Stripped: Unusual Heroes, New York City
by Willes
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Meanwhile, back at the battle raging in the living room, the Scoobies were getting their butts kicked. Giles lay unconscious on the floor and the rest were bloodied, staggering. Then their savior entered. Okay, not exactly a savior, more like a very angry shark demon wanting his kittens.

“Slayer!” he bellowed, followed by about five of his rock bodyguards. “I told you not to run; I told you I would find you. Where are my kittens!?”

“A little busy here,” Buffy said, taking a hit from a nearby demon.

“Well, there is no time like the present to collect on a debt!” He looked her up and down. “Why are you wearing a toga?” he asked curiously.

“Now is not the time to discuss fashion. I said I would get you your kittens. But right now I am occupied with other guests.” She slit the demons stomach, stabbing him in the heart.

“We are not leaving ‘till we get paid. We can wait,” the demon answered.

“Maybe if you help, this will end sooner,” Buffy suggested.

“Help you?! Fight demons!? I am not your ingrate friend, fighting his own kind!”

“You know, if I were you I would be ashamed to admit these guys were my kind,” Buffy quipped. “Besides, you never know, I could die right here and then where would you be? You can’t collect your kittens from a dead Slayer, can you?” she said, fighting off another demon.

The shark demon pondered this. “You have a point, but I must ask for something in return. Double the payment.”

“What?” Buffy shrieked, stopping for a minute and receiving a very strong kick in the back from the Touruk demon behind her. “Fine, but only if none of my friends die. Hear me!? And no killing the Slayers over there.”

The shark demon nodded his head and motioned for his lackeys to join the battle.

***********************

Dawn was shocked. “Mikkel,” she said in a small voice. “What are you doing?”

“I am no longer Mikkel. I am Linotheus, one of the ancients. I was here before the humans infected our world and banned all demon gods. Do not cross me, little girl!”

“I thought you really liked me,” she said, tears in her eyes.

“Mikkel was my servant. He did my bidding, nothing more. Getting close to you was essential for our plan. If the Touruk Demons failed to retrieve the witch, then it was up to Mikkel. Everyone needs a backup plan.” He smiled wickedly at Dawn. “Now that I have control of the Slayers, I will have a kingdom again. They will do my bidding and wipe out the human race, just as they are destroying your friends in there. They might have banished me from the old world, but my memory lived on and now I live again.”

“No!” Dawn said, reaching into the giant ball of energy surrounding Mikkel and Willow, and reaching for the necklace around her neck.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Mikkel said. “If you remove it now, she will die. There is no way for her to support their energies now. They will use her up quickly until there is nothing left.”

“I can’t believe you used me,” Dawn said, anger and hurt in her words. “I liked you, you made me feel special.” She inched away from Willow and around the bed toward Mikkel. That’s when she noticed the dagger Mikkel had dropped on the floor after the invocation.

“It is of no consequence now,” Mikkel/ Linotheus said vehemently. “You will not live long enough to care!” He shot a bolt of energy at Dawn, throwing her across the room.

Dawn hit the wall. She stood up slowly, stunned for a moment. “That’s where you’re wrong!” Dawn said trying to catch her breath. “I will live long enough to care, but I won’t! Not for you!” She dove for the knife on the floor.

Mikkel/ Linotheus grabbed her by the arm as she picked up the knife. “Stupid child, you think you can defeat me, all by yourself? You are nothing but one, small girl.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Ilya said coming into the room. “She’s not alone.” He shot a bolt of fire from one hand and hit Mikkel/ Linotheus directly in the chest, causing him to drop Dawn.

Dawn seized the moment. She lunged for Mikkel/ Linotheus. Knife drawn, she plunged it directly into his stomach, not knowing she had cracked the stone housed there. Mikkel/ Linotheus howled. “I may be one girl, but that’s all it takes to beat one god from another dimension,” she said proudly. “Besides, I am not a child!” She looked down at the fallen Mikkel/ Linotheus.

“You may have stopped this invocation. But there will be others. I have many faithful followers.” And with that, Mikkel/ Linotheus vanished, the light leaving the room. Willow began to lurch and struggle against her restraints. She arched pushing away from the bed, then finally collapsing, no longer moving. Dawn ran to her. “Willow!” She checked for pulse. “She’s alive.” She looked at Ilya a look of frantic worry on her face. “Why isn’t she waking up?”

******************

Meanwhile, the Shark demon’s minions were making fast work of the Touruk demons when Susie and Charlotte collapsed. Upon seeing this, the remaining Touruk Demons fled the scene.

“That’s right! Run!” one very bloodied Faith called after the demons.

“What just happened?” Buffy said, looking around suspiciously. “Why did they run?”

“Did we win?” Giles asked, waking up and looking around groggily.

“I don’t know?” Buffy said.

“Buffy, I know your fashion sense isn’t the best but why are you wearing a sheet?” Faith asked looking at Buffy for the first time.


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