FIC: Upon The Sea Of Chaos (1/?) (Delurker)

["Matthias Engel" <Solarsenshi@xxxxxx>]

Hi, everyone!

Okay, since I seem to be in the mood to write entry messages for groups
these days, I think it is time for me to FINALLY stop lurking. My name is
Matthias, from Germany (though I?ve been told my English is quite adequate)
and I have been on the list for? Well, let?s say quite some time, yes?
First of all. I want to say that this is probably one of the most healthy
lists out there and I really enjoy the good quality of authors and there
fics. I?ve been writing fiction for over four years now and am impressed
that a lot of the fics here are very high quality. I have my own to
contribute to this ?merry, little? list but I come to that later. Over the
years I?ve mostly written Anime fics in the area of Shoujo Anime/Manga such
as Sailor Moon (which is my primary). I know with nearly twenty-two people
tend to say you are a bit old for that but hey, I stand up for what I like.
I have no idea how often I can post anything, especially fic updates might
be VERY slow. Real life demands a lot from me lately and I have more than a
handful fics that want to continued (yeah, I?m some of those types, worked
myself into a vicious cycle there). So I hope you understand.

Now, concerning the fic. I?m not sure, if I can call the first chapter
actually finished and I?m not that satisfied with it. So it could be that
there will be some more to the chapter lately. But that?s beside the point
right now.
Everything else is explained in the header/notes. However, before I release
you, I have to warn you that this thing here is not beta-read simply because
my latest beta that I had for some time has college now and not the time
anymore to spare for beta-reading. Which in turn means I really need a
capable one who can point out all this little grammar faults or things I
overlooked, give some constructive critic etc., it would be nice, if I get a
well-versed one (especially anime-wise) since I don?t like having a page
long list of betas?
On with the fic.

Title: Upon The Sea Of Chaos (1/?)
Author: Matthias aka MysticMew (Solarsenshi@xxxxxx)
Beta: Need one. DESPERATELY!
Rating: R (for now)
Category: Romance/Crossover/Dark (among other things)
Pairings: Buffy/Willow (/Tara?), Lina/Amelia, Xander/Anya, Dawn/Filia,
Sylphiel/Tara (Gourry)
Timeline/Spoilers: During the final battle against Dark Star/Valgaarv
(Slayers) and the final moments of the Season 5 conclusion, so anything from
Slayers up to the real end of Slayers Try and Season 1-5 from BtVS
Distribution: MAC (www.catstrio.de), BuffyWantsWillow
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buffywantswillow), ff.net
(www.fanfiction.net); anyone else, you can have it but please ask me first,
?kay?
Summary: The fight with Dark Star ends not as it should and upon seeing
Amelia badly hurt Lina makes a final attempt for the Giga Slave which
somehow get mixed up with the opening of the Dimensional Gates
Disclaimer: Buffy, the Vampires Slayers belongs to Joss Whedon, Fox, Mutant
Enemy and other companies. Slayers belongs to Hajime Kanzaka, Rui Araizumi,
Kadokawa Shoten, TV TOKYO, SOFTX, Marubeni
Legal Disclaimer: This work of art contains scenes of a mature nature, among
those the open display of ?affection? between two (or three) woman. If this
is any way illegal or offending to you, turn away and run as long as you
still can.
Important Note: I have not yet fully decided, if I?ll make my first attempt
on an (English) Buffy/Willow shipper or a Buffy/Willow/Tara one, what I do
with Sylphiel and Gourry is basically decided on that. I would like to have
your feedback while I develop the story on what to do.

Foreword

Well (with all the fiction I?ve been writing at and probably never finishing
*sigh*), I finally decided to put this into motion after I had some good
time to dwell on the idea of a ?Slayer/Slayers? fusion. The idea has formed
while watching Slayers actually and learning of Willow?s fall into addiction
through a lot of fics on the Buffy/Willow-lists (Season 6 has not started
here yet, most likely in Autumn). The basic difference there I thought was;
BtVS Black Magic: Gah, bad, destructive, chaos, EVIL we don?t want that.
Slayers Black Magic: Well okay, its demon based but doesn?t have to be
necessarily used for evil if controlled. Now tell me, what would have become
of Willow, if someone taught her to get a grip on the Black Magic stuff and
control it (like Lina? err, most of the time at least)? A lot of inspiration
on this point also came from Hunter?s Red Moon Series.
So, before I go babbling and giving everything away before writing, here it
goes.

