Title: All Hallow’s Children

Date written: Sat 27 Dec 2003

Author: Starway Man

E-mail: theop@kew.hotkey.net.au

Disclaimer: The Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters are the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Sandollar, Kuzui, WB and UPN. This story is an adaptation of the BtVS season 2 episode “Halloween” written by Carl Ellsworth and transcribed by AleXander Thompson; so I can’t claim credit for some of it, only the rewritten material for this fanfic. Similarly all the Highlander stuff belongs to Greg Widen and Panzer/Davis; and the Tomb Raider references are owned by Eidos

Rating: R

Warnings: Some violence, attempted assault and character death is present. Plus there are spoilers for just about everything on both shows, up to mid-season 5 of Angel

Main characters: Ensemble

Ships: Some Buffy/Angel, Cordelia/Devon, Dru/Spike, pre-Willow/Oz and Cordelia/Xander

Acknowledgments: Thanks to www.slayerfanfic.com for the episode transcript way back when, that is used in parts of this story; and to Mike and Nodakskip for helpful comments and suggestions

Classification: Action-Adventure, Mystery, Crossover, Alternate Universe

Summary: A seer meets Ethan Rayne during 1997, and the events of “Halloween” turn out differently as the Scooby gang is manipulated by the duo.

~~~~~~

“In the end, we all are who we are...no matter how much we may appear to have changed.” (Rupert Giles, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER)

“Can I say something about destiny? Screw destiny!” (Winifred Burkle, ANGEL)

“Do you think we ever lived like this? Like a tribe, with a name and a reason for each living thing? Did we ever belong somewhere...a time...a place...however briefly?” (Connor MacLeod, HIGHLANDER)

~~~~~~

Wednesday, October 29th, 1997

That night in Sunnydale, California – demons were out wandering around. Vampires were busy killing and maiming. And most sensible humans were sitting indoors at the dinner table, about to have a decent meal. But the Englishman known as Ethan Rayne was having a conversation in his costume shop, with a figure wearing long gray robes and a hood.

The robed figure was in fact a woman, and she said in a British accent, “So, do we have an agreement? Will you do it?”

The man, who was notorious for his many activities of dubious repute, just asked with narrowed eyes, “I don’t particularly care about how you knew what I was planning, but...why exactly do you want this little ‘favour’ done? I mean, really...”

The woman replied, “I have my reasons. And besides, chaos is not a tool to be used for your own amusement, Ethan. Persist in doing so – and it’ll be your downfall, in a few years at most. What I’m offering you is the opportunity to truly serve Janus – which you will, if you do what I ask...”

The guy in question wasn’t convinced. “That sounds like a load of utter drivel – coming from someone like yourself, I’ll have you know.”

His companion sighed. “Perhaps. Very well – you should realize I’ve recently met with the oracle known as Beljoxa’s eye, who suggested I talk to the Spirit Guides-”

“Who?”

“Entities who exist outside of space and time. And they told me what I wanted to know – for a price. I have specific detailed knowledge of the upcoming future, Ethan. Of the possibility to induce complete chaos in this world, and even you need the planet intact to ply your trade. So now, as you can see, other arrangements must be made.”

Ethan was still suspicious. “What price did you pay?” She hesitated. “Come now, Mrs. Harkness, I won’t show you mine if you won’t show me yours...”

Mrs. Harkness pulled back her hood, and the man finally saw her face. The middle-aged woman was blind, with her eye sockets now mutilated and completely empty.

