Chapter Text
Supernatural Dimension: Outskirts of Texas
On a dark, humid night, Sam and Dean were traveling down a long stretch of Texas highway heading toward Louisiana. Dean had read a newspaper in Emporia, Kansas about an incident at a wildlife park near Winnfield. Several bodies had been found with strange bite marks and were completely drained of blood. The victims had been found in an isolated spot in the woods when a couple of wildlife rangers were searching for the missing persons. The boys were concerned it was the work of vampires.
Inside the Impala, Sam sat in the passenger seat, asleep, with his head laying on the headrest. 'Carry On My Wayward Son' played softly on the radio as Dean wearily drove on through the night. It had only been a few days since they left behind Lawrence, Kansas and the cage of Lucifer and Michael.
Dean wore a black long-sleeved, button-up jacket over a long-sleeve olive colored shirt with a gray t-shirt underneath. His attire was rounded off by navy-blue jeans and brown boots. He was determined to get to their destination by morning but he found that he was losing his battle with sleep as his eyes slowly came to a close. Shaking himself awake, Dean reached for the cup of coffee sitting between his legs.
As he brought the drink to his mouth, he realized the cup was empty. Crumpling the paper container in a single motion, he flung the remains in a burger bag sitting next to him. Dean cleared his throat with a sharp grunt before rapidly rubbing his hand across his face to shake off the sleepiness. He took a quick look over at Sam who was still soundly asleep. In the darkness Dean could see Sam was still wearing the blue and white plaid shirt with gray jeans he had been wearing two nights before. They had not stopped driving since then. Upon returning his gaze back to the road, Dean let out an unyielding yawn that signified he was losing his waging war with exhaustion.
A sign a few miles ahead all but sealed his defeat as a cheap motel proudly proclaimed it had vacancies and comfy beds. After pulling off , paying for the room, and parking the Impala, Dean shook Sam to wake him up.
"Hey Sammy. Wake up. Time for bed", Dean said as he exited the car slamming the door behind him.
The noise caused Sam to jolt awake.
"Huh... What?", Sam said in a confused, sleepy tone.
Rubbing his eyes, Sam finally realized where they were. He gathered up his laptop and proceeded to follow Dean into a motel for what seemed like the millionth time. Looking around the area, Sam had an odd feeling come over him but he shook it off as being just sleepiness.
After securing the premises, closing the drapes, and changing the sheets, Sam and Dean settled in for a well deserved rest. They were still shielded from angels thanks to the Enochian sigils burned into their bones and hex bags clouded them from demons. They were completely off the radar.
A few hours into their sleep, Sam was awoken by the sound of a male voice speaking softly in their room. Rising from the bed in silent but steady motion, Sam looked around in the darkness trying to see any sign of an intruder. The bright orange glow of the streetlight outside was muted by the curtains creating a near pitch black atmosphere. Sam stood up from the bed revealing his only article of clothing was a pair of tight boxers.
He could see the crummy motel paintings still glaring at him in the darkness and the screen of the 13-inch TV casting a hazy orange glow from cracks in the sides of the curtains. Sam's muscles tightened and rippled as he slowly scanned every inch of the room. The only other furniture was the two beds they were sleeping in, a small chair in the corner, and a table with no chairs.
Sam slowed his breathing to long, deep intakes in order to maximize his hearing. Walking cautiously toward the table, his chest gradually heaved outward and back with each breath causing his muscles to swell and shrink. Sam grabbed the white shirt he had laid on the table and slid it quickly over his head, though it did little to contain his bulky frame.
Near the door, Sam had placed a handgun inside a decorative pot. Upon retrieving the weapon, Sam reached for the door knob to peer outside. Just as his hand grasped the knob, a shadow from under the door moved away. With a blur of motion, Sam threw open the door and pointed his gun. To his surprise, nothing awaited on the other side of the door. The only thing Sam found was the piercing orange streetlight and the Impala.
Concerned that there was something more sinister happening, he stepped back inside to wake up Dean. Just as he stepped through the doorway and secured the locks, Sam felt a presence standing behind him. Whipping around with his weapon drawn, Sam was met with a horrifying sight. Their dead father, John Winchester, was standing near the table, smiling back at Sam.
"Hello, Sammy boy. Did you miss me?", he asked just before his eyes turned yellow revealing that he was actually Azazel.
"DEAN!", Sam yelled with an urgent, deep tone keeping his gun on John.
Dean, still in his clothes from earlier, awoke and grabbed the handgun under his pillow with a precision he had gained through numerous surprise encounters. He was on his feet and pointing his gun at his father within seconds of Sam's distress call.
"Who the fuck are you?", Dean growled with impatience.
While still facing diagonally toward Sam, John turned his head slightly to see Dean from the corner of his yellow eyes. The smile on his face widened.
"Now is that anyway to greet your father?", John said with a chuckle, "I seem to recall raising you better?"
Dean fired a single shot through John's skull. The bullet passed right through his head without leaving any marks and struck the wall behind him. Both Dean and Sam looked at each other with concern. To their knowledge, the only thing that was capable of that feat were ghosts; however, spirits could not shape-shift nor was John displaying any other ghostly attributes.
"You're not our father and you're sure as hell not Azazel cause I ganked him myself with the Colt", Dean angrily proclaimed as he held his gun toward the entity, "so who or what are you?"
