHAT? You are leaving?!? But we need every help we can get! This is the ultimate thread we are speaking about here! You can't just go and do other things as if nothing is happening!" As always that didn't do any good. "This is not my fight, Sister. My kin will stand by to do their part of the prophecy if it ever comes to the worst but until then the fate of your world is in your hands." With a warm, reassuring smile - which failed miserably to have the desire effect - and a respectful bow to Lina he took of into the air and soon a golden-tinted dragon took of into the distance. Lina had been following the exchange and Daryial's departure with an exasperated expression and now simply rolled her eyes. "Dragons! I tell you they are too damn lazy to do something themselves for a change!" I could only agree. (Buffy) Sunlight filtered through the curtains and brushed over eyelids, forcing them to blink open against their will. Hmm, this feel nice. Nice, fluffy Willow pillow, those arms around me are nice to... Uh... The train of thought began to register through the haze of sleep and I think I had to be congratulated for staying completely still instead of jumping right under the ceiling. Memories slowly came floating back. Last night, I staked Spike - Wow! -, then there was Scar... Lina. And then we had found Willow near death. Lina, Tara and I had somehow managed to bring her back, I wasn't quite sure how. "Willow was right when she said you are always up early." I turned slowly in the loose embrace and managed to spot Tara hovering halfway up over my best friend and smiling down at me with one her patent smiles that could light up a room. "Feeling better?" Not quite sure what to answer, I simply nodded. Glancing at Willow who was peacefully sleeping, snuggled up against Tara and in the process with her front brushing against me, I thought about how odd that looked. Not to mention what an impression that could give. My own feelings for the redhead were not helping the matter. "I, um... What...?" Okay, that was lame Summers. Looking up at Tara I was a little startled to find compassion in her blue eyes instead of the jealously I feared to find there. She ought to know, she had to know. After last night I was sure she knew what Willow meant to me. Did she know why I would never do anything too? Tara smiled gently and reached out to touch my shoulder with one hand. I felt strangely at peace. "Don't worry about it. She just likes to snuggles. Did this even before we were together." An image of Willow snuggling up to a shy Tara during a harmless sleepover at her dorm popped into my mind and I could not help but laugh... Which in turn managed to wake up a grumpy Willow, who proved the point by snuggling closer to me since her girlfriend had pulled back a little. I must have blushed madly but Tara didn't give a sign that she had noticed. "Whazzsofunny?" Regaining my composure I grinned at my best friend. Tara was hard not to burst into giggles... and failing miserably. Willow did not response for several seconds and I had almost thought she had fallen back to sleep before raising her head and leveling a full-fledged Willow pout at the blonde wiccan. "Oh," I decided to answer her incoherent question. "Tara was just telling me that you are a notorious snuggle person." Willow froze for a moment and then slowly turned around to find me grinning like a Cheshire Cat. Of course that only served to further put Willow off. And soon the trademark Willow pout turned into a trademark babble that even I could not quite decipher. The main message, however, wasn't lost on us and it was Tara pulling Willow back into a tight embrace that helped end the redhead's rambling. I tried hard not to look as the blonde Wiccan whispered something into Willow's ear and turned her around for a short kiss. I could feel a tingle run up my spine. What the...? Whatever worries my best friend were apparently flung out of the window. "I'm sorry, Buffy. Didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." I waved her apology off and feeling in the mood to tease for some reason, told her that I indeed had felt quite comfortable. Willow blushed at that and Tara softly smiled. "Ok," I said seriously, calming my own nerves, especially with the closeness of the two women. Just harmless snuggles with your two favorite witches, Buffy, nothing to get... excited about. Yeah sure. Anyway, serious, right. "So, before we break into the usual routine of asking if everyone is alright, I think since we are all still alive it is safe to assume that we came out well from last night, considering the circumstances. You, Willow, got yourself a teacher and you two are getting back together. So everything's fine." Maybe I was averting. Was I averting? Nah. I let my head fall back on the pillow satisfied with my logic. "And you?" Tara asked not scolding but very softly. Damn, I had been