Chapter Five

It was maybe an hour or two before sunrise when Spike arrived at the gates to the Forbidden Mountain. The old lady's map had been surprisingly helpful, showing him shortcuts and marking danger zones. One town he had been able to bypass looked like it was infested with rats. Spike suppressed a shudder. Rats were only for eating, and that was only if you were starving.

Thankfully, the rat town was behind him as he stood in front of an enormous gate. It was at least five Spikes tall, and if he had to guess, Spike would say it was made of solid steel. The dull silver color gave off the faintest shimmer in the moonlight.

Okay. How to get over the gate and into the fortress is the question. And this method had to be accomplished quickly. Spike glanced worriedly up at the sky. His instincts told him sunrise was coming sooner rather than later.

Spike studied the gate. It was tucked between two sheer cliffs, its own metal too smooth for any handholds. No convenient carvings for unwanted trespassers. Really, the gall of this Maleficent bird, not making it easy for him to waltz right up and rescue Buffy.

Well, there was really only one option left. Spike marched up until he was standing smack dab in front of the gate. You can never say that this vampire was a coward. They wouldn't leave the door open? Then he'd have to get himself an invite.

As he raised his fist to knock, the gate started to vibrate. With a horrible screaming noise, as if its hinges had never been oiled, the gate creaked open. Spike tripped backwards, quickly reassessing his plans.

A giant stood there, massive hand easily propping open the door. His matted, greasy black hair almost brushed the top of the gate, and he looked as if one stomp of his boot could turn Spike into vampire paste. His entire body blocked the opening in the gate, a good twelve feet or so across.

Summoning every inch of his bravado, Spike shouted, "Hey, mate! Yeah, you up there! Mind stepping out of the way a bit to let a bloke in?"

The giant grunted then scanned the area a moment, obviously not seeing where this annoying noise was coming from.

"Hey! I'm down here!"

The giant finally focused in on Spike and bent down a little, tilting his head in the vampire's direction. As he did so, Spike noticed that up on the giant's shoulder perched a small black bird. After staring at the bird, Spike realized it was in fact a rather big crow, as these things go. It was only next to a giant it looked small.

In a rumbling, deep voice, the giant said, "Who goes there?"

Spike rolled his eyes. "Me, you big lummox. You know, the one standing right in front of you." Then he realized he had just insulted someone who could crush him with a thought. "No offense."

"None taken, puny vampire." The giant peered at him a moment. "What do you want?"

"I want you to let me in," Spike snapped. If the giant wasn't going to get ticked, then he sure was.

The giant straightened. "I can't do that. I have my orders."

"Screw your orders! You're a giant, right? Big with the evil and all? Shouldn't you be off ransacking villages and whatnot? Not guarding some witch's gate. That's for the hired help," Spike argued, a little desperate. He needed to get in! Buffy was here! He could feel it.

The giant just stood there, listening.

Spike forged on. "C'mon, what you gonna do? Gonna help your fellow servant of evil - I'm a VAMPIRE here, you know, not some bloody white knight - or are you gonna be a good little big boy and follow the rules? What are you mate? Proud giant or bootlicking minion? "

The giant said nothing. Spike wondered if he had gone too far and was about to get squished. Then -

"HO HO HO!" The giant laughed, vaguely reminding Spike of that slug creature. You know, the one in the movie with the girl in the gold bikini and all that rot about the dark side. "You are a daring little vampire, indeed. I think I will let you inside the gates."

Spike bounced on his toes, ready to charge in and go find Buffy and save the day.

"Not so fast. You have to do something for me," the giant said.

What was up with these people and all this quid pro quo nonsense? Couldn't he ever find some little nobody he could beat up to get what he wanted? That's the way Spike liked to do business. It's no fun when the other guy has the upper hand.

The giant seemed confer with the crow. A minute or two later, the bird gave a caw and flew off.

"I have a flock of sheep. They are very wild and hard to keep track of."

"And what do you want me to do?"

The giant smiled. "I want you to take them out to graze today. I don't think I feel like doing it myself. You should be able to keep a herd of sheep in a sunlit field, shouldn't you?"

Spike cursed. Daytime. Sun. All those things he couldn't do - just a bit of sunlight would send him up in flames. And a dusty Spike isn't going to be able to do much; rescuing Buffy would be out. Maybe if he -

"No friends, vampire. You can't get out of this by calling on your friends." The giant smirked. He knew there was no way Spike could possibly do this task. Maleficent would be pleased.