The entity, still posing as John with Azazel's eyes, turned completely around to face Dean. It's smile faded and was replaced by a threatening scowl.
"You really should watch that insolent tone, little boy", the entity said while staring down Dean, "I'm not some monster you can hunt down and gank. I'm beyond your comprehension. Lucifer. Michael. They're just insects. I'm the big bad now. Hell, I'm evil itself. The First Evil. I will unleash unimaginable horrors upon this world and bath in-"
"Okay", Dean shouted, "We get it! You're evil!"
The First shot Dean a smirk. "You boys don't know what kind of shit-storm I've got planned for you yet but don't worry, Daddy will reveal all in time." John turned around to face Sam before unleashing a long crooked grin. "You boys get some rest now. You're gonna need it", John said before disappearing in flash of light.
Sam and Dean scanned around the room with their guns still drawn. After an intense minute of searching, the brothers brought their weapons to a rest. Dean stared at the hole in the wall where the bullet hit. Both brothers were shaking slightly from the encounter. Despite all they had been through, the First had instilled a feeling of dread that they had never felt before. Sam stared at Dean with a stern, inquisitive look.
Sam opened his mouth to speak- "Get your shit, Sam", Dean interrupted with a shaky aggression, "it's time to go."
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Dimension: London, England
On a dull, red double-decker bus heading toward the outskirts of London, Buffy sat on an old, worn out seat towards the back of the bus. Doing her best to remain inconspicuous, she wore dark gray sweatpants and a matching hoodie. She yearned for a blouse and some jeans, but living on the lam requires you to make big sacrifices. Thinking of her attire, Buffy giggled at the memory of Giles warning her to call her pants 'trousers' while in London as the word 'pants' was often used as a euphemism for underwear. While Buffy was lost in thought, the bus came to a stop in order to pick up more passengers.
As if conjured up by her memories, Giles stepped casually onto the bus. Upon paying the toll, Giles strode calmly toward the back of the bus. Giles was wearing a light gray business suit with a matching vest, a white dress shirt underneath, a navy blue tie, and a dark gray bowler hat on top. As Giles approached Buffy, he looked around the bus as if he were trying to find an empty seat. The entire bus was empty.
Giles then walked directly up to Buffy, "Ello, miss", he said in a south east English accent, "mind'f I sit 'ere?" Buffy almost couldn't contain herself.
To her, Giles sounded like he was doing an offbeat impression of Spike.
"Seats all yours, governor", Buffy retorted in a bubbly but sarcastic tone.
Giles sat down quickly and shot Buffy a stern look. Buffy knew that look. That 'annoyed' look.
"Buffy, I don't think you grasp the severity of this situation", Giles whispered in his normal accent, "all of the nation's governments think we are terrorists for what happened in Sunnydale and incidents are being reported around the world of girls exhibiting supernatural strength. We must keep a low profile."
Buffy took a long, deep breath. She had beaten back the First and its army of Turok-Han. A triumphant moment indeed; however, it had left her home destroyed and the existence of the slayers revealed to the world. She had accomplished what she had set out to do. She created a world she could "fit" into by turning others into what she was, a Slayer, but rather than being able to embrace it, she had to hide from it. Giles tried organizing the new Slayers into an army but this only caused alarms to go off in the minds of government officials.
After a raid on Giles' home in London, the Scooby Gang fled and separated only to effectively disappear into their underground lives. The only reason Buffy was even remotely close to London again was to visit an old friend. Giles and Buffy were sent a telepathic message from Willow instructing them to come to the coven of witches that had helped Willow regain control over her magic. Just as Buffy began to drift off into her memories again, she heard a muffled voice pulling her back to the real world.
"Buffy?", Giles asked with impatience, "have you heard a word I've said?"
Buffy stared blankly at Giles before responding with "Huh?"
"I said, it is too dangerous to be in London right now", Giles whispered in a stern tone, "what was so important that you would risk your life and mine?"
Buffy reached into the backpack sitting next to her and presented Giles with the Slayer Handbook. The old text writing of 'Vampyr' glared up at them like a beacon of light in the dark.
"I had to Giles", Buffy proclaimed in a nostalgic tone, "I couldn't get to it during the raid. Lucky for me, Willow kept it in a magically-inclined cabinet that the military guys didn't even know was there."
Giles looked at Buffy with a fatherly sense of pride. Although she had turned her back on the Watcher's council long before it's decimation, he was glad to see she still embraced her responsibility as the Chosen one. Slightly embarrassed and glad Buffy didn't notice his parental gaze, Giles took off his glasses to clean them.
"I just wish I could have saved the scythe", Buffy said sorrowfully while still looking at the handbook.
Giles let a smirk creep across his face before putting his glasses back on.
"I wouldn't worry, Buffy", Giles said confidently, "Willow assured me it's safe."
Buffy shot Giles a concerned look.
"But, those military guys...they took it", Buffy said with a sense of urgency," I hardly call that safe."
Giles reached over and rested his hand on Buffy's shoulder.
"Willow was able to apport the scythe while it was still in transit", Giles said in a soft, assuring tone," In fact, she will meet us when we arrive at the coven."
Both Buffy and Giles felt the sudden force of being pulled forward as the bus came to a hard stop.
"That's it", the driver called out, "end of the line.
