Written because it was my favorite episode. . . .
*_*
It was Halloween once again and this time, Xander was determined to have the time of his life (or, at least, as much fun as one could have when one is possessed by the spirit of the costume one chose to wear that evening). During all his time looping, Xander had gone as nearly every costume that Ethan had in his shop. Good guys, bad guys, and even the occasional psychopath (being Hannibal Lecter for one night had been kind of fun, especially when he remember how he had slowly disected Angel before he turned to dust).
However, during all this time, there was one costume that Xander had never bought due to what he would mean if he became that person for a night. Yet, he was feeling rather mischievous during this loop-as was atested to the fact that he had both Buffy and Williow as his girlfriends-so he had decided (on a whim, mind you) that he was going to wear that costume that evening. Boy, was Sunnyhell going to be in for a surprise that evening.
*_*
When Joyce Summers answered the door that evening, she almost screamed when she saw the black-robed figure standing on her doorstep-holding a rather impressive scythe in one hand and point a skull-like finger at her.
"Joyce Summers, it is time." the voice grated out in a monotone, as deeply as it could.
Joyce Summers paused for a second when she heard the voice. It sounded very familiar to her. Tilting her head to side, she tried to peer into gaping blackness that was the hood of the robe. The person inside decided to help her out by pulling back the hood some to reveal their face.
"Xander," Joyce gasped out, as she said the revealed man on the shoulder, "don't you ever scare me like that again."
"Sorry, Mrs. S., just getting into the Halloween spirit." Xander said, giving Buffy's mom his patented "innocent" look.
There's no need to post what happened next, as we all know what occured later that evening. . . .
*_*
Janus, evoco vestram animam. . . .
*_*
Death stumbled a bit on the sidewalk as Ethan's spell took hold. It was a rather interesting sensation to stumble, as he had never done so before. Looking around at his surrounding, he realized immediately that this was not his manor, nor were many of the monsters running around him actual monsters. However, he had a job to do and he couldn't just stand around here wondering about what was occuring around him.
BINKY, TO ME. he said in his usual tone.
In the blink of an eye, a milky white stead was standing next to Death. With no words, he mounted his loyal steed and together, the two of them disappeared.
*_*
"So, let me see if I have this correct," Giles said for the umpteenth time that morning, having set his glasses on the table in front of him for fear that he would polish the lenses out of them if he kept it up, "Buffy in her infinite wisdom dressed as some sort of noble woman and nearly ended up being eaten by Spike before I was able to bust the statue of Janus, Willow went as a ghost and nothing more shall be said about that decision, and you Xander, went as Death."
"Well, more of a anthromorphic personification of what people believe to be Death." Xander repiled in a calm manner. "It was like someone took all the concepts of what Death should be and crunched them together to make what I became last night.
"And did you, um, do any sort of. . . .Reaping while you were Death?" Giles asked the young man.
"A few people, but it was really more of people who actually deserved to die more than anything else." Xander answered.
It had been rather amusing to see Richard Wilkins the I, II, and III blubbering like a baby and begging for his life before Xander as Death had ended his reign of terror before it could begin. A couple of others also met Death's scythe and Spike would have been nothing more than a pile of ashes on the ground if Giles hadn't busted the statue in mid-swing and left a rather foolish-looking Xander to bounce his plastic scythe off Spike's neck. Thankfully, Buffy had managed to pull his bacon out of the fire once again before Spike snapped his neck.
"And where the any side effects from who you dressed as last night?" Giles asked the trio.
"Well, other than me being able to pass my French test for once and Willow passing halfway through a door when she got spooked, but those seem to be fading away rather quickly." Buffly replied.
"And what about you, Xander?" Giles questioned. "Did you retain anything from being Death?"
JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS, BUT IT IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. Xander replied in his montone voice, causing the others to shudder.
"Very well, then." Giles said. "You're dismissed."
While Buffy and Williow left the library chatting about girly things and Giles retired to his office, Xander slowly stepped towards a shadowed alcove where someone was waiting.
YOU WILL HAVE TO TELL THEM AT SOME POINT THAT HALLOWEEN CHANGED YOU MORE THAN YOU LET ON. Death said to the young man standing in front him.
"I'll tell them sooner or later." Xander said with a shrug of his shoulders. "After all, it's not like I'll keep these new gifts after the next reset."
BUT THAT IS WHERE YOU ARE WRONG, XANDER HARRIS. Death said. FOR NOW, YOU ARE THE DEATH OF THIS WORLD AND YOUR NEW GIFTS SHALL PASS OVER INTO THE NEXT LOOP AS WELL.
"Well, I'll deal with that when it comes to it." Xander said, before he suddenly changed to look like Death as well. FOR NOW, THOUGH, I HAVE A JOB TO DO. BOY, IT IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE HARD JUGGLING HIGH SCHOOL AND REAPING AT THE SAME TIME.
JUST REMEMBER, EVEN DEATH NEEDS A VACATION AT SOME POINT. MAKE SURE TO HAVE SOMEONE YOU CAN TRUST FILL IN FOR YOU WHO CAN DO YOUR JOB COMPENTENTLY. Death said, before disappearing back from whence he came.
Xander, or Death as was now, brought his fingers up to his lips and let out a piercing whistle (how he did such a thing without lips or air will remain a mystery). A beautiful milky white stallion suddenly appeared next to him and he climbed onto it's back.
COME, MORTIS, WE HAVE WORK TO DO.
With that, the horse reared up and galloped through the wall of the library, carrying its rider off into the night.
*_*
I had thought about doing a scene where Xander save Miss Calender's life by changing into Death and reaping Angelus' soul and the consequences of the others finding out that he is now the Death of their world, but I decided to leave it there.
Also, while I used the concept of Death from the Terry Pratchet books, that was not who Xander was. Like he said, he was more of an anthromorphic personification of the concept of Death (like taking Pratchet's Death, Piers Anthony's, and Family Guy's, putting them in a blender, and hitting puree). Bits and pieces got mixed together to create the Death that Xander is now.
Like? Disliked? Wanna beat me to Death with a shovel? Let me know.
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