The Golden Queen Series:
The Golden Queen
by Damia

Chapter Four

Earth

Buffy let out a piecing scream and shot up in her bed.

She just couldn’t get the horrible vision out of her head. Blood, blood everywhere.

There was sweat glittering on her tiny body as she quickly reached over in the darkness to switch on the bedside lamp. She was breathing very heavily as she brought her shaking hands up to cover her face, tears running freely down her pale cheeks.

“Oh, Goddess,” She moaned just as the bedroom light was switched on and a freaked Willow and Oz ran into the room, wondering why in hell the scream had come from their guest bedroom.

The sight that greeted them stopped them in their tracks.

Buffy was sitting up in her bed, her hands seemingly squeezing her head between them, as if she was trying to force something out. When she noticed they were standing there she looked up and they noticed that her face was streaked with tears as she had been sobbing into her knees. The moon that was her birth line flashed furiously on her forehead. Her golden hair was flying around her back with the ends laying peacefully in a heap on her pillow. Seeing them, she forced a brave smile and quickly wiped the tears away from her cheeks.

Before the two of them could go any further, a black haired shape flew past them into the room. Nimisha pushed her way between them in her silver, satin night dress and quickly headed over to her mother, curly midnight hair flying down her back. But she got half way and stopped dead. Taking in every detail she quickly came to the right conclusion. Her beautiful dark featured face transformed into one of despair and pity.

Willow and Oz watched in wonder as Nimisha slowly went over to her mother and sat gently down beside her shaking form on the bed. With obvious experience in the matter she slowly gathered her mother in her arms, chasing the demons from her powerful mind.

“You never told me they still came.” She said quietly, but not accusingly. But Buffy only shook her head firmly.

“I didn’t want to worry you, Nimi. Afraya was always there to tend to me, anyway, best if you got your sleep.”

But her daughter only gave her a sad smile. Giving her mother a quick hug from behind she leaned her chin on Buffy shoulder and whispered, “I can fix your head *way* better than Afraya ever could, mama, and you bloody well know it.”

Buffy only chuckled lightly at this and brought her hand up to lovingly pat her daughter’s cheek.

Taking this as a clue to do something, Willow and Oz walked hesitantly into the room. Willow sat beside Nimisha while Oz stayed a respectable distance away, looking down at them.

Willow slowly reached over and took Buffy’s hand in her’s and was shocked to discover just how cold it was. It was practically freezing, her whole body was.

“Buffy?” her friend said, leaning slightly over to her. “Are you okay?”

Tearing her eyes off her daughter, Buffy looked at her friend and Willow was instantly uncomfortable. If there was anything about her friend’s sudden arrival that she didn’t like it was this. The way that she never really seemed to notice you when you talked to her, she would still be looking at you but she would have that dreamy far away look in her eyes, that instantly made people nervous. Someone that age seemingly shouldn’t have that much power, that much wisdom her beautiful green eyes. And there was always that terrible light in her eyes, frightening for its intensity.

It was like you were looking upon the face of God.

Shaking off the sudden feeling to shudder, Willow hesitantly asked her question again.

This time Buffy heard her, or noticed her at least.

The young Queen gave her head a firm shake and they all noticed that the living seemed to return to her eyes.

“Wow,” Oz said, finally speaking up. “You left us for a second.”

Touched by both their concern, the Slayer gave them each a reassuring smile and remembered that they still had a very lot to learn about their friend. She knew that they must be wondering where the old, carefree, teenager Buffy had gone and why it had been replaced by this wise, regal, beautifully carved woman. She hadn’t yet explained a lot to them, the moons for instance, or just how high up she was in the Alliance society. She didn’t really know how they would react to that.

Nimisha brought herself around to face her mother. Bringing her small hand up she gently placed it on Buffy’s forehead (similar to what she had earlier done to Willow) and started to use her healing properties in Buffy’s head. Buffy she gave Willow’s hand a firm squeeze. But Willow was staring at Nimisha, startled. She turned to Buffy, the question easily read in her eyes.

“She’s healing my brain.” Willow still looked confused and Buffy sighed. “I get these dreams, really intense dreams actually. Their sort of like what could happen in the future if I don’t do things right. And if not fixed properly they can do serious damage to my brain. So when I have them, Nimisha - or Afraya mostly - heals them for me.”

Willow got more comfortable on the bed and frowned deeply. “These dreams are about The Alliance right? The people?” When Buffy nodded she continued, “Then why in the world would you be getting them?” She asked stumped.

Nimisha stiffened on the bed, Buffy as well, and the two of them looked at each other.

Tearing her eyes away from her daughter she once again looked at her high school friend. Knowing that she could trust her with her biggest secret yet.

“Because i’m their Queen, Willow.” She told her quietly, as if it was something she shouldn’t be saying. Then she shrugged, “It’s sort of in the job description.”

“Pardon?” Oz said, eyes open in surprise. So that’s what she had been hiding, he thought. That’s her big secret.

Buffy looked down at her lap hesitantly, very nervous at their reactions.

“Thats the main reason why I left.” She sighed again, trying to get them to understand. “My mother..no not Joyce, Will.” She added when Willow opened her mouth. The Witch looked even more confused than before, but this time a little angry.

“What do you mean ‘not Joyce’!? She’s your mother! It’s on your birth certificate for Christ’s sake!”

Buffy smiled sadly at her friend, wishing there was some easier way to tell them this. Willow had always liked Joyce.

“Yes..” She stated, nodding her head slowly, “Joyce is my mother. But not the real one.”

“What!?” Willow yelped.

Oz looked at her, surprised. “Your adopted?” He chuckled, “Jeez, Giles would love that.”

Buffy was pained at the mention of her Watcher, but tried to ignore it.

But Oz noticed, and wondered...

“No, Oz, i’m not adopted, not really anyway. Mama is..er..*was* a woman named Semarritte. Semarritte Nicolaievna Thealo Tessionare actually.” Suddenly she grew sober, lost her smile, and her next words were barely a whisper.

“I never knew her.” She said frowning and Willow took her hand again, trying to comfort her but desbrity wanting to know more about this woman who Buffy claimed to be her mother. “She died when I was here on Earth.”

Giving Willow a sad smile she continued.

