Author: Tiara

Rating: Same as the show.

Disclaimer: Don’t own the characters in this story, Joss Whedon's and everyone else has rights to them. Just borrowing them. A lot of the scenes are similar to "The Witch." All those scenes belong to the writer and junk. But with changes that belong to me.

Author's Notes: The next ep in the series, “The Witch.” Just with a different title.

Summary: Just like the ep.... with a few twists and turns on the way.

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~~~~~~~~~~ Prologue ~~~~~~~~~~

Outside of Sunnydale High School, students were busy chatting away. Inside of the library, a librarian was yelling at his Slayer, “This is madness! What can you have been thinking? You are the Slayer! Lives depend upon you!” Giles started pacing, “I make allowances for your youth, but I expect a certain amount of responsibility, and instead of which you enslave yourself to this, this...” He halted, “Cult?”

Dressed in her old cheerleader outfit, Buffy had her hands up, holding pompoms up, “You don't like the color?” “I d...” Giles sighed, exasperated, “Do you, um...” He placed some books on a cart, “Do you ignore everything I say as a, as a rule?” Buffy dropped her arms and placed her hands behind her, “No, I believe that's your trick.” Giles pushed the cart to the counter while Buffy skipped in front of him and posed, “I told you, I'm trying out for the cheerleading squad!”

“You have a sacred birthright, Buffy. You were chosen to destroy vampires, not to... wave pompoms at people. And as the Watcher I forbid it.” He moved back to the table while Buffy stood where she was, “And you'll be stopping me how?” “Well, I...” Giles sat down on the edge of the table and crossed his arms, “By appealing to your common sense, if such a creature exists.”

Buffy sighed, “I will still have time to fight the forces of evil, okay? I just wanna have a life, I wanna do something normal. Something safe.” Giles stared down at her. And then walked toward the counter, and went around it. “I forbid it.” He said again.

“Forbid what?” Came a familiar, yet annoying voice. Giles looked at his nephew, with hope, “Ah, Buffy’s new enslaving activity.” He gestured to where she stood. Buffy sighed, “It is not a ‘enslaving’ activity. And it is not a cult. It’s cheerleading, c’mon!”

Angel looked at Buffy and glanced over her outfit. When Buffy caught him, still staring, she cleared her throat. He looked back up at her face, “It’s .... sleazy.” He said, shaking his head, as if coming out of a trance, “Can you honestly move around in *that* and expect people not to think it?”

Buffy’s mouth fell open, she immediately threw her pompoms to the ground and took three steps toward him, “Excuse me, it is not *sleazy*, it’s fun. And I don’t care what you think about it. You don’t count. Giles, I don’t care how much you love him, I’m going to have to *kill* your nephew.” They both glanced at Giles who was moving into his office. They both called, “Giles!” He promptly reached out, grabbed the doorknob, and then slammed it shut. They both heard the door locking.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She moved around in the darkness, waving a pendant on a chain over the brew, then pulled it back. She went over to a rack and yanked off a doll hanging there by its neck on a wire, harshly.

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Girls were stretching and practicing, doing back handsprings, cartwheels and walking handstands as Buffy, Willow, and Xander came through the door. They glanced at the group of girls, doing their tricks. “Giles didn't approve, huh?” Willow asked. Buffy glanced over her shoulder, “He totally lost his water. Not to mention, Angel lecturing me on the way cheerleading cloths looking skanky. We haven't seen a vampire in over a week. I'd say Giles should get a girlfriend if he wasn't so old.” Willow smiled, “Well, we're behind you.” “People scoff at things like school spirit, but look at these girls giving there all like this!” Xander then noticed Amber Grove, a hottie cheerleader he seen in class so many times. She was doing the splits between two chairs.

“Ooo, stretchy!” He commented, “Where was I?” Willow glanced between Amber and Xander, “You were pretending that seeing scantily clad girls in revealing postures was a spiritual experience.” Xander kept his eyes on Amber, “Who said I was pretending?” Then he snapped out of it, and started towards Buffy, “Oh, hey! Here's a good luck thing for tryouts.” He handed her a bracelet.

“What's this?” Buffy asked. “What's that?” Willow asked, her gaze more worried and frightened then Buffy’s. “Oh, how sweet!” Buffy red the inscription,

“'Yours Always.'” She gazed up at him. “I-i-it came that way, really, they all said that!” Xander stuttered. Willow exhaled, relieved that he didn’t make *that* step yet. She glanced at the girls just as Cordelia approached them, “Just look at that Amber. Who does she think she is, a Laker Girl?”

“I heard she turned them down.” Willow said honestly. The cheerleading squad leader, Joy, stepped up with her clipboard and called for everyone's attention, “Okay, listen up! Let's begin with-” she checked her clipboard, “Amber Grove. If you're not auditioning, move off the floor.”

Willow moved, until she spotted someone she knew who actually spoke with her now and then, “Amy! Hi!” The blond caught her gaze, moving over, “Hi!” Willow glanced at her now skinny friend, “I didn't know you wanted to be a cheerleader! You lost a lot of weight.” Amy nodded, “Had to.” Willow looked at her new friend, “Do you know Buffy?” Amy glanced at the girl, “Hi.” Buffy smiled, “Hi.” Amy sighed, “Oh, how I hate this, let me count the ways.”

Amber began her routine, very athletic like. She started spinning and jumping into spins. After landing, Amber launched herself into an aerial and a cartwheel. Jazz slides are then followed by a single spin. Everyone in the gym is intent on watching her. Amy sighed as she watched Amber move, “She trained with Benson.” She told Buffy, “He's one of the best coaches money can buy.” Buffy blinked, “They have cheerleading coaches?” Amy looked at her, “Oh, yeah! Don't you have? I train with my mom, three hours in the morning, three at night.”

