Mountain Potential

I awoke to a splash of ice-cold water. I sat up and scrambled away from the water and fell to the floor entangled in the soaked sheets. I looked up to see the Whelp grinning at me from across the bed. I glared, but it quickly turned into a half-smile.

“Whelp, wish I could say it was good to see you, but I’m not one for lies.”

He laughed. “Hey if it isn’t Captain Peroxide in the flesh. Come on, it’s time for training and Wills sent me to awaken you.”

“With freezing water?” I asked. He smirked.

“Nah, that was a little something I threw in myself, kinda like a job perk. They’ll be waiting for you in the training room.” He said walking to the door, but he paused. “It’s almost like old times huh?” and he gave a half smirk at me, which I returned.

“Let’s see… danger, probable death awaiting us all at any moment, loads of Potentials, you, me and Red? Yeah, just about.” I said. I knew that was as close as either of us would get to saying that we had missed one another. He nodded and left me to get dressed. I got myself ready before making my way to the kitchen to heat myself up a mug of blood. I scrounged around and found what I had been looking for with a victorious smile.

“Wheat-a-bix.” I said as I crumbled some up into my mug before drinking my breakfast. Finished, I washed out my cup and made my way over to the large training room where about thirty girls were standing around giggling and talking; the only two females who weren’t joining in where Red and Ellie. Seeing me, Ellie took charge.

“All right girls, we’re here today to do some real trainin’ now. No more of this sissy shit.” And she smirked in satisfaction. “We’re about to get rough. We all know what’s coming up, and in order to better prepare the New Council has seen fit to send us one of its more legendary soldiers.” And she indicated to me. If I could have blushed I would have. But Big Bad’s don’t blush you pansy. I thought, so instead I looked smug at the praise. “Well let’s git to it! He and I’ll square off first, y’all Potentials watch and take note or review in yer minds battle tactics.” She said as she stood facing me, legs solidly planted; her posture and facial features showed no signs of recognition to me, and it was nothing but the battle stance of a veteran warrior. She cocked her head and smirked smugly, making a motion for me to come at her.

“Come on ya demon mother fucker, show me what’cha got.” The demon inside me bristled at being talked to like I was a nobody. Well then let’s show her what we’re made of mate. I growled and walked stealthily towards her. I had made the mistake of advancing on her first a few times already, I wanted to see how her game was if she was forced to make the first move. She seemed slightly taken aback by my change in tactics, which was what I was hoping for. I circled her, keeping my hands down. Finally her impatience got the better of her and she struck out, and then… well, a brand new dance began.

I remembered how good it felt to dance with a Slayer, especially Buffy; she had been one hell of a dancer, but Ellie was giving her a run for her money. We exchanged blow for blow, if I landed a kick or punch, she soon evened the score out. We were moving at an incredible speed, and yet she wasn’t even winded. My old words echoed back through my mind: 'I could have danced with that one all night.' They held true for Ellie as well. Finally I saw an opportunity and the next chance that presented itself I took it. Ellie threw a slew of punches, but I ducked underneath her and as I moved by her I grabbed the collar of her opened shirt, dragging it down to her hands and twisting it, effectively making her arms useless. I then, with my free hand, shoved her head to the side, vamped out and acted as if I was going to bite her, but I stopped just short and went back to my human mask, letting Ellie go with a shove and a cocky smirk. She glared at me; this was one girl who hated to lose.

Red stepped up with a Watcher applauding us. “So, can anyone tell me what Ellie did wrong that allowed Spike to get the better of her?” All of the Potentials looked at one another at a loss while Ellie stood there perfectly motionless and somber, awaiting the criticism. She was a perfectly trained and disciplined warrior; the New Council must have been proud.

Finally, when no one could answer, the Watcher spoke up again. “The answer is: nothing. That was an epitome of what a fight between a seasoned Slayer and an experienced vampire is like. He just happened to see a glitch in Ellie’s battle tactics and used it to his advantage. Granted I doubt very many vampires would have thought to use her shirt as a means of restraint, but that just proves what we try and tell you girls day in and day out, ingenuity and resourcefulness can win you the fight or lose it for you. Good work you two.” Ellie gave me a small smile.

“Who is next to take on Spike here?” the Watcher asked. A line of Potentials assembled to have their turn at me; I smiled as the first girl stepped up. The others were battling each other under the instructions of Ellie and Watchers. The longest a Potential kept me at an even battle pace was just shy of seven minutes; I sighed as we finally took a lunch break for the girls. I sat on the padded floor and relaxed, enjoying the silence before the next round of fighting started up. A pair of bare feet came into view and I looked up to see Ellie.

“Not tired are ya?” she asked raising an eyebrow. I scoffed.

“Not in the least, these girls couldn’t get me exhausted if they tried. We have our work cut out for us.” She sat down beside me and exhaled a tired sighed.

“Tell me about it. Sometimes, when I’m readin’ on the history of the Slayers, I wonder if the world wasn’t better off with just the Chosen One.” I looked at her.

“Are you serious pet?” I asked. She just nodded.

“But then I think, well hell, if one Slayer could do all that Buffy did with the help of a handful of friends, what cain’t we do with over twenty-six full-fledged Slayers and over three-hundred Potentials in training. It’s just,” she looked around and sighed heavily, “I wish they didn’t have to die. Ya know, out of the twenty-five girls I trained with, only twelve chose to become actual Slayers. And of those twelve who left here Slayers three years ago, only six made it out of year one, then two out of year two, and today I just found out that my friend Tasha was killed by an Erfthil demon a few days back. That leaves only me who made it to age eighteen; in three years eleven Slayers were killed in duty.” She wiped away a tear and I reached out to place a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“It’s part and parcel of the whole Slayer gig pet, you girls run the risk of death in order to make this world a safer place for mortals and your families.”

“I know, I just-” but before she could finish her sentence the Potentials began filing back into the room. Ellie looked at them with a mixture of pride and sorrow before standing, reaching down to help me up. “Well, let’s get these girls prepared.”
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