"No *friends*?" Spike stressed the word. "You sure about that?"

"I'm not going to make this easy for you. No asking for help from any *friends*," the giant repeated, mimicking Spike's stress.

Spike smirked. Just had to clarify that point. Then he called out, "Guide Girl, mind sending me the whelp here?"

Tara appeared, smiled, gave the most minute of salutes to Spike before being replaced by Xander. The man stood there, blinking, obviously very confused.

"Why did you do that?" the giant demanded. "That gets you nothing. The rules are clear, vampire. You could not ask any friends to help you."

Spike simply smiled, swaggered over to Xander and slung his arm about the other man's shoulder. "Hey, Harris, we friends?"

"Hell, no, Dead Boy," he retorted, jerking away.

"Well, then, problem solved. You," he said to the giant, "told me I couldn't ask any friends for help. Now, the whelp here is no friend of mine. Therefore, I can ask him for all the help I want."

Spike seriously hoped he had read this world right. If he was correct, then the giant had to abide by the rules he set down. If not, then he and Xander were about to become very, very thin.

Thankfully, it turned out that he did have a clue. Grudgingly, the giant admitted, "So he's not excluded. Fine. But he still has to agree to do it."

"Do what?" Xander demanded. "What's going on?"

"See, the thing is," Spike explained, "the giant here won't let me in unless his sheep get taken care of for the day. Since I'm not exactly sun- proof, I was thinking you do it."

"So you're going to palm your work off on me."

Basically. "C'mon. If we want the Slayer to wake up and get back to the real world, I got to get in that castle up there. Can't do that unless I get past the gate and I can't do that unless the giant lets me in. You follow me?"

Xander did. However, there was no way he was giving Spike what he wanted that easily. "Maybe I'll help you." Xander smiled. "If you ask really, really nicely." He wanted to see that vampire squirm.

Spike growled. Being nice to the rest of the Scoobies was okay. Minding his manners for strange old ladies on the street was doable. Didn't like it, but he could do it. But to be make nice to Xander, now that was asking a lot.

He looked up at the castle, perched high in the mountain. Buffy was in there, waiting for him. The love of his unlife was there, and if he reached her, he might be able to get more than just a crumb. This whole bizarre world and their roles in it came from Buffy. The Tara fairy had said so. And in Buffy's world, it seemed that he and Xander had to get along. And what Buffy wanted -

"Xander, would you please do me a favor and help me? I would very much appreciate it," Spike said, each word grudgingly spoken, like a little boy being polite only because his mother told him to.

"Can I hear that again, this time with some feeling?" Xander cupped his hand to his ear. "What did you want to say?"

Spike glared at him, longing for the ability to rip the human's throat out. The giant, still blocking the gateway, watched the proceedings with interest.

"Would you *please* help me?"

Xander considered it a moment.

"Bloody hell, Harris, what are you waiting for? You know you have to, why don't you just go ahead and do it?!"

Xander decided he had taunted Spike enough. "Okay. Shepherd boy, here I come."

Spike rolled his eyes. Took him long enough. "Good. Now that that's settled?" he turned an inquiring eye to the giant. "I think you need to move over, mate, and let me through."

With almost as grudging an air as Spike's request to Xander, the giant shuffled to the side. Spike marched on through, only to hear the door shut with a resounding clank once he had entered. Ignoring the rather foreboding noise, he proceeded to follow the trail up to the castle.

It wasn't very long before he crossed the castle's drawbridge, easily entering the hall. Clinging to the shadows, he tried to figure out in which direction Buffy lay sleeping. Spike closed his eyes on focused his senses on one thing and one thing alone. Slayer. Buffy.

Slowly, guided by some special instinct, he made his way towards a staircase. So caught up in his tracking, he didn't realize when he was surrounded.

A circle of nasty, pig snout like monsters were closing in on him, pike weapons out and ready. Balls. The minions had found him.

Chapter Six

The pig-snout minions waved their pikes menacingly at Spike. He stood there, calculating how many stabs he would take before he could crush them into tiny pieces. The minions looked weaker than a fledge just out of the grave. He could take them.

Then Spike noticed something very important about the pikes. They weren't made of metal. They were made of highly polished wood. Like...stakes.

There went the crush, kill, destroy plan. Did he have some curse hanging over him he didn't know about? Even wanker minions like these should be able to hit the heart if there's enough of them. One lucky swing and it's Bye-Bye Spike, Hello Pile-Of-Dust. Which definitely wasn't on his calendar, for, say, at least a few more centuries. Preferably never.