As Buffy and Giles exited the bus, they were met with an unexpected sight. There, leaning on an old, pasty colored station wagon, was Faith Lehane. She wore a black long-sleeved leather jacket over a black undershirt that left a small slip of skin exposed above her black leather pants. Buffy and Giles were shocked at the sight of her as the last time they saw Faith, she was being tranquilized by the military and taken away.
"Faith", Giles uttered in disbelief, "how did yo-"
"Look G", Faith interrupted, "I don't wanna get into all the nitty gritty. Let's just say the bastards should've used more juice in their tranqs."
Buffy removed her hood revealing her blonde hair that was now cut much shorter.
"Faith?", Buffy asked in a calming manner, "You didn't...um kill anyone? Did you?"
Faith let a small, attitude-filled grin signify her feelings towards that particular question.
"Nah, nothing like that", Faith replied, "Some of them are gonna carry a limp for the rest of their life but otherwise they live to tell the tale."
"How did you know that we were arriving here?", Giles inquired.
Faith looked toward Giles, but focused her gaze on his hat.
"I spoke to Willow. She sent me to pick you guys up", Faith said before letting out a taunting laugh, "but she didn't tell me how ridiculous you guys look."
Buffy and Giles both looked down at their attire.
"What's wrong with what I'm wearing", Buffy asked with a hurt tone knowing full well that she looked ridiculous.
"We are trying to remain inconspicuous during our time in London", Giles said while fidgeting with his coat and vest.
"Yeah I got that", Faith responded with a snicker, "B looks like she's miss-teenage-runaway and Giles, I have to admit, except for the stupid derby, you look like you always do just in a lighter suit."
After a moment of realization at just how absurd they looked, Buffy took off her jacket revealing a white undershirt while Giles tossed his hat in a nearby trash can.
"Well let's be on our way then", Giles stated with a defeated tone of urgency.
Inside the station wagon, Buffy sat in the back seat while Giles rode shotgun giving Faith a chance to flex her driving prowess with a British vehicle. She was still getting used to having to sit in the 'passenger' seat to operate the vehicle as well as driving on the opposite side of the road.
"FAITH! You're on the wrong side!", Giles shouted as a large, green hay truck came around a corner.
Faith swerved just in time to avoid it; careening around the truck, off into the ditch and back onto the road again.
"I swear", Giles uttered with a sigh of relief, "you girls will be the death of me."
"Don't worry, G", Faith replied in a confident manner, "I'm still a better driver than Buffy."
"Hey!", Buffy yelled out from the backseat.
"So ,G?", Faith asked in a more serious tone, "how do we know it'll be safe from the military guys at this convent?"
"Well firstly it's a coven", Giles replied as he kept his eyes on the road, "and secondly, didn't you say that Willow spoke to you in person?"
Faith looked annoyed at the given question as she responded, "Well it was less of a face-to-face meeting and more of a voice-in-my-head-from-outta-nowhere kinda meeting."
Giles gave a look of 'I know that feeling'.
"Anyway, she basically tapped the mic and asked me for a favor", Faith continued, "she told me where to get a car and when to pick you up. She even dropped a map of this area in my skull. Its kinda unsettling to be completely lost and still know exactly where you're going, ya know?"
"Quite", Giles replied, "To answer your question, the coven is a very old and powerful order. The coven's grounds are protected by an ancient magic spell that clouds their location by shifting its very foundation into a dimensional pocket where it effectively conceals the coven from all forms of surveillance, including magical and modern means."
Faith nodded in understanding before replying, "So, hide-and-seek? Big bro will be everywhere lookin' for little sis and she's not even in the house anymore."
Giles looked a bit taken back by the comment and how simplistically it explained their situation.
"I see you haven't lost your knack for boiling down all my commentaries to their most bluntest form", Giles responded in an annoyed tone.
The station wagon puttered down a long stretch of road before Faith confidently strode off their beaten path into the shrubbery. After bumping around in the tall grass, the car was now traveling down a long forgotten dirt road. There was no sign to indicate its presence and those who did not know of its existence would not be able to see it from the road. Willows implanted knowledge was operating at full capacity and worked even better than any GPS device ever could as it accounted for bumps in the road and unexpected animal life as well. Faith suddenly swerved several moments before a deer came bounding out of the woods in their path. Giles and Buffy shot each other a quick look as they both kept their eyes on Faith.
"What?", Faith inquired with a look of annoyance toward Giles, "Haven't you been here before?"
Giles looked back toward the road. "The only dealings I have had with the coven took place at my home", Giles replied as his eyes widened at the sight ahead.
The car was heading straight for a large, ancient oak tree.
"Woah, Faith?", Buffy exclaimed, "Stop. We need to STOP!!"
In the midst of the screaming coming from Buffy and Giles, the ground gave way underneath the tree just before impact. The ground flipped until they were right-side up again. The trio and the car were now in a strange, nighttime place with a strange purple glow streaking across the sky and twinkling lights that appeared to be distant stars. The grass around them was now lavender and covered in what appeared to be glitter.
"Okay. We're here", Faith exclaimed while staring wide eyed ahead.
Buffy and Giles both had a dumbfounded expression as they were still reeling from the ground flipping.
The path in front of them led to an old ramshackle house with small portal windows on either side of a large wooden door. Large green vines covered the sides of the hut creating a barrier that encased it. Tiny strands of blue light emitted from the vines giving the hut an almost glowing aura.