Prologue: Dimensional Chaos

(Lina)
The air around us was thick and filled with utter destruction, its source
directly in front of us, ready to whisk us away from the face of earth. I
was so not going to let this damned Dragon do this. Granted he had a point
that this countless battles were pointless, that the question of why the war
between Dragons and Mazoku had to be was a verified one. But destroying the
whole of creation, resetting the evolutionary circle, hoping for a better
life? This was crazy and I think deep down he knows it. The world needs a
certain amount of Chaos to stabilize the Order. Without Chaos mankind would
stagnate and die much quicker. And what did Valgaarv think gave us the
confirmation that the next world would indeed be different, that the Lady
would not simply repeat the whole thing all over again? It was ridiculous!
Even when they managed to destroy this world and the other three, did they
really think they could rebel against their creator? I did not think so and
as an at least somewhat avatar of the Lord of Nightmares I also KNEW so.
Now, when this blasted things would just work again?
I stared down at the bracelets and wondered for the thousand?s time in the
last minutes why I could not cast the Giga Slave. Sure, I was not actually
thrilled with another encounter of death or being possessed by the most
powerful being, the creator herself. But looking up at Filia again who was
still debating with herself, whether she wanted or not wanted to alginate
with Xellos to fulfill the prophecy, I was hard-pressed to believe that the
Giga Slave might be the better solution than her own prophecy.
Just as the Golden Dragon and former priestess seemed to have reached a
decision, everything went into utter chaos. Without warning Valgaarv
unleashed a powerful blast of magic into our rows, scattering the formation
we had tried to form. Zelgadis, Gourry and Sirius had all the presence of
mind to jump or levitate out the way but Amelia was still staying directly
in the path of the destructive force. From experience I knew fully well that
it would be too late for her but I cried out anyway: ?AMELIA, WATCH OUT!?
With wide eyes and clenched fists I watched the blast making impact and
hurling Amelia, who had attempted a half-heartily attempt on a shield, high
into the air, her weapon flying from her hand, the light energy winking out
immediately. I darted forward in a futile attempt to somehow save my friend
but was halted by another magic bolt that just barely passed by me, only to
engulf an equally distracted and surprised Xellos, disintegrating him on the
spot. A second later Amelia landed hard against cold stone, head first and
blood flowing freely.
I felt my stomach lurch at the sight and my heart clenched. Amelia was one
of my oldest companions. Companions that had become friends. Friends that
had become even more on the long run. There was Gourry, yes, but I still
didn?t really know what I felt about him nor was I going to admit it. Amelia
though was always a loyal and good friend, even if we often fought over
pathetic things, even if she aggravated me to no end with her justice
attitude sometimes. I smiled at that, remembering some of her worse stunts.
It was a sad smile and the nostalgic feeling was quickly stomped on as I
focused back on the tattered mess of the girl I considered a really close
friend. If anyone, Amelia did not deserve this.
?Filia, help her,? I said through clenched teeth, my fist vibrating with a
cold fury. Xellos was dead, Amelia close to it ? if not already and I didn?t
even want to think of that ? and we would follow soon. Valgaarv had gone too
far. He had crossed a line, where I wouldn?t, couldn?t forgive anymore.
Filia, still in a state of frozen shock at what her hesitation had caused,
hadn?t moved, her eyes were on me, frightened and scared, unsure what to do.
I wasn?t going to have any of that right now. Her insecurity had caused
