~*~ Part 3 ~*~
After explaining the situation in Sunnydale to the Fang Gang, the ones who wanted to join the newly formed family were driving with them towards Sunnydale. Buffy was curled next to Angel in the GTO's front seat while Connor, Gunn and Wesley sat quietly in the back. By an unspoken agreement, the reunited lovers agreed not to discuss the future. Their focus remained on eliminating the First, anything after that would have to wait.
Buffy admitted to herself that she wasn't unhappy that Cordelia chose not to return with them. The seer threw a hissy fit at first, believing that Angel would demand that she come. When he didn't, she left the Hyperion in a royal snit, vowing that she wouldn't come back until he begged her. Angelus popped out to let her know that Hell would certainly freeze over first. The memory still brought a smile to her lips. Fred and Lorne agreed to stay behind and watch over AI, saying that they didn't think that they would be much help in the fight. She didn't think that anyone would, except for her family, but she'd been wrong before.
Angel drew lazy circles on her skin, which relaxed her, causing her breathing to slow until her lids grew heavy. She found herself in a place she had only seen once before, the desert. Standing there was a stunningly beautiful Tara, beckoning her closer. She walked up to see the gentle witch smiling at her.
Tara placed a soft hand beside her face and said, "Its time, Buffy. You know what you are, what you've become, and its way past Dawn. It's time to wake up, Buffy."
"It's time to wake up, Buffy," Angel said as he gently shook her.
Jumping up in the seat with her heart racing a mile a minute, she looked around, disoriented. She sighed in relief when she saw that they were passing the Sunnydale sign. It had only been a dream. A black-clad blur raced by them. They heard the tires squeal to a stop and a motorcycle's engine rev as it turned around. The motorcycle easily caught up and pulled alongside the black convertible. Its driver signaled for them to pull over.
"It's Spike, Angel, pull over."
Growling under his breath about show off grandchilder, the dark haired vampire carefully pulled the large vehicle to the shoulder. Everyone got out, happy to stretch their legs and wondering what news they might learn.
"Oy, Slayer, I've been out of me gourd searching this burg for you," Spike exclaimed.
"Didn't have far to go," Angel grumbled, and Angelus silently agreed.
Buffy slapped him, giving Angel a hard look that told him to play nice. "What's up, Spike?"
"What's up? There was a message for you at the place the bloody Watcher sent me, Slayer. Wouldn't tell the wankers after them throwing you out, bloody gits."
"Spike, the message. What did the message say?"
"Oh, yeah, right. Said, 'It is for her alone to wield.' That's you, pet. Can't wait to see ole Rupes and all those others when they learn that you were right all along." The bleached blonde vampire rubbed his hands together in glee at the picture in his mind of the Scoobies begging Buffy for forgiveness.
"Forget about all that. It doesn't matter anymore." She told him.
"What!" he screamed at her. "Slayer, you can't let them treat you like that. When're you going to grow some and tell them to stick it?"
Angelus roared at his grandchilde's nerve. In two strides, he was on the smaller vampire with his fists flying. "You will show my mate the proper respect."
Buffy rushed to stop the situation from turning into an all out brawl. "STOP!" They froze mid-fight. "We don't have time for this. Spike, I'm not taking anything from anyone, and that includes you. You're my friend and I love you for that, but I don't need anyone," she glared at both men, "telling me what to do. We have more important things to worry about right than whether I get to spit in everyone's eyes." She turned to walk over to the car. "Of course, I'm not saying that I won't take the opportunity if it comes my way." Crawling back into the car, she waited for them to continue their journey.
The two vampires exchanged knowing looks, reluctantly smiling at each other in taciturn agreement that they would do anything for the small, golden Slayer. Angelus strode back over to car, sliding behind the wheel. He turned to the woman by his side, jerking her body flush with his own. Before she could utter a sound, she found herself properly and thoroughly kissed. Releasing her to settle beside him once more on the seat, he allowed Angel to resume command.