The biggest pig-snout jabbed his stake into Spike's chest. Spike quickly backed away.

"Be's nicey-nice vampire and we's not be making big dust mess." He nodded firmly, increasing the pike's pressure. "Dark lady say so. You no fightses us, we no stakeses you."

Spike held up his hands, classic sign for surrender. "Whatever you say, mate." Backing up slowly, he carefully eased away from the circle. "Now if you don't mind, I'll be on my way."

He was almost out of range when the head pig-snout finally figured out what was going on. Spike quickly stopped moving when a dozen or so stakes pricked his flesh.

"You goes where I says, vampire. And I says you goes to dungeon."

Okay. New plan. These pig-snouts didn't look that smart. "And if you give me some directions, I'll go there right away. No need for you to bother showing me."

The head hog just made a grunting noise and pressed his pike harder. Spike felt it break the skin. "Nuh-uh. You follows us. I not stupid." Head Hog puffed out his chest. "I smartest minion ever. Dark lady say so. And I says you goes dungeon!" He turned to a fellow pig-snout and grunted something. A command, Spike guessed. Then the pike came flying through the air and smacked him in the back of the head.

***

Spike came to slowly, his head aching worse than the fourth day of a three day binge. As he tried to clear his vision, he realized several important things. First, he was, in fact, in a dungeon. The rotting skeletons, dripping water, and dank stone were dead giveaways. Second, his wrists were changed to the wall. Third, and most importantly, a darkly elegant woman was standing before him, leaning slightly on a staff as tall as he was.

She was tall and thin, with dark robes gracefully gliding along her body, as if they would not dare to wrinkle. Her expression was coolly composed, and reminded Spike of Darla on a bad day. That icy, dispassionate face of someone who coldly calculated and controlled everything about them. This must be Maleficent.

Spike had a strong feeling things had just gone from bad to worse.

"So you are awake, vampire," the dark fairy spoke, her voice as icily elegant as her appearance, every word carefully chosen and pronounced. "I was worried you were going to sleep the day away."

Spike tried to straighten as much as his chains would allow. "Yeah, well, getting knocked in the head will do that to you."

"I must apologize for the reception you received, William the Bloody. I believe my men misinterpreted my orders, as it were. A guest should be shown proper courtesy, should he not?"

"I'm sure you're a real gem of a host," Spike sneered, his automatic reaction to any threat coming to the surface. If you've managed to get yourself captured, act like the cockiest bastard in creation. You may still end up dead, but at least you go out with a bang. "Bet you say that to all your prisoners."

Maleficent quirked her lips minutely. "You are as bold as they say you are, William. An admirable quality. I am most impressed."

"Impressed enough to let me go?" Spike asked, pulling at the chains binding him to the wall.

She cocked her head, examining him a moment. "Perhaps. Why are you here?"

Spike pretended to think a moment as he tried to discreetly loosen his bonds. "See, over a century ago, my dad knocked my mum up - "

"I dislike foolish answers, vampire," Maleficent cut him off. "I want to know precisely why you have come here."

"So we're back to vampire now, are we?" Spike smirked. He had almost felt that one link give a little -

"Even if you miraculously break chains enchanted to hold a full grown troll, *I* am still here. All of your admittedly formidable fighting skills would be nothing against my magic. Speak to me, vampire."

"You know why I'm here. I'm here to rescue the Slayer and get the hell out of this place. Bring her back to home, where she belongs."

"Ah, yes. The dashing vampire off to save his sworn enemy turned lady love." Maleficent returned his smirk. "And what makes you believe you shall be the fair prince who will wake our princess from her spell?"

Spike glowered at her, eyes flashing yellow. "Tara said Buffy chose me." He straightened. "Buffy chose me to be her prince. Just like in the story."

Maleficent laughed. It was an echoing, mocking laugh. "You believe those, those do-gooders? My dear vampire, they have their own agenda at work here. If their precious Slayer is under a spell, of course they will try to manipulate the best candidate into freeing her." She smiled at him. "They only told you one ending. There are...other options."

Spike stared at her, uncomprehending. With a wave of her staff, Maleficent created a globe, where within lay the image of the sleeping Buffy. Spike tried to pull forward to get a better glimpse at his Slayer.

"Behold, in the top most tower of my gracious castle, dreaming peaceful dreams, lies the Slayer. She is indeed most wondrous fair. Gold of sunshine in her hair, lips that shame the red, red rose. In ageless sleep she finds repose.