Amelia her present state and she was going to fix it.
?NOW!? I growled and the former priestess actually jumped, nodded quickly
and hurried to their Amelia lay. I made sure that she reached her and that
Zelgadis and Gourry were keeping watch, while she applied her dragon magic,
praying to myself that she would make it. Then I finally glanced up to
Valgaarv, I think I saw him flinching under my gaze, even if the emotionless
smile still was there. He really didn?t care anymore. Well, so did I.
I gripped the bow, that had fallen not far from me, tightly and
concentrated. The first time I invoked the magic of the creator, I had cast
it on the Sword of Light, one of the five weapons of the Dark Star and it
didn?t kill me back then. Still, Sylphiel and the Clair Bible?s warning were
all very much present in my mind as was what my friends reluctantly told me
about my possession while fighting Fibrizo. It was a risk, more for me than
the world since it would be destroyed anyway. ?May the creator have mercy
with me?? I whispered and held up the bow, invoking the power of light.
?Darkness beyond blackest pitch, deeper than the deepest night!?
Valgaarv/Dark Star actually hesitated as the blinding vortex of chaos power
began to swirl around me. The arrowhead began absorbing the power and
turning into nothingness. ?Lord of Darkness, shining like gold upon the Sea
of Chaos, I call upon thee, swear myself to thee!? Now the Demon actually
recoiled from the power and Valgaarv stared down with wide eyes at the scene
beneath him. ?Let the fools who stand before us be destroyed by the power
you and I possess!? Valgaarv had began frantically unleashing magic at me
but it was no use, the chaos storm around me simply absorbed the energy and
added it to mine. I had to fight very hard for control, the urge to simply
let the power free reign almost to great to withstand. I felt the primal
call of destruction, to do what Valgaarv attempted himself. But that would
not be, this time I would not falter. For the sake of the world and
especially for Amelia, I would pull this off.
?You can?t be serious! Stop this, that is madness! Do you want to end ALL of
creation?!?? I ignored Valgaarv?s shouts and looked back over my shoulder at
my gathered friends. There was a mixture of fear and understanding in all of
their faces. Even Gourry who I had heard yelling at me from behind was quiet
and when my gaze fell on him, he just briefly nodded at a series of unspoken
questions. I needed him to understand, I needed him to not blame himself and
I needed him to watch out for Amelia for me. And he did so.
My eyes fell once again on Amelia who was laying on the ground, glowing in a
faint golden light of healing magic. Her eyes were open and met mine with a
pleading gaze that made me always consider to just drop the magic ? which I
wasn?t sure of even being possible at this point. I think she mouthed my
name and said something else that I couldn?t understand, probably begging
for me to stop. But I couldn?t. Not now, not after what Valgaarv had done to
everyone. What he had done to HER, for her I would sacrifice my soul and the
only way to make sure she was safe most likely involved this aspect.
The realization of how deep my feelings for the young princess ran startled
me but the absolute clarity behind them, began to make sense now. I didn?t
know how or why or if it was returned but it was so simple now.
Smiling a sad smile in her direction, I faced Valgaarv once again and didn?t
bother to answer any of his pathetic demands as I concentrated all remaining
power on the talisman of light, making the arrow pulsate with chaos magic.
?GIGA SLAVE!? Closing my eyes, I let the arrow go and the enormous,
straining power leave me with the force of a sonic boom. Left drained and
empty, I failed to notice the swirling gate of white light popping into
existence the moment the Giga Slave literally impaled Dark Star/Valgaarv?

