Into every generation, there are Chosen Ones. A Slayer will stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness. With each Slayer comes a Guardian. They are protectors of the innocent.

Day One

Day - Museum - Outside

There was a field trip to the museum today.

Outside the museum, the Scoobies were walking past the rose gardens toward the building.

"This is so unfair," Zoey told them.

"I don't think it's that bad," Willow told her.

"It's the Uber-suck," Buffy told her. "Layla could have at least warned you."

"Well, a lot of parents are doing it this year," Alice told them. "It's part of this whole cultural exchange magilla."

Brooke nodded. "The exhibit. The dance."

Willow smiled. "I have the best costume for the dance."

"Don't feel bad, Zoey," Carmen told her. "My parents have me and Cordelia living with an exchange student too."

"I think the exchange student program's cool," Brady told them. Zoey and Carmen gave him a look. "I do."

"Why not?" Eric asked. "It's a beautiful melding of two cultures."

"Have you ever done an exchange program?" Zoey asked.

"My dad tried to send me to some Armenians once," Xander told them. "Does that count?"

They walked up the steps to the building entrance and the cultural exchange exhibit, inside.

∞

Inside

Cordelia and two other girls were looking over the pictures of the exchange students. "Ooh! There's mine and Carmen's. Sven. Isn't he lunchable? Carmen's and mine is definitely the best."

Cordelia walked past the Scoobies.

"What are you looking at?" Buffy asked.

"Pictures of our exchange students," Cordelia answered. "Look. 100% Swedish, 100% gorgeous, 100% staying at my house with me and Carmen. Zoey, how's yours? Visually, I mean."

"I don't know," Zoey told her. "Guy like?"

"By guy-like, we are talking big, beefy guy-like girl, right?" Brady asked.

"Zoey, Cordy and I have boy exchange students," Carmen answered.

Cordelia showed the picture to Carmen. "Here. That's the guy that's gonna be staying with us. But, Zoey, you didn't look at your exchange student first? He could be dogly. You live on the edge."

Cordelia walked away.

Eric looked at Carmen and Zoey. "Hold a second. So, these people who are living with you for two weeks are guys."

"With man parts," Brady told them.

"This is a terrible idea," Xander told them.

"What about what Eric and Brady said about the beautiful melding of two cultures?" Alice asked.

"There's no melding, okay?" Xander asked. "They better keep their parts to themselves."

Brooke smiled. "Zoey? Carmen? Don't you two just love how you two have protective brother figures in Xander, Eric and Brady?"

Carmen smirked. "Oh, yeah."

They stopped at the end of a row of display cases.

Buffy noticed a guy named Rodney scraping a mask. "What's he doing?"

"Uh, that's Rodney Munson," Willow told her. "He's God's gift to the bell curve." Rodney growled at another student. "What he lacks in smarts he makes up in lack of smarts."

"Eric and Xander don't like him 'cause of that time he beat them up every day for five years," Zoey explained.

The girls chuckled.

"Yeah," Eric told them. "We're irrational that way."

Buffy smiled. "We better stop him before he gets in trouble."

"I got it," Alice told her. "The non-violent approach is probably better here."

Alice walked toward Rodney.

"I wasn't gonna use violence," Buffy told them. "I don't always use violence, do I?"

"The important thing is you believe that," Carmen told her.

Rodney still scraping the mask. "What're you..." He looked up. "Oh. Alice, hi."

"That's probably not something you're supposed to be doing," Alice told him. "You could get in trouble."

"Oh, no," Rodney said facetiously. "And they might kick me outta school?"

Alice smiled. "Are we still on for our chem tutorial tomorrow?"

"Yeah," Rodney answered. "I think I got almost all fourteen natural elements memorized."

"There're a hundred and three," Alice told him.

Rodney suddenly looked worried.

"Welcome, students," the museum guide told them. "We shall now proceed into the Incan burial chamber. The human sacrifice is about to begin."

They walked into the Inca exhibit.

"Typical museum trick," Brady told them. "Promise human sacrifice. Deliver old pots and pans."

"Five hundred years ago, the Incan people chose a beautiful teenage girl to become their princess," the guide told them.

They took the steps up to a platform where the Incan stone coffin and mummy were on display.

"I hope this story ends with, 'And she lived happily ever after,'" Willow told them.

Brooke looked into the coffin. "No. I think it ends with, 'And she became a scary, discolored, shriveled mummy.'"

"The Incan people sacrificed their princess to the mountain god Sebancaya, an offering buried alive for eternity in this dark tomb," the guide told them.

"They could've at least wrapped her in those nice white bandages," Carmen told them. "Like in the movies."

"The princess remained there protected only by a cursed seal placed there..." The guide trailed off, pointing to the plate in the mummy's hands. "As a warning to any who would wake her."

Cordelia and a few other girls were still looking at the exchange student pictures and laughing.

"So, Zoey, Carmen, when are your exchange-o boys making their appearance?" Eric asked.

"Mine is named Sven," Carmen explained. "And Cordelia's gonna pick him up."

"Mine name's Ampata," Zoey told them. "Gonna be at the bus station tomorrow night."

"Ooh," Willow told them sarcastically. "The Sunnydale bus depot. Classy."

"What a better way to introduce someone to our country than with the stench of urine?" Xander asked sarcastically.

"Now, if you'll follow me this way, please," the guide told them.

They all walked past the coffin and followed the guide to the next destination on the tour.

∞

Later

The exhibit was deserted now except for Rodney, who cautiously looked around, making his way to the mummy, looking into the stone coffin, seeing the plate with the seal. "Aha. Cool." He reached in, yanking at the plate, trying to wrest it from the mummy's grip, getting it out of one hand, pulling it hard to get it out of the water. It came loose, but Rodney pulled the plate up too fast, breaking it against the side of the coffin. "Oh, damn."

Rodney reached in to collect the pieces. The mummy reached up, grabbing him by the neck, opening its eyes to real empty sockets as it pulled him closer.

∞ Slayers and Guardians ∞

Day Two

Morning - Sunnydale High School - Library

Buffy/Giles/Brady, Brooke/Alice, Carmen/Wyatt, Layla/Zoey were training with powers and fighting again for the Slayer, Guardians, witches, gypsies and hunter. Xander was watching while Eric was studying at the table.

"So, can we go?" Buffy asked.

"I think not," Giles told them.

Brady landed four hard hits on the training pad Buffy was holding. Buffy was impressed with his blows.

Brooke looked from Giles to Wyatt. "How come?"

"Don't look at me," Wyatt told her. "I'm not the one saying you can't go."

"Alice, Brooke and Buffy are the Chosen Ones," Giles told them. "Brady, Zoey and Carmen need more training."

"I'm just here so I can control these powers," Layla told them. Zoey and Alice looked at her. "Don't give me that look."

"Just this once, I'd like to be the Overlooked One," Buffy told them.