"I'm not sure that I'll ever get used to that." Angel shook his head, as if he could relegate his demon to one side of his brain, while he took up residence in the other.
"Me either, but, whoa baby, I'm willing to try," she said with a soft smile teasing the edges of her lips.
"If you don't stop smiling like that I'm not sure we'll get to your house," he whispered in her ear, giving it a playful nip.
"DAAAD," Connor whined from the backseat.
"Are you ready for this? We don't have to go in you know. I say that we just skip this part and go to the mansion. Can't think of anything I want to see less than Xander Harris' face," Angelus growled while he stopped the car in front of Buffy's house. She wondered why Angel had turned over control to his darker side. As if reading her thoughts, he answered, "Soul Boy decided to let me handle the reunion with the old gang, especially your favorite little protector."
A slow sadistic smile crossed the vampire's handsome face. Delicious torture scenarios ran though his mind. Xander chained to a rack, him with hot pokers at the ready. The pesky boy already lost an eye and Angelus' ascetic sense felt he needed a matched set. He imagined Willow held in specially charmed chains, which would force her own magics to attack her. The little witch would feel every single bit of pain that she inflicted on his mate a hundred fold. Then, last but not least, Ripper. Ah yes, the father she had looked to for guidance and support; for him, Angelus thought the chainsaw that he never got to use would be apropos. It almost brought a tear to his eye.
"Earth to Angelus, honey, come back down to ground. You can't kill anybody, well, if Kennedy happened to get lost in the fighting, I wouldn't cry foul."
Buffy shook her head at the sinful thought. Picturing Angelus happily snapping the nasty Potential's neck brought a similar wicked smirk to her own lips. The Master vampire had to use ever ounce of his well-honed control not to order everyone out of the car. He could have taken off with her to the nearest bed or just down the road where no one could see them. Unfortunately, he didn't think that she'd go along with it, seeing as how the brat sat directly behind her and she used the rearview mirror to glance back and smile at him during the journey.
"Let's get this over with." Turning to look at the three in the backseat, but keeping eye contact with Connor, Buffy told them, "There's no telling what we're walking into. I need to check on my sister, get my favorite weapons and verify something. If the verbal barbs get too hot and heavy, just duck and you'll be fine." She opened the car door, sliding out. Buffy squared her shoulders looking for all the world like she was going to jail instead of up to her own front door.
Said front door opened and Dawn Summers came running out, shouting her sister's name. "Buffy! You're back. Where've you been? Why didn't you come back and tell me where you were going to be staying? I can't…."
Angelus growled, amber eyes flashing as he stalked up to the still babbling teenager. Buffy's restraining hand kept him from shaking Dawn like a rag doll. "I'll handle this, honey. You can take care of the next one."
The teenager stopped mid-rant finally noticing that her sister wasn't alone. Her blue eyes widened in shock. "You ran to Angel. I thought that you were over him, Buffy. What if the First attacked us while you were off getting your love on with your ex? I can't believe you, Buffy, you never change. It's all about you. You're the most selfish person that I know."
SLAP! The sharp sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed in the cool night air. Dawn looked at her big sister in shock, and tears filled her large blue eyes. No one had ever raised a hand to her. She couldn't even remember her mother yelling at her, and Buffy had actually hit her.
"Shut up, Dawn," Buffy said in a calm, low voice.
Of course, the Scoobies walked out at that exact moment, and all Hell broke loose. Faith jumped off the porch, straight at Buffy. Angelus caught her in midair, slamming her down to the ground and placed his foot on her back. Willow gathered her magics about her, intent on protecting Dawn. A blue stream of light shot from her hand, meant to shove Buffy away from Dawn, but nothing happened. Pulling harder on the Earth, the Wiccan tried again with the same results. Spike, seeing the Slayer about to go ballistic tried to diffuse the situation. Even though he thought the Bit deserved the slap, he didn't want her caught in an all out war.
