Fairy Tale

Disclaimer: Nothing’s changed. See Chapter One for details. Ah yes, I am borrowing certain names from Edmund Spencer’s “The Fairie Queen.” Not the actual characters just the names and their meanings then I am tweaking them to fit my purpose. I’ve already stated it, but I felt the need to reiterate the fact.

Timeline: Three days before the Masquerade Ball and the night of it.

Happy Reading!

Following Rupert up the long, gravel drive of Summers Manor, Mac wondered why it was so important for him to blow off work and met with the Keeper of the Light. His superiors weren’t angry with him, but they were getting suspicious, as was Stella, about the amount of work he was missing.

Rupert glanced back at his companion. Mac had been hesitant to join him, but Rupert had manipulated his friend with ease. He had simply told him that meeting the Keeper of the Light would help to ensure Buffy’s safety.

He had shamelessly manipulated the other man’s feelings. Feelings that Rupert knew Mac didn’t know about. Buffy was his trump card when getting Mac to agree to anything involving the supernatural world.

“What’s going to happen today?” Mac asked, as Rupert reached out for the door-knocker.

Once again, glancing back towards the other man, he simply stated: “An education.”

Before Mac could ask his friend to elaborate the door swung open and Sid’s apprentice, Tara MaClay offered them a shy smile in greeting.

“T-the Keeper of t-the L-light waits for you in her office,” Tara said, and waved them in.

Since he had never been here before, Mac began to catalogue everything he could. Immediately, a large painting of a blonde woman and a red-haired man caught his eye. Ignoring, Rupert’s motion to follow him, Mac approached the painting.

The woman was obviously Allison Summers; she was the spitting image of Buffy, well, Buffy was the spitting image of her great-grandmother.

“Amazing isn’t it,” Rupert said, as he came to stand beside Mac. “That dainty woman spit on the Council and threw every single one of their rules back at them. She shattered them. Just like Buffy. They’re both special, but I have a feeling Buffy’s going to be so much more. So much more than any of us expect.”

“Buffy isn’t special because she’s the Slayer; she’s amazing because of who she is,” Mac fired back.

Smiling, Rupert nodded in agreement. “Yes, you’re quite right. It is Buffy herself, who makes Buffy the Slayer, so wonderful.”

“Gentleman, I don’t have much time. Thank you for joining us, Detective Taylor,” The Keeper of the Light said. “Follow me, my time draws near.”

*******

Buffy let Redcrosse Knight lead her into the fragile and tiny forest. As usual, her Knight was dressed in gleaming silver armor and the only part of him that was noticeable were his dark blue eyes.

Buffy let the Redcrosse Knight lead her into the fragile, small forest. The Redcrosse Knight was still dressed in his armor. The only part of him noticeable was his dark blue eyes.

“My Gloriana,” Redcrosse Knight whispered then swept her up into his arms and lowered them to the ground. “I wait for you in reality, but I do not know it yet. My Gloriana it is your duty to choose me. The end is drawing near.”

Digging her fingers into her Knight’s armor, she felt the metal give way under her strength. The Knight’s soft laughter filled and warmed her up. Gently caressing fingers, on her cheek, distracted her from her Knight’s gaze.

“So very strong and so very fragile,” Redcrosse murmured and settled himself more comfortably over his Gloriana’s deceptively, delicate form.

“How do I know it’s you in reality?” Buffy asked.

“Trust yourself. Look inside yourself.”

Sighing, Buffy rose up and rested on her elbows, so that she was mere inches away from Redcrosse’s face.

“Don’t give me cryptic answers,” Buffy softly said.

Watching the blue eyes crinkle up, Buffy knew that her Knight was smiling. “I am not allowed to give you any more information. You must make the right choice by yourself. Trust in us. Trust in our connection. Trust in me.”

Raising a leather gloved hand, the Redcrosse Knight stroked down his Gloriana’s pale cheek. He relished in her soft intake of breathe. He knew that she would not fail him. She would make the right choice. She had to. There was no room for failure.

******
Mac backed into the door, pressing himself against it, as if it would give way under his weight and let him escape the scene in front of him. He had accepted the fact there was a supernatural world, but he hadn’t been exposed to any of it, except Buffy’s amazing abilities.

Now thought here in front of him, he was getting firsthand experience of what magic users were possible of.

In the center of the study, the Keeper of the Light and Rupert were locked in what could be viewed as a passionate kiss, if not for the wind of the light show going on. A white shining sphere surrounded them and air currents colored: green, blue, red, pink, gold, silver, orange, yellow, and purple swirled around them. And Mac could see just a hint of black.

Rupert had curled his hands in the Keeper of Light’s silver hair and his legs had given up on him. In return, the Keeper of Light was supporting him, with a strength that surprised Mac.

Despite his horror, Mac knew that whatever was going on had to happen. That even if he could stop it, he wouldn’t.

