Through The Looking Glass
| The guys are in shock - whatever they thought about what was going to
happen to Cordelia, this wasn't it. She's dressed in a beautiful, if skimpy outfit and
sits on a throne. They made her ruler. She's not going to complain if throne's a bit
uncomfortable because, well, it's a throne! Wesley thinks this is fantastic, he sees that she most likely can set them free and if she's sentencing them, it's okay. He mentions this to her and she agrees that she could release them. The Constable wants to know if they should gut the 'cows' now and Cordelia says that's not going to happen. She wonders if they're going to grovel. Angel's not amused and Cordelia sees that they're not going to play along. She jokingly orders "Off with their heads!" but thankfully stops the guards before they can carry out the order. The guards stop just before they can finish the act. Angel, Wesley and Gunn are not amused at her joke. After making them suffer a bit longer, Cordelia orders the guards to let them go. The Constable thinks it's unseemly for her to be left alone with the prisoners. She tells him that she's going to be okay and that he should leave now. He doesn't look happy about it but he does obey. Once the guards leave, the guys rush right past Cordelia (who had thought they were going to hug her) to the platter of food behind her. They're starved. Angel wants to know what happened to her. She tells him that they jabbed her with hot pokers and then made her princess. Wesley doesn't get it, if humans are slaves here, why did they make her princess? The Host asks Cordy if she had a vision, which she confirms. He says that's it, that's why they made her princess. There's a prophecy involved, which doesn't thrill Angel. He's had no luck with prophecies lately. The Host informs them that the priests have been running Pylea for several millennia. They're called The Covenant of the Trombli and they teach of a messiah, a cursed one who has pure sight and will claim the throne and restore the monarchy. Wesley asks for clarification on the 'pure sight' business which the Host says means a direct link to The Powers That Be. The Prophecy is talking about Cordelia. Gunn can't believe it. Cordy? The Messiah? Wesley thinks that it's a good thing, as long as the Trombli believe it, they can survive here until they find a way to get home. Cordelia wants to know how they got here and Gunn tells her same way she did, through a portal with a book. But they've lost the book. Cordelia tells them that she doesn't really know about the portal, but the priests have tons of books here. Wesley wants to see them as quickly as possible, to which Cordelia replies that he's in an awful hurry to get back to the 'Cordelia's-not-a-princess' dimension. Gunn reminds him that even if they figure out with the books how to get back they still have to find a portal. They all look to Angel to see if he has any ideas and Cordelia shrieks when she sees what he's doing. What he's doing is admiring himself in a full length mirror. Cordelia is a bit freaked that he has a reflection at all. Wesley explains to her that the metaphysical laws that affected Angel in their own dimension, don't apply here. Wesley tries to get a plan together, telling Angel that it might be more time effective if Angel and the Host go out on the streets and question people about the portals. Angel's far more interested in wondering why his hair looks the way it does. He wonders why no one told him how it looked. Cordy assures him he looks good, hoping he'll move on. Wesley's had enough. He orders Angel and The Host to go find Landok and his family to see if they have any clues. The Host doesn't really want to talk to his family but Wes points out that if they don't, they may have to stay here forever. The Host suggests that Angel call him 'Lorne" while they're here as 'Host' has an entirely different connotation in Pylea. As Angel and The Host leave, Wesley tells Cordelia they need to get access to the books, which she says she'll take care of. She's the princess, she can do whatever she wants. In a dimly lit room filled with relics, the priests are gathered. Some of them aren't happy at all about a cow wearing the crown. Silas reminds them that they all agreed that she is cursed with the sight. But they don't understand why The Powers would choose her. Silas says it doesn't matter - she has been chosen. The can't touch her until the 'Com-shuk'. He informs them that The Groosalugg is on his way to the palace now. If she survives this Com-shuk they can take her head. The Host and Angel arrive on his home farm to a not so warm welcome. His mother ( a great big masculine demon) tells him that he shamed their family when he disappeared. She generally heaps on the insults about what a bad son he is and that they should have eaten him instead of whomever they did eat (?!). The Host asks his mother if she noticed anything odd when he disappeared. After pointing out Numfar and his dance of joy - she pretty much indicates that she didn't see anything like that. She orders Lorne to take his cow and get off her lawn. Just then, Landok arrives, protesting that Angel