averting. "Everything is fine." Didn't help that Willow chose that moment to gasp and huge me tightly I could feel her breasts pressing into my back as I tried to turn away and head to fight of a sudden wave of heat. "Oh Goddess, Buffy, I remember. I'm so sorry, I failed you completely. That spell must have went completely wrong." Hah? What was Willow talking about, I turned and tried to get a look at my friend's face but she kept on avoiding my inquiring gaze. "Willow, what are you talking about?" I was completely at a loss here. When Willow looked at me with tear-stained eyes I think I felt my heart melt and was ready to forgive her anything, whatever it was that she thought to have messed up. "I... When you... we were outside and I could see you for a moment... I could see it. Your soul... it is..." "I know," I quietly interrupted, hugging her tightly. Tara did the same from the other side, stroking her fingers through red strands. "Baby, you couldn't have known. Buffy asked me to research the spell because... of that and I didn't find it. I could blame myself as much as you for not seeing it but that won't help Buffy now." I smiled at the blonde wiccan, glad for her support and understanding. That had helped me immensely in the last months. "It's alright, Tara. I feel a lot better already. I... He isn't a problem anymore anyway." Tara was relieved, while Willow was simply confused. "Who are we talking about?" I hesitated, not sure whether or not share this so soon. It was not as if anybody knew about it, other than Tara and Lina. But I hated lying to my friends, I still knew from past experience that secrets always were lifted in the worst moments. And I DID feel better. Just being here with Willow and Tara was lifting my spirits immensely. I hadn't been like this morning ever since I came back. Not even close. Maybe it was a side effect of the magic... or maybe I was just looking for excuses. "Spike," I said flatly and flustered at the same time. We had sat up by now and I was looking down into my lap. "Spike? What about Spike?" I could practically see Willow looking back and forth between me and her girlfriend. "I... I... uh..." Damn, Summers, get a grip. This is your best friend. And this is the best chance to talk about those things you had since you began that horrible tryst. Taking a deep breath, my voice was still shaking as I answered her. "I slept with Spike. I... I let him use me just to get some feeling inside of me." I spat the last words out and the more I thought about it, the more I realized how sick the whole thing had been. There was silence for a LONG time. Then, after an eternity of agonizing waiting, Willow uttered a single, "Oh," then added, "Did it help?" Leave it to Willow to make the most unexpected common. "No." I could feel her draw me into another hug. Dimly aware that Willow's arms weren't the only ones supporting the embrace, I relaxed in the familiar feeling of support and peace for a moment or two, before detangling myself from the two wiccans. "You said he wasn't a problem anymore?" Tara asked cautiously. "Yeah, did you finally stake him. I always thought you wouldn't since he was defenseless," Willow added. "He could hurt me," I said quietly, not really counting on our closeness and for my friend to hear. "What? How? Oh, it's because of the..." I stopped the ramble with a sigh and by giving her hand a firm squeeze. "That's what Lina said too. I think she was in a similar situation once." "Lina?" Willow asked and I realized that she had no idea about her new teacher's ability since she only saw her briefly, right on the threshold of death. "Giles sent her. I think she's sort of your new teacher." THAT got the redhead to blink. "She is?" "You need help, Sweetie. I thought..." "You? You called, Giles?" Even though I think it was mentioned last night, I was as surprised as Willow. Sensing that this was apparently turning into a magic discussion and therefore nearing the critical part of their breakup I decided to slip out of the bed and quietly give them some privacy. Neither of them seemed to notice. Sometimes Slayer stealth is a neat thing. (Xander) I wasn't worried. No really, I was not. She had after all blasted a vamp last night as if it was nothing. So what should I be worried about? "I'm not worried," I muttered under my breath. Dawn who was sitting nearby sighed exasperated. "Sure, Xander. You are not worried." I looked at the teen strangely and then just resumed my walk around the living room that had the only purpose to get some blood running in my sleep-yearning limbs. Really. I didn't get more than three hours troubled sleep this night at best and Dawn wasn't better off. This in itself wasn't such an unusual thing for a typical Sunnydale crisis night but work had been hard and when I came back home I was ready to drop dead. I wasn't worried, I just needed some sleep. That of course