“Hmm, that much quality time with my mom would probably lead to some quality matricide. ’Sides, she has to keep busy with my sister all the time,” Buffy explained. Amy nodded, “Oh, I know it's hokey. But she's really great.” Cordelia turned away from Amber with a look of contempt on her face while Buffy and Xander watch Amber in amazement. Amy and Willow are impressed, too.

Suddenly, Amber's hands began to smoke. Buffy frowned, was that smoke? “What the...?” Willow’s eyes widened, “That girl's on fire!” Facing away, not seeing the smoke, Cordelia snapped, “Enough of the hyperbole!” Amber's hands catch fire, dropped her pompoms and screamed. Buffy reacts quickly as Amber flailed her hands in the air. Buffy jumped up onto the stands and pulled down a banner. She ran back to Amber, knocking her down and snuffing out the flames with the banner. Everyone stared in shock, whispering and gasping. Buffy leaned over to see Amber. Her face looked like she was in pain. Trying to comfort Amber, Buffy soothed, “It's okay, it's okay, you're gonna be... okay.” She looked up at her friends, “God!”

~~~~~~~~~~ Part 1 ~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy was pacing in the library while Willow, Angel, and Xander were sitting at the table, watching her. Buffy started, “I've been slaying vampires for more than a year now, and I have seen some pretty cringeworthy things, but... nobody's hands ever got toasted before.” she stopped.

Giles came out of the cage, “I imagine not.” Buffy turned to him, “So, this isn't a vampire problem.” Giles answered, “No.” “But it is funky, right? Not of the norm?” She asked. Giles nodded, “Quite. Spontaneous human combustion is, is rare, and, and scientifically unexplainable, but there have been cases for hundreds of years. Usually all that's left is a pile of ashes.”

“That's all that would have been left if it hadn't been for Buffy.” Willow made a small gesture with her eyes. “So, we have no idea what caused this.” Xander stated, “That's a comfort.” “But that's the thrill of living on the Hellmouth,” Giles moved to sit on the edge of the table, “There's a veritable cornucopia of, of fiends and devils and, and ghouls to engage.” everyone looked at him, even his nephew, “Pardon me for finding the glass half full.”

“So, is there any thing in common in cases of spontaneous combustion?” Angel asked before Buffy got the chance to. “Uh, rage. In most cases the person who combusted was, was terribly angry or, or upset.” Giles explained. “So maybe Amber's got this power to make herself be on fire. It's like the human torch, only it hurts.” Xander said while looking at Willow who nodded, remembering seeing the human torch in one of his comics.

“I need to get the skinny on Amber. Find out if she's had any colorful episodes before.” Buffy started to leave. Willow smiled, “That means hacking illegally into the school's computer system. At last, something *I* can do!” She and Xander got up and went over to Buffy. “I'll ask around about her.” Xander said. “You guys don't have to get involved.” Buffy said tentatively. “What d'ya mean?” Xander asked, “We're a team! Aren't we a team?”

“Yeah!” Willow glanced at Buffy, “You're the Slayer, and we're, like, the Slayerettes!” Buffy almost smiled at the nickname, “I just don't like putting you guys in danger.” Xander started, “Oh, huh, I laugh in the face of danger. Then I hide until it goes away.”

Buffy and Angel lifted a brow at that, “Okay, just walk softly, at least until we know a little more. I mean, what if Amber isn't causing these problems herself?” She looked over at Giles, “Well, then we have to determine who or what did, and, uh, deal with it accordingly.”

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There were several wooden boxes and crates laying in the kitchen when Buffy came home. She found her mother, Joyce, trying to pry a crate open with a crowbar while Dawn was looking at weird artifacts. “Hey!” Buffy announced her arrival. “Hi, how was school?” Joyce asked. “Mm, a reverent joy.” Buffy said while looking at a weird artifact Dawn held in her hands, “What's all this?” “It's for the tribal art display.” Dawn informed her.

“Cool!” Buffy examined the piece again, “We had tryouts today.” “Oh, great! How'd it go?” She exhaled. “I didn't actually get to try out. There was an accident. Pretty fierce competition, though.” Buffy said. “Oh, I know you'll do fine. Keep on pluggin', just have to get back on the horse.” Joyce started praying the crate open again. Buffy sighed, “Mom?” Joyce continued at work, “Yeah?” “What was I trying out for?” She asked while placing her finger under her chin.

“Oh, uh...” Joyce stopped prying at the crate and looked at Buffy, “Some activity? I have no idea, I'm sorry.” “Cheerleading,” Dawn muttered. “That's okay. Your platitudes are good for all occasions.” Buffy sighed. Joyce exhaled, “I'm distracted.” She started prying again and exhaled, “Got a lotta inventory to go through, here.” She took another breath, “This is my Gallery's first major show.” Finally she exhaled and gave up, “You know, it might not physically kill you to give me a hand here.” She went to check her clipboard while Buffy grabbed the lid of the crate and effortlessly tore it off. Knowing how distract her mother and sister were right then.

“It was cheerleading.” Buffy continued. “Oh good!” She said, “I'm glad you're taking that up again, it'll keep you out of trouble.” Buffy frowned, “I'm not *in* trouble.” “No, not yet.” Her mother said. Buffy looked down, hurt. Her mother looked up from her clipboard and noticed, “I mean, you stopped cheerleading just before the trouble, so it's good you're going back.” She got back to the crate and partially lifted out a statue, “Oh, dear.”