"Well, I'm afraid that is not..." Giles trailed off. Brady kicked the pad hard, making Buffy stagger back a few steps into Giles. Buffy, Brooke and Alice were getting more proud and impressed. "You have responsibilities that others do not."

"Oh, I know this one," Wyatt told them sarcastically. "Slaying and Guarding entails certain sacrifices. Blah, blah, bity blah. I'm so stuffy. Gimme a scone."

"It's as if you know me," Giles told him sarcastically. As the training continued, Xander was wincing at each physical or magical blow. Eric was watching from the corner of his eye as he studied. "Your secret identities are gonna be difficult enough to maintain while these exchange students are living with Zoey, Layla and Carmen."

"Not with us," Layla told him. "In the same house as us. Carmen and Cordelia's parents were very determined for it in their case. I was because I did a foreign exchange student program when I was their age. And being that Zoey and I are gypsies from Romani background, you would understand why I would want to do this."

"Yes, I do, Layla," Giles answered. "It's very deep and touching, but..."

"But nothing," Layla told him. "It's not like we're chosen for anything. We're just born of gypsy blood. And we don't have anything in our home that can out our secret to someone."

"Yeah, it's not like they're Slayers or Guardians, Giles," Wyatt told him.

"So if witchy Carmen and gypsy Zoey and Layla can have people living in their houses?" Eric asked. "I think all of us going to the dance like normal people would be the best way to keep our secrets."

Brady nodded. "Giles, come on. Budge. No one likes a non-budger."

"Fine," Wyatt told them. "Go."

Giles gave Wyatt a look but didn't object.

Brooke smiled. "Yay. We win. Thank you, Wyatt."

"And my brain's fried," Eric told them, standing, closing the text book.

"Well, you've been doing that for how long?" Buffy asked.

Eric looked at his watch. "20 minutes."

"You really are determined," Buffy told him teasingly.

Eric pointed at her. "Hey. Don't mock. I recall you having to raise your grades just to pass the semester."

Buffy smiled. "Touche."

Buffy and Eric smiled.

"So, I guess we're dance bound," Alice told them. "Cool. I have my car, so I'm wheel girl."

"Hey, Xander," Brooke told him. "I thought you were taking Willow."

Xander nodded. "Well, yeah, I'm gonna take Willow, but I'm not gonna take Willow in the sense of 'take me', because, see, with you guys, we're a group of friends and everybody's safe, but without you guys, we're two."

"Ah, and we enter Dateville," Carmen realized. "Romance. Flowers."

"Lips," Alice added.

Willow walked into the library, but the others had their back to the door, so they didn't see her.

Brady gave Xander a skeptical look. "Oh, come on. All the years you've know Willow. You've never thought about her lips?"

"Brady, I love Willow and she's my best friend," Xander told him. Willow smiled widely. "Which makes her not the kind of girl who I think about her lips that much." Willow's smile faded to disappointment. "She's the kind of girl that... I'm best friends with."

Willow walked closer, announcing her presence. "Hey, guys."

"Willow," Wyatt told her. "Hi."

Brooke was sympathetic, trying to protect her friend's feelings. "We were just talking about happy things." Xander put his arm around Willow, pulling her over to the others at the table. "Like all of us going to the dance together. See? Happy?"

Willow frowned.

"Not happy?" Alice asked.

"No," Willow answered. "Uh, oh, y--yes, no. Rodney's missing."

Giles walked closer. "Trouble with Mr. Munson again?"

"His parents say he never came home last night," Willow told them.

"You know, I don't think I remember seeing Rodney on the bus back from the field trip," Buffy told them.

"I didn't either," Carmen told them.

"I hope he didn't get in trouble at the museum," Alice told them.

Brady chuckled. "Hey, maybe he awakened the mummy."

Eric smirked. "Right, and it rose from its tomb." They smiled. "And attacked him."

Wyatt looked at them, curious and confused. "Mummy? You realize that that theory may not be so far fetched. Right?"

Their smiles faded when they realized Wyatt was right.

∞

Museum - Inca Exhibit

They all walked in.

"On the other hand, maybe Rodney just stepped out for a smoke," Buffy told them.

"For twenty-one hours?" Brooke asked.

"It's addictive, you know," Alice told them.

"We'll deal with that when we've... ruled out evil curses," Wyatt told them.

They walked up the steps to the platform where the coffin was on display.

"One day I'm gonna live in a town where evil curses are just generally ruled out without even saying," Eric told them.

"There was a seal?" Giles asked.

Alice stepped up to the coffin and looked in. "It was right here. And it's broken."

Alice picked up the biggest piece of the broken plate.

"Does that mean the mummy's loose?" Brady asked.

"No, comfy as ever," Eric told them, nodding to the mummy in the coffin.

"Look at this series of pictograms," Giles told them.

A man came out of nowhere and yelled, jumping up behind Xander and swinging at him with a knife. Xander ducked the blow and got behind him. The man swung back the other way again blindly, looking into the coffin and was surprised by what he saw there. Eric jumped onto the man's back. He knocked Eric off, and ran off of the platform and away.

Eric quickly stood. "Okay, I just saved us, right?"

"Something did," Wyatt told them.

"Well, we'll fret about the details later," Layla told them. "Let's just get out of here before he comes back."

They all hurried down the steps to leave except Brady and Brooke.

Brady noticed something about the mummy. "Alice. Giles. Wyatt. Were the Incas very advanced?"

"Yes," Alice answered. "Yes, very."

"Did they have orthodontists?" Brooke asked.

The mummy had braces on its teeth. Rodney had used to have braces. That was Rodney.

∞

Sunnydale High School - Library

They all returned to the library.

"Rodney looked like he had been dead for five hundred years," Brady told them. "How could that be?"

"Maybe we should ask that crazy man with the big old knife," Brooke told them.

"I don't think he seemed overly chatty," Buffy told them.

"The way he bolted when he saw Rodney?" Layla asked. "I'd say he was as freaked as we were."

"Our resources on this subject are extremely limited," Giles told them. "I--I gather that this particular mummy was from the Sebancaya region of eastern Peru. It's very remote. Now, if there's an answer, then it's locked in the..."

"In the seal," Wyatt finished, looking at the broken seal. "It could take us weeks to translate these pictograms. Well, we'll start tonight with..."

Layla looked at Zoey in realization. "Ampata."

"I was gonna suggest hunting," Wyatt told them.

"No, we're late," Zoey told them. "Mom and I have to pick him up."

"Uh-uh-uh," Buffy told her. "Zoey, where are your priorities? Tracking down a mummifying killer or making time for some Latin lover whose stock in trade is the breakage of hearts?"

"Buffy, you are the Slayer," Brooke told her. "Alice and I are the Guardians. Gypsy Zoey and Layla can deal with the exchange student because they don't have to do the things we do but they choose to."

"Ampata's there alone," Layla told them. "And we--we don't know how well his English is. He's from South America."

