FIC: Royalty Redux (Chapter 6)

["Cilia" <cilia@xxxxx>]

Title: Royalty Redux
Author: Cilia
Archives: List archivers go right ahead.
Notes: The rewrite of the classic B/W story Royalty, the story that set
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 6: The Trenchcoat Brigade


"I'm not going to wear that!" Rang through the mansion at noon the next
day. Buffy had returned home after her earlier encounter with Willow to
find that Spike had taken up watching over Daniel at night and that
Giles was apparently holed up in the library. Now she stood looking at
for the lack of a better word, a suit and overcoat, laid out on her bed.
"Come now dear," June said and padded Buffy's shoulder. "Give it try,"
she said in a soft voice.
"Are there anymore surprises in the dress code?" Buffy asked with a
frown, as she picked up the pants.
"Well except for this. None," June said and handed Buffy a small box. 
"A ring! Why?" Buffy asked as she looked at the box and opened it.
"Well you see dear. This ring indicates that you serve the prince. It
will give you access to places a human couldn't normally enter in this
city. Now you are supposed to report to the armory at three, so there's
no rush to get ready," June said and turned to leave.
"It went well by the way," Buffy said, pulling on the white blouse.
"Knew it would," June said with a smile. "And don't forget the armory at
three PM," she stated pointing her finger at Buffy.

*~*~*~*

Swords, guns, armor, high-tech stakes. Buffy felt like a kid in a candy
store as she looked over the weapon rack in the armory. 
Interesting, she thought as she picked up a black metal cylinder. 
"Wonder how this works," she muttered as she rolled it over in her hand.
"Press the little red button," Spike said, as he stepped into the room.
"Spike?" Buffy asked looking at the suit and tie.
"Elisabeth," Spike nodded back smirking at her appearance in a suit and
coat.
"Don't you laugh," she threatened pushing the button and a thin stake,
made out of reddish wood, popped out of the cylinder.
"I'm not laughing, the Dana Scully look really suits you," he said with
a grin.
"Oho now you're asking for," she growled and pulled a sword from the
wall.
"And what are you going to do with that?" Spike asked drawing a blade
from seemingly nowhere.
"This," Buffy said with a glint in her eye. That said a battle ensued
with coats billowing and swords clashing. 
"I see you're practicing. Excellent," Giles said as he stepped into the
room. When they didn't stop fighting and when a chair was neatly cleaved
in half he sighed walked up to the wall, picked up a gun, checked it and
then fired it into the air. Both fighters stopped.
"That's better," he said calmly and sat down.
"Sorry," both muttered like children that had just been caught doing
something that was not allowed, as they took their seats around the
round table.
"Where's Daniel?" Buffy asked.
"Should be here shortly," Giles said as Spike put his feet on the table.
"I don't like this," he said.
"Don't like what Spike?" Buffy asked.
"Last night, there wasn't a single vampire around, at least not in any
places we went to," Spike explained.
"I found a few," Buffy muttered.
"Did you dispose of them?" Giles asked.
"I did my share, but actually Willow did most of the work," Buffy said.
"So you found her?" Giles asked, his eyes softening.
"No she found me, made it very clear she doesn't want to see us," Buffy
said carefully manipulating the facts.
"Why should she not want to see us?" Giles wondered out loud.
"She's powerful Giles and I mean powerful," Buffy stated.
"How so?" 
"Weather control for one thing, healing spells, telekinesis. need I go
on?" Buffy counted off the things she'd seen Willow perform.
"It seems like Red has been keeping secrets," Spike commented, focusing
the words towards Buffy and then there was silence.
"Good day?" Daniel said as he entered. "I see you've been practicing,"
he commented noticing the cleaved-in-half chair and the burn mark on the
ceiling. When no one commented he just smiled and sat down.
"Let's get down to business then shall we. Last night went very well and
William seems to be most capable for night duty," he said and looked at
Buffy. "Now Buffy. I would like you to accompany me this afternoon.
Giles has been with me since this morning, but it's only fair you should
get to know what the job's all about,"
"You want to go out during the day?" Buffy asked quite stunned.
"I'm not a vampire. I'm undying, but not reanimated flesh like William
here, no offense," Daniel explained.
"None taken mate," Spike saluted.
"So sunlight is no problem given that I've fed," Daniel explained.
"So where are we going?" Buffy asked and stood up.
"Just some meetings, nothing important and no one will question you,"
Daniel said and turned to Giles. "Now I believe you want to make some
more use of the library?" he asked and Giles perhaps a bit too eagerly
nodded.
"Spike why don't you arm Buffy and I'll be waiting upstairs," he then
said and stood to leave.
"You did more than just talk," Spike commented when both Giles and
Daniel had left.
"How do you know that?" Buffy asked strapping the shoulder holster on.
"I smell her on you, so what did you do?" Spike asked handing her the
gun.
"That's none of your business and why do I need a gun?" she asked.
"Well for starters it's loaded with balls filled with holy water and
second it's a required prop for the part," he explained. "Just point and
shoot!"
"Good point," Buffy said. 
"The swords are useful too," he added and Buffy grinned.
"Couldn't agree more," she nodded.
Bonding with Spike, well stranger things have happened and after all he
was nice in a twisted, border line crazy kind of way, still he would
probably back her up in a fight. So with that Buffy the Vampire Slayer,
became Elisabeth the Bodyguard.