“What?” Dawn asked. “The fertility statue, you don't need to see it, pumpkin.” She replaced the crate’s lid and went back to her clipboard, “Neither of you girl’s do.” Buffy started again, “Y'know, there's this girl, Amy, and, um, she trains with her mom, like, three hours a day.” “Uh-huh.” “Sounds like her mom's pretty into it.” Buffy said, suggestively. “Sounds like her mom doesn't have a lot to do.” Joyce walked out of the kitchen with a piece of art.

Buffy lifted the crate's lid a little bit and looked inside with Dawn, “Jeepers.” Dawn said. Buffy looked at her little sister, “Oh, yeah.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Despite the terrible thing that happened yesterday,” Joy said as she paced in front of a group of girls in the gym, “we still have to pick new cheerleaders. If you make the team you'll find your names posted in the quad after lunch. Let's begin with group performance.”

Amy leaned in toward Buffy, “Why do my hands have to sweat when I get nervous?” Buffy whispered back, “Don't worry. You'll do great.” Loudly, the leader shouted, “Five, six, seven, eight!” The girls moved, all shouting, “Sunnydale! Sunnydale! We never fail! We never fail! Jump and Shoot! Swish and score! The other team is such a bore!” “Yeah!” Amy adds before she blows the cartwheel and crashed into Cordelia.

Cordelia yelped as she fell, then quickly got up, “You saw that, right? That wasn't me! You saw that, right?” She glanced back at Amy and back again, “Right?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amy was admiring the trophies in the case with a longing look. She didn’t hear Buffy come up next to her. When Amy did notice her, she smiled and pointed to a picture in the case, “That's my mom.” “No!” Buffy leaned in to red the inscription, “Catherine Madison. Get down with your bad self!” Amy smile grew, “Her nickname was 'Catherine the Great'. She took that team and made them tri-county champions. Y'know, no one's ever done that before, or since. She and my dad were Homecoming King and Queen. They got married right after graduation.”

Buffy smiled at the thought, “That's kinda romantic.” Amy blew that nice thought out of her mind, “Well, he was a big loser. Never made any money. Ran off with Miss Trailer Trash when I was twelve.” Buffy frowned, “Okay, that part's less romantic. My folks split up, too.” “Drag, huh? Uh, he left my mom with nothing. She put herself through cosmetology school,” Amy smiled fondly, “Bought me everything I ever wanted. And never once gained a single pound.”

“Uh, she sounds really great, Amy, but, um... it doesn't mean that you need to lock step as far as this cheerleading thing.” Buffy said. “She was the best! And I can't get my body to *move* like hers! I choked in there so bad!” Amy said. “No, Amy, you did fine.” Buffy said. “I'm gonna get changed.” Said Amy just before she ran off. “Wait! No...” Buffy called after her. Willow walked by, “Hey, Amy!” She moved toward Buffy, “Is she okay?”

Buffy looked at the trophy case, “No, she's, she's wiggin' about her mom, big cheer queen back when.” “Yeah, her mom's kinda...” “Nazi like?” Buffy guessed. Willow corrected, “Heil. If she gains an ounce she padlocks the fridge and won't eat anything but broth.” Buffy nodded, “So, mommy dearest is really... Mommy Dearest?” Willow sighed, “There's a bitter streak. But Amy's nice. We used to hang in Junior High. When her mom would go on a broth kick Amy'd come over to my house and we'd stuff ourselves with brownies!” She gushed.

They started down the hall, “Hey, any word on Amber?” Willow replied, “Nothing thrilling. Average student. Got detention once, for smoking. Regular smoking... with a cigarette, not, like, being smoky. All pretty normal.” “So we just have to wait and we'll see what happens. Maybe nothing will.” Buffy said.

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Buffy was just finishing up at her locker, taking out one of her books. When she closed the door she jumped and yelped. Sighing, she finally swatted Angel on the chest, lightly so she wouldn’t knock him over with her Slayer strength , “Don’t do that.”

Angel grinned, “But it’s so much fun.” Buffy sighed, “What do you want? Are you here for a reason, or is it just to annoy me?” She watched as he went into a thoughtful expression, then he answered, “Hmm. I’d say.... I’m just here to annoy you.” Buffy groaned, “It’s bad enough I have to deal with Dawn being curiously annoying, Cordelia being witchy annoying, but I have to deal with you being annoying, annoying.”

“You are really that *annoyed* with me,” Angel stated. Buffy slammed her locker shut, “Yes. Just as you find my little activities and all things *me* annoying.” Angel’s expression changed, turning serious, “I don’t think everything about you is annoying.” Surprised again, Buffy folded her arms over the book she held, “Really?” she asked. “Yeah,” Angel said, “I think that when you’re not having sudden impulses to do cartwheels and high spins, you’re less annoying.”

Buffy shot daggers at him, “Oh... you think you’re cute, don’t’cha?” Angel smiled, “Pretty much.” Buffy shook her head, “I don’t have time for this. If you’re done with your rather *big* ego, I am going away now. See? This is me,” She started moving back, “Leaving.”

Angel watched her leave, just as Cordelia approached him. “Hi!” She said to him, “You’re Angel Carrington, right?” Angel looked down at her, nodding.

Then back up to see Buffy meeting up with another girl he didn’t recognize and they headed towards a classroom.

“I’m Cordelia Chase.” Angel kept his gaze on Buffy.

~~~~~~~~~~ Part 2 ~~~~~~~~~~

Willow followed Buffy toward Giles’ library. She needed to talk to Buffy, a long talk, about boys, so she decided to stay until Buffy was done with training. Willow had a lot on her mind; mostly about how Xander kept going on and on about Buffy and about how he was going to ask her out. Not that Willow had anything against Buffy seeing guys.... she just didn’t want her to see guys that were her best friend since she was five. And that she had a crush on. That’s all.