“My mother was the Queen of the Imperial Alliance, just like her grandmother Dimeara and mother Tandia were.” She looked Willow squarely in her eyes and said in a strong voice..

“And just like me.”

Willow frowned again.

“Your part of this Tessionare family? This big top family thingy?” When Buffy nodded she said, “But your name *is* Buffy Summers..isn’t it?”

Buffy laughed. “No, Will. My *real* name is Everynne. Everynne Nicolaievna Ayladana Tessionare, and I..” she illustrated this by tapping her chest, “Are the forth Queen of the Imperial Alliance.”

“What exactly do you mean by ‘Queen’?” Willow asked in disbelief.

Buffy just shrugged her shoulders simply. “Exactly what it is. Their Queen. I rule the thousand planets that make up the Alliance.”

Willow was speechless. She had always known that Buffy would grow to be someone important but now she was taking it just a *little* bit far.

“Thousand?!” She sputtered.

“Yeah.” Buffy said in fake brightness. “Its just like a giant bagel really. All the planets forming rings around Allrelen.” Then she said proudly, “It the biggest and oldest Defence Treaty in the whole galaxy.”

Secretly Willow thought this was really cool. All the things she had learned tonight? About Nimisha..Buffy’s daughter..all the planets - especially the whole time thing - it was just amazing. But she definitely knew that if it was anyone else telling this crazy story she would have told them they were mad. But to think that her Buffy - her best friend - was a Queen to like, thousands of planets was just mindblowing.

The she frowned. “Just how many people are there in Alliance thingy exactly?”

Buffy looked down when she answered.

“About 1,922 Billion, I think the last census counted.” She mumbled modestly.

“1,922 *Billion*!?” Willow yelped. Oz too look shocked.

“And your in charge of all those people?”

Buffy nodded.

Oz whistled. “Jeez, Buffy, that’s a bloody big responsibility.” He said grimacing slightly

Buffy laughed right out at that. “Yeah, I guess you can say that..It is kinda tough.” She admitted frowning sadly. Then she chuckled ironically. “Lets just say that I don’t get that much holiday time.”

The room fell into a respectable silence at this. When Buffy felt someone watching her she looked up and found Willow looking at her strangely. “What?” She said cautiously.

Willow looked at her for a while before answering.

“You know,” she started slowly. “I never ever expected to see you again. But then, boom! your standing on my porch with a girl..no let me change that..*your daughter*..who i’m not even going to get into what Angel’s going to say when he sees her. Have you ever actually noticed who she looks like, Buffy? She’s the freaking spitting image of him! And even though I don’t think I could ever be happier at this moment, i’m just kinda wondering what the hidden reason is here. I mean, you’ve been away for four years Buffy..well Earth years anyway. Why in the world did you decide to come back now? Something in me is just telling me that your not telling the truth, or leaving some of it out, anyway.”

Oh, hell. Buffy thought, bitting her lip, nervous instantly. But, she told herself, she should have known from the start that Willow was going to find out sooner or later. She had just hoped that if would have been a bit later, giving her more time to figure out what the hell she was going to say to explain this one.

“What do you think i’m not telling you?” she said quietly.

It wasn’t meant to be sarcastic, but Willow obviously thought it was, because for the first time that long evening she got mad.

Fast.

“I don’t know, Buffy! What the hell do you think I should say!?” she said, shooting off the bed. “That your lying to us? That you left us in this hell, while you go live it up in some freaking palace in God knows what side of the bloody galaxy!” She was working herself into one of her Excited States, and she seemed to be the only one in the dark room that didn’t notice it.

“Cause if you ask me, Buff, your getting bloody good at that, leaving when things get too tough to handle! And I’ll tell you now, i’m not the only one getting sick of it!”

Buffy was on her feet in an instant. “Thats not fair Willow, and you damn well know it!” Willow drew back in surprise at her wrath, wondering just what she had gotten herself into.

“How dare you go and say that i’ve been “living it up” in some palace! What the bloody hell would you know!? Do you even have *any* idea how hard it’s been for the last *16* years being away from you guys!?” She nodded acceptingly. “Okay, so maybe I do get a lot of luxury that I wouldn’t normally get here on Earth, and I’ll admit that yeah, I do enjoy the advantages of being the Queen of the wealthiest and most respected state of the Galaxy. But do you how many times I just wished that I could dial up the Gate and come visit? The guilt that I have had to live with all these years?”

When they didn’t say anything she continued, somehow glad to be able to get this over done with.

“Do you have any idea what it’s like to have a daughter that knows that she might never meet her father!? That at the same time might have to come here one day and he will never be aloud to know just who she is?” She thumped her chest. “Do you know what that does to me!? How that makes *me* feel at what i’m doing to Angel in making him miss out of having the pleasure of knowing his beautiful daughter and seeing her grow up!?”

She had tears dripping down her cheeks before she knew it. Looking at Willow again she noticed that her face was one of pity.

She never knew....

“Oh, Buffy.” She said sadly, as she slowly got up and walked over to her. “I had no idea.” She reached Buffy and folded her into a hug. They stayed there rocking for a while before Willow pulled back and said quietly,

“I still thing that there’s something you’re keeping from me, something that has to do with *her.*” she said this with a firm nod in Nimisha’s direction, who looked up from where she had almost fallen asleep once again, startled at being the centre of attention once again.

Buffy lowered her head in defeat.

What was she meant to tell them? That there were Alien vampires that had been trying to take over her worlds for the best part of 10,000 years? And spending most of these trying to kill her family? That if they get hold of Nimisha they will do a great more to her than just kill her? That the hardest thing was that they looked exactly like humans and mostly everyone else in the Alliance, making it almost impossible to detect them until the time of your death?

Well...she thought. That would be a good place to start.

Sighing, Buffy led Willow over to the bed again and sat down, pulling her down beside her.

“The reason that we are here, Willow, is because we need your help.” Willow regarded her in surprise.

*“You* need *my* help?” she said startled, her eyes opened wide. Then she frowned slightly, a worried look appearing on her face. “What in God’s name for?”

