I want to start by thanking all of the denizens of the Buffy board for their research help, especially Loobi and Laura.

I hope you enjoy it. I've enjoyed writing this part, and am already writing part six. let me know what you think.

Bad Tidings Part 5


The driveway of the “Academy” was long, longer than it had any right to be, Buffy thought. But the grounds were large, large enough to hide the training that the slayers had to go through. Secluded enough to deter even the most determined spy. Though God help any who braved the woods, to approach.

“So this is where you lay your hat these days? Very nice I must say. But what happened to my invite to the housewarming?” Spike was only half joking.

“Well, you were dead. Or at least, more dead than usual anyway. And Angel was in charge of Satan’s own law firm. When things like that happen, I kind of score people of my speed dial.” Buffy’s retort had a sugar icing that was her smile.

“Wow! You live here now? This is even bigger than my dad’s old place in Sunnydale. Speaking of which, don’t piss of the I.R.S.” Cordelia looked in awe at the sprawling estate as it flew past the windows of the minivan.

“I’ve never really asked, but I think Kennedy’s dad may own the I.R.S. Buffy said playfully, knowing deep down that Cordy still felt bitter about her fall from Grace, just weeks before graduation.

As the van pulled to a halt at the main door of the building, Buffy could see a welcoming committee had gathered. Spike could recognise many of them from his time spent with Buffy and the potential slayers. There was Rona, standing ahead of the other girls, stone faced and angry looking, as usual.

As they exited the car they all heard Willows telepathic broadcast, “Come to the library ASAP.” Spike shook his head till the ringing stopped.

“Spike, you really are alive!! Kind of.” One of the girls ran to him and hugged him.

“Yeah, Rachel, I’m alive. Hello Maggie.” Spike stared at the slayer.

“Uhm, hi Spike. Well, err, I’ve been elected spokesperson and we kind of want to apologise for what we did in L.A. But you have to admit, w**king for Wolfram and Hart? They were just the wrong side of the good/evil divide, we couldn’t be sure you weren’t like, bad again.” She spoke so fast, almost tripping over her own words.

“It’s OK. Though to be honest, I never really worked for them. Did I?” He looked at Angel.

“Well I never signed any contracts with you. I didn’t want you to think you were wanted.” Angel’s reply was a little more bitter sounding than his usual halfhearted comebacks. But Spike chose to ignore it.

“Hey Blondie.” Rona stepped up to Spike, “How’s you?” Her face erupted into a beaming smile. Her shining white teeth glowed from her ebony face. Spike couldn’t help but smile back.

“Been better, been worse. You know how it is. I think.whoof.” Spike stopped suddenly, as did Angel. At the front door of the building. Buffy was already half way down the hall and didn’t notice. “Hey, Buff! Kinda need an invite here.”

Buffy turned. “You know, I almost forgot that. Come on it, both of you.” Angel smiled as he crossed the threshold and began to follow Buffy down the hallway. Buffy pushed open the double doors of the library, and was immediately knocked off her feet, as someone flew over her and jumped onto Angel. “What the hell?” She was on her feet again in an instant and trying to get a grip on the situation. She saw Angel, fighting with, with, her!

“Angelus. The other Buffy hissed as she punched and kicked at Angel. Now Anya pushed past Buffy.

“Anya?” Buffy shouted.

“Calm down Buffy.” This is Angel, not Angelus. Anya turned to Giles, “this is Angel right? ‘Cos if it’s Angelus, she can start hitting him again.”

“No, no. It’s quite safe to have her stop now. This is Angel.” Giles responded as the more feral Buffy now stalked towards him, he backed away cautiously.

“Giles? Not dead?” The extra dimensional Buffy grabbed Giles in bear hug, and he almost couldn’t breathe. “Oh, I missed Giles. All better now. Giles is here.”

“Just what the hell is going on here? Who is she? Why does she look like me? Why is she crushing my watcher?” Buffy looked around in exasperation. “And are you alive again? Or are you another echo sent by the powers that be?” The final two questions were aimed at Anya. Anya tried to smile sweetly. She failed.

“Buffy. Or Buffy’s to be more accurate.” Willow stepped in between ‘her’ Buffy and the others. “This Anya, and Buffy come from another dimension. One that’s already been destroyed by the Pain entity. They came here to help us stop it before it takes our world the same way.” Willow stopped for a moment as though to double-check her facts in her head before continuing. “I see you’ve brought someone back from the dead too, hi Cordy.” Cordelia waved from her position, firmly ensconced as she was, behind Angel.

The mutual explanations took almost an hour, during which Buffy2, as Willow had christened her, had not strayed more than two feet from Giles’ side. “So,” Willow concluded, “we currently have on our side. An army of slayers, two Buffy’s a reformed vengeance demon, a higher being, a Wiccan, a watcher, two ensouled vampires, a demi-goddess, and a whole lot of books to study. I don’t think this thing has a hope in Hades of beating us.” Willow’s words were more up beat than she actually felt, but morale was waning, she could sense it. This thing, this Pain, had the Powers that be, worried. It had destroyed other dimensions. They were the last line of defence, and she couldn’t bring herself to believe that they stood a chance.