Rayne shrugged at her in distaste, “Fine; we have ourselves a deal, then...”

~~~~~~

A bit later the young man called Xander Harris walked into the only warehouse club in town, after an anonymous telephone call earlier at home from a lady with a British accent. < Wednesday night at the Bronze, just 'cause some woman I don’t even know told me I needed to be here. It’s official; not only am I dateless and desperate, I gotta get me a life... >

Elsewhere within the club, the young woman known as Cordelia Chase started talking to the vampire with a soul called Angel. “I know. Is the Bronze so not happening? Or what?” She set down her drink, and sat next to the handsome undead guy.

Angel noticed her vaguely, “Oh. Hi.”

Cordelia smiled hungrily, “Hi!”

The vampire looked around and said, “I’m waiting for Buffy...” referring to his sort-of girlfriend, Buffy Summers – the current vampire Slayer.

His female admirer responded in a chipper way, “Great! I’m supposed to be meeting Devon, but he’s nowhere to be seen. It’s like he thinks being in a band gives him an obligation to flake.”

Angel smiled at the joke. Cordelia added, “Well, his loss is your incredible gain!”

Just then, seeing his life-long enemy hitting on the vamp he’d disliked from day one, Xander gave up looking for his mystery woman. He joined the dark-haired duo and commented in annoyance, “Ah, yes, I should have known you two birds of a feather would flock together – ya both suck the life outta the room in different ways, and all that!”

Angel ignored him, getting up and looking for his beloved. < Damn it, but that idiot boy can be annoying... >

Cordy got up too and then demanded to know in some confusion, “What are you talking about, you dork?”

Xander looked at Angel in honest surprise, “She doesn’t know you’re a vampire?”

“Yeah, right! Like he’s a cute studmuffin with fangs?” the modern-day princess laughed a moment later, after realizing from his words Angel knew about the Sunnydale nightlife.

The guys exchanged glances, and Xander shrugged. “She knows what’s what, my opinion – you may as well just show her...”

Angel instantly went into game face, displaying his demonic undead visage; and upon seeing it Cordelia started to scream, before Xander clapped a hand over her mouth and the vamp morphed back into his human mask.

After shoving him away, the most popular girl of Sunnydale High said angrily to the class clown, “You loser! How could you let me hit on a vampire like that?” Then to the former object of her affections, “And you! How dare you pretend to be a class A hunk – I mean God, no one so good-looking is allowed to be a monster!”

Angel shook his head, moving away slightly and trying to ignore her now too. But Xander couldn’t help making a wisecrack, “Well, Cordy, things could be worse; at least Angel’s a monster who’s one of the good guys, and so unfortunately won’t eat you. At least, not unless he’s having a really bad day...”

Buffy joined the group at that moment, after entering the club a bit disheveled from a fight with a vampire. An undead American that was now dust, and had been a mere stooge – and the fight had been staged and videotaped for the Master vampire called Spike, by another minion.

Angel greeted her softly, “Buffy...”

Xander looked around and also said brightly, “Hey, Buff!” but Cordelia just ignored the other girl.

The beautiful Slaymaster-General started to say, “Hi! I’m...”

The undead king of the brooding people completed the sentence, “Late.”

The so-called ‘B word’ then looked at him intensely. “Rough day at the office.”

Angel reached up to her hair, and pulled out a piece of straw. “So I see.”

Buffy tried to play it off, “Hey, it’s a look. A seasonal look!” The man she loved just stared at her though, and so she shrugged as if to say okay, that one truly was lame.

Xander asked in concern, “Everything okay with the Slayage, Buffy?” and the girl simply nodded yes to her bestest male bud.

Cordy got fed up with being ignored and decided to insult the Slayer, “Love the hair, Buffy. It just screams ‘street urchin’.”

But as the daughter of a tax cheat was about to leave Xander made a quip that hit hard in her mind, “Right, and we all know that with regards to hair, you’re like the established queen of split ends...?”

Cordy and Xander started to spar with the insults, as Buffy and Angel were forgotten; which was hardly anything new, as they had been bickering ever since they were 6 years old. Their companions just stared at them and then each other, as the war of ugly words started...

The Chase girl said with a nasty expression, “Xander, you know what you really need? A brain.”

The Harris boy replied in kind, “And what you really need, Cordy, is an outfit that doesn’t scream ‘hooker for hire’.”

She fired back, “At least I have clothes on that don’t say, ‘my father is an unemployed drunk’!”

He got pissed at that one, “Hey, at least I don’t have to depend on a dad whose idea of spending time with his child is to give her a charge card for unlimited shopping binges – so he can continue sleeping with his secretary! Or so I hear from my janitor uncle...”

Both Angel and Buffy were now very uncomfortable, but Cordelia just screamed in uninhibited fury and attacked Xander. An impassioned hair-pulling contest then took place between the two angry teenagers; and although they didn’t even realize it, many of the on-looking patrons in the Bronze were their classmates, who laughed and cheered them on.

Cordy’s so-called friends, Harmony Kendall and the group known as the Cordettes, in particular were watching the two tear into one another. The blonde airhead yelled out, “Cordelia! Kick him where it hurts!”

The other good-looking girls looked at her in surprise and a little distaste; Harmony replied, “What – when she asks why we weren’t interested enough to help, what are you guys gonna say?”

The sheep instantly began calling out in support as well, “Go, Cordelia!” “Kick his ass!” “Hit him in the gut!” and so on.

The high school senior called Daniel Osborne, or more commonly just Oz, noticed the commotion and started watching too – along with his friends Larry Blaisdell and Devon MacLeish. “Not good,” commented the guitarist, in his own Yoda-like monosyllabic way.

Larry was grinning, as Cordy had recently dumped him. “Go, Harris!”

Devon said in surprise, “You’re actually rooting for him? That’s my girlfriend! What, are you expecting me to yell out ‘go Harris!’ as well?” He then saw Harmony glaring at him, having spoken too loud; the lead singer for the band ‘Dingoes Ate My Baby’ just sighed, “Oh man, probably there goes my date for tomorrow night...”

Buffy had finally had enough of the duo’s antics; gesturing to the ensouled vamp she grabbed Cordy, Angel grabbed Xander, and the contestants got separated.

Both Slayer and vampire then told their captive fighter, “Calm down!” as they struggled to get back to the battle. Both Cordelia and Xander stopped, and looked around to see practically everyone in the club staring; and then they just stared at each other, feeling horribly embarrassed.

Xander shoved Angel away, and simply left the Bronze. Cordy pushed Buffy away too, as she joined the Cordettes and started to seriously bad-mouth the dark-haired boy with a vengeance.

The Slayer sighed, “I swear, one day those two are gonna be the death of me...”

As she relaxed into his embrace, Angel just told Buffy in amusement, “You know, it’s funny, but I-I haven’t felt this human for a very long time...”

~~~~~~

Thursday, October 30th, 1997

The next day, sign-ups were being taken for the volunteer safety program for Halloween at the Sunnydale High School. The man in command, Principal H.R. Snyder took one of the clipboards, and looked around the hall he was in; he then grabbed the next girl to walk by, and pulled her aside.