“You remember how I told you that The Alliance was set up by an ancestor of Nimisha’s and mine called Dimeria?” When Willow nodded, still frowning, she continued. “The whole reason Grandmama set up The Alliance was because there was a race of Aliens called Vanquishers - their sort of like Vampire’s really - that kept attacking other worlds. We were all sort of fending for ourselves at that time, all having our own Monarchy, that sort of stuff. Dimeria was actually Queen of a planet that was right in the middle of the cluster called..” She nodded her head, “Allrelen. That’s how it became the Capital planet. So, to cut a long, long story short, she formed the Alliance as a Defence Treaty. You know, all the planet looking after each other, that sort of stuff. But, i’m afraid to say that the Vanquisher’s still have planet’s outside our borders, on the other side of the galaxy actually. They have been continuing to attack Alliance planet’s - ignoring our countless threats of war - and really continuing a war that has been going off and on, for the best part of 10,000 years.” She chuckled sadly. “All of my family, one way or another, have been killed by these creatures. When Afraya came for me, I was thrust into one of the biggest war’s our people have ever seen.”

Shit. Willow thought. What an inheritance.

Seeing how this didn’t really answer Willow’s question, Buffy sighed. Looking over at her beautiful daughter, the wave of protectiveness that washed over her didn’t help matter’s much.

She would kill for this child.

*Had* killed for this child.

But Nimisha was obvious to it all. She was looking at her with a small, sad smile on her face, silently telling her to go for it.

After a beat, Buffy sucked her breath in and said, “What I need is for you two look after Nimisha for me for a few weeks.” Buffy blurted out quickly. Willow and Oz looked at her, startled.

“You *what*?” Oz got out, inching closer every minute to the bed, arms crossed over his broad chest.

Oh, well. Buffy thought. Might as well finish what I’ve started.

With her face resolved and firm, as if she even dared them to disagree, Buffy told them firmly,

“In exactly 9 days time, if the Vanquishers are aloud to penetrate Allrelen’s atmosphere they will kill every single person of our one Billion souled population. We can not allow that to happen. What we are trying to do is bring it out into open space, were our strength’s lie. *If* we can do this we have a chance to get them at their own game. And if they get hold of my Body Heir, eg Nimisha, then God’s knows what they could do to our defences. That’s why she would be totally safe here with you. The Vanquisher’s would never, ever, think that I would send my only child to a planet that has a higher Vampiric population than some of their own.” she looked at her friends. “She is the future Queen of our worlds, guys. Can you imagine what would happen if they got hold of her?” By the way the both shuddered, they could.

But then Willow frowned. “It these Vanquishers are as tough as they sound to be, what would you guys have that they don’t?”

Buffy chuckled and looked at her daughter for an example.

And Nimisha was only happy to oblige.

As Willow and Oz watched, stunned at the impossible sight before them, Nimisha calmly looked around the room for the perfect target. Seeing the lamp that was sitting innocently on the bed side table she locked her powerful gaze with the object. The moon on her brow started to flash as it picked up power. With out breaking her gaze, Nimisha gave her head a quick jerk upwards and the lamp came sailing off the table.....

...right into her waiting hands.

The room was absolutely silent. Not a single person breathed.

Until Willow finally said...

“What the Hell was that!?” She looked panicked.

Buffy was still looking at her daughter, grinning.

“This is our secret weapon. What you so appropriately pointed out, Willow as.. ‘what we have and they dont.”

Willow was still staring at Nimisha with wide eyes, who was calmly sitting crosslegged in the middle of her mother’s bed, eyes firmly locked on the lamp, that was now floating in mid-air in front of her. To demonstrate, she moved her eyes to the side, only slightly. But the lamp obediently followed. She did this a few more times and every single one, the lamp followed her gaze.

Finally Willow clicked.

“Your both Telekinetic!” She said, delighted.

Buffy nodded. “Almost everyone in The Alliance is, its sort of in our blood.” She shrugged, “Your born with it. But we don’t call it Telekinesis though, in the Alliance it’s Teleporting, or Porting for short.”

Stunned, Willow hesitantly brought her hand over and quickly waved it under the lamp, where nothing happened. Seeing that she was still a bit wary, Nimisha gently Quick-Ported the lamp into her arms. All that Willow saw was the lamp disappear, then less than a second later, reappear in her arms.

“Oh, my.” She said, startled at where it reappeared. But shaking her head out of her daze she looked at Buffy, stunned.

“And you can do this to anything? There’s no weight limit?”

Smiling, Buffy nodded, but said, “It’s pretty hard to Port other people though, about two’s probably the limit.”

“You can Port people?” Oz asked, surprised.

Buffy nodded. “Anywhere on any planet. You can be in the middle of Australia one second, then in Alaska the next. Probably the only limit is that you can’t Port through space.” she shook her head. “It’s impossible. I don’t even want to think what the pressure would do your brain.” Thinking about it they all shuddered.

“And I take it that these Vampires dont have this power?” Oz asked.

Buffy nodded again. “It’s probably what won us all the war’s in our history. Although they have space ships like us, lets just say that it’s a lot easier to actually get them up in space and move them around up there if you dont have to do it manually.”

“You can Port whole space ships?” Asked Oz, ever the male.

“Yip. Though it’s pretty hard to do it by yourself. Since they are so big - each one is probably about five times the size of Russia - Usually it takes about three people move them.” She shrugged. “Usually it’s me, Nimisha, and Afraya. Since were the most powerful people in the Alliance we catalyse each other’s power.”

Willow frowned. “And i’m guessing those moons on your foreheads are some sort of power source, am I right?”

Again, Buffy nodded. “Their sort of our Birth Lines. Since Nimisha and I are the only two Royal Family members we are the only one’s that have them. It’s sort of a way for people to know who we are. But yes, they are our power sources. They pick up on our emotions too. If we are stressed, hurt, scared, that sort thing, they will flash to warn us and others.” She smiled. “Their pretty handy actually.”

Now both Willow and Oz frowned. “If they let others who you are, wont any Vanquisher’s on Earth now who she is if she’s staying here?”

Picking up at what they were getting at Buffy leaned over to show them the illusion but she found that Nimisha had bet her too it. With Willow and Oz watching, Nimisha waved her hand back and forth across her forehead. The moon disappeared, reappeared, and disappeared in reaction.

Raising her eyebrow at her daughter, Buffy grinned. Shrugging her dainty shoulders, Nimisha grinned right back. “What can I say?” She said smugly, that looked totally out of place on her innocent, gypsy face. “I’m a fast leaner.”

At this, the three adults burst out laughing.