*~*~*~*
Once in the limo riding into the City, Daniel handed her a pair of
sunglasses.
"So I just wear these," Buffy said and put on a pair of sunglasses. "And
look grim?" she asked
"That's pretty much it," Daniel said as they rode into town.
"Were you born?" Buffy asked after a moments silence.
"Yes, some undying ones are born, it's rare but it happens," Daniel
said.
"But you also turn people right?"
"Yes, but every turning must be approved by me or at least I must be
told when someone is embraced," Daniel explained.
"And they don't become a different person?" Buffy asked.
"No the personality remains the same," Daniel explained.
"I can live with that," Buffy said as they entered the city. The day
passed quickly in a flurry of meetings, parties and gatherings. 

*~*~*~*

Willow sat in a lotus position, eyes closed. Focusing or at least trying
to. Still the images of the night three weeks ago came back to her. 
"I knew this would happen," she muttered and opened her eyes.
"It was the right thing to do," came a voice from above. 
"Astral projection that's a new one," Willow stated as she looked up at
Lily's image floating above her.
"Well this way you wont try anything," Lily commented as her image
floated down.
"And what makes you think I would?" Willow asked innocently, but her
eyes flared.
"You chose to embrace your passion when you first came to me. Well
knowing the consequences," Lily said in matter of fact tone.
"But she's my best friend and I'm so afraid that I'll hurt her," Willow
said looking down.
"You didn't the last time," Lily said, reminding Willow of her little
adventure a few nights ago.
"That was different, with Buffy. I summoned the thunder without
thinking," Willow said.
"It won't go away you know, the wanting must be fulfilled," Lily stated.
"No, I can't with Buffy," Willow said shutting her eyes.
"Meditate all you want Willow, but it won't change what's done, the fire
has been lit and sooner or later it will burn out of your control," Lily
said and faded away.
"Must be calm, must be calm," Willow recited repeatedly, before just
giving up and screaming out in frustration. She stood and walked over to
the orb on the table.
"Buffy," She whispered and an image of Buffy appeared inside the orb.
Willow smiled and slumped down into a chair. Buffy looked nice in that
outfit, in a grown up sort of way. Then the image shifted. A vision of
the future appeared before her eyes. A battle, Buffy dying, Giles
screaming and charging at something. Spike just sitting on the ground
holding Buffy and cursing someone. Cursing her! 

Willow's eyes fluttered open it was dark outside. She pulled the green
cloak around her, suddenly it all became so clear and she knew just what
to do. Find Giles, must find Giles. She thought. 

To Be Continued.