FIC :: F4 (2/?)

["C S Armitage" <soren_nyrond@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

TITLE: Fables, Fortunes, Foes and Friends (2/?) 
AUTHOR: Soren Nyrond
DISCLAIMER: Certain characters in this part belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy, without whose inspiration etc.
SUMMARY: It's got Buffy and Willow in it; it's also got a Supporting Cast of Eternal NPCs, and a Librarian and a Demi-Urge (which isn't what the snickering sidewinder eight along on the back row of the peanut gallery thinks it is)
SPOILERS: None since it bears no resembance to aired
AUTHOR'S NOTES: All nice feedback welcome. Chocolate cookies also accepted. Have fun -- only a couple more of these to suffer




Fables, Fortunes, Foes and Friends - - Part 2
 

Getting into the second pyramid proved to be no problem at all.

"We're here for an audition."

"As what ?"

"I'm a hero, so is she - we're a team, what she can't blow away with magic, I can kill, with my bare hands, if necessary."

"I haven't been told anything - "

"I didn't say you had - but we're expected, so we'd like to go in."

Willow softly recited the words she had ready, and the guard's expression wavered into vacancy.

"You're expected - go in."

"Thank you, George," Willow breathed," for the idea."

Once they were inside, Buffy wasted no time: she found one of the clip-board carrying functionaries.

"We're here to see your supervisor," she said: "It's about the Rupert Gilesbusiness."

"I'm sorry, I don't think - "

"Perhaps you haven't been briefed - your supervisor will have been."

It was quite a rush for Buffy, using her voice to score the points, rather than her fists. It should have been Willow, but since Buffy couldn't have done the subtle magic which Willow was performing, with cryptic rhymes and subtle scents, to persuade the people that they should do as Buffy asked, the Slayer was having to make the most of what she had.

 

In turn the supervisor passed them on to the Chief Controller, who was induced to expedite their transport to Scriptator's Citadel, which was in the clouds above the Hero level of his world.

And once there, Buffy was easily able to persuade another functionary to escort them to Scriptator, particularly as word of their coming had percolated up the unofficial grapevine.

"If you are not expected by Lord Scriptator, things will go hard with you."

"I thought we'd agreed: if we are, and you impede us ."

"I know - I stand at risk of demotion."
"Then show us in."

 

Scriptator proved to be a middle-aged man, thin of face, bearded (though turning grey at the jowls), with a prominent widow's peak. He was seated on which might have been a throne, had it not been for the fact that it was surrounded by desks and tables, and computer terminals, and other impedimentaof literary endeavour. Not that Buffy was too worried.

"I've come for Rupert Giles," she announced, without preamble.

"Oh, Buffy !"

Giles' familiar voice clove the air, and he emerged from somewhere behind the throne, book in one hand, glasses in the other.

"You know this really is remarkably . Buffy - you found me - well done !"

"Giles - are you okay ?"

"Yes, Giles," Willow put in: "What is this place ? What are you doing here?"

"We've come to take you home," Buffy said.

"There could be some dispute over that," Scriptator said: "I gather someoneelse wants you all to stay here, to become actors in my little diversions - Rupert, don't forget that you promised me your opinion on the Imperial Chronicles before you go."

Giles nodded vaguely and turned back to the book he carried,

"Who would want to keep us here ?" Buffy asked.

Scriptator waved a hand, and an all-too-familiar voice came from behind them.

"Surely you can't have imagined I'd forget about you."

"Ethan Rayne !" Buffy span round, to see that there was a curtained area behind her. Ethan was there, along with a couple of nasty-looking creatureswith long muzzles and powerful arms.

"Get her !" Ethan told them, and battle was joined.

 

"Willow - get clear !" Buffy called: this was no place for her precious witch to be. The things, whatever they were, were big and strong, and were bright enough not to attack both at once, but to let one go first, to draw her, and then the other to come in on what they deemed to be her weaker side.

She clubbed one away, and found that it had good muscles to protect it. She kicked the other, and almost had to perform acrobatics to avoid the slashing swipe it took at her. Then the first one was coming in again.  

 

Ethan Rayne seemed to be quite satisfied. Willow wanted to do something, but the fact that Giles was taking no involvement made her hesitate to interfere.

"Is this your idea ?" she asked Scriptator.

"Not as such, no," he replied; "But it'll be good material for a story some-when, so . "

 

Buffy pounded one of the creatures hard, then crashed a table over its head. Scriptator seemed unconcerned: the creature shook it off. She turned and thrust her fist full-force into the other one's jaw-hinge. It howled andmoaned, and tried to bite her arm off.

Suddenly the two creatures collided. Buffy collected as much of both headsas she could one under each arm, and dropped to the floor, trying to crasheach one's skull off the other.

One staggered upright and, determined not to miss the first real moment of advantage she had had, she stamped hard on the other one's face, going for the eye. Then she kicked the first one with all her strength under it s jaw as it lunged at her, grabbed its arm, and pulled that down towards the half-blinded one, as that one tried to snap at her. Arm and maw met with somewhat complicated results, leading to a cacophony of confused noise.

 

Willow decided enough was enough.

"This is two onto one --- can I join in ?"

Scriptator shrugged. Willow took that for assent, and hurled in a banding charm at one of the demonic things. Green light wrapped round its limbs, holding it in place long enough for Buffy to plant three hammer-strikes to its ribs and belly, leaving it to topple. Then she high-kicked the other beast in the head, knocking it backward.

Quick as mustard, Willow called out "Buff !" and tossed a stake from her bag. Buffy kicked the off-balance beast again, then forced the other one back down again, and plunged the stake deep into its chest.

Nothing happened but it didn't look too happy, and Buffy let it writhe whilst pursuing its counterpart, now trying to come forward again.

"And you think that will help ?" Ethan Rayne taunted. He snapped his fingers, and at once the staked beast was on its feet, all traces of the damage Buffy had done erased instantly.

"Now, for the other one - "

"Fair - not !" Buffy protested, between gasps.

"Who said anything about fairness ?" Ethan replied.

 

"Wait one moment," Scriptator said, and instantly both creatures froze in place. Ethan Rayne continued to snap his fingers for several seconds, before apparently accepting that things were in stasis: the Slayer, on the otherhand, held back from further conflict (if, in part, to catch her breath). Willow followed suit, though unsure quite why Giles wasn't getting involved at all.

"I had understood," Scriptator continued, "that this was in the nature of achallenge, to the young ladies, to get here, and to myself to create challenges for them along the way."

Ethan gazed contemptuously at him: "You told me that I would have free reinin taking part."

"Yes," Scriptator replied: "And, with the exception of conjuring that demoninto my Little England scenario, to pretend to be the verger, you have added singularly little."

"Well, my priority was to see that they didn't leave - to give you new and challenging heroes."

 

"Nevertheless, there are certain standards to be upheld." With a wave of his hand, Scriptator dismissed both creatures, then turned his head: "Rupert, you may leave the books for now." Giles suddenly looked a lot more alive. "Rupert, you said that this man and you were antagonists. Tell me more."

"I . Well, a lot of it is very - well, delicate." He looked, significantly, at Buffy and Willow.

"Very well - the young ladies may retire."

"Now wait a minute - I haven't finished with them - either of them."
"Ethan - you will be silent or you will be silenced. Ladies, my . assistants . will look after you."

"Good thing Xander isn't here," Willow whispered, as three men dressed likecircus clowns stepped forward. Then, in an instant they became three almost identical "English butler" types.

"Would you follow us, please ?"

 

End of Chunk 2