"Red, would you stop that before you piss her off? Don't you wankers know anything about Slayers, yet? The Slayer's immune to your power after the big showdown you gals had when you lost your nut."
Willow stopped. Spike's word shocked her to the core. She looked to Giles for confirmation, and wilted when he nodded in agreement. The others murmured amongst themselves. What would they do if their strongest fighters couldn't control Buffy? What would happen the next time that she went too far? Dawn took advantage of the relative quiet to sniffle.
"Oh, for goodness sakes," Buffy rolled her eyes at the dramatic teen. "I tapped your cheek, and believe me, I know my own strength. Stop the waterworks, it's not going to work."
"Buffy, that is uncalled for," Giles admonished his Slayer. He found her attitude toward Dawn shocking, to say the least.
Hazel eyes smiled up at amber tinted chocolate ones. They crinkled up at the corners when Angelus slipped into his Angel routine.
"Giles," he said in Angel's most placating tone. "Dawn attacked Buffy, saying horrible things before we could even reach the door. She simply disciplined a mean, spiteful, selfish, brat, who has never been thankful for anything her sister has done for her."
Gasps started with Dawn, fanning out into the crowd; even the Chinese Potential, Chao-Ahn understood the harshness of the tone.
"Now, see here, Angel," Giles protested, shocked at the normally soft spoken, unobtrusive vampire.
"Don't interrupt me when I'm talking, Ripper, you don't want me to get angry, do you? Last time it didn't go so well for you." Angelus' Irish brogue rolled off his tongue. If the words weren't so menacing, listening to the lilting cadence would've been pleasing to everyone's ears, rather than a select few.
Xander pushed forward to stand beside Giles, showing a united front. "Things weren't bad enough, Buffy? You had to fuck Angel into Angelus."
The one-eyed man flew across the front lawn, slamming into a tree. Buffy held Connor back from finishing the job he had started. "Not worth wasting your time, honey." Tara's words were ringing in her head, and she needed to focus on them.
Willow spoke up, "Buffy, what's happened to you? I don't even know you anymore."
Buffy threw her head back laughing, a deep, dark laugh. "That's rich coming from you. Aren't you the girl who dated a werewolf, went gay, became a witch, then decided to end the world when you lost Tara?"
"That isn't the same and you know it," Willow said, with tears in her eyes. "I can't believe you would bring Tara up at a time like this."
Kennedy piped up, ever ready to butt into any situation. "You have no right to throw her past in her face. She paid for her mistakes and is a better person because of it. She isn't a bitch, like you."
A satisfied grin spread across the belligerent brunette's face, as she thought she'd put Buffy in her place. Her eyes bulged from their sockets when she felt a large hand wrap around her throat in a vise-like grip. She clawed at fingers that slowly squeezed the air from her body. Fear raced down her spine at the softly spoken words from the man that held her.
"I've heard about you, but I see my girl left a lot out. You'll hold your tongue unless you're given permission, or I'll bite the offending little piece of meat right out of your mouth." Willow stepped forward, intent on helping her lover. "One more step, little witch," Angelus said it more as a profanity than a description, "and I snap her neck. There are about to be some changes around here. That is, of course, if you hope to survive what's about to happen." Angelus, ever the showman, graced his audience with a sadistic smirk.
Buffy tried hard not to giggle. She placed a hand on Angelus' forceps, caressing the muscle that bulged under her hand. "Baby," she purred, "put down that trash before you get your hands dirty."
Giles cleared his throat, deciding that he need to take a different approached. "Could we take this inside and talk about it rationally."
A pale, blonde eyebrow arched at the irony of being invited into her own home. "Sure, Giles, we can go into 'my' house and talk this out, or you can just listen to what I have to say, and I'll be on my way. After all, you voted me off the island, and I wouldn't want to go where I'm not wanted."
"Buuuffy," Dawn started to whine.