is not a cow. Landok announces that he is Angel, the brave and noble Drokken killer. The Host's family crowds around Angel, taking his coat and giving him one befitting a warrior. Then Landok announces they will have a feast in his honor. Angel is quite taken with this whole plan, though The Host is not. Back in the castle, Wesley, Gunn and Cordy try to get some clues from the books the priests have shown them. Wesley claims that the language is actually quite similar to some from our dimension. He also says that the book is odd, entire passages seem to be missing. On the cover of it is a red male deer - a hart. Wesley comments on this to the confusion of the others. He explains that it's not a h-e-a-r-t it's a h-a-r-t. Gunn says that these other books have animals on them too, probably a demon bedtime story. Wesley hits upon the idea that they're written in 'trionic.' No book is complete without the other. Cordy asks if it's a trilogy but Wes says it's more complicated than that. You read one line in one book, then another in the next, and the following in the third. Then you go back to the first book. Gunn asks if there's any info about the portals but Wesley isn't sure yet. He'll need time to decipher them. He does see some references to the princess, however. Cordy's immediately interested, wondering what it says about her. He tells her it looks like she's going to 'com-shuk' with a 'Groosalugg'. They wonder what that means, Gunn says it sounds dirty. He also suggests they find someone who knows what it is that can tell them. Wesley then notices the covers of the books. With a sinking feeling he rearranges them until the animals on the cover are in this order: Wolf - Ram - Hart. He points it out to the others who are as uneasy about this as they are. They decide they most likely can't trust the priests. Meanwhile, Angel is regaling the village with tales of his heroic exploits. The Host reminds him that they should be getting back to the palace. He understands that Angel's enjoying being viewed as a hero without the moral ambiguities he faces at home. Angel admits that it is nice for a change. Landok interrupts, telling Angel there's something he's been chosen to do. It's time for the "Back-nal" and Angel gets to swing the "crebbil." Angel, having no idea what this is, goes off with Landok before The Host can warn him about what the 'Bach-nal' and the 'crebbil' are. Back at the palace, Cordelia isn't liking the idea of abandoning her status as princess. She doesn't want to back out there where she was a slave shoveling demon horse poo. Wesley reminds her that they don't know who these priests serve. She tells him that they serve her. Silas comes in, asking if everything is alright. Gunn asks him what the deal is with the Groosalugg. Silas asks Cordelia if she's had a vision. Seeing an opportunity, Wesley tells him that she has and that he'd better not lie to her because she'll know. Silas says she's seen the Groosalugg because he's been summoned from the Scum Pits of Ur. He'll be there by nightfall and everyone is very anxious for her to com-shuk with him. She plays like she can understand that perfectly, however her two friends didn't even know what Com-Shuk was. She imperiously orders Silas to explain it to Wes and Gunn. Silas tells them it's a mating ritual. Cordelia is stunned but tries to play it off. She tries to leave the castle, saying she needs to buy the Groosalugg gift. He tells her she can't leave as there has been talk of rebellion amongst the cows. He also tells her that she shouldn't worry because they've doubled the palace guard. Shakily, she tells him to let her know when the Groosalugg arrives. After he leaves, she realizes that Wesley was right, she has to get out of the palace. It turns out that the 'Bacn-nal' is the beheading of a 'cow.' The cow in question is Fred, and Angel is the one who's been honored with the right to kill her. Angel, of course, doesn't realize that Fred is the girl from Cordelia's vision. He only knows that it's a human female and he can't kill her. Fred mutters for him to make it quick as Landok explains what a great honor it is to be the one to behead the cow. Instead, Angel hauls her up from the chopping block and holds the ax (crebbil) out in defense. What was once an adoring crowd turns angry and begins to swarm around Angel and Fred. Landok wonders why Angel is insulting them. Angel tries to fight off the crowd but it's a hopeless fight. The Host bursts into loud song, bringing all in the crowd to their knees as they cover their ears in pain. Apparently all music is painful to them. The Host keeps singing, even as the palace guard approaches, allowing Angel and Fred to escape on a nearby horse. The palace guard arrives and knocks out The Host, cutting off his singing. At the palace, Gunn, Wesley and Cordelia are attempting to escape down into the sewers. Cordelia is laden down with jewels and gold, all the riches she can carry. She requests that if they ever get out of this dimension, that they find one where she isn't going to be impregnated by a demon. They arrive at the trap door that will lead them down. Wesley and Gunn start to pry open