In tales of times past, along comes a prince, strong and brave, to wake the fair maiden with true love's kiss. Off into the sunset they ride, steadfast, for love conquers all."

In accordance with Maleficent's words, the images within the globe changed, from princess to prince to kiss to princess and princess together, happily ever after.

"That is the ending those fairies desire. But do not consider yourself limited, William. Here is another way for the tale to end." Her voice took on that same, almost mocking intonation as she narrated the next clip. "As the princess sleeps, the years roll by, but a hundred years to a steadfast heart are 'bout a day. And now, the gates of the dungeon part, and the prince is free to go his way. Off he rides on his noble steed, a valiant figure, straight and tall, to wake his love with love's first kiss."

Maleficent watched Spike's expression intently. He is almost intrigued by what he sees, she can feel it.

"A more desirable option, indeed. What is a century to an immortal such as you? By then, her meddling, annoying friends and family will be long gone. Who will stand in the way of your love?"

Spike's eyes narrowed. He would be the first to admit that he didn't get on well with the Scoobies all the time. But by the same token, he knew how much Buffy needed them. No, that choice wasn't for him.

Maleficent's lips curved into a smile. So easy to read, this vampire was. In a gentle croon, she spoke again. "Of course, by this we suppose the Slayer actually loves you in return. But we know better, don't we? If she was to awake today or a hundred years from now, you would still be the same disgusting thing to her."

"If that was true," Spike pointed out, his voice as mocking as hers, "then you wouldn't bother locking me up, now would you? Why should you bother with someone who hasn't a chance of mucking up your fun?" He laughed. "I've got what she needs to get a real, proper pick me up." Spike took on his standard lascivious smirk, tongue curled just so. "Isn't that right?"

Maleficent's expression didn't betray her frustration. Instead, she quickly recalculated. Yes, this was a much better plan.

"It would be well within their power for those fairies to make you the one who could break the curse. A spell that changes, for an instant, your obsession with the Slayer into so-called love," her voice said the word sarcastically. "But it cannot change the Slayer's feelings for you." Maleficent waved her hand, revealing a new image in the globe. "See? This is how the Slayer truly feels about you. It is taken from her sleeping self. Watch how she treats you."

The dream Buffy was dancing with someone. Spike smiled when he realized it was himself who she was dancing with. Then Buffy shoved him away and ran out, her expression showing how disgusted she was as she ran back into Angel's arms. With him by her side, she staked the dream Spike.

Spike growled.

"Do you see now? Do you? She does not love, will never love you, William. No pathetic children's fairy tale can change that. But," Maleficent's voice grew seductive, "but, as I said, there are other options. Not all tales require the princess to wake."

The globe shimmered, then once again showed the sleeping Buffy. But this time the colors were brighter, harsher. Buffy's body was sprawled about in a far more sensuous pose than the chaste rest she had enjoyed before.

"In tales of long ago, our intrepid hero finds the sleeping maid and claims her for his own, heedless of her own desires. Forever pliant, she will remain as he desires her to be - his and only his."

Spike surged forward, pulling at his chains with all his might, his face twisted into his demon face.

"I would never - !"

"You wouldn't?" Maleficent raised an eyebrow at his indignant fury. "Isn't that what you really want? You are a vampire, a taker, a conqueror. This isn't about love, this is about having your seductive mortal enemy at your mercy. Besides," Maleficent smiled and once again, the image in the globe changed.

Buffy, chained to a wall much as Spike now was, looked straight up and hissed, "The only chance you had with me was when I was unconscious."

Spike winced at the unwelcome reminder at his botched confession of love. "I didn't then and I won't now," he swore. "And you are stupider than I thought if you thought I would."

"Really? That's what you say?" Maleficent leaned in close to him, and in a whisper said, "What if she was to wake up? I cast the spell, it would be in my power. She awakes, and with only a mere twist of magic, she is yours. Your willing slave. Whatever you desire is what she desires. Perfectly willing in whatever you want. No force necessary."

Spike glared at her, hating how much he was tempted by those words. For Buffy to willingly be his...

"Think about it, William. Instead of being that disgusting dead thing, you would be her world."

"It wouldn't be her."

"I know you, William. I know what you are capable of. Wouldn't it be better to have an echo of her, totally devoted to you, than the one who hates your very existence?"

"It wouldn't be real."

"It would be real enough."

Spike stared at the image now in the globe, of the Slayer lying there, open and for the taking. The demon in him shouted and told him to take this, to take what little he could.