The student said indignantly, “Hey!”

Snyder was in no mood for any crap, though. “You’re volunteering.”

He held out the clipboard and pen to her, as Buffy, Xander and their friend called Willow Rosenberg came in from the other hall. The high school commandant thought to himself, < And hurry up, you pathetic little miscreant. I haven’t got all day... >

The cornered schoolgirl tried vainly to get out of being entrapped into something she really didn’t want to do, “But I have to get to class...”

Snyder just shrugged, not caring. The Scoobies then walked past him as Willow said, “Snyder must be in charge of the volunteer safety program for Halloween this year.”

Xander said cynically, “Note his interesting take on the ‘volunteer’ concept.”

Buffy asked, “What’s the deal?”

After they reached Willow’s locker, she worked the combination as Xander told the Slayer, “Oh, a bunch of little kids need people to take them trick-or-treating. Sign up and get your own pack of sugar-hyped little runts for the night.”

Buffy was aghast at the concept. “Yikes. I’ll stick to vampires.”

Then one of the worst things possible took place; Snyder put his hand on her shoulder, and she spun around to face him. The so-called little Ferengi said simply, “Miss Summers. Just the juvenile delinquent I’ve been looking for.”

Buffy looked very afraid. “Principal Snyder!”

Snyder definitely had a look on his face. “Halloween must be a big night for you. Tossing eggs, keying cars, bobbing for apples, one pathetic cry for help after another. Well...” He led her to the sign-up table, “Not this year, missy.”

Willow and Xander came to stand behind her, as Buffy tried to get out of it like the other girl of some moments before. “Gosh, I’d love to sign up; but I recently developed carpal tunnel syndrome, and can tragically no longer hold a flashlight...”

Snyder just held up the clipboard and pen. “The program starts at four, the children have to be back at six.”

Realizing it was hopeless Buffy reluctantly grabbed the pen and clipboard, and signed herself up. Xander couldn’t help thinking it was pretty damn funny, and smiled at Willow. But his best friend from ever since they were just squalling infants had a concerned look on her face, as Snyder then held pens out to the both of them.

The two teens both looked at him, silently begging not to be put through this.

No dice. Willow gave in first, and took the pen with a feeling of upcoming doom...

~~~~~~

Later in another part of the hall, Xander said fuming, “I can’t believe this. We have to get dressed up and the whole deal?”

Willow nodded. “Snyder said costumes were mandatory.”

Buffy looked miserable. “Great. I was gonna stay in and veg, the one night a year things are supposed to be quiet for me...”

Xander was surprised at hearing that, “Halloween quiet? Oh, I figured it’d be a big old vamp scare-a-palooza.”

They walked into the student lounge as Buffy said, “Not according to Giles. He swears that tomorrow night is, like, dead for the undead.” She added as the girls sat down, “They stay in.”

Xander quipped with a big smile, “Those wacky vampires! That’s why I love 'em! They just keep you guessing!”

The guy put his satchel down on the table, and headed over to the soda vending machine. Xander then put in his coins, and hit a button. Nothing happened.

Annoyed, the young man hit another one. Still nothing. < Damn soda machine! Eat my money, will you? > The kid then hit the cursed thing in the front and on the side, in rising frustration.

Larry came up to him, and the 16-year-old boy briefly put his big meaty hand on Xander’s shoulder. “Harris!”

The heart of the Scooby gang was somewhat uneasy at the encounter, “Hey, Lar. You’re lookin’ Cro-Mag as usual. What can I do you for?”

Larry asked immediately, “You and Buffy, you’re just friends, right?”

Xander prevaricated, “I like to think of it less as a friendship, and more as a solid foundation for future bliss.”

The football player insisted on knowing though, “So, she, she’s not your girlfriend?”

The soon-to-be demon magnet then gave in and admitted, “Alas, no.”

Oz’s pal looked over at Buffy, as he walked around Xander. “Do you think she’d go out with me?” He turned to face his interlocutor, with the blonde heroine to his back now.

The perspective guy said at once, “Well, Lar, that’s a tough question to...no. Not a chance.”

Larry obviously wasn’t happy about hearing that. “Why not? I heard some guys say she was fast.”

Xander got defensive, “I hope you mean like the wind.”

The big meathead sent him a leery look, “Yeah, you know what I mean.”

Buffy’s so-called white knight said indignantly, “That’s my friend that you’re talkin’ about!”

Larry smirked, “Oh, yeah? Well, what’re you gonna do about it?”

The potential ICU patient said immediately, “I’m gonna do what any man would do about it...” and then he grabbed Larry by the shirt, “Somethin’ damn manly!”

Larry just smiled and laughed. He then effortlessly knocked Xander’s hands away, and grabbed him by the shirt with his right hand. Balling his left hand into a fist, the guy drew back for a vicious punch; but Buffy grabbed his wrist, pulled it behind his back and slammed his head into the vending machine.

The eldest of the Chosen Two said dangerously, “Get-”

But before she could finish or shove him away, Xander finished going through his flashback of what had happened the previous night; how Angel had dragged him off Cordy that way. He felt the shame all over again, and had an almost prophetic vision of more teenage male humiliation; so the youth decided to do something about it.

Thus Xander interrupted the Buff-meister, “Hey, hey, hey! Let the guy go and back off, okay Buff?” She looked at him strangely, but acceded to his wishes. Xander looked around then said, “Larry, we’re not done yet – but here and now’s not the time or place for this. We’ll settle up later...”

The quarterback looked at Buffy, astounded by her strength, and then jeered at his original target, “Not a problem. And let’s be honest – you actually think a worm like you, could take someone like me?”

The future Nighthawk said confidently, “Maybe you heard about the fight at the Bronze last night, how I made the guy who was bigger than me let go and move away? Plus, I’m really sure Buffy will go out with you, after you beat up a friend of hers in public...”

Larry briefly looked at the Slayer again and seemed to have an epiphany, “You planned this, just to ruin my chances with her!” He then promised the other teenager, “Yeah, another time, Harris...” before the guy left.

Buffy was about to say something, but Xander beat her to it. “Buffy, what did you think you were doing just now?! Why’d you butt in like that, it was like way outta line...”

The descendant of a long line of mystical warriors couldn’t believe this display of male stupidity. “But he was gonna pummel you! I’m your friend, I couldn’t just stand there and let you get hurt-”

“What? Buffy, reality check – unless it’s a demon we’re talkin’ about, you can’t fight my battles for me! You almost seriously violated the guy code here!”

It was obvious she didn’t like hearing that. “Really?”

“Buff, lemme clue you in on some of the facts of life from the ‘Y’ side of things. Guys – they eat of the beef, play sports, watch the action movie, check out the bosoms and often pummel each other, for no good reason. Look, I get that you just wanted to help – but still! You should know that a black eye heals, but cowardice has an unlimited shelf life! Next time, think before you do something like that again and almost completely embarrass me...”

Buffy shrugged, looking somewhat annoyed. “Fine. I promise that when Larry comes after you, I’ll stay out of it and let you guys beat each other to a pulp...” and then she went off to talk to Willow. Xander shook his head, and left the two of them to go at it.