the door. Cordelia wants them to tell her if she puts off some kind of a 'com-shuk vibe'. They ignore her as they continue to work. Once they get the door opened they're all struck by the powerful stench emanating from it. Wesley and Gunn are able to get out through the sewers, but Cordelia is prevented by Silas and another of the priests. She tells them she was just going to get some of the trinkets appraised. They lead her away from the trap door and back into the castle - the Groosalugg approaches. Gunn and Wesley emerge from the sewers out of the castle. Wesley tells Gunn that Cordelia didn't make it, they'll have to find Angel. Angel and Fred have made their escape and Angel sends the horse on it's way. He asks Fred if she's okay and she stares at him, fascinated. She brokenly says that he's handsome and he saved her life, then she bolts. Angel pursues her into the woods and follows her into a cave. She's lived here for some time, it's obvious. There are strange letters scrawled on the walls and various signs of a home being made. He finds her at one of the walls, writing symbols on it - she now wears some old glasses that have obviously been patched. He tells her that she shouldn't be afraid of him, he'd never hurt her. He finally catches her watching him as he again admires his own reflection in a small pool of water. He asks her if she wants to talk to him, she says yes, but he's not real. She babbles about how one of them is not real and she thinks it's him because he's heroic. So...if he's not real then she's dead because her head got chopped off and she can't talk if she's dead because it's too much pressure. Angel backs off, recognizing her panic and fear. He asks her what she's drawing and she replies that she thinks she saw it in a dream. He realizes she's been here a long time and also finds her drivers license. He's a bit surprised to realize it's the girl from Cordelia's vision. She wants to know what he's talking about. He tells her about Cordelia's vision and as she recognizes the words as being of a life that was once her own. She's confused and this makes her a bit afraid of Angel. He persuades her that it's not a dream - it's real. She doesn't want it to be real as bad things happen here. He tries to reassure her, he and his friends will get her out of here. They'll find a portal. At the mention of a portal, Fred remembers Cordelia. She tells him that Cordelia is a slave, but Angel tells her that no, they made her a princess. Fred is stunned, they didn't make HER a princess. At the Castle, the courtiers put finishing touches on Cordelia's 'Meet-the-Groosalugg' outfit. She wonders if it's a bit too revealing, perhaps something less so would be better for a first date. But it's too late, the Groosalugg has arrived. The doors open and she sees a horrifying creature come through, but he's closely followed by an Adonis of a man. This is the Groosalugg - she's quite pleased. Fred and Angel wander through the woods, looking for Angel's friends. They're heading toward the castle when guards on horseback spot them. Angel warns her that she might see something odd, but not to worry. As Angel gets into the fight he morphs into the demon. But this is not the normal vamp face we're used to seeing from Angel. It's pure demon, as if all of Angel is gone and only the demon remains. He tears into the guards, rending them limb from limb and practically eating them alive. Fred draws herself into as small a ball as possible, trying to escape his notice. She told him that bad things happened here. He's about to go after her when he smells something in the air and takes off. She goes to the guards bodies and gets a leather flask. Meanwhile...Cordelia and the Groosalugg are getting along nicely. He tells her how ostracized he was as a child. He didn't look like anyone else and was forced to realize that he's half cow. Cordelia tells him not to worry, she's all cow. Groosalugg disagrees, as she was cursed by The Powers, she's transcendent. Cordy likes the sound of that. He thinks she's quite kind to overlook his deficiencies. In this culture, it makes you less than whole if you are part cow. He could not prove his worth to his clan as he couldn't mate with the females of his tribe. He is sadly, in his opinion, unable to mate with anything other than a human. Cordelia doesn't think that's so bad. They continue to talk and eventually Cordelia inadvertently kicks everyone out of the room. (When reacting to something the Groosalugg has said she replies "Get out" and all take it literally) She stops them, however and says that the Groosalugg can stay. The Groosalugg tells her that he tried every contest, every challenge to redeem himself. Soon the Covenant had no choice but to bestow the name Groosalugg - the brave and undefeated, upon him. They both seem mesmerized and quite taken with each other. So much so, that Cordelia doesn't even notice when the guards come in with a new prisoner. It's The Host, bound and gagged. They announce that he's here for her swift judgment. She tells them, never taking her eyes off Groosalugg, to handle it themselves, she's busy. The Constable announces that they'll