“So, Amy didn’t take rejection too well?” Willow said as they walked into the library, “No. I’m a little worried... I mean, the way she talks about her mom... its freaky.” Buffy admitted before she spotted Giles and Angel. She started to slow her movements, while noticing Angel dressed in a sleeveless shirt and some sweat pants, “What is he doing here?” She asked while setting her books and tiny purse onto the counter. Willow followed the movements with her backpack.

Giles looked up, “Ah, good.” He said while standing up with a notebook and pen, “You’re right on time. Yes, uh, I have a change in training today, Buffy. Uh, instead of I being your training partner, I have asked Angel to be that partner today. I’m afraid our last training session left me a little-well-” He touched his back, “Sore. Uh, I will take minor notes, then I’ll let you two continue while I look into other cases and causes of spontaneous human combination.”

Willow brightened, “Can I help? I can help.” Giles glanced at her, “Ah, yes, um, will you search the net for-” Before he could continue, Willow moved around the counter and toward the computer. She hurried, hitting the internet icon.

Buffy stared at Giles a moment, still in a small state of shock, “Uh, Giles... you’re not serious are you?” She glanced to Angel, who was more far away, seated on the steps up to the second level of the library. She watched him smirk at her, while Giles explained, “Uh, well, yes, I am. Quite.” Panicking, Buffy moved toward Giles, “You can’t be that sore! I didn’t kill you I just.... knocked you threw the library doors and down the hall....” Buffy said, sheepishly.

Willow smiled. “Yes, well,” Giles stammered, “Ah, go on and change. Angel would you move the table?” Giles asked. Angel nodded, moving toward the table. “Fine.” Buffy said defeated, “But don’t expect me to *like* training with *him*.”

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She stirred the pot, “Give me the power. Give me the dark.” She went to get another doll from her rack, “I call on you, the laughing gods.” She yanked one of the dolls off of the rack, “Let your blackness crawl beneath my skin.” She wrapped Cordelia's scrunchie around the doll's head, “Accept thy sacrifice... of Cordelia. Feed on her.” She dropped the doll into the brew.....

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Buffy landed on the floor with a loud thump. She mechanically brought up her hands just as Angel jumped down at her. Both hands on either side of her shoulders. Buffy gasped as he smiled down at her, but she brought one of her legs up and knocked him off.

Getting back to her feet, Buffy prepared for his next move. He swung at her, but she ducked. He tried to hit her, but she blocked it by giving a high kick which he ducked. When he got back up, she went to her feet and swept her leg under his. He fell to the ground and Buffy pounced on top of him, making a little stab motion with her hand to his heart, “Got’cha!” She cried in triumph while moving her hands to the side to keep herself up, “That--what--makes four wins for me, and three for you?” She said while panting heavily from their fight.

He stared up at her, also breathing in loudly, “No, that’s four wins for *me* and three for you.” He corrected. Buffy glared down at him, “No, I remember, pretty darn well, that I beat you the last time.” Angel shook his head, “No. If I remember correctly, you lost the last one.” Sighing, Buffy said, “Whatever. You’re just a sore loser.”

Angel laughed, “Oh, yeah? I’m not the one who whined for twenty-” “I did not whine.” Buffy whined, “I... didn’t whine.” He laughed again, “Right. Sure.” She stared down at him, while moving one of her hands down his chest, “You are such an annoying-” “Ow!” Angel shouted when he felt Buffy push her nails into his rib, “Ass.” She continued before moving off of him. Angel touched the pained spot on his rib while glancing at her, “Yeah, we’ll you’re a-”

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“Witchcraft.” Giles declared, “Blinding your enemy to disorient and disable them is, it's classic!” Buffy was having difficulty dealing with the day she was having. Her mother and she had gotten into a fight in front of Dawn, in which

Dawn had asked what ‘sex’ was after Buffy had accidentally mentioned the word. Then she failed a pop quiz, then she had barely gotten hit by truck after saving a blind Cordelia-who was in the hospital at that moment.

Xander sighed, “First vampires, now witches. No wonder you can still afford a house in Sunnydale.” Giles frowned, “Why should someone want to harm Cordelia?” “Maybe because they met her?” Willow said, then blushed when everyone looked at her, “Did I say that?” Giles went on, “And setting Amber ablaze?” Xander thought, “Yeah, those guys don't hang...” Buffy blurted, “They're both cheerleaders.” “Someone doesn't like cheerleading?” Angel guessed. Buffy shared a glance with Willow, “Or likes it too much.” “Amy!” She cried. “Amy.” Buffy said, confirming it.

“So, you guys are leaning towards Amy?” Xander joked. “She's desperate to get on that team, and I've got this feeling she'd do just about anything to make her mom's dream come true.” Buffy said. “Uh, let me make sure I have this right. This witch is casting horrible and disfiguring spells so that she can become a cheerleader?” Giles said, doubtfully. Buffy looked up at him, “I think you're underestimating the amount of pressure a parent can lay on you. If you're not a picture perfect carbon copy they tend to wig.”

Willow clarified, “Cheerleading was kind of her mom's last hurrah.” Xander started, “Look, we still have to stop Amy. We should grab her and...” Giles interrupted, “I think we should be sure she's the witch before we arouse her suspicions. She's, she's capable of some fairly unpleasant things.” He moved to the stack of books that lay at the foot of the table. Buffy sighed, “Okay, alright, ,gets up, so, you're in high school, you are desperate to make the team and please your mom, so you turn to witchcraft. What's the first thing you're gonna do?” Willow spoke up, “Check out the books on witchcraft!”