They talked until well after dawn. Wasn’t like they could get back to sleep now anyway.

But it was good. They got a lot of things - their feelings - out in the open, cleared the air. And when dawn finally broke they all knew just how high the stakes were, just how important these next 9 days were for Buffy’s people and that everything go according to plan.

And, of course, Willow and Oz eagerly agreed to have Nimisha stay with them. As Willow slying put it, it would give her a chance to get to know this niece of her’s that she didn’t even know existed, giving Buffy a pointed look, which would have made her grimace if Willow hadn’t been laughing.

The only problem that they could find was what exactly Nimisha would be doing with her time on Earth. They all wanted her to learn first hand what every day life was like, but not something that could blow their cover.

It was Willow’s idea that she go to school.

Just like her mother, Nimisha was not really the fondest person for lessons, so she had scrunched up her nose at the idea as the three girls sat in their pyjamas around the kitchen table early that morning, eating breakfast while Oz was taking his turn in the shower. Waving a piece of buttered toast in Willow’s direction, she said a firm,

“No way.”

Willow and Buffy had looked across at her in surprise. Then Buffy frowned.

“I thought you liked your lessons with Tanda, Nimi?”

Nimisha sighed and put her piece of toast down on it’s plate.

“I do like my lessons, mama. But I didn’t really think that I would have to do any *more* while I was here.” She shrugged. “I thought this was meant to be a hoilday anyway.”

Buffy cocked her head and raised her eyebrows at her lovely, dark haired daughter. “This is no where near a hoilday, Nimi, and you know it.”

Not getting a responce, Buffy smiled wolfishly at Nimisha. “Look at it this way, my child. Your’ll be the smartest in your class.”

Well that did it.

Nimisha slowly raised her head off the table and smiled mischievously at her mother. Shifting her gaze to Willow, cocked her eyes in questain.

But Willow just looked bemused as she looked back and forth between the pair. Finally her gaze rested on her firend.

“I think I might regret suggesting that. Just how smart is she?”

Buffy laughed and Nimisha grinned in return. “Very, Will.” she said proudly. Then she looked sternly at her daughter, “Though I have to say that she would be incredibly more so if she studied more instead of jetting off in all directions of the Galaxy - with another certain incredibly wealthly First Familied juvenile - for shopping trips. I think I should have a talk with that mother of her’s into docking your allowances. Their far too high as it is.”

“Hey!” Nimisha said, defending her childhood friend. “Asia can’t help it if she’s one of the only people in the Palace that actually *knows* how to have fun.” Then she shrugged smugly “Besides, we have more money than God. Why not use it?”

Buffy frowned in annoyance. “That may be so, my dear. But I think that you being here by yourself may do you the world of good.” Then she smiled broadly. “You never know, you might just enjoy yourself.”

Nimisha snorted in answer. Then seeing the expecting looks of the two adults she sighed.

“Fine, fine, I’ll go to your damn High School.” She said in defeat. Then she waved a finger in Buffy’s direction. “But I’ll tell you now, if I get even the slightest bit of trouble from the Principal, i’m gone.”

Picking up on what she was talking about, Willow burst out laughing. “There is not too much chance of that, Nimi. The new Principal is really nice, nothing in the slightest to Snyder.” Then still smiling at the girl she said, “And I’ll let Giles know to keep an eye on my new little cousin.”

Buffy went stiff instantly, hand half way to her mouth. A big drop of jam fell of her piece of toast and landed on her plate.

“Giles is working at the school? When did they build that up again?”

“About two years ago. Right after they got the new Principal. And it helped matters a lot that Mr Thomas is bloody rich. He just snapped his fingers and they got right on it.” Then she smiled widely. “You should see it Buff, it’s amazing. Everything’s top of the line, you can still smell the paint sometimes. They got all the old teachers back, well the one’s that wanted to. But Giles jumped at the chance. We all reckon he’s had enough time on his hands as a bachelor.” Then she shrugged sadly, “It keeps his mind off you anyway.”

At that Buffy looked stricken, her face incredibly sad. Picking up on what was wrong, Willow sucked in her breath nervously and reached over the grasp both of Buffy’s hands in her’s.

“I’m sorry Buffy, I shouldn’t have said it like that.” But Buffy only smiled bravely.

“It’s okay, Will. I just never realised it would hurt so much to here about them.” she chuckled ironically. “I tried to prepare myself, knowing that they were all going to come up in conversation sooner or later, but....”

“It’s harder than you thought?” Willow offered sadly.

Buffy just nodded and looked down at the table top.

“Well if it helps, their all doing really well.” Willow continued. Even though Buffy was looking down she could tell that she was listening intently.

“Cordelia and Doyle are still working in LA. They got engaged last year.” She laughed, “Her parents weren’t to happy about their little angel marrying an Irishman though. But funny enough, they didn’t really care.”

She racked her brain for information, then clicked her fingers suddenly, “You will never guess what Xander’s gone and done. It’s so typical of him,” she looked at Buffy. “He’s become a cop.”

Buffy’s head snapped up in a flash. Her mouth dropped open, but no sound came out. Then as if she got caught doing something that she should’ve she covered her mouth with her hand. But she seemingly couldn’t hold it back, and she burst of laughing.

“Xander...a cop??” she managed to get out between hic-ups.

Willow smiled broadly. “Not only a cop, but a bloody good one. He’s going for his detective’s badge next year. Anya of course loves it, well she loves anything to do with uniforms I guess, but she can’t get enough of walking down the main street arm in arm with her handsome policeman boyfriend. She, on the other hand, didn’t surprise us at all. Joyce gave her a job at the gallery, Ancient History. She’s actually doing really well, she gets on with Joyce excellently.”

To Buffy, this was even funnier, and by now she was still laughing uncontrollably, holding her sides. Nimisha was looking at the two of them like they were mad, but she too had a big grin on her face. Her mother had always told her about Xander’s adventures. She had always thought Anya sounded like a weird one though. Finally Buffy sobered up, but the brilliant smile still hadn’t left her enchanting features. “What about you and Oz, Willow? What are you guys doing with your lives?” She took a bite of her piece of toast that she had abandoned on her plate.