(Willow)
I heard Dawn?s screams for her sister before I actually saw the horror
happening above. Still cradling a scared and shivering Tara in my arms I
barely caught Buffy diving right into the dimensional gates, which was
opened moments before from the blood of her own sister ? The Key. My heart
threatened to burst right on the spot. What was she doing there? She couldn?
t go, she shouldn?t leave! I had just gotten Tara back but for what price.
?Darkness beyond blackest pitch, deeper than the deepest night!?
Time seemed to stop or at least slow down considerably as I watched my best
friend, my confidence, the person who made me what I am today, vanishing
into the spiraling pool of light. ?Buffy,? I rasped out staring at the sky,
waiting for the miracle to occur. There always was a miracle. Buffy wouldn?t
die, she never did, we all came through in the end. That?s how it was
supposed to be. I waited and waited? and waited? and continued waiting.
?Lord of Darkness, shining like gold upon the Sea of Chaos, I call upon
thee, swear myself to thee!?
?She?s gone, Willow,? Tara?s own sad voice whispered and the words were like
a sharp knife rammed right through my heart and soul alike, sending me into
a state of denial. ?No, no. She can?t be dead! Buffy always survives!
Always!? I cried out, shaking my head and then throwing it back and then
shouting to the heavens. ?Do you hear me? ALWAYS!? There was no answer, just
the flashing of the gateway. One time, a second time? No sign from Buffy,
the Slayer was gone. If I hadn?t been holding Tara, I surely would have
broken down by now, so I just cried tears of anguish and soul-shattering
tears, soaking Tara?s clothing wet.
?Let the fools who stand before us be destroyed by the power you and I
possess!?
There was so much I hadn?t told her, so much I still had to share with the
one person who had the most striking influence on my life. ?No?? I
whispered. ?Oh Goddess, please no?? I felt Tara?s arms around me but even
she wasn?t able to take away the pain. I had saved her from Tara, just to
lose the second ? no, the prime important person in my life. The vortex
flashed a third time and then there was a loud boom, accompanied by a shrill
cry of power and rage echoing over the deafening noise. ?GIGA SLAVE!? I
realized the low whisper I had thought to imagine had to be a spell
incantation of some sort. When something came through the portal which was
closing right behind it. At first I really believed it to be Buffy but
quickly realized to my bitter disappointment that what passed through was,
though definitely human and even female, someone different.
I could make out orange-red hair and something resembling a black cloak
through my tear-stained eyes before a shrill, cursing shriek echoed through
the night?s air, followed by a quick and desperately hoping: ?RAY WING!? For
a moment nothing seemed to happen before a faint aura of magic flickered
into existence, lowering the girl softly to the ground.
?What?? I asked lamely and helped Tara to her feet ? or was Tara helping me
up? Either way we slowly approached the girl on the ground and noticed the
others doing likewise. For a moment we stood over the form the teenage girl,
maybe slightly younger than us which did not betray the signs of maturity,
however. There was a long silence, before anyone spoke. ?What?s up with the
white hair?? Typical Xander behavior to master such situations although I
had to admit that was odd. Tara confirmed my suspicion a second later.
?Magical backlash. What-Whatever she did, it to-took a lot out of her.? I
frowned and studied the girl a bit closer, even if only for the reason to
stop my heart from jumping wildly around. ?Powerful? Black magic, I guess,
can still feel it in the air? Though the levitation or whatever was not??
Tara?s embrace tightened and Giles nodded in confirmation. I looked at him
with pleading eyes. ?What about? Buffy? Is she??? I trailed off and saw the
ex-watcher squirming under my gaze.
Finally he sighed somewhat exasperated ? he didn?t even bother to clear his
glasses! ?Willow, would you please calm down and think rationally for one
moment, you would come to a more relieving, if not really satisfying
conclusion.? As I continued to stare at him blankly and tried to wrap my
mind around whatever he wanted to tell me, Giles sighed yet again. ?Think,
Willow, we all saw the girl come out of the vortex and we know The Key opens
a gate to all dimensions. Normally I would share your fear that Buffy left
us but my guess is that somehow the dimension the young lady here came from,
is connected to ours, probably during similar important events and brought
the girl here. Which would mean that Buffy??
?Is in the other dimension? I had this figured out already. Why do you tell
us something that ob?? Anya stopped in mid-sentence, when she received a
group glare. I looked back at Giles, my hope rising already. ?You think she?
s alive?? I asked meekly. ?Quite so. We just need to figure out where she is
and how we get her back.? I doubted the simplicity of this course of action
but let myself relax into my lovers arms. Giles was right. I was an idiot
for not thinking rationally.
?Easy, Will, it?s normal to react like that, especially after what you?ve
gone through,? Tara reassured me. I didn?t answer but simply closed my eyes,
relishing in the feeling of my once again sane girlfriend?s arms. I noticed
Spike leading a distraught though equally confused and hopeful Dawn down the
tower, while Xander picked up the unconscious girl, for once not receiving a
jealous look or any comment from Anya. ?Let?s go home.?
I looked back at the power, where we had minutes ago fought our probably
hardest and worst battle ever and nodded silently. Buffy might be gone, but
she was not dead. Now that I could think logically again, I simply knew it
with a surprising clarity. If Buffy was to be dead, I would have felt it.
She was alright, somewhere.