~~~~~~

That night at Ethan’s costume shop, the store was full of mothers with their kids looking for Halloween costumes. Buffy was handling a plastic pumpkin, when it suddenly lit up and screamed. So she quickly put it back on the counter, as Willow came over to her.

Miss Summers asked her closest friend, “What’d you get?”

The future lesbian replied at once, “A time-honored classic!” She held up a ghost costume.

Buffy almost sighed in despair. “Okay, Will, can I give you a little friendly advice?”

Willow looked at her oddly. “It’s not spooky enough?”

The Buffinator dismissed that, “It’s just...you’re never gonna get noticed, if you keep hiding. Especially by Xander! You’re missing the whole point of Halloween.”

The brainy smurf just smiled. “Free candy?”

Buffy insisted, “It’s come-as-you-aren’t night. The perfect chance for a girl to get sexy and wild with no repercussions.”

Miss Rosenberg disagreed at once, her ingrained phobias surfacing. “Oh, I don’t get wild. Wild on me equals spaz.”

She who hung out in cemeteries a lot had faith in her friend. “Don’t underestimate yourself,” Buffy said firmly. “You’ve got it in you-”

The Knowledge Girl of the gang tried to distract the other female, “Hey, so where’s Xander? I didn’t think he’d be a no-show...”

It worked as Buffy moaned, “I think he’s still upset with me over that thing with Larry, that’s why he bailed even though we agreed...” Suddenly the Slayer was distracted by the sight of a costume, and trailed off. The Chosen One then slowly started walking over to a frilly, red, billowy 18th century gown, as Willow followed.

The blonde guardian of the Hellmouth said in deep appreciation as they arrived at their destination, “Whoa...look at this.”

The redhead’s beautiful green eyes went wide. “It’s amazing.”

Ethan noticed Buffy looking at the dress, and came over to them. “Please, let me...” the man said somewhat smarmily, as he took the dress off of its dressmaker’s mannequin.

The grown-up version of the former 8-year-old Power Girl stuttered, “Oh, i-it’s...”

Her secret enemy smiled, “Magnificent. Yes, I know. There.” He held it up in front of her, letting the young woman see herself in the mirror. “My, meet the hidden princess. I think we found a match, don’t you?”

Buffy looked at Ethan, indecision written all over her face. “Oh, uh, I-I’m sorry. There’s no way I could ever afford this.”

Rayne dismissed that at once, “Oh, nonsense. I feel quite moved to make you a deal you can’t refuse...”