As quickly as it had started, the wind and lights disappeared. The Keeper of the Light and Rupert dropped to the floor, both struggling to catch their breath.

“It is done. Rupert Giles, Watcher of the Buffy Anne Summers, the Last of the First Line, you are the Keeper of the Light. Guard the Light well. Guard the Summers descendants well. Lead the Knights of Allison. Keep the Summer Slayer alive,” the Keeper of the Light gasped out.

Rupert and Mac watched as the light left the old Keeper’s eyes and the rattling breath of death was breathed out.

*******
The Keeper of the Dead, Sid Hammberback studied a secret group of paintings that was not kept in the Hall of Memories and Visions. Only he knew of these paintings. Reaching out, he carefully stroked down the anguished and tear stained faces of Buffy, Xander, and Willow.

The coming months would be hard on them on the Knights and the Scooby Gang, but especially the Scooby Gang. Turning his gaze to another painting, Sid reminded himself that there was hope. The Redcrosse Knight and the White Witch they would bring hope back. All that had to be done was to make the right choice.

******
One day before the Masquerade Ball, she and Willow didn’t have any ideas about their costumes. Rupert and Mac were going to accompany them, but apparently both had come down with the same flu two days ago and were resting, so they didn’t miss the ball.

It was her first trip outside her dorm that didn’t involve classes and she was happy.

“You could be Little Red Riding Hood,” Willow suggested a helpful look on her face, as she shook the costume at her.

Shaking her head, Buffy responded, “No, I want to be something more mature. Riley told me that the people who are invited tend to wear ‘serious’ costumes.”

Adam who had been shopping with them for the past four hours, finally got tired of their indecision and disapproval of every costume that they had come across. “Come on, I’ve got an idea. We can go to Summer Manor. A lot of Allison Summers clothes were preserved for some reason. You two have to find something there.”

Buffy and Willow glanced at each other, but shrugged and followed their tired and impatient friend out the door. They weren’t finding anything appropriate in stores; maybe they would score at the manor.

*******
Forty minutes later found Buffy, Willow and Adam in Allison Summers’ private quarters which were located on the third floor of the manor. The rooms had been preserved. Willow could feel the spells that had been used to ensure the survival of the items in the rooms. The magic filled the air like an electric current.

In the bedroom, there were three doors: one lead to the bathroom, one to a walk-in-closet, and the third to a room filled with gowns, jewelry, and weapons. Adam chose the third one.

“Willow, you’re up first,” Adam said and motioned her forward. “Don’t think just go to the dress that calls to you.”

Adam shrugged when Willow gave him a look that said he was crazy. Buffy and Willow had to choose the right dresses. Somehow Allison had woven her two separate powers into each strand of every dress in the room. Every weapon, metal and jewel was laced with bits of her power. Half of the objects in the room were drenched in magicks and half were saturates with the power of the Slayer. The clothing and jewelry in the room would provide the girls with protection. Buffy and Willow would hopefully and unconsciously respond to the power that Allison had woven into everything.

Watching Willow, he saw that she had gently removed a red silk peasant dress from its spot.

“Your turn,” Adam whispered to Buffy. He watched as Buffy quickly chose a green gown of silk, a modified version of an evening gown from the early 1900s.

Grinning, Adam proclaimed, “Perfection, both of you like fairy tale princesses. Come on, I’ll help you pick out the corresponding accessories. Your great-grandmother organized everything by number and color. Very Willow like.”



*******
Slamming Sid against the kitchen wall, Rupert pressed himself against the other man. “Bloody hell, Sid! How could you not tell me that the Masquerade Ball is the opening gambit between the Knights and the Order? Buffy and Willow aren’t prepared; you’re going to get them killed.”

“Buffy and Willow are going to be fine. Archimago and the rest of the Order must know that the Summers descendants have arrived,” Sid calmly supplied.

“I’m going to stop them. I’ll get Mac to get the rest of his team. How am I supposed to do my job when you keep secrets from me?” Rupert snapped.

“You have the ability to access that information,” Sid answered.

“I’ve only had all of the Keeper’s information for roughly three days. If they get hurt, I’ll kill you,” Rupert growled out, released Sid and ran out of the room.

*******
Archimago almost dropped his wine glass when he the two young women enter the ball room. He knew those dresses. He loathed those dresses and the memories that they brought back. He studied as the two young women shyly stood by the doorway.

The blonde was wearing a light green colored dress of silk. Despite the bad memories he still considered the dress beautiful. It was a two piece even gown, the top layer a green silk, the layers underneath matching ivory-silver tulle. A rounded v-neck covered the top of a silver, metal corset; he knew from experience that the metal of the corset was flexible. The dress flared out from the hips down and ended in a small train. From the distance, he could see that the girl even wore a choker that covered the entire neck. He knew that underneath the elbow length sleeves that daggers were hidden.