Chapter 1: Partings and Arrivals ? An Unexpected Twist

(Buffy)
I wished I had more time. Somehow I wished I had more time. I had felt it
coming from the day onward that Dracula showed me parts of my own nature ?
though I still didn?t believe they were rooted in darkness ? I had seen it
coming. When the true nature of Glory was revealed to me by Travers and we
went out to get Dawn back? I had known for sure that I would not survive
this battle.
As the white light of the dimensional vortex engulfed me, I thought that it
might be better that way. I was tired, tired to endure this again and again.
There was much a Slayer could master, much one could overcome and I never
considered myself a quitter because I always wanted to see Willow and my
friends safe ? and I was the best and only way to ensure that. However,
there is only a certain amount of pressure and despair even I can take. Over
the course of the year my life had gone to pieces in an unyielding downward
spiral. Taking responsibility for a sister that never really existed,
dealing with Willow?s relationship with Tara, dealing with Riley and his
departure, dealing with Mom?s death? almost losing Dawn. That had been the
final straw and if the incredible redhead hadn?t intertwined I would
probably never even mastered the courage and sanity to save my sister and do
my duty ? one last time.
They were all right now. A new slayer would be called or Faith released ?
and I had at least a bit hope for her, Willow was becoming more powerful and
could keep the others save for awhile, Spike would be there too, bound to
his promise. Dawn could try and live a normal life. And Willow, Willow had
her Tara back, what was I to compete with that. She had gone to such great
lengths and risks to restore her mind, I could not even begin to think of a
way to fit into this. Willow was happy, that was all that counted. My
mission here was over, my time had come, I could finally rest? Huh?
I caught sight of something passing by in the opposite direction and for a
moment managed to identify a petite redhead, younger than me in a fancy
garb. She was screaming audible. I wondered what exactly was going on but
the girl had already vanished from my sight and we continued onward in the
direction the other one had come from. Suddenly the exact meaning of where I
was at the moment came to mind and I had the sudden urge to shake my head in
dismay. ?They don?t even let you die when you want?? I sighed and closed my
eyes, bracing for impact, as a brighter swirling vortex appeared before me,
similar to the one I had just jumped through.
There was a flash that blinded me even through closed eyes and then I felt
the familiar sensations of elemental forces upon my skin. Mainly wind but I
was sure the earth was not very far by. Reacting on instinct I forced my
body into a roll and with a wince and the not very reassuring noise of
protesting bones, I somehow managed to land on my own two feet. Only to
wobble slightly as I pried my eyes open to take in my surroundings and
landing on my butt. ?Ouch.? Graceful, Summers, very impressive!
I groaned and rubbed my eyes. What I saw didn?t betray my first conclusion I
had made instinctively while entering this other? dimension, I assumed. The
air was thick and smelled like a lot of energy had been used here recently.
Powerful energy, probably magic and more. The sky was just beginning to
clear from heavy, dark clouds and all around me there was? nothing. Well,
almost nothing except for the several miles wide crater which made the
impression, as if dozens of nuclear explosion had tried to flatten the area.
But there was no feeling of radioactivity in the air and everything seemed
to be fine now. Nothing dangerous, no sense of impending doom.
I stood up groggily and for the first time noticed several figures close by
scattered around the ground. Two males, one with strange blue-gray skin and
two females, one other almost appeared to be some sort of demon but I couldn
?t be sure and would not make hasty judgment. Walking over to them, I
observed that no one seemed to be badly hurt or conscious for that matter,
except for the two girls. One was gripping the other?s hand tightly and a
dim golden lightly slowly faded away, her blonde hair pale and eyes closed
in exhaustion. The dark-haired girl next to her seemed to be awake although
in a state of shock, as much as I could tell.
I approached them slowly, making sure not to appear dangerous as I knelt
down to slowly pry the blondes hand away from the shivering girl. ?Are you
alright?? I asked cautiously, wondering again how the heck I always got
myself into such situations. The girl seemed to not hear me at first, before
she blinked and tried to focus on me. ?Li..Lina, is that you??? Her voice
was weak but laced with such a powerful desperation I flinched. She was
obviously still in shock. Something told me she wasn?t talking about her
friend next to her. When I remembered the other girl in the gateway?
?I?m afraid not,? I said, squeezing her hand that had grabbed mine, as if it
was a lifeline. Her strength faltered and I was sure, if I didn?t talk
quickly, I might lose her. ?She wouldn?t happen to have light red hair, some
fancy robe in black and??
?You saw her? Who are you? Where is she? Is she okay?? I almost fell back at
the fury of the question the suddenly quite active girl launched at me and I
stared up at the seemingly helpless girl standing threateningly over me,
demanding immediate answers. How did she do that? Ah, well, better answer
quickly. I gathered my thoughts that were still a bit foggy from the
near-death experience. ?I cannot guarantee you anything but if the fact that
I?m here, there this Lina is, if she is who I think you are talking about,
when she probably is now in the dimension I just came from?? Ack, I was
babbling like Willow now but the sight of the frantic girl in front of me
reminded me to much of my best friend at the moment. The girl swayed
slightly and then collapsed back against the stone she had previously been
leaning on. ?Oh?? After a long pause there none of us moved, she elaborated
that last remark a bit more clearly. ?Do you think she?s all right?? I
briefly considered telling her that I had entered the vortex parallel to a
several feet high tower and that it would be most likely that the fall would
not be a light one but decided against it, when I saw the hopeful expression
in the girl?s face. ?I?m here, aren?t I??