"Hey, you know, maybe he could translate the seal," Buffy told them.

"Oh, yeah," Eric told them sarcastically. "Fall for the old 'let me translate that ancient seal for ya'. Come on. Do you know how many times I've used that?"

∞

Night - Bus Station

Ampata was standing there alone, waiting, looking around for his ride. He heard a whisper. "Ampata..." Ampata walked in the direction of the voice, passing several parked buses, hearing the voice again, louder this time. "Ampata..."

Ampata walked between two buses, looking around for whoever it was. "Hello?"

Ampata saw the mummy coming toward him, surprised and frightened but didn't scream or yell. The mummy reached out, grabbing him by the neck, pulling him in, kissing him. Ampata began to shrivel and dry up as the mummy drew his life force from him.

∞

Later

Layla and Zoey arrived, with Zoey's friends following.

Brady shrugged. "40 minutes late. Welcome to America."

"What if he left already?" Eric asked, finding a door to the station, trying to open it, but it was locked. "Nope."

"Ampata?" Zoey called. "Ampata Gutierrez?"

"So, do we have to speak Spanish when we see him?" Brady asked. "'Cause I don't know anything much besides Doritos and Chihuahua."

"Ampata?" Layla called.

They heard a girl's voice. "Here." The mummy had regained her appearance of a young teenage girl, walking out from between two buses, taking on the name. "Hello." Xander was instantly taken with her beauty. "I am Ampata."

Xander smiled. "Ay caramba."

The others were surprised, thinking that Ampata was a girl. Willow looked up at Xander and saw how he was looking at her.

∞∞

Francis House - Kitchen

Zoey and Layla were showing Ampata around.

"Dining room," Layla told her. "And this is the kitchen."

Ampata was amazed. "It's very good."

"Yeah, you got your stove, your fridge," Layla told her. "It's fully functional. We're very into it."

"Would you like a drink?" Buffy asked slowly, over-pronouncing, gesturing to the fridge.

Zoey and Layla nodded to Alice to let her know it was okay.

Alice opened the fridge. "Uh, let's see. They've got milk. And, uh, oh, older milk. Juice?"

"Please," Ampata told them.

"So, Ampata," Buffy told her. "You're a girl."

Ampata nodded. "Yes. For many years now."

"And not a boy," Brooke told her. "'Cause we thought a boy was coming. And here you are. In a girl way."

"It's just one of those crazy mix-ups, Brooke," Alice told her. "So have you ever been to America before?"

Ampata nodded. "Uh, I have toured."

"Where did you go?" Brady asked.

Zoey and Alice poured the juice while Layla was getting something for them to eat.

"I was taken to Atlanta, Boston, New York," Ampata told them.

"New York," Brady repeated.

"That's exciting," Eric told her. "What was that like?"

"I did not see so much," Ampata told them.

"Your English is... very bueno," Xander told her.

The others exchanged a look at Xander's deliberately slow speech.

"I listened much," Ampata told them.

"Well, that works out well, because I talk much," Xander told her.

They laughed.

∞

Zoey's Room

After the others went home, Zoey and Ampata were getting ready for bed. Ampata was sitting on the bed, surprised by the springiness of it. Layla walked in to check on them.

Layla walked closer. "What's it like back home?"

"Cramped and very dead," Ampata answered.

Zoey chuckled. "Well, you'll feel right at home in Sunnydale."

Layla gave Zoey an amused look. "Zoey."

"Oh, no," Ampata told them, standing, walking around the room. "But--but you have so much here."

Ampata picked up a picture of Zoey and her friends.

"How about friends?" Layla asked.

Ampata put the picture down, shaking her head. "They are... it is just me."

"We've been there," Layla told her. "Me and Zoey both have. But, hey. You'll meet lots of people tomorrow."

"Thank you," Ampata told them, walking to the window seat. "You must teach me everything about your lives. Zoey, Layla, I want to fit in. Just like you. A normal life."

Zoey and Layla exchanged a look because neither of them had normal lives anymore.

Zoey nodded sarcastically. "One normal life coming up."

"Get some sleep," Layla told them, leaving the room, turning the light out. "Good night."

When Ampata and Zoey laid down to go to sleep, the camera panned to the window to reveal that the man from the museum was hidden there, looking in through the window from behind the bushes.

∞

Day Three

Morning - Sunnydale High School - Outside

Cordelia and her current boyfriend Devon walked down the stairs toward Devon's bandmate's van, Oz.

"Devon, I told you I'd be at the dance tonight, but I am not one of your little groupies," Cordelia told him. "I won't be all doe-eyed looking up at you, standing at the edge of the stage."

Devon smiled. "Got it."

"So, I'll see you afterwards?" Cordelia asked.

"Sure," Devon answered. "Where do you wanna meet?"

"I'll be standing at the edge of the stage," Cordelia answered.

Devon looked over to Sven. "With that guy?"

Cordelia followed his gaze, annoyed. "Sven! Momento. Needa." She looked at Devon. "The whole student exchange thing has been a horrible nightmare. They don't even speak American. So, I'll see you later?" She allowed him a kiss on the cheek. "Bye." She started back up the stairs, turning back when she noticed that Sven was not following. "Sven! Come?"

Sven started to follow her.

Devon smirked, going over to Oz, who was dealing with their equipment. "Oz, man. What do you think?"

"Of what?" Oz asked.

"Cordelia, man," Devon answered.

"She's a wonderland tour," Oz told him.

Devon smirked. "You gotta admit, the girl is hot."

"Yeah, she's a hot girl," Oz agreed.

"Let me guess," Devon told him. "Not your type? What does a girl have to do to impress you?"

"Well, it involves a feathered boa and a theme to 'A Summer Place'," Oz told him, sarcastic but his voice sounded serious. "I can't discuss it here."

"You're too picky, man," Devon complained. "Do you know how many girls you could have? You're lead guitar, Oz. It's currency."

Oz shrugged. "I'm not picky. You're just impressed by any pretty girl that can walk and talk."

Devon shook his head. "She doesn't have to talk."

Oz just smirked.

∞

Inside - Hallway

The Scoobies minus Zoey, Layla, Giles and Wyatt were walking down the hall.

"I worked really hard on my costume," Buffy told them. "It's pretty cool."

"Mine is..." Willow trailed off. "Different."

"Okay, but what about me?" Brooke asked. "I've gotta think."

"Well, it's a celebration of cultures," Alice told them. "There are lots of dress up alternatives."

"And a corresponding equal number of mocking alternatives," Xander told them. "All aimed at me."

"Bavarians are cool," Eric told them.

"Okay, no shirts with ruffles," Brady told them. "No hats with feathers."

"Definitely no lederhosen," Eric told them. "They make my calves look fat."

Xander was still stressing about his costume and looking like a fool.

"Xander, why are you suddenly so worried about looking like an idiot?" Buffy asked. The others gave her a look. "That came out wrong."

