The Dojo: Night

[Doc]

"Mai's not going to be too happy about that," I said as I opened the dojo door, "Well, welcome to my 'home away from home', mate. So, you wanna spill on where the sword came from? 'Cause normally, I like to know when my friends have mystic weapons of unknown power."

[Joshua]

I sighed as I walked around the gym area. Finally I saw some benches off to the side, probably for any guests that dropped by for an exhibition.

I plumped myself down and shrugged at the man named Doc. "You aren't going to believe me," I told him straight-faced.

"Try me," he automatically responded.

Again I shrugged. "About a week. That's how long I've had it, and that's why you didn't know about it. Well, that and I haven't let *anyone* know I had it. Because I took it from the thief that broke into the Magic Shop that night."

"Yeah...that's kinda new too," he pointed out, subtly telling me in his Aussie way to get on with the story.

"Yeah...that," I mumbled.

"OK, I kept the sword out of a thief's hands and considering this thief used magic and knew exactly what he was taking, I wasn't about to just put it back. So I hung on to it until it chose it's new master. Which just happens to be your elf friend back there. She a vampire too?"

"Yeah, it's complicated," he answered.

"What isn't?" I shrugged.

"I've kept it with me only when I went out at night, never during the day cause, well I've got class during the day. Rest of the time it's in a pocket of frozen time. Or at least it was. Now it's the elf's."

"You're avoidin' the subject mate," he drawled, crossing his arms.

I sighed and leaned back on the bench. I sat back up after several moments and asked him seriously, "You really wanna hear this? And if you do, do you want the short, easy-to-accept, probably one sentence version...or the long story?"

[Maya]

"I vote long version." I said from the door, my voice cold, hard, and more tahn a little irritated. "Sorry wizard boy, ya dont get away from me that easily. And DONT try it again, you're enclosed in a magical field, you cant go anyplace or anytime without my say so. Sorry Doc, but this guys has been givin me plenty of wiggins with no explanation... and he suggested i'd need protecting from trex." The last was added in a sulky tone. "Oh, and just as a note, if you'd gotten off your high and mighty trip, Joshy, and asked for help, you coulda returned the STOLEN sword, cos with a couple of nice little spells, it woulda been totally Trex proof." I took a breath, and sat down beside them, "Now, you were about to start on your story?"

[Joshua]

I sighed, rolling my eyes in suplication at the Heavens. Sometimes I feel like the butt-monkey of the universe, ya know?

"Is she always like this?" I asked to Doc. He just smirks and shrugs.

After a moment, I take a look around me and then with my right hand I 'write' with my fingertip over my left eyelid the runic symbol for Sight Beyond Sight, and then with my left hand trace over my right eye the symbol for Pure Magic.

The room lights up like the sun wasn't just at noon, but in the room with us. I can easily see the 'shield' she's talking about and smirk as I recognize it as a powerful ward combined with an anti-teleport spell woven into it.

Looking at the Slayer, I see the typical mishmash of auras. The bloodred and darkness mixed with white light and powerful purple and gold. The signs of a killer, a protector or savior, and warrior. All rolled into one, you get the Slayer essense.

She also has several ready-active spells that only come into play when magic or direct attacks come against her.

I sigh again and grab Doc by the shoulder. What no one ever seems to realize is that you should never mess with a mage, of any kind, and *especially* one that can manipulate the flow of time. Because Time is not a direct spell. It is an element of the universe. Meaning that the only good her defenses would do this Slayer is if I tried to freeze just her, to pull her out of time.

Whereas if I just stop time inside this ward of hers, or pull only myself and Doc out of Time, per say, she couldn't do anything but be a statue.

Instead of doing that though, I just wipe the spells away from my eyes and turn back to Doc and ask him, "Well? I heard what she wants, but I was asking you."

[Maya]

"Sweetie?" I said to Joshua in a way over sweet voice, "You dont know me very well, so i'll forgive ya. I'm telepathic, hun, and you missed something else- i'm not your run o' the mill slayer. The little field you think is so pathetic? Designed specifically for time travel. Try it out if ya really want, but it was shown to me by a friend, you may have heard of her, nearly destroyed the world a while back, names Willow?" I smiled, trying not to look at Doc, who was trying to hold back laughter. "Josh- i'm not generally such a pregnant dog." I glared at Doc as he looked about to argue. "I just tend to go a bit crazy when i fear for my friends. SO cut the crap, you CANT get away, so just spill. now."

[Doc]

"Oh nuts," I muttered. This was getting bad, int teh slightly out of control, someone was about to get splattered way, "Joshua, just start spillin'. From what she's told me about Willow, and what I've heard myself, that witch could take out your insides, rearrange tham and put them back in without you realising it. Willow's the one the un-did the Seal, mate," Joshua looked at me with some shock, "And Mai learned from her."

