It's really exciting.

Part Twenty: Everything That Rises Must Converge

“Oz,” said Willow, savoring the taste of the words. “Good to see you lover.”

“Will,” said Oz, panic spreading across his face. “We need to decelerate this, Will.”

“Why,” said Willow. “Don’t you wanna dance?”

“Enough of this,” said Amy. “This bitch and I have scores to settle.” With a wave of Amy’s hand, Willow was battered in a rain of trash cans and loose bricks, staggering her backward into the fire.

Justine moved next, leaping toward Faith. Their fists collided with each other’s faces brutal explosions.

“Not a full moon,” said Xander, his eyes fixed on Oz. “Kind of keeps you at the kids’ table, doesn’t it.”

Oz gulped as Xander pounced at him. Normally, he knew he could wipe the floor with Xander. If he wanted to—which, admittedly, wasn’t often. But something was different about him. He was stronger, bestial. He was …

“You’re possessed by a hyena spirit, aren’t you?”

Xander bared his teeth, his lips curling into a snarl. Oz kicked him in the face.

“You know,” said Oz, catching his breath. “I was really hoping not to do this.

Oz’s skin began to contort, his skin quivering as the muscles swelled. His bones bent and his teeth grew and sharpened into fangs.

Everything stopped for a moment, as the combatants were momentarily entranced by the transformation. Fully revealed, the wolf leapt toward Xander, the two locked in a feral embrace, clawing and scratching at one another.

“He’s a werewolf,” said Justine. “I’m sleeping with a werewolf.”

Faith pummeled her upside the head.

“Honey,” said Faith, “I think you’re the only one here who didn’t know.”

“Now that’s the guy I used to love,” said Willow, waving her hand and funneling the rampant flames toward Amy, who screamed in terror as she deflected them. “You people couldn’t beat us when we were nice. What makes you think you can take us now?

There was the bang of pistol fire, and a bullet tore through Willow’s shoulder. There was a light giggle in the air. Justine took the distraction to leap away from Faith, pouncing toward Willow and clocking her in the jaw.

“Team spirit,” said Justine. “That’s how we’ll win.”

Amy got the clue, and with a thought hurdled Xander into Faith, knocking the two of them off balance. Connor, who had forced himself to a stand, took advantage of the moment to land another punch on Faith.

“Keep them off balance!” shouted Justine, but Willow had gotten her bearings again. A blue, electrified mist seemed to rise up around Justine, freezing her in place. She turned to face Oz.

“Puppy” she shouted, her voice deliriously happy. “You’ve been a very bad dog.”

Oz could feel the wolf side of his personality reeling, looking to escape as Willow strode toward him, but then she stopped, and looked into a patch of empty air. Inside his head, the human side of Oz’s personality was screaming.

“I see invisible things,” said Willow, a bolt of energy crackling fro her fingertips. There was a thud—meat falling limp to the ground. Willow turned again toward Oz. “And now for you,” she said. “Lie down.” Oz felt his legs buckle, felt himself fall over. “Sleep.” And with that, he was out.

Amy gasped. She was running out of power, and there was only one source for her to siphon from. But if she didn’t try…

Madly, she leapt toward Willow, grabbing her head in her hands. There was a circuit of force running between them, but it was more than Amy had bargained for—it was overwhelming her.

As she screamed in pain, she felt Xander’s fist slam into the back of her head. Before she blacked out, the last thing she saw was his predatory leer.

Justine, her mobility returned, and Connor fell back to back as Willow, Xander and Faith converged on them.

Connor moved first, leaping at Faith, who didn’t even dodge. He flew straight into her fist, and then hit him again, and again, and again, until he was a bloody pulp.

Justine leapt toward Xander, knocking him down with a single blow. She weighed the odds, and (continued...)

( continues...) realized she couldn’t win. She needed help. Riley, maybe. Maybe the real slayer. She began to run, but found herself colliding with an old man’s cane.

“Sorry, young lady,” said Doc, a kindly smile plastered across his face. “But the party’s only starting. What kind of hosts would we be if we let you leave without dessert?”

She felt his fist knock across her head. And then there was only darkness.

Ooooh. Relics of evil Buffy characters from the past. This rules.

I wonder when pre-chip!Spike, Drusilla, and Angelus come in?

Ooooh. Relics of evil Buffy characters from the past. This rules.

Thank you.

I wonder when pre-chip!Spike, Drusilla, and Angelus come in?

There'll be no Drusilla. Sorry, she doesn't fit. And as to Spike and Angel? Well... wait and see...

This is great. Can't wait for Spike and Angelus.

What about Darla? Or Cordy? Would that frell with Connor's head? Or does he remember?

There'll be no Drusilla. Sorry, she doesn't fit. And as to Spike and Angel? Well... wait and see...

Hmm. So far (except for Doc) we're seeing reproductions of the evil aspects of Buffyverse characters who otherwise fought on the side of good in one form or another. Is that why Dru doesn't fit but Angel and Spike might?

Hmm. So far (except for Doc) we're seeing reproductions of the evil aspects of Buffyverse characters who otherwise fought on the side of good in one form or another. Is that why Dru doesn't fit but Angel and Spike might?

Warmer ... Let's just say tht all of the clues as to what's happening have been provided. There is a logic at work here, even if all of it isn't readily apparent.

Veddy interesting. Are we going to be seeing Ripper!Giles sometime soon, by any chance?

Veddy interesting. Are we going to be seeing Ripper!Giles sometime soon, by any chance?

We'll see. Giles has had a small role in this so far, but who can say?

Well, I guess I could, but that would be telling.