"Get. The. Hell. OUT!" Spike snarled, throwing himself at Maleficent. "You better hope I never get loose. Because then you're going to die. Painfully."

"A most unwise decision and threat," Maleficent said, gracefully turning to leave. "I hope you like this place. If you stand still, the rats might come close enough for a bite. Farewell, foolish vampire."

She swept out.

***

Chapter Seven

Spike stared at the empty space formerly inhabited by Maleficent, wishing she was there and his chains were gone so he could give her the killing she so desperately needed. One with lots of blood staining her oh- so-perfect robes.

However, he had to get out of here first.

Spike examined the situation. He was standing in a dungeon cell empty of all but him, and out beyond into the corridor he didn't see any guards to whistle over and trick into letting him go. So manipulation was out.

Spike gave his chains a few experimental tugs, increasing the force each time. They were as well built as Maleficent had said they were. Spike made a mental note to try and steal himself a set before leaving this place - good chains were hard to come by. Excellent things to have around. Provided, of course, that you were the one doing the chaining and were not the chained. Unfortunately, Spike was currently on the wrong side of the matter.

Having discarded snapping the chains as an escape method, Spike started to study his surroundings a bit more. The dungeon was a bare bones (sorry, Spike thought to the grinning skeleton across the way) affair, with no helpful tools conveniently lying about should he miraculously be able to lean over and pick them up.

The floor was made of a dark, worn stone that showed dips where water had slowly dripped over the years. Nothing particularly useful there. Spike turned his attention to the walls which his chains were bound to. They were built of the same material as the floor, cut into blocks and stacked. The blocks showed the same signs of age as the floor. Nicked and scratched, with chinks showing at the joinings. Hmm. This was a possibility.

Spike twisted himself to study the blocks his chains were mounted on. One had a crack in a lower corner, and the other didn't look much better.

He pulled his chains as far forward as they would go. Then, he rammed his fists backward, striking at the weak points in the stone. It vibrated a little.

"Ow, ow, ow!"

That hurt. He did it again. It hurt even more. Spike repeated the procedure, smashing his fists against the stone in an effort to shatter it and free himself.

"OW!"

Smash.

"OW!"

Smash.

"OW!"

Smash.

"OW!"

Shatter.

The blocks had finally cracked under the pressure. Spike pulled his aching arms forward. Bloody and bruised, he turned to study the wall. The two stone bricks were now a collection of rock shards and dust.

Still manacled, Spike made his way to the hall, wincing as the metal continued to cut into his hands. He hoped he could avoid a fight for a bit. He had probably broken a finger or two at least in each hand, and the rest were turning funny colors. Spike would need to heal a bit before he could throw a proper punch.

Carefully, trying not to make clinking sounds, Spike made his way up the dungeon stairs. No guards. Not a one. Where were they? Maleficent didn't strike him as stupid. Spike warily watched the corridor he was currently sneaking along. He didn't even sense a mouse scurrying along the floor (not that a mouse would dare mar this castle's grounds). Huh. Maybe Maleficent was so confident in her powers that she gave them the night off?

Spike was now by the staircase, the same one he had so ignominiously been captured near before. Not a single fellow creature was in sight. However, Spike heard the faint strains of drums and shouts a ways a way. He crept toward the noise. Spike wanted to make sure he knew what was going on around this castle, so he knew where not to go.

Spike discovered a side room, tucked away from the castle's main hall. In it, the pig-snouts were shouting and squealing and dancing around a big bonfire. So his first guess was right - the guards did have the night off.

Turning, Spike made his way back to the grand staircase, wincing when he dropped the chains and they clanged loudly against the floor. The partying pig-snouts didn't even notice; they just kept howling and dancing. Relieved, Spike continued on his way to find Buffy.

Spike wandered the twisting maze of halls, listening to his instincts that the Slayer was nearby. After an eternity of wrong turns, he finally found a winding tower staircase. Up there, he knew Buffy had to be.

So far, so good. The minions were having their party downstairs and Maleficent was nowhere to be found.

Spike followed each bend and twist in the stairs faithfully, pausing only to rest a moment. Even for a vampire, getting knocked in the head, smashing your hands to pieces intentionally, and then wandering about for who knows how long (all of this without having a good meal in two days) was very tiring. But he still persevered upward. Buffy was waiting for him.

Finally, Spike came to a big stone door at the top of the stairs. With a push, he was able to force it open.