(Amelia)
Lina? gone? Gone? Lina? That was the only coherent thought for a long time
steadily repeating itself in my mind until the blonde girl who appeared out
of nowhere had gotten my attention. Why did it hurt so much? Okay, Lina was
a friend, a good friend that is, and she was very special to me, to any of
us. It was normal to feel sad. But why did it hurt so much inside, why had I
acted like a complete idiot in front of the strange girl who obviously had
no idea where she was or what happened anyway? Was it because I felt guilty?
That might be. After all Lina had only be pressed to cast the Giga Slave
when our cycle was broken. I should have had the presence of mind to at
least once fulfill a responsible task but no, I had to stupidly stand there
and let the blast smash me almost into oblivion, if not for Filia?s help.
Something had gone horribly wrong and I felt responsible for it, for Lina?s?
whatever happened to her. Yeah, I guess that is it. So, why is there still
this nagging sense that I am missing something here?
I shrugged the thought off for the moment and surveyed the area around us?
Which had nothing to observe other than the unconscious state of my friends
and the missing presence of Xellos although you could never be sure about
him. Filia was leaning on the same stone as me and looked almost deathly
pale from the strain the recovery spell had put her through. Poor girl, she
spent probably all of her energy. Although I felt the urge to return the
favor at least a bit ? especially since I was fully restored and healthy ?,
I knew that these dragons could recover in the blink of an eye.
Slowly I looked back at the blonde girl who returned the gaze with equal
caution and I was a bit taken aback by her solemn expression, sagged
shoulders, averted eyes? Overall she made the impression, as if she just
escaped a close encounter with death ? which was not at all unfamiliar to me
at the moment ? but actually was sad and frustrated that she was still
living. I had always been a bit empathic, I guess, and this hopeless look
she gave to the world in general sent a shiver down my spine. It reminded
too much of Valgaarv at the moment.
?So,? I said after a time, ignoring her previous attempt at lightening my
mood, ?what?s your name??
?Buffy. Buffy Summers. Yours?? the blonde replied. ?Amelia Wil Tesla
Saillune.? Buffy arched an eyebrow. ?Royalty?? I nodded slightly.
?Princess.? Buffy nodded and after that silence reigned for another few
moments before I tried to break it again, not wanting to fell into the
process of thinking about Lina again. ?And you?? The blonde looked at me
quizzically before I further clarified. ?What do you do? besides coming out
of giant portals that pop into the middle of our personal Armageddon.? Now I
was being sarcastic but that was better than dealing with thoughts about
Lina? ?Oh?? Buffy said, was quiet for a moment, then said: ?Just a girl who
more or less deliberately tries to fight the forces of evil, namely
vampires, demons etc??
My eyes gleamed at that. There was something I could identify myself with
that. A fellow hero serving justice. ?That?s great!? I exclaimed but became
worried when Buffy just stared at me, as if I was totally missing the point?
Was I missing the point? She shook her head after awhile. ?Try it and tell
me two years later, if you still think it?s great.? The sarcasm dripping
from her voice made me shudder and remind me of that life- and hopeless look
I had witnessed before. Immediately I mentally slapped myself for my
childish behavior and need to change the subject. This fellow heroine had
obviously some hard times behind her and sometimes during Valgaarv?s speech
about the pointlessness of our existence, I had felt like agreeing with him
on some level.
Glancing around I judged by experience that the others would be out of it
for at least half an hour from the exhaustion and the backlash of the Giga
Slave that had almost scattered us in all directions, again. There was no
use waking them and getting them somewhere more comfortable and suited for
resting since none of us would be able to cast a single spell ? whether
levitation or a Ray Wing ? and Filia would not be able to carry us all after
focusing all her power on snatching me from the threshold of death. Coming
to the realization that there would be nothing that I could do for now, I
relaxed against the stone and sent a softer look in Buffy?s direction. ?Want
to talk about it?? She shrugged nonchalantly. ?Why not??
For the next fifteen to thirty minutes we exchanged basically our life
stories up to this point. Ok, not that detailed but I managed to slowly draw
the other girl out of her shell and learning in the process about her
calling as the Slayer and a general idea of the trials she had to go
through. I think she avoided some key points but that was alright with me.
After listening for a while and especially about the last year and her fight
with a Goddess, I really wasn?t all that sure, if I wanted to trade. No, I
was certain I didn?t want to.
I, in turn, explained what we were doing and what our latest adventure was
all about. Summing all facts up we came to a basic conclusion that Buffy
seemed to have already made with the knowledge of The Key?s function.
Somehow the Giga Slave and the brief opening in dimensions had interfered
with each other and caused the reaction of not just simply killing both Lina
and Buffy at their individual tasks of saving all of creation but instead
swapping them in the dimension of the other.
By that time the others slowly began regaining consciousness.