was why I literally jumped out of my skin when I heard the front door opening and my head snapped around audibly in a way I was surprised not to break my neck in the process. Disappointed flooded through me as I only saw the redhead from last night poking her head inside but that was immediately changed when Anya followed her through the door. She seemed rather agitated about something and kept glancing almost in awe at the stranger. Besides that she seemed alright... Which of course didn't prevent me from checking. "An, are you alright. You... I..." Okay, maybe I was a little worried. Just a little bit. But I wouldn't admit that. After all I had to uphold certain standards for the only male present at the moment. My fiancée nodded quietly and I was startled to find her reaching up to briefly touch my cheek. "I'm okay, Xander. I didn't even do very much." I let go of a breath I wasn't aware of holding. "So, this Rack guy is history?" "Yes!" Anya exclaimed a little too loudly for my tired senses and quickly launched into a praise rant that I wasn't able to proceed more than the basic message from. The stranger, a Lina Inverse, was as it seemed somewhat a legend among the demons, more like a feared legend. A very powerful witch... sorceress and that she was totally cool in Anya's opinion. "So, why are you here?" I asked Lina after Anya finally run out of breath. The newcomer had watched the whole thing with mild amusement. "Your friend Tara called Giles because of Willow and I'm sort of in his debt. So I'm here to help her come to terms with her magic," she answered with a yawn. It seemed I wasn't the only one who was tired here. "Come to terms with it? I thought she said she wanted to quit?" I shuddered a little under the intense gaze suddenly leveled upon me. "You can't just quit magic. It doesn't work that way. Magic means power and power comes always with a price. It can either demand responsibilities or consume a person." I nodded slowly. "So, it's like The Force?" I quipped, half- joking. "Exactly." Okay, one point for Xander. Score! "You all look like hell, you know?" Buffy's voice came from the stairs and I turned around to see the blonde slayer walking into the living room. Was it just me or had she adapted a certain... skip in her step. "And you look better than ever," Dawn commented, obviously taking note of the same thing and promptly yawned as well. "I feel a lot better actually. Why don't you all get a few hours of sleep in. I believe we have much to discuss but I'm sure especially Lina and Anya are tired from their battle." Glancing over at Anya I felt a little guilty about noticing she was exhausted as well. Maybe she really didn't do that much as she claimed but staying up all night didn't go without visible signs as well. None of us was able to argue with Buffy's suggestion and so I grabbed Anya and we promptly snuggled up on the couch while Dawn trotted upstairs. I could see Buffy and Lina hovering at the stairs for a moment, quietly talking in a way that made me somewhat suspicious. Then the redhead went off to the phone, only to come back a few minutes later to follow Dawn upstairs. (Giles) Putting back the phone on the receiver I could not tell if my day had been worse before or after the phone call. The information Lina had given me were jumbled and you were clearly able to tell that she was tired. I hadn't expected things going so out of control on the night of her arrival already... Then again, her own youth had probably been as wild as mine. Willow's condition had deeply worried me and Lina's assurance that she was alright for the moment did not help my own guilt. I should really have done something earlier, Ripper or not. Those children had looked up to me like a father and I had always considered them as such. What father turned away when their kids needed them the most? I was secretly glad that Lina and Buffy apparently got along well and very openly glad about the demise of Rack and Spike, though she clearly avoided details about the latter. That was not my business anyway. I had hoped that Lina's own past would give her some clue how to deal with my Slayer's reintegration problem and from what I had been able to read between the lines of her short report, they seemed to get along well. Up to this point it had only been a matter of increased guilt and worry, mixed with a little relief. That would have not prompted me to reschedule my flight for the next morning to tonight. Mentioning of this damn prophecy did. Now I was frantically packing the rest of my clothes while with one hand reaching for the phone again. I might regret this later but I had no illusions that this would be anything like Glory. No, Glory was an infant compared to this. The dial tone came up a couple of times before a click could be heard. "It's me," I answered the man on the other side. "Listen, we have no time nor the room