And lying in the moonlight streaming in from the window, was Buffy. She rested on top of satin covers, hands gently folded. Spike half expected a rose tucked in between them. He could hear the steady, quiet beating of her heart and her slow breaths as she slept. She was fine, only resting.

Spike walked slowly, until he stood by her side. Her blond hair spilled about her gracefully; her lips were tilted up in a faint smile. Whatever dream she was in seemed pleasant. Spike smiled at the sight, and hoped he had something to do with it. A hand, encrusted his dried blood and the manacle still attached dragging onto the sheets, reached out to caress her face.

"Do you really think you will succeed? That you will win her love?"

Maleficent now stood a few feet away. Spike hadn't heard her come in. The dark fairy watched him, her eyes cold. Her grip on her staff was tight, her knuckles an even whiter white than before.

Spike glared at the witch. His demonic face emerged at the presence of a threat, but he made no move to attack.

"Yes, that is the sight you want to greet your true love with. A vampire, covered in blood, standing over her while sleeps, neck exposed. A real Prince Charming," Maleficent remarked mockingly.

Spike stilled. "She knows what I am."

"And that is what she hates. What you are."

"So?" Spike glanced down at the sleeping Buffy. "Better for her to be awake and home and hating me than here."

Maleficent's lips tightened, as she inwardly cursed all the rules those pathetic good fairies had placed on this realm. The vampire's escape had not been noticed (heads would roll for this - didn't those fool minions understand the concept of shifts?) and now that he was in the tower room, her powers were bound from interfering.

But her words were still left.

"She awakes and she'll be whisked away to that little town you so charmingly refer to as Sunnyhell." Maleficent smiled. It was not a comforting sight. "Are you sure you want that? Sure you want your precious Buffy to once again deal with her duties and Glory and all those evils? And I thought you loved her."

Spike ignored her. It had finally occurred to him that if Maleficent wanted to do something, she would have done it by now. Instead, he bent his knee and leaned in closer to Buffy. His face softened into its human countenance.

"Listen to me, William, she'll wake up and hate you, and then return to that wretched town and live a wretched life and die! If she stays here, that won't have to happen!" Maleficent was almost pleading now. Her plan had been so perfect - entrap the Slayer in a spell and convince the vampire to betray said Slayer in a most horrific way. But the vampire was not acting like a true vampire at all!

"You will return to that pathetic existence you had enjoyed before if you wake her. Waiting for any crumb the Slayer cares to throw you, despised by your own kind - is that what you really want? Stop this foolishness and I can give you more. The Slayer at your feet, her friends in chains, the ability to kill - "

Spike straightened and turned to her. He opened his mouth. Good. He finally realized the sense in listening to her.

"Would you shut your gob, woman? I'm trying to have a moment here." Then Maleficent could only watch as the vampire knelt by his lady's side, and pressed a gentle, chaste kiss on her lips.

Buffy's eyes fluttered slightly. Soft, cool lips were pressed against hers. Instinctively, she pressed back. They kissed a moment before Buffy opened her eyes fully and saw Spike beside her.

His hair was mussed and more than a little dirty. The hand that rested gently on her own was bruised and covered with blood, little flakes coming off. A chain encircled his wrist and trailed off the bed.

Buffy smiled.

"Um.what's going on and why am I wearing a dress and lying on some big bed?"

"Long story, pet. I'll fill you in later."

Buffy nodded and slowly sat up. She jerked her head to indicate the coldly furious Maleficent. "Who's she?"

"Nobody important. Just your run the mill impotent bitch."

Buffy yawned. "Okay. Just wanted to know. She's turning funny colors."

Spike looked over his shoulder at Maleficent. She was, indeed. Her pale face was flushed with fury and she looked as if she was about to snap her staff in two.

"Huh. Never thought ruining the villain's evil plan would be so much fun."

"Yeah, it's kind of like ruining the good guy's plan, only I don't punch you at the end."

"What do you do then?"

"This." Buffy reached up and kissed him, ignoring the snapping noise in the background.

"This is impossible!" Maleficent shouted at the couple, her fine control broken. "You are the Slayer! You hated him, I saw it in your dream. How did you suddenly come to, to this?" She waved her hand encompassing the entirety of this sickening romance.

Buffy and Spike broke apart for a moment.

"Exactly what did change, love?"

Buffy smiled. "I worked out some issues."

"Oh. Okay. Well, then - " Spike moved to kiss her again.

"Um, Spike, shouldn't we do something about the evil witch lady?"