Xander didn't take offense because he was too busy looking toward the school, where Layla was bringing Zoey and Ampata to school.

"Your first day of school," Zoey told her. "Nervous?"

Ampata smiled a little. "It is just more people than I have seen in a long time."

"Ah, don't worry," Layla told her. "You will have no problem making friends. As a matter of fact, we know of two people who are dying to meet you."

∞

Library

Everyone met up in the library. Giles and Wyatt shook Ampata's hand.

Giles smiled. "How do you do?"

"Hi," Wyatt told her. "We were wondering if you could, um, translate this."

Wyatt showed her the seal.

"That was in no way rushed," Brooke told him sarcastically.

Ampata took the seal and looked at it in disbelief.

"Something wrong?" Wyatt asked.

"Uh, no," Ampata told them. "Uh, it is... Uh, why are you asking me?"

"Well, uh..." Giles trailed off, coughing. "It's, well, it's an artifact... from, uh, your... region. I--it's, uh, from the tomb of a--an Incan mummy, actually. We were trying to translate it, uh, um, as a project for our, um..."

"Our archeology club," Buffy told her.

Wyatt nodded. "Yeah."

"It is broken," Ampata told them. "Where are the other pieces?"

"That's all we found," Wyatt told her.

"Hmm," Ampata hummed. "It is very old and valuable." She handed the broken seal to Giles. "You should hide it."

"Is, uh, anything you recognize here?" Wyatt asked. "Um, this, um... this man here with the knife, for instance?"

"Well, I do not know exactly, but..." Ampata trailed off. "I think this represents, I believe the word is... 'bodyguard'?"

Giles took the seal. "Bodyguard? Interesting."

"Legend has it that he guards the mummy against those who would disturb her," Ampata told them.

"Well, uh, yes, well, that's, um..." Brooke trailed off. "That's a very good starting point for our, um... club."

"Oh, and, uh, as club presidents, we have, um, lots to do," Brady told her.

"Lots of stuff," Buffy agreed.

"Dull stuff," Eric told her.

"Uh, oh, Willow?" Brooke asked. "Maybe you could..."

"Stay with Ampata for the day," Xander told them. "I'd love to."

Xander bowed, smiling.

Ampata smiled. "Yes. That will be fun."

Xander gestured for Ampata to go ahead of him. As she walked out Xander turned to the others, letting out a breath, following her. Willow watched them go.

"Right," Alice told them. "We'll, uh, continue with the translation."

"We could research this, uh, bodyguard thing," Carmen told them. "And, uh, Willow?"

Willow didn't answer.

"Hey," Brady told her. "Ginger girl."

"Willow?" Eric asked.

Willow was still staring after Xander and Ampata. "Boy, they really like each other."

They looked at Willow sympathetically.

∞

Football Field - Bleachers

Xander and Ampata were sitting about two thirds of the way up.

Xander reached into his satchel to pull out a Twinkie. "And this is called a snack food."

"Snack food?" Ampata repeated.

Xander smiled, nodding. "Yeah, it's a delicious, spongy, golden cake stuffed with delightful creamy, white substance of goodness, and here's how you eat it."

Xander stuffed the whole thing in his mouth.

Ampata laughed at the sight. "Oh, but now I cannot try it."

Xander spoke with a full mouth. "That's why you bring two."

Xander produced another one from his bag, handing it to her.

Ampata smiled in surprise. "Oh, here goes."

Ampata pulled her windswept hair back from her face, proceeding to stuff most of the Twinkie into her mouth, laughing with delight.

Xander smiled, speaking with mouth still full. "Good, and the exciting part is that they have no ingredients that a human can pronounce, so it doesn't leave you with that heavy food feeling in your stomach."

Ampata squealed with laughter, speaking with mouth full. "You are strange."

Xander chuckled. "Girls always tell me that right before they run away."

"I like it," Ampata told him.

"I like you like it," Xander replied. Ampata couldn't help but laugh more at that. "Please don't learn from my English."

∞

Library

The others were still here.

Buffy was inspecting the seal under a magnifying lamp. "Ha! Or possible ha."

Brooke looked at Willow. "Do you think this matches?" Willow was off in her own world, idly playing with her stuffed frog. "Hey!"

"Will," Buffy told her. "We're caring about mummies."

"Ampata's only staying two weeks," Brooke told her. "Don't worry."

Willow sighed. "Yeah, and then Xander can find someone else who's not me to obsess about. At least with any of you, I knew he didn't have a shot. I can spend my life waiting for Xander to go out with every other girl in the world until he notices me, or I can just get on with my life."

Alice nodded. "Good. Good for you."

"She was talking about her choices," Brady told them. "She didn't choose yet. Obviously."

Wyatt was inspecting the seal. "Finally." He looked at the others. "Good work."

"Our work?" Eric asked.

"Yes," Giles answered. "This is most illuminating. It seems Rodney's killer might be the mummy."

"Where does it say that?" Eric asked. "Hmm?"

"Well, here," Giles answered. "It implies that the mummy is capable of... feeding on the life force of a person, effectively freeze-drying them, you might say. Extraordinary."

"Great," Buffy told them. "So, then we just have to stop the mummy."

Brooke nodded. "Which leads to the question. How do we, A, find, and B, stop the mummy?"

"Well, the answer to that is somewhere still in here," Wyatt told them. "Or in the rest of the seal."

∞

Football Field - Bleachers

The bodyguard attacked Xander with his large knife. Ampata screamed as she and Xander quickly moved apart and the knife hit the seat between them.

"You stole the seal!" the bodyguard told them angrily. "Where is it?" He swung again, but Xander scooted back more, rolling down two levels of seats. The bodyguard came at him again, trying to stab him. Xander caught his arm. Ampata screamed. The body guard look at her, recognizing her. "It is you."

Xander kicked the bodyguard off, making him roll down the bleachers and to the ground. Ampata grabbed Xander's satchel, helping him up. They ran away.

∞

Library

Now with the others and explaining what had happened, they were safe.

Layla walked out of the office with a cup of tea, setting it on the table in front of Ampata. "Here you are."

"Thank you," Ampata told her.

"Why's this guy so into us?" Zoey asked. "I mean, what's he want?"

Alice looked at Xander. "You said he said something. He said 'Give me the seal'? That's what he said?"

Xander nodded.

"Apparently this is more popular than we realized," Carmen told them. "I just don't know what we should do with it."

"Destroy it," Ampata told them. They looked at her in surprise. "If you do not, someone could die."

"I'm afraid someone already has," Giles told her.

"You mean the man with the knife killed someone?" Ampata asked.

"Uh, no," Brady answered. "Well, not exactly."

"You are not telling me everything," Ampata told them.

"You're right, Ampata," Eric told her. "And it's time we do."

"We're not an archaeology club," Buffy told them. "We're in, uh..."

Brooke nodded. "We're in the crime club. Which is kinda like the chess club."