Willow smiled lovingly. “Oz and the Dingo’s are doing just great. A record company heard them play a few years ago and snatched them up quick smart. Said they were ‘the find of the year’ or something like that. That’s how were able to pay for this place.” she spread her hands wide. Then she looked modest. “It’s nothing flash, nothing like the Palaces your probably use to, but we love it. Our own little piece of paradise”

Buffy smiled warmly back at her friend. “Your wrong there, Will. It’s beautiful.” she said as she looked around the cozy jungle green and cream kitchen and joining eating area. “And I’ll tell you now, I’d swap it for one of our Palaces any day. Their too big, to impersonal to really be a home.”

Willow frowned at her. “You don’t like living in the Palaces?” It seemed incredibly strange to her.

But Buffy shook her head. “Not really. That why we live most of the time in the Crystal Palace. We’ve made it as homely as we can, right Nimi?”

The girl nodded from where she sat, leaning back on her chair like she had seen Willy do. She had been listening with fascination at the conversation.

Relising that they had changed the conversation from their earlier one, Buffy asked what was really on her mind.

“What about you, Will? What are you up to?”

Willow smiled broadly. “Well, i’m teaching at the High School with Giles.” She grinned wolfishly and took a sip of her coffee. “Advanced Science, Maths and Computing. Would you believe that they approached me on the last day of Collage classes and asked if I wanted to come back and teach? Everyone was a little shell shocked. Well, no more than me though. Giles was really proud.” They both laughed.

But slowly Buffy’s smile faded. Willow could tell there was something on her mind.

Buffy bit the inside of her lip and nervously flew a quick glance at her daughter, then back at Willow.

“What about Angel? What’s he doing?” It was spoken incredibly softly, almost a whisper, but Willow could hear the desperation in her voice.

Nimisha ear’s pricked at the mention of her father’s name. Instantly she stiffened and leaned forward on her chair, serous once again.

As Willow’s face fell Buffy had to force herself from crying.

“He’s still in LA...”

“Yeah, we know.” At Willow confused look Buffy said, “We did a little detour on our way, showed missy here some familiar sights.” Then she grimaced. “We ran into Cordelia looking through the office windows.” she chuckled, “Not to bright.”

“She didn’t recognise you?” Willow said, startled.

Buffy shook her head. “She only saw Nimisha, who I might say was incredibly rude. But she probably forgotten all about her by now.”

Willow nodded, accepting this. “Angel was really cut up when you went missing, Buffy. And I mean *really* cut up. Speed down here straight away when Giles finally rang him - rather finally admitted that we couldn’t find you without him - with Cordelia and Doyle. He was devastated when we couldn’t find anything.” She chuckled ironically. “All we did find was this necklace.” Her face scrunched up in confusion. “He had the weirdest reaction to it though....”

Buffy’s eyes went wide. Slowly she reached over and grasped the necklace that Willow had been unconsciously fiddling with when she was talking.

The necklace felt one touch with her skin and started to glow.

Willow drew back in surprise, quickly looking down at the gently humming thing resting on the chain around her neck. Then her eyes flew up to Buffy.

“What the hell did you do to it? We’ve been trying to get some response from that thing for four years!”

“It noticed the properties of my skin, thats all.” Buffy said smiling softly as she looked up into her friend’s face lovingly. “I didn’t know you still had it, Willow. Actually I didn’t even know that you found it at all.”

Willow’s mouth fell open. “You did leave it.” She said in wonder. “Angel and I always knew you did, the other’s all said we were crazy.”

Buffy nodded. “Afraya gave it to me a few nights after we first met. Its sort of a Warning System. It picks up on the owner’s body temperatures and it activates if they get too hot, cold, stressed, that sort of thing.” She grimaced, “Afraya wasn’t very pleased that I left it for you though, he gave it for me to wear so he would know instantly if I were in trouble.”

She got a far away look in her eyes as she smiled softly. “I knew either you or Angel would eventually have it.” She shrugged, suddenly shy. “It was a way for me to still look out for you even though I was so far away.”

Willow thought her heart would break.

“Oh, Buffy.” She said, gratitude radiating from her hazel eyes.

The beautiful moment was broken by Oz walking into the kitchen, dressed in a loose pair of faded blue jeans and one of his many crazy bowling shirts, this one bright orange with little people all over it, still drying his hair with a fluffy white towel.

Nimisha, who had just casually looked up when he entered, opened her eyes wide at the different array of colouring. He noticed this and looked back at her, his face confused.

“What?”

Nimisha just shook her head, chuckling in disbelief.

Seeing that he wasn’t going to get an answer from her, he turned to her mother who was also grinning in amusement.

“Sorry, Oz. She’s just not used to seeing such different clothing. It’s quite a clash, that’s all.”

Willow turned back from where she too had been staring at her mate and looked at Nimisha in worry.

“What sort of clothes did you bring, kiddo? We can’t have you walking around in space suits while your here, someone is bound to notice that.”

Nimisha frowned. “Mama told me not to bring any clothing.”

“I told her we’d go shopping when we got here.” Buffy grimaced. “Hope you don’t mind.”

Willow looked at her like she had grown another head. “Mind? Hell, no! I haven’t had a good excuse for a shopping trip in ages.”

Buffy almost fell off her chair.

“You, Willow? Shopping?” she couldn’t believe her ears.

Willow looked at her shyly. “After you left, Cordelia would always take me out shopping to try and get my mind on other things. I’m proud to say she paid.” she said smugly. “I’ve taken quite a shine to it.”

“Well, then.” Buffy said brightly, as she jumped quickly out of her chair. “What are we waiting for?”

By the time the three of them had had their turns in the shower and raided Willow’s closet for three new oufits, it was almost lunchtime.

Buffy also phoned her primary business manager in New York City and got him to top up her undetected bank account and make the necessary arrangments. His voice was unaffected - the Vanquishers had not gotten to him yet. They did not talk long.

In less than a minute everything was ready. All that was needed for Nimisha to start her apparent new life: passport, credit cards, birth certificate, and bank statements. To everyone she would just be Willow’s cousin staying for a few weeks.

Since Oz had a meeting with Devon and the rest of the band members it was just the three girls by themselves at the Mall which suited them just fine. They needed time together, to form a group that hopefully would survive anything - and keep them alive.

The Mall was full with people with it being a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon. As the three girls walked along the second floor footpath Nimisha stopped and leaned over the railing and gasped in surprise at the actual number of people in the building.