She and Buffy went over to the computer to access the on-line library card catalog when Xander started, “Uh, no! No, that would be the last thing you would do. You don't wanna leave a paper trail. Forget that!” Willow started typing, “It'll just take a minute.” Xander started, “We don't have a minute! Cheerleaders are in danger. Buffy's in danger.” He looked at her, “You were the first alternate, you are on the team now that Cordelia's out. You could be next. We gotta get you to a safe house.” He started pulling on her arm, but stopped when Willow said, “Xander...” She exhaled, “'Witches" Historic Roots to Modern Practice.' Checked out by Alexander Harris.”

Buffy leaned over to read the screen, “'The Pagan Rites', checked out by Alexander...” “Alright, alright, it's not what you think.” Xander said firmly. “You like to look at the semi-nude engravings.” Angel stated. Buffy and Willow frowned and looked up at Xander, while he stared at Angel, “Oh, well, uh, I-I guess it *is* what you think.” “Have you all quite finished? We have to find a conclusive test. There may be something in here...” Giles paged through a book, “Yes, this should do it. You'll need some of her hair, a little quicksilver and some aqua fourty.” Willow thought a moment, “Well, that's just mercury and nitric acid. You can get that in the science lab.”

Giles red some more, “'Heat ingredients and apply to witch, and if a spell has been cast in the previous 48 hours, witch's skin turns blue.' Hmm,” He shut the book, “Oh, and you'll need some Eye of Newt.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dr. Gregory was holding a frog as reflected in a mirror propped up on a stick above him. Holding the frog up for the class to see, Dr. Gregory explained, “Those of you in track one may begin your dissections... now.” He indicated where the students should cut their frogs.

Xander was trying to take his frog's eye out with tweezers while Dr. Gregory continued, “Those of you in track two, take your hydrochloric acid and your ammonium hydroxide and carefully pour them into your beakers.” He began to pour.

Xander was still struggling with the frog's eye. “I can't.” Willow grabbed the frog and took out its eye. Dropping the eye into the beaker, she said, “Eye of Newt,” “How's Buffy doing with the hair?” They look toward Buffy as she walked toward Amy. “Do you think she pull it off?” Xander asked as he watched Buffy wave her pencil about then drop it. Willow leaned in toward Xander, “Looks like she’s doing it right now.” Buffy reached in a pulled out some hair, then quickly moved back, and threw Willow Amy’s hair.

Willow picked up the hair and mixed it into the concoction. She avoided the look Amy sent back at them to see what they were doing. Xander looked back nervously, gritting his teeth and said in a low voice, “Wave 'Hi' to the nice little witch.” Amy gave them another quick look. Willow took the beaker and poured some of the liquid into a test-tube, “All set.” She handed the tube to Buffy, “Do you have a plan?”

Buffy sighed, “Spill it on her. Try 'n' make it look natural.” Xander nodded, “We're right behind you, only... further back.” Buffy slowly made her way over to Amy while Dr. Gregory asked, “Lishanne, can you tell me why these chemicals have this reaction?” Buffy poured some of the mixture onto Amy's arm and feigns an accident, drawing in her breath. She watched the liquid turn blue on contact.