(Lina)
A low moan escaped my lips as the world around me slowly rearranged itself.
My body felt drained beyond anything I?ve ever felt before, my magical
reserves were just beginning to refill and I had no idea how long I had been
out of it. Out of it. Well, there was a thought to consider because the
question still dwelled on me, if I was still alive or dead as I had assumed.
My vision was still a bit blurry but I could make out that I was in a bed,
in an unfamiliar room that definitely wasn?t an inn or anything similar,
that I could tell from experience. I groaned. ?If that is another play to
make fun of me, I?m going to kill the others.?
I sat up and nodded that my usual clothing was not there, instead I wore a
simple pajama ? gah, girl?s clothes. Discarding the subject for the moment,
I tested, if I could stand up and found out to my mutual surprise that
though I was still magically weak, my body seemed to be well-rested. ?Guess
I slept awhile.? Looking out of the window, I noted wherever I was, it was
probably late afternoon and the sun was already rather low. The whole
atmosphere of this place was a bit off too and I could not quite determine
what exactly felt so different.
I decided that mulling over the subject right now was not likely to gain me
any further wisdom about this place. So I walked over to the door and out
into a dimly-lit hallway. Voices could be heard from downstairs and I
followed them, curiously descending the stairs. I reached a larger room and
paused at the door to scan over the assembled group. They all seemed
ordinary human but even with my reduced magical senses, the remaining were
clearly picking different signs and potential levels from all them.
There was the dark-haired, younger girl who ignited a feeling in me,
reminding me of my brief experience of falling down a long white tunnel? Had
that really happened? Then there was the stoic, older man with glasses who
gleamed not only with authority but also with a hidden familiarity with
black magic. One of the obvious couples didn?t seem that extraordinary ?
though still potential ? but the girl had a similar aura as Xellos. The two
girls, sitting in the large couch, cuddled together struck me the most. The
blonde had such a pureness around her, it reminded of Sylphiel. She was
strong and obviously a mage at least on the same level as Amelia currently
was. The petite redhead however nearly sent me tumbling and my senses
screaming. I consider myself highly powerful but this girl had such a raw
power under her skin it certainly matched, if not even surpassed mine. But
she had just began to tap into her potential and there was the brief taint
that black magic usually caused, if used blind and without caution. She
needed training, I immediately decided, although I had no idea why I should
care.
As my gaze lingered on her, the redhead slowly turned her head in my
direction, probably sensing my presence. ?Oh, you?re awake. Why don?t you
sit down and we talk.? The others looked up and around also. Whoever these
people were, for some strange reason I felt, as if I could trust them. At
least I could trust the redhead although if you asked me, I could not tell
you why.
Introductions were made after that and I came to quickly confirm their
theory of a dimensional exchange of that Buffy-person and me. Though I
uttered the idea that the exchange might have only been ?world?-wise and
that I merely landed in another of the three worlds? most likely not Ames?.
That, however, needed as I expected some explanation and made me wonder, if
their dimensional theory wasn?t the better one, considering how less they
knew over the Sea of Chaos and the very fabric of creation.
?Ok, time out here. You?re trying to tell us that all of creation rest upon
a sea? And we are just one part of it?? interrupted Xander my explanations.
I gave an annoyed sigh and repeated once again. ?Yes, Xander, the worlds
resides upon The Sea of Chaos. There are four worlds, all of them with the
basic principle of one God and one Demon Lord fighting for domination. In my
world these were Cepheid and Ruby Eye Shabranigdu who were both split into
parts through ancient battles. I think it is possible that your world might
also be one of the other two worlds we haven?t learned about but it doesn?t
have to be that way.?
?Well, what you say sounds like the basic struggle between Good and Evil,
but I don?t see the Slayer, Vampires and anything fit into this. And I
certainly didn?t encounter a dragon yet,? reasoned Tara calmly. To this Anya
suddenly spoke up. ?Oh, I saw some, but that was a few centuries ago.? His
boyfriend gave her an raised eyebrow but shrugged then. I eyed her
curiously. She might be a demon, once, but didn?t seem to be very
frightening.
Willow suddenly looked out of the window and nervously glanced outside.
?Will?? asked Tara softly with a hand on her girlfriend?s shoulder. ?Shouldn
?t someone patrol?? Giles nodded to that. ?Yes, quite. You?re still to
exhausted though. I think, Xander, Anya and I should go. We go fetch Spike
and make a quick sweep.? That got my curiosity doubled. ?Hey, that?s
something I would like to see.? Everyone stared at me disbelievingly. ?Hey,
I already told you I am a Master Mage. Vampires would surely be something
different from the usual Mazoku.?