"Buffy", Giles said in an urgent tone, "before we go any further, I must warn you. Adaajah, the witch who controls this coven, cares deeply for Willow and it was only because of her abuse of magic after Tara passed that they even intervened in the first place. They have a great disdain for me, as a former Watcher, and an even greater disdain for the Slayer line. Adaajah is an extraordinarily powerful being and it would be in all our best interests if you....both of you, were on your best behavior."
Buffy shot Giles a look of confusion.
"Why does she hate Slayers?", Buffy asked as if offended by the notion.
"Yeah, what did we do except save the world and send Big Bad packing like a million times", Faith said with anger seeping through her words.
Giles took off his glasses to clean them as he stated, "Well, it's the demon lineage of the Slayer line that Adaajah protests, rather than the individual girl. Perhaps it would be best if only I went in first and you..."
"No", Buffy uttered with such resolution, "I'm not going to hide just because some witchy demon-hater has her panties in a bunch. We all go in together or we don't go at all."
Ahead on the path, light poured from the windows casting long beams across the car. The wooden door of the hut was thrust open as Willow stepped through the doorway. She gave them a spastic wave of 'hello' before enthusiastically motioning for them to come inside.
"Are we together on this?", Buffy said as she waved back at Willow. "Um...y-y-yes..yes of course", Giles stuttered as he had become embarrassed by his remark as he felt it insinuated that Buffy could not handled the situation.
"Alright then", Faith said as she opened the door of the station wagon, "Let's go before Red has a meltdown." After gathering their bearings and belongings, Buffy, Faith, and Giles left the car and began walking toward their old friend.
"It's pretty here, huh Buff?" , Willow said with uncontained excitement, "And the topsy-turvy ride is fun too."
Buffy did her best to contain her head from spinning.
"Sure, Will", Buffy responded in a unenthusiastic manner, "It's just like a roller-coaster."
Buffy walked into the house first, followed by Faith.
Giles turned to glance at the car and saw that it had vanished. With wide eyes, Giles gave Willow an inquisitive look.
"Oh! It's okay, Giles", Willow said with a wide smile, "Faith kind of "borrowed" the car so I just put it back. I even replaced the gas."
Giles adjusted his glasses and smiled, "I see you have become rather apt in the apportion department. I am very proud of the work you have accomplished these last couple of years."
Willow jumped up to give Giles a big hug, "Aww. Giles, you're so sweet. But I couldn't have done it if you had not introduced me to these people. Especially Adaajah."
"Well in all fairness", Giles replied, "The coven contacted me."
Willow let go of Giles and grabbed his hand to lead him inside.
"Either way. Thank you", Willow said as they walked inside the hut, closing the door behind them.
Inside the hut, Buffy and Faith were standing in a large room with a fire pit built into the floor and a large cauldron hanging from the ceiling. Around the room, mystic ornaments of various sizes and origins hung on the walls; however, mixed in were significantly modern items such as an iPod station and surround sound equipment. Internet wires clung to the roof while they weaved around the room to various locations often becoming obscured by the towering plants that grew out of decorative pots. The fire pit was encircled by bones that were arranged in a very intricate design. The whole place gave off a strangely pleasant vibe as waves of euphoria would often waft by like a summer breeze. Giles, having studied the arts of magic, truly understand how significantly magical this place was.
"Marvelous", Giles let out with an unbridled sigh as he drew in a deep breath. Buffy and Faith both looked over at Willow who looked like she was on her tenth cup of coffee.
Buffy did not feel the joyous waves of euphoria and after a quick look of concern, she could tell Faith couldn't feel it either.
"I don't get it", Buffy stated with a hint of disappointment, "how come we aren't riding the happy train?"
Just as she spoke those words, a door slammed from in the other side of the room.
"That is because your power lies in darkness", a soothing female voice spoke softly.
"Adaajah!", Willow exclaimed, "my friends are here."
Adaajah hovered above the ground slightly making here already tall figure look towering over everyone else. She had very pale blue skin with a shimmer that looked similar to the grass outside the house. Her long white hair was braided into almost unobtainable designs and flowed down her long gray robes.
"Willow", Adaajah said with a motherly smile, "perhaps it's time you left this room and joined the others."
Willow nodded furiously before hugging Buffy and Faith at once with a tremendous squeeze.
"I love you, guys", Willow said in almost a drunken manner, "Oh, and Giles, I love you too."
Giles, who had been staring at the wall, looked over at Willow.
"Um...Willow", Giles muttered, "perhaps I should join you as I am feeling a bit under the weather at the moment."
Giles then walked over to Willow in a slow and steady manner. Willow and Giles then proceeded to the room in which Adaajah had come from. Buffy and Faith looked at each other and then to Adaajah.
"Okay", Buffy said in a stern manner, "what's going on here?"
Adaajah gazed at Buffy with a slight look of disgust.
"Do not worry, Slayer. Willow and the former Watcher are safe. They were merely overpowered by the entrance spell. It allows us to see if there are any demons hiding amongst those who travel here. Although it can cause mild intoxication; your friends seem to be quite susceptible to it. Despite this, they have signified to us that they are worthy to enter."
"So, does that mean we are not worthy?", Buffy asked in an inquisitive manner.
"Yeah. What does all this mean for us", Faith said crossing her arms across her chest.