"Only with crime," Zoey told her. "And, um, no chess."

"Please understand me," Ampata told them. "That seal nearly got us killed. It must be destroyed!"

Ampata stood, running out of the library.

Xander stood, following her. "Ampata!"

The others looked at each other, a bit surprised and confused.

∞

Hallway

Ampata was sitting on a bench.

Xander knelt beside her. "Ampata, listen to me, nobody's gonna hurt you. I won't let them."

"Your investigation is dangerous," Ampata told him. "I do not want that. Just normal life."

Ampata stood, going over to the drinking fountain. Xander stood to follow her, but stayed back, letting her drink.

Willow walked toward Xander. "Is she okay?"

"Wigged," Xander answered. "I'm trying to convince her that our lives aren't just danger and peril around here."

Willow looked over at Ampata sympathetically, then back to Xander. "You should take her to the dance."

Xander smiled. "That's a good idea; we'll all go."

Willow shook her head. "No, I mean just you."

"But you were psyched about your costume," Xander told her.

"I'll see you there," Willow reassured.

"You know what, Willow?" Xander asked. "You're my best friend."

"I know," Willow told him, walking away.

Xander walked over to Ampata.

∞

Library

The others were still in the library.

"I don't get it," Carmen told them. "Why would the bodyguard have such a jones for a broken piece of rock?"

Alice sighed, shaking her head. "Well, um... Perhaps he needs to put it together. With the other pieces."

"If he has them," Brady told them. "I mean, we didn't find them."

"And if he didn't?" Eric asked. "Then they'd still be at the museum."

"So maybe we should go there and find them," Wyatt told them. "And odds are he'll show up, too."

"Right," Buffy agreed.

"And hopefully we'll be ready," Giles told them.

"Hey, look at us," Brooke told them. "We came up with a plan."

"A good plan," Zoey agreed.

"All right," Giles told them. "We'll met there tonight after it closes."

"No, bad plan," Buffy told them. "We have other plans."

Alice remembered about that night. "Dance plans. Right. No. Canceled plans."

"You know what?" Wyatt asked. "Buffy, Eric, Giles, Brooke, Alice, Brady and I'll go to the museum. Carmen, Zoey, you go with the others to the dance."

"Really?" Carmen asked hopefully. "Thanks, Wyatt."

Brady made a gesture of relief and success. "Yes. I don't have to go to the dance."

Alice smiled in amusement.

"I know you wanted to go, Buff," Eric told her. "But this is kinda more important."

Buffy sighed, nodding in agreement.

"Zoey and Carmen should go to the dance to keep an eye on the others anyway," Layla told them. "Keep an eye on Ampata, Willow, Xander. Make sure no one else gets hurt at the dance."

"And will you do, Mom?" Zoey asked.

"I have work tonight, remember?" Layla asked. "I gotta go to the hospital." They others nodded in understanding and remembrance. "I mean, I really want to help all of you with this. I really do. It's just that..."

"We understand, Layla," Giles told her. "You have a job as a doctor that a town like Sunnydale needs at a hospital like that. With your gypsy powers to help you, I'm sure that you are the best doctor there."

"Well, I can't use my powers to revive anyone dead," Layla admitted. "I can use them for healing to an extent. But if the wound's severe enough, then I wouldn't be able to heal it either medically or magically. And that gets to me in every way because as a doctor and a gypsy, I've always wanted to help people live and survive. But I have to do what I have to do."

Giles nodded in agreement. "Yes, we all do. Try not to be too hard on yourself about these things."

Layla chuckled. "All right. I will see all of you later."

They waved. "Bye."

∞

Hallway

Xander and Ampata were walking downstairs.

"Okay, I have something to tell you, and it's kinda of a secret, and it's, um, a little bit scary," Xander admitted. "I like you a lot, and I want you to go to the dance with me."

Ampata laughed. "Why was that so scary?"

Xander chuckled. "Well, because you never know if a girl's gonna say yes, or if she's gonna laugh in your face and pull out your still beating heart and crush it into the ground with her heel."

Ampata nodded in amusement. "Hmm, then you are very courageous. Can I tell you a secret?" Xander nodded. "I like you, too."

"Really?" Xander asked.

"Really," Ampata answered.

Xander smiled. "That's great. Really?"

"Really," Amapata answered.

"That's great," Xander repeated excitedly. "You're not a praying mantis, are you?" Ampata gave him a confused look. "Sorry, someone else."

"I will return to you," Ampata told him, walking away.

"Where're you going?" Xander asked.

"Where you cannot follow," Ampata answered, opening the girls' restroom door.

Xander smiled. "I'll wait outside."

Xander sat down on a bench to wait.

∞

Girls' Restroom

Ampata was touching up her lipstick, stepping back from the mirror, seeing the bodyguard standing behind her. "I beg you." She turned to face him. "Do not kill me."

"You are already dead," the bodyguard told her. "For five hundred years."

"But it was not fair," Ampata told him. "I was innocent."

"The people you kill now so that you may live, they are innocent," the bodyguard replied.

"Please," Ampata begged. "I am in love."

The bodyguard shook his head. "You are the Chosen One. You must die. You have no choice."

The bodyguard took a swing at her with his knife.

Ampata grabbed his arm, twisting, forcing him around, pulling him into her chest, putting her arm around his neck to restrain him. "Yes, I do."

Ampata kissed the bodyguard, drawing out his life force, making him mummify in her arms.

∞

Hallway

Xander was waiting patiently. Ampata walked out into the hall, smiling. Xander stood.

"I have thought about the dance," Ampata told him. Xander nodded expectantly. "I will go with you." Xander broke into a big smile, laughing delightedly. "Gladly."

Xander took Ampata by the hand. They started walking down the hall.

∞∞

Night - Francis House - Zoey's Room

Zoey was getting ready for the dance.

She decided to fully embrace her gypsy heritage, crafting an ensemble that was both authentic and breathtaking. She began with a flowing, off-the-shoulder blouse in crisp white cotton, its billowing sleeves gathered at the wrists with intricate embroidery in vibrant reds and golds. The neckline was adorned with delicate lace, a family heirloom passed down from her great-grandmother.

Over the blouse, she donned a fitted black velvet vest, its edges trimmed with tiny, jangling gold coins that caught the light with every movement. The vest was embellished with swirling patterns of gold thread, forming protective symbols that held both decorative and mystical significance.

Her skirt was a masterpiece of layered fabrics - a base of deep crimson silk overlaid with translucent black chiffon, creating a mesmerizing depth of color. The hem was adorned with more intricate embroidery, matching the sleeves of her blouse. As she moved, glimpses of a gold-threaded petticoat peeked out, adding an air of mystery and allure.

Zoey's dark hair was styled in an elaborate updo, with braids woven through and secured with golden pins and crimson ribbons. Dangling from her ears were ornate gold hoops, a gift from her mother for the occasion. Around her neck, she wore a delicate gold chain supporting a small crystal vial - a subtle nod to her magical abilities, filled with a protective charm she'd concocted earlier that day.