“Slight correction there Will, I’m not a higher being, I just have the knowledge of one.” Cordelia corrected. “At least I think so. I can kind of heal people, so I don’t really know.”

“I think, it might be best if we retired for the evening. Perhaps, in the morning things will seem clearer, and we can begin to formulate a plan of action.” Giles found his suggestion greeted with near unanimous approval. Especially from Buffy2, who smiled and nodded at his every word. So much so that Giles began to feel a little uncomfortable.

Willow had thought ahead and already had some spare rooms set up for the guests, as everyone retired for the night, she took Buffy aside. “Are you OK Buffy?”

“Yeah, sure. Kind of, I think so. I don’t know Will. I had the weirdest dream. I managed to catch a few zzzz’s on the plane, and I dreamt that I was back in Sunnydale, killing Angel again. But it felt different from any dream I’ve ever had.”

“Was it one of your ‘prophecy dreams’?” Willow asked.

“I hope not. I don’t know if I can go there again. But Giles is right, it’ll look better in the morning.” Buffy smiled at her friend. It was an empty smile; she and Willow both knew it. But the attempt showed promise.


3 a.m. The Academy.

The scream woke everyone in the building. So loud and piercing was it, that no one could ignore it. The main hall quickly filled with people wanting to see what was happening. But once they saw, they wished they hadn’t.

“Rona.” Buffy whispered, she had been one of the first to arrive. She hadn’t been sleeping, just restlessly turning on her bed. She had found the young slayer draped on the wall, hanging by her wrists from two light fittings. Her dark skin was wan and lifeless. Two puncture wounds on her neck stood out against her near flawless unmarked skin. The worst part though, was what was written on the wall next to her. Written in Rona’s own blood. The words, ‘Pain has arrived’. “I want everyone ready for action. We have an intruder, I want them found and I want them in a dustpan.” Almost immediately girls were running off to their rooms to dress and arm themselves. “I want to know who did this and how they got in.” Buffy shouted again, as she worked to free Rona’s hands from the ropes binding her to the light fixtures.

“I’d say we already have a good idea who it was Buffy.” Kennedy’s voice rang out from the top of the stairs. Buffy turned to look at her, stood next to Willow. The witch’s head cradled on her shoulder as she wept. “We have two vamps on the premises. I think they’re our suspects.”

Buffy looked to Angel and Spike. She knew Kennedy was right, she just hoped that she wasn’t. “I want you two in the cellar, where we can keep an eye on you. If we don’t find any sign of a break in. One of you will be dust. So help me God.”

“Spike? How could you?” Angel turned and punched Spike hard. Spike turned his head back to face Angel, his vampiric features on show, he punched back.

“It wasn’t me.” Spike punched Angel again, square in the face, as Angel’s features also twisted to display his teeth. “I’ve still got my soul. I would never hurt her.” Spike punched again, and again. “Buffy2 was right, you are Angelus. You murdering sod.”

Kennedy pushed her way in between the two vampires. “That’s enough.” One of you did it. I’d gladly let you dust each other, but I’d rather we just got the one who did it. So I can dust you myself.”

No one noticed, but Buffy had closed her eyes. She knew that the other Buffy had taken on the demons power when the shadow men offered it. She now wondered if it had given her an insight that she herself lacked. She now tried to tap into that, to see if she too could get a sense of who had killed one of ‘her girls’. She got her answer. Like a cry in the ether, she heard a plaintive voice. “Angel. Back away. Now.” Buffy strode towards her erstwhile lover, fierce determination on her face. “Why did you do it? Why?” Angel turned to her.

“Why not?” He laughed as he grabbed Kennedy and bolted for the door. Kennedy struggled hard against his grip, but it was vice like in its strength. Stronger than any vampire she had fought before. Lightning filled the air around him.

“Let her go Angelus!” Willow had appeared between Angel and his means of escape. Glowing white with energy, her hair and skin radiating light.

“I don’t think so Willow, you see, if you cast a spell in my direction, there’s a risk of it hitting your baby. You don’t want to lose another one in the crossfire do you?” Willow hesitated, and it was all the time Angel needed to bolt through the doorway, dragging Kennedy as he went.

They were enveloped in the surrounding darkness before anyone could catch them.

Willow fell to her knees, pain and fear filled her heart.

In the ether, a fearsome voice laughed.


To be continued………

:o :thumbsup: good stuff Jamie :thumbsup:

You are just no doubt glad that I haven't killed Spike (yet :whistling: ) aren't ya?

:lol: :lol:

:yahoo: :lol: well there is that, nice to see you bringing Angelus into the story though :thumbsup:

shame about Rona :shifty: Not :lmao: :thumbsup:

Wait till you see what I've got planned for Kennedy :ph43r: :ph43r: :ph43r:

Oooh Angelus is back, excellent :thumbsup:.