"It means that you are welcome here only because Willow deems it so", Adaajah said with her gaze remaining on Buffy.
"Well. It's always good to have a couple of Slayers around", Faith said nudging Buffy with her arm, "Never know when we'll come in handy."
"I see ignorance is your truest virtue", Adaajah said with an unwavering tone.
"Yo, what's with the straight up animosity?", Faith asked with a tact that only she could pull off. Adaajah looked at Faith like an insect.
"Your power is a corruption of evil", Adaajah said scornfully, "Men. Watchers. They took the very thing you sought to slay and made it apart of you. Then without regard for that power, you allowed the First Evil to take advantage of the Slayer line and unleash itself upon the world."
"I didn't asked to be brought back", Buffy said with anger welling up inside her.
"I am well aware of Willows involvement in bringing you back from death", Adaajah uttered while clasping her hands together in front of her, "but if not for your existence in the first place, none of this would have come to pass and the First would not be free to do as it pleases."
"Why do you keep bringing up the First?”, Buffy asked with a slightly concerned tone.
"Yeah", Faith interjected, "We kicked it's self-righteous ass straight back to hell, right?"
Faith looked over at Buffy for affirmation but Buffy remained focused on Adaajah.
Adaajah glided toward Buffy and Faith before descending completely to the ground in order to bring them closer to her. The Slayers looked like children next to the tall figure.
"The First Evil no longer holds claim to this realm, this is true; however, that does not stop it from interfering with other dimensions. As we speak, The First is busy making arrangements that could extinguish all life in that dimension. Your very existence has put not only your realm in danger, but all realms danger and now they are at the mercy of the First Evil."
Buffy stared up into Adaajah's black, twinkling eyes with an unwavering determination.
"You're right", Buffy said in a calm but serious tone, "me coming back to life allowed the First to go all medieval, but I am not responsible for its actions. We will help because it is what we do. It's who I am. The Slayer. You look at me and all you see is darkness? Well, let me tell you something, it takes fire to fight fire."
Buffy's fingers tightly gripped the Slayer's handbook in an attempt to reassure herself that she was indeed fighting for the side of good. Adaajah seemed mildly taken back by Buffy's comment; however, she retained her stoic composure and once again ascended into the air.
"Follow me", she uttered with a deliberate contempt as she turned around.
Buffy and Faith followed behind Adaajah as they entered into the door that Willow and Giles had gone through. Inside this room, was a small circular area with a large black kettle sitting on the floor and talismans of various sizes piled up around it. The wooden walls were adorned with many magical items and gave the whole room a very kindred appearance. Hallways on either side of the room lead deeper into the seemingly endless hut. On the other side of the kettle Giles stood with his back turned reading a piece of parchment. Willow, who appeared to be in a much more somber mood, stood next to him pointing at some of the writing on the paper, she turned around to see Buffy and Faith enter.
"Hey, Buff", Willow said in a grim tone, "Did you speak to Adaajah?"
"Yeah, Will", Buffy declared in a solemn manner, "I'm up to speed. Looks like we have to 'stand against the forces of darkness', as usual."
Willow looked over at Giles with concern written all over her face.
Giles acknowledged Willow with a nod and then turned to Buffy with a burdened look, "I am afraid this is much more dangerous than any of the quarrels you've faced in the past. I really wish we didn't have to resort to something like this but it is our only option."
"Well, spill it already", Faith said impatiently.
"As I'm sure Adaajah has made you aware, the First has left our plane and traveled into another one", Giles said as he pulled his glasses off to clean them, "We are obligated to warn it's denizens of the First's capabilities and if necessary, railroad it's plans in the process. What I'm trying to say is, we need representatives from our dimension to...to go into their realm."
Buffy looked at Willow in a way old friends do.
"Field trip?", Buffy asked.
"Field trip", Willow responded.
"Woah? You mean we're actually going to another dimension?", Faith asked as everyone gave her a look of concern, "What? I'm totally on board. I'm just sayin', its heavy, right?"
Willow took the parchment from Giles's hand and showed it to Buffy.
"Look we have a spell to get you into the realm and we also already know some guys that can help you out when you get there", Willow said with a cheerful optimism as she laid the parchment on the table. She then took a piece of folded paper from her pocket and handed it to Buffy . On the paper was a drawing of Dean and Sam plus several facts and symbols associated with their world.
"Ooo, Will", Buffy stated with an enthusiastic grin, "they're cute!"
Willow rolled her eyes and smiled.
"Well I'm not an expert on the subject or anything, but, yeah, for a couple of random guys in another realm, they are pretty knee-bendy", Willow responded with a nudge to Buffy's arm.
"Let me take a look", Faith said as she grabbed the paper, "Oh, hell yeah! I'd give that a ride."
Giles cleared his throat with a forced cough that was loud enough to catch everyone's attention.
"That is...quite enough. While you lot stand there and drool over a doodle", Giles said with a strong tone of annoyance, "the First is out there doing God-knows-what to innocent people."
Buffy took the drawing and slid it into the Slayer handbook.
"Sorry, Giles", all three girls said in unison.
"We should get everything ready", Willow said as she walked over to a table that was sitting next to the cauldron, "Oh! Before I forget. Here Buffy." Willow took a large, red jeweled-locket from the table and handed it to Buffy.
