DISCLAIMER:  This is another fiction story based on the Characters in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and is intended only to be the work of a fan for other fans.

SYNOPSIS:  Willow find herself in a situation not seen since Buffy's martyrdom.

AUTHOR: Les

RATING: PG

THE SENTINEL
By Les

12:00 A.M.
12:00 A.M.
12.00 A.M.
12.00 A.M.

"What? Oh, Goddess! There's been a power failure! Not today! Not when we're going to Annabelle's funeral!"

The fast-asleep red-haired witch who's one's friend for life if she told you she would be, reared up from her exhausted sleep. She, of the awesome powers acquired from the Darkest Magick book in the Magic Box, now finds herself in a situation that's all too common among all of us; and she leaps out of bed to try to make the best of lost time.

"Kennedy!" she screams. "Kennedy, wake up!"

"What's the problem, Willow?" says Kennedy, one of the Slayers-in-Training living at Summers Residence, along with Molly.

"We're late! The power went out and it's ... it's ... (racing to find her wristwatch) 6:05 A.M.! The funeral is at 7:30!"

Leaping out of bed, Kennedy cries "All right! Into red alert mode!"

So saying, she races to the adjoining bedrooms and awakens Dawn and Molly, similarly surprised. Kennedy collides into Buffy who's already awake and dressed in a ceremonial black dress.

"Oh, no! Don't tell me!" says Buffy.

"Didn't you know there was a power failure during the night?" wails Kennedy.

"Yes, I did. But I've always slept facing East and so the first rays of the sun always awaken me. I left the light on in the kitchen with a note on the refrigerator. I thought that would be the most discreet thing to do. All we need is a little traffic direction. Did anyone else oversleep?"

"Willow, Dawn and Molly!" cries Kennedy.

"Uh, all right...there are three bathrooms here, so there so three of you can hit the showers." says Buffy.

At that moment, Willow, Dawn and Molly are seen racing in opposite directions as if in a comedy movie to opposite ends of Summers Residence, clutching their towels, bars of soap and the barest necessities. 

"No time!" shouts Kennedy. "Willow, grab two bars of soap, will you?"

"Way ahead of you!" shouts Willow. Taking the point, Kennedy races off with Willow to the remaining unoccupied bathroom.

At the graveside lay poor Annabelle in her coffin. Only too tragically had she raced away from Summers Residence and was murdered by the First Evil.  She, along with Kennedy and Molly, were to train under Buffy's direction for the ultimate confrontation of good versus evil. They came with Giles to Summers Residence as the last remaining Slayers-in-Training in the world. They, with Buffy and Faith, are the last of the Slayer line, the Watchers having been killed in an explosion at their meeting place in London.

As 7:30 A.M. approaches, everyone reaches the graveside from different directions. Buffy, Dawn, Willow, Molly and Kennedy arrive in Buffy's car, Xander comes alone from his apartment and Giles comes alone from his hotel in his rented car. Anya orbs in from who-knows-where.

The eight mourners are dressed in black. There are no next-of-kin there because Annabelle lost her parents in an automobile crash when she was 15. She was raised by her aunt who was the oldest in the family clan and disabled. But there was more than enough love in the eight mourners to accomodate.

The ceremony was conducted according to the Protestant tradition, since that was Annabelle's religion. The mourners were in tears throughout.

At Willow's request, the minister intoned a quotation from Sir Thomas More that was all too fitting. "You can break or shatter a vase in which roses have once been distilled, but the scent of the roses will last forever."

Kennedy asked him to say, "I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one. I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.  I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, of happy times and laughing times, and bright and sunny days.  I'd like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun of happy memories that I leave when life is done."

Buffy said, "People come into our lives very quickly; some others stay for a while; all leave footprints in our hearts and we are never ever the same."

Those last two verses, by that universally known author "Anonymous," concluded the ceremony. That was all. But the tears and the memories, new and old, remained emblazoned in the souls of the mourners.

Part 2

The Scooobys slowly left the grave. "Anya, would you orb back to my house, please? There's something we all need to talk about."

"Sure, Buffy. I feel the same way about Annabelle as I did about Joyce. I still have the same questions, too, but I'm beginning to realize how much of a waste it is to try to answer them."

As she said so, she hugs Dawn, who says nothing but closes her eyes understandingly. Everyone understands. Anya orbs out.

Buffy says, "Everyone, let's meet at my house. I have a lot on my mind that I want to tell you about. Xander, would you follow us home?"

"Yeah, sure, Buff. I really want to get out of this butt monkey suit first, but..."

Everyone burst into laughter!

"Hey, guys, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to say that! I really meant to say 'monkey suit,' the slang for this back suit, but it just..."