for trading verbal jabs. I've just got off the phone with Mrs. Inverse. It seemed several hints by people she trusts enough with this sort of information have been dropped that The prophecy is in motion." A pause and a question. "Yes, I am speaking of The Crossing." It was amusing to witness how people would go from being sulky to serious. I would have smiled if the situation hadn't been so humorless. "I want every available text on this sent to me. And have the other one released. Can that be arranged?" A long pause as expected. I was reluctant to do this without Buffy's consent but we could not afford taking this lightly, even if it turned out to be nothing after all - which I think all of us would prefer much more. "Yes, Angel said she made remarkable progress. I think the risk is acceptable," I answered the other man. "Alright. I am flying tonight. Be prepared... for the worst." With that I cut the connection and sat down on the bed, suddenly feeling a lot older. Why now? Everything over there was already so grim. They were in no shape to face this, not even with Lina helping. And now I had set the redheaded sorceress right into the middle of it. I knew she didn't want to do this sort of thing anymore. The temptation was still there, would always be and it scared me to think of what she was capable... of what she could be capable when leaving all restraints behind. This could backfire badly. However, it was done now and Lina was never one to back down from a challenge. She would face this with my kids come hell and high water. Maybe it was a good thing after all... I stood and took down an old, dusty book from the many shelves. Opening the ancient volume I searched for my own copy of The Crossing. I should be prepared when I got back to Sunnydale. (Tara) Goddess, that was even harder than I thought it would be. Buffy had slipped away quietly and I was still debating with myself whether this was a good or bad thing. The blonde Slayer's presence had been calming and relaxing at the same time. None of us had laughed so freely ever since Buffy dived into that vortex... probably even some time before that. I hadn't wanted this moment to end, yet this conversation had to come, both us knew that. Gathering my courage I lifted my head, ending the staring period at the bed sheets. "Yes, Willow. I called Giles." That old stubbornness and disbelief shown through for a moment. For that brief fraction of time I thought she would accuse me of distrusting her which I didn't. I just distrusted her addiction. There was a difference after all. Quickly the surely sharp remark faded from my girlfriend's lips and she just dropped her gaze. "Oh." After some time she added cautiously: "Why?" I think she knew as well as me that this question didn't need to be answered but for her sanity's sake she probably had to ask. "Because this can't go on. Everything is not right anymore, for a long time actually. We all know it but are unable to do something. You need help, Willow, you can't fight this addiction all by yourself." I was proud of myself to have said that without a stutter. Willow didn't need insecure Tara now, she needed a strong, supporting partner. One that I had not been when it counted. "And that is why you left me?" The sentence was out before she could stop it and I could see her flinch slightly but at the same time a certain resolve building. The pointed sarcasm was hitting too close to home for my liking. "N-No... Willow, I-I..." Damn stutter. "I... You can't just drop the magic, it doesn't work that way. You n-need to get it under control." Of course that was just the wrong thing to say in this situation. The redhead's head snapped up and even though her answer was only softly whispered, it echoed in my heart over and over again, threatening to shatter right there and then. "You told me to stop." I inched backwards slowly, not able to face the tired and somewhat bitter expression on my lover's face. That was going all wrong. I was supposed to forgive her, be angry for a little time but forgive her in the end and everything would be fine. But nothing had been fine lately. Had it ever been? Had I ever been the person that Willow wanted, hadn't it always been... Stop it, Tara! This is not helping. Willow loves you and she needs you now. Taking a deep breath I tried calming my nerves but everything that came out was a choked sob, as tears unbidden formed in my eyes. "Tara? Baby?" I turned away from the suddenly worried tone in Willow's voice. A heavy pang of guilt and overwhelming sadness overflowed me as the picture alone on that park bench a few days ago came to mind. That had been the final straw to my flawed resolve. It had taken all my strength not to just rush over there and beg for forgiveness. "Tara?" I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder and almost jerked away. Willow hesitated for a moment but then moved