Dr. Gregory started again, “Lishanne?” Amy apparently didn't notice the spill. She was to consumed with looking over at Lishanne. Dr. Gregory looked up from the frog, “Are you... Oh, my God!” Buffy looked over at Lishanne now, too, and saw her shaking her head violently. She turned and everyone saw that she no longer had a mouth. Buffy stared in amazement and shock. She looked back at Amy, who looked shocked, too. Willow and Xander were also stunned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy, Willow, and Xander stood outside in the halls, discussing the result of their experiment. “Did you see? Amy was as freaked out as the rest of us.” Xander started. “So it's not her?” Willow asked. Buffy looked at both of them, “The test was positive! She's our Sabrina. I just don't think she realizes what she's doing.” Willow frowned, “Well, should we talk to her?” Buffy thought a moment, “Maybe we should talk to her mother. I wonder if *she* knows what she's created.”

~~~~~~~~~~ Part 3 ~~~~~~~~~~

Joyce was busy making fresh-squeezed orange juice while Dawn sat, munching on Trix cereal. Buffy came into the room, dancing and singing, wearing her cheerleader outfit, “Macho, macho, man! I want to be a macho man. Macho... Oh, hey, juice!” Buffy reached over and grabbed the glass and drank, “Mm... Quality juice. Not from concentrate!”

Joyce glanced at Buffy, “You're in a good mood.” Buffy cheered, “I am! I'm on the squad, which is great, 'cause I feel like cheering and leading others to cheer. Ooo, hey, juice!” Buffy took the second glass and drank again. Joyce started, “Listen, honey, about yesterday, I really...” Buffy shook her head, “Mm! That is totally yester. Besides, it's not like you were wrong, y'know. I did get kicked outta school. I'm just wacky that way!”

Dawn looked over at her sister strangely. She would get into some moods where she was happy and perky but today she was super duper perky. “Still, I just want you to know that, despite the problems you've had, I really...” Buffy cut her off, “Mom, you just don't get it. And, believe me, you don't want it. Y'know, there are just some things about being a Vampire Slayer that the older generation...”

“A what?” Dawn asked. Buffy frowned at her sister, “It's a... long story.” Joyce reached to feel Buffy’s forehead, “Buffy, are you feeling well?” Buffy frowned, “What? Oh, I'm, I'm fine, y'know? What, like, I can't be in a good mood? Is it, like, a new house rule? Fine, y'know? It's just fine, fine, fine, 'cause... I'm a macho, macho man! I want to be a macho man!” She bobbed her head while picking up her things, “Macho, macho man!” She bounced out of the kitchen, “I want to be a macho man!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Giles, Buffy’s been acting kinda weird today.” Willow said while she and Xander were leaning over the counter to look at him. Angel came down the stairs of the library, books in arms, he brought them over, behind the counter and handed them to his uncle. “How so? I haven’t exactly seen her this morning,” Giles said while taking out a clipboard and looking at the books.

“Well....” Willow looked at Xander for help who nodded, “She’s practically been bouncing off the walls. I don’t know, maybe she’s super giddy today, but we think something’s really wrong. She’s never been *that* giddy.” Willow widened her eyes, adding, “She kept singing ‘Macho Man’ all day!” Giles glanced at his nephew who only shrugged. “Ah, well, the three of you, why don’t you go and check on her?” They all nodded, “Consider it done.” Xander said while he and the others went down to the gym where Buffy was practicing.

When Angel, Xander, and Willow came in, they saw Buffy, jumping gleefully, and shouting, “Willow! Xander! My buds are here! I love my buds! Hi!” Then she noticed everyone staring, “Hi... Oh...” She got back in line and the routine continued. Xander looked to Willow, “Is it me, or is Buffy a bit moved?” Willow cast a worried gaze as the cheerleaders continued with a series of assisted cartwheels., “We better get her outta there.” Xander nodded, “Yeah, before she...”

Buffy overthrew Joy's aerial, sending her crashing into the gym wall. Angel finished Xander’s sentence, “ ...hurts someone.” “Ay...” Xander said. Joy got to her feet as Buffy came running over, “Did I do that?” Joy sneered at the girl, pushing her away, “You are *so* out of here!” Willow, Angel, and Xander came running up, and Willow and Xander each grabbed one of Buffy's arms. Willow started, “It's not her fault!” Xander glanced at Joy, “She's on medication.” Joy stared, “Well, obviously not enough. Who's our next alternate?” She glanced and saw, “Oh. Amy, you just made cheerleader.”

Buffy shook her head, “No, no, no. You don't want her, she's a wi-” Xander quickly covered Buffy's mouth with his free hand, “A wise choice indeed!” He and Willow pulled Buffy away, nodding and casting nervous smiles at Amy and Joy. Amy stared after them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Willow and Xander were supporting Buffy between them as they came down the hall while Angel walked beside Xander. “She's a witchy!” Buffy complained. Willow started, “Buffy...” Buffy glanced at her friends, “I just got kicked off the team, didn't I?” Xander sighed, “I don't think it was your fault.” Buffy smiled, “Hmm, I know you don't, that's 'cause you're my friend. You're my Xander-shaped friend!,” leaning her head on his shoulder, “Do you have any idea why I love you so, Xander?”

Willow frowned, “We gotta to get her to a...” Xander stopped Willow with a gesture, “Let her speak!” Buffy weakly grabbed him by the chin, “I'll tell you! You're not like other boys at all. You are totally, and completely one of the girls!,” She turned to Willow, “I'm that comfy with him.” Willow smiled widely. Angel couldn’t help but smile, too. Xander sighed, “That's great.”

“Any other guy who'd give me a bracelet, they'd... wanna date me, and be like a...” Buffy cringed, “Oh! I, I don't feel so good.” Willow started holding more of her weight, “Buffy?” Buffy collapsed into their arms. “Oh my God.” Willow whispered. Angel moved beside Willow, “Let me,” He said, gently moving Willow out of his way.

He pulled Buffy to stand up straight, without any help from the two. Angel swiftly lifted her into his arms while saying, “C’mon, Giles will know what to do.” With that he started quickly for the library while Willow chased after him with Xander.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel had placed Buffy in a chair with a wet cloth on her forehead. Willow supported her head and kept the cloth in place with her hand, “We've gotta get her to a hospital!” Giles sighed, “They can't help her. This is a bloodstone vengeance spell.” He took her pulse, “Hits the body hard like a, a quart of alcohol, and then it e-eradicates the, uh, immune system.” Xander started, “A vengeance spell, like she's trying to get even with Buffy?”

Buffy breathed in deeply, “'Cause she knows I know she's a witch.” Giles continued, “The others she just wanted out of the running. You she intends to, um...” Buffy looked at Giles, “Kill?” Willow glanced between Buffy and Giles,

“How much time do we have?” Giles stammered, “Oh, uh, I'm sure, uh...” Angel sent his uncle a serious stare, “Truth. Please.”

Giles sighed, “Couple of hours... Three at most.” Xander asked, a little frantically, “Well, how do we reverse the spell?” Giles got up, “Well I, I've been researching that, and, uh, we can reverse all the spells if, um ... we can just lay our hands on, on Amy's spell book.” Willow looked at Buffy, “And if we can't get a hold of it?” “Well, the other way is to cut the witch's head off.” Giles placed his glasses back on. Xander raised his hand, “Show of hands!” Buffy looked at Xander, “It's not Amy's fault. She only became a witch to survive her mother.”

Xander looked down at Buffy, “Look, I don't care why, I just care that you go on breathing.” Buffy smiled faintly, “Giles, where would she be casting these spells?” Giles exhaled, “Oh, she needs a, a sacred space. A-a-a pentagram, um, large pot.” Buffy nodded, “Her home. Okay. Help me up.” Angel helped her up while Buffy went on, “We'll just go to her house and we'll get her book.” Willow nodded, “Okay, we'll go with you.”

Angel looked at them, “No. You guys stay here and keep an eye on Amy.” Giles took Buffy by her other arm, “And keep her away from the science lab. We'll need it to cast our counter-spells.” Willow and Xander looked at each other. Xander exhaled.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Catherine was sitting on the couch, a plate of brownies on her lap. She just bit into one, when someone knocked on the door loudly. She looked up, startled.

Giles knocked again. Angel glanced at Buffy, holding her to him, supporting her. He was worried about her; she looked tired and really out of it. When the door opened, Catherine Madison peeked outside, “Who are you? Wha, um, uh, is there something wrong?” Giles started, “Mrs. Madison, we need to talk to you about your daughter.”

Catherine shook her head, “I'm not allow... You'll have to come back later.” She tried to close the door, but Giles prevented her and pushed his way in, “Excuse me.” He turned to his nephew, gesturing for him to help Buffy inside. “You alright?” Angel asked her while looking for a place to sit her down, “Um, in here.” Giles led them into the living room, “Your daughter is meddling with something very dangerous, are you aware of that?” Giles asked while Angel sat Buffy on the couch. He touched her forehead gently as she stared up at him, tiredly.

“Uh, I don't know what you're talking about.” Catherine said. “Oh, I think you know only too well. You've got to go. She's gonna be home soon, and you...” Giles indicated Buffy, “This girl is very sick. Now you will shut up and you will listen to me! Your daughter has access to some very powerful magic's, and somehow your obsession with cheerleading has made...” Incredulous, Catherine shook her head, “I don't care about cheerleading! It's not my fault she's doing stuff.”

Buffy took her eyes off of Angel, and glanced to her side. Her brows furrowed at the set of brownies she saw. “As her mother you should assume some responsibility for her actions.” Giles said. Catherine laughed nervously, “Well, you know, these kids today! I...” she calmed down a bit, “She's out of her mind. Ever since dad, her dad... left I can't control her.” Buffy slowly started to get up. Angel gently helped her.

Giles stared at her, “You're afraid of her?” “Amy?” Buffy called. Catherine looked at her, realizing she's been found out. Giles looked at Buffy, still puzzled. “Are you Amy?” Buffy asked again while holding onto Angel for support. Giles looked back at Catherine, “I don't understand.” Buffy breathed, “She switched. She switched your bodies, didn't she?” Catherine looked down, defeated. Giles stared at Catherine, “Good Lord.” Angel added, “She wanted to relive her glory days.” Catherine looked back up at Giles, “She said I was wasting my youth. So she took it.”

