Little Sprite:
(N.E.V. 11 – Meta‑Space / Earth #8193)
Narrator
Chapter 35 = Little Sprite... Meta-Space Slip-Stream Channel Between Earth NEV 11 and Earth #8193… Cosmic vortexes of deep violet crackle like lightning. Time and reality twist into a storm of shadowed purples and radiant amethyst fire. Universes pixelate, collapsing into speed, only speed. Through the void, a blur of violet streaks forward: a girl, battle‑scarred, desperate, burning through the cosmos like a meteor.
Narrator
Her thoughts pound with every step of light. Faster. Faster. You have to. For them. For her.
[Sound = a searing crack of black lightning]
Narrator
A bolt of umbral energy tears past her shoulder. Behind her, a golden spark takes shape; her pursuer, closing in. a great thunderous boom echoes through the vast eternity stretched out behind her.
From out of the heart of the boom erupts a great all-consuming cascade of expanding light. The pursuing dark-clothed man and the violet girl burst forward even faster in a desperate effort to stay ahead of the blindingly radiant shockwave. Tears bleed from the girl's eyes, the great boom signaling the death of everyone she ever loved and everything she ever knew. Her heart crumbles, her world stripped away by the expanding wave of light now chasing her.
Dark‑Clothed Man
Poor girl. So tragic. Just give up. Who would blame you? (mocking, smooth)
Narrator
She screams, forcing herself faster. But he's on her, blow after blow, fists slamming into her back. Her shoulder shatters. Pain rips through her body.
Dark‑Clothed Man
It's just us now, little sprite! You weren't fast enough to save her. And now I'll break you, slowly, painfully, in every way imaginable! (shouting, cruel)
Narrator
He surges ahead, cutting her off. End of the line. She steadies herself. Breath in. Focus. Focus. For them. For her. With a final scream, she burns everything she has left. Her body ignites, phasing straight through him. Flesh and suit sear away. Blood simmers. But she breaks through.
[Sound = a thunderous shockwave]
Narrator
The tsunami of violet light overtakes him. The shockwave slams into his body, hurling him past her into nothingness. Ahead, she sees it; her exit. A swirling rift of cosmic purple sparks. She locks onto it.
Buffy / Silver‑Light
Anya! Anya!!! (crying out, frantic)
Narrator
Her upper body bursts through the veil. Familiar arms wrap around her. She clings desperately, trembling. Anya pulls her free. The rift snaps shut. In her arms, the girl is garbed in a silver‑and‑violet combat suit, scarred and broken, presses a crystalline silver device into her hand.
Buffy / Silver‑Light
It's coming… It's coming. They're gone. They're all gone… (weak, whispering)
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She collapses into Anya's arms.
(Earth #8193 – The Narrows, New Alexandria, 1987 A.D.)
Narrator
A violet tear rips open above a rain‑soaked alley. A man crashes to the pavement, battered and bleeding. The portal seals behind him.
He staggers to his feet, fury burning in his eyes.
Dark‑Clothed Man
You haven't beaten me yet, little sprite. Round two is coming. (thought, venomous)
Narrator
He lurches forward then stops. Terror floods his face. His power is gone. His speed… gone. His way home… gone.
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(The Knight‑Gallery Medbay, The Lothrin Estate, Earth #8193, 1991 AD, Two Weeks Before Convergence Wave Hits)
Narrator
Soft warm lights illuminate the medbay as people stand around nearby talking amongst themselves with some looking at monitors. Suddenly, Buffy jerks upright with a gasp, eyes wide, body trembling.
Buffy / Silver‑Light
Anya! ANYA!!! (shouting, panicked)
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Her cry echoes off the steel walls. She clings at the sheets, breathing heavy, eyes frantic as if the violet storm still surrounds her.
Monica Bathory
Buffy, hey, hey, it's alright. You're safe. You're here with us.
Emma
Sweetheart, breathe. You're okay. (soft, soothing)
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Buffy's gaze locks on them, faces she knows, yet doesn't. Monica's protective eyes. Emma's radiant warmth. Emilia at the terminal, calm and watchful. Recognition and disbelief collide.
Buffy / Silver‑Light
Mother Monica?… Auntie Emilia? Mommy Emma? (voice shaky and disoreinted)
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Tears well as she takes them in. For the first time since her world ended, she is not alone.
Monica Bathory
Shh. You're safe now, little one. We've got you. (soft, steady)
Emma
Welcome home, sweetheart. (warm loving tone)
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Buffy's lips tremble into a smile. Relief and grief crash together in her chest. She winces as pain shoots through her skull.
Monica Bathory
"Oh, no… is this all too overwhelming. Is this all too much for you, should we leave so you can rest.
Buffy / Silver‑Light
No, no. I'm glad you're all here… really. Everyone in my reality is dead. You're all I have left. [pained groanish tone]
Narrator
Emilia rushes to over Buffy's side and hands her some powerful pain meds and some water.
Emilia
"Here these should help."