"This will allow us to communicate with each other once you get there", Willow stated as she stared at the trinket, "it belongs to an ancient sorceress who once traveled through the realms. Please Buff, take care of it."
"I will. I promise. Thank you, Willow", Buffy said as she slipped on the locket.
Looking down at the new necklace around her neck, Buffy realized she was still wearing her incognito disguise. Grimacing at her attire, Buffy let out a small grunt of disgust.
"No, no, no, no, no, no", Buffy said as she pulled at her sweatpants, "I am not showing up to the cute boys party looking like a homeless person."
Buffy looked at Willow with a pleading look.
"Will", Buffy said in the sweetest tone she could muster, "Could you-"
"Don't worry, Buff", Willow interrupted, "How's this?"
Willow snapped her fingers causing Buffy's attire to change from an undershirt and sweatpants to black sleeveless v-cut shirt and dark gray jeans with black sneakers.
Buffy looked down at her new clothes.
"Now we are ready", Buffy said as she tugged at her shirt to straighten it.
"Buffy", Giles said as he approached Buffy, "you may need to convince these Winchester brothers that you are indeed an ally from another realm. If you are unable to convince them otherwise, it may be necessary to...um incapacitate them."
"Don't worry, Giles", Buffy said, "Nothing will stand in our way of stopping the First's plans. Local heroes or not."
Buffy suddenly remembered the Slayer's scythe. She looked over to see it on Willow's spell table.
"We're going to need the scythe, Will", Buffy said as she motioned for Faith to get the weapon.
Willow picked up the Slayer scythe from the table and handed it to Faith.
"Oh man", Faith exclaimed as she swung the blade around her, "I forgot how good this feels."
Faith then strolled over to Buffy in order to take her place for the spell.
"Is there anything else we need to know before we go to Never Never Land?", Buffy asked as she looked toward Giles and Willow.
Giles walked over and put his hands on her shoulders. "Just that we care for you...both of you", Giles said with a fatherly smile, "please come back to us safe."
Buffy embraced Giles, Willow, and even Faith in a comforting group hug.
"Alright enough with the Brady Bunch moment", Faith joked as she gave a mock look of disgust backing away.
"Let's get this magic school bus on the road", Willow said as she put on a large red robe with a hood that completely hid her face.
Giles walked toward one of the hallways and entered a room at the end.
As Buffy and Faith stood in front of the cauldron watching Willow arrange the items on the table, they felt a hand press down on each of their shoulders. Adaajah had been hovering in the background in silent meditation the entire time and was now floating behind the two Slayers.
"I am forming a conduit between you two so you can arrive together and in the same place", Adaajah whispered in a hauntingly distant voice, "Do not fail your quest or we all shall perish."
"Great", Buffy said sarcastically, "no pressure then."
Adaajah began chanting in a foreign language that sounded like deep gasping breaths. Willow started chanting in a completely different language that seemed to form a melodic tone as the two speeches filled the room. Buffy and Faith began feeling an intense tingling sensation. The tingling sensation slowly intensified until it became a strong vibration. Several coven members began walking out of the hallways dressed in the same red robes as Willow. Each member was holding a lit black candle.
All the coven's witches were chanting together forming a thunderous aria that was just on the verge of becoming a song. The cauldron in front of them began to glow with a bright white light with swirling purple smoke exuding from it. Willow started throwing in small magical items such as crystals and powders causing the cauldron to bubble and writhe as the glow intensified. Buffy and Faith were then suddenly enveloped in a bright burning light that covered them.
"WILL...", Buffy shouted just as Faith and her disappeared into the light.
As if a switch had been flipped, the glow from the cauldron disappeared and the melodious chanting ceased. Silence fell over every inch of the room. Willow threw off her hood and walked over to the scorch marks on the floor.
"Good luck, Buff", Willow said silently before turning to face the coven members, "Um...can someone get me a mop?"
Supernatural Dimension: Vampire's Nest
As dawn approached, a group of nine vampires, six men and three women, began walking out of the woods just south of Winnfield toward an old, dilapidated barn. They were all wearing normal clothing, such as t-shirts with sayings on them, blouses, and even stylish sneakers, in order to appear more human. The group was laughing and carrying on about the night's kill. As they drew closer to the barn, it became clear just how rundown the ancient farm building had become. The wood had grayed from a lifetime of exposure and any signs of the original paint's color were long gone. The entrance to the barn was caved-in, requiring the group to bend down and crawl inside. In the back of the barn, under some moldy hay, was a trap door that led to an underground area.
The group walked down a long row of stairs into their underground sanctuary. At the bottom of the stairs was a single room with shelves erected as make-shift walls. On the shelves sat jars filled with what looked like old blood. Candles were lit and placed everywhere with almost every surface stained with drops of wax. The floors were littered with hay and scraps of paper that displayed images from times long forgotten. At the back of the room was a stone wall that had three bunk beds pushed up to it with heaps of blankets scattered around. The only part of the room that didn't look like a complete mess was a corner that housed a large, elegant wardrobe cabinet that had various, intricate designs carved into it. As the group walked over to change their outfits, a figure stepped out from the darkness from the other side of the cabinet. The demonic-looking figure wore a tight, black suit that gleamed in the light of the candles that filled the room. The group stood back in utter surprise and fear at the figure. They did not realize the significance that this being had to them. Standing before the vampires was The First Evil appearing as the Master.