"Oh, Xander, you're too much!" Willow laughs.  "If anyone could bring us out of our misery, it would be you, wouldn't it, Mr. Monkey Pants!"

Everyone laughs, including Kennedy and Molly, who, though not really understanding the meaning, pretty much get the gist that it has to do with Xander's expense at someone else.

"Guys, I'm really sorry, let me tell you. This is really embarassing...and what you must think of me is..."

"What we think of you is that we love you and we're laughing with you!" says Willow, coming over to Xander and putting her arm around his shoulder as they walk to their cars.

The gang drives back to Summers Residence and everyone changes into his and her usual mode of dress.

"O.K., now here's what I want to tell everyone. We're not going to spend a lot more time mourning. It's not because we don't love and feel for Annabelle. It's because we simply don't have that luxury of time to spend anymore. I don't mean to go all "Sergeant York" on you, but I have to. I want to tell you that from now on, we're in full alert and combat ready mode. This means everyone is responsible for knowing not only where all the weapons are, but also where all the supplies and emergency gear are. So now I want to give you a tour of the house that you haven't seen before.  Willow?"

"Yes, Buffy?"

"You're the strongest here, as I've said before, since you were the only one to hurt Glory before Giles killed her in her Ben incarnation. Not only that, the dark magicks that you have at your disposal are going to be indispensable in our ongoing fight."

"But Buffy, that's exactly what I promised Giles and the English coven that I wouldn't do!"

"I know. This is different, Will. You know I can't kill the First Evil. I don't know if any of us can, but together we might. So I'm asking you to be ready if need be."

Buffy puts her arms on Willow's shoulders and looks her straight in the eyes. "I wouldn't ask you to do this if..."

"I could die, Buffy. I might not be able to reverse the magickal addiction if I unleash it again."

"At this point, everyone's going to die. I swear to you and before you that I'll die saving you first...you and Dawn and everyone else. Believe that. If you don't believe that, then..."

"We know." says Kennedy.

"And we'll fight to the death for you lot as well." says Molly.

"All right." says Buffy.  "Willow, it goes without saying that you have the priority in computer usage. So if anyone's online when we're attacked, that person lets Willow on if she wants...no questions asked."

"Uh, Buffy, correction mode here. When something like that happens, I go into super-sensing, so that gives me heightened ESP and far-sight. I don't think I'll be needing the computer. I did the sentinel thing when we were attacked. That was right before you were brought back."

"I get the picture." says Buffy.

"O.K. Follow me, everyone, and let me show you where the food and water supplies are. Here in this closet, we have 16 cans of emergency food that's had the water taken out. That means they're good for 10 years. There's peanut butter, apple bread crackers, chedder cheese, nonfat instant milk, and blueberry honey granola with milk."

"Not exactly your typical Irish breakfast!" quips Kennedy.

"Not at all...but those are our emergency rations."

Moving to the garage, Buffy shows everyone the large jugs of drinking water."

"And here's our water supply."

"Not enough to sober me up after the great walkaway." says Anya, which gets prompts a sharp look from Xander."

"Guys, we don't have time." says Buffy.

We have a shortwave radio to pick up news broadcasts from around the world. I'll move that next to the computer, which is also next to a TV. You already know where the axes, stakes and daggers are and the bolts for the crossbows. Now let me show you where the poison-tipped bolts are. Over here, in this cupboard, alongside the taser. Who's had experience with a taser?"

"I have. I graduated from police academy." says Kennedy.

"Then it's yours." says Buffy.

All right. Let's meet at the exercise room and spar. Xander, would you please get into the protective suit so we don't hurt you when we attack you?"

"Sure. Second nature for us butt monkeys."

Laughter is heard all around, again at Xanders's expense!

Part 3 - Conclusion

The exercise room is a hubbub of activity. Molly is the first to attack Xander. Kennedy and Dawn pair off, then later both pair off against Anya, who gamely takes them on.

Buffy watches intently, shouting corrections and suggestions to whomever. Like a master choreographer in charge of her creation, she shouts and cajoles until the combatants learn their moves and counters and practice them until they become second nature.

Dawn is surprisingly eager to learn and practice. She surprised Buffy earlier with her readiness to fight and indeed, she was fearless in fighting the zombies due to to Dark Willow's throwing them into a grave pit. Dawn proved she wasn't afraid of thrusting a sword into a zombie's belly and then cutting it's head off.

That, plus her interest in dance meant that the warmup exercises she was so used to seemed a logical prelude to her learning martial arts.

"O.K. hold on a minute!" Buffy commands. "I forgot to tell you that the house's main electrical panel is in the garage right by the door. If you have even the slightest reason, cut the power! Understood?"

"Aye!" yells Kennedy. "Yeah and Right" are chimed in by the others.

"Carry on!" commands Buffy. Not letting the opportunity pass, Buffy does her calesthenics.