The ‘one girl in all the world’ looked back into the mirror, taking the dress from Ethan and smiling dreamily as she held it up to her chin. < It’s the perfect dress for impressing Angel! Just like that 1775 noblewoman we saw in Giles’ Watcher diaries, a few hours ago. > “Okay, what kinda deal are we talking about?”

~~~~~~

A bit later Xander arrived late at the costume shop, due to bumping into Larry again and getting beaten up – but also somehow hurting his opponent enough to make him back off.

The X-man, with a black eye and bruises, watched Willow and Buffy leave the shop in surprise – even though they failed to see him do so. The male teen was close enough to hear the girls talking about the gown Buffy had gotten, and he quickly realized the blonde Slayer wanted to impress Angel with it.

Xander sighed, thinking about the vamp, < Okay, granted I hate his guts, but at least he was the one who pulled me off Cordy last night instead of the Buffster – or else my rep for being a sissy man, would be well and truly permanently established here... >

The femmes disappeared down the street, and Xander entered the store. He quickly asked Ethan, “I’m looking for a toy gun?”

At the Englishman’s stare, the only son of two drunks felt the need to clarify, “Okay, see, I got these fatigues from an Army surplus at home, I was kinda planning to go out tomorrow night as a soldier...”

The chaos worshipper smiled mysteriously. < I already know all that – as well as who you are, little boy... > But he just replied, “No need to explain. But sorry, I’m all out of those.”

Xander definitely started to look worried. Then he shrugged, “I got two dollars. What else can I afford?”

Ethan gestured, looking unconcerned, “Well, at this late date all I have is a mock Japanese katana...”

The young man then got a funny look. “Huh. Oh! Ya know what, I always wanted to dress up as one of my favorite movie characters, one of these Halloweens here...”

~~~~~~

Later that night, Ethan was serving Cordelia in his costume shop. The spoiled rich girl was the only customer in the store; and she complained while handing over some cash, “And another thing, can you say ‘limited inventory’? I can’t believe I actually had to lower myself to shopping here, at this late stage! Still – I promise you, Partytown is never going to get another dime out of me again, for refusing my credit cards like that...”

The middle-aged British man handed over the items bought without comment, even though he thought angrily to himself, < Screw the planet, nothing is worth this!! Mrs. Harkness, damn you for sending the razor-tongued harpy’s money in my direction with that spell... >

Then Ethan said a polite farewell – and as soon as she left, he closed up shop. The guy subsequently snarled, “Bloody stuck-up little tart! I hope you get everything what’s coming to you...”

Mrs. Harkness came out from the back. “Is it done?”

“Yes, yes, the two brats have both gotten what you wanted them to have. Now what?”

“Now we prepare to let chaos rule All Hallow’s Eve, to create a sustainable future...”

~~~~~~

At Spike’s warehouse lair, the British undead also known as William the Bloody was watching the video that his minion had taken of Buffy’s fight the previous night. The platinum-blonde Master vamp chuckled and said in his North London accent, “She’s tricky. Baby likes to play...”

The scene where the Slayer dusted the vampire with the sign was shown, and Spike said out loud, “You see that? The way she stakes him with that thing? That’s what’s called resourceful. Rewind it again.”

His mad sire, the brunette female vamp called Drusilla, came in from the other room. She was fussing about her doll and said in her own British accent, “Miss Edith needs her tea.”

The vampire originally dubbed with the name “Willy” was suddenly instantly affectionate, “C’mere, poodle...” as he held his hand out to her.

Drusilla took the proffered hand. “Do you love my insides? The parts you can’t see?”

Spike reassured her, “Eyeballs to entrails, my sweet. That’s why I’ve got to study this Slayer. Once I know her, I can kill her. And once I kill her, you can 'ave your run of SunnyHell. Get strong again.”

Her psychic antennae vibrating, Dru suddenly murmured, “Oh, my. Everything’s switching. Outside to inside...” She breathed at Spike’s neck, “It makes her weak. The Slayer.”

The Big Bad was curious. “Really? Did my pet 'ave a vision?”

Drusilla nodded. “Do you know what I miss? Leeches.”

The male vamp ignored that, “Come on, talk to Daddy. This thing that makes the Slayer weak? When is it?”

The crazed undead looked away. “Tomorrow.”

The guy who had loved to play with railroad spikes, ever since the second week of rising from his grave, was confused. “Tomorrow’s Halloween. Nothing happens on Halloween.”

His creator replied, “Someone’s come to change it all. Someone new...” Then Dru started to shake and shiver, “Oh! Oh no! It’s terrible, my Spike! So, so 'orrible! The stars are screaming in agony, they are!”

“What? What?” Spike was getting concerned now.

“The wicked seer, she’s gone 'n made a virtuous warrior and a disgraceful grave robber!” The offspring of Angelus turned to stare at her own childe, “Don’t go out tomorrow night, my precious 'eart! The white knight – he’ll try to chop off your 'ead, he will!”

But Spike refused to take serious heed of the warning, “We still got a shot at killing the Slayer though, right luv? So, can’t afford to miss out on that. Besides, 'aven’t met the human yet what could take me in a fight...”

Dru groaned, “No, no, no. It’s all gonna go wrong, it will, like – like little Anne suckin’ her lemons upside down, 'n inside out...”

~~~~~~

In the back room of Ethan’s shop, he and Mrs. Harkness entered through the curtain. “Do the worship ritual, if you must,” she told him. “But make sure nothing is changed for tomorrow night...” Then the woman stepped aside, and stood silent.

Ethan knelt before his statue of Janus; he then pressed his hands together, and winced in pain. When he pulled them apart there were wounds in his palms, and blood flowing freely from them.

The British man then chanted, “The world that denies thee, thou inhabit.” He dabbed the blood from his left hand with his right middle finger, and smeared it over his right eyelid. “The peace that ignores thee...” He took the blood from his right hand with his left middle finger, and rubbed it over his left eyelid. “...thou corrupt.”