~~~~~~~~~~ Part 4 ~~~~~~~~~~

Catherine had moved with Giles to sit on the couch and she was explaining what happened, “I didn't know anything about her powers. I mean, when dad was here they would fight and yell and he would... call her a witch and... I mean, I would, just thought he meant... Oh, God, when he left I wanted to go with him. But she wouldn't even let me call. She went crazy, I mean, she'd lock herself upstairs for days, and she was always coming down on me, telling me I didn't deserve to have it so easy, and that I didn't know... how hard it was to be her, and... I guess she showed me, huh?” She said sadly.

Buffy reached over and took her hand, “Amy, it's gonna be okay.” Catherine nodded, “A few months ago, I woke up in h... her bed! I didn't know where I was, and... then I looked in the mirror...” Giles asked, “She locked herself upstairs?” Catherine “Yes.” “Where?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy waited with Angel as Giles and Catherine went up stairs. She closed her eyes then opened them again. She was getting very sleepy and she couldn’t feel anything. Angel was still holding her hand, trying to comfort her.

“Thank you.” Buffy said, in a weak voice, “For helping me.” Angel gently squeezed her hand, “You don’t have to.” Buffy sniffed, “Listen, if we can’t stop this and if I don’t....” “Ssshhh.” Angel shushed her, “You’re not going to die. Giles won’t let you. I won’t let you.” She gave him a little nod, “*But* if I don’t... I want you to take care of Xander and Willow for me. They mean a lot and I don’t ever want them to get hurt...”

“I promise,” Angel said, “But you don’t have to worry. I won’t have to protect them because you’re going to be around.” Buffy sighed, “I guess. Y’know, there’s something I never asked you... why are you so strong? I mean, with fighting. I had a boyfriend who-well he wasn’t as tall as you, but he was around the same age as you, and I could always beat that pants off of him. How come when I fight you its always a challenge?”

Angel smiled, “My mom... well, she was a Slayer. And Giles trained her. So, I have the same amount of strength as she did.” Buffy whispered, “I’m sorry.” “It’s okay,” Angel said, “She died in battle. The way she always wanted to die. Fighting.” Buffy gazed up at him, “I’ll fight, too.” She said, hinting about the spell on her. Angel gently nudged her chin, “Good.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel carried Buffy into the science lab and laid her down on a lab table, knocking everything off of it in the process. Giles was busy with Catherine, helping her set all the ingredients onto a table nearby. Angel took off his coat and folded it, placing it under her head. “Giles will stop this. I promise.” Buffy looked up at him, vision blurred, “Hang on.” He told her.

Giles reached in to get Amy's spell book. Catherine glanced at Buffy and Angel, concerned, “How is she?” Giles looked at Buffy, “We only have a few minutes left.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the gym, the cheerleaders were cheering and shouting and getting the crowd all wild up, “Go, Sunnydale go! Go, Sunnydale go! Go! Six, seven, eight! Go Sunnydale go! Go, Sunnydale go! Go, Sunnydale go! Go! Six, seven, eight! Go Sunnydale go! Go, Sunnydale go! Go, Sunnydale go! Go! Six, seven, eight! Go Sunnydale go! Go, Sunnydale go! Go, Sunnydale go! Go!” Amy smiled at the crowd.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Catherine was cutting an eye from a frog, and was squeamish about it. Giles started, “Right. Here we go.” Buffy closed her eyes as Angel wiped her brow. Giles recited as he mixed the potion, “The center is dark. Centrum est obscurus. The darkness breathes. Tenebrae respiratis. The listener hears. Hear me!”