[aredhel]

I slipped inside the Dojo silently, careful not to alert anyone to my presense. Maya might have realized I was there, but I knew that the other's would not. I also knew she wouldn't tell them. Considering I offered to feed her acid the first time we met, I was putting a lot of faith in her. I knew she was good for it.

I sat in the shadows, hugging the sword to my chest. I waited in silence for him to begin his story. I wondered whether it would give me any answers...

[Joshua]

I didn't look in shock at Doc because I was surprised or horrified by that information. Well, the info about the seal was news, but I knew about Willow.

Instead of provoking the magic-using, and headachy Slayer, (I thought directly at her which drew a growl), I pulled out my amulet and pronounced, "The Eye of Chronos" I said putting all my thoughts on the story I was telling. Even if only about a tenth of it is made up, and if the Slayer can tell which part is made up, I'm going to make d**n sure she doesn't know which.

"I found it in an attic in my grandfather's home about five and a half years ago, in the summer. For the strangest reason I was drawn to it. I mean it wasn't as nice as it is now. It was covered in dust, and there was filth and dirt and I think some blood on it somewhere too. Anyway..." I hurried along when I saw some looks get thrown my way.

"Anyway I put it on. It wasn't until about two weeks later when I drove off a seaside cliff that I learned what it does." I paused for effect.

"Well!" Doc shouted.

"About ten feet from the water, everything went kind of grainy...and then started going backwards. Time reversed, up to the point where I could actually safely stop the car from going over the cliff.

"It wasn't until another week passed, during which I tried desperately to convince myself that nothing had happened, but because the thought wouldn't leave me alone, I tried to reverse time again. Instead I froze it. It took a lot of experimentation but I finally realized that it was the amulet. Some research with books from my grandfather's revealed the name I gave you earlier. It also revealed some things that I hadn't ever considered doing with the amulet yet. Well, by then anyway."

I shrugged and went back to the bench to sit down.

"After a month of using my powers I came across my first demon. A Warlock, who introduced himself as Frederick, and tried to steal my powers." I shivered slightly at the memory. I was still basically new to my powers at the time and was scared out of my mind for that whole night, and then the week of nightmares after.

"It took a lot...but I finally managed to kill him, or rather make him kill himself," I finished.

"Since that night, I've been hunted as much as any powerful witch or warrior for the light," I stood back up and walked over to where Aredhal was hiding in the shadows. "In accordance, I've made it a hobby of researching and looking into the supernatural. Another side effect is that I pick up special skills like lockpicking, cracking security codes, disabling a stronger or larger opponent with the simplest of moves..." I turned and looked at the elf vampire, "...and tuning my senses to sense people, in the dark, around me."

"And I'm sure that little amulet around your neck had nothing to do with it," the voice from the darkness smoothly replied.

I smirked and held up my amulet, which was glowing a soft blue...except for three little points of light around the main gem. One was pinkish-hued, with a gold aura. The other was bloodred with a purple and gold aura, and the other was solid black with a mixed silver/white and forest green aura.

"Oh yeah, that," I smirked sheepishly, rubbing the back of my head. "Something to help me out when I'm lost," I gestured at the device.

"Useful," she said before stepping out, a glare in her eyes.

I shrugged. "Oh," I added almost like an afterthought, but really because this was the honest truth, "If you're thinking stealing the amulet here will rob me of my powers and transfer them to you...think again. It was a harrowing adventure, but I've realized that the amulet only boosts or shows me how to use my powers. The powers are my own, with no other source than myself."

To prove a point, I stepped out of time, leaving them in 'normal' time and me in a time frame that was moving much, much faster. I walked around to over behind the Slayer and took one of her stakes, careful not to touch her physically, and then feeling mischievous, because even she admitted it, she was being a pregnant dog, I snapped her bra back and then raced back, moving back into 'normal' time, to Doc's side.

By the time I was back in their time frame, it looked like I had 'blinked' or something from where I was to beside Doc, causing everyone to jump with surprise, and one person to scream out.

Before I knew it I had a pissed off Slayer grab me by the throat and lift me bodily off the ground.