before I could react. I melted into the familiar and oh so missed embrace with no reluctance at all. "I didn't mean to snap at you... It's just... I am..." Before she could finish I finally let go of the emotions and tears. Burying my head in the nightshirt I had somehow managed to put onto her last night, the words came from alone, bubbling out like a fountain. "Goddess, Willow, I'm so sorry. I know, I shouldn't have said that and I know I should have been strong for you. But I couldn't, it was just too much and... and... I saw you two days ago on that park bench..." Willow gasped and started to say something but I didn't stop to let her talk. "Y-You were so miserable and I just thought what a coward I h-had been to bolt. I'm the girlfriend, I am supposed to be strong for you if necessary. Even when I left it tore my heart apart, I couldn't help t-thinking about you. And everything we saw each other, I cried myself to sleep these nights..." I trailed off, looking up at my girlfriend who was struggling with her own feelings. Her mouth opened and closed but no sound came out. I know that she just wanted to do something but hesitated, unsure of what to do. There was an uncomfortable silence that both us clearly yearned to break. "There is so much to talk about, so much to deal with and forget but..." Anya and the strangers news from yesterday evening sprang to my mind suddenly. Would our problems really be insignificant compared to this? No. No, they couldn't be because like we were now none of us was able to face what was coming. "Can't you just kiss me now?" I asked in a tiny, almost inaudible noise. Willow heard though and complied. Leaning forward I met her halfway with my own lips and felt that strong sense of belonging envelope me again. Yes, there would be a lot to talk about. Hard feelings to work through, however, for now I was home. Right there I belonged. We both were. (Xander) The mists were thick and concealing everything outside of an immediate two to three feet radius from sight. The air was equally most, filled with the typical smell of thickness you often encountered on heated summer mornings just before dawn. A few trees could be spotted through the white and gray haze but if it was a forest, a park or just a few single trees was yet to be seen. The pronunciation lay on seen. I think I was dreaming although I wondered if it didn't defy the concept that I could tell that. However, it was either that or someone had brought me here and I would really pretend the dreaming alternative. Alone and disorientated I walked through the mists, tasting thick wetness on my lips time and time again. My steps were not purposeful but pulled into a specific direction, as if something was calling out to me. After some wandering the mists seemed to clear away, revealing an island of clarity in which a massive stone altar - I guessed - stood. It seemed heavy and as I stepped closer noted that it was going up to chest level. Hovering - and I mean HOVERING - over the altar was a single sword. A golden hilt with an emerald embedded in it and a gleaming blade of the lightest silver I had ever seen. The weapon was, said with one word, simply beautiful. There was a feeling as if it was actually alive, I could feel some kind of energy flowing even though I wasn't even sensitive for this sort of thing. I had seen all sorts of weapons in my "career" as a Slayerette, this one, however, awed me for some strange reason that I could not identify. Tentatively I reached out. I wasn't sure if I should even touch this thing. It never came to it anyway. "Don't," a distinctive female voice came from behind and I pulled my hand back as if the air around the sword itself was electrified. I whirled around to face the owner of the voice and boggled at the sight. The woman was tiny, even a lot smaller than Buffy. Her body though in definitely good and trained shape was lean and surely agile. That in itself wouldn't have been so unnerving if the stranger wouldn't have possessed that angular face and the long, pointed ears. Light violet hair gleamed in the dimmed light filtering through the mists and a set of the most enthralling and exotic eyes greeted me with a inhuman kindness. The pupils were perfectly white, there was not a trace of black, only a tint of gold or was that silver? I wasn't able to clearly tell. "Wha...? Who? Where?" I babbled out, feeling totally out of place and even more confused than I felt this morning before trying to catch up on some sleep. "All very important question from which none of that has to concern you right now. The Why though would be more important." Did nobody give a straight answer anymore? What was it with people these days? Did they always have to be that cryptic? The woman - girl? - chuckled. "I am merely following certain necessities. I am not as annoying as Xellos... I hope." Not that that helped ANY to clear