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Title: Royalty Redux Author: Cilia Archives: List archivers go right ahead. Notes: The rewrite of the classic B/W story Royalty, the story thatset the stage for the epic Two Worlds story and made many of the characters that are still around and kicking in Prophecy’s Twilight. Relative to the show, this takes place after the events of Graduation, so those are still in continuity while, but I have take some liberties and this is very much an alternate universe story. Summary: Buffy finds herself in San Francisco looking for Willow, but the young witch has gone missing, both of them struggle with their emerging affection for each other and new enemies. Along for the ride are Spike, Giles, Anya and Xander, every single one of them with a mission of their own. Chapter 4: Power RevealedDaniel Night’s stood on a hilltop outside the city, overlooking the city and the bay, it was a massive compound and the trio that stood outside was stunned to say the least. ”Wow!” Buffy exclaimed as she stared at the front of the mansion. They’d just stepped out of the limo that had brought them there and already this was looking up to be a very good idea indeed. ”Too bad Anya and Xander decided against coming,” Giles commented as he stepped out and gazed over the mansion. ”Well I’m not regretting coming along,” Spike said as he came up behind them. ”Welcome!” Came the voice of Daniel as he descended down the front steps. ”This the wanker we’re supposed to keep alive?” Spike asked in a low voice. ”A wanker with very keen hearing and William the Bloody I assume,” Daniel said extending his hand. ”Not the last time I checked,” Spike said as he shook it. ”Well I’ll give you the grand tour,” Daniel said as a motioned for the carriers to get their bags. “And this is your room Elisabeth,” Daniel said as they entered the last of many rooms they’d been shown. They’d already seen the ballroom, the dining room, the den, the gym, the library which Giles was most likely itching to get back to, the indoor swimming pool and Buffy could have sworn she saw a bowling lane somewhere in there. Now her eyes traveled over the canopy bed, the walk in closet and the door leading to her personal bathroom. A girl could get used to this, she thought. ”Well make yourself at home,” Daniel said. “And someone will be around shortly to take some measurements,” he added. ”Measurements?” Buffy asked with a raised eyebrow. ”You’ll see,” Daniel said with secretive smile. ”Alright William let me show you your quarters. I’m sure Elisabeth would like her privacy,” Daniel said as he motioned for the men to follow him. Buffy waited for the door to close and the footsteps to fade away, before bolting for the balcony doors. One foot over the rail she was stopped by voice that outright demanded it. ”Oho no you don’t,” Came a very sharp Irish voice. Buffy looked back and saw a woman, not old as in old, but still old, respectable old, the kind of old that demanded respect, or something like that. “You’re not going anywhere until I’ve measured you,” she said as she stepped out onto the balcony. Buffy pulled the foot back and stood straight. Bringing herself to her full height, but one stare from the woman and it all crumbled. ”That’s better, now come along dear,” the woman said and walked back in. Some measurements later Buffy had found out that the woman’s name was Jillian June, but most people around here just called her Auntie June. ”So who’s the lucky boy?” Auntie June asked as she was measuring Buffy’s bust. ”Who?” Buffy asked a little confused. ”The boy you were sneaking off to meet?” The older woman asked again with a soft smile. ”Oho no I wasn’t… I mean there is no boy…” Buffy stuttered. ”Oho a girl then,” June said as she took Buffy’s wrist. “Lift!” Buffy gave a shocked look, before trying to stutter something in response. ”Don’t be so shocked dear, I’ve been around for awhile you know,” the older woman said as she measured the length of her arm. ”There! All done,” she said after a long silence. “Go on I know you want to,” she said as Buffy’s eyes wanderer to the balcony. ”You’re not undying are you?” Buffy asked. ”No, afraid I’m just plain old human,” June said with a smile. Buffy noddedand bolted for the balcony. ”Young love, or in this case soon to be love,” June muttered as she watched Buffy jump down from the balconies before leaving the room. *~*~*~* Three hours later Buffy had found no sight of Willow and as she dusted yet another mortally challenged person she gave thought to just going back to the mansion. Sure are a lot of them around for this time of year. I thought Daniel had this place under control. Buffy was so deep into her thoughts that she didn’t noticed the green cloaked figure who floated in the shadows. ”Great, more soon-to-be-dust straight ahead,” she muttered and she was almost upon them when she felt hands around her neck. ”Hey!” she yelled as she threw the attacker over her head. Amazingly the attacker somehow managed to land on his feat. ”You are a strong one,” he commented. ”And you’re dust,” she said and threw a stake that the attacker just grabbed. ”I am afraid that is not going to work,” he stated as the vampires Buffy had sensed earlier came up behind him and Buffy kicked into fighting mode. ”How do youwant it?” she asked. “Fast or slow?” ”Phu-lease, you won’t even get close,” theman said and waved his hand in front of his face. ”Just wait and see,” Buffy said and charged them. One, two, three went down, but the group was still large. Four, five, six and still there was