As she made her final preparations, Zoey couldn't help but feel a mix of pride and unease. The outfit was a testament to her heritage, but as she was still coming to terms with that herself, to see it in the mirror truly for the first time, it showed how far she came from the mere sarcastic girl she used to be.

Ampata walked in, wearing an Inca princess costume. "Zoey, I do not have any lipstick."

"Oh, you can borrow one of mine," Zoey told her. "There should be some on the desk."

Ampata saw a trunk, a large suitcase and a backpack. "What is that?"

"The station sent the rest of your stuff," Zoey answered.

Ampata nodded nervously. "Oh, of course. I forgot all about it. Uh, I will unpack it later."

"No worries," Zoey told her. "I can do it."

"Uh, but you have to finish getting ready for the dance," Ampata told her.

"Well, everyone won't be there," Zoey told her. "I mean, Carmen, Willow and Xander are still going. But Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Brady, Eric, Wyatt and Giles won't be there."

"Why not?" Ampata asked.

"They have work to do," Zoey answered. "Crime club work. It's really nothing for you to worry about."

Zoey sat on her bed.

"Oh, I am not worried, thanks to Xander," Ampata told her, walking toward the desk.

Zoey nodded thoughtfully. "He seems very happy around you."

Ampata sat at the desk. "I am happy, too." She opened a lipstick, holding it up for an opinion. "Mm, this one?"

"Oh, no, that clashes," Zoey answered. "There should be a gold one in there somewhere."

Ampata smiled. "Thank you. You are always thinking of others before yourself. You remind me of someone from very long ago. The Inca princess."

Zoey smiled. "Cool, a princess."

Zoey stood, opening Ampata's backpack.

Ampata tried out a lipstick. "They told her that she was the only one. That only she could defend her people from the nether world." Zoey pulled out a pair of boy's briefs, looking at them in confusion. "Out of all the girls in her generation..." Zoey looked over at Ampata, seeing she about about to open the top left drawer where Zoey had gypsy stuff, walking over quickly. "She was the only one."

Zoey quickly pushed the drawer closed. "Chosen."

Ampata looked up at Zoey. "Do you know the story?"

Zoey nodded. "It's fairly familiar."

Zoey handed her the gold lipstick.

"She was 16, like us," Ampata told her. "She was offered as a sacrifice and went to her death. Who knows what she had to give up to fulfill her duty to others? What chance at love?"

"Who knows?" Zoey asked, going back to Ampata's trunk. "I'll just unpack the rest of your stuff for you."

"No, really, let me," Ampata told her.

The doorbell rang, distracting them, so Zoey didn't see the mummified corpse in the truck as it closed.

"That's gotta be the others," Zoey told her. "I'll get it."

Zoey left the room. Ampata knelt down, putting a lock on the trunk.

∞

Foyer

Zoey walked downstairs, opening the door. Xander, Willow and Carmen walked in. Xander was dressed as Clint Eastwood in a spaghetti western. Willow was in an Eskimo costume.

Carmen was in an Egyptian goddess costume.

Carmen's Egyptian goddess outfit was a masterpiece of design, blending historical accuracy with a touch of modern flair that perfectly suited Carmen's style.

The base of the costume was a form-fitting sheath dress made of shimmering golden fabric that caught the light with every movement. Delicate pleats ran down the length of the dress, giving it the appearance of the linen garments worn by ancient Egyptian nobility. Over this, she wore a sheer overskirt of diaphanous white material, embroidered with intricate hieroglyphics in metallic thread that seemed to dance as she moved.

A wide collar necklace of gold and vibrant gemstones rested on her shoulders, its weight a constant reminder of the grandeur she was embodying. Ornate cuffs adorned her wrists, etched with symbols of protection and power. On her head sat a golden headdress with a cobra motif.

Zoey and Carmen smiled at the sight of each other's elaborate costumes.

"You look amazing," Zoey said, with an approving grin. "Seriously, if I didn't know better, I'd think you actually were an Egyptian goddess."

Carmen pulled Zoey into an embrace. "Thank you. And if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a gypsy. Oh, wait..."

Zoey, Carmen, Willow and Xander laughed lightly as Zoey and Carmen pulled away.

Carmen looked at Xander and Willow. "And, uh, what culture are you? No. Wait. Let me guess. Xander's from the country of Leone. It's in Italy pretending to be Montana. Willow's from Antarctica. Eskimo."

"You nailed it all," Willow answered. "Cowboy Xander. Goddess Carmen. Gypsy Zoey. Eskimo Willow. Princess Ampata. What about Buffy? Brooke? Alice? Brady? Eric? Wyatt? Giles? Layla? Are they not going?"

"No," Carmen answered. "They had to bow out. Layla had to work tonight, and Buffy, Brooke, Brady, Alice, Eric, Wyatt and Giles are going to the museum tonight."

"Right," Willow agreed. "Hunting mummies. Well, Zoey, Carmen and I can go ahead."

"What do you mean?" Carmen asked.

"Willow suggested that you three won't be coming with me and Ampata," Xander answered.

Carmen nodded in understanding. "Oh. On a date. Romance. Lips."

Xander took off his hat when he saw Ampata appear on the stairs.

Ampata smiled. "Hello, Xander."

Xander spoke in nothing. "Hho hee ze thee ai uh..."

"I can translate American salivating boy talk," Zoey told her. "He says you're beautiful."

"Hyav su," Xander told her.

"You're welcome," Zoey replied.

Ampata reached the bottom of the stairs, standing next to Xander, beaming a huge smile.

"Ampata, you look wonderful," Willow told her. "Oh, I wish our friends could go with us. Let's go have a good night. Separately."

They left the house.

∞

The Bronze

(Song:) Shadows - Dingoes Ate My Baby (Four Star Mary)

Devon and Oz's band was playing. A group of girls walked in.

Cordelia walked in behind them, stopping to look around, walking up to Carmen, Zoey and Willow. "Oh! Near faux pas. I almost wore the same thing."

"And what are you?" Zoey asked. "A--"

"She's not gonna say anything worth a detention," Willow cut her off.

Zoey gave her a look.

Carmen chuckled. "Sorry, Zo, to ruin your fun like that. But if it meant you were alive tomorrow, we had to."

Xander led Ampata to the dance floor.

Willow was heartbroken to see them together like that. "I think I should've worn something sexy."

Zoey and Carmen gave her a sympathetic look.

Carmen looked at Cordelia. "Where's Sven?"

"Oh, I keep trying to ditch him," Cordelia answered. "He's like one of those dogs that you leave at the Grand Canyon on vaction? It follows you back across four states." Sven found them. "See? My own speechless, human boomerang."

"He's kinda cute," Carmen told them. "Maybe it's nice skipping all that small talk."