(Giles)
?DYNAST BRASS!?
I must say, I have never been impressed like that in my whole life ? with
the exception of Buffy probably. The vampires howled in pain, as they were
engulfed in a glowing pentagram and literally impaled by lightning. The
skill and ease with which the girl handled such powerful magic that had
nothing to do with anything I ever did in my youth was impressive and at the
same time overly frightening. We had been on patrol for all but fifteen
minutes now and Lina Inverse had single-handily ? much to Spike?s
annyonance ? ripped through every undead creature we had come across.
Especially her fire magic proved to be awfully useful in reducing the forces
of evil tonight. That was the fourth graveyard by now and the numbers had
greatly decreased, apparently word had gotten around about the new ?slayer?.
?So, how was that?? Lina asked turning away from the ashes left behind from
her latest spell, She grinned and glanced in my direction but I noticed her
gaze was mostly directed at Tara and Willow, who she had insisted should
come along. Both of them had simply stood back and watched in awe at Lina?s
quick work. If anyone ever asked for a worthy substitution for the Slayer,
here she stood? ?Well, yes?? I cleared my throat, trying to get my nerves
back together. ?That was quite? impressive,? I replied eyeing the girl
critically.
?Impressive? Giles, come on, that was the quickest disposal of surely over a
dozens vamps ? not to include the two demons ? that I have ever seen!?
commented Xander, Anya quietly nodded, Willow and Tara just continued
staring. I sighed deeply. As much as their enthusiasm was justified,
everything concerning black magic gave me ? as the teens would say ? the
wiggins. That was partly rooted in my Ripper days as much as personal
experience over my days as a Watcher. ?Indeed, Xander, very impressive. But
I suggest we??
I was interrupted from a low growl and we all whirled around to face a
massive-built demon that radiated more power than everything we had
encountered tonight together. A typical chaos demon. What is with this town?
I thought bitterly to myself as I readied myself for battle. It almost
seems, as if word that Buffy?s not here anymore spread like a wildfire.
Gripping my battle axe tighter, I advised calmly to the rest: ?Be careful.
Don?t take it lightly??
As always tonight my advice was taken by everyone but Lina. The mage rushed
forward and immediately unleashed a fury of fire arrows at the demon. This
time, however, she was taken by surprise as the demon rushed right through
her assault and rammed its head into her chest. Spike, Xander and I moved
forward to intercept the creature but were stopped as it simply stood there
and laughed. ?That is your pitiful attempt of a Slayer replacement, mortals?
Then I heard the news from our master that the Slayer is gone but a new
force replaced her, I must say I was interested. But what do I find? An
unattractive witch with a few fancy spells that cannot even handle herself
in real combat? That?s a waste of my time!?
Xander groaned at the arrogance of the demon. ?You shouldn?t go around
making judgments over little girls with a flat chest?? A low hiss
interrupted him and we all turned around to see Lina already back on her
feet and if I didn?t know any better I would say there was actually fire
surrounding her. Her eyes were merely slits and the expression? I will not
go there. ?Who? Are? You? Calling? Unattractive? A waste of your time, huh?
Well, I show you who really is the waste of time here!? Lina stood there, as
if to consider for a moment, then closed her eyes and the three talismans I
noticed before started to glow. ?Lord of the Darkness and the Four Worlds, I
call upon you, grant me all the power that you possess! Lord of the Darkness
and Four Worlds, I beseech thy fragments; by all of the power thou
possesseth, grant the heavens' wrath to my hand; unleash the sword of dark,
freezing nothingness; by our power, our combined might, let us walk as one
along the path of destruction: LAGUNA BLADE!?
I gasped as the crackling sword of pure blackness manifested in Lina?s hand
and I saw Tara and Willow taking two steps back immediately. The amount of
power was unbelievable. That was not just simple black magic, THAT was pure
chaos! Power directly from the source of all existence, from the nothingness
that was before creation. To use Lina?s own explanations, she was drawing
the sword from the Sea of Chaos. That was almost an unbelievable thought. I
had come across many wielders of magic in my life, I have read about even
more. But this girl, not more than eighteen, would put every so-called
master mage to shame.
The demon did not have time to react, as Lina rushed forward again, swinging
the Laguna Blade with experience and ease. A loud scream echoed over the
graveyard and I was sure every creature of the night heard it, as the Chaos
Demon was simply ripped apart and out of existence. Something even a Slayer
would have trouble doing.
Breathing hard Lina let the blade fade away and turned a tired but confident
look in Xander?s direction. ?Now what did you want to say?? Xander swallowed
hard and Anya didn?t look any better. ?No..nothing,? was all he managed to
stutter out and I couldn?t blame him. At the moment I truly didn?t trust my
own legs.


Notes up to now
Well, I?m sorry for any Xellos fans. I realize his quick disposal was a bit
rude, yet it had to be done. It is NOT some sort of personal vengeance
thing. Spell incarnations and additional information not provided in the
Anime are from www.inverse.org (Slayers Universe). That?s all for now.

Ja ne, yours

Matthias