Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Trinity

Chapter Nine: The Puppet Show

Backstage in the Sunnydale High School auditorium, a student; Emily busies herself with ballet stretches.

A demon observes the girl from a low point in the floor. "I will be whole." He exhales. "I will be new."

Students practice their acts backstage. Lisa plays her tube and Marc rehearses his magic act. Morgan rubs his temples and looks around before turning back to his dummy, Sid.

Giles gives a small sigh in exasperation as he listens to Cordelia sing 'The Greatest Love of All' off key.

"Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all." The girl sings. "I decided long ago never to walk in anyone's shadow. If I fail, if I succeed, at least-"

Trinity cringes and subtlety tries to cover her ears. Giles sees the movement and interrupts Cordelia. "Thank you, Cordelia. Tha-that's going to be lovely."

"But I didn't do the part with the sparklers!" She pouts.

"Um, w-we'll, um..." He fumbles for an excuse. "Save that for the dress rehearsal. "Uh, Lisa! Please!"

"Urgh." Cordelia groans and places the mic on the stand before walking off stage. Lisa walks onto the stage and begins her solo.

Buffy, Willow, and Xander walk down the center aisle look at the librarian and the neko. Buffy gasps. "If it isn't the great producer!" She teases as they sit near the duo.

"Had to see this to believe it." Xander says.

Giles sighs. "Oh. You three."

"The school talent show. How ever did you finagle such a primo assignment?" Buffy asks.

"Our new Führer, Mr. Snyder." Giles tells her, distaste in his voice.

"I think they call 'em 'principals' now." Willow says.

"Mm. He thought it would behoove me to have more contact with the students. I did try to explain that my vocational choice of librarian was a deliberate attempt to...minimize said contact, but, uh, he would have none of it."

"Giles, unto every generation is born one who must run the annual talentless show. You cannot escape your destiny." Buffy mocks him.

"If you had any shred of decency, you would have participated, or at least, um, helped like Trinity." He motions to the girl.

Buffy shakes her head. "Nah! I think I'll take on your traditional role...and watch!"

"And mock!" Xander adds.

"And laugh!" Willow smiles. The teens, Trinity as well, laughs.

"Okay. I think maybe we better leave our Mr. Giles to this business he calls a show." Buffy says as she, Xander, and Willow leave their seats and start back up the aisle only to find a short balding man waiting for them. "Principal Snyder!" Buffy's eyes widen.

The man looks at the three in disdain. "So...we think school events are stupid, and we think authority figures are to be made fun of."

"No! No, we don't. W-unless you do."

"And we think our afternoon classes are optional. All three of you including Ms. Clairborn left campus yesterday."

"Yeah, but we were fighting a demon-" Buffy starts.

"Fighting?"

"Not fighting."

"No, we, uh, left to avoid fighting." Xander says.

"Real anti-social types. You need to integrate into this school, people." He crosses his arms. "I think I just found three eager new participants for the talent show."