The blonde Slayer looked at her sister and saw through the monks' spell to the Key's glowing green energy for the first time. Another puzzle piece fell into place; the Powers orchestrated her mother's death, knowing that she would transfer her love and devotion to Dawn. They knew if anything went wrong, it would be Buffy who would be sacrificed, not Dawn. Dawn wasn't real, she was another tool the Powers used to ensure that Buffy and Angel remained apart. Concentrating on 'her sister' and remembering the spell she used to see reality, she stared at the Key. The longer she stared at the ancient power source the more it started to change. Slowly a faint green outline formed around Dawn's body. The outline grew inward, growing stronger in color, spreading out until it encompassed what was once known as Dawn Summers. She watched the glow lightly hover over the ground before it moved across the yard to stop in front of her for the briefest moment, then it zoomed off into the sky.
Testing a theory, she asked Giles. "Where did Dawn go?"
"Who's Dawn? Really Buffy, you should try to remember people's names; none of the girls are named Dawn. Can we get back to the matter at hand, please?" No matter how hard he tried, he could never forgive Angel for Angelus' deeds, and now the vampire who had done those very deeds was back. The idea that Buffy went and purposefully brought Angelus back was still too much for him to wrap his mind around. He didn't know if he could ever forgive her for this final act.
Anger beyond anything she'd ever known raced through her body. They'd stolen her mother's life as if it meant nothing. It was the last straw. Angelus felt Buffy's anger coming off her in waves. He touched her back, trying to understand what was happening when she threw her head back, letting out an unholy scream. Everyone covered their ears, and some swore they felt the ground shake.
Whistler appeared beside the enraged Slayer. He stood several feet away, hoping that she'd give him a chance to speak before she started with the hitting. Putting his hands up, the balance demon said, "The Powers realize that they may have gone a little overboard, but want to offer you a…"
Buffy said in a low menacing voice. "Two words, Whistler; ribcage hat." The balance demon visibly swallowed. "No deals. I was going to wait until I explained what's going on, and give everyone an opportunity to stay or go, but screw it." She took Angelus' and Connor's hands in hers. Looking Whistler straight in the eye, she uttered words that sealed their fates. "I call a Tribunal to judge not only us as warriors, but the Powers' and Partner's rights over our fates."
This time the ground did shake. The air grew static and thick. Buffy's small family found themselves separated from the others by a large crevice. A platform grew straight up from the deep hole, carrying three large black thrones. At the same time, three white thrones descended from the sky to align in a semi-circle. A gleaming silver throne appeared between each set, locking them into place. When the locks clicked, the seats filled with beings almost beyond description.
The beings in the dark thrones seemed to be created from the darkest hues imaginable. They appeared black until the light hit them, showing the different hues, ranging from the deepest blues, reds, greens and purples. It became evident that they absorbed the light around them, drinking it into their beings. They were darkness personified. Everything about them was dark; skin, eyes, long silken hair, and large wings that unfurled behind them. They were beautiful creatures of mystery, sin and corruption.
The creatures settling upon the white thrones were their polar opposites. Light radiated from them in warm pulsing beams of yellows, pinks, golds and whites. Opalescent wings stood at their backs, sending the light out even further. They represented hope, peace and justice.
In the center seat, a being sat who was neither light nor dark, but created equally from both. It didn't seem possible that there could be anything more beautiful than these creatures, but the one sitting at their center proved that thought wrong. Its face put a Botticelli angel to shame, radiating a light from within that fed the white being's glow while it sunk into the black's darkness. The center entity had silver eyes, sculpted cheeks, long gossamer hair that resembled moonlit water, with wings shaded every color of gray from the most delicate silver to the darkest pewter. The other beings had no discernible sex, their faces blended into their beings, with the exception of their eyes, which showed their intelligence and burned with the light of everything they represented. But, the being who sat in the center represented male beauty in its highest form. Moonlight wrapped around his body in a loving caress, and he absorbed the silver beams, transforming them before shooting them back out the six being on either to his right and left. He created the balance between the two sides.