"You know what they say", The Master said with an arrogant tone, "Organize your appearance and the mind will follow. Well, judging by your appearance; you're as weak minded as your prey."
The leader of the group of vampires was a tall dark haired man, named Nathaniel, with piercing blue eyes and a cocky grin. He wore tight, light-blue jeans with chains that hung off the belt loops and a mock paint-splattered black shirt that read 'Bite Me'.
"You came to the wrong place, creep", Nathaniel said with a thick southern accent and big grin on his face as the other members crowded around him.
The Master walked over to the group and stood in front of them, stretching out his arms as he addressed them. "Brothers. Sisters. Let us not squabble", the Master said with a soft but confident voice, "I know what afflicts you. What keeps you scurrying around acting like humans just to earn a meal. I can help you find your way back to being the dominate member of the food chain."
The group stood alert as Nathaniel walked over to meet the Master face to face.
"Perhaps you didn't hear me with those little, nasty bat ears", Nathaniel said still maintaining his charismatic grin, "You're nothing but dead meat and bones at this point, creep."
Nathaniel unsheathed his fangs and lunged at the Master only to pass right through him and fall down on the other side.
The Master turned around and faced Nathaniel. "Ouch. Please stop. You're killing me", the Master said in a slow, sarcastic tone.
The Master then turned around to face the rest of the group who were now slowly backing away. "Listen to me, children", the Master spoke as he calmly walked toward the retreating group, "I am not some creep you can push around. But I can help you make sense of things in this crazy world we live in."
Nathaniel stood up and pulled a large knife out that he had hidden behind his shirt.
"Life can be hard when you have hunters on your back", the Master continued speaking with his back turned to Nathaniel. "Keeping an ever watchful eye on our prey. We should not be forced to live off scraps, night after night. We should be up there hunting as we please", the Master gestured emphatically as he spoke, "while our prey toils in the dark. Broken and afraid."
Nathaniel began walking toward the Master with the knife clutched in his hand and a scowl now replacing his cocky grin.
"Oh, Nathaniel", the Master said in a soft tone, "Before you do something stupid again; let me tell you a secret I know. There are two hunters on their way here this very moment and tagging along, shortly, will be two...Slayers, the likes of which none of you can handle. To put it bluntly, you we all die horribly."
Nathaniel re-holstered his knife causing the Master to smirk.
"That's a good boy", the Master said with condescension as he turned to face Nathaniel, "Now do you want to live to see another night or shall I save myself a seat to watch the carnage? Popcorn, anyone?"
Nathaniel walked towards the Master cautiously and held his hands together in front of him in order to maintain an confident and diplomatic posture.
"Alright", Nathaniel said with a hint of fear in his voice, "What do you want?"
The Master raised his hand to his chest in a mock sign of pain.
"You hurt my feelings, Nate", the Master said, "all I want is to preserve our race. Well, that...and maybe kill a couple of pesky Slayers while we're at it."
Nathaniel looked at the Master in complete confusion.
"What's a Slayer?" Nathaniel asked.
"Oh, my dear child", the Master said while turning to address the rest of the group, "They are horrible demon-girls that relentlessly pursue and destroy our kind. They have been a menace for over a millennia with no end in sight for their vicious reign. But now we have a chance to undo the wrongs that have been brought down upon us. Here we can make a stand and together we will rejoice in their blood."
Nathaniel walked over to the rest of the group who were mumbling about hunters finding them.
"Why should we even listen to you? I mean Slayers. Really?!" Nathaniel said while crossing his arms and frowning, "Plus, you say you're part of our kind but you don't look like any vampire I've ever seen."
The Master smiled a broad, unnatural grin. Nathaniel looked noticeably disturbed by the Masters appearance. The Master looked down at his body then back at the vampires and laughed.
"You know, Nate, you're absolutely right", the Master replied as he strolled over to the vampires turning into Buffy, "I'm not a vampire at all."
The vampires gasped and stepped back as Nathaniel stood his ground with a shocked look on his face.
"Wha-what are you?", Nathaniel uttered.
Now standing face-to-face with Nathaniel, Buffy whispered, "I'm your salvation."
Supernatural Dimension: Outskirts of Winnfield, LA
The crisp morning sun ascended across the sky as Dean and Sam drove down a back road just outside of Winnfield. They were still on edge from the events at the motel. Sam was looking through a book of mystical creatures while Dean was at the wheel.
"You found anything yet?", Dean asked with a deep, disgruntled tone.
Sam flipped a page and looked up at Dean.
"Well we could be dealing with some new form of Lamia", Sam said as he returned to the book and flipped through a few more pages.
"Yeah, I don't think a bunch of wall shadows can appear as Dad and taunt us, Sammy", Dean retorted, "what about that thing it said about being the first evil."
Sam closed the book.
"No. There's nothing in any of these books about an originator of evil", Sam said as he opened the satchel of books sitting between his feet and slide the book he was holding inside.
Just then Buffy and Faith appeared in the backseat of the Impala. Buffy still had her mouth open as her voice was still in mid-transition. Suddenly she let out, "...OW!" Dean let out an "Oh, shit!" as he slammed on the breaks sending the car careening back and forth before coming to a complete stop. Dean and Sam turned around with their guns drawn and faced their intruders. Both girls held their hands up.
"Woah", Buffy let out in a surprised gasp, "We come in peace."