Rayne then utilized the blood from his left hand with his right middle finger again, and traced out a cross onto his forehead. “Chaos. I remain, as ever, thy faithful, degenerate son...”

~~~~~~

Friday, October 31st, 1997

The next day in Buffy’s bedroom at 1630 Revello Drive, the blonde in question was looking into her long mirror, wearing her gown and a long, black wig. She put on the second of a pair of earrings, and looked satisfied at her ravishing appearance.

Willow was in the bathroom, changing. “Where’re you meeting Angel?” she asked.

Buffy replied, “Here, after trick-or-treating. Mom’s gonna be out.”

The redhead questioned, “Does he know about your costume?”

The Slayer said simply, “Nope. Call it a blast from his past; I’ll show him I can coiff with the best of 'em...” Getting impatient the hazel-eyed girl turned to the bathroom door, “Okay, Willow, come out. You can’t hide in there all night!”

The future witch stuttered, “O-okay, but, but promise you won’t laugh?”

Her friend replied at once, “I promise.”

Willow opened the door, and came out looking absolutely gorgeous. She was wearing boots, a short, black leather skirt and a burgundy, long-sleeved, V-necked, midriff-baring top. The problem was she was also very uncomfortable and felt like a laughing-stock, and thus the amateur computer hacker quickly stepped over to her ghost sheet and picked it up.

Her personal wardrobe manager smiled hugely, “Wow! You’re a dish!” Willow just tried to hide herself with the sheet, but Buffy firmly took it from her and tossed it aside. “I mean, really.”

The girl whose family disliked Thanksgiving was still very uncomfortable though, and tried to cover herself with her arms. “But this just isn’t me...”

Buffy just said firmly, “And that’s the point!” She walked around Willow, to show the skimpily-clad teen her reflection in the mirror. “Look, Halloween is the night that not you is you, but not you. Y’know?”

The doorbell rang and the blonde Champion said at once, “Oh! That’s Xander. Are you ready?”

Willow was now über-nervous at the thought of her permanent childhood crush seeing her like this. “Yeah. O-o-okay.”

Buffy smiled, “Cool! I can’t wait for the boys to go non-verbal when they see you!” Then she went to get the door, even as Willow started trying to cover herself up again.

Heading downstairs, the Casa del Summers resident trudged down the steps and opened the door for Xander. She saw him wearing blue jeans, old white sneakers, a white shirt underneath a brown jacket, along with a nondescript trenchcoat; and he was holding the toy sword. As well as having a lot of bruises on his face... “Xander, what happened to you?!”

The young man shrugged; he had forgotten that this would be the first time the girls would see him banged up like this, as he hadn’t been at school today. “Had a little run-in with Larry. Don’t sweat it though, I’m all right...”

That didn’t comfort the Chosen One much, and she couldn’t help completely forgetting their previous conversation on the subject. “Well, but you’re still hurt! I, I should have been there to help you, somehow...” she started to come forward in obvious ‘worried mother’ mode.

Xander tried not to let her words make him feel completely gutted, as his hopes for a romantic liaison with the Slayer suddenly took a final, horrible, death blow. < It’s so obvious, why didn’t I see it before? Deep down...I’m totally unable to look after myself, as far as she’s concerned... > “Buffy, please! I know whereof I speak – Rodney Munson beat me up every day for five years, remember? Trust me on this...”

The costumed blonde quickly told herself, < Better not make that much of a big deal about it, because of that ‘guy code’ thing. Oh, who am I kidding? It’s Xander here! > “You’re sure? 'Cause I could get ice...”

Then the former King of Cretins noticed her costume, and said by way of distraction, “Yeah, and look at you! Lady of Buffdom, Duchess of Buffonia, I am in awe! I completely renounce spandex, as my choice of outfit for women!”

The image of an English lady finally relaxed and curtsied, “Thank you, kind sir.” Xander almost bowed in return. Then the Slayer started to ask, “Uh, and what are you supposed to be dressed up as-?”

The daughter of Hank and Joyce Summers then saw his annoyed expression, and wisely changed the subject. “Well, um, anyway, i-it’s great. But wait till you see...”

They turned to look up the stairs at Willow, hearing the noise of footsteps. But the Jewish girl had put on the ghost outfit, unable to deal with her extreme panic attack; and Xander could not help noticing the white bedsheet said ‘BOO!’ on the front, in large bold letters.

The Willster just said shyly, “Hi.”

Buffy trailed off in disappointment, “...Casper.”

Xander said in an upbeat way, “Hey, Will! That’s a-a-a fine boo you got there.”

But then, as she got a good look through the peepholes, the future high school valedictorian was instantly horrified at her friend’s injuries; so she yanked off the sheet, in her hurry to get downstairs and check on young Mr. Harris. < Ohmigod! Ohmigod! Ohmigod! >

Buffy closed the door as Willow examined his face and forehead worriedly and babbled, “Xander! Xander! You’re hurt. How did you get hurt? Oh, this is bad. What, what happened? Who happened? Who did this to you? Did-”

Initially annoyed again Xander ignored all that however, and stepping back his eyes almost bulged out at her revealing costume. “Will! Don’t worry, I’m fine despite appearances – but great googly-moogly, look at what you’ve got on!”

Willow was instantly terribly self-conscious, as her cheeks went scarlet and she tried to put on the bedsheet again. But he didn’t let her, “Hey, no, stop! No way, Wills – trust me; you gotta go out tonight lookin’ like that, and not some wimpy chain-rattler. Cordy and her sheep will never even know what hit 'em; and hopefully, it’ll give Snyder a heart attack! Which would serve him right, for everything he’s done to us lately...”

Willow looked at Buffy for support, but she just had that huge grin plastered all over her face again, and so the red-haired girl miserably acquiesced to their desires. < I really gotta learn to stand up for myself one day... > She then said to Xander, “And who are you supposed to be?”

The Xandman sighed in despair but quickly grinned, “Ladies, behold the one and only...” then he said in a lousy attempt at a Scottish accent, “Connor MacLeod, of the clan MacLeod. For in the end, there can be only one...”

The girls looked at him without comment, then just burst out giggling. And Xander didn’t need to hear them say it, to realize they would have tried to talk him into getting something else if they’d been there...