Buffy / Silver‑Light
"Thanks aunty Emilia"
Emilia
"Your neural readings are unusual. The headaches you're feeling are likely because your brain is operating on a slightly different frequency than ours. Different universe, different resonance. But… I see signs it's adjusting. Slowly, your brain should synch up with our reality soon."
Buffy / Silver‑Light
So my brain's jet‑lagged? (half‑laughing through the pain)
Emilia
Something like that. (amused to ne)
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Emma squeezes Buffy's hand supportively as Monica strokes the back of Buffy's head lovingly. Emma looks toward the nearby clock.
Emma
I should go start dinner. But before I do, tell me, Buffy. Do you have a favorite dish?
Buffy / Silver‑Light
Your lutefisk. Always your lutefisk. (eyes lighting, voice soft with memory)
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Emma's eyes glisten as Buffy smiles.
Emma
"Then lutefisk it is. That's always Anya favorite too"
Buffy / Silver‑Light
Yeah, I know.
Narrator
Emma leans down, kisses Buffy's forehead. As the muffled sound of the Omen landing in the Knight-Gallery hanger echos from beyond the medbay.
Buffy / Silver‑Light
"It's mother Anya" [excitedly]
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Buffy without any hesitation super speeds her way out of the medbay to hanger as Knight-Raven exits the Omen just in time stop to catch the speedster girl who stumbles shakily on the last steps into her arms. Anya wraps her arms tenderly around the girl as the others follow close-behind Buffy into the hanger.
Anya Lothrin/Knight-Raven
"Hey, hey. Careful there girl, you okay"
Buffy / Silver‑Light
"Yeah I guess I need to be careful superspeeding until my head stops hurting and the world is spinning a little less" [playful tone]
Narrator
It is at that moment that from out of the Omen climbs Zahrell, Sophia Jessie. Buffy's eyes meet Jessie and wave a sheer panic washes over without another word Buffy zooms out of the hanger back toward the medbay clearly distressed.
The medbay shakes with a thunderous rhythm; metal groaning under the assault of Buffy's fists. Buffy blurs across the room, punching the steel walls as as she can at superspeed. Each strike leaving bloody imprints, her knuckles raw, her breath ragged.
Buffy / Silver‑Light
Jessie! Jessie! Not her! not now! no! I wasn't fast enough! (screaming, frantic)
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Monica flashes forward, vampiric speed carrying her to Buffy's side. She seizes the young girl's arms, trying to hold her. Anya steps in closes in as well, armored gauntlets catching Buffy's fists as they falter.
Monica Bathory
Shh it's okay… little one, it's okay. We've got you. You're safe. [soft motherly voice]
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Buffy freezes, not from comfort, but from the words. Her eyes widen, terror flooding her face.
Buffy / Silver‑Light
No! Not that name! Don't call me that! He called me that. Thanatos! little sprite! He killed her, I loved her and he killed her! He made me watch! Jessie! [Traumatic panicking voice]
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Monica's expression shatters. She pulls Buffy closer, voice breaking.
Monica Bathory
I'm sorry. I didn't know. I'll never use it again. You're not his. You're ours. We love you, you're safe. Your mothers are here, you're okay.
Anya Lothrin/Knight-Raven
Look at me, Buffy. It's your mother Anya. You're safe. You're not there anymore. This is here, this is now, you're safe.
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But Buffy thrashes, sobbing, her voice breaking.
Buffy / Silver‑Light
I couldn't save her. I wasn't fast enough. I'm sorry Jessie, I'm so sorry. [brokendown sobbing voice]
Narrator
From the doorway, Emilia steadies Zahrell and Jessie, keeping them back. Jessie's eyes widen, confusion and hurt etched across her face as she hears her own name woven into Buffy's grief.
Before anyone can stop her, Jessie rushes into the medbay. She throws her arms around Buffy, holding her tight. Buffy stiffens, fists trembling against Jessie's shoulders.
Buffy / Silver‑Light
Jessie… you're alive… I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… (whispering, broken tone)
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Her sobs shake them both. Jessie tightens her embrace, voice low and steady.
Jessie
You don't have to be sorry. You're safe. I've got you.
Narrator
Monica and Anya exchange a glance, stunned. Emilia watches from the doorway, keeping Zahrell back. In Jessie's arms, Buffy finally starts to calm. In Jessies embrace Buffy's breath stedies and her muscles relax. Jessie helps Buffy back to her feet and guides the girl back to her medical bed. Emilia immediatily moves in places her hands over Buffy's now bloodied and broken fists. Emilia let's her warm healing energy flow out of her into the girl, healing her hands within moments.
Buffy / Silver‑Light
"Thank you aunty Emilia and thank you Jessie, I'm sorry I created a scene. I must look a mess right now"
Jessie
"You look beautiful to me"
Emma
"Dinner is served, if everyone's ready, ummm did I miss something important"
Narrator
Asks Emma coming back into room and spotting the bloody fist print dents in the metal walls the clearly just finished crying Buffy. Jessie kisses Buffy on the head before standing up and guiding the girl by the hand as they all follow Emma into the dining hall for dinner.