Although it was briming to the sides with hundreds of bodies she had to admit that the Mall actually seemed very peaceful. There was no hint of what horrible event had happened over six years ago when her father had lost his soul and returned to the dark side of the balance.

A memory that her mother was very reserved to talking about, even though Nimisha knew every detail off by heart.

Nimisha shook her dark head, clearing the unwanted memory away. She was here to enjoy herself and, by damn, she would if it killed her.

So, as the three of them continued casually walking past the shops, going in a few if they fancied, they hoped that the day would brighten their spirits, they were all lost in thought.

They could tell that people were staring at them, they could feel their gazes bore holes in their backs as they silently walked past them. Buffy was glad she had worn dark sunglasses, she didn’t know what she would have done if anyone had reconised her. She turned her eyes to the side slightly, catching sight of Nimisha who was looking in a shop window, her head tilted to the side, trying to figure of just what the product they were selling was used for.

Buffy brows nitted together in worry. She had no illusion that her daughter could take care of herself - many of her training teachers could vouch for that - but it would be a burden that she didn’t disserve to be new at school and that beautiful. Buffy knew her daughter’s looks were probably going to get her in quite a lot of trouble in the future. People just wern’t used to such startling beauty. It just wasn’t natural. Buffy just hoped that she learned quickly who to and who not to trust.

After about an hour they decided to split up for a bit. Willow wanted to show Buffy a New-age book she had seen in the ocult bookstore a few week ago. It had an interesting passage about off planet energies. Nimisha, wanting to have a more in depth look in the teen clothing shops, decided to stay behind. They promised to come and get her in 15 minutes.

So Nimisha entertained herself by slowly browsing through the racks of brightly coloured clothing, picking up one item after another. She was quiet happy by herself, it gave her a time to think.

That is until she heard a annoyingly high voice not to far away in the same shop, but easily heard. She had tried to ignore it at first, thinking it sounded like another rich snob shopping with her friends but when she noticed that they seemed to be talking about her she pricked her ear instanly.

“..like that girl over there. I mean, who does she think she is!? Walking around like miss muck, thinking she owns the world. Well i’m sick of it! And wearing that dress as well! uhhh!”

Nimisha looked down at herself. What was wrong with her dress? The black-blue strapped summer sundress was one of Willow’s favourites, falling to her mid thigh. Even though it was meant for casual wear, on Nimisha, Buffy and Willow had to admit it looked beautiful standing out with her black hair.

Annoyed, Nimisha looked up and stared at the girl who were across the other side of the shop, staring right back at her. There were three of them, all blond. The two at the back were obviously wannabe’s and probably worshiped the girl in front. But it was her that was the threat, that was obvious from the start. Their clothes were top of the range and Nimisha suddenly had a flash back of some of her mother’s descriptions of the high school Cordelia.

When she turned around to face them she had been quite proud to hear the startled gasps as they got a real look at her. They weren’t expecting her to look like that, thats for sure. But the girl in front caught herself quickly and got a hold of her composure. She wasn’t used to not being the centre of attention when it came to beauty. Sneering at Nimisha - who she knew could hear her - she came out with her claws unsheathed and spat in a horribly evil voice, “Look at her. She looks like one of those girls from over the border. Trash...”

Nimisha just stared right at her, a proud tilt to her chin. She knew better than anyone how to handle snobby, rich kids. Her social circle at home was full of them. After a while the two girls at the back started squirming uncomfortably at the force in her glare.

“Maria, look at her.” Nimisha heard one of the girls at the back whisper in wonder, “She’s so beautiful...”

Maria put her hands on her hips and spun around. She got right in the girls face and spat out, “What? More beautiful than me, Karan?” Daring her to answer.

Sensing that she had gotten herself into a trap the small blonde girl stuttered in a hurry, “No! no way, Maria. Your the most beautiful person at school.” she breathed a sigh of relief when Maria huffed smugly and turned back around to face Nimisha, who she noticed furiously, was looking at them in amused pity.

“Well I wouldn’t trust her as far as I could kick her. You never can trust the likes of her.” She sneered at Nimisha again. “With exotic looks like that, her family’s probably in the Mafia. You won’t catch me talking to her.”

“There’s a surprise.” A voice laughed.

The voice was deep, masculine, by with a touch of amusement. All four girls spun around to see who the owner was. The three blonds all broke out in sickly fake smiles as they obviously recognised him.

“Alex, you sly devil.” Maria said coyly as he casually walked over to them. “How long have you been back in town?”

The tall, well muscled, brown haired boy had reached them by now and leaned down to give Maria a friendly kiss of the check.

“This morning. Father said the beach house in Malibu was horrible this time of the year. Too many tourist.”

They all laughed at that. Another round of fake annoyingly high squeals.

Nimisha shook her head in disgust.

“So what are you lovely ladies doing in town? Harassing some defenceless middle schooler?”

Maria’s face transformed into a disgusted sneer. “Worse. That trashy creature over there. Look at her, have you ever seen anything so pitiful?”

Alex’s clear blue eyes searched the shop and opened wide when they finally rested of Nimisha, who was regarding him coolly with displeasure.

The handsome teenager’s mouth fell over in surprise. Shamelessly he moved his eyes up her body, from slender ankles and well tones calves, to magnificent thighs, well rounded hips and her well busted chest and finally her bare pale neck, enchantingly long black night ringlets and cool, dreamy green eyes and most beautifully mouth he had ever seen.

“Wow.” was all he said.

“I know!” Maria said, taking the wrong meaning to his stunned statement. “Doesn’t it just make you sick?”

Alex regretfully tore his eyes off Nimisha and looked down at the cute blonde who was clingy to his arm. He had to suppress the sudden want to grimace in dislike. Trying not to be rude he said, “I think you need to stop being such a bitch, Maria. The poor girl’s obvisouly new in town, would it kill you to be nice for a change?”

Now it was Maria’s turn for her mouth to fall open. Never in her whole life had anyone ever said such a disrespectful thing to her.

Well, not to her face anyway.

Not waiting for her answer, Alex casually dislinked her arms from his waist and strode away, ignoring Maria gasp in fury as the girl marched away, Karan and the other girl behind her running to catch up.