"Nah, she'll keep." He tried again.

"Spike! Not in front of people."

"I rescue you and this is the thanks I get?" Spike sat back, pouting. Buffy laughed at him and gave him a good natured swipe across the head. Maleficent rolled her eyes and tried not to gag from this nauseating display of goodwill.

"I'll thank you when we get home."

"Is that a promise?" Spike whispered suggestively into her ear. Buffy gave him a playful push.

"Get your mind out of the gutter."

"But it's so fun down there," he whined.

"Let's just figure out to get back to Sunnydale from here. Wherever here is, anyway."

Spike looked around the tower a bit. "Kind of surprised at that myself. Thought that once I kissed you we went poof back to the Magic Box."

In answer to that, a glowing ball of light appeared in the center of the room. Maleficent stepped away in disgust. The light coalesced into Tara.

"Spike, when we get this straightened out, you are so telling me what's going one," Buffy murmured.

"Congratulations, vampire," the Tara fairy said, a gentle smile on her face as she observed the couple. "You have exceeded beyond our expectations.

And you, Slayer. We are pleased to see you awake. It is our hope that what little we have shown you on your behalf will continue to enlighten you."

"What's she talking about?" Spike murmured to Buffy.

"I'll explain later," she whispered back.

Tara now turned to the villain of the peace. "And you, Maleficent. Once again, it is our pleasure to watch you learn the power of true love. Every scheme you concocted failed, every manipulation and every lie was ignored." Tara gave the witch a most minute gloating smirk. Then she smiled, a big joyous one. "Now our part in the tale has ended. The vampire and his Slayer, along with their friends, will be returned from whence they came."

She bowed slightly.

"I bid you adieu."

Epilogue

A glow encompassed Buffy and Spike. The world seemed to whip about them a moment. Buffy clenched Spike's tightly as the colors spun and twisted and those odd strains of music bombarded her ears.

Finally, they were standing in the Magic Box. Off to the side were Giles, Willow, Xander and Anya. Only Xander seemed the worse for wear, dirty and smelling faintly of sheep.

"Buffy! You're awake!" Willow rushed over to hug her best friend. "We were so worried!"

Quickly, the rest followed to hug and surround Buffy. Spike stepped away as Buffy was surrounded by her friends. He watched her get embraced into their warmth, easily excluding him.

"Now that the gang's all here, can someone tell me what just happened?"

"Well," Giles began, "we're not quite sure. We think it had something to do with that book you found in the shipment."

"The fairy tale one?"

"Yes. It was some sort of magical portal, actually, and drew us into this place called the Enchanted Realm."

"Where fairy tales were real!" Xander broke in excitedly.

"And you were cast as the Sleeping Beauty," Willow added.

"Which would explain the whole sleeping thing," Buffy said slowly. "But what about Spike?"

"Yes, well, the spell cast him as your Prince Charming," Giles explained.

"I volunteered but Anya hit me. Ow! Like that." Xander rubbed his side where Anya had elbowed him. "Anyway, that sent us all for a big loop- di-loop. C'mon, I mean Spike as your Prince Charming. That's obviously - Ow!"

This time Willow had elbowed him. "I thought we had agreed to support Buffy's decision," she hissed.

Xander managed to look abashed.

"Sorry," he muttered.

Buffy ignored the mini-drama taking place. Instead, she slipped away to the back room, where she found Spike leaning against the wall, lighting a cigarette.

"Giles hates it when you smoke in here," she announced.

"That's what makes it so much fun."

"Figured you'd say that." Buffy joined him in leaning against the wall. "So, you're my Prince Charming."

"That's what the spell said." Spike inhaled and exhaled the smoke, watching it float through the air. "What do you say?"

"I say Prince Charming is an exaggeration," Buffy answered. Spike's face fell a little. Now that they were out of magic land, of course things would change. "But the rest of it is true."

He smiled. "That true?"

"Yeah." They stood there companionably for a moment. Spike was tempted to do something, but followed Buffy's lead instead.

"You know," she broke the silence, "I wasn't just no-brain Buffy for however long it was I was out."

"You weren't?"

"Nuh-uh. I was dreaming." Buffy gained a distant look in her eyes. "It was seriously weird. All these people talking to me and telling me stuff. I think somebody was, I don't know, trying to talk to me or something. They showed me a lot of things I didn't want to see."

Spike waited for her to get to the point.

"I can't say I remember what went on, exactly, but I do know you were there."

"I was?" Spike wore a proud smile. "How?"