no end in sight. Seven, eight. Then all of a suddenthe battle stopped and a booming voice could be heard echoing through the street: ”Get away from her!” it thundered and a green cloaked figure stepped out onto the street and clouds started gathering around the moon behind her. ”Or what?” the leader asked. There was a smile under the hood and green eyes could be seen flaring. Then a small pale hand appeared from under the cloak and made a gesture. ”Something like this,” The figure stated in a calm voice. The leader muttered something along the lines of: “Oh crap,” and then felt something slam against his chest, half a heartbeat later he was flying through the air. Morphing into a bird as he went and then soared into the night sky. ”Damn!” The cloaked figure muttered and turned her gaze upon the vampires surrounding Buffy. Buffy found herself staring at the cloaked figure who’d just saved her neck, or at least saved her from some serious trouble. The figure stood tall, maybe three inches taller than she did, the cloak which she wore was green, lined with gold and those eyes that seemingly shone from under… Buffy thoughts where cut short when she felt a blow to her head. The cloaked figure watched as Buffy was knocked out, the vampire in question quickly found a piece of exquisitely carved wood sticking out off its chest. Then the battle begun anew. One vampire found itself on the receiving end of a fireball, another lost its head to an animated blade, two fell to a single word. ”Pyro,” The cloaked figure muttered and the last seemingly fell by a sweep of a hand from the cloaked figure. Then all was quiet and the moon shone once again on the street. The figure knelt by Buffy’s side and pulled back the hood revealing silver streaked red hair and soft features. Running her palm gently across Buffy’s face, Buffy’s eyes fluttered open. ”Willow?” she whispered. ”Hello Buffy,” Willow said a soft voice. ”The vamps?” Buffy asked. ”Gone,” Willow said with a small smile, happy to see that her friend was safe. ”You?” Buffy asked. ”Guess so. Come on lets get you off this cold street,” Willow said and heaved Buffy off the ground with ease. ”You okay,” she asked, as she watched Buffy steady herself. ”Fine,” she said looking at the dust on the ground. “Your stake,” she muttered as she carefully bent down and picked up the decorated stake, turning it over in her hands. ”It’smagical if that’s what you’re wondering,” Willow said as she pulled the hood back on. Buffy looked at Willow’s cloaked face. ”What happened Willow?” she asked. ”What do you mean?” Willow asked back. ”All this,” Buffy said as she swept her hand across the ground. ”I grew up.I came here to do just that,” Willow answered. ”You did itawfully fast,” Buffy commented. ”This all began long before I came here,” Willow stated. ”When?” Buffy asked. ”Don’t know for sure. When Oz left, maybe even sooner,” Willow said and looked into Buffy’s eyes and there was a long drawn out silence. ”Why did you leave?” Buffy asked finally. ”I live in different world now. My life is more complex, hell I am more complex,” she burst out and then lowered her voice down to a whisper. “And I thought what I had become would scare you away,” she added. ”Willow…” Buffy said and reached out to touch her. ”Don’t, please,” Willow said as she flinched away. ”Why are you doing this?” Buffy asked tears welling up in her eyes. “I thought you were my friend, my best friend,” she said. ”I am and I’ll always be, it’s just that…” Willow said and the ground became very interesting. ”What Willow, please tell me…” Buffy said gently stroking Willow’s cheek. ”I don’t trust myself around you,” Willow whispered. ”You what?” Buffy asked a little too loud. ”I don’t trust myself around YOU!” Willow screamed and threw up her hands. Clouds gathered in the night sky. There was a thunder and then the rain poured down. The wind blew up, blowing back the cloak and the hood, revealing wild green eyes and flowing red hair and as quickly as it all began it stopped. That said Willow grabbed Buffy and kissed her hard and long. Buffy couldn’t believe her ears and then there was wind and rain and then Willow, sweet caring Willow, crushing her lips against her own. Buffy felt hands slide up her back as she struggled to make sense of the things running through her. Then she felt an almost electric jolt shoot through her as Willow broke the kiss. ”I need time?” Willow whispered as she collapsed against her. ”I can giveyou that?” Buffy whispered back as she stroked her friends wet hair. ”You wouldn’t be my Buffy if you didn’t?” she said and leaned closer. ”I have to go now,” she whispered after a few minutes. ”I know and I’ll be here when you’re ready,” Buffy whispered back and Willow pulled back and took Buffy’s hands in her own. ”You won’t have to wait forever I promise,” Willow said. ”I know,” Buffy whispered. ”Before I go,” Willow said, slit her palms together and pulled out a crystal tear glistening on a golden chain. ”A reminder,” she said and laid it in Buffy’s hand and with that she was gone. Buffy sighed as she looked down at the tear. She held up the tear and when it spun Willow’s face seemed to appear inside it. Buffy smiled, her friend was safe. ”I love you Willow,” she whispered into the night and she could have sworn she felt a finger on her cheek for just a moment and then it was gone. The wind carried the whisper down the street. Willow looked back from the shadows and smiled. ”I love youtoo Buffy, more than you could ever imagine,” she whispered back and then disappeared as mist. To Be Continued… |