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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 7: Talking with GilesWillow looked around the library she’d just appeared in, it had been risky teleporting in here, but she’d didn’t have the luxury of time. Willing herself to be calm, she took a deep breath and the spoke. “Giles we need to talk,” Willow said making Giles jumped out of his seat. ”Will… Willow,” Giles said taking off his glasses polishing them and then putting them back on. ”It’sme Giles relax,” Willow said and pulled back the hood. ”I thought you didn’t wish to see us?” Giles asked calmly, trying to retain some dignity. ”I didn’t, but things change,” Willow said and took a seat. “I had a vision Giles, a vision of the future,” she explained. ”What did you see?” Giles asked. ”You and Buffy dying?” she stated calmly. ”Well… that’s…” Giles tried to form the words. ”What are you hiding Giles?” Willow asked as she looked at him. ”What are you talking about?” Giles asked pulling himself up. ”I sense a power around you, a growing power,” she said and put her palm out. ”You have been given the Blade of the Night. Haven’t you?” she finally asked. Giles started to protest, but his shoulders slumped as he stood and drew out the obsidian blade. ”Yes, but how did you know?” Giles asked. ”I’vebeen reading and learning for a long time now Giles, longer than you might think,” Willow said. “Those books you have kept hidden are a part of yesterdays reading.” ”Then you know the prophecy of the blade?” he asked. ”Some of it, but the one I read was incomplete,” Willow answered. ”Here. I assume you can read runes?” He said handing her the sword. ”Interesting,” Willow said as she laid the sword on the table. After a moment she looked up. “Well looks like you’ve been chosen as a divine matchmaker Giles,” She with a smile. ”Well it’s bloody uncomfortable if you ask me,” Giles said. ”Don’t worry Giles. Why were you given the sword anyway, it’s usually given to someone of the night,” Willow said. ”It was delivered to my house a few weeks ago, with a simple message in a plain wooden box,” ”We’ll have to focus on that later,” Willow said with a wave of a hand. “Right now I just want to prevent the vision from coming true,” she stated firmly. ”So you will be staying?” Giles asked hopefully. ”I have to.No matter how afraid I am, Buffy’s life may depend on me staying with you until the vision has passed,” Willow said. ”How can you be so sure of that?” Giles asked. ”In my vision, after she died, I saw Spike holding her, cursing my name over and over again,” Willow answered in a small voice. ”What will you do once the vision is passed? Will you fade back into the shadow and drive Buffy mad with worry again?” Giles asked looking over his glasses. ”Giles she has to learn that I can take care of myself,” Willow said throwing a small spark into the air to make her point. “I think she learned that last night Willow and she really does care about you. If you leave it will hurt her more than you could imagine,” Giles said in a fatherly voice. ”I know that very well Giles, better than you can imagine,” Willow said in a calm voice. ”Then what are you afraid of?” Giles asked, realizing that before him stood a calm and true wielder of power ”I’vedone things Giles, things she might not understand, things that would make her hate me if she ever found out about them and that I’m not…” Willow paused. ”You’re not what?” Giles asked. ”I’m not the same Willow that she once knew,” she said never once breaking the calmness of her voice. ”I think she knows that,” Giles said in a fatherly voice. “But how can I ask her to accept what I’ve done over these past few months?” Willow asked. ”She is your friend, she’ll understand,” Giles said reassuringly. ”I’m not so sure of that Giles, I mean I’ve…” ”Shagged around,” Spike said from where he stood in the doorway with his jacket casually slung over his shoulder. ”Among other things,” Willow said as Spike stepped into the library. ”Daniel and Elisabeth left a message saying they’d be a little late due to an unexpected problem,” he said to Giles before taking a seat and turning towards Willow. ”Glad to have you're back Red. Now what secrets have you been keeping?” Spike asked. ”Watch it Spike,” Willow said, her eyes seemingly flaring up. ”Hey only trying to help, although I don’t really understand what all the fuss is about? I mean she loves you for crying out loud,” Spike stated putting his feet on the table. ”You don’t think I know that Spike,” Willow stated, keeping calm. Beating Spike into a bleached pulp wouldn’t accomplish anything. ”And you love her don’t you?” Spike said with a knowing grin. ”I’m here because I must be,” Willow stated in a flat tone. ”Cold Red, real cold Red,” Spike stated. ”You’ve been hanging with the girls too much Spike,” Willow countered. “Gone soft have we?” she asked. “Well aftertwo hundred years of playing Mr. Bad-ass it was time for a change,” Spike fired back. “Will you please stop this infernal banter,” Growled Giles and slammed his fist on the table. ”Temper,” Spike commented. ”It’sthe sword,” Willow said. “It brings out his aggressive side,”she explained. “Explains a lot,” Spike nodded. “Giles lookat me,” Willow ordered and Giles immediately faced her. “You can’t let it consume you. The sword amplifies the emotions needed forthe wielder to fight. Accept it, use it,” she stated calmly and Giles nodded. ”Guys… I think… we have… a problem,” Buffy said in a labored breath as she leaned against the doorframe. Numerous cuts visible on her clothes, her hair stained with blood, dust covering her coat and there was a dark stain where her stake stuck out of her shoulder. ”Buffy!” Willow shouted and rushed to her friends' side. ”Hey Willowyou came back…. Knew you would…” Buffy said as her eyes closed. ”Go get Auntie June now!” Giles ordered, but Spike was already gone. “And gather the clans…” he yelled after him so it echoed down the halls of the mansion. To Be Continued… |