~~~~~~

At the high school, children were arriving in costume to be taken trick-or-treating. Buffy was thus standing in the hall by the stairs holding a clipboard, waiting for her charges.

Snyder brought them to her, as well as his own bad attitude. “This is your group, Summers. No need to speak to them. The last thing they need is your influence! Just bring them back in one piece, and I won’t expel you.” He started to leave...

The young woman bent down to the kids and said to the kids, “Hi.”

Snyder said at once, “Ah, ah!”

Buffy straightened back up, and rolled her eyes. After he was gone she thought about what Xander had said earlier and murmured to herself, “You need me to kick your ass anyway, ya little troll...”

One of the little girls turned to her friends, “She said ass! I’m telling...”

Miss Summers instantly knelt down again, “No, no, you-you don’t wanna do that. Candy?”

Xander was close by to them when Larry came past dressed as a pirate and said to him, “Harris – just so ya know, after tonight is over? I’m going to finish the job I started doing on your face...”

He jumped at the so-called Idiot Jed, making him flinch; then Larry laughed directly in Xander’s face, and continued on down the hall. The two-dollar costume king raised his toy sword in defiance, but then just dismissed the retreating bully from his mind.

Elsewhere, Oz was checking his guitar at his locker. And as luck would have it Cordelia came into the hall, wearing a very cleavage-y black outfit along with black combat shorts; her hair was in a long plait, and she also had two fake guns on her hips. All of the boys in the corridor were practically drooling at the sight of her, even more so than usual...

Uncharacteristically ignoring the attention, Cordelia walked up to the musician, “Oz! Oz!”

The soon-to-be werewolf looked up at her, the one unfazed male in the crowd. “Hey, Cordelia. What are you supposed to be dressed up as?”

Rolling her hazel eyes, the beauty queen replied, “My last-minute, no-other-choice Lara Croft costume. And just between us, I swear I would have looked ten times better in that cat outfit I was originally planning to get! But hey, are you guys playing tonight?”

The guy who often dreamed of reaching E-flat, diminished ninth nodded sagely. “Yeah, at the Shelter Club.”

Cordelia looked annoyed. “Is Mr. I’m-the-lead-singer-I’m-so-great-I-don’t-have-to-show-up-for-my-date-or-even-call gonna be there?”

Oz just said deadpan, “Yeah, y’know, he’s just going by ‘Devon’ now.”

The cheerleader ignored his dry sarcasm. “Well, you can tell him that I don’t care, and that I didn’t even mention it. And that I didn’t even see you. So that’s just fine.”

The young man could not help being somewhat confused, “So, what do I tell him?”

Cordelia snapped, “Nothing! Geez! Get with the program.” She then walked off in a huff.

Daniel Osborne said even more sarcastically to himself, “Why can’t I meet a nice girl like that?”

At that moment, Willow came down the hall in her Goth girl outfit; she had just barely gotten used to all the looks she was receiving, from both sexes of the student body. Oz turned around, and bumped right into her; his eyes nearly popped out of his head and he said, “Oh! I’m sorry.”

The redhead looked away. “Me too. Sorry, that is.”

But Oz was still ogling her. “I’m really sorry.”

Willow said at once, “Yeah. Sorry. Uh, I gotta go.”

Osborne nodded, suddenly finding it hard to keep his trademark coolness factor around this specimen of stunning female loveliness. But he needn’t have gotten worried... “Me too.”

Thus Oz and Willow continued down the hall on their separate ways, but then the boy turned around again and seriously checked her out. < Man. Who is that girl? >

Not far away, Xander was briefing his group of kids – with his own special brand of Harris wisdom. “Okay, on sleazing extra candy: tears are key. Tears will normally get you the double-bagger. You can also try the old ‘you missed me’ routine, but it’s risky. Only go there for chocolate. Understood?” The children all nodded their little heads. “Okay, then let’s get going...”

~~~~~~

Later out on the streets, nightfall had come. A student dressed as a vampire was escorting his own group of the bratty little prepubescents; and they walked by Buffy’s group, coming back from a house.

The blonde born in L.A. stopped and crouched down, to see what they’d gotten. She asked, “What did Mrs. Davis give you?”

They all pulled out toothbrushes, and the Chosen One almost blanched. “She must be stopped...”

The Slayer then got up, talking to her group of kids, “Let’s hit one more house. We still have a few more minutes, before I need to get you back...”