[Maya]

...an' all without touching him. This guy just didn't seem to get it. Apparently the spell didn't work quite as i'd thought, but even though he could still affect time, i felt it too. He hadn't realised, but i'd been in the same time frame as him the whole way- it was the cheek of it that pissed me off. The guy waltzes in out of nowhere, and is arrogant enough to proclaim himself more powerful than Willow? That was one step to far. Trying to insult, or degrade Aredhel? another step too far. Pulling my bra strap? That was just plain rude. I heard Aredhel chuckling, and knew i'd been mentally yelling. For once, i ignored her.
"You, little wizard, obviously dont know who you're dealing with." I hissed. His wide eyes told me my own were once more jet black. He tried to time shift- i felt it, and saw it, as it shifted around us, but my spell bound us, and no matter what he did, freezing time, reversing it, fastforwarding... it changed nothing, for i held him, and he could not separate himself from me any more than anyone else could as any time change for him was the same for me. I heard Doc yelling something about remembering his lessons, remembering my control. I replied,
"I AM in control, Doc. He's alive, isn't he? I'm just really pissed off." I approached Josh further, still not physically touching him, but holding him aloft, (and choking) none the less. "You are powerful." I admitted, "Your amulet is impressive, and your control and understanding of it admirable. The thing you dont realise is that there is a limit. Abuse of power, and disrespect for it, is a d**ned dangerous thing. You think it makes you better than others. You THINK it makes it your right to control others. You Think it makes you more powerful than people without that power. But i'll tell you now, you are wrong." I dropped him to the ground, and looked down with distaste as he gulped in air. "I could level this building by thinking it." I said, more quietly, "and yet i know that Doc beat me in a friendly fight. I could know all those dirty little secrets you're keeping from us in a second, and yet i dont, cos that would be invading your mind. I could very literally make most of this town worship me, and yet i dont because i know it's wrong. I am powerful, this i know, but it does not give me the right to believe i am better than anyone else. I lose control. I have gotten people hurt before, i've lost people, i have failed. Power doesn't make you perfect, wizard, so stop acting like it does. Dont take advantage of people who would otherwise be your allies. And dont, for f*cks sake lecture Doc, Aredhel, or me, cos we've seen and done just as much as you, Josh." I spun on my heel, marching towards the exit, then paused, "And NEVER touch my Bra strap, EVER again, or i might get mad."

[Joshua]

'You mean you aren't mad?' I thought sarcastically standing up.

"I was making a point," I told her. "As for Madame Elf Vampress," I gestured at Aredhal, "I noticed her, and like you just did to me, I corrected her in her thinking that no one noticed her. And I was not messing with anyone. I was carrying the sword around because I didn't want anyone, like the theif that tried to steal it in the first place, trying to scry for it and find it in my dorm room! I researched the blade, not anyone nearby that had connections to it, LIKE I COULD HAVE DONE THAT BECAUSE NO ONE IS TALKING TO ME!!" I ended up shouting.

"Not too long ago I lost a classmate, a friend, to a vampire. I found the vampire and before it finally died, it told me that she had been a deliberate target of one of the Master Vampires."

Before anyone could say anymore I took another step and invaded the Slayer's personal space, glaring into her eyes. "And don't for one nanosecond think that I don't know about the use of power. Especially my own."

My glare intensified a hundred fold as I recalled everything that had happened to me since my discovery of my powers. I was practically beaming it directly into the telepaths' minds. I didn't even try to hold back the spark of satisfaction when I saw her flinch and her eyes hold the same pain that was driving my anger at the moment.

"I have lived with this...power you call it for more than five years. I have been hunted, nearly or *actually* killed more times than I can count, I have had people die in my arms, and I have seen things that not even a Slayer like you have seen. Don't even try and top me because I promise you on everything you and everyone else in this room calls holy that I can and will top the worst that you have seen."

After a moment I paused and took a breath to get myself back under control.

"I'm not the one that thinks she's all that," I continue, she's still frozen by the "spell" seeing all of my painful memories have put her in. (It's called shock, every human undergoes it after seeing something traumatic)

"As for Willow...a practitioner that has performed spells on feats of which demonstrate her power being one of the greatest witches on the planet. A gypsy curse, an egyptian restoration spell, channeling the Earth's energies into a demonic temple in order to 'burn' the Earth with its own life force, oh and lets not forget activating every Slayer on the planet.

"And then we have what she's done and who she has defeated. A hellgod, two Slayers, and she was on the front lines with taking out the First Evil." I stopped and a well of pity swarmed my heart.

"Willow deserves great respect," I say softly, with respect in my voice. "But the fact is...Willow is an amatuer at best."

Maya snaps out of her shock and looks about to say something by I raise my hand, gesturing for a moment to say more. Obviously she expected me to cast some sort of time freeze spell, but when none came, she just waited for me to say my piece.

"I've studied for five years in the supernatural, and I'm still an amatuer myself. I can cast any spell that you as a high level witch yourself can cast. I probably need more time to gather power and actual ingredients, but I'm as much a magic user as you. I don't broadcast it because I prefer not to get addicted to magic the way some particular redheaded witch did."

"She's better now!"

"My point is that my ability to control time is *not* magic, or spells or anything like that. Lets talk comics for a moment. Seen X-Men? They're humans with extraordinary abilities because they have a genetic quirk. Same thing. Something in my blood gives me the ability to control time same way that Wolverine heals, Professor X reads minds, Magneto controls metal and magnetism."