After a long workout session, Buffy calls a halt. "Let's break for today! Everyone want pizza?"

"Yes!" is the overwhelmingly loud response.

"O.K. It's pizza and salad. My turn to make the salad!"

The intrepid warriors eat and Xander leaves for home. Anya orbs out. After a mixed selection of watching "Friends" and cartoons to unwind, they're off for bed.

"I can't believe I'm only now having a chance to set the clock!" says Willow to herself.

Darkness comes quickly in the wintery night. All are asleep. Silence. Suddenly, a strange buzzing sound awakens Kennedy.

"Willow!" she cries.

Willow bounds from her sleep to find Kennedy being strangled by a demon with a strange glow around it.

"Don't touch it!" Kennedy screams. "It's electrified! I can feel it! It's like static electricity!"

"Quick-thinkingly, Willow screams "Decrescit!" and a slow-motion spell is aimed at the demon. Kennedy quickly escapes as Willow throws an energy ball with a lead content at the demon. That neutralizes it and then Willow throws another energy ball at it that incinerates it.

Everyone else is awakened and rush into the bedroom. Willow tells everyone what their latest attack is and Buffy commands "Pair off! Just as you were this afternoon! Grab some weapons if you can and hunker down in the living room where the weapons store is!"

All race to the living room and arm themselves. More of the demons break through the walls yet leave no signs of destruction. They're swarming in from all corners!

"Buffy! Can you cover me so I can get me out of the house?" screams Willow.

"Are you crazy?!" retorts Buffy. "We need to stay together! We need your magicks!"

"I know what I'm doing! Trust me!"

"All right! keep your head down. I'll run over to you and cover you!"

So saying, Buffy makes a beeline for the front door, fighing off the demons racing in as everyone else does the same.

Once out of the house, Willow cries, "Go back to help the others!"

"But what about you?!"

"GO BACK!!" screams Willow again.

Buffy runs back into the house. The fight goes on inside. Molly and Dawn are fighting feverishly against their demons. Kennedy is fighting gamely,but she's pinned against a wall by two demons, since she's left to herself. As they're about to kill Kennedy, Buffy races in and flying kicks the one about to kill Kennedy. She somersaults backwards and surprises the other demons and takes them down with devastating punches and more flying kicks; and at one point, she jumps on top of the dining table and grabbing onto the chandelier, propels herself into another demon who's about to kill Dawn.

Willow, outside and left to her devices as she wished, levitates onto the roof of the house. Although night, her super-sensing and ESP are at peak mode and she can "see" where the demons are coming from. She notices a glow everytime one of them enters the house. Using her ESP, she tells everyone "Whoever's the closest, go to the garage and kill the power!"

Everyone "hears" her. Dawn and Molly make a dash for the garage. A demon grabs Molly by the throat, but she ducks hard forward, thus propelling the demon forward and onto the ground. She brings her leg back for a kick to the throat, but Dawn beats her to the punch and does the same! Not to be outdone, Molly lands her kick just as she intends; and both bow to each other as they race to the garage.

Dawn grabs the switch in the power panel and everything's pitch black.

The demons become disoriented and weakened.

"Everyone get out of the house NOW!" screams Willow in her ESP mode.

Not wasting a second, the Scoobys and Buffy race out. When Willow sees that everyone's out, she shouts "Avirdupous Ferra!"and stretches her arms out  to full length with her hands opened as far as they could be.

The demons immediately jerk forward and then backwards immediately. They're mode of existence, made possible by electricity, is quickly ended as the air is filled with lead filings.

"Stay out of the house until I tell you its safe!" orders Willow, again by ESP.

Coming down from the roof, Willow then mentally scans every room in the house to make sure no demons are alive.

As all watch her, Willow says "Disparit Ferra! Extingua Ferra! Aethera pura veni!"

"What are you doing?" Buffy asks,

"Getting rid of the lead filings that I put in the house. They're poor conductors of electricity.  I also made sure that fresh air's back in the house. It's O.K. now, Buffy."

"It's all clear!" Buffy shouts.

One by one, the Scoobys walk back into the house and eventually get to sleep.

Buffy comes up to Willow and says "You're a wonder...as always."

"Wonderwoman! Hiya! Hiya!" Willow answers, good-naturedly, imitating Wonder Woman of 1960's TV fame.

"Seriously, Buffy, I'm glad I didn't have to call upon dark magicks."

"I'm glad." says Buffy.

"It's my maternal instinct that kicks in anytime someone I love is threatened."

"I know. And I can never even begin to thank you enough."

"No need, Buffy. I love you and all the Scoobys. I love watching out for all of us. I guess I'm something of a "watcher" myself."

"You're our sentinel." says Buffy.

                                                                END