"Small talk?" Cordelia repeated. "How about simple instruction?" She looked at Sven. "Get punchy." She pointed at him. "You. Fruit druinky."

Cordelia led Sven away.

Xander saw Carmen, Zoey and Willow, leading Ampata over to their table.

"Wow," Willow told them. "You guys look great."

"I didn't tell you before, but I love your costumes," Ampata told them.

Carmen smiled. "Thanks."

"Yeah, Will, you look, um, snug," Xander told her. "Zo's gypsy is showing through." Zoey smirked. "And, Carmen, you look like a goddess."

"That's what I was going for," Carmen told him. "Egyptian goddess, at that."

"It's very convincing," Ampata told her.

They smiled. Willow looked around stiffly. She could hardly move in her outfit.

Zoey looked around, knowing that she couldn't stay there, sighing, walking toward the exit of the Bronze.

From the stage, Oz noticed her in the crowd, staring intently. "Hey." Devon came over to him. "That girl. Who is she?"

Devon thought he meant Ampata. "She's an exchange student. I think she's from South America."

"No, not her," Oz told him. "The gypsy. The one that's leaving."

Devon went back to continue singing. Oz watched Zoey leave the Bronze, enamored.

(Song Ends)

∞

Summers House - Foyer

Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Brady, Eric, Wyatt and Giles were about to leave.

"Thank heavens you're all here," Giles told them.

"Yep," Buffy agreed. "Not at the dance. Not with our friends. Not with a life. Not having a normal date with my boyfriend."

"What are we doing here?" Brooke asked. "I mean... This if Buffy, Brady's and my house. But what are the rest of you doing here? I thought we were gonna meet at the museum to find the bodyguard."

"No," Wyatt answered. "He's already been found. In a school restroom. The kicker? Mummified."

"Okay," Brady told them. "I don't get it. Why would the mummy kill her own bodyguard? Isn't he supposed to be protecting her? Why kill a guy protecting her?"

"Well, we've cross referenced," Alice explained. "And, uh, we've looked at the pictograms anew. He was a guard, all right. But it was his job to insure that the mummy didn't awaken and escape."

"So..." Eric trailed off, thinking. "Ampata translated wrong."

"Perhaps," Giles answered.

"Hold on a sec," Eric told them. "She was wiggy about the seal. From minute one."

"Yes," Alice agreed. "I suppose she was."

Zoey walked in. "I think I know why."

"I beg your pardon?" Giles asked.

"What are you doing here?" Buffy asked. "I thought you were supposed to be at the dance. With Carmen. Willow. Xander. Ampata. Cordelia."

"Zoey?" Alice asked. "What's wrong?"

Zoey sighed, giving them a look. "Come on."

∞

Francis House - Zoey's Room

Zoey led the others to her room toward Ampata's trunks.

Brady was going through Ampata's things. "It's certainly all boys' clothes. Why would a girl pack these?"

"How about this one?" Eric asked. "What kind of girl travels with a mummified corpse?"

"And doesn't even pack a lipstick," Brooke told them. "Hello, mummy girl."

Wyatt sighed, frustrated. "Great. Come on."

∞

The Bronze

(Song:) Fate - Dingoes Ate My Baby

Xander was standing by the stairs with Ampata. "Do you, um, would you like to, uh, you know..."

"I'd love to dance," Ampata answered.

Xander removed his hat and poncho, taking her hand, leading her onto the dance floor. Willow watched them longingly as they watched by her and Carmen. On the dance floor, Xander and Ampata touched hands, slowly intertwining their fingers. Xander smiled. Ampata let go of his hand, slowly moving it around his neck.

Carmen looked at Willow. "Come on."

"What?" Willow asked. Carmen tilted her head at her, giving her a look. "Oh, no, I know that look. Carmen, I can't go dance in this."

"You can try," Carmen told her. "I'm not taking no for an answer."

Carmen took Willow's jacket, pulling her to the dance floor. Smiling, Carmen raised her arms on either side of her, the cloth connecting from her wrists to the dress making it look like wings, dancing with Willow, both of them smiling.

(Song Pauses)

∞

On the Road - Van

The others were driving in a van.

"Come on," Brady told them. "Can't you put your foot down."

"It is down," Giles told them.

"You know what?" Eric asked. "One of these days, you're gonna have to get a grownup car."

∞

The Bronze

(Song Resumes)

As Xander and Ampata danced slowly, Xander looked deep into her eyes. Ampata leaned her head onto his cheek for a moment, pulling her head back to look into his eyes. They moved in to kiss, but just as they were about to meet, Ampata noticed her hand beginning to mummify again, pulling away. Xander looked at her in confusion. Ampata quickly took her arm off of his shoulders, rushing off.

Xander watched her go, thoroughly confused. "Okay, at least I can rule out something I said."

Ampata reached the edge of the crowd, looking around, seeing a student named Jonathon sitting alone on the stairs.

(Song Ends)

∞

On the Road - Van

The others were still driving.

"We should've guessed," Wyatt told them. "Remember Ampata wanted us to hide the seal? And then she wanted us to destroy it because..." He realized something. "Oh, wait."

"We're... waiting," Giles told him.

"Well, we already know that the seal was used to contain the mummy," Wyatt told them. "If breaking it freed her..."

"Reassembling it will trap her," Giles finished. "Wyatt, Alice and I will go to the museum. Drop the others off. We'll try to piece together the fragments there."

"Okay, you guys need to get Xander," Wyatt told them. "Before he gets smoochy with Mummy Dearest."

∞

The Bronze

Carmen and Willow were sitting at their table.

Xander walked up to them. "Have you seen Ampata?"

Willow shrugged.

Carmen smiled in amusement. "What was that?"

"I shrugged," Willow answered.

"Next time you should probably say 'shrug'," Xander told her, walking away.

Willow watched him go. "Sigh."

"Will..." Carmen trailed off.

"Nope, don't need to hear it," Willow told her.

"You don't want to hear it," Carmen corrected. "There's a difference." Sven walked up to them. "Sven, what's up?"

"I thought this exchange student thing would be a great deal," Sven told her. "But look what I got stuck with. 'Momento'. 'Punchy, fruity, drinky'. I know Cordelia is your sister, Carmen, but is she even from this country?"

Willow and Carmen smirked in amusement.

∞

Backroom

Ampata had led Jonathon backstage, taking off his hat, stroking his hair and cheek.

"Your hands feel kinda... rough," Jonathon told her. More of her skin was reverting to its mummy form. Ampata moved in for a kiss. "Aren't you with Xander?"

"Does it look like I'm with Xander?" Ampata whispered.

They moved in to kiss.

Xander called out, looking for her. "Ampata?"

Jonathon pulled away from her, grabbing his hat. "That's my cue to leave."

Jonathon ran from the room. Ampata stood by the window, looking out.

Xander found her. "There you are. Why'd you run away?"

Ampata slowly turned to face him. "Because I do not deserve you."