Nimisha watched him approach coolly, making no attempted to meet him half way. She watched as he started off smugly and full of himself and the closer he got to her, loose his confidence as he noticed her standing there coolly, sizing him up in displeasure.

When he was finally standing in front of her he held out his hand in greeting.

“Alex Matthews, at you service miss.”

Nimisha just looked down at the hand coolly for a beat. Alex had a sudden fright that she wouldn’t take it. But seemingly making a decision she reached out and clasped hands with the tall teenager who towered above her.

“Nimisha Tessionare.” said softly.

He smiled in delight. “Hey, what a cool name. Very exotic.”

Warming to him suddenly, Nimisha smiled back, but ignored his reaction of surprise at the loveliness of her smile.

“Thanks. It’s after a worrior Goddess who saves all her people by giving them dreams.” she said matter of factly.

Alex looked at her in surprise. “Really? Never heard of that one.”

Nimisha laughed ironically. “You probably never will, Alex.”

Looking at her in confusion he shrugged and tried to forget about it. “So Nimisha, your new in town right?” When she nodded he grinned. “Thought so. I know I would have noticed *you* before.”

Ignoring his last comment, Nimisha told him, “Yeah, i’m staying with my Aunt for a few weeks.” Shrugging she continued. “Decided I should get some new clothes before school tomorrow.”

He smiled broadly. “So your going to Sunnydale High?”

She nodded again. “Sophomore.”

He smiled. “Cool. I’m a Senior.” he said tapping his chest.

What ever conversation was about to continue was cut of by Buffy and Willow entering the shop. Willow as holding a book bag in her arms and Buffy frowned with worry when she saw just who Nimisha was talking to.

Stiffly walking up beside her, she completely ignored Alex when he opened his eyes again in surprise when he saw just how beautiful she was.

“Nimi, you ready to go?” Buffy said firmly. Nimisha looked at her in confusion at her forced voice. “Yeah sure.” she said softly. Turning again to Alex she smiled and touched him arm gently. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Alex.” He nodded dumbly at her.

And as Willow and Buffy lead her out of the shop he stared after her in awe.

Man, wait until this news got out.

Buffy, Nimisha and Willow shopped for a few more hours, buying Nimisha outfit after outfit. Buffy asking Nimisha everything about Alex. After a while the girl got so annoyed she said simply that she didn’t like him in the slightly like that and didn’t intend to. She told her mother that she didn’t have to worry about Thian, she had no intention of cheating on him while she was here.

The shop assistance’s were delighted to dress Nimisha when they were choosing clothes for her, helping them whenever the needed it. As one of the woman said: it was a privilege to be able to serve such a delightful girl. She was practically ready to bend down and kiss Nimisha’s feet.

But Nimisha just looked at her sadly, pity radiating from her green eyes. That poor woman, she thought. She doesn’t have a clue what she’s saying. But she knew that the woman could not resist her. Something in them - anyone - just responded to something in her. It was biological, inevitable. When she had first walked into any shop she could tell from the people’s eyes that they believed themselves to be in love. Giving a hour in her presence they would be utterly and totally devoted to her, ready to serve.

And so, as the woman prated on, Nimisha hung her head in shame. Wondering, not for the first time, what her destiny was the deserve to be born into such a family.

Yet there was nothing she could do to dissuade the unyielding devotion of men and woman like these shop assistance’s. They would stay by her side, waiting to die.

Nimisha hated her life a lot sometimes.

But it was her fate.

For she had been born a Queen among the Tharran.

And as she slowly raised her head, she caught sight of Buffy, standing off to the side. She too, had a few people talking to her. Sensing the gaze, Buffy looked up and over the people heads and locked eyes with her daughter, guilt in her eyes.

She knew. For she too would had to live with this everyday of her long and staggeringly wealthly life.

Genetics. What a bitch.

The three of them walked into Willow’s and Oz’s front door just after seven that evening. Their arms were filled with bags and they dumped them as soon as they set foot inside the house. They were all exhausted and wanted nothing more than to crash down on their beds and sleep for the next 12 hours.

Oz looked up from where he had been sitting in his chair by the roaring fire reading the Sunnydale Newspaper. He took one look at them and raised his eyebrows in question.

Willow shot him a scowling look in return as the flopped down beside him on the arm of his seat.

“Don’t ask.”

And he didn’t.

Willow groaned and let her head fall to sit between her hands, shaking her head from side to side. “What a day.” she moaned to herself.

She was answered with two other groans agreeing with her fully. Finally Oz couldn’t take it anymore and he asked what was wrong.

Willow sighed. “It was actually a great day. The only bad thing was the fact we were bombarded by people each time we entered a shop.” She suddenly looked up and grinned at Buffy and Nimisha. “Seems like some people have a habit of attracting people to them.”

Buffy and Nimisha both grimaced and looked down, embarrassed, and Willow and Oz burst out laughing.

Suddenly Buffy shot straight up in her chair and her face went completely blank.

Both Willow and Oz were completely stunned and surprised when they started to hear a voice in their heads.

<Evie? Can you hear me?> The voice was faint, bearly hearably and it sounded like it was thousands of miles away.

Buffy nitted her brows in confusion for a moment. Then she smiled broadly when she figured out who it was.

<Afraya? Is that you? Are we even still in the range?> she pathed back, delighted.

Afraya chuckled. <I guess so, but even I didn’t think we would be. So what are you up to? At Willow’s yet?>

Looking around the room and the two completely startled faces, Buffy grinned. <Afraya your broadcasting> she said with a discrete mental cough.

There was a pause, then Afraya came back with a <Oh. Well hello Miss Willow, Master Daniel.> and a mental nod in each of their directions.

They didn’t know what in the world to say. Looking around the room in confusion for the source of the voice Willow said a unsure “Ah, Hi?”

Buffy laughed at their seemed discomfort telling them to be at ease.

<Nimi? Are you there child?> Then catching her Afraya said <Oh, there you are, sweetling. Having a good time on Earth, my child?>

<Hi Afraya> Nimisha pathed back laughing. <And yes i’m having a great time> she brightened suddenly <Mama and Willow took me shopping!>

Afraya groaned <So that’s were all the money went from your account this morning, Buffy>

Buffy grimaced and shot Nimisha a fake betrayed look. <Well you didn’t expect me to send the girl to school with no new clothes did you?>

There was a mental start on the other end. <Your sending her to school?> Buffy got a wash of emotions. approval, humour, unease. But no anger she noted.