The blonde’s partner, the red head wore a simpler dress: a red silk peasant dress and a gold metal corset like her friend’s wrapped around her waist. A gold choker would protect her neck from vampires and sharp objects.

Both the young women wore their hair up, small glinting jewels of jade and rubies flashed in the soft lighting from the ball room. Archimago knew who these girls were and he knew who the dresses once belonged to. These were the descendants of Allison Summers. The blonde was wearing the dress that Allison had worn when she defeated him. The red head wore the dress when she performed the ritual that altered his power.

These were two of the three Summers descendants he was waiting for. He would have them and no one would stand in his way. He had to find Paridell.

*******
Mac stared at his friends that had gathered for him. Adam, Danny, Rupert, and Sheldon were already at the Masquerade Ball looking for Buffy and Willow. Gathered in front of him was Stella, Lindsay, and Don; all three looked suspicious and displeased.

“I don’t have a lot of time. I know that I’ve been secretive for the last couple months, but I need help. Two people I care for very much are in danger. The police cannot be involved, but there are not enough of us to find them. I’ll explain everything later, but I need to get to the Masquerade Ball at the University of Saint Margaret before they get hurt,” Mac pleaded.

Stella looked her desperate friend in the eyes and stated. “It’s Buffy Summers and Willow Rosenberg. We’ll help but we want an explanation.”

“Yes, we’ll discuss everything later, but right now we need to find them before Archimago does,” Mac cried and headed towards the elevators.

*******
Buffy had somehow gotten separated from Willow. One moment Willow was there and the next she wasn’t. They had been making their way towards Xander and Anya when it had happened. Now she was stuck in a large ante-chamber; she could hear the music from the ball room, so she knew that she was close.

“I have spent centuries waiting for you, my dear,” Archimago crooned as the shadows covering him melted away. “The Slayer that walks beneath the summer sun, you’re much more powerful than Allison ever was and Allison was the most powerful Slayer that I had ever met. Even without her magick she would have been the most powerful. Tell me your name, my dear girl.”

Pressing herself against the door, Buffy took a deep breath and steadied herself. She would not be afraid of this man, but she wished Willow was here. Willow had magic, she didn’t.

“No,” Buffy snapped, gathered her courage and stepped away from the wall. It would be better if she wasn’t even remotely cornered. She needed room. “You can’t kill me. If you do, you don’t get an ounce of my power.”

Sneering, Archimago lazily raised he hand and said. “I cannot kill you, but I can hurt you and kill your friends.”

Like a conductor, he brought up one hand and tossed Buffy against the wall, right before she impacted a green sphere appeared around her. It protected Buffy from most of the blow and absorbed Archimago’s power, but the backlash of power knocked the Slayer out, who didn’t know she could use her own power to absorb it. Even after Buffy was knocked out, a feral looking green tinted shield flickered around her.

“The gauntlet has been thrown down,” Archimago said and with a snap of his fingers; the Scooby Gang, the Knights, the CSIs, a detective, and Paridell appeared in the room.

The moment Willow appeared in the room, a red spherical shield snapped up around her. The first thing that she saw was Buffy.

“Buffy!” Willow cried and rushed to her friend.

Green shield touched red shield and a blinding light filled the room, as the two shields merged. Instinctively and guided by her great-grandmother’s power, Willow pulled the detectives, Xander, Anya, and Tara into the shield. She left Sid, Giles, and Mac out in the room to face Archimago.

“So good to finally meet all of you,” Archimago said a sinister smiling lighting his face. “Witchling do tell, the Slayer that I had a lovely time meeting her and that I cannot wait to get a taste of her and you. I must be going. I have a ball to attend. Paridell, my apprentice will deal with you three for me.”

Paridell stepped forward and those who knew him gasped in horror and shock.

“Riley!” Willow cried as she hovered over her best friend. “How could you?”

Paridell spared Willow and Buffy a glance before he focused on the three men outside the shield. “I do what I must.”

With a wave of his hand Sid and Mac slammed against the wall. Sid didn’t have enough time to throw up a shield. Stella, Lindsay, and Anya screamed. Xander and the other men yelled and pounded against the shield.

“I never liked you,” Giles spat and moved forward to hit him, but two black lights slammed into his chest and blood flew from his mouth.

“Giles! Let me help you,” Willow said.

“Stay in the shield! All of you!” Giles commanded, staggered, but didn’t fall.

“Buffy and Willow are going to be Archimago’s. While you and the rest will be disposed of,” Paridell coolly stated.

Buffy opened her eyes just in time to see Riley raise a hand and strike her Watcher, her Giles down. She shrieked as a torrent of blood sprayed from his wounds and flew from his mouth. Willow screams soon joined Buffy’s and the group inside the shield with them felt a surge of deadly and angry power. The shield broke into fragments, turned to glass, and pierced Riley