execute the prisoner, which gets Cordy's attention. She sees who it is and stops them, telling them the prisoner is pardoned. She makes certain that he's okay before shooing him out of the room, she wants to be alone with Groosalugg. Wesley and Gunn are wandering, lost, in the woods of Pylea. They're trying to find a village but the two suns are throwing off their sense of direction. Suddenly they're attacked by a feral beast. When Wesley spots a familiar tattoo on the shoulder, he realizes it's Angel and warns Gunn. They're both stunned however, when the beast like Angel stops on his own. He's caught the scent of fresh blood. It's Fred. She's drained some of the blood off the guards that Angel killed earlier into a pouch. She now holds her bloody hand in the air, drawing Angel away from Wesley and Gunn. He follows her as she retreats into the woods. Wesley surmises that Angel's vampire and souled parts have been divided. He's either all demon or all not demon. They discuss this for a moment, deciding that what they saw may have been what the demon that created the original vampire looked like. As they begin to walk away, they're ambushed by a renegade band of humans. Angel trails Fred back to her cave. She washes the blood off her hand in the water pool. Angel looks into the pool and is startled by the reflection of the beast. He tries to attack it but it's just a reflection, of course. After a moment, he somehow realizes what this means and morphs back to his normal face. He's stunned, horrified, and a bit insane by what he's seen. He curls up into a ball on the floor of the cave, trying to forget what he just saw. Fred attempts to get nearer to him but he pays no attention to her. At the castle, the Groosalugg completes his tale. Cordelia tells him it's a great story but she's not his princess, she's not anybody's princess. The Groosalugg asks her if she has visions and she replies that she does but that where she comes from that just makes her kinda weird, not royalty. He doesn't understand. She tries to explain, saying that she's so far from being a princess where she comes from that it's just laughable. She's an actress. He wants to know what this [actress] means. She explains but it's more of a I let people tell me what to do and walk all over me kinda explanation. He equates this with being a concubine. Cordy admits it feels like being one. Groosalugg wonders if no one has eyes where she comes from. She asks what he means. He tells her that they should be able to look upon her and see that she is a princess. Cordy is obviously flattered, but still protests that she's not a princess. Groosalugg argues that she is one, it has been declared so by the Covenant. Cordy still protests, but he continues, telling her that she declares it with her bearing, her beauty and her mercy. He tells her that if she treats her subjects this way she'll be a great ruler and heal the land. Cordy thinks it's a beautiful dream, but it's not reality. He asks her why not and she can't come up with a good reason. Elsewhere in the castle, Silas is steaming. Cordelia has asked for parchment. She wants to make proclamations and they can't have that. She's supposed to do their bidding not the other way around. They decide it's time to send her a message. Wesley and Gunn have been defeated and yoked by their captors. The rebels discuss making a run on the castle. Wesley, over Gunn's objections, says that they can help, they know the princess. They prove this by a photo of Angel, Wesley and Cordy that he has in his wallet. He can take their demands to the princess. They decide to do just that, but in a different manner. They'll cut off their heads, stick them on a pike and shove the demands in their dead lips. Uh oh. In the cave, Fred tries to reassure Angel. He knows that his friends have seen the true demon now and is ashamed of that. In a hopeful voice, Fred tells him that he could stay with her. In the castle, Cordy is busy writing up new laws on parchment. Silas angrily enters, followed by others who carry a covered silver platter. She objects when he rudely orders Groosalugg out of the room and the warrior leaves without question. She's a bit hurt that he would leave her so readily, but Silas explains that the Groosalugg knows the way of things. Cordy says that's all going to change. He doesn't agree and thinks she's very foolish. She protests that she's the princess around here, not him. Silas waves her off, the powers have placed their gift in her, but she has no authority here. Cordelia protests, but Silas goes on to say that she is but a tool of the Covenant and will do what they tell her to do. Cordy says they can't force her to mate. Siles orders her to shut up. Cordelia begs his pardon, what did he say? He tells her she's done enough pardoning for the day. He then lifts the lid of the silver tray, the Hosts decapitated head lies there. Cordelia looks at her now dead friend, horrified. What has she done? |
| Rating and Comments: Still in Pylea, more of the same. Still, some good moments with Cordelia and The Groosalugg and what a cliffhanger (poor Host)! |
| Rating: 7/10 |
| Written by - Staff writer Christine |