up at least some confusion. I could vaguely make the connection of the name to the person who had dropped in our apartment. The elf - I assumed after all that she was one - looked apologetic. "Your question will be answered soon, Warrior. It is, however, necessary to know if you are ready to face what is to come. You will play an important role in the upcoming struggle that will test your limits physically, mentally and emotional." I held up my hands in a frantic gesture to stop the flow of even more confusing information. "Wait a minute? What struggle? What do I have to do with it? What the hell is that all about?!?" I had the feeling that everybody knew already what was going on except me. I didn't like being out of the loop of things, even if I wasn't able to provide much to the quickly growing very powerful Scoobies. "But you do, young warrior. Your heart is strong and you have the spirit of a great fighter. You WILL be of much help to your friends." I eyed the elf suspiciously. She hadn't answered my questions again. Slowly I became clearly frustrated. "Are you willing to take the responsibilities that come with power as your friends have already been faced to do. I can provide you with such power and skill beyond your imagination. But remember power always comes with a price." At first I was always ready to jump at the chance of being able to help my friends. I always had felt inadequate compared to the Slayer and the two witches, even my fiancée was an ex-demon who possessed great knowledge - and probably a lot more that I wasn't sure about. However, Willow's trip down the darker realms of magic came unbidden back to my mind as did Lina's words from this morning, only enforcing the stranger's warning. Still... She seemed genuine in her offer and I KNEW there was no evil intent whatsoever. No manipulating. She was giving me a choice with this... "What will happen when I refuse?" The woman stared at me intently for several moments, as if seeing right through me and into my heart. "Your friends quite possible will die." I had no choice after all. (Willow) It was about an hour later that I came down the stairs. Tara was lightly asleep though I suspected it would not be much longer. Mostly silence greeted me and I spotted Xander and Anya out like a light snuggled together on the couch. Pausing slightly I studied them for awhile and took a double-take. I could almost feel the powerful and clearly not flawed aura of magic around her. It seemed there was more going on around here than I had realized. Much more. Xander turned a little in his sleep and there was a deep expression of worry engraved in his face. Suddenly there was a spike of power that made me jump. "Willow?" I spun around, ready to unleash a bolt of lightning from my fingertips. Buffy was standing behind me and my best friend took a careful step back. I breathed in deeply, my nerves had been almost fried and I hadn't been in a good shape with the talk with Tara earlier to begin with. "Don't do that," I snapped, not harshly but irritate. The Slayer shook her head. "Geez, Willow. I can understand that with everything going on, we all are a bit jumpy. But what was that all about?" "Xander just spiked?" A lifted eyebrow answered me and I sighed, realizing that my friend hadn't understood a word. "I've become quite good with reading auras. That has more to do with experience than with magic, so I didn't do any..." Buffy stopped my babble with a smile. "Willow, you don't need to explain it to me. I trust you. Yes, you made a mistake, a lot of mistakes. But we all do them over and over again. That is only human. Hell, I can't even count how often I did something stupid. I trust though that you learned something out of this." I nodded quietly to her statement. I did learn something alright. And almost lost everything important in the process. But Buffy had made clear that she was ready to forgive me, whenever I was actually ready to accept it. "Thanks, but Dawn probably won't speak a word to me ever again." Buffy laughed lightly to my annoyance, eliciting a pout from me. "Yeah, laugh at the miserable Willow, will you?" Reaching out with one hand she touched my shoulder briefly, then totally unexpected pulled me into a quick hug. It felt nice, almost like Tara... The thought startled me but I did not dare to pull away. I hadn't even fully admitted it to myself but I think I loved Buffy as much as I did Tara and I always got the feeling that the blonde Slayer knew it exactly. The time just never seemed right and now I was with Tara. A relationship that was the most wonderful thing in my young life. "Don't worry about the squirt. She can be a pest sometimes but I think she forgave you already. She's just having a hard time admitting that to herself." Hopefully Buffy knew her sister as well as she claimed, otherwise I would probably have a hard time coming into the good