Buffy physically nodded, and then remembering Afraya, did it mentally as well.

Afraya burst out laughing. <And did you agree willingly to this, Nimi?>

Nimisha screwed up her face. <Hardly likely> she pathed a mental snort.

Afraya stopped laughing after a while. <Just remember who your meant to be, Nimi> he pathed seriously. <We can’t have the Vanquisher’s discovering where you are>

Nimisha nodded. <I know, Afraya> she said reassuringly.

Seeing all was well, Buffy spoke up. <So what the matter, Afraya? You and Thian can’t handle the job?> she said joking.

But Afraya didn’t laugh. <No were doing fine. That boy’s amazing, Evie. Knows every inch of the Palace of by heart> he grinned. <he’ll go a long way in the Army, i’ll tell you now>

Nimisha preened and looked very incredibly proud of Thian. She wasn’t the least bit surprised.

Buffy laughed. <I could have to you that ages ago if you’d only listened>

<Yes, well> Afraya said embarrassed, and changed the conversation. <The problem is, Evie, I think that we need you back here>

Buffy and Nimisha were instantly concerned.

<Why? What’s wrong?> Buffy asked.

Afraya sighed. <The Vanquishers have picked up speed, Evie> he said quietly. <In fact, they’ve changed their complete bloody rotation. Got everyone a bit freaked, I tell you now>

Buffy was serious, all business. <What about the public? Have they been told yet?>

Afraya sighed again. <No, actually they weren’t told. But someone must have leaked it to the press and by now probably three quarters of the planets know. They need you back here, Buffy. Give everyone their sense of hope back> he grimaced. <They just need to see your face, Evie>

Buffy sighed in regret. <Now?>

<The sooner the better, my friend, I’m sorry to cut your first break in 16 years a little short>

<That’s okay, Afraya, I’ll be their in a few minutes>

<Thank you, Buffy. And again, sorry. Have fun at school Nimisha> And with that he cut the link.

Briskly getting up from her seat, Buffy turned and faced her now sad daughter who was sitting crosslegged on the floor in front of her. Bending down she clasped Nimisha’s hands and pulled her to her feet and into her arms.

“Ive gotta go, baby.” she whispered to her.

Nimisha nodded her head furiously.

Stepping back from her daughter, Buffy gave her a big smile and kissed her on her forehead where the moon was meant to be. Letting her go, Buffy stepped back and turned to face Willow. She was smiling sadly back at her. Feeling a increadale rush of love Buffy quickly wrapped her in a hug.

“Thank you, Will.” She whispered in her ear. “If it wasn’t for you, this would never be happening. You’ve probably saved my daughter’s life.”

“Oh, Buffy.” Willow was crying now. “Please be careful. You might pretend and say that the next nine days aren’t going to be dangerous, but I just know they are.” she squeezed her protectively.

“Please come home to us.”

Pulling back Buffy reached out and wiped the tears away from her friend’s face lovingly and whispered,

“I promise.”

They both smiled sadly at each other. Letting Willow go, Buffy walked over to Oz, who had stood up from his seat. Giving him too a hug, Buffy whispered in his ear,

“I know you blame me for Willow, and for going away...” At his quick shake of his head she continued “It’s okay, Oz, I know. And I will always be sorry. But you have to promise me something.” He looked down at her, confused, but silently knowing what she was going to say.

“If I don’t come back, you have to swear to me that you will take Nimisha here to Earth until she is old enough to rule. Don’t let them take total control of her like they did to me, she’s to young to rule now. I know that for a fact. Ruling the Alliance at that age almost killed me and I *will not* do that to my beloved daughter, she means the world to me.”

She looked him firmly in his eyes.

“Promise me, Oz.”

He looked down at her, amazed at just how brave she was, wondering what her destiny was the deserve to live such a painful life.

“Alright, Buffy.” he said simply. Still looking at him she aloud herself to smile sadly.

“Thank you.”

Turning back to the other, Buffy left Oz and walked back over to Nimisha, who was trying not to let her mother see her cry.

Clasping her daughter’s hand she looked once again at Willow and Oz and smiled bravely at them.

“I will come back, my friends. I promise you that.”

That only made Willow cry even more. So gently Buffy turned around and lead Nimisha out the door and onto the front veranda. Sensing that they needed to be alone, Willow and Oz left them to it.

Mother and Daughter.

Light and Dark.

A Ruler and a Child.

Both sentenced to the same fate.

Together they could make whole worlds fall to their knees.

But now they were about to be separated for the first time in their lives.

And it was killing them.

And they both stood, tall and proud, looking over the seemingly sleeping Sunnydale. Their incredibly beautiful faces looking out into the night, green eyes flashing with unseen tears.

Slowly Nimisha turned and faced her beloved mother. The person who meant more to her than anyone else in the entire Galaxy.

“Oh, mama.” she whispered. “I don’t know if I can do this.” she was suddenly afraid

Buffy slowly turned and faced her daughter. Gently she reached out and grasped Nimisha face in her hands and looked lovingly into her deep, powerful green eyes.

“Oh, of course you can, baby. You have it in you, my child. I know you do.”

Nimisha looked deep within her mothers eyes. “You will come back for me wont you, mama?”

Buffy lowering her head and let it fall on Nimisha shoulder. Black hair mixing with blond.

“Of, course I will, baby. I will always be with you.”

Looking up they both looked up into the stars, so staggeringly different from what they were used to. But knowing at the same time that no matter where they went, the ancestors would always be with them, always looking down at them from the black depths of space.

Sensing that it was time to go, Buffy regretfully let go of her daughter and stepped away. The girls face was streaked with tears as she lowered her head away from her beautiful, strong mother who she knew could do anything.

“I’m so proud of you, baby.” the voice floated down from the ages, from Semerritte to Everynne and now to her.

Raising her head, Buffy was gone.

And Nimisha let out a angry cry. Full of fury and anger. Knowing that this should never have to happen. Wishing with all her heart that her mother was here with her once more.

And as Willow came out of the house and gently grasped her arm and started to lead her back into the house, Nimisha’s cry could be heard dancing in the stars.

And they too, wept for the loss of an innocent.

Next Part

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