"I was at a party, and there was something about waiting for the right song. Then I started to dance with you, but got scared and ran away."

Spike frowned. That sounded a bit like what Maleficent had showed him as part of Buffy's dream. "Then you staked me, right?"

Buffy looked at him strangely. "No. Where'd you get that idea? After I ran away from the party, someone, I think it was Dawn, started showing me all this stuff. I think they were things that had happened to you or will happen to you. It wasn't that clear." The distant look in her eyes grew. "Then I tried to leave, and a stranger came. But he wasn't a stranger because we had met before. And then we danced. Because that's all we've ever done."

Spike turned to her, surprised she was repeating the very same words he had said that awful night. "Buffy?"

"Yes?"

He put out his cigarette and let the butt fall to the ground. With a slight bow, he asked, "Do you want to dance?"

Buffy smiled and took his hand, leading him onto the floor. "That's all we've ever done."

He carefully positioned himself, one hand resting lightly on her waist, the other lightly clasping hers. Slowly, he began to lead her in a waltz.

As they danced, he leaned to whisper into her ear, "You know I love you, right?"

She whispered back, "You know I could learn to love you, right?"

Spike smiled and held her closer, murmuring into her ear, "Guess my only chance with you was when you were unconscious."

Buffy tilted her head and pressed her lips to his. "True. So here's your crumb. And," she said with a wink, "if you're good, maybe I'll even give you the whole cake."

***

A group of beings watched the waltzing couple from afar. Some might call them fairies, others godmothers, even more others would say they were agents for the Powers That Be.

"I always love a happy ending," one sniffed, delicately dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief before noisily blowing her nose.

"Have another one, dear," offered one standing beside her.

"Thank you, Flora. You know how I get about a good romance," she replied.

"Hmph. This is very good, but I still think we should have been able to do something to Maleficent!" stated another. "Did you hear what she tried to make him do?"

"You know we can't go after her, Merryweather," Flora scolded, "we have to obey the rules, too."

"Well I don't like them," pouted Merryweather.

"It doesn't matter. Those two are together now and nothing can break them apart. They're going to live happily ever after!" the crying one burst into a fresh set of tears.

"There, there, Fauna," soothed Flora. "They probably won't live happily ever after - "

"But they will at least live," finished Merryweather, "and living can lead to happiness enough."

The Tale of the Sleeping Princess and Her Prince

Once upon a time, there was a prince who loved a princess very much. But the princess could not love him back. A dark spell had been placed over her, hiding her heart away from the world. No matter how many times and ways the prince tried to show his love, the princess still refused.

But the prince was true to her and tried so hard, that the fairies watched him and took pity on him. They cast a powerful spell that put the princess to sleep, so that all the darkness may seep away from her. Then they placed her in a castle high up in the mountains, to rest and wait for her prince to come.

For the prince, who had not always been so good, had to travel far to reach her side, and prove once and for all that their love was true. It was a long journey and he could not do it alone. Four times, the fairies told him, four times you may call for aid. Four friends of the princess stood by, ready to help him make his way to her side.

In his travels the prince came to a bridge he could not cross. Over on the other side lay the road that led to the castle. "I need aid!" he cried. "I call upon the Bargainer, so that she may convince this monster to let me cross."

And she did.

Then the prince met a Sphinx, the greatest of riddlers, who would not let him pass until he answered her riddles well. The prince was a wise prince, but not that wise. "I need aid!" he cried. "I call upon the Wise One, so that he may see what I do not."

And he did.

The prince then traveled to a gate, which an old man would not open unless the prince did a favor of equal value. "I need aid!" he cried. "I call upon the Witch, whose powers which are beyond me may give this old man what he needs."

And she did.

The prince then reached the castle in the mountains, where he knew his fair princess slept. But a vicious giant guarded the entrance and would not let the prince pass. However, the prince argued wisely and the giant gave him a chance. But the bargain was not one he could meet. "I need aid!" he cried. "I call upon the Worker, so that he may do what I cannot."

And he did.

Then the prince entered the castle and sought his love. But the dark fairy who lived in the castle captured him. She knew the prince, like all people, and darkness in his heart. She promised him his heart's desire, as long as he did not free the princess.

But the prince's love was true. He refused the dark fairy and broke free of his chains, and made his way to the side of the princess. There he gave her true love's kiss, and she awoke. The princess loved him now, for all the darkness within had seeped away.

And the prince and the princess were happy, for they loved and were loved.

The fairies smiled, pleased.