graces of the younger Summers again. She had barely spoken a word in my direction ever since the accident and I tried avoiding being alone with her in the house. It was simply too awkward. "So what was that about Xander being spiked? Funny choice of words actually." I choked back laughter and slipped out of Buffy's embrace to look at the couple again. "First off Anya has some sort of heavy magic aura. We all know that her spells often are worse than what I did before finding Tara." I cringed briefly at one particular memory with that Will Be Done spell. "But what I can see now clearly is rooted in experience. And I can safely tell you it hadn't been there a few days ago. Then again, she could have shielded herself..." Nodding silently, Buffy said: "She went after Lina last night when she got out to confront Rack. They returned just an hour ago. Xander and Dawn didn't get much sleep either." Understandable. Xander was probably worried sick and confused like hell with all what had been going on... Waitaminute! Confront Rack? He was... My mind jumped back to a brief sensation I had when waking up in the night. Goddess, when this Lina was THAT powerful - and I remembered seeing her aura yesterday - and she was here to teach me... Boy, that would be interesting. "Alright, Xander," I said aloud, startling Buffy after a period of silence, deciding to file back the question about Rack for a later time. "Just before you came there was a brief power spike around him. Nothing magical at all but something has happened to him and now..." I narrowed my eyes. "He is literally buzzing with some kind of untapped energy." To underline my words a heavy looking sword, with a green hilt and a long blade decided to pop into existence - along with a matching scabbard - and clattered to the ground making both of us jump this time and succeeding in waking up Xander and Anya rather unpleasantly. Slowly I began to wonder if fighting this magic problem was really the worst of my problems. I could practically smell a prophecy brewing... ------------------------------------------------------------ Well that last few scenes were written quicker than I thought. Maia seems to be as much on a roll here as she had been with Mistletoes in December... Well, I'm completely at her mercy anyway, so who am I to complain? Again this was a good point to end. I never really wanted to divide this in chapters or parts, it just makes the posting easier, So, if some parts in the future are longer or shorter than the previous, I try to make the cuts where they seem appropriate. Before I begin with notes to this part. One or two things to clear up from the previous part. I have no idea about Paganism despite what seen in the show or read in fiction, so The Crossing is my own idea and does not exist anywhere to my knowledge (though I wouldn't be surprised if it did, you never know). Bear with me, I'm not good at writing prophecies but I'll try my best. I repeat myself probably but sometimes readers jump to the weirdest conclusion. This is NOT a Buffy/Willow or Buffy/Willow/Tara-CENTERED fic. Which doesn't mean that there won't be interaction and honest feelings between them but I intend to focus on the pairings defined in the header. Whatever goes beyond this will be a development in the story and fans of either B/W and/or B/W/T will get something later on. The relationships per se will stay defined though. Just to clear any confusion from the start about the scenes of interaction between the girls in this part. From the next one onward I will focus more on Willow and Tara reconciling and of course getting Buffy and Lina closer. Since we are at the topic. Was the Willow/Tara scene any good? I usually don't write or particular read stories with them outside triad fics and I'm not sure if I get them good or not. You can tell me if it was horrible, honestly, as long as you say what aggravated you. That often helps more than false praise. Not that I want to say I take any praise as false... I told Sabrina (a reviewer over from ff.net/newest member of my group) that already. Daryial will be back, eventually. I don't invent characters and then drop them again. I just have to think up away to effectively bring him back into the plot (which I have surprising rather well planned out to a certain point). Since most of this part has been adding even more secrets and questions, I think that was all. No, I don't answer questions about Lina or Anya's past or something like that. Where would be the fun, eh? More of the prophecy, reestablishing and building relationship next time. And don't worry you won't get rid of Xellos so easily... Not that this would ever be possible. Constructive criticism, death threats or any other form of feedback to the address in the header or simply place a review wherever you find this. Ja ne, yours Matthias
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