The cheerleaders were doing a counting chant. Amy stopped chanting and glanced around, startled. Her vision flashed to what her old body saw, in the science lab, the book and the frog. She snapped back in the gym and took up the count again, but couldn’t help the worried look on her face.

Catherine blinked at what she just saw outside of her mother’s body, “Oh, it's... it's working!” Giles took the book up from the table and continued, “Unlock the gate. Let the darkness shine. Cover us with holy fear.” Catherine staggered back and covered her face. “Show me...” The lights went out in the classroom. Angel glanced around for a moment, then back at his uncle to see if he was alright. Catherine gasped as her vision changed again, “She's coming!” Giles begins to worry.

Amy violently pushed open a door and Willow hurried, stopping her. “Amy!” “Get out of my way!” Amy snapped. “W-wait! I-I-I need to talk to you, I-I can help you.” She stammered. Amy snickered, “Help me? With what?” “ Uh, well, y'know, all your witchcraft! I, I know this really good cauldron.” Willow said just as Xander snuck up behind Amy. “Do you actually ride a broom?”

Amy twisted around, growled, and holding out her hand like she was grabbing Xander's neck. His hand went to his throat as Amy made a fist and twisted it. Xander collapsed to the floor, choking, “Xander!” Amy spun back around and punched Willow hard in the face, knocking her to the floor.

Giles held up his arms and chanted “Corsheth and Gilail! The gate is closed! Receive the dark! Release the unworthy! Take of mine energy and be sated!” He plunged his hands into the mixture. Angel winced a little at the sight while Catherine nearly fainted. Angel glanced at the door. Without a doubt, Amy was hammering at it. Trying to get it open. Giles took his hands out of the brew while Catherine looked at the door and saw it being yanked on. “Be sated! Release the unworthy!” Giles chanted again.

“Release!” Amy began to chop down the door. Giles continued, “Release!” Amy made a hole, reached through and got the door to open. She marched in, axe in hand, straight over to Buffy, but Angel moved to block her. “RELEEEEASE!” Giles shouted as Amy started to wield the axe, but stopped when a flash of light appeared. Amy blinked, She looked around, a bit confused, stepping back and lowering the ax. Buffy moved, standing up, moving around Angel. “Buffy?” Amy stared at her. “Amy?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy panicked. One moment, Amy was herself again, the next, Catherine had attacked her with violence, Angel and Giles with some quick magic, and Amy with verbal abuse. But Buffy had managed to get Catherine away from her daughter. Now Buffy was struggling with a way to get rid of Catherine. She had just started chanting, her eyes had gone black.

She spotted the pole holding up the mirror above her. “Corsheth, take her!” Catherine cried just as Buffy knocked the pole out from under the mirror and let it flop down. Catherine's spell leaps from her hands and is reflected by the mirror back at her. The power of the spell enveloped her and she screamed. The energy twists around her and disappeared with a roar, taking her with it. Buffy surveyed the scene, seeing that Amy is badly shaken. Buffy moved her gaze to Giles, who was unconscious on the floor, Angel by his side. He started to wake up, “Well, that was, um, interesting.” Angel helped him up, “You guys okay?” Buffy asked.

Amy sighed, “I'm fine.” “I assume the, uh, all the spells are reversed. It was my first casting, so...” Giles inhaled, “I may have got it wrong.” Buffy frowned, “You saved my life! You were a god!” Amy started, “Well, I didn't think you'd pull it off.” Suddenly Xander came rushing in and grabbed Amy tightly. “I got her! I got her! Cut her head off!”

“Xander, what are you doing?” Angel asked. Xander frowned, “Saving Buffy?” “Get your hands off of her.” Buffy said. He glanced at her, “But she's evil.” “It wasn't exactly her.” Giles started. “I was my mom.” Amy explained. “Oh!” He released her just as Willow came running in, too, wielding a bat, “Where is she?!” Xander noticed, “Uh, hey Willow! It's cool!” She frowned, “It is?” Xander nodded proudly, “Yeah, I took care of it.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy laughed with Amy as they walked down the stairs and into the quad. School was over and Amy had invited Buffy over with Willow to swing by later that day. Buffy noticed Angel reading a book on one of the benches. Buffy glanced at Amy, “Um, can we talk later?” Amy noticed Angel, too, “Oh! Sure, yeah.” Amy smiled then went in another direction. Buffy approached Angel, standing in front of him.

Angel was very engrossed in his book, that he didn’t notice her until she placed two of her fingers on the inside of his book. He shook his head and looked up at her. “Hey.” He said. “Hi,” She said, “Um, look, I just wanted to say thanks. Again. For y’know, helping me while I was all-” “All,” Angel made a small gesture, “ditzy like?” “Sick.” She corrected.

Angel placed the skinny golden string inside the book and closed it, “No problem.” Buffy clasped her hands together, “Uh... there’s something I kinda don’t get. Why did you watch me all that time? I thought you hated me.” Angel sighed, standing up, “I don’t hate you.” “Okay.” Buffy said, “You confuse me.” Angel laughed, “You’ve confused me, too.”

“Really? Hmm.” Buffy mused, “Well, maybe we should have a truce.” She exchanged a look with Angel as they started walking together, “Nah.” Buffy smiled, “Okay, so where were we? I believe I beat you all four times.” Angel shook his head, “No, I did.” “Oh, please!” Buffy gaped at him, “Maybe you hit your head too hard when I knocked you done.” “I don’t think so.” Angel said, “Oh yeah? You. Me. the library, right now.” Buffy tugged on his arm, “Let’s go.” “You’re on.” Angel said.

The End

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