The Long Way Home, Part Two

Publication

April 4, 2007

Length

24 pages

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight #2

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The Long Way Home, Part One	The Long Way Home, Part Three

"The Long Way Home, Part Two" is the second issue of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight comic book series, part of the Season Eight meta-series.

Synopsis

Somewhere in Eastern Europe, Giles is training a group of Slayers. He is disappointed in their performances, telling them that they have a technique and a power that may even be capable of defeating Buffy, but that they are all fighting alone, failing to look out for the rest of the team.

In Scotland, Buffy is having the same problem with her Slayers, who are practising with swords. To demonstrate the problems with their abilities, she asks Leah, Satsu, and Rowena to "kick [her] ass," yet she easily defeats them. She then compliments Satsu on her hair.

In Southern Italy, Andrew is outside with a group of Slayers, where he is supposed to be teaching them about fighting strategies and techniques. However, he has gotten lost in a ramble about Lando Calrissian, and how he would sooner believe that the Ewoks were capable of defeating the Empire than that a leader would wear Calrissian's outfit. He only gets back to teaching when Simone Doffler asks him why they are using "medieval junk" as weapons instead of guns. Andrew repeats the mandate that Buffy has used for years, that a Slayer never use a gun. He then goes on to talk about the do's and don'ts of headbutting.

Back in Scotland, Dawn takes a bath in the loch while Xander talks to her about her problems with Buffy. Dawn admits that she feels like Buffy hates her, and expresses jealousy over the fact that Buffy now has 500 "new and improved Slayer sisters." Xander then tentatively asks Dawn if she perhaps made herself giant-sized on purpose. Dawn subsequently splashes him with a sizable wave of water, prompting Xander to complain that he only has two of his military outfits.

In the United States of America, General Voll and his assistant discuss Amy's plan to get rid off Buffy, referring to Amy as "their op." Voll complains that they can't just use a nuclear weapon to destroy Buffy's base of operations, to which his assistant replies that if they were to do so, they would get noticed and most likely indicted. Voll questiones his assistant's commitment, saying that "There is no problem so big or complicated that it can't be blown up." They then discuss that if Amy fails, they will send in her boyfriend to do the job. After this, Voll goes to take a nap, and once is was in his private quarters, it is revealed that he has the same symbol cut into his chest as the victims Buffy discovered in the church earlier.

Meanwhile, Xander talks to Buffy about his discussion with Dawn, including his suggestion that Dawn purposely made herself larger, which Buffy finds too literal an answer. Buffy then asks Xander to come to bed with her. He says that they both know that it was a bad idea, but she promises to be gentle. They move into Buffy's room, where Buffy passionately starts kissing Xander before his head pops off. After frantically saying she is afraid of the dark, she is sucked through the castle wall, falling to the ground. She wishes not to fall, and a gigantic demon impales her feet and hands with its claws, creating an image similar to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Buffy mentions that she knows the demon, before the demon burns her alive with its fire breath.

It is revealed that this is all a dream, and that Amy is standing in Buffy's room above the sleeping Buffy, preparing to drive a dagger into her chest. Xander and four Slayers soon burst in to find her there, and Amy immediately stabs Buffy before Xander shoots her in the shoulder with his crossbow. Xander picks up the dagger, which has been split apart by a mystical protection spell they had previously placed over Buffy. Amy points out that Buffy is still sleeping and that the curse she placed on her can only be lifted by the kiss of true love.

Renee and another Slayer, keeping watch on the rooftop of the castle, have a brief discussion about whether or not Renee loves Xander, the other said that Renee's sudden interest in a number of Xander's hobbies, including comic books, James Bond movies, and drywalling, speaks of love. Before Renee can reply, they hear a clawing sound and see a legion of kilted zombies climbing up the castle walls.

Xander is still talking with Amy when one of the Slayers runs in to tell him of the zombies, who were summoned by Amy. Xander then commands three of the present Slayers to go into the battlefield. When queried about Amy answers that she is bound inside the castle due to their security. He then tells the Slayers to keep a guard on Amy and to get their witches working on the "true love" spell. Amy clarifies that the person who wakes Buffy from her slumber doesn't not have to be someone whom Buffy loves, just someone that truly loves Buffy, then taunts Xander by asking if he'd like to try, referring to his old crush on Buffy.

As the Slayers fight the zombies - at least two are dead or severely wounded, including Renee, stabbed with their own swords -, Buffy continues her dream, internally pleading for it to stop, saying that it hurts too much. That is when a figure in a duster and a red shirt, whose face remains unseen, appears to her, offering a hand and telling her that he had much that he needs to show her, calling her "my love."

As Satsu informs an overwhelmed Xander that they are losing the battle against the zombies, Amy sits on the windowsill in Buffy's room surveying the carnage. She boasts aloud that not one person there could take her down. Willow then appears, floating outside the window, and boasts "As a friend of mine once said... I'd like to test that theory."

Continuity

The events take place after 'The Long Way Home, Part One' and before 'The Long Way Home, Part Three'.

Willow taunts Amy's confidence in her own abilities, smoothly saying "As a friend of mine once said... I'd like to test that theory." This is a reference to Giles's words to Willow herself in "Two to Go".

This issue marks the very first appearance of Simone Doffler, a rogue Slayer and the Big Bad of Season Nine.

Buffy is revealed to now have feelings for Xander after their long friendship.

Appearances

Individuals

Organizations and Titles

Species

Human
Slayer
Giant
Unidentified demon
Zombie

Events

Locations

Weapons and Objects

Scythe

Death Count

Several Slayers, killed by zombies
Several zombies, killed by Slayers

Behind the Scenes

Trivia

Collections

Pop Culture References

Instead of training his Slayers, Andrew talks to them about Star Wars.
Because of her crush on Xander, Renee has gotten into his interests, which include James Bond

Gallery

Variant Covers

Quotes

“	Willow Rosenberg: "As a friend of mine once said...I'd like to test that theory."
- The Long Way Home, Part Two		”