I sigh and just stand there. A heavy silence fills the air.

I decide to break it with one last question to anyone willing to answer.

"I'm just looking for the names and/or locations of all the local Master Vampires. Please, can you or anyone help me find what I'm looking for?"

[Doc]

I didn't know what had just happened, but I wasn't going to ask. All I knew was that a guy that had bailed me out of more Apoylypses than I like to remember neede my help.

"I don't know them," i said, "But I know a few people that could find them. Failing that, well, you'd be surprised who has that sort of info."

[Maya]

I was breathing hard, my mind still reeling with the things he'd shown me. But still he didn't understand.
"Willow is like that with magic." I said quietly. "So am i. Not just anyone can do those things by fiddling with wicca. I get that you are strong, i get that it comes from you, i said that already, and i never tried to friggin top you! I get what your saying, Joshua, and i know i got a little angry earlier, but it's not like i didn't have reason. Willow is NOT an amateur. SHe's studied, she's been through more even you with your extensive research know... My point is.... your not the only one with burdens like this." I looked him right in the eye, and i know he felt the connection. "I feel your pain... very literally, and you can't let that cloud your judgement." I reached out to him, not physically, but mentally, and i knwo he now realised that the pain he saw in my eyes was not the refletion of HIS, but my own. "You have been places i haven't, but it goes the other way too. DOnt let your pain pull you away from potential friends." I said, keeping eye contact the whole time.
"Master vamps... If Katelyns ex-boss Parissa is around, then thats one... You already know Trex, but he's more a master pain in the butt. Dru is still around somewhere... but you knew that too. Other than that," I grinned, "Master vamps.... well theres always Del here." I smiled. "D'I miss anyone, Del?"

[aredhel]

I shook my head. "If there are any more in this town who are powerful enough to be called a master, then they're keeping a very low profile," I replied.

Josh just nodded, and I could feel his satisfaction. There was no doubt in my mind that he'd go after them, and that was his perogative. If he wanted to get himself killed. But then again, he already said that he'd been killed (or near enough) before, and he was able to control time, so I supposed it didn't make much of a difference.

I scowled mentally. A flash of anger went through me when I thought of his powers. Contrary to what he'd implied before, I didn't want them. Being alive for a few millennia had taught me a few things, and one of them was ot fight fair. It hardly seemed honourable to go searching for a fight and then cheat. I had faught wars, great battles that engulfed the planet, fights that the gods themselves were part of, but I had always faught nobly. Freezing your enemy and using that to kill them. It wasn't something I enjoyed.

I glanced at Maya, and I knew she could hear me. She seemed satisfied that I didn't approve of Josh, and I took a moment to mentally scold her. What he did with his powers was, ultimately, his choice.

I sighed, and it was the first real sound since my last words. I looked from Maya to Josh and smirked, feeling better for no discernable reason. "As for the two of you, I would say kiss and make up, but I have a feeling I'd have two very upset people after my head."

[Joshua]

My eyebrows went up at that comment.

"Well, I would not be one of them," I told her respectfully.

I caught a glance off of the Slayer...er, Maya. She seemed to still distrust me, despite the both of us realizing that we had just as much *in* common as we had differences.

I turned to the Elfin vampire and continuing with the respectful tone, I said to her, "I'm sorry for stirring up any painful memories tonight with bringing you the sword. It was not my intent. In fact my only intent with regards to the Sword of Power was to return it to the hands of it's proper owner, or the one that it chose to go to. For that I'm glad I could be of service."

I then turned back to Maya and said in general, "And since its quite obvious that all here, except maybe me, are friends of a very powerful, and righteous Slayer," I smile at both ladies, "I can only trust that I am in no danger of you suddenly attacking me or anything like that."

Aredhal just gave me a mysterious smile that made me as much nervous as relieved.

"But..." I changed the mood in an instant with one word, "But, back to the reason I need to speak with Doc. Since none of you personally know many, if any of the local wannabe Master Vampires, present company most definitely excluded, and Trex excluded as well, since he was dusted and in Hell during my friend's murder... Where might we, or I be able to find out about something like this?"

Doc frowned, looking thoughtful.

"Well," he said, his aussie accent showing, "Other than torturing some vamp directly, only other option would be to visit Willy."

"Willy?" I repeated, not recognizing the name.

He nodded. "Willy the Snitch."

Suddenly, I got a chill. I realized it was because both Maya and Aredhal were smiling evilly.

"Well then," I said, clearing my throat, "lets go visit Willy the Snitch."

[Doc]

I smiled. I hadn't seen Willy since I ran into him on his escape from Sunnydale. I'd say it'd be good to see him again, but teh greasy little sod had a way of getting on my nerves. The look on his face however, would be down right priceless.

"Shall we?"