While still holding his weapon in one hand, Dean reached around with his other hand and opened the driver-side door.
"Alright, ladies", Dean said now retraining his weapon on Faith noticing the scythe in her lap, "out of the car and drop the..uh axe-thing."
Faith got out of the car letting the scythe clang onto the pavement. Buffy slowly exited the vehicle as Sam followed her, grabbing the Slayers handbook from her hand and throwing it on the roof of the Impala. Holding their hands in the air, Buffy and Faith walked backwards to the rear of the car where Dean and Sam stepped in-between them and the Impala. The boys remained holding their weapons on the girls.
"Alright", Dean said in a deep, angry tone, "I've had enough sudden drop-ins today. Tell me who are you working for? The demons? Huh?! Answer me?!"
Buffy brought her hands down while Faith followed her lead.
"Okay, just cool your jets. I'm Buffy and this is Faith", Buffy said gesturing as she spoke, "and we are vampire slayers who have traveled from another dimension to help you stop the very root of evil itself, The First Evil."
Dean lowered his weapon with a dumbfounded look on his face; Sam remained holding his gun on the girls while giving Dean a look of confusion. Dean turned around to face the car and opened the trunk. Faith stood impatiently with her hand on her hip while Buffy crossed her arms across her chest. Dean pulled out a small bag and closed the trunk. Setting the bag on the Impala, Dean took out a small bottle of holy water and a silver knife.
"Here", Dean said holding out the items for Buffy and Faith.
Buffy reached over and took the holy water while Faith took the knife.
"What's this for?", Faith asked while she checked the blades sharpness with her finger, "You gonna make us fight to the death?"
Buffy sniffed the bottle.
"Holy water?", she said with a look of amusement, "Um...guys...we're not vampires. See we're in the sunlight and not bursting into fire or anything."
Dean gave Sam a wide-eyed look.
"Cut yourselves and pour the water on your skin", Dean said now pointing his gun on the girls, "we need to see what kind of monster you are."
Faith took the knife to her hand.
"Fine", she said in a disgruntled tone as she cut into her palm.
Faith then handed the knife to Buffy who had just sprinkled holy water on her arm. They switched items and completed the request Dean gave them. They handed the items back to Dean.
Looking at the cuts and lack of singe marks from the holy water, Dean took the items and put them back in the bag. He then strolled over to the scythe and picked it up. Sam put his gun in his coat and picked up the Slayer handbook from the roof.
"So what's going on here?", Dean said with a serious demeanor while examining the scythe, "you said you're here to stop the First Evil?"
"Yes, like I said", Buffy recalled with a slight impatience to her tone, "we are Slayers from another dime-"
"Yeah, I heard ya the first time", Dean interrupted, "Now tell me why this 'First' guy is running around with my Dad's face?"
Sam looked up from reading the Slayer's handbook.
"Okay", Buffy said taking a deep breath, "The First Evil is the literal personification of evil itself. It is incorporeal...which means-"
"I know what incorporeal means", Dean stated angrily.
"Well then. Seeing as it can't touch anything, it uses other tricks like turning into dead people and taunting you", Buffy said as she looked over at Faith.
"The thing is, Dean, if the First appears to you...it means you're a major player in its nasty little game", Faith said while giving him a seductive look.
Dean noticed and shifted to a more attractive posture.
"Dean", Sam said while closing the Slayer's handbook, "I think they're telling the truth. This thing is filled with all kinds of lore I've never even heard of plus it has firsthand accounts of fights with vampires and these girls called Slayers. Plus, I found this."
Sam held out the picture of Dean and Sam.
"That doesn't look anything like me", Dean said examining the picture, "Let me see that book."
Dean looked at the book.
"Come on, Sam. Really?!", Dean said in a tone of mockery, "The word vampire is misspelled and you got it from a chick named 'Buffy'."
Sam rolled his eyes and took the book. Sam then walked over and gave the book back to Buffy.
"Sorry for the cutting and the holy water, but we can't take any chances. Not with what we've been through", Sam said extending his hand, "I'm Sam Winchester and this is my brother Dean."
Buffy shook Sam's hand while Faith walked over to Dean.
"You're both coming with us until we can get this whole 'First' Evil business sorted out", Dean said now looking over at Faith.
"So, D", Faith said looking him over, head-to-toe, "are we five-by-five or do you need to frisk me."
Faith held her arms up in the air. Dean was slightly embarrassed but remained steady.
"Well, from what I can see, you definitely aren't hiding much", Dean said giving her body a long, slow scan with his eyes.
Faith brought her hands down on his shoulders.
"Well, D", Faith whispered in a sensual voice as she inched closer to Deans face, "from what I can see, neither are you."
Faith strode around Dean pulling the scythe from his hand as she went by and entered the car. Dean looked over and noticed Buffy and Sam staring at him with amusement on their faces.
Dean turned toward the car.
"And don't call me D", Dean yelled as Faith laughed on the inside of the car.
Sam and Buffy had begun laughing too.
"You know, Dean, the more you fight the single-letter nickname, the more she's gonna lay it on", Buffy said as she giggled.
Dean had a look of embarrassment mixed with anger.
"Sam! Get in the car. Let's go!", Dean yelled as he got in the driver seat of the Impala.
Sam and Buffy entered the vehicle and the group continued toward Winnfield.