~~~~~~

In the back room of Ethan’s shop, the man of the hour prepared himself to incant a spell in Latin, as Mrs. Harkness silently stood there behind him ‘watching’. “It is time,” she intoned unnecessarily.

Ethan nodded and finished the preliminaries. He then said, “Janus, evoco vestram animam. Exaudi meam causam. Carpe noctem pro consilio vestro. Veni, appare et nobis monstra quod est infinita potestas.”

The translation echoed in the blind woman’s mind, “Janus, I invoke your spirit. Hear my plea. Seize the night for your own reason. Come, appear and show to us that which is infinite power.”

~~~~~~

At a house elsewhere, Willow followed her charges along the porch to the front door. “C’mon, guys...”

One of the kids, who was wearing a green monster mask on his head, rang the bell and stepped back. An old lady answered the door, and the kid with the mask pulled it down over his face.

All the kids chanted in unison, “Trick-or-treat!”

The lady smiled in genuine pleasure, “Oh my goodness, aren’t you adorable!”

~~~~~~

Back in the shop Ethan chanted, “Persona se corpum et sanguium commutandum est. Vestra sancta praesentia concrescet viscera. Janus! Sume noctem!”

Mrs. Harkness’s brain said silently at the same time, “The mask transforms itself into flesh and blood. Your holy presence curdles the heart. Janus! Take the night!”

~~~~~~

A wind began to blow on the streets, as Buffy sensed something wasn’t quite right. Not far away at the residence where the old lady was with Willow’s kids, the homeowner looked into her empty bucket and said, “Oh, dear! Am I all out? I could’ve sworn I had more candy...”

The kid wearing a red rubber cap with horns suddenly morphed into a horned, red-skinned real monster. The woman didn’t notice and said, “I’m sorry, mister monster...” She bent down, “Maybe I...”

The kid with the green mask had changed into a demon also; so he grabbed the lady by the neck, and began to cold-bloodedly choke her.

The other children just screamed and ran away. Willow shouted in confusion, “No! Let her go!”

The red demon attacked the green one, and he let go of the woman. The two monsters started to tear at each other’s throats as Willow kept shouting, “Stop! What’re you doing?!”

The old lady quite sensibly ran into the house, and slammed the door shut. The redheaded guardian of the children just ignored that and yelled, “Stop! Hey!”

She went to separate them, but both demons growled loudly at her; and that quickly cured Willow of any silly notions of trying to play hero. The two monsters then got on with the business of fighting, and it didn’t appear as if they would stop anytime soon.

On the street, Xander was just standing there – watching all the parents and children running around him. Things were being thrown about, and windows were being carelessly smashed; basically, chaos was erupting everywhere.

Willow ran onto the street, looking for her other charges; but they had all disappeared. Then Xander suddenly jerked back, like he’d just been hit by something. He bent over slightly, looking down and lowering his toy sword.

Willow then watched in amazement as Xander’s various bruises were instantly healed, as blue-white lightning bolts danced over the wounds; then the guy suddenly knew himself to be the Scottish-born Immortal named Connor MacLeod, as the katana became the razor-sharp real Masamune weapon.

Willow shouted, “Xander? Xander!” The man looked up, and pointed his sword at her. “Whoa, don’t! It’s me, Willow!”

Xander responded instantly in a thick Highlander accent, “Aye, blossom – fer all I know, that may be true. But then, I don’t happen ta know anyone named after a tree...”

Willow sounded annoyed, “Xander, quite messing around. This is no time for jokes! Now, what just happened with that lightning thing-y? How did your injuries just vanish?”

Xander was surprised at her mention of the Quickening, “Was I hurt just now, then?” Then he looked around carefully and demanded, “Ah, never mind that – what the hell’s goin’ on? This is the States, not Scotland where I was just at a few seconds ago. And where’s Brenda?”

Willow looked confused. “Who?”

Xander glared at her. “My wife!”

Willow started to believe he wasn’t kidding, as she suddenly noticed his frame looked a lot less scrawny than she remembered. “Oh, boy. She’s, uh, she’s not here. And you, um, you really don’t know me, do you?”

Xander swung the katana away from her, and again looked at the chaos all around him. “No I don’t, little tree, but I suggest we go find cover. Things are that mad around here, and so we’d best be leavin’...” He started walking to her.

“No, Xander, wait! There’s some things I have to tell you...” When the brown-eyed man in the trenchcoat got close enough, she grabbed hold of his arm in her urgency.

But the would-have-been butt-monkey of the Scooby gang shook her off and said, “Don’t grab at me like that, woman!” He then sighed, “Well, what is it yer wantin’ to say?”

Willow said urgently, “Xander Harris, you gotta listen to me! Things have gone all kablooey-”

Xander interrupted in confusion, still unsure if this was the alias he was using around here or it was just a case of mistaken identity. “Harris? Huh. I’m actually usin’ the name of that part o’ the family now?”

Willow ignored that and said, “Something crazy is happening. You’re, um, you’re not who you think you are! The kids I was with, they were dressed as monsters, and now they are monsters. And you...you dressed up as that character in the Highlander movie, and so now I guess you really are the Immortal Connor MacLeod...”