These seven creatures created the Tribunal, a high court to judge whether the laws that governed all planes of existence had been adhered to, and pass judgment on the guilty. The High Judge sat in the center. If the lower judges couldn't come to a clear decision he would have the final say. Never had a Warrior of the Light, a lower being, ever called a Tribunal. Most never even knew that they existed, and were only called before them if they were needed as a witness for their governing entity.
The High Judge looked out at the world they had been brought to and spoke for the first time. His voice created a sound no earthbound creature had ever heard before and those watching stood transfixed. "Who spoke the words calling us here to this plane?"
Buffy marched forward, stopping when she stood directly in the semi-circle's center. "I did, as is my right."
"What know you of rights, Slayer?" a dark judge asked.
She bowed her head courteously to him before explaining herself.
Giles tried to rush forward, thinking Buffy had foolishly found a spell to bring this about. A strong hand stopped him in his tracks.
"Where do ye think ye be going, Rupes?" Spike smirked at the older man.
"I have to stop her. She has no idea what she's doing," he shouted at the bleached blonde vampire.
"That's where you're wrong. Slayer knows exactly what she's doing. It's you and that bunch of wankers that don't know squat. Watch and you might learn what ole Spike's known all along." He shoved him away, turning back around to watch the events unfold.
The others watched the oldest living Slayer address the court of otherworldly creatures with a grace, maturity and intelligence few thought her capable of having.
"Your graces, those responsible for maintaining the balance have betrayed the ones under their care. They've ignored the laws, putting the balance in jeopardy. A creature from the darkest pits of Hell has breached the gap and is trying to cause the End of Days. I called for the Tribunal to judge these events and decide what should happen. If it is time for my world's final battle, then I humbly ask for your forgiveness in my misunderstanding of these events." Buffy paused about to continue.
Whistler rushed forward, finally finding his tongue. "My esteemed lords, a moment of your time," he begged.
"Enough, lower being," the High Judge commanded.
Whistler froze in his tracks unable speak or move. He tried to warn the Powers that they shouldn't push the Slayer too far. He only hoped that he survived the fallout.
The High Judge waved his hand, motioning Buffy forward. She walked up to him with a confidence that surprised those watching. Placing his finger at her temple, he saw everything that had occurred over the past seven years. He drew away from her, sitting back on his throne, with the large silver-hued wings softly fanning open and shut.
Buffy waited patiently, knowing that she was doing the right thing for this world and her family. Studying had never been her strong suit, but she carefully learned every rule, including the minutest detail before trusting herself to see her loved ones while she was in heaven. The repercussions were too great not to.
"These are grave accusations, but your mind shows me the truth of them." He turned to the left, facing the dark side. "Call forth those who govern this dominion." Turning to his right, he repeated his request to the light side.
The air grew thick, filling with static electricity, wind blew and shrieks burst from the mouths of those watching as four 'people' appeared. Two stood to the left, appearing duller than the dark judges they stood before, with no wings upon their backs, and their faces were decidedly more humanistic. One was a male and the other a female. The two to the right were a duller, wingless second cousin versions of the white judges; also male and female in appearance. All four started to speak, but the High Judge simple raised his hand effectively silencing them.
"A Warrior of the Light has brought charges before this Tribunal against you. The evidence provided shows guilt on both sides. What say you?"
The Powers That Be glided forward, their glow brightened when it absorbed the light cast from the High Judge. "We have done nothing but guide our warriors, your grace. This warrior has always been troublesome and we will take care that she won't ever trouble this Tribunal again." They bowed their heads, hoping the matter could be settled this easily. The Powers started to back away bowing when he spoke again, stopping them stopped in their tracks.
"What of the souled vampire?"
The question shook the Powers confidence, but they tried once more. "He works even now for his redemption. We gave him a seer and made her part demon when the visions threatened her life. There beside him stands a son which we made possible." A soft snort came from Buffy. The Powers turned to glower at her and she returned it with a heated look of her own.