"What, you think that you deserve me?" Xander asked, laughing. "Man, I love you." Ampata shed a few tears, looking up sorrowfully. Xander's smile faded. "Are those tears of joy, pain, revulsion?"

Ampata cried. "I am very happy, and very sad."

Xander walked closer. "Then talk to me; let me know what's wrong."

Ampata hugged him, crying into his shoulder. "I can't."

Xander held on her. "Hey, I know why you can't tell me, because it's a secret, right, and if you tell me, you'd have to kill me." He smiled. Ampata didn't think it was funny, hugging him, crying even harder. "Oh, that was a bad joke and the delivery was off, too. I'm sorry."

Xander stroke her hair and face gently. They kissed gently yet tentatively. Ampata reached her arm around his head to pull him closer for a deeper kiss. Xander's eyes went wide with shock and surprise.

∞∞

Xander's life force was starting to drain.

Ampata broke off the kiss, letting Xander fall to the floor. "No, I can't." Xander was drained of strength, taking quick, short breaths. Ampata knelt down, pulling him around, laying his head in her lap. "Xander, I'm so sorry."

∞

Museum

Alice, Wyatt and Giles were reading from a book, assembling the seal.

Alice read from the book. "Incan Cosmology unites the bird head with its paler twin."

Giles looked around for the proper piece. "Um... oh!"

Wyatt picked up the piece. "Its paler twin."

They tried to fit the piece, and it was a match.

∞

The Bronze - Backroom

While holding Xander, Ampata sensed something was wrong. "The seal."

Ampata let Xander fall to the floor, running out of the room.

∞

Main Room

In the pain room, Buffy, Brooke, Zoey, Brady and Eric ran into the Bronze, finding Carmen and Willow, calling out for them.

"Hey, guys," Carmen told them in confusion.

"Where's Xander?" Buffy asked.

"He's looking for Ampata," Carmen answered.

"We need to find him," Brooke told them. "Ampata's the mummy."

"Oh," Willow said, absorbing the information and smiling. "Good." She realized its implication. "Xander!"

"Yeah," Zoey answered. "Where'd they go?"

"Backstage," Carmen answered. "I think."

"Come on," Brady told them.

"Yeah," Eric agreed.

They all ran toward backstage, just as Oz came up.

Oz looked at Zoey but they were already gone. "Hey, I..." He watched them go in surprise, smiling. "Who is that girl?"

∞

Backstage

They found Xander sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall weakly.

"Are you okay?" Buffy asked.

"I think so," Xander told them weakly. "Boy, that was some kiss."

"Where's Ampata?" Brooke asked.

"She said something about the seal," Xander told them.

"The seal," Brady repeated. "Alice. Giles. Wyatt."

"Come on," Eric told them. They helped Xander stand. "We'll explain to you later, Xander. Yeah, he doesn't know. We'll tell you on the way."

They all left the Bronze to go to the museum to warn Alice, Wyatt and Giles about Ampata.

∞

Museum

Alice, Wyatt and Giles were putting the last pieces of the seal together. Ampata sneaked a peek in from the exhibit entryway, seeing them there, quietly making her way over to them.

"There," Alice told them. "That's it. Just one more piece."

Ampata reached around her shoulder from behind, pulling Alice up, throwing her into the wall, making her hit her head and fall to the floor, temporarily unconscious, taking the seal from Wyatt, throwing it to the floor, smashing it to pieces, grabbing Wyatt by the neck, lifting him onto the rim of the stone coffin.

Wyatt used his power to throw Ampata off of him. "You may be some super strong mummy girl, Ampata. But we're stronger in magics. And some of us stronger in strength."

The others arrived.

"I'll say one thing for you Incan mummies," Buffy told her. Ampata looked her. "You don't kiss and tell."

Buffy took a long, high leap onto the platform, landing in a fighting stance.

Brady noticed that Alice was unconscious on the floor, running closer worriedly, kneeling next to her, gently trying to wake her up. "Alice. Hey. Come on."

Brooke used her red Guardian energy to levitate herself up to stand next to Buffy, both of them ready for a fight. Carmen was ready to use her powers. Zoey took off her necklace so she could use her own.

Ampata noticed that when Zoey took off her necklace, it glowed purple just like her hands. "Looks like you've been keeping secrets from me. You're not a normal girl."

"And you are?" Zoey replied.

Giles crawled over to help Brady wake Alice up. "Alice. Wake up."

Buffy kicked Ampata in the face, then the side, trying to punch her. Ampata was strong, catching Buffy's fist, spinning her around onto the rim of the coffin, grabbing Buffy's neck, throwing her into the coffin, closing the stone lid onto it. Brooke used her Guardian energy to levitate closer, kicking Ampata away from Buffy, shooting burst of red energy after burst at Ampata repeatedly. Ampata was hit once or twice, trying to dodge the rest.

"Brooke, we got her," Wyatt told her. "Get Buffy."

Brooke shook her head. "I'm helping take this bitch out first."

 Brady and Giles helped Alice stand when she was awake.

Wyatt and Carmen used their power to throw Ampata toward Brooke, Alice and Zoey. Brooke, Alice and Zoey used their power to trap Ampata between them. Wyatt and Carmen grabbed Ampata magically from their side, while Brooke, Alice and Zoey kept hold of her magically from the other side, as the five of them pulled and pulled at Ampata with their power until she turned back into a mummy and they ripped her apart, letting the pieces of her fall. Everyone was grossed out, staring at what was left, looking at each other. Eric and Xander helped Brooke help Buffy out of the coffin. They all gathered, looking over the exhibit, leaving.

∞

Day Four

Morning - Balcony

The Scoobies were walking along.

Xander exhaled. "I'm really the Fun-Talking Guy today, huh? Sorry."

"That's okay," Alice told him. "You don't have to talk."

"I just... present company excluded, I have the worst taste in women of anyone in the world, ever," Xander told them.

"Ampata wasn't evil," Buffy told him. "At least not to begin with."

Brooke nodded in agreement. "And... I do think she cared about you."

"Yeah, but I think that whole sucking the life out of people thing would have been a strain on the relationship," Zoey told them.

"Zoey?" Eric asked. "Not helping."

"She was gypped," Alice told them. "She was just a girl. She had her life taken away from her. I remember how Brooke, Buffy and I felt when we heard the prophecy that we were going to die."

"Yeah," Buffy agreed. "Brooke and I weren't exactly obsessed with doing the right thing."

"Yeah, but you did," Carmen told them. "All of you did."

"You gave up your lives," Zoey agreed. "You all did. It was heroic."

"It was," Willow agreed. "All of you are heroes to us."

Brooke smiled a little. "Yeah. Well, we had Eric, Brady and Wyatt to bring us back."

"Maybe it its possible that all of us have a little hero in us," Wyatt told them. "Even with the darkness in our lives."

"All of us?" Eric repeated.

"Yes, Eric," Wyatt answered. "All of us."

They all smiled, walking along.