"Do not change the events to suite your purposes. You changed their destinies because you did not protect your own Oracles." He turned to the Partners with a piercing stare. "Join us."
The Sr. Partners didn't glide like the Powers; they seemed to slink forward, resembling a snake. They darkened as they approached the High Judge. Similar smiles graced their faces. "Your grace, if we have offended this tribunal in any way, we humbly beg your pardon."
"Your minions killed the Oracles. Our laws protected them, and you allowed this to occur with no repercussions to the guilty parties. Your actions have rushed the time for the End of Days forward."
Before the Sr. Partners could make their excuses, Buffy spoke up. "Your grace, may I speak?" He bowed his head. She turned to the Partners, giving them a disgusted look. "Every dirty trick you tried led us here, but did you know that the First plans to take over Caleb's body? It wants to be a real boy and have its own little kingdom. Not sure you guys are playing on the same side anymore." She smiled when she saw the fury on their faces at the news. This wasn't the plan the Partners had in mind, they had been played for fools. Turning to wave Angelus and Connor forward, she refused to speak until they stood beside her. "I call for trial by combat. A single fight for all the marbles. They'll fight any two warriors that you choose, and I'll fight whoever the First's choice."
"Why should we bother when the End of Days is here and you will fight regardless?" the male Partner asked.
The High Judge answered for her. "The End of Days will not occur in this time. Your machinations will not be rewarded. The warrior will have her day. Warrior, should you be victorious, what do you wish as a reward?"
She tilted her head to the side, contemplating how to answer the question. "If we win, then I want our destinies to be our own, including any future family members, too. No one mucking around in them, whatever we do, we do because we choose to do so. Our duties to the Powers and anyone else are through."
The High Judge sat silently for several minutes. He turned to the judges on either side of him before turning back to Buffy. "Your requests are agreeable to this Tribunal. Trial by Combat will commence in two hours. Each warrior can bring one weapon."
The First appeared in its Buffy guise. "My, my, you have been a busy little girl. Too bad, it won't help you. What about your little gang, aren't you going to let them play a part in you holy war?" it asked in dulcet tones.
Buffy glanced over at the collective Scooby and Fang Gang, dismissing the SiTs completely. "With the exception of one or two, I'd say they aren't much use except as cannon fodder. What about you and your little Bringer Brats? Are you going to keep them out of this? You do know the rules, don't know? Or are you too afraid play by them?" She duplicated Angelus' smirk perfectly, her tone dripped with sarcasm. "Maybe you're not the end all, be all of Evil that you led us to believe. I mean, Caleb's strong, but he's a nutjob that hates women. How tough will he be on his own against me without the brats and dino-vamps in his corner?"
The First's serene smile melted away. Buffy had accomplished the impossible. She had taunted Evil's embodiment, shaking its arrogance and angering it into an argument. "My minion isn't weak. He's a perfect disciple to carry out my orders, to provide me with the means to cross over and rule this plane once more. You insolent child, I'll show you who has power and who doesn't. My champion will meet you in single combat without aid from any of my minions. He'll comply with all rules. When he beats you and you lay dying, remember these words. My first taste at ruling this word will be standing in your blood."
She gave the First a feral grin; her eyes turned hard and predatory. "Tell Caleb I'll be waiting. I just wanted you to say the words before the Tribunal. If you break the rules in any way during combat, the Tribunal can intercede. You and Caleb will be cast into the deepest pits of Hell, from where you'll never escape."
The First morphed into its true form, an apparition of a huge horned and clawed beast with red glowing eyes, and bore down on Buffy. Its mouth hung open, showing large sharp teeth that snapped at her before disappearing.
She looked up at the Tribunal and bowed. "May we be dismissed to go and prepare, my lords?" They bowed their heads in dismissal. Buffy took Angelus and Connor's hands, pulling them away from the Tribunal. She could hear the judges still reaming out the Powers and the Partners. She didn't care what their punishments would be, but had a feeling that the Tribunal would decide on something imaginative.
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